My Double Agent

Chapter 35 - Betrayal?

Harry hides himself among the students, holding Ginny's hand as they all enter the Great Hall. Once all the students were present, Severus walked in and stood in the front of the room. He cleared his throat, "Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour. It's come to my attention that earlier this evening, Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade."

The students start whispering to each other, but they quickly stopped as Severus continued speaking, "Now, should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mr. Potter, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events who fails to come forward, will be treated as equally guilty. Now then..." Severus begins to slowly approach the students, "If anyone here has any knowledge of Mr. Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward." He pauses for a moment, "Now."

The room stays quiet until footsteps could be heard, Harry then walks out of the crowd of students, causing the room to gasp, and stands a bit away from Severus and stares him in the eyes. Severus looks at Harry, knowing he was there already, and yet, he wasn't ready to face him. Harry scoffs, "It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, we still have a bit of a security problem headmaster."

The doors to the main hall open and the Order of the Phoenix walks in. Hermione and Severus locks eyes and slightly nod towards each other, but only a little for no one else to notice. Harry then continues, "I'm afraid it's quite extensive. How dare you stand where he stood!"

Severus frowns, already knowing where this was going. Harry then barked, "Tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him! Tell them!"

Hermione notices Harry and Severus both have their wands drawn. She couldn't help herself. She runs straight up to Severus, causing him to grab onto her face and looks at her, "Hermione..."

She can't help but smile at him with tears in her eyes, "I love you. I can't do it...."

Harry looks at her hurt, "Hermione, what are you doing?!" The room was filled with whispers of confusion as everyone watches the scene before them. Hermione turns around and looks at Harry, eyes full of tears as she holds onto Severus's hand, "I'm sorry. I can't just stand behind you and watch you threaten my husband." The room fell silent, they couldn't believe what words just came out of Hermione's mouth. Harry looks at her disgusted, "Your- your husband?!"

Hermione just nods. Ron looked at her confused, but not angry, he knew something was off. Harry shakes his head in disbelief, "This whole time... you've been lying to me... How long has this been going on for?" Before Hermione could speak, Harry continued, "Slughorn's party...."

"Harry... please-"

"Hermione... are you one of them?!"

Hermione looked to the ground in shame. She started crying. Severus put his hands on her shoulders and leaned down into her ear, "We should leave, before this turns ugly."

Harry screamed, "DON'T SPEAK TO HER! YOU STOLE MY BEST FRIEND! SHE WAS PURE OF HEART!" Harry stumbled over his words, he couldn't but cry, "W- we slept together... how did I not see the mark?"

The room gasped and Hermione turned around and hid her face into Severus chest. Severus looked at Harry, "Potter, this isn't the time nor the pla-"

"YOU DON'T GET TO SPEAK!" Fueled with rage Harry raised his wand to the couple. Severus quickly moved Hermione behind him and raised his wand to Harry. Hermione screamed, "No please, stop!"

Severus lowered his wand slightly, "Potter, I do not wish to do this in front of my wife. You are her best friend."

"AM I?!" Before Harry could continue, Minerva stood in front of Harry and pulled her own wand and pointed it at Severus. Severus lowered his wand and frowned. He respected Minerva too much to fight her, "Minerva..."

"NO SEVERUS! First you murdered my best friend! And now you steal Potters? Have you no heart?!"

Severus hung his head slightly at the words, it felt like a dagger in his heart. She casts incendio at him, which he easily blocked. She continues to cast the fire spell out of anger, he continued to block, making two of them hit the other deatheaters in the room. Soon, he turned around, grabbed Hermione, and they apparated away breaking a window in the process. They arrived in the Headmaster's office. Severus pulled away from Hermione and looked at her. She was bawling her eyes out, "What were you thinking? You still had time to help him."

"I couldn't do it... Remembering what Harry did to Draco in a blind rage, I was scared he would kill you. I couldn't live on without you Severus. I love you! I will always pick you!"

"But Hermione, you just cost all of your friends by doing that."

"No- I still have you, Draco, and Astoria."

"But Potter, The Weasleys? They were your family."

"YOU are my family!"

Severus brought her into a hug. He began regretting putting Hermione through this. He did not want this for her. Hermione hugged him back, "It will all be worth it. Once this is all over, we'll explain everything to them. They'll understand."

Severus sighed; he knew this was the right time to tell her everything. He pulled away from her and held her cheek, making her look up at him, "Before anything else happens. You need to know a few things." Hermione looked at him curiously as he used his wand to pull a memory out of his head. He put it in the Pensieve and turned back to Hermione, "This is my life story. Everything you need to know about me, why I originally became a double agent, and the last conversation I had with Dumbledore. I am unsure how you will react to it. Please understand that I love you. And I always will."

Hermione looked at him worried and stepped towards the bowl before dipping her face into it.