Daddy Dearest - (No Update, Edit)

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 102 ~ A Number of Revelations

Andreas and Mathias worked on the Voldemort scenario until they believed they had it down pat. True to his word, Mathias did go back to his mum's house and steal the transfiguration charms. He and Andreas practiced using them until they became proficient.

Hermione's three days with Severus went well. The Potions Master didn't exhaust her this time, keeping in mind the witch was with him to rest after all, and after her short vacation, Hermione returned to her lab refreshed and ready to work on the difficult spell again. But she was worried that a month had gone by without any other breakthroughs than discovering the faint pulse.

Jasmine continued training with Mathias and Andreas, but she couldn't shake the feeling something else was going on with the wizards. They were becoming more focused, more serious about their training, and Jasmine became quite a good little fighter because of it. Mathias really made her work for every hit, kick or punch. It was as if the wizard were training her for some great match. But no matter how well she did, the pale wizard would not praise her.

"He's just like his father," Jasmine seethed to Andreas after she had thrown Mathias over her shoulder, then kicked him in the head so hard the wizard saw stars, even though he had on headgear.

Jasmine felt she deserved a pat on the back at least, but Mathias didn't say a word about it.

"That is a compliment," Andreas said in response. "His father is a great man."

Immediately after Hermione left his rooms, the Dark Lord summoned Severus. He arrived at the throne room to find it filled to the brim with deatheaters. Draco announced that they would be going into intensive training, and that all deatheaters would be required to attend the training sessions. He then introduced Douglas. Voldemort listened for the most part, his red eyes drifting over his minions. This was the twenty-fifth group he had seen today and there were plenty more to come.

Then the Dark Lord spoke and told his deatheaters that any insubordination to the muggle instructions would result in death and that they were to train hard, and the coup would occur at midnight on New Year's Eve, so they had to be prepared by then.

After most of the deatheaters departed, Severus knelt and waited for the Dark Lord to recognize him.

"Arise Severus and approach the throne," Voldemort said, beckoning the wizard forward. "You may look at me."

Severus looked up at Voldemort. He was about to speak when Voldemort waved his hand to silence him.

"Your hour has arrived, Severus, where you prove your loyalty to me. I am not going to require you to train with the rest of my deatheaters. I need you to do something specific for me. I need you to unward the gates of Hogwarts. At midnight, twenty thousand of my DKV members will apparate to the gates and overrun the school. The time of your treachery is at hand," the Dark Lord said. "Can you do this for me, Severus?"

Severus bowed.

"Yes my Lord. It is a simple thing," the Potions Master replied.

"I will be counting on you Severus. Do not fail me or I will track you down and rip the flesh from your bones one strip at a time," Voldemort said with a snarl.

"I will do as you ask, my Lord. I am your most loyal servant," Severus replied.

Voldemort's eyes narrowed.

"We shall see, Severus, we shall see," the Dark Lord replied. "Leave me now."

"Yes my Lord," the Potions Master said, bowing and backing up, then disapparating. He had to see Albus immediately.

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Severus informed Albus and Kingsley of the Dark Lord hiring muggle military advisors to train his deatheaters to restore order after he invokes the mark and thousands were killed, as well as the Dark Lord wanting him to open the gates of Hogwarts so his DKV members could overrun the school.

Both Albus and Kingsley looked very grave.

"We have come up with a plan to storm the Dark Lord's stronghold, Severus. We need you to get us in," Albus said to the Potions Master soberly.

Severus knew what this meant immediately. He would have to engage the Dark Lord so the ward would drop. Most likely the wizard would kill him. Ah well, the inevitable moment had arrived.

Severus nodded.

"I will do my very best, Albus," the wizard said.

Albus' blue eyes glistened.

"I know you will do no less," the Headmaster replied.

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Severus brought Mathias into his private rooms. Mathias was a little apprehensive about his father's sober demeanor. Severus told him to sit down and launched right into what he needed to tell him.

"Mathias, there is a very good chance that I will not live beyond the night Voldemort intends to invoke the mark," he told his son.

"What? Why dad?" the young wizard said, his heart in his throat.

"Because I am the only one who can enter the Dark Lord's stronghold and distract him enough so he lowers his wards. I cannot beat Voldemort, Mathias. He will kill me," the wizard said. "I just want you to be prepared, and to let you know…that I'm proud of all you've tried to do. You are a fine son."

Mathias looked up at his father.

"Dad…I need to show you something…at Headquarters. I think Andreas and I can help you," he said.

"What do you mean, son?" Severus asked him.

"I'd rather show you than tell you dad. Telling you won't persuade you. Showing you might," the young wizard said.

Severus arched an eyebrow at his son.

"Very well. Show me," he said.

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Severus and the boys showed up at Grimmauld Place, surprising both Tonks and Kingsley, who were quite knotted up on the sofa. Fortunately they hadn't gotten much farther than kissing. Tonks popped up and smoothed her spiky hair.

"Hey, I didn't think you were coming," she said looking at Severus and the boys.

"Um, we didn't come for training, Tonks," Mathias said. "We came to show dad our plan for killing Voldemort."

"For killing Voldemort?" Tonks said incredulously.

Both boys nodded.

"We have been working on it for weeks," Andreas said, "We believe we can do it."

The three adults looked at each other, then back at the young wizards.

"Well show us then," Kingsley said.

All of them walked down to the ROR.

"We're going to have a lot of explaining to do, Andreas," Mathias whispered to his brother.

Andreas shrugged.

"Then we will explain. We always knew we would have to one day. But only to your father," the wizard replied. "He can tell who he likes."

They stopped outside the room of requirement. Mathias turned to his father.

"Dad, you are going to see us do some things you don't understand. I will explain them to you later, but just you. You can tell Tonks and Kingsley later on, but I would rather just explain everything to you," Mathias said.

Tonks and Kingsley looked at each other. Mathias must have his reasons for this.

"That's fine with us, Mathias," Kingsley said, Tonks nodding.

"Thanks. Give us about five minutes before you look into the mirror," Mathias said, making the intricate motions that made the ROR door appear. He and Andreas walked inside.

Five minutes later, Severus, Tonks and Kingsley stared into the mirror.

"What's Jasmine Malfoy doing there?" Severus said out loud.

The three adults watched the scene transpire, their eyes wide in disbelief.

The boys exited the room, panting.

All three adults looked at them.

"Where did you get that scenario?" Tonks asked him.

"I'd rather explain everything to dad back at Hogwarts," Mathias said. "But it is the most likely scenario to defeat Voldemort."

Tonks looked at Andreas and shuddered slightly as she remembered his role, and his concentration as he enacted it.

Kingsley looked thoughtful.

"I think we can use them, Severus," he said in his deep, rich voice.

Severus looked from his son to Andreas, and felt his heart swell with pride.

"So do I Kingsley. So do I," the Potions Master said.

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Severus listened in awed silence as Mathias and Andreas told him of their escapades since Mathias' first year. Severus knew about the Iboga Elixir, but was still a bit doubtful until Mathias pulled up his shirt and removed the disillusionment spell, revealing the coiled, open-mouthed serpent etched into his chest with a series of scars.

"So you received powers from this inner journey you took?" Severus asked him.

"Some powers. Not like Andreas' powers, though I can do something he can't," Mathias said.

"Show me," Severus asked him.

"All right," Mathias said.

He looked at his father, then suddenly slumped in the chair.

Severus suddenly felt crowded and lost control of his body. He stood up, turned around then sat back down in his chair helplessly. Then the feeling of crowding was gone. He looked at his son as his eyelids fluttered and he sat up in the chair.

"Mathias can soul travel. He can take over another body for a few seconds," Andreas said, looking at Severus soberly.

Severus stared at his son. What an amazing power. Suddenly, Severus thought about the trial, and Umbridge's bizarre behavior that was described in the Prophet. Mathias had skived off school and attended that particular hearing with Jasmine. Suddenly Severus knew his son had possessed the woman for talking bad about Hermione. It also explained what he saw in the ROR.

Severus began to think and think hard.

"Is Jasmine a part of this plan?" he asked Mathias.

"No. I haven't told her about it yet," Mathias said.

"I suggest you tell her. She can play an even bigger role in this," Severus said to his son.

Mathias groaned inwardly. He had planned to wait to almost the last minute to tell Jasmine. But if her knowing could help save his father's life, he would tell her in an instant.

"All right, dad. I will talk to her tomorrow," Mathias said.

Severus nodded.

"Good. I think we may all have a good chance of pulling this off," the Potions Master said. "For now, off to bed with both of you. It's late and you have classes in the morning."

Both Mathias and Andreas wished the Potions Master a good night and exited his rooms.

Severus sat before the fireplace, staring into the flames.

His heart felt tight in his chest as he thought about all Mathias had gone through hoping to save him and his mother from Voldemort. How much that must have weighed on the boy, and how dedicated he was. Now he was going to risk his life to save his father and the wizarding world.

Once again Severus was glad that Hermione was too stubborn to abort his son all those years ago. The Potions Master had given him life…and now the boy was going to return the favor.

Life was truly miraculous.

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The next morning on the way to the ROR to weight train, Mathias turned to Jasmine.

"Jasmine, you know how you are always accusing Andreas and I of keeping secrets from you?" he said to the witch, who glowered at him.

"Yes. Leaving me feeling all left out," she responded.

"Well, you were right. We have been keeping a very big secret from you. If you come to my room after supper, I will tell you everything," the wizard said, his dark eyes meeting hers.

"You promise, Mathias?" she asked him, skeptically.

Mathias nodded soberly.

"On my honor as a wizard," he said, placing his hand over his heart as he did so.

Jasmine looked at Mathias closely. He seemed so intense. She believed he would tell her everything.

"All right, I'll come," she said.

Andreas had been listening to them silently. He knew Jasmine would freak out at first, but then she would be with them. She was his little sister after all, and family didn't abandon each other in times of need.

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A/N: Very fast moving chappie here. I hope it didn't seem too rushed. I want to get to the action now. I'm feeling it. Anyway, please review.