A/N: I'm so happy you all like my story! Thanks for all the prompt reviews. I'm starting to believe I'm not the only one with no life except fanfiction. laughs.
A/N2: Glad everyone liked the rose and Lucius the White Ferret. Unfortunately they do have to turn him back. pouts, but I promise all will be well.
June Williams: in response to your question: I don't email updates, but if you are a registered member with an account you can put my id in for an author alert which will email you telling you that I updated. If you don't want to do that you can send me an email. Look at my account for the address. I will try to remember to email you for each chapter. Thanks.
As to the future student/teacher relationship: No it will not happen. Yes, they will get together after graduation...eventually. The point of this fic was to use as many of the typical HGSS clichés as possible while still writing an original plot (i.e. roses, study/potions partners, punch Malfoy scene, etc.). The timeturner is but one of many such clichés. When she returns to the future is only the beginning of the story. I plan on having 40 or more chapters by the time I'm done, though I hope to wrap up the past by ch 20.
So here it is, the much wanted chapter 16.
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Chapter 16: The Meaning of Gold
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Hermione was content to stay in the arms of the man she loved. She reveled in the comfortable feeling of the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. She rested her head on his chest. She smiled when he pulled her closer and rested his chin on the top of her head. Even at 17 he was not done growing, but was still a head taller than her.
They sat in contented silence like that for several moments. Slowly Hermione became aware of a light emanating from their clasped hands. She glanced down and was astonished to find that it was coming from the rose. She gazed in wonder at the shining gold rose. Severus hadn't said anything about it turning gold. She wondered what meant. Strangely enough she had the sudden urge to hide this from him. Reluctantly, she broke the moment and pulled the rose filled hand away. To her unexplained relief yet sadness, the rose became a muted red once more with just a tinge of purple.
They both sighed. They had been absent too long. His mother would notice they weren't there. They exchanged rueful looks and turned to the white ferret who was staring at them dumbly from the pavement.
To Severus' surprise Hermione burst into a fit of giggles. While he could see the humor in the situation he did not understand her constant hilarity at the rodent. "What's so funny? What made you turn him into a ferret anyway?" he asked.
When she regained control, still smiling widely, she said, "I once had a DADA professor turn a misbehaving student into a white ferret. Draco was very Slytherin-ish and had tried to hex my best friend when his back was turned. I did it because Lucius looked a lot like Draco, and it reminded me. It was very funny then, and a little ironic that it should happen again."
Snape stared at her incredulously, "Your professor turned a student into a ferret. That is totally awesome. I wish our professors would do stuff like that."
Hermione bit back another laugh at the thought of McGonagall's and Dumbledore's reaction to Moody's 'punishment'. Suddenly remembering that Snape hated Alastor Moody, she said, "I don't know. I get the idea that you wouldn't really like that kind of professor in the long run. But we are getting off topic. We need to decide what to do about ferret-face here." She pointed her wand at the object under discussion.
Snape looked thoughtful for a moment then said, "As tempting as keeping him this way as a pet forever sounds, we have to turn him back. But if we do he will not keep us a secret. It will be all over the school by the end of Monday morning. Your reputation will be ruined by his sick rumors and Potter, Black, and Lupin will no doubt be out for my blood by lunch. Not to mention that my mother would have a conniption fit when she found out you're muggleborn. Would you be ready for that?"
She looked worried at the outcome he entailed, and then was struck with a sudden idea. Smiling again, she said, "Yes, but we don't have to yet. He won't tell if he doesn't know. We can erase his memory of everything that happened. Then replace it with a fake memory of you talking to him for a while about random stuff. Then he can go back to school none the wiser. What do you think?"
He contemplated the idea then smiled back and said, "It's ingenious. Did I ever tell you I love your mind? Because I do, you know."
She smiled lovingly at him and stood on tip-toe to give him a quick kiss. Standing back she replied, "I know. I love your mind too. It is one of your best qualities. But now I think we need to get on with this. But first I think we need to move somewhere where he can't see us once I turn him back." Looking around she grabbed his hand and pulled him over to an archway leading into an adjoining courtyard. They hid behind the stone pillars, allowing enough to enable them to see Lucius and aim properly.
Aiming her wand squarely at the white blob ten feet away she said, "Morphus humanis." There was a sharp bang and Lucius Malfoy was standing on the garden walk way once more, poised as if to hex some one then stopping in confusion when his victim was not found. He looked around his anger deepening. He never heard Severus' craftily cast Memory Charm that hit him the next moment.
His eyes crossed slightly and his face became befuddled for a moment before clearing once again. Hermione did the last bit. She cast a complicated spell involving the transfer of an imagined image from her mind into his. It was based in Legilimency, which she had studied in her six year after Harry explained his lessons with Professor Snape. Only this worked in reverse and it did not involve an actual memory, but a fabricated one. When she was finished, they sat and waited to see what Malfoy would do.
For a second they feared it hadn't worked as he continued to look around him in confusion. To their relief he finally gave up the search for Severus and returned to the party inside. Smiling at each other they snuck back in and made it a game of avoiding his parents and Malfoy the rest of the evening.
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"Happy Christmas, Elizabeth," Remus whispered into the silence. Slowly as if afraid that he would hurt himself by moving too quickly he turned and headed back up the staircase to Gryffindor tower. Suddenly he didn't want to eat a Christmas feast. The entire idea of eating revolted him.
Why do I always lose the things I love? My freedom, my friends when I was little, my mother, and now I lost the girl I love. To HIM no less. What does she see in him? He is nothing but a slimy pureblood Slytherin git. He hates everyone. He has no friends. Even the other Slytherins don't really like him. He is freakishly smart. He is utterly disgusting. I hate him. He is always the reason for my problems. Well except one, but everything else comes back to him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him, he thought passionately. Suddenly his thoughts turned, Why did she have to leave me? She was happy enough when I asked her out. She said she liked me. I'm not exactly stupid. I get good marks. I rarely hex someone for no reason. Even she said I'm a nice guy. I know I'm not James or Sirius but I don't think I'm that bad looking. She says it is not because of the werewolf thing. So then, what am I doing wrong? Why do they all leave me?
There was no answer. He stared into the fire as if hoping for the answer to come from the crackling flames. But they did not answer.
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Carefully, Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room. She was no longer wearing the dress having returned it to the Room of Requirement and retrieved her regular clothes. She stepped carefully hoping that Remus had already gone to bed. She was too wound up from the party to talk seriously with him. She was had one foot on the stairs and thought she was home free when a voice called from near the fireplace, "You're back?"
She cringed involuntarily and turned. Seeing his weary but resigned face she sighed and walked over to the chair across from him. He looked her up and down for a moment as if searching for some sign of Snape or something. She blushed at the scrutiny, but remained silent, not wanting to say the wrong thing until she knew his frame of mind.
Finally he said, "How was the party? Where's the dress? You looked really pretty in it." His face had lost the edge that might have been anger and was now just curious.
She sighed mentally. At least he wasn't going to blow up in her face. "It was nerve racking. But the dancing was good and stuff. I've never been to a formal Christmas party before. I think I went over board on the color though. Everyone else was wearing dark colors. The dress wasn't mine. I borrowed it and I didn't want to bring it back here and forget about it. How was Christmas here? Dumbledore keep you up forever? You look tired," she replied.
"Actually I didn't stay. I wasn't feeling well and decided to try to go to sleep but I couldn't. I kept thinking about what you said and what I said. I didn't mean to accuse you of cheating on me or anything. I know you would never do anything like that. It just hurt, you know. To find out that two weeks after we break up you're going formal to the biggest party of the year with one of my enemies. You understand why I got mad, don't you?" he asked, a hint of pleading coming through.
Angry or not this was the same Remus Lupin that she knew and loved, only as a friend and future mentor. He was still the nicest person, except for Dumbledore, she had ever met. She smiled weakly and said, "I understand. I didn't mean to go behind your back either. No, I was not going out with him at the same time. I didn't even know he liked me until the day before we broke up. But it was then I realized that I was not being fair to you. I know you probably don't want to hear it but I need you to so you can understand. I liked Severus even before you asked me. But I didn't think there was any chance of us getting together. He was Slytherin and pureblood. I'm Gryffindor and a muggleborn. It just wasn't going to happen. So when you asked me out, I figured you were about the nicest most decent guy I have met. I could be happy with you and learn to love you as more than just a friend. So I gave up on my feelings for him and said yes to you. But when he told me he liked me too (She was hardly going to say what had really happened.) I knew I couldn't stay with you. It would be lying to you and leading you on in a relationship that didn't really have a chance of going anywhere. I would feel like I was hurting two people. You, for letting you think I loved you as much as you did me, and, and him by rejecting him when I like him too. While I love you as a friend, I don't love you like that. Please say you understand my reasons and that you forgive me for hurting you?"
Remus was silent for several moments as he took it all in. For a minute, Hermione feared he was getting angry again. To her relief he said, "I understand and I do forgive you. I would not want to be in a one-sided relationship. That is worse than no relationship. Just know that I do love you, and I want you to have what makes you happy and if that is ...Snape, then I am happy for you both. I just have one question."
She sighed and smiled at him saying, "Thank you, ask anything you want...well almost. I won't guarantee an answer. But I will if I can."
He smiled at the implied meaning but asked, "Why didn't you just tell anyone you were seeing him?"
She frowned slightly but replied, "I was afraid of what people would do. After all we are a Gryffindor and Slytherin. A muggleborn Gryffindor at that. I doubt that it would be taken well what with the house rivalry we have here. But I especially was afraid for Severus. We already got harassed by Malfoy tonight. We took care of it and unless something goes wrong he won't even know we're together. I dread to think what Sirius or James would do if they ever found out. They would want to kill him and probably hate me or think I was under a spell or something equally stupid. I just wanted to be safe. I'm glad someone knows. It makes me feel less traitorous and alone. Does that answer your question?" She looked at him hopefully. She wanted to be reassured that he would know and keep their secret.
Slowly he nodded. "It does. I can understand why you would be afraid of the You're right. Sirius would go mad. He would do something that would get him expelled or killed and hurt you in the process. I'm not so sure about James. I think he would understand more. I get the feeling he already knows we broke up. He kept looking at me weird before he left. I think you should tell Lily though. She will keep trying to get us on a double date unless she knows. She won't be happy but she will understand. Her parents didn't approve of James at first either. If you're worried about me telling anyone, I swear I will keep your secret until you choose to reveal it yourself. I would never do anything to hurt you intentionally. The last thing I need is Snape coming to avenge you," he said with a laugh.
She laughed back, as the last of the tension dissipated from her body. In almost a whisper she said, "Thank you. I trust you not to give me away. But I think it is late enough. I'm bushed. I think I'll go to bed." Standing trying to cover yawns, they both headed for their empty dormitories.
At the landing where the stairs split, they turned to each other. Smiling she stood on tiptoe and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Happy Christmas, Remus. Good night," she said.
Putting a hand to his cheek and rubbing the spot where she kissed, he said, "Happy Christmas, Elizabeth. Good night." With one final smile they headed to their rooms.
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After a quick breakfast the next morning, Hermione headed to the library to do some research. She wanted to find some information on mood and rose conjuration spells.
An hour later she was about to give up. She had looked in charms, transfiguration, potions, even the divination section. Finally fed up she went with the idea that she had originally put off as being to simple and stupid.
She checked the muggle section. She picked up the first book she saw involving colors, A World of Color: according to Muggle and Wizard Reference by Mary Brightman. She turned to the index and found, Gold....pg. 23.
Turning to the page she was surprised. It was exactly what she was searching for. The passage read as follows:
Gold: This color is often a favorite of high society and little girls. It is a symbol of prestige because in the past it was hard to come by and only the wealthy had it in large amounts. It is often paired with Red, Green or Purple. From many myths and common usage gold has obtained certain associated meanings. It is said to represent wealth, goodness, purity, love, truth, royalty, and the phoenix. Most often given is the meaning or representation to show true love.
For reference to wizard kind: this meaning is also applicable to feeling or mood charms and truth and revelation spells.
Setting aside the book, she contemplated what that meant in relation to her. The rose revealed moods or feelings. Gold means truth or love, but Severus said that red meant deep love. So it is not just love. It only turned gold when we were both holding it. So it was drawing on both our moods. She looked bath at the last line: Most often given is the meaning or representation to show true love.
As she read it a third time it struck her like a sledge hammer, Severus is my true love.
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A/N: Yay! Until next time readers! Plz, read and review! Thanks!
