I own none of the characters, JKR is the greatest!! HBP spoilers.
A/N: This fic is a plot my daughter devised bringing Harry Potter characters into her world,. I wanted to give her a 17th birthday present. To be remembered.
When Two Worlds Collide
The clock ticked inaudibly on the mantelpiece, suddenly chiming twelve times. Hermione Granger materialized on the cold stone floor in the great circular office of the headmaster, a look of total shock on her tear stained face. Albus Dumbledore; the wise old wizard, headmaster of her school was dead nothing would change that, but what the young curly harried woman had witnessed did change the circumstances. She took hold of the back of the oversized armchair to steady herself, shaking her head trying to clear the jumble of thoughts speeding thru her confused mind.
The runes inscribed basin sat shimmering silently on the desk. A cloudy silver mist swirled about, after sharing its secret with the young witch. Dumbledore had left memories in the pensive for the purpose of clearing any confusion as to what would transpire. There was no doubt what so ever now, as to Snape's loyalties, it was all there to be discovered after the battle on the Astronomy tower.
Hermione witnessed conversations between the now deceased headmaster and his accused murderer, dark, terrifying Severus Snape, Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, last seen fleeing the school grounds with Draco Malfoy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Albus, I can not do it!" Snape growled lowly as he took the tiny piece of wrinkled parchment from the old mans withered hand, after the old man read it aloud. "Draco Malfoy must unite with Harry Potter to insure a win in the final battle against Lord Voldemort, houses must no longer be divided, and unity must be achieved."
Dumbledore's normally twinkling, blue eyes held no sparkle but pleaded, as he spoke, "Severus, you must do all you can to protect Draco, even if it means ending my life."
Snape shook his dark head, hair falling in curtains around his face, his black hallow eyes meeting the others, "There has to be another way." He paced the floor searching for an answer not willing to hear what Dumbledore was telling him.
"No! It is the only way, you and I both know it!" exclaimed the old man. "Promise me" he pleaded, smiling, his eyes searching, yet already knowing what he asked would be difficult. "You must remember your vow Severus!"
Slowly, quietly Snape agreed "I will do it, only if no other remedy can be attained." There was no trace of the trademark sneer always on the younger mans face. The reminder of the vow unneeded and most unwelcome, Hermione had borne witness to Snape making the unbreakable vow with the headmaster in the pensive many years before.
"GOOD!" a calmer, Dumbledore spoke as he reached to touch the other mans shoulder. "I know I am asking much of you."
"You are asking me to give up the only true friendship I have ever felt", whispered Severus, his cold dark eyes looking away.
The two men parted Snape walking briskly away, his black robes billowing behind as he walked. Albus Dumbledore smiled slightly, gently touching his blackened hand with a grimace.
Hermione ran her fingers thru the tangle of bushy, brown hair spilling down her back. Her tears beginning to flow, quickly, silently down her warm cheeks. Her thoughts now
turning to the next memory found in Dumbledore's pensive. The night he had died.
"Severus, I needed to tell you, how much you mean to me." Dumbledore's voice strong yet urgent, "You are the son I never had! And I love you!"
Snape, his back hardened as every muscle in his body tightened; it was not easy to hear these words. His own father, never once in his life had spoken them to him. "Headmaster, are you telling me it is time?" he questioned respectfully.
"Yes it will happen tonight, when Harry and I return from the cave." Stated the older man with a searching look at the other mans face.
Severus spoke in no more than a whisper, "Albus, you are more than a friend, more than a mentor, you are my father not by birth or blood, but by the love of your heart."
Albus reached out to the dark haired man, putting his arm around his shoulder. Reached again and encircled him in an embrace, willing returned by the younger. As they looked at each other Severus felt a tear forming in the cold darkness of his eyes. Yet knowing that tear he would never be permitted to shed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hermione felt a new warmth sweep over her as she contemplated what she had just observed. She spoke to the pensive no longer questioning, "Dumbledore knew he was going to die, he had planned it, for the greater good of the order." She shivered slightly at the thought of the two men whom she respected, planning for their cause.
She had not heard the door slide open, silently before she had spoken aloud. A slight shuffling sound startled her She spun around As she looked up facing Minerva McGonnagall and Remus Lupin looking at her questioningly.
"Hermione did you say, Albus knew Severus was going to kill him" Asked Minerva with a tremble in her voice?, taking a hesitant step toward the younger witch.
Hermione eyes darting between the two order members before shouting "YES! He had planned it." "He was to protect Draco at all cost, even having to take Dumbledore's life."
Remus turned suddenly to Minerva," If this is true we must find Severus and Draco immediately!"
"YES!" shrieked Minerva to a stunned Hermione and Remus. "Where would he have taken the boy?"
Remus paused thinking, "Maybe to Spinners End" after all it was his childhood home, a dark and menacing spider web of Muggle streets, in a deserted mill town.
"That is where we will begin our search", Hermione spoke with an enormous amount of determination.
"What do you mean WE", said Minerva incredulously?
"WE, all of us!" snapped Hermione, rising to her full height.
Minerva shook her head, her tight bun bobbing side to side. "You will NOT be going on this search Miss Granger, it is much too dangerous!"
"I am of age professor; no one including you will keep me from helping!" Hermione barked venomously.
"We will need your help Hermione," Remus whispered looking Minerva in the eye.
"When we find them, they will need to go into hiding in a secure place, far away. You are Muggle born, knowing that world, your help will be invaluable!"
"Minerva you will need to prepare documents, new identities for those who shall disappear." Remus continued. "The ministry will be of no help, as they believe Severus a murderer." "Prepare documents for four people, Severus, Draco, Narcissa and Hermione." "When we are ready I will contact you and the plan will be set in motion."
Remus grasped Hermione's hand "I am exceedingly grateful to have the help of the brightest witch of your age with this almost impossible task."
Hermione looked at Remus, smiled brightly at him and said, "Thank You."
"Time to be on our way then", as Remus and Hermione turned exiting Dumbledore's office, sprinting down the spiral stairs, towards the front doors. Running swiftly towards the front gates, a stitch catching in Remus' side, Hermione raised her wand " Alohamora". The gates opened and the two figures silently slid outside, disappearating away.