Disclaimers: Please refer to chapter one for full disclaimer write-up.
When Living is No Longer EnoughChapter Thirty-One
"I cannot tolerate much more of this waiting," Snape snarled, his arms crossed in front of him and a thunderous expression on his face as he took out his frustrations on the flooring in the headmaster's office. "What if something has gone wrong? She has no way of contacting us."
"Severus, sit down!" Albus commanded. It was the same conversation they had been having on a daily basis since Hermione had left for Saunton Manor. "Pacing will not serve to bring her back to us any faster. Perhaps you would care for a lemon drop instead?"
Severus glared at both the bearded wizard and the tin of offensive sweets but sat down nonetheless. "The gathering was last night. What if they figured out that she isn't really Emily Saunton? What if she wasn't able to deliver the potion? What if something has happened to her?"
"Severus, Hermione is an intelligent young woman and one who is well versed in thinking on her feet. I feel certain that had she found herself in need of assistance she would have used the portkey you gave her to return to Hogwarts. The fact that she has chosen not to done so, fills me with hope."
"Bloody damn Gryffindors," Snape muttered and sulked in silence, sneering at the curiosity displayed by the moving portraits of the previous Hogwart's headmasters as they unashamedly watched the scene unfolding in front of them.
"Have you had any success with the tracking charm?" the headmaster asked, trying to steer the younger man's attention in a different direction.
"No, but that isn't surprising," the potions master said with a sigh. "It took some time before the tracking charm and the health indicator were activated when we tested the potion on the reptile. There is also the matter of our trial being completed in a controlled environment with ideal conditions, one of those conditions being that we were dealing with pure reptilian DNA. At this point we have no assurances that Hermione was able to deliver the potion and even if she was successful, we must take Voldemort's mixed genome into consideration."
"Not to worry my friend. I am certain that it will only be a matter of time now," Dumbledore assured the younger man, a cunning smile lighting up his face as he fleetingly turned his attention towards the doorway.
"Albus, is something wrong with your neck?" Snape questioned sharply, noticing that the headmaster's attention had drifted toward the entrance to his office several times within the past few minutes. "Why, in Merlin's name, do you continue to repeatedly glance at the door? Are you expecting someone?"
"It would seem so," the wizard answered, his blue eyes twinkling as the door to his office opened to reveal the forms of two new guests standing in the entrance, silhouetted by the dim light of the torches as it reflected off the walls around them.
Being indifferent to the intrusion of whomever the headmaster might be expecting, Severus directed his gaze toward the newcomers out of a sense of civility more than a feeling of genuine interest. "Hermione," he whispered, his heart racing as he took in the welcome sight of 'Emily Saunton'. It was then that he noticed the elegant figure of Christina Saunton following closely behind her 'daughter'. His stomach clenched in fear and his mind sped through different scenarios that would bring the woman to Hogwarts. 'Did she discover the polyjuice?' he wondered nervously, his gaze unobtrusively flickering from one woman to the other while his face maintained its customary impassive expression.
"Ah, Mrs. Saunton and Miss Saunton," the headmaster greeted, his heavy robes gliding across the floor as he moved to welcome the women. Turning his attention to 'Emily' he asked, "I presume you've returned to us early with the intention of studying for your upcoming NEWT's?"
A smile crossed Hermione's face upon hearing the headmaster's words. She was home and she was on familiar ground once again. Oh how she had longed for the comfort and security that Hogwarts always seemed to instill in her. She flashed an all-too-brief smile in Snape's direction to assure him that she was all right before answering the headmaster's question.
"It's alright Albus. Christina figured out I wasn't her daughter the second day I was there. She understands that we were trying to protect Emily after her recent suicide attempt. And no, before you ask, I really didn't learn much that might help us in our battle against Voldemort."
The charms professor had stared determinedly at the headmaster as she delivered her initial report hoping he would pick up on the fact that she had not revealed her true mission to the woman standing behind her. She couldn't divulge how much Christina Saunton knew of their plans while the woman was present so this unspoken 'hit and miss' form of communication would have to suffice. The last thing they needed was to openly discuss the delivery of the 'reptilian cocktail' thereby revealing more information to the woman than would be prudent. Although Hermione had come to tentatively trust the Slytherin standing behind her, she wasn't about to take chances on something so important.
Albus shook his head and stared intently at the young woman as he spoke his next words. It was a look Hermione had seen on the headmaster's face in the past and she knew, without having to ask, that he had understood the warning she was trying to convey. She had no doubts that Severus would have picked up on the nuances of the conversation as well.
"I see. Well, that is a pity but at least Miss Saunton's physical well-being has been assured for now " Dumbledore said, nodding his head in a gesture that told Hermione her unspoken warning had been understood and heeded. "And now I suspect that you have some questions of your own, do you not Mrs. Saunton?"
"Yes," the woman answered taking a seat in one of the chairs across from the desk that the headmaster had retreated behind. "The most important question, though quite obvious I'm sure, would have to be something along the lines of: where's my daughter?"
"Your daughter is safe," he replied, raising his hand to stop the flow of questions that was surely coming. "She is currently staying with two of my most trusted associates and will return shortly now that Professor Granger is back."
"I am not leaving until I have seen her," Christina said regally, her chin raised in an almost challenging gesture. "How long will it take before she returns?"
"I will floo my associates momentarily and arrange for their return home," he answered and Hermione could see the relief that washed over the older woman. "In the meantime, Professor Snape will kindly escort Professor Granger to her quarters where she will be able to stay out of sight until the polyjuice potion has worn off."
Turning his attention to Hermione, who had taken a seat on the couch beside Severus, he spoke calmly, "Professor Granger, you may debrief Miss Saunton on any pertinent information she may require regarding your dealings with Voldemort later this evening."
"Yes headmaster," the charms professor said politely, recognizing the dismissal in his voice.
"Thank you for all of your help," Hermione said quietly to Emily's mother before turning to face the potions master with a gesture that stated she was ready to depart the circular confines that comprised Dumbledore's office.
Walking to the oversized fireplace, Severus motioned for Hermione to take her position and offered her the box of floo powder that rested on the mantel. Grabbing a small handful, the Gryffindor tossed the powder into the fireplace. "Professor Granger's rooms," she said clearly and disappeared from the office in a brilliant flash of green flames. Seconds later Snape mimicked her actions leaving Albus Dumbledore and Christina Saunton to discuss the issues surrounding her daughter's recent activities in private.
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The first thing Hermione noticed upon stepping out of the fireplace was a large orange bundle of fur bolting straight for her leg. "How have you been Crookshanks?" she asked the cat and gave him a loving pat on the head.
The kneazle looked at her and sniffed her robes as if he was trying to figure out what was going on. After all, the woman standing before him carried the scent of his mistress but last time he checked Hermione Granger wasn't a blue-eyed, blond haired student. Deciding that he enjoyed the attention he was receiving, he continued to rub against her leg. The rest of the mystery, specifically the mundane matter of why his human was role-playing, could be sorted out later but right now he was going to enjoy the attentions that were freely offered.
Hermione wasn't sure but she thought she detected an expression of reproach on the cat's face as a result of her absence. If she had seen such an expression pass over any other feline's face she would have written her perceptions off as stress induced hallucinations. However since the expression rested on the furry face of the hulking kneazle, she filed her suspicions into the 'it's a distinct possibility' file that resided deep within her mind and made a mental note to watch the cat during the following days, as she was certain Crookshanks would attempt a suitable revenge. The last time she had inadvertently angered the feline she had been rewarded with the gift of shredded dress robes. Luckily, that particular set of dress robes had never been one of her favorites but she didn't dare let the cat in on her secret lest he attempt such retaliation a second time. "Don't even think it," she warned the seemingly contented kneazle in an effort to save herself any more feline induced mishaps.
"It would seem that the walking carpet actually missed you," purred a deep baritone voice from directly behind her.
Turning to face the owner of the voice she smiled, "I would hope he's not the only one who missed me?"
It took but a moment for the potions master to cross the few feet that separated them and pull her into a fierce hug. "How long before the polyjuice wears off?" he asked dropping a light kiss on the top of her head.
"About four hours," she answered reveling in the feel of the muscular arms that wrapped around her. Oh how she had missed such a feeling of safety and warmth! "Why do you ask?"
"Because there are several things I'd like to do to you right now," he whispered in a silky voice, momentarily tightening his grip around her waist. "However I refuse to act on any of those ideas while you still bear the likeness to one of my students. A member of my own house no less."
"Why Professor Snape," she said imitating Emily's voice almost to perfection, "Are you implying that you wouldn't be comfortable in class seeing someone that you've just recently…"
"No!" he said emphatically, interrupting her sentence with a vehemence that sent her into a fit of laughter. Raising an eyebrow, he captured and held her gaze; "I fail to see the humor in my remark."
"Oh Severus," she said, trying to keep her peels of laughter in check, "I am truly glad that you have such morals but if you could see the expression on your face then I daresay that you would be laughing right alongside me!"
"Somehow I doubt that," he answered pulling her toward the sofa. "Now tell me about your visit with the Saunton's and with Voldemort. How did Christina Saunton discover your identity?"
"Um," she grimaced in anticipation of having to reveal several of her failures throughout the mission. "Well you see, it seems that Emily is sort of timid around her father and by timid I mean shaking voice, shaking hands, stuttering and not looking him directly in the eye."
"And she didn't mention any of this to you before you left?" he asked, trying to hold his anger in check. 'How could she not mention something of such importance? The Saunton's are not fools,' he thought.
"Well, Christina seems to be under the impression that Emily is unaware of such actions, a sort of conditioned response if you will" she explained, shaking her head in sadness for the young girl in question.
"So Mrs. Saunton correctly deduced that you were not her daughter. Why didn't she inform her husband of your deception and hand you over to the Death Eaters?" he asked and a chill ran through his body at the thought of such a thing happening to someone he cared for.
"Well, she was more concerned with Emily's safety than anything else. Although I am certain that if my answers had not been satisfactory that she would have done exactly that. I suppose she reasoned that if something happened to me then it was possible that a similar fate might befall her daughter. I told her about Emily's suicide attempt, explained that the girl really didn't want to join Voldemort's ranks, and that I was there as a means of buying her some time before we could decide on a permanent course of action."
"And that was it?" Snape asked skeptically. He could understand Christina Saunton's reluctance to hand Hermione over to her husband as it fit into what he remembered of her psyche from his school days. The woman had always been shrewd and was never one to be trifled with. Merlin knew that her hexing abilities had been some of the best in Slytherin. However she had never seemed to delight in the depravity that some of their fellow housemates took such pleasure from.
"Not exactly," Hermione answered looking up at him thoughtfully. "She was quite Slytherin really. She said that she doubted I would be here unless there was something else at stake. Knowing that she wouldn't believe me if I denied such a claim, I told her that I was also there to try to obtain information on Voldemort's latest activities for the Order."
"And she believed you?" he asked, once again sounding skeptical.
"Well, yes after a while. She seemed to be won over by the fact that you were personally involved with helping her daughter. Something about a relationship when you both were at Hogwarts together?" she questioned hoping that the potions master would take the bait and tell her the exact nature of his relationship with the woman in question. She realized that it was childish of her to harbor such jealousy but she knew so little of his background and while she recognized the obvious fact that there had been other women before her, it still didn't do much to assuage the war that was brewing between her heart and her head.
"There was no relationship," he stated in a voice that would brook no argument. "I assisted her with her potion assignments and we fashioned a sort of friendship but that was the extent of things between us."
"Well she was invaluable when it came to walking me through the dinner party the other night and she saved me from a near miss this morning in Hogsmeade. I'm not certain that things would have turned out in the manner that they did if it hadn't been for her guidance," she answered.
"Near miss?" he prompted, a frown marring his forehead.
"Christina wanted to purchase a few things for Emily before returning to Hogwarts," Hermione clarified, grimacing at the memories of trying on one outfit after another at Madam Malkin's shop. "To make a long story short, the polyjuice potion began wearing off just as Lucius Malfoy spotted us afterwards in front of Honeydukes. She told me to hurry into the shop and retrieve the potion from my trunk. I was then to purchase some sweets as a means of maintaining my alibi for visiting the shop and then rejoin her."
"Did you not think to use the potion in the vial that hangs about your neck?" he asked in exasperation as his fingers reached up to stroke the crystal that hung around her throat.
"That would have been best," she agreed a bit sheepishly, "Except that I hadn't planned on a shopping trip this morning. I used the potion in the crystal at the party last evening and didn't refill it this morning before we left."
His eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing her words and suddenly Hermione felt like a first year again. Only this time he had every reason to call her a 'silly girl'.
"Of all the dim witted things… Do you have any idea what Lucius Malfoy would have done to you had he realized that you aren't who you pretend to be? If he had realized exactly who you are?" he asked, his voice rising angrily with each word uttered.
"Of course Severus!" she exclaimed in exasperation. "I also saw the pensieve, remember?"
His face blanched as his thoughts drifted back to the images he had seen in the depths of the magical device that evening. Taking a few deep breaths in an effort to control his temper he changed tactics, "I take it your impromptu meeting with Malfoy went well then considering that the two of you returned to the castle without any signs of injury."
"Oh yes," she agreed and laughed when she thought back to the blond haired wizard's hasty departure.
"What may I ask do you find so amusing in a situation where laughter has no place?" he questioned.
"I was just thinking about Malfoy," she replied with a smile. "You see Christina was baiting him, very subtly, throughout the entire conversation and when she mentioned the gift that Voldemort sent me, well… he seemed to be in a hurry to leave."
"Gift?" he questioned sharply. 'What in Merlin's name was going on now?' he wondered. The Dark Lord was not a creature that offered up gifts to anyone, regardless of their gender and beauty.
"Well yes, the perfume bottle," she clarified before realizing that she hadn't yet told him about the near fiasco from the previous evening. 'Now he's really going to think I'm nothing more than a 'foolish girl,' she thought forlornly.
"Well you see, Christina had just informed me that Voldemort would be speaking with me shortly so I attempted to make my way through the masses in the ballroom, atomizer in hand, and had just reached the perimeter of the room when this really inebriated man fell into me knocking me to the floor. When I got up, I realized that the perfume bottle containing the 'reptilian cocktail' had dropped out of my hand and shattered.
"So you were unable to deliver the potion to Voldemort?" Snape questioned, his heart plummeting at the thought.
"Oh no, I did or rather he did," she hastily assured him.
"Hermione…" he warned as she began to ramble as was customary for the Gryffindor when she was nervous.
"Well you see the potion was laying in a pool of liquid on the floor and I had just kneeled down to retrieve some of the broken shards from the bottle when a hand, or rather a couple of fingers, reached down and scooped some of the potion up. The hand in question belonged to none other than Voldemort who brought the 'perfume' up to his nostrils, at least I guess that's what you call them because you really can't say 'nose' now can you?" she asked taking a breath before continuing with her story. "Anyway, he inhaled the potion all on his own and then made several comments in what I believe was an effort to be charming which was really quite strange considering that he had just casually cast a killing curse on the Death Eater who had bumped into me in the first place…"
"Hermione!" Snape nearly yelled as the young woman before him drifted off into another bout of rambling.
"Oh, sorry," she muttered biting her lower lip. "To make a long story short, he inhaled the potion, asked me-or rather Emily- if she was ready to for her initiation and then left after some more small talk. This morning, during breakfast, an owl delivered a package addressed to Emily. The package was from Voldemort and consisted of a perfume bottle filled with some exotic fragrance and was meant to replace the one I 'lost' the previous evening."
"Voldemort sent you a gift?" he questioned hoarsely as the contents of his stomach began lurching in a violent manner. While he had taken a sort of perverse sense of pleasure at the thought of Voldemort ultimately poisoning himself, the potions master now began to wonder at this unexpected line of behavior. 'What is he up to?' he asked himself, unable to come up with a suitable answer to satisfy his trepidation.
"Y…yes," she stuttered, confused by the expression that had settled on his face.
"May I see it?" he asked, his voice tight from the effort of suppressing his emotions.
"Sure, it's in my trunk – or rather Emily's trunk…"
"Hermione!"
"Oh all right," she said in confusion not understanding why he was behaving in such a manner. Pulling the trunk out of her pocket and placing it on the floor, she removed her wand from her sleeve and muttered the incantation to return the baggage to its original state. "Here it is," she said handing him the velvet box along with the note that accompanied it.
His lips tightened as his eyes scanned the note and his facial expression became even more foreboding. Removing the bottle from its nest of velvet fabric, he waved his wand back and forth and muttered several incantations, some of which Hermione was unfamiliar with.
"It looks to be alright. I cannot detect any dark magic surrounding it," he muttered in disbelief, placing the bottle back into its protective box. "Tell me, what was Edgar Saunton's reaction when he saw the Dark Lord's gift?"
"Well, he was silent for a few moments and then he started laughing in this really strange way which was kind of frightening because for a moment I was afraid that he was going to cast Crucio on me again but he didn't. He looked at me and said that I must have taken his warnings regarding my behavior to heart if Voldemort was impressed enough to send such a gift. Oh, he also said that he hadn't heard of such a thing before- the Dark Lord sending gifts to a pending initiate I mean." She looked up as she ended her narration of the events that transpired to lead to the receipt of the perfume bottle, only to find one of the darkest looks she had ever seen on Snape's face. "What?" she asked hesitantly.
"What do you mean you were afraid he was going to cast Crucio on you AGAIN?" he demanded in a most deadly tone of voice.
"He tutored me on how to behave when I was in Voldemort's presence and after we were finished and I was about to leave the room, he cast a 'friendly' bout of Crucio," she said grudgingly, her body shuddering unintentionally as she recalled the pain suffered at Edgar Saunton's hands. "He said that it was a small reminder of what I would feel should I fail to impress either the other Death Eaters, the inner circle in particular, or Voldemort himself."
'I will kill him if it is the last thing I do,' Snape swore to himself with a passion that surprised even him. He had noticed the shudder that wracked Hermione's petite form as she recounted the events of her tutelage under the man in question. Having experienced the curse dozens of times himself, he knew that there was no such thing as a 'friendly bout' of Cruciatus. The pain it inflicted was extreme, only the duration of the infliction changed. Even a few seconds would have been enough to cause painful side effects for several hours, especially on someone who was unfamiliar with such a curse as Hermione undoubtedly was.
"It's alright Severus," she told him, understanding finally dawning on her. "I am unharmed and I am home where I belong. Honestly, it was a small price to pay considering that we succeeded in introducing the potion into Voldemort's body."
"It is a price that you should never have had to pay," he answered, pulling her close while silently cursing his own inability to protect her.
"It is over now. Please don't dwell on it and don't blame yourself," she pleaded knowing that it was yet another parcel of guilt he refused to relinquish.
"Did he do anything else to you, harm you in any other way?" he asked, a muscle in the side of his jaw twitching as he struggled to keep his anger in check.
"No" she answered quickly, mindful of his suppressed anger.
"Hermione…"
"I promise Severus. Other than that one session and a few meals, I barely ever saw the man. To say that he is interested in his daughter's well-being would definitely be an overstatement of the worst kind. The man is an unfeeling bastard whose only goal is the procurement of that which benefits him. Do you know that he actually said that Emily's attendance at Hogwarts is basically pointless because her future is already mapped out for her? Believe me, I spent as little time around him as possible."
Snape relaxed slightly at hearing her words. They had a ring of truth to them and he had always been able to tell when she was lying. 'Gryffindors,' he thought to himself with an affectionate snort. However, she had managed to successfully deceive not only Edgar Saunton but Voldemort as well and that was no small feat. His heart surged with pride at her accomplishments.
"So Voldemort took a liking to you did he?" he teased the young witch in an effort to lighten the atmosphere. "Hmmm, I suppose I have competition for your affections now."
"Oh yuck! That's just disgusting, as if I would ever consider…" she aborted her tirade immediately upon seeing the undisguised mirth on his face. "You're just awful," she said with a shy smile.
"You haven't said whether or not you told Christina Saunton about the 'reptilian cocktail' or the tracking charm," he noted, turning serious once more. "I'm assuming from your cryptic message in Dumbledore's office that you have not."
"I didn't," she confirmed. "I told her that I was trying to gather information and let her think that was it. I was worried that she might decide to tell someone or turn our plan over to her husband. Such a thing might lead to an antidote or Voldemort tightening security around him when he becomes ill. Even if she decided not to tell anyone she still could have been a liability. If she let the information slip accidentally or someone forced it from her than the plan would still be compromised and we would lose the edge of surprise."
"Spoken like a true Slytherin," he said with a smile.
"I don't think I was Slytherin enough for this type of assignment," Hermione told him ruefully. "Think about it. First, Emily's mum figures out that I'm an imposter. Second, I lose control of the 'reptilian cocktail' and if it weren't for Voldemort himself than the plan would have been lost. Last, I nearly morph back into myself right in front of Lucius Malfoy earlier this morning. Not a very good track record I'd say."
"The important thing is that you did succeed, despite the unexpected obstacles. You did…well, for a Gryffindor that is," he told her, squashing down the smile of pride that was struggling valiantly to break across his face.
"Well if that isn't a back-handed compliment if I've ever heard one," she exclaimed and smiled in appreciation.
"Gryffindors," he muttered, "always reading something into a comment or situation that isn't necessarily there."
Her retort was cut short by the crackling of the fireplace. "Hermione, Severus," the profile of Albus Dumbledore called as the light of the green flames reflected around the room. "Do you mind if we come over?"
"Of course not headmaster," Hermione told him. Moments later they were joined by Dumbledore, Harry, Ron and Emily Saunton.
"Wow," Emily said, stepping from the fireplace and walking over to look at Hermione who still was under the effects of the polyjuice. "I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing someone else look exactly like me."
"Don't worry," Hermione told the young Slytherin cheerfully, "another hour and you won't have to. The polyjuice will have worn off and I'll be back to myself leaving you free to reclaim your identity."
"I guess," the girl said dubiously, wondering if that was really a good thing considering what her life currently entailed.
After hugging Harry and Ron, the charms professor once again sat down next to the potions master and listened intently while her best friends recounted their time protecting Emily.
In turn, they listened eagerly as Hermione recounted everything that Emily would need to know about her time spent with the Sauntons including her conversation with both the Lucius Malfoy and Voldemort. She was careful to omit any mention of the 'reptilian cocktail' as they had decided not to inform the young Slytherin about that particular part of their plan. She would fill the others in on the details once Emily had departed to her dormitory.
"By the way, Voldemort sent you a gift," the Gryffindor witch said and retrieved the delicate perfume bottle. "I had a bottle of perfume with me at the party last night and it was accidentally broken when someone bumped into me. Voldemort then killed the man as a result of his clumsiness. When he inquired about the perfume I told him that it was a personalized fragrance made especially for you. I didn't specify who that someone might be, suffice it to know that he assumes it to be an admirer."
"But Professor Granger," Emily protested, "I can't take this. It was meant to replace your own perfume."
"You can and you must," she told the girl firmly. "It seems that Voldemort is not in the habit of handing out gifts. Lucius Malfoy is already aware of the gesture and I daresay it won't be long before others become aware as well, including students from the school whose parents frequent the same social circle as your father. You must keep the bottle and you must adhere strictly to the story that we have created. We could all be at severe risk if you don't."
"I understand professor," Emily assured her. "Was there anything else or may I go now?"
"I think that Professor Granger has all but covered the necessary points Miss Saunton," the headmaster said, patting the young girl on the shoulder. "You may return to your studying but remember, we are playing a very dangerous game here and the stakes are at their highest. You must be diligent and you must, as Professor Granger pointed out, stick to the details exactly as they have been given to you. To do less could very well result in several lives being lost."
"Yes sir," Emily acknowledged and accepted her reduced trunk from Hermione's hands before exiting her rooms.
"You did remember to remove the remainder of the polyjuice potion from the trunk did you not?" questioned the potions master.
"Accio polyjuice," she called and the bottle floated across the room to land firmly in the palm of her hand. Handing the bottle to Snape with a smirk that would rival one of his own, she watched in amusement as he examined the transfigured bottle.
"Shampoo?" he asked, his eyebrow rising in both disbelief and laughter.
"Well you didn't expect me to attach a label that said 'polyjuice potion' did you?" she flippantly answered. Snape merely shook his head and placed the bottle in one of the pockets on his robes.
"I told you she was brilliant, didn't I Harry?" Ron asked his friend with a smile.
"Yes Ron," the Boy-Who-Lived acknowledged. "You also said that she was a bit scary too, if I remember correctly."
Looking around at the expectant faces, the youngest of the Weasley boys blushed and muttered, "Well she is, just a little bit mind you."
Laughter followed the young man's embarrassed admission and the next few hours were spent filling Harry, Ron and Dumbledore in on the events surrounding the delivery of the 'reptilian cocktail' and her impressions of the dinner party the night before.
It wasn't until much later, after everyone had left and dinner had been eaten, that Severus and Hermione were able to attain a few moments of shared quiet. The Gryffindor witch was completing her nightly bathing ritual while Snape was returning some tomes to their respective shelves. It was during that time that a piece of parchment caught the potions master's eye.
"Hermione," he called quietly to the young woman who had just finished brushing her teeth. "Could you come here for a minute?"
Wondering what had attracted his attention, she entered the room and walked over to stand beside him, following his gaze with her own. Sitting on the table in front of them was the piece of parchment that contained the tracking map. That in itself was no big surprise. What had caught Snape's attention and now Hermione's as well was a small section off to one side of the map where a bright red dot had appeared. A dot that was clearly labeled Tom Riddle…
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TBC
Author's Note: Yes I know, a transition chapter but I had to get them all back under one roof and on the same page (so to speak) so that the rest of the story can play out. I had a case of writer's block on this one so I hope that everything made sense G. Thank you so much for your reviews. Keep 'em coming!
~Jules