(no subject)
Title: Liberation
Author: CrimsonShinigami
Pairing: Severus Snape x Harry Potter - in the far future. Others are possible too.
Part: 3/?
Words: 7160/50000
Summary: After the loss of the Battle for Hogwarts, all of Britain was thrown into slavery to Voldemort's reign. Working as a Captain in the Resistance, Harry Potter has had to learn to live the hard way, as a fugitive - while earnestly fighting to save lives, and deliver liberty through Voldemort's end. But with more Horcruxes to find, the question of disquiet within the ranks of the Resistance, and his rediscovery by the Wizarding world: is it really going to be as easy as he might hope?
After breakfast, Harry and Jules made their way down the narrow, steep passageway that led down to the deepest area of the compound, where special cases and injuries were kept. There wasn’t so much room down here. Battles with Wizards not only killed many, but resulted in curses and charms upon them that were difficult, if not impossible to remedy. Whilst the enemy killed anyone who was at all useless; the Movement existed to preserve life. But life could be expensive: those unable to fight were one thing only - a drain of resources.
The room in which Hermione crouched in the corner, also contained four other Confounded individuals, five Memory cases, Horatio and a small young woman with short, scruffy brown hair, who called herself a Nurse; or on better days, when you weren’t suffering in some new and novel way, Dot.
Dot and Horatio were currently working together to fix up an obviously self inflicted wound on one of the patient’s shoulders, with Dot showing Horatio just how Muggles would go about treating such a wound. They didn’t even notice the arrival or Jules and Harry until Harry coughed, stirringly.
Horatio stood up, leaving Dot to her work. Without being questioned, he spoke of Hermione. “She’s either Confounded, or insane. I’m not sure which…but I wouldn’t like to give you false hope, either. She’s physically healthy, considering. I won’t lie to you, Harry - our Master was not a kind man. He used us in every way…”
“If you’re saying she was raped, then that’s not exactly a surprise to me,” Harry murmured, though it stung to actually say it. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Yes,” Horatio replied, eyeing him carefully, before glancing towards Dot. “But I would like to mention it alone, if you don’t mind…?”
Harry nodded, and waved his hand for Jules to remain too, sweeping Horatio away into the small room which contained meager medical stores. It was enough of a sound barrier, apparently, because Horatio spoke his mind immediately.
“How much have you told them, Harry? About your past, or your link to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?”
Ah…well that was a reasonable question. Harry reached up to rub at his eyes, and moved to lean against the door. “I have had to tell them a certain amount, I admit - that I’m a particular enemy of Voldemort’s…” Horatio winced, but waved his hand for Harry to go on when he paused. “There are things even you don’t know, Horatio - about what I - personally - have to do. But yes, I have told them a lot; they would have learnt it another way, otherwise. There are Purebloods and Muggleborns who have heard my name before, living in Resistance bunkers all over the country.”
“It’s amazing that your name hasn’t come back into circulation, with so many people knowing who you are…”
Harry waved his hand. “Good luck, I think. I’m sure I’ll know it when he finds out I’m still alive.”
“Yes; and then you’ll need even more good luck…” Horatio had moved back to the door, and stood beside Harry, waiting for him to move so that he could open the door. When Harry moved, however, he still kept his hand in place, one question on the tip of his tongue, but unspoken.
“Yes,” Harry said, looking deeply into Horatio’s eyes.
“Sorry?” Horatio asked, a little taken aback by the answer to an as of yet unspoken question.
“You want to know if I’m still going to finish him. The answer is ‘Yes’.”
Frowning, Horatio opened the door. “How do you know that was what I was going to ask? I could have asked if you were insane, or something…”
Harry laughed and tapped his nose, moving back into the room. Jules was standing to one side, and looking nervous. Harry could tell what the problem was already: Jules was a warrior, and being around he injured made her self-conscious of her own weaknesses, and possible eventual place amongst them. He often had the same feeling when he looked upon them, but he at least had the security of the prophecy. There was no fear of his simply becoming an empty shell, spending his days staring at white walls - he would die, or he would end this war; it was that simple.
In the corner, Hermione sat looking at them through her tangled mass of hair. She was looking at Harry, really, but because of her position, she had a perfect view of the entire room. Harry could see, in that defensive position, exactly what Hermione had had to learn in her captivity. It stung considerably, and yet he found himself moving towards her none the less. Pain or no, she was his friend.
He knelt down, a meter or so away from her, and reached out his hand in front of him. “Hermione,” he said, gently. “Do you understand what I’m saying to you? Nod, if you do. Just nod.”
Hermione reached out and took Harry’s hand, nodding slowly. “Good,” Harry murmured, gently. A rush of relief had admittedly rolled over him. Hermione was still alive and sane underneath the spell, or conditioning that had been placed on her. He tightened his grip on her hand, and moved a little closer.
“Is there anything you’d like, Hermione? Books? Can you still read?”
Hermione nodded, eagerly, her eyes lighting up with the same passion she had always had around books, and of course the unmistakable light of hope. Harry smiled, wrung her hand again, and then stood up. “I’ll find you some books, Hermione,” he replied, to her brilliant smile, looking towards Jules, who was still frowning.
Together, and with many backwards glances, they again left. Harry, of course, would have stayed longer, if the very emotion of being in Hermione’s presence after having thought he’d lost her was not entirely overwhelming. It made his heart ache in a wonderful way, and yet stung a deep pain inside of him too. Back up the long slope, and in the main hall, he found himself leaning against the stone wall, Jules’ hand on his shoulder.
“It’s too much, Jules,” he confided, pressing his head into the stone and closing his eyes tightly. “I thought she was gone. I was so sure I’d lost her… And now here she is, and she’s suffered so much.”
“Shush,” Jules murmured, stroking her hand over his shoulder soothingly, her head slightly tipped to one side in concern. “You don’t have to take it in too much at once, Harry; she seems like a sensible girl, I’m sure she can tell how hard this is for you.”
Harry nodded, bringing his hands up to his head, and pulling himself away from the wall. “Where am I going to find books, Jules? We never have books…”
“We’re going to have to get some, Harry,” was the obvious reply. Jules was already staring off into space absently, obviously thinking; though it was questionable as to whether she was considering the subject or not.
Harry lifted his eyes warily towards her. “Jules?”
It was enough to snap her out of it. She moved her head to look at him again, and he raised his eyebrows questioningly. “Oh…nothing, Harry. Just those people down there… Aren’t you ever afraid that you’re going to end up like that?”
“Honestly? No.” Harry didn’t need to offer an explanation, and Jules didn’t want one. She wanted comforting, that was all. “You’re not going to end up like them, Jules. You’ve got me to protect you, for one thing.” He smiled and patted her shoulder. “And you’re far too quick for them, besides. Come on…we’ve got a few hours before we’re expected on Perimeter duties, and I need some books.”
Jules frowned at him, obviously considering him insane. “You’re going to go out there for a few books? In daylight? You’re mad, aren’t you?”
“Out there?” Harry asked, before letting out a peel of laughter. “I’m not that mad. No, I’m going to ask around. I don’t need much - a bible, maybe. I’m sure there’ll be a bible in someone’s possession. Hermione will read anything.”
“Oh,” Jules replied, before laughing too. “A bible: Now why didn’t I think of that?”
Harry smiled and led the way through the corridor. “Now all I have to do is find the priest,” he scratched his head. “Do you think he’ll be in the chapel already?”
“It’s pretty likely.”
“Well then…” and so Harry led the way.
It wasn’t a long walk - well, it wouldn’t have been on the surface, but to get to the chapel, Harry and Jules had to walk through a half mile of tunnels. The chapel was one of the surface rooms - meaning that it was one of the closest to the exit; not that it was in a surface building. Even here, there was only the thin light of the generator to keep it lit - emitting a faint, brownish glow over everything. It was the only light they really had, but it was adequate. The only rooms with brighter lights were the control room and the operating rooms.
In the center of one wall, the priest was standing under his makeshift cross. It had been physically chiseled out of the rock, in lieu of actually having any material to make things out of. A single candle lit the pages of the bible that he was reading from as he preached to the congregation - a healthy number of people, really. It was to be expected really, considering he life expectancy of a Resistance fighter.
Harry and Jules had to wait until the congregation dispersed, at which point the young, robust priest Lucas Wells, had a few moments that he could spare before the next group of people arrived after their shift.
Lucas Wells, despite being incredibly young, was also Irish. He was a wonderful man to know, though Harry did not spend much time with him himself. Lucas was far too busy, being entirely dedicated to every member of his congregation, so that he could name them each by heart. Members of Harry’s team, however, were inclined to Christianity, and thus new Lucas well - and Harry had to admit, even his voice made you feel incredibly happy, upon hearing it.
“Looking for something, Harry?”
Admittedly, it wasn’t much of a surprise that Lucas knew his name. He was one of the most talked about Captains in the Movement, and from what he knew, his team was very proud of him. It made him blush though, to be addressed so familiarly.
He got straight to the point. “I’m looking for a book to borrow, until I get the opportunity to lift some more.”
“So you thought I could put you in touch with a bible?” Lucas asked, picking up on the reason for the visit immediately. “We have a shared system with our bibles,” he explained. “Considering how difficult books are to get hold of, we’re lucky to have the few we have. But I tell you what - your man Verde has one of them right now, and I know for a fact that he knows God’s word inside out already. Perhaps if you ask him, he’ll lend it to you?”
Verde - Verde, that was wonderful. Harry smiled brightly, and gave Lucas a little wave, before stepping out of the doorway again, past the arriving men and women, closely followed by Jules. “Let me guess,” she asked, “Verde’s in the other hall?”
“Hit the nail on the head, Jules,” Harry grinned. “What? Don’t you like walking?”
Didn't think I'd have another chapter tonight - but hey, it was a short chapter. *rubs at eyes* I'm turning in now. Couldn't escape without the Irish priest, though. Hope you enjoyed. And I know - it must be so -exhausting- to keep up with me :)
Author: CrimsonShinigami
Pairing: Severus Snape x Harry Potter - in the far future. Others are possible too.
Part: 3/?
Words: 7160/50000
Summary: After the loss of the Battle for Hogwarts, all of Britain was thrown into slavery to Voldemort's reign. Working as a Captain in the Resistance, Harry Potter has had to learn to live the hard way, as a fugitive - while earnestly fighting to save lives, and deliver liberty through Voldemort's end. But with more Horcruxes to find, the question of disquiet within the ranks of the Resistance, and his rediscovery by the Wizarding world: is it really going to be as easy as he might hope?
After breakfast, Harry and Jules made their way down the narrow, steep passageway that led down to the deepest area of the compound, where special cases and injuries were kept. There wasn’t so much room down here. Battles with Wizards not only killed many, but resulted in curses and charms upon them that were difficult, if not impossible to remedy. Whilst the enemy killed anyone who was at all useless; the Movement existed to preserve life. But life could be expensive: those unable to fight were one thing only - a drain of resources.
The room in which Hermione crouched in the corner, also contained four other Confounded individuals, five Memory cases, Horatio and a small young woman with short, scruffy brown hair, who called herself a Nurse; or on better days, when you weren’t suffering in some new and novel way, Dot.
Dot and Horatio were currently working together to fix up an obviously self inflicted wound on one of the patient’s shoulders, with Dot showing Horatio just how Muggles would go about treating such a wound. They didn’t even notice the arrival or Jules and Harry until Harry coughed, stirringly.
Horatio stood up, leaving Dot to her work. Without being questioned, he spoke of Hermione. “She’s either Confounded, or insane. I’m not sure which…but I wouldn’t like to give you false hope, either. She’s physically healthy, considering. I won’t lie to you, Harry - our Master was not a kind man. He used us in every way…”
“If you’re saying she was raped, then that’s not exactly a surprise to me,” Harry murmured, though it stung to actually say it. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Yes,” Horatio replied, eyeing him carefully, before glancing towards Dot. “But I would like to mention it alone, if you don’t mind…?”
Harry nodded, and waved his hand for Jules to remain too, sweeping Horatio away into the small room which contained meager medical stores. It was enough of a sound barrier, apparently, because Horatio spoke his mind immediately.
“How much have you told them, Harry? About your past, or your link to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?”
Ah…well that was a reasonable question. Harry reached up to rub at his eyes, and moved to lean against the door. “I have had to tell them a certain amount, I admit - that I’m a particular enemy of Voldemort’s…” Horatio winced, but waved his hand for Harry to go on when he paused. “There are things even you don’t know, Horatio - about what I - personally - have to do. But yes, I have told them a lot; they would have learnt it another way, otherwise. There are Purebloods and Muggleborns who have heard my name before, living in Resistance bunkers all over the country.”
“It’s amazing that your name hasn’t come back into circulation, with so many people knowing who you are…”
Harry waved his hand. “Good luck, I think. I’m sure I’ll know it when he finds out I’m still alive.”
“Yes; and then you’ll need even more good luck…” Horatio had moved back to the door, and stood beside Harry, waiting for him to move so that he could open the door. When Harry moved, however, he still kept his hand in place, one question on the tip of his tongue, but unspoken.
“Yes,” Harry said, looking deeply into Horatio’s eyes.
“Sorry?” Horatio asked, a little taken aback by the answer to an as of yet unspoken question.
“You want to know if I’m still going to finish him. The answer is ‘Yes’.”
Frowning, Horatio opened the door. “How do you know that was what I was going to ask? I could have asked if you were insane, or something…”
Harry laughed and tapped his nose, moving back into the room. Jules was standing to one side, and looking nervous. Harry could tell what the problem was already: Jules was a warrior, and being around he injured made her self-conscious of her own weaknesses, and possible eventual place amongst them. He often had the same feeling when he looked upon them, but he at least had the security of the prophecy. There was no fear of his simply becoming an empty shell, spending his days staring at white walls - he would die, or he would end this war; it was that simple.
In the corner, Hermione sat looking at them through her tangled mass of hair. She was looking at Harry, really, but because of her position, she had a perfect view of the entire room. Harry could see, in that defensive position, exactly what Hermione had had to learn in her captivity. It stung considerably, and yet he found himself moving towards her none the less. Pain or no, she was his friend.
He knelt down, a meter or so away from her, and reached out his hand in front of him. “Hermione,” he said, gently. “Do you understand what I’m saying to you? Nod, if you do. Just nod.”
Hermione reached out and took Harry’s hand, nodding slowly. “Good,” Harry murmured, gently. A rush of relief had admittedly rolled over him. Hermione was still alive and sane underneath the spell, or conditioning that had been placed on her. He tightened his grip on her hand, and moved a little closer.
“Is there anything you’d like, Hermione? Books? Can you still read?”
Hermione nodded, eagerly, her eyes lighting up with the same passion she had always had around books, and of course the unmistakable light of hope. Harry smiled, wrung her hand again, and then stood up. “I’ll find you some books, Hermione,” he replied, to her brilliant smile, looking towards Jules, who was still frowning.
Together, and with many backwards glances, they again left. Harry, of course, would have stayed longer, if the very emotion of being in Hermione’s presence after having thought he’d lost her was not entirely overwhelming. It made his heart ache in a wonderful way, and yet stung a deep pain inside of him too. Back up the long slope, and in the main hall, he found himself leaning against the stone wall, Jules’ hand on his shoulder.
“It’s too much, Jules,” he confided, pressing his head into the stone and closing his eyes tightly. “I thought she was gone. I was so sure I’d lost her… And now here she is, and she’s suffered so much.”
“Shush,” Jules murmured, stroking her hand over his shoulder soothingly, her head slightly tipped to one side in concern. “You don’t have to take it in too much at once, Harry; she seems like a sensible girl, I’m sure she can tell how hard this is for you.”
Harry nodded, bringing his hands up to his head, and pulling himself away from the wall. “Where am I going to find books, Jules? We never have books…”
“We’re going to have to get some, Harry,” was the obvious reply. Jules was already staring off into space absently, obviously thinking; though it was questionable as to whether she was considering the subject or not.
Harry lifted his eyes warily towards her. “Jules?”
It was enough to snap her out of it. She moved her head to look at him again, and he raised his eyebrows questioningly. “Oh…nothing, Harry. Just those people down there… Aren’t you ever afraid that you’re going to end up like that?”
“Honestly? No.” Harry didn’t need to offer an explanation, and Jules didn’t want one. She wanted comforting, that was all. “You’re not going to end up like them, Jules. You’ve got me to protect you, for one thing.” He smiled and patted her shoulder. “And you’re far too quick for them, besides. Come on…we’ve got a few hours before we’re expected on Perimeter duties, and I need some books.”
Jules frowned at him, obviously considering him insane. “You’re going to go out there for a few books? In daylight? You’re mad, aren’t you?”
“Out there?” Harry asked, before letting out a peel of laughter. “I’m not that mad. No, I’m going to ask around. I don’t need much - a bible, maybe. I’m sure there’ll be a bible in someone’s possession. Hermione will read anything.”
“Oh,” Jules replied, before laughing too. “A bible: Now why didn’t I think of that?”
Harry smiled and led the way through the corridor. “Now all I have to do is find the priest,” he scratched his head. “Do you think he’ll be in the chapel already?”
“It’s pretty likely.”
“Well then…” and so Harry led the way.
It wasn’t a long walk - well, it wouldn’t have been on the surface, but to get to the chapel, Harry and Jules had to walk through a half mile of tunnels. The chapel was one of the surface rooms - meaning that it was one of the closest to the exit; not that it was in a surface building. Even here, there was only the thin light of the generator to keep it lit - emitting a faint, brownish glow over everything. It was the only light they really had, but it was adequate. The only rooms with brighter lights were the control room and the operating rooms.
In the center of one wall, the priest was standing under his makeshift cross. It had been physically chiseled out of the rock, in lieu of actually having any material to make things out of. A single candle lit the pages of the bible that he was reading from as he preached to the congregation - a healthy number of people, really. It was to be expected really, considering he life expectancy of a Resistance fighter.
Harry and Jules had to wait until the congregation dispersed, at which point the young, robust priest Lucas Wells, had a few moments that he could spare before the next group of people arrived after their shift.
Lucas Wells, despite being incredibly young, was also Irish. He was a wonderful man to know, though Harry did not spend much time with him himself. Lucas was far too busy, being entirely dedicated to every member of his congregation, so that he could name them each by heart. Members of Harry’s team, however, were inclined to Christianity, and thus new Lucas well - and Harry had to admit, even his voice made you feel incredibly happy, upon hearing it.
“Looking for something, Harry?”
Admittedly, it wasn’t much of a surprise that Lucas knew his name. He was one of the most talked about Captains in the Movement, and from what he knew, his team was very proud of him. It made him blush though, to be addressed so familiarly.
He got straight to the point. “I’m looking for a book to borrow, until I get the opportunity to lift some more.”
“So you thought I could put you in touch with a bible?” Lucas asked, picking up on the reason for the visit immediately. “We have a shared system with our bibles,” he explained. “Considering how difficult books are to get hold of, we’re lucky to have the few we have. But I tell you what - your man Verde has one of them right now, and I know for a fact that he knows God’s word inside out already. Perhaps if you ask him, he’ll lend it to you?”
Verde - Verde, that was wonderful. Harry smiled brightly, and gave Lucas a little wave, before stepping out of the doorway again, past the arriving men and women, closely followed by Jules. “Let me guess,” she asked, “Verde’s in the other hall?”
“Hit the nail on the head, Jules,” Harry grinned. “What? Don’t you like walking?”
Didn't think I'd have another chapter tonight - but hey, it was a short chapter. *rubs at eyes* I'm turning in now. Couldn't escape without the Irish priest, though. Hope you enjoyed. And I know - it must be so -exhausting- to keep up with me :)