Three\'s A Crowd

Part - 20

It was the beginning of Severus\' seventh month of pregnancy.

The day that all would be decided.

Harry happened to be the one that walked into the bedroom and found Severus by the window. His black eyes looking out at the dark, gray, cloudy morning sky. At first the younger man did not realize that anything was wrong, but a second glance told him all.

He caught sight of a single tear as it rolled slowly down the much too pale cheek.

\"What is wrong Severus?\" He asked, trying not to startle his lover.

He failed.

\"Nothing Harry.\" Severus gulped as his hand quickly brushed the tear away. \"I did not hear you come in.\" He sniffled slightly. Harry handed him a white handkerchief from his robe pocket. They felt the tingle of the magic between them as always when they touched.

\"Please tell me.\" Harry said the words, then cursed as he saw Severus stiffen and begin to speak almost mechanically under the compulsion of the curse. But forgot about his chagrin at having unwittingly given an order as the reason for the other wizard\'s melancholy became known.

\"I was wishing that I was not going to die when the children are born.\"

Harry almost choked. \"Why should you die? You have the best care in the Wizarding World. I know that men have died from this but you will not.\"

\"Rogers has begun to detect that my magic, and life signs are already weakening. He says that when the children are born, they will require so much power from me, that there is little chance that I will survive.\" Severus said softly. Now that it was out, he could not stop. With a hand over his now enormous belly he felt a profound sadness as a tiny foot kicked. \"I once thought that the children would be better off without me being around. Perhaps they would, but I am suddenly feeling selfish. I want to know them, to watch them grow up.\" There were more tears now. \"And this time with you, Remus, and Sirius has been the most wonderful in my life. I had never known what it was like to be loved. I...\" He broke down sobbing. Harry put his arms around him.

\"You are not going to die Severus. Not for a very long time.\" Harry assured, kissing his hand, then rubbing his cheek against it.

The Potion Master smiled slightly letting Harry draw him close. He leaned over and kissed Harry on the lips. As it always seemed to happen when Remus, Sirius or Harry touched him, he felt just a little better.

A little hopeful?

But before they could go any further a sound came, like the ringing of a church bell. They broke apart with a gasp. Both knew what that sound meant. As if to confirm their fears, an almost forgotten pain shot up Severus\' arm from the, until then dormant dark mark. \"He is here!\" Gasped Severus. \"He must be on the grounds to be able to reach me!\"

\"Go to the infirmary.\" Harry ordered as he moved towards the door. \"Stay there no matter what happens.\"

Severus found himself obeying. Even as his mind spun from the knowledge that his lovers and friends were about to meet Voldemort in combat, he cursed himself for being in this weakened condition. He was helpless, unable to join the battle.

As he neared the fortified door of the infirmary, Severus let his hand caress the small bottle that he had secreted on his person. Unknown to any of those he cherished, he kept this deadly poison with him always, for he had known that this day would come.

He did not want to die, so it was strange to carry something intended to end his life. But if Voldemort won and all was lost, he would drink the poison, then he and the children would be spared the wrath of the Serpent.

---


Severus and Pomfrey watched from the window as the two generals move out in from of their armies to meet in the courtyard.

The Headmaster was smiling and genial as always, the Dark Lord hissing and fearsome in his rage.

\"Tom.\"

\"Old Fool.\"

They wasted no more words, curses flew, death rained.

The twisted snake fought for power, the lion for love, and yet, this once, love was not enough. Dumbledore was soon unable to attack or defend as the malevolent curses struck vulnerable flesh after his magical shield cracked.

The piercing blue eyes dimmed and rolled back in his head, blood dripped from his mouth and nose staining the snowy beard as he fell.

The ancient heart still beat for his chest did rise and fall, but Voldemort had already lost interest. Leaving his fallen foe to his minions, the Dark Lord had more important prey to hunt.

Remus Lupin rushed forward to stand over Dumbledore. The werewolf had never killed before as either man or beast, until now.

\"AVADA KADAVERA!\" The words scalded his tongue and the magic streamed from the end of his wand as the Death Eater stiffened and fell at his feet. There was no time to be sick as the mask fell free and Remus saw the pudgy face of Pansy Parkinson. She was no longer a slightly annoying young woman that he had once taught.

She was nothing but a threat that had been eliminated.

Sirius Black was not hiding any longer. A few of the Aurors that had come to Dumbledore\'s call gave him a glance before returning to the fray, but made no move against him. With a wand in one hand and a knife in the other he stood with Remus before the unconscious form of Albus Dumbledore fighting off Death Eaters.

With a deadly calm he stabbed a Death Eater that had intended to slay the fallen lion.

\"Potter!\" Voldemort hissed above the din as he strode towards the school. \"Show yourself boy!\"

Harry Potter stepped from the main doorway of Hogwarts out into the dim, hazy morning. His green eyes blazed. \"No more!\" His scar flashed a bright blood red as he held the sword of Gryffindor at the ready. \"You have tried to take everything from me! No more!\"

\"Do you think that you can save your friends? Or your lovers?\" Voldemort laughed. \"Oh, yes, I know. My eyes and ears are still in those moldy walls! Have no fear boy, I will be sure to give sweet traitorous Severus and his children my undivided attention once you are dead.\"

Sword held high, Harry charged his foe. Voldemort was shocked as Harry ran at him, using the sword to easily block his curses. The dark Lord put up his own shields but they fell under Harry\'s assault, \"No!\" The monster retreated with a slash across his thin chest, \"Nagini!\" He shrieked, his red eyes suddenly wide with fear.

The massive snake slithered between her master and the enraged Gryffindor. She barely had time to rear back at the near insane wizard when her head fell beside a still writhing body. Death Eaters saw their leader retreat, their great symbol fall like a worm beneath a boot heel and they began to fear.

Many Death Eaters fell where they stood, too shocked at the sight of the thrashing bloody body to defend themselves.

Harry let out a cry that held all of his rage and pain. Voldemort felt his resolve evaporate. Potter was unstoppable! In a panic he tried to apparate, as the sword came down on wand arm.

Severed at the elbow, it fell to the ground. Voldemort was on his knees. The heir of Slytherin whimpered as he waited for the deathblow. But Harry lowered the sword to his side and reached out, laying a hand on the deathly white skin of the Dark Lord\'s cheek

The misshapen snake was stunned. Surely Potter knew that he would not crumble to dust as that weak fool Quarrel had. Voldemort had taken Potter\'s blood; he was immune to the boy\'s touch.

He never expected for his skin to blister and crack. With a sudden panic Lord Voldemort screamed, his skin burning beneath the hands of the Boy-Who-Lived. Harry screamed also, even as Remus and Sirius ran over to help.

Harry fell back into Remus\' arms, as the Dark Lord began to burn.

\"I would say go to Hel filthy Snake, but she would not have you.\" Sirius Black whispered as Voldemort\'s body collapsed in on itself and his vile soul was hurtled screaming into the void.

The remaining Death Eaters fled or died.

The good guys had won.

But Severus Snape had no idea how the battle had turned out. The sight of Dumbledore falling had triggered his labor two full months early.

tbc

Hel or Hela - Norse Goddess. Ruler of the Realm of the Dead (Mention my name at the door, you\'ll get a good seat).