L'Enfant Préoccupé Chapter Eleven - Rescue and Return By RoseRed
Severus stood silently in his place in the circle which was slowly closing in on Harry. He was faced with one of the biggest moral dilemmas of his life. Did he just stand there and watch the boy die, losing all of his hard-earned trust from those precious few like Dumbldore. Or, did he intervene and rescue him, losing him all chance of continual spying for the Order, and becoming second only to Harry on Voldemort's most wanted list. This would make him utterly useless to the side of the light, but if he didn't save Harry, the consequences from Dumbldore could prove much worse then Voldemort's rath.
Knowing he had but one choice, Severus acted quickly. He silently took out his wand and was able to knock out enough of the Death Eaters that he was able to run over to Harry, scoop up the unconscious child and get himself back to Hogwarts. Voldemort had been having to much fun torturing Harry to realize that Severus was going to do anything. He had made a safe return to Hogwarts with Harry, and chose to think of the consequences after he made sure that Harry would be alright.
Severus levitated Harry from the edge of the Forbidden Forest to the hospital wing of the old school. When he arrived, Albus, Minerva and Poppy were all waiting. Severus set Harry gently down on the bed that was already prepared and watched Poppy begin crying at the side. After many years of helping Severus with his injuries, she was able to overcome her emotions and begin work on the fragile looking Harry.
Severus was pacing silently next to Harry's bed. Poppy had tried to usher everyone out of the room, but Severus had refused to move. He knew that Harry's condition was critical, and that the boy might not live. Severus found himself full of conflicting emotions, something that didn't usually afflict the decisive man. He knew that there would be hell to pay for what he had done. Voldemort would want him almost as much as he wanted Harry. Severus knew that no matter where he went, he would be hunted until Voldemort and every one of the Death Eaters was dead. He had to get away from the school or risk endangering everyone else. He also knew that Hogwarts was the safest place for him. Severus also wondered if Dumbldore would even let him stay. He was no longer going to be able to spy for The Order. Even though he was the best potion's maker in all of Britain, would Dumbldore think him worth the risk?
At the very core of all of Severus' thoughts, was Harry. He had given up trying to pretend that he didn't have slowly growing feelings for the young man. Harry had been through many of the situations that Severus himself had had to face at a young age. Severus knew what it felt like to be a scarred and troubled child.
(Flashback)
"Mister Snape, your father wishes a word with you in his study." The Snape family's main servant, William, told the seven year old Severus.
Severus stood slowly and walked the long corridor and down the stairs to his father's private study. He knew that being called there was not a good thing. Only once before in his life had he been asked into that study, and that was when he received his lecture on how to be a Proper Snape.
Severus knocked on the large oak door and entered at his father's word. "You sent for me, Father."
"Yes, sit down." Severus' father looked at him sternly and without love or compassion. "Do you know why I've called you down?"
"No, Sir." Severus said quietly.
"Severus, I believe it is time for your instruction in Dark Arts to begin. It is early, yes, but I believe it vital for you to be able to grow with this knowledge, and someday be able to serve a great lord with it."
"Father, I.I.I do not wish to use Dark magic." Severus had known this was coming for many months, and had decided he would take a stand against the man he had seen kill Muggles for no reason other then a cheap thrill.
"How dare you say that! You are my son, and if I wish you to be instructed in this subject, then you shall be!" Severus' father walked over and slapped him hard across the face.
"Father, please!"
"You are worthless, Severus, absolutely worthless." At the end of his words, he picked Severus up out of the chair, and threw him against the wall. "I thought that if you were taught something useful, I could make something out of you, but I see I was wrong." Severus was laying on the floor crying, much to his father's distaste. Severus' father kicked in hard in the stomach before calmly returning to his chair behind the massive desk. "You will learn Dark Arts, Severus. Now, leave my sight." Severus got up and did his best not to let his father see the tears.
(End flashback)
Severus' thoughts ended when he saw Dumbldore emerge from Harry's room with a grave look on his face. "Severus, I need not lie to you, Harry may not live."
"I know." Severus turned silently and walked out of the hospital wing.
Severus stood silently in his place in the circle which was slowly closing in on Harry. He was faced with one of the biggest moral dilemmas of his life. Did he just stand there and watch the boy die, losing all of his hard-earned trust from those precious few like Dumbldore. Or, did he intervene and rescue him, losing him all chance of continual spying for the Order, and becoming second only to Harry on Voldemort's most wanted list. This would make him utterly useless to the side of the light, but if he didn't save Harry, the consequences from Dumbldore could prove much worse then Voldemort's rath.
Knowing he had but one choice, Severus acted quickly. He silently took out his wand and was able to knock out enough of the Death Eaters that he was able to run over to Harry, scoop up the unconscious child and get himself back to Hogwarts. Voldemort had been having to much fun torturing Harry to realize that Severus was going to do anything. He had made a safe return to Hogwarts with Harry, and chose to think of the consequences after he made sure that Harry would be alright.
Severus levitated Harry from the edge of the Forbidden Forest to the hospital wing of the old school. When he arrived, Albus, Minerva and Poppy were all waiting. Severus set Harry gently down on the bed that was already prepared and watched Poppy begin crying at the side. After many years of helping Severus with his injuries, she was able to overcome her emotions and begin work on the fragile looking Harry.
Severus was pacing silently next to Harry's bed. Poppy had tried to usher everyone out of the room, but Severus had refused to move. He knew that Harry's condition was critical, and that the boy might not live. Severus found himself full of conflicting emotions, something that didn't usually afflict the decisive man. He knew that there would be hell to pay for what he had done. Voldemort would want him almost as much as he wanted Harry. Severus knew that no matter where he went, he would be hunted until Voldemort and every one of the Death Eaters was dead. He had to get away from the school or risk endangering everyone else. He also knew that Hogwarts was the safest place for him. Severus also wondered if Dumbldore would even let him stay. He was no longer going to be able to spy for The Order. Even though he was the best potion's maker in all of Britain, would Dumbldore think him worth the risk?
At the very core of all of Severus' thoughts, was Harry. He had given up trying to pretend that he didn't have slowly growing feelings for the young man. Harry had been through many of the situations that Severus himself had had to face at a young age. Severus knew what it felt like to be a scarred and troubled child.
(Flashback)
"Mister Snape, your father wishes a word with you in his study." The Snape family's main servant, William, told the seven year old Severus.
Severus stood slowly and walked the long corridor and down the stairs to his father's private study. He knew that being called there was not a good thing. Only once before in his life had he been asked into that study, and that was when he received his lecture on how to be a Proper Snape.
Severus knocked on the large oak door and entered at his father's word. "You sent for me, Father."
"Yes, sit down." Severus' father looked at him sternly and without love or compassion. "Do you know why I've called you down?"
"No, Sir." Severus said quietly.
"Severus, I believe it is time for your instruction in Dark Arts to begin. It is early, yes, but I believe it vital for you to be able to grow with this knowledge, and someday be able to serve a great lord with it."
"Father, I.I.I do not wish to use Dark magic." Severus had known this was coming for many months, and had decided he would take a stand against the man he had seen kill Muggles for no reason other then a cheap thrill.
"How dare you say that! You are my son, and if I wish you to be instructed in this subject, then you shall be!" Severus' father walked over and slapped him hard across the face.
"Father, please!"
"You are worthless, Severus, absolutely worthless." At the end of his words, he picked Severus up out of the chair, and threw him against the wall. "I thought that if you were taught something useful, I could make something out of you, but I see I was wrong." Severus was laying on the floor crying, much to his father's distaste. Severus' father kicked in hard in the stomach before calmly returning to his chair behind the massive desk. "You will learn Dark Arts, Severus. Now, leave my sight." Severus got up and did his best not to let his father see the tears.
(End flashback)
Severus' thoughts ended when he saw Dumbldore emerge from Harry's room with a grave look on his face. "Severus, I need not lie to you, Harry may not live."
"I know." Severus turned silently and walked out of the hospital wing.