I had writers block for a very long time, but I'm still hoping I'll be able to finish this story (despite my busy schedule)
Thank you to everyone who left such nice and encouraging comments. But now to chapter 12.
12. The Secrets of Severus Snape
Hermione abandoned her bags in the hallway and followed the two men into Draco's office, closing the door behind her.
She watched Draco open the tudor and curiously stepped nearer to take a look inside it, but before she could get a closer look at all the treasures, he had pulled out one of two pensieves and shut the lid. 'What does he need so many pensieves for?' Hermione thought intrigued, but didn't give voice to her question. Instead, she moved closer to the desk.
"Well, come here, Granger," Draco drawled, an overly confident smirk on his face. He motioned for her to sit down on his office chair.
Hermione walked around the desk and took a seat.
This was it. Now she would lastly find out what had happened on that faithful night. Did she really want to see Headmaster Dumbledore die, again? She quickly glanced at Draco, kneading her trembling hands.
"It's ok, Granger. You won't see him die. In it, you only find the last conversation between Severus and Dumbledore," he answered her unspoken thoughts.
She nodded and took a deep breath. Slowly she bent forward, closer and closer, until she only saw the silvery swirls before her. One more inch and she was sucked into the pensieve.
At first she spun so fast that she nearly lost her meager breakfast, and then suddenly she stopped. 'Sometimes I feel like I'm Alice in Wonderland', she mused, almost expecting to run into a white rabbit. Slowly the grey mist lifted and she began discerning shapes and colors all around her. She found herself in the Astronomy Tower, but why the hell was she there? Then she saw two shadows leaning against a wall near one of the open windows. She caught a glimpse of something sparkling on the floor and stepped closer. Squinting intently into the darkness, she realized that it was a bottle of fire whiskey carelessly placed on the stone floor. Why would Snape and Dumbledore meet here in this unsafe place to discuss such important news? Everybody could sneak up here and listen to their conversation. It seemed an odd place to conduct business, not to mention the fact that they were imbibing alcohol. Very strange, Hermione thought and focused next on the figures before her.
She stepped closer to the pair and shielded her eyes from the moonlight shining directly onto her face.
The first thing she saw was a wisp of white hair, but unlike Dumbledore's knee-length hair, this one was short. Another startling revelation was that the figure didn't possess Dumbledore's meter long beard. Hermione doubted that he would have shaved. She was sure it took him years upon years to grow a beard of that length.
Hermione shook her head and began focusing on the other figure, when suddenly they stepped closer together and began kissing each other.
Shocked she walked up to the pair, knowing that this couldn't have been Snape or Dumbledore, nearly stumbling into them, when she heard her own voice speak.
"I don't know about this Draco. Don't you hate me?"
"Yeah, but so what, you hate me too. So, we are even," Pensieve-Draco answered.
Hermione clapped a hand in front of her mouth. 'Oh, my god! I can't believe I'm actually fraternizing with Malfoy. Eeewww," she chided, wondering what would happen next, but before she could make herself comfortable and watch, a hand shot out from behind her and pulled her up.
Hermione fell into the office chair nearly tipping it over, but steadied. Confused she looked around, still hoping to be in the Astronomy Tower, but recognized quickly that she had been pulled out of the pensieve.
She looked up and noticed the same shock on Malfoy's face which, no doubt, she was displaying on her own face.
"MALFOY!" was all she brought out, clenching her jaw tightly together.
"That . . . that was the wrong pensieve," he answered and quickly exchanged the one for the other. How could he have been so careless? What was wrong with him these days?
With slightly trembling hands he grabbed the other pensieve and walked toward Hermione, who stared at him open-mouthed.
Severus had been leaning against a bookcase the entire time, watching the scene curiously and with a certain air of interest. He smirked slyly, pushed off of the bookshelf and took slow strides to toward an armchair near the fireplace, his eyes transfixed on Draco, while he took a seat.
He certainly had the option to remain quiet and let things develop without any meddling, but he had always found it exhilarating to watch his former students squirm in embarrassment. Why should Snape forego such pleasure now? He hadn't indulged in any kind of pleasure for years, being on the run from the Ministry and other dubious figures still grazing Great Britain, he barely had the pleasure to remain in one location long enough to settle in. His eyes met Draco's pleading ones and the smile on his face grew broader. Draco knew the signs all too well.
"I'm surprised, Draco, that you haven't told her, yet," he said silkily. It wasn't a bold statement, but enough of a hint to make Ms. Know-It-All curious and by the look on her face, he had accomplished just that.
"What do you mean, Professor? What's going on?" Hermione asked, glancing from one to the other.
Neither seemed to have noticed, nor did they interrupt their staring contest.
Hermione stood slowly and turned to Malfoy with questioning eyes, but he remained motionless, transfixed on his former Professor.
"Malfoy?" she attempted again, but still, no reaction.
"For Merlin's sake, would someone please tell me what's going on?" she cried and whipped around to Snape.
A knock was heard at that moment and Morphy appeared at the door. "Young Master Malfoy is done with his breakfast, Sir. Shall Morphy show the Miss her room, now?" he asked with hunched shoulders. There was no doubt that the elf noticed the heavy tension in the air.
Finally, after what felt like ages, Draco turned around, regarding the house-elf, his face as white as a sheet.
"Yes, that would be fine, Morphy. We are almost finished here. Once she's viewed her room and unpacked, you will bring her to the study room to continue Marcel's studies."
"Yes, Sir," Morphy bowed deeply and motioned Hermione to follow him, but Hermione wasn't in the mood to execute Draco's orders. As a matter of fact, she was beginning to get tired of his haughty ways and would put a stop to all this before it could get out of hand.
"I'm not going anywhere, until you tell me what's going on, Malfoy," she stated firmly, leaning against the desk and crossing her arms. "Most importantly, I want to know why you put fake thoughts of some sick rendezvous we supposedly had into a pensieve. If this is some sort of bloody joke on my account, then I'd watch my step if I were you."
Hermione reached into her robe searching for her wand, when she realized that he still had it.
"Nothing is going on, Granger," he answered curtly, his voice laced with venom. He placed her wand on his desk and stormed out of the study.
Hermione stared after him for what felt like ages, unable to grasp a clear thought. What was going on here? 'Something fishy, that was sure,' she contemplated, before Snape loudly cleared his throat and interrupted her jumbled thoughts. She whipped around to face him.
"You know something, Professor. I know you do," she nearly whispered, too shocked to raise her voice beyond the heavy knot she felt in her throat. Her whole body was trembling in anger.
Snape shifted in his seat and swung one leg over the other in a lazy sort of way. He certainly enjoyed the famous Gryffindor squirming under his watchful gaze. She was waiting impatiently for an answer, twiddling with her fingers, shuffling her feet as if she stood on hot coals. It was bliss to watch her torture herself, while he looked on, unfazed.
He took so long to answer, that she nearly jumped when he finally spoke to her.
"I believe young Mister Malfoy has already given you the answer to your question, Ms. Granger. Beyond that, I wouldn't know what else to tell you," he answered her skillfully and stood up to leave the study.
For a moment she looked baffled at her former professor, but the expression was quickly replaced by rage.
With lightning speed she had managed to jumped toward the desk and grab her wand.
"Not so fast, dear Professor," she shouted out. Before long, Severus found him self, once again, at the receiving end of her wand, additionally she held the top of his robe frock in her tight little fist.
"Ms. Granger!" Severus let out in mock shock. "The lioness has finally awakened, how intriguing."
He swung her around before she could count the ticks between two seconds, and found herself laying on her back on an old fashioned chaise, her professor looming over her, and her wand suspended in midair as if being held up by an invisible string.
"Still the stupid little girl, who acts before she thinks," he said softly, but the sneer was still evident in his voice.
His face was so close that Hermione didn't dare to move away or even breathe. This was not the position she wanted to find herself in.
"Now, Ms. Granger, if you have calmed down a bit, perhaps you want to take a look at the other pensieve?"
Slowly he propped himself up and grabbed her arm, pulling her up with him.
As soon as both stood erect, he caught her wand before it clattered to the floor, all the while not taking his eyes off her face.
A moment's pause ensued, in which Hermione could only stare at her old Professor, the color of shame slowly creeping into her cheeks. Snape hadn't lost the all too familiar menacing present of authority that always surrounded him, and once again Hermione felt as if she were still in her second year.
"Al…alright," she stammered and walked toward the desk.
Before she knew it, she was once again sucked into the pensieve, but this time she found herself standing near the window in Dumbledore's office.
She didn't know what time it was. Only the darkness outside and the glow of the moon shining over the lake told her that it must have been fairly late in the evening.
She looked around the deserted office. Fawks, Dumbledore's pet phoenix, was the only living creature present. Most of the ancient Headmasters in the paintings were sleeping deeply.
Suddenly, Hermione could hear a rustling of soft silk and automatically looked up the circular staircase, which evidently lead to the Headmaster's chambers. Professor Dumbledore, clad in velvet night robes and matching fluffy slippers, made his way slowly down the stairs. His face was gaunt and the usual mischievous twinkle was replaced by fear.
He held his hand at an odd angle. He took the last step and moved slowly past Hermione.
His hand was charred and black and Hermione could see that he was in immense pain.
"Come in, Severus," he said, suddenly and glanced at the door. Not even a second later Hermione heard a polite knock, then the door swung open and in stepped Professor Snape.
"Why do you always have to do this Albus? Can one not at least knock properly before you answer?" He voiced with a mock sneer; yet his voice bespoke of the fondness he had for the Headmaster.
"Severus, you should know me better by now. Sit down, please," Dumbledore answered. Just then Hermione noticed how weak his voice truly sounded. Shocked and worried she stepped closer to the desk. She didn't want to miss a single word.
"Albus, I might have found something that may prolong the process tremendously. For one of the ingredients I will have to take a trip to the Amazons, but ….,"
"Severus!" Dumbledore interrupted. "I know you are trying everything in your power to help me, but there is no cure. We both know that. I came to terms with it and so should you."
"But, Albus…" said Snape, his face turning white.
"Please, Severus. Don't prolong my suffering. I'm sure you have noticed that I'm in tremendous pain. I deal with it, but I don't know how much longer I will be able to live this way," explained Dumbledore, glancing over his half-moon spectacles at the younger man.
"I've lived a long and eventful life, Severus. There is nothing that I haven't had the chance to do, or anyone I haven't had the chance to meet. But that is not the reason why I have asked you to come here tonight. I have been thinking long and hard," Dumbledore took a breath and Hermione could tell he was having a hard time. He looked exhausted.
"You gave your vow to Narcissa to protect Draco. We both know that he isn't capable of killing anyone. Despite his upbringing it's never been in him. I want you to be there during the planned attack. I want you to do the honors."
Severus turned from white to grey and swallowed hard. He jumped up and began pacing back and forth.
"You cannot ask this of me, Albus. Definitely, no, I won't do it!"
"There is no other way, Severus. If you do this for me, not only will it safe Draco, but also the rest of the school. It's me he wants," said the Headmaster and leaned back in his chair.
Severus stopped pacing and moved toward the window. Hermione automatically backed up to move out of his way and came to a halt right next to Severus.
A deep shudder came from the depths of his chest as he began to address Dumbledore.
"Headmaster, what you ask of me is beyond any crime I've ever committed. I murdered people I didn't know, I raped the innocent, I tortured the ones that didn't deserve it, but I cannot raise my wand against you, don't you understand?"
Severus took a deep breathe and continued to stare out of the window his hands placed on the window sill for support.
Dumbledore cleared his voice. "My son, do you remember the time I took you in and gave you a position at Hogwarts in order to keep you safe and to help redeem yourself?"
"Yes, of course, Albus. How could I forget."
"Then I'm sure you remember what I told you after you ask me when can you ever repay me?" Dumbledore questioned the younger man.
"You told me that the time will come when I'm able to repay you," Snape said softly almost in a whisper.
"Exactly!" said Dumbledore and got up with difficulty.
"Why would you pick such a horrid thing as payment?"
"Because, Severus, it's for the better of the school and all its pupils. My life has come to and end and I accept this. But you can help me greatly, if you won't let me suffer any longer. Let me die a martyr, Severus. Let me die doing one last good deed and help the unfortunate souls that still have to fight this horrid war."
There was a long pause. Hermione only heard the slow breathes and snores from the paintings and a tick tock from a clock. She had almost given up on finding out any further details when a sudden move right next to her made her jump.
Severus stood up taller and held his head a bit higher.
With a deep, shuddering breath he said: "Alright, Headmaster. I will do it. But I promise you that it will be the hardest thing I have ever done," he finished before his voice completely broke.
Just then, Hermione saw a tear making its way down the gaunt face of Professor Snape.
"Thank you, my son," Hermione heard the Headmaster say before she was thrown back out of the pensieve.
Hermione didn't notice right away the tears making there way silently down her face.
Shocked, yet with the utmost adoration she looked up and into the potions master's eyes.
"I . . . I didn't know. I am . . . so sorry, Professor."
His face was stern, but the corners of his mouth went up into a faint smile.
"This was obvious, Ms. Granger," Severus answered, before he too stepped out of the room, leaving Hermione behind.
