Ok, it's been a little while since I've posted new material, and I've been a bit busy. This has been floating around my head for ages, so it's time to put it out there. Please let me know if this seems worth committing to flushing out. I need to know if I'm losing my touch or if this story is just crap
DISCLAIMER: This is not my property, it belongs to JK Rowling, I just paly around with her characters. I make no money from this story.
They knew the battle was coming. Every sign was pointing in that direction. The horcruxes had been reasoned out, bar one, and the trio had plans to take care of them all. With their final tasks lined up and a plan of attack in mind, they sent messages to the core group of the Order to meet at Grimmauld Place. The Weasley's would be there, Molly and Arthur, Fred and George, Bill and Fluer, and Charlie. Of course, Remus and Tonks would be there with Kingsley and Moody, but then came the only point of contention amongst the three.
"Do we send word to Professor Mcgonagall? Or the other teachers? I mean, we know the final battle will likely be there, but what if the Death Eaters find out? It's already risky enough having it at number 12, seeing as Snape knows about it…" Harry said.
"Merlin! That's just what we need, the Greasy Git to show up! You know he'll just tell all his little fanclub buddies all our plans. But the teachers need to know what's going to happen. How can we send a secret message without Snape or the Carrows finding out?" Ron added.
"Boys! That is more than enough." Hermione snapped. Months without proper food or sleep and living in constant fear of discovery and death had definitely not done anything positive for her patience.
"Oh, come on 'Mione?! You know he's the worst one! He killed Dumbledore!" Harry shouted, before jumping in with a raised hand to cut off Hermione's rebuttal. "Yes, I know. You think there was a reason. I know you still think he's on our side, but what evidence is there? Honestly? He's as likely to not show up as he is to come and tell You-Know-Who all our plans."
"Fine. You want evidence? Alright, I'm game." Hermione said, her voice lowering in pitch, while raising its intensity, along with a narrowing of her eyes, as she slowly walked towards the two boys she'd been stuck with for the past too many days to count. "Shall we go alphabetically? By category? Level of importance? Oh posh, let's do this chronologically. First year, he saves you from falling off your broom and to your death. He hunted Quirell and kept him from finding the stone on a nightly basis, even being injured by a BLOODY CERBERUS in the process. Second year, he stood up for you when Filch thought you had been the reason behind the attacks. What was it he said? Oh yes, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's it! Third year, he thought he was protecting you from a MASS MURDERER who had ESCAPED FROM AZKABAN! Then what did he do in response to us all stunning him and throwing him across the room, thus knocking him out cold? Oh yeah, didn't he come to, and find us? That's right! Then he put himself between the three of us AND A GODSDAMNED WEREWOLF! Hmm then fourth year…. What happened fourth year? Oh yes, he backed up your claims to the Minister of Magic himself by showing his Dark Mark. In public. In front of a room full of people. So, when the entire wizarding world was calling you a liar, he rubbed it in Fudge's face that he was categorically wrong. Let's see, fifth year is a touch fuzzy for me, but I believe he protected you from telling Umbitch all our plans and literally saved us all from being thrown to the Ministry. Do you honestly think Snape, of all the paranoid and hyper-prepared people in the world, wouldn't have a stock of Veritaserum? He tried to teach you Occlumency to help protect yourself, which you put absolutely no effort into learning what so ever, then got the message out to everyone in the Order so they could save us from a trap that your lack of occlumency got us into in the first place, thereby saving us all from death or something worse at You-Know-Who's hands. Sixth year, despite the fact that you lot hated him and tried your very hardest not to listen at all, he was the best Defense teacher we ever had. His book also helped you, for the first time ever, to learn potions and realize all the work and experimentation and attention that it entails, purely because you didn't know it was his. Wasn't that also the year that he saved you from becoming a murderer?" At Harry's ashamed but slightly confused face, Hermione added, "Draco Malfoy? Boys room? Rivers of blood? Ringing any bells for you? Meanwhile, he was constantly at Dumbledore's and You-Know-Who's beck and call, constantly being put under the Cruciatus curse, being beaten to within an inch of his life, being a full-time teacher, being hated by everyone, and being forced into an unbreakable vow? So, let me think, is Snape on our side? I believe he is and what bothers me most, what I have a hell of a time trying to wrap my mind around, is how the two of you can be so bloody adamant and determined to hate him and see no good in all he has tried to do for you over the years." Hermione finished speaking, her hands shaking with rage as she collapsed into a dusty, overstuffed chair in the parlor of Grimmauld Place. She took a deep breath, brushing her hair out of her face, before looking up again.
"So…" Ron started, rubbing the back of his neck and looking anywhere but at his friend, his cheeks red with shame and discomfort.
"Alright. Fine. We'll tell him. But that doesn't mean we figured it out yet. The Carrows still can't know. How will we get them the word?" Harry jumped in.
"Leave it to me." Hermine said, a look of determination on her face.
One conversation with a portrait later, Hermione sat back and waited. It didn't take long before Phineus Nigellus was calling her back from his position propped up in front of her chair.
"Alright. The Headmaster is alone in his office, as requested and is ready to take your message. He first asks that you confirm who you are." The grumpy looking Black said.
"Well… umm… the only time he's ever made me cry, was when Draco Malfoy cursed my teeth. His exact words were 'I see no difference'. Will that do? I'm a bit short on sleep at the moment and it's about the best I can give him." Hermione sat back, sinking further into the chair. Gods, I hope that's enough for him, I can barely remember my name at the moment with all the plans floating around in there.
When the former Headmaster re-entered his frame, his face was serious but opened. "Headmaster Snape has decided to accept that, and in order to confirm himself to you, he says the only O he has ever given you was on 18 inches of parchment entitled 'Glass Cauldrons, the implement of the future'. Is this satisfactory?" He grumbled after the statement. Hermine smiled wistfully as she thought of the paper he had mentioned. It had been a silly idea, but one she had gotten very passionate about. Why wouldn't a potioneer want to use a glass cauldron? There would be no need to worry about the interactions with precious metals and ingredients.
"Certainly. Could you be so kind as to tell him to be here," she gestured to the former headquarters around her, "This evening when he is able? And for him to spread the message to the others as secretly as possible. Please be sure to specify that this is in no way an ambush and if he would rather be a fly on the wall than an active and visual participant, I will understand. Please tell him that this meeting is of the utmost importance." Hermione said, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. Phineus nodded sagely and left the frame. It was a number of minutes later that he came back.
"Well?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"He said he will disseminate your message through the proper channels and wishes me to assure you that he will do his best to be present. Miss Granger, he wanted me to ask you why. Why would you trust him when he says he has given you every reason not to?"
"On the contrary. To the discerning eye, his actions have repeatedly proven his you very much for all your help." Hermione was choking back her tears, the light of hope in her eyes. This is really going to happen. It will all work out. The painted man nodded his acquiescence and left the frame for good. Hermione flopped back and blew a breath harshly to push her hair out of her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she stood and went to shower. They were expecting company.
Grimmauld Place was teeming with people. Among the many red-heads, there were a smattering of browns, blonde, and pink, thank you Tonks, but so far, no black hair, save Harry's unruly mop. Hermione rose and quieted the group. Taking a deep breath, she girded herself, preparing for the inevitable backlash.
"Alright. We are expecting one more person, and I have reason to believe he will be here any time, now. I know what you all think of him, but please just let me say my peace before you try to hex me." At the curious glances among each other, she tried to calm the shaking of her fingers, and spoke.
"I have sent word to Headmaster Snape to join us this evening." Everyone erupted in a fit of noise. Ron and Harry both shook their heads at Hermione. What else had she expected? When the fervor did not die down for several minutes, Hermione stood on her chair and yelled.
"OI! SHUT IT, YOU LOT!" When the shocked glances gazed back at her red face, she sat back in the hard-backed chair and continued. "Thank you. I do believe that is exactly what I meant to not do, but I can understand the excitement. Now, I know you disagree with what I have done, but I have something that all of you need to know."
"What could you possibly have to tell us that justifies Snape being told that we are all gathering here? We're sitting bloody ducks!" Moody grumbled loudly, to the sounds of agreement from around the crowded table.
"Professor Dumbledore. I know he left us all cryptic messages and instructions that were about as clear as mud, but he left me his copy of Tales of Beetle the Bard. In that book, he left me two messages. One, I will not be telling you. The other was one of the most intricate arithmancy equations I have ever seen in my life. It took months to work out and covered the entire inside back cover of the book. In that equation was a secret message that was written in regards to Severus Snape's involvement with the Order and his real role in Dumbledore's death." Harry and Ron both looked outraged. In all her years of standing up for Snape, she had never mentioned this to them. They looked betrayed.
"Boys, I didn't tell you for a reason. You shouldn't have needed Dumbledore's word; you should learn to look at people's actions and their motivations separately. And even without that, Dumbledore's word didn't mean fuck all to either of you when he repeatedly told you he trusted Professor Snape. Or any of you, for that matter!" Hermione glanced around the room at the sea of shocked and disbelieving faces.
"I have invited him here tonight so that we may all be better prepared for the end that is coming. We all have our parts to play. So as much as I hate it, Professors," she looked at Mcgonagall, Sprout, Flitwick and Madam Pomphrey, "You must continue to act as despicably as you have been all year. And honestly, I sort of hope that it hurts you to do so. I can only imagine what you all have been putting him through. He was forced into killing the Headmaster, very much against his will, and was again forced to take the Headship of Hogwarts and see how the Carrows have been treating the students. That man has more honor than anyone I've ever known and you all should be ashamed of yourselves." Hermione did her best to look disappointed in the professors and individuals much older than her 20 years. Thank you, time turner. From behind her she heard a soft rustling of fabric, her only warning, before his velvet voice spoke.
"Thank you, Miss Granger, for defending my character. However, I do hope there is more point to this evening, other than thoroughly disgracing your elders? No matter how well you are doing it." Snape drawled from her shoulder. She jumped, her chair toppling over, hands covering her mouth. Her eyes rose and met Snape's dark pools. His gaze, as neutral as ever, was cracked ever so slightly by the gratitude in his eyes. He nodded his recognition, and took up his spot in the darkened corner. Her hands went back to her sides and she took a couple deep breaths before jumping into the trio's plans for the end.
It was several hours later that the evening's planning session had dissolved into a somewhat subdued party. Old found bottles of liquor were being passed around, people spoke in small circles about this or that, music was playing as the younger Order members danced. Tonks was doing a very uncoordinated version of the Charleston that no one was likely to forget, much to Fred and George's delight. Harry and Ron were talking amiably with Remus, the older man updating them on his son's latest stages of development and their hopes for his future.
Hermione found herself, empty drink in hand, sitting on the stairs some distance from the rest of the group. Her eyes had a sheen of one too many as she looked at the gathering below her, but she sighed to herself. One way or another, this will all be over in just a couple more days. Who will be left then? Snape sat one step behind her, handing her another drink. She didn't jump this time, merely shifting her eyes towards her newfound companion.
"Miss Granger, I must say, never before have I been so thoroughly supported and defended. I think that is the first time I have ever seen Minerva feeling belittled, rightly so, and by her own favorite cub. Thank you for making the effort." He raised his glass in salute to her and took a drink. She followed
"You deserve far more than me saying a few words. You missed the convincing I had to give Harry and Ron, though. Remind me when this is all over and I'll give you the pensive memory. It was quite fun to see their faces when I talked about how you've backed us up all along." Hermione said, leaning into his leg. He didn't shift away, instead he moved closer, moving down to share the step she was sitting on.
"Be careful, Miss Granger, or someone might start thinking that you like me." His voice rumbled through their touching shoulders, making her shiver. She leaned closer and rested her head on his shoulder, taking in his scent as it surrounded her; touches of leather, herbs, a hint of wood smoke, and the traces of the firewhiskey he'd been drinking.
"And what if they do? It's not as though it would be false?" she said, her tone a little distracted and far-away. Snape turned his head to the top of her curls, his face grinning slightly, his eyes showing interest.
"Oh, really? And just how long have you felt this way? Surely, just since you deciphered the grand manipulator's master plans." He inquired.
"Oh, ages, Professor. I've always respected you, from day one; your intellect, your power, your honor and pride. I've only really fancied you since second year, though that was more a silly girl crush after the whole Lockhart incident. No, I'd have to say I could pin it down to third year." Hermione sighed lazily, as her fingers began to trail down his sleeve.
"The 'knight in shining armor' thing, I suppose. Makes sense; when a man steps in to save the day from a werewolf attack, I imagine it would be difficult not to take notice." He drawled, soaking in the sensation her nails caused as they lightly scraped the fabric of his robes.
"Not just that part. All the stuff you were doing, trying to warn us, not just to oust him, but because he was a possible danger to us. You always tried to protect us, more often than not it was from ourselves and our own stupidity." Hermione said, mesmerized by the texture of the lightest, finely weaved wool. "It's something of a turn-on for me; having a man that looks out for me, always there to help when I need him most. I'm much the same way with people I love; I have to have their backs. I'll always back you up, Severus." She turned, looking up into his eyes, her passion shining through.
"I never gave you the permission to use my name." His hand reached up to push the hair back behind her ear, noting that the texture was silky, with its thick waves and loose curls. Circe, when had she grown up? Last I recall, her hair was a coarse, frizzy mess and she was straight up and down. Snape catalogued all the noticeable differences in her outward maturity. This is most definitely a woman. Soft curves, prominent cheek bones, wise eyes, lush lips. He shook himself, realizing that he was currently perving on a female that should have been his student still.
"I think we're far past the honorifics now." Hermione replied. Her fingers were continuing their journey up and down his sleeve. She leaned in just a touch, head tilting back to observe his eyes. They dilated and his nostrils flared.
"I suppose we might be… Hermione." His voice caressed every syllable of her name as it slipped from his lips. She shivered, lashes lowering.
"What about you? For how well I know you, I never thought it would be that easy to get you to trust my message enough to come. There must be a reason for that, Severus. Been noticing things you shouldn't have?"
"Perhaps. I apologize that I've never been in a position where I could say so, but you are the most gifted student I have ever taught. They way your mind works, how your thoughts go a kilometer a minute, your dedication to learning. You are a sight to see, my dear. I regret not being able to teach you as much as I would have liked. But as you said earlier, we all have our parts to play." He looked disappointed. It truly would have been a joy to show her all the amazing things that goes into potion making. It was hard work, with a vast array of knowledge to go with it, but she would have been up to the challenge.
"Maybe you can still make it right." She offered.
"How so, Hermione?" His voice rumbled near her ear.
"This is all about to end. You will be free. We will all be free. We can do anything we want. You can… teach me… however you want." Her eyes glittered, trapping his in their gaze.
"Why wait?" He whispered huskily, before diving in and taking her mouth with his. Her hands dragged along his arms and shoulders, before wrapping around his neck and holding him tightly. He stood on the stairs, raising her in his arms as he walked up the last three, before turning towards the room he used in the house.
As they writhed together, sharing breath, stroking skin moist with sweat and tingling with sensations, they made promises, spoke of the future, shared hopes and dreams. It had been a night of firsts for both, as Hermione confessed to her virginity and Severus shared some of his history while they dozed before starting all over again.
In the morning, he was gone. Back to the cold stone castle, and its towers full of his nightmares, while she went off to prepare for the end of her past and beginning of her future.
