Okay, so I've been MIA for some time now on this one and I'm really, really sorry for that. Thank you to everyone who has waited patiently and not pestered me to update. And a massive thank you to Zadiee Lighthart for the encouraging review that brought me back to life to work on this. This chapter is for you, sweetie.
As always, I own nothing related to HP, and all the characters from that world belong to JK Rowling.
And now, enjoy!
Sumus Noctis
Chapter Five
"Professor Snape!" Hermione breathed, eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, Miss Granger, though I am not a professor anymore." Snape drawled in his usual baritone.
"Oh, last I heard you were still at Hogwarts. When did you leave?" That had certainly been the word from Dean the last time she had seen him, but then, that had been over a year ago, before her...change.
"Last year."
Hermione nodded slowly, it at least answered in question of who owned the new Apothecary, and it would seem Snape had set up shop in Diagon Alley not too long after leaving.
"Why did you leave? I mean, I know you didn't really like teaching, but I always kind of thought you'd be there forever."
Snape chuckled, his deep voice rumbling, dark eyes assessing, as always. "How astute of you, Miss Granger. No, I never did like teaching, the only reason I stayed after the war was for Minerva. She has vacated the seat of Head Mistress. Professor Flitwick is now the Head Master."
She wasn't entirely sure how well Filius Flitwick could control an entire school of hormonal teenage children. Flitwick didn't exactly have a strong presence given he only stood at four feet tall. "Hmm… So, you set up the new Apothecary."
"Indeed. Is this all your purchases, Miss Granger?" His tone was bored, fingers drumming on the counter.
"Yes."
Snape told her the total price and she paid without a word, but as she turned to leave he called her back.
"I uh, believe I saw Mister Potter last night." It wasn't a question, but Hermione nodded anyway. "I didn't know he was still around here."
"Yes, we both own a nightclub not far from here. We opened it about six months ago." Hermione explained, a soft smile coming to her face when she thought of their little venture they had together.
"I have heard of it, Sumus Noctis, I believe it is called?" One eyebrow arched up and Hermione knew that look.
"Yes," she said, tone careful.
"Interesting choice of name for the club, Miss Granger, don't you think?" She looked at Snape as he eyed her in a calculating manner, eyes betraying nothing of what he was thinking.
"I have no idea what you mean, Professor." Hermione kept her face blank, she couldn't work out if it was a genuine question or a jibe, and she was in no way about to reveal their nature.
"Well, the Latin translation is 'we are the night'. I find it interesting that you would choose those words considering yours and Mister Potter's affliction."
Shit. He knew. She could see a flash of something she didn't like in the fathomless eyes, an almost look of pity mixed with...not quite revulsion but definitely something unpleasant. Hermione's eyes were cold as she answered him, rage burning through her.
"It is because of our affliction, as you so disgustingly put it, that we chose the name of our club, Professor. For your information, what I am is not an affliction, it is not some disease that riddles my body, nor is it something I believe I should be ashamed of. I chose this life. You would do well to remember that!" Hermione turned on her heel, but stopped her exit at his next words.
"Perhaps, but Mister Potter didn't." The normally deep voice was quiet, soft. The words barely spoken loud enough to hear but Hermione did.
She turned and stormed back to the desk, her eyes dark with anger. "You don't know a thing about Harry and what he has gone through. He may not have chosen the life of a Vampire, but he has dealt with it tremendously well. He accepts what he is, and carries on, he doesn't go around jumping any human in sight and draining them. He's worked so hard to keep what we are quiet because the public will instantly revile him, his life will once again be splashed across the front page of the Prophet and he will never know peace because there will always be hate mail or some reporter hounding him as he walks the streets because they just love to print shit about him. How dare you judge us!"
Snape sneered in her face. "I am hardly one to judge, Miss Granger. You should not be so quick to your temper."
Hermione's right hand shot out and slapped the Potions Master across the face. "You should choose your wording better. Harry's right- you never will change. You'll always be a sarcastic, lonely and horrible person. You hate the world and shun anyone who has ever shown you a shred of kindness. Harry may have hated you in the beginning, but by the end of the war, and after your near death, he changed. He's been so grateful for what you did- he stood to your defence at your hearing, never saying a bad word against you. And you just throw that back in his face by disappearing, never once thanking him for it. It is because of Harry that you are not in Azkaban, rotting in a dank cell for all the horrible deeds you committed. No one wanted to believe that you had been innocent of those crimes, but Harry was hell bent on making sure the wizarding world knew all that you had done and sacrificed to keep him alive and Voldemort from taking over our world. No one can say a mean word about you without him jumping to your defence immediately. You are a vile person, Professor Snape!"
Snape's eyes widened with every word before what little colour he did have drained from his face. Hermione didn't even wait to hear another word from him, she just left the Apothecary without a backward glance and went home. She could only hope that Harry wasn't there to see her anger or he would question her. If she told him that Snape had been horrible, he would believe it, Hermione had no reason to lie. But then he would confront Snape and she didn't want that. Harry's emotions often got the better of him, and Snape would only use Harry's feelings as a weapon to hurt and ridicule him.
She entered the silent house of Grimmauld Place and heard nothing, at least not until she called out and Graysen appeared before her and landed on her shoulder. She stroked the bird lovingly.
"Hi there, I see Harry let you in." He chirruped. "Come on, let's go sort these ingredients out, I need to calm down."
Sensing her pain, Graysen rubbed his beak against her cheek and gave a soft coo in her ear. She walked off to her lab in the basement, taking Graysen with her. She decided to sort out the ingredients, go for a bath and get ready to open the club with Harry.
-oo0oo-
Harry waited until Hermione had left before getting dressed for his day- he needed to get a substantial amount from the wholesaler. He made a mental list of everything that they needed: Ogden's Finest Fire Whiskey, Butterbeer (bottles), Vodka, Rum, Gin, Pumpkin Juice, Orange Juice, Lemonade, Cola, Energy Drinks (any). Harry liked to have Muggle drinks as well, especially with the Muggleborns. They were raised in the Muggle world for the first eleven years of their life, so it stood to reason that they would have a taste for things like Cola, Lemonade, and Orange juice. Plus, many of his wizarding customers had expressed a liking for the Muggle beverages as mixers.
Harry dressed in black jeans, grey short sleeved shirt, black leather jacket (which Harry had pinched from Sirius' room) and black boots. Looking in the mirror he eyed himself. What a way to portray the Vampire look, Harry! He chuckled to himself, he never thought he'd be the kind of person who would love wearing black, but he did, especially when he combined it with a little green.
Just as he was about to leave there was a tapping at the window in the living room. Walking in he saw a raven sitting on the ledge waiting patiently. Opening the window, he moved back for the bird to fly inside. It perched on the edge of the couch and stuck its leg out, Harry took the proffered parchment and went to stroke the bird's head. Giving a disgruntled screech, the raven nipped his finger before flying off to the other end of the room.
Harry opened the parchment and read the message. Graysen huh? Nice name. He smiled to himself. It seems fitting that a bird like Graysen would choose Hermione. Harry had never been able to understand how someone could abandon their pet or familiar, especially one as beautiful as Graysen. He didn't begrudge the bird his nip- it made sense. "I wouldn't trust easily either, Graysen."
He walked closer to the raven, keeping his hands in the air, showing he meant no harm. "You make yourself at home until Hermione returns, I need to go out."
Graysen gave a grateful squawk before soaring off somewhere upstairs. I hope that bird is house trained! Harry really didn't want to come home and have to clean raven crap up. Locking the door, he checked his wards- which were strong- and Disapparated without a sound.
He arrived a moment later at the wholesalers- Parkinson Drinks. Pansy Parkinson from Slytherin had taken over after her father's death in the war. She made a steady business, but Harry knew he was her biggest customer. Unfortunately, anyone associated with Slytherin was slurred.
Harry no longer believed in the stupid house rivalry, it had been ridiculous in school, and thought anyone who carried that idiocy on into adulthood was an ignoramus. He approached the main desk to see Pansy on the phone with someone- whoever it was, they were shouting. Even without his Vampire hearing, he would have been able to overhear the conversation with ease.
With a hissed 'Fuck you' she slammed the phone down, dropped her head into her hands and sniffled. Waiting a moment, she raised her eyes and saw Harry.
"Harry! Hi, I'm sorry, rough morning." Pansy attempted a smile.
"Don't sweat it, Pansy. Another customer giving you the run around the mill?"
"Something like that, I gave him a line of credit to get his drinks in for his pub, but now he's refusing to pay his bill because he claims he didn't know who I was. Which I find hilarious since he and dad went to school together."
"It'll get better, Pansy. Not as many people are as bitter about the war as they used to be. Hang in there. Does my shopping here help?" Harry asked, genuinely concerned.
"Yes, Harry. If I'm disgustingly honest, without your business, I'd go under. I don't want that to happen- dad built this up from nothing, he'd turn in his grave if I didn't put up a fight to keep it running." Pansy heaved a sigh.
"Hey, that's not going to happen. I'm not taking my business anywhere else, I'm more than happy with what I get here. Now, I have a shopping list for you, if you take care of that, I'll field a few calls, give you a break?"
Pansy broken into a wide smile. "You're a star, Harry, thank you!"
With that, she turned and dashed away, Harry's list in hand. The moment she was out of sight the phone rang. He steeled himself and picked up the phone.
"Good morning, Parkinson Drinks, Harry speaking." Harry greeted the bodiless customer.
"Where is that Parkinson whore? I got a letter from her saying that I owe her ten thousand galleons! I'm not paying that Slytherin slag anything!" The customer screeched.
"Well, Mr…?"
"Finnegan, Seamus Finnegan." Harry gave a feral smile, he'd always wanted a reason to get back at Finnegan for slurring him in fifth year.
"Well, Mr Finnegan, I have a signed form here saying that you were given a line of credit, of up to twenty thousand galleons, you would have one month to the date of purchase to pay any balance incurred through using that credit. If you fail to pay, then Miss Parkinson is within her rights to take this before the Ministry. And I assure you, Mr Finnegan, they will not see that Miss Parkinson being a Slytherin a good enough reason not to pay your bill. Now, as Miss Parkinson has not heard the disgusting names you called her, I am willing to allow you one more week to pay the balance, if not, then I will take this before the Ministry myself. Am I clear, Mr. Finnegan?" Harry's voice turned to a growl at the end.
"Uh… Erm… Yes uh, Harry, was it? I'll come in tomorrow and take care of it with Miss Parkinson." Harry had to force down the laugh that threatened to take over.
"See that you do, Mr Finnegan. I'd hate to appear before the Ministry with your pathetic reasons." With that, Harry put the phone down and allowed the laugh he'd held in burst forth.
He was still laughing five minutes later when Pansy returned, Harry's items floating behind her. She gave him a quizzical look, but waited until his guffaws had ended.
"Sorry, Pansy. I just had the pleasure of talking with Seamus Finnegan. He'll be coming in tomorrow to pay up." Harry winked.
Pansy gaped at him. "I've been trying for weeks to get him to pay! What did you do?"
"I told him that you being a Slytherin wasn't a good enough excuse to not pay, so I would take it before the Ministry as you have a signed agreement from him. Plus, I have been looking for a reason to make him miserable since our fifth year and I finally got that chance."
Pansy laughed with him, before transferring the items floating around her to Harry. He waved his hand and the items once more began to drift in the air. They had a quick catch up chat before Harry felt an immense rage pour through the bond.
"I'm sorry, Pansy, I need to leave." Harry frowned.
"Hermione?" Pansy asked softly, dark eyes soft with concern.
He nodded, hugged her goodbye and stalked out of the building Apparating directly into Grimmauld Place. Everything he had bought slipped to the floor before he strode to the lab, finding Hermione sat at her workbench, crying softly with Graysen twittering around her.
He gently shooed off the bird, needing to get close to Hermione. He eyed her over, checking for any external injuries, but finding none. Puzzled as to why she was crying, he knelt before her and placed his index finger under her chin, forcing her head up to meet his eyes.
"What's the matter, Hermione?" His voice was gentle, but demanded an explanation.
"It's nothing, Harry, I bumped into someone from the past, some harsh words were thrown around and I guess it just kind of got to me. I'm sorry you rushed home."
"I didn't rush as such. Pansy and I were just rounding off our conversation anyway. Who was it you bumped into?"
"Just someone from Hogwarts, you know very few people from there got on with me, it just shook me up is all. I wasn't expecting to see them. I'm fine, Harry, honest. I'm going to take a bath and get ready to open up." Hermione gave Harry a watery smile before leaving the lab. He glanced around at the raven that had looked at her back before turning to face Harry.
"What do you think, Graysen? Should I push this or leave it alone?" Harry sighed.
The bird hopped over, nipping Harry's fingers and gave a soft squawk. "You think I should leave it?" The bird nipped him harder. "Okay, I get it, I should push it. But not right now, maybe later, while we're setting up."
Graysen gave one last cry before flying out of the basement, no doubt to go find Hermione. That bird really does care for her, Harry mused. He was grateful that she had someone other than himself, Harry wasn't always around and sometimes he worried that she got lonely.
-oo0oo-
Hermione went off upstairs, set the bath going and walked back in to find Graysen sitting on the sink eyeing her. He really is a clever bugger. She didn't need to call to him, he knew when she wanted or needed him. She started to strip off and Graysen flew out of the room with a soft cry- she shrugged her shoulders and sighed as she lowered herself into the water. It seemed hot against her cold skin, but then anything warm felt at a much higher temperature than it would have when she was human.
The heat wasn't painful, in fact, she welcomed it. The smell of lavender permeated the air from the bath salts that she had used since being a teenager. Hermione allowed herself to soak for a while after washing her hair, then climbed out knowing she needed to get ready for the afternoon. Casting a wandless Tempus, she saw it was already two o'clock, she still had two hours, but they would need some lunch before they left.
She went through to her room clad in her towel, Graysen was sat on top of her wardrobe, once more eyeing her. She understood his behaviour- despite their instant bond, Graysen was still wary of her. He had been hurt already when his previous owner had abandoned him outside the Menagerie. If that had happened to her, she would have been the same.
"Come on, Graysen, help me choose something to wear tonight," she called to the beautiful raven. He gave a caw, flapped down to her shoulder and perched lightly enough to not dig his claws into her skin.
She rubbed a finger through the feathers on his head, the bird's eyes closing and leaning into the gentle touch. When done he pecked her ear very gently and flew down to her bed, eyeing the wardrobe as if actually prepared to help her pick clothes. "Did Harry tell you to come look after me?"
Graysen just plucked the feathers under his wing and flapped them out a couple of times so the dead ones fell out. Hermione laughed and snagged them, laying them on her desk to make new quills. Thankful that Harry hadn't pushed what had happened, she started moving clothes about until she found something to wear, checking if her new feathered friend agreed.
A soft caw at her choice in dress told her all she needed, Graysen obviously approved of the knee-length deep red dress. "You have excellent taste, my lovely," she cooed to the raven. Checking her imagine in the mirror she smiled, feeling more herself and the bond between her and Harry sung happily. "Time to party," she murmured.
She set up Graysen with food and water, left the window open in case he wanted to go for a fly and left her room. She met Harry in the kitchen and quickly made them some lunch, she could see the questions in his green eyes but refused to answer them, instead giving him a peck on the cheek.
"What's that for?" He said with a chuckle.
"No reason, just expressing my adoration for my beloved brother."
Harry rolled his eyes at the words but blew her a kiss back, tucking into his sandwich with a grin and laughing as she danced around the kitchen singing at the top of her lungs. He'd forgotten all about her earlier emotions that he'd felt through the bond and for the moment, life was once again brilliant.