Chapter 9: Never Enough Knowledge
"The time we have is so precious, don't you think?" Hermione lay serenely on the bed, a sheet wrapped about her, her head resting at the foot of the bed.
"Hm?" A sleepy Severus sat up and blinked at her.
"Life," she repeated. "It's so fragile."
"Yup." Hermione giggled deliciously and, though Severus would never admit it, it made his heart sing to hear it. "What are you giggling at," he asked gruffly.
Again Hermione giggled. "You're all sleepy-faced."
"Well, Miss Granger, in case you hadn't noticed, I WAS asleep, before you woke me with your insipid musings." She giggled again.
"You can put up a hard front with me Professor, but it won't do you any good. I know you're amused. I see it in your eyes."
"My eyes?"
"Your sleepy eyes," she taunted. Hermione screamed as he dove a her and dodged. Her attempts at escape failed and she soon found that, among his caresses and kisses, she didn't want to.
It was hard to believe that a week prior the two had been bitter acquaintances. Now they were the sun of each other's universe and the light of each other's life.
They dressed that Saturday slowly and with several interruptions of their own creation before a resounding knock took away the fun.
Severus sighed resignedly and, letting the small brunette woman from his arms, walked to the door.
It swung open as he released the latch and a warm, annoying, smile met him.
"Severus, so good to see you're ready for your meeting with Sybil. May I assume Miss Granger is prepared as well?" Dumbledore was as cheerful as ever, but something was off, some kind of tension… Snape simply nodded. "Then collect her and follow me."
The couple walked up the stairs behind the headmaster not even daring a glance at the other. As they wound up and up and up to the tower Snape felt on ominous feeling draw closer and closer.
Soon Dumbledore stopped outside the door and knocked. "Enter," Sybil's dreamy voice called.
And Enter they did.
The heat and incense were suffocating, as always, and made the experience even more disconcerting.
"Sit, sit," Sybil prompted in a dreamy, far-off voice, the three as she herself sat before the fireplace. "Now as I know the two of you hold some… reservations concerning the second sight, but I assure you it can be quite useful. Today for example we will be delving into your future prospects. You will have some difficult decisions to make."
"What does that mean? 'Difficult decisions?'" Hermione asked, allowing the worry to creep into her eyes.
"Oh nothing my dear, nothing, make no fuss about it. After all what cannot be helped must be endured." Though her smile was sweet Sybil's eyes carried concern as did, to Sanpe's astonishment, Dumbledore's.
"Now there are several ways to do this," Sybil continued, "some are more dangerous than others, but it will of course be you who choose." Reaching under the tea table before her, Sybil removed three items. The first was a large round Bowl, the second a small Jar, and the third a Key. Hermione and Severus looked at each other and blinked before Snape turned to Dumbledore.
"What exactly is going on here Headmaster?" He demanded gruffly.
Dumbledore, eyes all a twinkle, felt that at least some explanation was needed. "There are exactly seven people who know about your relationship with Miss Granger, Severus. You, and I or course as well as Hermione and Sybil. As well as two unfortunate students who had happened to walk into your classroom at a bad moment, luckily they did not recognize young Miss Granger. But, Severus there are three without these walls who have learned and are already plotting to use it against you. " Severus' eyes grew large and without thought he reached for Hermione's hand, griping it tightly. Dumbledore simply nodded in affirmation of the unstated question. "Now you have a choice. Before you are three different ways to see what your future holds. You may choose all three or you may choose one, but you must do so together."
"The bowl," Sybil cut in excitedly, "is one of my own design. It works as a sort of reverse pensive, channeling the thoughts and memories of those who are forward in the timeline. Complex, yes, but harmless as a normal Pensive. The Jar, holds a lotion that will transport you, temporarily, to your future selves, however far along that line you wish to go. The time, regrettably, was something I was not able to get down. It sometimes lasts for and hour sometimes a minute, and it is fickle about letting itself be used again. I gave it too much humanity, I think." She smiled as she lifted the tarnished silver key. "This was a genius collaboration between the headmaster and myself. This Key will allow you to transport yourselves, physically, to the time and place you wish to be. It works on any door, at any time, and as such is under the strictest control. The rules of forward time motion are much more lax than those of backward, after all you cannot change what has not happened." Sybil looked up as the headmaster cleared her throat and shook her head. "I've let my mind wander… I cannot guarantee that any of your futures will come to pass, and I cannot assure you that your actions will not cause them."
"Do you understand what Sybil is telling you Miss Granger." Dumbledore looked at the small woman with eyes of importance. Why is he asking me, she wondered.
"The Professor is saying that seeing our future may be what causes it, Headmaster." Dumbledore smiled a sad, tired smile, and nodded.
"That is precisely what she is saying," he replied.
"Well I don't like this one bit," Snape said standing. "What right is it of yours to get involved in our affairs? Hm? What does this have to do with you, or anyone else."
Sybil opened her mouth but Dumbledore raised a hand and she fell short. "This," the headmaster began "will involve our entire world, impact it as much as Mr. Potter has and will. Now, you will choose. Do you wish only one seeing or all three."
Snape looked at Hermione and knelt beside her. "We don't have to do this. We don't have to know. We can walk out of here and leave the future to itself." Hermione pondered for a moment, and then looking into those large grey eyes, shook her head.
"I want to know, Severus." He sighed and she continued. "I want to do all three." Snape smiled at his girl, the woman he loved and kissed her forehead.
"Never enough knowledge for my little know it all," he sighed. "Then I want it as well."
"Then pick your First," Sybil drawled.