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 Fallingby Saerry Snape
Chapter 25 :: December 31, 1995 :: Hogwarts – Midday
Christmas holidays found Sheyne continually in her dorm except for classes and mealtimes. She had yet to set a foot near the dungeons and whenever she saw Harry, she would run off in tears. Stephen and Harry were almost equally distant, the two of them sometimes sitting in the Gryffindor common room talking about everything from Quidditch to things in the Muggle world. Since Severus' death, Stephen had been moved into the fifth year boy's dormitory with Harry, where he got along rather well with Neville.
Of course, Harry was skilled at keeping his feelings hidden and was still fuming inside. Dumbledore noticed it but he knew that not even he could stop Harry if the teen let that fury loose.
The only other person that noticed this was Hermione. She had seen it in his eyes on the only occasion where she'd ever seen him cry. And she continually saw it at other times when Harry saw his reflection and, for a half second, his father.
A little bit of this anger showed itself when Hermione and Harry sat in the Great Hall working on a Charms paper that was due after the holidays. Further down, a group of boys sat, talking softly until one's voice rang out to their ears.
"Aren't you lot glad Snape's gone?"
Hermione looked at Harry as another cried, "Hell, yeah! About time the git keeled off."
"Really keeled off, didn't he?" said another. "Right into another world!"
There was laughter and then another said, "Well, maybe now we'll have chance with that girl of his. Girls will grieve on anyone's shoulder, y'know. And then," the speaker waggled his eyebrows, "you can get more."
Harry's hand tightened about his quill until it snapped in two. Hermione reached across the table and laid her own hand on her other clenched fist.
"Don't," she warned, feeling him trembling with barely contained rage.
"You just want to see the look on his face when he finds out you necked with his sister," quipped another voice and Harry half-rose from his seat with a low growl. Hermione leaned across the table and grabbed his wrist, digging her fingernails in slightly.
"Don't," she said again. "They're not worth it."
Harry looked down at her and had begun to sit back down when, to their surprise, Ron's voice rang out.
"Serves the git right. I hope he choked on one of his potions."
"Okay," hissed Hermione, "that's worth it." She drew her wand to hex them then scrambled about the table as Harry got up and began to walk towards them, a murderous gleam in his eyes.
The group of boys was laughing so hard that they didn't notice Harry's approach until it was too late. He plowed into Ron, landing a hard uppercut on the ginger-haired boy's jaw. Ron tumbled out of his seat onto his back from the force of the blow.
"How dare you?" snarled Harry, standing over Ron.
The ginger-haired boy sat up and wiped the back of his hand across his bleeding lip, which was already beginning to swell along with part of his jaw. He then grumbled, "Snape's gone. I can dare a lot!"
Rage flashed across Harry's face and he punched Ron again. Then he got down on one knee, grabbed the other boy's shirt collar, and pulled him close.
"But I'm still here," he spat.
"Pity," said Ron.
This time there was an almost murderous gleam in Harry's eyes as he slugged Ron across the jaw again, sending the other boy into blissful unconsciousness. He let him fall back onto the floor then stood, looking down at his fist, which was spotted with blood across the knuckles.
Behind him the group of boys began to move forward but a swift charm from Hermione stopped them in their tracks.
"Oy!" cried the boy who had said the bit about wanting to see the look on Harry's face after he had a snogging session with Sheyne and probably a bit more.
Harry heard his voice and turned, eyes flickering coldly as he growled, "You."
"Oh no," said the sixth year, straining against the charm to get away. "No, no… I didn't mean…"
"Shut up!" bellowed Harry. "If you ever make another remark like that about my sister, daydream about her, think about her, I will kill you."
With a pointed glared filled with venom, the dark-haired boy turned sharply on a heel and stalked out of the Hall, deliberately trodding hard on one of the unconscious Ron's hands as he did so.
Hermione shook her head in disgust and began to follow him. One of the boys spotted her and yelled, "What about us?" She stopped, turning halfway around to smile at them.
"Oh, don't worry. It'll wear off in a few hours."
"HOURS!" shrieked the boys as Hermione turned with a smirk on her face and left the Hall.
The moment she stepped outside the doors, a strong arm grabbed her about the waist and swung her about.
"Hey!"
Harry laughed, all anger gone from his face now, and smiled down at her as he released her. "Sometimes I think you've spent too much time hanging around boys," he said.
Hermione laughed too and said, "Yes, far too much time with you. You've tainted me."
Harry smiled again but this time it seemed sad.
"Well…I am truthfully a Slytherin."
Hermione frowned and gently touched his arm, saying, "Harry, your…"
"I know." He looked around them suddenly and added, "Maybe we should go somewhere else. No one else should know about the darker half of my family."
"Agree," said Hermione with a nod. "I think I know a place. C'mon."
"Wait," said Harry, grabbing her arm. When she turned to look at him, he continued, "I want to ask you a question."
Hermione blinked then blushed as he asked, "Why did you kiss me that night when we went to rescue Sheyne?"
"I – I…"
"Let me guess," said Harry. "A spur of the moment sort of thing?"
Hermione opened and close her mouth, her entire face turned red in embarrassment. She mumbled, "I – I don't know why. I really don't."
Harry smiled slightly and said, "S'alright, Mione. I was just wondering. Sometimes…sometimes it almost seems like you're worried about me more than you should be."
"You're my friend, Harry," said the bushy-haired girl, looking up at him. "I worry about you."
"Everybody worries about me," said Harry. "Mostly how I'm going to save all of their asses from Voldemort."
Hermione blinked.
"Harry…I thought Voldemort was dead."
Harry shook his head slowly then began to lead her down the corridor as a group of Ravenclaw girls exited the Hall.
"He's not dead," said Harry softly as they walked towards the marble staircase.
"How do you know?"
Harry pointed at his scar and replied, "This damn thing connects me to him. Since summer, I've been seeing more than the usual dreams. Death Eater raids that he's not even at, conversations between Death Eater's, other things. I've seen every meeting and can remember every detail." He heaved a heavy sigh and said in a softer voice, "Everything."
Hermione gasped as she realized what that entailed.
"Hogsmeade," she breathed. "And that other village. You saw them?"
"Every horrid detail. Plus a good many more that you don't know about." Harry rubbed his scar absently and added, "I wrote them all down. Don't know why."
"But how do you know He's still alive?" asked Hermione. "The Death Eater's could have gone on without him."
Harry sighed and said, "When – when Snape…" His voice trail off, Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.
Hermione took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly, smiling when Harry looked down at her, pain flickering in the depths of his emerald eyes. He took a deep breath then spoke again, voice tight and strained.
"When Snape – died – there…there was something on his arm."
"Besides the Dark Mark?" exclaimed Hermione.
Harry nodded.
"It was just one word. Mine. Voldemort knew his real loyalties and he killed him. Somehow he killed him. No one betrays Voldemort and lives. Karkaroff didn't and Snape didn't. And now…"
Harry's voice trailed off again, this time not in grief but in pain. One hand moved slowly up to his scar while the other went out to Hermione's shoulder. She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him.
"Harry?"
"Something's…wrong," ground the boy out through his teeth.
Suddenly he grabbed his left arm and went down on one knee. Hermione dropped with him, eyes wide as she realized that Harry was gripping his arm at the exact same spot Snape's Dark Mark was – used to be. As the green eyes met brown, she realized he knew this too.
"Go…check…on…Sheyne," growled Harry out between bared teeth, his voice taut with pain.
"But…"
"Go!" yelled Harry, eyes glazing as his right hand tightened its grip until the knuckles burned white beneath his already pale skin.
Hermione grabbed his left and held it tight, dropping to both knees. As their eyes met again, she said in a tone that opted for no disagreement, "I'm not leaving."
Harry scowled at her then grimaced as pain lashed through his arm. His fingers tightened about Hermione's and he let out a scream through his teeth.
As they two of them watched, Harry's hand began to glow as thought a flashlight was cupped in his palm. Harry screamed again, only this time he couldn't hold it back. The sound reverberated off the stones around them and Hermione swore she heard it growing steadily louder. Then she realized that the screams weren't coming from Harry.
They were coming from other students in the castle.
The second after she realized that, the screams rose to their highest pitch and were gone. Hermione looked at Harry and found him down on both knees, head bowed, and the fingers of his left hand still gripping hers like a vise.
A tiny tendril of smoke curled up between the fingers of his right hand and Hermione gasped. She grabbed his hand with her free one and tried to pry it away from his arm. But his fingers were locked about it, the nerves frozen in a clenched position.
"Harry," she gasped, jerking at his hand. "Harry, let go. Let me see."
The dark head shook, a nearby torch making the red in the hair shine like blood.
"Harry, move your hand," ordered Hermione.
The dark head lifted and Hermione looked into a pair of pained green eyes. "I already know what I'll see," said Harry softly.
"What?" asked Hermione. "What is it? What just happened?"
Harry sighed and moved his hand away from his arm. Hermione gasped as she saw the Dark Mark emblazoned there, a burning red beacon against his skin.
"Oh my God," she breathed. "Harry…how?"
"Voldemort," said Harry in a dark, pain filled tone. "He's making a claim."
"A claim," exclaimed Hermione. "What claim? And how did you know this world happen?"
"I told you. I see the meetings. The last one Voldemort told the Death Eaters that he would be claiming their children, which were bound to him by their parents own binding to him. Snape didn't know about this because he was ignoring the summons. Or Voldemort didn't call him. I'm assuming the second one, if its possible."
Hermione gaped at him and breathed, "That's the reason he died, isn't it? Voldemort contacted him somehow and Snape refused to let him have you and Sheyne."
Harry nodded and Hermione continued, "And you know. About this." She flicked her fingers at the Mark.
"What would telling anyone had done?" demanded Harry. "It would have happened anyway. Every child born to a Death Eater after they received their Mark is connected to Voldemort."
"That means…"
"Malfoy and anyone else just experienced what I did." Harry scowled at the Mark for a moment before he jerked the sleeve of his sweater down over it. "Damn him for doing this during Christmas."
Hermione looked at him in silence for a moment then asked, "Now what?"
Harry pushed himself up onto one knee and held out a hand to Hermione. As she took his hand, he said, "We go check on Sheyne. She won't know what happened."
Hermione gaped at him as he stood and pulled her to her feet.
"You didn't tell her?"
Harry looked perturbed as he snapped, "I haven't been able to. Or haven't you noticed?"
"You can't blame her."
Harry stared at Hermione for a long moment then slowly nodded.
"You're right," he acknowledged. "I can't blame her when I'm the one that looks more like Father."
"That's the first time I've heard you call him that," said Hermione as they started to walk towards Gryffindor Tower.
"Well, he is – was." Harry stuffed his hand in the pockets of his jeans as he corrected himself. He then picked up a faster pace and said, "C'mon. I've got a bad feeling."
"About what?"
"About Sheyne being ready to take off my head and possibly some other important organs."
Hermione smiled and patted his arm.
* * *
The moment the two of them entered Gryffindor Tower, they were assaulted by a furious Sheyne. She grabbed Harry's arm and slammed him against the wall, amber eyes blazing. Harry groaned from the impact and muttered, "Must you use panther strength to do that?"
"Bugger that," snapped Sheyne viciously. "Why the hell do I have the Dark Mark on my arm?"
Harry glanced about the common room, which was empty, then looked down at her and replied, "We all do."
"We?" said Sheyne, nose wrinkled.
"We," repeated Harry. "Every child born to a Death Eater after they were Marked. You, me, Malfoy, and whoever else is a Death Eater's child." He paused for a moment then said, "Can I get back to the floor now?"
Hermione blinked at that and looked down. Sheyne not only had Harry up against the wall, she had him a good two feet off the floor.
The dark-haired girl bared her teeth, a few of which were fangs, then released him. As she let the panther go, Harry said, "Thanks."
Sheyne growled in response and Harry sighed.
"Do you remember what was on Father's arm?"
Sheyne's eyes flashed with anger and grief at that. "What does that have to do with anything?" she demanded, hands twisting into claws.
"The word, Shey. All of use, we're connected to him. And he's making his claim."
Sheyne paled and breathed, "He killed Papa so he could get to us. Papa wouldn't let him and he killed him. The bastard. Harry, we've got to get him."
"I know," said Harry, rubbing his scar. "The bastard just won't die. And even with all those raids, Fudge doesn't believe he's back. Even with more people believing, they're all running scared. Dumbledore has too few people."
"Maybe," said Hermione, coming up beside him, "maybe we can help him."
"And not only us!" exclaimed Sheyne, eyes suddenly bright. "Harry, what if there are other Death Eater's children who don't want to follow Voldemort? We could get them all together and…"
"No," said Harry firmly.
"Why?" exclaimed Sheyne and Hermione.
"Because he can control us! He can take control of us and make us do whatever he wants. Like Imperius, only on a larger scale. That may have been how he killed Father."
"So," said Sheyne, fear in her voice, "he could take us at anytime?"
Harry nodded and Sheyne fell back against a chair, eyes wide.
"Oh God…Harry, what are we going to do? I hate him. He ordered my mother's death. I know it. And the Outlaw's. Oh God, no…"
Harry reached out and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. When she looked up at him, he said, "We'll be okay. I swear we will."
Sheyne nodded then frowned.
"Harry, why would Voldemort have done that spell if he could already control us? The one he was doing and we thought he was gone."
"Maybe it didn't work," said Hermione.
"He may have just wanted us," answered Harry. "He knew we were Merlin's Heirs. He knew you were a Shifter and that I'm his great nephew."
"But it didn't work," said Hermione.
"So he went to Plan B," concluded Sheyne. "I see now…"
Harry nodded and said, "He couldn't get us so he want back to his original plan."
"He's a bloody madman," hissed Sheyne.
"Exactly the word I'd use to describe him."
Harry, Sheyne, and Hermione whirled towards the open portrait hole and saw Malfoy standing there, one hand on Neville's shoulder.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" snarled Harry, eyes blazing.
"Easy, Potter," said Malfoy, letting go of Neville and lifting his hands in the air, fingers spread. "I just want to talk."
"Talk?" snapped Sheyne. "You helped your father get me to Voldemort!"
Harry's eyes widened at that and he turned his head to look at Sheyne before flashing raging eyes on Malfoy.
"You bastard! I ought to kill you right now!"
"I wouldn't stop you," said Malfoy. He sighed and said, "I have been acting like a git. The perfect little Death Eater. But I swear to you I don't want to be."
"Why should we believe you?" demanded Hermione, crossing her arms. "After all you've done, why should we trust you? And this! Forcing Neville to bring you in here!"
"Longbottom wants exactly what I want," stated Malfoy. "Don't you, Longbottom?"
Neville nodded slowly and Hermione hissed, "You…you…you…"
"Bastard?" supplied Sheyne.
"Oh, that doesn't even being to describe him!"
"Don't," said Neville softly. "It's not worth it."
"What?" said Hermione in surprise.
Neville sighed and slowly rolled up his sleeve, revealing a blood red Mark. "My father was a spy," he explained as he jerked it back down. "When You-Know-Who found out, he sent out a group to get rid of him."
"Oh, Neville…" murmured Hermione.
"And you knew?" said Harry, looking at Malfoy.
"My father is one of the highest ranking Death Eater's. He knows just about everything."
"Exactly!" snapped Sheyne. "You could be tricking us into trusting you to please Daddy."
Malfoy scowled and spat, "I hate my father!" His expression softened and he added in a softer tone, "And I envied the two of you."
"Us?" said Harry and Sheyne at the same time.
Malfoy nodded.
"Even before, Potter, I envied you. Even without parents you were happy. And then the two of you with Snape… He loved the two of you." He closed his eyes and said, almost to himself, "That's more than I ever got from my father."
"Why did you help him?" asked Sheyne
"Because I knew Potter and Professor Snape would go after you," replied Malfoy. "I thought that maybe my father would get killed in the crossfire or caught and then I could be turned out of my mother's care. She'd break down if something like that happened. And then I could live with Professor Snape. He was my godfather, you know."
"No, we didn't," said Harry. "I still want to know how we know we can trust you."
"I'll do anything," said Malfoy. "Anything you tell me to do. I'll even jump off the Astronomy Tower if you want."
Harry smiled slightly and said, "No. No, I think we can trust you."
"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione and Sheyne.
"Why?" asked Malfoy, looking up at the taller boy in bewilderment.
"Because the Malfoy I know would have said something like 'C'mon, Potter, stop being an ass' or something like that," Harry answered. "And stop calling me 'Potter'."
"Then what shall I call you, Snape?"
"That is my name."
Malfoy blinked and cried, "I was joking!"
"I'm not," said Harry seriously. "And I'll tell you now, Malfoy, that if you are tricking us into trusting you, I'll kill you."
Malfoy started to laugh then stopped when he saw the look in Harry's eyes. And that was one of pure seriousness and the will to carry out that threat.
"Okay. You've got it."
"So," said Sheyne, "now what?"
"I suggest we find any other's like us," replied Malfoy. "I know most of the one's who were delighted when they got the Mark."
"But if Voldemort was control you all…" began Hermione.
"Control us?" squeaked Neville in fear, eyes wide.
Harry and Malfoy nodded at the same time. Malfoy said, "Unfortunately. And how did you know abou it?" This was to Hermione.
"Me," said Harry, pointing at his scar. "I'm doubly connected to the bastard."
"Right," said Malfoy, his eyes flicking to the lightning bolt scar. "That's a new one."
"Shouldn't we go to Professor Dumbledore with this?" asked Hermione. "Shouldn't he know what we're doing?"
Malfoy wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I don't trust that old man."
"He trusted Papa," said Sheyne. "Not many would trust a Death Eater, even one who was Marked against his will."
"Exactly. What makes you think he'll trust us? Or me?"
Harry sighed and said, "I'm sad to say it, but because I am – was – Harry Potter."
Malfoy stared at him for a moment then laugh.
"Y'know what, Snape? That is sad. But it just might work."
Harry smiled slightly and said, "Let's go then."
The four Marked teenagers began to move towards the portrait hole. As Malfoy stepped out into the corridor, Harry turned and saw Hermione standing there staring at him. He held out his hand and asked, "You coming?"
Hermione looked at his outstretched hand then at his face and said, "I shouldn't. I'm not…"
"And I'd never want you to be," interrupted Harry. "It doesn't matter. You know. You're as much as part of this now as we are, Mione."
Hermione looked from his face to his hand then back again. Then she stepped forward and laid her hand in his.
"Okay."
Harry smiled and the two of them exited Gryffindor Tower together.
* * *
"What's the point of talking to the old man if we can't even get in his office?"
Sheyne glared at Malfoy then looked at her half-brother.
"Do you know the password?"
"No," replied Harry, glaring at the gargoyle. "And we could stand here for ages rambling off candies."
"The old man uses candy as a password? I always knew he was nutters."
"Shut up, Malfoy."
"The map," breathed Hermione suddenly. She grabbed Harry's arm and repeated in a louder voice, "Harry, what about the map?"
Harry looked down at her then shoved his hand into one of his pockets, fishing out a sheet of yellowed paper. As he unfolded it, he murmured, "It might work. It just might work." Then he looked at Malfoy and said in a darker tone, "If you tell a soul about this, Malfoy, you'll wish you'd never come to us."
Malfoy sneered at him and said, "You show me how an old piece of paper will help us and then I'll make my promises."
Harry smirked as he pulled out his wand and placed the tip against the paper.
"You'd better get on your knees to make that promise. I solemnly swear I am up to no good."
"Start dropping, Malfoy," joked Sheyne as lines shot out like spider webs on the paper beneath Harry's wand.
"Okay," said Malfoy, peering over Sheyne's shoulder at the map. "I swear I'll never tell a soul. But how will this help us?"
"I'm hoping it'll give us the password to Dumbledore's office," replied Harry to the question. "Just give it a second to find us…ah. There we are."
Four heads peered about his shoulders (as he was taller than all of them) to see the map and the five dots clustered about a little gargoyle.
"Well," said Malfoy. "Hello, Harold."
"You want to see who has the cornier name, Draco?"
"At least my name means something. Harold."
"Malfoy, I'm going to deck you," growled Sheyne.
"Alright, alright. I still don't see how this is going to help…"
At that moment the word 'Peppermint Toad' popped up beside the gargoyle and Malfoy stopped speaking.
"Oh," said the blond after a brief pause. "That's how."
Harry snorted then turned to the gargoyle and said, "Peppermint Toad."
The gargoyle let out what could have been interpreted as a growl and moved aside, revealing the moving spiral staircase. Everyone looked at Harry then, as if waiting for him to go first.
"What?" he said when he realized this, stuffing the map back in his pocket.
"Well, you're the leader of this little outfit," said Malfoy.
"Since when?" demanded Harry, wrinkling his nose.
"Hey," said Malfoy, "my thinkin is you're the only one nearly everyone in the wizarding world will listen to. Even being Snape's son."
Harry frowned for a moment then said, "I don't want to lead anyone, Malfoy. I don't wand their blood on my hands if they end up dead."
Malfoy shrugged.
"Doesn't matter, Potter. Your all we've got."
"The Slytherin wouldn't follow him," said Sheyne.
"They wouldn't follow Harry Potter," said Malfoy. His gray eyes shifted to Harry as he continued, "They will, however, follow Professor Snape's son."
"How about we just decide on a leader later?" asked Neville softly.
"Whatever you want," said Malfoy with a shrug.
"Later," said Harry firmly. "Right now we talk to Dumbledore."
"See? A born leader."
"Shut up, Malfoy," snapped Sheyne as Harry stepped onto the staircase and Neville followed.
"Okay, okay," said Malfoy, letting Hermione go in front of him. "No need to get violent."
"With you there's always a reason to get violent," snapped Sheyne as she stepped up behind him, the gargoyle sliding back into place behind her.
"Snape, your sister's hitting on me."
"Dream on, serpent brains."
"I love it when you talk dirty."
"Will you two stop it?" snapped Harry. "We…" He stopped suddenly and two steps below him, Hermione frowned.
"Harry?" she said in concern. "It something wrong?"
"I…I don't know," replied the boy. "Something doesn't feel ri – "
He didn't finish his last word before the hair rose on the back of all five teen's necks. A bolt of what looked like blue lightning shot down the stairwell and struck everyone but Hermione, who was rendered blind by the brightness of it for a moment. When her vision cleared, she saw her four companions all unconscious.
"What on earth?" was all she got out before the staircase stopped and she turned to find herself in front of Dumbledore's office. And the door was open.
"Professor!" she cried in surprise. "Sir, I can explain…"
"I would like to hear it, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore, looking sternly down at the four unconscious students. "That tiny trap is meant to stop those who carry Voldemort's Mark. I would like to hear this explanation indeed."
"Yes, sir," said Hermione meekly as Dumbledore moved the unconscious students into his office with a flick of his wand then motioned her to follow.