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Who Are They Now? COMPLETE	By : Snapes_Slave Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 9101 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I own no part of the Harry Potter universe, That honor lies solely with Madame Rowling herself, nor do I own any part of Funny Girl or its music. I make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
DISCLAIMER: Dude, It's not mine! Seriously man! And I'm a broke ass mo' fo' so I'm definitely not getting paid for it.

The day the show was set to open dawned markedly cool and more than a bit damp. Hermione stretched in her bed, the comforter the only thing keeping her cozy and warm from the near frost that had come in through the window overnight. Hermione grabbed her wand from the night stand and with a quick swish, set the kettle to boil. She rose from her bed and wrapped her dressing gown around herself.
She sat at the kitchen table drinking her throat-coat tea and quietly reading the Daily Prophet. Funily enough, she was on the front page.

Funny Witch?

This evening will mark the opening night of Funny Girl at the Charing Cross Theatre beneath London's Kings Cross Station. But why would this newspaper be printing about something like that? Well that has everything to do with the star of the show, one Hermione Granger.
We have all watched as Miss Granger's star has risen in our world, ushering in new potions and spells that have been life saving to many, but unfortunately we were never told of the sadness and depression that has followed her for the past 10 years.
In recent days, this reporter has discovered that the innumerable strides in discovery have been brought on by a near break with reality. Throughout her time working and inventing, Miss Granger has suffered very deeply with depression and at times, suicidal thoughts and tendencies.
Evidently, Miss Granger thinks herself a performer worthy of the historical Theatre and not only that, but a most historical show. For those that do not know the history behind Funny Girl, it was only performed by the original Broadway star, Barbra Streisand, and the show has not been revived since. The main reason behind this is because a star of Madame Streisand's magnitude simply does not exist.
So what do we make of this desire to act and sing? Is it merely a flight of fancy, or is it a woman reaching out for help and acceptance? Well, I can tell you that this reporter will be there with bells on to give you the true report of the effectiveness in Miss Granger's performance. Will she be a star on the rise, or will she burn out on impact?

Written by: Rita Skeeter Daily Prophet

Hermione's brow furrowed and she crumpled the paper in her fist. What a vile woman. Perhaps she needs reminding who kept her locked in a jar... At least the article was short and near the bottom of the page. She could only hope that people wouldn't pay it much mind, but she knew better. People would be showing up in droves to see her fall flat on her face and Hermione would be only too happy to prove them all wrong.
As she began her pre-show rituals of bathing and yoga, she heard a soft tapping on her sitting room window. She opened the bay window to let in a lovely snowy owl, who rested on the bench seat just inside.
"Hello, Nimue." Hermione cooed softly to the owl, removing the letters from her feet. She gave the bird some bits of muffin left from her breakfast and off it went. Hermione smiled at the letters from her friends. Leave it to them to send all of them with one owl instead of separately. 5 letters, one from each of her closest friends, all full of 'good lucks', 'break a legs' and her favorite, 'forget bloody Skeeter, that cow'. She was in high spirits as she got herself dressed to head to the theater.
She finished with hair and makeup and sat in her dressing room, quietly meditating. For the first time in two weeks, she allowed her mind to wander over Severus. She needed him tonight. Whatever was happening between them didn't matter, she knew it was thoughts of him that would truly make her performance spectacular. She knew time was nearing to raise the curtain, but she needed this moment to herself. A knock sounded on her door and a familiar face poked around the edge.
"Do you have a moment, Ms Bryce?" Ginny asked. Hermione smiled.
"Why yes I do." She rose to meet her friend and hugged her close.
"Nervous?" Hermione nodded.
"Well don't be. You'll be amazing. This is actually for you..." Ginny said, handing her a small bundle of pure white gardenias tied together with a piece of brown twine.
"Oh, you shouldn't have, Gin. Thank you." Hermione said, taking a deep breath of the beautiful blooms.
"Actually, I didn't." She said, looking away and fidgeting selfconciously.
"Then who did?" Hermione asked off hand.
"Severus." Ginny said quietly. "He said to tell you to break a leg and that he knows you'll be amazing." She fairly whispered. Hermione took a breath and allowed one tear to fall, before looking into her friends eyes.
"Thank you for bringing this to me." Her voice was so soft it was nearly silent. Ginny pulled her into a tight embrace, then leaned back holding her upper arms.
"Go out there and show the world what you can do, love. Show him. But most importantly, show yourself." Ginny said, her eyes sharp. Hermione gave a curt nod and smiled brightly.
"3 minutes to curtain, miss Granger." A voice called out.
"Well that's my cue." Hermione said, brushing away the last of her tears and checking her makeup in the lit mirror. She looked to her friend one more time, and left the room to wait for the show to start.

HGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSS

Severus waited anxiously in his seat. He pulled on his suddenly too tight collar and fiddled with the program in his hand. He knew she would be magnificent, with or without him, but he just couldn't stay away tonight. It was her debut and he knew he couldn't miss it.
The voice had returned, and with it a new rhetoric of hateful words. As he continued to research, the voice would call out to him.
She's not worth all this work. She isn't beautiful. She isn't anything you need. She doesn't deserve to be loved, not with how those scars make her look. She's destined to die alone. Don't let her trap you!
The words wrapped around and around in his mind, louder and louder, but he refused to listen to them tonight. He would be here to bear witness to the incredible talent that was Hermione Granger. He hoped she had liked the flowers he had sent with Miss Weasley (married or not, she would always be Miss Weasley to him), he had hoped to make her feel just a bit lighter after that horrid article in the Prophet. Stupid cow Skeeter.
The curtain came up and Severus was still blown away by her voice. Through the Greatest Star, to People, to You Are Woman, and to Don't Rain on my Parade, she was wondrous and dazzling. He couldn't seem to wipe the smile from his face or the chills from his spine. But just before intermission, the voice came back, and this time, it broke through the barrier of information.
"She could never be desired with those scars. No one could ever truly love her the way she is."
Truly love her... But I do. I have for years. Do I really not love her because of a few marks? Gods no! If anything, I love her more for the courage and bravery and strength that each of those marks shows!
And just like that, it clicked. He knew the answer and hopefully, he had just enough time to get it for her.

HGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSS

Simon had stopped in at intermission, telling her to 'keep it up', saying she was 'astonishing and prodigious' on the stage. Hermione swore he carried around a thesaurus dog eared to specific words just to tell someone how thoroughly amazing they were. She drank a cup of tea and tried to calm her nerves. Sadly, she knew that what was yet to come would be the hard part. Her two toughest songs were near the end of the second act. As if the first act of show stoppers wasn't hard enough on her voice, the end would be a definite challenge. She was glad that they had gotten permission to switch out the reprise of Don't Rain on my Parade with My Man. At first she had been frustrated because of her difficulty with it, but now... Now she couldn't wait for him to see it. She needed him to see her pain, her torture and more importantly her love for him. Her lights flickered to warn her that the second act was set. She looked at herself in the mirror, gathering every bit of strength she had, and left to wait in the wings.

HGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSS

Severus had rushed from the alley way and into his house, tearing through the potions lab as quickly as he could. He reached into an expanded closet full of old books and tomes until his fingers settled on one and he pulled it out. Antiqua Maledictio, et Detestatio Potionibus Aliquibus Colliserint, also known as Ancient Curses and Potions, was one of the oldest books on potions making he had ever read. It was written entirely in Latin and had never been translated or reprinted. That was why it was so heavily protected in his home. He blew the gathered dust from the cover and opened it, carefully flipping through the pages until his eyes settled on what he knew to be the answer.
He checked his pocket watch, glancing back at the recipe and decided that he would have enough time to make it back before the end of the show if he hurried. He waved his wand and set about preparing his ingredients and work station. As his base of angel's trumpet, African red peppers, and Billy wig sting slime began to come to a boil, he added Boom Berry, mistletoe berry, and fairy wings. He stirred carefully clockwise and anti clockwise and watched the color go from a deep green to a light peach color. Once it had reached a boil he carefully dropped in morning dew, pearl dust and star grass. He checked the time again, as he gently stirred again. He knew it would be close, but as the potion changed slightly and took on an opalescent tone to its peachy hue, he knew he would make it in time. He cast a cooling charm on the cauldron and bottled some, wrapping it carefully in his white handkerchief and placing it delicately in his pocket. He stopped by his desk and penned a quick but heartfelt note, gathered a few flowers and swept out the door.
As he reentered the theater, he was grateful for his perfect timing. Who Are You Now was just starting as he made his way back to his seat near the front. It had certainly taken on a different quality over the past few weeks, but it nearly made him cry. He knew it was for him. He let it flow over him, feeling every piece of her sadness and confusion, and hoped that she would let him see her after the show.
But the truth really came when her voice hesitantly began My Man.
Oh, my man I love him so
He'll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don't care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright, all right
What's the difference if I say
I'll go away
When I know I'll come back on my knees some day?
For whatever my man is
I am his forever more

He already had chills. It wasn't just crescendos and decrescendos, it was feeling, emotion and passion that she put into every tortured syllable.

Oh, my man I love him so
He'll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don't care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright, all right
What's the difference if I say
I'll go away
When I know I'll come back on my knees some day?
For what ever my man is
I am his forever more!

He sniffed and felt tears on his cheeks. It was beautiful. She had done it, she had found that hurt, that love, that fervor to make the song exactly as she had wanted it. As awful as they were both feeling, she had used the pain the curse had inflicted on her to make this performance one of epic proportions. He extracted his handkerchief, careful to not disturb the potion vial that had rested within, and scrubbed at his eyes. As he glanced around, he noticed that he wasn't the only one with tears in his eyes, in fact he couldn't see a single person who didn't. He smiled proudly, knowing that she was more amazing than he had ever thought she could be, and he silently sent a prayer to whomever would listen that she kept surprising him in the same ways for the rest of their lives if she would have him.
Once the curtains had dropped, and the bows had all been made, with more than a few roses being thrown to his beloved, the audience began shuffling towards the exits. Severus took his time, heading towards Simon to congratulate him on an incredible show that was sure to have a good run.
"I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what the papers say tomorrow. Why don't you come along to the cast party? I always throw one after opening night, while we wait to see what the verdict is." He asked, waggling his eyebrows.
"I'm not sure if I'm up for it, but I may stop by for a moment. I was hoping to see Hermione actually. I have something for her." Severus hedged nervously.
"You really love her, don't you?" Simon asked, suddenly being serious.
"With everything I am." He said solemnly.
"Give her a few moments, she had a group of friends head back that way, but I'll make sure they clear out soon. Can't have our star getting overwhelmed or too tired, can we?" He said with a sly wink. Severus smiled and thanked him for his subterfuge.
"Not a problem, mate. It's been hard seeing her so down lately. I reckon you could help her out with that, eh?" Simon murmured conspiratorially.
"God I hope so." Severus said in a rush, as he headed back towards her dressing room. He had her answer, now he just hoped she would listen to what he had to say.

A/N

I went with the shortened version of the song because I honestly like it a lot better than the full version, and especially considering the fact that it's only in the movie (and widely regarded as ruining the whole point of her rising from the ashes so to speak) it seemed more appropriate. I'm glad I was able to get this out as fast as I did and I hope it's on par with the rest of my chapters, but if not.... Well sorry. It's tough to end this story (probably only 2 chapters left) so I guess I'm trying to do it fast like a band aid... Thoughts?

My Man movie- https://youtu.be/VAdWMAeJ6TY

My Man glee- https://youtu.be/jo8NqCmvb9s
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Who Are They Now? *COMPLETE*

Who Are They Now? COMPLETE