DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. .
A/N: Please read "SAVELIUS" chapters 1-9 before reading this story. Thank you!
CHAPTER 13- TWO BOYS FROM THE FUTURE.
"What do you mean you're not going back and you're staying here for good?" Hermione asked frantically.
"Hermione, calm down!" said Severus beside her.
Hermione, Severus, Savelius and Teddy were now at the sitting room of the Potions Master's office, having tea. Savelius just started to tell them that he came back... for good.
"I told you, things did not go well in my time when I returned!" Savelius almost yelled and Hermione could see the frustration in his eyes.
"But just because it did not turn out as you expected, coming back here is the right thing! You're ruining your timeline, Savelius!" said Hermione heatedly.
"It's already ruined!" he yelled back.
"Enough shouting!" came Severus Snape's firm voice.
"Hermione, Savelius, both of you, sit down! You're scaring Mister Lupin!"
The mother and son obeyed and Hermione saw anxiousness in Teddy Lupin's face.
"I'm sorry," Hermione and Savelius said together.
"Son, what do you mean, your timeline's already ruined?" asked Severus seriously.
Savelius stared at Hermione with blank expression on his face. Hermione wondered if he's angry at her. When Savelius spoke, it was addressed to her, not to Severus. "I came back only to find out that my father was bitten by Nagini on Voldemort's orders at the Shrieking Shack during the final battle. My mother rushed and gave him the antivenin but she was too late. The venom has spread faster because he was severely bitten on the neck as the Dark Lord wanted to make sure he dies. It was unlike Mister Weasley's attack. The Dark Lord only wanted to teach the Order a lesson, that's why he survived.
"I was raised as Savelius Granger and unlike when I first came here I discovered that my mother's friends know and accepted my parents' relationship. Harry Potter did not boast this time. The only problem was, my father died even before he could marry Mum. Draco Malfoy was one of my godfathers. He was in love with my mother for a long time and he proposed thrice. My mother finally married him and became... Hermione Malfoy." Savelius spat the name bitterly.
To say that Hermione was shocked is an understatement. She was feeling different emotions at the same time.
Looking into Savelius's eyes, she could feel his frustration and feeling of helplessness. He traveled and meddled with time to save his father. He spent a hundred days here with him... with us, thinking that when he returns, his parents are married and happy together. Oh my Savelius... Sweet Circe, what's happening with our lives?!
Hermione felt her own frustration. If she was being honest, since she learned that Savelius's dot on the Marauders' Map says 'Savelius Snape' and not 'Savelius Granger', she half-expected to end up with her potions professor.
Well, I did not. I ended up with Draco Malfoy in Savelius's timeline. Why am I feeling disappointed? Am I disappointed because I ended up with a Malfoy, or because I did not end up with my son's father?
"I thought, you have a good relationship with Draco and he raised you as his own?" asked Severus carefully.
"He did," Savelius said with bitterness. "He was a good godfather. But since I was sent her to meet you, to get to know you, were you expecting me not to hope that you'll be in my future? Dad, I spent a hundred days here, working on that damn antivenin to save you and when I returned, I found out that you're gone... despite of having that potion, you still died! I was still a Granger. Don't you understand? I was expecting to see you alive when I return! Not dead!" he practically yelled, but Severus did not look offended.
"But Savelius, what will happen now that you've decided to come here for good?" she asked.
"Simple. We will prevent Voldemort," he said the name with disgust, "from gaining power and taking more innocent lives. Teddy took Harry Potter's memories of the Horcrux hunting and final battle. I stole my mother's journals and other useful possessions. We will end this war sooner," he said with pure determination. Hermione realized that it was the same look she had when she decided to take all subjects in third year. It was like saying 'nothing can stop me'. But Savelius was not talking about schoolwork. He's talking about war!
"Savelius! Do you realize that you're just an eleven year-old boy and you're talking about preventing a war?" she asked, a bit scandalized.
"Mum, I am from the future!" he told her. He turned to his left and gestured towards Teddy. "We are from the future! We're better than Seers!"
Hermione was bright enough to understand. "Of course," she muttered silently.
"Son, if I may ask why you brought Mister Lupin with you?" asked Severus.
"He lost his parents," he replied. "He also wanted to meet them. I decided that I will not go back for good without my best mate. We both wanted to be with our parents regardless of their age at this time."
Hermione slumped back on the couch. "Sweet Morgana. What will happen to us now that we're meddling with time..."
"I will have both of my parents. My father will not die and I will be a legitimate Snape!" Savelius replied.
"Merlin's wet pants! Son, you meddled with time for me!" said Severus in dismay as if he just realized it at that moment.
"And for my parents, as well," quipped Teddy Lupin.
Hermione and Severus looked at each other. "We must tell Dumbledore," said Severus.
"I am sure the boys are tired and want to get some sleep," she said. "Perhaps, we can inform the headmaster tomorrow?"
Severus shook his head. "I will inform the headmaster now and the three of you should get some sleep. Savelius, use your old room and share the bed with Teddy. Hermione, I'll escort you to your House."
.
Hermione woke up early the following day, though it was Saturday. She got a message from Severus through the locket that they will soon have a meeting at the headmaster's office and that she was invited for breakfast in his quarters.
Hermione dashed out of the Gryffindor Tower with Crookshanks, eager to get to the dungeons and see Savelius again. And Severus as well, she thought. When she arrived at the dungeons, she found Savelius and Severus on the breakfast table, already starting the first meal of the day.
"Hey Mum, join us!" Savelius said brightly.
Hermione smiled at the young boy's aura. He looks so much better now, compared last night, she decided. Perhaps, several hours of sleep and rest helped a lot, plus, he's back here with his father.
"Join us, Hermione," said Severus who pulled a chair for her beside him.
"Thank you," she said meekly and scanned the room with her eyes. "Where's Teddy?"
"At the headmaster's office, meeting his parents for the first time," replied Savelius with enthusiasm.
"Really? Remus and Tonks are here?"
Savelius nodded. "Yeah. Well, we were up very early. Dad took Teddy and me to the headmaster's office. We kind of explained why we decided to come back... We also provided him the memories which he promised he will let you— our parents—watch, so you can understand our actions," he explained.
"When can we view the memories?" she asked with a pang of anxiety.
"You can ask Albus yourself later, after his meeting with the Lupins," replied Severus.
Hermione caught Savelius give his father a hopeful look. "Uncle Moony and Aunt Dora are not yet married this time and you called them 'Lupins'. Does it mean we're 'Snapes'?"
Hermione looked down to hide her blush, pretended that she found something on her porridge.
"Only if you want to," she heard Severus replied.
"Of course, I want to!" came Savelius's enthusiastic voice.
No one spoke for about five minutes. The three of them, Hermione noticed, were focused on their plates. Severus was holding the Prophet while sipping his tea and Hermione pretended to read the label of the marmalade while eating her porridge. Only Savelius was smiling like he won the lottery.
He really looks glad to be here, she thought. When their eyes met, she returned Savelius's grin.
"I hope we could view the memories sooner. We've got to plan things carefully," she told him.
Savelius frowned for a moment, thinking deeply. "Well, I have few suggestions. You see, I spent a month there back home, planning and making sure I'll be doing the right thing," he explained, sounding like an eager Hermione Granger. "I already told the headmaster about these suggestions and he promised to consider them once he's done viewing the memories and reading the journals. But now, I have a very important matter to tell you." He also turned to Severus's direction. Severus dropped the paper carefully.
"What is it, son?" he asked.
"Your mother... Grandma Eileen, she's at the Granger residence in Bristol."
"What?" Hermione shrieked.
Severus also looked surprised, but said nothing.
"Eileen Snape was a victim of hit and run when grandparents Grangers found her. They were about to bring her to a Muggle hospital but they saw her snapped wand. They suspected that she's a witch, so they decided to wait for Mum to return home to hear her opinion. Gran Eileen couldn't remember anything; it was like she has amnesia."
"How did we recognize her, if she couldn't remember anything?" she asked.
"You went to Ollivander's with her wand, for identification. He told you that the wand belonged to Eileen Prince, the mother of your potions professor," replied Savelius. "At this moment, she's staying with your parents for two months already and they decided to call her 'Emilia', until you informed Dad about his mother."
"Do you think she's safe with them?" asked Severus who was still in shock.
Savelius nodded. "Yes, she is. But soon, you will have to hide her with Mum's parents." He turned to Hermone. "Told you, even if I did not come back to meet my father, you'd still be coming here in his office; you'd still become friends because of his mother, staying with your parents."
Hermione remembered that moment Savelius was referring to. She massaged her temples, as if it would help her to think properly. The Heavens have decided to bring Severus and me together, with or without Savelius's time-meddling, she thought.
"Mum, do you need a headache potion?" asked Savelius carefully.
She dropped her hands to her lap and faced him. "No. I just need to absorb all of these information you gave me since last night; so that there'll be a room in my thick brain for the Pensieve memories and journals."
Savelius's expression fell and he looked at her with guilt.
"No," she gently said, reaching for the boy's hand. "Don't feel that way. I will be fine and to be honest, I am happy that you are here."
He nodded and forced a smile. "I just want a complete family," he said.
"And you will have what you want," said Severus beside her.
After breakfast, Hermione, Savelius and Severus chatted a bit about the other timeline and took their most comfortable and preferred places in the library. Later, each of them had a book for light reading while waiting for the headmaster's call. Severus was not in the mood to mark essays or brew potions because anytime, they can be called away. Hermione decided not to go back to the tower and seek her friends because her mind's still busy thinking of the events since last night.
Horcruxes. Voldemort's pieces of soul.
Savelius revealed that Teddy asked for Harry's memories of the Horcrux hunting with Ron and Hermione. Once all of the Horcruxes are destroyed, Voldemort can be killed like a mortal wizard... So we only have to find the Horcruxes wherever they're hidden. But we're not yet of age... Hang on—
"You've got to stop pretending reading."
Hermione looked up and turned around, only to find Severus standing behind her couch. She placed a hand on her chest. "You scared me! I did not even notice you left your chair," she replied.
He sat beside her on the couch. They were very close; their knees and shoulders were touching. "I'm a spy, Hermione," he simply said.
"Makes sense," she said and closed her book.
"Nice move," he commented, looking at the book in her hands. "You've been looking at the same page for ten minutes."
She looked around and noticed Savelius's absence. "Where's he?" she asked to change the subject.
"Playing with the little monster," he replied.
"Crookshanks?" she asked.
Severus quirked an eyebrow, as if asking 'who else?'. "You have to relax, Hermione. Do not stress yourself."
"I can't help thinking! We've got to plan to stop this war."
"I know. Luck is on our side, Hermione. Have faith."
She sighed, looking very, very tired. She felt an arm on her shoulders and the next thing she knew, Severus pulled her close to him. She placed her palms on his chest and nuzzled the crook of his neck. "Thank you for comforting me, Severus."
"To be honest, we should not be doing this," he whispered and he sounds pained. "But I cannot help it, Hermione. You saved me from misery. You gave me two reasons to live my life and forget my horrible past... two reasons: Savelius and my mother."
Hermione's heart was melting, her ears are growing and the butterflies were back. She smiled. For a moment, she wanted to forget that he's her professor and she's his student.
Severus gently pulled away. "I'm sorry," he pleaded. "I forgot myself. You're still underage—"
"I'm seventeen," she cut him off.
Severus frowned. "Perhaps you mean, you're turning seventeen."
She shook her head. "No. Really, I'm seventeen. I started school at almost twelve because my birthday is September nineteenth." Severus nodded to let her know that he knows.
"In Third Year, I used a Time-Turner to attend to all of my classes. I spent an average of ten hours a day back in time to attend two classes at a time and study. On weekends, I used to spend extra twelve hours to sleep and eat. I did that for ten months in Third Year. I lied to Harry and Ron when I told them that I returned the Time-Turner. In Fourth Year, I used it again to study and help Harry, but Professor McGonagall warned me that I shouldn't use for the Triwizard Tournament. I've aged nine months, so technically, my birthday is December nineteenth, nineteen seventy-eight. It's my birthday today," she explained.
"Happy birthday," he whispered; his face only few inches away for hers.
She closed her eyes and half-hoping he would kiss her. "Thank you," she whispered back and made a sudden decision to tell Severus what she thought about earlier. She opened her eyes and saw Severus's peaceful face in front of her. His eyes were also closed. "After the holidays, I won't come back to school."
Severus's eyes snapped open. "Why?"
She leaned away from him. "If the headmaster would permit, I want to start with Horcruxes hunting. With the memories provided, I can easily track and destroy them. Voldemort will be weak as a mortal wizard without his knowledge. If the so-called 'Battle of the Department of Mysteries' will still happen in June to use Sirius and lure Harry, Voldemort can be killed right then and there."
"I doubt the headmaster will allow you to do that alone," he replied with a hint of displeasure.
"I can work with Remus and Tonks," she reasoned. "You will stay here and continue with spying. Make sure that Voldemort trusts you and he will not change plans. Keep Harry and Savelius safe."
Severus stood up and turned away from her. "You do not know what you're talking about! You can't just decide this instant," he said angrily.
"I didn't say it's my final decision!" she snapped. "I said, if the headmaster would permit. But surely, he will consider my suggestions."
Severus's back was on her. He did not say anything and Hermione decided he must be angry. With her Gryffindor courage, she approached him. She stood in front of Severus. "I'm sorry. I was just... tired. Exhausted. I can't help myself from thinking about this twice-damned war!"
"That's why you came up with the idea to hunt the Horcruxes and not coming back to school," he said plainly.
"Well I cannot fight while I'm here with Umbridge acting like she owns the school!" she said firmly.
"Why do you have to hunt the Horcruxes yourself? Leave it to Dumbledore."
"I have to do something to help Harry!" she almost yelled. "Ever since I became best friends with Harry, I swore to do my best to protect him. And I'm also doing this for Savelius! I want him to be happy."
Her brown eyes were met with obsidian ones. She couldn't decipher Severus's expression. Was he angry? No. He wasn't scowling. Was he mad? No. More like disappointed and... confused? Helpless?
"You're driving me crazy, witch!" he said with a hint of heartache.
She frowned. "Severus, what are you—"
He leaned forward and placed his hands on her shoulders. He closed his eyes. "Hermione," he breathed to her. "I'm giving you a chance to leave. Run. Away from me. If you stay, I'm afraid I will do something we'll probably regret in the future... to kiss you."
Hermione felt like her heart wasn't in place anymore. She could hear her own heartbeat, but her heart was jumping. Her stomach was rumbling. No, not rumbling. The butterflies were back, she decided. They're flying inside her stomach. As if her hand has its own mind, she reached for him; placed her hand to touch his cheek. "Then kiss me," she whispered.
And just like that, Severus Snape's lips crushed to hers. The kiss was gentle and chaste. But Hermione's other hand moved towards the back of his neck and pulled him closer. She returned the kiss and soon, it deepened. Severus's hands traveled down to her waist and pulled her closer, against his body. Hermione did not protest.
I'm not going back after the holidays. I'm of age. We're at war, her mind reasoned.
I just want to be with him... the father of my son; the man whom I'm in love with.
Hermione's eyes snapped open at the realization and she pulled away which caused Severus's shock. "Hermione, I'm sorry!"
She shook her head 'no' and placed her hands on her temples. She's in love with Severus Snape! Sweet Circe, what am I going to do? He's still in love with a dead woman, surely. Shite! She cursed in her mind.
"Hermione," he called gently and their eyes met. She could feel him entering her mind but it wasn't painful. He was gentle— as always. She couldn't hide it anymore. She doesn't have the strength at the moment to Occlude. She's too confused and jealous. When Severus finally pulled away from her mind, she fought her tears and walked away from him.
"Hermione!" he called before she could reach the door.
She stopped but did not turn around to look at him. "It's not what you think it is."
Hermione turned around and gave him a confused look. "Look into my eyes and you will find the answer," he said.
Hermione did. She looked into his obsidian eyes. Just like a Muggle film flash back, she saw it.
"Severus."
He turned to face the old wizard. "Headmaster?"
Albus smiled and Severus could see his eyes brimming with tears. "I am truly happy to see you slowly changing."
"Pardon me?" he asked, confused.
He shook his head. "When you came in and asked for permission to leave the castle, I thought you're going to Godric's Hollow... to visit her. You've been doing that every year since she died. "Go on, my boy. Open your heart to your son and Hermione. Good day to you," he nodded and turned away to hide the tears falling on his cheeks.
The memory faded. She wasn't sure if Severus closed it to make her leave, or she really left.
"I'm following his advice," said Severus, breaking the silence. "I've opened my heart to my son. Now, I'm opening my heart to you."
She smiled—the crooked smile. She wasn't sure if they both moved and met halfway or she stepped forward and ran to him or he moved and grabbed her gently. She wasn't really sure and honestly, she doesn't care. What matters at the moment is that, she's snogging Severus Snape for the second time.