Love of a Leo and a Capricorn

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Love of a Leo and a Capricorn
By Firesword
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- CHAPTER TWO: TWO WIZARDS CORNERED -

Monday, 30th May 1999. Just after the Final Battle.

The dust and the uprooted trees had finally settled on the ground, and Harry Potter, who was half-crouching, was coughing badly. His coughs were the only thing he could hear, and somewhat in fear, he had tried to stifle them. He blinked furiously and wiped his glasses hurriedly on the hem of his robe before putting them on. A part of him snorted derisively - it was ridiculous about having to worry that he still had to take care of his glasses. Another part of him had then remarked condescendingly that it was with his glasses that he had managed to survive this long.

He raised his wand and surveyed his surroundings warily. War cries suddenly pierced the still air and he immediately turned to his right. Like many times in the past, Harry was still surprised to find that the horses of the cavalry were silent, but their riders had made up for their silence by making noise - too much noise in his opinion.

"What in the hell do you think you are doing?" a voice growled low behind him. "Get down!" It was a command and Harry had no choice but to obey immediately.

The emerald-eyed wizard cowered close to the ground, and seconds later, his partner-and-leader came to his side.

"Really, sir, where in the world did you recruit them?" Harry whispered his inquiry.

"Shut up, Harry," Severus Snape grounded. However, he answered when gurgles of a dying werewolf echoed throughout the ruined forest. "They're from Scandinavia and quite contrary to the belief, it was Hagrid, not I, who had asked them to ally with us."

Harry was not particularly saddened when the riders had begun to amuse themselves by killing Greyback. He glanced at the wizard beside him. "But I thought you were the one who had negotiated with them..."

"Did you seriously think Hagrid could pull that off by himself?" Severus snorted.

"Huh." Harry stared out into the distance.

The battle cries of the Nordics faded as the riders pushed on ahead, to tie up the loose ends of the last fight with the Death Eaters.

"They're as bad as the Inferi," he grumbled to himself.

"They are at least able to tell friend from enemy," Severus replied shortly.

They fell silent and the quietness became too unbearable for Harry that his ears started to ring.

"Do we just sit out here?"

"There are still Dementors out there."

Harry saw him frowning slightly.

"Guard me," the greasy-haired wizard ordered. Harry nodded. He did not see what Severus was doing as he had been tasked with the duty to protect them both. "It's gone."

"What?"

Without warning, Severus grasped his chin and turned his face. With wide eyes, Harry stared at Severus and at the wand in his face. Before he could panic and unleash several spells at the older wizard, the wand had lighted and then Severus was peering closely at his face.

"It's gone," Severus repeated in a hushed tone.

"What?" Harry asked again rather impatiently.

"Your scar."

"What? Does that mean...?"

"He is no more."

Harry could only blink his surprise. It was quite the inappropriate time to congratulate Severus, and himself. The air had turned cold and dread was seeping into him quickly. "Don't freeze on me this time," Harry warned Severus. "Sir," he added thoughtfully.

"We will move north now, to the open land. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Damn it, brat, can't you be serious? You have never used the word 'sir' properly before so don't start now."

"You bastard, I'm acknowledging your authority," Harry grumbled as he stood up.

"I have authority on you, Harry. Just stop calling me 'Sir'."

"Wasn't it only two years ago that you had wanted me to call you that?"

"Harry, you did not die for the past nineteen years of your life, and you will not die tonight. If you are afraid, just say it, but stop acting like you are going to die. He is dead and you are still standing, and not exhausted after a duel of magic."

"Damn it, Severus. It's a bloody army. Where in the hell are the others?" Harry and Severus had started to walk quickly and they were careful not to trip against the dead bodies of Voldemort's people and some who were their own. Soon, however, they began to run.

Harry could feel them getting closer and the air had become depressingly cold. He pushed the sensation away. However, the knowledge that an army that was made up of several thousands Dementors was coming at them had quite dampened his confidence.

"To the left!" Harry shouted.

"Are you trying to get us killed?"

"Just do it! I know Charlie and his company are somewhere around there! Their dragons can help!"

Harry transferred his wand to his left hand and grabbed Severus' left elbow. With their paces matching evenly, they headed toward the edge of the forest. A small part of him was somewhat amused that Severus was not swearing, and he had the feeling that the older wizard was saving it up for later. If they could get down to the open area without breaking their necks. Severus might not be tempted to swear at him later - he might just snap Harry's neck in vexation.

"Hold on!"

"Harry, what-"

The Gryffindor gave the wizard no chance to speak further but he pulled Severus down the steep, sandy hill with great determination. Harry gritted his teeth and firmly held Severus' waist instead of his elbow now as they slid downward. That creepy sensation returned in full force. Harry swore and focused his attention on how they were going to stop from their accelerating slide. Instinctively, he turned sideways and he protected their wands by sandwiching their hands together between their chests. He lifted his face up and for several seconds, he stared into Severus' dark, obsidian eyes. The Potions master suddenly gave him a resigned look and Harry half-smiled. Then he tugged, and they rolled off the foot of the hill painfully.

Coarse sand scraped agonizingly against his scalp and Harry swore silently. Their rolling slowed and Harry used the chance to stop. He let go of Severus and got into a crouching position, and a quick glance showed him that the older wizard had done the same. There was something rather murderous in the way that Severus was looking at him. "Save the scolding for later. Let's run," he said quickly, and helped Severus up on his feet. "They're coming."

A rather peculiar howl echoed all around them and the hair on Harry's arms and neck prickled uncomfortably. Severus grabbed his shoulder and prompted him to run.

"I should hope that they will not try to get us into a pincer movement," Severus muttered.

"Oh fuck." He had not considered that. "Damn! I wish Ron were here." He fought his imagination furiously. Being backed into a corner was not the most pleasant of experience.

"Think about it, Harry. They have the advantage, being aerial creatures, and numbers."

"Don't elaborate, Severus," Harry growled.

Sandy ground transited into lush green grass and it made running both easier and troublesome.

"Harry."

Severus' choked voice stopped him in his tracks. From the time they had started to work together, Severus' vulnerability to the presence of the Dementors was something Harry had yet to understand.

"Severus." Harry quickly stood by his side and turned around to face where the forest abruptly ended to a sheer, sandy drop to the valley. "Severus. Don't focus on it. Severus, look at me. Look at me!"

"Harry, I-"

"Happy memories, Severus. Think happy memories." However, the older wizard still looked affected. Harry shook his shoulders roughly. "Damn it, Severus. Fight them the same way you fight Legilimency." Harry swore and pulled Severus down for a brief kiss. "I don't want to miss doing this with you. I won't be able to do this if our souls are sucked out. Severus, I can't handle them alone." Harry stared up at the Potions master's face and caressed one bruised cheek.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Severus nodded.

Two wizards stood in the middle of the open plain. Their faces were set with determination and their robes were whipping about their figures as the wind picked up. By the moonlight of the descending crescent moon and the stars above their heads, they looked at the eerie creatures that lined up above the forest. The Dementors rose higher and higher as though to mock the two mortals below.

Harry had to admit it; the army of Dementors was quite daunting to look at.

"Happy memories," Severus mumbled as though to himself.

Harry nodded. Although the odds that they would survive the Dementors' attack were quite slim, it was not the time to worry about whether help would come for them. Conjuring up his Patronus was something that he could do very easily now, and he was no longer short of happy memories.

Severus.

A surge of emotion filled his soul and warmed him.

Severus.

"Harry, they're coming," Severus' voice pulled him back to awareness, and his thick, black eyebrows, furrowed closely together as he spied the flying creatures.

As the first rank of Dementors raced toward them, Harry unleashed his Patronus silently. Initially, all that could be seen was a huge, silvery cloud. Harry's green eyes flickered upward to watch the Dementors. They seemed to have straightened, as though they found it ridiculous. The misty, ethereal cloud slowly soared. The Dementors advanced again, but a rude greeting awaited them.

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To be Continued on Chapter Three