Chapter 64

A/N: This is a big chapter with lots of drama and action. I hope you like it. As always, my deepest gratitude to my beta, WriterMerrin, who has worked so hard with me this past year to get us to this point.

***

The next two months dragged on, and Hermione grew increasingly concerned about Severus. Then one day in May, she received an owl from him.

It has begun. Where is the book?

S.

Hermione's hands began to shake. She went straight to the fireplace, burned the note, and then searched for Gawain.

He was outside patrolling the streets when she found him and flagged him down.

"Gawain, I have got to get down to Hogwarts. Something bad has happened at Hogwarts. It's serious!"

Gawain sent his Patronus to Tonks and Savage. "They'll go and check out the situation. Where are you to be, Snape?"

Hermione sighed and looked at her watch. "In an hour, patrolling in Hogsmeade."

Gawain narrowed his eyes and said, "Then I suggest you get some rest and then report back to me an hour."

He turned and went on his way. Hermione went back inside and went to lie down. That was all she wanted to do anymore. Her mind was not giving her any peace. She tossed and turned at night and was exhausted during the day. She couldn't wait for the school year to end. Then she could have some more time with Severus. Yet, whenever she thought that, her hopes sank. Severus was so sure he was going to die or they would never be together again as they had planned.

She came down the stairs to start her shift. As she headed towards the door, Gawain halted her.

"Well, I just got the Patronus from hell. Your husband is demanding your presence at the castle's infirmary. He says it's more important than making sure the crime-riddled streets of Hogsmeade are safe. Quite the funny man, your husband," he bit out.

Hermione went past him without comment and grabbed her broom. She still detested flying, but short jaunts like from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts were tolerable.

She reached the front doors and walked inside. She went straight up to the infirmary and saw Madam Pomfrey tending to Draco Malfoy.

"I just received a Patronus from Severus that you would be arriving," the matron informed her. "Draco will be all right, though he lost a great deal of blood."

Hermione looked into her worried eyes. "What kind of wound, Poppy?" she whispered suspiciously.

"I don't know, but Severus did. He made sure the boy was stable and sealed the gash." She lifted the sheet off Draco to reveal a huge, white binding on his chest.

"He came in with a horrible slash across his chest, and there was blood everywhere. I-I don't know what happened to him."

"Where is Severus now?" Hermione asked as she stared grimly at the familiar scene in front of her.

"He's in his office, waiting for you," she whispered as she hovered over Malfoy's pale face.

***

Hermione knocked on the door and was confronted by a very angry Severus Snape. He pulled her inside and closed the door, warding it securely.

"Your friend Potter decided to use my Sectumsempra spell in a duel with Draco. He nearly died. Do you know what happens if Draco dies before this is all over?" he raged.

"Severus, calm down. I know the dangers of this as well as you. What I can't understand is how he got that spell! Ginny stole it and hid it from him right after Christmas hols."

"Well, I demanded it from him, and he insisted he didn't have it!" he snapped.

Hermione looked up at him ruefully. "He wasn't lying. He must have found the spell before the book was taken and decided to save it for when he needed it."

Hermione laid her hand on Severus' arm. "Severus, we have to get up to the to the Room of Requirement. Who knows if he has torn pages from it to use even darker spells? I can't believe it! He must have known someone would take it from him!" As they left, she quickly grabbed Severus' ledger and dashed off.

He followed her and cast a Disillusionment spell around them. "Why there, and why are you taking my grade book?" he asked.

"Because it is Unplottable. Ginny needed a hiding place for the book."

She stood in front of the invisible door and started to pace back and forth. I need a place to hide this ledger where I can find it again. She repeated it three times, and the door opened to reveal a room that was gigantic in proportion. It had to be as big as a cathedral or a football field.

"This was your epiphany?" Severus sneered.

He picked up a bloodstained axe. "Oh, yes. I can see the need for a place like this. Perhaps we shall find that American gangster, Jimmy Hoffa or 'Lucky' Lucan," he said sarcastically.

Hermione glared at him. "Try to be a help, not a fucking critic. Let's follow the pathway here. Put that axe down! You're giving me the willies," she hissed.

"Now, where would Ginny hide it?" she murmured to herself.

They came upon a cabinet of sorts. "Look at the dust prints," she said. "Someone has been touching this. She followed the prints to a small door at the bottom of the cabinet. She opened it and saw the book.

"Hello," she crooned, picking it up and smiling like a cat that had found the cream.

"Hello to you, as well," said a purring voice.

Hermione turned quickly, grabbing her wand. She saw Severus reaching up to grasp an object on top of a marble head. Hermione clutched the Potions book to her chest.

Severus held a dinghy, tarnished, yet very antique and exquisite looking Diadem. He peered at the inscription inside. "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure," he said with a smirk on his face. "Well, well, we have appeared to have killed two kneazles with one stone."

Hermione looked at him angrily. Poor Crookshanks had never really fit with the change in his mistress and had decided to go off his own way. She had never seen him again after the summer of her (second) third year.

"How can you be so unfeeling?" she gasped.

"It's only a saying, Hermione."

She began to tear up. "Poor Crookshanks. He was such a good cat," she whimpered.

"Hermione," said Severus, frowning.. "This is not like you. What has come over you?"

She waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, I don't know...the fact we found the book and another Horcrux is just so unbelievable! So we were right."

"Yes, I will go to the Headmaster's office and destroy this. I can do it with Gryffindor's Sword."

"You'll be careful, won't you?" she asked. "You won't get yourself cursed, will you?"

"Come with me, Hermione. Watch how it is done. You may need to go with Potter to find the others before this is all over."

"The Sword of Gryffindor?" she breathed. "That's what will destroy them?"

"Well, it's because the sword was used to slay the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. Goblin-wrought metal has the ability to absorb other magical properties. Don't forget the basilisk fangs. The poison in them will also destroy a Horcrux, and then finally, there is Fiendfyre. It is a magical fire that will dissolve the object, thus destroying the soul in the process."

"Amazing!" Hermione breathed as she kept her eyes fixated on the Diadem.

The two made their way into Albus' office where the Sword lay up on the top of a high shelf.

"Good day, Fawkes," said Severus to the phoenix. Fawkes looked at Hermione strangely as she greeted him. "Hello, Fawkes."

She sat down nervously, wanting the whole process to be over with. Fawkes came and nestled in her lap, snuggling against her belly, resting quietly.

"What is this?" she whispered as she gestured towards the phoenix.

"He likes you," Severus said as he deftly handled the sword. The Horcrux inside of the Diadem exposed itself just as Severus poised to strike. An angry red eye peeked out from one of the silver swirls.

You will destroy her!" it hissed. You will KILL her!"

Hermione felt frightened and yelled at Severus to kill it. He faltered, and Hermione began to cry. Fawkes flew to perch on Severus' shoulder and trilled out a song that carried over the hissing sounds of Voldemort's evil soul.

Severus regained his purpose and punctured the Diadem, killing it. The scream of the dying soul was dreadful to hear, but it grew softer and softer and then, it was gone. The Diadem looked as dead and harmless as the ring by Dumbledore's desk.

Snape conjured a large cloth, wrapped the Diadem inside it, and sealed it shut.

"What are you doing, Severus?" she asked.

He looked at her pensively as he grabbed her arm. "I want you to keep this for insurance. Soon, very soon, we will have to part, but I shall not die. You may wish I were dead. But you cannot forget that it is I who must kill Dumbledore."

"I don't want to think on it, Severus," she said as she tried to escape his grasp. "Let's just go away. We can take the sword, find the rest of the Horcruxes together, and have Harry kill him. Dumbledore doesn't need you!"

"However, Draco does," he whispered. "The Vow, remember?"

Hermione knew she was being irrational, but just couldn't take it anymore. "Hang the Vow! Narcissa was a manipulative bitch to make you do that. She knew that if you refused, Bellatrix would take that as proof you weren't a real Death Eater," Hermione said angrily.

Severus held her close to him. "Draco isn't evil. He can't have this on his soul. It isn't in him to kill."

Hermione wrenched herself from Severus, "And what of your soul, Severus? What of your soul!" she demanded.

"I fear Albus believes mine is beyond repair," he whispered.

"He's wrong!" she barked at him. "Don't ever believe that lie!"

Hermione turned and walked out of the room. She had the hidden Diadem with her and left to return to Hogsmeade. Severus stopped her at the entrance, just as she was taking up her broom, and took her by the shoulders, holding her close.

"I love you," he murmured in her hair. "I will never stop loving you."

Hermione whirled around and threw her arms around him, and they held on tightly to each other. She had closed her eyes during her embrace and felt she was on fire. She opened her eyes and looked at Severus as his eyes roamed around them. The magic that surrounded them had never been more powerful. Hermione exhaled and let the magic fill her soul and calm her fear. She finally let him go and sped off, the tears cold on the sides of her head as she flew faster and faster back towards Hogsmeade.

***

Gawain was waiting for her when she got back. "So, did you accomplish what you needed to?"

"Yes, I did, Gawain, and don't look at me as if I stepped out on my job for a shag. Draco Malfoy was nearly killed, and Harry Potter did it. I don't know what's going to happen now."

"Bleedin' hell," he muttered. "Why would Potter..."

"...Because Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater and attacked him. Harry used a dark spell that he had heard about, but didn't understand how it worked, so there you go. Thank God, Severus was nearby when it happened, or we would be carting Harry off to Azkaban."

"Will the Malfoy boy be pressing charges?" Gawain asked.

"I doubt it. He's got bigger fish to fry," she mumbled quietly.

***

One evening in early June, Hermione said, "Tonks, I feel positively dreadful. My stomach is all queasy, and I'm constipated and bloated."

"Your time of the month comin'?" she asked as she flipped through Witch Weekly.

Hermione rubbed her eyes. "I can't remember the last time I had a period. I've been such a bundle of raw nerves. Now Harry and Dumbledore are off again, God knows where. I just want this term to end."

Tonks got up from her bed. "What do you mean you can't remember your last period?" she asked.

"I don't know; I just can't seem to focus," she said in confusion. "Just always so tired."

Tonks took her wand and cast a charm over Hermione's belly. "Hermione," she said in voice she had never heard Tonks use before. "You're pregnant."

"What?" asked Hermione, confused.

"Hermione, you are pregnant. And it's a girl."

Hermione's mouth fell open. She was speechless.

"When was the last time you and Severus... shagged? " she whispered.

"It was the night I told you I needed to be with him; he was so over-worked and sad. Ron's birthday...the first of March."

"Well," she said. "That makes you three months pregnant, Hermione. You can't be in Auror Training and preggers!"

"But I'm not even showing!" Hermione said. You'd think by three months, I'd be showing!"

Tonks took her by the arms. "Hermione, you need to rest. I'll go talk with Gawain, and we'll figure out where you should go from here. Probably back to the castle and stay with Severus...or perhaps the Burrow? It would be calmer for you. But let's figure this out, okay? I'll let you know what Gawain says."

"Okay," Hermione said shakily as she lay down.

She was pregnant.

With a girl.

***

Hermione was asleep when Tonks' Patronus woke her. "Get up!" she yelled. "The castle has been overrun with Death Eaters!"

Oh my God!

Hermione jumped up and grabbed her wand. She hopped on her broom and headed out towards the castle.

The entrance way was dark and empty. It was eerie and strange. There should be sounds of fighting. Then she heard a crash from far away. She ran up the stairs and stopped in her tracks. She couldn't see anything in front of her. She dropped on her knees and crawled along, trying to listen for footsteps. She heard more crashes and shouts that were definitely coming near the Astronomy Tower. She tried every lighting spell she could think of, but nothing happened.

By accident, she ran into Lupin, Minerva, and Tonks by the light of the stairs heading up to the Tower.

"Good, you're here!" Nymphadora shouted. "The bastards have barred the way. They're up there."

"We got one, though" said Lupin. "Careful, don't trip over the body."

"Who set off the Dark Mark?" Hermione asked.

"That arsehole," growled Tonks, pointing at the dead body. "He got scared waiting for the others, came back down, and we got him."

"I almost bit it," panted Remus. "Luckily, we had Neville, Ron, Ginny, and Luna to help us, so we weren't completely taken unawares."

Minerva swore. "I can't get this bloody charm to give way. Where the hell is Filius?" she shrilled.

Hermione said, "We can't do anything all bunched up here. We're like sitting ducks if they start coming down! Break up into threes. One third stay down the stairs, around the corner, another down to the corridor, and another stay working on the lock and meet the lot as they try to leave. They have to come down sometime."

Hermione went with Tonks and Savage to the second position while Minerva, Lupin, and Gawain stayed up at the entrance, trying to break the wards.

Before Hermione was out of earshot, Minerva spat, "Where the hell are Severus and Filius? I sent Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley for them thirty minutes ago!"

"I've got to find him!" shouted Hermione.

"Oh, no you're not!" said Tonks as she dragged her down the corridor. They went near a window, and Tonks crashed it open with her elbow. "Look!" she shouted.

There were Bill and Charlie Weasley coming in the distance. "Brilliant," Tonks said quietly with a smile.

They waited until the Death Eaters started to make their way out towards the exit. Wands were drawn and spells were flying everywhere. Tonks was battling a huge, blond Death Eater while another came hurtling towards Hermione, and she began to duel as well. A well-aimed Stupefy sent him crashing into the opposite wall, unconscious. Hermione ran with the others and saw Severus running after Draco towards the exit. Lupin ran towards it and was repelled backwards. Death Eaters were escaping one after another. Once they had reached the invisible barrier, they couldn't be stopped.

Neville tried just as hard as Remus did and was thrown completely off his feet. Once the last Death Eater escaped, the barrier was broken and Hermione saw Harry running madly after Snape. She followed them while Tonks screamed at her to stay back.

Hermione watched as Harry and Snape fought and screamed at the other. Hagrid's house was ablaze, and the flames coming from it cast an apocalyptic vision upon the scene in front of her. She was screaming at them to stop, and Harry turned his wand to her, attempting to hex her. Severus hexed him first and sent him flying ten feet away.

"Hermione, get the hell out of here!" Severus roared, keeping his eyes fixed on Harry as he charged towards them.

"You fucking whore!" Harry shouted from afar. "How could you do this?"

Hermione ignored Harry as he railed against her. He was still far enough away for her to speak to Severus one last time. She wasn't able to get a word in, for Severus kissed her quickly and said, "I will find you, Hermione. This is not the end. I will find you!"

Harry was coming closer, and Severus took off in a sprint towards the Hogwarts boundary line.

Hermione turned and ran towards Hagrid's hut and began to help him put out the fire. When she'd finished, Severus was gone, and Harry was walking towards her with a look of hatred on his face.

"You bitch!" he screamed. "You knew he was in league with Voldemort all along. You knew about this, didn't you?"

"Harry, please, things are not as they seem!" she pleaded as she fell to her knees in exhaustion.

"How could you? How could you choose him over me?" he howled.

Angry words rang in Hermione's head.

"I can't believe you, Hermione! How can you choose him over me? I've been your friend...he couldn't stand you!"

"Lily, NO! I never wanted to come between you two!" she protested.

Hermione lifted her head in defeat. There was no choosing, there was just doing what was right to make things better for them all.

Harry dragged Hermione up to the castle roughly by the arm. Hagrid bellowed at Harry for being rude, but Harry told Hagrid that Hermione was a traitor and no longer trustworthy. He stripped her of her wand, but Hermione was too worn out to care.

Harry marched her to the infirmary at wandpoint where the whole group stood shaky and in shock.

Filius was unconscious in one bed while Bill Weasley was in the other, his face mauled grotesquely. Hermione didn't know if he was going to make it or not. Someone whispered that Greyback had mauled him. The Weasleys were sniffing, and Poppy was keeping up a brave front, putting salve on his mangled face.

Harry pushed Hermione in front of him. "She tried to stop me from getting Snape. She's in on it."

The others looked upon her in horror.

"Tell them, Ginny," he ordered as his grip on Hermione's arm intensified. Hermione winced in pain.

Ginny pulled out a piece of paper from her jeans pocket. "I found out who the Half-blood Prince is. Eileen Prince was a student here and had married a Muggle, Tobias Snape. They had a son, Severus Snape, and lived in Spinner's End in Manchester."

"Of course, that's nothing new to you, is it, Hermione?" Harry spat bitterly. "You knew all along there were spells that could kill someone. I didn't know what that curse would do to Malfoy. I can't believe you tried to manipulate me when you knew what that book was the entire time!"

Minerva came close and stood up to Harry. "This is an infirmary! What are you doing, Potter?"

"Just trying to get a little bit of justice, Professor," he announced, never taking his green eyes off Hermione for a second.

"Justice?" shouted Hermione. "That book had already been out of your possession when you cursed Draco. If you didn't know what the spell would do, you had no business casting it! Don't blame others for your poor judgment."

"Dumbledore is dead."

Harry's blunt announcement cut through the air like a knife. There were choked cries and audible groans. "I saw it all," Harry said bitterly. "Malfoy was as normal, a coward, couldn't do what his master, Voldemort, had ordered him, so Snape stepped in and cast the Killing Curse as Dumbledore begged for his life..."

"...That's a lie!" Hermione protested.

"Really?" asked Harry. His face was hard as granite, and his grip was becoming more painful by the second. He tossed her wand to Remus and told him to keep it safe for the trial.

"That's right," Hermione insisted. "Dumbledore was dying anyway. The curse that destroyed his right hand was arrested from spreading throughout his body because of Severus' action. However, the curse from the object Dumbledore handled was too powerful. It only gave him borrowed time...a year at most. Dumbledore knew he was dying, and he knew that Draco Malfoy had been ordered by Voldemort to kill him. Dumbledore didn't want Draco's soul marred by murder, so he bound Severus to do it.

"Besides, Draco's mother and Bellatrix LeStrange came to Spinner's End this past summer and browbeat him into an Unbreakable Vow for Draco's protection. Dumbledore approved it all!"

"You lie," Harry seethed. "Severus Snape was nothing but a sadistic bastard who lived for his own glory. He deluded you in his lies."

"If Severus wanted you dead, you would be dead, Harry Potter!" she shouted. "You and I saw how he never took an offensive stance against you, but a defensive one. You were the aggressor. Only when you tried to hex me did he retaliate."

"Potter, I think Hermione should be released until we can figure out what the devil is going on here!" Minerva demanded in her shrill voice.

Harry placed Hermione next to Tonks, who took her hand in hers. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

Hermione nodded. She felt numb. Her husband was now on the run, and she was pregnant and facing imprisonment.

"How's the baby?" Tonks mouthed.

Hermione nodded she was fine, and the baby as well. She folded her hands protectively across her belly and listened silently as everyone began to piece it all together.

Minerva sat weakly in a chair. "I always wondered ... I can't believe this," she whispered.

"Snape was an accomplished Occlumens, the best, in fact. Better than Dumbledore and Voldemort combined," said Remus.

Hermione tuned them all out. All she could think of was Severus. He was gone, and she was left behind. A part of her was angry she had been left behind, but then how could she be with him, knowing he was with Voldemort now. He would be gone until the end...the bitter end. What was even worse was that Severus didn't know he was a father.

She regained her interest in the situation when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came in. Molly was crying hysterically, and Fleur was right at her heels. Molly grabbed the medicine from Madam Pomfrey and started to apply it to Bill's face when Fleur grew indignant and wrenched the jar out of Molly's hands.

Hermione watched as the Weasley family finally accepted Fleur into their fold. She was genuinely happy for them, yet she felt so alone. Then, just as she thought she could feel no worse, a gut-wrenching cry emitted from Tonks, and she flung herself at Remus.

Tonks had Remus by the front of his robes, and Hermione felt tears coursing down her face. She sat and heard Tonks' plea to Remus. Hermione wanted to shut them out as they argued about their relationship. Hermione felt her heart was swelling in pain, ready to burst inside her. She sat in her isolation, no comfort, and no friends. She was utterly alone.

"We have other matters more pressing," Remus said uncomfortably.

"Right," said Minerva. "We need to inform the Ministry and gather together the Order. We need to make some decisions."

Harry spoke up. "Until the Minister can be notified and a decision made, I think Hermione Snape should be locked up in the Prisoner's Tower," he declared.

Remus looked concerned. "Harry, don't you think that's a bit preemptive?" he asked.

"It wasn't harsh enough for Sirius when the Ministry took him after he saved us from you the night you transformed. Besides, I also want a full inquiry into Mrs. Snape's statement that Sirius Black tried to rape her New Year's of 1995."

Harry was so angry and potent in his rage; the others didn't know what to do or say.

Tonks went to Hermione's side. "You need to plead your condition," she whispered.

"I don't trust Harry or the Ministry at this point," Hermione whispered in return. "If you care for me, you will keep my secret."

Hermione Snape's hands were bound, and she was led away by her fellow Aurors: Gawain and Proudfoot up to the drafty Prisoner's Tower, where her personal effects were tossed in with her. She made sure the Diadem was still safe among her things, and she began to place extra layers of clothing on to sleep. As she made a makeshift bed on the cold stone floor, she began to rub her belly and speak to her daughter.

"I don't know what we'll name you, love. But at least you can know that your daddy and I made you in love, and we are all going to be happy one day. Your daddy and I have it all planned out. After the war, we'll get a little cottage, maybe in Hogsmeade, and we'll give you a loving home with lots of soft blankets and soft toys. I can see you now: a lovely, dark-haired, curly head know-it-all like me with the wisdom and cunning of your father. You'll have his dark, lovely eyes and my pink cheeks. You'll be so special, and we'll give you lots of brothers and sisters, I promise..."

***

A/N: Lord Lucan, a professional gambler and socialite whose nickname was "Lucky," has not been seen since November 8, 1974. He went missing hours after his family's nanny was battered to death and his estranged wife was assaulted in their London home. There have been dozens of supposed sightings around the world.