Chapter 17

(July 31, 1995)

Severus pulled away just as fast as he had kissed her. His lips wet with their combined saliva, eyes no longer fully dark as he stared down at her lips. Her head became her own as they both calmed down.

She hesitated somewhat before asking. "Why did you do it?"

He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. "I don't know. I think it was the reaction to the locket. It played on my more bias's needs. I was thinking of doing that but not so...I don't think I'm supposed to touch it. If some part of his soul is really inside there than I don't think I can touch it anytime soon. It felt like he was present and casting the cruciatus curse directly onto my skin as well as giving me a push towards..."

Hermione frowned. "That's..."

He gave an inclination, his own way of saying he understood, and he stood up. She moved back slightly but even then she was a bit too close. Not that he seemed to mind at the moment. She would have spoken but a slight noise from outside the door made her stop. This wasn't the place to speak of such matters. She slipped the necklace into her purse instead. She would have to find a way to destroy it soon or at least place it in a safe place. Severus handed her a letter, his fingers touching hers for a few seconds longer than necessary.

It made her want to smile.

"It's from Zephrine. They were able to leave earlier than the others. Only Adrian and Marcus stayed but they will be able to meet you in Diagon Alley if you can slip away. Zephrine and Dimitry will be using polyjuice potion to meet you at Rosa Lee Tea Shop. I won't see you again unless something else happens." he said, his gaze on the door.

"May I call you by your first name?" Hermione questioned.

Severus turned towards her. He scrutinized her face slowly, eyes darkening but giving nothing away except for...

He inclined his head after a few seconds and walked out of the room. She really smiled than. She looked up when the door opened once again.

Sirius stood there, his head tilted to the side like a dog. She bit back a smile as she walked towards him.

"Are you ready to talk to me?" she asked and pushed him slightly out so she could close the door to the room. Once in the hallway, she motioned for him to follow her. He did so as he took a deep breath.

He had recovered...fast...almost a little too quickly. Probably because of Remus.

"He was Lily Potter's friend. He was also a boy that James, Remus, Peter and I bullied," he said quietly, not looking at her as they stopped by the stairs. She paused at the top of the stairs; which made him halt a few steps down and glanced up at her.

So, he was around the same age as Severus. She walked down a few steps until she was face to face with him. His eyes seem to widen the closer she leaned in. She stopped so that only a few inches remained.

"Hermione?"

Not listening to him, she examined his face, trying to answer a question. He was handsome. Severus wasn't. She wasn't blind, she knew what others saw when they looked at Severus. She also knew what woman thought of Sirius. One had dark looks followed by a handsome face. The other had a demeanor that spoke volumes followed in an abrupt manner. There a lot more she needed to find out about Severus. It filled her with warmth to even think about him.

She finally focused on Sirius, who had repeated her name again. She grew angry at what he had previously said. But knew that Severus had probably given as good as he got. Both sides were in the wrong. Hermione wanted to give Sirius something to think about while she was away.

"And yet, Sirius, his closer to getting a woman than you are. It's always the quiet ones you need to watch out for."

Sirius scowled, "What?"

She smirked and headed downstairs. What a prat. She chuckled and stopped by the room she shared with the guys when Fred and George apparated in front of her.

She raised an eyebrow. To be carefree like this other buggers would be a dream come true. She tucked the letter further into her pocket as Fred began speaking about something he had invented. Her mind straying to Severus every second that went by.

.0o0.

Hermione waved away the boys as she headed to meet her parents. The boys protested half-heartedly but she knew they were dying to go pick out Ron's new broom. It was something they had been talking about on the way here.

The broom was a gift that Ron had asked for since he had gotten the prefect badge along with Hermione. Harry had seemed a bit angry about it.

Dumbledore really was driving a blood-red stain on their bond. Something that had made her a bit angry too. It shouldn't have though since it should have been a good thing on her part but she didn't like to see him like that.

Walking down the street as she waved one last time, she slipped between two buildings and ran headfirst into a familiar chest. The familiar and expensive cologne coming from it making her sag in relief and happiness.

It was Adrian's chest.

Tears sprang up as she realized he was really here. She refused to cry though. She would never live it down if she did. He seemed to realize it too and gave a gruff laugh. She punched him in the gut as she pulled away to take a better look at his face. It didn't look different but then again magic could hide many things. Like her appearance. He pulled the tip of her braid as he scurried her face.

"I see you kept the hair. But you look younger, which is a relief. I can now say I am older than you." Adrian said, eyes mysteriously wet too.

She smiled up at him and would have spoken except for the fact that her eyes strayed to Marcus. She pulled completely away from Adrian and ran over to him. He opened his arms and hugged her hard. She breathed in his clean scent, glad he seemed okay. She pulled back slightly and ruffled his hair. He glowered at her in his own way so she kissed him on the cheek. He blushed beet red, ears coloring as well, while Adrian made a rude sound from behind.

"Why does he get one and I don't?"

Hermione laughed as Marcus fixed his gaze on his best friend.

"I'm special. Your not. That's why."

They continued on like that as she watched them. A soft smile on her face. How would she be able to stay away from them till Winter Break, she didn't know. They seem to know what she was thinking and opened their private link with her. She hadn't realized how alone she had felt in her head until that moment. Occluding only made her forget that.

Adrian took her arm and led her into a building that looked empty. Marcus trailed behind them, closing the door behind them. She didn't ask how they knew it would be empty and sat down on a wooden chair in front of the fireplace. Adrian scooted his next to her while Marcus did the same.

Marcus paused and flicked his wand at the fireplace, turning it on. Hermione pulled her legs up onto the chair and began to tell them about the locket. How she got it and the interaction between Severus and Sirius.

Marcus cleared his throat and asked, "Since when have you called Snape by his first name. The only other person aside from Dimitry that we heard call him by his name was Dumbledore."

Hermione's face grew warm, something Adrian zeroed in on.

"Now that I remember; father did say something about Snape and somebody else. Mum wouldn't tell me what but I did catch a snippet or two." Adrian said, his gaze fixed on her. She avoided their stares but did tell them of what had happened between them. She finished with her inspection of Sirius which both raised eyebrows at. Adrian gave her a strange look as he gave his thoughts on it.

"Why Severus? I expected you to end up with either Potter or Weasley. Everybody in school thinks the same. Or even Krum." Adrian said as Marcus agreed with him.

Hermione smiled, "I think I would have if I hadn't done any of this. But now I have seen and done things that they wouldn't be able to understand much less do. I'm almost done gaining all the knowledge I need in order to train Harry."

"As for Severus. It just happened. Even before I left for two years. I tried not thinking about him. But I just fooled myself. In the end, it's him I want. At first, I thought it was because he was older and wiser. But that wasn't it. His looks play no part in it either so I got curious and used Sirius. I compared them but they are too different. It's not like I can compare him to Dimitry since I can't see him that way. I just do and I'm trying to understand why. But I'm coming to see that it doesn't need an explanation."

Adrian had grown solemn as she spoke and avoided Marcus gaze. She paused as she took that in. She had suspected that something was going on between them but she never wanted to ask. They would tell her when they wanted to. She would never judge them. She loved them both equally.

After a few more words, she took out the wrapped locket. Neither touched it per warning of what had happened with Severus when he had touched it. But they agreed that it was definitely a Horcruxes.

"It doesn't affect you? Like when you hold it?" Adrian asked her, face grim as he watched her take it out of the cloth she had ended up wrapping it in.

Marcus leaned forward to stare closely at it as her fingers picked it up. She wrapped the chain around her fist and picked it up higher so she could see the locket up close.

"It doesn't, which is strange since when Sirus picked it up he began showing signs of aggression. I even asked Remus Lupin to pick it up and he partially shifted after a few minutes. It took him a few hours to recover from that but I didn't ask him to pick it up again. I thought it was because I'm muggleborn but neither man had agreed."

Adrian gave her a narrowed eye look and would have reached for it but a knock at the door halted him. He suddenly smiled, "They couldn't wait. They just had to interrupt our time."

Confused, she watched him open the door with a twist of his hand. She didn't have to wait long before she saw Zephrine walk in. No polyjuice potion in sight. Both women rushed towards each. Hermione smile became wide, almost hurting the corners of her mouth. She hadn't realized how much she had yearned to see them. Zephrine's familiar scent wafted through her, making her miss her real mother.

Mothers just had this scent and comforting presence.

The woman in her arms gave a breathy laugh and Hermione realized she was holding her a bit too tightly. Hermione leaned back slightly to let her breath and both of Zephrine's hands cupped her face gently.

"How have you been Hermione?" Zephrine asked, her pale eyes staring deeply into hers.

Hermione smiled, "I've been okay. Nothing to worry you about. But there is something that happened with a certain Potions Master." she replied privately. Zephrine nodded her understanding. There were some stuff men would just never understand.

Dimitry nudged his wife over, startling a laugh out of her. Hermione huffed at him but he did lean down and give her a hug. She inhaled his woody scent and pinched his back when he smirked over at Adrian. Both of the men had an ongoing thing she wasn't allowed to know about.

Adrian grabbed more chairs and set them so they all surrounded the fireplace. She sat between both adults and waited until everybody was seated to tell them everything that had happened with Kreacher, Regulus Black, and the Locket. The moment she showed it to Dimitry, he seemed to freeze in place. The others turned to stare at him in question. He would have reached for it but Hermione moved it away quickly, a scowl on her face.

"You can't touch it, Dimitry." She said. He nodded his understanding while Zephrine just shook her head. He cleared his throat and motioned with his hand towards the locket. "That is Salazar Slytherin's Locket. It's the Gaunt's heirloom. Which rightfully belongs to Riddle. He took it from Madam Smith years ago. Along with the Hufflepuff Cup. It is something only Malfoy, Severus, Lestrange and I know about. My father had actually been friends with Madam Smith since both loved buying and collecting magical artifacts amongst other things. He heard that when she had been murdered by her elf Hokey that only two things had been missing."

Dimitry stood and came close to it, his eyes never leaving it. "I thought he still had them. I know that he gave the Hufflepuff Cup to Bellatrix; only because I overheard her speaking with Narcissa Malfoy about the privilege of holding something for the Dark Lord. She hid it in her family vault. But not the Blacks. I think it was in the Lestranges vault."

Hermione grabbed the locket and touched the surface of it. The S line gleamed as the fire touched it. So, it had once belonged to Salazar Slytherin. Riddle had made it into a Horcrux. She thought of the Cup and figured it would be a one too. But to be able to split one's soul twice?

She needed more information. She'd talk to the portraits again. The locket grew colder the longer she held it. She noticed that when she held it in her left hand it became quiet, even with three marked Death Eaters. She switched hands and the whispering slowly filled her head.

But the Cup? She was really curious about that. She would have to ask Severus later about that.

Dimitry threw her a questioning glance as he sat back down. She told him about the shifting of the necklace to one hand than to the other. The difference did seem to throw him off as well. "I don't know why that would happen. Do you know what kind of snake bit you? It might have been a dark creature like Nagini."

Hermione shook her head, "I passed out before I could figure it out. Gahiji had only said that the Sphinx had run off with the snake in its mouth. They tried to get most of the venom out but it was impossible since it seemed to attach itself to my blood. It might be confusing the Horcrux or something along those lines."

Dimitry leaned back in his chair, robes falling open, catching Zephrine's attention. Hermione smiled, she loved watching them. They did truly love each other. Dimitry smirked but otherwise didn't comment on it. Adrian lifted one hand to her hair and began playing with it as he asked what was on everybody's mind at the moment.

"How do we destroy it? We can't keep letting her carry it around. Eventually, somebody will find it. We can't draw attention to ourselves just yet."

Hermione set her purse on the floor and pulled out a small piece of parchment paper with a list of things she had researched while in Sirius's house. His library had been full of dark books, which had been very detailed about dark creatures, dark magic and so on.

"I created a list of things that might work but some will be difficult to come by," she said, as she unfolded the parchment paper. "Number one being the Basilisk Venom. Harry killed one in our first year. The snake actually petrified me for a good part of the year so I wasn't there when he encountered it. But there was something about what he said that makes me curious. He said that a fang had been impaled in his arm; which he then used to stab Riddle's Diary. Harry said that that the diary had a mind of its own and it controlled Ginny. It had also given Harry a vision of Hagrid and Myrtle."

Hermione stared at Dimitry as she continued, "He stabbed the Diary with it and a smoke-like substance rushed out of it. It too had whispered Harry's worst fears and greatest desires. Just like the locket. Which makes me think that the diary had been a Horcrux. If the fang did destroy it then that means the venom was powerful enough to destroy it. The problem is getting a fang."

Zephrine had recoiled when she had mentioned the Basilisk. She spoke now in muted horror. "You were petrified? Why did you still attend Hogwarts? Did your parents not know? Dumbledore allowed that?"

Of course, she would ask about that. That's why Hermione was coming to love her and Dimitry. She turned to her, "Dumbledore thought it was better if they didn't know. I wasn't one to question it. But I was a bit afraid to return the next year. Every year something always happened and half of the time it's something horrible. I can only guess that this year won't be any different."

Marcus spoke up, he had kept his silence the whole time but now his deep voice filled the room. "Dimitry, tell her what the Ministry is going to do to them this year."

Dimitry stilled for several seconds before settling his gaze on her. "It seems like the Ministry has decided to interfere in Hogwarts matters. They have removed Dumbledore from his position as Chief Warlock. Cornelius is actually afraid of him, he even created a new post in the Ministry which made two members of the Wizengamot resign in anger. The posts were created with the Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three which is basically for the post as Hogwarts High Inquisitor to seize control of Hogwarts from Dumbledore. Cornelius is sending somebody from the Ministry to teach at Hogwarts. But then the underlying plan is to snitch out Dumbledore and those that believe that Riddle is back."

Hermione leaned back in the chair, her hand rubbing her eyes as she went over what he said. She was suddenly tired and it was barely morning. She just wanted to rest. But Dimitry wasn't done talking so she listened. Adrian began to rub her neck, noticing her sudden fatigue.

"The Wizengamot consist of only fifty members. The Sacred Twenty-eight are in it as well as other prominent families. Potter house has a seat too but Potter won't be able to ascend it until he's twenty. For now, it remains empty." Dimitry explained.

"What can you tell me about Dolores Umbridge?" she asked, already knowing that it would be bad if Cornelius Fudge would be assigning her to Hogwarts.

It was Zephrine who spoke up, surprising Hermione. "She was an awful child. She was a year below me and a year ahead of Severus. She was never in any high position so she was always sour and was known in her dislike of muggles and muggleborns. She always trailed behind the aristocratic witches. Which Narcissa Malfoy led. Nobody liked her much either. I usually didn't mind people but even I noticed her hatred for muggles."

So, Severus might know more about her.

Hermione asked Dimitry what he knew about the woman. Dimitry grimaced as he shared what he knew. "I'm pretty sure that Malfoy filled her head with ideas and plans. They did plan something big according to what Malfoy was boasting about. But there late in delivering since it was supposed to happen at the beginning of the month. I don't know if they are planning to follow through but stay put just in case something happens between now and September first."

Dimitry froze as he turned to stare out the window before abruptly standing. "There's Dementors in the sky. Of course, she would use them. She commands a few of them on behalf of the Minister. But how did she know Potter would be here of all days?"

Hermione cursed and grabbed her cloak, which she had slipped off earlier and put it back on as she headed towards the door. The others followed her closely. She opened it and realized that the room had been muffled because scream filled the air and the sounds of apparating filled the streets. She pulled the hood of her cloak up and motioned to Zephrine to come with her. Dimitry protested as well as the two other men. Zephrine pulled out her potion and drank it as Hermione glared at the men.

"We can handle this. You go and search for Death Eaters or stray Dementors. If you catch a glimpse of Umbridge; send word." Hermione said as she made her gaze sharp.

Wizards.

Zephrine smiled at her as she changed appearance. A few seconds more and her mother stood in her place. Hermione swallowed painfully. She really did miss her own parents. Shaking that thought away she grabbed Zephrine's hand and turned to the opening of the street. Many people were screaming as they ran by; only to turn around as a Dementor swooped down. Zephrine pulled out her wand and cast her Patronus, surprising Hermione as she did so.

Hermione watched in awe as a silvery swan appeared, graceful and poised as it awaited Zephrine's order.

"Defend those that are being attacked, don't let any of them attack students," Zephrine said, her hand holding Hermione's loosely as she commanded her patronus.

They watched as it swirled once around them before taking off into the crowd. Hermione turned back onto the street, pulling Zeph along. She headed straight for Florean Fortescue's; where she had been told to meet up once she had gone to meet her parents.

They passed many people running in panic or even calling for their own children. It was complete and total chaos. Hermione cursed when she saw a small child with a wand box. She looked about eleven or twelve but was a bit on the smaller side with hair in a high ponytail and a lost look on her face, tears trailing down her pale cheeks.

She swooped down, letting go of Zephrine and pulled the girl into her arms. She shushed her when she began to cry louder.

"Quiet, nothing is going to happen to you,"

Hermione looked around and saw Harry being rounded up by Arthur into the ice cream parlor with the others.

As long as he stayed inside he would be safe.

She glanced around and saw a dementor heading straight for the parlor. For Harry, who had turned around, gaze searching the disappearing crowd frantically.

For who? Merlin knew.

Hermione felt Zephrine pull her arm and ask for the child so Hermione could get to Harry faster. The child protested, her arms circling her neck tighter. Hermione winced at the tight grip and smoothly pulled her fake wand out and flicked it.

"Expecto Patronum."

A large silvery Abraxan flowed out, his mane thick and flowy. It didn't even pause to look at her before it ran straight for the dementor.

Zephrine gasped, "An Abraxan! Hermione, why didn't you say something?"

Hermione slipped her wand away and crouched next to a stall that was abandoned, the trinkets that had been on it now laying on the floor. The child whimpered when a woman screamed in the distance. She patted her back and answered Zephrine.

"It's not something to brag about exactly. I don't control it. It does what it wants, almost like it's a being of its own. I'll explain later. For now, try and watch out for Dolores. For some reason, I fell like she would be present to witness her own plan work. Malfoy must be around as well with other Death Eaters."

A scream ripped through the air, making the hairs on her arm stand on end. Hermione turned her head to see why and almost rushed towards the woman.

It was Fleur Delacour, who stood in the middle of the street with several bags at her feet. Fleur was shaking her head as she stared around widely but kept zeroing in on the man in front of her She was being cornered by a Death Eater.

Shite. Temper festering, Hermione forcefully pulled the child from her neck and passed her to Zephrine. The child's large eyes welled with more tears but Hermione only smiled at her, "It's okay. She won't let anything happen to you."

Hermione pulled the hood of her cloak tighter and ran out, taking out her fake wand. She rushed past the ice cream parlor and threw a leg locking curse at the Death Eater. It was only for distraction which ended up working. He whirled around and flung a curse at her without even speaking. She flinched as it hit her right side and instantly felt warmth began cascading down her side. Cursing herself for her stupidity, she rushed to the side, away from Fleur who had now been grabbed by Bill.

Hermione moved back and further down the street. Away from Harry. The Death Eater followed; his mask covering all of his face but for his eyes that made her freeze. They were empty.

Like nobody was there.

Hermione jumped back as he once more sent a silent spell. She flicked it away and glanced around to make sure that the street was empty, or at least as empty as it could be before standing up straight and sending out two spells at once. All silent.

Fumos in case her hood fell back, to hide her identity and Everte Statum. The Death Eater flew back and hit the side of the building behind him. Hermione grabbed her side, hissing as the movement irritated the wound. She walked forward, the smoke parting for her as she advanced onto the prone figure in front of her. He hadn't even seemed surprised at the move.

He moved ever so slightly...

Hermione lifted her wand again, "Deprimo Skullus."

He flinched and crawled forward on his hands and knees. He finally made a sound as she swirled her wand once more, making the pressure feel twice as bad. Hermione crouched down to him and pulled his mask off.

Theodore Nott Snr.

She made sure the smoke curled around her, making it hard for him to see her. He gasped as she touched her wand to his cheek. "What were you sent to do? Harry Potter? Dementors?"

Hermione cocked her head as she saw somebody else approach them. She knew who it was before he even spoke inside her head. "Knock him out. The Aurors are down the street. They will deal with him. He was sent to be caught. Let's go."

She nodded once and hit Nott on the side of the neck. He instantly slumped to the floor and she stood up, only to stumble as her wound pulled, causing her to gasp in pain. Severus appeared at her side an instant later and gently tucked her into his side. He didn't give her a chance to say anything before he apparated them out of the street. Seconds later, they landed on the outskirts of a lake. The tall grass hid them from view as they pulled apart.

Severus stared down at her. "I'll heal it."

Hermione nodded and pulled her shirt up as she bit her lip. The pain was getting worse by the minute. He crouched down in front of her and lifted her shirt the rest of the way. She winced as he did so. She looked down as he used his wand to heal the wound. His hands touched her bare skin, making her think of other things aside from the wound. He finished by vanishing the blood, leaving his hand touching the time-turner and her waist. He stared for a few seconds longer before getting up. "It will leave a scar, but usually magic wounds are always like that. Did you get hurt elsewhere?"

Hermione shook her head, "No, he just got me by surprise since he was doing wandless magic. Did you know about the attack?"

Severus stared down at her with a frown. "No, Malfoy wouldn't say what and since Riddle was planning something on his own with Nott... I was only there to take care of Nott, to cement my loyalty to Dumbledore. Or at least that's how Riddle will see it."

That did make sense. She searched his face carefully, noting the dark circles under his eyes. The lines around his mouth were more pronounced.

Lifting her hand, she touched his face. "Why are you so tired, Severus?"

He had gone still the moment her hand had touched him and now he closed his eyes. "I have been milking Nagini and making Riddle six months worth of potions with it. I also have been going back and forth between Albus and Riddle. Aside from the fact that I'm preparing things for the upcoming year. Has Dimitry told you about Umbridge?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes, I have been told about that woman. I was going to ask you about her later. But right now I need to get back. Want to go back with me?"

Severus shook his head, "I have to get back to him."

After a few more words they parted. She apparated to the room she had met the others in. She pulled her hood back up and stepped out into a now quiet street. She made sure to look both ways before stepping out into the street. Most of the shops were closed, only a handful of people were out and about. She saw a few Auror's but what caught her attention was her parents. For a second she actually believed it was them until she remembered that it couldn't be. They were standing with the Weasley's. But it was Dimitry who spotted her first. Hermione smiled tentatively but his scowl didn't go away.

He rushed towards her, pulling Zephrine along; she was still holding that child Hermione had picked up earlier. Dimitry grabbed her arms and shook her as he searched her face with worried eyes. "Are you okay? Why did you leave?" he asked, his grip becoming tighter. Hermione made herself look pitiful as she motioned with her hand.

"I was pulled with the crowded and was taken all the way to Gringotts. I wasn't sure where to go so I hid inside one of the stores. I snuck out when it got quiet." Hermione said, making herself sound scared. Dimitry's amusement could be felt with the blood bond. Which was making it hard to keep a straight face? Zephrine tucked her face into Dimitry, her worry real. Hermione brushed her arm in reassurance as the rest of the Weasley's turned back to Mad-Eye.

Harry rushed through the throng of people and hugged her hard. "Why didn't you meet up with us sooner?" he asked, his voice tight with worry. Ron nodded as he sheepishly brushed against her other side. Hermione would have answered but the girl in Zephrine's arms had enough of being carried and wiggled down. She rushed towards Hermione and wrapped her arms around her waist.

Hermione pushed the boys aside so she could crouch down and take a look at the child. To her, the girl was almost half her age, so she thought of her as childlike but now that she looked closer she realized that even though she was small her eyes seemed old. "What's your name?" Hermione asked as she brushed her ponytail back.

The child leaned close and whispered, "Adalene Black Desrosiers."

Thank you for reading!

Feedback is welcomed.

Will answer back to comments in the next chapter.

1/22/2018