Ashes of Victory Ch 3
Ashes of Victory Chapter 3
Disclaimer - I don't own the Harry Potter characters. Please do not sue. The lyrics to the song featured in this chapter are from The Unforgiven by Metallica.
Severus Snape sat inside a three by five cage. He had been there for a week, and it didn't look as if he would be getting out anytime soon. It was currently dark outside. He lay curled on his bed in a corner, asleep. A guard sat in the hallway, having just made his hourly rounds.
A piercing shriek split the quietness of the night. The guard, McKay, grumbled, and started walking down the hallway. When he got outside the cell the noise was coming from, he started banging on the bars with his nightstick. It's that damn Snape, he thought.
The screaming continued. And continued. The guard standing duty on the other side of the door out of the hallway came in to see what the problem was. McKay carefully entered the cell, while the other guard stayed outside. They still couldn't wake the prisoner. After five minutes, the screaming still had not abated. The senior night officer, Weastrigh came in.
He stood for a second, looking at Snape. They had even dumped a bucket of water over his head. Nothing helped.
He turned to McVay. "Get Dumbledore. Use the Floo Network."
A few minutes later, Headmaster Dumbledore came rushing in. There was still soot from the Network on his robes. Snape was still screaming, although now there was a hoarse quality to the sound.
"How long?" Dumbledore asked Weastrigh.
"About ten minutes. They tried to wake him. Nothing seemed to work. Calling you was the last resort."
"I think it would be best if you let me in with him." Dumbledore said slowly, never taking his eyes off Snape.
"Sir!" McVay started to protest. "He could-"
"He could what?" Weastrigh interrupted. "If Dumbledore didn't feel that this hearing was needed to clear Snape's name, Snape wouldn't be here. And if he felt Snape needed to be taken elsewhere, I doubt either of us could stop the Headmaster from taking him elsewhere."
"You may lock me in with him if you wish," Dumbledore said. "And keep my wand. I won't need it."
Weastrigh opened the door to Snape's cell, and closed it behind Dumbledore. He didn't take the Headmaster's wand. Then, all three officers went back to their posts, to give Dumbledore some privacy to try to reach Snape.
He was still screaming, although the sound was a mere whisper now. Albus sat down at the head of the bed, and pulled Snape to lay against him. He looked down at his adopted child, and quietly slipped inside the troubled mind.
The first thing Albus felt was gripping anguish. His mental self was driven to his knees by the overwhelming pain and guilt and self-hatred Severus felt. Memories were flashing through his head, images and words both.
A young girl, eight or nine, with brown curls and clear blue eyes. She was dressed in Muggle clothing. Her clothes were covered in blood, her face twisted in agony. Albus saw Severus standing beyond her. Snape slowly pulled his wand out, and pointed it to her. Whispering the killing curse, as the other Deatheaters present watched.
Severus' voice echoed in his head, softly singing:
New blood joins this Earth
And quickly he's subdued Through constant pained disgrace The young boy learns their rules
With time the child draw in This whipping boy done wrong Deprived of all his thoughts The young man struggles on and on he's known A vow unto his own That never from this day His will they'll take away
Albus watches as another image appears. It was that of an Auror, Rustia Jatem, who had also been a member of the Order of the Phoenix. She had been killed a few years ago. Now, he saw her chained to a table. Naked. There were Deatheaters all around, taking turns raping her. Soon, all had had a turn but Severus. Voldemort looked at him.
"It is your turn, my young one." The red eyes gleamed, the mouth stretched in a sadistic smile.
"My Lord, please," Severus began.
"I have heard rumors you were not loyal. Are these true, Severus?"
"No, My Lord. It is just the thought of all the vile muck that they have left inside her." Albus could see Severus thinking rapidly, trying to find a way to avoid this, and maybe save the Auror.
"You have a choice. She is dead meat anyway. You may either use her as the others have, or be used by the others." Voldemort paused, then added, "And I will make certain that you provide at least a weeks worth of entertainment before I kill you."
He did as he was commanded. Hating himself every second of it. It didn't even help when she whispered that she knew he didn't want to, that she knew he was on the side of light, and that she forgave him.
"At least one of us will survive this. Tell Albus there is information in the usual place for him. And do not feel guilty for this. I forgive you." She had whispered this last as he had slipped a knife between her ribs into her heart. He had wanted to do the same to himself.
Severus' voice sang softly again:
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never be Never see Won't see what might have been
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never free Never me So I dub thee Unforgiven
Albus found himself in a dank dungeon. Rat scurried over puddles of water. In the corner, a teenaged boy with shoulder length dark hair sat with his knees against his chest. The boy looked up, it was Severus. A man who looked like Severus stood in the doorway of the cell.
"You disobeyed me. Insolent hell spawn! You killed my wife, yet you couldn't kill that damn muggle child. Crucio!" The man smiled viciously as the boy twisted on the floor.
Severus struggled for a moment, then gave into the pain of the curse. When it was lifted, he begged, "Father! I am sorry! I-I just couldn't."
"Crucio," the elder Snape whispered. Then he closed the door.
The singing voice floated through Albus' head again, sounding a little angry.
They dedicate their lives To running all of his He tries to please them all This bitter man he is Throughout his life the same He's battled constantly This fight he cannot win A tired man they see no longer cares The old man then prepares To die regretfully That old man here is me
A formal sitting room this time, furnished from the Victorian era. Malfoy stood there, along with McNabb. On a throne sat Lord Voldemort. Severus knelt in front of him, and kissed his robe.
"Did you bring the potion, Severus?" The Dark Lord whispered softly.
"Yes, My Lord."
"Bring her in," he ordered McNabb. McNabb opened a door, and Minerva McGongall was dragged into a room.
"Give her the potion. You will enjoy this, my dear Professor. A special pain-enhancing potion just for you."
Severus moved swiftly to her, and knelt on the floor where she had been dropped. Bending over her, he fed her the potion. "It is a numbing potion. I will get word to Albus as soon as I can."
The other Deatheaters chained her to a post in the room. Malfoy brought out a whip, and proceeded to flay her back. Severus left as soon as he could. The sight sickened him. He threw up in the corroder outside the sitting room. Taking an extreme risk, he went to the nearest fireplace to Floo Albus, to tell him to get her out of here, immediately.
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never be Never see Won't see what might have been
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never free Never me So I dub thee Unforgiven You labeled me I'll label you So I dub thee Unforgiven.
'Severus' Dumbledore whispered into the turbulent mind. 'You are not unforgiven. Or forgotten. I am here, my little snake. Please, come back to me. You are safe now. You don't have to do those things again. You are forgiven. Not unforgiven. I am here. Come back. It's safe.' his voice trailed off as he felt the body lying against his begin to stir. Albus projected a strong wave of love and warmth into Severus, and then withdrew.