Author's Note

Please forgive any spelling and/or grammar errors. I hope you enjoy it, please let me know what you think!

Any dialogue you recognize comes from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Most is changed at least a bit though to fit right.

I'm not J.K. Rowling, so I don't own anything.


Ch 31: The Greater Good

A roaring scream pierced the night air, tearing it in two, no, shredded it was more like. Hermione didn't even have a chance to take in the familiar landmarks that held a dear spot in her heart before she was forced to double over, clutching her ears to muffle whatever fraction of the cursed wailing she could manage.

Her wrist was seized and she was yanked from the main road, dragged along with Ron as Harry guided them down a nearby alley, and away from the Death Eaters assembling before the Three Broomsticks. There were six – no, eight, masked figures all convinced that it was Harry Potter who'd been daring enough to Apparate directly into Hogsmeade while Voldemort was in control.

Of course it was Harry, but apparently they didn't need to see him to believe it themselves.

And it really did seem obvious that Voldemort would have stationed people here for just this situation, because he'd known Harry would show up eventually. He had to if he was going to attempt to stop the monster.

As the Death Eaters called for them, offering threats and weak attempts to locate them, Harry urged the three of them deeper into the alley to avoid detection.

Panic, and a conviction that this was no more than they deserved for running headlong into a situation without a plan, had Hermione begging the boys to go. They could always try again later, after they had a chance to properly prepare themselves. "Let's just go. Disapparate now!"

"Quiet," Harry whispered, shushing her as he pulled her further into the alley.

Before she had a chance to convince them, because Harry was never one to run from a fight, a Death Eater called, "We know you're here, Potter, and there's no getting away! We'll find you!"

"They were ready for us," Harry breathed, face pinched with dread.

Obviously, Hermione wanted to sneer, hearing the tone Severus would have used reverberating through her head. Instead, she harped, "See? This is why I didn't want to rush –"

"Oh, save it, Hermione!" Ron hissed, eyeing Harry even as he listened to the Death Eaters debating on whether or not they should release dementors to find the trio. "You're right, okay? Let's just go."

Taking each of their arms, Hermione turned on the spot, picturing Shell Cottage in her mind. The salty ocean breeze and rough, stone structure with its low, sloping roof. The promise of safety.

Nothing.

It was like hitting a wall. The air felt thicker than concrete. It was the equivalent of a Muggle turning on his or her heel, all that happened was they looked a bit foolish.

"Anti-Disapparation Charms," Hermione groaned, clutching Harry's arm tighter.

"I know," he said thickly, sweat beading on his brow, visible even in the dim light from a nearby shop lanter that penetrated the folds of the cloak hiding them. "We need to hide. We need another way in."

They were trapped. If the dementors came they'd be discovered. If? More like they'd already arrived. What little springtime warmth had existed was replaced with bone-deep cold. A mass of darkness shifted closer. There was nothing for it. They were going to be caught. It was all over. Any second –

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry called, sending his trademark stag cantering down the street towards the looming monsters like a bowling ball knocking pins down and sending them spinning away, as though unable to help himself. Probably he couldn't.

"Harry," Ron groaned, "why? You –"

"Potter, in here, quick!" a voice called, summoning them into a dingy building as the Death Eaters called out to each other, celebrating their supposed triumph.

Harry didn't hesitate before pulling her and Ron with him once more. He gave her no chance to protest or point out that it might be yet another trap, particularly considering they had no idea who the stranger "helping" them even was.

But that was who Harry was, always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. An admirable quality in most cases, but probably not the best choice for the most wanted wizard in Britain. It was amazing he'd survived as long as he had.

"Good thing Longbottom told me to expect you lot," an aged man grumbled, stepping past them to go outside to confront the Death Eaters.

Longbottom? Neville? Guess Harry was right to trust this man.

He let the door slam shut behind him even as Harry pointlessly asked, "Neville told you we were coming? How'd he know? Where are we?"

"Hi, guys! This is the Hog's Head Inn. Well, the back room of it anyway," Neville answered quietly, though the low volumn did nothing to hide his excitement at seeing them.

The place was rundown. The wooden beams and staircase leading to what Hermione supposed were the guest rooms appeared half rotted. A thick layer of dust coated the floor, muffling their steps. The windows were so filthy they couldn't see out to learn what the man was saying to the assembled group, though it also meant no one could see in to detect them either.

"I thought you'd be here sooner," Neville added.

Their stunned reactions at finding one of their classmates waiting for them, as though they were expected while on the run, was delayed when Neville gestured towards the rickety stairs, waving them after him as he hurried towards the upper floor. He ushered them into a warm room, the fireplace crackling merrily with little pops and flaring sparks.

It was a stark contrast to the rest of the village and the state of the pub below. This room was cleaned and clearly lived in. A portrait of a young girl with strawberry blonde hair hung over the mantle, and she smiled shyly at them, swaying a bit as though to music only she could hear.

"Neville! What are you doing here?" Harry demanded, throwing an arm around him and clapping him on the back.

"Shh!" Hermione scolded, glancing fearfully at the closed door, expecting it to burst open any second to reveal a half dozen Death Eaters. She wasn't sure she could handle being captured again. The trauma from Malfoy Manor was too fresh. And now, when she could practically see the finish line….

"They can't hear us up here," Neville promised.

"Who was that?" Ron asked, tense and ready for a fight.

"Aberforth. He runs –"

"He's Dumbledore's brother," Harry said flatly, the connection like poking a festering sore for him.

"Yeah. We were in the Room of Requirement just after dinner when Dobby appeared. He said you lot were coming, so I came to get you. Did you really break into Gringotts? Did you escape on a dragon?"

"Dobby told you?" Harry asked incredulously, then his head whipped around to Hermione, a question clear on his face. Had Severus sent the house-elf to help them?

Hermione shrugged, having not had a chance to write to him again after Gringotts before Harry had insisted on heading to Hogsmeade, particularly not with the parchment they used being at the bottom of the lake they'd taken their lovely, unplanned dip in. Though, if she had to guess, Severus probably had. He'd sent the house-elf to help them escape Malfoy Manor too.

"Good thing too. We were on the lookout for you thanks to his warning. Normally, he only brings us healing potions or food –"

"When you don't show up here looking for some scraps like a stray dog," Aberforth grumbled, stomping into the room. "What were you lot thinking, coming here of all places? You should be trying to get about as far from here as possible!"

"Healing potions?" Ron asked, but the question was overlooked as Harry answered Aberforth.

"We had to. We have to get inside the castle – speaking of, how did you get here?" Harry declared, before rounding on Neville, who'd clearly discovered a way to come and go undetected. His arrival really was perfect.

"Secret passage. It leads right to the Room of Requirement. We've been using it to subvert the Carrows all year. The DA is stronger than ever," he said proudly, and from his stance, it was obvious that he'd finally grown into himself. The sight made Hermione smile, even if the mostly healed gash on his cheek and newly blackened eye gave her pause.

Ron was frowning at Neville, taking in the evidence of abuse plainly on his face, but only said, "That's convenient. Bet Fred and George never discovered that one."

"It's not on the map, so I doubt it. We should get going. Thanks for the help," Harry added, his brow crinkling as he shifted from foot to foot impatiently. Hermione could tell he didn't want to waste anymore time chatting or explaining. He wanted to get on with things now that he'd made up his mind.

"Now hold up just a tick. You're sure about this, Potter?" Aberforth asked, stopping directly in front of Harry and crossing his arms.

The man looked like Dumbleodre. It wasn't noticeable at first. His nose wasn't crooked and he didn't have the soft, grandfatherly voice or easy civility – Aberforth was much more blunt and direct. More rustic and down-to-earth than cultured and educated. But the crystal blue eyes were the same, clear as glacial ice as just as penetrating, as though they saw every dark secret you tried to hide from the world. The fluffy white hair was the same too. Hermione wondered how she'd missed making the connection between the brothers when they'd visited the Hog's Head in her fifth year.

"We've got to," Harry said stubbornly, his chin tipping up a bit in defiance.

"What you've got to do is stay alive. Keep your friends alive too. They'll be wanted too now that they're known to be working with you. Like I said before, you need to get as far from here as you can," Aberforth countered, disapproval radiating from him like heat from the sun. "I can try to get you out in the morning, but it'll be risky waiting."

"Of course they're coming to the castle. They came to set things right," Neville challenged, stanchly on Harry's side, though his words seemed to make Harry flounder a bit.

As far as Harry knew, Hogwarts was Hogwarts. It didn't need fixing. Especially now that he sort of believed her about Severus being on their side.

"I just need in the castle long enough to find something. Something Dumbledore – your brother – sent me to find before he died. That's the only way to finish You-Know-Who," Harry said, getting back to his point. "It's the only way to stop him."

Hermione studied Neville as Harry argued with Aberforth over going to the castle and the dangers involved with following Dumbledore's orders, only partially hearing when he said things like, "People had a habit of getting hurt while he was carrying out his grand plans," or, "He learned secrecy at our mother's knee. Secrets and lies, that's how we grew up, and Albus…he was a natural."

Secrets. People getting hurt.

Seeing Neville now, she thought she understood what Severus had been reluctant to tell her about Hogwarts. Neville had numerous scars Hermione had never seen before and fresh wounds not yet healed. They're hurting the students. And now Neville thought they were here to help put a stop to it. Judging from the look on his face, he was disappointed Harry was focusing entirely on a different issue.

But as Aberforth made his opinion of his brother clear, it became very apparent that he had a valid point. Several points in fact. What they'd spent the last year doing was beyond dangerous. They were still students, not yet fully trained, but Harry was the one entrusted to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes.

Dumbledore…he'd put this all on Harry. On a boy. Why? Because of a prophecy?

There had to be more to it than that. But what?

Then there were his plans for Severus. How did he play into this? What game had the former headmaster put into motion?

Hermione sensed Harry had reached a pivotal pinnacle in his journey. For weeks he'd been agonizing over all of the secrets Dumbledore had kept from him, angry and confused as a result. She'd recognized his nagging doubt, his second-guessing on if Dumbledore's plans were to be trusted at all. Yet here he was, insisting he needed to follow this through to the end. Insisting as much to a man who might be able to shed a bit of light on the mystery for Harry before he…

Before he what?

Hermione blocked the answer from her consciousness, deliberately turned away as she asked, "Mr. Dumbledore? Is that your sister? Ariana?"

The young girl in the portrait had caught her attention when they'd first entered the room, but when Aberforth had joined them, she'd been distracted from examining it further, but she did now, seeing the girl swaying more noticeably as though hoping someone would ask about her.

The question did as Hermione had intended, it prompted Aberforth to open up about Dumbledore. They all listened with rapt attention as he explained the true history of the Dumbledore family, including Grindelwald's part in it.

More than that, the story seemed to tip Harry over the edge, firming his resolve. He'd decided to look past the secrets and trust his mentor despite everything.

It was then that she could no longer deny the truth staring her in the face. The way Harry's mind connected with Voldemort's even from a distance. The reason Dumbledore had entrusted the mission to Harry rather than seasoned fighters like Mad-Eye or Lupin. The way Harry's scar was almost sentient. The particular wording of the prophecy. The way Severus was so determined not to shoulder her with the burden of knowing the truth until the last possible moment. All the clues added up, and there was no more denying what they spelled out.

Harry was a Horcrux, and Voldemort couldn't die until every Horcrux was destroyed, including him.

With the knowledge came pain. Deep agony that shredded her heart and made her collapse into the nearest chair. No wonder Severus had refused to tell her. She'd never have kept it together this last year if she'd known sooner. Trying to find a loophole to save Harry would have consumed her, making it impossible to focus on helping Harry destroy the other Horcruxes.

Ron's hand came to rest on her shoulder, squeezing it in concern. She didn't dare meet his questioning gaze, terrified he'd detect the truth written plainly across her face. Instead, she stared at her lap as Harry wrapped up his conversation with Aberforth.

"How can you be sure, Potter, that my brother wasn't more interested in the greater good than in you? How can you be sure you aren't dispensable, just like my little sister?"

The statement had her head snapping up just in time to see everything she was currently feeling painted across Harry's face. He'd already considered the possibility.

"Dumbledore loved Harry," Hermione said thickly, needing Harry to believe it, despite Aberforth's words being at least partly true. It wasn't as though Dumbledore wanted Harry to die. He'd just been unable to find a way to prevent the necessary outcome.

Neville, who'd been frowning throughout much of the conversation as he listened, took something out of his pocket and began fidgeting with it.

"Your brother knew how to finish You-Know-Who and he passed the knowledge on to me. I'm going to keep going until I succeed – or I die. Don't think I don't know how this might end. I've known it for years," Harry said frankly, fierce determination lending strength to his declaration.

Ron's hand clenched on her shoulder, and it was all she could do to maintain her composure when Harry said that.

Ron, who'd allowed the conversation to play out, finally spoke up, saying, "I think we've wasted enough time here. If you're not going to help, that's your choice, but we're going. We're needed elsewhere. Neville, can you take us?"

"Sure," Neville agreed shakily, reacting more visibly to Harry's statement than she or Ron had. They'd had more practice at supporting Harry in situations like this. They knew he didn't need to be worrying about them on top of his own challenges. "Seamus is probably going nuts wondering where we are. Oh, Ab, there might be a couple more people on the way."

"Couple more? What d'you mean, a couple more, Longbottom? There's a curfew and a Caterwauling Charm on the whole village!"

"I know, that's why they'll be Apparating directly into the bar. Just send them down the passage when they get here, will you? Thanks a lot," Neville said quickly, pulling on one side of Ariana's frame to reveal an opening leading to the secret passage he'd used to get there.

Without waiting for Aberforth's sputtered reply, they all climbed through, beginning the trek to the castle.

"What's been happening at Hogwarts?" Harry asked, partially out of concern, and partially for the distraction.

"Who else is coming?" Ron asked at nearly the same time.

"Never mind that, you never answered about Gringotts. Terry Boot got beaten up by Carrow for yelling about it in the Great Hall at dinner!"

"Yeah, it's true," Harry answered, smiling slightly at their audacity.

Ron opened his mouth, and Hermione braced herself for him to make some asinine comment or inappropriate remark, but he surprised her by instead asking, "What d'you mean, beaten up?"

"They like punishment, the Carrows. It's not really like Hogwarts anymore. Lucky we only just got back from break or I'd probably have more than just a black eye," Neville said casually, as though it were the most natural thing in the world to have a professor use physical means to punish a student.

"How did you get that?" Harry inquired, frowning.

"I refused to practice the Cruciatus Curse on another student. It was just after Terry was punished," Neville explained, shrugging carelessly.

"What?" Ron gasped, jerking to a halt. His entire stance went rigid, the tension coming off him so heavy it managed to steamroll the path ahead.

"Yeah. Like I said, Hogwarts is different now," Neville said sadly, inhaling deeply, "but the DA is still recruiting, and you'd be proud of us, Harry. We fight back. We don't just take it cause we're scared. You taught us how to stand up for ourselves and the younger kids, so we do."

"They've been lucky to have you, Neville," Harry acknowledged, forcing a smile for their friend's benefit when he beamed with pride.

"This is why we need you there," Neville said pointedly.

"And Snape? What's he been up to?" Harry asked, deflecting the comment for now.

"He mostly ignores us when he can, or orders our Heads of House to deal with us, though he's supposed to refer us to the Carrows. It's actually helped us avoid a number of punishments. Though sometimes he sends us to Hagrid – as though that were a punishment. It helped that he sent everyone home for Easter Hols, gave us all time to heal up a bit," Neville rambled, confirming Hermione's belief that Severus had done everything he could to protect the students while not jeopardizing his position. "It's really just the Carrows who are the problem."

Harry nodded at Hermione, believing her more than ever after hearing it confirmed by Neville of all people. If Neville, probably the student voted most terrified of Severus Snape, could speak in defense of his actions, then it must be true.

Cautiously, half afraid to know, Hermione began, "Neville, did Luna…."

"She said we could trust him, so we targeted most of our rebellion on the Carrows. She said you told her to trust him," Neville answered, his gaze prodding her to explain.

Ron saved her by announcing, "We got Luna out of Malfoy Manor."

"I know. She messaged me to let me know," Neville said, genuinely happy. "But I've got another question, about what was said back at the Hog's Head."

"Yeah?" Harry said, and this time he was the one bracing for what Neville wanted to know.

"What did Dumbledore need you to do that brings you to Hogwarts? Wouldn't it have been easier just to have one of us already here do it? Or did you want everything to come to a head here?"

"It's not coming to a head here. We're going to get in and back out before he –"

"Harry, come on, mate. He knows we're here. He's going to come right for us," Ron argued, pointing out the flaw in Harry's plan.

"No. He's going to go straight for the Wand," Harry countered, absently rubbing his forehead. Hermione's breath caught at the sight, understanding its significance. But then she processed his words.

"You want to get what we came for and intercept him there. Harry!" she scolded, balling her hands and crossing her arms to keep from hitting him upside the head. Though he could do with having a bit of sense knocked into him right then. "I thought you'd given up on the Hallows, and you were going to focus –"

"I am! I figured out it doesn't matter if he gets the Elder Wand or not," Harry said vaguely, rubbing his head harder as though he was struggling to concentrate or stay with them in the present. Probably, Voldemort's emotions were so extreme he was getting sucked into the monster's head.

"Doesn't matter?" Ron asked faintly. "It's the most powerful wand in the world, and you don't think it matters if You-Know-Who gets it?"

"I know it is. Trust me, all right. I just want us to get what we need, then we can draw him away again," Harry said tightly.

"I already told everyone to come. They'll be here soon," Neville said, taking the lead and moving deliberately ahead of the others.

Harry came to a sudden stop, his mouth hanging open, but he quickly shook his head and asked, "Why would you –"

"We're here," Neville cut it, swinging open the dark silhouette that was abruptly before them.

Hermione's senses were assaulted at once. Cheers and shouts of welcome greeted the group, and where the passage had only been dimly lit by their wand tips, now they were engulfed by bright lights as well as red, blue and yellow. Everywhere she looked were hammocks or decorations from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.

People crowded around them, touching her back and arms. Hermione didn't have the heart to yell at them, but it made her distinctly uncomfortable to be hemmed in and startled in such a way after her two visits to Malfoy Manor. Instinctively, she gripped her wand tighter as her heart raced and she worked to stay calm, focusing on specific details to steady herself.

She'd been separated from the others as the crowd of familiar faces swallowed them up, but Hermione could see that Harry was quite enjoying the reunion, far more than she was at least, though he still seemed a bit distracted. Ron, on the other hand, appeared to have forgotten that he wasn't alone as he enthusiastically kissed Lavender. Their hands groped each other frantically, uncaring of the onlookers witnessing the two reigniting their passionate relationship.

Questions began peppering the air, everyone wanting to know what they'd been up to and what the plan moving forward was.

Hermione felt a bit bad for Harry when she saw how overwhelmed he looked with everyone asking him for a plan. He'd clearly not anticipated their eagerness to help. This was precisely the reason she'd wanted to take a moment to figure things out, but that simply wasn't in Harry's nature.

Ron and Lavender had finally pried their lips apart, but he was too busy whispering to Lavender to come to Harry's aid as their friends kept arguing about wanting to help, and she knew Harry just wanted to keep everyone safe, but it wasn't his call. He couldn't keep people from standing up for what was right anymore than Dumbledore had ever stopped him.

"I think we should let them help," Hermione ventured tentatively, knowing time wasn't on their side, and they were out of other options.

"Hermione, you know how dangerous that would be," Harry refused, staring at her as though she'd lost her mind.

"We've been up to our eyebrows with trouble this year. It's not anything we aren't prepared to handle," Seamus insisted, only to have several others shout their agreement.

"What choice do we have? We need to find it. Fast, Harry. They can help," Hermione insisted stubbornly, pursing her lips. Even if the others could help narrow down what the object was, there was still an entire castle to search once they'd figured that bit out.

"Dumbledore –"

"Trusted you to finish this. It's now or never," Ron interjected, briefly splitting his attention between the two conversations he was participating in.

The portrait opened up again and Luna and Dean sauntered through, looking like it was any normal day. Hermione barely had a chance to smile at the dreamy girl before more people arrived behind them.

When Ginny stepped into the room, Harry stuttered, visibly jerking at the sight of the girl he loved. Longing so potent it was painful to see crossed his face, and it was echoed on Ginny's, though she masked it far quicker than he did, and busied herself with greeting Neville and Luna.

Ginny's appearance was like a signal of sorts for Harry, the sign he needed that this was the right move, and before she knew it, they'd determined that the final Horcrux could be Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem, and Luna was going to take Harry to check out the validity of the idea. Privately, Hermione doubted that the tiara even still existed, given the rumors surrounding it, but it was the best shot they had.

More members of the Order were beginning to arrive as Harry prepared to leave, and Ron approached, hand entwined firmly with Lavender's as they joined Harry and Hermione.

"Just in case this isn't right, can you talk to Snape, Hermione? See if he has any other ideas?" Harry asked, handing over the Marauder's Map as he did, knowing she'd need it to find him quickly.

"Yes," she promised.

"We'll also ask about destroying the cup," Ron added, not looking away from Lavender as he did, his expression equal measures of stunned and appreciative. She was staring up at him as though he'd hung the moon, the worshipful look far less simpering than it used to be.

Hermione expected to feel at least a tiny inkling of jealousy, for not having the same with Severus, but all she could detect in herself was happiness at seeing her friend so caught up after nearly a year of stress and worry.

"Good. Meet back here?" Harry asked, glancing sadly back at Ginny, and probably wishing he could have had a similar moment with her.

"Yes. Be careful!" Hermione called, but he'd already taken off with Luna, the two vanishing beneath his cloak just before they left the room.

"Will you stay here? Where it's safe?" Ron beseeched Lavender.

"I'm in the DA, Ron, and I'm a Gryffindor. If everyone else is fighting, I have to as well, like you've been this whole time," Lavender said, though her voice shook, betraying her fear.

Hermione knew how difficult this moment was for Ron. The only subjects Lavender had gotten O.W.L.s in were Divination, Astronomy, and Care of Magical Creatures. Those didn't exactly prepare her for what was about to happen. But Ron had been friends with Hermione for so long, and between that and having Ginny for a sister, he'd finally learned that it wasn't up to him to dictate what the people around him could or couldn't do.

He looked ashen and uncertain, but after a second he nodded, and said, "I was a bloody fool to have broken up with you."

Hermione felt a wave of affection overtake her at Ron's show of respect, and she got the impression that Lavender and Ron were going to do just fine together after the war. It was a far cry from how she'd felt when they'd first gotten together.

She busied herself studying the map, looking for the dot labeled Severus Snape, while simultaneously ignoring the one labeled Hermione Snape, as she tried to give them a bit of privacy. Severus was just leaving the headmaster's office and walking towards the tower where Cho had said the Ravenclaw common room was located.

"Oh, I know you were," Lavender sassed, batting her lashes at him. Then she threw her arms around him and practically devoured his face. "You can make it up to me when this is over," she whispered, giggling the same flirtatious laugh that used to drive Hermione crazy when she'd spent hours practicing it with Parvati in their dorm room.

That same irksome giggle now made a goofy grin appear on Ron's face as he agreed, "Deal."

"You best get going. Harry asked you to take care of something for him, right?"

"Yes," Ron admitted reluctantly, but he released the blonde to follow Hermione.

"Are you all right?" she asked as they moved slowly through the crowded room, trying to reach the door without being stopped again.

"No, but what was I supposed to do? Lock her in a bathroom until it's all…Hermione…."

"What? What is it, Ron?" she asked, worried by the strange look he wore.

"We don't need to ask about destroying the cup. We already know how!"

"How?" she asked, taken aback that Ron might have figured something out before she had.

"Basilisk fangs. They're here – in the castle. In the Chamber of Secrets!"

"You're a bloody genius, Ron," she gasped, marveling at him.

"That's not something I think anyone has ever said before, least of all you, Hermione," Ginny said dryly, meeting them at the exit.

"When Harry gets back, tell him we went to the bathroom," Ron asked, patting her on the back.

"Okay?" Ginny stated, suspicion thick in the single word.

"Thanks," he muttered sheepishly, darting out into the hall before his sister could question him further or insist upon coming along.

The two of them moved swiftly through the castle, tracking Severus's progress as they moved to intercept him while avoiding everyone else along the way. Twice, they were forced to hide behind a tapestry as they waited for a Slytherin to walk past, and once they'd had to double back and take a rarely used staircase to avoid Peeves. Aside from that, the castle was silent as a tomb. Eerily so, considering what was likely to occur in the next few hours.

When they finally entered the hall Severus was striding down, he didn't even pause before demanding, "Gringotts?"

"We had to," Hermione insisted, coming to a stop less than a foot before him, his body heat penetrating the Muggle clothes she'd doned and the uniquely familiar scent of sandalwood drifting invitingly towards her.

His scent inspired memories of the few times they'd lounged in bed together to play out in her mind's eye, but Hermione hastily schooled her expression, shutting the memories down before they got a solid hold on her. It wasn't the time to indulge.

"He's on his way," Severus warned, concern pinching his brow and making his tone clipped and hard as granite.

"We know. Members of the Order and DA are arriving as we speak," Hermione replied, leaning forward unconsciously. This could very well be the last time she ever saw him.

"The students will need to be evacuated," he said, scanning the hall behind her as though hoping for inspiration on the safest way to do so.

"And you thought you weren't a good headmaster," she teased fondly, loving him all the more, simply because he was who he was – a man who detested children, yet still managed to put their safety first.

"I know I wasn't," he sighed, returning his focus to her. His hand came up to cup her cheek, but he stopped himself, having finally noticed Ron hovering nearby. And with that awareness, Severus stiffened visibly, letting his hand drop back to his side.

"I disagree," she said, defending him against his own criticisms, but he was too preoccupied to hear her.

With Severus's attention now centered on her friend, Ron awkwardly said, "Harry's trying to find the last Horcrux. It's here. Do you…."

Severus shook his head, momentarily dismissing Ron as he addressed Hermione once again. "Albus and I discussed it many times this year. We never came up with anything new."

"I was afraid you'd say that," Hermione groaned, though honestly, she wasn't all that surprised. It really had been too much to hope for. Besides, if he'd figured it out sooner, he'd have already told her.

"Hermione," Severus said, suddenly serious as he withdrew a murky phial from his dark robes, "see that Potter gets these."

She examined the glass. Dark silver whisps swirled inside, the contents so dense that they appeared more like liquid than the usual vapor.

"Memories? A lot of memories."

Severus had entrusted his memories to her. He'd always kept everything he was thinking and feeling close to the vest, only sharing when it was absolutely necessary. There'd been so many times she'd wished she was a Legilimens so that she could view his thoughts the way he viewed everybody else's, and now she likely held all of the answers to the questions she never dared to ask, or had tried and been denied the answers she sought. Except they weren't meant for her, so she'd never have the chance to see them.

"I thought he deserved a bit of context, though I find I can't bring myself to tell him directly," Severus admitted, pain causing his lips to thin and his eyes to drop.

It was all the confirmation she needed.

Her breath hitched as she grabbed the front of his robes, using him as an anchor to remain upright. She could feel her head shaking in denial, but it felt like it was happening to someone else.

Brokenly, she gasped, "Then he…Harry really is…."

"Yes," he admitted, covering her hands with his own and squeezing.

"Wait," Ron demanded, "Harry what? What am I missing?"

"Ron, think about it," Hermione said shakily, sucking in a jagged breath that sawed at her insides. "Harry is a Horcrux."

He staggered back, slumping against the wall as he processed the news, unable to verbalize another word, not even a protest.

"It's a burden I never wished for you to live with. I never wished this truth to hurt you, though I knew it was unavoidable. I'd at least hoped to spare you from being the one to tell Potter. Some truths should never have to be said," Severus intoned regretfully. Some shouldn't, yes. He was right about that. Unfortunately, this one was necessary. Harry, more than anyone understood that. He always had. "I should have known you'd figure everything out on your own. You were always too clever for your own good."

"Careful, Sev, you just came awfully close to calling me brilliant," Hermione tried half-heartedly to joke. It was a weak attempt, but he played along regardless.

"Never," he breathed, letting his forehead press against hers. All hesitation to touch her in front of Ron melting away. "You've a long way to go yet before I dare suggest any such thing."

A hiss suddenly escaped him, and Hermione felt him tense against her. "I'm being summoned. He's close. I'll buy you time to search the castle."

"What if you didn't go to him?"

"He'd come to the castle that much sooner. That's not an option. The students are still here and Potter needs time," he argued, slipping an arm around her back to pull her closer.

She wished with all her heart that she could tell him not to, to not blow his cover, but it was ultimately his decision, and she would respect it – even if it killed a part of her to do so. Probably it had been the same for Ron when he'd respected Lavender's decision to stay and fight. But mostly, it was because he was willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of others. A noble gesture such as that should not be undermined by selfishness.

This was it. There was no more time. No more next times. No more anything.

Some truths should never be said, but some should.

"Sev, I love you," she confessed. "I know you don't feel the same, and that's all right, but I had to tell you, because some truths should be acknowledged."

He kissed her, plunging his tongue into her mouth as he laid claim to her soul.

He tasted of regret and anguish, as poignant as a supernova destroying an entire galaxy. Never would another moment in time impact her so acutely.

In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the impending fight, not Ron's presence, nor Severus and Harry's inevitable deaths. Only the truth of what she and Severus meant to each other.

And while she might not be Lily, she was someone Severus undeniably cared for. And he was the man Hermione loved with every fiber of her being.

The sound of approaching feet interrupted their moment and reality descended, flooding back in a tidal wave that effectively dosed their inappropriately timed ardor.

"Hermione, I –"

McGonagall's voice rang out from around the corner, and from the sound of it, she was approaching quickly.

Not wanting him to feel obligated to say something he didn't mean, or hear the truth, Hermione said, "Go. Do what you need to do."

It was better to believe there may have eventually been a possibility, that they might have one day been happy together, than to know for certain that it would never be.

Besides, this way she also didn't have to hear him say goodbye. She wasn't sure she'd be any use to anyone if she had to listen to him say his final farewell to her in so many words.

"Keep a clear head tonight," Severus said thickly, crushing her to him and stealing one last fleeting kiss.

"Kill the snake if you get the chance," Ron said quickly, gathering himself with visible effort.

"Keep her safe, Weasley," Severus ordered.

"Right," he muttered, grabbing her arm and tugging, urging her to take off with him down the hall towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom – away from Severus.

Away from her husband.

Flitwick raced past them, heading towards the headmaster without even seeming to notice that there were two students he hadn't seen all year suddenly in the castle. Hermione turned back just in time to see Severus jump out the window as McGonagall and Flitwick each fired spells at him, the two converging in the recently vacated corridor.

Ron pulled her along behind him, not allowing her to crumble or give in to the despair waiting to drown her. It wasn't long before her muscles began protesting, aching and throbbing from the mad trek they made through the castle.

"Well that's a relief," Ron announced, sighing as he looked around the familiar bathroom they'd barged into. "Last thing we needed was Moaning Myrtle poking her spotty nose in or distracting us with her wailing."

Hermione waited, but when Ron just stood there, she said, "She might have been some help in terms of getting in though. I'm not sure which sink the entrance is."

"Not necessary. It's there," he said, pointing to the one with tiny snakes etched on the copper taps. Of course. That one had never worked.

"Yes, all right, but how are we supposed to get in, Ron?"

"I've seen Harry –" he broke off, staring at her in horror as he recalled what he'd just learned.

"I know. Believe me, I know," Hermione murmured, pressure building behind her eyes until the room blurred as she tried to see through her sudden sheen of tears.

"When did you put it all together? How long have you known?"

"Not long. At the Hog's Head, just tonight, actually," Hermione admitted, rubbing her eyes. As Ron came into focus again, she saw that his entire face had turned a mottled red as he fought back his own tears.

"Right," he said thickly, clearing his throat. "We've got a job to do. Harry talks in his sleep, and I watched him open the locket."

"Give it a go then," Hermione encouraged.

"Nalasalee," he hissed. It was a strange sound and gooseflesh broke out when she heard the awful noises coming from him as he formed the foreign word.

But nothing happened. The sink remained firmly in place. The entrance remained hidden, just out of reach behind a sink of all things.

"Try again," she urged when Ron frowned at her.

"Nalastayee," he hissed again. This time she shivered and ended up crossing her arms protectively.

Still nothing happened.

"I'm no good at this, Hermione. Maybe we'll need to wait for Harry after all," Ron said with a defeated sign.

"We're already here and this is a good plan. Let's try a few more times - I'm sure you'll get it," Hermione insisted encouragingly. He looked hopeful, and after a beat, he nodded.

"Yeah, all right. Let me think… Nalasstale. Hmm. No, I think…Nalastalye," he hissed again, eyes closed while drawing each part of the word out. Almost at once the faucet and basin began moving, sinking out of sight to give way to a dark, cavernous opening.

"It worked," she breathed, amazed he'd actually managed to do it.

Ron looked equally startled, but waved his hand for her to proceed him, "Ladies first?"

"Such a gentleman," Hermione said sarcastically, glancing into the ominous abyss. "You said it's down. And didn't Fawkes help get you out last time? How are we supposed to get back up without him?"

"We'll fly, of course!" he said, and darted over to open the door. "Accio brooms!" he cried.

"Of course," Hermione groaned, assuming he was summoning a broom from the storage shed near the Quidditch pitch. Hopefully no one noticed the broom headed their way with everything else going on.

After the dragon, she'd hoped to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground for a good long while. So much for that.

Once Ron had the "borrowed" broom in hand, she forced her legs into the opening. There was nothing left alive down here that could hurt her. She repeated that again and again, gritting her teeth and forcing herself over the edge to begin sliding the entire way down the slick, twisting pipe.

It was like the slides she'd riden at the Muggle water parks her parents had taken her to when she was younger, only much, much longer. And instead of ending with a splash into a waiting pool, Hermione tumbled out on the ground and went rolling through things she was extremely grateful she couldn't see in the total darkness. Particularly when she felt something give way with a sickening crunch beneath her, and when her hand touched something lumpy and slimy in the process of standing up.

"Lumos," she said immediately, then reluctantly turned to survey her surroundings and search for the way into the Chamber. Disturbing animal bones were scattered everywhere. An unknown graveyard beneath the school.

The sight of the pile of rubble gave her pause. Ron and Harry were lucky they hadn't been buried alive when Lockhart's spell backfired.

She'd already started picking her way up the pile to the gap at the top when Ron landed with a hard thump. "You two were lucky to survive - Ginny too," she muttered, voicing her thoughts to him.

"Hard to imagine we were only twelve when this happened," he said.

"Seems like a lifetime ago."

"It was."

The tunnel was long. Much more so than Hermione expected. It gave her far too long to dread what was waiting for her. Not to mention time for the dampness to seep into her, permeating all the way down to her bones and leaving her aching with cold.

Each time she heard a bone crunch or felt a drop of water land unexpectedly on her head or shoulder she jumped. This place was terrifying and awful, and they weren't even to the actual Chamber of Secrets yet.

"I can't believe Slytherin actually wanted this as his lair," Ron whispered. "The bloke must have been positively mental."

"Inbreeding," Hermione announced by way of explanation, and felt her lips twitch when Ron released a rather loud snort of amusement.

They were so far below the castle and the darkness was so thick and oppressive that she was beginning to feel claustrophobic. Breathing was getting harder and Hermione had to force herself to keep them slow and even lest she hyperventilate. Part of her was secretly relieved that she'd been stuck safe in the hospital wing when Harry had come down this way to rescue Ginny.

The smell hit her before she saw the carcass of the deceased basilisk. It had to be close to thirty feet long, though it was hard to judge for certain in the dim light.

She'd been spot on before with her thoughts of this being a graveyard. The sealed Chamber had become a coffin for Slytherin's monster. But the dampness and isolation had allowed for some of the castle's less pleasant residents to turn it into a buffet. The remains were half rotted away and in the faint light she saw bugs and rats scuttling over it.

Hermione had to swallow back bile. Ron looked green when she glanced at him, though that could have just been the way the dim light was reflecting off the damp, stone surfaces down here.

Stone pillars and carved snakes were all throughout the cavernous space. She felt a shutter wrack her when she caught sight of the enormous stone statue of Salazar Slytherin at one end of the room. His judgemental expression, the original source of prejudice at Hogwarts and Voldemort's ancestor, chilled her to the marrow.

Ron, however, was staring, transfixed at the snake. A look of fury and hatred crossed his features, and Hermione reached a hand out to him instinctively. This was the beast that had almost eaten his sister. she'd nearly forgotten that only Harry had faced it the first time around so he was only now getting to see it for himself.

Hermione had seen a glimpse of it in a mirror during second year, and had ended up petrified for it, but she still remembered every detail that she'd seen of poison green scales and bulging yellow eyes.

The snake's remains were so far removed now from the beast she'd seen then that it was difficult to imagine that they were one in the same.

Not wanting to stay down here for longer than necessary, Hermione tentatively approached the snake's head. It was hard to tell where Fawkes had clawed its eyes out considering how little preserved flesh remained, but the bits of cleaned skull peeking out guided her. Behind her, she could hear Ron following.

"Don't touch it!" Hermione cried when Ron reached past her to pull a knife-sharp fang from the roof of the basilisk's mouth. Ron jerked his hand back at once, and shot her a confused look. "The venom," she explained. Hermione didn't know how dangerous touching the tooth itself was, but it was better not to take chances.

"Oh. Right!" Ron said when comprehension dawned.

Carefully, they used magic to break a few free, then she wrapped the ends in scraps of cloth Ron conjured and ripped into pieces for her to use.

"You should do it," Ron said suddenly, handing her a fang once they'd finished securing six of them - two for each of them and Harry, just in case.

"Do what?"

"Destroy the cup. You've got it in your purse, yeah? You should be the one to destroy it," he insisted.

"But Harry… "

"He and I have each done one. Seems only right that this time it should be your turn," he explained.

"All right," Hermione agreed, strangely eager to do it.

"It'll fight back," he warned.

"Is that what you meant when you asked me to train you? When you said it was like your mum's boggart," Hermione prompted.

"Yes. Brace yourself. It'll show you stuff. Bad stuff. Worst nightmare stuff. Things that make you doubt and hesitate," he said with a shrug, looking extremely uncomfortable.

Hermione paused in the process of pulling the purse from her sock. Ron looked like he wanted to say more, so she waited, letting him gather his courage.

"Do you think you'll see Harry…you know…d-dead?" he finally asked, his entire frame shaking.

"I don't know," Hermione replied, dreading the possibility. "Maybe," she acknowledged, slightly grateful that he'd asked beforehand so she could mentally prepare herself for the possibility. Though really, how could anyone prepare for seeing their best mate dead?

Particularly when it was about to happen for real….

"I'm right here. You're not alone, so just remember that. Yeah?"

"Thanks, Ron," Hermione breathed, reaching blindly into the purse.

For the first time since using the expanded purse, she didn't have to search. Her hand brushed the cool, curved handles when nothing more than her fingertips had vanished into the depths. It was almost as though it was looking forward to tormenting her.

Other possibilities of what it might show her came to mind. Things she was dreading equally as much as Harry's impending death. Like Severus's. And Crabbe. Oh Merlin, what if it was Crabbe?

"Ron…. "

"You've got this, Hermione. If anyone can face their worst fears and come out on top, it's you," he encouraged, somehow conveniently forgetting that she'd failed that part of her exam in third year.

The only academic practical she'd ever done poorly on – Divination certainly didn't count. Too bad she'd developed worse fears since then. A failing grade seemed like child's play now.

Hermione sat the cup on the wet, stone ground before her. The chalice was so tiny. Insignificant almost. Yet it somehow seemed to suck what little light was in the room into the golden bowl. Almost as though it was hungry, aching to be filled.

"Best get on with it. Harry's probably starting to worry. I just wanted you to be prepared," Ron urged when she made no move to pick up one of the fangs.

That was all she needed to hear to prod her on. Yet the instant her fingers closed around the slightly rounded, yellowed tooth, a figure emerged. Startled, Hermione dropped the purse she was still holding in her other hand.

Of all the possible things she'd considered the cup showing her, it never crossed her mind to expect what she suddenly found herself facing.

Lily Evans.

The young woman, no older than herself, was impossibly stunning. Far more so than in any of the pictures Hermione had seen of the woman, but this was probably exactly how Severus saw her in his mind. Thick, glossy-smooth hair cascaded around her in shining curtains of dark scarlet. Emerald eyes, even darker and larger than Harry's, dominated her fair, porcelain face.

"You're nothing. Not even a placeholder. An unwanted burden – an order from his master. You could never compare to me, and he'd never want you to," she said, voice like the sweetest melody. It was all the more horrible for the pity Hermione detected underlying the words.

The ghostly image felt sorry for Hermione.

She was pathetic. Imagine, loving a man who would rather pine after a dead woman he'd never even been with, than the wife who loved him completely. She deserved Lily's pity.

"Don't listen to her," Ron interrupted, moving closer behind Hermione in welcome support, though she sensed his confusion. "You know it's a trick. Nothing she says is real or true," he added dryly.

"A trick? There's no need. You're so young – nothing more than a naive child. You lack the knowledge and experience to engage his mind, even if I didn't already possess his heart. Knowing that, what allure could you possibly hold for my Sev?" She emphasized the my and smiled when it made Hermione flinch. "He had to picture me in order to be with you. It was the only way."

Hermione's fingers slackened, loosening their clenched death grip on the poisoned fang. It nearly slipped from her sweaty hand altogether. Hermione stared, slack-jawed and horrified at the figure before her as she laid bare the deepest insecurities she had regarding Severus.

Had he really imagined he was with Lily whenever they were together? The idea gutted her. Absolutely destroyed her.

"You're not good enough…because you'll never be me. As he's said…you're not smart enough or clever enough – you can't even save your best mate." The honeyed words smothered Hermione, dripped into her nose and mouth until breathing became impossible. "In the end, they'll all die because of you. Proof that you are a failure. Their deaths are entirely on you. Yes, that is much worse than a failing grade."

A pained whimper escaped her, and Hermione felt Ron's hand grip her shoulder. "You're one of the smartest and bravest people I know, Hermione! Don't listen to it," Ron insisted. "Just stab the thing already, and we can get out of here!"

"He's wrong. He doesn't know how Dumbledore had to force Sev to be with you. He doesn't know how he begged for death rather than have to touch you. Your forced marriage ruined his memories of me. All these years he's been true to me, but he had to sacrifice his honor to save you, and now he's risking his life because of you," the shimmering vision of Lily insisted. The tinkling bells of her voice mixed with the words she uttered made Hermione long to cover her ears and block it all out.

It was too much. She already blamed herself for the position Severus was in. She didn't need to hear it from the perfect Lily as well.

A vice grip constricted around her chest, preventing her from inhaling fully. Oxygen deprivation was slowly setting in, leaving her lightheaded. Hermione felt unbelievably exposed. She was panicking, but her feet wouldn't move. She could do nothing except shake her head in denial of the apparition's accusations.

"She's wrong, Hermione. Trust me! You've got to stab the cup," Ron insisted, giving her a little nudge.

"Oh, but I'm not. Sev resents your presence in his life. He was so relieved this last year when he barely had to put up with you. He celebrated when he found a way to counter the spell so he'd never have to sleep with you again," she said knowingly, smug and almost laughing when a sob shook itself loose from Hermione's chest.

"No," Hermione denied, trying to convince herself that he felt something – anything – for her.

"You did nothing for him. You can't even save him – or Harry. They're both going to die. At least I saved my son. You let both of them down."

Anger and regret warred within Hermione. She squeezed the fang so tightly her fingers ached. The pain snapped her from her frozen stupor.

"My actions have made me worth loving, whereas you –" Lily started to say, but Hermione darted forward and stabbed the basin of the golden cup before she could belittle Hermione further.

The cup… screamed. There was no other way to describe it. Hermione watched, open mouthed as black tar leaked from it and smoke rose in twirling, twisting loops. Then it seemed to melt into a lumpy blob of misshapen gold.

"Snape was in love with Harry's mum?" Ron asked suddenly, the word stunned not truly capable of encompassing the revelation.

Hermione jumped, having almost forgotten he was there while she watched the cup… die?

"Not was. Is," Hermione said woodenly, busying herself with stuffing the remains of the cup back into her purse and gathering up several of the discarded basilisk fangs.

"No way. I just saw him with you, Hermione. If he's in love with anyone, it's you," Ron insisted, brow pinched in worry as he studied her.

"Ron, it's fine. I've made peace with it," Hermione said distractedly, striding purposefully back the way they'd come. There wasn't any more time to think about such things. She'd wasted enough letting the cup taunt her.

She'd only gone maybe ten steps before she realized Ron hadn't moved. Hermione stopped and spun, planting her hands on her hips irritably as she faced him. He was shaking his head at her.

"I don't think you get it. You're too close. He was a completely different person with you, and you've never been so confident and sure of yourself," Ron said softly. "I know I wasn't super supportive initially, but now…."

His successful reunion with Lavender was coloring his perspective. He wanted everyone to have the same happily ever after, regardless of the facts.

"None of that matters anymore. We have to destroy the remaining Horcruxes. Come on, Ron. Don't just stand there! I don't like it down here, and we don't have time for this. Let's go," she rambled quickly, adding, "we need to find Harry."

"You mean so we can give him Snape's memories, and tell him that he's one of the Horcruxes that we need to destroy?" Ron said raspily, the color slowly leaching from his face. "I find I'm not in a rush for the next bit."

"We have to," Hermione reminded him, hating that he had to go and remind her about Harry.

"I know. Right. You're right. Let's get on with it then," Ron said angrily, stomping past her and leading the way back out.

For once, Hermione found she didn't mind flying since it meant leaving the ghastly Chamber of Secrets behind – even if she was dreading what awaited her above nearly as much.