22

Many thanks to Ayerf for her keen eyesight (all mistakes are mine, however). And thank you to those of you reading. (Those of you who read AND review get my thanks with an exclamation mark tacked on! =)

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Snape floated Alecto through the halls with as furious an expression as he could muster on his face. The few students still returning to their dorms broke into runs at the sight of him and their unconscious Muggle Studies professor.

He smiled grimly, wondering what their conclusions would be.

He entered the staff room to find everyone there, as expected. They all gasped at the sight of Alecto.

"Ali!" Amycus cried, hurrying up to her. He turned on Snape with a growl. "What did you do to her?"

Snape raised his eyebrow and Amycus backed up a step. "This is how I found her in my office. I also found that Miss Granger is missing." Several more gasps came, though they were of a different cadence. "I suspect Harry Potter has found his way into the castle."

The room was completely silent, but he noticed only two of the staff twitched their arms at the news, Amycus and Aurora.

"Amycus, I need you to go to headquarters directly and give our Lord all the news."

"But surely you can--"

"I am not going to summon him until I have Potter in my grasp. The boy is more slippery than oiled gillyweed. But the Dark Lord needs to know about Longbottom and Potter now."

Amycus nodded. "What about Alecto?"

"I will attend to her. Go!"

Amycus nodded again, and hurried out of the room, leaving Snape free to regard the rest of his colleagues.

"Aurora, would you fetch Poppy, please?"

Sinistra nodded somewhat reluctantly, though it was hard to determine the reason behind the reluctance. She made to leave the room, but Snape shook his head. "The Floo is more expedient."

She smiled tightly and turned to the fireplace. As soon as her back was turned, he whipped out his wand and Stunned her.

Immediately, there was a huge outcry among the rest of the staff, with only McGonagall looking at him with a question in her eye rather than accusation. He gestured to his left arm and then at Sinistra, making Minerva's eyebrows shoot up. She turned to check out Sinistra's arm while Snape defended himself from a growing flurry of hexes and jinxes.

"STOP!" Minerva's voice rang out, and everyone paused in their attack. Minerva drew everyone's attention to the ugly mark on Sinistra's arm, and there was a collective gasp.

"A spy?" Filius said, looking not at Sinistra, but at Snape.

Snape nodded.

"What happens now?"

"I am afraid I cannot let anyone else leave the room until they have confirmed their loyalties. After that, you will be free to either help lead the students to safety or stay and fight. The Dark Lord will be coming, however. And soon."

"Is Harry actually here? In the castle?" Pomona asked. Snape nodded.

Excited murmurs filled the room, as Snape surveyed the crowd, looking for anyone else who might be acting the spy a little more cleverly than Aurora had. Everyone seemed genuinely pleased, though. Pleased and worried.

Snape sighed and brought out his bottle of Veritaserum. "Who will be first?"

Filius stepped up. "I'm glad we were wrong about you, Severus!" he said, then opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue.

Snape snorted softly as he gave the diminutive man three drops. He looked for the next person while waiting for the potion to come fully into affect. Fortunately, everyone seemed willing.

Twenty minutes later, Veritaserum and Legilimency had confirmed that no one in the room, besides Sinistra, was on the Dark Lord's side. He sent a Patronus to Harry and then gave each of the teachers a drop of the antidote. As they came to, they looked to him as if for instruction.

"The children need to be taken to safety. I have summoned Longbottom; he will lead you to a safe egress. Make sure none of you mention my allegiance to anyone outside this room," he added, looking at Slughorn sharply. "The outcome of the war may depend on it."

Every head nodded in understanding.

As if he'd timed it, there was a knock on the door. He went to open it, expecting Longbottom, but found Kingsley Shacklebolt on the other side, aiming his wand at him.

"Shacklebolt!" he said, backing up several steps hastily.

"Snape." Kingsley's face was hard and furious, and Snape tried to figure out how to get through this without hurting him.

He was rescued by an unlikely source, however.

"Snape's on our side," Longbottom said, coming around and placing himself between them.

Snape groaned aloud. "Potter can't keep his mouth shut to save anyone's life, can he?"

Neville turned to face him with a hard, wry smile that suited his disfigured face. "He only confirmed my suspicions. Sir."

Snape nodded, suppressing the urge to swallow or flinch. "I see."

Neville's smile became a little softer as amusement flooded his face. "How can Hermione stand being around you?"

Snape snorted. "Hell if I know," he muttered, earning a complementary snort from Neville. Those seemed to be the magic words, as Kingsley finally lowered his wand.

"Where is she?"

"With Potter."

Kingsley nodded reluctantly, obviously displeased with the lack of specifics.

"They're safer than any of us at the moment," Snape added, trying to smooth any wrinkles of discontent. Kingsley nodded again, but Snape could tell he didn't fully trust him. Not that Snape could blame him.

"This is beside the point. Mr. Longbottom, please show the Professors how to leave the castle undetected. The children need to be evacuated."

Neville stood just a little bit straighter, having caught the compliment. "Of course. So it'll be soon?"

"Yes."

"Has there been time for the plan..."

"No. I reminded Amycus, and hopefully he will pass it on, otherwise we will be in a difficult spot. But now is not the time to discuss this. We need to get the children out now."

Neville nodded. "Right." He looked at the teachers and motioned for them to follow him. "Let's go," he said, then paused and turned back to Snape. "Oh, and Harry's Patronus said to give you this."

He brought out the Sword of Gryffindor from under his robes. Snape took a deep breath in and let it out with a ghost of a smile. "Thank you, Neville."

Neville gave a fraction of a nod then left the room. Everyone except Minerva and Kingsley filed out after him. When the last teacher was out of sight, Snape turned back to them, only to find Kingsley's fist connecting with his nose. Not expecting the attack, Snape fell to the floor, unbalanced.

"Kingsley! No!" Minerva shouted.

"Fuckink hell, Kinksley! What the fuck was that for?" Snape yelled, holding his nose.

"You know you deserve that and more. If anyone deserves the Kiss, it's you."

"Kingsley Shacklebolt, stop!" Minerva said firmly, her emerging brogue indicating how upset she really was. "Severus is on our side. And he is rather essential to our winning this war. If you really feel the juvenile need to engage in fisticuffs and name calling, I think the wizarding world would appreciate it if you'd wait till after the war is over!"

Snape snorted, then winced. He fixed his nose with a quick Episkey. "Thank you for your overwhelming support, Minerva."

Minerva offered her hand with a sniff, which he accepted with a scowl. He flinched when she pointed her wand at his face, but she just tsked and murmured, "Tergeo." He gave a sharp nod of thanks as he felt the sticky blood disappear.

"I need to get back to my office."

"What shall I do?"

"Deal with those two," he said, motioning to the stunned women on the floor, "and make sure they can not touch their marks. Afterwards, prepare the castle for attack. I hope it won't come to a direct assault, but we need to be prepared."

Minerva nodded briskly. "I'll let those remaining know."

"Thank you, Minerva."

She smiled and patted his cheek affectionately. "Be safe."

He tried not to blush, but wasn't sure if he was successful. "Yes, Mum."

She snorted and shooed him off. He was disconcerted to find Kingsley following him.

"What are you doing, Shacklebolt?"

"I need to see Potter."

"No."

"It's not for you to decide, Snape."

Snape stopped and turned to face him. "Why are you here, Kingsley? How did you even get into the castle?"

"I'm here to fight for the right side, Snape. I got in the same way you're getting the kids out."

"And how did you find out about that?"

"Tonks."

Snape's eyes widened marginally. "How many people are here?"

"Everyone still left."

Snape tensed at the obvious accusation. "We don't have time for games or resentments, Kingsley. You need to cooperate or get out of the way."

"I'm answering your questions, aren't I?"

Snape thinned his lips to prevent his anger from escaping. He gave Kingsley a hard stare. Kingsley just stared back. Reminding himself that there really wasn't time for showmanship, Snape shook his head and continued on to his office, Kingsley following. If he wanted to see Harry, then Harry he would see. However, he wasn't going to make it easy on Kingsley.

He sent a Patronus ahead, warning the two to be on their guard.

"Snape?"

Snape didn't respond, except by increasing his pace just slightly to hide his growing smirk. He heard Kingsley huff in annoyance behind him, which only increased the size of his smirk.

They reached the office not long after that, and the Gargoyle slid out of the way with what could only be deemed an evil grin. Snape gave it a friendly pat and ascended the stairs. As they neared the office door, he managed to school his face into an annoyed and worried scowl.

He opened the door and walked through, saying, "One question, do you really think Potter would be here?"

He could tell the second Kingsley walked into the room, as a jet of red came from the side of the room, and there was a gloriously loud thump behind him. Letting his smirk surface, he turned around and looked down at the former Auror.

"Kingsley?" Harry's shocked voice cut through Snape's pleasure a bit, but it wasn't until Hermione chimed in with a, "What's going on?" that Snape's smirk turned bitter.

"Fair's fair," he muttered, barely refraining from kicking the downed man.

"Is Kingsley a spy for Tom?" Harry asked, urgently.

Snape was tempted, oh was he tempted, to answer in the affirmative, but he shook his head. "No."

"Then why did you have us hex him?"

Snape turned to Harry with a raised eyebrow. "I said nothing of the sort. I told you to be on your guard, that is all."

Hermione huffed. "Don't give us that, Severus. You made us think we were in danger!"

Snape turned to her and felt a brief prick of guilt, but squashed it ruthlessly. "I was. That bastard broke my nose just now in an unprovoked attack."

"Really." Hermione said, her tone changing to something slightly more sympathetic, though still skeptical.

"Yes, really. I was just shooing Longbottom and the teachers off to evacuate the students, and when I turned around, he punched me."

Hermione frowned, and he braced himself for the inevitable doubt of his moral character. He almost stopped breathing when she said, "Well, I suppose he did deserve it, then."

"I... Yes. He did."

"Still, we had better revive him."

Snape looked down at Kingsley's form with a sneer. He watched Harry point his wand at his former friend when he remembered the sword in his hand.

"Perhaps, though," he said, interrupting Harry's spell, "we should wait until after the cup has been destroyed? Everyone left in the castle now knows of my allegiance. I think the artifacts should remain between the three of us."

"Well, it's really the five of us, because while they might not know precisely what was going on, both Madam Pomfrey and Draco saw Harry kill the diadem."

"Fine. The five of us. Whom we all know and trust. Kingsley no longer has my trust."

Harry looked at him and Kingsley with a frown and hummed, but thankfully kept his mouth shut.

"That's probably a good idea," Hermione said. "Do you have the sword?"

He brought it out of his robes where he'd been holding it. Harry got up slowly and held out his hand, but Snape shook his head. "If you would let me..."

Harry nodded with something akin to relief and backed up again.

Snape held the hilt out to Hermione. "Unless you would rather?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, thanks. I think you deserve this one."

Snape bowed his head and went to his bedroom, where he'd last seen the cup. He was almost prepared to find it gone, as everything had been going so well, but there it was.

He put on his dragon-skin glove and placed the cup on a bare spot of the floor. Holding his breath, he raised the sword and then plunged it into the cup till the sword met the floor.

A piercing cry rent the room, knocking him back a step, and he watched in horrified fascination as a dark something oozed up and around the sword. He pulled the sword out hastily, prepared to shake the ooze off the sword, but the sword came out clean, while the ooze fell silent and dried up into dust.

Feeling nauseous, he staggered out of the room and laid the sword on his desk before he turned to face the others.

"You okay?" Hermione asked gently, offering him a freshly conjured mug of tea.

He took the tea gratefully and nearly scalded his throat as he gulped down half of it, but then he was able to nod an answer to Hermione. "I am fine, thank you."

Harry snorted, and Snape was hardly able to repress a snort himself at such a bald lie. "The tea has helped tremendously. Chocolate would help even more."

Hermione placed her hand on her forehead in the universal sign of forgetfulness and then waved her wand again, bringing forth a delightful looking mousse.

"Here."

He smiled at her with a huff of laughter and accepted the mousse as gratefully, if more gracefully, as the tea. "Thank you, Hermione." He turned to Harry. "And now if you would Reenervate him, Harry, we might find out why he felt he needed to speak with you."

He noticed Harry started slightly at the use of his first name, but then concentrated on his spellwork. A moment later, Kingsley was attempting to sit up. Once he was upright, he looked around the room and quickly assessed what had happened.

"What is going on?" he said, getting up and picking up his wand. "Why in the blazes did you hex me?"

Harry looked to Hermione and then they both looked at Snape. Snape raised his eyebrows in innocence. "I wasn't the one who threw the Stunner."

He wasn't surprised when Hermione frowned at him, but he was surprised by Harry's choked laugh.

"I'm sorry, Kingsley," Harry said, trying valiantly to regain his composure, and failing. "We didn't know who was with Severus, and as he'd already had one intruder today, we were just being extra cautious."

Snape was mildly impressed, though he was careful not to show it. Kingsley, however, looked far from impressed.

"Look me in the eyes and say that."

Harry's eyebrows rose, and his mien sobered at the implication of Kingsley's request. He looked Kingsley straight on and said, "Constant vigilance. We were practicing it."

Kingsley stood back with a frown. "You're not Imperiused."

Snape nearly guffawed at Harry's exaggerated eye roll. "No. We're not Confunded either. Snape really is on our side, he really did kill Dumbledore on Dumbledore's orders, and he really has been working harder than all of us combined trying to off You-Know-Who. Can we now all trust each other, please?"

Snape was rather gratified to see Kingsley look abashed until he squared his shoulders, turned to Snape and held out his hand. "Sorry about that Severus. No hard feelings?"

Snape looked at the hand and back up at Kingsley with a sneer. "Whyever would there be hard feelings, Kingsley? You only disregarded all evidence in your prejudice against me and then as good as attacked me behind my back. Why should I have hard feelings?"

"Severus!" Hermione cried. He ignored her, keeping his hard eyes on Kingsley's.

Kingsley drew his hand back, his face blank. "Good to know that you haven't changed your personality, then."

"Heaven forfend."

Kingsley's mouth twitched. "After all, who knows what you would end up with should you try."

"With my luck, it would be akin to Mulciber's. Or, Merlin forbid, Lockhart's."

Kingsley's deep laugh filled the room, and Snape relaxed slightly. "Am I forgiven for doubting you on the very good evidence that was presented, old friend?"

Snape took a deep breath and pondered for a moment. "I suppose I must. If only for the sake of the wizarding world, you understand."

Kingsley laughed again and conjured a chair. Making himself comfortable, he said, "So, what's the plan?"

Snape and Harry looked at each other. Snape nodded at Harry, even as he tried to ignore Hermione's presence pressing on him. This was not what they had planned, but it needed to be done.

"Hermione, Neville and the teachers are going to go out front to confront Voldemort. There need to be enough people in the entrance hall to look like it's everyone, but we'll need as many people as possible at strategic sniper locations throughout the castle. The main point being that if it looks like it's just a Hogwarts student revolt, the Death Eaters might get cocky.

"Meanwhile, Neville will be waiting for Snape to offer a distraction, when he, Neville, will attack Tom's snake. It's really important that the snake dies before Tom. But once Nagini is dead, Tom is the main target."

Kingsley nodded, though it was obvious he'd noticed what was missing in the plan. "And where will you be?"

Harry shot a guilty look at Hermione. Snape observed from the corner of his eye how her face fell even before Harry said, "I will be... dead. Snape is going to hand me over to Tom before this happens."

Kingsley stood up with a shouted, "WHAT?!?" and pointed his wand at Snape again.

He was loud enough that Snape almost missed Hermione's quiet, heartbreaking, "Harry?"

Harry looked at her with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry, Hermione. If there were any other way... but I'm the seventh one. He has to kill me."

Snape couldn't ignore Hermione's choked sob and reached out for her hand, but she shook her head forcefully and backed away.

"When were you going to tell me? Or were you not going to tell me at all?"

"No, we were going to tell you, honest, Hermione," Harry said.

"And are we not telling you right now?" Snape added.

It was, he reflected, probably the wrong thing to say.

"Yes, and I can tell neither of you planned on it! You wouldn't have told me if Kingsley weren't here!"

Harry and Snape both protested at the same time. "That's not true."

"We had every intention of telling you."

Hermione stared at them with betrayal written all over her. "Harry, how could you? I've stood by you through everything! How could you keep this from me?"

"Hermione, please," Harry pleaded.

Snape decided to do right by the boy. "Harry insisted we tell you. I did not want to. I didn't feel you would accept the necessity so soon after losing Ronald."

Hermione looked at him, then at Harry, and back to him again. Her face was a mess as she cried openly before them, and Snape's heart hurt at seeing her in such pain, especially knowing he was causing a lot of it.

"O-of course I-I accept the necessity," she said through her sobs. "It all m-makes perfect s-sense."

He reached out for her hand again, and this time she didn't pull away. Enclosing her small hand in both of his, he looked up at her with as open a face as he could bear.

"I'm sorry to have doubted you," he managed to say in a normal voice, even though his throat felt suspiciously tight. "Harry was right not to doubt your amazing intelligence. I just wanted to protect you from any more pain."

Hermione's tenuous grasp of control failed. She pulled her hand out of his and slapped him – rather hard, at that – and then burst into uninhibited sobs. Snape stood up and found it was now almost natural to wrap his arms around her as she grabbed on to his robes. He looked to Harry and found him looking at them with a bittersweet expression. Kingsley, however, was as close to gaping as he got. Snape saw him open his mouth as if to say something, but a warning glare was enough to make him mind his own business.

"You sweet, daft, git," she cried as she continued to weep into his chest.

He smiled wryly down at the top of her head, tempted to kiss it. "I blame it on Potter. His bad influence has rubbed off on me."

The rhythm of her sobs changed slightly, and he hoped it was because he'd made her laugh. When she squeezed him gently, he knew he'd guessed correctly. Soon, her sobs lessened to mere sniffs, and only a minute later she was drawing away from him, her head down with her hair hiding her face.

He conjured up a handkerchief, which she accepted with a tiny, "Thanks."

He was trying to think of something pithy, but not scathing, to say, when Kingsley said, "Are you alright, Harry?"

Snape looked over and saw Harry was much paler than usual, and his hand was clenched on top of his scar.

"Harry?" Hermione said, suddenly alert, though still sniffling.

Harry gritted his teeth and paled further, worrying Snape. "He's found out about the missing Ho-- artifacts." Harry stopped to breathe through the pain. "He's... furious."

"Shall I summon him now?"

"No!" Harry bent over, clutching his head even tighter, and Hermione rushed around the desk to be at his side. She hesitated at touching him, though; Snape could sympathize, even as he recognized the illogic of it. She looked at him, and he nodded to do it. She squared her shoulders and placed her hand on Harry's shoulder.

Almost immediately, Harry's breathing became easier, and his body relaxed. It was a few moments before he sat up and placed his hand on Hermione's. Still breathing heavily, he said, "Thanks, Hermione."

"It's getting worse, isn't it?"

Harry nodded. "It's now harder to pull out of the visions."

"You have all the information you need. Can't you... you know, stop it? Practice Occlumency?"

Harry laughed hollowly. "I think that opportunity has passed."

Snape stood up and loomed over Harry. "If you delve too deeply, Potter, he will sense you. Especially if you are in close proximity. If he senses you, he will use the link to your disadvantage, torturing you with your own guilt. I think now is the perfect time to learn."

Harry looked up at him with haunted eyes. "I can't do it. I've tried."

Snape glared down at him. "Obviously not hard enough. Think of what you were doing when I summoned you last night. I will look for it in three, two, one..."

He pulled out his wand and cast Legilimens and was in Harry's mind for long enough to get a glimpse of red hair and the feeling of elation before Potter threw him out with a roar of outrage.

Snape frowned down at him. "You need to do better than that. You gave me enough information to torture you with, if I were so inclined."

Harry looked at him with that all-too-familiar look of loathing. He hadn't noticed how nice it was to interact with the boy without that barrier. He raised his eyebrow in challenge, and then noticed Hermione frowning at him, too, with her hands on her hips.

"Is this how you taught him back in fifth year?"

Snape sneered, defensive. "Of course."

"Well no wonder he didn't learn! Humiliating him isn't going to teach him anything but to loathe you!"

Snape frowned even as he saw Harry nod in angry agreement.

"It is the fastest way to learn to defend yourself."

"Only if given the basic methods first, Severus," Kingsley said in his holier-than-thou tone of reason.

Snape shot his 'friend' a glare. "Fine. If you know of a better way, then you teach the blighter! God knows I haven't ever managed to get the basics through his skull."

He decided he would be better served leaving the room than suffering the fools within it, so he stalked off to his bedroom quickly enough to make his robes billow. It was only with supreme effort that he did not slam the door behind him.

Once in his room, he looked around with fists clenched and wondered what he should destroy. None of it mattered, or would matter soon. He would be discovered as a spy and tortured to death. Hermione would be made an example before everyone. Harry would die, and who would that leave to kill the Dark Lord? Longbottom?

Snape hung his head, the anger draining out of him along with his hope. Albus had given them all a fool's errand. There was no way to win the war. Not in any acceptable way.

A click of the lock had him spinning in place and aiming his wand at the door, though he dropped his arm with a snarl as he saw Hermione's hair precede her. He turned his back to her and said, "Go away."

The door snicked shut, and he blew out a sigh of relief. Or despair. He wanted to be alone, and yet he yearned for her gentle companionship. Her compassion. But it was not the right thing to do, to use her friendship for his comfort. Not when he didn't deserve comfort.

There was a knock on the door, and his shoulders slumped. He should have realized she would be persistent. He turned around and stopped suddenly, seeing Hermione leaning up against the door.

"It seemed like you needed someone to yell at. Since Harry's busy learning Occlumency from Kingsley, I figured I was the best choice. Unless you'd like me to fetch someone else? Filch, maybe?"

Snape snorted weakly. "You'll do."

Hermione's expression changed from cocky to worried. "What's wrong, Severus?"

He closed his eyes and shook his head in despair. "Don't call me that."

"Why not?" She sounded hurt. He opened his eyes and cursed himself; she looked hurt, too.

"Because... It's pointless getting close to me."

"I don't understand."

He opened his eyes and looked at her. How had she managed to worm her way into his affections so quickly and resolutely?

"I don't expect to survive through the night, and I don't want to add any more weight to your grief."

She looked at him with a slight frown for a long moment, then said, "Well, that's too bad."

"What?"

"I already care about you. Whether I use your surname or your given one won't change the fact that it's far too late to take back my friendship. You've got it whether you want it or not, and rejecting it now is only going to add a layer of pain should you die. But as for not surviving, I'd say your chances of survival are slightly better than mine, so let's not count bodies before they're rotting, shall we?"

Snape grimaced in distaste at her choice of words. "So, anything I do to try to protect you will only add to your pain?"

"If you do it by withholding, then yes! It's... it's cheap. It assumes I have no say in the relationship, and that's... insulting."

"I hadn't thought about it in that way."

"Well, you'd better start, or you will lose my friendship. And that would hurt me an awful lot."

Snape snorted again. "Your subtlety still needs work, but your point is made. I won't try to push you away for your benefit again. I just... I'm afraid for you."

"Oh, and I'm afraid for you!" Hermione cried, nearly running up to him. "I'm terrified. But I guess that's been my modus operandi for several years now, so I'm more accustomed to it?"

"Perhaps."

Snape didn't know what to say beyond that, and they lapsed into a somewhat awkward silence. After a few seconds of not quite shuffling their feet and not quite meeting each other's eye, Hermione finally said, "Well, perhaps we should go see how Harry and Kingsley are progressing?"

Snape nodded. "Yes. That's... as good an idea as any."

Hermione gave him an odd smile, and walked back to the door. At the door she looked back at him, her expression asking if he was coming.

"I'll be out in a moment."

She nodded, and exited the room, but not before giving him another odd smile.

He made his way over to the bed and lowered himself down on to it, thinking through everything that had happened so far that day. It wasn't even lunchtime, and the end of the war, one way or another, was on its way to their doorstep. He wanted nothing more than to run away. But he couldn't. That would betray everything he'd worked for over the last twenty years. It would invalidate everything he'd put up with. It would disappoint everyone he cared about...

Before Hermione's arrival, the only person who might have been surprised at his defection would have been the Dark Lord himself. Now...

He took a deep breath and stood up. It was time. He could feel the wards around the castle shift into something foreign and out of his immediate control. That meant the students were gone, and only those who chose to stay and fight remained. It was time to face them.

As if to confirm his conclusion, a silver cat Patronus flew through the wall. "All students not of age have been evacuated," it said in Minerva's voice. "Flitwick is warding. Meeting in Great Hall in fifteen minutes."

Snape nodded and the cat dissolved. Walking into the office, he saw Kingsley heading for the door.

"Did you get the message?" he asked.

Kingsley nodded. "I'm off to help Filius."

"Good. Be inventive."

Kingsley smiled. "I'll try my best."

Snape turned to Harry, who was looking rather worn, and said, "It occurs to me that with the warding in place, and the Dark Lord already on his way, our plan needs to change. I think I was taken captive along with Alecto and Aurora."

"Professor Sinistra's a Death Eater?" Hermione cried, looking genuinely distressed.

"So it seems. She and Alecto Carrow have been captured and restrained. And, I think, I was as well when the teachers rose up against me after I alerted them to your presence in the castle, Harry. Now, either the Dark Lord will assume that you and the teachers will have killed me, because that is what he'd do, or that they have kept me alive as a prisoner.

"So now we need to plan how to approach both assumptions. I think if he does assume I'm dead, I should go into the battle in your invisibility cloak. That would give me an edge in distracting him when it becomes necessary."

"That's a good idea. In fact, I think we should tell him you're dead anyway."

Snape eyed Harry. "He can sense lies like no other."

Harry grimaced. "Maybe he won't ask?" Snape gave Harry an exasperated look coupled with a sigh. "Okay, well, I can tell him that you got killed in the scuffle. Or, that you were gravely injured and needed Pomfrey's attention. Or you're hiding! You escaped capture and I have no idea where you are!"

Snape tapped his finger against his lips as he thought about the last option. "That could work. That could work very well. Then, when I come out, he'll think I've come to rejoin and support him. And seeing as I have evaded capture, and I will be wearing the invisibility cloak, you won't have any idea where I am. Not after five minutes, anyway."

Snape smiled at Harry approvingly, which seemed to startle the poor boy. "Yes. I like that very much."

Harry looked round at Hermione with a worried look, and she slapped him on the back of his head. "Be nice, Harry."

He smiled cheekily up at her, and he looked so much like his father in their last year of school that Snape had to look away. That look had been reserved for lowering Lily's defenses. And, judging by Hermione's giggle, it worked as well on her as it had on Lily.

"We should make our way to the Great Hall," he snapped, annoyed with himself. It did no good to dwell on the past, and he knew it.

"Right," Harry said, turning back into the somber man-child Snape had reluctantly learned to respect. He felt a bit of a shit for not letting Harry enjoy a longer respite from his responsibilities, but time was growing short. And, whether any of them liked it or not, Harry was central to both the direction and the execution of all plans.

Snape drew the cloak out of an inner pocket and draped it around his shoulders. "Remember to take the sword with you. There may not be time to fetch it later."

Harry nodded and grabbed the sword by the hilt while Snape grabbed the hood and prepared to cover his head. He paused when Hermione said, "Stay safe, Severus. Please. For me."

He looked at her and once again saw the scared child he'd seen at Spinner's End. She looked lost, vulnerable and unable to withstand the beatings life was sure to deal in the course of a normal life, let alone battling evil to the death. And yet, he could smile at her encouragingly, for he knew that of the three people in the room, she was the most resilient. She would survive with or without him.

"I will do my best. For you."

He covered himself fully and opened the office door, stepped through to activate the stairs, but did not go down. He stepped back where he could see into his office and waited as Harry and Hermione looked at each other for a long moment. Harry came round the desk and approached Hermione.

"Will you be okay?"

She nodded, though her tears claimed otherwise.

"Will you look after Snape?"

She nodded again then promptly burst into tears and lunged at Harry.

"Oh, Harry!"

Harry wrapped his arms around her, and Snape could tell he was clinging to her as much as she was clinging to him. Neither said anything more, but just held onto each other desperately. His heart clenched as his mark burned with a summons.

It took a few minutes, but finally Harry drew away from Hermione. Hermione wiped her nose on the handkerchief he'd given her earlier, and looked soulfully at Harry.

"I love you, Harry. I hope you know that."

He heard Harry give a shaky chuckle. "I love you, too, Hermione." He paused for a big breath. "Please tell Ginny..."

Hermione nodded. "She knows, but I'll tell her."

"Thanks. I don't think I could go if..."

Hermione nodded again and stepped forward to put her arm around his waist. "I know," she said in a choked voice.

Harry nodded and said, "We should go. Vol-- Tom is on his way."

Hermione nodded and they walked out of the office with his arm around her shoulder, and hers around his waist, separating only at the doorway. They went down the stairs without even a glance sideways. Snape waited until he heard the gargoyle move before following them down.

He kept his distance all the way to the Great Hall, but then there were enough people around that he needed to creep up close to Harry, who was joining Neville and Minerva on the dais.

He watched as Harry gave the sword to Neville, with the caution, "Remember--"

"Kill the snake before Voldemort. I know." Snape saw Neville swallow hard and thought it strange that he be experiencing fear now, but then he said, "You're the bravest person I've ever had the honor of knowing, Harry."

Harry shook his head. "Nah, you're wrong there, Neville. Snape is the bravest. I'm just doing what I'm told."

Neville laughed disbelievingly and shook his head. "Good luck, Harry. We'll be with you in spirit."

Harry nodded and smiled dimly back. "Good luck to you, too."

Snape looked around the Hall for Hermione, and smiled sadly to see her in the middle of a tearful Weasley gathering. He didn't envy her the position of news bearer, but he was glad to see she was with people she loved and who loved her back.

He took a last look at the Hall, crowded with Harry's supporters, and felt a niggle of hope in his chest. It was possible they would win. It could happen.

Minerva took the dais, which Snape took as his cue to leave, but just then, the Dark Lord's voice pierced the Hall, and everyone jumped, screamed or looked around in fear.

"I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood."

The Dark Lord paused, and the silence in the Hall was absolute. No one moved.

"Give me Harry Potter and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded.

"You have one hour."

Silence descended again, and Snape could feel the tension in the room vibrate.

He looked around for Harry and was unsurprised to find he was already gone. Figuring he had gone to the Dark Lord, he made his way outside just in time to see a Death Eater scout on broomstick rush away toward Hogsmeade. Harry stood looking after the rider for a minute until, pressing his palm to his forehead, he turned toward the forest.

Snape followed at a distance until Harry stopped at the edge of the forest. As he approached, he could tell Harry was wrestling with something around his neck, so he lengthened his stride in case he needed to help the boy. He slowed down, however, when the struggle stopped and he could see a glint of something golden. Edging a few steps closer, he was able to discern that it was a Snitch.

Wondering what on Earth Harry could want with a Snitch at that moment, he had to muffle a gasp when Harry placed the Snitch next to his mouth, whispered something, and the Snitch popped open like a locket. Focusing carefully, he saw Harry pull out something small and black. Harry placed it in his palm and turned it three times, though not quite as if examining it.

Then Harry went very still. Snape almost swore aloud, thinking the boy had unleashed an unknown curse, but then Harry looked around himself with a look of awe and longing so intense, Snape had to wonder what it was he was seeing.

"Does it hurt," Harry said in a small voice after a moment. Snape looked around, but saw no one else, even though Harry seemed to be listening to someone with great intensity.

Suddenly, Harry's face crumpled with grief, as he said, "I didn't want you to die. I'm sorry."

Realization dawned slowly. Snape thought of the ring Dumbledore had foolishly put on, despite knowing of the curse on it. The ring had had a small, black stone set into it. Dumbledore had ranted, while still delirious with pain, about needing to talk to his sister. About needing to know if he was forgiven.

Something about that memory sparked another memory, this one from when he was a small child. His mother had told him a story of three brothers who outwitted Death, and Death gave each of them a magical object. A wand of great power, a cloak of invisibility and a stone that would bring the dead almost back to life.

Snape's eyes widened in wonder as he heard Harry say, "You'll stay with me?"

The Deathly Hallows were real? Dumbledore had known it? No wonder the old man had tried on the ring!

He almost missed Harry squaring his shoulders for courage, though his quiet, "Stay close to me," alerted Snape to his departure.

They trekked through the forest for ten minutes before they heard movement ahead. Harry wisely hid behind a tree and waited as Yaxley and Dolohov approached. Snape stood utterly still, though his eyes darted back and forth between the Death Eaters and Harry.

When the Death Eaters got close enough to smell, Snape raised his wand. Harry had a similar idea, as he Disillusioned himself before edging around the tree, wand raised.

A moment later, Harry cried, "Stupefy!" at Dolohov while Snape quickly fired off a Stunner at Yaxley, who had quickly figured out where Harry stood and was about to fire at him.

Harry looked down at Yaxley with a frown, then looked around. "Snape?" he whispered. "Snape, I know you're there."

Snape chose to remain hidden, not wanting to admit to having followed Harry.

Harry sighed. "Thanks for the help, and all, but I need someone to lead me to Tom." He looked around for Snape again, then shrugged and took Yaxley's wand. He backed away out of Yaxley's reach and aimed his wand at Yaxley. "Rennervate," he said, then kept his wand steadily aimed while the Death Eater came to.

"Hello," he said to Yaxley quietly but with an air of control. "I have your wand, and I wouldn't feel the least bit guilty restunning you and leaving you to whatever roams this forest. Like the Acromantulas."

Snape noticed Yaxley grow pale.

"So, I suggest you do what I want without any trouble. Okay?"

Yaxley nodded his head slowly.

"Great. Well then... I can't believe I'm saying this, but, take me to your leader."

Snape grinned despite himself. It was clichéd, yet so appropriate. The Dark Lord even looked a bit like the aliens of old.

He watched as Harry told Yaxley to walk ten paces ahead at a steady pace, making as little noise as possible. Snape kept his wand trained on him in the off chance he was stupid enough to run.

Slowly, they made their way through the forest until they heard voices in the distance. Harry surprised Snape then by Stunning Yaxley again. He continued forward a few paces beyond Yaxley's body and ducked down to peer around a bush.

A few moments later, he straightened, turned around and held up the stone. He dropped it where he stood, then walked around the bush. Snape came forward even as he heard raised voices. He squatted down where Harry had been and looked through the bush. There was a little clearing down a hollow where all the Death Eaters were gathered. He saw Harry standing on one side, everyone's wands aimed at him.

Snape found he couldn't watch what was about to happen. He hadn't been clear on his motivation to follow Harry, except for possible knowledge. But now that he was there, he just couldn't bear to see Lily's son struck down.

Thinking of Lily, he looked to the ground. There, lying a foot away, was the fabled Resurrection Stone. He reached for it and was surprised at how unremarkable the stone was. The only thing that marked how special it was was the etched symbol around a crack.

He blotted out the sound of the Dark Lord speaking and raised a shaking hand to turn the stone in his palm. Once, twice, three times, and he nearly dropped the stone as he felt her presence appear.

Turning around slowly, he lost his balance and fell onto his rear as he looked up to see her smiling down at him. He opened his mouth to exclaim, but she put a finger to her lips.

"Thank you, Sev," she said in that lilting voice of hers. "Thank you so much for helping Harry."

He swallowed, trying to master his emotions, but found he couldn't resist. "Can you forgive me?" he whispered.

Her smile turned sad. "Do you still need my forgiveness?"

He opened his mouth to cry out that of course he needed her forgiveness! He had killed her and her husband, orphaning her son and marking him to be hunted his entire life. How could he not need her forgiveness?

But something in her voice, and her phrasing, gave him pause. So he didn't answer, but just looked at her. She was just as he remembered her, only happier and less worried.

"I am so sorry, Lil. For everything."

She nodded and smiled her sweet, sad smile again. "I know, Sev. You've proven that."

Snape felt tears threaten to overwhelm him, and he looked down at the stone with a frown, hiding his face from her.

"Protect Harry just a little longer for me, Severus. It's almost done."

Snape dropped the stone, unable to bear the pain her presence wrought any longer. He stared at it lying on the ground beneath him with longing and loathing, not quite sure which was strongest. He was debating whether he should bury the artifact when he became aware of a hum of murmuring coming from the clearing. He turned and peeked through the foliage, but had difficulty deciphering what was going on.

Harry was lying dead where he'd stood, but everyone was ignoring him. Instead, all the Death Eaters were gathered around the spot the Dark Lord had been. Someone in the gathering moved, and Snape could see a pair of feet lying in the middle of the gathering. He wondered if Harry had managed to kill the Dark Lord again, and how that would play out in regards to Nagini... Though, looking around, he didn't see the snake. However, his view was obstructed from many angles.

He was distracted from the search when he heard Bella yelling at everyone to make room. "The Dark Lord is stirring!"

Snape watched as the Death Eaters all took their places, except for Bella, who remained at the Dark Lord's side, murmuring, "My Lord... my Lord..."

The Dark Lord sat up slowly with the help of Bella, who again murmured, "My Lord."

He shrugged off her arm with a terse, "That will do," and stood up on his own. He wavered slightly, but soon was standing steadily enough to look around. Once he caught sight of Harry, however, his eyes narrowed.

He took an unsteady step forward, and Bella stepped close, saying, "My Lord, let me--"

"I do not require assistance," the Dark Lord replied without even looking at Bella. Snape smirked as Bella withdrew looking hurt. "The boy... Is he dead?"

Everyone in the clearing looked at Harry's body, but no one moved. Everyone stayed as silent as possible, fear surging forth at the possibility that Harry might not be dead. That the Dark Lord had failed yet again. Snape held his breath, hope welling up inside him.

"You," the Dark Lord said, and sent a stinging jinx at Narcissa. "Examine him. Tell me whether he is dead."

Narcissa obeyed wordlessly, though as soon as her back was to the Dark Lord, she rubbed her arm inconspicuously and scowled in worry. She knelt beside Harry, keeping her head held high, and felt Harry's face and chest. Her hand resting over Harry's heart, she leaned over him, and stayed like that for several moments.

Snape pondered the meaning of that move, even as she stood up and said, "He is dead." Everyone else in the circle roared with triumph, but Snape saw Narcissa's face; she was relieved. He didn't know whether the relief was from the Dark Lord's success, or his failure, though he couldn't imagine she would have much to be relieved about with the Dark Lord's success. The Dark Lord would not forgive their family any time soon...

Hope refused to abandon him, even as he knew, logically, there was little cause for it. And he supposed it was the hope that made him cringe as the Dark Lord cast Crucio on Harry's body in a barbaric display of showmanship. Harry's form twitched, but no more than most dead bodies did. Snape sighed as his rising hope was dampened.

The theatrics went on for a full minute before the Dark Lord called out, "And now we shall take Potter's body to Hogwarts, where they are planning a rebellion. We will show them, once and for all, that I am the most powerful wizard. That I shall always succeed!"

A roar of approval met that statement, and the Dark Lord instructed Lucius to Levitate Harry's body above the woods as if he were a banner for their army.