In Dreams

Alrighty! Before you move on, I just want to say it's been a few months since I wrote my last chapter. My personal life has been a bit rocky, to say the least, and I've had University classes to contend with. However, the privacy and release of summer is FINALLY here, and I will hopefully be writing a lot more! So please R&R and let me know how this next installment turned out.
___________________________________________

"Hermione, are you alright?" Harry looked at his friend in obvious concern. She had been gone again tonight. When Harry had first confronted her about her bi-weekly evening activities, she had just told him to mind his business. However, the ever-persistent and completely oblivious Ron had tired her to no end. She had finally told them that she was helping Madam Pince sort books in the Restricted Section of the library. This lie guaranteed her secret was at least temporarily safe since students weren't admitted access to the Restricted Section without signed permission from a professor, and it wasn't like Harry and Ron frequented the library any more than necessary anyway.

"I'm fine Harry." She had managed to stem the tears which had started in the dungeons. It wasn't that she was angry at Professor Snape. Far from it in fact. The thing was she had almost forgotten about her young brother. She practically never thought about him except occasionally around the holidays, which was when he had passed away. She felt heartless. Jimmy had been her only friend when she was young. Her parents were constantly busy with their dental practice, and there had been no children her age in the neighborhood. When he had died, she had nobody to talk to or play with. His death had caused the young girl to grow up very fast.

"Are you sure? You look like you've been crying." He motioned to the seat on the couch next to him. He and Ron had been doing homework in the Gryffindor common room before Ron had finally thrown in the towel and joined in a game of exploding snap with a couple of other seventh years.

Hermione looked at her friend closely. He had changed over the years, yet he still was the same old Harry. His multiple encounters with Voldemort had matured him quickly, and he was coming into his looks. He was no Lockhart, but he had filled out a bit. The biggest change though was his eyes. He had the look of someone who has seen a lot, survived it all, and come out strong. And yet, looking over to Ron, who had just managed to singe his robes, she wished she could say the same. He was still as goofy and carefree as ever.

"I'm fine just tired." She collapsed onto the couch next to Harry and watched as Ron assessed the damage to his robes. Hermione hoped, for his sake, they weren't too badly burnt. If they were, there was sure to be a friendly morning howler for him at breakfast when he asked Mrs. Weasley for some replacement robes. She shook her head.

"Anyway, I'm going to head up to my room. I'll see you in the morning." Just as she stood, Ron made his way over.

"Going to bed early?"

"Yes and no," she replied impatiently. "Yes, I am going to bed now, and no, it isn't early. It's twelve-thirty."

"Oh, okay then. Night Hermione." He smiled kindly and added, "Sweet dreams."

"Thanks Ron." Though she sincerely doubted that any dreams she had tonight would be anywhere near any word akin to 'sweet'.

Just as she was heading up the stairs she heard Ron remark to Harry, "Can I borrow Hedwig? I need to owl Mum for some replacement robes."

Rolling her eyes she thought to herself that bringing a pair of muggle earplugs to breakfast might be a fine idea.

***

Hermione looked into the darkness around her. It was the same dream she had been having repeatedly for the past two weeks. Making her way through the now familiar wood, she worked her way to the fire. The same scene replayed, her looking curiously at the environment surrounding her, then the whisper of the approaching figures. This time though, when they took their places within the circle, one enshrouded face was looking to her. She watched, entranced, as he moved his arm forward and began to unfold his fist. Hermione felt there was something he was holding, something of utmost importance. She must see it.

However, before his hand fully unclasped, the familiar yet horrifying voice broke all thought.

"Welcome back, Miss Granger..."

***

Hermione was still shaken as she made her way to Dumbledore's office. Shortly after Ron had endured the embarrassing, though not unexpected howler from Mrs. Weasley, she had received her own owl during breakfast bidding her to meet with the Headmaster after dinner. She had been unable to concentrate during classes (again) due to the torrents of unchecked thoughts running through her mind. The dream, it had been different. She had become so used to the other recurring dream that this time she had been caught fully off her guard.

As instructed, she had been clearing her mind before her nightly slumber. For Hermione Granger, this was quite a feat, as she was usually one to run over a million things she had learned during the day before dropping off into oblivion. Unfortunately, this seemed to make the dreams clearer, and in turn, more petrifying. Thankfully though, she hadn't repeated the screaming and head whacking number that had occurred a few weeks ago, though Lavender had complained more than once that Hermione made an awful lot of noise in her sleep.

Oh well, at least it isn't the same dream anymore. She replayed the dream in her mind. Part of her wanted to experience the dream again, and see if maybe the strange object in the person's hand would be revealed. Curiosity is a strange thing, and for one who thirsts for knowledge, it can often overcome the fear that one might hold.

As she was about to turn into the hallway where the gargoyles stood their guard, Hermione was hit with a brilliant idea. Grinning widely, she rounded the corner, her wand hand hidden within her robes. She stepped in front of the dual guard and smiled even wider.

"What are you so chipper about?" asked the one, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Yeah, you're hair is just a bad as it was before. No luck?" the other asked, suppressing a snort of laughter.

"Oh no. Actually, I've quite decided I like it this way. In fact..." she paused and slowly pulled her wand out. "I think you two should try something new yourselves."

With that, her wand gave a brief flash. The gargoyles (who had flinched from the spell) opened their eyes slowly.

"Have a nice day then! Enjoy!"

With that, Hermione gave the password and sauntered up the staircase in high spirits.

***

"Yes, Hermione, Saturday evening," the Headmaster repeated.

She couldn't believe it. The time had come. Without really realizing it, she turned her face to Professor Snape to see if she could read anything. Instead of the usual sneer she expected as an automatic reaction from her snarky professor, he gave her a slightly reassuring look. Sighing deeply, she turned back to the slightly dimmed blue eyes of Dumbledore. He became uncharacteristically serious, but his tone was one of conviction.

"Miss Granger, you are more than ready. I fear that delaying this will lead to even more problems when the time comes... for both of you." He sighed and sat back in his chair. Pinching the bridge of his nose lightly, he continued. "Professor Snape has assured me of your aptitude and mastery of Occlumency in such a small amount of time. We also know that your intelligence and practice in defense will aid you sufficiently. And yet again, I shall stress that no harm shall come to you while it is in Professor Snape's ability to prevent it."

The meeting continued on as they worked out all of the details of her first meeting. It would actually be easier for her than she had initially realized. Under the guise of the Imperious curse, Hermione would do only what Severus or Voldemort (supposedly through Severus) commanded. Hermione had always enjoyed theater, and her way of keeping calm was continually thinking that this was simply a horrible play and she was one of the leading ladies. She would be acting her way through these meetings... none of it was real. Wow, how delusional can I be...

***

Severus had remained pretty much silent throughout Dumbledore's rambling. Did he really think any of this useless talk would really help her when she finally faced the Dark Lord? No, he really didn't think so. However, Albus thought is necessary, so here he was.

"Well, I think that is all. It is Wednesday, so you have three days until your 'coming out', so to speak. If you think of anything else during this time, please come to either me or Professor Snape. Otherwise, we will all meet here at seven forty-five for a quick meeting before you must leave the grounds." He smiled, some of his twinkle returning as he looked at the unlikely pair. Unalike perhaps in manner, but alike in mind. Strange that the fates had made this duo dependent of one another, but then again, fate works in some pretty strange ways sometimes.

They both made their way out of the office. Just outside the door, Severus stopped and turned to Hermione.

"Miss Granger, I wanted to apologize for the other night." He didn't know what else to say. He felt sorry, truly sorry. Gods I'm going soft.

Hermione smiled slightly at her professor. "It's not a problem, sir. Have a nice evening."

Severus watched his student make her way downstairs. She wasn't so bad after all. She was intelligent, brave, and about to be faced with something that would make most grown wizards faint in fear. It was sad that she was made to play this part. Fate could certainly be cruel. It seemed to Severus that watching her was like watching himself years before when he had fallen into the clutches of the Dark Lord. Admittedly, he had been a willing participant, and she was not. Why did he dislike her again? Oh yeah, Potter and Weasley. Too bad they had to be involved... she might even be tolerable.

Exiting the staircase entrance, Severus couldn't help snorting audibly at the expense of the two gargoyles who were now sporting identical pink mohawks.

______________________________________________________

a_reader: I'm flattered. Severus is a challenging character I must admit. His progression in this story will be slow, and hopefully in this way convincing. It's my belief that he is a creature of habit, and having to change his entire mode of thinking will take quite a bit. Hope you enjoyed this next installment!

Gwennavierre: Thank you! Severus is indeed challenging. I added a bit more about Hermione's brother in this chapter... I hope you enjoyed! And that's cute about your nephew. Kids are so fun sometimes.