I don't own Harry Potter

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Chapter 57

Hermione and him were in bed side by side, looking at each other. Severus was used to her looking young but she was not. She kept touching his face and his hair. Severus kept looking at his bare forearm. "It's just been here for years and now it's gone. I am happy. I am but it's so strange." Hermione for once was elated that the ugly mudblood scar was gone. It was just a reminder of that horrible woman.

It was about 3:00 AM. Tom could not fix the door and Severus was not allowed to use his wand. He rolled his eyes at the notion but Hermione prevented him from saying what was in his mind.

"What do you think will happen when we get there?" Hermione asked him.

Severus played with her hand, "Minerva will take us to Albus' office. Albus will make some small talk and then we'll get sorted."

She nodded, "You know Harry asked the hat to place him in Gryffindor." Hermione's big doe like brown eyes stared at him.

Severus could not resist her, "I will ask it but I don't think it will pay much attention to me. Did I ever tell you? I tried my first time. All I keep thinking was, I want to be with Lily."

Hermione smiled at him sadly, "try for me."

"I will." He said and held her. He did not try anything that night. Severus did not have the energy to do anything other than overthink the current situation. He would be back with the fucking Marauders and Lily. He did not think about her. He did not let himself think about her too often. He loved Hermione. He knew that, he loved her more than anything. He was afraid of Lily. Lily represented his biggest regret. He could not face her. He could not see into those green eyes and not feel the weight of the world.

Hermione kissed him gently, "she did not die Sev. She's alive, she'll marry James Potter and have Harry."

Severus nuzzled her neck, "thank you."

He woke up late and with an erection, a painful erection that would not go away. Hermione usually took care of those but she was nowhere near. Severus stepped into the loo and showered with cold water. He went down the stairs and found Minerva and Hermione in conversation.

"Is he at least eating all his meals?" Hermione asked.

"As far as I am aware. I've set Winky on him and she says he eats, not always at the same time but at least he eats three meals a day. He drinks far too much and has taken up smoking." Minerva supplied.

"Stop meddling Hermione." Severus opened the fridge and found milk. He drank it out of the carton.

"Don't be disgusting." Hermione scolded him. Severus finished his milk and grabbed toast.

"When are we leaving?" Severus asked after he ate some of his toast.

"7:00 PM. Tom thought it would be nice if we went to London today and explored a bit." Minerva said with a smile.

"Well, where is he?" Severus asked without blinking.

"He had to go to the Ministry." Hermione replied.

"It is Sunday. What could be so important that he has to go in on a Sunday? I did not go on Sundays and I was a spy during World War II." Severus said.

"Maybe you were not as important as Tom." Minerva snarked.

Severus frowned at her. "Want to watch something on the telly? Tom bought it for us. We don't use it as much. I prefer going to the theater." Minerva carried on.

Severus nodded and went in. Hermione looked for a remote. Severus laughed at her, "no you have to use it, dials on the side." They did not have a TV in New York. They did not know what would happen in New York anymore. They would be that couple that disappeared without a trace.

Severus found a channel and Doctor Who. "I loved this show." Hermione said. Severus loved it too. He used to watch it with Lily and Petunia. The Evans sisters liked the telly and owned a set.

They spent the day watching shows. They had late lunch or early dinner. Minerva told them to freshen up after dinner as they would leave soon. She wanted everything to be ready for their departure. Severus showered first. They bought clothes yesterday. He chose a navy blue jumper and black jeans. Hermione then came down with light blue jeans and a beige jumper.

Tom flooed home around 6:30 PM. "I'm sorry. I was caught up." He kissed Minerva briefly.

"We have to leave soon. There is some food in the kitchen for you." Minerva said.

"Minnie, I couldn't possibly." He said. Minerva frowned, "I have to get these two to the Castle."

"I'll floo with you." Tom motioned to the fireplace. Minerva levitated the two trunks and shrunk them until Hermione and him could carry them on their palms.

Minerva was the first to go. Hermione followed. "Go on." Tom smiled. Severus frowned but followed. He stepped out of the flames and found Albus smiling at Hermione.

"Ladies first." He said and placed the sorting hat on her head. They all waited for about four minutes before the hat shouted, "Gryffindor."

Hermione smiled. He rolled his eyes at her. She hugged him, "It was just like the first time. He couldn't decide between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor." He smiled at her.

"Severus, please try?" She whispered.

"Severus, it's your turn." Albus called him to the stool.

Severus sat down and waited for the Sorting Hat to be placed. "I have sorted you before."

"I highly doubt that." Severus replied.

"But I did, almost five years ago. Intelligent mind, loyal, brave, so incredibly brave but most of all cunning, ambitious, a survivor through and through. You could be nothing but Slytherin."

"I don't want to be in Slytherin. I want to be with Hermione. Put me in Gryffindor." Severus stated clearly.

"Why?" The Sorting Hat asked.

"I have to be with her, in her same house." Severus said firmly.

"Not good enough." The hat replied.

They argued back and forth until Severus finally exploded, "do as you are told."

The hat laughed, it was a rumbling sound, "You Severus Snape will always belong in SLYTHERIN."

Severus stood up and looked at Hermione who smiled and hugged him once more. "I know you tried. We'll find a way. We always do."

"Another hat stall in the family." Albus said cheerily

Severus frowned, "Minerva was one." Tom said.

"I knew you would belong in Slytherin." The man said. Severus nodded, "Runs in the family I suppose."

Albus placed the Sorting hat back. "Well, this is goodbye." Tom said and clapped him on the back. Hermione threw herself at him.

"Don't forget to eat." She said and kissed his cheek.

Tom smiled. He kissed Minerva good night. "I'll see you next weekend?" He whispered.

Minerva nodded, "take care."

"Professor McGonagall, please take Ms. Granger to her common room. I will take Mr. Snape." Albus directed. Hermione and him kissed good night while the adults looked away. It would be the first night they slept apart in years.

Severus followed Albus through the familiar passages. They made their way to the common room. "The password is green beans. This will be your home for the next two years." Albus showed him inside the chamber. Severus nodded. It was all like he remembered. The greenish color to the room. The windows that showed the Black Lake. "Your dorm is to the left. The fifth years sleep on the room furthest back." Albus said with a smile. "Your bed should be empty. A most peculiar thing, that bed was always empty. The castle calculated an additional bed. It's always been empty."

Severus feigned interest and nodded, "Your peers are aware that there was to be a transfer. I must ask you to be careful, these children know Tom from their parents. They can be very perceptive, make sure that you are careful."

Severus nodded and went into his old dorm room. He would share with Mulciber, Rosier, Lestrange and Avery. He entered the room and found that his trunk was by his old bed. It was by the end of room near the window. Severus spent many nights sitting by those windows and looking at the waters. He sometimes saw fishes, gryndilows, kappas, and the occasional mermaid.

The now young man washed his face and undressed. He tried to sleep and cursed the fact that he did not know the password to Gryffindor Tower. He tossed and turned, trying to sleep. He would drift off for a couple of hours and then wake up when he did not feel Hermione by his side.

Someone woke him up. "You'll be late for breakfast." The voice said. It was a pimply but large boy. This was Lestrange, Rabastan. Severus frowned and sat up.

"Rabastan Lestrange." The boy said. "Professor Slughorn asked me to show you around. You got in pretty late yesterday." Of course they were all watching him.

"This is when you say your name." Rosier sneered.

Severus stood up from his bed. "Severus Snape." He said and cursed when he stubbed his toe with his trunk.

"I thought you were an American exchange." Mulciber, the less cunning of them mused loudly.

They all knew who he was, "I am British, my parents relocated when I was eleven years old." Severus and Hermione made up their stories yesterday night.

"Let the man use the loo." Avery smiled. Severus escaped his peers then. He took a long shower in the hopes of avoiding them. He was successful but for Rabastan who remained back.

"Come along. We have very little time and I'm famished." The younger boy said and Severus realized that he was also quite hungry.

They made their way to the Great Hall. Lestrange was a horrible tour person. Severus looked for Hermione. She sat next to Mary McDonald. He saw Black, Potter and Pettigrew seating in front of them. Severus tried to make his way to her table when Avery blocked his way. "That is the Gryffindor table. We do not associate with any of them. They are all muggle lovers and mudbloods."

"My parents were muggles." Severus said dispassionately.

Avery nodded and turned him away. He saw as Hermione shook her head. Her eyes read, do not come near. Severus followed Avery to their table. "We know who you are. You are related to Tom Snape; his nephew we were told. We all know that you are his son."

Severus laughed, "I assure you I am not." Albus was not completely incorrect in his assessment.

"My parents were both very muggle." Severus said and grabbed some food as they left for the one of the nurseries. He was not completely surprised to see Hagrid on the grounds. He was still the caretaker. Minerva said he graduated and did some traveling. He worked with Dragons for a time and then came to work for Albus when he called.

Professor Sprout was as lively as ever. He was partnered with Narcissa who wrinkled her nose when she saw him. "You must be the exchange student." She said curtly.

"I am." Severus replied shortly too. They worked in silence. He could feel her eyes as well as the rest of the class. He saw Marlene McKinnon and Emmeline Vance, Ravenclaws, looking at him too.

Magnolia Greengrass stopped him when they were on their way back to the castle. "Magnolia Selwyn. Charmed to meet you." She smiled prettily at him.

He smirked at her. They had nice times, him and Magnolia, once upon a time. He shook his head and walked ahead. He looked at his timetable and found that he was going to the dungeons. He had potions with the Gryffindors. He smiled he would see Hermione and they would be paired together. They had to be.

He rushed to the dungeons and did not wait for Lestrange who was busy talking to a young Regulus.

Severus entered the classroom and was surprised to almost everyone paired up. He looked at Hermione and saw the empty place by her. He smiled softly and tried to approach when Black slid up to the spot. "I thought you could use some help Herms."

"Her name is Hermione." Severus said. It was like welcoming an old friend. It was hatred at first sight.

"You must be Snape. I heard about you. Sod off." He said and sat properly. Hermione made to move away from her chair and go with him when Slughorn entered.

"Everyone take your seats." Horace was older, rounder and balder.

"Mr. Snape if you please. We must get you a partner. Where is Lupin?" Horace asked out loud when he glanced around the room.

Potter spoke up, he was paired with the rat, "He is in the infirmary. Evans said he was not feeling well."

Severus moved to an empty cauldron. He looked to the door and in came Lily. She wore the biggest smile. Severus could not help it. He smiled when he saw her. It was Lily as he remembered her. She walked to him and hugged him tight. "Sev, you are back. I missed you so much."