Title: Harry Potter and the Summer From Hell

Author: Ladye Black

Warnings: Um...minor slashiness HP/SS

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Only the idea for the story and what is written are mine.

Notes: I'd like to offer all of you a deep apology. My summer officially sucked in a way summer shouldn't. Bad things happened, and I am only now getting over them. And thanks to all who have reviewed. It's much appreciated to hear that there still people who want the test of this fic. ;;

Chapter 25

He was waiting for the perfect moment. He knew where he was, and he knew where they were taking him, he even had an idea of when the perfect moment would be. It just hadn't arrived, yet. They were dragging him down a stone corridor that looked just like every other one in the godforsaken place, and he wondered how much longer it would be until they arrived at their destination. He would have to act quickly once that moment arrived.

Only a few more moments of being dragged heavily through dirt and puddles of indistinguishable nature, and then he would act. He would throw all he had at Voldemort, and it would be enough because Voldemort did not know that Severus had already healed himself. Voldemort did not know how strong Severus really was, the only ones that did no longer existed anymore.

So, Severus allowed himself to dragged through the disgusting puddles of filth for his one shot at freeing himself. For, as strong as he knew himself to be, he did not know how strong Voldemort was.

After only a few more minutes of being dragged down a corridor, they entered a room, cavernous with a large stone table at the back of it. Just as they were entering that room, Severus chose to strike.

The magic he had gathered to himself, he let go in an explosive strike aimed directly at the one he hated most. Voldemort, who had not expected such a powerful burst of magic from one so weak and wandless, was momentarily paralysed by the unexpected flare aimed towards him.

It was enough for Severus.

He threw off the two that held him and ran through a wall. As he was not of the Human world, he was not beholden to their laws, and so he bent them in an aid to his escape. In seconds he found a flight of stairs and rushed up them, already he was halfway to freedom. Another few seconds passed and he felt Voldemort search for him. He increased his speed, knowing that if Voldemort were to find and capture him again, he might not have another chance of escape.

Severus escaped the manor under which he'd been held in under thirty seconds. He hid his presence from the self-proclaimed Dark Lord as best he could, though he felt when Voldemort found him. He fought against the magical restraints all the while fleeing the Manor grounds. He as going to make it, he knew it. Voldemort was not strong enough to hold one such as Severus, especially when Severus was at his peak in physical strength and magical power.

Severus Snape escaped Voldemort's clutches in under a minute. It was a humiliating loss that Voldemort punished others for, namely, the two that were to have held onto Sevreus until they had lashed him to the stone table. Voldemort stewed in his rage, already planning on how he was to again capture the Tenshi-Oni and draw his blood.

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It was just after dusk when Harry led Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore to the grounds where Severus was being kept. They'd apparated a little over a mile away, and silently made their way to the large estate. Now, they stood outside the gate and wards, hidden by shrubbery and masked by magical means.

"What do we do now?" Harry hissed.

"We wait," the Headmaster answered simply.

"But-"

"Severus will be here soon. I can feel it."

Pouting, Harry crossed his arms and settled in to wait. It was not long, however, before he spotted a dark robed figure making its way quickly across the grounds.

"Severus!" Harry exclaimed quietly.

"Keep down, Harry. We have to make sure. Remus, if you will, please."

"Of course, Headmaster." Remus slowly took out his wand and spoke a word that Harry didn't recognize. Nothing happened, except that the figure's path altered slightly and came right at them. At the gate, Harry watched in amazement as the tall shadow came unerringly towards them, never slowing even as it approached the gate. At what seemed to be the last moment, the figure leaped, sailing smoothly over the gate, and landing softly next to the Headmaster.

"Hello, Severus," the Headmaster spoke genially.

"Headmaster," the figure nodded. "May I suggest we get out of here first before exchanging pleasantries?"

"Yes, of course. Everyone, hold onto me and I will guide."

Harry grabbed hold of the Headmaster's robe, and a gut-wrenching sensation filled him as they spun away from the Manor. Whether they traveled for hours or seconds, Harry did not know. All he felt was a long, sickening sensation, before it finally stopped just inside of Hogwarts' gates.

"What...the hell...was that?" Harry asked, breathing deeply.

"It was a...less easier way to Apparate," Severus answered, holding him up. "An advanced skill."

"Oh." Harry took a few more breaths, his heart calming with each intake. Once he finally regained his ability to breathe, he stood up, facing Severus. And then leaned forward to kiss him. Before his lips could make contact, Severus caught him by the shoulders, pushing him back.

"That, Mr. Potter, is a very unwise move."

"I don't care," Harry whispered, breath ghosting over Severus' lips.

"You may not; others will."

Just as Harry was about to reply to that, he heard Molly Weasley calling to them. Reluctantly, he leaned away from Severus. "We'll talk about this later."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Oh, yes, there is," Harry muttered under his breath, and braced himself for one of Mrs. Weasley's hugs. She hugged everyone, even Severus, whom Harry thought suffered the hug fairly well. All the while, she exclaimed how happy she was that everyone was back, and that they should celebrate Severus' safe return.

"Unfortunately, Molly, we do not have the luxury of time on our side."

The formidable woman frowned. "What do you mean by that, Albus?"

"We shall have to go back soon. While we have regained Severus, Voldemort still lives, but he his weak at this moment. It is the best time to try the spell."

Severus frowned. "What spell?"

"Remus, show him what you have found." Though puzzled, Remus pulled the necessary documentation from his robes and handed it to the dark-haired man.

As Severus read through it, his frown deepened. "If you had someone who could cast it, it would work. Everything about the spell reads correctly."

It was the Headmaster's turn to frown. "What do you mean by 'if I had someone to cast it'? Aren't you able to cast it?"

Severus shook his head, hesitating before speaking his greatest secret to several of the most trusted members of the Order. "I am half Angel, and half Demon," he heard several gasps at this admittance.

"If you were to look at it in positives and negatives, the spell is postive. If I were to cast it, it would become negative, because of my Demon side. I can use some Demon spells since many were made for Human use, but I've never come across an Angel-based spell that I could use. Angels like to pretend that being like me don't exist." He smiled a small, self-depreciating smile before continuing.

"If I were to attempt this spell, there would be horrible repercussions. Not just to myself, but to the world. If it was just harm to myself that I had to worry about, I would try it, but we're talking about going against the laws of a higher plane. There's no way I could..." He shook his head helplessly.

"It's all right, Severus, we'll just have to find another way."

Severus frowned in thought. "Well, there may be one way..."

"Severus?"

He turned back to the Headmaster. "I might be able to use that spell for a basis to another spell. A spell I would create. It would take some time, though, but it would do essentially what the Angel's spell is supposed to do."

"Do you think you can do it?"

"Yes," he said firmly, looking the Headmaster straight in the eye.

"Very well, then. Just tell me what you'll need, and I will provide it for you."

"Right now, all I need are two things," he held up the papers he was holding. "This spell and Potter."

Dumbledore turned to Harry. "Is that alright with you, Harry?"

"Of course, Headmaster."

"Very well, Severus, if you need anything else do not hesitate to ask."

The younger man gave a short bow. "Thank you, Headmaster. I'll start right away. Come, Potter."

"Yes, master," he muttered under his breath, following the pale man and his billowing, black robes.

"I heard that," Severus said as he led the way to the castle.

Harry just smiled.

TBC...

Yay me! I finished another chappie! And it was pretty long by my standards... Hope you enjoyed!