Author note: I've taken a little bit of liberty here and instead of Harry and Ron discovering Hermione in the bathroom after they've used the polyjuice potion in "Chamber of Secrets" someone else does. Thank you to all who have reviewed, it means a lot to me. Special thanks to Erin for giving me such wonderful advice and insight before I posted this chapter. Information on Lughnasadh can be found on google.
1st August 1993
Hogwarts.
Severus Snape, feared Potions Master and head of Slytherin House, strode through Hogwarts corridors, his robes billowing and snapping behind him. If the students had been there to see him, they would have made a quicker than usual retreat. As it was even the occupants of the castles portraits cowered in their frames as he swept past. One thing could be certain, Snape was on a mission and he didn't like it one bit.
Stopping in front of the Gargoyle he spat the password that would gain him admittance to the Headmaster's office.
"Toot Sweet", the tone and venom in his voice was enough to make said sweet, turn sour. The Gargoyle sprang back and the dark man made his way up the stairs.
"Severus, how unexpected, what can I do for you, dear boy?" Dumbledore said surprised at his Potion Master's abrupt and unannounced entry.
"Is the room secure sir? I have some sensitive information for you." Snape said his voice coldly unemotional.
The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes suddenly vanished and his cuddly grandfather image disappeared. Drawing himself up he cast his wand around, muttering ancient wards against outside watchers, even the portraits were banished from their frames. It was at times such as this, if people were ever to get a glimpse at the real wizard behind the façade they would hold an entirely different opinion. He was feared and respected for a reason; he held power almost as strong as Merlin himself.
"It is safe to speak Severus, lemon drop?" He offered the bag to Snape. His eyes darkened another notch as Severus automatically took one. This was bad, whatever had his normally unruffled Slytherin in such a state as to make him unthinkingly take a sweet did not bode well for anyone.
"There are two things. One thing I have kept from you for the past eleven years, the other, well I shall start with that first. Only let me finish explaining before berating me." He asked, the strain and emotion finally evident in his voice.
"Very well, you have my promise, take a seat my boy."
"Last night I felt a flare of dark magic surging through my dark mark. It can mean only one thing; the Dark Lord is rising again. And I swear I can feel him coming closer to Hogwarts." The barely suppressed despair in his voice broke Albus heart. He had feared this day would come, but for it to be today, when Harry Potter started Hogwarts was too much for the old Wizard. He sat down heavily in his chair and nodded for Severus to continue.
"The night Dorcas Meadows was murdered, I found out what her secret was, the reason she had not attended order meetings in the last few months of her life. She had a child, a little girl. I believe she is the child of the other prophesy. I estimated from her age of less then two months, when I found her, that her birthday was most likely on Lughnasadh."
Dumbledore was stunned. But it all made perfect sense now, Lughnasadh was one of the most sacred days in the magical calendar. It was an important harvest festival and for many, the only day for collecting certain ingredients for powerful potions. Many witches still celebrated it as the day the earth gave birth to her first fruit's so that her children would live through the winter ahead. They still referred to it as Bron Trogain, the painful labour. Any child born on that day was looked on as both lucky and cursed. Born with the potential to save others but only at great risk to themselves. It tied in with the prophecy perfectly. Born on a fateful morn indeed he thought ironically. Born at the dawn, when the light first shone down on the day when all were assured survival by the lands bounty.
Severus saw that the headmaster had made the same connection he had, and continued with the story, his voice back to it's usual unemotional clipped style.
"Dorcas' house elf told me that the key to Voldemort's final defeat lay with the girl. It was the elf that managed to distract Malfoy so that I was able to get the child to safety. I hide her with muggles, I felt it was the best place to hide her as no one knew of her and it would continue to keep her safe. When I returned to the house, Lucius had already set it burning. He had cursed the elf and she was holding tenuously to life when Lucius left. She gave me the magical records of the child's birth and Dorcas' last will. As it turned out Prewett and she had been hand fasted, the girl is not only a pure blood, but also heir to the last of the Meadows and Prewett fortunes." He paused to catch his breath, his emotions struggling to break free of his icy hold of them.
"After the Dark Lord disappeared I continued to keep my own council in this. You know how I felt at the time; I still do not believe that Black was the spy. He was an arrogant little bastard, but was always too disgustingly Gryffindor, to betray them. I always thought he had too much pride to be so underhanded and he had about as much tact as Hagrid." His voice had turned colder and he seemed to choke on his next words.
"That someone like Black could have fooled us for so long still seems unlikely. As much as I despise the man he was no traitor. As such I believed that our enemies could still discover your secrets so I decided to continue my silence. I was planning on telling you this year anyway, that the child would be starting school, but now I fear even more for her safety, should her identity become known." He hung his head in silence.
"You did well my friend. I fear that you may be right about Black, it has eaten at my conscience these last years, but alas without proof there is nothing I can do to set him free. As to her identity, I agree she should not be told yet; neither will this information leave this room. Does anyone else know who she is?"
"Only Ollivander, you know how his kind are, he could sense her blood in her veins. He will say nothing."
Albus nodded, Ollivander was trustworthy, and he was, after all, the best-kept secret in wizarding London. Odd the number of people that had never noticed that he had been there since the shop opened hardly ever changing. An immortal hiding in plain sight.
"Albus, I request that you remove all those memories of that night and since then concerning the child. Leave me only with the prophecy. If Voldemort has returned I cannot take the chance I might betray her with my mind."
"My son, surely you cannot want me to take that from you…" Albus asked him painfully.
"It is the only way headmaster, to keep her safe. I refuse to put her in danger; it will also stop me from giving her away while she is a student. You can return the memories to me when you are certain it is safe again."
"Severus, you will change without these memories, they have given you the certainty of hope these past years."
"I know, but her safety is more important to me than my own happiness. I saw her in Diagon Alley a year ago, she is remarkable. She promises to grow into an amazing young witch. I must do what is right, if giving her up is the only way then so be it."
"I am more proud of you at this moment than I can ever remember being Severus. Trust in the prophecy, it will bring the two of you together eventually."
Severus took a packet from his robes. " Here is all the information you will need on the girl; I've already notified the lawyers that you will be taking control of her trust."
"Very well, thank you for trusting me once more my son. I am very troubled, I think it might be best to erase Minerva's knowledge of the prophecy also, I will have to give her another reason for trusting you… yes, I will tell her that you happened to hear the prophecy made about Harry Potter and after taking it to the Dark Lord and finding that he would go after James and Lily you were filled with remorse."
Snape snorted loudly, "You'll need something more than that, she'll never accept it. She knew how much I despised James." His voice lacked the conviction it once had in regard to James Potter. The past ten years since he had found the girl he had started to see things differently. One of them was holding onto many of the grudges he's held from school. The only one he still resented with a passion was Sirius. Sadness for what he was about to lose washed over him. Without the knowledge and certainty about the child of the prophecy within his mind all the changes to his character would disappear.
"I'll have to think on it Severus, but certainly, the knowledge of this prophecy now must be contained." Taking a pinch of floo powder he cast into the fire.
"Minerva's Office" he said popping his head into the fire.
Minerva crossed to the fireplace. "Albus, what can I do for you dear?"
"Would you join us please Minerva, there are a few things I'd like to go over with you in my office." He requested. Minnie felt her heart thud in her chest; something terrible was about to happen she was sure of it.
"I'll be right there" she said casting floo powder into the fire she stepped through to the Headmasters office.
"Severus, are you all right?" She asked the young man before her, he was sitting cradling his head in his hands. Her friend looked up and Minnie's heart dropped at the sight before her. His face was drawn and the mask of grief was clearly visible. Her own eyes gathered tears for him at the pain and despair clearly visible in his.
Albus looked at her sadly. "My dear, this is a grave and terrible day. Severus has brought me news that Voldemort is returning." She sat down in her chair, her legs no longer capable of functioning.
Albus crossed to her and sat down beside her. He took her hand in his and continued.
"If he is truly returning, we must take some drastic action to conceal the prophecies we have. And Severus must lose all memory of the girl from his sister's prophecy. He has found her and has kept her hidden these past years. She will be attending this year. But I also want to ask you to give up all memory you have of the prophecy as well. If Voldemort was to see it in your mind you could unconsciously give the girl away."
Tears were running down the woman's face as she nodded her head in silent agreement. It had to be done, she had never had any real skill at protecting her mind from others. Her knowledge of Severus' real reasons for turning against the Dark Lord, were dangerous if she was ever caught. Not only that but it would start Voldemort searching for another child; something which they had to stop at all costs.
An hour later Albus seated himself behind the desk.
"Thank you for telling us about this Severus, we will be vigilant. Especially with the Philosophers Stone here this year."
Snape nodded his head; his haunted eyes the only thing in his face that gave his emotions away.
"If you'll excuse me sir, I must set up the logic trap on the third floor."
"Yes, dear boy, quiet. One more thing, I thought you should know, the child of the second prophecy is safe and well, so you can put your mind at ease. I'm afraid though that in light of the recent information I must keep her identity and whereabouts secret."
Severus eyes lit a moment at the information and nodded his head. Relief flooded through him but he must secure it away in his mind, lest someone discover it.
When he had gone Minerva looked up at Albus.
"He does not trust you as he did two hours ago dear, and I fear that by tonight I will no longer trust him." She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts.
"Let's get this over with Albus, I have a Sorting to prepare for."
With a heavy heart and the burden of so many secrets on his shoulders he entered Minerva's mind, systematically locking away all memories of the prophecy and Severus involvement.
"Well good luck with the sorting my dear, this year proves to be an interesting one I'm sure."
"Albus I'm still not convinced that you should put that poor boy into Snape's class, he hated his father and I can't understand why you would trust him with The Boy Who Lived, he was a death eater for goodness sake."
The vehement delivery by his wife stunned him, and it took a moment for him to reply.
"Minnie, dear, you know I would never endanger the boys life in any way. Furthermore, I trust Severus Snape with my life, and with Harry's life."
"Yes, so you've said, but why do you trust him? I need to know Albus, to put my mind at rest."
"My dear, sometimes there are things which cannot be repeated and this is one of them. Do not doubt Severus, he has saved us in more ways than you know. My reasons for trusting him I cannot reveal to you, if you knew and someone managed to get into your mind, it would not just put Severus life and work as a spy in danger, but also the lives of innocent children. Trust me Minnie, I know what I'm doing. There is no one who could turn me against him or him against me."
Mollified a little Minerva nodded her head.
As she left the room, Albus stroked Fawkes head. "What is to become of us Fawkes? I feel the darkness creeping close once more and I fear that our children will have to learn to grow up so much more quickly than they should." A single tear dropped from the Phoenix eye, mourning the future that was coming.
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The Great Hall of Hogwarts was an intimidating sight to the first years that were being called to the Sorting Hat. Hermione Jane Granger resisted the urge to twirl a finger in her hair to calm her nerves. She was just as good as everyone else and she'd prove it. She had to prove that she belonged here; it was her dream come true and the thought of being sent home now, made her sick. What could the hat possibly be doing? What sort of test was it? What if she didn't have the answers?
"Granger, Hermione Jane" Professor McGonagall called.
Stepping up, the hat was on her head before she sat down.
Hmm, what do we have here, a bright mind, a sharp wit, and a very strong thirst to prove yourself at any cost.
Loyalty and kindness too, but where to put you?
With a mind like that you'd do well in Ravenclaw of that there is no doubt. In Gryffindor you'll be a loyal friend of light, but ambition courses through your heart Slytherin would suit you right.
Before I make this choice young child, I ask of you one thing, of what true blood do you belong and then I'll send you in.
Hermione's mind whirled at the unexpected voice in her head and tried to answer as best she could. 'I'm not pure blood if that's what you mean, I'm muggle born.'
Muggle raised you may well be, but blood of truer light flows in thee. But if it is as you say, then one place only can you stay,
Gryffindor!
Hermione stumbled to the table flushing with pleasure at the welcome. It would be years before she would recall properly what the hat had said to her.
Harry Potter was sitting beside her, they'd met on the train and she'd read all about him in the book, the Rise and Fall of Dark Wizards. Looking up at the staff table she smiled at Professor Vector who inclined her head and smiled back, to the right of Vector sat a man all in black with the darkest hair she'd ever seen and the darkest eyes too. For a moment their gaze held before he sneered at her and turned to talk to another professor. Just then Harry hissed in pain and Hermione realised he'd also been looking at the staff table. The rest of the night passed uneventfully, as Hermione made her way up to her dormitory she thought again of what the Weasley twins said about Professor Snape. Greasy git or not she knew from one of her potions books that he was the youngest Potions Master in two hundred years. Such intelligence and genius was to be respected and she decided to do everything she could to win his approval. One day, she said to herself, she'd be the first Gryffindor to gain house points from the Head of Slytherin House.
September 1st 1994
Dumbledore's Office
"Well, are we ready to face another school year?" Albus asked his colleges.
Snape grimaced in annoyance. "If it proves to be as tedious as last year I might just hand in my resignation now" he muttered.
McGonagall hooted with laughter. "Your just sore it was a Gryffindor first year that solved your logic puzzle."
"On the contrary Minerva, I applaud young Grangers mind and reasoning. But the girl is entirely too clever for her own good. No, it is Harry Potter and that Weasley boy I'm talking about, rushing head long into danger without a thought for the lives they are endangering. I dare say that if it wasn't for Miss Granger, they'd both be dead right now."
Albus chucked to himself. Although he didn't know who the girl really was Severus had already begun to like her despite himself.
"Pish posh, Severus, young Potter, did amazingly well in the circumstances, he is after all only a child and again he managed to defeat You Know Who."
"Pure luck! If I didn't know better I'd think he had a vial of Felix Felicis potion. I stand by my opinion, the only reason he's not six feet under is due to Miss Granger's intelligence and forethought. Not only did she know how to escape the devil's snare and solve a most dangerous potion puzzle, but also managed to get herself and Weasely back and summon help. And just to show I can be fair when the whim takes me, fifty points to Gryffindor for Miss Granger's cool logic in a critical situation." Snape smirked evilly at Minerva's wide-eyed gaze as she choked on her tea. Worth it alone he thought to see her so off balance. Hmm, perhaps he should award points to Gryffindor more often if only to see the interfering old gossip choking on her tea and lost for words.
"Well, Severus, you've just put Gryffindor in the lead, do you think Slytherin will be capable of catching up?" Albus asked him, eyes a twinkle.
"Of course Headmaster, I predict Potter and Weasley will loose Miss Granger's points within the first two hours of stepping through the castle doors." He sipped his tea and waited for Minerva to fall for the bait.
"Let's make that a bet shall we Severus?" Minerva asked, hackles raised.
"Certainly, Professor, if I win, a bottle of two hundred year old Elf wine."
"And if I win, you will supervise all the Hogsmeade weekends this year."
"Let me get this straight" Albus cut in. "If Harry and Ron loose the points their first night back, you Minerva give Severus here, a bottle of Elf wine, and if they lose them after that, Severus has to supervise the Hogsmeade weekends for the school year."
They both nodded then shook hands.
"Snape rose to his feet and turning one last time said, "if anyone here tells Miss Granger where the points came from I will deduct double my usual quota from Gryffindor this year." He swept from the room; sure his threat would ensure their silence.
Albus smiled at his wife and raised his eyebrows in question.
"What?" She asked huffily.
"So certain you'll win my dear?"
"Of course, even Mr Potter isn't stupid enough to get into trouble the first night back. Well I must go, the train will be here soon and I have a lot of work to do. I'll see you at the feast Albus." Giving him kiss on the cheek, she turned and left the room.
That Night.
Snape grinned gleefully; he'd won his bet. His robed swished and whooshed behind him as his heels clicked out a happy beat. The look on McGonagall's face would last him for years he thought with grim satisfaction. He signaled to her from the door of the great hall and frowning she joined him.
"Well Minerva, it seems I was proven right, he handed her the newspaper, 'Flying Ford Anglia Mystifies Muggles!' She went white and her lips thinned.
"Tell me this had nothing to do with Harry Potter," she said pleadingly.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor from Potter and Weasley for flying a car to school in plain sight of muggles, and damaging a priceless whomping willow." He said spitefully, the smile on his face was more than she could take.
"Where are they?"
"My office."
Ah, savor this moment well, a nice bottle of elf wine for after dinner, he thought to himself. At least, he told himself, Miss Granger had not been caught up in this escapade, however had she been there, he was sure she would have acted more sensibly than they did.
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Hermione
Dear Diary,
Harry and Ron are such prats! We've only been back five minutes and already they're in trouble. What were they thinking of? Flying a car to Scotland in the middle of the day just because they couldn't get through the barrier? The idiots could have been expelled. Honestly just because we're in Gryffindor doesn't mean we shouldn't act with a little subtlety. Sometimes I wonder if I wouldn't have been better off in Slytherin, at least they think of the consequences before they act and most of all they hardly ever get caught. I mean, I know I love them both and they're my friends but they never listen, one day it's going to get them killed. What am I meant to do to make them think first? Besides that they've ended up in detention, I can't believe they didn't lose points, although when we came in I'm sure the Gryffindor glass had fifty points in it, probably Snape took the points from my idiot friends for ruining his dinner. Thank the goddess classes start tomorrow, I couldn't practice magic over the summer because of the underage magic laws, I've never been so bored. My parents hardly asked me anything about school, but I think they're glad I'm getting good reports from my teachers.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Albus,
It has come to my attention that Miss Granger has a copy of Most Potent Potions from the restricted section. I believe they are attempting to brew polyjuice. Please advise.
S. Snape.
Severus,
I believe that as she did have permission for the book, that we can take no action at the moment. I think it best to play this by ear and see what develops.
A. Dumbledore.
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Hermione
Dear Diary,
I'm going to brew Polyjuice Potion. It's advanced, but I'm pretty certain I can do it. The only thing though, is that I'll have to steal from Professor Snape's stores. I'm going to need a cunning plan worthy of Blackadder himself. Not to mention trying to keep Harry and Ron as well out of it as I can, neither was born with the ability to be cunning or sly, much to my own internal amusement it seems I was. I can use them to create a diversion while I do the stealing. If there's one thing they're defiantly good at its pranks.
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Albus,
Miss Granger will be stealing stores from my office to complete her potion, which is brewing in the haunted girls bathroom. Please advise, you meddlesome old fool.
S. Snape.
Severus,
If she manages to get the ingredients, without you seeing her doing it, then she deserves them.
A Meddlesome Old Fool.
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Dear Diary,
I did it; I managed to get the bicorn horn and boomslang skin. My plan went flawlessly. I slipped into the Professors private office and managed to take down his wards, get the ingredients and reset them before he even noticed I was missing. However I can't help feeling that it was a little too easy.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Albus,
It has come to my attention that while I was distracted by a prank in class today that Miss Granger must have slipped out to raid my personal store cupboard, successfully I might add. How the dratted girl got past my wards and reset then is mystifying. What now?
S. (Thoroughly disgruntled) Snape.
P.S. That girl should have been in Slytherin. To quote Mr Weasley, brilliant but scary!
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Christmas Day.
Severus Snape was standing in the shadows outside Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Three Gryffindor went in, two Slytherin's came out. A small burst of pride caught in his chest. The dratted know it all, Granger, had done it after all. Managed to brew Polyjuice potion at only thirteen years old. Good god the girl was annoying, but brilliant. Not that he would ever say it to her face though, he had a reputation to maintain. But where was the girl? The door began to open again and she stumbled out then fell to the floor. Something had gone wrong. He strode over to her and bent down, then stopped. A burst of laughter rumbled in his chest. She'd turned herself into a cat! Scooping the girl up in his arms he headed for the Hospital wing.
Hermione opened her eyes. Someone had brought her to Madam Pomfrey. Turning her whiskered face she saw her potions master grinning at her. She closed her eyes in fright; she was caught, well and truly caught.
"You rejoined the living I see, Miss Granger." His voice was silky and did she detect amusement in it?
"Well, I wonder how this came about Granger, it wouldn't have anything to do with some boomslang skin and a packet of powdered bicorn horn would it?" he asked dangerously.
Ah well the jig was up, better to give in gracefully than prevaricate.
"Yes sir. Sorry sir."
"Well, I think your little mistake is punishment enough. By the way Granger, ten points for stealing from a professor without getting caught, how very Slytherin of you." With that he stood, and robes flying behind him like some unearthly creature, he left the hospital wing.
Hermione lay there in complete shock, she must be dreaming. Professor Snape giving her points? No, I'm hallucinating. No one would ever believe me. That will never leave this room, Harry and Ron would think I'd went nuts. Sighing she turned over and tried to get some sleep.
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