Disclaimer: See chapter 6.
Author's Note: This is definitely the last chapter before they leave for Snape's home, so for those of you who are getting restless, please sit tight! (and enjoy, preferably!)
Hermione had never felt so cold and alone in all her life. It was just seconds since Snape had left her alone outside her room, but it felt as if many lonely years had passed. She had felt so warm and safe situated in Snape's arms, her own coiled tightly around his neck. And that kiss. Even though she knew it was meant simply as a comforting gesture, his intimate touch had sent burning fire to every part of her. What did this mean? Her feelings were totally inexplicable. She had to see Dumbledore.
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Hermione walked down the winding corridors, back towards Dumbledore's office. When she reached it, she hesitated for a second, before knocking politely on the door. When no answer came, she stepped back and looked around her to see if there was anywhere that Dumbledore could be. Feeling at a loss, she very slowly turned the handle on his door, and stuck her head around it. The room was entirely empty, even of Fawkes. Thinking the Headmaster would not mind if she waited for him in his office, she closed the door with a click. Hermione wandered slowly around the circular room, her mouth slightly open in amazement. The night before, and indeed that morning, she hadn't noticed anything about the room, but now her eyes felt as if they were popping out of her sockets. The room was beautiful – painted mostly in scarlet and gold; the Gryffindor colours she noted with amusement. She gazed up at the many paintings on the wall. Many of them were snoozing gently, except for one at the far end of the room that was snoring loudly and regularly. Hermione stifled a giggle as she passed one sleeping with rollers in, making him look extremely like Gilderoy Lockhart.
Hermione then stood before Professor Dumbledore's large, imposing desk, which was arranged quite neatly, but quills were scattered all over it, spoiling the effect. She was just about to take a seat in one of the comfy chairs, when something to the left of the desk caught her eye. It was a set of shelves holding the patched and ragged sorting hat, a glass case containing a magnificent silver sword, incrusted with rubies, and Godric Gryffindor etched on the handle. But what really caught her eye was what looked like a bowl of silver-white light. She stepped towards it, trying to identify what it was. A shallow basin stood there, with runes and strange symbols carved into the side. Hermione had never seen one of them before, but from her books she immediately knew exactly what it was. It was a pensieve, containing many of Dumbledore's memories.
Staring, mesmerised at the swirling cloudy white substance, hermione told herself to leave. But she was too intrigued to move. She bent her head closer to the surface, trying to determine if it was a gas or a liquid. Suddenly, when her face was merely inches from it, the clouds began to part, and she could clearly see a dark room containing just one unidentifiable figure. Very slowly, she lifted a finger to touch the shiny surface, and felt herself being thrown head first into the basin.
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When the world stopped spinning, Hermione found herself on the floor in Dumbledore's office. *What on earth just happened?* she thought. As she stood, she saw Dumbledore sat behind his desk, doing paperwork.
"Professor, I'm so sorry," Hermione said as she rushed forward. But he didn't even look up. "Pro-Professor?" she said again, slightly confused. Again, she received no response. In fact, as Dumbledore lifted his head to tiredly rub his sore eyes, Hermione saw that he looked a good ten years younger. *Of course,* she realised. *I must be in Dumbledore's memory!*
Just as she thought this, both her and the past Dumbledore heard heavy thumping footsteps of somebody running towards his office. Hermione moved to the side of the room and gasped loudly as the door was flung open. Professor Snape burst into the room, his face contorted. He too looked younger, and the lines that were etched so deeply on his brow and round his eyes were fewer and gentler here. He was still very tall, but his fame was a little fuller, and his hair not as greasy. Hermione had to admit that if it weren't for the expression on his face, and the wildness in his eyes, he would actually look quite good.
"Severus!" Professor Dumbledore exclaimed, walking round his desk to stand before him. Hermione now noticed that Snape's usual black robes were ripped, and his left sleeve was pushed up to the elbow, revealing the dark mark on his forearm burning black.
"Albus," he almost cried. "Look!" He thrust his left forearm out to Dumbledore, and whilst most would flinch, he merely looked at Snape appraisingly. "Look what I am! What I've become!" He collapsed onto his knees in front of Dumbledore. "Please Albus, please help me, please forgive me!" At this point, Hermione was shocked to see her potions professor dissolve into angry, self-hating tears. Dumbledore crouched down beside him, and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"My dear boy, I know, I know. And I forgive you, but only because I realise that was not you. This is you." Snape stared at him for a moment before muttering a rough,
"Thank you."
"Quite alright. Now, Severus, do take a seat." They both sat down, and Albus steepled his fingers in front of him on the desk. "Severus, I must ask you, what do you intend to do?" Snape stared at the floor, but then raised his head.
"Well, Lord Voldemort still believes I am loyal to him," he said. Then he leant forward over the table. "Albus, I want to be your spy. I can do it I know I can. I owe you so much Albus, since my father died you have been like a dad to me. Now it is my turn to repay your kindness. Please Albus, I have to do this for the good of the whole world!"
Hermione barely had time to register the shocked look on Professor Dumbledore's face, before the room around her began to dissolve, and she felt herself being thrown back out of the pensieve.
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When she opened her eyes, Hermione was still in Dumbledore's office, but when she saw the Headmaster before her, smiling slightly, she realised she was back in the present time.
"Ah, Miss Granger, there you are! I was beginning to wonder when you would be back."
"Professor Dumbledore! Sir! I'm so sorry," she started to say, but he held up a hand to silence her.
"Hermione, curiosity is a very natural thing. Please take a seat." Hermione sat down in the same chair that Professor Snape had taken all those years ago. "Now," he continued as he sat down behind his claw-footed desk. "I must ask you, what did you see?" Hermione gulped and took a deep breath.
"I-I saw Professor Snape confess himself to you." Dumbledore looked at her for a moment, then reached for something on his desk.
"Pear drop, Miss Granger?" he inquired, taking one himself and holding the bowl out to her. She declined and after sucking thoughtfully for a moment, he continued. "Miss Granger, you have known about Professor Snape being a deatheater and my spy for two years now. However, I must ask you not to reveal to him what you have seen today." Hermione nodded, feeling a little confused. "You see, my dear, Professor Snape does not like to appear weak to anyone, and well, I'm sure you are intelligent enough to realise why he would not want you to speak to him about this."
"Yes, Professor, of course."
"Thank you Hermione. Now my child, was there something you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Erm, yes," hermione muttered feeling embarrassed. She could feel the heat and colour rising up her cheeks. She glanced up at Dumbledore who smiled encouragingly a her. "Well, since last night, I kind of, erm, that is to say, I have, er, being feeling things for Professor Snape, that, well, I've never felt before."
"Ah, I was slightly concerned that this might happen. You see, hermione, when one person saves another's life, those two people form an emotional bond." When he saw Hermione looking quite blank, he continued. "This is why you have been harbouring these feelings for Professor Snape." Hermione sat for a moment, taking in this information.
"So, does-does he have the same feelings?" she asked nervously, half afraid of the answer she might get. Dumbledore looked at her, his eyes serious.
"Yes," he answered. "I am almost certain that Professor Snape shares your feelings at this time." Hermione closed her eyes when she heard this and nodded her thanks to Dumbledore.
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Hermione spent the rest of the day in the library, poring over books until her eyes ached. She did not see Professor Snape for the rest of the day, as he was not at lunch or dinner. Before she knew it, hermione was crawling into bed, her eyes and limbs crying out painfully. She was unconscious within minutes.
A/N: I quite enjoyed writing this chapter, but I admit I kinda nicked the pensieve bit from the goblet of fire, but I think it works well. In the next chapter they will leave for Snape's house and either in that chapter or the next, there will be a new, completely original character introduced! Thanks to all reviewers – I have 70 reviews, yey!
Prof. Galadriel, glad u like it, but please tell me my mistakes, come on, I can handle it! No seriously, I would like to know. Alan is totally gorge for his age, and I hope you like this chapter.
Lady Of Severus, god, so do I! Thanks for the review.
Beth Ann, thank you so much, I'm glad u like it, especially the snape killing her mum bit.
Cherry 7-up, I know, groovy isn't it, now I've got 70! I bloody hope I don't get more viruses as well lol! And you obviously have great taste!
Darkfire, lol, yeah I know, I do too! When I write hermione, I kind of imagine myself as her……..
Severusgirl, you will find out why hermione's parents were killed later, but initially they were simply killed to get them out of the way so she had to go to sev's! glad u like it, thanx for the review.
Caleigh, glad u like it, and don't worry, I will!
Sk, thanx for reviewing again. I know what you mean, there's something so sweet about it!
H20-polo-player, hiya, thanks for your many kind words, and amazingly enough I haven't actually even got any flames yet! Will try my hardest to remember to email you.
Ladyofthewinter, thank you soooo much! That was very sweet of you, please keep reviewing!
Maddy, lol, yeah that's clear from your stories! I dunno, maybe she should, but I think being hermione, she is sensible enough to see that he did it trying to save her.
Calbee, glad u get it now. It is quite funny actually, isn't it? Hmmm, I wonder how they will both react to their new situation?!
Dark Knight, many thanks for reviewing again, and your friends must be mad!
BTW guys, if you want to be emailed when I update, please tell me on your review and leave your email address. Many thanks again, please keep reviewing, it's coz of you guys that I keep writing!