Chapter 29: I Know

Harry landed on his knees on hard ground, pain shooting up his thighs as he fell over onto the palms of his hands.

His eyes quickly darted around him in search of Snape and he finally found him standing stock-still behind him. He had a guarded look on his face, a look that hid everything but the anger boiling behind his gaze.

"I've got to go, come up with a plan," Snape said in a type of voice Harry had never heard from the man before. "Try not to die, Potter. There's been enough of that."

"Listen Snape, I…"

"Not now," Snape said as he finally caught Harry's eyes. It was then that Harry saw something that he never thought he would see: a single tear slid down Snape's cheek. "Stay here until you know what you're doing. Watch where I go so you can follow."

All Harry could do was nod as he witnessed another tear break away.

In a flash of black robes Snape was gone, leaving Harry alone in front of the prison-like mansion they had arrived in front of.

Harry expected his mind to be running rampant with wild thoughts, but it was coldly blank.

He had to save Draco and finish off Voldemort once and for all and for the first time in his life he had no idea what he was going to do. He had no Ron, no Hermione, and no Dumbledore. He just had himself, and his self-faith was dwindling as he tried to force his mind to work.

He watched as Snape slipped in the front door after he took a moment to compose himself. Harry knew he must do the same, compose himself and try his very best to push all fear out of his mind.

Harry finally stood and drew his wand, clutching the bit of wood in his shredded palm. Taking a few deep breaths and casting the Disillusionment charm on himself, he set off in the direction of the rundown mansion, feeling more frightened than he had ever expected.

But then again, Draco had never been captured in his expectations, nor Remus killed.

All at once Harry realized that this was it. The end. After tonight, only one of them would be alive.

Harry steeled himself for the inevitable. The final battle.

"Ah Severus, welcome back," Lucius said, leaning on the tall back of Lord Voldemort's chair. It took everything Severus had to remain impassive.

He chose not to respond to Lucius, instead turning his attentions to Voldemort himself.

"My Lord."

There was a look on the reptilian man's face that Snape hadn't seen in a long time: Voldemort was excited. "I've called you here with wonderful news, Severus. We have acquired young Draco. Lucius found him and captured him personally, in our clever Dumbledore disguise, of course."

"As well as getting rid of a filthy half-breed in the process," Lucius added with a sick gleam in his eye. "It was all too easy."

Something in the back of Severus' mind snapped, a rushing sound filling his ears. He remembered it all, the torture of Dumbledore, the Polyjuice Potion…everything. He was brought back to reality as he felt his fingernails puncture the palms of his hands.

Voldemort twirled his wand between his fingers and said, "Draco, come," in a bored tone.

As soon as Snape's eyes fell on Draco he knew that he was under the effects of the Imperius curse. His spine was unnaturally straight, his head bowed and eyes cast downward.

He stopped at Voldemort's feet, kneeling and softly saying, "Yes my Lord?"

Voldemort's spindly hand came to rest on his head. "Brilliant, isn't it? After all this time, all it took was a well-placed spell for us to get from him what we've wanted all along."

"And what is that, my Lord?" Snape questioned, glancing at Lucius as he spoke.

"Harry Potter, of course," Voldemort said as he tilted up Draco's chin.

Draco's eyes came to rest on Voldemort's own red slits as he toned, "All we want from Harry Potter is him dead, right my Lord?"

Lucius chuckled darkly, a proud gleam in his eye as he gazed down at his son.

"Very good young Malfoy," the Dark Lord said with a sneer. "As we all know, that is all we have ever wanted from Potter. And you, beautiful boy, will make the perfect bait."

Harry could hear voices. Rather, he could hear the sharp voice of Lucius Malfoy and the occasional input of a voice he thought was vaguely familiar.

Lucius' voice came closer and the door swung open. Harry's heart leapt into his throat and he held his breath as the man swept past him, quickly heading the way opposite Harry had come, leaving the door he had exited slightly ajar.

He waited until Lucius disappeared around the corner before he made his way over to the room, sliding in as quietly as possible and shutting the door with a gentle click.

"Who's there?" The vaguely familiar voice said and Harry whipped around, seeing Draco poised by the window with his wand drawn.

Quickly removing his Disillusionment charm he called, "Oh thank Merlin you're alright, I was so bloody worried about you." He rushed over to Draco and gathered him into his arms.

Draco remained stiff in Harry's arms and Harry finally pulled away, cradling Draco at arm's length and holding his clear, slate-blue gaze.

Harry's eyes widened as Draco's calculating eyes flicked over his face. "Fuck Draco…you…you can see! How? When?"

"My punishment was only temporary," Draco said flatly as his fingers tightened around his wand. "It was to be removed when I returned. I have returned."

"Draco love, we have to go," Harry whispered as he threaded his fingers together with Draco's. "I still have to find Voldemort and finish him off."

"You won't have a problem finding the Dark Lord, Potter," Draco said as he pressed a quick kiss to Harry's knuckles.

Harry knitted his brows together, tugging Draco's arm gently towards the door. "Why is that?"

"Because I'm right here," sounded the voice of Lord Voldemort and chills coursed up and down Harry's spine.

Harry's heart sank as Draco pried his hand free and sank to his knees, head bowed.

"My Lord," He said in a quiet, almost reverent tone.

Harry turned around slowly, his wand centered between Voldemort's eyes.

"What have you done?" Harry said through gritted teeth, tears prickling the corners of his eyes.

Voldemort made a quick hand gesture and Draco stood and walked over to him, standing by his side.

"I have merely claimed what is rightfully mine," Voldemort said as he drew his own wand. "You didn't seriously believe that he was going to stay with you, did you?"

Harry took a gulping breath. "You…you mean this was all a trick? He…he never…"

Voldemort laughed cruelly and hissed, "And you thought he did? Malfoys are much too intelligent to associate with you, nevertheless love you."

"No…" Harry breathed, looking over to Draco helplessly. "Please tell me that this is a lie. Please."

Draco simply narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "You're too easy, Potter."

Harry's breathing hitched as he took a step backwards. "This…this isn't fair…"

"Since when do I do what's fair? Since when do I do what's right? I don't care what you think, Potter," Voldemort sneered, advancing on Potter like a predator.

Harry's hand was going numb where he gripped his wand. He sent another desperate glance to Draco and whispered, "I know you felt something, and I could see it in your eyes even if you couldn't see it in mine. I know you felt it with every touch, every kiss, every one of my fucking heartbeats. You can't deny what we had, what I know still courses through your veins."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Draco ground out through the tears streaming down his face. "Stop."

Harry felt the tip of Voldemort's wand find purchase against his Adam's apple. "Draco please," Harry sobbed, squeezing his eyes shut to block away his own tears.

"Yes Draco," Voldemort chuckled, "Please. Please tell Harry Potter how you really feel. Tell him that you don't love him. Tell him you want him to die now at my hands."

Draco was shaking as wave after wave of fresh tears escaped from his blank eyes. When he finally spoke it was in a steady voice that contradicted everything about him in that moment. "I don't love you. I never did love you. I never will love you. Most of all though, I will delight in seeing you die."

Before Draco had finished speaking and before Voldemort had time to register what was going on Harry had buried his wand into the Dark Lord's gut and snarled, "Avada Kedavra."

He was dead before he hit the ground.

Shortly after Voldemort collapsed Draco followed in suit, Harry making it over to him before he head made contact with the ground.

Severus could see the pain he himself was experiencing reflected in Lucius' eyes.

Lucius pulled up his left robe sleeve and watched in horror as his Dark Mark burned acid green then slowly began to fade. When it was completely gone from the other man's pale inner arm, Severus checked his own arm to prove the obvious. The Dark Lord had been defeated.

"It isn't possible," Lucius said breathlessly, casting wild eyes to Snape. "He…he can't be…"

Lightning fast, Severus sent out a hand and snatched away Lucius' wand, snapping it and tossing it away.

"You bloody traitor," Lucius hissed, making a quick move to the door but found his way blocked. "I never trusted you. The Dark Lord insisted to keep you informed. He was ignorant enough to believe you, but I wasn't."

Snape raised his wand. "You are a lot of talk Malfoy. You talked me into being a Death Eater, talked me into playing your little games, but you aren't going to talk yourself out of this. This time I'm not gullible enough to fall for you enticing words. This time it's personal."

Lucius crossed his arms, arching a single eyebrow. "And what have I done this time?"

Severus' eyes narrowed to slits as he ground out, "You assisted with the capture of Albus Dumbledore, as well as his torture. You took his place in a school of innocent children. And lastly, and most importantly, you murdered Remus Lupin. You killed my life."

Laughter bubbled on Lucius' face. "And you believe yourself special? Do you have any idea how many people's loved ones I have killed, how many you've killed? I did the world a favour by getting rid of one more werewolf."

"You are insane," Severus said as he felt an angry heat fill his body.

"No more insane than you friend," Lucius chuckled. "I'm very sorry I broke your little heart, though. I can always describe his face right before he died. I've seen a lot of fear in people's eyes as the green light leaves the end of my wand, but no fear was more fulfilling than the terror in his eyes."

Severus could hear his heart beating in his ears and Lucius was on the ground writhing in pain. Snape assumed he had cast the Cruciatus curse, but he couldn't remember saying it.

He lifted the curse and watched Malfoy tremble at his feet. "You deserve to pay for all you've done," he snarled, casting the Cruciatus again and watching in awe as Lucius let out a gut-wrenching scream. "You deserve to die."

When Lucius regained the ability to speak again he croaked, "And you don't? You've killed and tortured just as I have. You are just as evil as I am."

Another Cruciatus hit Lucius Malfoy and through his screams you could still hear Snape say, "I know."