A Potter Secret

Snape's Demise

In the Courtyard, where students and staff trade spells with Death Eaters, among them Padma Patil; Neville and Seamus; Sprout, and Kingsley. From an upper balcony, Professor Trelawney raises her wand, draws a bead on a Death Eater and with a forceful flick, sends him flying through the air. Seamus regards her with amazement. "There's more to me than incense and tea leaves, Mr. Finnegan," Trelawney says.

Dean trades spells with a Death Eater, while Luna stuns a quartet of Death Eaters, one-two-three, and watches the fourth fall before she can fire. She turns, sees Neville standing behind her, wand smoking. "Thanks," Luna smiles.

"Don't mention it," Neville replies.

As the trio pelts through the madness, Hermione gasps, catching sight of Lavender Brown as she falls to the ground. Hermione's eyes shift, spy Fenrir Greyback, lips still glistening with Lavender's blood, staring at her. He smiles, starts forward. "NO!" Hermione cries.

Hermione's wand flashes. A deafening blast. Greyback takes it straight to the chest, pitches up into the air and drops. Unmoving. The trio races away from the burning castle. In the distance part of the Dark Forest burns, trees shedding sparks into the sky like scarlet feathers. Shadows do battle in the distant dark. Screams shatter the night. A thunderous shock wave as a monstrous giant lurches into view, swinging one of the quidditch goals, the golden ring dripping blood. Seeing the trio, it whips the ring down, strafing them with threads of blood, but missing them, narrowly, scooping out a massive chunk of earth instead. It groans in anger, lumbers stupidly off. The quartet races on.

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The trio race down the steps toward the Boat House. Harry, Ron and Hermione pick their way forward, moving quietly through the eerie light, then stopping within the safety of the shadows. They watch, Voldemort steps into view and extends the wand. In the mercurial light, it looks like a living thing. "Why doesn't it work for me?" Voldemort demands.

"You have performed extraordinary magic with this wand, my Lord. In the last few hours alone-" Snape starts.

"No! I am extraordinary! But the wand resists me!" Voldemort shouts.

Snape studies Voldemort in the half-light, then his eyes shift to Nagini, who skims slowly over the wooden floor, circling the two wizards. "There is no wand more powerful. Ollivander himself said it. Tonight, when the boy comes to you, it will not fail you, I am sure. It answers to you and you only," Snape assures.

"Does it?" Voldemort ponders. Voldemort holds the wand to the wavering light again, his eyes on Snape.

"My Lord?"

"The wand. Does it truly answer to me?" Snape says nothing. For a moment, he and Voldemort stand perfectly still, two faces in the darkness, the only sound the lapping of the lake. Harry studies Snape's face, calm, composed, then notes the hand concealed behind his back, twitching with tension. "You're a clever man, Severus. Surely you must know," Voldemort notes. Snape remains silent. His gaze shifts to Nagini, still skimming slowly over the floor. "Where, Severus? Where does its loyalty lie?"

Snape looks away from Nagini, sees Voldemort staring at him. "With you, of course, my Lord," Snape assures.

Voldemort stares long at Snape, then, finally speaks. "The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, Severus, because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. Ollivander was quite explicit about that. You killed Dumbledore, Severus. While you live, the Elder Wand cannot be truly mine."

Snape stares at Voldemort, then his eyes shift to Nagini, still circling. "My Lord-"

"You have been a good and faithful servant, Severus," Voldemort states. Voldemort raises the wand, points it at Snape's throat. "But only I can live forever." Voldemort sweeps his arm away, turning the wand on Nagini. "Kill." Snape's eyes shift meet the snake's. The snake strikes. Harry's scream is swallowed by Snape's own. Voldemort runs a finger along the wand, eyeing it with wonder, transfixed, then turns away. "Nagini! Come!" He sweeps from the room, toward the lake's quivering darkness, the giant snake slithering after.

Harry rushes forward, into the strange, wavering light, then stops in horror, watching Snape's blood run like syrup over the weathered boards toward him. Ron bumps past, heading in the direction Voldemort took. Hermione pauses by Harry. Harry kneels by Snape. He lays his fingers upon the bloody wound at his neck, but it's no use. Snape's eyes shift and, briefly, look deep into Harry's. And then he begins to Cry. "Take them," Snape pleads, his hand gesturing to the tears. Harry looks confused, hesitant. "Take them!" Snape's face shudders softly and his tears transform, from clear water to silvery blue. Harry reacts to the color. He's seen it before. Suddenly Snape grabs his collar, pulls him close. "Please."

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Isabella races through the halls, stopping by Neville. "Hey, where's Harry? We got separated."

"I heard he was headed to the boat house," Neville calls back before running out.

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Snape holds Harry captive briefly, then drops back to the floor. Harry blinks, shaken. "Give me something! Quickly! A flask! Anything," Harry says.

Instantly, Hermione conjures a flask from thin air. Hands trembling, Harry presses it to Snape's ashen cheek, letting the fluid flow within. "They are the same-" Snape notes.

"Harry!" Isabella calls. "Harry!"

The trio hears footsteps running up quickly and Snape's eyes widen. "Don- Don't let her- s-see me."

Harry looks back and Ron steps outside. They see a shadow intercepted by Ron's larger shadow. "Ron, let me through. Who's hurt?!"

"Isabella, come on. You don't want to see him like this," Ron starts.

"Who is it?!" Isabella demands.

"Isabella," Ron barks. "It's not Harry. It's- It's Snape." Isabella fights harder before sobbing. "He- he doesn't want you to see him like this." Ron picks her up and brings her to the other side of the wall Snape rests against. "He can hear you, Izzy."

Isabella sets her hand against the wall and Severus smiles sadly. "Papa? Papa, are you there?"

"I'm here," Severus croaks. "Izzy, I've always cared for you. You are the daughter I never had. I love you, sweetie. You- you know wha-at must happen now."

Isabella sobs harder. "I love you, Papa. I love you so much. I missed you these past few years. I- I wish I was here. With you."

"I wish I could see you again, Sweetie," Severus assures. "I wished I saw you every day that you were gone and every day that follows. I love you, Sweetie. Never for- forget that." Harry searches Snape's face, trying to decipher his words. Snape stares at Harry in wonder, lost in his eyes, then his pupils dilate, his voice trailing off. "You have your mother's eyes." Snape's face goes slack. Harry shivers.

Isabella's sobs get harder as Ron hugs her. Harry's about to run out but Hermione stops him, vanishing the blood. "She doesn't need to see that," Hermione whispers.

Just then the sound of thunder, like a gathering storm, engulfs them. The joists of the shack groan, as if in agony. The entire room begins to tremble. Ron yanks a board from the window and the quartet peers out. As in the Enchanted Ceiling before, a face appears in the dark clouds above. And then Voldemort's voice echoes. "You have fought valiantly but in vain. I do not wish this. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. I therefore command my forces to retreat. In their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured," Voldemort says. "Potter, I speak now 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. Should you do so I give my word that no other life will be lost on this night. You have one hour. If, at the end of that time, you have not given yourself up, then I shall punish every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me."

The joist trembles one last time, then the ambient sounds of the night return. The clouds separate, become just clouds. Ron yells, "Never! Do you hear me! NEVER!" Hermione places her hand on the nape of his neck. Harry gazes down at Snape's still body one last time, then at the flask in his hand.

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