Chapter 13: Sacrifice
Hermione awoke the next morning ensconced in warmth, and she realized after a minute that Severus had wrapped his arms around her, and he was sleeping solidly, breathing slightly against her neck. She didn't bother moving, and instead snuggled in closer to him and went back to sleep.
An hour later, however, they were both unable to sleep any longer, and began to shift and yawn. Hermione rolled over to face him, "Good day sunshine." He smirked and yawned, "Morning." She stood up and stretched, "I'm so bloody tired," she said, tilting her head and stretching her neck. "So am I, after last night," he muttered beneath his breath; she heard him and laughed. "Yes, we really must do that again some time," she said with a mischievous smile; he smiled back, feeling as if nothing could possibly be wrong in the world.
Unfortunately, that wouldn't last for much longer.
Hermione and Severus went upstairs to the great hall for breakfast, and after a few odd glances from staff members and students they realized that they were a little too happy for what was normal, and tried to tone down their permanent smiles.
Hermione had just begun to eat her eggs and toast when suddenly Severus, who was seated beside her, let out a cry of pain and clutched his forearm. She almost spat out her food, knowing what it meant, and was about to ask when suddenly the great hall rocked in an explosion.
The High Table was blown backward, and Hermione was slammed into the wall; Severus too went skittering back and hit his head against the table, and he stood up slowly, dizzied in pain. Smoke was pouring into the great hall, and Hermione gasped and choked on the blackness. She helped Severus to stand, and after a few more seconds of swirling madness he pulled out his wand and said, "Stay here, I'm going to find Adrian." "Severus don't!" she cried, but he turned back, "Stay here!" he barked, and ran into the billowing haze.
She coughed and hacked, but pulled out her wand and tried to clear the smoke; it refused her spells, and she let out a noise of anger, although silently she feared the worst.
Severus sped along the hallway as fast as he could, and the password to the Slytherin common room was barely out of his mouth before he was bounding through the doorway. A few students were seated on the green chairs, and they looked up in alarm at his hasty entrance. "Where is Adrian Granger?!" he snapped. One of the students said, "He just left a minute ago. Said he had somewhere he needed to be." "Did he say where?" "No, he just left." "Damn!" he muttered; he turned to leave, then looked back over his shoulder, "All of you are to stay here. No one is to leave the dormitory. Alert the prefects."
They nodded, confused, and he was off again, back down the corridor, trying to figure out where Adrian would have gone. Then it hit him, and he almost cursed himself, and turned back the other way, running all the way down to his chambers.
A minute later he was dashing down the stone steps, and he saw Adrian sitting there; clearly he had been trying to get into their chambers. "Adrian!" he cried, grabbing hold of him by the arm, "Are you all right?" "Of course I'm all right, what's the matter?" he asked. "Never mind that," said Severus, yanking him up the steps, "we have to get you out of here. The great hall's just been attacked." Adrian's eyes grew wide, but he kept running beside Severus, "Is Hermione all right?" "She's fine, yes, I told her to stay there until I had you."
They were almost to the top of the stairs of the dungeon when they heard screaming, and rough voices yelling at a woman. Severus jerked Adrian into a dark alcove; a minute later, the voices were passing them by, going down the stairs, and Severus saw, with dread, that four Death Eaters had a hold of Hermione. Adrian lurched forward, but he pinned him back and slapped a hand over his mouth, watching carefully. "Let go of me you sonofabitch!" cried Hermione angrily, struggling in their grasps. "Can't let you go, I'm afraid, not till we know where the boy is," said a familiar voice, and Severus silently suspected it was Macnair.
Adrian's eyes grew wide with horror, and he struggled harder, but Severus held him back firmly. The voices descended further into the dungeon, and Severus knew it was safe for the moment; he turned to the youth, "Listen to me Adrian. You have to stay here. You can't go anywhere in this castle; I don't know if it's safe. There might be more Death Eaters or...or worse. Stay here in the alcove and wait for me. I'm going to get your sister back. And not a word, you understand? You stay here in the shadows and do not do anything!"
Adrian nodded slowly, and he slid further into the darkness; Severus turned and ran lightly down the steps, and his footfalls carried, but only just. He was about to round the last corner when he heard a loud slap, and the following sound of someone falling to the floor. "Shut up bitch," muttered one of the Death Eaters, "it's your mouth that gets you in trouble half the time so shut it." Severus felt his blood boil, but he waited for the moment to present itself.
Sure enough, one of the Death Eaters went around the corner to inspect the dungeon, and Severus cried, "MACHUVIO!" The Death Eater fell to the ground, writhing as boils covered his body, and Severus jumped over him and ran around the corner shouting, "EXPELLIARMUS!"
Three wands went flying, but he caught only one; the other two dove for theirs, and in the meantime Severus threw the spare wand to Hermione, who caught it with ease. A series of hexes later, three more Death Eaters were lying on the floor, and Severus bound them all quickly with four snaps of his fingers.
Hermione was gasping for breath, "Where's Adrian?" "Hiding in an alcove," said Severus, "I told him to wait there." "Then I doubt he's doing it!" she cried, "Knowing him!"
They left the four Death Eaters bound, gagged, unconscious, and wandless, locked away in a small cupboard, then ran back up the steps. Adrian was still there, looking scared, and he let out a yelp of relief when he saw the two of them, "I was about to come find you!" he said, hugging her tightly. "I'm glad you didn't," she said, "they're after you. The last thing they need is for you to walk right into their hands."
"Like he did just now."
Hermione, Severus, and Adrian whipped about, and there, with red gleaming eyes, stood Lord Voldemort. Severus slammed both of them into the alcove as far as possible, then turned to face Voldemort, "My Lord!" he said, bowing his head. "Nice try Severus, but I'm not falling for it this time," said Voldemort dryly, "it's a little too late for false niceties. Stand aside. I'll deal with you later." He refused to move, and Voldemort's eyes flickered with anger, "I said move, Snape! You're already in this deep enough as it is!"
Severus said nothing, and Voldemort, angered, cried, "Crucio!" In a second Severus had fallen to the floor, writhing in pain, and Hermione pulled out her wand, but too late; Voldemort cried "Expelliarmus!" and her wand as well as Adrian's went flying straight into his hands.
He laughed a high, cold laugh, "Ah yes, Hermione Granger. Your courage precedes you. Much like your parents, nonetheless." "Don't speak to me of my parents you murderer!" she hissed, blocking Adrian from view subconsciously. Voldemort chuckled, "And don't bother trying to hide your brother from me. I'm well aware that he's there, and I'm also aware of his power." He released Severus from the Cruciatus Curse suddenly, and he lay there motionless. Hermione felt the urge to run to him, but would not leave Adrian.
A few Death Eaters appeared suddenly, and Voldemort nodded toward Hermione, "Take her. Go put her in the dungeons somewhere. Have a little fun with her on my part." They reached for Hermione but suddenly Adrian yelled "Wait! Stop! No!" Voldemort held up his hand, "You have something to say?" Adrian hesitated, then, "If you...if you let both of them go, if you let them live...I'll go with you freely." "No!" shouted Hermione, turning to face him, "No! You can't do that! I won't let you!"
His eyes were steeled, "I have to, Hermione. It's the only way all three of us will get out of this alive." He looked over her shoulder at Voldemort, "Do we have a deal?" Voldemort's mouth flickered with pleasure, "Yes, we do." Severus's eyes blinked open, "No, Adrian, don't do it..." "It's this or all three of us die!" said Adrian, "It's the only choice we've got!"
Hermione sobbed out loud as Adrian stood beside Voldemort, who put a hand on his shoulder. She shut her eyes and looked away, horrified, as Voldemort spoke, "Well, this was much easier than I'd planned. And since I'm a man of my word, I will leave your sister and your uncle alone. My Death Eaters, however, might not." "What? That's not fair! You liar!" shouted Adrian, struggling against his iron grip. Voldemort snapped his fingers, and ropes wrapped around Adrian tightly, "Liar is such a dirty word. I prefer interpreter of the truth. Take them both. Here are their wands, just in case. I'm leaving with the boy. Cause as much damage as possible."
He jerked Adrian up the steps, and Hermione cried out, but the Death Eaters dove for her and Severus. A minute later, she was biting, kicking, scratching, doing anything to get them off of her, and for a heartbeat she thought she was about to meet her end. But then, somehow, Severus jumped into the fray and punched one of the Death Eaters across the jaw; the wand fell from his hands, and Hermione dove for her it and turned to one of the other Death Eaters, "Covelia!" The Death Eater let out a shout of pain and began scratching at the invisible rash all over his body, and he fell to the floor.
Severus was slammed into the wall by one of the Death Eaters, but Hermione was seething with so much rage that she wasted no time. "Xoria!" The Death Eater fell to the floor, unconscious, and now they were two on two. Within minutes, they felled the Death Eaters, and Severus and Hermione were both a fearsome sight to look upon, blood pulsing with hatred and anger.
They both ran up the stairs, although Severus seemed to be taking it slower after the Cruciatus Curse, and he urged her on ahead, "Go, find Adrian! Go, forget about me, I'll go back and tie up the Death Eaters! Go!" Hermione did not need telling twice, and she dashed into the corridor outside the great hall to discover that it was alight with fire and smoke, and she hid her nose and mouth beneath her robes. Voldemort had been here. He had caused this. Trying to stem the tide of flames back so she could get through to the doors, finally she made it, and ran out of the castle and onto the grounds. She knew they couldn't have Apparated just yet; it was too soon for that, and they could not yet be all the way across the grounds.
She looked down toward the gates and saw two distant figures approaching them, and she ran full speed toward them. Her legs pumped as fast as she could will them to, and her lungs were bursting with fire. Sweat poured down her brow, and her hair flew out madly behind her. Now she could see clearly that it was indeed Voldemort and Adrian, and from the looks of it, Adrian was putting up a hell of a fight.
They were almost to the gates now, and once they reached the gates they would Apparate and be gone. She ran faster, and Voldemort glanced her and pulled harder at Adrian. The boy jerked the other way, but being an eleven year old, he hardly stood a chance against the Darkest wizard of modern times.
Hermione was almost to the gates, but so were they, and she pulled out her wand and shouted "Ipsalom!" The yellow spell went right past Voldemort, and he gave one last tug and he and Adrian were through the gates. He didn't hesitate, "Aparecium!" Hermione let out a tormented scream of horror, and saw Adrian's frightened eyes one last time before he and Voldemort were gone.
Hermione awoke the next morning ensconced in warmth, and she realized after a minute that Severus had wrapped his arms around her, and he was sleeping solidly, breathing slightly against her neck. She didn't bother moving, and instead snuggled in closer to him and went back to sleep.
An hour later, however, they were both unable to sleep any longer, and began to shift and yawn. Hermione rolled over to face him, "Good day sunshine." He smirked and yawned, "Morning." She stood up and stretched, "I'm so bloody tired," she said, tilting her head and stretching her neck. "So am I, after last night," he muttered beneath his breath; she heard him and laughed. "Yes, we really must do that again some time," she said with a mischievous smile; he smiled back, feeling as if nothing could possibly be wrong in the world.
Unfortunately, that wouldn't last for much longer.
Hermione and Severus went upstairs to the great hall for breakfast, and after a few odd glances from staff members and students they realized that they were a little too happy for what was normal, and tried to tone down their permanent smiles.
Hermione had just begun to eat her eggs and toast when suddenly Severus, who was seated beside her, let out a cry of pain and clutched his forearm. She almost spat out her food, knowing what it meant, and was about to ask when suddenly the great hall rocked in an explosion.
The High Table was blown backward, and Hermione was slammed into the wall; Severus too went skittering back and hit his head against the table, and he stood up slowly, dizzied in pain. Smoke was pouring into the great hall, and Hermione gasped and choked on the blackness. She helped Severus to stand, and after a few more seconds of swirling madness he pulled out his wand and said, "Stay here, I'm going to find Adrian." "Severus don't!" she cried, but he turned back, "Stay here!" he barked, and ran into the billowing haze.
She coughed and hacked, but pulled out her wand and tried to clear the smoke; it refused her spells, and she let out a noise of anger, although silently she feared the worst.
Severus sped along the hallway as fast as he could, and the password to the Slytherin common room was barely out of his mouth before he was bounding through the doorway. A few students were seated on the green chairs, and they looked up in alarm at his hasty entrance. "Where is Adrian Granger?!" he snapped. One of the students said, "He just left a minute ago. Said he had somewhere he needed to be." "Did he say where?" "No, he just left." "Damn!" he muttered; he turned to leave, then looked back over his shoulder, "All of you are to stay here. No one is to leave the dormitory. Alert the prefects."
They nodded, confused, and he was off again, back down the corridor, trying to figure out where Adrian would have gone. Then it hit him, and he almost cursed himself, and turned back the other way, running all the way down to his chambers.
A minute later he was dashing down the stone steps, and he saw Adrian sitting there; clearly he had been trying to get into their chambers. "Adrian!" he cried, grabbing hold of him by the arm, "Are you all right?" "Of course I'm all right, what's the matter?" he asked. "Never mind that," said Severus, yanking him up the steps, "we have to get you out of here. The great hall's just been attacked." Adrian's eyes grew wide, but he kept running beside Severus, "Is Hermione all right?" "She's fine, yes, I told her to stay there until I had you."
They were almost to the top of the stairs of the dungeon when they heard screaming, and rough voices yelling at a woman. Severus jerked Adrian into a dark alcove; a minute later, the voices were passing them by, going down the stairs, and Severus saw, with dread, that four Death Eaters had a hold of Hermione. Adrian lurched forward, but he pinned him back and slapped a hand over his mouth, watching carefully. "Let go of me you sonofabitch!" cried Hermione angrily, struggling in their grasps. "Can't let you go, I'm afraid, not till we know where the boy is," said a familiar voice, and Severus silently suspected it was Macnair.
Adrian's eyes grew wide with horror, and he struggled harder, but Severus held him back firmly. The voices descended further into the dungeon, and Severus knew it was safe for the moment; he turned to the youth, "Listen to me Adrian. You have to stay here. You can't go anywhere in this castle; I don't know if it's safe. There might be more Death Eaters or...or worse. Stay here in the alcove and wait for me. I'm going to get your sister back. And not a word, you understand? You stay here in the shadows and do not do anything!"
Adrian nodded slowly, and he slid further into the darkness; Severus turned and ran lightly down the steps, and his footfalls carried, but only just. He was about to round the last corner when he heard a loud slap, and the following sound of someone falling to the floor. "Shut up bitch," muttered one of the Death Eaters, "it's your mouth that gets you in trouble half the time so shut it." Severus felt his blood boil, but he waited for the moment to present itself.
Sure enough, one of the Death Eaters went around the corner to inspect the dungeon, and Severus cried, "MACHUVIO!" The Death Eater fell to the ground, writhing as boils covered his body, and Severus jumped over him and ran around the corner shouting, "EXPELLIARMUS!"
Three wands went flying, but he caught only one; the other two dove for theirs, and in the meantime Severus threw the spare wand to Hermione, who caught it with ease. A series of hexes later, three more Death Eaters were lying on the floor, and Severus bound them all quickly with four snaps of his fingers.
Hermione was gasping for breath, "Where's Adrian?" "Hiding in an alcove," said Severus, "I told him to wait there." "Then I doubt he's doing it!" she cried, "Knowing him!"
They left the four Death Eaters bound, gagged, unconscious, and wandless, locked away in a small cupboard, then ran back up the steps. Adrian was still there, looking scared, and he let out a yelp of relief when he saw the two of them, "I was about to come find you!" he said, hugging her tightly. "I'm glad you didn't," she said, "they're after you. The last thing they need is for you to walk right into their hands."
"Like he did just now."
Hermione, Severus, and Adrian whipped about, and there, with red gleaming eyes, stood Lord Voldemort. Severus slammed both of them into the alcove as far as possible, then turned to face Voldemort, "My Lord!" he said, bowing his head. "Nice try Severus, but I'm not falling for it this time," said Voldemort dryly, "it's a little too late for false niceties. Stand aside. I'll deal with you later." He refused to move, and Voldemort's eyes flickered with anger, "I said move, Snape! You're already in this deep enough as it is!"
Severus said nothing, and Voldemort, angered, cried, "Crucio!" In a second Severus had fallen to the floor, writhing in pain, and Hermione pulled out her wand, but too late; Voldemort cried "Expelliarmus!" and her wand as well as Adrian's went flying straight into his hands.
He laughed a high, cold laugh, "Ah yes, Hermione Granger. Your courage precedes you. Much like your parents, nonetheless." "Don't speak to me of my parents you murderer!" she hissed, blocking Adrian from view subconsciously. Voldemort chuckled, "And don't bother trying to hide your brother from me. I'm well aware that he's there, and I'm also aware of his power." He released Severus from the Cruciatus Curse suddenly, and he lay there motionless. Hermione felt the urge to run to him, but would not leave Adrian.
A few Death Eaters appeared suddenly, and Voldemort nodded toward Hermione, "Take her. Go put her in the dungeons somewhere. Have a little fun with her on my part." They reached for Hermione but suddenly Adrian yelled "Wait! Stop! No!" Voldemort held up his hand, "You have something to say?" Adrian hesitated, then, "If you...if you let both of them go, if you let them live...I'll go with you freely." "No!" shouted Hermione, turning to face him, "No! You can't do that! I won't let you!"
His eyes were steeled, "I have to, Hermione. It's the only way all three of us will get out of this alive." He looked over her shoulder at Voldemort, "Do we have a deal?" Voldemort's mouth flickered with pleasure, "Yes, we do." Severus's eyes blinked open, "No, Adrian, don't do it..." "It's this or all three of us die!" said Adrian, "It's the only choice we've got!"
Hermione sobbed out loud as Adrian stood beside Voldemort, who put a hand on his shoulder. She shut her eyes and looked away, horrified, as Voldemort spoke, "Well, this was much easier than I'd planned. And since I'm a man of my word, I will leave your sister and your uncle alone. My Death Eaters, however, might not." "What? That's not fair! You liar!" shouted Adrian, struggling against his iron grip. Voldemort snapped his fingers, and ropes wrapped around Adrian tightly, "Liar is such a dirty word. I prefer interpreter of the truth. Take them both. Here are their wands, just in case. I'm leaving with the boy. Cause as much damage as possible."
He jerked Adrian up the steps, and Hermione cried out, but the Death Eaters dove for her and Severus. A minute later, she was biting, kicking, scratching, doing anything to get them off of her, and for a heartbeat she thought she was about to meet her end. But then, somehow, Severus jumped into the fray and punched one of the Death Eaters across the jaw; the wand fell from his hands, and Hermione dove for her it and turned to one of the other Death Eaters, "Covelia!" The Death Eater let out a shout of pain and began scratching at the invisible rash all over his body, and he fell to the floor.
Severus was slammed into the wall by one of the Death Eaters, but Hermione was seething with so much rage that she wasted no time. "Xoria!" The Death Eater fell to the floor, unconscious, and now they were two on two. Within minutes, they felled the Death Eaters, and Severus and Hermione were both a fearsome sight to look upon, blood pulsing with hatred and anger.
They both ran up the stairs, although Severus seemed to be taking it slower after the Cruciatus Curse, and he urged her on ahead, "Go, find Adrian! Go, forget about me, I'll go back and tie up the Death Eaters! Go!" Hermione did not need telling twice, and she dashed into the corridor outside the great hall to discover that it was alight with fire and smoke, and she hid her nose and mouth beneath her robes. Voldemort had been here. He had caused this. Trying to stem the tide of flames back so she could get through to the doors, finally she made it, and ran out of the castle and onto the grounds. She knew they couldn't have Apparated just yet; it was too soon for that, and they could not yet be all the way across the grounds.
She looked down toward the gates and saw two distant figures approaching them, and she ran full speed toward them. Her legs pumped as fast as she could will them to, and her lungs were bursting with fire. Sweat poured down her brow, and her hair flew out madly behind her. Now she could see clearly that it was indeed Voldemort and Adrian, and from the looks of it, Adrian was putting up a hell of a fight.
They were almost to the gates now, and once they reached the gates they would Apparate and be gone. She ran faster, and Voldemort glanced her and pulled harder at Adrian. The boy jerked the other way, but being an eleven year old, he hardly stood a chance against the Darkest wizard of modern times.
Hermione was almost to the gates, but so were they, and she pulled out her wand and shouted "Ipsalom!" The yellow spell went right past Voldemort, and he gave one last tug and he and Adrian were through the gates. He didn't hesitate, "Aparecium!" Hermione let out a tormented scream of horror, and saw Adrian's frightened eyes one last time before he and Voldemort were gone.