Castaways on a Sullen Sea
By weasleywheezes
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! It's appreciated greatly. Also, to clear up a small controversy from a previous chapter, Etienne, the name I've given to Snape's mother, can be used for male and females. Enjoy.
Chapter 8 – Farewell, My Lovely
Two by two, the graduates marched into the Great Hall, having received their diplomas. The students stood near their families and invited guests. The great banquet tables had been cleared away, leaving room for the crowd to gather in the centre of the room. Small tables were located around the perimeter of the room; festive decorations hung on the walls and levitated in the air.
The graduation ceremony was well attended. The entire Weasley clan arrived, including Percy (George and Fred, who last stepped foot into Hogwarts two years prior, were dressed in outrageous chartreuse robes emblazoned with violet polka dots, with not even an initial to distinguish between the two.), as well as Fleur Delacour (who was Bill Weasley's guest) and Remus Lupin, who had come on Harry's behalf. Hermione's mother was there, also, but no one recognized her. She had deteriorated to the point of being a ghost. Her skin was pallid; her hair was severely short and she wore a long, black dress. Hermione was embarrassed that she came.
"Hermione, lovey, is that your mother?" Mrs. Weasley whispered, the disbelief evident on her face.
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley, it is my mother. She's…" Hermione struggled with words, "She's been quite ill."
Harry and Ron, who were as shocked as the Weasley matriarch, paid their respects to Mrs. Granger, who soon disappeared into the crowd and was nowhere to be seen. Hermione thought it for the best. In the months since the attempt on her life, she had grown increasingly distant from her mother. As she had told Harry, "One might think that almost being murdered would cause a pair to grow closer, but it seemed to drive her away."
From the shadows of the High Table, Severus watched the tableau unfolding, and was immediately transported to his childhood. No father, a mother who was uncaring and possibly mentally unstable, and a lonely gradation ceremony at Hogwarts…it would have been a scene from his own life. "She deserves more" he thought, and squeezed his eyes to contain himself.
Dumbledore stood away from his chair, drunk from mirth, his eyes twinkling with inner laughter. "Students, parents, may I have your attention?"
The crowd of revellers stilled to hear the headmaster speak. Many of the students had a few tears in their eyes, for they knew it would be the last time their friend and mentor Albus Dumbledore would address them as Hogwarts students.
"Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of our Seventh Year students, as they go onto apprenticeships, entering the workforce, or an exciting life somewhere out in the vast Wizarding world. Wherever you may roam, I hope you will always remember that Hogwarts is your home. Should you decide to return someday to teach, to visit, or to see your own children graduate, I hope you will fondly recall the many trials and tribulations you've faced, the merriment you've had, the important lessons you've learned, and the lifelong friendships you've made. To Hogwarts!"
The entire assembly cheered. "To Hogwarts!"
Severus lifted his glass. He scanned the crowd, looking for Hermione, and found her standing near the Weasley children. She was resplendent in a gold brocade gown, draped with a scarlet velvet robe. She wore her Gryffindor colours proudly, he thought. She was a vision amongst the many students dressed in black, Potter and Weasley included. A few flashes of purple, silver, and green would appear, but there was no beacon that shown brighter than Hermione.
The last few months of classes, she eluded him, constantly fleeing the class as soon as she could, ducking down corridors to miss running into him. While he thought it was odd, he could understand her fright and anger. She wanted to talk about that night. It was perfectly understandable. She had wanted to show her appreciation to him for saving her life, and it was something he was not prepared to hear, even now. Severus knew, however, that if he didn't go to her now, to allow her to thank him, he would regret it.
Hermione embraced the Weasleys, all of whom were as excited about her and Harry graduating as they were Ron. She smiled weakly, torn between the happiness of starting on the new path to adulthood and the sadness of leaving her beloved Hogwarts. She wondered how she could rectify the two. Further troubling her was that she wanted to somehow talk to Professor Snape before she left. She had yet to discuss that night with him, and her soul longed to express her gratitude to him.
She excused herself from the grasp of Charlie, who had bear hugged her and Ron, and proceeded to make her way toward the edge of the crowd. She bumped into Lupin's elbow.
"Sorry, Remus," she said.
Lupin smiled at her. "Congratulations, Hermione!" he said, then turned to give a hug to Harry.
Hermione walked towards the dungeons. She had seen Professor Snape saunter down in their direction. Maybe she could catch him and say farewell. When she reached his classroom, she paused. Why was she doing this? He had said before that what had passed was past, and he preferred to keep it that way. She was acting like a child. Hermione turned to walk away when she heard him call to her.
"I know why you're here," Professor Snape said quietly.
To Hermione, it felt like it did the day she asked him to instruct her in Occlumency. She felt emboldened, yet nervous and uncertain. "I wanted to tell you how appreciative I am that you did what you did," she replied.
"It was nothing."
"It meant everything in the world to me. You saved me, Profes…"
"Severus. Please, Miss Granger, call me Severus."
Hermione flushed. It was a degree of familiarity she was not accustomed to when talking to teachers. "All right, then. Thank you, Severus."
Professor Snape stared straight into her eyes. She found his eyes entrancing. They were dark, but had flicks of amber coloured light in them. They were beautifully mysterious, and looked to her like some of the potions they had worked on together. She drew closer to him, inhaling his scent.
"Miss Granger, I…I want to apologize."
Hermione was taken back for a second. Snape, apologize? "Why?" she whispered.
"For this." Then he softly kissed her cheek.
Severus lingered on her cheek for what seemed like ages, but was in actuality a few seconds. He never realized how supple Hermione's skin was, and how good she smelled, like talcum powder and gardenias. He stared at her, secretly hoping for time to stand still in that perfect moment.
The look on her face surprised him. The last time he was kissed a woman was thirteen years prior, and she had screamed in terror. Hermione, on the other hand, smiled. She put her hand on her face, softly caressed her cheek, and gazed down, as if she enjoyed his kiss. He lifted her face towards his. "Hermione," he said brusquely, as thought saying her given name was a sin in and of itself.
To his wonder, she put her hand in his. What came next was a revelation; a tender, sweet kiss, full on the lips. She paused. When he opened his eyes, he saw tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Professor!" she sobbed as she turned and ran out of the dungeon.
"Wait! Please, I beg you," Severus cried, as he attempted to follow her, to tell her there was no reason to be contrite, to tell her to please kiss him again. When he reached the stairs, all signs of Hermione Granger were gone, with the exception of her warm, pleasing scent lingering in the air.
It was at that moment that Severus realized exactly what had happened. Hermione Granger had kissed him, and of her own accord. That was why she had avoided contact with him in the hallways. Perhaps she felt the same way he did about her. It would be a blessed miracle, to be sure. He stood in the foyer, leisurely sucking his bottom lip, savouring Hermione's kiss, her taste on his lips. He wasn't certain when he would have a chance to speak to her again, but he wanted to relish every touch, every word until then.
He waited until late that evening to discuss what had happened. He made a journey to Gryffindor Tower and stood outside Minerva's office, and was about to turn around and go back when he heard her scratching at the door.
He looked down and saw her in her animagi form. She crooked her tail and he entered her office. She transformed and sat in her cosy chair, opened a tin of biscuits and nibbled daintily on one.
"Severus, it's unlike you to come here to my office. What's going on? Here, have a biscuit."
Severus fidgeted with his collar and cleared his throat a few times. "Minerva, what I have to say is rather shocking. I've, erm…" he paused and cleared his throat again. "I have developed feelings for a student."
Minerva paused, the hand holding her cookie stopped midway to her mouth. A look of shock belied her composed voice. "And do I know this student?"
He leapt to his feet, pacing back and forth in the office. "That's the problem! It's a…" He ran his hands through his hair, the drooping locks falling in front of his eyes, clouding Minerva's probing gaze. "It's a Gryffindor."
McGonagall's lips curled into a feline smile. "Miss Granger."
"Is it that obvious?" Severus asked.
"No, it's not, but I am your colleague, Severus; I am also Hermione's teacher, and her friend, as well as her house guardian for the last seven years. I understand her as I would one from my own flesh. Are you sure you don't want a biscuit? It's buttery shortbread."
Severus shook his head again. "I cannot believe this."
Minerva dunked her treat in a cup of tea. "I think this might be healthy for you."
It was Snape's turn to be taken aback. "Minerva! Surely, you don't mean…"
"Now, Severus, when was the last time you felt this way about a girl? Since your school years? I remember when you were in your youth. You were much like Hermione, but you didn't have the good fortune to make such devoted friends, or swallow your pride." Severus sat, dumbfounded, as she continued.
"You're been in that dungeon, hiding from the world since you've escaped Voldemort. Have you made any friends? Have you endeared yourself to anyone? Your own Slytherins do not admire you; they only fear you. I knew this day would come eventually."
Severus coughed. "But, a student! And a Gryffindor!"
Minerva smiled. "Rather seems like that Muggle Shakespeare in a way, doesn't it?"
"It's more than that. I think she may have feelings for me, too."
"Really? How so?"
Severus paced even more. "She kissed me."
Minerva dropped the biscuit in her tea.