Many thanks to all my lovely reviewers of Chapter Five:

Hambares- Sorry it took me so long to introduce you to the seer. Life does get in the way of my obsessions. Albus will return!
TheWingedWhispered- Wait no longer! I'm so happy you like it!
Kyer- Good points about dictators and Lucifer. And you are right. Galdalf was no Hufflepuff either. Glad I've entertained you so far!
Flurry- Yes all the chapters have been a bit shorter than in most of my stories. I don't kinow why exactly, but I'll work on it. I think this one is a bit longer than the last.
Tsuonae-Oh my! Thank you! I'd tell you that kissing my feet is unnecessary if I didn't enjoy it so much.
Neori- actually Harry is seventeen and lied to Albus. The date he gave was his cousin Dudley's B-day in canon- though Duds and Petunia did not survive in this AU. Still Harry is a very innocent seventeen. I don't imagine he's had time for much besides work.

This chapter is for you!

Chapter Six

Meet the Seer

Harry stood and met Snape at the mouth of the cave.

"It is dark in there. If you give me your hand I will guide you."

Master Snape's fingers closed lightly aroung his. The air in the cave was cool and smelled vaguely earthy. What was left of the daylight penetrated only a few feet into the entrance. A second later, Harry realized what dark was. He could feel panic standing right there next to him as surely as he felt Master Snape's cool dry hand. Closing his eyes made Harry feel less disoriented. He stumbled blindly along, wishing Master Severus made some sort of noise as he walked. Harry could not even hear him breathing. He held tightly onto the hand in the darkness and let it guide him into what seemed a rather close passageway.

"Duck your head now," said Snape suddenly.

It took Harry a moment to process the command. Harry did duck but not nearly soon enough and almost succeeded in knocking himself out cold. The hand let go of his. Time seemed to stand still. Harry felt as if the dark had swallowed him. Harry sat before he fell down. Suddenly he felt Master Snape's hands running gently through his hair and over his face.

"Did I not just tell you to duck?"

"Sorry."

"Are you bleeding?"

"I don't think so."

"Can you move?"

"Yes."

Snape's hand found Harry's again.

"Are you dizzy?"

"A bit. I'm all right."

"Do stay low this time. Come."

Soon they rounded a bend into a huge well lit cavern. There were multi-colored stalagmites and stalagtites that reminded Harry of the teeth of some giant beast. Here and there some sort of crystals glinted from the walls. There was a small waterfall cascading into a rippling pool that filtered off into another cavern.

"Severus, Harry, welcome!" said a young female voice.

Harry could not locate her at first because of the strange acoustics of the cavern. Sound echoed, amplified, and distorted here lending another layer to the feeling of otherworldliness. Finally Harry saw movement. A girl was sitting surrounded by books on a round nearly bed-sized pillow with tassles. The girl had a long brown braid and wore plain gray wool robes. As Harry approached he noticed that there was something wrong with her eyes.

"Are you blind?" asked Harry.

"My apologies for his manners, Hermione."

"Harry is fine, Severus. You know I'm not so thin-skinned. I put up with you, don't I? Hello Harry, I'm Hermione and yes, I am blind. Does that bother you?"

"No- but I'm sorry."

She smiled a smile that lit her face up and reached both her hand in Harry's direction.

"Thank you. I'm sorry Albus is after you. Here sit with me but do mind the books."

Harry reached out and took both of her hands in his, sliding to sit on the pillow next to her in a space between her books.

"Oh my! I only have one callous on this finger here from writing. Your hands are rough all over and so strong!"

"Thank you. What's it like being blind?"

She laughed.

"It's more complicated than closing your eyes, I'm afraid. The cave must give you some idea. I'm getting used to it. Severus helps."

"So you weren't- born that way?"

"No. Albus blinded me as a favor about a year ago."

"A favor?"

"Well, that's what he says. It's a long story. You should get settled first. Winky?"

"Winky here Missy Miney! What may Winky do?"

This House-elf was smaller than Dobby and wore more clothes. In fact, Winky was dressed in bright blue robes far finer than Hermione's.

"Get Harry and Severus settled before we eat, please Winky."

"Winky very excited!" She hopped from one foot to another as if to prove the fact. "Missy Miney never have more guests than Master Severus! Missy Miney's guests be coming with Winky now!"

They followed Winky deeper into the caverns. She lit the cavern with elf-lights as they went. She took Harry into an unused section and conjured what he requested there. Harry's cave room was very much a replica of his room at the first house that Master Snape had taken Harry. Master Snape's room Harry was horrified to find out, had a cot, a wash basin, and nothing else.

"Master Snape, you should take my room. I can sleep here."

"This is all I need. We are only staying a night."

"But it's not right for me to have a real bed and a real bath if you don't. We'll both use my room! My bed's more than big enough for-"

"Winky!"

"What may Winky do for Master Severus, sir?"

"I find I require a bed and a bath exactly like his."

Satisfied, Harry returned to his room. His clothes were clean again when Harry stepped out of his bath. He dressed and found his way back to Hermione's main cavern. Master Snape was already there. He and Hermione seemed to be arguing.

"But I read it! If you'll just give me a moment, I'll find it!"

"I have no doubt that you read it. Just because it is written in a book-"

"Here it is! You'll find it on page three hundred and ninty-four!"

Snape huffed out a breath, took the book, found the page, and read. After a minute he took her hand gently and placed the book in it.

"As I was saying, you wretched little know-it-all, just because it is in a book does not make it so. If you put that quantity of powdered dragon's blood anywhere near a vitriolic solution you will be lucky to live long enough to write about the experience."

"All right, I believe you. That's another correction I'll have to make then."

"How do you read books, Hermione?"

Hermione smiled in his direction.

"Hello again Harry. I Charm them to read themselves to me, of course!"

"Harry has no magical training, Hermione."

"Oh! I'm so sorry!"

"Master Snape is going to teach me."

Hermione burst out laughing. "Oh Harry! I really am sorry for you then! You are the very last person I'd want as a teacher, Mas-ter Snape!"

"Do you think we might eat something sometime in the next decade?"

"Of course. Winky?"

"Winky is here, Missy Miney!"

"We are ready for dinner."

Dinner was a bean, barley and vegetable stew with thick crusty bread. While they ate, Hermione told Harry how Albus had stolen her as a baby from Muggle parents. She grew up in Castle Dumbledore. Albus decided he wanted her to train as a Seer. Hermione wanted to become an Arithmancer, what ever that is. Harry wasn't too clear on that. Furthermore she considered Divination to be a woolly discipline. When she told Albus, he magically blinded her believing her second sight would sharpen with the loss of primary vision.

"Did it?" Harry asked between bites.

"How would I know? I was never a Seer to begin with Harry."

"Then why?"

"One thing I can see is patterns. Patterns repeat with slight variations. That is what history is."

"Patterns?"

"Yes. Albus' long history is a series of repetitive events. He meddles in lives for his own benefit. Only the people involved change from generation to generation. While he improves some lives with his meddling, he destroys others completely. Anyone with skills, power, or a mind that threatens him, he eliminates or neutralizes. Severus got used, discarded, and very nearly eliminated. I got neutralized and then escaped from him. I wouldn't be much use or threat to him now of course but didn't fancy hanging about Castle Dumbledore after he blinded me."

"How did you and Master Snape meet?"

"We met through a third party, a friend to both of us. At the castle there is a half-Giant. He is the creature-keeper there. His name is Hagrid. He's been at Castle Dumbledore for years. He looks quite fierce, Harry, but is a gentle and kind soul. He is my very best friend since I was little. When Albus blinded me, Hagrid took me away and brought me to Severus. He couldn't stay with me because his creatures need him. Really I think he needs them. Anyway, he decided to let Severus magically alter his memories so that he couldn't remember helping me and couldn't tell Albus where I was. After that, Severus and I actually lived together for a while!"

"Must you make it sound sordid?"

"We drove each other completely mad. We're both solitary beings, far too much alike in some ways. Severus knew of this place. He'd warded it years ago. It's perfect for me! I took Winky. He kept Dobby. He brings me books when he visits, though he doesn't seem to have brought me any this time."

Severus reached into his cloak and took out something incredibly small. He enlarged it into a thick leather-bound volume and placed it gently on her knees.

"Have at, termagant."

"What? Just one!"

"I don't know why I bothered. You are impossible to please."

"You didn't bother. If you'd bothered you'd have shrunk me a couple of dozen. I'll have read this by the time you leave."

"We -were- in a hurry."

"Very well, I'll accept Albus as an excuse. I do expect twice the usual number next time."

"Have I told you lately what a bossy, spoiled, shrill, little ingrate you are?"

"We have the perfect relationship now, Harry. He stays until I throw him out or leaves when he's fed up with me. I don't know what I'd do without him. When he's here we snipe like an old married couple."

"At least the Gods have spared me that fate."

"You wouldn't know what to do with such fine fortune."

"As it seems you are confusing fortune with misery, there is no need for a wedding. Your mere fortunate presence is sufficient to demonstrate to any man the full meaning of your mistake."

"See, we can't help it, Harry."

"As scintillating as this discussion is, goodnight children. Hermione, do not keep Harry awake all night. Harry, we will be leaving here tomorrow at first light."

"No wonder he calls you Master Snape!"

"I mean it. I am not carrying Harry home tomorrow. He needs his rest."

"Yes, Nanny!"

"Never imagine that there are no benefits to being a little blind girl. If I can not wake him -you- are stuck with him." Snape whirled headed for his room.

"He doesn't mean a word of it you know."

"I'll bet he does."

"Do you think you could find your own way home from here, Harry?"

"Not even a slight chance. It must have been difficult for you coming here."

"Severus did carry me most of the way, I'm afraid."

"You didn't break a leg, did you?"

"No, I only twisted an ankle. If you ask him, he'll tell you that I did it to annoy him."

"Hermione, Master Snape said he is an evil wizard. Do you think that's true?"

"He does what he needs to do, Harry. He's fearless. While I know that Severus has done some evil things, he's always been more than decent to me. I like to think of Severus, aside from his sharp tongue that everyone has to ignore, as being like fate. Except unlike fate, people get what they deserve from him."

"Do you believe in fate?"

"No, not really. I do believe in Severus."

"I do too. I don't care what he's done. I know he's not evil."

"How did you meet him?"

"He saved me."

"He's good at that. See? If anyone deserves saving, it's you, Harry.

"Do you think so?"

"Yes, I do. What did he save you from?"

"I was accused of being a witch."

"Someone thought you were a girl?"

"No. I mean that Muggles accused me of being magical."

"Oh. I don't know much about Muggles. I've read some of their books of course but not enough to give me a good sense of them. It's kind of ridiculous since my own parents were Muggles. I never knew them though. Albus wouldn't tell me their names or even where they lived. I do hope they are still alive somewhere. I don't regret my childhood at the castle. It was rather wonderful growing up there surrounded by books, magic, and interesting people. I do wonder what my life would have been like if I'd been raised by my parents."

"I never knew my parents either. I lived with my Muggle uncle."

"What was that like?"

"It was all right. It seems life's simpler in some ways being a Muggle."

"Do you have a wand?"

"What's a wand?"

"That's dodgy. I wonder what Severus intends to do about that?"

"You've lost me."

"Here, this is my wand."

She let go of Harry's hands, drew it from her sleeve, and held it out in both hands.

"Oh your stick! I've seen Master Snape with his."

When she put the wand away, Hermione touched Harry's shoulder. He took her hand in his, understanding touch was a sort of substitute for looking at him while they spoke.

"Why do you call him Master Snape?"

"That's what Dobby calls him."

"So why don't you call me Missy Miney?"

"All right."

"No! Call me Hermione, Harry! You are not a House-elf!"

She smiled again. Harry never remembered seeing anyone with nicer teeth.

"He doesn't seem to mind that I call him Master Snape."

"Well he wouldn't! Would he?"

"I don't know. What do you think I should call him?"

"Call him Severus."

"No, I don't want to call him that. That's what Albus calls him."

"That is his name."

"So is Master Snape."

"I suppose. He seems very fond of you."

"Does he?"

"Well, yes. For Severus. You sound tired, Harry. You'd better go to bed. We can talk some more at breakfast."

"All right. May I walk you to your room, Hermione?"

"No thanks, new book. I'm going to stay here and read for a while."

"Hermione, I'm really glad that I've met you."

"I'm glad you've come. Sleep soundly Harry. You're quite safe here. I haven't had a dragon problem for ages."

"Dragons?"

"Only small ones. They'd wander in for the bats. Winky and I cleared the bats and haven't seen a dragon since."

"Oh. Goodnight, Hermione."

That night as Harry snuggled his rather tired and sore self into the down mattress, he thought about how nice it would be to share a bed like this with another warm body. Before he dreamed of being trapped in the dark with dragons, bats, and Albus, Harry briefly wondered why Master Snape had seemed so against the idea.

-Thanks just for reading! Next chapter is almost finished but untitled as yet. Will try to post in a couple of days. All comments, corrections, criticisms, flames- everything from hearts and kisses to extreme obscene rudeness, is welcome, longed for, and at the moment mostly kept under stylish fridge magnets! I have started making a lampshade out of them though. I am fearless that way since my home is already in danger of being featured in magazines about how not to decorate with do-it-yourself craft projects and sleeping cats. If you care to help with this one of a kind objet d'art feel free to review!