Chapter 4

Early Saturday morning I was up washed and dressed, I had packed all of my clothing and few Personnal processions in my vanishing bag - I had walked around the whole house setting to rights the cushions curtains and making sure everything was clean and tidy.

I turned the water off from under the sink and turned the electric off from the consumer unit, just like Severus had shown me before. With one last look I left out the front door.

The street was quiet and I move along to the appration point on the corner of the street, with one last look towards the only adult home I'd ever known other than Hogwarts, I popped to diagon alley.

Again, it was still early and shop keepers where just opening up and with a few polite good mornings later I was standing in front of the huge doors to gringotts bank.

The clock struck 9am and I walked through the doors. Inside was exactly the same as the last time I'd been in there, minus the dragon!

The line of goblins working didn't even look up as I entered. I hurried past them all to my target of the front desk, where a younger goblin was head down writing.

My heeled boots tapped along the polished floor with me but came to rest as I reached the desk.

The goblin with perfect timing looked up and gave me a pointed teeth smile

"Good morning Mrs Snape", we've been expecting you". "You have?" I questioned

"Please follow me" he disappears behind the desk. Well, this can't be good I think.

He re appears to the right hand side of his desk and beckons me to follow him, I do as I'm asked and am taken into a side room.

"Please take a seat Mrs Snape our head Goblin won't be, but a moment".

I enter the room, a smaller wooden desk is in the centre of the room and two chairs that look like school chairs are waiting for me. Its a formal room with high ceilings and huge window behind the desk, golden drapes frame the window.

I'm broken from my observation as the an older goblin hobbles in and offers his hand.

"Good morning Mrs Snape, very pleased to finally meet you. He says still shaking my hand. "My official title is head goblin here are gringotts, he says rather excitedly

"A bank manager if you will, in muggle term". I pull my hand back and nod a hello, wow he's quite cheerful for a Goblin, I note.

"We have been expecting you as we like everyone else heard of your troubles",

I stuffle in my seat, he completely ignores my discomfort and continues "now Mrs Snape how can I help you today".

"Well," I start, "I need some help regarding my old bank account as I'm not too sure how much I had independently from my joint account with my husband" I swallow the word husband.

"Well that's very simple, you have 62,000 galleons in you own personal account and you have have a joint account with Mr Snape which currently holds 300,00 galleons."

I sat with my mouth open like a fish "what…. THAT cannot be right, I didn't have that much 6 years ago".

"No no, you are quite right, but if I may be so bold, your husband has been depositing regularly into your account and he's left strict instructions that we can withdraw for you however much, you need from the joint account also" he states matter of factly.

I open and close my mouth my throat gone completely dry. Its as if he knew what I would do! he's trying to pay me off!

The bloody cheek! Right well I'm not having that, he can stick his money we're the sun doesn't shine!

"That won't be necessary, thank you." Im trying to remain polite. The cheeky fucker.

"Can you please tell me what my balance was 6 years ago, as in what was my last transaction before I went missing".

"Oh of course" he smiles. I grit my teeth waiting. He produces a large leather ledger and runs his sharp nail down the page.

"In total your balance was 23,000 galleons".

"I still don't think that's right Mr, I hesitate he didn't give me his name "Brinlock" he states looking over his small gold rimmed glasses, smiling.

"Mr Brinlock" I continue, he waves me off "your forgetting you have been paid the proceeds from your families estate after their death, Mrs Snape this was settled whilst you've been away." Away, he's making it sound like I'd been on vacation!

"Oh right" another shot to the heart. "yes thank you for clarifying".

"Not a problem at all my dear, now will you be wanting to make a withdrawal?"

9.25am I was loaded up with gold and headed down the steps of the bank.

Only one more stop, onto the public owlery.

The street is much busier now and I hastily move to get this last job done. Inside I pay a few knuts to "borrow two owls" and tie the correct letter to each bird with a pat on their heads they are off.

I leave the owlery and apperate away.

Severus point of view

The early morning passed by with no incident, the late breakfast in the great hall with all the students starting to get excited about Hallowe'en is in full swing.

Great I think another blasted ball to look forward to!

It was a Saturday and I had no lessons to attend today. My mind wanders back to last night and my encounter with Hermione it didn't go exactly to plan, she takes my breath away every time I see her, her choice of cloak wasn't wasted on me either.

I remember her excitedly opening the box Xmas morning, she'd been starring longingly at it through the window for weeks. She could have just bought it but Hermione would never waste money on herself.

My own longing for her is also complicated, 6 years is a very long time when the whole world views you one way.

I was the greasy bat of the dungeon but now they all know the truth, my life open bare for anyone to view and past judgment on, and gossip about.

The only person who ever really knew the real me was her and I've damaged that relationship beyond repair.

I was angry so very angry when she disappeared, first was disbelief. Then came the blame the utter devastation all pushed into bitterness. Having her join Hogwarts as a school child, was completely unbelievable. I've tried everything and everywhere to find out why and what happened. But in the end, I needed to protect myself and these walls have been built high. I'm not sure I have the strength to trust or be vulnerable ever again.

During the war I could use all those emotions and anger but now….. I came out of my musing as the owls started coming into the hall, the sound of great excitement filled the air as the students received gifts and packages from home, it was a regular weekend sight. I rarely received post this way so I continued to sip my black coffee watching the spectacle unravel.

Unexpectedly, a black owl swooped in and plopped a simple white envelope over my plate from the handwritten on the front I knew immediately who it was from.

In spite of myself, the excitement bubble's in me. I drained my cup and excused myself. Envelope clutched safety to my side, I exited the hall.

Minerva sitting just up from severus had a beautiful white owl drop one of many envelopes down to her, being head mistress she got plenty of daily correspondence but this one was different, she too recognised the neat handwriting on the front. She looked up to see the retreating form of Severus and wondered where's he's headed off to in such a hurry? Unable to contain her curiosity she opened Hermione letter first.

Dear Minerva,

I wanted to write to you to first apologies for leaving early last night and without saying goodbye in person. It was extremely overwhelming and having not seen or spoken to anyone in the months I've been back, I had prepared knowing it was going to be hard but I didn't appreciate how difficult it would be for me.

I secondly want to let you know I will be as of this morning leaving Spinner's End my destination not known yet. If I'm completely honest I don't want to let anyone know as I think i need time to come to terms that my marriage is over and all I hold dear are no longer open to me.

I hope in time I will be able to call upon you again as a mentor and a friend as you have only ever been both and the nearest thing I have to a mother since I lost mine so long ago.

I have written to Severus, he may or may not enquire as I did inform him of my intentions of writing to you also.

Please, if you can look out for him.

I love him as much today as I did back then, I am not leaving to cause him further upset but he is so very upset with me, I cannot see a way past what has happened and mentally I cannot continue to live like this alone in our old home without him. It's just too much.

I'm not sure how to finish this letter to you, but please know I love you and thank you for all you've done for me past & present Hermione.

I hope to see you again one day, until then take care

Hermione x

Minerva looked up and around her, tears fell from her eyes, concerned Professor Trelawney lent in "are you ok Minerva, have you had bad news?"

"I'm a terrible person" she whispered and got up" "Minerva", Trelawney called after her, but Minerva was leaving the hall in a speed not seen by the old Witch in an age.

She headed straight to the dungeons she needed to get to Severus he needed to stop Hermione.