"Impossible."
"Headmaster, I swear it is true! I saw it with my own eyes."
"He couldn't possible have survived the Killing Curse again!"
"Headmaster. I did. There is no mistaking it when the Killing Curse hits you!"
Sirius spoke up. "Yeah! Because you are dead!"
Aiden glared. "Use Veritiserum on Malfoy! He cast it, so he should know!"
Dumbledore sighed. "Very well. Severus?" The Potions Master withdrew a tiny vial of the clear substance from his robes, and poured it down the unconscience man's throat. "Enervate!"
Lucius opened his eyes slowly. He blankly sat up, staring listlessly at nothing. The headmaster leaned forward. "You name?" he tested the potion. "Lucius Dracaenas Malfoy" He replied in a monotone voice. "Age?"
"Forty five."
"Are you a Death Eater?"
"Yes."
"What is your son's name?"
"Draco Narcissus Malfoy."
"Did you cast the killing curse at Aiden Applin?"
"I don't know anybody by that name."
"Did you cast it at Harry Potter?"
"Yes I did."
"Did you hit him?"
"Yes."
"Did it kill him?"
"I thought it did."
"Thought? Can you tell us what happened?" Albus was on the edge of his seat, as well as the rest of the people in the room.
"I cast the curse, and it hit Potter in his Animaugus form. He fell, and transformed back into himself. Snape ran at us, and we stunned him. I revived him a few minutes later, after taking his wand. He began crying over Potter, and then he threatened me. He said I would pay. So I cast the Killing Curse on him as well."
"Why did it not hit him?"
"Potter got in the way."
"He was alive?"
"Yes. He jumped in front, blocking the traitor."
"So Harry Potter was hit by two killing curses from your wand?"
"Yes."
"So the second Killing Curse hit Harry."
"Yes. But it still didn't kill him. He laughed. Didn't even knock him over. He burned the rest."
"Burned? Who?"
"Flames shot out from him. The rest of the Death Eaters and Dementors burned."
Albus sat back in his chair. The Order was stunned. "How?" everyone was whispering. "How could it be possible?"
Albus started speaking slowly. "It seems, Mr. Applin, that you have an immunity to the killing curse."
Cries from the Order arose. "Silence!" called Albus. He rubbed his forehead before starting again. "It is time I made the prophecy known." He pulled out his Pensieve, tapping it with his wand.
A figure rose out of it, draped in shawls, eyes magnified to enormous size behind her glasses, and she revolved slowly, her feet in the basin. When Sibyll Trelawny spoke, it was not in her usual ethereal, mystic tones, but in a harsh, hoarse voice.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies.and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not.and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
Silence reined as the ghostly Trelawny sunk back into the Pensieve.
Luna Lovegood slowly spoke. "So.that means that the only one able to kill him is the Dark Lord?"
Albus nodded. "It seems so."
Severus sat back. He had never heard the complete prophecy before.he had only heard Voldemort's version of it.
Hermione stared at her old friend. He had never told her.had he even known? It had to of been hard, a child, walking around knowing that eventually he would have to kill the evilest wizard in existence, or be killed.
Aiden put his face in his hands. All he wanted was a quiet, normal life, with someone he loved, and who loved him back. Finally, he stood. "Will you excuse me?" he asked.
Albus nodded. "Yes, this meeting has figured out all we could. You may all go home."
They all stood to leave. "Draco." Albus called.
"Headmaster?"
Albus looked at him sadly. "Your father.I am afraid after this he is too dangerous to be let go."
Draco nodded. "I understand.I.I'll take care of it. Can.can I just have a few minutes with him? And.I want my mother to be here. Maybe.maybe it will serve as a warning to her."
Albus nodded. "I'll summon her immediately."
Aiden put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'll see you later." Draco gave him a bittersweet smile. "Yeah."
Aiden slowly walked down to the dungeons, Severus walking by his side. When they reached Severus' portrait hole, they stopped, and Severus turned to Aiden. "Would.you come in for a minute?"
Aiden shut his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. "All right."
Once inside, he sat down in one of the High backed chairs, sipping a scotch Severus had handed him. Snape sat down across from him and cleared his throat, looking unsure of himself. Aiden almost smiled, he had never seen the Potions Master unsure of anything before. "Yes?" he prompted. Severus swirled the liquid in his glass.sipping slowly.
"A while ago.you told me you killed two men for me." He began.
Aiden nodded. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Aiden sighed. "I am still not sure. I was just so.angry. And scared. They.they could have killed you."
"And then today you took an Avada Kedvara for me."
"I...it was the same.you were about to die, I-I couldn't let you."
"Why do you feel the need to sacrifice yourself for people?"
"I told you before, I don't think I would have done it for anybody."
"Why not?"
"I.it is just a feeling. I would try to save anyone I cared about in that position, but probably not to that extent. I was just.panicked."
Severus nodded. "You put yourself in danger to save the students."
Aiden nodded. "Of course. They were my responsibility. I doubt I would have jumped in front of an Avada Kedvara for them, like Cedric.in my fourth year. I let him die.I just stood there. There is no time to think in a situation like that.with you.I just.reacted." There was a pause.
"It wasn't your fault."
Severus looked up. "What?"
When you thought I was dead.you told me you were sorry."
"I didn't do anything."
"You couldn't have. You would have just killed yourself as well." They both fell silent, and the two of them just sat in the silence, thinking.
Hermione frowned. Severus had disappeared so quickly.without a word to her. She had been worried sick about him. She quickly made her way to his quarters, knocked once to let him know she was there, and spoke the password. He and Aiden were sitting in silence, each sipping on a glass of scotch. Severus looked up as she entered. "Evening." She spoke quietly. "The Headmaster sent a message.Lucius Malfoy is to be executed tomorrow.by Draco."
Aiden stood. "I'll go back to our quarters now then.he shouldn't be alone."
After he left, Hermione sat down across from Severus. "You care about him, don't you?"
Severus stared at her. "What?"
"You do. Care about Aiden. I can tell. More than me, I think. I could see it in your eyes.you were scared to lose him."
"Lose him? I don't-" he trailed off.
Hermione sighed. "Malfoy even said it. You were crying over him. There has to be a reason. And he would have died for you."
"I know." Severus whispered.
Hermione stood. "I'll let you think then." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Goodbye Severus. Do what makes you happy. You both deserve it."
Severus leaned back. Did he deserve happiness? After all he'd done.had.could he be forgiven?
Aiden stared at the door to Draco's room for awhile, debating whether or not to go in. He was about to knock, when someone rapped on the portrait. He walked over and pushed it open.
"Ginny?"
Ginny smiled sadly at him. "Hello, Aiden."
"Come in." He stepped back giving her room.
She looked at him rather awkwardly for a second. She cleared her throat. "You and I haven't really had a chance to talk have we?"
Aiden smiled. "No need.I'd actually rather not. Not about..that."
Ginny stared at her feet. "Just the same.I am sorry. I didn't know."
Aiden raised her chin with two of his fingers. "It's ok. I understand. He was your brother. You've lost just as much as I have."
Ginny smiled. "Thanks."
"Yes. And thank you.for in the Hospital Wing. You and Severus saved my life."
"Least I could do. You'll save us all someday, Harry Potter."
Aiden sighed. "That's not who I am anymore."
Ginny shook her head. "You are. I felt it." She tapped his chest. "Here."
Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose. "You can go on and see Draco.his rooms over there."
Ginny smiled, laid her hand on his shoulder. "We all believe in you, you know." She said, before heading for Draco's room.
Draco lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow morning.he was going to kill his own father, in front of his mother. He didn't know what to think, he had talked to Lucius, he had sobbed, begging him to defy the Dark Lord. Lucius had ignored him. He sighed when someone knocked.
"Come in." He called.
Ginny poked her head in. "Hey."
She walked over to him. "Didn't want you to be alone."
He gave her a half smile. "Nice of you."
She sat down cross-legged on the floor, watching him. She reached out, running her fingers down his cheek. He just looked at her through his icy blue eyes.
"You need to sleep." She whispered.
He grabbed her hand. "Stay?" his voice broke.
She nodded. He slid into his bed, sighing. She transfigured her robe into a long nightgown, and crawled in beside him, wrapping her arms around him, and kissed his temple.
"I won't leave you."
"Headmaster, I swear it is true! I saw it with my own eyes."
"He couldn't possible have survived the Killing Curse again!"
"Headmaster. I did. There is no mistaking it when the Killing Curse hits you!"
Sirius spoke up. "Yeah! Because you are dead!"
Aiden glared. "Use Veritiserum on Malfoy! He cast it, so he should know!"
Dumbledore sighed. "Very well. Severus?" The Potions Master withdrew a tiny vial of the clear substance from his robes, and poured it down the unconscience man's throat. "Enervate!"
Lucius opened his eyes slowly. He blankly sat up, staring listlessly at nothing. The headmaster leaned forward. "You name?" he tested the potion. "Lucius Dracaenas Malfoy" He replied in a monotone voice. "Age?"
"Forty five."
"Are you a Death Eater?"
"Yes."
"What is your son's name?"
"Draco Narcissus Malfoy."
"Did you cast the killing curse at Aiden Applin?"
"I don't know anybody by that name."
"Did you cast it at Harry Potter?"
"Yes I did."
"Did you hit him?"
"Yes."
"Did it kill him?"
"I thought it did."
"Thought? Can you tell us what happened?" Albus was on the edge of his seat, as well as the rest of the people in the room.
"I cast the curse, and it hit Potter in his Animaugus form. He fell, and transformed back into himself. Snape ran at us, and we stunned him. I revived him a few minutes later, after taking his wand. He began crying over Potter, and then he threatened me. He said I would pay. So I cast the Killing Curse on him as well."
"Why did it not hit him?"
"Potter got in the way."
"He was alive?"
"Yes. He jumped in front, blocking the traitor."
"So Harry Potter was hit by two killing curses from your wand?"
"Yes."
"So the second Killing Curse hit Harry."
"Yes. But it still didn't kill him. He laughed. Didn't even knock him over. He burned the rest."
"Burned? Who?"
"Flames shot out from him. The rest of the Death Eaters and Dementors burned."
Albus sat back in his chair. The Order was stunned. "How?" everyone was whispering. "How could it be possible?"
Albus started speaking slowly. "It seems, Mr. Applin, that you have an immunity to the killing curse."
Cries from the Order arose. "Silence!" called Albus. He rubbed his forehead before starting again. "It is time I made the prophecy known." He pulled out his Pensieve, tapping it with his wand.
A figure rose out of it, draped in shawls, eyes magnified to enormous size behind her glasses, and she revolved slowly, her feet in the basin. When Sibyll Trelawny spoke, it was not in her usual ethereal, mystic tones, but in a harsh, hoarse voice.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies.and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not.and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
Silence reined as the ghostly Trelawny sunk back into the Pensieve.
Luna Lovegood slowly spoke. "So.that means that the only one able to kill him is the Dark Lord?"
Albus nodded. "It seems so."
Severus sat back. He had never heard the complete prophecy before.he had only heard Voldemort's version of it.
Hermione stared at her old friend. He had never told her.had he even known? It had to of been hard, a child, walking around knowing that eventually he would have to kill the evilest wizard in existence, or be killed.
Aiden put his face in his hands. All he wanted was a quiet, normal life, with someone he loved, and who loved him back. Finally, he stood. "Will you excuse me?" he asked.
Albus nodded. "Yes, this meeting has figured out all we could. You may all go home."
They all stood to leave. "Draco." Albus called.
"Headmaster?"
Albus looked at him sadly. "Your father.I am afraid after this he is too dangerous to be let go."
Draco nodded. "I understand.I.I'll take care of it. Can.can I just have a few minutes with him? And.I want my mother to be here. Maybe.maybe it will serve as a warning to her."
Albus nodded. "I'll summon her immediately."
Aiden put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'll see you later." Draco gave him a bittersweet smile. "Yeah."
Aiden slowly walked down to the dungeons, Severus walking by his side. When they reached Severus' portrait hole, they stopped, and Severus turned to Aiden. "Would.you come in for a minute?"
Aiden shut his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. "All right."
Once inside, he sat down in one of the High backed chairs, sipping a scotch Severus had handed him. Snape sat down across from him and cleared his throat, looking unsure of himself. Aiden almost smiled, he had never seen the Potions Master unsure of anything before. "Yes?" he prompted. Severus swirled the liquid in his glass.sipping slowly.
"A while ago.you told me you killed two men for me." He began.
Aiden nodded. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Aiden sighed. "I am still not sure. I was just so.angry. And scared. They.they could have killed you."
"And then today you took an Avada Kedvara for me."
"I...it was the same.you were about to die, I-I couldn't let you."
"Why do you feel the need to sacrifice yourself for people?"
"I told you before, I don't think I would have done it for anybody."
"Why not?"
"I.it is just a feeling. I would try to save anyone I cared about in that position, but probably not to that extent. I was just.panicked."
Severus nodded. "You put yourself in danger to save the students."
Aiden nodded. "Of course. They were my responsibility. I doubt I would have jumped in front of an Avada Kedvara for them, like Cedric.in my fourth year. I let him die.I just stood there. There is no time to think in a situation like that.with you.I just.reacted." There was a pause.
"It wasn't your fault."
Severus looked up. "What?"
When you thought I was dead.you told me you were sorry."
"I didn't do anything."
"You couldn't have. You would have just killed yourself as well." They both fell silent, and the two of them just sat in the silence, thinking.
Hermione frowned. Severus had disappeared so quickly.without a word to her. She had been worried sick about him. She quickly made her way to his quarters, knocked once to let him know she was there, and spoke the password. He and Aiden were sitting in silence, each sipping on a glass of scotch. Severus looked up as she entered. "Evening." She spoke quietly. "The Headmaster sent a message.Lucius Malfoy is to be executed tomorrow.by Draco."
Aiden stood. "I'll go back to our quarters now then.he shouldn't be alone."
After he left, Hermione sat down across from Severus. "You care about him, don't you?"
Severus stared at her. "What?"
"You do. Care about Aiden. I can tell. More than me, I think. I could see it in your eyes.you were scared to lose him."
"Lose him? I don't-" he trailed off.
Hermione sighed. "Malfoy even said it. You were crying over him. There has to be a reason. And he would have died for you."
"I know." Severus whispered.
Hermione stood. "I'll let you think then." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Goodbye Severus. Do what makes you happy. You both deserve it."
Severus leaned back. Did he deserve happiness? After all he'd done.had.could he be forgiven?
Aiden stared at the door to Draco's room for awhile, debating whether or not to go in. He was about to knock, when someone rapped on the portrait. He walked over and pushed it open.
"Ginny?"
Ginny smiled sadly at him. "Hello, Aiden."
"Come in." He stepped back giving her room.
She looked at him rather awkwardly for a second. She cleared her throat. "You and I haven't really had a chance to talk have we?"
Aiden smiled. "No need.I'd actually rather not. Not about..that."
Ginny stared at her feet. "Just the same.I am sorry. I didn't know."
Aiden raised her chin with two of his fingers. "It's ok. I understand. He was your brother. You've lost just as much as I have."
Ginny smiled. "Thanks."
"Yes. And thank you.for in the Hospital Wing. You and Severus saved my life."
"Least I could do. You'll save us all someday, Harry Potter."
Aiden sighed. "That's not who I am anymore."
Ginny shook her head. "You are. I felt it." She tapped his chest. "Here."
Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose. "You can go on and see Draco.his rooms over there."
Ginny smiled, laid her hand on his shoulder. "We all believe in you, you know." She said, before heading for Draco's room.
Draco lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow morning.he was going to kill his own father, in front of his mother. He didn't know what to think, he had talked to Lucius, he had sobbed, begging him to defy the Dark Lord. Lucius had ignored him. He sighed when someone knocked.
"Come in." He called.
Ginny poked her head in. "Hey."
She walked over to him. "Didn't want you to be alone."
He gave her a half smile. "Nice of you."
She sat down cross-legged on the floor, watching him. She reached out, running her fingers down his cheek. He just looked at her through his icy blue eyes.
"You need to sleep." She whispered.
He grabbed her hand. "Stay?" his voice broke.
She nodded. He slid into his bed, sighing. She transfigured her robe into a long nightgown, and crawled in beside him, wrapping her arms around him, and kissed his temple.
"I won't leave you."