Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
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Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews, views, favorites, and follows!
How's everyone? I hope you're all healthy and safe.
I'm sorry, I can't reply to some of you because of your account settings, but as you know, James Potter and Severus Snape started Hogwarts in 1971, so in 1975 they were fifth years. Easy, right?
Again, thank you, everyone, for the support.
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Chapter 25:
October 25, 1975
(twenty years ago)
"Who else was invited to the Slug Club?" Sev asked the moment he entered their shift potions lab. Hermione and Alice were lounging on the sofa, reading romance novels. Frank and Remus were working on their essays in the other corner of the room.
She was still reading the erotic romance novel Alona lent her and the moment Sev approached her, she shoved it at the back of Alice and her friend hid it in her bag.
Sev narrowed his eyes at her and pulled a chair to sit on in front of her. "What're you reading?"
"Nothing... just a Muggle romance novel," she replied rather nervously.
Sev looked suspicious. "May I see?"
She shook her head. "No."
"Why not?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"'Cause I said so," she replied in her bossy tone. "So, you're talking about the Slug Club? Excited much?" she teased.
Sev rolled his eyes. "I'm not. I don't even want to attend, but all Slytherins invited are required to attend."
"Yeah, because Professor Slughorn will be inviting important and influential people, like Ministry officials and businessmen," quipped Frank from his table.
"Really?" asked Sev. "I didn't know that. Toyin didn't say anything about that."
Frank looked up and rolled his parchment. He started gathering his things. "Well, it's Dolohov. I doubt he's interested, even though he's invited. Dad said that Antonin Dolohov, Sr. was disappointed because his son isn't like him. Toyin is so soft, too kind... and not as ambitious as his father. Anyway, on Halloween, there'll just be dinner with Professor Slughorn and other students. No visitors yet. He invites them on his Christmas Party."
"But you might want to pretend that you're looking forward to it, Severus," quipped Remus. "My father said that the Slug Club was the reason he met his boss at the ministry. Professor Slughorn talked about Dad proudly, and Officer Marchbanks got interested, so he asked him to apply for a position in his office after Dad's graduation."
"Think about it, Sev. There'll be great Potioneers from different countries. One of them might take you for an apprenticeship," Frank said, clapping Sev's back.
"So, were you invited, too?" he asked Frank.
"Oh, Frank's father is Head Auror Alastor Moody's protege!" exclaimed Alice. "Of course, he wasn't invited," she chuckled.
"And Alice, too, was invited because of her herbologist parents," she quipped.
"And you too, Remus?" he asked.
Remus shrugged. Hermione chuckled. "He was, but I am sure if Professor Flitwick has a club, too, Remus would be a member. The professors can't stop talking about him, teaching us the Patronus Charm."
Remus blushed and looked away. "I'm done here. See you lot later."
"Hey! Don't be like that," Hermione called after her friend.
Remus gave her a warm smile. "You know that I feel uneasy with that kind of attention. See you at dinner."
Frank and Alice bid their goodbyes and left, too. "Why do they always leave when I arrive?" asked Sev.
Hermione blushed, so she ducked her head and grabbed a textbook.
Sev sat beside her rather too closely. "Do you know why?" he whispered, his warm breath fanning on her skin.
She swallowed. "Maybe, they want us to have privacy..."
"Privacy, huh? Why do we need privacy? They're our friends?" he asked softly and his voice was enough to make her feel wet in between her thighs.
"I don't know," she replied, still looking down at the book.
"When have you learned to read a book upside down?" Sev asked naughtily.
Hermione realized that she was holding the book upside down. "Shit," she whispered and closed her eyes.
"Did you just curse? Maybe I should wash your mouth." Sev cupped her face. She opened her eyes and saw the desire in his obsidian eyes. She felt an unfamiliar, but not uncomfortable sensation between her thighs. She savored on the closeness of their bodies and their skin contact - the way he was holding her face with tenderness. She slightly opened her mouth and licked her lips, waiting for and wanting the kiss.
Sev did not disappoint her. Soon, his lips captured hers rather roughly. It wasn't gentle. It was rough, but rather than discomfort, she felt excited, so she responded eagerly and circled her arms around his neck, pulling him to her. Soon, she was lying her back on the sofa and Sev was hovering her. They continued kissing until they both realized that they weren't ready for something else.
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November 1, 1975
(twenty years ago)
"Hey, Hermione!" Alice greeted her the moment her friend sat beside her at the Ravenclaw table. "Where did you and Sev go last night after the Slug Club dinner?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow at her friend. "To our respective dormitories," she replied matter-of-factly. "Why?"
"James was looking for you. He said he's got something important to ask you," Alice informed her.
She looked up to scan the Gryffindor table. James seemed to be waiting for her to look up. When their eyes met, he gave her a sad smile and he sighed. Remus clapped James's shoulder and whispered something. Sirius shook his head while talking to James and narrowed his eyes at Lily who was sitting opposite the boys. Hermione couldn't see Lily's face, but the redhead tossed her hair (rather arrogantly) again.
Hermione shrugged and went on with her breakfast. She engaged herself in a conversation with her friends.
"Ready for a walk, dear?"
Hermione smiled brightly and forgot about James Potter's mournful look earlier when she heard her boyfriend's name.
She turned to him and got off the bench. "Of course," she replied happily. She bid her friends goodbye and hooked her arm around Sev's, then they walked out of the Great Hall.
But James was quick to his feet and ran after them, calling her name. When Hermione and Sev turned around to face their friend, she caught sight of Lily's smirking face.
Something's wrong... she decided.
"Hey, can I talk to the two of you? It's really important," said James rather hesitantly.
"Of course," replied Sev casually. "Let's take a walk."
James joined the two of them and during the entire journey to the lake, he was awfully quiet.
"What's this about, James?" she drawled when they've reached a boulder near the lake. She sat on it.
"Yeah. Care to explain that look on your face?" Sev sounded like a strict father.
James looked down. He suddenly found the ground interesting. His right hand was scratching the back of his neck and his left hand adjusted his eyeglasses.
"Lily cornered me last night," he mumbled.
"Oh, finally!" she perked up. "Did our plan work?"
James looked up and offered her a small smile. It was small but sincere. "I think so... she asked what happened to us - to me and her. She reminded me that she used to be the apple of my eye and that I promised to marry her someday."
"Oh. Does she want you now?" asked Sev curiously.
"No. I don't think so..." James admitted. "I asked her for a Hogsmeade date and she refused. Anyway, she approached me last night because she wanted to warn me... she told me to stay away from you, Hermione; said that you are dangerous, hanging out with me and Sirius in the library with an old book full of dangerous spells."
Hermione's eyes widened and she exchanged looks with Sev. "I only borrowed that book twice," she told her boyfriend. "And the first time was the day I spent time in the library with James and Sirius. The three of us left our table for a few minutes and when I came back, I saw Lily looking at me. A smirk was plastered to her pretty face," she said with annoyance. James blushed.
"Always burying her nose to where it doesn't belong," sneered Sev. And he turned to James. "Yes, we've invented spells, but that doesn't mean we use them to fellow students - or anyone."
"I know," James whispered.
"Then why did you look so guilty earlier?" asked Sev.
"Because I'm ashamed... you're my friends but I like Lily. I still want her..."
Hermione's expression softened and she half-hugged James. "Oh, James. I hope love will help Lily to be a better person."
James returned her hug. "Thanks, Mione. You're really a wonderful friend."
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November 8, 1975
(twenty-years ago)
"A Duelling club?" Hermione raised her eyebrows at that when Remus informed her when they met at the library.
"Yes. Didn't you read the notice on the board? Outside the Great Hall? You should join, Hermione," he encouraged.
Hermione turned to Sev. "I think it's your thing. You should join," she encouraged her boyfriend.
"Sure, dear," he replied with a smile and returned to reading. "But you should join as well."
Hermione perked up at his endearment, then she turned to Remus. "Are you joining, Remus? I've heard from James that you duel very well."
He smiled. "Thanks. I think I will." Then, he leaned forward. "If Professor Shafiq ever pairs you up with Lily, beat her!" he whispered.
"Lily will be no match for my witch, Lupin," said Sev confidently, running his hand on her back.
"Of course! But it's your chance to prove to her that you're a better witch and that you're the best in our year."
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November 15, 1975
(twenty years ago)
Tonight was the first meeting of the Duelling Club at the Great Hall. The long House tables were gone and in the middle of the hall was a long stage - about the length of a House table, but wider. Their D.A.D.A. professor, former Auror Shafiq, came up to the stage and introduced his assistant, Professor Flitwick. Their tiny Charms professor came up beside the former Auror. All the Ravenclaws (including Hermione) clapped their hands - clearly proud of their Head of House. The two professors opened the meeting by giving a demonstration, in which Professor Flitwick had won. Their D.A.D.A. professor applauded with the students. Professor Shafiq even admitted that he needed to brush up his Auror skills and that Professor Flitwick was a duelling champion.
"Professor Flitwick should be the D.A.D.A. professor," said Amelia who was standing on Hermione's left side.
"The job was jinxed, a lot of Slytherins say," quipped Severus on her right side. "No D.A.D.A. professor ever lasted for more than a year."
After a few more reminders from Professor Shafiq, he started picking students.
"Let's start with the ladies, yeah?" said Professor Shafiq and scanned the sea of students. "Ah! The best in my class, Miss Evans, come up here!"
Amelia groaned. "The best? Really, now?" she said sarcastically, turning to Frank and Alice who were standing with them.
"The best female fifth year Gryffindor student," shrugged Frank.
"Don't forget that he's biased 'cause he was a Gryffindor," quipped Alice.
"I don't remember him awarding points to students from other houses," she realized.
"And uh... let's see... Miss - "
"I say, someone from Miss Evans's year and my house?" Professor Flitwick cut Professor Shafiq off.
"Uh, sure," the D.A.D.A. professor agreed rather hesitantly.
"My best student, Miss Puckle," called her Head of House proudly.
Hermione felt Sev's hand pushing her gently. "Good luck, my dear," he whispered. "You can do it."
"Go, Hermione!" cheered James, surprising everyone and she saw that Sirius elbowed him, but Remus just grinned.
"Good luck, Hermione!" Remus called.
Hermione smirked and went up to the stage. The two professors stood on the edge of the platform. "Face your partner, ladies, and bow. No Unforgivables, no serious injuries. One... two... three..."
They were meters apart, but Hermione could clearly see the hatred in Lily's green eyes. The redhead pointed her wand at her and shouted: "Stupefy!"
"Expelliarmus!" She was too quick to disarm the Gryffindor.
"Merlin, she's so fast!" someone muttered from the crowd. She also could hear the applause, but she didn't pay attention. Her full attention was on Lily.
Lily's wand fell on the floor and she picked it her up with fury in her eyes. She angled her body again, ready to cast another spell towards Hermione.
"Talantallegra!"
"Impedimenta!" she fired at Lily quickly, not giving the redhead a chance to fire a spell at her. Lily moved very slowly and fell back on the floor of the stage.
Another applause from the crowd. "Godric's wet pants! Evans didn't even have the chance," she heard someone said and recognized the voice of Sirius.
Lily, looking very angry now - her usually beautiful hair now in complete disarray, her school uniform was creased, her necktie loosened - stood up and looked at her angrily. Her adorable green eyes - now cold - narrowed at her. "Furnuculus!"
She ducked to avoid the spell and fired one at her opponent. "Flipendo!"
Lily knocked on the floor and struggled to get up. Her hair was now wilder than Hermione's (which was in a loose ponytail).
"Well done, Miss Puckle!" praised Professor Flitwick who stepped forward.
Hermione turned around to her professor, thinking that the duelling was over. But it was the biggest mistake she did her her life.
"Locomotor Wibbly!"
Hermione's legs collapsed, dropped her wand, and fell on the floor. What the hell? she thought. She slowly stood up and reached for her wand a few inches away from where she fell.
"Miss Evans, enough! The duelling is -" called Professor Shafiq, but he was cut off by Lily's voice.
"Sectumsempra!"
Suddenly, she was on the floor again and felt as though she had been slashed with an invisible sword on her chest up to her lower abdomen. She cried and yelled in pain and when she raised her hands to look at them, they were both covered in blood, then her vision became blurry. She could hear Sev's voice, calling her name desperately; the voice of Professor Flitwick, Conjuring a stretcher. She saw Sev's worried face, but it was unclear. He was leaning over her, and muttering in a sing-song voice.
"Vulnera Sanentur, Vulnera Sanentur, Vulnera Santentur."
"Mr. Snape, what are you doing?" came a loud voice Hermione couldn't recognize because of her current state.
"Let him be," squeaked Professor Flitwick. "He knows how to heal her."
Sev continued the song-like incantation and the pain she felt reduced, but she also felt sleepy. Then, she was greeted by darkness.
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A/N II:
*hides under the desk*
Please don't kill me.