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Behind Emerald Eyes

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Chapter 35 –

Redemption and Revenge

Harry stared at Snape, mouth hanging stupidly open, eyes wide in surprise. He glanced at the Dark Lord, bested by a haggard and thought-to-be defeated old Death Eater, who was now wearing a face of clear satisfaction. "Wh-what just happened?" Harry stuttered. "You were just tied up, then you were there, and now… Merlin!"

Snape looked at him, raising a single black eyebrow as he did so. "I, Potter, much like yourself, do not like to be pitied."

"How did you get out of the chains?" he asked in astonishment.

"The chains were cut when you were transported into this room. The Cutting Curse barely missed my arm, but I shifted to the side just enough so the spell sliced through the chains. I sat still after that, listening, waiting … biding more time for the moment to act."

Harry still gaped at him, but he managed to close his mouth and clench his jaw to stop it moving in the same fashion as a fish. He looked back down at the son of Tom Riddle, who hadn't moved since Snape had hit him over the head with the paper-weight. Swallowing an uncomfortable lump in his throat, he asked, "What now?"

Snape considered the question by drawing his eyebrows together; Harry noticed that his old professor was favouring his left leg, taking weight away from the right. After the surprising amount of energy he must have used to leap from the chair and scoop the weight from the table to knock out the Dark Lord, it looked as though it was catching up to him, as Harry watched a thin sheen of sweat glitter on Snape's forehead.

"Now, we need to get you and the Order out of here," Snape said after a moments pause. Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I need to kill him! Now!" he said a little louder than he had anticipated. Both he and Snape quickly looked at the Dark Lord. But he hadn't moved.

If it was possible, Snape's eyes darkened. "No, Potter. You need to get Ginny, the Weasley's and the rest of the order out of here. We need to reassemble and then we can come back."

"But look at him!" Harry said, pointing to the Dark Lord hunched over the desk. "It would be so easy! I could just kill him now! It wouldn't even be hard!"

Snape looked at him, the signs of stress clearly showing in the beads of sweat trickling down his face and the slow spread of red up his neck. He actually looked at him - straight into his eyes. Or, more precisely, through them. "Are you really that much like him?"

Harry started, confused. "What? Like who?"

"Like Riddle. Like Voldemort."

There was a tense silence that seemed to throb with tension and absolute revulsion on Harry's part. "Hell no!" he hissed with anger. "I am nowhere near alike to them!"

"You're acting like them. Even thinking like them. Killing someone while they're down. I may be as Dark as they come, Potter, but I know where to draw the line," Snape said in a soft, haggard voice. "And I know for a fact that your parents didn't die just for you to kill a man while he is unable to fight back."

"He's not a man! He's a monster!" Harry said, unaware that his voice was rising with each word. "And who are you to talk anyway?"

Snape sighed, adjusting his posture so he was holding onto the side of the desk. "I have spent many years on the wrong side, pretending I was doing good, with just that thought getting me through the haunting hours. In that position, I was able to see both sides as they really were. I was part in and part out of both of them; a sort of grey, I suppose. But, while I was there, I watched everyone. How they acted, how they spent their days … and how they spent their nights. I saw them as they were. Their true nature. Their true face."

"And what has this got to do with me killing the Dark Lord?" Harry said angrily.

"I saw who they truly were, Potter. What they were capable of, what they weren't capable of. What they feared. And what their reactions were to some of the things they did themselves. How their actions determined who they were and who they turned out to be.

"If you defeat the Dark Lord while he is incapable of fighting back - a powerless person - it will haunt you forever. I know the type of person you are. The emotions you feel and the objects in this world that trigger powerful feelings inside of you. I have watched you since you first started Hogwarts - watched you as you came into your powers and turned into a man that would make your parents proud. And I was one of the only in this world that understood the reasons you left after the war. I understood the reasons you decided to leave. And just like your emotions back then triggered your leaving, your actions today will once more determine your future.

"If you kill the Dark Lord now - no matter all the crimes he has committed and nightmares planted into young minds - no matter all the terrible things he has done, you will regret taking his life when he has no way of preventing it. I may be Dark, Potter, a servant of the night, no more than an old enemy of your father … but I know you. And I know that if you kill the Dark Lord, you will never forgive yourself. Your nights will be haunted by the image of the life you took. Your thoughts will be consumed by pictures of Him and his life which was taken by you. Even though the Dark Lord is the son of the man that killed your parents - even though the Dark Lord is the one who took your girlfriend and unborn child - even though he deserves to die - you would not be able to live with yourself until the day you die … and then it will be too late."

Harry stared at the man he had always thought he hated and who had hated him in return. He stared at him and for the first time in his life, he actually saw him He saw a man who had made one terrible mistake in his youth and had been paying for it ever since. He saw the shadow which had been trying to escape the darkness but finding himself unable. He saw a broken image of Severus Snape, so used and mistreated that he had started to actually believe that's all he was meant for.

Harry stared at his old Potions Professor and for the first time, he understood.

He opened his mouth to speak - to say something that would be a adequate enough to describe the indescribable emotion coursing through his body - he opened his mouth to speak, but never got the chance.

"That was a lovely speech, Severus, and I'm amazed that you had that much life left in you," the hauntingly familiar voice of Tom Riddle's son said, as he slowly stood up from his position behind the desk. "But I believe our hour is up." Before either of them had the chance to say a word or to react to what was about to happen, the Dark Lord clipped his fingers and transported himself, as well as Harry and Snape, back out into the main Entrance Hall. The sudden shift in position must have placed extra pressure on Snape's sore leg, as he collapsed as soon as they had appeared, with a bitten back cry of pain.

Harry immediately righted his footing, a spell coming to his lips, but it was no use. The hand previously clutching his wand, now only held air. He looked up at the Dark Lord, his heart plummeting at the sight of his own wand, as well as Snape's, lying in the man's hand. Harry quickly looked around, his heart plummeting at the sight of Ron kneeling on the ground, the front of his torn robe soaked with fresh blood. His freckly face was pale and drawn, and he looked to be fighting an inner battle on where or not to stay upright or lie down.

George was still on the stairs, with Fred standing protectively over him. The Dementors lined the walls, with the Death Eaters providing a tighter circle in the middle. Hermione and the others were still in the centre, their arms bound and wands in the hands of one of the masked Death Eaters. Hermione was looking straight at him, wide-eyed and pale-faced, with a dry stream of blood matting hair to her cheek.

Then he looked to Ginny, who was standing straight-backed and confident, even though their were outnumbered and injured. The determination and hope in her eyes as she looked at him was enough to build his own strength back up. He had to do this. They had to get out.

"You didn't really think, Harry, that a little knock to the head would be enough to take me out, now did you?" The Dark Lord said with a soft pout when Harry didn't reply. "Oh, you did? Well, I was awake through the whole thing. I heard all of Severus' lovely, inspirational story and his persuading you not to do away with me when I was incapable of fighting back." The Dark Lord looked to Snape, who had pulled himself to his feet. The Potions Master glared at the son of Tom Riddle with intense, hate-filled eyes. "I didn't know you had the capacity to love?"

While the Dark Lord was talking, Harry was trying to figure out a way for them to gain the upper-hand. But with most of their number tied up, or worse - hear, he looked at George and Ron, his stomach clenching painfully. They needed a diversion, or at least a distraction. He looked to the Order Members, with Hermione and Ron in amongst them. Ron was kneeling beside Hermione, his breath rising and falling slowly as if it took away most of his energy to keep breathing. Harry locked eyes with him, listening to the Dark Lord talking to Snape, and also trying to work out what Ron was trying to tell him.

He kept tilting his head to the side, his eyes wide and piercing. He kept nudging his head in that direction and mouthing a word that looked like 'wants'. Something inside of him clicked, and rejecting the thought that kept repeating stupidstupid, Harry glanced to the Death Eater at the side of the group, who had their wands in a front pocket of his robes. Harry looked to Ron again, his eyes widening in sudden realisation.

Licking his lips, he switched his eyes back to the horridly familiar face of the Dark Lord. Now, to grab the Dark Lord's attention. "Will you stop with the insults already," he said, gaining many surprised looks from both his own group and the Death Eaters. Snape stared at him as if he had suddenly turned into his father. Harry kept his eyes on the Dark Lord, though sent a silent command through this and Snape's recent mental-connection.

Wait.

"What did you say, Harry?" The Dark Lord said.

"What? You didn't hear me?" Harry said, heart beating in his fingertips. He was itching to have a wand in his hand; he could practically feel the magic pulsating just beneath the surface. "I said, to stop insulting people. We've heard it all before, and your talking is starting to irritate me. I swear, you could talk the life out of a Jarvey."

Perhaps that wasn't the best way to distract attention away from Ron, but it seemed to be working. The Dark Lord only had eyes for Harry now - dark, angry, calculating eyes that were starting to give him the creeps. "Why, Harry, I think you're stepping over the bounds a little. But that's okay. I know when to take a hint. I think I've wasted enough time talking. It's about time to start some good old-fashion duelling. How about it, Harry; are you up for it?"

The Dark Lord stepped forward, Harry's wand in his fingertips, tempting him. Eyeing the Dark Lord suspiciously, he stepped closer, licking his lips and reaching for his wand. He snatched it from his fingers quickly, stepping back and drawing it in front of him. The magic was bubbling in his fingertips, seeping into his wand until he could feel it softly vibrating.

"You want to duel?" Harry said. He remembered his duels with Voldemort. If he was anything like his son, Harry would have to be prepared.

The Dark Lord grinned manically. "I sure do. Now, my friends, please clear an area for us to play; I wouldn't want anyone to get hit with a stray spell." The Death Eaters started to move the Order Members back near the wall. Ron was helped by Hermione and George, and when they reached the wall, he stood there shakily. His eyes were bright though, watching the Death Eater with their wands carefully.

Harry looked back at the Dark Lord, knowing the end of this nightmare was near. He glanced at Ginny, who stared at him with wide eyes, her confidence gone. She was scared. Harry nodded, smiled weakly, and whispered, "I love you."

"No rules, duel to the death?" Harry said clearly, glaring at the Dark Lord. He looked mildly shocked, a flicker of strange emotion passing across his eyes.

"Sure, why not?" he said, as if this happened on a daily basis for him. They took the required amounts of steps apart, turning to face each other quickly, wands poised at their sides, fingers itching in anticipation of the battle. Harry stared into the clear eyes of the Dark Lord, directly into his darkened soul and the powers he inherited from his father.

Snape said there was no honour in killing a man when he was incapable of fighting back. Well, he could fight back now. And Harry would not stop until he was dead.

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Ron was waiting for the perfect time to strike. His shoulder was killing him, and he could feel the arm blood soaking the front of shirt and running down inside his clothes. Every time he inhaled, pain would shoot through his entire body and his head throbbed so badly he thought he would pass out.

Harry and the Dark Lord were about to duel, and he wouldn't sit there and do nothing while his best friend could die. So, he was waiting - waiting for his time to act. Looking at Ginny, his dear little sister, his heart could break. And her child - his nephew - he was going to be an uncle! An uncle! He couldn't believe it. He, Ron Weasley, would be an uncle. It was so surreal.

And Harry … Harry was going to be a father. He deserved it. After so much had happened to him, and no blood relatives left for him to relate to, he was finally going to get someone he could love with all his heart. Someone who would be completely dependent on him - not because he was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived - but because he was Harry. Brother. Boyfriend. Father.

But not if they didn't win this battle. Not if they couldn't rise from the ashes. Not if they weren't the Order of the Phoenix. Not if they -

Now!

He faux collapsed, dropping to his kneels with a pained gasp, and falling forward onto his chest. Pain shot through him, almost blinding him with its fury, and he bit back a strangled cry.

"Ron!" he heard Hermione drop down to his side.

"Wait for it," he hissed quickly before a Death Eater pulled her up, back into the line. Ron felt a kick to his side, and he rolled over, deliberately pulling his shirt so his blood-soaked bandages could be seen. The Death Eater kicked him again, prodding his wound with a wand. The pain was intense, but Ron kept his mouth and eyes shut, pretending to be near death.

"I think he's dead," a Death Eater stupidly commented, nudging him with his foot again. He heard a thump.

"He's breathing, you idiot," another said, the one who more-than-likely hit the first.

"What do we do then?"

"I don't know, leave him, it won't be long before he's dead," the Death Eater said gruffly. The first one, who had the wands, knelt down beside him. Ron felt hands on his chest, as the Death Eater looked for any valuables. Vultures, Ron thought scathingly. But it didn't matter. Now was his time to act.

He opened his eyes a fraction, searching for the pocket which contained their wands. The Death Eater leaned forward more, placing his own wand on the ground to get a better feel around Ron's pockets. Ron's eyes locked with those of Hermione hovering above them, and he winked.

With a swift kick upwards, the Death Eater's head flicked back with a crunch, blood immediately spewing from his nose. Hermione grabbed the wand from the ground while Ron leapt for the Death Eater's pocket. He pulled out the wands, just as one of the other Death Eater's noticed what had happened. Hermione sent a stunner at him, fortunately her aim was true.

Standing up and ignoring the pain that spread throughout his body, he thought, you will be a father Harry.

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Hey guys. Yes, I'm still alive. What's it been? Three months? Or something equally ridiculous? Well, I thought I'd give you all an early birthday present. I'll try to write a chapter for Shattered Memories while I'm in a writing mood, but I can't promise anything.

There will only be two more chapters after this. The last one will be more like a prologue, but it still counts as the last chapter because of certain things in it. I'll try have another chapter out within a couple of weeks, or sooner, as I'm on holiday for over a month. I've been writing a lot of original fiction lately, and haven't written any HP Fanfiction since the sixth book. I think I've grown out of it or something. I dunno.

Well, I hope you all are still with me, and major thanks to those that reviewed! I only need four more reviews before I hit 400 --- the most reviews that I've ever gotten! Whoo! Let's say, if I get to 400 by, umm, 9:30 tonight, I'll try to get the next chapter up on Christmas day. How's that? That's only 4 reviews people in over two hours.

Think you can do it? And the next chapter will be dedicated to the 400th reviewer, if I can figure out who it is. :P

Thanks a lot, and hope to write more soon!

Laters

DW