The Ties that Lead to Trust

Chapter 36~ Family Secrets

Harry and Ginny were tucked away in a secluded spot near the main doors of Hogwarts with Hermione. Despite the distraction charm placed on their corner, she felt very exposed from the bustling of several hundred students jostling their way outside to catch the carriages to Hogsmeade station. There was a cry from some first years who were watching the road, anxious to ride in the ‘horseless carriages.’ Evidently the carriages had been spotted and the eager throng of students bursting with summer holiday excitement began pushing its way forward. From their vantage point they could not yet see the thestral drawn carriages, but began making their goodbyes.

Ginny gave Hermione a concerned look. “Are you sure you don’t want us to stay for a few days?”

Hermione shook her head, “No, you two go on and catch the train. I’ll be alright here.”

“When should we come up for a visit at the house?” Harry asked cautiously, “It sounds like there is plenty of work to be done. You know we’d be more than happy to help out.”

A surge of nervous adrenaline pulsed through her, but she took a deep breath and fought it down. “I don’t know. Perhaps next week sometime. To be honest, I haven’t been thinking much about it.”

Harry enveloped her in a strong hug and spoke softly, “Just owl us when you are ready. Take good care of yourself, you hear?”

“I will.” Hermione answered squeezing back. “You stay out of trouble, Harry.”

Ginny laughed at that. “Good luck. Trouble must be his middle name, but I’m sure Mum blames the twins for some of it.”

Harry let go from the embrace, his cheeks tinged with red. “You are just as bad Gin. Remember, I’m not the one who woke up the ghoul in the middle of the night.”

“What on earth were you doing? No wait, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know. Forget I asked,” Hermione said chuckling.

Ginny’s blush was about six shades deeper than Harry’s but she responded in a dignified manner. “The Burrow can be very small at times, particularly when no one else is there but Mum and Dad.”

Hermione shook her head in amusement, feeling better. “Have a good summer.”

It was Ginny’s turn to give a quick hug while Harry watched the crowd begin to dissipate. When Ginny let go, Hermione looked out to see Severus moving towards them, snapping at students to hurry up as he went. It was oddly comforting that even during his last day as a professor some things didn’t change. Easing up on the distraction charm enough to let him find them, Hermione gave one last look to her friends. “Go on, you’ll miss the train.”

“Be careful,” Harry urged.

“We’ll visit soon,” Ginny promised.

They both turned away to find themselves face to face with Severus. To everyone’s surprise he extended a hand to Harry. “I had my doubts in the past that you would make it to the end of your schooling. Congratulations.”

“I had my doubts that you would make it to the end of my schooling. I’m glad you did,” Harry answered in a steady voice.

The corner of Severus’ mouth twitched then turned up a bit. “Indeed. I expect I shall see you again in the not so distant future Mr. Po...” he took a deep breath, “Harry.”

Harry was slightly taken aback but answered, “I expect I will.”

“Potions next year won’t be the same,” Ginny added, taking his hand as well.

“Somehow I don’t doubt it,” Severus said, nearly smiling completely.

Ginny looked past his shoulder and gasped. “We’ll be late. That’s the last carriage! Bye Herm!”

Harry and Ginny took off for the last carriage at a run and leaned out the window to wave as they departed, though they could no longer see who they were waving at.

As the carriage trundled its way out of sight, Hermione sighed and gave a small shiver. Her friends were gone, all the students were gone and her school years were gone. Not aware that she was speaking aloud she said, “Well, I guess that’s it then.”

“What is ‘it?’” a gentle voice asked.

She was startled out of her musings, “Oh, well, you know, school, Hogwarts, silly summer antics. Childhood things I suppose.”

Severus smiled at her. “There is still opportunity for a bit of summer recreation and your friends will visit. In fact, you have a visitor today.”

“What?” her eyebrows shot up in shock, “I don’t think... I mean, who is it? I’m not sure I’m up to any visitors today.”

A single finger traced along her marked cheeks. “They have faded a great deal already and she won’t care about the marks anyway.”

Hermione knitted her brows together in puzzlement. “Who is coming?”

A single carriage was making its way up the dusty road towards the school. Severus didn’t answer her question, but took down the distraction charm and guided Hermione towards the road. Her legs trembled a little from the prolonged standing but in general were less uncomfortable and more responsive than they had been the previous day. Holding onto Severus’ arm, Hermione moved stiffly towards where the carriage was slowing to a stop at the bottom of the slope in front of the school.

When the carriage stopped, the head of a woman popped out of the door and quickly departed the carriage, taking rapid steps towards Hermione. Wrapped up in a sudden hug, the woman said, “Oh sweety, I’m so sorry.”

Hermione sniffled and clung back desperately, “I’m glad you’re here Mum.”
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Severus had joined the two women for lunch after a brief tour around the castle then excused himself to spend the afternoon with Albus establishing magical wards at their new house. The thought of being outside of protective wards made her edgy and Hermione felt somewhat relieved to be left behind. The headmaster had provided her mother with a room on the second floor with a sunny sitting room overlooking the lake. Hermione and her mother settled into the comfortable chairs and watched in silence as the giant squid glided lazily across the surface of the lake.

For a time neither spoke, simply enjoying the quiet serenity of the scene before them. When the squid dove below the water, Hermione’s gaze never left the lake while she spoke. “Does Dad know?”

Emily Granger turned to her daughter and spoke softly, “No. Not everything at least.”

“What do you mean not everything?” Hermione’s voice rose, somewhat panicked.

“I only told him that there had been an incident and you were hurt. Severus and I both agreed that there was no real need to tell him more. It’s yours to tell if you wish,” her mother soothed.

She nodded and said weakly, “Thank you. I’d rather not tell more people than necessary.”

“And at the trial?” the older woman asked gently.

A shiver ran down her spine. “I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it just now.”

Mrs Granger placed a hand on her daughter’s. “I understand. He will understand too. Better than you think.”

“Somehow I doubt it,” Hermione’s voice was barely a whisper.

Squeezing the hand she was holding, Mrs Granger said confidently, “My father didn’t understand, but yours will.”

Hermione looked quizzically at her mother, who had turned back to gaze out over the lake. Before she could ask a question, her mother spoke. “There’s something I need to tell you, Hermione. Something I had hoped you’d never need to hear, but I think it is important that you do.”

Knowing better than to try to push her mother into speaking, she waited as her mother took several deep breaths and collected her strength. “You know I met your father while I was at school. That much we have always been honest with, but I’m afraid the manner in which I met him was far from the romantic tale you have heard. At that time, there weren’t so many women in medical fields of study as there are now and there were perhaps a dozen other ladies in the dentistry program. With so many men in classes, well, I was very popular and never lacked for a date on any given Friday night. I had always been a bit plain when I was younger and blended right into a crowd, but in dentistry I stood out. All the men were clamouring for my attention and I loved it. It was so new, so thrilling.”

“I was part of a study group of all men. That in itself isn’t all that surprising, but during my second year I started dating one on a regular basis. Jim Stanhope.”

“Doctor Stanhope? The one with the big surgery in London?” Hermione interrupted.

Her mother nodded. “The very same. He was witty and smart, always out to have a good time, but not so carefree that he let his studies slip. He and I were both living in residence and often we would break away from our study group and work together after visiting the library.”

Emily took another series of deep breaths and continued her story. “It was close to Christmas, I remember, because there were lights up around town and a bake sale by the chess club outside the cafeteria. We bought some shortbreads... Odd that I remember that... anyhow, we went back to his room and took out our books but exams were over and we were both going home for the holidays within the next day or so. Soon enough we gave up on the studying and spent time talking. It was getting late and, well, I expect you have a good idea what ended up happening instead. We had kissed often enough, and sometimes more, but my father was very strict and I wanted to live up to his expectations so badly that I had always left before things got to carried away. But that night, it was Christmas and I thought perhaps there would be no harm in a bit of a cuddle.”

“It was so gradual that I almost didn’t notice when his hands began wandering outside what I was comfortable with. I tried pulling his hands away at first, but he ignored that. Before I knew it, he had torn all the buttons off my blouse and made a rip in my skirt. I was very upset by then and told him to stop, but he whined and said it was Christmas and that it was the perfect time for him to show me how much he loved me. I was angry when he said that, and slapped him when he tried to kiss me again, hard enough to leave a big red mark on his face. He didn’t like that very much and hit me back, right across the face. I remember it wasn’t until that moment that I realized how strong he was. Jim was a scholar, not an athlete, and thin. You know what he looks like now, and he was just as thin then, perhaps more so, but strong as a rugby player. He pinned me to the bed, tore away his trousers and forced himself upon me in a matter of moments, despite the fact I was screaming and hitting him and trying with all my strength to push him away.”

“By the time he was finished, I didn’t have the strength to fight him any longer. I was wailing and crying, but I couldn’t fight back anymore. He was angry that I was being so loud and hit me a few more times. I had two black eyes for a couple weeks afterwards. When it was over, I heard shouting and banging on the door. Perhaps it had been going on longer, but I just noticed it then. All of a sudden, the door came off its hinges and this stringy little guy bursts into the room, punches Jim and knocks him out cold.”

Hermione, who had been listening in shock until then, asked, “Was it?”

Her mother smiled. “It was. Your father was a scrawny fellow then, but somehow he had managed to break down the door and knock out Jim. I still think it must have been adrenaline, though I wasn’t thinking much then. Greg’s room was a few doors down from Jim’s and the dormitory was very quiet since a fair number of students had already left for the holidays. He had heard me screaming from down the hall and came to my rescue. I only vaguely recognized him from classes, knowing he was nearly always seated at the front of the class and very bookish. Prior to university I might have gravitated to someone like him, but I had been too busy being popular after my undergrad to pay any attention to him. Anyway, he just stood there and I just sat there stunned for a moment, both of us surprised by the sudden turn of events. After a moment though, he looked at me and blushed a horrible shade of red before taking off his cardigan for me to put on. My clothes were ruined and he brought me back to his room to clean up.”

“I was an absolute wreck that night. He gave me a pair of over sized pyjamas, I think the only thing of his I could wear, and took me down to the bathroom to wash up. I had some cuts and several bruises on my face that he helped take care of then he stood guard outside the door while I showered. Once I was feeling a bit better, he asked me if there was anyone he could contact for me, but most of my other friends had gone home and they were all men besides. It was very late by then, there was no way I was going to call home and the idea of walking across the dark, frozen campus to my residence seemed about as practical as crossing Antarctica, so I stayed with Greg. It was a bit odd, seeing as we didn’t really know each other, but he was quiet and understanding. He listened and let me cry on his shoulder that night. He could have contacted security at the university and someone would have dealt with the situation, but Greg took care of me himself.”

Emily Granger closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. Hermione could see moisture at the corner of her mother’s eyes and reached out to take her hand again. “I had no idea.”

The older woman smiled sadly. “You weren’t supposed to. After that night, I decided to stay at school for the holidays. I couldn’t bear to go home with black eyes, a puffy lip and cuts on my face. My parents had met Jim the previous year when they came to visit and father loved him. They were thrilled to hear we were dating seriously and wouldn’t hear a word against him. Your father was there for me when I needed a friend and though it took another year or so for me to feel comfortable enough to formally date him, he stuck by me. When I went home in the summer, my parents asked after Jim and I told them what had happened. My father wouldn’t believe my story and he hated Greg. When I told him we were getting married, he was livid. I feel badly that we never did manage to clear the air between us, but your grandfather died suddenly a couple weeks prior to my graduation. Your grandmother was very nice to Greg after that. Your father and I waited until we were married to become intimate, almost three years after we started dating and it was difficult to get over even then. You know, I hadn’t thought about that day in years until your row with your father at Christmas.”

There were tears blurring Hermione’s eyes as she cried not only for her own hurts but her mother’s as well. Her mother stood and pulled her into a tight embrace and they cried together. They both mumbled words of comfort to each other. When the words finally became coherent again Hermione choked out, “You were lucky to have Dad there. I don’t know what I would have done if it had been someone I trusted.”

Emily stroked her daughter’s back soothingly. “Your father is a good man, and so is Severus. It isn’t easy, but let him heal you.”

“I know Mum. I know. He’s been so nice to me. So gentle,” she mumbled into her mother’s shoulder.

“And you are very strong. You will get through this together,” Mrs Granger promised her daughter.
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Severus couldn’t resist the small smile that tugged at his lips when he apparated to his new house with Albus. The fields looked wild and unkempt with overgrown grasses, but buzzed merrily with the sound of bees humming in the rich growth. The trees were in full leaf and the whole space around him verily teemed with life. He thought briefly about how miserable Hermione felt just now and he knew that coming here would make her feel better. Albus was looking around in interest beside him, but said nothing as they began walking up towards the house. Inside the windbreak, the older wizard looked at the house with an appraising eye and commented, “That oak will take a bit of effort to move. It looks well established and rather content where it is.”

Severus nodded. “I know. The entire roof needs to be redone and there is some water damage in parts of the house. I am, however, content with the trees around the house.”

Albus’ eyes twinkled, “Only content?”

“Albus...” he said with an edge to his voice.

“Now, now, Severus. There is no shame in being pleased with your new house. I had thought you were loosening up as of late,” Dumbledore said with slight reproof in his tone.

Severus sighed. “As of late, it has cost me a great deal.”

“What’s done is done. All both of you can do is learn to live with what has happened.”

“That is far easier said than done, and you know it Albus. She is quite distressed and I find myself unable to do anything about it. I only hope she will feel safe enough here to find some peace,” Severus finished softly.

Albus nodded. “Safety is a rather intangible thing. You will do more to create this feeling than any spells we do here today. Remember that.”

After a significant look passed between the two, they moved forward and began working on the foundations of magical protections for the house and property. Wordlessly, Dumbledore conjured a transparent red sheet that hovered above the roof of the house for several moments before slowly settling down over it, sticking to the roof and walls. Together, the two men moved around the house securing the sheet to the walls where they met the ground. With another wave of his wand, Albus sent the edges of the sheet surging underground to connect together below the house. For several minutes, he went around the building prodding the glowing red blanket in an attempt to find weaknesses in the seal. Finding none, he murmured an incantation and the transparent sheet seemed to be absorbed into the walls and faded from sight.

Albus stood back and surveyed the house once more. “That should do it. All we need are door guardians and the house is secured. You might want to check it again after you fix the roof, but the boundary is on the space rather than the materials of the building.”

The old wizard bent down and picked up two fist sized stones from the ground and handed them to Severus. “A set of door knockers should work nicely.”

Severus contemplated the stones for a moment before taking his wand and transfiguring them both into cast iron door knockers and handing them back to Albus. He received a curious look, but ignored it and began moving towards the back door to affix one of the guardians.

Once the knocker guardians were fixed to the doors, incorporated into the magical ward and animated to respond to a password, Severus pulled the deed for the house and a map of the area to contemplate the logistics of the perimeter ward. With his wand, he made a few marks and traced the boundary of the property on the map and handed it to Dumbledore. “This is the boundary of the property. I was thinking a restricted apparation system would be best, with limits to an approach on foot. The area in blue would be best with a complete apparation restriction.”

The two men spent the rest of the afternoon in the energy intensive process of creating access and apparation restrictions on the border and out buildings of the property. By late afternoon, they were strolling the edge of the wards, poking and prodding with their wands every now and then to check the fastness of the magical boundary. Albus maintained a very one sided conversation as they walked, giving his thoughts on everything from the merits of a personal apiary and the value of various insects in gardening to his intrigue with root rail fences. Severus had been irritated by the patter initially, but had effectively tuned it out as they perused the border of the property. He was very focussed on finding any potential weaknesses or flaws in the wards. It was true that despite the chatter, Albus was paying close attention to the border, but it seemed to be almost trivialized by the frivolous conversation.

Turning the corner on the back end of the property, they began to follow the border of the farm next door. The other edges didn’t have any visible signs of inhabitation, but he had already encountered a child from this property. Soon they approached the clearing in the trees where he had held a conversation with the young girl and her horse during his brief visit nearly two months ago. Pausing for a moment, he looked across to the bustling barnyard, noticing that the cattle were now nearly out of sight in a far pasture, and the sheep were capering about in the east field. There were no signs of people about today, and he was relieved that he wouldn’t need to face them just yet. The young girl had been far too inquisitive and impertinent for his liking.

Albus paused his chatter and leaned on the fence to look out over the neighbouring farm. Taking a deep breath, he smiled and said, “Looks like you have busy neighbours. I can smell hay drying. Have you met them yet?”

“I have only encountered a child thus far,” Severus answered.

“I know you have a dislike for unsolicited advice, but I would hope you get to know them. It is good to meet new people, especially when you live so far from town.”

Severus exhaled heavily, “Advice is too often given and rarely followed. I already have every intention of meeting my neighbours, but not now. I would prefer to finish checking our work so we can return to the castle.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean today. I expect Hermione would want to be with you when you go,” Albus said with a small smile on his lips, “to keep you civil.”

Severus scowled at Albus’ retreating back and prodded the barrier with more force than necessary, causing a small blue ripple to shimmer and quickly disappear.

By the time the perimeter had been thoroughly checked and all the wards tuned properly to recognize Severus upon his return, it was nearly dinnertime. The trees were casting long shadows in the late afternoon light. With a final check around the house and back garden, Severus nodded and he and Dumbledore moved out to the keyed apparation area. With a pop, they disapparated to the gates of Hogwarts.
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