AN: Thank you so much to everyone who is reading this. It's crossposted on AO3 as well.
Monday morning, after the tumultuous weekend, saw the extraction of almost 70% of Slytherin House by their parents. But to everyone's surprise, Draco Malfoy had returned. Even more surprising to most were the looks of the Potions Master.
Harry scowled as he ate his breakfast. Dumbledore had made some vague speech about the necessity of strong ties and kind hearts. The few Slytherins that remained were from 'neutral' families. They were obviously sympathizers to Voldemort's cause, but had not gone so far as to join his merry band of murderers.
When Snape had taken his seat at the table after the Headmaster's speech, there had been a rumble of reactions from everyone around him, except Ron who was also scowling. It didn't make him feel any better about the whole Hermione situation to see the girls approving of the now younger and virile looking professor.
Contrary to what he told Ron, Harry had gone looking for Hermione the night before. But a couple hours of searching and checking the Marauder's Map had only resulted in him somewhere in the charms wing, when she appeared suddenly in her Head Girl dorms near the Gryffindor tower. He had yet to see her this morning.
Suffice to say that Harry was in a bad mood and missed Hermione terribly.
"So what do you know about Snape looking less like he's 60 and more like he's half that?" Ginny whispered conspiratorially as she squeezed her way between him and Ron. "Can you believe that he's 37? I overheard a Ravenclaw say it. I'd thought he was older than dad this whole time! They do say a bad attitude ages you. But, I gotta admit, he looks pretty good. Not drop dead gorgeous or anything, but comparatively, wow."
"Gin!"
"Ginny!"
Both boys looked disgusted while the red headed woman just laughed. "I mean he's always had a dark and mysterious vibe. But now he looks like he's actually slept sometime in this century and eaten his fill. I mean, come on, his hair looks positively…fluffy isn't the right word."
"Touchable!" Lavender dropped into her seat across from them, followed by Parvati.
"I was thinking 'supple' or 'silky'," Parvati chimed in with a teasing look.
"Oh! What about 'velvety'?" Ginny followed up, laughing as Harry and Ron looked more and more aghast.
"No, Gin, 'velvety' would be better for his voice! I mean he may have been a wretch all these years but his voice has always been…effective." Lavender said dreamily as she drank her morning tea.
"You're all mad," Ron said around the pile of eggs he was devouring, "He may look less like he hasn't known peace in 15 years, but I bet he'll be his usual arse self when we see him in class."
"Ron's right," Harry glanced up at the dark haired man, who was listening to something McGonagall was whispering in his ear. "He's still Snape."
While Lavender, Parvati, and Ron continued bantering about the Potions Master, Ginny leaned into Harry's side, "What's going on Harry? Something's happened. The Slytherin's left this morning, Draco is back, and I haven't seen Hermione all weekend."
Before Harry could answer, there was another wave of murmuring from the student body. Something had caught their attention across the room.
"Is that Hermione?" Ginny said, having stood up to get a better look at the new development.
Harry whipped his head around to find Hermione had taken a seat next to Malfoy at the very empty Slytherin table. She said nothing as she filled her plate. Harry was itching to talk to her, but he had no interest in talking to Malfoy, regardless of the boy's change in allegiance.
Breakfast seemed to drag on longer than usual as everyone waited for the desertion of Slytherin House and the new looks of the Potions Master to be explained. But no such explanation came. Even when Snape stood, there was a hush that took over the hall. Everyone watched as Snape made his way down from the head table and approached the Slytherin table. He paused behind Malfoy and Hermione, then walked out of the Great Hall in his billowing cloaks and his healthy locks swishing around. A moment later Draco and Hermione left the hall together.
Severus wasn't able to help himself the night before and had kept his hand on Hermione's lower back the entire walk back to her living quarters. She had insisted on sleeping in her own bed considering the school week would be starting. The difference a weekend makes.
Now, as he walked with Hermione and his Godson, he kept himself close to her side, but his hands to himself. The bond was becoming a comfortable presence in his mind. Thankfully, after talking to Hermione last night in the Room of Requirement, he learned that she did try to modify the bonding layer of the ritual. Her only minor failsafe that seemed to have succeeded was disallowing the bonded pair to read each other's thoughts. Otherwise, a bonding layer was necessary for the rest of the ritual to work.
"I expected to die, sir. I was also trying to do it as quickly as possible so that you wouldn't have to deal with the summonings anymore. My apologies for not trying harder to modify an ancient ritual, Professor, but I do not know everything." Hermione huffed indignantly in front of her rooms.
Severus fought the smirk that wanted to appear at the memory of their candid conversation. It was probably the longest conversation they had ever had that wasn't completely depressing. She was as brilliant as her reputation said she was. With the crushing formality of a professor and a student waylaid by their bond and all that they had shared, he discovered quite a bit of snark and sarcasm to rival his own.
His relatively good mood was dashed when he received the notice from the Headmaster regarding the information from Lucius. So much for sleep. Being hunted by the Dark Lord, as well as having Death Eaters in Hogsmeade was predictable. The eventual fall of Scrimgeour also wasn't surprising. The removal of nearly all of the Slytherin House had been, in no short term, an ordeal.
The missives had come quickly, and it was only due to Albus keeping the parents and guardians stuck at the gates that they were not accosted. Hagrid had been given the task of guiding the sleep-addled snakes to their waiting guardians at dawn. Severus had had to console some of the younger children who did not want to leave the castle. The children who hadn't been completely brainwashed by their parents and guardians were somber. Worse were the students that were being returned to their abusers, but still had the pride not to ask for help. The only silver lining had been the return of his Godson. His mother was also living somewhere in the castle for her safety.
Upon reaching his office he allowed Hermione and Draco to enter before him, then warded the door shut. He took his seat and slouched his shoulders. With barely any sleep and classes to come, he had no qualms about showing his weariness. He trusted the two 7th years before him.
"Godfather, why is Granger here?" Draco didn't say the girl's name like a curse as he used to. The time away and under his tutelage had done wonders for the boy. The sallowness and obvious distress from the previous year were gone, and he was reclaiming the commanding and austere Malfoy air.
"There are things I want you to know, and they involve Hermione. It is with her permission that I want to explain to you the reason behind all the upheaval," Severus spoke softly, not feeling the need to put on airs. He would be doing enough of that the rest of the day.
"The message from my father said that the Dark Lord wanted all the children of Death Eaters pulled out of Hogwarts, which explains how I was able to come back. Won't have to worry about being hit in the back with a curse. But it also said that he's after you personally. You've been outed as a spy then? Who found out?" Draco looked between the two of them curiously.
"The Dark Lord himself probably felt when the mark disappeared," Severus explained as he went through the trouble and took off his frock coat and rolled up his sleeve.
Draco looked wide eyed as he processed the news. When he was presented with the sight of Severus's bare and unblemished forearms, he started to cry.
"You got rid of it? Does that mean…?" Draco was up and out of his seat, tentatively touching the bare skin.
"It is gone; as are any other curses, scars, and vows I have ever made. Hermione Granger nearly gave her life for it, the arrogant girl that she is." Snape smirked at the girl who blushed. "Now before you get your hopes up, the ritual that took place cannot and will not be replicated. But knowing that we can remove it is a start. We will work to remove yours, Draco, I promise."
To his surprise, Draco turned and knelt before Hermione, taking one of her hands in his, "Granger, Hermione, whatever you need, whatever you want, I'll give it to you if you can save me from this evil thing. Please."
He pressed his forehead to her hand and continued a litany of pleas.
"Mal-Draco, I'll do whatever I can. I promise. But you should sit down and we can explain more. Alright? I'm also curious as to why the Professor needs me here to tell you all of this." Hermione helped Draco to his feet and back into the chair.
Once they were settled Severus continued, "Hermione enacted an ancient ritual with her own modifications, with no thought to her own life. We plan to deconstruct the original method and create one with a smaller price to pay. Until then, I need you to keep her out of trouble."
He felt her indignation before she screeched, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"How exactly am I going to do that when she hangs around with Potter and Weaselby?" Draco raised a brow as he watched the Gryffindor stand and slam her hands on Severus' desk.
"I do not need a keeper, Sir!" Her face was fierce and Severus hated how his heart immediately raced, greedy for her attention.
"Miss Granger, regardless of how highly you think of yourself, having Draco there so you don't launch yourself off the Astronomy Tower is not my only goal for partnering the two of you. I also need you to keep my godson out of trouble." Severus raised a brow at her in challenge.
"Hey, I don't need a keeper either! And what's this about the Astronomy Tower?" Draco chimed in.
Without looking away from Hermione, who's magic was seeping into him and making it more and more difficult for him to resist touching, he addressed his Godson, "Just as you have gone to that tower to attempt broomless flight, so has Miss Granger."
Despite the flippant way he said it, Draco still gasped in understanding. A flash of betrayal followed by understanding played across the young woman's face. She turned her head to look at the boy who now wore a pensive expression. When she turned back to face him, she nodded.
Not able to hold back any longer, he reached up and caressed her cheek, pushing a lock of hair out of her face. The bond sang and their magic mingled further. He wondered how long faint touches would be enough to quell the bond before it started demanding more.
"Hermione, I know you have already done so much for me and I thank you for sitting with Draco in the Great Hall, it was for purely selfish reasons on my part when I made the request this morning. Will you grant me this as well? I need someone that doesn't hate me by your side."
"They don't hate you, they just don't understand you," She reasoned, turning into his caress.
"Potter has reason to hate me. Now, more than ever. But those are trivial compared to the plans we must now make. I want both of you to have someone by your side that can see the forest before the trees. The war is on and we must choose our battles." Severus released his hold on Hermione.
"You two had better head to class," He stood and handed Draco a slip, "Here is your time table. It is the same as Miss Granger's. Do not annoy her with incessant questions, Draco. While turnabout is fair play, this weekend has been trying for all of us."
Hermione nodded and led the way out of the office.
"Gra-Hermione, do I want to know what that was just then with Snape?" He asked as he walked next to her toward the greenhouses.
"To put it simply, and to also explain why Professor Snape will not have anyone perform the ritual I did, is because it bound me to him and him to me," Hermione explained matter-of-fact, hurrying along not wanting to be late. But Draco grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to a stop.
"Bound? Like Soul Bound?"
"Yes. It was an accident. I wasn't planning on surviving the ritual so I didn't try to figure out how to completely remove the soul bonding aspect from the magical core tethering." She huffed and ushered the Slytherin along.
"Accident? It was going to kill you? Core tethering? Blimey, Hermione, I didn't think you'd be so complicated but I stand corrected," He had the audacity to roll his eyes.
"And what, pray tell, is that supposed to mean?" Hermione rounded on him.
He sighed and looked down at her, both of them stopping around the corner of the greenhouse. "You have always been the nerdy bookworm with an impressive right hook. Potter and Weasley's tutor, and regular boring muggleborn. No offense."
She rolled her eyes in response.
"Now I find out you're bonded to my godfather, removed the Dark Mark, and were also saved by Severus Bloody Snape when you tried to greet the cobblestone face first. It's a lot to take in." He shrugged. "Look, Hermione, I apologize for how I've treated you and everyone else all these years. With everything escalating, and now knowing you better, I would be happy to have you as an ally, and even a friend. We can commiserate over the best time to be alone in the Astronomy Tower and how long it would take Snape to kill us for being there in the first place."
The morbid humor made Hermione laugh. It was oddly comforting to know that someone else knew the level of despair that would lead to sitting on that cold railing at the top of the tower. She put out her hand to shake his, "Friends then? I'll punch Harry and Ron if they throw a fit."
Draco smiled warmly, and shook her hand. "That I would pay to see!"
She had shown up late with Malfoy, and the two were acting far too friendly. Harry glanced at the pair who were working together to prune back a writhing plant.
"What do you suppose that was about?" Ron asked when he had a chance.
"Malfoy must be here because Slytherin is decimated. I still don't trust him. As for Snape and Hermione, I hate it but they are probably the best people qualified to break down the ritual and reverse the bond." Harry grimaced.
Ron looked thoughtful for a moment then got his attention, whispering, "Harry, mate, I know you fancy Hermione."
Harry whipped his head around and looked at his best friend wide-eyed. "No, I don't. I don't know what you're talking about."
"Come off it Harry. It's obvious. I'm not mad and neither is Ginny. Which is why I have to tell you this," Ron looked serious as they began cleaning their station. "I wouldn't get my hopes up about the bond being reversed."
"Why not? I mean there's a ton of different bonds. We read about them. Not all of them are for life," Harry countered.
"Yea, business bonds, and newer vows. But I've been thinking about it, and Hermione messed with ancient magic. They took bonds seriously back then, that's why most of them are banned today. They're all one step away from dark magic. She bound her soul and tethered her magical core. It's hard enough to do that simultaneously and with conditions, but she did, and then forced her magic to purify the recipient. Hermione should have died with that much strain," Ron pulled his book bag over his shoulder and turned to Harry, "Consider that amount of magic binding them together along with incurring a life debt. Dumbledore wasn't lying when he said he wouldn't be able to break the bond."
Harry was quiet as they left the greenhouse, then he slowed to a stop, "She doesn't love him."
Ron squeezed his shoulder, "He doesn't love her either, mate. I know you want to be with her, but of the lot of you, those two got the short end of the stick. If they can't break the bond then they are stuck together forever. They can't fall for anyone else or the bond will retaliate. At least, that's what I know from some of the family stories. Who knows what Hermione's modifications have changed."
Harry clutched his chest as the knowledge sunk in. "Thanks Ron. I know it could be impossible. But, I mean, I survived the Killing Curse and that was supposed to be impossible. I have to believe that Hermione will fix this. I have to believe that Snape will too."
"If there is some way to fix all this, those two, out of everyone in magical Britain, are the most likely to succeed. Don't mope. We can catch up with Hermione later and find out why she's hanging out with the ferret," Ron pulled Harry along to Charms
The weeks passed rather uneventfully for the most part with only a few notable events:
and Hermione had found common ground and a budding friendship.
bond was nagging at him more and more to spend time with Hermione.
Potter, territorial brat, was also sticking to Hermione like glue.
was jealous.
Severus sighed as he continued grading papers. Tomorrow was Friday, when he would finally get to be alone with Hermione. They had agreed to start researching the ritual and deconstruction. He had done a valiant job at treating everyone with his usual snark and bite; not a hard endeavor when he taught such a volatile subject. But his mind was constantly circling back to the young woman without his volition.
The Potions Master could only thank whatever god it was that stymied any physical ardor for the golden girl. Though his own discipline may have had more to do with that than he cared to admit. He knew eventually the bond would become more demanding, but he had no plans of giving in to the baser aspects of this dilemma.
The Slytherin and Gryffindor duo had made a habit of stopping by his office before curfew for tea and conversation. Although not romantic in the least, having her only a desk's length away from him each night was enough for now. It did frustrate him to an extent to see how easily she poked and touched and brushed up against her friends, and even his godson. The bond seemed to not mind while his own experience with touching another female to any extent resulted in a stinging sensation that only grew more fierce the longer he wasn't able to touch Hermione.
As if on cue there was a knock on his office door. Severus felt a neediness rise up in him that made him frown. Control yourself. You're not one of your dunderheaded love sick students. Getting excited at the prospect of touching her hand, shoulder or back is rather pathetic.
"Enter," Severus silenced his own musings as he waved at the door. It swung open to reveal Draco, alone.
"Hello Uncle," Draco strode into the room confidently. With a practiced ease, the young man moved the chair to sit across the desk from him. Seemingly satisfied with the set up, he summoned a house elf to bring them their tea service. Draco dropped his school bag on the floor and slouched down into the chair with a great sigh.
Severus raised an eyebrow at him.
"Granger is off with Scarhead for the evening. I might have tagged along too just to annoy them but she assured me she was fine," Draco related, knowing that his godfather was wondering about the girl's absence.
Severus nodded and ignored the flare of jealousy at the idea of Hermione alone with Potter. The boy was obviously infatuated with her. If Severus was honest, he's surprised it took the boy so long.
"Uncle, what is it like being bonded?" Draco looked decidedly uncomfortable but no less curious, "I've heard about it from some of the other purebloods. It's not so unpleasant when it's willing, but I doubt you would want to be bound to a student, let alone the Gryffindor Golden Girl."
"You would be right with that assertion, Draco. I had no say in the ritual. Miss Granger forced the act upon me as an act of goodwill." Severus put down his quill and gave his godson his full attention, "I have suffered far worse than a passing affection and warm pull on my soul. The effects have proven bearable. However, I suspect it will grow harder to ignore as time passes without any…progress. I have no problem pushing that as far and long as possible for both our sakes."
"So from what I've gathered, Granger felt like martyring herself to free you from the clutches of the Dark Lord and Dumbledoofus?" Draco said as he chewed around a biscuit.
"Miss Granger risked her life on the off chance that her modifications to an ancient ritual would relieve me of the Dark Mark, and her subsequent death would rid me of the soul bond embedded in the ritual. Reckless Gryffindor," Severus sipped his tea, trying not to let his thoughts drift to an image of the girl right before he had kissed her.
"You're a better man than me, Uncle. If anyone had done that for me, I wouldn't need a bond to fall in love with them. Even just the prospect of the two of you figuring out how to get rid of my blasted mark is enough to make me want to get on my knees," Draco stuffed another cookie in his mouth and moved so his legs draped over one of the chairs arms. He glanced at his godfather again, "You do know that Potter has the hots for Granger, right?"
The jealousy flared again.
"I don't think she's that interested but she's been rather busy with all this," He gestured to Severus and then a wider gesture to the castle as if alluding to life as a whole. Draco found a point on the wall and grew thoughtful, "It wouldn't be a surprise. He's the hero and she's the heroine after all. Weaselby is obviously the comic relief sidekick if ever I saw one."
"Did you come here to drive me insane with your incessant prattling?" Severus snapped, his heart aching at the image conjured up by the blond's words. They followed the tried and true formula to a tee, he could not deny it.
"Touchy, Uncle? If it's any consolation, Granger mentioned that she was looking forward to your 'private' lesson together tomorrow night. Those will be a brilliant cover when those lessons turn into something more…intimate," Draco purred the last word with a smirk on his face that was eerily reminiscent of his father, Lucius.
"Go to your dorm, Draco." Severus commanded
"I was right. Touchy," Draco stood and pulled his bag over his shoulder, "I can have a talk with Granger. Let her know that you'd like to get 'touchy' with her."
Severus lobbed a book at the 7th year as he ran out of the office.
Hermione let Harry lead her, though she was a bit annoyed that he had insisted that she wear a blindfold. When she was finally able to open her eyes, she found herself in the Room of Requirement, taking the shape of a cozy living room that she and Harry had utilized over the years when talking about more emotional topics or the muggle world. But rather than the regular armchairs and coffee table, there was what was obviously a pillow fort, complete with twinkling lights.
"I hope you don't mind, but I've missed you. I know I haven't been the best of friends," Harry took her hands and looked at her with apologetic eyes, "I should have known you were hurting. We always lean on you. I always lean on you for homework, advice, and pretty much everything else. But we haven't come up here in a while to just talk, like we used to."
"Oh, Harry. I've missed you too. Don't blame yourself for me being weak," Hermione felt tears well in her eyes as she pulled Harry into a hug.
"It is my fault. After nearly losing Sirius, I spent so much time focused on talking to him and spending my time with him that I kept standing you up. This was where we could be ourselves. A witch and wizard, with a muggle upbringing, not having to make up for our shortcomings."
Harry released her from his embrace and guided her to the fort. Inside were more lights, pillows, blankets and an array of snacks her parents would never have let her have. "I'm here for you. When I heard about…the Astronomy Tower, I didn't want to believe it, but the signs had been there and I ignored them. I hope you can forgive me."
Hermione let the tears fall, "You've done nothing wrong, Harry. Some things happened this summer that I'm still trying to work through."
"You know you can always talk to me," Harry pulled her into his arms and they laid snuggled in the tent for a moment.
Hermione's voice cracked as she finally said, "I don't want to go into details but, Harry, my parents are gone."
Harry's hug grew tighter, "You don't have to tell me what happened to them, but when?"
"Three weeks before term started," She admitted, sniffling.
"God, Hermione, we were always trying to drag you outside or to play stupid games with us, and the entire time you've been hurting. We've been nagging you to help us with homework everyday!" Harry began a litany of apologies. Hermione cried and relished the comfort she was receiving from Harry and ignored the errant thought of the dark man in the dungeons who she also wanted comfort from.
A couple hours later they laid in the middle of the room which had transformed to the ritual room. They could see the sky and stars through the dome above them. In the middle of the marble floor they were ensconced in pillows pointing out constellations and giggling amongst themselves. Eventually it got late enough that Hermione insisted that they head back towards Gryffindor tower, where Harry could drop her off at her living quarters before he too went to his rooms.
They stood up and dusted themselves off. Harry offered her his hand and she entwined their fingers together as they made their way to the door, "Thank you for doing this Harry. I've missed our talks."
Harry pulled her close to him and brought his free hand up to brush her hair behind her ear. He was looking at her intensely, a soft smile on his face. "Hermione, I promise, I'll never forget about our talks again."
Then his lips were on hers and Hermione didn't pull away. It was nice, hesitant, similar to the one in the Hospital Wing. But with that thought another kiss came to mind. The searing and all consuming kiss of the Potions Master. Hermione shoved Harry away feeling a sudden pain in her chest. The bond!
"Hermione, I'm sorry! I should have asked," Harry pleaded as Hermione backed away from him holding a hand to her chest. She shouldn't have let that happen. Maybe if things were different she would indulge herself in the long forgotten fantasy of being his girlfriend.
"I'm sorry, Harry, I can't," Hermione turned and ran.
—-
Severus was unable to sleep with the random touches of emotions he was getting from Hermione. He found himself standing in his sitting room, considering the bottle of fire whiskey on the shelf when he felt the tug of the bond as regret and guilt pushed into him. It was Hermione. He bolted from his rooms, through his office, and as he passed the threshold to his classroom the doors burst open. Before he could ask what was wrong, she launched herself into his arms, thrust her hands into his hair, and pulled his lips down to hers.