Doppelganger

A/N Severus's loyalty is tested and his task must be done or the Dark Lord will kill him.

Chapter 20 Betrayal?

Severus looked to his group as they observed the main entrance of the large house. Based upon the parchment he knew that they were in a remote area of Wales. The prisoners had been moved from the main headquarters of the Phoenix after they were interrogated.

He pointed to two of the Outer Circle and motioned them to follow as Bella moved to join them. "Let's walk around the house and see what we have to work with." He hated making plans on the fly. They slowly walked around the house taking in the details and met back up with the rest of the group.

Looking to the two DeathEaters he asked "Notice anything significant?"

"All the windows on the second floor are shuttered closed."

Another voice spoke out. "There is only one way in and out and that is the main entrance."

Severus replied as he recognized the voices of Crabbe and Goyle from the years that he had taught them and been their Head of House back at Hogwarts. "Well spotted. Also the building is not stone but timber-framed. This helps us in the success of our mission." He glanced up and watched as the clouds cover the full moon. The Fates were being kind tonight as they would not be seen as they made their way to the target.

He turned to Bella. "How many of ours there Second Knight and how many of our group do you require?"

Oh this was going to be fun! Bellatrix LeStrange thought. "Three of who the Dark Lord commanded for us to return. Thirty of the others." It would not due for the Outer Circle to know that three of the Inner Circle had been captured. "I need five First Knight. Two to take back the three and the rest to complete what the Dark Lord commands of me." She pointed to Crabbe, Goyle and one other and motioned them over to her. "These will help me accomplish what I need to do."

"Very well Second Knight. Gather round most loyal of our Lord and listen to my plan." Severus replied as he explained his attack plan.

Bella listened and spoke out with indignation. "First Knight…"

"Silence your voice Second Knight. I have my orders as you have yours." He snarled out. He ordered the group to follow him as he slowly approached the house and paused as he saw the slight glimmer of a guard. "Stop!" He whispered as he pointed his wand out and steadied his resolve as he whispered "Avada Kedavra!"

They watched green light shoot out and watched as a body fell to the ground. The DeathEaters moved past with a few of them viciously kicking the body of Dedalus Diggle as they passed by it.

The group moved on until they were facing the main entrance. He pulled three to stand next to him as he brought down the last of the wards and whispered. "Intent at the lower level. We must make sure that the second floor does not collapse."

&!#

Kingsley sat next to Melody, Mrs. Potter, Tonks, and Ron enjoying his conversation with Mrs. Potter as they talked about the Wizarding world. Her questions were endless and he was glad to answer all of them.

Kingsley suddenly stood up and motioned for everyone to be quiet as he felt the wards fall. ""Grab you wands!" He shouted as he pointed his wand to the front door. "Something is not right here!"

The room suddenly fell down on him and he knew no more.

$#!

Severus and three of the Outer Circle shouted "Reducto!" As they watched the front entrance explode inward. "Go now and do what I command of you!" He shouted out as he ran through the dust and debris to find those of the Phoenix as Bella went up the stairs with her group.

Soon Kingsley, Mrs. Potter, Tonks, and Ron were stripped, bound, and gagged looking to him with hate in their eyes. "Go Outer Circle and assist our Second Knight." He commanded.

Severus watched as his group quickly obeyed his command as he saw a slight glimmer moving its way toward freedom. "Relashio!" He shouted as the body fell to the floor and saw the form of Hermione Granger.

He bound her and disillusioned her as one of the Outer Circle clumped back down the stairs. "First Knight those needing rescue have departed. We also found eight others with no Mark and killed them in the way that was commanded."

"More of the Phoenix. Tell the Second Knight to begin as these will hear. Go back up and enjoy yourself with our traitors."

He watched the DeathEater run back upstairs as he picked up a chair and sat it back right as he sat down and looked to the naked witches and wizards. They looked to him with horror in their eyes as the prisoners screamed into the night.

"My Second is enjoying herself. Justice for the Dark Lord as they spouted out their secrets." He spat out as he continued to watch their reaction. "It's a shame that you tortured and killed them in the most heinous ways Phoenix. At least that is what the Daily Prophet will report."

Kingsley looked to him in anger as the screams to fade into moans and eventually the house was quiet again. He released Hermione Granger from the ropes and picked her up by her neck and squeezed slightly.

"You are Melody Mockingbird?" He asked as the witch struggled to nod her head in agreement.

Severus threw her down on the ground. "I suggest you leave now Miss. Mockingbird and alert your leader to what has happened here."

Melody quickly scrambled away as she heard the clump of feet walking down the stairs.

"Look to them Outer Circle. The best of the Phoenix and they are tied up and naked. This proves that they are weak and we will succeed." He pulled out a rod that contained the Dark Lord's mark and silently heated it until it was red hot. "We will let them live and they will not forget their humiliation."

Severus grabbed the left hand of Kingsley and burned the mark into his flesh ignoring the screams until all had the Mark burned into their left hand as the sick smell of burned flesh hung in the air. "The Dark Lord has graciously allowed you to live and you will remember as the brand cannot be concealed or be removed by magic."

"Time for us to go." Severus flatly stated as they left the group moaning out in pain.

^&*(

Severus arrived back to the Dark Lord and immediately bowed along with his group. "My Lord it is done." He stated reverently.

"Outer Circle go and you will be rewarded. I am pleased with the service that you have performed."

Voldemort watched the group leave as he looked to Severus and Bella and the freed members of his Inner Circle. "Rise Bella and Severus."

He went into her mind and saw the torture and killing of his Outer Circle. She could be vicious and she was very creative tonight as she completed her task with enthusiasm.

"Go Bella and wait for me in my chambers." He commanded and watched her leave.

He then entered Severus' mind and viewed the memories. He had completed his task perfectly as he saw the naked prisoners bowed before him naked and the brand burned onto their hand as he commanded.

"Go back to Hogwarts Knight and tell Alice of your success and that she will be called soon. If you cannot convince the old goat about your "loyalties" to the Phoenix then you will come back to me. I have Alice to watch the school though she will not be as privy to the information that you had access to."

"As you command My Lord." Severus reverently replied as he walked past his fellow Knights. It would not be a pleasant night for them.

!#$

Albus convinced Hermione to accompany him to his office telling her that he would know the moment her husband arrived back at the castle. He motioned to her to sit down and called for the house elves to bring tea and biscuits.

He watched as she became more agitated and distraught as time passed and managed to slip a Calming Draught into her tea when she was not looking.

Hermione calmed down and looked to the Headmaster. "You've spiked my tea Albus."

"Yes Hermione. You were beginning to worry me. It is only a Calming Draught. You know that you can tell me anything." Hoping to get to the bottom of what was worrying the witch.

"No Albus I am just worried for Severus." She quietly replied.

Suddenly her "Doppelganger" burst through the door. "Albus we were attacked by DeathEaters and Professor Snape led the attack!"

"Calm down Melody and tell me what happened." Picking up Hermione's unfinished glass of tea and forcing it down her throat.

Melody told what had happened as Albus looked to Hermione and saw the look of guilt in her eyes and realized that that she knew what he husband had been up to.

"Melody stay here until I return. Hermione wait at the gates and bring Professor Snape to my office as soon as he arrives." Turning on his heels and Apparating out of the office with a loud clap.

"I thought that he was loyal to us." Melody sobbed out.

There was nothing that Hermione could say to the sobbing witch as she left to make her way to the gates.

#$$%^

Voldemort dismissed two of the recently recovered of his Inner Circle and looked to Lord Malfoy who was still bowed. "Lucius stand up and look to me now!" He commanded as he brutally entered his mind. "You have quite a few binded sex slaves Lucius."

He burrowed deeper into his servant's mind and found a locked memory that Lucius was defending. "And what have we here Lucius?" He asked.

Voldemort viewed the many secret meetings that he held with those of his Inner and Outer Circle planning on what they would do when he was defeated by Harry Potter.

Lucius panted out to catch his breath as the Dark Lord pulled out of his mind and looked to him. "So you doubt that we will succeed?"

Voldemort chuckled as he looked to the blonde haired wizard. "After so many years Lucius and you doubt me. And I find this all out because a plain mousy haired witch that is your slave and my DeathEater could not stand being away from you because of the binding!" He spat out. "Cruicio!" Holding the spell for five minutes before he released it.

"A change in my Inner Circle Lord Malfoy." Voldemort sneered as he pressed his Mark and called to Alice and Draco.

Alice arrived first and bowed to her Lord fighting the call of the binding as she knelt. She then noticed another arrive and mimicked her actions.

Voldemort conjured up some parchments. "You are lucky Lucius that I remember your service to me in the past as I will let you live." He grabbed the wizard's arm and pressed his wand upon his Mark.

"You are now of the Outer Circle Lucius and you will sign these documents passing the title of Lord to your son. I still need the influence of Malfoy for a little longer. Refuse and die!"

Draco remained bowed in complete confusion. What in Merlin had his father done?

"Of course My Lord and I am thankful that you allow me to live and I promise not to disappoint you again." Signing the parchment.

"Rise Alice. You now have Ex-Lord Malfoy here and he will do whatever you desire."

"My thanks My Lord!" She gushed out as she looked to her Master.

Voldemort looked to Lucius seeing the anger in his eyes. "You will not kill her Lucius. Now go! A room has been prepared for you. And you will tell your son at first chance of why you have fallen from my grace so that he may learn."

He watched them as they left and turned his attention to Draco. "Rise Lord Draco Malfoy and sign this parchment." He commanded.

Draco stood up and signed the parchment in complete confusion and watched as it disappeared.

Voldemort motioned for the young Lord to follow him. "Now take your father's place in the Inner Circle."

"As you command My Lord." Draco replied as he fought his fear as he followed the Dark Lord out of the room.

!#$

Severus arrived at the gate and found Hermione waiting for him. "Severus, Albus says that you are to await his return in his office."

"So Melody arrived back here. Good as they can get away before his Ministry minions get there and find them bound and naked." He looked to her with a bit of sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry Hermione to ask so much of you so soon. I owe you my life as if there were any signs that the Phoenix was prepared then I would be dead now killed by the Dark Lord."

Hermione pulled him down and kissed him deeply pouring the love and trust she felt connection she shared with him.

Severus ended the kiss. "Hermione I do not deserve the love and trust that you have in me but I thank the Gods that you think I am worthy of it." He motioned her to start the trek to the Headmaster's office as he placed his hands in hers.

Soon they were standing at the entrance and Severus looked to Hermione. "You might want to go in first wife and make sure you have Melody's wand. I don't think she would welcome my presence at this time."

Hermione left Severus as she walked into the Headmaster's office and noticed Melody pointing her wand at her.

"Where is that traitor Hermione? He betrayed us."

"Melody give me your wand. It is up to Albus to decide what will happen to him." Hermione asked in a soothing voice.

Melody hesitated for a moment before she handed Hermione her wand and sank down in a chair.

"Okay Professor Snape you can come in now." Hermione called out.

"Traitor!" Melody snarled out.

Severus crossed his arms and leaned against the stone wall as the portraits watched in interest. "I am not." He speaking in a bored voice as Hermione waited to intervene if necessary.

Melody looked to him with disbelief. "After everything you did Snape and you still claim to be loyal? Hah! How can you say that?"

Severus looked to the witch. "I let you live." Moving away from the wall and sitting down in a chair farthest away from the ex-Auror.

Silence hung heavily in the air as they awaited the return of Dumbledore.