Summary: Hermione Granger returns to Hogwarts to become the next Potions Master. As she acclimates to her new position, she finds out that she has a soulmate… Severus Snape… a man who died ten years previously during the war. Is she destined to never find love, or is there a way to bring her soulmate back?
A/N: It was close, but soulmates fic beat out medical Hermione fic for being first to be posted. In actuality, the other fic needs some work before it goes live anyway. Thanks for your support, everyone. I hope you enjoy this little romp into soulmate lore.
Chapter 1
Hermione Granger knocked on the large, wooden door and waited. At the call to come in, the door swung open magically. She smiled widely at Minerva McGonagall.
"Headmistress McGonagall, so nice to see you again."
"Hermione, oh!"
Minerva was quick to get up from behind her desk and rush over to Hermione, throwing her arms around the younger woman and hugging her tightly. They pulled back from each other, and Minerva smiled at her.
"Auch, it's so good to see you. How have you been?"
"I've been well, Headmistress."
Minerva gave Hermione a slight scowl. "You need to call me Minerva. We're colleagues now."
The Headmistress turned back to her desk and motioned for Hermione to take the seat in front of it. Once they were both settled, Minerva continued.
"I was so pleased that you accepted the Potions position, Hermione. You will be a fine teacher, and the students will learn so much from you."
Hermione blushed. "I just want to live up to those before me," she said with some embarrassment.
Minerva picked up her hand and waved it at Hermione. "You will be wonderful."
The younger woman smiled. "I appreciate your confidence… and the job."
Minerva leaned over and opened a low drawer in her desk. She removed a large folder and placed it in front of Hermione.
"This is the syllabus, and Professor Langview left some notes for you in the Potions office."
Hermione eyed the folder. She hoped she could be as effective as her own professor had been. He may have been hard to deal with, but the older she got, the more she understood why Severus Snape acted the way he did and why he was so demanding of the students.
As she had studied more advanced potions, all the things that could go wrong with even the simplest potion were made known to her. Professor Snape had been tough because if he hadn't been, there would have been a lot more accidents. That combined with his spy work… it was no wonder he was so cruel sometimes… most times… all the time. She grinned to herself.
Hermione had long ago looked past the negatives of Severus Snape, and now she just held great respect for the man. She'd always had respect for him actually, even as a student, but from learning what he'd done for the war effort—basically saving them all—and seeing how challenging Potions was, she had grown to have a great appreciation for the man. She wished he had survived the war. Severus Snape deserved some happiness on this earth.
Her mind came back to the present, and she reached out for the syllabus and got up from her chair. Minerva rose as well.
"I'll take you down to your new classroom and show you your quarters," Minerva said as she rounded the desk and let Hermione move in front of her.
They soon had descended into the dungeons, and Minerva was showing her around the Potions classroom. It hadn't really changed much in the ten years since she'd been a student there. Professor Slughorn had taught the year after the war but then had officially retired for good. Jared Langview had taken over and taught the subject since then. He'd recently been offered a position at Durmstrang that he said he just couldn't pass up, so Hermione now found herself as the next Potions Mistress.
As she looked around, she noted that there were fewer gross things in jars in the room, but she could remedy that. It seemed that Professors Snape and Slughorn had a flair for the dramatic and macabre, as they both had quite a lot of ingredients on display. Hermione thought that set a tone she wanted to emulate.
They moved to the office, and Hermione noted the stores looked to be well-stocked.
"Professor Langview was adamant that he had ordered everything you would need for this year," Minerva explained as she waved her hands around the room.
"That was very thoughtful. I'll have to send him a thank-you Owl once I'm settled."
Minerva nodded and motioned her out of the office. She moved across the hall to a large painting of a Hebridean Black Dragon. Hermione's eyes grew wide as the dragon spit fire as it eyed her. The beast was pure black, which reminded Hermione of Professor Snape. The animal studied her with its deep purple eyes as it extended its bat-like wings to their full span. Hermione noted the black ridges descending along the dragon's back, decreasing in size almost all the way down to the tip of its tail, which ended in a scale shaped like an arrow.
"Wow," Hermione said as she admired the dragon. "How have I never noticed this painting?" she mused.
"It's spelled to be invisible to the students. Only faculty and ghosts can see it," Minerva explained. "This is the entryway to your rooms."
"Oh!" Hermione said with surprise.
"Dorlyth," Minerva said to the dragon. "This is Hermione Granger. She is the new Potions professor and will be living in the quarters you guard. Please give her passage and the protection she needs as a Hogwarts professor."
Fire flew from Dorlyth's nostrils as she looked between the two women. After a moment, she bowed her head and spoke.
"I am honored to serve, Headmistress. Welcome, Mistress Hermione. What entry word would you use to gain access to your rooms?"
Hermione bowed her head slightly to the dragon. "I am honored to have you guarding my rooms, Dorlyth. I would like to have the word 'sapphire' as my password."
Dorlyth bowed her head slightly lower, and the portrait swung open. Minerva and Hermione entered the rooms and Hermione looked around.
"I always wondered what Professor Snape's quarters looked like," Hermione mused.
"They haven't changed much," Minerva told her. "I think both Horace and Jared wanted to honor Severus by keeping things the way he'd had them. I believe the walls used to be black, though."
Hermione chuckled. "Of course, they were."
She eyed the light gray walls and felt they probably were an upgrade to the black. She admired a pair of black leather sofas before her, placed in an 'L' formation in front of the fireplace. Over the fireplace, there was a painting of a dark, rocky beach. The ocean crashing over the large rocks was almost hypnotic. The room was completed by a very comfortable-looking black leather recliner diagonally placed across from the sofas, making a cozy area to entertain visitors. Hermione's eyebrow rose at how inviting the room looked.
"Was the room arranged this way when Professor Snape lived here?"
"Yes," Minerva answered. "Why?"
Hermione shrugged. "It just seems very inviting for a man so private."
Minerva nodded. "Severus was more open with faculty. We would often share a cup of tea right here and discuss what was going on with the students. I know it wasn't unusual for any of us to be found here."
Hermione's eyes grew wide.
"I mean… it wasn't every day by any means, but he had visitors or visited others at least once a week, if not more."
Hermione shook her head. "It's odd thinking of him living a normal life, you know?"
Minerva nodded. "Especially that last year. Of course, he was very isolated then. How I wish he had survived."
Hermione nodded. "Me too. I think maybe we could have been friends at some point."
They were silent for a while, each mulling over their memories of Severus Snape. Minerva eventually broke the mood by clearing her throat.
"Hermione, I'll leave you to get acquainted with your new spaces. Let me know what you need. As you know, the students will arrive in a week and a half. I'll see you at dinner."
Hermione smiled at Minerva. "Thank you, Minerva. I'm happy to be here."
Minerva gave a little wave, and then she was gone, almost as stealthily as a cat. Hermione shook her head and smiled. No wonder that was her Animagus form.
Hermione looked around some more. Despite having two other occupants, Hermione couldn't stop thinking about this being Severus Snape's home for so many years. She moved to the back of the room and went through the doorway which led to her bedroom and bath. A large four-poster bed was the main feature of the room. She moved to the bath and noted the tub. It was certainly no prefect's bath, but it was definitely roomy enough for a good soak when she wanted one.
Turning around, she wandered back into the bedroom. She sat on the bed and then laid down on it. It was very comfortable. Her hand caressed the green satin cover, and she pictured Professor Snape lying there. She rolled her eyes at her silliness. The man had been gone ten years, yet she still couldn't get him out of her mind.
He'd been a secret obsession of hers for a long time now. She had been telling the truth to Minerva about wanting to be friends with him. Deep down in her subconscious, she would have liked more than that. She'd harbored a crush on him since her sixth year, but once he'd died, she'd put that foolish thought out of her mind. At least she had tried. He'd invade her thoughts at the oddest times. She felt close to him from those frequent thoughts, despite not really knowing him personally when he was alive. She always chided herself when those feelings crept up within her, though, because he was long gone.
She shook her head to banish her train of thought and instead mulled over the path that had brought her to her position at Hogwarts:
Kingsley Shacklebolt came up to Hermione in the Great Hall as everyone congratulated one another.
"Hermione, congratulations on your graduation from Hogwarts and your wonderful N.E.W.T. scores. What are your plans?"
Hermione shrugged. "I've had several offers. I'm not quite sure which one I'll go with."
Kingsley held up his hand. "Before you go making a foolish decision, hear me out and see if you like the offer I have for you."
Hermione grinned as she arched an eyebrow at him. "What do you have in mind?"
"Well, I know you are very empathetic to all beings. I happen to have an opening in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. You could champion causes you would never know existed outside the department. You need to come work for me."
"So, I could drive legislation for fairness for all creatures?"
Kingsley nodded.
Hermione extended her hand to Shacklebolt. "When do I start?"
Kingsley grasped her hand and shook it vigorously. "A week from Monday."
oooOOOooo
Her years at the Ministry had taught her much. She'd found that there was a large divide in healthcare for Magical creatures as opposed to healthcare for Wizards. Many lacked the ability to get the potions they needed for their health. Thus, her journey into potion-making.
During her free time, she took private lessons with a master potioneer in London named Horatio Tuttle. His tutelage and side stories of his friendship with Severus Snape made for fascinating lessons. As her skills increased, she created potions to help House Elves, Centaurs, and Vampires with their individual health problems. It had been fascinating work, as potions that worked perfectly on witches and wizards had to be altered and reinvented for magical creatures.
oooOOOooo
Three months prior:
Hermione slammed her office door and went to her desk, throwing herself into the chair behind it. The nerve of that Festus Dorwood. The paperwork for her new bill for Vampires was perfectly written, yet he insisted on her rewriting the entire thing.
She slammed the document down on her desk and laid her head down on it.
"I'm so sick of this blasted bureaucracy. Every time I turn around, I'm thwarted by rules, regulations, and hard-headed higher-ups who love the status quo."
Lifting her head, she stared down at her bill. Maybe it was time to find a new career. She'd just about exhausted her welcome here in the department. Everyone looked at her cross-eyed when she came down the hall, running to avoid her.
Shaking her head, she stood and moved over to her Floo–one of the perks of running a department. She threw some Floo powder in and disappeared, emerging into her living room and moving to her sofa. Crashing down onto it, she crossed her arms in front of her and huffed. She glanced around at the fireplace and the bookshelves that flanked it. Turning her head, she looked at the large windows and glass door that led to her balcony. If it weren't so hot, she'd sit out there.
She remained on her sofa for a while, just fuming to herself. As she fumed, she was startled by a tapping on her balcony glass door. Snapping her head towards it, she noticed an owl pecking for admittance. She hurried over and slid open the door so the owl could fly in. It landed on her table.
"Oh, I always admire you owls for coming up so high to deliver my mail!" she said to the owl as she took the letter from its extended leg. "Let me get you a treat."
She went over to the fireplace and opened a small box, removing some owl pellets for the bird. He gobbled them down but just looked at her when he was done.
"You want me to give a reply to this letter?" she asked.
The owl continued to stare.
Hermione unrolled the scroll and read.
Hermione,
I hope you are well. I'm sorry it's been a while since we've corresponded. Running a school can be a time-consuming task, even in the summer.
I'm writing because my Potions master has just submitted his resignation. Now, I know you have a very important place in the Ministry, but the last time we spoke, you had said that it was a frustrating job. I can think of no better replacement for Professor Langview than you. Please consider coming back to Hogwarts as a professor. I know you will do a wonderful job.
The owl has been instructed to wait for a reply, no matter how long it takes, so if you need to sleep on it, feel free and let me know in the morning.
Minerva
Hermione smiled and read the letter again. Maybe this was the answer she'd been looking for. Honestly, there was no maybe about it. She was through with the Ministry. It was time for her to move on, and teaching at Hogwarts gave her a comforting feeling within her. Moving to her desk, she pulled out a quill and some ink and sat down to write a response accepting the position.
oooOOOooo
Three months later, here she lay… on Severus Snape's bed.
She sighed. Over the past ten years, Severus… as she had taken to think of him… had been in her mind often. As she created new potions, she'd wondered what he might think of them and of her. Would he think she were clever, or just an attention grabber as he'd thought when she was young?
She'd wanted him to be alive so she could discuss all her research and creations with him. She wished he'd survived so he could live a life free of Voldemort and finally be free of the control of his two taskmasters. She'd wished she could have been his friend because she thought he was quite fascinating.
Sadly, he was dead, and her return to the castle had just made her maudlin.
She rose from the bed and went back out into the sitting room. She picked up the syllabus from the side table where she'd laid it and sat on the sofa. Pulling her wand out, she flicked it at the fireplace, and a fire started. She smiled at that. Looking above it, she beheld the painting that was displayed there. The frame was made of ornate gold, but the painting within was even more magnificent than its beautiful surroundings. The crashing waves drew her in again. She stared at it and watched them crash on the rock repeatedly. Shaking her head, she looked away from the hypnotic picture and started reviewing the syllabus for the upcoming year.