The Unexpected

A/N: This is a story I started a while back that I originally started for a contest. Life happened and I didn't get to finish it, but it's almost done now. I saw the final movie today and I felt the true need to post what I've written so far. We'll call this my therapy. I really resent the end of Snape's life, so I've tweeked it a bit to suit my fancy. It's not exactly canon-compliant, so don't rake me over the coals because of it (smile). This is JK Rowling's world and I'm merely manipulating her characters as I see fit. All mistakes are of my own doing.

Chapter 1

Unlikely Allies

Walking the dark path to Hogsmeade with her two best friends, Hermione Granger did not feel much like talking to them, for there was only one thing on their minds as they trudged forward to face the Dark Lord. There was no need to speak of it, or say the things one would say to best friends if they knew their lives could end in just a few moments time. The three of them were like family and their feelings for one another were mutual and solid. The quiet trio knew that this could possibly be the last walk they would ever take together alive, but Hermione carried several secrets in her heart that she needed to make known before their journey came to an end.

She was glad the walk to Hogsmeade was a long one because it gave her time to prepare her mind for what was to come over the course of the evening. She also needed a way to find closure on an issue she had tried to bring up to her friends months before. Now that they were on the way to what could possibly be the last night of their lives, she was going to tell them her true feelings one way or another.

Struggling to find the right words to talk to them, her mind drifted to thoughts of their Potions Master, and how she desperately needed to make it clear that he was not the traitorous Death Eater they so fervently wanted to hate. She had time to think it through before speaking, and she decided to try to talk them out of killing him as soon as they saw him, rather than defend him with an argument that had become futile.

Her eyes followed the hem of Harry's black cloak as she walked. It reminded her of Professor Snape's flowing black robes when he whisked through the corridors of the castle. She had always found it to be commanding and intimidating and her mind was suddenly drawn to the Sunday morning she had found out that Severus Snape was a double spy for the Order. Walking, she drifted into the memory.

She had been asked by Madam Pince to help her file away a mountain of books that belonged in the secret room of the library. The librarian was overwhelmed with filling the order requests set forth by assignments of all the Hogwarts Professors, and she was too busy to tend to the frivolous reading lists of Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. They had been checking out books from the secret archives faster than she could tend to them, and she had been thrilled when Hermione accepted her plea for help.

Hermione had only heard of the secret room in the library, and she had never been allowed entry until that day. She was as excited as one would be on Christmas morning, shaking with apprehension as she turned the Goblin forged key in the lock. When she opened the door, she was overwhelmed with the smell of aging leather bound books and ancient parchment, and she breathed it in, welcoming the familiar comfort the aroma afforded her. The room was much larger than she had originally thought, about half the size of the Great Hall, and there were bookcases neatly aligned like walls, forming a maze stuffed with books that were off limits to students. Between the stacks the perfume of ancient leather was strongest, and she took her time learning the layout, and perusing the titles, ignoring Madam Pince's strict instructions not to do so.

Lost in a copy of 'Underused Charms', she felt the air pressure in the room change when the door was suddenly flung open, and she closed the book, quickly returning it to the shelf. Assuming Madam Pince was coming in to check on her, she pushed the buggy full of books toward the front of the room, but she stopped moving when the door violently slammed shut. Knowing the librarian would never do such a thing, Hermione drew her wand, and emerged from between the stacks to find herself face to face with a very startled and angry Severus Snape. The only sounds to be heard were the crisp hisses of scattering parchments leaving his hands and landing on the floor.

He glanced up from the mess, snarling at her as he clutched his forearm to hide the painful Dark Mark. "What are you doing in here?" He rasped through clutched teeth.

"I'm…I'm filing books away…I-I have permission from Madam Pince!" she replied, her voice only managing a startled, broken whisper. She became silent when she saw him lean against the wall, obviously in pain. Taking a step toward him, she gasped, "Are you hurt, sir? Can I…"

"Get out of here!" He growled, interrupting her. The veil of his raven black hair covered the excruciating expression on his face.

"Yes, sir!" she murmured, wanting nothing more than to retreat from the situation before he gave her a needless detention, or took points away from her house.

As soon as Hermione placed her hand on the door handle, Madam Pince pushed from the outside and cracked it open. Snape hid behind the door, flattened against the stone wall, and he put his finger to his lips, signaling he did not want his presence known.

Madam Pince yelped when she opened the door and almost ran into Hermione, who was apparently coming out. She gasped laughingly, "Oh! Hermione! You startled me!" Placing her hand to her chest, she chuckled, "I only wanted to check on you." Peeking inside from where she stood, she pushed the door further open, and said, "This is such a depressing room. As soon as you are finished in here I'd like to treat you to a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. I don't think I can stay inside the castle all afternoon. Oh! And please don't rat me out for having you help me. I'd get in a world of trouble if anyone found out I allowed a student in here, but I feel like you know the library better than anyone else because you're always here!"

Hermione replied, careful to not let the door swing backward onto her hiding Potions Master, "Thank you. Of course I won't tell a soul because I'd like to be allowed to come back! I love it in here. I'd like to make that trip with you this afternoon very much and it's a beautiful day for a walk. I should be through in about an hour."
Pulling the door closed, Madam Pince hesitated, and whispered, "I'd like to stop by Gladrags Wizardwear while we're there. I need new knickers!"

Hermione giggled, but only because from the corner of her eye, she had seen Professor Snape rolling his eyes, and she replied jokingly, "I hear they now have thongs!"

"No!" the librarian gasped, blushing, "I do not think my body would agree with wearing such a thing!" Giggling, she closed the door, and returned to her duties.

Hermione warded the door, and turned her attention to Professor Snape, who was painfully bending to pick up the spilled parchments. She quickly gathered them, and noticed that he had abandoned the task as soon as she picked up the first item. Leaning against the wall, he watched her through the strings of hair covering his face.

Taking the neat stack of parchments from her hands, he snapped, "Thank you, Miss Granger. Now you may go."

She pointed her wand at the door to remove the wards, and he murmured, "Wait."

"Yes, sir?" She responded, noticing the sudden softness of his tone.

Failing to hide the fatigue in his strained voice, he whispered, exasperated, "I'm afraid I have found myself in a rather unexpected position and I will unfortunately need your assistance."

"How can I help you, Professor?" She offered, her forehead wrinkled with genuine concern.

He spoke authoritatively, "You may alert the Headmaster that I have been unexpectedly summoned to the Dark Lord and I…" Pinching the bridge of his nose, he took a deep breath and continued speaking, "We will need to call an immediate meeting of the Order as soon as I return. However…I do not know when that will be. That is all you need to say."

Elated to be charged with a mission to help him, she turned on her heels to go immediately to the Headmaster's tower, but he called her back once more, and she stopped in her tracks. Cold shivers crawled up her body when she turned around to find him reluctantly and resentfully pulling on the hammered metal mask of a Death Eater.

He managed to stand at his fullest height, just before covering his face with the offending mask and he offered her a look of apologetic assurance so she would not scream. In that moment, she saw that his midnight eyes were filled with sadness, regret, dread, and pain. She was confused by his hesitance, yet electrified by the first true display of humanity she had ever seen come from him. She had always respected her Potions Master despite the rumors surrounding his connection with the Dark Lord, but she had never stopped trusting him. Furtively drawn to the side of Professor Snape that he had just allowed her to see, she was certain she would never be able to look at him again without seeking the gentle soul that hid inside his abrasive, impenetrable outer shell. She was briefly confused by his gesture, but he captivated her, and she suddenly felt responsible for him, ready to help him in any way she could. She was determined to prove her loyalty to him and hoped he would continue to find her worthy of his trust.

Breaking eye contact, he shoved the mask over his head, and commanded, "Tell no one but the Headmaster!"

"Of course not!" She sharply replied, insulted. Turning to leave, she stopped and glanced back at him. Ignoring the mask, she inhaled quickly and called to him breathily, "Be careful, Professor!"

He nodded and she watched spellbound as he swept into the fireplace and flooed out. As soon as the green flash of magic extinguished, she darted from the room to carry out her mission. On her way to the Headmaster's tower, she quickened her steps into a run when it processed in her mind that Professor Snape was on the side of the light. Her intuitions had been right about him in that he was not an evil man, and that Dumbledore knew all about his dealings with the Dark Lord. She felt safe knowing Professor Snape was helping them and protecting them at the risk of his own life. She ducked behind a suit of armor to avoid being seen by her two best friends who were walking down the corridor, apparently on their way to the Quiddich Pitch.

The snapping of a twig under Hermione's foot broke the silence of their hike and the boys stopped to look in the direction of the sound. The blue glowing tips of their wands showed the face of a very annoyed Hermione Granger.

She spoke authoritatively to them while pushing their wands away, "Ron, please don't get trigger happy tonight with your wand! Think before you act. It doesn't automatically mean that it's a Death Eater just because you hear a sound or if something black moves in the night!"

Ron and Harry scowled at her.

"You still believe Snape is innocent, don't you?" Ron snarled.

She crossed her arms and replied, "I believe I've made my feelings quite clear on that matter, Ron, but you two harbor so much hatred that your hearts have turned almost as black as you believe his to be! I can't believe you two ever stopped trusting me!"

Turning to Harry, Ron mused, "She's completely mental."

Ignoring him, Harry put his hand on Hermione's shoulder, and he pleaded with her, "Hermione, Snape killed Dumbledore. That's all there is to it! He's bad. He always was! He has you fooled, just like he did Dumbledore." Exhaling, he could see that her stubborn mind was made up. "Look, Hermione. We could die tonight. I want us to all be in our best frame of mind so we will be focused. Together we are stronger. You're my best friend and we need each other. Whether Snape is a good guy or not, he's still a murderer. If I promise to bring him in alive will that make you feel better?"

Looking on, Ron snorted, "I can't believe what I'm hearing!"

Hermione and Harry scowled at the red head.

"Ok. I promise to bring Snape in…alive," Ron said as though he had something sour in his mouth.

"Good. Now we can stop bickering and find Voldemort! Can I count on you two to walk through this with me?" Harry asked, his eyes darting from Hermione to Ron.

"Yes," Ron answered, looking apologetically at Hermione, whose sneer softened into an accepting smile.

"Of course," she answered, squeezing their hands.