Chapter Eleven: Wounded
Severus looked on helplessly as Neville's tear filled eyes glazed over and for the first time in many hours, they reflected none of the fear the child felt inside, though this new development brought little comfort to the potions master for now the boy's eyes were vacant, hallow imitations of their true selves.
He knew the young Gryffindor was caught in the iron grip of an Unforgivable Curse, he could only hope now that the boy would be lucky enough to be counted amongst those who remember nothing of their ordeals whilst under the Imperius. He prayed that Neville's trapped mind would not be aware of his forthcoming actions.
Severus had seen too many broken souls and damaged minds in the wards of Saint Mungo's, souls riddled with pain and guilt, minds lost and fractured beyond repair, he did not wish the same fate for his student, especially not this particular student. Neville Longbottom was already dealing with more than his fair share of consequences concerning the Unforgivables.
Severus' thoughts were interrupted by the ominous sound of an ancient flintlock clicking as it was pulled back into position. His parched throat swallowed nervously as his impending doom drew nearer.
Perkins cautiously returned the loaded weapon to Malfoy. His work was briefly inspected, then without comment, Lucius released the spell binding Neville's crude manacles, another simple charm and they sprung open only to fall clattering to the floor. He then reached out to Neville's right hand and carefully positioned the child's fingers around the large pistol grip and trigger…they barely fit.
He raised the boy's unresisting arm and used his wand to guide the weapon into position until it appeared to be pointing directly at Severus. Taking a step back, he observed his handy work. The twisted smile of satisfaction that graced his aristocratic features sickened the powerless potions master to his core.
The blond wizard then turned slowly towards his former fellow Death eater. His eyes were wide and bright with a mixture of madness and excitement.
"So my dear Severus…any last words?" he taunted cruelly whilst caressing the smooth lacquered wood of his wand.
"You're a sadistic warped nefarious bastard Malfoy…may death find you swiftly!" Snape bit back with as much ferocity as he could muster.
A cold empty laugh echoed off the thick stonewalls.
"Oh I think Death has a much more pressing engagement with you my friend," Lucius countered with a disturbing calmness.
He then refocused his gaze upon the spellbound Longbottom.
An elegant swish of Lucius' wand accompanied by a whispered command caused the student to stiffen slightly, his right hand shook almost imperceptibly as if his will was trying to fight against what it was being forced to do.
However, the inevitable happened and the boy's index finger gradually applied enough pressure to the trigger to cause the weapon to discharge.
A loud bang erupted from the ancient muzzle, while black smoke and the pungent smell of spent gunpowder filled the air.
Malfoy's disapproving cough was quickly followed by a pair of elegant hands swatting the foul smoke away. His eyes quickly honed in on his prey and to his utter disappointment found the man still standing, somewhat shaken but annoyingly still standing.
When the powder ignited, Severus had closed his eyes and waited for the hot ball of lead that could soon end his life. To his utter astonishment, he had heard the small round of ammunition whiz past his left ear and impact with the hard stonewall behind him. A small fragment of stone had been propelled outwards and caught the soft flesh of his ear lobe. He flinched as a tiny piece of flesh was torn away. It was a minor injury…much less than expected and he sighed with relief, however he knew quite well that it would be a short-lived reprieve.
"Still alive…how disappointing," Malfoy drawled.
Furious, Lucius ripped the pistol from Neville's hand and threw it in Perkins' direction; luckily, the burly wizard caught it before it hit the floor.
"Re-load it! Quickly!" Malfoy ordered sharply.
Perkins immediately leapt into action, not wanting to bear the brunt of the dark wizard's anger. His trembling hands reloaded the old gun as quickly as possible.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Lucius muttered then sighed dramatically, all signs of his previous fury had eerily dissipated.
"I suppose it's impossible to expect perfection from a muggle device but this minor delay is a small price to pay considering the final outcome…wouldn't you agree Severus?"
Ignoring the question Severus spoke in a hushed even tone, "You're a coward Malfoy, a pompous over preened coward who hasn't got the backbone to do his own dirty work and instead places it in the hands of a helpless child."
Severus wished again that he had the use of his wand, a dozen dark and cruel curses rattled around inside his brain begging to be cast at his blond tormentor.
Simultaneously, Perkins finished reloading the old pistol, he turned and growled at the potions master's impertinence and moved to inflict more bodily harm on the already battered wizard but Malfoy wordlessly held him back and patiently retrieved the weapon from Perkin's grip.
"You know Severus," he replied casually while checking the weapon, "these barely veiled attempts at saving this young bumbling fool's life are really becoming quite tedious…no amount of goading and name calling will deter me from this path…besides you know me…I don't like to go back on my word," he smiled cruelly.
Without further delay, the blond wizard placed the huge firearm into Longbottom's right hand, carefully arranging the child's fingers once more. He readjusted the aim slightly then looked dispassionately at his former associate.
"Goodbye Severus."
Another elegant swish of the wand, a whispered spell and Severus' keen eyes honed in on the slightly trembling index finger that would soon end his life.
In the seconds that passed, he fleetingly hoped once more that Longbottom would survive this horror and not succumb to guilt and in what he assumed would be his last thoughts, he silently hoped the child would forgive him for leaving him alone and at the mercy of two maniacs.
All too soon, however, a loud bang from a tiny second explosion filled the room.
A searing hot pain burned deep within his left shoulder as flesh was ripped asunder; it momentarily stole his breath and caused him to stumble back against the cold wall. A barely visible deep crimson stain quickly formed on the potions master's dark robe. His eyes were scrunched shut as his breath returned quick and fast. Some strange force stole his strength away and he began to slide down the rough surface of the wall, landing in a crumpled heap on the floor.
The jarring motion caused the older injury to his side flare up in protest, it was too much for his body to bear and he was unable to stifle the moan of agony that escaped his lips.
When he finally garnered the strength to open his eyes, they were met by a cold hard stare.
Lucius Malfoy's eyes were a tumultuous sea of rolling emotions, rage, fascination, disappointment and sick satisfaction. He was furious and frustrated that the shot had not been immediately fatal and yet a part of him found great comfort in the fact that he would get to see Snape suffer a little bit longer…would it be such a bad thing to watch the man slowly bleed to death? To look on while life drained from his broken shell?
However, fate it seemed had other plans and the decision of what to do was soon taken from Malfoy's hands.
The blond wizard's attention was suddenly captured by a tingling sensation in his right hand; a small red jewel in the centre of his family signet ring began to glow brightly for a moment and then just as quickly it returned to normal.
Severus caught the subtle movement but knew not what it meant.
"It would seem you are a hard man to kill my friend, perhaps it would have been better to trust your demise to a good old fashioned killing curse…not to worry…somehow I do not think you'll be long for this world," Lucius stated coldly. "Sadly though I shall not be around to witness this momentous occasion, I have other matters to attend to. But I'm not totally cold hearted Severus, I wouldn't want you to die all alone, allow me to provide you with some company in your final hours."
Without further explanation, Malfoy released Longbottom from the Imperius Curse. It took a few moments for the boy to shake off the fogginess in his mind and the numbness in his body, Severus looked on helplessly as the poor child slowly regained awareness. A few painful shuddering breaths later, he witnessed the confusion turn to abject horror.
Neville's eyes drank in the scene around him, his teacher lay on the ground across the room, Malfoy and Perkins stood quietly to his right. He suddenly became aware of a weight in his right hand and looked down at it. Inhaling sharply, his brown eyes widened in shock at the old weapon it held. He glanced up quickly at the professor once more and noticed the fresh injury to his ear and shoulder, the dark wet stain on his robes sickened Neville's stomach and he felt the blood drain from his face. He put two and two together instantly, he had caused this injury, and it was his fault. He dropped the weapon as if it burned. The expensive antique clattered on the floor.
"You clumsy fool!" Malfoy shouted harshly and pushed the boy roughly aside.
Neville, already weak and dizzy, limply dropped to the floor.
Lucius retrieved his prized possession, quickly checked for any damage then handed it to Perkins.
"Clean it, then leave them be and no food or water for our little budding executioner here. I'll return in a few hours, mess things up Perkins and you'll be target practice for Mr. Longbottom here…I think he's actually starting to get the hang of it," Malfoy warned his lackey then sneered at the boy in question.
Neville shrunk back away from the dark wizard, wrapped his two hands around his head and began sobbing uncontrollably as his body rocked back and forth in anguish.
"Looks like we might need that family sized room in St. Mungo's after all," the Death eater tormented callously.
He then retrieved his fur-lined robe and leather gloves from the wooden table, cast one final glance in the potions master's direction and was gone.
Perkins immediately began replacing all of Malfoy's beloved 'toys' back into the wooden chest. He had decided to clean the pistol in another room away from the annoying sniveling; besides he could do with a whiskey…after all he deserved one.
Once everything was in order, he gathered up the box in his arms.
"Good riddance Snape!" he spat at the wounded wizard then sealed the door shut behind him.
ooOoo
Author's note: Hello Folks! Yep it's been an age once more but it's finally here. Sorry again for the looong delay, hopefully it won't be as long a wait for chapter 12. I have started it already…which is a good sign I suppose! lol!
Many, many heart felt thanks to those of you who reviewed the previous chapter…I really needed it & a special 'Thanks 'n' Hugs!' to any anonymous reviewers…sorry I couldn't reply back individually & a special mention to anyone who hung in there & reviewed recently despite the delay! It really does nudge me on…believe it or not. Still no inter-net at home…God I miss it! I'll be staying with my parents for a few days until Tuesday 5th Aug. Anyone who reviews between now & then, I should be able to reply to you pretty quickly…it's only fair since you've taken the time out to supply much craved feedback…ahem (hint, hint). To anyone who catches the story & reviews after that, sorry but it may take a little while to get back to you but I will, I promise.
I'm no expert on the 'Unforgivables' so please forgive any errors also apparently it was normal to have a slight time delay between the pulling of the trigger and the firing of the round of ammunition when using those old flint lock weapons...it's alluded to in the story.
Yikes! I had better finish now or this note will be longer than the chapter! LOL!
Until next time,
Take care,
Lai.