So Snape was trustworthy, was he? A revelation, but hardly a startling one.
More of a confirmation, really. In the three years since Voldemort's
return, Severus Snape had changed. He was often absent, returning drained
of malice and almost of personality. The academics of his classes had not
faltered, though, a fact for which Hermione was grateful. Her grades in
Potions, already high, went up, due in part to the fact that the instructor
no longer responded to her queries with spiteful indifference.
Many of the Slytherins were gone; this was Snape's doing, as well. If Harry Potter gave the good guys hope and Albus Dumbledore gave them strength, Severus Snape kept them pure. He could have called his autobiography 'The Death Eater Who Stayed Out In The Cold'.
Hermione got out of bed and back into her robes. Adding jeans and the crepe- soled dragon-hide boots Draco had given her, she padded out of Gryffindor Tower through a passage that only led on odd-numbered days to the dungeons. Draco had shown her the way around and she knew where Snape would be, even at ten at night.
Hermione knocked on a door that wasn't there and received a "Come" that was more tired than irritable. The stone disappeared, revealing the Head of Slytherin at a desk, grading papers.
He looked up. "Miss Granger, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Some things never change.
"I'm sorry to bother you so late, Professor, but there's something you need to see." She stepped forward and laid Draco's parchment on his desk. "I've had a letter from Durmstrang."
Snape's eyes roved over the paper for a long moment and then flicked back to Hermione. "How did you get this?"
"Love finds a way, Professor."
"Indeed. More importantly, can you get another back the same way?"
"I doubt it, sir."
"You might try Mr. Potter's owl. It seems to have a remarkable talent for getting where it is not wanted. Much like its owner." Hedwig had become something of a Hogwarts legend in the past two years.
"I'll keep that in mind, sir."
"I will see that this gets to the Headmaster." Snape stood and handed Hermione back the letter. She turned to go. "Hermione." She spun. "When this is over, and it will end, I would like an invitation to the wedding."
She threw her arms around his neck. "You're in the front row, sir." Hermione left before she could do anything else mutually embarrassing.
Many of the Slytherins were gone; this was Snape's doing, as well. If Harry Potter gave the good guys hope and Albus Dumbledore gave them strength, Severus Snape kept them pure. He could have called his autobiography 'The Death Eater Who Stayed Out In The Cold'.
Hermione got out of bed and back into her robes. Adding jeans and the crepe- soled dragon-hide boots Draco had given her, she padded out of Gryffindor Tower through a passage that only led on odd-numbered days to the dungeons. Draco had shown her the way around and she knew where Snape would be, even at ten at night.
Hermione knocked on a door that wasn't there and received a "Come" that was more tired than irritable. The stone disappeared, revealing the Head of Slytherin at a desk, grading papers.
He looked up. "Miss Granger, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Some things never change.
"I'm sorry to bother you so late, Professor, but there's something you need to see." She stepped forward and laid Draco's parchment on his desk. "I've had a letter from Durmstrang."
Snape's eyes roved over the paper for a long moment and then flicked back to Hermione. "How did you get this?"
"Love finds a way, Professor."
"Indeed. More importantly, can you get another back the same way?"
"I doubt it, sir."
"You might try Mr. Potter's owl. It seems to have a remarkable talent for getting where it is not wanted. Much like its owner." Hedwig had become something of a Hogwarts legend in the past two years.
"I'll keep that in mind, sir."
"I will see that this gets to the Headmaster." Snape stood and handed Hermione back the letter. She turned to go. "Hermione." She spun. "When this is over, and it will end, I would like an invitation to the wedding."
She threw her arms around his neck. "You're in the front row, sir." Hermione left before she could do anything else mutually embarrassing.