AN: Thank you, Marriage1988, for all of your reviews! I have a hard time, sometimes, with the fear that my characters aren't true to the vision of JKR, but we do take version of SS is one some think is OOC, but I hope it's not too much.
4 more chapters and an epilogue left. Thank you everyone who's read and followed. This was my first fanfic in ages and it broke my wirtrr's block/reignited my love for SS/HG and for HP fan fiction.
Chapter 14: Enough For Now
The trials started a week after her meeting with Shacklebolt, but Hermione was no less prepared for them than had they been months prior. It took her days to get all her paperwork in order by defendant and then to prepare her testimony for Poroshenko himself. Luckily, Snape had been required to attend as well, so she had company most evenings after the trials concluded for the day. For the guards, everything had been cut and dry, they were all sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole, except they'd be in Stockholm kept in a prison called the Pod, which looked exactly as it sounded, a cocoon of interlocking cells and passage ways, virtually impossible to escape. But as Hermione knew, no prison was completely safe.
In the evenings, Hermione and Snape ate dinner together in the hotel diner, which had fish most evenings and several delicious sides. They tried to avoid talking about the trial as much as possible, but some evenings they didn't have a choice, they had to prepare for the next day. After dinner, they often walked down to the shore to watch the boats sailing or just to get fresh air since being in the courtroom felt stifling all day. One evening, on such a stroll, they came across Ron and Harry arriving at the hotel for their deposition the following day concerning Poroshenko's right hand, Pavel Smirnov. Arm-in-arm with Snape, she noted immediately the surprise on both of their faces.
"Would you like to join us for coffee or tea? There's not much else at this time, unfortunately." Harry shook Snape's hand before handing their bags to a tall bellhop. It was obvious Ron was reluctant, but Harry agreed immediately.
"It was a bumpy port, I thought we'd end up in Finland by the time we finally made it." Harry explained as they wobbled to the dining area. Ron and Harry sat across from Hermione and Snape, all fidgeting like they'd never had a conversation before.
"Would you like tea, gentlemen?" The waitress asked, knowing Hermione and Snape's orders so well she rarely asked.
"I wouldn't mind something stronger." Ron finally spoke, knowing that this first interaction with Snape, since he'd found out his ex-wife was dating him, he would need some help to get him through. Even on a good day, it was hard for Ron not to see Snape as the same man he'd been in the classroom all those years ago.
"You know what, me too. Round of vodka, please, and bring the bitter lemon." Hermione added, noting that perhaps a little spirit would do them all good. Snape's raised brow made its first appearance.
"One round, it won't be like Orkney, I promise."
"Orkney?" Harry asked, curious about a mission Hermione hadn't talked about often. Surprisingly, Snape was the one to explain.
"Imagine Finnegan and Vance, a whole bottle into lagavulin when this one thinks it's a great idea to drink vodka she'd been given from a contact with bitter lemon. Four shots in, she was singing karaoke at the bar, no microphone, no music, and got us kicked out, but not before she almost destroyed all the bar stools trying to clean the place before we left."
"Don't forget you sang as well." Hermione chimed in, but Snape only stared blankly at her.
"I most certainly did not. You were the only one singing because Finnegan and Vance were passed out and I was corralling you before our faces were plastered all over the town and our mission failed." At this point Harry was laughing hysterically imaging an annoyed Snape trying to round up three drunk people, including one headstrong Hermione.
"To be a fly on the wall." Harry shot his vodka and bitter lemon as Hermione pushed Snape's arm.
"You make me sound like a drunken mess."
"We know you're the queen of rules, Hermione, but come on, it's fun to let go." Harry teased, pouring her another shot. The waitress had ignored Hermione when she asked for a round and instead brought them an entire bottle.
"You're quiet." She remarked to Ron as he took another shot. Harry prodded him, but Ron felt uncomfortable seeing Hermione and Snape getting on harmoniously. Somehow he'd hoped that things between them weren't as serious as Hermione had made it seem.
"Just ready to get this over with so we can go back."
"I'd do almost anything to not have to see Poroshenko again." Hermione added, her mind racing with annoyance and anxiety. Snape put his hand on hers and squeezed it tightly before simply letting it rest there, noting how quickly she seemed to relax and ignore the uncomfortable feeling of having to see someone so vile eyes remained locked as she tried to think about something else, anything else. She didn't even consider Ron in the moment or how seeing Snape's affection towards her might make him uncomfortable; she was so lost in her own feelings that it didn't even occur to her that Harry and Ron were even there, until Harry finally broke the spell.
"Ginny asked me to give you this, it's the first copy." Harry pushed the first copy of their new paper, The Endeavor, which would be a monthly journal from important leaders in the community, arts, and other serious goings-on around Britain.
"She published my article?" Hermione's name was written in bold letters below the tagline, 'Constant Vigilance'. She'd been published before in The Daily Prophet describing issues regarding magical law enforcement, but this was different.
"Wouldn't Moody be proud." Harry laughed, tipping his glass to her and drinking it in one go.
"But how did she even get it, it's been sitting on my desk for two years." And then she remembered her letterbox being askew and looked at Ron, who was avoiding her eyes methodically.
"Perhaps I saw it amongst some letters and gave it a read; it's brilliant, of course, I mean I had to let her read it, and look it's published now." Hermione splashed him with bitter lemon.
"If he hadn't, I would've." Snape said, coming to Ron's defense. She splashed him as well, causing them all to laugh.
"It's good to know you both snoop through my things." She added, splashing them both again..
"Now I have seen it all. Thousands of Hogwarts alumni would pay to do what you just did, Hermione." Harry joked, between laughs, almost choking on his last shot. They continued laughing for a bit until Hermione knew it was time to head to their room.
"Don't stay up too late, boys." Harry and Ron waved them off as Hermione and Snape walked towards the elevators.
"That went better than expected." She surmised, kissing him inside the elevator.
"Weasley needed a laugh, and you're welcome." His lips crushed hers, pushing her back against the wall of the elevator.
"Someday I want to hear you sing, Severus." Chuckling, he held her close as they walked to their room and refused to reply. It didn't take long for them to get comfortable, both just intoxicated enough to abandon all thoughts of the trial or Hermione's ex-husband, instead they were completely aligned, no awkward elbows or uncooperative clothing, and it was in that moment, buzzed but not drunk that Hermione realized she loved Severus.
The courtroom was packed, unlike the trials of the guards and lackeys, it unnerved Hermione briefly, until she spotted the people there to support her and instantly the true Gryffindor in her came out. When Poroshenko was brought into the room, Hermione refused to break eye contact with him, his blue eyes cold and menacing. Lawyers presented their opening statements and Hermione was called first, answering typical questions about her job, her role with magical law enforcement, and her knowledge of Poroshenko and his group. His lawyer was a snake, trying to trip her up by speaking in vague riddles, thankfully she was able to maintain her story, to focus on the torture and shame brought on by her time, her forced kidnapping and hostage situation. Each redundant question was met with her wounds, broken fingers, shoulder unable to completely rotate, and burns on her ankle. She refused to back down.
"Would you say that those injuries are the result of your lack of judgement, Ms. Granger, or do you suggest that my client inflicted those wounds." His lawyer was going for the kill.
"FIrstly, I am not on trial here, Sir, and I never said Poroshenko inflicted these wounds, but he ordered them and kept me in that prison for three months without following any of the statutes of the 23rd Vienna Convention wherein my leadership was not notified, to say the least." Hermione countered, answering without malice, staring boldly at Poroshenko the entire time. She was dismissed not long after, but remained in the courtroom to hear the rest of the testimony, noting the horrors that Poroshenko had committed across Europe, killing those resistant to his regime and anyone who got in his way. He'd also started collecting people for special missions to kill muggle children, as though no one would notice. Snape had remained at her side, never being called. The only surprise of the day was Viktor Krum being called, he hadn't been on the witness sheet so she was truly shocked when he entered the courtroom.
They questioned Viktor for over an hour both sides trying to show that he wasn't a credible witness. It was when they asked him about Hermione that she finally looked at him, this man she'd trusted for years, her first crush beyond Ron, the first kiss she'd ever known, and most importantly, the first man to appreciate her intellect. It was almost unbearable listening to him detail being contacted by Pavel Smirnov and going to the prison, leaving the money in hopes she would be set free, but also admitting they knew his family had ties to Poroshenko. When he was dismissed, Hermione left the courtroom, unable to hear another word about the event. At this point, she was worried they might give Poroshenko a lighter sentence because it was his minions who had done the brutal work, Poroshenko only orchestrating the events. Snape followed her out, helping her to a water fountain and then to rest on a bench.
"What if they don't convict him?" She theorized, wiping her eyes and trying to stop her tears.
"They have to, there's too much evidence against him. But, worst case scenario, we'll make your home a safe house with the same enchantments as Grimmauld Place. I honestly doubt he'd step one foot out of this courthouse before someone would take him out, Hermione, please don't fret." He held her tightly against him, trying to help her feel the ease and comfort of knowing that soon Poroshenko would be gone, if not dead.
"Thank you for being with me." She whispered, wiping her eyes one more time. Ron and Harry came out of the courtroom about thirty minutes later, both looking shocked.
"That freak actually testified," Ron paused, "he had the bollocks to say he was doing the world a favor. If they don't kill him, I will." Hermione laughed at Ron's righteous indignation and hoped he was right. Before she could ask them what else he'd said, Shacklebolt walked out of the courtroom.
"They've sentenced him already." HIs tone was solemn, but Hermione knew by the look in his face that the case had gone in their favor. It didn't matter to her exactly what they did to Poroshenko now, she just didn't want to see or deal with him ever again.
"That was fast!" Harry called out, helping Hermione stand so they could leave. As Shacklebolt spoke with Snape, Harry and Ron started walking with her towards the exit, but she heard Shacklebolt say, 'execution' and knew that it would finally be the end of her old job, her fulfilling but dangerous job. It took everything she had not to collapse in joy. Snape didn't catch up with them until they were in the hotel, she was already packing when he came in.
"It's done." Was all he said and she knew that Poroshenko was dead. As soon as he was next to her, she collapsed into his arms, forcing them both onto the bed. In that moment, she didn't want to let him go, even for a second. If she could've made a cocoon of his body around hers, she would've.
"Can we go somewhere before I go back to work? Do you think St. Mungos will give you time?" She pleaded, not wanting to return to reality too soon.
"It will be no problem. Where would you like to go?" He asked, tracing her collarbone with his thumb.
"Skye." Her hushed word met his lips before he consumed her, softly pulling her further back onto the bed and unbuttoning her robes. He nodded in acquiescence, his hand traveling across the flesh peeking out above her cotton shirt down her sides.
"I love you, Severus." He stopped, surprised at her words. Hermione couldn't hold it back another moment, he had to know how she felt before they returned and went about their regular lives. Each day in Russia, she thought of him, how strong he'd been all those years and how much he had sacrificed not only for Harry but for all of them, including for her for over eleven years. Even if he couldn't say it in that moment, she at least wanted him to know the depth of her feelings.
"I love you as well, Hermione." And what should've been the one of the worst days of her life had suddenly become one of the best.
