Authors Note: try to figure out the reference I used as a line separator, but it is not the whole quote! The Answer is in the disclaimer. Also, semi graphic depictions of violence in this chapter. I thought I'd remind you that that is to be expected as we go further into the story. Someone offered to beta this and I can't remember who it was
Disclaimer: Nope! Anything you recognize more than likely does not belong to me. However, the various versions of the xenos are ideas that I came up with, along with the story plot itself. Stnias Kcodnoob eht morf Reyarp.
All the Queens Men
Chapter 8
(And Shepherds we shall be For thee, my Lord, for thee)
Snape was a man of few emotions, tightly controlled by his rigid Occulumency walls and barriers. However, he could honestly say that he was anxious, borderline terrified, as he crept carefully down the dark pipe. He did not dare light his wand for fear of attracting whatever it was that had taken the useless Lockhart and the wounded Harry from their beds. His steps were muffled by whatever covered the tunnels now, his pulse jumping as faint hissing and skittering of claws drifted from a few feet ahead of him. He drew closer, being able to make out a break in the pipe a few feet ahead of him and all sound stopped. 'I have to save the boy, get him out at least. Please let him be alright...' He pleaded inside his head, taking a moment to pray to whatever would listen, 'Let him be alright, all that is left of her, let him be safe.'
The dour man steeled his nerve, slipping through the hole and sliding unexpectedly down a steeper hole than he thought possible. Severus came to a harsh stop as he ran into a wall, a groan of pain sounded from the area above his head. He stared at the pained and unconscious form of the missing Gilderoy Lockhart, sealed loosely around his waist and pinning his arms down, his shining blond hair the only real thing he identified him by. Severus heaved himself gingerly up, grimacing at the throbbing pain that shot through his now twisted ankle. He gripped the ridges of the wall to steady and balance himself as examined the man as best he could in the darkness. He kept his movements slow, mindful of the way everything was hushed, holding its breath as some great predator prowled near. Just as he lifted a hand to push Lockhart's head up, the man jolted and slammed his into the wall behind him.
(Power hath descended forth from Thy Hand)
Harry was not sleeping, he was being cradled again, but not by the dozing Mother. She had let a smaller, silvery version of her carry him despite his attempts to walk around and look at the leathery pods and designs the others had created on the walls. He kept his eyes closed, allowing his magic to see for him. The cave was larger than he remembered, bathed in shades of greys, soft lines of green outlined the smaller creatures –droneschildrenworkers- and a brighter green outlined what seemed to be the upper body of…somebody.
The friendly creatures must have heard something as they all froze in place, their long smooth heads swinging to stare at the entrance. The boy manages to squirm from the lax grip of his carrier, slipping closer to the person. Maybe they could talk? Mother and the Drones were wonderful, amazing really, but they couldn't really talk. Vague hissing but nothing beyond some stilted one word things. The boy almost huffed but the absolute stillness had him silent as he stopped a couple feet from the figure. Harry strained his eyes trying to make out the pale blob more clearly and admonishing curls of magic stroked against his own. He rolled the orbs but closed them, relying on that strange grey version of the world that his magic afforded him. Curiously, a green outlined dark splotch slipped from the pipe, sliding almost comically across the large cave before running harshly into the person Harry had been trying to get close to. It righted itself, the green outline showing what looked like Professor Snape. He was examining the person, pushing the slumped person upright.
Harry felt slightly numb and was a little grateful when one of the silvery drones silently nudged him to bury his face in its silky warm hide. The man on the wall had started a horrific wailing, startling the, now identified, Professor into shouting and jumping away from him. He clenched his eyes shut, knowing it was necessary for the hive to grow. But those horrific cries of pain, cracking and crunching of bones as it forced its way out. The screams died away quickly, the embryo's squirming as it tried to escape more than likely hurting some vital thing. The heavy breathing of the Professor was all that was heard before a wet crunch and splatter announced the chest-buster. Its screech of victory was echoed by Snape's shaky voice, "Merlin help us."
(Our feet may carry swiftly out Thy commands)