Hermione took as long as she could both eating, and then washing up and finally, making a pot of tea, all the while Snape just sat there staring at her silently, never once looking away. She knew he was still embarrassed, not to mention angry at her, for inadvertently walking into his room, and she figured – rightly – that he was enjoying turning the tables on her and making her uncomfortable for once.
Finally, she couldn't put their talk off another minute, "so, what do you want to know?" she asked as she stirred some sugar into her tea.
Snape pursed his lips slightly as he slowly rubbed his finger over them in thought.
"Firstly, why have you decided to do this now? Secondly, exactly how do you intend to save Black with-out interrupting or, more importantly, contaminating the timeline. And thirdly, why Black? Why is he so much more important to you than anyone else?" he asked in a quiet smooth voice.
Hermione took a deep breath and began, "firstly, if I'm being honest, the reason I'm doing it now is I was fed-up with everything in my life. My divorce from Ron had just been finalised, my kids are all living in London and have jobs now, so I was looking for a challenge, something different, something daring, something that the prim and proper Hermione Granger everyone thought they knew, would never, under any circumstances, contemplate."
She snorted and looked into Snapes eyes, "I felt like I was trapped, trapped in a job that was no longer fulfilling, trapped by an ex-husband, who despite having humiliated me by having a very public affair, still wouldn't leave me alone. It was his constant whining and his ever present need to blame me for every single one of his failures that became infuriating, and added to that, I was trapped in an idiotic persona I'd somehow created for myself. So, I decided I was going to do something so challenging that most people would see it as impossible. Magic that even the boldest of magical experimenters in our world would pause at."
Snape remained silent, he simply kept studying her, his cold black eyes seeming to bore into her soul.
Secondly, I have had my secretary researching exactly who went missing around this time, and I also had her cross-reference those missing people with those whose bodies were never found, she found two men. Archie Wiggens from Tottenham, a small-time hood who it was suspected worked for Voldemort, and my personal favourite, Stanford Wicksley. Wicksley was a low-level worker in the Ministry of Magic where we suspected he gathered information on the coming and goings of the Ministers for Voldemort." She said glancing at Snape in question.
He thought for a moment before nodding, confirming her suspicions.
"Tomorrow morning Wicksley goes missing on his way to work, I intend to nab him, bring him here and put him under the Imperious curse. I have a flask of Polyjuice potion in my bag, and a small lock of Sirius's hair," she said, her face flushing with colour when she mentioned the hair.
"I intend to swap Sirius for Wicksley, after he takes the Polyjuice potion he will go to the Ministry with the others and be killed instead of Sirius, it's a win/win scenario for our side. Then I'll bring Sirius back here and we'll return to the time I left, where I will, no doubt, face some serious punishment for what I've done."
She looked away from Snape for a moment and finished her cooling tea before she added, "as to your third question, why Sirius,"
She felt her face inadvertently heating again, even if her reasons had changed from when she'd first thought of saving Sirius, that of wanting to sleep with him, to the more esoteric question of whether or not she could actually do it, and even if she should. Now? Well now she still felt slightly embarrassed about why she'd initially started this quest, because since her first lusty thoughts about Sirius, she hadn't really thought about that, or him, since. From the time she'd started to really plan it has turned into a challenging adventure for her, a quest that she now felt compelled to finish.
"Well, Sirius was a good man who died far too young, he hadn't even been able to begin to enjoy his life again, or to explore his relationship with his godson Harry. Poor Harry, he loved him dearly, and he still misses him dreadfully, he's even kept 12 Grimmauld Place in London, despite Ginny constantly demanding he sell the place, which will be good, because now Sirius will have his home to go straight back to."
This brought an immediate frown from Snape, "and what happened to my home?" he asked with concern.
"Sold I'm afraid, but Hogwarts did take possession of all of your books, and I think they'd be happy to have you back with them, especially given you were a hero."
Snape blinked several times, "A hero?"
Hermione nodded, "Harry made sure everyone knew exactly what you'd done, how you'd bravely risked your life to do the impossible for the Order of The Pheonix. Your portrait is even in the headmasters office along with the other headmasters, your right beside Albus Dumbledore," she said, a smile on her lips.
"You're telling me Potter made sure the truth was known?" Snape asked incredulously.
"Severus, you were a hero, we all knew that and we all agreed, well, except for Ron who still thought you were a raging twat. But Harry wouldn't hear of anyone maligning your name," she started laughing.
You know he even named his youngest son Albus Severus Potter. Ginny fought him tooth and nail but he was adamant, his kids were going to be named after all the brave people in his life. His first born is James Sirius, then there is Lily Luna, and lastly Albus Severus."
Snape sat back flabbergasted, this was something he'd never expected when he'd asked his questions, although he knew she wasn't telling him everything, which made him suspicious, on this he knew she was being truthful, but why? Why, after the way he had treated Harry through-out all his school years, would he name his child after him? For the first time in a long, long time, Snape felt truly humbled, and feeling humbled also made him feel put out, as if he had to now do something to live up to this stupid news.
He saw only one avenue open to him, one that would help his saviour in her idiotic quest to save that simpering moron Black.
"I should be feeling much better tomorrow, and as Wicksley knows me, and my position with Lord Voldemort, it should be me that goes and gets him."
At Hermoine's raised eyebrows he sighed, "Granger, it makes more sense for him to be met – discretely – by someone he knows, then for some strange woman to suddenly accost him, far too many things could go wrong your way, where as I can simply walk up to him unopposed and disapparate with him in tow straight back here. Besides, I hardly think you're up to putting on a strong Imperious curse on the man. The unforgivable curses take more than just saying the words, they take real force of will, you have to mean the words with every part of you. No, my way is much safer, and far more likely to work."
"I have an invisibility cloak with me, it's not like Harry's, but it's new so it will last for a few years." She stood and went to her bag then came straight back to the table where she opened it.
"Accio Invisibility Cloak," she said waving her wand over the small beaded bag.
The cloak flew out of the bag and straight into her hand, she then brought out the Polyjuice potion and set it on the table beside the cloak, and then a small vial with a locket of dark hair with a red ribbon around it."
Snape stared at the hair, "A ribbon Granger?"
Once again Hermione flushed, "Easier to keep it together, or so I thought when I was fourteen," now is this all we'll need do you think, or is there something else I need to get?
Hemione's explanation, coupled with the age she mentioned, suddenly made a lot of questions click into place for Snape. He quickly realised the woman standing before him had had a crush on Black as a young teen and had stolen a lock of his hair at some stage, and perhaps that childhood curiosity had carried over into her adult life. Although that was another question, one he felt slightly disgusted by, he couldn't fault her meticulous planning, and as it had saved his life he decided to let it go, but there was something else she was hiding, he could feel it. He could almost see it at times when she was talking to him, but whatever it was, she was keeping it well hidden.
"One last thing Granger, before I give you my help, I want you to tell me what it is your hiding from me." Said Snape in a silky whisper.
Hermione immediately looked guilty, having been an honest person all of her life, she wasn't used to keeping secrets, and especially not the little titbit about Harry's night in the woods when he had used the resurrection stone. She honestly believed that just having his parents' ghosts with him would have been all Harry needed to keep his courage, but if she told him that Harry had told her Sirius was there too, well she knew Snape, and she knew his hatred for Sirius, this could change his mind about everything.
She hesitated before an avenue presented itself to her.
"I swear I'll tell you something I haven't mentioned yet before we leave alright? Not that it will make any difference, you're just going to have to trust me," she said.
Snape stared at her hard, as if willing her to divulge what she knew now. Finally, he nodded slowly, "Alright Granger, but you will tell me before we return."
Hermione nodded in agreeance before going to her room, this quest was starting to turn into Snapes quest at a frightening pace. Still, tomorrow they would have Wicksley, and then the day after Sirius, and then finally, everyone could go home where she would face the wrath of the Ministry – happily, because she would have achieved the impossible!
After her talk with Snape, Hermione found herself at odds for something to do. The tent/flat was clean, and she certainly didn't want to hang around with Snape, giving him the opportunity to question her more. And as they'd already gone through his plan and she agreed with him that his way was much simpler-especially given that Hermione had the addresses of both men – there was now nothing to do except wait.
So, she made another excuse that she had to go shopping, then she spent the entire afternoon in her Burka wandering around London, eventually arriving back at the tent just after the shops had closed, layered down with bags and bags of - unneeded - food and clothes. She tossed a bag to Snape, it was filled with a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and Jumper, along with several pairs of socks and underpants.
Snape had stared at the contents, reddening once again as he pulled out the underwear, thankfully, instead of the biting comment he usually gave, he simply turned back to go to his room, where he stayed until she'd made their evening meal.
After that they'd simply ignored each other as they both took a book from the pile that Hermione had bought at Diagon Alley the day before.
Bedtime couldn't come quick enough.
The following morning dawned crisp and cold, it was going to be a beautiful spring day. Hermione had risen early, but not as early as Snape, he was already gone, along with the invisibility cloak. Hermione frowned, she'd wanted to go over the plan once again, but now all she could do was wait.
Snape stood outside the back door of Wicksleys house covered in the invisibility cloak, he'd had to stoop to make sure it covered his lanky frame as much as possible. He had listened intently as the family had arisen, frowning as he heard Wicksley abusing his wife over an overcooked egg, he was reminded of his own father and the casual cruelty had inflicted on him, he immediately felt a lot better about Grangers plan, this Wicksley was a prick, his wife and kids would be a lot better off without him.
He figured Wicksley would use the back door to his house, because from here he could safely disapparate, from his front door he'd have to move to a nearby alleyway, either way, he'd have time to nab him.
A short time later the door opened and Wicksley stepped out, Snape noticed a small bit of egg yoke was still sticking to the mans pencil thin moustache.
As he closed the door Snape opened the cloak slightly and said, "you're needed for a brief time, we have a mission for you."
Wicksleys eyes went wide and he jumped visibly, "Of c, c, course Sir, anything for the cause." He stammered in terror.
"Good," said Snape softly as he took his hand and disapparated.
As soon as the re-appeared in the forest near the tent Snape whispered "Imperio" with the entire force of his will, Wicksleys eyes immediately went blank and Snape led him back inside the tent.
Hermione was just finishing her breakfast when Snape walked back in, with a small mean-eyed man in tow.
"Severus? That was quick." She said inanely at their sudden appearance.
Snape sat the Imperiused man down and then took out his wand again, "Immobulus", he said in an offhand way before walking over to the fridge and examining its contents.
He looked up as Hermione continued to stare at him,
"What did you expect Granger? I had a mission, I completed it quickly and efficiently, now, what is there to eat, I'm hungry."
Hermione quickly went to the fridge and pushed him out of the way, "I'll make you something seeming you've been out all morning."
She quickly went about fixing Snape some breakfast, desperate for something to do, her plan was coming together very quickly, and she was now getting understandably nervous, because tomorrow they'd be getting Sirius and replacing him with Wicksley, and then they'd finally be going back home, her, to a very uncertain future.
