Hey! I must thank katey and severitus and Frankie for helping me with my html problems…hopefully, those are all fixed now. Thank you all soooo much!!!! Enjoy the story!
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Fifteen minutes later, when Albus Dumbledore had composed himself, he walked down to the hospital wing to see to Harry. Somehow, the boy had managed to survive the Cruciatus curse for ten minutes, and he was the only one who had any idea where his potions master was. He had to make sure that the boy was okay- Harry was the key to everything.
Dumbledore opened the door to the hospital wing and walked inside. He was surprised to find that Minerva McGonagall was already at the boy's side. He sat down next to her and gazed lovingly on the unconscious child.
"Look at him, Albus. Not even fifteen, and he has the entire world on his shoulders. Everyone knows that he'll be the one to do it. He'll be the one to save us all. And he knows that, too. He lives under that knowledge every single day," murmured Minerva sadly.
"I know. It really is too bad. He doesn't want any of it, either. He never wanted the fame that he has. He has so much expectation placed on him, and he's so worried that he'll disappoint," said Dumbledore.
"I'm afraid that he'll be experiencing a lot more of these visions, Albus. We won't be getting very many more nights of sleep," warned McGonagall.
"I'm more worried about him not getting sleep. He's the one we should be afraid for."
"Mm.." she murmured in agreement.
Harry Potter rolled over, now slowly waking up. He opened his eyes halfway and looked at the people sitting next to him.
"Harry?" asked a voice. Wait a second- he knew that voice.
"Professor?"
One of the people nodded at him. He was at Hogwarts. He was safe. The Death Eaters couldn't get him there, even though they spent hours invading his mind at night. They were always there at night. He could see everything they did. What was it that they were up to earlier?
Harry bolted upright. "Professor! Where's Snape?" he asked, now panicking. He had seen Snape, he remembered. He had been placed under the Cruciatus for so long, so very, very, long. And Harry had felt the whole thing.
Dumbledore, who had grabbed Harry's hand earlier, was now running his fingers over Harry's palm soothingly. "We don't know, Harry. He left for one of his meetings a couple of hours ago, and then you woke up screaming." He raised an eyebrow at Harry, obviously wanting an explanation.
"I saw.. I saw the meeting. There were only three other death eaters there- Lucius Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. They had masks on, but Voldemort called them all by name."
Minerva McGonagall shivered.
"Snape apparated into the room. It appeared to be kind of old and drab looking. The walls and floor were made of stone. Voldemort was sitting on his throne, like always. Snape went to a knee, bowing before him like some kind of dog, or slave, or something," Harry said.
Harry looked disgusted, but continued, "Voldemort said that he had interesting news, something about how Lucius Malfoy had suggested that perhaps Snape wasn't totally loyal to the Dark Lord's cause. He said that he knew information was being leaked from somewhere, as their most recent plots kept getting destroyed, but he never expected it from Snape."
Dumbledore looked at the boy nervously. Not only was he worried for Severus, but Harry seemed as if he were in some kind of trance; like he was actually reliving the memory.
"Snape denied it, of course. Voldemort laughed at him. He said that of course it was Snape, that Dumbledore had obviously gotten to him. Snape tried again to deflect Voldemort's accusations, but it didn't work. He called Snape a filthy spy and said that he would make him suffer before he killed him. He cast the Cruciatus on him and kept it there for what seemed like forever. Finally, he let it go, and Snape was just lying on the floor in a huge pool of blood. He was alive, but only just. Tremors began racking his body as the aftereffects began. He was bleeding profusely from small cuts all over his left leg. I didn't see how they got there; I assume they were from the curse. Voldemort was laughing hysterically. He ordered Lucius Malfoy to lock him up.. his punishment wasn't over yet."
Harry looked up to find Dumbledore and McGonagall staring at him in horror. He lowered his gaze. "I felt the whole thing. He's not dead yet, I know that for sure I think somebody needs to help him."
This last comment seemed to snap Dumbledore out of his shocked state. "You're right, Harry, of course. But we have no idea where he is. He's told me about the place, but none of the death eaters actually know the location. That would be too dangerous."
Harry looked at him for a moment, considering. "If you want to wait until tomorrow, I'm sure that they'll be doing something else to him soon. I'll see the whole thing. I can try to find as many clues to the location as I can. I know it's not the best idea, and Professor Snape will be in even more trouble, but it's all I can come up with."
Dumbledore nodded. "It sounds plausible to me. That's really the only plan we've got. I wish there was another way, though. I don't want to put you or Severus through anything else."
Minerva's face paled as she came upon a very, very disturbing thought. "Albus, if You-Know-Who decides to kill Severus, will Harry-"
"Die?" Harry cut in. "No. He's killed people before in my visions. It hurts a bit, but I don't die. The only thing that really seems to affect me directly is the Cruciatus."
McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief until she looked up at Harry's face. The boy was beginning to tremble slightly and his scar was turning red.
"Harry?" cried Dumbledore, suddenly very alarmed. Harry grimaced slightly as he tried to control his body.
"Perhaps.. we won't have to wait until tomorrow.." he gasped.
Harry started rolling around on he bed, kicking with all of his might. For a while, there was no sound save for hasty gasps of breath. Then Harry lost his battle with himself, and began to scream uncontrollably. The professors tried to comfort the child, but there was nothing they could do. They restrained him and waited nervously as Harry continued to scream.
**~~~**
Severus Snape lay on the ground before Voldemort, no longer able to move on his own. He was just now waking up after the first bout of cursing, and now they were doing it to him again. God, he just wanted to die. But he knew that Voldemort wouldn't be so kind. No, he would suffer mercilessly before he died slowly of his injuries. He wouldn't be killed outright.
**~~~**
Harry's screaming stopped suddenly as he gasped for air, now utterly confused. Was he hearing Snape's thoughts? What was going on?
**~~~**
Snape couldn't think anymore. His mind was lost unto itself as he was tortured savagely by the Dark Lord. He held the curse for so long.. so terribly long. Snape was screaming in pain, tears flooding his eyes and spilling down his face as he shook incessantly. It seemed like he was no longer in control of his limbs. Like his arms and legs were no longer attached. He was sobbing now, sobbing and trying to stop his screaming. He couldn't breathe.
And then, like some miracle, the curse stopped. Severus couldn't see or hear anything as he slowly slipped into blessed unconsciousness.
**~~~**
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