The Snake and the Eagle

Chapter 19 - The Students' Escape

The second enemy attack had evident repercussions on both sides, granting Dumbledore and his supporters at least one day of rest. That afternoon, an Order meeting was called to discuss the situation so far. The main members of the resistance met in Dumbledore's office while the others went on with their duties of patrolling of the castle and its surroundings. The students were gathered in the dungeons in their common room, with the only company of Madam Pomfrey and the House ghosts. The fist time the kids had shared the room with the Bloody Baron they were pretty frightened, all except Pansy of course. But they soon had realized he could be a pleasant company as much as the other three. After a while, they even tried to make him tell them why he was covered with blood, but he stubbornly refused to reveal his secret.

"I like to keep an air of mystery around my person, if you don't mind," he snobbishly answered.

The meeting took place at five o'clock in the afternoon, as Dumbledore claimed the best decisions were taken in front of a streaming cup of tea. Harry, Hermione and Ron were easily allowed to join in too, a thing that gave Harry the weird sensation that nothing of great importance was going to be said. The group inside the round office was, in fact, quite smaller than usual. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, the others had taken seat in the various chairs and armchairs scattered all around the room, while a tray laden with a big teapot, cups, cookies and cakes kept floating around the room for everybody to help themselves.

"Our forces have egregiously faced two attacks yet," Dumbledore said to his audience who nodded their agreement, "but last night incident gives me reason to question the safety of this castle," he went on, looking very concerned.

"But we've been able to defeat the vampires too?" Mundungus Fletcher said cheerfully. Snape gave him an indignant look. Dung seemed to have forgotten that, if it wasn't for Snape's quick reflexes, many of them would have been drained of their blood instead of being there enjoying a cup of tea. Dumbledore took notice of the young man's mood, and decided to give him the credit he deserved.

"I know it, Dung. But don't forget that if it wasn't for Severus's spell we wouldn't have been that lucky," he softly admonished him, "all the same, I believe it would be better if the Aurors escort the kids to a safer, unplotable place." At these words Harry gave a look around himself in alarm, he didn't want to leave Hogwarts, it still felt like home to him.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir?" Harry timidly said.

"Yes, Harry?" Dumbledore said, staring at the boy with interest.

"When you said you want us to leave Hogwarts, do you mean my friends and me as well?" he asked, praying deep inside of him for a no.

"No, my boy. You three, as Order members, will stay here," Dumbledore reassured him.

"When do you think they should leave?" Moody asked.

"Tonight, and two of us will escort them to Hogsmeade Station, where a squad of Aurors will take them to their destination. Then these two person will reach the lake, and cross it back to the castle. Any volunteer?" he asked looking around the room. They all agreed about the necessity of that action, but it was going to be quite dangerous with all those Death Eaters camped out there.

"I will go," suddenly sounded Snape's resolute voice.

"So will I," followed Professor Falconbridge's steady voice. Snape looked at her with a mixture of surprise and anxiety, his head shaking slowly.

"Are you sure, dear? It can be dangerous,you know," McGonagall asked a little perplexed. "Now that Severus had been discovered, he would be an inviting target for the enemy ... and Alexandra, though an Auror, she is still so young. But I'm more than certain Severus won't let anything happen to her," she worriedly mused. Dumbledore seemed to be thinking on the same line as McGonagall and eventually accepted the volunteers.

"Well, then. You'll leave the castle as soon as darkness falls. Be careful, and don't forget to put a Concealing Charm on yourselves and the boat," Dumbledore said, they both nodded, then the meeting was dismissed. McGonagall took Harry and his friends back to the dungeons, where she was to give the important news to the other students.

"You can't send me away, my whole family is here!" Ginny shouted panic stricken.

"We only want to be sure you're safe, darling," Mrs Weasley said soothingly, trying to calm her down.

"Oh please, mummy. Don't let them take me away. I want to stay with you and dad, and my brothers," Ginny pleaded with her mother crying her eyes out.

"Oh, Minerva. Couldn't we just let her stay?" Mrs Weasley inquired, her chest heaving to see her daughter in distress.

"I'll speak with Albus and we'll see what we can do. Don't worry Molly," McGonagall told her with a kind smile. Then she ordered to the leaving students to pack their things, and she left the room.

***

They had an early dinner, and their mood had never been that low. An oppressive silence filled the room, for nobody was in the mood for chatting. People kept checking the bewitched ceiling of the Great Hall to see when it turned dark. At around 9 o'clock it had turned a dark blue, and it was cloudy enough to hide the silver light of the moon, allowing them a good advantage on the enemy. Dumbledore looked up, then turned his eyes to the two teachers. Snape nodded and stood up and Falconbridge followed suit.

"Students, it's time to leave! Go fetch your things," Dumbledore ordered them. After a very sad farewell full of tears, hugs and promises, the two teachers led them out of the common room and down a long corridor heading deep underneath the lake. They turned left and reached a dead end where stood a statue of Salazar Slytherin, in the middle of the thick stone wall. Snape moved closer to it and pressed his finger-tips on the snake engraved on Salazar's chest. The statue opened up like an iron maiden, revealing a dark, narrow passageway. He took his wand out, performed a Lumos Spell and went first into the tunnel.

"Now, light up your wands and keep your eyes and ears wide-open," Professor Falconbridge instructed her students, who nodded and followed Snape. She went in too, positioning herself at the end of the small row. As soon as they were all in, the statue closed itself again with a stony thump. They reached the end of the tunnel after ten minutes of walking through a winding underground tunnel. Snape made them sign to wait, and he emerged out in the open air to check if the coast was clear. That was the secret passage leading in the Forbidden Forest. There seemed to be not a soul around so Snape call them out, instructing them to keep quiet and stay close together. They had just reached the margin of the forest and were half a mile from the station where the Aurors where waiting for them, when Snape saw three hooded figures coming their way. Snape froze on the spot, recognizing them at once as Death Eaters. He turned on his heels and made the students sign to hide behind the nearby bushes and trees. In doing so, someone stepped on a dry branch, which cracked loudly arising the three men's attention.

"There must be someone sneaking around!" one of the Death Eaters said, and they began to move exactly in their direction. They were all fear-stricken, no one dared even breath. Then Professor Falconbridge had a sudden idea. She began to mew, and in a very convincing way too. Snape gave her a look that seemed to shout what-the-hell-you-did-that-for? But he was greatly relieved when he heard one of the hooded man tell the others it was just a stray cat, so they walked on.

"Lovely, witty Ravenclaw!" Snape thought, looking at the witch with gratitude. Unfortunately, the three men were heading exactly in the same direction as they were. How were they going to reach the station with those three on their way? There was only one possible solution. Snape moved closer to Falconbridge.

"Listen, I'll try to have those three follow me into the forest while you take the kids to the station," he resolutely whispered in her hear.

"No, Severus! It's too risky!" she pleaded with him.

"It's our only chance. Don't worry, I'll be fine," he whispered, his hands grasping on the woman's shoulders. He then stood up, took out his wand and deposited his cloak on the ground, because it could have been just an impediment. He walked in the middle of the street, and assuming his usual, noble pose he attracted the three men's attention.

"Having a nice stroll there?" he said in a loud arrogant voice. The three Death Eaters whipped around to face him.

"Look, it's Snape!" shouted the first man.

"That bloody traitor is still alive!" said the second.

"Let's take him alive, the Dark Lord will reward us for this," said the third, and they took off to a run after Snape. Snape ran as fast as he could, deep in the very heart of the Forbidden Forest, the last place anyone in their right minds would go. Before he could even realize, he had led them straight in the den of the giant spider Aragog and his huge family.

"A present for you!" he shouted to Aragog, before taking his way back to Hogwarts.

Meanwhile, Professor Falconbridge had safely led the students to the station. She then put a Concealing Charm on herself and headed to the lake. Once there, she used the same charm on one of the boats harbored there, and sailed back to the castle. Her heart was beating painfully in her chest. She was dead worried about Severus, and not knowing what was going on in the forest was driving her crazy with anxiety. She arrived to the castle and began climbing the steps leading to the Entrance Hall. When she came into Dumbledore's office where they were all gathered she looks as pale as a ghost.

"Come have a seat, dear," McGonagall beckoned her, making her room on the couch beside her.

"Did anything go wrong? Where is Severus?" Dumbledore asked all armed by the witch's evident state of agitation. She told them everything about their encounter with the Death Eaters and how Snape had succeeded in luring them away from the students, at great personal risk.

"What a fool! They could have blasted him on the spot, and then comfortably kill you all," Moody derisively sneered.

"Severus is not a fool! He did a very brave thing, and don't you dare say that thing again!" Alexandra shrieked abruptly standing up, her voice trembling with rage, eyes filling with tears. She crumbled back in her seat hiding her face in her hands, "What if they've killed him?" she asked between sobs.

"Don't do that, dear. Severus knows perfectly how to defend himself. Trust me, he'll be fine" McGonagall tried to reassure her.

They all left Dumbledore office and headed to the Great Hall for an evening cup of tea. They were peacefully sat around the High Table, when a side door slowly opened. They all instinctively took their wands out, tensed against a possible intruder. The castle doors were charmed to let in only Order Members but, all the same, the state of alarm was constant. A man came in, and they were greatly relieved to see it was Snape. He was a true mess, his clothes were stained with mud and were thorn in some places. His face and hands were scratched and some leaf and twig sticked out of his ruffled hair.

"Hello, Severus. You're a true mess, did you know that?" Lupin cheerfully said approaching him.

"You try to run through the thick of the Forbidden Forest unscratched if you can!" was Snape's sarcastic answer.

"Severus!" Alexandra shouted, and she ran towards him. She flung her arms around his neck in a nearly strangling embrace, breaking down completely.

"Alexandra ... please ... calm down," he muttered trying to free himself from her grip.

"Oh, Severus. I was so scared!" she sobbed on his shoulder.

"I'm ok ... come on ... I cannot breath!" he muttered blushing furiously. She seemed to have forgotten the whole Order was watching them, all bearing unnerving grins on their faces.

"Welcome back, my boy," Dumbledore warmly said. The Headmaster's voice seemed to convince Alexandra it was time to release Severus. But when her hands slid on his back, she touched something wet and she heard Severus catch his breath. She then looked at her hands and they were covered in fresh blood.

"Oh my goodness, Severus you're bleeding!" she shouted with eyes wide opened with shock.

"Let me have a look," Madam Pomfrey readily said approaching.

"It's nothing serious Poppy, probably a Diffindo from afar," he casually said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Not far enough, I suppose. The wound is quite deep, I need to clean it before healing it. Come on, take away your upper clothes!" she bossingly ordered.

"What? I'm not going to undress here, not in front of the students at least!" Snape snarled scandalized.

"Oh, come on. I don't think these kids will be traumatized by the sight of an half naked man," the nurse said rolling her eyes to the ceiling. Snape hesitated a moment but the cut was burning like hell. He realized the wound was in a place too hard for him to reach. He resigned himself to shamefully start removing his clothes, remaining bare chested while Madam Pomfrey set to work. She dutifully cleaned his back, checking the wound for any possible debris that could infect it, then she took out her wand and closed it causing the bleeding to stop at once. The dressing of Snape's wound was curiously scrutinized by some pairs of eyes. Among them, the most attentive were the students, especially the girls. When somebody was used to go around so overly dressed like Snape, it was just natural for people to wonder how he may look underneath. But the thing that mostly caught their attention was a Slytherin tattooed on his left shoulder.

"Hey, Severus. When did you get that tattoo done?" Lupin said admiring it.

"Just after graduation," Snape quickly said.

"Wow, Professor. It's really cool. Did it hurt?" asked an overly interested Ron, statement which earned him a reproachful stare from his mother.

"Definitely yes, Mr Weasley," Snape spat with annoyance. He was highly irritated to see how people kept sneaking a look at his Dark Mark, and was more than eager to put on the new shirt an house-elf had diligently brought him.

"What was of those men?" Shacklebolt inquired. A smirk formed on Snape's lips and the mention of his former pursuers.

"I left them in the Forest, and in a very good company indeed. They're probably enjoying a little private party with a group of spiders as big as carter horses. They have kindly agreed to take care of them on my behalf," he whispered with gleaming eyes, "and talking about spiders- eh - Hagrid, your old friend Aragog sends you his greetings," he smirked to the Game keeper. Hagrid beamed, glad that his ex-pet still cared about him.

"What does it mean your old friend Aragog? Hagrid, don't tell me that monster is still around?" Professor McGonagall shouted reproachfully.

"Would you join us for a cup of tea?" Dumbledore kindly invited Snape, trying to change the subject of the conversation.

"No, thank you Headmaster. The only thing I want now is a nice shower and then straight to bed. It's been a tough night," Snape politely excused himself before heading for his private quarters.

***

That night, Professor Falconbridge had a terrible nightmare. She dreamed about black hooded figures chasing her down a deserted country road. When she took a path on the left and looked over her shoulder to her pursuers, she realized they had gone the other way. She she heard voices and unwisely went back. Hiding behind a tree, she gave a look at the three men, only to see that there were four now. The fourth man was Snape and her pursuers were going after him now. She was scared of them but, all the same, she could not let them outnumber him without doing something to help him. She ran after them, taking care to keep herself in the shadows of the wood by the road. The men came to a clearing and surrounded Snape on all sides, he was trapped. She had to do something, anything, and very quickly. She took out her wand and pointed it to one of the men, she opened her mouth to curse him, but no sound came out. Snape took his wand out, but one of the others was quicker and struck him with an Avada Kedavra, and he fell to the ground.

Alexandra brusquely woke up, sitting straight up in bed, panting, her heart beating madly. She gave a look around the room and realized it was just a dream, but that was not enough to lighten the heavy oppression she was feeling on her chest. She knew she was being silly, but she felt overcome by the need to see him, to check he was well. She jumped off her bed and, not bothering to put a shawl on her night-gown, she left the room and headed for the nearest fireplace. She grabbed a handful of floo-powder from a pot on the mantelpiece and threw it in the flames. She stepped in the middle of the green flames.

"Severus's Chambers," she shouted, and she was gone. She came out of his sitting room fireplace and walked to the door leading to his bedroom. She hesitated a second with her hand resting on the door knot, then went in.

"Severus?" she softly whispered. At the sound of intruders Snape leaped up on his bed with his wand pointed towards the source of the noise. He was wearing a nice, black, silk pyjamas slightly opened on his chest.

"Who's there?" he shouted menacingly.

"Put that thing down, it's only me... Alexandra," she shouted, a little astonished by the man's incredible reflexes. He turned on the candles in his room with a wave of his wand, and came down from his bed. He stopped in front of her, folding his arms on his chest.

"Do you realize I could have cursed you by mistake?" he said giving her one of his best cold glittering stare. The look of horror on the woman's face at the sudden realization of potential the dangerousness of her action, seemed to soften him a little.

"May I know to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit in my bedroom, in the middle of the night, wearing only that lovely night-gown of yours?" he sneered with a false note of annoyance and a raised eyebrow. Actually, he was rather enjoying the sight. If she had been feeling silly a moment before, she now felt really stupid. Still ashamed of her behavior, she told him about her nightmare and the reason she had fled to his rooms.

"This evening events probably have affected you so much, that your brain has freely elaborated them in your sleep," he unnecessarily explained to her, like she was some dunderhead first-year.

"I know it!" she snapped back indignant by his know-it-all attitude.

"I'm just so scared by all this situation we're living in. I cannot stand to think some of us may die. I'm scared I may loose you," she whispered in a slightly trembling voice, lowering her gaze to the floor. He then wrapped his arms around her in a warm, comforting embrace.

"Don't worry, I will always be there to protect you. Be it the last thing I do," he softly whispered. She raised her face and looked at him straight in his eyes. She was taken aback by the determination she could read in those black tunnels. She realized he really meant every single word he had said.

"You know, tomorrow it's very likely to be the day of the last attack. This could be our last night at Hogwarts, you'd better not spoil it with such bad thoughts," he softly whispered.

His eyes suddenly filled with a strange, bittersweet sadness. Alexandra felt a storm of mixed emotion swirl inside her. She felt hypnotized by those black ponds of velvet and his strong arms around her body felt so good. The comforting warmth of his body, that she could feel through the thin fabric of their night clothes, made her feel like she was going to melt on the spot. Their hearts were beating really fast. They both had noticed it, but none wanted to make the first move. Severus really did not want that moment to end too soon. To hold her in his arms was enough for him, and he did not dare do anything awkward that could make her push him away. She was the first to break that embarrassing silence.

"You're perfectly right. Let's forget about the sad things and think about the happy ones," she softly said. Her hands came to rest on his chest, where his slightly open pyjamas showed his shining amulet hanging onto his heart.

"It's really beautiful," she said caressing the pendant with her fingertips. He removed it from his neck to hook it around hers, before wrapping his arms around her waist again.

"Oh, no Severus. Keep it, it was meant to protect you," she said trying to have him take it back.

"The night I first gave it to you, I cast a spell on it to share its protective power with you," he whispered. She stared at him speechless.

"I want you to wear it, it will protect you," he insisted.

"But why are you giving it to me?" she asked a little confused.

"I need to know you're safe ... because I couldn't stand it if something happens to you," he tenderly whispered while lightly running a finger on her cheek.

She then slightly pushed him away. For a split second he thought that meant she was going to leave, and his lips parted to tell her good-bye. But before he could make a sound, her hands suddenly moved up to cup his face. He gave her a look of surprise to which she answered with a sweet smile. Then, she slowly pulled his face down to hers, she closed her eyes and sealed their lips with a kiss. Severus felt like he could explode with joy. Her soft lips felt so good on his own. She was kissing him passionately, one of her hands was running its fingers through his hair while the other was gently caressing his bare chest. He was kissing her back with matching passion, his tongue exploring her mouth, tasting it, memorizing it. He was not afraid of making his feelings clear, because now he did not have to pretend he was drunk like on Saint Valentine's night. His left arm was pulling her closer while his right hand was buried in the sea of her soft chestnut waves. They finally broke their kiss, panting.

"Severus," she breathlessly said. How was it that he had thought his name to be ugly? From her lips it sounded as light as air, delicate as a summer's night breeze.

"I think I should leave now," she said with a small smile. He nodded and loosened his embrace.

"I see you to the door," he said leading her out of his bedroom.

"I've come by floo," she said when they reached his sitting room.

"Well, then. There should be some in that pot on the mantelpiece," he muttered, "I hope you won't have other nightmares about other Order members," he smirked.

"Don't worry, I don't have the habit to rush in in people's bedrooms in the middle of the night," she sneered back. She lightened up the fireplace and threw an handful of floo-powder in it.

"Don't worry, everything will be all right," he reassured her with a sweet smile.

"Severus! Please promise me that, when this will be all over, you'll tell me everything about you," she asked looking at him hopefully. He was a little taken aback by her unexpected request, but he nodded his agreement.

"You have my word. I'll tell you everything, everything!" he whispered before she stepped into the flames, and shouted her destination. He stood there staring thoughtfully in the now empty flames for a minute. He now knew he was not indifferent to her, but could that mean she loved him? Or had things been pushed to that point by the mere sense of uncertainty of their future? He did not know. He only knew that night he had come really close to declare his love to her, but he refrained himself because that was not the right time for talking about love with the final fight approaching.