Chapter 22

Severus' POV

I opened my eyes to see the lake that I had spent many summers at near Spinner's End. I looked around. I hadn't been here in years, since before my 5th year at Hogwarts. I heard the water splash nearby and I reached into my sleeve to draw my wand, only to realize that I no longer had one in my possession.

I cautiously approached the source of the sound and watched as a young woman continued throw rocks in an attempt to make them skip. 'I know you're there Severus.' The woman said as she continued. 'Who are you?' I asked. 'You honestly don't remember the sound of my voice?' She said as she turned to face me.

I swear I felt my jaw drop to the floor. 'Lily.' I whispered. 'Severus, it's been so long.' She said as she hugged me. I stiffened for a moment before I returned the hug. I had half expected her to slap me instead of welcoming me like an old friend.

'Why are you being so nice to me?' I asked when she backed away from me and smiled. 'Almost 20 years gives one a lot of time to think about the past.' She said as she held out her hand for me to take. I took it and allowed her to lead me towards the tree we used to sit under when we were children.

I could always count on her to find me there when I was hiding from my drunken father and his tantrums. I sat down on the grass and waited for her to join me. As I waited for her to do something, I relived the day that she had defended me and I had called her a mudblood.

'Did you ever think about what happened if our 5th year had gone differently?' She asked as she turned to face the lake once more, a serene look on her face. 'I'd like to think that we would have remained friends.' I said as I watched her. 'I've never regretted my decisions until that year. I should have given you a chance to explain yourself and apologize. I shouldn't have permanently cut you out of my life.' She said.

'I shouldn't have called you a….well that word in the first place. If I hadn't….our lives might have turned out much differently.' I said as I stood. She shook her head. 'No, you'd already taken the mark by then or at least were getting ready to. Calling me a mudblood was just the final crack in the iceberg.' She said as she turned back to face me.

'I never meant to hurt you like that. The people who had taken me as their friend were there. I was being held to a certain standard. I am sorry Lily.' I said. I looked down at my feet. I felt ashamed even after all these years. 'It's in the past Severus. I forgave you long before Harry was born. I know that I loved James when I married him, but I love you too. I want you to stay here with me.' She said.

I smiled. But then I thought about Hermione. My last conscious memory was of her sobbing her eyes out as I lay dying in that wretched boathouse. I looked at Lily once again. I realized that I loved her, but not in the same way I had when we in school.

I thought back to that last day. Her green eyes had flashed with so much anger and hurt. I realized then that it had been a childhood crush. I only thought I loved her then because she was the only one who thought I mattered. Then I thought about Hermione and how I watched watched her grow up into the woman I had come to love with all my heart, what's left of it anyway.

I thought of Syria. My daughter. I was leaving her fatherless if I remained here with Lily. 'Hermione.' I whispered. 'Come again?' Lily said. I shook my head. 'You love her.' She said as more of a statement than a question. I closed my eyes and nodded. 'But you love me to.' She said as she put her hand on my face. 'I don't know anymore. I did when we were in school, but a lot has changed.' I said.

I heard a sharp intake of breath. 'Explain.' She said before turning from me. 'I loved you Lily Evans. I could be a bastard and say it was a childhood obsession. The truth is you were my best friend. The only girl who cared more about getting to know me than seeing me as an orphan with unwashed hair and clothes that were two sizes too small.' I said.

She turned back to me, tears shinning in her eyes. 'If you love her, go to her. Think of this as your second chance.' She said as she placed a kiss on my cheek. 'I'll always be here for you.' She said as she started to disappear.

'Lily?' I said as my eyesight started to go black. 'Take care of her.' She said as everything disappeared and I knew no more.

Hermione's POV

I stood next to Ron as the Death Eaters approached. 'Dad? Who is that? Who is that Hagrid is carrying?' Ginny said. Somehow, I already knew the answer but I refused to believe it. 'Harry Potter is dead!' Voldemort proclaimed.

'No!' Ginny said as she tried to run to Hagrid, to Harry. Mr. Weasley wrapped his arms around her waist and held her at bay. 'Silly girl.' Voldemort said as his followers cheered. I turned into Ron as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and put his face in my hair.

'We may be able to find a place for those of you who wish to join our ranks.' Voldemort said. 'Draco.' Lucius said quietly. I looked up at Draco and then back at Bella and Cissy. 'Draco, come.' Cissy said. I looked at him and shook my head.

'I must.' Draco's voice said in my head when I met his eyes. I watched as he crossed the courtyard and met Voldemort in the middle. 'Ah Draco.' Voldemort said and he hugged Draco. 'Why is he hugging me?' Draco thought. I stifled a giggle at his thought.

'Where is Hermione Granger?' Voldemort asked as he turned away from Draco. I looked at Draco, Cissy, Bella and finally Ron. 'This is it.' I thought as I moved away from Ron. I came forward. 'It is obvious that you knew I was here.' I said.

'But of course my little traitor, I knew you would not really leave your home to it's destruction without fighting for it.' He said as he stared me down. 'I suppose that the cat is out of the bag.' He said when I didn't say anything.

'What do you want me to say, my lord? I served you, yes. I slept with you, yes as much as it disgusts me to say so. I am marked as one of yours but I never was one of you. You may kill me, but know this. I was not the only one who strived within your ranks to bring you to your knees and with my dying breath I hope that you meet a horrible and painful end.' I said as I took my wand from my sleeve and prepared to duel for my life.

I looked at Voldemort as he started clapping slowly. 'A inspiring performance Hermione.' He said as he grinned. I shied away from him. He was planning something. 'I've already killed one traitor. I saw his memories before he took his final breath. I know that Elladora is not mine. I know that you slept with Severus and that like the whore you are, you got yourself pregnant by him. You are nothing more that a whore who used her talents to bring two men to their knees. But unlike Snape, I began to suspect your dishonesty.' He said as he rolled his wand through his fingers.

'Why drag it out Tom? You obviously felt something for me. And when you found out that I felt absolutely nothing for you and that I had screwed your most faithful male follower you decided that something must be done to make an example of me and now I'm afraid we are at an impasse.' I said still clutching my wand.

'Crucio!' A voice screamed. I fell to my knees screaming. I bowed my head and bit my lip in an attempt to quiet my screams. I breath deeply and stood as soon as the curse was broken. I looked up to see that Yaxley had been the one to cast the spell.

'She is mine to deal with Yaxley! Crucio!' Voldemort said. I almost smiled at his actions. He did feel something for me. It wasn't love, I knew that much. 'Miss Granger.' Professor McGonagall said as she came beside me. 'Step aside Minerva McGonagall.' Voldemort said as he pointed his wand at me, murderous intent in his eyes.

'If you think I will step aside while you kill the one person I've always thought of as a daughter, you have another thing coming Tom Riddle.' McGonagall said as she brandished her wand and prepared to duel to the death.

'So be it!' Voldemort said. 'Avada-' He started as Harry rolled out of Hagrid's arms and pointed his wand at Nagini and screamed 'Incendio!' and took off running towards the shelter of what was left of the castle. 'POTTER!' Voldemort screamed as the battle recommenced.

I ducked as curses flew left and right at me. 'Get out of here Hermione. It's not safe for you and you have your daughter to think about.' McGonagall said. 'Not without making sure he dies tonight.' I said over the sounds of the battle.

'It's not worth risking your life Miss Granger. As your headmistress, I'm ordering you to get out of here while you are still alive to do so.' She said. 'I'm afraid I can't do that Headmistress.' I said as I ran towards Ron. 'You remember what Harry said? Kill the snake.' He said.

I nodded as I took the basilisk fang from my beaded bag and held it in my hand. 'You draw it's attention and I'll kill it while it's trained on you.' He said. 'Don't miss.' I said. 'I don't plan to.' He said. Ron went to the top of the stairs while I hid behind a column as Nagini followed him.

I kneeled down, picked up several pieces of rock, and weighed them in my hands. I turned and chucked one at Nagini's head and watched as she turned on me. I backed up towards the nearest door. I gulped and took a breath to steady my nerves making sure to keep my eyes on her. 'Do it Ronald!' I screamed in my head.

Nagini turned at the last second and made to bite Ron's arm but he moved out of the way. I ran past her, took his arm, and pulled him away from the great snake. I kept Ron running. 'How are we going to kill that thing?' Ron yelled as we ran into the hall and he cast an incendio spell. I didn't answer as I was too busy watching Ginny duel Bella. I flung my wand forward as a Sectumsempra spell fell from Bella's lips. 'Protego!' I screamed in my head, intending to protect Ginny from it.

I watched as Molly got up on the table and pointed her wand at Bella. I'd seen my tiger give her prey the same look. 'Not my daughter, you bitch!' Molly said as they started to duel. I broke away from Ron and ran headlong towards the dueling witches. I cast a protego charm as I threw myself in front of Bella as Molly cast the killing curse. I put all my magic behind the spell just to protect the both of us as I pulled Bella to the floor.

'Molly! No!' I said as she raised her wand again. 'Bella is doing what she must to protect her cover. She's been keeping me and my daughter safe.' I said as I held up my wand in show that I wasn't going to turn on her. 'She was going to kill Ginny, Hermione. She was going to kill your best friend.' Molly said.

'She was not throwing a killing curse at Ginny. I watched. She would have injured her yes, but never killed her.' I said. I looked back at Bella who merely smirked at me. 'I can't allow her to leave this place alive.' Molly said still pointing her wand at Bella's heart.

'You can and you will Molly. She saved my life on more that one occasion. Please. Spare her life.' I said begging quietly. 'Go Bellatrix. But if you put one toe out of line or threaten my family again, I will make sure you that you meet your end by my wand.' Molly said vehemently.

'Find Cissy and Lucius.' I said to Bella as she disappeared in a poof of gray smoke. 'Don't make me regret sparing her life Hermione. When this is over, you and I are going to talk.' Molly said before disappearing in a poof of white smoke. I smiled. Leave it to Molly Weasley to make you feel like you are 11 years old again.

I turned as a white light flew over my head. I faced Antonin Dolohov and Amycus Carrow. 'Brilliant.' I said sarcastically. I drew my wand and deflected the oncoming curse. 'Expelliarmus.' I screamed. They deflected it and returned with a cruciatus and sectumsempra. 'I swear if I ever see Severus again, I'll kill him for creating that spell.' I thought as I threw a reducto spell at them.

'Bombarda maxima!' I screamed, as they each threw a stunner at me. 'You think that you can openly defy our lord and get away with it? You think you deserve to live after betraying him?' Amycus yelled. 'Oh go preach to somebody else about your lord! He never has, nor will he ever be mine!' I yelled. 'Incarcerous!' A new voice screamed. I turned to see Ginny standing beside me.

'This isn't your fight blood traitor!' Amycus screamed. 'No, but she is my sister. That makes it my fight, you evil git!' She said as she blocked a cruciatus curse and countered with Confringo. I took a deep breath. If I didn't do something soon, Ginny was going to get seriously hurt or killed.

I did the only thing I could think of. I gathered up every emotion I felt and threw it behind the spell I was about to cast. 'Avada Kedavra!' I screamed as I pointed my wand at Antonin. His face dropped as the light left his eyes. 'Pertificus Totalus!' Ginny said.

I didn't look at Antonin's corpse. 'You had to do it. He was going to kill you.' I told myself. I didn't look at Ginny. I continued to deflect and return various curses and spells. All at once the battle stopped. I looked at Ginny then at Ron who had been fighting on the other side of the hall.

'Harry.' Ginny and I said at the same time. She and I ran to the entrance to the hall just in time to see the killing curse rebound off of Harry and hit Voldemort directly in the chest. 'It's over.' Ginny said quietly. I nodded. She ran to Harry who caught her mid-leap and kissed her soundly. Ron went over to his family who was gathered over an unconscious twin, although which one I did not know. It appeared that he was still breathing, so I didn't worry that another person would die for the war efforts.

I turned to take in the remains of Hogwarts Castle. It would take time to rebuild; we knew that going into this war. I watched as people searched for loved ones. The remaining Aurors went to round up the death eaters who had not been killed in the battle. Several were already bound and set to be port-keyed to Azkaban where they would await trial. I watched as Kingsley and a few other Aurors arrested Lucius, Cissy, Bella and Draco.

'No!' I said as I approached Kingsley. 'Hermione, three of the four of them are marked as Death Eaters.' He said. 'Then you should arrest me too. I am marked as a Mistress of the Dark Lord.' I said holding my hands out. 'You redeemed yourself by helping Harry defeat the Dark Lord.' He said. 'I would not have been able to if not for Lucius Malfoy, his wife and son and his sister in law. I would have been dead within the first week. I will provide memories if it will keep them from Azkaban.' I said.

'A simple act does not absolve someone of a lifetime of wickedness. Bellatrix Lestrange tortured Neville's parents to insanity. Draco attempted to kill Albus. Lucius tried to kill Ginny. I can't in good conscious let them remain free.' He said.

'They kept me alive to help Harry. They protected me when the Order couldn't. They made sure I delivered my daughter safely. They passed along information that I was not privy to as a mistress. They deflected. They came to the side of the light. If they didn't, they would not be able to produce a patronus charm.' I said.

I nodded to Draco who raised his wand. 'Expecto Patronum.' He said. A silver ferret appeared from the end of his wand. 'It's fitting don't you think?' I asked him. 'Oh shut up Hermione.' He said with a smile. Narcissa stepped forward and produced a silver swan that waddled elegantly around her legs. Lucius was able to produce a silver panther after two tries and breathed a sigh of relief.

I looked to Bella. She looked serenely at me even though I knew she was nervous. 'Expecto Patronum.' She said quietly and gasped in amazement when a silver fox shot forth from her wand. 'I haven't produced the patronus in years.' She said. I looked expectantly at Kingsley. 'Provide the proper memories and I'll be sure they get a fair trial.' He said. I smiled and nodded. 'Thank you Hermione.' Cissy said hugging me. 'It's the least I could have done since you protected me for the better part of 2 years.' I said as I hugged Bella next. Bella nodded and then turned to her sister and gave her a hug.

I left them to reconnect as a family and walked through the hall. Almost 8 years ago I'd walked through this hall as a first year. Now I walked through it as a war survivor. I walked until I couldn't anymore and when I finally looked up, I saw that I was standing in what remained of the Headmaster's office.

'My, my Miss Granger.' A voice said. I turned to see Albus Dumbledore smiling at me. 'You.' I growled. 'I realize you have a lot to say to me.' He said. 'You are bloody right I do! You used me. You used him. And we let you! All that I was told to, no scratch that, ordered to do was supposed to be for our side. Instead I was forced to seduce an utterly repulsive man, become a mother at 18, and lose the only man that I ever truly loved! What you asked of me was suicide and you knew it! Just like you knew that Severus would not survive this war!' I said with my hands on my hips.

'We came to an understanding Miss Granger. I would not knowingly put Minerva McGonagall's favorite student in danger without some protection.' He said with a twinkle in his eye. 'You knew that I would be spying in the middle of Voldemort's camp. You even knew I would be tasked with seducing him. The only thing that you didn't factor in was me falling in love with your Potions Master.' I said.

'What do you wish me to say Miss Granger? That I should not have allowed you to become a spy for the Order? I pleaded with you to remain at Hogwarts with Harry and Mr. Weasley.' He asked with his hands folded on his lap. 'I expect no apology from you. I know you hold no regrets for what has happened to me and to the Order but know this you owe me Albus Dumbledore. Bring him back.' I said. 'I'm afraid I can't do that Miss Granger.' He said. 'I don't believe you heard me Professor. I said BRING. HIM. BACK.' I said close to tears. 'I am afraid Miss Granger, that it is entirely out of my hands. If I could bring him back, I would do so for you and the sake of your daughter.' He said.

I let out a frustrated sound. I put my head in my hands and sobbed. Dumbledore was mercifully silent. I cursed the old man. 'Fine. I'll take care of this myself.' I said when I had collected myself and wiped away the tears. 'Miss Granger?' Dumbledore said. I didn't bother answering him. I was done being a puppet for his whims. It was time for me to take my destiny in my own hands.

I spun on my heel and marched out of the office, heading for the dungeons and began the trek down to the dungeons with only one thing on my mind.