Unforgivable

Severus had desperately tried to flee the coming brightness that had caused the shadows cast by the trees to look black as pitch.

They were coming to force him to go back – back to the sneering faces and the nasty comments and the crude jokes at his expense. Now turned facing the light, he had never wanted to die more desperately than he did at this moment.

No oh please I don't want to go I can't look at their faces

Now in full-blown panic, the Dark child whirled away from the light and stumbled toward whatever awaited him in the interior of the Forbidden Forest. He ran for a minute or so, and then shrieked as a low-growing vine invisible in the dark ensnared his foot. He actually heard bone snap as he came crashing to the forest floor. He knew immediately that they had heard his cry, and that all was lost.

"There! I hear 'im!" shouted Hagrid, starting to run.

The rest followed him.

Dumbledore's Light nearly blinded young Severus Snape, who shielded his eyes as he lay on the ground hyperventilating in fear and pain.

And then he remembered, and pulled his wand out of his sleeve.

Twigs snapped as heavy footfalls came closer and closer. One of Hagrid's group was the first to reach the child.

"STAND BACK!" Severus screamed. "DON'T COME ANOTHER STEP CLOSER!"

The man knew nothing about this dark boy and the wand he clutched. He continued his approach.

"Petrificus totalus!" Severus shrieked, and the man fell to the ground.

"What the --?" Hagrid gasped. "Don't ye want to be rescued, young 'un?"

"GET – AWAY – FROM – ME," snarled Snape. "If you don't, I'll hit you with an Unforgivable, I swear I will!"

"I don't think so, lad. Looks to me like you're hurt. Just let me come on over and have a look at you – "

"STAY AWAY!" the boy cried.

Professor McGonagall's voice came from behind him. "Rubeus, let me catch up with you and see what – "Instead of answering her, Hagrid continued to walk toward the fallen student.

"NO!" Snape screamed. "DON'T!"

Every horrific memory he'd ever had – memories of being touched and being hurt as far back as his conscious mind could reach – drove out the last of his good sense as he watched the huge man approach. The pain in his ankle was excruciating. He was trapped.

"CRUCIO!" he shrieked in desperation, pointing his wand. Hagrid dropped to the ground screaming as the Cruciatus Curse did its ugly job.

"Severus! Stop it!" Minerva screamed, grappling for her own wand and trying to deal with the concept of a child using an Unforgivable.

There came a final crashing through the woods behind her as AlbusDumbledore broke through. "FINITE INCANTATUM!" he roared. Hagrid stopped his writhing and lay gasping, muscles still twitching.

Snape's eyes met Dumbledore's. "GET BACK, ALL OF YOU! I DON'T WANT TO BE RESCUED! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME GO BACK THERE!"

"It's all right, child," Nurse Pomfrey said. "Can you stand up? If you can't, let me help!"

"LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE! GET BACK OR I'LL USE THE OTHER 'UNFORGIVEABLE' ON ALL OF YOU!"

Everyone in the rescue party froze at this. They all knew that he referred to the Avada Kedavra, the sinister killing curse. The boy's mind had quite obviously become unhinged.

At that moment, Albus Dumbledore knew what he had to do. He stood tall and proud, and looked at Snape with his clear blue eyes.

"We understand, Severus. I am going to send everyone back. You don't have to leave here unless you want to come back with me. I will be the only one to stay, and you can talk to me if you like. The choice is yours alone."

"Too bright," the Slytherin boy said. "Hurts my eyes."

At this, Dumbledore glanced at his wand, reducing the light by half.

"Better?"

The boy nodded. "Now send the others away." He kept his wand aimed right at the Headmaster's chest.

"Albus! Are you sure?" Minerva asked, her voice full of mistrust.

"Absolutely. Poppy, take Rubeus back and tend to him. Mobilicorpus!"

Hagrid felt himself being gently lifted. ""Tis all right, sir. I can make it." Poppy grasped his arm, thicker than a fireplace log. "Poppy 'ere will take good care of me."

"Minerva, please go back and see to whatever needs doing at the school. The rest of you, please return and await word from me."

With serious misgivings, the members of the rescue party turned and picked their way through the brush by the light of their own wands. It was obvious that the light they provided was woefully inadequate.

"Wait, Minerva. Take my wand."

She whirled back and stared at him in shock.

"Come and take it. I'm sure Severus' wand is more than adequate for our purposes."

Keeping her eye on the boy, Minerva moved forward and accepted the wand. His eyes were round; it was clear that he was as astounded as she was.

"All right. Use its full illumination and get everyone back safely. I will let you know what will happen next after I speak with young Severus here."

"Please – be careful, Albus," McGonagall said solemnly. "Please."

Dumbledore watched her walk away, and turned to face Snape's wand.