Hermione stepped out of the fireplace and immediately recognized the great hall she had arrived in. She was once again in awe of how large the floo arrival area at the Ministry was. Of course, wizards came from everywhere, so there had to be plenty of fireplaces to accommodate their arrivals. Almost at once, Hermione was greeted by the New Minister of Magic.
"Why am I here?" Hermione asked immediately.
"Hermione Granger, let me look at you…all grown up." Kingsley Shackelbolt said as he grabbed her hand, placing it inside the crook of his elbow and began escorting her down the corridor and into the elevator that would take them to his office. Hermione smiled because it had only been ten months since she'd last seen him and she didn't think she had changed that much. Her hair was a little longer, but other than that, she was just the same. He chattered the entire way about trivial things like the weather, Gnomes in his garden and who he thought would win the Quiddich championship this year.
Hermione listened politely but silently she was wondering what was so important that Kingsley himself had come down to get her, which of course, brought her back to why she was here? She was supposed to be going to Hogwarts.
She'd hoped to get cleaned up before having an early breakfast in the great hall. She knew she still smelled like honeysuckle, her favorite scent, but the scent was kind of strong. However here she was, at the Ministry.
Why hadn't Harry, who she knew worked in the building, met her at the floo? At least he would have told her what was going on. Harry! It suddenly occurred to her that something might have happened to Harry.
Her fears were relieved, though, when Kingsley said, "I have a couple of people in my office waiting to see you." The twinkle in his eye and big smile gave her some assurance that at least nobody had died.
The elevator stopped at its destination and they proceeded down the hallway, still arm in arm, until they reached his office door. Kingsley opened his door and stood back so Hermione could enter.
Harry seemed to appear out of nowhere and pulled Hermione into a great bear hug. Hermione gasped and hugged Harry tightly, so glad to see him again. It struck her as funny since she was always the one to initiate the bear hugs.
The last time she'd hugged him this hard was the night Professor Snape... Hermione pushed that thought aside and stepped back to take a good look at Harry. He really hadn't changed much, either. He seemed a little taller, but that was really all that seemed different about him. His hair had been trimmed, but she was sure that was a product of Ginny's influence more than his desire to appear trim and proper.
"I've missed you!" They both said at once and then laughed about saying the same thing together.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Hermione said quickly; searching his eyes to be assured that he was.
He seemed taken aback and said, "Why wouldn't I be okay?"
Hermione blushed slightly and murmured, "I had to leave the Academy so quickly, and I thought for sure something bad must have happened."
Suddenly Harry turned to someone standing inside the room, out of Hermione's line of sight. "No one's told her?"
Hermione stepped away from Harry, further into the room and saw that Mr. Weasley was standing there. Instead of being glad to see her, he seemed slightly hesitant.
"Hello, Mr. Weasley," she said cordially. Usually Mr. Weasley was lively and fun. This morning, he seemed distant.
He suddenly stepped forward, mimicking his old self and gave Hermione a quick hug before stepping away and making eye contact with Kingsley.
"What is it that no one is telling me?" Hermione asked nervously. Their looks ranged from excited to complete sadness. "What?" She asked again.
Harry looked at the other two like he was expecting them to speak, gave up on them and stepping up to Hermione said, "You'll never believe it Mione…" He seemed to pause for effect, "Professor Snape is alive!" He was so excited that it took him by surprise when Hermione fainted.
Mr. Weasley caught Hermione before she hit the floor and was lowering her into a chair.
"I don't understand" Harry was saying, "This is great news." Hermione heard Harry exclaim as she regained consciousness and sat up straight in her chair.
"I'm sure it's just come as a shock to Hermione, Harry." Mr. Weasley paused as if thinking of something to say. "Why don't you floo along to the hospital and tell Ginny that Hermione has arrived safely. Hermione's probably tired and a little overwhelmed." Seeing Harry's hesitation he added, "Its okay…I want to discuss something with the Minister and then we'll be right behind you. We'll give Hermione here a moment to get her bearings. Besides," he continued, "I'm sure Ginny is wondering what is keeping you." That seemed to do it. With a quick squeeze on her shoulder, Harry exited the room as if on an important mission.
After his departure, silence seemed to settle down around them until Mr. Weasley spoke, "Why didn't you tell anyone, Hermione?"
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, not quite following what he was asking.
"Professor Snape told us you treated his wounds and left him in the boathouse. Yet you told no one that he had survived."
Panic started rising in Hermione's chest. "I didn't know!" she stammered…I mean, yes I did treat his wounds but it didn't seem to matter…he still seemed dead…" She didn't know what else to say. Her mind was racing, how had professor Snape known she had treated his wounds? Did someone see her, yes; she reasoned that must have been what happened. "I went back the next day," she continued as both men still seemed to be waiting for more answers. "He wasn't there. I thought his body had been taken away with the other corpses. His name was not on the injured list…it was on the deceased list." Tears were beginning to gather in her eyes as she looked pleadingly from one face to another. "I had no idea he survived, or I would have said something. Please," she was whispering now, "you have to believe me."
Mr. Weasley sat down in the chair next to her and patted her on the arm. "It's okay, Hermione, no one is blaming you for anything. It's just that he was found the next morning by St Mungo's medical wizards. They came to Hogwarts the next morning and discovered he was still alive. Unfortunately," He continued, "no one recognized him so he lay in a coma at St. Mungo's for about six months until I happened upon him."
He smiled as he relayed this part of the story. "You see, I was helping them identify the John and Jane Doe's when I come upon him and knew right away it was him." He looked at Hermione as if willing her to understand the significance. "I alerted the Ministry and headmistress McGonagall right away."
"However," Minister Kingsley interjected, "It was decided that we would hide his identity to keep him safe, hoping that he would one day regain consciousness. Harry has shown many people Snape's memories and everyone knows the truth now. After all the articles in the Quibbler, Snape is a war hero, although there are many who would like to do him harm." Kingsley was frowning as he admitted this last part.
"But you said," Hermione stated, looking at Kingsley, "if he regained consciousness…"
"That's just it," Mr. Weasley interrupted, "Professor Snape regained consciousness five days ago."
"Oh Merlin…Can I see him? Please, please, you have to let me see him. I…"
"Funny you should ask…He's talked of nothing but you, since then and is quite anxious to see you…" at the quick look from Mr. Weasley, Kingsley stopped talking.
"He has?" Hermione wondered aloud, "What has he been saying?" Hermione asked hoping her voice didn't convey how excited she felt. Her mind was working in overdrive. The dread at having to find someone to force into marrying her was now looking more hopeful. Perhaps she'd be able to force Professor Snape into…
"Well," Mr. Weasly seemed to speak more cautiously now. "I can tell you that when he first regained consciousness, he was a little angry that you had saved him."
"What?" Hermione said louder than she meant to. "You mean he's not the least bit grateful that I saved his life?" This bit of news was putting a damper on her plan.
Neither man would look at her, nor say anything.
"Great…" She muttered, "This is all I need." Hermione leaned forward and put her head in her hands. "So, let me get this straight. I was brought back here because Professor Snape wants to…what? Yell at me?"
"No, no…" Mr. Weasley assured. "I'm sure it's not all that bad. Actually," He continued, "Snape has refused to see anyone or take his treatment until you come and speak with him." He looked sheepishly at her as if he were embarrassed to even be discussing this.
"The thing is," The minister took over, "If word got out that Professor Snape, the biggest hero since Harry Potter, himself, was alive, but suffering and falling ill due to lack of treatment because you wouldn't come see him…well, well, it would be devastating. You'd be the most hated person in the magical world." At Mr. Weasley's intake of breath, Kingsley continued. "Well, she would be."
"Hermione," Mr. Weasley coaxed, "Surely it wouldn't hurt for you to visit Professor Snape and just hear what he has to say." Hermione saw he was wringing his hands now and suddenly felt sorry for him and how awful he must feel for asking her to do this.
"I want to see him. I don't care if he does yell at me. I just want to see that he's okay."
She sighed as she stated this matter of factly. "I will go see Professor Snape and then I will return to Hogwarts and begin my Apprenticeship with Professor Slughorn…."
"What?" Hermione asked as the two men once again exchanged knowing looks. "Don't tell me I'm out of a job now because Professor Snape wants his Potion Teaching job back."
"No, not at all," Mr. Weasley patted her hand reassuringly. "You will continue with the plan to be the new Potions Professor and Professor Snape will take over the DADA position that he has always desired. Now that Volde…mort is gone, we feel the position is no longer cursed, so Professor Snape has agreed to fill that position once he is able."
"Once his treatment is progressing," Minister Kingsley spoke now, "He will be transferred to the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts so Madam Pomfrey can give him a clean bill of health."
"When will that be?" Hermione asked looking directly at the Minister since it seemed he was calling all the shots.
"Well, It appears that all depends upon you, my dear."
Hermione sighed. "Great…I'll do my best...that's all I'm promising"
She started to rise, thinking the conversation was over, when Minister Kingsley cleared his throat. "One more thing Miss Granger…"
Hermione sat back down and waited for him to speak.
He slid a copy of the latest issue of the quibbler. Hermione hadn't seen it yet. The Headline Read, "Ministry Determined to See all Muggle-born's married by September" Hermione swallowed. "They've set a deadline?"
The Minister nodded, you will be expected to find a full-blooded or at least a half-blooded wizard to marry by the first of September." He looked directly at Hermione as if making sure she fully understood. Feeling it would be now or never, she blurted out, "What if I ask for Professor Snape? What if I submit a marriage contract on him? Would I be allowed to wait until he was well enough…I would be willing to wait." Her heart was pounding, waiting for the Minister's answer, not even chancing a look at Mr. Weasley.
"Actually, you have had several contracts issued on you; however, most of the wizards are way beyond child producing years, as I'm sure you are aware a child must be born from the union within two years of marriage." Hermione closed her eyes not sure she wanted to hear the answer to her next question. "What do you mean by beyond child producing years?"
The minister steepled his hands together and said, "The youngest age, in the original pool of wizards interested in you appear to be 80 years of age, I believe. Hermione's breath caught in her throat. "Is there nothing I can do?" She almost wailed.
"Well," Kingsley continued as Mr. Weasley suddenly seemed very interested in a button on his vest. "It appears Professor Snape is willing to offer a contract of marriage for you, as well"
Hearing Hermione's sharp intake of breath, Mr. Weasly said quickly, "Which you should not rush into without consideration of…"
"Yes." Hermione said, looking at both men to make sure they heard her.
"Uh, yes what?" The Minister asked.
"Yes, I accept his marriage contract. I will sign it today…right now."
"You don't have to decide right now, Hermione. I mean it does seem to be the best offer; however you may want to speak to him first." Mr. Weasley was saying.
Hermione was starting to panic, thinking they might snatch this one chance of happiness from her.
"Professor Snape is the best choice for me. I'm positive he will allow me to finish my education and teach at Hogwarts. Besides, I did save his life…he owes me." That last bit surprised even her, but she held her chin up and stood her ground.
She had no idea why Professor Snape was making this offer. Was it because he had started to become grateful or was this his way of punishing her? Hermione didn't care. He could punish her every moment of every day as long as he was alive and she hadn't failed to save him.
"Well this is a good turn of events…I was worried this would be a hard sell…"
Kingsley said with a relieved sigh. "After you sign the marriage contract from Professor Snape we will announce to the world that he has survived and that his hero has agreed to be his wife. It will make a wonderful human-interest story." The minister clapped his hands like he was Rita Skeeter sensing a juicy story.
Hermione snatched the quill off his desk and held it in the air.
"Hermione, maybe you should take some time to…" Mr. Weasley was saying but the Minster had already slid the contract in front of Hermione…it had been in front of him the whole time.
She looked down and her breath caught in her throat when she saw their names on the contract and Professor Snape's large signature down at the bottom. He'd already signed. Feeling like Cinderella getting ready to snatch up the Prince, she signed her name, with a flourish, and slid the contract over to Mr. Weasley to sign as the witness.
Seeing him hesitate, Hermione said, "Please, Mr. Weasley, Professor Snape will keep me safe. Those other wizards just want to hurt me. Professor Snape won't let that happen."
Hermione closed her eyes in satisfaction when he quickly took the quill and signed his name. She had known that would work because he thought of her as a daughter and worried about her.
"Funny," he was saying, "Professor was just saying the same thing."
"What, what did he say?"
"He said he'd keep you safe."
Hermione's heart sung with gladness and what had started as a terrible day had ended with her feeling like all her dreams were coming true.
Something else had just occurred to Hermione, which brought back to mind her recent dream. She quickly brushed the dream from her mind hoping the men didn't notice how flustered she suddenly felt. She remembered that according to the rules set by the council, she and Professor Snape would have to practice, Baby Making or as the Ministry had put it Child Producing at least one night a week, and no use of contraception's were allowed. This was to increase the chances of producing a child within the two year period.
Finding her voice she asked quietly, "Is professor Snape aware of the requirement for weekly…uhm…to create a baby." She finished wishing the floor would swallow her whole.
The minister looked at her kindly and said, "Yes Professor Snape is aware of all the…stipulations of the agreement and has assured us he will fulfill his end of the contract."
Hermione closed her eyes and wondered if Professor Snape would use the stipulations of the contract as a way to make her sorry for saving him. She could just see him now, forcing her to permit whatever sexual act he desired as a way to punish her. She hated that a small part of her tingled at the prospect of being a slave to his whims.
Seeing how flustered she had become, Mr. Weasley reached over again and patted her hand, "There, there, Hermione, it will be alright. You can go see Professor Snape now and discuss it with him."
Now! Hermione's eyes flew open wide as she realized she would have to face Professor Snape soon.
They sat there in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts when Mr. Weasly announced, "Well, we should be going." He stood and offered a hand to pull Hermione to her feet. "Ginny will be worried if we don't hurry along." With a Nod to Kingsley, he quickly ushered Hermione out of the office.
How had things gotten so crazy? Hermione wondered on their way back out to the main departure corridor. As they waited in line for their turn to use the floo, Hermione went over the events in her mind, amazingly it seemed like it had all happened yesterday, instead of almost a year ago.
They were standing in the boathouse and Voldemort's voice had just finished speaking in their heads. Hermione thought her head would split in two. They all began breathing normally again just as Harry suggested they return to the castle. Hermione started back up the long stairway that led down to the boathouse, slightly behind Ron and Harry, when she remembered something. Before his death, Dumbledore had given her a small vial and told her to guard it with her life. "You will know what to do with it when the time comes." Hermione gasped and the two boys stopped to look down at her, as they were a few steps ahead of her. "Um, I forgot something in the boathouse. I'll just run get it really quick, be right back."
Ron turned to follow her, "I'll come with you."
"No!" She said rather sharply and then softened her voice at his look of alarm.
"I will only be a minute. I'll catch up with you"
"Mione, we're not going to leave you down here alone."
Hermione chewed on her bottom lip a second. "Then wait right here, I'll be right back. It's a girl thing." She said, quickly, thinking that would creep them out and keep them from following her. She was right; Ron took a step back and nodded for her to go.
Hermione raced back down into the boathouse and was shocked to see that Snape now looked as white as a ghost and her heart was breaking for the man she had loved for so long.
She dug through her bag to pull out the vial. It warmed in her hands and Dumbledore's handwriting started to appear on the side of the bottle. Phoenix Tears…of course! Phoenix tears healed snake bites. Was this meant to be saved and used on Harry, in the event that Nagini attacked him? No. The phrase, "Half a Prince" surfaced in her memory. Of course! Professor Snape had referred to himself, all those years ago, as The Half-blood Prince. How had Dumbledore known that Professor Snape would be attacked by a snake, and how had he known that she would be in a position to administer the tears? Her head started throbbing harder the more she tried to reason it out.
She knew time was limited so she gave up thinking about it and tried to think of the best way to accomplish what she had to do. Having decided the best approach, she settled on straddling Snape's lap and uncorking the bottle with her teeth. She slowly poured one drop on the gash in Snape's neck that Voldemort had administered with his wand to render him helpless against the snakes' attack. Harry had placed his hand against it, in vain, trying to stem the flow of blood. She watched the gash as it started to partly seal.
Assured, she set about the task of locating and placing a drop on each of the snakebites. She remembered hearing Nagini strike him five times. She used her wand to cut open his clothes and applied drops to the first three bites across his chest and arms. She didn't see any immediate changes to the marks and feared that maybe she was too late. Her heart sunk when she realized the other bites were below his belt. Swallowing her reserve, she undid his pants and struggled to pull them down past his hips. She didn't want to cause more damage by trying to cut them off of him as they were a little snug, more so than his coat and shirt had been. She tried not to touch his manhood, as she placed a drop on the inside thigh of his right leg. She pulled his pants down to his knees' and searched both legs trying to find the last bite. There were no bite marks on his legs. She could feel her face flush red as she stared at the bulge in his underwear and saw two drops of blood near where his manhood must lie.
Great…the snake just had to bite him there, she thought sarcastically. She would have to expose his manhood in order to administer the phoenix tear. She gently pulled down his briefs and freed his cock. She had never seen a man's penis and was surprised that it seemed so large even though it was laying there soft and dormant. She had read about how a man's penis would harden and enlarge during the act of sex. She shuddered to think how big his would grow if aroused.
She shook herself out of her reverie, embarrassed that she even thought about that at a time like this. Although handling his cock like this made her feel excited and slightly dirty. She spotted the bite mark near the base of his shaft and gently moving his penis to the side, placing a drop there. His Penis seemed to be a little firmer now and she had to force herself to stop looking at it. Gently raising his briefs back in place, she thought she felt him move, but when she looked up, his eyes were still slightly closed staring straight ahead.
By now, her heart was pounding, she knew she had to hurry or be discovered. She held the vial between her teeth and struggled to pull his pants back up. She struggled to get them back over his waist and refastened them. After that was accomplished, she used her wand to repair his clothes and nodded with satisfaction when she was done. Using her wand she healed the cut in his neck the best she could. He'd lost so much blood.
She noticed there was one more drop of the tears left and carefully she shook the last drop inside his mouth onto his tongue. Hermione corked the bottle, dropped it into her bag and started to get up when she remembered Dumbledore mentioning the, "kiss of an innocent." What in Merlin's name did that mean? She kept repeating it to herself until she realized, with small curse, that the innocent Dumbledore had been referring to was a virgin. Oh well, she'd better hurry before the boys came back looking for her. She'd come too far already. Lucky for Professor Snape, she was still a virgin. Victor Krum and Ron were the only boys she'd ever kissed.
Spreading her legs wider she slid up further on his lap and leaning forward, she pressed her mouth against his, wondering how you were supposed to kiss someone that couldn't kiss back. She gently sucked on his lips and then slid her tongue inside his mouth touching her warm tongue to his cold one, tasting the sweetness of the phoenix tears. The sensation was so incredible that without realizing it, she had begun to grind her hips against his groin, enjoying the contact his hard cock was having on her clit even through her jeans. She placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. It was so hot to kiss him thoroughly without restraint.
She heard herself moan into his mouth and she withdrew suddenly and shuddered. What was she doing? Surely she had lost her mind. She was sitting in an empty boathouse snogging a dead man.
She shuddered again and jumped off him, leaning down to retrieve her wand from the floor, and without looking back; she quickly ran from the boathouse and collided with Ron. He reached out quickly to steady her and she was shocked at how close he had come to witnessing what she had been up to. What would he have thought of her? She quickly ran around him and started to take the stairs two at a time, running past Harry, trying to get distance from the boathouse.
"Wait up!" Harry called up to here. "What did you forget in the boathouse?"
"It was nothing," she called down, waiting for the boys to catch up to her, "it just took me a while to find it. Let's go, Harry, you need to see what's in that pensive."
It wasn't until they started walking up the stairs again, that she realized she finally got her wish. She'd kissed Professor Snape, and the thought almost made her cry. She'd come back in the morning. He should be better than. Hopefully they would be able to kill that snake and she could come back to get him and take him to the hospital.
"Oi," Ron said matter of factly, "My head hurts." Hermione suddenly remembered the headache draught she kept in her purse and offered some to Ron and Harry.
When they entered the school and saw all the death and destruction, Hermione thought her heart would break in two. George reached out to Ron and pulled him into a quick embrace. It wasn't until he pulled Ron over to a body lying on the floor, that Herminie realized Fred was not moving. The mark on his chest showed that someone had used the killing curse on him. She felt a moment of guilt for using the phoenix tears on Professor Snape, until she remembered that nothing would cure the killing curse. Why hadn't Voldemort used that on Snape instead of having Nagini bite him and how did Dumbledore seem to know it would happen?
Hermione came back to the present as Mr. Weasley was helping her through the floo at the burrow and lowering her into the nearest Kitchen chair, where Molly slid over a plate of eggs and bacon to her. Hermione accepted it graciously and began eating. "I see you've told her," Molly whispered, although Hermione heard every word. "This is ridiculous, Arthur, you have to do something.
"There's nothing I can do, Mollikins…uhmm, she's already signed the contract." he said, using her pet name, "besides Professor Snape will be able to keep her safe from the other, older wizards who just want her for prosperity and a name for themselves…and furthermore," he continued trying to convince Molly, if not himself, "they will both be Professors at the same school…and she did save his life, after all."
"She signed the contract?" Molly said turning to her. "Hermione what would make you do such a thing?"
Hermione looked Molly in the eye and said, "Mr. Weasley can you excuse us for just a second?" Molly nodded her head and Mr. Weasly beat a quick exit.
"Now Hermione…"
"I love him…" She blurted out, "I've loved him longer than I can remember."
Molly sat down in one of the chairs with her mouth hanging open.
"Did you ever tell him?"
"No," she said looking away. "Professor Dumbledore said I should, but I never did and by then it was too late, so I..."
"Wait," Molly interrupted, "Dumbledore knew and he encouraged it?"
"He felt that if Professor Snape knew how I felt, it would give him hope. I on the other hand felt he would just laugh in my face and call it a silly crush."
Molly started to speak but Hermione interjected, "It's like this Mrs. Weasley, all my other choices were 80 year old men. At least Professor Snape isn't that old and he would keep me safe…he always has." At Molly's look of confusion she said, "Remember the night Professor Snape shielded Ron, Harry and me from Werewolf Lupin?" Molly nodded, she had somehow forgotten about that. "Professor Snape exited the Shrieking Shack and when he saw the Werewolf, he placed himself between the Werewolf and the three of us. He shielded us with his body. Sirus managed to chase Werewolf Lupin off and Harry had run after them to try and keep Werewolf-Lupin from hurting Sirius. I tried to run after Harry but Professor Snape grabbed me from behind. His strong hands holding me by the arms to keep her from running after him…telling me there was nothing I could do, he held me against him, Molly…he kept me safe."
Molly smiled kindly at her and patted her hand. "Love always hopes…"
Hermione smiled with tears in her eyes, "That's exactly what Professor Dumbledore said."