Disclaimer: My name still isn't JKR. So I still don't own HP. Surprised?

A/N: Okay, I know I suck. This has been lying around on my comp for months. I just haven't got round to putting it up. I know, I know, bad me. Sorry! Also, sorry for the shortness. I'm trying, I promise.

gillian88 – cheers hun!

will-jenkins – hehe. I think I get it. Just about.

Balthamos – lol. Sorry, I like it that way. For what I'm describing anyway. Normal magic is still spelt magic. Confused? Hehe. No tickling. That's evil.

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Harry listened carefully, but it seemed to be all quiet behind the door. There was no way of telling …but he hadn't come this far to let a door stop him. Warily pulling the door towards him, he was relieved when it glided smoothly across the stone tiling, obviously well oiled and used. Hearing no shouts, Harry eased it open enough so that he could slip through, cautiously pulling it to behind him. He was in a long narrow corridor, which stretched on into the blackness as far as he could see. Hoping inwardly that he didn't meet anyone, for there was no where to hide, he set off along the corridor. His footsteps seemed to echo loudly down the corridor, no matter how lightly he trod, and his imagination was starting to work overtime. Each flickering shadow cast by a torch was suddenly a Death Eater emerging from the darkness to take him to Voldemort. Harry shook himself mentally.

'This is not the time for flights of fancy', he scolded himself. 'Pull yourself together. They're only shadows'. He then jumped wildly when a flame flickered fiercely from a nearby torch. Shaking his head in disbelief, he carried on. It couldn't be much further.

His suspicions were proven correct when voices began to filter down the corridor. As quietly as he could, Harry inched closer to try and hear what they were saying. At first, the words were still inaudible, but as he was debating whether he could get closer safely, the voices suddenly increased in volume, and Harry pricked up his ears.

"I don't see why we have to be here. He's flat out; no way he's waking any time soon. Even when he does, he's in no fit state to even move, let alone try and escape. He doesn't need a guard."

"Maybe, but if our Lord wishes us to be here, we must be here. He's in a foul mood tonight, as I'm sure you've noticed. I don't want to piss him off."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just deathly boring, that's all."

The voices quietened down again. But from that short snippet of converstion, Harry had gained a lot of information. From what he had heard, he could presume that Snape was unconscious in a cell, with two guards on duty. However, the guards sounded fed up and tired. Tired guards were careless guards, and he could use that to his advantage. Keeping close to the wall, he crept down until the passageway started to widen into a cave. Cautiously peeking, he saw the two men leaning against a wall, and shrank back, momentarily forgetting that the Disillusionment charm was still in effect. A door was behind them, and Harry felt sure that Snape was behind that door. He was almost there. He just had to deal with the guards.

But how? Harry mulled it over, before coming to the conclusion that his only chance was the element of surprise. Grasping his wand, he silently prayed, and walked into the cave. Immediately, he pointed his wand at one of the Death Eaters and yelled:

"Stupefy!" A beam of red light shot out of Harry's wand, and the Death Eater fell to the floor, stunned. Before the other one could react, Harry had him down too. Breathing a sigh of relief, Harry stepped closer to the door. Examining the chain, he could see that there was no way that he could get it off. The entire thing was shiny and new, and Harry wasn't stupid enough to think that Voldemort would have entrusted the key to one of the guards. Minus a lock pick, there wasn't a lot else he could do. Again, if he concentrates, he could see the now familiar swirls of dark magick enclosed the door. But time was running out. Harry was all out of clever ideas, and it was only a matter of time before someone discovered the stunned guards. There was only one option left.

Saying a quick silent prayer, he pointed his wand at the lock, and said quietly:

"Alohomora!"

And at that moment, Harry's luck chose to run out.

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