As In Life, So In Hell

~The mucus secreting monster is wholly dedicated to its pursuit of the unfortunate shades in the narrow tunnel. Snape says he knows one of them, a Mr. Barty Crouch Jr., whom he claims to be not worth liberating. But it's clear this Crouch has a companion, and there's no telling what sort of person he or she might be. Wesley and Snape can't hear the other shade, they just assume Barty's not just talking to himself.

At any rate, judging by Snape's assessment of Barty's character, Wesley can't be certain that Snape's not the slightest bit prejudiced regarding this man. Was he a student of Snape's? What sort of relationship did they have? It's possible that Barty might indeed be deserving of some punishment, but does he deserve what he's receiving in Hell? And Wesley can't stomach the idea of abandoning the other shade about whom they know nothing. He or she could be anyone...

Wesley takes Snape's pickaxe firmly in his left hand, his own in his right, and gives Snape a determined nod. When he was alive, Wesley had slain a demon of this species, but only with Angel's and Gunn's assistance. He didn't really need to slay it here, simply distract it long enough to enable Snape to remove the others to relative safety. He draws in a long, slow, calming breath, shuts his eyes, and focuses his energies. He'd give anything for a high powered cross bow instead of two rusty pickaxes. Actually, he'd really love a high powered rifle. But this is Hell, and one must always be able to work with what's at hand. He checks Snape's position and exhales, slowly, releasing all tension, fear, and self preservation. Here goes, he thinks, and with all his might, he hurls himself at the rear of the putrid demon, sinking both picks deep into its rubbery, viscous hide, and is slightly disgusted by the squelch as he attempts to draw them back out, before his hands are claimed by the beast's body. The corrosive ooze sizzles his flesh and he curses, screaming a challenge to the beast.~ Don't be such a coward! Come out and defend yourself, or I'll open you up to the worms!

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*Snape isn't entirely shocked that Barty interpreted his death in that way, however wrong it may have been.*

I cannot deny that I did give you Veritaserum, but neither Dumbledore, McGonagall, nor myself called the dementors. We did not wish that to happen. None of us, particularly Dumbledore, wanted the dementors around. Cornelius Fudge is responsible for that, and we were all furious that he did so. And the dementor didn't even pause; I wouldn't doubt that Fudge prearranged with it to kill you instantly. But _I_ did not tell it to kill you.

*He is still keeping an eye on all his surroundings, as Wesley has taught him. He doesn't want to be caught off-guard by the demon any more than by Barty.*

Oh! Oh OF COURSE! Did you hear that, Regina? He didn't tell it to Kiss me! Well now I just feel silly - don't you feel silly? I feel silly. CLEARLY THIS ABSOLVES HIM OF ALL GUILT.

*taken aback by the story the is unraveling, Regulus feels the intense unease - beyond his usual awkwardness - that manifests when serious issues he feels he has no power to change are brought up, Barty so rarely accurately illuminates the important and painful parts of his life and though he wants to have a black and white answer to help, important things so rarely have one so he bites his lip and tries to decide what to say to calm him down*

Barty-

*Barty's manner gets quieter, more focused and uncharacteristically serious*

It's irrelevant what you did or didn't tell a Dementor - that's like throwing me into a volcano and saying "Well I didn't TELL the magma to burn you to a crisp." It's irrelevant what Fudge did. It's all irrelevant. It's irrelevant because what this allllll boils down to the fact you were there - the Dark Lord called you and you failed to answer and then stood idly by while you COULD have been redeeming yourself with some fake potion and seeing to my escape.

There isn't anything to be done about it now, Barty...

*Snape's expression changes to reflect some inner pain.*

Do you think I _wanted_ you to die? I hadn't killed unless I had to for years. _I_ didn't want your blood on my hands any more than anyone else's. I didn't say I was blameless. But as soon as the Dark Lord broke his trust with me, long before your death, I stopped following blindly. How many people that you cared for did he kill? What about Regulus there--everyone said the Dark Lord killed _him_. And he did not mourn your loss, either; others took your place. You, like all his followers, meant nothing to him.

*Snape pauses to take a breath, giving Barty one more look of sadness.*

My friend and I could have walked away and left you two here to be killed by this thing, but it was _I_ who told him we should try rescuing you. _I'm_ the one who told him we should give you a chance. I didn't save you then, but I have the chance to now. Let us help you.

*Regulus Black isn't exactly the best person to stop a fight, of any kind, but surely Snape doesn't have any idea how the simple suggestion that the Dark Lord hadn't cared what happened to Barty would be more than enough to push Barty over the edge - and quite frankly, regardless of who is right about any of this, Regulus too would like to avoid speaking of it forever and just wants to get out of Four intact so before Barty can do anything drastic Regulus finds himself holding him back*

We need to get out of here before more of those things come!

*it's extremely fortunate Barty isn't nearly as strong as he thinks he is, yet, even though he's almost as slight as Regulus, the sheer viciousness of his struggling makes it difficult to keep him subdued - any visage of focus is gone from his eyes and its clear that Snape, with his suggestions of Reg's traitorism and Voldemort's apathy, has completely pushed Barty past the realms of coherent argument*

*pinning Barty's arms to his sides as best he can, Regulus leans backward to try and tug Barty down the tunnel away from Wesley and the demon, it's a valiant effort at the very least*

*Snape resigns himself that there will be no reconciliation; still, he doesn't want to get into a fight. Instead, he edges sideways and further away from Barty and Reg so that Reg can hopefully guide Barty into the safety of the tunnel with more ease. He is careful to keep watch of the whereabouts of everyone, including the demon, as he does so. He sees no point in continuing any conversation.*

RELEASE ME! I MUST IMPART TORCH-ASSISTED VENGEANCE! *there's an ominous tumult from further up the tunnel, Barty's yelling clearly having reached the ears of more then just former wizards, yet still he doesn't seem to grasp the brevity of the situation, as he so rarely does*

Will you please follow me just this once?

Where? I don't want to go. I'm not finished. Not nearly. Not until we have to pick fleshy mush from out between our toes.

Will you listen... *nods his head toward the end of the tunnel, where the noises grow louder*

*at this, Barty finally diverts his eyes from Snape*

*his grip slackens with unimpressed relief* Yes. Oh.

...Well, that changes things just slightly -

*from behind Wesley and the first creature rears another shape, moving a bit too fast to be the same manner of horror*

*Regulus takes a skittish jump backward but doesn't run until anyone else does*

-We should definitely go.

*Snape glances at the other creature arriving and sighs.*

Can we agree on a temporary truce? At least until the four of us are somewhere more stable?

Pryce?! Company!

I CAN'T-

*Wesley tries to disengage from his current situation, risking a glance at the new arrival to the scene. He's unfamiliar with this particular species, but he's knowledgeable enough to surmise it's more than he can handle, especially with the odd sensation in his belly. Poison, perhaps, from this brute. Whatever the case, it's clear Snape is having no luck convincing the wizard shades to join them, but they are at least freed from the menace of this beast and free to make their own escape.*

FALL BACK, SNAPE! I'LL CATCH UP TO YOU, JUST GET OUT OF HERE!

*Snape is less sure about his chances with the demons now, but he still knows better than to expose his back to an enemy, and Barty is certainly that. He gestures for Reg and Barty to precede him.*

After you.

*He'd much rather not leave Wesley, particularly since he doesn't exactly know how he's going to get out of this, but he's pretty sure that he can't be of help, either, and might even hinder him if Wesley worries about his safety. Perhaps he just won't follow Reg and Bart very far.*

*what begins as the brisk stride of a man who doesn't want to let in on to the fact he's suddenly rather frightened fast devolves into a clanky, encumbered run - his clever disguise, which by now is thoroughly coated in frost, suddenly becoming dangerously inconvenient*

*Snape waits until both Barty and Regulus have a small head start, and then he jogs down the tunnel after them, with one final backwards glance of concern for Wesley. He has decided to pace himself; Crouch will exhaust himself, particularly lugging all that weight with him, and Snape doesn't want to be too close to him when he's forced to stop.*

*by now frostily fused to Barty's gear from holding him back, Regulus is forced to run awkwardly alongside him but it's lucky they have been in this situation enough times to become rather skilled in Hell's version of childhood three-legged races; the tunnel is long but up ahead on the right an opening to another gapes and he aims for it*

*this new tunnel looks rather larger then Barty would like - earlier complaints about excessive crawling now long-forgotten, they barrel forward as the thing behind them lets out a now nearly-distant screech*

*Wes is ready to get out of here. He's incapacitated the first demon; he's nearly deaf from its screams of pain resulting from the nasty wounds to its sensory organs which protrude from either side of its neck, allowing it to maneuver effortlessly in the dark tunnels. Not a chance of it following them now. The other demon...

Wes doesn't have the faintest clue about it and he doesn't wait around for a lesson. Time was when he'd... oh, nevermind! He flees toward Snape's retreating form, calling ahead:*

TAKE CARE! THIS NEW BEAST MAY HAVE ALERTED OTHERS!

*Snape slows upon hearing Wesley's warning; he doesn't want to blunder into an oncoming demon, and he doesn't want to become separated from Wesley if he can help it. He's also not feeling well; now that he's no longer having to concentrate on Barty, he's aware of the pains coming from his midsection. He'd like to chalk it up to the tension of avoiding the fight with Barty, but he suspects otherwise. Instead, he pauses right at the entrance to the tunnel Barty and Reg have taken, listening intently for unusual sounds while watching Wesley catch up.*

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As In Life, So In Hell

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