Author's note:
The end is near :'( I hope you enjoy!
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Year 7 Part 4 (chapter 38)
Word count: 1.3k
Severus sighs as he does his paperwork. Whenever he's done, more papers seem to appear...
This time, however, he isn't alone. Draco is in the office, talking to his Godfather.
The boy told the Carrows that he had to discuss something with him about the Dark Lord and his parents - they seemed to believe him and let him in.
Well, it's not completely a lie - he needed to talk to someone about Y/N and his arranged marriage. They both know it's approaching.
The only question is - will they have to go through with it? Or will Potter and his friends save the day by killing the Dark Lord?
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Potter seems to be our only hope right now" Draco says, sighing in frustration.
For once in his life, the boy is actually cheering for Harry Potter rather than hoping the Gryffindor will fail. It must be a really strange feeling for him, and it looks like he's not entirely sure how to feel about it.
Severus puts down his quill, looking at his Godson.
"Indeed, Potter is our only hope now. Only he can defeat the Dark Lord" he says.
He wonders when the final part of the war will start. When will the crucial fight begin?
Whenever it is, Severus prays to Merlin that the Boy Who Lived will be able to win. That he will be able to stop the Dark Lord once and for all.
Severus can't help but wonder who will survive the war. Will he survive the war? Will Y/N?
His train of thoughts is interrupted as one of the men in the paintings start talking.
"Young Malfoy is requested at Malfoy Manor, it's urgent. Your assistance is needed" the man states, looking at Draco.
The boy gulps. He's probably wondering why his parents would need him. Severus wonders if they have found the Gryffindor Trio.
Nodding, Draco bids the Headmaster goodbye before turning around to leave.
Just as he does so, Severus remembers something.
"Before you leave, Draco. Do you know what Y/N's Patronus is?" he questions, hoping he knows.
Draco stops right in his tracks. He then faces his former Head of House.
"Yeah, it's an-" he says before stopping himself. He seems to realise something as he smirks.
This irritates Severus. What does the boy know that he doesn't? Why can't he just tell him?
"Well?" Severus asks, raising an eyebrow.
Draco merely gives an innocent look. "I should probably leave, Father and Mother are expecting me. Good day, Headmaster" he says as he leaves the office, a smug look on his face.
Severus sighs in frustration. Merlin clearly doesn't want him to know.
Well, as challenging as it might be, he will find out someday. He will make sure of it.
--
Less than two months later, Severus strolls towards the Great Hall. Potter was seen in Hogsmeade.
Somebody at Hogwarts must know of his whereabouts, which is why it's his duty as the Headmaster to question everyone.
Speaking of the boy, he was at Malfoy Manor that day Draco's presence was requested.
Apparently, he was needed to identify the Boy Who Lived. He wasn't recognisable as his face was rather swollen. Draco insisted that he couldn't be sure whether it was him or not.
However, it turns out it was him.
As Lucius was about to call the Dark Lord, Potter and his friends were saved by a house elf. Or rather, an ex-house elf. The very same house elf Potter freed from Lucius.
The day after their escape, the Dark Lord got his hands on Albus' wand - the Elder Wand.
With that wand, he will be able to kill the Boy Who Lived.
Or so he thinks.
It only answers to its master, which originally was Albus. However, Draco disarmed him when he tried to kill him in the Astronomy Tower.
The boy has told Severus that Potter himself has disarmed him, which means Potter is the true master of the Elder Wand.
Thank Merlin the Dark Lord doesn't know this. He believes that the wand is loyal to him.
Entering the Great Hall, Severus strolls up to the front where the Carrows are, facing all the students who look down on the floor.
The only ones who seem to be looking at him are Y/N and Draco.
"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour," he starts, looking around for any reactions. They all just keep looking down on the floor.
"It's come to my attention that earlier this evening, Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade" he states.
Everybody gasps at that, whispering to each other.
"Now," he continues, everybody going quiet in an instant.
"Should anyone - student or staff, attempt to aid Mr. Potter, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events, who fails to come forward, will be treated as... equally guilty" he warns, talking very slowly to make them understand the seriousness.
"Now, then," he says, walking among the students, looking at them.
"If anyone here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward - now" he says, stopping just as he ends his sentence.
Nobody says anything, nobody seems to move a single muscle.
Out of the blue, the person in question appears inside the Great Hall - Harry Potter. Everybody gasps when they notice him.
"It seems, despite your exhaustive and defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, Headmaster" Potter says just as more people appear. It's the members of the Order.
"I'm afraid it's quite extensive" the boy continues, gesturing to the Order. His friends are among them.
"How dare you stand where he stood?" Potter questions, glaring at Severus.
Severus does his best not to roll his eyes. Albus Dumbledore has been everywhere in this castle. What does the boy want him to do, float?
"Tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him!" Potter demands, yelling as his anger is showing.
Severus sighs to himself. If only the boy knew.
"Tell them!" the boy demands once more.
Having enough, the Headmaster retrieves his wand which makes everybody gasp.
However, Minerva steps in front of him, shielding the boy.
Severus frowns. He doesn't want to fight her.
He hesitates before pointing his wand at them. Everybody moves out of the way, not wanting to get hit.
Y/N and Draco give Severus a concerned look. They seem to know how much this pains him.
Minerva fires a hex towards him. Severus immediately dodges it, wordlessly and wandlessly.
She keeps firing and firing while he dodges every attack. However, he doesn't hex her back. He could never do that.
As she fires another spell, Severus makes sure her attack hits the Carrows instead so everybody is safe.
He looks at Y/N one last time before flying out the window, escaping like a Death Eater.
"COWARD!" he hears Minerva yell. Her words hurt him, he however ignores it as he flies away from Hogwarts.
He escapes to the Forbidden Forest where the other Death Eaters are hiding, waiting for the Dark Lord to give them orders.
His feet barely touch the ground before Lucius approaches him. The blonde-haired man gulps, looking paler than usual.
"He wishes to speak to you, Severus. The Dark Lord is requesting your presence at the Shrieking Shack" he tells him, looking concerned.
Nodding, Severus strolls towards the meeting place. He however can't help but worry as he saw the look on Lucius' face.
What does the Dark Lord need him for?
