AN: MOre information about the creature and the curse, and a little time off. Thank you everyone who has reviewed!
"You will be of no use to anyone if you fall asleep on your research, Ms. Granger." Rubbing her eyes, Hermione looked down at the ink-stained page and drool she'd left on the page, Snape's eyes traveled over her words and rested on Dumbledore, underlined and written boldly.
"You think Albus had something to do with this? Another goose chase Bill Weasley has prompted." She didn't like the tone of his voice, the accusatory way he made it seem like they weren't doing legitimate work, that they had run out of academic considerations and were resting their hopes on the small chance that Albus Dumbledore was the one who copied the map, that his story of finding the map was a ruse when he brought it to Minister Drakas, a diplomat at the time.
"It is not a wild goose chase, we are simply trying to understand the connection with Scotland." Slowly packing away her notes, she took with her a copy of the story Basil the merman had told her, and then put her bag across her body.
"Scotland is a distraction, focus on the legend, the information that pertains directly to this curse and the impetus." He folded his arms, appearing so much taller that way, but she couldn't be made to feel as slighted as she had before, all of the pity she'd felt for him before drained away, as did the color from her face.
"Of course we're considering all of it, every possible scrap of knowledge to understand, and if we can determine if someone from the UK had an answer or even a possible key to some of these runes and languages we barely know, then how is that wasted time?" Quickly shoving one more loose scrap of paper into her bag, she edged around him, not wanting to fight, but he followed her, as though compelled, and when they reached the doors to the museum, he finally spoke.
"We've been researching this for longer than you've been alive-"
"And have come to zero conclusions that have ended the curse nor taught you more about the creature. I would say at this point you should welcome any effort to help, Professor Snape." But she knew she'd gone too far, even calling him professor and saw it in his eyes. They filled completely with his rage, his own failings being pointed out made him furious.
"You are a fool, young and impetuous as always. You are here to research, to help those who are in charge and spending time on this foolish margin-line information is a waste of resources at best." She walked away from him completely this time, trying to stop herself from doing or saying something she could not take back. Instead, she apparated to his home with Harry, and tried not to think about how disparaging his words were.
"I feel inadequate here, Harry, I want to go home." She tried to let the experience of getting to speak with the merpeople, to visit them in their home, wash over her and take away all her feelings of inadequacy, but it was more difficult than she'd thought.
"Well, this has absolutely nothing to do with our work, but it might cheer you up." Harry shoved a letter under Hermione's nose and she knew immediately it was from Ginny.
"Oh, Harry, congratulations!" She hugged him tightly, his dream of a family was becoming real, Ginny confirmed her suspicions that they were expecting. Holding him fiercely, she watched as Bill and Snape arrived, having their own stilted argument.
"Bill and Percy, Harry has some fantastic news." Hermione nodded to Bill, Percy, and Harry, then swept off, she showered and changed, putting on a light summer dress and sandals before going down to the dining room and finding everyone already eating. She sat quickly and quietly, pushing a curly tendril of hair behind her ear as she took a serving spoon and adding fish and capers to her plate, with a small side of pasta with what smelled like a buttery lemon sauce. She wondered how and why Snape was providing all of this to the research team from the UK, but instead of dwelling, she simply took a bite and savored the food, she loved everything she had tried so far, feeling that a life eating Greek food would have suited her quite well. Chatter happened all around her, but she simply enjoyed her food and wine, until she looked up once and met Snape's eye, his eyes bore into her again, as though all the righteous indignation he'd worked up before still remained, brimming on the edges, his eyes so dark she could see little white. But, as usual, she had misinterpreted his anger and prejudice, he was more worried about her safety than he could convey.
"There's a bit of a party in the village to celebrate the birthday of St. Barnabas, would you like to join us?" Percy asked Hermione, she broke eye contact with Snape, she knew she should stay and work, to find something to bring to the table in the morning.
"Come, you shouldn't work all the time." Bill added, his silly grin reminding her of years before, when he'd been hurt by Fenrir Greyback and how Fleur had embraced him and called him brave, it hit her heart how lonely she felt suddenly, her eyes glazed for a moment and she felt foolish away from them, she tried to leave the table without anyone noticing.
"I'll just freshen up." She barely made it to the hallway before tears began earnestly, behind the door of the room she was still enamored with, she tried to calm herself down. Looking in the mirror, she found her cheek red, stained with tears, and the glamor she'd put on the carving on her arm and along her chest, a gift from Dolohov in the Department of Mysteries, reappeared. Strengthening her spells, she applied some eyeliner and sprayed a bit of perfume before one last look.
"Stop being a fool, Granger." Pep talk over, she joined the men downstairs and they walked into the village. She found Ravi and Paulo as soon as they walked into the main square, both with beautiful women on their arms. Tapas and drinks were offered at all the markets and restaurants, so much delicious food and drink, Hermione could hardly take it all in.
"Dance with me?" Ravi asked her, his glorious dark eyes and curly brown hair, flecked with hints of early gray hair made her entirely happy to take him up on his offer. His arm at her waist was a new sensation or at least one she hadn't felt in years.
"Your hair down, it is heavy?" He asked, taking both hands suddenly and lifting it from her neck, just as curious as most to what texture they would find upon touching.
"Yes, but it's been up all day and it's clean, it's not so humid tonight." Her smile was genuine, her pleasure in being adored for a moment was abundant.
"It's soft, so unlike your nature." Hermione pretended to be offended but she knew Ravi was right, she was made of hard edges and determination, the mass of curls on her head was a contradiction.
"It is, I agree, but I supposed Mother Nature hoped I'd have one thing to lure the opposite sex." They both laughed, Ravi spun her around a few times, his hand resting on her hip as he turned her.
"You have no trouble I am sure luring men, Hermione." But she looked dumbfounded, aside from a flirtation with Viktor Krum, a disastrous time with Cormac McLaggen, and a failed relationship with Ron, her dating life had been abysmal. "Look, over there, they are watching you, even your sour Master Snape." When he turned them, she saw Harry and Snape speaking, Snape watching her, but she could only see remembered the exact look from her youth, the sour mouth and squinted eyes, except in this climate his hair was different, he'd cut it short and he almost looked as Greek as Ravi. For a passing moment, she also saw the hint of something else, almost like worry.
"He despises me and so do most, I'm bossy and I have to be right, I'm working on it. Tell me about you, Ravi." The music slowed a bit and he took her hand, they walked to the edge of the jetty, the spray of the ocean and slight breeze made her contented. When they rested against the ancient rocks, it seemed like the freedom she'd not realized she wanted was in the breeze.
"I grew up here, my father and mother studied these maps when I was small, my wife," at this Hermione's eyes went wide," died two years ago, she contracted a pox while we were studying in Budapest. I haven't quite recovered from that, you see." Hermione leaned forward and kissed both his cheeks, her hands on his shoulders, and hugged him tightly, she knew that his heart must be incredibly pained, especially when she felt his arms circle her waist and hold her like one would a child in anguish. She didn't quite know how to explain her sorrow for him, so she let him go and moved to lean on the rocks next to him.
"I'm so sorry. I bet she was glorious." He immediately conjured an image for her and she recognized the woman immediately.
"Is she the minister's daughter?" Her hair was the color of honey, her cheekbones sharp, her body lythe and her sheer essence was so intense Hermione could hardly look away.
"Yes, her youngest daughter. This is the first time we've worked together since then, I've always been sure she places blame on me for Beatrix's death. Here is our son, Philip, he's at Beauxbatons." Hermione immediately saw the resemblance between them, but Philip was definitely his mother's son, his hair and eyes matched hers so equally, Hermione could hardly look away.
"They are descended from sirens, you should hear Filla sing." It all made more sense, then, why Filla, Beatrix, and Philip were so alluring, their genetics had intended them to be.
"I'm sure Minister Drakas is glad you are here, I know I welcome those around me related to those we've lost, it somehow makes it easier sometimes." Hermione watched his facial expressions change a few times before she looked back from where they were sitting and saw that Harry had come to find her. After squeezing his shoulder, Hermione joined her quasi family and went back into the square, dancing once more with Ravi, then Harry, before she sat with Paolo and talked about his experience with the magical community Italy, she'd always wanted to visit Milan and Florence, ancient cities she'd only studied in books. When it was very late and she was a bit tired not only from dancing but from the delightful wine, she started walking back to Snape's house and found him on his way back as well.
"You should not walk alone, Ms. Granger." Crossing her arms to mimic him, Hermione stopped for a moment.
"I have a name, you know, it's Hermione. You are no longer my teacher and as we are colleagues, it would be nice to not have to feel so formal around you." His pursed lips reminded her of Professor McGonagall for a moment before it changed into something she recognized as well, his infamous scowl.
"We are not colleagues, you have been asked by your government to help with a very specific activity, I just happen to live here and-"
"And cannot be bothered to...oh, nevermind, it's hopeless with you. My government? Ungrateful-"Muttering,she stomped on ahead of him but instead of going directly to her room, she went to Harry's, but he wasn't yet back, so she sat on her balcony and looked out over the water, the stars and brilliant moon, and walked closer to the edge, looking out to sea again because she saw something move in the water, something so large it couldn't have been a whale, though she couldn't a fathom a whale so close to the shore, she grappled with the image.
"You've seen it?" She heard from her right, a hint of the whimsical in his voice, of the magic she'd first felt years before when she cast her first spell, tested her first wand. The innocence of his voice made her wish they hadn't had another unnecessary spat.
"What is it?" Hermione was far from scared, she was intrigued, she wanted to be out to sea, she wanted to know what was deep within the waters.
"That's why you're here, Ms. Granger, we need you to speak to it." Rolling her eyes at his continued use of 'Ms. Granger', Hermione turned completely to her former professor.
"And you said Scotland wasn't important." She joked, suddenly piecing some things together, the sea monster, the runes, the ancient texts that they were having such difficulty translating.
"I did not, I said Scotland was a distraction."
"Without Scotland, I might not have pieced it together. I need to sober up and get to the museum, I need Bill and Ravi, Minister Drakas has the scrolls...I-" But Hermione knew she would have to wait until the morning, at best she and Severus were the least intoxicated and there was no telling if Bill had even come back since Fleur was due to arrive on the island that evening. Instead of rushing into her room and looking over her things, she watched the sea, imagining for a moment she was back at Hogwarts and this was the Black Lake, the giant squid playing games with their eyes like the sea creature was.
"It was Hagrid, right?"
"I knew you'd get there." She was confused, if Scotland had been a distraction, how was she ever to figure out that Hagrid had copied or at least had a copy of the map.
"You make no sense, Master Snape, I'm afraid you'll always be a mystery." Laying her head on her arm and looking from the sea to the man, she saw him differently again, the child he must've been, the childhood he didn't have, the teenage years he gave up to bullies, his whole life in service, was he really a mystery?
"Perhaps you should spend less time trying to solve that particular puzzle and more on your job, Ms. Granger." She thought of Ravi and his wife, the picture he'd shown her and how beautiful Beatrix was, she thought of Harry and Ginny having a baby, a sweet baby she could spoil and be an aunt to, how much she missed her parents, especially in a place so close to her ancestry, it all made her sad again and tears came. She wiped her eyes and went to bed, not looking to Snape again, not giving him the satisfaction of his being right once more.