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Snape shows up at Grimmauld Place exactly when he says he would, at dawn. The air is brisk and Hermione is thankful for the red jumper hidden under her robes. The sun has barely completed its journey to rise and the sky is coloured in various saturation of pink hues. But Hermione spends no time appreciating this.
She is angry. Her emotions boil dangerously at the surface. Her anger from Ron. Her anger at the war. Her anger at herself for not saving them. Her anger the secrets and half-truths she seemed to only get. It was enough to threaten to boil over. She let out a sigh, she had more important things to focus on.
Snape approaches her tentative, he holds a clear expression of annoyance, but Hermione is not surprised. His hair is tied up and he holds his wand tightly in his hand. But Hermione almost laughs at the silk ribbon in his hair seeming completely out of place but manages to hold her tongue. Sometimes she really did feel that the wizarding world was centuries behind the muggle one especially when it came to fashion.
"Ms. Granger. The rules of our training will be simple. Do not kill. do not use any spell you cannot heal or reverse. I will extend the same respect. I will teach you control. I will teach you too not duel but to win" Snape commanded scrunching his eyes when he saw the stretchy muggle pants and sneakers Hermione was wearing.
Hermione nodded; she could feel her magic thrumming through her veins, calling to her, begging to be unleashed.
"Stupify" Snape enunciated charging forward as the spell hit its target. Hermione jolted back shocked, but Snape did not falter, he was prepared pointing his wand at her forehead. "If I were a death eater, you would have met your end quite briefly" he snarled tapping his wand against her flesh.
Hermione swallowed, her heart thudding even as he lowered his wand. She hadn't been ready. She knew she was out of practice but even so, Hermione had not expected her dueling to be so poor.
"Sir- "she started, regretting her decision to speak almost immediately. "Are there not rules to commence a duel".
Snape looked at her and smirked, a dry laugh escaping his lips.
"Do you suppose Lucious Malfoy will bow before using the cruciatus curse so long you cannot speak? or Bellatrix Lestrange will wait for you to be ready before she serves you limb from limb." he hisses looking at Hermione in the eyes.
"Voldermort will not ask permission. He does not rest because you are tired. You want to survive. I commend you, most of your friends do not have the grit but you will need to be ready at any time for anything" His voice is low, clear and Hermione understands how dark the world of Severus Snape must be. Sitting at the dark Lord's table and hoping not to get caught as a traitor. And still, despite the sacrifice, he was not trusted.
Snape and Hermione continue to duel, Hermione at least being able to react now that she was expecting it. For the most part, he kept up the conversation, insisting that dueling should be second nature, like a reflex. Hermione despite herself, enjoyed the conversations on potions and history but had trouble keeping herself unharmed.
"Are you a witch or a muggle? Show me a bloody shield" Severus Snape yells at Hermione throwing another cutting curse that bites into her cheek. The two are outside in the garden, sweat beads on both their brows having been at this for hours.
"don't dodge, use a SHIELD '' Snape hisses his arm performing a series of movements as he prepares to attack again. Hermione Granger. Hermione Granger. Hermione Granger. He chants in his head reminding himself exactly whom he was dueling. Maxima would have had him flat on his back by now.
"Protego" Hermione hisses but other than the faintest blue burst of light it has no effect. I've done this before. I need to cast a strong shield.
Hermione aims her wand at Snape. Inhale. She feels her magic coursing through her veins. Exhale. The magic rumbles through her fingertips.
Protect she thinks and with a roar, a flourish of purple light presents itself hardening to form a shield. Snape fires spell in rapid succession, while the shield shakes it holds and prevents the attacks.
"very well Ms. Granger. I must be going; I'd like you to begin brewing dittany for the orders stores this week. I'll leave the ingredients with the Black" Snape exits quickly with a nod in her direction.
"Oh and Ms. Granger, you may find that thinking of what you want the spell to do rather than its name may be helpful with your particular brand of magic" He added before slipping into the house and apparating away.
He leaves without further exchange and Hermione collapses on the grass focused on his last remark. What was her particular brand of magic? Hermione lay in the grass in exhaustion filling every muscle for mere minutes before being joined by Harry and Ron who look at her in awe.
"Bloody hell 'mion. I still can't believe you asked him to help. The slimy git might just kill you for his lord". Ron cursed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Ron, he is an order member. He's on our side" Hermione replies, rolling her eyes at her friend's prejudice.
Ron raises his hands in defense and mumbles "he's still a right git though" as Hermione sinks into the grass chuckling for a few moments before they are called for lunch. Ron was, if nothing else, predictable.
"LUNCH IS SERVED, GET TO THE TABLE OR GO HUNGRY" Molly Weasley hollers and the three rush to get to the table, well, Ron rushed.
"I think it's great, you asking Snape for help," Harry tells Hermione as they walk slowly to the back door. He looks at her almost nervous, scared she will go back to avoiding him at any second.
"I'm glad he's helping, even in his own gitish way. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you" He says looking down at his shoes.
"Harry Potter, don't you think like that. Nothing is going to happen to me." Hermione began to say before Ginny swept Harry into a conversation. She was glad he at least had her. He needed her light.
The food is warm and hearty, just what Hermione is craving after the long few hours of dueling. Fred nicks the bread from her plate, but it is Sirius who makes a memorable appearance. "Did I just lose my eyesight, or did I see Severus Snape dueling with you in the yard this morn'?" His voice is on edge, and form the pointed look at her Hermione knew from practice he was about to begin yelling.
"you did. He's teaching me to duel." She spoke carefully hoping to avoid his anger.
"why would he do that. Thought the git had some important job snitching to the order" Sirius replies tersely and Hermione has to stop herself from rolling her eye at the childishness.
"I asked him to help, and as for his reasons, I frankly don't care. I'm mudblood you think I'm not a target?" Hermione laughs incredulously. "You-know-who has already deemed me valuable enough to go after my parents, I'm not gonna wait around to be next. Snape knows how death eaters duel. Who better to teach me? Or are we going to pretend that each and every one at this table won't be involved in this war."
Sirius glared. "We'll finish this conversation later." He knew she was scared. Hell, they all were. But the idea of Severus Snape the greasy tosser coming into his home and attacking Hermione and touching her, set his blood on fire.
Sirius wondered, not for the last time, how long they had left with her. How long until Hermione granger took her fated tumble through time. He both wanted to savour every moment he could spend with her and take as much distance to quell the possession he felt over her. Not now. Hermione, not Maxima. He chanted, trying to remind himself that the two women are aware of worlds apart.
"He won't hurt me," Hermione says in an attempt of comfort" but Sirius doesn't even reply. Hermione follows suit and talks with Fred about his latest invention, the adjustment to working without his twin had been hard but Hermione was glad he was managing to keep the shop going. They needed a little joy.
Sirius leaves the table early, opting for a cigarette on the front porch. He breathes deeply the nicotine and tries to resist the desire the throw his fist through the wall. He wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to wrap her up in her arms and hide her safely away. He wanted to scream.
Sirius throws his hand into the wall, hissing as blood exits the would surrounding broken bone. But at least this pain he could fix and mend. It has a source and a solution, and all that was left for Hermione Granger was a long road to devastation.