Doppelganger

AN Rescue and more complications. Please review good or bad.

Chapter 31 Rescue Part 2

Hermione gathered what she thought she would need and placed them into backpack and entered Minerva's office and was surprised to find the elder witch up and waiting for her. "Let me walk with you down to the dungeons."

Hermione smiled feeling her emotions settle with the comforting presence of the older witch. Soon they were at the entrance to her husband's chambers when they noticed the door open.

They walked in and saw Albus and Severus having breakfast as Severus stood up and motioned for them to join them.

Minerva looked to the dark wizard. "Everything is planned?"

Severus sipped his juice and placed the glass down. "Yes Minerva and I do not see why it will not be a success."

They began to eat as Severus watched his witch make a mess of her eggs with her fork. He buttered up two pieces of toast and lightly covered the toast with strawberry preserves. "You must eat something Hermione or you will be useless to me when I need you most."

Hermione nodded and began to nibble at her toast as everyone finished their breakfast.

Severus rose indicating that it was time to leave. "Give us a moment as we have to take polyjuice." motioning Hermione to join him in his chambers.

"This is it Lioness." Handing her the phial. "We will have them safe here within the next two hours."

Hermione drank her phial down and changed into a tall skinny young woman with red hair and watched as Severus changed into a short squat balding man with a receding hair line.

Severus looked up to her when he heard her laugh. "Do not say a word." Changing his robes into a sensible muggle business suit as she changed hers into jeans and a halter top adding a brown jacket.

Albus spoke when they came back into the room. "Good luck to both of you and you can Apparate directly back to your chamber as soon as you have the Grangers.

Minerva looked to the couple as she held a hanky. "See you both soon. Be safe." She whispered.

Hermione wrapped her arms around Severus as the old witch and wizard watched as Severus turn his heel and the both of them disappeared.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

They arrived at in a little used alley about a 20 minute walk from her parents practice and began to walk. Once they were in then the Polyjuice potion would wear off giving them twenty minutes of waiting for her parents to arrive.

"Let's go my dear." Grabbing her hand as they began to walk. "Look for people that seem out of place Hermione for those will be Deatheaters."

He pulled her down and whispered into her ear as he nuzzled her neck in case they were being watched. "See anything out of place?"

Hermione looked despite the awkward position as she was taller than Severus. "There is nobody at all."

He pulled her to a bench muttering some locater charms under his breath. "Our task is easier Hermione as they are lax and only watch the residence and follow your parents into work. Let's go."

They walked into the building as Hermione went to the office on the left and held her finger on the lock thinking "Alomora!" and heard the tumblers release as she opened the door and motioned for Severus to follow her.

She turned on the light and was amazed at the change of atmosphere in the practice. Gone were the amusing dentistry pictures and pictures of her in various stages of age were now in their place. She walked over and turned on the computer and noticed that they had no appointments today. They had not had a booking in two weeks. How on earth were they living? She suddenly realized that they had never recovered from her death.

Severus felt the sadness along their connection and wrapped his arms around her and just held her as she trembled. "Hermione once we take them to the castle and release the Obliviate I am sure that they will understand."

She nodded as she saw the clock. "We must Dissillusion ourselves and wait for my parents to arrive." As he pointed his wand to himself and disappeared as Hermione did the same.

They watched as her parents walked through the door as they walked past listening to the conversation.

"I don't understand why we come here Henry. We have not had a booking in two weeks and are almost at the end of our savings. We need to cut our losses…." Voices fading.

Hermione Illusuioned herself and sat down as she watched her husband do the same noticing that he had changed back into himself and was wearing a muggle suit.

She watched as her mother walked into the reception area and noticed the couple sitting. "I'm sorry I did not hear you come in."

"Dr. Granger I am hoping that you can help my husband. We are from out of town and a friend of mine told me about your practice."

Marsha looked at the young woman and froze, realizing the young woman closely resembled her departed daughter.

"Dr. Granger are you well?"

Marsha was pulled out of her shock by the voice of the older man. "Please forgive me. Your wife bears a striking resemblance to my departed daughter." Motioning to the walls as picked up a clipboard and handed it to the man. "Just fill these out and put down what your ailment is. I'm sure that we will be able to help you."

Severus finished filling out the forms and handed them back. "I'm sure that it is nothing Dr. Granger but my wife insists on a check up."

"My name is Marsha Mr. Snape as we operate on a feeling of familiarity. Is it okay if we call you Severus?"

"It is Marsha. I hate to be pushy but we have a plane to catch in a couple of hours."

Marsha looked at the clipboard as she went back and called out to her husband. "Henry we have a patient and he has a plane to catch in a couple of hours. Possible dental carries."

Henry came in and motioned for the man to follow him as he read the clipboard. "I'll have you fixed up right as rain in time to catch your flight."

Hermione noticed her mother looking at her and decided to act. "Marsha its warm do you have a stand where I can hang my jacket?"

"Of course Mrs. Snape. It's over there in the corner." Marsha replied still amazed at such a close resemblance to her departed daughter. Even the voice sounded the same though older. She watched as the young woman removed her jacket and went to hang it on the stand and saw the apple shaped birthmark on her left shoulder. The coincidence was too much. "Hermione?" She whispered out.

Hermione turned and faced her mother. "Yes Mum it's me and I'm sorry I have been away for so long."

Marsha screamed and fainted as Hermione rushed to her.

Henry had begun his examination shaking his head at the state of the man's teeth when he heard the scream. "Wait here for a moment Severus while I check on my wife." Rushing out of the examining room.

Severus quickly disconnected the muggle torture devices and discretely followed the muggle and almost ran into him as the dentist suddenly stopped.

Henry's jaw dropped when he saw the apple shaped birthmark. "Hermione?"

"Yes Dad." Hermione replied as Severus pushed her father aside and pulled out his wand and pointed it to her mother and intoned "Reinervate".

Hermione pulled her mother up and guided her to the chair next to where her father had taken a seat disbelief still evident on his face.

"We have one hour to convince them Hermione. I am going to check to see if our guest has arrived."

The muggles watched as he pointed his wand to himself and disappeared and gasped out in disbelief.

Hermione knelt before her parents and told them some of the memories that would confirm her identity.

Severus appeared back in the office and watched as Hermione hugged her mum and dad and heard the sobbing. "I hate to break up this joyful reunion but they are out there now and have thirty minutes left."

Hermione let go of her parents. "There are people out there that are going to kill you in a horrendous way and we are here to save you. You need to come with us now! I promise that everything will be explained."

"I don't know as this is all too much to take in." Her father started.

"Oh for Merlin's sake." Severus snarled his patience at an end. "Either you believe her or you don't. If you do not come with us then I will leave you to your death."

"Mum, Dad your mind has been wiped and memories inserted that I had died from an accident. That was not the case as it was different and Severus saved me. It was for your safety that it was done. Once we get to the castle than we can explain more but we must leave soon. Trust me like I have always trusted you." She begged.

Hermione watched as her mum stood up. "Let's go with them Henry. No matter what happens it will be better than this."

"You have chosen wisely Marsha." Severus replied as he wrapped his arms around the group and Apparated directly into his chambers.

HGSSHGSS

Crabbe and his fellow Deatheaters walked into the office and noticed it was empty. "Check the back!" He growled. This was not good, not good at all.

"They are not here Crabbe." One spoke out. "What are we going to do as you know that the Dark Lord is going to kill us for our failure to complete what was commanded of us."

Crabbe panicked as his thoughts raced and his Slytherin traits kicked in. "You agree that we are going to die when we go back and report our failure?"

He heard the muttered "Aye" of agreement.

"Then we must not do that. One of you find a couple of large dogs and bring them here. I will transfigure them into the muggle's likeness and we will complete what we came here to do."

They looked to the man and shrugged as one left quickly coming up with a plan to blame Crabbe if the Dark Lord found out.

Soon the screams of torture sounded out through the building as people left the other offices to find the source as the building fell down around them with fires starting to flare in different parts of the rubble. Muggles pointed up to the sky remarking on the strange cloud that had appeared resembling a skull and snake.

The Deatheaters watched the muggles respond to their attack as the chaotic scene unfolded before their eyes.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

They arrived at Severus's chambers disoriented by the travel.

"I think I am going to be sick." Henry muttered as he made dry retching noises.

"A common side effect of Apparation Mr. Granger and I do apologize." Severus replied as he guided them to a sofa and sat them down. He went to his cabinet and poured two large glasses of brandy and handed them to the couple. "This is brandy and it will help."

He watched as they drank and knelt down to meet their eyes. "Are you ready to learn the truth?" He asked in a silky hypnotizing voice.

"We are Mr. Snape." Marsha replied as she looked to him.

Severus pulled out his wand. "Look into my eyes Marsha Granger and listen to my voice. You are pulled into it. You are relaxed and trust me and you are opening up to me." He whispered and soon found himself within her mind as he released the Obliviate.

He did the same with Henry and enlarged the sofa as Hermione laid them down next to one another.

"They should awaken in about an hour Hermione. Albus' penseive is on the desk and I am not going to tell you what to show them. I suggest not hiding anything from them as they deserve to know the truth as they have obviously suffered. If the Headmaster asks of my whereabouts tell him that I am reporting in and that I should be back shortly."

Hermione rushed over and kissed him. "Be safe Severus."

Severus went over and tapped the stones revealing a passageway. "Don't worry Lioness as I have done exactly as commanded and there will not be a beating in store for me today."

She watched as the stones closed behind him as she turned her attention towards her sleeping parents.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Mr. Greystone and Mr. Bole sat together at the table in the library working on the Potions assignment that Snape had left for the class to do in his absence.

Mr. Bole hissed at his fellow Prefect. "You need to think this through." Pushing the small black book back to him. "You were in the Infirmary almost two days the last time you tangled with him."

Greystone looked to his friend. "Either you stand by me or you don't. Don't forget that I stood up for you in our second year Frederick."

Frederick Boyle sighed as he remembered. "I think that you are crazy to do this Gerald but if it gets approved I'll stand by you."

HGSSHGSS

Severus bowed down in front of the Dark Lord waiting for his command.

"Rise Severus. You were successful in your rescue?"

"I was My Lord." He reverently replied as he steeled himself for the expected intrusion of his mind and prepared himself.

"Hmmm." The Dark Lord thought for a moment after sifting through the memory. "The Outer Circle is calling to report their success of the mission. Let's see what they report." Pressing his wand to his Mark to call them.

Six members of the Outer Circle appeared and immediately bowed. "Rise faithful and give me proof."

One masked Deatheater handed him a muggle newspaper and immediately went back to stand next to the others and watched as the Dark Lord read it.

Voldemort dropped the paper to the ground and stood up with his wand pointed out. "You lie!" He roared out as he pointed his wand out and killed five.

He walked to the single Deatheater and pulled his mask off. "Crabbe your death would not teach you a lesson on telling me the truth. You lied to me but I admire the planning behind it. Crucio!" Watching the wizard fall and began to scream.

"Go Knight you have done well." The Dark Lord commanded and Severus hastened out of the room as the wizard's screams echoed out in the room.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Severus arrived at the gates and made his way to the castle and noticed that Albus was outside waiting for his return, his hand holding a small black book.

He strode up to the headmaster and waited.

Albus looked to Severus with a grave look and handed him the book and a piece of parchment. "An issue has come up with your House Severus and as you were not available, the student came to me. The request disturbs me but the Rules of the Founders overrule what I would have said no to." Handing the items to his Potions Master.

He took the items and read the parchment first and then read the highlighted passage in the book. Damn! The student was justified in his request but surely did not realize the consequences of his actions.

Albus spoke. "He is aware of the consequences Severus as I made sure to tell him. He still insists and you have no choice in this as well."

"Where is the student Albus? I will try to dissuade him but my warnings will fall on deaf ears as the boy acts on emotions and has no common sense whatsoever. He is like his father, the blasted brat!" He snarled out.

"He is in my office and I will leave you to it. Please let me know of the date so I can prepare for it. After all it has been three hundred years since this ceremony has been requested."

Severus said nothing as he walked through the doors and made his way to the Headmaster's office. Merlin help any student that got in his way.

He entered the office and noticed the wizard sitting in the chair in front of the desk. "Mr. Greystone."

The student jumped up and turned to face him. "Head of Slytherin House."

"You realize what the ceremony entails and its consequences?" Severus demanded.

"I do Head of Slytherin and I still demand it." The boy formally replied back.

"He put you in the Infirmary before. What makes you think this would be different?"

"I will be bound by no rules and I will win Head of Slytherin. I demand this and you have no choice." Keeping his voice respectful.

"Very well young Slytherin though I am disappointed that you could not think of other means." Calling a castle owl and using the parchment on the Headmaster's desk to write out a note to the boy's father and handing it to the bird. "Do not leave until you have an answer."

They watched as the bird flew off as another owl arrived with a package and dropped it in front of the student. "Meet me at the Great Hall with your second and both of you wear what is in that package. Now go!" Severus hissed out and watched his student leave the chambers as Fawkes the Phoenix trilled a sad note.

Severus walked up and rubbed the beak of the headmaster's Familiar. "I know how you feel Fawkes and I feel the same way. Such a waste."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione watched as her parents fell out of the penseive holding one another and crying. "Oh Kitten!" Henry sobbed out.

She held them both as she cried as well. "I only suffered a little bit mum and Severus did save me at the end of the day. So what if it came to pass five years later?"

"You call standing naked and being tortured and whipped only a little suffering?" Marsha sobbed out.

Severus walked into the room and stood still as he observed the Granger family on the floor sobbing.

Henry suddenly jumped up and approached Severus as his fist connected to the wizard's jaw and sending him to the floor as Hermione cried out "Dad!"

Severus stood back up and rubbed his jaw as he looked to his Father In Law with anger in his eyes as he pulled out his wand.

"Severus no!" Hermione commanded as she stood between them.

He looked to his wife and handed her his wand. "I think that your parents and I need to have a heart to heart discussion Hermione. Why don't you go to the kitchens and get some food and bring it back down to us?"

"Severus I know that you can do wandless magic. You must not hurt them." She sent along her bond.

"I will not and the only reason is that they are your parents. I deserved it." He sent back.

Hermione tucked the wand into her robes and looked to her husband and father. "I am going to get some food as everyone must be famished."

She exited the chambers as a young voice greeted her. "I knew that I would find you here and I know your secret."

She froze as a student melted from the shadows holding a package and waited for her response.