Disclaimer: I do not own Potterverse, just the plot of this story.
Never Judge a Book by it's Cover
Chapter Four
Professor Snape looked at the Penseive for a moment, drawing forth the memory of that dreadful day, making sure that he included the part where he had noticed that the twins had been separated from the rest of the light. He remembered how he had circled round, so he could help the three of them fight their way back to Albus and Harry, when he saw the look in Hermione's eyes. The glassiness. The tears running down her cheek. Then the blades hidden in her cloak. How he had tried to stop her, but the spell caster had been too strong. He had helped to late.
Placing the tip of his wand at his temple he drew out the memory and placed it in the penseive. When the silvery strands had settled he looked up at Madame Pomfrey.
"Brace yourself Madame, Poppy,and remember to keep your mind and eyes open. See what I see. Not what you want to see and believe. I know you are good friends with Molly, but maybe you can persuade her to see this. It won't matter to Hermione if the rest of the world doesn't believe her, but she needs her family to."
Madame Pomfrey was shocked at the compassion that he was speaking with. 'Maybe I was wrong.'
She leaned into the Penseive, watching the memory with her hand over her mouth. She had been so very wrong. The anger and hurt on Hermione's face as she walked towards the twins, the jerky steps she took as she tried to fight the spell. The look of horror on her face as she realised what was going to happen as she drew out the blades.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and felt herself being pulled back. "Severus... I don't know what to say."
"Just believe in her."
"Why was she at the top of the Tower in this weather?"
"It's not my place to say. Besides, it is only the conclusion I have come to, but I think it is safe to say that I am close to the truth."
"Albus and Minerva..."
"They believe her, Albus, well because he is Albus and sees the good in all people, and Minerva... I think it is because she had watched Hermione so closely, as if she was her own daughter, and with Albus believing her it must have sealed the deal. How else did you think she had managed to become an apprentice?"
"I don't know... I thought maybe... a spell or something." Professor Snape shook his head. "I know, I just, after what Molly said, and... I'm sorry."
"It's not me that you should be apologising to... I need to apologise too."
"What do you have to apologise for?"
"I never told her that I believed her. I thought that it would be too risky with the Ministry watching me so closely, and with laying low and all that... inexcusable."
They watched Hermione in silence for a while, till they heard the school waking up around them.
"I can't help till she wakes."
"But won't her magic be all gone?"
"Technically, her magic will not be gone. Just heavily suppressed. She will need to learn again. She will need to trust herself again."
"She lost so much faith in herself... how can..."
"I don't believe that she will wake for a few days. Her body was under an extreme amount of stress. Maybe we can convince the Weasley's to view this. Perhaps starting with Ginny Weasley, she is still at the school I believe."
"Won't it be too much of a shock to wake up and find everyone trusting her again?"
"It won't be everyone, not everyone will get to see this. Just the Weasley's and the other staff members. With Ginny believing that should help with the students, and hopefully the rest of the school will follow their example."
Professor Snape nodded. He wasn't happy with so many people watching his memory, but at least it would be with his permission and nothing nearly as private as what Harry had witnessed. He sighed.
"Thank you Severus. I know it is not often that you are like this, but thank you for showing me what happened and how wrong I was."
He didn't reply.
"You need rest, go back to your chambers..." She watched as his eyes flickered closed and a soft snore escaped him. "...or you can sleep here." She smiled and casting a quick warming spell on another blanket she tucked it in around him.
