Calling you

Title : Calling you

Disclaimer : see first chapters.
Many thanks to Susan who beta-read this chapter


Chapter Three : Florence


There was no reason for the next night to be different. Again, Hermione
found herself in the past misty castle of the Slytherin family.

The carriage stopped in front of the huge stairs. Severus stood at the
top, next to Lady Slytherin. There was something so theatrical about
the noble society. We are not common human beings, they seemed to
claim, we are more than what we are. We are serving an ideal, and we
are proud of it.

The sun had been gone for a long time. Two girls stepped out of the
carriage neither one was more than sixteen. They both wore long black
silken dresses. They were as beautiful as the glorious statues in
Greece, but as they came closer he could see the lack of color of their
lips, their swallow skin and their delicate shoulders. They didn\'t look
like hunters, but they were.

\"Be careful.\"

He shivered. Where did that voice come from? A quick glance to Lady
Slytherin. She seemed very distant, and the voice was close, whispering
in his ear. He discreetly shook his head. One of the castle ghosts,
probably.

The two girls were climbing the stairs. Straight posture and elegantly
graceful as their mother. Their movements implied powerful
personalities, although they kept their eyes down. He was breathless as
they both settled in front of their mother and bent gracefully in
respect.

\"Mother.\"

\"Lady Slytherin.\"

Both Veelas, he thought. What a lucky man I am.

\"Severus, may I introduce my daughter Miss Florence and her cousin Miss
Moira.\"

He bowed in response.

\"My pleasure.\"

And was rewarded by two discreet smiles which vanished under Lady
Slytherin\'s glance.


*************

\"How did the hunting go?\"

Lady Slytherin walked first, closely followed by the two young ladies.
Severus walked behind them quietly.

\"We killed a bear, Mother.\"

\"Yes, poor little thing. He truly expected to find a way out until the
end.\"

Florence\'s voice was very sweet, carrying an incredible innocence. In
contrast, Moira\'s voice was straight and sharp. She was taller ther er
cousin and there was something very strong and precise in her movements.

\"Who killed it?\"

The three women turned to him as he realized he had spoken aloud. There
was an awkward moment during which he truly wished he could find a
coherent way out. Florence spoke, smiling in a soft and sad way.

\"I did. There was no point allowing him to hope anymore.\"

Was he supposed to congratulate her? He nodded in a way he expected to
be respectful.

\"So...\"

Florence turned slightly to her mother for approval.

\"You are our new tutor, Severus?\"

\"Yes, Miss Florence.\"

The two girls didn\'t look at each other but he could tell a secret
understanding had passed between them all the same.

\"You will not be too severe with us, will you, Severus.\" The question
lingered with a light touch of mockery.

He didn\'t have the time to answer. Lady Slytherin was quicker. \"I
expect Severus to treat you as you deserve, ladies. And I must warn you-
this is your last chance.\"

The two girls looked down but could not repress the amusement in their
eyes.

\"We understand, Mother. We will be good.\"

Standing behind the professor’s shoulder, Hermione could hardly repress
the anger she felt growing.

\"They\'re lying\", she muttered, \"two devils in girl\'s shapes. I\'ve seen
so many like them\".

Had he heard what she had said? He showed no reaction. His eyes were
resting on Florence\'s perfect shoulders, his lips curled slightly.

Somewhere, between the Present and the Past, Hermione started to scream.


************

When she woke up, she was lying next to him. He was as still and silent
as the previous days.

\"Who are they? What do they mean to you?\" she asked her lover, once her
teacher.

But somewhere deep inside, she knew there was no they. There was her.

Her, her, her.+


\"What makes her so fucking special? Why do you see her in your dreams
and not me? As if all the things we went through together were
meaningless. Or maybe I\'m too much of a good girl. Is that it? You
prefer pure-blood bitches?\"

She started to punch his chest before breaking into tears again. She
cried for what seemed like ages.

This was becoming tedious.


************

Hermione was sitting in front of Dumbledore. It was upsetting to
realize how limited the possibilities were when one was looking for an
answer.

\"Is she still alive?\"

The old man sighed. \"It\'s not unlikely. I\'ve heard she had left Britain
for Tibet to join the Dark Healers.\"

\"Never heard about them.\"

\"They study a very special application of the Dark Arts. They\'re using
all the Unforgettable Curses for healing purpose.\"

\"I didn\'t know it was possible.\"

\"For most of us, the Dark Arts are only a weapon but when used in a
completely disinterested way, it can be more efficient than a Healing
Spell.\"

Hermione didn\'t actually care about other people\'s opinion. \"I have to
go there. I have to find her.\"

\"Why?\"

\"He\'s calling for her.\"

Her mouth was dry. She could have asked Harry for help but he was too
busy enjoying life now. His only proposition when she had mentioned
Severus in coma had been: \"Come on, Mione, you\'re still young, even if
you\'re not very pretty. I\'m sure you can find someone else, someone
better\". And Ron, well... Ron was dead. With friends like this... she
thought, but she was too upset to finish the sentence.

\"There might be an easier way. Do you know were the Healers\' training
ends?\"

Hermione did not know. Dumbledore smiled.

\"Professor Binns would be deceived. It ends in Romania. And the Order
has an agent in Romania\".

\"Charlie.\"

\"Absolutely.\"


************

A bit of Floo powder later and Charlie was greeting Hermione and
Dumbledore. He was much cuter than Ron, she decided. His eyes widened
as he heard the purpose of their call.

\"Flo? You\'re looking for Flo?\"

\"Yes. Severus is calling for her.\"

\"Why didn\'t he ask himself?\" Charlie Weasley looked like someone who
had been driven in a trap.

\"He cannot. He is in coma.\"

\"But how-?\"

\"I a d a dream\". Hermione felt much more uncomfortable telling Charlie
about it than Dumbledore. \"I saw her. I know he wants to see to her.\"

Charlie remained silent, and then he frowned.

\"I trust you, Hermione. I\'ll do it for you. But I wouldn\'t have spoken
to old Flo for anybody else. Just you.\"

Hermione nodded, feeling his trust like another burden on her
shoulders. He gave her a sweet smile.

\"Take care. I\'ll keep you informed\".

A few seconds after, she was staring at the empty fire.


************

She slept next to Severus than night. She didn\'t cry.


************

The cheeky girl had become a mature woman in her late thirties. She had
style, she had confidence- she had everything. Her voice was soft and
precious. She wore a burgundy uniform, like a monk. Her long black hair
rested on her creamy white shoulders. She moved like a cat. A touch of
her delicate fingers made Severus shiver. Her laugh burst into the
silence like the song of a bird.

And Hermione realized she was awake.

The wonderful woman in front of her was real. The woman whose name had
kept Severus alive.

Florence.

Florence was smiling to her.


tbc