Chapter 48: The Duties Of Headmaster Snape
{A/N: Here's another update...sorry for any missed mistakes...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...
Morning brought with it an eerie sort of calm as Severus Snape climbed out of his rather large black four poster bed with it's black silk sheets and forest green comforter with a serpent emblem in the center. The scent of herbs from his various stashes of potions ingredients and fresh earth from being underneath the castle filled his nostrils. The air had been a bit cool, but he was use to it as he climbed out of bed. His bare feet had been use to the cold as he made his way much as he always did to the loo. Once finished he got dressed, this time taking care to adorn his attire in the muggle fashion rather than use magic.
Dumbledore had been sitting in the front room as Snape's bedroom door opened. He had not liked the plan that Severus had concocted and thought this to be a truly foolish and suicidal endeavor. Snape ignored him and continued any way. The older wizard could do little but express his sadness and concern for the younger wizard. For once Snape had not reacted with rage. He simply looked upon the former headmaster with weary obsidian eyes.
"This is an unnecessary risk, Severus." said Dumbledore. "He will kill you...make no mistake about that."
"I very rarely make mistakes." replied the dour wizard. "But unlike you Gryffindors, I have thought the matter out a great deal...he will likely kill me...of that I have no doubt, but it should be no great loss...I was always the expendable one in this war...do you not recall?"
Dumbledore's face was filled with shame once again.
"Severus." he said sadly. "There is no reason to..."
Snape held up his hand and cut the older wizard off.
"I unlike you Albus do not live my life based on illusions." he said. "I do not need to grand stand and smile pleasantly when I know what's ahead...I know who and what I am and I am perfectly alright with it...that is the difference between you and I."
"Let me help you." said Dumbledore trying to find a way to stop this.
Snape smirked.
"I made the mistake of trusting you before old man." said the dour wizard. "As I recall not only did you fail to live up to your end of the bargain, but I now stand Headmaster of a school I never wanted, responsible for the lives of people and children who never wanted anything to do with me...hated and scorned even by those who have learned to tolerate my miserable self over the years because the believe I murdered their precious leader...no this is something I must do on my own terms...at least then I can go to my just rewards knowing that it'll be done right."
Snape ventured over to his firewhiskey.
His long pale fingers clasped the elven crystal container that held the liquid. A gift from Lucius upon his twenty-first birthday. He let a small smile grace his normally emotionless pale face. In one quick swoop he uncorked the bottle and poured both himself and Albus Dumbledore a glass.
The older wizard took it happily as the misery of his past choices seemed to weigh him down. Snape knew that feeling. The overwhelming sense of regret.
"Now Albus, you remember what you promised me." said Snape no longer wearing that smile. "Should something happen to me you are to look after my wife and whatever children we have that make it to this world...whatever she needs you provide it until she is able to manage on her own."
Dumbledore took a sip from his glass.
"Severus..." he started.
"That is all I ask of you old man and given what you've done to both her and myself, it is the least you can do." said Snape.
He finished off his firewhiskey in one gulp and slammed down the empty glass. Amazingly, it was not enough force to shatter it.
"Good luck." said Dumbledore with a sigh.
"I don't need luck." said Snape annoyed. "I'm the Head of Slytherin House."
With that, he took his leave of the older wizard.
The Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts...
Snape stood gazing at all the portraits of the Headmaster's of the past. They had all supported him during his reign as Headmaster of Hogwarts as they had all been privy to the truth. They knew what Dumbledore had asked of him and they knew the old wizard had been hold up in Snape's quarters as a result of the Potions Master's Slytherin ingenuity.
A small knock had been at his door. Snape sat down at his desk and made himself look as intimidating as possible. The scowl already in place second nature by now.
"Enter." he said in his usual deep baritione drawl.
The door to his office opened and in walked a shaky Neville Longbottom, dreamy eyed Luna Lovegood, and a defiant Ginerva Weasley. With a wave of his hand Snape had locked and warded his door. He cast a silencing charm for good measure as he turned his attention to the three rebels that stood before him.
"You wanted to see us sir?" asked Luna with a dream-like expression on her face.
Snape looked into the faces of these three youths and found that he had admired them. It must have been quite difficult to be the friends of Harry Potter and still find a way to hold on to their individual beliefs. Neville had grown up without his parents due to the efforts of The LeStrange family, yet he attended Hogwarts and even participated in the various rebellious organizations headed by Potter.
Ginny's family was considered to be blood traitors and degraded at every turn for their poor lifestyle and association with Potter. Snape knew all to well how the poor were treated in the eyes of those with wealth and power, it was rare to find anyone who had not sacrificed their honor for a few minimal comforts among the rich. The Weasleys had been those rare people, it was easy to see why they supported the green eyed boy from the beginning.
Luna Lovegood had been such a bazaar case, regularly ostracized and scorned just for following her own path. Snape had more than a little experience with this from his youth, still heavily mocked for his appearance and blood status even among the death eaters he had to commend Luna for her independent efforts.
"It has come to my attention that your little rebellion club has some believe able merit." said Snape.
Neville immediately cringed noting the coldness in Snape's tone.
"H-How does he know about that?' he asked his co-conspirators.
"He's Professor Snape, Neville are you really that surprised?" asked Ginny with an arched eyebrow and annoyed tone mirroring that of the current headmaster.
Snape said nothing as he looked back n forth between the two.
"It may interest you to know Miss Weasley, that a certain mutual friend of ours shall be arriving shortly." he said in the same annoyed tone. "I suggest you have everything in order for when the time comes."
"We will Professor." said Ginny glaring at him.
"Good." said Snape. "You are dismissed."
Neville and Ginny took their leave of Snape pleased to get out of the office.
"You two seem to be happy now." said Luna in a dream-like tone.
Snape said nothing.
Luna smiled.
"Your son will be proud of you." she added before leaving. "Good luck Professor."
Snape watched the door close behind the young Ravenclaw witch. It never ceased to amaze him just how insightful she had been. At last allowing himself to take comfort in her words he turned back to the business at hand. It was almost time. Soon all the players would be in place. He took another glance at the clock. The end of his reign as Headmaster of Hogwarts was fast approaching.
Later...
Snape glared almost murderously into the obsidian eyes of his look-alike. he had been expecting him but it was to be thirty minutes earlier than he arrived. The Snape look alike smiled rather uncharacteristically. Snape rolled his eyes unsure if this was even a good idea.
"Took you long enough, Lucy." said Snape annoyed.
The Snape look alike narrowed his obsidian eyes at the Headmaster.
"Now now...Sevie don't get your knickers in a twist...I'm here am I not." he replied.
Snape rolled his eyes again.
"Better late than never I suppose...I was hoping to meet with her without alerting the entire fucking order to my plans." he said bitterly.
The polyjuiced form of Lucius Malfoy waved him off dismissively. A gesture that Snape always made look so effortless in his unusually graceful way.
"You know I've always wanted to be Headmaster of Hogwarts." he said reveling in his new found power.
"I'm sure becoming Governor of Hogwarts had it's merits." said Snape annoyed. "Do not draw any attention to yourself, there is enough risk in this plan as it is and I for one do not wish to draw unwanted attention to us."
"Duly noted." replied Lucius. "Now run along...tell little sister that I send my warmest regards."
Snape rolled his eyes and took off toward the meeting point. Lucius grinned wickedly as he made his way toward Snape's desk. He had never thought he'd be the one sitting in "The mighty oppressor's" chair.
"Well Albus, I wonder what you'd think of your lowly Slytherin's now...risking it all to save the retched hides of your own precious Gryffindors." The Senior Malfoy chuckled. "You're probably rolling over in your grave at the thought of me being in your office, sitting at your desk...and why not...I certainly would be in your place."
As Lucius continued to chuckle he had no idea that he was being watched by a set of saddened blue eyes from the one way mirror in the office.
The Edge of The Forbidden Forest...
It was risky meeting her like this in the middle of the forbidden forest but he had no other options. It was the only way to make sure that she was safe before the inevitable occurred. He was sure that one of the order members would be on to her connection with him by now. He'd put many a Galleon on it being Mad-Eye Moody. The miserable bloke had it in for him for years and Dumbledore's so called murder was more than enough justification for the crazed Auror's attention to be on him.
Snape took in the scent of pine and earth from the forest as Hermione made herself known to him. She had been disguised in a black sweat shirt and muggle baseball cap. He could still see her notoriously bushy locks peeking out from under the cap and hood combination. She looked at him with her familiar amber eyes as she took her own precautions to ensure she had not been followed.
"Severus." she said rushing over to him once all the precautions were taken.
The Potions Master did not object when the young witch threw herself into his ebony clad arm and pressed her tear stained pale cheek into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, enjoying the warmth of her touch. The scent of jasmine in her bushy hair even as her cap and hood covered it. It had been quite a few weeks since they saw each other last, the need to have everything in place as he worked toward this day took presidency even over seeing her.
"I missed you." said Hermione.
"I missed you as well." replied Snape in his usual cool demeanor.
The dour wizard noted the expression on his young wife's face.
"Something wrong Hermione?" he asked.
She simply clutched his robes and pressed her body as close to his as she could get.
"I-I don't want you getting hurt." she said sounding a bit childish in her way. "I just got you back and..."
Snape sighed and silenced the young witch with a kiss causing her to seemingly melt against him.
"Now is not the time for second guessing." said Snape. "You and I both know this needs to be done."
"But why does it always have to be you?" asked Hermione gripping him.
He could feel the wetness of her tears against his chest.
"I've asked myself that very same question time and time again." he replied.
"Did you ever come up with an answer?" asked Hermione as the tear continued to trickle down her cheeks.
Snape wiped them away and gave her a half smirk.
"Because I am the only one who can." he replied. "You know it as well as I, Mrs. Snape."
Hermione leaned against him once more.
"Is Potter ready?" asked The Potions Master.
"Yes." replied the bushy haired witch.
"All the members of the order on board as well?" asked Snape.
"Yes." replied Hermione.
"Good." he said. "All the players are set then."
"It would appear so." she replied.
She had not wanted to tell him how this whole thing made her feel a bit queasy. She attributed it to anxiety about the upcoming battles. Her husband was risking his life once again for the good of the Order of Phoenix but this time they were all out to end him.
"You don't look so well." said Snape examining her.
"I'm fine." said Hermione.
"Listen witch, you will do well to remember that most of my agreeing to do this is because of you." he said. "I can't have you contracting some illness and expiring before the fighting even gets started..."
Hermione placed a finger on his pale lips.
"I will be fine Severus." she said defiantly. "You're the one I'm worried about, when this war is over I still want my husband."
Snape flashed her a wicked smirk.
"I had no doubt that you would." he replied and kissed her once more. "Make sure you let Poppy have a look at you, I do not wish for you to take any unnecessary chances should it come to battle."
"Alright." said Hermione looking at the ground as if she were some scolded child.
"I mean it Hermione." said Snape with true concern behind his obsidian gaze. "If something were to happen to you..."
The young Gryffindor witch knew then that he must have been worried for her safety almost as much as she worried for his. This war had not been easy on either one of them.
"I promise to go see Madam Pomfrey as soon as possible." said Hermione. "I think it's only because of the upcoming battle but I'll humor you."
"Good." replied. Snape still with concern in his tone.
He gave her one last passionate kiss before pulling away.
"I must get back to Hogwarts." he said reluctant to let her leave his arms.
"Take care of yourself, ." she said teasing as she kissed him once more.
"You do the same, Mrs. Snape." he replied teasing her in return.
Before he could pull away from kissing the young witch's hand he found himself cornered by none other than Mad-Eye Moody. Quickly, Snape darted away from the young witch and made his escape into the trees. Moody gave chase as Hermione disappeared as well. Snape had lost Mad-Eye in a few shrubs but not before the enraged Auror sent a few nearly crippling spells at him.
Mad-Eye had not gotten a good look at Hermione but knew Snape was meeting someone on the edge of the forbidden forest. He wanted to take him out personally just to satisfy his need for revenge. It was even more infuriating when Snape managed to give him the slip no doubt heading back toward Hogwarts.
Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts...
Snape stumbled into his office, barely managing to conceal his badly wounded right arm. Lucius immediately went to his side. He pulled the younger wizard toward the desk and got out his wand. Utilizing a few minor healing spells the senior Malfoy ensured that Snape wouldn't bleed to death before his grand plans were put into action.
"I told you this meeting was a terrible idea." he said in a rather annoyed tone.
"She was worth it." replied Snape. "Besides, had I not gone to see my wife after all this time I would not have known that she seems quite ill."
"It's probably nothing." replied Lucius. "The chances of this plan of yours failing has got us all feeling a bit ill I imagine."
Snape sighed.
"Shut up and help me you sodding pessimist." he said annoyed himself.
"As you wish, you sodding cynical grouch." countered Lucius.
"Think that up while I was away?" asked Snape.
"Possibly, you did take a while." replied Lucius.
There was a brief moment of understanding between both wizards before Snape put the next phase of his plan into action.
"Did you call for all the students to be in the great hall?" he asked his long time friend.
"Of course little brother." replied Lucius with a smirk. "The stage is set...now go and put on your little play."
"Sod off Malfoy." said Snape.
With that Snape made his way toward the great hall and Lucius apparated back to Malfoy Manor. He had not liked the idea of leaving his little brother behind but they couldn't take the chance of his discovery. It was in Snape's hands now.
The Great Hall, Hogwarts...
Everywhere Snape looked there were terrified faces of countless students. The Slytherin held their composure as he had taught them long ago. He had given a speech to his house and braced them for the treatment they would endure in the coming days. He explained how it had not been their fault but when the dust was settled on this war, the house of Slytherin would gain the respect of the entire world. This helped ease their minds as they stood proudly as their Head of House addressed the school as a whole, amid terror and contempt.
"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you this evening." said Snape his deep baritone drawl vibrating off the barren walls.
He stood tall cloaked in his ebony frock coat with it's long cape and black trousers. His equally black dragonhide boots clicking against the cold stone with each step sending shivers down the spines of the various students in whom's innocent young hearts he inspired great fear.
"It has come to my attention that earlier this evening..." Snape continued. "Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade."
The Carrow twins had been poised on both sides of him like death eater shields poised and ready to make a move at his command. Snape noted how like dogs they stared and snarled at the students as if ready to tear them apart. Their positions so fortuitous that Snape couldn't have planned it better himself, no doubt Lucius' doing.
Whispers broke out among the masses.
Snape stared on his voice as icy as ever as he continued with his address.
"Now...should anyone student or staff...attempt to aid Mr. Potter...they will be punished...in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression..." he said in long slow tones. "Furthermore, any person who is found to have knowledge of these events...who fails to come forward...will be treated...as...equ-ally.. guilty..."
Snape continued to step rather swiftly between the four factions of students.
"Now then...if anyone here...has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's whereabouts this evening...I invite them to step forward..." he paused looking over the gathered masses as his obsidian eyes glinted momentarily in anticipation. "Now..."
There was a moment when all there had been was eerie silence, and solemn faces.
Then out of the Gryffindor crowd, stepped the very boy in which everyone had been discussing. Harry Potter stood draped in his usual Hogwarts uniform with the Gryffindor crest proudly displayed upon his young chest heaving in ragged breaths as the rage coursed through him. His green eyes glinted in absolute hate as he looked upon the cold and murderous Headmaster Severus Snape.
Potter stood in the center of the path staring down Snape unafraid and utterly defiant.
"It seems...despite your extensive defensive strategies..." he said his voice crackling as the fury gripped him. "You still have a bit of a security problem Headmaster."
Shocked gasps filled the room. Snape simply stared into the green eyes of Harry Potter unwavering in their defiance. As he spoke The Order of Phoenix came bursting into the room faces grim and eyes gleaming at the chance to avenge their fallen leader.
"I'm afraid it's quite extensive." said Harry nearly taunting Snape.
Snape continued to stare straight ahead at Potter, looking passed the overzealous boy into the amber eyes of his young wife. She had done it. She had convinced Potter and the Order to come to Hogwarts. He could see the dim light reflecting the tears that streamed down her supple cheeks.
{You did well love.} he said letting his voice enter her mind.
Harry Potter continued his rant entertaining the masses no doubt.
"How dare you stand where he stood." said Harry as the hurt and rage continued to build.
Snape noted the hurt and it confused him.
"Tell them how it happened that night." shouted Harry upset. "Tell them how you looked him in the eye...a man who trusted you...and killed him...tell them!"
Snape took one last look at Hermione. The hurt evident in her expression as Harry continued on. He drew his wand in a rather swift motion. This was it. This was the moment he had been preparing for.
As quick as he drew his wand Minerva McGonagall stepped in front of Harry. Her green eyes seeming to bare deep into the current Headmaster's broken soul as she swiftly drew her wand.
Snape hesitated for a moment. Only a moment as he steadied his hand. Her hatred had been the hardest to ignore. In the years since his becoming a Professor, Minerva had always been like a mother to him. For her to look upon him the way so many others had only seemed to make whatever pain he suppressed over the course of his short miserable life come to the surface.
The shocked gasps of the students who cleared the way echoed through the seemingly empty hall.
There was only silence for a few moments before Minerva summoned her fury and launched fire spell after fire spell at Snape. Her intent to kill him had been clear. He did not doubt that as he moved stunning them all with his impressive footwork. Slowly. Carefully. He engaged Minerva never once firing a spell back at her. All his efforts seemed to be in deflecting her on coming barrage of spells.
He had still be quite weak from his encounter with Moody, but he managed to conceal it just so. Minerva drove him back toward the large window overlooking the sea. The Carrows' hands on their wands itching to participate should the witch prove to be too much for Snape. With movements as graceful as the flow of water Snape continued to deflect stepping back toward the window as Minerva advanced.
Spell after spell fly by until Snape found himself upon the Carrow twins. Skillfully he deflected the two killing blows meant for him into both of the twins simultaneously killing them both with Minerva's fire spell. He deflected her latest attempts and caught the last glimpse of the old woman who he respected as a mother-figure.
He summoned his magic and apparated out of the school jumping out of the window without causing a single aspect of harm to her. She seemed to have read something, something in his eyes that betrayed his feelings for her as she stopped firing and called out to him as he flew over the crushing waves of the sea.
"SEVERUS!" she shouted.
The dour wizard took his leave of Hogwarts and made his way back to headquarters. The school would be in good hands with the old witch keeping watch like a furious mother hen. Hermione would be safe within the walls of the castle as well. He had done his part. Now everything was in Lucius' hands, as soon he would have to face the wrath of the dark lord.
Upon Snape's departure, cheering erupted and Minerva immediately ordered the Slytherin's to the dungeons. They shoveled off without a word of protest knowing full well what was to be expected of them. Snape had not been wrong when he informed them of the preferential treatment that would be bestowed upon the other houses. So it meant to them he would not be wrong about making the world respect Slytherin house.
As the cheers continued in the now Order run school Hermione had wanted to get as far away from the noise as possible. She found herself making her way toward the infirmary to see Madam Pomfrey. The nausea had intensified with her husband well on his way to receive a no doubt horrific punishment for letting The Order take control of the school. She hoped that he had the strength to survive this. He had not looked to be doing too well when Minerva initiated the duel.