Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 36

“What’s this for?” Harry inquired as Snape helped him on with a thick woolen cloak before draping the boy’s invisibility cloak over his shoulders as well.

“Yeah Severus, it’s summer.” Draco complained as he tugged at the thick woolen cloak Snape had helped him on with earlier.

“Perhaps but it is minus six degrees on the surface at present. The Analysian curse is designed to destroy empires by removing from them the essentials of life. Muggles who cannot create their own heat will die of cold, hence the current temperature. Now make sure you have everything.” Snape finished clasping together Harry’s cloaks for him and the three of them looked over their little nook in the tunnel for anything they might have left behind. When nothing was found Snape nodded and without glancing back took off up the tunnel. Draco and Harry hurried behind him careful to be quiet and not to wake the other inhabitants of the tunnel they’d called home for the past twelve weeks. The three of them passed unchallenged through the tunnel network and out into the main cavern. There were very few people about and those that they did see paid them little attention. Snape it seemed was on a mission to get out as soon as possible causing Draco and Harry to run to keep up with the potion professor’s long strides. Using the same way they’d come in back in March, the trio clambered up the staircase towards the secret entrance. Stopping at the top Snape briefly waved his wand over the stonewall whispering a charm. Not a moment or two later a door appeared and Snape strode through it. Draco followed Snape through immediately but Harry lingered a moment on the precipice to glance back at the world he was finally leaving behind. Where Harry might have once felt sadness for leaving he was now empty. His fate now lay ahead of him, rather than behind him. With a deep breath in Harry turned his back on the world below and strode through the doorway. Not really looking where he was going Harry was surprised when he ran straight into the back of Snape.

“Sorry…” Harry went to quickly apologize but the words failed him as he looked up at his Superei to see Snape standing rigid, his wand draw and staring at the ten or so Auror’s blocking the stark white hallway. Draco too had his wand drawn but was standing a little back from Snape in protection. Harry swallowed nervously as he watched Albus Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic step out from behind the group of Auror’s.

“Severus…” The headmasters voice was dangerously even his once sparkling eyes narrowed in anger. “…what are you doing?” The headmaster continued his voice remaining at the even tone and his eyes never leaving Severus.

“We are leaving.” Severus replied calmly his own voice just as cold as the headmasters had been. Instinctively Harry shuffled closer to Snape his hand automatically slipping inside his cloak to grip his wand tightly.

“I can not allow that.” The headmaster’s voice had dropped an entire octave and Harry could hardly believe the man could sound so deadly.

“With all due respect sir, if you try and stop us I will kill you all.” Harry knew that voice, the silky velvet growl that Snape favored when his control began to slip.

“I am sure there is no need for violence Professor Snape, you and Mr. Malfoy are free to leave at anytime but we must insist Mr. Potter remain protected within these wards.” The minister of magic spoke up trying to diffuse the situation but neither the headmaster nor Snape seemed to pay him any attention as they stared at each other.

“Mr. Potter will leaving with us all the same.” Snape growled low in his throat as he cocked his head slight to the side as he addressed the minister. “I am sure the headmaster knows it is in Mr. Potter’s best interests that he does not make a scene.” Harry watched as Fudge looked up at the headmaster strangely waiting for an explanation but Albus ignored him and shook his head.

“No Severus he is not going anywhere, too much is dependant upon the boy and his place among us.” Snape huffed a contemptible laugh at Albus’ even comment before shaking his head in refute.

“Indeed he does not belong among you at all and if you have neglected to realize it until now he is no longer a boy and has made his decision. You can not stop us and you know it.” All of a sudden Harry seemed to finally comprehend what was going on and stared in shock at the headmaster who lowered his gaze to the floor in acknowledgement of what Snape had just suggested. “What did you think would happen Albus when the boy discovered what he was? Did you expect him to rejoice in being ostracized and then still stick around to help the people who would rather see him dead than accept him as what he is? You are a fool headmaster if you ever believed you could cover this up. You should have known last summer that Harry was never going to be the little pawn in your games ever again.” Snape spat angrily at the headmaster who seemed to sink in on himself as if finally accepting the truth. “Now I’ll ask you again move aside and let us pass or I will kill you all.” Harry slowly drew out his wand and aimed it squarely at the headmaster the anger that boiled inside of him barely restrained. All this time the headmaster had known about him, about his condition but never once had he acknowledged the fact and instead had hidden it from the world. Harry watched as Albus shook his head despite the sad look ghosted in his eyes.

“I can not do that Severus, you will condemn us all to death if you take him from us.” Albus had a pleading look in his eyes as he finally looked up from the floor to focus on Snape. Harry glanced cautiously up at Snape wondering if he would be broken and wishing that he did not. Thankfully though Snape shook his head and raised his wand higher in determination.

“Life’s a bitch Albus now you know how we feel.” Before anyone could blink two Auror’s had lunged forward to attack Snape. Harry and Draco went to curse them but Snape was quicker and with a duck and turn had pinned one of the Auror’s to the wall by one hand while the other he easily snapped the neck of and let his limp body fall to the floor at his feet. The Auror against the wall struggled uselessly against Snape’s strength. Snape had essentially cut off his air and the potion professors nails dug deeply into the skin causing rivulets of blood to drip down over his hand and soak into the sleeve of his cloak. Harry stepped protectively up to Snape’s side his wand still aimed at the other Auror’s who instantly ceased their attack as they saw their colleague slowly dying in Snape’s deathly grip. Snape’s eyes had turned the deep indigo colour matching Harry and Draco’s own lavender gazes. The entire group before them looked shocked at the trio, the only person who wasn’t surprise was Albus who sadly shook his head.

“I trusted you Severus.” Albus whispered as he stared at Snape who was still holding the Auror pinned to the wall.

“I trusted you too Albus but you used me just like you have done Harry. Even if we were not the creatures we are you would have still manipulated us to your own means. Now let us pass and I’ll let him live.” Snape gestured towards the Auror in his grasp the man having turned white and his lips tinged blue.

“Where will you go Severus? They will hunt you just like the dark lord will if you’re ever discovered.” Albus ignored Snape’s question and Harry could feel Snape loosing his patience. Albus was staling for time no doubt hoping to arouse more support to prevent them from leaving.

“I think we’ll take our chances headmaster.” With a twist of Snape’s wrist there was a sickening snap of the Auror’s neck and Snape casually drew his hand away letting the wizard fall to the floor dead like his colleague. Snape advanced on the party blocking the hallway and automatically the group parted for him, their wands lowered and avoiding eye contact. Obviously the reputation the Elith-Furatu held was enough on its own to cause the Auror’s to back down. “Potter, Malfoy come.” Throwing over his shoulder at the two boys Snape stalked through the group his eyes cautiously flicking around to make sure it wasn’t a trap. No one flinched though and Harry and Draco caught up to their Superei who was just opening the door out into the cold night.

“Harry…” Harry paused and glanced back over his shoulder as the headmaster called his name. The headmaster looked stricken as if everything he’d ever worked for in his life was slipping through his fingers. Harry knew it was Albus’ final attempt at getting him to stay but Harry had no intentions of doing so.

“Potter, come now.” Snape’s voice growled at him from outside and with a distasteful glance at the group staring at him Harry stepped out of the door and slammed it close behind him.

TBC>>>>>>>>>>

A/N Sorry for the long overdue update RL has stuck it\'s boot in and I\'ve got to work. Hope you enjoy and thanks for all the reviews.

CHEERS

RIFFRAFF