Ten Years

Disclaimer: I by no mean own the Harry Potter characters. I wish I did.

Summary: It’s been ten years since Hermione, Harry and the other have graduated from Hogwarts and defeated Voldemort. Hermione returns to her ten year reunion and finds that most things have changed, but one thing has stayed the same. What will happen? R/R


Ten Years- Part 12

“Severus, what’s this?” Hermione asked holding up the letters.

“Damnit.” Severus hissed.

“Answer me Severus. What the hell are these?” Hermione asked again.

“It’s nothing Hermione. Now let me see them.” Severus answered as he sat the tray down.

“NO. Severus, these are threats. Why didn’t you tell me about them? How long have you been getting them?” Hermione questioned.

“I didn’t want worry you. I’ve been getting them since about March.” he replied as he sat on the couch.

“March! Severus, you should have told me!” she cried.

“Why? They’re just someone’s idea of a joke.” he said calmly.

“Bullshit!” she cried.

She looked down and read the first letter.

Snape,

Hope you enjoy your time with Hermione! It won’t last! She’s mine!

She flipped through to the next one.

Leave Hermione or you will regret it! You have my word on that!

And so the letters continued. All of them telling Severus to stay away from her. Telling him that she belonged to whoever wrote these letters. Hermione continued to flip through them. It was the last letter that made her realize the writer of these letters meant business.

I warned you! You didn’t listen! It’s time for you to die! I told you to leave Hermione but you didn’t! Now you will pay the ultimate price! Your life! Hermione will be mine and there’s nothing you can do to stop me! But don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Hermione!

“Severus! You should have told me or at least told someone!” Hermione yelled.

“I did. Remus, Sirius and Shacklebolt know. Shacklebolt is investigating it now. So is Sirius. Listen to me Hermione. It’s no secret that you and I are together. It could be anyone. There’s nothing we can do except watch our backs. Have you received any unusual packages or letters or anything?” Severus asked.

“No. Although, when I was in Berlin I never got the chance to thank you for the beautiful flowers you sent me.” Hermione answered.

“Flowers? What flowers?” he asked.

“The three dozen roses and orchids you sent to my hotel in Berlin back in April.” she replied.

“Hermione, I didn’t send you any flowers.” he said.

“What? But the card said they were from you. Look.” she said as she pulled out a card from her robe pocket and handed it to him.

Severus read the card. His eyes narrowed as he saw the handwriting. He then looked up at Hermione.

“Love, I didn’t write this. This isn’t my handwriting. It’s close enough to pass for it, but this isn’t mine.” Severus said.

“Oh god. Whoever sent you those letters, also sent me those flowers. Okay, I’m worried now. Whoever this is knew where I was. But how? The only people who knew where I was at all times were you and Remus.” Hermione replied.

“I know. Wait! You don’t think Remus could…” Severus started.

“Severus! Remus would never do that! Besides, he and Sirius are an item. Or did you forget that part?” Hermione stated.

“Oh that’s right. Then I don’t know what to think.” Severus sighed.

The rest of the afternoon, Hermione and Severus sat curled up on the couch. They dressed and headed down for dinner. Hermione told Remus about the flowers. Remus was more worried about the situation than Severus was.

“Damnit! Severus, I told you to tell her. Whoever is doing this may very well be following her, or you or both. This is serious. You can’t just blow this off. I suggest that tomorrow, you call Draco and have him take a look at the letters and that card. He may be able to help.” Remus said.

“Very well. As soon as dinner is over I will call him and see if he can come see us. Hermione, don’t worry. We’ll figure this out.” Severus agreed.

After dinner Hermione and Severus returned to his chambers. Just as he promised, he called Draco. Draco said he would be there at ten the next morning. After that Hermione and Severus headed for the bedroom. Hermione was still upset about him keeping the letters from her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me Severus?” she demanded.

“I didn’t want to worry you. You had enough stress and other things to worry about. I didn’t want to add to it.” he answered.

“God damnit Severus! You should have fucking told me! This isn’t some joke! You and I both know that there are still a few rouge Death Eaters still out there. How do you know it’s not one of them?” she yelled.

“You’re right. Look, let’s just drop this. I don’t want to fight with you. You just got here. Please. Let’s just go to bed.” Severus pleaded.

“Fine.” Hermione said.

They changed for bed, locked and warded his chambers, climbed into bed, and turned of the lights. Severus wrapped his arms around her waist as she rolled onto her side facing away from him. He knew she was still angry with him, he just hoped she would forgive him.

“Okay, what is so bloody important that I had to come here on a Saturday?” Draco asked as he entered Severus’s office.

“These Draco.” Hermione said as she handed the card she received and the letters that Severus had received.

Draco sat down and began reading them. The more her read, them more his forehead wrinkled in concentration. For ten minutes he sat there reading and rereading the letters and card. Finally he spoke.

“Jesus. Severus, you should have came to me sooner. You know you’re not the most popular person with certain people. But honestly, these letters and this card don’t fit with Death Eaters. My guess is that it is someone that you both know, that has a crush or is just obsessed with Hermione. That could be anyone.” Draco sighed.

“Harry!” Hermione cried.

“What?” Severus and Draco asked.

“Severus, don’t you remember that letter that Sirius sent to Remus last summer. Harry had stopped by the day after the Daily Prophet ran the article about his divorce. Sirius said he hear Harry mumble in his sleep. He said my name, Severus’s and revenge. He’s never forgiven Severus for what happened that day. He blames Severus for Albus dying.” Hermione explained.

“I think we need to pay a visit to Sirius and Potter.” Draco said.

After telling Remus, Vanessa and Filius where he was going, Severus, Draco and Hermione headed for the gates of Hogwarts to apparate to 12 Grimmwauld Place. They quickly reached the apparation point and were gone. They made their way to the house and knocked on the door.

“Well! What a surprise! Come in!” Sirius greeted with a smile.

The three entered the front hallway. The house looked much cheerful now. Remus and Sirius had repainted it. Beautiful landscapes adorned the walls, a beautiful sand colored carpet covered the first floor and the stairs heading to the upper levels of the house.

“So, what can I do for you three? Oh and Hermione, thank you for what you did for Remus. He’s never been this free. Not since he was a small child.” Sirius said.

“You’re welcome Sirius. Actually, is Harry here?” Hermione asked.

“No. He grabbed his things and rushed out sometime the other night. When I went to wake him Wednesday morning he was gone. I don’t know where he is. Why?” Sirius explained.

“Let’s go into the kitchen and talk.” Draco replied.

Sirius fixed some tea while they explained about the letters and card. Sirius just sat there listening. Hermione brought up the letter he had sent telling them about Harry. Sirius was now worried.

“I don’t know. Ever since the reunion, Harry hasn’t been very rational. I had dinner with him and Kelly a few weeks after the reunion and he was spacing out most of the time. And every time he looked at Kelly, it was if she was someone else. I figured that’s why he divorced her, that he was having an affair and she found out.” Sirius said.

“Do you think Kelly would know anything?” Hermione asked.

“Maybe. Hang on, I’ll see if she’s home.” Sirius answered as he stood up.

Sirius knelt at the fireplace and flooed Kelly. Nothing. Sirius jerked his head back and faced them.

“I think we need to get to Godric’s Hollow.” Sirius said.

The four stood up and apparated away. They reached Gordic’s Hollow and made their way to the house that had once been James and Lily’s, and now belonged to Kelly. They knocked on the door. When no one answered, Hermione opened the door.

“Hello! Kelly! Harry! Anyone home!” Hermione called out.

They each drew their wands and walked into the sitting room. They all stopped dead in their tracks.

“Oh my god!” Hermione gasped.

There on the wall above the fireplace was Kelly Thompson Potter. She had been nailed onto the wall. Her body was bruised and bloodied. Someone had slit her from her throat to her belly button, her inside were hanging out, dripping blood onto the hard wood floor below. Beneath her was a message written in her blood.

Snape next time it will be you I tack up on the wall

“Draco, use the fireplace in the kitchen and call for the auror’s.” Sirius ordered.

Within five minutes, about ten aurors were standing in the sitting room. Hermione, Severus, Sirius and Draco told them what they saw and why they were there. Kingsley Shacklebolt approached them after they had given their statements.

“Whoever did this is targeting you Severus. There is a definite connection between this and the letters.” Kingsley said.

“Yeah. He also contacted Hermione. In April, this guy sent her three dozen roses and orchids and note that was very similar to my handwriting. She thought it was from me.” Severus added.

“Then whoever this is, is after Hermione, but has to get Severus out of the way before he can move in on Hermione.” Draco said.

“That’s right. I suggest you all go to Hogwarts. This person is probably watching. Now that Draco and Sirius are involved, he may go after them.” Kingsley said.

Two hours later found Sirius, Draco, and his wife Lavender, arrived at Hogwarts. Severus called all the teachers together and told them about what had happened and asked them to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. The students were heading home the next night.

After dinner Hermione stood at the window in his sitting room watching as the moon sparkled on the lake. She was scared. This person was crazy. That much was obvious. The question that really bothered was, was it Harry?

“You okay?” Severus asked.

“No. Severus who is this person? I know I didn’t like Kelly, but she didn’t deserve that. No one does. Except those Death Eaters who go away after Voldemort was killed.” Hermione answered.

“Come here.” Severus said.

Hermione walked over and sat in his lap. Severus wrapped his arm tightly around her and just held her. Trying to reassure her. He had also decided now would be the best time to tell her.

“Love, there’s something you need to know.” Severus said.

“What is it?” Hermione asked.

“I’ve resigned as Headmaster. Vanessa will take over as Headmistress and Remus will be her Deputy Headmaster, since Filius turned the position down.” he said.

“What? Why did you resign?” she asked.

“Because. I wanted us to move in together. I can’t stand being separated from you. It’s also unfare for you to have to do all the traveling to visit me.” he answered.

“So, you want you and I to move in together at my flat in Naples?” she asked.

“Yes.” he answered.

Her answered was a deep sensual kiss. She had actually wanted to suggest the same thing, about him moving in with her, but was afraid of scaring him off.

“I gather that’s a yes.” he said with a smirk.

“Yes.” she replied.

“One more question. Will you marry me?” he asked.

T.B.C