Severus Snape and the Reluctant Hero
Disclaimer: All characters in this story (except for Ravenna...Snape) belong to JKR, not me. This is my take on how our beloved Severus Snape came to be the way he is. Pre HBP but with elements from same. This is my version of year 6.
Chapter Seventeen
Return of the Dementors…Again
"Damn!" Ravenna hissed quietly as she watched Severus kneel beside Minerva, who was tending to several injured Aurors. She had hoped to go far enough back to prevent the attack. She clasped her hand quickly over her mouth as she noticed Severus looking directly where she was standing, still concealed by the cloak. He narrowed his eyes and continued to stare until Minerva spoke.
"We are under attack. These Aurors were ambushed at the gate."
"How have they been able to get in? What about the protection wards on the castle walls?"
"It would seem that You-Know-Who has found a way to break them. The Ministry has been notified and the Order members in Hogsmeade are on their way."
"Where's Albus?"
"He's out there." Minerva said anxiously as she pointed out the door. Severus drew his wand and ran out of the castle.
Ravenna stood transfixed, experiencing total recall of what was about to happen. Remembering exactly what happened to Severus, Harry and the others she knew what she had to do. She moved quickly to take a safe position just outside the door and waited for Remus and her past self to arrive.
She watched as Remus paused at the entryway of the castle to dispense with a Death Eater who was trying to enter. She listened carefully to be sure her past self had exited the castle, then cast a very strong protection charm on the entry to the castle to prevent anyone from entering or leaving. Scanning the grounds she spotted Harry being dragged towards the castle and several Death Eaters who were giving chase. She raised her wand and pointed it directly at them, knocking them out cold. She was just about to conjure a shield around Harry and the others when her wand was knocked from her hand.
"I can see you there, lower your cloak!" Her past self shouted. She swore again and did as ordered. Past Ravenna gasped loudly. "Who the bloody hell are you?"
"Who do I look like?" She responded angrily.
"I say again, who are you?" Past Ravenna growled.
"Damn it Rae, I don't have time for this. Lower your wand and let me save them." She pleaded. "Listen to me. If you don't let me finish we will loose everyone we love." Her past self pointed her wand directly at her heart.
"I don't know what you are playing at, but whatever it is I will not allow you to harm anyone."
"I am trying to save them, damn it." Ravenna shouted at her past self. Loosing her temper and waved her hand forcefully at her past self, causing her to fly several yards back and impact heavily against the castle wall. "I know that is going to smart later, sorry about that." She whispered as she approached her past self, removed the invisibility cloak fully and placed it over unconscious form. She then took another look around the grounds, spotting the first of the Dementors coming over the castle walls she called for her wand, placed it to her throat and cast a sonorous charm. "DEMEMTORS!" Her magically amplified voice called, getting everyone's attention. Instantly the grounds were glowing in the silver light of many Patronus's filled the air.
At the sound of his wife's voice, Severus cast a quick Stupefy charm on Bloodworth and spun to see the Dementor gaining quickly on him. He shouted "Expecto Patronum" and watched the dragon shaped Patronus block the Dementor's approach. He then grabbed Luther by the robes and pulled him to his face. "You shall pay for what you have done to my wife." He growled as he pointed his wand directly at Luther's throat.
"I knew you were a traitor!" He shouted as he attempted to free himself from Severus's grasp. "She's still alive, isn't she?"
Severus just smiled coldly at him before releasing his grasp on Luther's robes allowing him to fall to the ground on his face. 'Sectumsempra' he thought as he waived his wand back and forth, causing great gashes to appear across Luther's back. Luther was screaming in agony for several moments before Severus released him from the curse and healed him just enough to close the wounds so he would not bleed to death. He put Luther into a full body bind and shot red sparks from his wand to let the Auror's know where Luther was.
"Quickly, there's Potter!" Someone yelled to Ravenna's left. She spun on the stairs and conjured a protective shield around Harry and his friends as they ran quickly to the castle entrance. Harry yelled "Ron!" Hermione released Harry's arm and spun around just in time to see a glow around Ron. "Ron, are you okay?" She cried as she pulled him in for a hug.
"Yeah, I'm okay. That was weird though." He said absently as Hermione pulled on him to get moving back to the castle.
"Hurry, all of you, into the castle!" Ravenna shouted as they began to climb the stairs into the castle.
"Professor Gryffin!" Hermione shouted as she stood.
"Ravenna!" Harry shouted as he ran towards her. He came to a halt directly in front of her and stared. "Is it really you?" He asked breathlessly.
"Yes, it's me." She said as she pulled him in for a hug. "Now, get inside." She released him and pushed him up the stairs.
"So good to see you again, Harry." Voldemort hissed from directly behind him. Harry spun quickly to face him. Ravenna stepped in front of Harry and glared at Voldemort with her arms crossed.
"Madam Snape." He hissed with disgust. "You have a nasty habit of returning from the dead."
"As do you." She growled back. "I will not allow you to harm Harry."
"You foolish girl, there is nothing you can do to prevent it." He responded maliciously as he pointed his wand directly at her. "Crucio!" Ravenna laughed at him as the curse bounced off the shield charm that was protecting her and the others only to strike Lucius square in the chest. He was screaming loudly and rolling on the ground. Voldemort cancelled the curse with an almost careless flick of his wrist.
Ravenna used the opportunity to back Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny carefully up the stairs. Once they had reached the threshold Ron gasped. "We can't get in."
"It's okay Ron, I will lower the charm so you can; we just need to make sure I can get it back up before Voldemort can follow. When I say, I need all of you to start throwing curses."
"Just say when." Ginny responded, all the others nodded. Ravenna raised her wand and paused.
"Now!" she shouted. While they were throwing random curses Ravenna lowered the charm. "INSIDE!" she shouted. They continued to throw curses as they backed through the threshold. Once they were through she raised the charm again just in time to find Voldemort standing at the top step.
"You cannot stop this." Voldemort hissed. "You may have prevented us from entering the castle but I am sure that charm is not strong enough to resist curses for long."
"All I need is for it to hold long enough for those Aurors to get up here." She said calmly as she pointed to the large number of Order and Ministry members who were rapidly approaching.
"Ravenna!" Harry yelled. "You need to get in here."
"I can't Harry, if I lower the charm now they will get in."
"We can stop him. Please, get in here." Ravenna just shook her head in response.
"Harry, just remember that I love you. Tell Severus and Lilly I love them too, will you?" She said as she turned her back on him to face Voldemort. "Well, what are you waiting for?" She asked harshly. "If you take me out now you may just get the charm down in time."
"Ravenna, what are you doing!" Harry yelled from behind her, she remained staring directly at Voldemort.
"You are going to have to go through me to get to him. Do you think you can?" Ravenna growled.
"Foolish girl, you really think you have the power to stop me?" Voldemort hissed in anger.
"Stop you, no. I do however have the power to get you caught." She replied with a sinister smile on her face. "They're almost here. You are not going to make it. You have the power to go through me easily. Your target is just a mere meter behind me."
"AVADA KADAVRA!" Voldemort yelled with his wand pointed directly at Ravenna. She was surrounded by a bright green light, when it faded she fell to the ground at Harry's feet. Voldemort laughed maliciously and raised his wand again, this time pointed directly at Harry. "That charm of hers will not hold. You will join her in a moment." Before he could cast the killing curse again several of the Death Eaters surrounding him fell to the ground. Order members had made their way across the grounds and were ascending the stairs toward the castle. Voldemort glared at Harry and then vanished from sight.
Harry and the others continued to stare at their teacher lying just out of reach. When the shielding charm finally collapsed Harry dropped to his knees beside his godmother and for the second time in as many months, cried at her death. Rapidly approaching footsteps caused Ron, Hermione and Ginny to close ranks around Harry and draw their wands. They relaxed when they saw Severus running towards them. "Where is she?" He panted.
Hermione placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and guided him towards Harry. When he saw her lying motionless on the ground he yelled. "NO!" Harry rose from the ground and pulled Severus into a tight hug. "She was trying to get him to make a mistake. They almost caught him." Harry said quietly into Severus's shoulder.
"What happened?" Severus asked Harry emotionlessly.
"She…" Harry hesitated. "Severus, she practically begged him to kill her. She told him that he would have to go through her to get to me."
"Damn her. Why couldn't she have just stayed with Lilly?" Severus said quietly as he dropped to his knees beside his wife's body.
"Lilly?" Harry questioned. Before Severus could respond Remus and Tonks ran up behind him.
"Not here, Severus. Let's get her up to Poppy." Remus said firmly as he lifted Severus by the arm. As Severus lifted his wife's lifeless body he experienced an unexpected sense of déjà vu. Remus led the way as Severus carried Ravenna to the hospital wing. When they reached the entrance he paused. Poppy looked up from the bed where she was tending to one of the students that had been injured in the battle.
"Down here, Severus. Harry's usual bed is waiting. I was wondering when he would be brought up." She said absently as she moved toward the indicated bed. She did not look back at them until Severus had gently lowered his wife's body. "Oh good heavens!" She exclaimed as she saw who her patient was. "What happened?" She whispered as she began to wave her wand over her. She did not speak as she looked back at Severus. Only then did she notice the others who had accompanied him.
"The Dark Lord…" was all that Severus could say before his grief caught up with him. He slowly bent over and laid his head against his wife's stomach, silent sobs shaking his body. The others remained still and quiet while Severus slowly composed himself and stood. Harry moved to stand directly in front of him then pulled him into a firm hug. After several moments Remus coughed lightly getting Severus's and Harry's attention.
"Let's take this into Poppy's office, shall we?" Remus asked quietly. Poppy nodded her head and indicated with her hand for the others to proceed to her office. Once inside, she shut the door and put a silencing charm on it.
"What happened?" She asked quietly, looking directly at Severus. She was a bit shocked when Harry spoke.
"Voldemort and his Death Eaters attacked. Ravenna helped Ginny, Hermione, Ron and me get back into the castle and then she put a shield charm on the entrance so they couldn't get in. She then confronted him and told him the only way he was going to get to me was through her." Poppy, Remus and Tonks all gasped.
"She challenged him?" Tonks whispered in awe.
"What the bloody hell was she thinking?" Remus growled in anger. "I know that she is powerful, but that was just plain crazy." He concluded as he sadly shook his head.
"It's the damn bloody Gryffindor in her. Always running head long into the charge, regardless of the consequences." Severus whispered tearfully. "Rather like somebody else I know." He said as he looked Harry in the eyes. Harry gave a small smile and nodded.
"Severus, Ravenna asked me to tell you that she loved you and Lilly. Who is Lilly?" Harry asked quietly.
Before anyone could answer Hermione asked a question. "Professor, if that is Professor Gryffin out there, who was it that was killed before?"
"That is a rather long story Hermione. Perhaps we should take this discussion elsewhere." Remus answered. "Severus, where can we go?"
"Albus's office would be best. That is the most secure place in the castle." He answered quietly.
"I cannot leave just now." Poppy said. "Perhaps someone would be kind enough to fill me in later?"
"Tonks and I will come back later, after we explain this and get them back to their dormitory." Remus said as he walked toward the door and removed the charm. He opened the door and waited for everyone to leave the office. When Severus made it to the door Remus wrapped his arm around his shoulder in a show of support. As they departed the hospital wing Severus paused for a moment at the foot of the bed Ravenna occupied. "Why did you have to be such a bloody Gryffindor?"
Headmaster's office
Minerva is sitting at Albus's desk staring at the fireplace, still holding the note Ravenna had left him. "I don't know about this Albus." She states quietly. "I just don't feel comfortable deceiving them this way."
Albus smiled gently before replying. "It truly is for the best Minerva. Tom is likely to become more reckless now that he believes that we are both dead."
"But they all believe she is dead. How can we not let them know the truth?"
"They well know when the time is right." Albus said quietly. "Until that time she must be sent away somewhere safe. Contact Alexander at Salem. He will find a place for her."
Before she could argue any further Albus lifted his finger to his lips. "It seems you are going to have visitors. Take care of things here. I will be seeing you soon." Seconds later there was a knock on the door.
"Enter" Minerva called as the door swung open. Severus crossed the threshold and stared.
"Where's Albus?" He asked stoically. "There is something terrible that we have to tell him."
"He hasn't been seen since the attack began." Minerva responded, still staring at the fireplace. Severus looked at her questioningly for a moment before directing his gaze to where she was looking. His eyes widened at what he saw.
"Albus?" He said quietly as he spotted the portrait above the mantle. He approached the fireplace and continued to stare. The others were just coming into the room behind him.
Remus stopped midway into the room causing Tonks to bump into him. "Why did you stop?" She said quietly. Remus didn't answer, just continued to stare where Severus was standing.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry said from beside Remus. Upon hearing his mentor's name Severus dropped down on the floor resting his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. "Not him too." He sobbed. Minerva slipped the roll of parchment she was still holding into her robe and walked over to Severus. She knelt down and held him in a motherly embrace.
When the others realized the implication of the portrait that Severus had been staring it they all gasped in shock. Tonks guided Remus to one of the chairs in front of Albus's desk and gently urged him to sit while rubbing her hand up and down his back. Ginny pulled Harry into a hug followed by Ron and Hermione. Harry allowed his friends to hug him for a few minutes before pulling away and walking to Severus. He put his hand on Severus's shoulder and waited for him to look up. When he finally did, he had tears in his eyes.
"I have lost my whole family." He choked out. Harry just looked back at him with sympathetic eyes.
"Not true Severus." Remus said as he stood and walked to him. "You still have Lilly."
"Would someone please tell me who Lilly is?" Harry said slightly agitated.
Severus and Remus looked at each other for a moment seeming to have a wordless conversation before Remus nodded. "Lilly is Ravenna and Severus's daughter."
"Severus, I didn't know that you two had a child." Minerva said as she released him from the embrace she still had him in.
He sighed heavily and wiped his eyes before responding. "Perhaps we should all adjourn to Albus's study; this explanation may take a while." Minerva nodded in response and headed up the stairs, Remus told Tonks, Ginny, Ron and Hermione to follow. He and Harry looked at each other for a second. Harry placed his hand under one of Severus's arms, Remus the other and they lifted him from the floor. Remus went wordlessly up to the study to wait. Harry wrapped his left arm around Severus's back and guided him to the staircase and they slowly went up. Once inside Severus and Harry sat quietly while everyone waited anxiously.
Severus cleared his throat before speaking. "As you will all remember several months ago Ravenna was killed in her classroom. What you did not know is that was not Ravenna." He paused for a moment to allow the information to sink in.
"Who was it then, Sir?" Hermione asked.
"That, Miss Granger, I do not know."
"Then you knew all along that she wasn't dead?" Harry said a little angrier than he meant to.
"Not at first Harry. I did not know until I was taken to Azkaban."
"She was in Azkaban?" Ron asked.
"No Mr. Weasley, she had been summoned and was being kept by the Dark Lord. His intent was to have Remus kill her when he was in his werewolf form. What he did not know is that I have been working on a modified Wolfsbane potion that will allow the drinker to retain full knowledge of who he really is. I told the Dark Lord that the potion would give him complete control of any werewolf that drinks it. Once she was freed, Remus took her to my home where she stayed until just a few days ago when she and Lilly returned to the castle."
"That's right. Ravenna did tell me a few months ago that she was pregnant." Harry exclaimed. "How old is she?"
"Almost two months." Severus answered quietly.
"But Sir, that is when you were taken to Azk…" Hermione stopped in mid-sentence.
"That's right Hermione." Remus said. "Albus arranged it so that Severus could be at home with Ravenna when Lilly was born."
"Where is she now?" Ron asked.
Severus looked at Remus with fear in his eyes. "She is in Severus's apartment, Winky is looking after her." Remus replied. "When Severus was informed the castle was under attack Ravenna came to get me. Before I could talk her into staying she put on Moody's invisibility cloak and took off." Remus lowered his eyes to his hands. "I really tried to stop her Severus."
"Of that I have no doubt." Severus replied quietly.
Minerva stood and walked toward a cabinet in the back of the room, lifted something from one of the shelves and returned to stand beside Severus. "Take this." She said, handing him a small glass vial.
"I don't need that." He said stiffly.
"Remus, would you and Tonks be kind enough to take these four back to their dormitory. I am going to send word to all the houses to have the students pack. Under the circumstances I believe it would be best to send the students home early." Remus nodded. The four students rose from their seats and followed him out.
"I am going to go back to the hospital wing." Severus said quietly as he stood. Minerva just nodded.
She followed him back down to the main office and stopped on the bottom step, watching the heartbroken man leave. She then sat down at the desk and wrote a letter informing the students' families that Hogwarts was closing. She then spelled the quill she had used to continue making copies. Once they were completed they would be sent out via floo to the families.
Hospital wing
Severus was surprised to find Remus talking to Poppy beside Ravenna's bed. "I thought you took Harry and the others back to the tower?" He said quietly as he approached.
"Tonks took them. She is going to stay up there until I get back. We did promise to fill Poppy in on what happened, I thought it would be easier on you if I did it."
"Thank you, Remus." Remus just nodded in response and walked with Poppy to her office. Severus watched them until the office door was closed and then looked down at his wife. He leaned over and kissed he lips gently. "I am going to miss you." He whispered as the tears began to flow. He sat on the edge of the bed until the tears would no longer come, holding her hand.
"Severus, I really do think you should go and get some rest. There is nothing more you can do here." Poppy said quietly as she approached him. He nodded slightly and stood. He then carefully removed the garnet wedding ring from her finger and held it tightly in his hand before bending to kiss her one last time. Before he straightened he plucked a single hair from her head. Poppy watched him questioningly as he transfigured the hair into a delicate silver chain which he slid the ring on and clasped around his neck.
"You will prepare her?" He asked hoarsely.
"Don't worry; I will take care of everything. Go be with your daughter." She replied as she gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. He nodded again and slowly left the hospital wing.