Was That It?

Chapter Nineteen

Was That It?

Tanya adjusted the lapels of Severus' jacket once more before pulling him forward for a long, lingering kiss. He knew she hated the idea of letting him loose on his own tonight, knowing that Narcissa's behavior was just too unpredictable. They'd have to count on her attraction to Severus, which could very well have cooled considerably these past several months. It might even be that she used to come on to him just to make Lucius jealous.

Severus put a vial in the pocket of his trousers, patting it to make sure it wouldn't fall out, and seeing that it didn't show. Now all he had to do was make sure he could keep his pants on so the poison would be within easy reach at just the right time.

As he left the castle to Apparate to the disco where they expected Narcissa to be, Tanya accompanied him, then Apparated to Number 12 Grimmauld Place for a quick word with Harry. He agreed to wait for her here, because she'd have to keep an eye on Severus and Narcissa in order to know when to make their move. Likewise, Moody would be scoping out Macnair's house, making sure he stayed put. When Tanya came back to her physical body and reported back to them, they'd all play their parts.

Snape carefully picked his way across the crowded disco until he found a place at the bar on the other side of the large room. From this vantage point, he could see all new arrivals, and a pretty good view of almost everyone already in the place, by virtue of the large mirror behind the bar. He sipped a whiskey, casually searching around for the tell-tale platinum blonde hair of Narcissa.

He detested places like this; the so-called music was too loud, the people too unreal, and the stale odor of cigarettes cloying in the low-ceilinged interior. He'd better rehearse what he would say to Narcissa. He needed to let her know he was interested, that his need was urgent, and that he didn't know she'd be here. He was afraid she'd become suspicious of his motives otherwise. He'd shunned her for so long.

He was ordering a second whiskey, promising himself to nurse this one, when a flash of blonde sat right down on the stool next to him. He turned, startled, then smiled as Narcissa smiled seductively at him.

"Severus," she drawled, "so nice to see you. And here, of all places. I wouldn't have thought it was your style."

"Hello, Narcissa," he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "But there are so many things you don't know about me."

She seemed surprised by his warm and teasing greeting. She lifted an eyebrow. "You seem friendlier than I remembered."

He smiled, shaking his head. "I dared not be so friendly in times past," he said. "Lucius never took his eyes off me while you were batting yours at me. I don't think he ever trusted me not to bed his wife."

She laughed. "Well, he's not here anymore. He can't keep his eyes on you anymore. Not unless you sit right next to him at St. Mungo's."

"Indeed. It's a welcome relief."

"So, that's why you've always avoided me, is it?"

"It seemed the wisest course of action, or inaction, as it were."

She studied him for a minute, then stood up and took his hand, leading him to the dance floor. Snape followed grimly, the first part of his plan working out better than he'd thought it would. He could force a few dances on himself in silent offering to the gods who he hoped were watching all of them on this night.

*****

Harry watched Tanya as she left her body. He was nervous, feeling, for the first time, how empty the room was. He wondered if the people she was visiting would feel her presence; if they ever wondered what it was. They would probably reach out to grab hold of an Invisibility Cloak, he thought wryly. Then he reminded himself that it was a Muggle pub she'd be going to, and Muggles never noticed anything.

He looked more closely at Tanya. She had something held loosely in her hand; closer inspection showed it was a small medallion on a fine chain. Was this some sort of astral Portkey? He decided not to move it. It's not as though she'd lose it while she lay there, unresponsive to her surroundings. He heard the bedroom door open, and turned to find Lupin coming near to where he sat beside the bed.

"So, this is her magic, then, is it? You know, none of us ever knew what exactly it was she could do."

"You mean, not even Dumbledore?"

"No, I don't think so. At least not entirely. She was so secretive."

"I think that's just her nature," Harry said, understanding her a little better these days than ever before.

Tanya began to stir. She came awake, more alert than Harry had expected. She looked to Lupin and Harry, saying simply, "It's time to go."

Lupin and Moody said their solemn good-byes at the kitchen table, and Harry felt a lead ball in his middle. He allowed himself to realize that there was a chance none of them would ever see the other again. After the two men Disapparated, Harry and Tanya sat for a minute longer, steadying themselves.

"I thought you were out of energy right after . . ."

"I am. I have plenty to spare, though. I've been through worse." She looked steadily at him for a moment, then, "Are you ready?"

"I'm as ready as I will ever be. Let's do this."

They Apparated to a wooded hillside, finding the night sky clear and full of stars. Carefully making their way down to the edge of the tree line, they strained to see the small cottage below. Smoke was coming out of the chimney, and one window showed light. Flickering light. Voldemort was getting careless, lighting a fire. Or perhaps that fireplace wasn't part of the Floo Network. After all, when he wanted to summon his followers, they didn't Floo; they used their marks as Portkeys.

They could see no one about. As they crept nearer, Tanya put her arm on Harry's, signaling him to stay behind while she crept to the window. He saw her turn around and sit with her back to the house. She sat silently, then motioned him to come closer. She came away from the window and they hid near the shrubbery on the other side of the front door.

"He's sitting in front of the fire, and there's a servant, or someone that had just given him a drink. I've been concentrating, and there's no one else here."

"Then this is when we go in."

"There are wards on the house. We can't Apparate in."

"Can I blow the door off its hinges?"

"Not without giving him time to react."

"You can't remove the wards?"

"Aye, I can, but it will take a little time. You have to keep an eye on him to make sure that he doesn't sense any changes. But we're on our own, once we get inside. We have no way of knowing if Severus, Lupin and Mad-Eye will be successful, and the others nearby will be concentrating on keeping out other Dark Wizards."

Harry nodded, creeping over to the window.

Tanya silently crept up to the door, put her fingers to her temples as if warding off a headache, and he was aware of the abnormally loud sound of crickets chirping to each other.

*****

Snape endured the grinding of Narcissa's hips against his, wondering if it was too early to drag her out of here. She couldn't make it any plainer what she wanted to spend the night doing, but would he appear too complacent to take her up on it yet? Should he offer any resistance at all? He was hopelessly inept in the fine art of seduction, and the fact that he didn't want her could only hinder the process.

Finally, deciding he couldn't take this disco anymore, he lowered his head until he could kiss her neck, pulling her closer into his body, hoping she didn't notice his lack of physical response. She sighed in his ear, and he took that as a good sign. Pulling her along with him, he left the dance floor and headed to the door.

*****

At exactly 10:53 that night, Lupin and Moody stormed through the door of Macnair's house, and as the startled axe-man leaped to his feet, Lupin fired three rounds off into his chest. He went down easily, his body jerking in response to the poisons that had been released from the bullets that had pierced his heart. They lingered only long enough to make certain he was dead, then left the house to Apparate to the dark woods Tanya and Harry left only minutes earlier.

They peered through the darkness until they could make out two shapes at the front of the house down below. Moody focused his wonky eye until he could be sure it was Tanya and Harry, then slowly, silently, they made their way down to lend assistance wherever necessary.

Tanya signaled to Harry to join her at the door, nodding to Lupin and Mad-Eye to follow. They almost flew through the door, Lupin's "Stupefy!" removing the threat of the servant even before the unsuspecting man knew there were strangers in their midst.

But Voldemort was never caught off guard, it seemed. He'd already vanished from the room, as if the sound of the door breaking open triggered his Disapparation.

They stood silently, dreading, hoping beyond hope that their ignorance hadn't blown whatever chance they had of ending this all right here, right now.

Tanya suddenly looked toward the right. She ran through an archway, hesitating, then headed off to the left. Stunned, the rest followed, like hunters following the foxhounds, the scent of a fox leading them all on.

She headed through another doorway, and they found themselves in a kitchen. Tanya didn't hesitate; she pushed through a door and down the stairs into a dark cellar. Harry whispered, "Lumos," and they followed in her wake, confident that she knew where she was going, hoping they weren't cornering themselves, leaving no room for defense.

Tanya halted abruptly, staring at what looked like a Muggle-type vault. She turned to look at the rest of them.

"He's in there. He can't get out without magic, and we can't move this thing. Not without breaking it open, anyway. We can't separate it from the wall it's built into. But as soon as we open it, we'll be victim to his attack." Everyone looked to Harry for instructions. He took a deep breath and started issuing orders.

*****

Snape allowed Narcissa to take off his jacket, but when she started unbuttoning his shirt, he took the lead and began undressing her. At the same time, they were taking steps toward what must have been her bedroom. He turned her around the gently pushed her ahead of him through the doorway. As her back was to him, he quickly waved his wand around, placing a silencing charm on her flat. He expected a lot of screaming soon.

She stopped before her bed, turning to watch him move closer. He looked deeply into her eyes, and slowly lifted a hand to touch her hair, moving his fingers down the strands that were worn too long for a woman her age, making sure he moved painstakingly slowly.

As he expected, she took the initiative and stripped away her clothing without fanfare. As she practically threw herself down on the bed, waiting for him, he had time to wonder if Lucius knew the first thing about foreplay, or was it that it had simply been too long between lovers for Narcissa?

He pressed his body down on hers, still fully clothed, letting the rough fabric of his shirt abuse her nipples. It seemed to keep her occupied enough for him to reach into his pocket and remove the deadly vial. He created a fold in the quilt under her, between her legs, which were already spread too wide for Snape's tastes, and hid the vial there.

He eased some of his weight off of her, just enough to slide a hand up her thighs to tease at the junction between her legs. As she moaned, he struggled to keep his feelings of revulsion from her.

She was opening up to him even more, and he knew it was time. He slowly started moving down toward her bush, allowing her to think he wanted to taste her, and it helped that she closed her eyes and began playing with her own nipples. It allowed Snape to covertly open the vial and draw the virulent fluid into the eyedropper-type tube he'd designed to fit inside. When he knew the tube was full, he left it near her opening, then drew both her hands into his and lifted them over her head, holding them there with one hand.

She didn't fight this, and she didn't seem worried either when he allowed the full weight of his body to cover hers. There would be a lot of thrashing about for a few horrible minutes before her death; he didn't want to risk injury to himself, and he wished fervently that there was a way to send it down her throat instead of the other way, but it could be choked over and spit out, negating the entire purpose of this operation.

As she closed her eyes in anticipation, he reached down with one hand and inserted the tube into her, bracing himself against what her reaction would be when the pain started. Knowing time was of the essence, he squeezed down on the bulb of the tube, emptying its contents into her.

As he held her down, enduring the raw screaming in his ear, gripping her wrists in a death grip, he felt the burning pain of his Dark Mark, and envisioned the caustic searing of her vital organs, her blood carrying the toxin to all parts of her body. He sent up prayers to whomever may hear them that she would die now, before another instant of this pain that even she didn't merit.

It seemed like a lot longer than the three minutes he'd calculated for her death to be complete. He ripped back his sleeve, watching the Dark Mark take on a light of its own, demanding that he appear.

Grabbing his jacket, he stashed the empty vial into a pocket and touched the Dark Mark, which would Apparate him directly before Voldemort. If Tanya and company were already there, he'd have a chance. If not, he was going to his death. He looked back at the already decaying corpse of his final victim, knowing that however Voldemort chose to kill him, it was better than he deserved.

*****

There were sounds of many people upstairs, and Mad-Eye nodded, signaling that they were Order members. Two of them followed the open doors to the cellar, where Harry gave them their orders. Two of them would come down to the cellar and stand with them while they faced Voldemort; the others would stay upstairs and direct whatever other incoming fighters appeared. Snape, upon his appearance, would be sent down to the cellar, in the hopes that if Voldemort had too many targets, they could use his hesitation to finish him off.

But before they could do anything else, Snape himself appeared directly in the cellar. He showed them the Dark Mark, and they understood at once. They were ready for the sudden influx of other summoned Death Eaters; after the briefest of skirmishes, four robed Dark Wizards were littering the cellar floor. Harry looked at each one; they were ready for bossman. He aimed his wand at the vault-like door, and shouted, "Bombardia!" The door burst open, and by the time the flying fragments hit the ground, Voldemort had come upon them in the middle of the room, wand already in use.

Mad-Eye was the first to go down. Voldemort's Avada Kedavra hit him, and it was apparent that the position directly to the left of the vault had been the most dangerous. Simultaneously, Harry and Lupin's wands went flying, and Harry had time to wonder how that happened before a Crucio hit him full force. He had been subject to this particular curse in the past, but he was unable to form a coherent thought as the pain shot through him, pain worse than anything he'd ever experienced before. Voldemort was playing for keeps.

He lay gasping, willing himself to move if he wanted to see the light of another day, as the powerful curse did its damage to his body and mind. Another body fell across his own, and he yelled in renewed pain, his muscles convulsing with protest. As his eyes rolled up in his head, he caught a quick glance as Lupin's body flew by, crashing into the wall behind him. Then blessed darkness came over him, no matter how much he tried to will it away; he couldn't die without knowing Tanya was okay, he had to hang on . . . he was failing . . . he just couldn't live up to what everyone . . . expected of . . . him . . .

*****

Snape put a hand on the floor, forcing himself to a sitting position. His eyes struggled to see what lay around him, seeing that the dust hadn't even settled yet. He'd thought he would black out, but apparently not. He looked around, taking note of Lupin's unconscious form against the wall. Two men he was only barely acquainted with lay dead, and with a check of Moody's pulse, he added another body to the death toll.

He could see Potter lying nearby, twitching; a Crucio. He'd recover. He looked frantically into the darkness before remembering that he held his wand in his hand.

"Lumos!" He looked into Tanya's eyes. She was the only one remaining upright. She was trembling, wavering on her feet, and he looked down at her hand. She was clutching a dagger tightly, blood dripping from it onto the floor, each drop making a plopping noise as it hit. The silence was unnatural.

He forced himself to stand, fighting the lingering spasms of pain from his own Crucio, and approached Tanya, who heaved a sigh before pointing to the opposite corner.

Voldemort, Tom Riddle, the Dark Lord, the mortal old man lay there, blood covering his chest, his body still. Snape forced himself to go to the body, placing his fingers on the saggy throat, searching for a pulse, looking closely, searching for any sign of life. There was none.

He turned to Tanya, "What . . ." He cleared his throat and tried again. "Are you telling me that after all his reign of terror, all his years of the search for immortality, all this power, it was a Muggle knife that ended his life?"

She leaned over, resting her hands on her knees, still holding the bloody dagger. Snape crossed over to her, putting his arm around her and leading her to the cellar steps to sit. She took a calming breath, and Snape could see her relaxing in that envious way she had. "He sent a Cruciatus to me," she said. "I deflected it right back to him. He was convulsing with it; I never want to see it again." She looked at Snape, and followed his eyes to her dripping dagger. She shrugged. "I stabbed him while he was twitching."

He sat next to her, holding her, knowing she hadn't had a chance to rest after her astral reconnaissance check earlier. Her trembling subsided, and Lupin began to come around.

Tanya turned to Snape. "How's Harry? He has to be all right; all this is for nothing if he's out of it."

"It will never be all for nothing, Tanya," said Lupin, after checking out the late, great Dark Wizard. "Voldemort is dead, and it doesn't matter how it happened here tonight."

"What about all the people who believe it had to be Harry?"

"Not many know about the Prophecy," Snape replied. "Only a select few. But it's down to the four of us. We are in the enviable position to write history. How do we handle this?"

Lupin leaned over Moody's body, holding a silent eulogy for his friend. "He went out fighting, the way he always wanted to," he said, more to comfort himself than any other reason. "He was glad to be here, I know."

Tanya got up and went to where Harry still lay, half conscious and still obviously in pain. She put her hands on him and the twitching slowed, then stopped. He opened his eyes, breathing evenly now. Tanya took his hand to help him sit up, and silently waited for him to say something to prove he was back with the living.

"He's dead?" he asked hollowly.

"He's dead," she answered.

He looked wonderingly at her. "Doesn't it seem that it should have been a lot more difficult?" He shook his head and noticed Mad-Eye lying still beside him. His eyes reflected despair as he pushed someone's body off of his and struggled to his feet with Tanya's help.

"Harry," Tanya said, looking intently at him, "I killed him. I killed him with this dagger."

Harry nodded in understanding. But she wasn't finished. "I don't want anyone to know that."

Harry was nonplussed. "Why not? You've saved our entire world, why wouldn't you want anyone to know that?"

"You know what people think already," she said, a trace of panic in her voice. "Half the wizards I've ever heard of are wondering when I'm going to take over where Voldemort left off! I can't live with that. I'm not in the habit of defending my actions, or even explaining them! I can't do this!"

Snape put his arms around her, pulling her to him to ease her fear. "There's a way, don't worry. We'll find it."

"I'd have to leave, go back to the Muggle ways!"

"It's all right," Snape continued soothingly, "we'll figure it out. Let's just calm down and think about what we'll tell everyone. We have to decide now, because once we tell anyone our story, we have to stick to it."

Harry was thinking furiously. It wasn't just her fear of notoriety at stake here, it was her entire way of life. She'd fought hard to be a part of this wizarding world, even going so far as staying in Azkaban when she could've left at any time.

"What harm would it do to give her this?" Snape asked of the others. "It would be so easy to give all the credit to Potter; it would be no more than most expect, anyway." He looked to Lupin, but Harry spoke.

"I will not take all the credit for this," he said decisively. "I was flat out on my back, not even able to handle Crucio, while the rest of you were fighting the wizard from hell. I can't and won't pretend to anyone that I did this. There has to be another way."

Lupin suggested that they all take part in it. "That way, everyone gets the credit; equal shares. No one would worry about Tanya's motives that way. She was part of a team, and that's as it should be. Harry, it's no weakness to suffer Crucio. I'm sure Severus can vouch for the veracity of that statement."

Snape smiled slightly and nodded to Harry. "Don't ever think that just anyone can go through that and stand afterward. You've done nothing to be ashamed of."

"So, it's settled then," Lupin continued. "Tanya?"

Tanya nodded, finally. "It will be much easier if we're all in this together. Especially since we are. And we'll all equally share the blame, as well?"

"Blame?" Harry wondered aloud.

"You know Fudge," she said, "If blame can be laid at anyone's feet, he'll find a way. Especially when he finds out a mere dagger killed Voldemort. He'll wonder why we didn't bring him in for the Dementors to take to Azkaban."

They all laughed, throwing off the last of the tension and fear. Tanya dropped the dagger to the floor. Then, thinking twice, she picked it up again and asked the room in general, "Do wizards use anything like fingerprinting evidence?"

Snape took the dagger from her. "Yes, they do, when necessary. But they won't find just yours on there."

Wordlessly, Lupin took the dagger from Snape, adding his fingerprints to the mix. He handed it to Harry, who touched it all over, smearing the blood to hide the fact that Tanya's prints might be under the blood instead of mixed with it. He didn't know how skilled the forensic wizards would prove to be.

They filed up the stairs, levitating the dead heroes behind them, and told the members upstairs the news. By the time they'd returned to the woods to Apparate to Hogwarts, they could already see and hear the celebratory fireworks that signaled the end of Voldemort's reign of terror.