All the way IIII: Change

At breakfast the next morning, Severus watched as Hermione pushed the letter she had received into her pocket.

"What's that?" he asked carefully.

She shrugged, muttering, "Ginny."

Severus watched as she hurried from the hall and he sighed. What was he going to do? She was not herself and he had no idea how to find out what was wrong.

He was supposed to be a Slytherin, for Merlins sake!

Had he done something? She had barely even looked at him over the past couple of days.

And the worst thing was that slowly, Severus' confusion was turning to anger.

Anger at himself for not knowing what to do and anger at her for not telling him what to do. She shouldn't just spring her emotional break-downs on him! It was a selfish and perhaps unreasonable thought, but... well, they had been married for twenty-four years and he should have seen all her emotional states by now, right? Right.

Deciding that the situation had to be sorted out, Severus left the Great hall.

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Eileen groaned softly before she even opened her eyes. Her head hurt like hell and the bright light that was able to get through her eye lids was making the throbbing behind her eye worse.

She couldn't even remember last night. Except for the alcohol. She made a mental note to make sure she was never in the vicinity when Tonks was drunk again and to never take her up on a drinking game; she would never win and it was hazardous to her health.

Actually, now that she thought of it, where were Remus and Tonks now? Oh well, it didn't matter.

What did matter was the fact that either she had grown two extra arms or she was... in bed with some one?

That thought made her open her eyes sharply.

This was not her bed, or her room, or her extra arms. It was Sirius' bed and room and arms.

It was a strange situation, to say the least. She hadn't slept with some one's arm around her... ever and not minded. But, if she was honest, she didn't just not mind. She sort of liked it... maybe.

Eileen found it weird and kind of hard to admit that. She was so used to making sure she would never be in this position, that it was a bit scary when she finally was.

She waited.

Nothing happened.

She waited some more.

And she realized that nothing was going to happen unless she moved or he moved. Why had she been so scared of just sleeping with some one? Just sleeping, no funny stuff. Why had she been so frightened, when nothing was happening? Had she expected to be murdered or something?

Not murder, but she had been petrified of the 'something'.

She was confused. Why was this so... easy to cope with? Was it just because it was Sirius, or would it have been like this with Sam, if she had given him the chance?

That thought almost distracted her from her hangover.

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Hermione finished pulling her coat on and stuffed her wand in her pocket. She left her bedroom and headed through the living room to the door.

"Going out?"

Startle, Hermione whirled around. Severus was watching her from across the room.

She attempted a smile and nodded, "Yes. Annie wanted to go shopping."

"Did they write to you together, then?"

Hermione frowned, "What? Who?"

"Annie and Ginny." he said innocently, "Did they write the letter together."

Realizing her mistake, Hermione shook her head, "No... Th-the letter was from Ginny. But, you see, Annie just flooed and asked if I was doing anything and... I’m going out."

He took a deep breath, "Will you please tell me what's wrong. Don't tell me that you're fine, because I am not stupid. I know that something’s wrong, you know what that something is and now you are going to tell me."

Her fingers twisted together, "I don't kno-"

Severus growled moving forwards, "This is not funny any more! You will tell me!"

Digging deep inside herself, Hermione reached desperately for her Gryffindor courage, searching for her old self, the part of her that could cope with this, "Ok! Alright..." He stopped moving towards her, "There... there is something wrong and I’m going, now, to sort it out. So let me go and when I get back, I’ll come and find you and... And I’ll explain."

Hermione was out of the door before he could speak again. As she hurried down the corridor, she heard glass smash.

She didn't notice the seventh year girl at the end of the corridor.

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Toni watched as Hermione Granger walked into the cafe.

No, she was Hermione Snape now, wasn't she. Even after all these years, Toni still had trouble remembering that.

She had no reason to forget though, because, well, that marriage had been one for the History books. Who would have thought it, eh? A member of the Order of the Phoenix and a Death Eater.

No, former Death Eater. Most people believed that now, though when he had been released no one had. There had been uproar. Even some people at the Ministry had been sacked.

Not in Toni's department now, though. No, the Potions team was a good group and Toni knew she was a good Head. Hermione had been a great part of the team, but she had quit over the Snape thing, which was a shame; she had a brilliant mind and a good heart.

Toni just wondered why Hermione would write a letter, asking to meet her in a muggle cafe and bring a potion with her.

The brown hair woman noticed Toni and came over, "Hi. How are you?"

Toni smiled, "Great. You?"

She sat down and sighed, "Well, that's what I needed to see you about." She looked up, "You brought the potion?"

Toni nodded, "Yeah, of course. Why d'you need it?"

"You remember when I tested it for you?"

"Um..." Toni screwed up her face, trying to remember. After a minute, it came to her, "Oh right! Yes I recall now!" She pulled out a bottle of butter yellow liquid, "Why do you want it now?"

"It... well, basically, something happened and it stopped working." Hermione said quickly, "I never realized how much it helped me until now... I'm sorry, I’m rambling. So, how much do you want for it?"

Toni studied the younger woman. She was obviously agitated, shifting in her seat and twisting her hands together, her eyes darting about.

She pushed the potion towards Hermione, "Here. Take it. For free -"

The brunette shook her head, "No! I couldn't -"

"Honestly, just take it!" Toni insisted, "I don't need it and you helped to make sure it was safe. You tested it when no one else would and for that you deserve it for free."

"Thank you, Toni." the other woman smiled, standing up, "Thank you so much."

As Hermione left, Toni knew she had forgotten something. Her memory was terrible.

Maybe she hadn't put Mr. Fluff out? Or had she left the oven on?

What was he thinking! She was a witch! She didn't have an oven!

Then it came to her.

She had forgotten to tell Hermione about the side affects!

Toni got up, thinking that she would go after Hermione, but she sat down again. It would be useless going after Hermione because she couldn't remember what the side affects were!

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Hermione looked up at Hogwarts from the school gates. She took a deep breath, opened the bottle and gulped down the yellow potion.

It was the only way. She couldn’t live her life without it. She was ashamed of that fact, but she had to think of her husband. It wasn't fair to him for her to be so scared of him. He didn't deserve it.

Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, Hermione felt her whole body go cold.

And then...

There was nothing. They were gone. All the images that had been playing in her mind were... gone. It was as simple as that.

The time it took to drink the potion didn't seem to do justice to the horror of the memories that it had dulled.

Hermione smiled and began a slow stroll up to the castle, humming.

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"Do you know what I’ve heard?" Said a voice. Severus whirled around, ready to kill the Charms Professor, but the other man went on, "You probably don't. I've heard that your beautiful wife won't even look at you any more... let alone touch you."

Severus growled, his temper at, what he guessed was, an all time high, "What did you say?"

"I think you heard." Swan taunted, "Maybe I gave her something better than you, the other night. Well, it would explain why she wouldn't want you again."

"I want to know who's been saying that." Said another voice from down the corridor.

Both men turned. Hermione was strolling up the hall. There was something different about her. Her eyes were sparkling, not haunted as they had been earlier, and she was smiling. A real smile.

"Ah, Hermione... well, no one exactly. I mean, I was just saying..." Swan trailed off as Hermione stopped next to Severus, slipping one arm around his waist.

Severus put an arm around her, holding her close to his side. He was puzzled, but he wasn't going to show that with the Charms Professor around.

"I heard what you were saying." She nodded, "And I can quite honestly say if you ever try and give me one of those things that you think are kisses, I will cut your tongue out." The man scowled and stalked away. Hermione looked up, "Come on, I’ve got some explaining to do."