Echoes
Chapter 18: The Final Battle
In much the same way as it had begun, Hermione's time at the cabin ended —with an attack.
The weeks following Mr. Weasley's death were focused solely on work; the gray walls of the lab formed the backdrop to Hermione, Snape and Harry's lives. For Hermione, the work was freeing. She had always strove to excel at whatever endeavor she undertook and was now in her element. Within the walls of the cabin, there was a new, almost compulsive energy, and its occupants were driven by a single purpose—to defeat Voldemort.
This drive was particularly noticeable in Harry. Although he and Severus rarely spoke but in greeting, they no longer argued. At first, Hermione hadn't noticed the truce. She and Harry had worked strictly in the lab, while Severus spent much of the day tightening security and adding extra deterrents onto the doors and entryways. However, he now spent most of his time with them in the lab, and everything was going surprisingly smoothly.
This truce was helped along by the variety of tests and chores that needed to be attended to throughout the day. Although they were forced to work within the same room, the laboratory was large and there was much work to do. While someone always worked, testing the potion to counteract the effects of the Killing Curse, someone else was always busy across the room, brewing the Portestas Potion.
Hermione hadn't ventured outside since her conversation by the lake with Harry. Their work had taken up her every waking moment, and with Severus' new "precautions," movement outside of the cabin would have been far too dangerous.
Finally that morning, after months of careful preparation, Hermione was awoken by a queer, but distinctive odor that rose slowly from the basement to Severus' bedroom. With anticipation, she and Snape made their way down to the laboratory to check on the potion. As anticipated, the Portestas Potion had matured overnight, its deep green color indicating that it was finally ready. They now only needed to add a few drops to the Spiral—a powerful and ancient artifact—and they would be able to create a portkey strong enough to rip through the very fabric of space-time.
Using his wand, Snape extinguished the low flame that had burned beneath the cauldron and cast a quick Cooling Spell. As Snape turned away, jotting notes in his journal, Hermione watched the solution thicken into a gelatinous syrup; lighter hues swirled on top of the forest green as it cooled. As she stared into the cauldron, inhaling its fumes, the reality of their plan began to sink in, and she worried if they would be able to succeed, to trap Voldemort in another dimension.
Hermione knew it was certainly possible. She had first hand experience being sucked into another dimension by a similarly powerful portkey. She and Snape had spent months trapped within a timeless universe. They had found a way to escape, however, and that was why Hermione feared sending Voldemort to a similar fate.
Snape's solution to this was to destroy Voldemort's body; much the same as Harry's mother had done when she sacrificed her life and caused Voldemort's curse to reverberate back onto him. In the years before Hermione's birth, the man, Tom Riddle, had used the darkest magic, experimenting on himself until he was no longer a man. This new creature, Voldemort, could never truly die. Oh, his body could be destroyed, but his essence in the form of a vaporous mist would linger. By simultaneously hitting Voldemort with multiple Killing Curses, Snape hoped that, he would be completely powerless to escape from the alternate universe.
For Snape's plan to work however, he and several Aurors would need to get close enough to Voldemort to cast Avada Kedavra. To give the Aurors a necessary edge, Hermione and Snape had been working to develop a counter agent—one that would negate the effects of the Killing Curse. And so, Hermione had learned the curse, testing the counter agent on field mice. Only recently had Harry actively participated in the investigation. He had been unwilling to learn the curse that had been used to destroy his family. His opposition to their work had been mollified by Hermione, and now, after Mr. Weasley's death, Harry was determined to do anything to see Voldemort defeated.
A sudden realization that she was being watched pulled Hermione from her thoughts.
She glanced up from the cauldron to see Snape's eyebrows raised and a glimmer in his dark eyes. His voice was condescending, but there was a light air about him as he said, "If you find potions work so repulsive, we could always use you as a scullery maid."
"What?," Hermione questioned hesitantly, wondering what he was playing at.
He smirked slightly as his long finger pulled at her bottom lip, replying, "Your sour expression is nothing then?"
Self consciously, she straightened. Her voice softened as she answered, "I was just thinking about what this potion means."
Snape simply nodded. There were many layers to her words, and he seemed to be reluctant to delve into their meaning. Bringing his arm around her waist, he pulled her near and leaned down to place a kiss firmly on the crown of her head.
With this contact, Hermione needed to know more. Impulsively she asked, "If your plan succeeds, what will you do then?"
She could feel his grip tighten and his body stiffen behind her. He coughed out a short laugh into her hair and, keeping his mouth near, responded cautiously, "Is this a general question, or one that is specific to us?"
She shifted, glancing up at him and smiled realizing how uncomfortable he was. "Both I suppose."
He moved away from her, sliding his hands along her hips as they separated. He turned to the cauldron and uttered a Levitating Spell, moving it to an iron stand on the adjacent table. Hermione's eyes followed his movements curiously. He was stalling.
Leaning up against the lab station, Snape let out an audible breath and, crossing his arms, began slowly, as if considering each word carefully, "If the Dark Lord was gone, with no chance of returning, I would most likely return to Hogwarts and finish the year as your professor. I owe the Headmaster that at least; however, I doubt if I'd continue teaching beyond this term."
Hermione nodded, "I suspected as much."
He tilted his head back as he let out a genuine laugh. "Really?" he asked. Returning his gaze to her, he appeared more relaxed as he continued, "And what gave me away? Was it my love of children or the joy I show after reading the rubbish my students consider essays?"
Hermione held back a laugh and began watching her feet.
Snape let his arms drop and sighed. "No, I never wanted to teach. After the Dark Lord fell, everyone was convinced he had been destroyed. I knew that wasn't true and that he would take the first opportunity to return to power. Considering that my role as a spy had been revealed, Hogwarts was my best option."
Picking up an empty test tube and rolling it absently in his hand, he continued, "When I joined the Death Eaters, I was naïve and arrogant."
Hermione's head shot up, surprised by his confession.
Without reacting, he continued impassively, "I had heard rumors, but chose not to believe them in my search for knowledge and acceptance. Support for the Dark Lord was strong among the Slytherins, and I didn't realize, until it was too late, the atrocities that were being committed," he paused, his slender finger tracing the rim of the glass and grimaced, as if pushing back awful memories.
He took a deep breath and added rapidly, "Since my parents' deaths, there's been no need for me to work at all. I'm certainly not destitute. I inherited the family estate and could live there comfortably. I suppose if I had the chance, I would become something of a recluse."
Hermione began to chuckle at the thought of Severus as anything else, but was stopped short by his voice.
"You think I'm joking, but I'm quite serious. I dislike almost everyone and am happiest when I'm alone. Present company excluded of course," and he bowed his head in a chivalrous manner.
There was pause when neither person spoke, and Severus shifted uncomfortably under Hermione's watchful eyes.
"May I ask," he said, breaking the silence, and pointed the test tube at her, "how well you would like being secluded from society? While I realize that you're more like me than not, you certainly enjoy the company of your friends and family. Surely, you would not wish to be tied to a man such as myself."
Hermione was caught off guard by the implications of his question, and she fidgeted for a moment before attempting a stalling technique of her own. "That depends," she said playfully. "What is your estate like? Is it a dreary, crumbling castle, or is it brighter and more cheerful like Tara?"
With suspicion, he asked, "Tara?"
"Oh, it's the estate from 'Gone with the Wind." She sighed wistfully, "What a fabulous movie."
"I've never been to the cinema," he muttered and waved the test tube around dismissively, "and you've yet to answer my question."
"Well, I suppose it depends on what your estate is like," she teased.
"I'm serious."
His dark tone made her stomach flutter nervously, and she knew she couldn't evade his question any longer. Taking a deep breath, Hermione answered as honestly as possible. "Well, I would expect that Harry and Ron would prefer me to see me alone anyway. I've always been independent, and you've never interfered before. Why couldn't I live my life as I choose with you as a part of it?"
Snape nodded, "I have no wish to control you."
"That's that then," she said relieved at the outcome. Moving several jars aside, she asked, "You've really never been to the cinema?"
He looked slightly annoyed by her persistence. "I'm a wizard, Hermione, and have spent my entire life as one."
"There are some things, Severus, that are uniquely Muggle and still worthwhile."
"And the cinema is one of those?" he asked incredulously.
"Absolutely!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Unlike a simple play, the actors are larger than life, displayed on the big screen. Movies can take you to different worlds; the special effects in some are amazing. In fact, I think a good movie would be something that even you would appreciate."
"I never said that I was interested."
"Hmm…" was Hermione's only response, though it was clear that she had already made plans.
Turning back to the cauldron, Snape ignored her last statement and, changing the subject, reverted back to work. "I want to run a few tests before we add the potion to the Spiral. It would be best to start on this immediately. We should work through breakfast and take a break for tea later."
Since the Portestas Potion was used to increase the magical output of enchanted items, the purpose of the tests was twofold: First to determine if the Portestas Potion would indeed increase magical output and second to see if the increase was significant enough to work on the Spiral—an already powerful magical item. Refocusing her attention back to the work at hand, Hermione agreed and went to collect several small trinkets that she could place simple charms upon.
They worked through the early morning; Harry joined them a few hours later. When he entered, Snape was busy recording the results on parchment, so Hermione went to fill Harry in on their success.
At some point, Snape called for Hermione to assist him with the final steps of the portkey. "Miss Granger, measure this potion out, while I prepare the Spiral."
Hermione glanced over at Harry who was scratching his forehead, and would have been concerned over any attention to his scar, but his grin eased her mind. She knew why he was smiling. It was silly that Snape still kept to such formalities as calling her Miss in front of Harry. Harry knew that she and Snape had a relationship, and more importantly, Snape was aware that he knew. She had told Snape privately the same day that Harry had discovered the truth. Hermione shook her head realizing that once the truth was out, it could no longer be denied, regardless of how earnest an attempt Snape was currently making. No one would openly air the knowledge, and so the result was something almost comical.
Pouring a pipette's worth of potion on the artifact, the Spiral sprang to life. Its many arms twisted around, reaching, moving, crawling like earthworms in the mud. Hermione could feel the magical energy released, giving her a sense of its power.
Snape appeared pleased as he examined its magical output with his wand.
"Now, I need only to set the portkey to respond to my voice, when I cast the Killing Curse, and it should be ready." He paused. With little emotion, he added, "We may survive this ordeal yet."
Hermione couldn't help but tease, "Was that a glimpse of optimism from Severus Snape?" A smile twitched at the edge of her mouth.
He glared down at her, but there was a softness in his eyes that told more than his words as he raised his eyebrows in mock contempt before merely replying, "As I have said before, I'm a realist. I did not mean to imply that this would be easy, simply that all hope is not lost."
As Snape prepared the Spiral to activate with his voice, Hermione went to help Harry with the testing he was doing. Their work on the potion to counter the effects of the Killing Curse was going as well as they could have hoped. The lack of variety of subjects to test the potion on hindered their work. Ideally, Snape would have liked human subjects to work with, but they would have to wait to gather any "field" results until they returned to Hogwarts. Aurors were dying each day in battle, and though not as controlled as laboratory experiments, they would do.
Hermione could hear Snape quietly murmuring incantations that were unintelligible from across the room. When the rhythmic sounds of his chanting stopped, there was silence for a few moments until it was broken by him calling across the room, "I believe it is ready." He paused, looking over to where Hermione was working. Picking up the Spiral, he moved towards the stairs. "Let me put the portkey away, so that it isn't accidentally activated."
Clearing a lab station in preparation for another test, Hermione, now alone with Harry, noticed him rubbing his forehead again—his scar to be precise. This time, however, Harry's face was contorted into a grimace.
Hermione was definitely concerned.
Before the sounds of Snape's steps had reached the bedroom floorboards, they began echoing once more against the stone stairs. As Snape re-entered the room, his eyes were fixed on Harry. His normally expressionless face was shuttered, but there was something behind his eyes that sent a chill through Hermione and made her heart beat fiercely within her chest.
"What's happened?" Hermione quickly asked.
No one immediately replied. Trying to find some answer, Hermione looked questioningly from Harry to Snape and noticed that the latter was clutching his left forearm tightly, his knuckles white with tension. As if on cue, he pulled up his sleeve, revealing a dark black skull and snake--a burning Dark Mark. She'd seen his bare arm before and would have certainly noticed if that had been there.
This was very bad.
"We must leave now," Snape commanded between clenched teeth.
A cold fear came over Hermione, only to become worse when, from behind her, Harry cried out in pain. She turned to find him hunched over, clutching his forehead. Instinctively, Hermione reached for him, supporting him under his arm, to assist him up the stairs. In that instant, an alarm, the house alarm, began blaring from all around. The shriek was not unexpected, but it unnerved Hermione even more.
Snape shot forward. He hid the Spiral within his robes and, reaching the lab station, grabbed several vials and flasks. With his free hand, he wrenched Harry to him and up the stairs. By the time they had reached the bedroom, the walls were vibrating with the sounds of the siren.
Hermione immediately rushed to Harry's side, taking his arm around her shoulder to help support him, and headed for the door, expecting Snape to move with her. Instead, he released Harry to her. He stopped and, handing two of the vials to Hermione, Snape ordered, "Prepare yourselves." Hermione, moving as if on autopilot, nervously opened the vials, while Snape strode to the far wall, downing the third on the way. His hand slid easily through the apparently solid wall, disappearing for an instant before reappearing with a stuffed teddy bear and a mirror. Tapping the mirror with his wand, he quickly ordered, "Send reinforcements now," before tossing it aside. He headed for the door, teddy bear in hand.
As he cautiously cracked the door to the hallway and peered into the darkness, a roaring explosion rocked the house sending a blast of dust and debris into the room. The force caused Snape to stagger backwards, covering his face with his arm. The walls shook and the shelves rattled, sending books onto the ground. Hermione shielded Harry, who was still disorientated, from the falling debris.
With the explosion, the sirens came to an abrupt halt. Though the blares had ceased, things were far from silent. The house was creaking and wailing and shaking. In addition, the sounds from the alarms still echoed in Hermione's ears, making the terror that emanated from the walls more real.
Slamming the door shut, a moan bellowed from the hinges as the door expanded, arching inward. Without a look back, Snape dropped the stuffed animal to the floor, knowing it was too late to escape, and walked past Harry and Hermione pointing his wand at the far corner of the room towards the entrance of the lab, commanding "Ignitus".
As a second explosion burst from the laboratory, Hermione tried to remain focused on her task, rubbing the Strengthening Salve over her body and face, and helping Harry to cover as much of his skin as possible. The smell wasn't nearly as awful as it had been when she first developed it, but the odor was far from pleasant. Hopefully, the Strengthening Salve would be as useful to them against the Killing Curse as it had been during their laboratory tests. She tried to hide her fear as she worked, though her hands were shaking as she held the salve.
When Snape spoke again, it was as much to himself as to anyone. Looking towards the fireplace he mumbled, "We need to get up high. It's our best chance for defense."
Harry was beginning to straighten up, to stand on his own; although his face was still pale as a ghost.
Releasing her support, Hermione asked tentatively, "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'll be fine," Harry answered breathing harshly, but appearing at least somewhat composed. With his words, the couple followed Snape toward the hearth.
Amongst a blur of black soot, they rushed through the fireplace and were quickly standing in Hermione's room. The area was dark and ominously silent, the terror from the ground floor having yet to radiate to this room. The light from the low fire made the room glow a soft orange, giving a false sense of security. In this silence, the sounds of their heavy breathing and shaky voices became apparent.
As they headed, wands drawn, toward the door; Harry placed a hand on Hermione's arm and said, "Wait." He paused, gathering his thoughts for a moment and continued in a low voice, imploring, "I have an idea, but I need some things from my room."
Snape huffed dismissively, "Potter, we don't have time for your…"
"I have my Invisibility Cloak in there," Harry interrupted. "It will give us an advantage."
Snape gave a short nod and, sneaking against the wall beside the bedroom door, he guardedly looked down the darkened hallway, before slipping silently into the upstairs corridor. He motioned for Hermione and Harry to follow. The light was very faint, and Hermione's eyes had yet to adjust, so it came as a shock when Snape pushed her flat against the wall. Hermione stood silently, feeling the rough plaster, and listened, waiting for something that she prayed wouldn't show.
Harry took this opportunity to disappear into his room.
As she and Severus waited, motionless against the wall, the railing that ran along the upstairs balcony in front of them began to grow and thicken until it became a solid barricade, standing as tall as Hermione's chin. Moving from the far wall, the two took positions along the barrier.
Hermione looked over the barricade. Down below, the foyer was now completely isolated, the hallway which led to Severus' rooms and outside no longer existed—replaced instead by a smooth wall. The house appeared to be responding to the danger, protecting them.
This time of waiting, staring into the darkness, knowing that a fight was eminent, was unbearable. As the moments crept by, Hermione's anxiety increased, so that she felt as if her stomach was turned inside-out and her heart might leap out of her chest at anytime.
Gently, but unexpectedly, something grazed against Hermione's shoulder and she reeled back, searching, but seeing nothing. Hermione pointed her wand aimlessly, blindly trying to determine where to send the curses, when Harry's voice called out, "It's me!" Harry's head floated into view and he repeated, "It's me."
Somehow, Hermione found her voice and gasped, "Harry! You scared me half to death!"
"Sorry, it's just…" Harry opened the cloak, exposing the rest of his body. "Look. I've brought my broom. I can use the cloak and attack from above."
"Get on with it then, Potter," Snape snapped, his eyes tensely focused on the darkness below.
Giving him one last hug, Hermione whispered, "Harry, be careful." As Harry disappeared under his cloak, Hermione felt her throat tighten, and she realized that she may never see him alive again.
Taking her place next to Snape along the barricade, she waited…
remaining, motionless…
and listened….
The open area amplified Snape's harsh respiration. Combined with her own breathing and heartbeat, the seriousness of their situation became concrete. Only when they were alone had she been as aware of their bodies as she was at that moment; but they were far from alone now. Though invisible, Harry was near, and there were others—dark, dangerous others, in black hoods and white masks who were encircling the cabin, slowly forcing their way to Hermione's location. Minutes ticked away, and Hermione's morbid thoughts festered in the uncertainty.
In an instant, all that changed. Her senses piqued, as the once silent walls began to moan and a ripping echoed throughout the house.
Peering back over the railing, down to the foyer, Hermione saw a deep fissure the width of a human body stretch up to the ceiling. Something had broken through the cabin's protections, tearing an entrance; a power that hoped to overwhelm them, to destroy them. From the darkness of the crack, Hermione saw something white catch in the dim light. A hooded shadow crept slowly from the hall, only his white mask clearly visible.
Before she could react, a shot rang out, and a red beam sent the shadow slamming hard against the foyer wall.
As quickly as the first Death Eater had been dealt with, another appeared from the crack.
"Take cover," Snape commanded harshly as he shot another spell from his wand. His free hand pushed her forcefully to the ground, as he jolted sideways away from a flash that hit the wall behind them.
Looking up from the floor, Hermione saw other flashes; red, green, blue, yellow, white; blasting out from random points sporadically. 'Harry', she thought. Cries were heard after several of the flashes.
The fighting was fierce; though as the Death Eaters entered the foyer from the narrow hallway, they were easy targets. Hermione moved from her knees, rising to her feet against the barrier, creeping towards the edge to get a better view and to take aim.
Unbeknownst to her, the fissure that ran up the wall was widening, as if afraid to allow what was moving through it to touch.
As she stood, hunched against the barricade, a blinding flash, brighter than any spell she had ever seen cast before, shot into the air, creating daylight within the cabin; and with a loud bang, something slammed against the wall above her, hard. Hermione lurched towards the sound of the thump of cloth and wood and body that was Harry.
A wild, high pitched cackling rose from below as Hermione made her way to where she thought she had heard Harry fall, afraid of what she might find. She felt the silkiness of the Invisibility Cloak, and pulling the cloth away, she saw Harry's limp body. As she touched his shoulder, he winced, his eyes fluttering open. Though dazed, Harry was alive.
Suddenly, a great burst of energy hit the barricade, sending sparks over the edge, and Hermione quickly ducked low, covering Harry's body. With its impact came a loud bang, followed by strange pinging sounds. Startled, Hermione looked up to find that the railing had forced its way loose from the ledge. Large, red eyes glowered at her as the wood took on a leathery appearance, and a gigantic serpent, teeth bared, appeared in its place.
Hermione twisted, scuttling back against the wall.
As the railing morphed and slithered loose, it set Snape off balanced; another flash hit, sending him hurtling, tumbling over the edge of the balcony to the floor below.
The snake darted towards Hermione, trapping her against the wall. It stopped inches from her, and she froze, mesmerized by its black eyes. Slowly, it came closer, ready to strike. Breathing out, the cold air from its nostrils pushed her hair back, coating her face with its rancid smell.
And then, the most unusual thing happened. A series of custards began shooting at the creature's face, covering its forehead and streaming down into its eyes. The trance was broken.
Without thinking, Hermione grabbed Harry's broom, hitting the beast between the eyes as it thrashed about. The strike caused it to rear back. As the creature arched away, Hermione regained her senses and took the opportunity to fire her wand, sending it off the edge.
As the serpent fell out of sight, Dobby now appeared from where it had been, jumping up and down, ecstatic over his good deed.
"Dobby help Miss, yes?" he squealed.
"Hush, Dobby," Hermione pleaded in a hoarse whisper. "Yes, you helped, but you must stay silent."
"Yes Miss. Dobby will help again." And with his exclamation, he disappeared into the floor.
Staying low to the ground, Hermione crawled across the hallway, followed closely by Harry.
Hermione looked down at Severus lying sprawled out at the foot of the stairs. He moved slightly, but made no attempt to protect himself or to fight. Hermione recognized the monster that towered over him, though she had never seen him before. Tall and thin, his pasty, hairless skin was stretched oddly over his skull. His body, though covered with clothing, resembled a reptile much more than it did a man.
The giant serpent that had been their barrier, now moved wildly down below, striking violently with lightning speed at the Death Eaters that were near it, forcing them to retreat from its attack.
Voldemort did not appear to notice the commotion that was occurring behind him, nor did he notice Hermione above, his eyes focused on Snape, circling his body, glaring down and hissing, though the exact words were a mystery. Then, Hermione heard a familiar and feared word, as he cried, "Crucio," causing Snape to writhe and cry out in pain.
Helplessly, they watched the torture. Hermione was at a loss as to what to do. If they struck now, Snape's plan would fail; but as the moments passed, it became clear that even if they waited, his plan would not succeed.
Voldemort paused for a moment, but continued hovering over Snape. The Dark Lord smiled—a cruel, evil smirk. Lazily, he drawled, "Avada Kedavra," and a green flash enveloped Snape.
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A/N: The next chapter should be out within a few days. It's already written; I had originally envisioned this chapter to go a bit longer, but my awesome beta reader, Molly (rhitmcshanm), thought things worked better as two separate chapters. I bow to her greater knowledge. I now just have to tweak the second half, and hopefully expand on a few things before I post.
Thank you again for everyone who has read and reviewed!
Just a few plugs for some of my reviewers whose works I absolutely love! If you haven't read these yet, go do so.
Xanthos—I hope a new chapter of "The Predicament of Marriage," is coming out soon. I loved the part where Snape is thinking 'mine, mine, mine' about Hermione.
Severely_Snaped—I can't wait for another chapter of "Erased." Your explanations as to Snape's memory loss are very "magical."
Nicolette—I'll be sad to see "Winter Heart," come to an end. You always have such unique ideas—like the bracelet and the Snake of Slytherin.
Finally, I love the works of Veressna Ussep, and Martha and Squirrel. Each author has a different vision for Snape, but all of their stories are extremely well written and compelling. I'm looking forward to the sequels that will (hopefully) be out for "Secretly Slytherin," and "Wrongs Darker than Death or Night."