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A/N: Yay for reviews!

And so we begin to approach the climax.

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There was a note on his desk when Severus got up the next morning. A simple piece of parchment, unsigned, containing only three words, but it told Severus all he needed to know.

I will not.

Severus bowed his head. Brave, courageous, Helena.

It takes courage to play the hero and try to save everyone, he thought, but sometimes it takes more courage not to.

He had an inkling of what it must cost Helena to leave this message for him. Aralinda was the last of the Arachniae, bar Helena herself and Regina. It seemed a safe bet that she would try to rescue the girl.

But she had not.

I will not.

The immense responsibility that he had placed on Helena's shoulders the night before suddenly struck Severus. He had asked her to choose between one of the last remaining denizens of the Arachniae, a girl he knew she loved dearly. and the fate of the world.

Oh wise girl, he thought. Lady, lady, lady.

He sat down, one hand over his forearm, the other clutching the note, and waited for the Mark to burn.

*

"How nice of you to join us, Severus."

Severus glared at Pettigrew. The little man seemed to think himself some sort of Gatekeeper for the Dark Lord, and it irritated Severus no end. "I care not for your grandiose statements, Pettigrew," he said from between gritted teeth. "Get out of my way before I force that silver hand of yours down your throat."

Pettigrew did not scuttle like Severus knew he would have at school, but he lowered his eyes, chastised. "He is waiting for you," he said sullenly.

There was no-one in the room when Severus entered, save Bellatrix Lestrange sitting on her footstool and Voldemort himself. Voldemort was stroking Bellatrix's hair idly. Severus repressed a shudder of disgust behind his shields of Occlumency.

"You spoke to the priestess?" Voldemort asked, his long fingers entwined in Bellatrix's black hair, tangling and untangling.

Severus nodded in assent. "I did." It was his policy to lie as little as possible before the Dark Lord. Vagueness was best, where he could get away with it. He was not so good an Occlumens that he could force to let down his guard. No-one was that good.

"And?"

Severus did not speak, merely proffered Helena's note. I will not.

Voldemort quirked an eyebrow at him - or what passed as an eyebrow, on the Dark Lord's flat, snakelike face. "She refuses my offer?"

"Yes." Again, not a lie.

"Did you try very hard to persuade her, Severus?"

Severus chanced a more speculative statement. "Judging by the state she was in when I left her, Lord, I assumed that she would accept. It seemed given."

Voldemort's eyes searched Severus hard and long and Severus could feel his subtle probes of Legilimency reaching out, trying to find their way behind Severus's equally subtle shields of Occlumency.

Severus bowed his head. "I have failed, my Lord." That, at least, was not a lie. Severus had failed at many things, at many moments.

"Yes," Voldemort said thoughtfully, "but all is not lost."

Severus barely had time to wonder what he was talking about when the Dark Lord's voice took on a darker mien. "But first," he said sinisterly, "this - Helena - must be punished for her choices." Severus focused on the long white fingers, stroking Bellatrix's hair. "Bring out the priestess!"

Severus stood, removing his mask. If he was to witness Aralinda's death, he wanted her to see the apology in his eyes.

The priestess was dumped unceremoniously on the floor. She seemed to be unconscious. Her eyes were closed, her golden hair fallen around her head like a halo.

Voldemort pointed his wand at Aralinda. "Enervate!"

She did not move.

"Enervate!"

Aralinda's body gave a little jolt, like she had been given an electric shock, but then lay quiescent again.

"Enervate!"

Nothing.

Could it be, Severus wondered, that she is already dead? Or is this some trick the priestesses learned from wights?

"Severus," Voldemort said commandingly, "what is wrong with her?"

Severus swiftly knelt next to Aralinda's body. He checked her pulse, first at the wrist and then at the neck. Beating faintly, so quietly it was almost not there, Aralinda's heart beat.

Severus?

Severus blinked.

Severus?

Someone was speaking in his mind.

Severus?

Three times is magic.

Aralinda?

Yes. It is I.

What.?

My sister set me free.

Your sister.?

Helena. Soon I will leave this mortal world forever, but I tarry here long enough to give you this message.

Severus understood. Aralinda was dying, and there was to be no saving her.

Severus Snape, I charge you in the name of the three sisters of fate, in the name of Arachne, in the name of the seelie wights who first built Telae Domus and in the names of Lily, Regina and Helena, best beloved by the goddess, do not let the Lord of Darkness gain our secrets!

Aralinda's eyes opened suddenly, spring-green shining for a glorious instant, before a golden eagle seemed to erupt before Severus's eyes. Aralinda's body convulsed and fell completely, finally limp. Severus knew this was eldritch magic.

They cannot conquer forever! Aralinda whispered in Severus's mind, and then the golden eagle took flight, wings of sunlight carrying it westward, away, away, to the Otherworld, Everhame, the Summerlands.

To a better place.

*

Severus stood. "My lord," he said, "she is dead."

Voldemort sniffed. "It is such a shame when my hostages die before I can kill them myself," he said, his red eyes burning, "but it is of no matter." Malice began to pour off the Dark Lord like mist rolling down a hill. "I shall get the secrets, Severus, and I shall get them today."

"How do you mean?"

"The goblins have capitulated," Voldemort replied. "Gringotts is ours, and so are the secrets she holds in her depths."

Severus felt his heart turn to ice.

Voldemort laughed. "Take the body back to this Helena," he ordered Severus. "Let her see what her foolish choices have done."

With a sickened feeling in his stomach and a heart full of fear, Severus took Aralinda's body in his arms, and Disapparated back to the Shrieking Shack.

*

Severus tumbled out of Dumbledore's fireplace, Aralinda still in his arms. "Dumbledore!"

Dumbledore looked sadly at the body in Severus's arms. "Poor little Aralinda," he murmured. "She was a wonderful student here at school."

"Professor," Severus said urgently, "I just heard from the Dark Lord himself - Gringotts has fallen."

Dumbledore's blue eyed widened. "The goblins have turned?"

"Yes," Severus answered. "He plans to take the papers!"

I cannot let him, he thought urgently. I will fulfil Aralinda's last wish. I will do it!

For an instant, Dumbledore and Severus just looked at each other. And then, finally, Dumbledore spoke.

"Harry is there. Now."

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