Obscuram per Obscurios
Summary: It was in the midst of the final battle scouting for Death Eaters, that Hermione came across Snape, left to die in the Shrieking Shack. Enraged and grief-stricken, she took on hell itself to save him. So what now? What could be scarier than Voldemort? For Hermione, loving the dark hero. Rated M for later hotness.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, their universe, or Matchbox 20, much to my disappointment.
A/N: Thanks be to those who have reviewed so far, I'm hoping to get a lot more in the future, and even better if my story [or me as an author] get put on the 'receive alerts' list, lol. Two more chapters to go, then I have another much longer one in the works that just needs an ending. Enjoy!
Chapter Nine
If you're gone- baby you need to come home,
Oh come home
There's a little bit of something me
In everything in you
She hadn't gone far. With the towers that'd once housed the students [except for the clever Slytherins] near destroyed like most of the castle, those remaining had taken whatever they could- her own temporary quarters only feet from the medical ward as the apprentice mediwitch. But as she hadn't left there in close to two days, it hadn't proven a problem so far. She lay back on her bed, hands in her tousled hair, biting her lips and trying not to think of the kiss, or the kiss-er.
The old Snape never would've done such a thing, Hermione thought, a little lost. Never would've shook her grip on reality and question everything she knew of admiration, friendship, lust, love… To him, she'd been nothing but an insufferable know-it-all he occasionally shared a meal with or indulged with a debate on potions. He'd tolerated her, barely, not wanted her. She might've amused him in some ways, when she wasn't infuriating, but that was it. The old Snape had never inspired these intense feelings. Except maybe in dreams. Not that they'd happened that often…
Respect, awe, fascination, yes, but affection or desire? His keep-away looks and persona almost forbid it. This other Snape… Severus, It was too complicated to fathom. If he hadn't been leaving, would she have stayed, kept kissing him? Would she have been less afraid to explore these previously undiscovered facets of his personality and their new connection? Or would she have still chickened outWas she more scared that she could remember what he was like before as well as after, or that it was too easy to forget it?
If things had just gone back to normal, what would've happened? Would she be relieved or upset, just plumbing the depths of her feelings now? 'Quit fooling yourself, it'd you'd be upset, you've had knowledge of his body pressed intimately against yours, the feel of his mouth on yours [thrice now], both souls intertwined in the astral plane… You couldn't have gone back to what it was.' The witch banished the voice. She was in over her head. "I've got to say, Granger, you sure don't do anything in half measures," a rich, arrogant voice breezed into the room with its owner, who plunked down in the plush velvet chair across from her.
Hermione sat up with surprise, but automatically quipped, "Professor Snape wouldn't allow for anything else. You learn to adapt. What're you doing here?" The platinum blonde flashed a self-satisfied grin and she briefly marveled how much more open and carefree he looked- she finally got why he was so popular with the girls [and even some boys] in the castle. "You didn't change the password attached to the rooms after moving in. I spent almost a month here recouping after Father found out I wasn't going to be taking the Dark Mark 7th year."
He'd said it so casually. Like it was nothing- or so commonplace it didn't affect him anymore. She felt a pang of sympathy for him anyway. Her parents had been very loving and she'd had the impression, up until now, Lucius Malfoy treated his son like a prince. She'd had no idea. "Right, silly me. So what's this about half measures?" she said in a bored tone. He laughed. "My godfather, of course. I haven't seen him like this in… well, ever." She raised an eyebrow quizzically, waiting for him to elaborate.
"The Dark Mark is finally gone and it's like it never existed- he truly is like a new man. He smiles real smiles and jokes with me, the pain in his eyes is gone and the tensed, hunched sloop of his shoulders that made him look even older than his 39 years is too. Quite a feat, giving a man a new lease on life and de-aging him a decade or two. We both owe you a lot," he finished more seriously. The weary witch shook her head, "Like I told him, nobody owes me anything. I had for my own reasons for saving him and that's that. It's nothing more than he deserves, I was just doing my part." "Really, so you would've done the same thing for… say, Moody? Looney Lovegood? Longbottom definitely, right?"
She couldn't answer and he had a knowing look. "That's all well and good, Granger, but for us Slytherins it's a matter of pride to repay what we feel a debt, however small. And we're very careful about who we become indebted to in the first place and why. What you did goes beyond imagining, so you're stuck with it. You need something, anything, say the word. That's not something I offer lightly." As before, with a look, something in his face and tone made her reconsider and she argued no further, just nodding in acceptance. He seemed pleased. "I'd ask if you could make him stay here, but I know this is what he needs," she sighed broodingly, knowing she wouldn't have to explain who she meant to him.
"He has so much to share, or teach, but he didn't really enjoy it, did he? Nobody appreciated his talents or genius to take him seriously in class. Though Merlin only knows it could've saved countless lives. He did it out of obligation to Dumbledore and to preserve his status as a double agent. It'd be selfish to trap him here." There was a considering light in the Slytherins eyes that she didn't see, staring at the wall, and his voice was changed when he said, "I know of at least two people who did learn and appreciate. And believe me, it made all the difference." She flushed. "I doubt it. You've heard him in class, all the disparaging remarks. I'm just an insufferable know-it-all who's sole purpose was to torment him. Now it's like he feels obligated to tolerate me."
Right, Snape was great for showing favoritism. And he never picked on his own house either," he scoffed and Hermione stuck her tongue out at his sarcasm. "Sev was tough because he had to be, for his cover and so those he taught would stick it. 'What hurts, often instructs.' A favorite quote of his. Potions is dangerous business. And he was hardest on the ones he thought had the most potential. He even thought Longbottom had potential because he was brilliant at Herbology. But don't tell him I said that. Weasley was another story though." Her uninvited companion snickered and she narrowed her eyes for only a second before giving into it too. Ron truly was hopeless. But she sobered when she picked apart his words to find the parts aimed at her.
He knew she took all her lessons to heart and thought she had great potential? He didn't hate her? A greater part of the tension coiled in her stomach eased. But it didn't change much, he was still leaving… Then what did she have? As if he'd been reading her thoughts [and she wouldn't put it passed him], Draco replied, "Just because he's leaving Hogwarts and no longer teaching doesn't mean he's gonna defect to Bulgaria or the Americas or something silly like that. His home is in England. Whether it's the southernmost regions or Hogsmeade, he'll always just be a floo away. If there's anyone in the world who knows the value of a promise and keeps it, it's Sev. You think I learned my sense of morals and honor from Father? If he said 'friend', he means it. Unless he means more," he added with a roguish grin, making her flush.
Wide-eyed, Hermione just took in everything he said with careful consideration. The humor of the situation did not escape her though- at odds with Ron who now acted like a hateful, self-righteous bigot, and getting along with someone who used to be the embodiment of 'Pureblood Superiority.' Or so she'd thought. Who would've figured? He was charismatic, entertaining, intelligent, and they were communicating civilly. This wasn't the same Draco they spent eight years hating and fighting. And to think she used to say she was such a good judge of character. She overlooked so much.
"Besides, you won't be apprenticing forever. You're extremely smart, and more powerful than most would've thought. You'll no doubt finish in half the time or less, like Sev did, and be out of here yourself. Plenty of room there to grow with him…" The way he put everything, she felt extremely silly for overreacting as going into panic mode. "I told Scarhead I'd help with the plans to reconstruct the castle though, so I should get going before dinner." She nodded, off in her own world with so much in her head. But there's one more thing I think you should consider, Granger," the boy said firmly. 'A lecture from Malfoy,' she thought with a small smile. Priceless.
"Unless you fooled us all and went to the dark side, which I doubt, you wouldn't have been able to do the 'spirit of vengeance' thing on Voldemort or save Sev without the ultimate power- love. The only thing stronger than death. I never thought I of all people would have to school 'the brightest witch of her age,' especially on this… But you hiding out here sulking instead of talking to him proves it. And if he hadn't felt the same, or was otherwise connected to you, you wouldn't have been able to ground his soul and that ritual would've failed. That ritual, by the way, was based on an ancient hand-fasting ceremony and created by a young bride who too soon lost her soulmate. One thing I had to admire about my father, he knew his charms. His books were all spelled to show him what he needed when he needed it." Then the young lord was gone, and her head was spinning.
