The Ties that Lead to Trust

Thank You Micha for pointing out something I left out of this chapter. I often play conversations in my mind several times before writing them, and sometimes I forget what I have been thinking and what I have actually written. I\'ll admit I posted this chapter too soon and it wasn\'t as good as it could have been. To your comment about this sub plot, it is necessary for me to do in order to set up and fulfill all the conditions of the challenge. I appreciate the fresh eyes on this and I hope this clears some things up.


Chapter 20~ Letting the Cat Loose

Rarely had he ever been in Hogwarts when it was this quiet. Severus could hear his and Hermione’s footsteps resonate through the corridors as they ascended the stairs towards the Great Hall. He was almost surprised he couldn’t hear his own heart drumming inside his chest. Even in the deserted school, someone had managed to find a way to spy on him. Well, not just someone, Lucius Malfoy had found a way to monitor his actions. There hadn’t appeared to be a need to tell Hermione about the continued letters. She was clever enough to realize that they would not end during Draco’s unanticipated holiday from school, but he knew the situation was different now. After the message he had just read, the options were running thin.

A small, warm hand squeezed his forearm, and he looked at her smiling face and tried to return the gesture, but likely only succeeded in looking worried. Her smile faltered, and she turned her attention away to the intermittent paintings on the wall. Severus held back a troubled sigh, knowing today was not going to be the carefree celebration they had planned. Her letter from home was disconcerting, and somehow he instinctively knew the two were connected. The words of his own message were still tumbling about in his own head, not yet fully acknowledged.

My Dear Little Fly,
What fortune smiles upon you to be with your wife this holiday season.
Your little family is rather self absorbed, carrying on together in your little
cave. Your pitiful mudblood is also a traitor to her own and just as likely
to turn her back on you. The only place she should be ‘asleep beside you’
is underground. Foolish are those who cannot even defend themselves
from a mudblood of questionable virtue for they are too busy disentangling
the webs ofdeceit they have embraced. Careful little fly, you are about to
get caught. Take your pleasure while you can, for when it’s over you will
again be left with the raw end, but this time it won’t have a warm hole to
drown your sorrows in...

The letter had continued on, growing more disturbing, and personal, by the word, but his contemplation of it was disrupted by the sound of jovial chitchat, and Severus noticed they had arrived at the Great Hall. He dropped Hermione’s hand before they came in sight of the open doorway and she gave him a curious look. He took a deep breath to steady himself and gestured for her to enter ahead of him. His concerns were no longer focussed on nosy coworkers but rather on a devious wizard. Carefully replacing his mask of indifference, he followed her to the table with the increased sensitivity to his surroundings that had become far too familiar to him in his many years as a spy.
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Hermione wasn’t sure if she had ever felt more awkward in her life. Christmas dinner in the Great Hall seemed ludicrous as there were no students and very few teachers. Only the Heads of Houses and a few other teachers remained. At a lone round table in the centre of the hall she sat between Severus and Professor McGonagall and tried to make pleasant conversation with everyone. This was exceedingly difficult as her mind was focussed not only on the ominous card but also the frigid demeanour Severus was now displaying towards her. His words were clipped and harsh and his expression hard, as if he hadn’t been smiling just minutes earlier. Professor Dumbledore was his usual cheerful self and pulled crackers with her, Flitwick and Sprout were arguing in a teasing, good natured way and Severus... well he wasn’t saying much at all.

It seemed odd to Hermione that he should be behaving in such a way around friends and colleagues who knew him well. This cold wall hadn’t been there when they visited Hogsmeade earlier that week and she wasn’t sure of what to make of it now. Testing the icy waters, she sat back with her drink and discreetly brushed a hand against his leg. When she moved to pull away, long fingers clasped hers gently and gave a small squeeze, as if to impart a message.

Satisfied that he had some greater purpose for his actions, she postponed confronting him until they were back in the privacy of his rooms. She was still a bit cross that he should feel the need to distance himself when around peers who were fully aware of their situation, but Hermione mentally pushed the feelings aside and turned to talk with McGonagall.

At the end of the meal, Hermione felt contented and full enough to take the edge off her irritation, but it wasn’t gone completely. She felt like a bit of a fool to have even thought that the gentler person she had come to know would ever show himself publically. Perhaps she had been swept up with Christmas spirit and had unrealistic ideas about the whole thing. As they walked back down to his rooms she shrugged off the arm that tried to drape across her shoulders and moved a little faster than one customarily is comfortable with after a large meal. Once inside the hidden door to Severus’ quarters, she knew a confrontation was unavoidable.

Severus shut the door gently and sat down by the fire, obviously choosing his words carefully. He turned to her and said, “I know you are angry, but I hope you will listen to an explanation first.”

“I’m not angry!” she snapped and he looked at her skeptically. “Alright, I’m a bit on edge, but you aren’t helping. I’m worried about what is wrong at my house.”

“We don’t know something is wrong... but I’m concerned as well. I think you are being watched,” he said in a calm voice.

“Watched? What do you mean?”

He sighed deeply, “I got another letter this morning.”

She furrowed her brow. “What did it say?”

“He knows you are the only student who stayed at the school and he knows you are here,” he sounded oddly defeated.

The corner of her mouth twitched. “Well it’s not exactly the best kept secret. The whole staff know and we were in Hogsmeade the other day. Even if most of the students don’t know, we have been seen.”

He nodded and continued, “True, but how then is he aware that... The note says... There is direct reference to us...”

“Go on, spit it out.”

His pale skin coloured. “Our intimate activities are referred to in the letter.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide and she discovered that she was definitely not past the point of blushing around him. “Oh,” she said a little weakly, “well... How does he know that?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know, but he knows I found you walking alone the last night of term, he knows you gave me a massage the following evening and he knows... he quoted some words... um... things I said after you were asleep. Chances are he can hear what we are saying right now.”

“I did a lot of reading about magical surveillance when Rita Skeeter was writing nasty articles about me. Since I’m sure we would have noticed a glittery beetle buzzing around in the winter, chances are it’s not her. There are several things that won’t work around Hogwarts because it is too well protected. The ministry photo worked because we were both in the photo and subject to the incantation, but it isn’t advanced enough to track something as complicated as speech. The only thing I can think of that would work is by using something on my person to act as a sort of radio transmitter... but that would mean he had access to something of mine which I have with me all the time and charmed it. How would he get access to any of my things?” She said thinking aloud, trying to remember if there were any other methods she had forgotten.

“I’m sure Lucius has his methods, your house isn’t protected against magical entry, correct?” he asked.

She nodded. “At least not when I’m away, but it is when I’m there. The floo connection in my room here is partial, for calls only, like the rest of the castle, so how would he get something that I use regularly, charm it and get it back to me before I noticed something suspicious?”

“I am not certain how he achieved the surveillance, but it would be prudent to remain cautious,” he spoke sounding like he had while spying for the Order. “Can you think of anything you have with you all the time?”

Hermione thought for a moment. “Well there is my bag, school books, quill, shoes, hair tie. I don’t know. There are lots of things I have with me regularly, but nothing all the time.”

“What about that gold chain I’ve seen you wearing?” he inquired.

“My locket?” She shook her head, “I do wear it fairly frequently, but I know I didn’t have it with me the other night when I was patrolling the halls. The clasp broke and I couldn’t get a repairing charm to work. It’s too fiddly so I thought I would take it to the shop in Hogsmeade, but I forgot the other day.”

“Where is it now?”

“Up in my room in a little box so I don’t lose any of the pieces. The locket can’t be it. There is nothing I have all the time, especially not when we...” Her cheeks coloured a little and she smiled shyly.

He smiled a bit at her glowing cheeks and brushed one with his thumb. “You are quite right, you weren’t wearing anything at all just then,” His voice was thoughtful. “I can’t quite think of what it could be, but I’d like to have a look at some of the things you do use often, just to be sure. It can wait though.”

“Do you think what my parents want to tell me is related to all this?” she asked, really worried now.

He shrugged very slightly. “That is a possibility. I expect we will know more in a few hours.”

She leaned forward on her seat looking at the fire, anxious to call home now. He put a gentle hand on her back. \"I’m sorry this happened today. Your Christmas should be better than this. I shouldn’t have been miserable at dinner either.”

Hermione laughed a little under her breath. “My Christmas? What about yours? I’m more than a little bothered by everything, but holidays seldom go as smoothly as anyone plans. In my family, at least two people aren’t speaking to each other by New Years. Christmas is wonderful, but there are always disagreements. Some things can’t be helped.”

She sat back and allowed his arm to rest around her shoulders now. He seemed quiet and a bit unsure of what to say to that. “This is all new to me. I told you that. I’m not proud of my past, but it is what it is. Receiving threats is nothing new to me personally, but there is you to worry about.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” she said lightly

He buried his face in her hair. “I do, because I care about you.”

She smiled. “I know. I heard what you said.”

“You did?” he started.

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

She could tell Severus was embarrassed and she leaned closer to him, trying to reassure without words. For a long time they sat in silence, Hermione listening to the clock, Severus listening to Hermione’s breathing. As four o’clock drew closer, she began to fidget, uncertain of what she would find on the other side of the fireplace. He stroked her hair in a soothing way and held her close, hoping he was giving comfort. When she sat up at four, he kissed her cheek softly and whispered, “I’m sure it will be fine.”

Merely nodding, Hermione grabbed a handful of floo powder and tossed it in the fire. “Granger Residence.”

Her head went whizzing through fireplaces at a dizzying pace before stopping at her own familiar hearth. The living room looked perfectly normal with its comfortable chairs and brightly lit tree. She let out a small breath of relief and called out, “Mum!? Dad!? Are you home?”

Chairs scraped in the direction of the kitchen and Greg Granger came in the room holding a cup of hot coffee. He smiled when he saw his daughter’s face in the fire. “Sweet pea, it’s good to see you.”

Hermione groaned inwardly, but forced a smile in return. “Happy Christmas Dad. Is everything alright? Where’s Mum?”

“Your mother’s upstairs. She wanted to change after we came home. I have some sad news for you sweety,” His eyes were sad and his expression pinched.

“What happened?”

“Grandma Brooks was in an accident a few days ago. She was hit by a car crossing the street and she broke her hip.”

Hermione gasped, “Oh No!”

Mr Granger raised his hands trying to calm her. “Don’t get yourself worked up. She is going to be fine. Her condition is stable, but she will need surgery in a couple days. We didn’t want to worry you, but she would like to see you. I know you are busy sweetheart, but would your headmaster let you come home for a day or two?”

“Of course,” she said emphatically. “I’ll go see Professor Dumbledore right now and I can probably be home in an hour if I hurry.”

“Hold on, hold on. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Visiting hours at the hospital are over for the day. You won’t be able to see her until tomorrow after ten thirty. There’s no need to rush yourself too much.” He said smiling weekly.

Hermione was just about to answer when she felt a hand squeeze her shoulder and a voice beaconing her to come back for a moment. It was an odd sensation looking over your shoulder and discovering that it wasn’t there and she smiled apologetically to her father. “Um... Hold on a moment. Someone on my end is telling me something. I’ll be right back.”

She pulled her head out of the fire and turned to look at Severus. “Is something wrong?”

“I don’t think you should go home alone,” He said.

“I won’t be alone, my parents are there,” she replied stubbornly.

He looked deeply concerned. “I know you are a bit upset with the news, but the accident may not have been accidental. I’d like to go with you to find out.”

“You know I haven’t told them. I mean to tell them everything when I go home. I made that promise to myself when I left at the end of the summer that I would tell them the truth the next time I went back. Don’t you think it would be even more awkward if I showed up with you?” She said, clearly panicking.

“I want you to be safe, and I think there is something suspicious happening. Tell them what you like, but I will accompany you,” He stated in a very firm and final tone.

Hermione winced as if in pain. “I won’t lie to them. This isn’t going to be pretty. When will you be ready to leave?”

He looked at her sympathetically. “No, lying isn’t the answer. Since the hospital won’t let you in until tomorrow, perhaps it would be best to arrive tomorrow morning.”

“Alright. I don’t like it, but that is probably best. I’ll tell my father when to expect us.” she said and turned back to the fire and stuck her head in again.

Back in the Granger livingroom, her father had picked up a book and was reading. Seeing his daughter’s head in the fire, Greg Granger smiled. “I wasn’t expecting you back so quickly.”

“I’m going to wait until tomorrow to come home. I think that would be easier since it is already getting a bit late. I um... I have a question,” she said nervously.

“What is it?”

She took a deep breath to gather her courage. “Would it be alright if I brought someone with me?”

He smiled broadly. “Certainly, you know your friends are welcome here. Is it someone special?”

“Uh... yes... He’s definitely special. I hope it isn’t a bother. Mum must be very upset right now,” she answered.

He shook his head. “She is a little out of sorts, but she is always more than happy to meet your friends. I’ll make sure the guest room is ready.”

She nodded. “Alright. Thanks dad. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Bye sweety.”

With her whole body on the Hogwarts side of the fireplace, Hermione let out a long quivering breath. She had until morning to prepare to tell her parents her big secrets and ready herself for the explosion that would likely result. ‘Christmas holidays never go as planned,’ she mused and turned to Severus. “I hope you know what you are getting yourself into.”
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