"Hermione, don't worry, the situation is under our control," consoled the wizard, taking her aside. Severus allowed himself to be taken in without a heated protest. Hermione's hands felt cold. With each word escaping the Auror's mouth, the sounds of the room hushed.
"We spoke to Mr. Abedasher concerning the quick reconstruction of the shop after receiving signals of magical interference. He thinks that you were the one who helped. He also notified us that you were gone for many days from work. However with all the information, we have on Snape, I can prove your innocence."
"I am innocent Harry. Severus helped rebuild the shop after Draco Malfoy attacked me that night, you remember this. Draco is the one at fault. Why are you not questioning him? And I left with Ginny to Norway on my own free will."
"Draco Malfoy? You are sure? I mean...it was dark that night, it could have been anyone attacking you."
"Blimey Harry, you can't be serious? I know what I saw..."
"It doesn't matter now. Everything will be back to normal, the shop is as it was."
"AS IT WAS?" Hermione spluttered the words. Severus' greatest masterpiece- killed. He stood there, painting the air with his wand, recreating her and Wilhelm's home from memory. From his skilled fingers, he brought back to life every single beast on that wall. Every tool - replaced, every potion -refilled, every book correctly put into the right place. Weeks of meticulous observation destroyed in a single moment. All for Wilhelm. All for the German to accept Hermione back to her job. All for Hermione's comfort and safety and livelihood.
All for her. Severus had done this all for her.
Now, the wizard in front of her had single-handedly destroyed it. This was the last chord.
"Harry you... fool!" Her words not her own. "Do you realize that I just lost my job and the trust of Wilhelm - the man who practically took me in?"
"Hermione, you will get another job-"
"That's bloody easy for you to say, Harry Potter. Not everyone can waltz into the Ministry and be paid in galleons for saying their name alone."
"HERMIONE THAT IS NOT FAIR!"
"NOT FAIR," the witch fumed, "I will tell you what is not fair! The wizard who saved my life, who saved my reputation on more than one occasion is now being judged for a crime that he did NOT commit because..."
The words slipped from her tongue, "...because is easier for you to accept that Severus is capable of murder and abduction than to go against your co-worker Draco. Because ever since you became an Auror, the only thing that drives you is your bloody need to avenge your parents-"
Hermione felt a hot sting on her lips. She winced in pain from the betrayal.
"DON'T talk that way about my bloody parents Hermione. Just shut UP. You haven't been yourself since that git showed up in your life and n-"
"I AM MYSELF." A wave of relief washed over Hermione as she said those words. She felt most herself than she had ever been before.
-/-
Pip and Frodo had taken a liking to Hermione, pawing her feet and begging for her attention. On the ratted doormat, Hermione read the headline of this morning's Daily Prophet:
Special Release:
Mrs. Ginevra Weasley Flies on the Wings of Love with New Husband: Mr. Krum
Page 10 for more information on the newlyweds and exclusive photos.
-Rita Skeeter
Hermione struck the newspaper aside with her heel. Claudia Diggory had been taking calls all morning from her husband, filling him in on the situation. When Amos returned the evening, he sat down wearily.
"There is nothing we can do?" Hermione looked.
Amos sighed. "The Malfoys will never testify or admit their son's behaviour at the shop. There wasn't anyone else that night beside you and Severus?"
There had not been.
"The Malfoys are protective of their kind and will do everything to look good in the eyes of society. This is why Draco proposed to Ginny Weasley after you had publically rejected him at the ball and this is why Molly had convinced Ginny to elope with Viktor as quickly as possible," continued Claudia. "She told me so in secret, but you know that Molly doesn't keep anything to herself."
The pieces of the puzzle falling together in her mind. Hermione felt as foolish as Severus had described her. How had she not seen these plans in place?
"Why would Molly ever agree to the engagement in the first place. She dislikes Narcissa and Luc-". The image of Lucius snaking hand on Molly's waist the night of the party at the Ottery cleared up this suspicion as well.
Severus had been right. Oh, gods. She felt her own fault in not listening to him.
Hermione tensed, her body and head pulsating. More than ever, she felt like a small and helpless raven on her work desk. Fingers, knives, scalpels picked at her every organ, cleaning out what was left until she was a shell. She had wished she was that shell. That shell filled with sand and stuffing -incapable of feeling any pain or emotion. Everything in the past weeks reduced to a single moment.
-/-
Amos and Claudia had warned Hermione not to make any rash decisions. Much like Severus would have. However, the result of Severus' constant rationality was the reason she was now facing the array of gazes of the Wizengamot court.
"Ms. Granger, repeat yourself clearly then. Were you there the night of the attack with Mr. Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy, as noted by the detection of magical interference we received?"
"Yes, your honour."
"You say that you were attacked?"
"No. There was no attack, merely an act of self-defence."
"Elaborate on this fact. Who were you trying to defend yourself from Ms. Granger?"
"It was Mr. Malfoy who was...trying to defend himself from me. I had...incorrectly assumed that he was interested in me and invited him to Abedasher's Policlinic. When he rejected me, I was furious, causing a scene at the shop." She shot a glance at Malfoy.
"Then why didn't Mr. Malfoy come into court to file an offence against you?"
"Surely your honour, you would not expect a man of his status to stoop down so low as to accuse a lustful woman such as myself in her advances? Draco Malfoy is, after all, a gentleman. You would know that had you asked any of his coworkers." She shot a glance at Harry.
"Mr. Malfoy, do you have any accusations then against Ms. Granger?"
"Your honour," smirked the blonde-haired wizard, "I have nothing to say against Ms. Granger that has not already been said. I do not want to accuse her of anything."
"Then explain the reason for Mr. Severus Snape's appearance at the shop that night. Was it to attack you?"
"Attack me? No, your honour, Mr. Snape had come with the intention of marrying me." Hermione, taken aback by her own boldness, but not backing down from her case. "It was for that reason I had agreed to leave the country without telling anyone, even my employer. I was not thinking of anything other than returning Mr. Snape's affections."
Severus broke his mask and looked at her. She returned his gaze. For the first time, a look of wonder and...pride on his face. She had done it.
-/-
Mr. Draco Malfoy walked free. Hermione had not been accused of anything other than being completely at the whims of her desires and for being a complete fool for rejecting the reputable Draco Malfoy. Harry's reputation, not tarnished. Only Severus had been given two weeks of public service for his use of magic at Abedasher's shop- a sentence he was willing to take.
-/-
An orchestra of crickets played their symphony to a crowd of sunflowers and blades of grass. The hum of the wind in the moors and the bass of the vast void of the nocturnal ballroom assisted. Soon the light of dawn would raise its hands in beaming applause for the performers.
Hermione wrapped her cloak around her shoulders. The book in front of her gazed with the same pages as it had hours before. Pip snored on her lap and she ran her fingers through the beast's hair. She gazed out the window- searching.
Then he appeared. A dark figure approached the home, from the distance. The first rays of morning played through his tousled hair. She rose from the cushions, putting the pet aside and walked towards him.
The morning was brisk. Her feet slipped across the dewy carpet. His warm breath soon warming her through the draped fabric on her body.
"Ms. Granger."
"I thought we were past the stage of surnames." His smile adorned his cheeks.
"Judging by your most...recent behaviour, I don't think I know anything about you anymore."
They stood in comfortable silence, drinking in each other's presence.
"Mr. Snape, you owe me an apology."
"An apology? What for Ms. Granger?" he teased.
"For calling me foolish."
"I think - not."
She took flight, but the wizard quickly captured her by the shoulder.
"I was only teasing. You were foolishly brilliant Ms. Granger...or should I say...Mrs. Snape." The words lingering on his tongue.
"Mrs. Snape," she said coyly. "Well if I am to be Mrs. Snape, I think that it is appropriate I have a ring from my dearest husband. Don't you agree?"
To her surprise, Severus produced a box from his cloak. Her eyes widened as she lifted the flap. To her great surprise, she retrieved a wand. Her wand. Her wand with no cracks or scratches from the attack at the shop.
"You...when did...I can't believe it! How did you ever find the time?"
"I always have time for personal projects," Severus winked. "Really, what kind of a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would I be if I was not able to fix the tools of my craft."
Hermione felt a small pang of disappointment about the objects in the box. To her own dismay, she had it wished it were-something of another sort.
"You are not happy?" Severus asked.
"No, NO...I am. Thank you, I-"
"You?"
"I-..." She shivered in the early hours of the morning. Severus reached for her.
"Your hands are...cold...Ms. Granger."
"Yes, yes they are..."
He brought cupped her palms in his. They began to glow with a pleasant and slow warmth. It was not enough. Her hands. HIS hands could not feel as cold as they did. Severus did not take poor care of what was his.
He brought the first finger to his lips, kissing it. She came closer in agreement. He gave her another. And another. Then he brought himself to her lips, stopping himself and pulling away. Her gaze held a hint of disappointment.
"Hermione if you continue distracting me, I don't think I'll ever be able to enjoy a proper breakfast." She pulled away, smiling and walked back towards the house. And he swiftly followed.
In the distance, a rubin bird sang it's last morning aria before leaping off the branch. The wand in Hermione's hand glowed a shade of ruby red.