Who: Draco Malfoy & Severus Snape What: Rescue! Where: Hogsmeade; then Malfoy Manor When: During the battle - right after Voldemort's death Rating/Warnings: TBD / Probably violence and associated details. Status: Incomplete
There hadn't been time to dwell on anything other than what had been happening directly in front of him, for the past couple of days - and Severus was grateful. The violence and chaos of a full-fledged assault was hardly the setting in which he was made to shine, but it was preferable to what he'd been doing since leaving Potter in the woods, namely waiting. There hadn't been room for anything but the present ever since the action had begun, and now, in all the shock and noise and disarray of this usually quiet village turned upside down, it felt as though only a few minutes had passed since it had all begun.
Time slowed a little - enough to hear himself laughing - when the Dark Lord finally fell, and he spared only half a moment's thought for the reason he would be destroyed this time instead of simply banished. It was a victory too long in coming to let it be at all bittersweet, and at least the sheer frenzy of his surroundings kept him from thinking too deeply on it -
That and the sudden slash and shout and bloody spatter that preceded Draco Malfoy staggering under a curse. He should have expected it, of course every loyal wand would be turning on him in no time at all (assuming there were any left). And while it shouldn't have mattered, because the job was done and for all he cared every last soul for miles could be snuffed out, it seemed unjust to let Draco's final reward be an unceremonious death. And since for once he wasn't inclined to weigh consequences before acting, Severus thought he might as well seize the opportunity. He threw himself forward and soon he was running, slamming into shoulders and half-tripping over what he hoped was inanimate debris. Something - a blunt impact along his right side that left a distinctly magical numbness in its wake - toppled him at the last moment, but he fell near enough to his target to grab Draco's arm, jerk him close, and lurch to his feet again. He didn't even take the time to look around before shutting his eyes and turning on his heel and Disapparating, picturing in his mind the only place he knew where he might have some power, where they might both actually be safe. For a time, at least.
He landed hard on the drive outside Malfoy Manor, inside the gates. It was only then that he stopped long enough to try to assess injuries, although perhaps outdoors in the dirt wasn't quite the place to do it. He pulled himself to his feet. "Can you walk?" His wand arm felt strange, but he could control it. They were safe enough.