Doppelganger

A/N The magic aligns itself. Thanks to all of you who have read the story. The end is in sight.

Chapter 45 Back To The Past

Hermione suddenly found herself at Gryffindor table and heard the Sorting Hat shout out "Ravenclaw!" and watched the little girl slide off the stool and join her house. What the hell?

She felt a tug and turned and looked into the face of a very young Harry Potter. "Hermione what's going on?" He whispered.

"I don't know Harry. I think we're back at the beginning of our second year." She whispered back.

The hall became quiet as the Headmaster began to speak. "Welcome first years to an exciting new year for you. And for all of us as this is the first year of true peace since Mr. Potter defeated Voldemort. He will not be coming back again I promise you."

Cheers erupted in the hall "Harry! Harry! Harry!"

The Headmaster held his hand up for silence. "And let us not forget the invaluable assistance that Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley provided as well."

Cheers broke out once again as he held his hand up and the hall became silent. "Enjoy your fine meal and then get settled in as classes begin in the morning. Tuck in!"

Hermione watched the old wizard make his way back to his seat and sneaked a glance at the Head Table to her husband who was looking back at her showing no emotion. He was tapping his cup with his left hand as she remembered her wedding band.

She removed the ring and placed it into her pocket grateful that no one had noticed as Dean Thomas spoke. "Blimey Ron that is a wicked awesome tattoo!"

Ron looked to his friend. He could not tell them that he was branded on Voldemort's command remembering Snape's words that magic could not conceal or remove it. "Fred! George! What did you do to me?" Deciding that it would be natural to blame them and draw away notice from his hand.

George looked to him. "We did nothing bro." Grabbing his hand to examine it.

Fred looked at his hand as well. "What have you gotten into Ron? I'll take you to the Infirmary after dinner so Madame Pomphrey can examine it."

Ron glared at them acting as if didn't believe them and began to eat.

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Albus finished addressing his staff in the teacher's lounge. "Welcome back again and I hope you had a wonderful summer. Now please hand over your syllabus so I can get them filed. Head of House attend to your first years and make sure they are settled in. Any questions?"

There was silence and he indicated that the meeting was over. "Severus, a moment of your time if I may?" He asked his Head of House.

Severus held back watching the Headmaster close the door and walk over to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Firewhiskey and two glasses.

"The castle was not the same with you not being here this summer. I admit I've grown fond of your presence when school is out." He walked over to the table and placed the bottle and glasses on the table and began to pour himself a hefty portion and motioned for the Potions Master to join him.

Severus poured himself a glass and joined the Headmaster. "Everyone is free now Severus." As he felt a grasp his free arm as he heard the Headmaster sound out. "Severus Tobias Snape, I release you of the vow to protect Harry Potter." Feeling magic wash over him and releasing the vow as he shuddered for a moment at the release of the vow.

Albus continued. "With Voldemort defeated there is no threat to the boy now. Everyone can start to live again. Even you Severus. Do you see where I am going with this?"

"I believe so Albus." It was obvious that the old wizard did not remember anything that had happened in what should now be considered the future that never happened.

"I hope for a healing amongst the Houses Severus especially between Slytherin and Gryffindor. There is no need to show favoritism now in your classes and I do not expect to see padded grades or excessive house points taken away. You are a brilliant Potions Master and able to pass on so much more to those who are worthy of advancement in your art. Even you have to admit the field of Potions is stagnating due to a lack of fresh blood so to speak."

Severus sipped at his drink remembering the words that Salazar Slytherin spoke to him long ago and carefully replied. "You could say that Albus."

Albus finished his drink and sat the empty glass down. "I sense that there is no darkness about you anymore Severus. Be the wizard that you want to be and not the one that others expect you to be. Good night my boy." Patting the wizard on the back as he left the room.

Severus strode down the halls towards Slytherin dormitory fingering the wedding ring in his pocket. What was he going to do about his wife now that she is just thirteen years old? Soon he found himself at the door and gathered himself. This was a beginning of a new year with no puppet masters he reminded himself as he pushed the door open and walked into the Common Room and was greeted with complete silence.

"Prefects tell those already in their dormitory to come down now please."

The Prefects hustled up the stairs as the older years quietly sat the look of surprise clearly evident on their face. Their Head never said please and usually shouted out his orders.

Soon the House was gathered in silence and listened as Professor Snape instructed them on what was expected of them. "Questions?" He asked wondering who would be brave enough to question him.

A hand rose up. "Mr. Malfoy." He acknowledged.

"So we are to do nothing at all? Even if they start something?" The young blonde wizard asked.

"Slytherins are supposed to be cunning and resourceful. I told you that I would punish you IF caught. And that punishment will be harsh as you are a reflection of your house." He replied in a knowing voice. The older students nodded their understanding. "Very well years two through seven go upstairs and get ready for bed. I expect you to take the first years under your wings."

The past Head's of House had always told the first years the true story of Salazar Slytherin. He did not as he considered it all nonsense and a waste of his time. It was time to give his House a sense of themselves again. "Gather round young Slytherins and listen to a tale that has been passed down from Head of House to Head of House for a thousand years. Forget what you have heard for I am going to tell you the true history of Slytherin…."

He finished his story and looked to the rapt attention of his young students. "I expect you to be the epitome of our house. Be off to bed now."

The first years scrambled up the stairs wondering why the older snakes thought that their Head was a scary wizard.

Severus entered his chambers through the door linked to the Slytherin common room with a strange sense of contentment. The only thing he had to figure out was where six de-aged witches and wizards would be gathering in the castle tonight.

Hermione pulled Harry, Ron, Neville and Ginny through the portrait and dragged them to the Room of Requirement and stood still thinking and watched a door suddenly appeared. They walked inside and saw five small glasses of fire whiskey on a table next to five plush red settees.

Harry walked over and grabbed up the glass and drank it down in one go. "Gods I needed that." He walked over to the full length mirror and looked himself over. His lightning shaped scar had disappeared. "Twelve years old again." He stated out in amazement.

Hermione joined him. "I did not miss my frizzy hair and buck teeth. I'll deal with the hair later but I'm fixing my teeth. I don't care what my parents say." Pointing her wand to herself and muttering the charm to correct her teeth. "Much better." She said with satisfaction.

Luna entered the room. "I thought that I might find you here." Walking over to Neville and placing her hand in his.

Neville looked into Luna's eyes. "I still love her as I did before thank the Gods!" He told the group with feeling.

Ron looked to the group. "I met up with Melody in the Infirmary. She was there about the same branding that we shared. She does not remember me at all." He told the group with sadness.

"I still love Harry and remember everything." Ginny happily stated as she grabbed his hand.

Harry looked to Hermione with sadness in his eyes. "Hermione what about Snape? Do you think he remembers?"

"Yes Harry he does." Pulling her ring out of her pocket and holding it out. "He was tapping his tea cup with his left hand during the feast to remind me of my ring. Unlike you guys being the same age or close there is twenty years between me and my husband. I'm sure that our relationship would be frowned upon in both the Wizarding and Muggle world."

"What will we do now Hermione?" Neville asked.

"We go back to school again. Everything that we remember will not happen now and the future is truly ours to make of it as we wish. And to think I will not have to hassle you over your homework anymore Ron. You already know it all." Teasing her best friend. "I think the six of us will have some of the highest marks in Hogwarts history come graduation time. It's getting late and we should be getting back to bed before we're caught as it is after curfew."

They left the room and ran into Professor Snape who was obviously waiting for them. "Second years out after curfew along with a First Year eh?" He snarled out. "Detention for all of you at 7 p.m as you should know better than to be out and about at this time of night."

He looked to Hermione for a long moment and turned, his robes billowing behind him as he walked away.

Ron looked to Hermione. "He is exactly as I remember him second year Hermione." He joked.

Hermione chuckled. "We shall see at 7 pm tomorrow. Let's go before he decides to come back."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

Albus observed the first year Slytherins as they walked into the Great hall for breakfast. They walked with a sense of purpose that he had not seen in many a year, heads held up proudly as if to dare anyone to say anything.

Albus turned and whispered to Severus. "You gave your first years The Speech last night?"

"Yes Albus. It is time that my House has a sense of purpose once again. I have been lax in my duties as Head of House and I plan to rectify that."

HGSSHGSSHGSS

The second year Gryffindors entered the potions classroom warily. They were surprised to see Professor Snape sitting at his desk as he usually arrived at the last moment door banging open to announce his presence.

"Welcome second year Slytherin and Gryffindor." He spoke out. He pointed his wand at a pile of parchments and they floated out until there was one in front of every student.

"A pop quiz to see how much you remember about the potions that we covered last year. This will set the pace for this class for the remainder of the semester. You have twenty minutes." Conjuring up a time glass and setting it upon his desk.

As the students handed in their quiz he gave out another and told them to place it face down and not to look at it until told to do so.

He vanished the time glass with a sweep of his wand after the last paper was handed in. "I have decided upon an advanced potions curriculum for those worthy of learning more of the subtle art of potions. There is no pass or fail. Those that make the mark will have an opportunity to study Potions at more advanced level then those normally of your year. Those that finish before the class bell may leave after turning in your work. Begin now."

Hermione was the first to finish and handed her parchment to him. "You may leave now and make sure that you remember your detention tonight Miss Granger."

She looked to him for a moment before she replied. "Of course Professor Snape."

HGSSHGSS

Severus sat at his desk reviewing the advanced evaluations he had handed out. He was not surprised that Malfoy, Granger, Weasley, Lovegood, Longbottom and Potter made the cut. He could not add Miss Weasley because she was a first year and not expected to know anything. Pity as it was revealed that she was quite adept at potions in her previous "past".

His detention group entered the classroom and began to sit. He stood up and walked over and opened the door leading to his inner chambers. "This way so that I can keep the prying portraits to a minimum."

They entered his chambers and stood nervously as they watched him conjure up enough chairs for all and indicated that they should sit down.

Ron spoke out. "I have not been down here since…"

Hermione stopped him. "Yes Ron I'm sure that we all remember." Not wanting to be drawn into remembering that Major Granger sacrificed herself so that she could live.

"Sassy." Severus called out as the house elf appeared. "Tea and biscuits for seven please."

The elf looked to the wizard for a moment amazed that he did not bark out his orders to her. Soon she appeared with a tray and placed it on the nearest table and disappeared with a plop.

"Help yourselves as I am sure that it is more of a shock of you being thrust back into your second year than what I experienced."

Soon they were settled and looked to him. "Professor why are we back at this point in time? And most importantly why do we remember?" Asked Harry.

Severus placed his cup down. "I've given it a lot of thought Harry. You are all connected in death with your doppelgangers. Doppelgangers that you would have never met if not for Voldemort's manipulations. When I was killed DEATH did not move any of us towards the Veil only saying that it depended on the outcome. With Voldemort, the Horcruxes and doppelgangers gone the Light healed itself and placed us back into the most logical place which is here in you second year. The only reason Voldemort survived your encounter during the first year previously was because of his Horcruxes."

His explanation made sense and they all nodded that they understood.

"But what of us Severus? We had no doppelganger and I did not die in the Final Battle." Hermione asked her wizard.

"But you did die Hermione if only for a very brief moment when you spoke my incantation. We are connected together because of that. Again it would not have happened if not for Voldemort." He replied.

They all looked to him as if expecting that he would guide them through this.

"This is the last time that we will meet like this. The future is wide open for all of you. You are second years now. Yes you are adults in your mind but remember that not everyone gets to live their childhood a second time. And you never had one to begin with. Remember that the future you lived in never existed. You are free now just as I am for the first time in twenty five years."

He strode over to the door and opened it. "Do try not to get in the way of me. You may be the unsung heroes for rescuing the world but I will not hesitate to punish you no matter how civil it seems that I have become."

They stood up to leave. "Mr. Potter, Miss Granger stay a moment."

Hermione waited until everyone left except for Harry as she saw the Mother of Magic appear.

"Please Severus. I know what you are going to do. You promised that I would be yours always." She begged.

He towered over her now and went down on his knees and gently held her hands with remorse in his eyes. "And you would have been Hermione. If the future played out true I would still be at the Veil as I died."

He gently kissed her cheek and continued. "You now have your entire future before you. And I would be amiss Hermione Granger if I did not give you a chance to see if things play out differently." Watching the Mother of Magic suddenly appear.

Severus looked to the Mother of Magic. "Lady you know my wish."

The beautiful woman looked down to the couple. "I do and you sacrifice once again Severus Snape. Harry Potter place your wand on their hands."

Harry looked to Hermione with tears in his eyes as he complied as there was a bright flash that faded quickly.

"The Bonding has been removed. You are no longer bound to one another. We will not meet again but I will always remember the sacrifices that each one of you has made."

They watched as the Lady faded from sight.

Hermione looked to her ex. "Why Severus?"

"Because Hermione sometimes you have to let go the one that you love. If the Fates deem it we will come together if it was truly meant to be. Now be off as it is soon to curfew."

Severus watched as they left his chambers and realized that he was truly alone once again. He sighed as he left his chambers and made his way up to the Headmaster's office.

He watched as the door opened and Albus addressed him. "Why are you here so late at night Severus?"

Severus looked to the only wizard that stood by him throughout the years of doubt. "I wish to tender my resignation effective immediately Headmaster."

Albus looked to him in surprise. "But why Severus?"

He pulled the memories of the "future" and placed it into the penseive at the Headmaster's desk. "Look to this and I am sure you will allow my request Headmaster."

Albus sank his head into the penseive and came out five hours later. "Is this true?" He whispered sitting back down and stroking his beard as he looked at his Potions professor.

"It is Albus and for her to be truly free I must leave."

Albus looked to the wizard who had given so much of himself. "I changed your resignation to that of a sabbatical and I hope that everything works out for you in the end. Are you going to Spinner's End Severus?"

"I had hoped that you would allow me to reside at the farmhouse in Wales. It is remote enough and she could easily find out about Spinner's End and try to locate me there. After all she is the brightest witch of her age." He drily replied.

Albus looked to him in surprise for a moment before he remembered the penseive. He pulled out the deed from his desk and signed it over to him. "You should be safe enough there as no one in this time knows of it except for me. I only ask that you stay until the holiday break as you know how difficult it will be for me to find a Potions Master willing to teach."

"I find that acceptable Headmaster and I thank you."

The months went by and surprisingly none of his "Group" got into any trouble or if they did they were never caught. It was satisfying to him that Slytherin won the Quidditch cup and he made sure to make his satisfaction known to Minerva as she handed him the bottle of Firewhiskey that she lost on their bet. It was especially satisfying as he remembered that Gryffindor had won it in what he referred to as the "future that did not happen".

"Oh do hush Severus." She growled as the rest of the staff laughed. "Wait til next year."

And the Advanced Potions class that he arranged was going splendidly as well. He mixed years two through seven and was already making progress and they would be fine Potions Masters if they decided to pursue it.

Hermione Granger. He knew that she was angry and did not interact with him at all except when she needed to. Sometimes she looked to him with sadness in her eyes. Other times she had the look that screamed out "Coward!" The holidays could not come quickly enough.

He addressed his second year Gryffindor/Slytherin class. "Do not be lax on your studies during the holiday break for I will test you when you return. You have all done well this semester and I shall see you back after the holidays. You are dismissed."

He watched as the students began to leave and noticed Potter and Weasley waiting at the door as Hermione approached him. "Professor may I have a word?"

"Of course Miss. Granger. I hope you will be studying during the holiday break. Your scores have been exceptional so far."

She placed her wedding ring on his desk. "I only wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas Professor Snape." She looked to him for a moment and whispered to him. "I held out hope that you would change your mind."

He picked up the ring and held it for a moment before he tucked it in his robes. "I hope that you realize in time Hermione that this is the best for you." Looking to her with no emotion.

She looked to him for a moment as she turned and walked away before her emotions got the better of her. Damn all for being thirteen again.

He watched as Harry and Ron wrapped their arms around her as she left the classroom sobbing.