Calling you
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Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
4
Views:
3,120
Reviews:
5
Recommended:
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Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
4
Views:
3,120
Reviews:
5
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.
The Missing Word
Title : Calling you
This story is an answer to the \"With Friends Like This\" Challenge at WIKTT by Lorena Snape. Although the challenge seems to call for comedy and humour, this piece will be quite dark, I\'m afraid. So don\'t look for funny fluffy stuff, since you\'ll find angst, fear and obsession. You\'ve been warned.
Disclaimer : I don\'t own anything etc.
Many thanks to Taya who beta-read the second part of this chapter.
Chapter one : The Missing Word
\"He is true a survivor. It\'s an absolute miracle he is still alive.\"
Poppy\'s voice was a light whisper but Hermione felt the words entered her like knives.
\"When is he going to wake up?\"
The mediwitch nodded still fixing her patient.
\"Nobody could tell, dear. But somehow, he has chosen to survive. Now, we have to wait for him to choose to come back.\"
\"Is there nothing we can do?!\"
The mediwitch gave the young woman a sad tender hug.
\"Wait and pray, dear. Wait and pray.\"
During that night, while everybody was enjoying Lord Voldemort\'s defeat and partying, Hermione cried like she had never cried before. Until she went short of tears, until she fell asleep next to her partner\'s quiet body.
Unaware of her presence, Severus Snape\'s mind was roaming in the misty roads of the Past, trying to find a way out of it. There was a way out, he knew it. A word, a name, would bring him back to light. But despite all his efforts, he could no longer reer ier it.
And Hermione had a curious dream that night, about a misty road and a carriage...
**********
The carriage was following a sand path, and through the window he caught the sight of a dismal castle. The stones were so dark they might have been covered with cinders. On each side of the massive front doors were twirling statues which turned out to be... giant snakes. As the carriage was getting closer, he realised they were not common snakes but Basilisks. He had seen a sketch of one these legendary creatures once, but they seemed quite different in the fading light of autumn. And of course, even if the proportions were not completely correct... (he did a quick calculation) they were still very imposing. He could not stop a shiver as he realised that that was the place where he would spend his next summer, in nothing less than the family castle of the Slytherin family.
And there, at the top of the stairs, her aristocratic face outlined by the curve of her white hair, motionless in her black velvet dress, was Lady Slytherin.
The carriage stopped.
The memories were imprinted so clearly in his mind... She had greeted him with a touch of solemnity, and then drew him to his room, \"I may call you Severus, though, being a teacher, you ought to be called by your family name...\" - He was about to answer that he was not a teacher yet, more of a private tutor, but then realised his answer was not required - \"It would sound a bit pompous. Besides, as you will spend some time with us, I expect you to consider yourself as a member of the family, even temporarily...\". It took him some time to acknowledge that last statement, then he bent.
\"I would be much honoured, Milady.\"
\"You may call my daughter and her cousin by their first names, only make sure you do not forget the \'Miss\', I like to keep a bit of formality.\"
\"Yes, Milady.\"
He could recall precisely the mix of hope and anxiety that overwhelmed him.
A family. It was as if he had been given a second chance. Of course, he knew Lady Slytherin would never demonstrate any affection, and that the children would probably tease him a bit, but he was no longer a roamer. He could settle his belongings in his small bedroom, and stop worrying about Death Eaters and Dumbledore. The old wizard had made it clear: \"Take a break, Severus, next year will be challenging and you need some time for yourself.\"
The announcement that a private tutor was required by one of the oldest wizarding family had come as a perfect opportunity to get away. He had no idea how many candidates had applied for the job, nor the reason why he had been chosen without even an interview. But he was there.
Yes, he could recall the impatience of the young wizard to prove himself, his idealistic vision of teaching, his admiration for the noble heirs of Salazar Slytherin, all these illusory feelings that would soon fade, confronted with reality.
***********************
The vast parlour was only enlightened by fire. He straightened under the glance of Lady Slytherin, hoping she would find his attire convenient, formal enough but not too pretentious. She made no comment which, he decided, was a non-formulated approval.
\"Please excuse my daughter and niece for being late. Apparently, the hunt
took longer than originally planned.\"
He was about to ask what they were hunting, but realised she would have mentioned it, had she wanted him to know. Well, years of wandering around his father, who - like Lady Slytherin - considered every word before speaking it, proved to be useful for once.
He realised that he was, nonetheless, expected to be part of the conversation at some point.
\"I look forward to meeting them, Milady.\" Not very original. \"I had no idea they had such a broad education, though.\" Dear, was it too personal? At the same time, it seemed inappropriate to ramble about the weather...
\"My father considered that part of education was to learn about killing, Severus...\"
The coldness of her voice, as well as its softness, made him shiver; he had never heard his name spoken in such a sensual tone. He mentally locked his emotions and forced himself to keep a stern face as she turned to face him, her distant attitude in complete opposition with the presence and sensuality of her voice...
\"Learning how to kill in a proper way, even if the victim was nothing else but a wild beast. I daresay that there was no difference for him between controlling oneself\'s emotions in hunting as well as in exercising power. After all, the power of noble families over their people used to be a matter of Life and Death.\"
Lady Slytherin was fifty years old, he knew it from the Hogwarth registers. But her Veela power had not faded with years, in fact, she seemed to be even more in control of it than his own mother. But that was maybe because his mother had never tried to use her power over her son.
\"You probably wonder why you have been chosen.\"
Her voice broke into his thoughts, and suddenly, without knowing how, he was kneeling in front of her.
\"Yes, Milady.\"
\"I knew you mother very well before she...got into marriage.\"
\'Before she married that brilliant, but not noble, wizard who came out of nowhere,\' he could hear the words implied in the small pause.
\"Her mother was a very close friend of mine. And I always thought it was a mistake that she...\"
Got married ? Was banished by her own family ?
\"...removed herself from the Circle.\"
There was no need to ask what Circle she was talking about, he knew enough of the connections between the Slytherins, the Malfoys and the Merediths (his mother\'s family), the oldest wizard families.
\"Despite her lack of consideration for her family\'s feelings, she could have kept in touch with us...with me...The noble blood does not encounter the Veela powers so often...\"
Severus considered this information. Funny how one could never get away from one\'s family, no matter how hard one tried.
\"May I assume... that was thasonason for picking up my name?\"
\"I did not pick up your name, young man -\" her tone was now full of venom - \"I did nothing less than what your mother would have done in my place, if it had happened that our roles were reversed. I saw no reason to add the shame of begging around, to the grief you are to face.\"
The fire crackling, the stillness of the place; he felt brutally aware of the place, as well as his own status.
\"My mother would have been very grateful indeed...\" If she had not died 5 years ago.
\"Besides...\"
He looked up at her, desperately trying to stick to his character and not to yell at the old harpy.
\"Besides, the former private tutor could not stand the Veela charm of my daughter and her cousin. He hung himself after three weeks of lessons. Being the son of a Veela, I expect you will not follow his path...\"
Good, he thought, now that that\'s been cleared up a bit, I am definitely in condition to apprecimy lmy luck. The situation was not that desperate after all, kneeling was better than hanging and teaching two young beauties could not be more dangerous than being a Death Eater.
In the distance, he could hear the sound of a carriage...
Apparently, the hunt was over.
tbc
This story is an answer to the \"With Friends Like This\" Challenge at WIKTT by Lorena Snape. Although the challenge seems to call for comedy and humour, this piece will be quite dark, I\'m afraid. So don\'t look for funny fluffy stuff, since you\'ll find angst, fear and obsession. You\'ve been warned.
Disclaimer : I don\'t own anything etc.
Many thanks to Taya who beta-read the second part of this chapter.
Chapter one : The Missing Word
\"He is true a survivor. It\'s an absolute miracle he is still alive.\"
Poppy\'s voice was a light whisper but Hermione felt the words entered her like knives.
\"When is he going to wake up?\"
The mediwitch nodded still fixing her patient.
\"Nobody could tell, dear. But somehow, he has chosen to survive. Now, we have to wait for him to choose to come back.\"
\"Is there nothing we can do?!\"
The mediwitch gave the young woman a sad tender hug.
\"Wait and pray, dear. Wait and pray.\"
During that night, while everybody was enjoying Lord Voldemort\'s defeat and partying, Hermione cried like she had never cried before. Until she went short of tears, until she fell asleep next to her partner\'s quiet body.
Unaware of her presence, Severus Snape\'s mind was roaming in the misty roads of the Past, trying to find a way out of it. There was a way out, he knew it. A word, a name, would bring him back to light. But despite all his efforts, he could no longer reer ier it.
And Hermione had a curious dream that night, about a misty road and a carriage...
**********
The carriage was following a sand path, and through the window he caught the sight of a dismal castle. The stones were so dark they might have been covered with cinders. On each side of the massive front doors were twirling statues which turned out to be... giant snakes. As the carriage was getting closer, he realised they were not common snakes but Basilisks. He had seen a sketch of one these legendary creatures once, but they seemed quite different in the fading light of autumn. And of course, even if the proportions were not completely correct... (he did a quick calculation) they were still very imposing. He could not stop a shiver as he realised that that was the place where he would spend his next summer, in nothing less than the family castle of the Slytherin family.
And there, at the top of the stairs, her aristocratic face outlined by the curve of her white hair, motionless in her black velvet dress, was Lady Slytherin.
The carriage stopped.
The memories were imprinted so clearly in his mind... She had greeted him with a touch of solemnity, and then drew him to his room, \"I may call you Severus, though, being a teacher, you ought to be called by your family name...\" - He was about to answer that he was not a teacher yet, more of a private tutor, but then realised his answer was not required - \"It would sound a bit pompous. Besides, as you will spend some time with us, I expect you to consider yourself as a member of the family, even temporarily...\". It took him some time to acknowledge that last statement, then he bent.
\"I would be much honoured, Milady.\"
\"You may call my daughter and her cousin by their first names, only make sure you do not forget the \'Miss\', I like to keep a bit of formality.\"
\"Yes, Milady.\"
He could recall precisely the mix of hope and anxiety that overwhelmed him.
A family. It was as if he had been given a second chance. Of course, he knew Lady Slytherin would never demonstrate any affection, and that the children would probably tease him a bit, but he was no longer a roamer. He could settle his belongings in his small bedroom, and stop worrying about Death Eaters and Dumbledore. The old wizard had made it clear: \"Take a break, Severus, next year will be challenging and you need some time for yourself.\"
The announcement that a private tutor was required by one of the oldest wizarding family had come as a perfect opportunity to get away. He had no idea how many candidates had applied for the job, nor the reason why he had been chosen without even an interview. But he was there.
Yes, he could recall the impatience of the young wizard to prove himself, his idealistic vision of teaching, his admiration for the noble heirs of Salazar Slytherin, all these illusory feelings that would soon fade, confronted with reality.
***********************
The vast parlour was only enlightened by fire. He straightened under the glance of Lady Slytherin, hoping she would find his attire convenient, formal enough but not too pretentious. She made no comment which, he decided, was a non-formulated approval.
\"Please excuse my daughter and niece for being late. Apparently, the hunt
took longer than originally planned.\"
He was about to ask what they were hunting, but realised she would have mentioned it, had she wanted him to know. Well, years of wandering around his father, who - like Lady Slytherin - considered every word before speaking it, proved to be useful for once.
He realised that he was, nonetheless, expected to be part of the conversation at some point.
\"I look forward to meeting them, Milady.\" Not very original. \"I had no idea they had such a broad education, though.\" Dear, was it too personal? At the same time, it seemed inappropriate to ramble about the weather...
\"My father considered that part of education was to learn about killing, Severus...\"
The coldness of her voice, as well as its softness, made him shiver; he had never heard his name spoken in such a sensual tone. He mentally locked his emotions and forced himself to keep a stern face as she turned to face him, her distant attitude in complete opposition with the presence and sensuality of her voice...
\"Learning how to kill in a proper way, even if the victim was nothing else but a wild beast. I daresay that there was no difference for him between controlling oneself\'s emotions in hunting as well as in exercising power. After all, the power of noble families over their people used to be a matter of Life and Death.\"
Lady Slytherin was fifty years old, he knew it from the Hogwarth registers. But her Veela power had not faded with years, in fact, she seemed to be even more in control of it than his own mother. But that was maybe because his mother had never tried to use her power over her son.
\"You probably wonder why you have been chosen.\"
Her voice broke into his thoughts, and suddenly, without knowing how, he was kneeling in front of her.
\"Yes, Milady.\"
\"I knew you mother very well before she...got into marriage.\"
\'Before she married that brilliant, but not noble, wizard who came out of nowhere,\' he could hear the words implied in the small pause.
\"Her mother was a very close friend of mine. And I always thought it was a mistake that she...\"
Got married ? Was banished by her own family ?
\"...removed herself from the Circle.\"
There was no need to ask what Circle she was talking about, he knew enough of the connections between the Slytherins, the Malfoys and the Merediths (his mother\'s family), the oldest wizard families.
\"Despite her lack of consideration for her family\'s feelings, she could have kept in touch with us...with me...The noble blood does not encounter the Veela powers so often...\"
Severus considered this information. Funny how one could never get away from one\'s family, no matter how hard one tried.
\"May I assume... that was thasonason for picking up my name?\"
\"I did not pick up your name, young man -\" her tone was now full of venom - \"I did nothing less than what your mother would have done in my place, if it had happened that our roles were reversed. I saw no reason to add the shame of begging around, to the grief you are to face.\"
The fire crackling, the stillness of the place; he felt brutally aware of the place, as well as his own status.
\"My mother would have been very grateful indeed...\" If she had not died 5 years ago.
\"Besides...\"
He looked up at her, desperately trying to stick to his character and not to yell at the old harpy.
\"Besides, the former private tutor could not stand the Veela charm of my daughter and her cousin. He hung himself after three weeks of lessons. Being the son of a Veela, I expect you will not follow his path...\"
Good, he thought, now that that\'s been cleared up a bit, I am definitely in condition to apprecimy lmy luck. The situation was not that desperate after all, kneeling was better than hanging and teaching two young beauties could not be more dangerous than being a Death Eater.
In the distance, he could hear the sound of a carriage...
Apparently, the hunt was over.
tbc