(repost because of my freaky formatting.sorry guys! Have no idea how that
happened.)
Chapter Nineteen Severus knocked on Hermione's office door. There was no answer, so he knocked again. "Erm, Hermione? It's me, Severus.please open the door." He didn't want to have to hex it down, or break it down by sheer brute force, but if he had to, he would. When he still got no answer, he shrugged and took out his wand. He muttered a quick spell, and the door flickered, and then disappeared altogether. He stepped inside, and then reversed the spell. Hermione was sitting on the couch, glaring at him. Well, at least she hadn't begun to scream at him, or tried to use an Unforgiveable yet - he supposed that was a good sign. "Don't you think that you should leave me alone? After all, you wouldn't want to be seen associating with a Muggle-born, and one who can't even carry a child, at that." Severus pursed his lips. This was not going to be easy. "Hermione, you need to understand why I did what I did." He took a deep breath while she waited expectantly for his explanation. "Voldemort is returning, I can feel it. When I found that out, I panicked. I didn't want you to know the torture of the Dark Lord. So I did the only thing I could do: I severed all connections with you." "I can take care of myself, you know." "Not against Voldemort, you damn well cannot. You don't know how his mind works. I do. He would have come after you. Who knows, he may still." He trailed off. "What can I do?" she asked. He sighed. "I would prefer that you do nothing, because of the danger. However, if there is no dissuading you, and I am sure that there is not, you can come with me now. We are going to visit a Seer, a true Seer, no one like Sybil Trelawney, don't worry." "Who is she, and where?" Severus grimaced slightly. "Unfortunately, we are going to visit my sister Starling. Come, take my hand; we'll apparate." Hermione did so, and they were swept away. Hermione opened her eyes, she found herself in a cave, but a beautiful one at that. It was warm and dry, very homey and beautifully decorated in soft colors. A tall, thin woman rose to meet them. She looked very similar to Severus, except that instead of dark eyes like Severus' and Sevolod's, she had shockingly blue ones. She was dressed in long, sweeping azure robes, and her long, pure black hair swung free down her back. She was beautiful, reflected Hermione, but unconventionally so. "Severus," she stated, looking slightly surprised. "This is.um, unexpected." "Yes," he said. Hermione could tell that Severus and his sister were not on the best of terms. "Starling, may I present my colleague, Professor Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is my sister Starling Snape." Hermione nodded. "How do you do." Starling smiled at her, then addressed her brother. "She's very beautiful, brother, I wholeheartedly approve of her." Severus raised an eyebrow at his sister. "Actually, we're here - I never thought I'd say this - to ask you to crystal gaze." "Is this about Voldemort?" He nodded. Starling looked confusedly at her brother. "But - well, to be blunt, you have never once taken my gift seriously. I think you even went so far as to call it "nonexistent" and "a sham." Severus bit his lip. "Erm, I guess I should have taken into account that good memories run in the family," he muttered. Then, clearing his throat, he started again. "Starling, while it is true that I do not put much stock in Divination and the more imprecise branches of magic, it is clear that you have a gift, and I would very much appreciate it if you would do us this favor." Starling noted the 'us' in 'do us this favor' with satisfaction. She was glad that Severus had finally allowed himself to be loved. Perchance he had even learned how to love in return, although perhaps that was too much to ask. Turning her attention back to Severus and Miss Granger, she favored them with a beatific smile. "I would be pleased to crystal gaze for the two of you. Please, follow me." She turned her back and began to walk further into the depths of the cave. Severus motioned for Hermione to follow. Soon, they were led into a smaller room within the cave. It was dark, but dry, and Hermione could see the crystals glinting on a small stone table. "Please sit," Starling said absently, as if she had forgotten they were there, and jerked a hand carelessly in the direction of a couch in the far right corner of the room. They sat. Hermione had no idea what to expect, as she had never seen a crystal gazing before. When she sneaked a glance at Severus, he looked faintly bored, as if he crystal gazed every day. Starling arranged the crystals and closed her eyes. She placed her fingertips lightly on the tops of the crystals, and concentrated. Severus and Hermione waited. After a few minutes, Starling opened her eyes, looking haunted. "Your suspicions are indeed correct, Severus," she spoke softly. "Lord Voldemort has returned. However, he is not yet powerful enough to retaliate against the coven. You have a few months to prepare." Severus said nothing, and Hermione was not sure what to do or say, so she remained silent. Starling rose, and her brother and Hermione followed suit. "Perhaps I might return to Hogwarts with you? I must see Albus." "That's fine. Thank you, Starling." "It was lovely to meet you, my dear," Starling smiled at the younger woman. Hermione nodded. "Thank you very much." The three then apparated. They arrived in Albus' office, exactly as planned. Albus rose from his desk, smiling. "Why Starling Snape! I haven't seen you in.oh, it must be five years at least!" "Albus," she smiled, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's lovely to be back. Quite like home, Hogwarts is." She glanced around the room. "And now, if my brother and the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor would be so kind as to leave the room, I must talk to you, Albus, on a matter of grave importance." Severus silently turned and left the room. Hermione waved quickly before following him. Starling sat down in her favorite green chair in front of the Headmaster's desk. "Now Albus, I have been crystal gazing, and I saw something very interesting. At first, I thought that I was seeing the past, but after awhile I realized that that could not be so." Albus leaned forward. "Yes, my dear?" "It was in Severus' rooms.there was a small child, hardly more than a few months old. It was a female, with dark hair and chestnut eyes. I then saw Voldemort looming above her, laughing.he drew his wand, and then - he just wasn't there anymore. I could feel that he was dead, gone for good this time. And then Severus came out, with Professor Granger. They did not seem to know that Voldemort had even been there; he vanished without a trace. Severus then picked up the child, and while the two were talking, Professor Granger noticed a small scar in the shape of a lightening bolt on her forearm." Starling sighed. "And then I couldn't hear anymore, as my vision became clouded in the crystals. Oh, Albus - what do you think it means?" Albus looked pensively at Starling. "I wouldn't ordinarily say anything, but since you have told me of your vision, I will tell you of an ancient prophesy. It was made by Salazar Slytherin's daughter, a gifted divination student, much like yourself. It says: 'The chosen of Gryffindor Shall be as earth; brown and sweet She shall love the favored of Slytherin Son of night; dark and noble. Together, they will defeat Him.'" Starling nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose the child could be theirs, and that's what Slytherin's daughter meant by 'together.'" He bit his lip. "That's the only problem, actually. Hermione cannot carry children. She recently miscarried." Starling nodded again. "Hm. Well, miracles have been known to happen, you know. How did Severus take the miscarriage?" "Does anyone ever really know how Severus takes anything?" Starling laughed lightly. "That is true enough." *~* Severus had walked quickly back to the dungeons, with Hermione following close behind. They entered his study, and Severus locked the door. They sat in silence for a few minutes; it was soon broken by Hermione. "What are you going to do?" she asked nervously. He studied his hands in his lap. "Go back, when he calls me." "He will almost certainly kill you, Severus!" Hermione answered shrilly. His self-control had reached the limit. "Do not pretend that you can comprehend the many factors that contributed to this decision, Hermione," he snapped. They sat again in silence, until Hermione rose from her chair. She walked over to Severus and sat down beside him, grasping his hand firmly. "Severus," she began in a low voice. "I love you.please, don't leave me alone. Not tonight, not ever." He closed his eyes and placed his free hand onto her stomach. "I am sorry about the child, Hermione, and I have no intention of leaving you alone." Hermione smiled to herself. She understood that he could not articulate sentiments well, and she forgave him for it. "Take me to bed, Severus," she murmured softly. She saw him smile, and then he obliged.
*~* Alan Rickman: *eats popcorn* Tom, what do you think is going to happen? Tom Felton: I have no idea. we'll have to read when Juleya updates again. soon? Juleya: But only if you guys review! Puhlesssssssse! For Alan? And Tom?
Chapter Nineteen Severus knocked on Hermione's office door. There was no answer, so he knocked again. "Erm, Hermione? It's me, Severus.please open the door." He didn't want to have to hex it down, or break it down by sheer brute force, but if he had to, he would. When he still got no answer, he shrugged and took out his wand. He muttered a quick spell, and the door flickered, and then disappeared altogether. He stepped inside, and then reversed the spell. Hermione was sitting on the couch, glaring at him. Well, at least she hadn't begun to scream at him, or tried to use an Unforgiveable yet - he supposed that was a good sign. "Don't you think that you should leave me alone? After all, you wouldn't want to be seen associating with a Muggle-born, and one who can't even carry a child, at that." Severus pursed his lips. This was not going to be easy. "Hermione, you need to understand why I did what I did." He took a deep breath while she waited expectantly for his explanation. "Voldemort is returning, I can feel it. When I found that out, I panicked. I didn't want you to know the torture of the Dark Lord. So I did the only thing I could do: I severed all connections with you." "I can take care of myself, you know." "Not against Voldemort, you damn well cannot. You don't know how his mind works. I do. He would have come after you. Who knows, he may still." He trailed off. "What can I do?" she asked. He sighed. "I would prefer that you do nothing, because of the danger. However, if there is no dissuading you, and I am sure that there is not, you can come with me now. We are going to visit a Seer, a true Seer, no one like Sybil Trelawney, don't worry." "Who is she, and where?" Severus grimaced slightly. "Unfortunately, we are going to visit my sister Starling. Come, take my hand; we'll apparate." Hermione did so, and they were swept away. Hermione opened her eyes, she found herself in a cave, but a beautiful one at that. It was warm and dry, very homey and beautifully decorated in soft colors. A tall, thin woman rose to meet them. She looked very similar to Severus, except that instead of dark eyes like Severus' and Sevolod's, she had shockingly blue ones. She was dressed in long, sweeping azure robes, and her long, pure black hair swung free down her back. She was beautiful, reflected Hermione, but unconventionally so. "Severus," she stated, looking slightly surprised. "This is.um, unexpected." "Yes," he said. Hermione could tell that Severus and his sister were not on the best of terms. "Starling, may I present my colleague, Professor Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is my sister Starling Snape." Hermione nodded. "How do you do." Starling smiled at her, then addressed her brother. "She's very beautiful, brother, I wholeheartedly approve of her." Severus raised an eyebrow at his sister. "Actually, we're here - I never thought I'd say this - to ask you to crystal gaze." "Is this about Voldemort?" He nodded. Starling looked confusedly at her brother. "But - well, to be blunt, you have never once taken my gift seriously. I think you even went so far as to call it "nonexistent" and "a sham." Severus bit his lip. "Erm, I guess I should have taken into account that good memories run in the family," he muttered. Then, clearing his throat, he started again. "Starling, while it is true that I do not put much stock in Divination and the more imprecise branches of magic, it is clear that you have a gift, and I would very much appreciate it if you would do us this favor." Starling noted the 'us' in 'do us this favor' with satisfaction. She was glad that Severus had finally allowed himself to be loved. Perchance he had even learned how to love in return, although perhaps that was too much to ask. Turning her attention back to Severus and Miss Granger, she favored them with a beatific smile. "I would be pleased to crystal gaze for the two of you. Please, follow me." She turned her back and began to walk further into the depths of the cave. Severus motioned for Hermione to follow. Soon, they were led into a smaller room within the cave. It was dark, but dry, and Hermione could see the crystals glinting on a small stone table. "Please sit," Starling said absently, as if she had forgotten they were there, and jerked a hand carelessly in the direction of a couch in the far right corner of the room. They sat. Hermione had no idea what to expect, as she had never seen a crystal gazing before. When she sneaked a glance at Severus, he looked faintly bored, as if he crystal gazed every day. Starling arranged the crystals and closed her eyes. She placed her fingertips lightly on the tops of the crystals, and concentrated. Severus and Hermione waited. After a few minutes, Starling opened her eyes, looking haunted. "Your suspicions are indeed correct, Severus," she spoke softly. "Lord Voldemort has returned. However, he is not yet powerful enough to retaliate against the coven. You have a few months to prepare." Severus said nothing, and Hermione was not sure what to do or say, so she remained silent. Starling rose, and her brother and Hermione followed suit. "Perhaps I might return to Hogwarts with you? I must see Albus." "That's fine. Thank you, Starling." "It was lovely to meet you, my dear," Starling smiled at the younger woman. Hermione nodded. "Thank you very much." The three then apparated. They arrived in Albus' office, exactly as planned. Albus rose from his desk, smiling. "Why Starling Snape! I haven't seen you in.oh, it must be five years at least!" "Albus," she smiled, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's lovely to be back. Quite like home, Hogwarts is." She glanced around the room. "And now, if my brother and the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor would be so kind as to leave the room, I must talk to you, Albus, on a matter of grave importance." Severus silently turned and left the room. Hermione waved quickly before following him. Starling sat down in her favorite green chair in front of the Headmaster's desk. "Now Albus, I have been crystal gazing, and I saw something very interesting. At first, I thought that I was seeing the past, but after awhile I realized that that could not be so." Albus leaned forward. "Yes, my dear?" "It was in Severus' rooms.there was a small child, hardly more than a few months old. It was a female, with dark hair and chestnut eyes. I then saw Voldemort looming above her, laughing.he drew his wand, and then - he just wasn't there anymore. I could feel that he was dead, gone for good this time. And then Severus came out, with Professor Granger. They did not seem to know that Voldemort had even been there; he vanished without a trace. Severus then picked up the child, and while the two were talking, Professor Granger noticed a small scar in the shape of a lightening bolt on her forearm." Starling sighed. "And then I couldn't hear anymore, as my vision became clouded in the crystals. Oh, Albus - what do you think it means?" Albus looked pensively at Starling. "I wouldn't ordinarily say anything, but since you have told me of your vision, I will tell you of an ancient prophesy. It was made by Salazar Slytherin's daughter, a gifted divination student, much like yourself. It says: 'The chosen of Gryffindor Shall be as earth; brown and sweet She shall love the favored of Slytherin Son of night; dark and noble. Together, they will defeat Him.'" Starling nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose the child could be theirs, and that's what Slytherin's daughter meant by 'together.'" He bit his lip. "That's the only problem, actually. Hermione cannot carry children. She recently miscarried." Starling nodded again. "Hm. Well, miracles have been known to happen, you know. How did Severus take the miscarriage?" "Does anyone ever really know how Severus takes anything?" Starling laughed lightly. "That is true enough." *~* Severus had walked quickly back to the dungeons, with Hermione following close behind. They entered his study, and Severus locked the door. They sat in silence for a few minutes; it was soon broken by Hermione. "What are you going to do?" she asked nervously. He studied his hands in his lap. "Go back, when he calls me." "He will almost certainly kill you, Severus!" Hermione answered shrilly. His self-control had reached the limit. "Do not pretend that you can comprehend the many factors that contributed to this decision, Hermione," he snapped. They sat again in silence, until Hermione rose from her chair. She walked over to Severus and sat down beside him, grasping his hand firmly. "Severus," she began in a low voice. "I love you.please, don't leave me alone. Not tonight, not ever." He closed his eyes and placed his free hand onto her stomach. "I am sorry about the child, Hermione, and I have no intention of leaving you alone." Hermione smiled to herself. She understood that he could not articulate sentiments well, and she forgave him for it. "Take me to bed, Severus," she murmured softly. She saw him smile, and then he obliged.
*~* Alan Rickman: *eats popcorn* Tom, what do you think is going to happen? Tom Felton: I have no idea. we'll have to read when Juleya updates again. soon? Juleya: But only if you guys review! Puhlesssssssse! For Alan? And Tom?