Survival of the Fittest

A/N – Thanks to Kathy Rose and Larilee for beta reading.

--

Scanning the parchment, Hermione frowned. She only had enough in her account for a few more nights. She really didn’t have anywhere to go – at least anywhere she cared to go. Her career was in the toilet. There was no way she would get a good recommendation for future employers.

A soft knock on the door heralded another arrival. Hermione didn’t need to ask who it was. She had been waiting for Dumbledore. In a way she welcomed the intrusion. It was time to get answers to her questions. However, it was not a conversation she looked forward to having.

Already frustrated with reviewing her Gringotts’ account, she crumpled the parchment and tossed it into the fireplace. She stood up and sighed, flicking her wand at the door, which opened with a loud, ominous creak.

Gathering his periwinkle robes, the old wizard walked into the room and held out his hand.

“Chocolate?” Dumbledore offered, his tone calm and sure.

Hermione gaped at him, slamming her wand onto the table.

She tried to make sense of her jumbled thoughts and blurted the first thing that came to her mind. “You are unbelievable!” She threw her hands up in the air.

“I—I can’t…” She struggled for the words.

Albus put the chocolate into a hidden pocket in his robes and stared at her. Sighing, he crossed his hands behind his back and said nothing. He appeared as if he was waiting for her to start, but she wasn\'t about to give him the satisfaction.

Taking a calming breath, Hermione crossed the room, poured some water in a basin and washed her hands, trying to keep from wrapping her hands around his neck and strangling him.

“I must admit,” Dumbledore said quietly. “I thought you might slam the door in my face once you had realized who it was.”

Questions and accusations bubbled to the surface, and Hermione was unable to control the damning litany that followed.

“You are un-bloody-believable!” she repeated. “You kidnapped us! Why?

“Because you wanted to get your Potions professor laid!” she answered her own question, her inflection bitter and shaky.

Albus felt the blood drain from his face and he flinched.

“We spent weeks ignoring one another. And when we weren’t ignoring one another, we were bickering. You used me!” Hermione spat. “Was that your plan all along – bring me to Hogwarts in the hopes that Severus and I would fall into one another’s arms?”

She paused and waited for an answer that never came. Trying to reel in her errant emotions, Hermione took deep breaths, but quickly abandoned the technique.

“I’ve never been so humiliated,” she cried. “What must he think of me? Oh, Gods! What have I done?” Her hand instinctively cradled her stomach. What if she was pregnant with Severus’ child? The thought sent shivers of hope and dread throughout her body.

“I-I acted so-so wantonly,” Hermione stuttered, searching for words that would describe this catastrophe. “Why, Professor? Why did you do it?”

--

Albus pondered his answer carefully, mindful of Hermione’s feelings. She loved Severus as surely as Severus loved her. Never in his entire career of meddling had he met two more stubborn people. And never had he met two people who were more perfectly matched. Severus’ reaction had given him hope. Hermione’s reaction renewed his conviction.

“I believed you to be strong enough,” he baited her.

“Strong enough to do what?” She rose spectacularly to the bait and he had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. “Strong enough to defend myself against any unwanted advances?”

“Of course not,” replied Albus calmly.

Tapping her foot, the angry witch folded her arms across her chest and waited for an answer.

“If you would please sit down.” Albus motioned to a chair. He would certainly feel better if he could maneuver her away from her wand and calm her down.

She hesitated before following his direction.

“I apologize for the manner in which I abducted you,” Albus started. “Please accept my sincerest apologies if you were distressed.”

Hermione jeered.

“On the other hand, it really was the only way I could get Severus anywhere that remotely resembled a vacation destination.”

Dark eyes continued to glare at him. He didn’t need to use Legilimency to see that the young Gryffindor was not in a forgiving mood.

“During the final battle, Severus suffered cruelly at the hands of Tom and Rodolphus…” His voice trailed off as the memory of the Potion master’s injuries came back to him. “For weeks, we didn’t know whether or not he was going to suffer the long-term effects of the Cruciatus Curse like Frank and Alice Longbottom had.

“I owe Severus so much.” Albus fidgeted with the sleeve of his robe. “We all do.”

Thankfully, Hermione remained silent, giving him the opportunity to plead his case.

“I saw a side of Severus that day I had only seen once before – fear. For weeks he drifted in and out of consciousness, mumbling incoherently. It wasn’t until later that I realized what he was saying.

“He was asking for you, Hermione.” Albus paused, lost in the painful memory of caring for the injured wizard. Dealing with the fatalities of the war had been easy in comparison to caring for the wounded.

His former student continued listening, staring at him with wide expressive eyes that were shimmering with tears.

“Had I dared to hope that Severus cared for you as more than a student? Yes.” He began pacing the length of the room. “Would Severus ever know an ounce of happiness?”

“Once Madam Pince informed me of her intent to retire, I took steps to ensure that you were her replacement.”

“You manipulated,” Hermione corrected softly.

“Yes,” confessed Albus. “I had hoped that nature would take its course – that you and Severus would be happy together. However, I had not anticipated how deep-rooted the animosity between the two of you ran. Severus always did have a problem letting go of the past.”

Hermione leaned forward. He could see her relax for her posture was no longer defensive. “Why couldn’t you just tell me?” she asked.

Albus answered, “I had to employ Slytherin tactics to maneuver Severus into place. After your appointment had been announced, he served notice. A few weeks later, Severus had the request rescinded.

“In fact, he has served notice again.” Albus reached into his sleeve, pulled a bag out and popped a lemon drop into his mouth.”

“He can’t do that!” Hermione snapped, forgetting her earlier question.

“He has,” Dumbledore countered. “So, if you’re afraid of running into him –”

“I am not!” The young witch jumped off the bed.

Albus turned his back to her for he could not contain his guiltless smirk.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione composed herself. “I am not afraid of Severus Snape,” she murmured breathlessly. “And if you think you are going to manipulate me into coming back to Hogwarts, you are sorely mistaken.”

--

Other than himself, the rumor mill at Hogwarts was the only thing Severus put any stock in. It had been two days since his reintroduction into the halls of the school, two days since he had last seen Hermione. According to the portraits, she was back.

The old man had done it. Severus didn’t know how and he really didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was that she was here.

A group of giggling Hufflepuffs passed him in the hall as Severus made his way to the library. With a flick of his robe, he stared down at them. “That’s fifty points from Hufflepuff for annoying merriment in the halls. Now get out of my sight.”

Severus could not contain the satisfied smirk that spread across his face.

“Some things never change,” a familiar voice announced irritably.

Turning toward Hermione’s voice, he could feel the lustful response of his body. “Hermione.” Her name slipped past his lips effortlessly.

“Professor,” she replied coolly. “Was there something I could help you with?”

The passionate witch who had cried out his name two days ago was gone, replaced by an ice exterior. “I was on my way to speak with you.”

Her chocolate eyes grew dark and she bowed her head. “My apologies, Professor Snape. I should have owled you sooner.”

The use of his title and surname irritated him. “An owl?”

“Yes,” she replied, a sad smile touching her lips and a blush rising in her cheek. “My cycle started. I’m not pregnant.”

A torrent of emotions flowed through him in that instant. Disappointment. Elation. Relief. Anger. Hurt. Tapping into the anger, Severus lashed out. “That is very good news, indeed.”

“Yes,” she agreed.

“Very well, then,” he replied numbly. “Good day, Miss Granger.”

--

Hermione took a deep calming breath as she watched Severus walk away. She would be able to leave Hogwarts once a replacement could be found. How she had let Dumbledore talk her into returning to Hogwarts was beyond her. She did take pleasure in setting at least one condition upon the terms of her return.

Albus Dumbledore was going to have to see a Muggle counselor. It was definitely time the wizard stopped meddling in the affairs of others.

Another fortunate turn of events had also transpired upon her return. She had started her period. The last few days had haunted all her waking moments. The thought of a part of Severus growing within her thrilled and frightened her.

Judging by his reaction just now, it was definitely a good thing that she wasn’t pregnant.

She pushed the heavy oak doors to the library open and gasped. Books covered the tables. There were gapping holes in the shelves where those books belonged. Why hadn’t the books taken their proper places? Who had taken all the books down in the first place?

Ignoring the dull ache in the pit of her stomach that was caused by Severus’ reaction, Hermione hurriedly went to work, trying to restore the order to her life she had come to value above all else. She may be leaving Hogwarts. But she would be damned if she would leave the library in this state. After all, she needed a positive reference for when she applied elsewhere.

--

“Well?” Dumbledore asked impatiently as if he were a child on Christmas morning.

Dilys Derwent clutched the stitch in her side as she tried to catch her breath and talk at the same time. “Do you realize,” she panted, “how many portraits I had to run through to overhear their conversation?”

“You needn’t tell me,” groused Phineas Black as he righted an upturned chair. “You may prefer disorder in your portrait, Dilys. Would you please go around my portrait the next time you decide to go for a jaunt?”

Dilys made a rude gesture as she continued catching her breath.

“Phineas,” Dumbledore pleaded, “would you please let Dilys speak?”

Chastised, Headmaster Black picked up a book and made to leave. “I shall not remain here another instant! I shall be at Grimmauld Place,” Phineas barked, stalking out of his portrait.

“Good!” Dilys cheered.

Dumbledore cleared his throat in annoyance at the bickering portraits, watching Black fade out of sight. Headmistress Derwent arranged her yellow and black robes dramatically and sat at her desk.

“You were right, Albus,” the plump witch said, twirling a silver ringlet of hair around her finger. She always twirled her hair when she was excited. “Professor Snape did not waste any time in seeking her out. Why Miss Granger didn\'t even have time to visit the library before they met in the hall!

“Professor Snape deducted fifty points from Hufflepuff for no reason at all,” she huffed indignantly. “Really, Albus! You should look into Professor Snape’s abuse of power –”

“Yes, yes!” Dumbledore waved his hands in the air. “Get on with it.”

Dilys shook her head. “Anyway, Miss Granger saw this and let her presence be known. She was very cold to him…very cold indeed for she mentioned something about owling Snape. It seems there was some question about Miss Granger being ‘with child,’” the portrait paused for dramatic effect.

“And?” the headmaster asked. “Is she?”

“She is not.”

“What was Severus reaction?” Dumbledore coaxed, paying no mind to the murmurings of the other portraits.

“He replied that it was good news, wished her good day, and walked away,” Dilys announced quickly. “Honestly, Albus, I don’t think your plan worked.”

Stroking his beard thoughtfully, Albus pondered his predicament. “At least they aren’t hexing one another.”

“Oh! I almost forgot.” Dilys clapped her hands excitedly. “Peeves did a wonderful job wrecking the library! However, it barely phased our Miss Granger. She simply rolled up the sleeves of her robe and got to work.”

Albus grinned, taking great pleasure in his handiwork. He always took great pleasure when he didn’t get caught. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. He had actually outsmarted Hermione Granger. He had played the pity card, making sure to send Madam Pince on the way before Miss Granger came back to Hogwarts.

He had played on her love for “her” books, informing her that Hagrid was minding the library. As expected, she had started setting conditions if she were to return to the school. He would have agreed to anything to get her back.

She obviously didn’t know that the Muggle Studies instructor, Professor Zamora, was not only a Muggle, but a psychologist, as well. He had been counseled by the man before.

*****

A/N – Sorry for the delay on the chapters. I start a new job on Monday. Friday is my birthday. (Feedback would be a nice birthday present “wink wink.”) I have a viewing Wednesday night and a funeral on Thursday. It is highly unlikely I will get any writing done this week.