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Disclaimer: I neither own the characters or their world, nor make a profit from this.
Warning: Dark themes (rape, torture, death), malexmale,
A/N: Yep, I know you'll all hate me, but this is a short chapter, but at least it's posted .O
Thanks to everyone who tried to get my reviews up to 222, almost there! It was in fact just to amuse me .O
and I would have updated whether or not I came close, I'm not one of those authors who threatens not to update if I don't get reviews
(if you go back to the previous chapter it was in fact a request not a threat)
I'd like to think you love me and my story enough to review anyway! (yes I am just a little egotistic, heh, just kidding)
Next update will either be in two or three weeks time.
Enjoy.
Chapter 21
HP
Harry felt the magic flow through him, wild uncontrollable, filling out the larger form he was in. It felt so familiar, but there was a different quality to it, the way it entwined with the magic, the form of Severus Snape.
He could feel the Dark Lord's resistance crack under his assault as he tried to force himself further into the man, could feel the way his grasp on Severus weakened before the others presence was ripped from the mind of the mad man.
He'd freed Severus from the monster's mind.
But it wasn't enough.
The wild magic wanted more, needed something more substantial. He could feel it burn through his veins, flood his mind as it ate at his anger, his desperation. What would it matter if he let it take hold of him? He was going to die tonight anyway, if not from this, then from the Dark Lord's anger.
"Potter." A hiss and he was pushed forcefully from the mans mind. Staring at flaring red eyes, thin lips pulled in a snarl, fangs glinting in the light reflected from his uncontrolled magic.
"Riddle." Harry smirked, could feel his magic flare. He was going to take on this bastard and make him pay.
Make him pay for killing his parents, the magic simmered beneath his skin.
Make him pay for killing Credric, anger and desperation fed the wild flow.
For all he'd done to Severus.
Smouldering.
For all Harry had done to Severus.
Searing.
He let the magic flow through him, cut into the Dark Mark etched into his skin, felt it burn through the direct link, catching at the others soul, tearing and shredding at it. Twisting in on itself, he felt it snap.
SS
"Harry!" His arm was grabbed and he flinched away from the touch, the too loud voice. Cringing.
"Mr Potter." A softer tone. He turned wild eyes to Madame Pomfrey, to thick brown hair and blonde. Granger and Draco.
"His still there." He managed to croak, throwing the thick hospital blanket from him, trying desperately to swing his legs off the side of the bed. His whole body shook, protesting the movement after having endured numerous Unforgivables.
"What are you doing S-Potter?" The tone was cutting and Severus almost hissed in desperation when he was shoved unceremoniously back into bed.
"He's still there! Don't you get it! He knows. He knowsss." The word came out in a hiss and Severus had to try and stop the shake in his voice, the tremors running through his muscles.
He'd left Harry behind to face the Dark Lord. Merlin, what had he done?
"Calm down." An order, but Severus ignored it, before he felt magic wash over him.
He struggled to sit up, fight the sudden heavy numbness in his muscles, the way he seemed to be drowning in senselessness, his hammering heart slowing as his breaths became even and he felt the darkness creep up on him, slowly sending him into a forced calming sleep, soothed by magic.
He tried to scream in protest but even his mind had shut down.
He felt himself lose to the pull.
HP
If Harry could have screamed he would've, but the pain was cutting into him and all he could do was stand there, legs almost buckling beneath him as his mouth opened in a breathless gasp.
The Dark Lord was just as silent, face to the cold stone floor, shimmering with a light dusting of magic playing so innocently over the robes.
He could feel the magic recede and gulped down air to his now working lungs. The pain let up only a fraction, enough for him to be able to think, for him to take control and force the magic back into himself, down into the core he was careful not to brush against.
He could feel the trembling in his limbs and thanked Merlin that the Dark Lord had broken the magical connection, otherwise they would have both died.
He winced.
He had thought he was ready to die, thought that if he fulfilled his purpose, if he killed this mad man, and if he died in the process he would be able to finally rest, finally see his parents again.
He'd been just a little naïve.
His whole body trembled, his knees almost collapsing as he caught himself against a wall.
Shaking his head Harry blinked at the man on the floor. He knew the monster wasn't dead, but he also knew that he had no energy, magic or weapon to take on the unconscious form. He'd have to return later to finish the job.
He swayed where he stood. Taking in a deep breath and forcing himself to stay conscious, he swore to himself as darkness pushed at the corners of his vision, he'd have to get out of here and soon.
Of course he only needed to get through a stronghold of death eaters standing in his way, a maze of a house and a giant snake before he'd be able to say he was on the downward slope, he tried to joke with himself.
He frowned, pinching the bridge of his nose to try and still his pounding head, humour didn't always work in tough situations.
He could still die tonight.
So with a determined, albeit slightly grim look on his face he forced his protesting muscles to move, stepping around the body, careful not to get too close, he opened the door to an empty corridor.
HG
Hermione watched.
She couldn't feel the stinging pain in her lip where teeth worried away at the bruised flesh.
Couldn't feel the rough cotton of hospital sheets where she gripped at it.
Not the warm tracks down her cheeks.
"It'll be ok." The mediwitch soothed the quiet room, neither Hermione or Draco replying.
Hermione knew it wouldn't be ok.
It couldn't be ok while Professor Snape was still out there, not while the Dark Lord lived and killed innocent people and tortured her friend. Not while the headmaster was gone and the ministry run by imbeciles. Where people weren't tolerated due to the purity of their blood, whether muggleborn, vampire or werecreature.
Draco hadn't told her it would be ok.
She believed his silence.
And in the shadows of the hospital ward he held her hand.
As they watched and waited.
HP
Harry knew that he was limping, knew that his breath was too rough too loud in the quiet corridor. He tried not to let the hoarse sound out from between his lips, but his lungs protested to the slower, quieter breathing. His whole body ached, muscles protesting, he should have passed out alongside the Dark Lord, from the overdose and wild use of the magic.
He felt light-headed, sick to the stomach while his left leg would cramp on occasion. His vision was blurry, almost as if he needed his glasses again, while his head pounded, his jaw clenched against all the other small aches and stinging pains shooting down his spine.
He was glad he hadn't passed out.
He kept the slow pace, trying to see ahead in the shadows, keeping both hands to the wall, bracing himself as he made his shuffling way down the hall, his heart racing in his ears. Every corner he turned he held his breath, knowing that if a single death eater was to find him, he wouldn't be able to fight back, wouldn't be able to even defend himself.
And as time dragged, he could almost imagine hearing the slide of scales on rock, of the soft hiss right behind him that would herald his death. He tried not to let his mind play tricks, but the exhaustion crowded in on him, his vision abandoned him and he tried to see throught the haze, his hands leading the pained limping.
"Gods." The voice was familiar, but Harry couldn't care less. He'd been found.
And with that information his knees gave out and the hard stone floor came up to meet them. Teeth clamped through his tongue at the jolt, letting the stinging explode down his throat as he collapsed against the wall. He couldn't go on.
"Severus…" The name jarred in his mind but the rest of the words were lost as he gave up the struggle to hold onto pained and exhausted consciousness. He didn't want to die, but he knew his parents would understand.
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--- to be cont'
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Adios
S