Doppelganger

A/N Sorry been a while updating this. My father had emergency surgery. This will be updated often now that I am back. Thank you for your understanding

Chpt 16 Reflection and Actions of a Potions Master

Severus woke up several hours later and watched Hermione as she continued to sleep. For the first time in many years he felt that he actually had a soul and suspected that his witch had something to do with that. Was he weak to acknowledge something that he guarded so closely to himself? He was loathe to admit it to himself, but Lily seemed a stronger witch after she got together with that bastard Potter. He carefully pulled away from Hermione as he got up and went to his dresser and opened a drawer. He pulled out a fresh pair of underpants and put them on.

Digging further in the drawer he pulled out a plain black box and took it over to the fireplace. He pulled a chair close to the fireplace as he enlarged the box and began to riffle through the contents.

He pulled out a muggle picture of his father and mother standing next to him when he was 11 years old. Bastard! He thought as he placed it aside remembering the beatings that he and his mother endured for years and the fact that his father murdered his mother before killing himself.

Severus continued and found his awards for top Potions scores that he received when he graduated from Hogwarts along with the medal declaring him a Master of Potions. The Potions Mastery was because Lucius Malfoy used his influence and paid for his apprenticeship.

He found the picture that he was looking for, his Lily smiling and waving to him. He had dwelled over her loss for so long that he felt the guilt over loving another other than her.

Severus felt a presence in his room and looked to the translucent form of Lily that appeared as he held the picture.

"Severus I have felt your pain throughout the years since I have passed through the Veil." Lily told him.

"And why appear now witch?" He snarled out.

"Because you have found the witch that understands you for whom you are and accepts you. I could never do that Severus." Lily told him. "Burn the picture and let me go and embrace love. We never had that."

My Hermione! He thought to himself as he tossed his most treasured possession to the fire as he noticed Lily fade away. "Protect my son Severus. You promised."

"I did and I will Lily. Thank you for releasing me." Severus replied out to the room as he watched the picture burn. He felt that he could move on now.

Severus watched the flames of the fireplace flare for a moment and settle back down as he pulled out Major Granger's medal that she had given him before she went to her fate and held it in his hand as he noticed a pair of translucent forms appear before him.

"She loves you." Major Granger's translucent form spoke out. "She loved you before she went to her death."

Timothy Reese spoke out. "I never told her how I felt and it is only because of death and a prophecy that I could appear to her at her death and tell her that I loved her. In my mortal life I was foolish not to tell her. Take what she willingly gives you for you will die to regret it. I did."

"Did you find your port major?" He asked.

Major Granger smiled as she grabbed Timothy's hand. "I did and I had to die to find it. Make sure that you do not make the same mistake Severus Snape. Experiencing love on the mortal plain is much more then when you die on the spiritual world as you do not have the physical contact. Timothy's love for me called for me in the Veil but it would not have happened if not for the circumstances of fate. Do not miss your chance as right now you have the woman that truly loves you. Find your port before it is too late."

Timothy looked to the dark man. "We'll meet you again when it is time. Do not regret her death and what you experienced with the major. After all it was meant to be." Winking at him as the pair faded out.

He sensed that Hermione was with him as he turned and looked to her wearing his white shirt halfway buttoned up

"Do you regret last night?" Hermione asked. She had all of Major Granger's memories and knew what the major and he did together.

He handed Major Granger's Medal of Honor to her. "No Hermione if anything looking at her medal and realizing what she sacrificed made me see what we have. I have you and no matter what happens I know that I love you and I always will. Wait here a moment." He asked as he left his study and went to his bedroom and pulled a small box from a shelf.

He opened the box and looked to a matching pair of wedding bands along with the red and green Bonding ribbons. He thought that he would never have a chance to use them. The bonding ribbons and rings were created during Third year in a special class.

Severus walked back into the room. "Hermione I told you that you would be mine if you entered my chambers." He opened up the box revealing the wedding bands and Bonding ribbons. "I will not survive but I want you to be mine until my demise. Do not deny this witch for over the course of five years I watched you form into the beautiful woman that you are and you chose me despite what I could not do for you."

"Severus I…"Hermione sputtered.

"Just say yes witch." He growled out.

"Yes Severus I will Bond with you."

Severus transfigured their clothes into that of a semi-formal wear and walked over to the floo and tossed some floo powder into it and called to Albus. "I wish for you to perform a Bonding Headmaster."

"Of course my boy but you need two witnesses and I cannot be one as I will perform the ceremony. Stand aside as I am coming through." Albus came through the floo and looked to Hermione and Severus. "And who are your witnesses?"

"Stay here Headmaster while we round them up." Severus replied.

*()&^%

Hermione appeared in Harry's room and woke him up. "Harry I need you and you are not going to like what I request of you."

Harry put on his glasses and looked to her. "I know what you want Hermione. My mother told me in a dream. You need me to be your witness in your Bonding to Professor Snape."

Hermione nodded in surprise as Harry sat up and motioned for her to sit on his bed. "My mother told me about her relationship with Professor Snape. They lived in the same neighborhood and eventually attended Hogwarts together. They loved one another until one word was said in an argument that pushed her away from him and into the arms of my father." He sighed as he continued. "I now understand why he hates me so much. I look like my father and he never stopped loving her and blamed himself for her death. My mum said that I should help you so that he can let go of her and I'll do that Hermione as long as you are sure that this is what you want."

"It is what I want Harry." Hermione told him with feeling.

"Step outside Hermione and I'll be ready in a few minutes."

$%^&

Albus stood in Severus chambers and looked to the two witnesses. "A Bonding agreed to between a wizard and a witch. Witnesses come forward and state your name."

Harry walked up and placed his wand on the Bonding ribbons that bound Severus and Hermione together. "Harry James Potter for Hermione Granger."

Mr. Potter walked up and placed his wand on the Bonding ribbons. "Harry James Potter for Severus Snape."

Albus stood over the pair and placed his wand on top of the witnesses. "Severus Snape you have pledged yourself to this witch. Do you vow to have her until the end of your days and care for her and love her always."

Severus looked to her as he replied "I vow it."

"And you Hermione Granger pledge yourself to this wizard and to have him until the end of your days and care for him and love him always."

Hermione smiled as she replied "I vow it."

"Kiss your Bonded to complete the ceremony." Albus intoned and watch as the pair passionately kissed one another for a few moments before breaking apart.

There was a flash of magic as the ribbons disappeared and a faint light lingered where the ribbons were once at.

"The flash confirms the Bonding as true and complete." Albus stated as he looked to Severus and Hermione. "If you have rings you may place them on one another."

Severus slid the ring on her finger as he whispered to her. "I will love thee always."

Hermione hesitated as she held his ring. "Severus what about Voldemort?"

Serverus placed his finger in the ring. "Do it Hermione and let me worry about the Dark Lord."

She slid the ring onto his finger and looked to him. "I love you Severus."

Albus clapped his hands. "I present to you Severus and Hermione Snape."

Mr. Potter approached Severus. "I hate to spoil your honeymoon but we need Hermione back at the safe house to finalize our attack plans. I promise you can have her back in two days time."

"Without a scratch Mr. Potter. I can be very vindictive as everyone here knows and I would hate for you to experience my wrath." Severus growled out unhappy that his new wife would have to be away from him. He understood the need but that did not mean that he had to be happy about it.

"Be careful Hermione and come back to me. Your mission is dangerous."