Fanfiction based in the world of Harry Potter, created by JKR. Her
characters are hers. Original characters are mine. Please see first
chapter for full disclaimers and description. Important but longish A/N at
the end of this chapter. Thank you.
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Chapter 20: Fiery Assault
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It was late Saturday evening before Severus had the chance to see Rowena privately. It was nearly two weeks since he had last been alone with her. Even so, this was an accidental encounter. It was a fine, clear early fall evening, and the moon was quite full. She was heading outside when he spotted her.
"Lupin, where are you going at this hour?" he demanded rather harshly.
She turned and looked at him, her hair down at present, loose and flowing. She raised a brow challengingly, "I'm just going for a walk on the grounds for a bit. Is that a problem?"
He sighed, "Rowena, you shouldn't be wandering around on your own. You know about the rat..."
Instead of arguing with him as he expected her to do, she smiled brightly and took his hand. "Why yes, Professor Snape, I would love to have company as I go for my evening walk—how very gallant of you to offer."
He snorted in disgust, but allowed himself to be drawn outdoors. She tucked her hand into his arm and headed towards the path around the lake.
"The point of this excursion, Lupin?" he asked dryly.
"The point is exercise, fresh air and pleasant company," she said, with playful sarcasm, "but apparently I have to settle for two out of three."
He smirked at her, "Indeed. Do not look to me for pleasant company."
She was about to tease him further when the moonlight revealed a dark shape streaking across the grounds towards them at very great speed. Severus knew what it was before she did and pushed her behind him. He had his Dark Wand drawn and leveled in an instant, the words falling easily from his lips, "Avada Keda..."
"NO!" Rowena screamed and grabbed his arm so that he was unable to complete the incantation. "It's Remus!"
There was no time to argue the point. The werewolf was nearly upon them. She had to be only guessing its identity—he knew full well she had never seen her brother in his lycanthropy form.
He still held his wand at the ready, shaking his arm free of her grip. If Remus Lupin was indeed stalking the grounds as a werewolf, it was quite possible he hadn't taken his potion. It had happened before. He was fully prepared to kill the monster before allowing it to attack.
But the beast stopped a few feet away. Well, that seemed to confirm her guess. It had to be Remus, and his mind had to be clear. In any other scenario it would be attacking them already.
The creature's eyes looked wild and panicked, and it was prancing restlessly, growling and whining. Rowena clutched Severus's arm again, trembling.
"Something's wrong, Severus. Will your Legilimency work on him in this form? We need to know what's going on," her voice was high-pitched and frightened.
Severus thought of refusing. He had no burning desire to see inside the thoughts of this particular individual for any reason. But Lupin was the link to Tonks. There could indeed be something that needed to be communicated. He brought his wand to bear on the monster, and it did not flinch away.
"Legilimens," he said.
Seconds later he swore more violently than she had ever heard, his voice choked. Grabbing her arm in a tight grip he began to run back towards the castle. She followed quickly, her heart pounding in fear of the unknown—she only knew it had to be something terrible to have Severus so visibly shaken. The werewolf had already torn off ahead.
As they ran, Severus reached into his pocket for a small key-shaped item that glowed when he touched it. He spoke to the object, but his hand was shaking violently, as was his voice. "Order emergency... The Burrow is under attack."
Sweet Heavens Above... the Burrow..... KATRINA!!
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Albus met them as they flew through the main doors, and all three of them ran to Rowena's lab. The floo would be the fastest way to get there from here. Minerva came running from a side hallway. Severus was the first to the floo, throwing in the powder with violent energy.
"The Burrow," he nearly shouted... but nothing happened.
Rowena cried out in fear... if the connection was broken it was because there was no fireplace on the other side to receive them. Severus looked no less anguished, but he was still bent on action.
They had no way of knowing the situation—no way of being certain of a safe Portkey location. Apparition was the only other option. He grabbed her hand again, and they raced out of the building, bent on reaching Hogsmeade where they could Apparate.
Hagrid was just entering the castle as they were again running out of it. Albus stopped to speak with him and issue instructions. Severus ignored him completely, nearly dragging Rowena as they ran out onto the grounds.
They had only made it a short way across the main lawns when a figure swooped down on them from above and a few yards ahead. It dismounted a broomstick and ran over to intercept them. It was Harry Potter—on his Firebolt.
"Here—take this—it'll get you out of the grounds faster," the boy shouted as he ran to keep pace with them. The tell-tale glimmer of an invisibility cloak peaked out of a pocket.
"Potter... how... what..." Snape tried to articulate in the midst of fear, rage, and panting for breath, not slowing his pace in the least.
"Never mind that now! You can give me detention and take house points later. Just take the damn broom!" he said, thrusting the broom into Severus's hands.
This was no time for arguments, questions, thank yous, or worry over fear of heights. Snape grabbed the broom, mounted in an instant, and Rowena climbed on right behind him, burying her face against his back, her eyes screwed shut. They were off. In seconds instead of minutes they reached the edge of the barrier.
"Hold on, Rowena!" Snape shouted unnecessarily into the wind. She was clinging to him as though her life, and her hope for Katrina's life, depended upon him alone.
He did a very dangerous and reckless thing. He Apparated them in mid- flight to just above the Burrow, and nearly flew directly through the hideous green Mark floating in the sky, hovering menacingly over the flaming structure that had once been the Weasley's home.
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A scream of rage and grief sounded through the air, "NO!!!" Though whether it was from him or her, neither could have told. He landed quickly near a crowd of people, carelessly throwing the broom aside.
Molly Weasley could be seen being restrained by several Emergency Responder Wizards. She was screaming and crying, obviously trying to get back inside the house. Fred and George sat nearby; soot covered and badly burned, but conscious and aware, their faces pale and shocked and their eyes unseeing. Arthur was on a stretcher, also severely burned, but none of the Medi- Wizards or Healers tending him had the air of urgency about them.
That left only one current resident of the home unaccounted for.
Katrina.
Order members began Apparating to the area. Moody happened to appear next to where Severus and Rowena landed, taking in the horror. The home was still standing, but flames billowed from every door, window, and crevasse. It was apparently magically induced fire, of course, because the Fire Wizards were using magic rather than water to attempt to extinguish it, with very little success.
It was no secret to anyone that Alastor Moody did not like or trust Severus Snape. He firmly believed that Snape was merely playing both sides of the game so that he could be in good with the winner when all was said and done. Moody had not been around Headquarters much lately, due to other Order business. Therefore he did not know much of the history of Katrina. Only that Molly was fostering the child, and the poor little lass had been bamboozled into a fondness for Snape.
Moody's magical eye did a quick 'Weasley count' so that he was satisfied that they were present. He registered Molly's hysteria, and there was a woman he didn't immediately recognize standing next to Snape who was also on the verge of total breakdown.
Snape was standing in shocked horror, staring at the devastation before him. His face was its usual implacable mask, but pale as snow and his jaw muscle worked frantically. How many times had he carelessly shot that Mark into the sky himself? How many innocent families had he destroyed just as was happening now? Never before had he fully appreciated what it felt like to be on THIS side of that hideous Mark. Never before had he felt so well and truly helpless.
Moody's harsh growl broke over him, "So, Snape. What's your excuse for this one, eh? Why didn't you warn us this time around? Maybe figured burning the Burrow would put another feather in your cap with Voldemort, eh? Though I suppose it would have been better if you could claim a Weasley victim in the process, right?"
His taunting was broken off by Rowena's screams as she flung herself at the older man, tiny fists flailing against his chest in ineffectual anguish. "Leave him alone! Leave him alone! He didn't do this! Katrina's still in there! You leave him alone!"
Severus pulled her off of Moody, gently but firmly, and handed her to one of the Emergency Responders. He could not comfort Rowena right now—he had only thought for action, for Katrina. And he had just realized his only chance. He met Moody's gaze fully, fear and anguish adding years to his face. He gestured to the house. Moody's Eye was his last hope.
"Alastor... please... where is she?" Severus asked, his voice hoarse.
Moody had forgotten in the confusion that the little girl was unaccounted for. His jaw dropped in shock. Immediately his magical Eye began scanning the house, while the beetle black one continued to regard the unpleasant man before him.
Never had Snape deigned to call him by his given name. He couldn't recall ever seeing the younger man in any sort of emotional turmoil except varying degrees of bitterness and anger. The heartfelt supplication reached him, as nothing else would have. There was no denying the boy's distress. Was it possible that Albus had the right him after all?
"Second floor bedroom, lad," Alastor replied softly, even compassionately, after a moment. "She's wrapped herself in blankets under the bed—I can't tell if she's breathing... But son, the roof's about to go. There's no time to..."
The rest of his words were wasted. Severus did a Bubble-Head Charm and various other charms and incantations on himself as he ran towards the house. Two fire-wizards tried to stop him, but he stunned them out of hand and ignored them. In an instant he was lost to the flames.
Rowena collapsed fully then, the Emergency Responders supporting and restraining her as she shrieked incoherently after him in fear and grief.
Albus arrived moments later, and with him Minerva and Hagrid.
"We'd have been here faster but I took Remus to the woods. If there are any Death Eaters still nearby, his heightened senses will find them. What has happened?" Albus addressed Moody while Minerva immediately began to attempt to calm Rowena who had sunken into hysteria. Hagrid went to the Fire-Wizards to see if he could help.
Moody's Eye never stopped following Snape. He let the Fire-Wizards explain things to Albus, as they all watched the house in horrified fascination. Only Moody could see the whole drama unfold.
The magical Eye saw every detail. The stairs were gone. Snape had scrambled up burning beams that had fallen through from the upper floors in order to get to the second floor. More collapsed beams blocked the bedroom door, but he blasted them away with his wand. Flames surrounded him. He blasted the bed away when he finally found his way to it. He reached the child, and lifted her, keeping the blankets wrapped protectively around her. She was so limp... the magic of the Eye wasn't so acute as to be able to tell if she breathed, but it didn't look good.
"He's got her! He's there, he's got her... Oh bloody hell....," Moody's excited words trailed off into a low swear.
The entire roof collapsed—the two full stories above the floor that Severus was on falling in, as the house crumpled from the top down. Moody briefly saw Severus hunch protectively over the child as burning debris struck him in the back and shoulders. For an instant he saw the man fall to his knees from the force of the blow. But then the speed of the collapse and the brightness of the flames left all in confusion. Moody could no longer make out individual shapes or structures. It was simply one huge, fiery mass.
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Molly and Rowena's shrieks rang through the air as they watched the house disintegrate before their eyes, two people still hopelessly trapped inside. But through their screams, a more jubilant sound could be heard near the Medi-Truck.
"They're here! He Apparated them here! We've got them!" a Medi-Wizard was shouting.
Rowena shook off the restraining wizards and ran to them, stumbling blindly through her tears, Molly hard at her heels.
Severus actually looked okay at first glance. He had placed some sort of flame retardant enchantment on his clothing, and the Bubble-Head Charm had protected his head. He had apparently shielded the child from the falling debris with his own body as he had Apparated them out. She was ghastly white and still, but showed no signs of physical injury.
However, on closer look, Severus was deathly pale himself and breathing hard in pain. His hands were burned almost beyond recognition. He moved stiffly, and the back of his robes were soaking wet—his own body fluids oozing through the material from the burns beneath the fabric, where the fiery building had collapsed upon them in the last moments inside the house.
Still he allowed no one to tend him, all his focus, combined with that of the Medi-Wizards, was devoted to the horribly pale, unmoving form of the child. He kneeled next to her where he had laid her on a cot. The Healers' wands were moving frantically to clear smoke and toxins from her lungs, while Severus looked on helplessly, willing her with everything he had in him to BREATHE.
Rowena could do nothing for the child—she had no skill in Pediatric healing of this severity. Instead she stood near Severus and began the diagnostic and healing charms to restore his hands and ease the pain of the burns on his body. His back had the worst of it, though his arms and legs did not escape injury. She couldn't heal his back with his shirt on without healing the cloth to the flesh—making the wounds far worse later. She could slow the loss of fluids, and ease his pain, that was all.
She was too distraught over the events to think clearly about why the diagnostic spells revealed that he was missing a large amount of blood. Burns don't bleed... they are self-cauterizing. Fluid volume loss, yes... but how had he lost so much blood? The thought planted itself in the back of her mind for rumination at a more opportune time.
The house was given up for lost. Now that Katrina was out of it, all the Fire-Wizards' focus shifted to merely containing the blaze. Everyone not involved in that fight surrounded the child where the Healers worked so frantically.
Molly was weeping softly into Fred's nightshirt—or maybe it was George. The other twin stood on her other side rubbing her back. Dumbledore, Alastor, and Minerva were also silently watching. Hagrid was sobbing loudly into a huge handkerchief. Arthur Weasley had sat upright on the edge of his gurney trying to see through the crowd, his face drawn and grave.
It was taking so long... Surely she should be breathing by now... It was taking far too long...
And then she coughed.
It was a weak, tiny little thing, barely audible above the roar of the flames. Yet a cheer went up among the onlookers. Severus Snape fully collapsed against her cot, his forehead leaning against her arm, his entire body trembling violently, whether from shock from his own injuries, adrenaline from the night's events or sheer relief was hard to say. He would allow no one to see his face for long moments. Rowena knelt next to him and wept openly as Katrina began to breathe in an easy rhythm.
Katrina stabilized quickly after this and even regained consciousness. Gradually the crowd dispersed. Albus insisted on taking the injured to Hogwarts rather than St. Mungos, and his word had enough weight that none argued with him. Healers and Medi-Wizards finished tending what they could and began to pack up and leave.
Severus refused their treatment, and for once Rowena didn't argue. He couldn't very well remove his shirt in front of these people... his Mark would give him away as either Death Eater or Spy. She just wanted them all to leave so she could get him home to Poppy.
Albus calmly took the Weasleys in hand, insisting that they live at Hogwarts until the Burrow could be rebuilt or alternate housing chosen. They had lost all their possessions in the inferno. More than thirty years of accumulated memories, photographs and collected treasures gone in a few short hours. Yet not one of them grieved much over the loss. They were well aware how lucky they were that no one died in the attack.
At last it was just Order Members and Rowena. A howl sounded from the nearby woods, and Moody stomped off to investigate. Rowena picked up Katrina who was sleepy and frightened, but fully recovered, and attempted to insist that Severus use the cot, which he adamantly refused.
Now that the fear was over, his need for action began to bend towards thoughts of vengeance. He longed to find who had done this and make them PAY as only he knew how. The lick of lust that he recognized as the lure of the Dark Magic called to him stronger than it had in many years, and his temptation to yield to it was very great—to embrace it and use it to punish the ones whom had done this.
But then the werewolf came up over a hill, its head covered in blood, and he allowed himself to be momentarily distracted from those dark thoughts. Rowena's heart constricted again when she saw the creature—was Remus injured as well?
But Moody was following close behind. The Death Eaters who had remained to watch the 'fun' had indeed hidden in the small wooded area behind the house. They had not survived to leave. Three rather gory corpses floated on makeshift stretchers behind Moody.
Remus had apparently stealthily and quite effectively ripped out the throat of each one in turn, hoods and masks not hindering his enormous teeth and jaws in the least.
Severus contemptuously strode over to each bloody form and ripped off the masks. Kingsley Shacklebolt had arrived and was the only official Ministry Representative present now that the Fire-Wizards had left. With Severus's assistance he identified the bodies and took fingerprints and wands for positive ID's. Then Moody wafted the bodies onto the smoldering remains of the house and with a wave of his wand the fire blazed brighter and the bodies burned. There was no point in leaving evidence of Remus's actions. He had enough trouble being a werewolf as it was.
Moody looked around at the destruction and the soot covered company. It did not require a magical Eye to realize that Severus Snape was on the verge of physical collapse. Rowena had retrieved Harry's broom and was standing next to him, begging him to at least SIT down before he fell down. He ignored her and went instead to the werewolf standing nearby.
"I owe you, Lupin," he said simply, gesturing to the flaming bodies of the Death Eaters where they sizzled and smoked amongst the remains of the house. Severus was well aware how close he had come to once again fully embracing the Dark Magic in those moments that he had turned his thoughts to sweet vengeance.
The werewolf had done more than alert them of the danger in time to save Katrina, and kill the perpetrators. He very well may have prevented Severus at last succumbing to his constant temptation. This time at least.
The werewolf shook its huge, bloody head and growled, impossibly huge teeth shining garishly red in the moonlight. Snape gave the beast a wry sneer, though in his extreme fatigue it's effect was sorely lacking, "I could possibly get used to you like this—a Lupin who can't argue or give me cheek."
Moody came up behind him then, though he avoided touching the boy's severely burned and damaged back. "Severus, lad. You've done all you can here. Done more than most would have done," he grudgingly admitted.
Severus turned and looked at him suspiciously, as though expecting a fight.
"It's time to take your family back to Hogwarts, son. Let Poppy fix you up. You're no good to your girls lamed up, take it from the expert in being lamed up," Moody continued, ending with a harsh laugh and rapping his knuckles against his wooden leg.
Severus blinked in surprise at Moody's almost friendly tone—and at his words.
His 'family'. 'His' girls. He looked over at Rowena where she stood, soot covered and tear stained, but giddy with relief. She was gently cradling Katrina against her chest, Potter's broom dangling carelessly from one hand. They were looking at him, earnest chocolate-brown eyes and innocent brilliant blue ones guilelessly looking at him. Rowena was waiting for him. They were both waiting for him, smiling softly. He didn't have to be a damn good Legilimens to know that they loved him.
He nodded at Moody in silent acquiescence, and pulled his Hogwarts Portkey out of his pocket. With an air of bemusement, he walked over to Rowena, so that they could all use the Portkey.
They weren't a 'real' family, and probably never would be—his past would prevent it if nothing else did. Maybe he would never be able to name the thing he was feeling; or ever feel worthy of receiving what they so freely bestowed upon him. But for the first time in his life Severus Snape was struck with an understanding of something completely opposite to everything he had always believed; something very, very profound.
Love is not weak.
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A/N: Whew! This was adrenaline-producing to write. I hope it is enjoyable to read. More to come. I am so grateful for my beta-reader, Elaine! I have a horrible habit of over-using commas and also confusing its (possessive pronoun) with it's (contraction of it-is). I want the apostrophe to show ownership, damn it! Heh. And I accidentally entered Hermione into my spell check as Hermoine—OH NO! So If you catch that mistake... that's why. I don't know how to fix it. *wink*
We will soon address what Harry is going to do with his recent stealthily acquired information. I hope it will surprise you. I will also address why Severus has not been using a blood-replenishing potion as we know exists from Arthur Weasley's attack in OotP. This was not oversight on my part, I promise. Dylan is not forgotten, he is currently working on accidentally getting himself in a lot of trouble thanks to his new 'friend' Luke.
Our next stop is the Hospital wing to take care of Severus. He will have numerous visitors, both welcome and unwelcome.
Your reviews mean the world to me. I'm not supposed to address them individually in my comments. If you are logged in when you review, I will try to send you an email answering any questions or comments you make. And I will always answer any emails you send to me.
Feel free to comment or suggest things you might like to see addressed in the story. It is actually fairly well outlined to the finish in my head, and sketchily on paper. But I am willing to consider adding details you might find interesting if it doesn't take me on detours too far off my main plot.
Happy reading!
Lisa/Shanti
P.S. I have just received a spam-whirlwind of unpleasant reviews from the same anonymous individual. I have deleted the unfounded stuff, but left the spelling check things and done updates to repair them—I do appreciate when people catch those for me and tell me. Please remember that as of 5/6/2004, only chapter 17 and beyond have been Beta'd. I hope to go back and clean up prior chapters eventually as my Beta readers have time. I know somewhere I accidentally said "her" when I meant "him"—if you find it, or any other similar errors, let me know so I can fix them.
However, for this particular individual, I simply must say a few things:
Yes, in fact, I have indeed read all of the Harry Potter books—thoroughly and obsessively. Including Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
In canon, most spells are capitalized, even when in the middle of a sentence. Wizards Apparate, they do not apparate. The Bubble-Head Charm is capitalized and hyphenated, etc.,
I would defy you to tell me page number and book in canon that says Severus can produce a Patronus. (Also capitalized, by the way.) Lupin clearly states that many fully-qualified wizards can't do it, and we have seen how heavily dependent it is upon happy memories. Give me a canon-Snape happy memory and we'll discuss whether canon-Snape can produce said Patronus.
I have already addressed the Snape virginity thing before and won't do it again here. My story, my fantasy, sorry. If others can write him as a poof sleeping with Harry, I can write him as a virgin. If you find Rowena too obsessed or the plot too boring, or Snape too out of character for your tastes, I sincerely invite you not to read. Not everyone likes everything. If your negative comments are merely a matter of your own personal tastes and opinions, please keep them to yourself. If they are founded on errors in my writing or misinterpretation of canon, please feel free to bring them to my attention.
I apologize to my lovely fans and friends who have been so wonderful as to enjoy my story and tell me so. I regret wasting your time with this. I had no way to address this person's comments as they did them anonymously, and felt they needed to be addressed. At least for my own peace of mind.
Hugs, next chapter soon... maybe by Sunday or Monday. I was thrown off my roll by the unpleasantness. I'll get back on soon, I'm sure. Severus and Rowena are tired of living in my head and wish to live in fandom. I meant to tease you a day or two longer before posting this, but I needed to get back on a happier note.
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Chapter 20: Fiery Assault
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It was late Saturday evening before Severus had the chance to see Rowena privately. It was nearly two weeks since he had last been alone with her. Even so, this was an accidental encounter. It was a fine, clear early fall evening, and the moon was quite full. She was heading outside when he spotted her.
"Lupin, where are you going at this hour?" he demanded rather harshly.
She turned and looked at him, her hair down at present, loose and flowing. She raised a brow challengingly, "I'm just going for a walk on the grounds for a bit. Is that a problem?"
He sighed, "Rowena, you shouldn't be wandering around on your own. You know about the rat..."
Instead of arguing with him as he expected her to do, she smiled brightly and took his hand. "Why yes, Professor Snape, I would love to have company as I go for my evening walk—how very gallant of you to offer."
He snorted in disgust, but allowed himself to be drawn outdoors. She tucked her hand into his arm and headed towards the path around the lake.
"The point of this excursion, Lupin?" he asked dryly.
"The point is exercise, fresh air and pleasant company," she said, with playful sarcasm, "but apparently I have to settle for two out of three."
He smirked at her, "Indeed. Do not look to me for pleasant company."
She was about to tease him further when the moonlight revealed a dark shape streaking across the grounds towards them at very great speed. Severus knew what it was before she did and pushed her behind him. He had his Dark Wand drawn and leveled in an instant, the words falling easily from his lips, "Avada Keda..."
"NO!" Rowena screamed and grabbed his arm so that he was unable to complete the incantation. "It's Remus!"
There was no time to argue the point. The werewolf was nearly upon them. She had to be only guessing its identity—he knew full well she had never seen her brother in his lycanthropy form.
He still held his wand at the ready, shaking his arm free of her grip. If Remus Lupin was indeed stalking the grounds as a werewolf, it was quite possible he hadn't taken his potion. It had happened before. He was fully prepared to kill the monster before allowing it to attack.
But the beast stopped a few feet away. Well, that seemed to confirm her guess. It had to be Remus, and his mind had to be clear. In any other scenario it would be attacking them already.
The creature's eyes looked wild and panicked, and it was prancing restlessly, growling and whining. Rowena clutched Severus's arm again, trembling.
"Something's wrong, Severus. Will your Legilimency work on him in this form? We need to know what's going on," her voice was high-pitched and frightened.
Severus thought of refusing. He had no burning desire to see inside the thoughts of this particular individual for any reason. But Lupin was the link to Tonks. There could indeed be something that needed to be communicated. He brought his wand to bear on the monster, and it did not flinch away.
"Legilimens," he said.
Seconds later he swore more violently than she had ever heard, his voice choked. Grabbing her arm in a tight grip he began to run back towards the castle. She followed quickly, her heart pounding in fear of the unknown—she only knew it had to be something terrible to have Severus so visibly shaken. The werewolf had already torn off ahead.
As they ran, Severus reached into his pocket for a small key-shaped item that glowed when he touched it. He spoke to the object, but his hand was shaking violently, as was his voice. "Order emergency... The Burrow is under attack."
Sweet Heavens Above... the Burrow..... KATRINA!!
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Albus met them as they flew through the main doors, and all three of them ran to Rowena's lab. The floo would be the fastest way to get there from here. Minerva came running from a side hallway. Severus was the first to the floo, throwing in the powder with violent energy.
"The Burrow," he nearly shouted... but nothing happened.
Rowena cried out in fear... if the connection was broken it was because there was no fireplace on the other side to receive them. Severus looked no less anguished, but he was still bent on action.
They had no way of knowing the situation—no way of being certain of a safe Portkey location. Apparition was the only other option. He grabbed her hand again, and they raced out of the building, bent on reaching Hogsmeade where they could Apparate.
Hagrid was just entering the castle as they were again running out of it. Albus stopped to speak with him and issue instructions. Severus ignored him completely, nearly dragging Rowena as they ran out onto the grounds.
They had only made it a short way across the main lawns when a figure swooped down on them from above and a few yards ahead. It dismounted a broomstick and ran over to intercept them. It was Harry Potter—on his Firebolt.
"Here—take this—it'll get you out of the grounds faster," the boy shouted as he ran to keep pace with them. The tell-tale glimmer of an invisibility cloak peaked out of a pocket.
"Potter... how... what..." Snape tried to articulate in the midst of fear, rage, and panting for breath, not slowing his pace in the least.
"Never mind that now! You can give me detention and take house points later. Just take the damn broom!" he said, thrusting the broom into Severus's hands.
This was no time for arguments, questions, thank yous, or worry over fear of heights. Snape grabbed the broom, mounted in an instant, and Rowena climbed on right behind him, burying her face against his back, her eyes screwed shut. They were off. In seconds instead of minutes they reached the edge of the barrier.
"Hold on, Rowena!" Snape shouted unnecessarily into the wind. She was clinging to him as though her life, and her hope for Katrina's life, depended upon him alone.
He did a very dangerous and reckless thing. He Apparated them in mid- flight to just above the Burrow, and nearly flew directly through the hideous green Mark floating in the sky, hovering menacingly over the flaming structure that had once been the Weasley's home.
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A scream of rage and grief sounded through the air, "NO!!!" Though whether it was from him or her, neither could have told. He landed quickly near a crowd of people, carelessly throwing the broom aside.
Molly Weasley could be seen being restrained by several Emergency Responder Wizards. She was screaming and crying, obviously trying to get back inside the house. Fred and George sat nearby; soot covered and badly burned, but conscious and aware, their faces pale and shocked and their eyes unseeing. Arthur was on a stretcher, also severely burned, but none of the Medi- Wizards or Healers tending him had the air of urgency about them.
That left only one current resident of the home unaccounted for.
Katrina.
Order members began Apparating to the area. Moody happened to appear next to where Severus and Rowena landed, taking in the horror. The home was still standing, but flames billowed from every door, window, and crevasse. It was apparently magically induced fire, of course, because the Fire Wizards were using magic rather than water to attempt to extinguish it, with very little success.
It was no secret to anyone that Alastor Moody did not like or trust Severus Snape. He firmly believed that Snape was merely playing both sides of the game so that he could be in good with the winner when all was said and done. Moody had not been around Headquarters much lately, due to other Order business. Therefore he did not know much of the history of Katrina. Only that Molly was fostering the child, and the poor little lass had been bamboozled into a fondness for Snape.
Moody's magical eye did a quick 'Weasley count' so that he was satisfied that they were present. He registered Molly's hysteria, and there was a woman he didn't immediately recognize standing next to Snape who was also on the verge of total breakdown.
Snape was standing in shocked horror, staring at the devastation before him. His face was its usual implacable mask, but pale as snow and his jaw muscle worked frantically. How many times had he carelessly shot that Mark into the sky himself? How many innocent families had he destroyed just as was happening now? Never before had he fully appreciated what it felt like to be on THIS side of that hideous Mark. Never before had he felt so well and truly helpless.
Moody's harsh growl broke over him, "So, Snape. What's your excuse for this one, eh? Why didn't you warn us this time around? Maybe figured burning the Burrow would put another feather in your cap with Voldemort, eh? Though I suppose it would have been better if you could claim a Weasley victim in the process, right?"
His taunting was broken off by Rowena's screams as she flung herself at the older man, tiny fists flailing against his chest in ineffectual anguish. "Leave him alone! Leave him alone! He didn't do this! Katrina's still in there! You leave him alone!"
Severus pulled her off of Moody, gently but firmly, and handed her to one of the Emergency Responders. He could not comfort Rowena right now—he had only thought for action, for Katrina. And he had just realized his only chance. He met Moody's gaze fully, fear and anguish adding years to his face. He gestured to the house. Moody's Eye was his last hope.
"Alastor... please... where is she?" Severus asked, his voice hoarse.
Moody had forgotten in the confusion that the little girl was unaccounted for. His jaw dropped in shock. Immediately his magical Eye began scanning the house, while the beetle black one continued to regard the unpleasant man before him.
Never had Snape deigned to call him by his given name. He couldn't recall ever seeing the younger man in any sort of emotional turmoil except varying degrees of bitterness and anger. The heartfelt supplication reached him, as nothing else would have. There was no denying the boy's distress. Was it possible that Albus had the right him after all?
"Second floor bedroom, lad," Alastor replied softly, even compassionately, after a moment. "She's wrapped herself in blankets under the bed—I can't tell if she's breathing... But son, the roof's about to go. There's no time to..."
The rest of his words were wasted. Severus did a Bubble-Head Charm and various other charms and incantations on himself as he ran towards the house. Two fire-wizards tried to stop him, but he stunned them out of hand and ignored them. In an instant he was lost to the flames.
Rowena collapsed fully then, the Emergency Responders supporting and restraining her as she shrieked incoherently after him in fear and grief.
Albus arrived moments later, and with him Minerva and Hagrid.
"We'd have been here faster but I took Remus to the woods. If there are any Death Eaters still nearby, his heightened senses will find them. What has happened?" Albus addressed Moody while Minerva immediately began to attempt to calm Rowena who had sunken into hysteria. Hagrid went to the Fire-Wizards to see if he could help.
Moody's Eye never stopped following Snape. He let the Fire-Wizards explain things to Albus, as they all watched the house in horrified fascination. Only Moody could see the whole drama unfold.
The magical Eye saw every detail. The stairs were gone. Snape had scrambled up burning beams that had fallen through from the upper floors in order to get to the second floor. More collapsed beams blocked the bedroom door, but he blasted them away with his wand. Flames surrounded him. He blasted the bed away when he finally found his way to it. He reached the child, and lifted her, keeping the blankets wrapped protectively around her. She was so limp... the magic of the Eye wasn't so acute as to be able to tell if she breathed, but it didn't look good.
"He's got her! He's there, he's got her... Oh bloody hell....," Moody's excited words trailed off into a low swear.
The entire roof collapsed—the two full stories above the floor that Severus was on falling in, as the house crumpled from the top down. Moody briefly saw Severus hunch protectively over the child as burning debris struck him in the back and shoulders. For an instant he saw the man fall to his knees from the force of the blow. But then the speed of the collapse and the brightness of the flames left all in confusion. Moody could no longer make out individual shapes or structures. It was simply one huge, fiery mass.
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Molly and Rowena's shrieks rang through the air as they watched the house disintegrate before their eyes, two people still hopelessly trapped inside. But through their screams, a more jubilant sound could be heard near the Medi-Truck.
"They're here! He Apparated them here! We've got them!" a Medi-Wizard was shouting.
Rowena shook off the restraining wizards and ran to them, stumbling blindly through her tears, Molly hard at her heels.
Severus actually looked okay at first glance. He had placed some sort of flame retardant enchantment on his clothing, and the Bubble-Head Charm had protected his head. He had apparently shielded the child from the falling debris with his own body as he had Apparated them out. She was ghastly white and still, but showed no signs of physical injury.
However, on closer look, Severus was deathly pale himself and breathing hard in pain. His hands were burned almost beyond recognition. He moved stiffly, and the back of his robes were soaking wet—his own body fluids oozing through the material from the burns beneath the fabric, where the fiery building had collapsed upon them in the last moments inside the house.
Still he allowed no one to tend him, all his focus, combined with that of the Medi-Wizards, was devoted to the horribly pale, unmoving form of the child. He kneeled next to her where he had laid her on a cot. The Healers' wands were moving frantically to clear smoke and toxins from her lungs, while Severus looked on helplessly, willing her with everything he had in him to BREATHE.
Rowena could do nothing for the child—she had no skill in Pediatric healing of this severity. Instead she stood near Severus and began the diagnostic and healing charms to restore his hands and ease the pain of the burns on his body. His back had the worst of it, though his arms and legs did not escape injury. She couldn't heal his back with his shirt on without healing the cloth to the flesh—making the wounds far worse later. She could slow the loss of fluids, and ease his pain, that was all.
She was too distraught over the events to think clearly about why the diagnostic spells revealed that he was missing a large amount of blood. Burns don't bleed... they are self-cauterizing. Fluid volume loss, yes... but how had he lost so much blood? The thought planted itself in the back of her mind for rumination at a more opportune time.
The house was given up for lost. Now that Katrina was out of it, all the Fire-Wizards' focus shifted to merely containing the blaze. Everyone not involved in that fight surrounded the child where the Healers worked so frantically.
Molly was weeping softly into Fred's nightshirt—or maybe it was George. The other twin stood on her other side rubbing her back. Dumbledore, Alastor, and Minerva were also silently watching. Hagrid was sobbing loudly into a huge handkerchief. Arthur Weasley had sat upright on the edge of his gurney trying to see through the crowd, his face drawn and grave.
It was taking so long... Surely she should be breathing by now... It was taking far too long...
And then she coughed.
It was a weak, tiny little thing, barely audible above the roar of the flames. Yet a cheer went up among the onlookers. Severus Snape fully collapsed against her cot, his forehead leaning against her arm, his entire body trembling violently, whether from shock from his own injuries, adrenaline from the night's events or sheer relief was hard to say. He would allow no one to see his face for long moments. Rowena knelt next to him and wept openly as Katrina began to breathe in an easy rhythm.
Katrina stabilized quickly after this and even regained consciousness. Gradually the crowd dispersed. Albus insisted on taking the injured to Hogwarts rather than St. Mungos, and his word had enough weight that none argued with him. Healers and Medi-Wizards finished tending what they could and began to pack up and leave.
Severus refused their treatment, and for once Rowena didn't argue. He couldn't very well remove his shirt in front of these people... his Mark would give him away as either Death Eater or Spy. She just wanted them all to leave so she could get him home to Poppy.
Albus calmly took the Weasleys in hand, insisting that they live at Hogwarts until the Burrow could be rebuilt or alternate housing chosen. They had lost all their possessions in the inferno. More than thirty years of accumulated memories, photographs and collected treasures gone in a few short hours. Yet not one of them grieved much over the loss. They were well aware how lucky they were that no one died in the attack.
At last it was just Order Members and Rowena. A howl sounded from the nearby woods, and Moody stomped off to investigate. Rowena picked up Katrina who was sleepy and frightened, but fully recovered, and attempted to insist that Severus use the cot, which he adamantly refused.
Now that the fear was over, his need for action began to bend towards thoughts of vengeance. He longed to find who had done this and make them PAY as only he knew how. The lick of lust that he recognized as the lure of the Dark Magic called to him stronger than it had in many years, and his temptation to yield to it was very great—to embrace it and use it to punish the ones whom had done this.
But then the werewolf came up over a hill, its head covered in blood, and he allowed himself to be momentarily distracted from those dark thoughts. Rowena's heart constricted again when she saw the creature—was Remus injured as well?
But Moody was following close behind. The Death Eaters who had remained to watch the 'fun' had indeed hidden in the small wooded area behind the house. They had not survived to leave. Three rather gory corpses floated on makeshift stretchers behind Moody.
Remus had apparently stealthily and quite effectively ripped out the throat of each one in turn, hoods and masks not hindering his enormous teeth and jaws in the least.
Severus contemptuously strode over to each bloody form and ripped off the masks. Kingsley Shacklebolt had arrived and was the only official Ministry Representative present now that the Fire-Wizards had left. With Severus's assistance he identified the bodies and took fingerprints and wands for positive ID's. Then Moody wafted the bodies onto the smoldering remains of the house and with a wave of his wand the fire blazed brighter and the bodies burned. There was no point in leaving evidence of Remus's actions. He had enough trouble being a werewolf as it was.
Moody looked around at the destruction and the soot covered company. It did not require a magical Eye to realize that Severus Snape was on the verge of physical collapse. Rowena had retrieved Harry's broom and was standing next to him, begging him to at least SIT down before he fell down. He ignored her and went instead to the werewolf standing nearby.
"I owe you, Lupin," he said simply, gesturing to the flaming bodies of the Death Eaters where they sizzled and smoked amongst the remains of the house. Severus was well aware how close he had come to once again fully embracing the Dark Magic in those moments that he had turned his thoughts to sweet vengeance.
The werewolf had done more than alert them of the danger in time to save Katrina, and kill the perpetrators. He very well may have prevented Severus at last succumbing to his constant temptation. This time at least.
The werewolf shook its huge, bloody head and growled, impossibly huge teeth shining garishly red in the moonlight. Snape gave the beast a wry sneer, though in his extreme fatigue it's effect was sorely lacking, "I could possibly get used to you like this—a Lupin who can't argue or give me cheek."
Moody came up behind him then, though he avoided touching the boy's severely burned and damaged back. "Severus, lad. You've done all you can here. Done more than most would have done," he grudgingly admitted.
Severus turned and looked at him suspiciously, as though expecting a fight.
"It's time to take your family back to Hogwarts, son. Let Poppy fix you up. You're no good to your girls lamed up, take it from the expert in being lamed up," Moody continued, ending with a harsh laugh and rapping his knuckles against his wooden leg.
Severus blinked in surprise at Moody's almost friendly tone—and at his words.
His 'family'. 'His' girls. He looked over at Rowena where she stood, soot covered and tear stained, but giddy with relief. She was gently cradling Katrina against her chest, Potter's broom dangling carelessly from one hand. They were looking at him, earnest chocolate-brown eyes and innocent brilliant blue ones guilelessly looking at him. Rowena was waiting for him. They were both waiting for him, smiling softly. He didn't have to be a damn good Legilimens to know that they loved him.
He nodded at Moody in silent acquiescence, and pulled his Hogwarts Portkey out of his pocket. With an air of bemusement, he walked over to Rowena, so that they could all use the Portkey.
They weren't a 'real' family, and probably never would be—his past would prevent it if nothing else did. Maybe he would never be able to name the thing he was feeling; or ever feel worthy of receiving what they so freely bestowed upon him. But for the first time in his life Severus Snape was struck with an understanding of something completely opposite to everything he had always believed; something very, very profound.
Love is not weak.
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A/N: Whew! This was adrenaline-producing to write. I hope it is enjoyable to read. More to come. I am so grateful for my beta-reader, Elaine! I have a horrible habit of over-using commas and also confusing its (possessive pronoun) with it's (contraction of it-is). I want the apostrophe to show ownership, damn it! Heh. And I accidentally entered Hermione into my spell check as Hermoine—OH NO! So If you catch that mistake... that's why. I don't know how to fix it. *wink*
We will soon address what Harry is going to do with his recent stealthily acquired information. I hope it will surprise you. I will also address why Severus has not been using a blood-replenishing potion as we know exists from Arthur Weasley's attack in OotP. This was not oversight on my part, I promise. Dylan is not forgotten, he is currently working on accidentally getting himself in a lot of trouble thanks to his new 'friend' Luke.
Our next stop is the Hospital wing to take care of Severus. He will have numerous visitors, both welcome and unwelcome.
Your reviews mean the world to me. I'm not supposed to address them individually in my comments. If you are logged in when you review, I will try to send you an email answering any questions or comments you make. And I will always answer any emails you send to me.
Feel free to comment or suggest things you might like to see addressed in the story. It is actually fairly well outlined to the finish in my head, and sketchily on paper. But I am willing to consider adding details you might find interesting if it doesn't take me on detours too far off my main plot.
Happy reading!
Lisa/Shanti
P.S. I have just received a spam-whirlwind of unpleasant reviews from the same anonymous individual. I have deleted the unfounded stuff, but left the spelling check things and done updates to repair them—I do appreciate when people catch those for me and tell me. Please remember that as of 5/6/2004, only chapter 17 and beyond have been Beta'd. I hope to go back and clean up prior chapters eventually as my Beta readers have time. I know somewhere I accidentally said "her" when I meant "him"—if you find it, or any other similar errors, let me know so I can fix them.
However, for this particular individual, I simply must say a few things:
Yes, in fact, I have indeed read all of the Harry Potter books—thoroughly and obsessively. Including Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
In canon, most spells are capitalized, even when in the middle of a sentence. Wizards Apparate, they do not apparate. The Bubble-Head Charm is capitalized and hyphenated, etc.,
I would defy you to tell me page number and book in canon that says Severus can produce a Patronus. (Also capitalized, by the way.) Lupin clearly states that many fully-qualified wizards can't do it, and we have seen how heavily dependent it is upon happy memories. Give me a canon-Snape happy memory and we'll discuss whether canon-Snape can produce said Patronus.
I have already addressed the Snape virginity thing before and won't do it again here. My story, my fantasy, sorry. If others can write him as a poof sleeping with Harry, I can write him as a virgin. If you find Rowena too obsessed or the plot too boring, or Snape too out of character for your tastes, I sincerely invite you not to read. Not everyone likes everything. If your negative comments are merely a matter of your own personal tastes and opinions, please keep them to yourself. If they are founded on errors in my writing or misinterpretation of canon, please feel free to bring them to my attention.
I apologize to my lovely fans and friends who have been so wonderful as to enjoy my story and tell me so. I regret wasting your time with this. I had no way to address this person's comments as they did them anonymously, and felt they needed to be addressed. At least for my own peace of mind.
Hugs, next chapter soon... maybe by Sunday or Monday. I was thrown off my roll by the unpleasantness. I'll get back on soon, I'm sure. Severus and Rowena are tired of living in my head and wish to live in fandom. I meant to tease you a day or two longer before posting this, but I needed to get back on a happier note.