An Unlikely Savior ~ (Edit) COMPLETED

Chapter 2 ~ Snape Approaches

Thanks to Harry’s testimony and memories as well as the wizard’s act of heroism saving Hermione from a horrible death at the hands of Fenrir Greyback, Professor Severus Snape was once again spooking the students of Hogwarts.

He declined the position of Headmaster, deferring to professor McGonagall who was rightfully the next in line to head the school, and after a conference with Horace Slughorn, he returned to his potions class, feeling that the need to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts was no longer necessary, since Voldemort was dead. He only wanted the position because he was the best choice for teaching students how to fight Death Eaters, since he was one himself.

The students returned to school the following year, and Hermione found herself in Advanced Potions class. There was much whispering about how professor Snape had saved her from Fenrir as well as watchfulness, to see if either he or Hermione acted any differently since he had saved her life.

But professor Snape didn’t show anything but the most cursory interest in Hermione, and that interest consisted of mostly telling her to shut up and let other students answer his questions and to stop being an insufferable know-it-all.

”You would think, Miss Granger, after all you’ve been through, you would have learned to keep your mouth shut and ears open. But then again, having a large amount of brains in no way proves how thick the skull it is encased in is, does it?”

These statements stung Hermione now. Why, she didn’t know. Did she expect him to be any nicer after saving her life? Or after she testified on his behalf?

Then one day, when he swung his long black hair back while giving a lecture, Hermione noticed two dreadful round scars on his throat, right over the jugular, peeking above the high collar he wore.

Nagini’s bite marks, the skin raised, shining and wrinkled like cellophane before disappearing back under the collar. Snape looked at her for a moment, then continued pacing and lecturing.

No wonder he was still so mean. Every time he looked at his throat he saw those marks and was reminded that he had been left to die. But he was wrong. He had been left for dead. At least that’s what Hermione tried to tell herself.

But the truth was he had been dying the entire time he tried to communicate with Harry. She could have run forward at any time to help him, rather than watch him use up the last of his strength trying to get a final message to Harry. She might have been able to slow the bleeding, stem the tide of blood spilling his life out on the dirty floor of the Shrieking Shack.

But she didn’t. She just stood there, watching. Out of the three students there, only Hermione had the presence of mind to do anything. Harry and Ron were both in shock, but she wasn’t. Not in the least. Deep down, Hermione Granger had wanted Severus Snape to die. She knew that now.

Even Harry had a twinge of remorse, of sympathy, of horror as he looked down on the dying man. After all they’d gone through, he still had his humanity when seeing the dire state of another human being. It didn’t matter that it was Severus Snape. He felt bad for him.

When Harry left the Shrieking Shack, it was reluctantly. He had other things he had to do, but if he hadn’t . . . he would have stayed with Snape, or even taken him with him. Ron had been in shock, unable to offer anything. But Hermione . . . oh Hermione felt nothing at all except justice had been served. It was fitting that the Dark Lord he served turned on him, paying him back for betraying Albus Dumbledore.

Then Harry told her and Ron that Snape had been Dumbledore’s man. It was a rushed statement, but one of such conviction, Hermione knew with a cold feeling in her belly, that he was telling the truth. Then, the mayhem started again and she lost her wand and escaped the Great Hall. Then Fenrir came after her . . .

and then the man she wanted dead had saved her.

He said he would come to collect on his debt, but they were three months into the term and he had said nothing, done nothing. Hermione tried on several occasions to talk to him privately, but the wizard turned her away, saying if it didn’t involved Potions he had nothing to say to her.

”But . . . but what about the debt?” she’d blurt out at him, but he would just billow away, not answering her.

Had Snape decided to just forget about it? Or was he purposely trying to drive her insane with wondering and worrying? Was his inaction some sinister plot to continue to punish her for walking away from him? He treated Harry with pointed disregard as he did Ron, but Hermione received very vocal reprimands and thinly veiled insults at nearly every turn, as well as point deductions.

”Did Snape save Granger just to make sure we don’t get the House Cup this year?” some students whispered to each other as the wizard deducted five points for Hermione dropping her quill during a test.

This went on through the fall and winter.

One night, two days before the Spring Equinox, Hermione was making her rounds of the castle when Snape suddenly appeared in front of her, his dark eyes glinting.

Hermione clutched her heart in shock, falling back against the wall, so startled she couldn’t even shriek as the dark wizard studied her.

”I would think after all you’ve been through, you’d draw your wand rather than clutch your heart, Miss Granger,” he purred at her.

”Well, you startled me,” she replied catching her breath and straightening.

“Even more of a reason to come out blasting,” he said, his eyes hard. “Well, despite your lack of defensive skills, I’ve come to let you know I am ready to collect on your debt.”

Hermione’s heart skipped a beat. At last, the mystery was going to be revealed.

”What . . . what is it you want?” she asked him breathlessly.

”An ingredient,” he said obliquely, “one that must be collected tomorrow night, when it will be at its highest potency.”

”An ingredient? You want me to help you get it in some manner?” she asked him.

The wizard’s lip quirked unpleasantly.

”Yes, in some manner,” he agreed. “I will expect you at my office tomorrow night at nine. You will need to have a prefect take over your rounds for the night.”

Hermione nodded, relieved that all she would be required to do was help him get a potion ingredient. But it must be a very special one if it would nullify a Life Debt. Hm . . . if it would . . . .

”Professor, will my helping you harvest this ingredient end the debt I owe you?” she asked him.

Snape arched an eyebrow at her.

”If collected successfully, yes. However, if there is any error during the process, then the ingredient will be rendered useless and you will still be in my debt,” he told her.

”What is the ingredient?” she asked him.

”That and other details will be revealed at the proper time,” he replied, “but we will be leaving the confines of the castle.”

Hermione frowned at him.

”Why won’t you tell me what the ingredient is?” she asked him.

”Because, Miss Granger, your state of mind when the ingredient is collected is extremely important to its potency. Having foreknowledge could render it weak or completely unusable. It is a very valuable ingredient, and although it could be purchased, its method of collection is always in question. I would prefer it . . . fresh.”

Hermione studied him, feeling a bit of excitement. There were a number of herbs and roots that were affected by the mood of the harvester. These empathetic ingredients were all quite rare and expensive. It wasn’t often they were collected fresh. It would be so interesting to actually harvest such an ingredient herself.

”I’ll be there promptly at nine,” she told the wizard, then started.

Snape was gone.

Hermione blinked, then looked around the corridor. She saw nothing.

”How does he do that?” she asked herself as she continued on her rounds.

As he billowed toward his office, Snape wore a very unpleasant little smile.

He was looking forward to playing the role of Cernunnos.

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A/N: I just felt like writing a little bit to this story, as well as giving the more curious of ya’ll a bit of a research project. Look up Cernunnos. Thanks for reading.