It's What's Inside That Counts

Chapter 26

The Auror team sent to Hogwarts streamed through the floo leading into the Great Hall. They were met by Minerva, Remus and various other ranking Order members.

"Thank goodness you got here so quickly," she said, sparing a glance at some former students. "They're attempting to breach the main gate."

Auror Miller consulted with some other Aurors. Some were posted at the Great Hall floo in case any Death Eaters tried to get in that way. They had no choice but to leave it open; more help would be on the way through the floo. Minerva didn't dare disable the Apparition Ward on the grounds; otherwise, Voldemort would have been on the grounds already. All other Hogwarts floos were disconnected from the network, so entry through any of them would be impossible.

"We've doubled the charms and wards on all the windows, just in case," Minerva said. She avoided saying in case they get to the castle; people were frightened enough.

"The Head Students have accompanied the younger students to the lower dungeons for their safety," Minerva said. "The seventh years have stayed on a volunteer basis."

"Good, we'll need their help at the rear entrance to the castle," Auror Ballantine said.

So the Auror group was divided again; some at posts throughout the school, some with the staff and students at the rear of the school, which left the remainder to meet the Death Eaters trying to breach the front gates.

"Okay, look sharp, stay alert and remember the sticking charms on your wands," Miller said. "Let's go."

The group jogged out the main doors in time to see two trolls finally breach the main gate. Death Eaters streamed in around them. The stupid trolls just stood there; their only instructions were to "knock down the gate" but were told nothing after that, so they just stood there. Hermione felt like laughing at the sight until she ducked away from a curse. Suddenly the trolls were the last thing on her mind.

An hour into the battle, a group of Death Eaters broke through a point in the Auror ranks and headed for the castle. Hermione's group chased close behind. Someone had gained control of the trolls and ordered them to attack. Hit Wizards arrived on the scene to take care of the trolls, Ron among them. Hermione slowed and looked one more time for Ron, fighting the troll with his group.

"Come on, he's doing fine," Harry urged beside her and gently tugged on her arm. "He has his job, we have ours-look out!" he shouted and pushed her aside as a green flash of light passed between them.

"There's close-" she said.

"-and there's too close," Harry finished. "Come on, the castle needs us."

Inside Hogwarts, the defenders could feel the spells of the Death Eaters attempting to breach the doors. Minerva directed everyone nearby to pile anything they could find- chairs, benches, bookshelves, suits of armor- in front of the doors to impede their progress if they got in. The doors grew quiet for a few seconds then shook loudly as something pounded on the large doors repeatedly. The thirty or so castle defenders lined up, wands at the ready to take on whatever was trying to get through the doors. Although Hermione's leg was on fire from a slicing hex, she ran faster when she saw a troll trying to break in the doors of Hogwarts. A group of Hit Wizards on brooms flew overhead, firing on the troll from the air as the Aurors attacked the Death Eaters. Just when the Death Eaters resigned themselves to being trapped, the troll angrily beat and pushed on the large doors just enough for a body to squeeze through.

Inside, Minerva and Severus saw the door creak open and a Death Eater rush in only to stumble over the debris piled at the door, falling on a sword belonging to a suit of armor. The next in line wouldn't make the same mistake and repeated "REDUCTO" spells were heard as the debris flew away from the door. Severus didn't wait and killed the next one that came through the door. There was an anguished roar from the troll and the earth shook when it collapsed to the ground. More Death Eaters ran into the castle, Aurors following close behind. Severus saw Hermione, her leg covered in blood as she bravely dueled Death Eaters. She faltered when her leg gave out, but an Auror helped her up and she leaned on a pillar and continued to fight.

How much time has passed? She had no idea. Why does the most terrifying time of your life have to last forever? She was exhausted and hurt but she knew she had to keep going. She saw dead and wounded Aurors, fellow trainees and Death Eaters lying about the corridor. There were lulls in the battle when opposing forces stopped to regroup and adjust strategy. Harry was a sight to behold. He was in a dueling rage, the air around him crackling with magic as he dueled Death Eater after Death Eater. This was personal to him; they had taken away so much and he wanted to make sure they never took away anything again. She was by Harry's side when two Death Eaters attacked him at once. His shield charms were holding and Hermione had an idea. Two wands were better than one she supposed, so she summoned a wand from the hand of a dead Auror and pressed it into Harry's free hand. He winked at her and his killing curse met the killing curses of the two Death Eaters mid-air. Hermione watched in wonder as he held off the killing curses with both wands, hands shaking and the muscles of is neck straining as he tried to hold off death. The Death Eaters were tiring too, but it would only be a short matter of time before the two would overwhelm the one. Severus saw the scene and knew Hermione would do anything, including giving her own life to help Harry. He rushed to them, hoping to make it in time.

She never thought she would ever cast the killing curse. The thought of her best friend dying at the hands of the two and the thoughts of all the others who had been wounded and died sent her into a rage.
"AVADA KEDAVRA!" she screamed and sent the deadly bolt of green light to the Death Eater nearest Harry.

What happened next was something that Hermione would have never discovered in all her dueling, reading and research. When her curse struck the Death Eater, the killing curse he cast seconds before his death flew wildly to the left, connecting to her wand! Her vinewood wand became flaming hot, causing her to drop it in alarm. An odd feeling of numbness started at her fingertips and worked its way up her hand. Her entire body felt weak and she fell to her knees. She wasn't frightened, but curious at the sensation she was feeling.

How odd! she thought and looked at her hand curiously. Is this what dying feels like?

"NOO!" Severus bellowed when he saw her fall to her knees.

She faintly heard Harry calling her name, someone shout "No!" and collapsed to the floor, fighting to stay awake but moments later everything faded to black. Severus skidded to a stop on his knees beside her. He stopped the bleeding from her leg and cradled her in his arms and gazed into her face, willing her to open her eyes. She was pale and her body was growing cold. She was dying and they both knew it.

"It's all right, I'm not afraid," she whispered.

This couldn't be borne! A world without her in it? He shook his head in disbelief.

"No sweet, it's not all right! Don't you go, you hear me!" he choked fiercely and drew her close.

He was aware of nothing except the witch in his arms, desperately willing her to cling to life, cursing his own helplessness. There was nothing to be done against the killing curse. The curse striking her wand only delayed her death for a few minutes.

"I love you sweet, I've never left you," he whispered and caressed her face gently.

"Sev-" she whispered and fell limp.

He laid his hand on her chest and gasped when he felt no heartbeat. Severus was not aware of the crowd of saddened onlookers as he cradled the witch in his arms, not aware that Voldemort had just perished at Harry's wand. Remus had to bodily support Harry up at the sight of Hermione.

"Matthew, she's gone," Minerva cried.

Severus heard none of it and started chanting "MEUS ANIMUS PRO VESTRI" over and over again.

"My soul for yours?" Minerva questioned then her eyes went wide. "No Matthew!" she shouted and rushed to him. Severus was invoking ancient magic, magic that would exchange his soul for hers. Severus collapsed against the pillar, still clutching her in his arms.

Hermione wasn't sure where she was. Is this a room or am I outside? It was a large open area with no horizon that she could see. To her extreme left, she was drawn to a bright light and took a step toward it.

"No," a voice said softly from behind. She turned around and there stood Severus.

"Did you die too?" she asked. I die and this is who I see? God has a sense of humor.

"Not exactly," he replied.

"That's just the kind of answer I would expect from you," Hermione said. "Now if you will excuse me, I'm sure my parents are waiting."

"NO! DON'T GO!" he shouted.

Hermione turned around to find Severus chanting "MEUS ANIMUS PRO VESTRI!!" over and over.

Why is he chanting "My soul for yours?" she wondered.

"Severus...why are you-" she said then stopped. "No Severus! You don't need to do this!"

He stopped when she stood before him. "I love you Hermione, more than my own life. If a soul is required, let it be mine in your stead."

"You would do that for me?" she whispered.

"I would do anything- anything you ask of me. My heart, my life, my very soul starts and ends with you," he said.

"Fine thing for you to say now," she said. "While we're both here in limbo, if that's what this is," she said looking around.

"It's not too late, you haven't reached the light yet," he pleaded. "Please, don't deprive the world of you. Too many people love you, too many need you."

"Do these people include you?" she asked.

"No one more than me," he replied. "Don't go-please," he pleaded.

Well, if this isn't a sight! Severus Snape begging! she thought.

In the Hogwarts Infirmary, Poppy shrieked when Matthew gasped and rolled off the bed. He scrambled to his feet and frantically looked around the Infirmary until he found Hermione.

"Is she...?" he asked.

"I don't know how she's still alive," Poppy said. "Her pulse and brain activity barely register. She's in a coma."

He stumbled to her bedside, gazing at her pale face and closed eyes that he hoped would open again one day. His eyes traveled the length her body, coming to stop at her right arm. His breath hitched when he saw that her right hand was missing. Thick bandages covered the stump and a containment spell kept the chance of infection away.

"What happened to her hand?" he choked.

"The curse...we had to take the hand to stop the spread," Poppy said. "St. Mungo's is preparing a space for her in the long term convalescence ward."

Severus knew about that ward- it held the Longbottoms. Poppy looked at Matthew carefully. She had no idea that he was so attached to a girl he barely knew.

"If she were conscious, I'm sure she would appreciate your obvious concern for her well being," Poppy said carefully.

"If you only knew," he said. "If you will excuse me, I must speak with Minerva."

"What? I need to examine you," Poppy said. "You were practically dead when they brought you in here! I need to ascertain that you are well!"

"Madame, am I not breathing? Standing? Talking? I assure you, aside from a headache, I am right as rain," he said.

"Very well, at least take this," she said and gave him a pain potion.

"Thank you, now if you will excuse me," he said and swept from the room. He reminded her so much of Severus.

Minutes later, he knocked on the Headmistress' door. "Enter" was heard and he walked in. Minerva was consulting with some house elves and Ministry officials about repairing the damage to the castle. Albus offered his input as well, from his portrait. Minerva waved him forward.

"I have something important to talk to you about," he said.

"Well then, what is it?" she asked.

"I wish the conversation to be a private one," he said.

Minerva sighed. "Very well. It had better be important Matthew, I have a school to get up and running again."

Severus took a seat and sighed. "I suppose I can start off by saying that you are no longer required to call me Matthew Tillman or address me as an Auror."

"That's your name and occupation isn't it?" she asked. "What a curious thing to say."

Albus' portrait chuckled and muttered "Oh dear."

Ten minutes later, the shrieking of Minerva was heard. She had a hard time expressing a clear, coherent sentence. She cursed in Scotch then started in on him in earnest. Albus quickly left the portrait when she started waving her wand around to accentuate her ranting.

"SEVERUS SNAPE! ALL THIS TIME...HOW COULD YOU...DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA...WHY???" she demanded. "I should box your ears, Severus Snape-wait-I should do worse than that! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I've been a fool," he replied.

"At least you acknowledge that! You broke that sweet girl's heart, do you know that?" she exclaimed.

"To my immeasurable shame, I know. I'm not expecting her to forgive me, but I will spend the rest of my pathetic life...proving to her how sorry I am," he said.

"Severus, she might not live to see tomorrow, or wake up for that matter," she said. "I just hope that soul switching stunt wasn't a wasted effort," she replied irritably. Trolls, Death Eaters, now this.

Hermione wondered if this was what Harry felt like when he was comatose. It wasn't painful, but it was odd. She couldn't feel anything, was aware of voices and smells but could see nothing. She had no concept of time or where she was. The last thing she remembered was talking to Severus in limbo, if that's what it was. She would have to look up the soul switching spell when she woke. She was aware of people around her everyday, and recognized the voices of people she knew at one time or another. They all had words of encouragement and love when they spoke to her. The voice she heard most often was Severus'.

"They said I can visit you as often as I like," he said at one visit. "They aren't sure if comatose patients are aware of their surroundings, but if they are, it's good for people to be around. Molly comes everyday to see that you're being cared for properly. Since Minerva is quite busy with Hogwarts, she appointed Molly your guardian."

She caught the sound of pages being turned.

"You should enjoy this sweet, Potter brought it from your home, Great Expectations," he said and cleared his throat. "Chapter one...My father's name being..."

Author's Note:
He was willing to exchange his soul for hers. If that's not love, I don't know what is.