Secrets held
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
2,571
Reviews:
68
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
2,571
Reviews:
68
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Secrets spilled
Secrets spilled
Just after dawn Poppy Pomfrey snuck quietly into Hermione’s chambers and shook her awake. As soon as her wide black eyes focused Poppy said, “We have a plan, but you must hurry.”
Reaching for her back brace as she stepped out of bed, Poppy stopped her hand and looked at her sadly, “Can you do without it, just for awhile? You can lean on me, dear.”
Poppy laid a robe hastily over her shoulders as she ushered her, still barefoot, from her dark room. They flashed through the hallways at a near run, not stopping until they reached one of the private rooms in the hospital wing. As Hermione dropped into a waiting chair, Minerva came running in dragging a half-sleeping Severus clad in naught but pyjama bottoms behind her.
“Have you women gone utterly mad? What is this about?” he screeched.
All three ignored him, as Minerva asked, “How sure are you that you can fix this? Forget what Albus forbid, I think we all agree he is missing a very important point here.” Poppy nodded in agreement.
“I- I’m not sure at all. I only suspect, do you mean you both believe me?”
“Yes, yes, dear, we talked half the night, and we agree. Something happened in that cell, and it wasn’t any spell,” Poppy said.
“What’s the last thing you remember, before you were found?” Minerva asked over Severus’ protests to fill him in.
“We were, Severus and I, were lying down. Embracing,” Hermione began pensively. Her train of thought flew along the events of that night. Suddenly an idea formed, “Recreate those events, not the spell?”
“Exactly, and quickly dear. Albus will be here soon, and you can be sure he’ll put a stop to us.”
Hermione rose from the chair and crossed the room swiftly. Minerva braced herself behind Severus as he stumbled away from her. Then Hermione opened the front of her robe and her nightdress and wrapped her arms around him. Instantly the room was lit with an eerie red glow and the couple fell together to the floor. Poppy reached out to stop their decent and Minerva grabbed her hand just in time.
“Best not touch them. You remember what happened to Bill?”
“Quite right, I nearly forgot.”
*
*
Hermione stepped onto the sunlit path and found him, sittagaiagainst the tree waiting for her. Concern etched his features as he implored, “Don’t do this. It was only to keep you safe.”
“How? What did you do?”
“I only meant to give you a moment’s peace. But when I took those memories away for you, I found I couldn’t leave here. Leave me here, I told George to watch over you.”
“Severus, its time to go. You can’t stay here; else I’m just as trapped as you are. Please, we have to hurry.” Hermione turned to leave but he reached out to take her hand. After a moment he let out a long sigh, and led her back the way she had come.
*
*
Severus came round first, speaking softly, “You can take her now, its safe.”
The two older women picked her up gently and laid her limp body on the bed. Worry spread through the room as they watched the glow fade from her and her faced collapsed into a grimace. Poppy buttoned her clothes and asked, “Severus? Did it work?”
He nodded gravely. “I remember. So wihe. he. You should have left it alone.” He sank into the chair. They all waited quietly for nearly an hour until Hermione sat up finally, screaming.
Albus burst into the room trailing George behind him. Scanning all the guilty faces, he settled on Minerva, “What have you done?”
“What you hadn’t the sense, or the courage, to ask of her.”
Hermione gasped, “Poppy, the pain. My brace?” Poppy shoved everyone out the door, closing it behind them and helped her dress. “It’s over, he’ll hate me. And George, poor George. I have to be the one to tell George.”
“Shush now, you can stay in here if you like. I’ll get rid of the lot of them.”
“No, I have to do this. Then I can leave. But he has to know, they all should,” Hermione said wearily. She pulled the door open and the wardroom fell silent. “Professor Dumbledore, you were wrong. If you must blame someone for this morning, blame me. It was all my fault, everything that led to this morning, and they only helped me in the end.” She took a deep breath before continuing, “It was never the spell. I was selfish, I didn’t want to die alone and silent, so I used Severus horribly. He gave me comfort and hope, and I repaid that kindness by driving him mad. I can’t even say that knowing the outcome I wouldn’t have done it, that isn’t true. I know my crime, and I’ve paid a high price for it. I’ve lost a hard won friendship forever, and no apology will ever be enough.”
Albus looked at her with open contempt on his face, but she raised a hand to still his response. She turned to Severus, “Headmaster, you once told us that we are defined by the choices we make. I think that sometimes the tiniest of decisions, an action that took only a moment to perpetrate can change us completely. It changes who you are and how you see yourself in the blink of an eye, and you can never undo it. I understand that now, Severus, and I am sorry, for what its worth.”
He shook his head. She turned to George finally, “George, I don’t know if you can understand, but these last few weeks you were my appointed guardian. Severus chose you, to look over me while he could not. I’m very sorry that you had to be involved in this, but I’m not sorry it was you. You’ll always be very important to me. At least there was one advantage; I know that my feelings for you were my own. Severus created a barrier between us, not complete but strong enough. But I think I can take care of myself now.”
She reached up and kissed him chastely on the lips. Poppy sniffled once and buried her face in her handkerchief. Hermione turned to doorway to leave, when Albus reached out and grabbed her elbow.
When she spun on him she released every ounce of anger she had been holding back the last week in one smooth motion. The old man stumbled slightly under the weight of it before speaking finally, “I only meant to thank you, you didn’t have to do this. I only meant to make things easier for both of you.”
She shot him one last withering glance on her way out of the hospital wing.
“Minerva, Poppy, one of you might want to check on Miss Granger, I fear,” Severus said quietly. As he stood to leave he wavered slightly. Poppy bustled out still sniffling.
“And how are you, Severus?” Minerva asked.
“Sane. And more than capable of caring for myself.”
Minerva kissed his cheek before leaving, trailing Albus in her wake. George realised that they were alone. “So ah, that all made sense to you then?”
Severus only nodded.
“Professor, did you- were you- er, there the night of the party?”
“Yes, I suppose I was in a way,” he hissed.
“I love her. But she wanted you,” George stated flatly as he walked away.
“I know.”
*
*
Hermione made it to her rooms and locked the heavy door behind her. Her head was swimming with memories and shame. She drew a hot bath to sooth her back. Sinking down into the steaming tub she cried out in anguish.
Outside her door Poppy heard her screams and nodded to herself, thinking, ‘Finally. Now she’ll heal.’ The older witch waited patiently for the sobs to fade before letting herself in.
“Poppy, I am fine. I think I’d rather be alone right now.”
“I just want to see for myself. You seemed in a bit of pain, I brought something for it.”
Hermione stepped out of the tub and into the dressing gown held out for her. She wrapped her wet hair in a large towel and turned toward Poppy. The mediwitch gasped, “Your eyes, dear! Look, look at your eyes.”
She leaned into her mirror to see nothing more than her warm brown eyes staring back at her. Then it struck her, and she pulled the towel off her head and shook out her hair. It was dark with moisture, but was clearly not black any longer. She began to cast a drying spell, and as it worked her hair became a full, tangled mess of brown frizzy curls.
“So, it was him?” she turned to Poppy. “How? I don’t understand. How did it change my appearance?”
“I couldn’t say, I’ve never seen anything like it. None of us had, dear.”
Hermione pointed at her head and asked, “So does this mean I’m free now? I can finally leave the castle.” She sat down on the edge of her bed with a puzzled expression on her face. Now it seemed she was free to go, she couldn’t think of a single place she wanted to be other than Hogwarts.
Just after dawn Poppy Pomfrey snuck quietly into Hermione’s chambers and shook her awake. As soon as her wide black eyes focused Poppy said, “We have a plan, but you must hurry.”
Reaching for her back brace as she stepped out of bed, Poppy stopped her hand and looked at her sadly, “Can you do without it, just for awhile? You can lean on me, dear.”
Poppy laid a robe hastily over her shoulders as she ushered her, still barefoot, from her dark room. They flashed through the hallways at a near run, not stopping until they reached one of the private rooms in the hospital wing. As Hermione dropped into a waiting chair, Minerva came running in dragging a half-sleeping Severus clad in naught but pyjama bottoms behind her.
“Have you women gone utterly mad? What is this about?” he screeched.
All three ignored him, as Minerva asked, “How sure are you that you can fix this? Forget what Albus forbid, I think we all agree he is missing a very important point here.” Poppy nodded in agreement.
“I- I’m not sure at all. I only suspect, do you mean you both believe me?”
“Yes, yes, dear, we talked half the night, and we agree. Something happened in that cell, and it wasn’t any spell,” Poppy said.
“What’s the last thing you remember, before you were found?” Minerva asked over Severus’ protests to fill him in.
“We were, Severus and I, were lying down. Embracing,” Hermione began pensively. Her train of thought flew along the events of that night. Suddenly an idea formed, “Recreate those events, not the spell?”
“Exactly, and quickly dear. Albus will be here soon, and you can be sure he’ll put a stop to us.”
Hermione rose from the chair and crossed the room swiftly. Minerva braced herself behind Severus as he stumbled away from her. Then Hermione opened the front of her robe and her nightdress and wrapped her arms around him. Instantly the room was lit with an eerie red glow and the couple fell together to the floor. Poppy reached out to stop their decent and Minerva grabbed her hand just in time.
“Best not touch them. You remember what happened to Bill?”
“Quite right, I nearly forgot.”
*
*
Hermione stepped onto the sunlit path and found him, sittagaiagainst the tree waiting for her. Concern etched his features as he implored, “Don’t do this. It was only to keep you safe.”
“How? What did you do?”
“I only meant to give you a moment’s peace. But when I took those memories away for you, I found I couldn’t leave here. Leave me here, I told George to watch over you.”
“Severus, its time to go. You can’t stay here; else I’m just as trapped as you are. Please, we have to hurry.” Hermione turned to leave but he reached out to take her hand. After a moment he let out a long sigh, and led her back the way she had come.
*
*
Severus came round first, speaking softly, “You can take her now, its safe.”
The two older women picked her up gently and laid her limp body on the bed. Worry spread through the room as they watched the glow fade from her and her faced collapsed into a grimace. Poppy buttoned her clothes and asked, “Severus? Did it work?”
He nodded gravely. “I remember. So wihe. he. You should have left it alone.” He sank into the chair. They all waited quietly for nearly an hour until Hermione sat up finally, screaming.
Albus burst into the room trailing George behind him. Scanning all the guilty faces, he settled on Minerva, “What have you done?”
“What you hadn’t the sense, or the courage, to ask of her.”
Hermione gasped, “Poppy, the pain. My brace?” Poppy shoved everyone out the door, closing it behind them and helped her dress. “It’s over, he’ll hate me. And George, poor George. I have to be the one to tell George.”
“Shush now, you can stay in here if you like. I’ll get rid of the lot of them.”
“No, I have to do this. Then I can leave. But he has to know, they all should,” Hermione said wearily. She pulled the door open and the wardroom fell silent. “Professor Dumbledore, you were wrong. If you must blame someone for this morning, blame me. It was all my fault, everything that led to this morning, and they only helped me in the end.” She took a deep breath before continuing, “It was never the spell. I was selfish, I didn’t want to die alone and silent, so I used Severus horribly. He gave me comfort and hope, and I repaid that kindness by driving him mad. I can’t even say that knowing the outcome I wouldn’t have done it, that isn’t true. I know my crime, and I’ve paid a high price for it. I’ve lost a hard won friendship forever, and no apology will ever be enough.”
Albus looked at her with open contempt on his face, but she raised a hand to still his response. She turned to Severus, “Headmaster, you once told us that we are defined by the choices we make. I think that sometimes the tiniest of decisions, an action that took only a moment to perpetrate can change us completely. It changes who you are and how you see yourself in the blink of an eye, and you can never undo it. I understand that now, Severus, and I am sorry, for what its worth.”
He shook his head. She turned to George finally, “George, I don’t know if you can understand, but these last few weeks you were my appointed guardian. Severus chose you, to look over me while he could not. I’m very sorry that you had to be involved in this, but I’m not sorry it was you. You’ll always be very important to me. At least there was one advantage; I know that my feelings for you were my own. Severus created a barrier between us, not complete but strong enough. But I think I can take care of myself now.”
She reached up and kissed him chastely on the lips. Poppy sniffled once and buried her face in her handkerchief. Hermione turned to doorway to leave, when Albus reached out and grabbed her elbow.
When she spun on him she released every ounce of anger she had been holding back the last week in one smooth motion. The old man stumbled slightly under the weight of it before speaking finally, “I only meant to thank you, you didn’t have to do this. I only meant to make things easier for both of you.”
She shot him one last withering glance on her way out of the hospital wing.
“Minerva, Poppy, one of you might want to check on Miss Granger, I fear,” Severus said quietly. As he stood to leave he wavered slightly. Poppy bustled out still sniffling.
“And how are you, Severus?” Minerva asked.
“Sane. And more than capable of caring for myself.”
Minerva kissed his cheek before leaving, trailing Albus in her wake. George realised that they were alone. “So ah, that all made sense to you then?”
Severus only nodded.
“Professor, did you- were you- er, there the night of the party?”
“Yes, I suppose I was in a way,” he hissed.
“I love her. But she wanted you,” George stated flatly as he walked away.
“I know.”
*
*
Hermione made it to her rooms and locked the heavy door behind her. Her head was swimming with memories and shame. She drew a hot bath to sooth her back. Sinking down into the steaming tub she cried out in anguish.
Outside her door Poppy heard her screams and nodded to herself, thinking, ‘Finally. Now she’ll heal.’ The older witch waited patiently for the sobs to fade before letting herself in.
“Poppy, I am fine. I think I’d rather be alone right now.”
“I just want to see for myself. You seemed in a bit of pain, I brought something for it.”
Hermione stepped out of the tub and into the dressing gown held out for her. She wrapped her wet hair in a large towel and turned toward Poppy. The mediwitch gasped, “Your eyes, dear! Look, look at your eyes.”
She leaned into her mirror to see nothing more than her warm brown eyes staring back at her. Then it struck her, and she pulled the towel off her head and shook out her hair. It was dark with moisture, but was clearly not black any longer. She began to cast a drying spell, and as it worked her hair became a full, tangled mess of brown frizzy curls.
“So, it was him?” she turned to Poppy. “How? I don’t understand. How did it change my appearance?”
“I couldn’t say, I’ve never seen anything like it. None of us had, dear.”
Hermione pointed at her head and asked, “So does this mean I’m free now? I can finally leave the castle.” She sat down on the edge of her bed with a puzzled expression on her face. Now it seemed she was free to go, she couldn’t think of a single place she wanted to be other than Hogwarts.