Chapter Twenty-two
In which Severus and Hermione are parted
Hermione looked up into Severus's dark eyes as they stood before the mirror. He would be the first one leaving the prison realm. Dumbledore had already sent for Madam Pomfrey so that his injuries could be examined immediately upon his return. Hermione glanced at Remus and Ginny who were standing by anxiously awaiting the departure. They both wanted to be certain that the spell would work for one thing, and for another they were also concerned about Hermione and themselves. It would not be quite so simple for them for get out.
"Can we have a moment?" Hermione asked them.
Remus and Ginny nodded, understanding completely. Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed the looking glass returning to its normal reflective state.
"Take all the time you need." Remus urged her as they stepped into the parlor and closed the door.
"Hermione, I hope that you will not become weepy or overly sentimental about my impending departure. I would be quite disappointed as we shall be reunited within the hour." Severus told her, cupping her face in his hands.
"That wasn't it at all. I just wanted to tell you that I think I love you. In fact, I am almost positive that I do."
Severus inhaled sharply, caught completely by surprise by her frank admission. Of course, Hermione was always one to speak her mind, but he had not expected anyone ever to say those words to him. No one ever had. Severus leaned down to kiss her.
Then he stopped short and his eyes widened as he realized what she had actually been telling him, what she was saying behind those words:
"If I don't make it, I want you to know ..." those words were left unsaid, but he could still hear them as he looked into her soft brown eyes.
"No!" he breathed, grabbing her by the shoulders and giving her a good, hard shake. "No! You mustn't say things like that!"
"Severus?" she asked, frowning in confusion. "You didn't want me to tell you that I love you?"
"That isn't it at all. I just don't want you to say such things now when you are only saying them because ... because of what is to come. It isn't right!"
"But the circumstances do not make those words any less true, Severus."
He looked into her eyes for a long time, searching and desperate, before he could believe her.
Hermione smiled and laughed softly, pulling him into her arms. She was anxious about the sprint between the trophy room hearth and the mirror in the secret passageway. She had fought off a demon before with Ginny's help. This time she would be alone, walking into the unknown. And she would try to walk into it unafraid.
She savored those few minutes of holding Severus close, drawing comfort from the fierce resolve that he had demonstrated, from the passion in his voice, and knew that whether she managed the feat or not, she would give anything that stood in her way a run for its money.
"Are you ready to go then?" Hermione questioned as he gently combed his fingers through her hair.
"I suppose." he answered indifferently.
Hermione called Ginny and Remus back into the room and tried to smile as much for the benefit of the youngest Gryffindor as for Severus, who was standing before the mirror on his own two feet and looking a bit pale. As much as he might have wanted Hermione to believe that he was nearly recovered, Severus had to concede, privately at least, that he had been through something of an ordeal. He read over the incantation silently and returned the parchment to Remus with a curt nod.
The werewolf accepted the slip of paper back from his colleague and smiled in encouragement as he placed his hands on Ginny's shoulders.
"Good luck, Severus." he told him.
"Thanks." said the potions' master with a slight sneer as he drew his wand. "See that you keep the students safe in my absence." he added.
"Of course."
Severus pointed his wand at the looking glass and spoke the magic words. He wasn't certain what the exact effect of the spell would be, and he had only a split second to wonder after its casting. It was rather like using a port key, only instead of being dragged forward stomach first at a gut-wrenching speed, he was pulled wand-first toward the mirror, which seemed to widen to accommodate him. Time seemed to pause around him. The whole world stilled and silenced as the silvery surface approached. Severus closed his eyes as something cold washed over him.
~
The next thing Severus was aware of was hitting the floor with a loud thump and the breath being knocked out of him. He felt dizzy as he opened his eyes and found himself looking at several pairs of feet. The stone floor was hard and cold beneath his cheek, but welcome nonetheless. It meant that he was out of the mirror. He groaned as his breath returned. Someone's hands were suddenly beneath his shoulders, hauling him into a seated position and propping him up. Severus found himself staring into the twinkling blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore. His head was still spinning as he noticed Poppy Pomfrey kneeling next to him as well.
Relief, stronger than the dizziness that was just beginning to fade, washed over him like a warm breeze. He was home again and among friends. The incantation had worked. He was safe, and the others would be soon too.
Only the headmaster saw the expression in the eyes of his colleague and the accompanying tears, which were swiftly blinked away. The aging professor smiled at him at patted his hand comfortingly. He could see how much the younger man had been through during the previous days by simply looking into his coal black eyes. Dumbledore, though he had once imprisoned a terrible Dark Wizard in the realm Severus had just escaped, could not truly say that he knew its horrors. He could now see some small portion of them in the eyes of Severus Snape.
"That was quite an entrance, Severus." commented Dumbledore, wanting to say more, but knowing better than to do so in front of Minerva and her Gryffindors, or Poppy for that matter. Severus would not have appreciated the gesture.
"Thank you." Snape replied.
"We should get you to the hospital wing, if you can manage it." said Madam Pomfrey crisply as she began examining him, wasting no time.
"No, I don't need to go. I wish to wait for the others. I must know whether they make back safely or not." objected Severus as she unbuttoned the front of his robes.
The headmaster raised his eyebrows at the claw marks the stretched across his chest. They appeared to have been quite deep when they were first delivered, though they were healing nicely.
"Severus ..." Albus began to say. "Poppy? What do you think?"
"He can go, headmaster, just so long as he takes it easy and reports to the hospital wing immediately afterward. His injuries are not life threatening. Whoever tended these wounds did an admirable job." commented Pomfrey.
"It was Hermione." Severus told her, accepting a helping hand from Dumbledore as he stood. He swayed for a moment and grimaced as Minerva McGonagall helped Albus to steady him. "I can manage." he muttered.
"Of course you can, Severus." she said with an amused look. "But perhaps you can manage a bit better with a little help."
"Professor Dumbledore, shouldn't we go up to the North Tower now? Ginny is sure to be along soon ..." Ron Weasley remarked, trying to contain his impatience.
Harry and Ron had been waiting as patiently as either of them knew how, but both were eager to see Ginny, Hermione, and Remus again. Neither of the young men would have admitted to feeling any relief at seeing their potions' professor, but even Ron was a little glad to see him come flying out of the mirror. If nothing else, it proved that it could be done.
"Quite right." Dumbledore agreed. "To the tower then."
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A/N: I can't think of anything.
Phoenix Flight: I am aware of the age difference (actually, all three of them *grins*). Thanks for the reviews!
Michelle: I think I can safely say the Ron would be leery of anyone who came anywhere near Ginny. She is his only sister and younger to boot. As for the other questions, impossible remains impossible, but they were very interesting to think about and I thank you. I don't know if the Albus and Minerva story will be 'Grindelwald-centric', but time will tell. Thank again!
Myranya: Nothing is ever perfectly safe. Thanks for reviewing!
BLV: Thank you for reviewing!
Slythdor: I'm glad you enjoyed that line. Thank you for the review!
Hermia: I don't think it would be giving anything away to say that it won't be too easy. Severus only gets a break because he's been tortured enough. Thanks for reviewing!
JoeBob1379: I can't answer most of your questions (either because I don't have an answer or because it would give something away), but I can answer one of them. "Will any of them kind of want to stay?" Er, no, I don't believe they will. Maybe, if this all works out for them (and I am not saying it will!) they could look back on it with a sort of nostalic fondness, but want to stay? With those things running around? Unlikely. Thank you for reviewing!
Enfluerage: Snape gives a lot of detentions, so if there were an accident (especially involving potions), that makes it more likely that it would happen to him. How often does Vector or Hagrid or Binns give detentions, I wonder? Snape might sign up to give extra ones to torment students (or to entertain himself). But I do admit that the chances of Remus showing up just in time ... would be improbable. I am an argumentative person by nature (and hope that my little defense does not offend). As for Snape taking the easier route ... I am inclined to believe that he knows his limitations. He's injured (and hates to admit it even to himself) whereas no one else is, but knows that the likelihood of him making it to the other mirrors is small (except for the Divination room mirror). But on top of all this, they need to be sure the spell would work. They needed a guinea pig. Really, imagine leaving the safety of the warded rooms without knowing for sure that the incantation is right ... Ah, well, there you have it. Thank you very much for the insightful review!
Blue Moon: I am updating as quickly as I can. Thank you for the review!
Rosmerta: Nothing is ever really simple. Thanks for reviewing!
plastic: Wow ... Thank you for reviewing!
Faith: Good luck on your midterms and thanks for the review!
Yukito Forever: Thank you!
sstopper: Thanks for reviewing!
SlithernGirl: *blushes* Thank you!
AnnabelleElizabeth: About the voice, I totally agree. Thank you for reviewing!
LadyTiffany: Yes, he was ... and her head of house too. You didn't miss anything. Thank you for the very flattering review!
Sci-Fi Nut: Better late than never. *grins* Thanks for reviewing!
honey_cookies24: I am working on a companion piece. I don't know about a sequel ... But thanks for asking and for reviewing!
In which Severus and Hermione are parted
Hermione looked up into Severus's dark eyes as they stood before the mirror. He would be the first one leaving the prison realm. Dumbledore had already sent for Madam Pomfrey so that his injuries could be examined immediately upon his return. Hermione glanced at Remus and Ginny who were standing by anxiously awaiting the departure. They both wanted to be certain that the spell would work for one thing, and for another they were also concerned about Hermione and themselves. It would not be quite so simple for them for get out.
"Can we have a moment?" Hermione asked them.
Remus and Ginny nodded, understanding completely. Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed the looking glass returning to its normal reflective state.
"Take all the time you need." Remus urged her as they stepped into the parlor and closed the door.
"Hermione, I hope that you will not become weepy or overly sentimental about my impending departure. I would be quite disappointed as we shall be reunited within the hour." Severus told her, cupping her face in his hands.
"That wasn't it at all. I just wanted to tell you that I think I love you. In fact, I am almost positive that I do."
Severus inhaled sharply, caught completely by surprise by her frank admission. Of course, Hermione was always one to speak her mind, but he had not expected anyone ever to say those words to him. No one ever had. Severus leaned down to kiss her.
Then he stopped short and his eyes widened as he realized what she had actually been telling him, what she was saying behind those words:
"If I don't make it, I want you to know ..." those words were left unsaid, but he could still hear them as he looked into her soft brown eyes.
"No!" he breathed, grabbing her by the shoulders and giving her a good, hard shake. "No! You mustn't say things like that!"
"Severus?" she asked, frowning in confusion. "You didn't want me to tell you that I love you?"
"That isn't it at all. I just don't want you to say such things now when you are only saying them because ... because of what is to come. It isn't right!"
"But the circumstances do not make those words any less true, Severus."
He looked into her eyes for a long time, searching and desperate, before he could believe her.
Hermione smiled and laughed softly, pulling him into her arms. She was anxious about the sprint between the trophy room hearth and the mirror in the secret passageway. She had fought off a demon before with Ginny's help. This time she would be alone, walking into the unknown. And she would try to walk into it unafraid.
She savored those few minutes of holding Severus close, drawing comfort from the fierce resolve that he had demonstrated, from the passion in his voice, and knew that whether she managed the feat or not, she would give anything that stood in her way a run for its money.
"Are you ready to go then?" Hermione questioned as he gently combed his fingers through her hair.
"I suppose." he answered indifferently.
Hermione called Ginny and Remus back into the room and tried to smile as much for the benefit of the youngest Gryffindor as for Severus, who was standing before the mirror on his own two feet and looking a bit pale. As much as he might have wanted Hermione to believe that he was nearly recovered, Severus had to concede, privately at least, that he had been through something of an ordeal. He read over the incantation silently and returned the parchment to Remus with a curt nod.
The werewolf accepted the slip of paper back from his colleague and smiled in encouragement as he placed his hands on Ginny's shoulders.
"Good luck, Severus." he told him.
"Thanks." said the potions' master with a slight sneer as he drew his wand. "See that you keep the students safe in my absence." he added.
"Of course."
Severus pointed his wand at the looking glass and spoke the magic words. He wasn't certain what the exact effect of the spell would be, and he had only a split second to wonder after its casting. It was rather like using a port key, only instead of being dragged forward stomach first at a gut-wrenching speed, he was pulled wand-first toward the mirror, which seemed to widen to accommodate him. Time seemed to pause around him. The whole world stilled and silenced as the silvery surface approached. Severus closed his eyes as something cold washed over him.
~
The next thing Severus was aware of was hitting the floor with a loud thump and the breath being knocked out of him. He felt dizzy as he opened his eyes and found himself looking at several pairs of feet. The stone floor was hard and cold beneath his cheek, but welcome nonetheless. It meant that he was out of the mirror. He groaned as his breath returned. Someone's hands were suddenly beneath his shoulders, hauling him into a seated position and propping him up. Severus found himself staring into the twinkling blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore. His head was still spinning as he noticed Poppy Pomfrey kneeling next to him as well.
Relief, stronger than the dizziness that was just beginning to fade, washed over him like a warm breeze. He was home again and among friends. The incantation had worked. He was safe, and the others would be soon too.
Only the headmaster saw the expression in the eyes of his colleague and the accompanying tears, which were swiftly blinked away. The aging professor smiled at him at patted his hand comfortingly. He could see how much the younger man had been through during the previous days by simply looking into his coal black eyes. Dumbledore, though he had once imprisoned a terrible Dark Wizard in the realm Severus had just escaped, could not truly say that he knew its horrors. He could now see some small portion of them in the eyes of Severus Snape.
"That was quite an entrance, Severus." commented Dumbledore, wanting to say more, but knowing better than to do so in front of Minerva and her Gryffindors, or Poppy for that matter. Severus would not have appreciated the gesture.
"Thank you." Snape replied.
"We should get you to the hospital wing, if you can manage it." said Madam Pomfrey crisply as she began examining him, wasting no time.
"No, I don't need to go. I wish to wait for the others. I must know whether they make back safely or not." objected Severus as she unbuttoned the front of his robes.
The headmaster raised his eyebrows at the claw marks the stretched across his chest. They appeared to have been quite deep when they were first delivered, though they were healing nicely.
"Severus ..." Albus began to say. "Poppy? What do you think?"
"He can go, headmaster, just so long as he takes it easy and reports to the hospital wing immediately afterward. His injuries are not life threatening. Whoever tended these wounds did an admirable job." commented Pomfrey.
"It was Hermione." Severus told her, accepting a helping hand from Dumbledore as he stood. He swayed for a moment and grimaced as Minerva McGonagall helped Albus to steady him. "I can manage." he muttered.
"Of course you can, Severus." she said with an amused look. "But perhaps you can manage a bit better with a little help."
"Professor Dumbledore, shouldn't we go up to the North Tower now? Ginny is sure to be along soon ..." Ron Weasley remarked, trying to contain his impatience.
Harry and Ron had been waiting as patiently as either of them knew how, but both were eager to see Ginny, Hermione, and Remus again. Neither of the young men would have admitted to feeling any relief at seeing their potions' professor, but even Ron was a little glad to see him come flying out of the mirror. If nothing else, it proved that it could be done.
"Quite right." Dumbledore agreed. "To the tower then."
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A/N: I can't think of anything.
Phoenix Flight: I am aware of the age difference (actually, all three of them *grins*). Thanks for the reviews!
Michelle: I think I can safely say the Ron would be leery of anyone who came anywhere near Ginny. She is his only sister and younger to boot. As for the other questions, impossible remains impossible, but they were very interesting to think about and I thank you. I don't know if the Albus and Minerva story will be 'Grindelwald-centric', but time will tell. Thank again!
Myranya: Nothing is ever perfectly safe. Thanks for reviewing!
BLV: Thank you for reviewing!
Slythdor: I'm glad you enjoyed that line. Thank you for the review!
Hermia: I don't think it would be giving anything away to say that it won't be too easy. Severus only gets a break because he's been tortured enough. Thanks for reviewing!
JoeBob1379: I can't answer most of your questions (either because I don't have an answer or because it would give something away), but I can answer one of them. "Will any of them kind of want to stay?" Er, no, I don't believe they will. Maybe, if this all works out for them (and I am not saying it will!) they could look back on it with a sort of nostalic fondness, but want to stay? With those things running around? Unlikely. Thank you for reviewing!
Enfluerage: Snape gives a lot of detentions, so if there were an accident (especially involving potions), that makes it more likely that it would happen to him. How often does Vector or Hagrid or Binns give detentions, I wonder? Snape might sign up to give extra ones to torment students (or to entertain himself). But I do admit that the chances of Remus showing up just in time ... would be improbable. I am an argumentative person by nature (and hope that my little defense does not offend). As for Snape taking the easier route ... I am inclined to believe that he knows his limitations. He's injured (and hates to admit it even to himself) whereas no one else is, but knows that the likelihood of him making it to the other mirrors is small (except for the Divination room mirror). But on top of all this, they need to be sure the spell would work. They needed a guinea pig. Really, imagine leaving the safety of the warded rooms without knowing for sure that the incantation is right ... Ah, well, there you have it. Thank you very much for the insightful review!
Blue Moon: I am updating as quickly as I can. Thank you for the review!
Rosmerta: Nothing is ever really simple. Thanks for reviewing!
plastic: Wow ... Thank you for reviewing!
Faith: Good luck on your midterms and thanks for the review!
Yukito Forever: Thank you!
sstopper: Thanks for reviewing!
SlithernGirl: *blushes* Thank you!
AnnabelleElizabeth: About the voice, I totally agree. Thank you for reviewing!
LadyTiffany: Yes, he was ... and her head of house too. You didn't miss anything. Thank you for the very flattering review!
Sci-Fi Nut: Better late than never. *grins* Thanks for reviewing!
honey_cookies24: I am working on a companion piece. I don't know about a sequel ... But thanks for asking and for reviewing!