Doppelganger

Chapter 26 Battle of Hogsmeade

Hermione rushed over to Harry's still body and knelt down to check him over.

"Ward the doors Snape!" Moody shouted out as he pushed Hermione aside and gently placed a finger on the wizard's neck searching for a pulse and stood up. "He's dead but how could that be? It was only a disarming spell." Muttering out the fact as he casted diagnostic charms that verified that the Chosen One had departed the mortal plane.

Severus warded the door and watched his witch as she sank down crying. Clever witch he thought as she took advantage to complete her terrible task and all she had was the faith of her research and an old manipulative wizard. After all the book was only theory as there were never any Horcruxs placed within a living being that was known.

Hermione sobbed out as she thought over her actions. She had been able to retrieve her wand from Malfoy as he fell down and heard Harry's shout as he came through the door. But Merlin what if she was wrong? If she was then she was responsible for murdering her best friend. She sobbed harder.

Ron went over and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hermione it's not your fault. Maybe he was hurt when we were fighting in the streets. Come on you have to pull yourself together as there are still Deatheaters about." Pulling her up to him as he wrapped his arms around her as he muffled his sobs against her robes.

Moody stood up and pointed his wand at Alice. "And what of this one Snape?"

Severus looked to the mousy witch and saw the fright in her eyes as she realized that her life hung in balance. And that it did for if the Order did not kill her then Voldemort surely will. He decided that it would be proper for Voldemort to take her life.

"She is here by chance only." He smoothly replied. "The apprentices have planned this for a week. Obviously Lucius was here by chance and took advantage of the situation." He looked around the pub. "Where's Rosemerta as she never leaves hear pub during business hours." Searching the pub and finding her lifeless body behind the bar.

Walking back he addressed the group. "Rosemerta's body is behind the bar." Hearing Hermione cry louder.

All of a sudden a scream was heard and they all looked down to the body on the floor as it arched up in pain and settled back down. They watched as Harry's eyes fluttered open and shakily stood up.

"Potter you look like you need this." Severus spoke as pushed a phial of Pepper Up potion into his hands and watched as the wizard drank it down and placed the empty phial into his pocket.

"Thank you Professor Snape." Looking around and seeing the dead body of the elder Malfoy on the floor. "It seems that our mistrust in you is not correct and I apologize for that."

Severus merely nodded as he watched Potter walk over to Ron and Hermione and hugged them. He lowered his head and whispered into Hermione's ear. "I understand."

Harry walked over to Alice. "Please join us as we need your services Alice."

"Of course Harry." Changing her robes into one of the Phoenix as Harry conjured up a mask and placed it upon her.

Harry looked around. "There is nothing that we can do here and our comrades need us. Let's go." As he unwarded the door and left.

The others followed him as Moody pulled Snape aside. "I was wrong about you and I apologize."

Snape looked at the ex-Auror. "Save your pathetic apologies for one that cares Mad-Eye for I care not what you think of me." He snarled to him as he left the wizard behind.

They battled the Deatheaters for another two hours as the village of Hogsmeade burned around them.

Soon a single Deatheater was surrounded by the thirty survivors of the Phoenix. "Drop your wand Deateater there is no chance of escape." Harry called out.

"Never!" The Deatheater snarled out as he pointed his wand and killed the closest to him.

Several green lights shot out and took the last Deatheater down.

Harry pulled his mask off and knelt down and pulled of the mask of the Deatheater revealing Gregory Goyle and looked to his group. "Gather our dead and take them away." He split off a group of ten. "We have a medi - apprentice with us. Look for survivors and help them the best you can. The Ministry will show up in force soon and we cannot afford to be here when they do."

He watched as the group rushed off as he shakily ran his hands through his hair as Hermione and Ron appeared next to him and removed their mask as well and waited.

"The village is lost." He mumbled as his doppelganger approached him still masked.

"It is Harry but this is your battle cry. Let's go and attend the wounded for they will remember your face as you comfort them. The word will get out and those that are of the Light will rally around you."

Harry watched as the doppelgangers formed around him. "Right as always General. Let's get to it now." Motioning for the doppelgangers remove their mask and go to one side of the village as they went to the other.

Hermione knelt down beside a family of four and saw that a witch was holding the dead body of a four year old boy. She placed her hand on the mother's shoulder as she looked up with tears in her eyes "Why did this have to happen? Brent was only four what threat was he?"

Hermione hugged he witch. "There was no reason as your son was here. Voldemort cares not about your loss. All he does is cause death and misery. We tried to protect you the best that we could." Speaking softly to the witch. "You must be strong as he is moving out into the open. There is one side or the other now and you must decide." Leaving the family to comfort others.

Kingsley approached Harry. "The Ministry is coming in full force with Aurors and Healers. You must leave now."

Harry placed his wand to his throat as he spoke "Sonorus." "The Ministry is coming with Aurors and Healers to help you. Remember that this battle went on for three hours with no help from our government. We must leave now but remember that we did try to protect you and killed all of the Deatheaters. Phoenix leave now!" He waited a moment before he spoke out. "Stand by me and I promise you that I will take Voldemort down." Waiting a moment before he apparated away.

Harry arrived and looked to his fallen as he sank down and cried as he felt a hand upon his shoulder and looked up to the sad eyes of Albus. "Come with me Harry." He asked as he held out a hand.

Severus watched as the Headmaster led Potter away as he looked to his witch and Weasley on the floor crying together. He turned and walked out of the hall as he sent out. "Lioness."

Hermione looked up and watched as her wizard walked away. "Ron look to Melody as she needs you. This night has been hard on all of us with all of the deaths"

Ron looked to his best friend. "If you're sure Hermione." He replied unsure.

"I am Ron. Go and be with her as she needs you most. I'll be fine." She assured him as she pushed him away.

She waited a few moments before she left and found Severus in the hallway clutching his arm.

"I wanted to make sure that you are well Hermione. The Dark Lord calls and I cannot fight his summons much longer." He groaned out.

She placed her hand upon his cheek. "Go Severus and be safe. I am as well as could be expected." Speaking softly as he watched him break away and leave her.

Hermione watched as he left. "Be well Severus." She thought as she turned back and once again entered the hall with the dead laying on the floor.