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ONE LIFE TO LIVE	By : Mistress Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 9831 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters. Nor do I make any money off of writing in here.

Chapter List
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                                                                              HERMIONE
                                                                         (FIVE YEARS AGO)

I bid Harry and Ron good night and go to my room. The events of our escapades still running through my head. I can’t believe we’ve helped to free Harry’s uncle. I’m happy for Harry. Finally he has someone who loves him. Besides me and Ron of course. I can’t imagine how it is to live, knowing that no one in the whole world gives a dam about you. And that’s not the worst of it. I can’t help remembering what Harry shared with me. The stories of what really happened while he was living at Dursley’s house. It almost seems surreal. How could someone be so cruel to a child?
My heart also aches for professor Lupin. Poor man. I wish he could still teach. In my opinion, he is one of the best professors Hogwarts seen in years. Definitely better than that idiot Lockheart was. I still can’t believe I had a crush on him. One of those sleazy bastards which prove that looks are not everything.
Talking about sleazy bastards, who would think that Snape of all people, would be the one protecting us. This whole time we thought that he was not on our side. I can’t believe that he would risk his own life to shield us from the werewolf. I guess we might have been wrong about him.
Well, maybe. Doesn’t change the fact that he is one greasy git. I hate the way he talks to Harry. To all of us. But especially to Harry. He didn’t do anything to deserve that. I hope someday, when we’re done with this school, I’ll be able to walk up to him and give him a piece of my mind about all the spiteful things he ever said to each and every one of us.
For a quick moment, my mind draws a picture of Snape’s face when that happens. I can’t help, but smile. Crooks jumps on the bed and starts rubbing against my cheek. His purring pulls me out of my gloating thoughts and I give him as much love as he wants. I scratch behind his furry soft ears and kiss his wet button nose.
Suddenly, he raises his head and looks at the door. Jumping on the floor, he arches his back and gives the door a loud hiss. – “What is it, Crooks? Who do you feel in there?” He gives me a loud “Mrow” the fur on his back stands up. “What’s going on, boy? You’re scaring me.”
I walk to the door and open it. “See Crooks? No one’s there.” Before I can close it, he runs into the hall. I follow. “Come back, Crooks. Bad kitty. You’ll get us both in trouble.” I keep chasing after him all the way to Dumbledore’s office, hoping that Snape or Mcgonagall won’t catch us running around the castle this time of night.
Surprisingly, professor’s door is slightly opened. I can hear his voice and someone else’s. I take a peek inside. I see a hooded person and hold my breath. The man’s voice seems familiar, but I can’t remember when I’ve heard it before. Their conversation is muffled and I can only identify some of the words, before they both raise their voices.
- “I know your secret old man. Let him go, or I’ll make it known to the rest of the world.”
- “Do that and I’ll make sure your brother dies faster than Daily Prophet can publish an article about it. And don’t forget, it’s your word against mine. You want to see what your chances are, go ahead.”
- “You can’t have him doing this forever. You’re not the one who has to patch him up when he returns from your missions.”
Dumbledore smiles evilly and I place a hand over my mouth. I’ve never seen him act like that around anyone.
- “I’ll keep him to his vow for as long as I need him. When his services are no longer needed, he will be set free.”
- “You mean you’ll dispose of him when he can no longer be of help to you.”
- “Take it however you want and keep your mouth shut puppet, before I start pulling your strings.”
- “I am no one’s puppet. And you will pay for this” the man growls.
I see professor chuckle lightly.
- “Get out of my office. I gave you enough of my time.”
Professor pulls out his wand and with a light flick of it, part of the wall slides out and the hooded man walks inside. Just before the door closes, I see the man adjusting his robes and tucking a blond strand of hair into the hood.
I’m still trying to hold my breath and start backing away slowly from professor’s office, but Crooks starts running and I have no other choice, but to chase after him again. “Stupid cat, you’ll get us in trouble. Come back.”
Finally, we’re at the stairs. They’re starting to shift and lead me to a dark hallway I’ve never seen before. I hear Crooks hissing again and follow him. Soon, I find myself in complete darkness. Thank Gods I have my wand with me. I pull it out - “Lumos.”
What a weird place. No portraits. Is this possible? I didn’t think that there’s a place in the castle where there’s no portraits. It must be a secret passage of some sort.
Another loud “Mrow” from Crooks and I almost catch him. Almost. “Damn you. I’ll trade you for an owl.” In few minutes time, I find myself at the door. It’s cracked open and I slip out in hopes to catch my cat before I get myself sacked for running around the castle in the dark. Except for… I’m no longer at the castle.
I find myself standing at the edge of the forbidden forest. “Crooks. Please come back.” I hear a sound in the bushes and follow it. It takes me further into the forest, my wand being my only source of light. Thankfully, I hear Crooks’ again and lean down to check the bush next to me. There he is. Thank Gods. “Come here, boy. Come here.”
Suddenly I hear a sound. It’s getting closer. Not just a sound. Voices. My heart starts pounding in my chest. I whisper “Nox” and hide under the bush. I feel Crooks next to me and gather him into my arms, holding tight so he wouldn’t escape again.
I hear someone’s voice, close to the place where we sit. It sounds awfully familiar.
– “I think he went that way, my Lord.”
I see shadows coming at us and back away from the bush, ready to run at any second. – “There he is, my Lord. I can see him” another squeaky voice yells. The next second, a large black panther jumps out of the bushes. “Ossa Fractionis” spell flies right past my head and hits the animal, while it’s still in the air. I hear a loud crack of broken bones and watch the animal fall at my feet. Agonizing roar shakes the forest. And I can’t help the scream that escapes my chest.
Remembering where I am, I put both of my hands over my mouth, dropping Crooks to the ground.
- “There’s someone else, my Lord. I can hear them” same voice squeaks out.
- “Kill them all” follows a loud whisper. I look at the dying animal in front of me. Blood pours out of his wounds. It raises his head growls, as if trying to tell me something. I feel terrified. All I want to do is to pick up Crooks and run.
Suddenly, a hooded man steppes out of the bush. I recognize a white strand of hair peeking out of his hood.
- “Stupid child. What do you think you’re doing here?”
- “I was just chasing after my cat. Please don’t hurt us.”
He walks to the panther and strokes its head. – “You’ll be ok. I’m here.”
Turning his head to me, he asks – “How’s your levitating spell?”
- “Ok. Why?”
- “Take him to your rooms. I’ll send someone to help you take care of him.”
- “You want me to take this animal to my room at the castle? How?”
- “Don’t ask stupid questions, girl. Just do what I tell you or we’ll all be dead.”
We both turn our heads, hearing other voices just a few feet away from us. I bend to take Crooks into my arms, but he rubs his head against the palm of my hand and leaps out of the bushes. The man whispers a transformation spell and my cat lands to the ground in a form of a large black panther. He growls, baring his white fangs at the little man in front of him.
Man squeaks in fear and pulls out his wand. As the panther jumps, man yells “Avada Kedavra” and I watch the deadly spell hit my familiar with full force. I want to scream “Noooo” but I am muted by another spell from the hooded man. He steps out of the bushes leaving me standing there with a large dying animal at my feet.
- “What did you do, you idiot?” hooded man asks the shorter one as the other few gather around them. “I almost had them and because of you, they were able to escape.”
- “No, my Lord” the short man whispers, kneeling in front of the other taller one. “He’s lying. I shot one of them. Look there.”
The taller man nods to the man in the hood, giving him a silent order to come and check the animal. He walks to the dead panther and punches it with his foot. – “It’s just a panther, my Lord. This idiot killed an animal.”
Taller man turns to the short one that is still standing on his knees. – “You are useless. I’ll deal with you later” he hisses out and walks away, with everyone following him.
I hear a whisper of “Finite Incantatem” a few moments later and I am able to speak again. The hooded man walks up to me – “You can go now. Take him with you.”
- “I want to take my cat with me. Please…”
- “Your cat is dead, you stupid child. He is of no use to you now.” He points to the large animal “Levitate him and take him with you. His bones are all broken and he is bleeding out.”
- “How am I supposed to do that? I’ll need to tell Poppy about him or professor Dumbledore.”
- “Breathe a word about it to anyone and I’ll make sure your family is delivered to the Dark Lord on the silver platter.”
My heart freezes with the fear. – “Please don’t touch them. I’ll do anything.”
- “That’s better. Now, take him. I’ll send someone to your room to help you.”
With shaking hands, I take out my wand and point it to the animal in front of me. I whisper – “Mobilicorpus” and panther’s body floats in front of me. I watch the hooded man disappear into the shadows and slowly start making my way to the castle.
I don’t know how long it takes me to reach my rooms. I use the same passage to get back, wondering how come no one had spotted me yet. The only thing I can think of is that he might have used an invisibility spell on us. In the end, it’s better this way. I don’t want to put my family’s life at risk.
When in my room, I place the animal carefully on my bed. It’s very weak, but still breathing. I tear one of my t-shirts and fill a bowl with warm water. I sit on the bed and take the panther’s head into my arms, carefully placing it with a part of his upper body onto my knees.
It tries to growl, but fails. I look at two dark bottomless eyes and stroke behind its ears. – “I’m sorry, I know you’re hurt, but I need to make sure your wounds are clean, before I do anything else. Please try to relax” I ask, as I start cleaning the wounds thoroughly. Finally, I’m done. I stroke his head again. “Now I need to figure out how to mend your bones. I’ve never done it before, but I know it will hurt, so… I’m sorry.”
I try to remember all the spells that might help me with my task. Nothing I know seems to be good enough for this. Finally one comes to mind. I heard Poppy using it on Draco’s nose once. I point my wand at the panther’s foot and whisper “Ferula.” It cries out in pain, but the spell seems to be working. I check its foot. The bone seems to be back to normal.
I stroke the panther’s head a few more times. – “I’m sorry. I know how much it hurts, but I need to make you better.” It looks at me and nods and I try again. Another cry of pain and another foot healed. I perform the spell four times, apologizing each time for all the pain that I’m causing.
The last spell is cast and I sit on the bed again, placing the animal’s head on my knees. I keep stroking it, till its breathing gets even. It opens its eyes and I’m stunned of how much they remind me of someone. – “You’re not just an animal, are you?” I ask. “Are you an animagus?” I wait for the answer that never comes. I must be losing my mind.
The next moment my door opens and Malfoy walks in with his head down. I jump from the bed, pointing my wand at him.
- “What are you doing in my room, ferret face?”
- “I’m not here to fight with you, mud blood.”
- “Why are you here, then?” I hiss out.
- “I’m here to pick him up and transfer him to a safe place.”
He walks to the bed and does something that makes me gape at him in shock. Leaning down, he wraps his hands around animal’s neck and whispers something in its ear. Panther answers with a soft purr, rubbing its large head against Malfoy’s chest.
In a few moments, Malfoy stands up and pulls out his wand. He whispers “Mobilicorpus” lifting the animal into the air. – “Sorry, I can’t have you walking around yet” he says to the large feline and turns his head to me. – “Thanks for healing him, Granger.”
- “You’re… You’re welcome” I answer without the usual menace in my voice. I still can’t believe that Malfoy is able to care about anyone but himself. For a moment we just stand there looking at each other. “Why do you care about this animal so much? Is it your familiar?” I catch myself wanting to call Malfoy by his given name.
- “None of your business, Granger” he lashes out, making me realize that whatever moment of truth we had is over. “I hope you realize that it changes nothing between us” he states. I nod my head and he places his hand over the animal. He whispers “Evanesco” and they disappear before my eyes. My door opens itself and softly closes, leaving me standing in the middle of the room.
Some time passes before I stop starring at the door and look around. Walking to the corner of the room, I sit on the floor and stare at the little paw-decorated mat and two little bowls with dry cat food and water, “THE PROPERTY OF CROOKSHANKS” written on each of them.
I look at the palm of my hand and can almost feel his soft fur touching it. The picture of him rubbing against it one last time, before leaping out of the bushes, still floating in front of me. Tears cover my eyes. Pain of losing someone so dear to my heart, reduces me to a quivering, sobbing pile of helplessness.
I cry until there’s no more tears.
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ONE LIFE TO LIVE