Disclaimer: All characters owned by JKR - i just wish she'd treated some of them a little differently.
Author's Note: Another reaction to Half-Blood Prince, so contains some SPOILERS. Short and not so sweet!
Revenge
She tore into the room, emerald robes billowing behind her, frayed from the battle that was still in full flow. Her hat gone, her hair falling free from its tight bun she attempted to brush the loose strands back from her face, grimacing as she brushed against an open wound on her cheek.
Freezing next to Harry she steadily watched as he easily took Snape's wand from him, it flew across the room and Harry caught it effortlessly. His powers had reached their peak, it almost scared her.
"Harry, don't." Her voice was raw, breathless.
"The time has come Professor, step away." His voice sounded in human, silently she wept for the loss of that sweet eleven-year old boy.
"You may do it Harry, but allow me one second."
She reached for his arm, the one that was pointing his wand at Snape's chest. He wasn't even trembling with rage; he was fully in control of this moment.
He barely acknowledged her, not even a nod or a blink of the eyes but she knew her wish had been granted.
Raising her own wand she spun around to face the pathetic creature that was leaning against the wall at the other side of the room. His stricken face sought hers, searching for some kind of reprieve to be granted by her.
"Minerva." He mumbled. "Please."
"You ask for my mercy Severus, did you offer Albus any? When he was begging for his life did you give it a second thought? That great man humbled by something as low as you."
She had crossed the room to him and now stood mere centimetres away from him. He shrank back against the wall shaking his head.
"I didn't know."
"You knew enough…"
She lowered her wand and for a split second his eyes showed relief. Then she raised her free hand and brought it back against his face so forcefully that he slipped a little further down the wall. When he lifted his head again the burning redness had already formed where her skin had made contact with his, tiny dots of blood began to appear where her nails had torn away his skin.
"That's for my husband you spineless bastard!" She spat.
Turning on her heel she marched back to stand beside Harry, his wand was still aimed at Snape.
"All right Harry, finish it."
The young man never flinched, showed not one ounce of emotion as he shouted the words.
"Avada Kedavra!"
AN: Could probably have expanded this & made a longer more complete story but somehow this scene just stood out and i had to write it down quickly. Please review.