A/N: I find it extremely fascinating that there are such different (and extreme) opinions about Dumbledore. Here is a thought... What if he was not that evil, yet also not that noble? Could the man be somewhere in the middle, flawed, limited, basically a human being like everyone else?
Luna de Papel... Thanks for saving me from making an unforgivable mistake!
Disclaimer: Not Mine.
Chapter Twelve – Second Chance in Disguise
Severus cursed under his breath as he walked through the narrow path covered by moss and fallen leaves. Every step he took, he was further away from the castle and deeper into the heart of the Forbidden Forest.
What the bloody hell was that Potter brat thinking! When will he ever learn the meaning of subtlety? Why couldn't he pick up any of Lily's intelligence and had to inherit all of his father's arrogance instead? Severus let out an angry grunt as his dragon-hide boots crushed the dry leaves under his feet. Didn't he know that Dumbledore would never left his golden boy unprotected, even at Hogwarts? Why couldn't that brat at least consider consulting the only Order member in the castle after that kind of vision? Oh no... not the heroic Boy-Who-Lived! The famous Harry Potter must live up to expectations and challenge every possible danger in his way!
By the time Severus received the Patronus in the form of a very large dog, and confirmed that Sirius Black was in fact safely residing in Number 12, Grimmauld Place, the Potions Master immediately realized what had happened: the Dark Lord had successfully infiltrated Potter's mind and manipulated the teenage wizard's thinking. Hoping he was not too late to find a way to explain the situation to the young Gryffindor, mind you, in a subtle way that Potter probably wouldn't understand, Severus returned to Umbridge's office. Instead of being able to keep the situation under control, however, he only found several of his Slytherins moaning in pain on the floor.
When his Head of House entered the room, the Inquisitorial Squad's leader, Draco Malfoy, immediately began his whiny recount of their fight with the few students accompanying Harry Potter. Severus frowned in annoyance. He almost wanted to slap the blond-haired wizard, only if that could make him get to the point quicker, and as soon as he heard the mentioning the Forbidden Forest, Severus dashed out of the castle and ventured deep into the woods.
He wished he could still count on Hermione Granger to reign in the foolhardy Potter. But with four other of Potter's followers around, Severus doubted any possible attempt to reason with the young wizard could be effective. He wished she had come to him before they took off. Should he have stayed after class a little longer that day, instead of leaving immediately like he had done in the past few months?
Shortly after Dumbledore's meeting with Hermione, the Headmaster tried to convince Severus to consider the friendship offered to him by the young witch. The suggestion bothered the Potions Master greatly. Severus had been taking note of the Headmaster's manipulative nature. He knew Dumbledore had a grand plan for the entire war, and was always bitter when the old wizard refused to share with him any details. What was the meddling old man's true motive behind suggesting him to befriend the young witch? How would any association with him, a spy and a former Death Eater, benefit her in any way? Severus quickly decided against Dumbledore's suggestion, and continued with his plan to avoid the young witch at all costs.
In this particular afternoon however, Severus couldn't stop second-guessing himself. Could the current complication have been prevented if he had met with her after class? Could the situation be less dire if he had told her that he would be there for her if she needed help?
Severus' thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a herd of centaurs rushing through the woods in the distance, dragging something resembling a human body behind them. He quickly raised his wand and strained his eyes to try to identify the person, fearing the worst. Fortunately, a scream reached his ears and offered him much needed relief.
"Put me down! You filthy half-breeds! How dare you touch me! I'm from the Ministry! Help! Put me down...!"
Severus let out a grunt in disgust as he recognized the owner of the high-pitch voice. However, if the centaurs attacked Umbridge, what would they do to Potter and his followers? What could happen to... Hermione?
"Potter! Granger!" Severus could feel the anxiety quickly build up inside of him. "Granger! Hermione!" He called in a low but urgent voice.
He held his breath when he heard the sound of horse hoofs trotting towards him. Halting his footsteps, he pointed his wand at the thick woods.
Emerging from the shuffling leaves was a majestic red-haired Centaur. "Who is the human standing before Ronan?" The creature asked sternly. "Are you, too, foolish enough to challenge the territory of Bane?"
Very slowly, Severus lowered his wand and inclined his head slightly towards the Centaur. "My name is Severus Snape. I am a professor at Hogwarts, and an associate of the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. I apologize for the intrusion. Please understand that I come to the Forest in peace, for I only wish to collect my two students. They have recently wandered into the woods by mistake. They are only teenagers, and wish you no harm."
The Centaur trotted around Severus and observed the wizard curiously. "Severus Snape..." He murmured. "How interesting..."
Severus frowned at the words from the Centaur named Ronan, not knowing what his words meant and how he should respond. A moment later, Ronan continued. "I've read about you in the stars... the wizard with an ambivalent relationship with fate..." He paused in front of Severus for a brief moment, as if trying to make up his mind about the information he should reveal to the wizard. A moment later he added, "yes... the intelligent man who can't recognize a second chance in disguise... I shall say no more... As for your two students, they were joined by four others. Are you the one responsible for their ignorant behavior?"
"Yes, indeed." Severus bowed down a little lower. "Please accept my sincere apology. They will be disciplined as soon as they return to the castle. I believe it is also in your favor if I can help you rid of unwanted intruders?"
Nodding slowly, Ronan pointed to a small path leading off of the main track. "They went after the Thestrals, and I believe they left for your Ministry. What about the other one?" He looked up towards the opposite direction and nodded at the herd of centaurs in the distance. "The unpleasant female?"
"I have no intention of collecting her." Severus answered coldly. "You can keep her if you like."
The Centaur huffed angrily in reply. "We have no interest in keeping her. Having our revenge and teaching her a lesson is all we wish to do."
"Very well," Severus glanced over towards the screaming witch. "I will make arrangements to have her removed from the forest when you're done."
The red-haired Centaur rose on his hind legs and let out a snort. "Leave! Go after your foals. Take your war away with you. Your conflict is not wanted in our world."
Without waiting for a reply from the wizard, the Centaur turned around and galloped into the thick woods, leaving Severus alone in the quiet clearing, contemplating the newly received information about his six errant students.
With a wave of his arm, a silver doe pranced out of the tip of his wand. Watching his Patronus disappear into the sky, Severus knew the Order members would soon be at Potter's side, likely ready to go through an intense battle with the Dark Lord's most loyal Death Eaters. He wondered which Order members would be able to get there on such short notice. Would they have time to relay the message and Apparate to the Ministry right away? Would they have enough force to protect Potter and his followers... and... Hermione?
Feeling utterly frustrated with a situation that was clearly out of his control, Severus let out a low grunt and made up his mind. With a swirl of black smoke, the wizard disappeared into the sky under the cover of the wings of a flock of startled crows.
It had been a long time since Severus last cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself. He never found it necessary on his many missions as the Order's spy, because he was always able to find a way to listen to private conversations unnoticed. But on this day, eavesdropping on a conversation was not his goal. If he had to be honest with himself, he had to admit going to a battle scene was not the most brilliant idea for a spy like him. The Disillusionment Charm could quickly wear off if he was hit by any hexes or curses, no matter how minor. If that happened, he would reveal himself in front of the other Death Eaters, and create unwanted complications.
However, concerns about holding up the charm quickly became the last thing on Severus' mind. He felt more and more alarmed as he searched through the first few levels in the Ministry complex, unable to find any trace of either the teenagers or the Death Eaters.
It was not until he reached Level Nine when Severus heard hexes and curses blasting in the chambers. Making his way swiftly towards the chaos he tried to make out the voices. To his further concern, he couldn't recognize any voices of Order members, only the screams and shouts of teenagers trying desperately to fend off their attackers.
He didn't even realize that he had started running towards the sounds when he heard the familiar voice which belonged to the young witch who had been pulling on his heartstrings for countless months. It sounded as if Hermione Granger was dueling with two or three Death Eaters. When Severus darted through the Time Chamber he heard the witch call out a stunning curse. Her shout was followed by a loud crash, as if her curse hit someone with a rather heavy built. Right when Severus reached the end of the Chamber, he heard her call out a silencing charm. Slightly confused by her choice of hexes, Severus followed the noise and ran into an office off of the Chamber, right in time to see a purple light shot out from a Death Eater's wand.
Severus raised his wand instinctively and threw a shielding charm between the witch and the Death Eater, only to find it too late to block the curse. The purple light hit Hermione right at her chest. Severus felt his heart caught in his throat as his perception of time slowed down and events developed in slow motion in front of him. Hermione's eyes widened when the curse made contact with her. Her mouth opened slightly, clearly exposing that she had been caught by surprise. Severus watched helplessly as the young witch dropped her wand and took a stumble backwards, knocking over a lamp on the desk before tumbling down to the floor.
Feeling his blood boil with anger, Severus pointed his wand at the Death Eater and hissed a curse under his breath. A green light flew out of his wand and hit the Death Eater right in the face, silencing him permanently.
"Who's there?" Harry Potter raised his wand, pointing at the empty room. "Show yourself!"
Severus ignored the young wizard and quickly reached Hermione's side. Kneeling next to the young witch he intended to reach for her neck and check for her pulse, but found his hands trembling uncontrollably. Was he too late? Had she been able to silence the Death Eater before the curse was cast? Because if she didn't... Severus closed his eyes and clenched his hands into tight fists. He was too afraid to guess. After all, there were many choices in dark magic, other than the Killing Curse, to inflict deadly wounds.
"Harry... I don't see anyone. No one's there. Maybe it's some sort of security devise in the Chamber..." Neville Longbottom emerged from behind a chair.
"Hermione..." Harry ran to his best friend's side, fighting back his tears. "Is she..."
Quietly Neville walked up to the young witch on the floor and reached for Hermione's wrist. "There's a pulse, Harry. I'm quite sure she's got a pulse."
Neville's words brought relief to both the other two wizards in the room. But Harrys' attention was quickly drawn to a loud bang and shouting from a room next door.
"We have to go help the others," Harry said. "But we can't leave Hermione here." He glanced warily around them. "I don't trust this place."
Harry's words pulled the thoughts of the invisible wizard from the unconscious witch to the battle in the adjacent chamber. Before Severus could make up his mind about whether he should reveal himself, however, Neville got down next to Hermione and pulled her up by her arms.
"You're better at dueling, Harry. I'll carry her."
Severus sneered at the chubby young wizard, not understanding why he suddenly felt so jealous as he watched the teenage boy gather Hermione's limp body into his arms. He, Severus Snape, should never, ever, need to be jealous of Neville Longbottom!
"Let's go then." Harry picked up Hermione's wand and helped Neville up. Without a backwards glance at the bodies of the two Death Eaters on the floor, the young wizards made their way out of the Time Chamber, an invisible guardian trailing behind.
Severus almost feared the worst when he cast another strong protective shield: the teenagers were quickly losing their ground. It was then when five bright lights flew into the Death Chamber, announcing the arrival of Shacklebolt, Mad-eye, Tonks, Lupin, and Black.
"It's about time." Severus growled as he watched the Order members take over the battle. He had been trying to buy the young wizards and witches' time for the past ten minutes, firing off subtle hexes and jinxes. Now that the Order Members had arrived to take his place, he had no doubt Potter would have all the protection he would need. For Severus at the moment, the safety of one particular witch was all he had on his mind.
Hermione had been left leaning against the wall earlier, when Neville had tried to fend off a string of Cruciatus curses from Bellatrix Lestrange. Severus had no idea where the young wizard was, but felt certain satisfaction knowing he had yet to get himself killed despite his clumsiness. Looking down at the young witch's pale face, Severus remembered the few words he caught her saying to Dumbledore when she visited the Headmaster shortly after the Christmas break. Even though the Headmaster didn't explain their meeting to him in much detail, Severus understood that she had traded her commitment to help Potter for a backup plan for his own safety. Gently, he brushed aside a strand of her dark brown curls, wishing she could look back at him with her honey brown eyes. But she didn't move. Frowning at the lack of visible wounds on the witch, Severus pointed his wand at Hermione and cast a few quick diagnostic charms. It didn't take long for him to confirm his suspicion: the damage done by the dark curse was to her heart and nervous system. He quickly decided she would need something more than potions.
Wishing the battle would soon be over, Severus looked up to observe the room. It seemed as if the Order Members had met their match. Jinxes and curses were flying all over the place like electric shocks and fireworks. The missed curses blasted all over the room, throwing colorful sparks around them. No matter how hard they fought, however, there was no sign that the situation was anywhere near under control.
Severus' attention was quickly drawn to the duel between Bellatrix Lestrange and Sirius Black. Both reckless, both arrogant, and both slightly rusty after the years spent behind bars in Azkaban, the wizard and the witch made a great pair. Watching Bellatrix with narrowed eyes, Severus thought she was about to turn into a wild animal. Animagus just might not be the only way to lose one's human form, if you would consider the witch's screeching and screaming accompanying her every move. And then suddenly, Severus noticed the witch's left hand slowly forming into a claw, like the talons of a hungry hawk. That was when he realized what she was about to do. Bella always had the habit of making that gesture right before casting the...
"Avada Kedavra!" She bellowed. A green light shot out of Bellatrix's wand.
In the mist of the chaos, no one noticed the source of a white light flew across the room, and blasted right above Sirius Black's head moments before the green light reached the wizard. Surprised by the blast, the marauder ducked his head, just in time to dodge the Killing Curse.
"How dare you!" The angry witch screamed.
"How could you!" Black shouted. "You... cold-blooded witch... you miserable bottom feeder… you are a shame to humanity..."
Severus rolled his eyes as he listened to Black's rant. If the man could just shut up and pay more attention to the dueling at hand!
It was then a bright light shone through the room, proclaiming the arrival of the old Headmaster of Hogwarts. It didn't take long for the Death Eaters to realize the change in the force of their opponents. One by one they retreated through various doorways, with Shacklebolt and Mad-eye following Dumbledore's lead swiftly rounding them up. After sending a Death Eater to the ground with a Full Body-Bind curse, Lupin darted to the side to examine the injured Metamorphmagus.
There was no sign yet of slowing down in the duel between the two descendants of the House of Black. Severus wondered if the wizard even had a chance to ever be able to get through the witch's curses and make an effective hit with his jinx. If he knew this was what Black was all about, Severus thought he really shouldn't have feared the marauder's challenge for a duel when they were both students at Hogwarts.
Sensing the change in the tide the witch became more and more aggressive. Screaming on the top of her lungs she sent out another attack. "Sectumsempra!"
Severus was shocked to hear the familiar curse being uttered by the Death Eater. As the curse made contact with Sirius Black, the wizard's body suddenly stiffened, as if hit by a binding curse. A strange hurdling noise escaped his throat. Staring straight at the witch that shared the same bloodline as he, Sirius Black let out a small and miserable laugh. His wand slipped through his fingers as his knees buckled. And the wizard fell to the ground with a painful thud.
"No! Sirius!" Harry suddenly appeared from nowhere, running straight to his godfather's side. As the young wizard helped the injured wizard turn over, Severus could see blood dripping down the corners of Black's lips, and the red stains seeping through his coat.
Bellatrix laughed maniacally as she ran towards a side door leading to the hall. "Sirius Black is finished! Hahaha! Don't waste your time on a dead man, baby Potter!"
"No!" Harry screamed and ran after the witch.
"No, Harry!" Remus shouted desperately and tried to stop the young wizard from going after Bellatrix Lestrange. However, Harry was like a bull just let out of the gate. Even the werewolf didn't have the strength to hold him back.
Letting out a frustrating cry, Remus took a painful backward glance at Tonks and Sirius, and ran after Harry himself.
Silence suddenly replaced the chaos in the room. Taking a few quick long strides, Severus approached Sirius Black's side. Looking down at the wizard struggling for air, he recognized the wounds inflicted by the curse that he knew so well. How ironic... all those weeks and months when he worked on the curse, he had the image of a defeated Sirius Black before him. And now, nearly twenty years later, the curse finally took down the wizard who was responsible for so many nightmares marring Severus' teenage years. But why? Severus shook his head. He suddenly pitied the wizard before him. Sirius Black didn't understand. He didn't understand why he wasn't good enough to change the world, why he had to hide in his house while watching others fight the war, and why he wasn't the hero who he thought he would become.
Yes, Severus still disliked Sirius Black. He detested him, and even maybe, still hated him. But he saw no reason for the man before him to die.
"I didn't save you from the Killing Curse just so that you can bleed to death." He hissed under his breath, addressing the wizard that was slowly losing consciousness. Getting down to one knee, Severus chanted the healing charm in a quiet and even tone. With every stroke of his wand, he watched the gnashing cut on the wizard's body slow disappear. While the magic erased the cut, it also seemed to lighten something inside of Severus, as if he was losing a burden that he had been carrying for all those years.
Severus finished his healing charms just in time. As the shouting and screaming coming from the Atrium above slowly subsided, he could hear urgent footsteps accompanying the voices of Shacklebolt and Lupin quickly approach the Death Chamber. Severus took a quick side step away from the injured wizard when he noticed the werewolf running towards him.
"Sirius!" Lupin ran to his best friend's side, surprised to find the man was not only alive, but had also magically rid himself of the many deep cuts.
"Good. More Aurors are on the way. We will have them all transferred to St. Mungo's." Shacklebolt stated calmly.
"Not the students." Dumbledore suddenly entered the room and instructed. "We should transfer them back to Hogwarts. There's bound to be chaos now that Voldemort has appeared in front of half of the Ministry. Before the Minister's position is clear, I can't risk having my students exposed to the media."
Watching several Aurors rushing into the room and caring for the injured, Severus finally let out a relieved sigh. Sending another longing gaze at the one particular young witch, he quietly made his way out of the room. He would soon see her at Hogwarts. But before then, before he would instruct Poppy to prepare the potions, he had to take a detour, and fetch something that would be most important to help Hermione recover.
"Has she woken yet?" A velvet voice asked quietly in the dark.
"Yes, but only briefly." Poppy's answer was merely a whisper. She pushed aside a white screen, revealing a young witch sleeping peacefully in the hospital bed. "I gave her three of the potions that your Patronus mentioned. Those are the only ones I have here. The other seven I don't have in stock."
"I can help you brew them tonight." A wizard in black nodded as he reached into his chest pocket. "Here, put this on for her, and tell her to keep it on for the next ten moon cycles."
The Matron gasped at the shiny object left in her palm by the Potions Master. "Why? Where did you get this?"
"It belonged to my mother. An activated moonstone is a key element for healing injuries caused by dark magic. Activated moonstones are rare. I happen to have this in my possession... Might as well..."
"She will be very grateful for your help, Severus." Poppy smiled at her colleague warmly.
"No." He answered immediately. "There's no need to let her know this is from me. In fact, I would appreciate it if you could keep this a secret. Just tell her you got it from a friend. The ownership of this pendant should not concern her."
The Matron let out a soft chuckle and shook her head. "You, Severus, are a very strange man."
The Potions Master rolled his eye. "I simply cannot stand any more chattering from the insufferable know-it-all. It's for her own good that she doesn't know everything."
She thought her eyes were open, but all she could see was darkness. Hermione tried to raise her head, but she couldn't move a muscle. She could hear Harry and Luna's voice fighting in a seemingly very faraway place, along with the sounds of spells rebounding against walls and furniture, but she couldn't see a thing. It was growing very cold, and the darkness was threatening to suffocate her. As a wave of pain washed through her chest, she had no choice but to give in to the endless darkness...
She felt herself lying on something soft. She could feel the cotton sheets touching her hand. Trying with all her might she opened her heavy lids, but a wave of dizziness forced her to close her eyes right away.
Hermione might have let out a soft moan. She wasn't sure. But that might have explained the gentle arm helping her up.
"Here, my dear girl." It was Madam Pomfrey's soothing voice. "We know what's hurting you. These potions will help the pain. But I only have three. I'm sure Professor Snape will help us get the rest. Drink this... and try to get some sleep."
It wasn't an option for Hermione. Before her head touched the pillow she was out again, back to the darkness, the darkness that was eerily quiet and lonely. She felt as if she was awake, only in an endless nightmare.
A soft glow of white light suddenly broke the curse of the darkness surrounding her. Hermione raised a hand to shield her eyes from the light, surprised to find that she didn't feel any more pain as she moved her arm. She watched in amazement as the blackness around her shattered into a million pieces. Accompanied by a wave of warmth, white light poured in from all four directions into the room where she stood. Looking around, she found walls that were a shade of translucent ivory. There weren't any windows in the walls, nor furniture in the room; yet the emptiness was comforting, in a strange sort of way. Looking down at herself, she noticed she was standing on a white marble floor, dressed in some kind of white gown. The garment was made of a light and soft material, with a silver glow radiating from it. It was certainly not part of the uniform being offered for Hogwarts students.
She looked up into the distance when she heard soft footsteps approaching her. Very slowly, a slim figure emerged from the center of the distant light. Hermione quickly made out the image of a young woman with long wavy black hair. She was wearing the very same elegant white gown as Hermione's. The way she swayed her hips gracefully when she walked, reminded Hermione of the reflection of moonlight dancing in the dark lake.
"Are you... an... angel?" Hermione asked hesitantly. "Am I... dead?"
"Dead?" The woman, who was not only a few feet away from Hermione, stopped in her path and arched a brow. "I sure hope not. For I, certainly, do not possess the power to resurrect a soul." She tilted her head slightly like a curious bird. Observing the young witch carefully she smirked. "Although I could use the compliment."
Hermione frowned at the woman's answer. "So you're not... God?"
"God?" The woman with long black hair seemed to be further amused. "What does your god look like? I have yet to have the privilege to meet that almighty being."
"Oh I'm sorry..." Hermione covered her face with her hands. "Is this a dream? I'm so confused."
"Of course you are." The woman's voice softened. "And this is, indeed, a dream world, created by me, just for you, for my own entertainment. I just have such an urge to meet you in person."
"O…kay..." Hermione's frowned deepened. It was either her earlier injury playing tricks in her head, or the woman was speaking in riddles.
"Hermione... Granger..." The woman took a few steps forward and examined the young witch closely. She called out Hermione's name as if it was written on the girl's face. "How peculiar..."
After another uncomfortable moment, the mysterious woman took a step back, and surprised Hermione with a brief self-introduction. "I am Io. My favorite mistress named me after a moon goddess. It's only appropriate, I suppose. What I don't understand, is why I was sent to help you."
"Who? Who's your favorite mistress? Did she send you to help me? How are you going to help me?"
"I don't think those are questions I can answer." The woman named Io replied coolly. "But if you have to know, I pledged my allegiance to the House of Prince centuries ago. For years they left me in a small silver box, forgotten in a quiet corner. I fear that they think my power not worthwhile to serve them." The last few words came out in a hiss.
"I'm very sorry, Io. I'm sure they didn't realize what they were missing." Hermione swallowed, not sure what kind of strange dream she was in. Although this was a lot more comforting than the darkness, dealing with an angry goddess didn't seem like a very appealing alternative.
"That's what I've been telling myself, too." Io dropped her head as she slowly walked away from Hermione. "But then the master sent me to help you. Why... you?"
"What... do you mean? Your master... not your mistress?" Hermione's brows furrowed. "And why do you find it odd for your master to send you to help... me?"
"Because! Because there is not a single drop of Prince blood in your veins. That's why!" The black-haired woman turned around and answered in annoyance, as if the answer was so obvious that it was a ridiculous idea for Hermione to even ask the question.
Why does it always have to become a topic about bloodlines and ancestry? Hermione rolled her eyes. She wasn't sure if she had the energy for a debate.
"Unless..." Io began to walk around Hermione in circles again. "I see... Very interesting..." A mischievous smile spread across her face.
"What do you see?" Hermione arched her brows. "What's so interesting? What have you figured out?"
"That's none of your concern." Io answered coolly. "But I have found my answers." Ignoring Hermione's protest, the black-haired woman nodded at the young witch gracefully, before disappearing into the light hovering in the distance.
"Wait! Io!" Hermione tried to run after the mysterious woman, but something invisible on the floor caught her ankle. She let out a gasp and caught herself from falling. When she looked back up, she saw day light peeking through a set of white privacy screens, giving her the answer to the question on her mind: she was lying in one of Madame Pomfrey's hospital beds at Hogwarts.
TBC
I let the cat out of the bag... My clever readers, have you found the answers to your questions?