Thank You Lord Voldemort
Chapter 18 - The Storm
The following morning Alex was pleased to feel a warm body pressed up against him. He just wished that it could last longer. A moment later Severus began to stir, wrapping his arms around Alex and placing a kiss on his forehead.
"Please tell me that it isn't morning yet."
Alex sighed and wrapped a leg possessively around Severus. "It is. I suppose we should meet the headmaster before he finds us."
Severus grimaced as he pulled away to go to the loo. Alex did the same and after they had each showered and dressed they left to meet the headmaster.
About ten paces down the hallway Severus gasped. Alex turned to him to see him touch his left forearm.
"I have to go. I .. I wanted to ... "
Alex swallowed. "Just go to him. I will stall the headmaster. He'll understand. I won't leave before you come back."
Alex watched as Severus hurried off towards the dungeons. Alex himself took the same path but at a slower pace. When he got to the dorm all of the student death eaters were gone already. He went to his trunk and started going through his things. He knew he could only take with him what he could hold so he put on his best new robes that he had bought just before Christmas and then put his school robes back on over top, putting his letters from the Potters in his pocket. His wand holster, as always, was securely in place. He grabbed the blue potion from his nightstand and headed towards the infirmary where he would meet the headmaster.
"Mister Campione, I thought Severus would be accompanying you."
Alex motioned for the headmaster to follow him inside. "He was called sir. Can I wait until he gets back?"
Albus nodded and they sat down in a couple of chairs next to a bed. "Alex, I need to know how many years to send you."
"Twenty years sir. But you can't tell anyone."
"I've instructed Professor Flitwick to Obliviate that little piece of information from me when I'm done. I won't remember myself."
Alex nodded satisfied.
They sat there in a companionable silence for about twenty minutes when a pale Severus rushed in. "Sir, the Dark Lord instructed us to remain indoors this week. He plans to attack the school. He has instructed us to join in the battle once he has breached the castle."
"Thank you Severus. We will be ready when he arrives. Just stay indoors with the rest. Are you ready Alex?"
Alex looked nervously between the headmaster and Severus before running to Severus and holding him in a tight embrace. "Severus, I love you. Don't forget that. Don't forget me."
"I won't. I never could forget you. I love you more than life. I'll be there for you." Severus had to fight to keep back the tears that were threatening. He had to stay strong for Alex. He had to assure Alex that he'd be okay.
The headmaster cleared his throat and the boys separated. "Alex, the potion?"
Alex nodded and pulled out the potion. He glanced around one last time before gulping it down. "Severus, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
Severus nodded and opened the door to leave. He was knocked to the ground as Professor McGonagall barged in.
"Albus, Albus... He's ...You know who ... He's here ... Gryffindors .... quidditch practice..."
Alex and the headmaster both figured out what she was trying to say. Voldemort is here and the Gryffindors are outside at quidditch practice. Alex bolted. He could here the headmaster calling out to him.
"Alex. Stop. Stay in the infirmary."
Alex was way ahead of him though. He bolted out the main doors and ran towards the quidditch pitch. He could see a group of robed figures surrounding the Gryffindors. They appeared to be binded together. His only thought was that he needed to be faster. He noticed the broom shed. "Accio broom" He jumped onto the school broom as it arrived and bolted for the pitch. As he approached he pointed his wand at the quidditch team. He could see the terrified look on their faces. "Wingardium Leviosa."
He breathed a sigh of relief as the Gryffindors levitated way above the field. He pointed them towards the front of the castle and set them down there. He landed in front of them.
"Go inside. You'll be safe there."
James, being James, stepped forward. "No, he only caught us by surprise that time. We're staying."
Alex nodded and then turned to face Voldemort and his death eaters that were approaching. Soon curses were flying everywhere and Alex was dodging this way and that. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that Voldemort had Sirius cornered. He took off in that direction and got between the two.
"Sirius, run." Sirius stubbornly shook his head and stepped up beside Alex. Alex's blood ran cold as Voldemort let out a loud cackle. "Stupid boy." He said, looking at Alex. "How dare you wear the colors of my house. I don't know how you got so powerful for a muggle-loving fool. Accipere Potentia."
A red jet of light came from Voldemort's wand. Alex tried to dodge the curse but collided with Sirius. The curse hit him on the side. He froze as the curse hit him. The red light surrounded his body but quickly turned into the gold color he had seen at the end of his fourth year. Suddenly the light turned green and then shot back at Voldemort immobilizing him as well. The green seemed to grow brighter and then came back to Alex, enveloping his body once more. A searing pain gripped his whole body and then he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Severus, who had been watching from the doors to the castle, gasped when he heard the spell. It was a powerful power-draining spell. He had never heard of it doing that before though. It had appeared to reverse, affecting the Dark Lord instead. 'Must have been the potion.' he thought. Now he watched as both men fell to the ground. He rushed over to Alex as fast as he could and followed the headmaster, carrying Alex, to the. He laid him on a bed and Madame Pomphrey began her scans. After several agonizing minutes she turned to Albus and Severus.
"We are just going to have to wait and see. Right now he's not responding to anything but he doesn't appear to be dying either, although that's not certain. I'm not sure what the curse did but he seems to have been overloaded with magical energy. I'm not sure of the lasting effects, though I expect him to be out of sorts for a week or so at least. That's if he recovers."
The headmaster nodded. "I can't tell you exactly what happened Poppy but I will tell you that he received some of Voldemort's power. Some death eaters portkeyed him away. Unfortunately Voldemort will be fine in a few days as he can get his power else ware."
Severus stood there in silence for a few minutes, taking in the scene in the infirmary. Several other people were rushed in that had been hit by a curse or two. It appeared that Potter and Black had been hit with the cruciatus curse as they were shaking badly. He noticed that Madam Pomphrey was busy with other patients so he grabbed the correct potion from her stores and poured it into two cups. He carried the first one to James and brought it to his lips.
"You'd better not poison me Snape."
Severus just shook his head as he tilted the cup up, pouring its contents into the Gryffindor. He may not like Potter but no one deserved to feel the effects of that curse. He grabbed the other cup and gave it to Sirius. He watched the two as their color returned and he turned to walk away. He swore he heard a faint "Thanks Snape."
Without anything else he could do he went to Alex's side and sat beside him, holding his hand. He mindlessly stroked it and squeezed. He didn't notice the headmaster standing before him until he spoke.
"I'll need you to make more of that blue potion for Alex. I must finish what I started when he wakes up."
Severus looked away, nodding blankly. 'How can the headmaster worry about sending Alex back when we don't even know if he'll wake up?'
Three nights later he was called by the Dark Lord. He grabbed the portkey with the others and scowled as he appeared in front of the monster. He went through the motions of kissing his hem and standing back. He noticed that this was a full meeting. Many adult death eaters could be seen. The inner circle was gathered in front.
The Dark Lord stood up and sent a look that could kill to each of the students. "I want to know the name of the student I cursed on Sunday."
Everyone looked at each other. One of the other robed figures raised its arm.
Voldemort stormed over to the figure. "This isn't school. Who was it?"
A calm voice replied. "Alexander Campione. The time traveler."
The Dark Lord sneered at her and headed strait for Severus. "What do you have to say Severus? And make it good."
Severus had to keep himself from trembling under the monsters gaze but smoothed his voice as he replied. "I had no idea he opposed you. He didn't even know of you before. I was going to approach him soon but he said that he was going back to his time."
"I don't care for your excuses Severus." He hissed. "We can't let him go back to his own time with the power he has. You, Severus, will kill him. I'm sure you can put together a suitable poison. Do no fail me Severus. Crucio."
Severus fell to the ground with the burning pain coursing through his body. It felt like hot knives were cutting into him. He knew he screamed aloud as he writhed on the ground. The curse ended a minute later leaving him lying on the ground panting. The same student that had spoken before stepped forward. The Dark Lord approached him.
"What is it now?"
"I don't think Severus should be trusted with killing Campione."
"And why is that?"
"They are lovers, master."
"Is that true Severus?"
"Yes, my lord."
The Dark Lord smiled, if you could call it that. "Well then. I suppose your classmates will have to take care of this problem themselves." Voldemort stepped closer and grasped Severus' chin in his hand. "And once that problem is taken care of .... Hmm... Maybe you'll be good for more than just potions. Yes, you'll do." He turned to face everyone.
"Alex Campione must die. Take care of it. You are all dismissed."
The students portkeyed out and Severus went strait back to the infirmary and took up his position beside Alex, holding his hand.
Back in 1997
Severus Snape sat in his favorite chair in front of the fireplace, remembering. He recalled all of the special moments he and Alex had shared. It made him feel warm to know that those memories would be fresh in Alex's mind. He wondered what Alex would want to do after school now. The shop he had applied to work at closed ten years ago. Of course Severus really didn't need his income supplemented anyway. He had inherited his parent's ancestral home fifteen years ago. That's where he spent his summers now. But he knew that Alex wouldn't want to live there without contributing financially. He would want to get a job somewhere. Severus picked up the Daily Prophet that was lying beside him and began circling job openings that Alex might like. Keeping busy with little things like this kept him from wondering too often about whether or not Alex would still want him.
Accipere Potentia = Take in power. (I hope)