Veils Removed

Leaving it behind

With a gentle push, the door swung open, revealing the warm glow of the fireplace. Hermione looked up from her position on the bed, her eyes wide with fear and hope. The sight of him, unharmed and victorious, brought a tear to her eye. Severus rushed to her side, taking her hand in his.

"Hermione," he began, his voice hoarse from the battle. "We must consider our next move." He paused, his gaze searching hers. "Do you wish to leave this place, to vanish from the wizarding world until the dust settles?"

Her eyes searched his, and after a moment, she nodded, a single tear trailing down her cheek. "Yes," she whispered. "For our family."

With trembling hands, Hermione pulled out her wand and murmured the incantation to summon her clone. The room grew brighter as a shimmering form coalesced before them, and soon, another Hermione stood in the room, her eyes wary and her posture poised for action.

"You must stay here," Hermione instructed, her voice firm despite the turmoil in her heart. "Pretend to be me, keep up the façade. We cannot risk our child's safety, not now."

The clone nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. It stepped closer, a mirror image of Hermione's fiery determination. "I will not let you down," it assured her.

With a tremulous smile, Hermione reached out and touched the clone's cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, her eyes shining with gratitude. "For everything you've done, and everything you're about to do."

The clone's smile grew warm, a perfect replica of Hermione's own, filled with courage and love. It took a step back, the candlelight flickering over its features, making it almost indistinguishable from the real thing. "It is an honor," it said, its voice a soft echo of hers. With a nod to Severus, it disappeared through the concealed doorway into the secret passage.

Severus turned to Hermione, his eyes dark with the weight of his actions. He took her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in a silent promise. "I have left a dead clone in my stead," he murmured, his voice thick with the gravity of his decision. "It will be found, and the assumption will be that I perished in the fight."

Her eyes searched his, the depth of his love for her and their unborn child shining through the shadows. She knew he was right; they had to leave, to vanish into the muggle world and wait for the dust to settle. With a nod, she allowed him to pull her to her feet.

Severus moved swiftly around the room, his eyes scanning the shelves and cabinets. He gathered books and potions, scrolls and trinkets, each one a piece of his identity that he could not leave behind. His gaze fell on the Pensieve, a silent witness to his tumultuous past. He took it with a heavy sigh, knowing that it contained secrets that could never be revealed.

Hermione, too, was packing. She folded her robes with care, placing them into a small trunk that had once belonged to her mother. Her wand, her most precious possession, she tucked into her pocket, its warmth a comfort against her skin. She picked up a handful of photos, the images of her friends and family smiling up at her from their frames. Her eyes filled with tears as she placed them into an enchanted locket that hung around her neck, a silent vow to never forget those she loved.

The room grew quiet as they finished their preparations, the only sounds the crackling of the fire and the soft patter of their feet on the cold stone floor. Severus approached her, his eyes filled with a fierce love that took her breath away. He pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms a warm cage around her.