A/N: I always get a little confunded when using Apparation and Disapparation, so hopefully I have used it correctly! I have called Dolohov's Curse, Dolohov's curse as there is no known incantation for it, or one that I could find and Merry Christmas!
The Spaces Between
An Unexpected Gift - Chapter 10
Severus stretched; his lower back had a nasty dull ache that only exercise would get rid of. For a moment he forgot where he was and almost fell off the bench. Hermione lay by his side, hogging most of the space, leaving him precariously close to the edge of the seat. During the night she had hooked a leg over his thigh and nestled into the warmth of his chest. He had never been comfortable with physical contact in the past and had not encouraged by demeanour or any other means. He swallowed down the emotion rising inside him. He had never woken up with a woman by his side before and for the first time in his life, he felt truly cared for. Severus tightened his arms about her, breathing in the soft scent of her hair. He could stay like this forever, but the outside world would always intrude.
She let out a soft sigh, his name upon her lips. "Severus." Half asleep, she kissed his cheek.
"I am afraid you will have to awaken Hermione, I do not think our charge will be asleep much longer."
He looked across the dungeon to the girl in the bed, she was stirring and it would not do for them to be caught in this compromising position. He awkwardly managed to remove himself from the bench and let Hermione sit up. With an abrupt flick of his wand, all of the cushions disappeared. It was with a huge sense of relief that he noted the untouched Wolfsbane Potion on Miss Brown's bedside table. He had been more awake than asleep most of the night, but had drifted off briefly a few times during its course. The moon had been in its strongest phase last night and that meant she had been mostly untouched by the Lycanthropy. There might be a few changes to her personality and her eating habits, but she would not have the horror of transformation every month.
Hermione sleepily rubbed her eyes and looked at Severus. "All is well?"
"Yes." He gave a slight smile.
"Good, I have never been so glad that my help was totally unnecessary, although I do have some fond memories of brewing that potion."
Severus did not smile. He looked at her, his dark eyes serious. "During the night I had a lot of time to ponder and I think we should stay away from each other until after Saturday. I find I have a problem with self control when around you. After what you showed me in your mind, I would not want to dishonour you, further."
"How could you ever think your touch would sully me?" She sighed. "But you are right; we must not seek each other out, or spend time together alone until after Saturday, all our previous attempts to keep our hands off each other have failed rather miserably."
"I will make it easy for you. I have been thinking of visiting my home in the Muggle world. It has been some months since I was last there and I have matters to settle."
"You are going away?" She felt the loss of him before he had even gone.
"I believe it to be for the best. I will return Saturday night and if you need me for anything you can always send an owl." He grazed the side of her face with his fingertips. "Promise me that you will not leave the grounds until your scheduled visit to Hogsmeade on Saturday."
"I promise." She looked at him with tear rimmed eyes. "Hogwarts will not seem the same without you."
A low chuckle sounded in his throat. "There was a time when you and your friends would have said Hogwarts was all the better without me." He said wryly.
Severus sharply removed his hand from her face as they heard the creak of bed springs in the cell and he put some distance between them on the bench. Hermione watched as he schooled his features into a mask of indifference. No wonder he had been so good at deceiving Voldemort. It filled her with such admiration for him that it left her breathless. He exuded power and intelligence, which she found both arousing and wonderful at the same time.
"Professor Snape?"
Both heads turned towards the cell. Lavender was sitting up in her bed with a nervous smile on her face. With the danger over, Severus pointed his wand at the lock and the door flew open.
"Good Morning Miss Brown, how are you feeling?"
"I feel fine and I have a strange craving for some steak...the bloodier the better." Lavender put her hand over her mouth in horror. "What is wrong with me?"
"It is perfectly normal Miss Brown. Madam Pomfrey will be along shortly to explain the ramifications of your condition to you." He informed her.
"Someone say my name?" All heads turned to see Poppy standing by the door. She rubbed her hands together, vigorously. "It is rather chilly in here. That Warming Spell seems to be wearing off." She looked to Severus. "Anything to report?"
"Your patient is well and talking." Severus replied, with a sweeping hand gesture towards the girl sitting in the cell. "She has some questions that she needs answering though and with that I shall leave you all to it."
He stood up and brushed down his slightly rumpled robes, nodded at Hermione and Madame Pomfrey before leaving the dungeon. The room felt instantly colder to Hermione and not because of some fading Warmth Spell. The means of his departure had been distant and offhand. She had hoped they would head off together, giving her a few more precious moments before they would have to go their separate ways.
"What is going to happen to me?" asked Lavender in a quiet voice.
Hermione looked uncomfortably at the blonde girl who sat balanced on the edge of her bed, and looked so close to tears. She would have gladly offered her some words of comfort if she didn't get the impression that they would be unwelcome. What did you say to someone who had lost everything that would be consoling, anyway? She might have the answers to many things, but not to this.
"We will talk about that later." Madam Pomfrey replied briskly. "I am sure Miss Granger wants to get back to her quarters for prepare for breakfast." She gave Hermione a direct stare, leaving her in no doubt that her presence was no longer required.
"Um, yes, I will be going. Glad you see you are feeling better Lavender." Hermione gave her an awkward smile and left the room.
She started up the stairs, smothering a scream as she saw a black brooding figure detach its self from the shadows. "Severus." She could not keep the joy out of her voice at seeing him again. Hermione moved to embrace him, but he stepped away, holding her at arm's length.
He frowned at her. "I wanted to talk to you again before we went our separate ways Hermione. I meant what I said; there must be no interaction between us, especially in public. I have already told you that people will not understand about us. I also do not want to be labelled at the man who stole you from Mr Weasley. I think more of your reputation than mine when I say this. There is little I could do that people would think worse of me than they already do."
"But that is not true; I have already told you how I feel... you did not steal me from anyone."
"The world will not care how we feel; it will only care about how things look. I want to go and tell the world to hang, but I have to protect the school...and all who live within its walls Hermione. That includes you."
"I am old enough to take care of myself." She snapped, walking past him on the stairs.
She had not gotten more than three steps away when a strong arm snaked out and grabbed her. He manoeuvred her roughly against the wall, his hands pinning her arms above her head. Both of them were breathing heavily.
"Do you think I want things like this? Hermione, I want nothing more than to take your hand and walk through the corridors of Hogwarts and let everyone know you are mine. I want all of you, body and soul and if I gave into my baser instincts I would raise your skirts and take you against this cold wall right now. I dream of being one with you, I wake at night in a cold sweat, hard and aching for you."
He bowed his head for a moment, releasing her hands. He looked up again a moment later.
"Everyone is waiting for me to turn into the next Voldemort; I have no illusions as to how I got to stay on as the Headmaster here. Shacklebolt might have asked Minerva if she wanted the position, but he would not have let me go that easily. He wants me where he can see me."
"Do you think it's any easier for me, just because I am a young woman who has never been with a man? I want you all the time, like something just out of my peripheral vision. I can see it, but I can't quite touch it." Hermione put a hand to his face and traced its strong lines with her fingers. "I don't want you to go, but you are right as usual, the moment we are alone it is like a firestorm."
"When the dust has settled on all of this and the ashes of war have been scattered to the winds, I shall shout that you are mine from the rooftops of Hogwarts."
Hermione grinned. "I might have to see that as well as hear it. I don't believe I have ever truly heard you raise your voice above a sharp reprimand."
"Until Saturday night, and stay safe, if not for yourself then for me."
Severus covered her hand with his; he took it and kissed her fingers gently before tearing himself away from her. She felt the cold draught as his robes swished by her and he turned the corner on the staircase and was gone.
Severus was as good as his word and when Hermione went down to breakfast his chair was conspicuously empty. When he said he would depart the castle she had thought it would be at least later in the day and could only assume he had left immediately after taking his leave of her on the dungeon stairwell. Her suspicions were confirmed when Minerva entered the hall moments later and sat in his chair as was her right when she was acting Head. The cloak of misery that descended upon Hermione was only lifted by the arrival of the Owls with the morning post. Hermione was surprised to have several letters drop on her plate, most of the scrawl on the letters familiar to her although mercifully none were from Ron.
She opened the first letter, which was from Harry. A smile spread across her face and her earlier despair forgotten for the time being. Harry was arriving at Hogwarts today for a visit! She had not been expecting to see him until at least two weeks before the new terms started, when he would be settling in as the official Hogwarts Quidditch coach. She scanned through all the other news he had sent. It seemed Harry was not coming alone and would be escorted to the school by several Aurors for safety's sake. She hoped they would give them some time alone, Aurors, although dedicated to their job were a strange lot.
A cough sounded to get everyone's attention and Hermione folded the letter up and tucked it inside her robes.
"You might gather from the absence of the Headmaster this morning that he has gone away for a few days. I shall be acting Head in his absence and all school matters should be directed to me. Any questions?" Minerva looked at the faces, up and down the table.
"Where has the Headmaster gone?" Asked Poppy. "It is all rather sudden." The Medi-Witch glanced at Hermione.
"I am not at liberty to discuss Severus's movements Poppy, as well you know." Minerva replied sternly. "It is enough to know he is gone and he will return in time for dinner on Saturday night." She pursed her lips and sat back down.
Septima Vector leaned over Hermione, whispering in her ear conspiratorially. "I think Severus has a woman and that is where he goes to on these absences. A man like that in his prime, needs company. I know I would if all I had done for the last twenty years or so was hanging out with Voldemort and some of this lot."
Hermione was surprised at Professor Vector. Obviously with Severus out of the picture she was letting her hair down and in a way Hermione did not like. Just because she was getting married soon she obviously thought herself a little above the other professors that taught at Hogwarts.
Hermione lowered her voice to reply to her teacher. "I think the Headmaster has gone away for a well needed rest. Wouldn't you after dying or whatever it was he did? He has dedicated his life to teaching at this school for almost twenty years and being unstintingly loyal to Dumbledore at the risk of his own being. He has suffered the contempt of the Wizarding world for a mistake of his youth when he should now be sung as one of its heroes. He preferred that people did not see the best of him. If that doesn't deserve a rest then I do not know what does!"
Hermione was too enraged to notice that her voice had risen or that the rest of the room had fallen silent at her tirade. Minerva fixed her with a steely glare before clapping her hands and the dishes on the table were filled with food. The other professors dived into the fare, seemingly grateful for the diversion.
"Well, well, Miss Granger a passionate defence of our absent Headmaster indeed." Septima raised an eyebrow at her before reaching for the toast rack. "Perhaps you know more about his little trip than you are telling?"
Hermione blushed profusely as she poured some cereal into her bowl and reached for the milk. She turned away from Septima and finished reading the rest of her post, a letter from Molly and one from Ginny. One letter in particular did draw her attention and that was her latest bank statement from Gringotts. She was down to her last hundred Galleons. It was a good job that her position at Hogwarts had come along when it did. She would have hated to be reduced to asking Harry for a loan. If she took things easy she would be fine until her first wages. It was not like she had any great extravagances here. Food and board came with the job, and it only left books and things like new robes, which she had already bought several sets of.
Hermione put away the rest of her letters and thoughtfully sat eating her bowl of Cornflakes. She was going to have to be more restrained in her responses to Severus. None of the professors were idiots and if she continued in this reckless vein then everyone would know something was going on. She was not wholly sure that Minerva and Poppy might already have some suspicions in that area. More than once she had caught them looking at her with speculative looks and most pointedly at her ring finger, but she refused to wear it and compound the lie.
"Septima excuse my earlier outburst. I am tired; I have not had a lot of sleep these last two nights. I was doing important work for the Headmaster and for Lavender."
"Miss Brown, the poor girl who was attacked by a Werewolf?" She asked.
"Yes," Hermione nodded.
The older woman's face softened slightly. "You can take today off, but we study all the harder tomorrow." She said sternly.
"Thank you."
Minerva finished reading a letter and then tucked it into the sleeves of her robe. "Am I to understand Mr Potter is coming for a visit today?"
"He is." Hermione confirmed. "I thought I might take him out for a walk to see the work going on, on the new Quidditch Pitch."
"Very well, but do not stray too far!" Minerva said warningly.
Harry arrived just after lunch. Hermione was pleased to see such a welcoming face and they embraced warmly. Four Aurors that Hermione had not seen before walked in the door behind him.
"My armed guard." Harry joked, gesturing to the men behind him.
"There is tea and refreshments for you in the main hall." Hermione informed them. "We will be back in an hour."
The Aurors murmured their thanks and walked off in the direction of the Great Hall.
Harry linked arms with Hermione and they walked out of the main doors together. "So, how is Hogwarts treating you Hermione?"
"I don't know how to explain it, but it kind of feels like coming home. I miss my parents dreadfully, but I find I can somehow bear it if I am here."
Harry squeezed her arm. "We are both orphans in one way or another now. Snape is doing wonders with the reconstruction of the old place."
"Yes, he is. The French masons had to replace the stones that were too badly damaged. Severus and Minerva have directed them well. There is also the school's ability to regenerate its self, but that can only be done to a degree. The masons have to recast the defensive spells into the walls."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "You really have read Hogwarts a History, from cover to cover haven't you?"
"Of course. Several times in fact." Hermione replied haughtily.
"And It is Severus now?"
"And sometimes Headmaster, sometimes Snape or Professor, what is your point Harry?" She asked.
Harry shook his head. "Nothing and if you really want to know why I am here, I had to get out of the Burrow for a while. Ginny is driving me mad with the wedding plans, well more Molly than Ginny..."
Hermione laughed. "You are going to buy yourself a house as soon as you are married?"
"Oh, yes. I love the Weasleys, but they are best taken in small doses, besides Ginny and I want our own place to go to during school holidays. What plans have you and Ron made?"
"Er, um nothing solid at the moment." She evaded the question.
"Well get a move on, it's only a couple of months away."
"Almost three months actually. Is someone getting eager to try the delights of the marriage bed?" Hermione teased.
Harry put a finger under the collar of his shirt as if it were too tight and he adjusted his glasses nervously. "Well, someone is. I guess she just can't keep her hands off me."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You are going to love what Snape has done with the new Quidditch Pitch, it's been the topic of conversation at most meal times."
"Where is Professor Snape? He is a hard one to pin down, I have sent him several Owls requesting a visit to him and he is always "too busy". Harry complained.
"Severus really is a busy man Harry. He has to get the school up and running before the start of the new term. He has gone away to his family home for a few days. Not exactly sure where it is, but he is only an Owl away if we have need of him."
Harry sighed. "Now there is a book that should not be judged by its cover. How did I have it wrong for so many years?"
"We can be blinded by our emotions Harry. Snape was blinded by his when it came to you as well. Don't expect to become friends with him overnight, he can be prickly at the best of times, but underneath all that wool and buttons, beats a good heart."
"I know that otherwise I would not have extended the hand of friendship to him. He is no Sirius Black, but he loved my mother and gave his life to making a difference in the war against Voldemort."
"No he is not Sirius, he is his own man." Hermione stopped walking and turned to face Harry. "I need to talk to you, it's about Ron..."
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Hermione felt her eyes well up with tears and she dashed them away, angry with herself. She had sworn to herself that she would not cry. "I can't marry him. That is why I have not made any effort to make plans and that is why I am not wearing my ring." She held up her hand.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "I hadn't noticed. Hermione it is common to get cold feet, I am sure it will pass."
"It won't, I love Ron, but I am not in love with Ron. It is an insurmountable difference Harry."
Harry looked at her for a few moments. "Are you telling me that after years of pining for Ron, you now realise that you are not in love with him?"
"Yes that is what I am saying...I started to have my doubts when we were back at the Burrow." She looked down at the grass, unable to meet Harry's eyes. "I was planning to tell him this weekend when we meet up in Hogsmeade. War changes people Harry. It clouds things or in this case, makes them clearer."
"Hermione, you are going to break his heart...is there someone else?"
"When there is a break up in the offing, why does everyone assume that it is always because there is someone else?" She snapped, walking off.
Harry caught up with her easily, grabbing a hold of her arm, making her stop. "There is, isn't there? Hermione I have known you all these years, I can tell when you are lying!"
The tears ran down her face as Harry pulled her into his embrace, Hermione's chest heaved with great sobs of raw emotion. "Y-yes." She managed to get out.
Harry stroked her hair, not speaking until her tears abated somewhat. "You are a good person Hermione; I know you wouldn't even consider doing this without an excellent reason. You don't have to tell me who it is right now, but it is important that Ron knows how you feel. Do you want me to be there on Saturday, for you know...moral support. Not that I am taking sides, but we both know Ron's temper."
He reached into his pocket for a pack of tissues and handed her one.
Hermione dried her eyes. "Thank you but no. We are adults now, some things you have to do on your own. This is one of those things."
"Ok. Where did you meet him and how did you find the time?"
"Harry, you said you wouldn't push the issue. Please let me tell you in my own time. All I am willing to tell you at this point is that I have known him for some time, but it is only recently that I have really come to know who he really is." Hermione pleaded.
Harry gave a short laugh. "A bit like me and Snape I would say, but without the warm fuzzy feelings!"
Hermione looked towards the half constructed Quidditch Pitch in the distance. How close he was to the truth, she thought.
"Come on, are you going to show me what "Severus" has done with the new Quidditch pitch or not?"
He grinned at her, his smile was infectious as always and she soon returned it. In fact she felt lighter than she had in days now she had confided in Harry. He had not judged her like she had feared. But he didn't know who the "other Wizard" was, her inner voice reminded her.
Harry left her later that evening after a belly full of good food that only Hogwarts could produce. He kissed her on the cheek and Hermione watched from the castle door as Harry and the Aurors walked down the hill in the direction of the School gates, so they could Apparate. Would their trio ever be together again? The future was uncertain and it scared her. Hermione closed the door and immediately all the locks moved into place, securing the school for the night. She began the lonely walk back to her quarters; however she was not alone for long. Tonight the Hogwarts ghosts were out in full force. She had the doubtful pleasure of Sir Nicholas escorting her to the DADA classroom before bidding him a terse goodnight.
Severus awoke to a cold and cloudy morning. The dark sky threatened rain, which soon fell in fat droplets against the window pane. He still slept in his old room when he came to Spinners End. The idea of sleeping in his parent's room was an anathema to him and he had not been inside it for years. He got out of bed and lifted the blinds to look down on the murky street. Chimneys billowed out smoke and children played in muddy streets, ragged and skinny and starved of light and colour.
A small, thin, dark haired boy caught his attention as he shuffled along the road, kicking a stone, his hands thrust in his trouser pockets. He thought back to his own childhood in this God forsaken place and wondered why he hadn't sold up and moved out ages ago. Because, said his inner voice, only a few streets away is a house that you know well, not that you were ever invited into it, but that belonged to someone you loved.
It had been hard to leave Hogwarts yesterday, but he had felt it the only right and honourable course to take. Severus watched the boy until he disappeared around a corner and sat back down on his bed. It was time to leave the past behind. He would get on to his solicitor later and draw up plans for the sale of his house and look for something permanent in Hogsmeade. He had his Headmaster's quarters but everyone needed to get away sometimes. He hastily got dressed and eschewed a proper breakfast for a cup of dark bitter coffee and a slice of toast, which he hastily consumed over his copy of the Daily Prophet. He skimmed the news, since the end of the war they seemed desperate for stories. At least he had managed to avoid Rita Skeeter's poison quill so far. There had been no further mention of her proposed book about his life.
As always the suppressive air of the familial home made him yearn for the clear fresh air of the Scottish Highlands. He put the dirty cup and plate in the sink, hurried upstairs to get dressed, grabbed a tatty black umbrella from the stand in the hallway and set off. Although he was a strange sight, looking almost like he had stepped out of another century in his black frock coat, few people paid attention to him. The Snapes has always been regarded as a bit of an odd lot. He walked through the dirty antiquated streets until he could see green grass and trees. He came to a halt at the rotting gates of a neglected graveyard. Nature was slowly reclaiming the place as her own.
The rain beat harshly against his umbrella; drops of water fell from the spokes like tears. Severus put out his hand to open the gate and walked through. The path peeked out of the overgrown grass in uneven intervals. His eyes flicked briefly to the left as he passed a grave marked Tobias Snape. That was all the consideration the old bastard was worth. Snape thought contemptuously, as he continued on. He finally came to the grave he was looking for. Severus had not been here for some months and weeds grew thickly over the headstone.
He cautiously glanced around to make sure he was alone, he got out his wand and the weeds disappeared. In their place grew some pink dog roses, his mother's favourite flowers. Uncaring of the damp earth, Severus knelt before Eileen Prince's grave for several moments, as if a penitent man in prayer.
"I find myself at a loss today. You see I have met a young woman, well not exactly met, because I have known her for several years, but I think we might have a chance at something extraordinary." Severus got up from his kneeling position. "The last time I was here I made my peace with you because I was sure I was going to die, but here I am. I discover myself on the precipice once more, as I was with Lily. For the first time in a long time I want to live and someone has given me that desire."
Severus put out a hand to touch his mother's gravestone. "She is a witch like you were. If I make a life with her there will be no hiding what we are, or pretending to be what we are not. Father never let you use your talents, and I saw you die a little more inside every passing day. I didn't understand that until I was older, but I understand it now."
He took one last look at the grave, turned and walked away without another glance.
The man, who had been watching him, had his wand levelled at Severus's back. The temptation to Avada Kedavra him was strong, but Augustus Rookwood suppressed the urge and removed the Disillusionment charm from himself and tucked the wand back in his sleeve. He had heard every word. He had to be talking about his little Mudblood whore. Why should he make it easy for Severus and kill him now, when he could have so much more fun with the turncoat and his slut. Rookwood pulled up the collar of his raincoat. Time to pay a visit to Lucius Malfoy and recover some of the things he had hidden at Malfoy Manor.
Saturday Morning dawned bright and beautiful, a contradiction of how Hermione was feeling inside. She felt nauseous, eaten away by nerves the last couple of days and wishing all the time that Severus had been here to talk to. Ron had Owled her only yesterday, his letter full of enthusiasm about their meeting at the Three Broomsticks. It was with great surprise as she sat down to breakfast with the other teachers that she received an Owl from Severus. As she opened the thick vellum envelope with a scrawling hand, she looked about her cautiously to make sure no one could see what was written within.
H, you are in my thoughts and I look forward to our reunion this evening, I trust all is well and you kept your promise to not leave the grounds. Regards S.
Well, as love letters went, Severus was not going to win a prize any time soon. She thought wryly. But then he had always been notorious for his economy of words. Hermione smiled to herself as she put the letter back in the envelope. Although having been tight lipped for many years, she loved that she was able to get him to converse with her and with little effort, even though she had more success verbally than with the written word. Perhaps he was finally allowing those previously impenetrable barriers to stay down.
"Ah young love." smiled Filius Flitwick as he poured himself a cup of tea. "Are you looking forward to meeting your young man again?"
Hermione immediately blushed as all eyes turned to her. "Um, yes." Well, it was partially true, although the man in question wasn't quite as young as Filius assumed. "The absence has been hard."
"Dear girl you have only been here a week!" Madam Pomfrey berated her. "The absences will be a lot longer once term starts."
Minerva turned and looked at Poppy. "Sometimes a week can seem like a lifetime and a lifetime like a week." She looked sadly across at Hermione. "When one is so young you need to be sure of your heart or regret it for the rest of your life." Minerva got up from the table and wished the staff a good day and left the table.
"What was that all about?" asked Hermione.
"Very sad, long time ago Minerva loved a muggle, a farmer's son. Rumour has it she chose magic over him. She married eventually, but she never really got over the farmer's son. She and her husband used to have a cottage in Hogsmeade. She moved back in to Hogwarts when he died." Poppy told her.
"Poppy, I am not so sure Minerva would like us talking about this." Pomona Sprout berated her friend.
"It is common enough knowledge Pomona, besides Hermione is more or less one of us now." The Medi-Witch replied.
Hermione was amazed. She had thought Professor McGonagall had never married like many of the professors that worked here. She was having to revise her earlier opinions of all of them. Maybe there was hope for Severus yet? Hermione paled. Where had that thought come from? But was it so wrong to think ahead to the future? Severus had warned her to not pin her hopes on him, did that mean he was not the marrying kind? These were questions that only time would answer. She had to be content with the now.
Professor Vector was away for the weekend, visiting with her fiancé and with it being the weekend Hermione's time was her own. She was almost the last one to leave the table, glad of the company of others as it gave her less time to dwell on the unpleasant task ahead of her. She already had Ron's ring in a pocket, inside her robes. Minerva's words came back to her as she fastened her cloak around her and walked out the front doors of the castle. There were still a couple of hours to kill until it was time to meet Ron, so she decided to have a walk around the grounds, mindful of keeping the castle in sight and staying well away from the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid was going to escort her into Hogsmeade; she was looking forward to seeing him again. He made little demands on her troubled mind, which was exactly what she needed right now.
She stood on a hill and looked out towards the Black Lake, it was almost as still as a mirror today, there was little breeze about. Occasionally, its glassy surface was broken by something that lived within its dark waters. The air was cool and crisp and clean and smelled like home to her. It was hard to believe that only weeks ago the castle was burning and almost reduced to rubble. Apart from a few blackened walls and patches of scorched earth here and there, there was little evidence left of it now. Voldemort had his wish to live forever, forever in Infamy. She sat down on a nearby boulder, warmed by the sun and lost in thought.
Were the Ministry really waiting for Severus to become the next Voldemort? If so, even with the memories from the Pensieve as proof positive, they did not really know the man. But how much do you truly know him? Her inner voice prodded her.
"Miss Hermione?"
Jolted out of her reverie, she turned to face the direction of the voice. "Hagrid? You're a bit early!" She smiled.
"Not really, yeh said twelve o'clock an' here I am." He held up a couple of ferrets he had freshly caught.
She must have been woolgathering longer than she realised. Hermione got up from the rock and brushed down her robes. She walked over to him and took his arm on the ferret free side and they set off down the path towards Hogsmeade.
"I was hopin' teh see Ron again. It's been awhile and last time was not in such happy circumstances what with poor Fred and all."
They were not going to get any happier. Hermione sighed. "Of course, come and meet him before we have lunch." Not that she could face eating a mouthful right now and she had only picked at her food at breakfast, having no appetite.
Hagrid was his usual chatty self as they walked down to the village. Hermione with her mind so occupied, hoped she made all the right noises in the right places as he went on about his adventures when he had been breeding Blast-Ended Skrewts. They passed Honeydukes and several other establishments on their way. Hagrid escorted her into the crowded, smoky atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks. Madam Rosmerta was behind the bar serving an aged Wizard, not much bigger than Professor Flitwick. She beamed at them both when she saw them.
"Miss Granger, one of the Hogwart's heroes gracing my establishment!" She said loud enough to make sure everyone heard.
A few heads turned to look at the newcomers, but thankfully for Hermione, most of them went back to their Butterbeers and Firewhiskies.
"Please, everyone who fought for Hogwarts in the battle was a brave man or woman." Hermione insisted. "I need a table for two; my...Mr Weasley is meeting me here for lunch."
"Ah, yes another of the trio. So, when's the wedding to be, have you picked out a dress?" Madam Rosmerta asked jovially.
Hermione wanted to just sit in a corner and scream. Everyone was being so nice and she felt she really didn't deserve it. She sat down at the table, an awkward silence had settled between Hermione and Hagrid, only broken by Madam Rosmerta returning with a couple of Butterbeers for her guests.
Hagrid took a mouthful of his beer, almost draining it in one go. He wiped the froth from his beard and turned to face Hermione. "I have known yeh since yeh were not much bigger than Professor Flitwick and I can tell yeh not happy. What's wrong? Yeh can tell old Hagrid."
She smiled sadly at the half giant, if there was anyone she could not tell it was him. He had a habit of saying things he didn't mean to, but she didn't love him any the less for it. There was a sudden stir in the pub as the door banged open and Harry Potter stood in its frame. Just over Harry's shoulder she could see Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister for Magic. Hermione paled, only the most important business would bring him here and now. She could tell from Harry's expression that that whatever it was, it was not good.
Harry made his way over to their table, Hermione was sure she could see tears rimming his eyes, and her suspicions were confirmed as he took a handkerchief from his pocket and removed his glasses.
"Harry, what is it, what's wrong?" Hermione asked desperately. "And where is Ron?"
Harry seemed unable to speak; Kingsley put a hand on his shoulder, comfortingly.
Kingsley looked at her gravely. "Miss Granger, will you accompany Mr Potter and me to St Mungo's?"
"Only if you will tell me what has happened!" She cried desperately.
"Death Eaters, filthy bloody Death Eaters." Spat Harry.
The room started spinning for Hermione, but she had to hold on to reality. "Ron, he is not..."
"No, Miss Granger, Mr Weasley is still alive, but barely. He was coming to see you and he was attacked on the way. I lost one of my best Aurors in the fight too."
"The Weasleys have been informed, Hermione he is not expected to...live." Harry said grimly.
Hermione felt the room sway again. She closed the gap between herself and Harry and held on to him as they both wept. "What was it?" She asked.
"That same curse that almost did away with you in the Department of Mysteries." Harry replied.
"Dolohov's curse...was it verbal or non verbal?" Hermione demanded.
Harry pulled away. "Why does it matter and why are we wasting time here when Ron is..."
"Dying?" Hermione finished bluntly for him. "The verbal version is more potent, I was hit with the non verbal curse, which is why I probably survived it, but you are right we should be going."
"Can you apparate proficiently Miss Granger?" Shacklebolt asked her. Hermione nodded. "Then let's go."
Hermione looked to Hagrid. "Could you please tell the Headmaster where I have gone?"
Hagrid was howling into the remnants of his Butter Beer, he paused for a moment to nod, before Hermione, Harry and Shacklebolt Disapparated away.
TBC