Chapter 49: In War, Victory, In Death, Sacrifice
{A/N: I'm sorry guys...but you all knew this was coming...still it might be rewarding if you stick around...one never knows what could happen in the future...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Death Eater Headquarters, Unknown Location, Wizarding World...
In an instant a large explosion rocked the supposedly impregnable fortress that the dark lord had chosen as his hiding place. Rubble and falling walls fly every which way as many low levels attempted to scramble away from certain death. Snape had barely awoke when the shaking began. Screams and shouting filled his already ringing ears with more noise. Struggling to get to his feet, the Potions Master and former Headmaster of Hogwarts, managed to crawl from his dark and cramped prison cell and make his way into the main part of the fort. A weak smirk filed across his sickly pale face as he gripped a nearby stone wall to support himself as he stood. The blood from his wounds was not going to be enough to stop him from enjoying the moment he had awaited for much of his life. The Fall of Voldemort was close at hand.
Snape spelled on his attire not wishing to look anything less than presentable should his lovely young wife be present. Despite his reservations, he had no doubt that the feisty Gryffindor witch would want to be at the aid of her friends in the thick of battle. Snape made his way toward the main chamber stepping over fallen bodies of both the order and death eater forces.
He summoned his wand, which had been hidden in his coat pocket thanks to Lucius. The old sod had come through for him in more ways than one it seemed. With a quick minor healing spell, Snape found himself jumping into the thick of battle as he found himself protecting the order members and slaying death eaters. The discontented hiss of Voldemort filled his ears as he ranted about the incompetence of his followers and how Potter was a mere boy and no match for him.
Snape rolled his eyes at this notion.
Potter was a mere boy alright, one that the despot so blatantly fear to the point of attacking him in his crib when he was only but a babe. The Potions Master zipped by a wayward spell and countered with a few nasty curses and hexes of his own. He made short work of the few enemies foolish enough to draw on him and terrified those others that noted him for the slaying of Albus Dumbledore.
Snape moved swiftly through the ranks as he continued to fight. He caught a glimpse of his beautiful bushy haired witch as McNair attempted to best her. Without hesitation, Snape killed McNair getting Hermione's attention. She flashed him a small smile relieved that he had been alive and rather concerned for his rundown condition and that he had been an open target for both The Order and The Death Eater ranks at this point.
The fighting continued with The Order gaining the upper hand.
The Malfoys provided assistance as well.
Narcissa lied to the dark lord who had believed he bested Harry Potter in combat only for the boy to arise and take up the fight once more. Draco had given Harry a chance to go on the defensive plucking the Elder Wand from the despot's cold slimy fingers and tossing it to the green eyed Gryffindor.
Lucius provided information and assistance upon the battle field slaying many a death eater that once called him "brother".
Time seemed to stand still as Harry James Potter realized his destiny when he slew the despot Voldemort forever. Death eaters and order members alike stood and watched as the despot burst into dust and disintegrated into nothing.
Those that were not dead among Voldemort's ranks that remained loyal were arrested by the new Ministry of Magic lead by Kingsley Shacklebolt. Many Order members combed the rubble for their fallen heroes. The Malfoys were given a full pardon. Hermione had been pleased to have all the fighting over and done with, but there was still the matter of her husband to deal with.
Snape took a moment to finally catch his breath.
It had been such an overwhelming feeling to finally be done with the most horrific chapter of his life. He had been quite miserable and ultimately very lonely drowning in the sea of his own despair. Hermione had proven to be the life raft he needed to pull himself out of the murky depths and live again.
Hermione searched the entire line of death eaters cuffed and being shipped off to prison. She had not found her husband. She had not seen hide nor hair of the snarky git since he saved her from a low level death eater. The bushy haired witch with a face covered in soot and ash moved through the numerous crowds until she caught sight of him leaning in the shadows up against a nearby wall. She made her way over toward him more pleased than she could have ever imagined that he was still alive.
Snape treated her to a rare smile as he made his way over toward his relieved wife. He had been searching for her as well praying to what ever deity that would listen that she had not been among those that had been cut down by the killing curses of the desperate death eaters at the end of the fight. He had saved her once but lost sight of her for a while.
On top the make shift throne over looking the improv-to battle field, Harry James Potter had been riding high off the rage and adrenaline as he watched his best friend and her death eater husband venture toward each other. Flashes of Snape killing Dumbledore atop the astronomy tower filled the green eyed wizard's mind and he raised his wand in a burst of fury.
Snape moved to step toward his wife when he was suddenly struck by a spell he had not heard with his defenses down. It hit him full on and he dropped to his knees a look of utter shock filed across his sallow pale face. Hermione's eyes widened as she raced over to him fear coursing through her as she barely made it in time to keep him from hitting his head against the cold stone below him.
"SEVERUS!" she shouted frantic as she maneuvered until his head rested against her chest.
He was having trouble breathing. No words could come from his pale lips as he looked up at her. Tears streamed down his equally pale cheeks as he gripped her hand with the last of his strength covering his slow beating heart. It was then that she noticed it, the blood seemed to ooze from every pour staining her pink sweatshirt and jeans as well as his ebony frock coat and trousers.
"Severus..." said Hermione as tear streamed down her own cheeks. "No!"
Lucius Malfoy heard Hermione shout and made his way over toward them. He saw Severus bleeding out rather quickly as Hermione did her best to try and heal him. Her magic had not been enough as the wounds remained unaffected. Dropping to his knees in the widening pool of Severus' blood, Lucius lend his wand as he attempted to heal his little brother as well.
Nothing seemed to be working as everyone else stared in amazement. Harry glared at them from his vantage point feeling the relief course through him as he glared at his most hated enemy dying in his best friend's arms. He felt perfectly justified in his feelings as it was little more than what Dumbledore had endured and Snape had been a treacherous bastard in the young hero's eyes.
Hermione's sadness was a mere aspect of collateral damage. She would be in pain now but she would calm herself once she recalled what a bastard Snape had been. Then she wouldn't feel so sad about his death. She'll see it as a way to her freedom. A way she could be with Ron or anyone else that makes her happy. She would have her life back.
"It's not working." said Lucius frantic now.
Draco had been making his way through the ruins of the fort when he heard his father's frantic tone. The junior Malfoy dashed over toward the huddled Lucius and saw that Snape was bleeding out in Hermione's embrace. The young wizard's gray eyes widened and immediately he drew his wand. The sight had been all too familiar as he recalled being in Snape's same position on the floor of the boys bathroom with water from the broken sink surrounding him as he bled out slowly much to Potter's satisfaction. Draco recalled that if it had not been for his god-father, then he would have been dead that day.
The curse Potter had used was forgiven since Draco himself had cursed a fellow student, if at all by accident and due to desperation. However this was deliberate and Potter knew just how devastating this was.
"Vulnera Sanentur." chanted Draco while waving his wand.
Nothing seemed to be happening.
The junior Malfoy tired again.
"Vulnera Sanentur." he chanted still waving his wand.
Draco knew this was the same counter-curse Snape used to save him he just had not understood why it didn't seem to be working.
"What are you doing?" asked Hermione looking at Draco confused.
"It's the counter-curse." replied the junior Malfoy. "Uncle Sev taught it to me...when Potter cursed me this way..."
Lucius narrowed his eyes at his son and looked in the direction of Harry Potter.
"Potter cursed you?" he asked enraged. "AT SCHOOL!?"
Draco nodded.
"We'll speak of this later father please...help me." he said.
Lucius raised his wand.
"Alright Draco." he said. "I'll follow your lead."
"Vulnera Sanentur." chanted Draco while waving his wand once more.
"Vulnera Sanentur." chanted Lucius doing the same.
"Vulnera Sanentur." chanted Hermione picking up on it and adding her assistance.
They did it a few more times. Nothing seemed to have changed.
"I-I don't understand, father this is the exact counter-curse." said Draco growing frantic. "Why isn't it working?"
Lucius glared at Harry and then looked back at his son.
"It's not working Draco because that idiot Potter used his signature to lock in the spell." explained the senior Malfoy. "He must lift it if we are to tend to Severus and he hasn't got much time."
Upon hearing this Draco got to his feet and launched himself toward Harry Potter.
Fury radiating off him in waves as he clutch the boy who defeated Voldemort's collar.
"TAKE OFF YOUR SIGNATURE POTTER!" demanded Draco.
Harry struggled grasping at Draco's tightening hand around his collar.
"No." said Harry defiantly.
"TAKE OFF THE FUCKING SIGNATURE!" demanded Draco. "I WON'T LET YOU KILL MY GODFATHER!"
"It'll be no less than what a murderer like Snape deserves." said Harry defiant still. "HE KILLED DUMBLEDORE HE'S JUST AS BAD AS VOLDEMORT!"
Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...
The suppression magic keeping Dumbledore's powers at bay had been extinguished. The blue eyed old wizard knew in that moment that they had succeeded. Harry Potter had finally slain Voldemort. The former Headmaster used his abilities and combated the wards preventing him from leaving the dungeons. He burst free startling the Slytherin students as he made his way toward his former office. Panic filled the older wizard as he noted how weak Snape's magical barriers had gotten.
Minerva McGonagall had been acting Headmistress of Hogwarts since Snape was run off. She prowled the corridors in search of students who neglected to return to their respective houses as she instructed for their own safety. She had been received quite the shock of her rather lengthy life when she happened upon a frantic Albus Dumbledore, alive and in the flesh.
"Albus?" said Minerva not trusting her eyes.
"Minerva, thank Merlin I've found you." said Dumbledore as if he had not been declared dead for almost a full year. "Severus...have you seen Severus?"
Minerva blinked more sure now then ever that this was indeed Dumbledore.
"I-I he...we ran him off Albus." she explained rather brokenly. "We thought..."
"I know." replied Dumbledore. "But it's important that I find him...do you have any idea where he might have gone?"
Minerva shrugged still stunned that her old friend had indeed been alive. It crossed her mind moments later that she had most likely drove the younger dour wizard to his eminent death.
"T-The fortress.." she said recalling what Harry had said ealier in the day. "They've all gone to the fortress of solitude to face-off against Voldemort."
Dumbledore sighed.
If that's where the thick of the fighting was he had no doubt in his mind that Snape would be there. The question was wither or not the older wizard would be too late to save him from his possibly gruesome fate.
The Fortress of Solitude, Wizarding World...
Draco had been about three seconds from snapping Harry Potter's neck before he his little Order friends came to his rescue. Ron blasted the junior Malfoy down from the throne and he fell a good distance from his father. Lucius had attempted to curse the red head boy but was immediately forced to back down by the Order members that had their wands trained on him.
Hermione held Severus close to her so afraid to let him out of her sight that she could not function enough to attempt to persuade Harry to release the lock on the spell. Snape continued to bleed while his wife held him. Her soft tears running down her cheeks as she pressed her face against him wetting his sweat slick raven hair.
"Severus, please hold on." she pleaded softly in his ear. "Please...I can't live without you..."
Snape grew more weak by the moment as his visions started to blur and then fade. He could no longer see those that surrounded him as he felt himself slowly begin to slip away despite Hermione's soft words and heart-felt pleas.
The scent of jasmine from her hair lingered with the scent of fresh earth, herbs, and the coppery scent of his own blood as it continued to leak from his battered form.
All eyes went from Snape to a lone figure that appeared in the midst of the rubble.
Gasps filled the room as they took in the sight of none other than Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore...The leader of the Order of Phoenix. alive and well.
"P-Professor Dumbledore?" said Harry in utter shock.
Dumbledore looked at the young Gryffindor and sighed.
"Yes, Harry." he said in a sad tone. "It is very much me alright."
His blue eyes traveled toward the downed Potions Master. He made his way over toward him and began casting strong healing spells. Nothing seemed to be working.
"What is the counter curse?" asked Dumbledore looking around at the still shocked faces.
"Vulnera Sanentur." replied Draco Malfoy getting to his feet as he glared at the old headmaster.
Lucius could not help but glare as well.
"Fine time for you to show up." he said bitterly. "I wish I could say that I am as shocked to see you as they are but I know my little brother better than any of them."
"Hello to you too, Lucius." said Dumbledore then he turned his attention back to Snape. ""Vulnera Sanentur."
He chanted but there was no effect.
"Why isn't it working?" asked Dumbledore.
"Potter's put his signature on it and locked the spell in." replied Draco bitterly.
Harry blinked realizing at last the magnitude of his mistake. Snape had not killed Dumbledore after all and it was he that was fighting on the side of the order even while among the death eaters...now he was lying in a pool of his own blood for all his trouble, dying for no good reason.
"What have I done?" asked Harry beginning to panic.
"Harry." said Dumbledore turning his twinkling blue eyes upon the young wizard. "Remove your signature."
Harry nodded and lifted his wand.
He tried to think of how he had placed his signature on the spell in the first place. Earlier he had been bluffing and driven by fury when he made Draco believe he was leaving it on Snape on purpose. He tried again and again to remove it but it had been to no avail.
"I-I can't." he said panicking.
"What do you mean you can't?" asked Draco even more enraged.
"I-I don't know how I was able to lock in the spell." said Harry. "I-I-I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."
"Save your apologies." spat a bitter Lucius as he looked down at his little brother.
There was nothing anyone could do as they watched Snape slip away slowly. Hermione could do nothing but cry as her husband passed away in her arms with everyone looking on. The sadness of the heartbroken witch was enough to bring everyone to tears as they stood unable to do anything about it.
Draco had refused to give up and continued to apply the counter-curse despite it's none effects.
"Please..." he begged. "Please uncle...you can't die..."
Lucius picked up the sobbing Draco who had been so broken he dropped his wand wishing he could trade places with his deceased uncle.
"You weren't suppose to be the one lying here." sobbed Draco. "It was suppose to be me!"
Lucius sighed holding the broken by in his arms.
"It was suppose to be me!" shouted Draco continuing to sob. "Father he took my death..."
"Shhhh." said Lucius softly. "He's gone Draco...he's gone."
Fury over took Draco and he tore away from his father's arms and charged after Harry. The greif had been evident on his pale face as he attempted to extract his just revenge on The Great Harry Potter. Lucius pulled his son away not wishing for him to be the next casualty in this ill-advised attempt at revenge.
"Come Draco." he said softy.
"YOUR A MURDERER POTTER!" shouted the distraught Draco Malfoy. "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOUR LITTLE CRONIES SAY...YOU KILLED MY GODFATHER! I'M GOING TO MAKE DAMN SURE EVERYONE KNOWS IT!"
With that Lucius apparated away with Draco.
Dumbledore looked down at Hermione. She had been eerily silent as she held Snape's lifeless body close to her.
"Hermione?" he said in a saddened tone. "I want you to know that I am truly sorry for what has happened here."
The bushy haired witch looked up at him with an icy glare.
"It's Mrs. Snape to you and what happened here is my husband was murderer by Harry James Potter." she replied.
Dumbledore sighed.
"What happened was an unfortunate and tragic mistake." he said.
"No." replied Hermione. "It was murder pure and simple."
Harry said nothing as she glared hatefully in his direction.
"Mrs. Snape...allow me to..." Dumbledore started as he leaned near Snape's body.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" she shouted enraged. "DON'T ANY OF YOU TOUCH HIM...He didn't belong to you...any of you...you all hated him and now you got what you wanted."
"Mione..." said Ron.
"Do not speak to me Weasley." she said coldly. "You are no friend of mine."
Ron looked down at his feet unsure what to believe. He knew that she would lash out due to the pain but it still stung. With a crack of thunder Lucius Malfoy returned.
"Little sister." he said not taking his eyes off the young witch clutching the Potions Master as if for dear life. "Will you permit me to take him...home?"
Hermione glared at Lucius for a moment or two before her gaze softened. She nodded knowing that he would be safe in Lucius' care. The Malfoys were the only real family Severus ever had and he would have wanted to be with them.
"There's so much blood." she said softly as she used her sleeve to wipe some of it from his cheek. "He'd look like he was sleeping if not for all the blood."
Lucius nodded.
"Indeed he does." he agreed.
"Will you clean him up?" asked Hermione softly. "He would hate for his favorite coat to be this much of a mess."
"You have my word." said Lucius with a sad smile.
Hermione returned his sad smile.
"He really loved you Lucius." she said.
"I know." replied Lucius sadly. "And he really loved you as well."
Hermione burst into more tears as Lucius took Snape's body and got ready to apparate. Hermione stopped him just so she could plant a final kiss upon the lips of her very brave and unappreciated husband.
"Goodbye Severus." she said stroking his cheek as she had so many times before. "Take care of him Lucius."
"I will." replied Lucius. "You look after yourself as well Little sister, should you ever need anything...you know where to find me."
The thunderous sound of him apparating filled the deathly quiet fortress.
Harry Potter had tears in his eyes as he looked over at his broken hearted friend.
"Mione...I..." he began only to be cut off by her murderous glare.
"Stay away from me Harry Potter." she said with the ice in her tone.
In a second crack of thunder she disappeared leaving everyone else to their own devices.
Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...
Hermione Granger Snape made her way inside her husband's front room. The familiar scent of herbs and fresh earth surrounded her. She moved about the rooms as if entranced and made her way toward their bedroom. The memories of all the time she spent wrapped in the dour Potions Master's arms flooded her mind as she climbed into bed.
"Severus." she said softly pressing her head against his pillow.
The tears streamed down the cheeks of the young Gryffindor witch as she pressed her head against her husband's personal set of pillows. before she knew it she had drifted off to sleep too exhausted to cry any more and too hurt to feel anything other than the seeping coldness that had begun to fill her.