Chapter 26 Snape Snape Severus Snape
Authors note: January 14, 2016 is the one year anniversary of Alan Rickman's death. I just wanted to say that we have not forgotten you! Anyways enjoy the chapter and the story will probably be around 30 chapters. Enjoy!
Oooo
"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour. It has come to my attention that earlier this evening Harry Potter was cited in Hogsmeade." Severus Snape was now standing before all the students of Hogwarts in the gloomy dark Great Hall. Hermione, Ron, and Harry put on a set of robes and were now standing in the sea of students. "Now, should anyone, student or staff attempt to aid Mr. Potter they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transcription, furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events who fails to come forward will be treated as equally guilty." Fear was bubbling in Hermione's stomach as she tried to keep her head down. Afraid of being seen, afraid of being killed, and afraid for Draco.
"Now then, if anyone here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward now." Snape was walking down the middle of the room, eyeing each student. Hermione moved her feet uneasily as Harry squeezed her hand as reassurance. He quickly let go and walked into the open. Everyone turned around and gasped were heard as Hermine clutched Ron's sleeve.
"It seems despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem headmaster." Hermione and Ron stepped out of the shadows of students and joined the rest of the order members who just walked in. Smirks plastered on all of their faces. Draco would have been proud of her if he saw. "I'm afraid it's quite extensive." The expression quickly changed on his face. "How dare you stand where he stood. Tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and you killed him! Tell them."
Snape quickly whipped out his wand but McGonagall was faster. Pushing Harry out of the way and pulling out her wand as well. Hermione and the rest of the order raised their wands as spells fired between the two. However, it was over as soon as it started. Snape fled as soon as he blocked another spell McGonagall fired.
Hermione quickly broke from the crowd and embraced Harry. "That was so stupid of you! He could have killed you!"
"Hermione. I'm fine." He embraced her once more as a girl's scream broke through the momentary peace. Harry ran over to her just as another scream issued from the other end of the hall.
"The final battle has begun, but only one shall die tonight. Give me Harry Potter in the next hour and everyone else's lives will be spared. One hour. I will be waiting in the Forbidden Forest." Silence filled the vast room as all eyes were on Harry.
"Well, he's right there! Grab him!" Pansy Parkinson was the first to speck. Hermione and Ginny were standing in front of Harry, in a heartbeat, with their wands drawn. Soon followed by others.
"Students out of bed! Students in the corridors!" Filch came running through the Great Hall doors as everyone looked at him. Hermione tried really hard to stop herself from laughing.
"They are supposed to be out of bed you blithering idiot! Now will you please lead Miss Parkinson and the rest of the Slytherins to the dungeons. The rest of you can fight if you so choose." The hall broke into cheers as students and professors began preparing for the battle. Harry was walking to McGonagall as Ron pulled Hermione out of the room and into the corridor.
"Ronald what are you doing?"
"It doesn't matter if Harry finds the horcrux."
"What are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter because we don't have anything to destroy it with! So, I thought we could go to the Chamber of Secrets and get a Basilisk fang!" A smile formed on his face as Hermione's jaw dropped.
"Wow Ron that's actually quite brilliant."
"Thank you, now let's go!" They ran down and up flight after flight of stairs until they ended up in Moaning Myrtles bathroom. Ron quickly opened the hole leading to the room and motioned for Hermione to go first.
"You want me to jump in that black hole?"
"It's really a slide. Trust me." She sent Ron a questioning look before taking the plunge. He was soon to follow. They now stood in front of the circular door with snakes engraved on it. "Hesha – Hassah."
A snake slithered around the door before it creaked open. Hermione stared at Ron for a few seconds. "Was that Parseltongue?"
"Yes."
"How did you how do you … how?" Her eyes were wide as Ron had a smug look on his face.
"Harry talks in his sleep." He stepped thought the door and helped Hermione through. "Haven't you noticed."
"No." Ron just shrugged his shoulders and began to walk down the stone path surrounded by water and stone snake heads. At the end of the path was a huge stone model of Merlin, also surrounded by water. The Basilisk skeleton lay somewhat on the stone and somewhat in the water. Ron carefully pulled out a Basilisk fang from the mouth and walked the few steps to were Hermione stood.
"Get out the cup." She quickly rummaged through her bag before setting it on the floor. Herself kneeling beside it. "Here you do it." Ron handed her the fang and she stared at the cup. Slowly she raised it above her head and flung her arm down, stabbing the cup right in the center. Suddenly a scream echoed though the vast room and black mist shot out into the water. Hermione and Ron watched in fear and shock as the water rose fifty feet in the air and took the shape of Voldemort's face.
Hermione quickly grabbed the fang and Ron. They ran for dear life, continuously looking back as the water got closer and closer. Suddenly they were drenched and stopped running. Hermione let out a laugh as she embraced Ron and kissed his cheek. "Let's go find Harry."
More flights of stairs later they literally ran into Harry. "Where have you guys been?"
"Well it was quite interesting. Ron's idea really. We went to the Chamber of Secrets, got a Basilisk fang, and destroyed the cup!" Hermione held up the fang with a smile on her face.
"Wow Ron." Harry have him a quick pat on the back. "I think the horcrux is in the Room of Requirements. Let's go!"
I need a place where all lost things go … I need a place where all lost things go … I need a place where all lost things go …
Steel door quickly appeared and the three ran through. "Okay its somewhat like a tiara. Silver with blue stones. Spread out!" The golden trio all went different ways as they filtered through piles and piles of useless junk. Hermione remembered this room from sixth year. Similar to the one Draco used expect the couch and bed was missing. She also found this task like finding a needle in a hay stack but Ron would never understand.
Hermione was looking through a set of old quidditch robes when she heard voices.
"Well well, what brings you here Potter?" Draco, Goyle, and Blaise were all standing with their wands aimed at Harry. Draco was trying to focus on his task but he could smell Hermione. He knew she was in the room so Harry would be safe. That lifted his spirits as he eyed the short boy.
"I could ask you the same."
"You have something of mine. I'd like it back." Draco was trying to stall and knew if the final battle was starting he would prefer his wand. Not the one he has been using since the trio escaped Malfoy Manor.
"What's wrong with the one you have?"
"It's my mothers. Its powerful but it's not the same. Doesn't quite understand me. You know what I mean?" Hermione's scent was getting stronger. It was only a matter of time before Hermione was by Harry's side.
"Why didn't you tell her? Bellatrix. You knew it was me. You didn't say nothing." The sweat was forming on Draco's face as he looked at Harry. He knew Hermione had never told anyone but Draco silently wished Harry would understand. That he was trying to help.
"Come on Draco. Don't be a prat. Do it." The look on Goyle's face was shocking. He completely believed in the Dark Lord. All the lies. He was willing to kill.
Harry made a motion for his wand. "Easy." Draco took a step forward, trying to give his message.
"Exspellimus!" Hermione appeared out of nowhere and Draco's wand went flying. He ducted for cover but had a smile on his face knowing she was safe.
"Avada Kedavra!" Draco and Hermione's eyes turned black as the spell almost hit her.
"Don't kill her! Don't kill her!" Draco was screaming at Goyle as spell after spell was being fired. Completely not caring that he could get hit.
"Stupefy!" Ron went chasing after the three as Harry began to climb the junk. Hermione didn't need to ask, she just began climbing as well. They were throwing chair after chair out of the way as they got higher.
"Got it!" Hermione looked at the horcrux then to Harry. They had a chance. They could win.
Ron was screaming and running their way. "Goyle set the bloody place on fire!" He grabbed Hermione and they started running and the snake of fire was chasing them. Hermione and Harry were knocking down piles of junk in hope of slowing down the fire but it was no use. The whole room was up in flames.
Draco was staring at Goyle then the fire. He couldn't get the spell to stop so he just threw his wand in to the fire. Sweat was rolling down Draco's back as he, Blaise, and Goyle began to climb. Fear. The only thing Draco could feel. He was going to die and most of all so was Hermione. Every memory of her was flashing before his eyes as he continued to climb. He could feel her emotions, feel her pain, and it was distracting himself from his.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron were trapped. The fire was closing in on them until they spotted a set of brooms. It only took moments for the three to be mounted and in the air. Hermione's black eyes were burning as her heart hurt. Where was Draco? Was he already gone? Tears were streaming down her face as she continued to fly.
"No!" A blood curling scream went through the vast room as Goyle fell into the fire. Blaise and Draco cast each other a pained glance before continuing. Draco was trying to tell himself that Hermione was fine. That she would be safe. And when he died she would be free. She wouldn't have to finish mating with him, kiss him, love him. She would be free.
"Come on this way!" Hermione and Harry were close behind Ron until the pair saw two figures. Her heart leap for joy at the sight of Draco. He was still alive, and she would keep it that way. Her black eyes shined with determination as she spun her broom around and headed for the pair. "We can't leave them!"
"Are you joking! Hermione get back here!" Hermione and Harry were turned around and heading in the direction of the Slytherins. Ron turned around as well. "If we die because of her, I'll kill her!"
The table the Slytherins were standing on had fallen and the pair were holding on like their life depended on it. Draco saw Hermione and his heart swelled. His eyes shown with love and fear as she got closer. Harry grabbed ahold of Draco and Ron grabbed onto Blaise. Hermione lead the group to the doors as the fire was on their tales. The five crashed into the ground and Draco ran off to hide behind a pillar as Blaise sprinted down the corridor.
"Harry!" Hermione threw him the fan and he took no time in stabbing the horcrux. Black mist seeped out as Ron kicked it into the fire. The doors quickly closing behind them. Only one more horcrux to go, the snake, or so they thought.
The three embraced before running down the corridor. Ready to continue fighting. Suddenly Hermione was pulled from the two and into an empty classroom. Ron and Harry didn't notice and continued to run. Firing spells at various Death Eaters.
"Draco!" Hermione threw her arms around his neck as his slide around her waist. Pulling the other person as close as possible. Hermione quickly pulled away and started pounding his chest with her fist as tears streamed from her black eyes. "What were you thinking! You could have died!"
"I'm so sorry. You could have died to! Goyle was such an idiot and now he's dead!" The room became silent as their lips connected. Fireworks formed in their stomachs as the warmth of their mouths combined.
"I don't know what I would do if you died. You can't leave me. Draco please." Her eyes were downcast until Draco placed a finger under her chin. Making their black eyes meet.
"Hermione I love you but you have to keep going. Marry the Weasel if you must but you can't cry over me. You deserve so much more. Please, for me?"
"I will always love you." Their lips meet once more. Every emotion was told as they clutched each other with great effort. Afraid to let go. Afraid of the war. Afraid of what would happen. Afraid of the other dying. Afraid of losing their first love. And most of all afraid of having to move on if the other dies. Neither thought it would be possible.