Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
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Jade121: yes, more is coming, don't you worry :) Thanks for asking though!
Eolyn Greenwood: well, Rowena hears the walls humming with the presence of Salazar's Heir, but Hermione doesn't. So the thing is, Rowena knew that Severus was Salazar's Heir but Hermione learnt it only when Severus told it. The flashback of the discussion between Albus, Rowena and Hermione happens in Chapter 9, Decisions, while Severus is talking with Lucius. Is it less confusing like this?
On Monday morning, Severus was in a foul mood and he knew it would be even worse in the evening. He vaguely hoped, for a brief instant, that it would be better than the previous week, but one casual glance at Hermione was enough to convince him of the contrary. She looked as if she had decided that she would make his life a living Hell – overrated or not – until he didn't know when. Merlin, she was carrying his child. She would have to compromise in her studies for raising the child and she would never forgive him for that.
Gloomily, he came out of his dark corner and headed for the Head Table, wondering how Hermione's hateful glare could have found him there. It was his favourite place, ideal for observing the students – getting a good idea of who was up to pranks – and Albus's mood – too cheerful and he would leave. His eyes darkened when he saw that the seating positions had been rearranged. The seat at the end of the table – which he had finally managed to get thanks to the ever-changing Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers – was occupied by Callisto, in deep conversation with Wilhelmina.
He eyed suspiciously the only seat left. It was between Minerva and Viktor, Albus being seated on the other side of Minerva. Severus swallowed a sigh. He knew that sometime during the weekend, Albus had seen fit to let the two professors know about Hermione and Severus. The Potions Master was quite sure that Minerva was ready to kill him for having laid a hand on her precious prize student.
He slid on his chair while muttering something that was supposed to sound like a greeting and busied himself pouring a glass of pumpkin juice and putting pancakes on his plate. Unnerved by Minerva's stare, he added some maple syrup on them and attacked them as if nothing was wrong. Minerva pursed her lips, Albus chortled happily and Viktor slowly grinned. Severus made as if he hadn't noticed anything. He almost choked on a mouthful of pancake when Viktor leaned toward him and said:
"Thank you for her. I appreciate what you did."
"Really, Viktor, he did nothing extraordinary! It's not as if he had been nice to the poor girl."
Severus swallowed his bite of pancake and hid his grin. True, thinking back of his weekend, 'nice' wasn't the word he would use for his behaviour. But 'passionate', 'attentive' or 'worshipping' would be used for it, especially when Salazar had been in control. Though 'caring' or 'gentle' may describe it best; he had not tried to be nice and pretend he loved her, but he had cared enough to try to help her relax and dissipate the awkwardness of the situation – though he may have failed on that. Anyway, he doubted Minerva would want to know.
"So, now what?" she asked crossly. "She's safe from You-Know-Who's intentions on Samhain, but what will happen after? Her grades, her studies–"
"After is not yet here," he cut gruffly. "My concern for the moment is for Miss Granger and myself to make it to Samhain and come back from the meeting alive."
"Voldemort won't like to see his plans thwarted," said Viktor with satisfaction.
"Indeed he won't. But then he will know that the child has the four bloods and he will look for the father."
"We will be there," promised Viktor quite forcefully.
Severus snorted and, vengeful, drowned his last pancake in maple syrup.
"Too much syrup is bad for you, Severus," said Albus mildly.
"That from the man spending his time eating sweets!"
"It's not my fault, they contain a potion that is a variant of the Imperius Curse and I can't help it. Very clever from Voldemort, don't you think?"
Minerva, Viktor and Severus all looked at him in shock. Albus chuckled and popped a sherbet lemon in his mouth.
"It's too early for April Fools' tricks, old man," grumbled Severus, beginning to butter a toast.
"Fortunately or else, several people would wonder about what is coming next."
Severus grunted and poured himself a mug of the blend of tea the house elves made especially for him, black tea with citruses – and he wondered once again why he could have citrus flavours in his tea, but never a glass of orange juice.
Harry stood up and looked sadly at the end of the Gryffindor table where Hermione was sitting, having rebuked Neville back to Ginny's side. He took his wand, aimed it at his throat and whispered quickly:
"Sonorus."
He cleared his throat and everybody stared at him – except Hermione who kept her eyes on her plate, as if fascinated by the patterns she was creating in her stewed apples.
"I wanted to apologise publicly to Hermione Granger, for letting her down when she most needed a friend, for believing lies about her without ever giving her a chance to explain, for believing her able to betray me – us – to Voldemort."
As usual, the name that shouldn't be pronounced cast a chill.
"I'm sorry, Hermione," continued Harry, looking at his former friend. "You have always been here for me and I deserted you. You always did your best saving my life, often doing as much, and my lack of faith in you almost cost you your life. I hope you'll be able to forgive me someday and I can only wait for that day."
The whole hall was silent; Severus was flummoxed. He would never have thought that Harry had it in him to be at the same time humble and dignified. Apparently, his opinion was shared by many; Albus nodded approvingly as Harry ended the Sonorus charm and came to Hermione who was now trying to read the future in her glass of pumpkin juice.
"Hermione?" he asked quietly.
Even though his voice wasn't magnified magically anymore, the hall was so silent that everybody heard him and waited for Hermione's answer. Severus noticed how her shoulders slightly stiffened and his knuckles clutched the edge of the table.
"Is there something I can do for you to forgive me? I'd do anything, I swear!"
She carefully put back her glass on the table and lay her hands on each side of her plate.
"Just leave me alone."
Harry looked as if she had slapped him. Severus half-rose, but Viktor forced him to sit down again. Vincent Crabbe stood up and sneered at Harry.
"You forgot something, Potty. Your girlfriend prefers Slytherins now, powerful Slytherins," he added, emphasising his point with a look toward his Head of House. "And we Slytherins love to have a Mudblood plaything!"
Once again, Severus was ready to intervene and once again Viktor stopped him, a strange smile on his lips.
"Wait, he murmured mysteriously. "Hermione is back, in full force…"
She slowly stood up and even from the Head Table, Severus could feel the weight of her spite.
"Shall we bring this subject in front of the unicorns, Vincent?" she asked, her voice deceptively soft. "Oh, I forgot, none of you can come near them. Did Draco forget to tell you that they tried to defend me when he stabbed me with the narwhal tusk? Did he forget to tell you that you were friend with a murderer? Well, are you speechless, Vincent? Or did Draco forget to tell you the words you had to say after you insulted me?"
Vincent was almost gaping. Pansy Parkinson cast a quick glance in Severus's direction and, as everybody's attention was on Hermione, she flashed him a conspiratorial grin. Except that Hermione's eyes were on Vincent and she saw Pansy's grin. She didn't need to turn the head to know whom it was directed to and her eyes narrowed. She focused again on Vincent and gave him her sweetest smile.
"Speaking of blood purity, I hope you know that Voldemort is a half-blood."
She left the Great Hall on those words, leaving everyone gasping.
"Albus! I need to talk to her!" Severus whispered urgently.
The Headmaster shook his head.
"Not now, Severus. She doesn't want to see you."
"I don't care for that, Albus. It's urgent and several lives may be in danger if I don't!"
It caught Albus's attention.
"Alright. Just wait a moment for not arousing suspicions too much."
Severus shrugged.
"I don't see the point since Crabbe just shouted it to everyone."
"Be careful," whispered Viktor. "I can tell you she's angry and she has quite a temper."
"Are you afraid for her or me?"
"Both," replied Viktor with a chuckle.
Severus scowled and left the Great Hall, thinking of the place she would hide. He knew she expected him to follow her and she probably didn't want him to find her. So what would be her least obvious place for her to hide, the last place for him to look? He smiled and headed toward the dungeons.
He entered his office and, out of sheer habit, he looked at the small device that allowed him to watch over the Slytherin common room. He froze on the spot. She was there, lounging on a couch, looking around with an oddly twisted smile.
He moved quickly, opening a small hidden door in the back of his office, and whispered a password to a portrait that looked suspiciously like him. The portrait pivoted and he stepped in the Slytherin common room.
"I expected you earlier," she said flatly, head thrown back, looking at the ceiling.
"Albus delayed me," he replied automatically before scowling. "About Pansy–"
"I hope she's not too bothered that I kept you away for the weekend. She probably had plenty to tell you. I would offer my apologies, but it would only bring you problems."
"Let's not talk of this here. Come with me."
"I'm comfortable here, which is hardly the case in your office."
"Miss Granger! Come with me this instant or you will have more than enough time to test the lack of comfort in my office during detention!"
She turned the head toward him and gave him her twisted smile.
"I thought you gave long detentions in your private quarters," she said tauntingly.
She rose and went to the door of the common room, knocking on it.
"Let me out, please."
Furious, Severus caught her wrist and dragged her with him through the portrait he had used to come in. Once in the small room in the back of his office, he opened another door and ushered her in.
"I want to talk to Salazar," she said immediately.
"You wouldn't talk with Salazar."
"It would still be more interesting than the boring lecture you have in store for me."
"It's not a lecture, it's an explanation. You probably saw the… communication between Miss Parkinson and myself–"
"Oh yes! A Gryffindor would have seen it. Oh wait! I am a Gryffindor."
"Miss Granger, it is a serious matter!" he hissed.
"You should have told me so from the beginning!"
In a blink, she was ready with quill, ink and parchment, looking very studious. He sighed and sat down.
"Miss Parkinson and her mother are spies for us. Ivy Parkinson plays the same role as I among the Death Eaters and Pansy keeps an eye on the students, especially Draco Malfoy and his two gorillas."
"Well, her eye had probably been wandering one week ago," she said tartly, her hand instinctively covering the still sore spot on her ribs.
Severus knew the wound would hurt for a long time, because of its dark nature and he knew also that each wince of hers because of it would add to his guilt.
"Hers and mine, Miss Granger. I was supposed to watch over you."
"Ah yes, but you despise me. Pansy never gave that impression about Draco."
He frowned and opened his mouth to answer. Before he could utter a word, she added in a singsong voice:
"Watch your temper or I will have to call Salazar. I'm sure that if I'm good enough, he will give back to Gryffindor any point you would take from them. And could it be Pansy's wandering eye was on you and vice-versa?"
Severus was once again reminded of the fact he hated Mondays but it couldn't get worse now, could it?
"Severus?" called Pansy's voice from his office door.
Rectification, it could get worse.
Hermione raised her eyebrows at him before putting quill, ink and parchment back into her bag and throwing said bag on her shoulder.
"Severus, huh?" she murmured, her eyes intent. "No wonder you refused me, you already had a pure-blood Slytherin filling the place. And I believed you when you pretended you would never touch a student! You must have had a good laugh at my expense. What is your excuse this time? She's Helga's Heir and she's in dire need of close protection?"
He was about to set things straight, reminding himself to keep his temper in check before making things worse, but she never let him speak.
"Don't protest, it's alright. I can't be difficult now, can I? If I have to share you, then so be it. After all, if I'm stuck with you for the rest of my life, the contrary's not true."
She leaned toward him until her lips almost touched his ear.
"Goodbye, Severus…" she whispered softly, her breath caressing his cheek.
And she stalked out of the room. Pansy entered with a smirk on his lips, while Severus was left wondering if Hermione had cast a Silencing spell on him; surely she had or else he would have said something!
"Miss Parkinson, I already told you not to call me by my given name!" he scowled, feeling relieved to hear his own voice.
"It seemed to me that you were needing help, Professor."
"Your help made things ten times worse, Miss Parkinson!" he snapped. "Now what is it you wanted to tell me?"
"Vincent's intervention this morning. It wasn't coming from Draco. He left them without any instructions and they looked like they were lost. They found funny to lash on Granger after Potter's pitiful display."
"Could the instructions come from their father?"
"Maybe. They have a high opinion of their son."
"They all know how to hide their game. Looking like Malfoy's slave when in reality it's the contrary is quite clever and they have everyone fooled."
"Except us," said Pansy slyly.
"Of course. Keep an eye on them and tell Vincent that he almost blew his cover this morning. He should be more careful. He's supposed to be a goon, he has to act like a goon all the time. His outburst earlier on was far too subtle for the character he's playing."
She nodded and grinned suddenly.
"See you later, Severus."
And she sauntered out. Severus sighed and remembered his first class. Double Advanced Potions with the seventh years. It meant Hermione and Pansy among them. A new reminder of why he hated Mondays. And it was definitely not getting better.
Fifteen minutes after the beginning of the lesson, Severus was already ready to hex them all into oblivion. The Advanced Potions class was reserved to gifted students – among those willing to take Potions – and usually they were all able to answer his questions and brew the potions correctly. Yet it seemed that with Draco's disappearance and Hermione's problem, everybody's brains had frozen. Severus heard Kevin Entwhistle, a Ravenclaw, hiss to Hermione:
"I didn't fall for Harry Potter's display at breakfast, Granger! It's obvious you fed him some controlling potion or cast Imperius on him."
"Rest assured I won't make you submit to the same treatment. You hold absolutely no interest to me whatsoever," she replied calmly.
She didn't say a single word afterwards. No matter the questions Severus asked, she never waved her hand, even letting Pansy answer them in her place. He knew he could have called on her even so, but he didn't want to have to deduct points if she refused to speak. The relations between them were already tense enough without adding more fuel. He inwardly rolled his eyes. Since when had he begun to care for his relationship with students?
But he knew the answer to his question. Hermione wasn't any student. They were bound to each other in a way none of them could deny and her reaction after the weekend together worried him. She seemed strangely detached from everything, yet didn't hesitate in giving tongue-lashings to anyone crossing her path. Her reaction to Pansy was odd too. A bitter jealousy quickly followed by a sad resignation, all the while reminding him of an important point: he would be the only man in her life… unless she looked for the counter curse.
He snapped out of his reverie and glanced at his students. Their heads were bent down on their cauldrons. The assignment was quite easy for them: it was a potion that held the same properties as the Petrificus Totalus spell, except that it was totally undetectable. As usual, Hermione finished half an hour before everybody else. He wondered briefly how she could manage it while still respecting the directives in timing. Probably because of her better organisation in the early stages.
"A word with you after class, Miss Granger," he said simply.
She hardly acknowledged him and he took a malicious pleasure in asking Kevin to test her potion. The Ravenclaw fell on the floor with a dull thud.
"Perfect potion as usual, Miss Granger. I will end up believing you're not human," he said with a sneer.
Pansy sniggered.
Everybody had cleaned up cauldrons and work places before Severus cast Enervate on Kevin and took twenty points from Ravenclaw for being late and trying his patience. Pansy grinned; Hermione remained unmoved. They all left, except Hermione.
"Just a quick word, Miss Granger. Keep an eye on Crabbe and Goyle. Appearances are deceiving. Masters can play the obedient slaves when willing to fool others."
"Funny. I didn't know gorillas could have so much cunning intelligence," she said. "But then, they have the best example as their Head of House."
"You can leave now, Miss Granger, before I begin to take points from Gryffindor for your cheek," he replied coldly.
To his chagrin, the day continued to be as bad as it had begun. At dinner, he was ready to lash at anyone who would just look in his direction and it didn't improve when he discovered that, because he was late, he had to be seated next to Albus. The Headmaster beamed at him and received a scowl for answer.
When he noticed that the younger wizard's attention was more on a certain seventh year Gryffindor than on the potatoes au gratin in his plate, Albus decided to tease him a bit.
"See something you like?"
Severus scowled and speared angrily a potato slice with his fork.
"Stop this at once. Why don't you see it under another angle? You've been a good spy and an invaluable asset to our side. She's your reward for your loyal services."
Severus wondered a moment if Albus was serious or not; he didn't even seem to realise what he had said. As if Hermione Granger was a prize he could claim!
"Rewards come after the victory, not before," he replied, pushing potatoes around his plate. "Besides, you know the reward I want."
"A sock?" inquired Albus mildly.
"Exactly," he answered curtly and finally looked up again.
Out of habit, his eyes looked for Hermione. When her gaze met his, he had no doubt that somehow she had heard the conversation.