The Dark Gryffindor

Please review! This chapter came very slowly for me. Plus I was very busy last week.


Chapter Fifty: In the Shrieking Shack


Hordes of overly clannish Slytherins stood in packs and either screamed or hooted. In the midst of the musty, careening old building they felt scared to be with Voldemort but also awed to. Just about every Slytherin in the school had come to join him, except save a handful.

Voldemort was standing there exceptionally pleased at what he considered a show of loyalty to him, a loyalty that trumped Hogwarts even. But it was really determination to survive that had led the Slytherins to him. His eyes swept over each and every one of them, not missing a single important detail.

“Students of such high-caliber that they dare join Lord Voldemort shall not go unnoticed. You are the future as you ensure my forces renewal. Therefore, I pardon you. Go. I do not need you tonight. All Slytherin students present here now, are free to disapparate from the village. Return to your homes.”

Moments later the Slytherins started chattering again, as they all filed out of the narrow door and went down the road towards Hogsmeade. Voldemort had turned his back on them, to speak to Snape. They conferred quietly together. Valerie meanwhile hung off to the side, not wanting to leave.

Snape’s eyes caught the enormous figures of Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. “You two – stop.”

The two boys stopped in their trek towards safety. They looked befuddled. Why would Voldemort want to talk to them?

Snape looked at them and asked curiously. “Where is Draco?”

Crabbe shook his head. Goyle said, “I dunno.”

Voldemort frowned at this. The Dark Lord proceeded up the stairs to be alone on the second floor. He had ordered Snape to handle this for him.

“That’s funny. You two were always following him around like puppies. One would think you’d know where he’s been off to.”

“Draco don’t tell us nothing anymore,” said Goyle. Crabbe meanwhile had bristled at Snape’s words for some reason inexplicable to Snape.

“Do you know where the ‘Room of Hidden Things’ is?”

Crabbe and Goyle’s eyes finally flashed with a spark of intelligence, and they nodded, clearly certain. “Draco used to go in there. Sometimes he brought us along.”

“Good. Then you will have no problem guarding the place. You will hide in the corridor just outside it until Draco comes.”

Both of them muttered their assent to the headmaster. Valerie who was witnessing this conversation felt glad Voldemort had not wanted her for the job. Perhaps he thought Valerie would be good at fighting.

Valerie grasped Snape’s hand in her's, and leaned against him. Crabbe and Goyle knitted their brows and stared at this gesture in consternation. Valerie was unabashed to reveal her intimacy with the headmaster, and Crabbe and Goyle were not perceptive to see the implications of this.

“We aren’t gonna go home like the other Slytherins?” said Goyle. But instead of reluctant, he looked excited by it. “Perhaps we’ll get Harry Potter.”

“Yes, you could capture Potter. And then you will be rewarded.”

Crabbe finally spoke, eyes shining greedily. His voice was surprisingly soft for such an enormous figure. “We’re gonna be rewarded?”

Snape answered in the affirmative. Of course this was all a lie, and Snape knew they hadn’t the ability to force Potter over to Voldemort and neither was there a promise of reward.

Snape sounded critical and spoke imperiously. He pumped them for information as he needed to know how they had progressed in their classes. “Having finally made it into a few N.E.W.T. classes. In the very least you should be capable of a decent Disillusionment Charm?”

“Yes. We can do the Diss-lution Charm.”

“That is the magic you will use to conceal yourselves outside the Room of Requirement. Unless it’s Potter, you have permission to kill whoever tries to break in.”

Goyle spoke again for both himself and Crabbe. “Why? Why are we doing this? What’s in there?”

“An object called ‘The Ravenclaw Diadem’. You must do everything in your power to keep Potter and his friends away from that diadem.”

Crabbe interrupted eagerly, “What does a die-dum look like?”

“A crown of sorts. You will know it’s the diadem because like thieves Potter will try to take it.”

They nodded, understanding this concept once it was simplified to their level.

“Now that you’ve finally got the gist of your duties return to Hogwarts at once. And stay away from the fighting. You must not get distracted from your mission.”

“Yes, sir.” Said Goyle. Gregory Goyle suddenly felt very important. Both of them were thinking of their fathers, who were Death Eaters with little sway in Voldemort’s circle. But if this went well the boys believed they would be rewarded. Neither had ever had any glory other than hovering in Draco’s shadow. And so, they wanted this more than ever.

Crabbe and Goyle left the Shrieking Shack then. Valerie and Snape were alone now. Snape released his hand from her’s. He took Valerie’s head in his hands, stroking tendrils of her hair out of the way so he could get a clear look at her.

Valerie looked right up at him, blue eyes gazing into the black. She said quietly, sounding sad, “They called me a traitor, Severus. When we were fighting by the towers. That’s what they think of me now.”

Snape whispered so that Voldemort would definitely not overhear. “I am also considered that, Valerie. And much worse. But what makes me feel the most pain…is being called a coward. That old crone Mcgonagall called me coward tonight! The pain of hearing that was almost unendurable.”

“She couldn’t! Oh, Severus. You are probably the bravest man Hogwarts has ever seen.”

“You think so, Valerie. Even though I was never a Gryffindor?”

“Yes!” Valerie whispered, and she pressed her forehead against his chest and embraced him tightly.

“Listen, Valerie. I cannot go with you into battle. My orders are to stay here with our Master. I will be safe in the Shrieking Shack. But you-” And at these last words Snape wavered because he couldn’t bear to spell-out what he knew she must do.

Valerie’s face fell with disappointment, yet she would not let him see her cry. He held her head in his hands and his eyes bored into her. Valerie could see them both alight with zeal and determination. “You’re strong. You’ll survive!”

Breathlessly, words came out of Valerie. “I will, Severus! I’ll come back to you as soon as I can. I wish he’d let me stay here. I want to be with you.”

“I’ve already asked. In fact I begged him. He will not allow it. Just remember to use your powers and your skills. Be the strong Witch that I know you are. You stay alive! No matter what occurs!”

“Yes, Severus,” she said obsequiously.

Snape pulled her body into his. She was pressed completely against him. He kissed her – a warm feeling grew inside Valerie that made her feel lighter and brighter. It was as if he was ensuring by his kiss that she would not lose her life.

“Come back to me. Come here when it’s over,” murmured Snape, sounding tired. He extricated himself from her.

Valerie watched him turn away and go somberly up the stairs to be with Voldemort. She couldn’t take her eyes off Snape, treading slowly in his billowing black robes. It was so painful to think this could be the last time. But Valerie would not allow herself to imagine that scenario further.


*


From the back door Valerie stepped outside the dismal Shrieking Shack.

A woman was present, hidden behind an ivory veil. In the dark, the veil made her appear like a demure ghost. A tall boy with white-blonde hair stood next to her. The woman protectively clutched his upper-arm.

Narcissa Malfoy had refused to allow her son and herself to go into the Shrieking Shack, as she wanted to have nothing to do with Voldemort. Draco could not understand this. Crabbe and Goyle were standing there too, evidently explaining what Snape had said. They had not gotten far with it though….

“Mother, please!” said the Head Boy. Valerie watched Draco shove off his mother. He was embarrassed to be amongst his old cronies again and for them to witness how childishly his mother still treated him.

With reproving ire Narcissa demanded, “Just where do you think you’re going young man?”

The boy said intransigently, “I’m going to join the fight, of course! You can’t stop me!”

“After all we’ve done for you Draco. I’ve kept you safe, so has Severus, and your father. You’re going to throw that all away?”

Draco quarreled, “It’s not just about me anymore. What about Father? I need to help him restore our family’s honour. I’m going to get some!” Although Draco was choosing to fight on Voldemort’s side, he was really fighting for himself and that included all the Malfoys.

“Here is my wand. After that Potter boy stole yours…and I think that Weasley boy stole some things from our home!”

Narcissa was holding out her wand, yet Draco hesitated to take it. Instead he asked, not sounding like himself. “Ron? You mean him, right?”

Narcissa ignored the question and pressed on impatiently, “I suppose I can’t do anything to stop you. Draco take my wand!”

It was heartbreaking to watch. Valerie was glad none of them saw her lingering to witness the exchange.

Draco took the wand and held it gingerly in his hands. He knew he wouldn’t be as skilled with another’s wand, but his mother was right. It was better than nothing.

Narcissa had taken off her veil. Her azure blue eyes were swimming with tears. She felt more sorrow than she had ever known in her whole life.

But Draco did not say good-bye to his mother or even peck a kiss on her cheek. He was already running intrepidly towards the castle, a good mile down the road. He seemed fearless, but it was really nothing but rashness.

Narcissa wept silently and followed after her son. Yet he was soon far ahead. Crabbe and Goyle meanwhile walked away but not alongside Narcissa. The three did not say a thing to each other.

Valerie started off behind them. But somebody stepping out of the shadows caught her off guard. It was somebody who must have been standing on the side of the creaking house.

She gaped in shock, feeling like she had been ambushed. It was the element of surprise. One of her worst enemies had caught her alone. It was the nasty Pureblood Prefect from Slytherin house, Damion Bulstrode.

The dark-haired boy had his wand out and she was unarmed. Damion looked at her, fuming and spoke with his usual ice-cold inflection. “I see you came with the Slytherins to the Shrieking Shack. Once I saw you there, I couldn’t wait to get a hold of you.”

This monstrous boy was once again apprehending Valerie. But she remembered she was free, he could not take her to the dungeons anymore.

“Why aren’t you going home like the rest of us Powers?”

“Yeah, right. I’ve got more guts than you, I guess. I’m going to fight!”

“Really? I don’t think so, my little Cunt. You’re coming with me…Who knows; maybe we can get a room in Hogsmeade. I’ll be your master from now on. It won’t always be like the dungeons, yet we should use that in foreplay. I’ll take care of you, Valerie.”

“You’re out of your mind, Damion. I’m not going to be in a relationship with you. ….I’m in love with Professor Snape.” Valerie had recklessly decided to let the secret out, knowing deep within her being regardless of how the night turned out, it wouldn’t matter if the world knew.

Damion was flabbergasted by this confession. Yet nevertheless his dark eyes reverted back to their usual gleam. His eyes roved over her breasts with lust, as well as something much more brutal. Valerie shuddered to be stuck under his gaze once more. “You filthy thing. You let Headmaster Snape take you as his whore?! Did you suck his cock too?”

“Yes,” said Valerie proudly, keeping her chin up. “And much more. But there’s more to the story than that. Severus Snape loves me. You can’t have me Bulstrode! So go home.”

Damion lashed out at her violently. He punched her mouth and Valerie could taste blood filling it and a loose front tooth. Valerie whimpered with terror as Damion led her down the road to the village. His hand held her in a vice-grip around the hips.

The realization that if she didn’t escape now, she was going to become his slave and maybe, if she was lucky eventually become his wife, gave her a burst of action. She remembered her wand; Damion had forgotten she still had hers.

She grabbed it from her pockets as fast as she could. Damion let go of her at once, frightened. The two of them were now squaring off at each other.

“Valerie….Hand over your wand," he said with icy calmness. "Afterwards you’re going to kneel before me and beg my forgiveness. I won't punish you. I promise this, IF you hand it over now.”

Damion held out his hand, palm face-up. He truly believed the girl would submit to him.

“No way! I’m not sabotaging my powers, Damion! I’ll never give up my powers even if you owned me.” Regarding "ownership" Valerie meant marriage. “Never!"

Damion suddenly realized the truth. He was not going to wed Valerie Powers. He had truly hoped for this, yet he realized it was too late. She was not going to allow him to.

“Avada Kedavra!” From several feet away the blinding light of the Killing Curse came, it's path aligning perfectly for Valerie's body. Instead of being stuck with Damion, death would be better….

But freedom was even sweeter. In a rush of adrenaline, Valerie shot up, flying skyward. It was literally a death–defying stunt. Within just three seconds, racing at eighty miles an hour, Valerie was hundreds of feet away from him.

Damion screamed in a rage, watching her from down below. He looked like a meaningless dot on the road. Valerie felt a rush of gratitude for Severus who had taught her how to fly.

Valerie floated above. She held her stomach and chortled away. It was good at relieving her stress. She watched Damion like the coward he was, go in the village to disapparate to the Bulstrodes' mansion. He was wearing his Goblin-made chainmail smock that he’d been given as a Punisher in the dungeons. He'd donned it in case he got stuck at Hogwarts, as it would shield against everything but the Killing Curse.

Valerie turned in the other direction and flew back towards Hogwarts. As she approached the school, she saw that the scene was of a tremendous scale. Voldemort’s forces on all sides besieged the school. It was only a matter of time before they got inside Hogwarts castle. She saw once again, the skull emblem of the Dark Mark Snape had cast earlier in the evening. It glittered in the star-strewn sky. And Valerie felt like she was swallowed up by the darkness as she came closer. The furor of battle shook her to the core of her being.

And suddenly she became apart of the night as another participant in the raging tempest going on.


NOTE: Please review. There is only a few more updates left. I hope you enjoyed what happened between Severus and Valerie here!