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It was all Harry could do to hold his fury as Hermione filled him in on Voldemort's sudden appearance at Hogwarts and his torture of Dumbledore. He didn't know whether he was more angry with her for not waking him, or at Dumbledore for not killing Voldemort when he had the chance. He stared stony faced at the window where rain lashed forcefully against the glass, driven by a fierce wind. The weather matched his mood, somewhat like the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall – only this time the reflection was murderous.

"Harry, say something – please!" Hermione pleaded. The events that had transpired that evening had shocked and horrified her, but even worse, had confused her greatly. She had been convinced of Severus's betrayal until the moment Lucius's curse had knocked her to the floor and just like Ron's unforgiveable had in Greyback's lair she hadn't felt any effects only a curious fluttering sensation in her stomach and chest. Then she had seen Severus knocked out cold on the floor once she had regained her feet as though the stunner has hit him instead. She couldn't help but think he was protecting her somehow but she couldn't work out how and Hermione Granger was not the type of witch that settled with not understanding something. Her reverie was broken by a loud crash as the door slammed into the wall and a panicked Sirius strode into the room.

"Harry! Thank Merlin! When I heard – I thought –"

"Nobody thought to tell me Sirius, I was safe in here, like the child I seem to be regarded as. Never mind that I want him dead more than anyone in the world! I have to sit here like a coward whilst he tortures my friends!" Harry snarled, surging to his feet, his eyes ablaze. "When is someone going to trust me to do something?"

Sirius took a deep breath, wiping his forehead absently.

"I know how you feel, and your time will come believe me. I've come to question Dumbledore's decision making of late myself. I mean, the biggest threat to our world just strolls into a supposedly unbreachable castle and the old buffoon takes two women and a past it auror as his vanguard – no offence Hermione," he added hastily. "But you can see my point! I think the old goat has finally lost it. This was a golden opportunity to kill the evil bastard – who knows when we will get another chance? He should've taken all of us and we could've taken him out. All of them."

"Voldemort was well protected," Hermione added defensively, "and I think Dumbledore wanted to keep things non-violent for the safety of the students. Well, that was his intention."

"How did that work out for him Hermione? He's flat on his back in the hospital wing! The greatest wizard of our time incapacitated through his own stupidity!" Harry growled. Sirius usually had this effect on him, stirring his blood and reigniting the desperate need to claim some sort of recompense for the murder of his parents. He seemed to be the only person in this whole place who understood. His rage was thundering through him now and he clenched his fists angrily.

"We are sitting ducks here – Voldemort has proved how easily he can evade the wards. It's only a matter of time before he comes back and at what cost? There are hundreds of students here!"

Hermione released the breath she had been holding and nodded slowly in acceptance. Harry was right. Voldemort had threatened to return, and despite Minerva incinerating the vanishing cabinet before taking Dumbledore to the infirmary, she knew he would find another way.

"You're right Harry. I think the time has come to make preparations but with Dumbledore unwell, we need someone to take control in his place."

"Minerva," Harry replied, already moving towards the door. "No more tip toeing around, this is war."

"Well said my boy," Sirius echoed. He stole a glance at Hermione, who was hugging her stomach and appeared lost in thought again. "He was there, wasn't he?"

She nodded quietly and Sirius cursed in response. He crossed the room and grabbed her by the shoulders, staring intently into her eyes.

"You know he has to die, don't you? You know I can't let him live – after what he did to Lily and James. His death warrant was signed many years ago - you do know that, don't you Hermione?"

Tears threatened at the edge of her eyes and she tried to clear her throat. In her peripheral vision she could see Harry watching her shrewdly. Her voice shook when she finally summoned it.

"He protected me." Even to her it sounded ludicrous. In the face of his behaviour in Greyback's cave paired with the fresh knowledge that he had slept with Narcissa Malfoy and that he had laughed, laughed when Voldemort struck her – despite all of that, she absolutely knew that he had protected her as best as he could.

Sirius shook her hard, "Have you listened to yourself?! This is the man who used you and cast you aside a moment later! This is the scheming, manipulative, poisonous son of a bitch that got Harry's parents killed – nearly killed him in the process! You're deluded, or under the Imperious or something!"

"No – listen to me! I think Minerva was right when she said he was loyal to us. Before tonight I was convinced he had truly defected to Voldemort, but now I know she's right – I believe her."

Sirius released her with a derisory snort, gesturing angrily to Harry. "You aren't going to listen to this are you? Remember what Snape did to you!"

"I know what he did! Do you really think I need reminding of that? I feel it every single day." He thumped his chest over his heart, teeth gritted in visceral pain, "right here." He swallowed hard, his eyes flicking from his Godfather to Hermione. "But as much as I want to set the scales right, our priority has to be bringing Voldemort down. Now I trust Hermione, and I want to hear her out."

As Harry gave her an encouraging nod, Hermione withdrew her wand and pointed it at her stomach, "Appare vestigium!"

As soon as the spell was spoken she felt an intense fluttering across her stomach and ignoring the two men present, she yanked her jumper upwards. She stared in utter disbelief as the pale skin lit up in a mosaic of ancient runes, glowing in various shades of red and gold. An intense rush of emotion flooded her as she beheld the sigils. She had paid attention in ancient runes as she did in every subject yet many of these were unknown to her – only one was recognisable – Algiz.

"Speak to me Hermione," Harry urged as he moved closer, peering at the glowing symbols.

"I only recognise this one," she pointed to a deep red symbol just above her navel, "Algiz. Based on the Norse rune, this is the sigil for protection and is intended to protect the bearer from any enemy," her voice trailed off as she met Harry's eyes, "the rest I don't recognise but I do know that Severus is adept with runic magic."

Harry nodded grimly, "The message we received at Grimmauld Place. It was from Snape, and it was coded in runes. Dumbledore was able to decode it."

"So a couple of childish drawings and suddenly the man is a saint! Don't make me laugh, use your brains witch! Don't be fooled by some cheap parlour trick. The man is a Death Eater for Merlin's sake!"

"Could it be a trick? " Harry asked gently, ignoring his increasingly agitated Godfather.

Hermione shook her head. It was becoming clearer by the second. A memory was tugging at her insistently but remained stubbornly out of reach, as though it were tethered somewhere deep and inaccessible. "I've seen it work twice - when Ron tried to curse Severus and I intervened, and just now when Lucius's stunner hit me." She looked up, eyes wide. "It knocked Severus out cold – yet I felt nothing. It's as though it was deflected away from me somehow." She growled in frustration, "I really wish I had read more about runes!"

"I think we need to speak to McGonagall. She might know how something like this is possible, or if Snape was capable of doing it." Harry insisted. He turned to Sirius who was staring at him incredulously.

"You're going along with this utter goblin shite?" At the united silence that met him, he stared for one long moment before turning on his heel and storming from the room, slamming the door behind him.

XXX

Lucius was in danger of wearing a hole in Narcissa's favourite Persian rug as he paced back and forth, fuming. Severus's obsession with mudblood women was going to be the death of them and what in Merlin's name was he supposed to do about it? He said he'd finished with the girl but there was certainly some unfinished business and if he had noticed it, he was as sure as hell that someone else would have too. If he were a brave man he'd demand an explanation from Severus right now but the man was fearsome at the best of times and he knew he wouldn't take kindly to being questioned on the matter. Not to mention that Lucius was certainly not a brave man. One thing was for sure, they'd been lucky tonight. If mad Bella had still been there they'd have been eviscerated on the spot, no time for brokering or explanation.

"Fuck!" he yelled to no one in particular.

Upon their return to the manor Lucius had taken his ire out on the vanishing cabinet, reducing it to a smouldering pile of ashes before retreating to his study to try and think things through. Severus hadn't said a word since their arrival and had taken the earliest possible opportunity to disappear, refusing to answer Lucius as he had called out to him. Ignorant git. He'd give him an hour's grace before he going to find him and insist on an explanation. He needed to know exactly what was going on with that mudblood witch and why it was giving him a horrible feeling that everything was about to go to hell in a hand cart.

XXX

Severus had the mother of all headaches. The drain on his core was becoming unsustainable and soon he'd have to find another way to protect Hermione before the link killed him. He downed a Pepper-Up potion before wearily turning back to his lab desk and the multitude of self-stirring cauldrons that simmered there. There would be enough poison from this batch to dose each Death Eater three times, leaving enough in reserve to double up the doses for Voldemort. The amount of potion needed to give a fatal reaction on use of the activation spell was an unknown variable. He needed to test it on someone fast. Any Death Eater would do, after all he was aiming to kill them all anyway so his conscience had happily taken a back seat and let his darker side take reign. He ran through the possibles in his mind, trying to pick out someone who wouldn't be missed. As much as he'd love to lure Bellatrix away with the promise of a quick lay (she'd been after him for years) and watch her die an agonised and protracted death, Voldemort would miss her almost immediately and the game would be over before it began. He'd have to be patient to watch her get what she deserved. He moved to the next cauldron.

Alecta? No – she was caring for the poor unfortunate mongrel, Greyback. Rumour had it that despite the werewolf chief being reduced to a shadow of his former self, he was hungry for blood – Severus's blood to be precise. The thought was laughable. Even if Greyback managed to claw his way back to full strength, by the time he did so the whole merry company would be in various stages of dead or dying and likely Severus himself would be much the same. He was yet to think of a way to activate the potion loudly enough and in earshot of as many Death Eaters as possible and Voldemort without blowing his cover. No, it had to be someone entirely expendable and someone not currently in favour with the Dark Lord.

He swirled the remaining firewhisky in his glass before draining it in one swallow. As the spirit warmed his throat he considered the hefty price tag of the brand and decided it was worth it. Lucius had deep pockets and a well-stocked cellar and he made a mental note to add a bottle or two to his collection at Hogwarts, if he ever made it back there. The thought triggered another name - Mulciber. Another great consumer of firewhisky – his firewhisky, and wonderfully expendable. Perfect.

There was a solid rap at the door before Lucius strode into the room, chest puffed out in the manner of a prize turkey. Severus offered him a raised eyebrow in greeting.

"Lucius?"

"We need to talk. I mean, you need to talk."

"About?"

"You know damn well what about! Do not play me for a fool Severus!" Lucius snarled, slamming his fist onto the workbench. "What is going on with you and that insufferable mud-blooded witch?" he hissed through his teeth.

Severus regarded him coolly for several long moments before casting a muffliato and locking and warding the door thoroughly.

"What makes you think there is anything going on?"

Lucius threw his hands up in desperation. "I stunned that girl and whilst I do not confess to be a master spell cast, I know damn well she should've been knocked into next week! Instead, I find her totally unscathed and my good, loyal friend and brother, out cold at my feet. So pray tell me Severus, what kind of arcane magic have you invoked? Hmm? Do I have reason to fear that you are disloyal to the Dark Lord, to me?" he moved around the bench, his eyes never leaving Severus's face. Used to such scrutiny, Severus followed his progress around the bench, face carefully schooled in calm indifference.

"It is safer you don't know. You are a miserable occlumens Lucius, and I would not put you at risk, no matter how much you vex me."

"You owe me this if nothing else! I have given you my home, my supplies, my money – my wife for fuck's sake!" Lucius thumped the bench again, this time causing a cauldron to wobble dangerously on its stand. Severus suppressed a wave of irritation as he steadied the potion with a flick of his hand.

"Your hospitality has been most generous, and you have my gratitude. But I would not endanger you or your family by imparting knowledge that would most likely get you killed. Your mind is an open book Lucius, you wear your thoughts on your sleeve and as entertaining as they are, anyone with half a brain cell can see what is going on in that pretty head of yours. Voldemort would take one look at you and have us all hung, drawn and quartered in mere moments. You are a liability."

Lucius looked positively murderous. He narrowed his eyes, "So, there it is. The only thing that would get us killed right now in such a high position of favour with the Dark Lord is any hint of disloyalty. I take it, therefore, that that is exactly what is going on."

Lucius was a loyal friend but this was exactly what Severus meant when he said he was a liability. Speaking his thoughts aloud, not giving a flying fuck as to who might overhear or who might read his open book of a mind. With a sigh, Severus put his glass down and strode up to Lucius, stopping inches from his face. He was a good three inches taller than his friend and he took the opportunity to hover malevolently above him. He knew he unnerved Lucius and that open face of his quickly morphed into something akin to terror as he loomed over him.

Severus leaned to speak into his friend's ear, voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm going to let you in on a secret. I'm brewing a poison here to kill every Death Eater in our merry band and with any luck, the Dark Lord too. I am in love with Hermione Granger, the mudblood witch and I am very much looking forward to having her back in my bed once this war is over. I may even look to marry the girl and have many rosy cheeked, mud-blooded children one day." He moved back and gave Lucius a big smile before breaking into a deep chuckle. Lucius looked as though he thought his friend had gone mad but as he continued to laugh, he realised that he was joking – of course he was! He laughed along with his friend, slapping him heartily on the back.

"Oh my man! You almost had me there!" between heaving breaths, Lucius wiped tears from his eyes. "I had thought that you – I don't know, it sounds silly now – that you had protected her somehow! But how stupid of me to believe you'd have feelings for such a low born wench as her! Mud-blooded children indeed!"

Severus laughed along with his friend, "Lucius, do not concern yourself with mad ideas. The spell you cast merely rebounded from a very robust shield charm – did you not see the flash of light? No doubt Dumbledore protected them all as they walked to meet us. I can assure you, I played no part in what happened."

Lucius visibly relaxed, his face softening into a genuine smile.

"Thank Merlin! For a moment I thought – well, now I know I've been a fool! How on earth could you have protected her in front of the Dark Lord? You're clever, but I don't think even you could manage something as advanced as that!" He turned to leave the lab, still chuckling to himself, "A poison to kill the Dark Lord, that's a good one!"

As Lucius found his way to the door and disappeared out into the hallway, Severus stared at his retreating form with relief. If there was one thing you could rely upon about Lucius Malfoy, it was his complete and utter idiocy. The man was an utter fool.

XXX

Dumbledore had aged considerably in the short period of time from waking in his bed with news of an unexpected visitor to his waking in the narrow bed in the medical wing. Too long he had procrastinated and now he had been caught out. As soon as Voldemort's breach of Hogwarts defences was made common knowledge, his position here would be under heavy scrutiny. Could he keep his students and colleagues safe? He was in doubt himself now, seeing how easily Voldemort had incapacitated him. For the first time in his considerably long life, he felt old. Old and incompetent. There was so much at stake, he couldn't afford to be caught napping – literally. He swung his legs around and eased himself off the bed to standing.

"Poppy?"

The mediwitch bustled into the room, concern evident on her face. "Why are you out of bed? I told you, strict bed rest for at least 24 hours!"

"There's no time. I need you to do something for me," he grimaced as he pulled on his dressing gown and pushed his feet into his waiting slippers.

"Of course Albus,"

"It's time."

The words hung in the air like an unexploded bomb and for a moment Poppy just stared at the Headmaster, mouth agape.

"Now, Poppy! I've wasted enough time as it is, and I have a great many things to do before the team assembles."

"Right away Albus, right away."

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