Situational Ethics

Situational Ethics

Edited by:

DeltaSPARTAN003 and Glitterball

Posted on July 30, 2009

Chapter 32:

"Harry's Hero"


Though Voldemort stood before Harry without a wand in hand, only a fool would deem it to be a handicap. Harry knew of Voldemort's control over his powers. Wand or no wand, the snakelike man was lethal, and from the looks of it, the Dark Lord was just about to remind Harry of his abilities. Voldemort raised his long, crooked fingers to his temples and his eyes roll back, showing only the red and white of his eyes. He was muttering something and seemed to be going into a trance. The fires flickered and then burned a bright blue, illuminating what Harry discerned was a cave. Either that or an underground prison of some sort. Voldemort's chants reached Harry's ears and Harry clenched his eyes shut and pressed his hands to his ears. Then, he stopped. Harry looked up to see Voldemort looking right back at him, his countenance, unreadable.

It was then that Harry could hear Voldemort's voice in his head, echoing through every channel and soon, Harry's head felt like it was being torn asunder. He cried out his lowered his head to his hands. His hands grasped his head, holding it tightly together as if trying to suppress the containments from bursting. Then, his scar began to burn.

He cried out, but refused to crumple in an ignominious heap. Sweat ran down his face, dripped onto the dark grey stones, and the pain amounted to something unbearable. All the while, Voldemort's red eyes were riveted to Harry's trembling form.

Then suddenly, the pain was lifted. Harry dropped onto one knee and looked up. Several Death Eaters had congregated. Their masks, glimmering in the blue light.

"I have summed my servants to prove to them that I can and will kill you. Now, Harry, kneel before me and beg for your death. If you make yourself pitiful, I may spare you the unbearable torture so many others have endured."

Harry rose to his feet, trembling not from fear, but pain. He breathed deeply, harnessing his power and will to defend himself from the Dark Lord and his minions.

"Do you wish to fight me, Harry? Do you think you stand a fighting chance against me and my Death Eaters?"

Harry's audacity escaladed as he nodded while holding his wand out towards Voldemort.

"You dare raise your wand at me, you foolish boy?"

Harry only continued to hold his wand out.

"Put that away." Voldemort spoke softly.

Harry held his ground. "Fight me!"

"My dearest Caitlin nearly killed you. What makes you think you can defy me when you just barely saved yourself from one who has no experience in dueling?"

"And you!" Harry taunted. "Too afraid to fight me that you have to summon all your Death Eaters?"

"Put your wand away."

"Fight me, you coward!"

Voldemort flicked his wrist and Harry's wand flew from his hand, rolling far and then into the cluster of tall black robes and masks. The Death Eaters chuckled. Harry extended his arm. "Accio wand!"

The wand shot straight towards Harry's hand. He gripped it then turned it once again on Voldemort. "I'm growing tired of your games, Harry." The Dark Lord turned to look amongst his Death Eaters. "If it's your dying wish to fight, then who am I do deny you? You will fight, foolish boy, then you will wish you had knelt before me."

Harry didn't know what frightened him about Voldemort turning to his Death Eaters... then Harry realised Voldemort's intentions. Voldemort was going to select one and Harry would have to battle it out. He stilled and waited, trying to remember all he was taught. Trying to remember that if he failed... he failed his son....

"SEVERUS!" The Dark Lord called.

Harry felt his throat knot and his heart race. He could not do this again. He knew he did not stand a chance against Snape. Especially if the man was force to display his ruthlessness before his Dark Lord.

However, no one moved. Everything was still. Voldemort called for Snape again and then someone hesitantly whispered, "He's not here."

"The old man must be keeping him. No doubt they know of your absence, Potter." Voldemort spat.

Harry was sitting fence, torn between relief and apprehension. With Snape, at least Harry had prior exposure to his abilities. Harry feared fighting an opponent blindly.

And then Voldemort spoke again. "No. Then I will be your opponent, Harry." Voldemort bowed before Harry then motioned for Harry to do the same. When the boy did not he heard Voldemort whisper, "Imperio."

For a moment, his head felt light, like it was being encased by clouds and his body bowed. But like before, he snapped out of his and raised himself. Voldemort chuckled then raised his wand. Harry felt his mind open, like someone had erected pliers inside his skull. He tried to close his mind; tried to remain calm and focus, then he thrown back and slammed against the opposite fall. The rough rocks dug into his back and scraped up his spin as he fell down. He rolled around, trying to stand again. His mind, still very open as Voldemort seemed to be peering in effortlessly and ready to hurl spells at him. Harry tried. "Stupefy!"

But his spell was thrown off. "I'm going to kill you, Harry."

"No!" Harry tried to concentrate, but it was difficult when your mind and body was throbbing. "Crucio!" Harry tried, but Voldemort did little more than jerk. He had allowed Harry to attack him.

"You have to mean it. You have to want to hurt me. Want to inflict pain upon me. Let me demonstrate. Crucio!"

Harry's body fell and he twitched and began to spasm as pain that could only be matched by childbirth ripped through his nerves.

Voldemort did not lift the spell, even as blood spewed from Harry's nose and his consciousness wavered. "I will give you another chance, Harry. Beg for death."

Harry's body juddered as his head rolled to the side and looked at Voldemort's feet. He felt Voldemort probing his mind violently. He searched and delved into the flashing thoughts and just when Harry thought Voldemort would not seize, everything stopped. Harry closed his eyes as Voldemort's widened. "Ah... I did not know this. Severus never informed me he was a father." Harry's eyes widened and there were whispers amongst the Death Eaters. "Nor did I know you and him... were sexually involved. Before you die, tell me, Harry, what is it about my greasy Death Eater you find so attractive?"

Harry was renewed with strength. "That's none of your god damn business!" Then Harry's eyes closed. Imagines of him and Snape were coming to the front. Images of their first night together. Of Caitlin and the potion. Of Christmas and his stay with Snape. Then... the letter.

"You're a little young to be bringing up children of your own. Didn't anyone tell you, to raise a child, you have to be there for them? What will happen to poor little Erasmus when you die?"

"Shut up!" Harry's wand fell, Harry gripped his head, and suddenly a funnel of water ripped through the crowds and the Death Eaters found themselves swallowed into a mass of water and electricity.

They screamed. They tried to free themselves. And Voldemort stood there, watching them flail like insects in a pool. "That's a handy trick, Harry. You must show me one day."

Then Harry tried to focus on controlling the funnel. Tried to steer it towards Voldemort. The man his disappeared and then was behind Harry. "Crucio!"

Harry lost his thoughts and the funneled fell. Harry was once again on the floor, but before Voldemort could deliver the final curse, green light appeared from beyond them. One Death Eater fell dead. And then Moody strutted in, cane in hand. His magical eyes searched the scene and landed on Harry. Voldemort sneered as Order members and Aurors flooded in, projecting incantations and eradicating his Death Eaters clusters at a time. Those who had survived Harry's watery curse, were rising to the challenge, and Voldemort was backing away. Then running. Harry turned and was on him. With his renewed strength, he was not about to let Voldemort flee.

They headed out, further into the woods. And Harry followed, not thinking for a second that Voldemort would turn and attack him.

But he did. And Harry was once again thrown back. And some sort of sense came with that.

He had chased Voldemort... He had gone after the man when it was clear that Voldemort was trying to bait him. If Voldemort had truly wanted to flee, he would have Apparated. Harry looked at the wizard towering over him. "You will die here, Harry. Alone without your family and friends to protect you. Without Severus to hold your hand or bestow a final kiss. Without your son to bid you goodbye."

Voldemort lifted his wand and Harry braced himself and waited. When nothing happened, he opened his eyes, and turned to look. A Death Eater had stepped out of the forest with his wand in hand. "Perhaps I spoke too soon. You always did have the worst timing, Severus."

The mask fell with a thud to the ground.

Harry blinked and his breathing stilled as he wallowed in the magical energy the two powerful wizards emitted. Silence hung in the air until lit with incantations Harry had never seen or heard before being hurled, ricocheted, and evaded hither and thither between Voldemort and Snape.

Harry backed behind a tree as spells met and burst into power and light with a loud boom. Harry covered his ears, but watched; amazed that one person could produce such power and not exhaust themselves. He stood and backed away, then heard a voice touch him through a delicate link. When you see the chance, Harry, kill him. It was Snape's voice.

Voldemort drew his wand at last and fired a spell. It was quick, powerful, and successfully banged onto Snape's chest and the man was thrown into a tree. With the disadvantage of age, Snape could not bounce as easily as Harry did. But he did not resist firing back. Voldemort spoke a spell, but not before blood splattered from his side. It was the Dark Lord’s turn to kneel and endure. Harry moved from behind the tree, ready to attack when he was hurled and a spell zapped him of his strength.

He screamed. Snape called out to him.

Voldemort rose, the blood seeping back into his body. He closed his eyes to focus on power. Very quickly, power was his and Snape was crying out. Harry couldn't move in time. The spell hit him and Harry felt conscious slipping then returning... but all the while, he couldn't regain control of his body. He could only feel and hear the explosions of spells and outbursts of screams. And then the incantation faltered. Harry quickly rose to his feet, looked, and saw that Snape was on the ground. He was very still and blood was dripping and pooling everywhere. Voldemort looked only at Snape. "You were my favourite." His wand touched Snape’s chest. "Avada-"

"LOOK AT ME!" As the Dark Lord turned, Harry cried out, "AVADA KEDAVERA!"

Voldemort's eyes beheld his killer's before they rolled back and he fell to the ground. Harry then rushed forwards, fell onto his knees into the bloody pool and brought Snape upright. "You fucking bastard! You can't just die!" Harry gathered Snape into his arms.

Snape bloodied hand was raised to Harry's cheek as he tried to focus on the young man holding his body withering body. "Just... let me go...." His strength exhausted, Snape's hand fell back onto the grass.

"N... no! No! Fuck... I can't! I fucking love you!"

Not even breath left Snape.

Harry wanted to shake Snape's body. Wake him. Bring him back. It wasn't his time. Things couldn't end like this. "You can't die! We have a son!"

A/N: Thank you for your patience. Please review and rate, as they make me happy and compel me to write faster.