A/N: I bet you liked the last ending, I've got another nice one here, the beginning of this chapter is a bit weird, so don't worry I you think so too, I think it was something to do with the music I was listening to. Oh well, thank you for all your lovely reviews, I love you guys! OMG 200 reviews!
Pi-nk23star – what's with H.P.U.W.O.R? Sounds random, I'll get back to you with the Latin though. It's something about serving God and doing something or something like that…
DemonofDoom – well I certainly got bugged!
Autumn92685039 – thank you for the grammar correction, I will check more thoroughly
This is for PinkAphid :D –
The Unforgettable Fire
They arrived at Hogwarts just at the crack of dawn; thankfully it was Saturday morning so they would able to catch up on sleep. But now they faced the task of getting six people who were supposed to be dead out of the way before any early riser saw them.
They tip-toed up the steps to the entrance hall, they breathed in the first fresh morning air they'd felt for a long time and watched the sun rise up over the furthest hill of the valley Hogwarts Castle was nestled in, for once there was not a red dawn, but the sky was bathed in a glorious golden light, warming their chilled faces, for a moment as it brushed across her cheek, and she closed her eyes Hermione relaxed. She absorbed the rays into her skin, washing it with a golden sheen. She bent back her head, letting the wind rustle gently through her hair, the rising sun caught the amber on her necklace and it emitted a magnificent beam of pure gold that shone brighter than the sun, she opened her eyes and put her arms around Severus, tears streaming down her face. He gently brushed them away and brought his lips down to hers; he clasped her face in his hands and kissed her. Her eyes shone happily as she poured her radiance back into his flesh.
Out of the corner of his eye Snape saw Vernon Dursley run down the hill from the castle as fast as he would probably ever run, crowing loudly, before he staggered back up, short of breath, chest heaving. Still they kissed on the parapet of the courtyard whilst behind them the families began to embrace each other. Still they kissed, whilst a pair of sparkling blue eyes that had been watching them in the shadows stepped out. Albus Dumbledore looked sternly at Harry for a second but gestured with his arms for them to come to him. Hermione and Severus broke apart, gasping, but ecstatic. They walked hand-in-hand to where Dumbledore was standing at the top of the steps.
"Well what can I say? You disobeyed me, breaking all the rules I set for your safety, but you have returned triumphant. Should I punish you or reward you? Perhaps someone ought to explain what has been going on." Dumbledore stared at each one of them with an unreadable expression. Harry stepped forward.
"Yet again, Professor, it was me. We went to London last night, and found where they were hidden. We were getting everyone out when Voldemort and the Death Eaters came down; he killed many of the people we were trying to save. Hermione stunned them all, it was a pretty powerful spell," he smiled at Hermione who blushed deeply, "and we got out, Professor Snape Vanished most of the dead bodies, and found my uncle and Mr Weasley."
Dumbledore looked straight at Snape, who kept his gaze, determined not to drop it. "Severus, how much did you tell them?" everyone looked at Dumbledore, how did he know?
"Enough for them to realise this shoddy rescue mission was on its way, I don't think there was much else; Hermione didn't say much apart from that she was coming to rescue me." Everyone now looked at Hermione, who cast her head down sheepishly.
"So," Dumbledore asked, "There is a pile of semi-conscious Death Eaters lying on a train platform somewhere in London, able to go back to their business when they wake up?"
Harry shook his head vigorously, "Hermione sealed the door, I thought they might starve to death," he looked hopeful.
"I am afraid no matter how adapt Miss Granger's spell was it is not going to hold back the greatest sorcerer in the world. What spell did you use Miss Granger?"
"Claude Potestate," Hermione muttered, "It won't last a day will it?"
"Don't despair now, you've done a lot, although all those innocent people have died at least you have saved six people from an otherwise equally cruel death. I can alert the other members of the Order to their whereabouts; we might be able to get there before it's too late. But now I think everyone needs a warm bath and a good bed. Mr and Mrs Dursley, Dudley, I can offer you some quarters for today or would you rather go straight home, I can find you an escort?"
"I think we'd rather go home now, please," stuttered Vernon Dursley, he was eyeing the castle up with an air of distaste, he obviously hadn't changed.
"Very good, I'll sort you out in a minute, Molly, Arthur, would you like to stay here, or St. Mungo's, or go home?" Dumbledore looked at the Weasleys.
"I think we'll go and get checked out at St. Mungo's, Arthur doesn't look himself. What should we say to the staff? We're dead!" Mrs Weasley croaked hoarsely.
"Wise decision Molly, I think we could probably get away with saying you were just captured but you escaped." Dumbledore gestured to the Entrance doors, "use the fireplace in the far right corner, there's a pot of Floo Powder just above it."
"Thank you Harry, and Hermione. We'll see you soon Ron, Ginny, don't worry." Mrs Weasley began to walk up the steps, holding her husband upright.
"Ironic isn't it?" said Ron, "That you pretended they had been captured by You-Know-Who so you could hide them from him, and then he does capture them. How can we trust you?"
"What is trust Mr Weasley? Does everybody have to believe in it? I am sorry for the unfortunate circumstances which befell your parents, but I believed I was doing what I did for the best. I should have trusted Miss Granger when she first came to me. But we cannot always be right."
Ron looked puzzled, pondering over Dumbledore's words, until his stomach emitted a large rumble. He looked around awkwardly, Dumbledore smiled, "they'll be starting breakfast in a few minutes; go down to the Great Hall." Ron looked around at the others and bolted up the steps to the Entrance Hall, desperate for nourishment.
Dumbledore turned to Harry, "Go and sleep Harry, or have some breakfast. Come and see me in my office before lunch, I'll talk to you there." Harry nodded understandingly and followed Ron up the steps.
"Severus, perhaps you would like to resume your teaching post?"
Snape looked at Dumbledore and then at Hermione, "I did not expect this Headmaster, I thought you were going to permanently dismiss me."
"Why would I dismiss the best Potions Master Hogwarts has had for 50 years, and I'll never be able to find anyone to fill the Defence Against the Dark Arts post. Please come back Severus, if only to get Infelix out of the staffroom."
Snape smiled, he loved teaching so much, but he also loved, Hermione, could he trust himself to be sensible, this was a school, and a seventeen year old student was carrying his child. He looked at Dumbledore and said, "Should I go to my office now?"
Dumbledore beamed at him, "I'll just go and get rid of Professor Infelix, he wouldn't stay in your quarters though don't worry, he didn't like the feeling of sleeping in a 'dead' man's bed apparently. Are you OK Miss Granger? I understand this has been hard on you. I will allow this relationship to continue, as long as no-one else finds out, there's nothing you want to tell me though?" He watched them both closely.
"No, Professor, we're fine thank you," Hermione said. Dumbledore disappeared into the castle, leaving them alone
"Why didn't you tell him?" Snape demanded.
"Could you?" she turned away, but he caught hold of the hand and pulled her round.
"I'm sorry, but we're going to have to think about it sometime."
"I don't want to; I wish it had never happened, I feel dirty, stained. I know you didn't mean to, I know you love me, but I can't help feeling like this. I'm too young; it'll be born in September. I can't do it Severus…"
"You don't have to, we will."
"I'm not going to be able to hide it very well though am I? I think people might notice me wandering round the school pregnant, and I'm not giving up my seventh year to look after it. And my parents! What are they going to do? They don't even know about me and you, they'd disown me, they really would." Her voice began to rise as she became more hysterical.
"Shh…Hermione please, calm down. Look, I'll respect whatever choice you make, but I just want to make sure it's the right choice." He stroked her cheek, "I will always be here for you; I love you,"
She turned back to face him, and looked into his ebony-black eyes, she hesitated for a split-second and then replied, "I love you."
A/N: OK, so there's something I need you guys to think about. I think this story needs to end, next chapter being the last, I know it's only March in the story, but it would be such an anti-climax to draw it all the way out to the summer. If enough people want I'll do a sequel which will finish with the ending I gave in the first chapter, that'll basically be their choices and the consequences of those choices. So I need some feedback. Please give me your views!
