Anam Cara

Long Time Lost

"Good…Merlin," Minerva McGonagall whispered, her face creasing even more than it usually did as her mouth hung open. "Where…" She stopped speaking and resumed staring.

Hermione stood quite still, watching as the two took in what they were seeing. Nobody moved. She had the sudden, striking impulse to flee while she had the advantage of their shock.

It seemed as if Professor Dumbledore's eyes hadn't been so wide a moment ago when the familiar twinkle reappeared. He smiled widely, in what she later realised was relief.

"Miss Granger…to what do we owe the long-awaited pleasure?"

She relaxed slightly at his welcoming reaction, ignoring her old Head of House's still stunned expression. Before she could speak, however, there was an eruption of noise from the great fireplace. The many portraits of past Hogwarts Headmasters and Headmistresses who had peered curiously from their frames, frowned as a soot-stained Severus Snape emerged behind her. He managed to maintain a scrap of self-dignity by landing firmly on his own two feet and brushing off the think dust which clung to his robes, almost making him seem like just another long since swept family relic in his ancient family home.

At any other time, Hermione might have laughed. Instead, she stepped away from the hearth and allowed him to face the Dumbledore.

"Ever heard of a chimney-sweep, Headmaster?" he said, blinking further dust from his eyes.

Dumbledore smiled. "Indeed I have, Severus. Why, in fact, I once read a rather interesting Muggle tale by a chap named-" At Snape's narrowed eyes and McGonagall's cough behind him, he stopped. "Not the time, perhaps…besides, Miss Granger seemed to have any visible trouble."

Snape's glare transferred to her. She avoided his charcoal eyes. It rather reminded her of his Potions classes. It seemed as if her perfect concoctions irritated him rather than pleased him and he insisted on taking away points for petty things when he could not find a fault with her work.

"And Miss Granger is obviously the matter at hand, yes?" Nobody answered; it was fairly obvious she was. He turned to Hermione. "Why don't you take a seat? Just while I talk to Severus outside."

"Yes Professor." Hermione quickly sat. She noticed her hands were shaking. Was it the fact that she still didn't feel too good, or was it simply the situation at hand? She put it down to a combination of both, and settled back, into the squashy cushion that had appeared to accommodate her when she sat down. McGonagall came to sit in the chair opposite as Dumbledore led the way from his office to the stairwell outside. Snape followed him, softly closing the door behind him.

Outside there was no twinkling eyes or warm smile; Albus Dumbledore's face became abruptly serious and he regarded Severus closely.

"When did she come?" he asked.

" Last night," Severus answered. "I would have brought her sooner but she fainted seconds later."

The Headmaster nodded. "I'm sorry Severus, but I'm rather curious- why did she come to call on you? Not that she shouldn't have, of course, but-"

"Potter or Weasley would have been better candidates?" Severus laughed sarcastically. "Feels almost wrong to say that. I don't think she meant to find anyone at all, least of all me. I only knew she was breaking in using an unlocking charm because I felt the house wards being breached."

If Dumbledore frowned, it was only for a glimmer of a second. "Indeed."

"Miss Granger still thought she was being searched for. She was positively terrified at the thought of returning to Hogwarts until I told her."

The wizened Headmaster sighed. "Not being searched for directly, no. Cornelius Fudge will still hold true to his promise if he can, though." Thinking for a moment, he paced away from Severus, towards the wall. He ran his fingers slowly across an old engraving in the brickwork. He turned back.

"I don't suppose she told you where she has been all this time?"

Severus raided an eyebrow. "Not a word," he paused, reconsidering. "Well, one, I suppose."

"Yes?"

"Everywhere."

Dumbledore breathed out slowly. "I rather suspected so. Made it increasingly difficult for us to find her. Of course, Miss Granger is an extraordinarily powerful witch and it is possible to cast an Unplottable charm on one's self, if the purpose is true."

"So strong that even you could not find her, Headmaster?" said Severus, sceptically.

Dumbledore looked at him sharply. "I do not claim to be all-powerful Severus. I ask you not to be guilty of that misconception. But yes, I am rather surprised that I was not able to."

Neither wizard spoke for a few moments until Severus cleared his throat.

"What are we to do about her security, then? And do we inform Fudge at any time?"

The Headmaster studied him. "Not as of yet. We do not need all this upheaval until it is necessary."

Suddenly his old face, with it's many crevices and furrows, lit up and he smiled widely at him.

"After all, Severus, it is Christmas and Miss Granger is finally back with us."

Severus didn't smile back. He felt no joy at the word. He wished that for once the Headmaster would realise that for him, it was akin to be locked in a dungeon with a hundred inept and ridiculously stupid Gryffindors. It was an irritant, a load on his back.

"Come now," said Dumbledore quietly, sensing the reason for his silence. "It was a long time ago. You have to step into the light at least once a year, even if only to pull a cracker and share tidings with those who, believe it or not, care about you."

Severus pushed open the door where they had left McGonagall and Hermione in his office, in reply. He immediately frowned at the hunched over form of Hermione in the chair, McGonagall looking at her, with a half smile on her face.

She looked over at the Headmaster and Severus. "She's asleep. Murmured something about being 'cold' and 'walking too much'. As much as she needs her sleep, I do not think your office is entirely suitable, Albus."

Dumbledore nodded. "Of course." He strode over to the fire, flinging some loose powder into the flames as he did so.

"Poppy?"

A few seconds passed until the head of Poppy Pomfrey appeared, oddly wearing a spring of holly in her grey, combed back hair.

"Yes, Albus?"

"We have a tired and potentially sick visitor who is in need of some rest. I hate to ask you, but could you possible take a break from your holiday festivities and make her up a bed for a couple of hours?"

Pomfrey looked surprised, and peered curiously past Dumbledore. When her eyes fell upon the sleeping Hermione, she omitted a quiet gasp. "Oh my…"

Just as suddenly as the surprise came, it left and was replaced by a firm, business-like expression, the very reason Dumbledore had hired her in the first place.

"Of course I can, Albus. Bring her up straight away. Oh and don't you dare use Mobilicorpus…I'll know if you have." Dumbledore's beard twitched slightly.

"Don't you smirk at me Albus Dumbledore! I'm being serious. Not good at all for patients. Severus, you can carry her."

Severus opened his mouth in protest. "Not a word out of you, Severus Snape. And be quick about it!"

Despite his grumbling, Severus scooped Hermione up in his arms and carried her unceremoniously out of the room, his lip curling. Dumbledore and McGonagall followed close behind.

A/N: Thank you for all of your lovely reviews. To clear some things up- this IS most definitely a SS/HG pairing. My reference to a new SS/OC fic was to provide a more extensive back-story than in this fic of the character of Sakura- I wasn't saying that she would necessarily appear in this one. Also, Rosmerta- tanks for pointing the whole 'Miss' thing out- I wasn't aware I was doing it. Thanks again!