Unforgettable

A/N – Thanks to June for the Pensieve idea.

Chapter Twenty –

Purposefully isolating himself from the others, Severus watched the Weasley family reunion with veiled disgust. The twins were blithering idiots, hurling apologies left and right at everyone with the exception of him.

“We had wondered where you’d gone off to, Severus,” a familiar voice said behind him.

Severus turned around to see Albus standing behind him. The old wizard was dressed in a long purple robe with a silver W embroidered on its chest. This did not bode well. Dumbledore was sitting judgment over two criminals he had helped to create.

“My apologies, Headmaster,” Snape drawled softly. “I was so consumed with my personal affairs, I neglected my duties at Hogwarts. As you can see, I’ve been under the power of some dreadfully powerful dark magic.”

“I’m well aware of your predicament, Severus,” Albus stated, with a twinkle in his azure eyes. “Love does make people do crazy things. Nevertheless, please be assured that your students are being well taken care of. Hagrid has been following your lesson plan and –”

His eyes went wide. “Love? Hagrid instructing potions? What madness have I descended into?”

Stroking his long beard, Albus smiled. “Hagrid and Professor Flitwick have been covering your class. You aren’t mad and Hagrid and Flitwick have gained a proficiency of the Vanishing Spell that has exceeded both their expectations.”

“As for being in love…” Albus paused. “I never thought I would live to witness the event.” Peering around the room, Albus finally met Severus’ incredulous stare. “Where is Miss Granger anyway?”

He was asleep. He had to be. He was having a nightmare. He’d had his share of nightmares in his time, but the ones that disturbed him most involved Albus twinkling at him.

“Are you telling me that you believe me to be in love with Hermione Granger?” he asked.

The twinkle left the old wizard’s eye as he peered over Severus’ shoulder at George and Fred Weasley. “The Weasley twins have been very cooperative. They aren’t very adept at using a Pensieve, but with practice I’m certain the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes will be able to come up with an antidote…if need be.”

“There is a need,” Severus hissed. “I wish to rid myself of this…this problem.”

Albus almost looked sympathetic. “Love is problematic, especially when it is driven by an external force. The twins are facing a serious charge and possible time in Azkaban. But I’m certain no one will press charges.”

The door to courtroom ten opened and the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Ameila Bones, walked in. “Is every one present and accounted for?” she asked, her voice stern and professional.

As lead investigator, Shaklebolt looked around the room. “I believe Miss Granger is –”

“I’m here,” Hermione announced breathlessly, leaning against the door and holding her side.

Her hair was wild and her cheeks were flushed, an expression Severus was all too familiar with. Severus clamped down on his lecherous thoughts.

“Good,” Amelia stated and took her place in the Judge’s balcony. “Shall we begin?”

Albus nodded and took his place next to Amelia. “Yes,” Albus replied.

“Firstly, Mister Shaklebolt,” Judge Bones said, “what kind of reassurance do I have that this is it?”

Kingsley handed a scroll to her. “This is a guest list of everyone who was in attendance at the ball. We’ve contacted everyone and only found the following were affected: Hermione Jane Granger, Luna Lovegood, Remus John Lupin, Harry James Potter, Severus Snape, Nymphadora Tonks, Arthur Weasley, Ginerva Molly Weasley, Molly Weasley, and Ronald Bilius Weasley.”

Severus noticed George and Fred glancing around worriedly. The bloody prats were going to pay for what they’d done to him.

Albus looked over his spectacles and down his nose. “If the Aurors could conjure chairs for everyone to sit down? The proceedings may take a while.”

Severus walked up to Hermione and wasted no time conjuring his own chair and one for his lover. He was surprised when she took it and sat down.

“Thank you,” she muttered softly.

--

Amelia Bones cleared her throat. “Thank you, Auror Shaklebolt,” she said with a nod and glanced down at her parchment. “Now, let me see if I have this right. Auror Tonks initiated this investigation upon the realization that she and Mister Lupin were under the influence of a lust potion.”

“Yes, Madame Bones,” Tonks stated. “Remus and I drank the punch at the ball. It tasted funny. Actually it tasted horrible. When we arrived –”

“Thank you, Auror Tonks. That will be all,” Amelia interrupted, obviously not wanting to hear too many details about the effects of the potion. “What led you to suspect Fred and George Weasley?”

Motioning toward Severus, Tonks answered the Interrogator. “Professor Snape was standing by the punch bowl.”

“And jumped to the conclusion that I was the one responsible for perpetrating the crime?” Severus asked, his tone somewhat offended.

Hermione looked at him and felt a speck of guilt course through her. He had been treated unfairly, not only by her, but by everyone else too.

“Professor Snape, would you please refrain from interrupting the proceedings,” Madame Bones stated. “I assure you. You will have the opportunity to have your say.”

Hermione heard Severus growl softly.

“First of all,” Dumbledore called out, “there have been no formal charges. This is a preliminary hearing. George and Fred Weasley have exercised a serious lack of judgment.”

“Quite right,” the twins agreed readily, looking behind them with wide, pleading eyes.

Hermione glared at both of them. Azkaban was too good for them. They’d probably play pranks on the Dementors and get away with it.

“I suggest you be quiet,” Albus warned the twins.

Madame Bones put her hand on Albus’ sleeve. “Please continue, Auror Tonks.”

Tonks sighed. “As I was saying, I suspected Professor Snape at first.” Tonks turned toward Severus. “Which I apologize for profusely.”

Severus snorted, doing nothing to contain his contempt over the proceedings.

“When we confronted him, he informed us about George and Fred and his suspicions that they had spiked the punch.”

Hermione glanced at the man sitting next to her. Flashes of the Pensieve memory played in her mind. She had no context in which to put the scene. Any emotion she’d attached to it was gone.

He’d tried telling her that the punch was spiked, and she had turned against him. The things she’d said had been horrendous and unfair. So, he’d been standing by the punch bowl and he was a Potions master. She’d jumped to the same conclusion a seasoned if somewhat ditzy Auror had. Years of thinking the worst of him had conditioned her to go on the offensive with him.

Madame Bones unrolled another scroll. “I have a preliminary report from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Based on the Pensieve memories George and Fred Weasley supplied, we were able to deduce this much. The potion has very complex spell work, which has enhanced the rudimentary properties of the, er, physical aspect. Not only is there a fertility proponent, there is something else everyone needs to be aware of.”

Hermione could sense Severus stiffen next to her as if he knew something she didn’t.

“The Weasley twins combined the lust potions with a variety of several love potions. We’ve identified the primary love potion, which is very specific in its desired effects. The Verus Amor potion is just that…a true love potion. If taken by predestined partners, they will be drawn to one another inexorably.”

Amelia Bones’ words reverberated through Hermione like a torrent of wonderment. Predestined partners? True love?

Did he love her? That was an impossibility that dared to be measured. He hated her, and had reminded her of that fact ever since she\'d raised her hand that first day when she\'d taken her seat in Potions class.

The idea was absurd. Yes, she loved the sneaky bastard who had Obliviated her and manipulated her for the last several weeks. What was worse was he knew it. He’d forced her to realize it when he peered into her mind. She loved him before the ball, before the bloody potion. Would the embarrassment of it never end?

That was it! That was the reason! That was the reason why she had said those awful things. Fear he would discover the truth. She’d lashed out at him in an attempt at self-preservation. She loved him and she was afraid of his reaction.

Severus was anything but emotionally available. Loving him was like loving a granite statue.

“The Veru Amor potion is strictly forbidden,” Dumbledore stated. “The brewing of it is illegal and cause for an immediate three-month sentence to Azkaban.”

Hermione cringed as Molly Weasley started to weep.

“However,” Albus continued above Molly’s wails, “the sentence will be rescinded due to extenuating circumstances.”

“I knew I would see no justice with him sitting judgment over the Weasley brats,” Hermione heard Severus mumble.

“Seeing as Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood, Miss Tonks, Miss Weasley and Missus Weasley are with child, Amelia and I have come to what we hope to be an equitable solution.”

Hermione put her hand on Severus’ thigh in an attempt to silence his protests. He stilled beneath her touch.

“As Chief Warlock, it is within my authority to render judgment right now. This is what Madame Bones and I have proposed. All assets and ownership of Weasleys\' Wizarding Wheezes are to be divided between the victims of this ‘experiment.’ George and Fred Weasley will stay and run the day-to-day operations of the business with their salary going toward a trust fund for the education of the children who will be born as a result of their \'experiment..” Albus pushed his spectacles up his nose and continued to read from the parchment before him.

A low murmur could be heard around the room as the other couples discussed the announcement. Fred and George were uncharacteristically silent.

“If any of the pregnancies should result in termination or any other unforeseen event, the salaries will go into an annuity for the injured party.”

“This is preposterous,” Severus growled softly. “I don’t need money.”

“Of course,” Dumbledore announced with finality, “this offer is only good if criminal charges are not filed. If the full Wizengamot is convened, it may take decades for the estate of Fred and George Weasley to be divided amongst the victims. Does anyone here wish to file criminal charges against Fred and George Weasley?”

Molly Weasley raised her hand and everyone gasped.

“Molly?” Albus asked.

Standing, Molly wrung her hands together nervously. “May we ask for provisions other than what you’ve given us?”

“Mother!” The twins exclaimed.

Albus nodded.

“Arthur and I were planning on travelling now that all of our children are grown. Seeing as we will be unable to travel as much with a new baby, I ask the court for childcare provisions,” she stated simply, glaring at her twins and seemingly daring them to argue.

That’s an excellent provision, Hermione thought with a smile. Those prats are going to wish for time in Azkaban by the time she was through with them.

Madame Bones stifled a chuckle. “Add the provision to the parchment, Albus.”

Ron and Luna asked for the provision of childcare too. Then Harry raised his hand.

“I would like to request a provision,” he stated as he stood up.

“Will there be no end to this miscarriage of justice?” Hermione heard Severus ask. “I’ve no intention of not pressing charges. Azkaban will do them a world of good.”

Hermione shivered, knowing Severus’ intentions. They were not idle words. He was a man of action. She was fairly confident that everyone would agree to the contract. But Severus would never go along with it.

Harry stood in front of Madame Bones and Professor Dumbledore. “I request that George and Fred Weasley be placed under magical observation.”

George scoffed. “Will this never end?”

Fred nudged his twin. “Shut up, George!”

“I suggest both of you be quiet,” Albus warned. “Your fate rests entirely on the good graces of those upon whom you\'ve seen fit to experiment. Remus, Nymphadora, do either of you have any addendums to the contract?”

Tonks smiled. “No, sir.”

Albus’ expression became grave as he stared at the man sitting next to Hermione. “Severus, would you like to add anything?”

Hermione glanced at Molly and Arthur, Arthur’s worried eyes brimming with unshed, hopeful tears. Molly shed her tears unabashedly. They were her other parents, the ones who helped her with wizarding ways. The same could be said of Ginny, the sister she never had. George and Fred were the older brothers she was glad she never had. These people were her second family, the family she had been determined to leave when she found out she was pregnant and single.

She looked at Ron, her friend and former lover, who was looking pointedly at Severus with veiled antipathy.

Severus had the potential to break the contract. He was the one most likely to file charges against the twins. He was perfectly in his rights to do so.

Yes, the twins deserved the worst possible punishment for their total disregard for others.
She had been Obliviated, humiliated, and impregnated thanks to their childish stunt. Why should she help them? Why should she sacrifice herself for them?

Sacrifice?

Would it really be such a sacrifice? She loved the man sitting next to her. What could be worse than that? The Verus Amor potion worked on the basis of a mutual attraction, and Severus had admitted on two occasions that he “cared” for her.

Squeezing his thigh, Hermione leaned over and whispered into his ear. “If you don’t press charges, I’ll marry you.”

Severus turned his head, his lips a mere breath away from hers, his obsidian eyes staring into hers. “And you will come to me willingly?” he asked.

Hermione couldn’t help the involuntary shudder that moved through her. Even if the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes managed to find a cure for the potion, would shagging Severus every night be so bad?

“Yes,” she whispered, sealing the deal with a kiss.

*****

A/N – Thanks to all who have reviewed. More of Hermione’s thoughts are coming up and how will she get Severus to tell her that he loves her? Oh yeah…and a lemon!

Betty – The story is moving to a close. Technically the last two chapters should have been one, but I didn’t want to hold them up.

Susan – As always, thank you for the support.

Nesscafe – I know. I know. I know. I haven’t been happy with Hermione in this story either. Please forgive me. But, this is the first time I’ve ever written her. Thank you for the feedback.