Chapter Twenty-Five
Lily Revisited
"Stay with him," Harry said, rising to his feet.
"But Harry!" Hermione protested, reaching for him.
"He's all I have left," Harry said. "I don't know what to make of it all but I want him to stay alive. He put a charm on me and if Voldemort finds him he'll die. I can't survive and go through all of that again. I couldn't do anything about it then, but I can now."
She held his arm. "That doesn't make sense, Harry. If Voldemort tries to kill you, Snape...your father... will die, just like your mother did."
"Not if what you said is true. If his Double is becoming more and more real, wouldn't he die instead?"
"Yes, but Harry, You have to expose yourself and deliberately force Voldemort's hand," Hermione gulped, looking down at the man. "And what will be left of the real Snape if Voldemort murders the Double?"
Ron was standing behind her looking every bit as frightened as she did. The tears in her eyes began spilling down her cheeks in sparkling trails.
"You...you both know how I feel about you?" Harry stuttered.
They nodded.
"Right." He turned and fled the room unable to look back. Hermione stared at the man on the floor and slowly knelt down beside him.
...
Remus lost the scent he followed but some intuition lingered in his half-human form. He returned to Godric's Hollow, a place where he had been loved and where he felt safe. He always felt more human there when he was transforming.
He stood in front of the cottage, lights blazing from the windows and an open door. He didn't need to walk inside to know from his sense of smell that the wizard Voldemort had been there. And Snape. Or what smelled like Snape. Remus' befuddled brain had forgotten about the Doppelganger. Still, the scent was strong enough. He turned and stared at the castle on the hill silhouetted against the full moon. The scent trail went that way.
Just looking at the moon made his pulse quicken. He almost dropped to all fours, instead he crouched low and started running for the ancient, crumbling stairway that led to the entrance. He could smell the lingering presence of his own scent as he ran, knowing somewhere in his mind that he had been to the castle recently, as had others of his kind. He could even smell the infinitesimal odor of rotting bodies and dried blood. There had been a massacre.
He ran faster, powerful animal lungs fueled the engine that drove the pistons of his legs. Human, he could not run like this. He was always weak and ill. As a wolf he was fast and lethal. The potion that he had drunk earlier could not subdue the resurgence of the wolf part of him; not in the presence of the moon and the desire for the blood of his prey. He transformed.
...
Voldemort stalked the hallways of the dark castle maze. His eyes had adjusted relatively well since they were no longer truly human. And yet they weren't as astute as the Doppelganger who trailed behind him.
Periodically, the dark wizard would turn in a half circle and listen, sniff and wait. The Snape Double also stopped and waited. He would not give himself away just yet. They played a cat and mouse game. Snape wanted to drive Voldemort deeper into the bowels of the castle and away from Potter and his friends. Keep away from my son, he thought. You will not hurt him, he thought.
And even though Voldemort was not aware that the Double was close by he continued to taunt him knowing his voice was reverberating through the halls.
"Do you know what Lily Potter did when I went to her, Severus? She begged me to let her live. She wasn't thinking of her son. Or should I say your son. She didn't tell you about him did she, Severus? Why is that? How did you feel about her sleeping with another man, laying next to him, marrying him, all the while she carried your son inside of her?"
Voldemort made his way from corridor to corridor, stepping into open doorways, lazily examining empty rooms.
"Pettigrew told me, you know. He told me you asked him to warn Lily Potter and her husband that I was looking for them. Of course, he didn't let on, did he? He kept our little secret. He was working for me all along, for a little favor, Severus. He was jealous of his friends and their affection for one another. He wanted Lily Potter all to himself and he knew I could give him the love potion that would make it happen. Get rid of the husband and the friends and he would have her all to himself. And she would have gone to him...probably without the potion."
"Quite the little minx, wasn't she Severus." The wizard laughed as he strolled leisurely down dark hallways. "I'm being rather kind aren't I. Should I say Mudblood whore?"
And on it went.
Neither were aware of the muted sound of four running padded feet. The wolf ran through the dark his eyes even more acutely sensitive then even theirs. He could smell them. They were closer than the others that were somewhere high up in the ruins.
...
Draco and Ginny stood before two Death eaters, Dolohov and Rookwood. Their faces were familiar. They had been at the Ministry of Magic.
"Let us take her, Draco," one said.
Draco shook his head, his wand at the ready. "No. The Dark Lord will be pleased that I am the one who's caught her. If I have to I can summon my father and he can decide."
"Summon him then Draco," Rookwood said and laughed. "From what I understand he'd like to have a word with you himself. He's asked any one of us that finds you to bring you to him. Now we have you both."
Ginny didn't look at Draco and didn't show how discouraged she was really feeling at that minute.
Draco could do nothing else but nod. She and Draco were prodded into the house at the tips of the wizard's wands.
Fortunately, they were led into a room where a rather large snake rested in front of a cold fireplace. An ornate desk took up the rest and sitting on it was an open box. A beautiful cup was laid on blue velvet inside. Ginny saw it but focused on the snake.
"Wait here with them," Dolohov said. "I will summon Lucius."
"What do we do now?" Draco asked.
"Wait for Neville," Ginny said.
"You don't have to wait long, Miss Weasley," a voice said from behind them. She turned and found Lucius Malfoy and Neville Longbottom standing in the doorway. The two Death eaters were behind them.
Malfoy waved them away and they left. He then relaxed and pulled a very reluctant Neville into the room. "Draco, I am not playing games, tonight," Lucius hissed. "I thought you were safely at Hogwarts and here I find you right where you shouldn't be."
Draco blushed. "I know father."
"I can explain," Ginny began and then stuttered to a halt. Malfoy was raising an eyebrow at her and looking at her expectantly." I guess I can't."
"Someone had better explain and right now," Malfoy hissed.
Neville was watching their exchange and glancing at the snake on the floor.
Ginny and Draco both turned to Neville and Lucius followed their look.
"WELL?" Lucius snarled, his teeth gritted together in a grimace. "Please explain. We do not have much time!"
"You can torture me if you want, but I won't tell you anything!' Neville said grimly.
Lucius rolled his eyes in frustration.
"It's not like that, Longbottom," Draco whined.
"Neville you can trust him. WE have no one else that can help us. He's trying to protect us," Ginny pleaded.
Neville stared at her and then at Lucius.
"Mr. Longbottom," Lucius said slowly. "WE do not have all the time in the world. Why are you all here?"
Neville slowly began to speak. He talked about Snape having a Doppelganger and how Harry had learned of the Horcruxes and set out to destroy them. He told the wizard about the snake and how it held a Horcrux and that he was sent to kill it. "You-know-who is looking for them now I think." he muttered. " Harry and the others were going to trick him and try to imprison him long enough to destroy the other two Horcruxes. If they do then he will be mortal and can be killed."
Lucius listened with a bland look on his face. It was hard to determine just what he was making of the whole story. "How were you supposed to kill the snake? he asked.
Neville pulled out the pocket watch and held it out.
"With a pocket watch?" Lucius grunted.
"It's the Gryffindor sword," Neville said. "Harry said only a Gryffindor could weld it."
Lucius slowly pulled out his wand.
"You see Ginny," Neville cried, "He can't be trusted. He's going to kill us and Harry's going to die!"
Lucius waved his wand and instead of attacking Neville, he transformed the watch into the sword. Neville stood, eyes partly closed in a wince until he felt the cold weight of the steel in his palm.
"What are you waiting for?" Lucius asked. "Kill it."
...
"Hermione what are we going to do?" Ron asked. He sat on the floor near Snape but addressed her as if they were alone in the room. "Are we going to let Harry go after Voldemort alone. Are you sure Voldemort can't kill him?"
"I think not, Ron," Hermione said looking at Snape.
"What makes you say so?"
"Snape was in love with Lily Potter. He put the charm on her that rebounded and crushed Voldemort. It killed her but it saved Harry. I think...I think what he did on the stairs outside was the same charm. If Voldemort tries to kill Harry it will kill the Double instead, just like it did to his mother."
"But what about this Snape? Why won't it kill him?"
"Don't you see, Ron. The Double is Snape. This man..." she nodded at Snape, "is a shell. I think that if Voldemort tries to kill Harry, he will end up killing the Double and the real Snape will survive."
"So that's what you meant, Hermione. Ron gazed at the man. "Won't be much left if he stays like this."
Hermione nodded. "Ron, Harry, won't have a father; he'll have this."
Ron studied the stone-still figure propped against the castle wall. Snape's face was empty of emotion, of thought, of expression. There was no light in the eyes. "Hermione, I think that he's already gone. I mean he's still breathing and all but he's dying. That's obvious. In the end Harry will survive and Voldemort will be gone for good. The Horcrux will be destroyed along with the Double. That's what we want. We can't save Snape. No one has ever survived a Doppelganger."
"But he is Harry's father!" she cried. "You heard him. Harry's gone after the Other- the Double- to protect him. He can't let him sacrifice himself by destroying the Horcrux. Not now, not after he learned about the charm. How much can one person take, Ron? Harry has lived with death all his life; his parents, Sirius, Dumbledore. I don't care what he feels for Snape right now. He has to have the chance to find out if he can learn to care about him. It's his only chance for a family. If we don't do something, all of this will have been for nothing because the Horcrux won't be destroyed and Voldemort will cut across our world like a blazing torch. Half-bloods and muggle-born will be the first to go. If Voldemort kills Snape first, theDouble first- the protective spell no longer works. Voldemort will kill Harry, and move on; your family and then every other family that resists."
"Hermione, no one has ever survived a Doppelganger." Ron cried. "Snape...well just look at him! It's too late."
Hermione shook her head at him and snarled, "Old wives tales."
"Wha...what are those?" Ron asked in confusion. "What are wive's tails?"
Hermione dropped to the ground and crawled closer to Snape, leaned in and spoke into his ear, gently, softly as a lover would. "Your son is going to die, Severus. You loved Lily and what is left of her is going to die. You have to find the strength to help him." She continued talking, taking his hand and holding it to her breast. "He's gone to save you. Will you let him sacrifice himself so that you can live?"
Ron sat back and watched as she murmured to the man. He was brought to tears by her words and her gentleness.
"Hermione..." he muttered. "You have to remind him that Lily Potter loved him, too. After all she had his son."
"I think he knows, Ron," she stroked his hand and turned his face to her. "That's why he is in pain. That's why his Double became so strong." she turned to him. "You gave up didn't you? Something happened that made it impossible for you and Lily to be together. She married another man but had she carried your child." Hermione glanced over to Ron. " I think he wasn't aware that Harry was his until tonight. Didn't you see how they looked there on the stairs? Harry possessed Voldemort and Snape's Double was in the same room at the same time. Something changed them. I think they both found out at that instant who they really were- father and son."
"Blimey," Ron sniffed.
Hermione nodded and turned to Snape once again. "She was beautiful with all that long auburn hair and those green eyes. Your son has the same green eyes, the same gentle spirit, but he has a part of you, too. He is fearless, loyal and strong. So are you. There must have been a time when you and Lily were happy, when you were lovers and you shared your heart with her. Try and remember."
Snape felt the touch of her hand in the depths of darkness that enveloped him. He heard a voice but it was a different voice that whispered in his ear.
"Lily..." he sighed.
Hermione jumped in surprise and then leaned in further. "Yes, Lily. Remember?"
"We played together," he murmured. "I watched you on the swings at the playpark with your sister and you laughed. It sounded so beautiful. I could not take my eyes off of you. I watched you for a long time and I finally talked to you. You didn't laugh at me or make fun of my clothes. I didn't...I didn't feel embarrassed around you. And, I told you about Hogwarts. We talked for hours. I was the first to tell you about wizards and witches."
"Yes, you did Severus. It was the most wonderful thing. The beginning of our lives together," Hermione stroked his face.
Snape frowned. "I was always hurting you though. I made your sister mad at me. She told you that I lied about magic and about Hogwarts. I didn't but you didn't believe me. And then you got your letter and you said you were sorry that you were mean to me. I didn't know how to talk to you after that. You didn't trust me. Sometimes you wouldn't come to the play yard at all even though I was there everyday; waiting."
"Hermione, you're losing him," Ron whispered.
She gazed at him and tried again. "Severus, we were lovers. We grew up together and we became lovers. Do you remember? We were together at Hogwarts. And then we left and we became lovers."
The frown on Snape's brow smoothed out and he nodded. The memory changed his face and as he sat lost in the past he seemed to grow younger and even boyishly handsome.
"I laughed at you when you fell into the lake," he said. "I didn't mean to but it was so funny." He chuckled aloud and Ron drew back from both of them in horror.
"Blimey! Have you ever heard him laugh before, Hermione?"
She turned and frowned at him and rolled her eyes. "Roooonnnnn," she groaned under her breath. "I am trying to do something here."
"Sorry."
Hermione turned back to Snape. The face was now animated and alive although Snape was not in the present. She pulled back her hair and took a deep breath and leaned forward and kissed him.
Ron's jaw dropped and he gasped. "Ahhhhh, gahhhhhh," whooshed from his mouth.
Snape's eyes were closed when Hermione sat up. She ignored Ron and whispered to the man, "We had a child together, Severus. Harry. His name is Harry. But he's going to die if you don't protect him. If you love me you'll protect, Harry."
The words were magical. Snape's eyes opened and he stared at her. She barely breathed, watching, waiting for him to swim up from the depths. He blinked and reached up with his hand to touch her hair. "You died. I held you in my arms and you were dead. I couldn't save you. I tried so hard to save you."
Hermione nodded. "It's alright, Severus. It wasn't your fault. But Harry is still alive and he needs you."
"I promised..." Snape murmured.
"You promised..." Hermione repeated, holding the hand that stroked her hair.
"I promised you I would take care of him no matter what happened. I have watched him all of these years and protected him, Lily. I won't let Voldemort hurt him."
"Good...good Severus," she smiled. "But he's in danger now and you have to keep your promise. You have to find him and protect him."
Snape nodded slowly. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to tell you how much I love you."
"I love you, too, Severus. We have a son. His name is Harry. He's in danger."
Snape slowly sat up as if he had been taking a long nap. "Harry is in danger."
"Yes, Harry has gone to fight Voldemort."
"No! No, he can't do that!" Suddenly, Snape was wide awake and scrambling to his feet. He turned in circles as if he wasn't sure where he was. Then his wand was in his hand and he was staring at Hermione.
"What has happened? Where am I?" He was wide-eyed and pale, but alert.
"Do you remember the Doppelganger?" Hermione asked.
"Doppelganger." Snape repeated. There was a moment where he stood perplexed, frowning with concentration and then his eyes cleared. "Yes. I remember. He and I are in here together." He pointed at his skull with his wand. It made Ron cringe. It was like pointing a loaded gun to his head.
The three stood in the darkness with only the tip of a wand throwing light into the room. The moon had sailed away from the open window and the night was on the wane.
"He's following Voldemort!" Snape said tersely and headed for the door.
"Who? Harry?" Ron asked, jumping to his feet. "Is it Harry?"
Snape stopped and looked at Ron as if coming upon him for the first time. "No. My Double. Potter is not far behind."
"We've got to hurry." Hermione got to her feet. "We're coming, too."
Snape stopped in the doorway and turned to her. "Was I dreaming or did you kiss me?"
Hermione shrunk back and stammered, "Yes...well... yes. I..." she began to explain and he cut her short.
He nodded and said very gently, "Thank you. Now we should go." He disappeared out into the dark corridor.
Hermione was left with her mouth hanging open.
"Come on," Ron growled and followed Snape.