Doppelganger

/N The Order discusses Snape's betrayal

Chapter 21 Betrayal? Part II

Albus arrived outside of the farmhouse in Wales and saw the damage to house and quickly placed a Notice-Me-Not charm on the house and quickly entered with his wand drawn. "Where are you?" He shouted out.

Kingsley shouted back "Over here Albus!"

Albus turned and walked into the destroyed living room and found the group bound and naked on the floor. He quickly released and clothed them using his wand.

Ron spoke as he stood up. "Snape did this. He led a group of DeathEaters here and rescued the Inner Circle and killed the rest of the prisoners and our trainees."

"Kingsley, Mrs. Potter go upstairs and see if any survived and be quick about it. Voldemort will be sending the Ministry here."

He watched them go up the stairs and motioned the others to follow him outside in case anyone arrived.

Soon the two met him. "It's a bloodbath in up there Albus." Mrs. Potter whispered thinking that the movie Cabin Fever did not even come close to what they found.

"Go back to the safe-house and have Harry gather the leaders of the Phoenix. I am sure that Severus had no choice in this. I will meet you as soon as I have talked to him."

Ron looked to the Headmaster with anger. "I knew that snake could not be trusted."

Albus said nothing as he turned his heel and disappeared.

He arrived in the entranceway of the castle and used the time to think as he walked towards his office. Voldemort never left survivors when he attacked and the fact that he did was worrisome. He felt that this was a message that he was ready to move out into the open.

Albus entered his office and spoke to Melody in a gentle voice. "The others have gone back to the safehouse Melody. Why don't you join them there and I will be along shortly."

"Of course Albus." Melody replied as she made her way to the door.

Severus stood up and dug into his robes and pulled out a jar. "Healing salve for your neck Miss. Mockingbird."

"Keep it Snape. I don't need anything from you." she snarled slamming the door behind her.

He was taken aback at look of hate coming from Hermione….no Miss. Mockingbirds face.

Albus looked to the witch and wizard. "Hermione please leave while I talk to Severus."

Hermione joined her husband. "No Albus. I stand by my husband no matter what."

He motioned to Severus and pointed to the penseive sitting at his desk.

Severus withdrew a copy of his memory of the past day and placed it in the stone bowl and stood aside as Albus and Hermione placed their face into the bowl and was pulled into his memory.

Time passed and both came back out of the penseive.

"I have never doubted your actions in the past Severus and I do not now. Go back to your chambers and take Hermione with you. I will let you both know of the outcome after I meet with the Phoenix."

They walked down to his chambers hand in hand and entered it noticing a bloody body on the floor close to the fireplace.

"Draco!" Severus shouted out as he rushed to the body.

"Godfather!" The body moaned out.

"I'm here Draco. Always here for you." Severus spoke in uncharacteristic concern as he knelt down and whispered into his ear.

Hermione reached into her husband's robes and pulled out the healing potions that he always carried with him. She forced them down the young wizard, massaging his throat to make sure he swallowed them all.

Severus stood up and levitated the moaning wizard from the floor and motioned for her to follow him into his bedchambers. "Remove his clothes Hermione so that we can see his injuries."

Hermione pointed her wand and whispered "Divesto" Watching the clothes disappear from the young man as Severus placed him on the bed.

She gasped out in shock at his injuries as she began to heal the deep cuts and broken bones as her husband grabbed Draco's arm and looked to it for a moment before gently placing it down.

"He is a member of the Inner Circle now." He mumbled to his wife as he pushed her aside to focus on the internal injuries of his godson and flowed healing magic into him.

Severus fell onto the floor his magic spent. "You must watch after him Hermione. He is my godson and I cannot allow anything to happen to him if I can help. it" As he slipped into sleep.

She conjured up an extra bed and removed her husband's clothes and gently placed him upon it.

She turned her attention to the young wizard and observed his flushed face as she pulled up a chair and sat down as he held his hand and began her vigil.

Albums arrived at the safe house and entered into a shouting match between his officers of the Phoenix.

"Silence!" He thundered out as the room became silent. "I know that you have discussed the actions of Severus Snape tonight. I have always trusted Severus."

Remus Lupin shouted out. "I have always supported him since it was revealed that he rescued Hermione Ganger but this is too much Albus!"

He placed his penseive on a table. "Look to the memory and decide for yourself." He commanded as he watched his officers both magic and doppelganger place their faces into the penseive.

They all pulled out of the penseive a few hours later and looked to one another in silence.

Mrs. Potter spoke out first. "He had no choice in this." She replied as she rubbed her hand that was marked.

Mr. Potter grabbed his wife's hand and gently rubbed it. "I support Professor Snape. I hate that my wife has been marked by dark magic but I will still stand by him."

The rest acknowledged their support except for Melody. "I cannot!" She vehemently stated.

Ron stood up and pulled Melody from her chair and gently placed her hand into his arm. "Come with me Melody." He softly asked.

Melody looked to the ginger haired wizard and allowed her to be led from the room.

Ron led her to the kitchen still holding her hand. "Melody you saw the memory. You are here alive with only a bruise. Merlin only knows the times that I have had my pride kicked down by Snape in the past. He had to treat you as he did in case he was caught. You're an Ex-Aurour. What would you have done if you were in his shoes?"

She grumbled "Probably the same Ron. I guess that only my pride that is hurt."

Ron looked to her. "The role you play is so important to the end Melody. If you promise to keep a secret I'll show you something that will convince you. You can do Legilmens?"

Melody looked to him with curiosity. "Only with direct eye contact and the willingness of the person."

Ron cleared his mind and pushed the memory to the front of his mind and took a couple of deep breath to calm himself and looked directly into her eyes. "Do it."

Melody did not break eye contact as she pointed her wand and whispered "Legilimens" and was thrown into a world of death and destruction with the DeathEaters dragging screaming men and women into the chambers that would lead to their death.

She pulled herself out of his mind and sobbed out. "What was that Ron?"

"A vision of the future if Voldemort wins Melody. Do you see why it is so important for us to succeed? We must not let that happen!"

"And why share it with me Ron?" Melody whispered.

"Because I love you Melody. The Phoenix needs you I'll grant you that. But I need you more." He softly replied.

"Nonsense Ron you see Hermione Granger looking at you. You don't even know me."

"Melody we have worked together and you only imitate Hermione when you need to. I hear your true voice. You could look like a Hippogriff for all I care."

She looked to the ginger haired wizard with doubt and gasped out in surprise as he swept her into his arms and kissed her passionately.

She melted into his arms and kissed him back amazed at the emotion he had brought out. She ended the kiss and pulled away. "Tell them that I support Snape. I have much to think about Ron."

"Just allow me to be yours Melody. I promise that I will always love you."

She nodded and gave him a slight smile before she turned and walked up the stairs to go to her room.

Ron walked back and stood next to Albus. "Melody supports Snape after she realized only her pride was hurt."

Albus whispered in his ear. "You will do well for her Ron and I wish you luck." Turning to the group. "It is decided and there will be no mention of this again as we need to be united. If we fall apart we will fail and most of us knows what will happen if that comes to pass."

The room became silent with the reminder.

!#$%^

Draco came to and looked to Hermione. "I thought I heard an angel in my dreams and I wake up to find you here."

Hermione looked to him for a moment with a half smile as she stood up. "I'll wake Severus up. He was worried about you."

"Let him sleep Hermione. And he allows you to be familiar to him. Is there more going on than what I know?"

"Yes Draco we are married. I know that you think you loved me Draco…"

"Hermione I did love you but even back then I know that it would not be. Too much has passed between us. Besides I married Astoria Greengrass and I do love her."

"I'm going to wake him now Draco. He would be upset if he found out that I let him sleep." She went to her husband and gently woke him up. "Severus Draco is awake."

He immediately sat up and looked to her as he dressed himself using his wand and approached his bed. "Draco what have you done to upset the Dark Lord?"

"I think my father upset him Godfather. He was moved to the Outer Circle and placed me in the Inner Circle and made my father sign over the Lordship to me. Father is supposed to tell me why the first chance he gets."

"You must be careful Draco. You are now in the same position as I and I hoped that you would avoid it."

Draco groaned as he sat up. "I need to get back to the Manor before I am missed. Hermione be a dear and go to another room as I get dressed. I would hate that you would choose me over your husband once you've seen my considerable assets."

Hermione huffed out as she left room. "Severus's assets are more considerable than yours Draco Malfoy."

Draco conjured up a set of robes from the blanket and looked to his godfather. "Congratulations on your nuptials.

"Do not tell anyone Draco or so help me the torture you had tonight will pale in comparison."

"No worries on that. I think she told me only because she knew that I loved her at one time and felt awkward." Draco replied as he winked at him.

Severus walked over to the wall and revealed the tunnel that would lead out of the castle. "I'm glad to see you back to normal."

Draco looked to him for a moment. "It's going to get worse."

Severus sighed and looked to the young man. "Yes Draco and I hope we survive to see the end of it all."

Draco merely nodded to him as he went through the wall and Severus closed it behind him.

He used his wand to place fresh sheets and a blanket onto the bed and sat down. "Hermione he is gone." He called out.

Hermione entered the bedchambers and found that her husband had fallen asleep once again clothed. She undressed him and joined him in the bed. "Things just keep getting between us." She whispered as she sank into a deep sleep herself next to the wizard that she loved with all her heart.