As the morning light filtered through the enchanted windows of their quarters, Hermione stirred from her sleep and knew she had to get up. She had a meeting with Dumbledore. His reply had come via Dilly, setting a time for their discussion. She dressed quickly and made her way to the Headmaster's office, her mind buzzing with questions and concerns.
As she entered the office, Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, looking thoughtful but welcoming. "Good morning, Hermione. Please, have a seat."
"Good morning, Professor," Hermione replied, taking the offered chair. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. "I wanted to talk to you about Severus and the Horcruxes."
Dumbledore's eyes stopped twinkling and he said with caution, "Go on."
"I believe Severus should know about the Horcruxes. He's crucial to our efforts, and as a skilled Occlumens, he can keep the secret from Voldemort," Hermione began, her voice steady but earnest.
Dumbledore sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Hermione, I understand your reasoning, but there are several reasons why I cannot agree to this."
Hermione's heart sank slightly, but she pressed on. "What are the reasons, Professor?"
"Firstly," Dumbledore began, "Severus is already under immense pressure as a double agent. Adding the knowledge of the Horcruxes would increase the risk to his life exponentially. Voldemort is unpredictable, and any slip could be fatal."
Hermione nodded, though she couldn't help but feel frustrated.
"Another reason is the nature of the information itself. The fewer people who know about the Horcruxes, the better. If the knowledge were to somehow be extracted from Severus, it could lead to catastrophic consequences," Dumbledore explained, his expression grave. Lastly, Severus's role requires him to maintain a certain distance and impartiality. Knowing about the Horcruxes might compromise his actions and decisions in ways we cannot predict. His ability to operate effectively in his current capacity must not be hindered," Dumbledore concluded, his tone firm but gentle.
Hermione felt a mix of disappointment and understanding. "I see. Thank you, Professor."
Dumbledore gave her a kind smile. "I know this isn't easy, Hermione. Trust in the plan we have, and continue to do your part. You are making a significant difference."
Nodding, Hermione left the office, her mind heavy with unspoken thoughts. She made her way back to the quarters she shared with Severus, feeling disheartened. When she entered, she found him engrossed in a book on Dark Arts.
Curious, she approached him. "What are you reading about?"
Severus looked up briefly, his eyes sharp and focused. "An extremely dark curse. It's supposed to summon fire worse than Fiendfyre."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Do you intend to try the curse?"
Severus's expression darkened slightly. "Any knowledge is useful knowledge, especially if no one from the Light has such knowledge. If and when these curses are used on someone, no one would know how to cure or reverse it."
Hermione became silent for a moment, processing his words. "When I recovered from the battle at the Ministry in our fifth year, I asked everyone what curse Dolohov used on me. No one had a straight answer, not even Madam Pomfrey or Professor McGonagall. It was you who cured me, right?"
Severus remained silent for a few moments before responding. "Yes. It is an obscure curse that Dolohov found in the Malfoy Manor library. No one had used it for fifty years, as St. Mungo's informed Dumbledore when they were consulted. The person cursed fifty years ago died on the spot. Even Dolohov doesn't know the counter-curse. He doesn't even know what the curse does; he just wanted to try it on someone."
Hermione's eyes hardened with realization. "And he thought the 'Mudblood' friend of Harry Potter was the right lab rat," she guessed out loud.
Severus nodded. "You were lucky to live because you silenced Dolohov before he could utter the curse aloud."
"Where did you find the counter-curse?" she asked, her voice filled with gratitude and curiosity.
"I used Legilimency on Dolohov and went to Malfoy Manor to find the book. It had no counter-curse, so I read all the information available and invented one. That is why you had to stay in the hospital wing for so long. The treatment was being invented as you were recovering," Severus explained.
Hermione was deeply touched and impressed. She realized how close she had come to death. "Can I read the book after you finish it?"
Severus looked at her thoughtfully. "It is advanced material. I will find something more suitable for a beginner in the Dark Arts. You should only read the book in my presence and stop if I think you are doing too much."
Hermione promised, "I will. Thank you, Severus." She kissed him lightly on the cheek, said goodnight, and left for bed.
Severus sighed, closed his book, and warded the Dark Arts section of his library, doubting if his wife could resist the temptation of those books until tomorrow morning. He then went out for his rounds. By the time he returned, Hermione was asleep on her side of the bed. Initially, he had insisted she sleep in her quarters and treat the marriage as a namesake, but she seemed invested in him and the marriage, constantly trying to be friendly and bearing his moods. He knew their union played an important role because of the prophecy, but he had no idea how, what, why, or when. Still, he thought, beggars can't be choosers. If she wanted to show him empathy, he would take it with dignity. Though he was starving for care and understanding, he knew from experience to enjoy it with restraint. Whenever he got used to good things happening to him, it always ended badly.
After his rounds, he entered his quarters, unwarded the Dark Arts books section, browsed, picked a suitable book for Hermione to read, and warded the section back. He then went to the bedroom, took off his robes, and slept on his side of the bed, facing Hermione for a change.
The next morning, Severus showed Hermione the book he had picked for her. "You must promise not to take it out of the quarters. For the first week, you will read it only in my presence. If you wish to discuss or try anything from the book, you do it only with me and only in our quarters."
Hermione agreed, eager to start learning. Over the next two months, they settled into a routine. Hermione juggled her studies, war efforts, and Dark Arts tutoring with Severus. She began to understand him better, noticing when he was angry, pleased, or irritated. She also saw him leave hurriedly in Death Eater robes twice when summoned by Voldemort. Each time, he returned unhurt, but something about the this time bothered her. Alecto Carrow had not been summoned, only Severus had left the castle, and Carrow had been present at dinner in the Great Hall. Hermione ate little to avoid raising suspicions with her friends and excused herself early, claiming she was unwell.
She waited anxiously in their quarters, and almost at midnight, Severus returned, looking tired, worn out, and injured. "I had to visit and report to the Headmaster first before coming here. You should probably sleep in the Head Girl's quarters for a few days. Voldemort attacked Azkaban, released his imprisoned Death Eaters, and took control of the Dementors. I was made to participate. Aurors might come looking for answers at Hogwarts. They might question me and Alecto. I was supposed to say I was with her as my cover according to the Dark Lord. In case they search the quarters, it is better you move quickly," he said, rushing into his lab.
Hermione followed him, arguing that he should be healed first. She used potions and spells to heal him, then packed and went to the Head Girl's quarters for the night. As predicted, the next day, Aurors visited and questioned Alecto and Severus most of the day. Once the Aurors left, Hermione sent Dilly to ask if she could come back to their quarters. Dilly informed her that Severus had dozed off. She dared to go to their bedroom, found him tired and in deep sleep, and lay beside him, hugging him, and slowly dozed off into sleep.
A/N: Leave a review to make me smile and keep me motivated to write more! :)