DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: How's everyone? I hope you are all safe and healthy. Thank you for the wonderful reviews and PMs.
If some of you don't have anything good to say please just don't comment. I know that everyone is free to share their opinion but I'm asking you, not this time. I don't need negative vibes. I am writing this story while under home quarantine due to COVID19. Please. I hope you understand.
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Chapter 11:
July 27, 1995
(the present)
Hermione felt like she was going to puke. They just had lunch less than an hour ago, and now she felt her stomach twisting at the scene she was watching in the Pensieve.
Hermione was lying on the floor of the Malfoy Manor drawing-room. She looked like a mess - her hair was disheveled, her Muggle denim trousers were muddy, her shirt and jacket were tattered as if someone tore them away, partly revealing her brassiere. Bellatrix Lestrange was straddling her, holding a knife. She was carving on Hermione's left arm and the latter was screaming in pain.
"Hermione!" Ron was screaming desperately from somewhere inside the house. "Please, not Hermione! Take me instead! Don't hurt Hermione!"
"Darling husband," came Bellatrix's nasty voice, "do me a favour. Make that blood traitor shut up."
"Make the carving faster, Bella. Greyback's getting impatient. He wants to have her now."
Just when Ron's pleas faded, Hermione's screams continued.
Visiting-Hermione was sobbing in the arms of Severus, feeling so scared and disgusted at the same time. "Please, please," she was whispering against his chest. "Let this end."
Severus was holding her tight and he kissed her forehead. "This is just a memory. This is not going to happen," he whispered back rather comfortingly. "I will not let this happen to you, my dear. Please, please calm down."
After what felt like an hour for Visiting-Hermione, Memory-Hermione's screams were gone.
"Is she dead?" came a new male voice.
"Are you dead, Mudblood?" asked Bellatrix. "You're no fun. I shall give you to Greyback then."
"Noooo!" someone screamed.
"Harry?" She turned her head and saw her older self, Harry, and Ron being rescued by Dobby.
The next scenes happened so fast that Hermione did not notice she was already on the floor, hugging her knees. Severus knelt beside her and pulled her to him.
Her older self Polyjuiced as Bellatrix Lestrange to get a Horcrux - the Hufflepuff Cup - from the Lestrange Vault at Gringotts Bank. She, Harry, and Ron rode a dragon.
They fought in the Final Battle... and Voldemort was defeated by Harry.
When the scenes faded, Hermione found herself being lifted in a bridal style by Severus and he laid her to a couch in the study. He left her side for a few moments and when he returned, he was holding a glass of Firewhisky and a vial. He handed her the potion. "Calming Draught for you, dear," he said gently.
Hermione did not hesitate to drink the potion as Severus drank the Firewhisky all at once.
Hermione's eyes darted to the headmaster who was silently sitting in a wingback chair. His eyes were closed.
She somehow felt relieved knowing that Harry lived after Voldemort hit him with the Killing Curse. She wiped her tears in silence as she leaned her back on the couch.
Severus was sitting in front of her, looking down; his hair formed a curtain, covering his face. His elbows were on his thighs and he clasped his hands together.
"I couldn't believe I rode a poor dragon," she sniffed. "And Polyjuiced as Bellatrix Lestrange," she added.
"We're not going to let that happen, Hermione," he said firmly. "Albus and I will do everything to destroy the Dark Lord's Horcruxes before the Yule break. On the night of Nagini's supposed attack to Arthur Weasley, the only remaining Horcruxes should be that twice damned snake and the boy."
Hermione frowned. "Who's going to kill the snake? Mr. Weasley?"
Severus met her gaze. "He's a Gryffindor, isn't he? He can kill the snake with the sword."
"And then how are you going to make sure that Voldemort wouldn't get away and create another Horcrux?" she asked. "While the snake is at the Ministry, Harry should be facing Voldemort already. But how? Should Harry show himself at the Ministry, too? Well, Voldemort showed up when he sent his Death Eaters to get the prophecy."
Severus nodded. "He will likely show up if he knows that Albus isn't there to save the day."
The headmaster opened his eyes. "I shall start teaching Harry Occlumency," he announced. "We have to plan, Severus. From what I gathered, Dolores Umbridge's presence at Hogwarts is important, to make Tom believe that Harry is helpless."
"But Albus! That woman is going to use a Blood Quill!"
"That, I can, stop from happening. I shall ask Filius if there is some charm we can use on the students' skin, or perhaps, Minerva can Transfigure Blood Quills into regular quills. Don't think about it, for now. Our colleagues at Hogwarts will surely find ways."
Severus frowned. "Are you going to tell them what might happen once Dolores Umbridge arrives?"
Albus offered them a small smile. "I shall consult Minerva first, then we'll see. I might call for a staff meeting before Cornelius sends Dolores." He stood up. "I have to return to the headquarters and destroy the Horcrux."
"Be careful, Albus. And don't you dare injure yourself," Severus warned.
The headmaster nodded at Severus and bid Hermione goodbye.
She politely wished him a good day. Then, she turned to Severus. "I want my memories back," she said as if announcing that dinner was ready.
Severus froze for a moment. Then, he blinked and composed himself. "Are you quite sure about that?"
She nodded. "I want to be more useful to the Order. I'll still go back to Hogwarts as a student to support Harry and maybe, we can form Dumbledore's Army. Harry needs training and distraction at the same time. Plus, I can protect her from Umbridge."
Severus nodded. "I'll prepare the potion. Tell me whenever you're ready."
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July 27, 1971
(twenty-four years ago)
"Sev, wake up!" Hermione called gently, leaning over him, but afraid to touch him. "We're going to Diagon Alley today."
Severus was still asleep. Hermione leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "Sev, wake up!"
Severus stirred in Hermione's bed and opened his eyes. He frowned when he saw her. "What time is it?" he asked, sitting up.
Hermione looked away when she caught sight of Severus's chest. "It's half-past five," she said, turning around to draw the window curtains to one side.
"Too early, witch!" she heard him grumble. "McGonagall will be here at ten."
She turned around. "Professor McGonagall, Sev," she said in her bossy tone. She knew that she was being bossy again because of the scowl in Severus's face. "And I have to make sure everything is ready at nine! I still haven't finished reading the book from your mum about wizarding villages! Diagon Alley's chapter ten and I've only read until chapter nine!"
"Hermione."
"What?" she snapped.
"You don't shut up, do you?" His voice was muffled because he laid on his stomach, burying his face on the pillow; her pillow.
Severus had been sleeping at their house - in Hermione's room and she would share a bed with Mona - on weekends since the previous year. Tobias Snape, Severus's father, was always home on weekends and would beat Severus for a single mistake. Dr. and Mrs. Puckle decided to take him in, to Mrs. Snape's relief. The more Severus was out of his father's sight, the better.
So, Severus was at the Puckles when a Hogwarts professor, Minerva McGonagall, visited the Puckle residence to inform them about Hermione's acceptance at the magical schools. The elderly witch was surprised to know that Severus was a half-blood wizard and already got his acceptance letter a week prior.
Severus already knew some things about Hogwarts and the magical world from his mother, but Hermione remembered that her best friend listened well as Professor McGonagall explained to Hermione and her family about the magical education and when the professor answered Dr. Puckle's questions concerning the safety of his youngest daughter.
"Go back to bed, Hermione," came Severus's muffled voice again.
"I can't. Mona kicked me out of her room," she admitted.
Severus turned to face her with an amused look in his face. "Why?"
"She didn't sleep well last night because I stayed up until one in the morning, reading the book about magical villages."
"Then, why don't you get your book and continue reading downstairs?" he groaned. "Leave me alone for an hour, will you?"
"I can't believe you're kicking me out of my own bedroom!" she complained.
"I refuse to believe you will ever stop panicking and talking, for the rest of your life."
"I don't see you complaining for the past two years," she noted before walking to the door.
"Well now, I am."
"Ungrateful brat."
"Bossy witch."
"But you love me," she yelled before closing the door.
"In your dreams," she heard him yelled back.
Hermione was giggling down the stairs. Severus wouldn't admit it, but she knew he cared for her. He could not seem to last a day without seeing her. He would, unwillingly, give her a piggyback ride when she was tired of walking from the park to their house. He would wait for her outside Parkland Primary School after his classes and carry her heavy book bag. He would complain, of course, but he would still help her with her bags.
Her parents and Mona knew Severus's personality, of course, and they would laugh when Hermione and her best friend would bicker over simple things. She just wished that things will be the same when they went to Hogwarts.
.
July 27, 1973
(twenty-two years ago)
"Sev, wake up!"
"I'm awake!" he whispered back. He was lying on the bed, facing the other side; away from her.
"Come on, let's go to the beach."
Severus turned to face her. "Bloody hell, witch! It's still dark!"
She giggled. "That's the point! Let's wait for the sunrise, shall we?"
Severus sat up and ran a hand on his face. "May I remind you that the moment we set foot in the Australian soil yesterday, you dragged me here and there and refused to go to bed early, insisting that we make smores by the beach and now you're demanding that we go there again? At this hour?"
Hermione pouted. "Fine. I'll just go alone. If Dad wasn't at the conference, I wouldn't be dragging you, as you put it, 'here and there'. It's just that... Dad used to wake me up very early whenever we're here in Australia. We would go to the beach and wait for the sunrise. I'm sorry if I've been too bossy and too pushy," she said and without waiting for his response, he left his room.
She left the house alone and walked to the beach. Her joy of having Severus by her side even when they traveled to Australia had faded. She felt a pang of guilt for being so insistent and bossy around her only best friend.
Hermione sat on the ground, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her chin on her kneecap.
She thought this summer would be fun because she wouldn't have to deal with Lily Evans, even if it meant missing Mona who chose to stay behind to study. She already started her dentistry education.
Technically, she only had Severus this summer. Both her parents were attending conferences and symposiums for the next few days. She and Severus have their beach house to themselves.
"You know, it's my first time to go to the beach."
Hermione didn't look up even when Severus sat beside her rather closely and their shoulders and knees touched.
"I'm sorry," he muttered sincerely.
Hermione sighed. "It's all right. You're right, anyway. I'm too bossy and pushy."
"You were excited and at the same time longing for your family. I should've been more understanding."
Hermione glanced at him with a small smile. "I'm sorry, too. You know me. I tend to plan things for us without consulting you."
Severus gave him a boyish smirk which made her heart leap and sent butterflies in her stomach. She inhaled deeply and fought the urge to smile. "As long as you don't boss me around and drag me to places this year."
She raised an eyebrow and gave him a fake mocking look. "Why? You have your own plans?"
"We'll be allowed to go to Hogsmeade starting this year," was his only reply.
Hermione's smile faded. She looked away to hide her unhappy face. "Are you planning to ask someone on a date?"
"I might ask someone," he replied nonchalantly. "My grandparents promised to give me an extra allowance for Hogsmeade trips."
She glanced at him again and smiled. "That's nice."
"Look, the sun's showing," he said, looking at the sky.
Hermione forced a smile. For the first time in her life, she wasn't happy while seeing the sunrise.
.
July 27, 1974
(twenty-one years ago)
"Hogwarts is nice, but I missed home," Hermione said dreamily as she laid on the grass, her head was in Severus's right thigh. He was reading a book - his mother's old Potions textbook which they wouldn't be using until the fifth year.
"I missed Mum, Dad, and Mona," she continued. "And this. Just the two of us."
"Uhm," he agreed.
She opened her eyes. "You missed home, too?"
"Not my home, but yours," he admitted but didn't take his eyes off the book.
"My home? My family?" she asked with a smile.
Severus scowled. "I'm trying to read here, you know. Continue daydreaming if you wish, but for once, please stop talking, will you?"
Hermione giggled. "Oh, Sev! We studied hard at Hogwarts for ten months! It's summertime! And it's not like we were together in every class."
Unlike their first two years, last year Slytherins were paired with Gryffindors in Transfiguration and Potions, while Ravenclaws were with Hufflepuffs. Hermione felt a little jealous because Lily Evans became Sev's new Potions partner. On the other hand, she still felt happy because she shared Ancient Runes and Arithmancy with Severus while most of the Gryffindors favoured Divination and Care of Magical Creatures.
"But we met every day," he reminded her.
"Yes," she agreed. They studied together in the library every night. They also spent Saturdays and Sundays together either in the library or at the castle grounds. There were times when they studied in an empty classroom on the third floor, where Severus made a shift Potions laboratory.
"Sev?" she asked.
"Hmn?"
"Do you like Lily?" It was almost a whisper.
"Who told you that?" he asked with a hint of disbelief in his tone.
"Potter and Black," she replied and sighed, burying her nose on his kneecap. "They said, you like Lily."
He snorted. "Lily and I were Potions partners last year. You know that. Outside classes, I'm always with you."
She smiled. "I really didn't believe them, you know? But I could not find any logical reason for them to hex you like all the time."
"Well, logically speaking, they have a reason to dislike me. I am a Slytherin and logically, for them, at least, all Slytherins are evil."
She scowled. "That's not fair!"
"Some people are just not fair," he replied gently and smoothed her hair with his hand. Hermione smiled at the gesture.
"Only Hufflepuffs are fair, I guess."
"Agreed."
"Sev?"
"What is it this time, witch?" He sounded annoyed but continued running his fingers in her hair.
She giggled. "Read to me, will you?"
"Why am I ever agreeing?"
"Because you love me?" She sounded hopeful.
"In your dreams," he replied but started reading aloud the procedures of brewing the Draught of Living Dead.
Hermione was perfectly fine and comfortable with her head in his thigh and his hand running in her wild hair. Everything was perfect, even his voice, until Lily Evans, who just spent time with her Muggle friends, decided to join them and rested her head on Severus's other thigh.
