Saving your life

He hadn’t heard from her in five days, not since that morning he had taken her there and told her his plans.

He still didn’t know what had gotten into him, acting like he did, but he was even more confused about her behaviour. She had been the one to make the first move after all, even if she had tried to hide it.

Was there something more to what had happened? Sometimes he thought that maybe she was getting the wrong ideas about it, about them. Stress and dangerous situations could do that to anyone. Maybe she thought she now had different feelings towards him. To tell the truth, he was starting to get confused himself. It had begun as work, plain and simple, but after what they’d been through the last days…

No, he told himself, he just couldn’t get involved with anything, not with her, not with anyone. His work was too important. He had known her for years, and cared about her, if only a little. Even if he didn’t want to admit it.

That’s right; there was nothing more to it.

Still, there had been no news, and even when he told himself that probably meant everything was going according to plan, part of him wished she had just used the parchment he’d given her.

Now everything was ready, just a few more hours until dark and they’d be on their way.

He had spent most of the last days at headquarters, and he was there that very moment, going through the last details of his plan. Again. He had studied every step and every possible outcome, trying to be ready for anything that could happen whether they won or lost. He knew there was a lot he would risk either way.

He had been able to choose the Death Eaters that would go with him, and most of them were already there, talking excitedly before the battle.

It wasn’t easy, trying to make it look as if he was doing his best for his Lord, the best team, the best plan, while at the same time he had to be sure there would be enough flaws to let the Order capture most of them.

He had decided he would take about twenty men with him, but he hadn’t chosen the strongest ones. The more that got out of Grimmauld Place the harder it would be to hide the real reasons for the defeat.

So the hours passed and they were finally on their way, all wearing their masks and marching together.

The main plan was easy. Three Death Eaters would stay outside, making sure no one got out. They would set anti-Apparition wards once they were inside. The rest of them would enter the house together, noiselessly, and attack at first sight. They would probably be outnumbered, but the surprise would give them time and advantage (at least that’s what they thought).

He was the first to enter, leaving the door open for the others as he walked inside. He knew the house well enough and slowly made his way towards the sound of voices. He waited until everyone was inside and the door closed again to set the wards and, being careful no one noticed, he pointed his wand to a wall behind his back, a well chosen spell awakening Miss Black.

He only had a second to duck before the first spell was fired. Taking a step aside he saw one of the Death Eaters fall, the others shouting their own curses over the screeching sounds coming from the painting.

A few moments passed before they were finally surrounded. Well, at least they were trying to make it look as if they had been surprised, he told himself. Knowing what would happen, he had stepped away from the group, but as the battle started he had to take part.

Walking around, trying to remain unnoticed, he could see them moving about the house. They weren’t as outnumbered as he had thought, the Order had obviously only sent a few members, probably because they didn’t want to risk losing more. But the golden trio was there, of course.

He could see Potter fighting one of the Death Eaters in the hallway. The boy had clearly improved, but not nearly enough. He was holding the other back, but didn’t notice the man closing in from behind, and Snape had to set a shield around him in the last second to stop the curse he hadn’t seen coming.

Before the Death Eater could see who had stopped it, he was on the move again, and after avoiding a few more spells sent his way he had to step into another couple of duels, even stunning one of his men before he could kill that Tonks woman, who had tripped over one of her own friends. She looked around surprised, but one side of her head was bleeding and she just grabbed her unconscious friend’s wrist and used her portkey to get away.

Looking around he noticed many Order’s members were gone, and also most of his Death Eaters. They were probably taking them away with the portkeys once they got them unconscious.

The curse that flew right over his shoulder surprised him, he had to admit it, and he turned around to see the younger Weasley boy aiming at him once again. He deflected this second curse without much effort, but he knew he couldn’t get distracted, and so he used a minor curse to throw him against the wall, using the time it took him to get back on his feet to get away from him.

Unfortunately, there were few Death Eaters left now, and it was getting harder to remain unnoticed.


Hermione had been fighting since it had started. She had been hit by a few curses, but wasn’t badly hurt and refused to use the portkey to get back home. They were winning, she could tell that much, but she was worried about Snape. He was there, that was for sure, but was he alright? Had anyone hit him with a curse? Had he been taken with the others?

She had stunned two Death Eaters herself, one of them when he was about to kill Remus, and as she turned around she saw another running after Ginny, and she was sure the girl hadn’t seen him.

Without taking a moment to think she ran right after them, avoiding a few more curses on her way, but halfway through the next room she noticed Ginny was nowhere to be seen, and as she turned around, ready to go back to the others gasped in shock.

The Death Eater was standing right behind her and pointing his wand at her. She just froze. She had been fighting for so long, had found herself in so many battles, but still, for some reason, now she couldn’t move, even when she knew what would happen.

It felt like time had stopped. She could hear her friends fighting the remaining Death Eaters, see the spells flying around the house, but no one seemed to see her. Suddenly she was all alone.

Finally, he made a move. He lifted his wand, and without breaking their eye contact, he said the words that would mean her death. With wide eyes, she saw the green light slowly approaching and then she felt a strong force, pulling at her waist. She felt her body spin in the air and then she was falling, finally hitting the hard floor.
But then something else. Instead of the nothingness she thought would follow, she felt something fall on top of her. The next second she was flipped over, now laying on top of it, as she saw a jet of red light miss her by inches and then a second one of green light, only this time it hit the Death Eater that had attacked her, and he fell to the floor.

Slowly she turned her head, looking at the person beneath her. Even with the mask, she knew who it was right away, those deep, black eyes looking back at her worriedly. She could do nothing but stare back at him, even when his hand reached for hers and pulled it inside the pocket of his robes, both touching the portkey at the same time and being transported away.

She opened her eyes when she felt the floor again under her feet, only to see him looking right back at her. He let go of her to take off his mask and she felt her knees give way before his strong arms took her once more around the waist, keeping her from falling. She had hit her head pretty hard, her vision was blurred and she was slightly dizzy, but still she just couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Their breathing was the only sound in the room as the minutes passed, none of them making a move. One of her hands wandered it’s way up to rest on his chest, and that seemed to be enough to break the spell, because he gasped as he felt it and finally took a step back, making sure first she wouldn’t fall.

She just stood still, watching him as he took another step away from her, his eyes still on her as he said in a whisper. “You should go back to your friends.”

Still, none of them made another move.

“Thank you,” she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.

He opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again, shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly he turned around and walked to the door, stopping as he reached it, leaning on the frame. She stood silent, watching him and could hardly believe it when, with a resigned sigh, he turned around and strode back to her, burying his hands in her hair, pulling her closer and crashing his lips on hers.

She could feel his tongue tracing her lips before gently parting them, deepening the kiss. At first, the kiss was strong, full of need, but then it became almost tender. Their tongues were moving slowly, caressing and exploring at the same time, for what felt like an eternity. Even when they parted for air they stayed together, and she felt him nibbling on her lower lip as he mumbled something she was sure she had misunderstood.

“I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered into the kiss, surprising even himself and hoping she hadn’t heard him.

He had gone after her the moment he had seen her run, but even as he reached for her and pushed her out of the way, barely avoiding the curse himself and falling on top of her, he had been scared to death it had been too late.

He stiffened a little when he felt her fingers slowly undoing the buttons on his robe, but then he looked at her, taking in her swollen lips and dishevelled hair, and he couldn’t help but kiss her again.

His hands went back to her waist, breaking the kiss only to take her top off just as she let his robe fall to the ground, closely followed by his shirt.

They’d been together before, but this time felt different, and they both knew it.

He felt her hands slowly caressing his chest, and he realized they had never seen each other naked before. Her fingers were tracing the scars marking his skin, and soon her lips followed suit, and he could only moan.

After a few seconds, he pushed her head back up, kissing her as his hands snaked through her body, taking off her bra and slowly caressing her breasts. His lips drew their way down her jaw and neck, nibbling at her collarbone before finally reaching her hardened nipples, his tongue tracing and teasing, and he felt her hands on his head, pushing him closer as she moaned in pleasure.

His tongue travelled from one breast to the other and then back up, and he licked her earlobe just as his hands reached her thighs, pushing her hard against his body, both moaning at the contact.
Their lips crashed together again, only this time the kiss was forceful, full of passion. Their hands ran freely over each other’s body, and soon her jeans and his slacks where lying on the floor with their underwear and the rest of their clothes.

When the need for air forced them apart, again they took a step back.

She used the chance to take in his slim but muscular body, his pale skin, as he let his eyes wander over her curves. They were both pleasantly surprised at what the robes could hide.

Still it wasn’t long before desire won over their curiosity, and they kissed again. He slowly kneeled over the carpet, taking her with him and then lying on the rug on top of her.

Moving down her body, he traced every bit of skin, leaving a wet trail from his tongue behind. He took his time, teasing and pleasuring all at once, and when he finally reached her core he parted her thighs and, looking up at her, flicked his tongue over her clit. Her back curved as she groaned, and he could see the look of desire on her face.

“Look at me,” he said, his voice full of desire, and the moment their eyes met, he thrust a finger inside of her. He could tell she was trying hard not to break eye contact as he buried his face closer, his tongue and fingers making her writhe until she screamed as she reached an orgasm.

Only when she came back down did he stop moving, and then he kissed his way back up, nibbling and biting, knowing it would leave a mark.

As he reached her face he saw her panting, her eyes clouded with arousal, and he kissed her deeply, burying himself inside of her at the same time. He started moving at a slow pace, breaking the kiss and locking his eyes on hers, but soon she wrapped her legs around his waist, pushing him deeper, asking for more.

He felt her nails sink in his shoulders as the rhythm changed, thrusting faster, deeper, harder, just what she asking of him, and his hand was reaching between them, playing with her clit and pushing her over the edge once more. Her muscles contracting around him were driving him crazy, but it was her screaming, his first name leaving her lips for the first time as she was squirming under his body, that finally pushed him over too.

She was so tired she could barely move. It had been amazing, so much better than all the other times. Her eyelids felt so heavy she could barely keep her eyes open, but she just loved seeing him there, lying next to her and looking as exhausted as she felt. She gasped loudly as he suddenly sat upright. He looked at her, a strange look on his face, and then he jumped to his feet, hastily putting his clothes back on.

“Get dressed and get out of here,” he said hastily, but she was just too shocked to even move.

He was almost fully dressed before he noticed she was still on the rug.

“Come on, what are you waiting for? You can’t stay here. Use your portkey, you have to go.”

She finally got up, but instead of doing as told, she just stared at him as he finished getting dressed.

He stopped just as he was buttoning his robe and looked at her again. He didn’t look angry but worried. He took a deep breath to calm down and stepped closer to her, but before he could reach her, he gasped in pain, his hand flying to the spot she knew the Dark Mark was.

“Just go, you’re not safe here.” he said softly before Apparating away.