Rating:
PG-13
House:
Schnoogle
Ships:
Lucius Malfoy/Severus Snape
Characters:
Severus Snape
Genres:
Alternate Universe Slash
Era:
The First War Against Voldemort (Cir. 1970-1981)
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone
Stats:
Published: 04/22/2006
Updated: 11/15/2006
Words: 133,299
Chapters: 24
Hits: 12,488

Snape the Younger

Les Dowich

Story Summary:
COMPLETE. Severus Snape came from somewhere; he didn't just appear at Hogwarts. We have had hints of his back story but no one really knows it. How did he get to be a snarky bastard? Why? Who knows, besides JK Rowling? So, this series of short chapter/stories explores the possibilities which include Potions College, Malfoys, The Dark Lord and even Remus Lupin, as well as a growing conviction that the world is not a nice place.

Chapter 08 - Skirmish

Chapter Summary:
Why attending large gatherings while there are Dark Wizards about is not a good idea and how the lines of communication can become very tangled down teh ranks.
Posted:
09/08/2006
Hits:
473


Skirmish

The Costumed Event

Someone was stealing gold shipments from Malfoy Enterprises in South America. Five shipments had disappeared in the past few months as if by magic. That was a worry as all the magic dampening fields were checked and rechecked every day so that no one could use magic around the mines. The pirates were clever, knowing exactly which the richest shipments were and which were the dummy loads with perfect accuracy. Or inside information, both Malfoys concluded after the second load. When the sixth load disappeared, the pressure mounted on the refining plants as they did not have enough ore to process and had to put off workers. Consequently, Lucius spent little time at home, working around the clock to cover all possibilities and to make sure his private Auror force were properly motivated to find the culprits as fast as possible.

In the first few weeks Narcissa was understanding but by the time a month had flown by and she had not seen her husband on more than three occasions she was understandably peevish. Her temper finally broke on the morning of the sixth week when she was recapping who would be at the next charity event and speculating on what they would be wearing.

"You will look the best of all, as always, no matter what you wear," Narcissa giggled, patting Lucius' arm agreeably.

"Humm? What? Oh, I'm sorry, my dear, I am off to the Amazon this afternoon and I probably won't get back for a few days. We have a lead on the gold thieves," Lucius told her absently, finishing his coffee while reading reports.

"What? Oh no! Oh no, no, no! I stayed home from the Shrillings' Ball and I missed out on the Parkinsons' first official reception, not that that was a bad anything. From what I heard it was a shambles. I really hated to miss Cousin Rigel's soiree. But he understood the circumstances. I did not complain, I did not fuss, I was good and well behaved, no tears of recriminations but Lucius, I will not miss the St. Mungo's Music in the Park charity concert, do you hear me, I will not! Nor will I miss the Masked Ball!"

"Narcissa, be reasonable," Lucius said impatiently. "It's only some stupid concert, not the end of the world. Hell, if you are that upset, I will take you to the opera, in Italy even, after we get this gold theft problem sorted out."

"No-o! Lucius! Don't be dense, who cares about the stupid music, you go to see and be seen, not to listen to some stupid band ruin perfectly good songs! It's a costumed event and I have even designed you a beautiful costume so you just have to take me, you have to!" she wailed pitifully, tears running down her face but he was not moved no matter how she railed or persuaded.

"Enough!" he thundered, slamming down his napkin and surging to his feet. "If it's that important to you, ask Severus to take you, I am busy!"

"Severus?" Narcissa squawked. "Don't be ridiculous, he never comes out of the dungeon unless you are here or the Dark Lord calls for him. He would never come just because I ask him to," she added self-pityingly.

Grinding his teeth, Lucius stormed over to the floo and thrust his head in after a handful of floo powder. "Severus! Get up now! I don't care if you just got to bed, I want you! And for Merlin's sake, put a robe on, or don't," he added with a smirk as the younger man growled at him.

With his hair all over the place and his eyes half-closed, Severus looked absurdly young when he stumbled out of the fireplace and flopped into a chair in the breakfast room. Narcissa thoughtfully handed him a cup of tea which he drank without complaining that it had sugar and milk, which proved he was more asleep than awake. Even Lucius' temper thawed a little and he grinned as he sat down opposite.

"Awake enough, Severo, I have a task for you. I want you to escort Narcissa to her concert thing tomorrow as I cannot take her and it is important that we be seen to be upholding and supporting St Mungo's. Are you with me so far?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever," the younger man mumbled, eyes half mast, head propped on one hand.

"It's a costume thing so she will sort out something for you to wear, is that acceptable?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever."

Narcissa and Lucius exchanged looks, then grinned mischievously. "And she has a beautiful ball dress for you for the night time engagement. You will look lovely in pink."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, what...WHAT!" His eyes flew open and he glared at both of them, making them laugh even harder. "Oh, you are just so funny, a real barrel of laughs. So what is it you want me to do?"

"Take Narcissa to her concert tomorrow and look after her, Severo, there are - threats - and I have to be in South America," Lucius added on a more serious note. "Protect her, just in case."

"With my life," Severus promised in off-handed sleepy agreeability, a crooked smile making his lover smile back. "And what's this about a Ball dress? Or was I dreaming?"

"You were dreaming," Narcissa giggled.

"I will send my man up with your costume for the concert and he will help you dress. Damn, I have to go! Look after yourselves, loves," Lucius murmured and kissed them both before dashing off to pick up the papers he would need for his trip.

Narcissa and Severus exchanged slightly embarrassed glances before Severus flooed back to his room and his bed. Narcissa flopped back into her chair and began to plan a whole new costume for Severus.

~~*~~

Severus glared at the gentleman's gentleman who merely stared back without a change of expression. The man seemed to be impervious to glares and immovable when it came to matters of sartorial elegance. The offending items were simply arranged on the bed, lying there in mute testimony to twisted minds of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. They were obscene, a bloody cliché and he was not prepared to become that cliché, not even for his lover!

"If Sir would care to dress?" Mr. Loomis said with a completely blank expression.

"No! Sir would not care to change unless it involved the Malfoys and a transfiguration charm. And I'm not wearing that lot, unless there are a great many layers of fabric between Sir and the eyes of the public!" Severus snapped furiously, crossing his arms defensively over his chest.

Mr. Loomis kept eyes front but his thoughts were his own.

When there was no argument from the man, Severus humphed in disgust and poked the pile of leather and cashmere grumpily. "I wouldn't mind if there was a proper robe to go over it but this is Muggle clothing, isn't it? I will not dress like a bloody Muggle for anyone, do you understand that?"

Mr. Loomis nodded his expression sympathetic. "I quite understand and I do sympathise with your sentiments, Sir, but it is fancy dress, Lord Snape. Lady Malfoy is also dressing as a, er, Muggle, to match, I believe." The man stepped forward and lifted the black leather trousers to hold them up for Severus' closer examination. "They are well cut, Sir, in the latest Muggle style, er, flares, I believe they are called."

"Mr. Loomis, I do not need to know what they are called, I simply do not wish to wear them!" Severus reiterated then backed away as the man stepped forward, fishing in his pocket.

"Lord Malfoy asked me to give you this if you were uneasy about joining in the game."

Severus took the note and read it, incinerating it with a wandless glare and a grinding of teeth. "Damn that bastard! Damn him to hell! Very well, give me the bloody things!"

Climbing into the leather, Severus snarled bitterly as Mr Loomis used his wand to fit the butter soft fabric to his long legs, tucking here, easing here until the fit was perfect. Still disgusted, Severus pulled on the cashmere turtleneck sweater and picked up the black leather bomber jacket which immediately lengthened and widened until it was robelike in its dimensions. While leather robes were probably not recommended, it was the best Severus was going to allow before he left the suite. Glaring at the gentleman's gentleman, he exited the suite, but Mr. Loomis' magic followed him to slowly shrink the swath of leather back down to manageable proportions.

Narcissa stood in the family foyer, tapping her foot impatiently. She wore a white outfit exactly corresponding to Severus', white leather pants, white leather boots, a white cashmere jumper and a white short-waisted leather jacket. She had added a gold chain supporting a diamond drop almost as big as the Star of Africa and earrings to match. Chunky gold bracelets ran up both arms interspersed with diamonds and pearls. As Severus entered, she smiled then raised an eyebrow when she finally saw his outfit, clapping her hand unconsciously.

"Oh, you do look good! Lucius was right, you really suit tight trousers, he said you had a very elegant arse and legs. Whoops, sorry!" she apologised, a slightly contrite smirk lifting a lip. "I wasn't supposed to say that! Mind you," she added thoughtfully, "You really do look good, who would have thought it?"

Severus narrowed his eyes at her. "What is this, monochrome for beginners?" he asked grumpily, walking around her to take in the full effect of her white, tightly packed outfit.

Narcissa sighed. "We are supposed to be light and shadow, both sides of the Malfoy trinity and Lucius is supposed to be half black and half white in the middle," she said with a sigh. "Oh come on, Severus, surely you are not that naïve? We are the accessories that make Lucius notorious, you - his male lover - and I - his female wife."

Severus bristled then shook his head slightly, sighing deeply. "I was aware of my notoriety but I was not aware that you were aware," he said then smiled wryly. "That was a mouthful, wasn't it?"

"To be perfectly frank, Severus, I wish you did not exist," Narcissa said with devastating honesty. "But you do and there is nothing I can do about you except live with it. So, if it is a fact, then we had better rub peoples' noses in that fact until it becomes so common-place that no one makes comment on it ever again, you understand?"

Severus sighed then nodded. "I understand but that doesn't mean I have to like it. For a start these trousers leave you so exposed to the external gaze, anyone might ogle you," he grumbled bitterly.

"But darling, no one would look unless there was something worth looking at. For a skinny, horse-faced vampire, you have a rather delectable arse and a very nice pair of legs." Narcissa grinned at him and laughed when he blushed bright scarlet. "If you have it, you should flaunt it, Severus. And if you are really self-conscious, then leave the jacket at hip length, although shorter would be much, much better."

Severus huffed and puffed but did shorten the jacket. "If anyone passes a comment, I will hold you fully responsible!" he told her grumpily. "What time does this stupid event start?"

"Oh my goodness, we have to go!" Narcissa yelped, consulting her watch and dashing toward the floo, grabbing Severus' hand in passing. "Come on, Severo, we have to fly! Wait a minute! Why are you clinking?"

"Er, a few, er, simple well chosen potions, just in case of emergencies, you know?" he muttered then glared at her. "I thought you said we were late?"

Exasperated, she dragged him off to the floo.

~~*~~

St Mungo's Music in the Park

The St. Mungo's Music in the Park charity event was indeed the biggest fund raiser of the year. It was held in a magically occluded part of Hyde Park right under the noses of the oblivious Muggles. Everyone who was anyone had tickets to the concert and, of course, tickets to the Ball to be held in the evening were the most coveted prizes of the social calendar. Security was very tight as witches and wizards from all walks of life mingled shoulder to shoulder in outlandish costumes and bizarre hats. Those who could afford the outrageous prices were seated in the enclosure and guaranteed to meet the artists, the visitors coming from all over Europe. Those who could not afford exclusive tickets were seated on the grass outside, many in family groups on blankets with picnics and bottled drinks for the outing.

Looking around, Severus sighed when he realised the Malfoys had at least dressed him up with taste. Some of the things people were wearing were positively obscene, utterly ridiculous or just plainly in bad taste. Marta Goyle had somehow forced her one hundred and ninety pound body into a gold lame jumpsuit which was cut so low she sort of boiled out the top of it. He wondered if poor Narcissa was going to be smothered when the woman grabbed her and hugged her with ritualistic kisses on both cheeks. When she turned in his direction, he simply crossed his arms over his chest, flared his nostrils and dared her to try it! She wisely did not.

"Severus, will you please relax and mingle," Narcissa hissed out the side of her mouth as she snagged a couple of champagne flutes from a passing tray and handed one over. "At least the wine is decent over here in the member's section. Oh God, is that Adamantia Weasley over there? Have you ever seen anything so strange as that outfit she is wearing? What is she supposed to be?"

"She's a beefeater, darling, a Muggle treasure guard or something," Lucielle Crabbe murmured, coming up behind them. "Don't you both look splendid, very well done."

"Thank you, Lucielle, and you look very chic too, Paris?"

"Coco Chanel, a rather nice Muggle designer, don't you think? Severus, I thought you were locked in your dungeons forever, I never expected to see you here, of all places, or so much of you."

"I would have been but..."

"Lucius and I insisted he needed some fresh air. After all, he is still a growing boy, you know?" Narcissa smirked, looking up at the young man who towered over her. He glared back and polished off his glass of champagne, wishing it was a decent firewhiskey. It was going to be a very long day!

"Is that you, Severus?" a curious voice asked and a flash of vivid scarlet made Severus turn and look down. "It is you, how are you these days?" Lily Evans squealed in delight and flung her arms around the tall man who shook his head and forcibly removed her from his person.

"Damn it, Lily, I wish you wouldn't do that! You are old enough to have outgrown such childishness," he scolded holding her off at arms length. "Oh well, at least you look fairly presentable, if not stylish," he conceded, smirking at her costume.

Lily shook her head and grinned at him, bursting into laughter at the end of his speech. "You know, it is good to see you again, even if your temperament hasn't grown any sweeter over the last year."

"Still a pompous prat, Snivillus," another voice muttered grimly and Potter wrapped both arms around Lily dragging her back against his chest. "I thought you were in Azkaban or somewhere, for poisoning people."

"You should be so lucky, Potter," Severus muttered, staring down his nose at the man who had always been the bane of his existence. "No, the last lot I dosed, ended up getting better, can't think why. Perhaps it was because I am making the potions for St. Mungo's these days." He pondered the sky for a moment. "That could be it, I suppose. And what do you do with yourself these days? Still play Quidditch or some other party tricks? Cute outfit, by the way, didn't have time to change after the game?"

Potter ground his teeth while the small audience they had gathered laughed. Potter was wearing Quidditch robes which were authentically stained with mud at the hems, his hair disarranged, or perhaps simply in its natural state. "At least it's a costume, not a statement. Where is your coffin?" he growled.

"The same place you keep your pet murderer," Severus hissed, fingering his left arm where his wand was held in a sheath.

Potter snarled and stepped back, his hand also going for his wand pocket.

Lily shook her head and stepped between the two of them. "Enough! Both of you are as bad as each other! This is so like old times, it is pitiful. I'm glad you went to Potions College as you wanted to Severus..."

"How do you know he's at potions college, he never said he was," Potter snapped.

"They don't let amateurs make potions for St Mungo's," Lily told him, rolling her eyes. "Come on you; let's find our seats before you alienate anyone else. See you later, Severus," she smiled, dragging Potter off.

"Not if you are still with him, you won't," Severus called just loud enough for Potter to hear him and turn furiously.

"Stay away from my wife, Snape, if you know what's good for you," he snarled furiously.

"Is he serious?" Narcissa asked incredulously as the couple disappeared into the crowd.

"Ah, yes, that was the infamous - and oblivious - Mr Potter," Severus murmured in her ear. "Lily was always the champion of the underdog at school, and that would have been me. She is a nice enough girl and a good friend at times but Potter never seemed to understand that she was my friend and no more than that. So why let a good antagonist down?" He smirked and Narcissa chuckled as they too sought their seats as the orchestra tuned up.

~~*~~

The whole thing was just as bad as Severus expected it would be, completely stultifying. Oh, the calibre of the musicians was enormously high, the soprano a world famous diva. The conductor had a list of credits as long as his arm and even the children from the local ballet school who did some sort of little dance thing were reasonably good. All the same, the afternoon was warm and the bees close at hand were droning on or perhaps it was the wizard three rows forward snoring loudly.

At interval there was more mingling, the artists and musicians signing programs and generally glad handing the champagne sipping patrons while a fence away, families sat on blankets on the grass and enjoyed a picnic lunch. Couples strolled hand in hand and children played chasing across the grass. It was all very bucolic and Sunday Afternoonish, so much so that Severus could not help wondering when the Incendio Spell would detonate over them all.

His uneasiness was translated into fidgets that made Narcissa poke him in the side on a number of occasions. The witch on his left was equally disgusted harrumphing angrily when he flinched again, glancing around quickly.

"For Merlin's Sake, Severus, will you sit still?" Narcissa finally hissed, half pulling her wand.

Severus covered her hand to stop her doing it, a slight frown pulling his eyebrows down over his nose. "It's too quiet, the calm before the storm. Something very bad is going to happen but I really don't know what," he muttered out the side of his mouth as he clapped politely with the rest of the audience. "As soon as the concert closes, we have to leave; straight over to that old oak tree and apparate out, do you understand me?"

Narrowing her eyes, Narcissa shook off his restraint and slid her wand away with a snap. "No. As soon as the concert is over, we go and mingle with the audience, pick up some gossip, talk to the board of governors and generally make agreeable noises. After perhaps an hour, then we apparate home and get ready for the Ball this evening. That is the agenda we will be following, not bolting like startled rabbits as soon as we can. I am a Malfoy of Malfoy Manor and no one - not even you - will change that!"

"I promised Lucius I would look after you..." he began but Narcissa turned up her nose and the witch on his left shushed him loudly.

"You are beginning to bore me, now go away and leave me alone or sit still and shut up, do you understand?" Narcissa reiterated with slitted eyes then turned firmly to face the stage, turning her shoulder to his glower.

Severus subsided into a sullen silence, his arms crossed defensively across his chest. He sat perfectly still as told but his mind raced, his eyes darting about, taking in all the people, trying to see what had made him so uneasy. A couple of members of the orchestra were freaked out by his glare, earning a second glare from the conductor but in all Severus stayed as still as possible, trying to make himself invisible. He partially succeeded, making Narcissa do a double-take then grope around until her hand landed on his thigh and she left it there to make sure he stayed still. Severus pushed it off and she put it back until they realised they were being very silly. The witch next to Narcissa also told them to behave themselves in no uncertain terms.

Humphing in disgust, Severus returned to his conjuring of his personal state of 'unnoticability' until the last song was sung by a full bodied contralto who belted out the aria from a popular opera. Everyone in the enclosure clapped politely, those outside rose and chattering loudly, gathered their families and goods and apparated out. Severus thought he saw Lily's red hair disappearing but he might have been mistaken.

The witch on his left suddenly turned to him and slapped his arm hard. "You are a rude and bumptious young man, do you hear? I have never been as disgusted in my life as I was with your behaviour! You should be ashamed of yourself. I would suggest that, next time you come to a charity function, you choose clothing that allows you to sit in comfort rather than subject your neighbours to your fits and starts. Tight pants may draw the girls' attention but fidgets do not endear you to your neighbours!" Sticking her nose in the air, she stormed off leaving Severus glaring after her and Narcissa creased in two with laughter.

~~*~~

Attack

The crowd swirled around the enclosure, Severus recognising people from school, even the Dean of Herbology as he followed Narcissa around. She flitted from group to group, giggling, laughing and gossiping, flirting a little and simply cosying up to all type of people, deliberately drawing out their visit as long as possible in spite of his wish to leave as soon as possible. His uneasiness was subsiding a little as the crowd thinned but still Narcissa hung around, glad-handing all and sundry. A voice hailed him and he turned to half smile at the rotund man who was beaming up at him.

"Mr. Wittingham," Severus acknowledged the man with a small bow and a tight smile. "How are you today?"

"Oh, well, very well, indeed. Did you enjoy the concert? Wasn't the dance of the ten fairies just perfect? Of course, my granddaughter was the third fairy from the left so I have to admit to a tiny bit of prejudice." He chuckled massively, drawing Narcissa's attention to himself.

"Severus, will you introduce us?" she asked with a meaningful glance.

"Oh, yes, this is Narcissa Malfoy. This is Director Jelico Wittingham, head of the potions department of St. Mungo's. I make special order potions for him when I am locked in the dungeons," Severus added with a malicious grin.

"Ah, so you are responsible for encouraging him to hide himself away," Narcissa teased laughingly, offering her hand.

The rotund man bowed over it and kissed it in the grand style making Narcissa blush and simper. He smiled, a wide friendly expression that suddenly became froze, his grip on Narcissa's hand tight enough to break bones. Before she could make protest a gush of blood erupted from his mouth and soaked their clasped hands. Narcissa screamed as the man began to crumple, Severus grabbing her by the hand and dragging her aside as he fell. A green curse slashing through the space her body had occupied a second before.

Noise impinged; screams and bellows of shock and fear yells of outrage and quickly snapped spells. Of the thirty or forty people left in the area, half were injured, some bodies lying motionless on the ground. Black cloaked, white masked figures were appearing out of thin air, apparating in and slinging hexes without really aiming until they managed to orientate themselves. Severus ground his teeth as he was forced to fire back, a simple stupefy spell taking out the nearest attackers. Aiming carefully, he cleared a path away from the main concentration of the battle, dragging Narcissa after him like a lump of unwieldy baggage.

"They're Death Eaters! They're hexing us!" Narcissa gasped in shock, unable to believe it.

"They are attacking anyone who moves, will you hurry up!" Severus snapped, still trying to get her safely to an open area, or at least somewhere they could apparate without obstruction.

They had just reached the edge of the clearing when Narcissa let out a shriek, clutching her arm in pain. "I'm hit," she squeaked in disbelief, Severus spinning her around and examining the torn leather and wool, and flesh underneath.

"You're lucky, it's barely nicked you," he pronounced, pulling her closer and nodding. He was about to apparate when he felt the drag and stopped, staring down at her, meeting her shocked gaze with an equally shocked look of his own. "What happened?"

"I can't apparate," she gasped in panic. "Severus, I can't apparate!"

"Grab my arm, we'll side-along," he ordered quickly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and gathering his resources but she felt like a solid rock firmly fixed in the earth for ages. "Well, that's fucked it," he commented grimly. "We'll have to run for it, that way." He pointed to the left and began to run, dragging her along behind him again.

They had almost made it to the trees when a black robed figure apparated directly into their path, wand at the ready. Severus skidded to a halt, pulling Narcissa in behind him as he faced off, wand held at low guard.

"Get out of the way, you idiot! I don't want to hurt you but I need to get my charge away," he said evenly, his wand never wavering as the black robe began to circle them.

"You are a disgrace to the blood, Muggle lovers both! Look at you, dressed like them, mimicking them. How dare you call yourself a wizard?" the man shrieked, his wand vibrating to the beat of his anger.

"It is a costume, you stupid prat! They are just costumes for a dumb charity concert."

"That's what you tell me now when I have caught you to rights! You are dead and I'll use your bitch until she is begging for death!" He giggled insanely as he drew back his wand.

Severus murmured. "Confringo viscera," with a flick of his wrist and the black robes shredded as the internal organs exploded. "Let's go," he yelled as Narcissa began hyperventilating. "Narcy, we don't have time for this; hold it until we are safe. Oh fuck, they're following us, run!"

They ran, Severus blasting bolts behind him to discourage the pursuers. He did not notice as they left the hidden areas and burst through into the Muggle part of Hyde Park. Muggles turned and stared as the couple burst out of the bushes, running as fast as they could. Parents began grabbing their children out of the away as the black robed figures burst out of the trees, shooting at the couple. The tall man blasted back over his shoulder, still pulling the woman along behind him as he tried to escape his pursuers.

As more of the black robes burst out of the trees they realised they were amongst Muggles and began blasting indiscriminately, maniacal giggles bursting from some of the attackers. Severus thanked his lucky stars as they fled but was disappointed that the rest of the followers had not broken off the attack. He almost screamed in fury when a stray hex hit Narcissa again, making her stumble and fall. Swooping down, he slung her over his shoulder as he continued to run at the best pace he could. A square sturdy building came into view and he headed for it as he had no chance of disapparating or outrunning them.

Narcissa began to rouse as he shoved her into the narrow doorway, forcing her to stumble under her own power further into the interior. "What are you doing, Severus?" she gasped, clinging to the wall.

"Just what I said I would. I promised Lucius I would protect you with my life, and I will. Now get in there, I am about to cast protection over the building!" he snarled, giving her a push which sent her stumbling through the door that slammed shut after her.

~~*~~

Defence

Scrubbing his hands through his hair, Severus bit his lip then allowed himself one long shiver before he took stock of their situation. The small red brick building was sturdy enough, the roof only gently sloping. Taking a chance, he cast levo and stood on the low peak, balancing easily. He seriously wished he was wearing his robes with all the potions he kept secreted in the hidden pockets but he wasn't. All he had was a few incendiaries, flash vials and some extending potions. Shaking his head in disgust, he crouched down and used his wand to draw sigils of protection on the roof of the building. Racing around the perimeter, he pointed to the ground and quickly drew more sigils on the grass below, burning them into the earth for permanency.

The black-robed, white-masked Death Eaters had finished playing with or destroying the Muggles and had remembered they were chasing more important prey. A group of them turned toward the small building but were brought up short by the spells and protections that lay on the ground. The tall, black-clad man stood on the roof, wand drawn, daring them to come any closer.

"You and you, blast him off there!" the leader commanded, a double hex lashing out to be parried and burned by their opponent. Two more hexes whipped through the space but he ducked and jumped, sending back another blast in reply. "He's only one man, you fools, take him down, surround him, and blast him off there!" The scream was hysterical as his people ran to obey his orders.

Severus had little choice, if they surrounded him, he would not be able to hold the building and he would fail in his promise. Even though it was lightly given to Lucius, he had meant it and it was no less binding than a formally declared oath. Why were Death Eaters - subjects of his Lord - attacking them so ferociously? What was the point? Did they really think he and Narcissa were Muggles or were they under the influence of a spell or a potion? He was still trying to decide what to do when a hacking curse boomeranged past him and came at his back. Falling flat on his face, he allowed it to pass over his head but banged his hand in the process, almost dropping his wand. Gritting his teeth, he jumped to his feet in time to see two of the attackers swinging in behind the building. There was no longer a choice; he had to act to protect his charge.

Pulling a miniaturised potion from an inner pocket, he cast engorgio as he banished it in the direction of the two men behind the building. The tiny bottle grew larger and as it shattered on the ground, the contents were exposed to the air. The mix was explosive, blowing shards of rock and glass outward in a wide circle that took out the two men, cutting one to shreds and removing the other's legs at the knees. Shrieking, the injured man could not apparate, his companion laying ominously still.

"Go away; let that be a warning to leave us alone. We have done you no harm until now but if you persist in trying to take my charge, I will be forced to destroy you all, do you understand?" Severus roared, a tide of bitter anger welling up in his soul.

"You are a dead man, do you understand? You have killed Stan and injured Raoul, we're going to take you down and quarter you, you bastard, and that bitch will die in screams too, once we get our hands on her."

"Over my dead body," Severus snapped.

"That's the plan, Kid," the man laughed, casting confundus in his direction.

Severus dispelled it with a casual wave and sent semparis back along the path, making the spokesman dodge and duck behind a bench. Using his wand as a sprayer, Severus sent a blanket of acid over the ground in a rolling fog. The first man felt the subtle burn and roared a neutralising spell only to see a small vial arcing in his direction. By the time he finished one spell, it was too late and he was dead, spread over a large area. Three were down and five were left but they had changed their tactics, attacking his protections on the building rather than him directly. Severus could feel the wards slipping as he hurled another incendiary at their heads. It disrupted their attack but did little else as they had chosen to stand further away than the last lot of idiots.

It was like a juggling act where the juggler had to keep the plates spinning and the jugs balanced while standing on a ball and spinning hoops. There were too many elements for Severus to cope with all at once, too many things to think of, plan and execute. He almost felt like crying as another hex hit him in the back of the head, trying to knock him off the wall or knock him out but instead it made him dizzy. The protection destroying spell was tearing away at his sigils on the ground, already weakening them, and the thought of Lucius' disappointment if he failed filled Severus with foreboding. Suddenly it was all too much and he threw back his head and screamed!

Something snapped in his mind, all conscious thought fleeing. Standing outside himself, he watched as the body moved, smoothly, coordinated, flowing from action to action, never stopping. The wand became a knife to open a small vein in the wrist; he took a mouthful of his own blood then sprayed it over the area, painting the roof in a fine mist even as he pitched the last of the incendiaries with pinpoint accuracy into the huddle by the far playground equipment. He spoke incantations and drew on Elder Magic, not related to the wand he used with devastating accuracy to pick off the leader of the group from over three hundred yards.

The last of the enemy fled, running for his life as a rolling ball of blood magic lashed out and engulfed him, lifting him high then vanishing so that he fell a hundred feet and landed half on, half off the see-saw. It was a messy death. But there was no time to rejoice, there were wards to feed and enemies to watch for, the Snape sank into a crouch on the roof's pinnacle and waited, scanning, watching, watching.

~~*~~

Stand-off

The first Aurors on the scene could hardly believe the damage. There were at least twenty people dead and far more injured, most of them Muggles who did not realise what had happened to them. They had received a hysterical call from a society matron to say the St. Mungo's charity concert was under attack from Death Eaters and there were bodies everywhere. Since the hysteria usually meant there was an accident not an attack by Death Eaters - and no Mors Mordre had been cast - the chief had only sent newly graduated constables to investigate, expecting them to have no trouble curbing the problem.

Frank and Alice Longbottom stared around with dropped jaws at the mayhem. There was blood everywhere; people with limbs cut off, slashed cuts and the dead strewn all over the place. Alice began to treat the wounded as Frank contacted headquarters and asked for assistance as there was a real situation and they needed help. Kingsley Shacklebolt shook his head as he turned over the first Death Eater robed body and flicked the mask away with the tip of his wand. The man appeared to be of Latino origin, a slashing curse having almost severed his head from his shoulders. The next victim was a Muggle, conscious and moaning miserably, clutching at his middle where his intestines were poking out of a deep laceration.

"What happened?" Kingsley asked gently as he began a spell to ease the pain and hopefully keep the man alive until the St Mungo's emergency teams got there.

"The terrorists, they were chasing a young couple and both were firing at each other, odd guns, but the couple ran off that way, the terrorists saw us all trying to get away and began firing into the crowd indiscriminately. Can you see my wife anywhere? She was here a moment ago."

Kingsley shook his head slowly, not mentioning that the woman nearest to him was cut in two at the waist. She had obviously taken the brunt of the cutting hex as it slashed though the crowd and inadvertently saved her husband's life. "You say they were chasing a couple? Which way did they go?"

"Follow the blood trails, you won't miss them!"

He was right; a path of destruction lay open to the right, razed spots, twisted trees and smoking craters testifying to the ferocity of the running battle. Whoever the 'young couple' were, they were in dire straits if the levels of magic were any indication. Shacklebolt began to follow the trail but was called back by his immediate superior.

Hestia Jones arrived on the scene with more senior Aurors at Frank's call and was quick to disperse her people around the area, guarding the St Mungo's personnel who were beginning to arrive. Unspeakables moved amongst the Muggles, changing their reality, making it a terrorist attack, making wands into guns and curses into bombs, knives or other means of maiming and destroying human flesh. She grabbed Frank by the back of the robes, dragging him back when he made to run off up the track. Shaking her head, she designated Rufus Scrimgeour to lead the party with three others as backup.

The Aurors approached the small Muggle building very cautiously, wands at the ready. Muggles did not decorate their toilet blocks with gargoyles and there was definitely something crouched on the roof peak that was not entirely human. The creature perched on the roof watched their approach, his head moving slowly to follow the cautious circle Scrimgeour made as he moved from corpse to corpse to bloody smear. It made no move until Rufus bent to touch the ward burned into the turf around the building then it pointed and the ward flared blindingly bright, tossing Scrimgeour back on his arse. Three wands spat hexes but they simply bounced off the wards which flared even brighter to repel the attack.

Scrimgeour picked himself up and waved his people back, the building wards slowly subsiding to show the figure on the roof crouched low, wand held engard, eyes trained predator-like on the Aurors. Very carefully, Scrimgeour raised his off-wand hand and signalled his people to move back slowly. As they moved back, the guardian settled back to his crouched position, wand held carefully but not aggressively.

"Is it human?" Hestia asked quietly, making Scrimgeour jump.

"Damn it, Hestia, you scared me," he muttered angrily. "What do you make of that?" he pointed his chin upward.

"If it wasn't daylight I'd say we had a rogue vampire but no vampire stays out in this level of sunshine willingly or without smoking a bit," Hestia mused, studying the situation carefully. "There is no aggression unless we make the first move. He's just squatting there, guarding something."

"That magic is not human, I'll tell you now, but it's not entirely Vampire either. Do we have a vampire speaker?" one of the Aurors murmured, moving to the far left of the group. The head turned, following his progress until another Auror moved out to the right then he half rose until Hestia waved them back with an impatient gesture.

"Whether human or vampire, it's definitely on guard. Get me an interpreter as fast as you can."

~~*~~

Rescue

The words were seductive, the language full of long consonants and rolling vowels. They were asking him who he was and what he was doing? He mused on that question for a few moments before raising his head and replying in the same language, rusty in speaking it but managing the accents perfectly.

"He says he is guarding the treasure belonging to his, not sure if he said master, lover or brother, something like that. The words are very similar and his accent is pure which makes it a little obscure as it is a guarded language and we only get to talk to lower class speakers. You will also notice he is injured, quite a number of cuts and open dripping wounds. Every drop of blood that hits the roof feeds a little more of his strength into the wards."

"So he'll collapse soon?"

"No, not if he is a pureblood, then he will not fall, perhaps for days, even weeks. They are horribly resilient," Professor Manargay of the Wizarding University of London commented happily.

"So how do we get him down? He's blown up or killed perhaps seven Death Eaters all on his own. We aren't sure if we should arrest him or give him a Merlin," Hestia snorted cheerfully. "Oh Goodness, is that Professor Dumbledore? What's he doing here?"

"You did call for experts on vampires and blood magic, you know," Professor Manargay muttered gloomily, managing to paste a fairly welcoming smile on his face as the headmaster of Hogwarts approached carefully, realising he was not the subject of the watcher's attention.

Albus Dumbledore paused for a moment to assess the situation he had been called to. The person on the roof was obviously not giving up his position easily then his eyebrows rose and he smiled, his eyes twinkling madly as he wandered over to the edge of the wards.

"Severus, my dear Boy, whatever are you doing on that roof? And you have hurt yourself? Goodness me, come down here at once and let me look at that cut, it may get infected!" he called cheerfully in the language of choice, disregarding the warnings from the Aurors.

The guardian hissed at him, all teeth exposed, wand focussed fully on the headmaster. He spat a few sentences in the language of the Families, the headmaster shaking his head sadly. The Aurors moved uneasily as the two argued back and forward, Professor Manargay trying his best to follow the conversation or argument or interaction. Everyone flinched when the creature rose to his full height and casually stepped off the roof, landing without a stumble before the professor, dwarfing him. Dumbledore smiled sympathetically and gestured to the tears in the back of his jacket, ugly, raw wounds showing through, his hair matted and saturated with dried blood.

"The Aurors are here, Severus, they will guard what you are looking after, they will care for your charge so you can rest and be healed," Dumbledore said persuasively.

"No, it is my responsibility, I said I would look after her with my life, I gave my word," he snapped in English, turning away and stepping toward the building again.

Alastor Moody stepped forward to stop the rather young man from leaving when a large black private carriage pulled up, everyone freezing as the Under-Minister himself stepped out. He turned and leaned back into the car, obviously helping a fellow passenger alight. For a second, Severus' face lightened then he stopped, not moving as the man straightened, still holding the minister's arm. With a cautious step, he left the Minister and made his way slowly toward the protected building.

The tableau remained frozen until the old man was face to face with Severus, almost shoulder to shoulder with Albus who moved aside, almost deferentially. Reaching out a hand, Abraxas Malfoy cupped one thin, sallow cheek, a slightly desperate look in his eyes.

"Is she..."

"As I promised, she is safe," Severus murmured, a hand curling over the old man's and pressing it to his cheek affectionately for a moment then he turned as fast as a snake, throwing both hands up and shouting aloud.

There was a blast of light and wind and heat as the wards exploded, showering them all with bloody mist. Even as Severus' knees buckled, there was a movement at the doorway of the building, the Aurors' wands snapping up hastily.

A blonde head peered around the doorpost, a dishevelled, bloody blonde in a ragged sleeved jacket. She tried to pull herself together when she saw all the people but the sight of Abraxas crumbled her resolve and she ran to him, flinging her arms around him with a sob of delayed panic. "Oh Gods, it was awful! They were chasing us and blasting us with curses and the people were dying, and I couldn't apparate and Severus kept pulling me along and making me run. Oh Gods, Severo, are you alright? I thought they'd killed you! Then we were all going to die!"

"Madame Malfoy, isn't it?" Hestia asked drawing closer. "Can you tell us what happened? Who was chasing you? Who was trying to curse you?"

"The stupid Death Eaters, of course, surely they knew better! How dare they do something so, so inconsiderate!" Narcissa screeched, stamping her foot.

"Do you think they were targeting you personally?" Hestia persisted, even though the minister was trying to hush her.

"Of course they were, they ruined my jacket and they called Severus and me Muggle-lovers just because we were wearing costumes. Gods, if Severo was not so bloody minded, we would all have died, all of us?"

"Who is 'all of us', more of your money sucking pureblood aristocracy?" Alastor Moody demanded angrily, glaring at the girl who still clung to the old man's arm. "Or that stinking vampire who was casting blood magic all over the building?"

Narcissa snapped upright, her back straightening abruptly in the face of such criticism. "How dare you, you horrid little man! I'll have you know Severus saved all our lives and if he used blood magic then so what? He has the right and the heritage and if he had to use it to defeat a dozen Death Eaters then he is doing better than you, is he not?"

"If he wasn't in league with them...," Moody snapped then stumbled backward in shock.

Narcissa Malfoy, Lady of the first water, pureblood princess of the Black line, hauled off and punched him fairly on the nose with a neat right hook! Before anyone else could react, there was a mutter of surprise from the watching Aurors and what sounded like a baby crying. All turned to the doorway, jaws dropping as a woman emerged from the toilet block two children clutched to her chest. Another three women and eight children followed, obviously Muggles and obviously terrified. Narcissa pulled herself together and hurried over, touching and cooing reassuringly.

"See, I told you we would be safe with Severus in charge and look, here are the Aurors to make sure we are all safe and well." She turned to the woman Auror who seemed to be in charge of the party. "Madam Auror, meet the rest of the people Severus was guarding. They were caught up in the raid and will need something, I'm not sure what." She and Hestia exchanged measured glances before Hestia nodded reassuringly, waving her people in.

"Go and get a healer, Frank. Moody, leave Severus alone and come take some statements. Oh, Frank! Bring a couple of, er debriefers, with you if you don't mind," she added, Longbottom translating 'debriefers' as Unspeakables.

"Well, this is all very touching; Snape, the great Muggle defender," Moody grunted as he reluctantly did as he was told. "Don't worry, Snape, your turn will come, then we'll see how much resistance to veritaserum you really have," he grunted in disgust.

Severus glared but he knew it was a poor effort, the warding and protection having taken a great deal out of him. He knew Dumbledore was quietly and systematically healing his wounds but he had lost a lot of blood and all he really wanted to do was go to sleep, preferably somewhere quiet and cool. He glanced over at Abraxas who was leaning on a cane, surprised to see two of him moving in and out of focus. Before he could comment on the phenomena, the world went away.

~~*~~

Consequently

"So, you are back with us, are you?" the voice was soft and gently, the hands that helped him sit up strong but considerate.

Severus groaned, holding his head as it spun uncoordinatedly on his shoulders, but he managed to sip the potion that was held up to his lips. "Sage, lemon, essence of murlap, aloe vera, common peppermint and pennyroyal. That's horrible," he mumbled, swallowing some more at his attendant's urgings.

"You are lucky it will be the only one you will taste, you were not awake for the other potions which, I guarantee, were extremely foul," the attendant laughed softly, easing him back against the pillows.

Severus blinked in the dim light then gasped a little. "My Lord, what are you doing attending me?" he asked in embarrassment.

"Hush my Severus, I volunteered," he was assured as the Lord smoothed the sheet over his chest. "I must apologise for my Death Eaters' zeal yesterday, they were fools and deserved what happened." The Lord hung his head, following the pattern of the silk with a fingernail. "Every great campaign attracts zealots and fools. Unfortunately, the people who attacked you were both, a deadly combination. I promise you, Severus, I did not give permission for that raid it was purely conceived and executed at a very low level. One of my minor branch lieutenants thought to make some points by attacking and 'weeding out Muggle sympathisers'. His intentions were good but his fanaticism blinded him to the reality of the situation. A costume does not make a sympathiser."

"You don't need to explain to me, my Lord, really," Severus muttered, watching his hand move intently.

"Ah, but I do, my Severus, after all, you have appointed yourself my conscience, have you not?" the Lord asked playfully. "Now, my dear one, I want you to sleep again, secure in the knowledge that you are safe, Narcissa is safe and Abraxas is well too. Sleep now and we will speak again tomorrow."

Severus slept.

24.04.2006