Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; blah blah, blah and all that good stuff.

Thank you for the reviews! I love reviews! I apologize if the chapters are too short for anyone; I promise, they get longer! I just saw Goblet of Fire in theaters and it was sooo AWESOME! My favorite Harry Potter movie yet.

This is the edited chapter 4.

It Ends Now

Part 4: "Rescue"

Severus Snape was in his office, pouring over papers with a snarl of distaste about his countenance. The sneer clearly growled to anyone, should they encroach upon the darkly Potions Master, that he was not in a good mood, not wanting to be trifled with, and not wanting to be reading paperwork... plainly put in the language of normal people, 'Get out, I'm busy'. Copious amounts of greasy black hair hung in front of his eyes like a dismal curtain, blocking the coal-like orbs from view. The man looked like an overgrown bat, and the only movement his body performed was the occasional sideways darting of the head to skip to another paragraph. That is, until he twitched severely, gritting his teeth with pain-

A pain that shot up from his forearm. Snape clutched the offending spot, swearing. He stalked up, donned a set of inky robes from his closet, and pulled up his sleeve. The spy touched his tattooed and inflamed Dark Mark, laying a firm finger on the Dark Lord's insignia. He disapparated as soon as his appendage touched it.

Snape expected it to be just a normal Death Eater meeting, but oh how wrong he was! What he saw when he appeared, clad in Death Eater disguise, made his stomach lurch unpleasantly.

This was no meeting.

Severus observed Potter dorsicumbent the ground, looking as if a troll had maimed him only moments before. The fifteen year old was covered in congealing and fresh blood, and looked in a considerable amount of pain- each breath seemed to cost much effort. Snape found himself doing the unthinkable: he actually felt a small twinge of sorrow for The-Annoying-Boy-Who-Lived. That emotion was dashed seconds later; Snape told himself firmly that any... sentiments... about the teen's well-being were only distractions to his ultimate goal. The Potions professor shifted out of the circle of other masked Death Eaters, gliding like an undetected specter away from the throng. He drew his wand and whispered:

"Expecto Patronum."

A flash of silver streaked out of his wand and shot off into the night, animal merely a blur of speed against the indigo hued sky. Snape watched it disappear, praying his telepathically recorded message would reach the Order in time. Severus moved back into the posse of Death Eaters silently, rejoicing to see that his brief disappearance had gone unnoticed. Everyone's rapt attention was focused on Potter and the Dark Lord. Apparently, Voldemort had just finished one of his unbearably arrogant and long-winded recitations. His wand was now pointed at Harry in absolute precision.

"Crucio!"

Snape could only watch as the boy jerked and writhed around on the ground in pain, screaming. Dimly, he wondered why the boy didn't just try to block it with a counter-spell or shield. The Potions Master suddenly felt extreme gratitude for the mask covering his face. This way, the mob around him couldn't see the look of disgust and anger gracing his pallid features. How could any of them take pleasure in the torture of a boy; a mere child?

Then all at once, Voldemort lifted the curse and flicked his wand up with professional flare. He, along with all his members, laughed. Snape could only manage a small sneer; the mirth he should have been feigning just wouldn't come out. How could he, when Potter was being tortured? It made no matter; people weren't listening to see if he was laughing. Harry coughed up a mess of red blood, and Severus twitched. What the hell had happened? Potter was coughing up blood and unprotected, something not normally seen in the "hero of the Wizarding World". Was he purposely flirting with his life in a bid for attention (no doubt that was the answer; asinine, inane, cocky offspring of James Potter that he is), or had something happened to his family?

All these questions and no answers.

Voldemort began talking again, and ordered Snape to bring the boy his wand. The obsidian-eyed man briefly wondered if Voldemort was only calling him out to vex Harry. Or maybe the Dark Lord thought he was flaunting Severus; giving Harry another reason for hopelessness. Whatever the reason, Snape complied and masked his face to the usual emotionlessness. He kept his eyes down and showed no recognition as he did the task. The boy, stupid as he was, would inevitably give him away with some imbecilic shout of: "Oh, Professor Snape! I knew you'd come! Is the Order on their way?" He risked a quick glance into Harry's viridian depths as he stood, maintaining a detached exterior. Inwardly, the teacher praised Harry, rather grudgingly, for his tact. At least the boy knew enough not to proclaim to the world Severus' double-agent status.

Upon walking backwards into the band of Death Eaters, Snape let the cold mask fall, only momentarily, for Potter. Then fear entered Snape as Harry's scared emeralds connected with his onyx, only for but an instant's breath. It was as if Harry's emotions had somehow permeated into him, like he'd just performed Legilimency.

If Potter and the Dark Lord were to duel, the boy would surely meet death this time, in this state...

When on earth would the Order arrive?

oOo

The Order of the Phoenix was settled around the table at Grimmauld Place, engaged in a meeting concerning the kidnapping of Ollivander the wand maker and Florean Fortesque, the ice cream shop owner. Everyone around the square bore such grim expressions that one wouldn't think the ornery visages could get any worse... which would have been a totally false assessment. A streak of silver made its way into the room- a raven, pearly white and translucent; Snape's patronus. Everyone looked up, startled, except Dumbledore who watched almost benignly as the bird fluttered up to the ceiling and perched onto a beam, swaying. Then the alabaster raven opened its mouth and Snape's silky voice issued into the room.

"The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters have Potter in an alleyway off Magnolia Crescent. Potter's sustained quite a few injuries; I'm not sure what happened. Require assistance immediately."

The voice faded away into the stunned silence and the patronus dissolved.

"Wasn't Mundungus trailing Harry?" Tonks questioned, her features sickly pale. Her hair, previously a murky brown, shifted black. Gone were the days when she'd experimented with vibrant colors; the bold hues seemed too bright for a house missing its brooding master.

"Yes," Remus Lupin answered, anger flashing in his eyes. "No doubt found another stolen cauldron deal. As if that's as important as Harry's safety!"

"This is the second time his blunder has risked Harry's life. Albus, don't you think you should reconsider his membership by now...?" Molly Weasley said darkly, equally as furious as the werewolf perched beside her. Dumbledore stood up quickly, and an urgent quiescence reigned.

"Molly, right now we have no time to discuss the fate of Mundungus Fletcher. Minerva?" he said, blue eyes devoid of twinkle or sparkle. Professor McGonagall also stood up, addressing the mage:

"Headmaster?"

"I ask you to fetch Madam Pomfrey and have her on hand here. Harry will need to be attended to as soon as we return."

McGonagall nodded and disapparated with a pop.

"Everyone apparate to Magnolia Crescent," Dumbledore ordered, and there was no question as everyone twisted in reverberating pops. The room was empty within seconds.

oOo

Screams… Harry's screams…

Voldemort was crucioing Harry and cackling madly.

Dumbledore, from the side, shot Expelliarmus at Voldemort. The curse lifted, leaving Harry panting on the ground with half-closed glazed eyes. The Order charged, meeting the Death Eaters head on in battle.

Lupin looked around, searching for Harry. He began panicking when noticing that the fifteen year old was suddenly gone from his previous spot. The werewolf spotted Lucius Malfoy the next minute, suffocating the boy and sneering balefully.

"Stupefy!" Lupin shouted. Malfoy cried out and collapsed, unconscious. Harry mirrored his captor with a similar slump as Lupin raced toward him. Anxiety took claim of Remus' countenance as he exclaimed,

"Harry! Harry! Are you alright? Harry! Answer me!"

Harry's gaze went blank as he fainted. Panicking again, Lupin gathered up Harry's limp form and moved out of the battle zone. He had to help fight, but definitely couldn't leave Harry. The werewolf was torn. He looked back at those dueling- flashes of light were flying everywhere, as if fireworks were exploding throughout the alleyway. There would certainly be some Confunding of Muggles tonight. Remus glanced to the center of the fray, where Dumbledore had snarling Voldemort locked in a binding of fire.

"Retreat!" the Dark Lord called, knowing it too risky to fight Dumbledore now. Their greater plan hadn't even been put into action yet, and here his warriors were, bound on decreasing their numbers! Already, a few of his followers lay sprawled, dead, on the pavement. With resounding snaps and pops, he and the Death Eaters disapparated. Dumbledore frowned as Voldemort slipped from his spell, unwounded. He sighed, then spotted the wavering Remus Lupin and sprinted over concernedly.

"We've got to get Harry to Headquarters. I shall inform the Dursleys of his whereabouts, then stop by the Ministry to chat briefly with the Underage Magic department... no doubt Harry performed a few defensive spells tonight," Dumbledore said quickly, wasting no time in picking up a stray soda bottle. "Stay safe."

"Portus," he then muttered. The rest of the Order members began teleporting back. Lupin touched a part of the can, shifting Harry's weight slightly. Dumbledore grasped Harry's lifeless finger and moved it to the bottle.

"One… two… three…"

Remus felt a jerk under his navel and flew forward into a whirl of light and sound. The wind whistled around him and he held Harry tighter, afraid to let go.

Thanks for all those reviews! Remember to tell me what you thought.

AngelMoon Girl