Forsaken
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,181
Reviews:
4
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
50
Views:
2,181
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.
Grandstanding
Chapter 47- Grandstanding
“Somebody talk to me,” growled Moody. “What in Merlin’s name is going -“
“He’s here,” said Harry, his voice harsh. “He’s here, and we’re not anywhere close to being ready for him.” Severus pressed his forehead to Tonks’s to hide his face.
“Report back to the rendezvous point,” he whispered. “Nemesis and I will get out of here as soon as we possibly can.”
“All units disapparate on my mark,” said Moody quickly. “Three - two -“ there were several loud pops as the headsets moved out of range.
“We are not leaving you two here by yourselves,” said Fred fiercely.
“Damn right we’re not leaving them here,” muttered Ginny. “All within range, report!”
“Drama Queen still here,” said Pansy.
“As is Thing 2,” said George.
“Ninja’s on the move,” said Caitlyn. “Coming up fast around the east gardens.”
“I see you,” said Neville. “I’m on your right, Ninja.”
“Scarhead’s still up here,” said Harry. “Though my head is about to fucking explode.”
“Shit,” whispered Severus, his stomach dropping.
“Blackbird here,” gasped Blaise. “Running towards you, Red Flame and Thing 1.”
“Got movement on the front drive,” said Harry quietly. “Four or five, if I’m counting right. Moving inside fast.”
“Ladies and gentlemen!” shouted a voice over the din of the ballroom. The orchestra stopped playing as the crowd turned to their hostess standing by the doors.
“First of all, I’d like to thank you for coming to our little soiree,” said Taylor Greengrass. “I trust you are all enjoying yourselves this evening.” There was a murmur of assent.
“Recast your charms,” ordered Harry. “We don’t want anyone to see us.”
“Good,” said Taylor smugly. She drew her wand and gave it a flick. Instantly, all of the exits slammed shut, locking everyone in.
“Cluster locking charm,” whispered Tonks, clutching slightly at the front of Severus’s robes. “The only door she didn’t hit is the one behind her. We’re fucked.”
“Not entirely,” said Severus. He gently moved her hand to rest on the hilt of the disillusioned dagger hanging at his side. Her eyes grew wide.
“I always come prepared,” he whispered
“Now then,” said Taylor above the mutterings of the crowd. “Allow me to introduce to you our - guest of honor, of sorts.”
“I just patronused McGonagall and Moody to bring reinforcements,” said Harry. “No one move until I say so.”
“Roger that,” said George slowly.
Severus wrapped his arm around Tonks’s waist as the door behind Taylor opened slowly. A cloaked and hooded figure walked into the room, followed by four figures dressed in black robes and white, faceless masks. Several screams rent the air as the crowd pressed back away from them.
“I don’t think they appreciate your costumes, my lord,” said Taylor loudly to the figure beside her. The figure lifted a skeletal hand and lowered the hood of their cloak, revealing a long, pointed face. The eye sockets were completely red, the eyelids slashed perpendicular to the eyes themselves.
“Hm,” hummed Severus. “He’s looking a little worse for wear since I last saw him.” Tonks lifted her horrified gaze to his face.
“He’s quite an ugly bastard, isn’t he?” said Fred.
“I think that’s an understatement,” said Caitlyn hollowly.
“I agree,” said Neville, his voice pitched higher than normal. Voldemort took a few slow steps into the room, grinning as the crowd cowered away from him.
“I seem to have put a damper on things,” said Voldemort, his voice harsh and crackly. “I haven’t been out in quite some time, so I’ll have to beg for your forgiveness.”
“Fat chance of you getting it, you son of a bitch,” snarled Harry.
“First of all,” said Voldemort. “I would like to extend a warm welcome to our esteemed Minister of Magic, who has done a wonderful job keeping those wretched Phoenixers in hiding for the past few months.” He put his hands together and applauded, joined by many within the crowd itself as the Death Eaters made their way towards him.
“I assure you, Rufus,” continued Voldemort, “I’ve had as little success in catching any of them as you have, though I will admit you do have more men than I do.”
“You --” shouted Scrimgeour, revealed by the parting of the terrified crowd. “You won’t get away with this.”
“Oh, good comeback,” mocked George.
“Minister, I’m disappointed,” said Voldemort. “Your gifts of oration are praised everyday in the papers, yet here you seem a little - I don’t know -“ he waved his hand dismissively. “In any case, I’m sure those who voted you into office will appreciate your efforts at restraining and arresting those who are even remotely equipped to deal with my followers.” Scrimgeour’s face flushed slightly, glaring at those nearby who edged even father away from him.
“Now then,” said Voldemort, continuing on to towards the drink table. He turned around casually and raised a non-existent eyebrow. “Well - continue -“ he inhaled, a quizzical look coming over his face, “frolicking - Taylor, be a dear and get me something to drink.”
“He can’t be serious,” whispered Tonks. “He’s not staying, is he?”
“Something is going on,” murmured Severus. “He’s grandstanding. He does this when he’s got an ace up his sleeve.”
“I’m in on the third floor,” said Harry. “Red Flame, catch.”
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing, Harry?” murmured Severus, keeping his eyes on Voldemort’s bald head as he moved around the edge of the room. Voldemort looked up suddenly, his eyes staring straight at the ceiling.
“Oh God,” whispered Tonks. Severus quickly covered his mouth with his hand.
“Harry, get out now!” he said sternly. Voldemort grinned cruelly and drew his wand, pointing it upwards.
“Reducto!” he hissed gleefully. The spell hit the near the front of the room, blasting through the plaster. Tonks ran and cast a huge Force Field shield over the crowd beneath the raining bits of ceiling. A feminine scream cut through the air followed closely by a loud crash as a table collapsed.
“GINNY!” shouted Harry’s voice.
“Ah, Mr. Potter!” cried Voldemort. “So good of you to drop in.” He aimed hit wand again, blasting another chunk of the ceiling. Another table crashed under unexpected weight. Severus pushed his way through the shocked crowd towards the other side of the room.
“Oh, look,” said Voldemort mockingly, seeing Severus shoving people aside. “You brought a friend.”
“I’ve got Ginny, Snape,” said Tonks. “I’m disillusioned in the back corner.”
“We’re above you,” said Blaise quietly. “Thing 2’s the last one up. We’ve got your back, Raven.”
“Come out into the open,” said Voldemort graciously. “I daresay the rest of us would like to see you for the brave and idiotic friend you are, good sir.” Several hands roughly pushed Severus out of the crowd. He stumbled slightly, sneering back at the grinning faces of Carter Warrington and Miles Bletchley. Instantly, two stunners hit the tops of their heads, sending them to the floor. Before the crowd could even back away from the spellfire, two small stones flew through the air and landed on Warrington and Bletchley, portkeying them to the Ministry. The smile faded instantly from Voldemort’s face.
“Be careful what you ask for, my lord,” said Severus, flicking his wand into his hand as he stepped between Voldemort and where he thought Harry was. Voldemort’s mutilated eyes narrowed. For the first time since his branding, Severus allowed the Dark Lord to have uncontested access to his mind.
“Severus,” said Voldemort quietly, his voice carrying easily over the stunned crowd. There were not a few gasps as Severus cancelled his disguise charms, returning his appearance back to normal.
“What is he doing?” muttered Neville. “What in the hell is he doing?”
“He’s being an idiot,” growled Ginny. “Severus, you’re being an idiot.”
“Shut up, you lot,” growled Moody, his headset back in range. “No more spellfire or he will know where you are. Just keep your wands at the ready and wait for further instructions. And follow them this time.”
“Move, Severus,” said Voldemort callously. “I will deal with you in a moment. You’re stealing young Potter’s thunder here.” Severus raised his wand and stood his ground.
“If you want him, you will go through me to get him,” said Severus firmly. Voldemort sighed loudly and reached a hand inside his robes. He pulled out a beautiful bronze scepter, the head of which was covered in beautiful sapphires.
“Do you know what this is?” asked Voldemort softly, his eyes boring into Severus’s. They flicked over Severus’s shoulder as Harry cancelled his Disillusionment charm and took a few steps forward. Harry eased his wand into his hand and nonverbally tried a Summoning charm.
“Potter, your lack of finesse and subtlety is appalling,” droned Voldemort. Severus scowled at Harry briefly, who just shrugged.
“Just trying to be helpful here,” muttered Harry.
“Well, stop it,” hissed Severus. “You’re going to get us both killed.”
“This,” said Voldemort loudly, showing the staff to the rest of the room “is a rare artifact belonging to one of the Four Founders - one of the last that’s still intact. You Phoenixers have been recklessly cavalier with the others, so I had to reclaim this one before you destroyed it as well.”
“Well, if you hadn’t chopped your soul into tiny bits in a desperate attempt to reach immortality and crammed them into said artifacts,” snapped Harry,” we could have all enjoyed the museum display. But no, you just had to-“ Voldemort flicked the scepter at Harry, sending the boy flying into the back wall of the room twenty feet away. Severus stepped immediately in front of him, pointing his wand directly at Voldemort.
“I will not tell you again to move,” growled Voldemort, extending his arm out and aiming the scepter at Severus’s chest.
“Lily and James didn’t move,” said Severus. “And neither will I.” A low chuckle bubbled up from Voldemort’s chest.
“Are you honestly comparing yourself to this whelp’s parents, Severus?” asked Voldemort incredulously. “You - a Death Eater and a murderer-and the Potters, the poster children of Dumbledore’s futile resistance?” Severus said nothing, swallowing thickly as his palms began to sweat.
“You’re a pawn,” said Voldemort quietly. “They’ve always used you, Severus. Dumbledore never allowed you to escape from me. He ordered you to remain within my circle, and for what? So you could utterly betray him in the end. Admit it - you were a little relieved to be rid of him.”
“Shut up,” hissed Severus hatefully.
“Why?” countered Voldemort gently. “You know it’s true. The Order never appreciated your skills as a spy. And I really must say, you are the best double agent I’ve ever heard of. What do they say of your sacrifices for the past twenty years of your life, my Snake?”
“Don’t you fall for this bullshit, mate,” said Kingsley into the headsets.
“We’re in,” said Moody. “You kids have back-up entering through the side door.” Severus caught slight movement out of the corner of his eye, but didn’t turn.
“Does it matter what they say?” said Severus clearly. “I did what was asked of me. And here we are,” he waved his free hand around the room, “-with you clutching your last Horcrux in your hand, providing us with a huge opportunity to end the war right here, right now. You don’t seriously think we’re going to let that pass without a fight, do you?”
“Well, he is a bit of an idiot, sometimes,” said Harry, walking cautiously back over to beside Severus. Voldemort sneered at them.
“We?” he repeated silkily. “You brought a bunch of kids to fight me, Severus? Is this your idea of a joke - your little army of outlawed students who are barely of age?” Severus grinned slyly as the Phoenixers behind him cancelled their Disillusionment charms, revealing themselves to be stationed all around the room.
“Not exactly,” said Severus quietly.
The room exploded in yells, screams, and spellfire.