Chapter one -The things that have come to pass.
"I'm sorry but I have to say no," Severus Snape said for the fourth time this morning. Will the old man ever listen? 'No, probably not' Severus thought. "The Dark Lord may need me to carry out some things in potions, and I can't full out lie, he grows stronger everyday. He almost broke down my barrier the other day. In fact he would have if Malfoy hadn't have started a fight with Goyle, you know this."
Albus Dumbledore sighed, he truly was in a bind. For the first time in a long time Albus had not found a replacement teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Taking his glasses off he said carefully, "I do indeed know this, but I just thought I would offer you the position one last time. I know how much you actually want this."
Severus snorted. "There are a lot of things I want but will never have thanks to my stupidity." He was stupid for believing all the "pure-blood" crap, stupid for wanting to fit in, stupid for wanting to rebel, and just stupid in general. The Dark Mark cost a lot more than it was even worth. So many years of pain, self-loathing, bitterness, and for what? Nothing, he had nothing. He was broken.
"When will you believe that you aren't stupid? You did what you thought was best. You just wanted to fit in and get away from what you had to call family. It may not have the desired results, but you are here, alive, and doing the right thing for a reason, that isn't stupidity, that's bravery. That's being a man," Dumbledore said with compassion and a twinkle in his sky blue eyes. "Remember you have a purpose. Nothing happens without reason. Remember that"
Severus had to bite on his tongue to keep from saying something nasty. The old man was only trying to help, but when will he see what is in front of his face. When he found he had his anger under control he said "Did you find someone for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position?"
"Alas, I have not. An applicant was supposed to be here yesterday but was not. I won't give up. I have a feeling that someone will come along," Dumbledore said, smiling and looking at the door.
"Right, well, I am going to work on my…. " Severus started but they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Please come in" Dumbledore said giving Severus a look that said 'See?'
In walked a woman with her own type of beauty. The woman had a grace about her that you couldn't find on anyone else. Long and sleek back hair, black long sleeved robes, and a quiet, shy smile on her face. The smile didn't seem to reach her brown almond-shaped eyes. Her eyes weren't cold, but they weren't warm either. Looking her over again, he concluded that she must be in her twenties, near twenty-five at the very least.
"She's seen hardship. I can feel it," Thought Severus.
"Good morning Headmaster," She said.
"Ah, Good morning to you, Miss O'Brien. I was expecting you sooner. What can I help you with?"
"I sent you an owl, yesterday, I believe. I am here for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. I was supposed to be here yesterday. If the position is filled that's understandable, but if it's not, then, would you consider giving me a few minutes of your time," Miss O'Brien asked with a smile on her face and an odd glint in her eye. Her face had faint signs of determination. Well O'Brien was concise and brief. "She has my vote," thought Severus.
Dumbledore considered her for a moment and said, "Yes I got your owl, and you have my full attention. Severus if you will excuse us?"
"Of course."
When Snape closed the door, Dumbledore warded the room and put a silencing charm on it. It was then they both burst out laughing. "Well done Miss. Granger," Dumbledore says, while offering her a candy.
Taking one Hermione Granger says "Thank you sir. I didn't quite think I could pull that off with out laughing right in the middle of it. I don't know how I could have started to explain that."
"Please call me Albus. You work here now, you're one of us."
"Thank you, it's been about seven years since I've been here. It just seems so surreal to come back to something I used to call home. Something secure. I haven't had anything secure in a long time.."
This saddened Albus. Hermione Granger was the brightest witch of her class. Top score of the whole school, in fact she had the highest grades from the past 20 years. She has so much potential and should be allowed to live. Instead she went straight into the snake's den and sacrificed herself for the good cause, like so many others. She became a spy and joined the order. Her and Draco Malfoy made it seem like they were going out so Draco could get closer to Voldemort while making it appear he was getting info from Hermione about Harry.
Unfortunately Voldemort got wary of Hermione and had Draco 'kill' her. So Hermione came to Dumbledore begging and pleading for him to help her. After faking her death, Dumbledore gave her a new life. Her appearance changed and so did her identity. She became a daughter of one of the most prominent wizards in Scotland. Of course, Mr. O'Brien owed Dumbledore a few favors, so all this was done easily. She went back in on her own, and so far everything worked out. She got a lot of valuable information.
Dumbledore knew that this wasn't just about doing things for the greater good anymore. For Hermione it was personal. It was revenge, who was he to deny her? He hated the fact she could could kill and not even feel remorse about it, but what could he do? This was one thing he could not blame himself for and he hated to admit that. There was no doubt that when Voldemort got the information he needed from the people he caught, he killed them.
"What kept you," Albus asked, almost, afraid to know the reason.
"It was time." Hermione said simply. Albus looked even more forewarn. Putting his head in his hands he prayed she didn't have to get the Dark Mark, but somewhere in his mind he knew, he knew she had to.
Hermione knew this too. She knew she had to get the Dark Mark. Death eaters had begun to suspect her,Voldemort began to doubt her, and that was not acceptable. For everything they worked hard for, for 6 long years to go down the drain was not an option. So she took the mark. Draco, Harry and Ron tired to talk her out of it, but there was nothing else for it. She already had given up everything else. It hurt, but it was worth it. It got her back in Voldemort's good graces, which means more info to tell the order, and that means more lives can be saved. It is a small price to pay, and she wouldn't undo her actions for anything, and she told the very sad Dumbledore this.
"Albus, I wouldn't change anything. Voldemort needs to be stopped and if I have to get a really ugly tattoo that doesn't go well with anything I wear, then, so be it. Some people have paid their lives. Lily and James Potter, Sirius Black and numerous others. This is the very least I can do, end of discussion. Remember what you told Harry, Albus; it is our choices, far more than our abilities that determine who we are. I know my choices might seem foolish to others but Harry is like my brother, and he's had too much taken away, we all have. My parents we killed, remember? I need to help take him down. Maybe then, I can have some closure about the life that was taken from me." Hermione's eyes looked bright and she looked away.
"It's ok Hermione. I am proud of you and I'm sure your parents would be too. Lets get you settled in, alright?" After a muffled reply and more candy Albus escorted Hermione to her rooms down in the dungeons.
"I figured you might want down here because you need privacy. Anyway," Albus said putting down the trunk, "This is where I leave you, dinner is at 6. If you need anything Severus is down the hall." With a wink and a chuckle, Dumbledore was gone, leaving Hermione to wonder how she could annoy Severus.
Severus left the office. Well, that was interesting. Miss O'Brien is most defiantly a pure-blood. You could tell. She seeped proper etiquette, nothing that years of proper up bringing could warrant. If she is indeed a pure-blood then she needed to be watched. These are dark times and strange wizards shouldn't be trusted. "I have to get to know her more." Sighing to himself he went to gather some ingredients he'd need for potions class. No doubt this year would bring in more dunderheads who can't even light a match.
"So who is this O'Brien. I've never seen her around before." Thought Severus. "I'd remember if I seen someone like her. She couldn't have seen half the things I have, she's too young. Although she must have seen some hardships. They say eyes are windows of the soul, and if that is indeed true, then I would like to know what made her soul so dark. Well it is unanimous, she has my interest. "
Still in thought about O'Brien, Snape set off for the dungeon. Totally unaware of his surroundings until he heard a cats 'meow' and a owls 'hoot'. Animals in the dungeon? Turning the corner slowly, so he could see, but not be seen, he saw a cat sitting beside a portrait playing with an owl. "What in the world.." Severus shook his head as to clear it, maybe it was a mirage. Looking back he saw the same thing except the portrait opened and out walked the his musings, in a green sweater with jeans on. Her hair was in a bun with a pencil sticking out and glasses holding a few stray hairs out of her face.
"Crookshanks, what are you doing to poor Pig? Shame on you, he was just trying to deliver a letter. Come here, Pig!" Hermione said trying to get the owl to land on her outstretched hand. After three tries she was getting annoyed. "If you do not come over here, you over grown flying full ball, I will stun you," She threatened, pulling out her wand.
"Now Miss O'Brien is that anyway to treat a poor owl who's trying to give you mail," asked Severus stepping out of the shadows.
"What? Oh- Well he's just a pest. He won't give me my letters. In fact I think he gets being a pest from his master," Hermione said fondly. It's was a reminder of how things have changed. "Oh, and call me Alice." Hermione felt her heart twinge, but ignored it.
" Call me Severus. So, you are not the master," asked Snape. Looking around he saw the cat. 'I've seen that cat before...where? In the great hall? No, no..it was on the grounds...' Snape thought
Hermione noticing Snape looking at the cat with interest, she could see the wheels spinning fast. 'Shit, he's going to remember him, from the shrieking shack, and draw the line right back to me!'. Picking the cat up she threw him, fast into the room behind the portrait.
"No, the owls not mine It belongs to a friend. I guess they just wanted to check up on me," Hermione said thanking her lucky stars he hadn't put two and two together. Turning back around she made a quick grab for the unsuspecting owl, and got him.
"Got'ca, pig- WOAH," Hermione said as she tripped over her own foot. Bracing herself for the landing on her butt, only it never came. Warm, strong arms caught her, and pulled her back up. Snape had caught her. "Uh, thank you, very much." Embarrassed, she looked up to see him almost smiling, mirth in his eyes.
"It's ok, it isn't every day I get to see a performance like that,"Snape said silkily.
"Very funny. I'm glad I could give you a sight to see," Smiling now herself, she said her goodbyes and went back into her room.
Snape decided that she liked O'Brien better when she smiled, but that smile seemed different from the one in the office. That one was real, and somehow, it seemed like he knew that smile before.
The girl had only taken the groceries from her car to the kitchen and she felt like she was going to pass out. After putting everything away she had a splitting headache and felt as though she was about to faint. Going to her room she saw a snowy white owl sitting on her dresser with a note attached to it's leg. Next to it was another note tied with a black ribbon. Her heartbeat quickened as she noticed the writing on the envelope.
She sighed smiling, "It's from him," she said quietly. Tearing the letter open, she savored the words written in his small tidy scrawl. In her minds eye, the girl could see his beautiful hands moving deftly across the page, pausing every now and then to chew on the end of the quill.
She remembered how they first became friends and slowly progressed to lovers. She was in her last year of schooling when he had came back from his assignment. The girl had always felt the need to be away from others, so she had locked herself away in the study of the house. He too wanted to be away, so she shared the study with him and only him. They spent many evenings talking about her schooling and his work. A friendship unraveled from that. She listened and he would talk about everything and anything, he in turn would do the same. Somehow it came to the point where their discussions were much more personal. She wanted to know him more than anyone ever has. He fascinated her, left her craving more knowledge of him. When summer ended, she thought it would all stop, but it didn't. He owled her the first day back at school wishing her good luck, and she replied back. They never stopped corresponding from then on.
The girl still feeling weak, put the letter down and walked over to the bed, falling face first on the pillows. The other letter suddenly crossed her mind
Her last thoughts before she passed out were: "Aw forget it, I'm too tried to deal with him right now."