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Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31713 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

Chapter List
- 99
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- 101
A/N: This is the 100^th chapter, I didn’t think that the story will be this long when I started it. I want to thank all of you for reading it, for all the kudos/likes and comments, to all who just quietly read the story. Whenever writing gets tough, you are my strength and the force that gives me strength and the determination not to give up.
Thank you <3
@shelly Thank you. "I wonder if, from this point forward, they'll be able to see each other's true feelings towards each other?? Hopefully!!" - their connection doesn't work like that, they can be caught the glimpses, but only of those feelings, the other side is willing to share. That, however, doesn't mean that they are completely blind. I hope you'll like this chapter as well ;)
@Snapelicious Thank you. I do try to post a chapter every two weeks :)
In agreement with my beta – I’m posting this chapter unedited when she finishes with fixing the grammar and with me, I will re-post this chapter at a later date.
At that time, I do expect that some parts will be enhanced and there will be no grammatical errors.
I leave it to you to read it now or wait some more.
When I upload edited chapter I’ll remove this note :)
Hermione sat at the long-separated table in the Great Hall and reading, she would mainly opt to study in the library or their common room, but today she was here. Luna asked her to wait for her. Her quill drew the unsteady line across the parchment when someone bumped at her. Turning to glare and give a warning she faced a group of seven years frowning at her.
“You should be more careful where you are going, I’ll have to redo this now.” She told the girl nearest to her.
“And you shouldn’t even be here.” The girl snapped at her.
Hermione rose from her seat, crossing her arms over chest, angry at the rude retort.
“I remember you, you were the fifth year at the time of the Battle. Why would you have more right to be here than I have?”
“I’m not the one fraternising with the enemy.” The girl replied, there was an ugly gleam in her eyes, few of her followers nodded in agreement.
“Neither do I. I did, however, face the enemy, unlike you.” She couldn’t resist, even if somewhere in the back of her mind she realised that it wasn’t smart to start an argument. Not here and not while outnumbered in such sever numbers.
“And what? You think you are above us all because you are the part of the Golden Trio? The only reason you are famous at all is because Harry Potter took pity on you and befriended you. You are charity chase, and certainly not a hero.”
“And what would you know about that?” She tightened her fists.
The words hurt her, pained her more than she was willing to admit, even to herself. She was an inch for calling the girl to a duel. Think what Severus would do? He wouldn’t rise to the bait, he lived with this all his life. She tilted her head, plastering a smile over her face. And look where it got him.
She missed him. Missed him severely. Missed him so much that she was even afraid to go to sleep - as of lately her dreams shifted between nightmares and her memories of time spent with him. And the last thing she needed was for him to see her dreams.
This, however, wasn’t a time to contemplate on the futility of her feelings for Severus Snape. Thinking fast, calculating, she tried to plot the fasted, and the least damaging path out of this argument.
The gathered crowd started to murmur, glancing somewhere over her shoulder. Good, Luna to the rescue. She nearly grinned, but the crowd backed away. Not Luna then. Some of the professors perhaps.
Hermione resisted the urge to glance behind and see who is it, the time she spent in the war taught her well - never turn your back to the enemy. Fighting the need to take a deep breath or crumble under the weight of realisation that group in front of her shouldn’t be an enemy.
“You are even defended by them.” Spat the girl.
Now she did toss a quick glance over her shoulder, slipping quietly her wand, just in case. The four Slytherins that returned were behind her, separated by the table, but ready to fight.
“Them who?” The voice to her left was belonging to the Hufflepuff from their group. “Are you going to call me a traitor Goshawk?”
Before the girl managed to answer another voice joined in, this time the voice belonged to Neville Longbottom.
“What is going on here? You all right, Hermione?”
“Yes, thank you, Neville - ummm, sorry, Professor.” She corrected herself resisting the urge to giggle. She still couldn’t get used to call him Professor.
“Neville is fine out of the class.” He grinned at her. “Now, who will tell me what is going on here?”
“Nothing Professor, just a difference on the opinions.” Peeped in someone from the background.
“Mhm, and that requires drawn wands. Should I remind you all of the school rules?” Neville asked, his tone soft but firm.
“No, Professor but we had to protect ourselves.” The Goshawk girl glared at her.
“From whom?”
“Them.” The girl motioned her head toward the group of Slytherins.
“Stop lying Hilly.” Sighed the Hufflepuff. “Sorry, Professor, this won’t happen again.”
“I hope not. May I remind you all that all students are welcomed in Hogwarts equally. The real enemy is dead and we do not need to create new ones among ourselves.”
“But Professor! They are evil, and she-she supports them?” Cried one Ravenclaw from the back.
“I see that we need one class about recent history, I didn’t think we will need it this fast.” Neville straightened his back, stern and regal in his teacher's robes. “Without Slytherins, the outcome of the war would be much different. No matter what their motives were, but Without Professor Snape - Harry wouldn’t know what to do, we wouldn’t have information about the enemy. Narcissa Malfoy lied Voldemort to save her son, yes - but, she saved Harry’s life. Draco Malfoy lied and saved Harry. Professor Slughorn fought to protect Hogwarts. The portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black aided Harry, Hermione and Ron while they were on the hunt to destroy Voldemort.” Neville stopped, glancing around the group, Hermione shifted from leg to leg, this was a new face of Neville, one she never saw before. “All of them - Slytherins.”
The silence was astounding, most of the students looked at the ground. She understood, the war was still a fresh wound for many of them, there wasn’t a family that didn’t suffer a loss. With still blatant disregard for treating mental traumas, Wizarding world was vulnerable. Lost and scared people demanded the blood, seeking to chase away their demons by enforcing their own vision of justice.
I was like that, I’d still be like that if I hadn’t had Severus to help me.
“Now, this is time for studying, and I urge you to return to your homework before I’m forced to take away house points.”
The crowd started to move reluctantly towards their seats, only then she felt the trickle of sweat gliding down her back. She glanced at Neville and turned to her housemates.
“Thank you.”
“You are one of us, not Slytherin - returnees. We take care of our own.” Nodded Daniell, a boy year below her originally.
“Don’t worry, Hermione. None of us is overly warmly welcomed.” Smiled Irene, a Hufflepuff. “Join us for a study group later?”
“I will, I’m waiting for Luna--”
“That is why I came looking for you.” Neville joined in the conversation.
“We’ll be in the common room, Hermione.” Daniell motioned to the group to leave them alone. She smiled at them warmly, unlikely as it seemed at the start of the year, their small group became a solid support system.
She and Neville watched them go. Hermione turned to gather her things. “Can we talk somewhere else?”
“It would be smart. I shouldn’t socialise with the students.” Neville smiled sheepishly reminding her of the boy she once shared the House with.
“I’m sorry if I caused you any--”
“You didn’t, and you are my friend. We have been through too much, I can’t think of you or Luna or Ginny or others that were here in the final year as ordinary students. And Headmistress does not demands that of me.”
Neville was a balm to the sore wound, his presence made thing so much more - familiar. She walked out following him. Once in the hallway, they burst into laughter. It felt good.
“What did Luna do now? Is she rescuing your plants again?”
“No, she is waiting for us at Hagrid’s and I think we should rescue him.” Neville tried to talk through laughter but words burst out of him in a fast exhales between the fit of chuckles and hiccups. “Besides, I refuse to be the only wizard with broken teeth.”
Hermione blinked at him, her eyes zeroing on his mouth almost automatically.
“Hagrid made a batch of his famous cookies.”
They dissolved into another fit of giggles, walking hastily towards the door and in the direction of newly built Hagrid’s hut.

It was late afternoon when Hermione finally entered her room. She flopped on the bed still grinning. This was the first time she felt normal since the war. Loud and somewhat annoyed WHOOT send her heart racing up to her throat and wand in her hand.
On the work table was Draco’s owl, grumpy and overly unfitting with her royal posture.
“Pompous Ferret has to have a pompous owl.” She grumbled and walked to the owl to take the letter, she offered an owl treat and the bird turned its head away from her.
“Do you have to wait for my reply?” She asked, hoping that the bird will fly away. When owl hooted at her spreading its wings, she moved to give her space.
“I should have sent the note to use Hades next time.” Hermione grumbled into her chin, the bird irked her. Too late she realised that the bird was here with the letter, in the evening and that she already received his report about Severus this morning.
With shaking hands and a twist in her stomach, he unrolled the parchment, eyes flying over the blurry letters.
“When will you come back? This is starting to get unbearable, so much so that I’m thinking about taking my chances with the Ministry. I had to resort to unthinkable and call Potter. Potter of all people…”
She stopped reading, feeling like the air was sucked out of the room. Summoning her wand she twirled it and tried to think about something that made her happy, but nothing came to her panicked mind.
“Bloody hell, think Hermione, think.” Her voice was shaking, she was shaking.
She closed her eyes and focused, the image of Severus holding her hands, talking to her, complimenting and encouraging her came to mind. Hermione felt the surge of magic, opening her eyes she nearly dropped her wand.
On the ground, there was an ethereal bird that reminded her of Hades. Taking a deep breath, Hermione started to rapid-fire the questions.
“What is going on? Is Severus all right? What did you do now? Why Harry had to come? Should I send Matron?” Pausing to take a breath she closed her eyes. “I’m expecting an answer.”
With another twist of the wrist, she sent her Patronus.
She couldn’t sit, thoughts rushed through her head, each darker and blacker than previous. Why would he call Harry? What Severus did that demanded Harry’s presence? Did someone attack them? Is he injured? I can’t feel anything… Gods, is he alive?
The image of the rat shimmered into the room and she frowned at the unfamiliar Patronus. Draco Malfoy’s voice mocked once the creature’s image opened its mouth.
“Nice tweety-bird, Granger. I liked the blob better.”
The stag bounded into the room following the rat. “...idiot Malfoy. Hermione, there is no need for you to worry. This is just Malfoy being a lazy-ass Malfoy. Professor Snape is fine, better than fine. We are just talking so that Malfoy could play kissy-face with the Greengrass.”
Hermione finally stopped shaking, pressing one hand on her chest, feeling the beats of her manic heart. For a few moments, everything felt quiet and still. She let out one shuddering breath. Sitting on the bed again, she focused on the link they shared.
A bit of annoyance, boredom and the desire to hex.
Taking a deep breath she rolled to her back and started to laugh. All in all, today was a good day.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
“What? I still stand by my claim, the blob was better, more interesting.” Draco laughed and Harry wished that he is better in wordless and wandless magic, then he could hex Malfoy.
“I am glad to see that she can produce corporeal Patronus again. I did hope that she will keep her otter.” He glared at Malfoy.
“Otter.” Snorted Draco and Astoria gave him one horrified glace.
“Yes, otter. Mister Rat.” Harry grinned at Malfoy whose face suddenly became serious.
“Rats are smart.” Frowned Draco straightening his back.
“Yes, they are also pests.” Harry replied flatly.
“I’m do not know Miss Granger all that well, but I’m not sure that the crow suits her.” Astoria wrinkled her nose.
“I don’t think it is a crow.” Harry turned to her. Shure the bird did resembled the crow or the raven but it seemed smaller.
“The only conclusion I can draw from this conversation is that education failed you. All of you.” Snape sighed sounding snide and disappointed at the same time. “Miss Granger’s Patronus is a Magpie. More precisely Eurasian magpie.”
Harry blinked at Snape, Draco widened his eyes, Astoria directed her eyes to the floor, blushing.
“Well, maybe it is my time to go and--” Harry started to rise from his seat.
“When we can expect you again, Potter?” Draco sounded enthusiastic, he opened his mouth answer but Snape cut him off.
“Do take your time, Potter, don’t hurry back.”
“I-- Yes. Thank you for your hospitality, Professor. I’ll see you around Malfoy, Miss Greengrass.”
Astorija smiled, blushing lightly, she offered him her hand and he shook it. There was a joined groan from both Snape and Draco behind his back.
He was still confused by Malfoy’s invitation, but even more so by Snape’s willingness to talk with him and give him few details about his mother. With firm determination to write to Hermione as soon as he gets home, Harry apparated.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
He was on the meadow, under the tree again. Large tree top enabling him to pace back and forth still sheltering him from the sun. She was on the edge of the lake, looking at the glimmering water.
His first notion was to call her to join him, but he changed his mind. For some unexplainable reason, she belonged there, on the sun. He walked to the tree trunk and sat on the ground. She will come to join him when she’s done looking at the water.
He soaked his eyes with her beauty. She was athletic, slim and elegant but not in that ladylike manner. Her body had strength. White summer dress fitted her perfectly, displaying a good part of her back through the V-shaped opening. Herheda was covered with a sun hat with the ridiculously large rim.
It struck him that she wasn’t obscured with the shadow anymore. He could see her, and he fought the need to call her, to provoke her to turn around and show him her face. But he was afraid if he warned her, tell her how much she unravelled that the shadow will return.
“Won’t you come and join me?” She called.
“Thank you, I’m fine here.” He just wanted to sit and enjoy the view while he still had a chance. Good things didn’t last for long in his life as a rule, and he wanted to remember every detail, just in case. For him, she was the ray of brightness, one that he wanted to hold on to for as long as it was possible.
“The sun is not hot, it is pleasantly warm.” She tried again.
“I can admire the view from here just fine.”
“You know, if you persist in that, you are going to lose me. I can’t dwell in the darkness and shadows anymore.” Her voice sounded sad. Her head fell forward.
His heart fluttered painfully in his chest. He leaned forward wondering should he extend his arm and pull her back in the shade. But she so belonged there, on the sun.
“I can’t lose something I do not possess.” He replied through the too dry throat.
“So blind. You look but you don’t see.”
“I don’t even know who you are, how do you look like--” He started.
“Yes, you do. You are just too stubborn to allow yourself to see.” The sadness in her voice was predominating now over all other emotions. “Not that it matters. Even if you could see, you would turn around and left.”
“Do not presume that you know me that much. I was never one to hide or back away when things are tough. But you are not an obstacle.”
“Yes--” Her voice faded. “Yes, I am. I am the obstacle you won’t be willing to face.”
Her head was low now, so low that he could see her neck under the rim of her ridiculous heat. He stood up determined to go to her and console her. She was never sad, not once in all this time and it pained him to see her like this.
Her hand went up and pulled the hat off, hair spilling over her shoulders and back. He stopped, frozen. Words left his mouth before he was able to stop them.
“No!!!”
Severus sat in bed, shaking. To his right Draco jumped from the sofa, startled. The boy fell asleep curled on the sofa with the book in his lap. The book was lying on the floor and the tip of Draco’s wand flickered with light.
He fell back, not looking at Draco, or scratching Hades. In front of his eyes still was the image of her, his DreamLady.
“Oh, bollocks.”
He pressed his balled hands over his eyes, uncertain whether he wanted to preserve the image or erase it. He pressed so hard that his eyes started to hurt.
“Severus, what is going on?” Draco sounded a bit panicked, urgent.
“Nothing, just a bad dream. Go to your bed and rest, Draco. I’ll be fine.” He managed to sound normal as if nothing was going on as if the world wasn’t crumbling around him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, just let me back to sleep if you have no desire to do so.”
The light was gone and he could hear footsteps moving towards the door.
How did I manage to get myself into this mess?
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed