Chapter Fifteen: Turning Point:
Hogwarts:
Christmas seemed a lifetime ago though it had only been a few weeks. Severus was both mentally and physically wore out. The never ending attacks of Bellatrix were taking their toll on the magical community. They had just survived what they thought was the end of one war only to find themselves back in war again. Oh there were far less deaths than the last time on their side but still the people were angry that this was not over. Severus could not blame them, he was tired of all this too. He stood now in the headmaster's office stunned but not really surprised at the latest news.
"So headmaster she knows you have the wand." Severus said. "Does she know of the ring?"
"Yes, I am afraid she does." Dumbledore said. "She would have had the ring traced back and if she has she knows who has the cloak."
"Oh God please no, he has been through so much, to have her after him." Severus said looking so strained and older than he should.
"I know, yet unless there is a break she will gain it and there is not much we can do." Dumbledore said.
"There is one thing headmaster." Severus said looking at the aged headmaster with pleading obsidian eyes. "Destroy the ring at the least, please."
"Severus you know if I could I would my boy but I cannot."
"Then let me, please for all of us." Severus pleaded.
"I need to see my sister, have her forgive me." Dumbledore said softly.
"Headmaster if that were the case you would have used it, please do not allow this to poison you another day."
"I, I need it." Dumbledore said. "Do not go down this path Severus."
"I must, I need you headmaster." Severus said anguish in his voice. "I fear you are moving away from me, from all of us for this thing."
"I have sot it all my life, now I have it you wish me to destroy it?" Dumbledore said looking over at Severus anger in his eyes.
"Yes, it is an evil thing," Severus stepped forward pleading in every fiber of his being. "Headmaster you once saved me from an evil fate, let me do so now for you."
Dumbledore stood and looked at the younger wizard before him. Severus was not one to show such great emotion, yet now he did, the pain and anguish in his eyes was for him of all people. Dumbledore knew Severus was right, he knew he had to do this thing to free himself, his sister and his family from this curse. He walked slowly to where he hid the ring and drew it out of its hiding place and put it on the desk and took out his wand. He looked down at it and then up at Severus.
"Why would you wish to save me Severus"?" Dumbledore said pausing to look at the young man. "You know not what lies in my heart."
"I know what lies there headmaster, did you not save a wretched evil boy and teach him how to be good?" Severus said softly. "I will do this if it pains you headmaster."
"No, it is time I did this, the stone as you said is evil, I will destroy it." Dumbledore said. "Then only two will remain. The wand must be destroyed on my death, the cloak is the only one worthy to go on."
"Understood headmaster." Severus said. "I will see it is done I swear as God as my witness."
Dumbledore pointed his wand at the stone and with one powerful spell he destroyed it for good. He sighed and sat down at his desk and a smile came over his face. He actually felt better than he thought he would and he realized he had done the right thing. Severus left the office and Dumbledore began to hum a waltz from his youth as he got up to feed and talk to Fawkes his dear Phoenix…
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Grimmauld Place:
Severus went to see his son that evening as he always did. Now that Max was safe at Grimmauld place he stayed there for the time being. Severus missed him in the castle but things were better this way for now. He went through his bedtime routine with the boy and after tucking him in and kissing him goodnight he went down to the kitchen to grab a snack before he headed back to Hogwarts. He was greeted by Sirius holding a squealing rat by the tail.
"Oh hi Severus, look what Remus found!" Sirius said by way of greeting holding up a squealing rat by his tail.
"That is not Pettigrew is it?" Severus asked arching his eyebrow.
"Peter Pettigrew aka Wormtail aka snack!" Sirius said getting up to get a pan. "Hey Moony should I use butter or oil?"
"Butter most definitely butter." Remus said turning to Severus.
"I do have a question." Sirius said pausing in dropping the rat into the hot butter.
"What?" Severus snapped at him.
"This creature can turn human but he is a rat now however he can turn human if I eat him will that be cannibalism as he can turn human or as he is a rat can I eat him or not as he can turn human?"
"You better not chance it then." Remus said and how he could follow what Sirius had said mystified Severus.
"How did you find him?" Severus asked.
"Well he was out taking his pudgy self for a walk, there is not nothing wrong with being fat, take Slughorn." Remus said.
"Great man, great man indeed." Sirius said. "He was always so nice to me in class."
"He must be a saint to have put up with you." Severus shot at him.
"I knew Padfoot here was bored and so I stunned him, turned him to a rat and brought him here!" Remus said grinning.
"Wonder what we should do with this thing then?" Sirius said holding the thrashing Wormtail up by his tail.
"Let's see how loud he can scream." Severus said raising his wand.
"No! No Unforgivables!" Sirius said looking scared. "You want to bring the wrath of Molly on us? She put up wards to detect any Unforgivables!"
"Very well then, I am sure you can figure it out." Severus said.
"You can watch, but you will stay out of it." Sirius warned him.
"You take the fun out of life you know that?" Severus growled.
Severus took a seat at the table and watched as Sirius put the rat on the table. Remus put a shield charm around the edge of the table so Wormtail could not escape and they began. One should not feel sorry for the rat, he really deserved this as he had in human form betrayed everyone he claimed to love. To say the rat was terrified would not do it justice as the wizards took turns tormenting and torturing the Animagmus. They would never harm a real animal like this, but Wormtail was a demon in human and rat form. Severus smirked and took out his wand and lazily sent a color changing charm. Sirius glared at him as Wormtail turned a nice bright yellow.
"Why did you do that?" Sirius asked him.
"Pink." Severus said.
"What?" Sirius said looking puzzled.
"I meant pink, always have trouble with color charms." Severus said adding pink polka dots to the rat. "Damn that did not work very well." He smirked.
"You did that on purpose." Remus said laughing at the condition of the rat now. "He never looked better."
"Indeed." Severus said.
"Let us torture him Sev." Sirius said.
"Do I not have a right as well?" Severus asked arching a brow.
"He does you know, for Lily." Remus said sending a shocking charm at the rat.
"Yes for Lily." Sirius said doing the same spell once again.
"And this is for her as well." Severus said his eyes flashing. "Crucio!"
"No!" Sirius squeaked.
"Now you did it Severus, we are dead, we are dead, we are dead… Hello Molly."
Severus did not move as Molly came into the room wand out pointed at him. She knew he had done this and to say she was upset would not do it justice. She rounded on him and the fact he could remain so calm in the face of her fury awed the two wizards. Severus looked up at her with wide-eyed innocence.
"What-do-you-think-you-are-doing?" She snarled at him.
"Torturing Peter Pettigrew." Severus said calmly.
"With Unforgivables?"
"Yes."
"Severus you cannot do that here, I know he is evil and wicked but you cannot torture him like that. Besides I happen to like rats and do not approve of you torturing even Pettigrew in his rat form!" Molly said cold is ice.
"He got two very good people killed, got Sirius here thrown in prison, nearly drove Remus insane." Severus said quietly.
"Yes, yes he did that but Severus is it right to stoop to his level?" Molly asked looking very sad.
"No, you are right, I am sorry, I will not do that again." Severus replied.
"I know, you poor boys." Molly said sadly.
She hugged him and walked out wiping her eyes. Remus and Sirius turned as one to look at him jaws dropped to the table. It was clear Severus was very, very good at getting out of trouble even with Molly! It was very clear he was not Slytherin for nothing. Severus looked at the other wizards and smirked, he knew he was good and he wanted to gloat a bit more about it. Arthur and Moody came in as Severus was getting a snack and turned Wormtail into his human form binding him to a chair.
"He looked better as a rat." Severus said eating one of Molly's wonderful pastries.
"He should get Azkaban he used an unforgivable on me!" Wormtail snarled.
"Boy ye got some Vertaserum on you?" Moody asked Severus.
"No but I can get some, it will take a moment." Severus said looking at Wormtail coldly. "I could break him with Legitimacy if you wish."
"No, I don't want you having to put yourself out that way." Moody said. "I think it is time we do this the easy way. See just what crumbs of information Bellatrix has given to this miserable rat."
"Very well." Severus said smiling thinly.
He grabbed some floo powder by the fireplace and went to his rooms in Hogwarts. In a few minutes he was back again. Here was the break everyone had been hoping for, Wormtail had no choice but to tell the all he knew and if all went well it would lead them to Bellatrix and end this war once and for all…
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Blood Castle:
Bellatrix was close, she knew she was close to the prize. If only Dumbledore were not so trusting, he would have seen straight through Lucius Malfoy. He wanted nothing more than power and the news he had brought her over the past few months would help him gain his power back. The latest was the best of all. Lucius had told her that Wormtail had been captured by Remus Lupin and was now in the hands of the order. Now the pale dark wizard stood calmly to near the window of Black castle looking out over the dark moors beyond.
"You have proven far more cunning than I could have hoped for Lucius." Bellatrix said. "How could any know you knew how to brew the antidote for Vertaserum?"
"Yes, they believe I am fully on their side now." Lucius said his light eyes glinting in the candle light.
"Still you have had the chance to destroy the traitor Severus and his brat." Yaxley said coming forward. "Why did you not?"
"I would hope my news would be enough for you." Lucius said staring at Yaxley. "It should be up to our lady how this is handled."
"Well spoken Lucius." Bellatrix said. "Now tell me what do they plan on doing now they have everything Wormtail knew?"
Lucius bowed low and told her all that he had learned in the last order meeting. Wormtail had told under the truth serum all about the attack on Hogsmeade in two weeks. He had told all he knew about how many death eaters would be there and what remained of the dark creatures on Bellatrix's side. Once done Lucius stepped back into the shadows and watched Yaxley and Bellatrix. He did not mind seeing Yaxley in his position, he liked working behind the scenes, it was after all his comfort zone.
"Lucius what do you think we should do?" Bellatrix asked Lucius.
"I am not one to say, you know best what needs to be done." Lucius said. "Darrow would know."
"I would indeed." Yaxley said. "I hear that your niece is planning on marrying the filth that killed Grayback."
"I will tend to that." Lucius said his eyes flashing.
"Good, see to it you do." Bellatrix said turning from where she had been pouring herself some wine.
She looked at Lucius, she knew why he left Voldemort, he had told her calmly why. She had understood, his honor had been ravaged and he had wanted revenge. Now with Voldemort out of the way he could start working on getting his honor back. She knew not to treat him as badly has he had been but she would have to keep him in line. She took out her wand and pointed it at him causing him to pale.
"Leave us Darrow." Bellatrix said to Yaxley.
"Yes my lady." Yaxley said bowing low and leaving.
"What are you going to do cousin?" Lucius said to her looking nervous.
"You need to know Lucius I plan on ruling the world." Bellatrix said calmly. "I know your desire for power."
"I do not deny it." Lucius said. "However I do not wish to take over the world myself. Nor do I like being used by those whom I serve."
"I know this." Bellatrix said.
"You are wise to trust Yaxley." Lucius said walking over to pour himself some wine. "He cares deeply about you."
"I know this." Bellatrix said calmly. "What will you tell the old fool?"
"He knows not I am working with you, I have weaved a tale of remorse and humility to him." Lucius said. "The magical limitations put on me matter not, they should have put a trace on me as well."
"All that will matter not when I gain the Deathly Hallows." Bellatrix said.
"I know, I thank you for that." Lucius said adding "my lady."
Lucius poured himself a goblet of wine and sipped at it and looked over at Bellatrix. She said nothing and he knew the meeting was over. Lucius finished his wine and left the castle. Once he was gone Yaxley came back into the chamber looking worried. He did not trust Lucius and he felt he had very good reasons to. Had not the wizard renounced Voldemort? Oh he had not turned anyone of them in, but still he lead a pretty good life still, he was free, no one pursued him and he still had his wealth. Yaxley had nothing left. His son had deserted him and fled to America, his wife, well she had died so that did not matter, but his wealth had been confiscated and so it left him destitute.
"My lady I do not trust him." Yaxley said.
"Do you think I really do either?" Bellatrix said coldly. "Still he is worth far more than Wormtail ever was, at least he is honest about what he wants."
"That is what worries me." Yaxley said softly. "He could betray you."
"He will not, we are moving up the attack on Hogsmeade." Bellatrix said taking a sip of wine and sitting in her chair now. "Once we have Hogsmeade we have access to the castle. I know about a tunnel under Honey dukes courtesy of a certain worthless rat." Bellatrix said coldly.
"When will we attack?" Yaxley asked.
"Tomorrow, we attack tomorrow."
Yet what these two did not know was the full truth. Lucius was not on their side at all, in fact he knew full well that Bellatrix would up her attack for the next day. He hated her and hated the dark, and hated himself too. He was going to see her go down and when she did well, he had left clues, she really was thick to think he was going to ever be on her side.
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I wanted to show that Dumbledore and Severus really were this close and that Dumbledore would listen to Severus as Severus really is his son in all but name and blood.
Oh and I don't condone the torture used either, Molly is right there was no need for it, death penalty yes for Pettigrew, torture no.
Lucius is not on Bellatrix's side, he wants her gone, he really is trying to do right here though I still find him a jerk most of the time.
Thank you for reading, and do please review!