Real Realms

A/N: I am still looking for a beta and so these chapters are unedited. BTW, thank you to all who reviewed.

Chapter 2

All’s Fair In Love & War


During the months that followed that night, the war had grown long and many had fallen. Those who remained fought on; watching as those they loved went off to face what very well might have been death. But they did what they had to do; for the greater good, for hope, for freedom, but above all of these things they did it for love. Love of home and family and country.

There were held breath’s as everyone waited for Voldemort to lay siege on Hogwarts; but the winter holidays came and went without a hint of attack. Then the Easter holiday passed likewise and that was why, Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, allowed the students to stay on.

Hogwarts seemed to be as safe as everyone had always thought. And so they all stayed on for the awarding of the House Cup and the Leaving Feast. There were only a select few who knew that they waited like lambs at the slaughter for the Dark Lord and his minions to attack.

Albus had confided in Ginny and Severus that if attacked while the students were there he would have no choice but to surrender without a fight. There were too many lives at risk and the Dark Lord had become even more unstable. There was no telling how many innocent lives he would take to reach his goal.

And so it went that on the evening of the Leaving Feast, with students and teachers alike seated in the Great Hall the Death Eaters breached Hogwarts security. They had come in through a flue in Hogsmead and had made fast work of the few Auras that were posted there. They were blasting through the front door of the school as Ginny made her way to the dungeons.

Bursting through the door to the Potions classroom, “Hermione they’re here.”

“I heard them blast the front gate open about ten minutes ago. They must have waited to see if anyone attacked them. That means we still have some time.” They were safe for now in the Potions Master’s office as Ginny waited for Hermione to finish the Draught of Peace.

It had taken Hermione over a month and a half to research and find all the ingredients that she had needed. After all it wasn’t everyday that someone could walk into and Apocathary shop and order Pixy wings. Those were only used in memory altering potions and were outlawed by the Ministry. So she had to order from place that would not trace her or her cause.

As everything had arrived Hermione realized that this wasn’t playtime or a potion that if done wrong would only get her low marks in class. It was time to batten down the hatches and get to work. Severus had helped her in deciphering the arcane code of the potion and still that had taken four days. Now that it was time to test their work and Hermione could only hope that she had done everything right.

“’Mione, is it done yet? I can’t hold off on answering his call much longer.” There were tears in the youngest Weasley’s voice, caused by the burning of his mark.

“Please, Ginny, I am working as fast as possible. One slip up and it is not only your life but Professor Snape’s.”

Hermione watched her hands shake as she poured the potion into it bottle. Much lay in the balance, and this one little potion, that had never been tested, seemed to be the answer to all their prayers. This one move would either win them the war or cost them many lives. There was no margin for error.

“I have to go.” Ginny’s words were cut short by the sounds of doors being blasted off their hinges as the last of the barriers between Voldemort and the Great Hall were cast aside.

Hermione handed her friend the caped bottle and nodded her curl covered head. “Go. And good luck, I know you love him. May your love be enough.”

Ginny just smiled at her closest friend and disapperated on the spot. Hermione was left alone with her thoughts and she could not stop worrying that something might go wrong. That was when Ginny’s parting smile flashed before her eyes and she knew that she would do everything in her power to see to it that Tom Riddle was made into the man he should have been.

As she made her way out of the room Hermione went over everything in her mind. It was common knowledge amongst her friends that Ginny had taken the Dark Mark over the winter holidays. But it was only Hermione that knew it wasn’t the Dark Mark at all that burned when she was called upon. She alone knew that Voldemort had marked Ginny different; he had marked her as his queen.

Ron and Harry seemed happy to delude themselves that the mark was different because she was a girl. Or that she had taken the mark as a way to insure a win for the side of the light. Yet it was Hermione alone that carried the heavy burden of Ginny’s confession.

The youngest Weasley had said, “I didn’t do it for the better good, Hermione. I did it for me. I love him, and maybe love is enough.”

Ginny’s words still rang clear in Hermione’s head. She did it for Voldemort? No that wasn’t right she had said she did it for the man he once was. And that was what really caused her to worry. All Hermione wanted was for Ginny to have some happiness, Merlin knows she deserved it. After all she loved Riddle enough to risk her life and the acceptance of her family to save the ghost of a man that had died long before she was even born. If the Fates were fair that had to count for something.

Hermione had reached the steps that would lead her into the entrance hall of Hogwarts now and these thoughts still pursued her. Truly she felt for her friend. Hermione knew that you could not choose who you fell in love with. The
horrible truth of it all was that she also knew that love didn’t always conquer all. There were no absolutes when it came to wars of the heart. Wasn’t her love for Severus Snape a testament to that?

Hermione, was taking the steps two at a time now, but wither it was to get into the Great Hall where she was needed; or to get as far away from her thoughts as possible she did not know. It was only a few more feet to the castle doors, there Hermione would check to see if the Goblins were in position.

Hoggle was waiting in the shadows of the bush nearest the entrance doors. When he spotted her he moved into view, “Are you ready, Missy?”

Although affronted by being called missy, Hermione nodded, and moved on. Softly she muttered the disillusionment charm and headed into the Great Hall. What greeted her eyes was appalling.

There in the center of the Great Hall was the Dark Lord and his minions celebrating their hard won victory; and there in the midst of it all Hermione say Snape. Even with the Death Eater’s mask in place she knew it was him; it was his stance, always regal even in deceit.

The room was filled with chatter, but as suddenly as the chatter had started everything had gone still. All eyes turned as the one they called the Dark Mistress apparated next to the Dark Lord.

“Ah, little one, I thought you would never get here.” Voldemort held out his arms to Ginny.

There was a growl from Ron, “That’s my bloody sister your talking to.”

But Ginny raised her wand and pointed it at her brother, “Patrificitus Totalus.” Then she turned once again to Voldemort, “Tom, I wouldn’t miss this for the entire world.” Her words were a soft purr as she leaned into his taller frame for a kiss.

All Harry could do was look on from where he was restrained and he seemed to pale as the magnitude of the situation hit him. He was enraged and began to struggle with the magical ropes that bound him.

But even that was short lived as the Death Eater broke rank and Lucius Malfoy pushed his way forward. “Milord, as touching as this is, we should do something with our captives.” His words were colder then the sneer he sent in Ginny’s direction.

“It’s nice of you to have crawled out from under your rock long enough to join us, Malfoy.” Ginny’s voice dripped venom.

There was no love loss between the two. Malfoy felt that she was nothing more than a plaything for his master. And she should have been treated accordingly. Ginny on the other hand thought Malfoy was nothing more than a coward. Even though she was duplicatice, Ginny knew she was ready to give her life for what she believed in. Malfoy on the other had could not say or do the same.

There was something else that seemed to get his blood boiling whenever he was around her. Maybe it was that he could picture her naked body beneath his as she begged for him. No, she needed to know her place and he was just the wizard to show her. Lucius raised his hand as if to strike her, but Voldemort was faster.

Catching his hand in an unbreakable grip, “Do not test my patients, for you will find I have none, Malfoy.” With a soft hiss and a wave of his wand the hall filled with a piercing green light, “Curio.”

The scene between Lord Voldemort and his fallen follower had enabled Hermione to move deeper into the Great Hall. The commotion covering any noise she made on her way. Once near the first group of captives Hermione muttered the counter curse and loosened Harry’s bonds. Working together they started on the others and then she remembered that the goblins could not come unless called upon.

“Bloody hell.” She whispered. “I wish the goblins would come and take all the under aged and helpless to safety.”

They had gone over the wish at least a hundred times since they had come up with the whole idea. Hermione had to word the damn thing just right or she would have sentenced those the goblins took to the depths of the Labyrinth. Forever.

There was a number of loud pops as the Great Hall filled with goblins. Voldemort lowered his wand, turning toward the chaos. A look of pure hate took over his now handsome features.

His Death Eater’s were shocked into stillness, “Well, don’t just stand there you bloody imbeciles. Get them!”

At the Dark Lord’s words his lackeys were galvanized into action. Each taking off into their own duels. Some working together in sets of three against one. Amongst the mass of curses being cast Voldemort spotted Harry and his two sycophants.

He headed for the Golden Trio, wand at the ready. “Now, I’m going to end this, once and for all, Potter. But who should I kill first?”

Voldemort tilted his head to the side as if sizing them up. And then his eyes came to rest on Hermione, he moved his wand up and down the length of her,” Perhaps I should let the mudblood live. After all I am sure there will be a place for her in our new world.”

“I would rather die first, Riddle.” Hermione’s words rang clear in all of the malay.

“Have it your way.”

Severus Snape was watching the whole scene unfold and grew paler the usual at the Dark Lord’s threat. He saw the wand raise a second time and that was when he moved. Severus quickly moved between Hermione and the Dark Lord, acting as a human shield.

“Severus, move away from the girl.” Voldemort’s words would have quelled a braver man then Severus Snape yet he stood fast.

“My son, this is no time for acts of stupidity. If you really feel this way I will let you keep the mudblood as a pet.”

“I will not allow this. One was enough Voldemort.” Severus’ voice carried throughout the hall and some of the closer duelers stopped to watch.

“You dare to stand between the Mudblood and myself?”

There was no answer from Severus just a glint in his obsidian eyes.

“Very well then. Curio.”

Severus dropped to the floor in a cloud of black robes, as he withered in pain Hermione ran over to him. She dropped to her knees and covered his body with her own. Blocking him from any more curses; but there was no need for that. As soon as their bodies touched a goblin jumped on top of them and they were apperated out of the Great Hall.

The Dark Lord let out a scream of defeat and lunged for Ron and Harry. “Better still that the two of you could stay and take the punishment meant for your friend. There is no one to think you out of it this time, Potter.”

He had now raised his wand and started to advance on them. Throwing insults at them both. Letting them knew just what he thought of Ron’s little sister. “Ginny, is quite the quick learner. And I might add quite the screamer.”

“You filthy, bastard.” Ron was out of control, his wand in the air ready to strike.

Ginny was still near the doors to the Great Hall and she knew that she wasn’t going to be able to get across the room without a little help. “Accio broom.” She called over all the noise. Within moments her broom was at her side.

Mounting it, Ginny took to the ceiling of the Great Hall, staying well out of the way of any recating hexes. She circled the little group of those she loved, uncorking the bottle Hermione had given her. Ginny let its contents spill onto Voldemort.

“Adva-“Just before the final blow was cast a serene look took over the Dark Lord’s face. The potion had worked; a feeling of peace was filling his soul, and for some strange reason Tom Riddle could not remember what he was going in the midst of a battle.

The rest of the battle was a blur of brightly colored curses, and counter-curses. Many were wounded including, Ron Weasley, who lost an eye. Harry Potter, who would forever walk with a limp and Severus Snape who was in the hospital wing for two weeks suffering the after effects of the last curse ever cast by Voldemort.

The list of those who lost their lives was long on both sides. Including Percy Weasley who had fought along side the Death Eaters. Yet with all the loss and grief the Wizarding World was once again safe. And the Boy-who-lived and his friends were free from worry.

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“What are you saying? Malfoy was never caught?”

“Severus, please do not get yourself agaited. We will keep an eye out for him. Truly he is but one man. The rest sit quietly in Azakaban.”

“The greatest storms announce themselves upon a single breeze. Do not be an old fool Albus. Lucius can do more damage then Longbottom in a potions class.”

Hermione had entered the hospital wing through the nurses door, as she had been doing since they brought Severus here. She hadn’t noticed the two men talking in hushed tones.

“Severus, I have the books you wanted…” Just then she looked up from the load of books in her arms and noticed the Headmaster.

She placed the books on Severus’ night table. “Headmaster, I didn’t know you would be visiting today.”

“I needed to speak to Severus on an urgent matter.”

Hermione’s eyes jumped from Severus’ face to the Headmaster and back. “Oh, you’ve upset him. How could you? You know he almost…”

But she couldn’t bring herself to say that he had almost died. It wasn’t the curse really. It was all the other torture his body had taken over the years. And for what? An old man that would insist on calling on him even at his sick bed. Hermione knew that Albus was the ever competent chess player and that Severus was just another one of his pawns.

“Miss Granger, I am not some child that needs coddling. Now will you please leave me the bloody hell alone?” Snape’s voice although soft from fatigue was as cutting as ever.

“Fine. See if I care for you the next time you are near death’s door.” Before a single tear could fall she had turned and ran from the room. There was a slamming of a door as she left the Hospital wing for the last time.

“Was that really necessary, Severus? She was only trying to help you the way you helped her.” There was a knowing twinkle in the Headmaster’s eyes.

“I did nothing to merit her concern. I was just doing what you had instructed. Nothing more.” Snape folded his arms across his chest to signal that the conversation was over.

“Yes, I remember telling you not to let anything happen to Potter. Granger on the other had been expendable.”

“I do not see how her life is worth less then bloody Potter’s.”

Albus had gotten the reaction that he wanted and with it the answers he was looking for. Severus and Hermione had feelings for each other that they were both to hardheaded to admit. Now what to do about this?

“I think you should get some rest, Severus.”

With that Albus turned around and left the now pissed off Potions Master alone with his thoughts. And that was when it hit Severus that the Headmaster hadn’t meant what he said about Hermione. He had been testing his reaction and Severus knew he had given the old man the answer he wanted.