A/N: Hello, at long last, the conclusion of the story. Please accept my apologies, but real life intrusions made me apathetic to writing. The end is chapter twenty-three, but there is a separate A/N afterward, please read it.
Duplicare means Duplicate
Please Enjoy.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Severus stared up at the ceiling, her eyes focused on nothing. Questions, unanswerable question, rose out of her conscious and lingered. The enclosed space in the dungeons that Severus found comforting was now claustrophobic. Severus threw off the bedcovers and silently slipped off the bed, after she threw a cloak over herself and laced her boots Severus gently opened the door to her room. There was not a sound from the living room, Severus waited by the threshold in case of any noise. Once she verified that it was empty Severus made her way across the flagstone floor, grateful that her rubber soled boots made no noise. A quick check and Severus was out of the quarters.
The torchlight in the corridors cast flickering shadows against the walls, and the shadows were where Severus kept. Although the students and staff should be sound asleep, there was always the possibility of a small trio of Gryffindors up to their usual shenanigans. Severus took the corridor up to the ground floor then another to a side door that lead to the Quidditch field. There, Severus acquired one of the schools brooms and took to the air, Severus flew higher and higher until the air was thin and Hogwart resembled an old toy castle. Severus stopped the broom and leant forward until she crossed her arms over the broom handle and rested her chin on them. Small current of air from the west gently rocked Severus as she hung in the night sky; slowly Severus felt her eyes begin to close.
Images bubbled up to the surface of Severus' mind, fuzzy, distant memories. Before her, Severus could see the hazy face of a person, platinum coloured hair, pale complexion and the clearest blue eyes that ever existed. In the distance the low laugh of a woman could be heard. Severus jolted back to consciousness suddenly and gave a cry as she fell from the broom. As Severus fell her hand shot up and grabbed the handle of the broom, Severus looked down at the ground and swallowed hard. It was more than likely that Severus would have been able to cast a spell in time, but it was not easy to be unfazed by impending doom. Severus looked back up at the broom and grabbed it with both hands, she gathered a little momentum then swung her legs up and pulled herself back on to the broom.
When Severus had recomposed herself she tried to recall the image that had caused her fall, but the memory was gone. The sudden fright must have forced it from her mind. Severus yawned, it had been a long night and judging from the lightness of black from the east horizon it would soon be dawn. It was time to get back or risk Albus bringing out the search parties, not something that Severus wished to face so early in the morning. Back in her quarters Severus crept back to her bed and laid down, it was a Friday, which meant no classes till ten. A little nap wouldn't be bad.
>>>
A couple of hours sleep followed by a pepper-up potion worked wonders for Severus. When she awoke Severus found that Ceren had started her shift at the infirmary, while Saba had been called to cover a class, this left Rena who waited for Severus. With practiced ease Severus smiled and bade Rena a 'good morning' as she accepted a cup of tea from Rena. Severus walked over to her bureau and set the cup down as she began to count off the rolls of parchment that was piled on the table. When Severus had finished she pulled out her pocket watch and saw that it was almost ten.
"It is time we set off, Rena," Severus said.
Rena nodded and transfigured herself into a small sunburst pin that nestled on the front of Severus' dress.
The morning lessons went well, no major disasters, although one or two had come close. The bell that signalled lunch had just rung and Severus dismissed the students, as soon as the door closed to the classroom Rena changed back into human form. They walked silently up to the Hall where they saw Remus walking down the opposite way.
"Remus, are you free after lessons?" Severus asked.
"Er…yes, yes I am," Remus answered.
"Good, meet me at the front door at four o' clock," Severus said.
"Might I ask the reason?" Remus said.
Severus smiled, "You will find out soon enough," she said.
"I'm intrigued now," Remus said.
The afternoon passed quickly and soon enough the last lesson was over with, Severus cleared up the ingredients and equipment then cast a quick cleaning spell over the classroom. The star pin on Severus' dress disappeared and Saba appeared before her.
"Shall we go?" asked Saba.
Severus smiled and nodded.
"I will need to go to and help out some students with their homework, but I'll wait at the front door with you," Saba said.
"That is very kind of you," Severus said, "I am sure Remus will not be too late."
"Will you and Remus keep to Hogwarts?" Saba asked.
"Yes, we are just going to talk," Severus said, with a small smile.
"Talk?" Saba said.
"Yes," Severus said.
"Of course," Saba said.
They arrived at the front door and saw Remus leant on the wall looking out; he turned around when he heard footsteps behind him and smiled. Severus turned to Saba and assured her that she would be safe and walked over to Remus. When Severus stood next to Remus she cast an anti-spy barrier and whispered to Remus, "Offer me your arm and smile, I will explain in a moment."
Remus looked puzzled but did as he was told.
"Let's go," Severus said, she glanced back quickly and saw Saba stood in the hallway, her hands clasped at her chest.
Severus and Remus walked toward the Forbidden Forest, as it was straight after lessons most people were either attending clubs or relaxing, so there were only a few people about.
"So what is this about?" Remus asked, still smiling.
"I have stumbled into a slight…quandary and I am not quite sure what to do," Severus said.
"Ah, and you thought of me," Remus said.
"Yes. What I am about to tell you is a bit astounding but whatever I say do not stop smiling," Severus said, and then explained to Remus what Ceren had said the night before.
Remus stopped in mid-step, "That is…" he said, his eyes showed that he was shocked but his smile remained.
Severus turned to Remus; "It is rather a lot to take in, I know, the problem is I am not sure who is telling the truth, if anyone is. I do not know them; I do not know the world in which they speak of. This could be some elaborate ploy to dupe me," she said
"I don't think anyone would go to such lengths to deceive you, especially when it involved rescuing you from Voldemort," Remus said, "Without knowing a thing about your world it is difficult to make a decision, and they seem like nice people as well."
"Mm, although one thing is for sure Ceren is definitely not on the same side as Rena and Saba, one way or another she is a double agent," Severus said, as she and Remus continued walking.
"That could be a significant point, but you would need to know which side is actually good," Remus said.
"There is no such thing as a 'good' and 'bad' side, its just depends on your view point," Severus said, "I simply want the facts so I can decide for myself."
"True. So have you decided how to play this?" Remus asked.
"I shall do what I do best, play both sides," Severus said, "I will investigate Ceren's story when we are alone together, she will probably not say anything with Rena and Saba around, and I can examine Rena and Saba's separately and see if they corroborate."
"Sound like a difficult juggling act," Remus said.
"More so because they have had over forty years to perfect their stories, but some one will put a foot wrong be it an action or word," Severus said.
"Have you any inkling as to who is telling the truth?" asked Remus.
"I prefer not to hazard a guess until I have more information," Severus said, "It is dangerous to be blinded so early on in an investigation."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Remus asked.
"Watch my back," Severus said.
Remus nodded, "I will do that, and more. I shall observe and talk to them for you, and see how their stories add up," he said.
"Best not to talk to Ceren about it, she does not know that you know," Severus said.
"Okay, but if she chooses to talk to me about it I will have no choice but to comply," Remus said.
"Shall we head back?" Severus asked.
"Yes, it is getting breezy," Remus said.
"Thank you, Remus," Severus said.
"You're welcome. I guess that this conversation never happened, so what did we talk about?" asked Remus.
Severus smirked, "Oh, the usual teacher things," she said.
"Is that why you have your arm around mine?" Remus asked with a laugh.
"It is simply a smoke screen, Remus, nothing more," Severus said, "I cannot have them suspicious of our plotting,"
"Of course," Remus said.
Severus rolled her eyes, "You are incorrigible, almost as worst as Flora and that lot," she said.
Remus smiled but said nothing.
Remus walked Severus back to her quarters and made sure that she was safely inside before he disappeared back to his own room. When Severus walked through to the living room she saw that Saba sat cross-legged on the sofa, with a smile on her face. Severus quickly glanced away from Saba's gaze and made for her room. Once inside, Severus went to the bathroom and ran some warm water into the plugged sink. Severus splashed some water on her face and dried it with a black flannel towel, and waited a few minutes before returning to the living room. Severus sat down in her usual armchair and picked a random book off the coffee table and opened it. Severus lowered the book slightly and saw that Saba was still watching her.
"Saba?" Severus asked.
"Yes?" Saba replied.
"Is something the matter?" Severus asked, already knowing what the answer would be.
"Nothing…You and Remus have known each other for a long time haven't you?" Saba said.
"About thirty years," Severus said, "Why do you ask?"
"You two seem to get along quite well," Saba said.
"As much as the next person," Severus replied.
"But you don't usually go on a walk around Hogwarts with a distortion spell around you," Saba said.
Severus gave a chocked cough, "That is because the walls have ears," she said.
"Of course," Saba said, and returned to her own book.
Severus raised her book back up and smiled.
>>>
After dinner was finished Severus was with Albus in his office along with Saba, Rena, Ceren and Remus, they all sat around the fireplace. Severus balanced a cup of coffee on her knees as she spoke to Albus, "We," Severus indicated to the Ceren, Saba, Rena and herself, "have decided that it is time to go home," she said.
"Home? So soon?" Albus said.
"Yes, it has been a while since we came here and I have a destiny to fulfil, but we need to find out exactly where 'home' is. Could you contact Hellen and see if she can help us?" Severus asked.
"Well, you know how that research is confidential Ministry information but I have known her for over fifty years I'm sure she wouldn't mind helping out an old friend," Albus said, "Exactly what do you need?"
"I know that Hellen keeps very detailed reports of every world they have visited as well as worlds that have been scouted out as potentials, I would like us to go through them and see if any is the right world," Severus said.
Albus thought for a moment, "I think that it would be a better idea if you gave me the details to pass on to Hellen, she can probably remember all of the worlds and give us a narrowed down list of potentials," he suggested.
Severus looked at the other three, Saba nodded, "I think that would be a better idea than us sifting through hundreds or thousands of reports," she said.
"Good, then perhaps you can write some details down and I will give them to her," Albus said and summoned a quill and parchment over.
Saba immediately began writing; Rena and Ceren occasionally gave suggestions. When they were done Saba folded the parchment and handed it over to Albus.
"I hate to get my expectations up but I hope that this is the ticket home," Saba said.
"I just hope we are not too late," Ceren said.
"Are you planning on leaving as soon as you find your dimension?" asked Albus.
"We three have nothing to prepare but Severus on the other hand…" Saba said.
"I suppose I will have some matters to put in order before I leave, but they should be quick to take care of" Severus said.
"It'll be a sad day when you do leave, Severus," Albus said with a sigh.
"Please, Albus, save the sentiments, besides I am not gone just yet," Severus said.
"I know you don't like maudlin displays, but I'm quite partial to it myself," Albus said, "We'll have to throw an unforgettable party before you leave."
"Oh for goodness sakes, please no. I would prefer to slink away under the cover of night without a word to anyone," Severus said.
"Wake up and discover your gone; how dramatic," Remus said with a laugh.
Severus rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly as the others laughed.
>>>
Several days passed without disturbance, everyone was waiting anxiously for the results. The Trans-Dimensional Department had been around for almost three hundred years and had surveyed thousands of dimensions, the overall total of dimensions was not known so the odds of finding the correct one was incalculable. However, the initial response from Hellen was good, with the knowledge that there had been a war on for hundreds of years meant that it would have been a planet that was scouted but not visited, which narrowed down the search field.
Severus was in the potions lab with Remus, they had finally completed the necessary test to the Cruciatus Reliever Potion and Severus meticulously wrote out the formula and instructions in longhand, each detail was crosschecked with her notes. As Severus finished checking, the door to the lab opened and Albus entered, Remus turned around and bade him over.
Severus looked up all of a sudden, "Ah, Albus, you are just in time, I have completed the Cruciatus Reliever and it is ready to be submitted," she said and held up a wad of parchment, "I think I have included everything that the Potions Council will need to verify my findings."
"Did you include the part where you tested it on yourself?" Remus asked.
"Of course, how else can I prove my theories," Severus said, "Unlike most departments of magic, the potions circle has an unbiased attitude; potions is the only concern."
"Ah, that is indeed good news, and I have some more good news," Albus said, he pulled out a roll of parchment from his sleeve, "Hellen has came back to me with the results."
"How many potentials are there?" Remus asked.
"Seven," Albus replied, "they all look promising."
"Thank-you, Albus. I need to gather the other three and they can start looking at it," Severus said.
"I believe Rena and Saba are in the library, while Ceren is helping Poppy in the infirmary," Albus said.
"Then let us go get them," Severus said.
The three left the potions lab and hurried over to the library, after telling Rena and Saba the good news they headed for the infirmary where they could analyse the data in private. In the infirmary Poppy ushered them into a private room, and with a quick wave of Albus' wand a secrecy spell was cast and the bed was replaced with a table and several chairs. When all were gathered around the table Albus unrolled the parchment and placed it on the middle of the table.
Albus tapped his wand on the parchment and said, "Duplicare." As everyone took a copy of the parchment the original remained on the middle of the table. "Hellen has provided the seven potentials that fit all of the requirements but there are others that have missed one or two factors," Albus said.
Saba, Rena and Ceren carefully analysed the parchment for several minutes.
Rena was the first to speak, "I believe I know which it is."
"Same here," Saba said."
"The fifth one?" Ceren asked.
Rena and Saba nodded.
"All of the requirements are correct, and the extra information provided is also accurate," Saba said.
"That's good to here," Albus said, "I had a good feeling that Hellen would come through for us."
"When can we leave?" Severus said.
"Whenever you wish," Albus said.
"Then how about next Sunday, that will leave me enough time to make sure everything is in order and ensure you have found a suitable replacement," Severus said.
They sat and talked for a few minutes more before Severus excused herself saying she had ends to tie up, Remus volunteered to accompany her while everyone returned to whatever they were doing before.
The walk back to the potions lab was in silence but as soon as they were in the room Remus closed the door and leant against it, "I know what you are doing, and I don't think that it is a good idea," he said.
Severus sat down at her desk, "Questioning them can only get to a certain point before it gets suspicious, so instead I am forcing them to reveal themselves," she said, "In this world they can keep up any pretence but once we are on our own world I will eventually find out the truth. Whoever it is they will make their move before next Sunday."
"I would prefer it if you didn't put your own life on the line," Remus said as he sat down on the edge of Severus' desk.
"It was on the line to begin with, with two sides to choose from whoever I chose I would have been in danger from the other," Severus said.
"Well then, I will protect you for the entire time," said Remus.
"The full moon is next Wednesday," Severus said.
"Ah," Remus said, "almost forgot."
"You will be out of commission from Tuesday to Thursday," Severus finished.
"Maybe you should have been working on a Werewolf cure instead," Remus said.
"You need a Potion Master with more intellect than I, to be able to override such a dominant genetic code," Severus said.
"Severus, humility? I've seen everything now," Remus said with a laugh, "But seriously, I'll inform Albus, and make sure that you will be protected."
"I will be prepared, so there is nothing to worry about," Severus said.
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The announcement that Severus was to leave was made at dinnertime that evening. There were many students who seemed unhappy about this, while others had already become use to the fact that teachers frequently came and went. Albus had decided a Leaving Party was a good idea, a fitting send off for Severus and an excuse for merrymaking, much to Severus' chagrin. The news that there was an opening for a Potion Master at Hogwarts had already been posted throughout the Wizarding community; numerous offers had already flooded in.
As Remus had promised he was almost everywhere that Severus was, or as much as possible without raising suspicions. Severus was also sure that others had been roped into helping, the Gryffindor Trio always seemed to be in close proximity but then again they had a natural affinity for trouble. And perhaps in a show how highly the staff and pupils respected Severus; there was a steady stream of people who wished her well in the future. The announcement had produced an unforeseen layer of safety for Severus during the day and early evening.
As the week began an almost tangible feeling of anticipation was in the air, Severus now wore the kit that she often carried to Death Eater meetings. The kit consisted of a variety of potions that could be useful in any situation; the potions were in small glass vials that could be concealed about the person. The knowledge that something was going to happen kept Severus on high alert; an encounter late on Monday added more trouble.
When Severus was walking back to the dungeons she turned a corner and walked straight into Draco, she felt Draco push something into her hand as he mumbled, "Sorry, Sir," and walked off. Severus looked down at her hand and saw a creased envelope; she tucked it into her pocket and continued on her way. In the privacy of her own room Severus pulled out the envelope and turned it over several times in her hand, a small cream envelope with no markings except for a red wax seal on the back. Severus cast a spell on the envelope to check for traps, when it was verified that no traps were present, Severus broke the seal and withdrew a piece of paper. On the paper it read:
'Severus Snape,
You have been betrayed. The Dark Lord knows all. Be wary.'
Severus massaged her temples with her index and middle fingers and sighed, two enemies to deal with and still no idea who was behind it. Based on the letter it was safe to assume that whoever was the traitor had contacted Voldemort, which indicated that whatever they had planned had failed and the only thing left to do was destroy Severus.
Remus arrived some ten minutes after Severus sent a note to him; Severus led Remus into her laboratory and spelled the room with an anti-surveillance charm. Severus held out the note to Remus who took it and read it, "Well, this is getting interesting," he said.
"Interesting is not quite the word I would have used, Remus," Severus said.
"No, I guess not, perhaps intriguing or unusual," Remus said, he smiled when Severus glared at him. "I guess we'll have to tell Albus, and maybe step up the security."
Severus sighed, "I have half a mind to let what happens happen."
"Severus," Remus said, with a hint of reprove in his voice.
"This matter will be resolved before I leave, obviously whoever is the spy needs Voldemort's help to kill me. If we let providence take its course we could at last come to a conclusion."
"Severus, it's one thing to use yourself as bait and quite another to deliver yourself to the lion's den," Remus said.
Severus looked up at Remus and gave him a wry smile, "Perhaps you are right. I am simply weary of this suspense," she said.
Remus gently squeezed Severus' shoulder, "I understand, the finale is close but I don't want you doing anything hasty to hurry it along," he said.
"Of course," Severus said, "I would not dream of it."
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