Disclaimer: I own nothing that you would recognize.
A/N: I'm sorry! I seem to have dropped off the face of the planet there for a while. Maybe I did. I want to thank all of you though for not giving up on this story or me. I want to apologize now for any reviews I didn't respond to because I have read each and every one of them, and they reminded me to keep going, not just with the story, but with life. These past few months have been incredibly difficult for me and while I wont bore you with all of the details here (though feel free to contact me privately should you wish) I just wanted to say how unexpected and truly amazing the support I received from my readers has been. So thank you. To Moewe who has become a wonderful friend to me, your letters never fail to remind me that I make my own destiny, thank you. And to Mababy who is always there with encouragement and friendly conversation to remind me that I'm not alone, thank you.
And thank you, to each of you who reads this, who has reviewed, and added this story to your favorites, or given the companion piece a shot and read that too. Thank you. This is for you. Read and enjoy!
*fresh new lily*
Hermione stopped spinning next to one of the winged boars that flanked the large gate. Nervously she patted down the hem of her dress and smoothed out nonexistent stray hairs as she looked for the large half giant who had always met her at the gate in the past on her visits. This time, however, Hagrid was nowhere to be seen, and Hermione began to wonder if she would be late to her meeting with Minerva. Part of her wanted to forget the whole thing, but the other part of her knew that it was time to start standing up for herself; to stop being everybody's door-mat and victim. Still, she was uncertain about what could be taking Hagrid so long, not that he had ever been the most timely of persons, half-giant or not.
It wasn't long before Hermione heard a light laugh off to her right that seemed to be coming from the other winged boar. "Oh honestly!" she proclaimed, turning to face the other boar. "Since when have you had anything to say? Or laugh at for that matter? Sometimes this castle is just so…so…so…" Hermione waved her hands about in frustration as she struggled for words and flustered about at the large statue which seemed to be eyeing her wearily.
"Oh, and tell me how you really feel Hermione," came a familiar voice from atop the boar.
Hermione's eyes darted up to the young man sitting half hidden behind one of the boar's wings with his nose buried in a book. "Neville?" she called, surprised to see her friend, especially considering he was always more of the 'safely on the ground type', much like herself. "What on earth are you doing all the way up there?" she asked, her voice lifting as some of her tension drained away upon seeing her good friend.
Neville sat the large Herbology text he had been reading down on the boars back and turned to dangle both corduroy encased legs, dirty from a day spent digging around in the greenhouses, down the side of the boar behind his wing. "Well, McGonagall has been a real treat lately. She's really been on the warpath about you and Snape. She reminds me of Gran really. It's scary, and so naturally, I've been doing my best to hide out when I can. When Hagrid brought me a case of Flesh Eating slug Repellant and some fresh Hippogriff manure this morning, I offered to let you in the gates so that he could keep a closer eye on his new pet." He cringed a little at the mention of whatever horrific creature Hagrid had decided to adopt this time. "Be sure to ask about Claire if you see him. She's quite the…um…sweet…um…thing, that one," he explained, still not bothering to hide the pained look when he mentioned Hagrid's newest acquisition.
Hermione shook her head. Neville's mention of Hagrid's pet had luckily diffused the growing anger building in her about Minerva. All she wanted was to be happy, but she knew that it would be difficult for people to understand her relationship. Especially when her relationship had come about so close to the end of what was supposed to have been a marriage. For now though it was nice just to see the smile on her dear friends face. One thing was still troubling her about Neville though. "Neville?" she hollered up at him. "What on earth are you doing up there though? Couldn't you have just waited for me down here?"
Neville just shrugged. "Hard as it may be to imagine, I used to climb trees all the time when I was a kid. Best place to hide from Gran really. I mean, who would think to look for me in a tree?" he asked seriously, knowing full well that his heroics during the war aside, he was still seen as sweet and non-threatening, and probably a bit of a plant loving sissy as he had heard a few of the older students call him. "And, well, have you ever tried to climb the trees around this place? They either try to beat you off or are home to some nasty thing I would rather not have to deal with. Susie here leaves me be mostly," he patted the large stone boars back affectionately. "Sure she shifts a bit from time to time, but otherwise I am free to relax, read my book, and hide from our dear Headmistress," he explained.
Hermione, who in a very Severus like manner quirked an eyebrow at the explanation Neville gave her; she had to ask, though she wasn't sure she wanted Neville's explanation. "Susie?"
Neville smiled rather goofily at her. "Oh, yeah, well you know Hermione, Sus is the Latin for boar, and so I call her Susie." He shrugged as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Did I just teach Hermione something? I mean, there was really something you didn't already have stored in that brain of yours? And I did? Wow, I mean, that almost feels better than the time I got the House Points that won Gryffindor the House Cup first year." He grinned brightly and Hermione returned his smile affectionately, realizing how much she truly missed some of her friends.
Neville watched her face brighten a little and was happy to see a little of Hermione's joy return, even over something as silly as his names for the Boars. Just then he remembered he had forgotten to tell her something. "The other I call Thor, in case you were wondering," he laughed before very slowly turning and sliding down the boar's hind leg and hopping down to the ground a little ungracefully.
Hermione wiped her hands over her face exasperatedly. "Thor the Boar? Really Neville?" she asked as she shook her head and smiled at the small bit of innocence Neville had managed to retain after all they had been through.
"Hey, I challenge you to come up with something better," Neville retorted, wiping the dirt from his dark brown corduroy trousers. "Now come along Hermione, I hear you have an appointment with the Lady of the castle." Neville put an arm around Hermione and guided her to the gate, where he stopped to pull a key out of his front pant pocket.
Once the gate was unlocked with the key Neville performed a series of charms known only to the Headmistress, the Heads of House, and to Hagrid respectively. He un-warded the large gate and allowed them access. It took him a few attempts to get them just right, and in the right order, but it wasn't too long before the big gates creaked open. "Come on Hermione. Let's go. It won't be that bad, and I'll meet you in the entrance hall after your debasing by Minerva. I mean, that is to say; I'll meet you after your tea. Hannah's going to meet us in the Hog's Head for lunch. So come on Hermione, time to get this over with," he told her as they walked the long path towards the castle.
Hermione looked to the large stone castle looming in front of her. This castle had been her home once, and a real life fairy tale to a little girl who only ever dreamed of a world full of magic and mysteries. As Hermione had grown, however, it had become the place of her nightmares; a scene of loss and despair. After she had assisted in the rebuilding she had once dreamt of someday coming back to teach inside these walls and thus, truly completing the circle. As it so often can, time and circumstance had changed more than just her dreams and aspirations; it had utterly changed who she was.
"It's fine Neville. Minerva has been like family to me almost since I started school here. I had just hoped that she would support me now. I don't really know what it is she is so upset by, but I'm certainly not about to sit back and let her run off telling the world that I'm some sort of tart. Maybe if she had bothered to mention me apprenticing her at all in the past few years instead of just throwing a fit now that I have already accepted Severus' offer things would be different. I really don't know why she is so against this relationship. I mean, I'm happy. Doesn't that count for anything Neville?" she asked a little wearily as they continued their trek up the path to the large oak doors to the castle.
Neville looked sadly at his friend. "Hermione, everyone wants you to be happy. It's hard though, I mean, well…it's Snape," Neville cringed saying the name, it wasn't all that easy to think of one of his best friends with the dour man, even having been witness to his love for her the night that they buried her daughter. "Look, now please don't be mad, I mean I have seen you mad, and no offence Hermione, but I do not want to be on the other end of that, but it is a bit…surprising. Now, I know that Ron didn't turn out to be the guy we all thought he was, but this is still a bit hard for some people to understand. Hannah and I support you though, if it means anything. We might not understand the attraction or anything, but we really do just want you to be happy. Besides, that smile on your face when he walks into a room is pretty hard to miss, especially when everyone else is running the other way," he told her, bumping his shoulder into hers in a friendly show of support.
Hermione bumped Neville back and laughed a little. "Thanks Neville. It really does mean a lot to me that you and Hannah are there for me. Severus really does make me so happy. He means the world to me, I know that's hard to understand, but he does. I'm glad that at the very least you and Hannah can see that much. I just wish Minerva could see it too," she said wistfully. "Now come on and be a gentleman and open the door for me will you?" Hermione gestured to the door towering over them.
Neville moved forward to un-ward the door and spell it open. The large doors slowly swung outwards revealing the grand entrance hall to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Neville gestured Hermione inside. "Well, this is where I leave you Hermione. I have a few saplings to look after and feed. I'll see you in a bit, alright," he told her, pulling her into a hug to offer whatever reassurances he could. "She'll come around Hermione. You know she loves you like a daughter," he told her earnestly.
"I hope so Neville. I don't have much in the way of family these days," she said, trying not to sound like she was pitying herself too much. "I'll meet you back here soon. Hope the saplings are doing well, you'll have to show them to me before we leave. Well…I suppose I'm off to tea then," Hermione gestured towards the grand staircase in front of her as Neville gave her a comforting smile and both began to go their separate ways.
"Good luck!" Neville shouted over his shoulder as he made his way out of the castle.
Hermione shook her head at Neville's retreating back and began to make her way through the castle towards the Head's office where Minerva was bound to be waiting rather impatiently for her.
Staircases turned to meet her and lanterns lit her way through dim corridors that, not so long ago, had been little more than rubble. The magic of the castle never ceased to amaze Hermione.
She could see slight differences in the castle, as she made her way along the cold stone corridors. Hermione felt an affinity for the old stonework that had, like she, taken a beating but refused to give up. She had lent her wand to the restoration effort of the castle, hoping not only to help rebuild the broken school but the pieces of her soul that the war had begun to tear. Now she realized she was so much more damaged than mortar and spell work could repair but she did have a renewed sense of self and a love that she was confident was strong enough to see her through.
She hadn't let war or Ronald Weasley destroy her and so she certainly wouldn't let an old woman's opinions tear her down.
Quicker than she had anticipated, Hermione approached the large gargoyle that guarded the Head's office and private chambers. "Gillywater," she stated plainly, remembering the password that Minerva had told her would be in use for the week.
As soon as the appropriate word left her mouth the large gargoyle bowed its head gracefully and sprang aside to reveal the spiral staircase that led straight up to Minerva's office. Hermione took a deep breath and ascended the stairs, prepared to defend herself, her lover, and her life to the woman who had become her mentor and her family over the past decade.
The door to the office opened immediately and Hermione was surprised to see that Minerva was not sat behind her desk as usual but instead was fiddling nervously with the pearls she was wearing around her neck as she sat tensely on her hunter green Queen Anne settee. She was so focused on whatever was going through her mind that she didn't seem to notice the new presence in the room.
Hermione walked into the room and took in the scene of the obviously apprehensive Minerva McGonagall sitting before her. It wasn't at all what she had expected. She noticed the portrait of Albus Dumbledore pretending to sleep in his frame. No one who truly knew the man ever believed him to be nearly as aloof as he liked to portray, and Hermione suspected that the portrait was every bit as calculated as the wizard had been in life. She noted to herself that she had words for him someday. Today was just not that day.
"Hello Minerva," Hermione said quietly as she stepped up beside the settee, startling the older woman.
Minerva's head snapped up and looked over to where Hermione was standing. "Oh Hermione dear, you nearly gave an old woman a heart attack. I'm not sure where my head is these days. I didn't even hear you come in," she spoke quietly, with her hand over her heart as if to slow its beating. "Please, come over and sit." Minerva waved her hand to the other end of the settee and gestured for Hermione to join her there.
Hermione moved around the antique gold tea cart and took her usual seat on the settee while Minerva conjured up her favorite chintz tea set and began to pour two cups of steaming tea. It was awkwardly silent as both women proceeded to fidget with tea spoons and pick at biscuits for a few moments before Hermione worked up her courage and spoke.
"It's good to see you Minerva. I trust you've been well," Hermione said conversationally, almost adding to the tense and awkward atmosphere that had descended in the room more than anything.
Minerva looked up at the young woman seated across from her, dressed in a lovely crisp white dress and looking healthier than she had in some time, despite her recent ordeal. "Yes, I've been well Hermione. Although quite tired I suppose. There is a reason most Head's choose not to teach for long. This job is quite draining," she explained stiffly before taking a sip of tea. Her voice softened a little as she spoke again. "I must say; you look well. That dress suits you quite nicely," Minerva told her warmly, as she set her cup down on the cart and picked up a chocolate biscuit.
Hermione smiled, remembering how Severus had set out all her clothes that morning while he searched for the right words to explain what had been happening in his mind. "Why thank you Minerva. Severus picked it out for me this morning actually," she smiled a little smugly at that fact as a surprised look crossed Minerva's features.
Minerva took a moment to ponder the thought of the dark, sarcastic and often grim man she knew picking out such a delicate white dress for a woman to wear before speaking. "I can't say that I would have ever expected any of this Hermione. I find I am at a loss for words. Now, I never did feel that Ronald was the right man for you and it devastated me to watch you waste your talents as a meager house wife, but this Hermione," Minerva paused and rubbed at her temples as if a terrible headache were coming on, "Good Godric, I just don't know what to think. I see the young woman I have known and grown to love like my own over the years going through so much and making these decisions with her life that I simply cannot understand. It isn't right Hermione; certainly not with Severus. I do not understand how you could be entertaining the thought of a love affair. I don't know what the two of you are thinking. Well, I am fairly certain I know what he is thinking and I rather wish I didn't," she finished rather haughtily.
By the time Minerva had finally closed her mouth and given Hermione the opportunity to respond, Hermione was practically fuming and ready to snap. "Just what in Merlin's name is that supposed to mean? You don't know Severus nearly as well as you think you do if you can honestly sit here and accuse him of using me for nefarious purposes. He is nothing but kind and gentlemanly to me. Okay, well he is also sarcastic and snarky and a right pain in the arse sometimes but I love him Minerva, and I can assure you he loves me as well. He has gone far out of his way to take care of me, and not just since this relationship officially began but long before, when we first began to build our friendship. And it is a friendship that I initiated might I add. He hasn't asked anything of me other than to love him back. You know nothing of what he has done for me. And besides all of that, where do you get off telling me that I can't find love again Minerva? How is that fair? You are like family to me, like my Nan, and I needed your support and instead you are here treating me as if I was some cheep floozy like Lavender Brown or something. I wasn't even legally married for gods' sakes," she raged, the frustration over Minerva's disapproval having built back up to a boiling point with her already unbalanced and unpredictable hormones.
Minerva seemed to deflate some under the harsh scrutiny of Hermione's words and opened her mouth several times to speak before finally landing on the words she was searching for. "Hermione, I certainly don't mean to insinuate that you are a woman of questionable morals, but you have to understand how this will look to the rest of the Wizarding World. In everyone else's eyes you were a married woman, one who until quite recently was expecting a child with her husband. Now for you to be shacking up with another man, and one who is not very well liked by the majority of people, I might add, is simply scandalous," she said, backpedaling her comments some making them seem slightly less judgmental.
Hermione scoffed. "Do you honestly think I care what people think at this point? I just want my life back. I want to be happy. Severus makes me happy. And that child I was carrying, it never would have happened without Severus in the first place. I wasn't supposed to be able to conceive again, but Severus practically risked his life to acquire the ingredients needed for the potion that allowed me to conceive my daughter. Trust me when I tell you that Ronald was much less involvedfor his part. So don't you dare try to use her against Severus, Minerva. And, in case it slipped your mind Minerva, my so called husband attempted to kill me, after raping me, and then ran off with his whack job of a mistress who apparently has some sick vendetta against me as well. So forgive me if I don't really care if people want to think I am some sort of trollop. I do, however, care that you seem to agree." By the time she had finished talking tears were tricking down her cheeks, leaving trails in the muggle makeup she had put on that morning as she had gotten ready.
Minerva saw the tears falling down Hermione's face and pulled a green tartan handkerchief from one of the many pockets in her midnight blue robes and handed it to the young fragile witch. "Hermione, my sweet girl; I honestly don't think you a trollop. I truly am just worried about you. Severus, he isn't the man I would have chosen for you, jot that I think you even need to settle down with any Wizard so soon. He has been both friend and colleague for many years and I know all too well he can be cruel and sarcastic, not to mention a bitter old man who is in love with a ghost. I worry he saw a way to take advantage of you and get what he wanted and you fell for it. My only concern is you dear," she explained, though it did her no good.
Hermione wasn't feeling any less upset. "Just don't Minerva. Maybe you don't know him, not like I do. I know that he can be sarcastic and cruel. I also know that he isn't that way with everyone. He certainly isn't with me. Okay, sarcastic yes, but that's part of what I love about him. Love, Minerva, I love him. I wasn't taken advantage of. If anything, this happened because I saw something I wanted and went after it, for once in my life. I forced my way into his life, forced him to be my friend, kissed him out of the blue when I still believed myself to be married. I tried not to fall in love with him, because I am not some cheating whore, but I did anyways. And he loves me, truly. I don't know why that is so gods damned hard for you to believe. He isn't in love with Lily, he was a child when he knew her, and Albus, yes you Albus," she addressed the seemingly sleeping portrait, "I know you're listening up there so don't think that I don't have plenty to say to you on the matter either. Albus used that childhood infatuation to make himself a warrior. He certainly did an excellent job of it too. He built a cold, uncaring warrior. But Severus isn't the warrior anymore, he isn't the spy. He thankfully doesn't have General Albus Dumbledore in his head wiping his emotions clean," she spat coldly, hating to think of how the love of her life had been manipulated for most of his.
Hermione's eyes snapped back up to the portrait on the wall and she could see the recognition in the portraits face. He knew Severus had spoken with her about the Obliviate technique and he didn't look entirely pleased about it.
Choosing to ignore Albus' curiosity and ire she continued to address Minerva. "The fact is Minerva, and I will only say this one more time, I am in love with Severus Snape, irrevocably. I know he feels the same. He is my family now. I had hoped that you wanted to be a part of that family. I am not going to sit here and defend my feelings to you if you refuse to even listen. I would love to tell you the truth of what happened, of how we fell in love, but if all you are going to do is accuse him of being some perverted monster out to harm me then I am leaving. You have to accept that you don't know him the way you think you do. Or at least you don't know all of him. It's either that, or I'm leaving." Hermione stood and made to leave hoping Minerva would stop her and prove her wrong; hoping that she would give Severus and their relationship more credit.
She stood there looking at the matronly witch whose opinion meant the world to her. A woman she had come to love like her own Nan. Hermione was willing her to say anything, to give her a reason to stay.
Minerva just sat there on the settee, with her head in her hands.
Hermione let out a deep breath and shook her head. She held back the tears that were threatening to fall and balled her hands into little fists. "Fine Minerva, I had hoped you would say something, anything really, but if that is the way you choose to leave things then so be it. I need to speak with Albus a moment and then I will be out of your hair," she said, her voice trembling with the pain she felt losing more of her family.
Hermione walked to the other side of the office and behind Minerva's grand desk where Albus Dumbledore's portrait hung proudly on the wall, a sad expression etched in the oil pigments of his face. "Hello Professor," she said calmly, trying to push her emotions aside for the moment.
The portrait of Albus smiled sadly down on her. "It's Albus my dear girl. You had no problem saying so just a moment before. No reason to stand on ceremony here is there? Now, I see that you have something you wish to speak with me about. Severus has been telling you of his time as my spy then? Well, I am happy he has found someone he can rely on. I must say, it is a remarkable match. I told him as much the last time he was here," the old wizard's portrait informed her.
Hermione couldn't help but smile at the thought that Severus had been to the castle to speak to Albus, and that he had spoken to him of her. She wondered when it had been. Had it been before she lost the baby, or was he seeking counsel before Ronald was out of her life for good? "Severus was here to speak with you? When? I had no idea. Not that I should be surprised. He loves you, you know? It's complicated, yes, but I know he looks to you like a father," she rambled, not realizing that Albus had gotten her to completely forget her frustration righteous anger on Severus' behalf for Albus' meddling in his mind. She was certain that Albus did more than just cut the ties to his emotions. She was positive that he had strengthened the ones that he saw to be of use. The ties to Lily's memory, for one, and she was certain there were others she knew nothing about. Albus was a great General, but when a man who is like a son to you is your most important soldier, the lines of right and wrong get blurred by the effort to defeat your enemy.
Albus didn't miss that she had failed to mention her talks with Severus regarding his time as a spy, as he had hoped she would if he mentioned the boy's visits to her, and he choose to count his blessings for the time being. He knew she wouldn't be thrilled with his methods, nor would Minerva when she heard, and she was not likely to vacate her own office knowing that she could gain more insight into Albus' methods during the war. "Oh yes dear girl. I am aware the boy loves me like a father, and he is like a son to me, as I have told him again and again. Though I do doubt he will ever say as much himself. A good lemon drop and a cup of tea often help young men to share more than they know, but I digress. You, my dear girl, he speaks of quite highly, if not without conflict. It has been some time since we have spoken though, a month or so I would say," the portrait told her before popping a lemon drop into his mouth.
Hermione thought over what he had told her, not that it was much. It never was with Albus Dumbledore. At the very least he couldn't offer her any of his lemon drops anymore, and she had noticed some time ago that Minerva never kept any in her office. "So he was here before I lost the baby and he talked to you about me then? About us? And you think that we make a good match? I don't really know what to say to that to be honest. I didn't know he had been here recently," she said confusedly, wondering what the two of them had discussed about her, especially when she had still been considered a married woman.
Without warning Minerva piped in. "I was unaware of his presence in my office as well, Albus. How often is he here?" she inquired snappishly.
Albus just twinkled at both women. "My talks with the boy are between us unless he decides otherwise. And he was Headmaster if you have forgotten Minnie. He is more than capable of getting into your office with or without your password. The boy likes privacy and mystery. He comes and goes as he pleases when he feels the need to converse with me on something. This past year it has for the most part been about Miss, now what should we call you dear? As Weasley seems inappropriate. Is it Granger again then? Well, Hermione at any rate. Yes, it has been our dear Hermione that we have spoken of most often this past year. He cares for you a great deal, my girl," the old wizard said, turning his attention back to Hermione.
Hermione was smiling broadly when Minerva's harsh voice cut through to her ears. "You can't be serious Albus! Severus Snape hasn't cared for any woman but Lily Potter in his entire life. Hermione is just going to get hurt in the end and…"
"Seriously Minerva! Give it a rest. I've heard enough. Albus, thank you. I'm sure you can figure out what for. I have to go," Hermione practically screamed at Minerva before lowering her voice to address Albus' portrait. Without another word she turned and left the office and stormed down the spiral stair and disappeared.
Hermione hastened her pace through the castle that seemed to be on her side of things as staircases were always where she needed them to be for the second time that day. When she reached the entrance hall she realized she was a bit early for Neville so she headed out of the castle to search the grounds knowing that he was likely with plants wherever he was.
Minerva couldn't believe that Hermione had just taken off like that. She really couldn't believe she had been snapped at like she had. But mostly, Minerva McGonagall was completely thrown by her own mentor's thoughts on the subject, and the fact that he knew so much about Severus and Hermione and had never mentioned a word to her.
She stood facing the entrance to her office where Hermione had just left and tried to understand what had happened. She had known that Hermione would be upset but had thought that she would come to see reason. They never even had a chance to talk about the apprenticeship. Minerva had been certain that if she'd had the opportunity to really sit down and talk things over with Hermione, that she would agree that the school was the best place for her to be, as it would be safe and she could recover; but she never got to say any of that.
Slowly she turned to face the portrait of Albus above her desk. "Albus, surely you can't honestly think that Severus Snape is a good partner for Hermione? Let's not even forget his age shall we. There is no way it can last; they have nothing in common and he is using her, I know it," she said, her voice strained and tired.
The portrait of Albus just smiled at her. "Minnie. The boy loves her, just trust me on this. As for having nothing in common; that isn't true either and you know it. Both would rather be reading and learning than out running about. And, of course, they both are fiercely loyal. Both of them have lived through things that no one should have to, and at such a young age. They can be there for each other. I know that in this past year she has done more to heal him than I was able to do in thirty years. He loves her; I swear it, and I believe she loves him too. Why can't you just admit what the real problem is?" he asked her seriously. "Have you even talked to her about Moira? I see a great likeness in the two girls, as well as in the men they chose to love. But Severus Snape is not Evan Rosier, and if he had truly been a Death Eater in the end he would not be a man Hermione could love. I know that losing Moira the way that you did destroyed a part of you, especially after Abernathy was killed fighting against Grindelwald. To lose both to war, I cannot begin to imagine that pain Minnie but you cannot keep comparing the two. I know you love Hermione like she was your own, but she is not Moira. She is not repeating her mistakes. And you know that Severus is no Evan Rosier out to destroy her, he is your friend when you allow him to be," he told her, his voice sad and low.
Minerva backed up and plopped back onto the settee and hung her head because she knew that he was right, at least partially. She had been comparing Hermione to the daughter she had lost first to Tom Riddle's madness and then to death. She never spoke of her family to anyone, none other than Albus at least. Minerva hadn't come to work at Hogwarts until after Tom Riddle was already slowly gaining power and her only child had fallen in love with one of his top ranked men. She had taken the position to be closer to her daughter, hoping to get her out of the mess she had fallen into, only to watch her die in a fight that never should have been hers. No one ever knew who she had truly been, another nameless soul carrying the mark of a madman. Minerva hadn't been able to forgive Moira for her choices then, refusing to claim the body of the young woman cut down by the killing curse. It had been years since she had visited the unmarked stone atop her daughter's grave and forgiven her, and herself.
Now watching a young woman she had grown to love, who reminded her so much of her own daughter, choosing a man who had taken the same mark upon his arm, it was too much. Too close. The memories it brought back to the forefront of her mind clouded everything else. She knew Severus was a good man, if not always a very kind one, but there was still that similarity that made it too hard to accept when she saw him with Hermione.
She knew she had to talk to Hermione. She deserved to know the truth. She deserved to know that she was loved as well.
After a few minutes of silence she finally looked back up at the portrait looking down upon her sadly. "You're right Albus. You always are and I do hate that, you know. She deserves to hear about Moira, and perhaps it is time I talked about her anyhow. I just can't stand to think that she could be hurt. She has already suffered so greatly," she told him.
The portrait of Albus smiled. "I know Minnie. I know. Severus has told me much of her troubles, but it is not my place to say. She needs you. You need her. I need to take another ride on the unicorn hanging on the fourth floor I do think. Fine fellow he is. Think hard before you talk to her. Today was a, what do Muggles call it, an automobile smash-up or something? Well it was not a smooth flight on the carpet if I do say so myself, and I think I do. I'm off for a ride Minnie. Do think on what I've said, have a lemon drop. They do help one see more clearly," he said before walking clear out of the frame and disappearing.
Minerva shook her head at his antics. She knew he was right though. She would have to do something about the situation with Hermione and Severus. Perhaps another visit to Severus was in order. She was certain she had already missed her chance with Hermione that day. She remembered Neville telling her they were getting together for lunch. So deciding that speaking openly with Severus Snape was the best way to fix her current situation with the both of them she grabbed her bag, notified Horace that he was in charge for the time being, and left the school. She disappeared in a swirl of blue robes as she disapparated outside the gates. Severus Snape was sure to be surprised to see her walk in his door again.
A/N: Okay, so what did we think? Hopefully you liked but, but you can tell me if you didn't too! Reviews are like coffee, and I am in desperate need of a Venti Quad Shot Macchiato at the moment. A more lighthearted chapter with more Neville, and some Hannah and Luna too is coming up, as well as Minerva and Severus. I will do my best to start updating more regularly now that I have a computer again. So keep an eye out. Be well. Love you all.
* lily*