Chapter Twelve: The Ring
As soon as the door closed, sealing them both inside, Severus gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the throbbing aches and pains that plagued every inch of his body. He knew he had to act fast, blood loss was steadily sapping away his strength and he could feel the pull of blissful unconsciousness tugging away at his mind. He wouldn't be able to ignore its enticing call for much longer.
He looked over to where young Neville Longbottom sat crouched up in a ball. The boy was shivering from more than just the cold and had folded in on himself as if wanting to disappear from the world around him.
Severus inwardly cursed Malfoy and his lackey once more. Longbottom had just started to emerge a little from his shell but now it seemed the boy had reverted to a state worse than when they had first arrived. The uneasy rocking motions and half-stifled whimpers were not a good sign; Severus hoped he would be able to get through to the child before they ran out of time or before the youth succumbed to shock.
"Longbottom," Severus called in an effort to get the boy's attention.
As had happened before, his initial call was ignored.
"Longbottom, listen to me," he tried again between painful gasps for air.
"I'm sorry Sir…so…s…so sorry," the boy finally spoke between sobs, "I didn't mean it, didn't mean it…" he muttered over and over.
"Neville, Neville listen…I need your help," Severus tried again to break through the child's anguished cries.
The potions master wasn't sure if it was the use of his student's first name or the surprise of being asked for help but the boy finally looked up, eyes bright with tears.
"I'm sorry Sir, I didn't mean it…I would never…," Neville implored.
"Neville none of this is your fault, do you understand? None of it!" Severus interjected with as much force and sincerity as he could muster.
Snape's words of comfort were met with silence as the student suddenly hung his head, shielding himself from his teacher's gaze.
"Neville do you understand?" he demanded more urgently and then began coughing painfully at the exertion.
Unable to ignore his professor's distress, Neville looked up worriedly at the wizard. The man was pallid and sweating heavily, his condition was terrifying.
As soon as Snape saw he had the boy's attention again, he spoke quickly.
"Tell me you understand Neville, that you know you are not to blame," he nodded at the boy reassuring him.
"Y…yes Sir," Longbottom replied shakily.
Severus wasn't totally convinced, the reply lacked conviction but right now, he didn't have time to tend to the boy's fragile mind state. If he could get the student out and safely back to Hogwarts, there would be much more qualified persons there to see to him.
Decision made, he ploughed on.
"Good, good, now listen…we may not have much time," he cautioned.
Neville took a deep breath, called upon every ounce of Gryffindor courage he could find and concentrated on his professor's voice rather than his current condition. He would pay attention and try not to let the wizard down further. If there were anyway he could help and make up for his actions…he would do his damnedest
"Come over here," Severus beckoned weakly with his right arm.
Neville was initially confused by his professor's request, he looked down at his hands and it was only then that he realised they were no longer bound. A tiny smile broke free as he rotated his free wrists but then his brow furrowed and sadly, the smile vanished just as quickly as it had appeared.
Why had they left him unrestrained? Did they simply forget or was it that they considered him so powerless and cowardly that he was of no threat?
His dark self-recriminating thoughts were interrupted by his professor's urgent weak call.
"Quickly Longbottom."
Neville roughly wiped away his tears then moved towards Snape, half-crawling, half-walking and sat hunched in front of the injured wizard. He tried to look the man in the eyes but his own kept drifting to the increasingly large stain on the professor's robes.
Before Snape could say anything else, Neville pushed away the heavy fabric of his outer robe and reached inside his back trouser pocket. He pulled out a large clean chequered handkerchief and shook it loose. Severus caught sight of the initials F.L. embroidered onto the cotton and knew the significance of it straight away.
Without hesitation, Neville offered the precious cloth to Snape.
Severus looked at the child, his penitent eyes still pleaded for forgiveness, the man saw the small piece of fabric as a peace offering, a way to make amends…if it would help to relieve some of the child's misplaced guilt, then he would accept it.
He moved his bound hands to take the handkerchief when sudden shooting pains reemerged in his broken fingers.
He hissed in discomfort and inwardly cursed his own stupidity.
"Oh sorry Professor…I forgot about your fingers," Neville whispered regretfully, almost dropping the hanky.
"You didn't break these bones Mr. Longbottom," Severus countered through gritted teeth, "Lucius Malfoy did…remember that."
The boy nodded in acquiescence.
Neville's gaze dropped momentarily to his father's handkerchief and then looked to his teacher somewhat embarrassed, silently asking permission to help.
Severus was hesitant but eventually swallowed his pride and surrendered. A curt nod of his head gave his student consent to carry on. In all likely hoods, the addition of the cloth would do little to staunch the flow of blood steadily leaking from the gun shot wound but if it made the boy feel better, he would endure it.
With slightly trembling hands, Neville opened his professor's outer robe, as was customary the wizard wore a black high-buttoned tunic underneath. He slowly began to unfasten the top few buttons exposing the white shirt beneath. He didn't dare open that garment.
Snape may be seriously injured but Neville didn't doubt for a minute that the wizard could lash out either physically or verbally with some sort of rebuke for crossing the line. Besides, if they both managed to escape this hell by some sort of miracle…he would have to face the potions master daily for years to come.
And so it was with no small amount of trepidation that he pulled back the left side of the dark tunic, his eyes widened at the sight of the bright crimson stain soaking the white cotton.
His eyes darted to the professor's but the man's own eyes were scrunched shut.
Quickly Neville balled up the handkerchief then eased it inside the black tunic with his left hand. He placed it over where he guessed the injury to be, and then carefully removed his hand. With his right hand, he put pressure on the wound over the man's robes.
The force caused Severus to grunt in pain and his eyes snapped open, immediately accusatory but quickly softening as he reminded himself that none of this was the youth's fault.
"Thank you," he simply stated in order to alleviate any of the boy's fears.
Neville smiled back weakly in return.
"Now listen very carefully to what I am about to say," Severus began.
His student perked up a little at the serious tone and nodded in compliance.
"My ring," Severus indicated by glancing down at his weakened left hand, "take it off," he instructed.
Neville removed his hand from the wizard's wounded shoulder, cautiously reached out for his index finger and carefully removed the ring. It was plain enough, silver in colour and resembled a piece of twisted rope; he couldn't remember ever seeing it on the potions master before.
Before he could ask about it, Snape spoke again.
"Put it on."
Neville looked up at the wizard, confusion evident on his youthful face.
"Trust me, just put it on quickly…time may be running out," he urged before another coughing fit stole his breath.
Not wanting to be the cause of further distress, Neville quickly obeyed his teacher.
"It's a portkey…of sorts…the Head Master made it…to be used in case of an emergency…I think this situation qualifies…don't you?" Severus almost smiled.
Concern and anxiety quickly joined the confusion already etched across Longbottom's features.
"I…I don't understand Sir."
A dozen questions swirled around inside his head, what did the professor mean? A portkey…of sorts…what was that? In addition, why would Dumbledore make such a thing? And more importantly why would he give it to Snape? Did it have anything to do with his earlier suspicions of an involvement with 'he who shall not be named'?
"No questions Longbottom, we don't have time, the ring will take you back to my quarters, once there take it to Dumbledore, he'll know what to do," Severus instructed.
Neville was initially a little surprised and afraid of the idea of being sent to Snape's quarters, he'd always imagined the wizard would have all sorts of horrible and strange devices lurking around his rooms. Then another more important thought rushed to the fore of his mind.
"But wait…what about you?" Neville asked panic building.
"The ring was meant to transport just once person, up until now that person was me…but I trust the head master has made the necessary arrangements to calibrate the device to your magical signature also…it will take you safely back to Hogwarts. Once there do as I said…give the ring to Dumbledore, he will use it to find me…do you understand?" Severus asked weakly. He was growing more and more tired by the minute.
Neville started to protest, he didn't like the idea of leaving the man behind, Snape had done so much to protect him from Malfoy and Perkins…to leave him now would be a betrayal but the thoughts of staying here terrified him also. He could fall victim to Perkins' temper or worse, Malfoy's twisted mind…he didn't want to be that wizard's helpless puppet again.
Severus silently witnessed the battle raging inside the young boy.
"I'm relying on you Neville, I need you to do this," he whispered, hoping to help sway the lad's decision.
His student looked up, swallowed deeply then nodded.
"Yes, yes Sir…I'll do it…if it's the only way to get us both out…I'll do it," he stated with as much conviction and strength as he could muster.
Severus sighed with relief.
"Good."
"What do I do Sir?" Longbottom wondered.
"It's very simple; just rotate the ring three times around your finger in a clockwise direction…understand?" Severus directed.
Neville nodded. "Yes Sir."
He turned his attention to the ring and twisted it once around his finger, took a deep steadying breath, then twisted it a second time. He looked up at his teacher.
"You have to hang on professor, they'll come for you…I promise," he swore as the tears began to build up in his eyes.
"I will," the wizard replied softly.
"Promise," Neville demanded.
"I promise…now go!" Severus encouraged.
The boy twisted the ring around his finger a third time and was instantly surrounded by a swirling blue mist. The air crackled with static electricity and Longbottom suddenly vanished from the room.
When the mist cleared, Severus sagged a little further down the wall with relief, he had done it, thanks be to Merlin...he had done it. What ever happened now was of little consequence, his student was safe and far away from the 'Knock', he was happy.
Now that he was alone, he could feel the effects of the adrenaline in his system wearing off, his body felt very sluggish and terribly sleepy, his injuries ached less and while being nice, was hardly a good sign. Gradually his eyes grew heavier, it seemed as though the pull of darkness would wait no longer. As they finally closed shut, his final conscious thoughts were of young Neville Longbottom and he silently apologised to the boy for breaking his promise.
ooOoo
Dilys Derwent sat patiently on a crumbling stonewall in the landscape painting hanging over the fireplace in Severus Snape's quarters. She very rarely left her own portrait frame in Albus Dumbledore's office. There was always something going on in the old wizard's life to keep her entertained. Occasionally she made a trip to the hospital wing and looked in on Madame Pomfrey …she liked Poppy; she was a good solid medi-witch. However, over the past few years she had been asked several times by Albus to make this trip to the dungeons, always for the same reason.
The Head Master would be concerned about the younger wizard when he left the castle at night and often for good reason. Sometimes the man would return in a sorry state, she supposed that Dumbledore just wanted to keep an eye on him and make sure he looked after himself. It was obvious that young Severus resented the intrusion but there was little he could do about it. She always felt strange reporting back to Albus but she knew it was for the potions master's own good.
Suddenly a bright blue light appeared in the centre of the room illuminating the whole area; a light mist and a popping noise quickly followed it.
Dilys knew exactly what it all meant, she had witnessed it once before. A small body sat crouched over in the middle of the old woollen rug in front of the fireplace. Almost simultaneously, the room sprung to life, the fire burst into flame and several wax candles began flickering brightly.
When the mist cleared, she instantly recognised the form of Neville Longbottom, the poor boy was a regular visitor to Poppy's infirmary and she had seen him there several times. He looked exhausted and some what dishevelled but other wise unharmed.
She called his name.
"Neville, Neville Longbottom can you hear me?"
The boy looked up, and then caught his head between his hands as waves of dizziness swept over him.
"Who's calling?" he asked confused.
"Up here Neville," she waved from the painting to catch his attention.
He tried to stand up but the whole room swirled around him and he landed heavily back on the rug.
"Stay there my dear boy, I'm going for help," Dilys gushed.
Neville looked up at the painting, at the strange old witch gesturing at him and his head began to finally clear. Her words started to make sense…she was going for help.
"Help," he shouted. "Yes I need to get help, please hurry," he pleaded frantically, "We have to find Professor Snape…please hurry! He's injured! Hurry!"
Dilys fled the painting and rushed to Dumbledore's office as fast as she could.
ooOoo
Author's note: Well there you have if folks, the latest chapter and as promised you didn't have too long to wait…for a change! I hope you enjoyed it & as usual, I can't wait to read your comments. As for the ring, well that's just my own little creation…think of it as a cross between a portkey & an apparating spell wrapped into one. Now I know Dumbledore & Co. have all sorts of wards etc. around Hogwarts preventing various undesirables from just 'popping-in' but in this little AU tale, he has made just one tinsey winsey exception. I hope it won't bother you all too much. As before I may not have inter-net access for very long, but I will get replies to any feedback sent as soon as I can…promise.
Until next time,
Take care,
Lai.