Walk away and I stumble
Chapter fourteen
Running away was not something that Harry had ever considered himself capable of, murder, surviving curses were all on the list of things he had achieved and yet he still managed to stoop so low as to run away when ever a problem reared it's ugly head.
He and Kayla were happy, well, as happy as they could be without Severus with them, the cottage after all was perfect for them, but Harry got so lonely sitting around by himself when Kayla was asleep.
Severus on the other hand missed both his lover and his daughter greatly, Harry's cowardice was however rather useful, it made his plan so much easier to carry through, tonight was the night that he had to do it.
Before anyone else figured it out, even though he was sure that Dumbledore already had, that old interfering wizard didn't know when to butt out sometimes but that bothered Severus very little currently, he was writing out his will, just in case.
He didn't want to die, he knew it would leave Harry heart broken but at least he would be a live, he would be fit and healthy so that he could raise Kayla, the child that he had always dreamed of having.
As darkness fell over Hogwarts castle Severus prepared himself, thanks to the Dark Mark he knew exactly where he should be looking for the Dark Lord, something that no deatheater, spy or not, would admit to being able to do.
He slipped silently into his black deatheater robes and placed the mask inside his pocket, he doubted that he would need it but it was better to be safe than sorry. Although it had been an extremely tight fit and the legs and arms were overly short for him Severus was also wearing Harry's clothes, this however was out of necessity rather than want.
As each second ticked by Severus' nerves grew stronger, he had to take a calming potion in fear that he would back out at the last minute, something that was not an option. He place the large vial of polyjuice potion into his inner robe pocket, it was perfectly brewed and the hair he needed had already been added.
As it neared the witching hour Severus gathered up all his courage and headed out of his chambers and into the school above, he was both surprised and glad that Dumbledore had not waited there to stop him, it was one less obstacle to hurdle, Albus Dumbledore was a sly man and could easily manipulate him into doing something that he didn't want to do.
Meanwhile Harry was standing over Kayla's crib having just finished her midnight feed, she was perfect in everyway, he loved to watch her sleep, not a sound penetrating the walls to disturb her, this was the solitude that Harry craved but he craved also to share it with Severus.
He had an odd feeling in his heart, and one of foreboding in the pit of his stomach, something was about to happen, he could feel it, he had been connected to Voldemort for too long now, it was a sixth sense that he got.
However there was nothing that he could do but wait until it happened, someone would come to him if they needed help, Dumbledore knew where to find him should the need arise, not that he wanted to be disturbed but he had to do what he had to do.
Severus had apparated into Riddle Manor House, the gloomy and depressing outer walls loomed over him as if daring him to come closer or even to enter, he crept closer knowing that the dark Lord had no doubt already sensed his apparition and knew that he was on his way.
However he wouldn't know that it was him, he couldn't, he may have been great but he wasn't that great. As Severus edged closer he pulled out the vial and downed it before slipping on the mask. He felt his skin start to change and willed himself not to throw up, he looked down at his hands that were reverting back to that of a seventeen year old and pulled on his gloves.
He checked that he had his wand at the ready before entering the house via the back kitchen door, Severus knew from experience that Voldemort resided in the master bedroom upstairs, the fire within no doubt giving off an inviting feel that was to be swiftly crushed upon seeing the monster sitting before you in his comfy chair, that dreaded snake curled up at his feet like a loyal dog.
He felt the polyjuice complete the change, it was time, he had an hour to carry out his plan, it had to be know, if he didn't do it then he would have failed Harry, the one person that despite all their arguments and bickering he did truly love. And his daughter, Kayla, who would doubt be as brilliant as him and as beautiful as her mother, a combination of wit, beauty and smarts that any would admire and envy.
Harry could not take this feeling any more, seeing that he and Kayla were somehow linked the horrid feeling within him was effecting her also, he decided that it was about time to see if everything was alright and that meant going to visit Dumbledore.
He apparated to the gates, winged boars glaring down at him as if accusing him of disturbing the peaceful night and it was that, completely peaceful, not even a gust of wind disturbed the sloping grass leading up to the grand castle.
He had taken a great risk bringing Kayla with him but he had had no other choice, he did not know his neighbours well enough to leave her in their care and he doubted he would ever trust another well enough to do such a thing.
He strolled purposefully up to the great oak doors and slipped inside, everything seemed to be at peace, he could hear a soft murmur coming from the great hall and went to investigate, there he found the headmaster conversing with Minerva, Harry greeted them both with a nod of his head.
"Is there something wrong Harry, the hour is late and I doubt you would see it as a grand idea to take young Kayla for a late night stroll."
"You are right, something is amiss Dumbledore, I can feel it but I cannot place what it is, I beg you not to dismiss it as paranoia or something similar, I have experienced these things for far too long, something is wrong, if you wait here I will go and see if Severus is okay and summon him here."
The headmaster nodded and Harry handed Kayla to him so that he could move with more haste, he may have loved his daughter but he could admit that she did slow him down a touch, something that he could live with because he loved her.
Severus now climbed the stairs that were caked with years of dirt, grime and dust, no one bothered to clean; it was a waste of time although Severus was sure that if the Dark Lord decided on a trip down to the lower levels of his home that the entire place would be cleaned in an instant.
He could hear no sounds of the irritating fool wormtail; he seemed to have abandoned his master for the night, not that he could have done anything to stop him, it just made it so much easier now he wasn't around. So far so good, everything was going his way so far, he just hoped that it would continue to do so.
Harry charged back to the great hall after finding Severus' chambers empty apart from a sealed envelope and a roll of parchment. "He's gone," Harry said as he gasped for breath, "Severus, he's gone."
"Harry, calm down or you will distress your daughter, now slow down and tell me what exactly the problem is."
"Severus has gone, he left this" Harry waved the sealed envelope in front of both the headmaster and professor McGonagall.
"Have you read the contents?" Harry shook his head, "Then maybe you should do so before we jump to the wrong conclusion."
With shaking hands Harry opened the envelope and took out the letter within, unfolded the parchment, his eyes began to scan over the words written in the unmistakable italic scroll of Severus Snape.
This letter I have written so that whoever is the unfortunate person who finds my chambers empty (I assume that this will be either my beloved Harry or the great Albus Dumbledore) can know of my whereabouts.
Whether I have been gone an hour or a day it does not matter because no doubt I will be either dead or close to it, I have done something that no one else has had the courage to do.
There is no prophecy telling us that it must be Harry, the boy-who-lived, who kills Tom Riddle, the great Lord Voldemort, only what has been etched into our minds over time, in truth he is just another wizard, he is no stronger than any one person in our world and he knows this and yet he still fights.
He and I have recently produced the most wondrous thing that any two people can create, a child. She is the best thing to happen in my life since I first fell in love with Harry and even though he does not believe this I care for both of them with all of my heart and that is why I have done what I have done.
I have tried to kill Voldemort tonight, I will not say when I left and I will not say how I knew where to find him and I have already stated my reason, so all I have left is to ask of my Harry not to mourn me, but to celebrate me and remember me, to move on and find someone who can better serve as his husband, a title that many no doubt think I am unworthy of and they would be right.
Goodbye my friends who cared for me well and farewell my sweet Harry, I pray that you love again one day and feel love from them in return, this is my gift for you.
Severus A Snape
"Death is no gift!" Harry almost shouted, he was enraged, he was in no way shape or form about to loss Severus to a monster like Voldemort, he would never forgive himself if he allowed it to happen.
"Harry you must calm yourself, what Severus has done he has done for good reason, he wanted to give you the chance to live and be happy with Kayla, there is no greater gift than that."
"His death is no gift" Harry repeated, "Where can I find him?"
"I am sorry Harry but I do not know, and even if I did I would not tell you, you are not in the right frame of mind to have any such information."
"Fine, I'll find him myself, you are to take care of my daughter, if you so much as put a hair on her head out of place you won't live to see the sun rise." Harry threatened; Minerva looked taken aback at this address from Harry but did not dare to encourage his wrath by disagreeing to this. "I am going to get a head start" Harry said, directing this at the headmaster who was not looking happy, "I want you to gather everyone that you can together, we're ending this tonight."
"Harry, please think, Severus has risked his life to save yours, do you really believe that going out there to die is the best option?"
"I won't die, I have more than enough to want to live, I'm simply going to bring Severus back before he does something stupid and if he has already done something stupid then don't think that I won't finish what he started seventeen years ago."
With that Harry stormed off, wand posed and anger flaring, no one hurt his family and got away with it, not even Riddle, he had gone one step to far this time and Harry was not going to stand by and let it happen any longer.
Severus had reached the doorway and could see into the room where Voldemort sat gazing into the fire, Nagini had moved from the floor into his lap, Severus could see the Dark Lords wand on the small table beside his green comfy chair.
It really wasn't the sort of chair you'd expect to find an all powerful dark Lord sitting in as his throne really, especially since it reclined. However this thought was pushed to the back of his mind where other such unimportant trains of thought had recently been shoved. He had to be alert for this, he had little option, if he wasn't focused then he could die. Time was slowly ticking away.
Severus entered his hand ready over his breast pocket as he readied himself for the attack.
I know, I know, it's been a long, long time, not that long but still, longer than I would have liked it to be, however there is a super reason why. I WROTE AN ACTUALL NOVEL! Excuse my outburst but it's very exciting.
If you want to have a look then you can go to the site in my profile (lulu website, I don't want to put it here in case it breaks some kind of rule) so to sum up, sorry for the long wait, go and check out my book and watch this space, more story coming up.
P.S --- Sorry about the cliff hanger but I couldn't resist!