Disclaimer: See Chapter One
-CHAPTER FOURTEEN-
Duellist Mortem
Ron followed Professor Raven as she slipped gracefully down the stone steps of the castle and strode purposely across the shadowy lawns towards the Forbidden Forest. Ron gulped as he battled his fears of what lurked in the depths of the Forest; only last year he and Harry had countered Aragog, a gigantic spider and once pet of Hagrid.
This had been especially traumatic for Ron as he was scared-stiff of spiders. Ron took a deep breath and wishing that he had remembered to include his wand with his costume, stepped into the fearful gloom of the Forest. Ron could just make out the hooded figure of Professor Raven in the patches of silvery moonlight that shone through gaps in the still leafy canopy above his head as she carefully picked a way through the tangle of thorny bushes and undergrowth.
It seemed to Ron that they had been walking for hours when in reality it took just minutes for Professor Raven to find what she had been searching for, a small clearing in the trees where she stopped, and throwing back her hood called into the darkness.
"Stop sulking in the shadows like the rat you are and face me."
"Now…now Morwenna," said Lucius Malfoy as he stepped from where he had been waiting on the other side of the clearing, "that is no way to speak to me considering the rather awkward position I know you to be in…" Lucius laughed cruelly, his cold, grey eyes regarding Professor Raven with a look of malicious satisfaction. Ron crept as close as he dared through the undergrowth, scratching his hands and face while his heart pounded wildly against his chest just as Draco Malfoy stormed into the clearing.
"Father…Father! first Snape kills my snake and then…" Draco stopped, looked first at his father and then Professor Raven.
"Come here, Draco," said Lucius not breaking eye contact with Professor Raven, his voice was commanding and devoid of any warmth. Draco obediently went to his father who draped the arm that wasn't holding his walking cane around his son's shoulders.
"That's a good boy, Draco," Lucius drawled. "Draco's such an dutiful boy, always does what ever his father tells him, don't you."
"So it was you that charmed the viper," Professor Raven said coldly as she removed a small leather purse from the folds of her cloak.
"Nice little touch, don't you think, my dear? Considering that's how traitors of the Cult of Apophis are dispatched. I knew that fool Snape wouldn't have been able to resist keeping it, thought it would serve as a gentle reminder regarding our little agreement," he smiled wickedly.
"That snake nearly killed me…" returned Professor Raven.
"Alas, that was a risk but one I was willing to take, if it had, then Snape would have been blamed, which I admit would have been almost as satisfying."
"Here Lucius, take the money," Professor Raven said flinging the sack down on the ground before her. "Now give me the amulet as you promised."
"No, I don't think so," Lucius said coldly. "I've become rather attached to the amulet, it would make a fitting gift when the Dark Lord returns." Lucius threw back his head and laughed, it was a cold and defiant laugh. "Besides I have other plans of you, my dear."
"No…" Ron couldn't help himself; he scrabbled from his hiding place, looked at Lucius, then turned on his heels and ran back to the castle to get help.
"I'll stop him," said Draco sneering in the direction that Ron had just fled.
"No Draco, you shall remain here, let the Weasley boy bring Potter, Dumbledore, Snape…I am not afraid."
"We've…got…it…all…wrong," Ron just managed to gasp at Harry, collapsing against the stone wall that Professor Snape was still sitting upon drinking his black coffee. Ron's eyes were wide with terror, he clutched at his side, he had a painful stitch from running and his breathing was heavy and laboured as if he was struggling to catch his breath. Harry jerked his head upwards trying to warn Ron about the teachers but Ron was too distressed and desperate to tell Harry what he had discovered to notice.
"Snape's not been trying to kill Professor Raven…its Lucius Malfoy!"
"What are you babbling on about Weasley" Snape snapped looking down at Ron who sprang back with alarm not expect to see Snape's ashen face glared at him from the shadows above.
"Lucius Malfoy charmed that snake, he's trying to kill Professor Raven and I think he's got that amulet!"
Harry gasped in shock as Professor Snape twisted around on the balcony and jumped down from the wall to land beside the two boys in a dark flurry of enchanted velvet.
"Where are they?" demanded Snape glaring at Ron.
"In the Forbidden Forest, there's a clearing not far from that large knobbly tree, the black creepy one that looks like it has been struck by lightening…"
"Yes…yes Weasley I know the one," snapped Snape looking first at Harry and then out
across the murky lawns toward the Forbidden Forest. "Did you get that Leon?" Snape called up to Planchette who was leaning over the balcony.
"Oui! Oui!" cried Planchette looking flustered and terribly pale.
"Then I want you to go an explain everything to Professor Dumbledore; I think we are going to need his help. Weasley, Potter you're coming with me." And before anyone could utter a protest Snape stormed in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
"Of course, the money never meant anything to me…I was never going to give up the amulet," Lucius sneered as he looked down at the sack of Gallons.
"Then what is this all about?" Professor Raven glanced nervously towards the depths of the Forbidden Forest as if looking for a way to escape.
"There's nowhere to run my dear, you'd never make it through the forest alive, besides I won't let you get away from me this time…don't you understand it's you that I really want, it always has been…"
"Father?" questioned Draco in a small shocked voice. "What do you mean?"
"Silence Draco, this doesn't concern you. Do you know the reason why your family of Auror scum were killed the very evening you first arrived at Hogwarts?"
"Because…because they were close to discovering the identities of some Death Eaters, supporters of the vile Lord Voldemort…"
"True, but they were killed on that particular evening because I personally begged my master to spare you, even then I knew you would be a beautiful, gifted witch…we could have been so powerful, stood together, most favoured by our Dark Lord…we still could, Morwenna, its not too late"
"YOU…you murdered my family…and then ask me to join you…never!" cried Professor Raven drawing her wand from the folds of her cloak but Lucius just laughed mockingly as he pulled Draco close against his chest.
"Father, you're hurting me," Draco cried, struggling to free himself from his father's vice like grip, confused and in pain.
"I'll never forgive you for betraying mother," he spat, his pale cheek streaming with tears.
"Stop your blubbering, boy," Lucius hissed as he drew his own wand from where it was concealed within his walking cane "I never betrayed your mother, Morwenna wouldn't even let me touch her, she was too blinded by her love for that pathetic…"
"Let Draco go you coward and lets settle this right now," Professor Raven said taking a bold step forward only to suddenly find herself ankle deep in writhing black serpents as Lucius cast the first spell.
"Vipera Evanesca," the snakes vanished in tiny puffs of smoke as Charlie Weasley stepped from the shadows behind Lucius, then he pointed his wand at Lucius' back.
"It too risky, I can't fight Lucius like this I might hit Draco," shouted Professor Raven
"You're right, he is a bloody coward," replied Charlie bitterly aiming his wand at Lucius' back.
Lucius laughed throwing back his cloak to reveal something golden resting upon the fine, grey fabric of his suit, there was a glint of red in the moonlight; it was the Amulet of Sekhmet.
"No, Charlie," screamed Professor Raven. "You can't…" But her warning seemed to fall upon deaf ears as Charlie stepped forward to cast a spell.
"Stupefy," he called only to his surprise the blast from his wand which should have hit Lucius squarely between the shoulder blades seemed to ricochet off him and exploded in Charlie's face, knocking him off his feet and out cold.
"And now my dear…" said Lucius with a grin "You have two choices join me or die…"
"Expelliarmus," cried Snape as he ran into the clearing it seemed that he had no qualms about hitting Draco in fact it seemed to Harry as he and Ron came to a halt next to Snape that it was Draco that he had been aiming for. A dazzling flash of scarlet light streaked from Snape's wand and hit Draco, who slumped forward with a cry of pain. Lucius snarled casting his now unconscious and useless son aside, he roared the same spell at his attacker before Snape had time to act again, blasting him off his feet and throwing Snape backwards.
"Severus," cried Professor Raven running over to where Snape lay sprawled and dazed at the foot of a tree. There was a thin line of blood trickling down from a gash to his temple, but with Professor Raven's help he staggered to his feet.
"Why bother with that pathetic wretch my dear…unless you still…oh how I am going to enjoy killing you Severus."
"Really…is that because Morwenna choose me over you?" snarled Snape. Harry felt his jaw drop and Ron's was gapping just as shocked, had they heard Snape correctly, that Morwenna had chosen Snape over Lucius?
"Don't flatter yourself Severus. I mean, that must have been an extremely potent love potion you had to brew to make Morwenna fall in love with a weak, ugly reptile like you. Abusing a position of confidence, using magic to seduce a pupil in your care I am sure the Ministry of Magic would be most interested. Or maybe it was Morwenna that made the move on you offering to show her deep gratitude for giving her full marks on her Potions exams…mind you she also got full mark from Professor Stoker I wonder if she was equally as grateful to him as well…"
"How dare you?…take that back now!" Snape spat venomously, his jaw clenched while his whole body seemed to tremble violently as if all the years of pent up anger and humiliation Snape had suffered was threatening to erupt there and then, Harry was suddenly afraid that Snape would snap and try to kill Lucius with his bare hands. For the second time that evening Harry was truly terrified of Snape, the rage and darkness that dwelled buried so deep within him had again bubbled to the surface and it scared Harry half to death.
"Make me," hissed Lucius, goading, unafraid as he took a step towards Snape.
"You refuse to take back that slander?" Snape asked his teeth grinding through his utter loathing of the man standing before him.
"No…Severus please, Lucius' wearing the Amulet of Sekhmet, you're not thinking straight, this is suicide," Professor Raven pleaded tearfully. "You know what Malfoy said isn't true…"
"Duellist Mortem…I demand satisfaction," snapped Snape ignoring her pleads.
"So be it," sneered Lucius tossing back his long blond hair as he stepped over the slumped body of Draco and pointed his wand at Snape. "It's your funeral."
"Bloody Hell," Ron gasped hoarsely. "I thought that was outlawed."
"What Ron…what does it mean?" Harry asked anxiously.
"It's an ancient wizarding custom…when someone's honour has been called into disrepute the injured party or someone acting for them can demand Duellist Mortem, a wizard duel to the death."
"Where's Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked starting to panic, as he watched Snape and Lucius their backs to each other start pacing across the moonlit clearing.
"One…two…three…" Snape's voice cold and calm could be heard over that of Lucius'. Professor Raven watched grimly muttering under her breath some protection charm but against Lucius who was wearing the Amulet of Sekhmet, Snape didn't stand a chance.
"Eight…nine…Ben Sidhe," Snape cried as on the tenth step he turned sharply on his heels and pointed his wand at Lucius. Something shadowy, an ugly hag with wild, flowing red hair and bony talon-tipped fingers screamed forth from the end of Snape's wand.
"A Screaming Banshee?" whispered Ron looking worriedly at Harry. "Surely Snape can conjure up something far more powerful than that." The Screaming Banshee flew, shrieking through the night air towards Lucius, who coolly stood his ground as to Harry's horror the ragged, screaming hag seemed to be repelled by the amulet only to come shrieking on the attack back at Snape, clawing his face with it's long, dirty fingernails. Snape fell backwards with the force of the Banshee's attack, fighting it off until with a blood curdling screech she vanished in a puff of black smoke.
"You pitiful fool, is that all you could muster?" Lucius laughed cruelly. "And I thought you were well versed in the dark arts…surely you knew the wearer of the Amulet of Sekhmet is protected from the darkest of magic even our great, Dark Lord could not so much as scratch me…However…" he smile smugly.
"Ignitus Mortice," Lucius bellowed as he cast his spell at Snape. A bolt of black lightening shot from his wand but Snape just managed to dodge the fullness of the blast as it struck the ground inches from where he had just struggled to his feet. But the spell wasn't finished the black flash seemed to bounce scorching the grass then returned in the direction of Lucius as if drawn back to him. Lucius Malfoy screamed as hopelessly he flung his arms up to protect his face as the bolt of lightening struck him. The force of the blast lifted him off his feet and sent him crashing backwards into a tree stump.
"I might be a pitiful fool in your eyes Malfoy," Snape snarled venomously as he loomed over the now groaning and stunned Lucius. Snape had blood trickling down his face from several deep gashes caused by fingernails of the Screaming Banshee, but he didn't seem to notice the pain. "But even I know that the wearer of the amulet also can not use the Dark Arts themselves," he reached forward and snatched the large red jewel from around Lucius' neck. "As the spells cast come back to you three-fold in power." Snape held the amulet up to the moon from a moment; the large ruby glinted seductively in the silvery light. Then to Harry's utter surprise Snape relinquished the amulet throwing it at him.
"Hold that tight Potter," he instructed as he draw his wand. "I'm not finished with this piece of filth yet…"
"No Severus," called Professor Raven. "You don't have to kill him."
"But Duellist Mortem…means to the death if I let him live you will still be dishonoured and I will have brought terrible shame upon the both of us," Snape replied looking at Professor Raven with what Harry could only concluded was an expression of deep and passionate longing.
"I could live with that shame. What is the point of restoring my honour if you have to spend the rest of your life in Azkaban…I couldn't bare it…your better than him Severus."
Snape looked down thoughtfully at Lucius for a moment and lower his wand "Morwenna's right I am better than you Malfoy."
Snape turned his back on Lucius and started to walked back to where Professor Raven stood.
"You utter fool…" Lucius cried as pulling himself up onto one arm he snatched up his wand and smiling pointed it at Snape's back.
"Severus!" Morwenna screamed as again bolt of lightening, this time silver in colour and far more powerful shot from Lucius' wand and seemed to hit Snape in the back, travel through his body only to erupt from his chest. Snape cried out in startled pain, collapsing in agony to first his knees clutching at the smothering hole in his chest then toppled over face down onto the grass. Professor Raven rushed, screaming as tears streamed down her pale cheeks, she knelt down and tenderly turned Snape over. Quick as a flash Harry had dived onto the ground where Snape's wand now lay among the leaves and standing over him, aiming it at Lucius.
"Don't tempt me," snarled Harry as he watched Lucius who knew he was defeated, but satisfied he had killed Snape collapsed back against the trunk of the tree.
"Harry," Ron croaked weakly, "The vision, Professor Trelawney…is Snape dead?" Harry felt his blood suddenly run cold, there he was standing over the body of Professor Snape, but it hadn't been him that had tried to kill Snape, it had been Lucius Malfoy.
Professor Raven was cradling Snape's head in her lap; her tears fell, glistening silver in the moonlight and splash down upon Snape's ashen, blood stained face as she tenderly tried to brush the hair from his eyes.
"At least I am going to my grave in the knowledge that you don't hate me," wheezed Snape as weakly he reached up with a trembling hand and touched her upon the cheek.
"I've never hated you, Severus," Professor Raven wept with bitter regret, clasping hold of his hand. "I love you, I've never stopped loving you. I am so sorry that I lied to you, but please believe me everything I've done in the past, all the secrecy, the lies, stealing the amulet, running away were all to protect you."
"Protect me?" Snape questioned with a painful gasp.
"Yes my love, Lucius found out about us he promised not to report you to the Ministry of Magic if I stole the Amulet of Sekhmet for him, but he lied…"
"But why didn't you tell me Lucius was blackmailing you?"
"I was frightened that you might…"
"Do something stupid? Snape managed a weak smile. "I love you Morwenna…what we had was special, I know it was wrong but I couldn't help myself…if only we had more time…we could…"
"NO…Severus please hang on…Harry go and get Professor Dumbledore…NOW!"
Harry didn't need telling twice he ran, clutching hold of the amulet so tightly that his knuckles turned white, to his relieve as he burst from the Dark Forest only to find Professor Dumbledore accompanied by several other teachers hurrying towards him.
"Potter what on earth has been going on?" Professor McGonagall questioned sternly. "Professor Planchette informs me that you know who has the Amulet of Sekhmet."
"Yes…I have it," said Harry offering Professor Dumbledore the amulet. Professor Dumbledore took it with an questioning look on his face.
"Thank you Harry but how did…"
"Professor Raven took it but only because she was being blackmailed by Lucius Malfoy." Harry explained
"Lucius Malfoy…blackmail?" replied Professor Dumbledore arching his snowy brows in surprise
"Look zere's Ron," said Professor Planchette as he spotted him running from the forest towards them.
" Ron?" Harry spun around worried who was watching over Lucius and Draco.
"Don't worry, Charlie's come around, I didn't even know he was there but he's watching the Malfoy's but Professor Dumbledore you got to come quickly…I think Professor Raven trying to bring Snape back from the dead."
"No, Severus can't be dead?" cried Professor Planchette.
"Lucius Malfoy killed him in a Duellist Mortem, he was going to tell the Ministry of Magic about Snape's affair with Professor Raven when she was his student…"
"Mon dure," coughed Planchette. "Snape confessed having feelings for Morwenna but I never guessed that they had been lovers before."
"Leon, I think that you and Mr Weasley should go to Hagrid's hut and bring me as many blankets as you can lay your hands on while the rest of us go and find what exactly is going on" suggested Professor Dumbledore calmly, he put his fingers into his mouth and gave a long, sharp whistle. "Come on, we had better hurry."
"Well I never," said Professor McGonagall with a shrug as they hurried towards the Forest. "And I always thought they hated each other…Severus was forever giving that poor girl detention and bellowing at her in the corridor."
"They fooled us all Minerva", Professor Dumbledore smiled with a strange twinkle in his eye. "Naturally Severus would have had to keep his relationship with Morwenna very secret. If they had been caught then I would have been forced to act accordingly; Severus would have been dismissed, investigated by the Ministry of Magic and even could have faced several months in Azkaban if Morwenna's uncle had chosen to press charges. While Morwenna herself would have been expelled, failing all her exams and ruining any hopes that she had of a good career, they took an awfully big risk to be together."
"You knew Albus?" Professor McGonagall questioned with suspicion.
"No…but it is all starting to make sense now. Somehow Lucius Malfoy must have found out that Morwenna was romantically involved with Snape, I believe his niece was in the same year. He must have blackmailed her into stealing the amulet to stop him reporting the affair to the Ministry of Magic."
"You knew Morwenna had stolen the amulet?"
"Not for sure…but she confessed taking it when I offered her teaching position. She asked for a chance to get it back, to redeem herself but she never told me the reason why she took the amulet, obviously she was still protecting Severus."
"Oh my god…you stupid girl," Professor McGonagall gasped stopping dead in her tracks.
Before them in the clearing knelt Professor Raven, she was gripping hold of Snape's hand, he lay on his back deathly pale and still. The black fabric of his frock coat was scorched and there was a ragged hole in his chest where the Death Lightening had erupted from it. Professor Raven chanted in a low husky whisper, her radiant violet eyes now turned to dark soulless pits by the dark spell she was weaving. Black flames seemed to flow from her long painted fingernails as the darkness about her seemed to take on the shape of long twisting tendrils like shadowy ivy that slowly wrapped itself about Snape's lifeless body; the atmosphere had become dark and heavy.
"Albus…she trying to perform the Death Chant," Professor McGonagall whispered nervously.
"I'm sorry professor," said Charlie Weasley running up to them. "I tried to stop her but she stunned me."
"That's okay, Mr Weasley," soothed Professor McGonagall. "Albus, can't you do something to stop this? Morwenna must know that you can't bring someone back from the dead, even the darkest magic has only ever succeeded in creating Shadow Wraiths, I know she's in love with Severus but surely she wouldn't want to condemn him to that?"
"Me neither," Professor Dumbledore replied sounding just as anxious. "But even I dare not risk trying to counteract, the Death Chant, futile thought it might be, any misjudgement on my part and we could lose them both."
"I don't think Professor Snape was dead, damn well close to it but not dead," said Charlie grimly watching the black flames that licked up Professor Raven's arms, her hair, her shoulders, her head until she was totally engulfed by them, but still she continued to chant the words of the spell over and over with steady determination.
"Ahh, I see what Morwenna is doing now," replied Professor Dumbledore in strangely admiring tone as he cast his gaze skywards. "But she's taking an awfully desperate, dangerous risk but if she can keep Severus teetering upon the brink of death until…"
From nowhere the chill night air was filled with the sound of weird birdsong; everyone looked upwards to see a crimson bird the size of a swan swooping towards them. Its glittering golden tail as long as a peacock's was fanned out behind it and the golden talons glinted in the moonlight.
"It's Fawkes!" Harry cried suddenly filled with hope, he knew from personal experience, only the year before when Fawkes had saved him from the deadly venom of the Basilisk, that the tears of a phoenix had healing powers.
"Fawkes…you must help Professor Snape," Professor Dumbledore called to the phoenix as it circled squawking over his head. Fawkes gave a high pitched shriek as if in answer, in a flash of crimson and golden swooped down, unafraid through the black flames to settle upon Snape's chest. The phoenix cocked his head, looking with his bright, sparkling jet eyes first at Professor Raven and then down at the gapping wound beneath his golden talons.
"Please Fawkes," beseeched Professor Raven in a rasping eerie voice. "I can't hold Severus here must longer…Please don't let him die." The phoenix chirped soothingly then leaning forward as if to inspect the wound more closely his black eyes welled with tears that fell in large pearly droplets, splashing upon the burnt, torn flesh.
A terrible scream pierced the night air, it was difficult to say if it had come from Professor Raven or Professor Snape, but Fawkes rose squawking into the air in a blaze of gold and red plumage. Snape gasped, his black eyes flickered open and at that moment there was a flash of blinding white light and Professor Raven collapsed.
"What happened…Morwenna…Morwenna?" Snape cried desperately as he struggled to sit up only to hit by a violent wave of nausea that forced to collapse back again, he rolled onto his side and was sick.
"Please try to remain calm Severus, you're still dreadfully weak…"explained Professor Dumbledore. "Ahh, here comes Professor Planchette and young Mr Weasley."
"What's 'appened? We came as quickly as we could but Fang was keen on us taking ze blankets…oh no Severus, Morwenna…" exclaimed Planchette worriedly.
"Is…is she dead?" stammered Ron, staring down at Professor Raven in horror.
"No, Mr Weasley," answered Professor McGonagall who was now kneeling down next to Professor Raven. "But she could do with that blanket and we need to get both Morwenna and Severus to the hospital wing straight away, Charlie if you could carry Professor Raven up to the castle."
"Yes, of course," replied Charlie, once Professor McGonagall had wrapped a large, furry blanket about Professor Raven he scooped her into his strong arms.
"But she is going to be alright?" Ron asked Professor Dumbledore anxiously as he trotted along side Charlie.
"I do hope so," Professor Dumbledore replied in a worried tone.
"And Professor Snape?" said Harry as he watched Professor Planchette, babbling away in French hauled Snape to his feet. Snape still looked deadly pale; his thin lips were still blue, and his glittering black eyes now dull and grey. But the terrible scorched wound in Snape's chest when touch by Fawkes' tears had healed back to ashen flesh. Between them Professor Planchette and Professor McGonagall managed to drag Snape, who barely processed the strength to stand up to the castle.
"Fortunately, Morwenna managed to kept Professor Snape lingering just upon the brink of death, she is indeed a powerful witch but I believe it was their love that kept him from passing from our world, that bond was just too strong for even death to sever. But that is not to say that either of them will escape this completely unscathed."
Professor Dumbledore stopped at the feet of the unconscious Lucius Malfoy; Fawkes dived and swooped around Dumbledore's snowy head.
"Now," Dumbledore said scratching his head and pulling out his wand. "What to do with the Mr Malfoy and Draco? I suspect that young Mr Malfoy was simply an innocent bystander in this affair but his father is a different matter altogether…Mobilicorpus."
"What are you going to do?" asked Harry the prone bodies of both Lucius and Draco were pulled as if by invisible cords to standing position, their heads lolling forward unpleasantly, like grotesque puppets.
"That all rather depends upon what Mr Malfoy has to say for himself…but I think we'll leave them to sleep for now," said Professor Dumbledore bright blue eyes twinkled mischievously behind his half moon spectacles as he guided the drifting bodies in front of him back to the castle. "In fact I expect we could all do with a good night sleep after all this excitement. I know I could."
R&R!