Haunted Memories

-Chapter Eight-

Severus Snape is Alive

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters within J.K. Rowling's story.

Hermione couldn't keep her thoughts from traveling back to the conversation in the Great Hall. Severus Snape was alive? All the times that she had seen a shadow in the forest. The face of Snape --- could it be true that Snape was alive, and at Hogwarts? A shiver ran through Hermione's spine. If it was true that Snape was alive, then Hermione had seen him a couple of times. She was not going mad; no Snape was coming back to Hogwarts. But why? What was his intention of coming back to this place? Surely, he was looking for something important. But what?

Hermione's head hurt as she tried to figure out what Snape could possibly be looking for. It must be something of importance. Something that she knew would change his life for better or for worse. If he was a follower of the Light, than would not she have to help him? But if he was Voldemort's follower... Hermione sighed. There was just too much to speculate. Too much that she didn't know. In which case, Hermione had to find out the circumstances which lead to Dumbledore's death. She pressed her head against the cool glass in her room. The trials on Severus Snape's actions were still in process. Everyone had assumed him to be guilty and yet there were still a few who accessed the possibility of his innocence. Hermione didn't know where she stood. She was torn between believing what Harry saw and what she herself had witnessed and experienced.

Rubbing her temples in a slow circular motion, she decided to lie down in her bed for a while. Perhaps that visit to Harry's was a good idea. She could go over what he saw again and make sense of the overlaying intentions. Snape was a mysterious man and over the years, she couldn't figure him out. He was a professor of potions, a man with a love for the art of the profession. But he was no professor. Hermione smiled bitterly as years of oppression came back to her. Snape was a man of little words to his colleagues and students. If he did speak, it was to merely put down those around him. So what made Dumbledore trust him so? So much so that his life was put on the line? She ran through several ideas, shooting them down as she thought. There must be more to Snape than meets the eye. She had to visit Harry and soon.

Waking early the next day, Hermione set about to her usual tasks of preparing for class. This week would be the last week for classes and revision before the N.E.W.T exams. The graduation ceremony would commence after that. As she piled the marked exams into her conjured basket, she levitated alongside her as she headed towards her classroom.

Deciding to skip out on breakfast, she started to look through her books for a while, waiting on the students to trickle in. An hour afterwards, the first student came in and watched his Transfiguration teacher immersed in a thick tome of a book. Settling in his desk, he started to take out his own books and started the much needed revision. Many more students started to file in and followed suit. Finally the bell rang, startling Hermione and many of her students out of their thoughts. She looked around her room surprised to see all her students already in their seats with their books opened. They had been so quiet that she had not noticed much while they sat down.

Smiling brightly she started class, explaining to them the importance of the N.E.W.T exams and ways to battle the stress of the exams. As the day progressed, Hermione became less and less agitated about Severus Snape. Her classes all enjoyed their new relaxed environment in class. They were able to learn new techniques to studying for their exams and new ways to relieve stress. All in all, even the Slytherins were behaving and having fun.

That night, Hermione set to the task of writing a letter to Harry. She had decided that she would visit him immediately after the end of term and made it apparent in her letter that she wished to discuss something about their previous Potions Master. Hermione predicted that Harry's response would be heated. He had been quite angry at Snape at the very beginning. At the very mention of Snape's name, Harry found himself shaking with anger. Hermione sighed; she didn't know whether or not she could get information out of Harry if he was suddenly so angry in front of her. It was better to mention it in the letter and let him cool down over the week.

A few days later, Hermione received Harry's reply and wasn't surprised at all at all the questions that it held. She sighed as she ran over the sloppily written writing.

Dear Hermione,

I'm surprised that you would want to learn more about Snape. I look forward to your visit, thought I'm not sure why you would want to know about him. What is on your mind? Why this sudden interest? Why Snape? Visit soon,

Harry.

Hermione bit her lips in thought. Was Harry going to be mad at her visit? She shook her head with doubt. Looking at the sky, she was surprised to find that it was time for dinner. Tonight would the last night before the N.E.W.T exams. Some of her students looked sick at the very thought, others seemed to be worried but much less so. She donned on her outer robes and started towards the Great Hall. While walking, she glimpsed a figure with aset of black robes walking in the opposite direction. Hermione, thinking that it was a student walked swiftly in that direction.

"I would think that the Great Hall was the other direction. Professor Granger."

Hermione stopped and turned around to see Professor Slughorn smiling teasingly at her. "You're going to be late for dinner Professor Granger. Best be off now, don't you think?"

Hermione smiled and looked down the hallway where the mysterious student had disappeared to. She frowned as she saw no one and the classrooms appeared empty as well. Turning towards Professor Slughorn with yet another smile, she walked up to him and followed him towards the Great Hall. She noticed Slughorn's leg was limping more than usual.

"Horace, how's your leg?"

A pained look crossed the Slytherin's face momentarily before changing to his usual jovial self. "My leg has been hurting more than usual lately. I believe long extended hours in the cold damp dungeons are starting to take its toll on me. I have spoken to Minerva about it and she suggests that I move into one of the spare rooms in a warmer part of the castle."

She frowned, "Perhaps Madame Pomfrey would have something to help soothe your pain for now, Professor."

Horace Slughorn chuckled. "Thank you, Hermione for your care. I can't believe how Severus could have stayed down in the dungeons for so long."

Hermione nodded. Ever since Slughorn took over the post of Potions professor, the classroom had been changed and made suitable for his teaching, but Hermione knew that no one had gone in to Severus Snape's personal quarters. Hermione didn't even have a clue as to where Severus Snape's personal quarters could possibly be. She had no intention of going near that part of the castle. Not so soon anyways.

Before she could dwell into that possibility further, they were in front of the Great Hall's doors and she prepared to be assaulted with the massive student bodies' noise.

Every student breathed a sigh of relief as the last exams were finished. Now they were all looking forward to the start of the graduation ceremony. Hermione was busy with the preparations and also to write up new class itinerary for her substitute.

As the days went by with the students partying and celebrating their freedom, Hermione set to the task of preparing for another year and also to seeing Harry again.

She now stood in Hogsmeade looking at the set of instructions which Harry had sent over with Hedwig. Hermione had decided to take a portkey to Harry's locations instead of apparating the long distance. Opting on the latter meant that she wouldn't have to spend the next day in bed, recovering from apparating that far. She smiled as Harry had already thought of that and made sure a reliable source secured a portkey for her.

Before she knew, she was sitting in the Three Broomsticks twirling her wand in anticipation. A young woman with long blonde hair started towards Hermione. Her eyes were a peculiar shade of green and her slim figure was the envy of every woman. Catching herself staring, Hermione smiled at the stranger before her.

"Are you Hermione Granger?" asked the girl with an apparent accent. If she was surprised, Hermione didn't show it. This must be Harry's reliable source. Nodding she invited the woman to sit.

Thewoman gladly took the spot across from her and showed her a picture of Harry and Hedwig, waving fiercly at Hermione. She couldn't help but laugh at their silly expressions. They were standing in front of a small cottage style two story house. Various plants surrounded the place.

"My name is Valeria Robinson. Mr. Potter has instructed me to bring you this."

She showed Hermione a yellow duckie. Hermione grinned broadly. The woman smiled also. "Mr. Potter has a weird sense of humor." Hermione was a little surprised to see the woman knew what the rubber duck was for. "Are you muggle-born?" she asked.

Valeria shook her head. "I'm a pure blood but my husband is a muggle-born." Hermione was shocked at this. Valeria smiled. "In Canada, no one really cares if you're pure-blooded or muggle-born. We accept everyone."

Hermione smiled warmly. What a wonderful concept. Valeria looked at her watch and sighed. "I have other business to attend to --- mainly visiting my family here. But the password to activate the portkey is Severus." Whispered the woman before excusing herself and walking away.

Hermione looked wide-eyed at her retreating back. Severus? Was it a coincidence or was Harry trying to imply something?

Shaking her head, Hermione walked away from the Three Broomsticks and Hogsmeade. Mounting a hill, she ventured to a less crowded area and took out the portkey. Making sure she had everything, she gripped onto the portkey more firmly and said, "Severus."

Instantly she felt the familiar tug and blurred images surround her. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to settle her stomach. Before long, she found herself hurdling towards the ground and she held out her arms trying to steady herself. Over the years, Hermione had spent a lot of time portkeying to different locations. But each time, she felt like it was her first time. It was hard not to fall to the ground in a disgrace. Standing on unsteady feet, Hermione smiled in triumph. She had managed to stay upright.

Just when she felt herfeetplanted securely on the ground, she was once again lifted by the strong arms of a man. Hermione's eyes widened in shock. "Hermione! Hermione, I missed you so much!"

Harry stood now in front of her. He had grown even more over the years and now towered over her. His emerald eyes sparkling with merriment, his hair the same unruly mess as the day she met him. Hermione laughed as Hedwig landed on Harry's shoulder, pecking at his hair. Harry laughed along and showed her the direction of his house. She had landed a few blocks away from his house in a park.

The rest of the evening was spent going over the last two years. Hermione found herself tiring from the trip and yawned, but most importantly she wanted to ask Harry about Severus Snape. But her body protested and she excused herself from the room.

Harry sighed as he settled back into the armchair and watched Hermione leave the room. All day, he had been itching to ask her about her sudden interest in Severus Snape. Surely the man had died during the war? Or was hiding in fear right now. Harry closed his eyes in thought. Ever since getting Hermione's letter, he had thought back to what he had witnessed that fateful night. He remembered every detail of Dumbledore's death. But what hehad neglected to tell Hermione was that he had had help from someone on his quest for the Hocruxes and what he truly suspected was that that very person was Severus Snape.