When All is Lost, One is Found
Author: Rinoaebastel
Chapter 95: The Beast Bites Back
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.
AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.
"Severus, you've done a wonderful job, my boy. I never doubted you."
The voice caused him to yank his head upward, jerking his neck in the process. A pain shot from the back of his head down to the middle of his back. His eyes widened as he studied his surroundings. What... This was impossible. How...?
Was he hallucinating? He thought for sure that it was his time to die. He'd accepted it.
His hand dropped and felt the skin separate and burn at his palm. He looked down at his hand and saw it'd fallen on the blade of the Gryffindor sword.
The dead couldn't feel pain. He studied each of the portraits for a few seconds before resting his eyes back onto his bleeding palm.
"I was trapped," he whispered more to himself than the portrait that addressed him. "I was in Gringotts just a moment ago and I couldn't apparate. I should be dead."
No one spoke. Deep down, he knew what happened though it was a struggle to accept it. Surely, the sword wouldn't have done it. He wasn't a Gryffindor and never desired to be. And wasn't it just a simple sword? Yes, it did have magical properties but to be able to do that kind of service, and for a Slytherin no less, was mind-blowing.
"It seems that the sword helped you." Albus said, voicing what he did not want to acknowledge. It made sense. Gryffindors were loyal and most of the time forgiving and honorable. It wasn't unbelievable to think one of their items, regardless of it being inanimate, would be the same.
He rose from the floor and looked down at his bleeding palm. It was deep but nothing that would need stitches.
"I'm a Slytherin," he said.
"But you are the Headmaster now, Severus. It could aid you as much as any Gryffindor. Regardless, you have no time to dwell on a matter like that right now. You need to continue moving. I assumed you put the fake sword in Bellatrix's vault?"
His angry eyes turned to bright blue ones that still held a sickening twinkle despite being in a portrait. Despite the urgency of the situation.
"I did." He replied dryly and he formed a fist with his bleeding hand. The pain, invaded his nerves in an instant. Comforting. He could see sometimes why people harmed themselves, even if he didn't condone such a thing. It was to feel. But this pain. This pain distracted him. Helped him control the urge to rip down the portrait and run it through with the sword in his grasp.
He needed time to think about the latest events, but knew that he didn't possess such a luxury.
"Hide the sword under my portrait, and then you must go find Mundungus Fletcher. We have a week before the protection of Harry's family wears off." As the obedient pawn he was, he walked towards the portrait. "You have to give the real date of Harry's departure to Voldemort. If you don't it will raise suspicions since he knows you're well informed. You need to try to confuse Mundungus."
"I'll endeavor to do so with upmost skill," he said and rolled his eyes.
Albus sighed. "He may make you a participant in the pursuit."
"I have little doubt of that," Severus replied.
"Act convincing. You have to maintain the Dark Lord's trust as much as possible. If you don't, Hogwarts will fall solely into the Carrows' hands. Perhaps even worse may happen."
He grabbed the portrait by its edge and swung it open, smirking as it slammed into the stone wall. He put the sword in the hole behind it, and closed the portrait again with a wide and hard swing.
"That was completely unnecessary, Severus."
"Many things are, Dumbledore. That doesn't mean that I don't do them anyway. There is no need to lecture me on how to act."
"Sometimes you act like a petulant child."
"A...a child?" Severus felt rage hit him. "If one were in my situation, they would understand why. They would act the same way, like a bloody child as you put it. You don't let me know important matters that could help me, yet insist on telling me how to do my work. Either let me in on what you know or let me handle things myself. I refuse to be collared like one of Hagrid's beasts."
Albus was taken aback and the other portraits watched with wide eyes. "My boy. . ."
"Severus, or Snape if you prefer. I am not a boy. I have proven that time and time again by following your contradicting and potentially deadly orders. I have come to grips with my death, but have never been aware of what I'm supposed to fulfill. You have always kept me in the dark and frankly, I'm bloody sick of it. I'm considered a murderer thanks to your plans, and I have no assistance. You tell me to help Potter, the students, and then have me handle things that could destroy those goals. I don't think you know what you're fucking doing yourself."
The portrait opened its mouth but said nothing. Severus turned his back to it. He summoned his wand and cleaned the cut. He'd never let loose like that and found that it felt better than he ever could've imagined.
"Severus, you are important."
He snorted and tested his hand to see if he'd fully closed the wound. As he looked at his palm, he remembered the warmth of her hand. It eased the rage in him. She was the one person that was usually reasonable. Who understood him and why he felt the way he did. And she was out there in danger. He had to do his part regardless of how unreasonable Dumbledore was being.
He turned and looked at Dumbledore once again. "I'll be going now to see Mundungus." He directed his gaze to the other portraits. "Keep a close eye on the Carrows.
Then he left the office.
There was never any rest for a spy.
AN: Well...the resolution of his escape is what I wasn't sure but I tried to be faithful to this part of the story. As I recall, this was implied in the books and despite I'm not a fan of "Divine Interventions" it was fair to leave it and explain it. I think it shows the sword's power and that Severus is not only a slimy Slytherin that all people think he is. Hope you liked it and let me know what you think. See you next Saturday.