Authors Note: This one is long too, I tried my best.

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AUTHORS NOTE: I never realized when I started this story that my readers would be so into this story. I have one reader in particular that I applaud for their ability or making a writer feels like they really accomplished something. Howl made a beautiful video for my fanfiction and it is amazing. The URL is(I have to spell it out)http: (double backslash) w w w . megaupload . com (backslash) ? d(equal sign) 5BIZZAM5it will count down and after that on the right side of the screen an add will appear, just move the add out of the way and download it.

Chapter 29

The Silent Welcome

He didn't even know where he was going. It was as if this anger had consumed him, leading him blindly.

He couldn't even think; anger was his mind, anger and hurt.

His hands were clenched, blood seeping through his pail fingers, his breathing ragged. All those memories that he had buried, hidden all those years, played over and over before his eyes.

"Avada Kavadra" and her body fell limp.

He still could see the flash of green.

Shuddering, he fell to his knees, pressing his fists to his eyes, blood smearing his cheeks. They would pay for this. He wouldn't be his servant any longer.

……….

She was lost as soon as she stepped out of the house, but that didn't stop her. She was going to find Professor Snape, Prince Ashitaka, who ever the hell he was and she was going to apologize and find a way to make it up to him, but….she didn't know where he was going.

That served to pose a problem.

She didn't know Professor Snape, the snarky Potions Master. She had no idea where he would go.

She sighed.

She also didn't know how to get back to Hogwarts, she always flooed here, even though she had no idea where 'here' was exactly on the map.

But there was no other choice, except to keep walking, because she definitely wasn't going back in there, she shot a disgusted glare at the looming building behind her and shuddered at the sight, she was disgusted with them, all of them.

She found herself in the woods not some time later. They were dark and eerie and then she wouldn't have minded bringing her coat along. It was still fall, so the heat had not yet come or had it stayed from summer.

"I was wondering how long if would take you." The voice startled her out of her thoughts and she spun around, wand drawn, a curse already on her lips, "put it away, Ms. Granger."

Hesitantly, she did. He looked so casual, crouching on the tree branch that looked to thin to hold his weight. He was dressed simply in black pants and a dark green long sleeve tunic with an even darker green cloak that clasped at the throat, but there were no weapons in sight except for the softly etched vines on his hands.

All the time she walked she had imagined this scene over and over in her head, but now, no words came out. He was just too relaxed. She imagined him distraught and angry and hurt. And then she would help him they would talk, but now she realized how naïve that sounded. He wasn't going to open up to her. Not after what just happened, he looked blank as if his emotions have just shut down.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question," he shot back.

"That doesn't mean you can't answer mine," if he was going to be lippy with her, she was going to be lippy right back.

The smallest twitch of his lips was his only reaction, "Come along Ms. Granger, no use you freezing out here," he untied his cloak and threw it at her as he stealthily swung down from the high branch. Feet not making a sound as he struck the rough forest floor.

She thankfully pulled the cloak around her shoulders, not really registering who just gave it to her, "Won't you be cold?"

"Let's just say I'm used to it," he smirked again, "come along, don't dally." And he stalked off, obviously expecting her to follow.

They traveled in silence.

In a very bitter, uncomfortable, long silence.

For Hermione anyway.

If the silence was bothering Snape, he made no sign of it. In fact, he seemed rather calm and that's what scared her so much. As long as Snape was her teacher, he never really scared her, and that frightened her even more.

"Sir?"

"Ms. Granger,"

She sighed, she really didn't want to have this conversation, but it had to be done, "Did you really mean it?"

He stopped and looked at her oddly, eyes dark, "no." he knew what she was talking about, "Threats are said idly in anger, Ms. Granger,"

All she could manage was a soft, "Oh," before she went on, "where are you going, Professor?"

"Home." Was the simple response, but to Hermione it wasn't enough, he didn't have a home.

"And what about me, sir?"

"It's your choice, Ms. Granger, but if you will take the advice of a cynical old man, I wouldn't go back there for a few days, gives them some time to cool off, who knows what they'll do," and it seemed to Hermione that he winked ever so slightly at her.

"You're not that old, Professor," she said softly, "she ducked under a branch that he so easily leaped over.

"Ah, but you say 'not that old' so you're insinuating that I'm still old?" he smiled softly again, it was nice to see him smile, she decided.

"Let me rephrase than, you aren't old at all,"

"What am I then? Young?"

"No," Jesus, Mary and Joseph, she cursed, was this man infuriating when he talked, "you're just average." She shook her head when he smiled that little smirk of his, again.

"Ah, the joy to be average, but I'm afraid, Ms. Granger, that I am anything, but average, which might, in turn, make me average." He stopped for a brief moment as if to think about what he said, "if that made any sense,"
Hermione stared openly at him, he almost seemed…hyper, like a little kid that sipped a little to much of his mom's coffee or ate to much of his Halloween candy. Come to think of it, as she thought back on his memories that were so violently revealed to her, he seemed like this when he was upset, when he was angry, when he was sad, he covered it up in a way they have never seen before, but that confused her. Hasn't he been hiding that all these years using his callous, snarky, bastard attitude to hide what he was really feeling, or maybe she was over analyzing. Maybe that's how he really was, but that didn't make any sense either, he was so in love with Sarah and so friendly to Lily and for a brief while Lucius and James so why the attitude all this time, but to hide his feelings?

But now he's hyper?

Does the disguise change how he is, his mannerism?

Either way, his….hyperness…was a nice break from his snide comments as annoying as his…babblings seemed to be.

As she watched him though, he changed, his smile faded and his eyes darkened considerably and he stared blankly at the forest floor below him, remembering.

"Professor?"

He snapped out of if instantly, but his face was now blank, all hyperness gone, "Come along Ms. Granger," he said shortly.

She sighed and glared at his back as they walked, his mood swings were weird enough, and the shortness was just not something she wanted to deal with.

………

Dumbledore didn't move; flinched, yes; moved, no.

It was Hermione's word that hit him so hard. Not the fact that he had betrayed Severus to a point where no apology could make up for it, but the fact that he had betrayed the trust of one of his children. Yes, Severus was his child, and yes he cared for him, but Severus was already lost, Dumbledore knew that long ago and long ago gave up on saving him. He tried so hard to save his children, the savable ones, anyway. And he had lost one of them today; he had lost a very bright one. One that could have saved them, and won this war with her smarts and he had lost her.

"Professor?"

Dumbledore turned his head to stare at what was supposed to be there hero, "Mr. Potter."

"I think you were wrong, Professor," Harry said softly, "to do what you did to Professor Snape."

"Yes, Mr. Potter, I believe you are correct."

………

They were so close to Hogwarts and that's what she thought made him so cross. They were in the Unicorn Clearing. It was eerie looking now, she was standing on the outskirts, standing next to Vioree and Snape….Ashitaka…was kneeling in front of that mystic water that was always such a mystery to her and now she knew what it was. A portal into his world. His eyes were closed in concentration, his hands resting on the rocks on either side of the pool, the water casting light shadows across his face.

"How long does this take?"

"Lower your voice, child," Vioree said softly, "normally not this long, but long it has been since he has last entered."

Hermione focused her attention on him again, he had opened his eyes and stood, staring at the pool of water with what looked like fear….or anger.

"I'm not asking or forcing you to go with me, Ms. Granger," he said softly, he turned towards a tree that bordered the field. He very gently placed a hand on the tree and it began to glow. Instantly the tree hollowed revealing weapons. He buckled on the sword belt that also held a dagger; he strapped onto his chest the leather strap that held the potions and the bow and arrow onto his back.

"I'm going with you, I thought about what you said, and I think you're right," she said walking up next to him and trying to flash her most reassuring smile, "I don't know how they would react, besides I've read -,"

He instantly tried to hide a smile, but she went on anyway, "About the Demon world, it would be fascinating to actually see it, to think I'm standing next to the exiled Prince of the Demons, being taught by him no less all this time and never known it. Ironic isn't it?" she smiled at him again, daring him to comment on her extra "studies."

"Yes, ironic," he forced a small twitch of his lips all the while rolling his eyes at her, "well come along then, I'm going to go through first, give you time to change your mine, just step through if you decide to follow. You might feel a bit woozy when you're through, the atmosphere on my world is a bit different than it is here, you might feel light headed….not like your light headed anyway," he added that last comment as a murmur so she could barely hear it.

She glared at him, but made no comment, "I'm waiting, sir." She forced the fake anger.

………

He was right about the wooziness. She easily walked through the portal and was met by the most tantalizing smell of the forest, stronger than the smell of the woods she came from. She was fine until her feet seemed firm on the ground and she took a step, instantly she felt arms reach out and steady her. That was the second time he came into contact with her, and she didn't mind it either. He was a comforting presence really, and she could only imagine how safe Sarah felt when he held her. No, she did not fancy her snarky Potions Professor; it was more of a longing for his friendship or at least his acquaintanceship.

"I told you, you would be dizzy," he then muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'clumsy human' but she decided not to comment.

"Come along now," he said and began using his magic to clear a path. She took one step to follow his lead and the dizziness hit her. He caught her around the waist to hold her up, but this time didn't let go. He sighed, "we aren't going to get very far tonight."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault you're human."

She sighed at the insult, she had grown some what used to them, but she missed the Snape she saw in his memories, what she was assuming was the real Snape, "how long will it take to reach your world?"

"We're in my world, but to reach the city, me alone a couple of hours, but for both of us a day or two, especially if I have to practically carry you most of the way."

She started to saw she was sorry again but he cut her off, "don't apologize." He said, "I hate those words," he began walking down the path, keeping one arm around her waist using the other to swing her arm over his shoulders and hold it there.

"What words? 'I'm sorry'?"

"People seem to believe that those two very simple words can change what they've done when in essence the only thing that changed is the one apologizing thinks everything is fine and the other is just burying his hatred because he accepted the apology."

She smiled knowingly, she knew exactly what he was referring to, and in all honesty she couldn't blame him for his bitterness.

………

There progress was slow, mostly because every Hermione tried to walk on her own she ended in an undignified heap or in Snape's arms, she almost giggled at those words 'falling in Snape's arms'.

They walked on for hours, chatting idly about nothing.

Now there was something else she never expected to hear, 'chatting idly about nothing with Professor Snape'.

She almost laughed.

Time passed and now it was almost dark. Snape stopped, helping Hermione to sit, "I'm going to look for a place to camp," and he left without giving her a chance to speak.

When he came back he was grinning, "There is a cliff up ahead." He helped her stand led the way.

It was indeed a cliff.

A very high cliff, she was starring down at a very distant city that was barely visible due to the blinding setting sun. She gulped.

"Not afraid of heights are you?"

"No." she said quickly and she could have sworn she heard him chuckle.

"We'll rest here tonight." He helped lean her against a tree and she made herself comfortable as he crouched at the edge of the cliff on his knees. He clapped his hands in front of him, elbows out (think Fullmetal Alchemist) and slapped them on the ground. Logs instantly to form a very tiny teepee for the fire, sticking his hands inside the teepee he snapped and it lit ablaze.

Hermione pulled herself closer to the fire tightening her grip on his cloak. He was crouching on the opposite side absently throwing sticks into the fire.

The sun was barely visible now.

"What's the city look like?"

He glanced up at her, "It's all centered around one point," he said simply, "the Temple of the Gods.

"That is the highest point of our world. On each side of the temple, exactly 156 steps down, directly North, West, South and East are the Temple Regions. Hard platforms that hold our main Temples.

"The Earth Goddess; Feawen Jemin Echo, The Wind God; Darimalad Volle Boa, the Fire Goddess; Faerose Will Jinx and the Water God."

"Who's the water god?"

He tensed, "we do not speak his name."

Hermione sighed, she knew the story. The Water God betrayed his followers to the humans resulting in a giant massacre, killing many Demons.

Severus went on, "Down another 156 steps are the main roads. Down the main roads there are seven levels, each level is guarded by a wall, and each main road leads to a main Element Village along with some minor villages."

He went silent.

It was completely dark now.

"How many types of Demons are there?"

"How many types of Humans are there?" he shot back and then continued seeing she had no answer, "People seem to think that because we are not human we are categorized like species of animals. For example, if you asked a horse how many breeds of horses there were, would the horse be able to answer? Demons, animals, humans, we all have the same beliefs as the other; we all believe we're the normal ones. When you go into the city tomorrow you will understand what I mean, you will be the Alien."

She remained silent thinking this over; it was a lot to think about.

"Hungry?" before she could answer he tossed her one of the pouches he always carried. Inside, there was what looked like chocolate cookies, perfectly in tact.

"What are they?" she asked, suspiciously taking a bite.

"In English, Fire Bread."

"What do you call your language?"

"Again with the generalizations, we're just like your world, there are more than one language," he rolled his eyes, annoyed at her ignorance, "the General Language is Common Tongue, but there are many different languages."

"Oh….I guess Demons aren't so different from Humans after all."

"We like to consider ourselves as Genetically Altered Super Humans," he smirked, the lecturing tone leaving his voice, "jokingly, of coarse."

"Another question."

"You're just bursting today."

She blushed, "Why do Demons hate humans so much?"

"Hate is a strong word to use so generally especially about a race you know so little about."

"Why don't you like humans?"

He sighed, "A long time ago, there was a war fought between Humans and Demons, they were brutal," his eyes unfocused as he stared at the fire, "once the Water God betrayed us half of our people were lost, because of how long we live, grudges tend to carry over the generations."

"How long can a Demon live?"
"The Demon's mentality is quite different than those of a human; we live until we are not needed anymore. The Stewardess for example, she will live until her children have grown and her duty is no longer needed and she grows old. Demons grow naturally until they are around my age and then they stop until they aren't needed. When they aren't needed they will start to age again."

"How old are you, sir, begging your pardon, if it's too personal?"

"36," he answered.

She looked at him surprised; she would have guessed a lot younger, but looking back at the memories and the time line, 36 seemed right.

He sighed, "Do you really want to know why we hate humans so much, Ms. Granger?" she stared at him, how did he know?

She nodded.

"Look at that tree," she did, "what do you see?"

She stared at him again, that was outrageous, "A tree."

"That's what humans would see, that's as far as they look, but we see different, we look closer. We know ever rock and tree and creature has a life, a spirit, a name.

"It's more than just a tree, Ms. Granger," a placed a pale hand on the trunk of the tree and it glowed, pulsing under his slender fingers with life. With is other hand he grasped her wrist and brought it up to touch the wood. It was warm under her fingers and she smiled.

Hello Ashitaka…a deep, slow voice rumbled through their minds, she instantly wrenched her hand away.

"What was - ,"

"Shhh…listen,"

Soft creaking was traveling through the unnaturally large trees, she shuddered and made to turn around and walk back to the fire, but Snape caught her, holding her still and as the tree swayed, "look at them for what they really are. They're speaking to us, Ms. Granger; no human has ever lived to see this."

………

"Sir, the trees, they're moving." Harry was surprised which was odd because he learned when he came to the wizarding world that anything could happen.

"Yes, Mr. Potter, in this world, everything is alive," came Dumbledore's slow response as he fought with a moving branch, "it seems the forest does not want us to pass," vines kept mysteriously appearing and tripping them, or smacking them in the head or even just being a nuisance.

Harry and Ron, in the first place protested entering the Demon World, Dumbledore himself was a little wary of the Dark Woods, but they were all determined, if not to catch Snape, than to at least rescue Hermione because, yes, they were convinced she wouldn't come here on free will. Therefore, they came to this conclusion; out of anger Snape must have kidnapped her.

After the decision was made, it was decided Dumbledore, Moody, McGonagall and Remus would go while the rest of the Order used magic to track them and watch them from the safety of 12 Grimmauld Place.

Harry and Ron argued until they too were also aloud to go.

They had dropped back with Remus to watch Dumbledore magiclessly push the vines out the way. When they tried to use magic an annoying shock was sent through their arm and it went numb, the more they tried the more painful the shock became. "After the Human and Demon War," Remus explained, "a protection curse was placed on this world. Outsiders can't use magic of any kind with direct permission from the leader and weapons of any kind turn to lead."

"Why didn't they close of the portal things than?" that was Ron.

"No one knows; there is a myth that the Water God who was alliance with the Humans controlled them and kept them open, but that's all it is just a myth."

To Harry it looked as if the Headmaster had no real idea where he was -, "what was that?"

"What?" Apparently, no one else heard the sound.

"That," and there was a soft rustle of leaves straight ahead.

They all looked and then the sound was gone.

………

Hermione and Snape silently made their way back through the woods. The moon was low and the sun could be seen picking the rolling hills.

Their descent down the cliff was quiet. Hermione lost in thought about last night, Snape's mood was turning to the worst the closer they got.

When they finally left the woods they were on a dirt road, the city gleaming in the distance. The first time they passed some one it was shocking.

The woman was elderly looking, skinny, almost frail, but the bow on her back betrayed her strength, "My lord….Ashitaka?"

Snape smiled (she still couldn't bring herself to think of him as Prince Ashitaka), "Pinaku," she stared at him.

"My Lord, Lady Catrithian Elistratoral, she said you were dead."

He's smile faded, "I know."

"She's gone now, though."

"What?"

"She was dethroned. Lady Lea found out that Tal Koral Aquae was working for her, they wanted you dead, and she expected your human master to kill you." She walked up to him, about the same height, "what did they," she shot a dirty look at Hermione, "do to you?"

He stepped in front of Hermione, almost as if he was shielding her from Pinaku's glare, "She did nothing, and the rest can wait until later."

Pinaku smiled before bowing, "My Lord, Lady Lea, she has taken the throne, I believe she is expecting you."

"Thank you, Pinaku,"

"My liege," she turned and walked into the woods.

When they had started walking again Hermione posed the question that had been bothering her, "Tal, he was the one that gave Dumbledore the liquid memory?"

His mouth was sent into a grim, stubborn line, but he nodded all the same.

"Why did they want you dead?"

"Demons have the same emotions, feelings, aspirations as humans, we can feel, just like you can, pride, greed, fear, guilt. After the war with the Humans and the betrayal of the Water God, Water demons were shunned. I expected his betrayal, but never knew Lady Catrithian Elistratoral would be dragged into it. The last 30 years the City had tried to make amends with the Water Demons, but they would not have it."

"Lady Lea, is she the one we saw-,"

"Yes." His response was sharp and final, the discussion was over.

………

They entered and it was a lot different than she expected. When Snape described the city, she imagined large white walls and perfectly aligned houses, but it was not so. The village that surrounded the city was flat and the walls were built on a slant and made of black marble that glistened and swirled with magic. The village reminded her of the old Indian Villages, modest wooden houses, fires burning, speckled with thick trees, when through the first gate the ground became harder and harder as each gate went by until they reached the last gate, the stairs that lead to the Temples, then the ground was black marble that swirled when stepped with whatever color the stairs led to (red for Fire, Green fro Earth, so on and so forth).

She was very tense the whole walk through the first gate, the streets were empty.

"Professor?"

"It's a sign of respect when a new leader is appointed," his voice was soft, "when the streets are full it's very hard for someone to rule a kingdom, when it is silent for a day it allows the leader to maintain his or her bearings. But don't think they aren't watching you."

They walked through the silent streets until they reached the stairs. As they went up she counted, there really are 156. The stairs led straight into the Temple of the Earth Goddess. The Temple's all looked the same, three or four stories that housed the priests. There were no doors or walls or windows on the main floor. It was held up by hundreds of pillars except for the back, the back was a wall that portrayed a statue of the Earth Goddess, but all was dark, so she wasn't visible, two floors were downstairs and another up. The Temple itself was white, but aging, vines climbed up the sides, some blocking the door, but they moved aside as Snape stepped forward.

Before he left the temple he bowed in front of the shadowed Goddess, kissing his fingertips he placed them on the stands before walking past, motioning for Hermione to follow.

They walked up the next 156 steps and this time before they entered the Temple of the Gods, his home, he took a deep breath and set on an emotionless face. Before he entered (the set up was the same as the other Temples except bigger) he bowed again, dipping his head down out of respect and then walked in.

The Temple of the Gods was abuzz, priests wandered around, carrying scrolls and wands; they were all dressed in white robes with a color stripe to represent what Village he or she came from.

All motion stopped when he entered and many priest and priestess' fell into a bow, muttering their greetings. One though didn't. She stood at the back of the Temple, next to a statue of all the Gods, staring at him. She was dressed casually, in black breeches, and a red tunic with a gold sash around the middle. The only thing that made her look royal was the beautiful crown that fell over her forehead, red rubies falling from silver chains into her raven hair. The weapon in sight was the dagger around her waist.

"Ashitaka," her voice was musical yet so familiar.

And the Hermione recognized her.

"Lea,"

They both just looked at each other before Lea launched herself at him, he went flying backwards, but not falling, she wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing as he hugged her back, "It took you long enough, Ash," she said laughing, "for a while I though Elistratoral killed you after all, but I guess you got the better of…." She trailed off when she caught sight of Hermione.

Snape sighed, "Hermione Granger, soon to be your apprentice."

"Me?"

"She has power, Lea, Wind Power; I don't want her, no offense Ms. Granger,"

Hermione shrugged, "None taken, it's not like I'm not used to it from you."

Snape sent her an amused look.

"They're following you, Ash," Lea said softly, the priests had long ago begun working again.

"I know."

"Well?" a wicked glimmer appeared in her eyes, "what are you going to do to 'em?"

He grinned wryly, "I'm just going to scare them a little, don't worry though," he winked, inconspicuously, "you won't get to miss out on the action."

End Chapter 29

The Silent Welcome

Final Word Count: 4840

Go me.