Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns al this stuff - I am making no money off it and am just having a bit of fun. So lighten up will ya?
I've got another confession to make
I'm your fool
Everyone's got their chains to break
Holding you
Were you born to resist?
Or be abused?
Is someone getting the best of you?
Or are you gone and on to someone new?
I needed somewhere to hang my head
Without your noose
You gave me something that I didn't have
But had no use
I was too weak to give in
Too strong to lose
My heart is under arrest again
But I'll break loose
My head is giving me life or death
But I can't choose
I swear I'll never give in
I refuse
Is someone getting the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
Your trust?
You must confess
Is someone getting the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
It's real, the pain you feel
The life, the love you'd die to heal
The hope that starts the broken heart
Your trust? You must confess
Is someone getting the best of you?
I've got a another confession, my friend
I'm no fool
I'm getting tired of starting again
somewhere new
Were you born to resist or be abused?
I swear I'll never give in-I refuse
Is someone getting the best of you?
- Foo Fighters (Best of You)
Chapter Two: The Cupboard Door
He wasn't quite sure what he felt as he looked down at them, lying there unconscious on the floor. The emotions within him both light and dark warred with each other, snapped and clawed and bit and hissed, the monster within forcing away anything that was unnatural and harmful. This unnatural tenderness he felt for them…this sympathy. Was he even supposed to feel anything? Why would he feel this…whatever it is every time he looked at her?
What is that?
Is that allowed now, knowing what it is he has become? The Dark Lord - more so than Grindenwald, or even Riddle was before him. They wouldn't have been able to even comprehend the power he possessed - the magic that coursed through ever fiber of his being. He was no longer like other wizards, that magic was there just within reach and if you trained long and hard enough it would do what you needed it to do. No, for him he was the magic, and it did what he told it to do - he controlled it.
That thing in the void knew it as well - he could feel it, could feel its apprehension at having him there within its presence. Even as it twisted and tortured him into this thing he now was. He knew it. It feared him…well he wasn't sure if it was fear exactly, but it was close…close enough. He would have to think on it later, but now he needed the scroll. That thing in the void needed the scroll.
With a sigh and one last look at her sleeping form he turned and walked silently through the double doors and down the stone steps into the cellar below.
*********************
The people walked by - couple holding hands and laughing quietly with each other, they paid him no mind. He was just a stranger, not looking out of place and yet not looking like he belonged there either.
Severus Snape cursed out loud; he couldn't believe the blatant stupidity of those two. How they had ever helped Potter defeat Voldemort he would never know. He checked his wrist watch again - they were twenty minutes late, they should have been here and reported their findings at the Black House already. He was only one apparition away from them, but that was beside the point. He was not here to baby-sit two adult wizards…
"Damn fools." Snape muttered.
With a resigned sigh, Snape closed his eyes and pictured the front walk of Number 12 Grimmuald Place in his mind and with a barely audible crack he was gone.
**********************
The first thing Snape noticed was the front door wide open, and the barrier he had placed just the day before to prevent only himself or those he chose from entering the house, was gone…and no one besides him and the ghost of Dumbledore had the power to get past that charm.
Quickly and quietly he pulled his wand from its holster and ran to the door and through the opening.
Snape scanned the entranceway and immediately saw the two wizards who he had to find, cursing to himself he quietly stepped towards them, never taking his eyes of his surroundings.
Once he reached their bodies he noticed they were breathing and allowed himself a sigh of relief.
Damn fools. Snape thought to himself.
"Yes - I was pretty much of the same mind…Severus."
Snape's blood froze in his veins, he knew that voice, remembered that familiar presence in his mind.
It cannot be…
Slowly and without lowering his wand he faced the speaker. Snape barely held back his shock at the sight of the man. There standing casually in front of him, was a tall man, taller than himself, wearing a long hooded black cloak. Under that hood - inside that blackness that Snape could feel coming off the stranger in waves - was a pair of glowing green eyes. Eyes that he had seen before, eyes that every time he saw them cursed him - insulted him and made him feel less than human.
"It has been entirely too long…wouldn't you say so Professor?" The man mocked him with his tone, berated him and Snape clenched his teeth in response.
"I know you - from somewhere." Snape stated as clearly as he could, trying to sound more courageous than he felt at the moment.
The man looked at him for a long moment, longer than Snape felt comfortable with because those eyes continued to judge him.
"Perhaps…perhaps we knew each other in a previous life. They say that happens you know, you run into people on the street everyday, seeing someone among the crowds of huddled masses and pounds of flesh, and for one fleeting second, you recognize someone. It's only there for a second…but there it is nonetheless."
Snape raised a greasy eyebrow at the man, "You're voice is a little different - more gnarled, but I do know you…"
Snape paused as he felt the mental barriers around his mind begin to shake with the warnings of an impending intrusion, "And do get out of my head - I don't like it when uninvited quests hammer at my door."
He man smiled under his hood, "So -how's you're dear mother these days? Still dead?"
Snape flinched, "How did you -?"
The hooded man shrugged, "You and I have a lot of unfinished business…but as you can see." The man made a gesture with his right hand and Snape finally caught sight of a rolled up piece of parchment. "I have more pressing matters to attend with at the moment."
The man waved his hand and Snape's wand went flying from his hand, "That's impossible - what the bloody hell are you!?"
The man waved his index finger back and forth in a scolding manner, "Now, now…Severus…you must remember to control that temper of yours."
Enraged, Snape pulled his back-up wand from its hidden holster and flicked it towards the stranger. A jet of yellow light streaked at the man, who casually held out his hand with the palm facing the spell and Snape watched in absolute shock as one of the deadliest spells in his repertoire struck the outstretched hand and vanished.
Snape's mouth opened and closed a few times before he found his voice, "IMPOSSIBLE! WHO ARE YOU!? NOT EVEN THE DARK LORD VOLDEMORT COULD DO SUCH A THING! PULL YOUR WAND AND FIGHT ME!"
The hooded man silently regarded him, "I will fight you Severus…when you learn to shut your mouth…and close your mind!"
Snape's eyes grew wide and then he felt it, magic…magic so intense and powerful that it pulsated off the stranger in visible waves of a dark blue light. The walls creaked and moaned at the foreign pressure - almost as if the magic was trying to tear them down, to make room for the hooded man.
You…
The man casually walked towards the former potions mater, his stride confident and as if he had no care in the world, "Me…"
His voice was menacing and Snape knew then at that precise moment that he could very well die…his experience and considerable magical abilities would be of no use against this…this abomination.
But he had to know, had to know why this man, what was once a man would turn away from it all for this.
"Why? Why would you do this Potter?"
The stranger who was no longer such stopped and stared at Snape, his glowing green eyes dimmed a little as he considered the question. Finally after what seemed like eons to the former potions master he replied.
"It seemed like the thing to do…"
There was no emotion in his voice - nothing. Snape, for the very first time in his life, felt something for this young man, who had sacrificed everything for a cause, just like he had done. Sacrificed his morality and humanity to stop a monster from destroying his world; sacrificed a treasured friendship to keep the mission on course, sacrificed a noble and caring man to allow this young man to achieve his goal and his destiny.
"I don't need your pity, Severus!" The Dark Lord roared. "I never wanted your pity, never asked for it! So you can take it - and shove back up your pale, pasty white ass!"
Snape flinched - the magic around Potter flared again, its waves stretching the boundaries of the houses walls.
"You think I am going to kill you - Snivellus…" It was a whisper barely heard over the crackling of the magic that surrounded the man, but Snape heard it, heard the insulting name as it attacked his pride and wanted to strike back, but there was no time, nothing he could logically do. Even Voldemort had never displayed this much raw power before. And if Snape was being completely honest with himself, he had never feared Voldemort as he feared this man standing before him now.
A stirring beside them caught their attention, and the man turned his head to see Hermione beginning to awaken. Suddenly the magic around him died out, his demeanor changed just as quickly…reverting once again to indifference.
Snape raised an eyebrow at the display of…what is that?
The Dark Lord's eyes had ceased glowing as well and they stared transfixed on the sleeping body of the young witch as her breathing became steadier, soon she would awaken completely.
"Harry…" She mumbled.
The man gasped and moved away so slowly it appeared as if was walking through a mud pit.
*******************
"Harry…" She mumbled.
The Dark Lord gasped and stepped back from her. His resolve was weakening and still couldn't quite understand why.
What power did this young witch have over him? He knew her in his past life, knew enough to know that they were once close - as close as two people could be and not have it go beyond friendship. When he looked at the young man he did not feel this - aching in his chest as he did when he looked upon her.
Her eyes opened, unfocused and a look of confusion crossed her face, "Where..?"
"Don't move Granger!" Snape barked.
No - not now! Hermione!
The Dark Lord cringed at the voice that rose up inside of him, sounding lost and alone. A little boy's voice, muffled from behind the door of the cupboard under the stairs.
"ARRGHH!"
Rage welled up inside of him, causing the little boy within to cower in fear. Hermione sat up immediately as Snape took a cautious step back, his wand still pointed uselessly at the Dark Lord.
Her eyes immediately found him and fear over took her; she scampered backwards - away, as far away as possible until her back hit the wall, her eyes wide and fearful.
She scanned the hallway and was surprised to see Snape standing in a defensive position to her left, his wand raised at the Dark Lord.
"Come to me Granger…quickly." Snape ordered; his tone left no room for argument.
Jumping to her feet, Hermione quickly raced to stand behind the older wizard.
The Dark Lord smirked at them and Hermione felt a chill run down her spine, "You will never learn…Snivellus. This is not some opportunity to redeem yourself in the eyes of those that you have wronged, because no matter where you go, or what you do - there you are. You. Always the same; slimy, egotistical, arrogant, self-absorbed, self-righteous and did I mention slimy…bastard."
Snape raised an eyebrow and sneered, "You are one to talk…you had everything handed to you on a silver platter…boy. You had the chance to grab hold of greatness and yet here you are, relishing in the darkness."
Hermione glanced from Snape to the Dark Lord and back again, looking totally lost and confused.
"What are you talking about? You know him Professor Snape?"
The Dark Lord laughed- a sound that echoed off the dank walls harshly, "Professor! Oh, that's rich! You hear that Severus? She called you Professor…as if you ever taught anyone anything during your time at Hogwarts…unless you gave lessons on how to be a coward and a traitor."
Hermione turned red with indignation, "Oh do shut up - you talk entirely too much! He was always serving Dumbledore and protecting Harry! He's not proud of what he had to do - but he had to do it!"
The Dark Lord regarded her coldly, "When did he ever protect me?"
It was at that moment that Hermione's world spun on its axis and turned upside down. If she had to put words to it, the sound that came from her chest - was not the sound of it beating rapidly in fear but the sound of it literally breaking into a millions shards.
"No!"
The verbalization of what she was feeling did not come from her; but from the young man still lying on the floor. Ron had awoken as well and was now staring at the Dark Lord, his face distorted in an odd mixture of fury and pain.
He crawled towards the Dark Lord slowly, every movement causing the vein in his forehead to strain and pulse.
"No Harry…please say it's not true!"
Hermione watched in dreaded anticipation as the Dark Lord raised his arms to his head and pulled back the hood covering his face.
She swallowed her scream as the hauntingly handsome face that had starred in so many of her dreams and nightmares during the past year was now before her, in the flesh - real.
His face was basically the same -the same defined chin and raised cheekbones. The ever messy raven hair that always seemed to beg her to run her hands through and the same piercing green eyes that she fell in love with the very first time she saw them.
The smile however, was gone - replaced by a look of loathing and contempt as he looked at them, her, Ron and Snape.
An evil grin spread across his face, "Didn't see this coming did you, Hermione? For all those brains - I must say that I am surprised…I really did expect more from my bookworm best friend."
She could only shake her head as the tears fell down her cheeks. Her mind was numb - not wanting to believe what was happening. That the man standing before them was her Harry…her best friend, her savior and her cherished love that was never to be.
Harry seemed to pause as he took her in, his eyes locked on the tears that cascaded down her cheeks.
Snape saw his chance, and without hesitation he raised his wand and sent a violent curse at Harry; which struck him in the chest - lifting him off his feet and sent him flying back down the hallway and colliding with the far wall.
Hermione whimpered, "Don't hurt him…"
Snape curled his lip, "He will kill us without a second thought Granger. He is no longer the man you knew. Remember that!"
Ron had gotten back to his feet and had picked up his wand. He faced Snape defiantly, "He's still Harry! He could have killed us earlier - but he didn't!"
"Oh, but I will now…"
Snape raised his wand again to curse Harry, but a blue bolt of magic hit the potions master in the abdomen and Hermione and Ron watched in horror has he was violently sent soaring backwards through the air and out the front door where they could hear him land on the front lawn with a thud and a low grunt of pain.
Harry was now standing before them, looking as if Snape had not just hit him with a very devastating spell, the evil grin still on his face.
Somewhere inside herself, Hermione found the strength and courage to finally speak, "Why Harry?! We are your friends…we love you! Why would you do this to us?!"
The tears in her throat nearly made her choke on her words.
Harry's eyes narrowed, "Do this to you…?" He echoed. "To you…of course that is how you would see it."
Something foreign flared inside him then, something long buried and forgotten. The Reason.
"He left you to fight this war alone...He left you before you were even given the chance to know what it was like to have a father...He betrayed your friendship...They never loved you enough to live and watch you grow...and She would never love you."
"They mock you now. You're noble sacrifice has no meaning for them. They are together now you know, as you lie here and rot - Laughing and loving while you are broken into nothing. Her smiles are for him and him alone...they were never for you..."
Rage like he had never known before roared within him, "YOU DID THIS! BOTH OF YOU! ALL OF THEM! I AM LIKE THIS BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Hermione and Ron nearly fell over backwards in fear at the outburst as waves of magic flared around Harry.
"YOU BETRAYED ME! EVERYTHING I DID - I DID FOR YOU!"
His green eyes flared and he turned his menacing glare upon Hermione, "FOR YOU! I HAD NOTHING LEFT! I SPENT A HUNDRED YEARS FLOATING IN THAT DAMN NOTHINGNESS BEING TORTURED BY YOUR FACE! WATCHING YOU AND HIM FORGET ALL ABOUT ME - AS IF I NEVER EXISTED! AS IF WHAT I GAVE UP, WHAT I SACRIFICED FOR YOU WAS WASTED! WAS ALL FOR NOTHING!!"
Hermione, who still had tears falling from her eyes, shook her head sadly, "No Harry - we would never do that. We love you. I love you."
Ron gripped her arms tightly and nodded, "She's right Harry - we never forgot you, or what you did for us."
Harry felt it again, that damn cupboard door, as it began to rattle; the boy within struggling against his cage, fighting for freedom. Something warm and familiar began to flow through him as the door opened slightly - then it slammed shut as new wave of rage and bitterness fought to the surface.
You don't need them. They are lying. They fear you.
Hermione took a step towards Harry, her arm out and her eyes pleading with him to believe her, "Harry please…come back to us. We need you. I need you…"
The magic around him flared to life again causing Hermione and Ron to jump back.
His face became distorted with rage and hatred, "Not this time Hermione, I know better now."
Harry pulled his dark cloak around him and regarded them carefully for a moment, "Because of what we once had, our past friendship - I will show you mercy this once, and allow you to live."
The cupboard door shook gently and he had to force it back, slam it shut, lock it up.
He raised his finger, "But only this once - the next time I see you…either of you, it will be for the last time."
More tears flowed from Hermione's eyes, "No Harry! Don't do this! Please!"
Harry smiled coldly at them, "Oh I didn't do this - you did Hermione…remember that."
With those words Harry Potter, the new Dark Lord, apparated away silently and with him he took all the joy Hermione had ever known in her short life
To Be Continued….
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