Much thanks to my editor, Gwen McCormick, and to my dear friend DUJ. All mistakes are mine. Obviously, I am not JKR and am making nothing from this.
The Course of True Love
Chapter 7
August 1998
"Again, I'd like to thank each of you for staying throughout the summer to help with the rebuilding of the school," Headmaster Albus Dumbledore told his staff. "I know it has been an extreme burden on you all, and I promise I'll do whatever I can to make things easier for you." He sighed. "Minerva?"
The Deputy Headmistress opened a roll of parchment and spread it out. "Just to catch everyone up, I'd like to cover a few things. Irma, is the library ready?"
Irma Pince nodded, and the light caught the many new strands of grey in her hair. "As ready as it can be. Of course, we lost several irreplaceable volumes, but thanks to Aurora, Minister Kingsley has agreed to grant Hogwarts first choice of all books confiscated from homes of convicted war criminals."
Poppy Pomfrey spoke up. "And you needn't worry! Irma and I will personally go through each and every book to make sure it's suitable for the students."
"Any that are not suitable," Irma added, "will either be returned to the Ministry or placed under heavy wards in a new restricted section for those eighteen and older."
"An excellent idea, ladies," Dumbledore said. "And, Aurora, I'd like to add a thank you for acting as our go-between with the Ministry."
"Oh, it was no hardship at all, Headmaster," Aurora Sinistra smiled, and her dark eyes sparkled. "Kingsley's even agreed to grant the school any other confiscated items that we might need or could use. Anything left over will be sold at auction."
"And will those proceeds be donated to the school, too?" Horace Slughorn asked.
"No, the proceeds will be earmarked as additional victim's relief funds," she explained. "Kingsley is passionate about helping victims."
"From what I've heard," Septima Vector muttered to Severus, "Kingsley is just plain passionate."
Snape rolled his eyes. "Another conquest?" he quietly teased Septima.
"Whatever happened to Slytherin unity?" Aurora asked in mock outrage.
Severus smiled to himself, knowing that she now understood his brand of humor. It is good to have friends, to know what it is to be accepted. He blinked, returning her playful tone. "I felt masculine unity more prudent in this case." He turned to Filius and asked, "Do you think we should warn Shacklebolt?"
"Severus Snape!" Aurora gasped and laughed aloud. "If you can't recognize true love when you see it, you should stick with your potions!"
He dipped his head in a mock bow. "A thousand pardons," he intoned.
"I heartily wish he would stick to his potions," Horace Slughorn complained. "Albus, when you hired me it was for just one year. One year, mind! And here I am back again for the third straight year! I tell you, this is the last, the absolute last!"
"Horace," Dumbledore said soothingly, "I know, and I am very sorry. I promise you, here and now before everyone that this is the last year. I need Severus in the Defense position just once more to prove the curse is gone."
"Hmph!" Slughorn muttered. "Severus will have to take over Head of Slytherin House, though. On that, I won't budge!"
"I will gladly take Head of House," Snape replied.
"Severus," Aurora said hesitantly, "if you don't mind, I'd like to be move involved with the little snakes. They will need all of us this year." She glanced towards Slughorn, including him. "We need to set proper role models for them, show them what friendship really looks like."
"I would appreciate that," Snape said. He quickly glanced around the table. "There is a tremendous difference between having true friends and mere acquaintances."
A contented quiet settled in the room. Everyone knew just how much effort it had taken Snape to admit that. For years, he had spurned their collective overtures of friendship, but he was, at long last, beginning to mellow.
"Right you are, Severus," Filius agreed. "And we need to show all of our students that friendships can cross House lines as well." Everyone at the staff table chimed in with words of agreement.
"I know you're all very busy," Minerva said quickly, "but I need someone to help our new Muggle Studies teacher. He will be arriving later this afternoon."
Rolanda rolled her eyes. "Not another Ministry idiot, I hope," she muttered.
"No, he's an American," Minerva explained. "And thank you, Rolanda, for volunteering to mentor the fellow." She looked at the flying instructor over the tops of her square glasses. "Anything else?"
"I'll be taking Neville Longbottom as an apprentice this year," Pomona told them. "I spoke with him and his grandmother at the end of May. He'll be arriving next week."
"Wonderful," Albus agreed. "Is there anything else?"
Minerva grinned broadly. "Miss Granger," she said succinctly. "Her N.E.W.T. scores have just returned, and, in case you haven't seen them-" She turned to face Severus, thrusting out her chin at him and dropping a roll of parchment on the table. "Let me just say that her N.E.W.T. scores are the highest since yours!" Minerva finished triumphantly. "I believe you owe me ten galleons."
Snape snorted and pulled out ten bright, gold coins and lay them on the table in front of her.
"Thank you," she cackled as she collected the coins. "I'd plan to offer her an apprenticeship," Minerva said.
"A splendid idea!" Dumbledore agreed. "Well, if that's everything," he added, "the meeting is over. School begins soon, and I know you all have a thousand things to do to prepare."
"Severus," Minerva called out, "before you go, could I ask a favor?"
He turned to face McGonagall. "What?" he asked suspiciously.
"I've overlapping appointments this afternoon," she told him. "The new Muggle studies professor, Dr. Gubear, is arriving early today. I need to meet him in Diagon Alley, but I'm supposed to meet Miss Granger in Hogsmeade at the same time."
"Why don't you just owl her scores to her," he suggested, "along with a personal letter offering her an apprenticeship? Then you would still be able to meet the American."
"Because I already told her that I would meet her at the Three Broomsticks." She picked up the scores and held out a scroll. "If you would deliver this to her and ask her to return with you to Hogwarts, then I could keep my appointments with-"
"I am neither an owl nor your personal errand boy," he responded coldly.
"Severus Snape! I never-"
"But," he interrupted her, a tiny grin on his face, "as I will be picking up some things for Horace in Hogsmeade, I will."
The older witch blinked twice before smiling. "Oh, you!" She chuckled.
"Ron! Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. Waving her hand frantically, she beckoned them to join her at the table.
"Hi, 'mione," Ron replied with a grin. He pressed a kiss to her cheek as Harry plopped down opposite them.
"Uh, where's Ginny?" Harry asked. He pushed his glasses back up on his nose and looked around.
"She just went to the loo, and then she was going to get us some drinks," Hermione said. "Oh, there she is!"
Ginny set four butterbeers before them and settled in next to Harry. "Who'd have thought the Three Broomsticks would be so blasted busy on a Tuesday?" she complained before giving Harry a quick peck on the lips. "So, are you guys ready to find out your N.E.W.T. scores? Hermione has been practically vibrating with excitement," she leaned against Harry and smiled.
"Um, about that," Harry began. He pushed his glasses back up. "Hermione, could you-"
"No," she told him bluntly. "It was your decision, yours and Ron's." She shook her head decisively.
"What's going on?" Ginny demanded, thumping her bottle on the table.
Ron squared his shoulders and stated frankly, "Me and Harry skipped them. We started Auror training back in May, and-"
"What?" Ginny interrupted him. "You didn't take your N.E.W.T.'s? Mum's going to throw a fit!"
Snorting angrily, Ron shifted in his seat. "Look, Ginny, Harry and me, we're grown men and can make our own decisions," he replied. "Right, Harry?"
Ginny took a sip of butterbeer and shrugged. "Well, it's your life, or what'll be left of it when mum-"
"Ginny," Harry added gently, "Minister Kingsley said we more than earned a N.E.W.T. in Defense this past year, and he offered us a starting position with the Aurors." He turned to gaze into her eyes. "Ron and I, well, we've seen too much, done too much. We aren't schoolboys anymore."
Ron twisted on the bench and draped an arm around Hermione's shoulder, an enormous grin on his face. "And on a happier note, now that 'mione has finished her schooling, I thought we could get married today. Pop off down to Gretna Green. What do you say?"
"Ron," Hermione gasped slightly, "I -"
"And there's plenty of room at Grimmauld Place," he added excitedly. "We can stay there until we can find a place of our own. You don't mind, do you, Harry?" He grinned when Harry shook his head. "Just think! Maybe by this time next year we'll have a little one." He squeezed her shoulder.
"Wait, Ron," Hermione called out, raising her voice. "We can't get married now."
"Huh?" A look of hurt confusion appeared on Ron's face. "Why not?"
"Maybe because she wants a real wedding," Ginny snapped. "Not just to 'pop off' somewhere! And I don't blame her!"
"Oh, well, it that's all, then we can have a wedding," he agreed magnanimously. "How long's it take to plan one? A week or so?" He took a long pull on his bottle.
"That's not the reason, Ron," Hermione said, "although Ginny is right. I do want a wedding, but just not now."
Ron frowned. "Why not?" He pulled his arm back, resting it on the table, and curled his fist around his drink.
A line of anger began to form between her eyebrows. "You know my education is important to me, Ron," she returned. "If I've done well, I plan to continue it."
"And? Why can't you continue your education and marry me at the same time?" he demanded.
"Maybe because you're trying to make all her decisions for her!" Ginny exclaimed. "If Harry tried to run my life for me, I'd hex him three ways to Sunday!"
"Thanks, Ginny," Hermione said. "Ron, earning my degree, well, I'll need to really concentrate on it, and I wouldn't be able to put my best effort into making a marriage work and getting a degree."
"Oh," Ron said, "but once you're done with university –"
"And that's another thing," Hermione added quickly. "University is going to be really expensive, so I got job-"
"You don't have to worry about that, Hermione," Harry said softly. He leaned forward. "You know I'll be more than happy to –"
"Absolutely not," Ron said, thumping his bottle on the table. "You're my mate and all, Harry, but I'm not gonna sit back while another man supports my wife."
Hermione glared at Ron for a moment. "I appreciate the offer, Harry, really, I do, but I'm an adult." She shook her head, trying to find the words to explain. "Look, the two of you decided that you were adult enough to quit school and join the Aurors. Well, then understand that I'm adult enough to find my own way, too."
"I guess that makes sense," Harry said.
Ron scowled. "Yeah, Hermione," he told her, "but I'm the man in our relationship. It's my job to support us."
"But I don't need you do to that," she insisted. Then, to pacify him, she added, "At least not now, all right?"
"Yeah, well," Ron said, "I just want us to be together. I want to do what's right."
"And we will be," she assured him.
"I can support us both, you know," he insisted, "just in case you don't score as good as -"
Hermione turned a horrified expression on her fiancé.
"Can you seriously doubt that Miss Granger has made less than stellar scores?" a deep voice questioned.
"Professor," Harry said politely. He stood, holding out a hand. "How are you, sir?"
Severus' eyes met the younger man's and studied them. Finding no spiteful intent, he slowly took the outreached hand. "I am well," he replied.
Harry smiled and nodded. "I'm glad of that, sir," he answered. It seemed Snape had accepted his overture of peace. With a slight squeeze, Harry released the older wizard's hand.
"Miss Weasley, Mr. Weasley," Snape acknowledged the others quietly. He nodded to them before addressing the fourth member of their group. "Miss Granger," he said, reaching into his coat pocket, "I believe these are yours." He held out a beribboned scroll.
Quickly, she took it from him with a muttered, "Yes, thank you." Her hands were shaking as she untied the ribbons and unfurled the parchment." A smile bloomed on her face as she carefully read through the contents. "Six O's and one E," she sighed and beamed at them.
"Let us see!" Ginny took the scroll and showed it to the young men. "Oh, Hermione!" Ginny squealed. "Congratulations!"
"We're so proud of you!" Harry exclaimed.
"Yeah, real proud," Ron echoed.
"You should be proud," Snape said to Ron. "Her scores are the best Hogwarts has seen in twenty years. In fact, I lost ten galleons on her scores."
Hermione frowned up at him. "You bet on the outcome of my scores?"
He gave her a sly smile and nodded. "I did. Minerva wagered me that you would either match or exceed my own scores, which you did."
"Well, then, I'm glad you lost," she retorted with delight.
He chuckled. "Have you any thoughts for your post-Hogwarts education?" Severus asked.
"Well," she said, "we were just talking about it, but-"
"It's really expensive," Ron put in, "and besides, we'll be getting married soon."
"I understand," Snape responded. "University, although the second best option for further education, is expensive."
"Second best?" Ginny asked. "What's better than a University degree?"
"An apprenticeship," Snape replied. "But it is only for someone who knows exactly what course of study he or she wishes to pursue."
"That's what you did, wasn't it, Professor?" Harry asked.
"It was," Snape answered, "I found myself in a similar state of insolvency when I graduated; however, I was lucky enough to find a position as an apprentice."
"If only! That would be wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.
Severus smiled again. "Then you, too, are in luck. Minerva would like to speak with you about just such a position. If you're free?"
Hermione jumped up. "Now?" Frantically, she tried to smooth the wrinkles from her blouse and jeans.
"Yes," he told her, "if you're interested in the position."
"If I'm interested?" she echoed. "Listen, guys, do you mind? I mean, this is-"
"A fantastic opportunity for you," Ginny finished her sentence. "Go on, Hermione. We'll catch up with you later tonight."
Hermione bit her lip as she faced her fiancé. "Ron?" she asked slowly.
"If it's what you really want," he told her, his eyes trained on hers. His voice held the tiniest edge of sullenness. "Just be back at Grimmauld Place by 7:00. Harry and I are making spaghetti."
"Go ahead, Hermione," Harry told her with a smile. "We'll see you tonight."
"I'll see you there and tell you all about it!" she called back over her shoulder as she followed Snape out of the door.