Doppelganger

Chpt 14 Revenge Not So Sweet

Severus stood up and approached his floo. "Stand aside Headmaster I am coming through."

Albus watched his potions professor step out of the floo brushing his robes as he sat down and saw Albus holding a copy of the Daily Prophet.

"An interesting twist on the story wouldn't you say? They may have been innocent when they were born." Severus stated with a snort.

"Yes Severus and Mr. Potter completed his interrogations and I must say that his muggle techniques are very effective and barbaric. He even allowed Hermione to assist in interrogating MacNair and it was unsettling to see her enjoy it."

So the witch was busy extracting her revenge to come to him in the dream world last night.

"Not surprising Albus. Those with a high sense of justice will want to right the wrongs even if it means to succumb to the techniques of their adversary. And Miss. Granger has a high sense of justice. Besides everyone has a dark side."

Albus sighed. "I know that Severus, but it was unsettling to see it in her." He sighed. "But that is not the reason I called you. I had a visit from Madame Pomphrey's apprentice and she asked me why I did not involve her. I told her that it was not a large mission and that the risk of injury was slight. She kept asking me what happened to the prisoners."

"No doubt under the Dark Lord's command. I'll tell him that you have tasked me to find out if she is a Deatheater."

Albus nodded. "Have you given thought to the task that I have given you Severus?"

He sighed. "Yes headmaster. But after I follow through we will only have six months to defeat the Dark Lord."

"We begin tonight. Meet me at 8 o'clock at the safe house."

Severus said nothing as he exited the headmaster's office to report to Voldemort.

SS/HG/SS/HG/SS/HG

Hermione stepped out of the castle and began to walk across the caste grounds making her way to the lake. She had decided not to stay at the safe house with the others last night feeling guilty about the joy she had felt torturing MacNair. She had thought that by doing it would avenge the torture that she suffered. Mr. Potter did not want her involved at first and finally relented at her refusal to be denied once he found out her involvement with MacNair. Her guilt rose up making her sick. She should have heeded Mr. Potter's warning.

She sniffled and lay down on the large rock next to the lake and fell asleep.

Severus made his way back to the castle still wearing his Deatheater robes. He had no worry of running across Madame Pomphrey's apprentice as a member of the Outer Circle appeared as he left Voldemort's presence with the assurance that he was the only one of his active followers at the castle.

He paused as he noticed a figure lying on a rock close to the lake and decided to investigate. Drawing near he discovered that the figure was Hermione and that she was asleep. Quickly casting a Notice-Me-Not spell he bent down to wake the witch. As soon as he touched her he felt incredibly tired and slumped down next to her feeling himself pulled into her mind. Thank Merlin he casted the spell he thought as he suddenly found himself in the dungeons of the safe house looking at a prisoner.

HG/SS/HG/SS

Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Luna looked at the prisoner chained upon the wall along with the doppelgangers as Kingsley approached one with a phial of veritesserum. "Time to tell your secrets."

"Never!" The Deatheater shouted back.

"Stoddard force open his mouth." Kingsley asked one of the two unknown wizards that helped in the raid.

Stoddard stepped up and forced the wizard's mouth open as Kingsley administered a few drops of the truth potion and waited.

The prisoner screamed in pain, blood leaking from his mouth, nose, and ears as he slumped in his chains.

Stoddard felt for a pulse. "He's dead Kingsley."

Kingsley looked to the phial. Could it be contaminated?

"Stoddard use yours as it is a different lot." Kingsley commanded as everyone moved to the next chained prisoner watching as the auror force open the prisoner's mouth and poured a few drops in. The prisoner convulsed and died exactly like the last.

"It seems that Voldemort has placed a spell or potion that kills his followers if they are given Verriteserum." Kingley stated to the group. "I hate to do it but it seems that we must use the Unforgiveable to force their secrets." Moving down the next cell.

"Crucio!" Kingsley commanded as he pointed his wand to the prisoner watching the prisoner writhe in pain for a moment before he died.

Kingsley looked to the dead prisoner in shock. The prisoner's death did not make sense as the spell was held less than a minute. He moved down to the next one and stated the unforgiveable once again as the next wizard died as well.

Kingsley looked to the dead prisoner as Albus appeared. He explained what had happened.

"It seems that Voldemort has placed charms to prevent us from obtaining information from his captured Deatheaters by potion or spell."

Mr. Potter stepped up. "If your magical means are unsuccessful than maybe we should pursue other options."

Albus looked to the doppelganger. "What do you suggest Mr. Potter?"

Mr. Potter explained his plans as Albus disagreed. "I know from our transference of magic that Crucio is an Unforgiven. Yet it was used here. There is no difference except that it will take longer to extract the information."

Hermione spoke up. "MacNair. When I was in my cell Professor Snape told me only his most trusted was in attendance and MacNair was there. I know what Mr. Potter is suggesting and I want to be a part of it."

Mr. Potter looked to the young witch. "No Hermione. You do not need to be involved in this."

Hermione looked to the muggle. "I was tortured by him after Malfoy and Bellatrix tortured me and you remember the memories that Major Granger showed you. You cannot deny me."

Mr. Potter sighed. "You want revenge and I can understand that. I will allow you to help me but you are going to regret it in the end. Revenge is never what you expect it to be. Are you sure you want to do this?

"Yes Mr. Potter I'm sure." Refusing to be swayed.

"Once we are in there and begin Hermione you will not be able to back out as that will break my sway over the prisoner. How long it takes depends on him. And you will carry out any orders that I tell you. Those are the rules. Do you accept them?"

Hermione nodded in understanding.

"Stay outside until I call you. This could take several hours so I suggest the rest of you get a meal and catch up on sleep."

MacNair looked up as a man walked into is cell. "You look like Harry Potter."

Mr. Potter conjured up a set of instruments. "I've been told that before." Picking up a knife and testing the sharpness by cutting his thumb. "Acceptable." He muttered to himself as he placed the knife back down on the tray and examined the rest.

"Walden MacNair. Executioner for the Ministry and a Deatheater. I hear that you are into torture and violence. I hope that you handle it better than the rest of your group as I have saved the best for last based on your reputation."

"You will not get anything from me no matter what you do. Who are you that you know so much about me?" MacNair snarled out.

"That was what the others said before they died spilling out their deepest secrets. I do hope that you will last longer as they did not even challenge me as they were weak. And as for who I am it does not matter at the end."

"Why not give me Veritesserum and be done with it?" MacNair demanded

"Too easy and as you are used to performing magical torture that option is out as well as it would be ineffective. So muggle means it is. Besides I have an apprentice to train. I have been told that you know her." Harry chuckled.

Harry walked over to the door and opened it motioning Hermione to enter. "I would like to introduce my apprentice Hermione Granger."

"Hello MacNair pleased to meet you again." She said as she smiled sweetly to him.

"That is not Hermione Granger. The Dark Lord killed her. I witnessed it." He spat out.

Hermione looked to Mr. Potter waiting for permission to speak falling into the role of an apprentice. She saw his nod of approval. "Your "Lord" failed." She replied as she lifted up her top revealing the long scar running from her right nipple and sloped down to her lower back. "Recognize your handy-work MacNair?"

MacNair gasped out in shock. So the witch really was the mudblood.

Harry spoke out. "MacNair save yourself some pain and tell me about Voldemort." Watching the wizard flinch at the Dark Lord's true name.

"Never!" MacNair spat out.

"I was hoping that would be your answer." Harry replied as he picked up a pair of pliers and motioned for Hermione to do the same.

Severus watched as the torture began and watched Hermione joyfully take part in it

The dream suddenly stopped as Hermione looked up and noticed him. "How are you here Severus?"

"I was coming back from Voldemort and saw you sleeping at the lake. I tried to wake you and was pulled into your dream."

He felt the waves of self loathing emanate from her. "Revenge and torture not up to what you thought it to be?"

"No Severus." She softly replied as she faded away.

He stood up as he watched the witch stir. "How do you do it Severus?" She asked with tears in her eyes.

"I have always been immersed in Darkness Hermione. It hardens you making it easier to inflict pain and suffering at will. I am tainted by it while you never had to perform an evil act. You are tainted as well as you performed an evil act." He stopped her reply. "The torture that you performed was an evil act that you knowingly performed. That is why you feel remorse. Every evil act tears a part of your soul away until it is nothing. Remember that as you go forward and realize the consequences, as the more evil acts that you willingly perform the more it will tear your soul apart."

Hermione looked at him in his Deatheater robes. "And how does one heal from it Severus? After all there must be a way as I am sure that I am not the first good witch to perform evil acts."

"Albus says that love heals all. Go to your friends and talk to them. They care for you and it should help you." He started to walk away.

"And what about you Severus Snape?" She asked.

He turned and faced her. "I am far from redemption Hermione. I may have loved someone in the past as you know from Major Granger's memories but no one has ever truly loved me." Sneering to her as he left her to her thoughts.

Hermione sighed and began her trek to the castle realizing that she had the power to heal them both if only he accepted her.

AN: Hermione is slightly broken as we wonder about the headmaster's request of Severus. And what information was found out from MacNair?