Ok, all my loyal fans...this is the last chapter of Final Test. -tear- Anywho, I would like you all to know that they may or may not be an epilogue. I want to know if you want one. Also, I may have another Harry Potter fic out. I haven't descied if it's something I want others to read. Let me know! Here we go....The last chapter -sniff-

Final Test:

Final Show

Hemrione did as Severus instructed. There had only been one more class that day anyway, so there was no point in making a big deal about it. Severus, along with Ron and a few other seventh years, spent the afternoon searching for Harry. By seven o'clock, he was still missing. Albus told all the students to get ready for the costume ball and have fun. Not many knew what was going on.

Hermione's dress showed up in her chambers around seven-thirty. The gown was of 1800's style and had a hoop skirt and clung to her body nicely. The dress was made of all gold silk. A pair of gold silk sandles adorned her feet, and butterfly hair clips held her hair atop her head. Hermione had two ringlets fall around her face, framing it. She had to slightly lift the gown inorder to walk. Hermione was twirling around her chamber, watching herself in a mirror, when a knock came at her door.

Stopping mid-twirl, she called, "Who is it?"

"A humble prince, to escort the fair princess to the evening ball." came a silky voice. "if the fair princess will have this hideous prince."

Hermione smiled to herself. 'So, this is his game?' "But kind prince, why would you call yourself hideous? Your voice is gentle and kind."

"But is hidden behind the face of a beast." Hermione pulled the door open and there standing in front of her was a giant beast. Well, rather Severus dressed up as a beast. His face was covered by a hairy mask and his hands covered by fur. He wore a satin blue dress coat and brown paints that ended at his knees. Upon his feet he wore muskateer shoes (the ones with the heels and buckles). Granted he wasn't wearing tights, wore white stockings. "Could you stand being seen with such an ugly beast?"

Hermione curtsied. "I do not see an ugly beast, but a kind hearted man, trapped behind a mask set out by his lonely heart, hidden for years." A blush crept up her face. "Tell me, kind sir, how did you know Beauty and the Beast was my favorite story?"

"I have my ways." he purred. He took her hand and gently kissed it. "You may wish to take a picture, for this is the last time you will ever see me in a get up such as this." Hermione had to stifle a laugh. "But I must say, you are a fine beauty."

Her skin tinted again. "I do love this gown. It is something that I wouldn't mind wearing everyday. Granted it would become a problem during potion brewing and flying, but still."

"I want to remember you as you are tonight." he whispered, pulling her into his arms. "Tonight, isn't about anyone but you and me." Hermione knew something was up.

"Ok, Mister...what aren't you telling me?"

Severus shrugged. 'She doesn't need to know. Not tonight.' he told himself. "Nothing, love. I just want you to have the best Halloween of your life."

Hermione smiled. "That is so sweet."

Severus led Hermione down the long hallway to the Great Hall. Her arm linked his. They could hear a low roar of the music they had ordered for the ball. But apart from the clink-clank of Hermione's sandals and the music coming from the Great Hall, there wasn't a sound. The silence was quite unnerving to Severus. He knew Potter was somewhere around the main floor, and he knew what ever he had planned, he would be executing tonight. Midnight. Midnight would reveal all.

The Great Hall was decorated as if it was the Queen's Ball Room. The tables had been removed and the aged walls had been transformed into new marble walls, as was the floor. The large window, above where the staff table would have been, had been transformed into a stained-glass portrait of the Hogwarts crest. A table that lined one of the walls was creaking beneath different kinds of food.

The students dressed in different costumes. The most common was Romeo and Juliet. But there was some that looked like Selene and Endymion (Greek mythology. Or, Sailor Moon, which ever. -evil grin-) A slow song was being played by the band as Severus and Hermione walked into the room. The students and staff stopped and looked as they entered.

Ron walked up to them and nodded towards Severus and offered his hand to Hermione. Before she could accept his hand, Severus stepped forward and took it. He led her toward the middle of the dance floor and waved his hand at the band. Once again a slow song played. The students watched in awe as their DADA teacher danced with a man dressed as a beast. (Remember he is wearing a mask.) They slowly circled the dance floor before Albus and Minerva joined them, dressed strangely as Merlin and Cinderella's Fiery Godmother. Slowly the rest of the school joined them.

Hermione looked up as Severus. "You're not one for sharing, are you?"

"Not when it comes to you." he whispered. "But, if you wish, you don't have to dance with me."

She giggled. "I have to dance with Ron. Just once. And I'm sure you can find someone who wouldn't mind dancing with such a fine dancer." she smiled at him. "Do you plan to wear that mask all night?"

"Maybe." If he hadn't been wearing a mask, Hermione would have seen a smerk cross his lips.

After several songs played, the two of them exited the dance floor and found a table off the end of the room and took a seat. Albus walked up to them and seated himself next to Severus. He leaned in and whispered something to him. Low enough for only him to hear.

"We need to talk."

"What? Now you wish to speak with me? After I found out what you have sentenced Hermione and myself to? She doesn't know and I wish to give her one more night were she doesn't have to fight for her life. This will be the final fight; both she and I will fight. This will be the last time Potter will hurt her. He will be stopped, even if I have to give up my life to stop him, which just so happens to be the necessary outcome." Albus hung his head. "I see, I have no more to speak with you then."

Albus lifted his head. "Severus, I wished it had been someone else. I prayed it would have been. But it wasn't my choice this time. It was never my choice. Harry and Hermione are like my children and you are like my brother. Younger of course, but nun the same. I wish it hadn't been you."

"Then tell me how to save her!" he growled. "Tell me how I can stop the out come of tonight. You know that it will end tonight."

"Severus I'm going to have a dance with Ron." interupted Hermione.

Severus nodded. "Have fun, love." Hermione squeezed his hand and went to find Ron.

It didn't take her long to find him. He was standing next to the food table, eating. His costume was that of 'Jack' from Titanic. Standing not to far away was Luna wearing a crimson gown dressed as 'Rose'. Ron watched Hermione walk up to him. She bowed to him as he swallowed what he had in his mouth.

"It's about time you came over here. I never thought you'd grace me with your presence. I take it the Beast let you go?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Please, Ron. Severus doesn't rule my moves. Now, are you going to ask me to dance or am I going to have to go back and tell Severus that you refused to dance with me?" Ron held out his hand and led Hermione out to the middle of the dance floor.

"He's here, you know." whispered Ron.

"I know," she answered. "I've seen him lurking in the corners. He's the phantom, from The Phantom of the Opera."

"I kind of guessed that." He nodded. "Are you scared?"

She nodded. "A little."

"Well, don't be." Ron smiled. "Snape wouldn't let anything happen to you. I hate to say it, but I think the guy's in love with you." Hemrione blushed. "And I can see the feeling is mutual. So, why are you dancing with me?"

"Because, I promised you a dance." She kissed his cheek once the dance was over and turned to walk back to Severus.

Half way back to the edge of the dance floor, someone stopped her and all went black.

A/N: Ok, I could stop it here, but then again I think many of you would find a way to hunt me down and kill me. So gee....what am I going to do................ok enough fooling around I'll get on with the story.

Severus saw a man dressed in all black, from his black tux to his black cape. He had messy black hair and his face was half hidden behind a white mask. Severus looked on as the man stopped Hermione in her tracks. Suddenly the room was thrown into darkness. As soon as the staff was able to re-light the room the man in black and his princess were gone. Severus threw off his mask to reveal a very pissed off potions master. He had pulled his hair from his face into a low ponytail revealing his dark blue eyes. He ran from the Great Hall and into the main entrance.

"Where would you take her, Potter?" he yelled.

"The tower." said Albus, who had fallowed him out of the hall. No giving Albus another look, Severus ran up the stairs leading to the tower that had started it all.

"Harry, let me go." cried Hermione as she struggled against Harry's hold on her. "Your not well. Let us go back and Albus can fix this."

Harry laughed. "Do you honestly think I'm going to let you go back to him?" He laughed again. "Hermione, don't you get it? He doesn't love you."

"What does that have to do with anything." asked Hermione as tears fell from her eyes. "Severus isn't even here. It's just you and me. What is wrong with you?"

"Do you really want to know?" spat Harry. "You. You're what's wrong with me. If you would have just let Voldemort kill me then I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be losing my mind. I was ment to die that night. I was ment to join my parents. But NO! You had to jump in front of that spell. You had to stop it."

"But..."

"Silence! I'm not finished!" he yelled. "Then I start to think that maybe, just maybe, you loved me and that is why you stopped the spell. But then I see you and that bastered! What was I supposed to think? You saved me, just to flaunt that you had someone, while I had no one."

Hermione shook her head. "N-no."

"It's always been that way with you, Hermione." he began to pace the top of the tower. "You have always been smarter, you have always gotten away with everthing. The professors trusted you more then any student. Hell, the SCHOOL trusted you more than anyOTHER student. Oh, yes. I know of the power of the tower. I know that the school chose you and that ass Snape. It's quite intresting what one can learn when one just wishes for the knowledged. You're most likely wondering how I got up here." Hemrione nodded. "It's quite simple. I just simply used my map and followed you and Snape up here that night. I saw how he held you. CHRIST HERMIONE! He's old enough to be your FATHER!"

"I don't care, Harry!" she yelled. "This is what I want. You're just pissed becasue I didn't choose you. Well, news flash! The world does NOT revolve around you."

SMACK!

Hemrione fell to the ground, holding her cheek where Harry had just slapped her.

"You will not speak to me like that. I told you before to NEVER talk down to me!"

"Then allow me to do that honor, Potter!" hissed Snape, now standing in the door way. "Let Hermione go."

Once again, Harry laughed. "So, the prince has come on his white horse to save the princess. Is that how you pictured it would be, Snape? I bet you just love the fact that you finally get to have your shot at me. The last of the Potters. Finally a chance to get even for what my father did to you when he was alive. Well, here's your shot. And make it good, for it will be the only one you will get." Harry held his arms out to his sides and stood there waiting for Snape to attack. Insted of a spell or fist Severus just went to Herminoe and helped her up.

"I don't wish to fight you, Potter."

"Have it your way!" Harry drew his wand and held it aloft. "Avada Kedavra!" a green flash shot from his wand and hit it's target. Hermione fell to the ground.

"HERMIONE!" screamed Severus. He fell to his knees and held Hermione's lifeless body in his arms.

Harry just chuckled. "It's kind of pathetic if you think of it. She loved you." Severus' eyes rose from Hermione's lifeless face and glared at Harry.

An evil whisper escaped his lips, "You will regret what you have done."

"You?" laughed Harry. "What can a washed up, old wizard do to me?"

"I can give you the peace of mind you so wish for. I can give you the oblivion that you long for!" Severus gently laid Hermione down and stood. "I loved her. No, I love her. And will love her until my soul dies. Unlike you, I will know what her love can bring. Her pure heart will save her soul and it will be your torment to know that you killed such a perfect beauty. Avada Kedavra!" Another green light flashed across the sky that night. Harry fell on the spot.

Severus brought Hermione and Harry's bodies down from the Calada Tower and took them to the hospital wing. He knew there was no bringing her back. He knew that something hadn't happened the way is should have. He should have died along side of her. They should have distroyed the evil that lay inside of Potter. But why did he live and she died? Life wasn't fair, life really wasn't fair.

Albus found him some hours later, sitting at the foot of Hermione's bed. He was still wearing the costume from the ball hours before. His hair had slightly fallen from it's pony tail. Several strands of his hair covered his face as he hung his head. Albus knew, oh yes, he knew why Severus was still alive. And only one thing would bring him peace.

"So, are you just gonna stand there or are you going to explain?" whispered Severus.

"You weren't suppose to find out." sighed Albus. "The only peace you will find now is the peace of death. But I feel that you already knew that."

Severus held up a vial. "I do know this." he uncorked the vial. "I promised to keep her safe. Do you think she will trust me in our next life?"

Slowly Severus drank the contents of the vial and threw it across the room. His death woudn't be as painful as hers, but at least he would be holding her when he went. Albus watched Severus lay down beside Hermione's lifeless form and wrap his arms around her. Slowly, Severus' breath deepend and soon stopped.

A single tear fell from Albus' eye. The twinkle that had been cursed by so many was now and forever gone. Sure, he would smile and laugh again, but he would never hold the same light he had always held. In one night he lost not one, not two, but three of his most loved friends, all brought together by the same goal and distroyed by that same goal. Never would there be two as powerful as Hermione and Severus and never would he look upon his friends.

First...please don't kill me...I know you all love Hermione and Severus but they had to die. It was ment to happen. Besides, it adds to the affect I was trying for.

I want to thank everyone who has reviewed my story. But just to some of you who happened to be a little rude to me. HOW RUDE! Anywho...I would like to thank my beta. She did a great job at helping with my grammer and spelling and what not. Also, I didn't have Hermione and Severus sleep together because it's just not that kind of story. Besides, I wanted Hermione to remain innocent when she died. To answer a lot of your questions, Harry went mad after Voldemort was killed. Because he died, part of Harry died. That is why Harry became dangerious. Once again, thanks... Mel