Innocence | Severus Snape x Reader

39 - He's Back

The cauldron erupted into fire, then turned into a ball, which floated midair. When the fire dispersed, a fetus-like creature was in the air. Moving, changing, and shifting into what tried to resemble a man. Black surrounded it until the thing was on the ground and standing, covered by a black robe. 

The thing, or rather what I now assumed to be Voldemort, walked over to the man, took a wand from him, then placed the wand on his arm. 

Thunder shook the sky afterward, and a skull appeared in the clouds. 

Six clouds of smoke appeared and flew into the ground, revealing themselves as figures in hoods with masks over their faces. I now had to watch the scene from behind them. 

Harry was at the head of the circle, and Voldemort in the middle. 

"Welcome my friends," Voldemort said, "Thirteen years it's been, and yet you stand before me as if it were only yesterday. I confess myself, disappointed. Not one of you tried to find me" 

He went around saying their names and removing their masks. As he did, they all fell. 

"Not even you..." He approached one that I now noticed had long white hair. "Lucius." He removed the mask and revealed Lucius Malfoy. My cousin. 

"My lord, had I detected any sign or whisper of your whereabouts-"

"There were signs my slippery friend. And more than whispers."

"I assure you my lord, I had never renounced the old ways." He removed his hood and I could now see his face. If I hated Lucius before, but now I loathed him. "The face I had been obliged to show since your... absence," he said standing, "that is my true mask." Malfoy said to Voldemort. 

"I returned," The hunched man from before said. Voldemort approached him, and he cowered in fear. 

"Out of fear. Not loyalty." Voldemort accused, "And still, you have proved yourself useful, these past few months." Voldemort waved his wand, and a silver hand appeared on the other man. 

"Thank you, master." The man said, holding his new hand up and waving his fingers in the air, glorifying the "gift".

Voldemort walked over to Cedric's body and turned his face over with his foot. Cedric lay just between me and Harry, and this was the closest I had been to Voldemort. 

"Don't touch him!" Harry yelled. 

"Oh Harry, I had almost forgotten you were here." The dark lord said. "Standing on the bones of my father. I'd introduce you but word has it, you're almost as famous as me these days. 'The Boy Who Lived'. How lies have fed your legend, Harry. Should I reveal what really happened that night, thirteen years ago? Shall I divulge how I truly lost my power?" 

Voldemort walked away. 

"It was love." He said, "You see when dear sweet Lily Potter gave her life for her only son, she provided the ultimate protection. I could not touch him. It was old magic. Something I should have foreseen. But no matter, no matter. Things have changed." Voldemort approached Harry and raised his hand. "I can touch you now." 

Voldemort pressed his index finger to Harry's scar, earning a scream of pain from the boy as the Dark Lord held his finger there. I couldn't bear to listen to his screams any longer. 

"Stop it!" I yelled, finally speaking up. Voldemort removed his hand and then looked at me. He waved his wands and the roots loped over my mouth, keeping me silent. 

I wasn't stupid. The fact that he, nor none of his followers here had killed me, meant that I was here for a reason. In fact, it solved why Harry and I's names were placed in that Goblet. It was for this moment now. I wasn't like Harry though. It was obvious why he was here, the Dark Lord needed his blood, and then intended to kill him. I didn't know what plans Voldemort had for me.  

"Astonishing what a few drops of your blood will do." He said to Harry. "Pick up your wand Potter!" 

Harry fell as the statue released him. 

"I said pick it up. Get up! Get up!" Harry obliged his commands as the Death Eaters moved off to the side, clearing the way. 

I tried squirming out of the vines, but they didn't give. I refused to let this boy die. Not while I have any fight to give. 

"You've been taught how to duel I presume, yes? First, we bow to each other." Voldemort bowed while Harry scrambled to his feet. 

"Come on now Harry, the niceties must be observed. Dumbledore wouldn't want you to forget his manners, would he? I said, bow." Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry and made him involuntarily bow. 

I continued to try and free myself from the roots. 

"That's better." Voldemort ran past and knocked Harry to the ground before using the cruciatus curse on him. He twitched and writhed in pain on the ground for a few moments before the curse was removed. 

"Atta boy, Harry. Your parents would be proud." Voldemort said as he approached the boy who was still on the ground. "Especially your filthy muggle mother..." 

"Expeliarmus!" The spell Harry tried was deflected back onto him. 

"I'm going to kill you, Harry Potter. I'm going to destroy you." Voldemort said, leaning over Harry. "After tonight no one will ever again question my power. After tonight, if they speak of you, they will speak only of how you... begged for death. And I, being a merciful lord, obliged. Get up." Voldemort used his hand to force Harry to his feet. 

As he walked away, Harry ran to hide behind a grave. 

"Don't you turn your back on me, Harry! I want you to look at me when I kill you!" Voldemort called out. "I want to see the light leave your eyes!" 

A few seconds passed and Harry came back out. 

"Have it your way." The boy said. "Expelliarmus!" 

"Avada Kedavra!" 

The two spells clashed between them in a jet of green and red. 

"Do nothing! He's mine to finish!" Voldemort said as a tug of war between the green and red began. As the red took over, getting closer to Voldemort, and astral canvas blanketed over everything, the stem coming from Voldemort's wand. 

Balls of blue light flew out and revealed themselves to be Cedric, a man I didn't know, and Harry's parents who stood over each shoulder. 

The next moments were all a blur. 

The connection between wands broke, and the spirits all flew towards Voldemort, except one which hit the roots on me, and freed me. Harry and I both ran to Cedric's body. I held on to Harry's shoulder and he touch Cedric's chest. 

"Accio!" I said, bringing the cup towards my hand. 

"Avada Kedavra!" I heard a moment later, Voldemort's voice. 

As the cup touched my hand and we were transported away, I felt a sting on my left side. An immense and unbearable pain.