Chapter Nine: He-Who-Must-Not-Know

***Severus Snape***

The instant he had Disapparated, Snape felt someone seize hold of his back, gripping his black cloak tightly. Did Potter somehow manage to catch him? A moment later and the pair tumbled to the earth, blood dripped from the gashes on his chest, painting the dull ground with a glossy crimson coating. Grasping at his chest in a futile attempt to stem the blood flow, Snape staggered to his feet, panting with the effort. A flash of gold in his peripheral vision caught his attention, looking at him with concerned blue sapphire eyes was Zeno, Hogwarts' only immortal boy.

"What are you doing here…Mr. Zeno? Do you desire revenge for the Headmaster's death?"

"Mister, you need to use a healing spell on that wound before you lose too much blood," advised Zeno. Inky black eyes stared at the boy for a moment before flickering to his wand, muttering the incantations, Snape quietly heeded Zeno's advice.

CRACK!

Both Snape's and Zeno's heads whipped around to the creeping shadows of the trees where fallen leaves crunched beneath heavy footsteps.

"Chasing me all the way to Malfoy Manor was foolish, Mr. Zeno. There's no-one that can save you here, you can't escape from the Dark Lord...so don't bother… trying," it was a cryptic message, the boy was smarter than he appears so he should be able to understand the words he is trying to convey. Snape knew that if the Dark Lord was to view his memories of this moment, there was a chance the Dark Lord could discover his true intentions, something which would be best to avoid. The Dark Lord must never get his hands on the secrets behind Zeno's power, Snape would make sure of it.

"Zeno knows! Zeno will bring Mister back to Hogwarts with him," Snape sneered at Zeno's optimism. So he did understand…

"You wish… to bring me back to be punished… for my crime? How naïve…you think you can force me to go…with you?" He drawled, eyes lowered to peer directly at Zeno, who gave a slight almost imperceptible nod. Snape pointed his wand at Zeno's head so the tip pressed firmly against the boy's temple, his free hand roughly snatched Zeno, holding him captive by the scruff of his green scarf. Not a second later, a Death Eater, Thorfinn Rowle trudged out of the forest.

"Who's this? If you can't kill him, I'll do it," Rowle offered callously, wearing a sadistic smirk on his face.

"I'm surprised an idiot like you can't even recognise the target the Dark Lord has ordered us to capture," sneered Snape, mockingly. The large, blond man glared at the insult to his intelligence, "surely…you have not…forgotten about the immortal boy?" at those last two words, the Death Eater's eye widened, death glare forgotten.

CRACK! CRAACK! SNAP! SNAP! CRACK!

More Death Eaters Apparated into the clearing, joining the trio. First Bellatrix Lestrange and Malfoy, then Yaxley, Greyback, Selwyn and lastly, the Carrows. "Where's Gibbon?" Snape asked, seeing that one of them was missing.

"Dead," one of the Carrows answered curtly. Well…missing in action.

"Get going, the Dark Lord must be anxiously awaiting the good news… let's not keep him waiting… any longer than he has to," Snape ordered, gesturing with his head for the others to make their way to the Manor's gates. The group of Death Eaters strode towards the pair of magical wrought-iron gates with Snape dragging Zeno along by his scarf. Upon arriving at the gates they saluted with their branded arms, causing the iron to transform into a smoke-like substance thus allowing them to pass through. The manor's front door swung open by itself upon their arrival, inviting them inside a dimly lit hallway. From the walls, the eyes of the pale-faced portraits followed Snape and Zeno as the group passed by, heading to the drawing room where the meetings frequently take place.

In the drawing room, sitting silently at a long and ornate table illuminated by a rotating fire beneath a handsome marble mantelpiece, was the Dark Lord and his followers. Malfoy, Yaxley and the other Death Eaters took their vacant seats while Snape approached the Dark Lord with his prisoner.

"I take it that the mission was a success, Severus?" the cold voice hissed from the end of the table that was hidden in the shadows.

"Yes, My Lord. Also…I have brought you the immortal boy as you have ordered," He reported, face set into an emotionless mask.

"Well done, Severus, bring him over here into the light where I can see him," Voldemort praised. Snape, as told, pulled the Yellow Dragon Warrior closer to the Dark Lord and watched as those red eyes examined the boy, glinting in the firelight. Red snake-like eyes flickered up from Zeno to lock onto his own, causing him to feel the mental attack of Legilimency on his mind. Snape expertly employed Occlumency in order to hide his true loyalty, the act going once again unnoticed by Voldemort who explored two memories in particular: Dumbledore's death and Zeno's capture. "So it was you who killed Dumbledore in the end, Severus. You have proved yourself most faithful,"

"Thank you, My Lord. What must I do with the boy?" Zeno remained silent throughout the discussion.

"Take him to the cellar, I will deal with him after the meeting is over," although it was barely noticeable, Snape could tell that Voldemort was looking forward to uncovering Zeno's secrets.


***Zeno***

Behind him, the charmed iron-barred door swung shut with a resonating clang as Zeno was tossed onto the damp cement cellar floor. His blue eyes briefly pierced through the darkness to meet Snape's, exchanging an unspoken vow between them.

Zeno's mind wandered to the words Snape had spoken before he was "captured". Snape had mentioned Malfoy Manor and the Dark Lord…he had also put particular emphasis on the words 'save you' and 'escape'; this would mean that he intends to help Zeno escape but…by watching Voldemort's interaction with Snape earlier, Zeno observed that the wizard could see into the minds of others like Dumbledore once could. Snape can't be seen helping Zeno or he would risk getting killed for his betrayal, he needs to take extra precautions with their interactions during their escape so that Severus Snape's secret wouldn't be uncovered.

Clink! Creeeeaaaak…

"At last, we meet again, immortal boy. I will get my answers from you this time," a heartless voice hissed from where the room's only door was. Zeno heard the rustling of fabric over the dripping sound of water as the dark wizard approached him. The way the snake-like man held himself with each stride, Zeno could tell the he was full of self-importance, a merciless murder who valued his own life over others. "Last time our talk was cut…short, however, I have made preparations to ensure that we shall not be…interrupted…again," the smile that twisted Voldemort's pale lips sent a chill across Zeno's spine, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to be raised.

From past experience, there was always a moment of eye contact before the wizard would attempt to penetrate his mind and so Zeno closed his eyes, blocking his view of the enemy. If it was anyone else, they would have been killed the moment they shut their eyelids, but being immortal had its advantages. Zeno focused on his other senses in order to determine Voldemort's next move.

"Answer me, boy, what method did you use to obtain immortality?"

The memory of Snape's words from the day he saw the Ouryuu's power in Zeno's mind resurfaced: "The Dark Lord does not wish for anyone else, other than himself, to be immortal like him," How was this wizard supposedly immortal like him? He wasn't a Dragon Warrior that much was certain.

FSSsssssssh! Zeno rolled out of the path of the oncoming spell, it hit a concrete pillar instead, producing a harsh hiss as if it was in pain. "I said answer me," Voldemort demanded, voice dripping with venom; making him resemble an angry cobra who could not hit his prey.

That must mean that Voldemort had done something only a wizard can do in order to acquire immortality…was it Dark Magic? Certainly, there was nothing good about the type of magic that could give someone the curse Zeno was burdened with. "Why do you want to know? I've been told that you're immortal as well," Zeno replied.

"Yes, only I can live forever," Zeno could hear the ire in Voldemort's sibilant voice followed by the swish of a wand.

Fwoooooh! Fwosh! Zeno sprung to one side before ducking under the second spell as he dodged the flurry of jinxes and curses. The tapping of his shoes on the floor as he ran filled his ears, a cruel chuckle interrupted the rhythm as some sort of force slammed into his side sending him crashing into one of the walls, hard. Zeno's breath was knocked out of his chest upon impact, leaving him crumpled helplessly on the dank surface. Momentarily forgetting about his precautions, Zeno gradually opened his eyes only to find his glare meeting a pair of slit-like pupils of Voldemort's blood red eyes.

Instantly his mind was attacked for the third time in recent years, the many images Voldemort was seeing flashed before his eyes. The sounds of battle cries and shouts of joy, trickling water and gushing blood, clashing of swords and clinking of food bowls were heard by both the Dark Lord and the Ouryuu. Thousands of sounds overlapped each other as the dark wizard fell through Zeno's mind, some words stood out from the others amongst the whirling memories.

"Inhuman powers like mine should not exist in this world,"

"It's because all of the dragons other than Zeno…are like Abi, Shuten and Guen's children,"

"Come at me, I have all the time in the world,"

It was his own voice.

Like Snape and Dumbledore before him, Voldemort too fell victim to the raging torrent of memories, thoughts and emotions that filled the many layers of Zeno's mind. Zeno took the opportunity to throw Voldemort out of his mind causing the flood of resurfaced memories to recede and permitting Zeno's thoughts to become clear again. Scanning the room, Zeno's eyes fell upon a glass water jug that gleamed in the darkness and he sprinted towards it. Voldemort staggered to his feet and by the time he had aimed his wand at Zeno, the Yellow Dragon Warrior had already smashed the glass and used it to cut his legs. Blood spurted from the lacerations.

"It's unsightly but…" the torn ligaments snapped back together as Zeno spoke, "I'll be leaving now," where there was once smooth skin, there were now yellow scales. With legs as strong as the Green Dragon Warrior's right leg, Zeno pounced onto Voldemort, kicking the wizard into the ground. Slabs of concrete were flung into the air as Zeno snatched the pale wand from the wizard's clutches, his dragon blood allowing him to fling a spell at the iron-barred door, removing the magical barriers from it. In an instant he sped from the room, darting down the corridors before smashing through the nearest window. Alarmed shouts were raised within the manor's walls as Zeno landed effortlessly outside in the garden, several Death Eaters gave chase using their smoke-shrouded unsupported flight.

Zeno's scaly legs sent him soaring ahead of the Dark Lord's lackeys and through the front gates. Several green bursts of light zapped past him in a feeble attempt to slow him down, glancing back Zeno could see that among his pursuers one of the Death Eaters was gaining a lot of ground and had nearly caught up to his fast-speed getaway. A second wave of green and red spells shot towards him, passing the Death Eater's face and revealing their identity:

It was Severus Snape.

Gravel crunched beneath his shoes as Zeno skidded to a halt, turning to face the swarm of Death Eaters he yelled for them all to hear, "Zeno will be taking Mister back with him!" If they were not chasing Zeno, the Death Eaters (minus Snape) would have laughed at the announcement, but instead they focused on their orders to recapture their prisoner, shooting stunning spells and killing curses at their now idle target.

Using the dragon power in his legs, Zeno launched himself into the air as high as Jae-ha once could and tackled Snape. As planned, the second he had grabbed hold of the man's black cloak, Snape Disapparated from the driveway. This act ensured that any eye-witnesses would view the scene as Zeno being the one who performed the transportation spell rather than as a Snape's betrayal.

For now, Snape's and Zeno's secrets were safe from Voldemort's prying red eyes.


Author's Note: Thank you all for reading Chapter Nine, I hope you have enjoyed it.

Also, I have created a poll on who you would like to survive the Battle of Hogwarts, so you can vote if you wish. I'm not sure at the moment, but I've been thinking that with Zeno there, at least one of those characters could be saved…so I'm curious as to who you would be interested in seeing walk away from that war alive.

If you happen to spot any mistakes, please notify me so I can correct them. If you like the story please let me know what you think, I'll always reply to you. :)

~PurpleFlyingBird