This Is War

Snape could not move a single muscle in his body.

He could only lift his eyes to gaze at the ceiling of the carriage, listening to the footsteps and voices surrounding him.

Just as he was contemplating how to defend himself before the Wizengamot Wizarding Court and wondering how Sirius had managed to escape from Azkaban, the Knight Bus lurched into motion with a deafening "bang."

The bus was moving too fast, and his body slid a distance toward the back of the vehicle.

"Mom, Severus is still lying on the floor."

He heard Marlene's voice.

Shortly after, he felt someone use magic to lift him from the floor and place him gently onto a bed.

Lying on the feather mattress, he thought to himself that at least he wouldn't have to endure that annoying vibration against his back anymore.

The passage of time was difficult to perceive.

With another deafening "bang," the bed frame beneath Snape slid about a foot toward the front of the bus.

Hogsmeade had arrived.

Floating face-up as he left the Knight Bus, a vast expanse of starry sky filled his vision.

Accompanied by the squelching sound of a wooden leg pulling out of the mud and the rhythmic tapping of footsteps on the cobblestone road, they entered a dim room.

A familiar scent of goat musk rushed into Snape's nose.

The Hog's Head Inn?

He guessed to himself.

"Aberforth, it seems you received my message."

Moody said in a gruff voice.

"Has Albus arrived? Also, could I trouble you to find a place for Ernie so he can get some proper rest?"

After hearing a soft grunt from a nose, Snape felt himself being slowly lifted.

Once the creaking of the wooden stairs ceased, he heard a knocking sound.

"Come in." It was Dumbledore's voice.

"Good evening, Albus," Moody said.

"Good evening, Alastor. Tell me about what happened today."

Dumbledore asked gravely.

"What's wrong with this child again?"

Snape was placed onto the floor.

He could feel something being dragged, making a harsh, grating sound against the floorboards.

Moody seemed to pull over a chair and sat down heavily.

"Better let McKinnon tell you; I only rushed over after receiving his signal."

And so, Mr. McKinnon recounted everything he knew in full.

Marlene stood to the side, adding a few details about what happened after he had lost consciousness.

"Are the corpses downstairs?" Dumbledore asked.

They went downstairs.

The house was completely silent.

After a while, Snape heard the sound of footsteps again as someone entered the room.

A flash of red light flickered, and the spell on his body was broken.

He bolted upright, looked up at Dumbledore, and spoke to him urgently:

"Professor, could you send a letter to my home?

"Just say that I ran into you in Diagon Alley and that you have some school matters to discuss with me, so I'll be home late. Is that alright?"

Dumbledore's bright blue eyes peered at Snape for a moment through his half-moon spectacles.

Then, he nodded and used his wand to summon an owl, along with parchment and a quill.

A moment later, the owl flew out of the window into the pitch-black night sky.

"Could you return my wand—uh—"

Snape hesitated for a moment before speaking hurriedly.

"No need. But there is a spell to prevent conversations from being overheard—the Silencing Charm. I suggest we use it."

Dumbledore waved his hand to cast the spell, then lowered his arms and gazed at Snape.

"Is there something you wish to tell me, Severus?"

"Yes, Professor."

Snape nodded.

"The Knight Bus was intercepted by Old Avery. He stunned Ernie Prang and murdered Tod Spunk with the Avada Kedavra curse."

He continued in one breath:

"Old Avery is a Death Eater; he wasn't under any Imperius Curse."

"He recognized me from the start and even tried to make me use the Unforgivable Curses to kill Marlene."

"Anything else?" Dumbledore asked.

Snape hesitated for a moment, then continued:

"There is a small group in Slytherin called 'Walpurgis'."

"We—they hold regular meetings. At these meetings, the Death Eaters teach various forms of Dark Magic."

"The Unforgivable Curses were taught by Bellatrix Lestrange."

"Walpurgis?"

Dumbledore whispered the name.

"Professor," Snape responded to his confusion, "this is the name the Dark Lord... er... Voldemort gave to the Death Eaters in his early years."

"They stopped using it later on and passed it down to the prospective members still in school."

Someone nearby shivered in terror, seemingly gasping for air at the mention of the name.

"Do you know why the Death Eaters are looking for McKinnon?"

Dumbledore asked calmly.

Snape shook his head:

"I don't know. Is there something special about him?"

Dumbledore placed a hand on the bridge of his crooked nose, clearly deep in thought.

"Then, did you kill both of those people?"

"No, Professor." Snape met Dumbledore's gaze without flinching. "It was two Death Eaters."

Dumbledore stood up and paced in front of the dark fireplace.

"If the first one was forced by the situation, why did you strike at McNeil?"

"This is war, Professor."

Snape replied curtly.

"That is not enough to convince me not to hand you over to the Ministry of Magic when dawn breaks."

Snape took a deep breath, thinking to himself, You forced my hand to say this.

He decided to use Dumbledore's spear to strike at Dumbledore's shield.

"Do not pity the wicked, Professor.

Pity the many more innocents, and those who are willing to fight for them."

"The appearance of Death Eaters is always accompanied by death; they—"

He pointed at the McKinnons.

"What would happen if they were taken?"

Without waiting for Dumbledore to answer, Snape continued:

"There are many more people out there who dare not speak the name of—Voldemort.

"What they fear most is returning home to find the Dark Mark hovering over their house. Because they know what they will see once they step inside.

"I am a member of Walpurgis. To a Death Eater, a traitor is clearly more attractive than an enemy or an innocent.

"I have family, too, and I am just as terrified of returning home to see the Dark Mark."

He stared intently into Dumbledore's blue eyes and said heavily:

"Professor, I do not want to lose my most important family members for the sake of so-called procedure, justice, or some other 'greater good'."

"He will face trial and be locked away in Azkaban; he will not have the chance to harm your family."

Dumbledore's voice seemed to grow a hint hoarser.

A mocking sneer curled the corners of Snape's mouth:

"Azkaban?

"Are you referring to the prison guarded by Voldemort's natural allies?"

After a moment of silence, Dumbledore spoke:

"Severus, sometimes change brings good results, but sometimes it does not.

"We can keep today's events a secret.

"But I hope you will carefully consider your actions and the path you take in the future."

"Thank you, Professor. I will."

Then, Snape asked deliberately, "I used magic today; is that alright?"

"Oh, you needn't worry. The Trace cannot track the specific user of magic," Dumbledore said.

Snape nodded thoughtfully.

"One more thing."

He suddenly remembered another question.

"After daybreak, could you have Mr. Moody, or someone else, take me to Diagon Alley and then bring me back home?"

"I need to go to Diagon Alley to buy an owl."