The Dark Prince

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Shadows they fall

On the stage of your own life

Trailing behind footsteps

Three's comfort in ghosts

Who are no longer with you

Hiding behind your death

Nine Days - Sometimes

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Chapter 21

...comfort in ghosts...

"Now, Miss Granger, you wouldn't be trying to leave us just when we've gotten to know each other so well, would you?"

Hermione faced Voldemort with a defiantly lifted chin and fierce eyes as she replied coolly, "I find your company disagreeable, my lord, and find the company of your fellows even more so. They wear on my nerves."

Several of the Death Eaters closest to her shifted and several grumblings went up. Ron, Natasha, and many of the younger Aurors looked nervously about them but Moody, Hermione, and the older Aurors glared at the dark-robed figures about them.

Voldemort smirked and stroked his chin with a pale hand, his red eyes eying Hermione from head to toe.

"Well, then, Miss Granger, it seems it is time for our company to part. Malfoy."

"Yes, my lord?" asked Malfoy, stepping out of the ranks.

"Bring Mr. Weasley forward."

Malfoy and another Death Eater, this one with his hood up, stepped forward and grabbed Ron from where he stood, dragging him forward into the center of the room. Voldemort then rose from his throne and lifted a hand out to Hermione, who found herself pulled forward by a force she could not resist.

"Mione, no!" hissed Natasha as Hermione stepped forward, eyes blazing as her hand lifted to place itself in Voldemort's. She glared at him as he smiled down at her.

"Damn you."

Voldemort threw back his head and laughed at her. Hermione bristled and her blood boiled. With a smirk, the man turned her towards Ron and leaned down so his mouth was at her ear, cold breath turning it to ice and sending a shiver down the length of her body.

"Now, my dear, dear child. You are going to do a very good deed for me."

"And what might that be?" asked Hermione coldly.

"Why, to kill Mr. Weasley there, of course."

Hermione stiffened but made no sound. Ron's eyes widened however and he stared wildly at Hermione as Voldemort slid his wand from his sleeve and placed it in Hermione's hand. He lifted her arm and aimed the wand tip at Ron's chest.

"Now, my dear, Miss Granger. Repeat what I say."

"Never."

"Ah-ah," scolded Voldemort, waggling a finger. "That's not a good girl. Be a good girl, Miss Granger. And perhaps I will let the lovely Miss Bennett there live."

Hermione festered in her rage, eyes gleaming as her hand shook about the length of yew wood. Ron or Natasha. Ron or Natasha.

"Now, repeat after me. Avada."

Hermione held her breath, trying not to say it. But the words came up out of her throat and formed in the air against her will.

"Avada..."

"That's a good girl. Now the next word. Surely you know it?"

Hermione ground her teeth together as she was forced to nod.

"Then say it. Say it, child."

Ron bowed his head as Hermione's mouth opened and the words began to form.

"Kedavr..."

"HOLD!"

Everyone in the room turned to look at the masked figure in the doorway. Three gold lines blazed into argent light as the figure threw its hood back.

Voldemort smirked and said, "Why, Severus. After all these years you finally come to visit me."

The Dark Prince bowed elegantly, removing his mask with a flourish. Snape's jet eyes were emotionless as he rose from his bow, their black depths focusing on Voldemort and Hermione.

"Yes, my lord. I am here at last."

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In these days

Darkness falls early

People march home

To the one's they love

You better take a fool's advice

And take care of your own

'Cause one day they're here

Next day they're gone

Don Henley - New York Minute

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Chapter 22

...darkness falls early...

Mutters went up among the Death Eaters as Snape stepped forward, the Aurors eying him with anger except for Moody, who simply grunted and watched the younger man stalk across the stone floor with the grace of a jungle cat. Snape bowed to Voldemort again.

"My lord."

"So, you return," said Voldemort. "As a traitor once more. A thorn in my side. A thistle in my crown. The Betrayer."

Snape rose from his bow and said, "I admit to it all. I am the Traitor of the Death Eater, the Betrayer of the Aurors, and the Savior of so many lives. Shall I count them?"

"Shall I count those you took at my orders?"

"Ah, but the one's I saved even outnumber those."

"I do doubt that."

"Do you?" said Snape with an arched brow. "Shall we confer with each other and see who is right?"

"Another time, perhaps."

"Perhaps. So, what do we do now?"

"We?" said Voldemort. "We do nothing. You die." He waved a hand at Hermione, who pivoted so the yew wand now pointed at Snape. The dark wizard gave Voldemort an amused look and waved a hand casually at her.

"You send her to take my life? Are you weak, my lord? Can you not dispense your own son, the Auror you yourself molded into your Prince? Or does the Lord of Death fear his Angel?"

Voldemort's eyes narrowed as he hissed, "Fear you? I laugh at you!"

"I hear no laughter. In fact, I hear nothing by lies. Oh, you fear me. You fear me dearly."

Voldemort laughed but the laugh was strained. Hermione found herself smirking. Snape was right.

"Kill him."

The Death Eaters turned on Snape, wands raised, but he was gone, vanished without a trace. They spun as his voice came from everywhere and nowhere at once.

"Did you think it would be that easy, my lord? You have lost your touch."

"Coward!" yelled one Death Eater, only to fall choking to the floor a moment later.

"Coward, am I?" said Snape silkily from his hiding place. "All of you fools are cowards. Had these Aurors wands, you would not stand against them!" There was a chuckle then he added, "Wait. They do have wands. Unless you fools searched them."

"What?" said several Death Eaters, looking at each other in surprise.

"Every Auror carries a spare wand," growled Moody, pulling a hidden wand from his sleeve.

"You idiots should have searched us," spat an Auror not much younger than Moody as he drew his own wand.

Malfoy howled, "ATTACK!"

The Aurors and Death Eaters surged forward, curses lighting up the room. Voldemort stepped back up to his throne, dragging Hermione with him. In the crowd, Hermione could see Ron tackling Malfoy, punching the blond in the nose with a resounding crack. Blood spattered the wall as the battle raged.

"My lord."

Voldemort turned then fell as Snape brought his clenched together fists down on the back of the Dark Lord's neck. He then grabbed Hermione's arm and pressed a panel on the wall, spinning her about into the hidden passageway that was revealed. Natasha was already there along with a lightly injured Auror.

"Professor..."

"No time for talk now, Miss Granger," said Snape calmly. "Take this passageway until it ends. Turn right and go straight until you reach a room with an iron-inlaid door. Miss Bennett knows of what door I speak. Wait in that room until I or an Auror comes." He then pressed a wand into her hand and Hermione was surprised to see that it was her own.

"If we do not come..." Snape stopped and looked at her for a moment before smiling slightly and chuckling. "Well, you know what to do then, don't you?"

Hermione nodded slowly and clenched her fingers tightly about her wand.

"I do."

"Then run. Run."

Snape stepped back and the wall slid closed. Hermione got one last glance of Ron throwing a bloody Draco Malfoy to the ground in an angry rage before she lifted her wand and muttered, "Lumos," turning to Natasha and the wounded Auror.

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Snape sighed heavily as he watched the wall slide over Hermione's features. Ah, what he wouldn't give to be running down that corridor with her to freedom.

But he had a job to finish.

Straightening his shoulders, Snape turned. And stopped.

A length of holly was aimed at the hollow of his throat and the hand holding it was drenched in blood. Beyond the wand, Harry's lips curled into a smirk.

"Didn't expect to see me again, did you?"