Disclaimer: I own nothing belonging to the Harry Potter Universe except the twisted plot, a few original characters, and a desire to share my weird obsession with others
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Title: Harry Potter and the Guardians of Power
Chapter 2: Out of the Frying Pan
Snape realized where he was immediately as he looked up from the unconscious body of the brat in front of him into the glowing, evil red eyes of Voldemort himself.
"Wonderful, Severussss! You have managed to bring me the boy from under the nossse of that muggle-loving old fool. You ssshall be rewarded for your diligenccce." The Dark Lord hissed at him. "But why is he in sssuch a ssshape? I wanted him aware of hisss peril and my power!"
"I had to stop Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle from killing him in the hallway. They wanted to take the glory from you for themselves, Master!" Severus Snape was thinking as fast as he could to get out of the true situation. Voldemort could never find out he had been saving Potter from the three bullies and had no intention of bringing him to Voldemort. He bowed down over the brat's body and prayed that the megalomaniac would believe him.
"Malfoy! How dare your ssson try to take away my glory? You mussst punisssh him at once. Or you will be taking hisss punissshment yourssself!" Voldemort's hiss was deeper and even deadlier than normal. Malfoy blanched and backed quickly out of the chamber, muttering apologies to the Dark Lord and death threats against his son. Even Voldemort knew that Crabbe and Goyle only did what Draco told them to, they barely had one brain between the two of them. "Rissse, Severus!"
After enervating the hapless boy, Voldemort had two death eaters hold him upright. Snape had never noticed exactly how small the child really was. He looked like a battered first year for Merlin's sake. And he must be 15 or even 16. Snape had no idea when the boy's birthday was, and truth be told he really didn't care how old he was. But he knew the spoiled brat certainly wouldn't be having another birthday if Voldemort had his way.
Harry forced his eyes open only to squeeze them shut again. Voldemort's evil cackling face was the first thing he saw through his pain fogged vision. His brain barely registered the evil high pitched laughter as each painful curse hit his already battered body. He lost count of the times he was cursed as he willed the blackness to overcome him again. He must be going insane with the pain as the only thought in his head was that Tom really laughed like a girl. He wondered if he could muster up enough voice to tell him that. That would really piss him off, he thought as the blackness enveloped him again.
Severus knew the child was at the end of his endurance. With each curse the boy's body was battered more. He was bleeding from numerous cuts, not an inch of his skin was unbruised and unblemished, and now the evil bastard was throwing bone breaking spells. Well, Severus thought, it had been exciting being Dumbledore's spy for so long, but he had had several discussions about when he was to risk revealing his treachery to save his own life or the precious Golden Boy's life. He knew there was some prophecy regarding Potter and Voldemort, but only as much as Voldemort knew. He certainly wasn't going to risk his life just to know the whole thing; but Dumbledore had impressed upon him that Potter had an important role to play and he must save him if this situation ever occurred. He took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Master? Forgive me my impertinence, but if I might heal the boy some, he will last a lot longer for your pleasure." Severus groveled while saying this. Please let him take this the right way, he thought desperately. He really needed Voldemort to allow him to remove the boy to his lab or at least somewhere that he wasn't under the direct gaze of the evil bastard and over twenty of his brainless death eaters. Only then would he have any chance of escaping the anti-apparition wards and saving them both. Blast, but he didn't have the emergency portkey he always carried in his death eater robes since he was just dressed in his normal teaching robes. He hadn't been called to this meeting, he wondered why? Did the Dark Lord suspect his spying duties, or was he just being paranoid?
Voldemort waved his hand dismissively at Snape granting silent permission for the Potions Master to tend to the boy. Snape had managed to give the spoiled brat a strengthening potion and was searching among his robe pockets for other useful potions when a new death eater rushed into the room and bowed low before the Dark Lord, kissing his robes. "Rissse… You have newsssss…." Voldemort hissed.
"Yes, Master. I was able to slip a mild truth serum into Mundungus Fletcher's fire whiskey this evening as he was drinking at the Leaky Cauldron. He told me the name of the spy for the Order of the Phoenix is….Severus Snape!" the masked man gasped out.
"Did you think I wouldn't find out about you? That the muggle-loving fool has corrupted you!" Voldemort was so angry he was spitting as he cast the Crucio curse on the Potions Master. Severus fell at the feet of Potter where he was slumping in the arms of the two death eaters holding him up. Snape writhed in agony as each nerve in his body felt as if it was on fire. His spine bent backwards in unnatural ways as he repeatedly banged his head against the cold stone floor. His violent convulsions totally flipped him over several times before Voldemort released the cruel spell from his quivering body. Voldemort stood and slinked closer to his two victims, cackling insanely.
With another evil look at the man collapsed face down on the ground in front of him Voldemort spoke again, "It iss time you joined the other muggle loving foolsss that ssstand in my way! Too bad my plans allow no further time to play with you, Ava--"
Potter roused himself to yell, "NO!" and wrenched himself free from the arms of the two startled death eaters holding him. He threw himself down on Snape, protecting him with his own battered body.
" -da Kadavera!"
As the streak of deadly green light surged toward the two huddled on the floor a glow of pure white enveloped them. Even Voldemort was gob smacked and stopped after casting the curse as he looked at the boy in shock. The curse hit the white glow and rebounded throughout the room, blasting all the death eaters in attendance onto the ground. As the glow disappeared, the room came back into focus, and Voldemort screamed his frustration from his position on the floor where he had been thrown by the pure white pulse of energy. Both men had completely disappeared. Surging to his feet and spitting in rage, his death eaters quaked and writhed on the ground as he flung curses in all directions to relieve his anger and frustration.