Jail Bird Choir

CHAPTER 19

“Merlin’s balls.” Severus shook the swirl of apparition from his mind as he stepped onto the coble street of Hogsmeade, Lucius falling in beside him. Both wizards, dressed in black stared at the swirling green mark lingering high in the sky above Draco’s apocathary at the end of the street. What was more worrying however were the Auror’s. There must have been hundreds of them, surrounding the shop and firing, curse after curse at the invisible ward that had been erected around the entire area.

“What are we taking bets, we’re not the first to arrive.” Lucius muttered as he glanced around him, noting acutely that the village was deserted save for the action at its far end.

“Snape?” Severus spun around sharply his wand drawn as a hand fell on his shoulder. Snape knew that voice despite the mask and gown. Lestrange, or her cousin at least. “What’s going on?” The woman behind the mask sounded scared and Snape knew that most of them now standing at this end of the street were shitting themselves. After the war all of them had fled in order to save the tattered remains of their lives, prior to Voldemort. Those most loyal had died or been capture but those reluctant followers still free were here, looking to the dark lords closest advisor for aid.

“I need to get in there.” Severus turned back to face the scene at the end of the street and began silently forming a plan. There was no way they would get into the house undetected with so many Auror’s, and so the only possible way in was straight through the front door.

“Don’t be stupid Severus.” Lucius muttered having read his lovers thoughts before Severus had even formed them in his own mind.

“What other choice do we have? Harry is in there somewhere and he nor Voldemort are going to let me die I’m too important to them both.” Lucius raised a smooth eyebrow at Severus in surprise but at length reluctantly nodded in agreement. Undoubtedly Voldemort knew they were here, he was just waiting for one of them to make a move.

“And what are you going to do when you get in there? There’s no balance, he’s either one thing or the other.” Lucius snapped sharply wondering if Severus ever thought any of his stupid plans through thoroughly before carrying them out. Severus glanced at Lucius with sarcastic smirk before shrugging his shoulders; somewhat glad Lucius couldn’t see his face behind the mask.

“I don’t know but I’m assuming you’re going to tell me?” Severus spat back, becoming edgy and impatient to start his suicide mission and get it over with.

“You need to establish order. Potter looks up to you, his royal darkness looks down on you. You need to find the common ground between the two entities, there must be something both of them hated or liked, something both of them wanted to see done or do. You have to find that common element and draw them to it, so that both sides of them can be appeased and rejoined.” Lucius looked at Severus sternly. The potion professor sighed heavily and shook his head.

“You say it like it’s going to be an easy thing to do.” Preparing himself Severus drew his wand out and took a deep calming breath.

“Be careful Severus.” With a silent pat on the shoulder Lucius stepped back into the shadows of the buildings as Severus stepped confidently out into the road and began striding at a normal pace towards the chaotic mass of Auror’s. Behind the mask Snape was anonymous nothing betraying who he was. As he drew closer to the group the Auror’s began to notice him and word seemed to spread. Snape’s strides never faltered as he continued heading straight for the front door of the apocathary. The first few Auror’s he passed did nothing but stare shocked it seemed that a death eater had dared show his face. By the next few Auror’s reality was setting in and Severus caught the movement of a wand and the unmistakable sound a curse blazing through the air. Focusing all his energy Snape put up his reflection at the last moment firing the curse back at the sender. It was then on for young and old, the curses came in a thick wave and Severus blocked a good amount, some narrowly missing him and others grazing his skin. The second round made him physically have to stop walking as he formed a protective bubble around himself. The bubble fizzled and popped loudly with each curse that hit its surface. The bubble weakened quickly and Severus shook as he attempted to keep his protection up. The bubble hissed as it disappeared and Severus knew then he was in trouble as the Auror’s began to close in on him, blocking his path towards the door of the shop.

Then from nowhere there was a sound. A sound Severus had only ever read about in books as a school student There was some confusion among the Auror’s but before any of them could get their bearings the unmistakable screeching and wailing rang out around the entire town. Clasping his hands over his ears and casting a ‘reducto’ charm on his ears Severus fell to his knees as the icy cold cloud of darkness swept down from above and over the entire group of Auror’s. Despite being deaf Severus could see around him the carnage as Auror’s fell to the floor in agony, their hands clawing at their bleeding ears in desperate madness. Some like Severus had automatically protected themselves in various ways but they too were pinned to the floor by the crushing weight of the dark cloud that engulfed the entire town. Breathing was difficult but Severus now saw a clear path to the door and his own chance to take it. With his hand shaking Severus pushed himself up onto his knees and began to trudging pull towards the door of the shop. Severus didn’t even spare a pause for the bodies he crawled over, some of their pale faces contorted in unimaginable pain. Severus didn’t stop though, ignoring the rash forming on his knees and hands as he hauled himself up the step and pushed open the door. The moment the door was opened a rush of air rolled Snape inside before the door slammed closed behind him with a crackle of magic.

Snape lay panting on the floor of Draco’s shop the pressing weight of the dark magic cloud outside gone. Sitting up on his elbows to glance around Snape was not surprised by what he sat. There perched on the edge of the counter was Harry, or rather Voldemort’s wicked version of the boy. At his feet sat Draco naked from head to foot and what appeared to be deep burn marks around his neck. The crimson stare met Snape’s and the man stiffened in preparation of pain as he watched Harry’s hand flippantly wave towards him. The pain never came though but Snape did hear the pop as the ‘reducto’ spell on his ears finally ended.

“I always liked Abigail Winters…” Voldemort’s voice sounded foreign coming out of Harry’s mouth the boy’s entire manner changed into that of the dark lord. Snape followed the gestured hand and glanced up cautiously at the ghostly figure hovering beside him.

A banshee.

Severus had only ever read about them, their kind having been nearly wiped out during the Goblin Wars. Yet here she was, dressed in a luminescent white flowing frock, her once pretty features corroded and weathered away by the cruelty of her punishment. Forever dead in time, forced to reap the lives of others so that she may continue to wander the earth forever trapped in the moment of her unforgivable crime.

“You think to highly of yourself my alchemist to attempt such a fool hardy plan.” Severus dutifully lowered his head to the floor as Voldemort slid from the bench, a large flowing black robe swirling around Harry’s naked body beneath. Severus had never felt such power surround him before as Harry circled him looking him up and down with an unreadable expression. Falling into his routine Snape kept his mind blank, shutting himself off from any of his memories less Voldemort use them against him. “Had I not wanted to see for myself the resemblance between you and your son I might not have spared your life.”

“Thank-you Harry.” Severus whispered daring to use Harry’s name to gauge just how much of Harry was already lost. There was an angry hiss and choking sound from above him and Severus glanced up sharply to see for himself what his comment had done. Harry’s head lulled from side to side sharply the boy’s eyes flickering with a little green.

“Severus…” The word issued out desperately from between the lips but was then swallowed again as the crimson red took over once more.

“Potter is dead.” The hiss had returned and before Snape could prepare himself the Cruciatus curse was taking hold of his body. Snape fought the curse that only lasted a few moments before Voldemort released it. Panting heavily Snape pushed himself to his feet desperate to see what was coming and be able to at least protect himself against it. Draco was still cowering by the counter and Severus eyed him sadly before turning back to Voldemort who was obviously struggling to keep Harry under control. Knowing he had little time to seize his chance, Snape lifted his wand and whispered the incantation for ‘Cruciatus’ cruse. The curse hit Harry’s body square in the chest, and Snape was sure he heard twin screams of pain come out of Harry’s mouth. With the body incapacitated Snape began to speak.

“Harry, Harry listen to me!” Sternly Snape held his wand firm continuing to extend the curse in the hopes of wrestling the double entity into submission. Snape knew what damage he could be risking to Harry’s body and mind using such an extended curse but he had little choice. He needed the boy to listen to him. “Harry please tell me what he wants!”

Severus ducked as the windows blew in, shattering the potion bottles around him like miniature colored fireworks and showering them with a multitude of potions and ingredients. The splashes and the glass shards hurt but Severus didn’t relent increasing the strength of the Cruciatus and repeating his question again to Harry. Severus saw Harry’s mouth open his eyes flashing green yet again but before anything could be said an arm had reached for a shard of broken potion bottle and was digging it into Harry’s own chest. Harry’s eyes erupted in fear and pain but his lips were still twisted in the cruel smile. Snape was getting desperate as he gripped his wand so tight that his hand physically quaked in the air. “TELL ME!” Severus screamed as the Curse intensified around Harry’s writhing body, making the bottle fall from the boy’s hands and his body practically bend in two as it jerked upwards and backwards in agony.

“FUDGE!” Harry’s voice echoed in the shadow of Voldemort’s maddening hiss. Snape smiled to himself despite the concentration it was taking to inflict such a curse on Voldemort and keep it going while every the dark lord was trying to throw it off. Turning his head to the ghostly figure of the Banshee still hovering in the corner he eyed her carefully.

“Kill him, find him and kill him!” Snape screamed at the banshee who for a moment didn’t move but then smiled wickedly. Snape shivered as the icy figure swept around him twice, her twisted hand brushing against his neck in submission before she swept out of the door her scream interrupted by the door slamming behind her again. Snape could hardly believe something so simple had been the commonality between Voldemort and Harry. Voldemort had always wished Fudge dead, even the man had risen to Minister of Magic. In Voldemort’s eyes Fudge knew too much about Tom Riddle and the Riddle family having done extensive study on it. Fudge despite his fumbling ways knew the key to Voldemort’s demise even if the stupid idiot hadn’t realized it. Harry on the other hand being inherently good had never truly wished anyone dead before, not even Voldemort if truth had been known. Yet he held in a secret part of his heart a crushing desire to kill the man who had been the sole cause of pain to him and his relatives over the past few years of his life.

The curse on Harry’s body was beginning to take its toll now and Snape lessoned the curse gradually as Harry’s body began to twitch and collapse lifelessly on the floor. Snape didn’t dare release the curse entirely knowing that if balance had still yet to be achieved Voldemort would likely attempt to kill Severus for treachery.

“Draco?” Daring to glance away from Harry’s twitching body Severus glanced across at his son. Draco was still cowering in the corner his body covered in potion stains, glass and blood. “Come here.” Severus whispered as he began to hear the chant of Auror’s outside trying to break the rapidly weakening ward around the property. However many had survived the banshee’s cry they were not going to give up until they’d done their job. Not that it surprised Snape, after all no one wanted to live with Voldemort in the world for another 100 years. Slowly Draco crawled across the floor, through the broken shards of glass and hissing, swirling potions until he came to Snape’s feet. Carefully Draco dragged himself up and clutched desperately to Snape’s waist. “I promise you I’ll look after you.” Severus breathed out his hand still quaking with the tight grip on his wand. “Draco?” When the blonde didn’t answer Severus glanced down into his son’s sad eyes and watched in horror as Draco opened his mouth. The sight was horrifying. The boy had no tongue and his mouth was so filled with blood his teeth were stained crimson. “You stupid boy.” Realizing what must have happened that morning Severus shook his head and wrapped his free arm tightly around Draco’s shoulder. “You stupid, stupid boy…” Snape never finished his sentence as a white light erupted around them, the blast of the explosion throwing both Snape and Draco through the window of the shop and onto the hard coble stone street outside. Neither wizards remembered what happened next and as Severus slid into unconsciousness he thought he heard Harry’s cries of his name before darkness engulfed him.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>