Father's Little Deatheater

Boathouse Blues

The castle was chaos. Spells flying around our heads, corridors trembled under our feet. We ran, cutting through the madness, dodging spells and debris on the ground. Atti fired a spell in the distance, piercing a Death Eater square in the chest. He crumpled, but more took his place. Always more. We made it outside, weaving between more rubble and broken statues. Giants roared once spotting us, their footsteps shaking dust around them. Atti grabbed Hermione's hand, yanking her away just as part of the arch beside us collapsed. Then came the spiders. "Bloody hell!" Ron shouted as one dropped in front of him. "It's okay, come on Ron." I say grabbing his hand, pulling him away from the spiders. We didn't have time to fight so we ran.

My legs hurting from all the running, but I couldn't stop, until we turned the corner and saw Fenrir Greyback, hunched over what was left of Lavender Brown. I stop in my tracks, letting a tear fall down my face. Remembering the moment I was attacked by Lupin. I raise my wand with a sudden anger. I cast a non-verbal spell hitting Greyback in the chest, launching him backward through the broken window with a snarl and a scream. His body vanished, falling into the darkness below. I let out a breath and carried on. The exit was near. The bridge that led from the castle toward the lake. But as we reached it, our body's became rigid and cold. Through the mist, and the fog, the Dementors came. Dozens of them. We all froze in our tracks. Before I could grab my wand again to cast a Patronus. Someone had beat me to it. A blinding, silver trail of magic tore through the darkness, the Dementors flying away. An ethereal goat pranced forward. We nodded in thanks before taking off again, finally making it to the other side.

Then down the windy stone stairs we went. The castle loomed behind us. My mind wandering to the twins, Draco and everyone I loved fighting for their life. Hoping they are all safe. Ahead of us the boathouse, the calmness down here is eerie. I don't trust this feeling. Something tells me this isn't going to end well.

The boathouse door was cracked open, torchlight escaping outside illuminating the lakes darkness. We ducked and crouched low behind an upside down boat outside the window, close enough to see through the cracked misty glass. Harry, Ron, and Hermione crept to the front and crouched in the shadows. Atti and I stayed at the back. My heart pounding when we hear the familiar voices of Snape and Voldemort. "You have performed extraordinary magic with this wand, my Lord, in the last few hours alone," came Snape's usual calmly composed voice. "No. No. I am extraordinary," Voldemort spat. "But the wand resists me." My hands begin to shake. "There is no wand more powerful. Ollivander himself has said it," Snape replied, trying to remain calm. "Tonight, when the boy comes... it will not fail you, I am sure. It answers to you, and you only." I know that was a lie. "Does it?" Voldemort questions, coldly. "My Lord?" Snape asked, unsure. "The wand... does it truly answer to me?" And that's when my heart dropped. A low hiss. Nagini. Of course she was in there. "You're a clever man, Severus," Voldemort continued, venom wrapped in every word. "Surely you must know... where does its true loyalty lie?" "With you, of course, my Lord," Snape answered.

"The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly... because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner." His voice dropped to whisper. "You killed Dumbledore, Severus. While you live, the Elder Wand cannot truly be mine." My heart sank again. No don't you dare kill him. He didn't do it. Not my godfather you monster. "You've been a good and faithful servant, Severus... but only I can live forever." Tears streaming down my face already. "My Lord—" The flash of Voldemort's wand was silent, but deadly. Snape dropped, falling against the window we were behind. I gasp silently. Wanting to run inside to confront him. I want to cry out loud or scream. But before I do Atti's hand wraps around my mouth, his other arm pulling me closer to him. Stopping me from barging in there and killing us all.

Inside, Voldemort's voice echoed one final order. "Nagini. Kill." I closed my tear stained eyes. I couldn't look. The sounds were enough to know what was happening. I need to get in there. I don't realise as I begin clawing at Atti's hands, trying to remove them from holding me back.

The second I hear nothing but Snape's whimpers I bolt in as fast as I've ever moved before. I scramble in crumbling at his side. He lay in a pool of his own blood, barely alive. His eyes fluttered toward me. "Snape.." I blubber. My hands shaking as I reach out to do who knows what. Cure him. I cant do that. Atti crouched down next to me, caressing me as we watch the life drain from the man I saw more as a father figure than my real one.

His eyes shifted to Atti, then drifted towards Harry as he rushed in with Hermione and Ron right behind him. Harry knelt down next to us, and Snape's lips parted. "Take... them," he breathed. A tear ran down his cheek. A glimmer of silver swirling in the tear drop. His memories. "Take them, please!" Harry turned back to Hermione. "Give me something! Quickly, a flask. Anything!" He barked, Hermione obeyed, searching in her bag as fast as she could. She passed the vial to Harry. He bought the vial to Snape's cheek with trembling hands, capturing the tear inside. Snape's gaze locked onto him. "Take them to the pensive.." he begged, Harry looked just as destroyed as I was. "Look at me. You have... your mother's eyes..." he whispered. His voice was horse, a breath after every word. Then, he turned his head to face me. "I've loved you like a daughter," he whispered, softer than he's ever spoken before. "Always." I replied holding his hand for dear life, while tears still streamed down my face. "Please," I whispered. "Please don't go." I repeated, blubbering. In my blurry vision I see his eyes close and his chest fall.

He's gone forever, but will always be in my heart. My ears start ringing as Voldemort's voice pierces our minds again. "You have fought valiantly... but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. Therefore, I command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity." My blood runs cold as the devil continues spouting. "Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. On this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you, rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest... and confront your fate. If you do not, I shall kill every last man, woman, and child who tries to conceal you from me."

Then—silence. I couldn't hear anything over my own sobs and pounding heart. "I'm staying," I muttered. "I'm not leaving him alone." None of them argued with me, they simply nodded. Too exhausted and drained to say any words. Then, one by one, they turned and left to check on the others.

I don't know how long its been of my blubbering over Snape's body. When my journal vibrates in my boot. I pull the pocket size journal out, shaking it once to return it to normal size. Just a little spell I learnt from Atti. I see his sparkly handwriting spalled on the page the second I open it.

'Bring Snape to the Great Hall! There's an open space in front of the fire place. You should be here.'

I shake my head, trying to remove all the thoughts floating in my mind. I grab his body and apparate him to the Great Hall trying not to mess anything up. My hand still on his chest as I arrive in front of the warmness of the roaring fireplace. Head bowed, saying my last goodbyes to Snape. But the instant I look up, my heart sinks as my eyes fall on a crowd of red haired Weasleys standing over a body. I slowly make my way over to see who it is. 

My legs give way from under me the second I see Fred laying on a bed, eyes closed, so pale. I fall into the arms of George, we move closer to morning together beside Fred's body. My hands trembling as I reach for him like I did with Snape. Even more tears escaping my eyes. George pulls me closer, wrapping his arms tighter around my body. After wiping my eyes, clearing all the tears from my vision. I gaze upon Remus and Tonks each laying motionless, still holding hands. I lean into George's embrace as the water works started again. How could I have this many tears. Surely I would  run out soon. Right? Atti sat next to me resting a hand on my back. None of us said a word. There was nothing to say. Only the sobs and whispers echo around us.