Coming to Light
Harry walked through the centre of Hogsmeade, fear and resignation warring inside of him. He had to get Voldemort's attention, and he also had to get him to come to him. The last thing he wanted was a confrontation on the school grounds.
He reached into his pocket, his fingers quested for the compact but didn't find it. 'I don't have it. I gave it to Ron so he could let Snape know what happened.'
He waved to Rosmerta and then to Aberforth, both he caught looking out the doors of their respective pubs. A few more minutes had him outside of Hogsmeade. He glanced to the right at a hedgerow and saw Ron and Hermione wave at him before hiding again. Harry began pacing back and forth, hoping something would happen soon before he lost his courage.
'He has to leave the snake. Maybe Snape is convincing him to and that is what is taking so long. And he has to get off the school grounds.'
A crack sounded nearby followed by several more. Spinning about, Harry stared at not only Voldemort but numerous Death Eaters. His heart lurched in shock.
'Ron, Hermione run away! Get help!' He couldn't yell the words out loud – not a single sound could make it past his dry throat and mouth – but he hoped they would do it anyway.
"Harry Potter," Voldemort purred as he glided forward, long fingers gesturing for his minions to stay. "You decided to stop running. You finally understand the uselessness of trying to escape your fate."
Harry tensed up, his fingers tightening around his wand, knowing he had to stand there. Had to let this happen. 'Maybe I can make this go quicker?' He forced a smile onto his face and stepped towards Voldemort. "The prophecy said I had to be here, so I am. As you said, it's fate."
Voldemort snarled, "The prophecy has already been fulfilled – you vanquished me when you were a baby. Now, it is my turn – and I choose for you to die." The last few words came out almost a hiss.
Harry tipped his head to one side, wondering if what Voldemort said was true, but trusted Dumbledore and Snape enough to continue standing there. Having a Horcrux in his head would explain the connection between the two of them.
"You've been the cause of my horrible life since I was one – just end it," he goaded.
Voldemort's wand stopped mid-swing, red-eyes narrowing with obvious questions running through them.
"Second thoughts?" Harry jibbed, "I never thought you had those."
"Avada Kedavra!"
Harry watched the green light speeding towards him and prayed that Snape succeeded and that Voldemort would meet his end today.
§§§§§
Ron couldn't watch. He stared at the compact, his finger close to the ring and listened. At the last second, when the Killing Curse was cast, he had to see Harry's last moment – he had to at least be there for his best mate – and he looked. Briefly, for ever so slight of a second, Harry's eyes met his and then the curse hit him, causing the vibrant green to turn dull.
The sound of Harry's body hitting the ground was muffled by multiple Apparitions happening. All around were members of the Order of the Phoenix popping up. Voldemort grabbed one of the Death Eager's arms and even more Death Eaters arrived.
Ron was divided between leaping out to help and alerting Snape to what happened. Then he noticed that the ring was darker and flipped open the compact.
"Nagini is dead," Snape said, the Headmaster's office behind him. "I have placed the school under lockdown. No one can come in or out without my express permission." He paused for a moment, and his eyes tightened slightly before he continued. "Do not let Potter's body stay on the battlefield. Weasley, the Dark Lord is, in essence, a flesh golem or a Horcrux container; therefore, isn't truly considered alive. He needs to be dealt with, but plain physical attacks won't do much. Don't cast an Unforgivable. Use a cutting curse or something similar – the magic in them will allow them to do damage."
Hermione's fingers curled around the compact, closing it in his hand, as she turned to the battlefield. "We have to remove his head, that should guarantee it's gone."
Ron rested a hand on her shoulder as she started forward. "You summon Harry's body and guard him. I'll get the Dark Lord."
She whipped around and glared at him, "Why?"
"Because your summoning spells and shields are better than mine," Ron said steadily even as he decided on his route to get to Voldemort.
Her lips compressed around the complaint he could see forming and she nodded her head. "You be very careful. Once you've done it, get out of there. We'll take Harry and run."
Ron pulled her close and kissed her. "If the worst happens, take Harry and run for the school. Call Snape and let him know you are coming." His heart was pounding, but he ignored it, pressing the compact into her hand as he let her go. "Give me a minute to get close then get … get Harry."
She nodded and tucked the compact into her pocket.
Ron dodged through the battle, keeping as unnoticed as possible, doing his best to get close to Voldemort as the golem gleefully shot killing curses into the melee. Ron wasn't sure if he cared if he hit friend or foe. 'What to cast? Snape said a cutting curse. Hermione said to take his head off.' He ducked between two duelling groups, keeping his head down and a shield spell on his lips. Making it through, he dropped into the tall grass, letting it mask his location while he studied the moving masses around him. 'What was that one that Harry mentioned almost killed Malfoy? Sectumsempra! I'll do it and the Severing Charm. If he's a Horcrux, a fang would be good to have ready too.'
Getting to his feet, but doing his best to keep low, he rushed through an opening in the direction that Voldemort was in.
Greyback appeared before him.
Ron dodged, hoping the werewolf didn't notice him and end up going away from his goal. A glance back showed Greyback sniffing the air and then following behind him. Turning back around, Ron ran, hoping to getaway. He could hear Fenrir stalking him.
It was touch and go as Ron rushed around duellers, Greyback getting closer and closer. 'I have to lose him. I have to …' He ran straight at a pair of duellers, his dad and a masked Death Eater, and dove straight through their battle, barely missing the bone-crushing curse, hoping Dad moved fast enough to avoid it. A howl from behind him caused him to glance over his shoulder and see Greyback hitting the ground, his breath shuddering, his chest crushed.
He watched as Dad took out the stunned Death Eater and then Greyback.
Hoping Hermione hadn't seen how reckless he was – she might kill him for it - Ron began making his way towards Voldemort again. He succeeded after three less dramatic dodges and he was once again crouched low in the grass trying to assess where he was and where he needed to go.
His jaw sagged in disbelief when he finally realised that he was directly behind Voldemort with only one Death Eater between them, battling someone Remus. While tugging one of the larger basilisk fangs out of his bag, the Death Eater between them miraculously moved, giving Ron a perfect shot. He took it
"Sectumsempra! Diffindo!" he hissed, pouring as much intent as he could into the spell. With the fang gripped in his other fist, he leapt up and rushed towards him. The first spell carved into Voldemort's back, part of it hitting his neck. The Severing Charm's aim was true and it sliced Voldemort's head clean off. Making it to the falling body, Ron stabbed it with the fang and then leapt up again and took off through the churning mass of melee fights, no one noticing what he'd done.
As he hurtled across the battlefield towards where Hermione was hovering over Harry's body, her wand at the ready, he realised that Voldemort's wounds hadn't bled. 'Snape was right – he wasn't alive.' A touch of euphoria filled his head – he hadn't killed someone, just destroyed something. He was jerked back into focus as Hermione's wand swished in his direction and he felt a spell fly past him and the sound of another spell smashing into a shield. He dove into a nearby spur of the hedgerow, fell into the stream and laid there momentarily stunned. 'Stupid! I knew it wasn't over. I should have been paying more attention. At least Hermione agreed to watch after me.'
A sigh of relief escaped him. He was still alive, she was still alive. 'Harry's not.' He cut off that train of thought. He couldn't go there – not right now. Pulling himself out of the cold water, he worked his way to where he last saw Hermione. When he made it, she and Harry were gone. Praying she started towards Hogwarts with Harry, he headed that way.
He met up with her a few minutes later, the forest dampening the sounds of the battle they'd left behind.
"I called Snape and told him what happened. I hope we can get in." Hermione passed the compact to him with shaking fingers. "You check while I float Harry."
Her face was grim with tears silently coursing down her face. He looked down at the metal disc and was surprised to see two water droplets onto it. Raising a hand to his face, he found it was wet too. Whether it was water from the stream, tears, or both, he dashed them away and noticed Snape had responded.
"Hagrid and I will meet you at the gate."
It was short and to the point, but it made both of them feel better.
§§§§§
Severus tapped the gates with his wand when he spotted Weasley and Granger just on the other side of them. Opening one of them, he gestured for them to move quickly. His chest tightened when he saw Potter – no, Harry, 'I can call him that – he deserves to be separated from my hatred of James.' – floating behind Granger.
Locking all emotion away, he directed them towards the carriage and turned to attend to the gate.
"Harry!" Hagrid howled.
"Not now, Hagrid, we need to get them up to the school and to Poppy," Severus snapped. Placing his wand against the gate, he focused on the wards, shutting the school down completely, unlike the earlier version. Nothing could enter or leave the school now, not until all four Heads of House and himself ended the lockdown, and they were also the only ones who could communicate with the outside world through one floo in a small nondescript, easily sealed off office on the ground floor of the castle.
That done, he turned and joined them in the carriage. It was a sombre ride up to the castle.
Minerva met them at the door of the castle. It had taken him firing the Carrows, killing Nagini, confining students to the dorms, and partially locking the school down before she'd given him even the benefit of the doubt. She did summon the Order to check out the area around Hogsmeade once she found out why Voldemort left.
Her stony expression melted when she spotted Harry, sadness engulfing it briefly before she pulled her neutral mask back on.
Hagrid nodded towards them, tears streaming down his face as he turned back to his hut, "I'll check on th' Forest, Headmaster."
"Be careful in there, and don't try to go far," Snape replied while he walked towards the stairs, Harry floating behind him. He directed Granger and Weasley to follow him, "The Infirmary. Madam Pomfrey needs to check you."
They made a silent procession and Severus rested Harry's body on the bed he usually occupied. Poppy rushed out of her office when they entered and met them at the bedside.
Granger brushed the hair out of Harry's face. She stopped and Severus knew that look – she was puzzled by something. He felt his heart speed up when she moved her hand in front of his nose and mouth. Her other one rested on his chest, just over Harry's heart. 'Surely, he didn't survive it twice.'
But this was Harry who regularly did the impossible. Severus couldn't defeat the spark of hope in him. A spark that grew when Hermione swung to them, eyes wide.
"He's breathing...!" Her eyes darted to Weasley and then to him, Minerva, and then Poppy. "I know he wasn't earlier. But ..."
Weasley made a sound halfway between a gasp and a sob. Severus quickly pulled back his own robe sleeve and began uncovering his left forearm. Albus had said Harry had to die for the Dark Lord to.
Moving closer to Harry, Poppy flicked her wand in patterns Severus recognised even out of the corner of his eye. He finally got down to his unmarred skin just as she spoke.
"He's breathing," Poppy rested her fingertips on Harry's neck, her eyes rounding in joy. "Mr Potter is alive!"
Granger and Weasley sank to the foot of the bed even as Severus felt his legs giving beneath him. Somehow he landed in a chair instead of in a heap on the floor.
Harry Potter had survived again.
"Mr Weasley, Miss Granger," Minerva sounded as if she was in her classroom. Severus had no idea how she did, but she did. "What happened?"
Severus half listened as he stared between his bare arm and Harry's chest rising and falling softly. His name caught his attention.
"Professor Snape gave Harry a mirror so they could stay in contact after the Professor sent him to my house," Weasley said, "And we used that to talk to the Professor constantly while we were completing Dumbledore's task for Harry. If it weren't for him, I doubt we'd be done."
"Headmaster."
Severus jerked his gaze towards Minerva. That was the most neutral she'd ever said that to him.
"You helped Mr Potter?"
He nodded.
Miss Granger jumped in before Minerva could continue, "He helped us too. We were able to use the mirror to tell him we were coming here, and that let him get us help and get us into the school."
"He also helped us get into and out of the school earlier this year," Mr Weasley added, "Professor Snape has been on our side this entire time."
Minerva reached over and rested a hand on Harry's shoulder, shaking him gently. Severus didn't have a chance to warn her that it was a bad idea.
Poppy glared at her. "Professor McGonagall, Mr Potter needs to wake up on his own." She turned her attention to the teens sitting on the bed, "You two, up on those beds. I will be with you shortly."
She then looked at Severus, assessing him for a moment before continuing, "Headmaster, Deputy Headmistress, please, leave. I'll let you know when they can be seen."
Severus blinked at the polite if stern tone then levered himself out of the chair – which now upon seeing he knew that Minerva had to have transfigured it for him – and started for the door. He just hoped he could hide until he could think again.
§§§§§
Minerva let the Infirmary door close behind her. 'Severus was helping. Potter noticed something and went to Severus for help. Not me, not anyone else, but Severus. And he got it too.' Her eyes narrowed as another thought crossed her mind. 'Was Albus controlling this? Did he set Severus up for this?'
Turning on her heel, she went back into the Infirmary. Poppy had just tucked Granger and Weasley in. She lifted her head and glared at Minerva.
Minerva waited by the door, knowing Poppy would come over there when she was done. She didn't have to wait long.
"I said I would tell you when to come back," Poppy said quietly but her eyes remained fierce.
"I am calling a staff meeting in the Headmaster's office and wanted to make sure you could join us," Minerva nodded towards the beds, "Can an elf watch them for an hour at the maximum?"
Poppy frowned as she nodded, "What's it about?"
"We need to talk to Albus and determine just how much of Severus' life he destroyed, and then determine what the next steps are to be."
Poppy smiled even as her eyes narrowed, "Merci."
A tiny elf appeared next to her, "Yes, Madam Pomfrey?"
"Watch the students that are currently sleeping. Alert me the minute there are any changes."
Merci nodded and crossed the room as Minerva called and told a group of elves to tell all the professors and staff except Snape to meet up in the Headmaster's office now.
When they all popped away, she and Poppy headed out.
§§§§§
Severus was surprised he made it back to his room without Minerva. He knew she was curious as a cat and very protective of the staff at the school. The only reason he hadn't felt her ire more prominently these past few months was because she was afraid of the repercussions on them. Now, though, that Voldemort was gone and the Carrows locked away he didn't have the same backing.
With a feeling of satisfaction, he locked the door and only then realised he had gone to his dungeon rooms, not the Headmaster suite. 'Maybe she won't find me for a while.'
"Tiffy," he waited until the little elf appeared, "please bring tea and lunch for two when I summon you next."
Tiffy nodded and popped away. Severus settled in his chair near the fireplace, the cheery fire that Tiffy had brought to life as she left warming him. Closing his eyes, he waited, trying to let the knowledge that Voldemort was dead and Harry was alive – both equally important points – sink in. Trying to accept that peace was here.
Almost thirty minutes later Minerva knocked on his door. He considered playing dumb like he didn't know who it was, but he knew she wouldn't believe him. He knew every staff member's knock – each had a different pattern and height on the door.
Not opening his eyes, he flicked his fingers, causing the door to unlock. "Come in."
The door opened and someone entered the room. He didn't bother to move or open his eyes. He just wanted this over with. "Would you like some tea?"
"In a bit, Severus," Minerva replied, "but first a few questions."
His lips twisted up into a semblance of a smile, "Of course, ask away."
"You truly gave Mr Potter a mirror during the summer, and made it so that Miss Granger and Mr Weasley could communicate with you as well?"
"Mr Potter showed he could think," Severus thought she was surprised by the lack of venom as he said Harry's name, but wasn't willing to look to find out. "He made valid observations, found me, trusted me and so was in my care. The Dark Lord had people looking for him and I had to be sure he made it to the Burrow safely. That was best facilitated by us being able to communicate. Potter brought up the idea that the other two should be able to communicate with me as well. It seemed like a reasonable safeguard."
"The Carrows – who wanted them here? Where are they now?" she asked.
"The Dark Lord insisted on both being here, so they were. I would never hire either of them – poor teachers, worse than our normal bottom of the barrel-scraping." Severus sighed, "As to where they are now, I fired them – you witnessed that – and had the house elves lock them up in a dungeon room – the one Filch wants to use again – and when Granger said they were on their way here, I told the elves to take them both, along with pages of evidence of them using the Unforgivables, forcing minors to do so, and their other heinous acts, to Auror Tonks. The elves are to stay with her and them until they are properly incarcerated. The elves knew they would not be returning anytime soon and were told to report to the Hog's Head when their task is completed."
There was a gasp that didn't sound like Minerva's, but Severus refused to open his eyes. At this moment, he wanted to believe this was between him and her.
"Why did you kill Albus?"
The accusatory tone was absent, making Severus wonder what happened.
"He told me to. He was already dying from a curse we couldn't cancel, and it was the only way to put me in place to become the Headmaster. It wasn't a guarantee, but it at least opened the possibility. It worked, and what we hoped would come to pass did. I was able to minimize the injuries to the students and prevent their deaths."
There was a pregnant pause. "Students were still hurt."
"But they lived," was his only defence.
There was a shuffling and the closing of his door that he couldn't ignore. Opening his eyes, he braced himself. Everyone was in his room, all looking at him with uncertainty warring over their faces. 'Coming to terms with what I said? Making their own conclusions?'
"Why weren't we informed earlier?" Minerva groused.
Filius shook his head and moved to sit on the sofa, "Because we aren't as good as Severus is at acting. We'd have given things away and what we experienced this First Term would become the norm for years to come."
Pomona and Sinistra sat next to Filius. Filch took his other chair, and the rest began conjuring and transfiguring ones to sit in. Pulling his wand, Severus opened his sitting area to allow everyone to be included. Filius grinned as the sofa floated with them still on it. Another spell had the coffee table transfigured into a dining table.
"Tiffy," he waited until she appeared and gestured towards the full room, "please bring enough to feed the entire staff."
Beaming, she popped away, only to reappear with help and food.
After everyone was served, Severus turned to Minerva, "Do you want the school? I can hand it over to you now and you can assign a new Head of Gryffindor so the school can be unlocked. We know I won't be getting out of this one."
"We'll discuss the unlocking of the school later," Minerva said. "No, I don't want it yet."
Rolanda jumped in, "And since we had that staff meeting at the beginning of school … you know the one that the Carrows weren't at and no portrait attended as they were watching the Carrows."
Severus was amazed. He knew what she was doing wouldn't hold up under Veritaserum, but most people weren't subjected to the potion. He could see the dawning realisation in the other's faces too.
She looked over everyone, a smile curling her lips. "Remember, it was the one we confronted Severus and learnt that he was still on our side. It took Pomona to get it out of him, but once she did we were able to work together this term to keep the students alive. We agreed that hurt was better than dead."
They began eating the ham sandwiches and chips while everyone thought about it.
Minerva nodded first, "Yes, I remember it – Severus was very upset at the time that he couldn't fool Pomona."
Pomona smiled, "No, it wasn't that he couldn't fool me, but that he still wanted access to the greenhouse. He needed to keep making potions just in case Potter needed them. He was responsible for the boy still."
Filius nodded, "And he needed us to make sure that he could sneak things out to them if events panned out wrong for them."
Severus decided not to mention the time he succeeded in sneaking them into the Chamber of Secrets. Minerva frowned and he remembered that Ronald Weasley had referenced it. She didn't say anything but smiled at him.
Filch nodded, "We all played our parts to the hilt to make sure the brats would make it through the school year."
One by one the rest of the staff nodded – albeit some grudgingly – and chimed in their agreement.
Horace held up a chip, "Are the students in the dorms being served lunch?"
Severus nodded, "I instructed the elves to be sure to feed them as I wasn't sure how long they were going to be confined to their dorms. Now that the danger is over, we should release them."
Minerva shook her head, "As your Deputy Headmistress, I recommend letting them stay there until dinner time. We should inform them what has happened, check on the ones hiding, and then everyone needs to be at dinner tonight."
Bathshebatapped the table lightly, "We need to know where everyone stands. Everyone, student and staff need to say whose side they are on, and we need to do it in a way that it will be shown as true or false."
The rest of the staff looked at the Ancient Runes' professor uncertain.
"What do we do with those who are for blood purity?" Rolanda asked.
Bathsheba frowned, "Not blood purity, but for Voldemort specifically. For Voldemort or the Wizards of Britannia – those should be the choices."
Sinistra shook her head sharply, "For or against Voldemort's methods, those should be the choices. You can still be against Muggles and Muggleborns, but not agree with killing everyone. Terror is not the way to win your way."
Minerva nodded, "And it will reduce the stigma of stating you are for blood purity or against it."
"We'll have to be sure to explain the choices," Filius added. "So, when we tell the students what has occurred, we shall tell them of the declaration time before dinner. But how shall we show if it is true or false?"
Bathsheba smiled at Septima, "Between the two of us, we can come up with an array to place in the Great Hall by dinner time."
Severus cut in, "They are minors and so we need parental permission to do such a thing. No, we can't require it of them, but we can do so for us. It might help them" 'and some of you' " accept that I am not for Voldemort. If we do that, would anyone have any objections to stating that which side we were on – whether we supported Voldemort or not?"
The staff considered his question as they continued their lunch. Finally, Minerva spoke, "You are right about the minor part – we can't do that as much as we might want to. I agree with the staff telling the students which side. It might alleviate fears and" she looked at Severus, "it might show others that the person they look up to had made a choice they didn't expect."
"All in agreeance, raise your hand," Severus said, and didn't bother to count when all hands were raised. "Then, Bathsheba and Septima, please see what you can create. If it is ready tonight, then we shall do it tonight."
The Ancient Runes and Arithmancy professors' eyes met before they turned back to Severus. Bathsheba smiled, "We've been tinkering with such an array in our off time. It will be ready tonight."
The others chuckled and Severus nodded, "Then set it up around the High Table."
He turned to Horace, "Do you think I should join you in telling the Slytherins? They may believe me when I tell them that he is gone and I might have some sway in convincing them that this is a good thing."
The older professor thought about it for a moment before nodding, "It might be best."
Severus nodded and directed his attention to everyone else, "The current lockdown on the school will not allow anyone or anything on or off school grounds – the Forbidden Forest is counted as part of school grounds as is the lake. It cannot be released until the Heads of House and the Headmaster do so – we shall be having a meeting tomorrow to go over the procedure. There is only one floo which can be used to connect to the outside world and only by the Headmaster and Heads of House – communication only, no physical transfer – and at the meeting tomorrow its protocol will also be discussed."
Minerva sat back with a nod of satisfaction.
"Food shall be harvested from our kitchen's greenhouses, the chicken coops and farm, the lake, and Hagrid's farm until we receive notice from a trusted source that all threats are neutralized. The elves have stocked up for the Holiday season, we shall ration this out if we need to.
"Mr Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr Weasley's presence are not to be disclosed until they are ready to rejoin their House. Their presences will not be disclosed to the public until we have to. Classes will continue as normal after dinner tonight. With hope, the students will be able to go home over Christmas Holidays, but if not, we shall continue as normal.
"During the Holiday, we shall devise a plan to cover for our two missing teachers and catching the students up on those subjects as the lessons they have been learning do not match Hogwarts standards. If we are capable, we shall post the positions and attempt to hire during the Holidays."
He watched his staff, waiting for their response.
Poppy places her napkin next to her plate, "I need to get back to the Infirmary. I'll see you tonight at dinner."
She walked out the door while the others started talking amongst themselves. Severus leant back in his chair amazed that everything had gone this well so far.
Pomona leant forward, "I can see what is edible in the Classroom Greenhouses to contribute. The students should have a Holiday Feast."
"We might not have to worry," Severus started to say only to have Horace cut him off.
"You know, I know," Horace gestured towards the rest of the table, "and they know how long the clean up from this is going to be. We won't be opening the school until at least Valentine's Day. Christmas Holiday is supposed to start in three days, there is no way they'll be done. Trials have to be held, Death Eaters sussed out, more trials held, the Ministry figured out and the school should be locked down until we know it is safe."
"They are the future of our world," Septima added, "We've got to protect them the best we can. We've not been able to do so this entire year, we can now."
"It won't be much different than normal after the new term starts," Rolanda added, "except for food and Hogsmeade visits."
"I'll work with the elves to force start plants for vegetables. Flour and rice will be an issue, but we can use beans and potatoes." Pomona frowned, "If we start now and rush their growth, we could have a crop in January."
Minerva announced, "We shall tell the students about the lockdown at dinner tonight."
Severus agreed.
§§§§§
Severus and Horace met up with Filius, Pomona, and Minerva after their talk with their Houses.
"I should tell the hiding children," Severus said as they turned towards the stairwell. "As Headmaster it is my duty and I can show them the absence of the Dark Mark." He pulled up his sleeve to show that it was gone to Filius and Pomona. Horace had seen when he showed the Slytherins.
"You shouldn't go alone," Minerva frowned and the others nodded.
"But if you all come with me, then they will not believe that I knew where they were but didn't seek them out before," Severus said.
"Then take a couple of armours with you," Minerva flicked her wand towards the ones standing near them. "You can say they're for the students."
Sighing, Severus accepted them and headed off to the seventh floor. He had marked where the Come and Go Room was after Umbridge had found the DA in it two years ago. This year, once students started going missing, he had checked to see if it was in use. Every time he did, he noted the door but also noticed that the Carrows couldn't see it.
The armours clanked to a halt near him as he knocked on the door.
It was cracked open and the student who opened it widened his eyes in shock. Severus spoke before he could slam the door shut again, "Voldemort is dead," he showed them his already bared left arm, "the Carrows are fired and removed, the school is locked down so that his supporters cannot access the school. Whatever means you've been using to get food has been cut off. Please, return to your dorms."
He stepped back as the door opened wider. Longbottom stood there, searching his face and then noticed the armours.
"Why are they here?" he asked.
"They are to guard you on your return to your dorms. All students are supposed to be in them, but past experience has shown that not all students follow that order," Severus kept his tone bland, letting not one ounce of scorn to enter it as he fixed his sleeve.
Longbottom studied him.
"How can you see the door? Even with your master dead, you're still one of them!" a voice yelled from inside the room.
"I was once again a spy and have now been relieved of that duty." Severus stepped back, gesturing them out of the room. "Tonight, at dinner, the staff will declare whose side they were on. You need to go to your dorms, get cleaned up, and be there."
He turned and walked away, knowing he was exposing his back to attack, but hoped the students wouldn't. That hope was dashed when he reached the sixth floor. Spells hit him with enough force to crash him into a wall. He waited for them to finish the deed, but all he heard were footsteps running by.
The world began to darken as he felt his blood seeping out.
§§§§§
Minerva gave Severus five minutes head start and the slowly began following him. As Deputy Headmistress it was her job to check on students as well, and she was going to be justifying her actions with that reasoning. She was more worried about what could happen to Severus.
She watched as students and armours came rushing by her. 'Where is Severus?' When she could, she hurried up the stairs. A shadow in a corner caught her attention on the sixth floor – it was darker than it should have been this time of day. Rushing over, she compressed her lips in a tight line as she saw Severus unconscious and bleeding. Tonight, she was going to have a word with the students.
A flick of her wand had Severus floating face down and level and she headed back to the Infirmary for the second time today.
Poppy rushed out as Minerva settled Severus on a bed.
"What happened?" she asked even as she cast her diagnostic spells.
"He went to tell the hiding students what happened, and I found him like this after they rushed past me."
Poppy's eyes narrowed as she looked at the results of her spells. "They did a number on him. He won't be leaving here until tomorrow morning at the earliest."
She gently began removing his robes knowing that his were protected from being spelt off.
"He needs to be at dinner tonight," Minerva moved to unbutton the cuffs of his coat and shirt on her side of the bed.
"There and back again, nothing else." Poppy rested a hand on the now bare bloody back, "That is, as long as I can get him healed up enough to go."
Minerva blanched at the open wounds and knew it was only the protective spells in Severus' robes that kept him alive. His back looked like he'd been hit by a multitude of severing charms.
Poppy summoned the needed potions over, "There are some broken ribs and cracked vertebra as well. I think there might be more damage, but I need to start on these first."
"I'm ordering some armours to guard this room," Minerva said as she backed away to let Poppy start working.
"Thanks," Poppy said as she gently poured a potion over the cuts causing them to steam.
Walking out of the room, Minerva set four to guard it and then went to find the other staff members.