Chapter 11 – The pleas, the truth, the invite
Hermione jumped back. The man appeared right by her side, unexpectedly, hourglass in hand, smiling at Fate.
'Chronos,' greeted Fate with a smile. 'Perfect timing, of course! It seems we have a bit of a situation here.'
Hermione jumped in, 'Yes, please, sir!'
Chronos looked at her, 'Oh, it's you. Of course. Though I didn't expect you now. There must be something I missed…'
The Gryffindor girl was surprised. 'You know me? How?'
Thanatos explained, 'Chronos travels backwards in time. He lives in our future.'
'But I can spot a time-meddling mortal eons away,' said the personification of Time disapprovingly. 'You were barely 13 and you were already creating parallel timelines. What a mess you made!'
She actually blushed. 'I didn't know. Sorry about that.'
'And now you want to do it again?' Time was a little more than miffed. It was bearing the outrageous. 'I'm not complaining about my personal cost, with loss of love and all that, but you have no idea of the ramifications!'
There were tears in Hermione's eyes. 'But I love him…'
Chronos seemed unmoved. 'Well, too bad. Thanatos here had a love like that for decades, did you know? And did he try to attempt anything like you? No, because he knows his beloved would be better in the afterlife than in a half-life!'
Thanatos would be pink, if he could blush, but said nothing. Fate reproached, 'Chronos, what are you doing?'
The Incarnation of Time turned to Fate, 'Oh, I know that you don't know the future as well as I do, but I am about to give this young lady a piece of my mind!'
Time was having a legitimate fit.
'Stop it right now!' When nervous, Fate's accent came out very Scottish, Hermione noticed. Fate talked warmly to Hermione, 'I apologize for him. He is usually a very sweet, kind and peaceful man, not this… this… ogre!'
Time sighed, half in scorn, half in distress. It took a few seconds until he said, 'I am sorry for my outburst, young lady. Still, there is nothing I can do about your husband's death. You need to trust us when we say that everything happens for a reason.'
Thanatos said, 'Since it is clear that this girl's attempts failed, what should we do?'
'We send her back, of course,' said Fate. 'She is not dead, so she belongs to the mortal world.'
Hermione asked, 'Where are we, by the way? What is this place?'
'It is my place,' said Fate. 'In the space in-between worlds.'
'I am out of the world?' Hermione was awed by the notion. 'I knew could go really far to save Ron, but not that far.'
'But your husband cannot be saved,' insisted Chronos. 'It is all there is, I am afraid.'
'Are you sure?'
Thanatos said, 'Absolutely. And you must never try this again. Ever. Or your daughter will be an orphan of both parents.'
'OK, I understand. Thank you for your patience.'
Chronos said, 'All right, then. If we are all settled, then Thanatos will take you back.' Death seemed a bit miffed about it, but Chronos shrugged. 'You are the one with the cool ride, mate. My means of transportation is too weird for mortal people.'
Even more vexed, Thanatos gestured Hermione, 'Let's go.'
'All right. Bye. Thanks for everything and sorry about the confusion.'
She followed Death to the pale horse and rode with him back to the world of the living again.
o0o 0o0 o0o 0o0
Fate and Chronos watched as the pair went away. Chronos asked, 'Will her memories be wiped out?'
'No, she would only try the same thing again. Besides, one of the big guys asked for her memories to be kept.'
'Why? Are those two playing favourites now?'
'God would never do that and you know it. But Satan... He is always in campaign, you know. If she tries suicide again, knowing fully well what is at stake, and succeeds, then he might have a shot at her soul, because this time it would be for pure grief, not for higher purposes.'
Chronos heard Fate swear quietly. 'That bastard.'
Chronos didn't know it, but Fate had her mind set to dive into her beloved tapestry and actually do something about that. But that would be interfering in a mortal's life, and doing so was a major no-no amongst the Incarnations. It would be quite hypocritical of her to do so after all the grief she gave poor Thanatos.
The personification of Time turned to his peer and drew her closer. 'Let's not talk about him right now. I believe we were about to become lovers, if I am not mistaken.'
Fate smiled as she delved into his arms, purring, 'And does this happen right now?'
Seductively, he caressed her lustrous hair as Clotho. 'You could say it is fate, don't you think?'
'I'd rather say it might happen… in time.'
They kissed.
o0o 0o0 o0o 0o0
After Hermione's sudden visit in the Incarnations of Immortality's abode, Severus followed her actions closely. So, he was by her side when the doctors pulled the plug on poor Ron Weasley. He observed her during the subsequent grieving period, when Hermione was so devastated she had difficulty even to tend to her daughter.
Severus hadn't been much by Hermione after the Battle of Hogwarts. Death had had no wish to bear witness to the domestic bliss of the couple, soon crowned by the arrival of baby Rose. Now Severus could appreciate how the young mother had thrived in the short period of five years.
Weeks after the funeral, as he still stalked the widow, Severus decided it was time for him to come clean. Hermione should know that her husband's death was not the will of a whimsical supernatural entity who woke up with the wrong foot someday.
As usual, he didn't consult Fate before doing that. He didn't want to take another reprimand.
She opened the door when he knocked, and she was even more beautiful looking straight at him with a large smile.
'Severus...!'
She embraced him warmly, and he tried very hard to contain himself.
'This is such a surprise,' she disentangled herself from him. 'Please, come on in.'
'I hope this is not a bad time.'
'Of course not. This is such a wonderful surprise!' She made him sit in a small, comfortable living room. 'You look amazing. How are you?'
'I am fine.'
Her smile fell. 'I suppose you heard about Ron.'
'I am so sorry about him, Hermione. He was a good man.'
She sniffed, a tear escaping her eye as she nodded. 'One of the very best. And look,' she introduced. 'This is Rose.'
Severus was not good with babies, but he managed a smile at the small person sitting on a floor mat who looked at him intensely. 'Hello, Rose.'
'May I offer you something? Perhaps some tea.'
'I believe tea would be a good choice, Hermione.'
'Let me just put the kettle on.'
She disappeared into the kitchen and Severus was alone with the toddler, who was still deciding if he was a friend or foe. He admired the little one for not trusting total strangers.
'How did you know where to find me? We hardly know anything about you!'
'I have means… you know.'
'Yes, yes, the superspy. You know there are people in the Order who still have no idea about you? You did a remarkable job, Severus. Not to mention saving my life. I appreciate that.'
'It was really a pleasure.'
'Is it okay if I ask you something? I have so many questions about those days.'
'Now I am in a position to allow you some answers.'
'Really? Great!' she was excited. 'No, wait. Let me get the tea first.'
So it was over some hot tea that Hermione asked her first question. 'So what is your name? I mean, your real name?'
'Severus Snape,' he answered. 'I assure you that is my real name.'
She didn't show fear, only confusion. 'Then, are you dead?'
'Not really.'
'Does that have to do with not being a wizard? Care to explain?'
'Severus Snape did indeed die at Halloween, 1981. But he is also here. He is me. I live in the fringe of this world, having become a supernatural entity that lives in the outskirts of the mortal realm.'
Now Hermione was showing signs of alarm. 'You are not a magical creature. Nor a wizard.'
'I always said that. I lost my wizarding powers when I became a supernatural being. I don't have magical powers as wizards do. But I am hardly a Muggle.'
'What are you, exactly? Did you come here to harm me?'
'Of course I mean you no harm, Hermione. I just felt you had a right to know. I am an Incarnation of Immortality.'
Her face turned white. 'You- no…!'
'I am afraid so, yes.'
'Which one? Are you Time?'
'No. I am Death.'
She stood up, enraged. 'NO! No, no!'
'I am afraid it is true,' he said calmly, but full of sadness.
Hermione looked around, tears falling, as if she could find answers in her own living room. 'You… you…'
Severus stood quite still, while she withstood the shockwave the information caused. He knew he should be very patient at this time.
In a few minutes, Hermione could gather enough strength to ask, 'Couldn't you do anything?'
'I did what I could,' he said earnestly. 'I hope you believe me. I told Dumbledore there was not much I could do, but I would do my best to help Harry. And that meant helping the three of you.'
Hermione stared at him. 'Harry told me he had seen you. In the forest. Before facing Voldemort.'
'I made sure to be with him. For his mum.'
'Is she all right? Is she proud of her son?'
'I am sure Lily is. But I have no contact with her. I live in the fringe of this world, and she lives in the other world.'
'So you can't see her?'
'No, I can't.'
'And...' her voice cracked a bit, 'can you see Ron...?'
'I am sorry, but I can't either.'
Her tears fell freely down her cheeks as she asked, 'Can you tell me anything about him? About how he is now?'
Severus was heartbroken, but answered her truthfully, 'My office presides all deaths in the planet. Yet I am not required to personally collect each soul upon its demise. I am typically called to reap the grey souls, the ones with both evil and good in equal measure. The fact that I was not required to oversee Ron's passing tells me he went straight up.'
She risked asking for confirmation, 'When you say up, do you mean...'
'Heaven, yes' he said. 'He was a good man.'
Hermione nodded, wiping the tears. 'Thank you, Severus. I mean, Thanatos.'
'Call me Severus, please.'
'Severus, then. So, Severus, would you be mad at me if I ask you to leave now? I need to be alone.'
'Of course.' He stood up. 'Thank you for the tea. And one word of professional advice: don't try to follow Ron. You would not arrive to the same place he lives.'
And he put on his cloak, thereof acquiring the skeleton appearance, before disappearing into thin air. He went to Mort with the firm disposition of leaving her alone for a long, long time.
Too bad Severus was the only one to think that.
o0o 0o0 o0o 0o0
More than two months had passed after Severus's visit. Hermione talked in confidence to Harry about that visit.
'Do you think he was telling the truth?'
'Why would he lie about it?'
'There are some pretty weird people out there, Hermione. You know that.'
'You have to admit it makes sense, though.'
'I guess. But think about it: if this is the same guy who was friends with my mum, then Death is not a eternal entity. How does one become Death, the Grim Reaper?'
Hermione said, 'I am not sure. I am pretty sure it involves ceasing to live, I am afraid.'
Harry shrugged. 'Are you all right?'
It was her time to shrug. 'I guess. But I think I need some change in my life. Sort things out.'
'Why don't you take some time off? Go on a holiday of sorts.'
'What about Rose? I can't just leave her.'
'If you don't want Molly to take her, leave her with us. Ginny and I would love to spend time with our lovely goddaughter.'
'I will think about it,' said Hermione politely, knowing full well that this was remotely likely to happen.
Until she received an owl. It was a proper, conventional witching mail. The contents, though, were anything but conventional.
It was a voucher to a weekend getaway in Muggle Ireland, all expenses paid. The letter said it was a "once in a lifetime opportunity', and she should do it in total secrecy. She would travel by train, under the name of Monica Wendel.
That was enough to make her believe that it was not a hoax. Wendel was the name she used to protect her parents during the Second Wizarding War, when they were sent to Australia.
Hermione decided to leave Rose with her grandmother Molly and followed the instructions contained in the letter. She took the train, then the boat and then a bus to the resort called Druids' Refuge, south of Dublin, near the ocean. It was really lovely, with such greenery that relaxed Hermione. Even if all this mystery letter turned out to be a hoax, she was glad she had embarked in such an adventure. The place was gorgeous.
When she returned from a walk in the many green paths around the resort's grounds, there was a message for her at the front desk. "Come to dinner on the Stone Circle Room. The reservation is on the name of Marlene."
"Marlene is such a funny name to mix in all this cloak and dagger stuff," thought Hermione.
The maître escorted Hermione to her table, where Marlene was already waiting. And Hermione was surprised to recognize the mysterious lady.
She had met her before, when she used the name of Fate.
'Hello, dear.' She smiled. 'I am so glad you decided to come. Please sit down.'
Hermione sat down and confessed, 'This is a surprise.'
'Oh, good. I didn't want to be too obvious.' Marlene picked up the menu. 'Would you like to order from the menu or do you want to try the self-service?'
'Let's take a look at the menu.'
Both ordered fish and Marlene McKinnon chose a rosé wine. 'I don't believe that much in matching food and wine. But trust me on this: this is a wonderful wine.'
It was indeed. They had their meal amidst small talk, and that positively was getting in Hermione's nerves. Perhaps spurred by the amount of the deceitfully sweet wine, she asked the other woman, 'So what do I owe the honor of having dinner with one of the Incarnations of Immortality?'
'You can call me Marlene McKinnon. It's been a while since I used this name.'
The name was familiar with Hermione, though she could not place exactly how she knew that name. But she let it slip aside.
'So, Marlene,' emphasized Hermione, 'Why did you want to see me?'
'I have been following your thread for a long time, my dear, and I believe you would be willing to listen to an offer I have for you.'
'An offer,' repeated the young lady, with restrained curiosity.
'I know you don't beat around the bush, so I will just say it: would you like to be an Incarnation of Immortality yourself?'
Hermione froze in her chair. Was that what she thought it was?
Marlene chuckled, 'Well, maybe a bit of beating around the bush would have been in order after all.'
'Yes,' was all Hermione could answer. 'Would I be you? I mean...'
'Yes, of course. And no.' Marlene shrugged. 'Yes, you would be Fate. No, you don't get to be Marlene McKinnon. She is dead, and cannot return to life.'
'Dead? Like Severus?'
That surprised the lady. 'Oh. I didn't know Severus had revealed himself to you.'
'He told me a few things.'
'Ah.' Marlene took a slow sip of her wine and then put down the long-stemmed glass. 'Curious.'
'What is curious?'
'You made the right questions about yourself, but you didn't ask about me.'
'About you?'
'Yes. About my becoming Hermione Granger-Weasley.'
