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Nothing As It Seems
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
4
Views:
3,420
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
4
Views:
3,420
Reviews:
12
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
All recognized Harry Potter characters are owned by J.K. Rowling. I do not own or profit from Harry Potter or my fanfiction.
Prologue
10/22/08
STORY DESCRIPTION:
During the dawn of war Hermione realizes she is in love with none other than Severus Snape, but when she tries to tell him, he doesn’t believe her. Just when she finally thinks he might be willing to listen he is summoned by the Dark Lord.
In the aftermath of war, the devastation reaches far and wide and Hermione’s world will never again be the same. The Dark Lord still lives and is relentlessly searching for something, her family is in hiding and she can’t contact them for fear of their lives, many of her friends and loved ones have perished in the war, and there are too many painful memories at Hogwarts to accept the position that she has been offered.
She flees to the frozen Norwegian island of Spitsbergen in the unforgiving Arctic Ocean where she has applied for a position of Potions Mistress at Durmstrang. There, she is forced to prove herself before getting the job, and then has to endure the insufferable new headmaster. But small blessings are welcome and she is reunited with a once lost friend.
Can Hermione's friend mend her broken heart? Not if Xander Prince, the headmaster of Durmstrang has anything to do with it. But he has a secret to protect and the irresistible new Potions Mistress is quite possibly the biggest threat he will have to face, for nothing is as it seems.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
- I am not compliant with the last TWO books.
- Italics indicate memories or inner thoughts in the first person.
Please enjoy!
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Nothing As It Seems
Prologue
“They’ve got Padfoot in the place where it’s hidden!”
That’s what Mr. Potter had said.
Severus Snape now stood, garbed in his deatheater robes and donning his silver mask, in the Hall of Prophecies. He didn’t have much time. He had to move quickly if he was going to find it before the stupid kids made their way here and before Lucius and the others arrived.
He knew exactly which one he was looking for, indeed, he had already heard half of it.
Shame rippled through him as he also recalled what he had done with that bit of information.
“Forgive me Lily.” He thought, almost automatically.
When he reached the isle he needed he rushed through it, now searching, globe after globe, shelf after shelf, until there it was. The prophecy that the Dark Lord was desperate to have. The prophecy that the Dark Lord thought would help him defeat Harry Potter.
‘Now comes the moment of truth, Sev, old boy.’ He said to himself, nervous despite himself.
When he found out that the Dark Lord was trying to find a way to get his hands on the prophecy, he had begun researching, desperately trying to find some way, somehow to help Potter, for nothing would stop the Dark Lord once the prophecy was in his hands. And nothing would dissuade the Dark Lord from seeking it now that he had his mind set on it.
Nothing.
Severus would have stolen it himself months ago and hid it away if he had but known that it was possible. At the time, he had only known that the person that the prophecy was about was the only one that could remove the orb from its resting place in the ministry. Each orb was protected by an ancient security ward placed on the Hall itself, by the Ministry, which secured each prophecy it held.
It had been the young 5th year Gryffindpr, Miss Granger, who had made him think to look in his private book collection for a particular book.
The teens had just been introduced to the Order for the Phoenix and they had set their minds on spying on the meetings. One particular meeting, the Order was rehashing the same argument that they had been having over and over again. Sirius thought that it would be best to sneak Potter into the Ministry to remove the Prophecy so that it could be hidden. Dumbledore had thought that this was exactly what they wanted. A trap of sorts, waiting to be sprung. They were well aware of all of the Ministry Officials disappearing and being replaced by more and more deatheaters. But, he firmly reiterated that he felt that the Prophecy should stay put.
When the nosey young people had been caught listening in with the rather ingenious “extendible ears”, Molly had scolded and waggled her finger at the young people, all of them looking sullen and complacent. All except for Miss Granger who merely waited patiently while Mrs. Weasley continued her scolding, and Severus could tell the girl wasn’t really paying attention. It had amused him. And, sure enough, as soon as the Weasley Matriarch had paused to catch her breath, preparing to continue her reprimand, Miss Granger had shaken her head with a frown and had blurted out her thoughts.
“But, the charm is a ministry security. There must be someone who can lift the charm and gain access besides Harry.”
Everyone had stopped and turned to her at that moment, thoughtfulness replacing annoyance.
Severus’ glance shot to Dumbledore who was staring down at the young woman. Severus knew that Dumbledore claimed to be just that person.
The old man’s eyes grew weary as he looked down at the clever little witch. “Right you are Miss Granger. I have, in fact, been placed with that power, and the Dark Lord is aware of the fact. But alas, I firmly believe that the Prophecy is safest for the moment exactly where it is.” He said again, and with that, he patted her arm, looking sternly at Potter, and then made his way to the door.
But Miss Granger’s speculation had triggered a thought of his own.
Dumbledore had not tried to hide this claim from the Dark Lord and Severus had thought it a clever ploy to try to keep some of the heat off of Potter.
And then he had thought of the book.
It was a very old and worn Ministry Code book, placed in the back of one of his dustier bookshelves in his private chambers. This particular print was a rare find and had ended up in his collection as a piece of history rather than for the information it contained. The Ministry of Magic had been founded several hundred years ago, and this book was the one surviving copy of the first Ministry Codes of Ethics and Security Guidelines. Within the hundreds of pages, he found what he was looking for. A single incantation for any who was witness to a prophecy at the moment it was made. It could be placed on one to all of the witnesses and would allow the witness through the security ward placed on the prophecy orb.
It made sense that Dumbledore had not told him of this, for he too had witnessed the Prophecy on the day that Sybill had foretold of it. Immediately he had removed the memory of the information and had dropped it into his pensive. If the Dark Lord where to know this information, he would give the order for him to steal it immediately.
At the time, there seemed to be no reason to steal the thing himself. He agreed with Dumbledore, that it should remain where it was. Even more so, since everyone believed that The Boy Who Lived and the only wizard that the Dark Lord feared were the only two who could remove the prophecy from its resting place. So he had left the memory with the dangerous bit of information in the pensive, and he had left the prophecy secured in the Ministry of Magic.
Severus blinked the memory away. He didn’t have time for lollygagging.
He began muttering the incantation swiftly, concentrating on every word as he whispered the jumble of words. As soon as the last breath was uttered he shot out his hand and grabbed the fragile orb.
It came free of its stand as easily as though he were picking up any inanimate object.
Relief, ever so slight, feathered over his pounding heart as he carefully wrapped the glass orb in a piece of cloth and eased it just as carefully into the pocket of his robe.
Then, he pulled out his wand and placed it at his own head and pulled out the memory of that overheard conversation, so many years ago. Carefully he whispered the incantation and the memory was transformed and encased in a glass orb, just like all the other prophecies. This one looked authentic enough as he placed it on the shelf where he had removed the original. It was the half that the Dark Lord already knew, but maybe, just maybe, he would believe that it was all there was.
A noise caught his attention. The sound of voices.
“This way Harry!”
Severus knew that they had been on their way. Foolish children!
Miss Granger is too clever for her own good!
She had been able to lure the pink toad of a woman, Umbridge, into the forbidden forest. Of course, he had been aware of Hagrid’s secret. The giant Hagrid had hidden in the forest.
He did not feel sorry for the despicable woman.
And now they are falling right into the Dark Lord’s trap. He shook his head in disgust.
The trap set to lure Potter into the ministry. Send the boy images of loved ones dying in the hall and wait for him to come and remove the prophecy. Just in time to have Lucius steal it from the boy. And it was because Potter and his silly gang had fallen for said trap that he now found himself in this position.
Severus knew he couldn’t be found here. Not now. Not with what he now possessed. He had to get out fast. Had to send it far away, and as soon as possible.
To Xander. Yes, he would send it to his brother. Xander would keep it safe. Keep it hidden.
Silently, he darted into the darkness.
88888888
Severus had tried to remove himself from the Ministry before he was seen, but it was not to be the case.
“Severus.” Drawled Lucius Malfoy in his deep voice.
Casually, Severus stepped from the shadows pushing his mask up off of his face and inclined his head at the fellow deatheater, and then towards the others who accompanied Malfoy. His thundering heart was in his throat, and he had to concentrate to not choke on it.
“Lucius.” He returned the greeting solemnly.
The other man’s blonde eyebrow shot up. “I’m surprised to see you here. Won’t Dumbledore become suspicious of your absence?”
He thinks I’m here to aid in the ambush.
Severus did not answer, but merely pulled the silver mask back into place.
The elder Malfoy smirked. “Excellent.” And then he pulled his own mask down.
It all seemed to happen in a blur.
The golden trio, followed by their newest cohorts, Longbottom, Lovegood, and the youngest Weasley arrived almost as if on queue. Potter quickly located Severus’s fake Prophecy and removed it. Of course, anyone might have removed that one.
Once in Potter’s hand, Malfoy gave his queue and they made their presence known.
It was only amoment longer when Malfoy had the Prophecy in his own hands. Briefly, Severus thought the deatheaters might retreat, but the children had other plans in mind.
They fought bravely and Severus, hidden behind his mask, had to be cautious in his hexes, trying to appear to be battling against the children, all the while hexing his fellow deatheaters.
It seemed to only get worse when the Order members had finally arrived.
The battle was a vicious one and in the fray, he watched Malfoy drop the prophecy. It shattered into dust.
Gone.
And the fighting continued. Hexes thrown, curses flying.
Severus found his opportunity to move unmissed back into the shadows, his pilfered item still tucked away in his robes. But before he could make his escape, he saw it.
Bellatrix shot an Avada Kadavra curse at Black and hit him squarely in the chest. Severus watched in shock as his long time foe and equally his comrade in battle fall back, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. But to Severus’s great astonishment, Black’s fall took him directly into the Abyss.
Severus couldn’t help the thought that jumped to the forefront of his mind.
Lucky bastard.
88888888
During the dawn of war Hermione realizes she is in love with none other than Severus Snape, but when she tries to tell him, he doesn’t believe her. Just when she finally thinks he might be willing to listen he is summoned by the Dark Lord.
In the aftermath of war, the devastation reaches far and wide and Hermione’s world will never again be the same. The Dark Lord still lives and is relentlessly searching for something, her family is in hiding and she can’t contact them for fear of their lives, many of her friends and loved ones have perished in the war, and there are too many painful memories at Hogwarts to accept the position that she has been offered.
She flees to the frozen Norwegian island of Spitsbergen in the unforgiving Arctic Ocean where she has applied for a position of Potions Mistress at Durmstrang. There, she is forced to prove herself before getting the job, and then has to endure the insufferable new headmaster. But small blessings are welcome and she is reunited with a once lost friend.
Can Hermione's friend mend her broken heart? Not if Xander Prince, the headmaster of Durmstrang has anything to do with it. But he has a secret to protect and the irresistible new Potions Mistress is quite possibly the biggest threat he will have to face, for nothing is as it seems.
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
- I am not compliant with the last TWO books.
- Italics indicate memories or inner thoughts in the first person.
Please enjoy!
888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Prologue
“They’ve got Padfoot in the place where it’s hidden!”
That’s what Mr. Potter had said.
Severus Snape now stood, garbed in his deatheater robes and donning his silver mask, in the Hall of Prophecies. He didn’t have much time. He had to move quickly if he was going to find it before the stupid kids made their way here and before Lucius and the others arrived.
He knew exactly which one he was looking for, indeed, he had already heard half of it.
Shame rippled through him as he also recalled what he had done with that bit of information.
“Forgive me Lily.” He thought, almost automatically.
When he reached the isle he needed he rushed through it, now searching, globe after globe, shelf after shelf, until there it was. The prophecy that the Dark Lord was desperate to have. The prophecy that the Dark Lord thought would help him defeat Harry Potter.
‘Now comes the moment of truth, Sev, old boy.’ He said to himself, nervous despite himself.
When he found out that the Dark Lord was trying to find a way to get his hands on the prophecy, he had begun researching, desperately trying to find some way, somehow to help Potter, for nothing would stop the Dark Lord once the prophecy was in his hands. And nothing would dissuade the Dark Lord from seeking it now that he had his mind set on it.
Nothing.
Severus would have stolen it himself months ago and hid it away if he had but known that it was possible. At the time, he had only known that the person that the prophecy was about was the only one that could remove the orb from its resting place in the ministry. Each orb was protected by an ancient security ward placed on the Hall itself, by the Ministry, which secured each prophecy it held.
It had been the young 5th year Gryffindpr, Miss Granger, who had made him think to look in his private book collection for a particular book.
The teens had just been introduced to the Order for the Phoenix and they had set their minds on spying on the meetings. One particular meeting, the Order was rehashing the same argument that they had been having over and over again. Sirius thought that it would be best to sneak Potter into the Ministry to remove the Prophecy so that it could be hidden. Dumbledore had thought that this was exactly what they wanted. A trap of sorts, waiting to be sprung. They were well aware of all of the Ministry Officials disappearing and being replaced by more and more deatheaters. But, he firmly reiterated that he felt that the Prophecy should stay put.
When the nosey young people had been caught listening in with the rather ingenious “extendible ears”, Molly had scolded and waggled her finger at the young people, all of them looking sullen and complacent. All except for Miss Granger who merely waited patiently while Mrs. Weasley continued her scolding, and Severus could tell the girl wasn’t really paying attention. It had amused him. And, sure enough, as soon as the Weasley Matriarch had paused to catch her breath, preparing to continue her reprimand, Miss Granger had shaken her head with a frown and had blurted out her thoughts.
“But, the charm is a ministry security. There must be someone who can lift the charm and gain access besides Harry.”
Everyone had stopped and turned to her at that moment, thoughtfulness replacing annoyance.
Severus’ glance shot to Dumbledore who was staring down at the young woman. Severus knew that Dumbledore claimed to be just that person.
The old man’s eyes grew weary as he looked down at the clever little witch. “Right you are Miss Granger. I have, in fact, been placed with that power, and the Dark Lord is aware of the fact. But alas, I firmly believe that the Prophecy is safest for the moment exactly where it is.” He said again, and with that, he patted her arm, looking sternly at Potter, and then made his way to the door.
But Miss Granger’s speculation had triggered a thought of his own.
Dumbledore had not tried to hide this claim from the Dark Lord and Severus had thought it a clever ploy to try to keep some of the heat off of Potter.
And then he had thought of the book.
It was a very old and worn Ministry Code book, placed in the back of one of his dustier bookshelves in his private chambers. This particular print was a rare find and had ended up in his collection as a piece of history rather than for the information it contained. The Ministry of Magic had been founded several hundred years ago, and this book was the one surviving copy of the first Ministry Codes of Ethics and Security Guidelines. Within the hundreds of pages, he found what he was looking for. A single incantation for any who was witness to a prophecy at the moment it was made. It could be placed on one to all of the witnesses and would allow the witness through the security ward placed on the prophecy orb.
It made sense that Dumbledore had not told him of this, for he too had witnessed the Prophecy on the day that Sybill had foretold of it. Immediately he had removed the memory of the information and had dropped it into his pensive. If the Dark Lord where to know this information, he would give the order for him to steal it immediately.
At the time, there seemed to be no reason to steal the thing himself. He agreed with Dumbledore, that it should remain where it was. Even more so, since everyone believed that The Boy Who Lived and the only wizard that the Dark Lord feared were the only two who could remove the prophecy from its resting place. So he had left the memory with the dangerous bit of information in the pensive, and he had left the prophecy secured in the Ministry of Magic.
Severus blinked the memory away. He didn’t have time for lollygagging.
He began muttering the incantation swiftly, concentrating on every word as he whispered the jumble of words. As soon as the last breath was uttered he shot out his hand and grabbed the fragile orb.
It came free of its stand as easily as though he were picking up any inanimate object.
Relief, ever so slight, feathered over his pounding heart as he carefully wrapped the glass orb in a piece of cloth and eased it just as carefully into the pocket of his robe.
Then, he pulled out his wand and placed it at his own head and pulled out the memory of that overheard conversation, so many years ago. Carefully he whispered the incantation and the memory was transformed and encased in a glass orb, just like all the other prophecies. This one looked authentic enough as he placed it on the shelf where he had removed the original. It was the half that the Dark Lord already knew, but maybe, just maybe, he would believe that it was all there was.
A noise caught his attention. The sound of voices.
“This way Harry!”
Severus knew that they had been on their way. Foolish children!
Miss Granger is too clever for her own good!
She had been able to lure the pink toad of a woman, Umbridge, into the forbidden forest. Of course, he had been aware of Hagrid’s secret. The giant Hagrid had hidden in the forest.
He did not feel sorry for the despicable woman.
And now they are falling right into the Dark Lord’s trap. He shook his head in disgust.
The trap set to lure Potter into the ministry. Send the boy images of loved ones dying in the hall and wait for him to come and remove the prophecy. Just in time to have Lucius steal it from the boy. And it was because Potter and his silly gang had fallen for said trap that he now found himself in this position.
Severus knew he couldn’t be found here. Not now. Not with what he now possessed. He had to get out fast. Had to send it far away, and as soon as possible.
To Xander. Yes, he would send it to his brother. Xander would keep it safe. Keep it hidden.
Silently, he darted into the darkness.
Severus had tried to remove himself from the Ministry before he was seen, but it was not to be the case.
“Severus.” Drawled Lucius Malfoy in his deep voice.
Casually, Severus stepped from the shadows pushing his mask up off of his face and inclined his head at the fellow deatheater, and then towards the others who accompanied Malfoy. His thundering heart was in his throat, and he had to concentrate to not choke on it.
“Lucius.” He returned the greeting solemnly.
The other man’s blonde eyebrow shot up. “I’m surprised to see you here. Won’t Dumbledore become suspicious of your absence?”
He thinks I’m here to aid in the ambush.
Severus did not answer, but merely pulled the silver mask back into place.
The elder Malfoy smirked. “Excellent.” And then he pulled his own mask down.
It all seemed to happen in a blur.
The golden trio, followed by their newest cohorts, Longbottom, Lovegood, and the youngest Weasley arrived almost as if on queue. Potter quickly located Severus’s fake Prophecy and removed it. Of course, anyone might have removed that one.
Once in Potter’s hand, Malfoy gave his queue and they made their presence known.
It was only amoment longer when Malfoy had the Prophecy in his own hands. Briefly, Severus thought the deatheaters might retreat, but the children had other plans in mind.
They fought bravely and Severus, hidden behind his mask, had to be cautious in his hexes, trying to appear to be battling against the children, all the while hexing his fellow deatheaters.
It seemed to only get worse when the Order members had finally arrived.
The battle was a vicious one and in the fray, he watched Malfoy drop the prophecy. It shattered into dust.
Gone.
And the fighting continued. Hexes thrown, curses flying.
Severus found his opportunity to move unmissed back into the shadows, his pilfered item still tucked away in his robes. But before he could make his escape, he saw it.
Bellatrix shot an Avada Kadavra curse at Black and hit him squarely in the chest. Severus watched in shock as his long time foe and equally his comrade in battle fall back, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. But to Severus’s great astonishment, Black’s fall took him directly into the Abyss.
Severus couldn’t help the thought that jumped to the forefront of his mind.
Lucky bastard.