Against His Nature

CHAPTER 47 (Know Thy Enemy)

 

“Merlin’s balls, I think I wet myself.” Longbottom breathed out heavily as he slumped against the wall of the Shrieking Shack, the group having run across the grounds to the broken down house. Deatheaters were everywhere and the small group had barely made it into the shack without being seen. Harry’s entire plan hinged on them getting inside Hogwarts without being detected. There was no way their little group could fight the death eaters out in the open but once inside the castle Harry hoped they’d have the advantage of knowing their battlefield, enough to get the upper hand on Riddle’s followers.

“Okay, everyone good?” Harry queried as he glanced around at the cold wet faces of his friends. When he was sure everyone was in one piece, Harry continued with his plan. “From here we split up into pairs so we can get into the castle undetected.” Harry paused and gestured to his friends. “Neville and Luna you need to get down into the kitchens and see if any of the house elves are left, we’re going to need the back-up.” Neville and Luna nodded in understanding. “Twins you’re on ghost hunt and distraction.” Fred and George smiled mischievously as Harry glanced at them knowingly. “Give our castle visitors something to keep them occupied.” Harry turned to Hermione and Ron. “You guys need to go and find the Marauders Map; we’re going to need to keep track of everyone.” Ron smiled and nodded. “The rest of you you’re on clean up duty, take out who you can but don’t risk causing a scene.”

“And what are you and Draco going to do?” Hermione inquired as she watched Draco look at Harry warily. Harry sighed and smiled crookedly at Draco.

“We’re going to go and find Riddle.”

“What!” Draco squeaked in fear, his eyes widening impossibly.

“If I can kill Riddle then the house of cards will fall.” Harry whispered softly a fearful tension falling over the group.

“Do you even know how to do that?” Draco queried in an unbelieving tone of voice.

“No.” Draco groaned as Harry continued. “But I figure it’ll come to me.” Harry finished as he watched Draco shake his head in disbelief.

“We’re gonna die.” Draco muttered and turned to Hermione to press what Harry might have termed as a last passionate kiss on her lips. Once Draco and Hermione’s kiss had finished the group sat in reflective silence for a moment to consider the consequences about what they were about to do.

“Okay everyone, see you at the end.” With a group hug Harry watched as his friends disappeared in twos down the dark tunnel towards the castle. Finally though it was only Harry and Draco left in the cold shack.

“Ready?” Harry inquired as he snuggled down in his cloak against the cold, inhaling on the scent that was purely Snape.

“As much as I’m going to be.” Draco took a deep steadying breath and Harry smiled as he saw the bravery flicker in the blonde’s fearful blue eyes. Harry nodded and pulling up the hood on his vampire cloak took off down the dark tunnel. Draco, following Harry’s lead, pulled his own hood up and with a sigh followed Harry into the darkness.

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The castle was cold and dark. The moon provided only meager amounts of light through the windows and helped create long dark shadows in the halls. Harry breathed out heavily as he crept along the dark hallway towards the staircases that he knew lead towards the Gryffindor tower.

“Shhh.” Harry put his finger to his lips as he and Draco flattened themselves against the wall, the shadow of a large statue hiding them as two unfamiliar Deatheaters came strolling casually past them. The vampire cloaks hid them well, their bodies seamlessly melting into the darkened shadows allowing them to pass unseen.

 

“What now?” Draco whispered finally daring to breathe once the pair of Deatheaters was out of sight.

“Upstairs to Gryffindor tower, there’s somethings I want to get.” Harry whispered softly back as he scurried up the first set of stairs. Usually the huge staircases would be alive with the chatter of students, ghosts and portraits. The light from the candles and skylights above them would bathe the staircases in a sunny glow and the constant shifting of the staircases would provide ample amusement. Now however the staircases were frozen in place, the portraits were empty and only the eerie sound of the howling winds and cold drafts through the castle provided any sound at all. Hunkering down in his cloak further Draco stayed close to Harry, as they negotiated a particularly large hole in one of the crumbling staircases.

“Now’s not exactly the time to be packing your bags Potter, shouldn’t we be thinking more about how to kill you know who.” Draco whispered harshly as they once again flattened themselves against the walls of the castle. Harry rolled his eyes. Draco certainly wasn’t like his usual partners in crime. The blonde was obviously not willing to be blindly led into unexpected danger, like Harry’s usual crew were.

“I’ve got Godric Gryffindor’s sword in my trunk, I figure that’s got to help the situation.” Harry glanced over his shoulder at Draco who was clearly unimpressed with the plan.

“That’s your plan. To challenge Voldemort to a swordfight? You don’t even know how to duel properly.” Draco muttered beneath his breath as the pair of them finally made it to the sixth floor corridor that led to Gryffindor’s common room. Harry glared at Draco in the dark the flash of the blonde’s blue eyes behind the hood of the cloak silently challenging Harry to say otherwise. Harry sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s the best plan I’ve got.” Harry muttered as they snuck their way down the corridor towards the portrait of the fat lady.  Draco fell silent then as they approached the round doorway into the common room. “That’s not good.” Harry whispered as he pushed on the empty frame concealing the doorway and found it opened easily, no password required. Draco nodded but held his tongue as the two boys stepped nervously over the threshold into the dark common room. The place was trashed. Couches, chairs and tables were upended, and the portraits and wizarding artifacts that had been previously hung on the walls were now broken, shredded and strewn about the floor. The cold moonlight shining in from the high cathedral windows made the shadows long and the room feel neglected and abandoned. “Come on, my dorm room is two flights up on the left.” Not wanting to spend any more time than necessary in the exposed common room, Harry gestured towards the staircase on the left. Both boys cautiously began the upward spiral to the dorms, their wands held in front of their bodies.

“Wow, they left in a hurry.” Draco muttered as the two wizards stepped into Harry’s dorm. The place was in a similar state of ruin as the common room. Clothes, books, trunks, beds and personal items lay scattered on the floor. Harry took a nervous breath in as he stared at the chaos lying around him. The one place he’d ever referred to as his home lay in ruins around him. The familiar things of his and his friends had been broken beyond repair as if someone had thrown them in fits of rage. Harry felt tears prickle his eyes as he stared at the torn drapes around his bed and the shredded linen and school robes. Thankfully Hedwig had been in the owlery with the other owls when Hogwarts had been attacked and he had turned up at the Burrow a few days ago according to Ron. “Don’t worry Harry it is just stuff.  He can’t take the memories attached to it.” Draco whispered softly as he placed a gentle hand on Harry’s shoulder. Harry nodded silently and wiped his eyes with the back of his hands unsure of where the swell of emotion had come from.

“Yeah I know I’m being silly. Just start looking for the sword it was up here somewhere.” Draco nodded in understanding and turned towards the wardrobes over by the far wall. Harry sighed heavily as he watched the blonde begin searching through the strewn clothes and broken brooms before he turned back to his upturned trunk that had once stood at the bottom of his bed. Kneeling down Harry began to rummage through the contents on the floor looking for the sword and trying to ignore his personal belongings and those of his house mates. Unaware of his surroundings Harry put his wand down on the floor as he bent down to look under the bed having remembered distantly shoving the sword under there for a time. What Harry found made him laugh out loud as he pulled out the unharmed copies of Wicked Witch and Quidditch Witches Monthly. Seamus had a standing order for the porn magazines that he sneakily had delivered to an unnamed empty post box in Hogsmead. The boys had often sat up at night ogling the pictures of scantily clad witches and sharing sweets. Harry shook his head in mild amusement as he flicked through the pages of the magazine marveling at how much his life had changed. There was a time when he would have loved to get to second base with any of the witches in these magazines never would he have imagined to be drooling over wizards and no less fucking Snape. Lost in his own amused memories Harry laughed as he called out to Draco. “Turns out Voldy’ isn’t a fan of Wicked Witch.” There was silence after he’d spoken and Harry suddenly felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. Something was wrong. “Draco?” Harry whispered shakily as he dropped the magazine and looked behind him at the figure now blocking his escape.

“Indeed Potter.” The voice was icy cold and cut through the silence like a knife. Harry reacted immediately snatching up his wand from the floor and scrambling over the strewn belongings to put some distance between he and Tom Riddle. “Surprised to see me?” Voldemort was different Harry noted in fear as he took in the figure before him. The snake like creature he’d met countless times in the past was gone, replaced by an older version of Riddle from the one Harry had seen in Dumbledore’s pensive. “Do you like what I’ve done with the place?” Riddle stalked across the room kicking items of particular annoyance out of his way as he went but still careful to cut off any escape route Harry had. “I like your new cloak. Given to you no doubt by my traitorous little alchemist.” Riddle spat nastily his eyes narrowing in anger as he pointed his wand threateningly in Harry’s direction. Harry didn’t waver. His back was to the shattered window beside his bed and his wand was firmly pointed at Riddle his gaze never leaving that of the dark wizard before him.

“He is not yours.” Harry ground out from between his chattering teeth trying desperately to sound confident but knowing that the shaking of his wand hand was betraying his emotions. Riddle knew his opponent well and merely smiled cruelly at Harry’s weak defense of his lover.

“Such is love that you defend the vampire.” Riddle waved his wand dismissively and Harry braced himself physically as he watched the glowing green tip of the dark wizards wand slice through the darkened room. “It matters to me not. When I have done with you, I will simply remind him of his loyalties and he will beg to return to my fold.” Harry watched as Riddle turned to face him finally showing Harry the red glowing eyes of the snake that Riddle truly was. “Now is it too much to hope that you’ll simply die or are you going to play the stupid brave Gryffindor hero like your mother and father tried to be?” Harry ground his teeth together in anger and adjusted the grip on his wand, tightening his hold on the willow to the point he was strangling it. “Well judging from that silence I assume we’re going to play this game once again, very well…” Before Harry could prepare himself Voldemort had thrown the killing curse at him and he found himself diving for cover as the curse exploded on the wall of stone to his left. It took a moment for Harry to recover his senses from the bright flash of green in the darkness but no sooner than he had than he felt a surge of adrenaline and he was on his feet letting similar curses out.

This was the situation Harry had wanted to avoid. He knew he would never win a duel with Voldemort they were too evenly matched and Harry didn’t know enough dark magic to counter Riddle’s extensive knowledge. Each of them had an intimate understanding of the others moves and both fell into the routine of mirroring each other’s actions. It was very clear to Harry that Riddle was reading his mind with a practiced ease of a skilled occlument. Unconsciously Harry was reading Riddle’s mind too the vampire blood in his system allowing him the luxury of reading Riddle’s mind just as easily. It was too late now however to change the plan like Harry had meant to and like the duels they’d had before ultimately they came to a stale mate.

With his wand outstretched in front of him Harry shook as he watched the arc of gold entwine with the similar arc of green from its brother on the other side of the room. The darkness sparkled with magic as the twin wands fought for dominance curled in the familiar dance.  Harry didn’t take his eyes of the snake like glowing orbs of Tom Riddle. The wizard found sick delight in the display and Harry felt himself weakening physically even as Riddle’s lips curled up in triumph having sensed Harry slipping. With a renewed vigor Riddle strengthened his own magic and Harry found himself screaming as the power of the connected wands dragged him to his knees in pain.

‘Just die Potter.’ Voldemort was in his head the twisted evil laugh barely audible above his own screaming. With his body failing Harry finally closed his eyes trying to block out Voldemort’s cruel taunts. In doing so however his outstretch wand arm began to waver causing the entwined magical stream to fluctuate wildly about the room. It was clear Harry was losing not for any other reason but that he was physically weaker compared to the fully grown wizard before him.

‘Severus’ The image of Snape prickled at the forefront of his mind as Harry felt the closing in of the darkness in his mind. The golden trail of magic from the tip of his wand was weakening to a pale lemon colour. No sooner than he’d thought about the vampire in question then he felt a swell of cold air rise around him causing the sweat on his overheated skin to cool almost to ice. The wind swept around the room like a tornado causing Tom to stumble a little on the trashed belongings scatter all over the dormroom floor. The sound it made was like the roar of a train thundering through the castle and both wizards grimaced but neither lowered their wand or broke the connection.

‘Harry.’ The voice that engulfed him was liquid honey, deep and melodic in his mind blocking out the rancid bitter tone of Riddle. There was a flutter of velvet wings against his face wiping at the tears of fear he had shed before a strong powerful set of arms transfigured around him pulling him upright from his knees once more. “Show him who you really are Harry. Find it deep down inside. The tingle in your spine that you know is the vampire in you.” Snape’s breath was warm against Harry’s neck in the suddenly frigid air of the dormroom. Harry could see his own misted breath as he took a deep steadying lung full of air and refocused his attention. Snape was pressed firmly up against Harry’s back, his left arm wrapped protectively over Harry’s stomach the wand in hand glowing ominously. Harry concentrated on the feel of Snape pressed against him as he let his eyes follow the extension of his own arm out in front of him. Snape’s hand trailed down it strengthening the weakening arm before the powerful, long potion stained fingers wrapped around Harry’s own grip on the wand, tightening the grasp once again. “Find it Harry. Use it.” Harry stared at Snape’s fingers wrapped around his own on the wand still pointed at Riddle.

Shifting his gaze Harry followed the golden arc of his own magic across the room to where Riddle was stood, clearly angry by Snape’s sudden appearance. Harry met the angry red gaze of the elder wizard with his own green eyes suddenly pleased he could no longer feel Voldemort in his mind.

“This changes nothing Potter! Die!” It was Riddle’s turn to scream now his anger fueling his magic as the green arc tightened on its golden brother.

“No. Fuck you Tom Riddle.” Harry breathed out as he blinked, his eyes turning the brilliant violet colour, having found the tingle of magic Snape had spoken of. Harry knew the feeling, having experienced it each and every time Snape and he had made love. It was raw and unstable but it made him feel alive as if he was soaring in the clouds atop his broom. The rush of magic that shot through his body had him shaking and had it not been for Snape holding on to him he would have fallen back to the floor. The purple tendrils of magic spiraled from Harry’s wand splitting the darkness as they sought out their target.

Unprepared for the new magic Tom faltered as the purple tendrils hit him in the chest robbing him of breath and causing him to buckle. The green arc of magic faded and Harry was assaulted suddenly by a wave of magic and memories causing him to spasm in Snape’s arms. Snape held himself firm, his strong arm not letting go of Harry even as he felt his young mate engulfed by Tom’s memories and magic. It was as if the vampire in him was taking back from Riddle what the wizard had stolen for the innocent child so long ago. Finally though Snape felt Harry weakening and with his own hand wrapped around Harry’s hand he flicked the boy’s wand and sent a disarming charm across the room to Riddle. Tom fell to his knees his wand spiraling out of his hand and into the darkness of the rest of the room.

Harry could barely stand as he stared at Tom’s prone form. The wizard was kneeling before him his head hung against his chest his hair hanging in long messy tendrils about his face. In the silence Harry could only now hear his own rapid breathing the icy cold air causing a mist cloud to form in front of him. The silence was broken by laughter and Harry could hardly believe it as he watched Tom raise his head to stare at him in sick amusement. Tom stared coldly right down the length of Harry’s still pointed wand, Snape’s grip over Harry’s hand on the wand not wavering.

“You’ve become exactly what you were fighting against!” Riddle cackled hysterically the sound clearly born from a sick mind. “Welcome to the dark side Potter! How does it feel being a one of us?” Riddle’s voice was screechy and high pitched as he spat blood out onto the floor his white teeth stained red.

“No.” Harry had begun to shake in Snape’s embrace and the vampire could feel Tom’s last ditch attempts at invading Harry’s mind and corrupting him.

“Come on Potter! Finish the job. You’ve taken my magic and its clear you’re one of them so complete the circle. Kill Me!” Riddle was screaming now, an amused laugh choking in his throat as he dared Harry to kill him using Riddle’s own magic. Harry could feel Tom’s magic and knowledge swirling around inside of him but he fought it as he began to shake his head. He would not do this. He would not become what Riddle wanted him to be. He would not kill Tom Riddle.

“Noooooo!” Harry screamed back at Tom, the wizard before him still staring at Harry and laughing in madness.

Suddenly from the darkness Snape caught the flash of a vampire cloak and before he could move a silver streak swung through the air.

The sound of the sword as it slammed down into Riddle’s back was sickening and Snape unconsciously sucked in a deep breath as he tightened his hold on Harry. Both Harry and Snape watched as the silver sword slid through Riddle like he was made of nothing before the bloodied tip thrust out from his chest. Riddle’s eyes widened impossibly in surprise as his hands came up to clutch uselessly to the sword tip buried in his chest. Harry’s gaze never left Riddle’s as he watched the dark wizard die before him.  Blood pooled at the corner of Riddle’s mouth before the wizard took his final breath and fell sideways into the rubble that had once been Harry’s dorm room. Riddle’s death was surprisingly uneventful and Harry didn’t dare breathe as he stared at the body now slumped before him, almost expecting something else to happen.

“Sorry, it took me a while to find Godric’s sword.” Snape could hardly believe his eyes as he watched the figure pull off the hood of the vampire cloak to reveal a very familiar blonde mop of hair.

“Draco!” Snape gasped out in genuine surprise his arms falling away from Harry’s body now that the threat had passed.

“Godfather.” Draco smiled coyly at Snape before nodding his head in the direction of Harry. “I couldn’t have Saint Bloody Potter with blood on his hands now could I?” Draco whispered as he looked from the pair of wizards across the room back at his own hands. His hands were drenched in Riddle’s blood from where he’d plunged the sword into the dark wizard. “Figured us Malfoy’s are already guilty. Oh damn…” Draco shrugged his shoulders at Snape before bending over and proceeding to vomit spectacularly onto the floor.

Leaving Harry’s side Snape quickly negotiated his way over the piles of mess to Draco and knelt beside the blonde, his hand soothing the young wizards back as he continued to vomit.

“Always the drama queen.” Snape whispered as he watched Draco sit back up and wipe his mouth with the sleeve of his robe.  “Well done Draco.” Snape hugged Draco tightly to his chest causing the blonde to smile genuinely happy for the first time in a long time. Draco remained in Snape’s hug enjoying the rarely bestowed love from his elder having never really experienced it from his own parents.

Snape felt the change in the air coming before it happened and he automatically stiffened around Draco as he glanced up from the blonde to Harry across the room.

Harry wasn’t sure what was happening but as he stared at Voldemort’s body he felt his own begin to fail and his breath being ripped from his body. Unable to speak Harry felt himself falling to the floor beside Voldemort as a swirl of icy wind swept around the room again.

“Harry!” Snape was yelling and Harry couldn’t breathe as he lay beside Voldemort the other wizards vacant gaze staring at him. “Fight it!” Harry wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do as he watched a soft ghostly blue mist begin escaping from Tom’s slightly parted lips. From his own lips the same mist began escaping but in a soft green colour. Harry began convulsing, his body spasming as Snape held him tightly to his chest helplessly watching as the twin ghostly mists began rising from the two wizards up into the swirling wind. “Don’t leave me! Fight it for fucks sake, fight it!” Snape was screaming hysterically now as he shook Harry forcefully willing the boy to wake up and fight even as the twin mists danced together in the air above them.

"What do I do?” Draco screamed at his godfather from across the room as he watched Voldemort’s body begin to turn to ash and get swept up into the swirl of mists and wind above Harry and Snape.

“Get help!” Snape screamed back at his godson already feeling the life slipping from his mate while he held Harry uselessly. “Please Harry, fight it!” Snape was still screaming as he took Harry’s face in his hands, drawing the younger wizard up to him to place a tender kiss on his now cold blue lips. “Please Harry don’t leave me.” Snape whispered his voice disappearing into the roar of the wind as the ash and soft colored clouds swept out of the broken windows of the dorm leaving a deathly silence in their wake. “Harry?” In the silence Snape stared at his mate lying motionless in his arms. The green eyes had turned vacant and Harry’s cold blue lips lay partly open the soft exhale of air gone.

“Merlin…” Draco watched in horror as his godfather tried to look for a pulse but when he found nothing he collapsed in a sobbing heap over Harry’s body. The sound of his godfathers cries of anguish were heartbreaking and Draco felt himself collapse to the floor, tears flooding his own eyes as he stared at the sight before him. The blonde could hardly believe it. Surely fate would not be so cruel. Curling up Draco began to sob mirroring Snape’s heartbreak as they sat together in the darkness of the cold dorm room not knowing what to do next.

A/N Oh No.............a cliffhanger.......if you want the solution you better review.