Chapter Forty-One

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The two weeks before the duelling competition blurred past. Severus kept to himself, returning late at night and leaving early and Hermione did what she had always done well; pushed down the pain.

Classes were lonely. Arabel had long mastered the art of a convincing social deception, and she guided Hermione's friends through the quagmire that was convincing the student body that nothing had changed. Only the marauders might have noticed things were amiss, but their new duties kept them distracted.

"Sirius walks around like a puffed-up peacock," Regulus complained one evening. They had gathered in the duelling cavern to discuss the upcoming second round of the duelling competition.

Hermione could sympathise with Regulus. James and Sirius had spent the past fortnight marching around Hogwarts making careful notes on the movements of each student. But the memory of Sirius after the real war still lingered, tragic and terrible. In that light, this younger version could be nothing but endearing.

"At least he's out of our way," Hermione said. "Now let's just go over our roles for Saturday one more time shall we?"

Rabastan produced a list and everybody leaned in.

"You, me and Severus are fighting," he recited. "Arabel is going to keep a watch on the Durmstrang students - wait, is that right? Grindelwald is back in Bulgaria now isn't he, so what are we worried about?"

"He never made it home," Hermione said, sharing the news with the group for the first time.

"What?" Severus hissed, the first time he had spoken all evening.

"He was supposed to leave after the holidays," Rabastan said.

Hermione nodded confirmation. "That was part of what I was investigating this week. I went to the ministry to take a look at the paperwork. Ivan Grindelwald is registered as leaving Bulgaria on October 31st but there is no record of him re-entering the country. He hasn't gone home."

"He can't be here," Regulus protested. "His room is empty and no-one has seen him."

"He's not necessarily here then," Severus said. "Just not in Bulgaria. He could have gone anywhere."

"Yes," Hermione said, lacing her fingers together. "But there's one other thing. There's also no record of him leaving Hogwarts grounds."

"There's no way to record that -" Rabastan began, but Arabel cut him off.

"There's a record. In Professor Dumbledore's office. Everyone who enters and leaves the grounds is recorded, and according to that record, Grindelwald is still on Hogwarts grounds. Hermione asked me to check it the other night."

"How the bloody hell did you get access to that?" Regulus asked admiringly, and Arabel smirked.

"When all of this is over I want to go into magical espionage. This is just practice."

"Working to defeat the darkest wizard of all time is not 'practice', Arabel," Hermione said dryly.

"Is Grindelwald really that dangerous?" Rabastan interrupted.

"He's tried to kill me at least three times," Hermione said. "So yes, I think he's dangerous. If only we had a way of knowing where..."

She paused and sat up straighter, her head spinning. Why hadn't this come to her before?

"The Marauders Map!"

"The what?" Severus said, curling his lip.

"The marauders have a map that shows everybody in Hogwarts," Hermione said.

"Excuse me?" Severus hissed, but Hermione ignored him. Across the circle, Arabel's eyes had lit up with an undisguised gleam.

"It shows everyone in Hogwarts?"

"So if you're certain that he's still in Hogwarts grounds?" Hermione said.

"I am," Arabel said.

"Then we should be able to find him on the map."

"Let's go get it," Arabel said, standing at once and brushing down her robes. Hermione shook her head.

"They're not going to hand it over. Besides, It's almost midnight and we need to be up early to duel tomorrow."

"But -"

"But," Hermione stressed, "during the duelling would be the perfect time to steal it. James and Sirius are competing - they won't bring the map. You could break into the Gryffindor tower and take it. To make it work you say 'I Solemnly Swear I am up to No Good'".

"That's the stupidest thing I ever heard," Severus muttered.

"Look for Grindelwald," Hermione continued, ignoring Severus. "See if you can find him, but don't confront him if you do. I've fought him, remember - he's really good."

"Why don't Alex and I go with Arabel," Regulus suggested. "Since we're not fighting."

Hermione paused and then nodded. "Okay. You, Arabel and Alecto try to find Grindelwald while the competition is going on."

"Meanwhile we'll get some real work done down in the arena," Rabastan said, rubbing his hands together.

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The sun's first rays cast green shadows as Hermione struggled to fix her hair in the mirror. Curls tangled her hands as she tried to replicate the neat, braided rows Arabel had plaited last time. It was early, but her stomach was churning and she had given up trying to sleep.

The mirror reflected Severus beginning to wake. His eyelids flickered and he yawned, sitting up and stretching. Hermione's hands trembled as she pulled endless locks of hair together tightly and tried not to watch. Severus had been talking in his sleep. The previous night she had woken to him weeping for his mother. She had jumped up automatically and then had hovered above the sofa, afraid to touch him but hardly able to leave.

"You ready?" she said, trying to keep her voice even.

Severus paused on his way to the bathroom. Sleep-tousled, he was unthreatening and he paused but didn't reply. But he returned and rummaged in his trunk, retrieving an object.

"I'd like you to take this," he said.

Hermione took the small glass vial, looking at it curiously. A green potion swirled within. She uncorked it and brought it to her nose. It smelt of mint and something lemony, but she couldn't identify the potion.

"It's for protection," Severus said, looking anywhere but Hermione. "For the baby. It should stop spellfire from penetrating your womb."

"You brewed this?"

"I created it."

Hermione studied it. "That's - I never even heard of something like that. How did you do it?"

"I started with a basic shielding potion, and then looked at the potions that healers use to strengthen babies in the womb. Once I'd identified the active ingredient -"

Abruptly Severus stopped. Perhaps he had remembered that this was how their old conversations had begun, and he pressed his lips tightly together.

"Anyway, it's safe. Please take it."

Hermione, a lump in her throat that had nothing to do with a potion, drank the vial down. It took a minute but then warmth flooded across her stomach making her gasp.

"It's working?" Severus asked.

"I think so. Thank you, Severus," she said.

Severus hesitated as though he wanted to say more, but turned away. He dressed and left in a swirl of robes. Hermione fished around for hairpins and secured several braids into a low bun. She stared out of the window at the black lake. Severus may not care for her, but clearly, he cared for the baby. She brought her fist down on the table in sudden anger, shattering the bottles and cracking the mirror.

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The Slytherin table was buzzing with excitement. It had escaped nobody's notice that Slytherin had the bulk of the competitors, and they were taking it as a personal mark of house pride. Slytherins applauded as Hermione entered the dining hall, and older students clapped her on the shoulder as she sat down.

"Better eat up," Regulus said, passing the orange juice down to Hermione.

"Are you ready?" a bold sixth year asked, and Rabastan snorted.

"Am I ready? I've been ready since I was born. The question is - are those weaklings from the other schools ready?"

Slytherin let out an impromptu cheer at this, and the Australians - sitting the closest - shot them dirty looks. Hermione poured herself a coffee, grateful that the attention was not on her. As she ladled porridge into her bowl the doors to the great hall banged open. Professor McGonagall led a crowd of notepad-and-camera-carrying witches and wizards, her face pinched with disapproval.

"It's the press," Rabastan said, touching his hair.

"You're such a girl," Regulus snorted.

A couple of cameras flashed in the direction of the students and Professor McGonagall turned her wrath on the unfortunate photographers. They were hurried through the hall and towards the steps that led down to the duelling cavern.

"I suppose they wanted to get them in early so there isn't too much chaos," Arabel said. Hermione agreed but didn't say. She had found in the company of her friends it was safest saying nothing. Severus was on a knife-edge and she wouldn't provoke him right before he went face to face with another duellist.

Breakfast finished so quickly that Hermione had no time to place her thoughts in order, and the great multitude of the study body rose to move towards the dungeons in a surging mass. Hermione followed, her mind preoccupied.

In the small chamber Hermione, Rabastan and Severus found Amos Diggory reading a book and James and Sirius bouncing on the balls of their feet. Sirius threw a shadow punch at the air and Rabastan snickered.

"We're not boxing Black."

"Look at this," Sirius crowed, waving a sheet of parchment. "Dumbledore just left. It's the match sheet for the day."

They all crowded closer to read the sheet. It struck Hermione how much smaller the list was than last time. It was remarkable that Britain had managed to get so many students into the second round, although perhaps without her training neither Severus or Rabastan would have been part of the initial selection. Who would have fought in their place?

Hermione ran a finger down the list, stopping at her name. She was facing an Australian called Lisa Johnson. As the others searched for their names Hermione stepped away, breathing deeply. Outside, Hogwarts students were taking their seats alongside hundreds of witches and wizards from all corners of the globe. Even muffled by the walls, the noise was titanic.

A knock at the door made Hermione's heart beat faster, but it was Professor Dumbledore in flamboyant purple robes, face split with a genial smile.

"Good good, everyone is here! It's time to move down to your seats in a moment, but I just wanted to wish you all the very best of luck, and assure you that nothing like the events of the last round will take place again. All students have been reminded of the contract they signed regarding lethal or life-altering spells."

It was hard to focus on Professor Dumbledore's voice. The noise from beyond the walls was increasing in pitch, and it drew Hermione's attention.

"You are all excellent fighters and you have brought great pride to Hogwarts by progressing this far in the competition. The best of luck for the next round." Professor Dumbledore concluded.

"Thanks, professor!"

"We'll do our best,"

Hermione murmured something inaudible and followed the others out into the arena. A thousand lights and flashes stung her eyes and she looked down to avoid them. The competitor's boxes were emptier than they had been during the first round. The French had lost most of their duelists to the first round, and the Japanese were similarly depleted.

Taking their seats in the Hogwarts box James and Sirius turned to Hermione expectantly, settling back as though waiting for something. Nonplussed, she gave them a questioning look.

"Aren't you going to give us the lowdown?" Sirius said.

Hermione held back a groan. Her head was foggy and summoning the energy to analyse six new opponents was a feat currently beyond her. Severus, Rabastan and Regulus ignored the interaction, staring across the arena to where the referee was setting up his scoreboard.

"Not right now," she managed. "I'm not feeling so good. Can't you do it? You're good enough."

It wasn't a lie, but it was close to the truth. Hermione's body ached and her mind was turbulent. Pregnancy had stripped away some of her control, and her emotions trembled on the edge more than any time she could remember. Sitting beside Severus, the warmth of his body close to hers, yet unable to reach out and bridge the gap wasn't physical pain - but it dragged at her muscles and shattered her concentration. It wasn't grief, either. Harry and Ron's deaths had sharpened Hermione's concentration into laser focus, but this had loosened her grip on things.

Sirius stared at Hermione, his gaze analysing, and then clearing with comprehension.

"Okay. So who've you got Amos?" he said, pulling the other boy into a conversation. "Brazil - which one? Ah, I think she's over there at the end of the row."

The conversation ebbed and flowed around Hermione and she let it, grateful to gather her thoughts. Finally, as the crowd settled the commentator stepped up to the box.

"Greeting Ladies and Gentlemen, Witches and Wizards," he roared at last, and the crowd erupted with cheers and whistles. He was almost concealed behind several brightly coloured flags and had to duck an enthusiastic union jack waver.

"Welcome to the second round of the International Wizarding Schools Duelling Competition," he rallied. "We are joining you from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, home to ancient magical learning. Please raise your voices for the talented young witches and wizards who made it through the fierce competition to the second round!"

As the crowd hollered and clapped in appreciation Hermione scanned the Hogwarts stands, relieved to see Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew sitting among the Gryffindor students. That meant that Arabel, Alecto and Regulus would have a clear shot at making it up to the Gryffindor tower to look for the Marauders Map.

A large glowing scoreboard appeared, hanging in the air in the centre of the arena. All the competitor's names listed beside three columns, a 0 next to each one.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked Rabastan, forgetting that he wouldn't answer her. Amos answered instead.

"To determine who makes it into the final they're scoring us on three fronts - speed, agility and magical proficiency."

"It's to make sure we demonstrate everything we're capable of," James said unexpectedly. "My dad's helping to organise the international side of things. They usually start to score like this at this stage in the competition to make it easier to see who really is the better duelist."

As he spoke two wizards entered the arena and made their way to the centre, and James and Sirius fell silent to watch the match unfold. A hush descended on the crowd. The two students bowed to one another, stepped back and at sparks from the referee's wand the fight commenced. It quickly became clear that one duelist was hopelessly outmatched as he was driven backwards by a flurry of spells and acrobatic moves from the other, a tall blonde boy.

"Who is that?" Hermione asked, unable to help herself.

"Jordan Roth from Ilvermorny," Sirius said. "He smashed it in the last round as well. I bet he'll be in the final."

Sirius's prediction came true a moment later when the blonde boy executed an impressive cartwheeling move, knotted ropes around the other wizard, then plucked his wand from his hand. The crowd cheered and Roth waved to the Ilvermorny students, throwing a salute towards a billowing American flag. Hermione committed his face to memory.

The fighting was fiercer than the first round, the weaker half of the competition already eradicated. Those remaining fought for a place in the final. Sirius was the first Hogwarts student called.

"Wish me luck," he said, eyes glittering.

But it was not to be. His competitor, a sharp-eyed wizard from Durmstrang fought cleverly and quickly and seemed able to move faster than Sirius's spells could fly. James groaned as Sirius fired off spells that landed in the sand a fraction too late. Finally, he turned to find himself at wand point, and it was all over.

"Bad luck mate," James said, clapping him on the shoulder when Sirius returned dejectedly to the box.

It was the beginning of a poor day of showing for the Hogwarts students. James was knocked out of the competition by a quick witch from Castelobruxo, and shortly after Rabastan was taken down by another Ilvermorny student. Hermione was last on the sheet, and by the time Severus's name was called her fingers were almost in shreds from chewing her nails.

But Severus was all cold focus as he stepped into the arena. He had grown taller and packed on muscle, making a formidable figure beside the smaller wizard from Mahoutokoro. His duelling robes emphasised his broad shoulders, and from behind Hermione could have easily mistaken him for her adult professor. It wasn't just the extra muscle; it was the authority in the way he moved. Severus was confident and in control of himself and it showed in every line of his body.

The referee raised his wand, sparks flew, and the fight began.

Instantly the Japanese wizard disappeared. Hermione caught her breath. She scanned the sand for signs of someone moving invisibly and was rewarded by a fluttering movement slightly to the left. Severus raised a large shield and stepped back, never presenting an easy target. Red and purple spells flurried towards him but dissolved at the shield, and Severus spun towards them.

"He needs to get that guy visible," James said anxiously, apparently forgetting it was Severus he spoke of.

"Incarcerous," Severus shouted, but the ropes hit the ground harmlessly, becoming a sinuous dragon who twisted skywards, jetting flames towards him. Severus sprayed water, extinguishing the flames in a cloud of steam. Footprints appeared in the sand behind him and Hermione's throat ached with suppressing her warning shout. The dragon raced towards Severus, capturing his attention. In a second he would be down -

"He's behind you," Sirius moaned.

The Japanese wizard materialised behind Severus. The dragon charged at his face. Severus raised his wand, a spell forming on his lips. Hermione leaned forward, nails digging into the chair arms, but at the last moment, Severus dropped. The move was so graceful it was almost not a fall, knees collapsing and shoulder colliding with the sand into a perfect roll. Above Severus's head, the dragon was too late to prevent releasing a gout of flames - straight into the face of the Japanese wizard - just as the wizard's spell, intended for Severus, caught the dragon and sent it rolling backwards in midair and vanishing.

"The fucker," Rabastan said hoarsely. "He knew the guy was behind him the whole time. The fucker."

"He's putting on a show," Hermione said, jerking her head towards the scoreboards above. "He can't finish this in ten seconds like last time, he wouldn't pick up enough points."

Severus's face showed nothing but tight concentration as he began to methodically bombard his opponent with spells, ducking and weaving around the returning spellfire. Hermione felt her heartbeat begin to return to normal and the flutterings in her stomach eased. Severus in full control of himself and his actions was a significant force.

Severus had gained the upper hand, and his opponent was increasingly on the defensive. The Japanese wizard became invisible again but Severus blew up clouds of sand around him revealing him instantly. He pushed the wizard back towards the very edge of the arena with a quickfire series of cutting and stinging hexes, dodged the returned fire, and immobilised the Japanese wizard.

The wizard froze with his arm raised mid-spell, and his golden robes flapped oddly around his stiff form. Without flourish, Severus disarmed the wizard and caught the wand, raising it in the air for the crowd.

The Hogwarts students began to cheer before everybody else realised it was over. It was the first win for Hogwarts that day and the Slytherin students screaming their approval was deafening. Then a louder noise rose, and Hermione listened more carefully. She paused, disbelieving, and turned to Rabastan.

"Is that -"

"Snape! Snape! Snape!" chanted the Hogwarts students.

Down in the sand of the arena, Severus paused and looked up at the students. Only Hermione caught the stunned astonishment passing briefly over his face. Then he smiled triumphantly and punched the air, still holding the Japanese wizard's wand. Hermione stared at the chanting students, hardly able to compute what she was seeing. How quickly the past had changed, and how much.

"Oh for Merlin's sake this is too far," Sirius groaned. "I can't bear it. James, make it not real."

James patted Sirius on the shoulder and tipped his face heavenwards, closing his eyes with despair.

"Honestly you pair," Amos said disapprovingly. "This is a Hogwarts victory and we should all be proud."

Sirius snorted with laughter at this idea and James shook his head.

"That was Severus Snape from Hogwarts winning his match against Haruto Yamamoto," the announcer shouted, and the crowd cheered again. Severus re-entered their box and took his seat, and Rabastan leaned over to slap him on the back.

"Nice one mate," he said.

"Yes very well done Snape," Amos agreed, and poked Sirius hard with his finger.

"Yeah well done Snape," Sirius muttered resentfully, and James said something inaudible but probably offensive.

Severus ignored them both, shook Amos's hand and took his seat, speaking with Rabastan in low tones while the next fight was announced. He didn't spare Hermione a glance, and the curious stares of James and Sirius were like a cold wash. Hermione stared straight ahead at the next pair of duelists entering the arena and tried not to feel Severus's lack of communication. She was unsuccessful. Tears pricked her eyelids and her chest ached. But she would not cry here.

Hermione stared at the fighters on the sand until his vision blurred and she had to blink. She barely registered the actions and could not have answered what schools were represented. She was hardly aware of Amos leaving for his match and only noticed when Rabastan groaned beside her that he had lost.

"Bad luck mate," Rabastan said sympathetically when Amos returned sporting singed robes and a burn on his cheek.

"That dragon spell is not as easy to dodge as Severus made it look," said, flopping into his chair and breathing out. "Say - Hermione shouldn't you be down there?"

With a sudden shock, Hermione realised that the announcer had called her name. She scrambled up, clutching her wand, and jogged down the steps to the referee, waiting with her opponent.

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Thanks for reading,

Cas