Doppelganger

Chapter 18 Aftermath

Harry Apparated with Alice to the edge of Diagon Alley. "I'll leave you here Alice." Watching as she removed the Phoenix robes and removed her mask. "I'm sure we'll need your services soon as we are going after the DeathEaters. They will receive the justice that the Ministry does not provide."

Alice looked to him nervously. "Does it have to be that way? I mean what about trial?"

"They let them go Alice when someone does manage to capture them. There is no justice in our world anymore. The Order of the Phoenix will be that justice. Take care and I will see you soon."

Alice watched as Harry began to walk and turned his heel and Apparated away. She pressed her Mark and waited a moment before she disappeared as well.

Harry arrived at the safe house as Hermione, Ron and Ginny rushed to hug him.

"What took you so long Harry? I was worried." Ginny asked him as she wrapped his arms around him.

"I escorted Alice to Hogsmeade. She's probably on her way to Voldemort now."

Snape entered the room. "Two more died. I suggest you all go in there and comfort the few survivors and make up a speech of glory or some other nonsense that Gryffindor have." He stood aside as Harry motioned for Ron and Hermione join them as they entered the makeshift ward.

He watched as Hermione followed Harry and Ron and caught his eyes as she thought. "I'm sure you did everything you could."

$%%^^

"She's a DeathEater Kingsley. Initiations are not done on attacks. The Dark Lord holds a Revel and the person being initiated has to prove their worthiness and loyalty. It usually involves torture and violence and a stray muggle or two."

Severus knelt down and picked up the unconscious witch's left arm and pointed his wand and muttered a charm. A flash appeared and you could see a trace of the Dark Mark before it disappeared. He stood up. "I recommend you kill her now and be done with it. I wonder how many more like her are out there."

"But I can't just kill her now. It would be murder!" Kingsley shouted out affronted.

Severus looked to the tall black wizard his eyes hard and glittering. "And what exactly have you been doing tonight Kingsley? You went to a house to purposely kill. I believe that the definition of murder is to plan and intend on killing someone and carry that act out." He waited for a reply.

Finding none Severus turned and walked up the stairs his robes billowing behind him.

^&*()

Hermione, Harry, and Ron walked back to the main room and noticed the doppelgangers and Kingsley sitting on the couches talking quietly.

Ron spoke out. "So was your mission successful? We lost nine of ours but we did get Malfoy."

Mr. Potter spoke out. "I thought more would be dead but I am glad that you were successful. We were as well as we took down that safe house. I'm sure that Voldemort will not be using it soon."

Hermione spoke out. "I think I'll go to bed now. It's been a long night and I will see you all in the morning." She left hearing the murmurs of "Good Night" as she went up the stairs.

Hermione was deep in thought as she went up the stairs. How could Ron be so flippant about the nine deaths? To her each death of her comrades was unacceptable.

She made it up to the third floor and entered her room and pulled out her wand as she noticed a shadow in her room. "Stupefy!" She shouted out as the shadow easily deflected it and stood up.

Hermione looked to the figure in the robes of a DeathEater.

The figure stepped to the light revealing Severus standing there holding his mask. "I didn't mean to frighten you. With the events of tonight I will be called."

Hermione looked to him as his voice settled her nerves as she tucked her wand back into her robes. "He is going to torture you."

Severus sat down on the bed and placed the mask beside him. "More than likely Hermione. You must prepare yourself for it."

She sat down next to him and pulled the leather glove from his hand and held it with hers. "I sense your worry Severus. How is it that I can sense your feelings and thoughts? Is it part of our Bonding?"

Severus squeezed her hand. "It is not the Bonding Hermione but something else. I have schooled myself over the years just to focus on one thing and turn off whatever else is happening around me. After you left for your mission I focused my thoughts to you and felt and heard you. It was clever of you to sneak up on Lord Malfoy like that and take him down. I felt the immense satisfaction you had."

Hermione giggled. "You should have seen the look on his face. It was priceless."

Severus looked to her as he pulled out his wand "Show me." He commanded in a soft voice.

Hermione pushed the mission to the front of her mind and nodded her head as she looked to him.

So much trust Severus reflected looking to her as he pointed his wand and whispered "Legilemens"

He watched the chaotic battle in the room whirl about as she burst in and fired off her own hexes. He watched her kneeling beside Malfoy as she removed her mask and saw the look of disgust and humiliation on his face. It was priceless. As he was removing herself from his mind he heard the flippant reply on the deaths made by her red headed friend.

The both became aware of their surroundings once again as Hermione trembled for a moment until he wrapped an arm around her as he guided her to lie beside him. His fingers played with her hair and he felt her relax. "Do not worry yourself over Mr. Weasley's comments. People have different ways of dealing with death."

Severus felt her move closer to him and threw an arm around his chest and soon heard the even breathing that indicated that she had fallen asleep. He continued playing with her hair as he waited for Voldemort's summons.

He woke up with a start noticing the early morning light stream through the room and jumped up. Voldemort had not called and that fact caused a slight flutter of worry. He noticed a piece of parchment on the nightstand and picked it up to read.

Severus, you looked so peaceful that I did not wake you. I have gone downstairs to help with breakfast. See you when you come down.

He changed into the familiar black of his regular teaching robes and reduced the robes and mask and placed them in a pocket of his robes.

Opening the door he peeked out to ensure that no one was there and then made his way downstairs. Loud chatter floated up as he descended the stairs and entered the kitchen. The room became completely silent as Severus sat down next to Albus. "I could not miss hearing your inane bragging about your fight for the Light. Please do not let my presence detract you."

Luna, Neville, Melody and the doppelgangers wisely remained silent as they heard the sting in his words as Ron continued his tale.

Hermione slid a plate containing beans on toast and an egg in front of the Potions Master and then filled a cup with hot coffee and placed it next to him. She sat down across from him and noticed the tension in her husband as Ron foolishly continued.

Ron buttered a piece of toast. "And then I pointed my wand and killed him. It was so easy! And to think he was a member of the Inner Circle!"

Albus leaned down and whispered to Severus. "You were not called last night Severus?"

Severus whispered back. "No Headmaster and that worries me."

Severus finished his meal and wiped his lips with his napkin and set it down as he addressed the red haired wizard.

"And what about the nine who died Mr. Weasley? What did they do?"

Ron stopped his tale and looked to his ex-professor. "I don't understand the question Professor Snape."

Severus spoke out with obvious disdain in his voice. "You know, the nine that died on your mission? Reg Cattermole, Dirk Cresswell, and Marietta Edgecomb to name a few. What did they do?"

Ron stared at him with a blank look as he shrank back as his ex professor rose up from the chair he was sitting in and leaned forward to him.

"It's rather easy Mr. Weasley. They died." Severus snarled out. "Your mission was exactly like a DeathEater mission. It was designed to catch them in a vulnerable state and you succeeded in that. How do you think it would have gone if they were dressed and armed?"

Ron said nothing.

"I am a DeathEater and everyone in this room knows it." Severus stated.

Ron finally found his courage as he spoke up. "Yeah but you're reformed."

Albus placed his hand upon Severus to stop the conversation but was unsuccessful as the Potions Master pulled away.

"Hmmm. You've got me reminiscing Mr. Weasley. The year was 1978. Does the year ring a bell?"

Harry looked to him uncomfortably as Hermione gasped out in shock. She knew where this was leading. She felt her husband's increasing anger at the arrogance of her friend.

Severus looked to Hermione. "At least one realizes the significance of the year. Care to enlighten them or should I do it?"

Hermione whispered. "The Watton Junior School Massacre."

"Ten points to Gryffindor. The Dark Lord called us and it was a boon to us. We were commanded to kill everyone there and to make it very messy. And that we did and what a bloodbath it was. Years 3 through 6 was very much a threat to us as we went through the classrooms and killed them all. All defenseless children and teachers. And after it was over we spent our time over a table very much like this and regaled in our glory of our heroic attack."

Ron stuttered out. "But that was different."

Severus looked to the young wizard as he made his way to leave. "Was it really Mr. Weasley? I suppose you could justify it as a few managed to get their wands. But you still lost fifty percent of your attacking force from the few that managed to get their wands. You are just as obtuse now as you were in school boy."

Hermione schooled herself not to rush after her husband as he left the room as Harry jumped up to follow him.

Severus exited the house and made his way to the field that he found Major Granger in. He had not lost control in many years and he knew that Mr. Weasley would never learn.

Harry approached Professor Snape and quietly spoke. "I am not my father you know. My mother told me about you in a dream and I stood for Hermione."

Severus sighed at the reminder as he turned to address him. "No you are not Harry Potter. You look like him to be sure but you have your mother's compassion and intelligence. And you stood for Hermione despite what I did to you during your stay at Hogwarts. Perhaps there is hope after all."

He looked to the young man that he once hated with a passion. "I will not survive this. You will make sure Hermione is taken care of?"

"Of that you can be sure of Professor as long as I live." Harry replied with feeling.

AN Severus puts the leaders of the Phoenix back into perspective but the Dark Lord has not called. What will happen next as Severus accepts Harry as an almost equal?