Hermione's New World

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Chapter 10: Old Faces Return


Rosalyn was quickly ushered into a private suite along with Tonks. They were going to share the two-bedroom suite as Tonks was going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. As Rosalyn looked around, Tonks retreated to the door for some last minute words with Sirius and her boyfriend, Remus.

Looking around she could see why Hermione had described the castle as one decorated throughout the centuries. Everything looked old, yet freshly new. In the living area there was a nice sized living area with a plush velvet couch and an armchair near a fireplace. A small kitchen nook was off to the left, while ahead were two small bedrooms and a nice sized bathroom. To the right of the living area was a small table for dining, and a nice balcony overlooking the lake.

“So what you think?” Tonks said as Rosalyn was just about to go have a look out the balcony.

She turned and smiled. “It’s more than I expected. I…”

“No need.” Tonks reassured her. “We’ll take good care of you. And I am quite sure that I won’t bore you. Although they say I can be quite a handful.” She added with a laugh. “Why don’t we go out and have a look?”

Tonks led the two outside. A slight cool breeze came in off the lake, and Rosalyn found it quite refreshing. Suddenly missing her husband by her side, she quietly began to cry. Tonks put an arm around her, but didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to ruin the moment.

After a few minutes the two went to bring their travel bags from outside.

“I think I might take a bit of a nap.” Rosalyn announced.

“Alright. Go ahead and pick which bedroom you prefer. I’ll go see if Dumbledore is around. I’m sure he’ll want to come greet you and say a few words. And don’t worry, you’re perfectly safe here. We’ve got a strong shield around the school grounds and no one unwanted will be able to see in or detect you.” She didn’t mention anything about inside the school walls.

“Will I…do you think I’ll be able to spend time with Hermione when school begins?”

Tonks smiled. “I’m sure Dumbledore will make sure to arrange something. But Hermione is Head Girl, so she’ll be quite busy.” *not to mention an Order member and doing an apprenticeship* She added to herself.

Once Tonks was gone, Rosalyn lingered around before heading into the kitchen to find a glass and some water. After filling a thick glass that looked like something from the early nineteenth century, she took it into her bedroom with her. She had already taken a liking to one and also brought her suitcase in to unpack. After she finished, she refilled the glass and placed it on a small table by her bed, then lay down and quickly fell asleep.

From the Burrow

After an oddly quiet breakfast (as Fred and George were no doubt up to something big) the trio and Ginny went to Diagon Alley to collect their new school books. Hermione had already gotten hers, but it was still fun to hang around her best friends as they painfully read the list of texts and supplies needed for the upcoming school year.

Charlie had almost gone with them, but she had seen Bill pull him aside, whispering something. Obviously he reminded Charlie to play it cool and not join the group of young friends.

Sighing, she made her way to Flourish and Bott’s collection of new arrivals. After picking up a book on the history of spells, she joined Ron in line, who was ready with his own supplies.

“Not much to get,” He grimaced. “There’s a few books we already have.”

Knowing he meant “hand-me-downs” from the others, she smiled at him. “Don’t worry, as long as it’s the same edition, you’ll be fine.”

He smiled brightly at her. “Thanks! Guess it does seem ridiculous for everyone in the same family to have the same books.”

“That’s the spirit.” She replied, patting him gently on the arm.

Suddenly Ron’s arm found its way around her shoulders. He kissed her forehead. “I’m really looking forward to tonight. Mum and dad are letting us have a party…to celebrate our last year. Well, not Ginny’s, but it’s only fair since the others got one.”

Hermione giggled, but slyly slipped out of his arm. “Yes, I remember two years ago when Fred and George threw that party, even though they dropped out later.”

“Yeah, good thing they were allowed to be homeschooled after that. Not sure if they liked it, but when Dumbledore let them have credit for doing reports on starting their own business they didn’t seem to mind much anymore.”

Just then Harry and Ginny joined them, a small smile on Ginny’s face appeared. Hermione wondered if Harry finally asked her out.

At Hogwarts

Later that night Rosalyn made her way up the series of staircases to her room after dinner. She had been introduced to the staff, and had gotten to know them a bit. She had been told that one professor was “out” for the evening, but hadn’t heard who he was. Not knowing she was being followed, she went to open her door.

“Mrs. Granger, might I have a word with you?”

“Of course, Professor Dumbledore.” She replied as she opened the door. Tonks had explained earlier that it would open upon her touch, a charm which revealed her identity.

The two walked in. The headmaster sat in the chair by the fireplace, muttering a spell so that it lit up.

Rosalyn went to the kitchen area and poured two cups of tea from a pot that would always remain fresh and warm. Another one of Tonk’s tricks…or spell, she reminded herself.

She sat down on the couch and waited as Dumbledore took a sip.

“Mrs. Granger…”

“Please, no formalities here. Call me Rosalyn.”

“All right, but only if you call me Albus.” He waited for her nod. “Now, there were a few more things I wanted to discuss in private.” He paused for a moment, taking another sip of tea. “I take it you noticed one of our staff members was not present tonight?”

“Yes. A couple of staff members…and Sirius mentioned it. But they did not explain any futher.”

Albus smiled. “Well, I am glad that I will be the one to tell you. You see, Professor Snape is a spy for me.”

“Snape? Hermione’s potions professor?”

“Ah! She’s told you about him, then?”

Rosalyn frowned. “She didn’t exactly have many nice to things to say about him.”

Albus chuckled. “Yes, well…he must keep up an appearance. But I will tell you that he has Hermione’s best interests at heart. Now, what I really want to explain is why he wasn’t here tonight. You see, he was called to a Deatheater meeting.”

“You mean…”

“Yes, I told you he was a spy. Thus he must attend those meetings and comes back to school…well, let us just say he’s not in the right spirits. He’s often been hurt or witnessed many horrible things. You may in fact run into him after one of these events, and I don’t want you to be alarmed to see a Deatheater wandering our halls. If it were any other Deatheater, you wouldn’t see him or her, or more likely you would see a number of them.”

“So he may appear as one of the men who killed my husband.”

“Yes, that is correct.” Albus said with a sigh.

“He wasn’t…there, was he?”

Albus sat his tea aside and got up to go sit beside her. He took her hand and patted it. “No, he was elsewhere. That I swear to you. You have no need to fear him, he will not hurt you or Hermione. Or anyone else, if he can help it.” He paused, then continued carefully. “Severus Snape has made many sacrifices in his life. I trust him with my own. You can also trust him with yours.”

“Thank you, Albus.” She got up with him as he made his way to leave, thanking him once more for his and the staff’s hospitality.

As she went to shut the door, Albus turned. “Oh, and one more thing, Rosalyn.”

“Yes?”

“Tomorrow afternoon the students will arrive. I hope to discuss with you and my principal staff after breakfast how we will introduce you, or even explain your presence, to the students. It may be best that they not know who you are.”

“I understand. Goodnight, Albus.”

“Goodnight.”

Sometime after midnight

Rosalyn woke with a start when someone was banging on the door. She waited, and heard Tonks go to answer it. Pulling on a silk robe, she started to hear the whispers. It was Remus. “He’s in bad shape, Tonks. Really bad.”

“Then let’s go.” Tonks said, as she tied a robe on herself.

Rosalyn waited until they shut the door before deciding what to do. It only took seconds for her to go and open the door quietly, and followed them down the hall. She was confused when she passed Remus and Sirius’ quarters, as they had shown her before dinner. Instead, Remus led them farther down a dark hallway. Just as Remus started down a staircase, Tonks looked behind her with a surprised look on her face.

“I…I can help, too, can’t I?” Rosalyn whispered as she caught up. “I started in medical school for two years before switching to oral surgery.” When Tonks gave her a funny look, she replied. “I guess it’s a muggle thing…I perform surgery in the mouth region.”

Tonks smiled, then led the way down a small, winding staircase. Rosalyn wondered where they were going, but didn’t dare ask.

Eventually they made their way into a corridor in the dungeons. Remus opened a door and waited for Tonks to enter first. He was surprised to see another person there…even more surprised that it was Mrs. Granger…and wondered what on earth possessed the newly widowed Mrs. Granger to follow. Did she think she could help? He shrugged his shoulders and smiled, letting the second woman through before following and shutting the massive door behind him.

Remus led them to a bedchamber, which appeared empty.

“Where is he?” Tonks asked Remus.

“I don’t know. “I left him here a few minutes ago.”

Rosalyn heard a noise from outside the chambers. She cautiously opened the door and nearly fell over when a figure in black robes, dressed as a Deatheater, tumbled recklessly inside. He was in obvious bad shape.

“Severus!” Tonks cried, immediately at the figure’s side. “Here, come over to the couch and lay down while I get some remedy tea.”

Rosalyn froze, not sure what to do next. Suddenly she was alone as Remus went to help Tonks.


Professor Snape grumbled something, obviously not aware of her presence. She cautiously walked over to stand near the couch. She watched as he painfully tore off his white mask. His eyes immediately met hers.

Rosalyn’s eyes widened in fear as familiarity set in. The black hair, the pale skin, the black piercing eyes…and the sharply defined nose. Memories came flooding back more than ever. The very man that reluctantly raped her. The man that had given her a child. “Oh my gosh!” She gasped.

Severus looked at the woman in disbelief. What was she doing here? He knew, of course, about the attack, and that they were going to bring Hermione’s mother to a safe place, but here? At Hogwarts? His own face was one filled with surprise and regret…What could he possibly say to her?

She looked the same, he noticed…beautiful. And confident, despite the very awkward meeting.

“Here, Severus,” Tonks said breaking the moment. “Take some tea. It will do you good.”

Rosalyn’s mind was swirling, her knees weak, as she watched Tonks care for the man that had raped her. Of course, he had no choice, she reminded herself.

Suddenly Severus’ body went into shock and he doubled over in pain.

Rosalyn forced herself out of her shock and turned to Remus. “What can I do for him?”

At the Burrow

The party was finally winding down. After several passes at Hermione, much to Charlie’s anger, Ron had finally passed out from drinking too much firewhiskey, despite his mother’s scolding. Fred and George offered to lift him to his bed, but Mrs. Weasley insisted upon doing it herself. She didn’t trust those two – not after being their mother for twenty years!

Harry had taken Ginny for a walk, while Bill and Fleur had already retired to their room. That left Hermione, Charlie, and Mr. Weasley.

“So, Charlie,” Mr. Weasley said out of nowhere, himself slightly inebriated. “Your mother seems to think you’ve met someone.” He apparently was more drunk than the others thought, to bring up something out of the blue and in front of Hermione.

Hermione blushed and turned away as Charlie answered with a smile. He had sipped on his own fair share of firewhiskey as well. “Yes. I met her at Cambridge, while on assignment from Dumbledore. She’s very special to me.”

Arthur frowned. “That’s interesting…weren’t you assigned there, too, Hermione?”

Hermione snapped her head around, her face still red. “Yes, I was there, too.”

“Hmm…and you two didn’t run into each other? Oh, that’s right…you two didn’t meet until the other night, am I correct?”

Now it was Charlie’s turn to become red in the face. He couldn’t really lie. “No, sir.”

“No?” Arthur said, a confused look on his face. Suddenly he noticed how close the two were sitting together. “Oh!” He replied, a look of realization now appearing.

Deciding this was no time to hide the truth, Charlie slipped his arm around Hermione. “Hermione is the woman I met, although we didn’t know who each other really was until she arrived here at the Burrow.”

“But what about…I mean…”

“Ron?” Hermione guessed easily enough. She sighed. “We haven’t told him yet. No one really knows, although Bill and Ginny figured it out right away.”

“I see. Well, it does make more sense for you two to be together. Don’t get me wrong. I love all my children but can see how Ron isn’t exactly…mature shall we say?...for you, Hermione.”

“Thank you, sir.” Hermione replied as Charlie squeezed her, obviously elated that his father approved.

“Please, call me Arthur, Hermione. Well, I best be getting up to bed. No doubt Molly is waiting for me.”

Hermione and Charlie waited until he was gone.

“Well, that was easy.” Charlie said with a grin as he leaned over to kiss her, then maneuvered them both so that they were laying down. Hermione giggled before he kissed her again, this time more passionately.

“I love you, Hermione.” He whispered.

“And I you.” She replied before they resumed their snogging. His hand slipped into her shirt, then caressed her smooth skin.

“Well! I never!” A voice said, to their surprise as they jumped apart. Hermione and Charlie turned to see a set of eyes grinning mischievously at them.



A/N: Originally I wanted Severus at Grimmauld Place, and Hermione was to be the one helping him, so Rosalyn could see a closeness between father and daughter. However, bringing her to Hogwarts seemed more interesting and I wanted this scene to take place on the first night. Thus Hermione was replaced by Tonks, a good friend of Severus. I also wanted Snape to have met her in the hallway, just after the meeting, but didn’t find a reason why Rosalyn would be wandering the school halls in the middle of the night.