A Working Relationship

A Working Relationship


Disclaimer: All canon characters are the property of JK Rowling and those with whom she has agreed contracts. This story was written for practice not profit.


Divisions



Minerva let out a strangled gasp.

“Poisoned with what?” said Severus quickly.

“Why don’t you tell us?” sneered Moody, his voice laden with suggestion. “I hear you were feeding him things in the Infirmary.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Alastor,” cut in Minerva sharply. “Albus trusts… trusted Severus completely, as do I!”

“A leopard never changes its spots Minerva!” asserted Moody.

“That’s a singularly stupid remark to make to a Transfiguration Mistress,” responded Snape, rising to his feet. “As indeed is your claim to believe I would want to poison a man who meant more to me than my own father.”

“I would be stupid indeed to take anything you say at face value. You’re going to be confined while the Aurors investigate the matter.”

“And who has taken that decision?” inquired Minerva.

“I have alerted the Ministry as to my suspicions. They’ll be out here to collect him as soon as they have determined exactly how he managed it.”

“Alastor… I am shocked and disgusted that you would betray a fellow member of the Order in this fashion!”

“My loyalty was to Dumbledore, not to him.”

“And just where does your loyalty lie now? Were you even thinking of the Order at all when you went ahead with all this?”

“There is no Order without Albus. I’m surprised the Phoenix is even still here. He must know his master’s gone.”

“They were companions,” said Severus softly. “There was never any question of owner and owned. Fawkes will go where he will and it seems that for the moment he has decided to stay.”

“It seems Alastor, that it you who must decide whether to go or to stay.”

“My duty is to young Potter. I’m going to see to it that he brings down Voldemort and all his filthy followers.”

“Oh if only Albus had realised it was such a simple matter!” scoffed Severus. “He could have made you responsible right from the beginning. If you hadn’t managed to get yourself locked in your own luggage for a whole year, Potter could have defeated the Dark Lord before he got his powers back.”

“This is getting us nowhere, said Minerva wearily. “Albus charged me with managing the Order in his absence. If I am to continue to act now that he is gone I will need the approval of a majority of the other members. If I am not chosen… then we must elect another leader. I will summon the Order to Hogwarts. This discussion will continue at the meeting. Severus, go back to Hermione and see if the two of you can get any work done. Alastor you can either be helpful or you can take yourself off the premises until two o’clock when the others get here. Which is it to be?”

“I have business elsewhere,” grunted the ex-Auror. “As long as Snape doesn’t think about crawling back to his master.”

“Severus will be staying right where he is! He has something constructive to do!” she replied heatedly. “Alastor allow me to walk you to the doors!”

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Severus arrived back in his quarters to find Hermione nibbling a piece of toast at his dining table. Her hair was now damp from the shower and she was still only wearing her chemise.

“I wasn’t expecting you back just yet,” she said.

“I’m afraid I have had some bad news, which I must share with you,” he said, solemnly. He walked over to the table and pulled up a chair beside her.

“What’s happened now?” she asked worriedly.

“It’s Albus, Hermione. He died earlier this morning. Moody arrived during my meeting with Minerva.”

“Oh God! Was it poison?”

“Moody has lost no time in accusing me of poisoning him, but I don’t think there has been any kind of official statement. I am led to believe that the Aurors will be coming for me shortly.”

“We really couldn’t afford this loss, could we? Poor Professor Dumbledore. What on earth are we going to do?”

“I have no answer for these questions Hermione. The Order is meeting this afternoon at two o’clock. I will have to put in an appearance at breakfast shortly. I imagine Minerva will be tied up with breaking the news to the boys. I think the announcement about Albus will have to wait until later today.”

“Do you think he suffered?”

“I wouldn’t imagine he suffered for very long. He was unconscious when he left here. I’d be surprised if he came round much during his decline. It may be that it was simply his time. He was an old man, even for a wizard and he viewed running this place as a retirement pastime. The potion I gave him contained Phoenix tears. If they could not help…”

“Then this might be part of it all. Harry needed him so much. Will Moody take over the Order?”

“This will be decided at the meeting. Minerva cannot lead without a mandate. He certainly sees himself as Potter’s mentor.”

“And the main purpose of the Order is to support Harry.”

“In light of Potter’s prophecy, yes. He will be the one to confront the Dark Lord.”

“Doesn’t that mean that Harry ought to have the say?”

“Personally, I doubt his capacity to make the decision. He should be allowed to choose a mentor, but allowing him to choose the strategist for the Order is a different matter altogether. There is more to the Order than you or I know.”

“How did Professor Dumbledore become leader?”

“He founded it… and one by one we were all recruited. No wizard was the equal of him, so his position with us was never under threat.”

“Are the Aurors going to take you away?”

“I don’t think so. Not unless I am shown to have the Dark Mark. The Mark is active. Any Auror who sees it can tell that I am regularly summoned. I would not be able to deny that I go to him. Even if I volunteer to be questioned under Veritaserum I would only be able to give an account of my innocence if their questions allowed me to do so.”

“I don’t want to lose you Severus. You know how I feel about you.”

“I do know. I think it would be prudent for us to stay together as much as possible. If you are ‘The Lioness’ and someone tries to take you, I want to be able to accompany you. I will be loyal to your interest Hermione. Please believe that.”

“I do believe you. I know you don’t feel for me, like I feel for you, but there is something there isn’t there?” She looked him in the eye and waited for his answer.

“I can’t love you… I don’t know how!” he said in a rush.

Her face fell abruptly and he caught hold of her hand and brought it to his breast.

“Hear me out, Hermione,” he said. “I’ve never fallen in love with anyone. I have always been aware that that part of me was lacking. Now I don’t know. I have feelings for you and I consider it a gift to be the recipient of your affections… even though I know I am unworthy of them. I should take it gravely amiss if you were to withdraw your sentiment.”

“I don’t think you’re unworthy,” she said, tears threatening to fall. “There are very few men who are incapable of attracting a lover.”

“My feelings for you are not caused by a heightened emotional state. My emotions have been too overused in the past. I feel nothing for you that I cannot justify by logic. I admire your intelligence, your bravery and your tenacity. I even admire your curiosity, although I reserve the right to withdraw that in the future. I know that you are an honourable woman. That is why I am insistent on basing the foundation of this relationship on commitment. I can’t promise that you will reduce me to a fizzing hormonal puddle with a mere glance, but I can promise to defend you, support you and remain faithful to you… all those things that the emotional excess is meant to lead to. It’s as much as I can say and I can scarcely believe I’m saying it to you after such a short space of time. I know that the sensible thing would be to wait and see if we survive what’s coming.”

He released her hand and looked down at the floor. Hermione watched him carefully, before beginning to speak.

“The things you say, you admire about me, are the exact same things that I admire about you,” she said. “I’m sorry you don’t have the emotions as I do. I think it’s probably normal for a teenager… but you’re not one. Not that you’re dreadfully old. Twenty years difference isn’t really anything to speak of, when you can hope to live to be a hundred and fifty, but your life hasn’t been much fun and I’m sorry that you’ve had to miss out. I meant what I said last night about not changing my mind. I may be a fizzing puddle of hormones, but I know that you’re offering me something very important… and I’m offering too. When you’re ready, I hope you’ll let me know.”

“Are you a virgin, Hermione?”

“I am, yes,” she admitted with a blush.

“I’ll be your first… perhaps your only…”

“Let’s hope so.”

“Tonight then. If you are resolved… I won’t make you wait any longer, but you should realise I’m a possessive man. I won’t be toyed with. Do I make myself clear?”

“Very clear.”

“I have to go. I’d much rather be with you.”

“I’ll go and put my uniform on. If the House-Elves bring my robes back in time, I’ll be able to eat in the Hall at lunch. I’ll try and get a bit further on with my work in the meantime. I’ll see you later.”

He leaned in to kiss her and she obliged.


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Immediately after breakfast the Aurors arrived at Hogwarts and Severus was subjected to lengthy questioning over his brewing for Albus’ treatment. From the questions he was asked, he was able to gather that the cause of death had not yet been ascertained. Fortunately they seemed to accept his answers and did not show any signs of carting him off at this stage.

He took lunch in the Hall. Hermione did not appear and he surmised that she had either not received her robes back, or had allowed herself to be so wrapped up in her work that she had completely lost track of the time. The atmosphere was subdued after the news of the previous night’s raids and chatter was minimal. He was just getting up to go when a House-Elf melted into view immediately in front of him. He vaguely recognised it as one of the free ones, Lucius’ former servant.

“Noble Professor, sir,” the creature began. “Dobby is looking for young Mrs Professor.”

“Do you mean Miss Granger?” enquired Severus.

“She Harry Potter’s friend.”

“Why are you looking for my fiancée?”

“She asked me for robes special to meet boyfriend Professor at lunch. Dobby has tried! Dobby has tried everywhere, but she is nowhere.”

A sudden chill settled on his stomach. Casting his eye over the room, he located Potter and Weasley. He rose and hurried over to them.

“Come with me,” he ordered. “I need to find Hermione, now! Have you that map about you?”

“Yes,” said Harry. “What do you want her for?”

“The creature cannot find her. I need to know she’s safe.”

“The Prophecy?” said Ron, through a mouthful of food.

“Indeed Weasley. The Prophecy.”

He swept out of the room, followed by the two younger men.

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