Half a Life Without You

Chapter 2: Retribution

Severus - POV:

My breath comes in short pants as I race down the corridor, fucking Potter and his gang of Neanderthals. I stupidly let my guard down after weeks passed with no taunting or pranks, only to find myself ambushed coming down from the astronomy tower. I can still feel the pain radiating through my arm after one of Black's stinging hexes struck me from behind. Bruised and winded, I clinch my fists in frustrated anger, what a bunch of bloody hypocrites, accusing me of meddling with the dark arts while simultaneously throwing brutally painful hexes toward me. Always four against one, their Gryffindor courage a joke – their bravery obviously doesn't extend to a fair fight.

Sprinting around the corner of the passageway, I duck quickly behind a column hoping to evade my pursuers. I tug one of the nearby tapestries closer to help with my concealment. I stand motionless while my heart beats loudly against my chest. My furious breathing causes a stabbing pain to spread across my sides. I begin to sway with the enormous effort it's taking to remain unmoving. At this point I know my chances of escape are rapidly dwindling.

I silently vow one absolute truth, if they discovery me and continue their assault, I will not under any circumstances go down without a fight, and I would take those bastards with me.

I brace myself for the worst as I hear their pounding feet come around the corner, "Oh Snivellus! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Potter sings as he approaches.

I try to quiet my rapid breathing, still clinging to a sliver of hope they'll continue walking past. I abandon all hope when I hear Potter's voice.

"Pads, I do believe that tapestry has a pair of shoes sticking out from under it." Black chuckles menacingly.

"Prongs, I do believe you are correct. A rather unattractive pair if I might add."

At their mocking laughter a blinding rage takes over, it rises in me like a wildfire burning to my core. With fierce determination, I quickly jump out from behind my hiding spot and start rapidly shoot spells and hexes toward the four boys bearing down on me. I barely say one before I can feel another leave my mouth "STUPIFY! EXPELLIARMUS!"

I smirk as Potter spins comically through the air before hitting a nearby wall and enjoy the baffled look on Black's stupid face as his wand is flung from his hand.

Suddenly, I'm hit with a Leg-Locker curse causing me to hit the ground face first snapping my nose. "FUCK!" I let out a cry of pain as blood gushes over my face onto my robes. Where the hell did that come from, I glance over and see a guilt-stricken expression on Lupin's face. He cringes at the amount of blood covering my face as it drips heavily to the floor.

"Guys this has gone far enough, just look at his face!" I can hear Lupin yelling to Potter and Black as they surround me. They ignore him and center their focus to me, Black swaggers towards my prone body "Don't worry about your nose Snivellus I don't think anyone will be able to tell the difference."

"Yeah, it might even be an improvement." Potter adds.

I look them over with disdain, I can see Lupin hovering worriedly next to Potter and Black while Pettigrew scurries behind them.

Black points his wand back at me, "what do you think Prongs?"

Potter snickers "I think a good Bat Bogey hex should finish him for now."

Before Black's hex can find its mark, I scream out "PROTEGO!" successfully blocking it. With blood dripping from my fingertips, I point my wand at the wall next to them and ferociously cry out "CONFRINGO!" blasting it away.

Chunks of the wall suddenly come flying out, the blast throws them up into the air like rag dolls then back down again with excruciating force. They crash dramatically into one another, and I swear I can hear their bones snapping. Pieces of the wall violently slam into their sprawled bodies for a few more minutes, until everything quiets, and only small drops of rubble can be heard delicately raining over them.

I can hear their groans of pain echoing through the corridor. I roll over to my back grunting in discomfort, despite my injuries I find myself smiling up at the ceiling - I finally got them! My earlier vow to take those bastards down with me fulfilled. My moment of glory is short lived as my eyesight begins to darken around the corners and everything fades away.

I do not hear the frantic cries coming from down the hall as figures race over to us, I only know my own serenity and welcome the darkness.