Chapter 5: At Hogwarts
"THAT BLOODY IDIOT! THAT STUPID, STUPID BOY! AIRHEAD THAT'S WHAT HE IS!" Snape made his way down the tower as fast as he could, all the while cursing the boy and then sending waves of emergency sparks with his wand.
Hopefully the headmaster was still awake. Hopefully, that little ignoramus was still alive! Bloody idiot, Snape continued to talk to himself now. Muttering swear words left and right. He made it to the doors of the Grand Hall before Minerva caught up to him.
"SEVERUS, WHAT'S WRONG!?" Snape jolted his head towards her while still running for the doors.
"Our bloody dear savior just threw his bloody dumb ass self out a window! Any more I can clarify for you!"
Minerva stopped running from shock then seemed to run faster. They made their way from the castle down the steps and to the lake. Snape used lumos to brighten the area but they still couldn't see much. Then, the answers appeared before them. Harry Potter's body floated to shore with blood surrounding it. Snape looked at the blood-covered rocks, then at Minerva. He couldn't believe it. Harry Potter was dead. A shriek brought him back from disbelief as he saw Minerva drop to the ground and crawl desperately to the body on the sand. Cradling the limp figure in despair.
"Yes, I suppose you would be upset now that your winning seeker is gone, however will you hold up in quidditch now?"
The foul words left his mouth but he didn't mean them. Minerva got up with tears in her eyes. Her robes covered in blood. Then another moment of staring into Snape's blank face wasn't enough to show her rage. As her hand rose, he quirked an eyebrow almost impressed that she would take action. And her hand came down all the same leaving a print of her hand on his cheek and a sting he so desperately wanted.
"How...dare...you...HOW DARE YOU! You've done nothing but throw blind spite at him only to wait till he is dead before throwing a knife in his face. I won't let you! DAMN IT DO YOU HEAR ME! I WILL NEVER LET YOU HARM HIM AGAIN! DON'T YOU EVER SPEAK ILL OF HIM! GO NOW, SEVERUS. TELL YOUR GLORIOUS DARK LORD THAT HE WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO KILL HARRY JAMES POTTER BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN HIM KILL HIMSELF FOR THE GOOD OF THIS BLOODY CRUEL WORLD!"
Another shriek as she quickly descended to the floor by Harry's side. Dumbledore finally made his way to the grounds as his stomach sank to the sight before him.
"Minerva, what's happened?"
Minerva looked at him and showed him the body, then moved the hair that was plastered to the boy's forehead and revealed to Dumbledore the unmistakable mark.
"Is he...?"
Minerva nodded with tears pouring down her cheeks. After a moment of silence, they floated him to Poppy in hopes that he wasn't dead. But Albus knew better. Harry was gone, and they were all at the mercy of a mad man. Then the headmaster finally spoke.
"We must alarm the students, first thing tomorrow. Minerva, his friends deserve to know beforehand. Inform them immediately tonight. I have much to discuss with the ministry, I would bid you both a good night but I fear both of your nights have been ruined. "
Albus was about to walk away when Minerva mumbled to Severus mostly.
"Some of us are having a bloody great night. Goodbye professor" she walked, fully sneering at Severus.
Albus looked at Severus and saw a tear fall from his face. Albus came closer to the potions master's side.
"You beckoned her to hit you, but you mustn't punish yourself. He jumped because he had lost too much family. Too much love. We've seen this before. Do not blame yourself, Severus."
Severus looked up and spoke barely in a whisper.
"Because I egged him on like nearly every time I've seen his face. This time, I thought he'd have a bloody broom with him... I didn't think he'd...that's the problem. I stopped thinking and became a mindless guppy. Now the boy is dead and his blood is on my hands. I completely understand if choose to remove me of my position in this school, Headmaster."
Albus put an arm on Severus' shoulder.
"Now, now my boy. It was not your fault. I won't have my best potions master leave now. This school needs you more than ever I'm afraid. Goodnight Severus."
And there, in the dark infirmary stood a very lonely Severus Snape, who stood staring at a very young Harry Potter.
Once he was sure he was alone, Severus moved to look closer at the body. Tears might have once blemished the boys face but all was left was blood and water from the lake. Severus placed his hand on the boy's dead hand. Once he felt the cold, he gave in and cried. Cried for every minute he made the boy suffer. He cried for a boy who never saw the light in the world. Severus laid with his head on the bed and his knees to the ground and couldn't let go of that hand. Couldn't leave the boy alone, again.
As Minerva made her way to the Gryffindor common rooms, she found both of Harry's friends in their respective rooms. She quietly but quickly gathered them both to a quiet, unused room out in the corridor and placed a silencing charm on the room. She gave them both grave looks but only Hermione seemed to feel her stomach plummet all while Ron was still wiping away at his eye crusties.
"Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger? I have terrible, terrible news for you both...Our young Mr. Potter, is dead... I-I am so, so sorry." Hermione stood awestruck in disbelief and Ron was outraged.
"Who did it? Was it Malfoy! Always knew that bloody git was out for us. How about Snape? Damn arse was acting odd this year. Maybe bloody Flitwick with that damn feather! Or even the upholstery! YES, THAT'S IT THE BLOODY UPHOLSTERY DID IT!" Ron losing himself in tears willing to blame all in hopes his very best friend would return. Hermione finally grasping for answers asked.
"Please professor...how?" Minerva feeling more guilt arise spoke softly. "Suicide Miss Granger. I suppose he didn't want to live life if he were always endangering those he loved so... " As the two broke down and cried the rest of the night away, a certain potions master received a call from his master.
Severus took his cloak and mask and went quietly out into the night to meet the dark lord. He walked for a long time into the forest, and wiped away any remaining tears. He needed to rely on his mask for tonight. He hoped he could hold composure. After some time, he'd found the port key lying on the ground amongst some leaves. A ball of twine?
Severus quirked an eyebrow...Someone's been getting creative. He took hold of the item and no sooner ended up on a hill in a graveyard. An unknown location without any landmarks. Just the grass and the darkness you could feel ever closer to encompassing your body.
Severus began to head for the house and found several others began arriving behind him. He entered the house once he'd reached the door and went to the room down the hall. Even the walls seemed distressed in this old, crumbling house. Voldemort sat in a large black leather chair, with cobwebs hanging off its edging. The room was familiar somehow and Snape thought better than to let his mind wander too far.
"Ah Severus. So glad you could join us, this lovely evening. And what news have you brought me from the castle?" The words licked off his tongue like ice and each word stabbed Severus' heart in reminder to the past evening.
"My lord, the Potter boy is dead. I saw him do it myself. Jumped out of a tower into a set of rocks and the boy...He's dead." Voldemort stared at Snape for a moment on whether or not he spoke the truth. "Severus, do you dare lie to me? Is this a trick from the foolish old man?" Snape grabbed a pensieve nearby and pulled out the memory, then, quickly placed it into the basin nearby. Voldemort watched with gleam.
"Well this IS a turn of events. It looks like your methods have worked after all, Severus." A pang in his chest made him hurt all over again. It was his plan to goat Harry into suicide. Not intentionally but the dark lord had overheard his conversation with Lucius. He had mentioned that Harry was merely human and if you put enough pressure on what hurts then he'd snap like a twig. Lucius had found other members were afraid of Harry, saying that he was undefeatable. So the dark lord took Snape's boasting and made it a challenge. It would seem that it worked. He wished that stupid airhead Potter was in his dormitory right now.
After the meeting, which was full of praise for Severus Snape, they all headed back home in eagerness to celebrate the most loyal servant of all. Severus walked back to the castle as he watched dawn approach. It had been several hours since the death of the boy and the meeting seemed it would last forever. The sun just didn't seem as bright as it normally would be, but then, it would never be the same again anyway.
"Grave news, Severus?" Snape had almost missed the headmaster awaiting him at the doors to the school.
I'm an honorary hero for killing the boy who lived single handedly. And because I did such a good job, they'll let you keep the school..." Dumbledore understood the pain in his voice and wanted to comfort him, but then Severus Snape was not one for being comforted.
"Would you like some tea in my office, Severus? Before the announcements?" A worried glance to Severus he'd better or he'd sleep through the morning with his face in his oatmeal. He doubted he'd be able to eat though. Not for a while. They headed to the castle in silence. Once they'd reach the gargoyle to the headmaster's office, a simple
"Snickerdoodle" was spoken in barely a whisper. Normally Severus would scoff and debate with the headmaster over more difficult passwords in which Dumbledore would reply
"Would you have guessed that?" and in response always came,
"No."
This morning was different. They sat quietly in each other's company with only the sound of tea being sipped. After tea, Severus walked with the headmaster to their seats in the Great Hall. Students filed in merrily discussing odd topics such as Quidditch and the newest robes made of flobberworm mucus. Hermione and Ron sat in their normal places with shadowy bags under their eyes. Severus couldn't help but understand their pain even if they were Gryffindors. Their fellow classmate had died, just hours after they'd said goodnight.
"Students, Faculty members, I am sorry but I have grave news. You will notice an empty seat is in this room. One that has often been filled by a great kindness. One who would help any friend in need whether it be Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Help would be given to those that asked. Last night, a very brave young man made a sacrifice for those he truly loved, and I would ask that you give a moment of silence for this very brave young man. Harry Potter is gone. But not from our hearts as he may have had a mark of death, he has placed a mark of love upon those of us still here."
As the speech went on, the banners along the room turned black and students of all houses bellowed in the halls with pain. Minerva thought to herself, "How will I ever tell Remus."