Title: Harry Potter and the Summer From Hell
Author: Ladye Back
Warnings: Slash, Harry/Snape
Disclaimer: I dun own it! Well, this fanfic, yes, characters and such, no.
Also, thank you to everyone that has reviewed, and for waiting patiently (or not-so-patiently) for this chapter. I think we're near the end people. Just a few more chapters.
Chapter 28"Were you even going to tell me?"
Snape didn't even pause. "Tell you what?"
"Tell me that you might die!" Harry snapped.
"The risk is minimal, and even if I did die, so would the Dark Lord. I'd make sure of that."
Harry reached out, grabbing the other man's arm about the elbow, forcing him to turn around. "Dammit! Look at me! Don't you have anything to say?"
The boy's eyes were pleading, and Snape sighed. "What would you have me say?"
"I don't know, but maybe something that indicates you care that you might die would be nice!"
"That would require me to actually care."
"Well, you had better start caring," Harry said, eyes narrowing. "Because I don't plan on letting you die."
"Then you will be happy to know that is where you come in," Snape said, finally jerking his arm out of Harry's grasp.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain it to you in my room."
The boy followed Snape into his rooms, and watched silently as the man poured himself a measure of amber liquid, and then toss it back. After pouring himself another, Snape seated himself in a huge armchair, motioning for Harry to do the same across from him. Once he was seated, Snape began his explanation on the improvements Dumbledore and he had come up with.
Harry listened to the other man silently, awed by his genius. This man had taken an already complicated spell used only by Angels and had turned it into something a human could use, and not only that, he had improved it. He made it fit together better and more smoothly than the original creators of the spell.
"You want me to…hold your soul?'
"In an over-simplified version of my description, yes."
"You want me, the one whom you have hated for years, the one who you barely let touch you – let alone kiss you – hold onto something so important?"
Snape looked uncomfortable for a moment. "I…trust you," he said reluctantly. "Besides, you seem to do well when it comes to holding onto important things. Will you do it?"
"Hell yes!"
The older man sat stunned for a moment at the vehemence of the answer before getting up. "Good. Now, I believe it is time for you to go."
"Severus?"
"What?" Snape asked distractedly, trying to unobtrusively push Harry out the door.
"There's still a risk to you, isn't there?"
Snape looked at him, and the waspish reply he was about to give died on his lips. Harry's face was serious, full of genuine worry and concern.
"Only if you let me go."
Harry smiled. "I won't," he promised softly. Quickly pecking Severus on the lips, he ducked out the door, headed for his own rooms.
I know, Severus thought to himself before closing the door and going to bed.
The time had come. The preparations were complete. Lord Voldemort had collected all the items necessary. He had slayed the required number of mortal beings for their souls and had sent them to the depths of Hell. It was time for the demons to uphold their part of the bargain.
He made the circle, using his own blood, as it was with he this particular demon held the accord. Once it was complete, he began to speak the words of summoning that would bring the demon, and with it, a fearsome power that was unknown to mankind.
Severus woke to his Mark blazing in pain. Pulling up the sleeve of his nightshirt, he saw that the Mark was pulsing a sickly green. Quickly, he threw back his covers and changed into his robes. He needed to let Albus know right away. They had to perform the spell soon, or they would lose their chance.
As he hurried to the Headmaster's office, he met Harry on the way, cradling forehead in one hand.
"Voldemort making his move?" Harry gasped around the pain.
Snape nodded once, sharply, before hurrying on, leaving Harry to stumble after him. They reached the office in minutes. The gargoyle guarding the entrance opened immediately, as if it had sensed their urgency.
Dumbledore was already at his desk when they burst in. The deep, dark circles under the old man's eyes and generally haggard appearance suggested that he had yet to get any sleep. The smile he summoned was a facsimile of its usual self.
"Already?"
Severus frowned at the unusually dull look in the Headmaster's eyes. "Unfortunately. He's calling everyone together. The power behind it is stronger than it has ever been."
"He has everything ready," Harry added. "He's going to start the ritual soon."
Dumbledore's eyes fluttered shut for a moment. "Several Order members are already here. They will have to do. Mr. Potter, please go and bring Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger here. They will have to fill in the gaps."
Once Harry had left, Albus turned to Snape. "Are you sure about this, Severus?"
"Albus, you know as well as I that I am the only one who can perform this spell."
"I know, dear boy. However, if there was another way that did not risk your life, I would gladly heat it."
Snape's expression hardened. "There is no other way that I am aware of; it will have to be me."
"Very well."
Recognizing the dismissal in the Headmaster's tone, Snape left for his rooms to prepare.
There wasn't really much that Snape had to do in the way of preparation toward the spell. All he needed was some chalk and his memory. He reviewed the runes and their order one last time, then set the piece of parchment down and went to make ready his final preparation.
In his bedroom, he pulled out a small box from behind several tomes in his bookcase. Opening it, he took out his will. He'd had one ever since he had started spying all those years ago. Every few years, as he met more people and acquired more things, he would update it. Contemplatively, he stroked the dark lacquered wood absently noting the contrast between the color of the wood and his own pale fingers.
It was time to update it one last time.
TBC...
Hope you all liked it. Erm, it's been awhile since I looked at this, and was typed two different times. Hopefully, things till match up...