Realization

Disclaimer: I own nothing, unless someone forgot to tell me.

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NINE

Hermione appeared on a deserted moor. She raised her wand and sent a white light shooting out of it.


Snape and George reappeared at the house where they were keeping Ginny. As they moved to the front door, a patronus shot up to Snape. He turned to George upon seeing it.

“I will return.”

George nodded and made his way into the house as Snape was gone in a sweep of his cloak.

Snape came into view inches from Hermione. She threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around him.

He pushed her away. “What is so urgent?”

“I, um, Ron is gone.”

“And I’m supposed to find him?” Snape asked sarcastically.

“No, I mean Ron, well, he’s an idiot.”

“Please, tell me something I don’t know.”

“We broke up. I dumped him.”

“Well, well, you finally caught on…” He smirked at her and walked behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I knew you would come around…”

“But there is something…”

“What?” he asked, not really caring what she had to say, as long as he could keep smelling her hair.

“Um, well, I sort of, um…”

He released her and came around to face her, pulling her close. “Out with it.”

“I ran into V-V-Voldemort.”

“You don’t just run into him.”

“Well I did, literally.”

Snape let out a laugh and looked into her eyes. “And you are still alive, because…”

“He, um, he wants me.”

Snape looked into her eyes and saw the offer of his master.

“Well, I shall just hide you away,” he said simply.

“I thought about taking it. He knows now, about us.”

“As I would expect. He didn’t get this far on pure luck. He is rather smart sometimes,” Snape said sarcastically.

“Um, Severus, what should I do?”

“What do you want to do?”

“I killed Pettigrew,” she said quietly.

“I’m proud. But what do you want to do?”

“Run as far away from this mess as I can?” she offered meekly.

“Too late for that, I’m afraid.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Then come with me and forget about it for a while.”

There was a promise in his voice, the same promise she had heard in her sixth year, when all this began.

“Let me help you forget,” he said suggestively as he pulled her closer.

Heat was rushing through her body as she felt herself get lost in his words, and his embrace.

“Forget what?” she asked innocently, smiling coyly at him.

“That’s my girl,” he whispered

He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She pressed back as he opened his mouth and ran his tongue along her bottom lip. She opened her mouth in response and allowed him to run his tongue along hers.

Heat shot through her body and she leaned forward, surrendering to him.

After several long moments of exploring her mouth, Snape pulled away.

“It’s been months,” he breathed.

“I know,” she answered. “But we can’t.”

“Why not?” he asked, feeling a little annoyed. She had surrendered, after all.

“Because there are things that need to be dealt with.”

“Now, is not the time.”

“I need to see Ginny.”

“Fine,” he said. He held her even closer and apparated with her to the outside of the house that held three Weasleys.

“You should know,” he started.

“Fred and George. I know. I’m not stupid.”

“So, Pettigrew did give up information before he died. I should inform the Dark Lord.”

“Not now,” she said, pulling him close, raising her mouth to his. She placed a gentle kiss on his lips and turned from his arms. She grabbed his hand and pulled him forward through the door.

They walked up the stairs and Snape lead her to a room and pushed the door open.

She walked in pulling Snape with her.

Ginny looked up and cried in surprise. Fred and George both saw Snape release her hand quickly as Ginny shot off the couch and tackled her best friend in a hug.

“Gin, you’re crushing me,” Hermione said weakly.

“Sorry,” she giggled out. She got to her feet and pulled Hermione with her into another hug. “What are you doing here? With Snape?!”

“Came to see you. How are the boys treating you?”

“Fine. What is going on?”

Hermione moved around her and looked over her head at Snape. He came fully into the room and sat in his armchair. She sat on the arm of the chair and he put a hand on the small of her back.

“Sit down, Ginny.”

The twins were looking suspiciously at Snape when they saw him move his hand to its place on her back. They exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Ginny settled herself between her brothers and looked at Hermione expectantly. Then she saw Snape’s hand and looked furious.

“What are you doing? You’re engaged to my brother!”

“Not anymore. They were going to lock me up in St. Mungo’s and throw away the key.”

“They?” asked Snape.

“Harry and Ron. But they got a piece of my mind when I was able to fight back.”

“What? Start from the beginning,” said Fred.

“Yeah, we’ve been out of the loop for a while,” said George.

“Okay.” She took a deep breath and continued. “So we went to Snape’s house after Ginny was kidnapped. Your mum said something about it. We found Pettigrew, got some information and killed him…”

“Who killed him?” Ginny broke in.

“I did. Anyway, Bellatrix Lestrange showed up and hit me with one of yours,” she turned and looked at Snape at that, then turned back to the others, and continued, “and the boys took me to St. Mungo’s. I got healed and came around as they were talking about throwing away the key. Then Lupin came in and told us Azkaban was under attack. I had to force my way out of the room and went to the battle. On forcing my way out, I dropped Ron’s ring in his hand.”

Here, she stopped, not sure she should continue. She looked at Snape and he shook his head.

“What happened next?” asked Fred.

“Went to Azkaban, knocked a wall down, and left. Sent a patronus to Snape and came here. And that sums it up.”

“There’s something you’re not telling us,” said Ginny shrewdly.

“Of course there is, but it’s personal, so I’d rather not.”

“Which spell?” asked Snape.

“Sectumsempra.”

“I see…” and then he was silent for a while, lost in his thoughts.

“Wait,” said Ginny, “why did you contact Snape?”

“I trust him,” she said simply.

The phoenix flew into the room and landed on Hermione’s lap fondly.

“Hello, Albus,” she said.

“How do you know that?” asked Ginny.

“I know lots of things, Gin. I am the Gryffindor know-it-all, am I not?”

She turned and smiled at Snape and he looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. The rest of his face stayed pensive.

“Well I’m exhausted. Do you have an extra room?” she asked Snape.

He nodded and stood, gesturing for her to do the same. He swept out and she followed.

“I will also retire,” he said over his shoulder to the Weasleys.

“Night Gin, guys,” said Hermione, before leaving in Snape’s wake.

The door shut behind them and Ginny looked at it before asking, “What am I missing?”

“The same thing we all are, right Albus?” said Fred.

The bird let out a soft note before sweeping up to them and resting on Ginny’s knees.

“Did you see how she took hold of his hand when they walked in?” asked George.

“Yeah, they seem awfully close…” said Fred.

“What are you suggesting?” asked Ginny.

“That the two of them are more than student-mentor…” said George.

“Well I’m sure they still are, in a different sense,” joked Fred.

“What are you saying?” asked Ginny.

“You glow when you’re with Harry,” said Fred.

“And you and Harry had to do something to make that baby,” said George.

“Are you suggesting that Hermione is…ewww! There’s no way. She was with Ron.”

“Not really. They never shagged, according to him,” said Fred.

“And he said it always felt like she was kissing someone else,” added George.

“No way.”

“Believe it,” said George.

“Because we do,” said Fred.


Hermione followed Snape up another flight of stairs to the top of the house. There was only one room here with an attached bath. It was sparse, a double bed and a pair of wardrobes, as well as a loveseat that faced a small fireplace.

He closed the door and turned to face her.

“So, now that I’ve got you to myself…” he said seductively, as he approached her like a predator, “I’m going to have my way with you…”

She allowed herself to be pulled into a tight embrace and a passionate kiss. He pulled away and looked at her, miffed that the kiss was done a little less than passionately on her side. “What’s wrong?”

“Like I said, I’m tired,” she answered.

“Then off to bed with you. I am sorry. I did not consider the day you had.”

“It’s alright, but getting chased by Bellatrix, put into the hospital, loosing a lot of blood, and then being propositioned by the Dark Lord does wear one down,” she said playfully, yet fully aware that after that recount of her day, he would take pity on her and be content to hold her.

“I understand. You have seen me after some of the revels. I am in no mood either. The Weasleys are tiring, and I’ve had to deal with the same people as you today, not including Saint Potter, but I am worn down as well. I was just happy to have you back.”

“I know, but we have time. For now, just hold me,” she said, as she fell onto the bed fully dressed.

He removed his outer robe to reveal black trousers and a white shirt and lay down beside her, pulling her into his arms. Her breathing slowed as she drifted off to sleep, and he kissed her on the forehead as he too drifted into the land of dreams, Hermione wrapped tightly in his arms.