Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
Thank you for the reviews!
Ezmerelda: you are perfectly right, as usual. She can hear everything going on in the castle, but she has to sort through all the images, so unless she specifically wants to spy on Severus, she will not know. As for Draco, I think I said somewhere that he left the castle during the weekend Severus and Hermione had together. He didn't come back. And no, he's not afraid of Crabbe and Goyle :)
Friday was uneventful, except that it marked two weeks of Vincent and Gregory's ownership of Hermione. They didn't flaunt it as much as they had at the beginning, mostly because there wasn't any reaction from the others. There was a flash of anger in the eyes of her friends from time to time, aimed either at Severus or at the two Slytherins, but it was all. Besides, owned or not, Hermione had made clear that she still had the use of her wand and knew how to use it.
That Friday night, Severus didn't sleep. Between the reversing potion and the different potions he was brewing for curing Hermione, he worked the whole night long without even noticing. It was only when morning came that he saw that he had forgotten his spying device in another room. When he retrieved it, it was surrounded with a dirty green glow, meaning that there had been movement during the night. He swore aloud, cursing his own thoughtlessness. Worried that Vincent and Gregory's had taken her outside of Hogwarts – though the spying device would have glowed another colour if Hermione wasn't there anymore – he lighted it on the seventh year boys' dormitory. She was still sleeping peacefully in Draco's bed. He looked at her image for a long moment and sighed before putting the device away.
He froze, suddenly remembering something, and cursed himself again for having forgotten such a thing. Hermione knew everything that happened in the castle. She could know about what he was currently doing if she wanted so. He hesitated a brief moment. He had no doubt that he could come up with a spell that would protect his work from her spying but, weighing his options, he finally decided not to do anything. First of all, it was very unlikely that she would spy on him, seeing how angry she was with him – and he understood the feeling. Second of all, it was not as if he was doing anything wrong, except that he would prefer if she didn't know anything about him working on a cure for her.
When he had held her in his arms just after telling her about the child, he had felt her pain and her anger. He knew she wanted a family, maybe because she had been so often with the Weasleys and had appreciated their care, maybe because she would at least belong somewhere, if only in her own family. And her plaintive cry still haunted his mind: Not all I had left… In dreamland, those words meant something she had probably never thought of. It made him think that maybe, her pain had been even greater because it was his child… but he knew that believing it would be fooling himself. Especially considering her words concerning the night she had come to him: I was needy and you took pity on me. It had not been pity from his part, but it certainly had been need from hers; why would she have come to him otherwise?
He shook his head and went to breakfast, hoping it would help him change his mind. She was seating at the Hufflepuff table, with Terry naturally, Susan being on her other side and the other Hufflepuff members of the DA in front of her. Gregory had untied the leash from her collar but he kept a watchful eye on her. An owl – Artaban – swept down to her, during the mail delivering. Severus didn't really care; he already knew the content of the message, since he had written it himself. Short and to the point. The potion is ready. She read it, took a quill and added a few words at the end of it before tying the parchment back to Artaban's leg.
The owl seemed quite happy seeing Severus again and hooted proudly as he read the message. Let's wait Tuesday. It will be the one-month anniversary of the encounter on Samhain. Payback time… He looked up and nodded at her. He could wait three days more. Maybe by then he would have figured all what still puzzled him. He still hadn't forgiven himself for having played Voldemort's game earlier and having let Hermione pay the consequences. If anyone should have to suffer, it should have been himself.
The three days of waiting proved to be nerve racking. Most of the school was unaware of the coming confrontation and the teachers had to make sure they remain in their oblivious state. Vincent and Gregory, though supposedly not knowing the precise date, had a knowing smile that Severus didn't like the least. Pansy was in her own little world, dreaming about Terence, though she could revert back to her usual personality in less than a heartbeat. Hermione continued to avoid everyone studiously, except Terry, who never left her side, and the Hufflepuffs. She now ate all her meals with them and there was always at least one of them with Terry and her on the way to class. The teachers admired the Hufflepuff loyalty, but for Viktor and Severus, it seemed that they were pushing it a bit too far. Viktor couldn't stand the fact that Hermione was avoiding him and his sadness was etched on the depths of his dark eyes.
On Tuesday, at lunchtime, Albus stood up and made an announcement that tonight would be special. They would simulate an attack from Voldemort and his Death Eaters and thus the prefects, Head Girl and Head Boy had to be ready to lead the students to the safety of the dormitories and stay there. The members of the DA eyed each other and nodded imperceptibly; they could guess the real meaning behind the apparently benign announcement. They would be ready to fight if necessary. Pansy started and came out of her Terence-induced trance, looking at Severus for confirmation. He scowled, knowing that even though Hermione wasn't looking at him, she would know that he had communicated with Pansy. He regretted that there wasn't any Slytherin in the DA, but then, Harry, Ron and Hermione had a hard time trusting new members since Marietta's betrayal.
"Finally, we're there," whispered Viktor. "I was beginning to fear I would turn mad. I can't understand how you lasted this long, not knowing what would happen and when."
Severus nodded thoughtfully.
"I guess that you learn patience when you're a spy. Hopefully, everything will be over by tonight. Either we win or he does. And if he wins…"
"There are chances that Hermione will be his queen, aren't there?"
"I doubt that she will agree, but then, she has Slytherin blood in her veins now and it's well-known that Slytherins are power-hungry," said Severus humourlessly.
Viktor didn't even smile.
"What will you do if we win? Once it's over?" he asked, as if considering the question for the first time ever.
Severus started.
"I don't know," he said, sounding genuinely surprised. "I've always been too preoccupied by living through the day for thinking of tomorrow. I guess that I will be free to leave Hogwarts for the first time in twenty years, except if Fudge manages to send me to Azkaban."
"Why does he hate you so much?"
"I'm a former Death Eater. It's enough and then, let's say he witnessed some of the moments when my temper was at his worst. And then, no matter the wealth of the Snape family, I never deigned to give him handsome sums to keep him happy. Or to keep him from saying that I was a Death Eater – and maybe still am. It irritates him to see that I don't care."
"And why don't you care? He can send you to Azkaban, after all. I'm sure that some students would be only too happy to share their knowledge of your little tryst with Hermione."
"I have no doubt that Crabbe and Goyle would send me to the wolves if they could see their interest in the act, but you forget one thing: Fudge was Lucius's puppet for many years and Lucius is a good… friend of mine. I know things on Fudge that he would rather have me not knowing. Especially concerning Mrs. Fudge."
Viktor looked at Severus and the Potions Master's smirk was lethal.
"Remind me never to get on your wrong side," he said quietly.
"And what do you plan to do once it's over?"
"I'll finish this year and then I'll leave. I can't break the tradition for this position now, can I?"
"And the real reason for you leaving would be?"
"Hermione, naturally. I came for her. I knew she had no romantic inclination for me, but then I could still hope I would make her change her mind. But now… you're here and she can't change her mind in my favour."
"So you rank her as the beginning and the end of your world? Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're twenty-one and you have your life in front of you. I know that she is special but it would be surprising if there wasn't anyone for Helga's Heir. Obviously, Godric's Heir found his soul mate," he said, indicating Harry listening to Megan in rapture, "so it would seem that your time is coming. Unless you and Hermione…"
Viktor looked curiously at him, wondering about the sudden anguish in his voice, and decided wisely to leave the subject.
As soon as his classes were over, Severus began to follow Hermione everywhere she was going. After one hour, he was sure that she had decided to visit the whole castle one last time before the final confrontation. She had begun with Ravenclaw tower – guided there by Terry, naturally – and had talked with several portraits and with the ghost of the Grey Lady, who was absolutely delighted to finally meet Hermione. Then she had gone to Hufflepuff tower, then Slytherin tower and finally Gryffindor. Her discussion with the Fat Lady was the longest and Severus could hear sadness in her voice. He had the impression that somehow she didn't believe she would live the night through, though nobody in the castle had any doubt that she was the true Heir.
He wondered what had given her the idea that she was the Fraud and thus would fall. Obviously Terry was wondering the same thing.
"Hermione… why are you behaving like you're going to die tonight?" he asked gently, her hand tucked in his, though he seemed uncomfortable about it.
"Voldemort manipulated us so well earlier. I know everything looks like I'm the Child, but then we have no criteria on how the Child is to be. For all we know, the fact that Voldemort stole them from me could mark him as the stronger of us. And the prophecy says it: the Raven will fall. I am still the Raven."
"You will not fall, Hermione! You have Hogwarts in its whole behind you! You have the Order of the Phoenix, you have Dumbledore and Harry Potter!"
"He has his Death Eaters, Nagini, cruelty and experience of death. He knows curses I would never use and he doesn't care if his followers fall while fighting for him. I care too much for my friends; I don't want them to die. He knows it and he will use it, make no mistake. Know your enemy and his weaknesses if you want to defeat him. Voldemort knows this saying only too well."
Terry shook his head, understanding that he would not be able to make her change her mind.
"Let's just hope that tonight will prove you wrong," he said simply.
"This is the one time I hope that I will be wrong," she replied with the ghost of a smile.
As they were going back toward the Great Hall, Severus followed them silently, mentally congratulating Hermione for her presence of mind. He kept forgetting about her total control over Hogwarts – built by the Founders, made to react to them – and there was no doubt that Voldemort would have the same control. He made a mental note to remind Albus and tell him to look for spells for thwarting such attempts at control. He frowned; they should have searched for those spells before the confrontation, though Hermione's control could tip the scales in their favour. He had some reservations though on the fact that Hermione's warning to the paintings and ghosts would have any effect. Voldemort was a mastermind of controlling others' mind and Hermione's spirit was too gentle to hold against him.
He could feel that she was ready to call Voldemort. He didn't know how she would proceed, but then he trusted her on the subject. After all, they needed to build trust between them and even though a part of him thought the moment was ill-chosen to begin such a fragile bridge, the same Slytherin part of him told him that it was the best proof he could offer her, to trust her in such a dangerous moment, when misplaced trust could kill. He smiled bitterly; sometimes he really hated the Slytherin reputation of cunning.
The students were all in their dormitories under the guard of the prefects and the portraits. The ghosts were roaming the castle even more actively than usually, except Peeves, who had been kept in the Great Hall. Hermione seemed to enjoy a great deal to have power over him. She obviously hadn't forgotten his prank on her earlier in the term.
Albus came to tell her that members of the Order of the Phoenix were ready and that half the DA was present also. Naturally, Megan stood by Harry's side; Ron, Neville, Luna and Terry would be fighting also and, to Severus's surprise, Ginny was there. He wasn't sure it was a good idea. After all, she had claimed having feelings for Voldemort. As Hermione looked at the youngest Weasley, the same idea crossed her mind, but she didn't say a word. She just leaned toward Terry and whispered some words in his ear.
Taking advantage of the calm of the moment, Severus tried to contact Firene.
"Firene? Doest thou hear me?"
"I hear thee, Dark One. Is it time?"
"She will call soon. Be ready. The Dark Lord will probably Apparate here, whereas thou needst time to come to Hogwarts."
"Very well, Dark One. I shall go and contact mine allies then."
"Thine allies?"
He heard Firene's dry chuckle.
"They are not allies yet. But I shall ask for their help and I hope for a positive answer."
"Please tell me that thou art not speaking of the Acromantulas!"
"No, Dark One. I know that one of her friends is afraid of them. It would be cruel from me."
Severus smirked. Ron's panic of spiders was well-known. The fact that his fear had been increased after his meeting with Aragog in his second year was less known.
"Many people fear Acromantulas."
"Including unicorns. My people would not follow me to Hogwarts were I to ask help from the Acromantulas."
"Anyway. I hope thou knowest what thou art doing. But I refuse that Hermione be put in danger."
"I will not endanger my daughter, Dark One. I would rather give my life for her."
"It makes the two of us."
"I have to go, Dark One. I hope I will convince mine allies to come with me, despite their prejudices."
Severus snapped out of the mental conversation and frowned, experiencing a slight discomfort. During the discussion, he had felt Firene's feelings, smelling the forest around him, hearing the wind in the leaves, and it was disorienting to find himself in Hogwarts.
Hermione was discussing with her friends, though only Harry and Terry remained by her side. The others were already in the Great Hall.
"You remember everything, Harry?" she asked quite anxiously.
He nodded wearily. He was paler than usually, his scar obvious on his forehead.
"I'll try to force him to keep his attention on me," she continued. "I don't know if I'll manage to give you an occasion to strike, but–"
"It's alright. I know. Don't look at him in the eyes, alright? And, Hermione, you will be here tomorrow to celebrate with us."
He was looking at her intently and she smiled warily at him.
"Of course, I will be, Harry," she replied, her voice sounding falsely cheerful to Severus.
She hugged Harry fiercely and he returned it, holding her against him so strongly that it seemed like he would crush her. Severus remained hidden in darkness, looking at them and, for once, he almost pitied Harry. It wasn't easy to be seventeen and having the world looking up at him to defeat an evil so great that they didn't even dare pronounce his name. Harry kissed Hermione on her brow, a brotherly kiss, and left to take his place in the Great Hall.
Then Terry was in front of her and she smiled at him.
"Be careful," he said softly, his hand hovering above her cheek in his strange type of caress.
She put her hand on his and pressed it against her cheek.
"You can do that now, you know."
He shook his head and withdrew his hand.
"No, I can't. It wouldn't be right."
She took his face in her hands and gently kissed the corner of his mouth.
"Take care, alright?"
He nodded and left. Severus sighed and came out of his hiding place. She turned toward him and showed no surprise at seeing him. If he hadn't known better, he would have said that she knew he was here. Then maybe she really knew: the castle could have told her. At the way she was looking at him, he knew that she expected him to sneer or yell at her. He did nothing of it. He just looked at her, sadly, wistfully.
"I don't know what you planned, Hermione, but I trust you," he said softly.
She looked surprised.
"Do you trust me?" he asked even more softly.
"N-no," she whispered. "You still have to work to earn my trust back. Each time I trusted you, you hurt me."
He nodded.
"I understand. I… I will try if you give me a chance."
She looked straight at him.
"Are you entirely truthful with me now? Do you still have secrets?"
"Yes and yes," he replied quietly.
"Why do you have secrets if you want my trust?"
He swallowed with difficulty.
"Because I don't want you to be hurt. I know," he added, raising his hand when she opened her mouth to speak, "that you could find out what I'm doing by asking the castle. I knew it at the time and I didn't cast any spell to prevent you from seeing what I was doing. You can look if you want but I would prefer if you trusted my judgement in this matter. I know this is a lot to ask, but I have to ask even so. Despite what my last actions toward you could lead to believe, my last wish is to see you hurt."
She nodded slowly.
"Thank you for being honest. Now–"
"Hermione, one last question. Did Crabbe and Goyle do anything improper to you?"
"Why do you care?"
"If they did, I swear, I'll kill them with my bare hands," he said intently.
"And you'll be sent in Azkaban for murder," she replied dryly.
"I don't care. They have no rights to–"
"I'm not a possession! You cannot go around threatening people if they touch me or anything!"
He put his finger in front of her lips without touching them.
"I had no right either," he said softly.
Without waiting, he hurried in the Great Hall, restraining himself from pulling her in his arms, from holding her as if he was seeing her for the last time.