Response to DH challenge: Haunted by LD7 Title: Haunted Author:lemondropseven Pairing: None Rating: PG Word Count: 433 Warnings: None Summary: Severus looks for peace. A/N: Many thanks to nix_this for the beta. This is in answer to snow's challenge to rewrite a scene in the first half of DH from Snape's pov. I liked how this scene was done in the movie, and in the book Harry wonders about Snape's reaction to the traps set for him at the old Order headquarters, which was the perfect opening for the challenge.
Staring up at number twelve Grimmauld Place, Severus knew it was foolish to come back here--the Order would have taken precautions against him, set up traps, jinxes and the like. But he also knew it would be empty, blessedly free of Order members, Death Eaters, the Dark Lord, and the memories that haunted him.
Layering a notice-me-not spell onto an already impressive array of disillusionment spells, and checking to make sure he had not been followed, Severus walked up the stone steps and tapped the front door with his wand. The door swung open slowly, with a creak, and he stepped over the threshold, wearily thinking of the possible spells he would have to disarm just to have an hour of peace.
The gas lights flickered to life as Severus closed the door behind him with a quiet click, but otherwise the house remained still, even the portrait of Mrs Black was ominously silent. Raising his wand, he cautiously took a step forward.
"Severus Snape?"
His heart jumped hard, once, as he recognized Mad-Eye's voice in the gruff whisper floating out of the darkness, warning him off from beyond the grave. Opening his mouth to end the spell, a rush of cold air swept over him, stealing his words as his tongue curled back on itself. Mentally cursing at his diminshed ability to defend himself--nonverbal spells were all he had now--Severus narrowed his eyes, and took a resolute step forward.
A shadow shifted at the end of the hall, rising from the carpet, grey dust swirling to form a skeletal figure with flesh sunken and eyes bulging, its arm outstretched accusingly as it flew toward him, long hair and beard streaming behind it. Severus froze, eyes widening in horror, as he recognized the apparition.
It wasn't him. It couldn't be him.
Retreating frantically, mind blank of any spell to end this nightmare, still speechless thanks to the Tongue-Tangle curse, Severus crashed into something beside the door, knocking it over as he scrambled for the handle. Stumbling outside, he backed down the steps, keeping his eyes fixed on...the creature. The curse lifted, and a strangled "No..." slipped past his lips as the terrible vision exploded in the doorway. The weak light glinted on the swirling dust motes as they settled back into the carpet.
The door slammed closed by itself, leaving Severus standing on the sidewalk, awash in gentle moonlight, the beautiful early Summer night completely at odds with the lingering terror he felt. Shaking, heart still racing, Severus turned his back on Grimmauld Place.