Chapter 4

Deliver me from evil…


Thanking all the gods that another teaching day was over, Severus Snape slipped away to his private rooms to relax until dinner at 6 pm. Luckily he had not scheduled any detentions tonight so he was at leisure to sit back and contemplate the cosmos. This had been a strange week, the student populace had been unusually well behaved, though he dreaded the fact that there was still Friday to come. His world of quiet contemplation could explode in a haze of disaster tomorrow just as easily as it could any other day.

He always pretended to hate being a teacher, but it was his job and he was good at it. Year after year he attempted to teach the art of potions making to Hogwarts students trying desperately to instill in them a love of the subtle science. Unfortunately he considered himself lucky when he found one student who excelled at the art. Foolish wand waving was the preferred study, instant gratification being just as prevalent in school as in the real world. Waiting for a potion to brew, the excitement and anticipation was often lost on these children, dunderheads all of them.


Making himself a whiskey and soda, Severus sat on his sofa and picked up the days mail that Dobby had undoubtedly left. Magazine renewals, a lonely-hearts letter inviting him to join the fabulous world of dating (as if), a post card from Draco Malfoy on a business trip in Holland, and a plain blue envelope. He turned this one over a few times as if to guess what was written within. It was addressed to "Snape Esq., Hogwarts". Simple and to the point, he admired that. Hoping that he had no unpaid bills he'd overlooked Severus ran his nail under the back flap breaking the red wax seal, a simple yet tasteful pentagram.

It began, "My Dear Professor", and he relaxed back into his seat to read the latest from his favourite ex-student as he sipped his drink.


Hermione Granger, where to start. She was an incredibly intelligent, bushy haired, know-it-all child of Muggle parentage. He had tried to ignore her like so many other students that had gone before her, and who would come later. When had it happened, when did they become friends.

Perhaps it was the later years and all the time spent in Grimauld Place, the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, with those bratty teenaged children. He'd seen her grow from an 11-year-old insecure child to an 18-year-old complex woman. Somewhere, he hadn't noticed when, she had grown up and out becoming a woman right before his eyes. Strangely she had also acquired a unique personality unsullied by her constant companions the Weazley boy and The-Boy-Who-Lived-to-Annoy-Him. Although he knew that she possessed a certain cunning that would have made her a great Slytherin, he also admired her more Gryffindor qualities of courage and honour.

When her parents had gone into witness protection in the US, Hermione had spent more time with Severus and he suspected she missed a father figure in her life. Albus encouraged their friendship and although he at first found the idea abhorrent he soon learnt that Miss Granger was a joy to have around. Not only was she intelligent, articulate and mature, she also made an excellent potions assistant. Many an evening in her last year of school found her in his company in the dungeons discussing the classics, the latest potions magazine or helping brew a more complex potion that required two people to work together. Sometimes she simply curled up on his settee with a book until she fell asleep in his quiet company before the fire.

He'd hoped she would stay on as his potions apprentice, but it was with sadness on his behalf that she decided to further her interest in military strategy in the hope of offering something back to the Wizard community in the fight against He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named. He long suspected that her personal vendetta against the Dark Lord stemmed from his own slavery to the fiend and her desire to set him free. Just like the ill-fated and short lived SPEW of her youth. Over farewell drinks she had cried and told him that she was doing it for him, partly drunken banter and partly a heartfelt confession of her need to save him. It was disturbing but so very like the Hermione that he had grown fond of.


The latest picture enclosed with the short letter was of Hermione in full desert camouflage uniform, including helmet, aviator glasses and a pistol at her hip. Slung over her shoulder was an automatic assault rifle. Standing beside her was an old woman dressed in black clothes. The landscape was stark and bright. It was a wizard photo so it moved – as he watched the older woman put her hand on Hermione's arm getting her attention, she turned to her and removed her helmet, taking off her glasses she smiled at the woman in a most sincere manner. The woman smiled back and handed her a black garment which Hermione took with reverence before bowing to the woman. The older woman wiped a tear from her own eye, touched Hermione on the cheek, and then the whole scene replayed itself. Turning the picture over Severus noted the caption, "This is the woman who wove the cape that I sent to you, she sends her best wishes for your long and happy life. Love HG."

He watched the photo replay a few times, each time seeing something he had missed the previous time. Her name tag, simply Granger; the coloured bars showing she was a decorated officer; sleeves rolled neatly up past the elbows; the simple diamond ear studs that he had given her as a graduation present from Sandhurst. He touched the photo, running his hand down her face, she smiled at him. The smile was so genuine and the kindness towards the older woman said it all, Hermione, for all her rough uniformed exterior, was a good woman and he was glad she was his friend.


Rising from the sofa he took the photo over to his mantle piece where there were other "family" pictures. A photo of Draco and his son Damien, Severus holding the small boy at the naming ceremony; The Order of the Phoenix before Dumbledore's death – Remus Lupin with his arm around Severus' shoulder trying to get him to stay in the picture; last years annual portrait of the Hogwarts Staff together; He, Albus and Miverva in her animagus form cradled in the former Headmaster's arms; and Hermione – all the photo's she had sent him.

The first was at her graduation. Minerva had taken the photo, a funny moment when Hermione had tried to get Severus to stand behind her before grabbing his arm and making him put her in a mock headlock before she fainted away from the frame, she popped back up and laughed punching him lightly on the arm, he trying to look shocked but failing miserably.

There was a still Muggle photo taken when she was promoted to Captain, a proud dignified head and shoulder shot showing a woman of substance and determination. He then picked up his favourite photo, one that was taken at a dinner they had shared a few years ago.


He remembered the night clearly even after all these years. Her first posting after graduation had been to the US army base in Japan to learn tactical planning. She'd been there for 6 months and was due to take up her first active post in a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. It was Saturday evening just after 6 p.m. He had joined the other professors in the great hall for dinner when the door burst open. In ran a woman dressed in a golden kimono hitching the gown up to her calves. They had all stared not knowing what to think. She ran up to the staff table, kissed both Minerva and Remus on their cheeks before leaning over him and saying "Come on lets go to dinner", that was it, lets go to dinner. She'd grabbed his hand and led him through the tables of gaping students and out the door down to the gates before they'd traveled by portkey to Kyoto.

Outside a traditional restaurant she'd transfigured his clothes into a rather nice black silk haori and led him in to meet her friends. It seems she had made contacts in the local magical community and had brought him here to meet a Japanese potions master from the local school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A charmed badge in the shape of a snake gave him interpreting skills and he was able to hold a very involved conversation with Master Juniko about traditional Japanese potion making. It was his first trip to Kyoto, his first Sushi and his first real kiss from Hermione.

They'd been at the restaurant for 3 hours and after promising to correspond with Master Juniko, exchanging business cards and a gift of Hogwarts: a history (brought by Hermione of course), they had gone for a walk. It was a lovely night and this part of Kyoto was beautiful with the cherry blossoms filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

Walking through the Kyoto night they had held hands and laughed about his new found liking for raw fish, talked about everything and anything. It was so easy to talk with her and in this setting he felt relaxed and at ease. He suspected that the Sake had helped. Finally they were outside the Ryokan Inn where she was staying. Would he like to come in, yes why not.


In the quiet of her room, she stood with her back to him looking out of the window at the moon. He'd come to stand beside her to enjoy the view, she leant back against him putting her head on his chest. It felt so natural to put his arms around her shoulder, she felt so warm so he hugged her close. It was meant to be just a friendly hug but when he felt her turn in his arms, her warm breath and then the gentle nuzzle of her lips on his neck he couldn't contain the small moan of pleasure that escaped his throat. It was an invitation she couldn't seem to resist, her nuzzling turned into an open mouthed kiss. He moved his head back and she began to kiss his throat then jaw, her hands on his chest, then up into his hair pulling his face down so that their noses were resting together. Her breath was heavy as her lips grazed against his, his resistance broke as he joined her in the gentleness of the touch.

They had explored each other in that kiss, soft and tender. Severus had not remembered the last time a woman had kissed him like that, no demands or expectations, no heavy passions or desperation. Just a kiss that said "I love you, it's that simple" without the words. When the kiss finished he opened his eyes and saw a tear running down her cheek, it was then that he knew that there was more to this than a simple kiss.

"What if I die tomorrow" she'd whispered "This isn't a game, these people are playing for keeps Severus" then her hand touched his face "I'm afraid".

He'd told her that if she died her ghost could come back to Hogwarts and live in the Dungeons with him terrorising the first years. When he finally died they could haunt together and make Peeves look like a Girl Guide. Her laugh, that was it, she laughed with him and the spell was broken and they were back as mates again. A hug, a stern warning to watch her butt, use the old Gryffindor courage. His was false bravado, he wanted her alive not dead so he could kiss those lips again one day. The next hug was a loud and boisterous affair not longer soft and filled with longing. Then he was gone, back to the relative safety of Hogwarts.


The photo on the mantle piece, both of them wearing traditional Japanese dress. Dignified and smiling, he touched the photo and thought how nice it would be having her come to stay at Spinner's End. He'd definitely save her a dance for Saturday night.