Disclaimer: The same as the previous chapters.

Chapter 24

"So that is why Hermione or Ermin was so obsessed with the study of Soul Magic!" Harry tried to confirm, but Percy Weasley shook his head. Ginny Potter and Andromeda Tonks were also present in the room. Arthur and Molly had taken the three kids to Shell Cottage in order the give the others some time to talk about the situation. They were sitting in Percy's old room, which also served as the Weasley's library. The owner of the room had one of Ermin Oher Grenarg's revolutionary essays open in his lap. It was one of the first published theories which had made her famous around the globe.

"No, it is not so easy, Harry. Soul Magic is not taught freely because you cannot manage to learn it that easily."

Frowning at the man, the DADA professor said," cannot manage to learn? Is it similar to Occumency and Legilamency? Because I could never manage to learn…"

"It is related, similar but not the same thing."

Ginny, who was sitting next to Harry, asked on behalf of him," What do you mean?"

Andromeda spoke up," Our magic is generated from our magical core. For thousands of years, wizards and witches have tried to locate this core. The oldest of the magical schools of thought residing in Africa and Asia still have the means to teach students Soul Magic. It is difficult, rare, and extremely dangerous to attempt to learn this discipline. Soul Magic is self-explanatory. The magic that is generated from the soul. You have often heard of the phrase, "mind, body, and soul, haven't you?"

When the husband and the wife nodded in understanding, she spoke again," Magic generated through or from the body can be achieved easily. Students around the world are taught to do it with a wand. The wand is the focal medium. And once you know how to channel it, you can attempt at wandless magic."

Percy took up from there," Mind Magic is the next level. The Uagadou seers opine that Occlumency 'hide your mind', Legilemency 'reveal the other mind' and divination 'see-through cosmos and time' are all parts of Mind magic. One needs patience and the capacity to rein over one's body to control one's mind. Of course, Trelawny is a sorry example of Divination Seer. Well, I think I can make it simpler. You see in order to become an occlumens you will have to know your mental strength, your weaknesses, your own defense mechanisms, and your mind. When you are able to learn and analyze and come up with unique ways to defend your mind, you can protect your secrets better. Snape is the best after Albus Dumbledore. I always wondered how could he learn Legilemency at the same time?"

Harry pointed out," For one thing, he already knew how to control his own mind, so probably he could follow the same way, or let's just say do exactly the opposite things to unlock somebody else's mind?"

Andromeda chuckled," Rudimentarily speaking, yes. If you know the basics it is easy to work your way out. Your professor has the capacity to read people, we are talking about body language. Next, he just has to follow those bread crumbs your body language leaves behind to find your deepest and darkest secrets. Minerva once told me, Snape follows a cardinal rule, which Dumbledore flouted openly."

This was new to Percy. He furrowed his eyebrows and interjected," What are you trying to tell me, Dumbledore resorted to legilemency all the time?

Andromeda snorted," Well at least he never acknowledged or denied the fact. But Headmaster Snape never peeps into others' minds, unless the person is in grave danger or is a danger to others around, or has given his or her consent."

"So, does he know soul magic as well?" Ginny struggled to contain her excitement.

"I don't think so Gin. He rather sounded intrigued by it. But he was too quick to analyze things, faster than the rest of us." Harry observed. Percy hummed," I have a feeling something happened while Hermione was in school, something that found and fused their souls, I think the process got interrupted or was never completed, and that is causing all the trouble. Because this is the only valid explanation for Minerva to force them to marry each other."

His sister countered," But we have magical marriage ceremonies, and Hermione is incapable of adjusting to others' spells. That is why they would go for the muggle marriage right? I mean there is no other option? So how…" she trailed off.

Andromeda confirmed her doubts," Yes, Ginny our marriage involves binding spells and protective spells. In addition to all that, when a marriage is consummated, the magical fields of the couple fuse together and adjust around each other. Of course, our emotions and thoughts also play a major role in our relationships. I don't know how all this will be achieved in this case."

Harry recalled and relayed Sanyu's words," Hermione's student from Uganda said, "Each of us needs to make our journey based on our understanding of ourselves and of our surroundings and also of those around us." and Omjir Genarg's letter mentioned, "Recognize yourself once again. Delve deep, reintroduce yourself to your soul and follow your heart and the rest will follow you. I know you can do it because I have already met you." I have a feeling Snape knows have to do."

Andromeda ran over those words in her mind and sounded hopeful," He is a patient man, though he can be horribly impatient at times. But if he puts his mind to it, he can find a way to make Hermione respect, honour, and love him. After all, we have seen how smitten he is by her."

Ginny noticed Harry was blushing slightly and whispered," What is it?" He smirked and just said," I think smitten is not the right word." his wife narrowed her eyes but dropped the topic. She turned and asked her brother," Perce, how and why do you know so much about soul magic?"

The man looked away and got up to rearrange the periodicals he had brought out to explain to the couple about what was going on with Hermione and why marrying Snape was going to help her. Still facing the bookshelves, he muttered," for George. International Muggle Relations gave me the chance to roam around the world and attend or organize seminars. With Hogwarts and Ministry pushing hard at bringing in new thought and new ideas to better our society, I often attended them personally. I got interested in Soul Magic, after chancing upon a muggle medical journal about twins. Identical twins, in healer's words, result from the fertilization of a single egg that splits in two. It means Fred and George shared every single thing about each other. When Fred died, with him apart of George died as well."

Turning back to his sister, he stared, with watery eyes," I cannot bring back Fred, but I can at least try to be a bit like him, after all, I am his own brother. That is the least I can do for George. And if George is happy, smiling and joking and pranking others like old times, Mum and Dad can find some peace." The sister had sprung up and hugged him tightly, whispering again and again," Oh Perce! I think Fred is glad to know you have got Georgie's back."

Percy had scruffled her hair and chuckled when she slapped his arm away and grinned. He added," Ever wondered, Mrs. Potter, how I always managed to catch those two? An elder brother is always an elder brother." Harry and Andromeda laughed and Molly sniffed from the doorway with Arthur standing behind her," My dear Perce! You were a great help during your summer break when those two were still around making life miserable for Ron. Ginny was spared as long as she had not learned to walk on her own. Catching them, always, running back to me, complaining and yelling. They tried very hard to give you a hard time for that, didn't they?"

George's voice floated from behind his parents," Hard time, and Fred and Me! Never, we are these munchkins, your apple of the eyes, Mum! Percy was just jealous of us because you loved us more." Arthur fondly shook his son," George, give Perce a break. It's about time you came."

"Lee told me because Hannah told him, Percy was running about the ministry at odd hours. And I like any other responsible, caring, and loving brother came down to check on him. He was supposed to take it easy. Relax and enjoy the brief hours of Bachelor life…," winking at his brother, he walked past his concerned parents and engulfed both Ginny and Percy into a bear hug. A second later," I know you all are cooking up some mischief. But you intentionally keep me out of it, I am hurt," he whispered dramatically.

Letting go of him, Percy informed in a grave voice as Ginny gulped," Hermione Granger is back, but she is dying. And Snape is going to get married to her in order to save her." George stepped back immediately, looking at his siblings intently," Blimey! Not the right time to crack that joke!" He tried to laugh while looking at grim faces of the others around, then sharply turned back and stared hard," YOU are serious?"

Percy nodded as the owner of Weasley's Wizards Wheezes flopped on the bed, next to Andromeda, and exclaimed," Merlin's crappy pants! Snape and Granger!"

Blaise Zabini woke up precisely at ten in the morning when Crookshanks had licked his ears thoroughly. He yelped in disgust and nudged the half kneazle off his pillow. If it was even possible for a familiar to smirk, the distorted face of the cat would look like a battered bulger. His mistress was sitting on a stool near the foot of the healer's bed.

Trying not to laugh, she teased, "Bel Fratello, I take it you are not a cat person."

Blaise stupendously wiped his ear in his sleeves and noticed, someone took care to change him into comfortable nightclothes and had tucked him with Slytherin blankets. Hermione noticed his confusion and offered," About the nightclothes, that would be Madam Pomphrey being Madam Pomphrey. And as for the blanket…" she tilted her head and flicked her eyes over to the opposite side of his bed. He followed her line of sight and could make out someone was sleeping on a bed, the screen was half pulled to give the person some privacy. Crookshanks was now walking towards it. Nudging the screen aside a bit and the wizard saw a pair of a familiar dragon hide boots propped up against the mental foot of the bed.

His eyes grew wide and he mumbled," Snape. Wait, Snape sleeping in the Hospital!" his eyes flew down to the blanket now bunched over his lap and he stammered," Snape tucked me in. Pinch me, wake me up!" Hermione leaned over and punched him on the shoulder. She got up grinning and whispered more seriously," Blaise come to the hidden room, I got to show you something." When the man jumped out and started following her, she rolled her eyes," After you had cleaned up and I am fine, I just need to show you the extent of me being fine! Now off you go!"

Half an hour later, the assistant Healer entered the enclosed room. Closing the door he spoke directly to the figure standing near the window with her head tilted upwards, basking in the pleasant daylight.

"So it is Snape."

Hermione glanced at him sideways, then turned to rest her back at the warm window frame. "It has been so long since I felt the sun on my skin." The Slytherin flared his noise. She smiled and acknowledged," Yes, it is Snape, always has been and as far I can see, it will always be Snape."

"By, 'as far as I can see' you are referring to your fixated research and your thousand notes," waving his hand towards those stacks of black journals, he baited her," I thought you were obsessed but you were trying to find a way to understand this link you have with the man. You care for him, you don't just respect and honour the man. You don't hate him or pity him. You left Hogwarts because you loved him. Something happened that night right away the war, which made you panic. You realized you couldn't keep away, you couldn't hide your love, adoration for the man, so you left."

Hermione glared at him, but by then Blaise knew it was one of Snape's signature habits and he ignored it. She let her shoulders droop in defeat and tried to stir him away from this uncomfortable conversation," I wasn't supposed to know he would live. You have no proof."

Frustrated the man crossed the room and begged," don't you see, you have saved his reputation enough. You have helped him to gain enough. And by doing so…"

"By doing so, if I am asked to repay his debts with my life, Zabini, I will do so willingly. He came to talk to me today morning and said he would marry me because he wants to help me heal, he wants to see me achieve greater things in life. And that he is proud to be my teacher. He is honored, has always been honored to have a student like me. All this coming from Severus Snape is the greatest achievement of my life. I cannot throw it away in the pretext of some childish infatuation." saying that she removed her robe and revealed her bareback.

Blaise stood transfixed," What? How?" He studied the freshly grown pale skin, raw but healthier. He could still see the edges of the spine and the ribs, but the woman was definitely looking more human.

"I can barely control my emotions and urges in front of him. When I was too close to losing it, I tried to look away. I curled up into a ball. I was distraught, but not so much. I tried to make him leave the room. But instead, he surprised me."

"What did he do?" Zabini was genuinely interested. He had never seen his head of the house mollycoddling anyone. But he was surprised to see Snape and Granger's interaction.

She grimaced and muttered," Let just say, I allowed him to baby me."

Zabini warned," Dolce Sorella, I am not a gossiping bitch, I am your healer. In detail, please?"

Huffing a sigh, she sat down and explained," He cradled me in his lap and kept stroking my back. I succeeded in keeping him away from my mind."

Zabini exclaimed, "that's why Minerva proposed marriage…" But Hermione hissed at him menacingly," Don't get ideas Blaise Zabini. I will not sleep with my future husband. I will not allow him to get any closer. He doesn't know. But the mere act of holding me close and stroking my back, carrying me around the castle has drained him. Didn't you see, he couldn't even go back to his quarters he was so exhausted. Remember, we are talking about the man who stood in front of Voldemort, got tortured nearly every other day. He would be dropped at the gates, Madam Pomphrey and Dumbledore would heal him back through the night and next morning he was back on his feet teaching us and deducting points."

Shuddering slightly she continued," he had constant headaches because he was using occulmency for hours to hide secrets, secrets valuable enough to save our lives. He had developed severe after-effects from being tortured by the Cruciatus curse several times. He was cold and thin, insomniac, and paranoid. And look at him now, he is healthy, agile, and alive, content, and happy. Truly genuinely happy. I cannot snatch that back from him. Omjir Genarg died last night. And Minerva will soon die. And I am to be blamed for it. Don't try to convince me otherwise. This is the doing of soul magic. Blaise, I cannot be instrumental in destroying Severus Snape. Not when I am certain, he is borrowing my life force and soul and living an honorable life."

"And you don't mind sacrificing yourself?" Awestruck the Healer whispered.

"Bel Fratello, it is a small price to pay in comparison to what he has done for us, for this school and for Magic. Now, I am certain he would want to talk to you in private. He will quickly hire you as the assistant Healer to Madam Pomphrey. You can share my medical history with him. But he mustn't know anything about the rest. He is eager to figure things out. I want to honor that request. And I would have to extract an oath from you…" Hermione was sounding more and more like Snape now.

" A blood oath?"

"Yes."

Nodding his head in understanding he extended his wand and asked," about?"

Hermione had brought her wand out and surmised, "Severus Tobias Snape's reputation must be guarded at all cost."

This one was a bit longer because I have to explain a lot. It is AU, so I made up a lot of things. You might find similarities with many fanfics written by other people, but it is just coincidental.

Dolce Sorella- sweet sister in Italian

Bel Fratello- nice brother in Italian.