Chapter 2

It's been thirty minutes of questions and pain as I do my best to not get irritated with every little thing as my pain tolerance becomes nearly non-existent, I rub my hand over my face as I sigh wearily. Harry had in no certain terms told me that the ministry is out for my blood, thinking that I am new dark lord and that I know where all the abandoned Death Eaters are, the ones who hadn't been captured or killed by blood thirsty Aurors. I knew who had the most body count but it is irrelevant as said Auror had passed away two years after the Battle of Hogwarts, having sustained a nasty injury that ended up killing the aged man.

My mind drifts back to the past as my wife and Harry converse, apparently he also needed her statements too. Not surprising as the Ministry is trying to interfere with anything that apart of my life, something I am painfully aware of and unfortunately cannot simple wish away. I tune out all noise as my mind brings a memory back, one I had blocked for a while.

The fear I felt when I see Hagrid carrying a seemingly dead Harry Potter had gripped my insides to tightly that I fight the urge to vomit behind my mask, I see Draco flinch and a wand suddenly appears within the boys' hand. I didn't need to be a genius to know that the boy was about to something extremely foolish, it's another minute flinch that has me turning my head and fully concentrating upon said blond boy.

"Harry Potter is dead, fallen to my curse. You all bow before the might of Lord Voldemort!"

The sickening voice is ringing within my ears as I still refuse to take my eyes off my godson, there is another flinch. I take my eyes of him for only a moment when my college and friend screams the most horrid sound I have ever heard, Minerva's usually perfect bun is lop sided upon her hair as she runs to the front of the crowd. My heart clutches at the look of desperation upon the Scottish woman's face, I want to defect right then and there. To show her and everyone who has questioned my loyalty, that I have and always will stand beside Potter and his cause. Voldemort is taunting the crowd of students and staff as I glance once more at Draco; who has yet to move, my eyes fixed upon the boy before I look back at all the onlookers. I notice Minerva shrink back into the back as Neville Longbottom; of all I would have guessed to not come forward, bravely challenges the madman. I subtly notice the sorting hat is upon the boys head, something that is not a usual and apparently I am the only one to notice.

"We will never bow to the likes of you V-Voldemort."

Oh. The courage of the child who blew up the most cauldrons in my classroom. I find myself having a deep sound respect for the boy. Too bad the boy will be dead in a few moments if the madman doesn't decide to play with his food first, a chill runs down my spine as I think about the torture the man near him could and can cause. I am pleasantly surprised when Tom tried to imperio said boy and within seconds, Neville brakes through the unforgivable, stunning everyone except myself. I had already figured it out when I ignored the summons from Tom, he had intended on killing me thinking I was the owner of Albus' wand. I'm only standing here now for entertainment purposes. The reason all of the madman's spells are failing; which he has cast two more already, is that Harry went to face his death willingly. Giving the same protection Lily had given the boy, to everyone who stands here now that are facing the dark faction. I had realized all too quickly that I was not under that protection because Harry truly believed I am a Death Eater, that I had betrayed Albus and murdered the aged man out of spite.

I hear Voldemort hiss in anger as the man realizes that none of his spells are having any effect, he can't silence the students, can't hurt them, or bid them to do his favor. I smirk behind my mask, serves the deranged man right.

"Now Neville! Kill the snake with the sword!"

No one; including myself, had seen Harry disappear out of Hagrid's arms, nor had anyone but me seen Draco take that exact moment to run at the Potter boy and quickly pass along what suspiciously looks like Albus' wand before reentering the Death Eater crowd and hone in by his parents. All these actions have gone unnoticed by Voldemort as said man is still trying to force the Longbottom boy to obey, he even had failed to notice said boy was removing the sorting hat to only pull out the true sword of Gryffindor. I watch intently as the boy swings the sword and decapitates the giant boa; effectively ending its rain of terror, and I sigh with relief despite the ear shattering scream that leaves the madman. I knew Tom loved the snake; for what I don't know, but he never went anywhere with Nagini.

Pure satisfaction thrums through my veins as I watch Harry Potter stand at the front, blocking everyone from the madman, declaring himself as the prime target. I know what the boy is playing at and I wish nothing more than to help him, but there is nothing I can do but stand back and pray the boys luck gets him out of this mess. I'm not ignorant to the fact that a lot of my 'brethren' are fleeing after seeing Voldemort completely encompassed by the Potter boy, I step back toward Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco.

"Leave now while you have the chance, take Draco to France Cissa. It's your best chance to survive the backlash from this, leave. Now." I hiss to them before walking back forward to stand beside Voldemort. I slip my wand from its holster and aim it at the crazed madman but am stopped as spells clash between Harry and Tom, I listen carefully as the boy is taunting Tom.

"Tom, do mind if I call you that?" Harry and Tom start to circle each other, wands drawn and pointed at one another. "Do yourself a favor and think. Find it within yourself to see where and why you will not win this, you will fail."

Voldemort hisses angrily, his eyes never leaving the bane of his existence. I chuckle lowly as I watch the two, not many knew about Voldemort's horcurx's. The man would not be walking away if the boy can best him,

"You dare..."

"Yes I dare," Harry responds, cutting the man off. "I dare because I want you to see the mistake you have made. There is something I have that you never will, and that something will continue allow me to fight and defeat you."

"Insolent brat, you will die here, in front of everyone." The Dark lord hisses once more, slipping into parseltongue.

I cringe as more spells are fired between the two, I always witness Bellatrix being killed by Molly Weasley. I had warned the deranged woman not to mess with the Weasley clan; that they were tight nit, more so than the Blacks. I flick my wrist blocking several stray spells, I refuse to indulge in anyone's fights. I'm only here to either witness the fall of the madman or help Harry should he need assistance. There is a stagnant pregnant pause as the Avarda Kedavra and Expelliarmus meet; the killing curse by Voldemort and the other from Harry, green battling red as both fight for dominance. I watch astonished as I've never heard of the two curses; one a mere defense and the other an unforgivable, meeting in such a way. The air is palpable as magic is thick, I never knew that Harry held so much power within his body.

Sparks fly between the curses, both parties equal for the moment. I see Voldemort's arm shaking slightly as he struggles to combat the boys' sheer will, all onlookers are and have been shocked into silence by the turn of events. Who would have thought that a mere second year defense spell can stop an unforgivable, something I still am trying to process as I see the red stream of light start to engulf the green one. Soon, all is quiet, as the red light completely overtakes the green. The light hitting Tom Riddle square within this chest, ceasing anymore fighting that may have proceeded.

All the Death Eaters leave in copious amounts of black smoke, leaving just myself and the fallen body of the Dark lord. Most everyone still present are pointing their wands upon myself, I simply slip my mask off, letting it fall to the ground. I quickly vanish my robes with a wave of my hand, no wand, no words as I stare at Harry. I walk over to said boy and lower to my knees with my head down,

"Do what you will with me, Harry." I say quietly as I bare myself before the boy.

Potter surprises me by placing a gentle hand upon my shoulder, I look up to see glazing emerald green eyes. I relax only minutely as there is still a lot of wands pointed in my direction,

"Wands down! He's with us!" Harry yells while never taking his eyes off upon myself. "Snape...Severus, I knew Hermione was right about you and I thank you. If not for you, I'd never been allowed to reclaim the true sword of Gryffindor, I'd never been allowed to follow all of Dumbledore's orders if you hadn't put yourself in moral peril. Thank you."

I'm stunned to say the least as I stare at the boy turning man, he really is more like his mother. Forgiving me without prompting, a fact I don't mess but I refuse to not let the boy hear why.

"Pot-Harry," I get the boy's undivided attention as Harry lowers onto his knees also, "You need to know the reason..."

"The reason to what? Why you spent seven years protecting me knowing that you could be killed every time, why you swore an unbreakable oath several times during your life; yes I know of them. The one you made to my mother; albeit probably not knowing you did so, and the one you made to Draco's mother, I know of them, haven known for a while."

I open my mouth but shut it as Harry continues, "And the one you made to Albus Dumbledore, Severus, I am far from dumb. Your loyalty was to me, not them, and I knew that the minute you put yourself between me and the werewolf. No sane person would go that far, ever."

"I..." I can't seem to form words as Harry has nearly said everything I had wanted to say, so the boy knows of my secret..."I'm sorry I had to treat you so badly..."

"Save it Severus," I stand with the boy as we turn to the crowd, "We have much to do, just do me a favor Professor."

"And what's that Potter?" I slightly sneer, old habits dying hard. Thankfully Harry doesn't seem to care as he starts to separate people to starting repairing the school,

"Live your own life, no more masters, no more spying, and no more hatred. Be the Severus I've imagined you to be, smart, cunning, and cautious." I turn to face the young man, "Do what you love most, I did this not only for them but for you."

I'm brought out of the memory but Clarisa touching my cheek and apparently had been calling my name; repeatedly, I shake my head and see both my wife and Harry looking at me concerned. I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose, I don't want to explain that I had just recalled the battle.