Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror

Chapter One – I see you, you see me.


It all belongs to Rowling, except what you don’t recognize.

“Ms. Granger, thank you for coming so quickly.” Headmaster Dumbledore had met her at the front doors to the castle and, barely acknowledging her, led her along the route that she recognized as being to the infirmary.

“I understand that it has something to do with rogue Death Eaters?” Hermione had only just received the owl and chose to Apparate to Hogsmeade directly. She felt a little out of breathe and was surprised that the Headmaster was being less than his usual twinkly self.

“Yes, quite. You are no doubt aware that even though Voldemort was defeated, the organization, hydra-like, seems to be continuing and growing apace.” He huffed a bit on the stairs and Hermione began to worry for him. He was getting old, had already been so very old when she graduated Hogwarts three years ago.

“You are probably not aware that Prof. Snape, quite gallantly I might add, has continued to work for the Order in spite of his injuries during the last battle.”

Hermione was having trouble keeping up with Dumbledore. Now, they were both huffing. “Snape wasn’t exactly popular with Harry, Ron and me, but we appreciated what he did at the end.

“Please stop, we are almost there and I really need to understand just what you want and why I am here.”

Dumbledore stopped and turned to Hermione. “It seems that he was finally revealed as a double agent. He disappeared two weeks ago and it has taken all this time for the Order to find him. He may be delusional, I fear due to a most elaborate curse, or perhaps a form of Legilimency. Or it might actually be as he claims…” Dumbledore said nothing more and looked a little lost.

“Claims?” Hermione prompted.

“To be from an alternate reality. One in which, it seems, he trusts only you.”

Hermione shook her head. “This doesn’t make sense. Why me?”

“He maintains that you are married to him and are mother to his child.”

Eeew went a part of Hermione’s mind and she shuddered involuntarily.

“Alternate reality is nothing but a myth, something for science fiction writers,” stated Hermione.

“I know. Of course, it can be nothing more; however he has most fervently been requesting your presence and… I do appreciate your giving your time to this matter.” He turned and continued his rapid pace towards the infirmary.

“So I should what, play along or get him to accept reality?”

“I do not know,” replied Dumbledore. “He’s not a pleasant man at the best of times, as I am sure you remember. We only hope that your presence will calm him down.”

Hermione, based on what Dumbledore had said, expected to see a madman in restraints. She was shocked to find him free and pacing the infirmary.

“Hermione!” He rushed towards her and then stopped when she flinched from him. He let out a slew of oaths and turned his back on her. She wasn’t sure what to say and looked to Dumbledore. Snape turned around and faced them both. There were t in in his eyes.

“Thank you, Albus, for bringing her here. My apologies, Hermione or would you prefer Miss Granger? You look so much like my wife for a moment I lost control.” He started wringing his hands and she felt sorry for the ‘great, greasy git’ as her friends used to describe him.

“Hermione is fine. Is there anything I can do for you?” She cautiously asked.

“Hermione, my love, you can help me find a way back.”

She was intrigued. “And how do I do that?”

“Your other self was brilliant, so I would expect the same here. The problem that I have found through my conversations with Albus is that the form of magic used to send me here is completely unknown in this realm. I’d have to build up the counter spell from scratch. It was never my field of expertise. It could take years--” The thought upset him and he resumed pacing like a trapped beast.

His black eyes had shocked Hermione more than anything. In them, there was warmth and pleading and… love?

“If we know nothing of this sort of magic here, then how? Did someone send you here from your, what did you call it, realm?” She studied the man before him. Other than the eyes he was much as she remembered him. “But I’m told it was your self here that was captured and tortured. It makes much more sense that perhaps—“

“That I’ve made it all up? That’s always the danger with an uncharted realm. The magic is called trans-conveyance as opposed to transmigration of the soul. It allows the soul to travel through alternative universes. A bit like time travel but it’s in same time period and only the mind goes forth.”

“And that would explain why your body is the same?” asked Dumbledore with some skepticism.

“Quite,” Snape said and looked down with some distain. “Look at me. I’m a family man and lead a very quiet life in Hogsmeade. This Snape’s body is covered with scars and injuries from his continued pursuit of,” he sneered, “evil doers.”

“So you have a family?”

“We have one daughter, Sarah. She’ll be four in only a few months.”

“That means I would have given birth to her when…” Hermione blushed, “Then we would have been…”

“Lovers when you were still a student. Yes. You were three months pregnant when you graduated Hogwarts.”

“And this was tolerated?” Hermione felt ill.

“Well, rather with a bit of embarrassment. And Ron did hex me!” He rubbed his jaw ruefully. “There was a war on. Very often young women will choose to get married when they fear their men folk are doomed. Such was our case. wer were married secretly, and stayed very discreet in our affairs. I was still a spy for the Order at the time and could ill afford to have them find out about us.” He chuckled, “Well, either side find out, that is! You wanted a child in case, in case I didn’t make it. We even had contingency plans for you leaving the country in case our side lost.” He stared at her and she felt violated by the raw intimacy in his eyes.

“She was most determined that if she were to be a widow, that she would have something of me still.” He grinned. “Are you as stubborn?”

“You were taking a huge risk.” Hermione ignored his question. And his humor frightened most. It was completely out of character for him to smile except perhaps at the pleasure of house point deduction. The Snape she knew was unbending and completely humorless, a nasty, pale creature, the stuff of students’ nightmares.

“I take it my counterpart was not into risk taking?” He continued to restlessly pace.

“No, he was quite brave, but he’d never dream of touching a student.” Said Dumbledore with some annoyance.

“Now, you are acting like I raped her on the dungeon floor-- my apologies to you, Hermione, for the crudeness. We were most civilized about things, realizing our feelings for each other—“

“You were her potions master!” Albus was getting angry even though this involved a supposed alternate self, “I don’t believe you. You are delusional, Severus! I would have never condoned.”

“Well, I didn’t give you much choice, did I?” Snape started to lose his temper, “You didn’t find out until after Hermione had graduated. And we’d already been married for ten months. The only thing you could do, especially considering I was a war hero, was give in graciously. I don’t know why you are being such a bastard about it now.” Snape was white faced and bits of spit were starting to fly.

“Calm yourself!” Dumbledore roared.

“I miss my family, damn it. Now, I’ve finally convinced you to bring Hermione to me, perhaps I can get on with the matter at hand and get back to my wife and child!” He slammed his hand against the castle wall and again Hermione was perplexed. The violence and the temper was pure Snape, she thought. But the humor, his had always been twisted and sadistic; this man simply wasn’t that way…

Hermione had been watching in silence, feeling sickened, yet curious about what she was witnessing. Truly Snape had never rebelled against the Headmaster’s authority in such a way at least not when they were in the Order together. This Snape was different. More vibrant, more alive than the whipped cur that had attended the victory celebrations a few years back. She’d remembered how he’d almost seemed depressed that the war was over and his services as an agent were no longer needed.

“I brought Hermione here to help snap you out of this fantasy. Obviously, it isn’t working so she’ll be leaving.”

“You idiot! The Albus I knew would never doubt my word!”

“Fantasy!” Dumbledore popped a lemon drop in his mouth.

“What are you doing?”

“Lemon drop. Do you want one?”

“My Albus can’t abide sweets! Oh shite! And how many other things are different here? And how was the accursed spell triggered? If it was done from my side, as you suggest, then I may never get back.” A bleak expression swept over his face and he trembled and sat on the edge of the bed.

Hermione looked at him and felt something incomprehensible. Pity? Was it pfor for the old potions master and his fantasies? She turned to leave.

“If any one would have believed me, it would have been you. Hermione?” He looked up through his fingers at her.

“Albus, I came a long way, and I’m not ready to go back yet. I’d like to sleep on all this. If he is delusional, perhaps I can help him find his way back to reality.” She smiled at the old wizard and he gave a small nod of his head.

“You are welcome to stay and try to help him. Frankly, I’m ready to ship him off to St. Mungos. We have done nothing but bicker since his return to consciousness earlier today.” And he left.

Hermione turned to the ersatz doppelganger on the bed, “Well, if you are here, then where is he?”

Snape dropped his head into his hands and his gave into his despair. “There is only one place he could be, and it’s not a pleasant thought at all.”

It took a moment for her to realize what had him so upset. She blushed, understanding a small bit of what he must be going through, that is, she amended if he really had come from another place.

He looked up at her. “How bad is it? I mean-- how horrid is he? I know how I used to be and I’m sure being married these past few years has changed me more than I recognize myself.”

Hermione sighed. “I haven’t had much contact with him. I left the order and he stayed.” She shook her head. “You seem to be a very different person than the Severus Snape I knew.”

Snape rolled up his sleeve and exposed the remains of the dark mark. “His body still has the dark mark. Mine totally disappeared. His body recently underwent torture. My bet is that he liked it. It made him feel useful or powerful.” He abruptly stood. “The idea that that man could be anywhere around my wife and daughter… it’s beyond toleration.” Hermione watched as he again attempted to gain possession of his emotions.

She walked up to him, having come to a decision. Putting her hand up onto his shoulder she quietly said, “I believe you. And I will try to re-unite you with your family. His His eyes widened in shock and then a look, almost loving, crossed his face. “Thank you, Hermione. With you by my side, anything can and will be accomplished.” He covered her hand with his.

She broke away from him then, shivering at the sudden physical attraction she felt to a man who had always thoroughly repulsed her. Wherever her counterpart was, she envied her a little.

A/N: I am calling this Mirror, Mirror as a tip of the hat to Star Trek where they had that delightful alternate universe with the ever-so-sexy bearded Spock. However, I also owe a great deal to Philip K. Dick and there was also SS/HG time travel story involving a potion gone wrong. The name escapes me, but I’m sure one of my readers will think of it and I’d most appreciate it if they let me know. However this is not a time travel story…

Many thanks,

April Grey