Chapter 12: Severus

Chapter 12:

Severus:

Three pops of air alerted Severus that his attackers, along with Draco, had arrived. He nodded to Hermione, who stood alert with her wand facing the door. A polite knock sounded on the door, causing Hermione’s eyebrows to arch and an unintended smirk to move his lips. Lucius and his sense of decorum.

“Severus? Will you let us in, or do I have to come in uninvited?”

“Of course, Lucius. Do come in.”

At a confused look from Hermione, he could only shrug in reply. There was no harm in indulging Lucius’s need for politesse. Anything that could be done to lower his guard was worth doing.

The door swung open to reveal Lucius with his arm slung around Draco’s shoulders, a sign of affection he had never before seen Lucius bestow upon Draco. Any anger he might have had towards Draco for his betrayal dissipated as he noticed certain oddities: the hollowed look in Draco’s eyes, the slight vibration coming from his skin, the way he let his father keep him at his side without protest.

This changes everything… If Lucius had to Crucio Draco to lead them here...

Before he could finish his train of thought, the familiar silky voice interrupted.

“Severus Snape,” Lucius drawled, “I come here on behalf of our Master—well, my Master only, as it turns out—to perform your execution. Out of respect for our past years of friendship, I offer you a choice. Surrender, and I will grant you a quick death. Or, we can duel and risk harming one of the students you seem so fond of protecting.”

“I trust my students can protect themselves, Lucius.”

With a curt nod, Lucius stepped over the threshold, pushing Draco out in front of him. Goyle followed behind, squeezing into the room like an oversized melon.

“Draco, I trust that you can manage the Mudblood on your own while Goyle and I deal with the traitor. Surely you have no qualms with that?”

Fury rose in Severus as Lucius sneered disdainfully at Draco. Hoping Hermione had noticed Draco’s weakened state, Severus had no choice but to allow the duel to begin.

Lucius faced Severus as Draco attempted to stride over to Hermione. With a mock bow from both Lucius and Goyle, which he returned in kind, the duel began.

“Confrigo!”

“Sectumsempra!”

Goyle, always nothing more than a lackey, hovered behind Lucius, occasionally sending a curse towards Severus. The real threat was Lucius. Severus had often imagined what it would be like to fight Lucius, or other Death Eaters, but battles never unraveled as imagined. Lucius seemed as comfortable blocking Severus’s curses as he was blocking his. Curse after curse was deflected, flowing harmlessly into the walls or furniture. That charm was one of my better ideas...

This battle would continue until one of them succumbed to exhaustion, unless Lucius could be caught off-guard. But how? I’ve got his full attention. He’s well accustomed to my fighting style. What could I do to surprise him?

Suddenly, a thump from the opposite side of the room momentarily interrupted their duel. Lying on the ground, a victim of Petrificus Totalus, was Draco. Hermione had won and had done so without harming Draco.

Goyle stared in shock as Hermione turned her wand upon him.

“I’ll, uh, go for reinforcements, alright?”

With that, Goyle Disapparated away.

Both he and Hermione turned their wands toward Lucius, but Lucius only saw Severus.

"Expelliarmus!”

Lucius’s wand flew into Hermione’s hand.

The temptation to enact revenge for Draco was strong as he looked at the defeated Lucius and muttered, “Crucio”. Only for a moment, and then he dies...

Lucius’s body began to writhe as moans seeped from his lips like blood from a wound.

“Severus! What are you doing?”

“Exacting revenge upon my dear, dear friend Lucius.”

It's too easy to enjoy this. This is for Draco, for all the times you’ve hurt him. Did you enjoy it, Lucius? Did it make you feel powerful, torturing your own son?

“Revenge? What—”

“Let me finish, Hermione.”

After a few more moments, Severus lowered his wand, allowing the Cruciatus Curse to stop.

“And now, Lucius, you die.”

As Severus raised his wand, aimed directly at his former ally’s forehead, a multitude of popping sounds came from outside.

There’s no time. And I have to keep Draco—and Hermione—safe.

Rushing over to Draco, Severus barked, “Get over here, Hermione!”

Relieved that she was able to make it to him in time, he held her with one arm and bent down to hold Draco’s stiff body with the other. The door burst open just as he Disapparated them away to safety.