Severus Snape

Lavender smoothed her hair down as she nodded, her eyes wide.

What had I done? In an impulsive moment of weakness, I had allowed myself into her head again and instantly regretted it as the violent wave of despair she seemed to label as numbness fell over me. As her anguish took hold of me, I shared her frantic need for it to end and the spark of hope she felt in a simple touch. I felt the need she felt, the desire to connect, the hope to find something to kindle that spark into a flame to drive away the darkness. So much existed just behind those seemingly empty grey eyes, much more than she ever let show. It begged for reprieve, and in my foolishness, I had thought I understood. But now, the look of shock plastered on the witch's features sent a shiver of doubt through me.

She interrupted my thoughts with her giggle. It was not just a brief chuckle, but a sound of true giddiness, and I wondered if she had finally gone mad.

"I...um…" She shook her head and swallowed. She inhaled deeply and seemed to be considering something. "This is going to work. I have hope." She placed her arm over my neck again and smiled; not just a brief forced smile like those I'd seen before, but a true, relaxed smile full of the hope she expressed.

We reached the door, and she pulled it open. As we crossed the threshold, movements became slower and more labored and her shoulders slumped and face tightened. She was back in character as though the last few moments never occurred.

We joined the rest of the group where they had assembled downstairs.

Lucius gave a nod in my direction as we appeared. "It seems we are all here. Tomorrow is the day we've planned for months, years really. This is a small setback. Let move."

The group moved out the door, I supporting Lavender with only Mr Goyle behind us. Just as with her false prophecy, Lavender performed flawlessly. As soon as we slipped through the protection spells on the old inn, she "stumbled" on the cobblestones and fell to the ground. As I knelt to "assist" her, our eyes met. In the front of her thoughts I found our message and its target - "Potters in Danger. Tomorrow. Ollivanders. Send help" aimed at Parvati Patil. In the instant I knelt down, Lavender shouted her message in her head as her power rushed through her. She quickly focused her energy to her fingertips as she grasped my hand at my chest where the wand sat tucked beneath my robes. A brief surge of energy dispersed before us and dissipated as we both gasped. My patronus flowed forth from the wand invisible to all but myself as it carried our message away. I could only hope that Lavender's instinct had been correct, that Ms Patil really would be able to assist us in our cause.

Goyle lumbered over us with his wand pointed in our general direction, but he seemed unaware of what transpired as I straightened us back into position to continue our walk across Knockturn Alley. Moments later, the group slipped into Borgin and Burkes, as Mr Borgin himself held the door wide.

I had not yet had the time to ask Ms Brown why she felt her former best friend was the ideal choice for our desperate plea for help. I forced myself to trust the witch. What choice did I have? I could offer no alternative and time was up. What was done was done. It had been a good spell; Lavender's focus ensured that, but she now appeared utterly exhausted, as though she'd given her last ounce of energy to do so.

She flopped down on the floor against the wall with a groan.

Lucius echoed her sentiment. "I suppose this will have to do. We've only a few more hours until the re-opening celebration at Ollivanders begins. Being the guests of honor, I imagine our targets will arrive early. It is just a matter of time."

I tented my fingers before me. "Yes. Is everyone prepared?" I glanced around at the group. If my memory served me, none but Lucius were particularly skilled at dueling, but of course that was years ago. Plus, they were working with the element of surprise. It would only take two well placed curses to accomplish their goal, and the numbers were clearly in their favor. Even without Lavender and myself, the Potters would be outnumbered three to one. And where they lacked in brains and skill, this group certainly made up for with willingness to use dangerous methods to accomplish their end goals. Goyle never hesitated to use spells above his abilities and Zabini never knew when to go on the defensive, always in attack mode.

Bulstrode and Nott had reputations for being shifty back in their time at Hogwarts, and while time seemed to have worn on them more so than the others, I sensed they could still be dodgy when called upon. Flint would follow the crowd as always. He never missed an opportunity to be in on the action, even if it was mostly for show and bragging rights.

This was not a group to be dismissed, despite their shortcomings. Lucius had somehow harnessed their anger after the Death Eater defeat in the Final Battle, and he knew exactly how to manipulate that anger to make them do his bidding now.

Each drew their wands. "It will be like target practice on pixies," Goyle said with a laugh.

I frowned. "Do not forget with whom you are dealing. The Potters are skilled and clever. Do not underestimate them."

Lucius clucked his tongue. "Is that fear, Severus?"

"No. It is common sense."

"I don't know why you care, Professor. It's not like you will be participating." Lavender spoke up from the floor with a laugh. "You don't even have a wand."

I nodded. "Clearly. I will be of little value in this battle. All the more reason for me to encourage caution now."

The group nodded. "But we've waited too long. We must follow through. The opportunity is perfect!" Bulstrode said.

"Yes. The Potters have not made such a public appearance together in years. Who knows when they will do it again." Flint added.

"Yes. We have already discussed this all. There is no reason to reconsider the plan now. Not when we are so close. Now, get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow. Zabini, you have first watch." Lucius replied as he moved further into the store.

"Are you sure about this, Lucius?" I asked as I followed.

"I am unwilling to allow the chance to pass without making the effort."

"But this group... These are not Death Eaters."

"They don't need to be. This is not a war. It is simply revenge."

I shook my head. "Revenge is never simple."

He laughed. "Severus, it is already in motion. I do not expect you to assist, but you best stay out of our way."

"As you said, things are already in motion, Lucius."

He looked at me, squinting his eyes. "And that is precisely why yourself and the witch are still our captors and you are still wandless."

I snorted. "Call it what you will, but you know as well as I that I am only still here because I choose to be."

His eyes narrowed further. "Then why are you still here, Severus?"

"Curiosity, I suppose."

"No. That is not it. I do not know what it is, but it's more than that." He glanced back up front toward the door, where Ms Brown sat against the wall.

"Believe what you will." I stepped away.

Lavender Brown

Just as with my previous visions, I felt the sour taste of anxiety build in my throat as my heart raced in my chest. The silent countdown within my sixth sense had begun stirred on by the fact that the upcoming new moon meant the start of another cycle. Closing my eyes, I grabbed hold of my hair and pulled my knees to me chest. I needed to focus on the goal, but my mind kept screaming to me that I did not want to endure another cycle, and an inner voice whispered that I could save myself and just end it all. My magical energies swirled within my chest at the thought as I gritted my teeth. I needed to find something to focus on. I could wallow in self pity and plot my own demise later.

Looking up, I glanced around the shop. When my sight caught Severus speaking to Lucius, I felt a flutter in my stomach. I chewed on my lower lip as the memory of him pulling me close took over my thoughts. Closing my eyes, I tried to relive the rush of the moment that pushed away the growing darkness. I tried to reclaim the light that had settled in my chest as I had felt his touch.

My heartbeat slowed and my jaw relaxed as I played through the moment again. I knew he had been in my head, I had let him in without a fight. I needed him to understand, but had he felt it too?

I sighed. It didn't matter. It never mattered. I could not maintain these feelings long enough for them to matter. The darkness always returned, and even Severus Snape did not deserve to endure that with me month after month.

He had promised to fix me though. My gut flip flopped again. That felt like forever ago now. Had he really meant he had a plan for me, or were they just words to keep me moving forward like all the other healers and mediwitches used? Even Dr Cornwell seemed to try empty words of reassurance to bring me out of my despair. It must be something taught in medical training.

I sighed again as I forced myself to think of the reason I was here now. I needed to stay in control for a few more hours. I could get lost in the rabbit hole of my mind tomorrow, but I would never forgive myself if I failed to try to prevent the tragedy I knew was coming.

I glanced around the shop again. All the members of Lucius's revenge squad were pacing in their respective corners.

"Do you all really still have that much hate in you?" I spouted before I could stop the words from pouring out.

"Shut it, freak," Bulstrude shouted back as she stepped toward me. "You can't tell me you would not take the opportunity to kill Greyback if you had the chance."

My mouth snapped closed as I considered the comment.

"That's what I thought. Harry Potter is responsible for destroying our lives. We deserve revenge."

"Do any of you have any idea what it takes to kill someone?" I echoed the words Severus had said to me several days ago when I had expressed the desire to kill Greyback.. "It takes more than anger and bitterness. Even all your hate and lust for revenge, might not be enough. It will fracture your soul. You will have to live with that forever no matter what. Are they really worth that?" I waved my hands out the window.

"Don't listen to her nonsense. Let's not forget, she just escaped the mental ward," Lucius said as he moved closer. He glared at me down his nose as he stood over me. "We should have let the wolf have you."

I met his gaze and laughed. "Yes."

He looked away with a sneer.

I shook my head as I rested it against the wall and finally allowed the fatigue to overtake me.

A commotion in the shop startled me awake. I was surprised to find Severus sitting nearby. He glanced over at me as he too regained consciousness from sleep.

"Our moment nears. Our targets are due in very soon," Lucius smiled as the group gathered around him. "Let us take our positions."

Lucius turned to me and forced me from the floor by an arm. "Come now. I must insist you stay behind."

I struggled to escape his grasp to no avail. He pushed me into a storage closet. "Severus, will you be joining her, or us?"

"I appreciate the invitation, but this is not my battle," Snape replied as he entered the closet with a flourish of dark robes.

"Suit yourself."

The door slammed behind him and the locks clicked into place. I ran to it and pulled. "Damn."

Severus laughed under his breath. "Will you never learn?"

I shot him a look as I swallowed back a growl..

"Just unlock the door, Lavender." He stepped closer.

"But -"

His finger pressed to my lips stopping my protests. He then grasped my shoulders and spun me around. "Unlock the door.."

I felt his fingers along my collarbones coaxing me forward. I sighed as I placed my hand on the lock.

I leaned close to my ear. "Close your eyes and listen to my voice. Feel the magic in your being. Bring the focus to your hands. Feel all that energy flow into your palms."

I nodded. I knew what to do. I had done it when I had fought off Greyback. I did not need a wand of even a stick. I just needed to focus. With a deep inhale, I felt the energy warming my fingertips. With an exhale, I saw the lock mechanism shifting to open in my mind, heard the click, felt the shifting of the door open under my fingertips. "Alohomora," I whispered.

"Good." Severus whispered as he stepped away.

When I opened my eyes, the door hung open. I smiled. "Shall we?"