A/N: Snape's Point-of-View
A/N #2: I added a footnote due to using a quote in a book that is not a part of the HP series. I do quote a lot of the Seventh Book here, but don't bother to mark it since everyone should be able to tell where it's from and because this is fan-fiction based off of that story and I'm still not making any profit off of it. (Yeah, that's me reiterating my disclaimer. I'm doing this just for fun, there is no money in this.)
Healing Draco. Detention with Potter. Reporting to The Dark Lord and calming down a frightened Narcissa. Checking up on Draco, even as he glared at Severus warily.
The bloody boy doesn't know when to just say thank you and realize I'm trying to help him.
Severus shook his head as he left the Hospital Wing. He felt a small bottle in being put into his hand, and he turned sluggishly to face Madame Pomfrey. He was too tired to react in surprise as his weary eyes met her concerned ones.
"Severus, go get some rest. Merlin knows the last time you had a full night's sleep." He looked down to the bottle and recognized his own sleeping draught.
"Poppy, I don't need..." He was cut off as she closed his hand over the bottle and gently guided him out.
"You are dead on your feet. I won't have the dour bat of the dungeon shambling around the castle like some Inferi." Severus wasn't happy with the comparison, but he nodded numbly as he took the potion, handed her back the empty bottle, and went to his quarters.
Severus' eyes took in the skyline of Hogsmeade. The horizon was shattered; the air itself had been made red from the fires that were burning everywhere. The skyline itself was smeared with the bloodshed that had made this war finally over. Potter had lost.
It was Christmas Day, but nobody could tell since the Dementors' fog had permanently blotted out the sun for weeks. Severus was supposed to be at the Burrow, brewing his Winter Wassail for Molly. The struggle against The Dark Lord wasn't to turn out this way. Instead of a gentle snowfall, the sky itself was broken; sickly green had invaded the blood-tinted sky as Dark Marks flew openly over nearly every building in various states of destruction. The Death Eaters knew where to attack simply by the absence of the Morsmordre Mark overhead. He could hear the crashing of bricks in the distance that signaled a similar fate for Hogwarts.
Snatchers were levitating the deceased into the burning piles of rubble that was The Three Broomsticks. Severus darkly wished that he were in that pile of corpses, rather than survive to see the aftermath of his failure.
Behind him, Severus could hear the squelching sound of the distressed metal gates of Hogwarts. They were being torn even more open by the giants who had knocked down the towers as entertainment. The Dark Lord took a page out of Vlad's book and decided to impale his defeated enemies as grotesque trophies of flesh. Severus had to restrain the urge from retching as he saw the bodies of his fellow staff surrounding the Potter boy. Minerva's remains were only recognizable due to her proclivity for wearing her tartan colors.
Bellatrix was entirely too happy with the smell of death and the decimation of the Wizarding World. She was slicing off a leg from the Longbottom boy from the pike he was suspended from. Lucius, however, had landed on his feet and cleaned up well. It was his nature as a Malfoy. He was back in regal-looking robes, though obviously taken from someone who would no longer be needing them.
"The Dark Lord is quite merciful to his most loyal followers, isn't he, Severus?" Lucius' smirk betrayed his utter fear of displeasing You-Know-Who again.
Severus gave a stiff nod, wondering if The Dark Lord would ever want to rebuild the school and society, or if he was just happy with complete annihilation.
"MAKE WAY FOR THE PRISONERS!" Bellatrix said, her voice magnified as a trail of shackled witches and wizards were marched past the crowd of snatchers and came before the Dark Lord. She was wielding Neville's femur as one would a turkey leg, not even bothering to cook the flesh at all.
"My most loyal Death Eaters shall be given the right to claim any of these mudblood slaves, provided that they be of use. Snatchers and other supporters may bid on the rest of them." He said the last part almost dismissively, as he inspected the people brought past him.
"Stan Shunpike... can be of service. Hermione Granger, the lioness and brains that kept Harry Potter safe for so many years... there is a lot of fight still in her eyes. Severus, break her, will you?" He asked casually as Bellatrix dragged Stan towards a holding cage for the slaves.
"Of course, my Lord." Severus bowed slightly, letting his eyes twinkle to sell his latest lie to the bastard who wouldn't die. The cause that he had fought and spied for was completely gone; he was the only Order member left alive.
"Might I assist you with the Mudblood?" Lucius asked, his eyes leering at the girl as she was shoved into the Potions' Master's arms. Severus rolled his eyes at that, recalling how his friend and colleague had once been a respectable Wizard. Severus made a show of ripping Hermione's clothing off of her as he affixed a choke collar upon her. Her bare flesh was marked by the various bruises and the slow bleeding from a slash on her right bicep. The girls' eyes were distant and still in shock, but Severus noticed her eyes watering up for a tear she'd never let herself release.
"You will learn to be obedient else you will be passed among my... acquaintances." Severus threatened lazily, looking into the crowd of prisoners rather than see the loss of hope in Hermione's eyes. Risking the barest glance, there was something about how she looked at him that he couldn't exactly place, and it unnerved him. He didn't want to have to look at anyone's face now, but his eyes met a pair of pleading eyes that he couldn't ignore. Nymphadora had survived the battle, and his sharp intake of breath made him harden his nerve as The Dark Lord decided on her fate. Severus' eyes traveled down to the prominent bulge that betrayed her pregnancy from her late husband.
"Powerful witch with rare abilities. Shame that she had defiled herself with the werewolf." He looked down at the distended belly and casually tore her open with Severus' spell, killing the child within her.
"I'll take her off yer hands, sir." Fenrir suggested, groveling. A flash of green light was his reply.
"Your kind has served its purpose as shock troops. You are nothing more than disease-ridden wizards, and shall be scoured from my world as the vermin that you are. Bella, kill the rest of them off." The Dark Lord's relaxed gait proved that he no longer had any enemies to worry about, save for the woman before him.
Pointing his wand directly towards her heart, he whispered, almost lovingly, "Avada Kedavra."
Severus bolted upright at his desk as Filius Flitwick barged in. "SEVERUS! DEATH EATERS IN THE CASTLE! I saw that LeStrange woman, the werewolf, and those Carrows!" Filius Flitwick squeaked sharply, bolting the double agent into action. He knew that the only way someone could get into the castle was if they had help from the inside, and there was only one person who would be foolish enough to attempt that.
"Let me get my robe and mask; I can do more good if they believe me to be on their side." Severus responded, turning towards his robe closet. The diminutive professor nodded quickly, mumbling about 'could be a good ruse' and headed back towards the door.
Severus frowned as he took his shot and stunned the Dueling Champion square in the back. Was it a cowardly attack if I did it to protect him? Or am I just protecting myself? Severus wondered as the bands around his chest tightened from the Unbreakable Vow taking hold upon him. Draco was too scared to assassinate the Headmaster, but was being dragged to his fate as one is marched to the gallows.
As he left his office, he ran into Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood. They had a panicked look about themselves and Severus could imagine the death toll if these children had to fight for their lives. They are being forced into this too soon just like my Godson.
"Professor Snape! Luna and I were…" Hermione began, but seemed unable to decide exactly what to say. Severus nodded comfortingly as his mind reeled for an appropriate cover story.
"Death Eaters have penetrated the defenses of Hogwarts; Flitwick told me before he collapsed like Pheidippides did after Marathon. You two will check on him as I engage the others." Luna nodded and went into the office while Severus felt his Muffliato spell cast around them. He turned to see Hermione close his office door and ward it shut.
"What's the meaning of this, Granger?" Severus asked as he saw her point pointed directly at him, a quiet resolve in her eyes that told him that she would do whatever she felt necessary.
"A Master Duelist doesn't just faint after running from a fight, Professor." Hermione's eyes gleamed with suspicion. Severus sneered in frustration, but the subsequent binding of his heart and his life-essence made him double over in pain.
"Miss Granger, there are designs in place that you know nothing of. I must get to where I am needed." Severus didn't want to have to duel this girl in front of him, but he would if she left him no choice. She cast a series of diagnostic spells on him and her eyes widened as the pieces fell into place.
"You've sacrificed two and a half years of your life-force from using that Brimstone Potion. And you're under the compulsion of an Unbreakable Vow. The attacks on the school… Draco was ordered to kill Dumbledore." The awe from her voice was unmistakable.
Severus realized that it would do him no good to deny it and wondered if Obliviating her would refrain her from reaching this same conclusion again. "Lupin always said you were a bright one; I doubt erasing your memory will stop you from figuring out my role in all of this."
Hermione shook her head sullenly. "You have to kill Dumbledore, the only man that…"
"NO! His name opens a link on my Dark Mark; I require to keep this knowledge secret." Severus winced, forcing himself to upright himself. "You'll need to modify Luna's memory and tell no one about this. Not even Potter."
Hermione nodded, a question was still lingering within her. "Why are you doing this?"
Severus thought back to their shared drink. "To protect those that I care about."
She nodded solemnly, her voice cracking slightly. "I'm going to obliviate and relocate my parents so they stay safe, outside of the country. If they don't know me or the magical world, they should be able to stay off of You-Know-Who's radar."
Severus arched an eyebrow at this. "And Potter and Weasley will be okay with you 'pulling a Lockhart'?"
Hermione shook her head, almost imperceptibly. "I'll tell them that it's reversible, that I'll return their memories after the war. I don't want to debate the morality of my actions to them. They'll be safer anyways. You're going to have to re-join the Death Eaters, aren't you?"
"I've done this before, Miss Granger. Keep this information to yourself; the fate of the war may hinge upon my betrayal being convincing enough. Take care of yourself, and your boys." Severus stated as his throat constricted.
As Severus stalked away, donning his robe and mask, Hermione whispered into the muffled silence.
"Be careful, Severus."
As Severus craned his neck out of a window to see what was casting the eerie green light over the castle, he was stricken as the location of the Dark Mark came into view.
The Astronomy Tower. Nymphadora's place of refuge.
"I used to sneak up here when I was a student... I would just sit here on the balcony, with my legs dangling over the side and watch the stars, listen to the sounds. The water lapping by the lake, the animals calling from the forbidden forest; it all seemed so wild, yet peaceful, magical. Although, I was always worried I would get caught."
Severus remembered the night that he had spent at the top of the Astronomy Tower with Nymphadora, as he had her blindfolded, holding onto the railings, while dripping cold water onto her. The nipple clamps that he had affixed and watched them sway in the dark of the night.
It was a beautiful evening for him, remembering how they made love to each other. How he spanked her to arousal, and slid into her as she cried out his name in pleasure. And how they curled up together under a blanket to greet the morning.
He had fallen in love with someone who couldn't know that all of this had to come to an end. All due to his promise to a dying man and a dead woman.
Death was surrounding him; better that she be away from him now and survive the oncoming slaughter. He wondered if she would ever figure out why it had to be this way, or even if she could ever forgive him? As he wound his way up the stairwell to take him to the Astronomy Tower, he pushed all of these conflicting emotions aside. He needed complete control of his faculties if he dared complete his damned mission.
Snape slammed open the doors to the ramparts to the astronomy tower, his wand before him as he took in the scene, from a slumped Dumbledore, the three Death Eaters, an enraged Fenrir, and Draco.
"We've got a problem, Snape," said Amycus, wand trained upon Dumbledore, "the boy doesn't seem able -"
Albus spoke up softly, yet everyone seemed to silence to hear him.
"Severus ..." The Headmaster's voice was pleading.
Snape said nothing, stalking forward and shoving Draco aside. The other Death Eaters fell back silently; even the werewolf cowed. Snape looked at Dumbledore; revulsion, hatred, and frustration shone through his face.
"Severus ... please ..."
Snape pointed his wand directly at Albus' heart. There was no turning back now; he knew he would have to do this unforgivable act. He would lose his friendships with The Order, but none of it mattered as much as losing Nymphadora.
So farewell Hope, and with Hope farewell Fear, Farewell Remorse: all Good to me is lost; Evil be thou my Good.[1]
"Avada Kedavra!"
A jet of green light shot from the end of Snape's wand and hit Dumbledore squarely in the chest. He fell over the battlements and out of sight, and the fall was long enough that the final thump of the landing couldn't be heard over the battle raging on inside the castle.
"Out of here, quickly," said Snape. He grabbed Draco by the back of the collar and forced him through the door ahead of the rest; not caring if the others followed or not. It was over, and now he simply had to survive.
Snape saw a jet of red light soaring past his head and saw that Potter was chasing them. Snape shouted, "Run, Draco!" and turned. Twenty yards apart, he and Harry looked at each other before raising their wands simultaneously. "Cruc - "
But Severus parried the curse, knocking Harry onto his ass; the boy rolled over and scrambled back up again as another Death Eater behind him yelled, "Incendio!" Hagrid's hut went up in flames.
"Fang's in there, yer evil -!" Hagrid bellowed.
"Cruc -" yelled Harry for the second time, aiming for Snape, but he blocked the spell again.
"No Unforgivable Curses from you, Potter!" Severus shouted, "You haven't got the nerve or the ability -"
"Incarc-" Harry roared, but Snape deflected the spell with an almost lazy flick of his arm. The boy's rage is making him sloppy, he'll be easy pickings for The Dark Lord.
"Fight back!" Harry screamed. "Fight back, you cowardly..."
"Coward, did you call me, Potter? Your father would never attack me unless it was four on one, what would you call him, I wonder?"
"Stupe-" Severus deflected the curse once more. He only knows a handful of offensive spells? He'll have to get creative to win in duels, like using transfiguration to the environment.
"Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter! Now come!" he shouted at the huge Death Eater behind Harry. "It is time to be gone, before the Ministry turns up..."
"Impedi..." Severus didn't have to block this curse, some placed the Cruciatus Curse on Potter.
"No!" roared Snape's voice, "Have you forgotten our orders? Potter belongs to the Dark Lord - we are to leave him! Go! Go!"
"Sectum - " Boy you did not just go there with me!
"No, Potter!" screamed Snape. He finally disarmed Potter when he realized that the boy was about to use the non-verbal Levicorpus spell that he had invented.
"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them - I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I don't think so . . . no"
Harry had tried for his wand and Snape shot a hex at it just to knock it out of his immediate sight. The boy is starting to finally learn. Maybe he'll survive after all.
"Kill me then," panted Harry, "Kill me like you killed him, you coward -"
Coward?! After the lengths I've gone to protect you since I couldn't save Lily?! Years of being a double agent just to feed The Dark Lord bad information so he'll underestimate you time and again?
"DON'T CALL ME COWARD!" Severus screamed inhumanly, throwing a mis-aligned stunner spell at the boy. The force behind it could still kill the boy if he landed wrong.
As Sirius' hippogriff stood between Harry and Snape, Severus took the moment to flee past the gates and disapparate away from his home, his sanctuary of over 15 years.
As a murderer on the run.
[1] - Quote from Paradise Lost by John Milton.