SUMMARY: Alternate story of "Savelius" from chapter 10. Teddy did not travel back in time to warn them. Savelius returned to his timeline only to find out his father died despite having the antivenin and Hermione finally accepted Draco's marriage proposal.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: First, I'd like to THANK everyone who supported SAVELIUS. This alternate story came up while I was writing chapters 10-13 of "Savelius". At that point, I do not know how to send him back, so I came up with a plan: an alternate ending.
Hopefully this one will be as good as the other. :)
PLEASE READ "SAVELIUS" CHAPTERS 1-9 first before reading this.
CHAPTER 10- DREAMY HERMIONE
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"The ingredients and procedures for the Strengthening Solution are written on the board. Carry on."
Hermione could hear, but she isn't actually listening. Her eyes are focused on the Potions Master and his billowing robes. Who would ever believe that this man gave him a genuine smile yesterday and almost hugged her earlier today? Furthermore, if she tells anyone in the class that she had a breakfast with him this morning in his private rooms, they might think that she's insane. Hermione smirked inwardly.
He's not unpleasant, after all. He wears a mask, being a spy and a double-agent. But there's more to him than being a Death Eater, spy and snarky greasy git. Well, his hair is greasy because he brews like ALL THE TIME. He's not good-looking like Sirius or Remus, but who cares? I'm not beautiful either. And look at Savelius! He's a handsome boy. Ha! He's our son... the result of our union. Wait, did I just say union? What the hell am I—
"Ten points from Gryffindor for daydreaming in my class, Miss Granger."
Hermione drifted away from her thoughts. The wizard he's thinking about is already standing in front of her, looking stern.
"I'm sorry, Professor," she said sincerely.
"Enlighten us, Miss Granger," he said, not taking his eyes off her, "what's troubling the Gryffindor Know-It-All's mind? For the past four years, I do not remember you not paying attention."
"I apologize, Professor Snape. I just..." she hesitated.
"Yes? Continue?" he said with a mocking tone.
"I was just tired and didn't sleep well last night." And she bit her lower lip, staring at the desk. She couldn't meet his eyes.
"Detention tonight after dinner, Miss Granger." And without waiting for her reaction, he swept away and turned to Neville's side, ready to criticize the future godfather of their son.
"Hey, 'Mione," Harry whispered beside her, "is everything all right with... you know."
Hermione started working on her potion. "Everything's fine Harry. I just didn't sleep well last night. I had to stay with him after our meeting," she explained.
"You're staying with whom?" Ron interrupted from Harry's other side.
Hermione shook her head. "Nothing, Ron."
"It doesn't look 'nothing'. What are you up to? You're not spending time with us in the common room anymore," Ron rebuked. "Ginny was looking for you this morning. Parvati and Lavender said that you didn't sleep in your dorm."
"Ron, I've been studying, okay?" she reasoned.
"But last night you weren't in the library either," he argued. "I was looking for you."
"Mr. Weasley," said a dangerous voice from behind. They don't have to turn their heads to see who it is. "Miss Granger's whereabouts is none of your business. And for your information, she was serving another detention last night."
Ron's face turned red like his hair.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for being noisy, nosy and not working on your potion. Detention with Mr. Filch after dinner tonight."
Ron cursed under his breath and the three of them continued to work. Hermione could hear Pansy Parkinson's giggles. "Weasel is mad because Granger didn't do his homework last night," she said loudly. "Pray tell, Granger, where did you sleep last night after your detention? Did you finally find a wizard to shag?" This time, she spoke in a low voice so that Professor Snape wouldn't hear.
"Bugger off, Pansy. You're just upset because you didn't get good shag last night," Malfoy commented.
"Draco!" Pansy shrieked, not believing her ears. It's now Hermione's turn to giggle. "How dare you say that to me?"
"I dare," Malfoy said coolly.
Hermione and Harry exchanged amused looks and sniggered. "Did Malfoy just defend you?" Harry whispered.
Hermione shrugged. "Well, he's my future best friend," she grinned.
Harry looked at her unhappily. "I still don't get it, Hermione. Did we have a falling out? What did I do? Why am I not happy with your son according to that memory in the Pensieve."
She sighed. "Harry, I don't know," she lied. Of course she knows the answer. She just doesn't know how to break it to Harry. "I don't know how Malfoy and I got along and why in the world I fell in love with Savelius's father," she said truthfully this time.
"'Mione, just remember that you are a family to me. I may not like that snarky bastard, but if you choose him, I'll support you anyway."
She gave him a weak smile. I hope so, Harry. "But there's a fat chance you won't remember my son. Remember our agreement?"
"But I will always remember being your best friend. It doesn't matter if I remember Savelius or not. You're still a family to me," he said seriously.
"Thanks, Harry," she said sincerely and squeezed his hand.
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Hermione arrived in front of Professor Snape's office ten minutes before the dinner ends. He's not in the Great Hall anymore when she finished eating. Is he mad because I wasn't myself earlier? Am I going to get a real detention?
She knocked on the door gently. "Enter," says a voice. She turned the door know and entered the office. She saw Professor Snape sitting behind his desk with a pile of parchment. He didn't turn to look at her. "Come in, Miss Granger."
She slowly approached and stopped in front of his desk. "Good evening, Professor," she said politely.
He finally stopped writing and dropped his quill to face her. "You weren't yourself today. Is there something that's bothering you?" he asked in a professor tone.
Hermione shook her head. "No, there isn't, Professor. I was just tired. Again, I apologize. It won't happen again."
He looked over her shoulder. "Son, you'll be sleeping in my bed tonight."
Hermione turned her head and saw Savelius standing by the door to their private rooms. They exchanged small smiles. "Kindly escort your mother to your bedroom. She'll be staying there tonight."
"Why? Is she sick?" Savelius asked with worry and approached her.
"Professor?" she asked, puzzled. "Why would I be sleeping here tonight?"
Professor Snape turned to her. "You've been working too much the past weeks. You need more sleep and you will retire to bed early tonight. That's an order, Miss Granger. I shall call a house-elf to get you sleep clothes and toiletries in your dormitory. I'm going to Dumbledore to tell him about you staying here tonight and we shall make up a story to tell Minerva that you're in the hospital wing."
Hermione's eyes widened. Did he just order me to sleep in Savelius's room? Did he just tell me to sleep early? "Professor, I appreciate it, but really, there's no need to—"
"This is not a request, Miss Granger," he cut her off. "This is an or-der." He said the last word slowly to give emphasis and his voice was dangerous. "I don't want to see you like that again in my class," he added.
"What was she in your class, Dad?" Savelius asked curiously.
"Absent-minded," he answered promptly. "More like, daydreaming."
"I was not!" she shrieked.
Professor Snape instantly turned to look at her. He gave her a piercing look and Hermione realized that she's not speaking to someone in her age but to a professor. "I'm sorry, Professor, but I wasn't daydreaming," she said in a low voice.
"Very well, but you still need to retire to bed early," he said in monotone.
Is this his way to show he cares? Still using that tone like it's emotionless.
"Son, do as I say," he ordered and went to the fireplace. "Headmaster's Office!"
Savelius lead her to his bedroom. It's just a small room with a single bed, dresser, small closet and a desk and a chair, nothing more. The bedspread's colours were very Slytherin.
Well, I'm surrounded by Slytherins now and will be in the future. And not to mention, I'm about to sleep in the Head of Snakes' lair.
She found her pyjamas and toiletries were already on top of the bed.
"Well, I'll let you rest now, Mum," Savelius said gently from behind. "Have a good sleep."
"Good night, Savelius," she said with a smile as he closes the door.
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"I take it your mother's already retired to bed?" Severus asked when he found his son in his private laboratory, cutting daisy roots.
He looked up. "Yeah. How did it go with Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall?"
"Albus is fine with it. Minerva wants to see her favourite cub in the hospital wing to make sure she'll be all right. Poppy has to remind her that she is the matron and she's in-charge of her patients," he explained coolly.
Savelius chuckled. "I can't imagine Madam Pomfrey telling off the headmistress."
Severus smirked and eyed his son intently. "When did Minerva became the headmistress?"
"After your term," he said, a bit absent-minded.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Pardon me?"
Savelius dropped his knife and looked at him reluctantly. He pressed his lips together. He looks like being caught for cutting classes by his father. "Nothing."
"Tell me," he said sternly.
"You… um, became the headmaster… after Professor Dumbledore," he said hesitantly.
"Why would I become the headmaster? Minerva is the Deputy Headmistress."
"The Dark Lord appointed you," he said simply. "Now Dad, please don't ask me for more because I might just tell you something very important and it might change the Dark Lord's fate. We can't afford to lose this war."
Severus sighed. "All right, what are you brewing?" he asked, approaching him on the table.
"Antivenin. I read something and I want to try it," he answered, not looking up.
Severus observed. The way Savelius holds the knife and cuts the daisy roots is very similar to him. It's like watching his own hands work. And those lean and long hands were just like his when he's still a schoolboy. His hand gestures are more like his. But he adopted his mother's facial expressions. This boy is the result of me and Granger combined. He smirked inwardly. "Can I make myself useful?" he asked.
"I thought you'd be grading papers?" he muttered.
"Don't want to miss working with my son," he said nonchalantly. "I can do them later."
"All right. Maybe you can prepare the salamander blood," he said gently. "And Dad…"
Severus looked up.
"Thank you… for doing this."
He gave him a small smile—a smile he only reserves for his son… and sometimes, for his son's mother.
"Son, I've been meaning to ask you about the snake in your time," he said after a while.
"Yes, Dad?"
He stopped working and looked at the young wizard. "Look at me," he said, more of a request.
Savelius did as told. "Is there something wrong?" he frowned.
"Albus and I were talking about the Dark Lord's snake, Nagini. There isn't really a magical snake in your time, is there? This antivenin is for Nagini's victims. You are trying to save someone from here," he stated.
Savelius froze and bit his lip. "Are you mad because I lied?" he asked slowly.
Severus shook his head. Hell, no. I'm proud of you for coming here and working hard to save someone else's life. He wanted to tell him those words, but he decided against it. It might make him more vulnerable. "No," he said promptly. "You can't really tell me about it, I get it."
Savelius sighed in relief. "Thank Merlin for that! So, will you still work with me on the antivenin? Or maybe if we kill the snake, it would save us from having sleepless nights."
"Do you really want to change the future?" he frowned.
"My future's already changing, Dad. Remember, my name on the map changed, too? I'm really confused now and worried as well, thinking of what's happening in my timeline now."
Indeed, he looks troubled. While he's torn between two masters and being a double-agent, his son is torn between the present and the future… his future. "Stop worrying, will you? Let's work on the antivenins now and avoid talking about the future."
Savelius raised an eyebrow. "For now," Severus said again and with that Savelius relaxed. "You know, I really want to change the future because more lives will be saved. But I don't know if the people in my time will still be alive… and thinking about changing their parents' lives now is the same as killing them."
Severus shook his head. "You're not killing anyone… even if you change the future. Remember that. Your soul is intact and it will always remain that way."
Savelius met his gaze and answered him with a small smile. "Thanks, Dad," he replied sincerely.
Severus gave him a nod and the two wizards continued working on the potion while chatting about the latest issue of Potions Daily. After two hours, they cleaned up and prepared for bed.
"Dad," Savelius called from the bedroom door hesitantly.
He turned around. "Do you need something?" he asked gently.
He offered him a small smile. "We can share the bed, if you want," he said, a little hopeful and it made him speechless. Sleep in the same bed with his son? He hasn't had any bunk mate ever.
"I promise, I'm a quiet sleeper," Savelius added when he did not reply. He smiled and walked to the other side of the bed, kicked off his slippers and settled himself under the covers.
"Good night," he said.
"Good night, Dad."
And Severus Snape swear, Savelius's tone was cheerful.