Author note: We all know very well that I do not own Harry Potter. How very unfortunate...
Memories of a secret love
Chapter 1
RIP
12 May, 2002
"Mum, take me with you!" The little boy stomped his foot, stubbornly clinging to his mother's dress.
"You know that I can't do that, honey." His mother – barely an adult herself – bent down to the child and stroked the messy, raven strands of his hair. "Granny and grandad will take care of you, until I can come home again. Don't you like to be with them anymore?"
"I do," the little boy answered; still sullen, "but I want you to stay with us too! Katie lives with her mummy, and so does Tom. So why can't I?"
"Oh, Darling, you know that I would love to do that more than anything in the world, but I have to work. It will be only five days, and I'll be here with you again," his mother answered patiently, smiling at her son.
"Could you at least stay a little longer?" His lips already trembled. "I want you to tell me a bedtime story."
"But we just had lunch. Bedtime is quite far off yet," his mother laughed, and her eyes shined curiously. "But it was a nice try." She winked at the little boy, who bowed his head timidly, and swayed back and forth on his feet with embarrassment.
"You know, I still have to visit your father. I don't want him to forget that how much we love him," She smiled again, but this time the smile was pained. "You are more and more like him," she sighed to herself.
"Tell him, mum, that I love him very-very much, and give him this, please!" He sank his clammy, little hand into his pocket then pulled out a shiny, bright shell and handed it over to his mother. "Granny and I found it on the beach." His mother took the little treasure from him without a word then she turned to the middle-aged woman who just exited the nearby house.
"I have to go, mum. Would you, please, take Toby into the house with you?"
She hugged her mother with a sorrowful smile, and she placed a kiss on the little boy's cheek before taking her way towards the Murray Street that was on the border of Town Green where she could apparate unnoticed under the cover of the trees. As she turned on the spot her wavy, brown hair glimmered in the blinding sunshine of Port Macquarie then the salty vapour of the sea that she breathed in deeply suddenly mingling with the coolness of dark, towering woods.
Due to the time-lag it was scarcely six o'clock in the morning. The stillness of the forest was only disturbed by the chirping song of the early rising singing-birds. She was hurrying to the little meadow that was hidden in the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Pebble stones creaked and dry sprigs crunched under her light steps.
It was nearly four years ago that Harry Potter vanquished Lord Voldemort. Since then Hermione lived a monotonic life. It is true that she spent quite a few months in Australia with her parents, but then she returned to London, and passed the exams that were organized by the Ministry of Magic. She achieved Outstanding in every single subject. A year later she was already teaching in Hogwarts, after the Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall offered her the position of Professor of Muggle Studies. She was in need of money, so she gratefully accepted the job. She wanted to provide her child everything that was humanly possible. Thusly she was teaching from Monday to Friday, and spent the weekends with her little son in Australia, but she returned to Hogwarts every Sunday. Returned to Hogwarts where everything started and ended.
Her way was blocked by giant bushes of briar-rose. They were enwreathed so tightly that it seemed almost impossible to cross them. The obstacle didn't discourage her though. She pulled out her wand then aimed it at the shrubbery, and she was murmuring a few words. The briar-rose opened up obediently then closed up straight away and she crossed over. The meadow was surrounded by the bushes so tightly that sunlight couldn't get through, and it also filtered out the cacophony of the forest. The girl planted the magical shrubbery herself when she came to teach in the school, so it would protect the black marble grave from intruding gazes. Well, the black marble was also the result of her handiwork, just as all the protective spells that were calling to keep the place untouched by strangers. This was all that she had left of the love of her life; the never fading, torturing memories and the never ceasing grief. Those she fought for with tooth and nail, and protected them with all she had.
She slowly walked to the grave, and swept the fallen leaves off with her bare hands, taking her wand, and charming a wreath of white roses in their places. She settled down on the edge of the tombstone with a sigh on her lips. Her arms embraced the headstone, as they would embrace her lover. She didn't have to worry that anyone could discover her there like this. Tears started rolling down on her face, and this way she sobbed soundlessly for a long time. After all these years she was still unable to accept that the man once she secretly loved just ceased to exist. She was aware that it was a sort of madness. Still for her it felt like Severus Snape never would have died, only... stopped to be with her. For this she hated him just as much, as she loved him. Her confused feelings toward the man kept her visiting his tomb loyally every single week, and she "shared with him" all the little snippets. She told him about the pleasantness and pains of her every days, and she reported him about every minute that she could spend with their son. However right now she didn't say a single word. Being out of breath after crying so hard, she was just staring in surrender at the bland sign of the headstone.
Severus Tobias Snape
9 January, 1960 – 2 May, 1998
RIP
All those who were alive attended the funeral; students and professors of Hogwarts, even the Ministry of Magic was represented. Harry, Ron and Ginny paid their duty to his grave again one month later, but no one visited the place since then. It was forgotten and effaced. The wilderness would have grown over and consumed it, if she hadn't taken care of it. Severus Snape's wish was to be buried right here, as he stated it in his last will, and Hermione did know very well why this place was so important to him. Even now she blushed crimson, if she thought about that first, sweet and hot night that they spent together in this sacred meadow and which was followed by many similar encounters to rejoice their life. These nights let them to forget about the hideous things of the world, even if it was just for a short time. She suddenly started up, and she was shortly at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, taking the pathway that was leading up to the castle. She couldn't, didn't want to think about these things right now. It was more than enough that all she could see at nights were the lustfully blazing eyes of Severus Snape. She could even feel the traces of his finger on her skin. She couldn't let this insanity take over her life completely. She shook her head, and entered the huge, oak door in a rush that was slammed behind her with a loud bang.