Life Begins Anew

AN Revelations are made as the Headmaster, Sara, Hermione, and Severus discover they do not know everything about each other as they previously thought. The Golden Trio reunites.

Please review good or bad! It lets me know how I am doing.

Chapter 32 All Is Not What It Seems

Sara silently waited in a dark corner of the hall next to a set of armor. She watched the group exit the classroom and spill into the passage.

“I am glad that you made the right decision, knowing it is hard as you do not understand our world. I will make sure that you keep in contact with your loved ones.” The Headmaster told the group. He looked over to the Head Girl. “Miss. Granger, please escort the younger years to their House and make sure their Prefects assign someone suitable to help them in their grieving process. And can you make yourself available to anyone that needs to talk? I know that I am asking much from you as you are in the same situation. Please meet back with Professor Snape later, as I know you have not had a chance to talk to him.”

“Of course, Headmaster I will do what you ask.” Hermione gently rounded the younger years and headed them in direction to the closest House.

“Professor Snape, can you make sure our guest are escorted safely back to their homes?” Albus asked the potions master.

“Of course Headmaster.” Severus indicated to the group which way they needed to go and the assembled muggles followed him.

Albus waited until the passage was clear and called out “Professor Snape, you can come out now.”

Sara walked out from the shadows and stood before the Headmaster, waiting.

“Come with me to my office Sara. I think it is time that we have a talk.” He turned, indicating Sara should follow him.

Meanwhile Hermione finished escorting and making sure the younger years were taken care of. She approached the painting of the Fat Lady, fighting the tears. She stood shaking, fighting the grief that filled her. She had to be strong, but Merlin! How could she?

“Hermione the portraits have heard and I feel your loss. Let me know when you are ready to enter.” The Fat Lady said, understanding the witch’s need to compose herself.

After a couple of minutes, Hermione looked to the portrait and nodded her head. She entered and found that the common room was filled with every member of her House, looking anxiously to her. The Creevey’s had entered previously, but they just headed straight to their dormitory, not saying a word.

She knew what the unasked question was as they silently looked to her.

“Lord Voldemort has killed the parents and sibling of every muggle born that attends this school. They did not experience a quick death!” Hermione told the assembled Gryffindors as her shoulders started to shake.

She stood there feeling lost and alone as she felt the arms of Harry and Ron wrap around her as she began to cry.

The room was silent as they listened to Hermione’s sobs. Suddenly a witch’s voice was heard as Lavender Brown said “We have the answer we were waiting for. Let’s give Hermione the space that she needs.” Motioning the group toward their dormitories.

Hermione caught Lavender’s eyes and expressed her thanks. Soon the common room was empty leaving Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Harry guided them to a couch and Hermione was seated in the middle of her two best friends. She appreciated it, as it had been some time since they were all together. It soothed her.

She haltingly told her friends of the events of the afternoon.

“Oh Hermione!” Ron gasped. “We tried to find out, but the evil twin of Professor Snape caught us! We waited outside the Headmaster’s office for you under Harry’s Invisibility Cloak.

Hermione looked to her friends in surprise as Harry muttered. “And she confiscated it.”

Hermione cried more as her friends just wrapped their arms around her, letting her grief come out. They felt as one, about the same as before the school year. It felt right.

As Hermione began to doze between Harry and Ron, an owl flew out of the Floo and landed on her lap, gently pecking her hand, and offering a leg out with a message.

Harry became agitated as he recognized the scrawl of their potions professor.

Miss. Granger, Please come down to my classroom when you feel available for the talk required by the Headmaster. Professor S. Snape, Potions Master.

“Harry! He is in the Order!” She whispered. “Maybe he can give me some closure!”

Harry looked at her doubtful as she heard Ron snort. Professor Snape was not one to be compassionate.

She let the parchment fall to the floor as her exhaustion took over and she fell asleep into the arms of her two best friends.

Sara and the Headmaster reached his office and he sat down at his desk, looking to the parchments of the concerned parents of Hogwarts students. She stood standing as she was not asked to take a seat.

Ah! The old wizard was versed in psychological manipulations as well Sara thought to herself as she awaited her Headmaster. Two can play at that game! After all, she was a master at it.

After twenty minutes of pondering his correspondence, he indicated that Sara should sit down and accio’d a bottle of firewhiskey and two large tumblers. He poured a large portion for them both and pushed a tumbler to her.

“Sara, it is time for a heart to heart talk, as the muggle saying goes.” Albus stated sipping his firewhiskey and looking toward his defense professor. “Lemon Drop?” He asked, sliding the bowl toward her.

Sara pushed the bowl back. “No thank you Headmaster! I can smell the Veritaserum from here. Rather sneaky and against Ministry standards, don’t you think?” She sipped at her firewhiskey, awaiting the Headmaster response.

“I need to see your Mark, Sara. I know you bear it. It was you after all that was with your brother at Miss. Granger’s house at the direction of Lord Voldemort! He told me he Obliviated you, but I do not really believe it. You are a powerful witch after all. I saw the memory of your brother killing you!” The Headmaster told her.

Sara pondered the Headmaster’s request for a few minutes, giving back the manipulation he tried to force upon her. She knew that he rightfully identified her as one of Voldemort’s minions. He probably recognized it from the start of this madness. After all, that was her goal. She had left enough hints.

She slowly unbuttoned the left sleeve of her robes as she exposed her Mark, and looked towards him, smirking.

“And Sara, what is preventing me calling the Aurors right now?” Albus asked.

“Hmmm, I do not know Headmaster? Maybe as soon as my arrest gets back to my Master, your most important spy’s life is forfeit?” She replied back laughingly.

“There is that.” The Headmaster conceded. “Why, as you chose not disclose Mr. Malfoy and your brother’s duplicity?”

“It meets my current needs.” Sara smoothly replied. “Headmaster, are you willing to take an Unbreakable Vow? I’ll tell you if you are willing.” Sara shot back.

“No, Sara. As you have made me whole and healthy removing that Dark curse upon me, I find myself reluctant” The Headmaster somberly replied.

“Ah, so you are reluctant to give it to me, but you forced that same vow upon my brother years ago with no remorse, playing upon his emotions! You are no better than the Dark Lord!” Sara spat out.

“I do it for the Light! For the Defeat of Lord Voldemort!” The Headmaster angrily replied.

“Your intentions are honorable Headmaster! That is always the way things start out.” Sara replied. “I have a feeling that you know this from your past. You are after all very familiar with the Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald? You were not always for the rights of muggle-borns after all, were you?” She asked Albus.

Sara realized she scored a point with the hint about his past as she saw him flinch slightly.

“Headmaster, let us just say that my current needs align to yours at this time.” Sara stated. “Besides, ask my brother about everything that has happened to him tonight. You might find out what you desire.”

Sara stood up and placed her tumbler upon his desk. “Whenever you are willing to take that vow let me know. It would please me to let my brother witness it!” She left the Headmaster’s office without a dismissal, leaving the Headmaster in shock. She chuckled darkly. Point to her.

Hermione woke up four hours later feeling their arms wrapped around her as her friends sat in silence watching over her.

***Sir, I am coming down now to meet you. *** Hermione sent along her bond.

Severus acknowledged her though the bond and contacted the Headmaster.

Hermione excused herself from Harry and Ron and made her way down to the Potions classroom dreading the conversation. She knew she needed some kind of closure, but was afraid to confront it.

She knocked on the classroom door and heard Professor Snape call for her to enter. She walked in and was surprised to see the Headmaster standing beside him.

“Miss. Granger, what we are about to show you is going to shock you, and possibly anger you. I must ask you to hold off any conversation until after we are through.” The Headmaster told her.

Hermione noticed the hard look that he gave to Professor Snape.

Severus opened the door to his chambers and motioned for Hermione to enter. She walked in and saw her parents look anxiously toward her. She gave a startled cry and fainted.

Hermione came to and noticed that her parents were on the floor next her, holding her hand.

“Mum! Dad! They told me you were dead!” She started to shake.

“And we would have been if not for that brave man!” Mrs. Granger pointed to Severus.

Albus coughed and spoke. “Miss. Granger, Professor Snape and I will be in the classroom if you need us. Please hurry as we need to arrange for their safe keeping.”

Hermione watched as the Headmaster motioned to Professor Snape as they exited his chambers. She suddenly realized that the Headmaster was against letting her know that her parents were alive.

Her parents helped her off the floor and they stood silently together, tears flowing from all.

In the classroom Albus looked to his spy. “I hope you know what you are doing. You know I am not comfortable with this! It could become a liability to you.”

Severus looked to the Headmaster coldly. “It is my life, after all! There is very little chance that the Dark Lord will find out the parents survival. Can you imagine Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley without her guidance? She gives them direction! I cannot put my confidence that the Golden Trio would succeed with a broken Miss. Granger.”

Albus looked to the dark wizard. “And what is Miss. Granger to you Severus?” He asked.

“A tool Headmaster. A means to an end! After all that is what I am. What any unfortunate fool is that is involved in this mess!” Severus spat out. “At least I know. Your pet Gryffindors do not! I only hope they come through this with their minds and body intact.”

“I had an interesting conversation with your sister this evening Severus. I forced her to reveal her Mark and asked her true intentions. She told me that I might get some answers if I asked you about what happened in the last day or so.” Albus told him.

Severus sighed as he conjured up a phial and pulled selected memories and placed them in it. As the Headmaster did not ask specifics, he was able just to include his death and the conversation, excluding his bond to Hermione, and fulfill the pull of his vow.

He handed the phial to the Headmaster as Hermione and her parents entered the classroom.

“Professor Snape, thank you for saving my parents.” Hermione quietly replied. “They told me everything, and I realized that you did it at great expense.”

Severus just looked to her as the Headmaster motioned her parents to go with them. He watched as they exited his classroom and warded the door behind them.

Suddenly Hermione raced into his arms and brushed her lips against his, their bond singing with the joy and elation that Hermione felt.

He held her closely, looking into her eyes and seeing joy and desire. He felt his resolve give way as he caught her lips with a passionate kiss, expressing his wants and desire.

After a few moments they broke apart gasping. “Grab my hand Beloved! If we keep this up, I will not be able to resist as the bond pulls me. I could easily complete the Bond right now and place both our lives in danger! We must be strong!” He panted out.

Hermione looked to him as she placed her hands in his. He brought her hands up to his cheek, feeling the heat and fighting the urge to take her and own her as she desired.

They stood there hands clasped in one another, amazed at the depth of feeling that they had for one another.

Meanwhile, the Headmaster pulled out of his pensieve in shock. Sara Snape commanded death! He at down at his desk, realizing that he had no power over his Defense professor. He had to do some thinking on this unexpected revelation.

AN The bond pulls them closer and gains strentgh. Next Chapter the Dark Lord Calls more upon Sara more nad more, breaking her to a point. Hermione and Severus fight an ever growing need for on another