Chapter 17 - Emboldened

He saw the kind blue eyes, the waist-long white beard, and the half-moon glasses, the end of everything.

It was nearly twilight. The dying light left the hospital wing, slowly, as if withdrawing from a tomb. The light slowly withdrew until its occupants were masked in shadow.

Severus Snape sat, silent in his vigil, face like stone, his hands clasped as if in prayer. He was staring at the unmoving face of Draco Malfoy, his godson.

Another I have failed to protect, he thought silently, and his brow furrowed with rage.

All his life he had failed. Failed to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Failed to keep his morality. Failed Lily. Failed her son.

And now he had failed one of the only people he cared about, his godson. If only he'd gotten there quicker, to stitch up the wounds…Pomfrey had cast her eyes down when he'd asked her if Draco would make it. He'd offered to assist her with the potions, but she'd just shook her head and said,

"Only Merlin could save him now. He's got a chance, Severus, but a small one."

She patted him on the shoulder and left.

And so he'd assumed his vigil. The Dark Lord had been by to visit him, to inform him that Potter had been punished. Once he would have been filled with anger at the boy, but Severus had barely cared. It was the cruel irony of his life that Potter would try to take someone away from him, when he had sacrificed so much to save Potter from his fate. Potter took everything from him. It was the way of the world, and it was the way of Severus' life.

He'd keep trying, of course, because what else was he good for? He had no family, save his godson who was dying in his hospital cot. All because he had been with the stupid Order, not keeping an eye on his godson, again away from the ones he loved. Dumbledore had ruined him. You fool, he thought, his fists clenching.

A movement caught his eye. Severus whipped his head up. Draco's fingers had twitched. Severus grasped his hand, not caring about Pomfrey waiting in the corner.

"Draco?" he whispered.

"P…Potter…he is…" choked Draco, but then his face grew whiter and his hand collapsed in Severus'.

Tears began to leak out of Severus' eyes, hot and uncontrollable. He had not cried since Lily told him she was leaving him for James. He let them fall, fast and hot, squeezing Draco's hand tighter.

Pomfrey cleared her throat and left the room. The door shut softly behind her.

Severus shook his head, brushing away the tears with the back of his hand. What was he doing? He must not give in to grief. He could not be weak here, not now. His life was, and would always be, filled with cruelty, never giving him peace. It was his fate. He could not give up now.

He had to discover why Potter had done this, what the importance was. There was a reason behind every act of violence, and he somehow didn't believe it was merely an old school rivalry. Something had spooked Potter in that bathroom, something had scared him enough to attack Draco and risk the Dark Lord's wrath, something…

There was a connection, within his grasp, taunting him…

He sat there a long time, and the hospital wing darkened. He sat there until the moon was high in the sky and owls cooed in the dark trees outside.

Snape sat there, alone, a single figure hunched over a dark bed, his shadow growing longer and longer.

"Wow, Harry, look at this!"

Ginny held up an enormous lolly up to her face and grinned.

Harry mentally snorted, but gave Ginny a wide smile. Ginny Weasley was doing her best to make him feel happy and welcome, of course — she was a Weasley, and he wouldn't expect anything different. Her overt cheerfulness was complimented by Hermione's forced jubilation. They both insisted on pretending that everything was normal again.

He shook his head in disgust. The nauseating candy-crusted store Honeydukes was bad enough, yes — but the music…sung by a warlock named Gilly Gildheart, the lyrics were so syrupy he thought he might vomit:

Oh we eat all day,

So we may play,

In Honeydukes, our favorite spot in town!

Where candy reigns and spirits wash our sorrows down!

This mission better be worth it, he thought, feeling nauseous. The sooner he was out of here, the better.

He had strict instructions from his Lord. He needed to lure Ginny away, to hold her hostage. Molly Weasley would show up to rescue her daughter, and he was to finish the job. It would be simple, easy, quick.

Voldemort was not present at the castle. The Dark Lord was away on a mission in Germany, and it gave Harry a sense of pride that he was trusted to pull this off. He would not fail his Lord.

A cheerful tap on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts. Harry turned sharply.

"Would you like a sample of our Cheerful Delight Custard?" piped up a little wizard wearing a purple cap, holding up a sample hopefully, but he took one glance at Harry's revolted face, muttered, "oh, he's one of THOSE people…" and scurried away.

The girls continued to laugh over the candies, so much that Harry's head throbbed. It was annoying at best, but it was necessary, so he gritted his teeth and smiled. Not that Ron was stopping them now, of course, Harry thought. Ron's eyes were ever so slightly glazed over. Ron laughed at the girls' stupid jokes and comments, but otherwise stared dreamily into the distance. His gaze reminded Harry a bit of Lockhart. Not that Ron had ever been that smart anyway.

Dodging Ginny's attempt to put a Snapping Sweets necklace on him, he ran right into someone who had just burst through the entrance.

"D…Dem…Death Eaters!" gasped a chubby boy, who couldn't have been more than a third-year, until he fell to the floor in a dead faint. Harry's eyes widened. Death Eaters weren't supposed to be here…it was his job…unless…The Order had come…

No…

The store erupted into shrieks and yells. It was chaos, witches and wizards stampeding towards the door, the brightly colored candy forgotten.

"WAIT — WAIT — DON'T FORGET TO PAY!" shrieked the shopkeeper over the din.

Time to go, thought Harry, looking around to check for Hermione and Ginny - they had already left. Fighting against the tide of stampeding students, he grabbed his devil mask and wand, and slipped out the back door and into the night.

The Dark Mark shone eerily above Hogsemede, and Lucius Malfoy's heart leapt.

It was time to avenge his son. Draco was dying, or dead, because of Harry Potter.

Yet Draco never would have been in that position if not for the Heir. The Heir had ruined the Malfoy family…had ruined everything…

Draco would not die for nothing.

Tonight, he would know the answers.

He drew his wand from his pocket and ran into the darkness.

Flaming bodies surrounded Harry in a ring. He smiled as he watched the bodies burn from the inside out. It really produced quite a memorable effect, he thought with amusement, judging on the Order members who were emptying the contents of their stomachs in front of him.

He was content to wait until they'd recovered, at least, he thought, as a young Order member came upon the scene and joined in on the retching. If there was one thing the Dark Lord had taught him, it was to fight with honor. To strike someone who was down was a cowardly, weak act.

"YOU BASTARD!"

Harry had a moment of surprise, then smiled as Bill Weasley came running towards him, wand outstretched, a look of utter rage upon his face. Then he looked down. A thin corpse with silvery long hair was burning in front of him.

Whoops.

"YOU'LL DIE FOR THIS! I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU - "

Harry jabbed his wand, and Bill Weasley jerked unnaturally, blood erupting from his arms, and legs. He fell to the ground. Harry started towards him, intending to finish him, when he saw Fred, George, Moody and Black come running towards him, wands outstretched.

Steeling himself, Harry fired off a barrage of curses. The others surrounded him in a circle, sending curses at his back and front, forcing him to turn to defense.

"Protego!" Harry hissed, sending up a large Shield charm. "PROTEGO! PROTEGO!"

There were too many of them. All his past missions had been ones with the elements of surprise, but this has been planned. He had not expected this. He didn't like being caught off guard.

Harry gasped as a Cutting Curse took out a chunk of his arm, leaving him gasping with pain. Blood poured freely from the wound, making him dizzy. Cursing, Harry muttered a quick healing spell. It would slow the bleeding slightly.

He looked up. Bill was coming closer, wand outstretched, his face contorted with hate. Harry cursed under his breath, forced himself up, and took off running.

The streets of Hogsemeade were in chaos. Flames licked the outside of stores, devouring their insides. Smoke choked the air. Curses flew everywhere, making it impossible to see. Harry continued to run. He passed Death Eaters and Order members shrieking curses over the chaos; the ground was already littered with bodies.

Harry was running around the Three Broomsticks when something made him skid to a halt. A dumpy witch with shocking red hair dueled Alecto, who sneered and taunted her.

Molly Weasley's eyes widened as she saw the Heir's triumphant gaze, and she turned and took off at a run.

Harry ran after her. She was weaving through the streets; dodging duelists and buildings alike, like a snake weaving its way through the grass. He continued to run after his prey, his heart pounding with anticipation of the kill and the approval of his Master. Molly Weasley rounded the corner, and he ran after her. As he rounded the corner, sky-blue filled his skidded to a halt, watching as she disappeared into the waiting crowd of Order members, who eyed him with triumph.

A trap. Harry cursed his stupidity, throwing up a shield just as a volley of curses came pelting at him. Harry was not the Heir for nothing, however. He whipped out his wand and started yelling curses…

"SECTUMSEMPRA!"

"CRUCIO!"

Cries of pain began to fill the air on the Order's side; several Order members fell under thrown knives and curses; others fled in pure terror. Harry spun round and more fired curses, one after the other, but the Order kept coming, one after the other…they had prepared for him. Sweat rolled down his face and chest; he gasped for air…no…he would not let himself be defeated…

A well placed binding curse knocked him twenty feet in the air, causing his wand to fly out of his hand and him to crash painfully into a vendor cart, sending Butterbeer mugs everywhere. Glass shattered on the cobblestone pavement, creating a strange mosaic of blood and light. Harry cursed as the Order advanced. He grabbed his wand, struggled to his feet and took off at a mad dash, bleeding from more than one place.

"COME BACK HERE, YOU COWARD!" roared a familiar voice behind him, followed by the sound of pounding feet.

The last thing I need is an enraged Black right now, thought Harry, and he ran faster through the streets of Hogsmeade, dodging a falling piece of flaming lumber. Black sprinted after him.

"WHO ARE YOU?" screamed Black, his face contorted in rage, sending another Cutting Curse at him - Harry yelled out in pain — "WHO ARE YOU WHO HAS RUINED SO MANY LIVES? WHO ARE YOU WHO HURTS MY GODSON?"

Another curse came out of the darkness, making Harry scream out once again. He was knocked on his side, causing his arm to scream in pain.

Slowly, Harry propped himself up, blood dripping from his hair, cloak covering his face. "Who am I?" he whispered, looking up at Black, his eyes black with hatred. Black, the one who had abandoned him, who had left him to Voldemort…

"I am death!" he hissed, hoping the words would sting. It was all he would ever be, now…he who brought Death, and embodied it…

Black, however, barely flinched, firing more curses at him. Harry rolled to avoid them.

He jerked his wand at Black and fired off a jet of green of light which missed Black by millimeters….

Suddenly he heard the quiet sound of footsteps in front of him. His heart stopped. Those footsteps could belong to only one wizard, a wizard who scared him more than Voldemort.

Dumbledore.

Somehow he summoned the strength to pull himself to his feet. Holding his mask to his bloody face, he took off at a run.

He ran faster than he ever had in his life. Terror - pure terror - enveloped him. He had never felt so afraid in his life. Dumbledore, the man who could see into his soul…the man who was more powerful than even his Master…he had to get back to the castle, back to Voldemort…the Dark Lord was not here to save him…

He looked frantically around. The pounding footsteps of the Order were behind him, their sky-blue cloaks flapping in anticipation…he was the lone hooded black-cloaked figure fleeing down the street…

Where are the Death Eaters?" he thought frantically, but soon got his answer as he tripped over bodies in dark cloaks, and saw more stretching out in front of him…the others must have Disapparated, against their oaths…cowards…

He darted through the streets of Hogsmeade, back by The Three Broomsticks, all the way to the Shrieking Shack…yes…there was a doorway beneath to Hogwarts…he could hide in there, then escape…

He reached the Shack and skidded to a halt. Sitting in front of the Shack and blocking his escape was a crying child. She was a young child, not even halfway to her Hogwarts years, and she was squeezing a doll to her chest as if her life depended on it. Her blue eyes were wide with terror as she watched him.

Harry stared, his eyes widening. There is no parent to protect her now…

He raised his wand. So easy, so convenient an opportunity to prove himself to the Dark Lord.

Just do it…The girl was crying heavy, fast tears, her eyes wide on her young face.

His wand arm shook.

Do it! the snake hissed. Do it for Master!

Two faces…two faces came to the front of his mind…Lily…James…their faces swam before him, startling him, blinding him…he lowered his wand…

"STUPEFY!"

He was knocked to the ground. A figure loomed over him, and for a heart-stopping moment he thought it was Dumbledore.

Lucius?

"Now we'll find out who you are, Heir," Lucius spat, kicking him in the side. Harry grunted. "You, who ruined my family…you, who took our position at the Dark Lord's side…" He aimed his wand at Harry, a dark rage building in his face.

Harry closed his eyes. So this is how it ends…dark hands reached for his mask…the child was wailing…

There was a yell, and Lucius collapsed like a rag doll. Harry suddenly felt his limbs unfreeze. Shocked, he flexed his hands and legs. He was still in a lot of pain - his arm felt useless, and he was bleeding from too many places to count.

Shaking slightly, Harry stood up, clutching his wand. Harry cast his eyes around to find his rescuer, only to come face to face with the steel blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore.

"Ah, and here we are," Dumbledore said quietly.

Harry looked behind Dumbledore. There were too many. The Order stood there - Molly and Arthur Weasley, Sirius Black, Moody, Fred and George, Bill, Lupin, and his friends - Ron, without the gaze in his eyes, Hermione and Ginny.

He could feel his heart freeze. No. He had failed.

He took a step back.

Harry turned around. The girl was gone. In her place sat Nymphadora Tonks with her trademark purple hair. She waved at him, a triumphant smile on her face.

He staggered back, his eyes widening in shock and horror. NO!

"You will not hurt her, Heir," said Dumbledore quietly, withdrawing his wand and starting towards Harry. Harry backed away, eyes wide. "You will not hurt anyone ever again."

Harry couldn't move. He felt Petrified, with his wand hanging loosely at his side, useless. He felt naked as the grass beneath him, exposed, the mask a flimsy, useless veneer. He caught sight of Ron and Hermione, their faces frozen in horror.

He saw Ginny, the ghost and pain of Tom Riddle's memory in her eyes. He saw Lupin, his face burning with hatred. He saw Fred and George, the usual playfulness on their faces replaced with fear and disgust. He saw Molly and Arthur Weasley, their hands intertwined, Molly's face filled with pain and relief.

He saw Severus Snape, hiding behind an elm tree, intense curiosity on his face.

Then he saw Sirius Black, with his face so scarred and full of pain that he could see all the years in Azkaban, and his loss, so sharp and scattered across his face.

Dumbledore stopped feet from him, and he saw the kind blue eyes, the waist-long white beard, and the half-moon glasses, the end of everything. His end.

Harry fell to his knees, the hood dropping from his face. Only the mask remained.

Dumbledore reached out with a gentle hand. The mask fell free from his face.

Harry only had a moment to register the shock and horror on the many faces before him before he fell forward and blacked out.

END OF PART I