Disclaimer: The Potterverse is not of my property. We must thank J.K. Rowling for creating such a wonderful world. The story and others, however, are mostly mine.
Summary: The war was over, and although many lives were lost, one of them was just taking a nap. Literally. However, the countless casualties suffered by the magical world seriously threatened it with extinction. But the Ministry of Magic will make sure that such a thing never happens. No matter what it takes.
Warnings: Snamione (Severus Snape / Hermione Granger); Alternate Universe; possible Out of Character. My first language isn't English, it's Spanish. This may contain grammatical mistakes that I'm willing to correct. This is my first Harry Potter fanfic, please be gentle (?)
Initial notes: Hi. I'm tired, physically and emotionally. I will try to write a decent chapter despite that. Read you down there.
I kindly dedicate this chapter to Severus'forbiddenlove, for being so nice with me and giving me really good advice. I hope you like it! :)
Life is a waltz
Ephemeral
"Legilimens!"
The invisible pressure came to her with the same force that it had the first time, but it also felt like her own resistance to the intrusion was slightly stronger.
Hermione concentrated on repelling that feeling, eject it from her mind before it could slip inside. For just a second, she thought she felt the pressure weakened, but it regained its strength and overcame the walls that her mind had so carefully built.
Again she seemed to be wrapped in all those bright lights around her, moving closer with each passing second, as the distorted voices and sounds she could hear.
However, before any of the images or sounds had any meaning, the feeling that someone else shared her thoughts suddenly disappeared. Feeling giddy, she sought support in the sofa covered in green velvet, barely seeing it clearly.
She looked up at her professor, as if thus seeking for some kind of explanation, but again she did not get it. It was not the first time that happened.
From the first class that he had given her, the following had followed the same pattern. He tested the strength of her mind, but just getting access to it, he pushed away almost automatically, leaving her confused and disoriented for a few seconds.
"I think this was enough attempts today" Severus murmured after a moment. "You did it well."
Hermione rubbed an eye, thinking of asking at least for one more try, just before a yawn escaped her lips without her consent. She sighed, watching him save his wand in his robes and turn away.
"Is something wrong?" then she asked, without thinking. Almost immediately she repented, but she knew she could not pretend that she had not said anything.
"No. Why do you ask?" he corresponded, faster than she had expected, so it caught her off guard.
As she thought about how to answer this new question, Hermione followed him absently on his way to the room that they had been sharing for almost a month, entering right behind him.
"I don't know... I noticed that you act a little weird lately" she said after a few seconds, approaching the bed to take Crookshanks and out of where he was, sleeping on Severus' pillow. "In our occlumency classes, I mean."
Severus shook his head solemnly in response, but did not give a verbal answer as she would have liked. She watched him begin to unbutton the eternal row of buttons on his dark robes, in complete silence.
"If you no longer want to teach me, just let me know."
When he finally decided to look at her, she could see a wrinkle on his brow. He let out a weary sigh, although he did not abandon the hard work that the buttons on his robes gave him.
"If I no longer wanted to teach, I wouldn't do it" he said then, giving a slight nod unconsciously. "I just do not want to delve into your mind more than necessary. I thought you'd appreciate a little more privacy in that regard."
Hermione formed a slight grimace at that answer. She looked unconvinced actually, and it showed in her expression and posture.
"Well ... I would prefer you to 'delve' into my mind if that means not leaving me partially stunned every time you do it" she softly said, plopping down on the bed with another small yawn, apparently exhausted.
Severus sat on his own side of the bed when he managed to open his robes, taking his pillow and removing cat hair from it, before turning to her. He could not help it when a a tiny lopsided grin appeared on his face when he saw her struggle to stay awake.
"I do not want to stop teaching you" he then informed clearly, brushing away a lock of brown hair from her face. "I just think you may have memories that you do not want to share with me, or with anyone else, and I respect that."
Hermione opened her eyes and tilted her face toward him, giving him a look of weariness. Despite that, there was a small smile on her rosy lips. She gave a slight nod.
"I understand" she sputtered, somewhat hasty, as she was settling better in bed and yawning for the third time. "But still…"
Severus refrained from letting out a laugh under his breath when he noticed that her eyelids were heavy. With a sigh he took care of covering with black blankets, standing up making the least possible noise.
Perhaps he could finish correcting some essays while she rested peacefully.
Each time it became more difficult to maintain his composure, but he knew virtually millions of wizards and witches depended on it.
It was not the first time he had been in the luxurious Malfoy Manor, nor was it the first time he attended a meeting of Death Eaters. But this time was different.
From the moment he read that article in the Daily Prophet, and the name of the woman under the heading, he knew that this would end badly. He felt intense desire to find her, take her in his arms and shake her with all his strength, in a vain attempt to make her react.
He did not understand, he really did not understand. How could she think of writing an article in defence of Muggleborns, in the time of war? Did she expect to go unnoticed?
It obviously had not the case, the article had attracted the attention of more than one Death Eater and the Dark Lord had decided to intervene. So now Charity Burbage hung upside down on the table, completely unconscious and being the focus of Draco Malfoy's indiscreet terrified gaze.
"Do you recognize our guest, Severus?"
He had to use all his willpower to contain the flood of insults that came to his mind at that moment. He had been doing everything possible to not direct his dark eyes to her figure, despite hearing her moans, but the cold, silky voice of Voldemort left him no choice.
Despite the enormous weight settled in his stomach, Severus succeeded in keeping his face expressionless as he turned to face her. He cursed his luck a thousand times when she stared back.
"Severus! Help me!"
No. He did not want to hear her voice, filled with terror, neither he wanted to see her blue eyes flooded with tears. He looked away after mumbling a statement to Voldemort's question.
He could hear him speak to Draco, but did not pay much attention to what he had to say, or what he got in return. He was too busy concentrating all his forces in remaining in place.
If he could, he would stun everyone in the room, free Charity and get her out of there. They could go far, far away, where they could not find them. If he could…
But he couldn't. If he even performed one movement out of place, he would have gotten several suspicious looks, and also instant distrust of Lord Voldemort. He had no choice but to stay there, no expression on his pale face.
He did not know how long Voldemort was talking, but felt slightly relieved not to have to hear the voice of Charity, full of despair, penetrating his ears tirelessly.
He could not help it, though he really tried, when he looked at her again. She had her huge blue orbs fixed on him, trying to let him know the words that her voice couldn't pronounce.
"Avada Kedavra!"
He straightened suddenly, panting agitatedly and feeling his eyes completely moist.
While trying to catch his breath, he looked around him almost desperately, as if seeking thereby to make sure he was in a safe place. As he checked, he was in his room, and by the consumed candles, he could tell it was late at night.
Gradually he began to breathe normally again, while using the back of his hand to wipe the tears running down his cheeks against his will. It was not the first time that nightmare interrupted his sleep.
Those images came to haunt him occasionally, though gradually they turned less recurrent. Still, whenever they returned, they did so with the same power and emotional impact than the first time.
The only difference was that it never had happened with someone else beside him.
He was barely conscious again of the presence of the girl beside him, so he turned to look at her, hoping that perhaps she was still sleeping. But she was not. The girl's brown eyes were watching him intently.
The two remained silent for what seemed an endless eternity, until she shifted slightly in place and straightened up, her eyes still on him.
"Are you all right, Severus?"
There was no immediate answer to her question, but she was sensible enough not to repeat it. Severus gave a single nod in response, looking away.
"How long have you been awake?" he asked softly after a moment, just giving her a sidelong glance, curiously.
"Just a few minutes... you startled me when you woke up" she whispered, in a tone of barely noticeable claim in her voice. "Did you have a nightmare? It seemed like it..."
Severus nodded again, rubbing one hand over his face, suddenly feeling quite frustrated. He wished that his recurring nightmares were something that only he was aware of.
He could not help flinching slightly as he felt Hermione's small hands gently take his arm, as she leaned a little towards him with the intention to look at him better.
"Do you want to talk about that?" he asked in a seemingly calm tone, as if trying to compensate for her previous agitation in some way. "If you don't want to, it's okay..."
Severus shook his head slightly, pressing hard on the bridge of his nose as he plopped down on the bed. He could not contain the tiny bitter smile that crossed his face as she lay beside him, without leaving her grip on his arm.
"It's not the first time it happens, although that may be hard to believe" he remarked after a moment, with some sarcastic timbre in his voice. "In fact, it seemed strange that there were several nights without incident. It was... it's about Charity."
He could feel Hermione's body stiffen slightly beside him at the mention of that name, but heard not a word from her. He thanked her mentally, before letting out a long sigh of resignation.
"I think she will never leave me, you know? A part of me wants to forget everything, but the other is still clinging to her" he whispered softly, almost inaudibly, closing his dark eyes for a moment. "I still love her, Hermione, and it probably will stay like this."
Again silence reigned in the room. This time he could not detect any physical reaction from her, at least not immediately. Moments later, he thought he noticed she was starting to shake a little.
Guided by a faint impulse of curiosity, he turned to look at her. The first thing he could see was a slight blush on her cheeks, and almost immediately, agglomerated tears in her chestnut orbs, which were still watching him.
He immediately felt uncomfortable. He did not like to see her cry, but not for a sentimental reason. He simply felt bothered to see that kind of expression on her face, so after just a few seconds he turned to look away.
"Why are you crying?" he asked then, fixing his black eyes on the ceiling of the room to avoid fixing them on her again.
He could feel the movements of the girl at his side, and he could also imagine how she was wiping her tears before they even could escape from her eyes.
"Do you love me?"
The question was so sudden that he could not prepare an immediate response. He needed to take a few moments to process the tone of her voice. He felt even more uncomfortable.
"No" he answered truthfully, but that did not spare him form the weight felt in his stomach when she released his arm. "Do you love me?"
"No" corresponded the girl's voice, almost immediately, though at one point she added. "Not yet."
Severus had not expected an answer like that, much less as quickly as it had been given to him. It took him almost as unprepared as her previous question. He was grimacing, but still did not turn back to her again
"Are you trying to?"
He was able to then hear a little laugh from her, which sounded as cheerful as bitter, before she could give an answer.
"I don't know" she spoke honestly, before she sighed. "I think so."
Only then he turned to look at her. Her brown eyes did not return his gaze, but he could see that her expression was calmer. Her lips formed a small "o" when she yawned.
Severus decided to remain silent when he notices that the girl's breathing assumed a steady rhythm, knowing she was falling asleep again. Still, he was unable to look away this time.
Silently, he thanked that she had not insisted on continuing stirring the same subject over and over again. Maybe another time they could discuss it with greater confidence.
For now, he planned to accompany her to the world of dreams one more time.
Hermione had not returned to broach the subject, although curiosity was consuming her mind almost unbearably.
She had felt a little embarrassed for letting her emotions take control of her that night. Did she really as her teacher if he loved her? What other response was she expecting?
She tortured herself in silence for a couple of days, before taking a short break. Especially because it was Friday, and that only meant that she would have a new class of occlumency with her husband. She felt slightly nervous, but tried not to give much importance to that feeling.
When she entered the office of her teacher, she stopped at the door when she could notice a note stuck on the back of it. Puzzled, she began to read.
"I apologize for having to cancel our class without further notice, but I had no choice. An inconvenience arose, but do not worry about that. For now, just check the top drawer of my desk."
Hermione could not help feeling even more confused. With a small grimace on her face, she walked to his desk and opened the top drawer of it, trying to ignore the feeling that something would suddenly jump to her face as part of a defensive spell.
But none of that happened, and to her relief, there was only one long box covered with green velvet. Beside it, there was another note with her professor's calligraphy embodied in it.
The girl took both, and opened the box, unable to contain the curiosity she felt. There was a beautiful gold necklace, which had a small pendant, in the shape of a delicate red rose. Amazed, she made an effort to take her eyes off the jewel, to read the note.
"What you have in your hands-because yes, I'm sure you first opened the box. If I was wrong, I owe you an apology-, is a magical artefact. I need you to start using it every day, unless you go to sleep, and it's with me.
It has an enchantment more powerful than the protective spell I had placed upon you before; it will alert me if you find yourself in a risky situation. It is waterproof, so you can bath with it without any problems. You must always use it, Hermione, it's very important that you do so.
I cannot share with you the information I have, but I can warn you that you are in danger. It would be foolish of me not to let you know.
I neither can protect you from everything, and I know you do not expect to do so. You can defend yourself alone with efficiency, but if I can help you do it, it would be better.
I should go now. When I return, I hope you have the necklace on. Yes, I will check to see if you do.
S.S."
Hermione watched as the note she had in her hands disappeared as she just finished reading it, becoming a small cloud of green smoke.
She sighed, noticing again in the beautiful jewel that was in her hand. A strange mixture of feelings washed over her, while the necklace was placed carefully, appreciating the red rose before hiding it under her blouse.
She was in danger. And she did not know what exactly was threatening her, despite knowing that the Death Eaters were behind it
Tired, she leaned back in the seat of her husband, covering her face with her hands. It seemed that peace in her life was something completely ephemeral.
Endnotes: I feel that this chapter was a little short to me, but I do not see it as a bad thing. It ended where it should end.
Anyways ... I think it's time to answer your reviews :3
Scintilla of Myself: No problem! Thank you! Well, I'm planning on focusing on the classes again later :) Thank you, again!
Huffpride: Thank you very much, hope you liked it!
PumpkinKitten: Oh, well you're right about that!
mini pony lover: Thanks a lot! Hope you liked this chapter!
t42n24t2: D'awww, thank you very much!
lozzy035: I know, right? Hope you liked it!
Sassyluv: Thanks a lot, hope you liked this chapter too!
Special Thanks to…
… BetterThanRealityFF, , ClownDoll1868 and siriusly lupine for adding this story to favorites!
… starveling, BetterThanRealityFF, BrownEyedGirl924 and Franki J. Anglen for following this story!
… those who read but never comment. Did you know that according to the internet, chickens have an excellent memory, being able to recognize and remember more than 100 different individuals, including humans? (?)
I think that's all for now. You already know, but I'll repeat it: I love you guys. All of you. Really, every time I read your comments, you fill me with happiness. Take care.
Read you soon!
_- * -_- * -_ KovatePrivalski97 ._- * -_- * -_