Severus Snape rose from his seat when he heard knocking at his chamber's door. He held out a hand for Hermione. She took it and stood. The potions master cupped the girls face with both his hands. "I need you to know how very, very proud of you I am, Miss Granger, Hermione. I also need you to know that none of this is your fault, none of it."
One hand fell away as the young woman frowned up at him. Her eyes closed though as he bent and kissed her forehead. "Please, stay safe," he whispered. Then he stupefied her, catching her body as she fell. The knocking continued as he rushed her into his bathroom and gently lay her in is tub. He summoned his bedding, placing one pillow under her head and arranging the rest atop her.
With the girl safely stowed, he returned to his door. He yanked it open to find Filius. "Severus!" he exclaimed. "There are death eaters in the school and Albus is gone!"
Snape didn't even give the man time to catch his breath before he too was stupefied. He was exiting his office when he found two students running towards him, the Weasley girl and Lovegood. Great, that was all he needed right now. "Professor, the school is under attack! We saw a Dark Mark over the Astronomy tower!" the ginger yelled.
He ushered the girls into his office and shut the door. "I know," he responded. "Professor Trelawney just flued me. We can't reach Professor Flitwit though. He's most likely coming here now," he explained. "He needs to be notified of the situation, but I must go to help the others. Can you two relay a message to him when he gets here?" he asked.
The Weasley girl shook her head. "But we could help you, and only one of us needs to stay."
Damned fool Gryffindor, Severus thought. "Miss Weasley, you are of more use here, than you would be in battle," he countered. He needed to get these girls to stay where they were, out of harms way.
"That's what we've been learning to do all year," the ginger countered. "I'm ready for battle," she said with a stubborn jut of her chin.
Snape was about to respond when the blond put a hand on her friend's arm. The girl was practically staring through him, and he began to wonder if she could read his thoughts. "The professor is right," she started. "We'll be of more use here. We need to listen to him. He knows what needs to be done tonight."
The potions master felt cold inside. What did that chit see? He asked himself. The Gryffindor looked like she was about to argue but backed down when she saw the certainty in her friend's eyes. "What message should we give, Professor?" the blond asked.
Taken aback by the whole exchange, it took him a second to realize that he'd been asked a question. "Oh, yes. Please tell professor Flitwick that death eaters are in the castle and seem to be headed for the great hall. Can you remember that?" he asked, and they nodded.
As he turned to go, Lovegood gave him a sad smile and a little wave. Unnerved, he exited the room and warded the girls inside.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
Why in Merlin's name did that fool boy let death eaters into the school, Severus fumed as he raced through the castle. He should have known the Dark Lord would require witnesses this time. He misdirected as many people as he could away from the danger as he ran to the astronomy tower. The fewer people in harm's way, the better.
He was out of breath by the time he reached the tower. He took a moment to compose himself then quietly ascended the stairs. Halfway up he started to hear voices. He then heard the shrill cackle of Bellatrix Lastrange. He cursed under his breath. The last thing this school needed was that insane harpy. It was the low growl that followed that chilled him to the bone. Fenrir Grayback. He'd been wrong. Greyback was the very last thing this school needed. He knew how that monster craved children.
He reached the landing below the tower observation deck and could see Dumbledor leaning heavily against the railing with Draco's wand pointed at him. He heard a movement behind him and was face to face with Harry fucking Potter. Could this situation get any worse, he asked himself.
He brought a finger to his lips to warn the boy to keep quiet. He then quickly put the boy in a body bind, disillusioned him and maneuvered him into a darkened corner. Hopefully that would keep him safe, because he didn't have time for anything more. He crept up the last few stairs, wand out.
"Please, Draco. This isn't you. You don't have to do this. I can help you," Dumbledor pleaded.
Bellatrix cackled again. "There's nothing that you can offer, that the Dark Lord won't give him. You have nothing, old man," she sneered as she sidled up to Draco. "Kill him, Draco. Honor our family and kill the old fool."
Severus realized that his time was up. He had to act now before all their plans fell apart. He strode onto the observation deck wand up. The look of relief in the older wizards face when he laid eyes on him almost broke him. "Please, Severus," he begged. Their gaze connected for only a moment. 'Thank you, son. Godspeed,' Albus whispered in his mind.
'You as well. Goodbye, old friend,' the potions master whispered back. "Avada Kedavra!" The rip in his soul didn't hurt as much as he thought it would. He was almost disappointed. He'd just murdered the closest thing he had to a father. It really seemed like it should hurt more.
Cheers rose up from the other death eaters pulling him from his musings and back to bleak reality. Bella cried out in impotent rage. "You stole Draco's kill!" she screamed. "How dare you steal that honor from him, from our family!"
"Stop screeching you harpy. We need to get out of here. There are aurors stationed in the school. They'll have backup coming soon, and Merlin knows the bloody Order is on its way," he warned them.
"He's right," Rabastan said leaning on the railing and watching the commotion below. "They're coming."
Rodolphus pulled his wife away from Snape. "Come Bella, love. I have no desire to see the inside of Azkaban ever again," he said, tugging her down the stairs.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
It was a miracle that Severus was able to rush his brethren past Potter without incident. Unfortunately, in his attempt to drag Draco along, the others had gotten ahead of him and out of sight. The boy was clearly in shock, but he had neither the time nor the inclination for coddling. He had to catch up with the others before someone got hurt.
He came across Greyback first. He stood over the bloody, prone form of what was clearly a Weasley. He was again glad that the Weasley girl was safely locked in his office. Hopefully the family hadn't lost a child today. He sent a stinging hex at the beast. "Stop playing with your food, fool. We have to go!" he shouted.
Fenrir turned and bared his teeth. "Fine then, stay, and have your next meal in a kennel," Snape snapped as he strode past the man. The mongrel growled but left his prey and followed.
It wasn't until he exited the castle that he caught sight of the rest of them. "Oi, Snape!" The potions master whipped around to find Tonks with her wand trained on him. "What the fuck have you done?"
Merlin, he did not need this distraction, he thought as he pulled Draco behind him. "What I had to do," he sneered back.
"Draco, you don't have to go with him. You can stay with me. I'll protect you," she called out to her cousin.
"Don't interfere in matters that don't concern you," Severus said bringing up his own wand.
"What did you do to Hermione, Snape? I know she went to see you tonight. There's no way she wouldn't be in the thick of this," the woman said.
Severus curled his lips into a cruel smile, "Well, I imagine she's right where I left her."
Draco shifted behind him. "Sev?" he asked. Fuck, he needed to cut this short. He shot an Avada at the woman which she deftly dodged, narrowing her eyes at the man. She didn't take long to return fire. Snape was able to deflect her attack and finally got a stupify through her defenses and she collapsed to the ground right as Remus emerged from the castle. Thankfully the mongrel focused his attentions on his fallen wife.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
By the time they'd reached Hagrid's hut, they'd caught up with their comrades. Unfortunately, the half giant's home was already aflame. Snape could only hope that the man wasn't still inside. Fucking Bellatrix couldn't go anywhere without leaving a trail of destruction.
"Sev, is Hermione ok?" Draco asks quietly beside him.
The potions master shook the boy. "Not here, you fool!" he hissed and shoved Draco ahead of him. The boy had no sense at all, the wizard thought.
"SNAPE!" His name was screamed. Severus rolled his eyes, speaking of boys with no sense. It appeared as if Potter had freed himself from the body bind. The man was able to easily deflect the curse that soon followed. Crucio, he was almost impressed. Almost.
Hexes rained down on him and Draco. He easily shielded them both. Potter was sloppy in his rage and hardly a threat. He needed to finish this quickly though before the other death eaters decided to join in. Severus goaded the boy, insulting his wand work. Once he'd gotten the young man sufficiently riled, he sent a hex that had him flying several feet. Potter landed with a thud and didn't get back up.
By that point the Order and aurors were closing in. Snape grabbed Draco by the collar and pulled him along until they'd past the school's wards. He wasted no time and apparated them away from the only true home he'd ever had.