Doppelganger

Chapter 37 The Light Fades Part Two

The whole of Slyhterin stood jam packed in the common room in complete silence looking to Hermione. "Prefects perform a House count and report to Mr. Bole so that he can inform me of the result." She commanded as she watched the Prefects jump into action.

Silence hung in the air as minutes ticked by. Mr. Bole came up stating. "Apprentice Granger the House of Slytherin is present before you."

"Very well Mr. Bole. Make sure everyone stays grouped together by Year." Watching as Mr. Bole walked back to his Year. "Sassy." She called out.

The entire room jumped and a few witches screamed in fright as Sassy the house elf appeared.

"Sassy please set up tables with food in the dormitories so that the students can eat." Hermione asked kindly.

"With pleasure Misses." Sassy squeaked as she disappeared with a plop.

"I am going to say this only once so pay close attention. Something has happened to the Headmaster and I do not know what it is at this time. The Deputy Headmistress has commanded that everyone return to their House. I am going one step further in that I command you all to stay in your dormitories until I find out what is going on." Muttering was heard as she continued. "Silence! You heard that I am your temporary Head as Professor Snape is not available and I am the only other Slytherin on staff at this time."

She continued. "Do not think to sneak out for I will know. And remember this one fact and think about it. I am a Slytherin with Gryffindor tendencies and that should worry you because I am unpredictable. Now go and try to eat if you can and either I or Professor Snape will let you know what is happening when we are able to do so."

She watched as the students made their way up to the dorms making sure all students left the common room.

Salazar Slytherin looked to the empty room from a portrait. The witch had certainly put them in their place very quickly.

Hermione made her way to the Infirmary deep in thought as she felt the pain of loss through their connection. "Are you well Severus?"

"About as well as one could expect." He sent back along the connection.

Hagrid was standing outside the closed doors of the Infirmary grimacing at the howls of pain that could be heard. "Hermione Minerva has directed the staff to go to ta the teacher's lounge and wait. I'll be joining with ya shortly."

Hermione hugged the half giant as he lightly hugged her back. "Now go Hermione." He gruffly commanded as he pulled a huge hankie from his wool coat and wiped the tears from his eyes.

She walked the halls down to the staff lounge warm tears flowing gushing from her eyes. She had known the day was coming but Merlin the howls of pain coming from the headmaster were unnatural. She stood at the door to the lounge for a moment taking a couple of breaths to compose herself before going in.

She noticed that almost all of the staff was there including Apprentice Dyson, Lord Malfoy, Mr. Bole with the raven Zu on his shoulder and her husband. A large glass of firewhiskey suddenly appeared before her and a third of the drink spilled out before she could calm her shaking hands. "Bollocks." She muttered as she drank half in one go.

A voice lazily called out. "Manners Apprentice Granger."

She whirled and faced her husband and glared at him as she took the only free seat next to Mr. Bole.

"Professor Snape Slytherin House is accounted for and currently commanded to stay in their dorms. I would like a word later if you don't mind." She retorted back in anger.

He merely nodded to her as Zu looked to Hermione with interest.

After an hour of waiting Minerva and Poppy entered the lounge followed by Kingsley and Hagrid. Everyone watched as the two witches walked to the cabinet and poured a large helping of firewhiskey and drank it down in one go.

Professor Flitwick looked in shock at the Medi-Witch as she never drank watching as she sputtered out as Minerva gently patted her back.

Minerva turned her attention to her fellow staff. "Poison experts from St. Mungo's have arrived and taken over the care of Albus. He is not reacting at all to the cures for the poison that he was given and is unable to be moved at this time." Pausing for a moment. "Aurour Shacklebot is here along with fifteen aurours here to administer Veritessurem to the staff first and then will move to the student body if necessary. You have no choice in this. If you refuse you will go immediately to Azkaban where other methods will be used."

Lord Malfoy stood up and shouted. "This is ridiculous and I demand that I be released so I can meet with the Board of Governors."

Kingsley spoke in his low rumbling voice. "We will speak to Professor Snape first as we have been told that today's subject on his curriculum was poisons. What a strange coincidence you must admit along with his past." Distrust and anger in his eyes as he glared at the dour wizard.

Severus snarled out. "It happens to be on my curriculum at this time every year!" Standing up in anger.

"We shall see Professor Snape. Headmistress could you witness for me? After we question Professor Snape we will get to the rest of you if we need to and we will find out who is responsible. The room is guarded so do not leave." Kingsley spoke as he motioned for Severus to leave the room.

Zu cawed out in laughter as his master made sure that the Potions master would not be implicated.

They entered an unused classroom adjacent to the lounge and Severus sat down. "Anytime now Kingsley as I have to see to my House soon."

"I asked Minerva to witness as she knows of your status." Kingsley rumbled out as he handed the wizard the potion as he pointed his wand to him.

"You can put it away Kingsley as I have nothing to hide." Drinking the potion in one go as he felt the immediate effect of the potion. He suddenly felt warm and relaxed.

"How long have you been teaching here at Hogwarts Severus?"

"Around twenty-five years." He immediately replied as he felt the need to answer.

"And are you a Deatheater?"

The response was slower. "Yesss and no."

"Are you loyal to the Order of the Phoenix and the defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

No hesitation. "Yes."

"Did you poison Headmaster Dumbledore?"

Again an immediate answer. "No."

Minerva forced the antidote down and watched as Severus came to his senses. "Well? Am I to be carted off to Azkaban or am I free to go to my House now?" He snarled out.

"Go Severus. I will let you know what to tell your students shortly." Minerva said in a quiet voice watching as the angry wizard left the room slamming the door shut behind him. She turned to Kingsley. "Thank Merlin it wasn't him."

"Yes Minerva I agree but an assassin is still loose in a locked up castle. Who knows what will happen if we do not find out who it is quickly."

The questioning continued as Alice watched the room empty. Lord Malfoy and Mr. Bole demanded to be questioned right away as they needed to convene the Board of Governors and they never came back and the questioning continued. She then realized that she had been left to the wolves. No surprise there.

Soon only Alice and Hermione were left in the room.

"It must have been a student Alice as I am sure we would have been told if the guilty party had been found." Hermione told her fellow apprentice squeezing her hand before she was called out.

Soon Kingsley came in and motioned to the young witch. "Apprentice Dyson you are next."

Kingsley administered the potion and saw Alice relax indicating that it had taken hold.

After the initial questioning about her time at Hogwarts he asked. "Are you a Deatheater?"

"Yes."

"Did you poison Headmaster Dumbledore?"

"Yes."

"And who commanded it?"

"The Dark Lord."

"And is there a cure?"

"Not that I know of."

The antidote was given to her and she saw three wands pointed to her. "I want to tell you now that I am sorry and I was misled. I hope the Veil sorts me properly." Biting down on the ampoule of cyanide that she had placed in her mouth beforehand. Her body immediately convulsed and stilled.

"Filth!" Aurour Wright spat out. "She deserved the Kiss." Kicking the body that had fallen to the floor in anger.

"Aurour Wright that will be enough!" Kingsley demanded as he wrapped his arms around the sobbing wizard. "Let's go brief Minerva and let her know."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

As soon as Draco and Bole arrived Voldemort put his plans into action. The takeover of the Ministry was swift and complete as he already had his forces in place.

Voldemort chuckled. Very soon his total takeover of the Wizarding world in Britain would be complete and then he could look to Europe and the rest of the world.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Kingsley and Wright were speaking to Minerva when Arthur Weasley's weasel patronus suddenly appeared. "Kingsley! The Ministry has been taken over and I barely got out with my life. Call to your Aurours in the field and make sure that they do not go when summoned. The Deatheaters are slaughtering them all!" The patronus faded after delivering its message.

Minerva pointed to the floo in her office. "Use that and go to the Phoenix. Have them help you and explain what is going on here."

She watched as both wizards left in a flare a green and whispered after them "Good luck."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Two days later Minerva sat down next to Albus who was lucid for the first time since his poisoning and held his hand as the healers of St. Mungo's gathered around.

Albus spoke out. "My thanks to all of you who have taken care of me and concocted this potion to enable me to be lucid for a few hours. I will put the two phials to work as I settle my affairs. You can leave now as there is nothing more to be done." Holding his hand out at the protest. "Poppy will take care of me and you need to go back to your families. Voldemort has taken over the Ministry and has taken over most Wizarding villages. Protect your loved ones and remember that the love you feel will protect them and you. We are entering the darkest time that our world has ever experienced in a thousand years. Listen to your magic as it will tell you that it is true."

He watched as the healers left the room, some sobbing out and soon the room was empty save Minerva. "Minerva I want you to bring the officers of Order of the Phoenix here as I need to speak them. We must check the entire student body for the Hidden Mark if this castle is to remain safe from Voldemort until he decides to move on the school."

Minerva saw the hard look in his eyes as she whispered. "And what will we do with the ones that are discovered Albus?"

"We do what we must Minerva. After all we are fighting for the very existence of good and cannot let the Darkness take over the world."

She watched in horror as his eyes rolled back and he screamed out in ungodly pain as the effects of the potion wore off.

Poppy rushed in and restrained the wizard. "The poison interferes with any sleeping or pain droughts given. He will pass out in a few minutes." Ushering Minerva to the door.

"How can you stand it Poppy?" Minerva sobbed out.

"I do it for his sake. Now go as there is no need to be here." Poppy shouted over the ungodly screams of pain.