Chapter Four: Snape’s Alive?

(i) The characters and world of Harry Potter are the property of J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this.

(ii) Thank you to everyone who has been so gracious as to leave reviews. Please do continue to let me know what you think of the story.

**********************

Once the Malfoys left, Hermione slowly made her way back to the castle. She knew that she needed to make some important decisions before she rejoined the others. Most importantly she had to decide what she was going to tell everyone about Professor Snape.

Immediately following that thought came the issue of what to do about Ron. For although Hermione had not shown it, it had hurt dreadfully the way Ron had abandoned her to go to the side of his family. Not once had he looked to see if Hermione was okay; not once had he even turned his head or tried to pull her into the embrace with Mr. Weasley. And she knew deep down that Ron would never support her dreams of wanting a career, of being anything other than a house-witch like Molly. When they were out in the wilds camping, Ron had never helped with the cooking or the gathering of food. He'd never even offered, as if it were expected that as the only female all the house-keeping tasks fell on Hermione's shoulders. His improved behaviour after his return, Hermione knew, had only been motivated by guilt and shame, and that was not something that meant his attitude or expectations had changed.

Hermione's parents had always shared the burden of cooking and cleaning. Because they had both been professionals and partners in their dentistry practice, working together had been implemented into all the facets of their life. If her father had cooked, her mother would wash up; and if her mother had cooked, then her father would wash up and take out the bin. They were a true partnership in every sense of the word, and Hermione knew that she could never settle for anything less. Ron had always found Hermione's intelligence unimportant and on most occasions threatening, unless it was useful to him, and he had never really understood her fascination for learning and knowledge. No, Hermione knew deep inside that though she had kissed Ron in a moment's elation at his thoughtfulness over the house-elves, Ron would never appreciate her for who she truly was. However, Hermione also knew that kissing Ron at that crucial moment was as good as accepting an engagement ring. She would have to tread very carefully and make it perfectly clear that she was not Ron's girlfriend.

The morning had dawned bright and beautiful. Somehow this felt like a travesty as well as a gift. The sunlight seemed to indicate that despite the carnage of the grounds and the shattered remains of the castle, hope was beaming down from the heavens. Breathing in the fresh air tinged with the fumes of smoke and hex residue, Hermione wearily entered the Great Hall.

The first thing she noticed was that a lot of the people had left. The Great Hall was startlingly empty, as if the departure of the Malfoys had heralded the exodus of the weary. The Weasleys were no longer at the Gryffindor table, and as she looked around, she saw that only Harry remained seated next to a sooty and dusty Luna. Making her way carefully over the scattered debris, Hermione joined them at the end of the Hufflepuff table. Harry and Luna both looked up wearily as she joined them.

"Where were you?" asked Harry sharply. He seemed on edge, as if gearing up for battle, as though Hermione's absence from his side implied a personal abandonment. However, seeing the look of utter exhaustion on Hermione's face, Harry seemed to see reason and continued more gently, "Ron and Ginny left with the rest of the Weasleys. I said that you and I would join them later. I felt it was a time for family."

Hermione nodded, but said, "You're practically family too, Harry."

Harry looked at her thoughtfully then. "And so are you, you know."

Hermione sighed. "Maybe, but I didn't feel part of the family a little while ago. No one even looked at me." She sighed again. "Don't worry, Harry, I'm just tired."

Though Hermione didn't say anything further to Harry, she felt extremely hurt and disappointed with Ron and his behaviour. He had left her no message and had gone home, neither wanting nor needing her to be by his side. She knew her feelings were silly; had she not just thought about how she was going to distance herself from Ron, and here, she was furious with him for leaving without her. Admonishing herself for her foolishness, Hermione once again paid attention to Harry.

Harry seemed liked he was about to argue the point, but then seemed to accept her assertion and nodded. "I'm shattered too. But where were you? Did you go for a walk? What's it like outside?"

Hermione looked carefully at Luna, then, as if coming to a decision, said, "There's something I must tell you, but you mustn't react or cause a scene. Promise me, Harry."

Harry and Luna both sat up from the slouched position that they had both been lounging in before Hermione's request and looked intrigued and concerned. Luna, however, was the first to respond in her dreamy voice and asked, "Is it something to do with you leaving with the Malfoys?"

"Bloody Hell!" burst out Harry. Then seeing the reprimanding look on Hermione's face, he questioned more softly. "You spoke to the Malfoys? After what happened at the Manor? What's going on?"

Taking a deep breath, Hermione began. "As I was watching you and the Weasleys comfort each other, I thought of all the dead, and then I thought of Professor Snape. I felt horrible that we couldn't do anything to save him. It seemed so wrong that we just left him lying in the dirt and the blood on the floor of the Shrieking Shack. I didn't want him to be alone in death, even as he had been in life. Imagine, Harry, having to kill your friend, because it was your friend's request and order. Poor man, he must have been so tormented. And then to not be able to seek comfort in anyone or anything, and having to go on, being hated by everyone for something he had to do."

Harry's eyes softened. "I couldn't believe it when I saw in the memories that Professor Dumbledore demanded that Snape be the one to kill him."

Hermione nodded. "It's like if I were forced to kill Ron, in order to make sure that you lived. No, I couldn't let his body just lie there like some unwanted thing. But I could see that you were too content to leave Ginny, and she would have never forgiven me if I had taken you away from her then. And you know Ron; he wouldn't have wanted to help me bring back Professor Snape's body. So I asked the Malfoys."

"So where's the body?" asked Harry. He looked around him to see if the Malfoys had returned with the body while they were speaking. Not seeing them, he turned once more towards Hermione.

"Well, the thing is, Harry," explained Hermione carefully, "When we got there, Narcissa did some very intricate diagnostic spells and insisted that Professor Snape wasn't dead. That he was in a magically induced coma."

"Not dead?" said Harry dumbfounded. "But we saw him die. I took his memories, and there was so much blood, and..."

"I know, Harry," placated Hermione. "But I was a fool. I didn't cast any diagnostic spells, and what if he had been taking anti-venom that contained the poison and slowed down his pulse enough to put him into a coma? Remember his speech from first year, about putting a stopper on death? What if he was prepared for such an outcome?"

At Hermione's questions, Harry looked thoughtful.

As the two felt silent, Luna said quietly, in a voice totally removed from her usually dreamy one, "I always liked Headmaster Snape. He was so beautiful to look at, and he never did let any of us get hurt too badly. Even when we broke into the Headmaster's Office, he didn't give us to the Carrows. Instead he said that he'd love to see what would happen to interfering do-gooders and busy-bodies in the Forbidden Forest and gave us detention with Professor Hagrid."

Latching on to the one seemingly odd comment, Harry snorted. "Professor Snape beautiful?"

Hermione hushed Harry and said thoughtfully, "I can't believe I missed all the clues. Most brilliant witch of her age, what rubbish. The clues were all there, Harry. Even after killing Professor Dumbledore, what did Professor Snape do as he left? He taught you. He never brought the Death Eaters into Grimmauld Place or gave away the names of those in the Order."

Hermione sighed.

Then, pushing her bushy hair away from her face, she continued briskly, as if just speaking about it was giving her strength, "Anyway, we need to figure out what to tell the others. If he is in a coma, perhaps it is better to let the Malfoys take care of him? If we tell the others they will just insist on moving him, and we can't afford to have the Aurors trying to arrest him or question him or something. Even with Kingsley being temporary Minister of Magic, the Ministry will do their best to assert control of the situation."

Harry nodded. He knew from first-hand experience how wrong the Ministry was in their handling of most things.

"We need a proper plan, Harry," said Hermione urgently. Then carefully looking round the Hall at the Ministry officials taking statements from the remaining Order members, she went on, "And we need a place to speak in private."

Both Luna and Harry nodded once more. Harry's face took on a very thoughtful expression, but it was Luna who spoke up, suggesting, "We could use Ravenclaw Tower. There shouldn't be anyone there right now."

Hermione quickly agreed. "Good thinking, Luna. No one will consider looking for Harry there."

Harry added, "I think we best get moving before the Ministry officials decide they've given me enough time to recover and begin the second round of congratulations and questioning."

"Indeed," said Hermione, feeling more positive and suddenly displaying a very Snapish smirk.

She then continued more thoughtfully, "I was thinking, let's ask Headmaster Black for assistance. If he is duty bound to the current Headmaster, and if Professor Snape is still alive, then, Headmaster Black must help us. And I think that we really do need someone on the inside. Professor Dumbledore will not agree to this deception because Kingsley is in the Order, and Professor McGonagall is no help either because she'll tell Professor Dumbledore, who will tell Kingsley."

"Yes, I see," said Harry contemplatively.

Silently, so as to not draw unwanted attention onto themselves, the trio moved out of the Great Hall. They made their way carefully through the armour and statue strewn staircases and landings, up the spiral staircase on the fifth floor, to the Ravenclaw common room entrance. Luna's rap on the bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle made the beak of the eagle open and question in a musical voice, "When you have too much of me, you are bored. When you have too little of me you rush. What am I?"

Luna looked thoughtful for a minute and murmured, "Hmm... Time."

"Very good," said the voice, and the door swung open.

Hermione looked impressed. Turning to Luna, she said, "That's much more interesting than a password."

Luna seemed to ponder that and then said, "I guess," with a vague toss of her head.

"But not more secure," said Harry. "Anyone with sense and reason can eventually guess the answer, but with a password, you've got to have been told."

"Yes, I suppose," countered Hermione, "but a password can be leaked. To reason an answer, you can't be rushed, and it can't be accidentally divulged either."

Everyone was silent while that thought sank in. Hermione thought of Neville's list of passwords that had been passed on to Sirius in their third year. Surely, felt Hermione, that couldn't have been the only time the password had been told to people who weren't at that point, current Gryffindor students. Then as if shaking herself from her contemplation, Hermione took charge once more. "Harry, see if you can call Kreacher and get us something to eat and drink. We need brain fuel if we are to make a proper, water-tight plan."

At the prospect of food, Harry immediately perked up. Almost straight away, Harry called out, "Kreacher, Kreacher."

With a crack, Kreacher appeared and bowed low before Harry. The elf's eyes shone brightly in adoration.

"We would like some breakfast," said Harry. Then, thinking, he said, "and a change of clothes, if you can manage that next."

"Of course, Master Harry," said Kreacher. 'For the defeater of the Dark Lord, anything is possible."

"Umm... thanks," said Harry uncertainly as the now adoring elf popped out of sight.

Hermione smiled to herself at the change in the house-elf. How well she remembered the insults of old and the refusal to respond to anything but a direct order.

Luna led Harry and Hermione to a circular table by a large window which flooded the common room with bright sunlight. The windows were bordered with thick floor-length velvet curtains in a rich burnished bronze, drawn back with midnight blue tie-backs. Hermione had never been to the Ravenclaw common room before, and in the sunlight streaming in through the tower's many windows, it looked very warm and inviting. Gryffindor Tower had been lovely, but this, felt Hermione, was very conducive to long hours of study. This could have been my common room, mused Hermione silently before grinning at her foolishness. She had wanted a challenge, and by asking the Sorting Hat to place her in Gryffindor, seven years of challenge was what she'd got. Pulling out comfortable, high backed chairs upholstered in a deep midnight blue with bronze fleur-de-lys, they sat down gratefully. Within moments, a large tray filled with succulent Cumberland sausages, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, white fluffy rolls, a round-bellied pot of tea and an ice-cold pitcher of pumpkin juice appeared. For a good few minutes, the only sound that could be heard was that of contented eating.

Once they had eaten their fill, Hermione pulled out a parchment notebook and a Self-Inking Quill from her beaded bag and prepared for the eventuality of taking notes. Then looking at Harry, she asked, "Ready?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, let's get this show on the road."

Smiling at Harry's sudden light-heartedness due to a long-wished-for full stomach, Hermione pulled out the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black and leaned it against the now empty pitcher of pumpkin juice.

"Good morning," began Harry politely.

At being addressed by Harry, a sharp look graced the painted face of Phineas Nigellus. "What do you want now, Mr. Potter?" he asked rudely.

Taking over the conversation, Hermione replied instead, "Headmaster Black, we need your help and your promise of discretion to ensure the continuing glory of Slytherin."

At that, Phineas Nigellus looked positively entranced. "Go on," he said with a tone that boded well for his support.

"We need your help to be of assistance to Headmaster Snape," said Hermione tentatively.

"Headmaster Snape," said Phineas Nigellus, thoughtfully. "Hmm... I wondered why his portrait did not appear in the Headmaster's Office, but I thought it was because he had killed Dumbledore."

"Yes, well," said Hermione, quickly. "He's not dead, but only we four and the Malfoys know. We'd like to keep it that way until we're assured of his safety from the Ministry, and," said Hermione, more thoughtfully, as if just realising it, "revenge attacks from Death Eaters or their sympathisers. He is in a magically induced coma, and is in no position to defend himself."

"Quite," said Phineas Nigellus. He then asked curiously, "But why approach me?"

Harry answered that question. "We trust you, and you wouldn't want to see a Slytherin hurt. Besides," said Harry, as if he too were coming to stunning realisations as the conversation progressed, "you didn't like the way Professor Dumbledore let Sirius' life be wasted. You won't let that happen again, especially not just to appease the sensibilities and comfort of others."

"Indeed," said Phineas Nigellus. "You lot have grown up since our last meeting."

Hermione laughed and replied bitterly. "Fighting a battle with crazed psychopaths does that to you, Headmaster." She then said more seriously, "We've also realised how well and how much we have been manipulated our whole lives, and we'd like to be in charge of our own actions and destinies if it is at all possible from now on."

"Commendable," said Phineas Nigellus. "Right then," he continued, briskly with a gleam in his dark eyes. "Tell me what evasion and subterfuge you would like me to perpetrate. It will be enjoyable to thwart Dumbledore and the Ministry."

Luna was, curiously, the first to reply. "Sir, you must ensure that no one suspects anything unusual about the lack of Headmaster Snape's portrait."

"Yes," said Hermione, catching on. "Perhaps you can blame Professor Dumbledore for blackening the reputation of Slytherin and creating a situation that allows a true Headmaster of Hogwarts to not be granted the honour of a portrait in the Headmaster's Office."

Phineas Nigellus' eyes now twinkled merrily. "The Mudblood does not care for the old goat, it would seem."

Harry's anger was immediate. "Don't you dare use that despicable word! Have you learned nothing from the battle we just fought? It's stupid, blind prejudice of that sort that allows for murderers like Voldemort to gain power."

Phineas Nigellus looked startled at this scathing reprimand. He then conceded, "I apologise, Miss Granger. I shall endeavour to not use that term again."

"See that you don't," said Harry imperiously.

Hermione was extremely moved by Harry's quick defence. She reached out and patted his hand that lay on the table.

Harry smiled briefly at Hermione, and then continued, "And it is not just Hermione who hasn't completely forgiven Dumbledore for his manipulation. We all realise that we were moved around like pawns on a chess board. That he cared for me may be true, but ultimately, we were tools, not people to him."

"A bit harsh," said Hermione gently, "but true, nonetheless." Then, moving on to the next point of business, she asked, "Is there a portrait of you at Malfoy Manor, sir? It would be helpful if we have a means of communicating with those responsible for Professor Snape's immediate care."

Phineas Nigellus looked even more closely at Hermione. "You are the first person to ever ask me that question," he said thoughtfully. "There is a painting of me and my wife, Ursula, in the ballroom, but I doubt I'll be able to find out anything from there."

"Perhaps you could speak to the portraits there," suggested Hermione helpfully. "If you could find someone who could contact the Malfoys more easily, we would be most grateful. It is imperative that we are in a position to communicate."

"I'll take care of it," said Phineas Nigellus grandly. "If I can't use my position as the first Headmaster from Slytherin in that rabble, then there's no place on earth that I can truly wield it."

"Thank you," said Hermione, and Harry too joined in with his murmured "Thanks, Headmaster."

Luna was the last to speak. "Sir, is there any advice you'd like to offer us?" she asked softly.

Luna's words made Hermione look at the blonde as if for the first time. Her thoughts on Luna had undergone a tremendous change over the last few days, just as her thoughts on everything she had ever believed in had altered too. But this time, she was in a position to really reflect. Who was this intelligent woman, and where had Loony Lovegood gone? she wondered silently to herself.

Phineas Nigellus on the other hand was bursting with pride at having been asked for his opinion. "That cat, McGonagall, is going to be mortified when she realises she was lied to by Dumbledore and fooled for so long by Severus. You can use that, as well as her guilt and shame over her treatment of Severus to your benefit. You can also shame Dumbledore into action if you have to. He knows he has disregarded the fabled Gryffindor codes of honour in this war. You must not let your own sense of honour stop you from achieving your goals. Be as ruthless and as cunning as a Slytherin, if you can."

Harry laughed. "I may have it in me," he said then to Phineas Nigellus' raised eyebrow. "The Sorting Hat offered to put me in Slytherin, but I asked for Gryffindor."

*******************************************

A/N: Love it or hate it, please let me know what you think.