Too Far Gone (Don't Save Me Book 4)

Chapter 72: More Lies

Winter break ended far too soon and term began again. The castle had gotten no less gloomy and as the weeks passed morale seemed to be at an all time low. Everyone could feel it. Even the students noticed the atmosphere growing darker. Amycus was particularly bitter as the curriculum had been changed but neither he, nor his sister, said a word to me about it. Hagrid, bless his heart, had thrown a 'Support Harry Potter' party and was now on the run. Luna had been dragged off the train as a punishment for her father's writings and there was nothing any of us could do about it as I had no idea where they'd taken her and Severus warned me not to draw attention to myself.

I turned a corner and nearly bumped into Minerva. As I grabbed her arm, holding her upright, I could practically feel her pulse increasing.

"Minnie, what's going on? Are you alright?"

She was breathing heavily as Pomona came around the corner, nearly bumping into us.

"Arlight, you two. Out with it. What is going on?"

"Alecto... she was trying to use the Cruciatus curse on a student and we stopped her. Now she wants to punish us."

"She used the curse on a student?" I hissed.

Pomona nodded and my eyes darkened as I heard footsteps quickly approaching.

"Was Amycus there?"

Pomona shook her head and I pushed them both behind me as Alecto rounded the corner.

"Step aside, Y/l/n," she growled.

"Using the Cruciatus curse on a student after my father specifically removed it from the curriculum," I tutted in disapproval. "And coming after them?" I gestured to Pomona and Minerva. "You're lucky I don't kill you right here."

"He would never let you-."

I scoffed, a sinister smile spreading across my face. "Wouldn't he?"

She took a step back as I continued. "Don't test me, Alecto. You have no idea how far I'd go for them and I will not hesitate to kill you."

"Y/n," a deep voice growled. I rolled my eyes, turning to find Severus standing behind us as Minerva gripped my hand tightly.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Your little lap dog was using the Cruciatus curse on a student and is now trying to attack two members of your staff. I thought we'd agreed that curse was removed from the curriculum."

His eyes darkened as he glared at Alecto. "Is this true?"

"S-Snape... the child was-."

Severus raised his hand, silencing her. "It was removed," he growled. "You are banned from carrying out punishments, effective immediately. Especially against members of staff," he added. "Any infractions shall be reported to Y/n or myself and will be dealt with accordingly. Now... get out of my sight."

The Death Eater scurried away quickly and Severus turned to the woman clutching me tightly. "Are you both alright?" There was a hint of softness in his eyes as he waited for a response.

Minerva's brow furrowed curiously and she nodded as Pomona did the same. Before anyone could say anything more I felt a pain shoot through my chest, moving over my shoulders and down my arms as my breath caught in my throat and I collapsed, my knees hitting the ground with a loud thump. I saw the locket flash in my mind and the Sword of Gryffindor destroying it as my chest burned.

"Y/n, what's going on?" Minerva asked, crouching to my level. "Is it another vision?"

"H-he must've... he must've destroyed it," I gasped as the pain increased.

"Sweetheart, what are you talking about?"

I shook my head and Severus placed a hand on my arm. The pain slowly began to subside and the images faded as Severus helped me to my feet, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Are you alright? What just happened?"

"I... I don't know. It was just a sharp pain but it's going away."

"Y/n..." I turned to face Minerva as she spoke. "Sweetheart, I think we should go for a walk." Her eyes flashed to Severus briefly, a hint of a glare in them as she gently took my hand.

"Minerva," Severus warned.

"Snape," she hissed, finally turning to him fully. "She needs the fresh air. It'll be good for you. She'll be perfectly safe."

He scoffed.

"Far safer than she is with a Death Eater," she muttered.

I could see Severus's eyes harden and he moved forward but I placed a hand on his chest.

"Please... don't," I murmured.

He sighed, kissing my forehead before turning to Minerva. "If anything happens to her-."

"What?" she scoffed. "You'll kill me like you killed Albus?"

"Minerva," I breathed softly but Severus stopped me.

"I'd never hurt you," he muttered to her before turning back to me. "Be safe, alright? The Carrows aren't the only threat."

I nodded and he walked away, leaving me with Minerva and Pomona. When he turned the corner and was finally out of earshot, Minerva turned to me.

"What was all that about?"

"Not tonight, Minerva," I sighed, dragging my hand through my hair, but she wasn't relenting as we began to walk.

"Are the two of you actually back together?"

"You know what we are, Minnie."

She stopped us, taking my hands in hers as Pomona checked around the corner for listening ears.

"Y/n, I know you... I know when there's something you're not telling me and if this... if this is what you're lying about... I just wonder... should I be concerned?"

My brow furrowed as she continued.

"I've seen you with Severus... how protective you are with him even after... what he did. What aren't you telling me, sweetheart?"

Pomona approached, assuring us the coast was clear as Minerva watched me carefully.

"I... I can't tell you." Tears were forming in my eyes as she gently pushed the hair away from my face.

"Talk to me, sweetheart." Her eyes search mine. "After everything we've been through together... do you honestly think I would judge you? Do you think there is anything you could possibly tell me that would make me turn my back on you?"

My breath caught in my throat as that was the last thing I had expected her to say. "I- I don't know what to say."

"Try the truth, dear," Pomona said, smiling softly.

I looked around, waiting for someone to jump from a darkened corridor. My hands shook as I tried to find the right words, for what could I say? What could I say that wouldn't betray Severus or Albus? What could I say that wouldn't make me sound crazy?

"You're still in love with him... aren't you?"

I let out a shaky breath. "We have history... and I can't just throw that all away. Besides... with my father watching us so closely... it just makes more sense to keep things how they were... even if nothing is the same."

"Albus trusted him blindly, Y/n... and he ended up dead. I don't want the same thing to happen to you."

"I know, Minnie... I know. I'll be fine," I promise her. "He wouldn't hurt me."

"Albus thought the same."

"There's so much more happening here... It's never as simple as black and white."

Minerva sighed as I spoke, gently squeezing my arm. "Just be safe."

"Aren't I always?"

She raised her brows, giving me a pointed look, as if to say yeah, right.