Chapter 3. The gift
I awake from a faint restless sleep, remembering my nightmares and what I had seen. That necklace still captured my mind. I was a student of logic, of science belief but for some reason it felt that I must find that necklace, perhaps that necklace held a secret. I rubbed my eyes and my Dormitories came into clear view. Quietly as I could I headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day. I saw my reflection when I was brushing my teeth, My eyes were bloodshot and the dark circles looked worse; My appearance always worsened after my nightmares. I felt like shit, and I knew I must go to Dumbledore for answers.
I went to breakfast early, fearing that Ginny, Ron or Harry might ask why I looked worst then yesterday. No one was in the Great Hall except Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, Who looked paler then usual. I did not look at the staff table again but ate the toast I had put onto my plate. By the time I had gotten up Students were starting to come into the Great Hall.
I picked up my pace because I knew my friends were not far from the hall. I looked back when I was a good distance away to make sure my friends were no where in sight, still striding down the halls only to run into Draco Malfoy. He looked pale, His eyes had dark circles like mine but his expression was cold. "Watch where you're going Mudblood I don't want your filthy hands touching me." He spat. I had almost ran into him but I was thankful I hadn't. "Fuck off Malfoy," I glared. "Watch your tongue Mudblood," he Glared back. My hand was on my wand ready to curse him of he pulled anything.
I felt a wind swept past me and within seconds black robes drifted passed me and behind Draco. "What's the matter Draco," Snape asked1 Draco but looked at me. Draco spoke calmly to Snape "She tried to trip me sir," he told Snape now looked at me to see if I gave off any hints of being guilty for what Draco was accusing me of, I remained still not saying a single word. "Oh did she now? go ahead Draco while I punish this Gryffindor for her actions." Snape said. Draco walked away with a smirk on his face.
I remained quiet, there was no point in trying to argue as I had learned from years of encountering Draco near Snape. Snape looked at me but his look had softened or maybe I had imagined it, "Miss. Granger I would like to see you in my office tonight after dinner," he's voice was soft and tired. It felt strange to hear this tone coming from a man who had always been cruel and rude towards every living thing but it did not distract my temper. "Why would I want to be alone in a room with him at all? What made him think I would show?' I though as my anger came forward and I yelled behind him as he was walking away now, his black cloaks striding behind him. "No, I won't see you tonight," I yelled harshly. Snape turned around to face me few feet away. "You will, Dumbledore has requested you to come see me tonight, he thinks it's time for you to have what has been kept from you," he said his voice was hard now.
My faced was starting to burn, and I wanted to argue back but it seemed useless so I glared at him and walked away. What could he possibly have that I wanted, and what made him think I would come. But questions did linger in my head what DID he really have that was kept from me? Could it have something to do with my dream. I shook my head, there was no way he could realize what I had been dreaming.
The day carried on and I met Harry, Ron, and Ginny on the way to the Great Hall for lunch. "Where were you this morning?" they all asked at once. "No where," I smiled. I had fixed my dark circles and bloodshot eyes with the spells I had learned from Witch Weekly before I had gone to my classes. We ate lunch discussing about Potions, and our new teacher Professor Slughorn. Once we finished eating Ginny then went off with Dean Thomas who she had recently started dating since last summer. Ron glared behind them and I could not help but smile. Ron had always been over protective and Ginny had told me how much she hated it.
The afternoon passed and evening was now among us. After Divination Harry and Ron waited for me to get out of Ancient Runes and we all went to the Great Hall together for dinner. Ron walked closely making sure I would not ditch them since I had been trying to get away from them all morning. As we sat, Dumbledore spoke but I wasn't paying attention. I could feel Snape's eyes on me from the staff table, I knew I must talk to Dumbledore tonight, for I did not want to be in a room with Snape alone. Harry was talking about him going to Dumbledore's office in a few days for he was going to tell them about the new mission Dumbledore had in store for Harry.
When the food on the table disappeared and all the students began to walk out of the hall I told Ron and Harry that I had to talk to Professor McGonagall about my did not look convinced but sighed and agreed to meet me back in the Common room when I was done. When I saw them disappear from sight, I made my way to the Head Masters office.
I stood on facing the gargoyle and became aware that I did not have the password to the office. I tried to guess all the candies I could name but the gargoyle did not move. Giving up I started walking away but I heard the Gargoyle move and steps walking towards me. Before I could turn "Miss. Granger I was just on my office," I turned facing Severus Snape as he looked down at me. "Come , I do not have all night," he said striding off in front of me. I had no choice but to follow.
When we reached the Dungeons, Snape didn't go to the Potions class but to his office. It was cold, I could see my breath but I went inside when he opened the door. I now wished I had told Ron and Harry the truth to where I was going. The office was filled with glass bottles full of potions and some with animal parts. "sit," Snapes voice echoed and I sat into a arm chair by the fire which started to burn on its own. I felt my self getting warm by the burning fire which crackled every now and then in the dead silence.
"I was told to see you tonight because of Professor Dumbledore and the promise I had made," Snape said. I continued to look into the fire but listening, I did not want to look at him. "He believes it's time for you to have was left behind for you," Snape's voice was tense this time. I still didn't look, the fire was burning into my eyes and it was starting to blind me. "Remus Lupin had left a Will behind and he left you something," He said walking to my armchair. "Hermione, please look at me," I looked up to see Severus Snape towering above me. His face was tired, his eyes had faint dark circles but he's voice was kind. "I must give you this, I know that you blame me for not saving Remus but I had no choice." He said kneeling down not breaking our eye contact.
I was taken back, Severus Snape was kneeling in front of me, he even called me Hermione. 'Was this a dream?' I thought to myself. "I had warned Remus that Ferir Greyback was catching onto him, that was why he avoided you. But before he passed, He left me and Dumbledore with this saying that either I or Dumbledore himself must give this to you for he knew we would keep it the safest." He said giving me a red velvet box. It was the same box I had dreamed about, "H-how..." I began to question but could not all words failed me. I had never expected Severus Snape to have anything that belonged to Remus let alone help hold onto anything.
I took the box from him, tears blurring my vision I opened the box. There was the necklace that I had dreamed of, I touched it to feel it was real because I felt like I was indeed still dreaming. It glowed brighter when I touched it and the back of the necklace burned warm. I turned it around and written in small letters it said, I will love you forever. tears streamed as I hugged the necklace.
I cried for what seemed like hours forgetting Snape was even there. He was still kneeling looking into the fire. "Why you?" I asked when I was able to talk through my sobs, "Why not Sirius?" I asked looking a him. "He had entrusted me with this and felt that Black had enough to deal with and knew he would take his death hard." Snape voice was now kind but he looked tense. "But why now? why not when he passed?" I asked. "Simply because you would not even look at me, for you blame me for his death. Dumbledore told me to wait until you were ready, he did not want you mental health falling apart more then it already had," He spoke softly for the first time, The necklaced still in my hand seemed to bring me into new light.
Remus had known and he indeed wanted to leave behind something for me to always remember him by. This necklace was proof he truly did love me. I looked at Snape, sadness lingered in his face, mixed with regret and shame. But still he kept our eye contact. I know realized that this man would have done anything he could to have saved Remus but he wasn't able to, that he indeed tried and had never let their past differences haze his ability to do the right thing.
A wave of appreciation passed over me, I had hated this man for all the wrong reasons, he had done everything to keep me alive and deliver my loves last precious memory safely to me. I didn't notice my hands taking his for I was overcome with emotions, hot tears formed in my eyes and escaped as I pulled Severus Snape into a hug. He wasn't my teacher at this very moment he was a man who had given me a second life along with the last memory of a love I would cherish forever.
His body was tense against mine as I sobbed the sorrow away, it felt like I had been crying forever. His heat beat became faster against mine as he put he's arms around me. He, Severus Snape was comforting me, for the very first time he was not the cruel potion master but a friend. His scent was filling my nose, it was a mix of spices and potions of various smells but it smelled comforting.
When we pulled away he looked slightly flushed "Er.. you must get back to your Common room soon before anyone sees you, It's past curfew." he said getting up. He sat down on the opposite arm chair, "I have no right and I probably should not even say this but, I am here for you if you ever need me. The headmaster will be very busy this year with Potter so if there is anything I could do please let me know." He said looking into my eyes, he looked tired but young for someone his age.
I nodded and got up, Severus getting up behind me and walked to open the door, walking me out. I was ready to leave when he grabbed my hand. I looked back at him, surprised that he was holding me back. "I hope you have forgiven me for I can not have one more person turn their back on me," he said his voice quivered in the last bit as if he had remembered someone. "I have forgiven you Professor Snape," I said gently. I smiled and left towards the Gryffindor Common Room before Filtch could me.
When I arrived Harry and Ron were waiting, the Common room was deserted. I told them everything leaving out bits of Snape's weak moments, for some reason I didn't want them to know. I wanted to keep this new side to my Professor to myself and I knew the boys would make fun of him if I had told them. They were sympathetic to me but I was already feeling better. I knew that this night was a turning point for me for I felt that in a way Remus would always be with me.
As I lied in my bed, I remembered the good times I had with Remus and how happy he made me. I fell into deep slumber still clutching to the necklace.