You Know What They Say about Necessity...

A/N: ***WARNING! Torture and abuse of sorts are in this section!*** Get ready for an emotional roller-coaster ride, folks. "Help!" is by the Beatles. Thanks to all my reviewers and all who read this story!

Disclaimer: JKR owns it all, I will put them back where I found them someday.


Chapter Twelve: Help!


“Impedimenta!”

The curse seemed to cfromfrom the air, it was so swift. If Severus had sensed any sort of danger whatsoever it wouldn’t have happened. But the caster had been as silent as the grave, and as quick as death. Severus fell to the forest floor with a thud, immediately struggling against the magical bonds to try and reach his wand, though he knew it would do him no good. Where the hell is Lucius? he thought. The voice had been soft and had an odd lilt to it. He couldn’t place it. At least, not until an incantation was muttered and the person spoke again. And then he had no doubts as to the identity of the speaker. And it filled him with an icy dread.

“Accio wand!”

Severus watched helplessly as his wand sailed away… into the waiting hand of Lucius Malfoy.

“Lucius, what the hell are you doing!” Severus exclaimed.

Lucius slowly turned to look at him. A s for formed on his lips, a smile that was obscene in its mockery of sweetness. He lifted Severus’ wand, and with a quick, precise movement snapped it in two. He flung the pieces away and walked over to Severus, kneeling down beside him.

“What am I doing?” Lucius asked angrily. “What am I doing? I am disarming a traitor to the Dark Lord, is what I’m doing.”

Severus felt the blood drain from his face. He knows. Merlin help me, he knows…

“Have you gone mad, Lucius?” he hissed.

The other man chuckled. “No. But you might… before I am done with you.”

“Why do you say I am a traitor?” Severus demanded, trying to sound angry. Other than the fact that I am, some insane part of his mind thought.

“Perhaps because when the Dark Lord arrived on the day of the final battle, he thought it wise to inform me of your treachery before he went to look for Potter,” Lucius spat. “As to how he found out… well, let’s just say a certain foolish Gryffindor was trying to help you after you were felled by a spell. Considering that you had just used Stupefy on Goyle and Livingston before Crabble hit you, the Dark Lord thought there was something—oh, how shall I put it—amiss with that scene.” Lucius shook his head. “A Death Eater being helped by a mudblood. I’m sure you can understand, dear Severus, how suspicious that looked.”

Hermione, Severus thought in shock. He didn’t remember anything after being hit until he’d come round hours later in the infirmary. Hermione was tending to him, then Albus and Potter had come, and he saw that his dark mark was gone and knew with utter joy that the Dark Lord was dead and it was over…

“And so,” Lucius continued, “The Dark Lord saw in her pathetic mind how you were, in fact, a double agent. On their side. Fortunately for her, the Dark Lord had no wish to further delay his confrontation with Potter and did not spare the time to kill her. I must applaud you for one thing, Severus: you had us all fooled until that day. Even the Dark Lord. Your mastery of Occlumency rivals Dumbledore’s. It’s a pity it can’t save you now.”

Severus clenched his jaw. He didn’t cry for help: no doubt Lucius had cast a silencing charm on this area before attacking him. It had been a good trick on Lucius’ part, getting word to Severus two days after the battle that he was willing to give himself up, if Severus would be the one to turn him in. I will not betray your true allegiances, Severus, the note read. I know that you will continue our Dark Lord’s work after I am gone. Consider it as repayment of the life-debt I owe you. And Severus, believing Lucius as he’d never lied to him in all the years they’d known each other, had agreed to it. And thinking that he could trust Lucius, he’d arranged to him him in the Forbidden Forest. Alone. And he hadn’t told a soul besides Albus. And by the time Albus knew something was amiss… it was the second most idiotic thing Severus had ever done, taking the Dark Mark being the first. And now he was going to pay for that stupidity with his life.

“You told me you wanted to repay your debt to me,” Severus whispered.

Lucius laughed, but there was no warmth in the sound. “And so I shall. But before I do… I want to know why.”

“Why what?” Severus asked, knowing what the other man meant but wanting to make him say it. If he were about to die, it wouldn’t be without some measure of satisfaction.

“Why did you betray us!” Lucius shouted. “You were my closest friend once, Severus. I gave your life purpose, showed you how you could avenge yourself on those who had tormented you, brought you into the circle of the Dark Lord… you could have had everything. Power, knowledge, vengeance… and yet you threw it all away and went to the side of that bloody old fool! WHY!” By now Lucius’ eyes were alight with fury as they met Severus’.

“Why?” Severus snapped. “You want to know why? Because Voldemort was ie! De! Do you really think he would have stopped with killing all the muggleborn? Do you not understand that, if he’d won, it would only have been a matter of time before he decided to kill all non-Slytherins as well? And then what, when he’d run out of those wizards and witches? What do you think he’d have donen, en, Lucius? He had to have something to despise, someone to hate. It’s all he ever knew. And when everyone else was gone, he would have turned on us as well!”

Lucius closed his eyes as though in pain. When he opened them his face was sad. Truly sad. “I trusted you, Severus,” he whispered. “All these years I trusted you.”

“And I trusted you today,” Severus said coldly.

“But that was because you didn’t know I was aware of your heresy,” Lucius sneered. “I almost wish I could thank that Granger girl. She has no idea of what the Dark Lord took from her mind, you know. He just looked at her and turned and walked away. But he only needed an instant. And because of her confirmation of what he’d seen, I can serve justice on my fallen Lord’s behalf.”

Severus felt cold again. “What are you going to do to me?” he asked.

Lucius smirked, calm again, standing up and beginning to pace around Severus. “Ah, Severus. That presents a unique problem. You see, I feel that you deserve to die for your disloyalty. Yet I cannot bring myself to kill you, out of some small measure of affection that I still have for you—”

“Not to mention a life-debt,” Severus interrupted dryly.

“Call it what you will,” Lucius murmured, his grey eyes shining for a few seconds. He blinked hard and resumed his position on the ground next to Severus. “Therefore, I believe I shall have to compromise.”

“What are you going to do, get someone else to come finish me off?” Severus jeered. “That’s not your way, Lucius.”

“No, it isn’t,” the other man agreed. “No, Severus, I am going to take care of this in true Malfoy style.”

Lucius raised a hand and stroked the side of Severus’ face almost tenderly. Severus jerked away from his touch as best he could while under the jinx. Lucius laughed again. “I said I’m not going to kill you, and I meant that. That is the only thing my departed Lord did not understand: there are things worse than death. I don’t need to take your life, Severus, when it will be so much more rewarding to let you spend the rest of it wishing you were dead.”

“How original,” Severus retorted.

“Actually, no,” Lucius agreed. “But it is… unique in this case.”

Severus felt renewed alarm at the look in Lucius’ eyes.

“No, old friend, I shall torment you no further,” the elder Malfoy sighed. “Best to get this over with. I’m sure you agree.”

Severus opened his mouth to speak, but Lucius pressed two fingers against his lips. “I loved you once, like a brother,” Lucius murmured. “But now that time has passed. I honor my master, and my debt to you, by sparing your life in the most horrific way possible.”

He leaned down so far his nose almost touched Severus’. Lucius lifted his wand and pointed it against Severus’ temple as he removed his fingers. His voice was a rough whisper, filled with hate, regret, and triumph.

“Letum Savium.”

And with those words, Lucius grabbed Severus by the back of the neck and forced his lips up to his.

Severus felt the waves of magic from the curse emanate from Lucius’ mouth into his. He struggled, but Lucius had dropped his wand and was holding Severus’ face with both hands, forcing his mouth to stay open with his tongue. The kiss itself was perversely tender, like a lover’s, but the results were horrifying. Severus could feel the magic being drained from him, sucked from his very essence. As this happened, other things were ripped from him as well: thoughts, memories and feelings he’d kept buried for years. He screamed, but the sounds were swallowed by Lucius’ relentless mouth.

When it was finally over, Lucius lifted his head to stare down at his former friend. “You see, Severus. I have kept my word. But before I go, perhaps I should impede your trip back to Hogwarts a bit, so those disgusting fools cannot affect a cure too quickly. I would hate for all this effort to be in vain.”

Twnds nds grasping a leg. ckenckening snap of bone and a deafening cry that echoed only in Severus’ head. Another leg, another snap. Then Lucius stood looking down at him, face composed save a single silver tear that had slipped down one pale cheek.

“Perhaps you’ll be fortunate enough to meet someone as you drag yourself back. Who knows, you might even be rescued in time for a complete reversal, though I doubt it. Goodbye, Severus. I am a free man, now. I have paid my debts.”

“Except one, Malfoy,” came a cold, furious voice from behind him, Severus, wracked with mental and physical agony, could barely make out the words, let alone who was speaking.

Malfoy spun, wand raised, but the other person was more than prepared. “Stupefy!” a voice roared. Another thud, then silence once again filled the forest. Severus tried to raise his head, to speak to his savior, but all he could do was moan. “No,” he cried feebly, the pain from the loss of magic worse than anything physical Lucius could have done to him. He shook in despair and anger, his vision dimming, and as oblivion overcame him a final anguished scream left his swollen lips. “NO!”

“NO!”

Harry and Hermione jumped when they heard the scream. “Snape!” Harry gasped, tearing down the hall with Hermione close on his heels.

Harry kicked Snape’s door open, wand raised and ready to attack. He blinked in confusion when all he saw was Snape lying on the floor.

“Must’ve fallen out of bed,” he said, as they cautiously approached Snape. He was about to say something else when his words were interrupted by a high keening wail.

“NO! Lucius, NO!”

“He’s still asleep!” Hermione whispered in horror. “He’s in a nightmare of some sort! Harry, help me!”

But when Harry gently turned Snape over, they saw that he was quite awake, his eyes glazed and full of pain and terror. His breathing was shallow, very rapid, and he stared up without seeming to actually see them.

“Professor Snape!” Hermione cried, grasping his shoulders. “It’s me, Miss Granger! And Harry Potter! You’re safe! Snap out of it, please!” she shook him slightly.

As quickly as it had began, the episode ended. Severus blinked and focused on her. He felt shaky and his legs were in excruciating pain. “Miss Granger?” he rasped. “What happened?”

“I was hoping you could tell me that, sir,” she answered quietly. “We heard you scream, and you obviously fell out of bed, and when we came in you screamed more…”

“You were calling to Lucius Malfoy,” Harry added, frowning. “Telling him no about something.”

Severus permitted himself a small sigh. “The curse.”

Harry nodded, carefully picking Snape up. Snape drew his breath in a sharp hiss.

“I’ll get your medicine.” Hermione rushed off.

“Potter—”

“Stow it, sir,” Harry said shortly. He eased Snape onto the bed. “You can’t even stand right now, let alont int in bed. I’m not going to leave you on the floor to try and get yourself up.” He placed another pillow under Snape and, noticing that he was shivering, pulled the covers over him.

“Would you care to give me a stuffed animal as well, Mister Potter?” Snape asked with a sneer.

“Hateful Slytherin,” Harry said.

“Do-Gooder-Gryffindor,” Severus came back.

Oddly, Harry smiled at this. “More than you’ll ever know, professor.”

Hermione returned, pills and juice in her hands. After watching Snape take the painkillers, Harry turned. “I’m going to work on dinner. Call me if you need anything.” He nodded to Snape and left.

Hermione closed Severus’ door and sat on the edge of his bed. “Are you all right now?” she asked, concern etched in her pale features. She wanted so badly to take his hand. The knowledge that he would snatch it away and look at her with contempt kept her from doing it.

“As much as I can be,” he replied, closing his eyes. Her next words made him open them again and stare at her in astonishment.

“What happened that day, Severus?”

He swallowed. No one but Albus and Minerva had asked him that. Everyone knew, Albus had told the staff and the order, but no one brought it up. It was as though it were a scandal that people should not speak of. And now here was Hermione, who scarcely knew him, looking at him so earnestly, wanting to know directly from him. And strangely enough, he wanted to tell her.

So he did.

When he’d finished, she stared at him in horror and sympathy. “That’s… Severus, that’s so awful I don’t have words for it.”

“I have often wondered what it would take to render you speechless,” he said, sipping the remains of his juice.

She smiled, looking down at her hands. “I didn’t know anything about the Kiss of Death before you got hit with it.”

“It isn’t exactly teatime conversation,” he said dryly. “Few who are not Death Eaters are familiar with the curse, and fewer still could cast it.” Now it was his turn to ask her a question. “What did you learn from your studies?”

She sighed. “That it’s a Dark Art—no kidding. That it works in two parts. First it strips the recipient of magical energies, leaving the person unable to use magic or have it used on them. Then it begins physical deterioration. If not stopped in time, the person would fall into a type of waking coma. If it gets to that point, it’s irreversible. But if caught quickly enough, the progession can be stopped, and all the damage can be undone with that blasted Strength of the Spirits potion that takes forever to brew and just as long to take effect.”

“You seem to have found a great deal of information,” he said archly.

She grinned. “I’m nearly a mediwitch. I don’t need Harry’s invisibility cloak anymore to go into restricted sections of libraries.”

“It is still not common knowledge by any means, Hermione.”

“No, it isn’t,” she said quietly. “But the place where the book came from wasn’t exactly common, either.”

He stared at her. “And where was that?” he asked softly.

She sighed heavily, but met his stare. “The Malfamilamily library. After Lucius was captured, aurors stormed Malfoy’s mansion. The books are now scattered about between the Ministry and Hogwarts. Poppy lets me borrow whatever I want, and since I’m going to help treat you, I wanted to understand exactly what happened to you.”

“I see.” Severus replied. “And do you?”

She shook her head. “From an academic, clinical standpoint, yes. But that’s all. I have no idea of how it made you feel.”

“Neither do I, at times,” he confessed. “It’s as though there are gaps in my mind. One closes and another opens. I confuse simple things. There the things I know but can’t bring to the surface. I go from being in control to feeling completely out of it.”

“That must be frustrating for someone of your intellect,” Hermione said. This time she yielded to her impulse to take his hand.

He tried to remove it, but she wouldn’t let go. “I do not want pity, Hermione,” he snapped.

“That’s good, because I’m not giving you any,” she told him defiantly. “But you do need comfort. Everyone does sometimes.”

“I need nothing,” he scoffed.

“For a Slytherin, you’re a lousy liar, Severus.”

“And for a Gryffindor, you’re got an awful bedside manner, Hermione.”

She saw that he was teasing her, as she had teased him, and the corners of her mouth quirked upwards. “Do you want me to leave you to your scowling, then?”

He didn’t answer for so long, she almost did think he wanted her to go. Just as she was about to remove her hand, his tightened.

“No,” he said, almost inaudibly. “I don’t.”

She nodded, forcing herself to appear calm though her heart was hammering against her chest. “Well. In that case…”

“Yes? She She smiled again. “Would you like me to tell you a story?”