Ack! I know that nobody will read this for awhile, but I just reached 200 reviews and I couldn't let that go without a celebration. So to those reading, thank you for all the reviews!

a/n: Some people were wondering about Snape's comment to Draco, the one about not being able to hate Lucius forever. And because personal answers are no longer allowed, here's one explanation for everyone and especially tallgiraffe. Snape hates Lucius there's no doubt about that. But Lucius loved Draco and Snape knew that as well. And because Snape missed out on the love of a father (we're not exactly sure if this is true but it is now because I said so) he knows how important it is to forgive those who are no longer with us.

Chapter 19: Masquerade

"Masquerade!
Seething shadows
breathing lies . . .
Masquerade!
You can fool
any friend who
ever knew you!"

-Masquerade,The Phantom of the Opera

Harry had not noticed this exchange of words between the two though he was in the room. He was still halfway to the door, his mind working faster than his body could wish to labor.

"I'm going." He repeated. He reached out his wand and carefully cast a spell on himself. Suddenly he was three inches taller, blond, and rather muscular with blue eyes.

"Who am I?" He asked. "I know it's someone here, but who is it?"

Severus gazed at him with amazement. "Avery Nott. How did…" He looked at Draco for an explanation. Draco however, just shrugged.

"Are you two coming?" Harry asked Ron and Draco. They silently nodded in assent and at once they changed into various members in the Headquarters. Ron into Antonin Dolohov and Draco into Blaire Zabini.

"Lead the way," Harry ordered Severus. The fact that he did not call him by any name didn't slip past him, but he understood Potter's reluctance. Being on the same side of a war didn't make people best friends; Severus knew that better than most people.

"Come on."

Hermione was lying in bed, sitting up. She was alone, for the first time all week. Severus could tell by her eyes that she was at least partly Hermione.

"Severus," she said with weak excitement. Obviously she was both. She was much too jaunty to be normal Hermione. But at the same time he could tell she was more retrospective, knowing the end was coming and full of regrets.

"Hello. I have some people who want to see you," Severus stepped aside to reveal the boys who appeared to Hermione in their normal form.

"Harry?" She whispered. "Ron?"

They took her in, drank in her appearance. Severus had almost forgotten what she'd looked at before she was captured and came to appreciate the shock it must be for Harry and Ron. She was still thin though not as thin as she was in the dungeons. And her skin was luminescently pale, lack of sun; the Dark Lord's infusion and her current medical state were all to blame. Her body was wasting away little by little.

But they each took her into their arms in turn. Draco stayed a respectable distance away until Hermione motioned him closer.

"Thank you Draco," was all she said and hugged him tightly.

After the embrace, Draco turned to Severus and leaned in. "I think we should leave them alone," he whispered. Severus nodded and silently they ducked out of the room.

"It won't be long," Draco said closing the door behind himself. "How can you stand it?" He pushed his hair back and leaned against the wall.

"Stand what?" Severus rubbed his face tiredly. When was the last time he'd slept? It had been far too long since, he knew that. "Knowing she's dying?"

Draco shook his head. It was clear the visit had struck a chord of fear in him. "More than that. Knowing how far she's gone. I wasn't prepared for…" Draco was at a loss for words. Leaning even closer to Severus, he resumed in a choked whisper. "The Darkness was radiating from her. Does it do that even when she's the only one there?"

It surprised Snape that Draco had sensed Hermione hadn't been all Hermione during their visit. He was more perceptive than Snape gave him credit for. "Yes. But it grows stronger depending. When she's all the Dark Lord, it's almost suffocating."

"She has the face of an angel," Draco said shaking his head once again. "And the soul…"

"I don't know if we have a name for what kind of soul she has."

"Severus?" Draco asked, his voice small. "Did Lucius do all of that?"

The older man took a deep sigh. He could tell what Draco was really asking. If given time, could Lucius have done that to him? Had he succeeded once and Draco just not noticed? Severus didn't know if he could help Draco with that answer, but he answered as best he could. "He helped, but he doesn't have all that power of corruption. A lot of it was the infusion's influence. Moreover, Hermione made a choice. She began to play with fire and she got burned."

Draco nodded slowly, processing the information.

"Draco. She's not you."

"I know," Draco said. "I know.

LHSLHSLHS