By Vivien
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I'm just borrowing them. They belong to JK Rowling.
Chapter 3
By the time the first rays of the cold morning sun drifted through her window, Hermione was fully awake, dressed for the day, and pacing back and forth with nervous energy. Her thoughts were racing.
'Should I go to Dumbledore? Should I check the dungeons again? Oh Sweet Circe, I can't face him, not after... don't be an idiot, it is perfectly normal to have sensual dreams, especially when one is under stress. Everyone has dreams of kissing a teacher at one point or another. Just usually not a teacher like Snape.'
Hermione felt her cheeks go hot as she remembered the dream kiss. She'd never thought of Snape in that way. She trusted him, respected him as a teacher, but never once had she thought he was desirable in any way. Kneading her forehead with her hand, she took a deep breath. Now when she thought of him, her stomach felt wobbly. She couldn't explain her feelings, didn't really want to. She did have to acknowledge that something - whether it be normal hormonal flux or deep subconscious stirring - something had changed.
Even with this unsettling development, she still wanted to check on Snape, make sure he was all right. But how she could look him in the eye without blushing at the memory of his dream arms around her...
"That's enough," she said aloud. "No more of this... silliness." She headed for the door. She'd have some breakfast, and then she'd casually go by the Potions classroom on the way to her first class of the day. If he was there, then she'd carry on with her business as usual. If he wasn't, then... well she wasn't exactly sure what she'd do then. She was brainy; she'd figure it out later.
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Hermione lingered over breakfast finding that she didn't have an overwhelming desire to leave the Great Hall anytime soon. In her head she repeated the mantra "It's normal to have dreams about teachers, it's normal to have dreams about teachers..." over and over. Besides it wasn't even as... detailed as the one dream she'd had about Viktor last year.
Now as her porridge cooled and clumped in the bowl before her, she yawned and grumbled at herself for being such an idiot. She should've gone back to sleep from the first instead of letting this get under her skin. She stirred her spoon absentmindedly through the sludgy porridge. Ginny startled her out of her reverie by plumping down on the bench beside her.
"Morning Hermione," she said brightly, "You look like hell."
"Thanks for the compliment," said Hermione.
"Oh, sorry, I was teasing. Is something wrong?"
"I didn't sleep well. I had disturbing... dreams." Hermione's eyes flickered up to the staff table and back again.
Ginny glanced to where she'd seen Hermione look. "Is he back yet?" she whispered.
"I don't know. Can we talk about something else?"
"Hermione, what on earth is wrong? You're acting so oddly. What were your dreams about? "
"Nightmares about Death Eaters chasing me," Hermione admitted. "I have them every so often."
"I still have nightmares, too. I understand if you don't want to talk about them."
Hermione squeezed Ginny's hand. None of her friends were untouched by nightmares and horrors. It wasn't fair.
"So are you going to check on Professor Snape yet, or did you swing by the dungeons on the way to breakfast?"
Hermione went pink in the cheeks. "Not yet."
Ginny laughed. "Hermione, why on earth are you blushing? I know you worry about Snape. He's one of your favorite teachers." Ginny paused, her eyes widening. "Unless... Hermione, do you fancy Snape?"
"Gods, no, Ginny," Hermione sputtered, standing to leave but bumping her knees on the bench painfully as she did. "How could you even suggest such a... such a horrid idea. I have to go."
She walked quickly, her cheeks hot and her insides in turmoil. She most certainly could not fancy anyone like Severus Snape. Besides that, he was a teacher and old enough to be her father. Gilderoy Lockhart had been one thing, but Severus Snape? He wasn't even handsome. It was just the stupid dream addling her. These feelings would go away. She would make them.
Once she had reached the main hallway, she took a shaky breath and leaned against the cool stone wall. In the hour before class she would go to the library and read. If Snape weren't back, she wouldn't be able to do a thing about it. She fled for the safety of the books.
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Later that afternoon, after Hermione had sneaked in a dream free catnap and felt much more her usual self, she slipped down the stairs to the dungeons. She would simply walk by the classroom door, and then be on her way. If Professor Snape was back, she needn't stop and cause a fuss. If he wasn't, then she might ask Professor McGonagall if she knew how he was. Or she might just wait till Monday morning and stop fretting like a school girl with a crush. Which she was most decidedly not.
She slowed as she saw the Potions classroom door, standing wide open to the dim hallway. Listening carefully, she maintained a strolling pace, allowing her eyes to glance into the classroom. Students were busy at work, but she didn't see or hear Snape. She paused a moment, trying to think of a decent excuse to allow her entry into the classroom when she heard her name called.
"Miss Granger," said the Headmaster, striding from the back of the classroom into Hermione's line of vision. "I'm so glad you were passing by. I have something for you."
Dumbledore handed Hermione a small folded parchment. "I'm filling in for Professor Snape today - he's a bit under the weather."
"Thank you, Sir," said Hermione, taking the note. Dumbledore smiled and nodded at her, and then softly closed the classroom door.
She opened the note and read.
Dear Miss Granger,
Professor Snape is safely back at the castle. He is resting and will be back to his normal schedule by Monday. He wishes me to tell you not to worry on his behalf.
Respectfully,
Albus Dumbledore
Hermione sighed with relief and folded the note away. He was all right, and she wouldn't have to face him till Monday. It was going to be a good weekend after all.
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By Sunday morning, Severus was able to sit in the arm chair by his hearth fire, instead of reclining in its transfigured bed form, for the first time since he'd returned from the Death Eaters meeting. His body was still wracked with pain, even though it had mostly receded to a dull, unpleasant ache. The Dark Lord had punished him more severely than he'd thought. The fire was blazing, not only to give him much needed warmth but also because he expected visitors this morning. Albus and Minerva would be here soon to analyze his memories and to formulate strategy before they presented a plan to the Order regarding the imminent attack on Hogwarts.
He closed his eyes and took a sip of black breakfast tea. It was comforting to know that at least two people in the world trusted and liked him. When he had fled to Dumbledore those many years ago, he hadn't thought he'd find an ally in him, a father figure, but he had. Then much more to his surprise, stern Professor McGonagall, whom he'd always respected, took him under her wing. She had known first hand the lure of the Dark Lord and had dealt with her own demons. She had assisted Severus in handling his own. He had a family here at Hogwarts, one he would give his life for freely. And if things continued at the pace they were going, he would probably do just that.
Green flames flared in the hearth, and Albus Dumbledore appeared inside of them. He stepped out regally and conjured a chair for himself. Minerva followed right behind.
"Good morning, Severus," Albus said. "How are you feeling today?"
Minerva didn't let him answer. "Wretched, by the looks of him," she said in her usual no-nonsense tones. "Take your pain drops, Severus."
"Really, Minerva, you needn't bluster in here and start fussing over me," Severus replied indignantly. "Besides I've taken a dosage already today."
Minerva raised her eyebrow and waved her wand at the pain drops vial on the side table. "Good try, but I charmed the bottle to glow blue if you hadn't taken a dose in twelve hours." She handed him the fiercely blue vial. "Drink up, dear."
With a sour expression, Severus took the vial from her and drank. Immediately the fluid filled his body with soothing tingles, pushing the pain farther away.
"I don't see why you insist on punishing yourself, Severus," said Minerva, as she settled into her own conjured chair. "We need you healthy and well." She reached out and patted his hand, smiling at him in encouragement. Severus didn't mind her mothering, as long as it was in private. It filled a basic need for both of them; Severus knew how her daughter's murder twenty years ago still haunted her.
"Shall we begin?" Albus muttered an incantation further protecting the privacy and security of the room. Severus felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle as the power wrapped itself around the occupants of the room. With Dumbledore on their side, Severus knew they had a chance to defeat the Dark Lord once and for all.
"You know that if you two weren't so intent upon coddling me, we should be meeting in your office, Albus. It's much safer."
"We are safe here, as well, Severus. Do not fret." Albus smiled, but his smile faded into a more serious expression. "Before we go to the Order, I wanted to discuss some elements of strategy with you both before we enter the Pensieve. Minerva, I want you to tell us of your work with the Banishment of Darkness spell."
"Albus, you know that my research never progressed beyond theories," she began. "I don't feel we should rely on my hopeful fancies as facts to protect anyone."
"What is the Banishment of Darkness spell?" asked Severus. "I've never heard you mention it."
"That's because it... well, I don't think it will work."
"I do," said Albus. "Tom Riddle became Voldemort partly through rituals Inviting Darkness within his very cellular structure. Minerva has discovered a possible way to banish that very Dark energy from the users mind and body. We know from the prophecy that Harry or Voldemort will die by the other's hand. Even with his amazing accomplishments, Harry won't be able to destroy Voldemort on his own. But with a weakened Voldemort, one who can not call on Dark energies to power his enchantments, we might have a chance of overpowering him and thwarting the prophecy."
"Giving Potter, or one of us, a clean kill," said Severus, nodding his head.
"Or not," said Minerva, "There might be a way... If the Darkness is drawn away, there could be a chance of rehabilitation or even..."
"Minerva, there is no way to redeem the Dark Lord," cried Severus. "Are you out of your mind? The only way we'll survive is to destroy him utterly. Why would you even want to attempt such a thing?"
Minerva quietly met his gaze. "You didn't know him as I did, and I can't help but wish for impossible things. Voldemort will be destroyed, I have no doubt of that. But if there is the slightest chance to save the man he once was, I will try."
"Minerva, I don't wish to sound cruel," said Albus, "but I think Tom passed the point of no return many years ago." When Minerva nodded her head to acknowledge his words, he continued. "Please tell us more about your theory."
"The spell will probably be fatal to both parties as it now stands, and it's far from foolproof," Minerva said calmly, but Severus could see the mist of tears in her eyes. "Another major problem with it is that the Dark magic has to go somewhere once it's drawn out. If it is freed into the world, it becomes a dangerous power to whomever it is called to next. It can be neutralized by Light magic, but the amount of energy and power that would take... I can't imagine anyone would survive the process."
"But it's the best plan we've got, it sounds to me," said Severus. "Voldemort's power is immense. Do you think Potter will be able to kill him in cold blood? Can he even perform the Killing Curse?"
"Harry will do whatever he needs to do," said Albus. "I worry for him, but I think when the time comes, he will be able to do what he must."
"And what of the rest of the students," said Minerva, "How will we protect them?"
"That's the next matter I wanted to discuss. How do we involve the students closest to Harry, if we involve them at all?"
"They won't let him go into this alone," said Severus, shivering at an image of Hermione dead before a Death Eater's wand. "So, how will they best be used as bait without getting all of them killed?"
"Severus!" exclaimed Minerva.
"I'm afraid he's not far off," said Albus gravely. "Voldemort will come for Harry, of that we can be sure. We will need to ensure he's protected as much as possible. With select members of his army by his side, and as many of the Order as possible, the playing field should be leveled somewhat."
"But if the castle is attacked by a full scale army, how will we protect the rest of the students? Shouldn't we evacuate as soon as possible?"
"Minerva, we need the element of surprise on our side. We'll find a way to make sure our students are safe. We can enchant portkeys for each of the Houses to evacuate the students at the time of the attack and appoint 7th years to handle the responsibility. I'm sure you've noticed what an astonishing group of students we have to entrust with this dreadful business. I've already discussed with Agent Cronin the possibility of converting the East Tower into a secret barracks for Aurors and Magical Law Enforcement. Voldemort's army will meet one of our own."
Minerva sighed. "So we choose children to stand by Potter in the end."
"No," corrected Albus, "we select volunteers who would go to whatever lengths to remain by his side. We'll need to discuss the situation with the rest of the staff."
"We should meet with everyone soon," said Severus. "How will we keep their tongues from wagging all the secrets?"
"The Silentium charm is strong and unbreakable," said Minerva grimly. "It should suffice."
"Severus, we need to gather more information. Do you want to stay here or accompany us into your memories?" Dumbledore rose and took the Pensieve from the mantle, setting it down on a table Minerva quickly conjured.
"I'm ready," said Severus, placing his wand to his temple. Pulling out the misty memory of the last Death Eater's gathering, he delivered it into the Pensieve's shimmering waters. He stood up with help from Minerva's steadying arm. Looking at two of the most valued people in his life standing beside him, he said, "This attack could be the end of everything. You know that, don't you."
"Or it could be a beginning," said Albus, smiling.
"In either case," said Minerva, "it won't be easy - or bloodless, I fear."
"It never has been," said Albus, and as one, the three of them touched the waters of the Pensieve and vanished into the disturbing memories.
