Disclaimer- Alas, this story belongs to another, not I.
Chapter 22- Memories of Old One year before…
He stood back to back with Lucius Malfoy, tossing hexes and curses at Aurors, fending off attacks. The final battle commenced on neutral ground, roughly four miles from the school. Most students were safely away. Most. Except those few idiotic dunderheads who thought they could be of help. So stupid to think that they could help, or help with the tabloids. Wait… What? Bloody hell!
He tossed a hex towards a Death Eater off in the distance and stopped the curse mid-word that was aimed directly at Collin Creevey. Why was that idiot here? And with a camera no less! He tossed out a few more hexes when he noticed the boy's camera turn towards him. –Flash- He swallowed a groan and aimed his wand at him. "Petrificus Totallus!" A brief look of shock passed the boy's face as his finger stopped still on the shutter button of his camera just before he fell over. With luck, no one would step on the boy too much.
He felt Lucius move down behind him. He copied the movement, ducking underneath a small magical barrier as he did. Lucius spoke as he turned to him. "I'm to tell you something. It seems to have… slipped my mind these last few months."
He raised his brow. He could spot a lie from a mile away, and what Lucius said was definitely one of them. There was a reason for his silence. "So you remember this in the middle of battle and feel the dire need to tell me? How convenient."
"Of course my friend. You know how a bit of hexing jogs my memory."
Snape rolled his eyes and jerked his wand irritably towards the battle. "Get on with it. If you haven't noticed, there seems to be a war going on."
"My, aren't you impatient."
He narrowed his eyes, opened his mouth and took a breath to speak, but Malfoy didn't give him the chance.
"No need to get testy, I was about to tell you. The Dark Lord has appointed himself a bodyguard, and you are not to kill him."
"Really, who?"
Malfoy gave an uncaring shrug; a small smirk graced his lips. "I've no idea, just that Potter won't have the nerve to do what he needs to get past him. I find it quite amusing, don't you?"
No, he did not, actually. The bastard knew who it was. Damnable prat. "How that menace dies is of no concern to me, so long as he actually does."
"I've always admired your sentiments, Severus." Something banged against the barrier and Lucius frowned. "It seems we've been found." A quick swish of his wand and the barrier fell, both men ready once more for battle.
So, Voldemort found himself a new toy… But who? Two flicks of his wand and two Aurors were properly hexed to distraction. He could move. He gave a quick look back at them. One was doing his best to blast the swarm of bees hovering over him and the other was suddenly sprouting large daisies from every noticeable part of his body. He gave a deep-throated chuckle as he realized that the one he hexed with the daisies was none other than Remus Lupin himself. Well, better daisies than some of the other things he could manage. No, he was saving MOST of those curses and hexes for the most opportune moment.
The Aurors would be fine, just so long as they stayed out of his way. He ducked a few hexes and turned back to Lucius. "I'm heading further in. You should stay here and enjoy yourself a bit before catching up. You haven't the chance for non-rebuttal cursing in years."
A sickening smile slowly ebbed its way onto the blonde man's face. "I think I shall. Go on, I will catch up soon enough."
Severus gave a curt nod to him and fought his way deeper into the battle. Finally, after what seemed like an hour of non-stop spell tossing, he could see Voldemort in the distance. That meant Potter couldn't be far. He had to warn him to throw no stops with that guard, that Voldemort had thrown in an unforeseen defensive… Wait…
A slight tremor went coldly down his spine- that small tingle that made it feel like he was being watched. Wand at ready he twirled around, to find himself wand point to wand point with Alastor Moody. How bloody well brilliant. How tremendously, extensively fucking brilliant. Like he actually had time to deal with the annoying old twit! The old Auror's wild eye was pointed at him with all its intensity focused solely on him. "SNAPE." Alastor's good eye narrowed and his breath fell from his lips like a hiss.
Before Moody could start his accusations, Severus interrupted him. "Don't assume to know what I'm up to, Moody, it could lead to your untimely demise. I would suggest you move your wand to a better target before you irritate me enough to do something rash."
He gave a half laugh. "You want me to let you go?"
Severus narrowed his eyes. "I was actually suggesting we throw up a barrier and have ourselves a nice cup of tea amidst this glorious battle." He pulled his lip back into a sneer before he changed his tone from softly spoken sarcasm to a loud bellow. "OF COURSE I WAS TELLING YOU TO LEAVE ME BE YOU IGNORANT SOD!"
"I don't think I will."
Severus growled. Oh for the name of Merlin… "I've no time for this! I would rather die by the tainted hands of Lucius than by you." He and Moody started to circle each other as both realized that action was soon to take place.
"Maybe you should have thought of that before you took the Mark!"
Severus' voice went dangerously low. "I warn you, Auror, let me pass." Irritation made his hand twitch around the wood of his wand.
Moody made a grave mistake. He smiled. "Only when you are dead."
Moody's response caused rage to explode through him, that uncontrollable fury he fought to control, the fury that he had depended on for far too long in his youth. Before Moody could react, Snape's wand was in front of his face. "Avada Kedavra!" The words had left his mouth before he fully realized what he was doing. The curse struck the man between the eyes. Moody's body flew backwards into the battle and was bludgeoned with a wet sounding 'Thwack' by a troll before he even hit the ground. Snape quickly turned from the bloody mess before him and returned to his task. It was Moody's own fault after all; he had been warned.
He slowly made his way around, circling the Dark Lord, searching for the Boy-Who-Would-Win-If-He-Had-A-Say-In-It. After fifteen minutes of carefully maneuvering around the battle, he heard a voice that sounded all too familiar. He paused in his search to find the voice amidst the chaos surrounding him, and finally found the owner. Weasley; or rather, Weasleys, two of them to be precise. Ronald and… Percy? Percy Weasley was a Death Eater? When? He kept his eyes darting about him as he half watched the exchange, as abject horror grew in his mind. It was true…
Ever since the Granger girl's parents were murdered he suspected that he was found out. Now, with the knowledge that not only had the Dark Lord acquired a new bodyguard and that Percy had joined the ranks as a Death Eater and he had not been alerted to the fact, he knew for certain. Shit. He was found out, and was more than likely being used. But for how long had they known? He shook his head to clear it from his thoughts. It no longer mattered. It was the day of the final battle; he had other things to worry about. Like, making sure that the imbecile in front of him didn't die in the exchange with his older brother. And then he had to find Potter. It wasn't like he planned on living through the day anyway.
No, he would not allow himself to die until he was able to get that brat the news of this new threat and intimidate him into taking the appropriate action to dissolve it, while promising the boy he would kill him if he did not. Which would mean the death of whomever the bodyguard might be if the boy still took to intimidation. Hopefully he did. Yes, that seemed like a plan…
He was brought out of his inner musings as a curse missed one of the Weasleys, cast by the other Weasley. He was not sure which one had done it, and it barely missed him. Until they were done with this annoying feud, he would have to keep a better eye on them. He briefly wished they would simply hurry it up, let Percy fall or die, or whatever it was he had to do, and force Ron to Apparate away from the battle so he could continue on his search and die happy. Surely the Fates would let him live long enough for that. After all, they forced him to live through everything else.
The boys lunged at each other, screaming obscenities as they fought hand to hand. It made Severus groan. All the magic in the world and they chose to fight with their bare hands. How very Gryffindor of them. They started to shout at each other, but didn't hear much of anything until towards the end, when he drew nearer. They almost looked like they were hugging as Percy pulled back from their fight long enough to deliver a small speech. "Pureblood or not, the rest of you are weak! I hate to even think that we are family. After we win, I'll make it my personal mission to destroy the lot of you, except… I think Ginny would make a good souvenir for the Dark Lord, don't you? After all, she proved useful once…"
"Arrogant PRAT!" The rest of Ron's response was lost on him, as he suddenly had to duck the club of a nearby troll. Was the battle not chaotic enough without having to bring them? He disposed of the annoying creature as quick as he could before bringing his more basic attentions back to the Weasleys. He turned back just in time to watch them separate. There was a slightly audible CRACK! Percy held up what was once Ron's wand, and said something he couldn't quite make out. Ron let out a cry of fury and lunged at his older brother. "I won't let you!"
Severus swung around to defend the now wandless boy, but just as he was going to cast a hex at the older Weasley, there was a quick flash of metal. Ron screamed out in anger and the sound immediately blended in with a scream of both pain and surprise. Before him he saw Ron Weasley straddling his older brother, tears falling down his cheeks as he bludgeoned his own brother with a dagger. A gurgling whimper came from Percy's mouth as Ron ripped into his mutilated flesh again and again, choking on his own blood. After a moment Percy fell completely still as an icy feeling started to creep into his spine. Snape quickly scanned his immediate surroundings and found the culprits. Dementors. He swept forward, passing over the dead bodies of Aurors and Death Eaters alike until he finally reached Ron, who was still frantically plunging his dagger into Percy. It was clearly obvious that the idiot older Weasley was dead when he caught Ron's hand mid-motion.
"I think you're overdoing it, Weasley, he is dead. There is no need to mince him into small segments for adequate potions ingredients, as there is no time for it, no matter how pleasing it might seem for you. The Dementors are on the way."
Ron barely registered what Snape said as he looked down at what he had done, realization evident on his face. Snape could feel him start to shake as he pulled the boy up to his feet, and Ron dropped the knife like it burned him once his hand was free. His eyes went wide. "Merlin… I… What have I done? Percy… I… What have I?"
Snape rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to not slap the boy to his senses. "It had to be done. The other option wouldn't have been better for you. Apparate. Now. You have no wand, and there is obviously no longer any need for you. All you will do is serve as a distraction. Now go."
Ron just nodded, clenched his teeth and was suddenly gone with a 'crack'.
Snape turned and walked towards the Dementors as a sudden blast of light exploded through them. Potter. It had to be him. He fought his way through the crowd, getting annoyed about how many times he had to stop and fend off some idiot who thought it wise to keep him from his task. As the fourteenth was hexed away from him he vowed to himself that the next person to keep him from his mission, save Potter himself, would be dead without any hesitation on his part.
About eight minutes later the elder Goyle grabbed his arm. The man was about to say something, but Severus' wand was already at the man's throat. He sounded almost bored when Avada Kedavra came from his lips, making the green light of the curse pulse from his wand and instantly killing the man. To hell with secrecy and keeping up appearances. If he were right about Voldemort knowing he was a spy, it wouldn't matter anyway. He quickly stepped over Goyle's body and continued on towards the mass of Dementors. He had no time for this.
He set his pace to a slight jog as he made his way towards the center of the Dementors, doing his best to ignore the sense of being watched, the sound of laughter inside of his head. The voices that mocked him, and told him things that tore him into pieces. I would have said yes… He was only able to get through them because they had set up residence at the more recent revels; he had time to get used to it. Yet he still wanted to shrink back, pull himself into a ball, and hex something. Keep going. Ignore it. For some reason the beastly creatures did ignore him, they were all focused on one spot. He heard another shout of the Patronus Charm and he fell into a run. He was close, very close.
He came to a dead halt as he nearly hurled himself off of a small cliff. Shit. A blast of light half blinded him and a wave of Dementors was repelled past him. He had to suppress a laugh as one of the annoying trolls that for some reason made it this far into the battle clubbed four of the horrid creatures into the air. It was amusing really. In a way. He quickly pinched the bridge of his nose. I'm losing my mind…
He cast a small cushioning charm and jumped. He suppressed a groan as a small sharp pain shot up his back at the landing. He set his jaw and forced himself to stand. This was not the time for pain; there was enough time for that later. He forced his way forward through another wave of Patronus and spotted him. With him. Well, that would explain everything. He readied his wand. "Look at me," he whispered, "Look at me, Potter."
As if the boy had heard him, Potter turned towards him. "Legilimens." There was no hesitation as he was thrust into the boy's thoughts.
'What do you want?' The words came to him, unbidden.
He suppressed a smile. It had worked. 'The man you are fighting with is not who you think he is.'
'I don't believe you.'
'Test it then. Ask him something only he would know.'
Potter turned to Sirius Black and spoke to him. A moment later his face contorted. He watched as Potter turned back to him, and felt the boy enter his mind. 'But its his body, his tattoos, scars… All of them…'
So, the serpentine bastard had done it. Had brought a body back from beyond the veil, but left behind the soul. He had heard the rumors he was going to try, but he had done it. Sickening.
'What of his soul?'
'Let me try something…' Perhaps if he could extract whoever it was in the body, he could summon the soul. It was worth a shot… He moved his wand towards Black and started the incantation when something suddenly slammed into his back. He gave a small cry and fell to his knees, his incantation forgotten. "Fuck." He turned to the one who had kicked him. "Afternoon, Lucius."
The man stood tall above him, his wand pointed at his head. "Crucio." He swallowed his cry as pain suddenly wracked his body and forced himself to his feet. Pain he could handle.
He forced a smirk onto his face and realized that he had dropped his wand. How wonderful. "Thank you. I think I needed that."
"You think this is all a game? You have no idea how much I have put into this campaign. It is not just a political game, but also a game of pure survival. I have every intentions of keeping Draco alive. Some of us actually care about the lives of our children."
"But what a wonderful game it was. It's a bit sad that it is almost over."
"You dare." Lucius' face contorted in anger and Severus took a deep breath. When he had told Moody he would rather die by Lucius, he hadn't meant that to be taken literally. Oh well, there were worse ways to die…
At the exact moment that Lucius hissed out 'Avada Kedavra' there was the sound of a crack. He waited for the curse to come, but instead found himself hurled on the ground, his back snapping in a way that made him almost feel numb. He was alive? He suddenly became painfully aware of a weight on top of him. He looked down and found a mass of limbs and blonde hair. Draco…? He looked up to Lucius who stood stiff and wide-eyed. He clearly saw him mouth Draco, you fool when a bolt of green light found the man's chest. The only satisfaction he had, was the look on Lucius' face as he killed his own son, granting him a vengeance he had never fathomed. A vengeance he had never wanted. Nausea overtook his senses, a faint high-pitched hum sounded within his ears and things started to grow blur together. Let me die, just let me die…
These thoughts were the last he had before he lost consciousness.
There were soft-spoken voices with him, mixing with the growing throb in his head. "Are you sure?"
"As I have said before, I will attest for him. He is the closest thing I have to a son. I have no desire to lose him now, not after all these years. That boy sacrificed himself so that he would live." It was the unmistakable voice of Albus Dumbledore.
"He has killed an Auror, and has the Dark Mark embedded on his arm."
"He cannot be tried for something that he has already been acquitted for. I vouched for him then, I will again."
"He is dangerous. Even you cannot ignore his background, his birthright. His mother-"
"-is not him." Albus' voice grew hard and unreceptive. Severus pried his eyes apart and groaned. "What that woman did to him has haunted him for his entire life. Those scars will never leave him. Do not place blame on him for her crimes." There was a pause. "Why, good evening Severus. I hope you are well."
He squinted his eyes, trying to focus. "Come to think of it, I believe I've been better."
The old wizard gave a small chuckle. "Ah yes, you are quite well indeed. I would like to speak alone with him, Fryderick."
"I think you are a fool for doing this." The man spoke as he opened the door.
Albus gave a small shrug as the door slammed shut. "Perhaps, perhaps." He turned to Snape. "You are free."
Severus turned his gaze to the ceiling. "Am I?"
"You no longer have the need to spy. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has finally been defeated. You have cleared your name, and I have vouched for your innocence in Moody's death. You are a free man, Severus. I can at least grant you that."
"I did kill Moody, Albus. You should have let them take me. What I do should not be your burden, I am sick of it." He had done it again. Had protected him against capture, forgiven the unforgivable. It was not the first time. His stomach wretched and he grimaced. He had that horrid feeling it would not be the last.
"They cannot prove it was you that killed him, and I will not offer the information. Harry told me that it was you who gave him the information he needed to win."
"It was a means to an end. It was why you insisted on keeping me alive all these years."
"There is no need to be morbid. I merely had the desire to correct my wrongs to you. Had I done right by you, perhaps the mistakes you have made would never have needed to pass."
A small uneasy silence passed between them, and Albus started towards the door. "You lied to me, Albus."
The Headmaster turned back to him, the door slightly ajar. "I don't recall lying to you."
"When I started this, you told me I would gain redemption as well as freedom."
Albus looked confused. "That was no lie, you have gained your redemption."
"You mistake my words Albus. I wouldn't consider redemption being alive because some idiot boy sacrificed himself to save a man who did not deserve it."
The Headmaster sighed. "Only Draco knows why he saved you. Be that as it may, take your freedom and live. You deserve it."
As Albus went to leave the room he whispered, "True freedom is only achieved in death." He looked over long enough to see a distinctive frown cross the Headmaster's face just before the door closed softly behind him.
He looked back up to the ceiling. The war had finally been won. Draco could have been free to live whatever life he wanted and instead he chose death to save a man who desired that exact fate. He was alive. It was malicious, and he would never forgive the boy for it. Never.
The Present…
The first thing she was aware of was the immense throbbing inside of her head. She groaned and instantly regretted it. It sounded so loud… She put her hands to her ears to find a large pair of earmuffs firmly planted against her ears. She went to move them.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." An unfamiliar voice came from her left and she turned to look at the speaker. "Removing the earmuffs, that is." The speaker was a boy, but it was too dark in the room to see who it was. "I was told some spell was used on you to make your ears touchy, and was put in charge to make sure you kept the earmuffs on." The boy paused for a moment. "However, I don't have the intentions of forcing you to do so."
"How old are you?"
"I will be ten in April."
"You are rather well spoken for someone so young." She giggled. "April is a ways off yet."
"Not really. It is less than a year away, so it isn't so horribly long." Another pause. "Who are you anyway? Wretch didn't tell me who you were, just that she had other things to attend to."
"Hermione Granger, and you are?" She was getting decidedly uncomfortable, not even knowing whom she was talking to.
"Eleutherios Damien Marshall. Call me Ell, it's easier on the tongue."
"Yes, I think it would be, its very odd."
"Mum says it means freedom. She named me that because my Father told her to 'be free' when she left him. So, I got stuck with an odd Greek name. Wonderful isn't it?"
"I can imagine… Would you mind turning on a light? I can't even see who you are…" Before she could say anything else, the room flooded with light, and she looked into the midnight black eyes of her visitor.
A/N- Thank you all for reading, and as always, please review, it never fails to inspire. Also, a small note to my beta Exessivelyperky, for without her I would never have been able to get this chapter back.