Author's Note: Had to split this chapter into two, the Snape stuff is coming up in chapter 11 (which is almost done!). Sorry for the delay in posting and review/message responses as per usual, life sure gets in the way of fanfiction sometimes…
Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is not mine, but the work of the wonderful JKR.
Chapter Ten
Saturday arrives. You and Ginny rush to the library as soon as lunch is over, doing your best to not attract attention. Luckily Ginny was right, it is practically deserted. You see only two students, both quite a bit younger and clearly too preoccupied with their work to even notice you. You silently thank your good luck, but still, as soon as the Restricted Section is in sight, even before you see Ron or Harry, you cast a quick Silencing Charm around the area.
Ginny is practically running, you have to pick up your pace to keep up with her. You are about to roll your eyes and tell her to slow down before she trips over something when you see Harry. You see his dark hair first, emerging from the invisibility cloak. He fixes his glasses, turns to you and Ginny, and grins.
And then you see a second person emerge (seemingly) from nothing. Red hair. Bigger, taller than Harry.
Ron.
He turns to you and his face lights up. And suddenly, you feel it. You are safe. You are home. He smiles at you, so big, so brightly. You run to him, vaguely aware of Ginny running beside you, not in front of you anymore. You leap into Ron's arms as Ginny leaps into Harry's.
He smells like you remember; toothpaste, grass, shampoo. He smells clean, and safe.
"Bloody hell, Hermione," he mutters into your ear. "You about knocked me over!"
You laugh and let him go. "Sorry," you smile.
You turn to Harry then, who has let go of Ginny, and you hug him hard.
"So good to see you Hermione," he says softly as you part.
"You too, Harry," you smile as you do your best to keep the tears stinging the back of your eyes at bay. After so many months alone, so long away from anyone else, especially after Ron left, you value Harry as a friend more than you can express. Your heart swells as he runs his hand through his hair and you give him a playful push before you return to Ron's side. Ron kisses your cheek gently and you feel a familiar warmth spread through your chest down to your belly.
Ginny is holding Harry's hand, grinning from ear to ear. "So where has McGonagall put you up? Staying in the boys' dorms for old times' sake?"
You almost roll your eyes at Ginny's lack of subtlety.
"The Gryffindor guest rooms ," Ron says to you, ignoring Ginny and Harry's soppy looks with a sufficient amount of discomfort. You take his hand and squeeze it gently.
"They haven't been used in so long, McGonagall had to spruce them up quite a bit. To make us feel at home she made them look just like the boys' dorms. It was some pretty impressive Transfiguration, actually, we watched her work," Harry says, smiling at you (knowing you would appreciate it, of course, and, of course, you must admit you would like to ask the Headmistress more about it later).
"Where are they?" you ask.
"The sixth floor," Harry says.
"That's all settled then," Ginny says brightly. "Well we don't want to hang around here all day, do we? Hermione and I thought we could all go to Hogsmeade and catch up. Fancy a butterbeer?"
Both Harry and Ron grimace. "Have any Polyjuice handy?" Ron mutters. "We were nearly mauled by Firsties when we arrived."
"I'd be more than happy to brew some, but as you may remember, it takes a while," you smile.
"We could nick some out of Snape's cupboard?" Ron suggests.
There is an awkward silence.
"I think the cloak will be fine, mate," Harry says after a moment, quietly, but smiling. "Ron and I will follow you two underneath it," he says to Ginny.
You and Ginny nod and watch as Harry and Ron disappear under the cloak. The air is still heavy with tension as you take down your Silencing charm and exit the library. Snape is like a shadow, a constant presence hanging over your thoughts, Harry's thoughts, Ron's thoughts. You know Harry can't forget what he did for his mum, what his father did to him. You can't forget what he did for all of you, how much he suffered. And Ron can't forget that Snape had been the one on the forefront of your mind all summer.
But you ignore your thoughts, for now, because Ron is here. You love Ron, very much. And you want your thoughts, your head, your heart, to be with him and him only, because that's what he deserves from you, what you know you must give him.
Hogsmeade is a disaster. Harry and Ron foolishly took off the Invisibility Cloak after leaving the school grounds, and the moment you enter the town people recognize the Golden Trio and are swarming you. By the time you make your way through the quickly forming crowd, as politely as possible, and find a table at the Hog's Head, Rita Skeeter has shown up.
You hate that woman. You feel your face grow hot at the sight of her. You know your hair will be getting (more) out of control soon… its known to crackle and spark when you are truly angry, and if anyone can get you there, you know Skeeter can.
"The Golden Trio," she says, sauntering over to your table with a horrific smile on her face, her Quick-Quotes Quill scribbling beside her. "And Harry Potter, with Ginny Weasley. Is it serious, then, Harry?" She looks at Ginny's left hand, which is holding Harry's right. "No ring, I see. Can't be that serious, then. You must have your pick of the witches around the Ministry, am I right Harry?"
You look at Ginny. She is almost as red as her hair. Harry looks as though he may start throwing hexes at any moment.
"What about Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley?" Skeeter continues, ignoring Harry and Ginny's reactions. "Have the pressures of being apart this year caused any strain on this sweet new relationship? And what about your Headmaster-come-Potions Master, Miss Granger? You were known to have visited him quite frequently in the hospital. Have you two become better acquainted now that he has recovered?" She looks at you with pure venom in her eyes, disguised as journalistic interest. So she hates you as much as you hate her, it seems. Serves her right for being an unregistered animagus. Your only regret is that you didn't keep her locked up in her beetle form longer, without food, in that jar a few years ago.
"Or," Skeeter continues, a horrific grin on her face, "has Severus Snape rejected your naive misguided attentions?"
You feel not only your face but your neck get hot. Your right hand is clutching your wand as tight as possible. You feel your hair ballooning around your head with static. You can't hold your tongue, you feel as though you'll explode if you do.
"Shut up you horrible woman!"
You feel the entire pub staring at you.
"Really, Miss Granger," Skeeter huffs, though she looks rather pleased with herself, Quill writing like mad, "I would expect –"
But before her stupid red mouth can say anything else, she is interrupted. "Out, Skeeter. You're not welcome here if you'll be harassing my patrons."
Aberforth Dumbledore. He is standing, menacingly close to Rita, looking intimidating. Rita looks at him, humphs slightly, and turns back to your table. "We'll have another chat soon, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger. Rest assured the public wants to know what the Golden Trio is doing now, and it is my responsibility to give them their information." And then she looks at you, her horrible eyes burning into yours. "And, Miss Granger, they will most certainly want to know if Gryffindor's Golden Girl is becoming friendly with the murderer of Albus Dumbledore." She looks at Aberforth pointedly then storms out, her heels clacking against the ground dramatically.
Harry sighs. "Thanks Aberforth, I owe you one. Again."
You are furious and embarrassed, but thankfully after Aberforth brings your table a round of drinks he makes sure you are left alone for the rest of your time there. The four of you chat, moving on from the black cloud that is Rita Skeeter. Ron and Harry regale you and Ginny with tales of their exhaustive Auror training, but before long they are talking Quidditch with Ginny, and you are left to ruminate on Skeeter's words.
How many people still see Snape as a murderer? Clearly at least one person at Hogwarts (the still uncaught Potions class pranker), Skeeter, and therefore most likely her brain-dead loyal reader-minions as well. Suddenly you are worried, not only that Snape will not show at the Memorial that night, but also for his safety if he does.