Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter along with Scholastic and whoever else.  I only own my characters so DON'T SUE!!!

Six Feet and Falling

by Saerry Snape

Chapter 21 :: November 29, 1995 :: Voldemort's Fortress

"Merlin's beard…  It actually worked!"

Madame Pomfrey looked around the room they had landed in and added, "At least…I think it did."

"It did," said Severus.  "There's only one place in the world that looks like this and this is it."

"Is it also the only place in the world that doesn't have heating?" grumbled Harry, scowling as he rubbed his arms.

"Probably."

"Let's just find Sheyne and get out of here," said Madame Pomfrey, moving towards the door.  Severus quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her backwards.

"Severus?  What…?"

"Only Death Eater's can open the doors.  Precaution against Aurors and escaping prisoners."  He released her and moved past, opening the door wide and peering out into the cold, stone corridor.

"No one.  Come on.  We have to hurry."

The three of them quickly left the room and filed into the corridor, Severus leading them.

* * *

Voldemort chuckled as the tiny replica of the door in the small model of the fortress flashed green.  He looked at the bound panther on the floor and said, "Well, my dear, it seems they have finally arrived to rescue you.  Only…it won't be a rescue, not will it?"

He laughed at that and went back to watching the model as Sheyne writhed against her bonds once more.

She had to get out to warn her father and brother!

* * *

"Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo."

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to pick a tunnel."

Harry gave his father a disbelieving look and said blandly, "You must be joking.  'Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo?'"

"Yes."

Harry turned to Madame Pomfrey and said, "Are you sure he was a Slytherin?"

The witch nodded.

"He was."

"'Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo?'"

Madame Pomfrey waved a hand and muttered, "He picked it up from me."

"Ah.  PICK A BLOODY TUNNEL!"

Severus glared over his shoulder at Harry then pointed to the right.  "That way."

"Oh, is that what the miney's told you?"

"No, that's the way I remember going to the throne room."

"Throne room?" said Harry.

"I believe it implies a throne," said Madame Pomfrey.

"Stop bickering and let's go," growled Severus.  "He's probably keeping Sheyne in that room with him."

"Why would he be doing that?"

Severus looked at Madame Pomfrey but Harry answered.

"Because he'd be expecting us to come after her."

"It's a trap?"

"I said we were going to be butchered," growled Harry, crossing his arms over his chest.

"We are not going to be butchered!" exclaimed Madame Pomfrey.

Severus sighed and said, "We will if we don't have a plan.  And that does not include tying bells to our boots and putting moldy cheese in our pockets."  He glared at Harry here.

"Hey," said Harry, "Mold is innately frightening."

"Shut up."

Harry shrugged and the three set off again down the right tunnel.  Not long after that they reached a junction where four of the stone corridors came together.

"This doesn't feel right," murmured Madame Pomfrey.

"And for good reason," spouted a voice from nowhere.

Severus' wand was instantly in his hand and Harry was surprised to find as soon as he thought about his wand, it appeared in his hand.  Madame Pomfrey was slower getting out her wand but did get it out as the two wizards eyed the four corridors.

"Now, now, Severus," said the voice.  "You wouldn't want to hurt me, now would you?"

Severus blinked and gasped, "William."

William Tairn, fourteen years older since Severus had last seen him after Rowena's death, stepped out of what could only be an illusion and smiled grimly at the three of them.

"Hello old friend.  Come to rescue your dear daughter?"

"You son of a bitch!" snapped Severus.  "You were the traitor!"

"Yes!" cried William.  "I was the one!"  His voice softened as he added, "Did you really think you'd get away with betraying the Master, Severus?"

"He was never my Master, William.  And he never will be."

"So be it," said William.  "You and Pomfrey will have to die then."  His eyes, cold and shrewd, fell upon Harry, who glared at him.  "The boy on the other hand…"

Severus stepped in front of Harry and lifted his wand to point at William's heart.  Twenty other wands protruded from other illusions around them but Severus didn't make notice of them.  He just glared at William and snarled, "If you touch Harry, I'll kill you."

Harry blinked and stared at the dark clothed man who was his father.  He had never been meant to be the man's son and here he was defending him!  Was this really Severus Snape, the greasy Potions Master?

"Now, now, Severus," said William, smiling as the Death Eaters around them dispelled the illusion charms, keeping their wands trained on the three in the center of their circle.  "Let's not be hasty, shall we?"

Severus growled and glanced out of the corner of his eyes at the Death Eaters.  William took that moment and grabbed the older man's arm, wrenching it to the side.  There was a pop as the bones at the shoulder disconnected and Severus let out a scream through his teeth.  Harry leapt at William, hands twisted into claws as an animalistic snarl bubbled up out of his throat, before he even knew what he was doing.  The still smiling man effortlessly grabbed his hands and twisted him around so Harry's back was against his chest.  Struggling, the teen watched as the other Death Eater's jerked Severus to his feet, not caring about his injured shoulder.  Madame Pomfrey spat in one's face as he tried to grab her and was slapped for it.

"Stop it!"

William laughed coldly and spoke into Harry's ear, "'Stop it?'  You want us to stop, little serpent?"

Harry shook with rage as he spat, "Yes."

"Then we shall."  He then turned to the others and said, "Kill them."

"NO!" yelled Harry, struggling to get out of William's grip, but the man was already dragging him away.  He kicked up hard in the leg, jabbed him with his elbows – he did everything he could think of.

"Harry!" cried Severus as the Death Eaters dragged him and Madame Pomfrey away.

Harry managed to twist about before William had shoved him through a door and yell back at him.

"Father!"

A/N: The bit about mold comes from the Draco Series.  Bless Cassandra Claire for her amazing series!  If you haven't read it…GO!  READ IT!  I COMMAND THEE!