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Secrets Chap 3

Returning home the witch sighs and glances around her quiet house. Shaking herself Hermione carefully makes her way through the dark, needing no light to guide her way. Absentmindedly drying herself she grips the stair rail and heads upstairs intent upon checking on her guest. Gently opening the guest room she pokes her head in and lets out a soft sigh as she sees the sleeping form of Draco Malfoy.

Crookshanks head pops up as he stares at his mistress but makes no move to leave the unconscious Slytherin. Making note of the school trunk at the end of the bed, Hermione enters the room and grips the blanket tucking it around her cousin's shivering form. For a moment she simply stares at the boy, struck by how utterly helpless he looked in his sleep. Blinking back tears the Gryffindor turns her head and leaves the room, heading back downstairs.

Replaying her father's words in her mind the woman enters the room that serves as her library. It was magically extended to hold as much as was needed and she had made sure to properly ward the room to protect each book. Before she had attended Hogwarts the library had been overflowing with various muggle books and important paperwork. Once she began working magic she had worked hard to add more books to the collection. Separating them into various sections she had found that many muggle books held pieces of truth compared to what was in the magical world and thus she had continued to add more books of both natures.

With a flick of her wand she lights the fireplace not far from the large writing desk, placed across from the door, and takes a seat in the cushioned chair. Pulling a small beaded bag out of her pocket, Hermione sighs and flips open the blank book beside her. Tapping the sturdy paper with her wand, titles and authors begin to appear as well as corresponding letters and numbers that revealed where each book was shelved. With a nod she pulls open the small bag and begins to pull books out of it, stacking them on the desk before sending them to the shelves as they are magically added to her list.

When she had been told of the upcoming plans Hermione knew she needed some way to ensure information would still be available. Add to that the fact that Hogwarts would fall to darkness once Dumbledore died she had taken it upon herself to empty the school library of all restricted books and any others that would prove useful. The Headmaster had granted his approval, even adding his own books to her stacks. Leaning back she watched as the last of the ancient tombs flew to the stacks, disappearing among the many rows.

Hermione pulls out a piece of parchment and a fountain pen, a habit formed from not wishing to deal with an ink well and soft quill. Bending her head over the paper she hurriedly copies down everything she can remember people saying about Sirius' death. There wasn't much truthfully, generally they simply said he was dead. It was Remus who granted her the most information by saying Bellatrix hit him with a spell and he fell into the veil. However, he never actually said what spell it was she cast if it wasn't the Avada then there was a chance he still may live. Or if it was the Avada then she had to know if he fell before or after he had been hit.

Frowning at the parchment Hermione glances at her record book and once more taps it. "Reference Veil and Death Chamber." She states clearly watching as the book list fades before being replaced with new listings. Scribbling down the item codes she rises from her desk and heads into the stacks. If there was a chance to save Sirius Black then she would have to first learn everything she could about what he fell into.


Hermione jerks out of her sleep and lifts her head off of the open book as she looks around blearily. "Huh?" A familiar warm hand rested on the back of her neck and the Gryffindor girl lets out a small moan as long fingers tighten slightly smoothing away some of her muscle tightness. "Morning already? How did it go last night?" Hermione asks looking up at the man that was looming over her seated figure.

"I was late, but not the last to arrive." Severus states smoothly, glancing over the open books as his hand rose from its position on Hermione's neck to wrap itself in her hair. "I don't suppose this inane research has anything to do with the flying tennis ball in your dining room? Draco's quite tempted to feed it to that monster you call a cat."

"Pig is here?" Hermione asks shoving her chair back and hurriedly rising to her feet intent upon reading Remus' reply. However the girl's movements are halted when the hand wrapped in her hair pulls her head back, lips descend upon her own and Hermione moans once more as the Potions Master kisses her.

Now, Hermione is no idiot, she was informed of Severus' past and she knows well enough that he still loves Lily Evans, it doesn't bother her much because at this point in time she isn't looking for love. Hermione was always aware of Severus Snape's presence; wherever the man went he exuded a calm power and smooth voice that attracted attention. When they begun working together the teenager, well adult as she had already turned seventeen by that time, decided to pursue her interest and had informed her Professor as such, much to the man's sardonic disbelief. Of course, once Hermione Granger-er Black, has something in mind she pursues it relentlessly and in the end she obtained what she wanted. As of this moment the pair has only kissed and petted a bit, neither seemed to have the time for a proper coupling and generally it was Hermione that initiated physical contact. Considering the fact that Severus Snape was currently holding her hostage by her hair and, well- devouring her mouth, pointed to the fact that his night with the Dark Lord had disturbed him at the very least.

When she was finally released Hermione sucked in a deep breath, or at least she tried too, the kiss left her panting a bit and the Gryffindor felt her head spin. Severus' hands were now resting on her upper arms, holding her steady while still keeping her trapped. "What happened? He did believe you when you told him Harry's departure date, right?"

"He did." Severus answers, tilting his head slightly as he examines the witch in front of him. "He was angry that Draco managed to escape but he had other matters to entertain himself with. Charity Burbage is dead." The Potions Master finally states, tightening his grip as Hermione's knees threaten to buckle.

For a few moments neither moved as Hermione attempted to swallow the news, taking another breath she lets it out slowly before giving a sharp nod. "Right- right, there's nothing we can do at this minute. There's a war to win and others who can still be saved, I'll cry later." The witch states, straightening slowly before blushing as her stomach rumbles.

Severus snorts and relinquishes his hold on the girl choosing instead to open the library door and motion for her to exit the room ahead of him.

Hermione's lips quirk in amusement as she walks past him. "If not for the fact that you just ravaged me in my own library I'd think you were quite the gentleman."

"Cheeky witch." Severus mutters following along behind the girl as she walks to the dining room only to stop so as not to run into her frozen form.

The dining room was already set for breakfast, a fried breakfast from the looks of it, and Draco was sitting at one of the placemats eating already. Crookshanks was batting at Pig while the small owl hooted happily not realizing he could very well become the cat's breakfast himself. However, what stopped Hermione in her tracks was the house elf standing at the end of the table holding two letters in her hands. "You brought a house elf here?" Hermione demands furiously glaring at her pale cousin who merely snorted.

However, it was the house elf, wearing what looked like drapery of some sort who answered. "No Missus, wes serves only Lady Black! Kreatcher says time to bond sos we do!"

"The Black fortune is immense." Severus states from behind the girl, placing his hand on her lower back as he gently shoves her into the room. "You didn't really think it only contained one house and one elf?"

"But- shouldn't you belong to Harry then? Sirius left everything to him." Hermione asks sinking into a seat that Severus pulls out for her and taking the letters from the elf.

Draco rolls his eyes and swallows some of his juice before answering for the elf. "They're bound to the female heir, cousin, as part of your dowry." The blonde states, his title for her sounding a bit forced.

"Oh, what's your name then?" Hermione asks looking the elf over quizzically.

"I is Pebsy, miss." The elf answers before disappearing as Severus takes his own seat.

Hermione fought the urge to drop her head onto the table at this new development and instead chose to exam the letters in her hand. One was from Remus most likely answering her questions from last night and the other was written in the same handwriting as the note in the fake locket meaning her father had written her. Hearing Draco's snort Hermione glanced at the boy only to find his attention on the floor. Look down as well Hermione 'eeps' and jumps from her seat grabbing Pig away from Crookshanks before the cat managed to swallow the ball of feathers. "Bad cat!" The girl admonishes clutching Pig as he tries to escape her grasp. "I'll be right back." Hermione informs the two Slytherins as she hurries back to her library.

Once safely enclosed in the magically enhanced room Hermione releases her grip on the owl and commands him to stay close as she rips her letters open. The one from Remus was an answer to her question as well as a few questions of his own but Hermione felt her heart soar when she read that the spell Sirius had been hit with was red and not green. Sitting the letter aside to answer later Hermione opened the one from Regulus Black and carefully read over it.

The locket was destroyed thanks to the use of Fiendfyre and Kreatcher had managed to retrieve Hufflepuff's cup from Gringotts. Apparently, Bellatrix use to gloat about how much the Dark Lord trusted her, thus Regulus was able to figure out where the next piece was and Kreatcher's elf magic was able to slip past the goblin's wards. Regulus also took time to go over simple pleasantries and questions before mentioning a family spell he'd read once in the Black library.

Hermione bites her lower lip as she pulls out her library catalog. She was vaguely familiar with the book having filched it, among a number of other Black books, that were to be destroyed during the cleaning of house Black summer. After all so much knowledge had been lost throughout the years when others saw fit to destroy books simply because they didn't agree with what was listed in the pages that it was a shame to allow it to happen again. "Blood summoning." Hermione states tapping the book with her wand and going over the formatted list before pausing as she finds the call number she was looking for.

It was a few minutes later that Hermione finished penning a note to Andromeda and Nymphadora begging them for a meeting and explaining her theory on Sirius' survival as well as outlining a possible spell that may help him return. She quickly sealed the letter before turning her attention to Pig. The small owl had somehow managed to get tangeled in her hair and Hermione let loose a growl as she yanked on her curls to try and set him free. Sniggering from the doorway causes the witch to turn her narrowed gaze on her blonde cousin. "Shut up and help me get this blasted bird loose so I can eat something."

Draco Malfoy's smirk widened even more as he sauntered across the room, glancing about curiously before grabbing the feather-ball and gently, surprisingly enough, untangling her hair. "You should have let your beast eat him."

"Probably." Hermione mutters in agreement tying the letter to the owl before grabbing him heading back into the dining room. Hearing Draco follow she breezes past the breakfast spread on the table and forces a window partially open before tossing the bird outside and slamming the window shut. "There, now I can eat."

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