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Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31716 -:- 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
- 116
- 117
- 118
A/N: Thank you all for your support, kudos, comments, and klicks.
I skipped sending this chapter to my beta, again. So, all mistakes are mine as always.
~Four years later~
Severus walked by the Sunroom on his way to the Laboratory. The giggle echoed through the door that stood ajar, and the sharp pain constricted his chest. He stopped to listen, hating himself, but also unable to resist. Why he tortured himself like this was beyond his ability to comprehend.
For four long years, they lived in the same home as Master and Apprentice. Nothing, nothing unbecoming happened between them. She was a diligent student, but he expected nothing less from her. And in the same way, her mind was now sharp and better than ever. She bloomed into a tantalisingly looking woman.
His feelings for her only fortified themselves, hidden deep inside his chest. The chest that now buckled under the pain of realisation that their time together is nearer to the end. Four years was enough had to be enough for her to realise that she made a mistake, for sure. But what she might see as a mistake he cherished as a precious memory.
He will let her go, he learned his lesson well, what will become of him after she’s gone was beyond him. Laughter rang again and Severus flinched, he listened to the muffled voices.
“I can bet that you’ll lose your courage and there will be no kiss. In fact, I’m ready to put the Galleons where my mouth is.” Hermione giggled.
“You’ll lose your Galleons for nothing.” Replied a male voice.
“No, I don’t think so. You don’t have that courage, you are down-right afraid of him.” Hermione’s voice teased.
“And I’ll prove you wrong.” A male voice replied with a purr.
“Right, we’ll see. Tonight, eight at evening, at She Colour. I already placed a reservation. Will you dare to show up?” Hermione’s voice still teased.
“You can bet your arse I will.” Replied male voice.
“It’s a date then.” Hermione singsong with a note of challenge.
The pain in his chest hitched the air in his lungs. Severus rushed to the Laboratory, leaving the giggling couple behind.
I knew this would happen; I prepared myself for this.
He wasn’t prepared, not really. He should take consolation knowing that she at least chose a decent bloke. His Secretary, the one she handpicked and trained.
Severus walked into the Laboratory and heavily leaned on the wall closing his eyes. He never expected it will be this difficult. True, he did not encourage her or shown even the smallest sign of attraction. He still allowed himself to hope…
Bloody hope. Bugger!
He opened his eyes and walked to the table, preparing ingredients. They had to finish this batch of potion before Lucius shows up. His hands fell on the worktable, Severus heavy leaned on it.
Lucius…
It was her doing.
They sat in the train, heading to London after the Parting feast. He could finally breathe, being in that school suffocated him. She was sitting across from him, gazing in the distance with a soft smile.
He wanted to kiss her, hold her in his arms. He wanted her to show at least some sign that she wanted it too. They sat in silence, and when the silence became unbearable, he cleared his throat.
“Did you choose the potion you want to improve for your first year?” Severus asked.
“I did if you are complacent about it.” Hermione looked at him, soft smile and warmth shone in her eyes.
“And that would be?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Anathematismus” Hermione lowered her eyes, blushing. “That is what you are making for Malfoy Sr., correct?”
“Wrong,” he replied, wondering what she is up to now. Hermione blinked at him, confused. “That is what I’ll be making for him once I return to brewing.”
“Did Healers at St. Mungo’s set up a date for your treatment then?” Her eyes were full of hope.
“Two days from now.” He replied with some discomfort, she nodded.
“I’ll be there. Anyway, I wanted to see if we can improve on that potion, Anathematismus that is- if Malfoy Sr. agrees to be our guinea pig.” Hermione said seriously.
Severus narrowed his eyes unsure if she wanted to take revenge on Lucius by using him as a test subject or she had some other hidden agenda. He could not contemplate on that thought. Laughter announced Longbottom and Lovegood along with a few other students’ moments before compartment door opened. A pungent smell filled the compartment.
“There you are.” Deidre chimed.
“Neville, you stink!” Hermione scrunched her nose.
“He lost two games of Exploding snaps, then his plant sprayed him with a puss,” Luna said dreamily. “I told you-you are neglecting her, and that she needs love.”
“She wouldn’t spray me if I wasn’t trying to save you from spraying. Stop hugging my plants, Luna.” Grumbled Neville.
They worked on that bloody potion in her first year of apprenticeship; they improved the potion. And in the meantime, he renewed his friendship with Lucius.
Thinking back at the past four years, Hermione was like a Good fairy in his life. She nudged him in all the right directions, brewed his potions to stop the tremors- the residual damage of post-cruciatus. She nagged the portraits into submission. She, bloody, run this house. His house.
The door opened, and Hermione walked in still grinning.
“You started without me.” She called instead of the greeting.
Severus wished to hide behind his Occlumency walls, he didn’t use them anymore even if he once more had a full reign of his magic.
“I just arrived. Lucius will be here in a few hours,” he replied. “You should focus on your Defence tomorrow.”
“They can’t ask me a question I can’t answer.” Hermione shrugged, taking another chopping board and a silver knife. “I’ll work on valerian root.”
“You are smug about something,” Severus said, kicking himself mentally for his weakness.
“I am, I set up a date.” Hermione’s grin widened.
“Congratulations. Who is the unlucky party?” Severus asked before biting his tongue. You pathetic tosser.
“Why would he be unlucky?” Hermione stopped chopping to glare at him.
“As much as I appreciate your skill in potions or your organisational skills, you still are annoying and bossy. I feel sorry for the bloke already.” He replied in a dry tone.
“Well, Blaise Zabini- your secretary, if you must know,” Hermione replied with amusement in her voice.
“I see, you are developing a taste for Slytherins,” Severus replied conversationally, wondering why he pressed on the matter. Working in silence was perfectly acceptable. Why he still needed to torture himself by pouring salt on the wound?
“A Slytherin.” Hermione corrected him with a frown. “But I’d say that Slytherin fever is going on among Gryffindor’s. We’ll see after tonight if I’m right, things are still uncertain.”
“If he does not realise how good you are for him, then it is his loss, not yours.” Severus sighed.
“I thought I’m annoying and bossy and that you already feel sorry for the bloke.” Hermione huffed. “Besides, this particular Slytherin wouldn’t notice me if I am to walk naked in front of him.”
Anger rose from his belly to his chest in a matter of moments, blinding white anger, mixed with images from four years ago. Her naked body on the bed of cloves, skin gleaming from sweat on the rays of the sun that broke through still smudged glass. He stopped chopping to glare at her. Fists clenching uncontrollably.
Hermione shook her head at him.
“I can’t believe you are so blind. I wouldn’t tempt Blaze nor Neville. I’m missing a few bits that get them going, and I have something extra on the wrong place.” Hermione burst into laughter.
“Longbottom?” Severus felt like someone poured a bucket of iced water on him. “What he has to do…”
“I set up a date between two of them for tonight.” Hermione cut him off, still amused.
That tight knot in his abdomen and chest started to unwind.
“To shame, Zabini is a decent young man, he’d suit you.” Severus intoned, returning to chopping.
He raised his eyes from the board when she slammed the table with both of her hands. Now he was facing her angry eyes and a flushed face.
“You, pompous prick!” She hissed.
“Language Apprentice Granger, I am still your Master,” Severus warned he, pushing his voice to sound dangerous. Not an easy feat, she looked so attractive when she was angry.
“Only for one more day. And if you think for a moment that I have forgotten- you are sourly mistaken. You. Won’t. Get. Rid. Of. Me. That. Easily.” Hermione growled, walking away from the table.
“Where do you think you’re going? We have a potion to finish.” He growled back.
“Finish it yourself.” Hermione snapped, slamming the door on her way out.
Severus stared at the door, shaking his head. He should be angry, he should be mad, instead, he felt amused. And he truly was until realisation slammed at him.
And that is how I still have the talent to muck things up.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Lucius frowned and coughed; the bitterness of the potion lingered on his taste buds. Through watery eyes he noticed Severus roll his eyes.
“You could make it more palatable, you know” He rasped.
“And miss that expression on your face? Now, why would I do that?” Severus replied smugly.
“Well, for one- it would save you some of this fine and utterly expensive Firewhiskey.” Lucius leaned back into the chair and took a huge gulp from the tumbler.
“That is a blatant lie and you know it.” Severus shook his head, chuckling, before setting his face in a serious mask. “How is this last batch working for you?”
“Good, better than in fact. This cane, my friend, is once more just a fashion accessory.” Lucius tilted his head. “I will have to live up through another humiliation and express my gratitude to that rude Apprentice of yours. While we are on the subject, where is that insolent chit?”
He watched as Severus shifted, glaring at him. Lucius had to admit, he’ll never be fond of the girl, but he stopped hating her a long time ago. If nothing, much to his cringe, he felt grateful to her. Not only because she worked diligently to improve the potion and to prolong his life span as much as it was possible, but also because she somehow swayed Severus into being his friend once more.
Indeed, a miracle.
Something was off, Severus appeared troubled.
“In her room, I presume,” Severus replied tightly.
“Don’t tell me you had another argument with the portraits. Your grandmother is boring me to death with her insistent chatting, but she did not mention two of you or the Match for a long time now.” Lucius raised an eyebrow.
This was still slippery terrain, one that Lucius tried to avoid if possible. But over the years, Severus confide in him. He had the feeling that he did not hear all of it, but he knew about his brothers love for the girl and that was enough for him.
“No, Hermione took care of that. I believe that portraits are afraid of her.” Severus replied.
“I’d say, she has no respect for ancestry.” Lucius nodded.
“She has a defence of her Mastery set for tomorrow.” Severus murmured, sinking back in his chair, and closing the eyes for a moment.
“Ah,” Lucius nodded, even if Severus could not see it. “So, is she packing now?” He asked cautiously.
“No… Yes… Probably… I don’t know.” Severus shook his head, keeping his eyes closed.
“Have you considered- talking with her, perhaps? Letting her know…” Lucius almost whispered- this was, indeed, a dangerous question.
“We talked, four years ago, about her staying as my Assistant. And she still has… That means nothing. We fought today…” Severus finally looked at him.
Lucius sighed; he could strangle Granger girl. If she was so blind, so oblivious to how Severus felt about her… Wasn’t she the one that claimed to love him? Or was that just the passing fancy? Draco was still adamant that her feelings for Severus didn’t change, but Draco chose her to be his witness at the bonding ceremony. He couldn’t trust the boy’s objectivity on the matter.
“I wouldn’t be too worried about it. After all, she has nowhere to go.” Lucius shrugged.
“Is that supposed to make me feel any better?” Severus sharply snapped his head towards him.
Lucius flinched internally, cursing himself for making a mistake. Well, what’s done, it’s done.
“It is not like I told you the news, Severus. You knew that, even when you were still at the Manor.” He replied with a bit of subdued tone.
“That does not make the situation any better,” Severus replied tersely with ill-conceived air.
Lucius hated to see him in this state, mainly because he did not know how to approach the subject or help Severus.
“Well, I have to cut my visit short, Draco and Astoria are coming. Maybe today I’ll finally hear good news.” Lucius stood up. “I am afraid that at the end they’ll be another Malfoys to thank you for the potion…”
“Not to me. If all goes well, not this time...” Severus rose from the chair, a sly smile on his face.
“Yes, well, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.” Lucius forced himself to arrange his face in a mask he wore for so long.
The truth was, he mellowed a lot over the past years. Illness dulled the hate and anger. Losing Severus’ friendship brought him to his knees, not that he’d ever admitted that. And whether he still believed in supremacy was irrelevant, he withdrew from public life.
“No need to escort me. I’ll see you in a few days.” He nodded to Severus and walked out of the room.
- 116
- 117
- 118
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Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed