Down On Your Knees

Tile: Down on Your Knees

Author: Exis* Exis_@hotmail.com

Pairing: Harry Potter/Severus Snape

Warnings: This fic will contain M/M sex....Gay sex. For thoes who don't like that, you should go away now. It will also highlight a love afair with a teacher so if that makes you unhappy, scram. I haven't finished writing it, but you should assume that it will have spoilers from ALL FOUR BOOKS.....if that displeases you, you can go away as well. My last warning is that this is my virgin slash fic, and my virgin Harry Potter fic. I haven't the slightest clue whether it's horrible, and I'd like to pretend it's not....

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, nor am I making any money off this. You know the drill, I won't elaborate.

Dedicated: To my Lovely Beta Tealish. Thanks for your patience, and your trust. And also to ALL THE RAVENCLAWS OUT THERE.......the greatest hero's go unnoticed...and also to the two people who put me on their favorites list.....this is for you.......

Archive: Anywhere you want to....just mail me to let me know

Overdrive in entropy
What are we 'gonna do?
There's a stranger in you
Clashing light and sound
With the thunder - trash the ground
You are mixing energy
Overdrive in entropy.

Now the crowd is overjoyed
The institution is destroyed
The dragon of darkness reers its ugly head
Cries out that "All the innocent are dead!"

It soon gets hard to think
about what you wanted
The fire-manifest breeds mortal fear
The crowd clammers to the alter
Too late, the chief fate
dealer don't want to hear.

Mercury beads of sweat are brazen, upon their 'brows
Time for me to get out of here
Paralyzing par fatalist
The dragon growls:

"Run, run baby, don't slow down,
To get a little You have to give a lot.
We all know you know how.

You're wrapped up tight in your fantasies
In the middle of the night
You're only living, forward
'till friday night
Down on your knees.


Chapter 13 "All the innocent are dead"

Harry wanted to throw himself down the steps. He was in bonds and held by two large wizards. Harry’s mind hurt, and his body hurt from being carried around like a criminal. He was really quite worried about his wand, which was still in Fudge’s possession. He didn’t care if they took it away, but he most certainly didn’t want it snapped; it had saved his life more than once.

Harry’s boot heels clicked loudly on the marble steps that led into the bowels of the Ministry. He hadn’t the slightest idea as to where he was being taken, and the three men who accompanied him seemed in no hurry to divulge information. Harry probably should have been more concerned, but he really wasn't in the mood to talk. What was there to say? He had just admitted to the crime, and he really was guilty. He did it intentionally and mindfully. What was there left to talk about?

The trip down to the interrogation room was most likely no more than a few minutes, but in Harry’s mind it stretched out forever. Mostly Harry thought about what was going on upstairs. He could just see Hermione and Ron and Sirius all throwing temper tantrums up inside various offices, demanding one thing or another. He could picture Dumbledore’s solemn face as he tried to reason with people. He could almost sense the painful statement Remus would carry. It was just another painful travesty he could add to the list that had followed him around since birth.

Harry also thought about what would happen to him. The most prominent thought was Azkaban. He knew he wouldn’t last very long there. There were just too many bad memories that all ready punished him daily. There would be nothing of Harry if and when he ever got out of that place.

But for some reason, that wasn’t the scariest thought. At least with Azkaban he would lose his mind and the pain wouldn’t be conscious. What Harry really couldn’t face was the public disgust that might occur at his release. Self-disappointment was one thing, but having failed everyone that had counted on him was something totally unfathomable. For some reason, having to see the faces of the people he had let down would devalue all the death of the war. All the people he had lost would have died for nothing. Harry would rather have Azkaban.

The last thought in Harry’s mind was Severus. He was the only happy thing to cross his mind. He knew that of all the people that would be effected by this announcement, he would be the one person who wasn’t disappointed in him. No matter what expectations everyone else had established for him, Severus had always seen him as just a person. He never saw a golden boy, just a boy with human error instilled him, just like everyone else. Harry also realized that Severus would be the last good thing that had happened to him. He was the last dream that Harry had fulfilled, and it had been wonderful. Even if the end was messy, Harry would never regret it. He figured he would most likely never see Snape again, whether he was locked away or not. Their lives had broken apart. But seeing him stand up against the back wall, just being there, was a bigger gift than anyone had ever given him. And he knew it... Harry knew he knew it.

They finally reached the large steel door that guarded the room to which they were traveling. It was opened sharply and the two men who were carrying Harry pushed him in. The Minister of Magic walked in and shut and locked the door behind him.

“Please sit, Mr. Potter,” he hissed, and motioned to the table and chairs that sat in the room. Harry picked one of the brown folding chairs; Fudge took the other. Harry looked at the Minister and thought about how different he looked. His poker face was gone and in its place was a Cheshire smile and sinister eyes. Harry realized just how fucked he was.

“This is a very interesting wand,” Fudge said, pulling it from his robes and twisting it through his fingers. Harry’s eyes followed every movement it made.

“I guess. It seemed to interest Ollivander,” Harry replied as coolly as he could. The fewer emotions he displayed the better off he was.

“He would be of course. Only very powerful people carry wands like this. I guess you’ve lived up to its legend,” Fudge said in a way that unnerved Harry.

“You could say that. I guess I think it’s more luck than power,” Harry said, shrugging. He didn’t really think that, but he wasn’t going to tell that to Fudge. Even if Fudge was lowering his facade, Harry most certainly wasn’t going to expose himself. Unfortunately for Harry, Fudge wasn’t buying it.

“Come now, Mr. Potter. Don’t be so modest...” Harry just stood there, staring at him. The energy between them was intimidating. “This is the last wand made in this model. It was an odd combination to begin with, and Olivander decided that one evil overlord was enough and quit producing them. Of course, that was extremely foolish, but I can’t tell him how to conduct his business, can I?” Fudge said almost sweetly, never ceasing his movements with the wand as he passed it around with his hands.

“I wouldn’t call it foolish,” Harry said simply. Fudge stopped the movements of Harry’s wand and placed it flat on the table. It took every vestige of Harry’s will power not to leap across the table and take it from him. He didn’t though; he was in enough trouble already.

“Oh, but it is...” Fudge said, and he intensified his stare on the younger boy. “Wands chose the wizards, Mr. Potter. Just because this wand was attracted to wizards of power doesn’t make it bad. Just the opposite in fact. Perhaps you don’t believe me. Well, tell me, Mr. Potter, do you recognize this?” Fudge smiled a cryptic smile and his eyes flashed fire. He reached within his cloak and pulled out a very familiar wand. It took Harry just a moment to realize why it was familiar.

“But that was supposed to be destroyed. The papers said...” Harry stammered.

“Yes, I know what the papers said. But who would argue with the Minster of Magic? The wand of the Dark Lord is just ‘too’ interesting to simply be broken and destroyed. Just feel it, Harry,” Fudge said, pushing it toward the boy. “Go on, touch it.”

Harry tentatively reached out and laid his fingers alone ite item, sliding them down the shaft. Fudge was right, it exuded power. It beckoned him silently, whispering to him of the things he could be. Harry’s mind reeled, remembering the lives it had taken. It made him sick. Fudge then reached across the table and took hold of it.

“You can feel it, can’t you? You see why I couldn’t just let them reduce it to rubble.”

Fudge looked at the item lovingly. Harry suddenly felt the prickling sense of being unsafe. This was unlike any interrogation he had ever undergone. Something wasn’t right.

“Excuse me, Mr. Fudge, but why are we down-” Harry started, only to be interrupted. This time, Fudge’s eyes were glued to Harry. He held Voldemort’s wand tightly in his fist and he was shaking a little.

“He wanted nothing more than to see you dead. His quest changed from killing Muggles and Mudbloods to killing you.” Fudge snickered a little and stood up from his chair. “He promised his followers glory and fame beyond their imaginations for your head.” The old phrase rung in his head as Fudge spoke: ‘I can teach you to brew fame, bottle glory...’

“He would have given anything to see your body at his feet. Anything. And now you have the audacity to parade around like you’ve won. You haven’t won. And I am going to make sure you never do.” Fudge out-right laughed now, and Harry backed his chair away from the table, just enough not to attract Fudge's attention.

“He might not be here to enjoy it, but I am going to make sure he will have gotten what he desired more than the world. And even if this curse backfires, it doesn’t matter. You’re going to Azkaban anyway. If not for using a mind-melding curse, for killing the Minister of Magic.” Fudge’s eyes were glassy and his mouth hung slightly open. Harry stood up and tripped himself as he moved away from the table. He wasn’t sure where he had been going anyway. He was lying on the floor and Fudge stood to hover over him.

“Say good bye, Harry Potter.” And then he muttered the curse.

“STUPIFY!” rang through the tiny room, and Fudge fell over in his spot. At the door, a very frightened Percy Weasley stood shaking. Harry ran forward and threw his arms around Percy in a short, but meaningful hug.

“I came to give him these forms... Mr. Camervette sent me... I had to unlock... Heard what he said... Working for Voldemort.... What will I say... Attacked the Minister?” Percy mumbled with a blank look, still staring at the petrified body.

“Percy... PERCY!” Harry shouted, trying to get his attention. He reached up and lightly slapped his cheek. “PERCY! It’s okay. You just saved my life.” Percy calmed down a little more after that. “Come here and help me move him.”

Both Percy and Harry worked to pick up the Minister and Harrtrietrieved his wand. Using mobiliscorpus they began the long walk toward Baxter McHanded’s office. This was going to make an interesting story.

~*~

“You are one seriously lucky person, Mr. Potter,” the Minister of Criminal Containment and Sentencing said as he hastily scribbled his signatures over some documents. Harry and Percy had told their story to a very surprised Baxter McHanded, who supervised criminal persecution. Fudge backed up everything they said under a strong truth potion, and people were already arriving to fill out the forms necessary for his trip to Azkaban. Harry felt the pressure in his chest ease up.

“And, in light of this new evidence, I think it’s safe to say you’re free to go.” Harry looked dumbfounded.

“But the curse...” Harry started.

“Was well founded. You used it for good, Harry; no one can argue that. Just don’t go around doing it to the general public.”

“But what about all those people. They hate me...” Harry said softly, and Mr. McHanded ceased the movements of his pen.

“Harry, you’ve rid the world of the Dark Lord, and now you’ve uncovered that the one person who should be the most trusted man in the Ministry was working for him. Something tells me that these actions more than make up whatever debt you feel you owe to society for that little curse of yours.” He continued filling out paperwork. But Harry just sat very still. Even if the Ministry was willing to overlook it, would the general public? As if reading his mind, his questions were answered.

“And bes, ts, the papers have something MUCH more interesting to print now. Something tells me that by tomorrow the whole thing will be forgotten about.”

Harry’s face lit up. He knew that now, and only now, he was truly free from his past. He wanted to hug Baxter McHanded, but settled for a handshake. He rose from his chair and walked to the door.

“Wait, Harry... Would you like to do the honors?” Mr. McHanded called. Harry turned back and saw the man holding Voldemort’s wand in his hand. Harry approached apprehensively and took hold of the wand. He could feel its power run through him. It talked of fights that needed to be won and things to be had. Harry closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them again. He grounded himself and saw the wand for what it was. He didn’t need it to be great.

He set both hands on it and it insisted even more about all the power he could attain. Harry, at that moment, really understood why the hat had wanted him in Slytherin. His whole mind screamed at him to take the wand and claim his power. But also in that moment, he understood why he was a Gryffindor. No matter how much his mind encouraged him, his heart stood defiant and urged him that he would do what’s right, because it was right, not in spite of it. The wand snapped easily in his hands, and he placed the pieces on the desk.

He turned to walk away. He almost made it back to the door before a thought crossed his mind.

“Oh, by the way, Mr. McHanded. What do you think of me as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts?” The man just smiled up at him from his desk, and his eyes twinkled.

“I’d think we’d have some very well educated children within this institution in a few years.” Harry beamed. “Good luck, Mr. Potter...” he called after the boy, but Harry didn’t hear it. He was on his way to find Dumbledore. “Not that you’ll need it,” he added as an afterthought, and continued on with his work.

~*~

Harry almost skipped down the hall on his way to Hogwarts. He had finally found a solution, and with his wand in hand, he was searching out Percy to say good-bye before he Apparated to his new place of employment. He felt like all the things that had been pressing down on him had finally let go, and Harry was able to live in the present for once. He was so caught up in the newfound feeling that he ran smack dab into Hermione.

“HARRY!” she exclaimed, and threw her arms around him. Harry had totally forgotten that his friends were still here, waiting for him to be released. He hugged her back, grinning stupidly.

“Hermione, where is everyone else?” Harry asked, eager to tell everyone the strange but good news.

“Well, Ron is with his father and they are currently throwing a fit about them taking your wand, and I’ve been trying to learn more about where you are. We can’t find Percy, and would you believe it - he went right back to work! The nerve! Anyway, Sirius and Remus-”

“HARRY!” he heard his godfather roar as he and Remus rushed Harry and slapped him on the back. “How on Earth did you get away from these people? Did they let you go? Are they pressing charges? No one will tell us anything and we...” Sirius rambled, his eyes happy and wild. Harry chuckled slightly and patted Sirius on the arm.

“I’ll explain, but I want to find everyone and tell you all at once.” Harry stood in the large plaza in the center of Ministry surrounded by happy friends and family. You could see up five stories and on every floor people ran around madly, trying to begin the work needed to compensate for the missing Minister. Everyone around them bustled about, talking eagerly and quietly. Harry scanned the crowd for Ron. Just then he heard it.

“I can’t believe you people are doing this! Harry has been my best friend since we were eleven, and there is no way he's dangerous! No, I don’t believe you are ‘working on this,’ because if you were really getting anything done, Harry would be released by...” And then a loud whistle rang through the marble building. Ron’s head turned along with everyone else who stopped to look at Harry, who had made the sound. Even two floors down you could see Ron’s eyes light up as he ran down the two sets of stairs, so quickly, in fact, that Harry was afraid Ron would break his neck. He sprinted across the plaza and people quickly moved to get out of his way. Ron threw himself at Harry and hugged him so tight that Harry wasn't sure he'd ever get a full breath again. Arthur followed breathlessly after him.

“Oh Merlin, I thought they had taken you to Azkaban! I tried to tell them they couldn’t do that because of the thing with the dementors and they just kept telling me to talk to this person and that official and then Dad came and we couldn’t find anything out and people kept shuffling us about and I was worried!” Ron said, and it made Harry dizzy thinking about the number of words Ron had just gotten out in one breath. He just hugged Ron a little more before letting him go.

“Well,” Hermione said, still looking rather ecstatic. “That’s everyone. Are you going to tell us what happened now?” Harry looked around. They were still missing Dumbledore and Severus.

“But where is Dumbledore... and Se - er - Snape?” Harry asked, looking around the plaza one more time. No one caught the slip with his name but Remus. His eyes glowed just a little more and he gave Harry a puzzled look. Harry could feel his stomach contract a little, but all that mattered was that Sirius didn’t notice. And, by the look on his face, he was none the wiser.

“Let’s go some place quieter to talk,” Harry suggested, and Hermione led them into a small conference room. Harry began his story.

“Well, first off, Fudge and two other people put me in bonds and took me deep underneath the Ministry to one of the interrogation rooms.”

“But those rooms aren't supposed to be used any more - we have newer ones,” Hermione jumped in, but Harry just kept talking.

“Then the other two men left and Fudge locked the door and unbound me. He and I sat in the chairs at the table and he started to-”

“-But they never leave people alone during interrogation. Two people are a minimum. And the doors should never be-”

“-talk to me about my wand and how it is the only one in existence aside from Voldemort’s.”

“-locked. And that information is classified. Mr. Ollivander specifically asked that it not be publicly announced.”

“And then he took out Voldemort’s want from his cloak-”

“That was supposed to have been destroyed! How could he have-”

“-And then he proceeded to try and kill me.”

Hermione had nothing to say after that.

“Apparently he was an undercover agent for Voldemort since before I was born. He rose to power in the Ministry, but he never compromised his alliance. He told me about how he was going to finish what his Master never did. I was preparing to be killed, but thankfully Percy came across the whole thing while bringing some paperwork to be signed. He stupified him and gave a statement of what he heard. Fudge took a truth potion and backed up the story. I’m free to go,” Harry finished, and everyone stood very quiet for a minute. Then....

“I KNEW IT!” Sirius shouted. “I always suspected that creep! I can’t believe they left you alone with him. I am so glad your safe.” Sirius hugged Harry, and the rest of the group followed suit.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go to Hogwarts,” Harry said, rising from the edge of the conference table he had been sitting on.

“Why?” Ron asked, looking a little confused.

“Why, I have a job offer to accept,” Harry said, and Remus’s face lit up. He smiled brightly and motioned to the door. Harry took out his wand, and really looked at it for a moment. He would never be unappreciative of it again.
The pop of Apparation rang through the room.


****Authors Note****
The Fuh-Q is alive and kicking once again, and I am working on my fic for that as well, however I do work hard to keep up with this. Thanks to all who reviewed, you make my life better and brighter. And one more thanks this week.....all of you who READ this should be given thanks as well. I know you're out there, reading and waiting and being sated by this chapter. It means a lot to me that you are all taking time out of your lives to read this. Thanks a lot!!