A/N Thanks again for the reviews and alerts. As this is an AU story I am going with the movie version of Luna and Neville pairing up together as I rather like it. So therefore he will not be marrying Hannah Abbot. Sorry if you are overly fond of that pairing.
An Unexpected Gift – Chapter 3
May 3rd
Hermione awoke just as dawn was breaking on Sunday May 3rd heralding in the new day and in some ways a new world for them all, a world without Voldemort. As the sun crept higher it shone through the windows, casting beams of light throughout the large room. She stretched, her muscles a little stiff. Harry had moved away from her in the night and was resting on the other side of the armchair, still fast asleep. It had ended up being her alone to make sure Snape took his medicine.
The only times she had asked for Harry's help was with Snape's toiletry needs. For all her boldness and Gryffindor courage Hermione wasn't about to handle her ex professor's manhood and she knew he wouldn't thank her for it if she did. It had taken a rather embarrassing five minutes when he had non verbally tried to get her to understand what he needed. She had finally comprehended his meaning when he silently mouthed the word "Piss" His crudity had shocked her a little at the time.
Hermione glanced at the bottle of blood replenishing potion on the table by the bed. It was almost empty now and the wizard in question was also still asleep, or pretending. Either way, it didn't matter to her as she got up from the chair and worked some feeling back into her legs. Even with the disturbed sleep, she felt rested and ready to face whatever the new day threw at her. Hermione peeked through the gap of the privacy screens around Snape's bed. There was a slight squeaking of wheels as she spied a junior Mediwitch pushing in a trolley laden with breakfast for the patients. The smell of food made Hermione's stomach growl. When had she last eaten? Poppy appeared alongside her colleague, pointed her wand at the offending wheel and restored the quiet to her realm.
Hermione looked back at Professor Snape before going over to him and shaking his shoulder gently. "Breakfast is coming, what would you like?"
Gods would she never leave him be? It had been like this all night, as regular as clockwork, first the vile potion and then the salve. He would close his eyes for what seemed like a moment only to have it start all over again. It was the final indignity to be helpless and at hermercy of all people. It didn't occur to him to be grateful for her attentions. It had been as unwanted as this skin he had been forced back into.
Hermione blushed, realising the repeated idiocy of asking him questions again. However, before she could apologise, Poppy moved back one of the screens, a shaft of direct sunlight hit him right between the eyes. Snape grimaced in pain; trying to adjust to the intrusion, when he opened his eyes again, he glared at Poppy.
The Mediwitch fixed Snape with a firm look. "Good morning Severus." She got her wand from her pocket and ran it over him slowly. "Hmm, your blood levels are acceptable." She touched his throat. "The scarring looks like it will be a minimum. Shame we didn't catch the wounds earlier, if we had there would have been none."
Poppy turned her attention to Hermione. "You used Dittany on his wounds?" Hermione nodded. "Well done." She smiled approvingly.
"Do you think he will make a full recovery?" Hermione asked.
"We have to investigate that nerve damage some more and see how it's affected him, but I think the long term prognosis is excellent."
He hated them talking over him as if he were not there. If he had his wand he would be out of here before they knew what had hit them. He caught Madam Pomfrey's eye. She seemed to know what he wanted before he noiselessly mouthed the words "My voice." At her.
She looked back at Snape. "If you promise not to shout like last time, I might consider removing that silencing spell I cast on you. But any rising of your voice and I will not hesitate to cast it again." He sneered at her, but nodded faintly in acquiescence. "Very good." She smiled as she pointed her wand at his neck.
Instantaneously, Severus felt the magic lift from him. He coughed to clear his throat. His brows drawn together as his lips thinned into a line of pure fury. He opened his mouth, his mind ready with a tirade of abuse on the tip of his tongue, prepared to burst forth at the people around his bed. Poppy raised her wand threateningly.
"Now what would you like for breakfast Severus?" She asked him.
"Fuck breakfast." He growled. He turned his attention to Hermione, hearing her soft gasp of shock. "Why so surprised Miss Granger, do you think only the young know such words?"
"Language Professor Snape." Poppy looked to Hermione. "Get him some porridge from the trolley and put a spoon of honey in it, it will be good for his throat. Besides it looks like he could do with a little sweetening."
Hermione's slight snort under her breath infuriated him further. "I don't want it." He snarled as he watched her disappear momentarily.
"Yes you do, if you insist on acting like a student I will treat you like one." Madam Pomfrey looked down at him, her face impassive.
Snape struggled against the body binding spell which still held him. "Let me out of this, now."
"One step at a time I think. I want to make sure you stay where you are put. Kingsley Shacklebolt is coming to see you later. Minerva expressed a wish to speak to you as well."
Snape gave little outward reaction to the news, his thoughts on something more pressing. "Where is my wand?" He hissed.
"Surely you understand that I cannot allow you to have it under the circumstances Severus? You killed Albus." Madam Pomfrey's voice cracked on the former headmaster's name. She glanced at Harry to see if he was still asleep before she lowered her head to Snape's ear. "As a Mediwitch I swore to heal the sick, but if I had my way you would have been left to rot in the shrieking shack for what you have done."
Severus's eyes widened slightly at her vehemence. "I never asked anyone to save me, and besides, ever hear the saying, innocent until proven guilty, Poppy?" He drawled sarcastically.
Both heads turned as Hermione came back behind the screens with a bowl and a spoon. Madam Pomfrey moved away from the bed. "Miss Granger I am sure you have things to do today, but if you could feed...him...before you go, I would be grateful."
"I think I can spare a few more minutes, and then I really have to go and find Ron. He must be looking for me by now."
Madam Pomfrey made to leave them, pausing as she fished a bar of hospital issue chocolate from her apron pocket. "Make sure he has some of this too please."
Hermione took it from her and sat down on the edge bed with Snape. She stirred the generous dollop of honey into the porridge before raising it to his lips. They remained firmly shut.
Hermione sighed. "Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way and just so that you know, you don't scare me...Severus. For whatever reason you are back here, there are lots of witches and wizards in the mortuary this morning that can't say the same thing. Starving yourself is doing no one any favours."
"I should have been one of them. Everybody wishes me in a graveyard, whoever found me in the shrieking shack would have done better to have left me there." He said bitterly.
"Not everyone wishes you dead professor Snape." Hermione said angrily, high colour tinged her cheeks.
He looked at her in shocked surprise, his mouth hanging open, but before he could say something, Hermione shoved a spoonful of the warm food into his mouth. He had no choice but to swallow it.
"Yes, I can think of at least one other person in this room who feels the same way." Another voice added.
Snape turned his head slowly to look into the eyes of Harry Potter, and a pain settled in the region of his heart. So like Lily. There the similarity ended for him, seeing her eyes in the face of the boy who looked so much like James.
"Harry you are awake." The relief in Hermione's voice was evident. She had lied to Snape when she had boldly told him he no longer scared her and she had the feeling he knew it. But now was not the time to back down or show fear, he would only use it to his advantage.
"Getting sentimental again Potter? You know it nauseates me." Snape sneered.
Harry sat up straight on the armchair and stretched, giving a long yawn. He then looked directly at Snape again. "Sometime when you are better, we need to have a talk." He replied.
"There is nothing to discuss." Snape said firmly, unconsciously opening his mouth for another spoon of food.
Harry gave Snape a hard look, before getting up from the chair. "I need to go and speak to Madam Pomfrey, be back in a minute Hermione." He nodded to the man on the bed "Professor Snape."
"Do not call me that. I am no one's professor anymore." He replied cynically. Harry exited the screens without another word. "Alone at last Miss Granger." He purred mockingly.
She kept shovelling the porridge into his mouth, repeatedly counting to ten in her head to keep her calm, and it was not long before the bowl was clean. "Well, I guess you didn't want that." Hermione said dryly.
"And the little know-it-all strikes again."
"You know you really are going to have to come up with some new insults. You've used that one on me once too often."
Hermione reached over Snape, annoyed at herself for reacting to his snarky comment and picked up the blood replenishing potion. She took out the stopper and poured it between his lips until the last drop was drained.
"It tastes vile." Snape sputtered.
"Well, you probably made it, maybe you should think about improving the flavour." She smirked.
Her thoughts naturally turned to Ron. Only one last thing to do and she could go in search of him. She had missed him and with him grieving for his brother, she knew had been away far too long already. Hermione un-wrapped the bar of chocolate Madam Pomfrey had given her, smiling at the thought that the wizarding world thought chocolate was the panacea for all ills just like muggles thought a cup of tea.
Hermione broke off a couple of squares of the dark chocolate and popped one into his mouth. She felt a strange sense of discontent as she realised there was no longer a reason to be here. Her hand came down to rest on the bed, her fingers plucking nervously at the sheets. The bedside of Severus Snape was the last place anyone would want to be under normal circumstances, but she had enjoyed the challenge of caring for him the last few hours. She sighed as she mentally prepared herself to go and face what would undoubtedly be happening in the great hall with Ron and his family.
"I can see by your face Miss Granger that your body might still be here, but your mind is not."
"The Weasley family suffered a loss yesterday, Fred was killed. Lupin and Tonks fell too and too many students to think about." She blurted out in one long breath.
Snape's eyes flashed for a brief moment. An instant of regret passed over his face before he masked it. He and Lupin had not been friends of any kind, but he had been the only vaguely tolerable member of the Marauders that he had been able to stand. It was Sirius that had tried to kill him, not Remus. However, he had never agreed with his appointment to Hogwarts, it had been too much of a danger to the children, despite any person grievances he might have had at the time.
Hermione had looked back at him expecting some vitriolic comment after her revelation, but he remained silent as the last of the chocolate dissolved in his mouth. Her eyes caught a crumb of it, melting on his lips. Without thinking, her finger reached out and wiped at it and she put the tip of her finger in his mouth. She flinched in shock as his tongue licked it clean. Hermione snatched her hand away and put it behind her back as if it had been burned
The movement was not lost on Snape. His lip curled slightly, but it was hard to tell if it was with amusement or distain. "No need to play the blushing virgin Miss Granger, I can assure you that that was not foreplay."
"You are vile, and you disgust me. I wish I had never listened to Dumbledore now." It shocked her to hear him speak in such a way. If she had her faculties about herself a bit more, then she might have realised that the student/teacher dynamic they had once shared seemed to have shifted and he was treating her as an equal.
"Well, it was you who told me my old repertoire of insults was sadly lacking, I was just trying to improve upon them." Snape smirked before continuing. "Besides, you have changed your tune in such a short time, only a few minutes ago you were telling me you were glad I was still alive. And please, do tell what that interfering old bastard told you to do."
"You should speak of Professor Dumbledore with more respect." Hermione looked back down at the sheets by her hand. There were a few moments of heavy silence before she spoke again. "He told me to go back to the shrieking shack, if you insist on knowing."
"Then it was you that found me!" He hissed.
Hermione nodded. "But I thought you were dead. I was bringing you back to the castle to lie with the others. I have given the matter much thought, for you to be here, you must have not been truly dead, only partly."
"Forgive me if I do not thank you for it or your mindless babbling, but in exchange for your confession, I will give you one of my own in return. I never wanted to come back, I was glad I was dead, I had been wishing for it ever since the night the Potters died. However, that man that you demand I show deference to, forced me back here. Now, tell me why I need to show him respect?" He finished, silkily.
"I am sure he had good reason." She mumbled.
"Reason? Reason?" Snape produced a full sneer to his features. "I will tell you what reason, it was for his own distorted fucking amusement is why! He thought it would be entertaining to throw me back in this hell hole and see what became of me. Even from up there he is still trying to run the puppet show." He shouted, his voice cracking painfully with the effort.
Madam Pomfrey surprised them both as she pulled back the screens with some force. She got her wand from her apron pocket and pointed it at Snape. "Any more foul language from you Severus Snape and I will silence you for a month. There are students here, far worse off than you and they need peace and quiet, not your ill-tempered outbursts!"
He actually had the grace to look ashamed before he surprised Hermione and the Mediwitch with his reply. "I am sorry Poppy, please forgive my behaviour."
"Mmm, we'll see. Expect, Mr Shacklebolt and Professor McGonagall in ten minutes." She replied airily, before she marched off on her rounds again.
Severus paled; he was to face both of them at once? He and Minerva had not had any interaction since he had been removed from the school or abandoned his post; however you wanted to look at it. A few minutes hardly gave him enough time to meet the accusing eyes of his former colleague. McGonagall was one of the few people he respected in this place and to lose her "friendship" of sorts had been a hard blow. It had been even harder to duel with her and the other professors before he had made his escape. He remembered her kindness to him as a boy, when others at the school had not been so kind. It had not mattered to her that he was a Slytherin. Things had never been quite the same between them once he had returned to Hogwart's after being a servant of the dark lord, but it had been better than nothing.
Hermione walked over to the armchair and picked her bag off it. "I guess I should be going."
Her voice jolted him out of his reverie of the past.
"Don't let me keep you." He drawled, trying to ignore the disappointment he unexpectedly felt now that she was leaving. Severus had enjoyed the combat of wills between them, he admitted to himself reluctantly.
"I won't." She snapped angrily. Tired, of his attitude, even after enduring it for so many years, already, Couldn't he be at least a little grateful to her for saving him?
They both stared at each other, the fire of challenge mutually burned in their eyes and neither was prepared to look away first. They had the decision taken out of their hands as Harry poked his head around the screen. "I am going down to the great hall now, coming Hermione?"
Hermione looked back at the man on the bed. "Of course, there is nothing worth hanging around here for." She fixed Snape with a glare that could rival his own. "You are alive again for whatever reason Severus Snape, deal with it." She said coldly.
She raised her chin defiantly and hastily left before Snape could slap her in the face with another verbal comeback, wanting to put some distance between him and her. He watched her go from beneath lowered lids, all the fight draining from him. He even forgot to be angry that she had called him Severus, yet again.
Harry fixed Snape with an intense stare, as if still trying to make out the real man after all he now knew of him. "We will have that talk Professor Snape."
Snape snorted and stared at the ceiling until he was sure he was alone again.
Snape had hardly been left unaccompanied for than a few moments when the screens were pulled back and he was joined by Kingsley and Minerva. He let out a deep sigh of resignation as they both sat down on the large armchair. It was a good job Minerva was so lean, he mused, trying to take his mind off what lay ahead. He hid his brief smile of amusement, watching McGonagall shifting about, trying to get comfortable.
"Good morning professor Snape." Boomed Kingsley. "I think we may have some news for you."
Snape remained unresponsive, his eyes fixed on the screens behind the man's head. He didn't particularly care what the news was; couldn't they take him to Azkaban and get it over and done with? Perhaps if they hurried his case along, he could be lip locking with dementors in time for tea. That would put the kibosh on Albus's plans for him. He grinned to himself, imagining his tormentor's face, seeing him back in the afterlife so soon after ejecting him from it.
"Severus." Minerva said sharply, bringing his attention back to them. She had noticed his smirk with some irritation. "I find little in this situation for amusement. Please hear the minister out."
Snape looked at Kingsley, an eyebrow raised in consideration. "So, you have had a promotion...minister?"
"The Wizengamot held emergency sessions throughout the night and yes I am the newly elected minister for magic." Kingsley confirmed. "Pius Thicknesse has gone into early retirement. He was found to be under the imperious curse."
"You think I do not already know that. Anything else?" He asked in a tone of detached boredom.
"After reviewing your memories, which, you entrusted with Harry Potter and after due deliberation of the facts, you are here by exonerated from all charges and acts committed while following the orders of one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."
The last part was lost on Snape as his face turned red with anger and mortification. "You showed my memories to the entire Wizengamot?" He roared. He had vague recollection of Kingsley telling him something in that vein when he had been ensconced in the hospital corridor, but he thought he had imagined it.
Minerva put a restraining hand on Snape's arm, instinctively, even though she knew he could not move. "Calm down Severus. They had to see everything to prove your innocence. I understand now, about Albus..."
"You saw them too?" His eyes widened. "Anyone else? Pray tell did you rent out a hall and put them on a screen for everyone who asked? So, who else knows about my pathetic life besides you two, Harry Potter and the entire Wizengamot?"
Minerva sucked in a breath. "Hermione Granger."
So, that was why the little witch had put up with him. She felt sorry for him. Of course she did. Wasn't he always an object of ridicule, pity, disgust and hatred to every one he met? There would be no dementors kiss, or incarceration at Azkaban. He was getting off scotfree.The thought gave him about as much pleasure as a class full of first year students. Only Minerva seemed to notice his reaction to the news about Hermione knowing his past.
The minister for magic pressed on. "It has been decided that you will be reinstated as headmaster, Professor McGonagall here will act as head until you are well enough to do it yourself."
"So nice have my feelings consulted in all of this." Severus sneered.
Kingsley, either did not hear him or pretended he didn't, hardly pausing for breath as he continued. "And, it may be a bit premature of me to say this, but there could be an Order of Merlin, first class that might have your name on it on a future date."
"Magnificent." His voice dripped sarcasm.
Cornelius Fudge had said he might be in line for an Order of Merlin after the capture of Sirius Black, and at the time he had said thank you in all the right places, but public recognition was something he liked to avoid. Too many years of working in the shadows had made him like that.
Kingsley got up from the chair and clasped one of Severus's bound hands, which rested on the bed. "Well done, you are a credit to the name wizard and this fine institution. I am glad I was wrong about you Severus. I look forward to seeing Hogwarts rise out of the ashes." He looked at McGonagall. "I must be leaving, urgent business at the ministry." Minerva moved to get up from her chair. "No, no, you stay there, I am sure you have much to discuss. Goodbye headmaster, professor." He nodded at each of them before leaving.
"Why on earth would he want me to be headmaster again, surely you would be better suited to the position?" Snape said indifferently.
Minerva regarded Severus as he stared at the ceiling in impotent anger. She took a deep breath before speaking. "I was asked. I declined and there's an end to it." Minerva paused for a moment. "I know you don't want to hear this Severus, but I want to thank you for what you did for Albus while you are still unable to walk away from me." Severus turned his attention back to her. "It was a brave, brave thing you did for him and for Draco. I won't deny that I don't have much time for Slytherin goings on, but you saved that boy from a lifetime in Azkaban and gave Albus a painless death. For that I am grateful."
Snape was surprised at the speed the aged witch got up from the chair and left his bedside, not waiting for an answer or requiring one, she left him alone. He had much to think about, not least of which was an annoying young woman who had surprisingly not made him think too much about Lily Evans-Potter even if just for a little while. He curled his lip before closing his eyes and attempted to get some sleep.
When Hermione arrived in the Great Hall with Harry, the area was filled with people; many were weeping and hugging each other. Several wooden caskets were lined up, some covered in house colours. Scanning the room, she located Ron at the far end of the hall and rushed over to him and his family.
"Where'd you go? I woke up and I couldn't find you anywhere." There was a slight accusing tone in his voice that jarred her nerves.
"I am sorry Ron, I couldn't sleep and Harry needed my help. I didn't want to wake you." She put her arms around him. "How is everyone holding up?" Hermione pulled back first, and held Ron's hands.
"George is inconsolable. God, I miss Fred so much. I keep thinking I will turn a corner and there they will both be, up to some new prank or mischief. It's so bloody unfair." Ron's chest heaved in pain. "We are taking his body home soon. Will you come with us and stay at least until...the...funeral is over?"
"You don't need to ask." Hermione gave him a watery smile. She looked over at Harry who was consoling Ginny as they sat together on one of the stone steps. "Is Harry coming too?"
"I should think so, the way things are going between him and Ginny I am sure he will be family soon enough." Ron shook his head. "In all this madness, Seamus Finnegan just told us he got engaged, can you believe it?"
"Really? Who to?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"Hannah Abbott. That will be an explosive pairing." He grinned, imagining Neville's proclivity for blowing things up.
Hermione giggled as she shared a similar thought. Her laughter died on her lips as Molly and Arthur Weasley entered the hall; both looked like they had aged ten years overnight. Mrs Weasley's eyes were bloodshot from hours of weeping, Mr Weasley looked little better, his usual joyful countenance nowhere in sight and for a moment Hermione wondered if he would ever smile again.
"Hermione." Molly rubbed her arm affectionately. "Has Ronald asked you to come home with us?"
Hermione nodded, not really sure what to say in the face of so much sorrow. At least all of her family were still alive even if they didn't know she existed. She forced down a rising spiral of self pity as she realised how alone she was. Not really, she told herself, she had Ron and she had Harry.Things could be worse; she could have no one, like Snape. She frowned at the unbidden thought of him sliding into her mind where it was not wanted. Ron needed her now. Snape would survive, he always did.
Arthur cleared his throat to get the attention of the congregating Weasleys. "Molly and I will be using a portkey to take...Fred...our boy...home. The rest of you can travel by floo powder. Minister Shacklebolt has connected the Hogwarts fireplaces to the network. I will see you all back at the Burrow, shortly."
Harry got up off the stone steps and put out a hand to help Ginny up. They walked out of the hall to find the nearest fireplace that wasn't filled with rubble. Hermione and Ron followed after them. They found a fireplace in the staff room, only a short walk from the Great Hall. One by one they took their turn in the fireplace until only Hermione remained.
She looked around the long, panelled room, taking in the assortment of mismatched chairs dotted around it. Most of the portraits on the walls were still empty, she wondered when their inhabitants would return, if ever. One chair caught her eye, a battered black leather chair that looked like it was from another century. It was placed away from the other chairs and over the arm hung an open book, as if it had been left there in haste. Hermione picked it up and read the spine. Magick Moste Evile by Godelot. Being who she was, it was a book she knew well. She leafed through the opening pages to see whom it belonged to, and found an inscription inked in a firm, bold, hand.
Dear Severus as you go out into the world, may you always be on your guard,
Evil is never far behind, we must watch for it always and know the signs.
E.P. Snape (dated September 1971)
E.P.Snape? Hermione had to think for a moment.It had to be Snape's mother by the date it was inscribed. It seemed he had been wracking his brains for ways to defeat Voldemort right up until his ejection from the castle. She felt a surge of reluctant admiration for him, even with his rude treatment of her earlier. She picked up the book and stuffed it in her bag for safekeeping. It had been a gift from his mother, so it had to be valuable to him. She could always owl it back to him at a later date.
Hermione took one last look around the room and wondered with tears in her eyes if she would ever be here again, for all its faults, dangers and adventures, Hogwarts had been home for a long time, here she had found her first true friends. She took a handful of floo powder from the jar by the fire and stepped into it, unable to stem the flow of tears any longer as she spoke her destination and let the powder slip from her fingers.
TBC