Lily's Charm

NotEvenHere

Story Summary:
In a story that spans two decades, Lily and Severus attempt to dispel the power of the Dark Mark after her life is threatened by Eileen Prince. Seventeen years later, Harry uncovers a long-buried truth which changes the course of his life. AU. Complete.

Chapter 42 - Connections

Posted:
08/12/2008
Hits:
1,016


1996

"Remus!" Harry screamed, but Severus grabbed his son before he could move, pulling him roughly against his side. He felt the encumbering weight of an Anti-Apparition Jinx pressing down on them, followed closely by a block against their Portkeys. Not even bothering with words, Severus directed his flames to engulf the deafening storm, silencing Harry as they stood together. There was no time. Severus erected a shield around their bodies so that anyone who meant them ill would be forced away; it would take time for them to penetrate it. Time.

He heard the barely audible scritch of familiar footsteps behind him, the deep whisper of an urgent Contego Charm. And then the Death Eaters, the ones who had once called him comrade, swept over the arch of the hill. Lucius formed the apex of the lethal formation. His eyes, a foul grey, were full of hate and Severus masked his features even more.

Something had gone wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong. And Harry was trembling against him; Remus' name ricocheted off his storm. Severus buried Remus for both of them, as far down as he could. There was no time to grieve.

The line halted; Lucius continued purposefully forward and the crack of a backhand against a pale cheek whipped the air. Severus' face spun sharply with the force of the blow. Harry sucked in a breath beside him; Severus tightened his grip further. Say nothing, his flames breathed around the storm. Harry continued to shake, Remus' name etched forlornly into his storm as Severus considered Lucius.

"We have been waiting for you...our traitor," Lucius breathed through the curl of his lip. "The Dark Lord has been most patient," he mocked, his voice dripping with vitriol. Harry convulsed. Severus took his son's hand which was folded into his coat; he squeezed with all he had, ignoring the coppery trickle of blood seeping into his mouth. Harry's tremors slowed.

"Nothing to say, Severus?" Lucius inquired, as though he had the ability to care. "Surely you were not expecting us," he went on, clearly enjoying the sound of his own voice on the stilted air. Severus did not lower himself; he kept his features stiff, his son tightly in his arms.

There is nothing to fear, he reminded the clouds quaking beneath the flames. Harry's fingers squeezed against his palm, a silent vow of faith in his father.

"We are celebrating tonight," Lucius continued in his illusory cultured tones. Severus' flames fought to contract with surprise but Severus would not allow it. Harry had to feel calm. The assemblage behind Lucius parted slightly; Lucius beckoned with his silver cane.

Draco stepped tentatively forward, his eyes darting back and forth between his father and their captives. Severus could feel the fury rising through Harry's storm. And again, Severus pushed it down for him. Anger would not help.

Severus gazed at the younger Malfoy with cool eyes. Draco didn't turn away; he looked oddly determined and Severus' suspicions were immediately roused. The boy looked away. Lucius turned his cold eyes to the space behind Harry and Severus.

"Ah." He clucked his tongue, bringing his gaze back again to Severus. "Your unfortunate werewolf companion...death befits such filth," he decided, nodding slightly. "Don't you agree, Mr. Potter?" he asked; the words dripped with malice. Harry's jaw tensed, his green eyes burning with anger. But he said nothing and even here, in this place, Severus' pride in his son did not dull.

Remus...

Harry's despair echoed to the flames and Severus imparted his strength. There would be no comfort he knew, but he would do what he could. It wasn't enough but he felt his son's acceptance of their shared grief.

Lucius waved a hand toward Draco, dismissing the matter of Remus' death easily. "My Draco," he continued, "is here to receive the Dark Lord's greatest honor."

Severus feigned complete and utter indifference to the disastrous news and Harry, smashed against his side, gave nothing away either.

"He has served the Dark Lord most faithfully. His information regarding your carefully laid plans," Lucius continued, the serene face belying the vicious sarcasm, "was a most welcome surprise." He turned a bit to Draco and Draco smiled, the look so hateful that Severus had to remind himself that this was just a boy.

Harry's storm was beginning to gather force beneath his flames and Severus knew the reaction was purely instinctual, so he wrapped the fiery tendrils even tighter around the vapors. The storm made no protest. And Severus vowed that the Malfoys would pay for what they had done here today. It was too soon to be a ruse...

"You must be very proud," Severus drawled, ignoring Harry's surprise that he had spoken. That had not been planned either, but Lucius seemed intent on speaking and Severus felt inclined to allow him to play his game. Lucius' smile faltered only the tiniest bit; the movement was hardly a twitch.

"Draco has been waiting to serve and The Dark Lord decided he was worthy. Draco will serve him well," Lucius told him, the vacant smile back in place. "It is unfortunate your son," he spat, "will not take a place at my son's side."

"Fortunate, I would say, that the Dark Lord is so forgiving," Severus returned evenly. Lucius' face drew itself into a sneer.

"Toward his loyal followers, he is," Lucius agreed, his grey eyes glinting until they were nearly silver against the moonlight.

"And you have always been one of the loyal ones, Lucius. Spineless...since the day I first met you," Severus drawled, his voice now coated with malevolence. I am stalling for time, he directed toward Harry as he felt his son's nervous discomfort at his tone. Harry squeezed his hand to acknowledge him and to give his support as well, Severus suspected. He quickly covered the surge of love he felt in his chest. He needed to focus on the hate.

"And you, Severus," Lucius returned with silk, his cheeks now stained with color, "you believe your treachery makes you courageous?" He smiled, keeping his white teeth carefully concealed. "Your inability to choose one master gives you away, dear Severus."

"I threw away any ties to Voldemort and his followers many years ago, Lucius," Severus corrected. Taking a quiet breath and digging in as deeply as he dared, he continued, "I lost my desire to be part of your madman's cause, the day Lily forgave me my idiocy."

And he waited.

Lucius' eyes narrowed; he studied Severus silently. "You are a fool," he said through pressed lips. "There is no better cause to be found," he intoned smoothly and Severus was satisfied.

"Enough of your sacrilege!" A high voice shrilled from the throng. One of the many was moving forward. And then there was wild hair, with cheeks starkly jutting out, so far that they were almost breaking through the sallow skin.

Bellatrix.

Harry made a strangled sound, low against Severus' chest. Black's murderer. His godfather's killer. Harry tensed as if to spring and Severus' muscles strained to stop him. "No Harry," he commanded in a whisper, and without hesitation, Harry stilled, though he was rigid against Severus, his craving unfulfilled.

"Itty Bitty Potty..."

The maniacal gleam in the deranged woman's voice made Severus' blood run cold when, even pressed close into his chest, Harry couldn't stop the fear that pulsed through him. The fear energized the witch. She slunk toward them, her sinewy form swaying in a remnant of her lost sensuality.

Without warning, she lunged toward Harry. Severus, lost to his instincts, thrust himself in front of his son but there was no need. His shield did its job once more; Bellatrix recoiled as it punched her away from them. She landed in a snarling heap in the grass. She was on her feet again an instant later, her wand trained on them. Lucius stepped beside her before she could speak; her eyes were glinting dangerously.

"A shield," she shrieked at Lucius though she wasn't looking at him. Her head was angled strangely as she glared at Severus and Harry. Lucius nodded, stepping slightly in front of her so he had clear access to them. Unsurprisingly, his string of spells did nothing to unlock the shield woven so tightly around them. Bellatrix, impatient, jerked in front of him again.

Her own spells were just as ineffective as Lucius' had been. She gave up much faster; her soft mangled purr made Harry shift nervously as she began to move toward them again. She'd barely moved when Severus felt soft warmth, nestled in the hollow at the base of his throat. Severus wanted to close his eyes with relief. Albus was alive, or at least Minerva...

We are ready, the flame fluted toward the storm, which was curled with anxiety. Severus felt Harry's breathing beginning to shallow. Breathe slowly, the flames directed, and was pleased as Harry obeyed. His breaths deepened and slowed. Remain calm, the flames soothed. All was in place. There was no reason to wait any longer.

Severus, melting his features into a frown of disdain, inquired, "Tell me Lucius, your generous Lord...is the coward too frightened to meet us?"

The clutch of Dark followers hissed collectively at this most egregious insult but it had the effect Severus was hoping for.

"Blasphemy!" the psychotic witch screamed, her face ranging as close to them as she dared. She clawed against her rancid Mark, almost in desperation. A towering mist gathered in front of them. Lucius stepped back; he did not push Draco farther back to safety.

The murky crimson column swirled into Voldemort.

"My Lord," Bellatrix whispered as she bent herself to grovel at the infected feet.

"My Lord," Lucius echoed as he bowed low and Draco immediately mimicked the servile stance.

But Voldemort had eyes only for Harry. He seemed not to notice that Severus was clutching his quarry to him.

"Harry Potter," the demon breathed.

And Severus felt an irrational anger rising inside him at the unintentional insult; he folded it away.

And then the bastard saw him as well. Voldemort cocked his head, almost in the same way Bellatrix had done. "A shield, Severus?" he asked, feigning surprise. "That is how you hope to best me?" There was a breathy laugh, a haunting, vacant sound.

Voldemort gave a lazy flick of his wand and Severus could feel their protection dying. "Such waste," he murmured as he continued to gaze at Severus with his blood-infused eyes. He flipped his long white fingers once toward the pair; the formation broke behind him. His minions moved forward, creating an impenetrable circle around them and Severus could feel Harry screaming in his mind for Remus. Even as he lay cold behind them, Severus felt the same need to protect him.

Bellatrix and Lucius stood on either side of Voldemort, in front of his helpless prizes. Lucius seemed unmoved by what was unfolding in front of him. And Bellatrix, who had once attempted to secure Severus as her own, was glowing with anticipation. Her dark eyes flicked to Severus and she sneered, having nothing in her now, save her mad wish to become Voldemort's bride. Bellatrix stepped back, staying close to her beloved's side; he paid her no attention.

As Voldemort gazed at them, his crimson orbs contracted in eager expectation, the pleasure clear on his inhuman face. He stepped toward them, his yellowed toenails exposing as he glided as a snake toward them. Bellatrix and Lucius stayed close, though Draco had faded into the shadows with the other Death Eaters, his moment of glory extinguished.

"A fitting end, is it not?" Voldemort asked while he gestured around his circle of Death Eaters. It did not matter that neither Harry nor Severus had an answer. "Where it all began." He smiled. The lipless mask couldn't make the expression anything but cruel. "Bring them to me," he ordered. Bellatrix and Lucius moved forward once more and Severus could feel his son's wild panic.

They will fail, the fire soothed the storm, the confidence bringing rationality back to Harry. It had been, after all, Albus who had forged this connection...the greatest wizard their world had ever known.

Lucius was moving much faster than normal as he stepped past Bellatrix to grab at Harry. "Do not touch him," Severus growled, very low, unable to stop the threat. Lucius ignored him and then he was thrown backward, landing hard and skidding against the cold ground to crash into the gaping Death Eaters. The distinct sounds of cracking bones satisfied Severus more than they should have. Voldemort's ruby eyes glinted in displeasure.

Bellatrix, her tortured features warped into a malicious sneer, snatched at Severus' arm, her nails digging into his arm even through his coat. She jerked. Severus and Harry moved together toward the witch, who snarled at them. Again she yanked. And once more, Severus brought Harry along with him. Harry's fingers twitched against Severus' hand.

Accompanied by a cry of rage from Voldemort, Bellatrix was thrown away from them, in the opposite direction in which Severus had thrown Lucius. Bellatrix scrabbled along the course ground, moving back toward her Lord.

Voldemort trained his wand toward them, hissing "Semoveo." Instead of separating them as had been his intent, invisible forces drew Harry and Severus closer together. Voldemort's eyes began to glow.

Almost, the flames grew higher around the flailing storm. The storm shuddered lightly with the warning. It was almost time to end this. As soon as Voldemort was within reach, they could finish this.

Severus bent his head a little, so he could look into his son's eyes. The emerald was waiting for him. I will not leave you, the flames whispered fiercely. Harry blinked rapidly.

I know, the storm assured him. His son's eyes were filled with so much warmth--so much love and trust, that it made Severus shrivel. He knew if they found themselves with Lily again, it would not be enough. We'll come home. It was Harry's turn to soothe his father and Severus gave him a tiny smile, as much as he could. He firmed his hold against Harry's bicep, paying no attention to the psychopath growing more and more agitated as he was confounded by Albus' Sticking Charm.

"Enough of your games," he finally hissed at them, his fury growing as his captors refused to obey. Severus and Harry didn't even look at him. Voldemort made a sound of fury before he breathed at Severus, "A fate I was saving for Lucius will suit your treachery well." Severus' insides crumpled as a Crucio broke the night and Harry screamed.

Harry's insides exploded--he was his father. Severus was Harry.

Harry reeled.

His father's thoughts were tangled with his, their minds no longer two. He couldn't find himself.

The storm was burning. The flames thundered.

Harry remembered Lily as she told him she was pregnant. Severus cringed as Uncle Vernon's red face puffed while he screeched into his face to get back into his cupboard. They cried together as Sirius fell away from them through the veil.

The scorching began to subside as the flames untangled their fingers. The storm began to quake in panic. Harry couldn't find himself. He could no longer feel the pain of Voldemort's unforgivable.

The limbs were unfamiliar, the height all wrong. His arms were grasping against the wrong person. Where are you? his wisping cloud fluttered with unease.

I am here, the flames told him calmly as Harry struggled to come back to himself.

Dad? What's happening?

I took your place, his father told him quickly and then the storm was thrust unceremoniously upward and Harry was watching himself writhing in pain against his side.

"No," he gasped as he screamed, Dad! against the noise inside his mind. How could this happen? His mind was inside his father's body and Severus was being tortured in his stead. He was being tortured.

I am all right, Severus assured him from inside Harry's body before Harry could do anything. You must pretend to be me, his father commanded even as Harry continued to scream in agony. And though he had never felt more disoriented, Harry righted himself somehow, hoping desperately that his dad wasn't lying about the pain.

Harry blocked the sounds of agony from his ears and turned to face the one who had destroyed his life. "Let him go," Severus' voice commanded sharply and it was not difficult for Harry to find venom enough to pull it off.

"Oh, my soft and wretched one," Voldemort cajoled, his voice harsh velvet as his crimson gaze switched from son to father, "you know how I enjoy my little pleasures." Harry shivered despite his best effort not to. And you," Voldemort breathed as he brought a cracked fingernail on his right hand to graze down Severus' cheek, before stepping back again, "have much to atone for."

Harry fought the urge to laugh, even as the disgust shuddered through him again. The madman's need for revenge was going to kill him. Voldemort turned again to watch Harry's body as it was tormented. Bellatrix and Lucius had joined their Lord once more, though Lucius' arm hung at an odd angle at his side.

Harry wished Voldemort would step close enough so that they could finish this. He wished Bellatrix and Lucius would be in the wake of the Charm as they banished Voldemort from this world. They deserved the same fate. For Harry's mum...for James. For Sirius and now-

He could barely think it--for Remus. Harry could feel himself losing control as he thought of Remus falling and then he felt the steadying presence of his father even as Harry's body continued to convulse. Murdering bastards, Harry wanted to scream at them.

All of them.

Voldemort, his pale face devoid of any sentiment, held up his arms again, moving his hands in a magnanimous arc around Harry and Severus, completely oblivious to what was planned for him. The maw that had once been a mouth, opened once more and then his features contorted in something akin to pain as his glowing eyes widened with whatever he felt in the place of grief. And Harry new this was it. Voldemort had lost more of his soul.

It was time.

"No..."

A low moan issued from the slit, and then the great Dark Lord was doubled over in agony. Harry looked around in confusion. His body had stopped convulsing in response to the Cruciatus Curse. With a wild movement, Voldemort straightened, his crimson eyes glowing brighter with renewed intent. He came swiftly toward Severus, his breath coming harshly as he moved.

"You think you can best me with such a demonstration?" he hissed right into Severus' face and before Harry could make sense of what had happened, his father's left arm was exposed, the layers of fabric ripping violently away from the skin.

Harry hands, still under his father's control, clamped over Severus' Mark and the identical--though vacant--spot on Voldemort's left forearm. Harry's body was poised between them. The flames screamed at Harry to begin the chant.

Voldemort had no chance to pull away.

"Anima Expulsum!" Harry breathed with Severus' voice, his own voice joining in from beside him. Voldemort screeched in unchecked rage.

And then Harry had no idea who he was.

He was wind.

He was fire.

And he had never been so cold.