My Double Agent

Chapter 39 - The End of the War

After a while, Severus squeezes Hermione's hand. She starts to cry and laugh at the same time as Severus leans up and smiles at her, "Don't cry my love." Hermione kissed him and smiled, "You are free from him, he thinks you're dead."

"Now I can fight on the side where it counts."

Severus smiled and kissed her again before pulling away and looking at Minerva, "Minerva... I-"

Minerva hugged him, "No, I'm sorry. You are one of my best friends Severus. I will never doubt you again."

Severus smiled and pulled away. Hermione grabbed his hand to help him stand up, "Let's find Harry, he's probably watching your memories." Severus nods in agreement and the started walking through the Great Hall. Hermione looked on at all the wounded and dead and couldn't help but cry. Severus held her in his arms as they walked. Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Lupin, Fred Weasley, Lavender Brown, and then the one body she wasn't ready to see; Ronald Weasley. Hermione couldn't believe it. She looked over to see Molly, George, Billy, Fleur, Ginny,  and Arthur Weasley all hugging each other crying. 

Severus held onto Hermione closer as they made their way up the staircase, but was stopped by Harry. Harry looked up to the couple and smiled, "You lived. Good." He looked at Hermione who was crying. Harry then hugged the both of them. Severus was shocked that Harry was hugging him, but hugged him back.  Hermione couldn't stop crying knowing full well he was going into the Forrest. Harry pulled away and forced a smile on his face, "Thank you for everything you've done Severus."

"Harry, I'm sorry... I should've been better to you."

"You were protecting me. And I thank you for that.... I think I've known for awhile. Now I know why I can hear them."

Hermione looked at him, "We can go with you."

"No- you need to kill the snake. Kill the snake, and then it's just him."

"Harry-"

"You are my best friend Hermione, like a sister." He looks up to Severus, "Please take care of her."

"Always."

Harry nodded and turned away, "Tell Ginny I love her." He then left to go to the forbidden forest. Hermione fell onto the stairs crying, Severus sat next to her and held her close. Hermione couldn't believe that even though her friends accepted her and Severus, she was still loosing them to death. The world was a cruel thing and she was furious. Draco and Astoria walk up and sit next to them on the stairs. Astoria hugged onto Hermione, "I'm so sorry."

Once light started to lightly peer through the cracks, Hermione and Severus walked back into the great hall and approached the Weasley family. Ginny looks up at Hermione, "Where is Harry?" Hermione shook her head which caused Ginny to scream and cry all over again. Hermione looked to the ground crying, "He- he said he loved you." Ginny shoved her face into her dads chest and hugged him while she cried. Hermione hugged onto Severus again, she hated this.

Daylight started to shine through the windows of the Great Hall, it must have been about early morning at that point. Hermione couldn't believe that this war has already gone on for 6 hours. That's when they heard it, footsteps approaching. Everyone in the Great Hall walks outside to see Hagrid chained and carrying Harry's body. Death eater line up as Voldemort stand front and center. Ginny can't believe her eyes, "Who is that? Hagrid's carrying, Neville who is it?"

Voldemort smiles, "Harry Potter is dead!!"

Ginny screams, "NO!!"

"SILENCE! Stupid girl- Harry Potter is dead. From this day forth, you put your faith in me."

Everyone stands their silent Hermione cries silently as she holds Severus's hand. Voldemort turns back to the death eaters, "Harry Potter is dead!" all of them burst out laughing except for Narcissa. Voldemort look back to the crowd, still laughing, "And now is the time to declare yourself. Come forward and join us or die." He looks around and freezes when he sees someone he wasn't expecting, "Severus?" Everyone turns and looks at him and Hermione, Draco and Astoria stood next to them. Hermione tightened her grip onto his arm. Voldemort smiles, "My dear friend..."

"You tried to kill me."

"Only because it was necessary my friend."

Lucius spoke out of no where, "Draco- please..."

Draco shook his head, his mother walked over to him and whispered something in his ear. Draco grabbed Astoria's hand and started to walk away with his mom. Neville starts to walk forward. Voldemort looked at him surprised, "Well, I must say, I'd hoped for better." The death eaters laughed, Voldemort walked closer to him, "And who might you be young man?"

"Neville Longbottom." 

The death eaters laugh at him again, by this point Draco and Astoria were standing with the death eaters again. Hermione looked at them confused but Draco gave her a look that said 'trust me' Voldemort continues, "Well Neville, I'm sure we can find a place for you in our ranks."

"I'd like to say something.", Neville interrupts.

Voldemort gets angry but then smiles, "Well Neville, I'm sure we'd all be fascinated to hear what you have to say."

"Doesn't matter that Harry's gone."

Stand down Neville!", Someone screams from the crowd.

"People die everyday! Friends, Family... yeah, we lost Harry tonight, but he's still with us. In here!", He points to his heart, "So is Fred, Ron, Remus, Tonks, all of them. They didn't die in vain! But you will!" He screams at Voldemort, causing Voldemort to laugh at his words. Neville continued, "'Cause you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat for us! For all of us!! And it's not over!", He suddenly pulls the sword of Gryffindor out of the sorting hat he was carrying.

In that moment, Harry rolled out of Hagrid's arms and stood up, Draco grabbed Astoria's hand and ran forward, "Harry!" He threw Harry a wand and Harry catches it. Draco then grabs his mother as well and the three of them run inside of Hogwarts. Hermione smiles and Severus is shocked by the outcome. Harry fires confringo at the snake before running towards Hermione. Death eaters start to run away, scared that Harry had now survived Voldemort twice.

Voldemort stares in disbelief at what has just transpired. Harry runs up to Hermione and Severus, "I'll lead them into the castle, you need to kill the snake!" Neville runs up, "You'll need this!" Severus tries to grab Neville's arm, "Wait!" without warning Voldemort sends Neville flying backwards into the castle. Harry runs deeper into the castle to lure Voldemort. Once he was separated from Nagini, Hermione quickly picked up a rock and threw it at the snake. Nagini turned around and looked at Hermione angrily. 

The snake corners Hermione and Severus tries to sneak up behind him with the basilisk fang. Unfortunately Nagini saw and swatted the fang out of his hand. Hermione ran around the snake and grabbed Severus's arm. The two of them start to run but Nagini chases after them keeping close. They run for a good while until they trip and fall onto a pile of ruble. Severus holds Hermione close, "I love you!"  Right when they thought it was all over, Neville ran up and killed the snake with the sword, the snake dispersed into a cloud of black smoke.

Neville looked at them and smiled. Hermione started crying as she looked at Severus and started making demands in between kisses, "I want a real wedding. I want a nice house. I want kids." 

Severus laughed at her requests and nodded, "Anything you want. I love you so much."

"I love you Severus."