Ashes of Victory
Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own them. None of do. Unfortunately. Please don't sue me, okay? (See end of chapter for author's notes.)
There were still a few hours before dawn when Albus Dumbledore Apprated onto the damp, gloomy island that was home to Azkaban Prison. He immediately felt the presence of several hundred Dementers. Albus quickly built the strongest mental shields he could. He stood for a moment in the darkness to gather himself, then cast an Invisibility spell upon himself. The strength of his magic was sufficient to insure the Dementers would never sense his presence. Cautiously, he made his way to the entrance of Azkaban.
He slowly made his way down the corridors of the prison. He was trying to follow Severus' magical signature to his child. It was not easy, with the other prisoners and the Dementers. The mental pounding was crippling. Several times Albus had to clutch at the stone of the corridor walls to keep himself upright when a Dementer passed by him. The darkness that followed in their wake was enough to drive Albus to his knees. He refused to think what Severus was going through.
Albus stopped outside a thick, wooden door. It was almost heavy enough to block out the terrified screams coming from within. Almost.
The Headmaster raised trembling hands to press them on the door. He was afraid of what was on the other side. Of what he would find.
Summoning all the Gryffindor courage inside him, Albus closed his eyes and sent his awareness through the door. Unfortunately, he had been right. Severus Snape was on the other side of the door. Along with three Dementers.
Withdrawing from the room, Albus leaned back against the wall next to the door. He would have to wait for the Dementers to leave. Tears ran unchecked down the old man's face as he waited, listening to the screams of his child.
Finally, the door opened. The screams had ended quite a while ago. Albus held himself ready as the three Dementers glided out, one by one. As the last one exited, invisible Albus darted in. The door closed behind him.
Albus was immediately drawn to the huddled mass of clothing in the corner. Examining Severus quickly, the Headmaster was relieved. It looked as if Severus had not received any physical harm. Mentally was another story.
Dumbledore dropped the Invisibility spell he had been using. That started the clock ticking. The Dementers would now be aware of his presence in Azkaban. Wrapping his arms around the unconscious ex-Deatheater, Albus concentrated hard on Apparating elsewhere. Some place safe where no one would find them. Rather than concentrate on where, he worked on breaking the wards.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Albus became aware of three things. Severus was awake. Severus was feeding Albus his own magical strength. A Dementer was opening the door. A huge amount of them would be following the first one.
As the first Dementer glided through the door, a loud –POPPING- sound was heard.
Albus had to hand it to the Fates. He had gotten what he had asked for. They were somewhere safe where no one could find them.
They were in the middle of a blizzard, outside the entrance to a cave. Albus wasn't even going to think of where.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. None of do. Unfortunately. Please don't sue me, okay? (See end of chapter for author's notes.)
There were still a few hours before dawn when Albus Dumbledore Apprated onto the damp, gloomy island that was home to Azkaban Prison. He immediately felt the presence of several hundred Dementers. Albus quickly built the strongest mental shields he could. He stood for a moment in the darkness to gather himself, then cast an Invisibility spell upon himself. The strength of his magic was sufficient to insure the Dementers would never sense his presence. Cautiously, he made his way to the entrance of Azkaban.
He slowly made his way down the corridors of the prison. He was trying to follow Severus' magical signature to his child. It was not easy, with the other prisoners and the Dementers. The mental pounding was crippling. Several times Albus had to clutch at the stone of the corridor walls to keep himself upright when a Dementer passed by him. The darkness that followed in their wake was enough to drive Albus to his knees. He refused to think what Severus was going through.
Albus stopped outside a thick, wooden door. It was almost heavy enough to block out the terrified screams coming from within. Almost.
The Headmaster raised trembling hands to press them on the door. He was afraid of what was on the other side. Of what he would find.
Summoning all the Gryffindor courage inside him, Albus closed his eyes and sent his awareness through the door. Unfortunately, he had been right. Severus Snape was on the other side of the door. Along with three Dementers.
Withdrawing from the room, Albus leaned back against the wall next to the door. He would have to wait for the Dementers to leave. Tears ran unchecked down the old man's face as he waited, listening to the screams of his child.
Finally, the door opened. The screams had ended quite a while ago. Albus held himself ready as the three Dementers glided out, one by one. As the last one exited, invisible Albus darted in. The door closed behind him.
Albus was immediately drawn to the huddled mass of clothing in the corner. Examining Severus quickly, the Headmaster was relieved. It looked as if Severus had not received any physical harm. Mentally was another story.
Dumbledore dropped the Invisibility spell he had been using. That started the clock ticking. The Dementers would now be aware of his presence in Azkaban. Wrapping his arms around the unconscious ex-Deatheater, Albus concentrated hard on Apparating elsewhere. Some place safe where no one would find them. Rather than concentrate on where, he worked on breaking the wards.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Albus became aware of three things. Severus was awake. Severus was feeding Albus his own magical strength. A Dementer was opening the door. A huge amount of them would be following the first one.
As the first Dementer glided through the door, a loud –POPPING- sound was heard.
Albus had to hand it to the Fates. He had gotten what he had asked for. They were somewhere safe where no one could find them.
They were in the middle of a blizzard, outside the entrance to a cave. Albus wasn't even going to think of where.
