A Capacity to Love

9. Traitor No More

It was still dark. Clouds of smoke from spells and flames covered the air around them. The only light they had was from the torches lit on the individual flights of stairs leading up to Hogwarts. Severus and Piper were running as hard as they could toward the castle, still holding hands. They didn't want to apparate for fear of being deemed a threat. He was practically dragging Piper along because she expected they would be walking. Finally, she let go of his hand and doubled over, breathing heavily. Severus stopped, concerned.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I have to rest a minute," she told him. "Boy, I must have restored the spring in your step."

He smiled. "Sorry. It must be the adrenaline propelling me so hard. I feel quite good actually."

Piper chuckled. "I'm glad, but can we take it down a notch?" She stood upright. "I'm still sort of a little woozy."

His smile faded. "You told me you felt better."

"I do, but I'm not one hundred percent yet. But it's okay. Let's get going. I- ah!"

Piper's hands flew to her ears to cover them, but it wasn't helping. She closed her eyes. Severus winced, but made no motion to cover his ears. He hadn't been ready for the intrusion into his mind this time, but he was used to the voice. It was Voldemort's voice. He glanced at Piper and filled his mind with thoughts of her. Voldemort's voice slowly drifted away. He didn't want to hear anything he had to say.

"You have fought valiantly. But every magical drop of blood that is spilt is such a waste."

Piper pressed her hands harder over her ears. It felt like her whole head was going to explode. She was squinting her eyes too trying hard to block Voldemort out, but it wasn't working.

Severus quickly grabbed her hands and pulled them down from her ears. He held them tightly down in front of her.

"Piper, look at me. Look at me."

She opened her eyes.

"Focus on me," he told her urgently. "Clear your mind and you can block it out."

Piper stared into his dark eyes. She tried to think of anything but that awful raspy whisper invading her head. She even tried visualizing an ocean, but nothing was working. She looked down at the ground. Severus let go of her hands and lifted her chin up so she would could look at him.

"Focus, Piper," he encouraged her.

Again, she tried to block him out, but to no avail.

"Therefore I command my forces to retreat."

Piper's eyes widened. "No, Severus. I have to listen. He just told his forces to retreat. I want to hear this."

He frowned. "What? That can't be right. That doesn't make any sense."

"I know." Piper cringed as he started talking again.

"Dispose of your dead with dignity. Tend to your wounded.  Harry Potter, I now speak directly to you. You have allowed your friends to die for you on this night rather than face me yourself. There is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest and face your fate. You have one hour. Come alone. If you do not comply I will kill every man, woman, and child who tries to conceal you from me. The time begins now. The clock is ticking."

"Oh my goodness," she commented. "No."

Severus studied her face. He wasn't sure whether to expect good news or bad news. Her expression was blank.

"What is it?"

Piper recanted everything Voldemort had said. After she finished, she had just one question to ask. "Why does he want Harry to come alone?"