-121 - Secrets Revealed
Severus closed his eyes as he realized the dire circumstances he was now in. He opened his eyes to see Vespa sitting in her cushioned chair as if she didn't have a care in the world, sipping at her cup of steaming tea. Charlet had begun her diatribe of how she had been treated whilst she had been forced to live at Snape Manor. Two dark cloaked figures standing by the doorway had their wands drawn and pointed directly at him.
Vespa waved her hand, signaling something to the two dark cloaked figures and Severus felt ropes tighten around his body and arms as he was magically forced to sit in a chair.
Charlet continued her whining, blaming most all her woes on Harry Potter and Severus himself. She finished her story with the news that Severus had planned to send her to an orphanage, hence the reason she was forced into using the emergency port key. She gloried in the part where she used an Expelliarmus spell to get rid of Severus' wand. Vespa waited until the girl stopped talking before she opened her arms up for the girl to come embrace her.
"Yes, my pet, you have suffered greatly. All will be rewarded in due time. Although, …you have yet to tell me if you have succeeded in the task in which you were sent?" Vespa's voice held a sweet tone but you could hear the underlying threat in her question.
Charlet let go of her dear Auntie. She took a few steps back, then almost in a panicked voice she answered back, "Auntie, I tried! I looked every single place you told me to look but it wasn't there! I don't even think it exists …"
Vespa cut her off with a harsh slap across the face. The girl reeled back in shock. She had never been struck before. She placed a hand to her cheek and stood silently staring at the only parent she could remember having.
"Stupid girl! Of course it is there! I never gave you permission to use a love potion on that idiot boy! How dare you take matters into your own hands," Vespa turned to look at Severus. "At least you didn't come home empty handed though."
Severus had no idea what they had been looking for. He narrowed his eyes at the woman who had poisoned his son, "What is it you want Vespa?"
Vespa stood up, straightened her lavender robe then she walked over to the chair Severus was bound in, "I only want what should be rightfully mine."
After a long pause she continued, "I want the Elixir of Life that was left to you in the estate. I want that filthy boy you call a 'son' to die so I will be the rightful heir of Snape Manor … then I WANT YOU TO DIE SO I CAN CLAIM THE POTION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MINE!"
Severus was stunned, he didn't think anyone knew about the small bottle of life giving potion that was hidden away behind the armoire in his bedroom. The potion was made by his great Grandfather over a hundred years ago. It had been hidden in the master bedroom for almost as long. There was no other potion like it anywhere in the world. The only person who had access to that potion was the rightful heir of Snape Manor. He had no idea how Vespa had ever come to gain knowledge of it.
He was glad to be an expert Occlumens when Vespa whipped her wand out and pointed it at his head.
Vespa screamed out in frustration when she was blocked out of her nephews memories. She kept her wand pointed at the man and yelled out, "Crucio!"
Severus felt the spell hit with a bone shattering pain throughout his whole body. He held his screams in, knowing how pleased Vespa would be to hear him yell. The spell was held on so long he finally lost consciousness.
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Harry woke up feeling better than he had in a long time. He stretched lazily, appreciating the fact that his father had let him sleep through until morning. After a long shower he finally made his way down to the dining room to have breakfast with his father. He was surprised the room was empty since it was already 8:00. He knew Severus always ate at 7:30 sharp. He sat down before summoning Kinsi with his request for eggs and pancakes.
Before Kinsi left he thought to ask, "Kinsi, has Master Snape already finished his breakfast?"
The elf twisted her tea cozy, "No Master Potter, he not be here's. He left last night before supper."
Harry didn't know why but his heart sped up upon hearing that. "Did he tell you where he was going?"
"No master, he says nothing to Kinsi."
Harry suddenly thought about Charlet and how angry Severus must have been with her. "Did Charlet leave too?"
The house elf nodded her head, "Miss Charlet left at the same times Master Snape did. I could feels the wards give way and knew they were both gone."
"Could you go find my dad, give him a message?"
The house elf twisted her tea towel until it was nothing more than a knot, "I tries already Master Potter. I knows I not supposed to but I was being scared when Master Snape left without letting me knows. He always tells me whens he leaves, just in case you need him."
Oh Merlin, something was wrong. Harry ran into the study to firecall Professor Dumbledore.
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Severus woke up when he found that it was a struggle to breathe. He coughed up blood as he cleared his throat, then rolled onto his side and forced his swollen eyes to open. He was being held in a chilly dank room with stone walls. He looked down at his hands, regretting that Vespa had broken every one of his fingers with a bone breaking curse. He had no doubts she knew how much that would effect him. She had broken him down then tried to use Legilimens again but he had held strong. If he could stand up against Voldemort than it would take much worse than Vespa to break into his thoughts.
He had to protect the memory of the location of the Elixir of Life. That memory was the only thing keeping him alive. He knew that once Vespa knew where the elixir was she would kill him then go after Harry and kill him as well in order to gain access to the potion.
He tried to flex his fingers a bit but hissed out in pain and decided that had been a stupid thing to do. He slumped against the cold wall as he let his mind broach the one subject that he most feared. What would Harry do now? He knew that unless some miracle happened his own life was nearing the end. His life didn't used to mean much to anyone, except maybe Dumbledore, but now… well, now things were different. He knew how much the boy relied on him, loved him even. He feared that the teen had already been through too much to take anymore loss.
He felt another tremor travel through his body before finally leveling off. He didn't think he'd ever have to deal with the after effects of the crutiatus since Voldemort had died. He never counted on Vespa having such control over him like this. A moment later the heavy metal door opened up to reveal his the evil woman.
"Severus, why do you insist on playing games with me? I am not a patient woman." Vespa held a cold glass of water in her hand.
Severus eyed the water greedily. His throat was parched and he knew it would only get worse.
"I'll give you one more chance to tell me where that elixir is?"
"Vespa you know that only the true heir to Snape Manor can use that potion. You would have to kill me and Harry too. Don't take me for a fool woman! I'm sure you are aware of the inheritance stipulation our family is bound to?" Severus asked with as much patience as he could muster, which was precious little.
"I MUST have the potion!" Vespa hissed out. She threw another burning spell towards her pathetic nephew, enjoying the fact that he thrashed about in pain.
Severus felt his clothes begin to melt right onto his burning flesh. The smell of burnt skin and cloth was overpowering.
Once she lifted the curse she walked closer to the shaking man, "Severus, I know a way to get you to hand over the potion," she waited until her nephew met her eyes. "I will summon your precious son to me. You know as well as I do that he will come running to save you!"
Severus bit his lip to keep from saying what he really wanted to.
Vespa could see him struggle, "I have a special plan for that son of yours."
Severus looked up sharply. He cringed at the smile the wicked woman now wore.
Vespa cackled, enjoying the power she wielded. "Yes my dear nephew. I have big plans for that son of yours."
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Professor Dumbledore, Remus, Shacklebolt and Tonks stood in Charlet's bedroom at Snape Manor. They had spent the better part of the morning trying to find out how the wards on Snape Manor had been broken. The conclusion had been disconcerting. A powerful portkey had been used.
They tracked the location back to Charlet's bedroom and now they were looking for any signs that might help to locate the girl. Harry was going through her trunk when he spotted something sticking out from under the bed. He pulled the black wand out and let out a groan. The Order members stopped what they were doing to see what he had found. Professor Dumbledore was the first to recognize the wand … it belonged to Severus.
Harry clutched onto it and buried his head in his hands, "Oh Merlin, what does this mean." He was frozen with terror over losing the man he had come to admire and love. "Vespa," he whispered out loud.
Remus was at his side in flash, "Calm down Harry. Severus will be found."
Dumbledore looked defeated as he sat down heavily in a chair. That scared Harry more than anything else. He had never seen Dumbledore look like that before, not even when Voldemort was alive. He knelt by the headmaster's chair looking up into his tired eyes, "Sir, please tell me we can find him?"
Dumbledore could hardly hide his fear. He placed a weathered hand atop Harry's head, "My dear boy, I will never give up until we find him."
After much discussion it was finally decided that they would alert the ministry. Perhaps with the added help of Aurors they would find a clue leading to Vespa's whereabouts.
Remus insisted that Harry come to stay at Grimmauld Place. He wouldn't hear of leaving the boy alone at Snape Manor. In the end Harry finally agreed. At least that way he would be privy to any Order meetings that might take place. He packed a small bag, hoping he wouldn't need anymore clothes than just for a few days. He grabbed hold of Hedwig's cage and made his way down to the living room where Remus was waiting.
"All set there Harry?" Remus took hold of the cage and gave the teen a small encouraging smile. "Don't worry Harry, you'll be back soon enough."
Harry looked around one last time, his eyes caught sight of a small blue bicycle tucked behind the massive Christmas tree. His breath caught in his throat over the memory the bike evoked. He didn't want to imagine a life without his father, he would never be able to bear it.
As soon as they entered Grimmauld Place Harry was swept up in a giant hug. Sirius finally let him go when he said he couldn't breath.
Remus explained the situation to Sirius, hoping the man would be sensitive to Harry's anxiety. Sirius kept his opinions of the potion master to himself but had a hard time hiding the smile that wanted to break through.
Harry excused himself abruptly to go find an empty room to bunk in. He was barely holding it together as it was. Watching his godfather act as if he was just given an early birthday present was just too much to bear.
The Weasley family came over for supper to help cheer Harry up. Ginny was the first person to arrive. She immediately threw her arms around her boyfriend, "Harry, I'm so sorry. They'll find him. Professor Dumbledore will do everything possible."
Within minutes the entire Weasley family was there offering words of encouragement. Sirius stood up from his place at the table and stalked out of the room. Ron stared after him, "What's his problem?"
Harry shrugged, not really caring how Sirius felt. Mrs. Weasley had set the table with a flick of her wand and begun to serve her famous kidney pie when the floo lit up once more. Shacklebolt walked in with a grim expression on his face.
He signaled for Remus and Mr. Weasley to join him. Harry stood up to follow but the Auror shook his head, ":Stay here Potter."
Harry felt his anger rise. "If this concerns my father than I want to hear."
The auror stood his ground, "Potter, I order you to stay here. No more arguments."
The tone in which he said it was clearly the same tone used while Harry was at the training program. Harry hesitated before returning to his seat in defeat. He knew they would withhold any information from him to keep him from going after his father. He fingered Severus' black wand in his pocket, coming to the conclusion that he would be on his own.
He would find his father, no matter what!
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TBC