Notes: This chapter contains a few MAJOR spoilers for books # 4 and #5, so
if you don't wanna know, or don't already know, don't read! *L* I
apologize for the poor format of chapter two (I fixed it though, yay! ),
for some odd reason when I uploaded the story my paragraphs didn't show up
*grumbles*.
To the reviewers thus far: Alena: Thank you so much! And don't worry, as long as I can keep myself creative, I'll post regularly ;)
Risi: That is so neat! I've only seen one, and it was small and half knocked down : ( -- but I've always been fascinated with them, and recently I've really become interested to the darker side of fairies. And no, it really isn't a very good place, at least not yet *wink wink* especially to Severus (tries not to swoon).and as for Dumbledore, I'll talk about him pretty soon ^_^
Thank you two so much for the review, I literally did a happy dance when I came home from work and found them! *continues to do happy dance*
Stolen Child
Chapter III The world's More Full of Weeping Than you can Understand
He could see it glistening in the snow as he approached; a ring of toadstools of all shapes and sizes encircled by a short wooden fence. It was exactly the same as it had been the last time he visited it two years ago, accept then it hadn't been dusted in snow. In fact, hadn't changed since the disappearance of Hermione Granger so many years ago, which was quite amazing for a fairy ring, they usually only lasted a week at most. Of course the ring's miraculous staying power probably had a lot to do with the fact that they had made it clear that it was not to be disturbed, but that was when they still had hope that she'd return.
Snape sighed bitterly when he reached the small fence, glaring down at the circle, his hands stuffed in it pockets, glaring at the innocent looking formation, knowing it was far more devious than its merry appearance let on. As much as he hated to admit it, the disappearance of Ms. Granger had been the beginning of the end for the golden age of Hogwarts and the wizarding world.
First her disappearance and the departure of Hagrid after he became so incredibly consumed by guilt that he could no longer feasibly live on the grounds. Two years after that there was the death of Cedric Diggory at the end of the Triwizard cup, and the following year there had been the ministry take over and the loss of Sirius Black during a battle with several death eaters. In the following years there had been nothing but a series of terrible misfortunes, all culminating in the loss of Albus Dumbledore. Professor Snape cringed, the memory, though years old, was still the only thing that truly got to him.
He cleared his throat, and pulled his robes around him more tightly and continued to glare down at the ring, but it began to blur and his stomach began to turn as his eyes unfocused. He grumbled, shook his head, and then began to study the surrounding area, not wanting to focus on any one thing for too long. He took a moment to study the place where Hagrid's pumpkin patch had been, and the hut were he had once lived, and then his eyes slowly drifted over the snowy ground towards the forbidden forest not too far away. It was then that he saw something that made him stop, step forward, squint, and immediately sober up.
Snape moved over toward the thing that had so quickly caught his attention, trying his best to be cautious as well. It was just a few feet from the edge of the forbidden forest and mostly covered in the fresh snow. As he got closer he could clearly see that it was indeed what he had dreaded it would be.
It was a person, a woman to be exact. Her completely bare skin was nearly the color of the snow, and she was laying belly down, her head turned to the side, covered in jumble of light brown hair. Warily he inched forward, kneeling down and reaching a hand towards her shoulder. It was cold, but not nearly as cold as it would have been if she was dead. Slowly he rolled her over onto her back, pushed her dread locked and braided hair out of her face, and barely suppressed a gasp.
Her face was tinged with blue, her lips were almost purple. She looked to be about twenty, her face was more mature than he remembered, and no longer had the roundness of youth, but it was her. He had seen that face a thousand times before, glaring back at him while he chastised her or one of her friends, or looking terrified that he'd take off house points when he caught her in the halls when she should have been in the Gryffindor tower. It was indeed Hermione Granger.
Severus had to force himself to move, to react to the situation. He didn't need to check her pulse to tell she was alive, he could see the steaming of her breath in the frigid air, and though it was a very small puff of condensation indeed, it was still there. He hastily removed his outer robes, leaving him in a dress shirt and pants, and carefully wrapped her in them. Even though she was but a wisp of a woman, he still had a quite a time carrying her, it had been years since he had done much of anything besides brew potions, and he himself had become little more than a wisp of a man.
Snape hoisted her into his arms and awkwardly made his way back to the castle in the dimming light as quickly, yet as carefully as he could. Slipping in the snow and breaking his or her leg would do neither of them any good.
Unable to use his hands, Professor Snape instead used his booted foot to push heavy from door of Hogwarts wide open so he could stumble in, the weight of Ms. Granger having become nearly unbearable.
Apparently supper had ended recently because there were still several students mingling in the hallways, and thankfully he immediately spotted several sixth year boys standing together, staring at him and the bundle in his arms in alarm.
"You there, yes YOU." He snarled at the strongest looking one out of the group who looked terrified at the prospect of being singled out by his potion's master. "Take her." Snape passed the limp girl over to the boy and pointed up the stairs "To the hospital wing, boy, make it quick!"
The young man hurried off, carrying Hermione with incredible ease, as though she was just a small child. Professor Snape stayed for awhile longer, catching his breath, taking a moment to glare harshly at the remaining boys until they took the hint and went on their way, towards their house.
He was just about to head off towards the infirmary himself when he stopped. Exhaling harshly he straitened up, turned, and headed towards the dungeons, what did he care about a snot nosed little brat who'd probably die before the morning anyways? The spark of brief excitement that had been ignited within him went out with that thought, and Severus Snape's heart once again froze over.
To the reviewers thus far: Alena: Thank you so much! And don't worry, as long as I can keep myself creative, I'll post regularly ;)
Risi: That is so neat! I've only seen one, and it was small and half knocked down : ( -- but I've always been fascinated with them, and recently I've really become interested to the darker side of fairies. And no, it really isn't a very good place, at least not yet *wink wink* especially to Severus (tries not to swoon).and as for Dumbledore, I'll talk about him pretty soon ^_^
Thank you two so much for the review, I literally did a happy dance when I came home from work and found them! *continues to do happy dance*
Stolen Child
Chapter III The world's More Full of Weeping Than you can Understand
He could see it glistening in the snow as he approached; a ring of toadstools of all shapes and sizes encircled by a short wooden fence. It was exactly the same as it had been the last time he visited it two years ago, accept then it hadn't been dusted in snow. In fact, hadn't changed since the disappearance of Hermione Granger so many years ago, which was quite amazing for a fairy ring, they usually only lasted a week at most. Of course the ring's miraculous staying power probably had a lot to do with the fact that they had made it clear that it was not to be disturbed, but that was when they still had hope that she'd return.
Snape sighed bitterly when he reached the small fence, glaring down at the circle, his hands stuffed in it pockets, glaring at the innocent looking formation, knowing it was far more devious than its merry appearance let on. As much as he hated to admit it, the disappearance of Ms. Granger had been the beginning of the end for the golden age of Hogwarts and the wizarding world.
First her disappearance and the departure of Hagrid after he became so incredibly consumed by guilt that he could no longer feasibly live on the grounds. Two years after that there was the death of Cedric Diggory at the end of the Triwizard cup, and the following year there had been the ministry take over and the loss of Sirius Black during a battle with several death eaters. In the following years there had been nothing but a series of terrible misfortunes, all culminating in the loss of Albus Dumbledore. Professor Snape cringed, the memory, though years old, was still the only thing that truly got to him.
He cleared his throat, and pulled his robes around him more tightly and continued to glare down at the ring, but it began to blur and his stomach began to turn as his eyes unfocused. He grumbled, shook his head, and then began to study the surrounding area, not wanting to focus on any one thing for too long. He took a moment to study the place where Hagrid's pumpkin patch had been, and the hut were he had once lived, and then his eyes slowly drifted over the snowy ground towards the forbidden forest not too far away. It was then that he saw something that made him stop, step forward, squint, and immediately sober up.
Snape moved over toward the thing that had so quickly caught his attention, trying his best to be cautious as well. It was just a few feet from the edge of the forbidden forest and mostly covered in the fresh snow. As he got closer he could clearly see that it was indeed what he had dreaded it would be.
It was a person, a woman to be exact. Her completely bare skin was nearly the color of the snow, and she was laying belly down, her head turned to the side, covered in jumble of light brown hair. Warily he inched forward, kneeling down and reaching a hand towards her shoulder. It was cold, but not nearly as cold as it would have been if she was dead. Slowly he rolled her over onto her back, pushed her dread locked and braided hair out of her face, and barely suppressed a gasp.
Her face was tinged with blue, her lips were almost purple. She looked to be about twenty, her face was more mature than he remembered, and no longer had the roundness of youth, but it was her. He had seen that face a thousand times before, glaring back at him while he chastised her or one of her friends, or looking terrified that he'd take off house points when he caught her in the halls when she should have been in the Gryffindor tower. It was indeed Hermione Granger.
Severus had to force himself to move, to react to the situation. He didn't need to check her pulse to tell she was alive, he could see the steaming of her breath in the frigid air, and though it was a very small puff of condensation indeed, it was still there. He hastily removed his outer robes, leaving him in a dress shirt and pants, and carefully wrapped her in them. Even though she was but a wisp of a woman, he still had a quite a time carrying her, it had been years since he had done much of anything besides brew potions, and he himself had become little more than a wisp of a man.
Snape hoisted her into his arms and awkwardly made his way back to the castle in the dimming light as quickly, yet as carefully as he could. Slipping in the snow and breaking his or her leg would do neither of them any good.
Unable to use his hands, Professor Snape instead used his booted foot to push heavy from door of Hogwarts wide open so he could stumble in, the weight of Ms. Granger having become nearly unbearable.
Apparently supper had ended recently because there were still several students mingling in the hallways, and thankfully he immediately spotted several sixth year boys standing together, staring at him and the bundle in his arms in alarm.
"You there, yes YOU." He snarled at the strongest looking one out of the group who looked terrified at the prospect of being singled out by his potion's master. "Take her." Snape passed the limp girl over to the boy and pointed up the stairs "To the hospital wing, boy, make it quick!"
The young man hurried off, carrying Hermione with incredible ease, as though she was just a small child. Professor Snape stayed for awhile longer, catching his breath, taking a moment to glare harshly at the remaining boys until they took the hint and went on their way, towards their house.
He was just about to head off towards the infirmary himself when he stopped. Exhaling harshly he straitened up, turned, and headed towards the dungeons, what did he care about a snot nosed little brat who'd probably die before the morning anyways? The spark of brief excitement that had been ignited within him went out with that thought, and Severus Snape's heart once again froze over.