A week after their discussion in the library Severus had the beginning of a plan and ironed out the details with Hermione after another Order meeting at Grimmauld. She gave him a coin for communication, having apparently set up a communication channel already with the ragtag band of students they had organised last year.
As someone who wasn't keen on company at the best of times he had confined Pettigrew to the kitchen, giving him an old wooden box stuffed with hay to sleep in and telling him to go out to the non-existent garden to wash and do his business in rat form. The odious little man had whined that he had a task to do, but Severus wouldn't hear of it. The goal was to drive him madder with boredom, but Hermione had been dubious if it would work. After all, the man had spent years as a rat without breaking. Severus had to admit it was quite satisfying nonetheless.
The plan was very simple. Stun the rat and drop him off in Diagon Alley. Then hit him with a reversal spell and call the Aurors. To cover their tracks he had arranged some discussions with the rat where they talked about going to Diagon Alley, with Severus claiming it would be too dangerous and Pettigrew saying he wanted to go.
Hermione had been right in a way. Severus had ended up Imperiusing the rat to get him to say the right things. He didn't want to leave too much to chance but it was important to get input for his alibi versus the Dark Lord. They waited another week so the faint traces from the Imperius would have worn off, and then he simply left the Stunned rat in the box on his doorstep, sent a message on the coin to Hermione and left for Malfoy Manor once she had confirmed the plans. Lucius had asked him to bring a batch of potions which made for an easy alibi.
Severus even made a point of letting Narcissa coax him into staying for dinner, a huge sacrifice on his part compared to his regular summer fare of beans on toast when he couldn't be arsed and fish'n'chips from the local chippie when he wanted some variety. The Malfoys served a three-course meal with scallops and venison and a chocolate mousse for dessert. Lucius had — as usual — managed to get away with near murder at the Ministry raid, but Severus could tell he was still a bit shaken by the events.
Once he made it back to his now blessedly empty home he didn't have to wait long until Hermione showed up. Judging by her huge grin and twitching tail when he let her in, everything had gone well.
"Well?" He leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen, watching as Hermione practically bounced around the room before settling on the couch.
"Do you want the long version or the short version?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Both, you obnoxious creature."
She grinned unabashedly. "Pettigrew is now residing in the Auror holding cells, overseen by Tonks and Moody."
Severus let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding and flicked his wand in the direction of the kitchen to put a kettle on. Over a cup of tea and some HobNobs for Hermione he got to hear the story.
Apparently everything had gone according to plan, for once. Hermione had arranged to meet the twins in Diagon Alley for some shopping, which Molly had reluctantly allowed once Tonks and Hestia had declared they would tag along. This worked to their advantage as there would be someone around to catch the rat again. She had kept the rat Stunned and Disillusioned, and dropped him off right outside Gringotts. Two seconds later she had dropped the Disillusionment, shrieked about seeing a rat, and then once Hestia and Tonks noticed it she hit Pettigrew with an Animagus reversal. The Aurors swooped in to take it from there, and Hermione had scampered off into the Weasley shop. Both Hestia and Tonks had given her some odd looks afterwards, but they hadn't questioned her.
"So who's next? I have unfinished business with Dolohov."
He snorted. "Let us wait and see what comes out of this, first. Hopefully nothing much. I would like to pay Lucius Malfoy a visit after that and see if he could be swayed to turn our way. He was a friend of mine and the one who supported me when I first started out."
Hermione crossed her arms in front of her and glowered at him. "He also led a group of Death Eaters on a chase after a group of teenagers, Severus. They would have killed us given the chance."
Severus nodded. He'd seen the aftermath, after all. "I know. Lucius is… complicated. He used the Malfoy wealth to buy freedom for himself and his family after the First war, but he's more of an opportunist than a bigot. He's loyal to himself, the Malfoy name and fortune, and his family, not really to the Death Eaters."
Hermione was silent for a bit, thinking. She raised an eyebrow at him. "Hit him where it hurts, you mean? His wallet?"
"Pretty much, yes. He's also well connected so if we play up the guilt card we can probably extract a fair amount of information from him. That might be worth more than his Galleons."
Hermione snorted but pulled out a book and settled in to read. It was oddly domestic, having a demon on his couch with a book in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Severus refilled his own cup and pulled out the latest issue of Herbology Today, and soon both of them were engrossed in their reading.
~oo~oo~oo~oo~oo~
Hermione ended up staying the night, sleeping on the couch. Severus pulled an old woollen blanket over her before heading up to bed himself, feeling a bit unsure over the etiquette when it came to demons. He had never invited anyone to stay overnight at his house, neither friends nor romantic partners, but it was different with her. She was awake when he made an appearance the next morning, and had already started frying bacon and scrambling eggs for breakfast.
Severus took out the tea from the cupboard and set about making a pot. When everything was ready they sat down together to eat. It felt horribly domestic in a way he had never experienced as a child, or even as an adult. Breakfast at Hogwarts definitely did not count for domesticity and he often forgot to eat something while he was on his own. He appreciated that she was silent in the morning, not filling his ears before the first cuppa with idle chatter. It was a nice summer morning and for once he had no pressing tasks.
"What are your plans this summer?"
She shrugged. "It's more a question of when I need to make an appearance, but I will make myself seen at Grimmauld and then the Grangers are off to France so the house is unoccupied. And I have other options if required."
He nodded and focused on the eggs and toast. "You can come here whenever if you wish but please send a message first, I may have unexpected visitors. Not of the romantic kind but rather the murderous sort and it would not do to have you spotted by one of my supposed brethren."
She smiled at him and bit into her toast.
They moved into the cramped sitting room after finishing the dishes. Severus did the washing-up and Hermione dried the plates with just a hint of purple fire.
"Strange I haven't been here before last night," Hermione said and dragged a hand along a bookshelf.
Severus flicked a wand at it to clear away some of the dust, which Hermione was too polite to point out. At least now he'd spent enough time there to stock the cupboard and fridge with some basics and to air out some of the staleness from disuse. It was still a shit place. He just hadn't had energy or interest to change it.
She settled on the couch while he took the armchair.
"What have you learned from growing up as a human?"
She pulled her legs up on the couch. "I'm not quite the same anymore after Albus interfered. Not human but I don't think I'm full demon any longer. It's a bit disconcerting, to be honest, and I still need to figure it out."
"Who were you, Hermione? In your other life?" They had never spoken of it before, as a child he'd taken her appearance for granted.
She looked him in the eyes. Hers were rimmed with fire and he couldn't look away. "I am Hermione of Uruk, daughter of Astaroth and Ereshkigal. I grew up in Sumer and Greece, Alexandria and Ravenna. I wasn't much interested in the mortal realm other than what knowledge I could hoard until the mid-Medieval period give or take but I think I learned more about mortals now in the past decade than I did over the past few millennia. I have taken on several Contracts, both in service to my parents and on my own, bartering in knowledge and influence in return for my powers and protection. Some of my Contracts have been with priests and merchants, housewives, and artists. I've dealt with royals and medics, warriors and servants. Magical or not, it made no difference."
She looked away and fell silent for a bit. Severus didn't interrupt. Her story was fascinating, a piece of history brought to life.
"My time as a human and a witch has taught me how to friend, I think. I'm not very good at it yet but it's been quite different from my previous life. Demons make alliances and enemies, forging pacts and occasionally even something bordering on love with other demons, beings or otherwise, but that is not really friendship. In the Underworld success is measured in moira which is gained when you're allied with a powerful Summoner and if you can provide opportunities for other demons. You bid on contracts with moira but it's not always the highest bidder who wins the contract. You can also lose moira if you go back on your word, if you dishonour the Contract, or if you interfere with Contracts of other demons. You'd also be dragged into the Underworld and dealt with accordingly."
"Moira is related to the Moirai? The Fates? I think I recall that word from some books on mythology."
Hermione nodded. "Yes. They're the arbiters whenever there are conflicts. The Sisters of Fate. I'm not sure why the word ended up used to keep score, but there we are."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "The Contract between us. Could you enlighten me to what exactly were the terms of the Contract? I was nine, my memory is a tad spotty."
She tilted her head. "Friendship, Severus. It is the lightest contract I have ever held. You Summoned me, stated your intentions, paid the price. The fact that you also gave me your name, unprompted, may have swayed my decision a bit. I still have your toy car and the ring and the drawing, by the way."
Severus smiled slightly at that. The toy car had once been his most valued possession. If he recalled correctly it had been his birthday gift when he turned five, or perhaps six.
"But what are the terms, Hermione? I don't want to inadvertently break it."
Hermione rolled her eyes at him and snapped her fingers. From nowhere a scroll appeared, written in what appeared to be cuneiform when she unrolled it. She glanced at him, correctly interpreting his snort of amusement. "What? I believe in keeping clean records."
"Some things never change, do they."
She raised an eyebrow at him but refrained from commenting. "… and the Summoner, Severus Snape, age 9 years, requests of the Summoned, hereafter known as Hermione, to be his friend. The Summoner is paying the price of one (1) metal toy car with a functioning steering wheel, one (1) rusty pocket knife with some of the Summoner's blood, one (1) Goblin-crafted silver ring with a fitted amethyst, one (1) round white pebble, and one (1) agreement of friendship in return. The value of the agreement of friendship needs to be weighed against the Summoner's limited funds and the perceived personal value of the items offered considering the Summoner's age. The Contract can be broken if both parties mutually agree to sever the friendship. Such an agreement needs to be documented in an Amendment to this Contract."
Hermione cleared her throat and continued. "The Summoned agrees to the Contract and as token of the binding will return the one (1) round white pebble, to be used as a contact medium. The Contract will be available in three copies, one (1) for the Summoner, one (1) for the Summoned, and one (1) kept in the archive of the Moirai until the end of Time. Standard terms and conditions apply. "
Severus pondered this. "So unless I decide to sever the friendship the Contract holds? I also think I remember saying that I only wanted to enter this agreement if you wanted to be my friend, so if that were to change then the contract would be void too."
Hermione grinned at him, a hint of fang showing. "Luckily I do want to be your friend, you great grump. Although growing up a witch was a… let's call it an interesting experience."
He cleared his throat. "I should also like… to stay your friend. "
Her eyes grew almost impossibly large. "You mean that?"
Severus nodded, and she immediately burst into tears. A bit flustered he reached for a handkerchief and handed it to her. She dabbed her eyes and took a deep breath to compose herself.
"Sorry, these human hormones are still messing with me."
He nodded again, a bit flustered. Hermione went to inspect his bookshelves while he sorted through his mail.
A bit later another thought arose. "You went against my wishes to free Black. You Stunned me and made me lose out of an Order of Merlin."
Hermione put down the book she'd pilfered. "Yes. I couldn't let you do that to an innocent wizard even if he is a bit of an arse. Speaking of, you said I see no difference. When Malfoy hexed me. That really hurt me, Severus."
"I am sorry, Hermione. That was awful of me and I did it on purpose, to make sure the Slytherins saw me opposing you."
She glowered at him, a hint of horns appearing again and the shadow of a muzzle with sharp sharp teeth. "I have learned a few things during my time as human, including how shitty friends can be. For that reason I accept your apology, Severus Snape, but I do expect some grovelling."
He snorted. "What form would be accepted? A nice salve for your wings, perhaps? I suspect whatever creams witches use are not ideal."
She perked immediately. "Deal."
"I have a lab here, do you want to see it?"
"A lab? Of course I want to see it!"
He gestured at her to follow him downstairs to the basement where he had recently installed a small but functional lab. He did most of his brewing at Hogwarts but it didn't hurt to be prepared, just in case. As luck would have it he had just stocked up on some basic ingredients including as lavender, salamander blood and a few Occamy eggs, so together with some oil and honey from his kitchen it would be easy enough to put together a salve for demons.
Some hours later they were halfway through a batch of wing salve which also doubled as body lotion in a pinch. It was strange how natural it felt to have her there in his space, but Severus found he didn't mind. Life with Hermione in his life was infinitely better than life without her.
A/N: I've been busy with another plot bunny which will be posted at AO3 but not here due to site rules, but once that is done I should be able to continue updating this fic a bit more regularly as long as life doesn't get in the way.