Disclaimer — JKR owns everything, as it's right, and I don't own anything, except the plot and the sacred right to steal from real literature...

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Chapter 3

9 pm — The Ignored Command

"WHAT?" Harry yelled. "How...? Where...?"

"Professor Snape is going to Apparate there now, Harry. We'll do our best to save them," the voice said, trying to soothe him.

"Snape will do his best to kill them, just as he did for SIRIUS!"

Harry felt all the hatred and the fury which had been filling his body since Sirius' death explode inside him. And the vision of Snape's face, impassibly looking down at him, did nothing to soothe him.

"Harry..." Dumbledore's voice started to say.

"Why aren't YOU going there?" Harry said, breathing fast.

"Harry, I wouldn't know where to go. Professor Snape has re-integrated Voldemort's circle – the Dark Mark will take him there."

"Enough of this, Potter," Snape said flatly. "You're shortening their chances with your babbling."

"Harry, please stay there. I will send someone to pick you up tomorrow morning," the voice said, in a very final tone. "Severus, set out immediately and be careful."

The mighty presence of Albus Dumbledore vanished from the room, leaving behind it an indifferent-looking Snape and a furious Harry.

"I'm coming with you," said Harry at once.

"You're not," Snape replied softly. "You heard what the Headmaster said."

"I'm not staying here and waiting for my friends to be killed!" Harry yelled. "I have to help them!"

"Wrong, Potter. You have to survive." Snape said, even more softly, and Harry understood that he was talking about the prophecy. The thought that everyone – including that despicable ex Death Eater bat – everyone except himself had been aware of the prophecy made him even more furious.

"You have to sacrifice everything on your path in order to be prepared to fight the Dark Lord," Snape continued, with a strange expression on his face.

"And now get out of my way."

Snape pushed him aside and disappeared through the door. Harry followed him.

The house seemed to be empty. Presumably the Dursleys had decided to let the madmen finish off each other and were now barricated in one of the sleeping rooms.

Once in the quiet street outside, Snape turned once again towards Harry.

"I thought the question was closed."

"It's not! I won't let you kill them as you killed Sirius!"

To Harry's surprise, Snape slapped him hard on the mouth. Harry tasted blood. Snape had a minglel look in his eyes – disgust and worry.

"Shut up, you stupid brat! We're in the Muggle world," he hissed.

"I don't care. I want to-"

But Snape, now hidden behind a fence, had taken out his wand and was looking at him grimly.

"Either you go back to your aunt and uncle house by yourself, or I'll do a Full Body Bind on you this instant and send you there."

Harry calculated his chances quickly, avoiding eye-contact. Snape would never let him go. But maybe he could trick him...Harry didn't know how to Apparate, but he knew a spell that would bound you completely to another person. Maybe...and it was, after all, his only chance.

He turned to go, but when he felt a warm feeling from behind him he snapped around and threw himself towards Snape.

"Vincula!" he yelled.

The next moment, the two of them had disappeared.