-A-
September 2nd, 1993
Aurora stomped up to the hospital wing after supper without a single care who saw or what they had to say about it. She could feel her loose curls sparking and growing tighter, nearing a copy of Hermione Granger's curls when she wasn't angry. Aurora's eyes were narrowed, the deep brown growing black like her father's. And the scowl on her face was such a perfect combination of both her parents that even seventh years stepped aside with fear in their eyes as she passed.
Without hesitating, she entered the infirmary and marched straight to Draco's bed. The prat was awake, a book opened on his lap, on leg propped up to help keep it open. He was angled in such a way that he wouldn't see who was coming in.
"It's about time dinner got here." He started to say with that Malfoy sneer. "You what until I tell my father-"
He never finished the sentence. The very instant he turned his head, Aurora threw a punch hard enough that Draco went tumbling over the other side of the bed.
"You stupid, arrogant prat." She spat, and Draco scrambled as best he could with one arm, pain mingling with surprise as he did his best to face her. "Do you realize what you've done? Has your head been jammed so far up your arse that you really have no common sense, no human decency left?"
"What are you talking about, Rory?" Draco asked, finally managing to get to his feet. It had been the first time he'd referred to her in a familiar, colloquial manner since the Colin Creevy petrification the year before. Since then it had been Snape, or Aurora.
"What I am talking about is your belief that because you're a bloody Malfoy that you are superior to everyone and everything. I know you know that you just need to bow to a Hippogriff because of that time we ran into one in the wild. Remember? With Mum? And I know she warned you very, very thoroughly the kind of damage it can do if you don't show it the respect you deserve. But no. No, the mighty Draco Malfoy had to risk his neck, which Buckbeak easily could have ripped open, all to show up Harry Potter. Or maybe show off for him, because frankly I'm beginning to wonder." Draco paled at the implication, and while it registered to her, Aurora continued. "And bragging to your imbecilic house mates about how you could get Hagrid fired …."
"What do you care about the bloody oaf?" Draco demanded, his superiority coming back to him.
"I care because Hagrid has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I practically spent the first five years of my life living at Hogwarts. I have walked these grounds more than any seventh year, and Hagrid is practically an uncle to me."
"He's a half blood." Malfoy sneered, practically spitting the words.
"So am I!" Aurora shouted.
At once, it felt like all the air had left her lungs and her heart stopped. She didn't mean to say it. She'd known her proper blood status since she was four years old and had heard the dreaded "M" word tossed around by Uncle Lu when he hadn't realized she could hear.
Her father had noticed, though, the observer he was. He'd spotted her in the shadows of the hallway heading toward the washrooms from the playroom down the hall. He acted like nothing had happened, not giving even the slightest hint she was there. He explained after what it meant. "It's a terrible word for people like your mother," He had said. "Muggleborns. The people that use that word are typically of only wizarding blood and believe that they are better for it. Daddy has to pretend to like them, and even agree with them. But I do not."
"Why do you have to pretend to hate mummy?" She had asked him, confused and a little hurt.
"I don't." He had said, tapping her nose. "Mummy pretends she has only wizarding parents so no one tries to hurt her, with words or otherwise. But we must not tell. Remember what I told you about secrets?" Aurora had nodded. "It is a big one. I am a half blood."
"Because of Nana?" Aurora had asked.
"Yes. My father was a muggle. Mummy's mother and father were both muggle. She is muggleborn, and you are a half blood, because you have magical and muggle blood." He had explained. "But we must not tell."
She never had to say she was a pureblood, it had always been assumed. It hadn't really even occurred to her that her blood status actually mattered until last year, and she intended to keep it a secret.
But now she blurted it out, her emotions out of control and allowing her anger to stop common sense.
Draco was utterly confused, stuttering and stammering as Aurora shook with fear and adrenaline.
"How?" Draco finally asked. "I know Uncle is a half blood, but he renounced his filthy muggle heritage. And besides, to be a half blood, Aunt H would have to be …." The pieces finally seemed to fall into place. "She's a mudblood."
"Is she?" Aurora asked with a shaky voice. "Is she really? Because until two minutes ago she was your pureblood Aunt with a great family heritage. A witch you looked up to and admired." Draco frowned, looking away as if trying to reconcile the idea as much as he was trying to separate his Aunt into two people. "I'll leave you that to think about." She said in a clipped manner as she tried to keep herself together.
The Aurora Snape that made her way from the hospital wing to her father's rooms was a much less terrorizing one. No one paid her any mind as she went down to the dungeons.
She opened the door to her father's office, finding it empty but the doors to his rooms revealed, and opened a crack. Laughter was coming through it, but the sound didn't register to Aurora as she approached the door and pushed it open.
It led immediately into the sitting room, the hallway to the bedrooms and the loo on the opposite end, next to the door that led to her father's private labs.
Her brain told her she should be surprised to see Professor Lupin sitting in the arm chair, an empty plate near him on the coffee table and a goblet of wine in his hand. She also realized she should be surprised her mother was on the couch next to her father, for they had never visited her Dad this early in the year. She noted Leo in the corner reading.
"Rory?" Her father's deep voice cut her revere, and seeing his gentle, questioning gaze on her, the concern on her mother's face, made Aurora's own visage crumple.
"I made a terrible mistake." She chocked out as the tears sprang free.
"What happened, Poppet?" her mother asked gentle, and through the tears, she noted the blurred image of her mother coming toward her. "Anything that happened, you can say in front of Remus," Her mother said gently as she wrapped her arms around Aurora's shaking form. "He's a friend, and he knows at least that I am also here at Hogwarts as a student. So what ever happened, I'm sure it's fine for him to hear as well."
So Aurora told them, as much as she could between sobs. And while it wasn't a long story by any means, it felt as if it were.
"I'm s-so s-s-sorry." She hiccupped. "I d-d-didn't mean … it's just …."
"Calm, Aurora." Her father said, stern but not unkindly. Aurora attempted a deep breath that turned into a shudder. "Hermione, I think it's time that we …."
"Why don't you tell her, love." Her mother suggested. "It would be best if she heard it from you without Remus or I trying to give our perspectives or thoughts."
"I can leave if this is a family matter." Professor Lupin offered.
"Stay. You and H have a lot to catch up on, I'm sure. And I'm afraid Leonidas is still too young to hear this anyway."
"I'm eight!" Leo declared, indignant.
"And your sister is older, and this is the first time she's hearing it." Her mother had chided with a hint of amusement while Aurora felt her father put his arm around her shoulders and guide her toward the lab.
Aurora hadn't been in the room often, but with the exception of twice, it was never when he was brewing. He shut the door behind them and guided her toward a stool. Wood, but comfortable, likely because of cushioning charms, and always just the right height for her to see the bench once seated, but easy for her to climb on. Her father sat beside her, turning so he was facing her. The first thing he did was produce a handkerchief, handing it over so that she could dry her eyes.
With a serious, resigned sigh, he placed his left arm on the work bench with the palm of his hand facing up. Running his fingers along the buttons, he opened first his frock coat, and then the cuff of the shirt beneath. She knew what was coming as he rolled up his sleeve, but even still she flinched at the sight of the skull and snake on his skin.
"You are a very smart, brave girl." He said. "But much like your mother, your emotions get the best of you. It's human. It's normal. You, I believe, do have some of my innate ability to hold things in, but even I erupt once in a while, so do not hold blame over yourself for what happened.
"But now it is more important than ever that you have a full understanding of why your mother chose to hide her muggle heritage when she fell through time, why it is still necessary for you to pretend you are pureblood, and why you should really attempt to sway Draco's opinions while he is away from his father's influence, and before Hermione Granger disappears from Hogwarts forever."
"What's that got to do with your tattoo?" Aurora asked in a small, quiet voice.
"It's the Dark Mark, Rory. It is the symbol of the Dark Lord, and a sign that I am one of his most valued Death Eaters, and a member of his inner circle. It is the mark of a man who believed in blood supremacy, and Dark Magic."
"So why do you have it?" She asked.
"Because I was, am, a spy. Because when I was only a few years older than you, I'd suddenly caught the attention of all the wrong people, and someone sought to use that for the greater good. I had been swayed from temptation to even contemplate honestly joining their cause, just so I could have a place to belong, very early on in my fourth year. It's not all good, but it's not all bad. Are you ready?" He asked.
And after a moment, Aurora nodded.
—H—
September 9th, 1975
"Snape, Granger, stay back a moment." Moody barked as the class began to pack up from their lecture.
Lily frowned briefly before her lips curled into a smile. "Picnic by the tree." She said, touching Severus' arm briefly before giving Hermione a wave and following the rest of the class out the door. Moody watched them until the last one hurried out the room, then a flick of his wrist had the door slamming shut.
"You read the book?" He asked in his typically snappy tone. Hermione and Severus both nodded. "Good. We meet after dinner, seventh floor corridor."
"Professor?" Hermione started to say, face crinkling in confusion.
"And make sure no one sees ya." He said briskly, then gestured toward the door. "Go."
Hermione and Severus left.
"Why does the seventh-floor corridor ring a bell?" Hermione asked, half speaking to herself and half asking Severus.
"I'm sure at some point, in some book, you read something about it. Now that mental index of yours is running through the library you've not doubt absorbed and retained, trying to find the answer." Severus glanced at her, a slight twitch of his lips.
Hermione grinned back at him, about to say something equally backhanded when she found herself suddenly falling the the ground. Her bag, open without her realizing, launched her books across the stone floors, her ink pots and quills following suit.
She felt the sensation of magic surround her just a moment before she felt Severus' hand on her shoulder. Turning her head and shifting slightly, she noticed he had his wand out, pointed in such a way that it made her think of hold an arm out in defense. She was about to ask what he was doing when a flash of light dispersed in front of Severus as if ….
"A shield," She whispered, shifting around and finding her legs were stuck together. Pulling out her wand, she whispered the counter curse before getting on her knees beside Severus. "Where are they?" She asked.
Hermione noted he was indicating the direction they came from just before another blast of light flashed before them.
"Snivellus is being a bloody coward." Peter laughed. "Hiding behind a shield.
"Come on, Snivellus. We know you're just itching to fight back." Sirius taunted.
"Oh no, he's gone soft." James jumped in on the taunting, all of them still unseen. "New robes, actually cleaning his hair? I think he's actually attempting to assimilate being human."
Hermione shot her wand out, sending the first hex that came to mind in the direction James' voice came from. It hit the wall, making a loud cracking sound on impact.
"What's going on here?" Remus' voice came from behind, and Hermione glanced over her shoulder to see his confusion as he looked between where she and Severus were crouched.
"Ah! Moony!" Sirius cheered. "Just in time to join the fun."
Remus' confusion vanished, replaced by shame as he came forward and stood in front of Severus. "What sort of fun were you thinking, Padfoot?" He asked, crossing his arms and looking around the corridor.
Seeing the opportunity, Hermione reached for Severus' hand and tugged it lightly. Eyes still trained to where Remus and the other Marauders were, he nodded once. Slowly, they got to their feet, walking backward a couple steps before turning. It was only when her back was turned that Hermione allowed the wince.
"Remus, they're getting away!" Peter whined.
"Good." Remus said, and then added just before they turned to corner, "Wait for me outside the class. I'll explain to Professor Babbling why you were held up."
Once out of sight from the marauders completely, Hermione hissed through her teeth in pain.
Adrenaline and being on the ground prevented her from realizing how hard she hit her left knee when the leg-lock jink hit. Now, trying to walk on it, she was limping painfully.
Without a word, Severus shifted his messenger bag and reached in one hand, pulling out a bottle from within. Hermione took it, noting the blue color.
"I don't think I need your extra-strength pain reliever." She replied.
"You're tugging my hand violently with every step. Weak as your knee may actually be, you won't limp quite so badly if there is no pain." He said, gesturing to the bottle. "Take it."
Reluctantly letting go of his hand, Hermione paused and leaned against the wall so she could unstopper the potion and swallow it back. Like so many potions, it tasted vile.
"Tweaked the formula, but couldn't make it more palatable?" She asked through a grimace.
"Adding anything to make it taste better would compromise the effectiveness." He replied, taking back the bottle. "Bob never complained."
Hermione snorted, about to retort, when Remus rounded the corner. He took in the scene, glancing between Severus and Hermione, then to the bottle in Severus' hand, and the way Hermione was holding her leg.
Hands balling into fists, Remus said, "I should have done more than take away points."
Severus snorted. "Yes, well, I do not believe there is that much power behind a prefect badge." He sneered, offering his arm to Hermione so they could continue on to Runes. She took it, ignoring the happy lurch her heart made when she slipped her hand into his elbow and suppressing the grin that wanted to explode onto her face.
"I should talk to them." Remus said, falling into step with them on Hermione's other side. "Tell them they properly need to stop. And not just with you, with everyone. But especially you."
"That may have been helpful five years ago," Severus said. "But you were too busy silently following the lot and getting in a pot shot or two."
Remus would have likely replied if it hadn't been for them arriving to the classroom door.
As Severus escorted Hermione to their seats, Remus made good on his word to explain to Professor Babbling what had happened. What was more, his annoyance hadn't faded from his tone as he spoke, causing a murmur of interest through the fifth-year class. It wasn't just Gryffindors and Slytherins, but the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws as well. And with the marauders having picked on people from all the houses, the appearance of one breaking rank seemed to get attention.
—H—
While James, Peter, and Sirius were still busy interrogating Remus over his perceived faux pas earlier in the day, Hermione and Severus slipped out of the great hall and made their way to the seventh-floor corridor.
"How's your knee?" He asked her as they climbed the stairs at a pace that was likely slower than he'd like.
"Well I'm still not feeling any pain," She replied with a wry smirk. "But I can feel it's weakened and bruised."
"And you haven't gone to Pomfery because …?"
"Exactly when would I have? Our day is not exactly leisurely. Runes, Potions and transfiguration after lunch. Though I suppose I could have gone up to the hospital wing during that break, it's not as though Lily would have missed me."
"No, I don't believe she would have." Severus replied, and Hermione could not tell from his tone if he was pleased or annoyed by that.
They continued up the stairs, nothing more said on other subject, and the silence continued comfortably until they reached the seventh-floor corridor. They paused and looked around before advancing a bit further.
"I don't see Moody anywhere." Severus noted. "And I somehow doubt he wants us to do these 'lessons' in the open, as it were."
"I swear I know something about the seventh-floor corridor!" Hermione said, annoyed at her own brain for not pulling forth the information she wanted when it mattered.
"As we established earlier," Severus said, looking up and examining the tapestries. He did so with a scrutinizing gaze, much like true aficionados of art work while in a gallery. Hermione turned away as best she could, pounding her forehead with her fist in a pathetic attempt to bring the knowledge to the forefront. She paced, slowly, and only for a short time as her knee felt like buckling.
She looked up and saw a door that hadn't been there before.
"Severus," She said simply, gazing at the door as a smile pulled on her lips and the answer came tumbling to the front of her mind. "How could I have been so stupid?" She asked with a shake of her head as he came up beside her. "Hogwarts: A History. I have read it more times than I can recall, and yet I'd still completely forgotten about the Come and Go Room."
"The what?" He asked.
"The Come and Go Room." She repeated. "Also known as the Room of Requirement. The room is supposed to pop up where it's needed most and provide the person or persons in need exactly what they require. A bedroom if exhausted, a medical room if injured,"
"A loo when one has too much pumpkin juice at breakfast." Severus added in a slightly mocking tone. "Can you explain anything without sounding like an utter swot?"
"Insufferable Know-It-All, remember?" She said, looking over at him.
His smirk made her chest tighten. "You make it impossible to forget." He turned his attention back to the door. "So, do you think Moody is beyond those doors, or do you think the room has simply decided we are in need of something we hadn't realized?"
"I say we find out." Hermione said, limping toward the door.
"Yes, let's just walk right into a room that popped out of nowhere, and could reappear somewhere else entirely, if it reappears at all." Severus grumbled.
"Don't want to be stuck in a room alone with me, Severus?" Hermione said without realizing. Her hand was on the door knob, twisting and pulling the door open before it sank in, and she blushed horribly as her mind realized how horribly it could have been misinterpreted. She was incredibly thankful, then, that Severus would not reply for on the other side of the door was Professor Moody, looking quite annoyed with being kept waiting while equally content in his big, plush arm chair.
"Took you long enough." He said gruffly.
"It was a bit hard to locate a room that apparently pops up where it wants to." Severus replied, stilted but not completely disrespectful.
"That's myth." He said, and Hermione's face crumpled. "The Room of Requirement is always right here, seventh floor. While we're here, no one can find us unless we want them to. We are undetectable." He then pointed to two chairs that seemed to appear from nowhere, each turned to face Moody. "Sit." He gestured, and Hermione and Severus both did so. "You read the book, I don't need to tell you the particulars of the 'what' or 'why'."
"Actually, Professor Moody, I would quite like to know the why." Severus interrupted smoothly. "Hermione has reason, that I can understand. But why teach me such a skill?"
"You're a natural. Would be stupid to waste a skill. More so, you're friends with her, she trusts you. You might help her if she gets stuck." Moody replied as casually as he seemed to be able to. "Now, both of ya, clear your mind. Picture a wall. Don't let me break it."
Without warning, Moody flicked his wrist and bore his stare down on Hermione.
She felt that niggle in her mind she had on the first day of his class much, much stronger. It was verging on painful as he seemed to eat away at the feeble attempt at the wall she put up. Like a damn breaking, all her thoughts and emotions of the last twenty-four hours were there for Moody to peruse.
"Knew those bastards were lying." He grumbled before he shot his gaze to Severus.
Hermione blinked, the pain easing slowly as she watched Severus' and Moody's mental battle. There was a slight crease between Severus' eyes, and his hands were in white knuckled fists. His cheeks began to pink before he grunted and turned away.
Moody chuckled. "You basically got it down." He said, "but that wall needs to be impenetrable."
"Why do I need one to begin with." Severus asked through gritted teeth.
"I was just in your head, boy." Moody replied. "You know as well as I do why it would be wise to keep what you know locked up."
Hermione frowned, glancing between Severus, who refused to look at her, and Moody who appeared completely pleased with himself.
"Not gonna go after your mind again tonight." He said. "Best thing you can do is meditate. Don't scoff, boy. Not enough wizards sit in silence and focus on what's inside. You focus on your mind, you focus on building something up, it happens." He then hoisted himself up. There were cracks and pops as his body shifted. "Stay here, focus, no chit chat." He limped stiffly toward the door.
"You're leaving?" Hermione asked, glancing at Severus to see a matching, furrowed brow on him.
"Dumbledore'll wonder where I've been." And without another word, Moody ambled out the door.
They were both silent for a long while before Severus said, "He doesn't want Dumbledore to know."
"No," Hermione replied.
"Why?" Severus looked to her and locked eyes with her as Moody had, though there was no niggling in her mind as though someone was trying to enter it. "Why hide this from the headmaster? Especially if it involves you. He didn't deny that he felt you had a reason to want to hide whatever's in that brilliant mind of yours, but why not involve the headmaster? Why bring us to an unplottable room when he was just going to leave us anyway?"
Hermione's mouth opened as her throat threatened to close. No, she couldn't mention the marauders map, apparently that knowledge was not meant to be shared for whatever reason. She didn't even want to attempt the truth. So, in he the end, her shoulders sagged as she shook her head. Severus' eyes narrowed as he turned his head away with a thoughtful tilt.
"We're supposed to be meditating," She said, shifting in her chair.
Severus' scoffed. "Do you see him here to ensure we do?"
"Severus." She warned.
But he didn't seem to hear her. Getting to his feet, he walked over to a desk that had appeared, a stack of newspapers on one corner, and a small collection of books on another. "Meditate all you like." He said as he shifted through the papers.
"Severus, what are you …?"
"The room gives the occupants what they need, so it should have provided me answers when this desk popped up."
Hermione swallowed the panic that threatened to overtake her at the thought of what kind of answers the room would provide. She sat, closed her eyes, and willed her heart rate to slow before she focused on trying to build some mental defenses.
She had no idea how long she'd been in her own mind before she felt a hand gentle touch her shoulder. Opening her eyes, she took in the frustrated and thoughtful Severus before her. His tie was a skew, and his hair had a stronger sheen and was thoroughly disheveled.
"We should go," he said. "It's nearly nine."
"That long?" She asked as she took the hand he offered and allowed him to pull her to her feet. "Did you find any answers?" She asked, not meaning to sound quite so snippy.
Severus smirked. "Not particularly." He replied, dropping her hand.
"Well?" She half demanded as he offered nothing further.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I believe I will keep what I learned to myself for a little bit."
With a huff, Hermione stormed over to the desk, looking at the papers spread out before her. A quick glance at all the dates she could see revealed that none were from the future. There were quite a few from the past, around the twenties and thirties, and even a few from the fifties, but most were recent.
"Are you willing to risk the loss of house points and detention for a few articles in The Daily Prophet?" Severus asked in a half-teasing voice, and Hermione's frustration mounted.
She caught a glimpse of an image of much younger (though recognizable) Dumbledore and a man on the cover of a paper, his name jumping out at her from the partly covered caption beneath. She wanted to peruse the pages, to read what Severus had, but the idea of having a detention with Filch for not making back to the dorm was not what she would call a welcome idea.
With an irritated growl, she turned and stomped toward the door, knowing Severus was walking close behind her. It didn't matter that her left leg dipped with every step as her knee gave out, she still made her way through the door and down the corridor while radiating the frustration of not knowing.
Severus kept pace with her, saying nothing nor trying to steady her. But here was there, hovering, and Hermione did appreciate it even if she was a bit annoyed at him. How hard would have been to just tell her? To say what he read instead of keeping it to himself? Was it that important? And why hadn't she just taken the bloody newspapers with her?
That made her stop, huffing in frustration with herself this time as she realized he distracted her with the possibilities of detention.
He came to a stop on the stop in front of her, and she still had to tilt her head a bit to look at him.
He had that calculating look to his eyes, one that brought a fleeting image of Professor Snape to the front of her mind before it faded.
"What I learned …." He began to say, trailing off to look around. His eyes narrowed on something down the stairs and to the left, and he took out his wand. "Muffilato," he whispered. A slight buzzing surrounded them before he spoke again. "What I learned is a reason why Moody doesn't particularly want Dumbledore to know he's training us, though I think it's me in particular that could pose the problem. Given my house, and the rate in which the Slytherins seem to find questionable company post-Hogwarts, I think I have an idea as to why Moody would rather I not know more than I should. Why Moody wants to train me regardless, I'm not sure I have the answers to that. What I do know, is, the Headmaster is casting stones in a glass house when he'd ought to be coddling the Gryffindors less and supporting the Slytherins more."
"You're not making very much sense," She smiled, and he quirked his lips.
"I wasn't trying to." When she smacked his arm, he gave a genuine grin. "I do know this: Whatever reason Moody thinks you need to have Occlumency, and I believe I have an idea as to why, he's right."
"And what idea do you have as to why I need to keep my mind safe?"
"I never give an answer I am not a hundred percent sure of." He retorted.
"And you call me insufferable." She grumbled.
Severus chuckled, and with a flick of his wand, the buzzing faded. He moved slowly down ahead of her, and then lead her back to Gryffindor tower where he stopped with her outside the portrait of the fat lady.
Hermione ignored the painted woman as she gapped between the two of them, shock and confusion making her look like a fish.
"I will see you in Potions tomorrow morning." He said with a bow of his head before turning and leaving.
Hermione watched him, unable to pull her eyes away from him until he rounded the corner. She sighed involuntarily.
"He's not what one would call a looker." The Fat lady remarked. "Not to mention that I'm fairly certain he has a thing for the pretty red head."
"Me too." Hermione sighed, looking at the woman who regarded her with sympathy. "Incipite Matura," She gave the password, and the portrait swung open.
September 19th, 1975
It 's just a day, just a normal day. There is nothing special about it. It's Friday, it's just past the middle of September. It's a normal day. You're just a bit older now, is all.
Hermione had been looping the inner monologue in her head from the moment she woke up. The normalcy of the last couple week had nearly made her forget. While the first day of classes had been brought a surge of sadness, the repetition of classes, meals, time spent with Severus and Lily, had pushed it away. Even the day before had been normal, and she'd nearly forgotten what the morning would bring.
But once her eyes opened to the sunshine coming in through the window, to the sounds of Lily, Marlene, and Alice getting ready for the day, she had to remind herself to not be down. She pulled herself out of bed, gathered her things, and headed for the upper-class girls' bathroom. She showered mechanically, dressed with her average amount of care, and gathered her things to head to the great hall. The girls caught up and surrounded her, Lily being firm that they include her in their entourage even if she didn't speak and Marlene still didn't seem to like her all that much.
They sat down to breakfast, and Hermione chose her toast and fruit with a heavy sigh that went relatively unnoticed. Lily had glanced over, frowned, but was distracted by the marauders coming in.
Hermione, then, did what she'd always done at meals when the obnoxious trio and their friendly, shy werewolf attempted to draw attention to themselves: she pulled out a book and read.
She'd wanted to read a classic as she usually did as a treat to herself, but keeping up appearances as a pureblood, she wasn't sure if Austen would be acceptable material. So she read her herbology text, covering the lesson she would be heading to after breakfast for the third time.
The shadows of owls passed over, and Hermione heard the squeals and giggles from her female house mates as the latest Witch Weekly was delivered, the slightly elevated chatter of fellow students receiving letters, and she turned the page before her.
"Hermione," Remus said, and she looked up to see what he wanted. He pointed to the sweet looking, familiar little owl that was perched just in front of her toast plate next to a tawny owl that was resting on a small rectangular parcel.
Her stomach twisted as she tried to tame her excitement, the urge to smile barely suppressed as she didn't dare to hope. No one knew last year, and she had said nothing. So why should she expect anything this year?
She took the envelope from the McGonagalls' little owl before giving it a piece of her toast, and then gave another piece to the tawny owl who hooted happily before taking off. Just as he took off, another envelope landed on top of the small parcel, but no owl landed for a treat.
"What's the special occasion?" Lily asked.
"Not special at all," Hermione replied, opening the letter from the McGonagalls. A small, slim box fell on the table, narrowly avoiding juice from her fruit.
Hermione,
My darling, sweet girl. I wish I had all the excuses in the world for not having found out your birthday in time last year. It wasn't until you returned to us for the summer that it had occurred to Bob and I that the occasion would have to be coming soon or else we had missed it. Minerva had to look into the school records, and I can't tell you the shame we all bore for allowing it to slip through the cracks, especially given how soon after losing your family it had been.
As you were raised in the states for the most part, I am aware that sixteen is a pivotal age there as seventeen is here. Not knowing which one would have been celebrated as such by your parents, we didn't want to fail you in the possibility that this would be it for you. Tradition, I was told, was a ring. We decided to do something a bit different.
Happy birthday, Hermione. We have loved having you in our lives and look forward to all the days together to come.
Warmest Wishes,
Delia.
PS-Bob felt horrible excluded and wanted to say he adores you too.
Hermione was trying very hard not to let a tear slip down her cheek as she finished the letter and set it aside. With deep breath, she picked up the box and opened it. Inside was a pair of tear drop earrings, silver on the stud portion and gold on the rest.
"Oh those are lovely," Marlene said, leaning over the table for a better look. "Not overly expensive or anything, I would say. Do you have a boyfriend?"
Lily seemed quite interested in the answer, and Hermione blushed and vehemently shook her head. "No, it's my, umm, birthday." She barely spoke the last word out loud.
"Oh! That's … wow, that would make you the oldest in our house for our year."
"I think it makes her the oldest in our year, period." Alice added in a quiet voice.
"Who were the earrings from?" Lily asked suspiciously.
"Delia and Bob," Hermione replied automatically. At the confused looks, she added, "My foster parents."
Lily seemed to sag with relief while Hermione moved on to the letter that had been dropped on the package.
Hermione,
Forgive me for not finding the information out earlier, not only as your aunt of sorts, but as your head of house when you were so new. September is always a busy time of year, with so many things going on as everyone gets settled. It wasn't until Delia had asked if I'd known when it was that I discovered that I had missed it entirely. I know I had, for it stuck out in my mind that you would have just missed being in the year ahead.
I cannot make up for my mistakes last year, but I would like to this year. Have tea with me this evening in my office, if you 'd like. Bring Severus and Miss Evans with you, if you'd like. You can simply let me know after transfiguration today.
Have a happy birthday,
Professor M. McGonagall.
Hermione gave a watery chuckle as she finished the letter. She looked to the head table and caught the eye of her head of house. She smiled and gave an enthusiastic nod which caused Professor McGongall's stern expression to falter for a moment as her lips gave a quick up turn.
Finally, Hermione reached for the package on the table.
Pulling off the paper revealed beautifully bound, slightly worn looking copy of Jane Eyre. She ran her fingers lovingly over the deep blue leather where the title was embossed in silver before opening the cover. A tiny slip of paper was tucked into binding, barely big enough to hold the spiky scrawl of familiar writing.
The Bronte sisters were average witches, except when it came to words.
Thumbing through the book, she noticed it was littered with Severus' scrawl. He pointed to passages he liked, made comments on parts he found funny or inane, and once in a while there was a herb or flower pressed between the pages. A small stem of lilac, a sprig of mint, a vanilla bean, a few other small bits that were not poisonous or would not stain the pages, but added a subtle and lovely fragrance that wrapped around her heart and held tight. In a strange way it was very Severus. She put her nose to the pages and took a deep breath, her thumb lightly caressing the edge of page where his writing rested.
"Someone gave you a used book for your birthday?" Sirius asked in mild distaste. Then he snorted, "I'm sure I know who gave you that. But then again, there are no grease marks on the pages."
"Shut up, Sirius." Hermione said without even looking at him.
"Well, I suppose it's appropriate for you." Lily said thoughtfully. "My birthday he enchanted a paper lily to smell and feel like a real one. Well, a bouquet of them."
"How cheap," James remarked. "But I suppose anyone who wears raggedy old robes probably wouldn't think that a girl as lovely as yourself deserves more than paper, right Evans?"
"Severus has new robes." Remus remarked, sounding bored. "Not that it matters either way." He then looked up as Hermione began to rise from the table. He gave a shy smile. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks, Remus." She replied as she stuffed her letters and the earrings in her bag. Once she had it shouldered, She hugged her book to her chest. "I'll see you in herbology." And with that, she left the great hall.
Overwhelmed she glanced around, wondering if maybe she should have seen if Severus was at the Slytherin table before she left. But if he wasn't she'd have no idea where he would be. The library, maybe? Or his brewing classroom? He hadn't been there yet this year, that she knew of anyway, and she couldn't imagine what he would start before heading to classes in the morning.
She paced, a few short steps, then a couple long strides, and repeated this three times until she noted him leaving the Great Hall alone just as she turned to face the doorway. He looked morose, hands in his pockets and head down with his hair curtaining his face.
Without stopping to think as to why this was, or what the repercussions would be for doing what she was about to do, she moved swiftly toward him. Colliding with him, she wrapped her arms as tight as she could around his shoulders, holding him to her body fiercely.
"Thank you," She said softly, her fingers caressing the stands of his hair near the nape of his neck. "Thank you so much, I cannot tell you what it means to me."
"It's just a book." Severus sneered, and she pulled back to look at him. His eyes were hard, cold, with a hint of pain.
"No, it's … it's more than I can possibly explain." She said, unsure why he seemed so distant. "The earrings from Bob and Delia? A lovely gesture should I ever find the occasion to wear them. But the book … It was a favorite of mine that I'd lost. And what's more, you read it and have given me a … well I'm sure it's riddled with comments worthy of you disposition. And yes, you wrote in it, and that normally drives me spare, but I know why you did it, and it's wonderful, and …." She embraced him again. "Thank you."
She hadn't realized he never hugged her back until she felt his arms come around her, light at first and twitching as though he would pull back any moment. But after a moment, Severus relaxed, his arms tightening a bit more, and he very quietly said, "Happy birthday."
"I don't even know how you found out." She asked as tears trickled down her cheek.
"I asked Delia one morning if she'd known. I suspect she hadn't known for long herself, given the way she blushed." He replied, and Hermione chuckled against his shoulder.
She didn't want to pull away, reveling in the feeling of being in his arms for the first, and possibly only time. This in itself, the reciprocation of physical affection, even if it didn't mean quite as much to him as it did for her, was the best thing she could have received for her birthday. Because Hermione had known herself too well from too young an age, and knew this for absolute certainty: she was in love with Severus.
It wasn't an infatuation like with Ron. Ron had been boyishly charming and one of her first friends ever. Severus was caustic, moody, sometimes cruel in both their current past and his future. He was not what one would call handsome, though to Hermione he'd become something beautiful. And he was loyal, more fiercely than Ron ever was. He was smart, he was her equal, and he was the dearest person to her.
Hermione loved him, and she was prepared for the consequences of it.
When he stepped back, Hermione smiled genuinely, if not a bit sadly.
Severus smirked, wiped the tears from her cheeks with a caress of his thumb, his eyes darting over her face.
"Aunt Min wants me to have tea with her this evening. She said to invite you. And Lily, which I imagine you would want." She said, her fingers caressing the pages of the book still in her hand.
Severus shrugged. "It is entirely up to you. Personally, I think it may make things a bit stilted, what with our being able to call her what we do in private, and Lily not having that same privilege. But then again, she is our friend. I don't think it would go over too well to exclude her."
"Likely not." Hermione agreed.
She wanted to throw her arms around him again, to kiss him soundly, but she didn't. "See you after you're done charms, and I'm done Herbology?"
"I will meet you at the doors, as well as Lily." Severus nodded. He looked, for the briefest second, like he wanted to say something else. But he turned and headed to charms quickly, his head held high and shoulders squared.
—H—
"Why are we going to Professor McGonagall's office when we can have a perfectly fine celebration in the common room?" Lily asked from the other side of Severus as the three of them made their way to the Transfiguration Mistress's wing of the school.
"Yes, I would be warmly welcomed in Gryffindor tower, treated as if I were a lion myself." Severus countered without a hint of malice.
"Fine, then. We could have had a quiet one in the library, or snuck up to that classroom near the hospital wing that you …." Lily trailed off, peeking around Severus just as Hermione glanced over.
She rolled her eyes at the knowing glint in Lily's eye, and the exaggerated way she clamped her mouth shut.
"Right," Hermione said, "Because Severus would want us to be around his experiments."
Lily's jaw dropped. "You know!"
"Of course she knows, Lily." Severus sighed with boredom as they turned the corner. "She is my friend as much as she is yours. Perhaps more." He said, and Lily narrowed her eyes at him. "She may be your house mate, but you spend more time with Twiddle dee and Twiddle dumb than you do her."
"What did you just call Alice and Marlene?" Lily huffed.
Hermione snorted, "That's actually quite brilliant, especially giving the name of the former."
Severus looked pleased with himself as Lily huffed and shook her head.
"Right, so instead of finding a different unused classroom, 'cause I'm sure there are actually quite a few in the castle, we are going to a teacher's office. Yes, this will be quite wild. Are we doing homework while we're there? Turning turtles to teapots?"
Lily's teasing did little to lessen Hermione's mood. She wore her earrings from the McGonagalls as a novelty for the day, and she hadn't had a birthday tea since before she started Hogwarts. Her copy of Jane Eyre still clutched in her hand. She hadn't parted with it since receiving it that morning, merely setting it off to the side during classes and when she changed from her school uniform to a simple dress. She had read it during meals, always moving the clippings Severus had placed to the previous page so that she wouldn't lose them. She'd even read it after dinner when the three of them had met up by Black Lake. She'd read with her head resting against Severus' leg, much like they had done just before the summer had begun. It would have been perfection if Lily hadn't insisted on copying her position against his other leg.
"If it's anything like Sunday dinner …." Severus had started, a slight curl to his lips which grew when Hermione smacked him.
"I doubt very much that this will be Sunday dinner." She replied as they came to the door. She knocked, and on McGonagall's call to enter, she turned the knob and was the first to step inside.
"Surprise!" Came Bob and Delia's voice along with Professor McGonagall's, and Hermione's heart stopped for a moment. She noted the glasses of Firewhiskey in Minerva's and Bob's hands.
"Not like Sunday dinner at all," Severus mumbled quietly, and Hermione gave him a second smack before running over and embracing her foster parents.
"What on Earth …?" She'd asked after giving Bob a quick embrace before moving on to Delia.
"I may have invited them after I knew you were able to accept my invitation." Minerva said as she opened her arms and welcomed Hermione into her embrace. "I'd have invited the clan, but I'm sure even Albus would have his limits."
"It's more than I was expecting." Hermione replied as she stepped back.
"Probably best for your office that you did not." Severus commented, moving to the small table off to the side and plucking up two goblets of what looked like wine but was likely only sparkling cider.
"Oi, watch your tongue, lad." Minerva mock scolded before a smirk ruined it.
Severus handed Hermione a goblet, then glanced at Lily. He hesitated for a moment before handing it to their friend, turning and heading back to the table to grab the third one.
"Oh!" Hermione said, shacking herself. "I'm so sorry, I'm being terribly rude. Bob, Delia, this is Lily Evans." She introduced her, taking Lily's arm lightly and bringing her closer to them.
"It's a pleasure," Delia greeted warmly, taking Lily's free hand. "Hermione's spoke well of you. Severus, too, when he happens to catch part of the conversation."
"You talk about me, Sev?" Lily asked with a grin, ribbing him when he came up beside her.
"When you are the topic of conversation," He replied.
The door to the office opened, and all those in the room turned to look and see who was coming in.
"Min. Been wondering if maybe we could …." Professor Moody Stopped abruptly, eyes scanning the room. "What's this?" He then looked to Bob. "What sorta trouble you tryin' to cause?"
"Can't a man come and give birthday wishes to his …." Bob trailed off and his brow furrowed.
Before he could think of what to say, Moody looked to Hermione. "Your birthday, is it?"
"Yes, sir." She nodded timidly.
"Explains the teacher drinkin' in front of students." He said, gesturing to Minerva.
"As of this moment, Alastor, I'm her aunt, not her Professor."
"Still didn't think to invite me, now, did ya?"
"Well yer here now. Scotch and fire whiskey in their usual spots, help yerself." She said, waving to a simple cabinet in the corner.
"Didn't bring a gift." Moody said as he hobbled toward the cabinet.
"Wasn't required." Minerva countered. "We gave her ours this morning."
It was then that a soft pop announced the table was now covered with food, most being Hermione's favorites.
Moody glanced at the table, took a quick look at the mostly French cuisine, and snorted. "Thought you were English?"
"Oh hush it, Al." Bob teased. "More to life than bangers and mash."
Minerva went about quickly transfiguring her desk to a dining table, and various objects to the same, comfortable dinning chairs Delia and Bob had in their home. Hermione sat at one end, Severus to her right, and Lily to his. Bob and Delia took the left, sandwiching Moody near the end with Minerva.
Dinner was, much to Hermione's amusement, like Sunday dinners. Professor Moody almost seemed to take the place of Malcolm in the banter between the McGonagall siblings. There was talk of various politics in the wizarding world, and more conversation on the Aurory than would normally happen.
"It's the fact that the ministry won't bloody do anything about these attacks when we all know who is causing it and why." Moody grumbled.
"Always had a stick up their arse, and you know it," Minerva said with a dismissive wave. "The fact you still keep goin' back for more…."
"You just couldn't handle the heat, could ya?" Moody teased. "Or maybe it was Urquhart that kept you away all this time?"
"Oh let's not bring up this topic," Bob grumbled between bites of his duck l'orange.
"What I don't understand is what these 'Death Eaters' want, precisely." Delia said, brow wrinkling. "And why they keep making shows of themselves."
"They believe in blood supremacy." Severus said, and Hermione watched nervously as Lily chewed her lip and Moody scowled at Severus. He, for his part, kept speaking calmly. "They think that we should not hide our nature, that the muggles should fear us. They believe anyone not of a pureblood background are weak, and need to be dominated. All rot, really, considering."
"You don't agree?" Moody asked darkly.
"You think I would because of my house?" Severus asked point blank.
"You're the only non-Gryffindor here, and you seem to know a lot about them."
"You're the only pureblood, and one can say the same for you, Professor." Severus countered. "However, my knowledge, like yours, comes from the nature of our life circumstances. You are an auror, teaching now though you may be, and have an understanding of their motives because of that. I am a Slytherin, I live with those who wish to join the Dark Lord. I, too, have acquired my knowledge through my position. It hardly means I agree with it any more than you do."
Moody studied him severely for a moment before a smirk broke the sternness. "Well played, boy."
"Shall we change the subject, then?" Delia asked after a moment of tension.
"I noticed you haven't been indulging in spirits." Severus said nonchalantly as he returned to his plate.
Hermione and Minerva both stared at Delia as she blushed nearly as red as her hair. "I hadn't wanted to say anything, given the day."
"You're not!" Minerva said, likely harsher than she intended.
A shy grin came over Delia, and Bob beamed as he gazed at her lovingly. "It'll be three months in two days. I didn't … it's the longest we've … and if something were to happen…."
Hermione choked back a sob, hands going to her mouth to try to contain the joy threatening to burst out, but not a moment later she was out of her chair and running around the table. She'd embraced Delia at the same moment Minerva had, both holding her loosely as if they were afraid to hurt her.
"I hope you don't think this means you wouldn't be welcome at the holidays, or during breaks," Delia said as she she started to sniff.
"Of course." Hermione said, turning then to Bob and holding him much tighter. "I'm so incredibly happy for you two."
"Thank you, Hermione. It means the world." He pulled back, smiling down at her before turning to Severus. "And you, boy." He said, making Severus startle. "We will be having a discussion, you and I." Severus' cheeks turned red, but he merely nodded once before turning back to his plate.
Lily leaned in toward him, and began whispering toward him. Their conversation was quiet, and much as Hermione wanted to know what was going on, she was too distracted by the conversation the McGonagalls were having. As the conversation turned toward labor and such, she drifted back toward her friends.
"They're her family, Lily." She heard Severus hissing quietly.
"Not really." Lily snapped back in equally hushed tones.
"Don't." He warned.
"But this is boring. And uncomfortable." Lily protested.
"Then leave." Severus countered.
"What? Are you honestly telling me you don't want to run back to the dungeons? You really want to stay here?"
"I like Bob and Delia." He replied, "And I would not be so rude as to walk away when he wants to speak to me. Regardless of the topic."
"Well, yeah. But can't you just, you know, pull him aside and ask what he wanted so you can go? Do you really want to hang around here all night? We could go out by the lake and hang out by the tree or sneak up to the astronomy tower."
"I don't mind." Hermione interjected. Both parties looked slightly caught out, though Lily quickly recovered and appeared as though she'd had a victory. "I can understand if you want to go, truly. Neither of you have to stay here on my account."
"I'm enjoying myself," Severus said, leaning back in his chair and lightly running a long finger over the cover of the book he'd given her where it sat on the table. He looked to it as he spoke. "And I'm sure Minerva still has dessert in mind. I'd hate to miss that."
"You're just full of cheek tonight, aren't ya?" Minerva said to him as Lily flushed the color of Gryffindor at Severus' far too casual address of a teacher. "Just bear in mind that I'll let it slide tonight, given this is a family affair."
"Then what the blazes am I doin' here?" Moody said as he stood up.
"You aren't leaving before cake?" Minerva crossed her arms as she turned to her colleague.
Moody made a face of utter disgust before turning to Severus and Hermione. "You two, same place as before, tomorrow at eleven."
"Yes, sir," They replied simultaneously. He nodded, then hobbled out the door.
"In case you lot do head out, Severus, we should have that conversation now." Bob said, beckoning Severus to join him on the other side of the room.
Severus rose, a calm exterior while something in his face betrayed how nervous he was.
Hermione had half expected Lily to make excuses to leave, but she sat firm, watching Severus like a hawk. Hermione sat in the chair he abandoned, twisting her fingers. "I'm sorry," She said, barely pulling Lily's attention. "Severus didn't think you would enjoy yourself but didn't want to exclude you either."
"Sev said that?" She asked with such hope that Hermione's heart clenched.
"Yeah," She said, unable to look at the joy in Lily's eyes. Her gaze fell to her book, and she picked it up and held it to her chest like a shield and a safety blanket all in one.
"Cake has arrived." Minerva announced, and Hermione shifted out of Severus' seat and back into her own.
She kept quiet for the most part, smiling and thanking them after they sang "Happy Birthday" to her, her ear picking up on Severus' deep, melodious voice even as he tried to make it the quietest of the bunch. Conversation was still easy, though Lily seemed to take up the mantel where Hermione was quite, speaking a great deal to the former Gryffindors about the goings on of their quidditch team and anything else that may catch their interest.
When the night came to a close, and the three students said their farewells, and headed out the office after Hermione was given another round of hugs.
"So, what did, umm … you know?" Lily asked, making circles with her hands as she raised an eyebrow at Severus.
He glanced at her, then to Hermione. "I would rather not say right now."
"Oh," Lily said, glancing around him to Hermione for a moment. "How about I meet you at our spot?" She said, stopping. "You can see Hermione back to the tower and meet me in fifteen minutes."
Severus raised an eyebrow, and Lily smiled before turning abruptly and jogging off somewhere. They had paused and watched her until she disappeared around the corner.
"She's going to land herself in detention." He said as he continued on toward the great hall.
"Why? Where's your spot?" Hermione asked.
"It's the tree where we all go when the weather's nice. It is, however, nearly nine o'clock. Curfew, which she will be breaking merely by trying to get there."
"Maybe she'll realize and ask you to meet her there tomorrow." Hermione asked, tightening her grip on the book in her hand.
Severus snorted. "I still won't tell her. I don't plan to tell either of you, not yet anyway." He shifted nervously. "It's merely an opportunity that a student doesn't happen upon often, and it would be utterly foolish of me not to take Bob up on his offer. I will not, however, say what it is until it is assured to happen."
"You do love being cryptic, don't you?" Hermione couldn't help the turn of her lips, for even in a somewhat glum mood she couldn't help but enjoy banter with her best friend.
"It does have its moments of pleasure." He said as they came to the top of the stairs leading to the dungeon. "I would walk you to your dormitory, but I don't wish to have an encounter with Filch. Something I would assuredly have if I attempted it."
"It's alright." Hermione shrugged.
He scrutinized her. "You were happier earlier, what changed?"
"Nothing." She replied too quickly.
"You are a terrible liar." He retorted.
"It was just something Lily said, is all. She didn't mean anything by it. In fact, it was actually completely innocent. It had simply reminded me of something."
Severus nodded grimly. He then reached out, putting his hand on her shoulder and giving it a squeeze. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know what. He turned, and the loss of him as he stopped away made Hermione panic.
"Severus!" He stopped and whirled around. Chewing her lip, she took the three steps needed to close as much distance as they could. "Would it be … I mean, would I be able to … a hug. Can I hug you again?"
He swallowed, and she hadn't really noticed that his Adam's apple was so predominate until she watched the movement of it. He twitched, and then shifted closer.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her nose as close to his skin as she thought she could get away with. The citrus from the duck lingered, nearly covering all those wonderful Severus scents that clung to him normally: parchment and ink, herbs from potions class and his experimenting. There was also his hair, which may get greasy as the day wore on but had a masculine scent that made her heart flutter and sigh with contentment.
His arms did not hesitate to come around her as they had in the morning, and held her with exactly the same ferocity as she held him at the moment. There was a gentle, barely noticeable tug to her curls that she realized meant her was playing with them. It made her hyper aware and numb all at once.
They parted when noise from the dungeons drew their attention, laughter as the prefects were heading off to do their rounds. Neither said anything, but waved to one another. Hermione looked over her shoulder every third step, even though he was gone after the first. She wasn't sure if she was looking to see if he would risk Filch to meet Lily, or just trying to catch a glimpse of him.
Lily hadn't been long returning to the tower after Hermione, and was followed quickly by the marauders. She said nothing to Hermione other than goodnight and one last "happy birthday" before turning in for the night, offering a genuine smile before closing her curtains.
Hermione stretched out on her bed, reading a bit in her book before deciding to skim through. She smirked at Severus' more acerbic commentary, as well as his humored observations, until she came across one of her favorite parts.
" Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you."
The passage had been underlined, drops of ink splattered and nearly blotted out the words one the edge of the page. Hermione skimmed the remainder of the chapter, sure to find a snide comment on how Jane should have known what Rochester was hiding. She was positive he would mock the strange romanticism. And yet, there was nothing through the whole proposal, nothing for Jane's disbelief of Rochester's strange reaction to her acceptance. In fact, the only note for the rest of the chapter had been at the end.
The brat gets her out of bed because a tree was struck by lightning? Teaches her not to lock the door.
Hello, and welcome to part 1 of 2 for a double update!
Thank you to those who have read, favorited, followed, and left word. Those who left word being HGranger89, , bwlchck, gabytahijar, viola170e, Ang, lia. , evil-sensei iruka (you're in for a looooong wait), Chelsea always, BlueWater 5, duj, and Lucyole (I love cookies!)
So, SO happy to see so many people pleased with a better fate for Severus. And while it's still extremely early days, I would like to put this in now, because I think it wasn't mentioned before: He still spys. I know it's very, very alternate universe, but you'll see how it plays out. So, umm, not all rainbow and sunshine.