Prince Consort

Chapter 46

It was definitely a good thing that Severus took his men with him. For they were right, the Dark Lord wasn't alone when they ambushed the property. No, it seemed they'd interrupted a meeting, of all times to do an ambush.

The vampires and Death Eaters immediately began to duel, fighting for their lives.

"Severus Snape," Voldemort hissed out, surprise entering his ruby eyes, as he stared at the figure whom he assumed dead. The mark connecting him to the wizard was gone, which only happened in death. Well, it appeared as if he had found death, but not a permanent one. Flaring his robes dramatically, wand out, eyes gleaming, he would help him find a real death.

Severus Snape will die today.

"Severus Prince," he corrected, his face impassive, as if he had no qualms about facing the Dark Lord Voldemort. "You've been causing more trouble than you're worth, but it ends now." The newspapers revealed more and more of the chaos he caused, without Dumbledore the public were terrified, and the Ministry? Drowning in the suspicions that the public were putting towards them while trying to prevent any of the raids the Dark Lord was enacting.

The wizards and witches they'd killed who opposed them, it was time for it to end.

"Ah, but there was a time where you believed in my cause, Severus," Voldemort hissed out, "Or did my killing your Mudblood lover put an end to that?" spitting out the words as if it were something foul under his nose.

Severus chuckled at his attempts, admittedly, years ago he may have become enraged upon hearing. He'd tempered his temper, it was a weakness he couldn't afford, he had people to lead and they required a calm rational wizard or witch at the helm to keep them centred. "Lily was never my lover," he said more amused than anything. "Emotions are not something you understand, devoid of them as you are." He'd been best of friends with Lily for the years he needed it most. A friendship that he wished could have withstood the test of time. Unfortunately, it had not, but he would always think on her fondly.

He wondered at her reaction if she were alive, to realize that her once best friend was her son-in-law. He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. Hexed to hell and back, and threatened never to hurt her baby boy came to mind. It would have taken weeks to get those hexes removed for Lily had always been incredibly gifted and powerful. Something she'd passed on to her son, whom Severus was here protecting. Nothing soured that thought, not even Potters' probable reaction.

"Crucio!" came the predictable words uttered by the mad wizard.

Severus neatly avoided the curse, rolling his eyes, even after all these years he truly hadn't changed. Fortunately, he wasn't aiming to incapacitate, he was aiming to kill, and aiming to kill as swiftly as possible.

He would not die here; he would not give The Dark Lord that satisfaction of ending him.

The best revenge was to live well, after all.

And Severus definitely intended to live well, or at the very least his mate and child to live well.

"Carnifico!" Severus cast with lighting fast reflexes, looking just as dramatic as Voldemort.

Voldemort blanched (there was no counter and no way to manoeuvre around the room added to the fact the vampires had placed anti Apparation and anti portkey wards up) and grabbed a Death Eater at his back, take the curse in his stead. The Head of Avery splattered with a wet plop on the floor, blood spewing for Avery's body as it shuddered before stilling and dropping down beside his head. "Contundito!"

Severus ducked the spell, praying that his own men would avoid it, the spell would literally crush their hearts and brains which contrary to popular believe, they actually needed, along with the rest of their vital organs to survive. "Praetrunco!"

"Perrumpo! Avada Kedavra! Serpensortia!"

Severus ducked, casting "Protego! Viperaevanasca! Dejugo! Bombarda Maxima!"

"Still working for that old fool? Think he will change his ways? Make things better for vampires? He couldn't even keep the promises he made before my initial downfall!" Voldemort spat, "Avada Kedavra! Crucio! Contundito! He'll see you crawling back to the cesspit you came from!"

"Avis! Avis!" Severus cast, jerking aside, noticing that the spell caught one of the Death Eaters in the leg, from the femora artery, he was definitely dead before his body registered it, the blood just poured out.

Thank Merlin they were all rather strong minded and didn't succumb to their baser urges. Although, Severus felt the snuffing of a few bonds, indicating that his own had been killed in battle, this fuelled the fire.

"And I'll ask you not to insult me, I follow NO-ONE!" he declared strongly, allowing his temper to peek through.

"offoco!" Voldemort cast in fury as he watched his familiar burn, as magic lashed itself around Severus' neck, the right red magic squeezing his throat, cutting off more words as he tightened the noose, watching as Severus tried to get rid of the magic upon him but failing. It had been a spell of his own creation he hadn't had a chance to use yet. If he was to die, he was going to take them all with him.

Just after he was finished with Severus he would burn them, burn them all!

"Where's Severus?" Harry asked abruptly from behind Alfred causing the vampire to almost jump out of his skin in fright. Whirling around, wand already in hand, he calmed himself down realizing whom it was. Bloody hell, he could have cursed him, he realized, sheathing his wand.

"Do try to refrain from startling me, Harry, or I'm afraid my reactions will come before rational thought." Chiding him a little, grateful he'd had the forethought.

"You're jumpier than a grasshopper!" Harry said, surprised, narrowing his eyes, "Where's Severus?" hell, he couldn't even go to the toilet by himself and suddenly wakening up alone? Yeah, he wasn't stupid, something was going down. Not even letters from Theodore and Blaise could distract him from that fact.

So instead of replying, he had come to the one vampire that always new everything going on. "I am not," Alfred declared, "I'm appropriately cautious," especially given what had happened, the castle had been evaded recently, and now with their leader off to fight one last battle…yes, indeed, just appropriately cautious.

"You're also avoiding the subject," Harry said shrewdly, "Where is he?"

"He has something important he must oversee, he'll be back in a few hours," Alfred explained, praying that he was telling the truth. He truly did not want to have to break the news to Harry that he'd not only beaten around the bush but that Severus was gone.

"Uh, huh, and what is this important thing he has to oversee?" Harry asked, getting impatient, and a little worried if they were keeping it from him.

"Just a last-minute mission," Alfred reassured him, which was all true.

Harry gritted his teeth, "Tell me, now, or I'll go looking myself," Harry warned him.

Alfred blanched at the thought of Harry just bloody apparating into a battle looking for Severus. Merlin, he could only imagine the reaction, this left him in a bit of a pickle so it did. Tell him the truth he'd likely leave…not tell him, he'd likely leave anyway. He couldn't exactly stop him either, not physically. To do such a thing would result in him being killed. Not really, it wasn't likely Harry or Severus would see him dead for doing the right thing, but they'd need to be around to stop it. Attacking Severus or the Prince Consort would be met with immediate reprisals regardless of who you were.

Their protection was the utmost importance.

"Just once…just this one I beg of you, stay here, do as you're told," Alfred pleaded with his Lord's Consort.

That news did not comfort Harry the slightest, if anything it made panic begin to thrum at the back of his mind. As he tried desperately to keep himself from fearing the worst. What on earth could they keep him from…it clicked when he couldn't recall seeing the map in the room.

"Voldemort." He uttered; they'd gone to deal with Voldemort.

"Yes, yes they have," Alfred agreed, "Severus wants you to remain here, safe," he stressed out.

"Just you wait until he gets back!" Harry huffed out, stomping back to their quarters, he would kill Severus himself. How dare he go and risk himself without so much as a goodbye? Did he not care about him at all?

Swallowing thickly, he knew why, he knew Severus was just protecting him but he was so angry. What if he didn't come back? What if he could have prevented it? what if? What if? Continued to whirl around his mind as he paced.

It didn't help that his part of the bond had been shut down by Severus, presumably to stop him feel anything that was happening.

Harry paused as he crossed the fireplace again, narrowing his eyes on nothing in particular. He hadn't tried to actually open the bond before, when it was closed. Not that it often was, after all. If it can be closed, it stood to reason that Harry could open it.

When he did, it left Harry reeling for a few moments, not only was Harry's bond to Severus open…but to all the other vampires as well, who had opened the bond to Severus for the battle. It temporarily brought Harry to his knees, but he was grateful nonetheless that he could feel him, he was alive.

Standing up relief flowing through him, for mere moments only.

The next second he was choking along with Severus, feeling what he was.

Panic stricken, Harry grabbed the first thing available, which was the sword that was atop the fireplace sheathed in the shield along with another identical sword. He could feel the echo of the spell tightening further and further around Severus' neck.

At this rate the spell was going to decapitate him, and there would be no way back from that.

He focused all his magic upon his bonded, and shoved it at him, before focusing entirely on Severus' location, using it as a honing beacon.

"You should have known better than to think you could best…" Voldemort was bragging over Severus, who was barely clinging on, lashing his magic out at Voldemort's trying to weaken the hold the wizard had on him.

The second a sword rammed through Voldemort's heart, the spell began to dissipate, whether by Severus' own magic breaking through…well, who knew? and Severus got to see the look of utter disbelief on his face, as he stared down at the blade poking through his breastbone.

Then of course, the view of Voldemort changed entirely, as his head was sliced clean off his neck. The dull red eyes stared up at Severus, who grimaced. He wasn't impressed, but he could say nothing otherwise…he would have died. He hadn't realized any of the others had the time to gather their weaponry, since they'd all been fighting magically, which was entirely unusual, they preferred hand-to-hand combat or swords.

When the body flopped uselessly to the ground, Severus inhaled sharply at the sight that met his eyes.

His mate holding a sword, splattered with blood, looking glorious in his bid for vengeance. His face set in a mutinous scowl, as he stared at Severus who swallowed thickly.

"You better find somewhere else to sleep tonight," Harry said calmly, as the blade clattered to the floor nosily, chipping the marble as he did so. "Otherwise, I'll kill you myself you bloody idiot!" Harry thumped Severus on the shoulder with all the strength he could muster.

The vampires pursed their lips, finding it comical to see their Lord reprimanded by his consort so thoroughly. Their amusement didn't last long naturally, as they saw to their fallen comrades. They were quick to dispatch the rest of the Death Eaters that had been just as shocked by their Lord's end as the Dark Lord Voldemort himself.

They fell all too easily, in their distraction.

"My Lord?" Malcom murmured, "What do you wish of us now?" were they getting the Ministry involved. Or where they to leave them to be found dead?

Severus was still staring at Harry arse on the marble floor from the hit, awed by his bloodthirsty protective ways. There was no doubt about it, Harry had come here to protect him. He could have remained behind safe, and ended up leading the vampires on his own, any Slytherin would have loved that. He wondered if the hat had contemplated Hufflepuff.

Then again…when Harry was done with him, he had a feeling he'd know for certain he was a Slytherin.

Throwing him out of his own rooms? And for what? Desiring to protect him and his unborn child? No, he knew why, he realized, breathing hitching, for leaving without saying anything. Even Alfred was furious over that, he recalled, no doubt Harry's reaction was worse. He couldn't even bring himself to care, he was just so proud and relieved.

They had survived.

"You know it had to be done," Severus soothed his agitated mate, sensing the real staggering amount of pain and fear his actions had wrought. "I am sorry, it won't happen again." He reassured his mate, not caring that the others were hearing his apology. He wrapped his arms around Harry, gripping him tightly. "I'm sorry." He whispered again, a pang hitting his heart, he seemed to keep failing regardless of his attempts to do what was right for his mate.

Merlin, he knew he wasn't good at this, he wanted to be.

They'd both one day learn that life was full of ups and downs, mistakes and regrets but they were all memories made. Memories of a life together, that they would cherish until the end of their days.

Harry sighed, burrowing into Severus, unable to stay mad, not when he could feel how genuine the regret and remorse was. "I'm still mad," he declared, almost mulishly.

A pang of amusement shot through the bond, as Severus sighed, "I know," he murmured, he was entitled to it really. "Don't try and send me away." He couldn't bear it, being away from his mate and child. "You can just not talk to me all you like, just don't ask me to leave." Speaking low enough that he rather hoped the others weren't listening in.

Such as it was, living with a lot of other vampires, there were very rarely any privacy to be truly had.

Harry inhaled sharply, "I'm really, really mad," Harry grumbled, but he was relenting already. "And he's beginning to stink." Screwing up his nose, the smell of decomposition already beginning to waft from the wizard.

Wizarding or Muggle…they all reacted the same way to death, including the releasing of the bladder and bowels.

"Shall we drop him off in the Ministry?" commented one of the wizards, "Lord Consort?" using his title when a glance came his way from both his Lord and the Lord's consort. Technically it was his kill, and his to deal with as he saw fit.

"Burn him," Harry said nodding decisively.

"Wouldn't you rather let everyone know he's gone?" Severus asked, giving Harry a curious look, wondering at the statement behind that particular order.

"Why should I care? Let them continue cowering in their home," Harry said derisively, "Instead of getting up off their arses and doing something about it." yes, he didn't do a damn thing, he wasn't an adult.

The vampires coughed to muffle and hide their amusement.

"I mean seriously?! There are thousands of adult wizards and witches in total in Magical Britain, and they couldn't join forces to stop one mad man and what forty Death Eaters?" Harry said derisively, "They deserve to sweat, to wonder when the next attack is coming…even the Ministry was pathetic, covering their own backside more than helping anyone…those that died…the Ministry could put them on their shoulders." He wasn't even going to mention the Order of the Phoenix either.

"Do it," Severus told them, guiding his mate well away from the stench and body of the Dark Lord Voldemort. Who had ironically died by a muggle implement, of all ways the wizard feared dying…that was probably nowhere on the list. Plus, he did not want the others questioning Harry, and if they saw him doing it…they were liable to do so as well.

Within seconds, Voldemort's body was set ablaze, nothing else was touched, not even the marble under which the body lay. It did get dirty with soot and ash as the body was reduced to such.

"Leave them," Harry commented before he could stop himself, before they could burn the rest of the bodies. "My classmates deserve to get their estate and not have to wait ten years." Even in the magical world, it wasn't something as simple as showing a copy of the family tree, or even going to Gringotts. Magic could be faked, so they had to wait ten years before the person could be declared dead.

"Yes, Sir," came the murmured replies, respecting his decision, and valuing it.

Severus glanced around Malfoy Manor Grand Hall, before sighing, "Let's go home," where he belonged, where they all belonged and had found more than just a place to stay, but a home.

The first real home Severus had ever had, and it belonged to him.

To them.

To the child growing within his mate.

Their Little Prince. Or Princess.

It would belong to them one day, and he and Harry would retire to somewhere secluded. Where they didn't need constantly guarded, didn't need to make the decisions. Where they could find the freedom that was eluding them right now.

"Yes, lets go home," Harry agreed, as his mate pressed a kiss to his forehead. It made him smile, despite how angry he was. Leaning down he picked up the sword, it was part of a set after all, and probably cost a small fortune.

"You heard your Prince Consort, home," Severus called out, and with that they all apparated away once the wards they'd placed were torn down in seconds.

Without anyone the wiser, the prophecy, unheard, unrecorded and unknown had still played out. It would seem that prophecies were unavoidable no matter what one did, or the path they took.

A/n – Just in case you can't remember (Unless I'm totally in the wrong myself and remembering it before another edit) the Prophecy was never heard, so Dumbledore didn't become obsessed with the 'Prophecy child' neither did Voldemort for that matter…James and Lily were killed for being Order members 😊 so yeah, the prophecy was unheard, unrecorded and unknown 😊 so, will Severus have to beg for forgiveness? Or will the near losses have them putting it under the rug! Ha! So next chapter will have a bit of a wee skip maybe a few days to a week or so and on to the politics hehe! Ooo, Harry's going to have so much fun and I'm going to love writing it.

Anyone that doesn't want to bother with politics and thought this would be a good stopping point for you all 😊 I even gave the ending bit titled out 😉 lol I'm not sure if you've noticed but I tend to have the title at the very end of the story :D As for those interested in Harry's annoying the elders keep an eye out 😉 *Cackles!* R&R please!