AN: I do not own Harry Potter and I write for enjoyment and others. I do not make any money from this. Voldemort is victorious and the world begins to slip…
Chapt 4
Luna and Neville waited outside their cave waiting for Hermione to arrive back.
"Do you think he killed her?" Neville whispered.
Luna noticed the white light exchanged between Severus and Hermione. "I don't think so."
Hermione arrived suddenly, falling out of the sky and landed on her back. She got up rubbing her lower back. "I hate Port keys."
Neville rushed up and hugged her. "I thought he was going to kill you. He was so angry finding you more than us." Tears brimming in his eyes. "I don't know what we'd do if we lost you."
Hermione frowned. "The Polyjuice potion that I made is not due to wear off for hours."
Luna shrugged. "Probably the Port key. Professor Snape's idea to keep us from sneaking back in. Yours wore off as well."
"Come inside. I nicked the two bottles of Firewhiskey off the table while he was busy with you two."
They followed her into the cave and listened to her tale, sipping Firewhiskey.
Neville jumped up and paced. "This is it then. Voldemort really has won."
Luna jumped up and held her husband. "Calm down love. We have our son and while we are alive there is hope."
Hermione watched the couple wistfully. At least they had each other and their son. She had no one. All she knew were dead with the exception of Neville and Luna. She briefly thought of giving up and settling into the Muggle world.
Hermione drank one glass down after another of the fiery liquid, soon becoming accustomed to its bite, numbing her. She intently continued, skipping over the pleasantly numb part of drinking instead aiming for oblivion to stop her thoughts from whirling around. Stop her despair. Stop her loneliness and self-pity.
In the meantime Luna led her husband to the couch and sat down. They watched Hermione without a word until she slumped over and passed out with an incoherent mutter.
Luna whispered. "Leave her there. She'll be fine in the morning."
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Severus went to bed that night and dreamed of the destinies revealed to him. He no longer could see exactly what happened, merely glimpses whirling like a kalidascope. The one hundred witchs, Chorozon laughing madly at the fear in Voldemorts eyes as he slowly devoured him, black creatures rushing into the night. The whole world slowly slipping into dark despite the sun.
One place. The end and he was there with Hermione and the Longbottom's at the only bright spot left on the planet.
Her screams when thousands of the dark creatures surrounded them and devoured her friends.
He turned to her. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
She took his hand and smiled, kissing him andthe white light flashed bright. He bolted out of his bed, shaking like a leaf. Rushing to his cabinet, he pulled out a phial of Calming drought and drank it down, his breathing slowed and he suddenly realized what caused his attack. He was in love with Hermione Granger and that was why the world would end.
Running his hand through his hair which was drenched in sweat he headed to the shower to wash away the sweat, knowing he would not be able to go back to sleep.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Hermione woke up, clothes drenched in sweat and her head pounding. What strange jumbled dreams she had. It must have been the result of the drink and what she found out the other day. She moaned out in pain. Luna laughed and Hermione growled for silence, barely moving.
"Your hangover is going to be rough Hermione. You drank one bottle all by yourself."
"Don't remained me." Hermione moaned out.
Luna handed her two pills and a glass of water. "Muggle paracetemol is all I have."
Hermione took the pills and drank the glass of water. "I'm going to my room now to see if I can sleep this off."
"I'll tell Julius to keep quiet."
Hermione was not seen for the rest of the day.
The next morning Luna woke early and found Hermione sketching. That was a good sign as she often did it throughout the years to keep her preoccupied.
Luna sat down next to her. "What are you sketching Hermione?"
Hermione shrugged. "I had a strange dream when I was drunk and I am trying to make sense of the bits and pieces I remember."
Luna picked one up with dark creatures against a dark background. "Looks like your dream was unpleasant." She remarked and placed it back on the table and reached for another. This one was black with the strange dark creatures surrounding two shillouetes together in the middle of what looked to be bright light.
Neville and Julius walked in and sat down. Luna tousled Julius's hair before moving to the fire and began breakfast. "We're almost out of food. Amazing that we've managed to make it last ten years."
Ten minutes later Luna came back with a platter of bangers and scrambled eggs. Hermione watched Julius noting how big the boy had grown in the last few years. He would be eleven in December. Oh Gods! she realized.
"Mum, okay if I swim at the lake for a bit?" Julius asked.
Hermione interrupted. "I feel like a swim myself Julius. Wait for me at the shore and I'll join you after I have a word with your mum and dad."
Julius smiled. "Sure Auntie Hernione."
"I've just realized something that will put us in danger next year." Hermione spoke when the boy left.
Neville looked questionly at his friend.
"You and Neville are Pureblood. What happens when Julius turns eleven?"
Neville immediately saw where this was going. "The Headmaster looks in the Book and letters are sent out informing the student of their selection. Oh Merlin! Julius will get his next year because he was born in Britain."
Luna looked alarmed. "Snape will notice it and track the letter to us. He will have no choice but to kill us in case Voldemort got wind of it."
"I'm going to the lake and swim. Think of a plan and I'll do the same."
Hermione went to the lake and found Julius waiting impatiently. "You need to learn to be patient Julius."
Julius jumped in the water. "I'm patient now!"
Hermione jumped in behind him laughing as she splashed him.
Two hours later she let Julius beat her in a race to see who would make it first back to the cave.
"You win again Julius!" Hermione panted out.
"I know you let me beat you." Julius laughed. "Mum I'm going to take a nap so I can be ready for Aunt Hermione's Science class."
"Okay dear." Luna called out. "I'll wake you when its time."
"Thank Merlin you wore him out Hermione. We need to plan." Neville whispered.
"So what have you come up with Neville?" Hermione asked.
"We will need to move and leave this place, keeping it as a fall back just in case. We're out of food anyway." Neville replied.
Luna spoke. "Our plan of gathering people for a resistance is out too. If Voldemort gets wind of it, his Deatheaters will be upon us before you could snap a finger. That potion binds all to him so there is going to be nothing but positive things coming out of Britain. No one would believe us."
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. So far what the thought was in line with hers.
"We will go to France and wait for it to fall to Voldemort. Snape will soon follow with that black potion to administer to the population. I'll talk to him about Julius." Hermione muttered tapping her finger. "We'll live close to the French Ministry of Magic. Voldemort will administer the potion there first and spread out. We need money…."
"I forgot I have money. The sale of my parent's house and their business." Hermione whispered, her heart tearing apart. She had not thought of her parents in years. "I placed it in a muggle bank and told them to invest how they saw fit."
She stood up. "I'll go to London and move it to a French muggle bank and then look for a house in France. If I'm not back in a week it will mean I am dead and you are not to look for me and leave this place."
Neville stood up and hugged her, with Luna joining them. "Good luck Hermione. If you are not back in two weeks we'll leave. It's going to take you three days to travel to England."
Hermione went to her room and quickly filled a backback with a few changes of clothes and came back wearing her moleskin pouch. "I'll walk a ways before I Apparate so Julius will not be disturbed."
Neville watched Hermione leave and Luna pulled him to her. "I need you Neville." Luna whispered softly and held his hand.
Neville led her silently to their room.
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Hermione stood against a building watching the muggles hustle about. She forgot how busy London was. She looked at her watch. The bank would be open in ten minutes.
Moving to a café she sat down and ordered a cup of tea. She cursed that the bank was located across from the telephone box that was the public entry for the Ministry of Magic. The proximity made sense at the time. She wondered if it was ever used with Voldemort now in power, no doubt isolated Wizarding Britain from the Muggles
Her tea arrived and she used the ten pound note her father gave her at the entrance to Platform 9 ¾ in her first year.. She remembered his words that ten quid was enough to get her home from that location and stressed that she never used it unless she needed to come home.
She felt the hair on the back of her neck raise up, feeling she was being watched. Looking around she did not note anything out of the ordinary until a dark robed figure sat in the chair across from her.
How the hell did Snape know she was here? Before she could ask the waitress came to take his order.
The waitress came back with a cup of tea. "Here you go Father. That will be two pounds."
Before Snape could pay, Hermione handed the waitress two pounds so the waitress would go away.
"Thank you My Child." Severus sneered and sipped his tea. "I told you to stay away and you took a Vow."
Hermione smiled back. "I've not entered Wizarding Britain Headmaster Snape. Why did she call you Father?""
"You're close enough to it." Glancing at the phone booth. You're lucky I am the only one that uses that entrance now." He growled out. "As for the reference, my robes make the Muggles think I am a priest. I find it handy from time to time and I do not have to change."
"How did you find me?" Hermione demanded.
He decided he would not tell her of the tracking charm he put on her to alert him when she was close by. "I sensed you and here you are. I wonder why you are here. Just like in school, always disobeying and rule-breaking. You've not changed and it seems you are eager for death Miss Granger. I should haul you to My Lord and have it be done with since you ignore my warnings."
"Meeting you is a godsend actually." Hermione murmured back and sipped her tea.
Severus barked out a laugh. "You amuse me Miss. Granger. Why would one of the last three wizards on Voldemort's top ten wanted list want to have the High Inquisitor find her?"
Hermione gathered herself. "Because two of the last three wizards have a son that will be eligible to attend Hogwarts next term." Hermione barked back, pleased that her words silenced him.
Severus leaned back. He never considered the witch would have a child. With Neville Longbottom no less? She kept herself isolated he mused. It could be possible.
Hermione knew what her ex-professor was thinking. "Don't be daft Headmaster Snape. It is Neville and Luna Lovegood's son Julius. He was born here and not registered just before Voldemort won. We left as soon as Luna was able to travel."
Severus leaned back, cup of tea unforgotten. "I understand your concern. I've never been able to find you and always suspected it was Miss. Lovegood's Fey magic. Voldemort cannot control the Fey so he commands that they be killed when found. But the Book would allow me to place a Trace on the letter and I could arrive with my fellow Deatheaters to announce the happy news."
He leaned forward. "I'll check the Book but I will not risk getting caught trying to get word to you."
Hermione smiled. "I've thought about Voldemort's conquest plans and realize his next target is France to launch him to gobble up Europe now that Britain is under his control. I've money there from when Voldemort murdered my parents. I plan to transfer it and go to a muggle place close to the French Ministry of Magic and watch." Pointing to the bank across the street.
"I'm surprised you trust me." Severus remarked.
"I know I can trust you because you did not turn us in." Hermione replied back.
"You can trust me enough that Voldemort is not focused on you for now. Go about your plan and when it is announced that Britain and France join together find me as the witch you Polyjuiced yourself into and I'll pass my findings to you."
Severus finished his tea and stood up. "I'll be on my way."
Hermione stood as well. "It's a lonely life isn't Father, to have no one to trust or confide in." Realizing the muggle waitress was trying to listen to their conversation.
Severus glanced at the waitress and forced the Imperious charm to move her away.
"You really were the brightest witch of your age Miss. Ganger. I do not need to answer your remark as it is obvious you know the answer to it. Good day!"
She watched him leave and sighed with relief. The next time they would meet he would have an answer for her.
The business at the bank was taken care of, pleased when the young accountant went over her account telling her that they gained her an additional 250,000 pounds from investing the original 500,000. With his help she moved all except 250,000 pounds and told him to continue investing as the bank saw fit.
She left the bank and travelled to Paris the Muggle way just in case she could be traced while in the UK.
She purchased a cottage in Paris 13Eme Arrondissement,Paris,fr. It was close enough for what she needed.
Making sure the French bank settled everything she was ready for the three days travel back to her cave.
She arrived back and all hugged her. "Everything is set and we can leave tomorrow."
"Is it true that we are leaving here?" Julius asked.
Hermione knelt down and hugged him. "Yes Julius. You are coming of age and we want to prepare you."
HGSSHGSSHGSS
Severus arrived back at Hogwarts and found Julius Longbottom listed in the Book for the next term. He never looked at the Book beyond the given term not noting names unless they were Muggle-Born and sent Deatheaters to kill them.
He flipped the pages forward, growing alarmed at the decrease in names until twelve years later none appeared at all.
He flipped back to Julius Longbottom's name and tapped his name to remove it. The Headmaster had control over the Book and Julius Longbottom would create questions that he would not care to be called out for in the future. He closed the book satisfied. Julius Longbottom would not be attending Hogwarts.
The end of the world would be in twelve years.