Title: ¤ Persuasion ¤
Author: HappyCatTaxi
Chapters: 5
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters nor the universe. I just play around with them for my own pleasure.
Summary: Persuasion by Jane Austen with a Harry Potter twist; eight years ago Hermione Granger was happy and in love. Present day, not so much, and it is her own fault. But what happens when he arrives back in her life?
Comments: Not canon compliant. This is a HG/SS story. The story covers two periods in time (1998) and (2006). This story is written from Hermione's perspective.
What I remember from reading Jane Austen is the lack of descriptions on how the characters look, and how much I loved that. I have tried to do the same with this story.
The story is finished but I need time to fix spelling and grammar. English is not my first language. In school we were taught a wide mix of British English and American English, and now it's all jumbled together in my head. I find English grammar very difficult, and I would love if anyone would like to beta-read the chapters before uploading them (I've reached out to quite a few betas but they do not reply me back). Please, send me a message if you want to beta this story :) Many thanks to Luna de Papel for all the help :)
Chapter 1
Middle of June 2006
At age twenty-seven Hermione Jean Granger realized her life had turned out much different than what she had expected while at Hogwarts. Working in the Ministry of Magic had seemed plausible even back then. She probably could have seen herself working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Even writing bills and working with the law. She had just assumed her work would matter to more people. But that is what you get from working with beings classified as beasts, goblins, spirits and the likes.
The work itself was good and she liked it. It was everything else about her job that she didn't much like: her colleagues mostly. She would forever remain one third of the Golden Trio, never to be just Hermione. The generally accepted opinion in the office was that Hermione had only gotten her job because she was famous.
Lately she had often wondered why she still worked here. Her supervisor did seem to respect her but honestly it was only when he needed her for a bill, and she was clearly not respected by her coworkers: they treated her like she was the dirty underneath their shoes. That had been apparent for years. But then why did she stay? Lately she found the question more and more difficult to answer. It had been a youthful naivety in her ability to change the world that had seen her accept the job. She had assumed she could pick up the house elf rights campaign, she had started at Hogwarts, but she had quickly learned it was not easy to change the laws for a population that did not wish to see the changes. She had evolved the ideas from S.P.E.W. and included them in her latest bill. Over the years she had learned one important thing; it takes small steps to change the world.
"Have you heard Harry Potter is returning to England?" one of her colleagues gossiped, and when the others denied having heard, she continued, "I heard from Katie in accounting that Tracey in the Auror Office said, her boss had it straight from the Minister himself!"
"Why would the Minister know?" one of the other girls asked. There were very few things Hermione truly hated but top of the list were gossip and rumors. Having experienced, and hated it, when Rita Skeeter made up those foul stories about her, she always tried ignore it.
Still she was listening with half an ear to the conversation.
"Because he is the Minister of course!" it was said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Even having worked in the ministry for many years Hermione still had not learned to trust the minister further that she could throw him - without magic that is. And with the case of the current minister that would not be very far indeed. Why would the minister know if Harry Potter returned?
"He's so handsome!" one of the girls said dreamily, making a few of the others giggle and agree with her.
"Who? The minister?"
"No, silly. Harry of course!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and tuned out their conversation to finish her work. She just needed to make sure every single i was dotted. This bill was the product of seven months hard work and years of contemplating. When it was passed, and hopefully it would, the law would give the so-called near-humans nearly as many rights as those of wizards. Still they couldn't own a wand but they were actually allowed to own a house or land, if they had the money, and the killing of any near-humans was punishable by the same laws that punished anyone for the murder of a wizard. Everything in the bill was worded quite carefully so only the worst of the old conservatives would object. But honestly the bill would change very little. Most creatures would not care for owning a house or land, and the murder of any creature would not be investigated. The bill was ordered by Kingsley personally, and Hermione assumed it was purely made to make Kingsley look good in the coming election for minister. Vote for Kingsley Shacklebolt – he cares for everyone! But she knew this bill was a step in the right direction. Even if it did not change the world today it would hopefully help in the long run; it was a small step.
"You know him from the war, right?" someone asked Hermione while she was quite busy with the bill and not paying attention. "Oy! Hermy! I asked you something." She tried again only louder this time. Everyone but Hermione laughed: she had never liked that nickname.
Hermione had promised herself never to lose her temper again. So instead of getting mad she counted to ten and quietly said: "Please, don't call me that." She looked around at her coworkers. "What was the question? I didn't hear you."
"You know Harry personally, don't you?"
How to answer such a question? Yes, she knew Harry. She still considered them friends but ever since he had left Britain about four years ago, they had not had much contact. A few letters over the years, and that was it. Did she really know Harry now? "Why do you ask?"
"You and Harry attended Hogwarts together, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"What was he like then?"
"You know, I don't gossip."
"You're really no fun, Hermy. Come on; tell us something no one knows about Harry!" Hermione really wanted to argue that if no one knew then she couldn't possibly know either but she didn't do it. She had long ago realized arguing with these girls was a waste of time.
"I don't gossip." she just repeated and turned back to her bill.
"You really are the most boring and prudish person. Always you act like this high and mighty princess: that's why no one really likes you." She cringed as the others laughed but otherwise ignored it. Relax! Don't take the bait. Calm down. Finish your bill! She took a deep breath and concentrated on her work. By Merlin, she was longing for her vacation.
Hours later when she was finally finished she noticed that she was alone in the office. Not really a surprise. She had planned to just leave the bill on Kingsley's desk assuming he had already left too, but she was surprised to notice that he was still in the office. He was a hard worker but he did have someone waiting for him at home.
"Hermione, my dear!" He greeted her.
"Kingsley. You're here late today." She commented, and then held the bill out towards him. "It is finished!"
His smile brightened but didn't reach his eyes. He eagerly took it and just skimmed through the first pages. "Finally. Took awhile, didn't it? Good job, my dear." It was the little stabs like that that really confused her about him. Most of the time he was friendly and charming but then he would make comments to question her competence. Why did Kingsley have this ability to make her doubt herself and feel inferior? In the war they had gotten along nicely but working for him was much different that working with him. She really just wanted to get out of there and start her vacation.
"Yes, well. It is finished now."
.
Considering how much Lavender and Hermione had disliked each other at Hogwarts it was surprising how fast they became friends after the war. It was actually Lavender who had reached out to Hermione. About half a year after the war, Lavender and Hermione had met by chance, and Lavender had seen how depressed Hermione was. She had hugged her. It was a simple hug but for Hermione it had been what she had needed and she had broken down in Lavender's arms: for Hermione seemed to have lost everything as the war was won. It was generally know, because it had been written in the Prophet, that Hermione had been unable to change the memory modification on her parents' memories and therefore was now as good as an orphan. Lavender had easily accepted that as the sole reason for Hermione's depression. In that moment Hermione forgave Lavender everything that had happened at Hogwarts, and she decided to accept Lavender's friendship. Their friendship quickly grew close. The war had changed Lavender too. Actually being face-to-face with death had changed her. Hermione had been the one to suggest Lavender and Ron go out on a date. It had been a huge success, and they had married within a year. And it was still a very happy marriage.
Hermione arrived at Ron and Lavender's home in the early afternoon. The first to greet her were the two young sons; six-year old Charles and four-year old Septimus. To them she had always been Aunt Hermione, and she considered them her nephews. Ron was the next to reach her and he lifted her up into a big hug. One time both of them had been interested in a romantic relationship but by the end of the war they were back to the brother-sister relationship that had formed so much of their first years of Hogwarts.
"Lavender is at the Burrow."Ron explained. "She's going to be so sad to have missed your arrival."
"Why is she there?"
"Can't say." And he flashed her his big I-have-a-secret smile, "sorry!"
"What's going on?" She asked while glaring at him.
"Truly, it is nothing bad but I can't tell you. Lavender made me promise to keep it a secret."
"Hmm, ok then. When will she be back?"
"Soon. She should have been here already. Your room is ready by the way." He pointed his wand at her suitcase and quickly muttered wingardium leviosar. "Come with me." Going up the stairs to the second floor, Hermione was in a hall with four doors. The first was the master bedroom, the next a bathroom, then the children's shared room, and the guest room, which would be Hermione's room while she was there. Ron left Hermione to unpack on her own.
When she had unpacked, she went back down stairs. As she was walking down the stairs she heard hushed voices.
"…all ready." Clearly it was Lavender speaking, "You didn't tell her, did you?"
"No, of course not. You told me not to." Ron sounding a bit offended that Lavender would doubt him.
"Good boy!" Lavender joked and kissed Ron.
"Auntie!" Little Charles shouted as he noticed her on the stairs. "Come play with us." Ron and Lavender turned, Lavender quickly let go of Ron, and ran across the room, Hermione half sprinted down the last few steps and they met in a hug.
"It's so good to see again! It's been much too long." Lavender said.
"You too! I've missed you all so much."
"Then visit more often!" Lavender said with a twinkle in her eye.
"Yes, dear." Hermione said making Ron laugh.
"Auntie, come play!" Charles said.
"You can go play with them for an hour but then we have to go. We're eating at the Burrow today. Nothing fancy so don't think about changing." Lavender told her.
"Is that why you were at the Burrow when I arrived?"
"Yes."
"Auntie, will you play with us?" this time it was Septimus.
"Yes, I'll be right there."
Hermione had always enjoyed spending time with the boys. They enjoyed being outside just as much as she did. The trio made their way outside to play in the big garden.
"Auntie, can you make a boat like last time?" Septimus asked.
"A boat? Yes, I can. Of course, but should we not rather make a ship this time?"
"Can we make a pirate ship?" Charles asked.
"Yes, it's all about imagination and a little bit of magic. First we need a piece of wood to be the base of the ship." She told them.
"Under the big oak tree." Charles said and ran there. He picked something from the ground and was already running back towards the others.
"Look, Auntie. Is this big enough?" Charles asked as he held up a big piece of wood.
"Yes, it will do just nicely. Put it down and I will do the magic." The transfiguration was not difficult at all. The piece of wood was transformed into a small ship about half a meter long. "Now we have the base of the ship. What should we put on the ship?"
"Canons!" yelled Charles.
"Then find something we can transfigure into canons." Hermione said. Technically she could just keep transfiguring the piece of wood and make canons but it was just so much fun for the boys to run around looking for items to fit.
Septimus ran after Charles and laughed. He had found a stick and ran around hitting it at the big flowers and bushes. "I wanna be a pirate and sail ships!" he sang.
Charles returned very shortly with some small stones. "Will these work?"
"Yes. Take one stone at a time and hold it flat in your hand." he did, and she transfigured the small stone into small canons. "You can place them anywhere on the ship."
Charles kept thinking of things to add, so the ship had gotten a wheel, masts, a rail, a mermaid figurehead. Then Septimus cried out: "A pirate flag!"
"A pirate ship must have a pirate falg!" Hermione agreed. "So we need a piece of cloth."
"I will get it!" Septimus called and ran inside. He returned soon with a kitchen cloth. "This will work!"
"It will work, yes. Did you just take it or did you ask your mother"
"I asked Mom," Septimus said. "She said I could have it."
"Great!" Hermione replied and took the cloth. It was a very easy transfiguration turning the cloth into a small flag. "I don't remember how a pirate flag looks. Is it pink or is it red?" She joked while she turned the flag pink.
"No, Auntie! It's black!"
"You have to add a skull." Charles said and pointed to the middle of the flag. "And cross bones." Hermione placed the cross bones over the skull and smiled sweetly.
"No, Auntie! Under the skull! Don't you know anything?" She placed the cross bones under the skull and laughed.
"Is it done now?" she asked.
"Yes, now we add it to the ship." And so they did. The ship was put into the little lake in the garden.
"Make it sail, Auntie"
"Like this?" And she made a small wind using her wand.
"We are pirates!" Septimus yelled.
"Ay Ay." Hermione said. "But what do pirates do?"
"They sail around and sing pirate songs."
"Do you know any pirate song, Auntie?"
"I know only one. It goes like this. Hi ho hi ho, a pirates life for me." And she taught the boys the song. They were still singing when Ron and Lavender came walking down the garden path.
"What are you up to?" Ron asked.
"Dad, we're pirates! Autie made us a ship and we're sailing!" Septimus answered.
"I'm very sorry to stop your games but it's time to leave. Do any of you need the toilet before we go?" Lavender asked. Both Charles and Septimus looked sad to end the game but they were also very excited to go to Grandpa's house: for Grandpa always had something fun to play with.
"Do you think Grandpa has gotten new things since last time?" Charles asked.
"I don't know, son. But I would imagine it." Ron laughed and winked at Hermione making her smile.
They apparated to the Burrow. They landed on the porch just as Molly threw open the door.
"Gandma!" Both boys yelled and ran into her open arms.
"Boys! Come inside, all of you."
Once inside Hermione was greeted by Molly and Arthur first. They wanted to know how she was doing and wouldn't let her go until she promised to visit again during her stay. Ginny was staying at the Burrow. She was a professional quidditch player but since the season had not yet started up again, she was just doing weekly practices.
The other guests were Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Even though the Malfoys changed sides in the war, and actually saved the lives of many of her friends and herself, it had still surprise her to hear about the friendship between Arthur and Lucius. She was certain their feud ran deeper but apparently Arthur had been one of the first, and few, to accept the Malfoys after the war. It had later been revealed by Dumbledore that Lucius had taken up the task of spy on Voldemort when Severus' position had been compromised.
Through their husbands Narcissa and Molly had seen each other often enough to start a friendship. During the years the Malfoy family and the Weasly family had grown close. And as proxy Hermione had become friends with them too.
During the dinner Ron mentioned he had gotten a letter from Harry: he had arrived back in Britain with Remus but that it would take a while before he had time to visit. Part of Hermione felt sad that Harry had not written to her too but at least now she knew for sure Harry had returned.
"I have heard from our other travelling friend that he too will return to us." Lucius said.
"Who?" Ron asked with his mouth full of food.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, dear." Lavender said.
"Severus." Narcissa said smiling. Everyone around the table smiled and spoke of Severus Snape as the hero he had become. Not only was he now famous for his role during the war but the man had spent the last eight years tracking down rough Death Eaters. He was a celebrated hero at the level of Harry Potter, the-boy-who-lived. Now why Hermione chocked on her drink was more to do with why Severus had left so suddenly back then than anything else. Just after the war Hermione and Severus had started a relationship. Bad timing and anger had driven them apart too soon, and suddenly he was abroad catching Death Eaters. No one at the table knew of her past with Severus - at least not all of it! They just knew that Severus had saved her life on numerous occasions.
She remembered one of the times Severus had saved her life.
.
End of June 1998
It was during the start of summer, the weather was lovely, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just completed their seventh year at Hogwarts. The exams were over, they were on their way home, and they talked about the future. Hermione wanted to do something to help with the war efforts but what exactly she did not know. The boys wanted to start auror training as soon as possible. Hermione and Ron had dated briefly during their seventh year but had just ended it and things were still awkward between them so the trio would spend the summer apart; Harry and Ron would go to the Weasleys' and Hermione would go to 12 Grimmauld Place as her family were still in Australia, and Grimmauld Place was the most safe place for her to go.
At Kings Cross station in the middle of the rush, the trio was rounded by a group of people, and before they knew it, they had been side-along apparated away. When Hermione felt the sickening feeling of magical travel, she knew it could not end well.
They landed hard on a stone floor, and as she looked around disorientated, the panic started. The room was dark and windowless, and right in the middle sat Voldemort on a throne like chair, the Death Eaters were not insight, yet. She reached for her ward only to have it summoned by one of the attackers along with Harry's and Ron's. She tried to apparate but was not surprised when it didn't work. That would have been too easy.
"We did it, my Lord!" One of her unknown attackers said and bowed down.
"You have done well, and ssshall be rewarded." He moved towards Harry, grabbed his chin in one hand and forced his head back to look into his eyes. "Seeee how easssy my friendsss caught you?" And he laughed a very dark and scary laugh, a laugh that held only fear for everyone listening.
Hermione had never before seen Voldemort so close and she felt Harry's explanation had lacked the horror of seeing Voldemort in person. The slit nose, the red eyes, and the plain inhuman features were enough to cause her to shudder and back away. The movement was noticed by Voldemort and his red eyes turned to her. "Well, well, well. The little Mudblood isss afraid!" He moved closer. "And ssshe hasss good reassson. None of you will leave here alive." He turned from them, and made his way back towards his throne like chair. Hermione, Harry, and Ron had their hands tied behind their backs. She turned her head, and was able to see both of her friends. Harry looked towards her, and his eyes showed the same fear she imagined her own showed. She had never imagined her end to be like this. She had imagined dying during the war would be in a battle and not after a long torture session. She remembered Neville's parents, and she feared her mind might give way before her body. I'd rather die full out than live my life not knowing what happens around me, she thought.
After what felt like hours but might just have been minutes, the Death Eaters arrived. One by one they showed up. They were wearing the cloaks and masks. Voldemort rose from his chair and greeted them.
"My friendsss, you arrived. And today I have a sssurprissse! Look! Sssee, who came to visssit me. Harry Potter the boy who lived: the boy who is dessstined to defeat me!" And he laughed that crazy evil laugh again. This time his followers laughed too. "And he brought hisss friendsss; the Mudblood whore and the Blood traitor. Harry Potter will sssee his friendsss die before we let him beg for death himssself. When Potter isss death, Dumbledore will fall."
Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry, and muttered "Crucio!"
Harry was screaming and writhing on the floor and both Hermione and Ron were screaming too. It seemed to go on and on for hours. When he finally released Harry it was only to use the spell on the others. When Voldemort looked at her and raised his wand again, she felt scared. The red eyes showed noting but hatred, and now it was turned towards her.
"Crucio!" And the pain was excruciating. She had never felt anything like it and hoped never to ever again. It was like every nerve in her body was on fire. She lost all sense of time and hearing; she could only feel the pain.
When Voldemort finally released her, her body shuddered, and she noticed the ties around her body had tightened. She was on her back looking up to the ceiling. She heard Ron screaming somewhere to the left of her. She turned her head and saw Harry and Ron both sweating and breathing hard. Voldemort kept looking at Ron. She tried to muster her energy, but failed.
"The Pureblood traitor, you shall be firssst to die." He indicated his Death Eaters to move closer and crucio'ed Ron again. His screams filled the room. This time Hermione found the energy to move closer to Harry and Ron. Apparently Voldemort assumed her need to be closer to her friends was based on fear, and laughed. He turned his eyes towards her again.
"You want another turn, my dear?" Voldemort asked.
"Mock-sweet is not your forte." she replied hoarsley. Where had that come from? Perhaps knowing you are going to die makes you speak your mind? "You might be megalomaniacal, cruel, and snake-faced but you are also just a bully; and they are the worst kind of Muggles."
"The Muddblood hasss clawss and ssshe ssstill wantsss to fight." He laughed again, and then turned his wand at her. "Let usss play." She had never before seen Voldemort smile and she was quite certain it could mean nothing but death for her. It was the most evil smile she had ever seen and it made her blood run cold.
The crucio was even more painful this time! She screamed and screamed, and the only thought in her mind was, how long would it take to die from Crucio?
When the pain finally stopped, she felt even more disorientated. Was she dead? She could feel nothing but the aftershocks of pain. Considering death probably didn't come with this much pain she concluded she was probably still alive. Breathing was difficult, and something was hurting her hand, but she didn't understand what. She opened her eyes and looked straight at Voldemort, who was trying to fighting off a big and black shadow or so it seemed.
She though he heard Harry whisper: "Dumbledore is gay." But what finally registered in her mind was the tug of a portkey. Unfortunately the tug twisted all her nerves and she screamed again. She heard some kind of bird song, and suddenly the world seemed just a little brighter and her mind started to function. Her hearing came back, and she heard voices around her.
The ground was no longer hard as stone but much softer. What was going on?
"Hermione!" Someone was shaking her. He sounded familiar. She told him to stop: it was hurting her and making her sick. As Hermione's senses and her brain started to work properly, she realized that they had escaped Voldemort alive! But how?
Looking around she noticed this was Dumbledore's office. How had they arrived here? She noticed Molly and Arthur were looking over Ron, who was not moving at all. To her side Remus Lupin was supporting her. She noticed she was no longer tied.
"Harry, my boy. How?" Dumbledore asked surprised.
"Snape…" Harry said, and then Hermione passed out.
When Hermione opened her eyes again she was looking up at the familiar white ceiling of the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey came over and spoke to her. She saw her mouth move but the only words she really understood was "potions" and "rest". She closed her eyes again.
When next time she opened her eyes, she heard noises: running feet, crying, voices. How much time had passed, she didn't know.
After a while, Hermione saw Harry sneak into the Hospital wing. He came to her when he noticed she was awake. Harry explained what had happened.
"It was Snape!" Harry said. "He saved us." Apparent Professor Snape had used legilimency on Harry, and explained he had a portkey to get them out. The portkey was activated by the phrase: "Dumbledore is gay", which Dumbledore had explained to Harry, had been Snape's own choosing. When Voldemort had attacked Hermione the second time, Snape has struck. The portkey was thrown to Harry who quickly grabbed both Ron and Hermione and muttered the phrase. Harry had seen Snape throw himself at Voldemort to make sure the kids could escape and the last he saw was the Death Eaters raising their wands and firing hexes at Snape.
"What happened to Professor Snape?" Hermione asked shocked.
"I don't know. The last I saw he was hit by at least ten different hexes at once. Dumbledore said the portkey was Snape's emergency escape in case he was ever caught as a spy. I think… I think he sacrificed himself for us. I don't think he has any way to escape now, and Voldemort is bound to be angry."
Harry also told her that Madam Pomfrey and two healers from St Mungo were still working on Ron. He was by far the one who had had it worst. The Weasleys were all in the hospital wing waiting for news on Ron. Hermione had been lucky, Harry said, but she didn't feel so lucky. Her body hurt all over. But she was still alive. Now she just hoped Ron would survive too.
They spend the night in the hospital wing: Harry in the chair next to Hermione's bed. He claimed he didn't need a bed as he had not been hurt. The healers and Madam Pomfrey had stopped working on Ron late at night and he was declared out of danger. The Weasleys had decided to move him to St Mungo's for observation, and had left with the two healers.
There was a sudden commotion in the middle of the night which woke both of them.
Dumbledore came bursting into the Hospital Wing with Remus and between them was a black cloaked body, which Hermione assumed was Professor Snape, or what was left of him anyway.
They heard Dumbledore call for Madam Pomfrey, and Remus shout, "hurry, he is barely alive!"
The three of them got Professor Snape into a bed and Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey set to work. Remus was to fetch every professor still at Hogwarts since they needed all the help they could get but they dared not get someone from St Mungo's. After a few minutes Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick arrived. The professors and Remus worked for hours to try and save Professor Snape. Harry had asked if he could help but was dismissed by Dumbledore, so the two kids watched the professors working hard to save the life of the slytherin. In the end the professors stopped working as they could do no more. He was still not out of danger but he was as stable as he could get.
As the professors looked at each other and the man in their middle, Professor McGonagall asked the question Harry and Hermione want an answer to too. "How come he is not dead? Voldemort would never let him leave alive."
Dumbledore took a moment to reply. "Lucius Malfoy brought him. I felt the need of someone to enter the castle, and made my way down to the gate not certain if it was a trap. The sight that met me was terrible. Lucius covered in blood, holding on to Severus. I still don't know exactly what happened but I will question Lucius shortly."
"You have Lucius here in the castle?" Professor McGonagall asked surprised.
"Yes."
"Are you sure he is not helping in the other Death Eaters entering the castle while we were all working here?" She asked in that stern Professor-voice she usually only used on students.
"He is not currently a thread."
So that was the first chapter. I hope you like it!
Charles and Septimus were never meant to take up so much room in this chapter but they are so nice to write. I don't remember what Septimus is actually called in Persuasion so I choose a name from the Weasley family tree.
