Sorry about the long delay but finals suck. We are now on our summer hiatus and plan to write just a little more often. Thanks so much for reading/reviewing. Please continue to enjoy Wenya Verne.
Ereb Ithil
After a brief talk with the headmaster, Hermione found herself sitting opposite Snape, no, Severus in his, soon to be their, quarters. She suppressed yet another shudder before taking a sip of her lukewarm tea. The conversation was nonexistent and beginning to drive her nuts.
"Um….Severus?" she said squeakily. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Severus?"
"What is it now?" he growled. "If you cannot tell I'm not jumping for joy at the idea of being married… again."
"Actually, I was wondering if I could ask you a question," she said.
"What on earth could the Gryffindor know-it-all not know?"
"How did Charity die?"
"That, Miss Granger, is none of your business."
"Hermione."
"As far as I am concerned, until such time as you are no longer my student, I will call what I please."
"So am the same courtesy?"
"If you wish, thought I do suggest you keep any that don't involve 'Professor' in them to yourself."
"Or what, Sevie-Wevie."
"Or shall find yourself in a very unflattering position."
"I cannot possibly imagine what could worse than this right now."
"Well, death for starts."
"And you believe that I'm afraid of that right now. You forget I was there for the killing of Voldemort and I also saw one of my best friends die."
"I'm not interested in war stories right now, Miss Granger." He stood and began to walk out.
"You never answered my question."
"And I do not plan to, Miss Granger, If you so desire, as her yourself."
"Fine, then, I will."
"Goodnight, Miss Granger." He slammed the door.
"How am I supposed to get out of here?"
When no answer came, she slumped into her chair.
"Well this is just bloody wonderful."
She looked around at the sound of a faint humming. Charity's silvery form slid through the wall beside her. The ghost kept traveling through the room, giving Hermione no indication that she had even been noticed.
"Umm, excuse me, Charity?"
"Hmm, what? Oh, hello, Miss Granger."
"Hermione, please."
"Yes, of course."
"Would mind terribly if I asked a fairly odd question?"
The ghost floated back towards her and hovered a couple of inches above the chair Severus had previously occupied.
"Not at all, ask away."
"How did you die?"
"Oh," the faint features seemed to sadden as the ghost remembered her form, or lack there of.
"Kind of a long story."
"I have plenty of time."
"I imagine you do."
"Well, I can't recall the actual date, unlike the other ghosts in this castle, I don't care to remember the date I left the living, well sort of. You tend to lose track of these things over time."
"That's okay, I just to know if I just signed my death certificate."
"Hmm, Oh no dear. I was killed…by a ….uh….group of…death eaters."
Hermione's face paled.
"Severus and I were posing as a muggle couple in order to go to a movie premiere."
"Severus…what?"
"You heard me, he cleans up quite nicely. I was a dancer in a scene."
"What movie?"
"What, oh, a Jim Henson film, Labyrinth I think. I was called in at the last moment."
"Oh, I saw that, I really enjoyed it."
"Anyway, we were walking in on her red carpet when a pack of death eaters flew and began throwing random curses and hexes. I was unfortunate enough to catch the Avada curse. I happened to be standing in front of Severus, or else he would have been hit. The group didn't realize until it was too late that we were there."
"Oh."
"But, things happen and times changed and both have moved on. He is marrying again and I'm just sort of here. He still doesn't know of my unfinished business."
"And that is?"
"None of your business."
Hermione sighed. "Well, as long as I don't' end up dead in a few months, I guess this won't be to bad. You will help me, won't you?"
"Hmm?"
"You will help me get used to all of this?"
"Huh, me what?"
"You will help get used to being married, right?" she asked, tears brimming.
"Of course dear, well I can try."
"You have no idea what that means to me."
"You are most welcome dear."
Hermione yawned.
"There is a room down the hall if you wish to stay there tonight."
"Thank you, I really appreciate it. I don't think I can make it alone tonight, up in the tower that is."
"Of course dear, follow me."
The next morning, Hermione to off-key singing, cursing and the sound of a very grumpy man being awoken. She smiled in spite of herself. Charity in through the wall she had been staring at.
"He's up, might as well talk to him now. He is most persuadable at this hour."
She pulled out of the bed and transfigured the pillow sham into a long red robe, She walked into the sitting rooms and was surprised by the amount of sunlight that was streaming in through the windows.
"Windows in the dungeons?" she murmured softly.
"Yes, I do enjoy some sunlight in the morning," he replied, taking a sip of his coffee.
She sat down across from him, not saying anything.
"What do you want now?"
"Some breakfast preferably."
"So go get it from the house elves, why are you bothering me."
"Well, you had better get used to it Sevie-Wevie, we are getting married after all."
"Well, I could care less."
"When do you want to get married?"
"Yule, plenty of time for you to graduate."
"What?"
"Didn't you know?"
"Know what?"
"Didn't Albus tell you?"
"Tell Me What?"
"You are graduating mid-term."
"What?"
"Because you are such a know-it-all, and you decent marks in all of your classes and with this stupid law thing, you are being granted the honor of taking your N.E.W.T.s before Yule. Besides, I really don't want to bed a student. It is very unethical."
Hermione began thinking of how one could kill a ghost. How was he any easier to get along with at this hour?
"Wait a minute, how did you get down here?"
"Charity showed me the extra room to stay in for the night. Shouldn't I just move in now, it would make thing so much easier."
"For you perhaps."
"Considering my thing have yet to be unpacked, it would be much easier now, then mid-term."
"Do whatever you please, just please, don't bother me."
"Whatever?"
"Yes, no just leave me alone please."
Hermione smiled, thinking that maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.
Yay! Chapter 4 is done. Major kudos to your beta, Crystal, for sticking with us through all of our clumsy mistakes. Thanks Crystal!
Look for chapter 5 in a couple of weeks, until then, please review.
Thanks!
Ereb Ithil