Doppelganger

A/N JK owns Harry Potter and I make no money from this fan fiction

Chapter 38 Light Fades Part 3

The students walked into the Great Hall lined up in alphabetical order. Houses were ignored as Gryffindor stood mixed in with Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravencalw. The hall grew silent as they noticed strangers wearing red robes and masks shaped in the features of a phoenix. They had read enough of the Daily Prophet to know who these people were.

Minerva stood before the podium. "The Headmaster has been poisoned as you know and the Order of the Phoenix would like to question you concerning it. As temporary Headmistress you have no choice in this as we rush to reveal anyone else involved in this heinous business. Sit at the tables as you are lined up and wait for your turn after the staff has been interviewed." She sat down as a masked figure approached the podium and removed the mask.

The hall gasped out as they looked to the Boy-Who-Lived. "I know you recognize me and yes I am Harry Potter. As you sit here waiting I want you to think about one thing. Do you support Darkness or Light? You must decide for yourself and stand by your decision." Watching as a few students bolted for the door and were blocked and taken away by his fellow Order members as the students watched them being dragged away.

Harry continued. "If you are involved with Voldemort in any way tell us immediately for if you do not, things will be much worse for you when we discover it and I promise that we will. Esteemed staff of Hogwarts follow me to be questioned.

The hall broke out in a buzz as they observed Professor Snape fall in line looking out to the hall with a scowl. That was one wizard who would not be coming back as everyone knew he was evil.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Harry led him through a door and stopped after he closed it and motioned for him to continue; watching as his ex-professor walk to the table where the masked form was sitting as he pushed up the sleeve of his left arm and revealing the Mark. "You know I have it." He snarled out and stood waiting.

The figure reached out and grabbed his arm and held it for a few moments before releasing it and stood up removing the mask revealing untamed curls and brown eyes. "Yes I know and it does not change anything Severus Snape."

He stood still and watched as his wife moved around the table and kissed him deeply and then pulled away and looked to him. "I no longer hear your thoughts Severus."

Severus looked to her and sighed. "And I do not hear yours as well. Remember that our connection was cut off when we had to do something that would hurt the other. Things will rush quickly now and my future is unsure." He glanced over to Harry who had a large grin on his face.

"Enjoy your interrogation Professor Snape and do not keep her long as we have the entire student body to interview." Harry called out as he left the room.

"What are you going to do about Mr. LeStrange? The interviewing covers the true intent on discovering those with hidden Marks in the school and you know what the standing orders of the Phoenix are." Sitting down in a chair and pulling her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her.

"I don't see how Minerva can allow that to happen as her Headmistress vows are to protect the students." Hermione muttered as she thought about the young wizard.

"Her vow will not be put to the test as the castle recognizes the Dark Lord as a threat to its students. Once they are revealed the castle will recognize them as a threat. Do you truly believe that there is good in the boy Hermione?"

"I do Severus. What if someone had intervened and helped you when you were here? Would you have become involved with Voldemort?" She gently asked.

"Who knows but I hope that he won't come back and kill you later. He reminds me a lot of you in your first year. Strong in magic and intelligent as well."

She turned in his lap and deeply kissed him and sighed out. "The compliment is twelve years too late but I'll take what I can get."

He chuckled as he rose up and kissed her cheek forcing her to stand as well. "Visit with me tonight wife for my time at the castle is short. Just make sure that you interview Mr. LeStrange and I will take care of the rest."

Hermione quickly wrote a note out and walked out the door with him. "Professor Snape has been cleared." She informed her fellow Order member standing at the door. "Please give this to Harry as it is urgent."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione removed her mask and swiped at the tears. She had discovered a seventh year Slytherin as the witch with the hidden Mark as she screamed out that she had no choice as her parents forced her to do it as she was dragged out of the room. Hearing a knock on the door she quickly put on her mask and yelled out "Enter."

She watched as Brody approached her and sat down. She looked up and saw that the Order member that escorted him held up a hand holding the boy's wand and nodded. "Have a seat." She commanded the wizard. "Your name young Slytherin?"

"Brody LeStrange and I recognize your voice Apprentice Granger." He replied as he looked around the room noticing that the one exit out of this room was behind him and guarded.

"Do you have anything to say before beginning this interview?"

"No."

"Did you have anything to do with the poisoning of the Headmaster?"

"No."

"Are you involved with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"You know the answer to that Apprentice Granger."

Hermione looked to him. "I have no choice in this Brody and I'm sorry." Motioning to the escort and watched as a red light shot out striking the guard as she suddenly flew forward and hit the wall hard and remained still.

Brody stood up in shock as his head of house melted out of the shadows and checked Hermione.

"Take this!" Shoving a wrapped object into the boy's hand. "It is a Port Key that the Headmaster gave me. It will take you to the castle gates and you can escape. Tell our Lord what is happening here and that I will contact him as soon as I am able to." He then muttered "Delitrius" to get rid of the evidence of his help. "Well what are you waiting for?" He snarled out as he handed the boy's wand to him.

Brody looked to the tall wizard for a moment before activating the port key and disappeared.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione woke with a pounding headache as she sat up and looked to Harry and Minerva. "All I remember is finding out that Mr. LeStrange bore the hidden Mark."

"It seems that Mr. LeStrange had a hidden wand and knocked you and your guard out." Harry replied as he looked to her. "Why did you request to interview him?"

"You know why Harry. I was his Second and I stood before Voldemort with him. I suspected that he was Marked and I wanted him to be confronted by one that he knew."

"Now you know." Harry darkly replied. "We found thirty sixth and seventh years as well bearing the Mark from all houses."

Minerva rose up and patted her hand. "Dinner will be soon and I have to think of something to tell the students. I'll see you there." Passing Severus as he entered the infirmary.

Noticing no one else but Harry he knelt down and softly asked. "Are you okay Hermione? I did tell you what would happen."

She looked into his eyes and saw pain in them as she realized that he was the one that attacked her realizing he was true to his word on helping Brody escape.

"Nothing that a few kisses won't take care of." Smiling to him as she rose up and pecked his cheek and sat back down. "What's next Harry?"

Harry looked uncomfortable as he shuffled his feet. "The standing orders of the Phoenix were carried out and we delivered the bodies to their family. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Longbottom performed the act as everyone balked at killing defenseless young witches and wizards. It seems that they have no problem with it."

He looked remorseful as he continued. "I believed most of them Hermione as they pleaded that they had no choice as their parents made them take it. Mr. Potter told me that I could not change my mind as Voldemort would consider the Order weak if we did not go through with it as it is a well known fact that that I said in the past that I would kill any Deatheater revealed."

"Oh Harry!" Hermione sobbed out as she pulled him to her and held him projecting her love to him hoping it would soothe him.

Severus looked down and hesitated for a moment and then placed his hand on the young man's shoulder. "They paid the price for their parent's actions. If they are innocent they will be welcomed to the Veil."

Harry trembled for a moment as he composed himself. "Thank you for the words Professor Snape."

"It's Severus Harry." The dark wizard replied as he suddenly turned and left the Infirmary with his black robes billowing behind him.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

The students filled the Great Hall for dinner and looked to their Headmistress standing at the podium noticing her troubled look. They noticed that some did not return to their House after questioning.

"Students the castle has declared itself under siege as followers of Voldemort has been revealed amongst us and declares the Order of the Phoenix as protectors of the school. No one will be allowed to leave as we take our promise to protect you seriously as most of the Wizarding Britain is under Voldemort's control. It is in your best interest that we do this."

A Seventh year Slytherin stood up and angrily asked. "And what of our House Headmistress? Mr. Bole and Mr. Lestrange did not return not to mention others. What happened to them?"

Harry came up and stood next to Minerva. "I'll answer the question Headmistress." As he observed the angry Slytherin for a moment.

'They are dead. Everyone here has read the Prophet and I promised that I would kill any Deatheater that I found. They were Marked by Voldemort and justice was delivered quickly and they did not suffer. Remember the words I said about deciding what side? I hope that this helps in your decision. The castle looks after its students and do you think that I would have been able to take them away if they truly were not a danger to you?"

Harry sat back down as Minerva spoke out. "Enjoy your meal the best you can." As food appeared on the tables.

Poppy rushed up and whispered into the Headmistress ear and then quickly left. Minerva stood up and went to where the Potions master sat. "Severus, Albus wants to see you." She whispered.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Severus walked quickly to the Headmaster's chambers as he had been moved from the infirmary, pulling out his timepiece and looked to it as he walked. The Headmaster would be dead in two hours. He saw the gargoyles already pulled to the side and he thought that one of them might have been crying. "What is the word gargoyle?" He softly asked.

"Murder and death Head of Slytherin House." The gargoyle muttered.

He walked up the stairs and reflected on the Gargoyle's words and knew that its words were true. A delayed murder but murder nonetheless.

He entered the office and Poppy immediately led him to the door of Albus' bedchambers. "He's not long of this world Severus." She told him as she opened the door and motioned for him to enter. "I am going to gather the staff."

Severus walked in and observed Albus. The poison had taken its toll and the body was a frail shell. "Albus."

"Severus my boy sit beside me and listen closely as the poison has found a way around the potions that allow me to be coherent and not in pain and I do not have much time. I admit the concoction has worked as promised."

"One of the best poisons I have brewed." He muttered as he sat down in a chair next to the bed and waited.

"Severus such dark humor from you and I do appreciate it and stress my death is not by you but by another. I hope that my words will give you peace as very soon you will be thrown back into the darkness. You will be considered a traitor once again and it cannot be helped."

"Headmaster everyone thinks that despite my actions. An evil wizard that cannot be trusted. Only Hermione and Harry know of what I truly am."

Albus looked to him. "Hermione has had a calming effect on you and your Darkness is not as prevalent as it has been in the past and you will have to focus on that and her in the future."

"What do you need of me Albus for I see where this conversation going." He growled out. "I am going back to Voldemort?"

"Yes Severus and you must be the one to kill the snake as you are the only one able to get close to it. You and the doppelgangers are key to giving Harry the power he needs to defeat Voldemort. You must succeed or all the sacrifices will be for nought." Reaching under his pillow as he spoke and handed his spy a slender case. "Open it."

Severus opened it revealing the dagger that belonged to Salazar Slytherin and then closed it and put it into his pocket. He arched an eyebrow in surprise and remained quiet as his fellow professors entered the room.

Severus felt Hermione close to him and grabbed her hand his action hidden by the robes that he wore as everyone waited for Albus to speak.

"My dear friends my death is approaching and there is nothing to be done about it. Listen to Minerva as she guides you and support her. I regret that I will not be with you as you travel the dark road ahead. All is not lost as the Founding Four have revealed themselves and listen to their advice when they give it." Pointing to the portrait on his wall as he coughed and moaned in pain and began to pant.

"You are my family and I will wait for each and every one of you at the Veil and it will be such a joyful reunion. Be strong…" Albus' body began to shake and convulse as blood seeped from his eyes, mouth, and ears as a blood curdling scream erupted and ended suddenly as he took a huge grasping breath and stilled.

Poppy rushed to Albus and casted diagnostic charms. "He is dead."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Draco woke up as a house elf shook him. He gently pulled his wife's arms away from his body as he turned and growled. "Elf this better be good as you are forbidden from my bedchambers."

Dickey stuttered. "Master youse instructed us to imediates delivers any from Hogwarts." Holding out the parchment as he shook in fear. The son was not as bad as the sire but one never knew when a beating would occur.

He snatched the letter away and dismissed the elf and opened it and read the contents. He cursed as he got out of bed and dressed into the robes and mask of the Inner Circle and pressed his Mark and Apparated away.