Stolen Child
Chapter 18
Dark as Roses, Fine as Sand
~Though Your Garden's Gray, I Know All Your Graces Will Someday Flower and Grow, in a Sweet Sunshower~
Never in her wildest dreams would Hermione have thought that such a place a Diagon Alley existed. Every shop had incredible treasures displayed in their front windows, strange, beautiful, and many terrible and frightening. Everything a wizard or which could ever possible need all crammed in to two long parallel strips of marvelous stores.
Snape had been dead on in suggesting that she dress warmly. It was just three o'clock and already there was little or no sunlight filtering in between the towering buildings, and it seemed as though the wind was being funneled strait through them causing the temperature to drop even more.
They had first stopped at Gringotts to allow her to withdraw enough to make her purchases. Overall it was a terrifying experience, and Hermione wasn't at all fond of the roller coaster ride down to her vault. Her parent's had left her quite a bit of money, probably all that they had had when they passed away, and it was enough to support her for at least a few years, that is of course if she continued living at Hogwarts. And then they had ventured into the madness of the main strip of stores, both of them having forgotten how close to Christmas it was.
They passed by a rather large man, who apparently didn't see Hermione and nearly knocked her to the ground, not even bothering to stop. Luckily Snape reacted quickly enough and gently grasped her arm to steady her. She glanced up at him and smiled thankfully. He did not return the smile, but of course what would a passerby think if they saw Professor Snape, the head of Slyterin offer anything to a young woman but a trademark smirk?
The first shop they visited was Slug and Jigger's Apothecary, a foul smelling place with barrels of slimy things lined up in rows, feathers and herbs handing from the ceiling, and hundreds upon hundreds of jars containing anything a Potion's Master could ever want or need. Hermione found herself being both revolted and fascinated at the same time, bending down to inspect the contents of the barrels, occasionally looking up to watch Professor Snape, finding a certain delight in seeing him in his element. In the end, he left with a large bag filled with at least a dozen small bags and tightly corked jars filled with everything from mugwort to gillyweed, and she surprisingly left with a bag of her own, having bought half a pound of dried lavender buds, charmed to never loose their scent, which Snape had taken a moment to smell, nodding approvingly with a subdued smile.
The rich, spicy scent brought dozens of unbidden images to his mind. The delightful fragrance of her hair and its texture beneath his fingers. A beautiful hamadryad with Hermione's face bathing in a forest stream turning to smile at him. It took all of his strength to keep from pulling him to her in the middle of the street; but as free as his mind felt from his bitterness and hate, he couldn't quite come out and express it, especially not in a crowded street. He was Snape, the Hogwart's Potion Master, not some frivolous young man slobbering over a giggling girlfriend, though somewhere in the back of his mind a tiny voice shouted, 'Don't you wish you were, though?'
Just an hour into their little foray out into the world both had at least one bag in each hand. They had shopped briskly, neither of them wishing to dwell long within any of the stores they had visited. Flourish and Blotts bookstore where they each bought a few books, Madame Malkin's Robes for all Occasions where Hermione bought a set of light gray robes that had struck her fancy, and Scribbulus Ever Changing Inks for ink and plain parchment.
They had paused briefly beside Quality Quidditch supplies so that Hermione could adjust the bags in her hands when Snape set his bags in a dry spot next to the store's wall and cleared her throat. "I must run an errand for Professor McGonagall, I'll only be a moment. I'll be seeing a bit of the Weasley clan, would you like to come as well?"
She thought for a moment and then laughed "No, thank you, though, I think I've seen enough of them today, Molly Weasley stopped by this morning."
He cheeks suddenly became a bit more colored that usual, and he fought to keep from punching the brick wall beside him. The last person he wanted chit chatting with her was Molly. It seemed like every other phrase that came out of the woman's mouth hinted at how much she hadn't him, and how terrible his was. But of course, who could blame her? She merely faulted him for the very things that kept him awake many a night. I shall return shortly." He offered her a brief smile, though hot anger was pulsing through his veins, turned on his heels and headed down the street and found himself continuously cursing McGonagall. He had wanted today to be free of obligation to anyone else besides Hermione, but just before he left the Headmistress's office she had asked him in a way that meant there would be no arguing to visit Albus at St. Mungo's. Normally it would have been something he did without prompting, each time he ventured out into the world he would always make sure to visit him, despite the fact that it gave him horrible dreams; but today was different, Hermione was there and the last thing he wanted to do was force her to be exposed to something so depressing, hadn't last night been hard enough? However, no matter how much he disliked the idea of it, it had to be done, especially since it was close to Christmas. First, though, he had to do something even more unpleasant-visit Weasley's Wizard Weezes, which had replaced Gambol and Jape's the year before. Minverva's request was not the only thing bothering him, though. When he had told her about the Hermione seeing the Wild Hunt, she had simply shrugged it off as a nightmare, or the product of an overactive imagination, both suggestions had thoroughly enraged Snape, though he made it a point to keep himself in check while out with the younger woman. His chances where slim enough as it was.
Reluctantly he entered the Weasley brother's store, and was lucky enough to slink past the front counter without them noticing, since they were too busy with their long line of holiday customers. It was a wonderful, brightly colored place which smelled faintly of chocolate and dungbombs, just the sort of place he had always detested. It was mostly dedicated to magical jokes and tricks, but there was a decent selection of magic and non magic candies in the back of the store. Dumbledore was no allowed to keep certain magic candies, such as Fizzing Whizbees, so he went directly to the non magic section first, filling a bag with scoops full of Lemon drops and Sherbert Lemons, before carefully picking and choosing the kinds of magic candies permitted. Tooth flossing string mints, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Jelly Beans, and Jelly slugs all went into the bag until it was completely full. Then came the truly difficult part.
He eased in to the back of the line, and it seemed like only a few moments before he was standing before both of the Weasley twins who went from smiling pleasantly to scowling in half of a heart beat.
"Well look at what we've got here, seems a big black rat's wandered into our store, what should we do with him, George?"
"I dunno, Fred, you got any ideas?" They were both leaning against the counter, glaring at him as though he was some disgusting creature.
"Please, Gentlemen, I assure you if I had been given a choice I would have visited Honeyduke's, can we just make this as painless for all of us as possible?" He spoke under his breath, setting the large sack of candies on the scale next to the register.
"Right then, don't want you scaring off customers anyways." Fred weighed the sack. "Three Galleons."
Snape tossed the coins onto the counter, hastily grabbed the bag of candies and left the store. He was beyond anger with the Weasley's, having lived with their dislike of him since Dumbledore had lost his mind, and somewhere along the line they had decided that he was also responsible for the death of Bill and Arther. It was true that he had been there when they had died, he fought along side them, but there was nothing he could have done. If he was responsible, then so was every other member of the order who hadn't died.
He found Hermione exactly where he left her, and felt his heart spasm when he noticed how cold she looked, huddled in her robes. "I apologize for keeping you waiting, Ms. Granger." Without thinking about it he used his free hand to pull his scarf from his neck and draped it over hers.
"It's ok, it's nice watching all the people." She smiled, though her teeth were visibly chattering, wrapping the gray and green scarf around her neck properly. "Thank you, sir." She bent and picked up her bags, and waited as he collected his. "Where to now?" Grinning she looked up and down the street, bouncing slightly on her toes.
"Perhaps Ollivanders?"
Her face lit up in a bright, though slightly nervous smile and she nodded enthusiastically, her hand inexplicably aching at the thought of holding a wand.
As always it was shabby and dusty inside, just enough light filtering in to be able to make your way around without tripping over something and breaking your neck. . Hermione's eyes had just begun to adjust when she heard a man speak to her from behind the counter. "Hermione Granger, Ash, 10 ¼ inches, rather rigid with a core of Hippogriff feather. It's good to see you again. And Severus Snape, Ebony, 13 inches, rigid, core of Thestral hair. What an odd pair it is that visits my store today."
Finally the source of the voice came in to view and Hermione could see that he was a rather creepy old man with wide, moon like eyes and wild gray hair dressed in odd, worn looking robes. She smiled nervously, eye's darting over to Professor Snape who stood by her side. "I'm looking for a new wand, sir, my old one was lost."
He smiled, and there was a slightly mad sparkle in his eyes as he turned abruptly, going to one of the many narrow boxes lining the walls and pulling it from its slot. Opening it he brought her a long, narrow, dark colored wand and held it out to her, "Ebony, 11 inches, inflexible, a core of dragon heart string."
Snape watched intently. The process of choosing a wand was always interesting, and a Wizard or Witch's wand told more about them than probably anything else besides his or her actions, would Hermione's reflect what she had once been, or would her current personality come in to play? Merlin only knew what she would be like once she regained her memories.
Taking the wand into her hand she stood there for several moments, not knowing what to do, and feeling quite silly.
"Ms. Granger? Perhaps you should give it a try." Mr. Ollivander waved his hand in a motion one would use to test a wand.
She swallowed hard and blushing, feeling like a fool; she waved it around a bit. A burst of bright blue sparks shot forth from the end and knocked several boxes out of their slots, and Hermione quickly handed the wand back to the man behind the counter who looked perplexed.
"Definitely not. How odd, I had always figured that this wand would be yours if you ever had need of a new one." Looking a bit disappointed he placed the wand gently back in its box and slid it into its slot. He wandered around the store, scanning over the many wands, and it seemed like forever before he finally chose one and brought it back. "Holly, 10 ½ inches, supple, core of unicorn hair." Removing it from its box he handed it to Hermione who reluctantly took it and gave it a slight wave. A blast of red light shot out and knocked over a chair behind his desk, and again Hermione quickly handed it back to him. "Hmmmmm.ah, I think I have an idea." He swiftly placed the previous wand back in its proper place, retrieved another box and brought it back, opening its box and handing it to her. "Willow, 12 ½ inches, swishy, core of Naiad hair."
Snape suddenly became much more interested and stepped forward peering over Hermione's shoulder as Mr. Ollivander handed her the long, thin, nearly white wand.
Struck by sudden inspiration Hermione gave the wand a swish and a flick and muttered under her breath "Windgardium Leviosa" And nearly jumped out of her skin when the wand box sitting on the table in front of her began to levitate. "How.how did..did I do that?"
She wasn't the only one surprised; Snape stepped to her side watching the box levitate a moment before pulling it from midair and handing it back to the man behind the table. "Windgaurdium Leviosa is a levitating spell, Ms. Granger. Congratulations, it appears you just had another memory come back." He couldn't help but allow the corner of his mouth to pull upwards into a half grin at the look of excitement upon her face.
After paying for her new wand which was seven galleons they once again ventured out in the street. It was as though she was a child with a new toy and she could barely suppress the urge to levitate everything and everyone in sight. Suddenly she longed for the privacy of her quarters so she could begin to study. The previous night's hurts seemed so far away and she clearly had a pronounced bounce in her step. She had a wand and she would learn to use it to blast away all obstacles in her path, never again would she be a helpless fool with empty hands. The world was indeed a brand new place, and for the first time she could remember, she felt powerful and capable.
The difference in Hermione was hard not to notice, and even harder not to smile at. It was as though a key element to her being had been suddenly restored, and he could clearly see the witch he had once known. "Ms. Granger, I'm afraid I should have told you this earlier, but after we finish here, it is necessary for me to visit Professor Dumbledore at St. Mungo's hospital."
Hermione suddenly slowed so that he would catch back up with her and they would once again be side by side. She didn't look at him for several moments and seemed to be mulling over the idea of it, her anxiety clearly etched in her expression. "That will be nice, I'd like to see him" looking up at him, she smiled, and it warmed him.
It wasn't much longer before they both grew tired of the cold and swarming crowd and began heading back towards the Leaky Cauldron to muggle London. It was just outside the building containing the offices of the Daily Prophet that he saw someone that made him grab Hermione by the arm and turn them both around, but before he had the chance, that certain someone smiled and waved at him before picking his way through the crowd towards them both.
She had taken several steps before she noticed that she could no longer feel the warm presence of Professor Snape by her side, stopped and turned around. He wasn't behind her. Wild panic rose immediately into her breast which now vibrating with the pounding of her heart. Her eyes darted around and she clenched her teeth when she didn't see him, passersby knocking into her carelessly. It was then that the crowd parted slightly and she saw him, standing about ten feet away, looking around as well. Warm relief traveled through her and soothed her panic, and grinning she pushed through the oncoming traffic towards her goal. When she reached him, though, she found that he wasn't alone. A tall man with neat though stylish beautiful blond hair, dressed in slightly worn robes who had his back to her was standing near him, apparently talking, though Snape's eyes were busy searching the crowd, until they fell upon her, just as she pushed through the last bit of the crowd. "I'm sorry, Professor, I hadn't noticed that you stopped." She laughed and carefully set her bags down in front of her, shaking her cramped hands before looking up first at Snape, and then at the young man he was speaking to.
There was a brief moment before either of their minds had time to work when each smiled politely as if about to be introduced to a stranger, that was until both realized that neither was looking at someone they didn't know.
"Hermione Granger?" His voice was barely above a whisper, his face was suddenly much paler, and he stepped back away from them, and was nearly knocked to the ground by an older witch in purple robes.
"You.?" She had stepped back as well, and put her hand to her head as images flashed through her mind. She was five, and a man she knew as her father ran along side her as she rode a bike for the first time. She was three and her mother was kissing her on the cheek before leaving her with a nanny for the first time. She was nine and there were three girls laughing and she knew it was over her teeth. She was ten and she held in her hand a letter from Hogwarts. She was thirteen and a pale, blonde, heartless face was watching her fall into a pit which never seemed to end. "You.Draco Malfoy..it's you." Her mind was spinning, and she felt momentarily like she would faint after the onslaught of memories, but then searing anger slowly made her lucid once more and her wide eyes narrowed, her jaw suddenly set.
Professor Snape was completely shocked into immobility by the exchanged between the two old enemies. He saw the disbelief and anxiety in Draco's expression, and the confusion blossoming into rage in Hermione's. He was so enthralled by the moment that he barely reacted quickly enough to grab the young woman's arm as she went to curse the man before her. She put up a surprising amount of struggle and he was forced to drop his bags and grasp her around the waist to keep her from going at him with her other fist, or feet or both. As it was she kicked at him with all her might, writhing against Snape's firm grip.
"You fucking bastard! You Merlin-damned bastard! You ruined my fucking life! You ruined me!!!" Hermione screamed at him, and there was suddenly a crowd forming around them watching the spectacle she was making. Tears of anger and hate and immense sadness spilled out over her furiously red cheeks. She wanted to kill him, wanted to make him pay. With all her might she struggled against the man holding her, desperately trying to free herself, or at least free her wand hand, though she had no idea what she would do to him if she did. "I'll fucking kill you! I'll kill you!" She thrust against her arm holding her reaching out to the object of her malice, who with one last petrified look from her to Professor Snape, disappeared with a loud BANG! Again she attempted to leap forward, but this time the man holding her let go and she stumbled, almost falling to the snowy ground. Urgently she looked around for him but he was nowhere, and she was suddenly aware of all the people staring at her, some disgusted, some worried, some pitying. Slowly she backed up, slipping her wand back into her pocket before turning to face Snape, glaring at him. "Why didn't you let me have him? He ruined everything, he took away my life."
"Ms. Granger, he was a boy, a foolish boy. He was severely punished and has paid for that mistake dearly. I doubt a day has gone by that he hasn't thought about what he did. If I thought that it would accomplish anything I would have let you do what you wished to him, but you only missed out on six years of your life, and it would be a great pity to see you spend the time you have left in Azkaban prison." His voice was even and cool. He longed to take her into his arms and soothe her anger at both him and Draco, but he knew that she would have to come to him for comfort after she had calmed down enough to see that he was right. He paused for only a moment before bending to pick up his discarded shopping bags and waiting for her to do the same.
The crowd around them had begun to disperse, as had her anger. She no longer saw the world through a red veil. Slowly she walked over to her bags, wiped the tears from her eyes, picked up her bag and waited for him to continue. They stepped out into muggle London from the Leaky Cauldron and Professor Snape flagged down a taxi a few moments later. Hermione, in a haze, her head aching from the previous rush of adrenaline, slid into the cab next to him, shutting the door behind her, and setting her bags between her feet in the floorboard. She didn't look at the man next to her, she just leaned against her door looking out at the city passing by instead, her mind replaying what had just happened, and what she had done. Her parents.she had seen them, she remembered them.not everything about them.but they were there. And Malfoy sneering at her coldly, pushing her to her doom. Slowly she shut her eyes as they brimmed with unwelcome tears, and leaned her forehead against her window.
He watched her intently, knowing that she wouldn't notice, since she was too lost in her own thoughts. He had never seen such rage or desperation from her even when she was a brazen young Griffindor, setting Hogwarts alight with her amazing intellect and relentless drive. Never had she let herself go, not even at the greatest injustices thrown at her by him. Seeing her shoulder shaking slightly he suddenly realized that she was crying and swallowed hard, debating on what to do. Tentatively he reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
The warmth from his hand spread through her and more tears spilled from her tightly closed eyes, the shame of having made a scene like that in front of him, welling up inside of her. "I'm sorry sir, I'm sorry I embarrassed you."
He gripped her shoulder a bit tighter and sighed heavily, "You did no embarrass me, Ms. Granger, you simply startled me, I hadn't realized you felt so much anger towards Malfoy."
She continued looking out of the window, her heart aching so terribly, it almost hurt to breath "Neither did I sir. but I saw them.I saw my parents, and I saw him when he pushed me. He was the reason I wasn't here, if I had been here, maybe I could have helped them..or..or something". She paused, more tears sliding down her face before, without warning, and startling both of them, she turned towards him and in one fluid motion warily curled against his side, looking up at him to make sure it was alright before resting her head on his chest, tightly shutting her eyes, praying that he would hold her and soothe the hurting within her.
It took several moments, but he didn't disappoint her, or himself for that matter, and drew her a bit closer, holding her tightly against his side, looking out as muggle London swiftly passed by as for the second time in twenty four hours he had the immense pleasure of holding Hermione's slender body against his own.
*~~~~*~~~~*
Sunshower
Chris Cornell
Dark as roses, fine as sand
Feel your healing and your sting again
Hear your laughing and my soul is saved
On forgotten graves you cry
Crawl like ivy up my spine
Through my nerves and into my eyes
Cuts like anguish or recollection
Of better days gone by
But it's alright when you're caught in pain
And you feel the rain come down.
It's alright when you find your way
Then you see it disappear
It's alright though your garden's gray
I know all your graces
Someday will flower in a sweet sunshower
Eyes like oceans, so far away
A feather trail to a better way
Worried mornings turn into days
Then into worried nights
But it's alright all you'll be you are today
*~~~~*~~~~~*
Thanks everyone for the reviews ^_^ Happy new years to you all! Next chapter, if they don't get to St. Mungo's I'll probably end up shooting myself *LOL* I could have sworn that I'd be able to get it this time, but alas, it's late, and I've been writing forever *L*
Chapter 18
Dark as Roses, Fine as Sand
~Though Your Garden's Gray, I Know All Your Graces Will Someday Flower and Grow, in a Sweet Sunshower~
Never in her wildest dreams would Hermione have thought that such a place a Diagon Alley existed. Every shop had incredible treasures displayed in their front windows, strange, beautiful, and many terrible and frightening. Everything a wizard or which could ever possible need all crammed in to two long parallel strips of marvelous stores.
Snape had been dead on in suggesting that she dress warmly. It was just three o'clock and already there was little or no sunlight filtering in between the towering buildings, and it seemed as though the wind was being funneled strait through them causing the temperature to drop even more.
They had first stopped at Gringotts to allow her to withdraw enough to make her purchases. Overall it was a terrifying experience, and Hermione wasn't at all fond of the roller coaster ride down to her vault. Her parent's had left her quite a bit of money, probably all that they had had when they passed away, and it was enough to support her for at least a few years, that is of course if she continued living at Hogwarts. And then they had ventured into the madness of the main strip of stores, both of them having forgotten how close to Christmas it was.
They passed by a rather large man, who apparently didn't see Hermione and nearly knocked her to the ground, not even bothering to stop. Luckily Snape reacted quickly enough and gently grasped her arm to steady her. She glanced up at him and smiled thankfully. He did not return the smile, but of course what would a passerby think if they saw Professor Snape, the head of Slyterin offer anything to a young woman but a trademark smirk?
The first shop they visited was Slug and Jigger's Apothecary, a foul smelling place with barrels of slimy things lined up in rows, feathers and herbs handing from the ceiling, and hundreds upon hundreds of jars containing anything a Potion's Master could ever want or need. Hermione found herself being both revolted and fascinated at the same time, bending down to inspect the contents of the barrels, occasionally looking up to watch Professor Snape, finding a certain delight in seeing him in his element. In the end, he left with a large bag filled with at least a dozen small bags and tightly corked jars filled with everything from mugwort to gillyweed, and she surprisingly left with a bag of her own, having bought half a pound of dried lavender buds, charmed to never loose their scent, which Snape had taken a moment to smell, nodding approvingly with a subdued smile.
The rich, spicy scent brought dozens of unbidden images to his mind. The delightful fragrance of her hair and its texture beneath his fingers. A beautiful hamadryad with Hermione's face bathing in a forest stream turning to smile at him. It took all of his strength to keep from pulling him to her in the middle of the street; but as free as his mind felt from his bitterness and hate, he couldn't quite come out and express it, especially not in a crowded street. He was Snape, the Hogwart's Potion Master, not some frivolous young man slobbering over a giggling girlfriend, though somewhere in the back of his mind a tiny voice shouted, 'Don't you wish you were, though?'
Just an hour into their little foray out into the world both had at least one bag in each hand. They had shopped briskly, neither of them wishing to dwell long within any of the stores they had visited. Flourish and Blotts bookstore where they each bought a few books, Madame Malkin's Robes for all Occasions where Hermione bought a set of light gray robes that had struck her fancy, and Scribbulus Ever Changing Inks for ink and plain parchment.
They had paused briefly beside Quality Quidditch supplies so that Hermione could adjust the bags in her hands when Snape set his bags in a dry spot next to the store's wall and cleared her throat. "I must run an errand for Professor McGonagall, I'll only be a moment. I'll be seeing a bit of the Weasley clan, would you like to come as well?"
She thought for a moment and then laughed "No, thank you, though, I think I've seen enough of them today, Molly Weasley stopped by this morning."
He cheeks suddenly became a bit more colored that usual, and he fought to keep from punching the brick wall beside him. The last person he wanted chit chatting with her was Molly. It seemed like every other phrase that came out of the woman's mouth hinted at how much she hadn't him, and how terrible his was. But of course, who could blame her? She merely faulted him for the very things that kept him awake many a night. I shall return shortly." He offered her a brief smile, though hot anger was pulsing through his veins, turned on his heels and headed down the street and found himself continuously cursing McGonagall. He had wanted today to be free of obligation to anyone else besides Hermione, but just before he left the Headmistress's office she had asked him in a way that meant there would be no arguing to visit Albus at St. Mungo's. Normally it would have been something he did without prompting, each time he ventured out into the world he would always make sure to visit him, despite the fact that it gave him horrible dreams; but today was different, Hermione was there and the last thing he wanted to do was force her to be exposed to something so depressing, hadn't last night been hard enough? However, no matter how much he disliked the idea of it, it had to be done, especially since it was close to Christmas. First, though, he had to do something even more unpleasant-visit Weasley's Wizard Weezes, which had replaced Gambol and Jape's the year before. Minverva's request was not the only thing bothering him, though. When he had told her about the Hermione seeing the Wild Hunt, she had simply shrugged it off as a nightmare, or the product of an overactive imagination, both suggestions had thoroughly enraged Snape, though he made it a point to keep himself in check while out with the younger woman. His chances where slim enough as it was.
Reluctantly he entered the Weasley brother's store, and was lucky enough to slink past the front counter without them noticing, since they were too busy with their long line of holiday customers. It was a wonderful, brightly colored place which smelled faintly of chocolate and dungbombs, just the sort of place he had always detested. It was mostly dedicated to magical jokes and tricks, but there was a decent selection of magic and non magic candies in the back of the store. Dumbledore was no allowed to keep certain magic candies, such as Fizzing Whizbees, so he went directly to the non magic section first, filling a bag with scoops full of Lemon drops and Sherbert Lemons, before carefully picking and choosing the kinds of magic candies permitted. Tooth flossing string mints, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Jelly Beans, and Jelly slugs all went into the bag until it was completely full. Then came the truly difficult part.
He eased in to the back of the line, and it seemed like only a few moments before he was standing before both of the Weasley twins who went from smiling pleasantly to scowling in half of a heart beat.
"Well look at what we've got here, seems a big black rat's wandered into our store, what should we do with him, George?"
"I dunno, Fred, you got any ideas?" They were both leaning against the counter, glaring at him as though he was some disgusting creature.
"Please, Gentlemen, I assure you if I had been given a choice I would have visited Honeyduke's, can we just make this as painless for all of us as possible?" He spoke under his breath, setting the large sack of candies on the scale next to the register.
"Right then, don't want you scaring off customers anyways." Fred weighed the sack. "Three Galleons."
Snape tossed the coins onto the counter, hastily grabbed the bag of candies and left the store. He was beyond anger with the Weasley's, having lived with their dislike of him since Dumbledore had lost his mind, and somewhere along the line they had decided that he was also responsible for the death of Bill and Arther. It was true that he had been there when they had died, he fought along side them, but there was nothing he could have done. If he was responsible, then so was every other member of the order who hadn't died.
He found Hermione exactly where he left her, and felt his heart spasm when he noticed how cold she looked, huddled in her robes. "I apologize for keeping you waiting, Ms. Granger." Without thinking about it he used his free hand to pull his scarf from his neck and draped it over hers.
"It's ok, it's nice watching all the people." She smiled, though her teeth were visibly chattering, wrapping the gray and green scarf around her neck properly. "Thank you, sir." She bent and picked up her bags, and waited as he collected his. "Where to now?" Grinning she looked up and down the street, bouncing slightly on her toes.
"Perhaps Ollivanders?"
Her face lit up in a bright, though slightly nervous smile and she nodded enthusiastically, her hand inexplicably aching at the thought of holding a wand.
As always it was shabby and dusty inside, just enough light filtering in to be able to make your way around without tripping over something and breaking your neck. . Hermione's eyes had just begun to adjust when she heard a man speak to her from behind the counter. "Hermione Granger, Ash, 10 ¼ inches, rather rigid with a core of Hippogriff feather. It's good to see you again. And Severus Snape, Ebony, 13 inches, rigid, core of Thestral hair. What an odd pair it is that visits my store today."
Finally the source of the voice came in to view and Hermione could see that he was a rather creepy old man with wide, moon like eyes and wild gray hair dressed in odd, worn looking robes. She smiled nervously, eye's darting over to Professor Snape who stood by her side. "I'm looking for a new wand, sir, my old one was lost."
He smiled, and there was a slightly mad sparkle in his eyes as he turned abruptly, going to one of the many narrow boxes lining the walls and pulling it from its slot. Opening it he brought her a long, narrow, dark colored wand and held it out to her, "Ebony, 11 inches, inflexible, a core of dragon heart string."
Snape watched intently. The process of choosing a wand was always interesting, and a Wizard or Witch's wand told more about them than probably anything else besides his or her actions, would Hermione's reflect what she had once been, or would her current personality come in to play? Merlin only knew what she would be like once she regained her memories.
Taking the wand into her hand she stood there for several moments, not knowing what to do, and feeling quite silly.
"Ms. Granger? Perhaps you should give it a try." Mr. Ollivander waved his hand in a motion one would use to test a wand.
She swallowed hard and blushing, feeling like a fool; she waved it around a bit. A burst of bright blue sparks shot forth from the end and knocked several boxes out of their slots, and Hermione quickly handed the wand back to the man behind the counter who looked perplexed.
"Definitely not. How odd, I had always figured that this wand would be yours if you ever had need of a new one." Looking a bit disappointed he placed the wand gently back in its box and slid it into its slot. He wandered around the store, scanning over the many wands, and it seemed like forever before he finally chose one and brought it back. "Holly, 10 ½ inches, supple, core of unicorn hair." Removing it from its box he handed it to Hermione who reluctantly took it and gave it a slight wave. A blast of red light shot out and knocked over a chair behind his desk, and again Hermione quickly handed it back to him. "Hmmmmm.ah, I think I have an idea." He swiftly placed the previous wand back in its proper place, retrieved another box and brought it back, opening its box and handing it to her. "Willow, 12 ½ inches, swishy, core of Naiad hair."
Snape suddenly became much more interested and stepped forward peering over Hermione's shoulder as Mr. Ollivander handed her the long, thin, nearly white wand.
Struck by sudden inspiration Hermione gave the wand a swish and a flick and muttered under her breath "Windgardium Leviosa" And nearly jumped out of her skin when the wand box sitting on the table in front of her began to levitate. "How.how did..did I do that?"
She wasn't the only one surprised; Snape stepped to her side watching the box levitate a moment before pulling it from midair and handing it back to the man behind the table. "Windgaurdium Leviosa is a levitating spell, Ms. Granger. Congratulations, it appears you just had another memory come back." He couldn't help but allow the corner of his mouth to pull upwards into a half grin at the look of excitement upon her face.
After paying for her new wand which was seven galleons they once again ventured out in the street. It was as though she was a child with a new toy and she could barely suppress the urge to levitate everything and everyone in sight. Suddenly she longed for the privacy of her quarters so she could begin to study. The previous night's hurts seemed so far away and she clearly had a pronounced bounce in her step. She had a wand and she would learn to use it to blast away all obstacles in her path, never again would she be a helpless fool with empty hands. The world was indeed a brand new place, and for the first time she could remember, she felt powerful and capable.
The difference in Hermione was hard not to notice, and even harder not to smile at. It was as though a key element to her being had been suddenly restored, and he could clearly see the witch he had once known. "Ms. Granger, I'm afraid I should have told you this earlier, but after we finish here, it is necessary for me to visit Professor Dumbledore at St. Mungo's hospital."
Hermione suddenly slowed so that he would catch back up with her and they would once again be side by side. She didn't look at him for several moments and seemed to be mulling over the idea of it, her anxiety clearly etched in her expression. "That will be nice, I'd like to see him" looking up at him, she smiled, and it warmed him.
It wasn't much longer before they both grew tired of the cold and swarming crowd and began heading back towards the Leaky Cauldron to muggle London. It was just outside the building containing the offices of the Daily Prophet that he saw someone that made him grab Hermione by the arm and turn them both around, but before he had the chance, that certain someone smiled and waved at him before picking his way through the crowd towards them both.
She had taken several steps before she noticed that she could no longer feel the warm presence of Professor Snape by her side, stopped and turned around. He wasn't behind her. Wild panic rose immediately into her breast which now vibrating with the pounding of her heart. Her eyes darted around and she clenched her teeth when she didn't see him, passersby knocking into her carelessly. It was then that the crowd parted slightly and she saw him, standing about ten feet away, looking around as well. Warm relief traveled through her and soothed her panic, and grinning she pushed through the oncoming traffic towards her goal. When she reached him, though, she found that he wasn't alone. A tall man with neat though stylish beautiful blond hair, dressed in slightly worn robes who had his back to her was standing near him, apparently talking, though Snape's eyes were busy searching the crowd, until they fell upon her, just as she pushed through the last bit of the crowd. "I'm sorry, Professor, I hadn't noticed that you stopped." She laughed and carefully set her bags down in front of her, shaking her cramped hands before looking up first at Snape, and then at the young man he was speaking to.
There was a brief moment before either of their minds had time to work when each smiled politely as if about to be introduced to a stranger, that was until both realized that neither was looking at someone they didn't know.
"Hermione Granger?" His voice was barely above a whisper, his face was suddenly much paler, and he stepped back away from them, and was nearly knocked to the ground by an older witch in purple robes.
"You.?" She had stepped back as well, and put her hand to her head as images flashed through her mind. She was five, and a man she knew as her father ran along side her as she rode a bike for the first time. She was three and her mother was kissing her on the cheek before leaving her with a nanny for the first time. She was nine and there were three girls laughing and she knew it was over her teeth. She was ten and she held in her hand a letter from Hogwarts. She was thirteen and a pale, blonde, heartless face was watching her fall into a pit which never seemed to end. "You.Draco Malfoy..it's you." Her mind was spinning, and she felt momentarily like she would faint after the onslaught of memories, but then searing anger slowly made her lucid once more and her wide eyes narrowed, her jaw suddenly set.
Professor Snape was completely shocked into immobility by the exchanged between the two old enemies. He saw the disbelief and anxiety in Draco's expression, and the confusion blossoming into rage in Hermione's. He was so enthralled by the moment that he barely reacted quickly enough to grab the young woman's arm as she went to curse the man before her. She put up a surprising amount of struggle and he was forced to drop his bags and grasp her around the waist to keep her from going at him with her other fist, or feet or both. As it was she kicked at him with all her might, writhing against Snape's firm grip.
"You fucking bastard! You Merlin-damned bastard! You ruined my fucking life! You ruined me!!!" Hermione screamed at him, and there was suddenly a crowd forming around them watching the spectacle she was making. Tears of anger and hate and immense sadness spilled out over her furiously red cheeks. She wanted to kill him, wanted to make him pay. With all her might she struggled against the man holding her, desperately trying to free herself, or at least free her wand hand, though she had no idea what she would do to him if she did. "I'll fucking kill you! I'll kill you!" She thrust against her arm holding her reaching out to the object of her malice, who with one last petrified look from her to Professor Snape, disappeared with a loud BANG! Again she attempted to leap forward, but this time the man holding her let go and she stumbled, almost falling to the snowy ground. Urgently she looked around for him but he was nowhere, and she was suddenly aware of all the people staring at her, some disgusted, some worried, some pitying. Slowly she backed up, slipping her wand back into her pocket before turning to face Snape, glaring at him. "Why didn't you let me have him? He ruined everything, he took away my life."
"Ms. Granger, he was a boy, a foolish boy. He was severely punished and has paid for that mistake dearly. I doubt a day has gone by that he hasn't thought about what he did. If I thought that it would accomplish anything I would have let you do what you wished to him, but you only missed out on six years of your life, and it would be a great pity to see you spend the time you have left in Azkaban prison." His voice was even and cool. He longed to take her into his arms and soothe her anger at both him and Draco, but he knew that she would have to come to him for comfort after she had calmed down enough to see that he was right. He paused for only a moment before bending to pick up his discarded shopping bags and waiting for her to do the same.
The crowd around them had begun to disperse, as had her anger. She no longer saw the world through a red veil. Slowly she walked over to her bags, wiped the tears from her eyes, picked up her bag and waited for him to continue. They stepped out into muggle London from the Leaky Cauldron and Professor Snape flagged down a taxi a few moments later. Hermione, in a haze, her head aching from the previous rush of adrenaline, slid into the cab next to him, shutting the door behind her, and setting her bags between her feet in the floorboard. She didn't look at the man next to her, she just leaned against her door looking out at the city passing by instead, her mind replaying what had just happened, and what she had done. Her parents.she had seen them, she remembered them.not everything about them.but they were there. And Malfoy sneering at her coldly, pushing her to her doom. Slowly she shut her eyes as they brimmed with unwelcome tears, and leaned her forehead against her window.
He watched her intently, knowing that she wouldn't notice, since she was too lost in her own thoughts. He had never seen such rage or desperation from her even when she was a brazen young Griffindor, setting Hogwarts alight with her amazing intellect and relentless drive. Never had she let herself go, not even at the greatest injustices thrown at her by him. Seeing her shoulder shaking slightly he suddenly realized that she was crying and swallowed hard, debating on what to do. Tentatively he reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
The warmth from his hand spread through her and more tears spilled from her tightly closed eyes, the shame of having made a scene like that in front of him, welling up inside of her. "I'm sorry sir, I'm sorry I embarrassed you."
He gripped her shoulder a bit tighter and sighed heavily, "You did no embarrass me, Ms. Granger, you simply startled me, I hadn't realized you felt so much anger towards Malfoy."
She continued looking out of the window, her heart aching so terribly, it almost hurt to breath "Neither did I sir. but I saw them.I saw my parents, and I saw him when he pushed me. He was the reason I wasn't here, if I had been here, maybe I could have helped them..or..or something". She paused, more tears sliding down her face before, without warning, and startling both of them, she turned towards him and in one fluid motion warily curled against his side, looking up at him to make sure it was alright before resting her head on his chest, tightly shutting her eyes, praying that he would hold her and soothe the hurting within her.
It took several moments, but he didn't disappoint her, or himself for that matter, and drew her a bit closer, holding her tightly against his side, looking out as muggle London swiftly passed by as for the second time in twenty four hours he had the immense pleasure of holding Hermione's slender body against his own.
*~~~~*~~~~*
Sunshower
Chris Cornell
Dark as roses, fine as sand
Feel your healing and your sting again
Hear your laughing and my soul is saved
On forgotten graves you cry
Crawl like ivy up my spine
Through my nerves and into my eyes
Cuts like anguish or recollection
Of better days gone by
But it's alright when you're caught in pain
And you feel the rain come down.
It's alright when you find your way
Then you see it disappear
It's alright though your garden's gray
I know all your graces
Someday will flower in a sweet sunshower
Eyes like oceans, so far away
A feather trail to a better way
Worried mornings turn into days
Then into worried nights
But it's alright all you'll be you are today
*~~~~*~~~~~*
Thanks everyone for the reviews ^_^ Happy new years to you all! Next chapter, if they don't get to St. Mungo's I'll probably end up shooting myself *LOL* I could have sworn that I'd be able to get it this time, but alas, it's late, and I've been writing forever *L*