Chapter 17 - Long Away

Severus,

I know that Professor Dumbledore told me it would be unwise to write to you, but I cannot help my hand from moving over this piece of parchment.

On the day of your departure you told me that you would only be gone for a few days. I acknowledge that you were most likely attempting to console and comfort me, but it has now been three weeks and I've had no word from anybody in regards to your return. Dumbledore assures me that you're fine and have everything under control, but feels no inclination to give me specific details. I'm sorry Severus, but I need to know. What is happening? Are you safe? When will you come back?

The NEWT examinations are steadily approaching, and every time I attempt to revise I find that I am barely able to make it through a sentence of reading before my thoughts turn to you. Whatever I am doing at any given moment seems so unimportant and insignificant if you are not alright.

Please come back soon. I could not bear to lose you as well.

Hermione.

…

Hermione,

I have not the resources or the luxury of time to reply to your letter in full. Just know that I am safe. An end to all of this seems nigh, but I cannot promise anything. The actions of the Deatheaters are unpredictable.

Severus Snape.

…

Hermione sighed with unspoken emotion as she traced a fingertip over Snape's signature. It, along with his brief words of attempted comfort, was written upon a small scrap of parchment. The edges were torn and it was stained with dirt, and seemed to her to represent the state Severus must himself be in.

It had been a week since she had sent her own letter from the owlery underneath the cover of darkness. This brought the total length of his absence to a month. The Christmas holidays had concluded and those above her had returned, at least in most cases, to rigorous study. But Hermione had not found the will to do so as well. She had passed the threshold of pain, and now simply felt numb. This numbness kept her from doing anything productive or positive, leaving her to sit silently upon Severus' armchair, staring blankly into the dancing flames of the fireplace. She would move in and out of unrestful sleep, and occasionally flick through the pages of an Arithmancy or Charms book without absorbing any information. She knew how pathetic it was, to have placed her own life upon the shelf to pine over a missing man, but it could not be helped.

Her mind, when not occupied with images of the potions master's assumed hardships, replayed their final evening together over and over. He had told her that he loved her. She now wished more than anything that she had returned the sentiment with words rather than mere actions. What if he should never return, and she had forsaken the chance to tell him... But no. When such contemplations arose Hermione told her mind to stop. He would come back.

The morning after receiving Snape's letter, Hermione found herself in that same armchair, a Transfiguration tome resting unopened upon her lap. A soft tap upon the door roused Hermione and she felt her heart leap into her throat. Could it be Severus? As the first wave of excitement prepared to course through her body, a voice in the back of her mind told her that he would not have knocked. Despite this, she placed the book upon the floor and moved the open the door. Standing in the threshold was Professor Minerva McGonagall. "Good morning, Hermione." She was smiling warmly, an expression she had always reserved for her favourite student. Hermione quickly changed her look of slight disappointment to one of surprised pleasure, and welcomed the professor inside. They stood looking at one another awkwardly for a few moments before Hermione invited McGonagall to take a seat in the armchair she herself had occupied in happier times.

After Hermione had lowered herself into the one opposite, Professor McGonagall smiled once more, gesturing towards the Transfiguration book that lay abandoned beside Hermione's left foot. "I see that you've been revising." Hermione was already nodding and about to reply in the affirmative when the truth unexpectedly slipped from her mouth. "Well, I've been trying to. But to be honest Professor, I've been having trouble concentrating on my schoolwork, what with... everything that's happening." Hermione didn't quite know what to say. She wasn't sure if McGonagall knew anything about the context of her relationship with Severus

But the professor was nodding in understanding, a look of concern replacing the smile. "You mustn't blame Albus for letting me know about your residence here. He's been a little concerned. I know that you have struck up a... friendship of sorts with Professor Snape." Hermione thought she detected a faint hint of disapproval in her companion's tone, and smiled to herself. The first true smile in weeks.

Professor McGonagall continued. "So I won't lie to you and say that he isn't in any danger. Because we both know that he is, and it's immensely worrying. But he's been on longer and more risky journeys for the Order before, and has come out unscathed. Dwelling upon his situation won't help anybody. I'm not asking you to stop thinking about him. But just try to occupy yourself with other things. If not revision, then something else. Perhaps you could brew some potions. I hear you now favour that subject over Transfiguration. I must admit Miss Granger, I'm a little hurt." Professor McGonagall pursed her lips self-mockingly before smiling at her old student. Hermione laughed and apologised in the same tone of mock sincerity.

She was surprised at the extent to which this unexpected visit had lightened her mood. But as she prepared to ask Professor McGonagall about the progress of her classes, a brilliantly silver and beautiful bird burst into the room for the second time in Hermione's memory. It spoke once again in Albus Dumbledore's voice. How could something that she had always found so soothing suddenly instil such terror?

"Hermione and Minerva. Severus has returned. Please come to the hospital wing immediately."

…

Well that was a lot quicker, wasn't it? I quite enjoy writing two people corresponding by letter. I may try to work it into later chapters a little more frequently. Anyway, let me know what you think about the story/chapter.