Twice Bitten ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 13 ~ Preparing

On his return, Snape stopped in his private rooms and entered his bedroom. He pressed a series of stones and a panel slid back. He reached in and removed a short scabbard.

His sword.

He didn’t know if it could kill Lilutu, but he’d feel more secure with it on his person. He exited his rooms and returned to the chambers to find Ron and Harry still there. He scowled, but they did need to talk strategy.

Ron stood up and faced the wizard.

”Professor, there’s a problem,” the young wizard said to him.

Snape wanted to say “What? Besides you two idiots?” but he held his tongue. Actually, Ron had proven to be an asset.

”What is it, Mr. Weasley?” he asked him, laying the scabbard on the table. Harry stared at it.

“Well, when Neville found out how to use the Room of Requirement, someone had to remain there so the others could get back,” he said to the wizard. “We need someone to stay behind. We were thinking Hermione.”

Snape arched an eyebrow at Ron.

”I suggest you think again, Mr. Weasley. We need Miss Granger with us since her capacity for quick thinking will come in handy. Besides, other than tying her up with magical restraints, there would be no way she’d agree to that. Like you two, she has an insane and foolish desire to constantly place herself in dangerous situations,” he said.

”But Professor, if anything goes wrong, Hermione could die. She’s mortal,” Harry said to Snape.

”I will do my best to keep her out of harm’s way, Mr. Potter. Be assured of that,” Snape replied, then added, “besides if we are successful, we will be able to return to England via the Port Key point in that area. If we are not successful, I do not intend on returning. So I am not concerned about the return trip.”

Harry and Ron looked at each other, then Harry said, “Professor, what do you mean? You’re going to stay there?”

Snape shook his head.

”No. I will end my existence there,” he replied, “I have no desire to exist as a vampire. I prefer Death.”

”Well, we don’t! If there’s no way back, Harry and me will be stuck there,” Ron said, his eyes narrowed.

Snape’s dark eyes met Ron’s steely gaze.

”Then I suggest you don’t accompany us, Mr. Weasley. Your cowardice will be . . . accepted,” the Potions master said with a sneer.

”I’m not a coward! I just don’t want to be stuck in a strange land!” Ron said to him furiously, “You don’t either, do you Harry?”

Harry looked at his friend.

”No, I don’t. But this is a chance to become human again, Ron. I think we all should go and face Lilutu. If she’s more powerful than Snape, he’s going to need us to help him kill her,” Harry said.

”But . . . but what if she dies and we’re still vampires?” he demanded. “It will all be for nothing. We’ll be stuck there for nothing, Harry.”

”I’m not sure I want to live as a vampire for eternity, Ron,” Harry admitted to his friend. “If it doesn’t work, I probably won’t be coming back either.

Snape gave a little nod of approval at Harry’s statement.

“What? You’re going to commit suicide, Harry? Why? Why can’t you just . . . just keep going? Hermione was right. We could get blood from other sources. We’re heroes. We’ll be provided for,” Ron said to him.

”Yeah. And we’ll live forever while everyone around us dies off. Everyone we care about, Ron. Our friends, our loved ones, everyone. I don’t want that, to live in a world full of strangers,” Harry said softly, thinking about Ginny and Hermione. “Do you want that?”

Ron stood there, torn. No, he didn’t want that, but he didn’t want to die either. So what he was Undead? He wasn’t dead Dead. Still, he couldn’t let Harry and Hermione go with Snape and face Lilutu without him.

”Ron, this is a chance to get our lives back the way they should be. People live and then they die, Ron. It makes everything mean something. Every moment of our lives is precious because you don’t know how many moments you or anyone else has left. I want my precious moments, Ron. Not Eternity. Just my moments,” Harry said softly.

Ron looked from Harry to Snape, who returned his look soberly.

”Fine. I’ll go,” Ron said sullenly, sitting back down on the bed.

”Good,” Harry said, giving Ron a little half-smile before turning to Snape.

”Do you have any ideas what to do when we meet Lilutu?” he asked the dark wizard.

”Several,” Snape replied.

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“Holy water, crucifix, silver nails, maple stakes, ash stakes, mallet, blessed oil, graveyard dirt,” Hermione rattled off as she carefully packed her “Vampire” kit, which was a large black satchel with an easy open clasp.

”Myrrh, Frankincense, Sandalwood,” she continued, placing incense in the bag. She looked around.

”Oops, almost forgot the garlic,” Hermione said, picking up several bulbs and placing them in the bag.

Some of the items hadn’t worked on Snape, Harry and Ron, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t work on Lilutu. Particularly if she wasn’t a “created” vampire but one born of genuine evil. The Holy Water was actually bottled this time, Hermione giving some thought to what the Professor said. Maybe the blessing hadn’t took. This way, she was sure the water was blessed directly by a priest.

She also had a few spells she planned to use. The Solaris spell mimicked sunlight, though Snape, Harry and Ron would have to be safely out of the way if she used that. She had the Aquis Orbis spell. She planned to encircle herself with moving water for protection, so the vampires could focus on Lilutu rather than protecting her at the final showdown. She also had a fire spell. Maybe that could cause some damage as well.

She also packed her dad’s night vision goggles. They didn’t work in the Wizarding World, but they would where they were going. She had also purchased a small cornucopia. It was a horn-shaped wicker basket that would supply food. It was connected with a local market. She had purchased a week’s worth of sandwiches, fruit and drink. Any time she was hungry or thirsty, she would be able to reach into the cornucopia and extract something to eat. It wasn’t magic really except that it transported food. Magic couldn’t create food. It went against Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration concerning objects that couldn’t be created by magic: Food, Love, Life, Information and Money.

Even magic had its limits.

However, Hermione had no intentions of starving while hunting Lilutu. The vampires already had their meal ticket in her, with the help of Replenishing potion. Iraq wasn’t the friendliest of places either, so she didn’t want to risk being seen by the locals, just in case someone thought she’d make a good hostage. They wouldn’t be able to take her . . . she’d just hex the hell out of them, but they could start searching for her, and that could complicate matters. But as long as she had her night goggles, food and protection, she should be fine.

Gods, she hoped this worked. If it didn’t . . .

Hermione felt a little hitch in her chest as she thought about Snape. If he wasn’t returned to mortal form, he was going to end it all.

Her lip trembled for a moment. Yes, he’d die and no one would ever be able to thank him for all he’d done against Voldemort. Hermione looked out the window for a moment, then had a thought. Disillusioning herself, she carefully moved through the castle heading for the Charms classroom. It wasn’t locked and Professor Flitwick was nowhere to be seen. Stealthily, Hermione walked over to his supply cabinet and removed a small Pensieve, placing it in her robes pocket. Then she headed for the subdungeons.

Snape felt her presence and zipped up to meet her.

”You’re early, Miss Granger,” he purred at the Disillusioned witch, who removed the charm. She melted into view, looking at him soberly.

”I’m not staying. I just need to see Harry. I want him to do something for me,” Hermione said to the wizard, continuing her descent. Snape billowed behind her.

”Something?” he asked her curiously.

”Yes. Something,” the witch said evasively.

Snape was very curious now, his dark eyes drifting over the witch as she walked before him.

”Would you mind telling me what you need Mr. Potter to do?” he asked her.

Hermione stopped and turned around.

”I would rather not, Professor. It’s . . . it’s something I’d like kept between myself and Harry. Of course you could compel me to tell you, or respect my wishes. I am sincerely hoping you’ll do the latter and not take advantage of your power over me,” she said to him softly.

Her eyes met his.

”No. You may have your secrets, witch,” the wizard replied.

He’d just compel Harry to tell him after she left.

They didn’t speak further and Snape turned off into his chambers as Hermione called for Harry, who met her in an instant.

“Isn’t it still daylight out?” he asked her, surprised she was in the subdungeons during the day.

”Yes, but I needed to talk to you. I need you to do something for me,” Hermione said to him, “Let’s go into your chambers.”

”Okay,” Harry replied, leading her down the hall.

He and Ron had a chamber similar to Snape’s but there were three torches that kept it brightly lit, and posters of Quidditch teams on the wall as well as one of a scantily clad and very shapely blonde witch next to Ron’s bed. Hermione ignored it as Ron greeted her.

”Hey Hermione,” he said, but made no attempt to embrace her.

”Hi Ron,” she said smiling at the vampire before pulling out her wand and casting a Silencing spell.

Snape scowled as all talking ceased. Of course he had been listening. Shit.

Hermione pulled out the Pensieve and held it out to Harry.

”Harry, I want you to put the memories the Professor gave you into this Pensieve so I can send it to the Ministry. If we don’t come back, no one will know about what he did against Voldemort. I’m going to send it to Kingsley. He knew Dumbledore trusted Snape. As the current Minister of Magic, he can issue a decree to clear him. I’m hoping if that’s done and we can’t change him back, he might reconsider killing himself,” Hermione said.

Harry looked at her sadly.

”I don’t think he will, Hermione. Snape doesn’t care about being a hero,” he said to Hermione.

Harry didn’t dare tell her that he believed he would take Snape’s way out if he was destined to remain a vampire. She’d go into hysterics.

Ron listened silently, knowing what Harry was thinking.

“Still, I want him cleared, Harry. Put them in,” she said, handing him the Pensieve and watching as Harry pulled out his wand and dropped strand after strand into the bowl until it was full of the swirling silver liquid/gas. He handed it back to Hermione, who carefully sealed it.

”I’m going to send this by owl to the Ministry. They should get it by this evening,” she said to Harry, who nodded.

”All right, I’m going. I’ll be back later,” Hermione said. “Thank you, Harry. See you later, Ron.”

The witch exited the chambers. She stopped in front of the Professor’s chambers and gasped as she saw him sharpening a short sword.

”Are you bringing that with you, Professor?” she asked, stepping into his chambers.

Snape turned to look at her.

”Yes,” he said shortly.

”I . . . I see,” Hermione replied.

They gazed at each other for a moment.

”I imagine you received what you needed from Mr. Potter?” the wizard asked her, suddenly studying the edge of his blade.

He looked rather menacing. As if he was going to go and behead Harry for some reason.

”Yes,” Hermione nearly squeaked, watching the wizard put the sword back in its scabbard.

”I will take you up,” the wizard said to her, flashing forward and swooping her up, enjoying her little shocked shriek. He always enjoyed that part. They shot to the top of the stairwell, Snape putting her down and watching as she cast another Disillusionment spell on her person.

”Until tonight, Hermione,” he said, then zipped away without so much as a kiss on her cheek.

Hermione blinked after him, then exited.

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”SHE WHAT?” Snape roared at Harry.

”She sent the Pensieve to Kingsley,” the young wizard replied.

The look on Snape’s face was terrible.

”I didn’t give you those memories to put on display in front of the entire Wizarding World! They are personal!” the wizard seethed at Harry.

“We just want to be sure you’re given the credit due you, Professor,” Harry said placatingly.

”I don’t need any damn credit,” Snape snarled.

”You won’t be arrested when you return,” Ron said, trying to help Harry out. “And the history books won’t make you out to be a traitorous git.”

Snape blinked at him, then suddenly thrust out both his hands, pinning the wizards to the wall, his face twisted.

”I don’t care what books have to say about me, or history. I did not give you permission to share my memories!” he hissed at Harry.

”Well, you didn’t say I couldn’t. You were dying, remember?” Harry said back to him, struggling slightly.

Snape released them.

”I’ll be glad when I’m free of all of you,” he seethed, billowing out of the chamber.

Harry and Ron were able to move again.

”You think he’d be grateful, the old bat,” Ron said to Harry, who shrugged.

”Well, like it or not, everyone’s going to know he was an honorable man and didn’t kill Dumbledore out of treachery,” Harry said. “I don’t care what he thinks, that’s a good thing.”

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When Hermione returned that night, armed with wand and satchel, she was met by a very angry Potions master.

”What right did you have to send that Pensieve to the Ministry?” he hissed at the witch, catching her by the shoulders and shaking her roughly.

”I had every right,” Hermione shot back at him. “It is important history that should be shared!”

”It was my life!” Snape said angrily, releasing her.

”It was a story that needed to be told, and I made sure it was. I’m not going to apologize for letting the Wizarding World know what a brave and wonderful wizard you are, Professor. I’ll never apologize for that!” she declared, stomping her foot for emphasis.

Snape stared at her for a moment, then sighed.

”Gryffindors. Always trying to make the entire world ‘noble,’” he said. “Well it’s done now, and we have other concerns. Such as getting that passageway opened.”

He whisked Hermione into his arms and shot down the stairs with her. Ron and Harry were in his chambers waiting. Snape didn’t bother putting Hermione down.

”We are off to the Room of Requirement. Disillusion yourselves and meet us there,” the wizard ordered, then again zipped off with Hermione.

“I hope we do become mortal again,” Ron said as he and Harry made their way to the stairs, “Then the greasy bastard can stop ordering us around.”

They Disillusioned themselves and ran up the stairs.

It was time to face Lilutu.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.