Doppelganger

AN: Revelations are revealed and Hermione has been given a terrible task

Chapter 23 Revelations and Repercussions

The first day of classes ended as Severus watched the last class of the day leave. Merlin! They get more ignorant by the year it seemed. Not a bright one in the lot. He sat at his desk to begin grading the pop quizzes that he assigned and did not bother to glance up when he heard the door open. He spat out "If you are here to explain your pathetic efforts at an easy test then get out now as I do not have the time to listen to your sniveling."

"Ah Severus..." Albus spoke out.

He glanced up and saw the Headmaster with Hermione. "My apologies Headmaster." He smoothly replied as he placed down the parchment that he was grading. He stood up and walked to the door to his chambers and opened it, allowing them to enter first.

He followed them and went to his liquor cabinet and poured himself a large serving of Old Ogden's. "I suppose you are here to learn the details of your demise." He muttered as he drank half the glass down in one go.

"I know that this is difficult for you Severus but you will not be responsible for my death."

He looked to the Headmaster in anger as he suddenly threw the half filled glass he was holding and watched as it smashed into the wall, the liquid sliding down. "No Albus but I will be the instrument." He spat out.

Albus gently grasped the dark wizards shoulder. "Look to me Severus." He softly commanded.

Severus looked to the one person who had always trusted him explicitly. Everyone that had cared for him ended dead. His mother, Hermione, and now Albus. Okay scratch Hermione but she was more than likely going to die after her newfound lease on life.

"I promise not to let that happen." Hermione thought to him using her bond and hoping that her thoughts would sooth him.

"Remember the talk that we had about sacrifice and how you wondered if I understood the concept? I do know sacrifice Severus as unbelieving that it sounds. You remember the dark wizard Grindelwald? I loved him and we were close when we were young. We were inseparable until there was an argument and an unfortunate accident and he left. Decades later I was forced to stand against him and I defeated him. He was placed in Nurmengard and I have not visited him once in the many decades that have passed since. In my youth I held the same views as Voldemort and it took a tragic accident to see that I could not be trusted with power. That is why I have always refused to become the Minister of Magic the many times that it has been offered to me."

Severus sat down on the chair that Dumbledore had conjured up. He had known of the Headmaster's orientation for a number of years but he was shocked about the intimate tie in with such a dark wizard. And Albus holding the same views as Voldemort was unbelievable considering what he knew of the man.

Albus sat down next to him. "Severus I have lived a long life and if my death can help bring Voldemort down then it is a meaningful one and that is a death that I would rather have. We all have our time my boy." He patted Severus's hand. "Now tell me the details. I have much planning to do and not much time to do it."

"I have delayed your death an extra two weeks as I told the Dark Lord I did not have what he required on hand." He looked to the Headmaster with a neutral expression. "I apologize ahead of time but your death will not be quick and will not be painless." Severus continued explaining the poison of his demise. He also told of the Dark Lord's plan to get him back into good grace with the Phoenix.

Albus nodded as he stroked his beard. "A brilliant choice of poison Severus. Hermione you must come back with me as Minerva would not understand your relationship. I promise to keep her occupied this evening so that you two can discuss the task that I have given to you."

She placed a book on the arm of the chair. "I'll see you after dinner." She told him as she gently kissed him on the cheek and left with the Headmaster.

Severus picked up the book and began to read as he wondered once again how the old wizard kept up with the plans within plans.

Albus escorted Hermione to Minerva's chambers. "I must leave you now but I do have an additional task for you. You must kill Harry Potter before the Final Battle takes place."

She looked to him in shock. "Albus this must be a joke!"

He looked to her sadly. "I assure you that it is not. You have read the book. Remember the theory on living souls?"

"So that is what you've been hiding from me. I knew you were holding something back!" She whispered to make sure that Minerva could not hear through the door. "How can you expect me to do such a thing?"

"You must find a way Hermione. Harry will not be able to kill Voldemort until he is free of the horcrux. Just imagine what would happen if Harry tries to kill him and he found out that he still lived after the attempt. He would capture him and feed him the Draught of Living Death and keep him in eternal sleep to insure his immortality as the Horcrux residing in him would guarantee it. Neither can die while the other one lives. Do you see the logic?"

"I will talk to Severus and he can help me." Hermione murmured to herself.

"No Hermione! Severus is under an Unbreakable Vow to protect Harry. If he knew about it he would be compelled to kill you to protect him."

"Oh Merlin Headmaster! Severus and I share a connection and we can sense each other's thoughts, feelings, and conversation." She felt along the Bond and realized that he was aware of what they had been discussing.

"Headmaster! He knows!" She shrilled out with fright.

Albus immediately grabbed her hand and Apparated them out of the castle.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Severus frowned as he immediately placed his book down and grabbed his wand. Before he came to his senses he found himself running through the halls. He willed himself to stop as he realized that Hermione and Albus were making plans to kill Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Vow kicked in. No! He shouted in his mind. I will not kill them!

The compulsion was too strong and he found himself at the door to Minerva's chambers. He knocked and Minerva opened up her door. "Severus what a pleasant surprise." Noticing the strange look of her visitor.

"Minerva have you seen Albus? I have a matter of great importance to discuss with him and he was bringing Miss. Granger to you." He asked with a strangled voice.

"You look and sound strange Severus. Are you feeling well? Besides I haven't seen the Headmaster at all."

She watched as he pointed his wand out and began to mutter locater charms and then he suddenly left her without a word.

Minerva watched as he strode quickly away and thought that he might be catching something.

Severus exited the castle and ran to the gates so that he could Apparate.

Albus finished his tenth side along apparition and bent down panting. Apparition was normally draining and to do it rapidly ten times had taken his energy out of him. "Run Hermione! I will try to stop him."

Hermione helped him up. "I can't leave you like this Albus."

"Go or we will both be dead. We only have a few minutes at best. Severus's tracking skills are incredible and he will find us. No go and do as I say!" Pushing her away from him as he pulled out his wand.

Hermione began to run toward a barn as she looked back to him. Oh Gods she thought as she felt her heart thumping as she heard the crack of apparition that announced the arrival of her husband. Arriving to the barn she covered herself with hay and pulled her wand out and waited.

Severus saw Albus and began to advance on him with his wand drawn. "Albus you old fool! I can't believe you made me take this vow knowing that the boy must die!" He shouted as he began sending dark curses to the wizard.

Albus deflected them. "Severus fight the vow long enough for me to release it!" He shouted back as he continued to deflect the curses. His Potions Master was not giving him enough time to concentrate as his magic was low due to rapid apparition. He missed one as he felt a deep slice cut his arms as he dropped his wand screamed out in pain.

Severus stood still as his body began to shake as the scream brought him to his senses. Must fight this! He fell to his knees as he felt the Vow start to kill him as he fought it. His body began to convulse and he began to lose consciousness. He felt his arm being grabbed and heard a shout. "Severus Tobias Snape I release you from your vow to protect Harry Potter!"

HGSS HGSS HGSS

Hermione had heard everything and waited as she her body trembled with fear. There was silence as she continued to wait. Still not a sound was heard. She dug herself out of the hay and peered out of the barn door and saw two unmoving forms on the ground in the distance.

"Severus!" She thought out using the Bond. There was nothing.

She ran to the wizards and fell to the ground and found Albus unconscious and bleeding from the deep cuts on his arms. She quickly healed the cuts and felt for a pulse and sobbed out in relief as she found it.

Hermione turned her attention to her husband as she turned him onto his back.

He was normally pale but gods his lips were blue. She began rescue breathing and after a few breaths she leaned down and heard a slight moan as Severus took air on his own with a deep moan. She thanked the Gods that she had taken CPR every summer when she was attending school.

She dug into Severus's robes until she found phials of potions that he always carried and laid them on the ground as her thoughts flittered quickly in her mind. It was obvious that Severus had fought the vow and she did not want to give him anything as she was not a Medi-Witch and did not know what to do.

Hermione turned to the old wizard and gently placed his head in her lap as she fed him the Pepper up portion.

Albus immediately stirred as his eyes opened and looked to the worried eyes of Hermione. "How is Severus?"

She helped Albus up. "He is unconscious. Headmaster, you need to help him!"

"Hermione I am going to take him to my office. Apparate and get Madame Phomphrey and bring her to my office." As he pulled up the wizard and disappeared with a plop with Hermione following behind.

Hermione burst into the Infirmary where Poppy and Alice looked her with surprise. She smoothed her robes as she realized that it would not due for the true Deatheater residing in the school to learn of the events of tonight.

"Madame Pomphrey the Headmaster requires you." She spoke in the calmest voice that she could muster.

Poppy noticed the state of Hermione and went to her. "Alice be a dear and watch over things here will you?" As she left with the newest apprentice following behind her.

"Of course Master." She replied as her eyes betrayed her curiosity.

Soon the witches arrived at the Headmaster's office and entered it. "Albus!" Poppy exclaimed as she took in the state of him. "You look dreadful."

"Never mind me Poppy. See to Severus. He has fought an Unbreakable Vow."

"And he lives?" She exclaimed in surprise as she bent down to the prone figure on the floor and began to cast diagnostic spells. All was well with the wizard other than a low magical reading.

She stood up. "All he needs is rest. A day or two and he should be well enough to take points away and be his prickly self and give out detentions out with his usual zeal." As she conjured up a stretcher. "I'll take him to the Infirmary so that he can rest."

""No Poppy. Let him stay here in my chambers. I'm sure that Miss. Granger will watch after him while I tend to his classes."

"Of course Headmaster though he will be angry with a Gryffindor watching over him when he wakes up." Hermione replied.

Albus helped Poppy settle the wizard in his chambers and settled him into the bed and escorted Poppy out of the office. He came back and saw that Hermione was sitting in a chair and was holding the ill wizard's hand.

He stood as he took in the sight. "Hermione he must love you very much to be able to fight the Vow. Love is a very strong power that is underestimated." He sighed as he looked to them. "You must do what I have requested of you earlier. I know that I ask so much of you."

Hermione said nothing as she watched him leave the chambers.

Dumbledore went into his office and sat down as he looked to a portrait and spoke. "Dilys be a dear and pop into the infirmary and listen for a while."

"Of course Headmaster." Dilys Derwent former Headmistress and healer of St. Mungo's from long ago replied as she left her portrait.