Life Begins Anew

A/N Jane Snape wanted to know why there is a marked difference in age between Severus and Sara’s age. Next chapter will explain the reason. If you subtract 20 from the stated ages in my story, you would get the answer

To this chapter Severus gave his permission for Hermione to answer Sara’s Challenge. This is what she receives. Handy, as the story progresses on.

Chapter 24 Hermione’s Reward

Another Defense class had ended, over half the class in various states of feathered, colored, or reptilian skin.

Sara smirked as she looked over the 7th year Slytherins and Gryffindors. They were all glaring at her.

“What lovely change class! An improvement considering earlier this week the whole class was in this very state. Still, everyone is too slow! What good is it to be able to cast defensive shields when you can’t get them up in time?” She went over to Miss Parkinson and pulled a feather from the witches’ hand and twirled it in her hand.

“You know the drill. I’ll not heal you! Those who wish to have Madame Pompfrey heal you stay after and I’ll give you a note. Otherwise, you’ll be back to normal tomorrow morning. Fortunate, as it is a Hogsmeade weekend. Lucky you, having this class first thing in the morning.”

The Defense professor went to her desk and grabbed up a parchment and held it up. She had delayed the acknowledgement of her challenge until the last class of the week.

“We have a winner on my challenge. Some of your answers were amusing.” She placed the parchment back on her desk. “An ugly bird! Really, Hades was most put out by that answer. My familiar can be most vindictive and I forbade him from visiting the chambers of the student that submitted it.”

Sara looked over to Miss. Brown as she shrank in her seat. Ah, the look on the student’s face was priceless as Miss. Brown’s fear appeared on the student’s face. She knew that the student had submitted the answer in anger over her detention.

“Miss. Granger, stand up and tell the class the answers to the challenge.” Sara sat down at her desk.

Hermione stood and looked nervously at her fellow students. She had expected the professor to pull her aside to let her know the results. Then, she realized that the teacher did not care. After all, no one else would know except her class, and they could not discuss anything due to the vow that everyone had taken.

“Professor Snape’s familiar is a Turkey Vulture. This vulture is normally found in great numbers in the United States. The wing span is impressive as it is five to six feet in span. The unusual fact about Hades is he can talk, as Turkey Vultures have no voice box. These birds can only grunt and hiss.”

Sara nodded approvingly and motioned for Miss. Granger to continue.

“As far as the year that Professor Snape’s accomplishment is 1983. She led her house as a sixth year seeker, enabling that house to capture the Quidditch cup on the last game of the season from the grasp of the rival house clutches.” Hermione stopped, hoping that information was enough.

The Gryffindor students cheered.

“My name and house Miss. Granger.”

Hermione sighed and continued, looking toward the Slytherins.

“She played quidditch for one year. She was registered under the name of Sara Peverell and played for the team of Slytherin house. The Rival house was Gryffindor.” Hermione sat back down as she heard gasps of shock from her classmates.

Everyone knew that house ran in families and once one was sorted, that was that. A Gryffindor with Slytherin tendencies was a scary thought. The Slytherins realized the implications right away, while the Gryffindors seemed unfazed.

Sara chuckled at the Slytherin reaction. “Yes, all should be fearful at this combination. Very well done Miss. Granger! 100 points to Gryffindor!”

The bell rang.

Sara shouted out to the class as they packed up. “I suggest you do some research on defensive shields and practice this weekend. I will not go so easy on you next week! Miss. Granger, a word!”

Severus paused as he heard his sister’s words as he walked out. What would his sister want with her?

Hermione’s classmates left, leaving a reptilian skinned Gryffindor to her fate. Not one student asked to be sent to the infirmary. The students did not want to get further in the professor’s blacklist, ridicule by the lower students be damned.

Sara motioned Hermione to her desk and created a chair.

“I was curious Miss. Granger. All week you have been able to defend yourself from my hexes. Then today you look like a human lizard. Why?”

Hermione sat down. There was no way that the she would tell the Defense professor that her thoughts were towards her brother. For some reason, flashes of his emotions leaked into her mind. One emotion was prevalent. The potions master did not trust his sister. And her dreams as she slept! Flashes of her potions master taking her, professing his love and ownership of her, possessively telling her she was his and his alone. And her longing towards him. She was uncertain, but she was sure that he was sensing her emotions as well.

“I’m not sure Professor Snape. It is NEWT year, and I have been worried.” Hermione nervously replied.

“Yes.” Sara replied silkily. “There is that.”

Sara wrote out a note ProfessorMcGonagall, explaining that she had kept Miss. Granger after class. She slid the note to the Gryffindor.

“Next week, Miss. Granger, the hexes go from interesting to quite painful. It would do you well to focus and not be distracted. Come to my office after dinner tonight. Seven PM. Your research on me dictates me to award a specific charm just for you. You do your potions master justice with your research skills. From what little I know of him, I know that he is not very trusting.”

Sara smiled back, placing Miss. Granger off guard. At least she was right of her suspicions.

Sara flicked her wand and opened the door. “Do not be late!”

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In the middle of his third year Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw class Severus felt Hermione’s apprehension and distress. He snarled at the class to continue on, focusing on his bonded. She was not in danger. He would have to see her soon.

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Defense classroom after dinner

Hermione arrived at her Defense classroom and knocked.

“Come in Miss. Granger!”

Sara changed the room to a dueling platform.

“Time to begin Miss. Granger.” Sara stated.

She approached the student and wrapped her arms around her, controlling Hermione’s wand movement.

Sara whispered in her ear. “This is what you need to do. This charm will project a caster’s spell back onto one self. Even Avada Kadavra!”

They practiced for a while. Sara was impressed. Hermione was a quick study. The complicated wand movements were mastered in short time.

Hermione was frustrated. She was always successful at learning charms and spells.

“The shield charm that I have taught you has to be incanted silently.” Sara replied silkily, wand loose in her hand.

Hermione started to protest. “Professor, I can’t do silent magic!”

“Well Miss. Granger, that is unfortunate for you.” Sara smiled coldly. “We are twenty paces away from one another. The required spacing of a proper duel in polite society. For every hex I am successful at hitting you, I step one pace forward. If I reach you, it means you have failed!”

Sara removed her outer robes, revealing a one piece body suit.

“Remove your outer robes Miss. Granger. They may impede you in our little dueling contest!”

Sara placed herself in a duelist stance.

“Where is that vaunted Gryffindor courage I hear everyone spouting about? You are supposed to be the brightest witch of your age! Afraid of failure young witch?” Sara called out

Hermione growled out in anger at Professor Snape’s biting words, not noticing her saying the color change hex making her a purple colored reptilian looking witch.

“So I move one pace forward, Miss. Granger.” Sara lazily called out. “Your turn now! Imagine a chance to have me appear different tomorrow morning as any hex you use against me will not wear off for twelve hours. Such bragging rights you would have. I’ll even show up for breakfast at the Great Hall!” She goaded the student.

Hermione shouted out in anger “Incarcerous!” Sending the binding spell out.

Professor Snape did not even bother to cast a shielding charm as she easily side stepped the hex.

“What were my words in class today? Too slow Miss. Granger!” Sara hissed as she shouted “Tarantallegra!” Making Hermione’s legs jitter out of control.

Hermione fell to the floor helpless. She heard her professor call out “Finite Incantatem!” Her legs stopped their movement. She glared back at her professor who was looking with her at contempt.

“Miss. Granger, I have given you a tool to use against me!” Sara stepped forward and laughed out darkly.

“I really thought you were worthy of such a reward. Maybe I was mistaken. And so I step closer! Focus and look inward!”

Soon Sara was five paces away.

Hermione was seething. The professor’s contempt made her angry. She grasped her wand in frustration. She was going to fail. She suddenly felt something deep within her. A pooling of magic that she had never felt before.

Hermione silently incanted the new shield charm, pointing her wand at her professor as Professor Snape sent another color changing spell her way.

Professor Snape’s skin turned black.

“Very good Miss. Granger!” Sara stated approvingly. She walked over and shook Hermione’s hand, extending the proper etiquette for acknowledging defeat in a friendly duel. After all, with her shield up, it would do no good to continue.

Hermione looked dumbfounded, realizing she had won.

“Miss. Granger! You need to promise me that you will not share this charm! It is intended for you alone. Yes even from Harry Potter.”

Hermione started to protest and her professor held her hand up, silencing the student.

Sara called out “Sassy!”

Sassy the house elf immediately appeared, wearing the towel with the Prince crest. House elves could breach any ward to get to their Master when called.

Sara scratched the back of the elf’s ear lovingly.

“Sassy, please get us some sandwiches, rare roast beef. Also, sweet white wine. Miss. Granger needs to recover the magic she has expended tonight. Go to the kitchen. I am sure they will be receptive and who knows, maybe you will find a friend.” Sara knew that the elf had suffered from years of loneliness from the years of serving no Master before her arrival.

Hermione hesitantly called out. “Seek Dobby out. He’ll help you!”

Sassy nodded toward the student and disappeared.

Sara quickly put her defense classroom back to rights and motioned for Hermione to follow her into her chambers.

As they entered Hermione saw Hades.

“Mistress! Your color does not enhance your looks!” Hades laughed at his Mistress’s state.

“Yes, Hades. I have a guest so silence your callous remarks for later.” Sara darkly addressed her familiar.

“Miss. Granger.” Hades looked toward her. “You are very fortunate. Not many are successful against her! I can only name a few in the years I have been bonded to her…..”

Sara glared at her familiar, effectively shutting him up.

Sara walked over to her familiar and kissed hiss beak. “Bird, you are the bane of me!” She lovingly scratched his feathers.

Hermione was amazed at the change in her dark defense professor. Maybe she wasn’t a Death Eater after all.

Sassy appeared with the sandwiches and wine and placed them at the table. “Bushy hair was right! Dobby was most helpful!” she squeaked.

Sara looked fondly at the elf. “And how fair the guest at my home, Sassy?”

“Theys miss you and theys look forward to your return!” Sassy squeaked in reply.

“Sassy, if you are not needed at my home, then visit the elves here. You can make a few friends.”

Sassy blushed as she realized her Mistress hint. “Many thanks!” The elf disappeared with a plop.

Sara gestured to Hermione to sit down and eat. “Make sure you drink a glass of wine Miss. Granger! I am sure the exhaustion of tonight is settling in. It will help you to recover.”

Hermione suddenly realized that she was desperately hungry and thirsty. She grabbed a sandwich.

Sara observed the witch as she ate. This witch was powerful, and she did not realize it. And her bond with her brother! Sara wondered if Hermione even realized it. Sara had not felt a power emanating from one in many years, and only from dark wizards and witches.

Sara spoke up. “Hermione, you are an intelligent witch. Tell me why I forbade you of telling this shield to your friends.”

“Silent magic!” Hermione replied. “Not everyone can do it. I am surprised that I can!”

“Yes Miss. Granger, you are correct! Mr.’s Potter and Weasley do not have that power! Also, my brother Severus Snape.”

“This shield was created by the darkest of wizards for their own protection. I defeated them and this shield spell was lost for centuries!” Hermione noticed the pain in her professor’s eyes.

“Miss. Granger, if you used this shield all the time, you will draw the attention of the Dark Lord that you do not need! Only use it if you truly feel that you are in danger!” Sara told her student.

Hermione finished her wine and the sandwiches.

Sara stood up and escorted the witch to the door. “Tell no one of this shield Miss. Granger. You may tell everyone that my state was caused by you. You earned it! Practice your silent magic in private. It may be something that will save your life in the future.”

She opened the door and found her brother standing on the other side.

“Ah, Professor Snape! An unexpected surprise!” Sara replied as she noticed the visitor at her door.

Sara ushered her student out as she motioned her brother inside.

A/N Severus at his sister’s door? What is he up to?