Doppelganger

Chapter 36 The Light Fades Part One

Severus went to the headmaster to inform him of the results of his meeting with Voldemort and observed elder wizard and Kingsley speaking to one another.

"Kingsley make sure our guests are taken care of from now on. Have them elect a representative to contact us and I will let you know who our contact will be."

The tall black wizard took the key and rumbled in his deep voice "Of course Albus." He walked past Severus and muttered a greeting as he left the office.

Severus arched an eyebrow in question as Albus greeted him. "Merely settling my affairs before the big day Severus. I take it our students have arrived back unharmed."

"Relatively unharmed. Mr. LeStrange is back in the Infirmary. He should be released in a day or two." Taking a seat and briefed Albus on the happenings of the night.

Albus removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes and looked to his spy. "He is taking an unhealthy notice in Hermione."

"I warned you both that he would. He has given Potter a week to come before him. If he does not than he promised to execute his plans."

Albus chuckled. "And "Execute" he shall no matter what the response is. Have you prepared yourself for next week?"

"I have Headmaster." He tonelessly replied as he stood up and left.

Albus watched the younger wizard leave and hoped that he would not suffer overmuch.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

The week progressed and Hermione noticed the withdrawal of her husband and gave him space as she knew what was going to happen on Friday. She no longer had issues with her new house as they merely sat and listened to her and did not become disruptive as they normally did. While not accepted she was tolerated.

She made her way to the Astronomy Tower Thursday late night sensing that her husband was there through their connection. She opened the door and watched as her husband twirled around and pointed his wand at her and lowered it as he recognized her.

"Hermione." He greeted as he went back to the telescope and looked into it.

She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him and whispered. "What has your attention Severus?"

He stepped away from the telescope and motioned for her to look. She peered into it and saw that it was not pointed to the sky but focused downward.

She saw Alice Dyson apprentice to Madame Pomphrey sitting on a large rock and looking to a phial that was in her hand. Hermione looked up from the telescope and spoke. "Maybe she is reflecting on her actions and will not finish what is commanded of her."

Severus stood before her. "Or maybe she is reflecting on the glory that she will receive from the Dark Lord on her actions." He snarled out.

"I don't think so Severus unless those are tears of joy she is shedding."

He looked back into the scope and saw that Alice was indeed crying.

"Come with me wife as we need to talk for the future is unpredictable as everything is rushing toward completion." Holding his hand out and felt her warmth as she grabbed it.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Alice Dyson sat on the rock looking at the phial. Tomorrow at lunch she was to use the phial that would cause the death of the headmaster. When she was first tasked she was honored to be the one to kill the headmaster. But since the Dark Lord's punishment and torture her, she had come to see him in a different light.

She reflected on her time spent with the Order and of the words that Harry told her before. Her life was a mess now and no hope of fixing it. This one act and she would be free.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Severus sat at his desk busily preparing stacks of test for the third year Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff class when the door to his classroom opened and saw that Albus had arrived with Lord Draco Malfoy and Mr. Bole.

"Professor Snape I have two of the Board of Governors to see you. They would like to discuss your curriculum with you. I'll see you at lunch."

Severus watched as the headmaster left and pulled his time piece out and looked to the time. "I have twenty minutes before class and I tell you what I have told the Board every time that you visit. I will never change the way I teach or change my curriculum." He snarled to them.

He strode over and opened the door to chambers. "I believe that we should talk here so that no students will disrupt us."

Draco and Bole walked in and Severus secured his door and placed complicated wards around it to prevent being disturbed.

He walked over to his liquor cabinet and fixed three large helpings of firewhisky as he called out. "Bole are you even a member of the Board of Governors as I find it hard to believe." Turning to his guest and handing the glasses out and motioned that they should sit.

"Yes Snape!" Bole snapped back in agitation.

Severus sipped his drink and directed his eyes to Bole. "Hmm just goes to show they'll take anyone in."

"Watch your tone Snape." Draco said in a dark voice as he pulled out a birdcage from his cloak and opened it and released the raven Zu into the room.

Zu perched on the mantelpiece of the floo and waited.

Draco spoke out. "The Dark Lord wants to know if the mudblood sent the request to Potter."

Severus looked to Zu and bowed as he spoke. "No My Lord and I know she contacted him."

Zu snapped his beak in anger and flew down and landed on Bole's shoulder.

"Go and check the Infirmary Bole. Make sure you have a chat with Alice." Draco commanded.

Bole finished his drink and stood up as Severus interrupted. "My Lord, it would be best if a student escorted you so there would not be any questions from the Prefects as students are now headed to class.

Zu nodded and Severus opened the door to the Slytherin Common room. He saw reading at a table as period was free.

"A word Mr. Lestrange." Motioning that the student should enter his chambers and watched as the First year obeyed.

" Please escort Governor Bole so that he may inspect the infirmary."

Brody saw Zu looking at him and bowed. "As it is willed My Lord."

Severus watched Bole and Zu leave with the first year and turned to see Draco sink back onto the chair.

"Godfather how do you do it hiding your disloyalty while doing terrible acts in the process. It is wearing me down." Draco muttered as he accio'ed Snape's bottle of firewhiskey and poured out a large helping.

Severus observed his godson. The wizard was exhausted he observed. "Stay." He commanded as he went to a shelf and pulled out five phials and brought them over and set them down. "Drink in this order: red,blue, green, purple, and then brown."

He watched as the man gagged on the last one. "And that would be the Revitalizing Potion. I will make sure that you receive these Draco as you are not taking care of yourself."

Draco placed the last phial down and watched as his Godfather sat back down with a sigh and looked to him.

"Why are you and Bole really here Draco?"

"We are here to observe and be a reminder for you and Alice. As for the reasoning behind it I have no idea. Why did your First year bow to Zu?"

"Surely you recognized his last name Draco. He is Bella's nephew and Marked and being groomed for the Inner Circle."

"So he is the short Deatheater that always stood away during the summer." Draco exclaimed in surprise as he finished his drink and looked to the man that he respected. "The Darkness calls me further Godfather. It takes its toll on me as I have to continue in my father's footsteps."

"I know Draco and it calls to me as well. Be strong just a bit longer and focus on the love you hold for your wife to keep it at bay Draco. I never wished for you to be this far into this." Severus replied as he looked to his timepiece. "Time for class and you will come and observe since you are tasked to watch over me. Perhaps you'll learn something this time around." Smirking to the wizard while pulling him up and forcing him to the door.

The door banged open and the Third Years jumped as Severus snickered to himself. Their reaction always amused him. "Class this is Lord Malfoy who is the head of the Board of Governors and will be observing this class."

The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs observed the blonde wizard wearing expensive green robes entwined with snakes holding a cane with a snake head move through the aisle and took a seat at the rear of the class.

"Today's topic is poisons their composition and how to detect and treat them. You will be tested on this today so I suggest you pay attention."

Severus began his lecture inwardly cursing on the timing of it as it would make him suspect later as Draco sat back and observed.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Albus sat and watched as the students filtered in and sat waiting for the expected lunch time announcements. They noticed two new faces and waited for the explanation of who they were.

Albus walked down to the podium and stood as the hall grew quiet. "Students first I want to present to you Lord Malfoy and Mr. Bole of the Board of Governors. Please answer any questions that they may have while here."

He waited as the two stood up and then sat back down.

"Dark times approach us young witches and wizards of Hogwarts. I know you have read about the puzzling disappearances of whole Wizarding villages. Some of you have been affected as parents have come up missing as well. You will always be protected here at Hogwarts and all you have to do is ask for help. Examine your feelings for very soon you will have to decide where to stand. Eat up and enjoy the meal."

The hall remained silent as the Headmaster went back to his spot and began to eat. Soon a knife scraped a plate as the hall became abuzz and normal activity resumed.

Alice looked to the Headmaster as he began to eat. For Merlin's sake drink up and release me from this Hell that I put myself into.

Hermione glanced over to Alice noticing that she was not eating. "Alice are you feeling well?"

Alice glanced over to her fellow apprentice irritated. "I'm fine Hermione. Just not very hungry."

A blood curdling scream broke out as the Headmaster suddenly stood up with blood spewing from his mouth and then collapsed back into his chair twitching as Poppy rushed up to attend with Kingsley and Severus following her.

Minerva stood up immediately and saw that the entire hall was in pandemonium. She quickly caste a "Notice Me Not" Charm and approached the podium.

"Sonorus." She muttered as looked to the hall with the students standing up in fear. "Dinner will be brought to your House Common room. Heads of House escort your house now and perform a House count and send me back a result!" She went down to the students as the Head of Houses followed her.

"Apprentice Granger as your Head of House is busy you will take control of Slytherin House as you are the only staff classed to Slytherin at this time."

Hermione moved down and approached her fellow Slytherins and snarled out. "Prefects make them move now and I will be right behind you!"

Soon the entire hall was empty as the screams of pain continued from the Headmaster.

Kingsley whispered to Minerva. "You are the Headmistress now. Lock down the castle so that we can find out who is responsible. Poppy says that he is poisoned."

Minerva looked down to where Severus was holding the Headmaster down while Poppy muttered a locking spell to prevent the Headmaster from moving. She removed the ring from Albus and placed it upon her finger and walked to a wall and placed her hand upon it. Soon the sounds of doors being locked and the main entrance slammed shut and its many locks clicked into place.

"It is done Kingsley." Minerva replied as she watched Poppy conjured up a stretcher and placed the bound unconscious form onto the stretcher and watched as Poppy and Professor Snape left.