Whispers of Treachery

Severus Snape had witnessed Albus Dumbledore angry before. He had seen pity in his eyes more than once, had even been on the receiving end of one of those looks. But never had he found himself at the mercy of a wizard whom even Tom Riddle was frightened of, and never had he watched as the kindly twinkle in the old man’s eyes had been extinguished, replaced by utter rage and pure loathing.

Of course, he knew that the storm in Dumbledore’s face had to do with the way Snape had… well, handled the situation after having been caught attempting to murder his beloved.

As soon as Snape carefully landed on the ground, his mind began whirring, thinking of ways to extricate himself from the mess he had created. He knew that Dumbledore had seen everything--he had seen Snape drop Hermione to what should’ve been her death from over seven storeys high, and the vicious glint in his eyes told Snape that the man standing before him was not the same person for the ‘light’ who everyone thought they knew. If Snape hadn’t known any better, he would’ve sworn that the man in front of him was a Death Eater, wand in hand and ready to kill.

Dumbledore’s jaw was set tight, his eyes narrowed and his teeth clenched as he said, “Step into my office.”

Ignoring his orders, Snape reached for Hermione, who had her faced buried in her arms, crying. He wanted to soothe her, but Dumbledore held his arm out, blocking him.

How dare the old fool keep you from her! She’s yours--not his!

Snape took another step toward Hermione, but Dumbledore threw up a protective shield around her. “Leave her alone. I said go to my office. Now!” Dumbledore snapped.

Growling, Snape turned on his heel and marched up to the headmaster’s office. From behind him, he heard Dumbledore speaking gently to Hermione, telling her that she was safe now.

Safe. From him. From Severus Snape? From the one person who would do anything for Hermione, who would murder to keep her safe! Disbelief flooded through Snape as he walked up the stairs, thrusting him into a near catatonic state.

What have you done to her? She’ll never want you after this--after attempting to… kill her.

The look on Hermione’s face as she fell flashed through his mind--the shock, the fear…

Snape’s feet had carried him, robotically, to the front of Dumbledore’s large desk where he stood, staring off into the distance and waiting for the storm to arrive. He knew with a sick finality that after the events of this evening, everything that he had worked so hard for was over, gone to him.

Hermione would never forgive him; Dumbledore would have him thrown in Azkaban for his betrayal or even perhaps throw him to the fucking wolf to be dismembered limb from limb--wasn’t tonight the full moon? It didn’t matter. Either way, he deserved it.

How could you let this happen? How did she find that fucking book?

He vaguely noticed McGonagall stepping out of the Floo as he argued with himself in his mind. She might have said something to him, but he ignored her. A few minutes later, Lupin followed. Snape snorted when he saw the man. Perhaps tomorrow is the full moon. Am I so rattled that I do not even know the lunar cycle? I must compose myself at once.

The heavy wooden door slammed opened behind him. He didn’t dare turn around, but he imagined that Hermione was disheveled and red-eyed. He wanted to hold her.

“What is the emergency, Albus?” McGonagall asked.

Dumbledore said nothing, heading to a hidden door that was behind a large portrait near his desk. The book was still within his grasp, and Snape noticed that his hands were shaking, his knuckles deathly white. After a few moments in an uncomfortable silence, Dumbledore emerged from the room--the book no longer in his hand.

“Albus?” Minerva asked again.

“Miss Granger has located the last remaining Horcrux. It was that book. I have secured it until we are ready to destroy it.”

“That is good news. Then why do you look so angry, Albus?” Minerva asked.

“As it turns out, a Death Eater had it the whole time.”

“So? That’s not surprising. Lucius had the first Horcrux, which happened to be a book, so it seems only natural for another to have one as well,” Lupin said.

“Exactly. But I never expected the last Horcrux to be in the hands of someone we trusted.” Dumbledore’s heavy glare rested on Snape.

Snape never let his gaze drop from Dumbledore’s--he had nothing to be ashamed of. He had his reasons as to why he’d had the Horcrux in his possession, reasons that could be carefully explained. The only thing Snape was concerned about was losing Hermione. He didn’t care what Dumbledore or the other two fools in the room thought of him. No, Hermione’s opinion was the only one that mattered. If he could only talk to her, hold her…

“S-severus?” McGonagall gasped.

Lupin shot him a disapproving look and then faced Dumbledore.

“You’ve had it the entire time! Why?” McGonagall demanded.

Snape clenched his jaw, holding his tongue. Of course I had it, woman--who else would’ve been powerful enough to keep something like that hidden for so long!

Out of the corner of Snape’s eye, he saw Lupin looking fiercely at him.

“Answer me!” McGonagall demanded.

Snape cut his eyes at her and just before he could reply, Hermione viciously said, “Because he is a scheming bastard!”

The words, and the vehemence with which they’d been uttered, stabbed him through his heart. The disgust in her face, combined with the even more wrenching regret for loving him in her eyes, tore through him. The horrible image of his boggart sprang into his mind, and he remembered the words his Hermione-boggart had yelled at him.

I hate you… You disgust me… Pathetic excuse of a man…

“No one asked for your opinion, Miss Granger!”

Hermione gawked at him, and Lupin growled before he said, “How dare--”

“Severus!” Dumbledore roared. “Do not speak to her! This is about your betrayal, not hers! ”

Snape turned his head, glaring over his left shoulder. “My betrayal? My betrayal?” Snape faced Hermione. “Why don’t you explain to Dumbledore about your betrayal, Miss Granger?”

Hermione’s jaw went slack in shock.

“What is he talking about, Hermione?” Lupin asked softly.

Hermione sighed and closed her eyes. “It’s my fault Beauxbatons was attacked. I foolishly told my Muggle cousin the Secret-kept location, and that’s how I believe Severus knew the Secret and told it to Voldemort. He must have seen the location in her mind…”

“Miss Granger?” McGonagall asked softly.

Snape smirked--the pressure was off him. While they focused their attention on her, he could Oblivate them and keep his secrets safe…

Dumbledore sighed. “My presumptions were correct then--Severus was the one who told Voldemort about the location. However, now, I’m not sure if it was out of loyalty to the Order or to Voldemort.”

“He may have told him, but it was my foolish mistake--”

Lupin stepped forward. “That Beauxbatons situation doesn’t matter now. The focus should be on Severus! He purposely lied; he knew that we were in desperate need of the last Horcrux, and he had it--”

“Piss off, wolf,” Snape grumbled.

“Enough!” Dumbledore shouted. “We don’t have time for petty nonsense. I returned here looking for Severus and Hermione to discuss information I have learned, and instead, I not only have found Severus with the Horcrux, but he nearly tried to kill her due to the power it had over him!”

Snape snorted.

“And now, I have to instead do something that I will regret doing, but in order for us to defeat Voldemort… I must.”

Snape hardly noticed what Dumbledore was rambling about. He was already planning what spells he would use to escape, while bringing Hermione along with him.

Dumbledore opened the top desk drawer and pulled out a long, bronze key. He walked around his desk and handed it to Hermione.

“What’s this for?” she asked, taking the key from his outstretched hand.

“Your own good,” Dumbledore said, taking a step away from her.

Hermione was plainly confused, but before she could utter a word, there was a bright flash of light, and she was gone.

“A portkey? Where did you send her?” Snape demanded. His mind frantically raced. How dare the old man take her out of his presence!

Think! Where could she have gone? Hog’s Head… Burrow… Grimmauld Place… Out of the country… Fuck!

“Where did you send her?” Snape demanded again, his voice low and harsh.

“To safety.” Dumbledore slowly removed his half-moon spectacles and carefully slipped them inside a pocket in his robe.

Safety? How is she safe if she isn’t in my arms, under my watchful eye? No one can protect her as I can!

“Bring her back. She isn’t safe away from m--Hogwarts,” he said, nearly snarling his words.

“I will give you only once chance to give me the truth--about everything! Or I shall be forced to take it from you.”

“Threatening me, Dumbledore? I never knew you had it in you,” Snape spat.

“If you ever want to see Miss Granger again, you will answer my questions!”

The threat of keeping her away from him was Snape’s undoing.

A/N: Again, sorry it’s been so long since I posted. However, my hours at work have changed and I am home earlier--which means… YES! More writing! Lol! Many thanks to Lariope, Lulabelle72, RedSkyatNight, and a special hug for Dari_67 for her support and cheerleading. But mostly, thanks to all of you--I couldn’t continue writing if it weren’t for your loyalty.

Up next: The master and apprentice duel.