A/N: I own nothing pertaining to Harry Potter and the wizarding world and earn nothing from writing this bit of fiction. All mistakes are my own.

Chapter 15 - Secrets

Some things are revealed while something far more important is concealed.

2 January 1999

Draco had been trying to remain completely normal around Hermione, but, thanks to Blaise's constant needling (and flirting with the witch), he was a total wreck on the inside. Narcissa mostly left the three of them to their own devices during the day while she continued working on another wing of the house, which meant that they were free to continue puzzling out what Draco should do about his family magic. He'd begun to think that perhaps Hermione was on to something, but he really preferred to speak to Snape about it first. Unfortunately they wouldn't see him again until they returned to Hogwarts.

On the morning of the second, a thick frost coated the grounds and even the windows were painted with ice crystals. They took breakfast in the conservatory where the late morning sun was slowly warming the room naturally and then at Hermione's insistence, they combed through the library one more time for any scrap of useful information before Hermione would try the simple ritual that night. By lunchtime they'd given up and lazed about the rest of the afternoon, aside from a bit of broom jousting in the garden which was more or less charging at one another and trying to knock the other off his broom. Hermione was given the task of refereeing, the feeling that they were showing off a bit for her nagging at her. After Blaise gained a rather glorious black eye and she was nearly frozen solid, she called the match, 3-2, Blaise. He suggested that as a winner he deserved a kiss, but she shoved him playfully aside and trotted indoors. Draco was not-so-secretly pleased.

By evening the temperature had plummeted and, as the hours wore on, Hermione considered calling off their planned trip to Avebury. Blaise seemed to agree that perhaps it was for the best, but Draco, perhaps surprisingly since he was usually the first to complain, had insisted that they go anyway.

"You'll regret it if you don't and I'll have to hear about it all term. And anyway, that's why you came here, isn't it?"

Hermione, who had been thoroughly enjoying her holiday for other reasons, paused.

"Well, I suppose you might be right," she replied slowly.

"Get your warm things on. We'll meet back here at 11:30."

Hermione pulled on the warmest jumper she owed, boots, and the heavy cloak she wore during the harsh Scottish winters. She still had a few minutes, so she flicked through the pages of her new book one more time, pausing again at the description of the runes in Avebury. But what she remembered translating, what she could recall seeing carved into the stone and what was pictured in the book didn't seem to match. How was that possible? How could runes carved into a stone thousands of years ago be changed? While she puzzled that over, she slipped her wand into its holster and pulled gloves and hat into place before she headed back down to meet Draco and Blaise, suddenly rather nervous about whatever it was that would happen that night.

They arrived in the same place as last time, but this time heading straight for the stones. The moonlight on the snow made the area glow with a soft light. They disillusioned themselves and Hermione cast a Muffliato over the group, Blaise covering their footprints left behind as they went. The energy was the same as last time, air thrumming with an amount of magic Hermione rarely felt outside of Hogwarts.

"You sure about this, Hermione?" Draco enquired.

"Welllll… remember what I said last time?" she began as they approached the stone. "Let me see… yes, I knew I'd translated it right. In the book, the runes are recorded very differently. You see this one here? It means "heart". Well in the book it has one that means "soul". Why would it be any different? It's not like the stone's changed."

She looked from Blaise to Draco, but neither could think of a satisfactory answer.

"Did you know that in some ancient cultures they saw the heart as the place where the soul resided? But in others the soul was something completely other than the heart, which was more like when we say 'mind'."

"As fascinating as that is, Granger, I'm beginning to freeze," Draco complained.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Fine, I'm going to do it anyway. I know what I want, so there's no use wasting the chance to try and do something about it."

She pulled out her wand and neatly sliced her hand, letting the blood begin to well up before she placed it on the stone.

Just as she finished pronouncing the spell that would supposedly grant her wish, there was a flare of magic around her, a brilliant purple flame, that faded as quickly as it appeared. Draco and Blaise stared at her in shock.

"You… feeling alright, Granger?" Blaise inquired.

Her eyes were wide as were her lips, face frozen in surprise.

A moment later, Draco fell backwards into the snow.

Hundreds of miles away, Severus Snape had been peeling back the quilt on his bed and sliding beneath it when suddenly he felt a burst of magic explode over him. He grabbed his wand, lit the candles in the room, and cast every spell he could think of to find the person at fault. To his irritation, he found no one and that was when he remembered that Draco and his friends were supposed to go to the henge that night. He'd overheard them saying something about it. He wondered what on earth they'd gotten into. He threw his warm clothing back on, wrapped himself in his cloak and apparated to Avebury.

Even farther away, in his dank cell in Azkaban, which had only moderately improved since they'd gotten rid of the Dementors, Lucius Malfoy awoke with a start, every hair on his body on end.

"What in the fresh hell was that?" he cursed. Around him he heard nothing but snores, murmurs and the usual night noises. He was on tenterhooks the rest of the night, waking at every small noise.

Snape appeared with a soft 'pop' and stared down at the shocked face of Hermione Granger.

"What did you do?" he hissed.

She blinked and suddenly found she could speak once more.

"I did the ritual. Just like it said. Only…"

"Only what, Miss Granger?"

She pointed over at Draco, who he hadn't noticed yet as he had sunken into the thick snow.

"You idiot!" he snarled. "What incantation did you use?" He hovered over Draco and began to check his vital signs.

"The one in the book, sir."

"Which book?" he bit out.

"The one on the history of the henge."

"You will show me. First, though… Renervate!" He pointed his wand at Draco who began to come to.

He grabbed Draco and they all apparated back to Malfoy Manor. Narcissa, who they found up and pacing nervously, made sure that Draco was settled with hot chocolate and warm blankets thanks to one of the elves. Snape ordered Hermione to fetch her book and meet him in the adjoining room.

"You might have thought to ask a second opinion before casting this sort of charm," he growled.

"Well, I thought that —"

"You thought wrong."

Hermione was nervous. She hadn't seen Snape this angry with her since Sixth Year.

"What have I done?" she asked worriedly.

"Who were you thinking of when you said the incantation?"

"My parents, of course."

"Just your parents?"

"Well, I might have been thinking about Malfoy as well. You don't mean that I did something to him, do you?"

Snape exhaled slowly so that he could keep himself from throttling her over her idiocy.

"You've enacted some very old magic, Miss Granger. There's a reason why we don't take school trips to stone circles. What you thought was about granting a measly wish was actually a powerful spell to bind your magical core to someone else. As your parents are Muggles, that means they've been unaffected. Unfortunately for Mr. Malfoy he apparently was not spared. He was also standing next to you, which is why the force of it knocked him out."

"Oh, Merlin," she wailed. "He'll never forgive me."

"I'm afraid he'll have no choice when you finally tell him. I suggest, however, that you wait. There will be… complications."

"Does Narcissa know?"

"She might suspect. Even Lucius was bound to have felt something."

Her brown eyes grew wide with fright.

"Even I did," he continued.

"What? But how did— ?"

Snape sighed and rubbed his face with the hand not presently holding Hermione's book.

"Frankly, I don't even know, but we're going to have to solve that little mystery another day."

"I really can't imagine why," she said firmly. "Did you sign something when you were made my advisor?"

"Nothing. But no matter. There are still, it seems, a great many things about the world of magic that you seemed to have not bothered to learn."

"I've learned a great deal, sir," she retorted. "Anything I've been allowed to learn and then some."

"And yet not enough to avoid embroiling yourself in something that will effect you for the rest of your life. In centuries past, this ritual was a way of both protecting a couple and making their magic far stronger. When both parties do the ritual it will combine their magic."

Hermione did the one thing she almost never did, especially not in front of Snape: she panicked.

"What do I do!?"

Snape had to bite back a satisfied sneer. Well, he didn't have to, but he felt that he ought to have at least a tiny bit of compassion for the fretting witch before him, even if she did commit her biggest blunder to date.

"Seeing as Draco did not also pledge his magic to you, the only negative effects will be felt by you."

"Such as?"

"If he overextends himself, he'll begin using up your magic as well."

"Do you think that's likely?"

"Perhaps not. He's generally not as reckless as… some." He narrowed his eyes at her further for emphasis.

Hermione's shoulders slumped and Snape had the horrid premonition that she might begin to actually cry in front of him. Which she did.

"Oh Merlin, I ruin everything, don't I?" she sobbed, her face in her hands. "First, my p-parents and now this."

Snape stared down at her. She did do a very idiotic thing, but it was clear that she was now cognizant of the fact. Snarling at her further was likely to make things worse and the others were still in the next room. He couldn't send her back there still in tears or it would all come spilling out and then he'd have to deal with the Malfoys in an uproar and quite frankly, he just couldn't. Not tonight. Not when he had to face Martinez the following afternoon. He heaved a great sigh and counted slowly while he attempted to hold his tongue.

"Your five minutes of self-pity are up, Miss Granger," he spoke at last, handing her a handkerchief. "Dry your tears or we shall be forced to tell the Malfoys what you've done before you've had time to think everything through."

She took it gratefully and dried the tears that had been rolling down her face.

"Do you think there…" She paused and blew her nose. "Do you think it could be un-done?"

"Not likely."

"I see." She began to grow calm and the brave face that she usually wore in impossible situations slowly resumed it's rightful place. She held up the handkerchief awkwardly, as if unsure what to do with it.

"Keep it," Snape grunted.

She gave a small nod and folded it before stuffing it into one of her pockets.

"I think I shall wait to tell him," she decided.

"As you'd like. But we should rejoin them."

"What should I say then? If even his parents know something has happened?"

"Tell them you were doing a ritual and perhaps it affected Draco's newly awakened family magic."

"Oh, but he hasn't…"

"They don't know that. He likely doesn't either."

"Perhaps not." She looked at Snape in the eye and gave a small smile. "You know, Professor, I'm thankful that you're my advisor this year."

She turned and hurried out of the room, Snape on her heels.

When they entered the adjoining sitting room, Draco was finishing his hot cocoa and Blaise was telling them both what had happened in a rather exaggerated fashion.

"Blaise Zabini, you stop telling tales this instant," Hermione scolded. "I was merely doing something to hopefully help my parents and realised afterward that it must have also done something to awaken Malfoy's family magic. It makes sense, doesn't it? The whole place was charged with magic."

Draco stared back at her curiously. "Well, I suppose that it's possible. I certainly felt my magic get stronger."

"You see?" Hermione said imperiously, as if everything had been settled.

"Draco, might I have a word with you as well before I leave?"

"Of course, Professor."

He rose to his feet and the two of them went into the hallway, closing the door behind them.

"Yes?"

"When you return to school, I will begin training you to use your magic."

"You sure that it's a good idea?"

"Better you learn now than wait until you do something accidentally, like you did as a child."

"I'm not a child, though."

"No, but now you've become much more powerful than you realise. And I'd advise against you telling anyone. Not even your friends."

"Blaise would never say anything and Granger, well…"

"No one is to know exactly what you're capable of. Is that clear?" His voice was deathly serious and Draco got the message.

"Yeah, okay," he agreed, now uneasy. What did his godfather know that he wasn't telling?

3 January 1999

Snape lay buried beneath his thick quilt. The fires had obviously gone out and it was all could do to convince his hand to leave the warm cocoon and grab his wand from the nearby table. He levitated a bit of wood and quickly started the fire, but let the room warm considerably before he could bother with getting up. He didn't actually need to be at the school much before noon, but he wanted to catch Martinez before the staff meetings began. He tidied his already packed trunk and sent it down the stairs ahead of him, leaving it near the front door. He knew it was a silly habit as he didn't have any need to leave the house at all to apparate back to Hogwarts, but he allowed himself the symbolism all the same.

After a simple breakfast of marmite toast and black coffee, he perused his bookshelves. Most of his more useful volumes were already at the castle, but, considering Miss Granger's latest cock-up, there was a chance that something more obscure would be needed. After several minutes, he found what he was looking for: a slim burgundy volume with paper as thin as tissue as if the entire work was simply too fragile to commit to sturdier parchment. 'Our Magickal Core' was etched on the cover along with the runes for 'heart' and 'strength'. It wasn't a generally-consulted book as it had fallen out of fashion when wands had come into general use, but it was still considered by some academics to be a classic. He momentarily wondered if it was still required reading for those becoming Healers as he pocketed the small volume. Perhaps he would lend it to Miss Granger in the guise of extra-curricular study. It would hardly surprise anyone if she took on something else.

Snape returned to Hogwarts at precisely 11:15, apparating neatly back to his quarters (the perks of being a former Headmaster) and unpacked his things before seeking out the American witch whose ostentatious Christmas gift merited a discussion. When at last he found her near the entrance to the Great Hall, she was speaking animatedly with Professor Sinistra. As he drew near, he overheard her excuse herself as she turned toward him, as if the two of them had already planned to meet.

"Good morning, Professor Snape," she said with a grin.

He inclined his head in greeting. "A word, if you please?"

"I thought you might say that," she nodded, leading them out of earshot should anyone else show up early for the noon meal.

"I hope you didn't think it too forward of me, but I wanted to show you that I was being serious about what I'd said."

"A bit presumptuous to think I'd want to be recognised by the American Academy," he drawled.

"Oh come off it, you know you're one of the best Potion Masters around. Don't be such a snob."

"Then don't pretend that this was something you just whipped up in two weeks."

"I sent in your application mid-October while I was back in the States."

Snape eyed her carefully, but said nothing.

"Look, I knew we'd got off to a bad start and I wanted to do something for you that someone else should have done ages ago. And when the fellas saw your name on the application, they nearly flipped. They were so pleased."

"Pleased?" he drawled, incredulous.

"You're fucking Severus Snape, of course they're pleased. Why wouldn't they be? You're famous, you're a genius, and you're a hero. They nearly shit themselves!"

He didn't know if he should laugh or reprimand her. He opted for stoic silence.

Her mouth was curved in a satisfied smile as she looked up at him. She raised her hand, placing it on his chest.

"Face it, Severus," she whispered. "There are people out there who admire you." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and sauntered away, leaving him standing there in a tangle of thoughts like an errant ball of wool a cat had discovered that morning.

How had his dunderhead students sometimes put it? 'What in Merlin's most baggy Y-fronts?' That witch got under his skin in more ways than one and it was only getting worse. He was still standing there when Minerva came by a few minutes later.

"Alright, Severus? Coming to lunch?"

He nodded and followed the witch to the Great Hall for the first meal of the new term and an afternoon of meetings before the students would arrive.

Draco awoke feeling much better than he had in some time. But no matter how he tried to badger it out of Hermione over breakfast, the witch refused to say what Snape had said to her the evening before.

"I don't see how it's your business," she quipped and said no more on the matter.

He decided to let it drop for the moment while they hurried to gather their things and make their way to King's Cross.

Hermione observed the whole thing as bittersweet. That was her last Christmas holiday as a student. She was nearly through with her studies. And while she had expected that she and Draco would go their separate ways after graduating - it was merely a fluke that the two of them had become friendly enough to holiday together - whatever she had just done made her worry about it immensely. But she wasn't about to tell him. No, that wouldn't do at all.

The afternoon stretched on as many Slytherins dropped by to see Blaise and Hermione wandered about, catching up with her other friends, especially Ginny.

"So how was it?" the red head whispered conspiratorially.

"Oh, it was actually really… really nice."

"C'mon, 'Mione, you can do better than that."

"Well, Snape was there for dinner two nights, you know, and it was all so strange. Narcissa was very kind, though. She's not at all like I imagined."

"Feeling you out, was she?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, it's obvious that Draco is interested in you."

Hermione flushed pink. "We're just friends."

"In any case, you're the girl he brought home."

"Oh, I doubt that she saw me like that at all! She never as much as hinted at it."

"She's a shrewd woman who knows her son better than you do."

"Oh but you can't mean… I mean, really…"

"Face it, he's only got eyes for you."

"Ginevra Weasley, stop telling lies!"

Ginny laughed and slapped her knee. "You can be in denial, Hermione. But if you're not at all interested in him, you need to do a better job at projecting it. I don't think he's getting the hint."

Hermione pursed her lips tightly shut.

"You didn't deny it. Ha!"

"I'm simply trying not to hex you," she replied tersely.

"Whatever. Go back to your Slytherins before they miss you too much and come looking for you."

"Now you're just being absurd. He would never…"

But she was unable to finish her sentence, for just at that moment, the compartment door opened and Draco peered in.

"There you are, Granger. We thought you'd jumped the train."

Ginny raised her eyebrow and gave a knowing look.

"I'm allowed to go where I'd like," Hermione huffed.

Draco pulled back. "Well, yeah, but you didn't say when you'd be back."

"Sorry, Malfoy, we're having a bit of a girl chat."

"Well, Blaise got you some things from the trolley."

"Oh, well, I'll be there in a bit, yeah?"

He closed the door and left, obviously in a pout.

"What's wrong with Malfoy taking an interest in you if you're not opposed?"

"Look, yesterday I've totally messed things up between he and I and I can't even tell him what I've done."

"What happened?"

"I can't tell you, either, but Professor Snape knows and, Merlin, it's such a mess."

"How does Snape know?"

"It really haven't the faintest idea. But… how am I supposed to just be around Draco and pretend everything is okay? Plus he knows that I've done something. He tried to get it out of me all morning."

"And you really can't tell him?"

"Not just yet."

"Well, don't cut him out of your life over it. He's changed, 'Mione. Who knows, maybe the two of you becoming friends is just fate intervening after all those years of stupidity." She paused a grinned. "And you should go back before he eats himself into a sugar coma from pining over you."

Hermione gave her friend a good thwack.

"He did come looking for you. Just as I said," she added in a singsong voice.

"Shove off, Gin," she huffed as she stood. "Not a word of this, you hear?"

"Of course not," Ginny snickered.

When Hermione rejoined Draco and Blaise, there was indeed a pile of sweets in her seat. The space between the two wizards was littered with empty wrappers.

"Too many sweets are bad for you, you know?"

"Thanks, Mum," snarked Draco.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Blaise snickered and quickly turned the conversation toward the upcoming term, his own plans while in Hogsmeade and the latest misadventures of his mother as he'd received a letter via owl post that morning and had just gotten around to reading it.

As they disembarked in Hogsmeade, Blaise pulled Hermione aside in spite of Draco's glare in his direction.

"Look after him, alright? It's been a difficult few months for him and something about you seems to keep him happy. It must be your immense brain," he chuckled and gave her a parting kiss on the cheek.

"What was that about?" questioned Draco as he and Hermione walked toward the carriages.

"He felt the need to be obnoxious one last time," she said vaguely.

"He's been nothing but the entire holiday."

"Is everything alright between the two of you?"

"Now it is," he replied as he helped her into the carriage, his hand touching the small of her back for a brief moment.

They sat next to one another, so she was unable to properly study him, but the entire time they spoke to the others, he pressed his leg gently against her own and she silently replayed her earlier conversation with Ginny. Was it possible that he saw her as something more?

The rest of the evening was consumed by the feast, laughing and listening to the other Eighth Years recount their holiday. By the time they got back to their rooms, Hermione was exhausted and decided to put the whole conundrum with Malfoy out of her mind until the next morning.

Thank you once again dear readers for your patience and encouragement. Some days writing happens, some days it doesn't. In the meantime, I've finished a short new Snamione (I know, I know, not the same thing at all!) on AO3 for Discord Server Page 394's Winter Holidays Celebration entitled "Snowblind". Until next time!

A big thanks to hizqueen4life on AO3 who caught a HUGE mistake, which has now been corrected.