The Edge of Doom

Draco appeared in the gloomy entrance hallway where Voldemort and his Death Eaters were residing. Snake-headed cane in hand, he walked confidently, an air of arrogance about him, towards Voldemort’s study.

He quickly turned a corner before pulling up short as he came face to face with Yaxley.

“You here to see the Dark Lord?” Yaxley asked somewhat stupidly as he flicked his head in the direction of Voldemort’s study.

Draco just nodded his head once; he felt that if he opened his mouth he would give the game away. He flinched as he heard the unmistakable sound of china smashing against the fireplace.

Yaxley chuckled low in his throat before leaning close to Draco’s ear.

“Well, it’s better you than me. The Dark Lord is in a terrible snit,” he whispered.

Draco puffed his chest up before he pushed past Yaxley and made his way towards the door. He turned his head to look back at the Death Eater, but he had disappeared.

Taking a fortifying breath, he squared his shoulders, checked that his Occlumency shields were firmly in place, and knocked once on the door.

“Enter!” Voldemort’s high-pitched scream came from the room.

Without giving himself a moment to think, he opened the door and took a step over the threshold, closing the door behind him.

“You called, my Lord,” Draco said, bowing slightly as a sign of respect.

“Lucius, so nice of you to grace me with your presence,” Voldemort snarled, his face a mask of pure venom.

“I came as soon as I received your call. I was…” Draco started.

“Spare me your excuses, Lucius,” Voldemort spat, his body held tight as a bow.

Draco stood stock still, inches from the door, waiting to see how the madman would proceed.

Draco cautiously flicked his eyes around the room, noticing that the study was in disarray; things were strewn around the room, broken and battered. Nagini was nowhere in sight.

“It has come to my attention that Peter is dead,” Voldemort said coolly. Having vented most of his anger, he now seemed to be a little calmer. He was pacing in front of his desk as though he were a lion waiting to pounce. Deadly.

Draco opened and then closed his mouth. He didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to himself. Voldemort had called him here for a reason, and he would wait until Voldemort was finished.

Coming to stand before Lucius, Voldemort narrowed his eyes, looking at his most trusted servant.

“Do you know what he told me before he disappeared?” he asked, his voice low as if they were sharing a secret together.

“No, my Lord,” Draco whispered back at him, his senses on high alert.

Voldemort abruptly turned around and paced back to his desk, placing both hands upon its surface.

Draco let out a tiny breath.

“No, I don’t suppose you do,” Voldemort replied, his back still towards Draco.

He spun around suddenly, his cloak whirling around him.

“He told me that Harry Potter is living in Hogwarts. That Severus knows about this, and that he never killed that werewolf, just made it appear so,” Voldemort spat, his face scrunching up so that it looked as though he were in pain.

Draco’s heart stopped beating then, as all the colour drained away from his face. His legs felt weak, and he had to steady himself upon the cane he held in his right hand.

“I see that you are as shocked at this news as I was. Who would have thought Severus was so cunning? And to think, I gave him everything, and he still sided with the old headmaster. He shall pay for his deceit, mark my words,” Voldemort said, a smile forming on his inhuman face.

“What would you like me to do, my Lord?” Draco asked after he had gathered his wits about him. He still had a role to play, and he wasn’t about to give it all away. Besides, it would be better for their side if they knew what Voldemort knew and could stay one step ahead of him.

“Severus and yourself are close?” Voldemort asked, although he already knew the answer to this question.

Draco nodded his head, still as white as a sheet.

“Good. I want you to go to Hogwarts and get a feel for what Severus knows. Naturally, I could call him to my side, but I want to be one hundred percent certain that what Peter told me was correct, for he had no proof to back up his claim. It would be such a shame to kill off one of my most fearless followers,” Voldemort smirked, cocking his head to one side.

“As you wish, my Lord,” Draco uttered, before Voldemort waved his hand at him indicating that he was dismissed.

Closing the door to the study behind him, Draco felt his whole body begin to shake. If he met any Death Eaters on the way out of the fortress, they would think he had been hit with the Cruciatus Curse and would not question him further.

Walking as quickly as he could manage, he exited the fortress and quickly Disapparated.

***

Severus looked up from the book he was perusing as Draco, still appearing as Lucius, rushed through the door. He was very pale, sweating and shaking, but otherwise did not appear to be physically harmed.

Severus stood quickly, his book forgotten on the arm of the settee as he rushed to Draco’s side.

Severus led the shaking young man over to the settee and sat him down. Going over to the liquor cabinet, he grabbed two glasses and poured a measure of Firewhisky in both before seating himself on the sofa next to Draco. He handed him a glass and watched as he drained its contents in one gulp.

Draco shuddered as the whisky slid down his throat.

“Better?” Severus asked, as he took the glass from Draco’s loose grip, placing it on the table in front of the settee.

Draco nodded his head.

“Do you need a couple of minutes to compose yourself?” Severus asked as he stared at Draco.

“No, I’m fine,” Draco choked out. He took a couple of deep breaths before turning on the settee to face his godfather. He fiddled with the cane in his right hand.

“He knows.” Draco spoke softly, his eyes never leaving Severus’s face.

Severus blanched. He was prepared for this, but it was still a shock. Nodding his head for Draco to continue, he sat there and waited.

“It seems that Peter, before his death, shared his knowledge with the Dark Lord. He knows, Severus, he knows everything. About Harry, even about Remus; he knows, and he has sent me here to try and discern the truth. What am I to tell him? What am I to say? Please Severus, tell me what I am meant to tell him, and I shall.” Draco’s eyes were wide, imploring Severus to come up with something, anything, that would get them both out alive.

Severus sat there, the fingers of his right hand stroking his chin, looking at the flames in the fireplace. He knew his number was up. There was no way of getting back into the Dark Lord’s good graces, not when the rat had told him everything.

“He said that he had no proof, just your word against the dead rat’s. Oh, Severus,” Draco groaned, “how are we to get out of this?”

“I don’t think I will.” Severus looked up into Draco’s face.

Draco grabbed hold of Severus’s hands and squeezed them tightly. The cane fell, and made a loud clanking noise on the stone floor. Both men ignored it.

“Don’t say that, Godfather. You will find a way, you always do.” Draco implored him to heed the force of his plea.

“Not this time, Draco.” He squeezed Draco’s hands before letting them drop. He stood then and walked over to the fireplace, before cradling his head in his arms on top of the mantle.

Draco was struck dumb by his godfather’s response. He felt the familiar tingling enter his body as his appearance changed into the young, blond-headed man. He shivered, although he wasn’t cold.

“You will go back to the Dark Lord and tell him of my treachery,” Severus stated calmly, as Draco felt tears flowing freely down his face.

“Tell him that you heard whispers, use whatever you must to survive this. You are young and still have a life ahead of you. I knew my time was limited. Twenty years I have been at this game. Twenty lengthy and tedious years, and I feel as though my appetite for it has worn thin. Please, Draco, you must promise me that you will do anything to survive this, and after the war is over and we have won, go out and live your life; be happy, live.”

Severus turned around to see that Draco was back in his own body. Tears were streaming down his face and collecting on Lucius’s expensive cloak. He smirked ever so slightly at the thought of Lucius’s cloak being used as a tissue box before his face grew solemn once more.

He went back and sat down next to Draco. Draco did look quite ridiculous in Lucius’s clothes, which were too big for him. He gathered Draco’s hands once more in his, his body turned towards the young man.

“You will promise me this?” he asked, taking one of his hands and lifting Draco’s chin with it.

Draco just nodded his head, looking at Severus in abject horror and misery.

“Good boy,” Severus replied in a small voice. “Give me one week to put my affairs in order, and then you shall tell Voldemort all about my deceitfulness.”

Draco just continued to stare at the man whom he had held as a father for so long. How could he just give up like that? He stood shakily, letting Severus’s hands fall away, and walked out of Severus’s rooms as though in a dream.

***

Harry heard an owl tapping on his window. He went over to the glass and opened it up, letting the bird in. Taking the missive from around the owl’s leg, his eyes quickly scanned it.

Come to my classroom now!

S

Dropping the scroll to the floor in his haste, he grabbed up his Invisibility Cloak and raced out of the room. Harry didn’t even stop when he knocked over a suit of armour; he was so focused on making it to the Potions classroom.

Yanking open the door, he scanned the classroom, and not seeing Severus inside, he raced down the back through to his office.

Harry’s eyes widened as he saw Severus pacing, holding on to his Death Eater mask in one hand, his cloak and hood nowhere to be seen.

“Good, you made it,” Severus said by way of greeting him. “Sit, I don’t have much time.” Severus motioned towards the hardbacked chair that was usually reserved for wayward students, and as Harry sat, he started.

“I haven’t been totally honest with you, Harry,” Severus began, and held up a hand when Harry opened his mouth to speak. “No, hear me out; as I said, I don’t have much time.” Harry nodded his head.

“Minerva and I went out on the headmaster’s orders to investigate the Grangers’ home. We discovered that they had been Obliviated and had no memory of their daughter. I believe she was taken as part of an agenda of one of the more zealous Death Eaters, but to date have not heard a thing about her whereabouts.”

Severus was standing still. He was staring at a point somewhere over Harry’s shoulder; his face was a blank mask. Harry recognised now that it was the face that Severus wore when he didn’t want his emotions to get the best of him. Harry quickly braced himself, as he knew Severus wasn’t through yet.

“By now, I have given her up for dead, and believe me when I say I have tried, but I thought that you would want to know.” Severus looked at Harry while he spoke these last words; he knew it would upset the boy, but had thought he had a right to know.

Severus knew he was being vindictive, but if the old man was sending him to his death, which he was sure was the case, he was willing to do this as his last act of rebellion towards the man that he always considered a father. As his own father had done, Albus Dumbledore had sold him down the river, but he wasn’t going without a fight.

“But… Dead? But… you mean Dumbledore lied to me?” Harry sputtered as he looked up at Severus, his brain not quite comprehending what Severus had told him. Severus’s eyes told Harry that he was being not untruthful. Harry’s shoulders slumped.

“Then he lied to Ron, too. Ron is going to be pissed when he finds out,” Harry said, his voice cool as he mulled over the implications of Ron’s reaction.

He stood suddenly; his hands were shaking, and he felt like he had just been punched in the gut.

“No, Mr Weasley can never find out about this. Do you honestly want to open old wounds right before the battle, when you are all going to be fighting for your lives?” Severus asked, looking into Harry’s green eyes.

“Then why tell me? Why tell me any of this?” Harry enquired, facing Severus, shaking his head.

“Harry…” Severus’s voice was pleading as he walked over to the wizard and placed a hand on his shoulder. “… I never meant to hurt you; I just wanted to make you aware of the truth. Remember, we said no more lies?”

“But why tell me all of this now?” Harry asked quietly, his eyes searching the face of the taller man before him.

“Because we may not get another chance to talk, Harry,” Severus answered, his voice taking on the finality of good-bye.

“No, you are going to be fine Severus, we will both see this through to the end, we will grow old and fat together.” Harry willed the dark-haired man before him to believe this, even if he didn't quite believe it himself.

“I’m afraid not, Harry, for I believe I shall not return from where I go tonight,” Severus said, the hint of sadness in his voice easily recognisable to Harry.

“No!” Harry shouted as he placed a hand on Severus’s arm that was on his shoulder. “I won’t let you go,” he said stubbornly.

“Harry, we both know that is not how this works. I must go, for it is my destiny, just like it is yours to defeat the Dark Lord.”

“But why? Why must you go? Stay here with me; I don’t know what I will do without you. Who am I to trust?” Harry’s voice cracked on those final words as he willed himself not to cry.

“Trust Draco, tell him that I command him to look after you, though you hardly need it. I know you are ready to face this world and anything it throws at you. You couldn’t have done it without my help though.” Severus grinned at Harry.

“Your mother would be proud of you, as am I. You have grown into a fine man, Harry,” Severus said softly as Harry pulled him into a hug, his mask still in his hand. “Remember that.”

And just like that, Severus abruptly turned and left Harry standing there. As he made his way out of the office and through the classroom to meet the Dark Lord, his mask was held to his chest. Harry was not aware how long he stood there looking at Severus’s retreating back even after he had passed out of the classroom. All he knew was that he felt numb inside and out.

***

The Headmaster was sitting at his desk, shuffling papers around aimlessly. He was disturbed by the latest news from Severus, particularly as he would be losing a valuable spy. He did care for the boy in his own way, but war had made him tough. He used to wear his heart on his sleeve and that had got him nowhere; he had had to toughen up or crumple into a heap.

He felt the wards to his office shift and heard a loud pounding on the stairs. He breathed out a sigh.

So it begins, he thought, as he laced his fingers together on the desk and looked up expectantly at the door.

The door came open with a crash as it met with the stone. Harry Potter didn’t even flinch as he came to stand before Albus’s desk, his hands balled into fists, his breathing shallow. Albus noticed that he had not worn his Invisibility Cloak, and frowned.

“Tell me that you don’t know anything about Severus’s leaving?” Harry asked, and a look of profound melancholy overcame the headmaster’s face.

“No!” Harry gasped, backing away from the desk.

“Harry…” Albus started, standing up from behind the desk and holding out his arms to the boy.

“How could you? He trusted you, and you send him to his death!” Harry howled, shaking his head from side to side.

“This is war, Harry…” Dumbledore began.

“Don’t give me that old line, I am more aware that this is bloody war than anyone. Isn’t it my life that it all comes down to in the end? I have to face that abomination and either kill or be killed,” Harry yelled, his breathing ragged.

“I have been trying to prepare you, Harry, for that very moment,” Albus said, dropping his arms to his side and walking around his desk.

“No, you haven’t! If you call lying to me preparation, then congratulations, you have done a fine job at that, but don’t stand there and tell me you have been preparing me when you couldn’t even tell me the truth about Hermione,” Harry said, and he saw a flicker of fear enter the headmaster’s eyes before quickly being replaced with a look of sorrow.

“I didn’t think you could handle the truth, Harry. You were so emotional after Sirius’s death. We all tip-toed around you, afraid something would set you off. I did what needed to be done. For you, Harry,” Dumbledore stated, his voice soothing, as he took a few more steps towards Harry.

“Oh, don’t give me that crap, Albus. It was all for me! Ha! I’m sick to death of the games you play with other people’s lives,” Harry replied. He was feeling quite vindictive at the moment and could not care less if he hurt the old man's feelings.

Albus took a deep breath and then deflated. After all he had undertaken for the boy, he never expected that Harry would turn on him.

“But don’t you see, Harry, everything I have done since the day you first defied Tom has been for you?” Dumbledore said, looking Harry directly in the eyes.

“Even giving me to my aunt? That horrible woman! She and her family inflicted more pain and suffering than you will ever know, Albus,” Harry said, not backing down from Albus’s eyes.

“Yes, Harry, even that. First we must learn humility before we can appreciate all that we have,” Dumbledore stated.

“Yes, just like Severus. He has not known another human being who had his interests at heart. He pledged himself to you, Albus, and what did you give him in exchange for his loyalty? Nothing but pain, sorrow, and a death not even worthy of a dog.”

Harry’s eyes were blazing, and he willed himself not to cry—to show weakness before an enemy was to leave yourself vulnerable, and right now he considered Albus to be the enemy. Severus had taught him this much, and he would rather endure the Cruciatus Curse than let Severus down now.

“I know you have been hurt in the past, Harry…” Harry made a scoffing noise in his throat as the headmaster barrelled on regardless, “… and I know your trust has been tested, but please hear me out before you race off to get yourself killed.”

Harry folded his arms across his chest and nodded his head for the headmaster to continue.

“Severus knew the risks. He has been a spy for a very long time. He knew this day was coming, that his life would be drawing to a close. That is why he is the way he is, never letting anyone get to close to him. He knew it would be too hard to say goodbye, and he would become reluctant to go. As for lying to you, I never lied to you, Harry; I simply omitted certain facts on occasion. As far as Hermione goes, I feared it would break your resolve, and you would give up on your quest, something that I could not allow to happen. So if I did indeed keep the truth from you about that one fact, then I did so with a good reason. I would have told you eventually, Harry, after the war has been won.”

Albus looked at Harry expectantly, willing him to believe the words he was saying. Harry had his Occlumency walls up so that Albus wasn’t able to get a good reading on the boy. He wondered when he had learnt to Occlude so well?

Harry stared at Albus with a look that to the old headmaster strongly resembled hate. Albus was taken aback by the force of magic that the boy was holding in check. He could feel it prickling on his skin.

“Please Harry, believe me when I say I never meant to hurt you,” Albus implored. He was now truly desperate and would do and say just about anything to get the boy to believe him. He couldn’t afford to loose the one weapon that could turn the tide of the war in their favour: Harry Potter.

Harry's anger abated a little, but he still looked hostile.

“I shall wait in my rooms for Draco to get back from the meeting, and then the two of us shall come up with a strategy on how to end the war. And when it is done, I never want to lay my eyes on you again, is that understood?” Harry said forcefully.

Albus nodded his head once. He understood at last the depth of the boy's anger.

Harry turned around and marched through the door, not looking back.

Albus sighed and hunched over, placing both his hands on his knees. It was just as well that Severus was to be exterminated tonight because if he were still in the castle, Albus would do the deed himself. But what was done was done. They all had to focus on the war now; the children would be leaving the castle soon for the Christmas holidays, and he would have to find a replacement Potions teacher.

He made his way back over to his desk and took his seat. Waving his hand towards the door, he closed it. He started shuffling through the papers on his desk, once more deep in thought.

Yes. He would have to hire someone for the Potions placement that was about to become vacant, and he had just the person for the job.

***

It had been a week and a half since the Dark Lord had told Draco of his misgivings about Severus. Yesterday, he had been called to Voldemort’s study to report all that he had learnt.

His stomach was in knots; he felt as though he was in danger of betraying the one man he trusted above all others. In the end he had done what he had promised Severus he would do. He would never get the evil grin on the monster's reptilian face out of his mind.

Draco hadn’t slept at all last night; he was on edge, waiting for the word that Severus was dead. His only hope was that Voldemort would want to make Severus’s execution as public as possible. He felt he owed it to his godfather to be there as the light left his eyes and his body grew cold. He owed it to that valiant, impossible man.

When the call finally sang through the Blood Bond, Draco, in the small room he had been given in Hogwarts, jumped up and quickly downed the Polyjuice Potion. He had worn Lucius's clothing all day, waiting for the call. The clothing was too big, and he looked far too young. He took a look in the mirror to make sure everything was in place. He was ready.

Turning away from the mirror, he gathered up the cane and mask and rushed outside towards the Forbidden Forest, through the hampering snow, his breath like smoke in the air.

Hiding in the hollow of the tree, he quickly donned his Death Eater robes and mask. Straightening up, he pressed Lucius’s wand to his Dark Mark with fumbling fingers.

He was disoriented when he appeared on a marsh. The air was frosty and damp but completely devoid of any snow. He turned his head sideways and saw the gathering of Death Eaters a small distance away. Occlumency shields in place, he made his face show nothing but his superiority and arrogance, as though this meeting place was far below that of a Malfoy, and paced over to the gathering.

He moved to Lucius's place beside Voldemort and cautiously surveyed those who had assembled here. He counted around fifty Death Eaters, all deathly quiet as they awaited their orders. Some were shifting ever so slightly as though they too were nervous. One never knew what to expect from the Dark Lord.

“Ah good, Lucius, you have finally arrived.” Voldemort spoke low as though trying to contain his amusement.

Draco was at an unfair disadvantage staying at Hogwarts. He had to sneak out under a Disillusion Spell and then make the long trek to the Forbidden Forest before he could Apparate to the Dark Lord’s side. Add the fact that it was now snowing in Hogwarts and had been for some time, it hampered his ability to make it quickly to the Dark Lord’s side.

“Yes, My Lord,” Draco replied.

Voldemort took a grand step forward and raised both of his arms, the breeze flowing through his robes making them look like they too were alive.

“My most loyal Death Eaters,” Voldemort began, as chests were puffed out to make the wizards and witches stand even taller. “It has recently come to my attention that we have a traitor in our midst.” Voldemort paused, looking at each and every one of them in turn, delving into their minds in a matter of seconds, seeing all.

He turned away from them, pacing a couple of lengths away from the gathering back towards Lucius, before abruptly spinning around. He loved the awe, fear and complete attention he received when speaking to his Death Eaters. He had seen nothing amiss when he scanned briefly through the minds of his followers here tonight. Well, nothing of great importance to his agenda anyway. What did he care if one of his followers were sleeping with another’s wife? They would work it out between themselves. Their worries were petty when compared to his thoughts of a magical society with himself as the Supreme Overlord of all.

He paused, letting the delicious anxiety of his followers mount.

“In four days we shall attack Hogwarts and put a stop to Harry Potter and the headmaster who has been harbouring him for almost two years. We shall be united as one, an unstoppable force, and none of them will see it coming,” Voldemort said, his eyes lighting up.

His wand appeared in his hand and he flicked it towards the soggy ground in front of his Death Eaters. They all started and jumped back as a man appeared before them, not moving.

Draco’s eyes went wide as he held his breath. There on the ground before him was a naked, broken and bloody Severus Snape, looking for all the world as though he was dead.

***

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