It Started With A Kiss

Chapter 12

Hermione sat at the lab table, a cauldron lightly simmering in front of her. She had started brewing the basic Shielding Potion. Slowly, she added powdered black opal, stirring counter-clockwise three times. She observed the mixture change from sky blue to navy blue. Making note of it, she lowered the flame. The potion now needed to simmer for 8 hours before she could add the next ingredient.

After cleaning up, she went through the door connecting the lab to Severus’ office. The Potions master was busy grading essays. Hermione at first was amazed at how much red ink he used, until one evening, when he allowed her to help him and she ended up using half a bottle on a stack of first year work. After that experience, she understood why some days, he was snarkier than others.

“How is the project going?” He said Hermione, as he continued his grading.

“I added the powdered black opal today, it seems to be going as I planned, but I’ll find out tomorrow.”

“Have you decided…” Severus stopped mid-sentence, a strange tingle at the back of neck that he never felt before.

“Severus, what’s wrong?” Concern evident in her voice.

“Do you feel that?” He asked, distress etched on his face, his eyes travelling rapidly around the walls of the room as if he were searching for an intruder.

*Suddenly, it seemed as if Hogwarts itself was screaming. Hermione covered her ears with her hands trying to muffle the sound.*

“SEVERUS, WHAT’S HAPPENING?” She yelled.

“THE WARDS,” He yelled back to her, “WE HAVE TO GET TO ALBUS!”

In two long strides, he was at the fireplace. Tossing in a handful of floo powder he yelled out, “HEADMASTERS OFFICE!”

He grabbed Hermione’s hand and went through with her in tow.

“ALBUS!” Severus yelled as he and Hermione came through the floo connection to the headmaster’s office. They found the headmaster, trying to hold himself up at a door Hermione had never seen before.

“Severus,” the aged wizard said holding his hand out to his young friend. “Help me I have to get in here, I have to restore the balance on the wards.”

Hermione followed them into a small room. The only furnishing was a single small table. On top, hovering just above the gleaming surface was a strange globe. Its irregular glow made it look like it was pulsating. Severus was standing next to the headmaster at the small table. Hermione watched as the headmaster lifted his hands, holding them above the globe, his eyes closed and his face strained with intense concentration.

Like all previous headmasters and mistresses, Albus Dumbledore was magically tied to the wards that protected Hogwarts. When the wards were tampered with the strain of resisting the attack drained him both physically and magically. He needed help to restore the wards and as fate would have it he had two there with him who were magically strong.

“Severus, Hermione, come, we must join hands. I need you both to help me.”

Hermione quickly walked over and stood on the headmasters left, Severus on his right, all three linked hands, Severus and Hermione silently chanting the spell to channel their magic to the headmaster. Once again, Dumbledore closed his eyes and concentrated on the ancient wards, Hermione watched as the globes pulsating slowed to a stop, leaving the globe glowing with a steady blue light.

They dropped hands to break the spell linking their magic to the headmaster. Severus reached for Albus’ elbow when he noticed the older man struggling to keep his stance. He helped his old friend to a chair by the fireplace. Concern was etched on his face.

“I’ll be fine, Severus. I just need to recoup my strength. A bit of rest and I’ll be as good as new.”

“Can I get you a cuppa, Headmaster?” Hermione asked.

“Yes, please,” he responded, “That, would be most appreciated.”

Hermione floo called the kitchen requesting tea for the three of them. A house elf appeared a moment later with a tea service and a plate of biscuits. Hermione was serving the tea when there was sudden frantic knocking at the office door.

A shrill “ALBUS, ALBUS, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?” could be heard through the solid wood door.

“Enter, Minerva.” The headmaster said. Minerva McGonagall burst through the door looking more anxious than Hermione had ever seen her. She ran over to where her long time friend sat sipping his tea. “I’m fine Minerva, as you can clearly see.”

“What happened Albus?” She asked, her voice echoing the look on her face. “The students were terrified, I was terrified, not to mention the rest of the staff. We ordered the students to their common rooms and I rushed up here.”

“Someone or something tampered with the wards, Minerva. Fortunately, Severus and Hermione rushed here through the floo and were able to help me restore the balance.”

“You really should lie down and rest, Albus. You look exhausted.”

“No time right now my dear. I have to alert the Ministry and the Board of Governors as to what occurred here today. Severus, Hermione thank you for all your help today. I dread to think of what the outcome would have been without your assistance.”

“You’re welcome, sir.” Hermione said.

“If you need me Albus, I’m just a floo-call away.” Severus said leading Hermione to the door to leave the headmaster to the tender mercies of one Minerva McGonagall.

They silently made their way back to their rooms. once safely inside and away from prying eyes and ears, Severus took Hermione in his arms and held her close. He could feel her slight trembling under his hands.

“It will be alright, Hermione.” He said softly as he rubbed her back gently, trying to calm her fears.

“Severus, we need to get to London soon. We need to figure out what it is we’re up against, and why who or whatever this is wants to expose our world to the Muggles.” She said, holding onto him tightly.

“We’ll go to London tomorrow. I’ll talk to Albus later or in the morning, he’ll excuse you from classes tomorrow and I can leave my classes an essay assignment. What do you want to do about the potion you have brewing?”

“I have to add the Black Cohash in 7 hours, then it needs to be on a low simmer for 32 hours. We have plenty of time to get back here before I need to add the crushed Bay Leaves.”

Severus gave his wife a chaste kiss on her forehead. Looking at her, he said, “I have to go to the Slytherin common room and make sure everything is okay there. Then I need to finish grading those essays, why don’t you finish whatever homework you have assigned. I have hallway patrol this evening, I would like it very much, my dear wife, if you would join me. I could ‘show’ you a few good snogging places that the students have yet to discover.”

Hermione couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped her. “Snogging my husband in hidden alcoves, like a errant student. That does sound, exciting. I’ll see you after dinner then.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry, Ron and Hermione were seated at the Gryffindor table, where Harry was asking what Hermione knew about the disturbance that happened earlier that day.

“I don’t know what caused it, Harry, but I’m sure Dumbledore will say something about it shortly.” She did not know what she could or should say to Harry and Ron. Knowing the both of them as she did it was quite possible that they would try to find out who was behind it and probably put themselves in danger.

Professor Dumbledore entered the Great Hall through the faculty entrance and stood in front of his chair. Clearing his throat rather loudly, he garnered the attention of all the students present.

“Good evening students. Earlier today, you no doubt heard what sounded like a scream. What you heard was the wards that protect this school. Now, some of these wards are as old as Hogwarts itself, and on rare occasion, they lose some stability. I, with the help of some staff was able to re-stabilize the wards. I hope this explanation will squelch all the rumours which I’m sure have already started.”

He looked over his half moon glasses at the student body before run, eyes moving to each table as if to say he knew which students liked to make up stories. “Tuck in!” he said as the evening meal appeared at the tables.

“See you two, the wards just went out of balance. I’m sure it’s happened before. After all, Hogwarts is over one thousand years old, and some things are bound to falter now and then,” Hermione said hoping her friends would buy the story the headmaster told.

“Now, may we eat? I’m meeting my husband after dinner for a nice walk about the school.”

Hermione had just finished eating when she saw Severus get up and head for the faculty door.

“It’s time for me to go boys, I’ll see you soon,” she said as she rose and left the Great Hall. She found Severus waiting for her around the corner.

Offering her his arm he said, “Ready, my dear?”

Placing her hand on his arm, she gave him a smile and said, “For you my dear husband, always.”

A/N *I discovered yesterday that I inadvertently used a line from another authors story. I have contacted her and have her permission to use this quote from her story. The story is entitled Cloak of Courage by Wendynat, if you haven't read this story I HIGHLY recommend you do. It's a wonderful story and one of my top 5 favorites. Thank you again Wendy.

A/A/N: As always a big THANK YOU to my the best beta a girl ever had, takemeaway, she truly deserves an award for all the help she has given me on this story, without her it wouldn't be as good as it is.

To my wonderful reviewers...I'm so sorry you all had to wait longer then usual for this chapter but RL doesn't bother to ask me if I have better things to do. (the nerve, really) The next chapter promises to start revealing more of this mystery I have plotted out....you'll just have to keep reading to find out. Thank you again all, please review and let me know what you think!