A Toast to Death
Disclaimer: None of it is mine- it all belongs to J.K. Rowling, only what you don't know is my creation.
Hermione Granger is facing her last year at Hogwarts. As the last battle between good and evil begins, she finds herself falling for Professor Snape, but she must keep her feelings hidden at all costs. What she doesn't know is that Severus is having the same feelings. Will love find a way between these unlikely two, or will death come first?
Soul-mates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you. Author Unknown
Chapter Four: Out of Hate Comes Love…. Sometimes
Severus Snape was pacing back and fourth in the dungeon, thinking mainly of the insufferable know-it-all.
"You're going to run a hole in that floor Severus, if you keep that up." Arg. Can I not get any peace around here? This damn ghost is just another annoying pain in my arse, and he's laughing at me! He just broke my train of thought too.
"What is it that you don't know, Salazar? Don't you have something else to do", I asked as I sank into my favorite fireside chair, "like, oh I don't know, scare the living day-lights out of some first year's?" I poured some firewhiskey into a goblet, seeing as how getting drunk looked like a great idea. The annoying ghost chuckle again of course at my expense.
"I see you're pining over a certain brushy, brown haired woman again. Goddess man, you are a pathetic sight to behold. You really give all men and ghosts a bad name." Salazar laughed this time as he floated next to the fire. I was glaring at the damn ghost for his lack of tack and respect for the Head of Slytherin.
"Do you have some business elsewhere, instead of annoying the hell out of me?" I asked him, and his grin turned into a frown.
"No, not really." He said. "I am here to offer some support to one of my favorite Slytherins'!" His sarcastic reply causes me to stare into the fire with great intensity.
"You do know Severus, you can pursue this girl. She is of age, although I doubt age would stop the likes of me, but you are a completely different man."
Salazar said this with a slight smile on his face, and I had to wonder what sort of stories he had hidden from the world.
"I am in no damn mood to hear of your conquests of the past, and I do mean the past." I told him and the ghost gave a deep sigh.
"Well they were indeed in the past, but never once did I pursue anything I wanted. Now, Godric tried to stop even my interests, but he was an insufferable know-it-all and the man didn't know how to have any fun unless you spelled it out for him, and even then, I think it would take a miracle for him to get the meaning."
"hmm," Severus thought, "is this "annoy the hell out of Severus day"? First, Dumbledore asked me to ride with the "Golden Trio", a task I despised more than anything. Secondly, I had to endure the train ride in the presence of Miss Granger, someone I knew I had no self control around. Now, this damn ghost is giving me dating advice!" I slowly shook his head and resumed drinking.
"I've seen the Granger woman," Salazar hissed in my ear, "and I must say Severus, if you don't act now she will forever be lost to you, just like the last one." I shuddered at the memories he was dredging up, hoping to all the heavens he would drop the subject and leave.
"I advise you to leave my chambers now before I do something besides hexing you back to the afterlife." I ridicule.
"Very well then, but I leave you with these words: 'There are at least two kinds of cowards; one who always lives with himself, afraid to face the world. The other lives with the world, afraid to face himself.' Which one are you Severus? Or Are you neither? Think on it, and goodnight dear boy." The ghost slowly floated out of mychambers. I sighed, knowing that he had pushed the exact buttons that made me pissed off.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. This time I heard it, and knew I would get no alone time tonight. Everyone seemed insistent on bugging the bloody hell out of me.
"This has better be good! Who the hell is it!" I thunder as I walk towards the door. Then, I hear an annoying laugh, knowing instantly who it is.
"Oh, Albus, what the hell do you want now! Does the "Golden Trio" now need a watchdog? Or a rescuer? How about a bed time story reader?" I say sarcastically as I open the door. Seeing the dam twinkle in his eye, shining brighter than normal, alerts me that he has come up with a new plan, one that I will actively participate in.
"Now, now, Severus, my dear boy, is that any way to treat an old man who is aged and weather-beaten?" He asks me playfully and I roll my eyes, knowing he is trying to guilt trip me.
"If you're so old, then retire so you can leave me the hell alone!" I inform him. Sitting back in my chair, I watch as he crosses the threshold. He looks pointedly at my drink, but I refuse to offer him a beverage, knowing he would stay longer if I showed any hospitality.
Of course, that bloody old man saw to it to raid my private stock and pour himself a drink. Albus sat across from me, and already I could tell it would be a very long night.
"Albus, what do you want? I can tell this is not a social call." I chide him and he sighs as he looks me in the eye.
"You're right. I'll get straight to it. This is about Hermione Granger." He quickly said and I accidentally choked on my fire-whisky. I sputtered a few times and started gaping. In hopes of covering up my reaction, I tried to get more information.
"What about the girl?" I ask him, knowing whatever it is, it couldn't be very good.
"Well, you know I have more than you spying in Voldemort's inner-circle, right?" He inquires, and I just rolled my eyes.
"Yes, I do know you have other sources of inside information, but what did he find out about Miss Granger?" I raise the question to him and he gave yet another small sigh.
"He has given reason to believe that there will be an attack on her family. Now, before you interrupt me," I sputter here, but keep quiet, "I will fully explain. Her family is already well protected, but it's seems that the dear girl kept all wizarding news about Voldemort and the impending war from her parents. She feared they would refuse to let her come back to school, so they know nothing about threats against muggle-borns." Albus lowered his head and stared at the fire.
"Well, I think she may have been right. No parent in their right mind would want their child to go through anything remotely close to what Miss Granger has gone through." I fervently say. Albus looked up at me and quirked his brow.
"Yes, quite right, but I will get straight to the point. I would like you to be her secret-keeper in case she needs to go into hiding. I'm wondering if she could stay at Snape Manor. She would be very well protected and that is the last place anyone would look for her."
I had to admit, he made a great point. But I knew my weaknesses, and her brain and looks certainly pulled down my defenses. I was reluctant to have her at my home, knowing she would judge me.
"Do I really have a choice in the matter, Headmaster"? I knew asking this question would be totally rhetorical, and he knew so also.
Damn that man!
A/n: I will try to get a new chapter posted at least once a week. I hope everyone likes it! I would like to thank my beta, amylikes2hug, for helping me.