Shahrezad1 – Cookies! Eee!! *quickly stuffing face before anyone else can steal a crumb* Umm… *wiping face* Hopefully you'll like this chapter just as much.
Mademoiselle Morte – Ok, ok, so they're teeny-weeny little plans, but it all goes back to him being part of the story! Right? Right? *clearing throat* Anywhoo. Enjoy.
Anne Boney – Did you get my email? I sent it to both addresses you gave… just checking. Again, hope you enjoy this chapter!
To all who are reading: I hope you like this chapter, and not to fear, the end is near! Heh heh heh… Please! Review!
Chapter 21
Severus was more accustomed to apparating, and so he stumbled the slightest bit as the portkey ended and his feet touched ground in a deeply shadowed bedroom. Next to him, he felt his sleeve released and a moment later, Draco's head appeared.
"The catacombs can be reached through the cellar," Draco said in a low voice. "But there's another way through my rooms."
Severus scanned the room with a sharp glance, all his sense keen and alert. "Which way?" he hissed curtly. He had no time to spare on lengthy explanations. Every moment they lingered, they risked discovery and disaster. And every moment could mean Sonora's life.
Draco flipped the hood of the cloak back up and vanished. A moment later, as Severus waited, tense in the silent bedroom. Then there was a hiss and a whirr, and a portion of the wall slid away, revealing a dark doorway.
"Muggle technology," said Draco's voice, soft and ironic. "Installed generations ago. I only found it by accident, and never told anyone, not that Father would have been interested."
"Stop chattering and move," Severus snapped, slipping his wand into his hand. With his other, he touched the half-filled bottle in his pocket. Sonora had apparently brewed it for him before she was taken, and he would not turn down such a potent protection as she had prepared.
Moving softly and swiftly, Severus stepped through the dark doorway. He had gone no more than two steps forward when the door behind him swung shut with another whirr and he was plunged into darkness. "Lumos," he said softly, and his wand lit with a pale blue light. Counting on Draco to follow him, he moved on stealthy feet down the passage, and then down the long stairway. The stairs were stone and damp, not unlike his dungeons, and they reeked of foul, evil things. The smell of Voldemort, Severus thought grimly.
At last, he came to a smooth stone wall at the end of another hallway. "Well?" he asked in a whisper.
Draco muttered something from behind him, and this time the door disappeared with a silent shimmer. Magic, not muggle work, Severus thought. Much more typical of the Malfoy style.
Carefully, cautiously, Severus pulled the hood of his robe up, concealing his face and making him just another faceless Death Eater. He slid his wand up his sleeve, ready to drop into his fingers, and then stepped forward grimly. He had a woman to find.
Sonora was curled into a ball in one corner of her dark cell, arms wrapped around her knees as she gently rocked back and forth. She'd stopped crying perhaps an hour ago, and now she was merely sitting and waiting. Waiting to die, she thought miserably, cold and terrified to her very soul.
But she'd made a decision, and she knew it was the right one. She hoped Severus would understand, prayed that he wouldn't feel she'd betrayed him by choosing to die and leave him than give in to the Dark Lord. He would understand, wouldn't he? she thought miserably.
She pressed her forehead against her knees and rocked. He would be alone once more, she thought, tears pricking at her eyes again. Deserted and abandoned, this time by someone who claimed to love him. How would he… she shook her head fiercely against her knees. Severus would live. That was all that mattered. She was sure, to the very marrow of her bones, that Dumbledore would take care of him for her.
All her life, she'd felt the Sorting Hat had made a mistake so many years ago by putting her in Gryffindor. She had never been brave, not once in her life. She'd cried, wept, cringed when faced with danger. She'd crumpled and not fought back when attacked in Pakistan. And yet, now the words the Hat had murmured in her mind all those years ago were ringing through her head.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" the Hat said softly. "You're a lonely little thing, aren't you, young Sonora Stone? Slytherin is often the home of for that… but you have quite a thirst for knowledge. You want to learn, don't you?"
"Yes," Sonora thought timidly.
"And yet… I don't think Ravenclaw would quite suit you," the hat said thoughtfully. "You have the mind, but not the matter. You would do far better with the Gryffindors."
"I'm not very brave," Sonora thought back, fearfully. "I'm scared right now."
There was a chuckle in her mind. "Oh, but it's there, my dear. Buried deep when you can't see it now. When you are in your darkest hour and most in need, you'll unearth the Lion inside of you. Yes, I think you truly belong in… GRYFFINDOR!"
For the first time in her life, she was making the choice to do the brave thing. Not the smart thing, not the cautious and intelligent thing. The brave thing. The right thing. She clung to the thought that Severus would be proud, and hugged her legs tighter.
She heard steps echoing down the stone hallway, and as a shiver of fear began to make her body tremble, she lifted her head, ready to face her fate.
Severus had peered in what seemed like a thousand dark and miserable cells. Clearly, he had not been as close in the Dark Lord's confidence as he had thought, if this many people were being kept on Voldemort's command. He thought he had spied an Auror that had gone missing a few weeks back in one of the last cells.
So far, he had been amazingly fortunate. There had been no other living soul in the dark hall.
And then, his luck ran out. Another door opened, and a tall, elegantly dressed figure stepped through the door. Malfoy's hand was wrapped around Sonora's arm as he dragged her from the cell, face relaxed and amused.
"Something tells me you will provide the Dark Lord with a great deal of sport tonight," Malfoy was saying as he callously flung Sonora against the far wall. He paid no attention to Severus, appearing as he did as just another faceless Death Eater minion. Malfoy bent low over Sonora's crumpled form. "Perhaps I should ask my Lord's permission to try some amusement of my own, hmm?" he said in a silky dangerous voice. "After all, it would be interesting to see what has tempted Severus from his Spartan ways."
Severus' fists clenched, and his breath grew ragged as he fought for control. His feet moved silently down the corridor, towards the two. Malfoy glanced up, a frown crossing his face as he spotted his black-draped form.
"What are you doing here?" Lucius snarled. "Get back to our Lord, and inform him that I am bringing the woman."
Severus unclenched his fingers and let his wand drop down, hoping to slip a stunning curse past Malfoy before he realized his error. But the other man's sharp eyes had caught something he did not like, and before Severus could blink, Malfoy had his wand out and pointed at Severus' throat.
"Who are you?" Lucius hissed. His hand was steady, and Severus had been on the receiving end of far too many of the blonde man's curses to not be wary.
His own fingers tensed in readiness. Still, Malfoy had never had occasion to test his own skills before, Severus thought grimly. He might find himself in for a surprise.
"You have something of mine, Lucius," he said in a cool drawl.
Sonora gave a little gasp, but he couldn't spare her a look. All his attention was focused on the sneer before him. "Severus," Malfoy said, triumph in his voice. "I knew it. You were a traitor all along, weren't you?"
"You seem to have all the answers tonight, don't you?" Severus said, his own voice artic-cold. "Give her to me, and I won't kill you."
Lucius laughed, an arrogant sound that echoed dully around them. "Oh, indeed? And how do you propose to do that?" he asked, smirk in full force. "Down that hall are twenty Death Eaters and our Lord, Snape. One spark of magic, and they will all come pouring out." His smile was twisted and gloating. "I think instead, I shall take you to the Dark Lord. He will certainly be pleased to find I have unearthed a spy for him."
Severus did not know where Draco, concealed in the folds of the invisibility cloak, was, and he could no longer wait. His fingers tightened.
"Stupedify!" he hissed even as Malfoy was ready for him.
"Crucio!" the blonde man snapped as he dodged the beam of light that shot from Severus' wand.
The spell hit Severus before he could dodge, and the blue light he recalled from Dumbledore's study flashed before him. The spell disappeared into the blue haze.
"Oh, she is good, isn't she?" Malfoy hissed. "Very well, then, cripliatus!" Severus dodged, and then the fight was on. The two men hurled curses left and right, the stray spells hitting the walls and being absorbed by the stone. Apparently Malfoy was wrong about the Death Eaters realizing they were out there; whoever had converted the catacombs to the cells they were now had also spelled the walls. No one would hear them.
"Primus torturatus!" Malfoy finally flung at him, and this time, Severus was still too far off balance to dodge. The spell hit him, sending a wave a flame licking at his nerve endings and throwing him to the ground. He gasped in pain, but managed to roll, pulling himself up and casting a shielding spell just in time to block Lucius' stunning spell.
And then Malfoy's eyes narrowed and he darted forward. "No!" hissed Severus, guessing his intent too late.
"Crucio!" Lucius' voice was triumphant as he hurled the curse at Sonora, who had managed to drag herself back away from their battle. A bright beam of foul light shot toward her.
"No!" It was wrenched from Severus' lips as all his attention focused on his woman. He could only pray that she was wearing the pendant he'd given her, that the potion was as potent as he hoped.
Sonora had barely thrown her arm up in the air, as if to shield herself, when the spell hit. She gave a gasp of surprise as the air about her shimmered and glowed for a moment. Then a golden light wrapped about her, lighting the corridor. Severus stared in disbelief. He had done it. "Habeus mea cor," he whispered.
"Both of you had the potion?" Malfoy sneered, wand still trained steadily on Sonora's pale, wobbling figure. "Very well, then, Severus, you can watch while I do this the long way… Incendio!" The fire-curse shot toward Sonora, only to once again be deflected by the golden aura about her.
"You can't have her," Severus said harshly, trying to bring the man's attention back to himself, hoping and praying Draco was about, just waiting for his chance to get Sonora to safety. Dammit, why wasn't the boy following the plan, wherever he was? He was supposed to get Sonora out with the portkey he was carrying. He prayed the potion would last until she was safe.
Malfoy barely glanced at him. "I don't think I'll let you have her either," he hissed. "The Dark Lord wanted her. And you, traitor…" A sneer crossed his face again. "You will suffer as well!" Without warning, Lucius whirled on Severus and shouted a curse. Severus staggered as he was once again hit, this time with something that caused a tidal wave a pain to sweep through him. Gagging as his stomach revolted, his legs collapsed beneath him and he fell heavily to the floor.
"Severus!" he heard Sonora call, but his mind was hazed and fogged. He fought the pain, forcing it back, making the mists clear enough for him to see Malfoy lean over and smile a truly cruel smile.
"Say goodbye, Severus," he said softly.
"No," Severus managed to gasp.
Malfoy turned his wand back to Sonora. "Avada Kevadra," he hissed, and the familiar light of the killing curse erupted from his wand. Sonora once again flung up her arm, the golden flow wrapped about her.
This time, the curse hit that golden shield, and something different happened. Severus felt a ripping in his own chest and gasped in pain. The beam of light splintered into shards that then scattered in a thousand directions. Severus, lying and trying desperately to claw his way out of the pit of agony he was currently in, lifted his head in time to see one shard streak straight at Lucius.
"What…?" Malfoy began, only to scream in pain as the sharp light pierced his body. Severus began to crawl toward Sonora.
And then Draco appeared, face whiter than white, hands trembling as they clutched the folds of the invisibility cloak. "Father…" he croaked as Lucius writhed on the ground, still screaming.
The door at the end of the hall flung open, and Severus could see the other Death Eaters finally come streaming to their fallen comrade's aid. "Sonora," he managed to say, stretching out his fingers. She caught his hand in hers, her slender fingers grasping his with surprising strength.
"Hold on," her voice said in his ear, sounding terrified and so brave at the same time. "Draco! Come on, now!" The jets of light as the Death Eaters and their curses neared were becoming more and more, and Sonora staggered as she pulled her body over his. She was covering him from the curses raining around them, he realized dimly.
Then Draco was there, face damp, wrapping a hand around Severus' arm. "Hogwarts," the boy said, and Severus felt the portkey activate.