The Dark Prince

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Someone always playing

Corporation games

Who cares they're always changing

Corporation names

We just want to dance here

Someone stole the stage

They call us irresponsible

Write us off the page

Countdown Singers - We Built This City

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Chapter 23

...to dance here...

Snape smirked at Harry and said smoothly, "I was wondering when you would get here."

"I was busy," said Harry casually.

"Busy."

"Yes. You cast a rather strong Body Bind Charm." Harry moved a finger of his bloodied hand and continued, "My wand blew up on me twice."

"A pity it did not take the rest of you with it."

"Now, now, Snape. Is that any way to talk to the man you're supposed to save?"

"Save what?" asked Snape. "Weasley was right. There is nothing left of Harry Potter."

Harry smirked and said, "Yes, I did fool Hermione quite well with my little act. She actually thought some smidgen of my...foolish self still remained. A pity. I could have made her a queen."

"She would have fought you every step."

"You know as well as I do that there are many potions and spells that could have bent her to my will."

"Only for a time, Potter," said Snape silkily. "Only for a time."

"Ah, I see. But - I'm not Potter. I am the Dark Prince."

"Correction. I am the Dark Prince."

"There can only be one Dark Prince."

"There could very easily be none. I suggest you look down, Potter."

Harry looked down and saw the top of Snape's wand pointed at his lower regions. When he looked back up, Snape smirked and asked, "Care to change your religion?"

Harry chuckled softly and said, "You drive a hard bargain, Snape."

"As do you," said Snape, eying the holly wand pointed at his throat. "A very hard bargain."

Harry smirked then sighed.

"This isn't very fair is it? You and I killing each other so easily? It should be a grand battle between us."

"Then let the battle begin."

The two Dark Prince's stepped back from each other, lifted their wands, and fired.

"Crucio!"

"Dolor Acidus!"

Snape bent under the strain of the Cruciatus Curse, teeth bared as he fought the pain.

"Is...that...the best...you...can...do...Potter?"

Harry clutched at his stomach as acid pain ripped through it and snarled in response, "Not...bloody...likely."

The holly wand lifted again and the ash rose to meet it.

"Crucio!"

"Crucio!"

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Just wish I didn't feel

Like there was something I'd missed

And I'd give it all away

Just to have somewhere to go to

Give it all away

To have someone to come home to

This is my December

Linkin Park - My December

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Chapter 24

...something i'd missed...

Hermione and Natasha walked slowly down the stone passageway, the young Auror leaning heavily on their shoulders. Natasha panted and shifted her grip on his wrist, wiping the sweat off on her shirt before resettling her grip.

"Any idea of how much farther it is, Mione?"

Hermione shook her head and held her wand out further in front of them, extending their view of the dark stones. She said, "All we can do is keep walking."

"And hope there's an end?"

"Professor Snape wouldn't lie to us."

"He's the Dark Prince, Mione!"

"No, he was the Dark Prince. Harry is the Dark Prince now. I was fooling myself when I thought Harry could change back to the way he was." Hermione sighed and softly said, "He's lost to me."

Natasha blinked then breathed, "You slept with him, didn't you?"

"Well, it was kind of a spur of the moment thing..."

"Spur of the moment? Mione, you slept with him!"

"He set me off guard."

"How? Dropping his robes and flash-dancing you?"

"Tash!" said Hermione indignantly.

"He did? Did you get a picture?"

"He didn't flash-dance me!"

"Well, I can't think of anything else he might have done to make you melt into a puddle."

"He kissed me."

"Kissed you? I think I'd have preferred it if he had flash-danced you."

"As amusing as this...conversation is, could we go a little faster? I think...I think I'm losing consciousness."

Natasha and Hermoine looked at the Auror hanging between them, noting the pale pallor of the man's skin.

"We'd best hurry," said Natasha. "I think Snape misjudged this fellow's injuries."