**A/N** I'm really outdoing myself! Here's yet another chapter! My goal is
to have written five in one day. It'll only take one more after this one...
hehe! Keep reviewing and enjoying! When I hit 200 reviews I'm going to cry
tears of joy!
Over the next weeks, the Death Raids picked up again. Muggle newspapers everywhere were reporting unexplained deaths, all of which coincided with the telltale sighting of the bright green skulls over the victims' homes. Dumbledore was getting increasingly worried because Cornelius Fudge was being his incompetent, unreasonable self. Hogwarts seemed to be the last stronghold left in the UK, and no one knew how long it would be before Voldemort made his move. Severus had felt the Dark Lord's nearness through the Dark Mark, and was warning Dumbledore that it would only be a matter of time.
Each day, the Professors at Hogwarts did their best to strengthen the wards around the school, but Severus knew that once Voldemort had set his mind on something, he was likely to get it. He started to watch the Slytherins more closely, but knew he couldn't possibly keep track of them all. No one could. But he did his best and hoped against hope that it might be enough.
Hermione had been visiting him more often, which was always a delight. It pained him to think of her inevitable departure, but he tried to enjoy the time he had left. He would do the noble thing and let her go when the time came.
Somehow, despite all his efforts, one night in March Snape missed Pansy Parkinson as she slipped from the dungeons and outside of the school. It was one of the biggest mistakes he had ever made.
~~
Around midnight, Snape noticed that his Dark Mark was burning furiously. Voldemort was near--so near that Severus could almost taste the Dark Lord's presence. He ran to alert Dumbledore, and ran into Harry and Hermione in front of the gargoyle.
"My scar!" the boy gasped. "It hurts! He's here! I know it!" Snape whispered the password, "Sour Warheads," and he found that Dumbledore was already standing there and prepared for battle.
"I feel his presence too," the old man said. His voice cut like steel, and instead of twinkling merrily his eyes glittered harshly. "I have alerted the rest of the staff. Harry, Hermione, I would tell you two to go to bed but I have a feeling you won't be safe, no matter where you go. Hermione, have you taught Harry anything about your healing magic?"
"A little, yes." Dumbledore nodded. "Harry, do you think you could help Hermione heal any of the wounded? I feel a battle coming on, and to tell the truth I need all the help I can get, even if it comes from students."
"You're not leaving me out!" yelled Draco as he dashed down the stairs. "Do you have any idea how many illegal curses my father taught me?" Dumbledore only nodded. "Very well, Draco. I expect all of you students to exercise caution. I don't want you to take too many risks. Let us hope we all come out of this alive." He led everyone to the Great Hall, where McGonagall, Hooch, Hagrid, Vector, Trelawney, Flitwick, Lupin, and every other member of the Hogwarts staff was waiting. Even Filch had shown up, and Crookshanks was sitting next to Mrs. Norris. Even the house elves seemed prepared for battle.
"Albus!" McGonagall gasped. "Surely you're not--"
"Yes. These students will be fighting alongside you. They are ready." The professors nodded grudgingly. They didn't have much time to discuss things, however, because a green light began to shine underneath the main doors. Severus squeezed Hermione's hand. [Be careful, Hermione. I love you.]
[I love you, too, Severus. Please don't let anything happen to yourself.] They exchanged one last look and drew their wands. They wanted to use the wands as much as possible-they only intensified their magic. They also didn't want to reveal their secret weapons too early.
For a moment, the green light continued to shine under and around the doors. Everyone stood, prepared, and simply waited. Hermione could hear everyone else breathing, and felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She called to mind every curse she could think of in an effort to prepare. There was no way for her to back out now.
Suddenly, the doors burst open, and there was no more time to think. The room was launched into utter chaos. The battle had begun.
Over the next weeks, the Death Raids picked up again. Muggle newspapers everywhere were reporting unexplained deaths, all of which coincided with the telltale sighting of the bright green skulls over the victims' homes. Dumbledore was getting increasingly worried because Cornelius Fudge was being his incompetent, unreasonable self. Hogwarts seemed to be the last stronghold left in the UK, and no one knew how long it would be before Voldemort made his move. Severus had felt the Dark Lord's nearness through the Dark Mark, and was warning Dumbledore that it would only be a matter of time.
Each day, the Professors at Hogwarts did their best to strengthen the wards around the school, but Severus knew that once Voldemort had set his mind on something, he was likely to get it. He started to watch the Slytherins more closely, but knew he couldn't possibly keep track of them all. No one could. But he did his best and hoped against hope that it might be enough.
Hermione had been visiting him more often, which was always a delight. It pained him to think of her inevitable departure, but he tried to enjoy the time he had left. He would do the noble thing and let her go when the time came.
Somehow, despite all his efforts, one night in March Snape missed Pansy Parkinson as she slipped from the dungeons and outside of the school. It was one of the biggest mistakes he had ever made.
~~
Around midnight, Snape noticed that his Dark Mark was burning furiously. Voldemort was near--so near that Severus could almost taste the Dark Lord's presence. He ran to alert Dumbledore, and ran into Harry and Hermione in front of the gargoyle.
"My scar!" the boy gasped. "It hurts! He's here! I know it!" Snape whispered the password, "Sour Warheads," and he found that Dumbledore was already standing there and prepared for battle.
"I feel his presence too," the old man said. His voice cut like steel, and instead of twinkling merrily his eyes glittered harshly. "I have alerted the rest of the staff. Harry, Hermione, I would tell you two to go to bed but I have a feeling you won't be safe, no matter where you go. Hermione, have you taught Harry anything about your healing magic?"
"A little, yes." Dumbledore nodded. "Harry, do you think you could help Hermione heal any of the wounded? I feel a battle coming on, and to tell the truth I need all the help I can get, even if it comes from students."
"You're not leaving me out!" yelled Draco as he dashed down the stairs. "Do you have any idea how many illegal curses my father taught me?" Dumbledore only nodded. "Very well, Draco. I expect all of you students to exercise caution. I don't want you to take too many risks. Let us hope we all come out of this alive." He led everyone to the Great Hall, where McGonagall, Hooch, Hagrid, Vector, Trelawney, Flitwick, Lupin, and every other member of the Hogwarts staff was waiting. Even Filch had shown up, and Crookshanks was sitting next to Mrs. Norris. Even the house elves seemed prepared for battle.
"Albus!" McGonagall gasped. "Surely you're not--"
"Yes. These students will be fighting alongside you. They are ready." The professors nodded grudgingly. They didn't have much time to discuss things, however, because a green light began to shine underneath the main doors. Severus squeezed Hermione's hand. [Be careful, Hermione. I love you.]
[I love you, too, Severus. Please don't let anything happen to yourself.] They exchanged one last look and drew their wands. They wanted to use the wands as much as possible-they only intensified their magic. They also didn't want to reveal their secret weapons too early.
For a moment, the green light continued to shine under and around the doors. Everyone stood, prepared, and simply waited. Hermione could hear everyone else breathing, and felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She called to mind every curse she could think of in an effort to prepare. There was no way for her to back out now.
Suddenly, the doors burst open, and there was no more time to think. The room was launched into utter chaos. The battle had begun.