SOTM - As you know, I've taken over this fic from here and this is tying into a much larger picture/series. For those who are up to date on the other stories, I ask that you not post any spoilers that are TOO bad. But if you want to post something along the lines of "OMG i know what you mean!" and send me a message, you can do that. Just don't ruin it for anyone, okay?
Anyway, I hope I haven't lost any of you Harmony shippers. I promise the pairing will build-up, but I'm a romantic who loves a slow burn. It's gotta make sense right? They can't just look up one day and say, "We're gonna be together forever." This will not be one of those fics. There is no light without darkness and Hermione hasn't figured out where the light switch is yet, ya dig?
So stick with me, and I promise you won't be let down. If you are, then kindly go read something else to your liking or write it your damn self. K?
Sweet dreams are made of reviews. Seriously, I post chapters faster if you do.
"The Bible? Are you certain? Wizards don't believe in muggle religion." Hermione mused, "Let alone its existence."
Harry looked at Hermione from the armchair, still shaking from the aftereffects of the curse, "But he wasn't a wizard first, was he? He was a half-blood like us."
"It just seems really farfetched."
Flitwick looked like he wanted to add something, but he looked to Minerva instead. She gave him a small tight lip scowl and shook her head. She looked to the pair and said, "As I was saying, he was staff here, and we might not have been close, but one tends to notice things."
"What did you notice, Professor?" Hermione asked, her quill floating beside her at the ready.
Looking back at her colleague who gave her a begging look, she sighed and explained, "Severus was a good man, he truly was. He was complicated and frustrating, but he had no greater enemy than himself."
Hermione tilted her head in thought but continued to listen.
She took the other seat across from Harry and continued, "In his free time, he read. In the great hall, quidditch matches, staff meetings… he was always reading the same book."
"The bible," Harry confirmed.
She nodded, "Not just any bible, Mr. Potter. The Vulgate."
He gave her a confused look and tilted his head, "I'm afraid I don't know what that is."
"It's THE bible, Harry," Hermione cut in as usual with the answer, "There's the King James version, you know the one we learned about in school. Then there's the Vulgate, which is…. How do I explain…"
Flitwick jumped in, "The first translation of the word of God."
"I'm the only one in the room that didn't know that?" he looked around the room at their blank stares, "So what makes it special? It's old? Rare?"
Flitwick nodded, "Yes, as well as dangerous in the wrong hands. It's full of some very dangerous prayers, Mr. Potter. They're in Latin and easily transferrable to spell creation."
Harry laughed skeptically, "Dangerous prayers? Do you mean spells? From the Bible?"
"Yes, but these spells… these spells make Voldemort blush." Hermione explained, "That's why they rewrote it a hundred times to the current version we know today. They can't chance a Muggleborn reading it out loud in Sunday school and blowing up the steeple."
Harry looked at her with narrow eyes, "That was one time, and it was my Aunt."
Hermione suppressed a giggle and looked to Minerva, "Professor, do you know why he had such a forbidden book? Especially out in the open?"
"He was a Slytherin, he knew that some things were best hidden in plain sight. No one would ever ask Severus Snape of all people what he was reading and if they could peek at the pages." She scoffed and waved a hand dismissively.
"You did." Harry pointed out.
"There were times when he knew how to hide it," she smiled and the fond memories, "During the Triwizard tournament, he disguised the title or kept in his robes for protection. No matter what he did or where he was, he had that book."
"Do you know why?" Hermione asked.
Flitwick answered, "I once asked him why he chose that particular book. We were in the staff room, trying to escape another of Albus' forced festivities. He told me that he found it amusing, and when I asked how so, he said because Catholics believe in redemption."
"So, he liked it so much because it made him laugh?" Harry asked skeptically, "That doesn't sound like Snape."
Minerva shook her head, "He didn't just like it, Mr. Potter. He was obsessed with it."
Hermione looked over her notes, "If it meant that much to him, why wasn't it buried with him?"
"She said he carried it all the time," Harry said, "He must have had it on him when he died. Which puts us out of luck for figuring out this riddle."
"Not if he's alive, we might have a shot." She replied.
"I feel like this is a very small circle we keep coming around to." He sighed and leaned back in the chair, "If he's alive, he's got it with him. If he's dead, it's with him. Comes right back around to where the bloody hell is he?"
"He didn't take it with him that night."
Everyone paused and looked at the quiet voice near the fire they forgot about.
"I was there when he left," Poppy explained, "I went to aid Filius, and I met Severus in his rooms before he left. I wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't stared at it so long before leaving. It was sitting upon his desk."
Minerva gasped, "He left it?!"
Harry sat up quickly and locked eyes with Hermione. In unison, they perked up, "We have a lead!"
"We haven't been able to access his rooms, Mr. Potter."
"And we're back around the circle." Harry sighed in defeat and threw himself back on the chair.
Hermione scowled and rubbed her temples, "I know this may be a foolish question, but I've got to start with the basics. Even with your authority over the castle and its wards, you're unable to enter?"
"Correct."
"There a riddle on that door as well?" Harry asked with an annoyed tone.
"No riddle, but we don't know the password." The Headmistress stated, "Once they left his rooms, they were unable to access it again."
"What about the elves?" Hermione asked.
Minerva looked at her, curiously, "What about them?"
"Have they complained about being unable to access them for cleaning? Are they able to access it at all? Is the room connected to the floo network, even if illegally? An open window on the cliffside of the castle?" Hermione shot out a list long of questions. Her quill scribbling furiously on the pad, trying to keep up with her ever-moving thoughts. "If the new Potion's Professor is unable to use the rooms, where are they staying?"
"One question at a time, Miss Granger," Minerva put a hand up to slow her down, "The elves have brought nothing to my attention regarding such. I have no idea about the floo, I believe that is your job as Ministry employees to know, if not then find out."
"I'll check when we get back to the office," Harry offered.
"His rooms had windows, from what I remember from the very minimal time I have been during the years. Though I know not if they are open. I believe a quick broom ride around the grounds will do. Madam Hooch can provide the brooms if you need them. Though that won't be possible until morning. I'll not wake her at this hour if needn't be required."
"No need, Professor."
"Regarding Horace, he's taken up his old post and has taken up the smaller rooms down the hall from Severus'. Perhaps he may be able to provide some assistance or insight as to what the password might me. He has to walk past them every day." Minerva stated.
"Thank you, Professors," Hermione smiled softly, "your help has been of great assistance in this case. I believe it's time we go and check out his rooms if we're able to."
"Very well," Minerva stood to bid them goodbye, "Horace is usually up at this hour, do stop by and see him."
"Thank you, and if either of you has anything else to add, or remember later, please give us a Patronus." Harry smiled and held the door open for Hermione, "Either way, we will see ourselves out afterward. Thanks again, Ma'am."
Flitwick opened his mouth to speak, getting nudged by Minerva before speaking. "Oh… yes… well, goodnight then."
Once the door closed and the two Hogwarts Professors were alone, and the Medi-witch returned to her post, Minerva rounded on him.
"The Devil are ye' doing, Filius?!" She scolded angrily.
He got defensive, "I solved the case is what I did."
Looking at him hotly, he didn't back down. She thought long and hard about what he said, "Meaning?"
"You can't speak of the Prophet if you can't speak of the dead."
Her eyes widened as she fell back into her seat. She was speechless at first, then once able to find her tongue, "I… I'm sorry. I apologize for underestimating you, Filius. You are truly the smartest man I know."
"No, Minerva, I'm the smartest man alive."
