Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

Web of Lies: Revelations.

The next few days passed peacefully. Severus spent nearly all his time with Alec, making sure the boy wouldn't overwork himself. While the boy had wanted to visit his grandfather nearly from the moment he woke, both Severus and Poppy agreed that it wouldn't do him any good right now. While the old man wasn't getting worse, he hadn't woken up either, and it was starting to really frustrate his doctors.

That morning, Severus had allowed Alec to go up to the Great Hall for lunch with him. Even though the Potions Master had insisted he sat with the teachers at their table, Harry couldn't have been more relieved. He had hated being cooped up in the professor's rooms, and no amount of pleading had got him out of them. He suspected he had even managed to make Severus cross at him more than once, which had caused him to back off. The last thing he needed was the older man mad at him.

Halfway through lunch, Alec was wishing he was back to the Potions Master's rooms. The students hadn't stopped looking to him since he first sat down between his aunt and uncle, and it was finally starting to get on his nerves. He was about to ask his uncle if they could leave, seeing that the man had finished, when a lone raven appeared through the window the owls usually used at breakfast. All the teachers frowned lightly, they had all spotted the dark envelope that the bird carried and were wondering what it might be about.

The raven didn't go to anyone, instead it flew to the door that led out of the Great Hall and landed in front of it. As soon as the bird touched the floor, dark smoke started to come out of the envelope. Most teachers stood up, wands in hand, ready to handle whatever it was that the mysterious raven had brought. Alec also stood up, and while he didn't have a wand, his hand was starting to glow faintly in preparation for what might come.

The smoke rose over their heads, and a face appeared in it. It was a horrible face; bright, cruel red eyes peered at them all from a snake like face. Snape hissed under his breath, this couldn't be good. Alec, who was standing at his side, tensed, his face going blank as his power flared a bit more around him. Before anyone had the chance to say a word, the horrible figure spoke.

"That was ridiculously easy. Be happy I have no interests in entering the school right now or you would be defenceless."

The students slowly started to understand just who was talking to them and scared whimpers could be heard across the large rooms. All teachers were frozen in place, watching attentively for the monster to try to do something, but Voldemort seemed content to just talk.

"It really is pathetic that the supposedly most defended school in the whole country losses all its power when one man is missing." His horrible face twisted into a cruel grin. "And speaking about Dumbledore, I really hope he is enjoying his new quarters. Not that he'll be able to enjoy them for much longer, really, I'm sure he's eager to go ahead and face his next adventure as he put it. And don't worry, I'm planning to help him along."

Realisation started to dawn in the teachers' faces, and most of them started to tremble. The thought of the headmaster, injured and defenceless in the hands of that monster was terrifying. Obviously not minding their terrified looks, the Dark Lord continued with his speech.

"Of course, I'm willing to negotiate. After all, as much of a danger as the old man was, there is one other that I want more." His face became as hard as stone and the red eyes glittered madly. "Give me Potter. I do not believe for a moment that none of you know where he is. I want him within two days. If he hasn't stepped out of the wards before the second day has gone by I will kill the old man in the cruellest way possible." He seemed to think for a bit and then grinned madly. "Or maybe I will force him to witness as this school is destroyed and all his precious children killed. We'll see; it doesn't matter right now. Knowing Potter, he will be in my hands before the two days have passed."

Snape's mind was working furiously, trying to put away his shock and find a solution to the terrible situation they found themselves in. He was trying to think of a way to track Voldemort down when a movement at his side distracted him. Alec had turned around and was about to step away from them. Knowing what the child was about to do, Snape quickly gripped his shoulders, turned him around, and pressed him against his side.

Furious blue eyes glared up at him, and he just stared down at him sternly. "And just where do you think you're going, young man?"

His voice was a mere whisper, but it carried the annoyance, concern, and fear that the older wizard felt. "Let go, I need to get out."

Snape's face was a mask. "Oh, no you don't. You're not going anywhere."

Harry tugged at the hands that were holding him. "You don't understand."

Snape, seeing that the boy was about to get lose and not wanting to draw more attention to them, picked the child up and forced him to lay against his chest. In an even softer whisper than he had used so that only the child would hear, the Potions Master said:

"I understand perfectly alright, Mr. Potter."

Severus felt the child freeze in his arms. Looking down he was met with scared blue eyes.

"You know."

There didn't come sound out of the boy's mouth, but Severus was able to read his lips just fine. Maybe he shouldn't have told Alec that he knew this way, but at least he could concentrate back to what Voldemort was saying. When he lifted his gaze, his eyes met Voldemort's and he couldn't suppress a shudder. The man seemed to notice this and his grin grew even more horrible.

"I'm almost wishing that the Potter boy doesn't show up. It would give me great pleasure if Dumbledore saw his grandson tortured in front of his eyes."

Severus stepped back a bit, drawing Alec closer to him. The child was trembling, but he didn't know if it was because of Voldemort's words or because of the revelation that he knew his secret.

As the smoke still coming from the envelope grew lighter, Voldemort turned his gaze to one of the tables. "Come to me, my children. Hogwarts is about to fall, there's nothing more you can get from it. A few of my loyal ones are waiting outside for you to take you where you belong. It is time for you to take your place at my side and to learn everything you still need to know."

Almost before the Dark Lord was finished with his little speech, Draco Malfoy had jumped out of his chair and was sauntering to the doors, a smirk proudly drawn on his face. Behind him, his two stupid gorillas were walking, probably not understanding what was going on.

Severus' heart nearly broke as one after another of his Slytherins started to stand and follow the blond. When the last Slytherin had made it out of the door, the smoke cleared completely, leaving only the corpse of a raven behind.

Severus, with Alec still in his arms, collapsed in his chair. He had failed, he had tried to draw his children to the light and he had failed. As the students and teachers around him started to move and show their distress, Severus could only think about the little children that had been under his care. Merlin knew what kind of life awaited them now. Bitterly, he amended that thought, Voldemort had Dumbledore under his power, and now all the hope they had rested on the shoulders of the child that was trembling against him.

Trying to put his mind to better use, he turned his attention to Alec. The child had closed his eyes and was gripping his robes tightly.

"Alec?"

Blue eyes looked up at him. The sadness in them nearly overwhelmed him. "Professor? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... but Grand... I mean the headmaster... he said..."

Severus gently put a finger against his thin, pale lips. "Not now, my child. This is neither the place nor the moment to talk about it. And its Uncle Severus, remember?"

Alec blinked in surprise. "You... you're not angry?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Let me assure you I'm way more angry with you for trying to sneak away than for posing as the headmaster's grandson."

Before Harry had the chance to answer, Minerva approached them. The other teachers were trying to calm and organise the remaining students but weren't having much luck so far.

"Severus, I've sent Professor Sinistra to the hospital to check on Albus, but I don't have much hope."

The younger man nodded in agreement. "Who was supposed to be there?"

Minerva sighed. "Remus and Pomona were there; I hope they're alright. Filius has gone to warn the aurors, I expect some of them here soon." Turning to the boy still cradled in the Potions Master arms, she bend down a bit. "Alec? Are you alright?"

The boy shook his head and buried his face in Severus' shoulder. The older man sighed. "Maybe I should take him to the dungeons and give him a sleeping potion. This is not good for him."

Minerva, who had been watching the two men carefully, noticed the pained expression that crossed the Slytherin head of house's face when he talked about the dungeons. She knew that he was thinking about his students. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she squeezed it gently, trying to comfort her younger colleague. "It's not your fault, Severus. You did everything you could to help those children. It was wistful thinking that you could..."

Whatever it was that she wanted to say, she didn't get the chance. The doors to the Great Hall banged open and a few bodies were thrown to the floor. Both Severus and Minerva watched entranced as the white mask fell from one of the Death Eaters lying out cold on the ground. Slowly, both teachers looked up and were faced with a large group of Slytherins that were looking back at them smugly.

A seventh year Slytherin smirked at their surprised expressions. When he spoke, it was clear that he was only talking to Severus. "Oy, Professor. You didn't honestly think we were going to join that crazy half-blood, did you?"

Another girl nodded besides him. "Yeah, we're Slytherins, not idiot; we have our pride, and we bow to no one."

A third student, younger than the former two, took over. "Besides, Hogwarts is our home just as much as it is to other students; none of us want it destroyed."

A small girl looked up at Severus, bright eyes smiling up at him. "And we couldn't betray you like this. You are the father we never had, you take care of us, what would we do without you?"

All the other Slytherins, even the oldest, were nodding in agreement. There was a tense silence for a moment and then two students of Ravenclaw stood up and started to clap. Slowly they were joined by other students, and even the Gryffindors stood up to join the ovation. Severus, overwhelmed by the words his little snakes had uttered in front of everyone, buried his face in Alec's shoulder.

The small boy, understanding that his uncle needed some comfort, quickly hugged the man tightly. And while he could feel wet tears soaking his shoulder, Harry was sure that there was a real, proud smile on the Potions Master's usually stern face. As all the teachers joined the students in applauding the Slytherins, Minerva placed a hand on Severus' shoulder.

"Well done, my friend, well done. Hogwarts is one again."

To be continued...

A/N: Thanks for all reviews and thanks to my beta reader, Vinnie.