Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
Thank you for the reviews!
Romm: Fudge minion or idiot? Ah, I'd like to answer 'both'... :)
Sara: I think more people should read and review it also grin But I don't want to deprive the nice people who review so I keep writing it :)
Lady Penwrath: now, just tell me how you managed to access the files on my computer! I swear, I had this chapter written before your review and it has what you want... Or kind of.
donotsrock: so, the wands and spells... Hermione had her own wand in her right hand and Pansy's wand in her left wand; her target was Severus's wand (in his hand). With her own wand, she cast Priori Incantatem and with Pansy's wand, she cast Oblittero Incantato. Is it less confusing now?
After Cornelius's visit, the rumours were wild and though several people – mostly the DA and some others – knew the truth, the Slytherins were more than happy to destroy her reputation, even if it implied involving their Head of House. For them, Severus had accomplished the feat of breaking the Perfect Miss Gryffindor. Hermione didn't seem to care, even though she received several Howlers due to the article in the Daily Prophet. She had cast them aflame before any of them could deliver its full message. Severus had to admire her aim, as she managed to burn some of them before they even reached her plate.
The weekend was otherwise uneventful, except when Susan Bones came to Hermione in the middle of the Great Hall at lunchtime on Saturday and shook her hand solemnly. Severus was going to his seat, but stopped out of curiosity in ear range.
"My aunt told me what happened," said Susan. "I'm impressed at how you dealt with the situation and frankly, congratulations for casting a Silencing Charm of Fudge! I wish I had done that myself."
Hermione had a small smile.
"I was this close to cast one on your aunt also."
"Aunt Amelia is fair; she would have understood. As for the marriage idea, she only suggested it because she knew it would make you fly off the handle. Well, you and Professor Snape. She told me how you turned the situation on Fudge. It was hilarious!"
"Don't spread it too much, I don't want to be murdered by the Slytherins by suggesting it. I'm afraid it made both Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape sick for the rest of the day."
Susan laughed.
"Hermione, seriously, if you need a friend, I'm here and several people in Hufflepuff also are here for you. Ernie, Justin, Hannah, even Zacharias!"
"The DA," murmured Hermione.
"For the moment, yes, but I do not doubt that the others will come around eventually. That's why we are in Hufflepuff," she added with a grin. "Slow to anger, slow to forgive, but quick to realise our mistakes and admit we were wrong."
"Making good friends," said Hermione slowly. "Thank you. I'll be cheering for Hufflepuff at the next Quidditch game against Gryffindor."
Susan laughed again.
"It won't help your popularity, you know."
Hermione's eyes took a faraway look.
"I don't think I need to care about it right now."
After a last smile to Susan, she continued her way to Gryffindor table, finding her seat between Harry and Ron, Ginny sitting in front of her. Strangely – or maybe not so, considering the events of the past Friday – Megan Berkley was sitting next to Harry, who, though gripping Hermione's hand to show her his support – unaware of the pain in the depths of her eyes – was listening attentively to the little Ravenclaw girl. Hermione noticed the fact with a small smile and tugged slightly on Harry's hand.
"She's a Chaser on the Quidditch team, in case you didn't know. Entered this year. It seems you have something for Ravenclaw Quidditch girls," she whispered in his ear.
Harry turned beet red, especially considering that Megan was looking at him with curiosity.
"Thanks," he managed to say to Hermione before returning his attention to Megan and skilfully steering the conversation on Quidditch, which unleashed another enthusiastic wave from Megan.
Severus inwardly shook his head at Hermione's obvious move, but then, Gryffindors weren't subtle and Harry didn't even notice when Megan grinned at Hermione in his back. Ginny did though and chortled happily, causing Ron and Harry to look at her in perplexity.
Severus let Hermione on her own for the rest of the weekend, though keeping a vigilant eye on her and on some of his Slytherins, namely Vincent and Gregory. Pansy was watching also them closely; the three of them had become inseparable and he found them to be a nice counterpoint to the Dream Team of Harry, Ron and Hermione. Pansy giggled when he told her during a meeting on Sunday morning.
"So we are the Nightmare Dream, huh?" she said, before looking at the clock. "I have to go, they have Quidditch practice. If I'm not here to watch them, it will take me hours to make them forgive me."
Severus winced.
"I wish I didn't know what it means."
"Believe me, I'd like not to know also," she replied curtly. "But no such luck!"
She looked away for a moment and her voice was altered when she asked:
"Any meeting with the Order recently?"
"No, Pansy."
"So no news at all?"
"Nothing. I would have given it to you if I had something."
"I know, but I couldn't help it," she said, nodding, before grinning unexpectedly. "I really have to go."
"How is Graham as the new Seeker?"
"Quite good actually. He took Draco's Nimbus 2001. If he proves to be as good as Potter, Draco will regret to have left the team."
"Lucius is rich enough to buy him a place in any team of his choice," said Severus, shrugging. "Go and be careful. Oh, and tell them to practice hard. I don't want to lose my bet against Minerva."
"No chance of that. Potter is too besotted with little Berkley for being a menace!"
Pansy was laughing as she closed the door behind her. Severus shook his head.
"True, true. But being besotted with Chang didn't stop him from winning the game against Ravenclaw, even though she was the other Seeker," he murmured to himself, wondering how he could be thinking of Quidditch only two days before the meeting with Voldemort.
On Monday – the day before Samhain – Viktor was frantic with worry. He had a hard time teaching his class and, for those who didn't know what happened behind the scene, his behaviour was incomprehensible. His career of International Quidditch player had insured that he was used to pressure, but this case was entirely different. This time, it was a question of life of death. During lunch, Severus almost had to pin him down so he would calm.
"If you're this nervous," he hissed, "think of the wreck Hermione must be!"
Viktor looked guiltily at the Gryffindor table where Hermione was eating her vegetables as if everything was normal.
"I can't believe she's this calm!"
"It's just a bluff. But they all expect her to break, so she will show them how though she is. Typical Gryffindor attitude."
"Severus," said Minerva sternly, warningly.
"For once, Minerva, it wasn't an insult," replied Severus, toying with his fork.
He was staring intently at Hermione, who looked up at him. He slightly cocked his head toward the exit and she nodded. Returning his eyes to his plate, he found his appetite gone. He drank some water, pushed back his plate and stood up.
"Duty calls. I'm getting late on frightening students."
Viktor had a low chuckle, though the worry in his eyes didn't entirely disappear. Severus walked out of the Great Hall, knowing Hermione would follow him only moment later.
He entered his office and mechanically began to prepare tea. He liked the tea prepared by the house elves, but he preferred his own blend; at least, he was sure to have exactly the right amount of citrus he wanted. Hermione entered as he finished pouring his mug.
"Tea?" he asked.
She nodded silently as she watched him fetch a second mug and fill it with steaming tea.
"Sugar or anything?"
"No, thank you."
She accepted the mug, cradling it between her hands, and he was reminded of the day he had given her hot chocolate in his back-office. He shook the memory away almost immediately. It would do no good to travel that path.
"About the Minister's visit–"
"It was probably Vincent and Gregory's doing, no?"
"Most probably, yes. He did say he had students as witnesses. He should have known the house elves, portraits and ghosts would have been faithful to us."
"Yet he's no fool. He tested us on everything we had planned and even suggested something we hadn't planned – the wedding thing."
"I know. The charm performed by Amelia was both a virginity detector and a pregnancy test. And he indeed guessed we had been tampering with my wand."
"Fortunately Megan was there."
"That and the fact the unicorns adopted you," he added curtly. "I'm sure Crabbe and Goyle were responsible, but I don't know why, though."
"To make sure I was still a virgin for Voldemort, I guess."
He frowned.
"They already knew about the unicorns."
"Maybe they trust spells more than unicorns. Or maybe Fudge was in fact supposed to make a scandal and take advantage of it to bring me to Voldemort. You know, breaking me down, taking my protector to Azkaban, etc."
"Maybe. Anyway, we should have expected such a visit. If Lucius were still part of the board, the Ministry would have intervened earlier, even though I'm supposedly on Lucius's side. But I didn't really expect Mrs. Bones and her pragmatic sense. Marriage indeed. I understand why you were repulsed naturally and–"
"Shut up, will you?" she said, putting down her mug and rubbing her temples fiercely.
"Miss Granger, I–"
"Hermione. We may die tomorrow evening; you could bring yourself to call me by my first name."
He nodded, wondering if she was beginning to crack.
"Anyway, I couldn't jump around in joy at the prospect of marrying you now, could I? We were trying to tell him that we weren't together and telling him 'Oh, thank you, I didn't know how to catch my own Potions Master' wouldn't have done the trick."
"By the way, very smooth lying. Minerva will kill me: I'm transforming you into a Slytherin."
"Don't fear for your life and don't flatter yourself too much: I didn't lie. You do despise me after all. And I just said you did nothing inappropriate – though he probably didn't hear me. Considering the situation, we were both… willing and the Headmaster had no object – on the contrary – so there was nothing inappropriate."
"We weren't willing, Hermione."
"Well, when Salazar and Rowena possessed us, we were willing," she retorted.
"They were, we weren't."
"Yes, yes, I know. I disgust you. You won't let me forget, will you? Are you that afraid that I'll force you to marry me because of the baby?"
"Let's not go there, Hermione. If we do, we will both end up upset and we need our wits for tomorrow, we need to face the Dark Lord together."
"I know. She's scared of dying tomorrow. She wants to be with Salazar."
"I know," he said also, sighing. "It's the same for him. He's fighting for control."
She nodded.
"I better go then. Thank you for the tea."
"There is no practice for the DA tonight. Please tell it to your friends."
"I will. Good afternoon, Professor."
Severus released his breath and tried to close his mind to Salazar's recriminations. Let us live our life! You had your chance, you blew it; blame yourself, not us! He thought he was back in control when Hermione popped her head though the door.
"I thought of something funny: Gregory Goyle has the same initials as Godric Gryffindor. Do you think it has the same meaning as you having Salazar's initials?"
Two strides and he grabbed her elbows, his eyes burning.
"Come tonight," he said intently.
He clenched his jaws and closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, they were calmer.
"I'm sorry. He took control."
She swallowed hard and nodded.
"I have to… to go. If not, I'll never…"
"I understand. Go."
He forced his fingers to release their grasp and closed the door immediately, leaning against it, fighting against the urge of running after her and dragging her back to his quarters. Damn you, Salazar!
The day passed quietly, though some spent it jumping at each shadow, wand at the ready. In the evening, Hermione came to Severus and asked to go see Firene. He agreed gladly. Visiting the unicorn always calmed and, with a bit of luck, it would keep Salazar – and Rowena – at bay. Firene felt Hermione's tension and tried to soothe as she buried her face in the welcoming white fur. He nuzzled her neck and shoulders with his soft nostrils while keeping an eye on Severus's shadow.
"She is distressed," he stated.
"It was to be expected. The Dark Lord isn't someone one can toy with."
"Mars will be bright tomorrow evening."
"I know it's for hiding anxiety, but if I had wanted talk about Mars, I would have gone to the centaurs!"
To their surprise, Hermione emitted a soft chuckle.
"Stop fighting!" she said. "The real fight is soon enough."
"The fight and its aftermath would be easier to deal with if thou stoppest thine inner fight."
"And follow Rowena's will? Let her personality erase mine, let her take control of me?"
"Yes. Salazar fights with him also. The longer thou deniest them, the stronger they grow. If thou acceptest them, they will fade in thee, their memories becoming thine, but thou wouldst retain thine own identity."
"I came to thee for finding strength, not weaknesses."
"By accepting thy weaknesses, thou canst make them new strengths. Thou shouldst not underestimate the strength of thy heart."
She rose slowly.
"I hope I will see thee again, Firene."
"I hope so, daughter of the unicorns," he replied placidly.
Surprisingly, Severus didn't offer a single comment on the way back.
"How is it you didn't argue with Firene?" she asked once they were inside Hogwarts.
"Salazar's overbearing presence makes it hard. Besides, I thought I would let you the choice. If you wish to be with… in my quarters tonight, it's the least I can do for you. I'm sure Salazar would be delighted."
"What if I don't want Salazar? What if I want you?"
"Then me you shall have. After all you went through, you deserve it," he replied, his face impassive.
"And afterwards, I can give you a sock to free you for being an eager slave. No thank you, I'll pass the offer."
She was full of dignity, but Severus could spot the slight hurt in her voice. As she turned to leave, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
"Hermione, wait. It's not what I meant. I did not mean that I would be your slave tonight if you want me instead of Salazar. What I meant is… I'm willing to be there for you, not only because you would want it, but because I want it also. I want you. But I don't want to pressure you, I want you to make your own choices."
She looked at him as if she hadn't understood a single word he had just said. Maybe she hadn't. His thoughts weren't really clear now and he wasn't sure he had been able to express them correctly.
"You… want me," she said slowly, not really believing the words.
He shrugged quite uneasily. It was harder than he thought to bare his emotions to someone else and he was tempted to switch back to his comfortable snapping mode.
"It was your name I said just before you called for payback time, wasn't it?"
She blushed slightly.
"I didn't know who you were, but I was hoping you would be yourself, not Rowena."
She nodded and took a deep breath.
"After breakfast, when Salazar took over… it wasn't Rowena."
His breath caught as the meaning of what she had just admitted dawned on him.
"Why?"
It was her turn to shrug uneasily.
"So I could pretend…"
He wrapped his arms around her and held her silently for a moment.
"So… are you coming tonight?"
She craned her neck to look at him.
"I wish… but I won't. If… if there is to be something between us, I want us to be sure of who we are. And I want to take it slow. We were not the best of friends before all this happened, you know."
She gently disentangled herself from his embrace, stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips against his.
"Good night, Severus," she murmured.
With that, she took the direction of Gryffindor Tower without looking back. He stood there, frozen on the post, a small smile tugging at his lips and Salazar yelling himself hoarse in his mind. Hats off, as would say the Muggles. Once again you surprise me, Hermione.
He felt Salazar snort in the back of his mind.
"Get lost, Salazar. She did what was right."
"And naturally, you don't regret it at all," mocked the Slytherin Founder.
"Certainly no if it makes you realise that no relationship is possible between her and me as long as you're here."
"Because one would be possible without Rowena and me?"
"Maybe, maybe not. We're not willing to find out as long as you're lurking in our mind."
"And why is it so?"
"We're both stubborn and proud. We don't like to be manipulated."
"Obviously, you didn't think that we could be manipulating you for breaking your reluctance at relationship because you're scared of rejection?"
"Meaning?"
"Maybe we just take away the shyness and then step back to contemplate you in all your true glory," sniggered Salazar.
"Meaning?" repeated Severus.
Only silence answered him. He sighed. Sometimes, I hate Slytherins. They're always trying to be cunning, even when Gryffindor straightforwardness would be more useful. Argh, he messed up my mind. Damn you, Salazar.