Doppelganger

Chpt 3 Doppelgangers

Captain Hermione Granger sat in the chow hall of the army base that she was assigned to along with First Luetinent Lily Snape. The Air Force doctor and nurse visited the base by helicopter once a week to ensure the health of the troops assigned to the location.

Hermione eyed the SOS on toast in front of her once again lamenting the meal the army deems acceptable. This was her last rotation before making her way back to Saudi and the States.

Drinking from her cup of coffee she looked to her young companion. She was in the Reserves and had one more month left before she went home. "So Lily the divorce not yet final?"

Lily sighed. "The divorce was finalized weeks ago and yet I still bear the bastards name. You would think a simple name change would happen quickly in the modern military. He's in jail now sentenced to the death penalty for torturing and killing a rival drug dealer at the command of his boss. If I had known of his association I would have never married him in the first place."

Hermione patted her hand. "Soon you will be free."

"We are supposed to meet my replacement today. Strangely enough his last name matches yours. Does your ex have any older brothers?" Hermione asked.

Lily shook her head as she began to eat her breakfast.

Hermione finished her breakfast and pulled out the old book that her mother had sent her and began to read. It was a strange book on brewing potions. Her mother found the strangest things and it kept her entertained in an otherwise dull deployment.

Private Longbottom approached the table. "Captain Granger there is a Major Snape looking for you."

She looked to the nervous private. "By all means bring him over private. He is my replacement."

She watched as he left and arrived back with a tall man with a hooked nose and close cropped black hair looking down to her.

Hermione and Lily rose in respect to his rank. "Major Snape I am Captain Granger and this is my assistant Liutenant Snape."

"A pleasure I'm sure." He coldly stated as he sat down. Gods he hated being here. The Dark Lord insisted upon it as he had plans for the muggles. Why in this forsaken place he would never know. He cheered up as he thought of Draco Malfoy living like a muggle in less finesse then he was used to.

The two women looked to one another as they sat down. They noticed that the Major was studying them with interest.

"Snape is an uncommon name Lieutenant and I have no living relatives that I know of."

"Yes sir, but the name will soon be Evans and as for living relatives you do not need to worry about that as my ex is locked up awaiting the death penalty. You have a strange accent and I can't place it."

He looked to the young officer. This was his Lily Evans sitting in front of him. Her doppelganger.

"You are correct Lieutenant. I was born and raised in England. I was in Her Majesty's service and I spent a couple of years stationed in the States in an exchange program. I found that I liked the States better and as soon as my time was up I immigrated and here you find me as a fellow American."

Lily observed the man. He looked exactly like an older version of her ex down to the hooked nose and obsidian eyes. She felt a sudden attraction for him. "Major, captain will you excuse me? I suddenly realized I forgot something in my tent."

Severus watched her leave and felt something break inside him. He turned his attention to the remaining woman.

"Don't be hard on Lily major. She only has a month left here and you'll not find a better nurse. She's had a rough time concerning her ex and sharing a name has probably unsettled her. She'll be fine."

What in Merlin is going on here? He thought as he looked into an older version of Hermione Granger.

"Is your first name Hermione per chance?" He asked.

"It is major." She answered back with a smile. "How did you know?"

"You are the spitting image of someone I knew long ago and you have the exact same name. Hermione Granger."

Severus looked up and saw Bellatrix and Lucius begin to approach him. He had to distract them. It would do well if they recognized the Muggle.

"Excuse me a moment captain. I have someone to talk to before they leave."

Hermione watched as the major walked up to a couple of army officers. He definitely was a strange one she thought to herself as she turned her attention back to the old book that she was reading.

Lucius looked to his fellow Deatheater. "I must admit you look worse in short hair Severus."

"And what of your precious blonde locks Lucius? Still whining after the Dark Lord took pleasure in cutting them off?"

"Enough of my locks. I am a wizard and it will be easy enough grow them back. Besides I've discovered the Dark Lord's command in us being here. Let me introduce you to someone."

He followed Lucius and Bella to a table where a bespectled man sat. "Colonel Potter let me introduce Major Snape. We flew in with him and found out that he will be taking over the medical care here."

The colonel rose and shook his hand. "Pleased to meet you major. I'm sure you will do as well as Captain Granger in taking care of my troops. Now if you excuse me I need to get Lieutenant Colonel Malfoy and Major Lestrange situated."

Severus walked back to his table shocked that he had met an older version of the Boy-Who-Lived. He needed to talk to the Headmaster as soon as possible.

He sat back down in front of Captain Granger and was surprised to see the book she was reading was one of the oldest copies of Most Potente Potions he had ever seen.

"Where on earth did you find that book captain?" He asked

"Please call me Hermione when the enlisted are not around. My mother likes to send me old and obscure books that she comes across in garage sales. This is the strangest one so far. I mean some of these ingredients do not make sense. Whoever heard of Doxy eggs?" Handing the book to the major to examine it.

He flicked through a few pages hiding his excitement. "It makes no sense to me as well." Handing the book back to her.

"Well major let's get you checked in and I'll give you a quick tour before the jet lag kicks in. Where are your bags?"

"The miserable excuse for an air terminal lost them. They assured me that they would catch up to me in time."

Hermione chuckled. "Our main base has an air terminal. I happen to know a sergeant that works there and I shall put in a word."

He followed her to the transient quarters and checked in and placed the single bag containing his robes on the cot and discreetly cast a Notice Me Not Charm.

He followed her around the small base as they walked past a group of soldiers gathered in front of a tent. "Hey look Reese. It's Captain Danger. How are you m'aam?" A voice shouted out.

"You'll find out how much of a danger Granger can be in if you require my services corporal. Make sure you stay in my good graces." She joked back to the group of men.

She chuckled as they passed them. "Just a nickname major. I am sort of a mother, doctor, and psychiatrist all wrapped up in one."

She stopped and looked to the tall man. "Major…" Hermione nervously began.

"You may call me Severus when the troops are not around." Repeating her earlier words.

"Severus then. Most of these men have seen hard combat and most are young. Sometimes all that is needed is someone to listen to them. Do not feel offended but you seem to be a tightly wound private man."

"Do not worry captain I…." He began to speak as a siren blared out causing him to jump. He watched as men scrambled grabbing weapons and equipment and rush off.

Hermione listened as siren faded. "No need to worry major. That is a call for assembly. You will learn the differences in time. What base are you stationed at?"

"Lackland." He replied.

"Wilford Hall I remember it well." They found themselves in front of the transient Bachelor Officers Quarters. "We fly out in the afternoon to continue our rotation. Would you like a wake-up call? Our flight leaves at 15 hundred."

"No captain I will meet you in the chow hall at 12 hundred. Could I borrow your book? I admit I find myself fascinated with it."

She handed it to him. "Sure major. Just bring it with you in the morning. I wish you a good evening."

Hermione entered the transient female quarters and found Lily sitting on her cot holding a picture.

She sat down beside her friend "Oh Lily" she said as she hugged her.

"The major Hermione. He is my ex's doppelganger. This is an ill omen."

Hermione scoffed. "I never thought that you were superstitious. There is no way that the major is your ex. Remember your ex is younger and sitting on Death Row."

Lily handed Hermione the picture and lay down on her cot.

Hermione looked at the picture and noticed it was a spitting image of a younger Major Snape.

"He even has the same voice if you took away the accent."

She handed Lily back the picture. "He seemed nice enough to me. Go to sleep Lily. I'm sure you'll feel better in the morning."

&&&&&&&&

Colonel Potter looked to his small staff of one captain and two lieutenants and discussed their orders. "That will be all gentlemen. Gather your troops and meet in the assembly yard in two hours."

He removed his glasses and rubbed his nose. These orders made no sense as he once again glanced down at the name of the authorizing general. Tom M. Riddle. The man was out to get him as he had stood against his order one time before and the panel cleared him of disobeying an order and in fact promoted him to full bird colonel much to the general's ire. This time there was no reason to officially question his orders.

&&&&&&&&

Severus copied the book and placed the original in his bag. The muggle officer would never know the difference.

He had to see Albus immediately. Long distance apparition was dangerous as he breathed in deep breaths calming him and focusing on the gates of Hogwarts in his mind.

He arrived with a plop and fell down in exhaustion. He took out a phial of Pepper Up potion from a pocket of his desert uniform and drank the contents down. Making his way through the dark castle he whispered "Toffee" to the gargoyle guarding the Headmasters office and entered the office and noticed that Dumbledore was in his bed robes sitting at his desk.

"Ah Severus. I must admit that I find a man in uniform irresistible." Eying the dark wizard.

"We've discussed this before Albus and you know my preferences." He saw the penseive sitting on the desk and extracted his memories. "You must hurry Headmaster as I have got to be back in eight hours time."

Albus leaned down and viewed the penseive and came back up. "Interesting Severus and it explains why Firenze met with me tonight. His words were Mars shines bright and two like stars dance in the night. The muggle papers were filled with the appearance of two identical stars suddenly showing up in the night sky and circling one another."

He led the Potions Master to the single window in his office and opened it up, pointing at the stars. "There! You see it?"

Severus looked in amazement as there were two identical stars slowly circling one another. He understood the excitement of the muggles. He remembered the muggle science class that he attended before Hogwarts explaining the light of the stars. After all the theory was that it took hundreds of years for the light of a star to make it to the Earth's sky. They never showed active movement that you could see by eye. To see the movement meant that they had to be close to the earth.

"When did they appear Albus?" He asked.

"About the time you met Captain Granger and Lieutenant Snape it seems." Albus replied.

"Do you think this is in relationship to Voldemort's obsession with doppelgangers?" Severus asked. He managed to delay the information for three years before he finally handed the book over. Voldemort had not mentioned the subject since.

"I admit I am concerned Severus. So many muggle doppelgangers of witches and wizards in various ages all together at one time and place. You must let me know if you see more of them. Voldemort might have found his. It would explain how you are dressed now. You know that there have not been any attacks by him in months and that means that he is occupied with something else."

Albus noticed the exhaustion in the dark wizard. "Go to your chambers and rest Severus. I'm sure you will not be missed in the desert. I'll leave my office open and you can go back from here."

"As you wish Headmaster." He replied as he left the office and made his way to his chambers.

He hurriedly revealed the hidden door and walked to the still form of Hermione and watched as Dobby attended her body vigorously rubbing her muscles to prevent atrophy.

"Cover her Dobby!" He snarled to him as he sat down in a chair beside her as the elf complied and left.

He had waited for her to return and she never did. He sighed as he finally placed a stasis spell on her body. It would stop her body from atrophy, but would also stop her aging as well.

Her body had matured in the five years she laid on the bed and he had witnessed all of the changes. He took her hand into his.

It was after the third year of her death that he could no longer trust himself to touch the young witch and employed the elf after threatening clothes to ensure his silence. He was not sure that the threat was effective as the elf said he would attend the Brushy Haired friend of Harry Potter. "Where are you Hermione Granger?" He whispered.

Severus fell asleep in the chair still wearing the muggle Air Force desert uniform dreaming of two like stars circling one another.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Meanwhile Albus pulled a parchment that was given to him long ago and read it. It had never made any sense to him before. It was beginning to now.

Two stars dance in the night sky as magical and non magical rush to unite

A scarred one gathers souls as a dark one stands vigil to one of the light

Worlds collide and the Dark and Light merge to one

In time peace arrives as red eyes fade and be done

He scratched his quill on it listing his thoughts and placed it safely away in his desk.

&&&&&&&

Firenze the centaur Divination professor woke up in his quarters and snorted as he pawed the grass floor of his room. Soon Severus Snape you will understand all. After all the stars foretold it.

A/N SOS: Shit on Toast. White gravy with crumbled beef covering toast. Anyone who has ever been in the military will equate to it. I happened to like it while I was in the Air Force.

As to how Snape is blending in well in the military he is a spy after all. I'm sure he studied up on the subject and grabbed an Air Force doctor or two and Obliviated them after looking through their minds. There are several American bases in the UK after all.

Lt=Lieutenant

Capt= Captain

Col=Colonel

Maj=Major

Remember this as I am shorting the title with acceptable abbreviation.

I wonder what the stars mean.