Alright, chapter 18! Thank you so much for all of your reviews, they seriously help :D
I have recieved my class schedule today and, oh, boy, am I going to be busy :/ Yeah... School life's just great, y'know? Some days, I'm going to come home pretty late. But what does this mean for this story? Nothing much, just that I'm probably going to post on the weekends, or sometimes randomly during the week. I ALSO strongly suggest you all like turn on notifications or whatnot, since I won't be uploading in a consistent schedule.
Other than that, when I wrote this chapter like seven months ago, I remember being very proud of it. Of course I have heavily edited it. Anyways, please review, share your thoughts, and ENJOY! I think the chapter name is pretty self-explainatory :)
CH.18 - The Traitor's Wrath
Something bright suddenly lit the dark room. Years of spying had taught him well, and Severus stirred immediately, gradually becoming more awake. It took him a moment to realise that the light was coming from a cat Patronus — Minerva's Patronus. The man was up in an instant, already on high alert. The cat spoke in Minerva's voice, clear urgency lining it.
"Potter, Weasley, and Granger are in danger. Grimmauld Place — Meet us there."
The mist-like cat dispersed, leaving the room dark once more. Severus felt his heart pounding in a way it hadn't in almost seventeen years. His only thoughts were now of the idiotic child he'd been trying to keep safe all these years, and of all of the horrible case scenarios that he might be in. He couldn't explain the gut-wrenching fear churning in the pit of his stomach, but he didn't have the time to dwell on it.
Severus snatched his ebony wand from under his pillow, quickly spelled his pyjamas into robes, and crossed the room to a large glass cabinet. Muttering the password to open it, he stuffed his robes with potions and supplies. Satisfied, Severus raced downstairs, through the entrance hall, and dis-apparated as soon as he was outside, his heart still hammering against his rib cage.
Why was the boy at that mutt's house in the first place, with Weasley and Granger, no less? Severus had had his suspicions that they had plotted something during their visit a day ago, but he'd never thought it would have been something as foolish as this! He should have said something; he should not have given a group of Gryffindors the benefit of the doubt!
Severus couldn't lose the boy.
Despite the anger he felt toward the Gryffindor, it was heavily bolstered by fear and anxiety. This time, however, it wasn't for the sake of Lily, or her child, or the vow; it was for the boy himself, and that frightened Severus to no end.
Being a spy, it was never advisable to have friends, family, or people you cared about. In the end, either the spy or the innocent would be hurt and grieving, and over the last seventeen years, Severus had made sure not to let anyone into his heart.
But, somehow, for the first time since Lily, someone had promised to give a chance; to not give up on him. Someone had forgiven him, someone had actually understood him and showed him kindness no-one had in an immeasurable amount of time.
Somehow, Severus had let down his guard. Otherwise, what could explain this gripping fear that threatened to engulf him?
Lily had done this once, but Severus had ruined everything. And he would not fail again. He could not lose even Harry.
Despite his thick robes, Severus shivered slightly at the chillyness of the summer night. As soon as he'd apparated in front of 12 Grimmauld Place, he was met with the sight of Kingsley, Minerva, and the whole Weasley clan, all with drawn wands. Everyone stared at him, clearly shocked by his presence, but didn't say anything, though some of them were shooting him nasty glares. But Severus wasn't paying them any mind — his thoughts were only on one person.
Thankfully, Kingsley wasn't one to beat around the bush.
"Thank you all for coming. Now, as the Ministry is still overrun with imposters, we will have to infiltrate the building ourselves. Here is the plan," he began instructing in his deep, resonant voice. "From what Miss Weasley has told us, there are at least two Death Eaters in there…"
This is why Severus held such high respect for the man — he was blunt, business-like, and got straight to the point. Of all Order members, Kingsley had always been the most tolerable.
"...We go in, wands drawn, and begin to search the place. We will set off the wards either way, thus there is no point in maintaining cover." He turned to Severus.
"Severus, take Arthur and Bill and search the basement." He turned to address the rest. "Myself, Minerva, and Molly will search the upper floors. The rest of you…" his gaze lingered on George Weasley, Miss Weasley and Percius Weasley, "will remain here on standby," he finished.
No one dared to argue, and Severus was the first to take action. Despite the fear crawling through his veins, a vicious smirk appeared on his face as he thought of all the curses he'd learned over his years of being a Death Eater, and how he was planning on finally getting creative with them.
Oh, he wasn't holding back this time.
No-one touched Lily's son. No-one.
No-one touched Harry.
Oh, how he would shake some sense into the Gryffindor once he got his hands on him. The boy had zero sense of self-preservation, and Severus was sure he would be the death of him.
Severus, Arthur and Bill were the first to enter the half destroyed entrance hall of the dusty place, and Severus cringed at the thought of what might await them once they had found the Gryffindor dunderheads.
Almost immediately, a blood curdling scream that made Severus' blood freeze rang through the house. The Order be damned; he knew that voice!
It would not happen again…
It had already happened once…
He wouldn't fail Lily twice. He would not lose Harry.
Ignoring the rest of the Order members, the ex-Death Eater followed the screams down into the basement, but stopped abruptly at the sight that met him at the bottom step.
Lying on the stone floor was a scrawny figure with a black mop of hair, writhing and convulsing from a curse Severus was all-too familiar with. What made his heart clench were Harry's obvious attempts not to scream and beg as his lips were clamped shut so tightly, they were turning a blu-ish shade.
The boy's right shoulder was bloodied, and so was the lower part of his face. Five Death Eaters — their backs turned to him — stood before the boy jeering, laughing and taking turns torturing Lily's son. Granger and Weasley were lying in a corner, petrified and watching everything unfold with bloodshot eyes.
Severus saw red.
Driven by pure rage and furry like he hadn't felt in years, Severus began unleashing every hex and curse he knew at the Death Eaters. They were taken by complete surprise when a powerful Stunner flew at the wizard currently holding Potter at wandpoint. The figure crumpled to the ground, making everyone turn around and immediately take action against the intruders and the traitor.
Severus cast a Mirroring Shield Charm, sending the onslaught of curses flying toward him back at their castors.
"SNAPE, YOU TRAITOR!" bellowed a voice he recognized as Lucious Malfoy's. Severus smirked wolfishly as he gracefully hurled more curses at the others and dodged oncoming ones. He successfully knocked out the Carrow twins — evil, student-torturing bastards they were — and sent a viper at Lucius, which caught him off-guard and coiled around him, sending him to the floor with a THUD.
Severus skillfully dodged more curses from Rookwood and Dolohov — their skills had been lacking — and sent a purple jet of light, which split into two mid-way, each shooting for either Death Eater. To his utter satisfaction, Dolohov and Rookwood began bouncing from floor to ceiling, side to side, both yelling their heads off. Severus solved the annoying problem by casting a Silencing Charm on the two. Finally, the unfortunate pair were ruthlessly thrown against one of the old cabinets on one side of the room, the furniture toppling atop them.
The next few minutes were utter chaos as spells, curses, and even Unforgivables hailed through the air. At the last Death Eater standing, Severus sent one of his favourite curses he'd learned from the Dark Bastard himself — Poenitentiae Eco, a curse that implanted vivid memories of the target's most regrettable actions, haunting them with guilt and potentially driving them to seek redemption.
He was unaware of all the Order members staring in utter shock and awe at him, mouths gaping wide open, from the base of the stairs.
Without a second thought, Severus dropped to his knees beside Harry, who lay twitching on the ground, his eyes closed and his breathing laboured. Severus gently turned the boy over to examine the damage, before barking at the Order fools over his shoulder.
"Well, what are you all gaping at! Take care of the Death Eaters and tend to Granger and Weasley!" No one dared to do otherwise, and shuffled off to do their part.
Turning back to Potter, Severus gently propped him up against his chest and fished for an Anti-Cruciatus potion within his robes. The boy stirred slightly, but was limp against him, half-unconscious but still twitching. Severus began to pour the potion down into the boy's throat, gently massaging his neck to aid him in swallowing the liquid, hating the way his hands were shaking.
He carelessly tossed the vial aside and retrieved a level 10 Pain Reliever, his personal Anti-Cruciatus Potion, and a Blood-Replenisher. Following the same procedure, he poured the two potions down Potter's throat, and only then cast a Renervate on him.
Severus held his breath.
After a moment, Potter's eyes fluttered open. "Whazit hapfen?" he slurred, beginning to shiver. Severus exhaled in blissful relief.
"Quiet, Harry. Remain still," he instructed, his voice softer than it had been in decades. He felt a sudden wave of protectiveness over the small frame still against him, and subconsciously tightened his hold on the boy he'd come so close to losing. Grabbing the edge of his long cloak, he wrapped it around Harry, providing him with warmth — it would be counterproductive for him to catch a cold, he reasoned.
Severus vowed that as soon as the brat was back to normal, he would shake some sense into that thick skull of his. But that would come later.
Severus quickly cast a Diagnostic spell, and saw that the boy had an injured shoulder, a concussion, and the usual post-Cruciatus effects. He continued to hold the boy propped up against his chest, waiting for him to come to a bit more. There was a risk of throwing up after experiencing a concussion and the Cruciatus Curse, after all, so lying down really wasn't an option for the dunderhead, lest he choke on his own vomit. He would treat his shoulder later.
"Severus?"
His head snapped up at the sound of Kingsley's baritone voice.
"I'll take care of Potter; you focus on searching the place and securing the Death Eaters," reassured Severus. As an afterthought, he added, "How are Granger and Weasley?"
"We're fine, sir," came Mr. Weasley's slightly shaky voice from the stairway. "Just a little bruised, is all."
"Is Harry…?" came Granger's shaky voice from beside Weasley.
Severus ignored this question, and fired back his own. "How long was he under the Cruciatus?"
Granger stammered a bit. "I– I think they did five rounds of it, each one no more than fifteen seconds with intervals of ten seconds." Her eyes suddenly glistened with unshed tears, a look of realisation dawning in her eyes, and Severus knew she was thinking of the Longbottoms, driven to insanity by this very same curse.
Severus sighed heavily. With intervals, the curse wasn't as harmful as compared to being kept under it interminably. He answered the girl's earlier question. "Rest assured that he will be alright, although I can't say the same about you absolute dunderheads once I get my hands on you!" growled Severus. The two eighteen-year-olds looked ashamed, looking at Potter.
"What, in Merlin's beard, robes, and wand, gave you the moronic idea to come here in the first place!?" he demanded, his fear turning into anger.
"T'was my 'dea, s'r," Ha– Potter slurred, becoming more awake and slowly trying to get up. Severus held him down.
"Remain still, Potter, your turn is yet to come, trust you me," he whispered harshly, and even though his tone lacked its usual bite, the brat-who-lived-to-get-into-trouble visibly cringed, making Severus internally smirk. Good, I haven't lost my touch.
Minerva's crisp voice sliced through the air. "Miss Granger, Mr. Wealsey, pray tell what made you act so foolishly tonight!" she demanded, sounding as if she had just caught them out past curfew.
"We were just going to observe Grimmauld Place, but then we thought that Kreacher was being tortured for information about the Order," explained Granger, wrapping her arms around herself.
"And Harry couldn't stand those evil gits being in Sirius' home!" added Weasley, rather defensively. "It's legally his home, remember?"
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes and reciting potion ingredients to calm himself. Ah, of course, the mutt, Severus thought with disdain. The brat and his hero complexes! He and the boy were going to have a long talk once he'd recovered.
A sharp hiss and intake of breath from Potter brought him back out of his thoughts. Looking down, Potter's shoulder was still very much injured and bleeding. Severus instantly began muttering "Vulnera Sanentur…Vulnera Sanentur…Vulnera Sanentur…" over and over again in a sing-song voice, tracing the tip of his wand over the gash.
As he worked, he noticed that Potter was starting to lean into him, visibly trying not to wince at his injury. Severus knew that Vulnera Senentur wasn't a painless spell, as it made the skin and muscle around the wound stretch and grow. And though he'd take this to the grave with him, it tore his heart to shreds to remember that this boy had faced far worse, starting with the Basilisk literally piercing his arm with its venomous fang. The boy had never truly had a childhood, hadn't he?
Lily must be rolling in her grave…
The wound started to close, but left raw, red traces, which would scar unless treated within the next few hours with one of Severus' special salves. Once he'd finished, he also cast a Scourgify on Potter to clean him of blood. Luckily, his nose didn't seem to be broken.
He was dimly aware of half the Order staring at him in surprise, confusion, and disbelief, and Severus sent them one of his fiercest glares, daring them to peep a word about the predicament. The Weasleys looked absolutely tearful, and everyone else had concern and bemusement written over their faces.
The ex-Death Eater sighed. "H– Potter will be alright; he is simply suffering from a concussion. I will see to it that he makes a quick recovery, though your excessive audience is quite unnecessary."
A few people muttered under their breaths, but didn't pose any arguments. Molly Weasley approached him, nodding shakily and carding her fingers through Potter's unruly mop. She then smiled at Severus gently.
"Ron has told us that things have changed between you and Harry, Severus," she said gently. "Dumbledore had always told us that there is much more to you than meets the eye — take good care of Harry. And it's good to see you." With that, she ushered everyone out, only McGonagal and Minerva staying behind.
Severus stared at her retreating form in astonishment. Where were the insults, the blame, the accusations towards him? It was him who had, albeit accidentally, cursed off her son's ear. He, who had killed Dumbledore. He, who was a Death Eater; had relayed the prophecy…
But to hear 'It's good to see you'?
Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to Potter, still enveloped in his cloak and no longer quivering. Severus found that he was quite content with holding the boy, a small reassurance that he was alright.
Damn it, he was going soft.
"Severus." Kingsley walked up to him. "How are you?."
Severus ignored his comment. "I will be escorting Mr. Potter back to Prince Manor soon; he needs to rest," he informed Kingsley. "If I may, Minister, I would suggest stationing a select-few — trusted — Aurors around the place, accompanied by stronger wards, too."
Kingsley considered this for a moment, before nodding once. "I was considering as much, Severus. As soon as you and Mr. Potter leave, Aurors will, indeed, be doing a sweep of the place."
Severus nodded in appreciation, and turned his attention back to Potter. He noticed that the boy's eyes were open, looking at him, the bright emerald orbs slightly unfocused without their glasses, and Severus found it almost too painful to keep their gaze.
"Can you stand?" he asked more softly than he'd intended, reaching for the round-rimmed glasses on the floor and handing them to him after a quick Reparo.
"I– I think so, yeah," he replied, slipping them on.
Very slowly and gently, he helped Potter up, keeping a vice grip on his forearms as the boy stood on shaky legs and leaned heavily against Severus. He might be conscious, but Severus knew the after-effects of the Crucio curse all too well, even with the potions.
"M'fine now, sir. Thanks," mumbled Potter, looking up, green eyes meeting the black, reminding Severus again painfully of the vow he'd almost failed to uphold to Lily. He remembered the way his heart had pounded against his chest when he'd heard the message from Minerva not an hour ago, and subconsciously only tightened his grip on the boy.
"Shut up, Potter," he growled in a low voice. "If I ever hear you say that you are 'fine', I will personally make sure you are not, and will go through with my earlier threat to permanently remove that word from your vocabulary," he threatened, not really meaning the words coming from his mouth.
The boy chuckled and slowly straightened up. Potter was still twitching slightly, but that was a norm for the after effects of the Unforgivable. Severus reluctantly let go of him, but held his hands at the ready in case the boy's knees buckled.
"Severus," sounded Kingsley's baritone voice from the stairs. "Take Mr. Potter and leave. I am about to alert the Aurors."
Severus scowled. "I'm assuming those would be your more trusted ones?"
Kingsley nodded. "Of course. We shall meet and discuss tonight's events at a later time."
Severus nodded, and gripped the boy's upper (uninjured) arm once more, even though he could stand on his own. He as good as dragged the boy up the stairs, and the two disapparated once outside.
