She was shocked. Yes, lying was what he was often required to do, but why would he lie about that? Why would he sell them false hope that everything would turn out all right for everyone?
"What do you mean they'll die? You told the Order that –" she started to ask, but he cut in.
"I bloody well know what I told the Order. It wasn't on a need to know basis so I didn't tell them. It wouldn't have changed anyhting."
"Of course it would!" She only halfed believe what she was saying. He was right, it probably wouldn't have changed anything except add another worry on their hands.
"So, if Voldemort dies," she asked "all the Death Eaters... will die?" He nodded somberly.
"But why?" She didn't want to believe it. It wasn't fair that he would die if they won.
Snape sighed, annoyed. Trust the smartest student to ask as many questions as she could. But he knew this had nothing to do with being smart and knowing everything. This had everything to do with being desperate and hanging on to any last glimpse of hope. But why should it matter to her that the greasy bat of the dungeons wouldn't make it out of the war wether they won or lost? Well, whatever the reason may be, it did matter to her.
"Because of the Dark Mark. The Dark Lord wanted to be sure that he took his followers with him if he died. So if he does, all the Death Eathers will go down with him, because they swore alliegance to him and have a mark proving they did." As if reading her mind he added, "It doesn't matter that I betrayed him and am no longer one of his followers. I stil have the Mark and that's all it takes."
She lowered her head in defeat. It wasn't fair. Whatever happened, he would die. Wether by a spell or because they failed and Voldemort killed him or even if they won, he would die. In the next twenty four hours, he would probably be dead. Tears welled up in her eyes, it wasn't fair, he had payed for what he'd done. He had suffered the consequences of his actions over and over again. All for nothing.
He lifted her chin so that he was staring right into her tear-filled eyes. "Do not grieve for me Hermione, grieve for the others that will be lost in this war. Pray there will be few."
Before she could help herself she wrapped her arms around him and cried into his chest. Severus was quite suprised but recovered quickly and put his arms around her aswell. He held on tightly, knowing she was probably the last thing he'd ever hold on to.
