Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
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On Friday morning, at five to ten, Hermione knocked at Severus's office door. He ushered her in, pressed into her hand a steaming mug of tea – his own blend, which she seemed to appreciate – before she even had the time to seat down. They were sitting in silence, sipping on their tea, when the door burst open.
"Professor Snape! Hermione!"
"Megan?" exclaimed Hermione, putting down her mug and standing up immediately.
"Miss Berkley, what is the meaning of this intrusion?"
"Professor McGonagall, sir. The… the Minister for Magic is here for you. They say that you and Hermione have an… affair," she finished in a whisper.
They exchanged a look.
"Thank you, Miss Berkley. Please inform Professor McGonagall that we're coming."
Megan had hardly closed the door behind her that Severus already had his wand in his hand and he was aiming it at Hermione. He cast a spell she had never heard of before.
"What was that?" she hissed.
"Dark spell. No matter the spells Fudge uses on you, he will never see that you're pregnant; for him, you will appear to be still a virgin."
"I thought you already perform such a spell on me."
"I don't trust Fudge. The spell I used before was quite simple; this one is much more powerful, not to mention perfectly illegal. Death Eaters like to use it on the victims after having Obliviate-ed them."
She looked at him for a moment and he wondered why it left her speechless. Was it the mention of the Death Eaters' habits? He looked at her with a slight apprehension as she pointed her wand at his, but decided to trust her.
"Priori Incantatem."
Several ghost images shot from his wand, among them the dark spell he had just cast, the charm against virginity detection spell and the spell to know if she was pregnant.
"Deletrius," she muttered, making all the images disappear.
They looked at each other and knew they were in trouble.
"Call Pansy," she said suddenly. "Anybody else would be suspected to be in league with me, but never Pansy!"
He disappeared in his back-office, passed the portrait of Sejanus Snape and stepped into the Slytherin common room. The break between the two classes of the morning was still not over and Pansy was lounging on one of the couches. On the couch in front of her were several fifth years who looked surprised at the intrusion of their Head of House. He closed his hand on Pansy's elbow and dragged her after him.
"What is it?" she whispered forcefully.
"We need you," he replied, frowning.
Before Pansy could say another word, a little hand snatched her wand from her sleeve. Hermione, a wand in each hand, was facing them and Severus could see Pansy swallowing with difficulty.
"Not a word, we don't have the time," said Hermione curtly.
"Can you do this?" he worried slightly.
"If I couldn't, I wouldn't be trying to attempt it," she replied haughtily. "Priori Incantatem," she added, using her own wand.
As the first ghost image appeared, she pointed Pansy's wand at Severus's and murmured:
"Oblittero Incantato."
Severus's wand jolted in his hand. Hermione erased the two other suspicious spells then turned to Pansy.
"Now we have to find an explanation as for why Professor Snape dragged you out of the common room. I guess there was witnesses."
Pansy nodded, her eyes wandering between the two of them. Her eyes widened when she saw her own wand pointed at her face, clutched tightly in Hermione's left hand.
"Sorry for that. Extorpesco!"
Pansy blinked as her wand was shoved brutally in her hand and she blinked again when Hermione's hand slapped her cheek, hard. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt, but she didn't doubt that she had the red mark of Hermione's fingers imprinted on her cheek.
"I numbed your cheek so you wouldn't hurt," explained Hermione. "That will give you the right to call me all the names you've kept in store for me and that gives you also a nice alibi. Professor Snape fetched you because I thought you had slandered us and I took my revenge on you. And everybody knows that Professor Snape protects me from Malfoy and his goons."
"How did you know about me being on your side?" she asked, still trying to recover from this energetic Hermione.
"That's obvious, I'm Professor Snape's soul mate," she replied sarcastically.
Pansy blinked, glanced at Severus who didn't react, shrugged inwardly and left for her next class. Hermione waited a moment before taking the same way. Severus stopped her with his hand on her shoulder.
"We make a good team," he said softly.
She nodded, her throat suddenly painfully dry. She stepped backward, pressing against him, and his arm slipped down to come around her waist. He felt her breathe deeply and then, they parted without looking at each other. They didn't need to; they already knew that the other would be here no matter what.
Severus and Hermione made their way to Minerva's office, where she was receiving Cornelius Fudge. The door was slightly open and they stopped a moment to hear the conversation.
"Minerva, may I present you Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Law Enforcement and Inquisitor for the mission today."
"I thought you had learnt your lesson about inquisitors two years ago, Cornelius," said Minerva tightly.
"This is different, Minerva," he replied with a honeyed tone. "I care for the morality of our students."
"Morality, my foot," muttered Hermione. "He wouldn't know morality if it hit him in the face."
Severus chuckled and opened fully the door. The joy on Cornelius's face was obvious.
"Ah, exactly the two persons I wanted to see. Miss Granger, isn't it?"
She nodded curtly, not even bothering to be polite. She hadn't forgiven him his blindness about Voldemort.
"Now, Miss Granger, I have reports telling me that you're having an affair with Severus Snape."
She eyed him disdainfully.
"I would have thought the gossip would have been between Professor Krum and me, since it's well-known we dated three years ago," she replied, sounding bored.
He seemed slightly taken aback by her answer and Amelia Bones had a light smile.
"I guess they also say that I have an affair so I can have good grades, since I'm Muggle-born and, really, that's the only way for me to have good grades?" she continued.
Minerva coughed, her eyes dancing merrily.
"Now, Miss Granger," said Cornelius severely, "I don't know the reasons, but I have witnesses! The house elves, the portraits, some students–"
"You're bluffing," interrupted Severus, unconsciously placing himself by Hermione's side, silently lending her his support. "Honestly, sir, do you really think that if I had secret trysts with Miss Granger as you seem to suggest it, I would not ensure that the portraits of my chambers are loyal to me? But feel free to interrogate them, I would love to see you force them to drink Veritaserum," he added with a smirk.
"You will change your tune soon! Amelia! Cast your spell!" barked Cornelius.
Amelia smiled at Hermione and cast a spell on her. A soft white light surrounded her. Hermione's mouth twisted wryly.
"You could have asked me politely. I would have told that it is well-know that Professor Snape despises Gryffindors, especially Harry Potter and his friends," she said, her tone void of any bitterness. "And even if your spell hadn't proven me being a virgin, you would have had no proof that the one responsible for it was Professor Snape."
Cornelius's eyes bulged and he was obviously not listening to Hermione.
"It's impossible! This man is a Death Eater, he cast a dark spell on her, this is certain!"
Mutely, Severus presented his wand for inspection. Amelia sighed and cast the Priori Incantatem charm. She looked surprised at the spell of purification – especially considering how many times it had been cast – but said nothing.
"Check her wand!"
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. Cornelius shouted in triumph when seeing the Priori Incantatem ghost image coming out of her wand.
"This is the proof they meddled with his wand! Surely, one of her friends let her use their wand! I want her expelled and him sacked and sent to Azkaban!"
"There is another solution, if he truly compromised her," said Amelia calmly. "Marriage."
Cornelius considered it for a moment before smiling nastily.
"Naturally, Amelia, a marriage would solve it nicely. I'm sure Miss Granger wouldn't want to be expelled from Hogwarts in her last year."
Hermione tried to protest, but Cornelius wouldn't hear anything. Severus was looking at her, a strange gleam in his eyes, as if he was waiting for her to take care of the problem. She knew he couldn't do anything. Cornelius was already wary of him, after his lack of control when Sirius had disappeared back in her third year and after he had shown him his Dark Mark to corroborate Harry's story that Voldemort was back. It was up to her.
As Cornelius was still drowning her protestations under pontificated explanations, she lost her calm. Without caring for the implications of her act, she drew her wand and yelled:
"Silencio!"
Cornelius opened and closed his mouth several times, but no sound came out of it. His face turned a dark shade of red. She aimed her wand at Amelia, making clear that she would be the next one to be cursed if she made a wrong move. Both Severus and Minerva were thunderstruck.
"You will get this ridiculous idea from your head," Hermione hissed at Cornelius. "I'm not marrying him or anybody else for that matter! You have no proof at all. This is my life you're talking so carelessly about and I will not allow you to dispose of it at your will. What would you say if I forced you to marry him?"
Nobody could guess Cornelius's answer since Hermione didn't relinquish her hold on the Silencing Charm, but Severus looked seriously appalled. Minerva made a gagging sound, but it was lost on the others and Severus wasn't sure he wanted to know the exact reason of the repulsion.
"While you're at it, why not forcing me to marry Voldemort? After all, there are proofs that there is something between him and me. But before we discuss this, we're going to see the unicorns. No spell can fool them. Will their testimony be enough for you?"
Amelia nodded slowly. Hermione took the lead to the foals' paddock. The golden foals were ecstatic to see her and, when she slipped in the paddock, they ran to her to welcome her, butting their nose against her stomach, begging shamelessly for caresses.
"I present you Dana and Lena," she said proudly, petting them heavily. "Obviously, they seem to think I'm pure, sir."
Cornelius tried to approach but one of the foals turned around, presenting him with its rear. The Minister backed up quickly. Severus mentally thanked Firene for making Hermione the daughter of the unicorns. It was proving more and more useful with each day passing by. Amelia stepped forward the foals but received the same welcoming as Cornelius. She nodded, her dark eyes serious.
Hermione waved her wand and took off the Silencing Charm.
"Is this stupid questioning over? Are you going to stop the gossips?"
"What about You-Know-Who? You said there were proofs!"
Hermione tucked her hand in her pocket and took the Death Eater ring, showing it to him.
"Voldemort sent me this," she said smoothly, not caring for his wince when she pronounced the name of the dark wizard.
Cornelius held out his hand and she obligingly put it in his palm.
"This will go to the Ministry and will be examined," he said roughly. "You may be called for trial for keeping an object of Dark Magic."
"I don't think so," she sighed with exaggerated patience.
She turned her palm up, her forefinger crooked as if beckoning, before closing her hand into a fist and when she opened it again, the silver ring was resting on her palm.
"My betrothed doesn't want anyone to steal the gifts he offered me and indeed, stealing my engagement ring is very rude."
Severus had difficulties not to laugh at her smug tone.
"I think this is over, Cornelius," intervened Minerva. "You have no proof at all of anything and I don't appreciate those insinuations about a professor and a student. It's an easy way to destroy reputations. Be sure that Dumbledore will know of this, especially considering that you came during the week when he is absent because called to London by the Ministry."
"Now, now, Minerva, the young lady herself admitted–"
"You wouldn't recognise irony if it was facing you. She's Harry Potter's best friend, do you really think she would associate with Voldemort? Maybe I should call Mr. Potter and ask him about this. I'm sure he would be delighted to speak to you."
Cornelius knew when he was defeated but he still wanted to ask questions. Amelia, who had apparently enjoyed herself a great deal during the confrontation, shook her head and tried to drag him away forcefully. He resisted.
"There are still matters to be cleared, Miss Granger!" he said, trying to appear stern and forbidding. "Your wand cast the Priori Incantatem spell and you used the Silencing Charm on me, the representative of the Ministry for Magic!"
"She wouldn't have needed the Silencing Charm if you had listened to her," said Severus quietly, his face taking a forbidding expression much more impressive than Cornelius's.
"Snape, you are in trouble yourself! You should have stopped her!"
"Impossible. I was accused myself," retorted Severus with a smirk.
"Minerva, you are supposed to keep an eye on your students and teach them respect!"
"I also teach them to defend themselves, Cornelius," replied Minerva calmly. "As the Deputy Headmistress, I had to give Miss Granger an occasion to present her version of the facts. Since you didn't let her, I let her take the matters in hand."
"I have to agree, Cornelius," intervened Amelia firmly. "I wasn't silenced and I think I was quite reasonable."
"But the–" he insisted.
"Hermione!" shouted an enthusiastic voice.
"Megan?" she called back, puzzled.
The sixth year Ravenclaw threw herself at her neck.
"You were wonderful! Professor Flitwick taught us the Prior Incantato and Priori Incantatem spells today and he was impressed by my grasp of them! I could never have done so well without your tutoring!" she babbled excitedly.
Then she seemed to notice for the first time the people present and she stepped back, blushing hotly.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I, uh…"
Cornelius drew himself very straight and narrowed his eyes.
"This is not over, Miss Granger. I will be keeping an eye on you and on your dear Professor Snape also," he said.
He left, clinging to the remains of his pride. Amelia smiled at the little group and followed him.
"Miss Berkley, I am waiting for your explanation," said Severus sternly.
Megan shifted nervously, looking at Hermione whose fingers were still painfully clutching her wand.
"I, uh… I talked with Harry and Ron. I told them about the Minister being here and they knew about the rumours already. Then Pansy Parkinson passed us on her way to class, talking with Millicent Bulstrode, and she said loudly that the Ministry would probably check your wands for any suspicious spells. Harry and Ron knew that Hermione would have done that already and that Fudge… the Minister would wonder about the Priori Incantatem spell. So we came up with this explanation and Professor Flitwick was delighted to teach us the spell today."
"Are you telling me that you involved a teacher in your plan?"
"Yes, sir," she replied with a small voice.
"I can't believe it, Minerva. Where are we going?" he murmured. "Ravenclaws and Gryffindors as cunning as Slytherins. The world will come to an end."
Minerva chuckled.
"Thank you, Miss Berkley," she said curtly. "You may convey our thanks to Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, as well as Professor Flitwick. This will be all."
Megan nodded and turned around to leave when a silky voice stopped her.
"Miss Berkley, twenty points to Ravenclaw for having a true back-story and five points for pulling a very good act."
A huge grin lit her whole face.
"Thank you, Professor Snape!" she exclaimed before running away.
"Careful, Severus," murmured Minerva, "it's already the second time you award points to her. She will end up believing that you are not as mean as you try to appear."
Severus glared at her and said, venom dripping from his voice:
"Don't be so sure of this. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."
Minerva shook her head and sighed.
"I probably should have accompanied Cornelius back to the doors."
"If only to make sure he's leaving the grounds."
"Thank the Gods Amelia was there," she muttered. "It would have been much worse if not for her. Frankly, Miss Granger, what did you think of when you cast a Silencing Charm on him?" she added, her voice laced with mirth. "And suggesting that he married Severus? I will have nightmares for the rest of the week with this image alone!"
"So will I," growled Severus.
They were waiting for an answer and, at the obvious lack of one, they both turned to Hermione, who was busy slipping her wand in her sleeve and was taking a suspiciously long time. Severus relaxed and chuckled softly.
"I'll deny it if you ever repeat it, but I've never been so proud of anyone as I am of you today."
"I never thought I would agree with you, Severus," said Minerva with a slight grin.
He looked offended. Minerva sniggered. Hermione sighed.
Oblittero Incantato: to erase a spell
Extorpesco: to grow numb