Doppelganger

A/N Thanks to the faithful readers of this story and thanks for the reviews. Four more chapters I think and it will be complete

Chapter 43 Battle! Part Two

Voldemort watched as the fog enveloped the clashing army. Fools! The Light did not realize that he was strengthening.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

DEATH faded and Severus watched as Hermione led her attack holding her sword out before her. He was a ghost now and he could help her remembering that when a ghost passed through the living, the living person was paralyzed for a moment as the cold chill passed through them. He rushed before her and moved through her attacker as she held her arm out as the plate deflected the sword. He watched in disbelief as Hermione parried the attacker's sword and thrust her sword point in and as the wizard fell down dead and moved on. So he was not a ghost after all.

He floated back to where Lily stood looking to him sadly. "Severus you are not dead, nor alive, and not a ghost. You are a soul waiting to be retrieved. You have no influence on this whatsoever though you do Hermione justice by trying."

Severus floated over to where a portrait leaned against the castle wall as Salazar spoke. "Well done Head of House Severus Snape."

Severus sat in front of the painting. "You can see me?" He asked in disbelief.

Godric Gryffindor replied. "Of course Professor Severus Snape Head of Slytherin house we see all here departed or alive on our grounds and the castle. The fact that you have not moved on does not make a difference. You have performed admirably in what was tasked to you. You really should have been sorted into Gryffindor."

Severus turned and looked to the fog that had enveloped the battlefield thankful that he did not see his wife and spoke. "I would not have changed despite it Godric Gryffindor. Fate set me upon my path well before I entered this place."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Hermione continued to move forward as she grew alarmed at her thoughts. The enemy's swords were not charmed and they had no protection. Why would Voldemort not be concerned that they knew his plans? She knew that he did not care about his army. Her logic clicked into place as she continued to fight and thought about the Mark as she continued to swing her sword out as her attacker succeeded in a glancing blow and she felt blood seep down her side. Thank the Gods that theirs were ordinary as she would have been killed. She realized that Voldemort's army died the bit of power in their Mark went back to their master. Every death made him stronger. Oh fuck and no way to warn anyone as she was busy trying to stay alive.

She continued to fight trying to make her way to where Harry was. Their well thought out plans helped instead of hindering Voldemort.

HGSSHGSS

Mr. Potter and the rest of his group of thirty spread out in the woods that Voldemort's reserve troops were hiding. They should be the less trained of Voldemort's army as he sent his best in the first rush to weaken the defenders. They crept along slowly as they made it to the edge of the clearing and watched the group of twenty masked Deatheater's sitting around a fire as some stood holding their wands as the other slept. "Kill the guards and bind the others. We want them to pay for their crimes later and we must conserve our energy." He heard the whispers of "Aye" as they charged into the clearing as green light spit forth from their wands as the guards fell, the screams of death wakening their comrades as they moved to defend themselves as they fell under the massive attack of magic.

One Deatheater fell down and cackled out "The Dark Lord expected this." Putting his hand into his robes and touched a port key and was transported instantly away.

Mr. Potter watched as his group magically bound the prisoners, hearing the snaps of wands being broken as he put the fire out leaving the group in darkness once again. "No way to warn the rest of our group. We must be careful as they will be expecting us. They will put out their fires and move out into the forest. It is every witch and wizard for themselves now and I wish you well in the Veil my friends. It has been an honor fighting with you. Spread out and take down any that you meet."

He watched as his group separated and moved out as he stood and thought of the Deatheater that disappeared. This was not a group of barely trained witches and wizards that he planned on but the most dedicated of Voldemort's followers. The evil wizard must have changed his plans knowing that Severus would tell them. Damn! And no way to warn Harry.

The silent game of cat and mouse continued in the Forbidden forest as the Deatheaters did not kill but merely incapacitated the groups and bound them up as they were no match to the elite of Voldemort's Deatheaters.

Messages were sent to Bellatrix as they found the Golden Trio amongst those that were captured and she commanded that they be brought to her as she continued to cast "Crucio" on Mr. Longbottom as she cackled out "Join your parents you worthless, pathetic boy!" Releasing the spell and walked to him with her knife in hand. "I've changed my mind as I do not want another Longbottom around." Plunging her knife to the hilt in the Wizard's chest and sat on him as she looked into the dying wizard's eyes as his body spasm and heard a harsh gurgling noise escaped as he died.

"Dear Brody do the same to this pathetic witch that stood by him and feel the power that you have." She commanded as she pointed to the bound blonde haired witch sitting on the ground next to the body.

Luna Longbottom watched as the short masked Deatheater approach her and pointed his wand to her as Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Melody Mockingbird, and Mrs. Potter was dragged into the clearing and dumped onto the ground bound.

"The Golden Trio plus one here before me to witness this is icing on the cake. Watch this witch die as I'm sure you know her." She cackled out to them as she pressed her Mark to summon her Lord to her.

"Do what you have to do Brody LeStrange and remember the words of a friend." Luna spoke in a soft voice as she looked to the ground as she felt the Unforgivable strike he as her body was suddenly incased in the worst pain she had ever felt as her body jerked tight as she screamed out into the night.

After twenty minutes Brody stopped the curse and saw the Dark Lord observing him as he took the jagged knife from aunt as he sat on the witch.

"Do it Brody LeStrange." Luna Longbottom whispered out to him. He immediately complied as he plunged the knife to the hilt into her chest, the blade slipping between the ribs as it pierced the heart he looked into her eyes and saw the warmth of love and understanding as she died, her eyes glazing over in death. He wiped his bloody hands on the woman's robes and pulled the knife out and handed it to his aunt who looked at the prisoners as she slowly licked the blade clean of blood as she laughed at their struggle against the binds.

Voldemort laughed at the spectacle as he pointed his wand to the bound group. "So good of you to join us Harry Potter. Now I end this and you as I take my rightful place." Killing Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Potter, and Melody Mockingbird and laughed as they fell to the ground unmoving. "Now it is you." Pointing his wand to the hated man as he lovingly whispered Avada Kedevra and watched as the wizard fell to the ground unmoving.

The dawn began to break as he held out his hand and called the fog back allowing his forces to return unseen to the forest. Very few answered the call as the fog revealed hundreds of bodies on the ground.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Her attacker was relentless and continued to press his advantage despite the use of her shield to protect her. She cried out in pain as she felt his blade sink between her right shoulder and felt the blood flow down her body as the fog suddenly went away as she looked to the masked attacker.

"Too bad for you as my father taught me the ways of the blade. Your charmed sword did you no good in the end."

Hermione felt the blade being pulled out as she recognized the haughty voice. "Draco…." She murmured out as she lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

Draco pulled off his mask and looked at the unmoving body. "Oh bloody hell Hermione." Throwing his mask and sword down and casted a Notice Me Not charm around them as he knelt to her body and began to pull her robes away to locate the wound ignoring the call of the Mark. The defenders of the castle never noticed them as they walked around them as they focused on returning to the castle.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Lily, Major Granger, and Private Reese joined Severus at the portrait as he stood up and watched the fog disappear revealing a pair as one attacked the other and heard the scream of one as the blade found its mark. He recognized the voice as he rushed over to them and stood as he watched the Deatheater reveal himself.

Severus snarled out. "Draco you better have that phial for if she dies and we meet in the Veil it will not be pleasant."

The three spirits joined him as they watched as well.

Draco looked to the wound as blood pumped out soaking the clothing around it. He did not have much time as the blood was dark. "Merlin my godfather will never forgive me if you die by my hand Hermione. I'm sure he will meet me in Hell and remind me of it." He whispered to her as he dug into his robes and pulled out the phial of Phoenix Tears and emptied the contents into her wound and watched as the wound slowly disappeared without a trace. He placed a finger to her neck and felt a steady pulse.

"It seems your necklace protected you this time Hermione. I hope it continues to work for you." He spoke out as he picked up the unconscious witch and carried her in his arms, Dissillusioning himself as he made his way to the castle as well.

Severus looked to Draco in relief. "Well done Godson." He spoke out despite the fact that the wizard could not hear his words of thanks. He could see the young man and followed him to the castle as his fellow spirits followed him.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Harry and his defenders stood ready as they wearily looked to the woods and realized no counter attack was going to happen. He placed his wand at his neck and whispered "Sonorus." As his voice boomed out. "Rest and attend to your wounds. We have done well as we have decimated them and most of you have returned back."

He shuddered as moans drifted out in the still dawn from the heaps of bodies on the battlefield as a group of thirty medics led by Madame Pomphrey stood waiting. "Go and heal all that you can, but heal our own first before attending the enemy."

Harry moved away and sat on the ground as he looked over the field of death. Merlin so many dead as he felt despair wash over him as he watched Ron, Neville, Ginny, and Luna walk up and fall down beside him. "Has any of you seen Hermione?" He asked fearing the answer.

Ron wrapped his arm around him as he softly replied. "Not since the beginning Harry and I know that she would find us if she could."

"I know Ron." Pulling his glasses off as he wiped his tears away. "I always thought that we would be together at the end after she returned to us."

Luna dreamily spoke out in a tired voice. "She is very close to us."

Draco took the cue and spoke. "Well Potter I'm happy to provide her to you. I am touched by your tears after all." A haughty voice sounded out as they watched Draco suddenly appear and gently laid Hermione on the ground before them. "Before you go and hex me to oblivion and death listen to my words. I healed her with the Phoenix tears that she gave to me to use on myself. She is only unconscious."

Ginny moved up to the still form of Hermione and caste basic diagnostic spells as she was a medi-witch apprentice at St. Mungos. "Malfoy speaks the truth Harry."

Harry stood up and grasped the hand of one he once hated. "Hermione told us of your loyalty right after her husband died and she made sure to talk to Kingsley and left a penseive of her memory in case she died."

"She promised me that she would remember. I never expected the Dark Lord to kill her when I brought her to him Harry. She was only to be questioned and let go." Draco softly spoke as he watched Ginny revive the witch and pulled her up into a sitting position.

Hermione looked around as she whispered "Draco!" Finding the blonde haired wizard looking down at her. "Welcome back Hermione. I'm glad to see that you decided to stick around as you have not seen my considerable assets yet." He joked as he looked to her.

"Only a Malfoy can flirt at a time like this." She chuckled as she remembered he thoughts on the battlefield. "Harry all those on the battlefield with no protection and carried uncharmed swords and no shields. Voldemort wanted them to die Harry. What if the power of his Mark went back to him when the bearer died? He would grow stronger in magic with each death. We have helped him."

Draco realized the truth of her words. "She's right Harry. There were very few of our true Order on the field. We led the witches and wizards that were called to him. My magic constantly called me to the Light, but I could not go because of my position. What are we going to do?"

Harry rubbed his forehead with one hand as he absent mindedly rubbed the neck of Ginny as he thought. There was nothing that they could do.

He looked to Draco. "We fight to the end and if the fates are on our side then we will win. There is nothing more to be said and we need to focus on achieving victory."

Everyone looked to where loud cheers were heard in the forest. "They have just seen the bodies of our doppelgangers. I know that Mr. Potter is dead as when I was fighting I stumbled as I felt his presence suddenly within me as I felt a surge of magic flowing through me. I feel stronger and powerful at the same time." Harry spoke as he turned his attention to his friends watching as Ron, Neville, Luna, and Ginny nodded their heads in agreement.

"I know that you are tired but go and get a count of our comrades and comfort them and speak words of encouragement. I need to take Draco to Kingsley and Mad Eye and discuss with them Hermione's thoughts of the Mark. The attack will come at night and the Deatheaters will not be using muggle weaponry this time as it is beneath them. It will be magic." Watching his friends go and do his bidding. He sighed out as he realized how much of a guide Mr. Potter was and hated that he was the Light's General as he certainly did not feel like one. "Come on Draco and keep your wand handy and hope they do not hex first."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

The spirits listened to the conversation as Major Granger spoke. "Tell me this is not true Severus. My sacrifice is for nothing?"

Severus looked to the major as he carefully spoke. "When I was alive I felt myself constantly being called by the Darkness where Hermione's call was to the Light. There were some days that the Darkness begged me to kill her to aid Voldemort but her love for me kept it from taking over me."

He looked to Major Granger. "Her reasoning is plausible but it is much more than that. He not only draws the bit of magic residing in the Mark but their magic as well."

Severus was startled as Major Granger rushed to hug him as he wrapped his arms around her as he whispered to her. "There is nothing more that we can do. It Is up to the living to do what they have been tasked to."

He drew away from the witch as the dead from both sides gathered around them.