Everything I Do, I Do It For You

Chapter 36:- Memory Lane

Severus knew that he couldn’t just grab Hermione and take her back to Hogwarts. That part of his little ‘Welcome back Miss Granger,’ speech had been a lie; however, she didn’t have to know that. At the time, he had thought her to be playing some sort of game at her Potions professor’s expense. With one well-placed knee to the groin, he had known she was not lying. He had only had to look in her eyes in her apartment, and that alone had told him that this was no game she was playing. It irked him somewhat that there was someone out there who was willingly doing this to one of his students.

Since the demise of the Dark Lord, Dumbledore had made Hogwarts even more impenetrable than before. Muggles could not see Hogwarts, as it wouldn’t do to have uninvited visitors on the premises. Miss Granger was just another disbelieving Muggle at the moment. True, she was a witch, but she didn’t believe herself to be one, so Hogwarts would not have appeared to her.

The extra warding that the Headmaster had cast also made sure that no one with any malice towards the school or any of its inhabitants was allowed on the property, unless invited by the Headmaster himself.

That was one of the reasons that Albus now felt ill at ease when walking the corridors of Hogwarts alone. He knew, or rather had a feeling, that some of the Minister’s lackeys were on the school grounds, watching his every move and waiting for him to slip up. They were not bad people per se. Dumbledore held no negative designs on them; after all, they were just doing their jobs.

That was one of the reasons that he had left Peter Pettigrew to his own devices for so long and had not been down to the dungeons to interrogate him. It would not do to have anyone in the Ministry even suspect that he was holding Pettigrew down there, and so he bided his time until he knew it would be safe for him to do so.

The elderly wizard knew that the Aurors on the school grounds were not out to harm him in any way, and that they were only there because of Cornelius’ wishes. Still, they were rather well hidden, even to the old man who had spent most of his life living and working in Hogwarts.

The Board of Governors had given up their quest to watch the Headmaster, but despite their reprieve, Dumbledore couldn’t help but feel at least a little concerned about their sudden lack of trust in him.

Severus had gone to see the Headmaster after his discovery about the potions in Miss Granger’s medication. He had told Dumbledore everything about what he had been doing on his supposed sabbatical. He had explained about Tolmie and how he had been befriended by the self-taught Potions Master.

When he had reached the part about Miss Granger having a scar that was identical to Mister Potter’s, the Headmaster had broken away from Severus’ glare and looked pensive. A few moments had passed, and when the elderly wizard didn’t say anything, Severus had continued.

The dark-haired wizard was now preparing himself to Apparate back to Miss Granger’s apartment. In his cloak pocket were the two plastic containers that held the potion-encased tablets.

Lifting his wand and concentrating, he Disapparated.

***

Hermione had been at work all day; though she usually found the work easy, today she hadn’t been able to concentrate at all. All she’d heard running through her head were the words that her Potions professor had spoken:

"I, Miss Granger, am a wizard; you are a witch, and a Muggle-born one at that. I have come to take you back to Hogwarts and to give you back your wand. It was broken, but I fixed it. I don’t know how well it will work, though; that will be something for you to see to.”

Her head still hurt. Even though she had taken a couple of aspirins in the morning, the headache just keep on getting worse.

She was planning to go to her apartment and then down to Calan Park for her medication, when without prior warning she dropped to her knees clutching her head, as it felt as if it would split open. She gave out a piercing howl of pain. When the pain subsided she looked up, and ignoring the curious stares of concern from the people standing by, she stood on two very unsteady legs and started up the flight of stairs to her apartment.

She reached her door, ornamented with the number 12, and was hit with a wave of nausea that threatened to bring her to her knees once more. Steadying herself against the door, she took in two rather quick gulps of air. Then the strangest thing happened. It was like she was watching a movie, but instead of actors playing the leading roles, it was she that held that particular position.

Hermione could clearly make out a child, herself she thought, learning to ride a bike with a man in the background giving her his support. That image faded quickly and she saw herself staring at a letter that had been delivered by a strange-looking owl. It said that she had been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Then yet another image as she walked into a hall and a feeling of complete awe and wonderment swept over her. Then she was sitting quite nervously on a stool while an age-weathered hat was placed on her head; it enthusiastically cried out “GRYFFINDOR!” and there was a loud explosion of clapping. Another and she was in a bathroom crying, another and she was laughing quite heartily with a red-headed boy, and a boy with ruffled hair and a scar on his forehead.

It was happening as Dr. Lopes had said it would. Her memories were returning to her. She had never thought it would happen in this way, and it was all a little too much for her to handle.

She was still being assaulted by the memories of her past; names were now being put to the faces of the people in her memories. She quickly found her key and shoved it into the lock, opening the door. Walking into her apartment, she slammed the door shut and leant against the door.

She didn’t notice the dark wizard clothed in black hiding in the shadows until he spoke, making her jump and causing her heart to skip a couple of beats.

***

After Hermione had left the previous night, Head Orderly Robert Finn had rushed down to the boiler room and hastily scribbled down everything that had transpired between Hermione and himself.

After he had tied the letter onto Fydles’ leg, he had gone back to his duties within Calan Park.

***

Cornelius Fudge had received the letter from Mr Finn whilst preparing for bed. He scanned the letter swiftly and decided that he would have to move his next plan into operation if he were to obtain Hermione Granger’s powers.

He quickly formulated a response. It was an annoyance that Miss Granger had indeed been found, as he had known she would be, and it was quite a bit sooner than he had anticipated. But no matter; he had known this day would be on him sooner rather than later.

He smiled to himself as he thought of Severus Snape. Now was the time to act and be rid of that annoyance once and for all. He knew the Headmaster had his plate full with the Aurors he had placed within Hogwarts. That old fool wouldn’t be able to pin any of this on Cornelius with his Potions Master and Miss Granger out of the picture.

As he sent off Fydles with the parchment, he climbed into bed. The smile was still plastered on his face as he settled down and pulled up the bed sheets. He was asleep within a couple of seconds of his head hitting the pillow.

***

“There you are, Miss Granger,” Severus said, stepping out of the shadows cast mainly by the gloomy weather outside and the curtains which hung in the apartment windows.

“Oh Professor, Sir, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” Hermione said, breathing heavily and placing a hand over her chest.

Severus was stunned at her proclamation. Obviously her memories were coming back. However, he remained calm, closing the gap that stood between them.

Hermione still held her hand to her chest, but her breathing had become more even. All of a sudden she dropped to her knees, cradling her head in her hands once more.

The Potions Master took two graceful steps and was kneeling next to her. He didn’t touch her, but his concern was clearly evident on his face.

“What is the matter, Miss Granger?” His voice clearly showed his trepidation.

Hermione was whimpering as she held her head in her hands. “Another memory,” she whispered; Severus had to lean in close to catch it.

“How long has this been happening?” he asked. His voice was still laced with apprehension, although he was trying to hide it.

“Well, I’ve had a headache all day, and when I was walking home it got really bad,” she replied, gasping for air as the attack subsided. “My memories started to come back when I got to my front door. But I only see little snippets of each recollection, and then it fades out and I am given another fragment.”

Hermione stood up and almost collapsed once more.

Severus put a steady arm around her waist and helped her over to the settee, where he laid her down before taking a few steps backwards to distance himself once more.

“Thank you,” was all she managed to say before the mental attack happened once more.

Severus stood near her. When she stopped whimpering and it seemed like the pain had settled, he went and wet a face cloth in the bathroom and brought it back to her, laying it on her head.

“Thank you,” she repeated, although it was bit more strained this time.

“Hmm,” Severus grunted. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to start remembering, as you have now stopped taking these little wonder pills.” He reached into his cloak pocket and retrieved Hermione’s medication.

“What are you trying to imply?” Hermione asked, pushing herself up on the settee. Her head still swam, but thankfully, she didn’t feel the nausea or have another attack.

“I am merely stating the obvious, that these pills were laced with highly Dark potions, and with prolonged use, you would have found yourself left defenceless to attacks.”

Hermione looked aghast at her Potions professor. Severus merely sneered at her as she sat up fully.

"Not saying that I believe you, but should you be right, why would I listen to you anyway? You hated me," Hermione said with her chin held upright and her eyes gleaming with unspoken resentment.

“You silly little girl,” Severus retorted. “Everything that I have done and continue to do for the last ten months has been for you. Can’t you see that now?”

“Well, I appreciate your help, although I can take it from here, Professor,” she replied with her own sneer as she stood up and headed for the door.

Not even breaking her stride, she added, “Lock up before you leave.”

Hermione was just about to turn the doorknob when Severus came up behind her and placed his hand on the door, effectively keeping her inside the apartment.

“Miss Granger, why won’t you listen to reason?” he asked. She still had her back to him and she tensed up hearing the question.

Hermione whirled around, causing Severus to take a step backwards. Her eyes were alight with suppressed irritation as she steeled her voice to reply to him as calmly as possible.

“Because from what I have just seen of my fragmented memories, Professor, you have done nothing to warrant my trust in you. You have been nothing but cruel and vindictive towards my friends and me, and even though I know that Dumbledore trusted you fully, I cannot say the same goes for me. You may have been on the side of the Light, but if you want my trust, you will have to earn it, and so far, you have done nothing to merit that. You have broken into my flat not once, but twice, and you have threatened me - something a friend would never have done. Besides, I don’t need your help anyway.”

“You are the most insufferable witch I have ever had the misfortune to know, Miss Granger,” Severus replied, shaking his head.

Hermione took a determined step closer to the dark-haired wizard standing before her. Reaching up, she grasped his face in both of her hands and tilted his face downwards. She stretched up on her toes and planted a brief kiss on his closed mouth.

Dropping her hands to her sides and taking a step back, she replied, “I thank you, Sir, but I still agree with my former decision on you, and that is that you are an ass.”

She quickly spun on her heel, opened the door to her flat and slammed it behind herself.

Severus stood in her flat and stared at the closed door, his mouth agape. He pulled himself together after the brief state of disbelief he had found himself in, and opened the door, finding Hermione making her way down the stairs.

Severus was still a little shocked and said the first thing that came to his already foggy mind, “Miss Granger, that will be twenty points from Gryffindor.” His voice sounded a lot calmer than he felt.

Hermione looked back as she made her way down the staircase, a huge smile on her face.

***

A/N: You tell him, Hermione.

So, what do you think?

As always, reviews are welcome and make me write faster.

Cheers, LariLee, for betaing this for me.

Disclaimer: The usual.