The Future Rescues The Past

Chapter 6 Repercussions

Voldemort sat on his throne and looked down to his gathered. They demanded a meeting after word spread about the castle booting the house of Slytherin along with his professors. He had a near mutiny to quell. His red eyes narrowed in anger at the audacity of them. Still, he needed their support for now and he would weed out the malcontents later. "Speak your questions and then I will answer after I have heard them all." That should identify those that he would weed out later.

Carrow spoke out first. "My Lord I serve you willingly and never understood why you allow the muggle-born wizards to live despite the fact that you have taken over the Wizarding world. I had to sully myself being around the disgusting creatures assured that you have a grand plan. Then I was tossed out, my wand broken and humiliated. Why?"

Other spoke out angry at the humiliation of Hogwarts.

Voldemort listened for a few moments and then held out his hand indicating silence. So it was not disloyalty that drove them. He stood up from his throne and walked down, chuckling as the entire group stepped back to keep distance. There would be no need to winnow his group.

The gathered watched the Dark Lord approach the house of Slytherin and used a long finger to lift up the chin of a twelve year old blonde haired witch forcing hereto look at him. "Are you afraid of me?"

Her blue eyes looked into his eyes, mesmerized. "No My Lord. You will lead us forth and create the perfect world where true witches and wizards of the world will unite and benefit under your rule with the hated muggles extinguished."

"And that I shall young witch." Leaving her to walk amongst his followers. "You hear the words of our future generation and it will come to pass."

He stopped as the group gathered around him. "The castle chucking my faithful out was the second infraction that the Order commanded. They also poisoned my most faithful right hand man Severus Snape and I will not let that pass unpunished." Holding his hand out and revealing a cell holding forty witches and wizards. "Let me introduce what is left of the Order of the Phoenix. I have left their leader Luna Lovegood alive as well as the Golden Trio so that I can deal with them personally."

Gregory Goyle shouted out emboldened. "That daft witch? If she is the leader of the resistance then it should be easy pickings."

Voldemort chuckled. "Harry Potter has no support now and I can breach the castle to get to him now that he has only a few left to shield him."

"It is our time now my faithful." Weaving the group under his spell. "We have France fully under control and after I take out Harry Potter who is the last icon of resistance then we shall rule the world!"

The group cheered out.

"Pettigrew take the underage Slytherin away as we deal with the traitors." He commanded.

Voldemort watched as the young group left him and opened the door of the cell. "Play with them and make sure they suffer my faithful. We take out Potter in one week!" Sitting back down on his throne and watched the festivities begin as his followers shouted out "Aye!" and went to the cell.

Draco went to the cell and grabbed up Gryffindor Katie Bell and dragged her out of the cell whispering. "I have no choice in this Katie and I will get word back to Harry." Pulling out a large serrated knife and began slicing into the witch. "I respect you Katie and I'll not rape you as expected but I do have to kill you."

He looked down to the mangled mess that he created and whispered into her ear. "I release you and I hope that you find peace in the Veil." Using his knife to slice her neck, blood drenching his robes as he leaned in and wrapped his arms around her and felt her convulse and die.

Draco stood up and left the hall unnoticed or so he thought. Voldemort whispered into the ear of one of the Outer Order and watched as his minion did as commanded. Just like his parents he was not worthy of the new world.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione sat in her bed reading the book of Severus Snape.

The whelp of the one I despised is here and his eyes mock me as it is my dear Lily. Damn the Unbreakable Vow as I have to protect him.

Potter took out Quirell. I wonder what is next as I am sure that the Dark Lord got away.

Black got away because of those damnable children, but yet I have to protect him.

I killed my protector, and the brat had the audacity to call me a coward. Oh how I long to tell him how the world truly is.

My fellow Deatheaters released from Azkaban. We go forth with murder and mayhem and I notice the insanity of LeStrange. I never trust her.

Hermione continued to read. The Inner Circle was ruthless and twisted with his detailed musings on them.

She intrigues me. Three years graduated and I work with her. Everyone treats me with disrespect other than her. If only they knew my true involvement.

Granger, Granger, Granger. Grown from a Know It All to a beautiful witch. She is a remarkable. I feel her concern and so much more. Not even Lily gave me that. She tends my body when I come back bloodied and beaten from the Dark Lord time and time again. Those fools that she calls friends do not know what they have.

I told her tonight about everything. I denied what I felt for her, perverted wizard that I am. She left me without a word. I'm sure that she thinks of me as a monster despite the help that I have given. The Dark Lord calls…..

I could not help myself. She healed me and leaned over to check my vitals. It was then that I kissed her and Merlin she responded back in kind. Fiery passion and all for me and I heard her command. "Love me." Merlin I did and I am hopelessly in the paws of a Lioness but the Snake within me did not mind it at all.

Hermione read further, reading about the revels interspersed with her interactions with him.

She is worth all that I do and I will protect her. Cold heartless bastard that everyone thinks I am. And I am that to be sure, but I am damned in the Veil and she gives me hope as she loves me for what I am, despite the lies.

She closed the notebook at the last entry of his wish to marry her. She never realized how much he had suffered before they met and became lovers. A loud banging on her door drew her out her thoughts and opened the door revealing Headmaster Flitwick. "Hermione, Lord Malfoy has arrived at the castle and does not have much time. Please come with me."

Hermione followed the short wizard to the Infirmary, noticing that Harry, Ron, and Luna were already there.

Draco saw her approach his bed. "Good." He wheezed out. "The remaining Order has been murdered." He coughed up blood and looked up, catching Harry's eyes "He will attack Hogwarts in one week. I joined to avenge my parents and I will not get that chance. Harry Potter defeat him."

Harry picked up the limp hand. "I promise you that I will."

Poppy the Medi-witch approached them. "You must go so that he can rest."

"No! You know that I am dying. I don't want to die alone." Draco rasped out.

Hermione leaned over and ran her fingers gently through his thick blonde locks. "You will not die alone Draco. We will be here for you."

Poppy raised the bed up so Draco could be in a sitting position and casted a diagnostic charms and looked to them for a moment before she left her patient.

Harry followed her into her office. "How long does he have?"

"No more than three hours Harry. I'm amazed that he has lasted this long considering his injuries." Poppy wiped a tear from her eye. "Call me when I am needed."

Harry walked back over to the bed.

"Hey Harry you know Salazaar Slytherin must be rolling in his grave with me being around Gryffindors at my end."

"Yeah Draco you're right about that. Godric Gryffindor must be rolling in his for me being here with a Slytherin."

Ron spoke. "Draco what happened for you to be in this state?"

Draco told them about Voldemort's meeting and how a Deatheater followed him to the castle. "I killed him but not before he struck me with a deadly slicing hex. But you are warned and it's worth it. I hope the Veil recognizes what I tried to do to help save us."

They watched the wizard fall asleep and waited a few moments listening to his ragged breathing.

Hermione spoke. "Luna did you manage to get the American contingent here?"

"I did Hermione. Their leader is John Smith and he has agreed that Harry will be in charge of them as they are unfamiliar with our situation. What is our plan?"

Harry patted her hand. "Later Luna. We must be here for Draco when he needs us."

They silently sat left to their own thoughts, continuing the death vigil of Draco Malfoy.

Hermione thought of Draco's words about dying alone and realized that Severus Snape of the present and the future died alone as well. She dabbed her tears with her hankie and felt an arm on her shoulder.

Ron whispered to her. "He will be free Hermione and find rest at the Veil. It is all in how you die and his actions will not go unnoticed because we will remember him."

Ron thought that she was thinking of Draco and she did but thought of Severus as well. His words gave her comfort and she murmured her thanks.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Draco opened his eyes and rasped out. "Godfather! You are here but you are dead."

"I am dead but not dead. I will not leave you to die without family present."

"But that does not make sense. How can you be dead and not at the same time?"

The ghost of Severus Snape looked to the young man. "Think about where I died and the fact that things are left undone. I am here until things complete and be released."

Harry left to get Poppy because Draco was talking to no one and was sure that this was the wizards last moments.

"It's good to see you again Professor Snape. Maybe you can guide us?" Luna dreamily spoke.

Ron and Hermione gasped out in surprise and looked around, not seeing anyone around.

Draco rasped out his voice weak. "Thank you for being here. I am ready and will face whatever I deserve."

Severus looked to his Godson. "It is time to let loose of your hold to the mortal world Draco. You are free Draco and your last actions will hold well when you meet the Veil."

Poppy and Harry arrived and watched Draco took a heaving breath and then stilled.

The medi-witch closed Draco's eyes. "He has passed to the Veil."

Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and began to cry as Harry and Ron gathered around her and did the same. Sure he was a bastard in school but had changed and was a friend to them.

Luna looked to her friends. "Don't cry because he will be welcomed in the Veil and his mother is waiting for him. His father will not be there because he is with the demons. Draco is not destined to join him."

Poppy pulled the covers over the dead wizard. "I must fill out the death certificate and send it to the Ministry."

Hermione spoke. "Don't do it Poppy. Voldemort will be told and we must not let him know that he has died. Voldemort will wonder if his minion was successful and keep to his original plan."

Poppy looked to the young group. "I cannot keep the body here Hermione."

Harry stood up. "Fill out the paperwork but hold it back Poppy. We bury him on the grounds tonight and then we will plan. Luna said that Headmaster Snape was present. Dead and not dead means he is a ghost here at Hogwarts. Maybe he will appear to someone he is connected to?" Looking to Hermione knowingly.

She felt frightened at meeting the ghost of one she loved and killed. "What makes you think that he will reveal himself Harry? He has not done so yet."

A grey mist formed and looked to the group. "Bury Draco properly and I will have a chat with Hermione."

"Snape!" Harry shouted out in surprise, standing up suddenly as his chair fell to the floor.

The ghost of Severus Snape crossed his arms and looked to him. "It seems that death will not release me yet."

Ron wrapped the body of Draco and picked up the body. "We need to bury him Harry and address everything later."

They walked out of the castle and stood next to the white tomb of Headmaster Dumbledore.

Harry used his wand to dig a hole and placed Draco into it. "I hope you travel well to the Veil Draco Malfoy. You were friend to us when it counted the most, sacrificing your life for us. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten."

Hermione gathered a handful of dirt and tossed it into the grave. "You died to protect us and I will not forget all that you have done for us."

Ron tossed in a bit of dirt. "Be well in the Veil Draco. I look forward to meeting you when my time has come."

Harry covered the rest of the grave and used his wand to row grass over it. "If we survive we will mark his grave and tell the Wizarding world of his sacrifice."

Ron pulled Harry away. "Let's go mate to leave them to talk." Dragging Harry towards the castle.

Hermione looked to the ghost of her lover. "I killed you."

"You did and rightfully so."

Hermione looked to the grey mist of Severus. "How can you say that?"

Severus sighed. "Albus explained a lot and I heard your story. What choice was there at the end?"

"I miss you Severus. You meant the world to me."

He sighed "I know and that why I am a ghost now. Go to your quarters and tell me your plan. Everything happens for the Greater Good. I am granted a respite as Draco travels to a better resting place then what I will have when everything is said and done."

The grey form of Severus Snape looked to her. "At least I will be here for you. I promised that I would never abandon you. I did in the future and I will not make the same mistake again. "