Forsaken
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,171
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,171
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.
Being in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time
Chapter 37- Being in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time
Ron sighed softly, bored out of his mind. He stared at the chessboard between him and Stewart Ackerley, who was chewing thoughtfully on his bottom lip as he sat against the headboard of his hospital bed. Finally, Stewart gave a soft command to one of his knights. Ron instantly countered, capturing the knight with his queen. He felt guilty for beating the boy so soundly, but really - the kid was awful at chess.
“Oh, alright, I give,” said Stewart, watching Ron’s white queen drag his knight off the board. “Thanks for playing with me, Ron. I’m a bit tired now, though.” Ron smiled and began stowing away his battered chess set.
“No problem,” whispered Ron hoarsely. He gathered up his chess board, rubbing at the edges of the bandage around his throat. Pomfrey had told him the hex almost completely destroyed his vocal cords and that he was lucky he could still even talk. But talking softly couldn’t hurt it all that much, right?
It had been almost a week now since the attack. All of the students who hadn’t suffered major injuries had been sent home - a result of the Board of Governor’s surprise decision to close the school indefinitely. Inwardly, Ron was relieved. Closing the school prevented a lot of catastrophe, in his opinion. Hermione thought otherwise, of course.
He stood up from Stewart’s bed and looked around the hospital wing for her. His parents were coming on Saturday to pick them up and take them to Grimmauld Place. She had spent her time beside his bed drawing up extensive lesson plans for them both to start on once they got to Headquarters, telling him how it would be so much better to study on their own and how McGonagall had given her a whole parchment roll’s worth of books to buy. He could just imagine the hours he would spend listening to her talk about some wizard who developed some spell that didn’t have anything to do with what they were studying.
He smiled to himself as he tossed his chessboard onto his disheveled bed. He looked around once more for her as he made his way to the door of the wing. Tonks gave him a smile and a nod.
“Have you seen Hermione?” asked Ron. Tonks frowned a little.
“Yeah, she came by here about twenty minutes ago,” said Tonks. “Said McGonagall needed her for something.” Ron sighed.
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll go find her. She’s probably in the library.”
“That’s a safe bet,” said Tonks, rolling her eyes. “Don’t stay out too long. McGonagall will have my ass for letting you walk about by yourself.” Ron laughed and gave her a wave as he left.
He meandered slowly through the empty corridors, ignoring the comments on his attire from the portraits on the walls. Trailing his fingers along the cold stone, he slowed down in front of the girls’ bathroom. He glanced around and pushed on the door.
It seemed so strange to him now, to be back in this room where they had hatched their crazy plan to find out if Malfoy was the Heir of Slytherin. It was simpler then, in a lot of ways. He wasn’t a physical person - Ron had always had a hard time getting his head around someone that evil. Even Snape hadn’t been all that bad - until the end.
He walked over to the middle sink and gripped the sides of it, looking up at his pale and bruised reflection in the mirror. He would hate to admit it, but he missed Harry. Dean and Seamus were alright, but Harry - they’d been through so much together, so many great times and bad times. Hell, he really was Harry Potter’s stupid friend. He felt lost, like some part of him was missing. Harry always knew what to do; he always had a plan.
Sighing, he glanced down in the mirror, about to turn around to continue his search for Hermione, when something caught his eye. He frowned, staring at the pair of feet visible beneath one of the stall doors behind him. They were twisted in an odd way. His eyes widened as another set appeared behind the first, dressed in hellish-looking, stiletto-heeled boots.
“GET OUT OF HERE NOW!” screamed a voice above him. Ron looked up sharply at Moaning Myrtle’s horrified face. “THEY’RE HERE! GET OUT! GET OUT!!”
“Who’s here?” said Ron worriedly, his voice cracking. A smug chuckle echoed softly off the walls of the room.
“Do you really want to know?” asked a drawling voice to his left. “I’ve always said you Weasleys were a bit dimwitted, but my word, I never thought your lack of intelligence to be this bad.” Ron snarled as the occupied stall door opened, revealing Hermione bound and gagged in Bellatrix’s arms, a wand at her throat. He looked again at the voice’s location, jumping slightly as Lucius cancelled his Disillusionment charm.
“Let her go!” croaked Ron, hurriedly drawing his wand and pointing it at Bellatrix’s leering face.
“My, my,” cooed Bellatrix, bending down to speak in Hermione’s ear. “I can see why you might like the boy. He did fill out quite nicely, didn’t he, my dear? If not for that mop of ghastly red hair, I might shag him myself.” She laughed cruelly as the blood drained from Ron’s face. Hermione could do nothing, her limbs frozen with a Body Binding charm.
“As revolting as this conversation is,” interjected Lucius. He twitched his wand, disarming Ron easily in his distraction. “My master would like to have a few words with the two of you about why you are snooping around in here.”
“I wasn’t snooping around,” growled Ron, finding his voice once again. “I was looking for Hermione.”
“And you found her,” said Lucius, waving his hand towards the two women. “How convenient that you were looking for her here, of all places.” He flicked his eyes significantly towards the middle sink, lingering on the small snakes engraved into the side of the faucet.
“What the hell does that have to do with anything?” hissed Ron hotly. “I can’t open the damn thing. Harry’s the only one who speaks Parseltongue.”
“Are they waiting outside?” asked Lucius softly. “Did Severus practice with you so that you could be the bait without flinching? How very like him. He always was a coward.”
“What?” croaked Ron. “What in the bloody hell is going -“
“Enough!” said Lucius commandingly. “Stupify!”
~~+~~+~~+~~
Severus sat stiffly in a chair in the library, a cup of tea in his hand. His entire body ached painfully, making every movement feel like fire racing through his veins. The clock on the wall chimed softly, the notes out of tune with each other. He counted the chimes until the room fell silent once more.
He couldn’t help turning sharply as the door opened suddenly. The cup dropped from his hand, his muttered curses and groans of pain mixing with the shattering of ceramic.
“Good grief,” muttered a familiar voice. “Didn’t Mum tell you not to get out of bed?”
“Yes,” growled Severus threateningly. He glared up at Ginny as she came around into his line of sight. “Your point, Miss Weasley?” She rolled her eyes and held out a goblet.
“It’s still a bit warm,” she said. “Harry just finished it.” Severus took it from her, clenching his jaw against the pain radiating up his back as he stretched out his arm. He glanced down at it and took a small sniff.
“He’s adding too much powdered asphodel,” murmured Severus. “The color is slightly off.” He put the goblet to his lips and drank the potion in long, slow swallows, feeling it immediately dull the pain in his back.
“I’ll make sure he gets the message,” muttered Ginny, taking the goblet back from him. She bent down and repaired the mug, cleaning up his spilt drink. “Did you want me to bring you more tea?” Severus glanced up at her, a bit embarrassed. He hated being a burden.
“It’s not a big deal,” said Ginny. “Besides, I owe you for making you come give me that potion for a whole month. That must have been annoying.” Severus chuckled.
“You did yell quite a bit,” he teased. Ginny laughed out loud. “Some more tea would be -“ they both jumped as the door slammed open, revealing a panting Harry.
“Ron and Hermione are missing,” said Harry quickly. “They just disappeared. No one can find them.”
“What?” cried Ginny. “What do you mean, no one can find them? They were at Hogwarts!”
“The Council’s on their way,” said Harry. Severus’s brand flared to life on the back of his hand.
“Shit,” hissed Severus. He weakly pushed himself out of the chair, his legs trembling beneath him. “Help me downstairs.” Ginny rushed forward and grabbed his arm. Harry held the door for them and followed.
They burst into the kitchen amid a flurry of Council members flooing through the fireplace. Ginny helped Severus into a seat next to Kingsley. She frowned as Kingsley quickly lit two cigarettes and handed one to Severus, but said nothing, though she was sorely tempted when Harry lit one as well. The Floo flared green once more. Minerva stepped quickly out of the grate.
“Is everyone here?” she asked, looking around the room. “Where’s Arthur?” The man in question ran into the room, Percy hot on his heels, followed by the twins.
“Sorry,” panted Arthur. “The boys were in my office when you summoned us.” Minerva glanced between Percy and Severus.
“It’s quite alright,” she said. “Ronald was last seen about two hours ago, when he left the hospital wing to look for Hermione. The Aurors and a team of Mediwizards are moving the remaining patients to St. Mungo’s.”
“I called in another Auror squad to start combing the grounds,” said Moody. “If they’re still there, we’ll find ‘em.”
“They won’t be,” said Severus. He sighed and looked up at Minerva standing at the end of the table. “They were taken because the Dark Lord suspects my loyalties. I have a few guesses as to who he sent, but -“ he bowed his head. “They were simply in the wrong place at the absolute wrong time.”
“You sound real remorseful there, Snape,” growled Moody. Ginny and Arthur ran forward as soon as Fred and George drew their wands, pointing them at the grizzled Auror’s face.
“Fuck you, Moody,” snarled Severus.
“Enough!” shouted Minerva. “Everyone just calm down!” Harry bent down next to Severus.
“Do you think the Chamber of Secrets is a trap?” he whispered. Severus took a pull, his hand shaking.
“Yes” said Severus, “I had reservations before about it, simply because of the level of warding around the castle itself and how attuned Albus was to it. And then there’s the obvious point of me being unable to even open the Chamber of Secrets without your help. So yes, it was most definitely a trap. And the trap has been sprung.”
Harry straightened slowly, Severus’s words washing over him. He met Kingsley’s despondent gaze, realizing the man heard every word of what Severus said. Harry put a hand on Severus’s shoulder and looked to Arthur. Arthur slumped heavily into a chair and pulled his glasses off, tossing them carelessly onto the table. He ran his hands through his thinning hair as the room quieted.
“What in the fuck am I going to tell Molly?”
“Tell me what?” asked Molly as she came into the room.
~~+~~+~~+~~
Ron could barely move enough to turn over on his side, choking on his own sick. He shook so badly and the pain - it was unbearable. He could feel his mind collapsing farther and farther in on itself, trying to protect itself from the fierce curses racking his body.
“I will not ask you again,” hissed a voice - that horrifying voice - above him.
“I have no idea what the fuck you’re talking about,” gasped Ron. “I’m not in league with Snape. He’s a traitor to everything the Order stood for.”
“So you keep saying,” said Voldemort, twirling his wand between his fingers. “I must admit, I’m almost tempted to believe you.” Ron glared at him under half-lidded eyes. “Not even Severus is this good at Occlumency.” Ron chuckled once.
“I never learned Occlumency,” said Ron weakly. “Harry tried, but -“
“What?” said Voldemort, his tone hard as steel. “What did you say?” Ron closed his eyes. Lie! said a tiny voice in his head. Lie like you believe it!
“Dumbledore,” panted Ron, “Dumbledore tried to teach him during our fifth year, but Harry didn’t learn it. He - he just didn’t learn.” Voldemort narrowed his eyes, easily sensing the lie.
“Hm,” mused Voldemort, gazing down at the mass of vomit and blood and long, twisted limbs. “Well, no matter. I don’t’ like using the same tricks twice. Gets a bit boring, you see.”
“And torturing people, that doesn’t get boring?’ snapped Ron. Voldemort smiled.
“You know, now that you mention it,” he said thoughtfully. He pointed his wand at Ron’s chest. “Avada Kedavra!” Ron’s body froze, a look of shock etched permanently on his face.
“That, however,” said Voldemort softly, “never gets boring.” Turning his left forearm over, Voldemort touched a finger to his arm. “Accerso Severus.”
~+~
Severus hissed, bending over slightly in his chair and cradling his arm against his chest.
“Oh shit!” cried Harry.
“Minerva,” said Severus, waving his wand hand at her. She nodded and quickly cancelled the Council summons as Severus flicked his wand, conjuring his black cloak. Harry helped him drape it over his shoulders before throwing his wand out towards the door.
“Accio potion!” he cried. A few seconds later, a small vial smacked into his hand. He handed it to Severus as the other man pulled his black handkerchief over his face. Severus looked over at the Weasleys, who has gathered around Arthur’s despairing form.
“Just don’t do anything stupid,” said Harry softly. Severus chuckled morosely, savagely occluding his mind.
“Right,” said Severus. He hurried from the room and up the stairs to the front door. He wrenched it open and ran out onto the porch, jumping over the banister. He ducked down the alleyway and downed the pain-killing potion. Tossing the vial aside, he pressed the tip of his wand to his Dark Mark and disappeared from London.
He reappeared nearly on top of Ron’s chilling body. Severus took a hasty step back, staring down at those empty eyes as he knelt on the floor.
“Good evening, child,” murmured Voldemort, completely hidden in the shadows. Severus blinked, pushing every horrified and sickened feeling he had to the very back of his mind.
“I know how you longed to capture this one and the Mudblood for me,” said Voldemort casually, “but I’m sure you won’t mind that I was a bit overzealous. You see -“ he laughed, “-I had thought they were in league with you. They were caught sticking their noses where they didn’t belong.”
“Then they got what they deserve, my lord,” said Severus. He slowly lifted his head, meeting the Dark Lord’s red eyes head-on. “When I am done using Potter to enter the Chamber of Secrets, I will bring him immediately to you. I would like to be here for whatever you have in store for him, but I will leave that to your discretion.”
They stared at each other for a long time. Severus’s temple throbbed with the effort it took for him to fake hateful memories of Harry. Doubt crept into Voldemort’s mind - and if there was anything he hated more, it was doubt.
“I will notify you of my decision,” said Voldemort softly. “You may go.” Severus bowed his head and stood up form the floor. He turned on his heel and reappeared in the alley next to Grimmauld place. Immediately, he fell to his knees and was sick.
~+~
Kingsley walked down the hallway, stepping gingerly past the black-curtained portrait on his way to the door. He had felt the wards tingle, a subtleness only Aurors trained in such things would feel. He had waited for Severus to come inside, but no one had come through the door. He pulled the door open and stepped outside, pulling the door shut against the cold. Taking a deep breath, he plodded down the steps and around to the side of the house. His worst fears were confirmed upon seeing Severus stare blankly at the ground from where he sat against the house.
“Severus?” said Kingsley. “Come on mate, it’s bloody cold out here.” Silence. Kingsley sighed and walked over to Severus. He pressed his back against the wall and slid down to the ground.
“Does anyone else know I’m back yet?” whispered Severus, his eyes still staring straight ahead.
“No,” said Kingsley, shaking his head. “I felt the breach in the wards.” Severus nodded once. They sat in silence for a while, feeling the beginnings of a cold rainstorm hit their heads and shoulders.
“Come on,” said Kingsley, getting up and dusting off his robes. “We’ll freeze to death.”
“Why else would I be sitting in an alley in November, Kingsley?” said Severus sharply. He lifted his head, his red-rimmed and bloodshot eyes meeting Kingsley’s. Kingsley held out his hand.
“You’ve got too many friends now,” said Kingsley, half-teasing. “Most of whom are loud and obnoxious Gryffindors. I’d hate to think of the hell they’d raise without your calming influence.”
“It was an obnoxious Gryiffindor that got me into this spying shit in the first place,” said Severus bitterly. Kingsley kept his hand out, waiting patiently. Finally, Severus took his hand, allowing Kingsley to pull him up.
“You alright?” asked Kingsley. Severus dusted himself off and straightened his robes.
“I’ll never be alright, Kingsley,” said Severus, climbing up the front steps. He paused on the top step and looked over his shoulder at Kingsley. “Will you make sure Molly doesn’t rip me to pieces in front of the kids?” Kingsley chuckled, a single tear escaping down his cheek. Severus smiled, wiping the tears from his own face.
“I’ll try,” said Kingsley shakily. “I can’t make any promises.”
“Lot of help you are,” muttered Severus. He took a deep breath and slowly walked inside the house.