Areas of Expertise
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
42,607
Reviews:
137
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
44
Views:
42,607
Reviews:
137
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
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.
Death
Chapter Forty-Two
“The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.” William Shakespeare
***
The Death Eaters, following the trail blazed by Draco, had made their way up to the Headmaster’s office and now stood, blocking any other from entering, as Draco pointed his wand shakily at the teacher.
“Now, Draco, do it!”
Malfoy was staring at the old wizard, seeing him slide down the wall, shocked at his weakened state, but still determined to kill the other. The Dark Lord knew where his mother was, and his father was already in prison: what choice did he have? He tuned out the discussion the Death Eaters had with Dumbledore, ignored their taunts as he thought of his beloved father, alone in Azkaban, tormented by the Dementors. Draco hadn’t slept with anyone since his father’s capture, and he ached for the older Malfoy’s touch.
He became aware that one of them was addressing him.
“Now, Draco, quickly!”
He pulled himself back to the present, suddenly seeing the situation from the outside, and wanting no part in it. But he was trapped. What choice did he have? If he refused, he would be killed, and anyway, Dumbledore would be murdered by one of the others, if he didn’t die at their feet anyway.
The door to the ramparts burst open and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes swept the scene. Paler than normal, he nevertheless took command of the situation easily.
“Severus,” Albus’ voice was a low moan.
Snape turned to face him, revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face. The Death Eaters at the door all stared at the two wizards, Snape with his wand aimed directly at Albus’ chest, the other sagging against the wall, slowly crumpling to the floor.
None of them noticed the door open slightly more.
“Severus, please.” The older wizard begged.
Disgust twisted the features of Snape’s face. His black eyes unreadable, he said forcefully, “Avada Kedavra!”
Dumbledore’s body jerked, blasted up into the air. It hung suspended in a green glow for a brief second that lasted an eternity, then toppled over the battlements and out of sight.
“NO!” Harry’s scream shocked them all.
The invaders stared blindly around for the source of the noise, but Severus, face still more pale, tugged them away.
“Go! Now!” He ordered, and began running down the spiral staircase, pulling Draco along in his wake.
At the bottom he checked his mad rush, turning his foot on a loose chunk of stone. Spells flew across the atrium with abandon, as the Order and the students fought valiantly against the attackers.
Draco was gasping behind him. “Y-You did it.” He said, voice shaking, “You k-killed him.”
“Yes.” Snape replied shortly, eyes fixed on the flow of the skirmish.
After a minute stood still, he picked up the rhythm, and readied the boy. “When I say,” he instructed, “run for the front door.” Draco nodded, grey eyes still dazed.
“NOW!” he yelled and the two scurried across the open space, narrowly avoiding being hit by poorly aimed spells.
They smacked into the front door and their combined weight pushed it open. Draco soon took the lead, his young form dashing easily among the trees, avoiding the fighting outside. Behind him, Snape limped along, ankle and heart throbbing with misery.
***
At the bottom of the staircase, Harry tore off his cloak and sobbed out, “Dumbledore! Snape!” The Death Eaters cheered at the desolation in the boy’s voice and began retreating, their task completed. The Order and the school heard the desperation in Harry’s voice and let their wands fall. In the momentary hiatus in the fight, Harry waddled across the hallway and out into the night air.
Dumbledore could not be dead. Snape could not have killed him.
He spotted a black bat-like figure limping across the grass and sped as best he could after him. His body ached with pain as he pushed it further than it was capable of. In his stomach, Sapphire complained at the discomforting movement.
Behind him, as close as his skin, or as far away as eternity, followed Death Eaters and their opponents, all following the round boy who, crying, was chasing his lover against the dark grounds.
“Sev!” Harry’s tone was a half sob, half wail. Inside him, Sapphire lurched in sympathy.
Snape paused, glancing round. His eyes widened when he saw the chasing boy (and those chasing him) but he quickly swung back, aiming again for the edge of the wards.
Spells began flying around them as the good aimed at Snape, and the bad at Harry.
“You lied to me.” Harry panted, sobbing. “I trusted you, and you let me down. How could you do such a thing?”
Severus caught his breath, his heart aching, fighting the sudden tears in his eyes. He was so close to the wards. Draco had already passed through them and vanished.
Harry’s next words, and his tone ripped Severus’ heart apart.
“Everything’s been destroyed because of you. Are you going to hurt me too? I thought we could be honest with each other, but no, you just lied. Tell me, did ANY of it mean anything to you?”
He stumbled on a tree root, nearly fell.
Snape had reached the wards. He turned, faced Harry, and slipped through and was gone.
“The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.” William Shakespeare
***
The Death Eaters, following the trail blazed by Draco, had made their way up to the Headmaster’s office and now stood, blocking any other from entering, as Draco pointed his wand shakily at the teacher.
“Now, Draco, do it!”
Malfoy was staring at the old wizard, seeing him slide down the wall, shocked at his weakened state, but still determined to kill the other. The Dark Lord knew where his mother was, and his father was already in prison: what choice did he have? He tuned out the discussion the Death Eaters had with Dumbledore, ignored their taunts as he thought of his beloved father, alone in Azkaban, tormented by the Dementors. Draco hadn’t slept with anyone since his father’s capture, and he ached for the older Malfoy’s touch.
He became aware that one of them was addressing him.
“Now, Draco, quickly!”
He pulled himself back to the present, suddenly seeing the situation from the outside, and wanting no part in it. But he was trapped. What choice did he have? If he refused, he would be killed, and anyway, Dumbledore would be murdered by one of the others, if he didn’t die at their feet anyway.
The door to the ramparts burst open and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes swept the scene. Paler than normal, he nevertheless took command of the situation easily.
“Severus,” Albus’ voice was a low moan.
Snape turned to face him, revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face. The Death Eaters at the door all stared at the two wizards, Snape with his wand aimed directly at Albus’ chest, the other sagging against the wall, slowly crumpling to the floor.
None of them noticed the door open slightly more.
“Severus, please.” The older wizard begged.
Disgust twisted the features of Snape’s face. His black eyes unreadable, he said forcefully, “Avada Kedavra!”
Dumbledore’s body jerked, blasted up into the air. It hung suspended in a green glow for a brief second that lasted an eternity, then toppled over the battlements and out of sight.
“NO!” Harry’s scream shocked them all.
The invaders stared blindly around for the source of the noise, but Severus, face still more pale, tugged them away.
“Go! Now!” He ordered, and began running down the spiral staircase, pulling Draco along in his wake.
At the bottom he checked his mad rush, turning his foot on a loose chunk of stone. Spells flew across the atrium with abandon, as the Order and the students fought valiantly against the attackers.
Draco was gasping behind him. “Y-You did it.” He said, voice shaking, “You k-killed him.”
“Yes.” Snape replied shortly, eyes fixed on the flow of the skirmish.
After a minute stood still, he picked up the rhythm, and readied the boy. “When I say,” he instructed, “run for the front door.” Draco nodded, grey eyes still dazed.
“NOW!” he yelled and the two scurried across the open space, narrowly avoiding being hit by poorly aimed spells.
They smacked into the front door and their combined weight pushed it open. Draco soon took the lead, his young form dashing easily among the trees, avoiding the fighting outside. Behind him, Snape limped along, ankle and heart throbbing with misery.
***
At the bottom of the staircase, Harry tore off his cloak and sobbed out, “Dumbledore! Snape!” The Death Eaters cheered at the desolation in the boy’s voice and began retreating, their task completed. The Order and the school heard the desperation in Harry’s voice and let their wands fall. In the momentary hiatus in the fight, Harry waddled across the hallway and out into the night air.
Dumbledore could not be dead. Snape could not have killed him.
He spotted a black bat-like figure limping across the grass and sped as best he could after him. His body ached with pain as he pushed it further than it was capable of. In his stomach, Sapphire complained at the discomforting movement.
Behind him, as close as his skin, or as far away as eternity, followed Death Eaters and their opponents, all following the round boy who, crying, was chasing his lover against the dark grounds.
“Sev!” Harry’s tone was a half sob, half wail. Inside him, Sapphire lurched in sympathy.
Snape paused, glancing round. His eyes widened when he saw the chasing boy (and those chasing him) but he quickly swung back, aiming again for the edge of the wards.
Spells began flying around them as the good aimed at Snape, and the bad at Harry.
“You lied to me.” Harry panted, sobbing. “I trusted you, and you let me down. How could you do such a thing?”
Severus caught his breath, his heart aching, fighting the sudden tears in his eyes. He was so close to the wards. Draco had already passed through them and vanished.
Harry’s next words, and his tone ripped Severus’ heart apart.
“Everything’s been destroyed because of you. Are you going to hurt me too? I thought we could be honest with each other, but no, you just lied. Tell me, did ANY of it mean anything to you?”
He stumbled on a tree root, nearly fell.
Snape had reached the wards. He turned, faced Harry, and slipped through and was gone.