10 Years After

10 Years After
Chapter 16

Disclaimer: I own nothing of what you’re about to read, with the possible exception of the plot, although I’m sure it’s been done before. The places, characters, etc. belong to JK Rowling. Thanks.

Outside Hogsmeade: May 13, 2008, evening; Hogwarts.
Hermione sat on a stool in Severus’ advanced potions lab watching him work. It had been almost a month since the altercation with Ron and the moment of understanding between Hermione and Severus. Since then, Hermione had been spending all her free time with Severus, both at Hogwarts and at St Damian’s. He helped her prepare her final examinations, she assisted him by doing some advanced tutoring for his 7th years. They found that they worked well together. They had an easy rapport and knew instinctively when to give the other space. Hermione was discovering that Severus still retained his rigid temperament with most everyone, save her. He was most certainly not a kinder, gentler Severus Snape to the general public and Hermione realized that she didn’t want him to be. The times he was kinder and gentler were the times they were alone. It was then that he allowed the more sensitive parts of himself to come out.

Hermione had not heard from Ron, nor did she particularly care to. She had a few owls from Ginny, mostly asking what had happened between them, clearly Ron did not tell his sister anything. She hadn’t heard from Harry either, and that is what concerned her the most. She voiced those concerns to Severus while he was working on some medicinal potions for Poppy Pomfrey.

“Perhaps he has simply been busy,” answered Severus.

“He just looked so…I don’t know…broken when I last saw him. When he told me about Trinity.”

“Hermione, he’s a grown man. He will contact you when he’s ready.”

Severus looked up when the room fell silent and saw Hermione lost in though.

“You miss him,” he stated.

“Terribly,” she responded, “Are you all right with that?”

“Of course I am. He is your best friend.”

“You’re my best friend.”

“He’s your best friend that you no longer have sex with,” amended Severus, with a half grin.

“Fair enough,” said Hermione, matching his grin, “still, I’m worried about him. It’s been a month.”

“Have you owled him?”

“Twice. And no response.”

“He might just not be ready,” explained Severus, “can you hand me that packet of labels?”

“You’re probably right,” said Hermione, handing the labels to Severus, “which potion is this?”

“A special blend of pepper-up potion,” replied Severus, “I took your suggestion and added comfrey for a more soothing base. It seems to cut the jitters a bit.”

“You’ve tried it?”

“Of course. There have been some mornings when I’ve needed a bit of…peppering up.”

Hermione laughed at the raised eyebrow Severus gave her. It still amazed her how at ease he was with her.

“Have you tried the lemon balm in the stomach aid potion yet?” she asked.

“Yes, and amazingly, that was quite successful as well. You truly have a knack for making medicinal potions more palatable. Now, if only you could find a way for the hangover potion to be half as vile as it currently is.”

“Ah,” said Hermione, “but that’s the thing, if it were pleasant to take, it would make getting pissed a behavior with no unpleasant consequence.”

Severus laughed, a deep velvety laugh that never failed to make her weak in the knees. They were interrupted by a knock of the door. Severus contained himself before speaking.

“Enter.”

A Gryffindor 6th year stepped in the room and nervously handed Severus a note.

“I’m finishing the pepper-up potion right here. You’ll have to wait for the other potions. You can sit over there. One will be done in a few moments, you can bring those two potions to Madame Pomfrey then come back for the remainder.”

Hermione looked over at the second cauldron, which was nearly complete.

“Would you like me to bottle this, Professor Snape?” she asked, remembering to keep the air of formality in front of the students.

“That would be perfect, Professor Granger,” he replied.

She lined up the small bottles in the bottle holder and when the potion was complete, she put a cooling spell on it and ladled the potion into the bottles. Hermione worked swiftly and deftly, earning an appreciative look from Severus and a look of awe from the young woman awaiting the potions.

“Stop gaping at Professor Granger, Miss Comstock, and take these to Madame Pomfrey,” said Severus, “I expect you to return for the rest of the potions for the hospital wing.”

Miss Comstock departed with 2 boxes of potions, giving Hermione a parting glance of sympathy as she left. Hermione chuckled.

“She looks like she’s leaving me alone in the lion’s den,” she remarked.

“Well, isn’t she?” queried Severus, stepping behind her and nipping her lightly on the neck before reaching over her for the valerian root.

“Mmmm, that felt good. Can I expect more of that tonight?”

“Can you stay overnight?”

“As long as I get up early enough. I have morning exams to proctor.”

“Not a problem. I have the morning rounds, so I have to get up earlier than usual anyway.”

“Well then, that’s all sorted out,” smiled Hermione, “I did promise Albus I would have dinner in the Great Hall tonight. Is that all right?”

“That would be fine. Can you come over here and see if this contraceptive potion looks right to you?”

“The great Severus Snape asking for an opinion on a potion?”

“Yes, I fear I skipped a step and contraceptive potions are hardly my forte. I usually only brew it twice a year, for the dreaded Valentine’s Dance and for the Leaving Feast. For some reason, the students tend to want to mate more at those times, and of course, once they discover what Beltane is all about…but there’s usually enough left from Valentine’s for that.”

Hermione leaned over the cauldron, aware of her proximity to Severus and enjoying the closeness. She loved the way he smelled, like rare potions. He smelled masculine and clean and dead on delicious. She shook her head and looked at the cauldron again.

“You’re right, something’s missing,” she said. “Did you add the pennyroyal?”

“Shit.”

“I take it that means no.”

“Quite correct, Professor,” he said with a scowl.

“Shall I brew a new batch?”

“Please, Hermione. I would appreciate it,” he said, “If you’ll excuse me, I would like to check on my House.”

Hermione smiled and nodded in response and began work on the contraceptive potion as he left the room. She had been brewing this for herself for over a decade now and could do it with her eyes closed. As she worked, Miss Comstock returned.

“Are the other potions ready?” she asked nervously, looking around for Severus.

“Relax, Miss Comstock, he’s not here at the moment,” said Hermione with a grin, “I’m just finishing up on the final potion for Madame Pomfrey.”

“Are you really Hermione Granger?” asked the girl, with a look of awe returning to her eyes.

“Why, yes. I am. I was in Gryffindor, too.”

“I know. You’re a legend.”

“Legend? That makes me sound so old.”

“And you’re married to Harry Potter?”

“Not anymore,” replied Hermione.

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. We’re friends. That’s all we were meant to be. It happens.”

“Did you really have the highest NEWTS in the history of Hogwarts?”

“In everything except Potions and DADA,” replied Hermione, stirring the potion as she added the pennyroyal.

“Really, who had the highest in those areas?”

“Professor Snape,” said Hermione with a grin, “We tied in potions and he beat me in DADA.”

“Really?”

“Your potions master is a brilliant man. Don’t make the mistake that a great many students make and overlook that.”

“But he’s so mean, Professor Granger.”

“Demanding is a better term. He wants the best you can give and he’ll stop at nothing to make sure he gets it. If you can’t measure up to his expectations, then he gives you no quarter. That’s just how he is. I wouldn’t be half the witch I am today if I didn’t have Severus Snape as a teacher when I was here. He made me strong, he made me tough, he challenged me, and he pushed me beyond my limits.”

“Are the rumors true?”

“Which rumors? There are many myths and rumors surrounding Professor Snape.”

“That he was a traitor to the Light during the war?”

“Let me just say this; a great deal has been written about Professor Snape. And a great deal of it is utter tosh. If it wasn’t for Professor Snape, it is highly doubtful that I would be standing here now talking to you. It is highly doubtful that Hogwarts would be what it is right now. It’s highly doubtful that we would have won that war. Professor Snape was no more a traitor to the light than I was. He put himself on the line daily for the students here. The things he’s done should have him placed on a pedestal in the history books. But because he’s a quiet man, humble when it comes to his heroics, because he chose not to exploit his contributions, he ends up the subject of rumors questioning his loyalty and his integrity. I trusted Severus Snape with my life back then, and I trust him with my soul right now. He is beyond reproach for his actions in the war. He is a large part of why Voldemort no longer exists. So you can go back to the people you’ve heard that rumor from and set them straight. Severus Snape was and is a hero, even if it’s a role he chooses not to play. He’s as much a hero as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, and Ginny Weasley, just to name a few of the public heroes.”

Hermione quickly bottled up the cooled potion and handed the box to Miss Comstock, along with the rest of the potions destined for the hospital ward.

“Now, Miss Comstock, if there’s nothing more, you can bring these to Madame Pomfrey. And good day,” dismissed Hermione.

Miss Comstock quickly exited the dungeons, chastened my Hermione’s outburst. As she departed, the door swung closed and locked. Hermione turned around to find herself in the embrace of Severus.

“How long have you been there?” she asked, resting her head on his chest.

“Long enough to hear you defend my honor to a ridiculous chit of a girl.”

“Was I ever like that, Severus?”

“No Hermione,” replied Severus, kissing the top of her head, “you were much worse.”

“You ARE a bastard, you know.”

“But a heroic one.”

Hermione smiled and tilted her head up to receive a kiss from Severus. She melted into him as his tongue flicked at her lower lip and demanded access to her mouth. Hermione parted her lips, sighing a little as his tongue dueled with hers. She broke the kiss for a moment as she brushed his long hair out of his face.

“I meant it, you know. You ARE a hero. You’re my hero,” she said.

“And you’re mine,” replied Severus, bending his head to capture her lips again.


A/N: Next up: the confrontation you’ve all been waiting for (or not. I just like to be dramatic).