Ashes of Armageddon

Surrender



In the living room, Hermione accepted the firecall. Severus stood next to her.



Harry's face appeared in the connection.



“Harry,” Hermione whispered breathlessly. “What's going on?.”



“You know exactly what's going on,” Harry said coldly. “How stupid do you think I am? Do you think I would not be able to tell the difference between George and polyjuiced Neville?” He smirked a little. “Though I admit, it was rather comical to watch... him pretending to be excited and into it, while being ready to start vomiting. I do think that was my favorite part of the evening.”



“Harry, do you not understand what is happening to you?” Hermione asked. “Voldemort's fragment...”



“Shut it, Hermione,” Harry interrupted her. “Just shut up and listen, if you want your family to live through the night. Believe it or not, your treachery aside, I am actually trying to help you.”



Speechless, she stared at him.



“Ron and Neville are under arrest. Hugo is in protective custody. He is quite safe, and I mean him no harm.”



“Who is he staying with?” she demanded. “You?”



“No,” Harry said bluntly. “I am not a suitable caregiver at this time, given my own... living arrangements. No, he is with my friends, Lee and Cassidy Jordan. At least I can trust them not to be seduced by this .. venom of Snape's.”



Hermine's face went completely pale.



“Harry, no, not them, please – just ... give him to McGonagall, or ...”



“You are in no position to bargain right now,” Harry said bluntly. “Don't worry. Lee won't harm your child. He has kids of his own, and he is a decent person.”



“He was, until you've twisted him!” Hermione snapped. “Harry, if there's any kindness left in you...”



“I thought I told you to shut up,” Harry said darkly. “The next time you interrupt me, this conversation will be over. Now listen. The list of your crimes is quite spectacular. Neville's assault on George. Abduction of my property. Conspiracy. And, judging by the fact that Severus isn't writhing on the floor in agony, possession and distribution of an illegal substance,” Harry smiled slightly. “Now, I am willing to drop the conspiracy charge. You and Ron will be out of Azkaban in three months or so, and get your son back.”



She opened her mouth to argue, but Harry shook his head sternly.



“Not another word, Hermione, I mean it. Here's your current situation. Your house is surrounded by level 10 shielding. You will not be able to Disapparate, Floo out, or use a port-key, so don't even try. I can keep you surrounded indefinitely, or I can send my team in to get you; however, I am hoping to avoid needless injuries for my team. So this is what you both will do. You will emerge from the house, voluntarily, on your own. One by one. Severus first, and only once we have him in custody, you. You will be completely disrobed, ensuring that you are not hiding any magical artifacts or wands on your person. You will be holding your hands above your head, in plain view, where we can see them. As soon as I am convinced that you are sincere and unarmed, we will drop the energy shield and take you into custody. That is all. You have half an hour to decide. If I do not see your complying within that timeframe, I will consider my offer rejected.”



The firecall connection terminated, Hermione glanced at Severus with dread.



“So this is how it ends,” she murmured. “Well, I say we give them a run for their money. We fight.”



He shook his head. “No. Not under these restrictions.”



She glared at him defiantly. “I have no intention of giving up without a fight. I do not believe a word he is saying, even if he means it at this point. Us, out in three months? Three months from now, he'll be a serial killer, or worse... And you!”



Severus placed his hand on hers. “I have an idea,” he said. “Do you still have your Demiguise cloak?”



“Of course,” she whispered.



“Bring it.”



She rushed upstairs, and returned with the Demiguise invisibility cloak – a piece of blue fabric, shimmering in her hand.



“Good,” he said softly, placing the port-key in her hand. “Here's how we are going to play it. I will emerge first, as requested. You will follow me closely, under the invisibility cloak. As soon as they drop the shield to let me out and take me into custody, you will exit the perimeter, use the port-key and leave.”



She was shaking her head in misery. “That's your port-key... you should take it... you should run...”



He chuckled quietly. “Me? With the tracking spells on me, I cannot do anything but evade him for a few days, at most. What do you propose I do? Hop randomly across Great Britain like the Easter Bunny, until I run out of Ocean Poppy Pod extract? What purpose would that serve?” He glared at her intently. “Between the two of us, you have a fighting chance. You are the one who can rescue Hugo, hide him, then try to figure something out. I know you will come up with something eventually.”



She sniffled in absolute misery. “It's not fair,” she whispered. “No. Please... Can't let you go back to him... to that...”



“You are a logical person, Miss Granger,” he said firmly. “Shut your emotions off for a minute and think. Think about Hugo. Think about trying to stop Harry Potter. Think about Ron and Neville. Think, and then tell me if you have a better idea.”



She sat at the table, her face buried in her hands. Her shoulders were shuddering slightly, and she sobbed quietly and bitterly. He brought her a glass of water, and set it on the table in front of her.



“Take a few minutes to calm yourself,” he told her softly. “Please, we do not have much time left.”



She was still sobbing inconsolably, while he looked around the house. He picked up a small backpack and spelled it with Undetectable Extension Charm. Quickly and decisively, walked through the house, collecting items he deemed useful for one on the run: the potions vials from her cabinet, a few flasks of nutritional and hydration supplements, a change of warm clothing, the old Sneakoscope that he found standing on one of the bookshelves, and even his own new wand.



Done packing her backpack for her, he placed his hand on her shoulder.



“I took the liberty of packing some basic things for you,” he said quietly. “They may come in handy.”



She stood up abruptly and finally willed herself to stillness. On an impulse, he opened his arms, and embraced her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.



“Promise you will not try anything foolish just now,” he said sternly. “Please. No unnecessary risks. No betraying your presence and trying to grab me at the last moment. Right now, you need to go alone, without being slowed down.”



Silent, she nodded reluctantly.



“Good. Put the invisibility cloak on, and follow me closely.”



She nodded again, appearing to be at a loss for words.



With a slight sigh, he began stripping off his clothing, as instructed by Harry's firecall. She cast the final miserable look at him, but kept her mouth shut, donning the Demiguise cloak on, and rendering herself invisible.



Disrobed, barefoot, wandless, with his hands above his head, he exited her house. Cold night wind struck against him, but he barely noticed it. He walked firmly and resolutely, surprised by how little he cared about the final ridiculous indignity his owner had chosen to subject him to, and how unconcerned he was about what lay ahead.



It was dark outside, and the Muggle neighborhood appeared to be asleep, unaware of the odd, surreal scene taking place in their community.



He peered ahead of himself, taking in his surroundings. Harry was nowhere to be seen, however, Severus saw several dozen of Aruros congregated outside the barrier of magical energy.. Their wands were drawn. He walked towards them, slowly, keeping his body absolutely relaxed, his posture indicating his surrender.



Hermione moved behind him in absolute silence, not a single sound betraying her presence.



He stopped in front of the barrier of energy, and waited.



When the shield went down, he stepped forward, and was surrounded and incapacitated instantly. Body-binding spells were placed on him, immobilizing him, and rendering completely helpless. Even if Hermione had been planning to try and grab him before making her exit with the port-key, it would have been too late.



Without issuing a single sound, without making a single move to defend himself, he allowed himself to be taken. He kept his head bowed and his gaze lowered, not allowing himself to look for the faintest shimmer of the Demiguise cloak that would indicate Hermione's departure.



...To Be Continued...



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