Hand Talk

Disclaimer: Of course I own all of these characters. I keep them locked up under my bed and feed them table scraps. NOT! If I owned these characters I would be sending these stories to my publisher (which does not exist) and not sending them to Summary: Hermione is found bloodied and bruised, without her sight and hearing. Resorting to the only communication she knows, there is only one other who understands her. HGSS

Rating: M (mature themes, violence and language)

Chapter 22

Warning: Chapter Summary may contain plot spoilers

Chapter Summary:

"They can't be serious?" interjected Harry shaking his head.

Hermione nodded a little.

"Bloody hell! Those Ministry officials think they can just up and change someone's life at a moments notice," Ron practically shouted waving his arms around dramatically. "They just send off a piece of paper with no consi—"

"Ron, please," interjected Hermione her voice wavering a little.

"—deration ! Nicole here is just another name on a list they have to shor—"

"Ron, SHUT UP!" she shouted glaring at him. "Sit down. You're making a scene."

Grumbling he grudgingly sat down. "It just makes me so mad. Nicole is just an innocent in their whole game."

Hermione overlooked his momentary insightfulness instead turning her feelings on him. "How do you think I feel?" Ron turned an unusual shade of Weasley Red. "I spent more time with Nicole than either of you!" she hissed snapping her glare to a slightly shocked looking Harry before gliding back to Ron. "If there is anyone who should be mad, it should be me! I have every right to get angry and mad and have someone else try to calm me down! But NO! I have to be the reasonable one. I'm the one who has to pull you back into line and I'm sick of it!" By now she was standing, poking a finger into Ron's chest. "For once grow-UP!" Realising what she had done Hermione looked up to see half the Great Hall looking at her.

Blushing she grabbed her bag and Nicole and dashed out of the Hall. Hastily, she shoved the scroll in the corner of her bag and the two girls slipped out between the great doors leading to the Hall. As she rounded the corner, she felt the first of the welling tears trail down her face. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.

Who did he think he was? It was not as if he was going to miss Nicole. She was the one who had been living with her, the one who comforted her when she cried.

A small hand reached out, wiping her tears away before carefully prying an eyelid open. The little girl sitting on her hip gave her a sad look as she opened her eyes.

"Don't cry," she signed with her free hand as the other tightly grasped Hermione's cloak.

She couldn't help but laugh at the situation, the tears still slowly running down her face. Hitching her bag properly onto her shoulder, she tightly hugged the raven-haired girl as her little arms wrapped around her neck. After a moment, she pulled away, giving the little girl, who had unknowingly become her life over the past weeks, a peck on the forehead. The little girl smiled back at her giving her a return kiss on the nose.

Hermione couldn't help but smile has her former anger slipped away. Holding Nicole securely she headed down the hallway.

"It's going to be okay," she assured herself. "We're both going to be strong and get through this together. Then everything is going to go back to the way it always was." Hermione worried her lip at the thought. (um…? I have no idea what that was supposed to mean) Could things really go back to the way they were? Was she still the same person? It didn't matter, she concluded. She was going to put on a brave face and make it through this alive.

ooOOoo

That evening, she tried to talk to Severus but instead of the almost kind responses she had been used to receiving, he glared and sneered at her. She had almost cried when he told her to mind her own business, her emotions nearly getting the better of her, but she stayed strong.

What had she done to make him react like this? Where had his cooperative personality gone? She felt as if her world was falling apart around her. First it was her roommates who hardly ever talked to her anymore, then it was Harry and Ron who were spending less and less time with her, and then she found out that Nicole was leaving and Severus was mad with her. What in Hades had she done wrong to upset the Gods?

ooOOoo

It was very late that night before Severus allowed himself to go to bed. He had been up for hours marking essays and pop-quizzes. Finally, he got to a stage where he was fighting to keep his eyes from closing at 3am. It was true, he was avoiding her. He had to. He couldn't keep giving her the tongue lashings.

He didn't know when, but at some stage he had grown a conscience and was regretting speaking to her that way.

'No,' he growled. It wasn't his fault. She had brought it all upon herself by being such a Know-It-All. She was invading his space, making his bed smell intoxicatingly fragrant and very much unlike the potions the house elves used to clean them. It was her fault that he now enjoyed sitting at his desk marking essays while she did her homework on the couch. It was her all her fault. She deserved his harsh words… Didn't she?

ooOOoo

Putting on a cheerful face, Hermione adjusted the collar of her cloak once more. She was never one to preen herself but somehow it had become an odd habit for her whenever she was nervous or her emotions running.

It was Saturday morning. Nicole would be meeting her new family today. This might be the last time she would see these quarters for a very long time.

Making her way into the living room of Severus's rooms, she spotted Nicole lying on the floor with an Ever-Colour-Changing, No-Dip, No-Drip, Quick Dry Quill and a sheet of paper. Hermione watched the raven haired girl pause during her artistic flair only to start scribbling in an area to one side of the page.

She looked so sweet there on the rug. Seemingly finished with her inked drawing she sat-up, her back to the witch standing by the door way to her Uncle and Hermione's bedroom. She picked up the picture, admiring it before spotting a potions article on the floor near where she sat. Pulling the book over, she watched as the very dark and gloomy person began to morph into a bright, cheery young man before suddenly reverting back to the old gloomy man.

ooOOoo

The brunette watched has she giggled silently at the picture on the front cover before poking it with her finger to make it move before giggling a little more. To Hermione, that must be what it was all about to be a parent. To be able to see the happiness on the face of their child, someone who was apart of them. To be able to share the moment with their partner. Hermione sobered at thought. Nicole wasn't her daughter. She never would be. Biologically, potions could make Nicole her daughter, but never could she hope to really become her mother.

With a sigh she stepped away from the doorway and made her way over to Nicole. Looking up from the potions article, she grabbed the picture she had drawn and raced over to Hermione.

"Loo wha I doo o you," she managed to get out as she held her picture up for Hermione to see.

"Very beautiful, Nicole," she signed as she knelt down to her level. "Who's that?" she asked, pointing to a scribbled that looked like person with a huge head.

It turned out she had drawn a picture of Hermione, Severus, and herself all standing around a huge cauldron, making a brilliant potion that was blowing huge amounts of smoke into the air, "Just like Neville's". Hermione couldn't help but laugh at that.

Shortly afterwards, Severus arrived through the floo system. After brushing the soot of his clothes, he asked Nicole what she had been doing this morning before she showed him her picture.

"That's very nice. Now we must get going to the Headmasters office," he instructed as he shrank and pocketed her small suitcase of belongings she had acquired over her time there.

Standing up, she took Hermione's hand and together, they walked towards the door. Once outside, Severus still in the lead, headed towards the Headmaster's Office.

He had been there all morning. Even though the adoptive couple had already gone through a strict screening process, he still felt that he owed his sister and Nicole and took it upon himself to interrogate the young man and wife himself. It turns out after a rather nasty accident that the woman had become sterile and there was no chance that she could ever have children and hence the couple had decided to adopt. Both had been forthcoming with their admission that they hadn't wanted a baby but instead a young child, a little girl. They weren't wealthy but had plenty to support themselves and a young child. They were cheery and bright whilst also being down to earth. They had all the qualities that Nicole needed in her parents. Now all he had to do was see how well they and Nicole got along.

ooOOoo

When they finally reached the gargoyle guarding the Headmasters Office, Severus suddenly turned to face Hermione.

"I believe it would be best if you didn't come-up with Nicole. It will only make it harder on her," he said evenly. "You best say your good-byes now, or else you may never get the chance."

Hermione found that her chest was tight. "I would like to meet Nicole's possible adoptive couple before I blindly hand her over."

"She is not your daughter nor is she even remotely related to you."

She couldn't believe it. After everything she had gone through with Nicole she was being denied the possibility of even meeting her soon-to-be parents.

"I have spent more time with her the entire time she has been here, Professor," she bit out, her anger overtaking her disbelief.

"But she is still my niece. I will say this only once; say your farewells and leave before the number of house points Gryffindor has becomes significantly less," he hissed, glaring at her only to have her glare right back.

Hermione however knew this was a losing battle. Tearing her gaze away, she knelt down to Nicole before tucking a stay piece of hair behind her ear.

"You're going to meet your new parents now," she told the raven haired girl. A smile lit her face.

"Really? Will they be nice?" she asked excitedly.

"I'm sure they will," she replied almost instinctively. "Your Uncle is going to take you to meet them."

"You're coming too, aren't you?" she asked. Sometimes she was just too perceptive for her good.

"No darling. I have to go."

"You have to come with me."

"Your Uncle Severus will be going with you to meet them," she replied.

"But I want you," she pleaded, her bottom lip quivering, her eyes wide.

"I can't. Don't cry," she told her as she wiped away a tear that fell down her face before pulling her into a hug. The little girl held tight to her before Hermione pulled away.

"I want you to remember that no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you," she signed. "If you ever need anything, I'll always be here, all you have to do is call for me and when I hear you, I will come. Okay?"

"Okay," she replied.

"However touching this little meeting is, the pair of us must be going," Severus said from behind her.

"What do you have to remember?" she asked, ignoring the dark haired man.

"That you will always be here for me," she replied.

"That's right," she signed, her own tears forming as she stood. Severus took Nicole by the hand and with a mumbled password, the gargoyle moved to allow them entrance. Just before they stepped onto the moving staircase, Nicole turned around to face Hermione.

"I love you, 'Mione," she said confidently.

"I love you too, Nicole," she quickly signed back as she turned and disappeared up the moving staircase. And like that she was gone.

With a sniff, Hermione turned around, not quite sure where to go. Severus' rooms were too familiar and reminded her too much of Nicole. She didn't want to be around people so communal areas were out. Finally coming to a decision she started up the staircases. Up and up she went pass the classrooms, the empty rooms until she finally arrived at the astronomy tower.

"5 points off Hufflepuff, Miss Dawson," she said, as she walked out onto the deck where all the telescopes were set-up.

"Yes, Miss Granger," she replied, hastily shoving her book into her bag.

"As much as I appreciate that you are doing work, I suggest you work somewhere which isn't out of bounds."

"Yes, Miss Granger," she replied again, before slipping out the door.

When she was sure the third year was gone, she walked over to the ledge of the tower, seating herself on it and looking over the grounds which were covered in a light layer of snow. Allowing herself only a few moments to enjoy the scenery, she finally took out her wand and pointed it towards the outcrop just below the ledge. A few mumbled spells and the outcrop was dry, warm and snow free. Making sure on one was around she kicked her legs of the edge and jumped down to the small outcrop. This, unlike anywhere else, was her spot. This was her space to think where no one bothered her. Climbing onto the ledge, she looked at the carving in the stone on the actual castle itself. Three names, Ekaterina Slavine, Jonathan Yuletide, and Hermione Granger. Three people who owned this spot. Three people who had rights to it.

When Hermione had originally found it, she was tempted to erase the names as duty as a prefect, seeing as they were graffiti, but the longer she sat there, the more sense it made to leave the names there before she finally added her own, transferring it to the stone from a piece of paper magically.

Gently tracing her fingers over each of the names, she tried to imagine what this spot must have been like for these other people; what problems they had to escape.

She imagined Ekaterina up here crying over a break-up with her boyfriend. Then she was sitting here with a letter from her mum, reading it over and over again, just wanting to be home.

She imagined Jonathan sitting up here to escape all of the Quidditch and sex crazy boys in his dorm with a pad and quill. Then he was staring up at the moon and the million stars glittering in the night sky.

With a sigh, Hermione turned her back to the names, her feet sitting on the edge. In all, the ledge was about three metres long, around the tower and a metre and a half out. Spells ensured safety making sure that no one or no thing made it over the edge.

Tucking a few flyaway pieces of hair behind her ears, she barely suppressed a sob. Drawing her knees a little closer she looked out over the lake in all its silence. A thin layer of ice was forming but it was not yet complete. It looked peaceful, tranquil. Another sniff escaped her tightly pursed lips. Furiously wiping, her eyes she mentally chastised herself.

Why was she crying? There was no need to cry. Nicole was leaving. So what? Now she would have a proper family. A family that would love and care for her, a safe place for her to grow-up.

'Suck it up, Hermione. Suck it up and stop blubbering like a baby.'

'Stop snivelling like a child!' chastised a voice reminding her very much of Severus.

"Professor Snape. Not Severus. Snape, Professor Snape."

With renewed determination, she raised her head from her folded arms, not remembering when she put her head down. Rubbing the tears from her cheeks, she stared out into the distance, the cool winter breeze chilling across her damp face.

She was not weak. She would not cry and blubber and moan about something that could not be changed. She was strong. She would be strong. She had cried too many tears over these past months, tears over things that couldn't be changed. She was not weak, she would not cry, she would not mope. She would do what she did best. She would think.

And so she sat and thought. She thought of her friends however few they were. She thought of her parents. She considered her classes. She debated what she wanted to do when she finished her schooling. She contemplated her relationship with Sev-…Professor Snape, until finally she knew what she had to do.

Filled with determination, she clenched her teeth and made her way back into the Astronomy Tower, finally realising how her teeth chattered, how her skin felt both cold and raw, and how chapped her lips were. With a slight, shiver she reached for the door to the astronomy tower.

ooOOoo

There you have it! Thank-you to everyone who hasn't given up on this story. It does end-up going somewhere.

I know I've been a really long time with this coming, but excuses won't change anything. I'll warn you all now, that the next chapter may be a while coming, but hopefully not as long as these chapters.

I'd like to send a special thanks to Jinxd n cursed who proofread these chapters for me.