Glimmer
The Place In-Between
Feeling as though she was in the place in between. Hermione had no way of knowing what Severus was thinking. And bringing her mother into the country, what had that been all about? Still reeling from the shock of seeing her mother, Hermione rested her back against the wall and let her mind slow to a stop. Frustrated with her brain's lack of helpfulness she pushed away from the silk papered wall, setting out to find Severus.
The place was so big Hermione would need help. "Dest." The little elf popped up at her side. "Thank you Dest, where is Severus?"
"In the kitchen Miss, Master is having a bite." The elf offered, leading the way to the kitchen.
"Severus, thank you for everything really. I can't thank you enough. Mum says that she will be staying here while in the country." She didn't want to ask to stay as well, and truthfully Hermione wasn't quite sure she wanted to stay. It was unquestioned in her mind that the business that had brought her here had not been forgotten.
Severus stared at Hermione, unmoving for the longest time. His eyes ate ravenously at the vision before him. This was not the pathetic shell he brought home with him, she was nervous, but well-fed with a healthy glow. The sight was both reassuring and heart-breaking. She had been right to say she was back to her old self, she was completely renewed. He allowed the thought to percolate, if she was truly restored, could she have lain with a strange and or dangerous man? Sure she had always taken her work very seriously, but to do that? What if she had taken him, simply because she wanted him? You should talk you hypocrite, you might have slept with a hired girl without guilt. "Yes, your mother is welcome here for as long as she wants, as are you Hermione." His boots sounded off the smooth stone floor, "Hermione. Hermione. I've only said your name in my mind since the day you got your wand." Severus took her hand, kissing it. "Hermione, my Hermione." Not knowing what to make of her stillness, "Something wrong?" He smoothed the energetic bush of hair.
"You're distracted," Hermione reapplied her glamour. There was no doubt about it, Severus' face fell as though it had been neatly severed. "Thank you. There are more things to discuss still; starting with why my is my mum here where she's in danger?" Leading Severus back down the hall toward the study.
"But I thought," Snape was completely confused. "You don't want to see her?"
Momentarily she dropped the harsh tone, "I don't want her to be in danger. As long as she's in the country she'll be at risk."
"I had two reasons actually for bringing her here." He made no bones about displaying the anger he felt with Hermione's cavalier attitude. "One." Snape held up a finger in her face. "Hopefully she'll be able to talk some sense into you, because nothing I say makes any difference." Flicking his middle finger up next to the index finger forming a 'V'. "Two I thought you'd like to have your family back."
Hermione pushed his hand aside, "stop making rude hand gestures at me. Yes, I'm glad to see Mum again. But really Severus, it's an unnecessary risk."
Stopping in the middle of the gallery. Snape stands still for several life-times it seems. His lips moved though they made no emission. He fell back into torpor. Holding an admonitory finger and biting the fist of his other hand. He centred all thought on the pain in his hand, eyes clenched against the pain in his heart. Summoning all his courage, he spoke. "I tend to think that putting yourself at the mercy of strange men when you have a choice not to, is more risky than having your mother here under my protection." He directed his finger down the hall toward the study. "Your mother is as safe as anyone can be. Your actions are complete and utter rubbish, and an unnecessary risk to boot. You don't trust me and that's causing any number of problems, I need you to trust me Hermione." He pleaded. "Frankly, your lack of faith in me, it just hurts." Severus continued on to the study without saying anything.
Hermione panted in his wake attempting to keep up with his long strides. "Mrs. Granger I apologize for the unnecessarily long delay. I've invited your daughter to stay, leaving that up to her. Forgive me for being a terrible host, I'm exhausted and am retiring for the night. If you need anything please call for Dest." Snape bowed to them formally, "Good night ladies."
Hermione threw herself into a chair by her mum. "Mum I'm sorry about this. My conversation with Severus hadn't gone well. Perhaps I'll speak to him tomorrow."
Their conversation turned to the mundane. Hermione hadn't been sure what her mother knew with regard to her post-war trauma. If her mother had known anything she hadn't made mention of it.
"I'm going to stay the night, we can breakfast together in the morning. It's been a long night for everyone, let me walk you to your room." Hermione helped to support her Mother along the hall. The young woman was disturbed by how near her mother's bones were to her skin. Mrs. Granger was terribly frail, she was less than ten years older than Severus, she couldn't understand the change that had overtaken her mother.
Mrs. Granger put on her best game face, "good night dear, I'll see you in the morning." Hermione hugged her mother and made her way to the last room in the hall.
Knocking quietly on the door, she waited on tenterhooks. "Yes," reverberated the rich baritone. He locked his two black vortexes on her, pulling her into his sphere.
An/ Thank you for all of the encouragement. As some of you know I just finished up After-Hours Experiment. Things are starting to wind down for me, the updates won't be so close together. VS