Severus leaned down, gently pulling the pillow from her tight grasp. Her arms moved out searchingly but he guided them closer to her form. He gave the blanket a sharp tug pulling it from under the mattress. Hermione started to turn onto her back, her eye lids fluttering briefly before he wrapped the blanket tighter around her. His arm moved under her wrapped frame and slowly drew her up. Her head rested just under his chin as he pulled her legs up next. Wrapped in his overly large blanket he straightened himself up holding her close to his chest. He flicked his fingers to his door opening it silently. With another small shift so as not to trip in the blanket he made for the stairs.
He made it to the living room without incident, the girl, woman; in his arms remained peacefully unaware of the change of scenery as he moved to his chair. He paused before deciding the lounge was more suitable. He sat down slowly, he hadn't the faintest of idea on what he was doing. His eyes searching into the heavens, looking for any sort of resolution.
Everything inside him was screaming at him to stop, that it would only lead to more pain, that everything he was doing was just destined to end in his inevitable failure. He closed his eyes, the voices in his mind were so loud, so disorienting. His hold unconsciously grew stronger as he tried to push them all away. He shook his head trying to clear away his insecurities. His vision blurred as he looked into her face. Wrapped up in his blanket, so safe, so warm and completely protected from everything. He knew it wouldn't last, it never did, something was bound to take this moment from her. From him.
He couldn't. He wasn't strong enough. He was a coward. Through and through, a coward. His lament rolled down his cheek and he grimaced. After all he had done, after all he had promised to do. He couldn't, it wasn't who he was.
The idea of what he could be was more terrifying than what he had been. More than anything he had ever done. More than any dark deed he had ever performed. It all paled in comparison to what he could be. What he could choose. He had no master now, no one to place the blame upon. He was his own man. His life was in his own hands. The choices he would make, were fully and truly, his own.
He let out a slow breath bringing his head back down. It was like he was seeing her completely a new. Her young face had gone, leaving behind the features of a woman. The soft lines of age were so clear now around her eyes and along her jaw. Not wrinkles no, but the lines that came with the passing of one part of your life to the next. As one came fully into their own. He couldn't recall her younger visage any longer.
Gently, he pushed away the blanket from her face tucking it behind her head then, with great care, pulled her hair from the confines watching it curl and bounce against gravity. It had tamed, in time, the frizz and inexperience of youth had gone, leaving behind a lighter mass of beautiful tendrils. How had he never noticed? How had he been so blind?
Snape tightened his jaw, his hand followed the fold parting more; the vein in her neck pulsed against the back of his exploring fingers. They didn't linger as his eye caught sight of her hand. It was small but strong. Her fingers flexed in her sleep and he watched the veins move on the back. His finger lightly traced the ridge watching with rapt attention as her fingers sought his own, a gentle smile growing on her lips, he pulled back not wanting to disturb her.
Hermione turned and wiggled her legs before managing to get herself onto her side. It was a very awkward position for the both of them. Severus knew it wouldn't be best to remain as they were and with a small effort, lifted her from his lap resting her on the back of the lounge. He hissed slightly as she pushed against his lap while she rearranged her position.
The young woman let out a deep sigh wrapping the blanket up under her nose. Her legs stretched out pushing her companion from the lounge. She wiggled and fidgeted until her legs came from under the blanket, stretching in her sleep before curling her toes against the cool air and pulled them back close and under the warmth.
Severus watched unaware of the small smile that had grown over his lips. He left her to rest moving to the kitchen to find the two-way parchment and brew some coffee.
Hermione was floating on a warm cloud. It was a most heavenly feeling, she never wanted to leave. All her worries, all her struggles, were gone in that blissful moment. As her mind slipped away into the real world she found that she was similarly wrapped in something very soft. She opened her eyes, gradually adjusting to the light that came into focus around her. She could hear voices, low and calm somewhere off behind her. Untangling her arms from the blanket that was wrapped with care around her; she reached over her head arching back with a very impressive cat like mewl. Her joints popping and settling into place. She blinked her vision clear as she realized she was no longer in the stale white room that had become her place to rest. Pushing herself up slowly, she realized she was downstairs in the sitting room. Her fingers curled in the blanket that had held her. She instantly noticed that it wasn't her own.
Hermione lifted herself up, her mind focusing in on the voices, the deep baritone of one, instantly revealed where the owner of the blanket had gone. She had so many questions and curiosities; she hastily pushed them back for fear that they would unleash something she wasn't prepared for. With re-established care, she extracted herself from the lounge mindfully pulling the blanket from the floor. Flexing her toes against the warm wood, she drew herself up expecting her legs to protest. She looked down in shock as they supported her as they should. She gave them an experimental wiggle lifting one then the other watching the muscles flex effortlessly. She smiled to herself and took a step. It felt as it should. A happiness welled up inside. Turning her attention to the kitchen she walked with her hands out just in case this was some sort of cruel dream, that she would wake and find herself unable to even lift a hand.
The occupants of the kitchen all fell silent as she stepped into the frame. She swallowed as if she had crashed some secret party when arms came around her in a gentle hug.
"It's so good to see you up and about my dear." Minerva cooed smiling down at the stunned woman. "How do you feel?"
Hermione gave her a gentle smile but her eyes sought another. She found him standing in the dark corner, arms crossed, a look if extreme disinterest on his face. Though, when their eyes met she would have bet her own life that she saw a kindness that she hadn't seen before.
"Much better," She turned her head away to address the elder properly, "Wonderful actually..." She allowed herself to be guided into a chair before turning her eyes on a man she couldn't recall ever seeing before.
"This is Mr. Ollivander, he has graciously come to see to the replacement of your wand."
Hermione's eyes lit up as she shook the man's offered hand.
"A pleasure, a true pleasure. Why I do so very much remember you not so long ago coming to my shop. Yes. " He rambled.
Hermione blushed as she tried to hide the fact she had no memory of him. She gave him a soft thank you folding her hands into her lap, feeling suddenly exceptionally under-dressed for the occasion.
"Now then, " He pulled a series of long boxes from his bag before letting it fall back onto the floor. He hummed idly to himself as he tried to decide which wand to give her first.
Hermione took the time to let her eyes wander back over to the man in the corner. She could sense that he was just as eager to see the result as she was. His eyes paid close attention to the man shuffling through the boxes on the table. She felt Minerva come to her side, a comforting hand coming to rest on her shoulder as Mr. Ollivander finally pulled a wand from a box.
"Ah, Holly, 10 and 3/4 inches, dragon heartstring core." He offered it out with a soft smile.
Hermione swallowed nervously as she wrapped her fingers around it. She felt a surge of power run through her entire frame before the wand grew scalding hot. She gasped and dropped it onto the table pulling back to check her hand for burns.
"Curious..." The man mumbled pulling the wand back into the box.
Hermione frowned softly, the hand on her shoulder tightened.
Olivander pushed a few boxes to the side before opening another, "Aspen wood, 11 inches, Thunderbird tail feather core."
Minerva drew in a breath as she watched the girl reach for it.
Mr. Olivander watched in rapt attention, "Give it a wave." He said encouragingly.
Hermione did as instructed gasping as the wand flew out of her hand, like a bullet, straight through the back window. Her eyes went wide as she marveled at the precise hole it left behind.
"Nope, definitely not." He shook his head pushing another two boxes aside. His hand lingered over one, turning his head towards the man in the corner; he too, had been very difficult to find a wand for. He glanced between the two of them before leaning down reaching into his bag.
"I wonder..." He slowly pulled out a new box. It was beautifully imprinted, a deep burgundy with a black silk cloth wrapped around the middle. It looked most regal as he set it carefully on the table before pulling it open. The Beech wand was long nearly, 12 inches, it was almost identical to Snape's own aside from the color, it held no embellishments, the wood shining beautifully on its own it was long and blunt at the tip. He glanced to Severus as he felt the two wands start to hum a soft tune only he was privy to. "Fascinating..."
Hermione looked about ready to give up on the entire ordeal when her eyes took in the beautiful wand held in the elder's hand. She instantly felt a strong pull inside her core and with no hesitation wrapped her fingers around it.
She felt a surge like never before; she could feel her magic sinking into the ivory wood, pooling and settling into place. The wand gave a soft beacon like glow and Hermione smiled proudly. Her eyes shifted, as a light called back from the corner.
Snape tilted his head down, brow furrowed, he pulled his own blackthorn wand from his sleeve turning it slowly watching the glowing light pulse at the tip.
Ollivander just smirked leaving the empty box as he started to put away the others.
"What core is it?" Minerva asked softly watching with great fascination but also a deep trepidation as the two wands called out to each other.
"Rougarou hair," Snape answered before Ollivander. He looked to Minerva expecting her judgment.
Minerva licked her lips but said nothing looking down at Hermione; her hand slowly pulling away from her shoulder. "How...how does it feel Hermione?" She was cautious but pulled up her Gryffindor courage at the end.
"Perfect..." She breathed pointing the wand over Olivander's shoulder. She silently called back the wand that had landed in the garden. It came back swiftly and with such precision that it fit back through the hole it had made on its departure. She caught it with a snap in her other hand, looking at it for only a brief moment before holding it out for Mr. Ollivander to take.
"Remarkable." he murmured with a smile.
Hermione gave it one more curling flick sealing the hole in the window effortlessly before gingerly lowering it down to the table. She didn't have any recollection of spells but it appeared she didn't need words to command her will.
Snape watched her from the corner of his eye, an odd sort of pride at her effortless movements. He slid his own wand back up his sleeve feeling it pulse against his vein.
"Right then. Shall there be anything else?" Ollivander said politely coming to his feet setting his bag on the table.
"No...I believe that will be all, I'll see you back home..." Minerva was still trying to process what she had just witnessed. She gave a small smile and nod to Hermione before leading the man toward the back door.
Severus waited until they had gone before coming out of the corner. "Breakfast?"
Hermione let out a soft giggle as the tension of the room swept away. She smiled brightly at the man running a relieved hand through her messy hair, "Please." She had wanted to talk to him, ask him how she had gotten downstairs and even more how she had ended up wrapped in his blanket. However, she suddenly found that none of that mattered to her. She felt calm, her mind a neatly organized catalog, her heart told her what her mind suspected and she wasn't about to ruin a good thing.
After a silent but pleasant breakfast, Hermione felt eager to test her new skills. She fidgeted in her chair her eyes flicking between Snape, who was reading their notes, and the wand.
He looked up at her over the papers, a frown on his lips before he rolled his eyes back down. "Take the stairs slowly, dress and then you may attempt to redecorate your room. When you're finished meet me in the sitting room."
Hermione jumped up with a bright smile, "Thank you!" It was the most freedom she had had since her waking. She was so excited she was almost vibrating. She picked up the wand from the table and turned out of the kitchen.
He watched her bounce away, a small smirk growing on his lips.Interesting, indeed. He had been more than prepared for a long drawn out, emotionally draining, conversation that morning. He had been exceedingly relieved to find that she hadn't questioned anything about her morning. Though now, a new feeling was starting to grow in his stomach. He sat down the papers glaring straight ahead. Why hadn't she questioned him?
Hermione felt drunk with power as she finished the stairs, a bit winded but otherwise alright, she turned to her room pulling open the door. She looked around the sterile space then down at the wand that thrummed in her palm.
She turned it's tip towards the dresser and narrowed her eyes focusing on what she wanted. The drawer trembled before slowly drawing open. She smiled to herself before coming over, she set the wand gently against the top as she dug through her clothes. She pulled out a new pair of jeans, a green t-shirt, and nice cream colored sweater. She set them out over the bed before going back for her wand. She'd taken two steps before the wand shot back into her hand. She blinked and slowly looked down at it. Nice.
Severus listened to her movements overhead, trying to forget what he had gone through that morning. The young woman seemed to be much happier, a fact that made him feel only slightly better. He sighed through his nose as he gathered up their notes continuing on with his original plans.
Keeping an ear out, he got to work on creating a nice study space in the sitting room. He sighed heavily through his nose as he looked at the blanket from his bed messily folded up on the lounge. He sat down their notes in his chair and moved over shaking it out. He folded it with practiced ease before setting it at the foot, he'd take it up later.
He turned to his small side table and gave his wrist flick before dragging his wand through the air. The table rose and expanded leaving plenty of room for two people to make use of it. He levitated it to the center of the room pulling both chairs to either side of it.
Minerva sat sipping her tea slowly, she smiled softly at Molly over the rim before setting it down on the well-worn table. She looked up as Ron then Harry burst into the room their faces filled with a mixture of worry and excitement. She gave them each a soft smile waving her hand for them to take a seat. Ginny came in last, a sleeping Ablus on her hip before taking the seat next to her husband.
"I have news, I am happy to share with you."
Both boys straightened in their chairs. "Is she healed?"
"She's coming home?"
"She can stay here with me at the burrow!"
Minerva put her hand up to quiet their ramblings. "Now let's not get ahead of ourselves. Miss Granger still has a long road to recovery." She leveled her gaze at the two of them. "Miss Granger's magic has returned and from what I can tell and from what Severus assures me, it has come back in full force." Harry looked a bit confused but remained quiet. He didn't know one's magic could come and go like that. "She has even claimed a new wand." She said shifting a bit in her chair. Molly noticed the elder woman's hesitation.
"What is it made of Minerva?" Molly rested her arms on the table, sensing a tension growing in the room.
"Beech wood, 11 3/4 inches," Minerva paused slowly rubbing the bridge of her nose, "Rougarou hair core."
Molly couldn't hold back the gasp and covered her lips with her hand, "I didn't think they made wands like that anymore."
"Ollivander said it wasn't one of his own creations."
"But surely it wasn't made by..."
"He said it wasn't. He was also quite certain it was the best fit for her."
"But Minerva."
"I know."
Harry just looked confused, "What's the big problem?" He asked innocently looking between the two of them.
Molly and Minerva both shared a glance before Molly lowered her head letting the elder explain, "Wands of recent years have three cores," She held up three fingers ticking them off as she spoke, "Phoenix Feather, Unicorn Hair and Dragonheart string." She waited for them to digest that before carrying on, "Of course a variety of woods have been used for many years, but it is very rare for a wand made of Beech to be chosen. It's a rather difficult wand wood to master, it doesn't do well with narrow-minded or inexperienced individuals." She took a small breath, "I suppose it's not so surprising as Miss Granger has always shown knowledge and understanding beyond her years."
Molly nodded her head looking down into her tea cup.
"But," Minerva continued her brow a bit morose, "Rougarou core hasn't been used in wands for at least half a century. At least not in this part of the world." She swallowed a bit taking a breath,"It has...a certain proclivity towards dark magic." Minerva let those words sink in a bit, "It's also extremely powerful at charms and enchantments. But that combination..."
"A warrior's wand that is," Molly nodded her head bringing the back of her hand to her lips, "It will be a most powerful wand if she's able to control it properly." She nodded her head," If not..." Minerva and Molly nodded to each other before looking down at their tea.
Harry felt the tension rising in his shoulders, "What did Snape have to say about it?" He asked cautiously.
Minerva blinked a bit at the question before letting out a deep breath, "His core is the same." She didn't want to say it, but perhaps it needed to be said. No one had known what his wand core had been, if Dumbledore had known he didn't share the secret.
"So you're saying that Snape and Hermione have the same wand core's now?" Ron's voice rose with his temper.
"Ronald." His mother warned a little too late.
"No! This is bollocks!" He pushed himself up, "How the hell does that even happen!?" He held his hand out, "The last any of us knew, Hermione was a kind, good natured person. Not someone teetering on the edge of the dark arts!"
"Ron." Harry gave his shirt a pull trying to bring him back into his chair.
"No Harry! Her wand was a Holly, Dragon heartstring before all this mess started! You couldn't get more in the light than that!"
"Mister Weasely need I remind you that this is the very man who has done more good for her in the past two weeks than an entire team of healers at St. Mungo's had in five years?" Minerva's own temper was rising.
"So what! He's done something to her! I know it." He snarled at both Harry and Minerva, "Something dark." He spat turning and stomping from the room.
Molly rubbed her brow with a heavy sigh, even she was at a loss over how to help her son move on from the fantasy he had created.
Hermione leaned cautiously over the cauldron Snape was completely focused on. She lingered, watching the colors change slowly before looking back down at her notes, "Three-quarters counter-clockwise..." She looked to the clock, "Now."
Snape did as she instructed. It was an odd sort of role reversal, but as he had decided he didn't want her touching his things, he offered her the job of making sure it was done to the specifications that both she and he had come to an agreement on. It was a very tricky potion to start, they had already ruined 6 batches. The first 3 were entirely his fault as he hadn't been too keen on taking instructions, even if they were his own, and had tried to tweak the potion mid process. As luck would have it, the entire time for a properly brewed potion took just over an hour. They were just nearing the hour mark and his concentration had reached near meditative levels, his focus solely on the liquid gradually changing before him and the soft hum of her voice.
"And...now the final ingredient." She took a breath slowly slipping the small vial of her blood into his hand.
"Three drops." She released it slowly taking a small step back subconsciously rubbing the pricked finger they had drawn the blood from. This had been where the last three potions had gone wrong.
Severus had switched to a silver dropper, it was more precise and it kept the magic in the blood contained until it was needed. He released the first drop holding his breath, then the second and the final. The liquid in the cauldron was starting to turn on its own and he slowly put down the vial and dropper. He felt Hermione press against his side as she too watched.
The potion which had been a mixture of light blue and yellow slowly started to turn a deep midnight blue with little spots of the remains shimmering out like stars. It was definitely the most visually appealing potion he had ever brewed.
"It looks like the cosmos..." Hermione whispered against his arm. She bit her lip as the colors stopped their slow swirl.
Severus reached under turning off the burner. They'd done it. He let out a slow even breath.
"How long before decanting?"
"2 Minutes..." Hermione blinked out of her amazement pulling away again to look at their notes, "Then the potion has a usage time of...44 minutes."
Severus hummed stepping back to prepare the decanter. Hermione watched him idly, her eyes drawn back to the potion as it continued to settle.
Eventually, they both settled on watching the clock tick down to the very last second. This was it, this was what would hopefully help bring them one step closer.
As soon as the second hand clicked into place Severus moved, he poured the small potion into the decanter letting it start the process. They both shared a knowing glance as the potion started to settle into place. Hermione's eyes shone with excitement and accomplishment, while Severus' held trepidation and concern.
At the final timer, they settled in the sitting room, Hermione held the potion with trembling fingers watching the colors swirl in and out against her touch.
"Tell me again what I'm supposed to feel." Her Gryffindor bravado had gotten her so far. She wasn't stupid, she knew what the potion was designed to do. She just lacked all confidence in her plan to use it.
Severus slowly came around to sit at the edge of his chair. "You're the one who came up with it."
"I know that." She snapped, wincing from her tone, "I'm not a potions master though, am I?" She reigned herself in looking softly into his eyes. She needed his reassurance, now more than ever.
Snape bristled lightly from her attitude about to snap straight back when her eyes met his. He let his retort die with a controlled breath, "It will create a wall, between you and the vault. An occlusion shield around only you. " He turned his eyes to the bottle, "It will protect you from any attacks thrown at you inside your mind, for 44 minutes."
"And... we're just going to test it...not open the vault..." Her voice wavered just a bit as she tried to contain herself.
"Correct. I will attempt to enter your mind and come to you. You shouldn't feel anything..." He wasn't so sure about the last bit but he was quite sure she knew that already with the way she was stalling.
Hermione swallowed down her nerves as she shifted to lay back on the lounge. She shuffled up the back so she was sitting up at the proper angle. She took a deep breath her hand reaching out for his.
Snape looked down at the hand he had so closely examined just hours ago, his own twitched to meet it before he finally allowed himself to take her hand. Her palm was soft and smooth against his own. A soft pulse ran between them and he turned his eyes back to hers. With a brave smile in his direction she slowly tipped back the potion. They had divided it into two halves just in case it was viable and they could move onto testing their next theory.
He watched closely feeling her hand tighten around his as she drank it down. She made a very disgusted face and he leaned forward taking the empty vial slipping it into his pocket. Their eyes met for a long 10 seconds before her eyes rolled back into her head and her body went limp.
He sat up straighter, his breath grating against his ears as he counted, it needed time to work, approximately 23 seconds by their calculations. His eyes never left her face as he waited. On the final count he wasted no time pushing into her mind.
The space in which he stood was an odd array of light and darkness. They swirled around him as if fighting for control over the space. He turned carefully on his heel as he tried to find where she had gone.
He recalled her notes on her perceived layout of the space and started to count the rows before turning to his left following down the long columns of empty shelves. It didn't take long to come to the swath of destruction that stood before the vault. He cautiously moved out of the protection of the shelves. The light was even brighter now and he had to put up his hand to try and see, he could make out a large dome as his body adjusted to the change. He lowered his hand taking a small step closer. The dome was tall and at least two aisles wide in every direction. He could see the wall behind but the vault was entirely covered by the power.
"Miss Granger?" He tried to move in closer, the air around the dome felt thick and it was becoming harder for him to advance. He felt himself being repelled with each new step. The light prevented him from actually seeing inside. He was sure it would be of no consequence as the creature couldn't actually see. But to a human mind it was extremely powerful.
"Miss Granger if you can here me, try to come away from the vault..." His voice felt weak in the space. He grit his teeth unable to come any closer. It wasn't close enough. He felt the space struggling around him to keep its shape and odd sort of earthquake like feeling moved underfoot.
Something in the back of his mind sensed the danger and he forced himself to look away trying to see what was happening. The shelves behind him, that were previously bathed in darkness stood stark against the lights washing affect. Though, as the light touched the shelves, they turned from deep brown to light gray before finally starting to crumble down. It was coming from the back forward, it was odd. As more and more shelves crumbled down to gray dust he could make out the chair he had first found her in, the memories she had saved glowing dimly inside.
"No..."
He had no idea what would happen to them should the light touch them, but he also had no idea what would happen if the light touched him.
His footing was yanked sharply from under him as the world started to tremble even more. Scrambling to his hands and knees he watched with great dismay as the small sitting area broke away falling into the steadily increasing light. The memories gave a bright orange glow before they too disappeared into the void.
What had they done?