Translation by Jessinthedungeons.


Chapter 16 - Lost Legends of a Tapestry


— We can't talk about it here in the castle. — Severus said when it had been three full minutes since his revelation of his magical level and I was still too dumbfounded to process the information.

The sky suddenly seemed to fall on my head, and the mountains around the castle seemed to be pushed towards me, for a moment it seemed that I would fall to my knees under the weight of his statement.

Level twelve? How was this possible?

Some time ago I suspected that he was not on the same level as half-blood wizards, but above all the muggle-borns as well? I couldn't tell if I thought it was magnificent or if I was terrified of someone holding so much power in a world where magic was so scarce.

But this wizard was Severus. I did not allow myself to be afraid of him. Every morning, when I woke up, I thought about him, even when we were on warpath at the beginning of the term. I repeated to myself his words: my best friend. But even after that statement and his touch on my wrist, I still wasn't sure if he trusted me enough to explain what he told me right here, right now. Only... breathe.

— This castle is full of spies, from people in portraits to ghosts. Where can we talk? — He insisted, while watching me try to regain self-control in the face of such a surprising confession.

I took a deep breath trying to calm my mind, my eyes closed slowly as I breathed in and out in search of a peace I didn't feel at the time.

— I should... — every word was difficult, I think I was still too shocked to be able to formulate a coherent sentence.

— Winky! — It was an order, but Severus's voice barely passed an exhalation. The little elf immediately appeared. — Apparate Miss Granger to her house. Serve her a peppermint tea with lots of honey. — Severus asked her, not bothering to smile.

— Two. — I was finally able to find a stronger tone of voice and add the number. — Come with me, please!

His eyes scanned me for a few moments, until he lowered his chin in agreement, and Winky extended his little hands, one to each of us. I sank into the couch as soon as Winky landed with us in the living room of my apartment. Severus took the seat next to mine, while Winky followed to the kitchen.

I closed my eyes again, just for a moment. I had so many questions, they choked my mind and I was not able to control myself with the anxiety that overwhelmed me. Severus Snape was currently the most powerful wizard. Why him? And why did he hide it? I was no longer the most powerful at Hogwarts, Severus was. Should I feel demeaned by that? Or should I be happy and think that this could be a sign of hope?

I did not notice that my minutes of reflection had been much more than a moment until Winky placed the two delicate mugs before us, with a small steaming iron kettle in the center of the table. The elf served us generous amounts of honey, my mouth was too dry and the tongue too heavy, to bother telling the little creature to stop or she would leave us both diabetic.

Winky moved both mugs in silence, then handed the first one over to Severus, who immediately passed it on to me. I was too tired to refuse his chivalry as I wrapped the mug with my hands, trying to gather strength to bring it to my lips.

Severus seemed to notice this and told Winky to leave the second mug on the coffee table and return to the castle. I watched, as from a distant window, as he took the mug I was holding and brought it to my lips. I thought I would move his hand away from my face so as not to let him get so close and take care of me that way when I was in a trembling mass of nerves for a revelation that he himself made me. Although it was entirely my fault. I was the one who asked his magic level.

— Drink. — He said, the voice like a low grunt. — Or we can sit here for the next few hours. — I didn't say anything. — I think I've reached your limit... — he murmured. — By overstepping your idea of who I am.

I had the feeling that the intensity in his eyes maybe mirrored mine. Even though, in me, this intensity was a profusion of feelings that I barely knew how to discern.

Since magic was extinguished and thousands of wizards lost their powers completely or had their gifts reduced in half, my life has been dedicated to finding out why.

From May 1998 until July, we were so busy and frantic in lines of research into what had happened, that we did not see the first wave of hopelessness we had: on the first of September, for the first time in more than a thousand years of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the castle would not welcome students for the first year. There were no magic in children anymore. None of them. I saw Minerva cry as we reached the chamber where the book and feather bewitched with the children's names once existed. Everything inside was reduced to ashes.

That's when someone suggested that witches and wizards should get pregnant, because probably magic was punishing this generation, but the new children would not be affected. Several people joined the idea. Harry and Gina were one of the couples to test the theory and had two children in a row. But nothing has changed. The book never reappeared, the magic feather never moved, and no child manifested magic.

Apart from all the other setbacks I suffered in every line of research we followed. Until Severus returned to Hogwarts and everything, absolutely everything, happened to me in a matter of months. Rowena Ravenclaw in a frame "showed" me a secret passage that led me to the grave of the founders of the school; Regulus Black, a ghost, revealed himself to me and constantly talks to me through riddles; someone painted a prophecy under my bed; I was attacked by a manticore; and I cried when I heard the story of Draco Malfoy, among all people. Not to mention the excitement of encountering the first magical child in years: Scorpius.

Everything moved me too much. And to hear now from the wizard — who in addition to all my problems is also the same person I am in love with — that he is a level twelve and can probably be the catalyst for everything that has happened to me over the past few months, shattered the control I was trying to keep over my emotions. And I'm not even going to talk here about all the other elements hitting my personal life, like Chloe's reappearance and the pursuit of reporters.

— Drink. — Pure command involved Severus's voice. He sounded like a man used to being obeyed, not the friend he told me he was. — You can resent me as much as you like for hiding it from the magical world, but please drink the damn tea.

And it was the little seed of concern in his eyes that showed me that although Severus was indeed a man accustomed to being obeyed, he was also a man who tended to care for others. He was always driven to take care of everyone by a compulsion which he could not contain, which he could not condition himself to lose. Even if he today was a man free from any obligation to protect people, since the war ended years ago, this was a condition that could not be torn from him.

I opened my lips in silent resignation. Carefully, my former potions professor leaned the porcelain mug against my mouth and turned it over. I took a sip and he muttered an encouragement as he brought the mug to my mouth two more times.

Feeling that I would probably bump into him if he forced me too much, Severus pulled the mug out of my mouth and sipped from it. I found the act so intimate that I almost sighed, maybe I would have, if not for my still nervous interior. He emptied the mug and took the other, again offering me the first sips before taking everything else.

This is strangely comforting. I must have said it out loud, for a half-smile jerked one side of his face.

— You are not the only one who thinks so. — He commented, with a soft voice.

— I still don't know if it's a good thing. — I muttered back.

Severus just gave me a half-smile again and stretched out to fill the two mugs again, adding far less honey than Winky. The right amount.

— I can do that. — I said when I saw him reach for the spoon to stir the steaming liquid.

— Me too. — That's all he said.

I managed to hold the mug this time. Severus made sure I drank mine well before taking his to the lips. I took a deep breath for a while, enjoying our silence, as I felt my emotions slowly calm down. A few minutes passed until I felt comfortable enough to resume our conversation.

— Twelve. — I said the number, looking at him. — Is it possible that there is some different condition in your ancestry?

His finger joints were white as he gripped the mug's wing harder. It was notorious that this was not a comfortable conversation for him.

— There is no doubt that my father was a muggle. — He admitted. — And my... mother, she really was a Prince.

I considered his words and the way my advisor squinted at my currently off television instead of staring at me, but I dared not inquire if there was any chance of his mother being a muggle either, because to my highly pragmatic head, it was the only possible explanation for his having such high power.

Minutes passed in silence until he fiddled with the collar of his shirt and released a thin gold chain. A signet ring hung on it. I recognized the prince family coat of arms when he removed the piece and extended it to me, as he took my mug and deposited it back on the coffee table.

— It's quite a relic. — I muttered as I examined the old scratched ring.

— Yes, from a dead family.

— Do you have access to your mother's family tapestry?

— Yes. — Severus said. — I paid a visit to my mother's father, right after the end of the war.

— Is your grandfather still alive? — I asked in amazement.

— No. He killed himself upon realizing that the various attempts to stop the magic block were thwarted. Typical. — He just said it. Reaching for the plate of muffins that Winky had also deposited next to the tea set, he offered me one of them, and from the look on his face, he would not accept my refusal. — He was a purist idiot. Trust me, the world is better off without someone who burned the only daughter of the family tapestry because of a marriage that eluded his expectations.

I was silent because I did not know how to respond to the bitterness in his voice. He also kept quiet, but when he spoke, his tone was uniform and casual, even if his words were not.

— Have you answered your questions yet?

— About? — I asked, confused.

— Me.

My mouth fell open, shocked and unable to form a good argument to deny all the questions that have been going on in my head since the minute he told me his magical status. Severus narrowed the space between us on the couch more and I had to lift my chin to continue to face him. His eyes were piercing mine, searching, and his hand, for the second time that night, grabbed my wrist; as a healer, I knew that he could feel the increase of my pulse and the threads of chaotic energy that once again seized me with our closeness.

— I know when I'm being analyzed, Hermione. And it was too big a revelation for you to have no questions. — He said, sounding as honest and raw as I had never seen him before, except, perhaps, by claiming that I was his friend to Robards.

— Just like you. — I looked boldly at the man still watching me with an intensity that I was now familiar with. The emotions warring inside me making me even braver. — Have you already uncovered me?

The silence that followed my question was only a few seconds, but it seemed endless. I used it to predict my next move and find out his. I knew this was the time when we needed to open up and trust each other. But Severus's relaxed posture was the opposite of the tension I could feel emanating from him.

— Today it is you who deserve the answers. But I'll still get to my questions for you, girl. Soon. — He said.

— When my terms are under discussion, I will need to ask you to override your need to be pragmatic, Severus. Or I fear that nothing I tell you makes sense to you. — I murmured.

— I'm curious how I shouldn't sound pragmatic after seeing a manticore bite bad enough on your arm to be an obvious threat to our lives. And I say ours, because it is literally on the loose inside the castle where we work most of our days.

— I'm not going to live in fear, Severus. I refuse to do that. And that's not a topic I'm willing to discuss.

I looked away from him and chose a point from the wall in front of me to stare at, while waiting for him to take the initiative to talk again. There was a pause. A slight shift in energy between us and around us. Severus's attention shifted to my living room window.

— Your wards are intriguing. Did you define them yourself?

— No, Vector sent an expert to define them after those letters with threats started. As for me, I read enough to learn how to make improvements. — He rolled his eyes at my last sentence, a hint of fun appearing in the corner of his lips. — I have improved the security measures and the little bit of protection magic that both allows and restricts access to my home.

— How far do they extend? — He asked, getting up and going to the stained-glass window, pushing away the curtain to catch a glimpse outside.

— Beginning and end of the street. — When I looked up, it seemed that he was making a mental note. Which made a small alarm go off. — Why do I have the impression that you already knew this?

— Yeah, I knew. — He admitted. — Draco was curious when he passed by your wards and could not feel them.

— Probably because he's no longer magical. — But then I remembered something. — He said you seemed to already know about Scorpius's magic. Is that true?

Severus kept standing watching the street. When a tired sigh came out of his mouth, I knew the story would be long and I straightened up more on the couch, putting my legs under me as I waited for him to speak.

— I heard whispers. Tales. — He started. — They talked about pure-blood wizards who flouted the laws. By laws, I talk about the guidelines imposed by generations of fanatic families in to maintaining the purity of their blood. I went in search of stories of witches and wizards who disobeyed their parents' commands and fled to marry muggles. It was natural to start this search with my mother's family. — Severus threw his head back, as if asking for strength from some entity to continue his account, his voice contained a harsher tone when he resumed the account. — It became clear to me that even years after my mother's "betrayal", her father was not sorry that he burned her from the family tapestry.

I would like to understand why people are so prejudiced, there is no rational explanation for judging someone for something they don't control, like blood. A blur of the memory of being tortured in the Malfoys' living room appeared like an itch in the back of my mind.

— I introduced myself as one of the followers of the late Dark Lord who was seeking to revive his legacy of purity of blood. This is how I got access to the tapestry and confirmed that he had burned Eileen from it. I suspected that this could be the determining factor for my atypical condition of having powers when I should have lost half of them. — Severus narrated. — I went in search of more people with the same condition of mine. I traveled to Bulgaria in search of the original Wizarding Directory, made a copy of it, and went out in search of the tapestries burnt wizards who might still be alive and have descendants. I wanted to compare my magic to theirs.

— Is that why you have not joined Hogwarts since the beginning of our activities? — I asked low.

Severus tilted his head slightly, confirming.

— My search lasted years. — He went on. — And the few I found, who were like me, had an incredible talent to know what my eyes were looking for. It was such a rare gift, to be a half-blood and still possess full powers, so no one was willing to become a laboratory rat of a magical Ministry. I needed to act like a spy to finally be able to observe them. But to my surprise, everyone had lost half of their gifts. I was still an anomaly.

— Haven't you found anyone else? — I asked.

— No, for the first two and a half years. — Severus answered and finally returned to the couch, sitting again next to me. — And it was completely by chance that I met Maeve Binns, in a pub on the outskirts of Castelobruxo. We had a brief involvement until I found out who she really was. It turns out that Maeve introduced herself to me as a Muggle Englishwoman based in Brazil, which was a half-truth. She was a pure-blood witch, granddaughter of your former teacher of History of Magic, but she had not used magic since finishing her studies at Hogwarts. She renounced her powers when she fell in love with her late muggle husband. Her hoax lasted until the day I found out she had a teenage daughter. The girl came home unexpectedly and I immediately recognized the uniform of the Witchcraft School of Brazil. In an exchange of interactions between mother and daughter, the girl let slip her mother's maiden name. It was not difficult from there to connect the dots. I pressed Maeve for an explanation and she confessed that she was also a witch, but that she had not used magic for a long time. She didn't even have a wand, since she broke it in a testament of love she offered to her first husband.

— What was the commonality between her and you? — I asked.

— Not between us. Between she and my mother. — Severus said, his eyes shining with a barely restrained intensity. — My mother also renounced her wand and her magic, for my father. That's how I finally came to the explanation of why I kept my powers, seeing that Maeve's daughter had them too. The magic of the Binns family and the Prince family, was interrupted for a generation, which caused that witch family to end. Maeve and my mother were erased from their family.

— It's still a little confusing to understand. When magic ended, if your mother and Maeve had stayed in the magical world, they would have no magic, because they were pure-blood. — I fired, frowning a little.

— Yes, you are correct. But what you're forgetting is that since they no longer belonged to a wizarding family, they were now considered muggles, and they lived up to it, for none of them ever used their powers again. They ended up kind of "killing" their magical gifts. Then these powers were gifted to a next generation of "muggle-borns", Maeve's daughter and I possessed full powers, because the talents from which our mothers renounced made them muggles. And therefore, the curse of the extinction of magic is null upon us.

I was stunned by the explanation. And not because it was confusing, but because it made perfect sense. It was something so simple, but none of the lines of research we did at Hogwarts, followed. And Severus's revelation even came with a bonus, because it also explained to me something I longed to discover: why Scorpius had powers when no child had them. And it was for exactly the same reason as Severus. Draco confessed to me that he renounced his magic before Voldemort died. And his father burned him from the Malfoy tapestry. While that still didn't explain why there weren't other muggle-born and magical children, it was a step forward to unravel about the magic of the son of my former school's disaffection.

— That's why you already knew about Scorpius. — I stated.

— Yes, I imagined that the boy would be a wizard. But I believe that in the case of Scorpius, there are more elements involved. Because there is no child with the same condition as him. Believe me, I researched. But the little boy is not a topic for today. — Severus narrowed his eyes towards me. — Will you tell me anything today? About the manticore?

A nod from me, but I let the silence fall a little on us as I thought about what I could tell him.

— In my room at Hogwarts... — I kept my eyes down, avoiding staring at him. — I found a secret passage in it.

— You walked by it? — He inquired.

— Yes. — I confirmed and Severus remained motionless, but I knew that he had really put some pieces together. And he didn't tell anyone. — Ask, Severus.

His throat swayed.

— What was there? — He whispered.

— The tomb of the founders. Of the four. A ghost appeared to me, speaking mainly by riddles. But nothing had ever happened. Until that night you found me. It wasn't in the tomb, it was in a chamber before I got to it. There was a man, he dressed…

I shut up and my eyes turned to Severus, suddenly I did not want to tell him, and make him think that I had distrusted him and so I hid the story. But until that moment, I did not even associate the figure of my advisor with that dark man, even though I knew that Severus had, for years, worn a robe and mask exactly the same as that.

— What was he wearing, Hermione? — Severus pressed.

— A cloak and a mask. — I can see in his eyes the moment when he realizes what kind of dress I am referring to. — He commanded the manticore. He had some kind of power over it, I remember hearing a few murmurs in an old language just before he ordered it to kill me. — I could still hear the roar of that creature in the chamber, I could still see it shooting at me. I still had nightmares about the whole thing. — I ran to the tomb and Godric's sword presented itself to me. That's how I killed the beast, not before it stung me. All the rest of the story, you already know.

Severus assimilated for a few seconds what I had reported to him, never taking his eyes off mine.

— Were you taken to a tomb and found a ghost?

A clearly skeptical question.

— I told you that if you were pragmatic, it would sound fanciful, Severus. — My blood boiled because he did not believe me, but I controlled myself enough not to spoil the relationship that we had just established.

— Hermione, forgive me for being a little skeptical, but I know you're not a liar and I saw your wound.

His words sounded true and stifled the heat of anger that burned in me. I got up from the couch and occupied myself with lighting the fireplace, the night had cooled quickly as we talked.

— I... I can take you there. — I offered, as an offer of even greater confidence.

Severus approached, reaching out to me.

— I know you will. We're partners.

I smiled and shook his outstretched hand. His eyes shone and burned in mine, a warmth that went straight to my heart. Partner, he was my partner.


— Hey, Justin, good morning. — I greeted my teammate when he passed me on the afternoon of our duel with Koldovstoretz, two days after the meeting in Minerva's office.

But Finch-Fletcher, who had always been friendly with me, moved on. His eyebrows went up as he passed and that was it. At the time, I didn't think much of it. I was used to his oscillating moods, it wasn't a big deal. I also had a lot of it and figured he was having a bad day or something.

Not even fifteen minutes later, before the start of our activity with the Russian school, I heard someone whisper behind me.

— Did you see the pictures?

I couldn't exactly identify the person speaking and didn't want to turn around to listen a little more. There were no other images than mine and Severus.

— What pictures? — Asked the other voice, at a normal volume.

A second later, the original speaker said: — Quiet!

But even then, I could still hear the whole content of the conversation.

— What pictures? — It was almost a whisper now.

There was a pause, probably to point me out in some way. — And Snape.

— What? No. Which ones? — Asked again the second voice.

There was another pause.

— She was leaving a building with him, and he waved her to get in his car.

— Really?

— Yes. Sure. And I heard they had a meeting with Robards and Minerva about it and that they didn't deny it.

I felt immediately awkward, even after I stopped listening to what they said, I still felt provoked. Rumors and distorted truths had already begun. I felt again like years ago in the situation with Chloe. My willingness to turn around and tell them it wasn't exactly what it seemed was overwhelming, but I had to practice what I preach. I had done nothing wrong and was not going to apologize for it.

The only problem was, that the more the exhibition with Russia passed, the more I felt the weight of several looks on me. I heard a few whispers. It wasn't everyone, but it was enough of my teammates, to make me feel dirty. I knew I hadn't done anything to embarrass myself and Severus too, so no matter what everyone thought. If I remembered this enough, it was easier to ignore the crooked glances I was getting.

I was in the unisex locker room when Dean walked in and sat next to me. The expression on his face prepared me for what was going to come out of his mouth.

— Dear, I didn't want to say anything, but some people are commenting on you.

I gave him a smile over my shoulder, which I didn't fully feel.

— I know. — That didn't make him seem any less worried. — It's okay, Dean. I promise. I didn't do anything I shouldn't, and I'm not going to rush to explain myself.

— I understand. — His almond-shaped eyes were even darker and wider. — I don't like to hear them insinuate things about you.

My neck became very hot.

— Neither do I. But it doesn't matter, Dean. — I looked at my friend's face, knowing that he really believed me when I said that I did nothing with Severus, even though he knew how much I was dazzled by our advisor. But I knew that, at least Dean, knew me better. — You and I know I didn't, I'm fine with that.

Dean pursed his lips together and nodded rigidly.

— I can curse them...

— It's not worth it, really. They'll get over it.

Or not, I thought. But I wasn't going to let the people, who so easily talk about me from behind, put me down. I would continue to do anything for the team, even if some of them were gossiping as if I hadn't worked hard along with most in pursuit of improving our search for magic, or had always been trying to motivate everyone when we needed it.

Whatever. I've had it before with the Chloe scandal, but this time I wasn't going to let guilt get the best of me. I had nothing to feel guilty about.

Dean grimaced, before slipping an arm over my shoulder, as we walked.

— I know who has had a nose job. — He offered. — I also know who has a yeast infection. What to do with this information is up to you.

I started laughing and ran an arm over his waist.

— Why am I not surprised that you know these things, Dean? I'm not going to use that against anyone, but thank you anyway.

Dean eventually dropped his arm as we went out into the gardens. His face still seemed worried, with lines in his mouth, but he changed the subject.

— Are you still going to the Potters on vacation?

— Yeah, it's James's birthday, and I haven't visited them in a while. — And you?

— I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I have some work in the Department of Mysteries coming up in a few days. I won't be back for almost two weeks.

— Are you posing as an Unspeakable again? — I said funnily, knowing that Dean hated it when Kingsley appointed him there. — Entertaining.

— You're evil, Hermione.

I kissed him on the cheek. — Only when I need to be.


The familiar beat that I would come to associate with Severus, began at fifteen past seven in the next morning. I was already awake for almost an hour and a half, finishing my lists of treatments of my patients who would be under the care of the assistant healer while I was away, I had to pack my backpack, before taking a shower and being able to leave with my car to Bamburgh. The last thing I expected was for my advisor to show up at my door, not especially at seven in the morning.

I took a t-shirt out of the pile of clothes on my bed, intending to put it away, when the beating became even more persistent. Impatient bastard. I went to the door with a sigh, not even bothering to check the peephole.

— Severus? — I asked while pointing the wand at the lock.

— Yes.

I opened the door immediately noticing that he was wearing muggle robes. A second later, I noticed something else, there was a backpack over his shoulder. Severus stood there staring at me. I didn't miss the noise in the jaw, as he looked from my baggy t-shirt and the stretchy shorts that looked more like panties than anything else. I also didn't miss the way his eyelid started to shake, before his gaze finally glided up and the twitching got worse.

— What is it? — I asked, as if he had not changed his body or his look.

Those dark eyes went down to what I was wearing again. His voice was very firm and slow.

— Do you open the door half naked all the time?

Oh my God.

— Yes, father. Forgive me, for I have sinned. — I mocked and went to the side to make room for him to come in. — Are you coming in? — I look at his backpack again. — Or are you leaving?

— I'm leaving. — He said the instant he entered my hall, still giving my nightwear an expression of disapproval.

— Where are you going? — I closed the door behind him.

Severus dropped his backpack next to my work boots.

— To Alnmouth Beach.

— Really? Why?

I had already gone there once with Dean and Ivan. They dragged me to a party weekend in a private castle and we met the famous wizards there who make definitive transfiguration into people. Dean said they were the equivalent of Muggle plastic surgeons, and I didn't know what to think about it. I didn't expect Severus to want to spend his days off there, when he could go anywhere. The wizard in question made his way towards my kitchen and straight into the cupboards, pulling out a mug from there.

— I have an appointment this afternoon.

So, the first thing I thought was that he was referring to a "plastic surgery" appointment. I planted my hands on the counter between us and leaned over, giving him an unbelieving look.

— No, Severus.

He looked over his shoulder as he reached for a small pot and began filling it with water from my refrigerator.

— What?

— Don't do that. You are still very beautiful, and honestly it is always sharp when someone makes a definite transfiguration on the face. It does not matter if they will ensure a perfect transfiguration. Especially if you're talking about your nose. Believe me, it will be noticeable. — I told him totally serious.

He put the pot on the stove, but did not light the flame. His shoulders fell forward, he raised a hand and squeezed the tip of his nose. When he turned to face me, there was a dash of fun in the corner of his mouth and in his eyes.

— Granger, I'm going to work on my tattoo.

— Ah. — My cheeks warmed up, I felt like an idiot. — The one on your arm? — It was the only one I've ever seen peeking through his sleeve, and it probably covered his old dark mark.

He nodded.

Why Severus went to Alnmouth Beach when there were thousands of tattoo parlors much closer, in Edinburgh, for example, was beyond me, but whatever.

— That's great. I'm coming home. — Then I realized that he would not know that "house" for me also meant Harry's house. — Bamburgh. It is close to Alnmouth Beach.

Severus shocked me when he said: — I know. I'll pay you two hundred galleons to take me to Alnmouth Beach.

— What?

— I will pay you two hundred galleons to take me to Alnmouth Beach. — He made a gesture with his head in the direction of his backpack that had been left at the door. — And the gas, too.

I scratched my nose, making sure he wasn't joking. My gut said he wasn't. Definitely not.

— Do you want me to drive to Alnmouth Beach for your appointment? — I couldn't help but ask. He nodded. — Okay. — I narrowed my eyes to him, thinking about how to answer about it, I decided that there was no beautiful form. — I don't know how to say this without sounding like a bad friend, who does not appreciate your generous offer, but... Why doesn't your driver take you?

— Today is his daughter's birthday. — He explained.

— And can't you ask for a portkey in the Ministry? Or not going via Flu? — I asked slowly.

— They're traceable. I don't want to give them a history of what I do on holiday.

Oh, right. But the lazy part of me that was very committed to spending four days with my best friends that I considered my family, who are my family, did not want to drive with Severus around. So, my other half felt bad telling him no.

— I'm going to spend the weekend with my family, I can't bring you back here right after your appointment.

He raised a single eyebrow. — I have nothing left to do after the appointment.

I blinked my eyes in confusion. He was suggesting... no, he wasn't.

— Severus, I'm spending the weekend there. I can't bring you back. I already promised them I am going.

— I heard it the first time, Hermione. — He answered in a dull tone, pouring himself a mug of the hot tea he prepared. — I said I don't have anything else to do later. I'll stay there with you.

He would stay… Would he stay with me? The image of Harry fainting flashed through my mind.

— Do you know that when I mean the family, I'm talking about the Potters?

— Yes.

— Over the weekend?

Severus rolled his eyes.

— Yes, Granger. Is that a problem? — He asked after a moment.

I cleared my throat and thought of Harry again.

— Remember that Harry is a big fan of yours... — he nodded. — He is a big fan, you have to understand, that if you want to go and... — swallowed. — Stay with them. He may faint and act like he doesn't speak English, the whole weekend. Or spend all these days staring at you and not saying a word.

Severus seemed to think for five seconds before shrugging, as if nothing I said would bother him at all. Not even a little. — Yes.

— It's Harry, Severus.

— I know who Potter is, Hermione. — He said carelessly.

I took a deep breath, because suddenly I couldn't understand where I was getting into.

— Are you sure? — I asked him slowly.

He gave me a look, before returning to his mug again.

— Yes. Now take a shower and put on something decent. — He growled.

I went to change myself, unable to imagine why Severus Snape offered to go on a trip with me to the Potters. I didn't have a single fucking clue of what to expect from this weekend.


Final Notes


Pause in the mysteries because these two need to get right, don't they?

What do you expect from their weekend with the Potters?

Translation by Jessinthedungeons.