Forsaken
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,170
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
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Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,170
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
The Final Piece of the Puzzle
Chapter 36- The Final Piece of the Puzzle
Harry twisted hard in his sheets, tangling himself further in the linen. Suddenly he jerked, tossing himself off the bed. His eyes flew open as he hit the floor.
He scrambled up against the wall, kicking the covers away from him.
“Shit,” he whispered, closing his eyes as he rubbed his hands downs his arms and over his wrists. He leaned his head back, trying to calm his ragged
breathing. After a few minutes, he shakily pushed himself up straight and crawled over to the nightstand, reaching up for his glasses. He slid them over his
nose and turned the small clock towards him. Sighing, he ran a hand through his sweat-matted hair and stood up, tossing the covers back on the bed as he
walked over to his trunk.
Severus’s head rose at the sound of water gurgling thorough the pipes overhead. He slumped back in the chair, running a hand through his oily hair.
Parchment was scattered before him, strewn across the burned and scarred desktop beside a cup of cold coffee - spell lists, a few books of questionable
subject matter from the library downstairs and some notes he’d taken for himself. He gently pushed them aside and lifted up the letter that he’d received an
hour ago.
You are one lucky son of a bitch. You left the goddamn bank folder in the office and Harry’s note on the sitting room floor! Do you know how much shit I
will be in if anyone finds out about how much evidence I’ve lifted from this house?
I will be at Headquarters as soon as I can to strangle you with my bare hands. KS
Severus half-smiled to himself, but it quickly faded from his face as the apprehension filled him again, just as it had upon his arrival at Grimmauld Place. He
carelessly threw the note back on the desk and ran his hands over his face. He stood and slipped his shoes back on, making his way down to the kitchen to
wait for Kingsley.
He didn’t have to wait long. Ten minutes and a half a cup of coffee later, the locks on the front door clicked open, granting the weary Auror entrance.
Severus stared at the top of the table, listening to the barely audible footsteps on the stairs. He lifted his mug to his lips as Kingsley pushed open the kitchen
door. Kingsley said nothing, shuffling over to the counter to pour himself some coffee. He turned and leaned against the counter, taking a tentative sip of his
drink.
“Damn,” he muttered, making a face. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and took one from the pack with his lips. He drew his wand and lit it as he
walked over and sat at the table. Severus lifted his gaze to Kingsley’s face, his eyes questioning. Kingsley exhaled slowly.
“It could be worse,” said Kingsley, taking out a small square from his pocket and enlarging it. “You could be chatting it up with Pettigrew right now.”
“Ever the optimist,” muttered Severus. Kingsley tossed the bank folder on the table.
“So now what?” asked Kingsley. Severus pulled his own cigarettes out of his pocket and put one to his lips.
“I don’t know,” admitted Severus, lighting the cigarette with his wand. “I wanted to train the kids just a little more, but I don’t know if we have time now. I may
have to teach them as we go.” Kingsley narrowed his eyes.
“Did you get everyone’s permission note for that?” he asked.
“Kingsley, please,” said Severus tightly. “Don’t -“
“You expect me to be a part of your renegade group, you get to listen to my opinions,” said Kingsley, pointing his finger at Severus. “ And I think this will be
a verifiable disaster. You have seven people, two of whom have the most recognizable faces in all of Wizarding Britain, thanks to the Prophet.
You have the only daughters of three well-respected Pureblood families, along with the son of two famous Aurors. Zabini is famous by association
now. Are you taking the twins with you?” Severus clenched his jaw.
“No,” growled Severus.
“Thank God,” muttered Kingsley.
“I’m not an idiot, thank you,” said Severus. “The twins attract a lot of attention.”
“Well, sometimes I wonder,” snapped Kingsley. “You come telling me of splitting souls and hunting buried artifacts. You tell me you and a bunch of
kids - kids, Severus - are going to go and capture all these Death Eaters the Corps has been after for years, and you expect me to just sit here and
let you go haring off into God knows where without questioning your motives in doing so?” Severus pushed back roughly from the table and began pacing
the length of the room, pulling hard on his cigarette.
“Yes,” said Severus. “I was expecting your support, seeing as how if we’re successful, it will end the goddamn war, Kingsley.” Kingsley
rubbed his face with his hands.
“You have my support, Severus,” he said more calmly. “You’ve always had it. It’s just that I’m not sure you’ve really thought this through.” Severus flicked
his finished cigarette into the fireplace, staring into the flames.
“We’re out of time to think,” said Severus softly.
~~+~~+~~+~~
MINISTRY FINDS MURDER’S HIDEOUT
Last night, the Auror Corps made a daring raid of a house located in East Liverpool thought to be the hideout of Severus Snape, Death Eater and murderer
of former Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. No arrests were made, but Ministry sources say that valuable evidence was obtained. Minster of Magic
Rufus Scrimgeour gave a brief press conference this morning, praising the Aurors who made the raid.
“We could use a few more good men and women like these,” said the Minister. “They risked their very lives for the sake of preserving our way of life and
protecting their fellow countrymen. And for that, they have my utmost respect and gratitude.”
“What tripe,” muttered Severus, throwing the paper away from him in disgust. Harry smiled at the book he was reading.
“Usually is,” he said, turning the page. “That’s why I don’t read it anymore.”
“Not the most intelligent thing to do in these times,” said Severus, raising a cup of tea to his lips. “What if they come up with a new nickname for you? I would
hate to miss that.” Harry rolled his eyes, but didn’t take the bait. Severus smirked, marveling at how hard it was now for him to get the boy riled up. He took a
pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and tapped it against his palm. Harry glanced at him, his eyes lingering for just a second on the pack before he went back
to his book. Severus shook his head and took out two sticks. He lit them both and handed one to Harry, who took it with a small grin.
“Thanks,” he said, not looking up from his book. Severus tilted his head, reading the title off the cover. Harry set the book flat on the table, his eyes still glued
to the text.
“Mmhmm,” mused Severus as Molly came in the kitchen door.
“My, you two are up early,” she said. She took a double take at seeing Harry flick his cigarette casually over the ashtray on the table. Severus watched
her, waiting for the woman to lay into him like he’d seen her do to Black dozens of times. She met his gaze, but said nothing. She turned to the stove and took
down a large black skillet.
“Are you two hungry?” she asked, tapping her wand on the side of the pan.
“Harry is,” said Severus. Harry rolled his eyes, looking at Severus over his glasses.
“Nothing too big, Mrs. Weasley,” said Harry, maintaining Severus’s smirking gaze for a few seconds before returning to his book. “So, what did you tell the
others?”
“That they needed to stay out of sight for the time being,” said Severus. “I have -“ he flicked his eyes to Molly’s back, “-other business to attend to today.”
Harry slowly lowered the cigarette from his lips. Severus avoided his gaze, busying himself with straightening the paper as Molly set a plate of eggs on the
table.
“No smoking at the table,” said Molly firmly, plucking the cigarette from Harry’s limp hand and crushing it into the ashtray.
~~+~~+~~+~~
“I have a really bad feeling about this.”
“Really?” snapped Severus, raising the hood of his Death Eater cloak. “And how do you think I feel about this, Harry?”
“Kind of hard to tell at the moment,” answered Harry, his arms crossed as he stood beside the man in the alleyway.
“That is the point of Occlumency, child,” said Severus tersely. He rubbed his face, sneering down at the sheen of sweat coating his hands. “Shit!” He
rolled his shoulders, trying to calm himself down.
“Get back in the house,” growled Severus. “You’re making me nervous just standing there staring at me.” Harry sighed and pushed himself off the wall.
Severus reached out and grabbed his arm. With a finger, he firmly lifted Harry’s chin.
“I will be back,” said Severus intensely. Harry straightened his back and nodded once. Severus took a step back and flicked his wrist, revealing the marred
skin of his left forearm. He drew his wand and pressed the tip to his Mark.
“Locuseres,” murmured Severus.
~+~
Severus immediately knelt on the frigid floor of the receiving chamber, exhaling as slowly as he could.
“Good afternoon, Severus,” said a cold voice. He felt more than saw his former master rise from his marble throne.
“Goodness, what’s wrong, child?” asked Voldemort. “You’re sweating.” Severus opened his mouth only to find his voice unable to obey his brain’s orders to
speak and speak quickly. He cleared his throat.
“My lord, I have come to report on the chalice you sent me to find,” said Severus softly. Voldemort clasped his skeletal hands behind his back and began
circling Severus.
“Thank you for clarifying, Severus,” said Voldemort blithely. “Now, if you’ll quit stalling and give me your report, perhaps I won’t lose my temper.”
“Yes, my lord,” answered Severus. “I was able to gain access to the cavern in the Carpathian Mountains.” Voldemort stopped and stood behind
Severus.
“The cavern was empty, my lord,” whispered Severus. He closed his eyes as wave after magical wave rolled over him, surrounded him, pressed in so
hard in on him that he could hardly breathe. All the breath was forced from his chest as he crumbled under the weight of Voldemort’s fury, being held to the
ground by a spell.
“It was empty,” whispered Voldemort, his voice soft as silk. “Of course it was.” Severus gasped as black spots clouded his vision. Voldemort stepped around
and squatted next to Severus. He gazed down curiously at Severus’s outstretched hand, shifting his blood-red eyes to the man’s purple face.
“How many times did you reach out for him like this?” whispered Voldemort, brushing a strand of limp hair back from Severus’s face. “Hm?” He shook his
head, running his finger down the side of Severus’s cheek. Severus couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer.
~+~
He awoke at feeling a sharp pain across his back.
“Ah, good to see you’re still with us, my Snake,” said Voldemort from his chair. “I was beginning to think we’d lost you already.” The whip cracked again
over his back. He cried out, arching towards the manacles that held his arms up over his head. Voldemort chuckled.
“Yes, it has been a while, hasn’t it, Severus?” said Voldemort, resting his chin in his hand and propping his elbow on the arm of his throne. “I thought we
were past this. I mean, you did kill the old man, correct? Unforgivables only work if there is true feeling behind them.” Another crack of the whip. The pain
robbed him of breath.
“And yet, you have the audacity to come into my chambers and tell me that my chalice, the one I worked so hard to find and to protect from them, has
gone missing,” said Voldemort. Severus raised his head and met his gaze.
“You are my master,” gasped Severus. “Whatever you command, I will do to the uttermost, my lord.” Voldemort smirked at him.
“I know, Severus,” he said smugly. He waved his hand, presumably calling off whoever was brandishing the whip. He stood and glided down the dais
steps, his eyes never once leaving Severus’s. He touched the tips of his fingers to the side of Severus’s neck and trailed them leisurely down his clammy
chest.
“Such loveliness,” whispered Voldemort. “A phenomenal mind.” A tilt of his finger brought a razor-sharp nail in contact with Severus’s skin. Severus
clenched his jaw, bile rising in his throat.
“And with that phenomenal mind,” murmured Voldemort, “you know there is no one to run to anymore.” He gazed appraisingly at the man hanging before
him like a slab of meat.
“You are a murderer,” whispered Voldemort. “Who will trust you now, hm? A man capable of killing the second most powerful wizard in the world -“
he leaned in closer, “-can never be trusted.” Severus’s heart almost stopped beating in his chest.
“But luckily for you, my dear Severus,” said Voldemort, turning away from him. “I am rather fond of you. Therefore, I have one final object for you to check
on.”
“Yes, my lord,” whispered Severus, relief flooding his body like adrenaline.
“You will know the object once you see it,” said Voldemort vaguely. “It is hidden well beneath Hogwarts in a special chamber. I daresay you know the
layout of the grounds fairly well.”
“Yes, my lord,” said Severus, his mind racing. Surely, he can’t be serious…
“The Board of Governors will be reconvening tomorrow morning to decide the fate of the school,” said Voldemort. “They will decide that Hogwarts is no
longer safe for the children and will give parents the option of sending their offspring to France to finish the academic year at Beauxbatons. An unfortunate
loss of potential recruits, but our younger colleagues are doing an admirable job with what resources are available to us here.” Severus shivered
uncontrollably.
“So, you will have free reign of the school,” continued Voldemort. “I’m sure the Auror Corps will leave their pathetic wards up around the grounds, and
those blasted Phoenixers may spare a few of their own to supplement the Ministry’s protection. However, I have no doubts you are capable of dispatching
anyone who stands in your way. You are not to remove the object.” Severus raised his eyes.
“Yes, you heard me,” hissed Voldemort fiercely. “You are to leave it there, as it is, Severus. You will report back to me on the status of this object and
nothing more, do you understand me?”
“Yes, my lord,” whispered Severus. Voldemort nodded once.
“Release him,” he commanded. Instantly, Severus dropped to the ground. “Go. I expect a report by the new year.” Severus bowed his head, looking
under his arm at his torturer. He caught a glimpse of black cloth, but nothing more. He shut his eyes and disapparated from the chamber.
“Come forward,” said Voldemort softly, retaking his seat. Lucius and Bellatrix came out of the shadows and lowered their hoods, their head bowed in
respect. Voldemort began pacing the blood-stained floor.
“There is a passageway into the castle,” said Voldemort. “It leads into Severus’s old office in the dungeons from just outside the Forbidden Forest. There is
only one entrance into the Chamber of Secrets. You will position yourselves near that entrance and you will make sure that our former Potions Master does
as he was commanded. And if he does not,” a malicious smile crept over his face at the mere thought. “You will bring him to me.”
Voldemort turned towards them, intimidating his Lieutenants with the murderous desire in his eyes.
“There is only one other besides myself who can open the Chamber,” said Voldemort softly. “Bring anyone who comes snooping around to me as well. If
you succeed in this, perhaps I will send one of you to check on my scepter.” Bellatrix turned and caught Lucius’s curious gaze, her eyes smiling behind her
mask.
“My lord, may I speak freely?” asked Bellatrix. Voldemort sighed.
“I suppose,” he answered. “Make it quick.”
“Snape will fail this test,” she said confidently. “May we be a part of giving him his rightful due for his betrayal?” Lucius stiffened beside her as their master
considered her words.
“Watch yourself, Bella,” murmured Voldemort lovingly. “If you are wrong, I will not hesitate to allow Severus to exact a little revenge himself for your slander
in whatever way he sees fit. I will consider your request.” The two Death Eaters knelt before their lord.
“Go,” said Voldemort. “And if you are captured, don’t bother showing your faces to me unless you wish for a slow and painful death.” Two pops, and they
were gone. Nagini’s head appeared at Voldemort’s elbow as she slithered into his lap. He ran a long finger across her scales.
“Yes, my pet,” he crooned. “You will get to play soon enough.” His eyes glinted as he waved out the torch burning in the corner with his hand.
“We will all get to play soon enough.”