Forsaken
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,150
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,150
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Coming of Age in an Age of War
Chapter 18 - Coming of Age in an Age of War
Harry and Severus stood behind a building in Knockturn Alley. Harry shook his hands out, his nervousness getting to him a bit.
“Just relax,” said Severus softly. “Go on now. Watch yourself coming out of Quality Supplies. And don’t take too long.”
“Alright already,” hissed Harry tersely. He kept his hood up while he walked casually back into Diagon Alley. He slowly lowered it, flipping the edges of his black cloak back to reveal dark red robes as he walked along the Alley. The spells and maneuvers that Severus had basically choreographed the day before flickered through his mind like flashcards, one flowing into the other. He stepped inside Quality Quidditch Supplies and looked at the back side of the front window display.
“Mr. Potter!” exclaimed the clerk. Harry exhaled quietly and turned around, pasting a smile on his face.
“Just looking around for a bit,” said Harry, picking up a toy snitch off the shelf. “I won’t be buying anything today.” The clerk nodded eagerly.
“Let me know if you need any assistance,” said the clerk, going towards the back room. Harry turned back to the window and spotted Kingsley patrolling the Alley across the street from him. Kingsley turned down a side street and disappeared from Harry’s view.
“Showtime,” muttered Harry. He slid his wand down his sleeve a bit and squared his shoulders as he moved towards the door.
“Have a good day, Mr. Potter,” said the clerk, carrying some Chuddley Cannons gear and setting it down near an empty shelf. Harry jumped slightly and looked over his shoulder.
“Yeah,” murmured Harry, “You too.” He pulled the door open and stepped outside, hearing the bell on the door jingle as it shut. He stood in front of the window, gazing blankly at the sets of Nimbus brooms. Severus’s reflection flashed in the window as a spell hit and shattered the glass.
“Happy birthday, Mr. Potter!” shouted Severus, his face hidden behind his handkerchief. Harry fired several loud spells at him, shattering the windows of the shops across the street.
“SNAPE!” yelled Harry, dodging a Detonation hex. He scrambled out of the way as the front of Quality Quidditch Supplies collapsed. He covered his head as debris hit the ground around him.
“Severus Snape, don’t move!” shouted Kingsley, pushing several bystanders out of the way of his wand. “You are under arrest!”
“Is that right?” asked Severus snidely. “Well, Auror Shacklebolt, you may come and get me!” Kingsley growled furiously as he shot several stunners at Severus. Severus hit him with a Bludgeoning hex, sending him flying into a store front. Harry watched him hit the side of Madam Malkin’s and fall to the pavement, unmoving.
“Bastard!” shouted Harry, getting to his feet. Severus laughed, circling around Harry as they stepped out in the middle of the street.
“Hey Potter! CATCH!” Severus hurled a small stone at Harry’s face. Harry had a brief flash of panic. What the hell was he doing? This wasn’t part of the plan. Against his better judgment, he caught the thing. His eyes widened at Severus as he felt the pull of a portkey. Severus quickly touched his wand to his arm and disapparated.
+HP+
Harry fell hard on a stone floor. His scar immediately began burning as he looked up into a pair of blood red eyes.
“Harry!” cried Voldemort as Severus reappeared directly behind Harry. Severus kicked Harry over and stepped down hard on his hand, yanking the wand from Harry’s fingers and slipping it into his pocket next to Ginny’s, which he had placed there before he left his house that morning. He grabbed Harry by the back of his neck and lifted him to his knees.
“You will bow before the Dark Lord,” hissed Severus next to his ear. Voldemort laughed manically and stood up.
“Oh, let him go, Severus,” said Voldemort, drawing his wand. Severus roughly threw Harry to the ground.
“Severus, go fetch our hero here his beloved Ginevra,” said Voldemort silkily, “while he and I get reacquainted.” Severus chuckled as he turned to go get Ginny. At the sound of Harry’s muffled yells of pain, he pressed his hand to his stomach and wrenched open the door to the dungeon hallway. He strode briskly down the hallway, slamming open Ginny’s cell door.
“We have a visitor for you, Miss Weasley,” said Severus softly. Ginny’s face paled slightly. Severus gave her a stern look. She took a deep breath and clenched her jaw.
“Well, then, we mustn’t keep them waiting,” said Ginny fiercely, holding up her chained wrists. Severus bent down and unlocked the manacles. He then tapped the stone he had hollowed out for her, vanishing all of the letters inside.
“Stay strong for me,” whispered Severus. He grabbed her arms tightly and lifted her completely off the ground, dragging her towards the receiving chamber.
“You get your hands off me, you slimy git!” screamed Ginny, struggling hard against him.
“Not too hard now,” whispered Severus. Ginny struggled harder.
“Goddamn it!” yelled Severus, half-frustrated that she was making a real effort. “Come on, you little chit! Into the chamber!” He readjusted his hold on her, wrapping one arm around her waist, and hauled her into the other room. He felt her go limp at the sight of Harry writhing soundlessly on the ground. Voldemort lifted the curse, smiling at her in Severus’s arms. Harry panted, gasping for breath as his limbs curled in on themselves.
“G-G-Ginny!” cried Harry. Severus pushed her at him, sending her skidding across the floor. She quickly scrambled towards his outstretched hand.
“Yes,” said Voldemort, pushing up his sleeve and touching a finger to his Mark, summoning the rest of his followers. “Miss Weasley has been quite anxious to see you. But now the festivities can truly begin.” The room resounded with pops. Harry met Wormtail’s wide eyes and shook his head slightly.
“Excellent,” said Harry. He pulled Ginny closer to him and whispered in her ear, barely moving his lips. “We’re about to make a break for it. You have got to hang on to me.” Ginny squeezed his hand in affirmation. They were now completely surrounded with shocked and awed Death Eaters. Harry got to his feet, pulling Ginny with him.
“You seem to have a few more followers than the last time I visited one of your little gatherings,” said Harry cheekily, ignoring the painful tremors racing up and down his legs. “I’m surprised you were able to find this many cowards.” Severus bristled at the statement.
“Harry,” said Voldemort disapprovingly. “You’re upsetting your guests. They have taken time out of their busy Wednesday afternoon to come and wish you a very happy birthday. You should be thanking them for making your last day on Earth a memorable one.”
“Ha,” said Harry boldly. “I’m surrounded by a bunch of bloody cowards! Take this one here.” He pulled Ginny with him as he marched over to Wormtail. “This piece of shit betrayed my parents. He turned me over to you -“ he spun around and pointed at Voldemort, who was staring at him warily. Harry grinned at him and grabbed Wormtail’s arm.
“NOW!” shouted Harry. Immediately, Wormtail disapparated, taking Harry and Ginny with him. Voldemort stared in shock for approximately three seconds. He then turned to the nearest Death Eater and cast a Cruciatus, torturing the poor soul until the Death Eater’s spine snapped in half. He marched across the circle towards Severus. He grabbed the front of Severus’s shirt and forced him to his knees. He took Severus firmly by the throat and squeezed. Hard.
“Did you know about this, Severus?” hissed Voldemort. Bellatrix and a few others sniggered behind their masks, enjoying the sight of the one they had envied and doubted for so long be punished.
“SHUT UP, YOU IMBECILES, OR YOU WILL BE NEXT!” screamed Voldemort, effectively silencing the entire room. Severus gagged as he tried to breathe.
“My lord,” gasped Severus shakily. Voldemort stabbed his wand into Severus’s temple.
“LEGILIMENS!” shouted Voldemort. Severus recoiled slightly at the force of the spell, trying to hide his Occlumency walls with every non-Harry related memory he could think of. The spell lasted an eternally long time. Severus wasn’t sure if he could hold out much longer, as memory after memory was painfully ripped from the deep recesses of his mind.
Voldemort roared in fury, pushing Severus away from him. He kicked Severus hard in the stomach.
“Why - can’t - I - kill - that - son - of a - bitch!” growled Voldemort, punctuating each word with another kick at Severus. He screamed again, running around the circle and scattering the Death Eaters all over the room. He grabbed one and threw him against the wall.
“Get out of my sight!” yelled Voldemort. “And if you find that miserable little traitor, I want him dead, do you hear me? DEAD! No exceptions, no excuses, no rewards for doing it! It is your duty to protect the integrity of my circle! I want him DEAD!” The room’s occupants scrambled over one another to disapparate from the room. Severus took several shallow breaths and pushed himself up off the floor. Voldemort eyed him viciously, his expression flickering slightly at the sight of tears in Severus’s eyes.
“I have failed you, my lord,” whispered Severus. “I - I have -“ He knelt, touching his face to the ground to disguise his tears of utter relief. He heard the whisper of a cloak cross the floor and felt the ice cold touch pass through his hood.
“It was not entirely your fault, my dear boy,” said Voldemort wearily. “I should have realized that Potter would have twisted Wormtail’s feeble mind into feeling guilty over his betrayal of the Potters. Wormtail is a Gryffindor, after all. Such weak-minded, sentimental fools, the whole lot of them.” He gently lifted Severus’s face.
“We will get a hold of him again,” whispered Voldemort intensely. “Go, child. I wish to be alone.” Severus nodded. He got to his feet and pressed his lips to Voldemort’s bony hand, which rose up to his cheek.
“Go on,” said Voldemort. Severus nodded sadly, slowly releasing Voldemort’s hand, and disapparated. Voldemort sat down on his throne and pressed the tops of his fingers together in thought.
“Peter, Peter,” murmured Voldemort to himself. “I never would have thought you had it in you.”
+HP+
Harry fell hard onto yet another cold, stone floor, clutching Ginny to his chest. He immediately drew his wand and pointed it at Wormtail.
“Don’t you even think about it!” growled Harry as Moody and Arthur raced towards them.
“Ginny!” cried Arthur, pulling her up off the floor.
“Dad,” gasped Ginny as Arthur hugged her tightly. Moody disarmed Wormtail and bound him with ropes.
“POTTER!” shouted a voice across the Atrium. “DON’T LET HIM LEAVE, MOODY!”
“Shit,” muttered Harry, getting gingerly to his feet, his body still shaking from Cruciatus. Scrimgeour walked boldly across the room, Robards and Dawlish on his heels. “Minister Scrimgeour. Good to see you.”
“Wish I could say the same,” said Scrimgeour coldly, sneering down at Wormtail. “How in the blazes did you capture a Death Eater single-handed?”
“Easy,” said Harry rudely as Ginny walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You just point and shoot.” They both jumped at the flash of a camera. Harry quickly hid Ginny’s face against his shoulder.
“Mr. Potter! Mr. Potter!” cried a man leading in a whole herd of reporters. “A quick word, Mr. Potter!”
“Mr. Weasley!” shouted Harry over the din of the reporters. “Take Ginny to the house!” He kissed her cheek quickly and spoke in her ear. “I’ll come by when I can. I have to go home first.”
“Tell him thank you,” whispered Ginny. Harry nodded and pushed her towards Arthur. “Go! Now!” Harry drew his wand and pointed it at the reporters. The ones in front froze, causing the others to run into their backs as Harry heard Arthur disapparate behind him.
“There’s nothing to see here,” said Harry firmly. “Now go away.” There were a few titters in the crowd. Harry clenched his jaw and aimed a very loud Explosion hex above their heads.
“I am not going to repeat myself!” shouted Harry over the screams and yells of the crowd. The room exploded in cracks of disapparating wizards and witches, some reporters, but most of them Ministry workers simply passing through. Harry gave his head a little shake and slid his wand back up his sleeve.
“Auror Moody,” he said breezily, “Pettigrew will be unable to speak of anything because he -“ he glanced at Moody’s angry expression, “-well, he can’t say anything about what happened. However, I will be more than willing to give a statement to you or -“ he waved his hand dismissively at Dawlish and Robards, “whomever. It doesn’t matter. But I’d like to leave soon, so -“
“This way, Potter,” growled Moody, clunking off to a side room. Scrimgeour grabbed Harry’s arm and thrust his wand into his face.
“You are under arrest,” hissed Scrimgeour. “You can’t just waltz into my Ministry and -“ Harry whacked Scrimgeour’s fingers hard with his wand.
“OW!” yelped Scrimgeour, rubbing at the red skin where Harry’s Stinging hex had hit its mark.
“I don’t think I’ll let you arrest me today, Scrimgeour,” said Harry intensely. “It’s my seventeenth birthday. I’ve just barely escaped from a maniac who has wanted me dead for -- wait, let me count - carry the one, add the two - right. Sixteen years. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Auror Moody is waiting for me to give a statement.” He walked confidently to where Moody was holding the door open for him, his cloak flaring out behind him.
“Lock it,” muttered Harry. “Imperturbable charm.” Moody nodded once and slammed the door, doing as Harry asked. Harry sat down wearily and ran a hand through his wild hair.
“Wormtail came to Severus’s house last Saturday,” said Harry quietly and quickly. “Severus was at the Dark Lord’s, giving Ginny her potion.” Moody raised a scarred, unbelieving eyebrow. “I captured him and tied him up until Severus came home. We couldn’t let him just leave, so we bound him to me with an Unbreakable Vow.”
“You know that’s illegal, right, kid?” said Moody gruffly. “To bind anyone to yourself with a Vow of that nature?” Harry exhaled slowly.
“Damn,” muttered Harry. “Well, it’s too late now. And it was necessary.” Moody pursed his lips.
“Go on, Potter,” said Moody quietly.
“I made him promise to help Ginny and me escape,” said Harry. “Only Death Eaters can apparate out of that hole Voldemort’s in. Then I made him swear not to tell anyone about Severus’s true loyalties unless Severus or I gave him permission.” Harry rubbed his face, swallowing his worry for a moment.
“And the last?” prompted Moody tersely, wary of the boy’s mental disposition. He didn’t like this at all - Snape was being allowed way too much freedom with the boy.
“He has to obey my every direction until the day he dies,” whispered Harry fiercely. “Or he dies.” He gave Moody a hard glare, murderous rage burning like acid through his veins. Moody jaw clenched, filing the information away to report to Minerva later.
“You are not having any more contact with him until this is all over with,” said Moody sternly. “Do you hear me, Potter?” Harry jumped slightly at his tone and furrowed his brow.
“Okay,” said Harry slowly. He stood up from his seat. “Did you need anything else?”
“Nope,” said Moody. He uncharmed the door and held it open for him. Harry slowly walked out of the room.
“Thanks,” said Harry tiredly. “How’s Kingsley?”
“He’ll be okay eventually,” said Moody tersely. “He’ll be released later today. Broke about six ribs.” Harry nodded and gave him a wave.
“I’ll be at home if you need me,” said Harry. He stopped at the sight of Scrimgeour waiting for him at the phone booth lift.
“Potter! A word, if you don’t mind!” shouted Scrimgeour very loudly. Everyone crossing through the Atrium stopped and stared at them both. Harry smirked at him, gave a cheeky wave, and disapparated. Scrimgeour’s face turned deep red.
“Does he have a license?” yelled Scrimgeour at a tall, thin redheaded man standing behind him. “DOES HE HAVE A LICENSE?” Percy’s jaw dropped slightly at the crazed look in his boss’s eyes.
“Uh, yeah,” lied Percy quickly, avoiding Scrimgeour’s eyes as he flipped through the sheaf of parchment he held in his hands. “I-I mean, yes sir. I saw him upstairs earlier today. I’ll get you a copy of it as soon as I can. Sir.” Scrimgeour scoffed in frustration as he stalked back to the lift. Percy glanced over at Moody. Moody gave him a slow nod and clunked towards the lift.