Situational Ethics

Situational Ethics

By Mizzfreestyle/Zega

WARNINGS: Some thoughts may be disturbing to some readers. This chapter has not been edited.
We have finally reached the climax of this story. Just a few more chapters to go.

Posted on July 13, 2009

Chapter 31:

“Warped Innocence”

There was something peculiar about Snape's wife Caitlin, but Dumbledore couldn't put his wand on it. He would, however, bet his beard that her absences were linked to Voldemort and he could not condone this. Dumbledore sat at his desk, stroking his snow white beard as he contemplated Caitlin's mysterious disappearances. "D'you think she's a spy?" Sirius inquired.

"For whom and what is their objection? If she was working for Voldemort, Severus would have notified me."

"She might be working for someone else."

"Another dark wizard? I do not doubt that are other dark wizards attempting to rise to power."

"It could be the same as our current dark wizard. Maybe they had something to offer Caitlin." Remus suggested.

"True, but Caitlin is innocent until proven guilty."

Remus and Sirius nodded. "Arthur has gone to the Ministry to do some investing. We are about to head out ourselves."

"Very good. I trust you have told no one where I've stationed you?"

"No one," Remus confirmed.

HARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTER

Harry was slouched on the downstairs couch, his foot against the table and his other hanging off the arm. Though he gave the appearance of looking into his amber colored tea, he was in actuality, ruminating. Thoughts after thoughts were nettling his mind and he could not for the sake of his sanity shake them off. And they all traced back to a single, tall, obstinate man. Why, Harry thought silently.

He was reevaluating everything that had happened since that eventful night at Grimmauld Place. There had to be another motivation for Snape's actions towards him. And Harry finally got his answer. The reasons he disliked Cho. The reasons why he would pull Harry back in every time he saw him with April. His grounds for kissing Harry after they agreed that their affair should’ve ended. His purpose in keeping Harry from the graduation party. It all made sense now and it was too late. Two years too late to be precise. The bastard was married. Would've had two children by now had it not been for Caitlin’s miscarriages. The notions sicken Harry to the bitter core.

Harry swatted the glass vase off the table and kicked the table over with enough force to creak it down the center. He drew his wand and pointed it at the couch. He was about to set it blow it up when he realised that Dumbledore would probably reprimand him for it and demand answers. What would he tell him? Snape finally confessed?

These last two years... the entire time... Snape was securing Harry. For what exactly? It wasn't like they could get married now. Run away and elope? That wasn't a plausible solution to their dilemma.

Yet Harry held the confirmation in his hand on a piece of torn parchment no bigger than his palm. Harry could’ve easily overlooked it had it not been beneath his glasses. Harry sat down, looked at the note, and read the sharp and hastily written words.

I love you.

That's all it said. Nothing more. No signature. No explanation. And completely anticlimactic. But it was all Harry needed. "I've been waiting for you to tell me... for two years."

Harry wasn't sure if this was true to Snape's character or if it was coward. "I want to hear it from you, you bloody bastard. Tell it to my face next time." He strangled the note in hand then kicked the table again.

He was all alone in the mansion. Erasmus had been taken early in the morning to HQ and his mentors were busy with their investigations. Harry could've screamed and cried and burned the house down and no one would've been there to stop him.

Harry was about to reach for the cup of tea when he realised it had been shattered and its contents were seeping into the carpet.

Harry could've easily taken care of everything with a few waves of his wand, but right now, seeing something in a similar state as his mind brought him some sort of comfort. Why do blokes have to destroy things?

But the rage was continuing to build inside of Harry and he felt the urge to step outside and rip some trees from the ground. Upturn some dirt and make fury little critters run. "This shouldn't make me so angry." But it did. It really did.

The glass doors were no more than ten feet from him, and Harry could've easily shattered them and took off on his broom. "Hmm...," Shattering never sounded more appeasing.

A flick of the wand and the glass shards spun in every direction. A couple brushed Harry's skin and in the instant, Harry summoned a wind and blew the shards out onto the grass. Though he was quite aware that he had just exposed him and the house to intruders, Harry knew Voldemort wasn't aware of this location and during his Occlumency lessons, he was able to create a barrier that prevented Voldemort from entering his thoughts at leisure.

Harry stepped out and hissed as the late morning's sun warmed his skin. He was practically nude, except for his battered up jeans. He walked beneath the light and relished until he felt like lying on the grass and gazing up into the clouds. "He finally told me," he said to them. "He loves me." He felt more at ease saying the words to himself. They were registering with him and though he did not know when he would see his lover next, at least he knew his love for Snape wasn't unrequited.

He smiled and hummed to himself. Everything felt wonderful. Everything was going just... swell.

And then, he heard a voice.

"You were told to never leave the mansion."

Harry was on his feet with his wand drawn so quickly that his company hadn't the time to draw their.

"Caitlin? What are you doing here?" Harry lowered his wand as Caitlin smiled and flipped back her ruby red curls.

"I might ask you the same."

"I'm getting some sun. I've been cooped up in that old rubbish for a few months now."

"Yes, well, you have to train. How has your training gone, dear?"

"Just fine. Learned some new tricks here and there." Something was wrong. Caitlin wasn't smiling and even if that sounded trivial, the woman was known for his blithe smiles. "Are you alright?"

"Dandy. I trust Albus taught you Occlumency well?"

"Still learning. Working on those wordless spells too. Can't quite get them right unless I'm all riled up."

"Ah, then, I guess you could show me what you've learned."

"Pardon?" Harry took a step back and Caitlin took two forward, blocking off his path to the mansion.

"I didn't stumble. Show me what you've learned." Caitlin held her wand out.

Harry shook his head and he asked, "What for?"

"To see if you are prepared."

"But against you? I don't think...."

A warning shot ripped through the air and set the grass around Harry ablaze. Harry jumped to the side and began to run. What the fuck was going on?

"Caitlin!" Harry asked as he attempted to control and diminish the fire by manipulating water. "What are you doing?!"

"Exactly what I've been sent to do." Harry's eyes widened. "To see if you are prepared. And if so, to weaken you and bring you to him. The Dark Lord's grown tired of waiting. I am to bring you to him."

SEVERUSSNAPESEVERUSSNAPESEVERUSSNAPE

Flashback

Voldemort’s grasp around Caitlin’s neck grew tighter until she gagged and her pours began to sweat. “You have not proven you loyalty to me, Caitlin.” His hold on her persisted. “If you do not convince me of your allegiance, you will perish and your flesh will feed Nagini.”

The snake slithered behind Caitlin and coiled up, preparing to strike if her master permitted it. She hissed and bared her black fangs.

Caitlin shook her head fisted Voldemort's robes. "I have a task for you. If you succeed, I will give you everything. You will have your children. You will live and see them grown. If you fail...," he needn't finish as his snake hissed again.

"Nagini loves live prey."

Caitlin shook her head again and tears leaked from her now bright red eyes.

Voldemort released her and she groveled at his feet, coughing and then kissing his robes once she could breath freely again. "You are to bring me the boy. You are to watch him and as soon as he exits the house, attack and weaken him. Then, bring him to me. I will be waiting."

"Yes... my Lord."

End of Flashback

HARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTERHARRYPOTTER

"I am sorry, Harry." Walls of red fire had come up all around Harry and before long, he found himself completely encased. Caitlin, stood just outside with her wand already conjuring another spell.

Harry wanted to forgo battle and talk, but that would have to wait. Harry summoned more water, trying to keep his thoughts clear despite the smoke, the heat, and the effects they were having on him. The water came, and Harry did his best to once again contain everything, but then another spell was headed his way and Harry hadn't the time to dodge. He was thrown into the forest and slammed up against a tree. He screamed and his glasses fell. Before Caitlin could close in, Harry ducked and reached for his glasses before hiding behind the thicket.

"Don't run away, Harry. I haven't time for this. Voldemort won't stand for excuses and it's either you or my life. I will not be made into snake food!"

The trees began to smoke and Harry knew better than to sit and wait to be roasted like a piece of dead meat. He fled and Caitlin caught sight of him. "Come back here!"

Harry fled deeper into the forest, knowing well that if he got lost, he would be in deeper shite.

Nevertheless, he hurried to get away. Not daring to look back lest she was right behind him.

But then, smoke began to disseminate from all around and Harry knew she was homing in on him. He turned around, sure enough, there she was, panting, but very much there with her wand drawn.

Fire once again was rising from all around. Who knew Caitlin was such a pyromaniac.

If Harry continued to run, she would only start more fires until he was roasting on a branch. He stood his ground. This time, he concentrated his energies into a ball of lighting and within seconds, it was Caitlin's turn to scream.

The electricity coiled around her and shocked her like mad. Her hair went up in a blaze and her clothing was eaten away at. "Stupefy!"

Caitlin flew back and Harry turned to run back to the mansion. He only made it so far before he sensed the fire and realised that the mansion was probably ablaze by now. It would do him no good to hide out in house that he would only roast alive in. But maybe by now the wards had warned the Order that something had gone amiss.

Harry continued to run. Fast. He didn't care where, just away from Caitlin.

And then, he reached open grounds and incredulously, the mansion was crumbling as the fire feasted upon its wood. He froze then turned. There stood Caitlin, looking much like a mad woman fresh out of Azkaban. Harry shook his head. "You don't want to do this, Caitlin!"

But Caitlin laughed. "Yes, Harry. I do want to do this. See, I want to have children. And if I bring you back, I can finally be a mother."

All these miscarriages... they had driven Caitlin mad.

"You can! Caitlin, you don't have to kill me to be a mother! There are potions! Potions that can help you!"

A spell was on its way and Harry dove to the side. "He said I can have children if I bring you back. That I won't have to suffer another miscarriage."

"He's lying to you! Don't you see, Caitlin! Voldemort recruits followers on lies!"

"He would never lie to me. Not if I bring you back. I will be rewarded!"

"No!" Harry slashed his wand through the air and just as he did, Caitlin's body spat blood from her arm.

She cringed and fell to the floor, dropping her wand and grasping her wounds. "You will pay, Harry! You will pay!"

Though it made Harry's gut drop, Harry followed up Sectumsempra with another. This time, her leg split open and blood squirted at least two feet from her body. He had hit an artery.

She cried out and then aimed her wand at him. But another spell came her way and there was so much bloody Harry couldn’t determine from where it had come. Caitlin's body fell to the floor and she cried softly while attempting to heal her wounds.

"Help me," she said softly. "All I wanted... All I ever wanted was a daughter and a son."

"And you will, Caitlin! You will."

"Harry... you were my son. The son I could never have." She dropped her wand and reached out with her one good arm towards him, exasperated her wounds. "I am so sorry, Harry. I really am."

Harry approached her gingerly, his wand aimed at her head. "Caitlin, I can help you."

"You are so sweet. Your mother must be proud. She must've loved you so much." Caitlin coughed blood and gagged as blood dripped from her soft lips. "You must really hate me now."

"No, Caitlin. I don't."

"I was misinformed."

"Yes, but it'll be better now."

Harry touched her hand and she held his tightly. "I wanted to adopt you. I wanted to make you my son."

Harry nodded and then he heard an Apparation behind him. It was Remus. "Harry, no!"

"But now... it's too late."

Caitlin reached for her wand, and just as quickly as Harry tried to conjure a spell, he felt a tug behind his navel and his surrounding vanished.

He felt hard, cold ground beneath him and could hear Caitlin crying softly beside him. "I have brought him!" She suddenly cried out into the darkness. "Here is Harry Potter!"

Fire sprouted from several surrounding torches and a slither could be heard near by. Harry's eyes widen and his feel his face grow hot in fear. Foot steps approached him and a voice vibrated against the walls, sending shivers up Harry's fingers and down his spine. "Take Caitlin away," and at that moment, Harry saw Caitlin disappearing into the darkness just as a hooded figure breached the light. Harry's lips parted. What fate had befallen him?

A dark voice then whispered, "Harry... welcome."