IT'S CHANGED (SNILY)
CHAPTER 8 The Attack
"You know how to transfigure a parchment into a glass, don't you?" he scowled.
"Hmm? Why?" the mahogany-haired girl frowned at him.
"Because we are going in the Hogs Head, here the glass looks cleaner before it's washed" they walked in the alley way of the Hogs Head.
"Oh, yes, of cour-"
"Shh- someone's there" he whispered, dragging her with him behind a wall to stay hidden.
He saw three people clad in black walking down the alley towards the place with currently the most Hogwarts population. They walked well hidden from prying eyes, but Severus' caught them.
Selene tugged his sleeve, silently asking him about what he saw. He put a finger on his lips and peered from the corner of the wall.
Yes, all were in black with the hoods on.
And… DAMN! He sharply inhaled air.
Silver masks.
There was no mistaking in that. Those were Death Eaters!
A gentle tug in his sleeve again brought him back to look at Selene again. Looking at his worriedly creased face, she knew what was this all about. She knew they shouldn't have come here and put themselves in danger. But when they were here, they had to notify someone who can help. A professor.
The first thought that came to their heads was to run, but that would give them out and they would be dead in no more than a minute.
They had to think like the Slytherins they were and not bash into the situation.
They walked further away from the way and reached the other round that would on circling take them to Hogs Head from the back. This was the best plan Selene could think of.
"Are you sure, you saw the Death Eaters?"
"Yes, totally. They had silver masks and black hoods. If you don't believe go see them yourself" Severus hissed, the anxiety bubble growing in his chest.
"I believe you. And no need to so short with me. Calm yourself" Selene muttered angrily.
"Our entire school's out there, friends are there, Shit, Lily's there and you ask me to calm down" he suppressed a yell.
"Come on, no one's on this way. Come" She dragged Severus from the other route.
They had to do this fast, he had to do this fast. Lily was in danger. She was a muggle-born and likely to be the target first. They wouldn't even think twice before killing her. What if she gets killed? He wouldn't be able to bear that.
Only if they wouldn't have gone to the stupid book shop first, they would have had more time to make a decision.
His breath came shallow and fast. He was panicking. And that would not help them in any way. He rubbed his face with his hands and focused once more.
It wasn't so difficult. They just had to reach the Hogs Head, use the floo and notify the professors. Right.
The attack would take place soon.
*Page Break*
"No, Austin, I told you this-"
"Stupefy"
"AUSTIN!" she screamed, the spell had struck him straight in the neck and he crumpled on the ground, unconscious. Marlene looked around to see who the culprit, her eyes widened at the figures she saw.
Silver masks and Black hoods. There was a Death Eater attack.
More screams were heard, they were under attack. Panic rose I her chest and tears streamed down her face.
"Rennervate" she whispered, but no effect. The spell was too strong for her to break. "Austin, please wake up"
"Avada Kedavra" the spell struck someone and the person crumbled to the floor.
"KAZ!" a stunned voice. "You killed her. YOU KILLED HER! REDUCTO"
The spell was pointed straight on the Death Eater, whose blood with flesh flew in all directions, making puddles of blood and splatters on the street floor and on people themselves. People screamed.
And panic rose in the crowd. People were running towards the school to save themselves.
"Fourth years in the Three Broomsticks!" a prefect shouted, trying to align the students.
"Crucio" someone screamed. The commotion was huge and students were trying to escape.
Spells were getting fired from both the ends. The younger students trying to leave through floo networks.
"Reducto"
"Bombarda"
"Diffindo"
"Confringo"
"Expelliarms"
"Crucio" A loud cry was heard, painful heart-retching cry.
"MARY!" a male voice shouted. "You bloody bastard" the voice hissed angrily. "Membrum lapis"
Students running in all directions and the Death-Eaters laughing.
A red wave of light engulfed the entire street. I felt like the end is near. Everyone turned to see who it was.
"HEADMASTER"
Dumbledore stood authoritative with his wand pointed towards the street which had sent many Death-Eaters flying and on the ground. A relief wave swept over the crowd.
He waved his wand again to tie the unconscious bodies up with ropes. It's just then that it struck many that how powerful of a wizard he was.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
Some Death-Eaters still managed to apparate.
"THIS IS NOT OVER DUMBLEDORE!" a man who was clad in black with silver mask yelled. "REMEMBER THIS, OUR LORD WILL BE YOUR END!"
"I am waiting for the day" Dumbledore answered calmly but there was fire in his steady voice.
CRACK! And the last Death-Eater apparated too.
"Now, students, please return to the school" he addressed the students. "The Aurors are called. People who all are injured please go to the Hospital Wing"
"HEADMASTER" a voice from the very back of the shaken crowd. "WE NEED YOUR HELP. HE IS DYING"
*Page Break*
"Shane, Shane. Please. We need to find where Sev is" she was close to tears of frustration.
"Lily, we need to get out of this place, you already were struck by a curse" Shane dragged her with himself holding onto her arm tightly. "They must be in the Three Broomsticks, safe" he assured.
She totally ignored his first statement. "But… but what if they are in the Hogs Head" that caught Shane's attention, he froze. "That is where the Death-Eaters are coming from"
He ran a shaking hand through his hair and sighed.
"Please. Shane. We'll just go and see they are safe"
"But what if they are not there and we are met by more Death-Eaters"
"We'll just go there and see if they need any help and all the Death-Eaters are here, anyways, I don't think there will be any other than if duelling with Selene and Severus" she held onto his arm, urging him to walk fast.
"Fine, fine" he conceded.
They walked till the alleyway of the Hogs Head and paused. The path looked fearful and deserted. No one was seen, it was entirely empty and devoid of any soul.
But someone might be under the disillusionment charm. They looked at each other and began keeping every step warily.
An ear-piercing scream rang in the entire street. They froze, looked at each other.
It was a male voice. It was Sev's voice. Something was definitely wrong. Lily left Shane side and went running in the direction of the scream. She reached the spot.
"SECTUMSEMPRA"
"SEV!"
*Page Break*
They ran as fast as they could. Just a little more. They rounded the wall. They stopped at the door of the pub, panting. They could still stop everything from happening.
"Selene… go in… and call… the headmaster…" he said between pants.
"You are… coming with me" she ordered reaching for his hand but he shoved it off. "Sever-"
"Someone has to stay out to keep an eye" he looked at her, pushing her in the pub. "Go and call him. I am just here, if I need any help, I'll call you"
"Fine" she said sullenly but ran inside the pub.
Severus stood out, watching the Death-Eaters go. He couldn't do anything more than watch them like that. They would kill him in a second.
He hoped that the headmaster was in the castle.
He looked around to see more similar figures. But there were none. Selene would take time, perhaps. He could at least follow them, to see where they were heading and try to warn more people.
So, he walked following their steady and slow steps. After a moment he felt an unfamiliar voice behind him.
He looked back, but the street stayed deserted. Perhaps, only his imagination. But what if there really was someone in the disillusionment charm, following him.
He stopped in mid-step when he heard the voice again.
It was different than he had ever heard. It made an aura of impending danger. He dared to look back. Nothing. The street remained clear.
But the voice came again. It was like… like a… slither. Like a SLITHER!?
He fully turned around and his feet seemed to have hooked into something. The hold on his ankles tightened and he staggered back to the ground. Crashing his head painfully. He groaned, clutching his eyes shut.
A large weight sat on his chest. Something was tightening its hold on Severus and his body spasmed. His body couldn't breathe. He felt like he was in vacuum. Everything churned.
He opened his eyes and they widened. It was a snake as thick as a man's thigh. It had its fangs poised, ready to lash out any moment.
He tried to wriggle out of its hold but no use. Panic rose in his chest and felt unable to breathe. If those sharp, venom dripping fangs met his skin, they would tear him into half. And it happened what was feared for. He was going to die.
The snake stabbed Severus just above his collarbone. And he felt it. Every single layer tearing where the two fangs stabbed him. Each muscle in the area throbbed. Blood oozed out of the wounds. His eyes watered in agony and he screamed.
It loosened the hold on his body a bit. Just enough for him to remove his wand from his robes. The snake poised its fangs for the next attack. It lowered itself to pierce into Severus once more before he pointed his wand on it and with all the energy, he could muster, he yelled "SECTUMSEMPRA!"
"SEV!"
The snake flailed and recoiled from the curse. Nasty gashes enveloped it. Blood oozed out of its body seeping into Severus' robes and mixing with his own blood. It left Severus' body and slithered painfully down the road.
Darkness began engulfing Severus' mind. He couldn't comprehend the panicked screams of a figure with flying red hair and beautiful green eyes.
"Sev, Sev. Wake up. Hold up, Sev. His breathing is really shallow. Don't slip. Don't you dare slip, Severus"
"He will be fine, Lily, we are getting help"
"Shane, look back!" Selene! She was able to get to call the headmaster!
"Stupefy"
"He has lost so much blood. Sev, don't die, please" someone said accompanied by a horrific cry.
"Selene, go and call the headmaster, he has lost too much blood and the snake had poison"
The worried footsteps rang in his ears and the world went black.
*Page Break*
"Fools! Crucio" he hissed angrily. "Did no one hear the curse?!"
The figures writhe on the floor in agony in front of the angry figure and a bloodied snake that was barely clinging on life.
"Master" the bald man spoke, panting after he lifted the curse. "It was a boy who cursed her, Malfoy must know"
Voldemort's angry, red gaze shifted to the blonde man, and he shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. He wanted to pull life out of Dolohov for putting him in such a situation.
"Answer me!" Voldemort thundered and Lucius barely sustained a jump. "Answer me, Lucius. Who is the boy?" he stroked his wand on Lucius' cheek which sent chills all over his spine.
He was shaking. Severus had harmed The Dark Lord's snake, Nagini, and the idiot was definitely going to die.
"S-Severus Snape, m-my Lord" he gave.
"Ah, and he is…"
"A half-blood, my lord"
The Dark Lord raised his barely visible eyebrow.
Lucius hastily answered. "A muggle father and a Pureblood mother, my lord"
"Pureblood mother?"
"A Prince, my Lord"
"House?" he demanded.
"He is a S-Slytherin, master"
"And no one has an association with him?! Crucio!" he hissed, sending Lucius to his knees. "You know him, don't you, Lucius?" he lifted the curse.
Lucius' body twitched painfully "He p-probably created the s-spell himself, my Lord"
"A Slytherin, a half-blood, created his own spell" the snake-like figure mused. "Then he must have made the couther-curse too and you must know it, Lucius, don't you?" his red eyes viewed Lucius once more, making him want to run.
"I-I can t-try, my Lord" he looked at his lord's feet. "But I don't know if I will succeed, master"
Voldemort took Lucius' head by his hair and tightened his hold making him wince. He looked straight into his eyes.
"Try it, Lucius" he hissed. "And if Nagini dies, so will you. Understood?" his voice was dangerously low and calm pointing only towards his impending death.
"Y-Yes, my Lord" he nodded as Voldemort released his grip and motioned him towards the twitching and barely alive Nagini.
He began to chant whatever he remembered of what Severus had showed him.
"Vulnera Sanentur… Vulnera Sanentur… Vulnera Sanentur… Vulnera Sanentur… Vulnera Sanentur"
The wounds of Nagini began to heal and the skin and scales stitched and knitted themselves together, looking like stretch marks on her body. She was still weak but alive. And so will remain Lucius, for the time being. He sighed in relief.
A hand snaked on the back of his neck and gripped it, he winced.
"Well done, Lucius" he hissed, still not sounding impressed. "Now, another task for you" he looked straight in his eyes with hard intensity and Lucius dare divert his gaze. "I want the boy on our side or dead" he hissed before taking his hand back.
"Y-Yes, m-my Lord" the thing he most dreaded.
"Now, get out of my sight!"
*Page Break*
Darkness…
All around… was he dead…
But brain doesn't work when you are dead…
He couldn't think if he is dead, or could he?
It's hell or heaven? It was dark… so perhaps, Hell. HELL!
Realization struck him as a full-blown punch… was he really dead?!
Could he never see Lily ever again?
With realization he felt a choking tightness around his neck. He groaned. Can he make noises when dead?
A voice came "Sev!" it sounded panicked but relieved. "Madam Pomfrey, Sev is awake"
Lily… was she here? Is there a chance of him being alive?
"Sev, open your eyes, please. You are alright" he tried to open his eyes but they seemed too heavy.
"Miss Evans, move aside. Let me check on him" Madam Pomfrey! She kept a hand on his arm and shook him gently. "Mr. Snape it might be a bit difficult for you to open your eyes but do try to"
A pat on his cheek. He cracked his eyes open only to slits.
Another pat. Everything was hazy, he blinked many times to clear the view.
Madam Pomfrey was standing beside him? Oh… he was in the hospital wing.
"Well, Mr. Snape, do you think you could sit?" she asked in her professional tone.
He nodded only in the slightest, not knowing if he could really sit up. But, then what's the harm in trying? She slipped a hand on the back of his shoulders and helped him sit, while adjusting the bed pillows so that he could lean on them.
At the foot of his bed, Lily stood, her hair frizzed more than he had ever seen, dark bags under her eyes and her uniform dishevelled. But she smiled and that made him smile, he didn't know the reason why.
"Hi" she whispered.
He frowned. What had happened to him? He looked at Madam Pomfrey who appeared to have figured his doubts.
"You were bitten by a very poisonous snake on your throat, Mr. Snape, see those bandages around your neck" she replied. He looked down; a crisp white bandage was wrapped around his neck. So, this was the reason for the tightness.
He looked at her again. "So how did I survive?" he croaked.
"The headmaster came for aid at the right moment and his phoenix gave you his tears" she ran a tired hand on her face. "And then you were brought here. They were some really tedious hours, Mr. Snape"
"I have Phoenix tears running in my blood stream?!" Severus managed after learning about the incident. Madam Pomfrey nodded, smiling.
A sob came from the foot of the bed, he turned his head. Lily covered her mouth to let not escape any more. Tears were streaming down her face.
"Lily…" he tried to reach her, but he didn't have as much energy.
"I must leave you both, and then you'll have to rest, Mr. Snape" Madam Pomfrey said and then left.
Lily practically ran and sat on the chair that was kept beside his bed, which he just noticed was there, and took his hand into hers.
"Lily…" he tried again. He didn't like Lily looking like this.
"You lost s-so much b-blood, S-Sev" another sob escaped her lips. "Madam Pomfrey s-said that if you weren't healed by phoenix tears then you c-could have…" she trailed off, tightening her grip on his hand.
"Lily, I am sorry about what happened, please don't…" he gingerly tried to wipe her tears which kept flowing. She was worried about him. A warmth spread through his entire body, realizing this.
She came and sat beside him on the bed, under the covers. He stiffened; his heart beat quickened. She looked at him and then laid her head on his shoulder, gripping him around the waist tightly.
Oh Merlin… he hoped she didn't feel his heart thumping in his chest. Only if she had touched on his bare skin, she wouldn't have liked the results. Good, nothing like that happened. He sighed in relief. Gradually he relaxed in the touch.
"You should be sorry to give me such a scare, but still it wasn't your fault" she sniffled, and Severus found the courage to lay a hand around her shoulders. She had never before thought about how bad her life would be without Sev in it. She didn't want to lose him.
"Shh… Lily, it's okay. I'm fine now" he smiled. She wiped her tears with a twitching hand and swatted his cheek playfully, making them both laugh, before laying her head on his shoulder again.
"Now, would you tell me if the attack happened? I and Selene tried to contact the headmaster" he asked the question because of which mainly everything happened.
Lily nodded against his chest. "The attack happened" she looked down in her lap. "It was horrifying, Sev. But after sometime, the headmaster came, perhaps, because Selene floo-called him"
"And d-did someone…?" he trailed off, not wanting to hear the answer.
She sighed sadly. "Yes" her voice cracked. "There was a girl named Kaz, a fourth-year Hufflepuff, they used a killing curse on her because she was a Muggle-born" she paused, and Severus tightened his grip, trying to comfort her.
But Severus couldn't help wander his mind in the darkness of imagining himself doing such a crime. Did he actually consider to take such a path? If Lily wouldn't have forgiven him, perhaps, he would have. He felt ashamed of his choices.
He would go senile and blame the world for unfairness all his life if Lily was taken away from him, or rather, death would be a more preferred option.
You-Know-Who's ideas seemed absolutely pointless now. He scowled. He had been a fool for so long, and he would definitely try to improve himself on his own opinions, properly thought, not blindly walk on someone's already created path which stood on no plausible terms.
She continued and he came to reality again. "Her boyfriend was so raged that he used a Reductor curse on the Death-Eater" she chuckled darkly.
Severus gaped. "Did he blast him off?"
She nodded. "His blood and flesh splashed all over the street, it made puddles. That sight is going to give me nightmares for weeks"
"Must have been a painful death. Serves him right" he muttered with a scowl. "This can't be the only thing, is it?"
"No" she answered with a sharp breath. "I don't know about all, but Mary suffered a Cruciatus curse. HA! Potter turned the Death-Eater to a stone for weeks all together. The spell wasn't made to bear such long-time effects but… well, he used too much power in it" She laughed. "First time I liked Potter's wand-works"
Well, to say Severus was impressed was an understatement, though he wouldn't even admit it to himself. "And?" he asked, knowing this wasn't the end.
"And Austin was hit by a very powerful stunning hex, had him disoriented for long. Then Shane got a little cut on his ankle. It was minor so he is fine. Selene was in the pub, so, she never confronted a Death-Eater and you know, Charm had a detention" she answered casually.
"Everyone's alright?" his eyebrows creasing in a worried frown.
"Everyone's alright" she smiled.
He knew she was going to skip this. "And what about you, Lily?" he kept a hand on her jaw, guiding her face so that he could look it her eyes.
She tried to divert her gaze. "Ah… I'm fine. You see" she spread her arms to prove her point, though Severus noticed a sudden jerk in her right hand.
"Lily" he warned.
She sighed. "I am fine, Sev. It was just a stray Cruciatus that struck me before Shane pulled me from there, it's fine, now" she assured him.
"You are typical, idiotic, reckless Gryffindor, Lily" he shook his head chuckling, though inside he was full with worries.
"Oh? Then it's me probably who went following some dangerous Death-Eaters and then got bitten by a snake. Hmm?" she teased.
He leaned on his pillow, taking her with himself, smiling and his eye lids getting heavier. "I was being sneaky but of course, how can I win from the one I take inspiration from?"
"Yeah, Mr. Smug-Sneaky-Slytherin, you were still acting rather brashly" she rolled her eyes.
"You'll be the end of me, Lily…" he slurred in half sleep.
She looked at him and smiled, laying her head on his chest, not knowing when sleep came to her too.
Well… minutes later Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes on their antics and gave a disapproving look but didn't wake them up, fully well knowing that they will almost die of mortification after waking up, and those red faces never failed to amuse her.
*Page Break*
"You are going to wake them up, Shane. Shut up!" a supressed yelling feminine voice came to his ears.
"I still say they look rather cute" a male whispered, with probably twinkling eyes.
"I don't see anything even remotely cute"- he was sure there was a sneer in this voice. It was of another female. – "in this. He has a wound on his neck and her hand so close to it? It must be hurting!" the person practically yelled and as much as he could imagine, the others flinched at the pitch.
He could no longer keep his eyes closed, they cracked open.
Dark Skin? Austin!
Mahogany Hair? Ah… Selene!
Tanned Skin and brown hair? Shane!
The last one? Blonde? Charm! Of course.
They all were sitting there with chairs around his bed. Oh… that meant he was still in the hospital wing.
"Stop fighting, guys- you all woke him" Austin muttered irritatingly.
All eyes searched for his face and he flushed under the sudden attention. That is when he felt he wasn't alone on his bed, he dared eye the weight beside him. He felt his face going red. Lily had her head laid on his chest and was asleep. They slept on the same bed? And now the entire group knew about this? Hell!
"Sleep well, Mr. Sev?" Shane winked.
He cleared his throat and gently shook Lily. "Lily, Lily. You need to wake up" he leaned to her ear. "Lily, please wake up"
She stirred and he shook her again while trying to escape other's knowing looks and Charm's sneer.
Lily rubbed her eyes with one hand and the other trailed towards the tears on his neck made by the snake.
"Ach… Lily, careful" he moved her hand away from the bandages and she bolted up, sitting straight.
She gasped. "Did I hurt you, Sev? I am sorry" her brows creased with concern.
"Uh… no, I am fine now" he answered casually, though it had hurt.
A chuckle from the side of the bed forced them to look there. Shane and Selene had their moths covered with their hands, apparently trying to stifle their laughter. Austin still gave them a knowing look and Charm as always was looked repulsed.
Lily clumsily got off the bed, straightening her robes while her face looked as red as her hair. And well… Severus could do nothing but silently look into his lap and suffer through embarrassment.
Lily broke the awkward silence. "Uh… I just- Hi. Good to see you all together" and she made it even more awkward.
Shane laughed openly, now. "Merlin, look at your faces. You two have been friends since you were nine, have you never shared a bed before?"
"Uh… well- you, see? -How are you Austin, by the way?" Severus tried to change the topic, not very expertly.
"Oh, you are changing the topic"- made Lily and Severus flush even more if it was possible- "anyways… perfectly fine, though Marlene had a bit of a shock after I was struck" he shook his head. "She thought I was dead" he chuckled, though he, perhaps, loved the concern.
Severus nodded, not knowing what to say next. Lily came to the rescue.
"Selene, I remember Shane calling you an obtuse idiot… if my memory serves me right" she smirked when Shane gave her a look.
"You called me what, Shane?" Selene narrowed her eyes.
"Selene… I was just-" Shane was cut.
"As if that's something new" Charm muttered looking at Shane guiltily, though a smirk never left her face.
Severus followed the suite. "Ah… and I remember Selene calling someone a half-cracked git" he said innocently ignoring the glare Selene was giving him.
"You called me what, Selene?" Shane mocked Selene.
Selene leaned on Shane and gave him an intimidating look. He didn't back away, but crossed his hands on his chest and leaned further, that their foreheads were centimetres away. Both daring each other to have a first-to-blink-loses contest.
All of them snickered but something else caught Severus' attention.
In the corner of the room, two figures were bickering…
"No, you shouldn't have gone there" an irritated but familiar voice.
"No, Sirius I am fine and-" Ah… those were the Marauders. Black and Lupin, Severus snorted.
"And what, Moony? You already got hurt"
"It's just a sprain, Padfoot, and who knows better than you that I have had worse" Lupin insisted. "And I am a Prefect, it was my duty"
Severus suppressed a snort. Lupin realized his duty quite early, didn't he? He sneered at the thought.
"That doesn't mean you'll go head first in- Wait! Are you trying to get an award?" Black asked incredulously.
"An award? What are you talking about? You are making no sense, Sirius" Lupin muttered tiredly.
"The award… I saw in the trophy room. What was the name?" Sirius drummed his head with his fingers in thought "Yeah. Tom Riddle. He got an award for special services for school. So do you want it?"
"Sirius… come with me. You need to eat something, your head isn't working properly" Lupin dragged Black out of the infirmary, despite of his protests.
Tom Riddle?
The name intrigued him.
An award for special services to the school?
He shrugged and forced his attention to Shane and Selene, who were fighting with the most ridiculous name calling. Shane had Selene's hair in his hand and Selene was grabbing his collar.
"You are even more obtuse than a Gryffindor, Singh" Selene waved a hand in Lily's direction. "No offence, Lily"
Lily rolled her eyes and huffed.
"And you are… are nastier than Filch… Ha! Take that, Solace" Shane said smugly.
"You little-"
"People… we are going to sneak into Slughorn's office tomorrow" Severus interrupted. "As much entertaining your little fight is, we need to think about that"
That caught their attentions and they began to planning for the next day, forgetting their previous fights and embarrassments, before Madam Pomfrey kicked them out.