AN: Thank you all for bearing with me – I apologise for such a long wait for this update. Life got in the way a bit! I'm hoping to wrap the story up in the next 5-6 chapters so please bear with me, and as always, please read and review!

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Minerva sank wearily into the wing backed chair she favoured most and closed her eyes with a shaky breath. Dumbledore's words still reverberated around her head, doing little to ease the furious pounding behind her eyes. He is my secret keeper. A groan escaped her as the ramifications slowly sunk in. If Hermione and Dumbledore were right and Severus had finally defected, Grimmauld Place was no longer safe. Severus knew the location and password and it would only be a matter of time before the place was swamped with Death Eaters looking for merriment. Despite all that had been said, despite the thorough explanation of what had happened in the cave she still could not believe that Severus had betrayed them. He had protected Ron, no doubt saving the man's life – and what of the runes he had traced onto Hermione? The younger witch had hesitantly explained how she had been hit by Ron's unforgiveable, yet had suffered no pain. She had remarked on Severus's condition immediately afterwards and the truth was abundantly clear to Minerva – his runes had protected his witch and deflected the curse onto him. Was she the only person who could still see through his cleverly crafted smokescreen? The constant battle between her head and her heart was slowly driving her to madness.

After Dumbledore's confession, the room had erupted into a furious cacophony of fear, anger and hysteria which had taken some considerable time to temper. Once a fragile order had been restored, Dumbledore had ordered the immediate evacuation of Grimmauld Place, offering rooms at Hogwarts to Lupin, Black and Mad-Eye Moody. There had been very little discussion after that point, only a silent, malevolent atmosphere that had prompted Minerva to depart as soon as she could. She knew beyond any doubt that Sirius and Mad-Eye wouldn't hesitate to attack Severus on sight, there was no way to reconcile them now. The damage had been done and the long standing grudges between the wizards had resurfaced. The look on Sirius's face had been truly murderous, twisting his face into a grotesque mask of hatred. How anyone found that man attractive was beyond her – the man was hideously ugly throughout.

A gentle knock at the door announced Poppy's arrival and Minerva admitted her to her chambers with a deft flick of her wrist, not bothering to rise. The Mediwitch bustled into the room, red-faced and slightly breathless.

"Is it true?" she blurted out, "Severus has returned to the Dark Lord?"

"I see no proof."

"But Hermione said –"

"Hermione saw what Severus intended her to see. You know as well as I he has played this role for much of his life – he is a master of deception and he has to be, to fool Voldemort. I know what I know in my heart and that is that Severus is loyal to the cause, to us," green eyes flashed angrily at her old friend. They had been confidantes a great many years, she should know better than to ask the question. "Are you to turn your back on me too Poppy?"

Poppy hesitated, her face growing red again as she swallowed the question on her lips.

"Well?" Minerva demanded. "Dumbledore is a fool, the 'Order' is a mere extension of his inflated ego and now that that is under threat, he is forced to push the blame elsewhere. Albus Dumbledore is the reason why we are in this situation in the first place – or has everyone lost their minds?"

"Minerva, I –"

"Don't bother. I can see it written on your face! See yourself out."

"We have been friends since that sorting ceremony all those years ago! Surely you can spare me a moment to talk about this?"

With a weary sigh, Minerva acquiesced and gestured towards the chair angled opposite her. Poppy nodded grimly and took her seat, her hands twisting nervously in her lap as she met her friend's eyes.

"Out with it," Minerva groused.

"I know what Severus means to you. I know you cherish him as you would a son and I understand the fierce loyalty that comes with that, but is there not a small part of you that questions it? I too have grown to love that man, despite his irascible mood and that damned foul temper of his. His burden has been heavy, but so were the sins he seeks to atone so some might say it is just. Is it so hard for you to consider that he no longer feels able to cope with his lot? That he might resign himself to an easier life?" The old mediwitch pleaded earnestly, her eyes soft with concern as she regarded her oldest friend patiently. Minerva looked tired, drawn.

"Aye Poppy, of course I have questioned Severus's loyalty. That night we found Hermione in the woods –" she swallowed hard. "I knew he had been responsible and I was sickened he had sunk so low as to obliviate her. But as much as I was sickened, I also knew in my heart he had good reason. Memories are precious to him, it is all he has to help him through what he must endure. But even at his lowest, he still sought to protect her. His heart is true, Poppy, of that I am sure. Whatever he is going through at the moment it is all part of a larger plan, or so help me Merlin, I'll strike him down myself!" Hot, fiery tears threatened at the edge of her vision and she blinked them furiously away. "So, if I am the last person to stand by him then so be it."

Poppy nodded mutely, the tense expression draining from her face as she rose to her feet and approached Minerva, clasping both her hands in her own and squeezing them tight.

"I pray you are right, Minerva, I really do."

XXX

There was a silent atmosphere of excited anticipation as Voldemort's marauding party stood waiting for the nod from their Lord. It was a small team that included Severus, Lucius, Bellatrix and the Dark Lord himself. After all, this was merely a shot across the boughs – a reminder of Voldemort's superiority over the aging Headmaster of Hogwarts. The vanishing cabinet was placed in the centre of Malfoy's grand ballroom, two deeply etched scars tracing from its position all the way to the door from where it had been forcibly dragged. Severus supressed a smirk as Lucius simmered beside him. A simple floating spell would've prevented the damage to the polished flooring but the two oafs in charge of transporting the heavy piece of furniture clearly hadn't listened in charms class, if they had attended school at all, that is.

Lucius flinched beside him as the ballroom doors slammed into the walls with a resounding crash and Voldemort flounced into the room, arms extended in exultation. A terrifying grin stretched across his grey face as he surveyed the room.

"Ah! Severus! You have the potion for me I understand?" he drawled, drifting smoothly across the floor to stop directly before the Potion Master's bowed head.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Hand it to me."

Severus un-stoppered the small bottle and offered it to his Lord. His heart was beating furiously and he could feel a cold sweat breaking across his brow as Voldemort raised the potion to his grotesque mouth and tipped the entire contents into it. He swallowed with a loud gulp and closed his eyes, savouring the feeling of the fortified potion surging through his veins. Severus eyed him closely from under his lashes for any sign of a reaction and was greatly relieved that after several long seconds had passed, Voldemort still appeared to be fully functional. He had laced it was a generous dash of potent strengthening solution which would give a surge of energy upon ingestion to mask the underlying poison within it. A potion master's trojan horse.

"Severus!"

Severus snapped his head up alarmed, fear tearing at his insides as he forced himself to respond to Voldemort's call. He raised his eyes and met those terrifying red slits.

"My Lord?"

"This potion – I feel invigorated, ALIVE!" Voldemort began to laugh. "You really are quite a master at this! I take it there is more, for my Death Eaters?"

"Yes, my Lord. I tested it on myself before giving it to you and once certain of its efficacy, I created a larger batch."

"Splendid! Ensure everyone gets a daily dose Severus, I want my army to be fearsome in their strength and prowess! The world will know how coming to serve at my side will enrich their pathetic lives," he turned his reptilian face to Severus once more and licked his lips.

"You have done well, my shadow. You shall be rewarded for this," he spun away and approached the cabinet, wandlessly opening it with a flick of his wrist, "Come my Death Eaters! It is time to return to Hogwarts!"

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Mulciber was fairly certain he was going to die tonight. With Draco's help, he had managed to locate the other vanishing cabinet and had carefully moved it to the Great Hall. Well, Draco had moved it. He should've listened better in charms class. Job done, he had retreated to Severus's rooms and helped himself to another vintage bottle of firewhisky and was now comfortably drunk. He knew this as the simple act of standing still seemed beyond him and he had settled into a gentle back and forth sway as he fought to keep his balance. Draco shot him a disgusted look and rolled his eyes. Imperious bastard, just like his father.

Voldemort was not a tolerant man, and Mulciber knew full well that receiving him in a drunken state was a sure way to get himself hexed halfway to hell or worse. But after a few days teaching at Hogwarts, death would be a welcome release.

A slight rattle of the cabinet gave away Voldemort's arrival and he forced himself to stand a little taller, bumping against the younger Malfoy and eliciting another snarl from the brat. If there was any fighting to be had today, he'd make sure he felt the full force of a 'wayward' unforgiveable. Might wipe the smirk off his entitled face.

The cabinet opened and Mucliber bowed low as the Dark Lord stepped into Hogwarts, a small number of masked and cloaked Death Eaters following behind. He recognised the tall frame of Severus and the shorter build of Lucius and mad Bella was unmistakable. Voldemort moved to stand before him and he forced back a wave of nausea as his cold, dead hand touched his chin and forced his head up. Flinching from the touch, Mulciber forced his glazed eyes to focus on those of his Lord.

"My Lord," he croaked.

There was a long silence followed by gentle sniffing sounds as Voldemort leaned closer to speak in his ear.

"You would receive your Lord like this?" It was barely a whisper but the threat was clear. Mucliber swallowed hard, fighting to quell the trembling in his limbs, the thundering of his heart. Voldemort's eyes blazed with quiet fury as he silently beckoned Bellatrix to his side.

"Escort Mulciber back to the Manor. Ensure he realises how he has displeased me."

With a cackle, Bellatrix skipped to Mulciber's side and linked an arm through one of his and pulled him tight against her. She licked her lips.

"Let's go and play Mulcy-Wulcy – I've got lots of ideas on ways to pass the time and I've been waiting for someone to try them on!" Tugging hard, she dragged him towards the cabinet. As he passed Severus's tall form, their eyes met and Mulciber caught the amusement in those black pools before one closed in a slow wink. He snarled, baring his teeth and lunging towards him only to be pulled back and bundled roughly into the cabinet.

Voldemort straightened his robes and beckoned Lucius to his side.

"Wake the old man, bring him to me."

Lucius inclined his head and made for the stairwell. Severus took the moment to breathe. Being back here had given him unexpected pangs of regret as memories of Hermione flooded his mind. Her face swam before his eyes and he swallowed hard, forcing her back behind his walls. As he felt the cold cloak of occlusion settle back down over him he closed his eyes and tried to calm his racing heart. He still felt weak, afflicted. So far, any attempt at remedying the situation had been fruitless. Whatever was draining his strength was unaffected by potions. He had a nagging feeling it might be to do with the protective runes he had placed on his former lover that night in the forest. It was potent magic which required considerable support from his own core to keep it at full strength. His body needed to recover but that was proving difficult with so much of his magic directed at Hermione. He had hoped potions would counter the draining effect but that had not been the case.

He glanced around him, noting that with mad Bella and Mulciber gone there were only himself, Draco, Lucius and the big man himself present to surprise Dumbledore. He hoped the old man would play true to form and take a pacifying approach. They were hopelessly outnumbered if Dumbledore went on the offensive, but Severus knew that Voldemort merely wished to flaunt the ease of getting into Hogwarts rather than reign death and destruction, well, at least for now anyway. He flicked his attention back to the great doors as Dumbledore strode into the room, flanked by Minerva, Mad Eye and Hermione. His heart quickened as he took her in. Her hair was a fierce mane about her face which was set in grim determination and she was wearing those tight jeans that drove him to distraction. He was thankful for the mask as he straightened his stance and bolstered his shields.

As Lucius took his place on the left of Voldemort, Severus stepped to his Lord's right. It was a position of high favour, and he noted the move wasn't lost on Dumbledore as his eyes narrowed shrewdly.

The old man was pale but he looked incensed. The formidable expression was weakened immensely by the ridiculous robes he wore. Having been woken from sleep, he still wore a sleeping robe beneath his outer cloak and it was splattered with multicoloured pictures of Honeydukes sweets. Silly old fool.

"What brings you to my door at this late hour, Tom?"

Severus flinched. Voldemort would not like being reminded of his former glory. He had been quite the handsome young man during his Hogwarts years and early reign. Less said about his current appearance, the better.

Voldemort hissed and narrowed his eyes.

"Silence old man! See how easily I entered your precious Hogwarts? I have waited patiently for your arrival but could easily have caused much destruction in that short time, yet I have not – do you wonder why?"

The look on the Headmaster's face was one of fury.

"Pray do tell Voldemort. I know you do not believe in mercy or any other form of human decency so it cannot be that."

Severus looked to Hermione. She was looking straight at him with a look of utter contempt. It shouldn't have hurt him, but it did. He looked away again and looked for Minerva. She too was looking straight at him, her face frozen in despair. She wouldn't desert him, he knew that, but he knew she was hurt. He gave her a long look and her eyes softened slightly. He relaxed, she still believed in him. He'd never been able to fool her.

"Haha!" the Dark Lord gestured for Severus to come forward. "I come bearing good tidings! See, your Potions Master fully restored to health!"

Severus stepped forward and felt all eyes on him. Dumbledore hardened his eyes.

"Severus," came the curt address.

"Professor," Severus inclined his head.

"What nonsense is this?" Mad Eye growled, "Kill the bastard whilst he is here – outnumbered – and let me get to that traitorous dog Snape!"

Dumbledore raised a hand, "No, we do not attack guests of Hogwarts."

"Guests?! Have you lost your mind, man?! This incarnation is no guest of ours! To hell with honour, strike him down!"

The response was wholly unexpected but highly amusing to Severus as Dumbledore flicked an incarcerous at the grizzly auror and he toppled helplessly to the floor as he was tightly bound head to foot. Such a loss of control was uncharacteristic of the mightly Albus Dumbledore – clearly Voldemort's sudden appearance within his heavily fortified and warded castle had rattled him.

Voldemort chuckled. "We are not so dissimilar Dumbledore, I frequently find myself surrounded by imbeciles too."

"What do you want?" All pretence of a friendly demeaner was gone.

Voldemort returned the malice ten-fold. He flicked a stunner at Minerva who only just raised her shield in time, stumbling under the force of the curse. With another flick he knocked Hermione's feet out from under her and she crashed onto the floor with a yelp.

"STOP THIS!" Dumbledore bellowed, magic crackling around his head, his voice thunderous in the cavernous hall.

Voldemort smiled.

"There was a time when the wizarding world bowed before you Dumbledore. A time when you were great. I would even admit that myself, that you were once mighty. But now the mighty have fallen and it is time for a new world order. You are no longer a match for me!"

The curse was unspoken but it was identifiable by the way Dumbledore's tall frame suddenly collapsed in on itself with a gut wrenching cry of pain. As the curse tore through him, his limbs contorted into agonising shapes, muscles spasming out of control as he twisted in unbearable agony. If Severus was shocked by this turn of events he didn't show it, but Minerva looked like she was going to be ill and Hermione looked distraught. Severus saw her raise her wand and as her mouth formed around the curse he raised a hand and wandlessly blocked it as it raced towards Voldemort. Quick as a whip she raised her wand towards Severus and flung another at him which he blocked with ease. He advanced on her, bearing down on her in two quick strides and angling his body to the side as he raised his wand to her chest.

"No."

He saw the look of defiance, the set jaw, the fire behind her eyes but as she looked at him he saw it fade away to acceptance and her wand came down. Their eyes met and for a long moment, Severus was unable to look away. In that moment, he could still hear the grunts and groans as Dumbledore jerked under the curse and he could hear Minerva's pleas to Voldemort to stop but he felt powerless to do anything other than stand and stare. It was Lucius's hand on his shoulder that finally broke the trance and he blinked rapidly. Lucius looked concerned behind his mask and Severus knew he'd need to intervene.

"My Lord," he stepped beside Voldemort who was watching, fascinated as Dumbledore jerked like a puppet with its strings cut. "Dumbledore is old, he may not tolerate the curse for much longer. I would advise that –"

Voldemort turned his red slits to Severus and ceased the spell. Dumbledore collapsed motionless to the floor, muscles still twitching and jerking spasmodically. Minerva dropped to her knees beside him, shooting a murderous glare at Voldemort.

"You're a monster!" Hermione spat, "and you're worse!" She yelled at Severus's back. Lucius snickered.

"She's a feisty little mudblood isn't she Severus? Now I can see why you bedded her! Quite the little bobcat!"

"Ah yes! Severus's little distraction!" Voldemort swished over to Hermione who stood straight, jaw pushed out. When he was before her, he raised a hand and slapped her hard. Her head snapped to the left with the force of the blow, a livid red handprint visible on the pale skin. Severus heard a sharp intake of breath, presumably from Minerva, and he fought to restrain his fury. He had to maintain control, act his part although he hadn't wanted to hex Voldemort this much since Lily. Swallowing his anger, he laughed. It had the desired effect, Minerva recoiled in horror and Hermione looked close to tears. Her lip trembled.

"Severus tells me you like it rough, just what I'd expect from your kind. Good for a quick shag against the wall but nothing else," Lucius snarled, his face twisted in an ugly grin. "No wonder he has turned to my wife for sport, I can't imagine whatever came over him to lie with filth like you." He looked her up and down, not bothering to hide the revulsion that was clear on his face.

The revelation was a killer blow for Hermione and Severus watched as the betrayal registered and a broken sob escaped her.

"Did you think that you would be good enough for my shadow?" Voldemort chuckled as he took in her stricken expression with delight. "No, you have been a most inconvenient distraction and had Severus not seen sense and discarded you himself I would've had to intervene. After all, I cannot have such debauched affairs between mudbloods and those of purer blood in my brethren. It has already caused quite some upset amongst my Death Eaters, not to mention the effect on my right hand man."

Voldemort turned to Severus. "I must say I am somewhat disappointed in you. From now on you will only take pleasure with appropriate women. I had thought that your preoccupation with these dirty creatures had died with Lil –"

"Enough!" Dumbledore's voice was hoarse but still commanded respect. Severus breathed a silent prayer for his timely interruption. Adding his undying love of Lily Potter to the brutal revelation of his dalliance with Narcissa really would've killed Hermione. Any hopes of reconciliation with her were rapidly fading into oblivion. The Headmaster had staggered to his feet with Minerva's help, and now stood shakily against her, his face pale and wan.

"Remove yourself from Hogwarts this instant. You are not welcome here."

Voldemort feigned a look of mortification as he held his hands out in exasperation. "Really Dumbledore, that is most discourteous of you! Luckily for you, I am not offended but know this, I will be back, welcome or not. I intend to burn this place to the ground and when I do, I will force you to watch every mudblood student die before you in the most imaginative ways I can concoct and only when each and every one has suffered an agonising death will I put an end to the great Albus Dumbledore!"

Severus watched his former colleagues and Hermione as Voldemort laughed heartily in their faces before turning on his heel and heading back to the vanishing cabinet. Lucius moved to follow his Lord, gesturing for Severus to follow. As he turned, Severus saw a movement in the corner of his eye and reacted instantly, bringing his wand up as he spun on his heel. Lucius had spotted the movement too and as Hermione brought her wand to point at Voldemort's back, he raised his own. In desperation, Severus cast a shield charm at Voldemort and hoped Lucius would miss. There was little else he could do without risking his cover – to stop Lucius would be foolhardy and would certainly expose him; to do nothing would lose his one last supporter, Minerva. But this was a long game, and he was too close to let it all go to ruin now. So even as he held his wand resolutely towards them, he knew he couldn't hurt any of them and instead fired a weak stunner at the weakened Headmaster. He didn't see it coming but the timing was perfect. Dumbledore was knocked to his knees and with a cry of rage, Minerva finally lost her composure and returned the favour, a vivid red stunner bursting from her wand and colliding solidly with Severus's shield that protected Voldemort at the exact moment Lucius's curse hit Hermione. Severus felt a solid impact in his chest followed by a brilliant burst of light and then nothing.

Minerva could only stare as her spell and Hermione's hit a substantial shield charm and dissolved away to nothing leaving Voldemort unscathed. He did not turn, merely paused momentarily before disappearing into the cabinet. The same could not be said for Hermione, as a vicious stunner hit her squarely in the chest and threw her violently to the ground. At the same time, she saw a brilliant burst of light and the tall form of Severus crashed to the ground, knocked unconscious by the rebound from the protective charms he had placed on Hermione. With a yelp of distress, she surged forward, only to find herself pushed back firmly. Lucius stole a look at Severus's prone form before returning his hard stare to the old witch before him.

"You'll pay for that madam, mark my words!" he hissed before releasing her and striding to his friend's side. Giving him a firm shake did not rouse him so he cast an enervate and hauled him to his feet as soon as his eyes fluttered open. He was disorientated and weak, so Lucius half dragged, half carried him to the cabinet. As he pushed him inside, he turned back to see Hermione back on her feet, caressing her stomach and staring in utter shock. He narrowed his eyes. He wasn't a master of spellwork by any means, but his stunner was something he had worked hard to perfect and it was vicious and effective - it was impossible for her to have recovered that quickly. Something was amiss here and by Merlin, he would find out what that was even if it meant torturing it out of someone.

He grabbed the ornate door and slammed it shut behind him, wanting nothing more than to return to the Manor and destroy its twin before the whole of Hogwarts descended on his family.

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