A/N: I am seriously astounded at how much you all seem to be enjoying this story. Thank you so much for letting me know. Just a warning that my writing has been slowing a bit lately and I am falling behind on my chapter lead. I'm guessing that eventually my posts will slow to once a week rather than twice a week. Hopefully I can prevent that for a while longer though. Beta Love to the amazing FaceofPoe who helped a great deal with logic in this chapter. I'd be lost without her.
Chapter Twenty-One: End of Term
June 14, 1997
The hospital wing was all but abandoned this late at night. Madame Pomfrey was nowhere to be seen, and as Hermione snuck across the ward to the private room at the back, she could see that only one of the beds was occupied by a soundly sleeping first year. She entered the room just as Severus had instructed, giving the small portrait on the door the password and then stepping into the darkened room. This, she supposed, was where teachers went when they got sick. It made sense that when they needed care they were not lumped in with the students in the general ward, Madame Pomfrey would hardly have allowed them to be so distracted by students when they were meant to be resting.
It did not take long for Hermione's eyes to adjust to the room. The light of the quarter moon filtered in through a series of open windows on the wall to her left, and a single candle burned on a low table to her right, just beside a bed where a worn and sickly Professor Dumbledore lay sleeping.
"Don't just loiter by the door." She heard him just before she saw him. Severus was sitting in the corner near the Headmaster's bed, a book open in one hand and the other using his wand to conjure a seat beside his. "Come, sit."
She did as he said, not bothering to comment over his high-handedness for fear of waking Professor Dumbledore. She watched him as she perched on the newly-conjured chair. He was reading a text that looked positively ancient, his dark eyes grazing across its pages intently as he seemed to drink in their contents. He looked up as he turned the page, catching Hermione's eye and making her look down in embarrassment.
"Is there some reason you're studying me?" he asked, voice low and resonant. It was the same voice he used when he was talking about potions and it sent a pleasant shiver through her.
"No," she said, "I was only wondering what it is you're reading." Severus arched a brow and closed the book he held with a soft snap, holding it out for her to inspect. She took it from him, feeling the weight of it in her hands and turning it over to see the cover. It was leather bound and frail, but other than those facts, Hermione could tell nothing about the text. There were no words anywhere on the binding, and when she carefully opened the book she realized it wasn't even written in English.
"What is it?" she asked, looking up from the book at Severus who sat motionless across from her, still dressed in a set of voluminous teaching robes.
"That," said Severus, "Is one of the many journals of Salazar Slytherin."
Hermione blanched, her hands growing completely still on the volume in her hands as her mouth fell open and she stared at Severus in disbelief. He chuckled softly at her reaction and Hermione blushed, setting the the journal gently on the small table to her right and then looking back at the smirking man in front of her. He was handsome when he wasn't scowling, she thought. His lips were not pressed into a tight line but were full and quirked upward at the corners. They looked inviting.
"What are you doing just handling such a rare artifact like that?" she chided, "You should be wearing gloves at the very least, if not levitating the thing."
"Are you a burgeoning librarian, Madame Snape?" he teased, "I must take care to warn Irma that you're out for her job."
"I just have a healthy respect for literature," argued Hermione, "Especially one so unique as this. Why were you reading it, anyway?"
Snape watched her for a moment, his expression sobering somewhat before answering. "It was one of the only records available in the library which gave particulars regarding a Sanguinis Copulam bond."
Hermione did not hide her surprise at his words. "Salazar Slytherin took the same vows we did?" Somehow, the idea of the founder of Slytherin binding himself to another person so completely seemed absurd to her. In her mind she knew that he had been a man like any other, with a wife and a family of his own… but the wizarding world had a way of mythologizing the four Hogwarts founders, and of boiling them down to little more than the traits their respective houses prized. To the students of Hogwarts, Salazar Slytherin was little more than some long dead man who was cunning and had hated muggleborns.
"Yes," said Severus, "with his wife, Hildred. He goes into great detail concerning the bond and its effects on the both of them."
Hermione swallowed. "Have you learned anything new?" Severus shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
"No. Aside from the fact that Salazar was far more prone to order his wife about than I… and for a variety of reasons."
"Oh yes, I can imagine it right now," said Hermione bitterly, "'Hildred, I order you to wash my socks." Severus looked amused and leaned towards her dropping his voice.
"Nothing so pedestrian. He was Slytherin after all. I believe the last command I read was for her to pleasure him with her mouth beneath the desk in his study." Hermione's eyes widened and her mouth dropped into an 'O' of surprise while Severus chuckled once more.
"But that's terrible! He was forcing her to-"
"It seems she was quite a willing participant from his account," Severus said dryly.
Hermione's shocked look morphed into one of disgust as she glared at the dark haired man in front of her. "If you ever-" she began to threaten, but was cut off as Severus finished her thought for her.
"I imagine you would force feed me my testicles the very next time I presented them to you," he snorted.
"You're damn right I would," said Hermione, and at that Severus let out a quiet laugh, tossing his head back as his shoulders shook. "I'm serious," added Hermione, trying to keep her expression severe, but this only seemed to amuse him further, because Severus's eyes closed and his hands went up to cover his face and he tried hard to stay quiet so as not to disturb the sleeping man beside him. When he was through, Hermione was torn between being amused or disgruntled at his reaction. When he turned his smile back on her and she felt her heart flutter, she settled for the former.
"You know you're quite fetching when you smile like that," remarked Hermione, watching him as his eyes glittered and he seemed to relax even further.
"Is that so?" he teased, flashing her an unfamiliar grin which seemed to light up his face and made a very large part of Hermione ache that he hadn't had more occasion to do so before then.
"Yes," she assured him, voice husky now with emotion as she spoke. She looked down at her hands and folded them neatly in her lap. Severus watched her for almost a minute after that as she studiously avoided his gaze, not sure why she couldn't bring herself to look him in the eyes again, but positive that if she did something would happen that would be completely out of her control. At last, Severus sighed, uncrossing his legs and leaning towards her.
"Hermione," he said without preamble, "When term ends next week, you'll be staying here with me."
"What?" Her amber eyes snapped up to meet his and she saw that all traces of mirth were gone from his face. The absence made her heart twinge uncomfortably.
"I spoke with the Headmaster at length this afternoon, before Madame Pomfrey gave him the sleeping draught. We agreed it would be best for you to skip the train and stay at Hogwarts over the summer," said Severus.
"That's ridiculous," Hermione dismissed. "What would I tell Harry and Ron? 'Sorry you two, I won't be catching the express back because I'm staying at school to shag my husband.'"
"Don't be obtuse, Hermione." Severus scolded, his face having twisted into a scowl at the mention of her friends. "We can hardly be separated as the bond currently stands. To leave would be ridiculous."
"Not to go would cause questions. I've got to at least make a short appearance at the Burrow. Ron already thinks I'm avoiding them and- "
"Are you so afraid of your little friends that you're unwilling to do as Dumbledore wishes?"
"As Dumbledore wishes, or as you wish, Severus?" asked Hermione pointedly. Severus scoffed and crossed his arms, clearly annoyed at Hermione's obstinance.
"The Headmaster," he spat, "Has arranged an apprenticeship for you with Professor Slughorn. You will tell Potter and Weasley that you've been given an outstanding opportunity and are loathe to bypass it."
"An apprenticeship with- But that doesn't make any sense! I've got a year left before graduation!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Not anymore," said Severus, and if Hermione was not mistaken, that was a look of satisfaction lingering on his face. "The Headmaster has arranged for you to sit the NEWTs early. Merlin knows you're enough of a know-it-all to pass tomorrow, but he's been gracious and given you a month to study."
Hermione's eyes widened as Severus watched her. A month? She was going to be taking the NEWTs in a month? Of all the things that had happened to her since finding out Voldemort was her father, this was perhaps the worst. The thought that her unfortunate heredity was affecting not just her social status, but her education… God, she wanted to see the snake bleed for this.
"And I'm just supposed to go along with this absurd idea?" asked Hermione at last, "It doesn't even make any sense! Me- a sixth year- staying over the summer to take NEWTs early and become an apprentice makes about as much sense as you teaching Care of Magical Creatures! Harry will never believe it!"
Severus scoffed incredulously. "Potter? Please. The boy barely has enough sense in his head to put his trousers on before his shoes. He'll believe whatever you tell him. You've been the brains of that ridiculous trio since it was founded, and neither of the empty-headed pea-brains will think to question you." He paused, eyes glittering again. "Besides, Dumbledore tells me he's informed Potter that the ministry may well fall this summer. They'll think your education is being fast-tracked to help the cause."
"And when I stay at Hogwarts after the ministry falls? What then, Severus? Will they think Voldemort made an exception to his no mudbloods allowed rule because I'm just too talented at Potions to let go?" Hermione was scowling now, and squaring off in front of Severus.
"I will deal with Mr. Potter." She was startled by the hoarse voice of Albus Dumbledore as he spoke from where he lay on the bed beside them.
"I'm sorry, Headmaster, I did not mean to wake you," said Severus at once, sitting down beside the man and pulling out his wand. He waved it over Dumbledore's chest, speaking a spell with which Hermione was not familiar and then lowering his hand, seemingly satisfied. "I was just informing Madame Snape of your plans for her over the summer months. She had doubts that it would allow her to keep her friends in the dark about her circumstances." Hermione rolled her eyes and sat back down, crossing her arms stubbornly as she tossed her head to the side.
"So I gathered," said Dumbledore as he moved to sit up against several pillows Severus helped him to pile behind himself. "But I assure you, Miss Granger, that until the ministry falls Harry will have no reason to suspect your secret." His voice was still hoarse when he spoke and Hermione winced at how frail he sounded.
"And after Voldemort is in control?" asked Hermione, "What then?"
It was Severus who answered her, his tone decidedly softer than it had been just a minute before. "Did you expect to keep this all a secret forever, Hermione?"
The question took her by surprise and Hermione stared back at him with furrowed brows. Had she? She had denied thinking about her reality for so long that examining it now in light of all she had learned was throwing her dilemma into rather sharp focus. Of course she had hoped never to have to reveal what she had learned in the library, to keep her association with Severus and the Death Eaters secret from her friends for as long as possible… but as long as possible, it seemed, would not be very long at all. What other options did she have? If the ministry was going to fall to Voldemort as Dumbledore predicted, she would hardly be hunted alongside other known muggleborns. How else could she explain her presence at a school where her kind would otherwise be anathema? Her only other option would be to leave the school altogether, but with Snape there…
"Why don't we just leave?" said Hermione, her voice low as she spoke to Dumbledore directly. "Severus and I can come with you and Harry and Ron to hunt the horcruxes down."
Dumbledore's eyes widened for just a moment before his face settled back into a serene mask. "As much of an asset as I know the two of you would be," he said, "I have need of you both where you are. We cannot afford to lose our spy in Voldemort's ranks."
"So we're just supposed to let everyone know? How do you imagine Harry and Ron will take it when they find out I'm not just Voldemort's daughter, but that I'm shagging his spy as well?" she carefully ignored Severus as she spoke, refusing to even glance at his expression.
"I imagine they will react in whatever way I desire them to," answered Dumbledore, his eyes almost glittering as he spoke with a certainty that shocked Hermione. Here then, was the man who had defeated Grindelwald, who had sent Severus to serve a maniac and who had convinced her to do the same. She realized then that the kindly Headmaster she thought she had known was just one facet of a man more complex than she had ever imagined. She felt a stab of anger at the thought that this man had manipulated her, that he had manipulated Severus years ago, and that he was even now planning to manipulate Harry and Ron.
"I see," said Hermione at last, swallowing back her fury and looking from Dumbledore to Severus. Her husband was watching her with unreadable black eyes. "And you think this is the best option?"
"I do," said Dumbledore from the bed, but Hermione only had eyes for Severus, who continued to watch her intently before giving one short nod.
"Fine," she said, getting to her feet and turning her back on both of the men. "I suppose I'll see the both of you soon then." She made her way stiffly to the door, only stopping when Professor Dumbledore spoke once more from behind her. His voice was softer now, kinder.
"Miss Granger? I will keep the both of them safe. You needn't worry on that score. "
"I should hope so," said Hermione, not bothering to turn around as she continued out into the students' ward. "Or else what was the bloody point?"
O-O-O-O-O-O
June 20, 1997
She had watched them go with a smile on her face. She had kissed their cheeks and told them how sorry she was not to be going with them. She had told them to be safe, and then she had waved them off, laughing as they leaned out the train car window and reminded her not to study too hard. Then she had come back to her room and cried.
"Hermione?"
His voice in the doorway startled her, and when she looked up her first thought was that he looked more out of place than she had ever seen him before. Severus Snape in the Gryffindor girls dormitory was a study in contrasts. Where the decorations were vibrant and feminine, he was all darkness and masculinity, his teaching robes gone as there were no students left to intimidate and his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"How did you get up here?" asked Hermione, unable to think of anything else to say. Severus looked amused by the question and crossed to stand beside her.
"Did you really think that ridiculous enchantment on the stairs applied to professors as well?"
Hermione smiled weakly. "No, I suppose not."
Severus sat beside her on the sturdy four poster bed she'd spent the last six years sleeping in. It was neatly made and freshly laundered, courtesy of the Hogwarts house-elves who had been in while she had been seeing the boys off.
"I looked for you in your new rooms and didn't find you," said Severus softly. He wasn't looking at her, which Hermione thought was a small blessing. She always looked a frightful splotchy mess when she cried.
"Yes well, I thought I'd come back and grab my things and I saw the house-elves had already done it."
"I see," said Severus, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees as he finally turned to glance at her. His expression was compassionate and it at once pleased and worried her. God, she must look absolutely disastrous if he was looking at her like that.
"Should we have sex?" she said at once, desperate to change the subject and not feeling particular enough to care what they spoke about instead.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Sex. It's been a couple days, and we should probably do it again if we want to avoid any ill effects. We could do it here. Just get it over with before we head down."
"Just get it over with?" He sounded incredulous, as if he were more upset at the implication that sex with him was something to be done quickly than by having been propositioned in the Gryffindor girls dormitory. Hermione blushed and shook her head.
"I didn't mean it like that… Alright I did, but not because of you. Christ, I'm making a complete mess of this aren't I?"
Severus was back to looking amused as his shoulders seemed to relax and he leaned back. "I think this is the first time I've ever been propositioned in a girls dormitory," he teased. Hermione flushed.
"Nevermind," she said, "It was just an idea."
"I didn't say no."
Hermione looked up, startled to realize that he was flirting with her, and even more surprised by the fact that she liked it.
"I don't think we should," she said quickly, before his flirtations turned into something she'd really rather not do in her old school bed.
Severus chuckled and stood, extending a hand towards her and then pulling her up to stand beside him.
"Where is that Gryffindor courage I've heard so much about?" he asked.
"Tucked safely behind my studious sensibility," replied Hermione, earning another laugh and smiling despite herself.
"There," said Severus, still holding her hand in his, his thumb stroking across the back of her hand idly as he looked down at her. "If you're done mourning Potter and his pet sidekick," his face twisted into a sneer as he mentioned Harry and Ron, "I think lunch is being served in the Staff Lounge today. Professor Dumbledore asked me to show you the way."
"Oh, thank you," said Hermione, disengaging her hand from his and stepping back just slightly. "I'll just be a minute longer."
Severus watched her for several moments before he sighed once and nodded sharply, his demeanor changing from casual to formal in an instant as he seemed to switch characters in front of her, going from the husband she was learning to exchange somewhat normal conversation with, to the Professor who was as rigid as he was unapproachable. "Very well," he said, "I'll be waiting below." And he left her alone once more, standing in the middle of the room. She took one last glance around, realizing that this might be the last time she would ever stand there. Next year, if the ministry had not fallen, she would no longer be a student. And if it had fallen… Well, she wouldn't be rooming with Lavender and Parvati in any case.
She thought of the rooms Professor Dumbledore had shown her the day before. She was to be housed in the dungeons, just down the hall from Severus behind a portrait of a waif-like witch in slytherin green. Her quarters had not seemed as comfortable as her husband's, though it hardly seemed to matter as there was a door in her spare sitting room which led directly to his. Dumbledore had apparently wanted to make it easier for the two of them to communicate and had installed the entryway without consulting Severus.
Hermione sighed, pushing all thoughts of the door out of her mind as she left the dormitory behind. There was no sense in worrying about things now. Her course was set, and all she could really hope to do was keep it without too much damage to herself or to the people she cared about.