Doesn't Remind Me

Summary: AU, WiP: What would've happened if Severus Snape had choose a different path and proved is loyalty to the one who trusted him when no one else did?

Category: Angst/Drama.

Rating: PG-13 to R. For safety, deals with violence and suicidal themes.

Notes: Okay, so I sounded bitchy in my last note. I'm sorry, I never meant to sound like that. I guess it's hard to tell emotions over the internet eh? So to that reviewer, I wasn't trying to like attack you or anything, I was just explaining myself. So I'm gonna shut-up now before I start being bitchy again.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, if I did I'd be rich and not writing fanfics, now would I? Sue me if you wish but the only thing you'll get out of it is my pointe shoes because it's the only thing I've ever bought in my life. Anything recognizable is credited to J.K. Rowling anything unrecognizable can be credited to me, understood? Good. Now I'm going to shut-up so you can read the story!

Ch. 3 - Wishful Thinking

Luna was quickly swept away from the others and was given the task of re-writing Severus Snape's potion. With very clear instructions to make sure everything was exactly the same as it was originally written.

Everyone else was sent either to their beds or to do some menial task. Except for Ron and Ginny Weasly, who were instructed to stay with Bill and await their parents arrival.

Harry and Hermione walked silently down the corridors that were slowly filling up with curious students. Demelza Robins, who Harry played Quidditch with, was pushed in front of the two friends quite reluctantly.

"Harry...the Dark Mark. Is, is someone," she gulped, "dead?"

"No, it was a trick, that's all. Don't worry about it," Hermione quickly answered, pushing her way through the building crowd and dragging Harry with her.

"But, does that mean there's Death Eaters here!" Katie Bell said, rather loudly.

"NO!" Hermione yelled, spinning around to face the crowd, "I mean, not anymore more. There were, but, but it's been taken care of. They're gone and the school is quite safe again. Their means of getting in here was destroyed so, as a Prefect, I can only suggest that you all return to your dormitories and go back to sleep. Because that is what Harry and I will be doing!"

And with that Hermione stomped away, quite irritated, with Harry following behind. It wasn't long before they were saying the Gryffindor password to the Fat Lady. They plopped themselves down in two chairs in the corner of the common room and just stared at each other.

"How many Death Eaters were there?" Harry whispered, leaning closer towards Hermoine to avoid being over-heard.

"I don't know, a good number, but quite a few got captured."

"They did? But where are they now?"

"The Ministry came and got them. They'll be locked in Azkaban for sure, join the other Death Eaters already there. It's where they deserve to be."

"And Draco? What happened to him? Did the Ministry take him too?"

"No, but I think they should've. Professor McGonagall took him somewhere, probably to hide him. They've gone to get his mother too, some of the Order. Apparently Voldemort said he'd killed Draco and his mother if Dumbledore wasn't killed."

"Yah, that's what Draco told Dumbledore. That's when Dumbledore promised to hide Draco and his mom, and even Lucius, when he gets out of Azkaban."

"Lucius? I doubt Lucius will be getting out of Azkaban anytime soon. But truthfully, I do feel some sympathy from Draco. You can't really blame him for becoming a Death Eater, he was probably forced into it. You know, with Lucius being in Azkaban and all. And I don't think he ever really wanted to become one, because if he did then he would've killed Dumbledore, he very easily could've, couldn't he?

"Yah, I thought he was going to. But I guess he's not the tough guy he always thought he was. But," Harry looked around to make sure no one was listening, "why did the Death Eaters all leave? They came to kill Dumbledore, they wouldn't just leave and go back to Voldemort until Dumbledore was killed. Won't they all be punished for failing, especially when they were so close?"

"I don't know Harry," Hermione replied, running her hands through her hair in frustration, "I really don't know. It seems to go against everything I know about the Death Eaters. The only wizard Voldemort fears is Dumbledore and they were so close to killing him that they wouldn't just leave without a good reason. I mean, sure they have Snape, but still, they have to face Voldemort's wrath now. I don't think having Snape is going to make-up for what they failed to do. But still, it doesn't make sense. I don't think we out-numbered them. At least, not until those four left with Snape, then we outnumbered the others. It just, it just doesn't make sense!"

"Well maybe when Snape gets back he can tell us."

"Snape, get back?" Hermione laughed, "Are you serious Harry? Did you get hit in the head during the fight or what? You can't honestly believe that Snape is going to live. He's a traitor to Voldemort and everyone knows he was a spy. He spied on Dumbledore for Voldermort and he spied on Voldemort for Dumbledore. And because of recent events I'm going to conclude that he did more spying for Dumbledore than he did for Voldemort, and Voldemort is not going to like that. Snape won't live. If Snape lives and somehow makes it back here then, then I don't know what I'll do. It's impossible! Even if he got away he'd be so badly injured he'd probably die trying to get here."

"You know, he could survive! This is Snape we're talking about. The wizard who managed to lie to Voldemort and get away with it for years!"

"Stop feeling guilty Harry! He won't live! He sacrificed himself to save Dumbledore and there is nothing anyone can do. Unless you know where Voldemort is and want to go marching in there demanding that He release Snape! Because if you want to do that then go right on ahead, I won't stop you but I won't help you!"

"We can't just leave him!"

"But we have to! There's nothing we can," Hermione sighed, "I know you feel guilty for never trusting him, I do too! But we can't change what we did and what's happened. Right now we should be more worried about Dumbledore, not Snape, because at least we might be able to help Dumbledore!"

Harry rubbed his temples and willed his pounding headache to go away, "It just doesn't make sense, none of it. Everything's gone wrong today."

"Let's just go to bed Harry. A good night's sleep might help."

"Yah, you're probably right. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Harry and Hermione left, going to their separate staircases. Both did not sleep but instead lay quietly in their beds as the other students filtered back from the corridors whispering about the troubling events of the past few hours.

The students of Hogwarts awoke the next day to the sounds of their Head of Houses waking them up and telling them all too pack their trunks and bring them down to the common rooms. Harry was one of the last Gryffindor students to reach the common room, and there he found Hermione in a hushed conversation with Ron and Ginny. Upon reaching the three he was just about to ask them what they were talking about when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, causing everyone to fall silent and look towards her.

"Because of recent events," McGonagall started, reading from a roll of parchment, "all students have been asked to pack their trunks and go, orderly, to the Great Hall. Following the instructions of their Head of House. This is purely a precautionary measures because it is not believed that the school is in any immediate danger. At the Great Hall the students will be asked to sit at their tables and remain quiet, there they will be briefed on what has happened and what is going to take place. Please, do not cause any distruptions. Now, let's go. Follow me students."

With that Professor McGonagall turned and walked out of the portrait hole, the Gryffindor students following closely behind. Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny walked amongst the other students, not daring to speak for they did not want to be the ones to break the eerie silence that filled the halls. Once they reached the Great Hall the students took their seats at their tables and waited for some teacher to tell them what was going on.

Harry nudged Ron and nodded his head towards the Slytherin table, "Looks like Professor Slughorn has taken over the Head of House duties for Slytherin."

"Wow," Ron said, slightly shocked, "Why him?"

"He told me before that he was once Head of Slytherin," Harry replied, lowering his voice, "Tell Hermione, I don't think she's noticed yet."

Ron nodded and Harry watched has his best friend held a whispered conversation with Hermione. A conversation that was broken up by the familiar sound of Professor McGonagall clearing her throat.

"As you all must know by now," McGonagall began, "some events occurred last night that I did not think would ever happen here, in Hogwarts. First of all, I must ensure you all that no one died last night, despite the fact that the Dark Mark was cast above the school. Also, the school's magical protection has been hightened even more and no student is allowed to leave the Great Hall until further notice. If, for some reason, you find that you must leave the Great Hall please talk to the Head of your House. If you wish to go to the bathroom you must first tell your Head of House, who will then proceed to escort you to the bathroom. Also, the Room of Requirement, which some students know about and some do not, will no longer be available for your use. I would suggest that you do not attempt to enter the room because it is currently being heavily guarded. All classes have been cancelled until further notice."

At this point, there was a great cheer from the students.

"But please keep in mind that this is not an excuse to fall behind in your homework. All assigned work is expected to be handed in when classes resume," McGonagall smiled at the students sudden change in mood, "And, last but not least, Professor Dumbledore will be back within in the week, he finds himself incapable of addressing the school right now, as you all surely know by now."

Professor McGonagall looked directly at Harry, smiled, and nodded a yes to Harry's unanswered question. Before he knew it a smile grew on his face and Harry looked over at Luna and caught her eye. She just smiled and nodded and Harry worded a simple "thanks" to her and turned to share the great news with his three friends.

Dumbledore was going to be all right.