100 Ways to Kill a Weasley

Life Debt

Snape walked toward the small, shabby house before him. Behind the wizard followed a group of Disillusioned Aurors, Ron Weasley in the lead. With Snape’s help they were routing out a pocket of hardcore Death Eaters that had been committing terrorist acts against citizens of the Wizarding World in an attempt to keep Voldemort’s dream of Pureblood superiority alive.

Snape still served as a spy, working for the Ministry to bring about the end of these diehard followers of the Dark Lord. He approached the door. Dim, flickering light was apparent through a single dirty-paned window. Disillusioned, Ron crept up to the house and positioned himself on the other side of the door, his blue eyes resting on Snape.

The other Aurors hung back.

”Ready,” Ron whispered.

Snape knocked, placing one pale hand in his pocket and grasping the handle of his wand. He had a bad feeling about this one. In the last raid, one Death Eater managed to get away. A face appeared in the dirty window for a moment, looking out and seeing nothing. Then it disappeared.

”Snape? Is that you?” a gruff voice growled from behind the closed door.

”Yes,” Snape replied.

“Are you alone?” the voice pressed.

Snape looked around. All the Aurors were Disillusioned.

”As far as I can see, yes,” the wizard replied.

The Death Eater on the other side of the door waved to his cohorts, and they took up positions on either side of the door, two behind it, and one on the right. The house was dark and filled with flickering firelight that cast shadows from the small blaze in the fireplace. When Snape entered, the shadow would help conceal the ambush, then they would kill him for his treachery. They knew he had something to do with the capture of their compatriots. The Death Eater that escaped capture was badly wounded during the raid and died from his injuries, but not before he told of Snape’s complicity.

When the dark wizard survived Nagini’s attack through the use of a specialized Bezoar with healing and Blood Replenishing properties, Harry made sure Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was acting Minister at the time, knew of Snape’s loyalty. It was decided that Snape would remain “in hiding” and be used to route out any Death Eaters still loyal to Voldemort.

Every Auror in the Ministry was under strict oath not to reveal the Potions master’s continued existence, though many articles were planted in newspapers describing how he was thought to be dead, but his body never found. So when Snape appeared, the Death Eaters believed him to still be considered a criminal, and invited him to clandestine meetings. He would relay this information, then, with the Aurors, take them out.

“Come in,” the wizard said, stepping back from the door, his wand at the ready.

Snape drew his wand, then pushed the door open, entering quickly, his black eyes on the wizard in front of him. A wand was jabbed into the right side of his throat.

”Drop your wand, traitor,” another Death Eater hissed, “or die now.”

Snape’s eyes shifted, and that was all the Death Eater needed to see.

"Avada Ked . . ."

Suddenly Snape was pushed forward and Ron ran in, still Disillusioned and blasting the Death Eater away as Snape grappled with the other who initially addressed him.

Neither knew of the Death Eaters behind the door, who leapt out.

The Aurors flooded through the door, but not before one of the Death Eaters cast a terrible hex at Ron’s shimmer, the Auror letting out a scream and becoming visible, blood and intestines pouring from his slit belly.

Snape knocked out his opponent and ran to Ron, dropping to his knees and desperate to save him as the Aurors took down the other Death Eaters. Ron had shown himself to be a brave ally and had saved Snape’s arse on more than one occasion. He had a grudging respect for the wizard now that he was a man.

“Hold still,” Snape said to Ron, who lay on the floor blood gushing from his wound as Snape tried to seal his torn intestines and close the wound, but there was too much damage.

Pale, Ron looked up at the wizard, grabbing his wand hand.

”It’s no use, Professor. I’m done for,” he said softly, his eyes glazing, “but . . . you owe me a Life Debt. I saved you.”

Snape looked at the dying wizard with a heavy heart. There were few as fearless as Ron Weasley. He did have the heart of a lion.

”Yes, I do,” Snape agreed as Ron gripped his hand tightly, “and for more than tonight.”

Ron coughed, a bit of blood appearing on his lip. His eyes focused on the pale wizard kneeling beside him. Snape had proven himself to be a brave, trustworthy ally, despite what a bloody git he’d been as a teacher.

Ron drew in a shallow, wheezing breath.

”Swear to me you’ll look after Hermione. Swear that you won’t let her suffer for anything. Promise me, professor. Promise me you’ll take care of her . . . not let her become some kind of hermit,” Ron gasped, his breathing labored now.

Snape blinked at him, his eyes a bit wet.

”Yes, Mr. Weasley. I will be sure to look after her. I give you my word,” Snape replied, magic swirling about him as the Oath took.

Ron relaxed, a weak smile on his face.

”I know she’ll be all right then,” he said softly , “I know you’ll. . .”

Ron's smile faded and he stopped speaking as his blue eyes closed for good, his grip on Snape’s hand relaxing, then falling away.

”Good journey, Ronald Weasley,” Snape said quietly, staring down at the wizard, “I will take care of your widow for as long as I live.”

Severus Snape was as good as his word.

He and Hermione Weasley married three years later, and she never wanted for anything.

************************************
A/N: A worthy end for Ron. Sigh. Thanks for reading. ***