40) The Choices That We Make
Severus was slowly walking over the battlegrounds. All over the place there were still many witches and wizards searching for wounded relatives or friends. Bodies had been put together in long lines to be identified. In some cases that would be impossible. His robes and boots were stained with mud and soaking wet, but he did not bother. The cold was creeping through his numb legs, but he could not feel. Exhaustion was nearly overpowering his tired stride, but he would not give in. Not yet, not now.
He knew he was here. Sometime during the battle he had seen his fair hair blowing in the wind. In a small fracture of time it had lit up between the dark clothed fighters and disappeared again. Then he had been facing the lake at whose bank he was now standing. The sun had sunken a while ago, but the many lights floating around and reflecting on the water were enough for his trained eye.
Between the piles of corpses he could hear the flies humming and his heart clenched at the idea that his beloved was in between one of them. But he refused to give up yet! Using a ring Lucius had once given him back then (which he never had the heart to throw away although it was a risk) he used the point-me charm again, which surprisingly led him away from the open and closer to a copse of wood between the gamekeeper's hut and the lake. Carefully creeping through the undergrowth, he thought he saw something blinking near the water. Coming closer, he saw it was a man. He was half lying in the water, half on a large root. His hair was dirty and clinging to his face, but still there was no mistake possible.
It was Lucius.
A glow-worm was tumbling over his hand in which he still clutched a shiny white wand that certainly was not his.
Extremely relived, and finally feeling the strain of the day(s), Severus knelt down next to him and felt his pulse. Although Lucius felt terribly cold, a steady, strong beating responded to Severus' gentle touch. Dragging his unconscious lover out of the water he shed his outer robes and wrapped them around the freezing form, before leaning against the other side of the tree trunk where the ground was dry.
He awoke later when a voice nearby startled him. Looking up, he saw his long-term colleague Minerva towering over him – them – with a slight frown on her weary face. Realising that he was still "hiding" in the woods with an obviously escaped (whether from prison or St. Mungos, it meant the same) ex-Death Eater. For one moment his worry about his lover's welfare welled up and he carefully checked on his condition. Although far from well, Lucius seemed relatively healthy, if still unconscious.
"Minerva, I-" he tried to explain, while searching for his wand just in case…
"Don't, Severus," she sighed. "I'm here on Albus' wishes."
"What is happening?" he inquired.
"The minister has arrived and is sprouting his nonsense everywhere. As if HE had slain this battle, ridiculous, really, this man – well, anyway, Albus can't come down himself for obvious reason, but he asks you to come by his office as soon as possible. He mentioned he could try and see, if there is a possibility of getting Lucius pardoned, although with a double escape and everything… Be that as it may, he expects you to show up soon. I believe the aurors are still searching for somebody here, since St. Mungos has meanwhile noticed that a sister was missing and found paralysed in the guise of Lucius Malfoy," she furrowed her brow.
Severus nodded, feeling slightly dejected. She sighed.
"I'm sorry, but it's the choices that he made," she said stiffly and walked away.
He snorted behind her. Hugging his lover's still form closer to him shook his head, smiling sadly, "No Minerva," he said to himself, "it's the choices that we make!"
And Lucius seemed to smile in his arms. Taking heart, he silently wished his friend and mentor goodbye, before cautiously grasping the small black pearl that was tied into a strand behind his ear. "Goodbye, Albus, and thank you," he whispered, before the secret portkey whisked them away.
On his bed in Gryffindor Tower a boy was sleeping peacefully. Another boy was gazing at him with wide, green eyes and a small frown appeared on his small face, before he started to wail…
AN: This was the alst chapter, guys. There's still the epilogue to come and the story screams for a sequel. (Un)fortunately I'm currently engrossed in a different project (another fiction), so it'll have to wait for a bit.
Love, LCiel
