A Living Secret ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 38 ~ A Special Delivery

For the rest of the week Harry privately agonized over Hermione and Ron’s roles in the final confrontation with Voldemort. He couldn’t believe Professor Snape would risk Hermione this way. Didn’t he feel anything for her? She had given him her virginity. She had let him take his pleasure with her. How hard and cold a man was he that he could give her to Voldemort?

Snape giving Ron to the Dark Lord was no surprise. He didn’t care for Ron any more than he did Harry. The only reason the Potions Master was even helping him was to save his own skin. Harry’s conscience twinged a bit at this thought. It wasn’t true and he knew it…it just felt true. Severus Snape had been protecting him and fighting against Voldemort’s evil for many years.

Still, Harry’s belly knotted up in fear as he imagined Ron screaming at Voldemort and getting crucio’d…and worse. Or Hermione being given to his Death Eaters and raped repeatedly before being killed. He was scared to death for both of them.

Harr tried to talk Hermione out of this madness, saying he could come up with another way to distract the Dark Lord, and that they should warn Ron, but Hermione told him to stop…that fear would paralyze him and it would be better if he focused on what he had to do once he got into the stronghold.

He was supposed to wait until Hermione was acknowledged by Voldemort, then slip into the third door on the left on the farthest wall and walk down the corridor to the last room on the right. Nagini was always kept there until the end of the revel, so she wouldn’t inadvertently strike any Death Eaters during the excitement. He had to kill her swiftly, because since she was Voldemort’s familiar, he would feel her death.

Hermione was to act as frightened as possible. She didn’t believe that would be hard to do. Severus would have her wand and in the mayhem that followed Harry’s appearance after he killed Nagini, the wizard promised to give it back to her so she could help fight if necessary. It would be the three of them against a throne room full of Death Eaters. Not good odds at all. Maybe Ron wouldn’t be in too bad a shape and she could free him. It was an idea anyway.

Neither Hermione nor Severus knew exactly what would happen when Harry walked into Voldemort’s presence other than the dark wizard should be adversely affected. Severus hoped that the Dark Lord’s past orders that no one touch Harry Potter would stay the hand of his Death Eaters. It was common knowledge Voldemort wanted to kill Harry himself to prove he was more powerful than the boy. Severus had no doubt he was.

Severus watched as the Death Eaters began to set up the throne room, pulling mattresses out of the storeroom where they were kept. Voldemort liked to see the manual labor that went into the revels and allowed very little magic to be used during them. It was more visceral that way.

Voldemort saw the wizard standing near the doorway watching the activity and called to him.

“My gift, Severus?” he asked the wizard pointedly.

Severus bowed low. I will be retrieving it shortly my Lord. I am sure you will be pleased,” the Potions Master replied.

Voldemort narrowed his eyes at him as the first struggling muggle women were brought in and manacled to the far wall.

”I’d better be Severus, or you will provide my entertainment,” the wizard lisped.

Severus bowed and disapparated. He had one stop to make first.

Eighteen-year-old Ernie McHalon was in his small shoe shop when the Potions Master entered.

“Hello Mr. Snape,” he said brightly, “I was just about to close up. Revel tonight, you know.”

Ernie McHalon moved to England from America, where he was born. His parents were purebloods who fled Voldemort’s influence. Ernie had other ideas however and imagined himself better bred than the yanks he found himself surrounded by. As soon as he graduated, he disowned his parents and returned to England on his own and started a shoe shop. He was quite skilled at creating magical shoes and trainers, which enhanced the wearer’s natural attributes. A poor dancer would become a fair dancer, a fair dancer a good dancer and a good dancer, phenomenal. The same for his trainers.

“Yes, I know,” Severus said, watching as the young man locked up and put the closed sign in the window. Ernie’s shop was on a side street in Hogsmeade, one without many pedestrians. He couldn’t afford a better location.

“I’ll be right back. I just have to get my robes,” Ernie said.

Severus waited patiently as the wizard returned with his Death Eater robes and half-skull mask folded over his arm. He drew his wand.

Ernie’s smile fade when he saw Severus had his wand drawn.

“What is this?” he demanded.

”I am in need of your robes, Mr. McHalon,” Severus said, “Stupefy!”

Ernie was knocked cold. Severus dragged the young wizard behind the counter, took the robes and cast a binding spell on him, then a silencing spell for good measure. It would hold him for a few hours. Long enough.

“You are doing the wizarding world a great service, Mr. HcHalon. Your robes may help shift the balance of power toward the good. Don’t go anywhere,” Severus said with a smirk as the wizard looked at him hatefully. The Potions Master disapparated.

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Harry was pacing the living room in Godric’s Hollow, Hermione seated in one of the armchairs in her robes, her legs drawn up in the seat watching him. Dobby stood in the corner wringing his hands and looking very frightened. Harry Potter was going to face Voldemort.

Suddenly Severus strode in and thrust a set of Death Eater robes into Harry’s hands.

“Put those on and be ready,” the wizard said shortly.

Severus looked at Hermione who stared back at him with frightened eyes.

”You too, witch,” he said to her evenly.

Harry held up the robes and the mask.

”What are these…I mean I know they’re robes but I could have transfigured a Death Eater garment from anything,” Harry said to Severus, who scowled.

“Mr. Potter, do you think you could just put on any disguise to enter the Dark Lord’s presence? Every Death Eater robe is charmed to pass into his realm. Without one, you would die passing through his wards, unless you were in direct contact with another Death Eater. Even then, the wards make sure he is aware of all the unmarked in his presence. Hopefully his signature will not alert him in your case. The wards will recognize you as the Dark Lord. More than one singular signature should not set them off. Now, put the damn robes on,” Severus said to him in a very irritated voice, “I will return shortly.”

Severus gave Hermione one more dark look, then strode out of the room as suddenly as he appeared.

Harry looked after the departing wizard, then at the robes, then at Hermione.

”This is it, Hermione. This is really it,” he breathed at her.

”I know Harry,” Hermione said, her eyes glistening, “Put the robes on.”

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Matilda Hagg dismissed the DADA class, asking Ron to wait. The red-headed wizard did so. Matilda proceeded to load him down with heavy tomes.

“You don’t mind carrying these down to the dungeons for me, do you Mr. Weasley? There’s a few points in it for Gryffindor. Your house has fallen a bit behind lately,” she said to him.

Ron snorted. A bit behind? Slughorn might not be as nasty as Snape was, but the new Head of Slytherin House found ways to take just as many points and keep Slytherin in the running for the house cup.

“Sure,” he said shortly.

Matilda Hagg made him nervous. Especially since she had no qualms about using Dark Magic on people.

”Those books are going to my private study. You go ahead and I’ll be right behind you. I have to collect some parchments,” she said.

Ron shrugged and walked toward the class exit.

Matilda quickly cast an imperceptible detection spell on him…one using Dark Magic and immediately discerned Marcus’ tracking spell.

“Hmm. Very subtle. Someone is watching that young man,” Matilda said to herself, following Ron, “No doubt they’ll come running if I remove it suddenly.”

The witch thought about it, then cast the “Notice-Me-Not” spell on the wizard with her signature. This made him imperceptible to others although he was in plain sight, though Matilda could still see him. Then she nullified Marcus’ spell and fell back, waiting to see who showed up.

Marcus was immediately alerted and dashed from his office down the DA corridor. He ran right past Ron. He saw Matilda.

“Professor Hagg, have you seen Ronald Weasley?” he asked, his eyes telescoping slightly when he drew close to the witch in reaction to her powers.

Marcus could sense Dark Magic, but since Matilda taught the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, he always reacted to her presence so didn’t think it untoward. And since neither the Notice-Me-Not spell nor the nullification spell were Dark Magic, he didn’t sense Ron either when he passed him by.

”I believe he was heading for Gryffindor Tower,” she replied calmly, “the gods know I gave them all a large enough assignment to keep them pinned down most of the evening.”

”Thank you,” Marcus said, hurrying back up the hall.

”So, it’s you is it, Professor Delaluci? Well, I’m afraid you’ve lost your quarry,” she said to herself as she watched Marcus take the stairs two at a time, rushing past students as he headed for Gryffindor Tower.

Professor Hagg turned down the dungeon corridor, following the Slytherins heading for their house. None of them noticed Ron either. Ron stopped in front of her office and Matilda let him in, closing the door behind them and warding it. She walked past Ron.

”This way, Mr. Weasley,” she said pulling on a torch and letting the wall slide up.

She walked through into her study, followed by Ron who looked at all the books filling shelves from wall to ceiling. Those were Professor Snape’s books. They had never been removed, because he had quite a few nasty wards on them. It was safe to take out one at a time, but the book had to be replaced before another was withdrawn.

“Hermione would love this room,” Ron thought, feeling a bit of pain at the thought of the witch.

She’d chosen Snape to be the first wizard to fuck her. That bastard.

Ron frowned then realized Matilda was talking to him.

“Just drop them on the sofa,” she said, walking into her bedroom, “I’ll be right out to give you your points.”

”All right,” Ron said, piling the books where she said, then peering at some of the titles on the shelves.

“Mr. Weasley, could you come here a moment? I need your assistance,” Matilda called from the bedroom.

Ron hesitated for a moment. Wasn’t that the Professor’s bedroom? Good gods, he hoped she wasn’t going to hex him into shagging her. Brrrr.

Cautiously the wizard approached the bedroom and peered in. Matilda had her wardrobe open and appeared to be looking into it. She was still in her robes, so Ron entered.

“Yes, Professor?” he asked.

Matilda turned to look at him. She looked apologetic.

”I’m so sorry, Mr. Weasley,” she said softly as Severus stepped from behind the door. Ron spun.

“Your hour has arrived, Ronald. Weasley,” the wizard said, “Stupefy!”

Ron went down like a ton of Hagrid’s rock cakes.

Matilda blinked at the fallen young man and shook her head as she looked up at Severus, who put away his wand, then took Ron’s wand out of his pocket and stuck it in his own. He hoisted the unconscious wizard over his shoulder.

”Does it have to be this way, Severus?” Matilda asked him as she looked at Ron. He was so young. So innocent.

“Yes, Matilda, it does,” the Potions Master said soberly, then disapparated.

Matilda looked at the empty spot.

”Good luck, Mr. Weasley,” she breathed, then headed for the study to pour herself a good stiff firewhiskey.

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Voldemort was sitting on his throne when Severus appeared with Ron slung over his shoulder. About ninety Death Eaters were on the premises, tormenting the chained muggle women. They had not yet begun the revel in earnest. The Dark Lord saw the Potions Master approaching him and carrying someone, but he couldn’t tell who.

”Severus, it that my ‘gift?’” the wizard asked excitedly as Severus walked forward.

“Indeed it is, my Lord,” Severus replied, slinging Ron down to the floor, holding him by one arm so the wizard could see him. Around the pair, Death Eaters started murmuring.

“Why…that’s Ronald Weasley!” Voldemort exclaimed, delighted, “However did you manage it, Severus? Draco couldn’t seem to get to the boy.”

“Draco isn’t the only loyal Slytherin at Hogwarts, my Lord,” Severus replied, hoping that would satisfy him. Luckily Voldemort was so pleased to have Ronald Weasley in his scaly clutches he didn’t press for any more answers.

“Whoever assisted you will be rewarded,” the despot breathed, “Rouse him.”

Severus stepped back from Ron, pulled out his wand, pointed it at him and said, “Enervate.”

Surrounded by Death Eaters, Ron’s blue eyes fluttered than opened fully. They fell on the Potions Master and narrowed with hatred.

”Professor Snape! What are you doing here you bastard!” he cried scrambling to his feet. Then he realized masked wizards and witches surrounded him. Slowly Ron turned around and saw the Dark Lord.

“Voldemort,” he breathed, staring at the wizard seated on a throne of what seemed to be human bones. Voldemort’s red eyes rested on him and his lipless mouth stretched in a rather nasty smile.

Ron hesitated, then quickly turned around and launched himself at Severus, who didn’t move.

“You dirty son of a bitch!” Ron screamed kicking as several Death Eaters grabbed him, Severus looking at him stonily.

“I knew you weren’t to be trusted you murdering bastard!” Ron cried, then he began to choke when he tried to mention Albus and Harry.

“Bring him here,” Voldemort said to the Death Eaters holding the wizard. He descended from his throne in a stalking manner.

”You stay away from me you scaly fuck!” Ron yelled at the approaching despot, who looked amused as everyone around him cringed.

You didn’t talk to Voldemort that way. The Dark Lord stopped in front of Ron, studying his face. It was contorted with a mixture of fear and hatred as he looked upon Harry’s nemesis.

“Ah, that is no way for a guest to behave, Mr. Weasley,” Voldemort purred, running a cold, reptilian finger down Ron’s cheek as he was held tightly, “Now, tell me where Harry is.”

”No. I won’t tell you,” Ron declared bravely, knowing the oath would keep Harry’s whereabouts safe.

But why hadn’t Snape told Voldemort? He knew precisely where Harry was. This didn’t make any sense…unless…unless Snape decided he had to sacrifice him in order to stay in Voldemort’s good graces. He did warn him about being taken. Ron didn’t think it would be the Potions Master who would abduct him. He believed Malfoy was the one who would try. And he would never have suspected Professor Hagg to be in on it. She was scary but she didn’t seem the type who would follow Voldemort.

“You won’t tell me? Not the answer I want, Mr. Weasley. Let us see if the Cruciatus curse will loosen your stuck tongue. Crucio!” the wizard hissed, drawing his wand and hitting Ron full blast.

Ron let out horrible scream after horrible as the terrible pain coursed through his body, falling to the floor and arching wildly, wave after wave of agony washing over him. He had never felt anything so painful in his life. It was as if his very bones were on fire and being doubled over beneath his skin. He lost control of his bladder and bowels, shit and piss filling his trousers as he seizured.

Voldemort released him, Ron shaking and shuddering on the cold stone floor. Severus watched dispassionately. There was nothing he could do yet.

“Now that you’ve been properly conditioned, Mr. Weasley, once again…where is Harry Potter?” the wizard lisped.

“I can’t tell you,” Ron gasped as he continued to shudder and tremble, residual pain wracking his body. Voldemort blasted him again, Ron’s cries of agony filling the throne room as the Death Eaters watched silently. Voldemort let him go again, demanding an answer.

“My Lord,” Severus said, stepping forward, “No doubt Mr. Weasley is under an Oath not to reveal Mr. Potter’s whereabouts. Otherwise he would have told you his location by now. It can’t be tortured out of him,” the Potions Master said.

Voldemort scowled at Ron’s shuddering form.

”Peter, bring my whips and chains. If Mr. Weasley cannot give me information, he will give me entertainment before he dies…slowly and painfully. Bring the knives and scourges as well,” the wizard ordered.

”Yes, my Lord,” Peter said eagerly, pushing through the Death Eaters in a hurry to get the Dark Lord’s favorite toys.

“My Lord?” Severus said to the despot.

“Yes, Severus?” the Dark Lord responded, his eyes still on Ron.

“I wonder if you might hold off on the worst of your entertainment until I return with your next gift. I assure you it will make the torture of this boy even more entertaining,” Severus said.

“Another gift, Severus? You outdo yourself,” Voldemort said with a thin smile as Peter brought in a set of long chains with manacles attached to them. He began attaching them to Ron.

“You are deserving of everything you receive from me tonight, my Lord,” Severus replied with a low bow.

”That I am, loyal servant. You have already pleased me greatly. This next gift may call for a boon. Go then. I will stay my hand on Mr. Weasley for the time being, although my Death Eaters might like a small go at him,” the Dark Lord said, the servants around him smiling evilly.

“Yes, my Lord,” Severus said, backing up and disapparating quickly for Godric’s Hollow as Ron was hoisted upward by his manacled wrists and his robes torn from him. The Death Eaters moved closer, their fists clenched as they eyed the best friend of their Lord’s most hated enemy.

Ron was most likely going to take quite a beating.

Severus had to hurry if there was any hope of the young wizard surviving his ordeal.

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A/N: Ooh man. Poor Ron.