20.

This is the way the world ends

Not with a bang

But a whimper.

            Severus sat before his fire; his will fading as he breathed. He missed her; he had been reduced to calling out to her at night his heart and soul wrenching as his mind filled with nothingness. She refused him, because he had hurt her. Of all the things he had done in his life all the repulsive and horrific things he had endured this hurt him most of all.

            He was a traitor; never had he thought himself that, except now. He was a traitor against love, against his wife.

            Anger surged through him as destroyed his room. Ruined his furniture, his paintings, everything his hands landed on crumbled under his touch, until his brushed against a shirt…her shirt…he slumped down the stone wall sobbing into the fabric.

            Albus had found him there, hours later. His room in shambles his body doubled over in calamity. The boy needed to gain control.

            " Severus." He watched as the mans posture stiffened and then relax at the familiarity of the voice.

            " Albus, I am defeated. If you've come to remind me of some miscreant or administrative dilemma I shall have to ask you to leave. I have not the resolve nor the desire to worry about their affairs."

            " Are you quite done?" Albus spat.

            Severus' head snapped up in astonishment.

            " I've word of an attack, they are coming for Hogwarts." He turned and strolled out of the room, Severus flagging behind him setting his face in a mask of steal.

            " Headmaster?" He questioned.

            " Severus, we have but little time. I need to go and ward the front doors and I want you to meet the others in the Great Hall. I do believe the Ministry has sent the extra vials you've requested. Please, administer the potion and prepare. I shall join you shortly."

            Severus faltered in his step shortly as he turned swiftly hurrying into the Great Hall. He flung open the doors demanding attention. The Great Hall was pathetically filled thirty teachers, the Wesley's, two handfuls of auroras, himself, and Harry-the-boy-who-lived-Potter.

            " The Headmaster is warding the front door. All of you need to consume one vial of the potion to your left. Then make your way into the foyer." He swirled downing a bottle as he left.

                                                            ~~~~~**~~~~~~

            The Forbidden Forest swayed as death walked from its shadows. Death by the dozens seeped from its core with masks of silver and robes of black. They moved in form quiet, and fierce. Trudging up the hill to the luminous castle that perched high above them, they stood like mortality waiting.

                                                            ~~~~~~**~~~~~~ 

            Hermione clutched her wand painfully, her face dripping with anxiousness. They had planned this for weeks. Planning their "attack" on Hogwarts. Her mind raged in fury. Her eyes glassed over in malicious. The wind pitched around her death robes as she raised her chin high.

            Voldemort moved to the doors. His wand flicked slightly as the doors ripped off their hinges; splintering as they hit the stone of the castles walls. He stood back.

            She heard a murmur of questions overtaking the group.

            " What is he doing?" A voice to her left asked.

            She smiled behind her ivory face. " Inviting them out…' She turned to face the man. ' To play."

                                                            ~~~**~~~

            Severus stood in the hall with others. He was standing next to Albus and Minerva. He cleared his mind, intending on sending one final thought to Hermione.

            "Be-."

            He stopped as the doors imploded in front of him.

            " Stay calm." Albus called.

            The group straightened at his words; their hands gripping at their wands.

            As one they moved to the steps of Hogwarts.

            Severus could see the grounds covered in blurs of black. His mind snorted at their odds. However he stood his ground. Waiting, bidding his time.

                                                            ~~**~~
            Hermione stiffened as she watched the group step as one out onto the landing. Her heart rate quickened as she planted her gaze on Severus. She narrowed her eyes.

            " The traitor is mine."  She snarled to the surrounding figures.

            A ripple of magic filtered through the crowd as the first curse was thrown from off far to her right.

            The sky lit up in glaze of colors, as curses bounced off of opponents. After what felt like hours a crackle like lighting sounded through the air and the first man fell. Her potion had countered out each other.

            The mass of battlers froze as a death eater plummeted to the ground, and with a fiery rage the lights blurred together once again as death dropped in handfuls.

            Hermione battled with five auroras dodging curses. She watched as men and women fell around her. Her teeth bared in rage. She battled through the throng of war seeking out the traitor; the bastard that had given her nothing but deceit.

            She found him standing in front of her. She smiled as she reached up for her mask, sliding it from her face.

            She saw him lift his wand and then falter as his eyes met hers.

            " Severus, I suggest you defend yourself." She cooed.

            He heaved in air. " I will not raise my wand to you, Hermione."

            She lifted her wand to him.

            " Avada…" She stopped as her body bent over in pain. Falling to the ground as the world erupted in a flash of blue.

                                                            ~~~~**~~~~

            Severus gasped as curses bounced from his body. His mind struggling to take effect of what was happening.

            " The potion. It's counter-acting each opponent." He laughed out loud, quietly before he felt the potion fade and stop. He quickly moved out of way of bolt of green light flew past him.

            He watched as their group moved as whole overpowering the death eaters. Taking them down in groups. Quickly their numbers where decreasing as they made ground.

            Severus parted from the group as he was faced and out numbered by a small group of men.

            " We're not supposed to kill him." He heard a voice muffle from in front of him.

            He took their reluctance as a quick victory and had them bound and tied to the ground.

            He turned his gaze around his eyes landing on another vermin in front of him. He raised his wand but stopped quickly as the figure removed its mask.

            " Hermione." His stomach plummeted.

            " Severus, I suggest you defend yourself." She cooed.

            He heaved in air. " I will not raise my wand to you, Hermione."

            She lifted her wand to him.

            " Avad-." He never heard her finish as his body was plunged to the ground in a gripping piercing pain.

            His mark was so cold it felt like fire. He pulled his sleeve up. It was fading, the ink seeping from his skin.

            It could only mean one thing. Voldemort was dead.

            His pain eventually ebbed away as he heard the plops of apparation echoing through the night sky. A Ministry Aurora appeared in between Hermione and himself.

            He pulled himself to his feel as he rushed to her side.

            " Hermione." He called cradling her head in his lap.

            " Severus." She sobbed. " Oh, god… I- I'm so sorry." He brushed his hand along her forehead.

            " It's alright." He spoke softly as he watched grief and guilt plague her face. She was free from his clutches but she was quickly sinking into her own despair.

             " Severus, what have I done?"

            He kissed her on the forehead. " It'll be alright. I'm here now."

            She moved her head viciously. " No, you shouldn't touch me. I'm filthy, I'm a monster, and I turned you in Severus."

            The Aurora stooped down to him.

            " I have to take her, Professor." He said placing his wand to her wrist.

            She shook violently, clutching to his robes.

            Severus looked up at the Ministry official.

            " Professor, she has to go." He nodded as he whispered into her ear.

            " A little longer, love and it'll all be over." She calmed as he spoke into her ear.

            The Official bounded her as he apparated to the Ministry.

A/N: So she's going to jail… well can't say she doesn't deserve it. Filthy indeed… turning Severus in like that… Well don't worry all's well that ends well right?

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