In a Lifetime

In A Lifetime
Chapter 24: Discussions and Revelations

Disclaimer: I own nothing of what you’re about to read, with the possible exception of the plot, although I’m sure it’s been done before. The places, characters, etc. belong to JK Rowling. Thanks.

Hermione opened her eyes to find herself back in Severus’ quarters, the candles burned to the bases. She was holding Severus’ hand and on the floor next to her sat a leather pack. She looked at her fiancé quizzically and nodded to the pack.

“It wasn’t a dream?” she asked, her voice husky from disuse.

“No,” smiled Severus, “it was a real voyage. And it appears we brought something back with us.”

Hermione let go of Severus’ hand and picked up the pack. She carefully opened it, expecting to see the squirming creature that she collected in the Otherworld. Instead, what the pack contained was a yellowish shard of some hard substance. Hermione peered inside and saw shimmering strands of black and red floating in some viscous liquid.

“It’ke ake a pensieve,” she said, turning the shard upside down and watching the strands move.

“Not unlike one,” agreed Severus, shifting over to look inside the shard, “I believe that pensieves are based on the function of soul fragments. That shard contains memories and a bit of someone’s very being.”

“But who does it belong to,” wondered Hermione out loud, “is there any way to get inside and see the memories, like with a pensieve?”

“I don’t think there is. I do know that the fragment recognizes its owner…”

“But we could wait forever for the fragment and the owner to be in the same room,” protested Hermione.

“Perhaps Albus would have some more information,” suggested Severus, “Why don’t we get cleaned up, have breakfast, and talk to him?”

“Sounds like a plan,” said Hermione, getting up from her place on the floor, her limbs protesting ever so slightly, “Thank you so much, Severus. It was perfect seeing my parents again.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed the trip,” responded Severus, standing up and wrapping his arms around Hermione and kissing her tenderly, “now go get refreshed. We have about an hour or so until breakfast.”

Hermione nodded and flooed to her rooms, carefully placing the soul fragment on her desk under a silk scarf. She showered and dressed, then sat at her desk contemplating the fragment in front of her. She picked it up, turning it over. It was hard to imagine that this shard was once a squirming little creature. Still, she understood that things in the Otherworld often didn’t look the same in the Mortal World. She watched the strands float inside and wondered about what her father said. Chocolate Frogs…could it belong to someone from Hogwarts? Clearly it didn’t belong to Severus. Perhaps Dumbledore would have the answers. Hermione transfigured the pack into a smaller leather bag to hold the shard, which was smaller than the creature Sirius Black had given her. She tied the bag to her robe belt, vowing that the shard would travel with her until it found its rightful owner. Hermione smoothed her hair and headed to the Great Hall where she took her seat between the empty chair usually occupied by Severus and the chair currently filled by Ginny.

“How was your night?” asked Ginny.

“It was illuminating,” replied Hermione, “Have you ever walked the veil?”

“No,” admitted Ginny, “I’m afraid to.”

“Why? It’s wonderful.”

“I’m just afraid of who I might meet there,” said Ginny, looking down at her plate.

“Oh,” said Hermione, realizing what Ginny meant. Ginny hadn’t been the same carefree girl since being used by Tom Riddle all those years before. Of course she would be nervous about traveling the Otherworld and possibly running into him there.

“But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about what happened to you,” said Ginny quietly, “did you see your parents?”

“Yes,” said Hermione, beaming, “and they gave their blessing to the handfasting. We also ran into Sirius Black.”

“No! Are you serious?” asked Ginny, pouring herself a cup of tea.

“Yes, deadly serious. He appears to be what Severus called an internal Soul Seeker…”

“A fragment hunter?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. Is he still…you know…mysteriously handsome?”

“He’s quite a bit bitter,” admitted Hermione, “and it has taken its toll on him. Surprisingly, Severus seemed to understand.”

“I can imagine that he would,” stated Ginny, “I believe you saved him from being bitter.”

“Yes,” said a velvety voice, “indeed, Ginevra, Miss Granger has saved me from a multitude of sins, including bitterness.”

Severus sat down next to Hermione, gently squeezing her shoulder. Hermione smiled up at him.

“Albus said he has some time right after breakfast to look at the soul fragment,” said Severus, taking a sip of tea.

“Excellent,” said Hermione, “I would love to hear his opinions.”

They completed their breakfasts with companionable conversation until Ginny excused herself to attend to her shift in the hospital wing and Severus and Hermione followed Albus to his office. Albus shut the door and smiled at the couple.

“You have a soul fragment, now, do you?” he said, sitting behind his desk.

“Yes,” nodded Hermione, fishing the fragment out of the pouch she had fashioned for it. She placed the fragment on the desk.

Albeaneeaned forward to look at it, picking it up and peering into it. After a few moments of examination, he sat up and looked over his spectacles, “Very interesting.”

“That’s all you have to say, Albus?” said Severus with a glare, “Hermione is given a soul fragment by Sirius Black and all you can say is ‘very interesting’?”

“Do you know whom it belongs to?” asked Hermione.

“No idea,” answered Albus, “but the color would say that it fragmented through an act of what the owner considered to be cowardice.”

“Why would Sirius give it to me? He didn’t seem to know who it belonged to,” said Hermione.

“Perhaps he didn’t know exactly who, but knew it was someone you were likely to come into contact with. The passed have ways of knowing from where and when a fragment belongs, if not to whom,” stated Albus.

“Is there any way of finding out?” asked Hermione.

“The fragment will pull itself toward its owner,” answered Albus, “but unlike a pensieve, no one can look inside and see the actual memories. They are truly trapped there until they are released upon joining with the rest of the soul. I’m sorry, I know what a responsibility it is to have possession of such a thing. But I cannot think of better hands for it to be in.”

With a sigh, Hermione stood up, picked up the fragment, and thanked Albus, “I will find the owner,” she stated.

“The fragment will find its owner, dear,” said Albus, smiling as he walked Hermione to the door, “as for you Severus, I believe you have double potions.”

Severus scowled as he followed Hermione from Albus’ office. Albus shut the door behind them and leaned against his desk. ‘A soul fragment,’ he thought, ‘one split from the whole by what was perceived as an act of cowardice. I wonder…’ He shook his head and sat at his desk. He had reports due to the Ministry of Magic that could not wait. He trusted that the fragment was in the best possible hands. Hermione Granger was a force of nature, and her paramour, Severus Snape, was her opposing force.

* * * * *

That evening, Hermione and Severus sat in his sitting room, Hermione engrossed in the soul fragment. Severus looked up from his book and smiled.

“Hermione, the ‘mystery’ will solve itself,” he said, “just give it time.”

Hermione stood up and placed the fragment back in its pouch and rested it on the small side table. She slipped out of her outer robes as she approached Severus. The Potions Master grinned and pulled her down onto his lap, kissing her.

“You’re right, of course, my love,” she said, sighing as his lips moved to her neck, “I do so get caught up in things. I suppose I have time since allowing Ginny and Minerva to take over the handfasting plans.”

“Yes,” agreed Severus, “but we do have to pick out the cords.”

“But that’s all we have to do. Pick out the cords and the rings and show up. And finalize the guest list.”

“Mmmhmmm,” answered Severus, unbuttoning Hermione’s blouse and kissing his way down her chest.

“The only guests I’m unsure of are Harry and Ron,” she said, moaning lightly as Severus gently pulled on a hard nipple, “I think I should invite Harry, but Ron was horrid to you and to me. Still, he was my friend for so many years. Ooh, Severus, use your teeth a little…”

Severus nibbled on each nipple in turn, causing Hermione to moan out loud and Severus to chuckle darkly, “You should invite whom you wish to invite,” he said, “if you wish Weasley to be there, then by all means, he should be.”

“That’s just it, Severus, I’m not sure I want him there. I don’t really feel like I know him anymore. He’s not the same person. Something is missing from his eyes. Since the fall of Voldemort, he’s been so different.”

Severus halted his sensual ministrations and looked into Hermione’s eyes, “Different how, Hermione?”

“He’s not the same person, you know that. He’s colder. More introverted. Like a light has gone out inside him. Less like himself.”

“Like…” prompted Severus, suspicion dawning in his mind.

“Like a part of him is missing now. A part of his…” Hermione gasped and covered her mouth, “like a part of his soul is missing. Oh Severus, you don’t think…”

“That you have a fragment of Ronald Weasley’s soul in your possession? You very well might.”

“Severus, what should I do?”

Severus looked at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes, “Give it back?” he shrugged.