A/N: I do not own anything to do with the Harry Potter universe… J K Rowling owns it all. I'm just having fun with her characters. This is the sequel to my first story Sekhmet's Book. Sorry for the long wait. I estimate this story will be finished in around 4 chapters' time. It won't be rushed though. Please leave a review, your thoughts and comments mean a lot to me.

Enjoy…

Chapter Thirteen

Harry and Michael stood in invisible silence for a long moment as they heard the guards and Re finally leave their earshot. They were still standing in the corridor outside of the chambers Hermione occupied. Hathor had not yet left the room either and so they didn't dare to try and enter. They had to formulate another plan- likely plan F by now. Michael tugged Harry's arm and lead him off to a more secluded spot where they could converse in relative peace.

"What the hell was Severus going on about, Michael!" Harry asked angry at the situation they were now in.

"I have no idea, Harry. Hermione has never shown any kind of interest in me… I…"

"Oh, leave it!" Harry cut him off angrily. "We have bigger worries to deal with now. We have to get to Hermione…"

"We can't." Michael said indicating the entrance to Hermione's chambers. "The guards must have been assembled throughout the entire palace. We have no hope of getting to either of them today." Harry glanced around and saw at least eight large Egyptian guards with sharp-looking knives and spears. A further mass of Egyptians with shaved heads and dressed in white toga appeared as well.

"Who are they?" Harry asked.

"Palace monks, holy people, Re must have summoned them. I think something big must be happening. We shall have to wait and see what though." Michael replied.

"Come on, let's apparate back to your chambers. We can return later and find out what's going on." Harry said. Michael nodded in return and he and Harry popped out of immediate danger.

Severus didn't struggle as it was pointless. He was surrounded by guards and there was nowhere for him to run to. He would just go along with the guards until he was left alone and could apparate the hell out of there. He hadn't done so already because he would quite literally rip Creevey's head from his shoulders and he needed to calm down and think before he was convicted of a brutal murder.

How could Hermione have done that to him? He had risked everything for her by coming back in time. He had had his entire world turned upside down and how he was going to continue to live without her was beyond him, for he could never go back to her now. He could never be her lover again. He could not ever trust her and he could not let her into his life. She had hurt him beyond belief, cut him to the quick emotionally and ripped his heart out holding it up for all to see as she laughed at him in his face. Oh, how he had been sucked in to her charm, believed that she actually cared for him. It was a ridiculous notion to even think that she had cared deeply for him. She had desired another. She did desire another and he had been forgotten about in so little time.

No more. Severus could take no more. He could not leave her in the past. He had come back to rescue her and that he would do but after that he would demand she go her own separate way with the baby- who's parentage was still in question. Callum would stay with Severus, of this he would make sure of. Snape was a powerful wizard with a powerful wizarding name and he would obtain the sole custody of his son over his deceiving Muggle mother.

As for Michael…

Michael was another matter entirely. He would gladly leave the wife stealing Mudblood in the past but he had promised Albus that he would return the both of the stranded travellers and it was a promise he would not break to the old man.

Being ushered along the cold stone corridors by the guards, Severus was pushed into a cell and the door, yes a door… seemed to be the only room with such a device, was slammed shut behind him. Three guards stationed them selves outside in the corridor and the others left.

It was cool inside the cell. It must have been far below the palace and therefore not penetrated by the glaring sunlight all day. No windows were present and the only light came from a torch that had been lit out in the corridor where the guards stood. Severus picked him self up off of the sand covered floor and dusted his clothing off. He looked down to his right hand and smiled at the ring on his finger. His wand was still with him. "Fools," he said as he glanced over to his left hand and found his wedding band still there in full glory. He sighed heavily, "and I'm a fool for ever loving you, Hermione." He shook his head in anger; the ring would disappear over time, when his love of her was once and for all lost. Her ring had likely already vanished, he thought to himself.

He looked at the guards and giving them one last glare apparated himself off to Ancient Hogwarts. He would wait for a short time, calm down and get back to Ancient Egypt for the rest of the travellers.

Hermione felt a presence, a presence within her own mind. Intriguing, how much this felt normal to her. It felt familiar. This presence was part of her and yet it was a separate entity. It was evil, it was shrewd and it was cunning. If she could have labelled it then she would say it was a manifestation of her Slytherin self, which had subsequently been increased ten-fold.

She had been in this situation before where her mind had been controlled by another but this was different. This was not an external force but it was from within. Something had invaded her and taken up residence. How utterly strange that she was aware of it as well.

"Give me the book," Hermione said… what book, her mind asked? It had been her voice though without a doubt, the air had escaped past her vocal cords and thinking back a very short while, she indeed did remember saying it as well. Her hand rose towards Hathor, who still stood before her and lay open awaiting the object it desired.

Hathor smiled and bowed down as she handed the book she was holding over to Hermione. "Goddess Sekhmet, please accept what I give you." Hermione took the object and glanced at it. Her mind reeled, she held the Book of Shadows… but hold on… what had Hathor just called her?

"Bring me sustenance." Hermione demanded and Hathor bowed deeply before summoning the servants. Hermione turned her back on Hathor and strolled over to the other side of the chambers. There were many objects within the room, ornaments, tapestries and rugs in the form of lion skins and leopard skin throws. Hermione caught a glimpse of her self in a reflective gold shield and gasped in shock. She was looking at a reflection that bared no resemblance to her whatsoever.

Hermione stared at her reflection until she was quickly disturbed by Hathor. "Your drink, Goddess Sekhmet." Hermione's hand was raised yet again and a goblet was placed into it. Uncontrollably taking a drink and without looking at it she gulped hungrily, only to spit it back out in revulsion.

"What is this!" Hermione demanded as she forced her gaze down to look at the contents.

"It is as fresh as we could get it, Goddess Sekhmet." Hathor immediately defended, "from the goat that was slain this morning."

"Goat?" Hermione asked with what she assumed was a raised eyebrow although it likely didn't appear as such on her new facial appearance.

"I understand you prefer the life blood of a human but the goat blood was all that was to hand." Hathor pleaded.

Utterly revolted Hermione forced the entity within the throw the goblet forcefully at the wall, its contents draining as it hit and a red stream of gloopy liquid dripped to the stone floor. "Cut your self."

"Sekhmet, I have Royal blood… you…"

"Now," Hermione said as her gaze landed on the cowering Hathor.

"Sekhmet, my blood will kill you. It has magical properties which will not agree with your body while your host is carrying young." Hermione thought about that, she must have been referring to the baby. A mother's protective instinct suddenly surged to the surface as she felt Sekhmet contemplate invoking the birth in order to get the baby out of her.

"I…" Hermione forced her mind to sway the thoughts of Sekhmet but it was not easy and it took a lot of her energy. "I shall go on a hunt tonight. Memphis still has to be conquered." Well, not what Hermione particularly wanted but at least it gave her baby a fighting chance.

"As you wish, Goddess Sekhmet, you are most wise." Hathor told her.

"Now, I must be alone. I must rest before night falls and the hunt begins."

"I shall leave you to rest, O Great One." Hathor backed out of the room leaving Hermione alone… or as alone a one could be when one's mind had unwanted company.

"Who are you?" Hermione thought, the words ringing as clear as a bell in her head.

"Ah, you have found a way to communicate with me. Who do you think I am?" Sekhmet asked back.

"You are Sekhmet."

"Correct, although you had enough clues, my dear." Sekhmet replied as if speaking to a two year old.

"Why are you in my mind?" Hermione asked.

"You are a magical being and your body is proving to be a very good vessel for me."

"Vessel?"

"Host."

"What do you want with me?"

"You are an inquisitive being and decidedly annoying."

"I seek knowledge and I believe I have the right since you are invading my body and mind." Hermione countered.

"Then, with you I shall rule Egypt. I shall conquer and feed off the population. I shall be greater than I ever was and I shall rule…!"

"Erm… you need me for that." Hermione interrupted. "I however, do not wish to participate. Know that I shall oppose you and that I shall do everything in my power to defeat you so long as there is breath left within my body."

"Hahahaha. You can never defeat me, my dear." Sekhmet laughed back at Hermione. "Do you remember any of our crusades?"

"No," Hermione said as she thought for a while.

"Then let me release your memories." Sekhmet said. Suddenly there was a flood of memories into Hermione's active mind like a fast flowing Muggle film. It was pure want and destruction, hatred, bloodshed, pain and suffering, countless numbers of people slain by the beast that was Sekhmet. All from the perspective of the slayer and therefore the slayer was Hermione's body.

"No! Stop!" Hermione pleaded, she could watch no more but still the memories came before she heard Sekhmet's evil laugh again and the stream of data suddenly cease. "Why?" Hermione sobbed.

"I can. I want to. I will." Sekhmet replied.

"You will be defeated," Hermione sobbed angrily. Sekhmet laughed again before finally succumbing to sleep. Hermione felt the silence and sighed. She was not in control right now but she felt that maybe there would be a window of opportunity soon. She had much to think about but the only thing right now that she could actually think of was the she was Sekhmet.

How had that happened?

Why had that happened?

She was in effect on a mission to defeat Sekhmet only to discover that she was Sekhmet.

She would have to defeat her self.

How could one do that?

How could she do that knowing that Sekhmet could read her thought?

How had it happened the first time?

So many questions but the same truth kept ringing in her disturbed mind.

…and oh my god… it was true…

She was Sekhmet.

She WAS Sekhmet.

SHE WAS SEKHMET!