Knight of Pentacles, Queen of Wands

Ch19: The Sun

At an unseen signal from the Dark Lord, the Death Eaters secured Courtroom Ten. Voldemort had caused some sort of barrier- unmistakably dark magic- to separate and keep the Wizengamot and the various spectators from interfering in his own farcical trial. Severus could see Dumbledore, Moody, and many of the Wizengamot attempting to take down the Dark Lord's barrier, to no avail. Not that Severus thought they wouldn't eventually bring it down, but he had the feeling that when they did it would already be too late for him.

The Dark Lord turned his entire attention to Severus.

"I have a problem, Severus," said Voldemort softly.

"My Lord?" said Severus.

Voldemort raised his wand, holding it as delicately and precisely as a conductor's baton.

"Do you honestly think to fool me, Severus?"

"My -- my Lord?" said Severus blankly. "I do not understand. You -- you are too extraordinary of a wizard for me to even think of fooling you."

"I am extraordinary, but you...no. I have revealed the wonders of dark magic to you, Severus. Of all of my servants, you're the one who most reminds me of myself."

Voldemort started moving around the room, speaking in that same measured voice.

"I have thought long and hard, Severus....Do you know why I finally decided to come here today?"

"No, my Lord, but I beg you to let me return to serve you."

"I wished to speak to you, Severus. You have the capacity to be very valuable to me. Very valuable."

"My Lord knows I seek only to serve him. But -- let me go and I'll prove myself to you beyond all doubt, my Lord. I know I can --"

"No!" said Voldemort, and Severus caught the glint of red in his eyes as he turned again, and the swishing of his cloak was like the slithering of a snake, and he practically felt Voldemort's impatience. "My concern at the moment, Severus, is what will happen when I turn my back on you again!"

"My Lord, there can be no question, surely --?"

"But there is a question, Severus. There is." Voldemort halted as he slid his wand through his white fingers, staring at Severus.

"Why did three of my Death Eaters suddenly become useless to me?"

"I -- I cannot answer that, my Lord."

"Can't you?"

"I -- I have no explanation, my Lord."

"I think I have the answer."

Severus did not speak. He felt abject fear in that moment.

"Perhaps you already know it? You are a clever man, after all, Severus. You could have been a good and faithful servant, and I regret what must happen."

"My Lord --"

"It all comes back to you, Severus. You're the unifying factor in this scenario. I can only conclude that I have competition. You wish to replace me. You cannot serve me properly, Severus, because you don't consider me to be your master. It's not that I don't understand your ambition, you see. I do. However, while you live you cannot truly be mine."

"My Lord!" Severus protested, and he dearly wished he had his wand.

"It cannot be any other way. You obviously know my secret. I regret it," said Voldemort coldly.

Severus laughed darkly. This was only too familiar. This would be twice now. He had nothing to lose, really. He only hoped his death wouldn't be in vain.

"You're a pathetic coward, Voldemort! Afraid of death, are you? You can't even face me in a fair fight. Are you afraid I'll be able to take you down?" Severus taunted.

Voldemort, whose wand had been on the verge of casting the Killing Curse, stilled.

"You dare? The servant- the only one I taught the secret of flight to, my perfect student- dares to take on the master?"

Severus merely gave him a wicked smirk. Vaguely, Severus noted that a handful of loyal Death Eaters looked outraged on Voldemort's behalf. The Dark Lord quickly covered his rage under his polite mask.

"Lord Voldemort is benevolent, Severus. You, of all people, know this. I'll give you a duel. It's only fair. It's quite an honor I'm bestowing on you. Let's hope you're a worthy adversary for my attentions. Bella, unshackle Severus and hand him your wand."

Even though Bellatrix Lestrange was fully covered by her Death Eater robes and mask, she was unmistakable to Severus. She acted rather put out and flounced over to where Severus was sitting. If he could have seen her face, Severus was sure she would have been pouting.

"But, my Lord! Can't I be the one to kill Severus for you? Surely, you needn't waste your time on the likes of him?" she simpered.

"My patience is not infinite, Bella," Voldemort warned her.

With that, Bellatrix released Severus' bonds and grudgingly handed him her wand, which he snatched quickly.

"It's more than you deserve you half-blood filth!" she hissed at him.

Severus quickly got to his feet and threw the first hex that came to mind at the Dark Lord. It happened to be the Bat-Bogey Hex. He wasn't surprised when the Dark Lord easily deflected it, though he was slightly gratified to see that it hit Bellatrix- who was still close by- instead. He couldn't help but to give an evil smirk as she shrieked in her outrage.

"Not keeping to the niceties, Severus? Surely, I taught you better. You didn't even bow. I shouldn't be surprised though, considering the squalid atmosphere of intrigue and betrayal you've managed to thrust upon us here today."

Severus barely managed to evade the Dark Lord's Cruciatus Curse. He then sent a Body-Bind Curse and a Stunning Spell in quick succession at Voldemort, but the Dark Lord was through playing games with him. He sent two Killing Curses toward Severus, which he barely managed to dodge.

It was at that moment when Dumbledore himself finally got Voldemort's barrier down. Then, spells were everywhere. Death Eaters were fighting Aurors and everyone else was running about, hoping to find an escape from the madness. Voldemort was livid. Dumbledore and Moody were desperately trying to make their way through the crowd toward Severus and Voldemort.

At the door of the chamber, Severus heard a scream that rent his heart. It was Lily and she was obviously the prisoner of additional Death Eaters who had come to join the fray. Lucius and Regulus were also being held at wand point. The fighting came to an abrupt stop when everyone realized there were hostages. Voldemort laughed in a terrifying high-pitched voice.

"Ah, yes! The Mudblood and two of my traitors! All here for the grand reunion."

"Severus! The sword! It d-didn't work!" Lily screamed to him across the chamber.

Severus closed his eyes. Fuck it all, but it wasn't supposed to end like this. Damn Albus Dumbldeore to the abyss, for putting him through another life of death, destruction, and heartache!

Barty Crouch, Junior was among the Death Eaters who had Lily and his friends, and he eagerly called out to Voldemort. The boy had apparently decided that anonymity of his mask was no longer needed.

"My Lord! The Mudblood had these items in her possession. She must have stolen them from your faithful followers."

With that said, Barty pulled out the cup, the ring, the diadem, and the locket from his robes and gave Voldemort a beaming smile, as if he were hoping for a Blood Pop and a pat on the head. He held the items reverently in his hands. It made Severus' stomach roil with the wrongness of it all. Barty was more of a boy than even the rest of them. It was sick to see someone who still counted as a child, in Severus' estimation, delighted with the uncontestable evil before him. The boy's face gave an uncontrollable tic and he licked his lips.

At this pronouncement, Lord Voldemort turned back to Severus and looked gleefully malevolent. He looked slyly from Lily to Barty and back to Severus again and laughed maniacally.

"But isn't this touching, Severus! The little Mudblood must mean more to you, after all. You hid more from me than I thought."

"Leave her out of this, Voldemort!" Severus seethed.

"Careful, Severus! One might think you loved her. What a pathetic weakness. I thought you would have been above such things, and it is terribly disappointing to discover otherwise. It seems you're incapable of defeating me after all. I shall take great pleasure in killing you, Severus. Then, I'll kill her."

"If you send me to hell, Voldemort, I'm dragging you with me," Severus said in a deadly quiet voice, which somehow carried across the chamber. He gave the Dark Lord a disgusted sneer of contempt.

As the Dark Lord lifted his wand to send a jet of green light in Severus' direction, Severus took up Bellatrix Lestrange's wand and aimed straight for Barty Crouch, Junior- who was holding the Horcruxes- with only one goal in mind; Fiendfyre. He was just that angry. After everything, it had come to this.

Perhaps he'd take more people with him in death than just Voldemort. Misery loves company, after all, or so everyone said. At least he was assured the Dark Lord would be gone now, if nothing else. It was destruction enough to do the job, surely. He had no intention of bothering to control this spell. Severus couldn't help it, he laughed humorlessly as the first flames went speeding toward Barty. What a bitter way to end his second chance at life.