Anything you recognize belongs to JKR
Please Read/Review!
Chapter 11
The Switching of Severus Snape
Tonight was the night, he was sure of it. Severus had been roaming the halls for hours now, and there was still no sign of Hermione or Potter or Weasley. He was just beginning to think that they might not show up after all when he suddenly felt his dark mark burn. Alecto had caught Potter and had already alerted the Dark Lord without him present. Taking a chance he began making his way swiftly to Ravenclaw Tower. He needed to get there and stun Alecto, before Amicus showed up. If Severus had to, he could easily take them both in a duel, and quite frankly it would be almost cathartic to finally reveal his true feelings towards them.
He was now only two floors away from Ravenclaw Tower when he saw a silver cat bound gracefully passed him. Minerva. He thought silently. It wasn't her night to patrol, what was she doing out of her quarters. His body froze momentarily when he heard muffled footfalls from around the corner. Quickly, Severus hid behind a suit of armour, hoping that Minerva or whomever it was hadn't heard him.
"Who's there?" called the Transfiguration professor.
Taking a deep sigh, Severus stepped out from behind the suit of armour and replied, "It is I,
Where are the Carrows?" Was Potter already with her? Probably under that damned cloak, was Hermione with him? He began searching the seemingly empty corridor looking for a sign that someone else was there.
"Wherever you told them to be. I expect Severus." Minerva said smartly.
He steps closer looking around. "I was under the impression that Alecto had apprehended an intruder.
"Really, and what gave you that impression?" Minerva's gaze shot to Severus' forearm, seeing him flinch reflexively at the insinuation. "Oh, but naturally you death eaters have your own form of communication."
"I did not know that it was your night to patrol the corridors Minerva," Severus said trying to get back to the point at hand.
"You have some objection?" She challenged.
"I wonder what could have brought you out of your bed at this late hour?" Severus asked in an almost threatening tone.
"I thought I heard a disturbance."
"Really? But all seems calm." Severus said silkily, he could feel her magic coming off her in angry waves. Stupid Gryffindors, always wearing their hearts on their sleeves. He could tell he only had moments until she struck. "Have you seen Harry Potter, Minerva? Because if you have I must insist-" It was then that Minerva slashed her wand through the air, Severus quickly cast a shielding charm, blocking her curse from hitting him. Not relenting Minerva threw a nearby wall torch at him. Severus had just enough time to throw it to the ground, where the flames grew and turned into a fiery lasso attempting to make Severus it's prey. He turned it into a snake, knowing that Minerva had had a fear of them ever since the Chamber of Secrets had opened five years ago.
Without hesitation she had turned the snake into flying daggers, sending them straight towards him. Looking around, he spelled the suit of armour to come and stand in front of him, protecting him from the flying blades. There were a few loud bangs as the armour was repeatedly stabbed in the chest. He needed to get out of there. He still had to give Harry his memories, he couldn't let Minerva kill him just yet, Merlin knows he deserved it!
Just then there was a cry "No! You'll do no more murder at Hogwarts!" Severus looked down the Corridor to see Flitwick, Sprout and a wheezing Slughorn running towards the scene. Thinking quickly Severus sent a few more suits of armour at the Hogwarts teachers, hopefully giving him enough time to escape. Grasping as much mental concentration as he could Severus began to fly through the corridor, making his way into an empty classroom, not stopping for a moment as he crashed through the window, shaking off the shards of glass as he went. Hermione, he needed to see Hermione, before it was too late.
As he flew through the air, Severus began to collect his thoughts, he needed to have a plan. He needed to find Hermione and he needed to get his memories to Potter. Perhaps he could give them to her, surly she would be able to convince Potter to look at them. The only trouble was that he had no idea where the bloody hell any of them were. Then like magic, the answer came to him, it was so simple he couldn't believed it hadn't occurred to him before. Making his decision he turned around heading back towards the castle, specifically the headmaster's office.
…...
Sitting down at his desk, he could hear all the portraits of Headmaster past whispering. He ignored them, he didn't have the time or patience to answer their questions. Taking out two of the vile's in his coat pocket he examined them for a moment. One full of a thick, black liquid, the other contained only a few red hairs. It's now or never I suppose. Dropping the hairs into the potion it bubbled slightly, holding his breath, Severus downed the potion.
…...
Harry had only been gone twenty minutes but already Hermione was beginning to worry. What if he had run into trouble, they had no way of communicating with him. She turned to Ron for comfort, but he was currently talking to all of his siblings, not wanting to interrupt the briefly happy reunion she left herself to think about what their next steps should be.
"Hello Hermione," Neville had come over, sitting down next to her.
"Hi Neville," she said with a smile, she was closer now and could see the full extent of his bruises. "Are you sure you're alright? That does look quite nasty, let me tend to it will you?" she offered as she began digging into her bag for some of her bruise salve.
"Honestly, it's not that bad," Neville said beginning to refuse.
"Please Neville. I need something to keep my hands busy," Hermione said in a pleading voice.
"Alright, if you must," Neville said begrudgingly, leaning his face in nearer.
As she worked in the salve Hermione let her mind wander to Neville's story earlier about how he had received the bruise, and found herself becoming curious. "So tell me, what's been going on at Hogwarts, what about Snape? Has it been awful?" She asked.
Neville scrunched up his face slightly, thinking his answer through. "Honestly, it's been hell, but not like I had expected a year of Snape as Headmaster to be."
"What do you mean?"
"I dunno, I can't really put my finger on it. It's just not how I expected, I thought for one that I'd be dead within the first week, that Snape would've made sure of it. He's always hated me. I also thought we'd see him a lot more, but he spent most of his time in his office. Probably plotting with You-Know-Who." Neville winced then, as the salve started to take effect.
"Sorry," Hermione said, seeing him react to the salve. "How has he been? Snape I mean."
Neville looked at her oddly, "What do you mean?"
Hermione and Neville's attention was pulled away from their conversation as there seemed to be a few new additions to the room. "Remus! Tonks!" Hermione yelled over the crowd as she saw Order members making their way out of the portrait whole. Running over to the ever growing crowd, Hermione embraced Remus followed by a glowing Tonks. "It's so brilliant to see you both!" Hermione beamed at them.
"How are you? Is Harry here? Is he alright?" Remus said searching the room for the familiar brown locks.
"He's not here at the moment, but he'll be back shortly." Looking over the werewolf's shoulder she saw Kingsley Shacklebolt stepping out,Hermione ran over to be the first to give him a hug. "Kingsley!"
"Hello Hermione," Kingsley said smiling down at her. "How are you?"
"I'm okay," she answered simply.
"I'm glad to hear it, after everything that you've been up to I was getting worried, riding on dragons, trips to Malfoy Manor, the ministry and Merlin knows what else!"
"Hermione!" They both looked over to see Ron walking over to her, an odd look upon his face.
"Ron?"
"Hello Ron," Kingsley said jovially.
"Ron glanced up at him, "Hi Kingsley, good to see you're well," Ron then proceeded to give Hermione a meaningful look and said, "Hermione, could I have a word?"
She looked at him oddly, "Of course you can have a word," she said chuckling, why is he acting so strange? Hermione thought to herself as she let Ron drag her to one of the few secluded spots in the room. "Ron, what on earth-"
"Hermione! It's me." Ron whispered, conspiratorially.
Hermione's eyes widened in shock as she began to recognise the voice coming out of her red headed friends mouth. "Severus? Is that you? How are you doing this?"
"Do you remember the quidditch match last year, the one were Potter fell off his broom? Do you remember what I told you? About the potions I created?"
"How did you get Ron's hairs? We've been on the run for months!"
"Always one step ahead remember? I've had his hairs since the beginning of last year, yours and Potters too. There's no time for this, tell me what's happening." He rushed on.
Hermione made the decision to tell him the truth, Voldemort was on his way, he knew they were destroying Horcruxes, there was no point in keeping it from anyone now. She proceeded to give him the very short version of the past year, and their mission to hunt down and destroy Horcruxes. "And Harry's sure that there's one here. He's looking for it now, I hope he returns soon, there can't be much more time before the Death Eaters arrive, and I'm not sure how long the castle's wards will hold.
"You're missing the major problem Granger." Severus said. It was odd to hear his words and cadence coming out of Ron Weasley's mouth.
"What do you mean? What have I forgotten?" Hermione said, her mind re-evaluating all the possible variables.
"Even if Potter is lucky enough to find a Horcrux and make it back here, how the hell are we going to destroy it?"
"I-I hadn't thought of that."
"Obviously." There was a moment of silence as they both thought of a possible solution. "You said that Potter destroyed the diary with a basilisk fang?"
"Yes, but where are we-" Hermione paused as she realised what he was planning. "You want to go down there? Into the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Why not? It's not dangerous, the basilisk's dead, I'd be more worried about what you'll find above ground tonight."
"I-I guess you're right." Seeing a flaw in the plan she went on, "But neither of us are parselmouthes, we won't be able to get in."
"I know enough, I've been by the side of the Dark Lord for most of my life."
"I suppose we must at least try." Hermione said looking up at him. "I've missed you."
"And I you," Severus said, sparing more than a few moments just to soak in her appearance. She was thinner than the last time he had seen her in the Forest of Dean, she looked tired, she probably hadn't slept the night before, in anticipation of breaking into Gringotts the next morning. But she did -presently at least- look happy. "Come, we must go." The two of them made their way across the tightly packed room, along the way she saw Ginny and informed her that she and Ron were leaving and to tell Harry they'd gone to the loos. Ginny gave both Hermione and her brother a hug before they could leave. Hermione could barely hold back the laugh at watching Ron hug Ginny. When Molly Weasley caught wind of their depart however, Hermione was openly giggling as she watched Severus get rained with kisses and hugs and teary sentiments before he finally was allowed to leave. "Not a word." Severus said seriously as they made their way down the steep and winding steps that led to the Hogwarts corridors. It was a longer trek than Hermione had expected.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Hermione said trying her best to keep her composure.
Severus growled at her expression but they both stopped as the door appeared in front of them. Severus cautiously opened the door, peaking out to see if the coast was clear.
"Where are we?" Hermione queried, trying to peek over his shoulder.
Severus didn't answer, instead holding her back as he made his way out into the hall, wand at the ready.
"Severus, I am perfectly capable of protecting myself!" Hermione said haughtily, stepping out into the corridor.
Severus rolled his eyes in exasperation. "It would help matters greatly if you called me Ron, it just gives me all the more to alter in his mind,"
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Well he'd know something was up if he had memories of you calling him Severus now wouldn't he? Now come on!" Severus said gesturing for her to follow him. "It looks like the Room knew exactly where we needed to go, it took us right to it," he said pointing to the bathroom.
"Which sink is it?" Severus asked walking into the toilets. He hand't heard too many of the details after Potter had defeated the snake, just that the entrance to the Chamber was in this toilet and a particular sink was the entrance.
"I don't know. I've never been in the Chamber remember?" Hermione said slightly panicked.
Severus had momentarily forgotten that Hermione had been petrified at the time, but if Potter could figure it out, certainly he and Hermione would be able to as well. "Start looking, there has to be some sort of differ- here! Look, on this tap there's a snake etched into it."
"That tap has never worked, that might be it! Quick Severus say something in parseltongue." Hermione said frantically.
Severus began his attempt, trying in vein to remember what the Dark Lord sounded like as he spoke to Nagini. Ten minutes later he had almost given up when finally he heard a click and the tap began to glow -an almost blinding white light. The sink began to spin as it sunk down out of sight, leaving in its stead a large pipe, large enough for a grown man to even slide down.
"You did it! I can't believe it!" Hermione squealed in triumph as she squeezed his arm.
Bending down to inspect the pipe he said, "I'll go down first, wait for my okay and then and only then do you follow."
"But-"
"No buts Hermione. That's how it has to be."
"Alright, be safe will you?"
Severus grunted at the ridiculousness of his situation before he slid down the tube and out of sight.
…...
It was wetter than Hermione had imagined. Per Hermione's suggestion, Severus had used the deluminator, and they now had a ball of light hovering above them. Looking around her she saw the passageway to the Chamber, they both silently made their way through, passing by some fallen boulders as they went. Hermione gasped at seeing the place that she had heard so many stories about.
Severus too had been effected by seeing the haunted dwellings of the now dead basilisk His eyes finally made their way to the large skeleton, walking over he carefully pulled out a few fangs out of the jaw. It had to be almost the length of his forearm, Severus realized with shock. Looking over at Hermione, he saw that she had already taken out the cup and placed it on the ground. "Here, take it. It's supposed to be you, I'm sure of it."
Hermione hesitated, but eventually nodded, taking the fang from his hand with confidence.
Kneeling down she took the fang in both hands. Severus had almost expected it to attack her, instead when the fang finally stabbed the cup there was a piercing shriek as the cup convulsed. Something was wrong terribly wrong, though Severus wasn't sure exactly what it was yet. He looked around and saw that all the water around them had started to vibrate. Perhaps the dwellings of the Slytherin line hadn't been the best place to destroy the artefact. Severus berated himself for his stupidity. "We must leave, now." His voice didn't leave room for argument.
Grabbing the cup he and Hermione began to run for there lives, quite literally as the water began to crash around them, trying to halt their escape. They still had half of the Chamber to cross, they'd never make it out without getting caught in the tide that the magic of the room had created. "Hermione, hold on!" And without anymore warning Severus grabbed her around the waist and both of them began to fly, whipping through the air, dodging the crashing waves as the water tried to capture them in their curls. As they raced along he could feel Hermione's grip on him tighten and could hear her screaming in his ear. He couldn't blame her, he was pretty sure she didn't even know he could fly. He felt relief upon seeing the pipe that led to the bathroom, making a sharp turn upward, they zoomed through the tube, he saw light and a whole new wave of relief washed over him, they had made it.
Lying on the wet tile floor a few minutes later, Hermione looked over at Severus, or Ron she supposed who was currently taking in large breaths of air. After the exertion of flying through the air while carrying her no less, and concentrating hard enough that he didn't leave Ronald's mind, she couldn't blame him. She honestly didn't know how he did it all. "We should go find Harry, I'm sure he'll be looking for us by now."
"You're right," Severus said standing up casting a drying spell on both their persons. "Let's go."
…...
"Where the hell have you been!" Harry yelled at his two best friends.
Severus had not been looking forward to this, he had to call upon all of his acting abilities, in order to treat Potter- Harry like a friend.
"Chamber of Secrets!" he yelled in his most Ron-like voice.
"Chamber -what?" Harry asked confused.
"It was all Ron's idea! Isn't brilliant? After you left we realized that even if you did find the horcrux we still had no way of destroying them. That's when he thought of it! Harry the basilisk fang!" Hermione ended by holding out a few fangs that they had collected.
"Hermione destroyed the cup, I figured it was her turn." Severus said holding out the shrivelled blackened cup.
"How did you get into the Chamber? You have to speak Parseltongue."
"Ron remembered a few words from hearing you speak it!" Hermione said looking at Ron adoringly, she couldn't help the pride in her voice.
"It took me a few tries, but it finally worked," Severus said trying to play it down.
"Harry what's happening? We've been down in the Chamber for ages." Hermione said changing subjects.
"Everyone is gathering in the Great Hall, we're going to fight. All the underage students have escaped through the tunnel leading to Aberforth's as well as the Slytherin's, the last thing we need is more innocent blood spilled." Harry said.
Severus breathed a sigh of relief, he had been worried about the students. He had barely been able to protect them all year, he had at least wanted to protect them during the fight. There had already been too much innocent blood spilled during this war. He thought of Charity Burbage, all the nameless muggles even Dobby the house elf who had saved his Hermione when he couldn't. At the thought of Dobby his eyes widened at the realization. "Hold on!" he yelled, quite uncharacteristically for him, though very much in character for a Weasley. "We've forgotten someone!"
"Who?" Hermione asked.
"The house elves! They'll all be down in the kitchen, won't they?"
"You mean we ought to get them fighting?" Harry asked.
"Nooo! I mean we should tell them to get out! We don't want anymore Dobby's do we? We can't order them to die for us." There was a clatter to Severus' left as Hermione dropped the basilisk fangs she was holding and lunged at him as she kissed him full on the mouth. It was the last thing he remembered before opening his eyes in the Headmaster's office.
A/N: Hello everyone! this chapter was probably the most fun to write! This is one of the scenes that I have been planning since the start and have been looking forward to writing! I'm curious to see who had predicted the end! Please let me know what you think! We are now officially on the last third of this two part story if that makes any sense! In the next chapter you will see how the war has ended who has died who has survived and most importantly, if the anti venom worked.
Also if you have any questions about where the potion, Severus used was explained it was in the half-blood Prince chapter 25
Please Review this one! I'd like to say a special thanks again to all the people who reviewed last chapter Vampirela69, Caroline, , as always gwendlyn, Lily T., Stephaniebob22, bombingjamie, DarkestAngel13, JeniDRalph, Ladygoddess8,
