Don't take that sinner from me
Chapter 20: Always coming back home to you
A/N: I own nothing except my mistakes. I sometimes skipped a few parts that were in the books and movies, but that's because I'm sure all of you are aware of the story and I do not feel like copying the entire book down. Nonetheless, most of the events remain the same. Just twisted it a little so it can fit into my story.
The conversation from that night had kept on replaying through her head, but funnily enough, nothing had changed between them. They still had their arguments, but they also shared their laughter. However, through it all, she was convinced that some tension between them had been lifted.
Now they were quietly eating their breakfast, Snape reading his newspaper and Hermione staring out of the window as the rain slowly fell from the sky. The more time she spent here, the more she liked it. Although, she wasn't quite sure if that was because she got used to the place or because he was there with her.
Either way, she felt really weird to leave Snape that day. Finishing her waffles and pumpkin juice, she moved upstairs and packed a single handbag, having expanded the bottom so it could hold a lot more and collected most of her valuable stuff in it.
Her life was totally unreliable. At any given time of the day something could happen, so whenever she went somewhere, she'd make sure to pack whatever she valued the most.
Having come back downstairs, she saw him waiting in the hallway and they walked out of the house together. After a great argument from the night before, she had allowed him to bring her to the Burrow, even though it was a few seconds of Apparation.
The Dark Lord wasn't that thrilled with having Harry been slipped through his fingers once more, and so Snape did not want her to go all by herself.
Entwining their hands, she was the one who apparated the both of them to just a few feet from the Burrow, knowing that the area surrounding it would be protected greatly. She watched through the small windows in the distance how all the people moved frantically through the house, and a couple of men were setting up the tent in the garden.
"Hermione!" Bill called out to her and she smiled with a wave. Turning to her right, she looked at Snape with a smile on her face. "I'll be back after the wedding, alright?" He nodded and his face was expressionless, yet she noticed the sly smile tugging at his lips.
Giving his hand one last squeeze, she let it go and watched as he apparated away. Taking a deep breath, she approached the men outside who had now successfully set up the tent. "How have you been?" Arthur asked and Hermione smiled politely, "I've been good, thank you. How did bringing Harry to the Burrow go?" She asked as they both walked back to the house and his expression fell.
"How did you know about the move?" Arthur asked as they entered the kitchen, which fell silent upon arrival. Her eyes drifted to Harry and Ron who were chatting at the table, and watched in horror as a bandage was wrapped around George's head, who was talking to Fred and Ginny.
"Well, I heard from Severus." Hermione stuttered slightly and Ron scoffed. "You knew then? Did your husband sent all those Death Eaters after us?" Hermione nodded, "It was his plan they followed, indeed. However, he did it with the best intention at his heart."
Harry let out a humourless laugh, "Heart? Didn't know he had one." Hermione glared at him, "Perhaps that's because you're blinded by hatred, Harry." Harry raised his eyebrows in disbelief, "Yeah, am I? And what are you then, blind to the awful things he did?" Hermione shook her head, "I'm well aware of what he did. However, I know why he did what he has done, and I forgive him for that."
"What happened to you, Hermione?" Ginny slowly whispered from the back and everyone stared at her like she had gone mental. "How is it you can be so sure you can trust him, dear?" Molly asked kindly, however the smile she was carrying didn't reach her eyes. The woman was clearly deeply concerned for her. Could she blame them, though? They hadn't seen the part of him that she did.
"You know I can't talk about that, Mrs Weasley. I just know that I can. He and I.. we've been getting to know each other better throughout these months. He's not as evil as you all say he is." Ron snorted, "Oh yeah? And why is that?"
Hermione tried to speak, but somehow was unable to say the things she wanted to say. She wanted to tell them how he had been protecting Harry throughout all these years, but the enchantment kept her from saying it. "I'm unable to tell you."
"That's what I thought." Ron said in satisfaction but Hermione glared at him, "That's not what I meant. I just mean I can't say it because of the enchantment, Ronald." Molly intervened before Ron could comment on that, by ushering her to take a seat.
Harry stared at her as if she was a stranger to him, and she felt a pang of guilt in her chest. "Why is it that you left me there that night, Hermione? Why did you run off with him after he killed Dumbledore? I know you saw the same thing I did." Hermione hesitated – she knew he was going to ask her this question, but she still hadn't quite figured out how to answer it.
Deciding to play safe, she said: "I don't know if any of you remember the Vows I made, but both my vows were crucial that night. There was no possible way of breaking them." Bill had joined the conversation and looked confused, "What vows? I'm sorry, Hermione, I couldn't make it to your wedding." Hermione smiled weakly at him, appreciating the fact that he wasn't treating her like trash.
Hermione quoted both the vows by heart, speaking softly: ""Will you, Hermione Granger, promise to stay loyal to Severus Snape until the day you die?" And "Will you promise to stay by his side, through the good and the bad?""
"It was crucial I chose for him, Harry. I knew you were in good hands with the other people. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you anything, but I was hoping you'd understand I did what I had to do because of the vows I made." Harry said nothing, but his features softened slightly.
"So, where is it that you've been staying?" Ginny asked as she went to sit beside Hermione, some of the coldness having left her. "At Severus's old home. We needed to hide from the Ministry, because.. well, you know why." Everyone in the room nodded in understanding and they all started to take their seats at the table.
"You said that Snape told you about moving Harry?" Remus spoke and Hermione nodded. "How did he know?" Hermione opened her mouth, but again no sound came out and Hermione let out a frustrated sigh. "Can't say?" Remus asked with a polite smile and she nodded.
"But how about you all? Did everyone make it to the Burrow safely?" Remus was about to answer this but Ron interrupted him bitterly, "Why? If he knew Harry was being moved, I'm sure he told you about what happened as well, didn't he?"
Hermione shook her head, "No, he did not. We had a row before he left, and besides, how was he supposed to know? I'm sure it was crowded with people as you lot moved." Hermione automatically defended him and cleared her throat awkwardly as she realized that she did so.
"Mad-eye's dead." Bill spoke, and she turned her face to her left and only just now noticed the scar on his face. Her eyes widened and he smiled, "This? Greyback's work the day Dumbledore got killed." Another rush of guilt swept over her. Not once had she thought about the other Order members since the day she left Hogwarts.
"I'm glad you have the decency to look ashamed of what you've become." Ron spoke spitefully and Molly hit his head with the cloth she was holding. "Ronald Weasley!" She bellowed and Hermione felt the blood creeping to her cheeks.
"For your information, Ron, I never planned to become any of this. I never planned on becoming Severus's wife, to become a Death Eater, or someone who would have to leave their friends just to keep everyone safe. I never planned on having to leave my family, on having to see the ones I care for so deeply watch me with hatred in their eyes and I most certainly never planned on becoming a killer!" Her anger was rising high. She understood why they were angry, but they had to understand her as well. She didn't do what she did because she liked it. No, she did everything she did because she had to.
"We know, Hermione. Well, at least some of us do." Bill spoke, shooting a dark glare at his younger brother. "Bill was one of the first to forgive your actions." Ginny informed her and Hermione felt a rush of gratitude to the older Weasley son. She and Bill had never been the best of friends, but she had always been able to hold decent conversations with him whenever they met at holiday breaks.
He always had an open mind on matters, and was always willing to consider the other person's situation. And she was more than thrilled to find out that he did now as well. "Thank you." Hermione gratefully said to Bill and he beamed a smile at her.
"Well, now that's all talked out, why don't you four catch up? The rest of us, let's get back to work because the guests will be arriving within an hour!" Molly ordered and everyone went back to what they were doing, leaving Ginny, Hermione, Harry and Ron alone in the kitchen.
It remained silent for a long time, but then Ron spoke up, his voice hard but it had lost the coldness from before. "Do you love him?" Hermione considered this, and then shook her head hesitantly. "No, I don't." It wasn't a lie. She didn't love him, but she did have feelings for him. "But?" Ginny urged on and Hermione shrugged, "Like I said, he and I have gotten closer."
No one really felt like knowing how much closer they had gotten, and therefore switched the subject. "Why did you come to the wedding, Hermione?" Harry asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and harshness. "Well, first of all, Bill and Fleur had invited me – and I thought it was only right to come. After all, Bill and I have always gotten along quite well."
"And besides that, I was actually hoping to clear things up with you three.. Otherwise it'll all have been to no avail." Hermione hesitated but then continued as they remained silent, waiting for her to explain. "That night, I left because the only way to keep you safe, Harry, was if we were safe. I had to ensure our safety first in order to ensure yours."
"However, the battle is still far from won. And I'm certain that you haven't forgotten about what Dumbledore has left you to do." Harry shook his head in confirmation and so she went on. "With all my respect, but we all know you two won't last a day with the knowledge you two have." Neither one liked to admit this, but they didn't argue either.
"The safety of you has always been my first priority, Harry. That is why I even agreed to this marriage. Because without Snape alive, you would have most likely been dead by now. I married him because I care about you, and I for sure do not wish to see you dead." Harry's features had softened and he let out a soft sigh. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I should've realized why you did what you have done." Hermione smiled weakly at him, and didn't bother for Ron to come around.
He always took a long time forgiving the people who had upset him, and so she knew that her attempts would be to no avail. She would just have to wait until he had forgiven her on his own terms.
Ginny, Harry and her were starting to get into a conversation, which filled most of their time before the other guests arrived. Harry had taken his Polyjuice potion as they had all moved upstairs into Ron's room, to not let the people who were starting to arrive see that Harry was present at the wedding.
When it was about time, the other three moved ahead of her and she quickly looked around the room, searching for any valuables they had and collected each thing into her handbag she was carrying, just in case things went bad.
Hurrying up after them, she happily took a seat in the tent and watched with a smile as Bill and Fleur held their vows, the wedding beautifully arranged. When the seats had been taken away and music started to fill the tent, she hurried over to the newly wedded couple, and congratulated the both of them with a happy smile on their face, which they both equally returned.
To her surprise, she had come across an old almost-lover of hers: Viktor Krum. They both danced as civilized friends, and was happy to discover he finally found a nice girlfriend for his own. After they had finished their dancing, he had told her he had heard about her and Snape, and promised to deal with the man if he would end up hurting her.
Hermione told him with a smile that wouldn't be necessary, but the smile faltered as a Patronus filled the tent, the voice silencing everyone as well as the music.
"The ministry has fallen, the minister of Magic is dead. They are coming."Kingsley's voice spoke and chills went over Hermione's spine as the Patronus disappeared. Chaos erupted through the tent as Death Eaters were suddenly filling the place.
With a fast beating heart, she walked through the scared crowd, being pushed to all sides as she searched frantically for Harry and Ron. Ron had managed to reach her first, and Harry joined only a second later.
Grabbing both their hands, they turned on the spot, arriving right in front of Grimmauld place. Quickly hurrying inside, they were all panting on the spot, rooted as the voice of Mad-Eye Moody rang around the place, and Harry assuring it that they hadn't killed him.
They moved further into the house, and wheeled around when a voice suddenly spoke behind them. With their wands drawn out, they looked at the Patronus that had formed into a weasel, speaking with the voice of Ron's father. "Family safe, do not reply, we are being watched."
Hermione suddenly realized something, and figured that Snape mustn't have been present at the attack on the wedding, so it was safe for her to send a message. Conjuring a Patronus, she spoke: "Attack at the wedding, we're safe and into hiding." Mentally addressing the Patronus to Snape, she watched as her tiger moved its way out of the room.
"And now what?" Harry asked and Hermione let out a tired sigh, falling onto the sofa in the sitting room. "Well, we can't stay here forever. Voldemort is growing more powerful, and you know that only we can stop this, Harry." He nodded vaguely in agreement and then quickly excused himself to the bathroom.
Awkwardly clearing her throat, she watched Ron's face which had smoothened greatly after their sudden escape and the knowledge of knowing his family was safe. Focusing her eyes on the fireplace she had set foot into nearly a year ago, she felt strange knowing that so much had changed.
No longer did she hate the man she was married with. If anything, she wished more than anything to be able to return to him now. And in all honesty, she could. Thanks to her position as a spy, she was in less risk to walk around.
But she knew she couldn't leave those two until she was sure they were protected enough. And Hermione was sure that Snape would understand as well. In the meantime, she was just counting down the minutes until she could finally return to Spinner's End.
However, days went by and they made little progress of seeming to get into safety. Thanks to Kreacher they now knew the story about the stolen locket, and Lupin had come by as well, assuring them that everyone from the wedding was doing alright.
Yet, the end of August was approaching, and Hermione did not back away from her plan. She was going to return to Hogwarts at the start of her Seventh year, even though there was plenty enough left to do. Having made up a plan to steal the locket back from Umbridge, she went over it with them for hours straight to make sure they got every little detail.
Having taught them the necessary protection spells in case they'd have to move out for camping, she talked them through it once more, emphasizing on apparating to the ground they had visited nearly three years ago at the Quidditch World Cup, just in case things turned out differently.
"Do you really have to go?" Harry asked for the umpteenth time, and Hermione nodded as she packed her bag, leaving their stuff out and replacing it into another bag which they could carry with them.
"I have to, Harry. It will arise suspicion if I stay away from Hogwarts for too long. After all, Severus is my husband, isn't he? It'd be strange if I wasn't with him." Handing them the coins from her bag, she straightened up as she looked at each one of them. "If anything happens, communicate by these. I'll be there as soon as I possibly can." They nodded and walked with her to the front door.
"And remember – stick to the plan! The Polyjuice is in your bag, it should be easily found." They smiled weakly at her, "We know, Hermione. Just go before the Death Eaters show up again." Ron urged her on and she nodded, hugging each one in turn before opening the door, quickly apparting on the spot, back to the place she had missed so dearly.
Feeling suddenly nervous, she tentatively looked around the dark street, but was glad to find it deserted. Knocking on the door, she waited in anticipation as the dark figure slowly approached the door. Opening it slightly to see who was there, he opened it wider when he saw her.
Unable to help the grin spreading across her face, she threw her arms around the dark haired man as she flung forward. His eyes had widened in surprise, but even he was unable to stop the smile from reaching his face.
Closing the door behind them, she pushed her nerves away and connected her lips with his, letting out a satisfied sigh as their lips moved gently together. For almost an entire month she had been thinking about their last kiss, and about how much she wanted those lips again.
With both a grin on their faces, they made their way through the dimly lit hallway, entering the warm sitting room, the fireplace crackling softly.
"I expect that they're safe, then?" Snape finally asked, and shivers went down her spine as his low voice filled her ears. "Not exactly, but school will be starting shortly, and I couldn't afford to stay there any longer. They know what they have to do, and if it is necessary, they can always contact me." Severus let out a deep sigh, obviously disagreeing with her coming to Hogwarts, but he was wise enough to not argue this time.
"We shall visit Diagon Alley tomorrow morning, then." Snape said, walking over to the table near the window and grabbed a letter off it and handed her the letter. Immediately recognizing the school's handwriting, she opened it and skimmed her eyes through the materials and textbooks she would be needing.
"We?" She then asked after she had read everything, raising a questioning eyebrow at her husband. He raised one of his owns in return, however, his was in a more of a belittling way. "I hope you don't expect me to let you wander around those streets alone, do you?"
"But won't people find it suspicious?" Hermione asked without thinking and Snape let out a hopeless sigh, "Hermione, we're married." He reminded her and she cleared her throat awkwardly, feeling the blush creep on her cheeks. "Right.." She mumbled and avoided his eyes as she muttered a "I'll be off to bed, goodnight, Severus.".
His hand snaked around her arm and a smirk appeared on his lips, "Not so fast." Hermione was about to ask what was wrong, until his lips briefly brushed over hers, giving her one last gentle kiss as he retreated with a satisfied smile. "Goodnight, Hermione."
With a smile spreading on her lips, and her cheeks reddening, she rushed to her bedroom, happily embracing the room she had been missing for weeks. She even gladly welcomed the stinging pain of the springy mattress, although, she was quite sure her mind would be changed by the following morning.
But for now, she could fall asleep with a content heart and a wide grin on her face. She was back again, she was with him. And for the first time in a very long while, she felt home again.