Summary:
She was gone for over a year, and no one noticed. How could they not have found her by now? Was no one looking? How much did people change since the war's end? Not dwelling on it any longer, Hermione Granger did what she had to do to escape, herself. It was now or never. Now, she just had to find the one person she knew she could trust, no matter how long it had been.
Rated M for future chapters. Hermione/Snape pairing. Category Romance.
Disclaimer:
I do not own, nor claim ownership to any characters, spells, potions, or anything related to the likings of the Harry Potter series. All ownership goes to J.K. Rowling who is, by far, the most amazing writer in the world and an honest inspiration. This story is also rated M for future chapters: sexual conduct, wording, and events.
Chapter One:
She sat there. Waiting. She was not sure how exactly she got there, but she was happy she did! The dark alley, the dark corner, the cold wind against her face, surprisingly felt safer than anything else she had witnessed in a long time. Catching her breath after the excruciating escape she managed, she looked around. She looked up to the entrance of the alley way, no one. Looking down the lane, she witnessed the far away fading figure walking in the opposite direction of her position. With great effort she leaned into the building's corner and allowed her body to slide down the wall until she hit the ground with a very painful bump.
Now the easy part, to wait! She had chosen this alleyway, this corner, very meticulously. She remembered…how long ago was it? 3 months? A year? Longer? She couldn't remember, but she knew from the last visit to Knockturn Alley that he was a frequent visitor. She knew it was a risk, but it was a risk she had to take. He was her best bet. Sad, but very true.
Hermione Granger had to rest her fate and health in the hands of the one man who everyone had opinions about…
It had been a week and she barely moved. Dozing in and out of sleep, eating only when a scrap of food blew down the alley way, learning how to cope with the sudden gusts of wind that were prevailing. She had paid attention to every straggler who passed down the alley, three men, and one woman so far. Had it been that long since she had last strolled these streets? Was this a lost cause?
More time had passed. She was losing track of time and days. She could not tell if it was early morning, or just evening anymore. All she knew was that the alley way as in the darker stages of the day. She was in and out of consciousness. It had easily been three days since her last scrap of food, which happened to be half a banana and some sort of tossed aside sandwich, she hoped. When had it come to this?
About to give up, she stretched her aching body. She had no idea when the last time she moved was. She had gotten so used to hiding in her darkened corner, she became numb to the tingly feelings in her extremities. She dared to lay her legs out, allowing just the tip of her bare toes to lay out in the light. Actually, light was the wrong word for it. Considering the exclusivity of the alley way she chose, there were only two forms of colors, black, and grey.
Stretching her legs proved to be a bad idea. She knew no one would be showing up, that was not the problem. The problem was her body's reaction to the sudden movement. Having so little to eat…when did she last have something to drink? Her adrenaline suddenly dropped. Fighting off consciousness, she willed her body to stay just a little longer. She couldn't quit now. She had proven her will by escaping, running away, fighting, clawing, forcing her way to hope. She had eaten and drank things no human should ever had to suffer through. She slept on things, in things, slept hoping it was her last night and morning would not come again. She had FINALLY made it to today, here, freedom. She could not give in now.
She knew he would be here. He had to be. Right? Yes, he would definitely be here. Or maybe he changed his ways? Maybe he wasn't even in Britain any longer. People had changed since the war, obviously. Maybe he finally changed? These were all things she had never thought of. Panic began to kick in. She began to breathe heavily and in odd increments. She was beginning to hyperventilate. She was getting dizzy, she couldn't breathe, she couldn't see, she couldn't move. It was over! She had done it all for nothing!
Suddenly, a rough shuffling came across her ears. It was barely even a sound actually. No one else would have heard it, would have even knew it had happened, but she knew differently. She had become so accustomed to listening for every slight change of environment, it was the only way she had survived until now.
Her survival instincts kicking in she calmed her breathing. Using the last of her sensibility she forced her body to move, to hide back into the shadow of the corner. She definitely heard footsteps, and they were most definitely coming her way. Waiting until the footsteps were almost on top of her, she held her breathe. Afraid of how well trained the dark wizard's senses were. After all, no right wizard would dare to travel down this alley, even if their life depended on it…Did that mean she wasn't right any longer?
Caught in her musings she did not realize the person was right next to her until she saw his figure directly in front of her. She took in the full black robes, the skilled, yet gentle swish of the cloak. It was most definitely a wizard. Taking in the height, sulkiness, and apparent quietness, she was sure it was him. Unsure if it was her lack of mind, or the unconsciousness that was threatening to take her, but she was for sure definite it was him. Using what she was sure was her last breath she used all strength that she could muster to form a pathetic whisper.
"Severus,"
The wizard stopped dead in his tracks. All in the same movement he stopped walking, turned around, wand out, directed exactly at the level of her mouth. A look contorted across the wizard's face. As light shown in her face, blinding her since she could not block the sudden light she simply closed her eyes.
It was happening. She was going to pass out for sure. She normally had welcomed these moments, but not now. She HAD to ensure it was him. She HAD to save herself. One last ditch effort she huffed, "Severus. Please!"
Everything faded. Blackness enveloped her. Her body had given way. She slipped into unconsciousness.
He was walking down the alley way, sure no one had noticed his entrance. He had to make quick work of this. He had given up his ways, wiped his slate clean, even if the others had not believed him. He had come so far to becoming a new man, he just needed this last trip to ensure the potions until he was fully able to brew them all himself. He had come so close. One last trip, he promised himself.
It had been months since he had traveled down this path. He was happy to say he never would have to come this way again. Preparing his speech for a quick departure from the shop in his head, he heard it. Using the trained reflexes of a man who truly had been through it all, he knew what it was.
To the untrained ear it would have sounded like a simple whistle in the wind. He knew better though. It was most definitely a whisper. If you could even call it that. It was as if the wind was calling out to him. He could not decipher if it was a woman, a man, a ghost even. The sound of his name, however it was said, was in fact, said.
He turned at once, pulling his wand out in the direction of his name. At once realizing it was a blackened corner, he immediately set a silent lumos out of his wand. Through all the years of training, hiding. All the years of double crossing, secrets, missions and pain, he was NEVER prepared for what he saw next.
The shape in front of him was a soulfully terrifying sight. It was a woman. He thought, at least. He saw more slashes than he did skin. More dirt and blood than he did human color. He took in the beaten and sad shape in front of him, allowing a momentary glance across the human's entire body. From the dirt caked, or was that blood, hair, to the ragged, torn piece of clothing she wore, to the broken, battered, emaciated legs, it was absolutely a woman.
"Severus, Please!" With that, he looked back into the face of the speaker. It was then he saw it. The honey brown eyes, the rounded shaped face, the frazzled hair. He was in fact staring into the face of the once known Gryffindor Princess, Hermione Granger.
Author's Note:
I hope you enjoyed it. This is my very first shot at a fanfic. I created it because I have been an avid reader of Harry Potter Fanfiction for years, and I just could not find the Snape I liked. He was either too frilly, gave in too easily, changed too much, or the story line just went too quickly. Please take it easy on me, being a first time writer. All responses are requested! There is PLENTY more where this came from.