The Greedy Frog
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Hey, I Ruin Stories Chapter 28
🕑 Added 2024-05-20 17:02:45 +0000 UTCChapter 28: Strikes Back!
[Late Night — Dumbledore’s Office, Hogwarts]
{Severus Snape}
“You had been called by him, weren’t you?”
“Multiple times.” My answer wasn’t a lie. He knew about everything, and I was obligated to tell him the truth. “And each time, I left with a scar.”
I extended my arm, the burn marks from the Morsmordre spell. The spell, while used to signal his arrival through projection on the skies, was used on the Death Eaters as marks of identification and symbol of servitude.
And in this case—
“Merlin…” He gasped, staring at the thumping and burning mark. “It's eating you alive.”
It was. It was sucking on my blood and soul, and left horrific scars at random places of my arm.
“Does he consume… it?” He asked, genuinely looking worried for me.
“Blood makes his body stronger.” For the longest, he survived on blood without perishing. “And soul makes his magic stronger.”
Considering how many of his followers were willing to give their life for him, he was only going to grow stronger.
“We never know how many of his followers that we are unaware of lay here.”
My body jerked hearing that, thankfully he did not notice. He still did not know about Safar as the man had made perfect alibis for every situation.
And if I were to even hint at Dumbledore about him, Harry’s life would instantly be threatened.
“After that… man did that to Hagrid.” His voice was filled with venom. “I will have to inspect the campus myself.”
Hagrid’s killer turned out to be a cleaner that cleaned the hallways of Hogwarts and he instantly committed suicide once we got to him.
I, for once, had a suspicion on Safar, but knowing that this all cost the life of the one person that he seemingly cared about, it does feel like he was not involved — at least fully.
After all, everything regarding this, did cost the life of Tonks.
“Severus.” He suddenly called my name, taking deeper and somewhat calmer breaths.
“Sir?”
“You understand how he regained his body, right?” He stared into my eyes, and yes, as he expected, I knew. “Whose body he sacrificed to regain it?”
Alongside the murder of Minister Fudge, the breakout from Azkaban and the constant attacks on the ministry —one news did not draw as much attention as the rest.
“Nurmengard.” He nodded as I took the name. “Grindelwald.”
His eyes held great sorrow in them as I took the name.
“An enemy of long and a friend of longer.” He was tired, sighing and taking a seat near his desk.
I knew a little of their story, but most of it was only known to him and the rest that knew, had long since perished from war or old age.
“His death means two things, Severus.”
Grindelwald was one of the strongest wizards of Britain and a Dark Lord that lived for longer than Voldemort.
The accursed name left a chill when talked about or even though of, but holy and pure magic could prevent that. After years of being around him, I learnt that holy magic prevents him from tracking or hearing me even if I take his name.
“If he went to Grindelwald for that, then we need to take some steps, Severus.”
I was curious, wondering what he meant.
“If he killed Grindelwald, then he got his magic.” This… was possible. “He could have snatched his powers alongside his body, even though it sounds impossible.”
Dark Arts was one of the most researched yet still barely understood concept of magic. And out of the many things it could do, what he said did not sound impossible.
“But beyond that…” He gripped on his beard, “He must have gotten the knowledge about… about the wand.”
“You mean…”
There was only one wand he could be referring to.
“The Elder Wand.”
My eyes went wide hearing that. I knew what the wand was and what it was capable of. Years ago countless lives were taken when he chased after that wand.
And even before that, many lives were ruined when Grindelwald took control of the wand.
Grindelwald was the only one who knew about the wand and the other was Professor Dumbledore himself.
“I hid it years ago.”
After all, he is the current bearer of the wand.
“For the countless lives it takes and the harm it causes to the mind.”
Elder Wand is a relic of a wand, one that could grant immense power to any bearer.
“The wand can make even the weakest wizard into a terrifying wielder. It not only gives you strength, it makes you hungry for more.” He breathed out, “It was also why I hid it in the depths of Hogwarts. Through the statues, beyond the fountains and past the forbidden rooms. Even then I doubt anyone but I can find it.”
He did tell me about it once, during the time I revealed about my Death Eater status
But since then, we never talked about the wand.
“He will be after it, and you know what it means to acquire the wand, Severus.”
But it was impossible.
“The wand can only be equipped by the one that has defeated the previous wielder.” He earned it after he defeated its previous wielder, Grindelwald. “And I refuse to believe that you will lose to him in a duel.”
Voldemort was strong, stronger than most could even imagine.
But Professor Dumbledore was stronger, and much more terrifying when it came to duels.
Never can he defeat the headmaster in an honest duel—
Oh…
“You figured it out, didn't you?” He smiled, but it was not a happy one.
And why would it be? Because no matter how strong you were, no one could ever be prepared for every underhand and vile trick that a Dark Lord was capable of throwing.
“And so, I want you to make a promise, Severus.”
I… had a bad feeling about this.
“When the time comes, and the wand is threatened to fall into his hand, I want you to land the final hit on me.”
This had me frozen on the spot.
He didn't mean it, did he?
“It matters not if my life is the cost, but the wand shall never fall to him. So no matter the cost, the decisive hit has to be made by you.”
“You can't be serious?” He was sacrificing his life to protect the wand.
“I know I can trust you, Severus. So please, listen to me this time.”
I…
What can I even say?
“I trust you will protect the wand, the students… and… and Harry.”
It was not possible for me to deny.
I could never deny or put Harry at risk.
“I… I will never let him get hurt.”
Yes.
It meant what it sounded like.
It was a promise.
The promise that he asked for.
And unknown to us, a promise that was heard by someone beyond the walls.
…
…
[2 Days Later — Grounds of Hogwarts]
He was depressed. He couldn't figure out the exact feeling, he termed it simply as anger and sadness and a little bit of helplessness.
But I knew what it was, it was depression and desperation.
“Why are you helping me, professor?”
He was curious and equally doubtful.
“Because you need help.” My answer was simple, but certainly not enough for him.
Especially when he was sneaking around learning spells that the school did not teach till late.
“But you always help Draco, then why are you helping me?”
I could not help but laugh.
“I can understand why you feel that way.” He had every right to feel like that. “But the reason I help Draco, is the same reason you feel most of the time.”
“What do you mean, professor?” He was curious, not the angry curious —but the genuine curious.
“Everytime, when something happens, the Slytherin professors support the Slytherin students, don't they?” This question made the spectacled boy nod.
“But that is from the perspective of others. From Draco's perspective and from the perspective of Slytherin students, the professors support you and the students of Gryffindor.”
“But that is not true!”
I nodded, “Precisely, and neither is the fact that Slytherin professors help only the Slytherin students. There might be certain specific times, but under every other circumstance —the professors are always fair.”
“That…” He frowned, not believing my words but not wanting to openly refute.
“When you and Draco dueled, no professor wanted to help Draco, you know that?”
This had the boy open eyed, “You are lying.”
“I wish, I was.” I gave out a sigh, “But most professors either stayed entirely out of it, or decided to help you as they believed you had a disadvantage given you had not grown up in a magical society.”
The boy frowned, “That is true…”
“Maybe, but look at it from your competitors' perspective. Look at it from Draco’s perspective.” In a way, the boy’s life was tragic. “He had no one to help him, he was all alone and he felt unwanted. The reason I helped him was not to guide him, but to not make him feel lonely.”
“But he has people that loves and wants him, he had his friends, teachers and… and parents.”
This made me sit next to the boy, “And people like him, the ones surrounded by people are often the lonliest.”
“Pardon?”
“Tell me, Harry. Each time you have seen Draco with his father, has his father ever shown Draco any love or care? Or even talked to him how you would expect a father to talk to a son?” My question made him open his mouth instantly to answer, but within a second, he froze. “You haven't, have you?”
“I…”
He haven't.
“That is the truth about most of the purebloods, especially Draco. To his father, he is nothing but an heir, a way to keep his family in power and to extend the family name to greater places.” Sad if you think about it, “The last thing he is to his father, is a son. And Lucius Malfoy, the Lord of Malfoy, does not care about a son, he only cares about an heir.”
Harry went silent.
“But it is something Draco has to handle on his own.” He needed to, if he could. “And you, you have to be more cautious of your surroundings. Who you trust and who you value.”
This made him look at me curiously, expecting an answer.
And an answer I gave.
“Hagrid’s murder was done by someone that most of us trusted, and someone we least suspected and thought capable of.” This made the boy jerk. “I am not saying this to scare you, Harry. I am saying this so that you are more aware of your surroundings, so that you are more aware of whom to trust.”
“I… I understand.”
This made me give the boy a bright smile, “Great. Now go and study, despite the present situation. You will be made to give exam the moment everything cools down.”
And this made the boy instantly frown.
“I understand…”
However, just as I thought he would go back and I would go and meet Aurora, something unexpected happened —someone unexpected showed up.
“Quite the show we have got here.”
My wand came instantly flying to my hand and directly pointed at the man above.
“Harry… get out of here.” I commanded the boy, I knew that the plans had changed a bit. But I did not expect that they had changed this much.
And this fast.
“It's fine.” The man standing atop the flying broom shook his head, “I will need to get rid of him anyways, so better to deal with both of you together.”
This was… mildly amusing, and most certainly infuriating.
“But worry not, it won't be painful.” He grinned, “That is a promise by this Bartemius Crouch Junior.”
I should get rid of his grin, shouldn’t I?”
Yeah, I most certainly should.
…
…
[Same Time — Hallways of Hogwarts]
{Aurora Sinistra}
“Incendio Maxima.”
“Protego Maxima.”
A strong spell, but nothing of sorts I haven't seen before.
“You are tough.”
I did stop that spell, but I knew that she was more capable than that.
“And you live up to your name, Bellatrix.”
Our wands were pointed at one another, neither of us firing a spell.
“But unfortunately, it will be the last they hear of your name.”
“Bombarda Maxima!”
“Protego!”
I launched the bombardment spell directly onto the walls around her. The damage to the building did not matter, the safety of the children did —and letting her roam free was a threat to the kids.
“You are stronger than most others.” However, she walked unscathed from the rubble. “Yet still not capable of handling me!”
“Crucio!”
I did not dare take the hit or try defending it. I knew better than to directly face an unforgivable curse.
Dodging the spell, I directly aimed for her feet.
“Incarcerous!”
Ropes conjured and bound her legs, instantly pulling her feet.
“Ugh!” She nearly tripped and fell, but somehow casted a spell on time.
“Incendio!”
“You must think you are really smart, huh?” She barely got her footing back, but did not realize that I had conjured another spell within that time.
“Aguamenti!”
“Ugh! You wench!”
I was not the greatest with duels, that's why I had to make up with tricks for the lack of sheer magical power.
And it did work, as this time she trip and fell directly onto the soaked wooden flooring.
Which gave me another chance.
“Fulmen!”
“Ahhhhh!”
Lightning, directly onto the puddle of water and spread across her body.
It was not the strongest spell, but it definitely dealt some damage as Bellatrix Lestrange was wimping and her movement was sluggish. The spell had made her joints stiff and her muscles were too tensed to allow free movement.
But it was not enough.
“Confringo!”
“Protego!”
Darn she had a lot of willpower!
“Crucio!”
She didn't give up and threw another curse, but this time —I did manage to dodge it with rather ease. She was far too sluggish to keep moving that way.
However… I still expected a little more from a famous Death Eater like her.
Was she injured somewhere? She did seem weak and slow.
But I had no time to waste. Her being here meant there were more Death Eaters!
“Lumos Maxima!”
And so I decided to end it.
“Argh!”
Instantly taking away her vision, I launched a final spell at her.
“Stupify!” Directly onto her face, and unlike before, this spell hit her on the mark.
And thankfully, despite her being stronger than me —I did win, I did defeat her.
Breathing out, I realized my legs were shaking.
This was the first time I had faced someone of her caliber, directly and most certainly in a death match.
And somehow, by some miracle I won.
However, I did not have the luxury to enjoy as a loud yell drew my attention.
“NOOO!!!”
I knew that voice, I knew exactly whom it belonged to!
Without wasting a second, I rushed forward. I ran as fast as I could through the hallways and towards the Headmaster's office.
That's where the yell came from.
That's where Snape’s voice came from.
“Professor!”
The door to his room, that was always magically closed, was open wide and the stench of blood and burnt flesh was everywhere.
“Are you—”
And the moment I stepped foot into the room, my body went cold as my eyes opened wide at the horror of the scene.
“P-Professor?”
The old headmaster, one of the strongest man in all of Britain, and the most respected wizard of our time, lay dead on the arms of Severus Snape.
Near him laid two more men, Death Eaters, from their aura.
But those two didn't matter.
As the one standing there with his wand still pointed at the dead Headmaster, shaking yet with a crazed smile on his face—
“I-It is mine now!”
Was none other than a student of Hogwarts.
“The wand that he was hiding from everyone is mine now!”
It was none other than Draco Malfoy.
“The strongest wand! The Elder Wand is now mine!”
The heir of House Malfoy, and the one that killed the strongest wizard of our time.
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[A/N: Chaos is never controlled, now is it?
Next 2 chapters will mark the end of this arc. New world will either be The Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, or Percy Jackson.]
