Disclaimer: Anything you recognize from the Harry Potter books and/or movies is not mine.
A/N: Yay! Finally! I have gotten to chapter twenty! Phew. And I'm almost at 300 reviews! I'm really surprised. When I first started to write this fic, I figured it wouldn't have been read much. But over 100 people are reading this! I'm so shocked and happy. Anyways. The story is getting closer to it's end, although it's not completely there yet. Still quite a few chapters to go, but I will say I'll be sad when this ends. Maybe I'll make a sequel, if I think it's humanly possible to do without making it seem so OOC. Also, for any of you who may or may not have noticed, I've chanced the summary of this story a bit to warn you all about the upcoming 'character death'. I won't say who or when, but it's just a fair warning. Well, on with the story!
Thanks ThePranksterQueens, Soelle, Duos Gurl1, Leology, amber belle, The Insane Imortal Dragon, LunaLovegoss, Following Padfoot's Pawprints, Evil Cat Hater, Addicted2Love, Reanne1102, ourlittlesecret7, Hermione32993 , and Hermione Granger Fanatic for all of the wonderful reviews!
Seasons Change
By: xScenex
a.k.a. Min
Chapter 20
WARNING! CHARACTER DEATH AHEAD!
Blurry.
Everything was blurry.
Hermione tried to sit up, bet gasped in surprise when her body erupted into pain. She saw bursts of white for a moment before she stopped moving, allowing the aching to dull down.
Breathing heavily, Hermione realized she wasn't alone. Everything flooded back to her memory, and she remembered that she was still on the stone dais at the feet of Voldemort.
Grimacing in disgust, she tilted her head up enough so that she was able to catch a glimpse of pale skin against raven black robes. A wand was pointed towards her, obviously having just revived her from her unconscious state.
She closed her eyes tightly before trying to sit up again. The best she could do was hold her upper body up with shaky arms.
"You're weak, Granger. You can't handle a simple crucio without fainting. That's too bad -- I had so much more planned," the cold, scornful voice of Voldemort pierced through the air like ice.
Hermione didn't say anything. She didn't have the energy to retort, so she allowed silence to overtake her. But Voldemort didn't like that.
"Speak, mudblood," he snarled.
A small whimper escaped her lips as she attempted to shake her head without feeling lightheaded. She felt embarrassed by her actions, but she knew she wouldn't be able to hold up her confident act. She truly was scared.
"No?" The hiss was quiet, deadly. She knew it was the wrong thing for her to do. She heard a shuffling ahead and soon, she realized that the dark wizard had stood up. "I think it is time we finish this. I grow tired of your idiocy."
Hermione refused to look at him, causing the Dark Lord to lean down slightly. He sneered, cupping the girl's face in his hands, tilting her face upwards so that he had a good look at her. She glared at him coldly, wanting to move away from him, but once her eyes locked onto his, she felt entranced.
"What is it that you hide? I've found out your secret, but there is something else you hide…" Voldemort inquired with narrowed eyes. "So much that you hold secret…"
"And my secrets are my own," Hermione whispered fiercely, wrenching herself out of his grasp. She suddenly felt filthy from his touch. Her skin burned where he had touched her with his icy hands -- she'd rather be under the cruciatus curse.
He growled, pausing in his moments only long enough for Hermione to blink. Before she knew what was happening, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled hard enough so that she was looking up towards the ceiling.
"I will find out what you hide," he snarled at her, bringing his other hand out to slap her across her face.
In all honesty, Hermione was surprised. She'd never have thought that Voldemort would use actual contact to cause another person harm. She had always thought him to be the kind to solve all his problems with magic. So naturally, his actions shocked her.
In her state of surprise, she failed to realize the dark wizard probing her mind with legilimency, and when she finally did notice, it was too late to anything about it. Once again, memories surfaced. Hermione tried desperately to pull the memories back before they were noticed, but the wizard was too quick in his work for her to stop it.
After an agonizingly long time, Voldemort finally pulled forward the memory of when Hermione had sat in his office, listening to the newly found prophecy. Red eyes widened as he saw the recollection.
Finally, he pushed the girl backwards, causing her to tumble backwards on the platform.
"So," he ground out with anger, "so you have been sent here to kill me."
Surprised whispering began to gather around the room from the group of Death Eaters. It wasn't a shock when Voldemort lost his temper and shot curses at his followers and forcing them to be quiet -- or as quiet as one can get after having a painful curse cast upon them.
Hermione scrambled to her hands and knees. The pain in her body wasn't as strong as it had previously been, so she was able to move about more.
She glanced around quickly, taking in her full surroundings for the first time. To her left, she saw the crumpled figure of Severus lying on the stone dais as well. He was unconscious. She quickly averted her eyes to keep tears of fear from welling up in her eyes for her friend and decided to look for an escape route. She saw only one exit, although it would be hard to get to it -- nearly impossible. The door was behind the full group of Death Eaters and closed; most likely locked, too.
She breathed in deeply as the cries of the Death Eaters quieted down. Things were about to get nastier.
Voldemort was once again glaring down hatefully at the girl. "I would have liked to keep you to question you, but since the future is destined to be different, I assume that it would be a waste of my time trying to get the information out of you. It would do no good, as you've already allowed information to circulate with that mudblood lover. It is time for you to die," he hissed.
She looked up at him, trying to keep the look of complete panic off of her face, "Killing a teenager who is wandless is below even your standards."
"I'm no fool, mudblood. I will be better off killing you now," he said, raising his wand once more at her. She breathed in sharply as he smiled impenitently, "Avada Kedavra."
The green light burst forth from his wand. It headed towards where the girl kneeled. Her eyes widened and her heartbeat sped up.
This is it, she realized. This is the end of everything. I've failed them. I failed them all. She acknowledged what was to come, closing her eyes before the spell slammed into her body, feeling nothing more than regret for messing up enormously.
But the spell never did hit her; however all hell broke loose from the lower audience as the building seemed to shake in an earthquake like manner. The candles flickered rapidly, threatening to pitch them into complete darkness. The throne on the dais upturned, falling off the back ledge and shattering loudly, the sound echoing off of the high ceiling and walls.
Yells and cries of terror also reverberated around the chamber. Hermione opened her eyes and was surprised to see a dark, black wave of energy forming around her. It reeked of wild, untamed magic.
Wide-eyed, she stared around her. The magic was pulsing, shifting, almost lunging out at the Death Eaters and Voldemort himself.
"What is this?" The dark wizard hissed loudly, taking cautious steps back from the clouded energy.
Hermione's mind was voicing the same question, though with a little more awe. She'd never seen anything so… feral. It was beautiful yet frightening at the same time, but she felt a sense of recognition for the power that wrapped itself around her delicately.
She was scared, but also a bit relaxed as the power caressed her skin softly, but at the same time, it lashed out towards anyone who appeared to be too close to her -- mainly panicking Death Eaters.
"ENOUGH!" Voldemort shouted loudly in anger as he rounded once again on Hermione. "What is this magic?"
She blinked, wondering why he actually expected her to answer him. The confusion must have shown on her face as the man growled once again and shot another Avada Kedavra at her.
Hermione watched in complete surprise when the spell was blasted towards her, only to be swallowed whole by the dark shield of power. A dull green glow was the only remaining thing left of the spell before it flickered out, dying from the world.
She was at an advantage against the Dark Lord. She pushed herself up off the ground, her body smarting painfully and her legs quivering dangerously as she placed her weight on them. If she didn't know any better, she would thought she'd been under the jelly-leg hex.
She looked to where Voldemort stood, anger literally rolling off his body in waves. His eyes flashed and Hermione shivered under the intense glare.
"I will not allow a mudblood to get the better of me!"
"Aren't you one yourself?" Hermione clasped her hands against her mouth as the words came out before she thought. She was becoming to reckless.
She thought that the Dark Lord would try to throw curses at her again but was sorely disappointed when he just grinned evilly. She didn't understand why, until he walked casually over towards where a dark figure lay crumpled on the floor.
Dread filled her to the bone when Voldemort casually pointed his wand at Severus' unconscious form.
"Severus!"
Her mind raced. She didn't know what to do. She had no wand, so magic was out of the question. Her eyes filled with tears as her mind urged her to lunge at the man. Her limbs felt heavy, and all she could do was watch.
Hermione, do something! Her mind screamed with protests. She couldn't move. Her eyes were glued onto the wand pointed at her friend. Move, you silly girl! Do something before Voldemort does!
"No…" she whispered quietly, then repeated the word more forcefully. "NO!"
She felt herself lunge forward, mind whirring as she collided heavily with Voldemort. He let out an angry, surprised yell as she landed on top of him. The energy around her crackled dangerously, attempting to push the unwanted intruder away but to no avail did it succeed within such close quarters.
Voldemort flung his arms out, knocking the girl to the ground once again. Now they were only mere feet apart as the man got to his feet with ease, almost as if he were floating. Red eyes bore into her own mocha orbs. A horrific smile twisted itself onto the Dark Lord's face.
"It's a pity that you wouldn't join us," he said randomly, almost casually.
"It is, isn't it?" She spat back venomously, scooting closer to where her friend lay. Severus stirred slightly but otherwise, didn't move.
The man waved his hand and the candles around them flickered until they went out completely. The Death Eaters still in the room began to whisper in fright; something like this didn't bode well with her. Hermione frantically looked around, hoping for any source of light to give her comfort. She hadn't expected this.
"Lets see how well you can protect yourself against… then unknown," Voldemort's voice seemed to come from all sides of her. She gulped quietly.
"This is a dirty trick," she whispered.
Cruel laughter was the only response she received. She tried to reassure herself that he couldn't harm her now because of the mysterious cloud of energy present around her, but she then feared for Severus. Then she realized that if she were to be attacked physically, then she didn't stand a chance. She wouldn't put it past Voldemort now to do something like it.
The whispering from His followers seemed to die down now, and nothing but silence and heavy breathing remained.
Blood pounded in her ears. She was scared. She feared what was going to happen. The energy around her seemed to waver as well as her fear overrode her senses.
Suddenly, a bright, red light erupted from the right. The hex shot towards Hermione, but she ducked towards the right. The spell missed her, but she heard an inaudible shout as it hit someone else -- someone right beside her.
She screamed when she realized it had hit Severus, who was now awake enough to feel the pain.
"Severus!"
He just groaned and she heard shuffling. Her eyes darted everywhere, hoping that Voldemort wouldn't attack her friend.
"Severus, we need to get out of here," she whispered furiously to the boy.
With teeth obviously gritted, the hoarse voice of the boy whispered, "And how do you propose we do that?"
"There's a door over there," she hissed, pushing him lightly in the general direction of where she had seen it before the lights had gone out.
"Why's it so dark?" He muttered. She figured he was still disoriented, which was a bad thing.
"We're in danger, Severus. Voldemort's in here with us, along with his little friends," she said as quietly as possible. "We need to get out of here before something happens to us."
He was silent for a bit, "Fine."
Hermione sighed in relief. Now all they had to do was get out of there unnoticed. She didn't think the dark wizards would be able to see in the dark, so they should be able to leave without too much trouble, right?
Severus stood up next to her and helped her up. She staggered once again, trying to gain steady footing. The two of them slowly began walking, checking the floor before they stepped in case they suddenly fell off the dais. When they finally neared the edge, another curse was thrown at them, but from behind, thus they didn't notice it until it was too late.
"You can't escape," Voldemort said loudly, almost angrily.
The spell missed Hermione but hit Severus squarely in the back. The boy was flung forward in the darkness. Hermione desperately reached out for him, but just as she felt his cloak, he fell out of her grasp. She knew that Voldemort was going after him on purpose.
"Leave him alone!" She screamed almost hysterically. She felt as if she would go crazy.
"What's wrong, Granger? Surely you have no feelings for the boy. What is friendship, anyway? People could never, truly understand another peer."
"You're heartless!" She screamed louder, feeling tears welling up in her eyes again. "You're inhuman! Of course you'd never understand friendship! YOU'RE A MONSTER!"
A loud, piercing cry of anger filled the room, followed by a spell, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The green spell, oddly enough resembling the color of Harry's eyes, Hermione noted, flew towards her. She closed her eyes, wishing desperately that Voldemort would just rot in death. "GO TO HELL, TOM!"
Her fury appeared to fuse with the energy that clouded her body. It pulsed once more, angrily and hot. It whipped around, searing the stone dais. Hermione even felt her robes growing overly heated.
The Avada Kedavra that the dark wizard threw her way came closer and close to her. Her eyes closed as it approached. She felt, more than saw, the curse hitting the energy. The two seemed to pause before a huge burst of green light erupted where the two met, sending Hermione tumbling over onto the ground. A sharp, painful searing exploded against her forehead. She screamed in agony.
A similar scream pierced the air. It was inhuman, unearthly, and sent unwanted chills up Hermione's spine. Then another light burst forward, illuminating the whole room. The girl shielded her eyes against the onslaught of brightness and saw vaguely, the figure of Voldemort -- or, what could be left of him. It was as if his skin had melted off, leaving small tendrils of flesh hanging from the bloody bones that made up his skeleton.
It was a gruesome sight. Hermione felt like vomiting, the smell emitting from the figure was almost stifling. She gagged just as the light ended -- but it wasn't the last of what was to happen.
The air began to tremor and the floor began to shake once more that night -- but it was more violent then the first time.
A loud roaring noise filled Hermione's ears and suddenly without warning, the ceiling began to cave in. The witch covered her head with her arms, hoping that nothing would hit her.
Eternity seemed to pass in what was only minutes, until everything settled down and the only sound was the settling of heavy stones against other stones. Debris continued to fall like snow against the ruins of whatever the building had once been.
Hermione sat up slowly, scared of what she would see.
Next to her was a large boulder, having probably narrowly missed her. All around her was slabs of stone, looking dead against the grey, cloud covered sky and snow covered field surrounding.
She sat there for a while, just taking in the scene until something warm and wet trickled down her face. Hermione brushed it away then looked at her hand. Blood. She gingerly fingered her forehead where the bleeding had occurred and felt the pain in her head, right where she remembered Harry's scar being. She blinked, then smiled ruefully at the irony.
Just at that moment, she saw movement up ahead. She squinted, barely making out a short, slumped over figure just falling down on the snow outside of the rubble. She stood up quickly, although dizziness threatened to overtake her. But she wouldn't allow it, as she had to make sure that the figure, Severus, was alright.
Timidly, Hermione moved to where he lay on the ground. He was sure that she could see the blood splattered against the snow and ice. She'd have to be blind not to. He sensed her hesitation and his heart clenched painfully in his chest. She was scared, he knew.
The spells that had hit him had been painful, he knew that much. Cutting curses had always been painful for him. He knew he would have lived with that, but after the ceiling caved in on him, he wasn't sure. Ribs felt broken, along with maybe a few vertebrae. His vision was blurry.
Severus tried to lift his head up a bit to see the face of the girl he'd come to love in the past few months -- although how he loved her, he wasn't sure. She'd been his first true friend, his guidance, his light.
It was painful for him to move though, so he just waited until the girl came into view beside him, kneeling down on the ground next to him. She didn't say anything for a long time, and neither did he. He just stared up into her large, chocolate colored eyes.
Hot as fire, your vacant stare…
He then allowed a smile of relief to spread across his face. He was so happy that she was there. He knew time was nearing it's end, and he wanted to see her one last time, knowing that she was alive and well.
My ravaged heart you slowly tear…
"Hermione, I'm so glad you're alright. I… I was afraid," he whispered hoarsely.
He saw tears well up in the girls eyes before they trickled down her dirty cheeks, "But what about you? You aren't alright."
You reflect my eyes as blood drips down,
The pain and anguish forms around…
"But Hermione, I am alright," he whispered, reaching out with a shaky, bruised and bloody hand. He gently brushed a strand of hair out of the girls face, hoping to reassure her. It one thing he wasn't sure how to do, but somehow, he felt the best he could do was act on instinct. "I'm alright because you're alright. You've given me what no one else had ever given me before. I'm glad you've given me the hope you did. I only had to return the favor."
"No, Severus, don't -- when you talk like that, it's like you're going t-to die," she sobbed.
"But that's okay, Hermione. It's okay if I do. Because you're going to live," he replied, feeling suddenly unlike himself.
Shot through the heart, down on the ground,
Wind on my face, this constant sound,
Deaths' embrace, hold my hand…
Severus blinked a few times, then coughed painfully. He clutched his chest, trying desperately to get the feeling of cloudiness to leave his body. After the coughing subsided, he rested his flushed face against the cold snow. His eyes drifted upwards to meet Hermione's tear-filled ones. "Don't cry," he said, "It's very unbecoming of you."
She gave a half sob, half laugh. "How you can say things like that in this situation is beyond me…"
With a stained shirt and tattered sleeves,
It's loves disease,
Forced upon my time and sand,
For the last time, I took your hand…
Severus gave her another smile, one he knew was full of warmth. He allowed himself to reach out once more, grabbing both of her hands in his. He gave them a light squeeze before he whispered, "Hermione, I want you to get out of here. I want you to go back to Hogwarts -- everything will be fine. He's gone now, you know. You'll be safe."
"I wont go without you!" She cried out, another bout of tears escaping from her. She slowly fell forward until her forehead rested against his shoulder. Her fingers intertwined with his and she whispered to him, "I can't go without you."
Warmth filled his numb limbs. "And why's that, Granger?" He teased, although he was surprised he could do so in his state.
"Because I care for you."
Clutching onto the memories that brought us here,
You traded spots by sorrows choice.
How sad and tragic it sounds in your voice…
"But you care about Lupin more," he said quietly, the truth settling between them. That's when Severus knew.
His love for her was one that he'd never felt before. His feelings for her weren't the kind he'd first imagined. He wasn't wanting the love of a girlfriend, or a wife. He was looking for the love of a mother; she had provided him with that.
"But I still care about you!" She sobbed once more, shaking her head against his robe. "I do! I don't want to lose you like I lost Harry or Ron!"
Something foreign bubbled up in Severus's chest. Before he knew it, he was laughing. "You wont lose me, Hermione. I'll always be there. You can't get rid of a Slytherin that easily."
I'm lost from you,
Your endless voice,
You saved me once,
You saved my life,
I'll save yours too,
I'll hear your cries,
As you take my hand,
And watch me die…
"Severus, I feel so horrible. I've lied to you this whole time, and you're not mad at me?"
"I couldn't be angry, even if I felt like it. Your secrets were your own, not mine. If you want to make up for lying, then get your arse out of here. It's too late for me. Those Death Eaters could come around any time now. Just leave me here. Go find your lover boy and let him know your okay."
The truths that wear, yet to last,
My eyes they close, so soon to cast
A fevered glace upon your back…
Hermione gave a strangled cry before she embraced him in a firm, but at the same time, gentle hug. He did his best to wrap his arms around her, but realized his strength was slowly leaving him. The end was near for him.
He closed his eyes, feeling something prickling at his eyelids. He hadn't cried in years, and he wasn't about to. They only needed one emotional person at the moment.
His eyes opened, glazed and overly bright. He stared beyond her shoulder and at the stars scattered about around the broken clouds. They seemed to reassure him that things would be okay. He sighed in content.
He had all he had ever wanted in his life. A friend, someone he could call family -- and a place he could call home. Hermione was what he had begun to live for. She was his savior -- his hero. He knew he had made the right sacrifice.
"Thank you," he whispered into her ear. "Thank you for everything."
He felt the edges of his vision start to blur into grey, then to black. He smiled at the welcoming, numb feeling that began to encase his body. "Thank you…"
And a greater, more magnificent darkness overtook him. He ceased to breathe.
As I fall, my world goes black,
You'll sleep in peace; I'll rest in death,
Awake both sins to lasting breath…
You'll be forever burned into my mind.
The love for you as hot as fire,
Every tie… the release of death.
I was so afraid to be afraid;
Behind these eyes, a frightened gaze
Finds truth in the stars, not forsaken lies,
Lasting deliverance, end my cries…
A/N: OKAY! This was so depressing for me to write! I want to cry so badly. Anywho. Those words/lyrics, or whatever they're called, were written by me, for this story part. PLEASE DON'T STEAL THEM FROM ME! Although I doubt anyone would want to, but still. If by any chance, anyone wants to use them, tell me and give me credit, okay? Anywho. Please don't get angry at me for this. It was going to happen eventually in my story, and nothing was going to change it.
Also, in this, there were a few times that I went back to change something, so if the writing is off at some point or the other, try to ignore it because I might of (and most likely did) skip over it by accident.
Well. That's it for now. I'll update again when I have the time. Happy reading!
-- Min.