Chapter 47. Escape.
The two Death Eaters entered the dimly light, cold and bare room. There was a fire burning, but no warmth was radiating from it. There were no windows, and the only way in or out was through the door they had just come in through. The door shut quickly behind them, drowning out the sound of the demons chattering behind them, and Buffy, strapped to a wooden chair in the middle of the room, glanced up, her eyes bloodshot.
Under his mask, Peter Pettigrew grinned maliciously. Buffy Evans had never warmed to him as a child, had never fully trusted him, and no doubt that had not changed.
Buffy stared at the two masked men, only seeing their eyes, cold, dark and masked. The Death Eater on the left was short and fatter than the one on the right, and Buffy had a burning desire to know who they were.
Then, as if they had heard her thoughts, they both took off their masks, and Buffy could see their faces. The Death Eater on the right was Snape, and she made no sign of acknowledgement to him, no silent pleading for him to help her escape. She was not sure if he had changed sides since Harry's death, and did not want to find out the wrong way.
The man on the left was a different story. His face was chubby and pale, with large teeth and small beady eyes. His hair was dirty and greasy, and there was stubble on his chin. He looked familiar to Buffy, like an old friend she hadn't see for a very long time. And then she saw his hand. One of his hands gleamed in the dull light, shined and reflected Buffy on her chair, a silver hand.
Wormtail.
The glare on her face intensified, and she managed a croaky: "You."
He laughed, high pitched and gleeful. He walked closer to her, his silver hand closing into a fist. Buffy struggled in her chair, trying with even more energy to break out of her bonds, every part of her body and mind and heart wanted desperately to kill him, to wipe that smug look off his face, cut off his mouth so he could never grin again…
His silver hand closed around her throat, and Buffy was suffocating, every gasp for breath was a desperate struggle. The hand tightened, and her vision went black, her struggles lessened and then:
"Stop it Wormtail." Snape ordered. "She's no use to us dead. The Dark Lord will not like that."
The grip on her throat lessened, and Buffy gasped, taking in as much oxygen as she could. Her vision returned to normal, and she saw Wormtail glare at Snape, put his mask on, and then leave.
Buffy coughed, her throat even sorer, and as soon as the door closed, Snape conjured up a glass of water. He came closer to her and the cool glass touched Buffy's dry, parched lips. She opened her mouth willingly, and Snape tilted the glass so cool water splashed into the depths of her mouth and Buffy drank thirstily.
When she had finished, Snape placed the glass by her foot, and Buffy whispered her thanks.
"I just found out." Snape whispered. "I haven't told Dumbledore yet."
"How am I gonna get out of here?"
"I do not know. Security is very tight; they suspect someone to help you out of here."
"It's too dangerous for you to risk everything, it's not worth it."
"I'm sure Black does not think so." Snape growled. "And Potter would like his aunt back."
"He's alive?" Buffy breathed.
Snape frowned. "Of course."
"But Malfoy told me…never mind," Buffy said, feeling stupid.
"Your sacrifice was not in vain. You saved him." Snape said.
Buffy grinned. "Was that a bit of kindness?"
"Are you mad? Of course it was not." Snape defended, but the smile did not falter from Buffy's face.
"What's gonna happen now?"
"I will go back home, alert Dumbledore. Then I will create a portkey, apparate back here and then find a way out of here, and take you back to safety. Probably Grimmauld Place. You'll be safest there, and there will be a few people happy to see you." Snape turned to go, replacing his mask.
"Thanks Severus." Buffy said, from her chair.
"You're welcome, Buffy."
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Snape did exactly what he said he would do. He apparated back to his home and wrote on a piece of parchment:
'It's happened. Tell Moody and Tonks to meet us at Godric's Hollow. They can take Buffy back. Do not worry about me, I shall be fine.'
He tied it to his owl's leg and told the owl to send it to Dumbledore. He then took an empty beaker and said "Portus". He draped a piece of cloth over it and then put it in his pocket. He opened a cupboard and took out a long slender wand, Buffy's wand, and a silver dagger. He tucked it in his pocket with the beaker, and apparated back to Voldemort's hideout.
The corridor surrounding Buffy's room was almost deserted, save a few demons that guarded the entrance. They nodded to Severus and let him in, and Severus was shocked to find Wormtail back in the room with Buffy.
Peter looked behind him, and silently acknowledged Snape, and then turned back to Buffy. His face was covered with his mask again, but his silver hand gleamed in the fire light. Buffy struggled desperately on her chair, an angry look on her face, her eyes burning with hatred. She clenched her fists and struggled even more as Peter started to speak.
"I was just saying, Severus, how fulfilling it was to hear about the Potter's death." Peter said maliciously.
"Bastard." Buffy whispered.
"They never suspected me, did you know that Buffy? Never did they think it would be poor, weak Peter to betray them." He paused, lost in the memories, in the feeling that haunted so many, but not him. He had no regrets, no remorse. He had traded his friends for a better, more powerful one, and he had never felt guilty. "They shouldn't have underestimated me."
"You talk as if you are a powerful wizard." Buffy said, "But you're not. You're nothing! You're worthless." She spat.
"Sticks and stones, Buffy." Peter said mockingly. "Didn't Lily ever teach you that?"
"Don't you dare talk about my sister like that!" Buffy yelled, lunging forward at him, but the chair stayed glued to the floor, and she jerked back painfully. Peter laughed.
"I'll talk about her any way I want. She's dead. And she's never coming back, not to you and not to her dear son Harry."
"It's because of you that Harry doesn't have any parents!" Buffy yelled. "Don't you feel sorry for him? Do you not feel guilt? You were at his birth! You held him like Sirius and Remus did! Don't you feel anything?"
"No. I don't feel anything. I don't feel guilty and I don't feel remorse. Do you know why? I've found something better. I'm better off with Lily and James dead. I'm a better as a person."
"No you're not. You're just a follower. A sheep. You are a weak, gullible man who killed his only friends for a chance to be around some powerful wizards, who see you as a worthless person. You don't have a skill to offer them. What use are you to them?"
"I resurrected the Dark Lord!" Peter laughed. "That is more than anyone has ever done for Him! And I split your nephew blood for him also. Cut him to resurrect my master."
"And they were your biggest mistakes. Using Harry, resurrecting Voldemort and killing my sister. I'll make sure you pay. I'll kill you with my bare hands if I have to, but you will pay." Buffy said coldly, her gaze turning to ice. He couldn't help himself; Peter stepped back from Buffy, threatened by the power and darkness that emanated from this small girl.
"I think you should leave." Snape's cold voice interrupted the quiet.
"Yes, yes, I think I will Severus." Peter stuttered and he hid his silver hand in his robes, and left the room without a backwards glance. The heavy doors shut behind him.
"Get me out of here." Buffy said heavily. "The sooner you do, the sooner I can kill him." He
"Security here is very tight. I have a portkey here that will transport you to Godric's hollow, where Moody and Tonks will take you back to headquarters. Finite Incantatum."Buffy sighed with relief as the bonds disappeared and she stood up, stretching. Snape averted his eyes. "I've got your wand and a weapon." He said, handing the items to her. "You are going to have to fight." Snape said. Buffy winced and looked down at her clothes, a long black skirt, a lacy black shirt and large heels.
"Not in these clothes." Buffy said.
Snape frowned and handed her the portkey. "Wait here." Snape ordered, and Buffy sat back down on the chair. Snape left the room, but came back a few minutes later with black robes, similar to the ones he was wearing. "Put it on." He said, and Buffy nodded. She took out her dagger and cut two long slits down the skirt, making it easier for her to move. She shrugged on the robe and lifted the hood, concealing her face from view. "You will have to get well outside of this building. The Dark Lord can tell who apparates and uses a portkey to get out of her. I'll escort you the majority of the way, to protect you, but you will need to be quick, someone will find out that you have escaped and it will be very hard getting out of here."
"Sure thing Mr. Pole up the Butt. Just take it easy, we'll get out of here safely."
"How can you be so sure?" Snape asked gruffly.
"Because I did not get resurrected to be held captive by Voldemort." Buffy said.
"You sound sure."
"I do, don't I?" Well, I guess it means that I am." Buffy said, inching herself towards the door. She took out her dagger and hid it carefully in the sleeve of her robe.
"Demons guard this door." Snape warned. "Only three." Buffy nodded, and Snape opened the door and casually walked out, Buffy following.
"Hey!" One of the demons shouted, realizing something was amiss. "What-"
And then Buffy stabbed the demon in the eye, and kicked at another one. She turned back to the stabbed demon, which was flailing with pain, and twisted his neck roughly, killing it. She did the same with the other one, and retrieved her dagger. She looked back at Snape who had successfully stunned his demon. Silently agreeing, they hurried down the corridor, Snape leading the way. It was not long before another Death Eater turned into their corridor, and Buffy kept her head down, so she would not be seen. She held her breath nervously as the Death Eater neared them, getting her dagger and wand ready in case he stopped. Thankfully, he walked straight past.
Snape and Buffy got to the exit of the building relatively easily, having only encountered a few demons and vampires, and one Death Eater. However, the moment they stepped outside, a loud whirring noise sounded, and Buffy knew that it was an alarm.
"Shit." She muttered, but was off running towards the woods she could see in the distance. "Go Snape! I'll be fine!" Buffy yelled as she ran, and Snape, against his will, headed back into the building, praying to Merlin that she would.
Buffy ran as fast as she could, the cold air seeping in through her thin clothes, her feet aching as she ran. She could see the dark, foreboding forest, and she reached it in a matter of minutes. She threw herself into it, running faster and faster, as branches and holly scratched at her clothes. She found that holes were being made in her shirt and robe from being scratched by the menacing forest.
She paused for breath at a clearing, bending, panting and wiping the sweat that covered her face. She shook her hair free from her eyes, and checked to make sure she still had her wand, portkey and dagger. She did. She looked around; her surroundings were almost hidden by the darkness that consumed the forest. Thick leaves hid the sky from view like a blanket, and Buffy thanked the Powers-that-be that she had slayer vision. She wasn't completely lost in the dark.
"Tired?" A menacing voice said, and Buffy groaned. Appearing from behind the trees were several vampires, and a mixture of demons.
"How about we do this later, guys." Buffy said. "I am really not dressed for it."
"Your problem." One of the vampires said, advancing.
"Incendio!"Buffy shouted, aiming her wand at the advancing vampire. The vampire screamed in pain as flames erupted on his clothes, and he disappeared into ash.
Buffy was suddenly attacked from behind, and she was flown forward, losing her wand in the process. Her mouth was full of dirt and leaves as she hit the forest floor, but she spit them out and kicked the vampire in the face, her stiletto heels piercing his cheek. Buffy jumped back up, punching and kicking at vampires and demons as they came at her, trying all the while to get back to her wand.
She managed to acquire a piece of wood, and managed to dust a vampire with it. There was only one more vampire left, and the rest were all demons. She delivered a high spinning kick at one of the demons, cracking his neck and green goo spurting out from its neck. She kicked another one in the chest, sending it flying backwards, and she straddled it, twisting its neck forcefully as she did.
However, she was tired, and because she had not been fighting for a while, she wasn't in the best of shape. So when she had twisted the demons neck, the remaining vampire pulled her upright, holding her arms in a lock from behind. She screamed, knowing it was no use. She kicked and flailed, but the vampire was too strong. She could feel the vampire's head leaning towards her exposed neck, and she screamed as she felt teeth bite into her neck. The vampire sucked her blood hungrily, and Buffy felt herself grow tired. She struggled to hold onto her life, and in once rush of energy, kicked the vampire in the knee, breaking it. She crumpled to the floor, but took out her dagger and thrust it into the last demons' head as it neared her.
The vampire was groaning with pain and Buffy thanked Merlin that she had landed near her wand. She seized it, and said "Wingardium Leviosa!"
Her aim was pointed at a large branch next to the vampire, and it floated into the vampire's heart, dusting it. Buffy sighed and unwrapped the portkey, not caring that it might not be far away enough from Voldemort's building. As her head dropped onto the forest floor in exhaustion, she felt a tug behind her navel, and she was whisked away from the forest, her neck bleeding horribly.
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Sorry about the lateness again guys. Work and everything piling on top, but good news! We are close to the end!
As always, thanks for your reviews! It makes me happy :)
phoenix83ad: So I guess it was just a whole big misunderstanding thing, huh? :)
Elsawriter: How about an update? I need one! Please please please update? Pretty pretty please?
Next chapter should be up in a week, I have actually written it which is a good thing. There is major fluff in the next chapter, the only chapter in the story so far that actually ends on a happy note. So I'm proud. I hope you all are too. :)
As always, please review!
