Chapter 19 - A chat with Severus
Word count; 3,878
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"Ron – time is getting on, the teachers need to be unfrozen and sent on their way and as for the Slytherin's - can't they be confined another way?" Hermione pointed-out as she moved closer and took his hand again.
"Quite right, Hermione – thank-you," Ron replied firmly as he turned back toward the Slytherin table, a small wave of his hand and the Slytherin's were unfrozen; "you snakes may speak among your-selves but I'm not releasing you back to your dorms, stay seated at the table and no one will get hurt.
"I am going to send the other students to their parents within the next half-hour" – Ron declared to everyone's surprise – "but as most of your kinfolk are all with the DE's camped outside, I expect that they'll be trying to come in here to get you, presently – so sit tight." Another flick of his wand and non lethal ward rose around the Slytherin's like a corral to keep the animals in – which served the dual purpose of preventing him from being stabbed in the back by the inquisitorial squad members that now sat with their housemates.
Another flick of his wand and the remaining teaching staff with Snape the sole exception was released.
"Educators listen-up. Starting now you have thirty minutes to go to your quarters and pack a single suitcase, I'd strongly suggest that you shrink down anything you want to keep and take it with you. There is going to be a major battle taking place at Hogwarts within the next few hours - - a battle that will determine the future of magical Britain. It is our firm intention to evacuate all non-combatants in the next forty-five minutes; the exits are located in every school house common room except for Slytherin.
"These portals are not connected to the Floo-network and will not short-out or collapse. These portals will also take you to a safe location and from there you will be able to use another portal to a safe place in France. From there you will be free to go where you wish.
"As combat will take place where we are standing – we in the resistance - strongly suggest that all of you professors take a fortnight holiday in France," Ron said sternly, "for I honestly do not know how much of the castle will still be standing - after this battle is over. – so none of you should be in a great hurry to come back here, as it might take considerable time before the school reopens."
"I need you Prefects to go back to your dorms and tell the resistance leader in charge of your common rooms to start sending the students through the fireplace portals as arranged. The students are not to try to pack their trunks, as there is not enough time, just tell them to grab any personal pets they might have in their dorms and get the hell out. Don't worry about any pet Owls they may have in the Owlery – All such owls have been released to go to their owner's homes.
"As for the rest of the school term, or more specifically - - the end of session exams - both OWL's and NEWT's - - I am sure that someone from the staff will contact all the students at their home when this battle is over. Tell your dorm mates especially the seventh years - not to try to stay behind and fight for or against us – you-lot simply aren't trained for this kind of wand combat and my people are.
The DADA teachers this school has employed for the last few years have been a deliberate pack of highly incompetent idiots. I also highly doubt you were taught anything useful by either the Carrow's or Snape, beyond the employment of torture to keep you submissive. This Battle won't be composed formal duels one on one, done by the rules - and that kind of mind-set will only get a-lot of you students Killed.
What if we want to stay and fight? - Parvati Patil asked - - the now senior Gryffindor Prefect.
"Where you not listening; Parvati – staying behind will only get you killed - It all boils down to training really. With no offense meant to you and the other seventh years," Ron said sincerely. "But there is still four months to graduation and you-lot just hasn't been taught to kill with a wand. - And that is exactly what the DE are coming here to do.
"Wand combat without the restrictions of formal Dueling rules - needs to be practiced over and over to the point of being automatically reflexive. To survive the upcoming battle - you need to kill without hesitation like the DE. Tell me Parvati when was the last time the DA practiced the slashing-curse with the intention of killing an opponent. Just using stunning spells will just get you killed real quick.
"You and your peer's may be old enough to be considered adults but you haven't been doing the same kind of combat drills that we resistance lads have done every day for months. We are soldiers and you are students - it's just as simple as that. If you really want to help us - - make sure your dorm mates all get out. Leave this to us professionals, go home and listen to Potterwatch, for updates.
"I still want to stay and fight and so will some of the others in the DA – we aren't as helpless as you think. Besides; when did you become so mature and powerful? You were a royal Prat during the Yule Ball.
"That was centuries ago – and thank the lord - that gullible boy doesn't exists anymore. Harry was your date that night as I recall - and as you will see that he too has changed - so much in fact you'd hardly recognize him. He's also single again - if you're still interested?" Ron said with an amused chuckle.
"Are you available?" - Parvati asked looking hard at Hermione's hand holding Ron's.
Hermione's jealousy flared – another thing she had obtained from Ron during their shared consciousness. "Back-off Patil – he's mine," she growled.
"Is he indeed," Parvati sneered back, "For how long this time – you unfaithful slut. She cheated on you before Ron - and will again. - Krum, Cormac and Potter are just the lovers you know something about. The thing you had with Lavender didn't end well - but at least your dating of her was open and above board – neither of you cheating with someone else behind their backs.
"My current relationship with Granger is rather complicated, Parvati, and I honestly don't know where what we have now - will lead. But I'm committed to giving us another go - - and if that makes me look a fool – then so be it, - on the other hand - - I'm not half as gullible as I was during sixth year," Ron admitted honestly.
"Well, I will back-off - for now" – Parvati said half- turning to leave. "But keep in mind Ron – you've changed and as the prime-bit of beefcake that you are now – I'm just saying - - you shouldn't have to limit yourself to a single pipe-cleaner thin bookworm – you can do better than her – like with me?
Another jealous warning growl was heard coming from an upset Hermione – unable to deny that Ron had indeed changed into a confidant good looking man. Keeping him wasn't going to the walk in the park it had been for most of last term.
"But don't go yet, Parvati there is something I want you and the other Prefects to witness, and pass on to the others. Hogwarts teaching staff your thirty minutes starts now," Ron said as he hit the Slytherin's in there table coral with a muffling hex so they wouldn't hear was about to be said. Most of the staff bolted from the great Hall with only McGonagall, Sprout and Flitwick staying behind obviously seeking a word.
"Well Headmaster, I'm about to let you go - and I hope Severus, that we can be civilized about this?" Ron said as he let go of Hermione's hand and nodding his head for her to step aside. She did so reluctantly stepping over to the professors with whom she immediately started a heated if whispered conversation.
"I don't want to have to fight the best spy who has served the Order of the Phoenix. Your defense of Harry over the years has been unorthodox but effective," Ron said. "It has been a fine line you've had to walk Severus, between severing both Voldemort and Albus,"
Just then Harry and Neville came running into the Great Hall - they were both filthy and holding brooms. Harry had his customary Draco-like smug expression on his face. "The diadem is destroyed", Harry proudly declared.
"And exactly how did you destroyed it may I ask?" – an interrupted Ron calmly asked - not at all surprised - which robbed Harry of most of his haughty satisfaction.
"After we found it in the room of requirement," Neville declared in an overly excited tone. "Harry said the Horcrux was Ravenclaw's Diadem and it would call to him loudly in parceltongue - and because of his special talent we found it right from the off without searching. Harry then took me on a side trip to the Chamber of Secrets and with a basilisk fang we found there - destroyed the Diadem. He explained all about the Horcruxes to me - telling of his eight month solo search for them since last term. He has single-handedly now destroyed all but one – he who shall not be named …pet snake. He says he has to kill it next.
Looking over at Hermione, Ron could see her glaring angrily at Harry; - through their core link Ron could feel her outrage at this bold-face lie. Smiling in a resigned way Ron turned to Harry and said; "Commander if I may give my report now – Ron said with a crisp military salute - loud enough to be heard by anyone with ears. "The Great Hall has been sorted as you commanded - the staff is packing up and the students will be evacuated very soon," Harry and Hermione both gave Ron a look of stunned surprise at his lack of contradiction to Harry's lies. Allowing Harry to take credit for things he hadn't done.
"May I proceed; Commander?" Ron asked looking the perfect subordinate to Harry – who looking confused instinctively replied.
"Yes – carry on.
"Thank-you sir.
"Now Severus, as I was saying," Ron resumed speaking a little louder than he had to – with the head of every ghost in Hogwarts sticking out of the stone walls - riveted to every word he spoke. "You've been a great asset to the Order. I know you tried to warn them of the impending take-over of the Ministry - and were ignored for your pains. Not your fault that no one trusted you anymore – Albus the master manipulator withheld from Minerva, Filius, Remus, Tonks and all us Weasley's that he was dying".
The three Prefects – the three professors – Harry and Hermione were all gob-smacked at this news.
"Abe Dumbledore showed me a pensive of a conversation he had with his brother wherein Albus openly confessed his foolishness. The Gaunt ring - another of Tom's Horcruxes - had poisoned more than just one hand of the Headmaster – it was slowly killing him.
"In this pensive I saw Albus tell Abe that you – Severus Snape - had managed to slow the process but had been unable to cure him. The manipulative fool told no-one especially not his protégé Harry - that on the night of his so called murder – he had less than ten days of life left in him.
"Albus was dying? Minerva asked with a semi-sob.
"Yes madam – and wanting his death to have purpose he ordered Severus to kill him as a means of enhancing his status as a Death Eater. Albus knew right from the off that Draco had taken the dark-mark - - knew that Draco had gotten orders to let the DE into Hogwarts and kill him.
"He never told me any of this," Minerva complained.
"Join the queue - Professor," Ron said with an ironic chuckle. "There is loads of stuff that old schemer kept to himself, right Harry?"
"Right you are mate," Harry replied bitterly.
"But to ensure that his demi-god status remains properly embellished - he told everything to his younger brother, the only one he trusted totally. Which Abe in turn shared with me – his protégé? Anyroad the old schemer proved right – Draco didn't have the stones to kill him. So the task fell to Severus here. Knowing that Albus ordered you to do it, didn't make it any easier – did it?" Ron said backing-up ten paces.
"I won't kill you Severus – for you have one more duty to Albus yet to perform. There are two Horcruxes left - and Abe told me that you alone know for sure - what they are. As I'm just the clown in the golden trio - I think you should tell the Chosen One in private - so he can then lead us to Victory.
"I refuse to follow Harry anywhere," Neville snarled bitterly.
"Then you're with me Neville - as always," Ron said in an understated tone but with a piercing commanding stare that made Neville pause in mid-protest. "Remember the prophecy comrade – Harry is the Chosen One - the child of destiny, he is fates 'Hero' - and charged with facing Tom alone. We minor characters have other parts to do in this Passion Play," Ron said turning back to face Severus a tiny flick of his wand and Headmaster Snape was free.
"You got the sword?" Snape said.
"Yes professor – thank-you, it was clever of you to use the cup exchange as the means of passing the sword on to me.
"Hogwarts will get it back when this is over, correct?
"Yes Headmaster – however your term here is over as well; Sir," - Ron said calmly. "You can't go back to Voldemort; your failure to prevent my takeover of Hogwarts is the equivalent of a death sentence.
"I know that boy," Severus snarled.
"Too few people will ever believe you acted as a spy for our side, my own troops will kill you on sight given half the chance.
"Then what is to become of Dumbledore's spy? What life or death choice do you offer me?" Severus asked in a world weary tone.
"Give your wand to Harry for a moment and then bare your left forearm," Ron said as Harry moved forward, - - as Hermione, Neville, Minerva and Filius were still deeply engaged in a whispered conversation a few feet away - - it was only the three prefects of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor and the assorted castle-ghost's that were the remarkable witnesses to an astounding bit of magic. For before their eyes they saw Ron's hand glow bright white as it hovered over the dark-mark burned into Severus forearm.
Snape painfully grim expression was the only indictor of his torment he otherwise uttered no sound to advertise his agony. However - when the white light faded Severus forearm was smooth skin – free forever of the dark-mark, his jet black hair had been replace by brown mixed generously with gray. Even his trademark robes had transformed into a lighter shade of reddish-brown.
Ron staggered back – having aged a full decade this time. "Inside the pocket of your new robes you'll now find a bank draft for twenty thousand gold-galleons, and a letter of introduction from the commander of the resistance to a potion master friend of mine in Paris. He'll have the document's you need to begin a new life anywhere in North America or Canada as a fully qualified potion master with a new name. I just wish I could do more for you Professor; Albus gave you the short end of the stick… I'm afraid.
"I didn't expect to survive this war," Severus said genuinely surprised.
"I don't like spies, Severus, few professional soldiers do," Ron said in a tired monotone. "You-lot deceives naive people like me and I've come to be less trusting of all people after being burned by a pair of deceivers just like you. But as you were on my side in this war and helped me obtain the sword – so unlike Albus - I don't abandon my allies. So tell Harry what he needs to know, and you can leave the UK for good - - via the international portkey in your right pocket. Just say your destination aloud and a belly-button tug later… you're there.
"You have loads more blood on your hands than I do Weasley," Severus replied his tone devoid of emotion as Harry gave him back his wand. "The goodie two-shoes of our society like Granger over there – those among us that stood by and just let this DE take-over of England happen without lifting a finger - - will turn on you the moment the war ends. Remember the ultimate reward Roma gave Julius Caesar.
"Yes professor I know that all too well.
"You do?" Harry interjected sounding confused.
"Don't be naive Harry, peaceful citizens fear soldiers without political masters to keep them in check. I'm like a modern magical Cromwell – hip-deep in the process of dramatically changing the ruling order of the UK," Ron explained in an exhausted tone – "if I'm successful - the Muggleborn's and Half-bloods will be running things here in England from now on. The age of the pure blood rule will have ended for good - as abruptly as the clan system after the bloodbath of Culloden. My methods to bring about this revolution will be condemned by history with equal venom as the Dane slaughter of the males of Roman Britain.
"Then don't do it,"- Harry said with a touch of his old concern for his best-mate.
"You just don't understand Harry, the rules of engagement in a war of genocide are different than in a normal police conflict.
"I agree with Weasley, the pure-bloods have spilled far too much innocent blood to merit restraint on our part," Snape said sternly. "Three times since the 1940's, the pure blood minority has tried to brutally subdue the up-surging majority. History is filled with such abrupt power shifts; Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon, Roma versus Carthaginians, Norman versus Anglo-Saxon. The pure-bloods have ruled magical England since before the age of the Romans – perhaps it's time for them to be supplanted by the more democratic and open-minded half-bloods.
"Even you must realize that the justice system in England is fully endorsing the ethnic cleansing of all Muggleborn's. The atrocities currently laid at the feet of the resistance by the Daily Prophet pale in comparison to mass murder the legal authorities are committing. All the silent majority of this country needed was a Caesar to counter the Dark-Lord and his DE minion's war of genocide.
"And you see me as Caesar," Harry asked eagerly.
"You – no." Snape spat back. "Don't be ridicules - I' didn't think you had the brains to pull-off something like this. And I was right – rushing in where angels fear to tread – like at the battle at the Department of Mysteries may have been brave – but not overly bright tactically. That's why I objected to Albus playing matchmaker with you and Granger. I told him she had the wrong kind of brilliance to fight a war.
"The Order desperately needed a strategist and neither Albus nor I saw that in you; Potter or Granger. What we didn't realize was that hidden in the shadows - behind his two more famous friends was the Dark Lords true nemesis.
"You flatter me Sir, "- Ron replied.
"Why did you pick Hogwarts as your battlefield?
"Lay lines.
"Then they do exist? And you can access them?"
"To a point – yes sir," Ron said
"The dark-Lord will think you trapped here, but if you chose this field and if I guess rightly – then you are also slowly forcing him to fight a set battle on your terms.
"Very perceptive professor," Ron said with a slight smile.
"You're greatly out-numbered
"So were the Romans at the Battle of Watling Street - in the Midlands back in 60 AD. There is at present only three ways into this castle and we will see if Tom wants to bleed his storm-troopers dry – just to force open one of those gates.
"The East gate is impregnable I assume - and that just leaves the bridges? - A narrow frontal assault out in the open against entrenched defenders – I've underestimated you.
"What's he talking about Ron?
"Lambs to the slaughter Mr. Potter, lambs to the slaughter," Severus said in clear distain. "But even you must realize that eventually the Dark Lord will get in.
"Perhaps, I'll let him in - when I chose to finish him off - but at what cost? My men have practiced mutually supported - fighting in retreat for a solid month - and all I'm facing is a poorly lead mob. Even if we all die here, Tom will be left with a tiny fraction of his original army of bigots. There are literally thousands of exiled British Muggleborn's training in France as we speak. If I fall here - my lads and I will be avenged by a second overwhelming invasion coming out of Normandy.
"You are prepared to die for this?
"England free of pure-blood bigotry – oh hell yes.
"Come Potter, I have to fulfill my last duty to Albus," Severus said.
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