Time to Choose

Disclaimer: All characters have been created by J.K. Rowling. I'm just mucking around with them and not making any money for it. Bummer.

I'd like to say thanks to Charmed_Nay for finding time to look over my chapters for me.

The Dark Lord watched as Severus made his way into the room. The man seemed rather refreshed. It seems my talk with his young lover has worked. The girl is obviously confused and now wants to buy into my tale.

"Severusss," he said as pleasantly as possible, "I see you are ready for our discussion."

"I am," his servant said, standing before him proudly.

"Excellent." He looked to the few followers still present. "Leave us." It was enjoyable to see them scurry away with a simple command. No other wizard on earth was more powerful, aside from Dumbledore, but the old fool was now in a weakened state, likely dying. Once the room was cleared of all others, he asked, "What news have you to bring to me?"

"I went to Hogwarts as planned and was met at the gate by a group of Aurors. Many dared to accuse me of being on the wrong side of the battle," Severus said, smirking.

"Sit," Voldemort directed.

"Thank you, sir," Severus said, taking the seat across from his Master. "I, of course, told them that I had gone off in search of Dumbledore and was unable to stay behind to help with the initial cleanup."

Nodding, the Dark Lord gazed into his eyes casually as he spoke. He saw tiny flashes of what had gone on. When he saw McGonagall arguing with a young upstart, he asked, "What of Deputy Headmistress McGonagall? She spoke for you?"

"She did," Snape said, unable to mask his momentarily surprised expression. "Some imbecile dared to think he could detain me for further questioning down at the Ministry. I once taught him, and I think he meant to have some payback." He snickered for a moment. "Well, as I'd figured, she hurried over in my defense, explaining how I'd helped her during the battle when she'd been surrounded."

"I am happy that we thought of that," he said, cackling slightly. "Her word is nearly as good as Dumbledore's. Everyone knows she is quite close to him. Go on."

"A couple of Aurors were told that I had Disillusioned Nymphadora Tonks, who was wounded by the Carrows near the gate. This enabled her survival, so you can guess how that went. They appreciated that I'd saved one of their own," Severus replied, curling his lip in distaste. "I'd hoped that someone would notice and finish her anyway. I've never liked the girl. Quite clumsy, that one."

Voldemort knew that the man was telling him the truth. He could always tell when someone was lying to him. The scenes flashing through his servant's mind backed up everything he reported. Being the most accomplished Legilimens that the world had ever seen enabled him to detect any dishonesty. Another scene flashed before his eyes, this one was of Severus' naked concubine as she rode him with her head thrown back and her bare breasts jiggling. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Damn, he thought disappointedly. Nothing like a good show. I wonder where that traitor's wife is. Perhaps I should invite her to join me for the afternoon. She'll do anything to keep her life.

"...and that is when I exterminated Wormtail, as per your request, my Lord," Severus finished.

"And I am happy to be rid of him," he said at once.

"Lupin was able to vouch that I hadn't a choice, as the vermin was trying to kill him whilst I happened upon them." He shrugged. "I felt it prudent to allow the werewolf to live, and since he's taken to championing me, I'd say it was a good move."

"Agree." The Dark Lord mostly knew all of this. He wanted news of Potter and Dumbledore. "Tell me what I want to know."

"No sign of Dumbledore or Potter. The headmaster's office has sealed itself, and none of us are able to access it." He shifted in his seat. "I did not make my way to headquarters. There was too much to do at the castle...even after the time that passed. We've made repairs, cleared away any rubble and bodies there that had been missed, and placed more wards about the grounds." Smirking, Snape added, "Which I shall easily break for you when it is our time to claim the castle."

"How disappointing," he hissed in annoyance. "The old man must be keeping Potter someplace. This means that Dumbledore must not yet be dead. I am beginning to think that the boy may be," he confided. "I've been attempting to contact him through our link, and I get nothing. I know that he's not that good of an Occlumens to keep me out. Nobody could. He must either be dead or unconscious."

"I shall try to find out, my Lord," Severus said, bowing his head slightly.

"How are you now faring with your concubine?" Voldemort asked.

"She seems to be... reluctantly accepting her future. I believe I have you to thank, for she mentioned that you spoke with her," Severus said.

"Yes, she found her way to my private chambers...well, to the outer rooms anyway. I told her some of my plans and part of my reasoning. She was impressed," he said confidently. "It will not be long before she sees things our way, Severusss. If she is so inclined, I shall allow her to be in charge of the library at Hogwarts. I've as much as told her so."

"Thank you, my Lord."

He enjoyed Severus' grateful tone and the appreciation in his servant's eyes. The more he did for the man, the more the man owed him. Snape was one Death Eater that he'd not allow to leave. The man was wicked resourceful and could easily hoodwink nearly anyone. That was easily proven when he was able to get Dumbledore to speak for him. He would do what he must to make certain that Snape was satisfied with the way of things. His first choice was to convert the concubine. If he had to threaten her, however, he would do so. If he had to destroy her family as punishment for disobedience, he would have it done. If he had to kill her and pretend that she met some great accident, he would do so. And... if Severus ever betrayed him because of her, she would be very sorry indeed.

"You may leave now. I want you to seek out those at headquarters or anyone at the castle that might be of some help. Find out what you can," he said dismissively.

"As you wish," Snape said before hurrying off.

Voldemort sat back in his chair, thinking of the things he'd told the Granger girl. Yes, he wanted Hogwarts and first access to all magical children. He hadn't completely been honest with his reasons. Mostly, yes, but he'd left out a few details that she need not know about. He and his followers would be training an army made of strong wizards and witches, but they would be very select. In fact, any student showing exceedingly great magical ability would be destroyed immediately. It wouldn't do to train someone that had the ability to overthrow him, now would it? The lowly students would be turned out, either to the Muggle world, never to know magic, or would be forced to work as the Squibs do. For choice families who would be willing to pay enough to have their unskilled child back in their homes or mildly trained, he would allow it.

He had a chance to make the world great, and he would see it done. The moment he knew that Dumbledore was dead, he would move against the Ministry and take over Hogwarts. Not that he was afraid of the man, mind, but he wanted to have less trouble all the same. The Daily Prophet had printed a few stories depicting the battle as the end of all things and was causing a panic. They knew that both Dumbledore and Potter were unaccounted for. They even mentioned the death of Potter's best friend, Weasley, and the disappearance of his other best friend, Granger. That gave the Wizarding community proof that Lord Voldemort would soon be taking over and leading the Wizarding world to greatness. He and his followers were taking down their heroes easily enough. None would stop him, prophecy or no.

"Thinking of the prophecy, I need to have Bane show me more visions. If they are satisfactory, as I believe they might be, then I will commend him and keep him nearby in the event that I need such advice again." He motioned for Nagini to come forward. "You may do what you will with our traitor," he hissed to her in Parseltongue. When she slithered off to find her meal, he stood and stretched. Drury, the traitor, would be glad to end his suffering. Since the Granger girl had reluctantly given him away, he'd proclaimed his innocence. However, it all made sense. Nobody else could have sent word to Dumbledore, and if it hadn't been Drury, Potter wouldn't have tried to use a Memory Charm to keep her from telling Severus.

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Hermione snickered as she read a section from a book containing Lord Byron's letters that Severus had given her. In the current letter, he'd written to his mother in indignation over being called a blackguard while off studying. He was clearly outraged and had been hoping to gain his mother's sympathy by telling her of the injustice of it all and seeking her approval so that he might leave the school. Her grin faltered and faded. She wished that she could write to her mum and tell her all of the things that had been going on at her own school.

Tears formed in her eyes, but they did not spill. Would she ever see her mother and father again? If the Dark Lord deemed it necessary, would he truly hurt them just to keep her in line? She knew in her heart that he would. "I can definitely commiserate with Byron here," she whispered, closing the book. "When things are horribly wrong, nobody can make you feel better than your mum can."

She'd spent the entire day in the quarters that she shared with Severus, and she felt as if she were going mad. She'd bathed, slept, read, ate the lunch that a grouchy house-elf had delivered, and she'd bathed again. There was only so much that she could do. Having only the one book that Severus was able to obtain for her, she didn't want to read it all in one go. Having a walk about wasn't something that she wanted to do. Her run-in with Voldemort the day before had left her confused and upset. She couldn't lose sight of what was important, and that was Harry and the defeat of the Dark Lord.

Her thoughts drifted back to Severus. She'd been trying not to think of him much over the course of the day. It would only make her long for his company all the more. While she did find him comforting, she couldn't help but to feel that he was keeping things from her. "I know he's keeping things from me. I just wish I knew how much and what," she admitted aloud, but she had to hope that she could prove to him that things would not change between them should he help Harry. "He'll help, Harry. I have faith in him."

No matter how she looked at it, though, she loved him. After they'd made love the night before, she'd told him that she loved him and what they did together, and he'd told her that he did as well. She knew that was likely as close to a declaration of love as he could verbally give her, but it was all she needed. His silky voice, whispering, As do I, drifted through her mind each time she thought of him, clouding her judgment. Was that his plan, or had he meant what he'd said?

She placed the book on the nightstand next to the bed and slid beneath the duvet. As she did so, she thought of Ron and of Harry. How was Ron's family coping with his death? Who else had died? Was Harry recovering? Was he dying? Would Severus have news upon his return? Perhaps she should request a copy of the Daily Prophet. Having exhausted herself of tears earlier, she was unsurprised when none came to her eyes for her friends... or herself.

Oh, Ron, I'm so sorry. So very sorry. I will miss you. It was easier to try not to think of him as being dead, only away. She would have to truly deal with his death later. It was all just a little surreal at the moment.

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Severus left McGonagall's office and was making his way to the infirmary. He needed to dispose of Lucius and the others. In the event that Dumbledore would return, he would understand that he had to do what needed to be done to ensure survival. Besides, nobody else knew what he and Dumbledore had done, save the house-elves, and they would tell no one. Pomfrey had gone home for a few days until they decided when they would reopen Hogwarts...if at all. He was glad that Poppy only knew of the secret room where they'd held Lupin and not of the other rooms containing the Death Eaters. After Lupin had left, Dumbledore changed the warding, telling only Severus how to enter. No matter what wards had been placed on the room, the Dark Lord, should he take over the castle, would eventually break them and find the prisoners.

As he slipped into the darkened room and warded the door behind him, he felt a moment of trepidation. It would pain him to kill Lucius and Narcissa. He didn't truly care about Crabbe or Yaxley, but the Malfoys had been his friends for a long time. "Lumos," he muttered and looked around. I can do this, he thought, trying to ready himself for killing his friends. It was then that he noticed the wide eyes of Dobby staring at him, hand raised before him as if he were about to send out a hex.

"Dobby?"

"Professor Snape, I is glad to be seeing you, I is," the house-elf said. "I is having a big job for the headmaster."

"What are you doing in here?" he asked suspiciously. "What of the headmaster?"

"I is taking care of Harry Potter," he said proudly, pressing his thumb to his chest.

Severus' spine stiffened. "Potter. Where is he?"

"The headmaster came to Dobby and gave him a job. He says Dobby is a good and trustworthy house-elf. He says if Harry Potter is harmed, I is to keep him in the secret room and give him to Professor Snape when he is coming for him."

Looking around the room and seeing nothing, Severus said, "Well? Where is he?"

Dobby frowned. "He is not waking, but I is giving him potions." He went near the corner and pulled back part of Potter's Invisibility Cloak. "Harry Potter is safe."

Severus looked down and observed the boy's sleeping face. His glasses were beside him. Potter looked so pale that he could have been dead. It was obvious that he was near there now. "How long has he been like this?" he asked Dobby.

"Since the headmaster placed him here, sir." He took off one of his hats and pulled a parchment from beneath it. "I is to be giving this to you."

Feeling his insides twist, he broke the seal on the parchment, opening it slowly. It was a letter from Dumbledore.

Severus,

Albus

"Is Professor Snape ill?" Dobby asked, breaking the silence.

Severus shook his head and sighed. The letter suddenly burst into flames, causing him to drop it to the floor. He peered down at it long after it was nothing but ash. Albus was counting on him to do what was right. But right for whom? For Albus? Potter? Himself? He closed his eyes and moved to lean against the wall. The old man truly believed in me and had entrusted Potter's life to him once more, even though he might not do what was requested. No one had ever trusted him so deeply...not even Hermione. What can I do? It would be so much easier for all involved if he simply brought Potter to the Dark Lord. The boy could be finished, lives would be spared, and Severus' deceits could finally come to an end.

Sliding down to sit on the floor, Severus thought over this option. If he brought the boy to his Lord, he would be honored even more than before. Potter would be killed, and Severus would never have to worry on his witch's affections towards the boy again. However, she would know what he'd done and would know that he'd not acquiesced to the one request she'd asked of him. Help Harry... He opened his eyes to look at Potter's face once more. He hated him, mostly. In such a state, even without his glasses, he looked so much like James Potter. Oh, how he'd hated the brat's father. And Lily... Well, he'd not hated her...not really. He'd hated choices that she'd made, but he would never have wished her dead.

Taking Potter to Voldemort would cause friction with Hermione, and it would likely bring about the Dark Lord's wrath against her. Severus wasn't so thick as to have not picked up on that. If the man thought her to be too much trouble and a nuisance, he'd have her killed. He could not risk Hermione's life or lose her. Even if he did so, he was uncertain if Dumbledore still lived or would survive much longer. Could he truly face him with him knowing that he'd delivered Potter to the hands of the enemy even after reading his words of trust? Of this, Severus was uncertain.

Closing his eyes again and drawing his knees up and placing his hands upon them, he thought of bringing Potter to headquarters. He would have to tell his Lord that he couldn't find Potter, and too many would know otherwise when word got out that Potter was alive. It could destroy his position at the Dark Lord's side. This was what Hermione would want him to do, what Dumbledore would want him to do, but he knew that he truly could not. To do so would bring about his demise. And with his death, Hermione would soon find hers.

Minerva said nothing about Fawkes or the headmaster. Last she'd heard, there was still no sign of them. How can I be sure that Dumbledore is out there waiting for Potter to be brought in? Something that bothered him, though he was loathe to openly admit it, was if he did bring the boy there to recover, would he eventually lose Hermione anyway if Potter ended up defeating the Dark Lord? She'd promised to remain with him always, but could he truly hold her to that promise? The pair seemed too close for his comfort. Yes, he knew they'd not done anything sexual, but he would always be suspicious, especially now that Potter had lost his girl. Hermione's main concern as of late seemed to be Potter. She'd as much as admitted to doing whatever it would take to see that the boy won. Was hoodwinking Severus part of that?

It would be much easier to kill him and plant his body someplace to be discovered later. Hermione would never know that he'd been the one to do it. She would live her life thinking that he'd tried to find and help Potter. He could even make a show of plotting the places he'd searched on a map. The Dark Lord would be disappointed that the boy was not found at first, but when his body would be found, he would be able to take credit for having blasted him with hexes that eventually killed him. If Dumbledore lived on, he would never be able to prove that Severus had not found the boy dead when he'd come to Hogwarts. Only one other being would know better: Dobby. Although, it would be easy to cast the curse on Potter if Dobby was sent off to get some potion or other, thinking it would help him.

He could then say that the boy simply died, having been too weak to hold on. The house-elf wasn't very bright, and he'd not know any better. The more he thought of this plan, the better he liked it. It would save his relationship with Hermione, his life, and many others' lives. After that, he'd eliminate those held in the adjoining rooms and be off to headquarters to see what their latest news happened to be.

"Dobby," he said quietly, opening his eyes once more to peer at the creature. "I need you to go down to my personal laboratory and obtain a few things."

"I is happy to be helping, sir," Dobby said immediately. "I tried to give Harry Potter potions, but Harry Potter is not responding to them."

Severus quickly listed a few phials that he'd need and smirked as the creature popped away. He stood and moved closer to Potter, nearly stepping on the boy's glasses as he did so, not that it would matter in a few moments. He lifted his wand pointed towards the chest area. Please help Harry, Severus... Hermione's voice whispered in his mind. He shook his head to clear the vision of her pleading eyes.

When he looked back down to the boy's face, he inhaled sharply. Potter's eyes were now open and staring up at him. They looked so very different when unframed by his glasses. Lily's eyes. Severus' wand trembled. Please help Harry, Severus... This time it wasn't Hermione's voice that he heard in his mind. It was Lily's. He swallowed thickly, but his wand hand steadied as it again pointed at the boy's chest.

He tried to reason with himself. It is the only way. I cannot risk everything to save him. Hermione would understand that. He knew instantly that would not be the case. She would rather die than betray those she loved. Love, he thought snidely. Love is not giving your body to someone and spending your life with them. It is sacrificing everything to see that they are protected. It is savoring their body each time it is given. It's making certain that they are happy in life. It's a fierce, vehement feeling that would cause one to kill anyone that harmed them. It's a... His thoughts stopped as a realization hit him. "I love her," he whispered aloud.

Severus lowered his wand. "Can you hear me, Potter?" A slight grunt was his reply. "Dobby has gone to get a few phials that I need to administer to you. Once that is done, I shall take you to headquarters. If the headmaster is able, he will meet you there." The boy seemed to nod slightly.

He began making plans to move Potter. They would use the cloak and a number of charms to be certain that nobody would see them or be able to follow them. Once there, he would swear the Weasleys to secrecy that Potter would be kept upstairs and only the inhabitants of headquarters would know that he was alive and being nursed back to health. To have the boy's reappearance noted in the newspapers would bring about dire consequences.

The only thing that would be hard, aside from fooling the Dark Lord, would be lying to Hermione. He would not be able to tell her about finding her friend and helping him. He would simply tell her that he was still searching and give her the promises that she'd requested. Hopefully, they would be enough to keep her happy. Dobby came back, and Severus poured a few different healing potions down the boy's throat.

"I need to go down to my quarters to retrieve a few things," he said aloud. "We will leave this place when I am finished. Rest." Potter was already sleeping, but he felt his words would put Dobby at ease. He wanted to retrieve a few more books for Hermione, knowing that she was likely getting bored. When Severus slipped from the room, he felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from him. It was hard to explain the feeling exactly, but he was certain that he was finally making the correct decision. Whether it was for Hermione or himself, he did not know.

Southern's Notes: Sorry about the delay. I have some excuses, but I am uncertain if they are good enough: holidays, son's birthday, his party, busy beta, and other minor issues that needed attention.

I will cover Harry's reception at Grimmauld Place in the next chapter, and I will do updates on everyone...Dumbledore, the Weasleys, and Pansy. I'm going to give myself a deadline and say that I'll have that up on Sunday or Monday evening.

Snape planted that false memory in Hermione's mind of this Drury going to the school to meet with Dumbledore, and he made it look like Harry tried to erase the memory from her mind, leaving her unable to speak of it correctly unless Snape releases the spell. This ensured that neither he nor Hermione would suffer harm for alerting Dumbledore. I chose this name because in the letter to Lord Byron's mother that Hermione mentioned, the person that insulted Byron was named Henry Drury. This is just a little comeuppance on my Lord Byron's behalf. HaHaHa!