o.o.O.o.o
Present
May 6th, 1998
"I'd been wondering where you'd been," Minerva said, falling into step with Hermione.
"I went to visit Harry yesterday, and I've been working in the lab all morning to finish up the potions Poppy needed for the Infirmary." Hermione smiled at the older witch. "How have you been? We haven't had a chance to talk since the night after the battle."
"I've had a great deal on my mind, dear girl. Would you perhaps like to join me for some tea? There are a few things that I'd like to talk with you about," she asked.
"I'd like that, Professor." Hermione said.
"Call me Minerva, dear…I think that the time for formalities is somewhat passed." She said and together they walked down to the Transfiguration Mistress' office. Tea was ordered and the two witches settled onto the couch by the fire together.
"I feel that I owe you something of an apology," Minerva began. "I should have kept a better eye on you, and your friends. You were so often in danger, and I should have tried harder to keep you all from it."
"I doubt even Merlin himself could have kept the three of us out of trouble." Hermione reached over and touched Minerva's hand. "It's not your fault, and to be fair we were fairly good at hiding all the things we got up to. You had your hands full."
"Yes, I suppose I did as I have been reminded more than once today," she sighed and sipped her tea. "Severus has a great many plans for the school over the next few years, and I will not be resuming my post as Deputy Headmistress."
"What? I…I'm sorry," Hermione was shocked, not having thought Severus would go that far in his attempts to end Dumbledore's influences.
"It's alright, he has good reason for it and once I got over my indignation…I could see the sense in it." She chuckled. "I'm not a young woman anymore and perhaps it's time for me to admit that I cannot do absolutely everything all by myself."
"You're not that old," Hermione protested.
"Maybe not in years, but two wars have certainly taken their toll mentally. I am due a little slowing in pace I think. Severus wants to bring in a new Professor to take over History of Magic and he's asked all of us to put forward any names we felt might be suitable to the task. I wanted to speak to you before submitting my own list." Minerva gave her a somewhat significant look.
"Me? But…I haven't even passed my NEWTs." Hermione blinked in surprise.
"That can easily be arranged later in the summer, but I cannot foresee any difficulties for you there. I have a feeling your name will appear on more than just my list, but I wanted your thoughts on the matter before I put it forward."
Hermione fell quiet, shocked at the blatant vote of confidence that her former teacher was expressing in her abilities. Her throat felt a little tight and tears stung at her eyes. After everything that she'd been through, all the things she'd sacrificed…it seemed right that she might end up here. She loved Hogwarts and with Severus remaining here as Headmaster, it just seemed like the perfect progression.
"I'd be honoured to just be considered," she finally said.
"I will make sure that Severus understands that you have my full support." Minerva squeezed her hand. "I know that when we had career talks early on, you were considering a career in the Ministry, but…"
"After everything I've seen and learned, I frankly don't want anything to do with them." Hermione shook her head. "The same people celebrating Harry as a hero now were the ones tearing him apart for years because they were too afraid to admit the truth." Bitterness washed through her and she knew it would be a very long time before she was able to think of the Ministry with any warmth at all. If ever.
"Hogwarts can be a good place to heal, from old hurts and fresh ones," Minerva said. "I know that while Harry might have led that little defence group of yours in fifth year, you were the one preparing the lessons and researching the spells. You've always had a natural talent for teaching others. If not History, I do advise you to consider teaching in some capacity," Minerva said. "A good number of us are getting to an age where we will be starting to think of retiring, and would be happy to take on an apprentice. I will put your name forward, but if History doesn't hold your passion…do some thinking about what does. Given how closely you worked with Severus, I am sure he could give you some guidance on the matter as well."
"I'll give it a lot of thought, I promise." Hermione smiled. Between Phineas and Minerva, it was clear that fate was pulling her here to Hogwarts. She just didn't know if teaching History was exactly the right thing for her. She needed to do some thinking on it, certainly.
After her tea with Minerva, Hermione's feet took her out to the grounds for a little fresh air. The Ministry had done remarkable work here, and it was as if the battle had never taken place. It made everything feel somewhat surreal, but she didn't fight too hard against the sensation. A warm breeze was blowing across the water, and Hermione sat down on a fallen log and just soaked in the peaceful moment.
An owl swooped down, landing light beside her and offering a letter. Hermione accepted it and found an owl treat in her beaded bag for the creature. She still hadn't been able to stop wearing it. She'd tried to leave it behind this morning in her rooms, but a cold fist of panic had wrapped around her throat. She had it disillusioned so no one would see it, but its familiar weight was calming. A quick check revealed no harmful spells or substances, and she couldn't help but smile as she saw the familiar script across the front.
She broke the blue wax seal, and settled in to read.
Hermione,
It is my hope that this letter finds you safe and well after the chaos of the battle. You have been in my thoughts a great deal over the last year, and I am relieved that in the end we are both still standing to enjoy our victory. I am so very sorry for what you endured at the hands of my sister, in my own home. There is nothing I can say or do that will ever erase such a vicious crime, but I hope one day you can forgive me for not stopping it.
Lucius has been pardoned and his previous conviction commuted to time served. I know that this has to be, at least in part, your doing. My family owes you a debt that cannot ever be repaid, but if there is ever anything you need, you only ever have to ask. True friends are rare commodities, but I hope you understand that I will always be yours. One day, I would be honoured to have you return the sentiment.
I hope that I will see you soon. Lucius, Draco, and I will be returning home to start repairing the damage done by the Dark Lord to the wards and property. If you need anything at all, even just a friendly ear, I can be reached there.
Your friend,
Narcissa
o.o.O.o.o
Flashback
August 8th, 1996
Hermione tried desperately not to fidget under the intense gaze of the older pureblood witch. After her brush with Death in the department of Mysteries, Severus had insisted on expanding her 'education'. Lucius had been arrested, but had shared with his wife the truth of his arrangement with the Order, and she had agreed to offer some aide to them while he was indisposed. Severus had brought her here, to this seaside cottage, and told her that Narcissa would be overseeing this segment of her advanced education, without telling her exactly what it was. Harry and Weasleys were under the impression that she'd needed to go home for a few days for a family issue.
The tall elegant witch walked around her, circling like a wolf around a lamb. Hermione had only seen her a few times, but this close it was impossible to not notice just how beautiful she was. Her hair was blonde, pinned up into an elegant twist with every strand in its proper place. Her eyes were a cornflower blue, but currently they held only cool calculation and no warmth at all.
"Did Severus tell you why you're here, Miss Granger?" she finally spoke.
"No, just that you'd be teaching me something and I'd be well advised to pay attention." Hermione quoted, and saw the smallest upturn of Narcissa's mouth.
"That does sound like him," she said. "Come and sit down, I've had tea prepared. Events are in motion now that cannot be halted and Severus wants you to be as prepared as possible for anything that might happen. The Black family has always been renowned for their talents, and of my sisters, I'm the most skilled when it comes to the art of defensive magic, particularly warding. That is what Severus wants me to teach you. Whether or not you can learn it to my satisfaction, remains to be seen." A dark smirk crossed her lips.
"What kind of warding?" Hermione asked as they sat down, reaching for the tea pot onto to have a mild stinging charm zap the backs of her hands. "OW."
"Manners, Miss Granger," Narcissa reprimanded her, and picked up a cup and saucer. "With milk, sugar, or lemon?"
"Just milk and sugar please," Hermione said, and accepted the offered cup once Narcissa had prepared it. She was instantly reminded of afternoon teas with her Gran, who had always insisted on proper manners at the table.
"Now, I will be teaching you some advanced warding techniques that will allow you to hide yourself and others from anyone that might be hunting you. I'll begin with the theory and we will move on to non-verbal and even wandless casting. When being chased, you cannot always rely on having your wand," Narcissa said.
"Wandless wards? That's mastery level work…" Hermione looked incredulous. It had been mentioned in the back pages of one of her books, but not as anything that she'd be attempting unless she pursued a mastery in advanced defensive magic.
"Indeed," Narcissa said. "I'm not just some helpless society wife, Miss Granger. People dismiss me as Lucius' pretty trophy wife, and they forget that I'm a Black and dangerous enough all on my own." She finished her own tea, adding a touch of honey and lemon. "Let people dismiss you and it can give you a massive advantage when you might need it most. For example, people look at you and think you're just a mousy bookworm, pretty but plain and nothing to fear. Severus and I plan to give you claws. Keep them hidden until they will do the most damage," Narcissa said.
"Why are you helping us?" Hermione asked.
"Because I'm a mother, Miss Granger. There is nothing I wouldn't do to protect my son. There's no oath I won't break or person I'd hesitate to sacrifice if it protected Draco. He's my whole world and right now he's very real danger," she said, her fingers tightening slightly on the delicate teaspoon as she stirred. "A mother should always work to eliminate threats that endanger her children, and the Dark Lord has made himself such a threat. It will be to his peril." She narrowed her eyes slightly, and then the emotion was gone. "Try a scone, they really are best when warm."
Hermione swallowed and nodded. Narcissa was frightening, and yet there was something about her that Hermione could admire. She was choosing to stand against that Dark Lord and her own sister for the sake of her son. She wondered if Voldemort had any idea how badly he'd miscalculated. With a dark twist in her gut, she realized that Harry must have been right…and that Draco had taken the Dark Mark. Yes, for that Hermione could understand why Narcissa had been so willing to change sides.
o.o.O.o.o
Present
May 6th, 1998
Hermione folded the letter back up, and tucked it away. She'd send a reply tonight and try to reassure the other woman that she understood. It might be a long time before she was able to set foot inside Malfoy Manor again, but she didn't blame the Malfoys for what Bellatrix had done. No, that had been all that crazy bitch's fault, and now she was dead. She lifted a hand to massage her temple, realizing that she saw Narcissa as a strange kind of maternal figure. Losing her parents forever because of the memory charm had made her look for surrogates in strange places.
She doubted anyone could ever replace her father, but Narcissa had played the role of firm female role model over that summer. It had been hell trying to keep Harry and Ron from noticing every time she'd left for lessons. Between all the grueling lessons, Narcissa had worked on her manners teaching her about pureblood etiquette over increasingly more complicated formal teas and dinners. It wasn't a warm kind of friendship, but strangely she did consider the woman a friend.
"I thought I might find you down here," Severus said as he came to sit beside her.
"I just got a letter from Narcissa," she said, smiling at Severus. They were in view of the castle here, so she took care not to reach out for him, but it was difficult. She'd have to be more conscious of her interactions with him now that things were settling down.
"Lucius will be coming to see me tomorrow, I have a few things to discuss with him," Severus said. "I trust the contents of the letter were pleasant?"
"She wanted to apologize for what happened at the Manor. I don't blame her family for what happened, that was all Bellatrix." Hermione shook her head. "There was nothing she could have done to stop it, at least not without risking all of them."
"It would be perfectly natural if you did, even a little," Severus said.
"The first few days after it happened, I was so angry. I blamed everyone, for everything, but after lying in that bed at Shell Cottage for days, I knew there was only one person really to blame." She looked out at the water. "I will hate Albus Dumbledore until I die for what he did to all of us. He threw us into danger rather than protecting us from it. We were just children." Tears stung her eyes. "He's the reason I learned how to lie to my parents when I was twelve, and why I had to lose them. Sirius once asked me why I erased their memories, instead of asking for help protecting them. I looked right at him and said that I knew they weren't important enough for the Headmaster to save." She looked over at Severus.
"They were important, if only because you loved them." Severus reached over and placed his hand over hers and squeezed softly. "If there was a way for me to give them back to you, I would."
"I know. I knew when I did it that there was no going back." She shook her head. "I loved them enough to let them go, because holding on would have been signing their death warrants." She raised her free hand and wiped away the tears. "Sorry, I just miss them."
"It's ok to miss them," he said and stroked his thumb over her knuckles.
"Minerva asked if I minded her putting my name forward to take the History position." Hermione looked over at him, wanting to change the subject.
"You're already on Filius' and Horace's lists." He chuckled a little. "I imagine Pomona will round it out to an even four by the time all the nominations are in. How do you feel about the idea?"
"I like the idea of staying here at Hogwarts, for a lot of different reasons," she admitted. "I just don't know if I want to teach history for the rest of my life." It was an important subject, but she wasn't sure she had the passion required for it.
"Remaining as a Professor was something I wanted to discuss with you, but not for History," he said and stood, drawing her up with him. "Walk with me?" he asked.
"Of course," she replied and fell into step with him as they headed down the shore of the lake. "What did you have in mind?"
"I'd like you to consider taking on Defence, after Bill Weasley's term ends. I'd have you work with him next year, teaching the younger students. He could give you some valuable training in curse breaking before he goes. I can think of no one more qualified than the witch that kept Harry Potter alive on the run," he said sincerely.
"Defence?" Hermione stopped dead and looked at him. "But it's the only OWL I didn't get an O in."
"Life doesn't give grades," Severus said meeting her eyes. "This war was a greater test than anyone could have devised. You didn't just pass Hermione, you excelled. The position is yours, if you want it."
"Can I keep your old rooms in the dungeons?" she asked, a little smirk crossing her lips.
"If that's what you want, of course." Severus chuckled. "We can get the contracts sorted out later, but I am glad that you'll be staying here. Phineas will be pleased as well."
"He'll be very smug." Hermione laughed a little too. "I hardly know what to say." As they rounded a bend away from the castle, he pulled her closer and stroked her cheek.
"You're simply the best person I could think of for the job. And having you here at the Castle is a pleasant bonus." He winked. "I'm going to be changing a lot of things here at Hogwarts, and not all of the changes will be popular." His tone took on a more serious note.
"Appointing me to DADA will hopefully buy you some goodwill." She was unable to help the slight roll of her eyes. Slytherins.
"Another pleasant coincidence." He chuckled.
"Thank you, all coincidences and pleasant bonuses aside." Hermione came up on her toes and brushed a kiss across his lips.
"We will need to be careful," he said with a fair amount of regret. "At least for a while. You deserve better, and I'd understand if you didn't want to keep hiding in the shadows."
"I don't want to keep hiding, but I know that for now we have to. It'll take time before people are ready to know about us, and it would be better for them to see it evolve as a new relationship," she admitted. It would protect both their reputations.
"Rather than guess at the truth?"
"What is it you told me once, truth is a matter of perspective. What really happened, is our business. Everyone knows now that we were working closely together, let them think that we forged a kind of friendship, and then it can grow from there. That way, we don't have to hide everything," Hermione said.
"Clever beyond your years." He smiled fondly. "Then might I suggest we have a standing date for tea, each Friday in my office. None of the portraits will bother you, I can promise that."
"Not even Dumbledore?" She gave him a look.
"Especially not him. I think if he even tried to speak to you, Phineas might find a way to set him on fire." Severus moved back, hearing footsteps approaching on the path.
"Alright, tea on Friday. We can discuss the terms of my employment." She smirked, heading off just as Hagrid came into view. Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, that was going to take some getting used to.