A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows after last chapter! I am sorry with the slow progress on this fic, but there are about three chapters left, and I am hoping that I will be able to finish posting it this month or next. No promises, though! You can find me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter seven and be on the lookout for chapter eight soon!
When Hermione woke up the next morning, she felt rather like she was floating on air. She couldn't stop smiling the whole time that she got ready for the day and she walked down to breakfast with a pep in her step.
Ron, Lavender and Ginny were already at the Gryffindor table, bunched together, and Hermione plopped down next to them, reaching across Ron to grab a breakfast muffin. She was completely unfazed when they immediately stopped talking when she joined them or the shifty looks the three of them were sharing. Cursorily, she recalled Rowena's suspicion that Ron had moved on from her, but she was too busy thinking about Salazar to care to confront him at the moment.
Slathering some jam on her muffin, she smiled at them. "How was dancing?" she asked.
"Good," Ron said, eying her with suspicion.
"Good," Ginny said, as well. "How was your evening, Hermoine?"
"Oh, you know, you'd probably find it boring," she said, though she did not fight off the wistful smile that she wore. She took a bit from her breakfast, before deciding to head to the library for the day. Taking her breakfast on the go, she said goodbye. "Well, I'm off to the library. You'll be out on the Quidditch pitch, yeah? Maybe I'll see you this evening, but don't wait for me if I don't show."
Ron looked like he wanted to say something, but Hermione was already halfway out of the Great Hall by the time he put a sentence together.
Hermione finished the muffin before she got to the library. There was no way that Pucey would take kindly to her getting crumbs all over the books, no matter what state the library was in. She practically skipped all the way back to where the tall Slytherin was paging through a book.
"Morning Pucey," she said, brightly.
"Er—Granger!" he said, startled. Obviously, she had caught him by surprise. "You're in a good mood this morning."
"Am I?" she asked, scrunching her nose. "I guess I am."
"I thought that I might have seen you at the Three Broomsticks last night, but when I arrived, you had already left," he said, casually leaning back against one of the desks. Were his cheeks pink or was it just the sunlight streaming in through the massive windows?
"Oh? Well, my friends were going dancing and I didn't want to go," she answered. "I wish I had known that you were planning on stopping by. I could have stuck around for a drink."
He gave her a half smile. "I had hoped to talk to you about Bailey-Grant's new research on archival spells," he said, his attention firmly on the book in his hands. "Figured you're probably the only other person in this castle that would have heard about it. Or had an opinion."
Hermione couldn't help but smile, hearing that. "You might be right about that," she agreed with him. "I would love to have that discussion with you sometime. Rain check on the drink?"
"Rain check?" he asked.
"Oh, it's a muggle term...when sporting events are delayed because of rain, it's a promise to come to a future event," she said, feeling a bit silly.
"I can't imagine something like the weather keeping people from sports," Pucey said, sounding amused. "I think that I played Quidditch in all weather. Even when it was sleeting so hard I could barely see a foot in front of me and my hands were practically frozen to the broom at the end."
"Yes, well, muggles don't have the charms we do," Hermione explained. "And it's not all sports. They play football in the rain. The race cars in the rain, too."
"Cars? Those horrid metal death traps?" he asked, sounding somewhere between intrigued and impressed.
"Yes, and they go so fast," Hermione explained. "Really, wizards would be impressed if they could see it."
"I'm impressed just hearing about it," he admitted. "Bet it can't beat flying on a broom though."
Hermione laughed, unsure of which was more exhilarating, seeing as she'd done both. She had never driven in a car as fast as a racecar, though, so she probably wasn't qualified to say. Biting her lower lip to stop from smiling too much. Really, she was amazed at just how much she was enjoying speaking with Pucey.
After a beat of silence, he cleared his throat. "So, have you decided what you are going to do when the summer is over?" he asked, even though he should be giving her her assignment for the day.
Thinking about her uncertain future had her frowning for the first time that morning. She had no better idea today of what she was going to do with herself than she did before. Really, the most appealing option was to run away to the past and live at Hogwarts forever, kindling whatever relationship she could with Salazar fucking Slytherin. But, she couldn't share that with Pucey. There was absolutely no way that he'd understand. Right?
"Uh oh, sorry, didn't mean to put you in a bad mood," he said, sensing the change in her mood. "I was just curious. You don't need to... to tell me if you don't want to."
"Oh, it's not that," Hermione said, wanting to reassure him. "I just, feel like I am at a complete loss. For the first time in my life, I don't really know what I want to do. I mean, for so long, it was so clear, what I wanted and what other people expected of me. And now, when it's so important, I'm not in agreement."
He tilted his head to the side, trying to wrap his mind around what she was saying. "Well, it's a good thing that you don't have to do what's expected of you," Pucey said, with a reassuring smile. He ran his hands through his brown hair. "In fact, I have it on really good authority that it feels amazing to not do what's expected."
"So, you don't think I'm crazy for not wanting to work at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement?" she asked, chewing on her lower lip, thinking about the opportunity she wanted to pass up. "Kingsley has pulled so many strings. I could basically do whatever I want and after last year, everyone thinks that I should be an Auror, especially Harry and Ron."
Pucey snorted. "No, I don't think you're crazy," he said. "I don't think being an Auror is quite as prestigious as you are imagining. And, honestly, I think it would be a waste of your talent to languish at the DMLE, especially if you were only doing it to follow Potter and Weasley."
Hermione wondered how he knew that was the biggest reason she was considering it. "I would hate it," she said, feeling miserable because deep down, she knew that she wasn't going to be an Auror. She'd already made the decision, in spite of all the hand wringing.
"What do you actually want to do?" he pressed.
Run away to the past with Salazar, her traitorous little brain thought. "I don't want to stop learning. I'm...considering a Mastery," she explained.
"That sounds more up your alley," he said encouragingly, his brown eyes full of mirth.
"You don't think it's silly?" she asked, pleased that for once someone didn't look at her like she was insane for even considering it. Hermione Granger, one third of the golden trio, didn't need a mastery to do whatever it was that she wanted. She had earned the right to do what she wanted by helping take down Voldemort.
Pucey laughed, shaking his head. "Do you even see who you are talking to? I'm getting a Mastery... why would I think it was silly?" he asked.
"Everyone else does," she said, sounding a bit miserable for a change.
"I've found it's much easier to get through life if you don't worry about what other people think," Pucey countered, squaring his shoulders. He must have had to get used to letting people's words not bother him, seeing as he was a Slytherin and everyone just assumed that they were Death Eaters or supported them. Just look at how Ron behaved around her. "So, what subject would you want to pursue, if you did decide to continue with your studies?"
Hermione bit her lower lip, thinking it over. "Transfiguration is probably my best subject, but I really like Arithmancy... or Charms," she told him. Once again, she was torn over what she actually wanted to do and what she was expected to do.
"Sounds like you have the makings of a curse breaker," he complimented her. He stared at her for a moment, making Hermione feel like a thousand butterflies had taken root in her stomach. "I have the names of a few Arithmancy masters who would certainly be falling over themselves to take you on as a student, if you wanted."
She was touched that he would do something as thoughtful as that. "Wow, that would be amazing, Pucey," she said shyly.
"Surely you could call me Adrian at this point," he said, turning away from her so he could shuffle with some papers. "But, I am sure I've taken up enough of your time interrogating you."
"No, it's nice. I feel like I can be honest with you. And you must call me Hermione," she reassured him, walking over to see what he was looking at. "But, I probably should get to work."
"Are you good working with Slytherins papers again? I found another box that had a bunch of things shoved in it," he said.
"Of course," she agreed, before heading over to the box that he was referencing.
It felt strange to be rifling through Salazar's things. Should she tell him that she was working on that, the next time that she saw him, she wondered? Or would it just be too strange? Would he think that it was an invasion of privacy?
Most of the papers were fairly innocuous — orders for potions ingredients, and some of the very first class roles of students who were sorted into Slytherin. Hermione was somewhat pleased to see that they had begun dividing people in their respective houses, after they had discussed it. She even found one of his potions journals, filled with extensive notes about his potion creation process. She even thought about showing it to Pucey — Adrian — because it detailed the slow iterative process that created several potions in common use today.
And then she found it.
She nearly dropped the book when she realized what it was. It was stunning to realize that she held the innermost thoughts of Salazar Slytherin in her hands, written in journal form. This was not about magic or learning or research. These were his private thoughts about his life. This did feel like a horrible invasion of privacy, but she could not stop herself from poring over the words written inside.
She found entries about the building of the school, petty disagreements with Godric and even Morgana, who he appeared to have had some sort of relationship with at some point. He discussed the joy that he got brewing his own meads, though the interest ebbed and flowed as all things did. Hermione found herself grinning while she lapped up every word that was written, pleased that there hadn't been any discussion of blood status whatsoever.
And then she turned the page and her heart stopped.
He'd written about her.
A most unusual visitor came to Hogwarts today. A new witch joined one of Helga's parties and she ran into me rather rudely. I was upset with the affront on my person, but I found her oddly endearing. She claimed to be from some distant future. Nonsense.
Greedy, she paged through the book, looking for any further mention about her.
The time traveling witch appeared again and she was even more beautiful than I remembered. Her name is Hermione. Godric and I discussed her and he thinks that her time travel might be plausible, though I do not like the sound of the future she discusses. She mentions a war and trouble at Hogwarts, but would not tell me what was the cause. Hopefully it is not trouble with the muggles.
I was pleasantly pleased to spend the evening talking to her. She seems to be an intelligent sort, with interests in many subjects, though she seems woefully concerned with dark magic. Surely someone as smart as her could understand that it is not the magic that is the issue, but the intent behind it. I am sure that she is quite powerful, it is a shame that she would limit herself so.
I confess that I could have spent hours talking to her about any subject, just to watch her eyes light up with mirth. She is the most captivating witch that I've met.
Her heart was hammering against her chest, surprised at how enamored Slytherin seemed to be. And, she was pleased to see that he seemed to respect her, even if he didn't totally understand what he was saying. Eager as ever, she paged forward again, hoping to find another mention of herself.
After many months, it has happened again. I was brewing with Arthur and most displeased to be interrupted by Nimue and her retinue, until I saw that it included Hermione. It had been so long since I'd seen her last, but her beauty was completely undiminished. She told me it had only been a few days since she last visited. Time travel is an interesting concept and I find myself wanting to study it more, if only it means that I could better understand Hermione.
She was in my private room and even tried my mead. I was pleased that she did not shy away from sitting with me, even though I know it was rather forward. Even when our companions slowly dropped off, she remained and sat with me. I was completely overwhelmed by her presence — her beauty, as mentioned before, captivating, her scent, like the sweetest roses and sharpness of an orange, her laugh, surely will be haunting me for the rest of my life, the touch of her skin, softer than acromantula silk, her taste —
Yes, I confess that I could not help myself. I kissed her, when I could no longer restrain myself. Imagine my surprise that instead of a slap, she responded in kind. Gods, I could have kissed her for an eternity, I am certain, but eventually we had to part. It was the hour of the wolf and really it was far too late to keep her, so I understand, but still I remain disappointed.
I feel an ache now that we are parted, leaving me unsure of when or if I shall ever see her again. I wish there was some way for her to remain at Hogwarts, at my side. It is selfish of me, when she has a life of her own in her time, but I cannot help myself. I am a selfish wizard. I would ask her to stay, if only I knew that she would agree and that magic would allow —
Hermione slammed the book shut, unable to read another word. She'd simply have to show Salazar that she was interested in staying in the past.
