Doppelganger

Chapter 24 Training for a Terrible Task

Severus woke up feeling disoriented. He remembered fighting Albus and then nothing. He looked to his right and found Hermione asleep in a chair next to his bed. But this was not his bed and this was not his chambers.

The door opened and Albus entered. Noticing the sleeping witch in the chair he conjured up a small bed and placed Hermione on it using levitation. She sighed as she stretched out and continued to sleep.

He sat down in the chair. "Severus I must admit that you gave me a fright earlier. I would have never tasked Hermione if I had been aware of an unusual link between the both of you. Tell me about it.

"A glass of water first." He rasped out as he watched the Headmaster leave the room for a moment and returned with a pitcher of water and a glass. Albus filled the glass and handed it to the dark wizard and sat back down.

Severus drank a large portion of it and set the glass down. "Looking back I realize that I was connected to her the night before she died. I was pulled into her thoughts as she was preparing herself to meet Voldemort. She was reflecting back on her time at Hogwarts and she realized my presence and told me not to blame myself as it was Fate. When she arrived back the connection was re-established. I suspect that it is because the incantation was meant for me."

He looked pensive for a moment before his eyes hardened as he snarled to the Headmaster. "Why did you force the vow upon me when you knew that the son had to die? How long have you known old man?"

Albus sighed and felt a release of the terrible burden that he had carried on his own for years.

"I suspected it from the moment he was scarred but I confirmed it the year that Harry was lured to the Department of Mysteries." He softly replied.

Severus reflected. The man had been keeping the knowledge to himself for years. Manipulative bastard! He knew and still kept the vow active.

Albus continued. "I never intended to tell you Severus as I had planned for someone else to kill the boy without your knowledge, thus protecting you from doing anything about it. I never imagined that you and Hermione would be linked to one another."

"And what happens next Albus? Do you trust me enough to tell me your plans without the Vow that you manipulated me into as it seems your choice is very reluctant to kill her best friend. The witch and those two wizards are thick as thieves."

Albus sighed. "Hermione must complete the task and you know that. You must help her find a way. I know that you could kill him but your status within the Phoenix has always been one of distrust and I hope that this can be completed before my death as I would not have to worry about it." He patted Severus's hand as he stood to leave. "Rest up my boy as I have arranged to take over your classes for the next two days so that you can rest."

"No Headmaster. If Alice reports to the Dark Lord that I am indisposed it would create questions which I would rather not address." Severus snarled out. "Besides that would mean that I would not be able to complete the poison in the six weeks I was given and the Dark Lord would not be pleased."

Albus looked to the wizard on the bed and sighed as he left his room.

Hermione woke up and found that Severus had left the room and smoothed her robes as she headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. She walked past the rows of tables and took her seat at the Head table next to the medi-apprentice. "Good Morning Alice."

The mousy witch looked up from the paper she was reading. "Good Morning Hermione. I hope everything was okay last night. You looked upset. All Poppy told me that it was a simple matter with the potions professor and it was taken care of. Do you know anything about it?"

"No Alice I was sent away right after I escorted Poppy to the Headmaster's office. I see Professor Snape coming in. Perhaps you could ask him?"

The both looked to the dark wizard as he noticed them staring at him and shot back a glare as he took his seat and began to read the paper that was waiting on the table.

Hermione giggled as Alice replied with shocked voice. "Are you barking mad Hermione? I'd rather deal with a Hippogriff!"

"He has not changed in the five years since I left this school. Still a bastard in my opinion." She huffed.

Alice looked thoughtful. If she could get close to this witch than she could further herself with Lucius as he removed the bind and commanded her to never approach him again and she missed his touch. "Most girls in our class had a crush on him me included. The fact that he is unobtainable and his voice is what turned us on about him."

Hermione looked at her in surprise. "When I was in school I was a bookworm and did not have time for that nonsense. What house were you in Alice?"

"Slytherin." She replied with pride.

"Well you certainly aren't like most Alice. Talking to a Gryffindor that is a Mudblood."

Alice whispered to Hermione. "I'm not like them at all though I was proud to be in the House. All of my family has been Slytherin. Besides I recognize your voice from a group that we both now."

"There is that as I knew you were our medic." She whispered back.

"Hermione we have no duty after dinner on Friday. Let's go out to the Hog's Head for a girl's night out. After all we are the only two apprentices here."

"I'm not sure that would be best Alice. I have a lot of reading to do with Transfiguration."

The bell rang and Hermione watched as the students began to leave. "Okay let's do it. I have not been out since I returned back to Britain."

Alice stood up. "You will not regret it. I have to go now. I'll see you later."

Severus sent his thoughts out to his wife. "You know that she is only using you Hermione."

Hermione began walking towards the Transfiguration classroom. "I know Severus but I must allow it to see what will happen. I'll tell Albus so he can make sure that there is back up available. If she moves then she will be revealed and we can deal with her."

"Meet with me tonight Hermione. You know we have something to discuss and I am thankful that I did not have to kill you." He sent back.

She sent nothing back as she entered the classroom to teach her first class of first years.

"Good morning class. I am Apprentice Granger and I will be teaching you today." She spoke out as she began to teach.

She walked the classroom to observe the students transfiguring a rat into a teacup. Stopping at a young wizard as she remarked "The transfiguration of your rat into a snake is remarkable but I believe the requirement is a teacup."

Slytherin Brody LeStrange muttered. "But a snake is much more interesting." As he transformed the snake into a teacup.

"Five points to Slytherin for creativity." She replied as she continued to walk the classroom.

She went back up to the podium and spoke. "You will write a parchment about the three rules of Transfiguration and turn it in tomorrow. Those that have questions please stay behind and I will answer them."

Hermione sat at her desk as the students approached her. Most of the questions were not about Transfiguration but about Harry Potter as she answered them. No he was not a myth. And yes he was very much alive and trying to bring down He-Who-Must Not Be-Named.

Minerva walked over to Hermione who was seated at the desk. "You did well Hermione. Mr. LeStrange is going to be a handful I see."

"Yes Minerva. May I recommend an optional class for those that seem to want to be challenged?"

"An excellent idea Hermione. I'll recommend an after class activity for those that qualify. Let's watch for a few weeks to determine those that are worthy."

"I knew that you would be perfect for the spot when Albus announced it. I never said it Hermione but it took me two years to get over your death. I am glad to have you back with us." Hugging her apprentice.

"I am sorry for the secrecy but it had to be Minerva. I often worried about everyone." She lied. After all she was unaware for years until she woke up in Major Granger's mind.

Meanwhile Alice put pen to parchment.

Master,

I know that I have disappointed you and I want to make it up to you. I have convinced Hermione Granger to join me for a night out at the Hog's Head. You can capture her and bring you back into grace with our Lord. Alice.

Lucius received the owl and read it. Perfect! He thought as he began to make his plans. The Dark Lord had assigned him grunt work determining the half bloods and mudbloods residing in Hogsmeade. It had taken him a week standing at the shops and houses within a twenty mile radius to obtain what he required and he hated every moment of it. He did not want anything to do with the witch that brought his downfall but maybe she could be used and discarded once again.

Severus ended his classes for the day and began to grade the essays that he had assigned. He jerked at the intense burning of his Mark indicating that the Dark Lord needed to see him immediately.

He arrived and immediately bowed to the Dark Lord and waited.

Voldemort looked to his right hand man. "Rise Severus."

Severus stood up and addressed his master. "My lord I wish to serve."

"Always Severus and you do well in my command. I have what I promised you." Handing him a parchment and watched as his minion read it.

Severus read the parchment and observed that it was a list of muggle-born and half bloods residing in Hogsmeade.

"Friday I will be attacking Hogsmeade with those addresses with fifty Deatheaters. I expect you to pass along this information and participate as one of the Phoenix. There is one I expect you to kill and it is Lucius Malfoy."

"Of course My Lord. It shall be as you command." He respectfully replied.

"When your brew is finished we shall be able to move and take down the Ministry completely."

HGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione made her way to her husband's chamber her heart heavy. She stopped at the door for a moment and composed herself. She could not find fault with Albus logic. She opened the door and found him looking to her his eyes unreadable.

"Come Hermione." As he swept past her and motioned that she should follow him. They walked quietly for a long time and stood at a wall. With a wave of his hand an opening appeared with stone steps leading downward. He grabbed a lit stone and they began to descend into the bowels of the castle.

Soon a large room was revealed with hundreds of doors along the sides.

"What is this place Severus? It is not mentioned in Hogwarts: A history." Looking at the long room in wonder.

He chuckled softly as he responded. "I'm not surprised Hermione as you are standing in the castle's last line of defense. It is a Siege room and any magic used here cannot be detected by the outside world and it can hold one thousand. This is perfect to train you."

"I don't think I can do it Severus. Intent is needed to kill and I could not even handle the consequences of simple torture." Hermione moaned out.

"All that you need to do is focus anger Hermione. Not necessarily anger of your target but as situations as a whole. Though you hide it well there is unreleased anger in you." He saw a rat crawling against a wall and it stopped as though it could not move. "Now observe." Pulling out his wand and shouting "Expelliarmus" and watched as the rat fell down.

Hermione rushed over and looked over the rat. "It's dead Severus!" She exclaimed in surprise.

He conjured up a chair and sat down. "And why do you think that is Hermione. After all the Disarming spell is not fatal." He looked to her observing that she had closed her eyes and began to move her lower lip indicating she was deep in thought. A habit that had not changed from her school days of long ago. Minutes passed and Severus began to wonder if he would have to tell her how he killed the rat.

Suddenly her eyes opened. "Your intent was to kill but you disguised the Killing curse with a different spell." She spoke out surprise evident in her voice."

Severus's voice changed to one of a teacher. "Correct Hermione. But how did I accomplish it? According to what you were taught this should be impossible to accomplish."

She saw his grin and realized that he thought that she could not figure it out. She pondered his caste spell and the result and suddenly grinned in triumph. "Wandless magic! You casted the Disarming spell with your wand while sending out the Killing curse wandlessly. However did you figure out how to do that?"

"When I became a double spy I was required to kill some of my fellow Deatheaters to protect their victims and I had to do it with a way not to cause suspicion. I know that you can do wandless magic and it is time to begin practicals." Pulling out a cage of rats and enlarging it.

After hours of attempts she had not killed one rat though they had been hexed quite thoroughly. She stood in the middle of the room with her head held down. "I can't do this no matter how hard I try."

Severus stalked up to her. "Miss. Granger you are pathetic." He sneered to her. "Harry Potter is not your target but he is a result of all that you have endured. After all he is the reason that you were tortured and killed, missing five years and causing poor Major Granger to go to her death." He walked around her. "Maybe it is true that Mudbloods…" He snarled "… aren't worthy of the magic they posses. Remember the vision Mudblood! The world will be better off and my Lord will prevail and terminate each and every one of you and the wizards and witches of the world will rejoice."

Hermione felt a hot anger rise up within her as she pointed her wand and shouted "Expelliarmous!" and watched as the rat fell down dead and stood trembling with her wand pointed out.

Severus rushed to her and gently pulled her wand from her hand as she fell to her knees shuddering. He fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her as he whispered in a soothing voice. "It's okay Hermione. Everyone has things that drive them to extreme anger. I had to find a way for you to unlock it as you have schooled yourself to hide those emotions so deep within. Just as deep feelings of love can heal deep feelings of anger can kill."

Hermione realized that her innocence had been swept away.

He Disillusioned his wedding band and wrapped her hand to it. "Feel my love Hermione. The deep and never-ending love and fidelity that I hold for you. And it is you and only you that will ever see that side of me." He whispered to her as he kissed her tenderly, reaffirming his words through the unique bond that they shared.

She shakily stood up and held her hand out. Severus stood up as well and placed her wand into her outstretched hand.

He watched as she pointed to the cage of rats and shouted "Expelliarmus!" And watched the rats die.