34 - Sssnakes
Severus had been relieved to find the sample of Harry's blood to be poison free. He sat down heavily on the stool in his laboratory and took a deep breath. The thought of poisoning the girl with the same sort of poison used on Harry had bothered him more than he had thought possible. Knowing that he would not have to follow through with that brought a deep release. For the first time he saw himself as a completely different person than that of his Death Eater image, knowing full well that he had Harry to thank for such a big change in his ethics.
The more Severus thought about it the more he highly doubted that Vespa would just hand Harry over without some sort of trick. Most likely she would try to kill them both after she had possession of the girl. As these thoughts played out in his head he began to come up with a back up plan. He would need the help of Lupin. He was the only other person besides Dumbledore that he could truly trust to help him get Harry back. He had decided not to involve Dumbledore in the rescue; in case the plan failed he would need someone to save Harry.
Severus began to pull ingredients down from the shelves when he heard the doorbell. He looked at the magical picture frame on his wall and saw that it was Weasley and Granger.
Ron was just saying that maybe they should leave, when the door opened and Snape towered over them. He looked up at Snape's intimidating face wondering how his friend could live with such an abrasive guardian.
"Hi sir, we were wondering if we might be able to see Harry." Ron was actually grateful to have Harry's fears of the infirmary put to rest since he didn't have to recover there. Ron had witnessed Harry thrashing about in his bed the night of the ball and had heard Harry yelling about the infirmary.
"Harry is sleeping. He should not be disturbed," Snape gave them an intimidating stare to keep them from arguing further and tried to close the door.
Ron placed his hand on the door to keep it from closing, "Okay, we'll come back later, if that's okay? But, I'm glad you took him out of the infirmary after those horrible nightmares he was having. Please, just let him know we came to visit."
Snape opened the door wider, looking at Weasley through narrowed eyes, he asked, "What dreams?"
Ron shuffled his feet knowing he probably just revealed too much.
"I repeat what dreams?" Snape looked down a little more fiercely.
"I thought you knew? The night of the ball he had a horrible dream about being stuck in the infirmary. He must have woken up at least three times yelling for help, yelling for … you. He finally came down to see you, didn't he?" Ron felt miserable for being the one to disclose the nightmare but he had seen Harry wake up and leave.
Snape closed his eyes at the new information. He didn't say anything more as he closed the door on Harry's friends.
Sitting down heavily on the sofa he rubbed his forehead and was overcome with guilt. So, that had been the reason Harry had fought so hard to not go back to the infirmary. Why hadn't Harry told him about the nightmare? But would he of done anything differently even if he had heard about the dream? He knew that it probably would have swayed his decision about forcing Harry back. Even still, the guilt was overwhelming.
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Harry had just finished cleaning the floor when the small red and black snake slid down his leg. He looked in the other direction so Vespa would not notice the snake in her mirror.
"Do you remember where the tunnel issss to essscape?" Harry hissed out the side of his mouth.
The black snake stuck her tongue out tasting the air, "Yesss. You must move the ssshelf and you will find a tunnel." The snake moved under the shelf.
Harry glanced at the shelf the snake had slid under. It didn't look too heavy and maybe Vespa would think he was just cleaning underneath it if he got caught. He began to take some of the heavier objects off the shelf and place them on the workbench. Before he got any further he heard the locks on the laboratory door opening.
Harry quickly grabbed one of the objects and pretended to be cleaning it before placing it back on the shelf again.
Vespa walked into the room and looked around with utter dismay. The boy actually cleaned better than her house elves. Too bad she couldn't keep him and really use him as her house elf. It was almost a shame that he would need to die today.
"Get over here and kneel down," Vespa commanded. She watched the boy hesitate and raised her hand holding the whip. She still felt a little apprehension over what had happened earlier when she threatened the boy, but thinking it was just a fluke made her feel a little more confident.
Harry rushed over and forced himself to kneel before the vile witch, trying to make the uncontrolled magic come back. He was shocked out of his thoughts when Vespa grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked with a mighty tug. He bit his lip to hold back a scream as he felt a clump of hair ripped from his very scalp. Raising his hand to his head he felt a bloody patch of bald spot.
"Get up!" Vespa screeched and pushed Harry along, back into the dark cell he had expelled the poison in earlier.
Harry was pushed into the dark room that turned pitch black when the door was bolted shut. His heart raced as he knew his chance to escape had just vanished. Sitting down in the middle of the room he took deep breaths to calm his hammering heart.
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Snape went back down to his dungeon to continue brewing the polyjuice potion.
The plan would be risky but he didn't have any other choice. Lupin would need to take the polyjuice potion and become Snape when the exchange was made.
Snape would take a potion to transform into a small snake and stowaway in Charlet's cloak.
If Vespa double crossed them and didn't give Harry back then he would be in a good position to side-along-apparate with them back to Vespa's heavily warded estate. The biggest problem with the plan was knowing that he would not be able to bring his wand. He hoped he would be able to get Harry out of the estate and apparate both of them back to Hogsmeade. He was almost sure Vespa would not stick to her end of the bargain and the plan would need to be implemented.
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Vespa opened the heavily warded cabinet in the library. She pulled forth the glass sphere and carefully unlocked its power. She placed the sphere on the carpet with the tip pointing at herself. She tapped the sphere three times with her wand then pointed across the room. There standing before her was an exact replica of herself, right down to lavender boots she wore. Vespa circled the 'fake Vespa' poking her with her wand. The fake Vespa reacted by moving whatever part was touched with the wand. Vespa laughed at how real the copy felt and looked.
As soon as Vespa picked up the sphere from the table the fake Vespa disappeared. She felt a surge of triumph over outsmarting her nephew once again. She made her way down to the dungeon, ready to get a 'copy' of the Potter boy to bring with her to the Leaky Cauldron. There was absolutely no way she would even think of returning the real boy to her nephew. When she opened the door to the lab she was once again astounded at how well the boy had cleaned everything.
Harry was sitting in the cell with his back up against the wall and his knees bent thinking of Severus and the trick he had played on him. He was actually beginning to think that there would be no way for Severus to help him out of this situation and despair took hold. The locks on the door made loud scrapping sounds as they were pulled open, revealing a very unwelcome sight.
Vespa looked into the small musty room, spotting the boy against the wall. She put the sphere on the ground facing the boy then tapped it with her wand while reciting the spell.
Harry watched with trepidation, wondering what the sphere would do to him.
After a few more taps Vespa leaned down to retrieve the sphere once again. Harry thought this might be his last chance for escape and sprang up onto his feet heading for the door. Vespa stood up quickly pointing her wand at him.
"Crucio!" Vespa hissed and watched as the boy fell to the floor, withering in pain. She left the spell on as long as she dared. It wasn't quite time for the boy to die … yet.
Harry felt as if every bone in his body was being crushed and his insides twisted like a wet rag being wrung out. He screamed silently since his voice had long been lost to vomiting earlier that day. The noises that escaped his throat sounded horrible to even his own ears. When he felt the curse released he could do nothing but lay silently on the floor, quivering with the after effects.
"Stupid, stupid boy! I should have known you would try something like that." Vespa hovered the boy back to the middle of the room, releasing him to a harsh fall to the ground.
Before Harry could attempt to sit up the door to the cell was closed with a bang. He heard the bolts being locked once again. Resigned to suffer all the wrath that Vespa had to offer he closed his eyes and tried to think of what it would be like when he met his parents once again.
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Severus had sent an owl to retrieve Lupin earlier and now watched as the man sat down in the living room. He hated to admit how tense he was feeling at the thought of revealing all that had happened to Harry this past summer. Judging from the reaction the werewolf had given when Harry had disappeared a few weeks ago, Severus knew this would be an ugly scene. But there was no one else he trusted with the task at hand, no one else who felt as he did for the boy.
"Lupin, I called you out here today because I need help with something very important, something involving Harry," Severus cleared his throat before continuing. "Harry has been abducted by my aunt and is being held at her estate as we speak."
Lupin quickly stood up, "What? What the bloody hell is going on Severus? What sort of nasty Death Eater stuff do you have him involved in?" He took a threatening step towards the professor.
Snape sneered down at the werewolf's attempted aggression. "Lupin, calm yourself or I will not continue." He waited patiently as he watched the man take a few breaths and return to his seat.
"This has nothing to do with the Dark Lord. Vespa is my aunt and she wishes to inherit the estates my family left for me … which will be passed down to Harry at some point. She was against the adoption from the beginning and is now attempting to manipulate the inheritance. She thinks that if Harry is gone then upon my death the estate would go to her." He raised his hand as he saw Lupin rise to his feet again.
"Severus no! How could you put Harry into such danger? And for what … money!"
"Lupin sit down and let me finish!" Snape rubbed his face in frustration. "Calm down, I also have something of hers. Something that will keep Harry from his demise … for the time being. I have kidnapped Vespa's heir apparent and she is being held at a secret location." Snape watched the werewolf's look of fright turn to one of contempt.
"Before you pass judgment on me, think about this … without the girl's capture, Harry would be dead already. We have agreed to meet at the Leaky Cauldron today to make the switch. Vespa is not to be trusted and I require your help. Now may I count on you?"
Lupin covered his face with his hands, "Of course Severus, I'll do anything to save that boy. He is really all that I have left of the past now." Lupin rose up from the sofa stepping closer to Snape. "I just don't understand how you could have let this happen though. Has it even occurred to you how important that boy is, not only to me but to the entire Wizarding World? You are not fit to parent him. I knew harm would come to him if you got custody! I told Dumbledore not to let it happen but he insisted your feelings had changed and, I being too trusting believed the old fool. Now Harry is paying for my trust in you!"
"Lupin, you saw him after he returned from the Dursley's. You saw his body beaten to a pulp. Where the hell were you for all those years he suffered at the hands of his family? Why didn't you make sure he was safe? You disgust me! No one watched out for that boy until I saved him. I alone brought him out of that mess!"
Lupin took another threatening step towards Snape, "Yes, you saved him alright! How safe is Harry right now?"
Snape's shoulders slumped at that statement, knowing full well it was true. The guilt was almost unbearable.
Lupin went on, "Don't you tell me that I didn't care enough to want to raise that boy as my own Snape. You know the ministry wouldn't give me custody. I tried!"
"Lupin, we do not have time to argue about this." Snape stood directly in front of Lupin before asking the important question, "Are you willing to take polyjuice potion and act as if you are me?"
Lupin looked up at him with shock but nodded his consent.
"Very well, then let me go over the plan with you in detail."
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Vespa arrived at the Leaky Cauldron early and secured a room for the exchange. She went up the rickety staircase and opened the door to the large bedroom. Looking around for a place to hide the sphere she decided on a corner by the bed. The 'fake Harry' had to be far enough away to allow time to grab Charlet before her stupid nephew found out the truth. She knew it wouldn't take Severus long to figure out that Harry was not really in the room. But if all went well, then it should be plenty of time to take hold of Charlet and apparate away.
Vespa went back to the sphere and tapped it while reciting the spell. The 'fake Harry' appeared as he did in the cell. He was sitting on the floor leaning up against the wall but this time he was in the room at the Leaky Cauldron. Vespa poked him on the arm with her wand and watched as the boy flinched then moved his arm around. It was too bad that this Harry couldn't talk but only move his limbs after being prodded to do so. No matter, it would be enough to fool her nephew.
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Snape approached the sleeping girl and cast another spell to make sure she would not overhear the conversation. He handed the beaker of polyjuice potion over to Lupin.
Lupin hesitated but another look at the sleeping girl made him realize what was at stake. He downed the entire contents of the beaker with one gulp. Within seconds he felt himself begin the transformation. An uncomfortable feeling such as snakes under his skin began. He felt his nose and face transform and the feeling of becoming taller made him gasp. He stepped over to the floor length mirror with unease, steadying himself for what he looked like now. The shock was sudden as he saw the face and body of Severus. He put his hands up to his face and the mirrored image did the same. It was so odd to see himself like that, eerie almost.
"Well, what do you think?" Lupin turned towards the professors.
Snape didn't reply but watched his double closely; looking for any signs Vespa may pick up on to alert her that it was not really him. After studying Lupin for a few minutes he decided that he was close enough in mannerisms.
Now it was time for Severus to be transformed into a snake. Severus thought it best if he knelt down before drinking the potion. The effect was immediate and he began to transform into a small black snake.
Lupin picked up Charlet's cloak and used his wand to open a space between the lining and velvet. Snape slithered into the space and turned back around so just his snake head was poking out the opening.
Lupin put the cloak back on Charlet then pulled his wand out and woke the sleeping girl.
Charlet sat up with a start. She looked around at the oddly familiar bedroom before remembering that she had been kidnapped. She quickly scrambled out of the bed and was shocked to see Cousin Severus standing in the corner.
"Calm down child. No one will hurt you," Lupin heard himself say in Snape's voice.
"Why am I here? You just wait until Vespa finds out what you've done Severus! I'm going to tell her to throw you into the snake pit as punishment!" Charlet screamed. She searched around the room for a door but when she didn't see one she opted to start throwing things. She grabbed a mirror off the dresser and threw it at Lupin.
Lupin ducked out of the way and the mirror smashed on the wall behind him. He didn't see the heavy perfume bottle in time and it hit him in the mouth. Lupin leveled his wand at the irate girl and she suddenly froze with her arm still up and her hand grasping a silver hairbrush.
"Do not even think about doing that," Lupin hissed in his best imitation of the Potion Master.
Charlet slowly lowered her arm and placed the hairbrush back on the dresser.
"I hate you Severus! Take me back to Auntie Vespa this very instant or I'm going to scream!" Charlet stamped her foot in a fit of rage and crossed her arms in front of her with a pout.
"That is what I was planning on doing before you so rudely threw the perfume bottle at me," Lupin replied as he wiped away the blood on his lip. "Now if you cooperate and do everything I say, then I will take you back to your Aunt. Do you agree to follow my instructions?"
Charlet looked as if she might argue but thinking better she changed her mind and said, "Fine."
"We are going to apparate to the Leaky Cauldron together. Then you will walk quietly with me to a room that Vespa will be waiting in. If you so much as make one step out of line I will apparate us back here. Do you understand?" Lupin waited for the girl to nod before taking hold of her arm.
Lupin waved his wand over the room to remove the wards blocking any escape. He took hold of Charlet's arm and arrived at the Leaky Cauldron. Lupin quickly glanced around making sure Vespa had not set a trap.
Tom came up to them with a key. Lupin took it without saying anything and made his way with Charlet up the stairs. Just before opening the door to the room Lupin checked to see that the snake hidden in Charlet's cloak was still there. He saw the small black head sticking out the hole. He slowly opened the door placing Charlet behind him in case of attack. He stopped just inside the room keeping Charlet in the hallway with one hand around her wrist. Vespa was standing in a corner with Harry sitting on the floor at her feet. Harry looked tired but not harmed too badly, other than the scratches on his face.
As instructed by Severus he asked the boy a question that only Harry would know the answer to.
"Harry, who tied Neville Longbottom's tie for the ball?" Lupin had hardly believed the Potion Professor when he was told the answer to that question. He looked towards Harry and saw Vespa poke him with her wand. He watched as the boy flinched but didn't answer the question.
Vespa stood straighter and said, "He is instructed not to say anything until I have seen my niece."
Lupin pulled the girl into the room but didn't take his hand off her wrist. He looked towards Harry again and said, "Harry answer my question." He watched Vespa poke the boy again but Harry still didn't answer.
Vespa spoke up, "He is instructed not to talk until I have made sure Charlet has not been harmed." Vespa began to walk towards Lupin and Charlet but Lupin quickly pushed the girl behind him.
"Auntie please! I want to go home," Charlet whined as she tried to step around Lupin.
"No Vespa, you are not to touch her until Harry answers the question!" Lupin stood between Vespa and her niece.
"Harry! Answer my question now!" Lupin yelled in his most terrifying Snape voice. He watched the boy sit without emotion, without moving. The boy had the same look on his face that had been there since Lupin walked in, never changing expressions. It didn't seem right to Lupin, something was definitely wrong with Harry.
"Harry! I'll not ask again!" Lupin screamed as Vespa approached without stopping. Harry sat still without emotion.
Lupin let go of Charlet for a moment and ran towards the boy yelling out, "That is not Harry!"
Vespa lunged towards her niece just as Charlet reached her hand towards her aunt. The connection was made and in a split second Vespa and Charlet disappeared. Lupin was left in the room with Harry sitting against the wall. He walked towards the boy with caution, ready for a trap. He knelt down next the boy and ran his fingers down Harry's cheek. The boy felt real but didn't act as if he was coherent of his surroundings.
Lupin stepped around to the other side of Harry, tripping over a glass sphere on the ground. He bent to pick it up and as soon as the sphere was lifted off the ground, the image of Harry disappeared. Lupin stood up in shock still holding onto the glass sphere, knowing that Snape was now their only hope.
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Charlet and Vespa apparated straight into the living room, bypassing all the wards. As soon as Charlet knew she was home she crumbled onto the ground.
"Why did Severus kidnap me? Vespa if you don't punish him and that horrible boy I will never talk to you ever again! Where the hell is the house elf!" When she quieted down enough Vespa stepped closer and pulled her up into an embrace.
"Hush my darling, you are safe now. Vespa is here to take care of you now." Vespa ran her fingers down the girl's hair while patting her on the back.
"I want revenge Vespa! How could you just hand over that filthy creature to Severus? Potter is the one that gave me the portkey necklace," Charlet shouted at her aunt.
Vespa had wondered how Charlet was taken from the school but never suspected the boy had anything to do with it. "When did he give you a necklace?"
Charlet quickly shut her mouth as she came up with a good lie to tell her aunt. She didn't want to suffer her Aunt's wrath for leaving the school grounds to go on a date with Potter. "He sent it to me. I thought he was just being nice after our visit at Severus' house. How was I supposed to know it was a portkey?"
Vespa was infuriated! The stupid boy would pay. "Well then, I have a surprise waiting for you in the dungeon."
"Surprise? What is it Auntie!" Charlet bounced on her toes in excitement.
"I'm going to let you decide how we will punish Potter," Vespa waited until Charlet looked her in the eyes before continuing, "Potter is locked inside the dungeon cell. That image of Potter back at the Leaky Cauldron was a fake. The real Potter is suffering the after effects of the Cruciatus as we speak."
Snape was still in snake form, hiding in the lining of Charlet's cloak and could hear every word spoken. When he heard that his son was suffering from the Cruciatus it took every ounce of willpower not to turn back into his human form and go rescue Harry. He knew that Vespa had more power than he did simply because he didn't have a wand to defend himself. He would need to be very careful not to be caught.
Vespa led her niece down the stairs and through the dungeon. When they reached the cell door she opened it using her wand. Severus could see directly into the dark cell now. There was a figure lying on the floor that twitched and spasmed every few seconds. With utter horror Severus knew that it was Harry.
"Get up you loathsome creature!" Vespa hissed and kicked the boy on the side of the head.
Harry pushed himself up slowly, still squinting from the light. He stood up unsteadily putting his hand against the wall for balance. When he realized Charlet was standing before him, his breath suddenly hitched. This could mean only one thing that Severus had failed to save him.
"You're a filthy liar Potter! You deceived me!" Charlet yelled and slapped Harry across the face with force.
Harry looked down at the floor, knowing that Severus was probably dead or locked up in Azkaban, otherwise Charlet wouldn't be here. He didn't really care what happened to him anymore. With the loss of another parent, life was too bleak to think about living.
Vespa pushed Harry back against the wall before yelling, "Crucio!"
Charlet watched as Harry thrashed about making odd moaning noises. For some reason it bothered her to see him like that. "Stop it! Make it stop Vespa!"
Vespa quit the curse and turned towards her niece. "I thought you wanted the boy to pay, my dear?"
Charlet turned away from the tremor filled boy on the ground before saying, "I do, but not like that. I need to take a bath and change." Charlet turned to walk out of the dungeon just as Snape slid out of her cloak.
Snape slithered over to the wall, hoping no one would spot him. He had to stay well hidden until Vespa left the dungeons.
Vespa took another look at the quivering boy on the ground before stalking out of the cell and locking the door once again.
Snape watched as his Aunt followed Charlet out of the dungeon. As soon as the dungeon door closed he recited a spell in his head and transformed back into his human form. He looked at the locks on the cell door with dread; they could only be opened by a wand. Severus rushed out to the lab and after a few minutes of searching found the potions he was looking for. It only took him another few moments to mix the ingredients together.
He went back to the cell door and yelled out, "Harry move away from the door!" He hoped the boy had the strength to follow the order. He pushed the gummy potion into the locks using a knife and watched as the metal began to melt.
With the locks liquefied now, Snape kicked the cell door open. He found Harry huddled in a corner, quivering with the after effects of the Cruciatus.
"Son, I'm here. Come now we must leave before Vespa returns," Snape was almost too emotional to speak at the sight of his boy in such a horrible state.
Harry tried to stand with the help of his father's steady hand. The room spun but he was overcome with joy that he was still alive. He fell against Severus, holding him tight. Harry felt his father kiss him on the top of his head before he was led out the cell door and collapsed onto the floor in the hallway.
Severus scooped his son up relieved that he was still alive.
"Harry we must find a way out before Vespa returns."
Harry started to speak but his voice was so raw it didn't sound like words or even whispers. He grabbed his father's chin and looked him in the eyes.
Snape understood what his son wanted him to do. He looked deeply into his son's eyes, using Legilimens to see into his thoughts.
A flash of snakes swarmed around Harry a small black snake with red stripes the shelf in the corner of the dungeon - atunnel!
Severus pulled his thoughts away knowing what his son was trying to tell him. He placed Harry on the floor then moved the heavy shelf over with ease. Down low on the wall he saw a grate covering an opening about two feet by three feet wide. He pulled the grate off and bent down to look within. It seemed to be a tunnel leading outside. The tunnel appeared to be quite long, maybe too long for the boy to maneuver through in his poor condition. He glanced at his son, wondering how he could help him through the narrow tunnel.
Harry understood what his father was thinking. He made his way over to the tunnel and began to drag himself through the opening, using his arms to scoot through.
Severus quickly followed, barely able to fit in the narrow opening. It was slow going as Harry struggled to keep from losing consciousness. When he finally reached the opening he let himself fall to the ground outside. He tried to stand but his body would not let him. The effort it had taken just to make it through the tunnel had been too great. He leaned up against the wall taking deep breaths while he waited for Severus to join him.
Severus toiled to make it out of the opening and landed awkwardly on the ground. He stood up and surveyed the land. This was the side of the property that was not landscaped but covered in heavy brush. About a hundred yards to the left was a dense forest of evergreens. Severus knew that if they could make it to the forest they would be able to apparate out of here. He looked down at his son with concern. The boy's breath was coming in shallow gulps and he was shaking violently now. The energy expended to get to this point had not been good for him.
He knelt down in front of Harry, lifting his chin and looking into his eyes. "Hang on Harry, we're almost there," Severus said in a quiet voice as he watched his son struggle to breathe. He easily lifted his son in his arms and walked towards the forest.
Severus had taken only a few steps before an alarm sounded with a piercing cry. He looked to his left and saw a pack of animals running towards them. Severus ran as quickly as he could through the rough brambles while still carrying his son.
Harry looked back and saw the odd creatures chasing them. He could see they were black with dog like bodies but a head like a vulture. Their eyes were red and glowing and when the beak opened he could see teeth inside. He wished he could relieve his father and get down and run but knew he would slow them down even more.
Severus could hear the animals getting closer; he could feel his son tense up as they approached. He tried to apparate but the barrier surrounding the estate stopped him. Just another twenty feet before he made it to the forest and then they could leave this horrible place.
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Vespa stood at her niece's bedroom window watching her nephew trying to flee. She was shocked he was even there and had made it past the barriers. She knew he would never be able to outrun the beautiful creatures she had so brilliantly created. It warmed her heart to see them running frantically as the animals caught up.
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Severus was just steps away from the forest when he felt a sharp pain rip at his shoulder. One of the animals had jumped on him from behind and now had its sharp teeth sunk into his shoulder. The pain ripped through him and he lost his balance. He felt his son tumble out of his arms just as he felt his knees hit the ground.
Harry went flying out of his father's arms, landing against an old log. He scrambled up quickly, trying to find something to beat the animal off his father's back with. His head spun and he couldn't see straight as he ran towards the animal empty handed. He reached out and pulled the animals fur with as much strength as he had left.
The animal let go of Severus and turned its attention on Harry. Harry saw the beast open its beak with the double rows of razor sharp teeth. He covered his face just as the animal lunged at him and sunk its teeth into his hand. The pain emanating from his hand was excruciating.
Severus jumped up as fast as he could, trying to get to his son. Just as he reached the beast attacking Harry something incredible transpired.
Harry saw the other beasts catching up with Severus' back towards them. He began to panic at the thought of his father being attacked from behind by three of those beasts. Suddenly he felt the familiar magical sensation building within. He felt the magical power build as if in slow motion until it could not be contained any longer. The magical surge pushed forth in a blinding white light causing the beast to release its grip on his hand and step back. All four of the strange animals began to cry out in a strangled screech as they puffed up with air. When the air filled them to capacity they floated in the air for a second before bursting into millions of pieces. Bloody black and red pieces of the beasts covered the field.
Harry suddenly wondered if Aunt Marge would have burst if not for the Ministry saving her. The last thing Harry remembered was his father picking him up and carrying him over his shoulder with his one good arm.
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Vespa stood at her window watching the horrible scene play out before her. The sight of her beautiful creatures exploding and her stupid nephew caring the boy to freedom filled her with rage!
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TBC