A/N:
As promised here is chapter 5! Boy this one was rough to write. I rewrote about a million times.
As always thank you so much to my beta reader something rotten in the air, they are amazing.
TW: this chapter contains brief, minor depictions of self harm.
Chapter Five
Severus
He watched as Miss Granger froze, taking in the scene before her. Severus noted the girl's hair was in a knotted, matted ponytail, noted the tremor in her hand and the torn state of her cuticles and the way she chewed on her bottom lip. He firmly ignored the twisting in his chest.
Earlier in the Great Hall, he had not been able to stop himself from studying the girl as she had read the Daily Prophet. He had watched her swell with anger. Then, when Granger had noticed somebody watching her and her eyes had fallen on Severus, he had watched her eyes light up with surprise, then something else.
Whatever it had been, it made Severus uneasy.
"Miss Granger, good evening," the headmaster greeted.
Granger walked slowly into the room. "Good evening, sir."
She sat down in the other chair, next to Severus.
"Is something wrong, sir?"
"Not yet, Miss Granger, not yet. But we must act quickly." The headmaster lifted up this morning's copy of the Daily Prophet.
"I'm sure you have had your suspicions about the Minister's murder?"
Granger's eyebrows rose at this. "I-I did, sir. Was it Voldemort?"
Severus clenched his jaw and firmly clasped a hand over his forearm.
"It is likely it was, Miss Granger. Tom has been slowly insinuating himself into the Ministry and now I believe he has taken complete control of it."
Severus narrowed his eyes at Dumbledore. What was the old man playing at? The girl needn't know so much.
But Dumbledore ignored Severus and continued on, "As you know, Severus is a spy for the Order and it has come to his attention that the Dark Lord intends to target the families of the muggleborn students and use his new power in the Ministry to let his followers get away with it."
Granger's eyes widened with fear. Her hands clenched into fists in her lap.
"You and Dean Thomas are the only of age muggleborn students that have stayed for the holidays. I have informed the others and their families of the danger and provided them with safety measures."
Granger relaxed slightly at this.
"But we must act with utmost urgency to get your family to safety, Miss Granger. Do you think you could convince your parents to leave the country?"
"I think so, sir," Granger said after a while.
Severus could see the gears turning behind Granger's eyes as she worried her lip between her teeth.
"But, sir, if you warn all of the muggleborn's families and they all get away, won't Voldemort know that Professor Snape or someone else warned you?"
Severus would have almost been impressed if he didn't know the solution the Headmaster had come up with for that. Leave all muggleborn students under the age of sixteen unprotected and unwarned. It was a means to an end. It was the only way to keep his position as a spy. It was evil.
Dumbledore's logic made sense, of course. The Dark Lord was unlikely to go after the younger students. He wanted the older ones isolated, the ones likely to become members of the Order of the Phoenix.
"Clever, my dear. You always think of everything," the Headmaster said lightly.
The girl winced at this. Curious.
"It is a risk we must take." The headmaster continued.
"Will you warn Dean's mother as well, sir?"
"Of course. We have already met with Mr Thomas. He has gone home with a member of the Order to escort his family to safety."
"When?" the girl asked abruptly, forgoing her usual 'sir'.
Both Severus and Dumbledore frowned at the anxious girl.
"I informed Mr Thomas right before you. Miss Granger, may I enquire why you ask this?"
Miss Granger's eyes were calculating as she kept her gaze downwards.
"We should remove their memories," she whispered.
"I beg your pardon?" Severus responded, shocked. She couldn't possibly be suggesting…
Granger looked over at him and said more confidently, "We should remove their memories."
The two wizards exchanged looks.
"Remove their memories of magic, of… me. If we plan it, make it seem like they went on holiday and then f-fake their deaths while they are abroad – that would make it safer," Granger explained.
"For my parents," the girl looked to Severus, "and for Professor Snape."
Severus held back from openly gaping at the girl.
Her logic made sense except for, "Miss Granger, you realise that the spell Obliviate is highly illegal when used against Muggles unwarranted? Not to mention that most memory charms are almost if not entirely impossible to reverse."
Miss Granger stared back at the professor unwaveringly. "But would it work, sir? Would my parents be safe?"
Silence fell between the three of them. Severus was in awe of the girl's courage (and lack of worry for legal persecution). This barest slip of a woman, a broken girl was stronger than he expected.
Finally, Severus inclined his head in agreement.
Miss Granger swallowed audibly. "I'll do it. I'll do anything to keep them safe."
She turned back to the Headmaster. Dumbledore's blue eyes narrowed in thought.
"If it is what you want, Miss Granger."
She nodded vigorously in response. "For Dean too – for his mum."
"If he decides to do so, Miss Granger – it is his choice."
"O-of course. I didn't…"
"It's all right, Miss Granger. You are trying to help, I understand."
After some time of conversing and going over the details, the plan was set into motion.
"Professor Snape will accompany you to your family's home in precisely two hours. You will meet him at the gates and will apparate to your home. First, you must persuade your parents to leave the country and pack their belongings. Once they are prepared to leave, Professor Snape will perform the memory charm. You will not return to Hogwarts tonight, Miss Granger – it would cause suspicion. You and Professor Snape will instead apparate to the Order's headquarters and return two days before the winter holidays are over."
And with that, Severus stood. He had much to prepare. He would have to acquire the Muggle money for the plane tickets out of the country, go back to his home in Cokeworth to get his Muggle clothes and much more.
With a nod to the headmaster and ignoring Miss Granger, Severus swept out of the room, cloak billowing around him.
Hermione
As soon as Hermione came through the portrait hole, Harry was there jumping down her throat.
"What did Dumbledore want to see you about? Why was Snape there?" Harry asked as they headed over to the fireplace at the centre of the common room.
Hermione blinked at him in shock. How did he-
"Harry James Potter, were you spying on me with the map?" she said, voice shrill.
"I just wanted to make sure you were alright…"
"Why wouldn't I be? I was going to see the Headmaster, not foraging through the forbidden forest," Hermione replied, shaking her head.
Harry had a strange look on his face. Something clicked in Hermione's mind.
"You weren't trying to spy on me, were you? You were watching Malfoy."
Harry's guilty expression gave him away.
"He's up to something Hermione. I know it."
Hermione closed her eyes. She was exhausted from having these conversations with Harry. He was becoming obsessed with Draco Malfoy, unhealthily obsessed.
"Are you gonna tell me what Dumbledore wanted to see you about?"
Hermione opened her eyes to look at Harry. Was she really going to do this? Was she really going to erase herself from her parent's minds? The thought made her stomach churn. The logical part of her said she was doing the right thing, the safe thing for everyone. But another of her – that whisper in the back of her mind that so often haunted Hermione's thoughts – filled her mind with doubt. What if she lost them forever? What if Voldemort found out about the plan somehow? What if, what if, what if?
Hermione looked around the common room, checking that nobody was in earshot.
"The headmaster and Professor Snape wanted to see me because my parents are in danger," she whispered.
Harry's eyes widened. "How do they-"
"Professor Snape. Apparently, Voldemort asked him for all the muggleborn students' home addresses. He wants them isolated, alone without support from anyone," Hermione continued. "Professor Snape is taking me in about two hours to my home to get my parents out of the country."
Hermione bit the inside of her cheek. She didn't know why she didn't want to tell Harry about removing their memories. She just couldn't.
But Harry's eyes suddenly flashed with something dangerous. "Why him?" he asked sharply.
Hermione frowned "Why him? Because Professor Snape's a member of the Order and he can help, he can…" Hermione didn't finish her sentence.
"How can you trust him, Hermione? He's a Death Eater. He could turn right around and tell Voldemort where your parents are!"
Hermione scowled, lips set in a thin line.
"Keep your voice down," she whispered angrily.
Harry flushed.
"Professor Snape is a reformed Death Eater and Dumbledore trusts him. Or do you not trust Dumbledore?"
"I- no, of course I do- but-"
Hermione cut off Harry's sputtering, "I have to get ready to go, Harry."
And without another word, she walked off towards the girl's dormitories. She didn't have the energy to row again with him tonight.
Climbing up the stairs, Hermione tried to ignore the stares of her fellow Gryffindors. Apparently, the entire house knew.
In her room, (as her roommates stared at her, barely hiding their gossiping about her) Hermione changed into a pair of Muggle jeans, an old, oversized sweater to hide her weight loss and her trainers. She packed and repacked clothes and toiletries but still had an hour left until she had to meet Professor Snape.
She paced around the room, rubbing at her scar through her clothing – until, finally, she couldn't take the strange looks Lavender and Parvati were giving and decided to head to the gates now.
As she walked slowly through Hogwarts, Hermione thought through the possibilities of what she would say to her parents over and over in her mind. Demanding that they leave unwaveringly with the confidence of Professor Snape, or going through a hundred-point list of all the reasons her parents should leave the country.
She was sure Professor Snape could come up with a far more sly way… a more Slytherin way – but these were Hermione's parents, she had to convince them, herself.
Soon, Hermione found herself under the cloudy night sky in the Hogwarts grounds. She checked her watch – ten minutes to nine in the evening. She hoped her parents weren't asleep already. It would surely frighten them to wake to their daughter and a tall, ominous wizard at their door unexpectedly.
Finally, when ten minutes remained until she was to meet Snape, Hermione walked to the gates.
When Professor Snape arrived, he was dressed in Muggle clothes. It was so strange to see him without his usual billowing robes. Clad in dark grey trousers, a black, high-necked jumper, a black coat and sturdy dragonhide boots.
If Hermione were to pass Snape on the street, he would have looked like a regular Muggle man. Granted, a Muggle man partial to black. But still a Muggle man. It made Hermione feel less alone somehow.
"Good evening, sir," Hermione greeted.
"Miss Granger," the professor said flatly. "I will be taking you via side-along apparation. I assume you have apparated at least once."
Hermione nodded. "Only during lessons, sir."
Snape nodded vaguely. "You will find the experience of side-along quite jarring, I'm sure." He sneered. "Do refrain from getting sick on me."
He then held out his arm, indicating for Hermione to grab onto him. She hesitated for only a moment before firmly gripping his upper arm.
Then there was a sharp tug at her navel, her feet left solid ground and suddenly,
Hermione was spinning, compressed. She couldn't breathe but still held onto Snape's arm. Her feet crashed onto the ground and Hermione stumbled, dizzy. Hands caught her shoulders, keeping her from falling. Finding her balance, Hermione stood completely upright and inhaled shakily. Only then did the professor let go.
Hermione looked around. They were on her street, her house standing twenty feet away.
It was a two-storey, red brick house with a painfully white picket fence. Her home, the home she had lived in since she had been born. Her stomach churned.
"Miss Granger," Snape said.
Hermione forced her eyes away from her home and to the professor.
"Your parents will no doubt have questions about the war and the Dark Lord. Let me do the talking about such things," he said, not elaborating further.
Hermione merely nodded in response.
"I have acquired new identities for your parents, including fake IDs, plane tickets to Australia and enough money to find boarding once they get there. It is imperative to alter their minds at the very last moment for the best effect," Snape explained pulling an envelope from his pocket.
Hermione gaped in surprise. "Woah, how did you manage to do that in just two hours?"
"I am in the Order, they have resources for things like this," he sneered, tucking the envelope back in his coat pocket.
Efficient for a wizard group, Hermione thought wildly.
Snape gave Hermione a long calculating look and finally said, "You are positive, Miss Granger, that you want to go through with this?"
Hermione swallowed hard and nodded.
"Then let us get this over with. I have limited free time, Miss Granger," Snape said impatiently, not even letting her respond before walking away, towards her house.
Bastard, Hermione fumed. She stomped after Snape.
It was her father who opened the door – Paul Granger, who looked bewildered at the sight on his doorstep, his hazel eyes darting between Hermione and Professor Snape.
"Hermione, what are you doing here? Who is this man?" her father said, concerned.
"I'll explain everything, dad. May we come in?" Hermione said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"I-"
"Paul, who is it?" she heard her mother's voice call.
Hermione's father opened the door wider to reveal her mother coming down the stairs. When Fiona Granger caught sight of her daughter, her brown eyes widened in surprise.
"Hermione, dear. I thought you were staying at school for the holidays? What's going on?"
"I will explain everything, mum, but we have to hurry."
Her parents exchanged worried looks but quickly let Hermione and Snape in.
"Hermione?" her mother said hesitantly.
"Mum, dad, this is Professor Snape. He taught Potions at Hogwarts, remember?"
Hermione said to her parents.
Snape and her father shook hands.
"Yes, of course what is the problem, Professor?" her father said.
"I think it would be best to explain this sitting down. May we discuss this in your sitting room?" the professor said civilly.
Hermione stared at her parents sitting side by side on the sofa, concerned looks on their faces. Hermione was almost the spitting image of her mother. She had her mother's large, amber brown eyes, her nose and her dimpled chin and the same shade of dark brown hair and light, golden-brown skin. The only difference was that Hermione's mother had bone-straight, silky hair while Hermione herself had her father's frizzy curls and freckles.
Her heart ached as she continued to gaze at her parents. Her sweet, normal parents. If it wasn't for Hermione, they wouldn't be in danger, wouldn't have to have their minds twisted with magic. They would be safe and normal and free from magic.
My fault. My fault. My fault.
"Has your daughter informed you of the dangers the wizarding world is currently facing?" Professor Snape asked.
Her parents glanced briefly at Hermione before answering, "Hermione told us about it. Something about a dark wizard," her mother said.
Snape nodded. "The Dark Lord poses a threat to people like your daughter."
"Like our daughter?" her father responded.
"Muggleborns – witches and wizards born to non-magical parents. We have recently been made aware that the Dark Lord is targeting the families of the muggleborn students at Hogwarts."
Fiona Granger covered her mouth in shock.
"Why would this Lord do this?" her father asked.
Snape adjusted his posture, leaning forward slightly, lank hair shielding his profile.
"Prejudice. Old pureblood wizarding families feel threatened by muggleborn witches and wizards and the Dark Lord uses this as leverage in the war."
Both of Hermione's parents' eyes widened with fear.
"War?" her mother said shakily.
"Yes. War between the followers of the Dark Lord and the rest of the wizarding world."
It felt surreal to talk about magic in her living room. Her parents' perfectly normal sitting room. Pictures of Hermione when she was little on the mantle place. A fake Christmas tree in the corner. A television on the wall.
"Hermione, why didn't you tell us about this? War, Hermione? Is your school safe? Will this Dark Lord attack Hogwarts?" her mother asked frantically.
"It is unlikely that Hogwarts will be attacked. But that is why we are here – you are in danger."
"As I said," Snape continued for her, "the Dark Lord intends to target the muggleborn students' families. You must leave the county before you are targeted."
"Leave the country?" her father repeated.
"We… can't just leave. We have jobs and-"
"Dad, please. You must listen to Professor Snape. You have to leave." Hermione interrupted, anxiety heightening.
"This is too much, Hermione! Why didn't you tell us this? What else have you not told us? Oh, I should have pulled you from school last year when you injured yourself in class!"
Professor Snape gave Hermione a questioning look. Her face heated with shame. He knew very well that Hermione had never been injured in class.
"Mum, please. This has all happened very suddenly. Dumbledore told me only today that V- You Know Who is targeting muggleborn families," Hermione explained.
Her mother's eyes became watery and her voice broke when she said, "Hermione."
Professor Snape frowned and averted his gaze from Fiona Granger.
"But mum, you and dad you have to leave. Please you aren't safe here," she begged.
"What about you, Hermione? We will not just leave you behind! With this-this war going on – Hermione, if it isn't safe for us then it isn't safe for you."
"Mum-" Hermione started but Snape cut her off.
"Of course, Miss Granger will leave the country as well."
Hermione turned her head so fast her neck cracked. The professor's gaze was unreadable.
"But the safest place right now is Hogwarts. She should finish the term and then join you two."
Her heart twisted when she realised what he was doing. What they were doing.
Her parents seemed only minutely mollified by this.
"Resources helping the muggleborns' families have prepared plane tickets, new identities and money for all of you."
Paul Granger shook his head. "This is too much. New identities, wars, dark wizards. Hermione, we have jobs, responsibilities – we can't just leave." Her father said this firmly, slicing a hand through the air to punctuate his point. As if his fatherly determination could stop all the evil in the world.
"Mum, dad, you don't understand. There's no choice. If these wizards find you, they'll torture you… they will kill you."
The word 'kill' got their attention. Hermione abruptly stood and crossed the sitting room. She knelt in front of her parents, placing her hands on theirs.
"Please, leave the country. It's the only way you'll be safe," Hermione begged.
Her parents looked so frightened by the sight of their daughter on her knees, begging.
They agreed.
After Professor Snape went over a few more details, her parents stood.
"Forgive us, Professor, would you like some tea? I can make some-" Hermione's mother started wiping her hands on her trousers nervously.
"It's ok, mum. I'll make some, you and dad go pack," Hermione cut in quickly.
Fiona Granger looked a little disappointed but simply nodded and went upstairs with her husband.
Hermione led Professor Snape to the kitchen. He looked painfully out of place in the homey, warm kitchen.
Neither professor nor student said a word as Hermione prepared tea. She did so automatically, not really thinking about what she doing. Instead, she listened carefully for her parents upstairs – listening to their footsteps above her, listening for their panicked whispers, anything.
After four cups of tea had been set on the counter, Hermione's remained untouched. She stood in the kitchen, eyes trained on the ground as her stomach knotted in anxiety.
What if they changed their mind? What if Voldemort was already on his way here? What if the memory charm didn't work? What something happened at the airport? What if-
"Stop."
Hermione jumped at the sudden command. She looked up at Professor Snape. A furious expression was on his face. But he wasn't looking at her, he was looking at her-
Hermione looked down at her hands. She hadn't even noticed she was picking at her cuticles. They were bleeding, red now smeared over the flat of her nails. Hermione's face burned with shame and she hastily pulled her sleeves over her hands.
She forced her eyes to meet the professor's gaze. His eyes were burning with thinly veiled rage. Why is he so angry?
Tense silence stretched as Hermione and Professor Snape stared at each other. Hermione's heart hammered. She couldn't understand the way he was looking at her. It wasn't contempt or disgust, it wasn't blame or an accusation.
An almost desperate look was in his eyes.
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, anything.
She startled when her father came into the kitchen. The tension almost instantly eased.
"Well," Paul said, clapping his hands together. "We're about ready. I just have to call the office and tell them…" Her father's words trailed off.
"Tell them you're going on holiday,"
Hermione suggested, trying to make her voice sound light, casual.
Paul Granger nodded in agreement. "Ah," he said spotting the cup of tea. He sipped the strong English tea gratefully before leaving the kitchen to make the phone call.
"I'm going to see if my mum needs help,"
Hermione said, not even glancing at Snape.
She found her mother on the floor in front of her parents' closet. Fiona Granger was sorting through her sock drawer with tears in her eyes, sniffling.
Hermione sighed and knelt on the ground next to her mother.
"Mum?" she said, placing a hand on her mother's arm.
Fiona squeezed her eyes closed and tears seeped out and rolled down her cheeks, leaving wet streaks on her golden-brown skin.
"Hermione, tell me the truth. How serious is this?" Hermione's mum said, wiping her eyes.
Hermione barely stopped herself from wincing.
"It's serious, mum. Remember Harry? My best friend? V- the dark wizard is after him. That's why I have to stay the rest of the year. He needs me."
Fiona cupped her daughter's face gently. "You're always looking out for everyone but yourself, my love," she said as though it pained her.
Hermione offered her mother a small smile.
Fresh tears sprang in her mother's eyes.
"Our house, Hermione, our home. How can I just leave it?"
"You'll- we'll come back, mum. It's not forever."
She felt sick. Who was she? Hermione Granger didn't lie to her parents. Hermione Granger was a good girl, she did what her parents told her and she always, always found a better way.
Her mother sniffed and nodded, calming slightly.
"Do you want some help?"
"No, no I'm almost done dear."
After her mother's bags had all been packed, her father came back upstairs to help bring all the luggage down.
Everything was ready now. Snape had given the Grangers their plane tickets, the money and their new IDs.
A car horn could be heard outside.
"That would be the cab," Snape said calmly.
"Right," Hermione said quietly. She hated how her heart pounded. She had to be strong.
Outside, Professor Snape stood off to the side as Hermione and her parents said goodbye.
Her mother hugged Hermione fiercely.
"Promise you'll write Hermione, dear."
Oh God.
Tears prickled in her eyes. She squeezed her mother tighter. She had to be strong.
"Of course, I'll write," she lied.
After a few moments, her mother slowly loosened her grip on Hermione. Fiona Granger smiled lovingly at her daughter, stroking her hair.
Hermione turned to her father. His familiar arms wrapped around Hermione. "Well miss you, dear"
"I'll miss you too, daddy."
Hot tears stung her cheeks. She had to be strong.
Severus
The girl walked unsteadily towards Severus. She looked up at him with big, tear-filled, brown eyes. Mr and Mrs Granger were loading their bags in the cab. Granger stood in front of him, fists balled and watery determination. Answering the silent question in Severus's eyes, Granger nodded, chin quivering.
"One moment," Severus called out, drawing his wand.
Mr and Mrs Granger looked back at Severus hesitantly, eyeing his wand.
"I'm going to place a protective charm over you both. It'll get you safely to Australia," Severus reassured them.
Keeping his wand low as to not alert the cab driver, Severus pointed it at Mr and Mrs Granger. Fiona Granger looked at something beyond him. Her daughter.
"Oblivate."
Their posture slackened, chins drooping for a moment and eyes going blank.
Then they straightened back up, turned to face the cab, oblivious to Severus and the girl. They were no longer Hermione Granger's parents. They were Wendell and Monica Wilkins and their only goal was to get to the airport. The couple opened the cab door, slid into the back seat and closed the door.
A muffled sob could be heard behind him. Severus ignored the painful twist in his chest.
The cab drove off leaving Hermione and Severus under the clear night sky, city lights too bright to make out the stars.
A/N some might say that Dumbledore seems out of character here. But I think it's more interesting to explore so of Dumbelore's more manipulative tendencies.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I would love feedback (: