Blood of the Virgin Witch

Blood of the Virgin Witch


All Harry Potter characters belong to JK Rowling and to those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.


Grief and Love


Lucius clutched Severus’ lifelbodybody to him and apparated them both back to the Apparition point outside the Hogwart’s grounds.

“Believe me friend,” he said apologetically. “I could see no other way.”

He slumped down on the ground for a moment to gather his energy in order to begin the trek up to the castle.

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Meanwhile up in Gryffindor Tower, Hermione’s health was giving cause for concern. She was lying cramped up on the bed in her room and those around her were growing more and more anxious by the moment. She had fallen this way about ten minutes before and Albus feared it was a reflection of whatever Severus might be going through. He was wondering whether or not to involve Madam Pomfrey. Only the doubt that she would be able to produce anything effective for this malady stopped him.

Suddenly he twitched.

“I think Severus is at the Apparition point,” he said thankfully. “If he is in a similar state to Hermione he might need assistance to get back up here. I will go to meet him. Minerva, Ron, Harry, try to keep her as comfortable as you can and we’ll be back as soon as possible.”

Dumbledore left the room and faded out, reappearing seconds later at the edge of the grounds. Not, technically speaking, apparition, but a benefit of the sentient aspect of the building recognising its headmaster. He walked the rest of the way to App Apparition point and his heart sank at what he saw there.

Lucius was sitting on the ground cradling a motionless Severus.

Lucius looked up at him and in a surprising move, held out his wand, handle first.

“I wish to change sides,” he said. “Voldemort has killed my only son. This man, my oldest friend, was an agent of the Dark Lord and planning to betray you. I have done this as my first act of service for your cause. If you accept me I will perform any other service you care to name.”

Dumbledore was horrified but knew that expressing that would not make the situation any better.

He stepped forward and took the wand from Lucius’ outstretched hand. Squatting down beside him, he stroked Severus’ cheek and examined him for signs of life. Eventually he said,

“I can see your sincerity Lucius and I am sincerely grateful at your change of heart. I am sure you will be able to be of assistance. However I must tell you that on our side we only kill in order to preserve our own lives and that Severus was my agent and held my complete trust.”

“He was seducing your Miss Granger in order to make Potter vulnerable. Do you know what he would have done to her? A child in his care?”

“Hermione Granger is Severus’ wife. They achieved ‘Natura Confundere’ within a few days of their first joining. She is very ill now and presumably will shortly die. If we take his body to her then we might reduce her pain, if not her suffering. Let this be your second act of service to our cause.”

“He was my best friend and now I find I didn’t need to do that to him. He didn’t see it coming I promise. We were chatting and… What are you going to do to me?”

“While I mourn Severus and Hermione greatly, I cannot blame you for this action. It was his skill at fooling Voldemort and the Death Eaters that kept him alive this long. You were not to know. I am prepared to give you the same chance I gave him. Justice, on our side, is not dependant on the ebb and flow of my emotions. We will take Severus back to the castle and then you and I can talk properly.”

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“Hermione,” said Dumbledore gravely. “I have some very distressing news for you. I’m afraid Severus did not survive this last summons. Lucius has brought his body back for you. We’ve laid him in the Chapel and we’re going to carry you down to him so you can keep your vigil. Ron, would you mind?”

It was impossible to gauge really how aware of things Hermione was. Her eyes were open but she didn’t speak. Ron picked her up and the party processed down to the Chapel.

Severus was lying on a large altar in the centre of the Chapel. Lucius had laid him out neatly and tidied him as much as he could. Hermione was, by now, barely conscious and Ron placed her beside him. She seemed to relax as soon as she felt him beside her and quickly fell into a natural lookileepleep.

“Why is he still here?” said Harry sharply, indicating Lucius who was lurking in the shadows at the edge of the room.

“He wishes to join us,” said Dumbledore simply.

“And you believe him?” asked Harry.

“I do, as I believed Severus when he came to me all those years ago, wanting to save your mother’s life, at the expense of his own freedom. I will give Lucius the chance to right his wrongs. I would like you, Harry and Minerva and Ron to contact the rest of the Order. Lucius and I need to talk.”

“I don’t think we should leave Hermione alone. She’s probably going to be afraid when she wakes up,” said Ron.

“I doubt she’ll be conscious very much from now on,” said Dumbledore sadly. “The bond did not have time to settle down. Normally the wife would take longer to decline but Hermione is slipping away very quickly.”

“You can’t do anything?” said Minerva desperately.

“I’m afraid I can’t, other than ensure we win the fight that they gave so much for. If it putsr mir mind at rest, Lucius and I can stay here for our meeting.”

“No!” said Ron. “I don’t want him watching her die. He’ll probably enjoy it. You can’t convince me he’s changed his spots that fast.”

“Albus, look!!” gasped Minerva. “Look!”

Everyone looked at where Minerva was pointing. Severus and Hermione had shifted on the altar and were now lying in an embrace, much as they would have done in Severus’ bed. Even more remarkably Severus was using his right hand to play with her curls in his sleep.

Harry moved forward and gingerly touched his wrist. “There’s a pulse,” he announced. “He’s not dead.”

“He was dead,” said Lucius. “I know he was, not ten minutes ago!”

“He was dead,” affirmed Albus. “I did check.”

“Well he’s alive now,” said Minerva crisply. “How did this happen?”

“The potion!” said Harry.

“What potion?” said Ron.

“When he brewed the potion to make me stronger there was some left over and we gave it to him so it wouldn’t be wasted.”

“It enabled him to recover easily from the Cruciatus Curse,” said Dumbledore. “It would seem it has enabled him to recover from this one also.”

“That means….”

“That means that neither curse would have a lasting effect on you either. In fact, as you received a full dose, you may actually be impervious to them.”

“So if I challenge Voldemort he can’t beat me.”

“It would seem unlikely that he could.”

“I wish we knew where he was. We could go and take him out tonight.”

“I know where he is,” said Lucius. “Bella, Pettigrew and I are the only Death Eaters who can go to him without receiving the call. Only they were there tonight when we left. As far as I know he had no plans to call anyone else.”

“Why should I believe you?” said Harry.

“Because heled led my boy and… because I’ll take Veritaserum.”

“Good enough, I suppose,” said Harry grudgingly.

“Let’s summon the Order,” said Dumbledore. “We will attack before daylight.”

“We can’t leave them lying here like this,” said Ron.

“Step away,” said Minerva. With a wave of her wand she transfigured the altar into a large comfortable bed.

“Hopefully they’ll be conscious soon and we can move them to his rooms. For now I think they should keep contact,” said Albus. “Look lively now. We have much to do.”

Professor McGonagall, Harry and Ron went to set about summoning the Order and left Albus and Lucius standing in the Chapel.

“Why didn’t you tell them I killed Severus?”

“I didn’t think it would be a helpful thing to do. Luckily it seems; you will get to keep your friend.”

“After this?”

“I would credit him with enough understanding to see why you did it. He has made difficult choices and killed people himself.”

“Can you bring Narcissa here? I don’t like her to be alone.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”



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