Yuleride

Chapter 35 ~ Departure

Snape let his morning class out a bit early, billowing up the marble stairs to catch Hermione before she left for lunch. He had something interesting to tell her about her former beau, Ronald Weasley. It wouldn’t hurt to put a little more emotional distance between them. The students flowed around him like water as he walked down the first floor corridor and stopped in front of her office, looking in since the door was opened.

Hermione was in there, arranging a dozen yellow roses in a vase. Snape’s nose wrinkled for two reasons. First, the flowers were roses, which he had no appreciation for, and second, they could only be from one source.

He walked into the office, watching Hermione. She was smiling broadly.

He scowled. Well, whatever ‘good’ feelings Ron had managed to pull out of the witch were about to be cut into ribbons.

”More roses from Mr. Weasley, I see. He’s not giving up,” Snape said rather coldly.

Hermione’s head swiveled and she smiled at the wizard.

”Hello, Severus. Actually, he has given up, in a way. He sent me a note with these roses—“

Hermione picked up a small piece of parchment and read the following words to the Potions master.

Hermione, I understand. Good Luck with your New Life

She stared at the parchment, and wiped at a glistening eye with one finger, before putting it down and staring at the roses.

”Yellow roses stand for friendship,” she said softly. “This is Ron’s way of saying he accepts me leaving and he still wants to be friends. I never thought he’d see the way of it, but he has, Severus. He really has.”

Snape stood there silently, eyeing the roses for a moment, then studying Hermione’s face. She looked, well—happy and relieved. Breaking up with Ron hadn’t been easy for her, and even though she had been furious, the knowledge that she had hurt him still took its toll on her. Gryffindors were natural-born martyrs and used to sacrificing themselves on the altar of “Someone Else’s Need” It had to be difficult for Hermione to put her own needs first. Ron’s acceptance made everything a lot easier for her.

Hermione looked at Snape.

”Was there something you wanted, Severus?” she asked him.

Snape looked at the roses again.

”Yes, I wanted to—“ he began, his eyes resting on the witch once more and taking her in.

Oh, what the hell. It wouldn’t be the first time he omitted the truth.

”I wanted to escort you to lunch,” he finished.

”Oh, isn’t that nice?” Hermione said, surprised. “Just let me put away these parchments and I’ll be ready—“

Snape watched as Hermione put away her last class’ paperwork, wondering if he was starting to go soft because of his new association with the witch. Was kindness contagious? And if so, to what degree?

As Hermione walked toward him, pleased and smiling, Snape decided even if it were contagious, he wouldn’t die from it.

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Ron strictly forbade anyone from harassing Hermione or trying to make her change her mind or take him back.

”She has to be focused,” he told his mum, dad and George. “Some of these missions are going to be dangerous and I don’t want her forgetting anything during her first run because she’s being aggravated.”

Molly couldn’t believe Ron was going down without a fight. He’d never find anyone as brilliant and well-respected as Hermione. She would have been a wonderful addition to the Weasley clan. Besides, Molly loved Hermione. It felt as if she were losing a child.

Arthur, on the other hand, was very proud of his son. Ron had learned something very important about being in a relationship, and that was to look to see if it were a match or not. He was sure that Ron’s next girlfriend would be someone with dreams and goals more in line with his own wishes. Arthur loved Hermione too, but he always knew that she was settling. She was too brilliant for ordinary domestic life. She would have never been happy.
That may have taken care of the Weasleys, but Hermione still had to sit through a heart-to-heart with Minerva, who, once she found out about Snape, was determined to make her see reason.

“Hermione, I haven’t yet finalized your resignation. I truly wish you would reconsider your decision to leave us and listen to someone wiser and more experienced than yourself. Traveling the world in such of rare potions might sound exciting, but there’s a great amount of danger involved in it. Severus is used to danger, probably even requires it in some strange, twisted manner, like a drug. But you, my dear, have always been a logical young woman—“

Hermione pounced.

”Headmistress, in case you forgot, I became very used to danger at a very early age. I wasn’t a spy, but I got my share of excitement and came close to death many, many times. I’m not afraid of danger. I’m afraid of never doing anything exemplary with my life. If we discover only one or two of the many elixirs Professor Snape will be searching for, it will still be a fantastic contribution to the field of Potions and I’ll be part of it. Don’t you see, for me this is a logical decision? A much better one than living a boring, predictable life as a teacher and wife. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a teacher, but you have to have the proper love of teaching for it to be meaningful. I enjoy teaching, but I don’t love it the way you and the other staff members do. Traveling the world is much more my forte. And I’m not going to pass on the opportunity, so please, finalize the resignation, Headmistress. I’m not going to change my mind.”

Of course, nothing at all was said to Snape about his decision. Everyone knew it was time for him to go, and he wouldn’t be missed to be honest. He was so unpleasant. Still, that fact didn’t stop Minerva from having a “Happy Journeys” party for both he and Hermione, much to Snape’s consternation.

The day after graduation, when all of the students had cleared out, Minerva held the party in the staff room, complete with music, food, libations and dancing. It started at four in the evening and lasted until past ten.

Snape was his usual cantankerous self, sitting in various folding chairs with his arms folded, being sarcastic and rather nasty to his well-wishers, frankly telling them that he knew they’d all be glad to see him go and to stop sucking up. Once again he threatened to hex Sybill when she got a bit too inebriated and amorous towards him. Why she thought he’d even be attracted to her was beyond him. He soon found out why she did, however, after a few Firewhiskeys loosened her tongue. He was going to be leaving soon, so Sybill decided to lay it all on the line.

”Severus, you should be glad I pay you any attention at all. You’re such an ugly blighter,” she said to him. “That any witch would be willing to give you a tumble is a miracle. You should be grateful, you git.”

”I might be ugly, Sybill, but I’m not that desperate as to be willing to take whatever is offered,” he told her firmly. “I’m still selective, and the only tumble you’d get out of me would be from my wand-tip when I blast you for annoying me. Now get away, you distasteful, drunken cow.”

Sybill slurred something nasty at him and walked away

Hermione, one the other hand enjoyed herself immensely, the only glitch being when a crying, broken and rather drunken Sybill cried on her shoulder that she was the one who should be going with Snape and not Hermione.

Hermione couldn’t help thinking Severus would most likely throw Sybill from the plane once it got high enough.

Snape managed to slink away before the “party” was over. No one even noticed he was gone except Hermione. It was a wonder he stayed as long as he did.

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Hermione spent the rest of the week with her parents, who understood perfectly why she wanted to go abroad. They also liked to travel and did so frequently after Hermione began attending Hogwarts. They even took an unexpected trip to Australia, but oddly, they didn’t remember much about that one.

It took an hour and twenty-five minutes for her dad to drive her to Heathrow airport. She was to meet Snape at Terminal four. He let her out in front of the terminal, took out her bags and kissed her on the forehead.

”Have fun, princess, and remember not to drink anything but bottled water. Check the seal too. Sometimes they put tap water in there and you bloody don’t want to drink that!” he told her.

Hermione didn’t divulge the potentially dangerous nature of her trip to Egypt to her parents. They thought she was traveling as Snape’s personal secretary.

Snape met her inside the terminal, avoiding meeting her father. He silently handed her a ticket, then they went through the process of getting into the terminal. Snape wore his robes and Hermione was dressed in comfortable Muggle clothing. Some people kept addressing him as “Father” which Hermione found hilarious.

Snape didn’t tell them otherwise, although he was more likely to curse than to bless.

Finally, they boarded the plane, Snape leading them through the cramped aisle of coach and entering first class. Hermione was very surprised.

”First class?” she said in surprise as Snape put his carry-all in the spacious overhead bin.

”Don’t get used to it. This will be the only time we fly this way. I just wanted to make sure you’d be comfortable on your first long flight. You’re paying for it anyway,” he said quietly, taking the window seat. Even though the aisle was wider in first class, Snape hated anyone to brush against him in passing. Hermione settled in next to him.

She was excited, but a little sad. The last few months had been very solitary for her. Of course she stayed away from the Burrow, and she just didn’t have it in her to see Harry. Most of the time she was planning for the trip. She and Severus didn’t interact that much now that everything was settled. He did come around now and again to discuss a change in plans or let her know what the latest developments were, but it was strictly business.

It wasn’t that Snape wasn’t still attracted to Hermione, but now that he knew he had her, he could focus on the thousands of little details necessary for success. He did give Hermione copies of the texts he had concerning the Elixir of Immortality’s creation and location, and she read them like romance novels, sighing over the compelling history and rereading the best parts. She discovered some aspects that he hadn’t, and once again Snape was glad he’d convinced the witch to come with him. She’d be helpful on a number of levels.

Hermione sat there quietly as the attendant showed them all the scary little maneuvers to take in case the plane went down. Of course, she and Snape could Disapparate and save themselves if that happened, but she paid attention anyway.

Hermione couldn’t help thinking about Harry and Ron. She was leaving and hadn’t said good-bye to either of them. Ron hadn’t come around at all after sending the roses, and she understood that. Harry hadn’t come around either and that had been a little painful, but he could have been mad about the breakup. Harry seemed to favor Ron a little more than her, probably because they were both wizards. Hermione felt that way, but it wasn’t true at all. He had just listened to Ron’s wishes, and he knew he couldn’t be in Hermione’s presence without the situation coming up, so he stayed away.

She let out a sigh, and Snape studied her profile. He could sense what was wrong but said nothing. There was nothing he could say to make it any easier for her. They put on their belts as the plane slowly pulled away from the terminal. Snape idly looked out the window, then stiffened for a moment, before a slow smirk formed on his face.

”Hermione, look out of the window,” he said to the witch.

Hermione leaned as far as she could and looked out. A happy smile appeared on her face.

There, standing where they really shouldn’t be, were Ron, Harry and Ginny, jumping up and down and waving, Ron holding up a banner that read:

”HAPPY JOURNEYS, HERMIONE!”

”Oh—“ she said, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.

They still cared and came to see her off. Ron wore a big smile and waved the banner back and forth.

Hermione looked at them until the plane turned and they were no longer visible. Some employees were heading toward them, gesticulating. She imagined they all Disapparated before they reached them.

She sat back in the seat and wiped her eyes as the plane taxied down the runway, gaining speed. Suddenly, a white handkerchief appeared before her, held by a pale hand.

She took it from the Potions master and dabbed at her eyes with it. She handed it back to him, and he caressed the wet spots with his fingertips before folding it up and putting it back in his inside robes pocket.

“I suppose that was one of those “heart-wrenching” moments I’ve heard about. Your estranged friends coming to see you off after months of non-contact,” the dark wizard said softly.

Hermione only nodded. If she spoke she’d probably sob.

”I believe you’re rubbing off on me, Hermione. I watched that spectacle and didn’t find it the slightest bit nauseating. I don’t know if that’s good—or bad.”

Hermione gave him a small smile.

”It’s good, believe me,” she told him, feeling happier because the wizard didn’t down her friends.

“We’ll see,” the wizard replied, looking out of the window as the plane took to the air.

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From the terminal, Ron, Harry and Ginny watched as Hermione’s plane soared away. It was a sobering moment for Harry and Ron. The trio was down to two, but Hermione was going to find her own way now and that was something to celebrate.

Through the glass, Ron’s reflection was superimposed over the departing plane. He looked at it, then cocked his head, making a face at the suggested symbolism of his fading, transparent image and the departing plane.

”Blimey, that’s too bloody dramatic even for me,” he said, blowing off what could have been a perfectly good bittersweet ending to his relationship with Hermione. But he knew they would always be friends, and now, that was enough for him. “Come on, Harry, Ginny. Let’s go to the food court. I’m bloody starving.”

With Ron leading the way, he, Harry and Ginny headed toward the food court and the rest of their lives. They didn’t need perilous adventures and dangerous challenges, no, not these three.

The ordinary adventures and challenges of living day to day ones would do just fine.

Hopefully, Hermione would find everything she was looking for and more.

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A/N: And we’re winding this one up. Next the epilogue.