Chapter Ten
(A/N: First of all, I want to apologize to all my faithful readers for the long waits between chapters. I'm just grateful that there are still people reading this, and I want to thank you all for your patience and interest. Senior thesis took over my life. Now it's over, and I'm beginning my foray into the real world of working. I will finish this, I promise.)
It was useless.
Severus pulled at the chains binding him to the ceiling, but it did no good. It was a rather cruel irony that he now found himself in the same position as Anthony McKinnon's father fifteen years before.
"Alone at last," McKinnon remarked. His little jibes were really becoming intolerable. It was one thing to gloat, but in Severus' opinion, one could at least be original about it.
"So we are," Severus replied. His thoughts flickered to his father—was he still alive? If so, he was probably injured…and he had gotten hurt trying to warn Severus.
Why, Father? Why did you come back?
Right then, Severus made up his mind. He would survive whatever McKinnon did to him, and he would live to ask his father why he had come back. There were no questions about it. Once a Snape got an idea in his head, he stuck with it.
"So," McKinnon said, stepping closer to Severus, "Did you make him beg for his life, Death Eater scum?"
"I suppose you mean your father," Severus replied. "No, I did not. He did beg, of course, but for your life, not his own. I wonder what he would make of what you have done with his gift?"
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Severus had the distinct impression he'd made a mistake.
"Crucio!"
He was right.
The pain was blinding. Severus thought he might have screamed, but he could not be sure. When the curse subsided, he found himself twitching involuntarily, though he did his best to control it. If he had to die, it would be with at least some semblance of dignity. Not that he intended to die.
"Anything else to say?" McKinnon asked, using the end of his wand to lift Severus' chin.
"As a matter of fact, yes," Severus spat. "You think that I killed your parents? You are wrong. The killer is none other than your mentor, Lucius Malfoy—"
McKinnon responded with a vicious backhand that left Severus' head spinning. The young man was very strong indeed.
"Shut up!" McKinnon roared.
Severus' jaw throbbed, and he turned his face back to McKinnon. Feeling the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, he spoke again.
"You are making a very foolish error, boy."
He would not, could not allow his fear to show. The situation was not enviable—he was at the mercy of a very unstable young man, and his father…who knew whether he had even survived? A spell like that in combination with a long fall was a trial for any wizard, and Septimus wasn't young anymore.
If only there was some way of reasoning with the boy, of making him see the truth! But young people only saw what they wanted to. That had been Severus' own experience, as well as a trait he had noticed in his students.
McKinnon leveled his wand at Severus, his face a mask of hatred.
"We shall see. Crucio!"
====================
"Are you certain?" Mariela asked, peering down at the house-elf standing in the main entrance of Hogwarts. Behind her, Remus stood holding his wand to Loki's back. Snuffles shifted his feet impatiently beside her. The stars stood out like diamonds in the night sky.
The house-elf nodded. "Yes, miss. Healer Snape arrived a few hours ago, and has not been seen since."
"Maybe they decided to have a family reunion or some such," Loki spoke up in a bored drawl. "So you might as well release me—"
"Dream on," Remus snapped, his patience at last wearing thin. "Once we see that they're safe, then we'll consider it."
He glanced at the house-elf. "Would you mind escorting us to the dungeon? I take it you remember me?"
"Yes, sir. You was a teacher here. Ibby remembers you."
"Very good, Ibby. Lead on."
House-elves were very useful, Mariela decided as they started after the little creature. Not just in their housekeeping skills, but in their ability not to question things. Such as why they had a bound Ministry official and large black dog with them, or why they needed to see Professor Snape and not Professor Dumbledore.
Which would have been somewhat difficult to explain. Not to mention time-consuming.
Finally, they reached the dungeon. Remus held his wand at the ready, and shoved Loki in front of them.
"After you," he said politely. Loki's eyes narrowed, and he stepped into Snape's classroom.
"Ugh," Mariela remarked, glancing around the dungeon. "I must say, I love what Severus hasn't done with the place."
Snuffles barked his agreement.
"Severus!" Remus called. "Severus, are you here?" He turned to Mariela. "Check the office. I'll secure our friend here to a chair for now. Snuffles will watch him."
"Right."
While Remus went about fastening Loki to one of the chairs, Mariela strode through the rows of student desks, feeling as though her feet weren't going nearly fast enough. The office door was wide open, and the torches were lit. Surely Severus was in there.
"Septimus? Severus?" she inquired, poking her head in the door. Her stomach dropped.
No one was there. The furniture was all in place, or at least, nothing was knocked over. Mariela had no idea how it would look normally. The torches were lit, however, which struck her as odd.
"Remus, he isn't here!" Mariela cried in frustration, turning to go back. Remus seemed to be crouched down, looking at something on the floor underneath one of the tables.
"Remus?"
"I think you'd better come and look at this," Remus said tonelessly.
Frowning, Mariela headed to where Remus was kneeling—and gaped at what she saw.
"Oh, infierno!"
"Oh look," Loki remarked from his chair. "We found someone."
"Ennervate."
==============================
Slowly, painfully, Fleur was coming out of the darkness. She was suddenly aware of every single bruise she had acquired when she fell.
Why did I fall? Oh, yes…someone attacked me…someone…
She tried to speak, but all that came out was a low groan.
"Easy now," a vaguely familiar male voice was saying.
"Where is 'e?" Fleur asked hoarsely.
"Don't talk," came an unfamiliar woman's voice. "Here, drink this."
Fleur was dimly aware of being maneuvered into a sitting position, and felt the taste of cool water against her lips. She drank gratefully.
"Merci," she murmured, and her surroundings finally came back into focus. Leaning over her was Professor Lupin, and a petite dark-haired woman.
"What 'appened?"
"I was hoping you could enlighten us," Professor Lupin said gently. "You know me, of course, but this woman is Mariela Chavez of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Mariela, this is Fleur Delacour, Severus' assistant."
"Pleased to meet you," Fleur murmured.
"How do you feel?" Professor Lupin asked.
Fleur groaned once more. "I feel like someone 'it me weeth a Stunning Spell," she replied.
"Who?" Mariela Chavez asked.
A good question. Who was it? She remembered Hogsmeade, then coming back to the castle with….
"Anthony McKinnon," she said softly. "But eet can't be—'e is my friend!"
"Did he seem odd to you?" Professor Lupin asked.
"Now zat you mention it, yes," Fleur replied, remembering Anthony's skittish behavior earlier that evening. Had it really been the same evening? It felt like it had happened days ago. If only her head didn't ache like this…
"I remember 'e was acting strangely. But why would 'e attack me?" she asked.
"He must have wanted you out of the way," Mariela responded. "Can you stand? Do you know where he went?"
"Slow down, Mariela," Professor Lupin cautioned sternly. "Don't rush her."
"Sorry," Mariela replied, temporarily contrite. "But Severus could be in danger, to say nothing of Septimus—"
"I don't know where 'e is now," Fleur said.
"Listen to me, Miss Delacour," Mariela said, leaning in closer to Fleur. "Severus Snape is my friend, and now he and his father are probably at the mercy of your Mr. McKinnon. If you can remember anything, please share it!"
"I don't," Fleur said despairingly. "I don't! I'm sorry!"
Just a minute. Listen to yourself, Delacour. Since when do you whine to anyone for anything?
That was when the dog barked. Fleur hadn't even seen him at first, but now she wondered how she could have missed him. He was massive, his eyes flickering in the torchlight. He was sitting next to someone seated in a chair in the corner.
Professor Lupin glanced at the dog, and then back at Mariela and Fleur.
"Mr. Lestrange," he said, getting up from his kneeling position walking slowly over to the person on the chair—which Fleur could see now was actually a dark-haired young man.
"What?" Lestrange asked, raising one dark eyebrow.
"You know where they are. We've already done the interrogation bit once, so why not save me the trouble?"
"Because I'd be killed?"
"We'll risk it," Mariela said, standing as well. She glared at Lestrange. "I don't have any problem with violence, if it gets me what I need."
Lestrange smiled. "My kind of woman. Be good to me, love."
No one in the Delacour family had ever shirked their responsibilities. And Fleur was not about to be the first.
She stood up—rather too quickly, as the white spots in her vision demonstrated. Hoping that she hadn't swayed visibly, she fixed Lestrange with a cold stare.
"A dose of Veritaserum might do the trick," she said levelly.
"But we don't have—" Mariela began, but Lupin cut her off.
"Time," he finished, winking. He had caught on.
"Oh, I can make some easily," Fleur replied. "All I need eez some eel juice, rat tails…"
Lupin poked around at the items on Professor Snape's desk. "Ah, and here are some other ingredients—lacewings, crushed dung beetles, and—oh, live spiders!"
It was working. Lestrange was looking more horrified by the second.
Mariela held up a jar containing a specimen floating in green ooze. "Whatever this thing is…"
"And zome of zat magical cleaner for good measure," Fleur finished, as Lupin tossed it to her from the desk.
"That will kill me!" Lestrange cried, panicked.
"You might be more useful that way!" Mariela said cheerfully. "Come on, Loki, where's your sense of adventure?"The three of them advanced on Lestrange's bound figure, and he swallowed hard.
"The Shrieking Shack. McKinnon took Professor Snape to the Shrieking Shack. His father wasn't part of the deal, though, I don't know if he's there or not."
"Good. Let's go," Mariela said, turning and heading for the door.
"One of us should stay with him," Lupin replied, pointing to Loki.
"I will," Fleur replied, surprised at the calm assurance in her voice.
"Are you sure?" Lupin looked at her with concern in his weathered face. "You were just rather brutally assaulted—"
"I am fine now," Fleur replied, smiling at him. "I can 'andle Mr. Lestrange."
Lupin nodded. "All right." He turned to Mariela. "Let's go."
"Right," Mariela said. "Is Snuffles going with us?"
"He is," Lupin replied, glancing at the dog. "Shall we?"
Snuffles barked, and bounded out the door. Mariela and Lupin followed, bringing up the rear.
"Remus?" Fleur heard Mariela ask, from out in the hallway."Yes?" he responded.
"Er, how do we get into the Shack?"
Lestrange rolled his eyes. "Snape's doomed."
========================
Anthony surveyed his prisoner with a grim kind of satisfaction. And yet taking his revenge had not made him feel the way he thought he would.
Am I doing it wrong, Dad? I know taking Healer Snape prisoner was wrong, but I didn't know what else to do. Will killing Severus Snape destroy me as well?
Help me, Dad!
"Can't you even admit it, you bloody coward?" Anthony hissed, walking around Snape's now limp form. He hung loosely from the chains, but he was still breathing. "After all this time I've spent tracking you, the least you could do is give me the truth for my trouble."
Snape's head came up slowly, his black eyes fixing on him with contempt. "Then you have wasted your time. I did not kill your father, Malfoy lied."
"Why would he lie?" Anthony asked in spite of himself.
"He wishes me dead. Why else? And what better way to make sure the job was done than by finding someone with an emotional interest?"
Anthony narrowed his eyes, glaring at Snape. "You must think I'm some kind of fool," he said softly.
"Oh, I know you're a fool, McKinnon," Snape retorted, glaring at him through the strands of greasy black hair that hung in his face. "As was your father, for begging me to spare your life. I'm sure he would be very proud to see what you have done with it."
"SHUT UP!" Anthony screamed. The sound was ripped from his throat, as though it were an entity all its own. "You killed him!"
"I did not kill your father, and killing me will not bring him back!" Snape was relentless.
Anthony backed into the corner, almost as though he were afraid of Snape. He sank to the ground, his face in his hands.
Dad, help me! He plays with my mind…as he did with yours. Did he let you think he'd save me?
Suddenly his head snapped up, and he stood once more. A calm smile flickered across his mouth.
"You think this is how I pictured my life?" he asked coolly. "That I planned everything from the time I was five to this moment? I didn't. I wanted a normal life, and I would have had one, if not for you. Oh, I know you acted on orders. The Dark Lord's orders. I can't take him out, but you are another matter. People like you make me ill—playing both sides for your own personal gain, not giving a damn who gets hurt in the process. Well, I am someone who was hurt by what you did. And now you're paying for it."
He paused, aware of Snape's eyes on him as he continued to speak. "Strange, isn't it? If not for you, this might have turned out very differently. In a sense…you created me. I wanted to take my revenge on you before I even knew your name. Is this some kind of cosmic joke?"
Snape didn't answer at first. His face was impassive, almost unreadable in the dim light. But his voice was tight with some restrained emotion as he spoke.
"The real humor here is solely ironic, McKinnon. It was too late for your father, but he begged me to see that you were spared--and I did! I closed the bedroom door just as Malfoy killed him. Then I convinced the others that you weren't worth the trouble. Would it be worth my explaining why? I doubt you would listen, and in any case you've proven yourself impervious to logic. And reason, for that matter."
Anthony stepped closer to Snape, so that he could feel his captive's ragged breath warm on his face. "Assuming for ten seconds that I believed you, why would you do that?"
"Do what? Explain?"
"No!" Anthony cried, feeling what was left of his self-control ebbing away. "Why would you save me? There was nothing in it for you--I was nothing to you!"
Snape's gaze didn't flicker. "You're right. You were nothing to me. I saved you for me, to prove that I wasn't like Malfoy. Take that as you will."
==================================
If Mariela had tried to imagine how she was going to spend her evening, she probably would never have come close. Creeping through a dusty tunnel at night with a bare acquaintance and his dog after two of her friends, both of whom were being held hostage by a mentally unstable young wizard...well, it was hardly a standard evening activity.
"Are we there yet?" she hissed to Remus, whose outline was only partly visible in the dim light. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she realized how childish she sounded.
I've been hanging around my daughters for too long...
Remus glanced back at her, his face showing no trace of amusement. "Just about."
As far as she was concerned, she never wanted to see a Whomping Willow tree ever again. Mariela had seen a good deal in her time working for the Ministry, but in her opinion, plants should never move of their own accord. It always led to trouble. Her husband's work with Devil's Snare had--
Gabriel.
With a pang, she remembered her husband, who was probably wondering where on earth she was. He'd gotten used to her coming home late some nights, but he would worry. He always did. That was what made rushing off to risk one's life for a friend so frightening. There was the chance that neither she nor Remus would come back. That she might never see her daughters again...
There's no reason for that to happen! Her mind raged. There are two of us, three including the dog. We can take down one crazy wizard...we just have to be careful in how we do it, is all.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Snuffles...well, snuffling. He was making an obvious effort to be quiet, which was unusual in a dog. Mariela glanced ahead, and saw patch of dim light that seemed to grow ever stronger as they moved forward. It took her a split second to realize that it was coming from a hole somewhere above, and the passage floor seemed to be gradually getting higher.
"We're here," Remus whispered, his face gray in the light. "I'll go first, then Snuffles, and then you, Mariela. All right?"
He sounded so certain of himself that she did not question him. Nodding, she stepped back as Remus pulled himself up, and Snuffles followed--with agility not common in most of the dogs that Mariela had met. Remus offered her his hand, but Mariela had already pulled herself up.
Immediately, she buried her nose and mouth in her hands. The dust was incredible--her mother would have had an absolute fit at the state of this house. Taking a step forward, she nearly tripped over a piece of broken furniture. Remus took hold of her arm, and helped to steady her.
"This is the Shrieking Shack?" she whispered hoarsely."It is. Come now, we must go quietly. They have to be here...most likely upstairs."
"What about the basement?" she asked.
"There isn't one," he replied. "Hurry!"
The wandlight wasn't much help, but it was certainly better than nothing. The odd trio made their way into the foyer, ever watchful of any traps or attacks. As far as Mariela could see, their biggest danger down here was choking on the dust.
She stopped short, looking at the floor. "They're here, all right."
"How can you tell?" Remus asked.
"The footprints in the dust. They were made recently....Dios!"
"Wha--" Remus began, but trailed off as she held her wand up higher. The light showed them a pile of broken wood at the bottom of the stairs, and sprawled out on top of it--blue robes, black hair streaked with silver-grey---
Wordlessly, the two rushed to the fallen wizard, unsure of he were still alive. Remus put two fingers to his neck, feeling for a pulse."He's alive," he said after an agonizing pause. From the look on his face, he was as relieved as she was. "I don't like the look of that arm, though--I think it's broken. We need to wake him up and get him to safety. He might have seen what happened to Severus."
"Ennervate," Mariela said, holding her wand in front of her.
Septimus stirred, and groaned. Quickly Mariela put a hand over his mouth.
"Shh, it's us. Septimus, we need to be quiet. Do you understand?"
He nodded, and Mariela took her hand away. Septimus tried to sit up, and immediately grimaced in pain.
"Are you hurt?"
"Severus," Septimus replied, ignoring the question. "McKinnon's got him upstairs--I tried to stop him, but...the boy's mad! He's going to torture my son, he might already be…"
But the Healer could not bring himself to finish his sentence, and the pain of his arm was only secondary to his distress for his son.
"We'll stop him," Remus said. "That's a promise, Healer. If you don't mind..." He touched Septimus' broken arm with his wand, creating a splint.
"Snuffles, stay with the Healer," Remus ordered. "Mariela and I will get Severus. Both of you, be ready to move quickly. The most important thing is getting Severus out of here safely." He glanced over at Mariela. "Remember, this is not the time to seek retribution."
Mariela hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She would have loved to break McKinnon's neck for this crime, but Remus was right--that was not the point.
"Vamanos," she said quietly.
========================================
"What was that?" McKinnon demanded, glaring in the direction of the door. His auburn hair, now damp with perspiration, shone in the dim wandlight.
Severus followed McKinnon's gaze, but saw nothing. Had someone come to his rescue? Probably not. Severus was not the kind of man others risked their lives for, nor did he ever expect to be. He was respected, but not liked--and certainly not with that kind of devotion. Believing this was not self-pity, merely a reflection of the truth. And Severus Snape never allowed himself to hide from the truth.
"If you're going to finish me off, McKinnon, then do so," he snapped. "Just remember that you have the wrong man. Can you live with that, if you're ever lucid enough to understand what you have done?"
McKinnon held a jagged piece of broken glass to Severus' throat. "Maybe I can. I suppose we'll find out one way or another, won't we? Or at least, I will."
The glass had barely scratched his throat when McKinnon dropped it suddenly, his hand shaking. He was staring at something out the window, his brown eyes wide.
Severus strained, but couldn't see a blasted thing. His back was to the window, and he could not turn his head properly to see what had terrified McKinnon so.
"Aurors," he murmured. "How could they have found out--"
"Malfoy!" Severus replied, realizing that this was his last chance of reasoning with the boy. "You were set up, as I believe the expression goes."
"He couldn't have!" McKinnon's voice bordered on hysteria. "He knows I'd talk--I'd tell them--"
"And would they believe you?" Severus demanded. "To them, you're just a raving lunatic. To me, you're a raving lunatic. What do you think will happen to you?"
"It's too late to go back, Dad," McKinnon replied, looking to the empty space at his left. "I can never go back."
This was far from ideal. McKinnon was losing his grip on reality--and he could become violent if the Aurors tried to take him by force. Malfoy was absolutely brilliant, Severus had to credit him with that much. There was a very good chance that McKinnon would be killed in the ensuing struggle, and extremely likely that he would take Severus with him.
Bloody, bloody hell.
============================
Remus peered through the door of the front bedroom. As it was the only room with a light inside, it was obvious that this was where McKinnon was holding Severus.
A closer look confirmed his suspicion. Severus was chained to the ceiling, arms above his head. The young man was standing in front of him, a silhouette against the light. Beside him, Mariela peeked over his shoulder, and bared her teeth.
He couldn't make out much of the conversation that was passing between the captor and his victim, but he distinctly heard the word 'Aurors'. McKinnon seemed more agitated than ever, as he walked back and forth and glanced out the window.
"We've got to act now," Mariela whispered. "He's not paying attention, this may be our best chance!"
She was right, and Remus knew it. They had to get Severus out of McKinnon's reach, and they had him outnumbered two to one. There was no time to lose.
"Aim to Stun, not kill," Remus whispered back. "The boy may not be stable, but he must face justice."
Mariela nodded in agreement, though it was apparent that she had her doubts. "On three?"
"One..."
"Two..."
"Three..."
"STUPEFY!"
(A/N: Another cliffhanger chapter! I'm really bad, aren't I? ;) Though now that I am no longer in school, hopefully I will have more time to write. That said, it's doubtful that you, gentle readers, will have to endure another wait as lengthy as this one has been.)