Chapter 115: Reversal Of Fortunes
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S
{"Your face is burned inside my brain...I lost my way...Your taste, a stamp flows through my veins...The cost of hate...'Cause you'll never understand me...You want me to stay...You're c-c-c-calling but I can't hear you...I'm not listening anymore...You're subject to falling but I can't save you...I don't see you anymore...The race of slowing down the pain, I found a way...The pace of speaking so mundane, the sound of gain...But you'll never make me happy...So I've extinguished the flame...You're c-c-c-calling, but I cant hear you...I'm not listening anymore...You're subject to falling, but I can't save you...I don't see you anymore"} Calling, Taproot
Unknown Location,Wizarding World...
Severus Snape continued to struggle against the binds that Bellatrix had put in place. He had his fill of being bombarded with her most unpleasant memories. He had enough of the deranged witch projecting her pain on him. He had not been responsible for all of those things happening to her, that had been her brute husband and the dark lord, the very two wizard's who met their end thanks to his efforts. Rage burned in his ebony clad chest as he glared rather murderously into her chaotic dark eyes. If she wanted to know what pain was she was in for a hell of a shock. She'd pay in spades for forcing her way into his mind. Bellatrix still hovered over the Potions Master as he gripped her wrists with his own bound hands and drew her in closer. He forced her to use her precious little wand and undid the binding. Then he glared at the deranged woman with an eerie smirk.
Bellatrix noticed his fool-hearty trick and attempted to correct her mistake. She was met with a surprisingly silent force of wand-less magic as she sailed across the field toward the barn. Snape himself had been surprised that this trick had worked given his lack of magic, but he recalled that he could temporarily tap into the magical reserves of his son, Phaeron.
He nearly smiled at the thought of the younger wizard. The boy had opened the connection and kept it open despite all that Bellatrix had done to try and sway him to her cause. He had just hoped that there was enough magical reserve to get him home. Apparently the deranged witch had underestimated just how determined the dour wizard had been. If he fought through torture at the end of the dark lord's wand just to return to Hogwarts and the arms of the bushy haired witch then he'd certainly get through this.
Snape poured all his effort into apparating back to Hermione. Her sorrowful amber eyes seeming to be permanently seeped into his mind. A warmth filled him as he thought of being surrounded by the familiar setting of his home with the bushy haired witch and their children. If he was going to die, then it wasn't going to be in this hell hole or with this nutter witch.
Bellatrix however was not to be denied as she lept to her feet and grasped the ebony clad wizard just as he apparated from the center of the field.
The Snape Residence, Muggle London, England...
Lucius Malfoy stood with his arms folded across his chest as he listened to the fantastic tale Hermione Granger-Snape had been spinning concerning his little brother and the effects of Potter's curse, as well as the antics of his deranged sister in law. Draco too had been at a loss for words but if both Hermione and Phaeron believed there had been a chance for Snape to live out the remainder of his life, then he'd go for it no matter how impossible it seemed.
"You can count on my assistance in this little plan of ours." said Lucius considering what was being attempted. "If it helps save him of course we should exhaust all options...no matter how dreadful."
Draco smiled at his father. It was apparent that the senior Malfoy's devotion to his "little brother" knew no bounds. It filled him with a measure of pride to know just how determined his father had been to end this nightmare once and for all.
"Well, if he's helping you know you don't have to ask about my assistance." said the junior Malfoy still with that smile.
"Good." said Hermione. "Draco I know you'll look after Phaeron as he acquires his share of the ingredients."
"Of course." said Draco puffing out his chest a bit.
"Lucius I guess that means you'll be acquiring the...Jarin Root." said Hermione.
The handsome blond wizard nodded.
"Assuming there are some left in England...then the ministry offices should have some..." he said. "It is a highly illegal substance of course."
Hermione nodded.
"But it's necessary." she said.
"Indeed it is if we are to be successful." said Lucius.
"I guess that leaves the Canis root and imp stool to me." she said.
"It seems so." replied Lucius. "Although they are trivial ingredients...finding them during the time of their harvest could be quite tricky."
"I'm not worried." replied Hermione.
"Good." said Lucius. "Then we have a real shot at this then."
Hermione had been about to say something else when a sudden and very loud crash had gotten everyone's attention. Bits of shattered glass from the front window had flown across the sitting room causing all three inhabitants to draw their wands as if on reflex. A gust of wind had blown through and Hermione could make out the ebony clad form of her husband, Severus.
He seemed to be struggling to get toward their flat at first and then sailed through the window. Two loud thudding noised had also gotten everyone's attention and Hermione's amber eyes caught the sight of Bellatrix LeStrange as she stood over Severus in the center of their sitting room. The shattered glass from their window all about the floor as she kicked the apparently ailing Snape in the chest.
"EXPELLIAMUS!" shouted Hermione without a moment's thought.
Rage coursed through her as she sent the deranged bitch flying into the nearby wall knocking down a few family photos. Severus had been clearly exhausted as he scrambled away from the window and toward Hermione. Immediately Draco had gone to his side. His eyes leaving his deranged Aunt who had been momentarily at the mercy of Hermione Granger.
"UNCLE!" he shouted with all the conviction of a small boy despite his age.
Severus blinked as blood trickled down his face. One of the shard of glass had cut him pretty good on the way in.
"D-Draco." he said exhausted.
The junior Malfoy attempted to help him to his feet aided by his father Lucius whom had also ventured over to Severus.
"You certainly know how to make an entrance...little brother." said the handsome blond wizard.
"I guess you taut me well." replied Snape with a half smile despite his condition.
Hermione glared murderously at Bellatrix.
"BITCH!" she said seething.
Bellatrix looked at Hermione with a wicked smiled plastered across her face. She got herself down from the wall and gripped her wand in her hands.
"Well if it isn't the little Mudblood all grown up." she taunted. "I enjoyed spending time with your son...he's quite a little man now..."
Hermione started firing off hexes in the cackling witch's direction.
Bellatrix blocked them with ease.
"You honestly think that a Mudblood bitch like you can best me?" she continued to taunt.
She started unleashing a few spells of her own.
Hermione blocked most of them but felt the keen stinging in her shoulder as one of the spells sliced across her flesh, leaving a nasty bloodied gash.
The furniture had been toppled as Snape glared at the two dueling women. Hermione knew full well that she couldn't out duel Bellatrix, not even Severus had managed that despite how good he had been at it. She thought of the next best thing to even the playing field and managed to get to the deranged witch's wand. She spelled it out of Bella's reach and threw her own across the room in a bid to keep the witch from getting a hold of it.
The two witches continued their combat in a more physical manner much to the amusement of the three watching wizards.
"That freakish tool of yours must be pretty damn good to have these to witches obsessing over you." said Lucius unable to resist a quip no matter the conversation.
"I'm thinking perhaps you've taught me a little too well." replied Snape with a smirk despite himself.
Lucius nodded.
"You can't fault the master...because the student excels." he replied. "Better break them up before they kill each other."
Tired of the bickering the handsome blond drew his wand once more. The two witches had resulted to hair pulling. Draco's mouth had been agape when Hermione took it upon herself to punch Bellatrix in the face with one well timed blow.
"ligabis leporem!" shouted Lucius with a lazy flick of his wand.
Suddenly both Bellatrix and Hermione found themselves bound and separated a good distance from each other.
Lucius sighed as he made his way over toward Bellatrix.
"Cissy has been looking all over for you Bella." he said in a bored tone. "I for one would rather see you in a nice well fitted sarcophagus but she insists that you're only mentally ill."
Bellatrix hissed and spit at the handsome blond wizard.
"You can't stop me Lucius...you were never that adept." she said taunting him.
Lucius rolled his eyes.
"No fucking way am I going to listen to this all the way to the asylum." he muttered. "SOMNIUM!"
Suddenly the deranged witch seemed to fall into a deep sleep before everyone's eyes. Lucius smirked and turned his attention to Hermione.
"You promise to play nicely Mrs. Snape?" he asked in a mocking tone.
"Unbind me Lucius before I hex you." replied Hermione bitterly.
With a lazy flick of his wand Lucius unbound the bushy haired witch.
"Well I'm off." he said. "You need to go about filling little brother in on all the latest details...Draco...you coming along?"
Draco nodded making sure to help his ailing uncle to the sofa before he joined his father at the floo.
"See you soon." he said.
"Severus do make an effort to conserve your energy...then again...I'm sure you have only one thing on your mind at this point." said Lucius in a mocking tone.
"Sod off Malfoy." said Snape gritting his teeth at the implication in the senior Malfoy's tone.
Hermione shook her head. Even in the worst of circumstances Lucius was still very much Lucius. She made her way over toward Severus collecting her wand from the floor and repairing their sitting room as she did . With the window fixed and the furniture whole once more, she dropped down to her knees, resting her chin on the ailing Potions Master's knee.
"It feels good to be...home." he said with a warmth in his tone despite his pain.
"It's going to feel even better once we get you cleaned up and a few healing potions in you." said Hermione in reply.
Snape sighed looking around the newly repaired sitting room. The heavy concern behind her amber eyes was a welcome sight.
"Where did you go?" she asked in a nearly broken tone.
"I had to save our son." said Snape giving her a half smile. "To tell you the truth I had not expected to get back here...to you...to our home...our children...but..."
Hermione nodded understanding.
"I'm glad that you did." she replied.
"Thank you." said Snape with a bit of a far off look in his eyes.
Hermione arched an eyebrow at this.
"W-What for?" she asked confused.
"For not killing her when you had the chance." he replied. "I know that the thought crossed your mind...and that every fiber of your being begged you to."
Hermione looked down at the floor as if she had been ashamed of her feelings.
"Everything that she's done..." she started.
Snape lifted her chin with his index finger and their eyes met.
"She is Narcissa's elder sister...and life has not always been kind to her." he explained a flicker of knowing behind his obsidian gaze. "She is indeed mental but she had no true intention of killing me...she only sought to make me feel her pain."
Hermione appeared to be even more confused. He had been speaking as if he felt sorry for the deranged witch.
"Severus?" she started.
"She is still the mother of my child." said Snape noting her confusion. "Despite her apparent attempts to get my attention...I know all too well what manner of pain I have caused her...I simply am grateful that you did not compromise who you are in a bid to get vengeance."
Hermione understood now. Her rage toward Bellatrix had been no different than what Phaeron felt towards Harry Potter.
"You're right." she said stroking his sallow pale cheek. "Now...let's get you cleaned up."
Snape nodded.
Hermione disappeared into the loo and he sat back on the sofa. He had not known how to feel about what Bellatrix had suffered, but he knew he had not wanted to see her dead, not when it would cause more harm than good...especially for Narcissa.
He hoped that she could find some peace given all that she had shared of her pain.