17.

Hogwarts - Late October 1997

"Umbridge!" Hermione caught her fingers in her hair and fisted them. Her heart drummed and she stared at Severus, her face hot as panic teetered on the edge of her flesh. "Does…does he doubt you?"

For a moment, Severus closed his eyes and she could almost feel his focus falling into place. Silently, he shook his head and let out a long breath. "No. If anything I am…entrenched. His right hand." He huffed a sour breath. "Albus' plan."

Something shifted in her thoughts and she recognised Salazar's presence, but he was oddly quiet. What was it about Severus' words that affected him? Her mind leapt. The prophecy. The one that her ancestor was still reticent to share. Her belly clenched. Was…was Severus a part of it?

Everything was racing along with such speed that wringing the words out of Salazar hadn't pushed into her mind. There was far too much going on already with Harry's prophecy in play.

"When?"

Harry sat forward, his face tight. Yes, this move had just made all of their plans moot. There was no time to hunt out a way to remove the horcrux. Fuck.

"I've convinced him that she assume her….duties the first week after the half term."

Harry frowned. "That's…?" Yes, he was losing days as was she. "The school breaks up…this Thursday, doesn't it?"

"Two days." Hermione bit her lip. Just two days. Severus could not disappear into the Ministry. He was the only one protecting the children from the insanity of the Death Eaters in the school. And Umbridge, Umbridge was a monster.

"Miss Umbridge could appear at any point after that."

Harry buried the heels of his hands into his eye sockets. "The second after," he muttered.

Severus pulled out a chair and sank onto it. He winced, his gaze flicked to Harry before finding her again. "There's more. All prefects will be Slytherin. And Draco…Draco will form a part of the staff.

"The staff?"

Harry stared at Severus, his face flushed and a quick vein throbbing at his temple. It was more than the toad coming back. Drafting in Draco Malfoy sank him even further into the dark, would taint his magic and his soul as he was forced to mete out punishments…and he —she was more certain now— he was Harry's regret.

"He is…Marked. It's his honour. Others of my House will follow with a lesser bind—but still holding them to the Dark Lord. The Mark of Loyalty, he calls it. The mad man will swallow and condemn all of Slytherin." Severus' pale hands curled into bloodless fists against the table top. "This has to end. I will not see him consume children." He looked to her, but beyond her. "Salazar. We are at the end of your prophecy. The words of it must now be spoken."

A cough broke the silence and all attention jerked to the fireplace…and the portrait frame that'd stood black and empty since they'd moved into the secret rooms.

Salazar Slytherin.

Hermione had seen chocolate frog cards of the taciturn wizard, who'd swirl off in a twist of velvet robes and huff at being caught in something as childish as a sweet card. Was there any semblance to her in his stern, hawk-like features? A black skull cap was a close fit to his bald head. As unlikely as the thought was, had he once had a profusion of curls to mirror his daughter?

"We need more than we four before those words find the air again, Severus. There is one more."

Hermione frowned. "Who?"

"A woman I got to know rather…well when she was an apprentice in these halls."

Severus was frowning. This little gem of knowledge had obviously escaped even him. "Who is it, my Lord?"

Salazar's black eyes shone and that was a definite smirk curling his thin lips. "Minerva McGonagall."

Severus blinked as Harry spluttered a disbelieving "What?" and "How?" and a swing of his head to her and back to Salazar and a final "No, my brain is not going there!"

Hermione shook her head, not wanting to follow Harry down that path either. "There's hardly time to convince Professor McGonagall."

"Yes, she is a true reflection of her House."

And there was that glint in his eye again and Hermione was considering a self-oblivate. Who knew there was something worse than worrying about the arrival of the Toad-Umbridge?

"She is indeed," Severus murmured. There was a hint of warm pride in his voice. "She has been a very lion these past weeks. I would have preferred…" His shoulders lifted and fell. "But that was the part Albus —with his silence— wanted her to play. His portrait refuses to confirm the truth of my own loyalties."

And there was a thread of regret wrapped around his affection. Dumbledore had robbed yet more from this wizard. The trust —and valued friendship?— of Minerva McGonagall.

Salazar's features tightened in his frame and Hermione could feel the displeasure cutting through the locket. No, the ancient wizard did not approve of Albus Dumbledore's methods, at all.

"Wait…" Harry scrunched his fingers through his hair. "Umbridge is a Slytherin and…and aren't you like catnip to Slytherins, Hermione? Couldn't you…?" He waggled his free fingers. "Tempt her away?"

Oh, she could happily throttle her so-called friend as his words drove a fierce heat up over her face. She couldn't look at Severus. Was that what she was? No, he wanted her for herself, not for her heritage and magical bindings. And she would throttle Harry again for putting such…foul images in her brain. Thank you very much, Harry Potter.

"I am not tempting Umbridge. I might slap her and hex her and feed her to the acromantulas. Yes, that I would happily do. The other. Gods, no." She glared at her friend. "And she'd be just as interested in you, you know."

Harry gave a long shudder. "No…no. That's just… No. Ugh, Hermione. No."

"Does she have this Mark of Loyalty, Severus?" Salazar's portrait was a calm relief through the hideous images cutting through Hermione's brain.

"She does."

And Severus' smooth, dark voice was the true balm Hermione needed as she let out a tight breath.

Salazar wiped his hand over his mouth and chin. "I can break binds only on my Head of House. Only they are sworn to Hermione. Other Slytherins, yes, you will have some sway, my child. But those bound to the Pretender in any form? No, there is none."

"Bugger," Harry muttered under his breath and got a glare from Severus.

"You're right, Severus." Salazar paced in his frame. "The prophecy must be spoken." And the portrait looked to Severus and something passed between them. The Headmaster drew in a long breath, lifted his chin and nodded. He stood. "I'll return shortly."

"Wait! What?" Hermione snatched her fingers through her hair, fisting a wild knot of curls at the back of her head. "Salazar?"

"As always, the Headmaster will do…what must be done."

"That is not reassuring. What—?"

A wild shriek and a shock of magic burst out of the sitting room. Hermione lurched from her chair, Harry behind her, wands in hand. They skittered to a stop in the doorway to the sitting room. Severus stood before the hearth, his wand pointed to a bound —and seething— Professor McGonagall.

"You've finally decided to do away with me, have you, Severus Snape?" The Professor bit out the words, rocking against the bind of his spell, her face puce, her hair wild. "You foul excuse for a wizard. I'm glad I never trusted you. Never. Never liked you. How could I? You were a disgusting and deceitful child grown into a piss-poor man. Yes, I'll tell you that truth before my last breath!"

And Professor McGonagall spat at him, the spittle hitting Severus' left cheek.

Hermione gasped, the pain of the attack a fist in her chest. He'd just all but said how much he admired her. The pain of her words was there even through his hated glamour. There in the sudden blanking of his eyes and his stiff shoulders as he still held a firm wand on the bound witch.

Severus lifted his chin and wiped the spittle from his cheek. "As you say, madam."

Hermione's insides twisted. It was soft and quiet and Hermione's stomach dropped. The ache to rush to him burned through her. Damn Albus Dumbledore.

Severus drew in a breath. "And now you, Professor, will hear more truths." He looked to Hermione and then to Harry and tilted his head. He stepped back as they crossed the room to stand before him.

McGonagall blinked, looking from Harry to her and back to Harry, her eyes wide and her mouth falling open. "What…what is this?" She blinked. "Severus?"

Hermione felt the wizard stiffen behind her and she reached back a surreptitious hand to find his fingers and squeeze them. Yes, to lash those words only heartbeats before, then to expect him to fall into his old role? No, that was not happening. Not yet.

"Minerva…"

Salazar's voice cut through the silence. He'd stepped into the empty frame above the fireplace. There was an edge of…salaciousness to her name that pricked Hermione's skin.

"So nice to see you…fully dressed. For a change."

And the witch burned scarlet.

Moving to every other day or so, so I can work properly on my o-fic. I need the monies!