Our Goal is Humanity.
(Oh and I forgot to say in my first chapter that I suggest you to listen to The meadow by Alexandre Desplat. It really sets the mood for the story, and you can really feel the moment! lol It helped me write it.okay sorry! Back to the story! hehe)
Later that morning after Severus woke up he left his room to go check on Hermione. He had set up a spot for her on his sofa for the time being. When he walked into his living room there was so sign of her, even the blanket he set out for her was gone.
Severus started to get slightly frantic as he searched his whole flat for her and couldn't find her. "Ugh, where is that bloody girl, asking me for my help and then disappearing," Severus grumbled to himself, but was then cut off by a distinct bang coming from his hall closet.
He drew his wand and slowly started to approuch the closet door. Severus carefully opened the door, wand raised. There he found her, snuggled up in his blanket in the dark, fast asleep.
Severus let out a sigh of relief as he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger before gazing down at her as she pulled the blanket up under her chin. "She must have run in here when the sun came in through the windows," Severus thought piteously to himself as he glanced down at her once more before quietly shutting the door and making his way to his kitchen to make breakfeast.
About four hours later, Hermione emerged from the closet around two a'clock pm. Finding the house to be quite dim, she slowly made her way into the sitting room, where she found Severus sitting in his black leather chair, reading the daily phrophet by candle light and the fire from the fireplace. Hermione bit her lip anxiouly as she slowly made her way into the room.
"Well well, if it isn't sleeping beauty," Severus quirked when he finally spotted her out of the corner of his eye. "Do you like what I've done with the place?," He added with an ironic smirk as he folded up his paper and tossed it into his lap.
"You didn't have to do this," Hermione remarked sheepishly, yet in a tone of condescension as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"Don't be silly," Severus spat dismissively. "Would you rather I let you burn to death? That wouldn't be helpful of me at all," Severus suggested sarcastically with a raised eyebrow as he crossed one leg over the other.
Hermione inhaled a sharp breath as she pursed her lips in aggravation.
"If you knew me you'd know, I'd much rather perfer it this way, now I just have a good excuse," Severus said sardonically, throwing his newspaper on his chair as he swiftly stood up, and walked up to her with a smirk on his face.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him before turning her head to stare furiously at the wall. "Time to eat," Severus stated curtly as he walked passed her, expecting her to follow him.
Hermione turned her head to stare at his back with piqued interest, and curiosity before slowly following him into his potions lab, and standing against the wall with her arms crossed, as he stood there busying himself at his potions bench with his back to her.
"I've already eaten," Hermione remarked, sighing in annoyance, as she cocked her head to the side.
"There will be no more, of this, starving yourself business," Severus declared, grumbling in disapproval. "Step one to humanity, change of diet," He continued, turning around with a glass in his hand that contained a mysterious dark red liquid, almost black. "Drink this," Severus said as he handed her the glass.
"What is this?," Hermione asked with intense curiosity as she eyed the glass in her hand, noting it's darker color then the bright red that she's use to.
"Rat blood," Severus replied, curling his lip in disgust. "Rat?!," Hermione exclaimed, staring at the glass in repulsion.
Severus sighed irritatedly as he rolled his eyes. "It will keep you occupied enough, so you are not hurting anyone else," He retorted encouragingly. "And it will help get rid of that, awful red eye color," Severus added, waving his hand in disdain as Hermione glared up at him.
"Now, drink up," Severus ordered in a firm voice, leaving no room for protests, or arguments.
Hermione glared up at him once more before tilting the glass to her lips to take a sip. "Ugh!, it's cold!," She cried, holding her fingers to her mouth as if to warm up her lips, as Severus rolled his eyes again.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, is it not what you're use to?," Severus remarked sarcastically as Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "We can not, have anyone else going missing because of your bloodlust," Severus hissed as he sneered at her.
"Fine!," Hermione snapped, just as her fangs appeared before she tilt the glass once more, and drained it in one long gulp, as Severus grimaced as he watched her finish off every last drop, and lick the blood from her fangs before they dissappeared completely.
"Here," Severus said gruffly after a moment, handing her another glass filled with water to rinse her mouth.
Hermione nodded at him as she took the glass in his hand and switched it with the other before taking a sip of the water then handing it back to him.
"Well, how do you feel?," Severus asked moments later in anticipation. "Content," Hermione murmured, licking her bottom lip deep in thought.
"Good," Severus said as he turned back around, and with a wave of his wand the rats carcass was gone.
"This doesn't mean I'm going to be feeding on rats from now on," Hermione stated briskly, shaking her head.
"You remember our agreement?," Severus asked coolly, turning around to face her with a raised eyebrow. Hermione nodded.
"Good, because you may be having it from time to time.Til I can trust you to hunt for yourself," Severus stated dryly as he turned his back to her and rested his hands on the table.
"Yes sir," Hermione murmured brusquely before stalking out of the room just as Severus turned his head in time to watch her leave.
After a few moments of arguing with himself, Severus's guilt and pity got the best of him. He sighed. "For her sake and mine, I must maintain a tolerable relashtionship," Severus murmured to himself, as he tiredly pushed himself away from the bench before striding out of the room.
"Alright, listen Granger-," Severus started as he walked back into his living room, stopping dead in his tracks to find Hermione sitting in front of the fireplace, staring thoughtfully into the fire.
"Granger," Severus called gruffly, but got no answer. "Hermione," He called again when she refused to acknowledge him.
Severus sighed. "Hermione, about what I said about your eyes, I should not have said that. I know you have no control over it," Severus said apologetically as he stood there, waiting for her to answer.
When Hermione said nothing, Severus marched up behind her and knelt down next to her. "If I'm going to keep helping you, I think we should try to get along," Severus intoned in a gentle voice, that caught Hermione off gaurd as she quickly turned her head to look at him in surprise, as red eyes gazed into black pools.
"So, what?, you want to be friends now? or are you just saying that so I won't kill you?," Hermione asked through her teeth as she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
Severus sighed heavily as he sat down on the floor beside her before responding to her. "I know I was horriable to you, but if you let me explain myself, Hermione-," He started before Hermione cut him off.
"So wer'e on first name bases now?," she blurted out abruptly. "What could you possibly say, to explain how you treated all of us?," Hermione asked furiously.
"Believe it or not, Hermione, most of the world has forgiven me. Or haven't you heard?," Severus huffed, knitting his eyebrows together as Hermione stared disbelievingly at him.
"Heard what?," Hermione frowned, shaking her head as Severus took a deep breath.
"After the battle, I gave my memories to Potter. I was in love with his mother through my years at Hogwarts. Her famliy lived close to mine, we grew up together. When she rejected me, I turned to work for the Dark Lord. I begged him not to harm her, but after she died, I switched sides and have been working for Dumbledore ever since. Playing Voldomort like a pawn," Severus confessed evocatively, deep in thought, as Hermione stared at him in shock, completely speechless.
"And to fully address my hatered for James Potter, he and his posse tormented me when we were in school. He turned her against me," Severus added gravely, as he to, stared blankly into the fire, as Hermione gaped at him.
"Now, do you understand?," Severus murmured softly, almost like a whisper, as he slowly turned his head to look at her.
Hermione could only nodd. She had so many thoughts, and emotions swirling through her mind. Anger at James, and his friends, anger at lily, and confusion, sorrow, and saddness for Severus.
"I know it's a lot to take in, and I do not expect for you to forgive me straight away, but if you can't, I completely understand," Severus said firmly with profound sincerity as Hermione was pulled from her thoughts, still gaping at him.
"I, I'm sorry, Severus-," Hermione stuttered before stopping abruptly at the sound of his name on her tongue. She blushed and looked down awkwardly as Severus raised his eyebrows in slight surprise. Feeling a weird tingle go through him at hearing his name slip from her lips.
Curious as to why saying her name hadn't fazed him, nor her, but when she spoke his, they fell into a rather uncomfortable silence before Hermione decided to break the ice.
"It will take some time, but I think I can," Hermione asserted sheepishly. Blowing the werid moment off to flash him a soft smile. Which he returned.
"I have to keep reminding myself that the war is over and that this is my chance to start over," Severus said as he smirked to himself.
"I agree," Hermione remarked in a gentle voice as she turned to stare calmly into the fire as Severus watched her closely.
"Thank you," Severus finally said gratefully, in his new overpowering respect for her as she nodded at him in return.
"Friends?," Severus asked, holding out his hand to her as Hermione stared nervously at his hand. "I don't bite. That's you remember?," Severus added with a smirk as Hermione puffed out a short breath. Gawking at him while biting on her bottom lip before slowly placing her hand in his.
"Friends," She chortled before Severus's mouth fell agape. "You're cold," He intoned in surprise, "It's another perk, to being a vampire," Hermione commented with a sad smile as she gently drew her hand back to rest it in her lap.
"What is it like?," Severus asked curiously in a low voice as Hermione let out a shaky breath, blinking rapidly in thought as Severus watched her long lashes brush against her cheek with every move.
"It's a real rush. The things I see, the things I can do," Hermione started enthusiastically before pausing to stare feverently into the fire. "But I'll never grow old, I'll never die. I'll have to watch you and everyone I know grow old, have children, grandchildren. Then you'll all die, and I'll still be here," Hermione continued flashing him a small smile as she shrugged her shoulders before looking away sadly.
"I'm already old," Severus scoffed amusedly, chucking lightly to himself.
"You're thirty nine.That's not old," Hermione blurted out as Severus stopped and stared wide eyed at her. "You still have a long life ahead of you," Hermione declared earnestly with fierce eyes as Severus boggled at Hermione, dumbfounded.
"I, I appreciate that, I do, but any chances of that, are long gone, Hermione," Severus reponded in wonderment, holding his hand up as he staggered to his feet.
"Of course they're not," Hermione exclaimed as she to jumped to her feet.
"Yes, they are," Severus stated lowly, in a firm voice. "The only woman I will ever love, is dead," He added coolly through his teeth, with hard eyes before stalking out of the room as hermione watched in shock, then flinched when he slammed his bedroom door moments later.
"So much for that," Hermione murmured sadly to herself.
Severus never came back out of his room that day, he stayed locked in his room all night, and did not come out til morning. When Severus did finally come out of his room, he was engulfed with the smell of bacon, and sausage as he made his way into his kitchen.
There he saw Hermione standing over the stove. Spatula in one hand, and her wand in the other. Levitating his plate and silverware a few feet above.
"Wow," Severus voiced aloud in astonishment as Hermione whipped around in surprise, loosing her focus, causing the objects above to plummit to the floor. But not before Hermione twirled around again in a blink of an eye and caught them in her hands before setting them carefully onto the table as Severus stared in utter shock.
"You startled me," Hermione spluttered sheepishly as she wiped her hands on the apron she had tied around the waist of her dress.
"Touche," Severus uttered with a smirk as he slowly made his way to the table. Eyeing her curiously as she magically levitated the bacon, and sausages in the air, and sent them flying across the room, landing on his plate with a flick of her wand.
"What's this for?," Severus asked wonderingly. feeling slightly guilty about how he spoke to her yesterday. "She was only trying to be nice, you fool," Severus thought. Mentally grumbling at himself.
"I thought I should return the favor," Hermione replied kindly as she set a bowl of oat meal in front of him. "And apologize for yesterday. I overstepped your boundaries," She added apologetically. Biting her lip as she sat down in the chair across from him.
"No, don't. It's over," Severus remarked dismissively as Hermione nodded sadly, while Severus took a bite of his food.
"Wow," Severus said again as he dabbed his mouth with the napkin she set out for him."Where did you learn to cook?," He asked in awe.
"My mum taught me," Hermione stated, with a soft smile.
"Well, It'd excellent," Severus complemented as he spooned another mouthful into his mouth.
"Thank you," Hermione smiled before the tea whistled.
"Oh, your tea," Hermione blushed as she jumped up to take the kettle off the stove. Then carefully pouring it into his cup before bringing it over, and setting it on the table next to him.
"How do you take it?," she smirked as she held up her wand, waiting for his order.
"Two sugars will do," He smirked as Hermione's eyes gleamed while she flicked her wand, and the sugar floated up, and flew over to her and landed in her hand before she handed them to him with a smug grin.
"You always have been a show off," Severus snorted amusedly as he took a sip of his tea before spooning more food into his mouth.
"I'm sure you mean that as a complement," Hermione remarked patently. Sticking her tongue through her teeth as Severus raised his eyebrow at her in response before turning all his attention to finishing his food, and reading todays newest daily prophet article.
Hermione sat there quietly while he ate. Occasionally glancing out the window from time to time. Luckily it happened to be cloudy, and rainy today, so she could leave the curtin open. She would close her eyes and listen to the rain as she absentmindedly played with her hair, slowly braiding it into a long braid down the left side of her face.
Unbeknown to her, Severus had been watching her as she basked in the sound of the rain. Annoying to some, but she found it to be quite pleasant. It was the only thing she could stand during the day, and Severus didn't know why, but he had to bite back viciously at an enthralling thought that called her strikingly attractive.
Severus cleared his throat as he set his newspaper down, which caused Hermione's eyes to open slowly, like as if she had almost been asleep. "Alright, now it's your turn," Severus stated as he rose from the table.
"Oh," Hermione breathed in surprise as she stood to clean up. She hadn't even known he was done. She smiled sheepishly as she lifted up his plate, but Severus stopped her by gently pushing it back down onto the table.
"No, I'll take care of it," Severus said in a firm spoken voice as he shook his head.
"Okay," Hermione murmured, tensing awkwardly as Severus removed his hand from the plate after he knew for sure that she wouldn't pick it up, and he walked swiftly out of the room, frowning at himself as Hermione followed close behind.
Same routine as yesterday, Severus poured the blood from it's holder into a glass cup and gave it to her. Hermione of course, was more willing then yesterday. She downed it to the last drop before stepping forward to place it back on the bench as Severus handed her a serviette to wipe her fangs.
"Thank you," Hermione said with a warm smile, right after her fangs disappeared, and she swollowed the remaining blood that was in her mouth.
"You're welcome," Severus replied politely. Nodding his head as he strode into the middle of the room, deep in thought.
"Is everything alright?," Hermione asked anxiously, while turning around to face him with a nervous expression on her face.
"Can I relay something upon you?," Severus asked in a low voice. Frowning in thought as Hermione tensed uneasily.
"Of course," she answered apprehensively, while slowly nodding her head.
"I read in the paper this morning that Potter has been questioning all of the survivors from the battle, about your whereabouts. He's never stopped looking for you," Severus said solemnly, with a raised eyebrow as Hermione's eyes widened slightly before turning around, guilt-ridden.
"I know," Hermione whimpered regretfully as she turned back around with her arms crossed.
"I will not start over, by lying," Severus insisted with a scolding frown. "If he shows up looking for you, I'll have no choice but to tell him. He deserves the truth," Severus added scornfully.
"I understand," Hermione whispered shakily. Nodding her head as she turned her back to him again.
"How much longer do you expect to hide from him?," Severus asked briskly in disapproval as Hermione's back stiffened.
"He will find you, eventually. Unless you show yourself," Severus stated suggestively, in a warning tone.
"I, I can't," She uttered as she quickly shook her head in ixnay.
"Do you really, think he'll judge you?," Severus asked. furrowing his eyebrows in dibelief as Hermione shifted to one foot to the other in aggervation before leaning on her hands on his work bench.
"He's your best friend. I'm sure he'll understand," Severus asserted reassuringly.
"It's not Harry I'm worried about," Hermione murmured anxiously. Turning her head to flash him a worried glance as Severus lifted his chin in realization.
"It's your call," Was all Severus said with a raised eyebrow as Hermione let out a deep breath.
Meanwhile at the burrow...
"Have you asked everyone on your list?," Ginny asked anxiously as she peered worriedly over his shoulder as Harry's eyes scaned the list of survivors that the ministry sent to him.
"Yes Ginny, I've asked everyone. No one has seen, or heard from her,"Harry retorted as he slammed his hands on the table in frustration. Crumpling the list a little bit.
"There's still one name left," Ginny pointed out as she picked up the crumpled list from the table, and read it. "Oh no," Ginny mumbled as her eyes widened slightly.
"What?, who is it?," Harry asked apprehensively as he stood up to read the name over her shoulder.
"Snape," Ginny intoned uneasily.
"Snape?," Harry chided confusedly. "Why would he know where Hermione is?," Harry added. Knitting his eyebrows together.
"I'm not saying that he does. But we have to find her before someone else turns up dead," Ginny replied pensively with an urgency in her voice.
"Why are you so convinced that Hermione is to blame?," Harry exclaimed furiously.
"It's just a gut feeling. Something doesn't feel right," Ginny murmured timidly.
"Harry," Ginny said quickly. "I know you and Snape aren't that close, but he did save us all. He might have seen her, he might be our only hope to finding Hermione," Ginny prompted encouragingly.
"You have to talk to him," Ginny insisted earnestly as she gently squeezed his arm.
"Fine. I'll talk to him next week," Harry grumbled. Pinching the bridge of his nose in submission before Ginny happily leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
(A/N hey!, I hope you liked this chapter. Sorry if it's a bit long, I hope I answered some of ya'lls questions good enough.
I Don't know when my next chapter will be out, but I'll upload as soon as I can. Thank you for any supportive comments!)
(To be continued...)