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<div class="chap-title">
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14. Chapter 14
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</div>
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p>Thank you all so much for your reviews! To answer a question many of you have
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asked over the course of a week. Yes, I'm evil. I hope you like this next chapter
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because I personally love it.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 14</strong></p>
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<p>Harry's eyes widened considerably at the sadistic message he received. His heart
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clenched painfully and instinctively, his gaze shifted to the high table where he met
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the headmaster's gaze. He quickly looked away, remembering Bellatrix' warning and
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turned to Draco.</p>
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<p>"Harry," he said softly, "What are you going to do about this?"</p>
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<p>"I have to go, of course," Harry replied determinedly, "I'm not about to let those
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cruel bastards hurt Snape anymore than they already have."</p>
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<p>Harry got up from his seat and made to leave when Draco grabbed his arm.</p>
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<p>"Would you stop and think?" he hissed, "Or is it not obvious enough that you're
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walking right into a trap?"</p>
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<p>"Of course it is!" Harry shouted, "But what do you expect me to do about this? I
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can't very well just sit here."</p>
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<p>"Typical Gryffindor," Draco spat. Harry pulled his arm free and tried to leave
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again when Draco moved in front of him. "Look," he said, holding out his hand, "I
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know you have to go. I understand! But I'm going with you."</p>
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<p>"Absolutely not," Harry responded, "As you said, this is clearly a trap and I'm
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not putting anyone else in danger."</p>
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<p>"Is everything alright, Harry?" came Dumbledore's sudden voice. Harry looked up
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and stopped himself from meeting Dumbledore's gaze just in time. He wasn't about to
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allow Dumbledore a peak in his mind, especially when he was undoubtedly too emotional
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to block him.</p>
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<p>"No," he said honestly, "Severus hasn't returned and now Professor Bell comes back
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without him. What am I supposed to think?"</p>
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<p>"Severus seems to have been taken but we will sort this out," Dumbledore said, "I
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will help him, this I promise."</p>
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<p>"How?" Harry asked. This time, his eyes sought Dumbledore's in desperation but he
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didn't feel the tell-tale sign of a Legilimens in his mind. "You don't even know
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where he is."</p>
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<p>"I will work something out," Dumbledore said, placing a comforting hand on Harry's
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shoulder. Harry noticed that Draco was looking back and forth between Harry and
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Dumbledore as if looking for a sign as to what to do or say but he didn't speak a
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word.</p>
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<p>"Fine," Harry said. He turned around and walked away brusquely with Draco on his
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tail, leaving a concerned Dumbledore in his wake.</p>
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<p>"Harry," Draco urged again, "We need a plan."</p>
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<p>"There is no 'we' Draco," Harry said sternly, "I'm going alone and there's nothing
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you can do to stop me."</p>
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<p>"Oh, isn't there?" Draco said slyly, "I'm going <em>with</em> you and there's
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nothing <em>you</em> can do to stop <em>me</em>."</p>
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<p>"Petrificus Totalus," Harry snarled, his wand raised in the blink of an eye. But
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Draco was not bad himself. He had raised a shield just in time to protect himself and
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the spell fell flat.</p>
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<p>"You imbecile," Draco growled, "Would you stop for just a few minutes to think
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about what you're doing?"</p>
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<p>"And what happens to Severus in those minutes?" Harry asked as he kept walking,
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"You've experienced the Cruciatus curse, you know what a few minutes of that feels
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like."</p>
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<p>This time, Draco grabbed hold of Harry's shoulders and whirled him around, forcing
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the distraught Gryffindor to look at him.</p>
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<p>"You're only going to get yourself killed at this rate," Draco said in
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exasperation, "Do you believe – even for a second – that they're going to let Severus
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go the minute you show up?"</p>
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<p>"It's me they really want," Harry replied evenly.</p>
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<p>"Oh, don't flatter yourself," Draco spat, "You're the boy-who-lived, that's true.
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But Snape is a traitor in their eyes. Not only that, but he was also a big part of
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the Dark Lord's demise." He sighed without releasing Harry and glanced towards the
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door they had just used to get out.</p>
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<p>"I think you should tell Dumbledore. He will probably know what to do."</p>
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<p>"If whoever is waiting for me sees Dumbledore, they will leave," Harry said, "I
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don't want to be responsible for Severus losing any fingers. He'll never forgive me
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for that."</p>
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<p>"He would forgive you anything!" Draco replied harshly, "Especially the things
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that aren't your fault."</p>
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<p>Harry shrugged himself loose but didn't continue walking. His desperate and
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forlorn expression now locked onto Draco's, seeking refuge in the calm and certain
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expression Draco wore.</p>
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<p>"What do I do?" he asked, sounding very much lost.</p>
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<p>Draco smiled slightly and casually sat down on the front steps, patting the space
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next to him for Harry to sit on.</p>
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<p>"Let's figure that out," Draco said. Harry obediently sat next to the blonde and
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put his head in his hands, looking absolutely distressed.</p>
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<p>"First of all," Draco said, "Stop worrying so much. Yes, Bellatrix is batshit
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crazy but Snape has been in these kinds of situations often enough. Not only does he
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know how to get out of them, he is also perfectly capable of ignoring the pain."</p>
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<p>"I don't want him to have to, though," Harry frowned, "Those days are supposed to
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be behind us. Why is it always us?"</p>
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<p>"It's not," Draco replied, "They went after a whole bunch of muggles first."</p>
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<p>Harry didn't know what to reply to that so he just nodded dejectedly.</p>
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<p>"Now. We know that Bellatrix is among the group. She's dangerous but predictable.
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It's highly unlikely that she has some scheme going on that's multi-layered and
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complicated. The problem is that she's probably not alone."</p>
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<p>"No," Harry agreed, "There's at least one more death eater among her group. That
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guest she was speaking of."</p>
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<p>"Exactly," Draco said, "Not only that but if I believe the articles written about
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the slaughter of those muggles – as it has been portrayed in many different
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newspapers – I can honestly say that Greyback is probably among them as well."</p>
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<p>"How can you tell?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"Once you have seen the way Greyback works, you can recognize it immediately,"
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Draco responded darkly. "However, I very much doubt that even Bellatrix is stupid
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enough to send Greyback out into Hogsmeade. The man has no self-control and would be
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a liability. Chances are that if he – for example – saw Dumbledore emerge, that he
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would sooner attack than retreat as Bellatrix promised they would do. Therefore, I
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think it's safe to conclude that there's at least three of them.</p>
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<p>"That puts us at a disadvantage," Harry said.</p>
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<p>"I should say so," Draco agreed, "Especially since Snape has no doubt been
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disarmed. That's why I think we should bring an extra wand for him to use just in
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case we can manage to slip it to him."</p>
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<p>"Where are we going to find one?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"I'll swipe one from the firsties," Draco said dutifully.</p>
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<p>"As for Dumbledore," Draco then said, "Do we have any Polyjuice lying around here,
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perchance."</p>
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<p>Harry was very much aware of the stock and inventory of both the school's potions
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and those of Snape. At home, he might have some but here at Hogwarts he most
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decidedly didn't. So he shook his head.</p>
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<p>"That's a shame," Draco said, "And we can't very well wait a month to brew some.
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So I guess you're right and that we can't ask Dumbledore for help. Would you be open
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to asking Professor Bell what happened, though? It would save us the time of asking
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around."</p>
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<p>"I guess that's not a bad idea," Harry admitted, "We just can't tell her what
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we're doing."</p>
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<p>"Maybe not yet," Draco agreed, "I would, however, advise you to let Dumbledore
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know what we're doing before we actually meet up with this death eater, at least.
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Maybe you can send a Patronus his way once we're ready to go? I know you can cast
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that modification that allows for communication."</p>
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<p>"I can do that," Harry said, "It should give us enough time."</p>
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<p>"Okay, so that's settled then," Draco said, "I'm going to get myself an extra wand
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and afterwards, we'll go talk to Bell."</p>
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<p>"Or I do that while you go get that wand," Harry offered, wanting to waste as
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little time as possible.</p>
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<p>"I could recognize our opponents from her description if it's good enough," Draco
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explained, "You could probably not."</p>
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<p>Harry growled under his breath, knowing that Draco was right.</p>
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<p>"Fine," he said, "But hurry up, okay?"</p>
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<p>Without another word, Draco darted across the hallway, heading to the dungeons.
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For a moment, Harry considered going by himself, after all, leaving Draco safe at
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Hogwarts but he knew that he needed the blonde's help. Especially if he wanted to get
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both him and Snape out of there alive.</p>
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<p>Frustrated with his own lack of cunning, Harry crossed his arms and leaned against
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the wall, waiting for Draco's speedy return. Before the Slytherin could, though,
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Professor Bell exited the great hall and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw
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Harry.</p>
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<p>"Harry!" she exclaimed, "What are you doing? Are you waiting for someone?"</p>
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<p>Harry uncrossed his arms and met Bell's worried gaze.</p>
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<p>"Yeah," he admitted, "I'm waiting for Draco."</p>
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<p>"Well, while I have you here, I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am."</p>
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<p>"What for, Professor?"</p>
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<p>"For letting them – wait, do you even know what happened?"</p>
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<p>"No, I don't," Harry admitted, "I would appreciate it if you could tell me when
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Draco gets here though. He's Professor Snape's godson and is also very worried about
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him."</p>
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<p>"Of course," she said.</p>
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<p>They stood in awkward silence for about ten minutes, waiting for the Slytherin to
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return. Harry noticed that Bell was injured. Nothing too bad but she sported a fairly
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large bruise near her collarbone and she had a nasty cut above her right eye.</p>
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<p>"I'm back," Draco announced, drawing Harry out of his thoughts. "Oh, Professor,"
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he added.</p>
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<p>"Mr Malfoy," Bell greeted courteously, "I thought it would be fair of me to tell
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you both what happened back in Hogsmeade."</p>
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<p>"That would be appreciated," Draco replied. Harry looked at her expectantly.</p>
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<p>"We were going to the apothecary, you see," she said, "To pick up some rare
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ingredient but it soon became clear that Mr Pippin did not, in fact, have the jewel
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but had lured Professor Snape into a trap."</p>
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<p>She swallowed thickly and frowned as she continued. "Anyone would recognise
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Bellatrix Lestrange from the papers," she said softly, "As well as that foul
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werewolf, Greyback. There were two others whom I didn't recognize. Greyback grabbed
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me but I managed to escape him. I wanted to help. I really did! But Sev – Professor
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Snape basically threw me out of the apothecary. By the time I was able to rush back
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inside, they were gone."</p>
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<p>"It was not your fault, Professor," Harry said.</p>
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<p>Bell smiled at him wryly. "Thank you, Harry, but I can't help but feel somewhat
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responsible. Perhaps if Severus hadn't taken the time to get me out of harm's way, he
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would have been able to save himself."</p>
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<p>"Not from four death eaters," Harry said softly, "Not when they had planned for
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this so obviously."</p>
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<p>Harry took a shuddering breath, clenching his fists tightly. He had shopped at Mr
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Pippin's often and had always thought the man to be kind and respectful. How could he
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have betrayed Snape like that?</p>
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<p>"Did Mr Pippin say why he did what he did?" Harry asked softly, anger obvious in
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his voice.</p>
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<p>"His daughter was taken," Bell replied darkly, "He was promised her return after
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tricking Snape but by the time I left, they still hadn't."</p>
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<p>"Oh, Merlin," Harry groaned, "What is wrong with those people?"</p>
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<p>"Could you describe the two death eaters you didn't recognize?" Draco asked.</p>
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<p>"One was a tall, thickset man with very dark hair," Bell replied, "And the other
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man was quite thin, the same dark hair as the other."</p>
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<p>"The Lestrange brothers," Draco hissed, "That makes sense, I guess. Rodolphus is
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married to Bellatrix, after all."</p>
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<p>"What a fool," Harry spat.</p>
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<p>"Yeah well, they all are," Draco said. "Thanks for the information,
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Professor."</p>
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<p>"I just know that professor Dumbledore will find him," Bell said encouragingly.
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Harry thought she might even be believing her own words and he was not about to
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disillusion her of that notion.</p>
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<p>"Yes," he replied, "He will."</p>
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<p>Bell nodded, glanced over Draco and Harry one last time and hurried back inside
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the great hall, no doubt to talk with Dumbledore some more.</p>
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<p>"Get your invisibility cloak and we can be off," Draco said.</p>
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<p>"They are expecting me, you know," Harry replied flatly.</p>
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<p>"Not for you, you dunce," Draco spat, "For me. Whatever advantage we can get, we
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should take, don't you think?"</p>
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<p>"You're right, of course," Harry said, "I'm sorry. I'm not thinking straight. I'm
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just so –"</p>
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<p>"I'm worried as well," Draco interjected, "But we can do this. Get your cloak and
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meet me outside the castle. Someone is bound to ask questions if I linger here."</p>
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<p>"Right," Harry nodded and went to retrieve his cloak.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Amazingly enough, Ron had still been asleep. So all Harry had to do was not make
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any noise and get his invisibility cloak out of his trunk. Luck must've been on his
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side because the redhead merely turned around in his sleep, chewing on his pillow as
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he mumbled something incoherently.</p>
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<p>Hermione had not been around either so Harry had quickly made his way back out of
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the tower and down to the castle gates.</p>
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<p>When he met Draco's gaze, the two boys nodded to each other in understanding and
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Harry handed over his cloak.</p>
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<p>"I think it's best that I wear it immediately," Draco said, "We can't know just
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where our escort will be and from how far away they can see our approach. I'll keep a
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hand on your shoulder at all times so I am apparated with you, even if it should
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happen suddenly.</p>
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<p>"Sounds like a plan," Harry replied shortly. He was quite sick of talking already.
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The thought of Snape in more pain with every precious second they were wasting, made
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him physically ill. As soon as he felt Draco's hand on his shoulder, he started
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walking. Neither of them said another word until they reached Hogsmeade.</p>
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<p>Before they entered the town, Harry dutifully cast his Patronus and told it to
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tell Dumbledore that he and Draco were going to save Snape and to perhaps have some
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medical attention at the ready in Hogsmeade.</p>
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<p>Harry heard Draco take a deep breath as if the boy was steeling himself for what
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was to come. The hand on his shoulder was trembling slightly but Harry could not
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blame the boy. He was pretty nervous himself.</p>
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<p>In a flash, Snape's warning to just ignore the letter flashed through Harry's mind
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and he chuckled wryly to himself. Hopefully, they would both be able to get out of
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there alive enough for Harry to take his punishment in stride.</p>
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<p>A slight shove from behind him urged Harry to keep on walking. The boy looked
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around, half expecting to be jumped at any moment but saw no one.</p>
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<p>"Harry!" came a sudden jovial voice that Harry didn't recognize. He looked to his
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right to see a thin man with dark hair approaching him with a big grin on his face.
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Draco's hand tightened on his shoulder, warning Harry of the presence of the death
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eater.</p>
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<p>"So good of you to come," the man said happily, "Follow me if you please."</p>
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<p>Harry didn't say a word but followed the man into a narrow alleyway that seemed to
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be completely deserted.</p>
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<p>"You didn't bring a plus one?" the man asked and Harry thought he saw
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disappointment in his eyes. Fewer people for him to torture and kill, he
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supposed.</p>
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<p>"Well, I'm Rabastan and I will be your escort today." He elegantly extended his
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arm towards Harry who took it without a doubt in his mind. The only thought that went
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through his head was that it was rather odd for the death eater not to take away his
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wand but he counted his blessings and just went with it.</p>
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<p>The feeling of being sucked through a narrow tube was one he would never be able
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to get used to. He felt the hand on his shoulder grasp him very firmly and was very
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relieved when his feet finally met with solid ground.</p>
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<p>The first thing he heard was the same maniacal cackle he had heard the night
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Sirius was killed. It made him want to just walk up to the witch it originated from
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and snap her neck just to shut her up.</p>
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<p>Instead, he stood calm and collected, awaiting what would happen next. Draco had
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let go of Harry's shoulder and his presence had gone away. Wherever the boy had
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skulked off to, Harry didn't know. But he trusted in Draco's abilities.</p>
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<p>"Hello, Potty!" Bellatrix greeted cheerfully, "So nice of you to join the party! I
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was wondering if you would show up today."</p>
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<p>Harry glared at her darkly before allowing his gaze to roam across the area. Right
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next to him stood Rabastan who had been kind enough to introduce himself. Bellatrix
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stood about ten feet in front of him with Greyback to her right and Rodolphus to her
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left. Near the edge of the clearing lay the body of a young girl. Harry could not
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tell if she was alive or not. Probably not. On the other side of the clearing lay
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Snape, slumped against a tree. His eyes were wide-open and spat fire in Harry's
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direction. Worry overcame Harry when he noticed the pained way in which Snape carried
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himself, the blood that was smeared across his skin and the fact that the man hadn't
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uttered a word yet.</p>
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<p>"I can see that you missed him," Bellatrix teased when she caught Harry staring,
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"Don't worry. He's still in one piece. Mostly."</p>
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<p>She laughed again and threw something in Harry's direction. It landed in front of
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him and Harry clenched his jaw when he recognized it for what it was. A finger.</p>
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<p>"You're a monster," Harry said, "Just as much as Tom was."</p>
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<p>Bellatrix stopped laughing and narrowed her eyes at Harry.</p>
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<p>"You dare!" she screeched, "You dare refer to him by his father's name. He hated
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that name."</p>
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<p>Harry shrugged. "He hated many things. By that standard, there isn't all that much
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we can talk about anymore."</p>
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<p>Greyback frowned and for a second he looked over his shoulder as if inspecting
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Snape. Harry panicked for a second, thinking he might have heard something but when
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Bellatrix shrieked again, he returned his attention to her.</p>
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<p>"You won't be talking much at all anymore, Potty," Bellatrix spat, "But don't
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worry. Soon you will see that godfather of yours again."</p>
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<p>"I will make you beg for your life," Harry growled, "Just like I made Tom beg for
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his."</p>
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<p>"You LIE!" Bellatrix shrieked so loudly that both death eaters behind her took a
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step back. "He would NEVER beg for mercy!"</p>
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<p>"Ah, but you weren't there now, were you?" Harry said cheekily, "No, he died all
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alone. Surrounded by his enemies. We crushed him, you know. We crushed his body and
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his spirit."</p>
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<p>"I don't believe you," Bellatrix cried, covering her ears with her hands and
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stomping her feet as if she was throwing some kind of tantrum. "I DON'T BELIEVE
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YOU!"</p>
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<p>Harry kept his eyes trained on Bellatrix but noticed it when Snape stiffened
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nonetheless. Draco must've made it to him.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Snape didn't know if he should be furious with Harry for falling for what could
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only have been a trap without even thinking of bringing any back-up or saddened by
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the fact that he was here and would now most likely suffer the same fate he had.</p>
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<p>He wanted to move. To manoeuvre himself to stand with his son if at all possible,
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but even if his body would have been willing to cooperate, he was magically bound to
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the tree he was sitting against. He couldn't even speak to Harry with the curse that
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bound his lips together.</p>
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<p>He winced when Bellatrix started screaming at Harry. Greyback glanced over to him
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for a second, as if to check if he was still there but where would they even suspect
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him to go now? Snape allowed his gaze to wander, desperately searching for a way out.
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If he could only access his wand but it had been snatched and stowed in Bellatrix
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robes somewhere.</p>
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<p>Why was Harry egging that lunatic of a woman on? Now she was screaming at him at
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the top of her lungs and the boy just stood there, looking as cocky as ever. He had
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his wand in his hand. Rabastan didn't take it from him? Good. Perhaps he could count
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on the man just yet.</p>
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<p>He stiffened when he felt another presence in his direct vicinity. Something
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touched his hand but he couldn't see it. Despite his restraints, Snape smiled
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lightly. Harry <em>had</em> brought someone. Sneakily, a wand was slipped into his
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hand, which he hid away instantly. He performed a series of short wand movements,
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|
trying to remain inconspicuous as he did, removing the bonds that bound him to the
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|
tree.</p>
|
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|
<p>He glanced towards his adversaries, making sure that they hadn't noticed. When he
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|
was satisfied that their attention was on Harry entirely, he focused on removing the
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curse from his lips. It too fell to his expertise.</p>
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|
<p>Excellent. Things were suddenly moving at a much faster pace than he had
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|
anticipated but he could work with this. His eyes searched Rabastan's and found them
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|
immediately. It was as if the man was waiting for him. When their eyes met, Snape
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flicked his gaze towards Rodolphus and glanced back at Rabastan, glaring fiercely. He
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did this a couple of times before Rabastan nodded ever so slightly, only enough to be
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|
noticed by someone looking for it.</p>
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<p>Harry seemed to have noticed that Snape was good to go. Or at least, as good to go
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as he could possibly be a the moment. The boy raised his wand while Bellatrix was
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|
still shrieking, her attention severely diverted and shouted.</p>
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|
<p>"Expelliarmus!"</p>
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|
<p>As distracted as Bellatrix was, that might have been effective had Greyback not
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lunged forward at that exact moment, knocking Bellatrix off balance but also out of
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the way.</p>
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|
<p>"You didn't take his wand?' Bellatrix screeched but her attention could not stay
|
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|
on Rabastan too long for she was almost hit with a stunning hex from behind which she
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|
only narrowly managed to dodge, partially because of Greyback's earlier interference.
|
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|
Rodolphus was about to help Bellatrix out but Rabastan moved to the left of Harry so
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he was in his brother's line of sight and struck him with a stunning hex that easily
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|
hit its mark.</p>
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|
<p>Greyback might have been a wizard, but he was also a werewolf. And where Remus
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|
always did his best to suppress the beast within, Greyback was clearly more the type
|
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|
to embrace it. Which is why – rather than brandishing his wand – he had leapt forward
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|
and nearly grabbed Harry by the throat. The boy was fast enough to evade the man's
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|
grabby hands and dodged to the side.</p>
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|
<p>He cast a nonverbal stunning hex in the werewolf's direction. Greyback twisted his
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|
body slightly, causing the hex to fly right by his shoulder. He growled and lunged
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|
forward again but Harry cast a shield charm which Greyback slammed into harshly.
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|
Enraged, he shouted all sorts of profanities while Harry took some more steps
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|
backwards to increase the distance between him and his opponent. If he would happen
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|
to end up in close combat with this man, it would all be over within seconds.</p>
|
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|
<p>Meanwhile, Bellatrix was doing her best to dodge hexes that seemingly appeared out
|
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|
of nowhere. She tried to give as good as she got but only managed to blast the trees
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|
in the distance, missing whatever target was hiding from her. Snape had carefully
|
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|
righted himself, still leaning against that tree and aimed his wand, trying to keep
|
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|
his hands steady but not quite succeeding.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Sectumsempra," he roared and a cutting curse – that seemed to come as a complete
|
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|
surprise – severed the index finger of Bellatrix' left hand as well as a portion of
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|
her middle finger. She screeched in either pain or range when she aimed her wand at
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|
Snape.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Time for you to DIE!" she screamed, aiming her wand at Snape's chest but before
|
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|
she could utter her next spell, she was forced to dodge another curse that was thrown
|
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|
her way out of nowhere.</p>
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|
<p>"Coward!" she yelled, "Show yourself before I slaughter you for your
|
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|
impudence!"</p>
|
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|
<p>Harry tried as best he could to ignore Bellatrix screeching. The enemy he was
|
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|
facing was not to be trifled with. He wasn't sure what exactly had caused Rabastan to
|
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|
curse his own brother and withdraw from the fight, but he was very thankful for the
|
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|
apparent change in allegiances. By now, Greyback had drawn his wand and was firing
|
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|
blasting curse after blasting curse Harry's way. While not refined, there was a large
|
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|
amount of force behind each spell and it was all Harry could do to keep himself from
|
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|
falling to the ground, even when erecting a proper shield.</p>
|
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|
<p>When Greyback cast the killing curse, Harry dove aside, seeking shelter behind a
|
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|
nearby tree. He wouldn't let the werewolf advance on him though, so he took a chance
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|
and cast a nonverbal '<em>Incendio'</em> in his way.</p>
|
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|
<p>Greyback was taken by surprise and hissed painfully when his arm was set ablaze
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|
but he cast a quick Aguamenti and doused the flames. Soon after, another blasting
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|
curse was thrown Harry's way and he made the wise decision to leap forward because
|
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|
the tree he was seeking shelter behind was ripped to shreds.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Impetus Tempestatis!" Bellatrix screeched. She lifted her wand above her head and
|
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|
made large, exaggerated circles in the air. A forceful wind appeared and picked up
|
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|
speed, swaying the trees dangerously and causing all sorts of loose branches and
|
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|
debris to take flight. Unfortunately, so did Harry's invisibility cloak, revealing
|
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|
Draco beneath it.</p>
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|
<p>"You!" Bellatrix yelled, beside herself with rage. "Another traitor joined the
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|
party!"</p>
|
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|
<p>Draco ignored her and tried getting her with another stunning hex but was too
|
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|
slow. Bellatrix retaliated but was met with Draco's shield.</p>
|
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|
<p>Harry dodged curse after curse, firing back whatever he could. Many of his spells
|
|
|
hit their target, wounding Greyback severely but the man didn't seem at all fazed by
|
|
|
his injuries. They only seemed to enrage him more. No words or intelligent taunts
|
|
|
came from him. There was only the snarling of a mad beast. With all this dodging,
|
|
|
Harry was coming dangerously close to the area where Draco and Snape were fighting.
|
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|
And Snape did not look as if he would be able to fend off a raging werewolf as well
|
|
|
as a maddened Bellatrix.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Stricta!" Harry bellowed, aiming true. Greyback suddenly halted his progress, his
|
|
|
body engulfed by a large black sphere that seemed to be getting smaller and smaller.
|
|
|
Harry knew it would only be temporary though. Satisfied that his distraction would
|
|
|
probably last long enough, Harry focused on the tall oak tree behind him.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Vivet Arbor," he chanted, placing his wand against the trunk of the tree in a
|
|
|
horizontal fashion. Greyback was pounding against the black sphere that surrounded
|
|
|
him, drool leaking from the corners of his mouth as he raged. He had become so feral
|
|
|
that he was injuring himself as he tried to claw his way out of his prison. Harry
|
|
|
tried not to allow the werewolf to break his concentration. He focused as hard as he
|
|
|
could, chanting the spell over and over again until he heard a snap, followed by the
|
|
|
thunderous footsteps of the furious death eater, ready to tear him to pieces.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry removed his wand and prepared to raise a shield, painfully aware that he
|
|
|
would be too late when the werewolf was once again stopped in mid-air. Thick branches
|
|
|
curled around Greyback's limbs as they raised the man into the air. For the first
|
|
|
time since the start of the battle, Harry could detect fear on Greyback's face. Good.
|
|
|
This fear must have been what all the muggles had felt when he tore them to
|
|
|
shreds.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Harry looked on without remorse as the tree tightened its grip and pulled
|
|
|
strongly. Harry could hear the snapping of tendons, the breaking of bones and the
|
|
|
tearing of flesh. With one gruesome yank, the tree had effectively torn off
|
|
|
Greyback's right arm. Blood streamed freely as the werewolf howled in pain. But Harry
|
|
|
was not yet finished. The tree retained its hold on Greyback's legs and pulled
|
|
|
harshly in opposite directions. It was not soon after that the right leg gave way
|
|
|
with an audible pop of the thighbone that was removed from its socket. This limb too
|
|
|
was carelessly tossed aside. More blood erupted from the werewolf's body and Harry
|
|
|
knew that he would not live long. The tree froze again with the death eater still in
|
|
|
its grasp as he slowly bled out. Harry walked away, refocusing his attention on
|
|
|
Bellatrix.</p>
|
|
|
<p>All three parties involved in the fight were injured and Harry noticed that Snape
|
|
|
could barely stand. A whirlwind swirled around Bellatrix, effectively shielding her
|
|
|
from most attacks but preventing her from doing any further damage herself.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Give it up, Bellatrix," Harry yelled in an attempt to raise his voice above the
|
|
|
sound of the harsh winds. "Your werewolf is dead. Your lackies have abandoned you.,
|
|
|
You're all alone."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"NO!" she screeched, "I will never be alone! I have HIM!"</p>
|
|
|
<p>"He is dead!" Harry responded, "There is only one more option for you and that is
|
|
|
Azkaban."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Bellatrix laughed uncontrollably, the strong winds only picking up in speed.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I will <em>never</em> go to Azkaban, boy!" she cried out, "But you will find
|
|
|
yourself dead! And so will those traitors behind you!"</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape slumped somewhat against the tree and Bellatrix seemed to see this as her
|
|
|
chance. With a flick of her wand, she stopped the whirlwind, debris flying in every
|
|
|
which way due to the momentum it had.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Frango!" Bellatrix cried, aiming her wand in Snape's direction but Harry was
|
|
|
faster. He leapt to the right so he was closer to his father and cast a nonverbal
|
|
|
Protego. The spell rebounded on Bellatrix who shrieked and narrowly dodged. A crack
|
|
|
seemed to appear in her wand.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Secare!" Came the next hex. Harry blocked it easily while he approached the witch
|
|
|
in front of him. Bellatrix seemed to have lost her mind entirely and the spells she
|
|
|
cast were as unhinged and unfocused as she was.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Bombos," she cried and Harry reflected it again, taking more steps in her
|
|
|
direction, glowing with a confidence he didn't know he had. More of the wand's wood
|
|
|
splintered in Bellatrix' hand.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Give it up," Harry said coldly. "You lost."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Avada Kedavra!"</p>
|
|
|
<p>At point-blank range, it was impossible for Harry to dodge the killing curse. His
|
|
|
eyes widened when he realized that his life was over. Somewhere to his right, he
|
|
|
could hear Draco scream and suddenly his vision was filled with nothing but green
|
|
|
light.</p>
|
|
|
<p>When the light faded, the lifeless body of Bellatrix Lestrange lay in an inelegant
|
|
|
heap before him, her wand broken in half.</p>
|
|
|
<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
|
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<p>Did you like it? Please review and tell me what you thought. It's always very much
|
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|
appreciated!</p>
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</div>
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</html> |