Outside the Fire

Author's notes: So, this is it. The final chapter of this story and the closing chapter on my writing for the HP fandom. It was HP and my sister that got me writing again after many years, so you can all thank her if you've enjoyed anything that I've written.

Hermione gathered up her hair and with a few deft twists secured it at the back, her long curls cascading down her back. A simple spell held it in place and she twisted round to see if looked acceptable. Pleased with the effect, she slipped into her dress and arranged the long skirt around her legs, the folds draping gracefully to the ground. Her high heels raised the hem a little so it wouldn’t trip her up and she took an experimental twirl just to make sure.

A warm breeze blew through the open window, ruffling the curtains and sending a shiver down her back. She had vetoed Ginny’s idea of a backless dress, preferring to leave a little to the imagination; Severus’s recent gift of a simple sapphire on a chain nestling just above a discreet cleavage. The overt sexiness of her silver top would have been inappropriate for this occasion, and anyway, Severus had asked her to wear blue.

She had every intention of asking him to dance in front of everyone, and it would be nice not to have to sneak a touch here and there. She was sure Harry and Draco would cause enough of a stir on the dance floor to eclipse a simple waltz between the potions master and the head girl. Taking a deep breath to quell the nervous butterflies in her stomach, she opened her door and ventured downstairs to join the other seventh years.

Ron looked very dashing in plain black robes, the fiasco of the dreaded green rags a long-forgotten memory. Harry was tall and slender in similar style; in fact, most of the boys were perfect foils for the bright, butterfly colours of the girls’ robes. Looking around at her fellow housemates, Hermione felt her throat tighten; so many affected by the war, directly or indirectly, and they were just children. They shouldn’t have had to deal with death and destruction; being made to grow up and act far beyond their years.

Harry looked up and caught her eye, correctly interpreting the melancholy look on her face. Waiting until she descended, he moved swiftly to intercept her and bring her to a more cheerful state of mind.
“Don’t think about it, Hermione. If you do, you’ll put a damper on the whole night and Draco will never forgive you.”
“I don’t know what you mean, Harry.”
“It’s over; just let everyone forget what they’ve lost and remember what they’ve got left.” He said gently.
“When did you get so wise?”
“When I thought I’d lost everything that mattered to me and then by some miracle had it handed back on a plate. We can’t change anything now; we can only go forward. Let’s just enjoy tonight, Hermione.”
“So you’re telling me to stop being a mother hen and let everyone get on with their lives?”
“Basically, yes.”
“It’ll be hard, you know. I’ve spent the last six years worrying about you and Ron,”
“We’re big boys, ‘Mione, and you’ve got someone else to worry about now.” He looked meaningfully at her and smiled as the blush spread across her cheeks.
“Come on, Ron and I will escort you down. Draco and the rest are meeting us outside the main hall.” Tucking her hand in the crook of his arm, he led her down the rest of the stairs and over to Ron.
“You look lovely, Hermione,” Ron said gallantly and drew her free hand through his arm, leading the way out of the tower with the other students following behind.

Meeting up with the other houses outside the great hall, everyone split to join with their partners, the different houses mingling into one mass. Harry and Draco flanked Hermione who was dateless, and escorted her into the hall that had been decorated with multitudes of ribbons and streamers cascading from the enchanted ceiling, seemingly coming from a starlit sky. Twinkling lights moved slowly through the streamers, giving the impression of a multicoloured mirror ball casting dazzling specks of light over every surface.

Oohs and aahs in a hushed whisper echoed throughout the room and then a light tapping against a glass caught everyone’s attention. Looking up at the dais at the end of the hall, the students saw the headmaster standing there.
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to your leaving ball. In two days time you will be leaving to go onto what I hope will be better and greater things. Some of you will be returning,” he smiled benevolently at Hermione and Neville, “and some of you will travel to far flung places,” he skated his eyes across Harry and Draco, “but all of you are welcome here at any time. Enjoy the time you have left here, and have fun tonight.” With a wave of his wand, music piped throughout the hall and boys swept their partners into the first formal dance.

Draco bowed out in favour of Harry dancing with Hermione first, but soon cut in and whirled her around the floor, his steps more complicated but which Hermione easily kept up with. Justin Finch-Fletchley captured her hand as they swept past and finished the dance with a dip over his arm. Laughing breathlessly, Hermione waved them towards their own partners and retreated to the refreshment table where she helped herself to some punch.

It wasn’t long before she was drawn back into the crowd and the next two hours were spent alternating between dancing and socialising. Hermione kept an eye on Severus who was skulking around the edges of the hall, waiting for a chance to snatch that waltz before the end of the evening. Draco was standing with Severus when Harry brought her to a halt beside them, and Severus nodded politely, his eyes warming slightly when they landed on Hermione’s flushed cheeks.

The music conveniently changed to a slower tempo and Draco nudged Severus with his elbow, holding out his hand for his robe. With a resigned sigh, he surrendered the voluminous black material and held out a hand for Hermione to accept.
“Why, thank you, Professor, I’d love this next dance,” she said demurely and squeaked when he squeezed her waist, finding that one ticklish spot that never failed to produce a giggle from her. Ignoring the shocked gasps from the surrounding students, he guided her into the first steps of the waltz.

They moved easily around the room, Hermione’s dress swirling around her legs and flaring into the turns. Instead of hopefully mingling with the crowd as he guided her around the room, Severus found the floor clearing until they were only one of four couples dancing. An annoyed frown crossed his face when the music changed into a quickstep, his eyes flicking over to a smug-looking Millicent Bulstrode.

Hermione smiled up at him and squeezed his shoulder under her hand, so when the tempo changed again into a sexy Rumba he pulled her closer and forgot they had a suddenly interested audience. He moved one hand down onto her hip and swayed their bodies to the music, his eyes locked onto her face and causing a blush to rise in her cheeks.

The room narrowed to just the two of them and neither noticed they were the only ones left on the dance floor. Hermione wondered if they could sneak away later and Severus could read her thoughts that were being broadcast all over her face. An uneasy thought intruded and Severus was transported back to a time when it was imperative that he gave nothing away in gesture or look. He brought the dance to a close with a flourish and a dip of Hermione over his arm and then stood tall, bowing slightly over her hand. Hermione glanced up at him from under her lashes and her smile dimmed at the tense set to his mouth.

As the silence registered, she stepped away from him and turned to face their audience; and met the flinty eyes of the headmaster.

~~~@~~~

“Albus…” Severus stepped forward but was stopped by the headmaster’s raised hand.
“I don’t think this is an appropriate time, Professor Snape. I’ll expect to see you and Miss Granger in my office at nine o’clock tomorrow morning.” The look on the headmaster’s face was as cold as his voice and Hermione shivered. Now she knew why Severus had been so insistent on secrecy.

Before she knew what was happening, Draco, Harry, Ron and Blaise surrounded them, Draco handing Severus his robes before they were separated and she was spirited out of the hall. Whispers followed her; the students not quite sure what was going on, but knowing that something was. Severus had managed a fleeting touch of her hand, hidden by Draco giving him his robe, and she wondered if that was the last one she’d ever receive from him. Then she shook herself; they were summoned to the headmaster’s office in the morning and she’d see him then.

Hermione was trembling by the time they’d escorted her back to Gryffindor tower, and she sank down into a chair in front of the empty fireplace, wrapping her arms around her middle.
“Here.” Harry held out the familiar shimmering cloth.
“Harry?”
“Hey, you may as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb,” he shrugged.
“At least you didn’t call him a goat,” straightening her spine, she stood up and wrapped the invisibility cloak around her shoulders.

With Harry and Draco in front and Millie and Blaise behind, they made their way through the castle down to the dungeons, skilfully avoiding the few students that were milling around the corridors. Draco took great pleasure in deducting points from a pair of Ravenclaws tangled together in a shadowy alcove.

The door to Severus’s office swung open silently and the five entered before the shimmer of invisible wards sealed it behind them. Severus was sitting at his desk, fully armoured behind buttons and black cloth, and he frowned when Hermione appeared from under the cloak.

“Have you no sense of self-preservation, girl?” he demanded.
“Don’t blame Hermione, Sir, it was my…ow!” Harry yelped as Hermione poked him in the back.
“I can defend myself, thank you Harry.” She pushed past him and stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Severus. “We’re buggered anyway, Severus, so what difference does it make if I stay the night with you?”
“I would have thought damage control would have been uppermost in your mind, not fanning the flames!” He stood up and glared back at her.
“Time for a strategic retreat,” Draco whispered to Harry and they tried to shuffle inconspicuously towards the door. Unfortunately, the wards prevented them from opening it, so Draco had to attract Severus’s attention by coughing loudly, interrupting his and Hermione’s gathering argument.

“What?!” Severus turned his glare on the four by the door.
“The wards?” Blaise waved at the locked and barred wood and Severus flicked a hand at it, knowing full well that Harry could have disabled the wards if he’d wanted to. The thought that maybe Potter wasn’t sure that Hermione was safe with him caused his anger with her to deflate, and he let his shoulders slump in defeat. She was right; it didn’t make a difference now if she stayed or not. They were both finished at Hogwarts and it was only a matter of hours before they found out how ignominious their exit would be.

Hearing the door click shut, he warded the door and fireplace again and then gathered her into his arms, tightening them when she stiffened.
“I’m sorry, Hermione.”
“So am I, Severus. What gave us away?” Hermione finally relaxed and let him hold her.
“I danced with you, that’s what gave us away.” Severus sighed, “It was completely out of character, and like an old fool I forgot for a while.”
“It’s partly my fault as well, so we’re both to blame if it comes to that.”
“We can attribute blame all night if we want, but that doesn’t change the fact that we’re, as you so eloquently put earlier, buggered.”
“Sorry,” Hermione giggle was almost hysterical, and Severus guided her into his private rooms where he poured them both a stiff drink.
“Here, drink this,” he handed her the cut glass tumbler with a small amount of fire whisky in it, “It will clear your sinuses if not your head.” He tossed his own back and sat down beside her, taking her hand in his.
“God, that is lethal!” Hermione coughed as the alcohol burned its way down her throat. She sat back and squeezed his hand, a thought crossing her mind.
“Well, that’s one more rule broken; giving alcohol to a student, want to go the whole hog and have sex in the classroom too?” she asked.
“Too many flammable materials in there,” he pointed out and they started laughing, panic barely held in check at the uncertainty of their future.

Calming down, Severus took charge and pulled her to her feet. Holding her close, he started to rock her, letting her sniff against his shoulder before holding out a pristine white handkerchief to wipe the sparkling tears from her lashes.
“Sorry,” she murmured.
“Well, if the end of your future career isn’t enough to warrant a few tears, then nothing is.”
“Is it really over?”
“Well, he won’t let you stay here, that’s a certainty. And if he’s feeling vindictive enough, St Mungo’s will be denied you as well.”
“He can’t do that!”
“Oh yes, he can. A word here and there, the hint of scandal, possible patient corruption, the damage he can do is endless.”
“Can’t we counter it? Get our side out?”
“Go against the great Albus Dumbledore?” Severus snorted, “I don’t think…you know, you may be on to something there..” he paused, a vague idea taking shape in his mind.

Hermione could see him thinking, fleeting expressions winging their way across his surprisingly mobile face; ideas being weighed up, discarded, thought about again, and then a smirk appeared.
“Severus?”
“Hermione, my love, you are brilliant.” A slightly scary smile stretched across his face.
“I know, but you’re worrying me.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course!”
“Then don’t ask just yet what I have in mind. Trust me to take care of everything, will you?”
“I…okay,” Hermione capitulated, and Severus could see she was itching to ask more questions. To distract her, he pulled her up against him and kissed her, smoothing his hand down her back and coming to rest on her bottom, something he hadn’t been able to do before when they were dancing.
“Did I tell you how beautiful you look?” he asked when he drew back.
“No, but then we were kind of trying to keep us a secret.”
“Well you do. I like this colour on you.”
“Thank you.” Hermione reached up and kissed him again, one hand going to the buttons of his robes.

Tangling their fingers together, he helped her shed his layers before they started on her dress, letting it slowly float to the ground with a whisper of sound. Leading her over to his bedroom, bra and knickers littered the floor and they slid into his bed; Hermione resting her head on his shoulder as he held her tight.
“I don’t suppose you brought a change of clothes, did you?” he asked.
“No. I can always transfigure something of yours, can’t I?”
“If you must, or we can get you back to your room in time to change.” Severus manoeuvred her so she was resting on top of him and gently unpinned her hair until the long strands cocooned them.
“I like the idea of wearing something that belongs to you.” She straddled his hips and sat up, “maybe a pair of boxers..”
“What is it with you and my underwear?” Severus held onto her hips as she worked herself against him. He’d found that this was her favourite position, and he was happy to indulge her most of the time. She was young and flexible, and it was easier on his knees.
“It’s comfortable, and you look so sexy in them.”
“I’m too thin and bony,” he complained and Hermione squeezed his sides with her knees.
“No, you’re not. You’re gorgeous, and sexy, and…”
“You’re delusional, but I can live with that,” Severus smirked and thrust upwards, burying himself in her slick warmth, catching hold of her as she fell forward. Rolling swiftly, he set a fast pace, sliding his hands under her buttocks and pulling her into him. Hermione dug her heels in and thrust up to meet him, whispering encouragement into his ear until they convulsed together, sweat dripping onto the soft sheets beneath them.
“Wow, that was fast,” Hermione giggled breathlessly.
“I’ve been watching you all evening so what do you expect?”
“So even though you were angry with me earlier..”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t want you.” Severus rolled to the side and muttered a cleaning spell before dragging up the velvet covers of the bed.

Pulling her close to his side, he settled back onto the pillows.
“How quickly can you pack, Hermione?”
“Pack? I don’t know. I have all my books…”
“Give me a rough idea.”
“Well, I’d already put most of my things away ready to move, so I suppose a couple of hours should do it. Why?”
“I just think we should be ready for every eventuality.”
“In case he kicks us out straight away? Can he do that?”
“I imagine he’ll have to contact your parents first.”
“Damn,” Hermione struggled in his arms, “Let me up, Severus, I have to send an owl.”
“What, now?”
“Yes, now.” Hermione flung the covers back and stomped back into the sitting room, rummaging around on his desk for parchment, quill and ink. Scribbling madly, she explained that she was telling her father that he may be getting a letter from the headmaster and that he wasn’t to worry. She’d explain when she saw them in a few days time. Dusting sand over the parchment, she folded it and slid it into an envelope.
“Here,” Severus draped his robe around her shoulders and tucked it round her before summoning a house elf. Giving it the letter, Severus told it to take it to the Qwlery and use Hedwig, sure that Potter wouldn’t object. After it had gone, Severus used his robe to tug her back to bed.
“Happy now?” he asked as they slid back in.
“I just wanted to forewarn him. How do you feel about staying with them for a while?”
“Do they know about us?”
“Yes. I hope you don’t mind me telling them, seeing as Dad has already met you.”
“And they didn’t threaten to cut you off for getting involved with someone so much older than you?”
“Of course not. Dad quite likes you, actually.”
“Just as delusional as his daughter, then.”
“Well, he doesn’t think you’re sexy, like I do, but he thinks you’re okay.”
“How..nice.”
“I knew you’d see it like that.” Hermione snuggled down, hiding her smile in his chest. Telling him that he had her parents’ endorsement could have had two effects; one, he’d run for the hills, or two, he’d propose. She could wait for the proposal for a few years, and if he ran, she’d just hunt him down and persuade him that they were better when they were together. She had no intention of giving him up, and if Dumbledore thought she would, he had another think coming.
“Go to sleep, Hermione, for tomorrow we find out our fate.” Severus decided to ignore the smile he could feel on her face.
“Sleep tight, Mr Gloom and Doom,”
“Yes, Miss Sunshine and Daisies,” he reached down under the covers and pinched her bottom, causing her to squirm. “Sleep.” He snapped his fingers and the lights flickered out, sending the room into darkness. Hermione pressed a kiss to his chest and her whispered ‘love you’ reached his ears before they drifted off to sleep.

~~~@~~~

Getting up at six the next morning, Severus summoned a breakfast tray for them both after a leisurely joint shower, sans morning sex. It wasn’t worth the risk of a strained back or strained anything, and it would have put him in too good a mood to deal with the headmaster anyway.

They had discussed their options, and decided that if the worst came to the worst, and Hermione was denied entrance to any medical learning facility, she could always enter a Muggle university. Papers could be procured and memories altered so it would appear that she had had a private education. It would take a few more years than anticipated, but it was achievable. Severus had already planned on retiring to the country, and his reputation was already tarnished, so one more black mark against him wouldn’t really matter. His potions stood for themselves anyway, so he really only cared about Hermione’s reputation.

He sneaked her back to Gryffindor tower via the secret staircase he’d used all those months ago and told her to finish her packing. Then he went back down to the dungeons and proceeded to strip his rooms of everything that belonged to him. Potions, herbs, rare ingredients, books by the trunk load; everything was shrunk and packed away. Draco appeared just as he finished and stood silently as Severus pulled on his outer robe.
“So.” He said, “I suppose this is the last I’ll see of you for a while, Sev.”
“Only until you’re finished here. I suppose you’ll be bringing Potter with you?”
“Naturally. You are going to stand up with me, aren’t you?”
“You’ve been hanging around with Gryffindors too long,” was all Severus said as he slid his wand up his sleeve.
“I just wanted to say thank you for everything you’ve done for me over the years.” Draco made a move as if to hug his godfather, but hesitated.
“You’ve definitely been around them too long.” Severus patted him on his shoulder before awkwardly giving him a one-armed hug, “As have I. Now get out before we get any more maudlin.”

Looking around his rooms for what was possibly the last time, Severus felt not one shred of regret. He’d served his time and now he was moving on, and for some unknown reason the brightest witch of her generation was willing to go with him.

Shoulders back, he strode out into the corridor and cast a series of complicated wards. The headmaster would have to work to get access and he doubted that any of the portraits would assist him. Salazar Slytherin would see to that, Severus thought with a smirk.

Pupils parted for him as he strode through the corridors and the staircases moved with swift efficiency, depositing him at the correct level at the same time as Hermione. Together they made their way to the griffon at the bottom of the headmaster’s tower room, and together they rode the spiral staircase. Opening the door directly on the chime of nine, they entered to find Dumbledore already waiting for them.

As much as Hermione wanted to hold Severus’s hand, she thought it best not to aggravate the headmaster. A tiny part of her wanted to stick two fingers up at him, but the sensible part squashed the urge; she’d take her cue from Severus. So, together, they faced the headmaster who was looking at them from over the top of his half moon spectacles.

“Professor Snape, Miss Granger, thank you for being so prompt.” He stood up and started to pace behind his desk, then stopped and swung to face them.
“Perhaps you wouldn’t mind telling me how long your..affair..has been going on?”
“Affair? I have no idea what you’re talking about, Headmaster,” Severus said blandly, deciding to brazen it out.
“Isn’t it enough that you’ve corrupted an innocent young woman, and now you try to lie to me?!” Dumbledore thundered, making Hermione jump a little in surprise.
“Excuse me? You’re assuming that I was coerced?” Hermione’s eyebrows rose towards her hairline. Dumbledore thought that she’d been corrupted?
“So you are not denying your involvement with Professor Snape?”
“No, I’m not.” She tilted her chin up defiantly, ignoring Severus’s resigned sigh next to her.
“How long has this been going on?”
“Since the new year.” Severus reluctantly stepped in.
“I see. And just how far has it gone?”
“That’s none of your business.” Hermione snapped.
“Yes, it is, Miss Granger, and you will tell me or I’ll be forced to resort to Veritaserum.”

Severus put his hand on Hermione’s arm to forestall the tirade about rights and the law, drawing the headmaster’s attention towards him.
“Suffice to say that it’s gone far enough, Headmaster. And I would like to remind you that Hermione is of age.”
“But under the protection of Hogwarts, and you of all people, Professor, know the rules about illicit liaisons.” Dumbledore sat down behind his desk, “You, Professor Snape, are dismissed. Please arrange to vacate your rooms forthwith and leave Hogwarts. Miss Granger, certain errors of judgement can be overlooked, but your behaviour in this instance cannot be tolerated. This will have far reaching affects on your career here, so I am forced to take the moral high ground. You have forfeited your opportunity to study further under Madam Pomfrey, and I must confine you to your rooms until after the leaving feast.” He picked up a quill and started writing, “You will also not be allowed to graduate with the rest of your year.”
“So I’m a prisoner?” Hermione was appalled at the harshness of his words.
“You are both dismissed. I would suggest that you say your goodbyes in a manner rather more discreetly than you behaved last night.”

Severus once again forestalled Hermione and drew her over to the door. Bending down, he told her in a quiet voice to gather her things and her cat and to tell her friends what was happening. Then he kissed her cheek and pushed her gently but firmly out of the door, clicking it shut behind her. Then he turned to face the headmaster, bracing himself for the biggest battle of all.

“I’m very disappointed with you, Severus,”
“No more than I am with you, Headmaster.”
“Oh?”
“It’s not like you not to listen to both sides of the story.” Severus stood ramrod straight in front of the cluttered desk, “You assume that it was I that approached Miss Granger, rather than the other way around.”
“I hardly think that Miss Granger would..”
“What? Find me attractive? You underestimate her tenacity and willingness to see below the surface. She’s also a lot more mature than most of her generation, given what they’ve all been through these past few years.” Severus frowned, “Which brings us back to your arbitrary decision to deny Hermione the chance to celebrate with her peers. And sending her to her room like a naughty four year old? You’re losing it, old man.”
“How dare you! After everything I’ve done for you; defended you..”
“And got a pawn in return. Don’t try to deny it, Headmaster. I was in the wrong place at the right time, and I was stupid enough to play right into both yours and Voldemort’s hands. But that’s in the past now, and you’re still punishing me for my mistakes. But don’t try to punish Hermione, or it will backfire on you.”
“Are you threatening me, Severus?”
“No, but I am warning you. Think about it, Headmaster. You’re an old man, and unless you’ve got a Philosophers Stone hidden somewhere, you’re not going to live forever. Hermione is one of the best friends of the boy who defeated Voldemort twice; and that boy is the lover of my godson, whom you were going to sacrifice to the cause. The possibilities are endless, wouldn’t you say?” Severus’s expression sharpened as the Headmaster turned a sickly shade of green before going bone white in comprehension.
“Are you saying..”
“I’m not saying anything at all. Potter has years and years ahead of him; plenty of time in which to learn everything I can pass on if he so wishes. Not to mention that Hermione is the brightest witch of her generation, and quite capable of doing anything she so wishes. But that doesn’t matter now, does it? You have made your decision, and we will have to abide by it. I would suggest, however, that should Hermione wish to study at St Mungo’s her application not be blocked.”
“These demands of yours sound very much like blackmail, Professor.”
“Professor no longer, Headmaster.” Severus calmly removed his teacher’s robe and placed it over the back of a chair. Underneath he was wearing a Muggle style jacket and trousers with an open necked shirt. In black.
“Now, I will bid you farewell. Mr Malfoy will see that my owl is released.” And with those final words, Severus opened the door, leaving behind a very much diminished Albus Dumbledore.

~~@~~

Hermione fumed all the way down the staircase and back to Gryffindor tower where Harry and Ron were waiting for her. At their concerned faces, she had to blink back a sudden rush of tears. She’d had to run the gauntlet of whispers this morning but no one had said anything to her face yet. Ron gathered her into his arms and held her while she sniffed into his shoulder. Harry hovered nearby, itching to know what had happened.

“Well?” he asked. Hermione drew back and wiped the stray tears from under her eyes. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara.
“Severus is being kicked out and I’m supposed to wait in my room. Severus told me to get Crookshanks and my things and meet him downstairs by the main entrance doors.”
“You’re not staying for the feast?” Ron was aghast.
“Not allowed. I’m not allowed to study with M.madam Pomfrey, either.”
“Does she know?”
“I don’t know.”
“So what will you do?” Harry asked.
“Severus said he’d tell me when we got to my parent’s house,” Hermione shrugged despondently.
“Are you okay with that? You know Mum would be glad to put you up for a while,” Ron said.
“She doesn’t know about Severus, though, does she?”
“Well no, but she’ll be okay with it.”
“Thanks Ron, but Mum and Dad do know about him, so we’ll be okay there.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Harry shifted restlessly.
“Will you come and see us off? I don’t want to just sneak out.” Hermione sat up straight, some of her fury returning.
“We’ll all come,” Draco, Millie and Blaise appeared through the portrait hole, joined by a breathless Ginny.
“I’ll just go and get Crooks,” Hermione stood up. Millie and Ginny followed her over to the staircase leading to her rooms.
“Madam Pomfrey sent this,” Ginny handed her a note.

Dear Hermione,

I have just been informed that you won’t be staying at Hogwarts over the summer and that you’ve reconsidered my offer of training. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am to hear that, and ask that you keep me informed about your progress in whatever you decide to do.

Best regards,
Poppy Pomfrey

“She sounds like she doesn’t know about Professor Snape,” Millie was unashamedly looking over her shoulder.
“Looks that way, doesn’t it? Do you think the headmaster is trying to cover up the scandal?” Ginny asked.
“I don’t think he knows what he’s doing.” Hermione said. On one hand Dumbledore was dismissing them and on the other he wasn’t telling his staff. How contradictory was that? She’d wait a little while and then write to Poppy, apologising and explaining everything. Hopefully, she would understand and be a little more forgiving than the headmaster.

Putting the last few things into her trunk, she shut the lid and scooped up the ginger ball of fluff that was her cat. Rubbing him under his chin in apology, she bundled him into the carrier and latched the front. Levitating the trunk behind her and the carrier in her hand, she took one last look around her room before closing the door on her life at Hogwarts.

Millie and Ginny trailed after her, and as one, the two girls and four boys surrounded her, shielding her once more from prying eyes. Riding the staircases, they swiftly made their way to the main entrance hall where they saw Severus standing by the doors looking tall and forbidding.

It seemed like most of the school had gathered along the landings and were waiting with baited breath to find out what was going on. Draco and Harry walked forward and held a muted conversation with Severus before reaching out and shaking his hand. Then they parted to allow Hermione to come forward. Ignoring the crowd, Severus stepped up and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Bending his head, he took her mouth in a kiss that proclaimed their relationship for all to see. As the swell of sound echoed around the hall, he released her and pulled her against his side. The great doors opened silently and with a look at each other that spoke volumes, they stepped out and down the steps.

Not looking back at what they’d left behind, but forwards to a future together.

~END~