A/N. So here's a nice long chappy for you all :3 It's slowly coming together! The first ten or so chapters I mainly focused on building the two characters up, and then the plot thickens ;) It will be a long story, atleast 50+ chapters. Anyways, review, and enjoy!
Hermione groaned as she opened her eyes to blinding light. It was the weekend. Why must that beam of sunlight insist on falling directly on her face? She sat up, wincing as her muscles protested after being still for 9 hours. She stretched as a yawn hit her, and she walked to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and frowned. Her bedhead was always the same, no matter how she slept. She stepped in the shower, willing the water to tame her hair as she washed herself. Stepping out, she walked to the room and got dressed, choosing a casual attire comprising of muggle jeans and a jumper, pulling her cloak over it. She brushed her hair, and smiled as she remembered today was Saturday. Harry was coming to visit today! Harry and her dear friend, Luna.
She chuckled as she recalled how Harry had come to her three years ago, a dazed look in his eyes as he recounted how Luna had asked him out. Harry and Ginny had agreed to part as friends after the war, both wanted to pursue different things and they realized they would be better off as friends. Shortly after Harry started his Auror career, he saw Luna again, and they started to spend more and more time in each others company, until at least Luna grew tired of waiting for Harry and took matters into her own hands. Hermione frowned slightly, the memories of Harry and Luna reminding her of how painfully things ended between her and Ron. Finding him in bed a month after last Christmas with some Quidditch fan girl had brought an abrupt end to their precarious relationship. It was already straining due to the fact that Ron spent so much time away attending Quidditch games and tournaments and Hermione was so wrapped up in her studies. It was only a matter of time, Hermione thought.
She shrugged, looking in the mirror. She was better off without him. They hadn't spoken for the better part of the year, and Hermione had liked it that way. When Ron attempted to apologize and ask for her back, she had shut him down. Firmly stating the only relationship they would ever share again would be one of friendship. They could never be as they once were, but they had returned to the realm of civility.
Hermione grimaced, thinking about how tense the next holiday season might be. As far as she knew, she would be spending the holidays with Harry and Luna, which in turn meant Ron and his family. Oh well, she would cross that bridge when she came to it. It was only September, after all. She had a few months to think about the holiday season. Hermione pulled out her pocket watch. It was only 9:00am, Harry wouldn't be arriving for another three hours. She left her quarters, deciding to have breakfast in the Great Hall to pass some time. She arrived, looking towards the staff table.
A few people were missing, including Professor Snape. She shrugged. Not having to deal with his perpetual foul temper would make her meal that much more enjoyable. She was happy to see that Minerva was sitting at the table, and she took a seat next to the headmistress.
"Good morning, Minerva," she said cheerily as she tucked into the porridge in front of her. "Have a good week?"
Minerva sighed. "As good as it can be, what with students losing their way, hexing their eyebrows off and Professor Snape managing to be the cause of more than a few hysterical students in my office."
Hermione sighed. "He really hasn't changed a bit since I was here last."
"No, no he has not," Minerva agreed. "If anything, he has become more withdrawn since the end of the war. No friends, he never goes out and he spends all his time in his quarters," She sighed dramatically. "I just want the man to be happy for once in his miserable life, after all he did for the Order, and the war."
Hermione nodded, stifling a giggle at how exaggerated Minerva's expressions were. "Yes, I wish him happiness too. Although, I don't know who could possibly have the patience to put up with his, er, unique personality."
Minerva glared at Hermione. "You of all people should know to never judge a book by its cover." She sniffed and took a sip from the cup in front of her. "I think Severus has a bit more to offer than what he decides to show people."
Hermione nodded. She didn't know quite what to say to that, and just let it be. Looking around she noticed not too many students were at the tables. She smirked, recalling how many breakfasts she missed while studying. She finished her meal, and said goodbye to Minerva and started for the library. She figured she could get some light reading in before Harry came. She had the fireplace in her quarters connected to the floo for the day, so Harry and Luna could enter and exit without too much trouble. Reaching the library, she gave a brief smile to Madam Pince, who was sitting behind her desk. Madam Pince scowled at Hermione, and warned her not to damage any of the books. Hermione nodded solemnly. She never misused a book. While walking between the shelves, Hermione noticed the Restricted section had been downsized. Probably in an effort to prevent students learning about any sort of dark magic, she mused. Selecting a thick book on the histories of charm inventing, she walked back to her quarters. Settling down in the squashy armchair in front of the window, she started reading.
Hermione was startled by a loud whooshing sound from the fireplace, and a muffled "umph". She stood and turned to face a soot covered Harry and a laughing Luna.
"Harry!'" she squealed, rushing to hug him, knocking his glassed off in the process.
Harry grunted, but smiled as he hugged her back. "D'you think you can let me breathe?" he wheezed.
Hermione giggled and let go, turning to give Luna a hug. "Oh I'm so glad you're here! Honestly, I was about to go crazy. Two weeks is too long to go without seeing my best friends" she said in an excited rush.
Luna smiled dreamily. "Hermione, hunting for Crumpled-Horned Snorkacks isn't something we can just drop, you know."
Harry gave Hermione an embarrassed grin. "Luna wanted to spend my first week off from training in Sweden."
Hermione laughed. "Did you find anything, Luna?" she asked kindly, as she led her friends to the sofa.
"No, not yet. But I am positive we found a footprint!" she said enthusiastically, taking a seat on the sofa.
"Luna, dear, that was a mountain goat print," Harry said, exasperated.
"No Harry I am sure it was a Crumpled-Horned Snorkack print!" said Luna firmly.
Hermione grinned, she loved her friends. "Regardless of what footprints you may or may not have found, did you enjoy yourselves?"
"Yeah!" said Harry, grinning. "It was loads of fun. You should go sometime!"
Hermione winced. "Maybe next summer. I doubt I'll have time, what with teaching and constantly grading essays."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, that must keep you busy. But then again," he added in an amused voice, "aren't you always?"
Hermione laughed. "Of course."
The afternoon passed quickly as the three friends caught up. Evening approached, and the trio enjoyed a tasty dinner in the Great hall. Harry and the headmistress spent a while debating the new ministry tactics concerning the catching of dark wizards. Afterwards, Hermione asked if they wanted to take a walk down to Hagrid's hut. Both agreed enthusiastically, and they started to walk down to their old friends abode. After knocking loudly on Hagrid's door, he answered, grumbling amiably about how he had perfectly good hearing.
"Harry! An' Luna! How've you two been?" he said cheerily, as he encased the two in a lung-crushing hug.
"Hagrid," Luna choked out. "I can't breathe."
Hagrid let go, looking abashed. "Sorry, I've jus' been lookin' forward to seein' yeh two" he said as he led them inside.
Hermione grinned, happy to have such great company to spend an evening with. The night passed with much laughter, all enjoying each others company greatly. Eventually Luna had to gently remind Harry that he had work in the morning, and Harry and Hagrid spent a few minutes happily abusing the ministry for making Harry work on a Sunday. The three said their goodbyes to Hagrid, and trekked back up to the castle. Once inside they made their way to Hermione's quarters, and left with promises to see each other again soon. Hermione waved them away, and cleaned up the soot with a flick of her wand. Climbing into bed, she smiled to herself. It had been a day well spent.
~0o0o0~
Severus walked towards the Forbidden Forest, under the cover of a disillusionment charm. He had to gather some dried nettles for tomorrow's classes. He was having the first years brew their first Swelling Solution, and he had spent the weekend making a surplus of Deflating Draught, and had run out of dried nettles. Both potions required that particular ingredient for the base. He looked around as he stealthily made his way deeper and deeper into the forest. He would prefer to not have a confrontation between the centaurs. Even though it had been well over 5 years since Dumbledore asked Firenze to teach, the centaurs don't forgive easily. They had gotten better, acting slightly more civil towards humans that entered the forest, but still. He didn't feel like weaseling his way out of anything at the moment. He stooped below a tree, feeling the forest floor for any nettles. He could always pick fresh ones and dry them using magic, but he preferred for them to be naturally dried. Finding a few, he put them in the small pouch he brought. As he moved through the brush, he also pocketed any stray unicorn hairs he found. The unicorns ran through the bushes with abandon, often leaving scores of stray hairs behind. Feeling pleased with his findings, he turned to head back to the castle.
Slipping through the wooden doors, and he shut them silently and headed for his quarters. Bottling the nettles and putting them on the shelves in the classroom stores, he carefully wound the unicorn hairs and hung them on a peg in his private stores. Walking up to the portrait of the dragon, he quietly asked for entrance to his rooms.
The dragon eyed him curiously. "Only if you tell me why you were out so late," it said with a sniff.
Severus huffed. "Is that really any business of yours?" he asked impatiently.
The dragon glared at him. "Yes," it said haughtily. "Unless you prefer to sleep in cold corridors, of course."
"Fine, you insufferable painting, I was out in the forest gathering ingredients for tomorrow's classes," he said irritably.
"See? Was that so difficult, now?" the dragon said, sounding pleased. "I'm really am interested in your daily activities, Severus Snape. It wasn't simply because I enjoy making your life difficult."
"Open the damned door, dragon," Severus snarled.
The portrait swung open, and he could hear the dragon snickering. He made a mental note to ask the headmistress if it were possible to get a new portrait. The dragon was terribly annoying, as well as being inconvenient.
He pulled a book off his shelf, and slumped down onto his couch, reveling in the comfortable cushions.
Severus started to read, but found he couldn't focus. Instead, strangely, he was thinking about his trial, four years ago. Remembering how Potter and Granger had testified for him, and how Potter produced the memories Severus had given him, making his feelings public knowledge. Severus scowled, wishing there had been a way he could have been released without having the secrets of his emotions revealed.
Lily. He sighed. He missed her. It was slowly coming up the anniversary of her death.
Over twenty years ago she had died, and the guilt was still as strong as it had been the night after he found out the Dark Lord had killed her and James. He remembered vividly his shock at the news, and the following anguish. How Dumbledore had manipulated him to fight for the Order, using his pain as leverage to get Severus to turn spy for Dumbledore. He scowled. Dumbledore was gone, but what he made Severus do in the name of "good" would haunt him forever.
Severus shook his head, wondering why all these feelings suddenly surfaced. He had been doing well at trying to forget his pain and move on. Severus sighed, and got up to pour himself a glass of Firewhiskey. Settling back down, he frowned, staring at the glass of dark amber liquid in his hands. Would he ever stop loving Lily? He didn't think so.
No, she was a part of him as surely as his Dark Mark was. He lifted his left sleeve up, staring at his forearm. It had faded, leaving only a barely discernible shadow, but it was still there. He sighed, yanking his sleeve back down. He didn't know if he wanted the Mark gone. It stood as a reminder of all the terrible things he'd done, of how unworthy he was to be alive. He should have died, and he knew it. It was only luck that he had remembered to slip a bottle of anti-venom in his pocket that night. He barely remembered it. He had forgot he brought it, which is why he gave Potter his memories, wanting him to know the truth. He didn't want to die without someone knowing the truth. After Potter left him, he had remembered the bottle.
Severus took a sip from the glass, staring into the flames. He needed to stop pitying himself, and get some sleep. He had a full day tomorrow, nearly every year had a potions lesson with him. He stood up and went to his bedroom. Undressing, he climbed into bed. His pale skin contrasted sharply against the black sheets. He whispered a spell, and the room went dark. His last thought was of red hair, catching the sunlight as a familiar, but long dead, voice laughed happily.