Realization

Disclaimer: If you don't know by now, I'll never tell.

A/N: As always, keep telling me...what you think that is.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TEN

After the wall fell at Azkaban, Voldemort called a retreat.

The Order was left with a few living Death Eaters that were bound, thanks to Hermione, and the dead. The Order had sustained a small amount of losses, including the deaths of Dean Thomas and Susan Bones. There were others with various injuries, but nothing that time in St. Mungo’s couldn’t fix. The Death Eaters had taken heavier losses due to Hermione’s wall.

The Order gathered their dead and wounded and then began to look for those that could be taken prisoner, finding six Death Eaters stunned and bound in the middle of the fray, than no one could have gotten to unless they had been amidst the Death Eaters.

“Does anyone know who did this?” asked Lupin, to the group at large.

“A turncoat,” muttered Moody.

“No,” said Harry, “this is Hermione. This must be where she apparated to. Naturally, she would go to work, to help us.”

“Yes,” said Lupin, “but she showed up next to me. And that wasn’t apparition.”

“It was probably her dear friend, Snape,” said Ron bitterly.

“But Snape doesn’t have that kind of power,” said Tonks. “I know, he trained me a little before…”

“And he wasn’t here, I didn’t smell him,” said Lupin.

“No,” said Harry, “there’s only one person left with that kind of power.”

“Let’s not jump to any kind of conclusion until we see her. Has anyone seen her?” asked Lupin.

“She disappeared after the wall fell,” said Neville.

“Well, we need to find her,” said Moody. “The girl may be in over her head.”

“Of course she is! She trusts Snape!” shouted Ron.

“Turncoat,” muttered Harry.

“Please, Harry, Ron, just go back to Headquarters and see if she’s there. Alastor, Tonks, Kingsley, help me get these to the Ministry,” said Lupin, pointing to the Death Eaters.

“Fine,” said Harry. He and Ron apparated away, leaving the others to deal with the prisoners.

“Um,” said Neville.

“Yes, Neville,” said Lupin kindly.

“Well, I’ve had this thought. Hermione did a lot of extra potions work with Professor Snape last year.”

“But Snape didn’t teach potions,” said Tonks.

“I know, that’s why I thought it was weird. He asked her to stay after class one day and from then on she always said she was going to help Snape with potions. We all thought it was weird but I just thought he needed help brewing for the Hospital Wing or something like that. I don’t know. And they kind of looked at each other funny. I don’t know.”

“Thank you Neville. Why don’t you go to St. Mungo’s and check on Luna,” offered Tonks.

“Okay. Thanks.” He disapperated gratefully without another word, leaving the adults speechless.

“Well,” said Moody. “He was always questionable. But I never thought he would sink low enough to seduce a student.”

“It makes sense,” said Kingsley.

“How?” asked Tonks.

“A meeting of the minds,” he said. “She was always a smart one. I thought Ron was an odd choice for her. But Snape makes sense.”

“The age difference,” began Lupin.

“Yes, dear,” said Tonks.

“Sorry, it just doesn’t make sense to me. Snape is cold,” said Lupin.

“Remus, let it go. Wait until she surfaces again,” said Kingsley.

“You’re right. We should get these prisoners out of here,” he said.

With that, the four of them took their charges and apparated to the Ministry.


Harry and Ron were furious, and they were only fueling each other. Each would yell something about Snape and then something about Hermione turning on them and then let the other pick up when they ran out of breath.

Grimmauld Place was supposed to be empty.

A woman came down the stairs at all the noise. She peeked into the drawing room and saw the two boys both screaming about a girl she knew very well.

She pushed the door open and stood with her hands on her hips.

She had long, curly brown hair, chocolate eyes, and an hourglass figure.

The boys stopped shouting the second they saw her and stared at her dumbstruck.

“Hermione?” said Harry.

“No. I’m Jane Granger, Hermione’s mother.”

They boys hung their heads and muttered about being frustrated about something.

“What has she done this time?” Jane asked. “You must be Ron, the fiery red-head. And Harry, with a darker rage. Am I right?”

“Where did you come up with that?” asked Harry.

“My daughter, that’s how she describes you now.”

“What?” asked Ron.

“She said you were both unstable, but now I know, you really are, shouting like it’s going to change something.”

“She called us unstable?” asked Harry, a look of fury passing through his eyes.

“She did. And she was right. Now, what has she done to infuriate you?”

“She dumped me!” said Ron.

“You aren’t right for her anyway. What else?”

Ron looked furious, but Harry pressed on.

“Your precious baby killed someone. And she is consorting with the enemy!”

“I know who she killed. I’m proud. And are you sure you know who the enemy is?”

“YES!” they shouted together.

“Snape,” hissed Harry.

“Ah, Severus. Well, people are not always what they seem, Harry.”

With that, she turned and left the two boys to stew.

Harry and Ron looked at each other for a minute confused and then looked at the door.

They were confused into silence by this woman. And they also knew now where Hermione got her, well, everything.

Lupin walked in after several minutes, looking tired and haggard.

“Still no sign of her?” he asked.

“Well, we had a sign of her,” said Harry. “Her mother.”

“Ah, Jane. What did she have to say?”

“Plenty,” said Ron.

“I can imagine.”

“How does she know Snape?” asked Harry.

“I have no idea. Ask her.”

“What are you not telling us?” asked Ron.

“Lots. I guess I should start telling.” He took a deep breath and began: “Hermione’s father was killed by Pettigrew. She took her vengeance. I also knew she was consorting with Snape. She told me Ginny was in danger an hour before we showed up at the Burrow. As for Jane, she is staying here until it is safe for her to return to her home.”

“That’s it?” asked Harry.

“For now,” said Lupin.

“Fine, I’m going to bed.”

“Me too,” said Ron.

The boys left Remus alone to think on all the things that came crashing down today.


Draco Malfoy arrived at the door, unsure of what he was about to do. He had to woo the Weaslette. I have to talk to Snape first, he thought.

He entered the house and proceeded to the second floor to find the twins alone, whispering to each other. He cleared his throat and they looked up, unsurprised.

“Are you alone?” he asked.

“For now,” said George.

“What is it?” asked Fred.

“I need to speak with Snape.”

“He has retired for the evening,” came Ginny’s voice from behind him. He turned to face her and got quite an eyeful.

She was wearing only a towel and her hair was wet, turning it blood red. She had water dripping down the exposed parts of her body and the swell of her breasts was barely visible.

“I’m living here now,” he said to her, giving her the Malfoy grin.

“Whatever,” she said. “Goodnight, Fred, George.”

With that, she turned and padded down the hall to a room and closed the door behind her.

“I need to see him.”

“Follow me,” said Fred.

He got up and led Draco up the flight of stairs leading to the attic room. He paused at the door.

“We don’t intrude,” he said, leaving Draco at the door.

It may have been the early hours of the morning, but he needed to see his godfather, he knew Snape would understand.

He knocked and pushed the door open. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight that greeted him, Hermione Granger wrapped tightly in his mentor’s arms.

He let out a gasp that woke her. She sat up groggily and looked toward the door.

“Malfoy,” she said, “what do you want?”

Snape moaned in his sleep and reached for her, trying to pull her back down.

“I need to speak with him,” Draco said.

“We’re sleeping, come back later.”

She laid back down and allowed herself to be pulled back into his embrace.

Draco just stood there.

“I said, come back later. We’re sleeping. Find a room and bother us in the morning.”

Snape began to stir and opened his eyes at her words.

He sat up, bringing Hermione with him.

“What’s going on?” he asked her, not seeing Malfoy.

“Draco Malfoy needs to see you. He’s standing in the doorway.”

She pulled out of his embrace and fell back to the bed, rolling over and deciding to ignore them. He stood and walked over to Malfoy.

“What is so urgent?” Snape asked, annoyed, as he pulled Draco out of the room.

“I was sent to stay here, to woo the girl.”

“So find a room and stay here. We’ll talk in the morning.”

With that, Snape turned and reentered his room, closing the door in Malfoy’s face.

He returned to his bed and pulled Hermione back against him. She moaned and asked, “What did he want?”

“He’s staying here. It’s nothing.”

She was beginning to fully wake up as she rolled into his arms. She leaned up and put her lips to his. Her tongue snaked out and traced his lips as he opened his mouth to let his own entangle with hers.

“I thought you were tired,” he said, breaking the embrace.

“Awake now,” she whispered in his ear.

“Really,” he said seductively. While he was not fully awake, another part of him was coming to life on its own.

She used his sleepy state to her advantage and climbed on top of him, straddling his lap, and placing another kiss on his lips as he was beginning to protest, snaking her tongue into his partially open mouth.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

“Likewise,” he mumbled back.

Then she rolled off of him and headed toward the bathroom.

“Tease,” he grumbled as she reached the doorway.

She turned to face him, eyes traveling lazily over his still-clothed frame. She smirked at him, turned, and closed the door. She heard him grumble something else but ignored it. She turned to the mirror and looked at herself.

She was still wearing the bloody clothes from her run-in with Bellatrix and she had heavy bags under her eyes. She saw that there were several bruises on the exposed flesh of her arms and neck from Azkaban and that her exhaustion was etched into her face.

She wondered vaguely how he could still want her when she looked as she did. Then she stepped out of her bloody clothes and slid into the tub, turning the hot water on. It had been a long day, she mused as she drifted into a lazy sleep.

Snape dozed off when he heard the water rushing into the tub, knowing she would not be coming back out for a long while, if not until morning. Since she had closed the door, she had made it clear that she needed the time alone and he respected that, feeling tiredness wash over him once more.


Sun was shining in his face when he awoke with the urge to use the bathroom. He looked over and saw the empty bed and that the bathroom door was still closed. I was right. Well, she needs to relax anyway, he thought as he put his feet on the floor.

And his socks and the bottom of his trousers soaked through instantly. Shit, she fell asleep before she shut the water off…

Snape sloshed his way to the bathroom and had to force the door through the water to see a serene Hermione dozing in the overflowing tub. Then he heard a knock on the bedroom door followed by three or four angry voices.

He shut the tub off and trudged to the door, opening it to see the water running down the stairs behind four angry, wet people.

“What the hell?” asked Fred.

“Yeah, we wake up to rain, inside,” said George.

“Well, did you enjoy your swim?” asked Draco.

“Hermione fell asleep in the tub before she turned the water off…” trailed Snape.

“Oh. So you didn’t turn it off until just now why?” asked Ginny.

“I was asleep,” he said simply.

“Hermione,” Ginny called. “Get out of that tub and get out here.”

They heard water splash and a small giggle from the bathroom and then silence.

Snape had to hide his grin from the other four, but Draco saw through his mask when Snape turned his face from them quickly.

“I’m so glad you two find this amusing,” he intoned. “Dry it up, or the house will sink.”

And with that the four turned and headed downstairs.

Snape turned and entered the bathroom to find Hermione with her face in her hands, restraining her laughter.

“Nice bath?” he asked sarcastically.

“Whatever are you talking about?” she asked with just as much sarcasm.

“You flooded the entire house and managed to anger four volatile people.”

“Who, me?” she asked, putting on her best mask of innocence.

“Dry off and get dressed, we have Weasleys and a Malfoy to face who will be full of questions about why you were in my rooms, soaking naked in my bathtub.”

“Shouldn’t they be asking why I’m not naked in your bed?” she asked seductively.

“Well, I could arrange that…”

He picked her up, causing her to squeal in surprise, and carried her through the water to the bed. He threw her onto it and crawled on top of her like a predator.

“The water,” she said, squirming under him.

“Later,” was all she got out of him when lust clouded his eyes and his lips descended to meet hers, squashing whatever she was about to say in a heated kiss that caused her brain to fog over and her sensed to be overwhelmed by the mere presence of her lover.

He kissed his way down her body to her inner thighs, where he laved them with his tongue, causing heat to build in her as his hands snaked up her sides and came to rest on her breasts. He began rubbing, pinching and caressing her breasts and nipples as he continued his assault on her inner thighs.

Her eyes rolled up in her head and she began to moan, hands curling into fists gripping the bed sheets. Snape was lazily moving up her thighs toward her warm center.

She was moaning louder the closer he got to her clit and knew she would begin shrieking for all the house to hear. But right now, in this moment, he could care less. Three of the people in the house, the three that answered to Voldemort, were trained in Occlumency enough to block this out. And he somehow knew that Ginny would not say anything to anyone, not as if she could anyway, because the girls were best friends and what goes on behind closed doors, stayed there, for girls. Most didn’t kiss and tell. And he had a feeling that Ginny was very good at keeping secrets to begin with.

Snape reached her hip joint and she began to moan very loudly as he ran his tongue around her sex.

Then someone shouted something and banged on the ceiling.

He merely smirked and continued his assault on the woman below him, finally making her scream.