Haunted Memories

-Chapter Fifteen-

In the Hearts of Those We Love

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

Minerva McGonagall would have liked to scowl as yet another owl delivered a mountain of parchments to her desk. But as a rule of thumb, Minerva shall never do something so unladylike. As she poured over the parchments, signing each after some meticulous thinking, her eyes grew tried. So much so that she felt it time to retire to bed. Capping her bottle of ink and putting away her quill, the Headmistress wondered where Hermione Granger had gone to. The young woman had disappeared after her return to the castle. Thinking that she was tired and had gone to sleep, Minerva had left Hermione alone, but when Hermione didn't show up for dinner; Minerva had started to feel worried. Hermione wasn't in her room, when the Headmistress had gone to find her, now Minerva was stuck with stacks of parchments to go over and a worried mind for the young woman.

Now and again, reports from the ghosts and portraits came back to the headmistress to tell her if there was any trace of Hermione, however there was none, which made the Headmistress even more worried. Where in the whole of the castle, would there be no portraits? Where in the castle could the ghosts not go to or not want to go to?

Minerva sighed. Rubbing her temples, she cleared the parchment from her desk, waving her wand to have them sent to their right places. Books cleared from all corners of the room and finally, she stood and watched the embers of the fire die down. Sure that everything in her room was neat and in order, Minerva started towards her chambers. Just as she was about to leave, she looked over to the empty portrait of Albus Dumbledore, surprised when Albus suddenly appeared in its frames.

"Oh, Albus. I thought you had gone to sleep in another one of your portraits!"

Dumbledore chuckled. "I've had enough rest for today, Minerva. However, you're about to have a guest." Pointing towards the dying embers in the fireplace, Dumbledore's eyes shone brightly.

Headmistress McGonagall stared as the fireplace flared to life. A dark blue fire burning with all its strength. Grabbing her wand with quick reflexes, Minerva pointed it towards the fireplace, ready for anything. Behind her, Professor Dumbledore smiled and hummed a little song. Minerva frowned. "Albus please…"

"But Minerva, just look!"

With a closer look, Minerva saw something coming from inside the fire. A moment later, a flurry of maroon colour robes erupted from the fireplace and landed right beside the Headmistress' desk. A head full of bushy brown hair appeared from the mass of robes and Minerva lowered her wand at the sight of the young woman before her. Rushing towards the confused woman, Minerva held her hand out to help Hermione Granger up.

Having dusted herself off, Hermione sat down in the armchair by the fireside, across from Minerva. After several minutes of Minerva's scrutiny, Hermione cleared her throat and shifted around nervously.

"Ah...my dear headmistress, it's a beautiful night isn't it?"

Professor McGonagall glared at the young woman. Finally she burst, "What in the world, may I ask were you doing coming through my fireplace at this time of night, Hermione. Where were you anyways?"

The elder woman huffed slightly as she conjured up a tea set and settled it in front of the two of them. Hermione sighed and sat frozen to the spot. What could she possibly say? The war within her raged as she watched the concerned woman before her. Hermione should really tell the professor what was going on. After all, she was the headmistress of the school. There was no denying that she owed this woman much. But... Snape had also warned her not to tell. What could he be hiding? Is he trying to hide himself? Or is he after something much more important.

For the possibility that he might be on the wrong side, Hermione took a deep breath and prepared to face her Headmistress and tell her everything. Before she could utter a word however, she noticed the portrait of Dumbledore smiling broadly. Hermione wanted to ask the old man so much, she wondered if he knew about Snape as well, for in life Professor Dumbledore seemed to know everything that happened in his school.

"Well?" The headmistress was getting impatient. "Have some tea, Hermione, and tell me everything." Hermione didn't realize that she was staring into Dumbledore's eyes trying to get some notion as to what to do.

Hermione slowly took the cup of tea from the Headmistress and looked into the elder woman's eyes, seeing warmth and comfort there. The Headmistress was very concerned for her. She couldn't lie to the woman and she knew that she couldn't lie in front of Professor Dumbledore, even if it was just his portrait. For some reason, she found comfort in the fact that Professor Dumbledore was here too. She surely hoped he wouldn't fall asleep too soon, as he was more inclined to do so these days.

"Well..." Hermione cleared her throat. "I was intrigued about the Veritaserum convention and decided to look up a few more facts on them. However, what I found in the library was not what I had wanted. I know there is much more effects on the human body that the books in the library do not allow students to read, therefore, I decided to look in Professor Snape's library." Taking a breath she continued. "Seeing as he is after all a Potions Master, his library should hold a bit more information than the average one. However when I got to his office, I realized I will have to find his personal quarters in order to gain that information and so...I started my quest to find his chambers."

The headmistress had an eyebrow raised. She sipped from her tea cup and motioned for Hermione to go on. "Anyways, I looked for clues as to where his chambers would be and found his mirror. It led me to a secret corridor and then I just travelled through it and gave the password which led to ... mostly his quarters."

"Mostly?"

Professor Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly behind the Headmistress as he watched Hermione explain her situation. "Yes, well there were traps and all that; I didn't know how hard it was to go there. However, when I did find his rooms, I was amazed! It was so large and had so much potions ingredients and books. I spent most of the nights there just pouring through them!"

The headmistress' gaze turned away and she silently tried to muffle her chuckle with a cough. However Dumbledore saw through her disguise and chuckled loudly for her. Hermione looked up in surprise at the portrait before continuing. "Headmistress...there is something very important I must tell you."

Minerva straightened up and watched her colleague intently, "What is it?"

"Severus Snape is back. In this very school, in his very quarters." Hermione whispered the last part out quietly but Minerva looked at her sternly. "He is back?"

Hermione nodded. "He came in. I had fallen asleep from reading... a book and he startled me. However, he didn't hurt me or anything... just threw me into the fireplace and sent me here."

Professor McGonagall frowned. "Severus is back."

She didn't know what to do with that news. After many discussions with Albus, she did come to a conclusion though --- Albus had been hiding something from her since five years ago. In Hermione's sixth year, Albus had become more secretive, ever since his injured hand and had consulted with Severus on many occasions. She had felt a little left out and angry that Severus had been the one that Albus trusted in more with certain information. At the end, she had raged when she found out that it was Severus that had killed the Headmaster. Deep within her, it took the whole five years to believe Albus' portrait that Severus was forced into the deal. She had yet to see the man and wondered what her reactions would be should she come across him.

Hermione stared at the Headmistress. A frown covered the elder lady's face and she kept staring off into the fireplace contemplating something that Hermione didn't understand. Excusing herself silently, Hermione walked towards the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. It had been a long time since she had last talked to the old man. The last time, she had questioned him about that night and the ex-Headmaster had been quite dodgy towards her since then.

"Professor..."

Albus looked towards her instead of Minerva and nodded happily. "Miss Granger, it's a pleasure to see you again."

Hermione smiled brightly. "Professor, did you know that Severus Snape is back in the castle?"

The old Headmaster quirked an eyebrow and chuckled. "I would assume I did. However...Hermione Severus did warn you didn't he?"

Hermione grinned. "I'm not scared of him." Though deep down inside, she felt her heart beat faster and her fingers grow cold at the very mention of the man coming towards her again.

Dumbledore smiled and nodded. "Of course. What was I thinking asking a Gryffindor that question, but Hermione, what did you intend to do while down in his quarters?"

Hermione frowned. "I wanted to prove his innocence. I wanted to believe in you. Believe that you trusted in the right man."

Albus nodded again his eyes twinkled brighter than ever. "Thank you Hermione for your whole hearted trust. I believe you have done the right thing."

He turned back to Minerva to see the Headmistress had stood up and walked towards the fireplace.

"Minerva?"

Hermione turned around as well and saw the Headmistress take out a small black dragon-hide pouch. "Hermione, come over here. We need to talk."

Hermione walked swiftly towards the Headmistress and without another word, the elder woman threw some floo powder into the fireplace and spoke clearly. "Severus Snape's chambers."

Instantly the fire roared higher than it ever had and turned a sickly bluish tinge so bright that it hurt Hermione's eyes. The headmistress grabbed onto the startled young woman's arms and walked towards the fire. Hermione distinctly heard the elder woman mumble, "All those wards make the floo powder work harder..."

Just as they walked into the fire, Hermione felt a pulling and she felt her body turned around and around until she felt she would be sick. This fire was slower than the Potions Master's as she saw the many fireplaces of Hogwarts pass by before she finally felt them reach their destination. Severus Snape's chambers. His quarters. The place that she would face him once again and wonder if he would punish her for telling the Headmistress of where he was. Millions of questions raced through her but instead, she found them rush out of her head as she came face to face with the man that she had dreaded to see again.