CHAPTER EIGHT

MORE DISCOVERIES

Down the stairs he went, through the corridors. "Where were Snape and Malfoy?" thought Harry, still panting from the run. He was still walking when suddenly, from around the corner, several dementors were gliding through the corridor. Harry pulled out his wand without thinking.

"Expecto Patr"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A voice echoed through the corridor as a jet of green light flew towards Harry from behind. Harry leapt to the ground, missing the curse by inches.

"Cruc"
"PROTEGO!"

The spell backfired as Lucius Malfoy was knocked to the floor. He leapt to his feet, his expression furious.

"I've got him, dementor" he snapped, at which the dementor instantly turned and glided away. "Well, Potter, I have been looking forward to this."

"What's happened to the Weasleys?" asked Harry at once.

"Do you really think they could handle me? I disapparated as soon as I regained consciousness. No need to worry, they are safe… for the moment. The Dark Lord will kill them eventually, I'm sure."

"I don't doubt it. He killed your wife."

Lucius laughed.

"You try to scare people, Potter, but you fail… most miserably."

"If you don't believe me, go upstairs. She's lying in the corridor, eyes wide open, dead."

"YOU LIE!" said Lucius, his eyes wide. "I will kill you now, little boy, do you understand?"

"Alright, but wait! Where's your son? I can still save him. He's somewhere in the castle with Snape. Can you tell me?"

"I wouldn't tell you even if I knew, Potter; now, goodbye…"

"AVAD"

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

Malfoy's wand spun out of his hand as he was halfway through the incantation.

"Please, I want to help him."

"I do not respond well to threats, Potter."

Harry knew it was no use.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!"

Malfoy became rigid and immobile, and fell on his back, frozen in place.

Harry turned and made for the Slytherin dungeon, the most likely place they were. He had been here once before, in his second year. He and Ron had disguised themselves as Crabbe and Goyle with Polyjuice Potion, to try and interrogate Malfoy about the Chamber of Secrets. Now, over four years later, it was to save Malfoy. After at least another ten minutes of walking, he saw the large doors into the dungeons. His hope sprang to life. Running towards the door, he whipped out his wand and pointed it at the door

"Bombarda!"

The door burst open. Harry ran through it. He was in the Slytherin common room. And there, sitting on the couch, staring right at him through the curtains of greasy black hair, was Severus Snape. Draco was lying in the corner of the room, shaking uncontrollably. Harry slammed the door shut as hard as he could.

"YOU!" screamed Harry. "YOU WERE THE ONE WHO BETRAYED MY PARENTS TO VOLDEMORT!"

"Don't speak of things you don't know, Potter!" snarled Snape, standing up instantly, his hand inside his robes.

"Don't think about it!" said Harry, raising his wand a bit higher. "What did you do? Why did you do it? Why did you kill Dumbledore?"

"I HAD NO CHOICE!" screamed Snape. "If Dumbledore hadn't told me to do it, and if I hadn't made the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy."

"Dumbledore never told you to do it!" screamed Harry. "He was asking you to help him. He was weak. He needed your remedial powers."

"How could you know, Potter? Dumbledore never exactly confided everything with you, did he?"

"He didn't with you either!"

"What does it matter?" spat Snape. "Dumbledore told me he thinks your path to the Darl Lord would be clearer if he was dead. He wanted to show you what love really means, by my killing him for your sake. Now, I've acted on his orders and all the horcruxes are destroyed."

Harry's mouth was dry.

"W-w-what?" said Harry in disbelief.

"Don't ask me to repeat it, Potter" said Snape.

"But… why?" said Harry.

"I was merely following Dumbledore's orders, Potter" said Snape silkily, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to fly."

"It wasn't only on Dumbledore's orders" said Harry quietly. "You'd never do something only for Dumbledore."

Snape scowled.

"I suppose you have successfully learned Legilimency" he said quietly, "A feat I would not have expected, but impressive nonetheless."

"I don't" Harry began.

"Don't say anything, Potter" said Snape sharply. His manner seemed harsh, but there was something different about him.

"I thought I'd never forgive you, sir" said Harry apologetically. "But why did Dumbledore force you to kill him?"

"I've told you" said Snape impatiently. "He thought your way to the Dark Lord would be clear. Or rather, his path to you would be clear."

"What?"

"Dumbledore felt that if he was always in the way, you would never be able to face the Dark Lord" continued Snape. "I think his love for you was too great. He didn't want you to be harmed by the Dark Lord. After all, hardly anyone can escape the Dark Lord unharmed. He felt that dying would finally allow you and the Dark Lord to face the other."

Harry didn't speak for a while. Draco seemed to be listening. Harry didn't care now. He felt strange, suddenly feeling compassion for Snape and Malfoy, his two most mortal enemies at school. Finally, he spoke again.

"You must know about the prophecy, then?"

"As a matter of fact, yes I do, Potter. How do you know?"

"Um" Harry began, "Well… Professor Trelawney told me at the end of last term."

"Fool!" spat Snape. "She can never keep secrets!"

Harry actually laughed slightly.

"Yeah" he muttered.

Draco broke in all of a sudden.

"Why did you come, Potter?"

Harry looked over at him. He was no longer asking in a mocking sort of way, but rather because he was curious, and shocked. Harry smiled.

"Well, I knew you were innocent. I suspected that Voldemort might be trying to kill you."

Draco winced at the sound of the name, while Snape spat, "Do not speak the Dark Lord's name!"

"I thought I could find some Veritaserum here in Snape's cellar" Harry continued, "so I came with others, and we found it. Incidentally, you lot were here as well."

Draco didn't speak for a moment.

"I I never t-thought you'd do that, Harry" he said, choking a bit.

Harry felt strange being addressed by his first name from Malfoy. It was the first time it had ever happened.

"Don't worry about it, Draco" he said.

Snape suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed upon the door.

"What is it?" asked Harry, but his question was answered a moment later when the door was blasted across the room, taking Harry with it. He slammed into the wall with the door, falling to the ground beside Draco, unconscious. Lucius Malfoy stepped inside, his wand held tightly in his right hand, his other holding a very fine walking stick, with a serpent insignia on it. His eyes were boring right into Snape's.

"Give me my son, Severus!"

"I don't think that's a wise thing to do, Lucius" said Snape silkily, his eyes staring unblinkingly at Malfoy. "The Dark Lord is still here, and I don't think he is too happy with you. He will kill you and Draco if you are seen, whereas, if Draco and I are seen, he will not. Of course, you knew all along that the Dark Lord trusts me above all."

Lucius smirked.

"Indeed, Severus. But what is really extraordinary is that you really are the most untrustworthy of us all. I am shocked that you have not been discovered. I wonder how you manage to exceed at Occlumency so that you are able to block even the Dark Lord's Legilimency."

Snape smirked.

"Well, it's just that simple, isn't it, Lucius? I exceed at Occlumency, too much for the Dark Lord, even."

"Who would have thought that simple of an explanation from Severus Snape?"

Snape smirked.

"You know, Lucius, I know you are just itching to curse me, but… I wonder what is holding you back? Could it be that your son is watching, or maybe that you know that you will not succeed?"

Lucius smirked.

"Neither of those, Severus"

Lucius raised his wand, but had barely done so, when a jet of silver light struck him in the chest. He flew backwards and into the corridor, slamming into the wall.

"Draco, wake Harry and take him back to the fifth floor corridor. You will know where to go once you hear the shouts."

Draco nodded. He stared at his father with misty eyes and an expression of disbelief.

"Draco! Go now!"

Coming to himself, Draco pulled out his wand, pointed it at Harry, and muttered "Ennervate!"

Harry's eyes opened slowly. He blinked several times, as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep. Draco held out his hand.

"We have to go, Potter."

Harry stared at him blankly for a moment; then he shook himself and nodded. Taking Draco's hand, he got to his feet, and the two of them ran past Snape, who was staring at Lucius, who was still on the ground, but close to consciousness. Draco took one last look at his father, before he looked at Snape, almost in a pleading sort of way. Snape looked back at him, and nodded. Draco did the same, and set off with Harry, who felt that no one deserved to live as much as Draco.