Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for sticking with the story! Reading your comments is literally the first think I do in the morning!
Chapter 13 happens around Christmas. It is really weird because it's summer now and I cannot imagine Christmas when it is super sunny and warm outside... I hope your imagination is better than mine!
Enjoy chapter 13 and please please please leave me your feedback!
XXX
DEVILS BACKBONE THE CIVIL WARS
"One of you needs to go with Daddy, Mione can't floo with both of you!", Ginny explained to James and Albus.
"I go with Daddy then. Albus won't understand", James offered, trying to show how grown up he was and taking Harry's hand.
"You're such a good older brother", Hermione said to him, speaking very serious, as if he was an adult.
James was at an age, where he continuously wanted to show, how well he could do things. He loved being praised and he looked very pleased with himself now.
"Mummy and Lily go first and then Minnie and Albus", the boy instructed them. "Me and Daddy last, because Albus and Lily will be sad if everyone is gone."
"Good idea, little man", Harry said.
Ginny stepped into their fireplace and said: "The Burrow!", closely followed by Hermione and Albus.
When they landed in the Weasley's living room Albus was all giggles. "Foo! Foo!"
"Oh, look at my darling boy!", Molly Weasley exclaimed and hurried towards Hermione to take Albus of her. She cuddled him and Hermione smiled at the sight. Mrs Weasley was a living angel. Andromeda Tonks was in the room too and gave Hermione a warm smile.
"Hermione, dear", Molly said with the toddler on her arm. "How are you, I haven't seen you in ages. Merlin's beard, you're so thin. Go and help yourself to some pastries in the kitchen."
"Thank you, Molly."
Hermione went across the living room to join the group of people in the kitchen.
Arthur Weasley was holding Lily, whilst Ginny was chatting with Bill and Fleur, who held their youngest son Louis on her arm. Percy and Audrey were there too.
"Ah, 'ello 'ermione!", Fleur greeted her. "Sat meens little Albus is 'eere!", she said to Louis, who was the same age as Harry's second son. She went over to join Molly and the other little boy in the living room.
"Hello, Hermione!", Arthur Weasley greeted her, but before anybody could say anything else, the back door was flung open and loud bawling and cheering was drowning out every other noise.
"Help! Help!", Bill and Fleur's eldest daughter yelled laughing, and ran around the table in the kitchen to hide. Victoire was an unbelievably pretty child and jumped around like a little fairy.
"Run!" Young Molly and Lucy, Percy's girls, came in and ran upstairs.
"Quick, hide!", an older boy yelled, shooting into the room after them. Teddy Lupin took Victoire's hand and they ran up the stairs out of sight, just as Ron entered the kitchen. His hair had been magically altered to look like a lion's mane and he also roared like one. Grinning at the group of adults, he started chasing after the kids.
"Is James here?", another young girl came running into the kitchen, followed by Penny Haywood and George Weasley.
"Go check in the living room, darling. He's coming with Uncle Harry", Bill said to his daughter Dominique.
"Hello, Hermione!", Penny gave her a quick wave, as there was no room to cross the kitchen for a hug.
Dominique ran into the living room and nearly collided with Harry and Charlie Weasley, who came around the corner chatting about work.
Hermione was already overwhelmed by the amount of people and the noise, but she loved it. There was nothing better than Christmas at the Burrow.
She opened up her little handbag and got out some salads and desserts she and Ginny had prepared in the morning. With more than twenty mouths to feed, everyone brought something along. A tip of her wand and the bowls flew onto the kitchen counter where all the other food was.
It was a happy and loud meal. The kids were all eating in the living room, supervised by Molly and Andromeda and the adults ate in the kitchen. For a few years now they only had presents for the children, as there were so many of them each year. However, nobody could stop Molly Weasley from making her signature jumpers, so every adult was handed a small parcel too, to be opened the next day.
"How are your parents doing?", Arthur asked Hermione. "I heard this French lady is working with them on something?"
"Yes, they're creating products for dental health. You remember my parents are tooth doctors", she explained.
"Yes, yes. Dentists, that's right", he remembered. "Well, I'd love to see some of their muggle products and compare them to the new magical products, if that's possible?", he asked full of hope.
"Certainly!"
Molly's food was amazing, as every year, and there was an abundance of it. Meat, pies, vegetables, mash, pasties, cakes, trifles, biscuits… It was like a magical land of Cockaigne.
After dinner, James asked Hermione if she had 'some magic in her bag'. She followed him into the living room, and everyone was getting extremely excited.
"Well, I am not sure if they want to join us, because they might be celebrating Christmas Eve themselves…", she said to the kids.
But then she flicked her wand and about a dozen little gingerbread men came hopping out of her beaded bag. They were dancing around and each one was singing a different Christmas Carol.
The kids loved it and started running around to catch them. Teddy came over to her and looked excited.
"Will you teach me how to make them dance like this, when I am at Hogwarts next year?", he asked hopefully.
"It is one of the first charms you will learn!", she said to him in feigned seriousness. "And if you're doing well, I'll teach you how to make them sing too!"
He clapped his hands and jumped back to join Victoire on the sofa.
A little later in the evening they were all sitting in the living room and chatting. Ron and Penny were talking to Harry, Ginny, Bill and Fleur about children and Molly and Andromeda were busy occupying the little ones.
Hermione wondered if she'd ever be blessed with a family like this. She was an only child and so were both her parents. She had liked the idea of being part of a huge Family like the Weasley's and she wondered if she could have been talking about children with Ron now, instead of Penny.
It was silly really, she didn't want to be in a relationship with Ron, but she sometimes could feel that she wasn't really part of this family. They were always more than kind to her, and it was never a question whether she'd come for festivities or a Sunday lunch, but technically she wasn't one of them.
She got up and walked around the corner into the kitchen to get herself some more butterbeer.
"They adore you", someone said behind her and she turned around to see Charlie helping himself to some mince pies.
She smiled but didn't say anything.
"I know what you are thinking", he said and leaned onto the table. "Don't."
"What do you mean?", Hermione tried to appear unknowing and smiled at him, but she was a terrible liar.
"The look on your face tells me", he said and pointed a finger at her. "I sometimes feel like it, because I am never here", he explained. "I am always in Romania, it's my first Christmas here in how long? Seven years?" He seemed to calculate in his head. "I feel like a complete outsider sometimes."
Hermione sighed and smiled at him. "Don't be silly, Charlie. They're your family."
"And they're your family too. Don't think anything different, not even once."
"I know", she said and sighed again.
"I know what you feel like. It'll always be like this. But personally, I am so happy with my job and everything, I wouldn't want to sit in a Ministry office somewhere, find a wife, have a family and be off on every wizarding holiday. It's the price we pay for following our dreams."
She smiled at him. He was right.
"And they are not seeing you as an outsider, you make yourself feel like this. They love you, believe me", he said and rubbed her shoulder.
"You're right", she sighed and took a mince pie. "Sorry for being such a buzzkill."
"The buzz is not over yet."
Charlie grinned at her at nodded towards the living room where everyone was cheering loudly suddenly. She smiled at him and they went back to join the rest of the Weasley clan.
Hermione was staying quite late, everyone with children had left and it was only her, Charlie, George, Ron and Penny, and the 'Senior Weasleys' as they were now called mockingly by the whole family.
"I can't possibly eat all of that!", Hermione said to Molly who had given her two massive bowls of food, when Hermione had gotten herself ready to leave.
"Are you a witch or what?", Molly said firmly. "Put a stasis charm onto it!"
"Or use that muggle cooling machine that you have!", Arthur commented.
Hermione laughed. "Alright, alright. Thank you very much, Molly!"
She left the Burrow and apparated to the park close to her house.
As soon as she turned around the corner onto her street and had gotten closer to her house, she could feel it. There was magic in the air, and it wasn't hers.
With a swift movement of her hand, she shrank the two bowls and put them into her handbag. She took a careful look around, but couldn't see anybody, it was too dark. She knew there were some witches and wizards living around here, but that was a few streets away from here.
She pulled out her wand and decided to apparate right onto her doorstep, to be inside her own wards. When she landed, she could feel her wards buzzing behind her. It wasn't threatening, but it also didn't disappear. She turned around and pointed her wand across the road.
"Don't!", a familiar voice said, and Hermione's heart skipped a beat.
She walked down the path in front of her house and onto the street, stopping right in the middle of the road.
"Your wards are ridiculous. I can't even walk past the house on your side of the road", Severus said coolly. "It is easy for any Death Eater to spot your house and -"
He couldn't finish his sentence, because Hermione had crossed the distance between them with a few long strides and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"I am so, so sorry, Severus", she muffled into his coat. He struggled keeping upright, as she had nearly pushed him backwards of the small front garden wall that he had been sitting on. "I can't tell you how sorry I am. I thought you would never talk to me again", she said, still clutching his coat.
"Hermione", Severus tried to interrupt, but she wasn't listening.
"I was so worried that you might have fled over all hills and settled somewhere in India or China, and that I would never see you again. I missed you so much."
"Hermione -"
"I thought I have destroyed everything. I am so sorry, I should have told you, talked to you. I shouldn't have -"
She was stopped by him putting his hand on her mouth. She looked up at him, her brown eyes widened in surprise.
"Will you shut up?", he said callously, but his face was telling a different story.
Hermione looked at him, into his deep, black eyes. She lost herself for a moment, and it took a while before she realized that they stood very closely together, embracing one another. She could feel his heat, hear his steady breath and smell him.
She had never realised that he had a very specific scent, only now that she hadn't smelt it in a while, she noticed that she had been missing it. He smelt of herbs mainly, was it sage? Pine or dittany? She could also smell his skin. His hand was still on her mouth and his face was so close, she thought a stray strand of his hair was tickling her forehead. A pleasant sensation rose up in her, just under her chest and made its way to her groin. She immediately blushed and pulled back.
"I'm sorry", she mumbled, lowering her glance. She couldn't see, how the heat in Severus gaze slowly dwindled, and how he immediately straightened his back in defence.
She looked back at him.
"Why… how are you here?", she asked, and he looked slightly uncomfortable. "How… good Merlin, quick, let's go inside", she said, turning around and beckoning him follow her. She hoped he didn't see how flushed her cheeks were.
They walked upstairs and Hermione went into the kitchen. Severus stood in the doorway and watched her.
"Just sit down in the living room", she nodded past him toward the end of the tiny hallway. "I'll just quickly make us some tea. Put your coat over the bannister and leave your shoes on the staircase. I'm a bit allergic to shoes in my flat. I have carpet everywhere", she bossed him around, to cover up her nervousness.
He did as he was told, and she watched him leave. His tall, dark figure seemed oddly out of place in the poky flat. Once he was out of view, she took a deep breath.
Would you pull yourself together? This is Severus Snape. He's not impressed with you throwing yourself at him. He's probably going to tell you to get over your Gryffindor sentimentalities and use that pea-sized brain of yours.
She walked over into the living room and handed him a cup of tea before sitting down on the other sofa in the room.
"How did you find my house?", she asked him, trying to sound casual.
"Clemency."
She eyes him suspiciously. "She wouldn't have told you."
"She didn't."
She looked at him in shock. "You used Legilimens on her?"
He just returned her glace coolly. "She didn't even notice."
"That is not the point", she said firmly. "It's not right."
"I wanted to speak to you", he said matter-of-factly, but quietly. There was no point trying to argue with him.
She sighed and smiled at him tenderly. "Go ahead."
However, he didn't speak for a while. She knew he was eloquent, and could always find the right words, but she also knew that it was easier for him to be snide and vicious, rather than open and friendly. She gave him all the time he needed.
"I had a conversation with Guillaume", he started. "I told him about my past."
Hermione didn't reply to that and just waited for him to continue.
"He said, he'd been suspecting something like that from the beginning."
He looked at his cup of tea and was silent for a while.
"I have told him about your offer. He said, I can also still work for him remotely, if I want to rebuild my life in England."
Hermione took a breath to express her happiness, but stopped herself, as she knew that he hadn't finished yet.
"If you believe that I can be a free man in England, I think I would like to try that."
The sound of those words from his mouth filled Hermione's hear with indescribable joy.
"Oh, Sev!" She got up and sat down next to him. "I don't just believe it. I know it!"
He didn't look at her, but faced the window, gazing out into the darkness.
"I think, I would also like to try and apply for the potions job at Hogwarts, if that is still an option."
"Of course, it is!", Hermione said. "I mean… it hasn't really been an option yet, but that was what I wanted to get your approval for in the first place", she explained quietly.
He lowered his head and looked at his teacup again. "I didn't mean to scare you or be ungrateful that day."
"I know, I know", she said shaking her head. "Let's forget about it."
He nodded and they sat in silence for a while, both drinking their tea.
"You said Minerva is the current headmistress?", Severus asked.
"Yes", Hermione confirmed.
"Does she know about me?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, I only told my best friends."
Severus stretched and put his cup on the coffee table. Hermione couldn't refrain from eying his backside, but immediately chastised herself inwardly.
"I doubt she'd invite me around for an interview", he said.
"Well", Hermione said, "I did think about this a little bit…"
"Of course, you did", he said, and she thought she saw a smirk on his face.
She explained to him, how they had been looking for a Head of Slytherin for over a decade now.
"The amount of Slytherin students has decreased massively after the war, and although their numbers are slowly rising again, they are still the minority at Hogwarts", she explained. "They are well integrated, Professor Slughorn has been a remarkable Head of House. But there is nobody that seems to be willing to work in a prominent position like that, openly supporting the reformed ministry."
Severus looked questioningly and Hermione started to explain: "Kingsley has actively overrun pro-pureblood laws and rid the ministry of all corrupt activities. He works closely with Minerva and Filius. Hogwarts has remained independent of the ministry, but they do co-operate. Any Slytherin who would be head of house would actively support the reformed society. Many people consider it the same as renouncing the pureblood ways."
"What utter nonsense", Severus said.
"I know", she replied. "It doesn't change the fact, that there is not many Slytherins working for the ministry in general, and nobody suitable has applied at Hogwarts since the war."
"So, you are basically saying, Minerva is desperate. And hopefully desperate enough to hire an ex-Death Eater."
"Stop it, Severus", she said fiercely. "But yes, I think she might be initially only considering you, because she is desperate…"
"Brilliant, I don't need that", he grunted.
"… BUT", she added talking over him, "she will soon realise that you are the perfect person to do the job."
She looked at him hopefully. "As soon as you start teaching again, everyone will be able to see that, Severus. You are an excellent teacher and a proud Slytherin, any doubt will dissolve into nothingness."
She reclined back on the sofa and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "And there will be a probation period. If you decide to prove me wrong and waste your energy on bullying Gryffindors, you'll simply be dismissed after six months."
He looked at her with a scowl. "A probation period?"
"Fair dos. You're the same as every other British wizard."
She noticed the frown disappearing off his face.
"Fine", he finally said. "How will you tell Minerva about your proposition?"
Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "I'll just tell her the truth. There is no need to hide anything."
They sat silently together for a while, until Hermione got up and took their cups. "More tea?"
"I should probably get going", Severus said and got up himself.
"What? Where to?"
"Back to Arraxy."
Hermione shook her head. "It's late. Stay here."
"I don't think that's a good idea", Severus tried to explain but Hermione wouldn't hear it.
"Don't be silly. I insist."
"It's Christmas, you'll be busy with…"
"Yes, it's Christmas!", Hermione repeated. "And I am all by myself. I'd like to spend it with a friend, if you can bear it."
She smiled at him and she could swear she saw a smile tucking on Severus lips, as he sat back down.
She went to get more tea and when she walked back into the living room, they could hear the church bells ring twelve midnight. She sank onto the sofa next to him again.
"Merry Christmas."
He took the cup. "Merry Christmas."
When Hermione came downstairs the next morning, Severus was already in the kitchen. She had told him that she wouldn't be getting up before nine, making sure he had enough time to sort himself out in the morning.
She made them some tea and watched him reading a charms magazine she had subscribed to. They published her articles, and she noticed that he was reading one of them.
"I like your article on the Sonorus charm", he said.
"Thanks."
"Have you ever thought of the connection between anthropology and charms again?", he asked her.
"I have", she said, but didn't elaborate further. Instead she hesitantly said: "I had an idea for today. I wanted to go somewhere."
"I shall be leaving soon", he replied stiffly.
"No. I mean with you."
He raised an eyebrow at her and took a sip of his tea. She smiled timidly at him.
"Trust me? I want to make up for… you know, our little disagreement."
"We said, we'd forget about it."
"I know", she answered immediately. "It's just… well, I had the idea last night, and thought you might like it."
He looked at her without expression. Merlin, how much she hated that look. But he nodded eventually.
"Great, let me pack some food", she cheered.
"I hope we're not going on safari."
She started to like his typical sneer and just laughed. Flicking her wand once, her bag started packing itself with some food.
"Transform that coat into something warmer", she ordered, pointing at it on the bannister, as she ran upstairs to grab her own coat.
They left the house and walked towards the little park that Hermione used to apparate. As she disappeared between the trees, Severus got a little bit confused but found her soon again between the bushes.
"So, we are indeed going on safari."
She laughed quietly and stretched her hand out to him, which made him look at her sceptically.
"We can't disapprate in the middle of the street, can we? Come on."
His face was icy, and Hermione knew he was feeling insecure, but she appreciated that he took her hand nonetheless and they vanished with a small plop.
They landed on top of a hill, it was very windy and cold, but with a flick of her wand Hermione created a protective shield and the weather didn't affect them too much anymore. Severus stood next to her, staring into the distance.
She hoped she hadn't been too pushy again, by apparating him here. They stood on top of a hill in the highlands where they had a good view of Hogwarts. It was snowing lightly, and the castle towered majestically in the distance, it's shadow reflecting in the Black Lake.
"I hope you don't mind", she said quietly.
He didn't say anything but shook his head and kept on looking at the castle. He probably needed a moment and she walked a few steps away to a large nearby rock. She transformed it slightly so she could get the food out and place it there. She warmed up the spot, before she walked back up to him.
They stood next to one another for a while, looking at the castle in the distance and enjoying the silence.
"You will be able to come back, I promise you", Hermione said quietly.
To her utter surprise, Severus put an arm around her and pulled her close to his side. He rested his cheek on top of her head and squeezed her arm.
"Don't promise me things, you can't control."
"I will take control if I have to."
He didn't say any more and just continued to hold her.
A while later they ate their breakfast, sitting on the ground next to the transformed rock and started talking about Hermione's anthropological discovery.
"I've been trying to determine how the use of charms influences human behaviour. Obviously, the use of magic creates a separation between wizards and muggles."
"Yes, I remember", he said.
She looked at him surprised.
"We talked about it when we first met", he reminded her.
"Oh, yes", she remembered. "Well, then you remember the dilemma I had with defining the specific role of charms."
He nodded.
"Well, the whole point is, that charms are such a substantial part of magical activity. It is one of the main components of magic. Trying to supress one part of your magical ability is impossible, as magic is a holistic concept. Therefore, I can't do the practical research, but I also don't need to anymore, because it is evident, that charms are an indigenous ability. There is no point trying to separate it from other magical concepts."
"Interesting", he said. "I didn't think, that would be your result."
"Why not?"
"I would have considered you the person to keep on looking for leads and ideas."
"Charms is first and foremost a practical field. Sometimes it is more important to see the bigger picture, eliminate the theories and focus on what is right in front of you."
"I do not yet agree with you", he said. "I shall think about this myself first."
She smiled at him. "I wouldn't expect anything less of you. Let me know if you make a new discovery."
A little bit later they had packed up and stood on a slope, enjoying the view.
"Thank you", Severus said quietly.
Then he looked at her and she could see how much it actually meant. She wasn't sure if she had ever heard him thank anybody for anything, but his face told her told her more than if he had said thank you a thousand times. His eyes were dark and deep, but warm and full of hope. She was sure she had never seen them look like this.
She smiled and took his hand into hers, squeezing it softly, before apparating them both back to London.
They started talking about some of the changes that had happened at Hogwarts; mainly the new staff and the new DADA syllabus, and without thinking about it much, Severus stayed another night.
They morning of Boxing Day found them sitting in the kitchen eating cornflakes. Hermione was reading a charms journal and Severus was skimming through some old issues of the Daily Prophet.
"I can't believe that old bint is still writing her dim-witted excuses of articles", he said, and Hermione immediately knew who he was talking about and laughed quietly, swallowing a mouth full of her breakfast.
"I've considered putting her in a jar again for some time now…", she mused.
"What?", Severus asked confused and his expression changed to worried, when he saw the evil grin appear on Hermione's face.
"I once held her captive in a jar for a whole year", she explained as if it was the most normal thing.
"How on earth…?" Severus didn't understand.
"She's an unregistered Animagus. A disgusting little beetle, fittingly."
"And you held her captive in a jar for a year?", he asked with a scowl on his face.
"Yup", she said casually, returning to her journal knowing full well that it wasn't a casual thing to mention. But she enjoyed his bewilderment.
"You scare me, Miss Granger", he said. "Beating up Slytherins, cursing fellow students, stripping wizards of their magic, holding witches captive…"
"These are completely unrelated things", she argued until she noticed that he was making fun of her.
"Hang on", she said. "How do you know about me punching Draco?"
"He tried to rat you out by coming to me and telling me you tried to hex him. One of his moron bodyguards thought it was a clever thing to mention that he's been beaten up by you."
Hermione laughed. "I keep on reminding Draco of that myself every time I see him."
"Are you in contact?", Severus asked surprised.
Hermione shook her head. "Not really. He is a healer now at St Mungo's. When I did my first master project on memory charms, I occasionally did some field work there whilst Draco was training. We had lunch together a couple of times. We're on good terms, but not friends."
"Hm." He just nodded once.
"Which exact instance of cursing fellow students were you talking about?", she wanted to know.
"You did it multiple times?", he asked pretending to be shocked.
"Depends on what you are talking about. I won't spill all my secrets…"
"I could have brewed a potion that would have vanished the big SNEAK on Miss Edgecomb's face", he said. "But it was a marvellous piece of art. I nearly felt like awarding you a house point or two."
Hermione laughed. "Blimey, Professor. I didn't think you'd gloat that much over it. Please let me know what potion would have cured her and I shall improve my charm work."
A twitch of his lips nearly betrayed his stoic demeanour and she got up to put her bowl in the sink.
"I usually see the Potter's on Boxing Day. I have presents for the kids", she told him, hoping he wouldn't mind being left alone for a while.
"They have children?", he asked surprised.
"Three."
He raised his brows in surprise. "Well, I should get back to Arraxy anyway."
It didn't even cross her mind that he could simply go home instead of waiting here until she was back.
"Oh", she exclaimed. "Will you come back?"
He looked at her, his face blank. "If you want me to."
"Yes!", Hermione replied immediately. "I mean… yes. I actually have this new theory that I wanted to try out. I had hoped you could help me…"
She left the kitchen and beckoned him to follow her. She went into her little office, where Severus also had slept the last two nights and to her surprise the room smelt of him. She immediately blushed and tried to hide it by rummaging through some of the paper stacks on her desk.
"I wanted to try out a manifold charm on a cauldron. Basically, I've been thinking…", she pulled out a notebook from under a folder, "… ah here it is. Now, I've been thinking, if one magically combines pewter, copper and brass into one cauldron…"
"The magical trace would have a fatal impact on the potion", he replied.
"Well, I was hoping to experiment with untraceable magic."
He looked at her with a scowl.
"You? The charms you have on this building can be felt from London Tower. There's nothing untraceable there."
"Don't be such a…", she started but didn't have the courage to call him any name. "You only notice them, because you know about them."
He snorted inelegantly and she gave him a stern look. He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms.
"I shall be returning tomorrow. You are going to provide the cauldrons. I will not waste any of mine to be subject of your silly wand waving experiments."
That seemed to satisfy her, as she smiled at him when saying: "I will check the attic at Grimmauld Place for old cauldrons. Harry won't mind."
He looked querulous at her proposition. "Grimmauld Place? They're going to be soaked in black magic!"
She walked past him back into the kitchen and looked at him over her shoulder, saying cheerfully: "Well, how convenient you decided to help me. That is your area of expertise after all, isn't it?"