Translation by Jessinthedungeons.
Chapter 8 - Little Fires Everywhere
In my dream, I was walking through the long secret passage again, and I had chosen to go through the portal on the right, there, in my dreams, there were not the whispers that I heard and this seemed to be the most cozy and pleasant path, that's why I followed it. The passageway meandered and spun, and I found myself descending another narrow flight of stairs that spun downward, turning and turning.
When I was already exhausted from going down so much, I reached the base of a flight of stairs and stopped. Before me was an old wooden door, with a metal frame ― a knocker in the shape of the Hogwarts symbol ― in the center of it. At least, it seemed the symbol of Hogwarts, but, looking closely, the animals depicted in the picture were not animals, but only their skeletons. I shuddered and waited for something dark to scream, or that suddenly the space where I was grew cold and damp. But no, there in that dream, this place still seemed to be a cozy place, so I reached for the doorknob, and without any noise at all, the door opened.
Four torches magically lit and illuminated four statues that lay on stone plates. I lost my breath when I realized that the statues were of two women and two men, for I did not have to get so close to each of them to know who they were. There were four sarcophagi. I was in the tomb of the four founders of Hogwarts.
One of the men held a stone sword in his hand, the other, had a medallion on his chest. Godric and Salazar, respectively. Rowena sported the diadem on the top of her head, and Helga smiled, as she looked at the bottom of the stone cup carved between her fingers.
I approached the Statue of Rowena Ravenclaw, after all, it was her painting that guided me here. My hand trembled as I stretched it out and touched the flat cheek of the founder. It was cold and hard, as a statue should be.
― I'm not from your house, why did you call me here? ― I spoke out loud, reverberating the words through the silent chamber.
I slid over to the statue of the woman next to her, Helga Hufflepuff's stone-frozen smile was so kind, it made me remember her words when she founded the school 'I will teach everyone and treat them as equals'. I whispered a thank you to her, because I know that without her motto, I might never have come to Hogwarts.
When I stopped in front of the statue of Godric Gryffindor I stroked the sword stuck in his hands. If it weren't for that sword, we would have lost the magic war against Voldemort. I went from Gryffindor, and was very proud to know that this relic only came to the true members of the red and gold house. Remembering that she came to us in the war always reaffirmed to me that I was a legitimate member of her.
Finally, I faced the statue of the founder of the Slytherin House, the one with the medallion. My heart beat violently in my chest and I felt nauseous when I looked at the chain and pendant, remembering that it was impregnated with black magic to house a piece of Voldemort's soul and played with our humor when we wore it around our neck.
― I'm not going to thank you. ― I whispered.
― That's a little rude. ― Spoke a soft male voice, and frightened me so much that I screamed and stumbled on my own feet, falling to the ground.
The voice smiled as I tried to grab my wand, but I had forgotten it over my bedside table. I raised my eyes and froze. Before me was an unbelievably beautiful young man. He had shoulder-length black hair that flowed around his face, and bright black eyes, even in the transparency of the silvery haze that surrounded him.
― Who are you? ― I asked in a whisper.
― Regulus Black, Your servant. ― He answered with a slight tilt of his head.
I did not move from where I had fallen. I never knew Regulus was one of the ghosts of Hogwarts.
― Don't be scared. I'm not here to haunt this place. ― He looked at the ceiling, and his expression became serious. ― I took a big risk coming here tonight.
Although I didn't want to, I got up and took a step closer to the ghost floating near me.
― Did you risk it?
― I can't stay long, neither can you. ― He said. What kind of absurd dream is this? ― They're distracted now, but... ― Regulus looked at the sarcophagi of the founders of the school.
My head hurt. Distracted? What does he mean by distracted?
― Who needs to be distracted?
― The first two; you know who I'm talking about.
I stared at the ghost of the younger Black, inexpressively. No, I didn't know.
― The founders are distracting them?
Regulus nodded.
― We managed to buy some time, and I was able to come to you. ― Regulus floated right next to me, increasing the motion sickness in my stomach. ― You need to hear what I say: something evil lives in this castle. You should find out. Destroy this thing before it's too late, before the magic can never return. ― His head turned, as if he had heard something. ― There's no time! You understand the supplications of the people who have lost their magic. They need you, Miss Granger.
― But what...
Regulus took his hand to his pocket.
― No creature, living or dead, should catch it here. If they do... all will be lost. Use this if you need to see me. ― Regulus pushed something cold and metallic into my hands. You were brought here tonight because the founders want you to unleash the magic. ― The head of Regulus turned to the side when a growl erupted in the air. ― They're coming. ― He whispered.
― But I didn't understand anything! How can I unleash the magic? Please, Regulus, tell me!
Regulus leaned his hands over my shoulders, his ghostly icy mist tickling my skin, and stared me in the eye.
― You know you are a legitimate Gryffindor, Miss Granger. But a truly courageous heart is rare. ― He said with a sudden tranquility. ― Let yours guide you.
A shrill scream roared through the air and shuddered the walls around us. My blood became cold.
― Run! ― He yelled at me.
I climbed the stairs so fast I had little idea where I was going. I could still hear screams echoing in the chamber below as it propelled me upward. The illumination of my room came, and as I approached the hole in the portrait, I heard faint cries behind me. I shot inside and could only see my bed, before everything went dark.
My eyes opened, as I breathed with difficulty, but I was safe in my room. Why do I have such a tendency for strange dreams? That was Harry's " gift".
And why am I out of breath? I turned to the side and would have fallen asleep again if not for the metal pressing on the palm of my hand. Please let it be my pen, please.
But obviously it wasn't. Wrapped in my hand was a perfect replica of the R. A. B. medallion, and I know it's a replica, because we destroyed the real medallion, Voldemort's horcrux, years ago.
I raised my eyes to the painting and noticed that the secret passage in my room was open. I was so terrified that I jumped out of bed and threw myself against the wall so hard that my shoulder made an ugly popping noise. Despite the pain, I ran to the frame of Rowena Ravenclaw's portrait and pointed my wand at her, sealing the door with a spell. The last thing I needed was for whatever was down there to end up here.
Panting, I stared at the jewel in my hand. This locket was so similar to the original that it would almost convince me that it was. And even though I saw the original medallion destroyed, the doubt still hung within me. Destroy this thing before it's too late, before the magic can never return. I sat again on my bed, clinging to my wand and staring at the amulet. Regulus told me to use it if I needed to see him.
I squeezed it into the palm of my hand as I lay down and pulled the covers up to my chin, closing my eyes and trying to breathe slowly. Why were these things happening to me? It has been more than four years since we tried to find a solution to the disappearance of magic, because only now a ghost decided to visit me and say that there is a horror in the castle and that I need to destroy such a thing? And how would I do that, anyway? I took a deep breath to calm down.
And how the hell was I dreaming, but am I with this medallion in my hand? I opened my eyes and looked at the picture on the wall. Didn't I have much to worry about at the time? And what did he mean by no living or dead person being able to know that the founders contacted me? I could not go out investigating dark things around the castle whenever and wherever I wanted without anyone on my side. I did that when I was a kid. No more. I'm not an idiot.
The most I can do is investigate the tomb in search of any evidence that proves that something dark and that lives in the castle interfered with the disappearance of the magic. What if that didn't lead to anything... well, at least I would have tried.
I shuddered, remembering that the last creature that lived in a secret chamber of the castle, petrified me when I was thirteen. Nothing good could come of anything living in the bowels of an ancient castle.
It took a long time before I calmed down enough to be able to fall into a disturbed sleep.
The surreal reality of my journey underground to Hogwarts hammered into my head at every moment of my day. But other than that, I still had to start tracking down the Abbott family member that Hannah herself didn't even know. I had talked to her before my 'adventure' through the castle, and no member of her family knew about such a deviation in their family tree. And the Abbott family was the first I had visited, there were still the others.
But now, what I needed to do, was drag all those worries into a corner of my mind as I trained. That's because my co-supervisor was becoming increasingly unbearable and demanding.
― What a cute Transfiguration. ― Taunted Snape, staring at the former needle that I had turned into a sculpture. He looked at me from top to bottom slowly and issued a snap with his tongue when he saw that it was a roaring lion. ― I don't think this sculpture fits our reality, Miss Granger. The division of houses was abolished years ago.
― Shouldn't you supervise the others? ― I asked defiantly.
He had the courage to laugh.
― I gave you two months of freedom. I could at least seem happy to have your wishes to make me notice you fulfilled. ― He answered, as he slowly moved towards where the other people worked their Transfigurations.
The red color of shame exploded in my eyesight, and I couldn't breathe fast enough. I also couldn't think above the roar of hatred in my head. One second, I was staring at Snape's back and the next, my wand fired a spicy spell right in the middle of his nape.
He turned around, raised one hand to his neck and widened his eyes. My wand kept pointing towards him and his lips held back, displaying his teeth.
― I challenge you. ― His explosive temper burned in his black eyes.
That's great, it made two of us with pure hatred in the eye. I cast another spell at his direction, just as quickly and forcefully as the first.
Snape's hand rose, and he deflected my curse when it was only inches from his face. He directed it to my lion statue, which dissolved in black dust, in the middle of the red light of the jet of my spell.
No one in the room could hide the shock at seeing a half-blood Wizard make such a magnificent display of magic without wands and non-verbal. That was not possible. Was it?
He approached me, watched my hand, my body, and even more intently, the expression of shock on my face.
— I missed that look on your face. ― He whispered as he approached, his eyes now looking controlled, but still lethal. I had trouble holding his gaze. ― I am willing to accept your apology at any time. ― he murmured, and resumed his way, as if my temper was nothing.
― He's definitely a level seven. ― Whispered Cho.
Yep. Seven was the maximum level for a half-blood Wizard. It was the same level as Minerva and Flitwick.
For the last five minutes, the team had stood in the hallway of the headmistress's office, waiting for the port-keys that would take us to the Ministry. Coincidentally, we were going to our aptitude test in the Department of Mysteries. It is the test that confirms what magical level we are at. As we waited, we observed Snape, who was standing next to one of the gargoyles.
― What do you think? ― Cho asked me.
— Probably. ― I answered, but my head was throbbing as I thought of his magical display earlier today.
― I'd risk a level nine if I didn't know his genealogy. ― Dean suggested.
I threw a look at him that told him I agreed with his analysis.
― You find out while I go to the bathroom.
I walked quickly towards the bathroom downstairs. When I finished washing my hands in the sink, my phone rang. On the screen, the nickname 'Sis' flashed.
― Hey, Ginny.
― Hi, are you busy? ― She asked.
― On the way to the Ministry, we have the level test today. ― I answered. ― And you?
― Everything alright. Listen, it is Harry who wants to talk, but he forgot to charge his phone for the third time this month. I'll pass it to him, okay? Cheers!
I said goodbye to Ginny and seconds later, Harry's voice filled the line.
― Hi, Hermione! I was wondering if you think you can get two more spots in the exhibition with Castelobruxo. Ron is going to be in town and he wants to go. ― Harry said slowly.
― Oh, I'm pretty sure that your invitation will enter the Minerva quota, so I'll have two reserved seats, but I'll confirm it later today, okay?
― Yeah, yeah. Alright. If you can't, don't worry. Call me later when you finish what you are doing. And also tell Dean that I said he's going to buy me a drink after the event.
I snorted and smiled, and an instant later, I realized that I did not bring up the subject about the incident with Snape. My face blushed and my neck became hot.
― Harry, hm, I'm sorry about the community event. If I had known he would be an idiot, I would have warned you. I'm so sorry.
― Mione, you better than anyone know how many times Snape has been like this to me. I'm okay. I got over it. ― He answered.
― He had no right to act like that. I was so angry that I went to him and called him an idiot. ― I admitted it out loud for the first time since the incident.
― No! ― Harry groaned.
― Yes. I did. I think he hates me now. And in another conversation, I'll tell you the kind of crap he's been telling me in training. ― I said with a slight smile. Harry laughed too.
― Yes, Hermione, I will want to hear that story. ― He said before taking a break. ― But please forgive him, okay? ― I groaned, we had just antagonized each other in the Transfiguration room. ― You know better than that.
Yeah, I know what Harry meant: remember his memories. Snape never received affection. The images of a violent father, a silent mother and unrequited love danced in my mind. I sighed.
― I may try, Harry, but what about you? Do you really want me to be good to the person who hurt you? ― The recent memory of Snape referring to Harry and Ron as imbeciles was still fresh, but I was not going to tell him anything about it.
― Yes. And remember that the Marauders and the Golden Trio were a jerk to him throughout our time at Hogwarts. Except you. And Ron still makes a case of that just because he loves to hear himself talk.
― I don't know, Harry. It doesn't feel right. I feel like I'm being sloppy with you.
― It's alright. You're not, I'd tell you if you were.
I wanted to roll my eyes at Harry's selflessness, but managed to avoid it; instead I sighed and agreed with him.
― Well. I'll think about it. Call you later. I love you.
― I love you too.
I hung up the call and went back to the hallway of Minerva's office. Everyone had already left. All except him and Vector.
― We were waiting for you, Granger. Take the next one with Severus, right? ― She screamed at me.
I swallowed dry, but Vector didn't give me time to answer, as she climbed up the staircase of the headmistress's office and disappeared upstairs.
Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.
Holding a moan and a roll of eyes that was totally over the top, I kept my gaze even and made it all the way to the gargoyle where he was still leaning on.
I can do that. I can be a mature adult. And I have a magical trail to follow and a gigantic problem left by the very real dream I had with the founders of the school and the ghost of Regulus Black. I don't need to continue with this cat and mouse game with Snape either. Harry was right: I knew better. Then I breathed calmly and said to myself: patience girl, patience. You're a better person than him, right?
The second I stopped next to him, I whispered:
― Can we make a truce?
He winked at me. He didn't seem to hear my sentence.
― What did you say? ― He asked, in a voice as low as mine had been.
― Can we have a truce? ― I kept my gaze forward, without facing him. ― I do not like drama, and I cannot continue to feel this foolish hatred for you. And I'll never say anything about that night at the bar. No matter how much you annoy me, this is between you and you. If I wanted to be an idiot, I would have taken pictures of you with my phone I would have sent them straight to Rita Skeeter right after it happened, don't you think? ― He didn't react, so I kept going. ― I can also get over the fact that you called two of my best friends assholes and that you were an idiot with Harry. But don't think I'm going to apologize for what Minerva said. You weren't really being helpful and that wasn't helping the team. ― I concluded.
A whole minute passed and he gave me no answer. I blinked, looking forward, and then slowly turned to look at him. He looked at me directly, one hundred percent intense and concentrated on my face, as if it were the first time he had seen me in his life. I stared him back.
― I'm really trying here, professor. ― I told him carefully.
Still, he just kept looking at me. Well, I'm not a quitter. I was an illustrious member of Gryffindor, determination is one of my greatest traits.
― I'm not asking you to be my friend, Snape. Not even for you to talk to me. I care even less if you like me because it's not like I like you either. ― Obviously, I forced that lie out of my mouth. ― So, I think we can put that shit aside, okay?
Those black eyes seemed to vibrate, and I clenched my fingers into fists as his gaze ran through me. For a split second, I let the memory of the dream on the edge of the pool fill me. Until I remembered that this is not the same man who was in that dream. Nor was him the professor Snape that I was completely in love with when I was younger. People change over time. I've changed. This was the version of Severus Snape that I had now and would have to deal with for the next few months. His gaze stopped again on my face and I felt my throat strange when I told myself not to blush under his scrutiny.
― In fact, I admired you for a long time. Ever since I heard you were protecting Harry against Quirrell. And I respected you as a professor for as long as I can remember. I think you and Harry are the biggest icons of our victory against Voldemort. ― I blinked my eyes and he blinked back, took a deep breath before continuing. ― I know that I am no one for you, but I am here, and I will stay until everything is over, until we find or not the way out of the absence of magic. So, if you're still that wizard I admired, I'd thank you if we could just... Get through it without killing each other.
I think it was my final sentence that finally made him react.
― Interesting of you to propose that, Granger. Wasn't it you who cursed me in the back less than an hour ago? ― He said softly.
My face became hot. A droplet of sweat dripped down my temple. I saw him follow her trail with his gaze.
― As I asked at the beginning, can we have a truce? ― I tried for the last time.
He just looked at me, before pointing to the steps of the circular staircase of the headmistress's office.
― Our port-key activates in one minute.
I sighed, resigned. Well, I tried, but I wasn't going to beg this idiot to be nice to me.
― Go. ― He ordered me. ― And at least have the decency to refer to me as an idiot only when your Occlumency walls are raised.
― You crushed it! ― Cho screamed, about two steps from me and grabbed my cheeks, before smashing me in an embrace. ― That's how it is!
Even suffocated by her, I managed to mold a smile.
― You too!
― You sure know I did, but now you are a level ten witch! The first at Hogwarts! ― The next thing she did, was slap my cheeks and turn around to scream for Justin.
She ran to hug him and they headed towards the lobby, I think the two were going to go out to celebrate that she had also risen in level, Cho was now a level six witch, a stage before the maximum for half-blood Wizards.
I was happy with myself, but I wouldn't be Hermione Granger if I wasn't already anticipating several questions about what my newly acquired magical level would entail. What will change for me? Can I still be a healer or will they demand that I be something beyond that? If I'm honest, I still held on to that test. I felt within myself that I could have gone further. Can I be a witch beyond level ten? Does that exist?
Doubts corrode my interior, but I decide to think about it later. All I want now is to go back to the castle, go to the Room of Requirement and soak in the hot water of my private pool. My magic is exhausted for today and my whole body hurts. That's always how I look when I walk through the Chamber of Levels of the Department of Mysteries. On my way to the lobby, where I will take the port-key back to the castle, my phone starts ringing.
― Hi, Harry. ― I answered immediately, it was early for him to be calling me again. There was a strange, gasping sound on the other side. ― Harry?
― Mione. ― He choked.
― Yes? Is everything okay? ― I asked hesitantly.
― Mione. ― He choked again. ― You will never believe what arrived via owl mail.
― What? ― I asked slowly, expecting the worst. Harry was definitely weird.
― I don't know exactly what you said or did, but… ― Wait, was Harry crying? ― I came home from work today and two owls were waiting for me on the balcony.
― Right... ― I muttered.
― There was a book, with a note pasted on it that said 'My apologies for hostility. And it was signed, Hermione. It was signed by him!
I stopped walking. Harry continued.
― And there were two children's kits of potions. With mini boilers! He sent gifts to my children!
No. A small knot formed in my throat from the pure joy that resonated in Harry's voice with the unexpected gesture. Days have passed since the incident, and I didn't expect Snape to remember or care enough to apologize for being an idiot. The fact that he didn't do much about it, even when I accused him earlier today... I swallowed it dry and felt my nose burn a little.
― That's great. ― I heard myself saying, still standing at the place where I had stopped.
― Yeah, right? That's great! I'll show them to Ginny as soon as she arrives. ―The emotion in his voice was palpable. ― Say thank you to him. And that there are no hard feelings, will you say, Hermione? I wouldn't know where to send a reply, the owls left as soon as they spotted me and there is no return address here.
― Yes, I will say.
― Oooh! That's great! I want to open the kits to play with the kids and I can't have the phone in my hand for that. Call Me Later.
― Okay.
We quickly said goodbye to each other and I just stood there, nose burning, relief pecking at my throat. I licked my lips for a second and then decided to act like an adult about it. When I realized it, I had turned around and started walking back where I came from. He was still there, waiting for other staff members to leave the chamber.
When I saw him, I wiped my nose on my shoulder and continued. This time, he followed each of my steps to him. I stopped in front of him, licked my lips and took a deep breath. Because of his stature, much larger than mine, I had to tilt my head back to look at his face. His eyes were concentrated, the force of his occlumency was almost palpable, and suddenly I wished that he would not automatically expect the worst from me.
― Thanks for sending those things to Harry. ― I told him in a voice that was much softer than usual. It was a new emotion that filled me because he did something unexpectedly pleasant, that made Harry happy, and that before I approached him to ask for a truce. ― He appreciated the gesture. So ... Thank you. ― I swallowed. ― He said to tell you that there are no hard feelings from any of us.
Before I knew what I was doing, I reached out my hand to him. The silence that stretched between us and those inches of physical space that drove us away seemed eternal and infinite. It took two seconds from the moment I put my hand in the air, for the warm hand of long fingers and wide palm, to connect with mine. His gaze was still retracted, but calm.
― Congratulations on the result of your test. Are you ready to be a level ten witch, Miss Granger? ― He preferred to remind me that I had something to deal with in front of me.
I stiffened my body. I had almost forgotten my new level, too much distracted by Harry's excitement on the phone.
― Not yet, professor Snape.
― Severus. ― The look of surprise on my face almost made him laugh. ― As long as we are on the terms of our truce, it's Severus.
I could only nod in response. Shocked and overly excited by his show of cordiality. Sna… Severus he let go of my hand and walked up the aisle. My gaze accompanied him until he disappeared around the next corner.
A house elf materialized in front of me, before I reached the hall to depart back to the castle. What was it now? Would this morning never end?
― Hello? ― I asked curiously. It was not common for House Elves to be at the Ministry these days.
― Miss Granger should accompany me to Mr. Robards office. ― He uttered in the characteristic thin little voice of the elves.
Gawain Robards was the International Coordinator of the magic training programs. He had been assigned by Kingsley to follow the evolution of everything concerning the quest for the return of magic. He was practically the boss of all of us, even Minerva. It doesn't take a genius to realize that a meeting with him is usually not a good thing, but I preferred to delude myself that what he had to talk to me about was something to do with my newly discovered magical level.
Still, I couldn't disguise my face of disgust at having to meet him. Robards and I don't have the best relationship in the world. But he's the boss, so what can I say? No, thanks?
I reach out to grab the Elf's tiny hand and he apparated us to a waiting room, then guiding me to the office I had only visited three times over the years. I smile at the elf to be polite and enter what is one of the most luxurious offices in the Ministry. Behind the table was the wizard who was supposed to be about sixty, and who reminded me of the muggle Mafia bosses of the fifties, if the Mafia bosses wore purple robes.
― Good afternoon, Sir. Robards. ― I said, in front of the seat closer to the door, after his elf closed it.
The older man leaned across his desk and shook my hand, looking at the muggle clothes I was dressed in.
― Miss. Granger. ― He said, finally taking his place again and gesturing to me to sit down too.
It didn't make sense to waste time, right? I was tired and just wanted to go back to Hogwarts.
― What can I do for you, Sir?
He hit his nails on the table top.
― Tell me, why did I heard that you argued with your co-advisor.
Oh, really? Had it been more than enough time since my public discussion with Severus and Robards was going to bring this up now?
― It wasn't quite an argument. I got upset with him and let him know about acting in an inappropriate way, that's all.
― That's interesting. ― Robards said and moved to rest his arms on the sides of the chair. ― I heard you called him an idiot, I believe.
I didn't think I wanted to smile, but I couldn't. I had no reason to lie to Robards. I said what I said and I wasn't going back.
― Yes.
― Do you think it is an appropriate language to use in the team? ― He asked.
― I think it is convenient when someone decides to be careless with his supporters. ― I scored, trying to contain my irritation.
― Do you understand how important his involvement with the magical world is?
Robards was giving me a look that told me exactly how stupid he thought I was, and I could feel the anger bubbling in my belly, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
― I totally understand, sir. Robards, but I know how important it is to have the support of the magical community that has lost its powers. They could incite a revolt for our delay in solving the extinction of magic. Everyone expects a lot from us, don't they? Professor Snape was not very patient, and all I did was let him know that, without using worse words. I did not disrespect him. ― Well, I didn't disrespect him much.
From the time I've known Robards, I know he's the kind of person who wants things done the moment he said he wanted them ready. And he always insisted on being right, even if he wasn't. Which meant this conversation was going down the drain fast, but I wasn't going to give up, even if my common sense begged me for it. I had done nothing wrong and if I could go back in time, I would do the same thing again.
― Miss Granger, be careful what you believe is right or wrong; are we on the same page? ― That son of a bitch. ― Hogwarts is a team, and this is not the first time you have set yourself against doing what is best for everyone.
He said this because I never agreed to go to the press conferences that the Ministry promoted. Every time I had come to his office, except for a single time, he would go to that same topic.
― I want you to apologize. ― He continued, ignoring the hateful look I threw at him.
― I have nothing to apologize for. ― I said in a calm, firm voice.
He leaned forward and snapped his fingers. His elf appeared next to him at the same instant.
― I'm sorry to disagree. ― He told me, as he turned to the creature on his left side. ― Pipper, we're ready.
Are we ready? What for?
My silent question was answered a minute later when the Elf disappeared and then the office door opened, bringing the same Pipper back and keeping the door open for none other than Severus Snape. His expression was cold, his eyes going from me to Robards.
― Come in, professor. ― Robards was a completely different person now, jovial and smiling. A fucking political rat. ― Sit next to Miss Granger.
I didn't even force myself to fake a smile on my face; I just looked at him. I knew Snape had no idea what this conversation was, but I was too frustrated to forgive him for arriving at the office at the wrong time. He sat in the chair next to mine, impassive.
― Thanks for coming. ― Robards said to him, smiling. ― I'm sorry to have you here under these circumstances.
To give him credit, Severus looked at me once more as he ignored the false gestures and words coming out of the man sitting in front of us.
― What's this about? ― His voice sounded low and dangerous when he stared at Robards.
― It has come to my attention that you and Miss Granger had a minor incident at the community event and I would like to apologize for her behavior. ― Robards' blue eyes twirled at me, demanding that I say what he wanted.
I forced my lips together and fought the hate going up my throat. I was being treated like an idiot child who was caught breaking school rules. It was a shame.
― Miss Granger, is there anything you want to say?
No.
― There is nothing to apologize for. ― Affirmed the voice of the man next to me. Making a hell of anxiety come out of me.
― Do not be restrained, Prof…
Severus cut him off and I felt a peak of pleasure fill my chest with the glow of irritation in Robards' eyes, he hated not being the person to give the last word.
― Miss Granger's judgment was the right one. Nothing I was told was wrong. I don't need either of you two apologizing to me.
― But…
― I exaggerated my behavior and we have already come to an agreement on this. Right, Miss Granger? ― Severus asked, turning his attention to me.
I confirmed it with my head. ― Yeah, we did.
Robards' eyes moved from me to Severus and I did not miss the pink blooming on his neck, which told me for sure that I needed to leave the room as soon as possible.
― Professor Snape, excuse me, but Miss Granger's actions are unacceptable. We cannot allow…
The man sitting next to me raised his hand to cut off the international coordinator of the magical training programs.
― It is acceptable, Robards. And she and I have already dealt with it. I am more upset with your implication with her being honest and sincere with me, two characteristics that should be celebrated rather than censored. There is nothing to be said. Was this meeting just for that? ― Severus asked, getting up.
Butterflies fluttered furiously down my stomach for the double compliment I had just received. It was a compliment, wasn't it?
― Yes, that's all. I just thought you deserved an apology for…
Severus did not let him finish the sentence again.
― If I wanted an apology, I would have one. ― Those black eyes slid on me. ― I have a port-key to get right now.
Robards was busy looking at Severus to notice that I also got up, picking up my bag.
― One which I need to get too, it is the last one for Hogwarts.
I dragged my ass out of there without even bothering to say goodbye to the rude coordinator. I could hear another set of steps as I made my way to the elevators. A moment after pushing the button, Severus stopped by my side, watching the numbers decrease on the small screen next to the doors.
In one morning, we both argued, I cursed him behind his back, proposed him a truce, he had made Harry's day and now he had just saved me from Robards. I knew very well when I should be kind.
I looked at him, staring at his face in profile, again, his hair was stuck behind his ear and I could see the side cut. I blushed when a desire to run my hand over that shaved area flooded me, I buried that desire deep in my mind, before I spoke.
― Thanks for that. ― I said. ― There. ― I pointed my chin in the direction we had come from. ― I won't forget.
His gaze slid over mine and he reached out to get me into the elevator that had just arrived. It was just that, he didn't say a word, but I smiled and my heart sped up as he joined me inside the small space. We stared at each other for a few seconds, before he glided his attention forward and stared at the elevator's golden railings.
Meanwhile, the passionate Hermione I had crushed inside of me weeks ago, has risen from the ashes, stronger and more powerful than ever. Like a Phoenix.
Final Notes
Who else thinks that was it really time for a truce? Here, I'm already sighing of relief...
The chapter title honors a book I love and recommend reading.
Cheers!
Translation by Jessinthedungeons.
