Chapter 42 - The Final Act
OK, ok, here is another chapter - the final chapter. I am so excited that we are almost at the end that I don't have it in me to wait, so I am going to post now, even though it seems as though my travail down such dark roads may have lost me some reviewers. I will post for those that have stuck with me through all the torture. Thank you again.
Now to some info about this chapter:
Kleenex alert! Get them now and save yourself the trouble of searching through the torrent of tears (maybe?)
Ok, first to explain. This was NOT the original plan for the ending. It was going to be fluff. Fortunately I changed it to this. Hope you like it *evil grin* Now to add a little further explanation, when I finally wrote this, I had planned on it being the end, and I felt so happy when I pressed the full stop button for the last time. I don't want to say too much about what happens, after all that will spoil it, let's just say that I was left with questions that had to be resolved and I figured you guys would be too. So while this IS the final chapter, there is an epilogue to follow. HOWEVER, here is some blackmail *sniggers* I will only post it if enough people ask me to.
Oh, that is too nasty. I will post it anyway, but I really want reviews from everyone who reads this. I really want to know what you think. Even if you have lurked to this point. Would you all be happy if the story just ended here???? I need feedback on this. I would have pulled my hair out if it had. Would you have?
Anyway, I am so excited by the thought that we are drawing to a close and that I already know how it ends, that I will probably post again tomorrow or the next day with the epilogue.
Please feed the author, there is not many chances left.
I am in a strange mood today if you can't tell. Please read, enjoy and review. Of course, as always, nothing that belongs to JKR is mine, I am just playing with it, but I am about to put almost everything back where it belongs.
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Snape felt the warm pull that denoted Jane had invoked the Seekers charm that he had placed on the Locator Pendant. Damn it, he thought. In his haste to attend Voldemort's call, he had completely forgotten to disable the charm. Almost instantly there was a shimmering silver light and the tiny girl appeared in the middle of the group of Death Eaters that had most recently been practicing some unforgivables on him. Snape wasn't sure who was more confused, Jane or Voldemort and the Death Eaters who had watched her arrive, without warning, in their midst.
Quickly recovering, her life on the streets serving her well, Jane looked around and took stock of the situation. Eyes falling upon Severus, huddled in a ball on the floor, she smiled - at least he was still alive, if only barely. She was worried about what they had done to him, there was undeniable horror in his eyes, but he was still alive and that meant they still had a chance.
Voldemort was the first to speak, the first to react, the Death Eaters being too surprised by the girl's sudden appearance to move. "Ahh, what do we have here? Luciusss, issn't thisss the young lady you failed to deliver to me?" The evil voice hissed.
The blonde headed Death Eater hung his head. "Yes Master." He remembered with anger, the pain that that failure had brought him.
"Well, it sseemss sshe has decssided to attend of her own accord. Perhapss you sshould have jusst tried inviting her insstead of abducting her." He returned his attention to Jane. "Welcome young lady."
Snape noticed that Jane was fuming, she was angrier than he had ever seen her before, even with Adam. "I suppose you are Voldemort." She spat sharply, almost mirroring his own ability to add vindictiveness to words. They had been together far too long and she was learning his bad habits, he decided.
"Ahh, how pleasssing," he hissed. "You know of me."
Something flashed in Jane's eyes. Snape wondered if it was triumph. He hoped it wasn't - their current situation was far from ideal. "Magical world? Muggle world? Shit still stinks." She answered nonchalantly.
Voldemort snorted, almost amused by the girl's petulance. "I ssee I need to teach you ssome ressspect young lady." He pointed his wand at Snape. "Crucio."
Jane watched as Snape rolled into a tight ball at the sudden onset of pain. Looking into his eyes, she could see they were begging for death. The thought that what he was being subjected to was so bad he wished to die, particularly after all the torment she had subjected him to, only fed her anger because she knew that feeling well.
She moved quickly to the fallen man's side and pulled his writhing body towards her in an effort to comfort him. "Severus, has he hurt you too much? I am sorry for last night, and for not being awake this morning to stop you coming. Please forgive me for being bad."
She stroked the man's face gently and saw the forgiveness that rose in his eyes. "Already forgiven," He managed through the pain.
A cold hand gripped Jane's heart, Severus' voice was dead, and she knew it was only a matter of time before his body would follow the same fate if she didn't do something. Nothing SHE had survived had prepared her for what she saw now. She couldn't believe that the weak man could continue to battle against such intense pain. She couldn't believe that anyone could survive such an onslaught. "I love you Severus, don't let go." She encouraged, still stroking the writhing man's face.
Snape gave a small nod before closing his eyes, wishing for nothing more than the freedom that would come from death, but willing to fight for the girl who cared so much.
Anger at boiling point, Jane turned her attention to Voldemort. "Stop it you dirty bastard." She spat.
The evil wizard's eyes flared with anger. "Who are you to dictate to me?" He roared. "Perhapss you wish to join the sspy." He pointed his wand at Jane. "Crucio."
Nothing happened.
Jane stood and smiled, somewhat victoriously, but also slightly relieved that she hadn't succumbed to the dark wizard's magic. She could never tell anymore.
Voldemort looked surprised and some of the Death Eaters started moving uncomfortably, uncertain now of the outcome of this meeting. It wasn't that they were frightened so much - no child, particularly Muggle - would ever frighten them, it was more that they were surprised by the strange turn of events. Surely, if Voldemort was so powerful, his magic should work on the girl even if other's magic hadn't, particularly if the traitor's did.
They were confused and it showed - surely Snape wasn't more powerful than Voldemort? It couldn't be! If it was true many of them would have a thing or two to worry about if the turncoat survived. No, there had to be something else at work here, and that thought worried them even more. If they feared anything, it was the fear of the unknown. And this was certainly something new and unknown.
Snape, released from the curse, focused as best he could on the child standing triumphantly now between him and Voldemort.
"Surprise! Magic doesn't work on me." Jane stated triumphantly.
Voldemort certainly looked surprised. He said nothing.
"Magic won't work on me because it doesn't scare me." Jane didn't know if this was true or not, but she had to say something to keep the upper hand. She had to appear to understand, it was obvious the evil one before her didn't. "Your tricks can't hurt me. Now let Severus go."
"Ass if I would allow a child to dictate to me." Voldemort barked, anger rising.
Jane shrugged, standing boldly, hands on her hips. "As you wish, but you don't have a lot of choice. You could continue to hurt Severus, but he has already shown that he is able to withstand your torture. You could have your stooges to rape me, but they won't be the first to have had that questionable pleasure, you could try to torture me in the old fashioned Muggle way, but my father beat me when I was younger, so that won't worry me too much either. The only thing left is for you to just kill me, but trust me, I have killed and that isn't that satisfying."
She paused and shook her head, not taking her eyes off the dark wizard. "The way I see it, you should just release Severus and then continue preparing for the final battle that everyone seems so wrapped up in. What is the point of wasting so much effort to defeat one man and a Muggle child?" Jane looked at Voldemort defiantly when she finished her little speech and waited.
The Dark Lord was shaking with fury. Snape felt sick. That was EXACTLY the wrong approach to take with Voldemort. He wondered what Jane was thinking. Surely she realised he didn't have the energy or the power to take on the Dark Lord alone, not in his condition. She certainly couldn't be expecting to take him on herself? She had no weapon that would be of any value against him. Even if she had that knife, and was blessed with the opportunity to use it, the Dark Lord was close enough to immortal now that a knife wound would do little but amuse him, and supply him with an effective weapon against her.
There would be no cavalry to save them either. Dumbledore would never find them here, how could he when he himself wasn't even certain where they were? It was all too soon. Nothing was prepared. The old man should have listened to him, he should have made the necessary arrangements far earlier, as he had implored again and again. Now it was too late and all would be lost.
Snape no longer had the energy to be anything other than an observer of whatever would happen next. He almost wished he could look away, but at the same time he couldn't tear his eyes from the brave child who had saved his life more than once.
"Grab her!" Voldemort ordered.
Malfoy was the first to move. He grabbed Jane by her hair, giving it an extra tug in payment for the punishment he had suffered because of her escape. It elicited a small yelp of pain, but Jane didn't submit willingly. Instead, Malfoy forced her roughly towards the seated figure of Voldemort.
Snape wanted to look away as the proud girl was forced to her knees before the Dark Lord. He didn't want to watch her be killed, but without his wand he could do nothing to save her. Even if he had his wand, he doubted he had any power left anyway. He was drained after the morning's proceedings.
Lucius let her go. That was the last mistake he would ever make. Hoping for just such an opportunity, Jane reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out the knife. It was so warm it almost burned her hand, but she ignored the sensation. Snape saw that the snake's eyes were glowing, and he could feel the power emanating from the dagger.
Voldemort and the other Death Eaters could obviously feel it too, and they drew back and tried to pull away, but it was too late. So it was true, the Dark Lord thought, the stories of the knife of Salazzar Slytherin resurfacing were true, and there it was before him, in the hands of a Muggle brat!
He wanted that knife; he had to have it! His eyes glowed with recognition and desire. It would be the greatest coup of his reign if he could reclaim that knife and kill the traitor in the same day. Nothing would ever be able to stop him when he had the knife of his ancestor. The world would bow before him and tremble in fear, just as this brat would before he was finished with her.
The time the Dark Lord spent staring at the silver dagger with disbelief, then desire, was all the time Jane needed. With the quickness she had gained from living on the streets, Jane thrust the knife into Voldemort's chest, puncturing his lung and slicing into his spleen.
Snape winced. They had lost. The knife would be little more than a pin prick to the thing that Voldemort had become. Without powerful magic, the magic that Harry Potter possessed, or Dumbledore, or even himself on a good day, the knife would have no effect.
Perhaps he should have removed the knife and given if to the Headmaster for safe keeping. Perhaps he had made his second mistake, this one far worse than his first. Perhaps he HAD helped the Dark Lord gain victory after all. Snape closed his eyes resignedly and waited for the end, only opening his eyes again when nothing seemed to happen. Surely the Death Eaters should have been celebrating by now? They had the knife, they had the child, they had him.
Those in the hall stood, transfixed, as the two snakes that formed the handle of the knife, uncoiled and slithered along the blade. They reared up, preparing to strike. In the silence of the chamber, those standing closest to the Dark Lord heard the snakes hiss in unison - "Foolish human! Pride and greed are the things that have killed you. You were the heir of Slytherin, but that wasn't enough for you and you wasted your life seeking fleeting power and momentary glory. Now there shall never be another heir, and the spirit of Salazar himself will punish you for ending his line."
The two snakes looked at one another and without any further sign, struck out and sank their fangs into Voldemort's neck, one each side. Voldemort's lifeless body slid from his chair to the floor.
Jane watched triumphantly. She had repaid her debt to Severus, and fulfilled her promise to stop Voldemort from hurting him. Now they could live happily, free from harassment and danger. Leaving her knife embedded in the chest of Voldemort's lifeless body, she turned and started to move towards the man who had saved her from her life of poverty, the only one who had ever cared for her. All she could think of was to hold him and never let go.
The Potions Master and former spy had almost formed a smile, when he saw the danger. Surprised as he was that a Muggle child had killed Voldemort, at least been the one to deliver the tool that had killed him, the feel of the dark mark fading from his arm confirmed the Dark Lord's death, he realised that they still weren't safe. He could feel the resentment building within the remaining loyal Death Eaters.
It was Lucius that was first to react. Always the most astute of the Dark Lord's followers, he moved quickly to the fallen wizard and removed the knife from his chest, before moving swiftly towards the girl, who was now walking calmly towards Snape.
Snape tried to shout a warning, but hours of screaming from the torture he had received had rendered him temporarily mute, and nothing escaped his lips but a small croak. Jane noticed the look of horror on his face and tried to determine what caused it.
Moving quickly, Lucius managed to thrust the knife into the small girl's retreating body. She may have killed his master, but he would not allow her to escape unpunished, not again. Killing her may have been too simple for the Dark Lord, a waste of the opportunity to torture another Muggle, but he had no such qualms with killing the girl.
Jane had never imagined that anything could hurt so badly, and the look of shock that formed on her face was enough to send the tormented Potions Master over the edge. Anger boiled in Snape as he watched the girl fall to her knees; hand over the gapping wound in her side.
"You thought you would get away without punishment didn't you? Well I am here to tell you that you were wrong. I should have killed you when I first had the chance, but I won't be so foolish this time. Goodbye Muggle whore."
Jane lay on the floor, clutching at the knife wound that was spurting blood. She opened her mouth to speak, and blood rushed out. She looked at Snape, horrified and afraid.
The look of horror on the girl's face, and knowing he had lost her forever, was more painful than anything Snape had experienced that day. Fury boiling over at her final violation, suddenly finding his voice, Snape reacted without thinking, exploding, as anger overcame his normal self- control. "Incendio," he commanded, hoarsely. Wand free, he expected little to happen, so he was surprised when Lucius burst into flames as the full force of his anger hit him. Lucius appeared to be equally surprised before he fell to the floor as a pile of ash. Lucius' demise at the hands of the wand free Potions Master was enough to confuse the rest of the Death Eaters, and they began to back away from the enraged man.
Moving with unbridled speed, physical pain forgotten now as other emotions tore through him, Snape fell to his knees and drew Jane into his arms, cradling her body close to his. Looking down at her, he saw her shocked eyes registered surprise.
He held his hands over her wound, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood, without success. He tried magic, and that failed too - of all the time for his magic to fail on her! He was the Potions Master, how many times had he claimed he could put a stopper in death?
"I'm sorry," Jane whispered, seeing the pain etched so deeply into his features.
Snape struggled in vain against the tears that threatened to flow as exhaustion and the realisation that she would die struck him. He couldn't believe that such a small child, a child who had so little, had redeemed him. He had laughed at her petulance when she had promised to protect him, yet that is exactly what she had done, while he had wholly failed to protect her. What had he done to deserve such kindness and devotion, and why, with all his power and skill, couldn't he save her?
He realised with a start that she was speaking, her words quiet, as she struggled against death. "Don't be sad Severus. Please. Don't blame yourself. You made me happier than I ever thought I would be."
Snape stroked her face with a trembling, blood covered, hand. "Silly girl," he admonished gently. "Why did you do this? You shouldn't have come here."
Her soft answer, the final words she would speak, almost broke his spirit. "Because I promised."
OK, ok, here is another chapter - the final chapter. I am so excited that we are almost at the end that I don't have it in me to wait, so I am going to post now, even though it seems as though my travail down such dark roads may have lost me some reviewers. I will post for those that have stuck with me through all the torture. Thank you again.
Now to some info about this chapter:
Kleenex alert! Get them now and save yourself the trouble of searching through the torrent of tears (maybe?)
Ok, first to explain. This was NOT the original plan for the ending. It was going to be fluff. Fortunately I changed it to this. Hope you like it *evil grin* Now to add a little further explanation, when I finally wrote this, I had planned on it being the end, and I felt so happy when I pressed the full stop button for the last time. I don't want to say too much about what happens, after all that will spoil it, let's just say that I was left with questions that had to be resolved and I figured you guys would be too. So while this IS the final chapter, there is an epilogue to follow. HOWEVER, here is some blackmail *sniggers* I will only post it if enough people ask me to.
Oh, that is too nasty. I will post it anyway, but I really want reviews from everyone who reads this. I really want to know what you think. Even if you have lurked to this point. Would you all be happy if the story just ended here???? I need feedback on this. I would have pulled my hair out if it had. Would you have?
Anyway, I am so excited by the thought that we are drawing to a close and that I already know how it ends, that I will probably post again tomorrow or the next day with the epilogue.
Please feed the author, there is not many chances left.
I am in a strange mood today if you can't tell. Please read, enjoy and review. Of course, as always, nothing that belongs to JKR is mine, I am just playing with it, but I am about to put almost everything back where it belongs.
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Snape felt the warm pull that denoted Jane had invoked the Seekers charm that he had placed on the Locator Pendant. Damn it, he thought. In his haste to attend Voldemort's call, he had completely forgotten to disable the charm. Almost instantly there was a shimmering silver light and the tiny girl appeared in the middle of the group of Death Eaters that had most recently been practicing some unforgivables on him. Snape wasn't sure who was more confused, Jane or Voldemort and the Death Eaters who had watched her arrive, without warning, in their midst.
Quickly recovering, her life on the streets serving her well, Jane looked around and took stock of the situation. Eyes falling upon Severus, huddled in a ball on the floor, she smiled - at least he was still alive, if only barely. She was worried about what they had done to him, there was undeniable horror in his eyes, but he was still alive and that meant they still had a chance.
Voldemort was the first to speak, the first to react, the Death Eaters being too surprised by the girl's sudden appearance to move. "Ahh, what do we have here? Luciusss, issn't thisss the young lady you failed to deliver to me?" The evil voice hissed.
The blonde headed Death Eater hung his head. "Yes Master." He remembered with anger, the pain that that failure had brought him.
"Well, it sseemss sshe has decssided to attend of her own accord. Perhapss you sshould have jusst tried inviting her insstead of abducting her." He returned his attention to Jane. "Welcome young lady."
Snape noticed that Jane was fuming, she was angrier than he had ever seen her before, even with Adam. "I suppose you are Voldemort." She spat sharply, almost mirroring his own ability to add vindictiveness to words. They had been together far too long and she was learning his bad habits, he decided.
"Ahh, how pleasssing," he hissed. "You know of me."
Something flashed in Jane's eyes. Snape wondered if it was triumph. He hoped it wasn't - their current situation was far from ideal. "Magical world? Muggle world? Shit still stinks." She answered nonchalantly.
Voldemort snorted, almost amused by the girl's petulance. "I ssee I need to teach you ssome ressspect young lady." He pointed his wand at Snape. "Crucio."
Jane watched as Snape rolled into a tight ball at the sudden onset of pain. Looking into his eyes, she could see they were begging for death. The thought that what he was being subjected to was so bad he wished to die, particularly after all the torment she had subjected him to, only fed her anger because she knew that feeling well.
She moved quickly to the fallen man's side and pulled his writhing body towards her in an effort to comfort him. "Severus, has he hurt you too much? I am sorry for last night, and for not being awake this morning to stop you coming. Please forgive me for being bad."
She stroked the man's face gently and saw the forgiveness that rose in his eyes. "Already forgiven," He managed through the pain.
A cold hand gripped Jane's heart, Severus' voice was dead, and she knew it was only a matter of time before his body would follow the same fate if she didn't do something. Nothing SHE had survived had prepared her for what she saw now. She couldn't believe that the weak man could continue to battle against such intense pain. She couldn't believe that anyone could survive such an onslaught. "I love you Severus, don't let go." She encouraged, still stroking the writhing man's face.
Snape gave a small nod before closing his eyes, wishing for nothing more than the freedom that would come from death, but willing to fight for the girl who cared so much.
Anger at boiling point, Jane turned her attention to Voldemort. "Stop it you dirty bastard." She spat.
The evil wizard's eyes flared with anger. "Who are you to dictate to me?" He roared. "Perhapss you wish to join the sspy." He pointed his wand at Jane. "Crucio."
Nothing happened.
Jane stood and smiled, somewhat victoriously, but also slightly relieved that she hadn't succumbed to the dark wizard's magic. She could never tell anymore.
Voldemort looked surprised and some of the Death Eaters started moving uncomfortably, uncertain now of the outcome of this meeting. It wasn't that they were frightened so much - no child, particularly Muggle - would ever frighten them, it was more that they were surprised by the strange turn of events. Surely, if Voldemort was so powerful, his magic should work on the girl even if other's magic hadn't, particularly if the traitor's did.
They were confused and it showed - surely Snape wasn't more powerful than Voldemort? It couldn't be! If it was true many of them would have a thing or two to worry about if the turncoat survived. No, there had to be something else at work here, and that thought worried them even more. If they feared anything, it was the fear of the unknown. And this was certainly something new and unknown.
Snape, released from the curse, focused as best he could on the child standing triumphantly now between him and Voldemort.
"Surprise! Magic doesn't work on me." Jane stated triumphantly.
Voldemort certainly looked surprised. He said nothing.
"Magic won't work on me because it doesn't scare me." Jane didn't know if this was true or not, but she had to say something to keep the upper hand. She had to appear to understand, it was obvious the evil one before her didn't. "Your tricks can't hurt me. Now let Severus go."
"Ass if I would allow a child to dictate to me." Voldemort barked, anger rising.
Jane shrugged, standing boldly, hands on her hips. "As you wish, but you don't have a lot of choice. You could continue to hurt Severus, but he has already shown that he is able to withstand your torture. You could have your stooges to rape me, but they won't be the first to have had that questionable pleasure, you could try to torture me in the old fashioned Muggle way, but my father beat me when I was younger, so that won't worry me too much either. The only thing left is for you to just kill me, but trust me, I have killed and that isn't that satisfying."
She paused and shook her head, not taking her eyes off the dark wizard. "The way I see it, you should just release Severus and then continue preparing for the final battle that everyone seems so wrapped up in. What is the point of wasting so much effort to defeat one man and a Muggle child?" Jane looked at Voldemort defiantly when she finished her little speech and waited.
The Dark Lord was shaking with fury. Snape felt sick. That was EXACTLY the wrong approach to take with Voldemort. He wondered what Jane was thinking. Surely she realised he didn't have the energy or the power to take on the Dark Lord alone, not in his condition. She certainly couldn't be expecting to take him on herself? She had no weapon that would be of any value against him. Even if she had that knife, and was blessed with the opportunity to use it, the Dark Lord was close enough to immortal now that a knife wound would do little but amuse him, and supply him with an effective weapon against her.
There would be no cavalry to save them either. Dumbledore would never find them here, how could he when he himself wasn't even certain where they were? It was all too soon. Nothing was prepared. The old man should have listened to him, he should have made the necessary arrangements far earlier, as he had implored again and again. Now it was too late and all would be lost.
Snape no longer had the energy to be anything other than an observer of whatever would happen next. He almost wished he could look away, but at the same time he couldn't tear his eyes from the brave child who had saved his life more than once.
"Grab her!" Voldemort ordered.
Malfoy was the first to move. He grabbed Jane by her hair, giving it an extra tug in payment for the punishment he had suffered because of her escape. It elicited a small yelp of pain, but Jane didn't submit willingly. Instead, Malfoy forced her roughly towards the seated figure of Voldemort.
Snape wanted to look away as the proud girl was forced to her knees before the Dark Lord. He didn't want to watch her be killed, but without his wand he could do nothing to save her. Even if he had his wand, he doubted he had any power left anyway. He was drained after the morning's proceedings.
Lucius let her go. That was the last mistake he would ever make. Hoping for just such an opportunity, Jane reached into the pocket of her jacket and pulled out the knife. It was so warm it almost burned her hand, but she ignored the sensation. Snape saw that the snake's eyes were glowing, and he could feel the power emanating from the dagger.
Voldemort and the other Death Eaters could obviously feel it too, and they drew back and tried to pull away, but it was too late. So it was true, the Dark Lord thought, the stories of the knife of Salazzar Slytherin resurfacing were true, and there it was before him, in the hands of a Muggle brat!
He wanted that knife; he had to have it! His eyes glowed with recognition and desire. It would be the greatest coup of his reign if he could reclaim that knife and kill the traitor in the same day. Nothing would ever be able to stop him when he had the knife of his ancestor. The world would bow before him and tremble in fear, just as this brat would before he was finished with her.
The time the Dark Lord spent staring at the silver dagger with disbelief, then desire, was all the time Jane needed. With the quickness she had gained from living on the streets, Jane thrust the knife into Voldemort's chest, puncturing his lung and slicing into his spleen.
Snape winced. They had lost. The knife would be little more than a pin prick to the thing that Voldemort had become. Without powerful magic, the magic that Harry Potter possessed, or Dumbledore, or even himself on a good day, the knife would have no effect.
Perhaps he should have removed the knife and given if to the Headmaster for safe keeping. Perhaps he had made his second mistake, this one far worse than his first. Perhaps he HAD helped the Dark Lord gain victory after all. Snape closed his eyes resignedly and waited for the end, only opening his eyes again when nothing seemed to happen. Surely the Death Eaters should have been celebrating by now? They had the knife, they had the child, they had him.
Those in the hall stood, transfixed, as the two snakes that formed the handle of the knife, uncoiled and slithered along the blade. They reared up, preparing to strike. In the silence of the chamber, those standing closest to the Dark Lord heard the snakes hiss in unison - "Foolish human! Pride and greed are the things that have killed you. You were the heir of Slytherin, but that wasn't enough for you and you wasted your life seeking fleeting power and momentary glory. Now there shall never be another heir, and the spirit of Salazar himself will punish you for ending his line."
The two snakes looked at one another and without any further sign, struck out and sank their fangs into Voldemort's neck, one each side. Voldemort's lifeless body slid from his chair to the floor.
Jane watched triumphantly. She had repaid her debt to Severus, and fulfilled her promise to stop Voldemort from hurting him. Now they could live happily, free from harassment and danger. Leaving her knife embedded in the chest of Voldemort's lifeless body, she turned and started to move towards the man who had saved her from her life of poverty, the only one who had ever cared for her. All she could think of was to hold him and never let go.
The Potions Master and former spy had almost formed a smile, when he saw the danger. Surprised as he was that a Muggle child had killed Voldemort, at least been the one to deliver the tool that had killed him, the feel of the dark mark fading from his arm confirmed the Dark Lord's death, he realised that they still weren't safe. He could feel the resentment building within the remaining loyal Death Eaters.
It was Lucius that was first to react. Always the most astute of the Dark Lord's followers, he moved quickly to the fallen wizard and removed the knife from his chest, before moving swiftly towards the girl, who was now walking calmly towards Snape.
Snape tried to shout a warning, but hours of screaming from the torture he had received had rendered him temporarily mute, and nothing escaped his lips but a small croak. Jane noticed the look of horror on his face and tried to determine what caused it.
Moving quickly, Lucius managed to thrust the knife into the small girl's retreating body. She may have killed his master, but he would not allow her to escape unpunished, not again. Killing her may have been too simple for the Dark Lord, a waste of the opportunity to torture another Muggle, but he had no such qualms with killing the girl.
Jane had never imagined that anything could hurt so badly, and the look of shock that formed on her face was enough to send the tormented Potions Master over the edge. Anger boiled in Snape as he watched the girl fall to her knees; hand over the gapping wound in her side.
"You thought you would get away without punishment didn't you? Well I am here to tell you that you were wrong. I should have killed you when I first had the chance, but I won't be so foolish this time. Goodbye Muggle whore."
Jane lay on the floor, clutching at the knife wound that was spurting blood. She opened her mouth to speak, and blood rushed out. She looked at Snape, horrified and afraid.
The look of horror on the girl's face, and knowing he had lost her forever, was more painful than anything Snape had experienced that day. Fury boiling over at her final violation, suddenly finding his voice, Snape reacted without thinking, exploding, as anger overcame his normal self- control. "Incendio," he commanded, hoarsely. Wand free, he expected little to happen, so he was surprised when Lucius burst into flames as the full force of his anger hit him. Lucius appeared to be equally surprised before he fell to the floor as a pile of ash. Lucius' demise at the hands of the wand free Potions Master was enough to confuse the rest of the Death Eaters, and they began to back away from the enraged man.
Moving with unbridled speed, physical pain forgotten now as other emotions tore through him, Snape fell to his knees and drew Jane into his arms, cradling her body close to his. Looking down at her, he saw her shocked eyes registered surprise.
He held his hands over her wound, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood, without success. He tried magic, and that failed too - of all the time for his magic to fail on her! He was the Potions Master, how many times had he claimed he could put a stopper in death?
"I'm sorry," Jane whispered, seeing the pain etched so deeply into his features.
Snape struggled in vain against the tears that threatened to flow as exhaustion and the realisation that she would die struck him. He couldn't believe that such a small child, a child who had so little, had redeemed him. He had laughed at her petulance when she had promised to protect him, yet that is exactly what she had done, while he had wholly failed to protect her. What had he done to deserve such kindness and devotion, and why, with all his power and skill, couldn't he save her?
He realised with a start that she was speaking, her words quiet, as she struggled against death. "Don't be sad Severus. Please. Don't blame yourself. You made me happier than I ever thought I would be."
Snape stroked her face with a trembling, blood covered, hand. "Silly girl," he admonished gently. "Why did you do this? You shouldn't have come here."
Her soft answer, the final words she would speak, almost broke his spirit. "Because I promised."