Chapter 5: The Late Headmaster

April 1982

Two months.

Hermione did not hear anything from Severus Snape for two months. Her gut said that he already solved the puzzle and saw her the Pensieve memories and the letter she wrote to him, together with some news clippings. His silence either meant he wasn't ready and was still processing everything, or he was not interested anymore.

Maybe he realized that he should be focusing on working on his reputation as a Death Eater and Head of Slytherin House, Hermione thought one night while she was on her way home. She could not stop thinking about the young and beguiling Potions Master.

He was often called 'The Greasy Git' of 'Overgrown Bat of the Dungeons'. He had pale skin, and uneven teeth, but not yellow. Harry, in Hermione's opinion, just exaggerated during their schooldays. Professor Snape's teeth were slightly uneven, yes, and not as white as toothpaste models in advertisements, but it was not yellowish. On a few occasions, Hermione noticed that Professor Snape smelt like peppermint and sometimes, lemongrass. His hair was rather oily perhaps because he used to brew frequently.

However, these days, Professor Snape's got silky and shiny hair, which was always tied neatly behind his neck. He looked neat and relaxed, not distressed and angry.

And attractive, she added. Yes, Severus Snape looked attractive, especially when he had that mischievous smile whenever he was asking her out.

Hermione already reached her flat. She forced herself to push her thoughts about Severus Snape away. When she rounded the corner to her and Alona's unit, she saw the wizard she had been thinking of, waiting outside the door.

"Professor Snape!" she blurted.

.

One week ago…

He finally solved the puzzle after three months, and Severus felt like a dunderhead because it took so long. It usually took him a year or two when learning something new, but with the puzzle and Hermione's answer at sake, he wanted to learn the Ancient Runes as fast as he could.

When he finally opened the wooden box, he first saw Hermione's letter for him.

18 December 1981

Dear Professor Snape,

First, allow me to congratulate you for solving the puzzle. I had no doubt that you could do it.

Second, thank you for your efforts in the events of the last couple of months. You are the bravest man I've ever known.

Allow me to tell you something about myself, and after this, you might understand why my answer is still a no. Please watch the Pensieve memories. You may borrow Professor Dumbledore's Pensieve, and then you may proceed to read the news clippings attached to this letter.

I respect you, Professor, and I have always looked up to you.

Forgive me for what I did – or what I am about to do. You'll see.

Again, thank you and I'm sorry.

Sincerely yours,

"1979"

Even though he was confused after when he finished reading the letter, Severus wasted no time in borrowing the Headmaster's Pensieve. He poured the contents of the vial into the clue box after locking his doors and making sure no one was going to disturb him.

Severus found himself in a chamber of time-turners, and he immediately saw Hermione. She was wearing a suit and a pair of dark blue tailored trousers, and black heeled shoes. Her hair was in a braid, and somehow, that look reminded Severus of Amelia Bones, a Ravenclaw in his year and was now working as an Auror, like Kingsley.

Hermione was quietly speaking with someone, and Severus gathered that they were solving a case. It didn't take long for him to realize that she was an Auror. Looking around, he noticed a black crow on the wall to Hermione's right. It flew towards them, and everything went black.

The scene shifted. Hermione was wearing the same clothes, and she was in a meeting room with several wizards. They were asking her questions and providing Pensieve memories. She also introduced herself as Hermione Granger.

While listening to the conversations, Severus learned two things: She traveled back in time, and she was stuck in 1981 in the meantime.

She was a time traveler, Severus realized. Hence the alias "1979." She was probably born in 1979.

His guess about her year of birth was confirmed when he saw the next memory.

Severus saw little Hermione Granger as a first-year student. He didn't know what exactly the year was, but when he saw that she was sorted to Gryffindor with Harry Potter, he knew it was 1991. Then, he saw himself, still teaching at Hogwarts. He looked horrible, much like before he met Hermione. And older. He looked so much older than her.

He didn't know what happened through the years because the next thing he witnessed after the Sorting Ceremony was a battle between a wizard who looked like James Potter and a snake-like creature in emerald-green robes in Hogwarts' courtyard. Severus looked around him, and he was petrified when he saw the destroyed castle. But then, angry and confronting voices got his attention away from the debris and damage, especially when they mentioned his name.

"Severus Snape was never yours!" James Potter-look-alike said. "He was the one who spied for Dumbledore and lied to you… fooled you to protect me."

Severus turned to the snake-like creature and studied him for a moment before realizing that it must have been the Dark Lord. He felt like he was about to throw up in disgust.

"Lies!" said the Dark Lord. "No one can ever lie to me. None of my followers! For I am the greatest Legilimens in the world!"

Potter smiled cockily. "You really believe that, don't you? Snape had never been yours the moment you threatened my mother's life. You don't even know that he could conjure a Patronus. A doe, just like my mum's because he loved her all his life."

"Holy fucking shit!" Severus cursed. "Where did they get the idea that I could conjure a Patronus, and I was in love with Lily?"

Then, he saw her.

Hermione.

She was there, watching the confrontation between the two wizards, and a gangly redhead was standing beside her, an arm around Hermione's shoulders as if protecting her; making her feel secure.

Envy. Severus felt envious because that redhead wizard got the chance to comfort Hermione.

The next scene was in a common room. He guessed it was the Gryffindor common room because of the portrait of Godric Gryffindor hanging on the wall. Hermione, the Potter kid, and the gangly redhead were sitting too close to each other near the fireplace. They were all dressed in fresh clothes, no trace of blood, and they looked better than during the confrontation with the Dark Lord, but sad. Each of them was holding a cup of tea in their hands.

"Sorry, mate. I just can't believe what you were saying," said the redhead in a low voice. "Snape? A hero?"

"Professor Snape, Ron," Hermione corrected in a gentle voice that made Severus smile. "Or the late headmaster." Tears fell from her eyes.

The late headmaster? What in the world is she talking about? Severus wondered. Perhaps I should've read the newspaper clippings first?

"I'm sorry, I just feel bad that we left him in the Shrieking Shack!" Hermione cried. "Every year, since our first year, we always thought he was the bad guy. But he always ended up saving us!"

"He didn't save me in the second year," murmured the redhead.

"But he brewed the potion that restored me! He brewed for me twice that year. Saved me twice, too," Hermione said mournfully. "And then… I didn't get to thank him. We didn't help him."

"There was nothing we could do, Mione," Potter said. "We had to move, and we couldn't take him with us."

Hermione sniffed. "I told Kingsley and Professor McGonagall that Professor Snape was left in the Shack. Kingsley and I checked, and he wasn't there anymore. Maybe some Death Eaters took his body away… Oh, God. I hope not. He's the bravest man I ever knew." She turned to Potter. "He loved your mum all his life, Harry. That's why he protected you."

Potter nodded sadly. "Yes. And I will do everything I can to clear his name. It's the least I could do."

Severus was gobsmacked. "Is this why Hermione wouldn't go out with me? She thought that I've loved Lily all my life. She thought that it would always be Lily, and there was no chance I would love her?"

.

"Professor Snape!" She almost cursed herself for sounding a little too enthusiastic and rushing to open the door so she could let him in.

He was still wearing his dark blue teaching robes and gave her a tired smile. "Miss Granger," he whispered when she was already two feet away from him.

She did not react to that. Instead, she opened the door and let him in. After inviting her to the sitting room and offering him tea, she finally removed her boots and sat on the wingback chair across from him, cross-legged.

"You solved the puzzle, then," she smiled behind her cup of tea. "Congratulations."

Professor Snape nodded. "Yes, a week ago. Thank you."

"Oh…" She was crestfallen. One week had passed before he came to see her.

"I had to watch the scenes and read the articles repeatedly, so the truth about you would sink in," he stated seriously. "Tell me something Hermione, please…" he said gently, looking at her directly in the eyes.

She looked at him solemnly and nodded, even if she wasn't ready to fully tell him the truth.

"Was… Is the thing you found out about Lily the reason why you wouldn't go out with me?"

She could only nod. He deserved the truth, after all.

Professor Snape sighed exhaustedly and massaged his temples. "It may be hard to believe, but I was never in love with Lily Evans-Potter."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to make me a fool? Or are you about to tell me that this is a different universe where Severus Snape did not become close friends with Lily Evans?" she asked angrily.

"No, no," he replied promptly and gently. "I was friends with her, all right? But she wasn't my best friend – my greatest friend. Yes, I made a deal with Dumbledore to help save her. Yes, I begged the Dark Lord to spare her, but that's because she was my friend. She was the only one who talked to me when I didn't have any friends before Hogwarts. She wasn't a perfect friend, and our friendship did not go well, but I had good memories with her. Before we went to Hogwarts, I thought I could finally have someone I could treat like a sister."

"Sister?" she whispered in disbelief.

Professor Snape shook his head. "I never had any romantic feelings for her. Harry Potter must have misunderstood it."

"But Harry said – " she trailed off. "I'm confused."

"What did Harry Potter tell you about the other Severus Snape's memories? I need to know more," he encouraged.

She shook her head. "He just said that he saw you and Dumbledore talking… You begged for him to save his mother's life after you heard the… prophecy."

He nodded grimly. "I delivered the prophecy to the Dark Lord because Bellatrix and Rabastan Lestrange were there, too. I pretended that I didn't see them, but I knew they heard everything, so I had to go to the Dark Lord and deliver the news, before they could, prove my loyalty. But I was never loyal to him. I would never…"

"Why did you become a Death Eater?" she asked.

"As a Slytherin, I was surrounded by pureblood kids with parents who were die-hard fans of the Dark Lord. I thought I would be an easy target if I did not pretend to agree with them. Furthermore, Lucius convinced me and said I'd be valuable because of my skills in potion-making. His father financed my mastery. Kingsley and I talked, and we decided I'd take the mark and he'd be an Auror, and I'd pass information to him."

"Wow…" she muttered. "And others thought you really believed in Voldemort's cause."

"It was to grab the opportunity of taking masters without touching every penny Kingsley and I had saved, and to protect the people I cared for," he simply said.

"And you truly cared for Lily Evans?" she asked gently.

"Yes. It was a sisterly love," he replied.

"And your Patronus…"

He shook his head once more. "Why on earth would Harry Potter assume that Lily was the doe? Because his father was a stag? As far as I know, Lily was not an Animagus, and I haven't seen her Patronus. I am not even sure if she could conjure one. I can't conjure a Patronus. I haven't learnt it yet."

She frowned. "Professor Dumbledore did not teach you? But you're an Occlumens, right?"

He nodded. "That is right."

"Well, this is confusing…" she said. If only she also watched Professor Snape's memories… But it was already too painful for her, just hearing it from Harry.

Did Harry misread the situation? But Professor Snape had always been a single man…

"And my secrets are safe with you?" she asked instead.

He nodded once more and smiled at her. "Your secrets are safe with me."

"Thank you," she smiled sincerely. "I… I need time and space to process all this…"

He nodded. "Of course, Hermione."

.

"So, you just left after that?" Kingsley asked as his friend was pouring himself a glass of bourbon.

"She was confused," he replied. "She needed time to absorb my side of the truth."

"That Patronus, though… Are you sure you still cannot conjure a Patronus?"

"I haven't tried it yet. Are you suggesting that I try it again?"

"Yes, to prove her wrong."

He stared at his friend, frowning.

"Come on, Severus, just do it! Try!" Kingsley was convinced and moved his hands in a disappointed manner. "Fine, if you don't want to."

"Even if I could, why would it take the form of a doe? I damn well know that James Potter was a stag. I wouldn't want to… associate myself with him."

Kingsley gave him a mischievous smile. "Yes, you're correct of course."

Severus moved from his wingback chair to Kingsley's chair across from him, crossing over the coffee table between them and holding his friend's collar. "What are you not telling me, Shacklebolt?"

Kingsley laughed and removed his hands from him. "Conjure a corporeal Patronus first, and I'll tell you."

Severus sighed and moved away. He remained standing and then paced back and forth behind Kingsley's seat. "She said I died after the battle."

"You said that she said your body was gone," Kingsley pointed out.

"Might have been burned or thrown into the lake by someone," he said bitterly.

"Sev, you're not thinking straight."

He turned to his friend with a questioning look.

"Sit down!"

He glared at his friend but obliged. He could tell that Kingsley was losing his patience.

"Now, calm down, and think about it very carefully. The shack where they left your body was not burned down. Your body was missing. They just assumed you were dead, but did they check the pulse? Probably not," Kingsley said calmly. "I was alive. Hermione mentioned me."

"Mentioned you being the Minister for Magic," he noted without bitterness.

"Now is not the time for that," Kingsley said with a wave of his hand. "Do you really think you died while I'm alive? Yes, you're not my wife, but you're family, Severus. Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that, perhaps… I helped you?"

He looked at his friend somberly. "What if I could not be saved?" he croaked.

Kingsley face-palmed in frustration before he turned to him again. "Show me those memories. I'd like to view them myself."

"What are you up to now?" he asked suspiciously.

"For Salazar Slytherin's sake, Severus! Just show me the damn memories!"

"You don't have to yell as if I'm a dunderhead," he complained.

"Well, you kind of are now."