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Sense and Insensibility Complete	By : Desert_Sea Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 33531 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other characters/things/places created by J.K. Rowling. I make no money from my fan-fiction.

Chapter List
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- 26
A/N:
Kvarta: ‘I am much better, writing helps’ – I’m glad and it sure does :) ‘the damage is already done, least they can do is to use the situation, before everything blows up again’ – I agree, it’s not like things could get much worse . . . or could they? ‘It made me giggle’ – I spent ages looking for an alternative to ‘Sourpuss’ and I’m glad I didn’t find one in the end ;) ‘I just didn't expect him to say it at that point’ – he’d already said about as much to her earlier but not as explicitly. He’d also admitted internally that life would be pointless without her. He has been on a significant emotional roller coaster and this is a manifestation of that. ‘I do hope it will still be happy end.’ – only two chapters to go after this one – fingers crossed! Hugs and kisses to you xxoo
OO: ‘But it was also sort of an unspoken pact--them coming together to fight what's to come.’ – mmm, I love that. ‘I also loved how Hermione took the lead this time (making her the one to begin the healing)’ – yes, it certainly seemed to help break down his trust issues (at least for now). ‘I particularly like the word mount. I must remember to use it more often.’ – isn’t it funny how certain simple words seem to have far greater impact than a more complex explanation. I need to keep reminding myself of that. ‘I'm guessing he's going to be pretty upset that she waited so long to tell him’ – ummm, yep . . . x
LissaDream: ‘Kids, job, house, all that stuff takes so much time.’ – yep, sure does! ‘They may have just died or something and here I'm cursing them for not updating their fan fiction’ – LOL. This is true, I always wonder if people would know if I had died or just assumed I’d given up. I’m not planning on dying any time soon but you never know. Yeah, FF.N is doing some pretty weird stuff. I’m sort of tempted to stop posting there due to the lack of email notifications but I don’t want to leave it for ages not knowing if it’s fixed. There is lots of interest in your story. It is especially hard getting reviews on this site for some reason so it’s really great that you have so many. ‘Their coming together to fight a battle with love.’ – such a lovely description. ‘I’m very excited to see how Snape handles being a Grandfather’ – well, it may take a bit of getting used to ;) x
HG4Eva: ‘I also LOVED that he said it out loud first’ – I do too, a nice little surprise from our favourite sourpuss :) ‘All that stress can't possibly be good for the baby-that-won't-be-Voldy.’ – LOL, you sound pretty confident! I wonder if you will be right ;) x

Chapter 25 – More and Less
“What in Merlin’s name—?!”
Her face hits the sheets as he jerks out from under her.
She screws her eyes closed. The last thing she’d wanted was to ruin it.
She’d spent the night—entwined within his long limbs, ensconced within the protective curve of his body, her fingers interlaced with his, lips seeking him out in the dark, when and where she’d needed. It had been utter bliss—a dream. And she’d revelled in it, knowing that it wasn’t to last.
Indeed her reluctant revelations just now—delivered in a rush, everything from her time with Sophia murmured against the plane of his broad chest as her fingers had threaded anxiously through the fine hair curling into his navel—had done just that . . . ruined everything.
She rolls over. He is standing beside the bed, hands on hips, muscles clenched in consternation.
“That is the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard,” he growls. “Did that meddling witch put you up to this? Tell you to concoct some ridiculous story in an attempt to avoid the inevitable?”
Hermione sits up abruptly. “What do you mean?”
“Minerva!” His head jerks forward as though spitting the name at her. “You were with her for long enough. No doubt trying to formulate a plan . . . a way of keeping it.”
“Keeping it?”
“The baby!” A hectic flush rushes to his cheeks. “You want to keep the baby . . . But you can’t . . . We can’t.” His voice falters as he whirls away from her. “We have no choice.”
“But Sophia—”
“Sophia?” He spins back around. “Oh yes, the intrepid time traveller—come from the past to save the day. If this is, indeed, her doing then you’re more gullible than I thought. She’s an attention seeker. She’s extremely bright, a know-it-all, not unlike someone else.” He glares at her meaningfully. “No doubt she’s managed to reel you in with her likeness, her bizarre imagination, her self-important ramblings. Can’t you see that this is farcical?”
“How would she know?” Hermione demands. “How would she know about the baby? About Roland? About Harry and Ginny? She has a fucking time turner!” Hermione thumps the bed with her fist. “I saw it!”
He shakes his head, scowling deeply.
“You can’t have it both ways, Severus,” Hermione cries. “Which is it? Which of us is trying to deceive you? Minerva . . . Myself . . . Sophia?”
He glares at her, jaw clenching fiercely, before he suddenly hisses in frustration and snatches up his clothes from the floor.
“Where are you going?” Hermione scrambles out of the bed to follow him.
By the time she enters the lounge he is fully dressed and reaching for the handle to his chambers.
“Where are you going, Severus?” she repeats emphatically.
“It’s about time Minerva explained herself,” he snarls.
***
“I’ve been expecting you.” Minerva’s green eyes flick back and forth between the two of them. The greeting is disconcerting enough to stop Severus in his tracks, while Hermione gasps from the effort of attempting to keep up with him as he’d stormed through the castle.
“Please take a seat,” Minerva continues evenly, stepping back to allow them into her office.
Severus and Hermione make their way in, glancing at the steaming teapot and cups already set on the headmistress’ desk, and the two chairs positioned facing her own. Clearly they had been expected.
“Now.” Minerva turns to face them. “Can I offer you tea?”
Severus shakes his head as he sits.
“No thank you,” Hermione murmurs.
“Well, then . . . perhaps I should begin by telling you what I know.” Minerva takes her seat and folds her hands on the desk. “I have spoken with Sophia this morning and she informs me that you are now aware of her true identity. Is that the case?”
Hermione begins to answer but Severus interrupts. “No, that is not the case.”
Minerva levels her eyes at him. “I see. You mentioned that you might have some trouble accepting this news.”
He leans forward. “I don’t understand—”
“I’ll stop you there.” Minerva rises from her chair and moves around to the front of her desk, before leaning against it with a sigh as though suddenly very tired.
“Sophia arrived at Hogwarts at the beginning of this year. Alone. She brought with her two letters. One from yourself, Severus, and one from you, Hermione. They were dated 2039.” She pauses, allowing her words to sink in. “Both letters were long, describing the events of the past three decades. Much of it centred around the return of the Dark Lord and the fact that he was, in fact, your son. I’m not going to pretend that I wasn’t initially disbelieving. It was, after all, shocking. But after reading them both, talking at length with Sophia, and seeing that she was in possession of my own time turner, I was left in little doubt that it was the truth. Your letter, Hermione, informed me that you would be seeking my assistance to return to Hogwarts as a teacher—only days later did I receive your owl to that effect. Severus . . .” She peers at him over her glasses. “You mentioned several times in your letter that you would be the one to have difficulty accepting this news.”
He leaps up from his chair in agitation. “Where are these supposed letters?”
“They have been destroyed,” Minerva responds coolly. “You requested for it to be so . . . indicating that there could be severe repercussions if they fell into the wrong hands.”
“How convenient,” Severus sneers.
“You are a Legilimens.” Minerva’s piercing gaze addresses him. “Feel free to check. Otherwise, I’ll be happy to retrieve Albus’ Pensieve.”
Severus glares at her but accepts neither offer. “So I simply mentioned in my letter was that I would have some difficulty accepting what was contained within my letter. It seems that I must have become rather dim-witted in my old age.”
“Not at all. You also happened to apologise in advance for the fact that you would be accusing me of being an interfering old cow.” Severus falters slightly, clearly jolted by the truth of her words. “Considering I was simply following your directions.”
His eyes narrow as he attempts to decipher her meaning. “What directions?”
“You both asked for this.” Minerva spreads her arms wide. “You asked for me to force you together, to encourage you to work in close proximity, for your living quarters to be arranged as such.”
“But you said it was Hermione’s request to reside in the Dungeons.”
“It was. In the letter!” Minerva cries in exasperation. “I’m sorry if you considered it discourteous to place you in a storeroom, Hermione, but you did, in fact, ask for it.” She regards Hermione sympathetically. “But while we’re at it, may I just say that when you accused me of placing students at risk by not keeping records, when it was you, yourself, who placed me in that position, I was just about ready to throw this entire thing in!”
Minerva suddenly tears off her glasses, holding them in her fist to point at each of them in turn. “This has been extremely difficult. I’ve done this for both of you, at your request.” She is as close to tears as Hermione has ever seen her. Clearly the stress of what they had asked of her had taken its toll. “Now all I ask is that you listen to Sophia and follow her instructions. She is an exceptional child. And she’s risked her life to be here . . . I hope you both understand that.”
Hermione rises to grasp the older woman’s hand.
But Severus still isn’t ready to accept her words.
“Why would we request such a thing?” he asks, gentler but still accusing. “Especially considering what we now know about the dangers of our union. Why would we want to risk the resurrection of the Dark Lord? It’s nonsensical.”
Minerva sighs again. “The details you provided weren’t clear but I believe the word you used was ‘containment.’ There was an indication that if you didn’t come together quickly enough, the Dark Lord’s influence would spread to others.”
“Others?” Severus frowns. “To whom?”
“If you really want to know.” Minerva rubs her glasses briskly before returning them to her face. “Lucius Malfoy was mentioned.”
Severus immediately fixes his black gaze upon Hermione who turns her palms upward in surprise. “I didn’t . . .”
Minerva takes a step toward him. “Severus, don’t you see? This was all pre-emptive—to prevent what happened the first time, to ensure that you could take the required measures to contain and eliminate the Dark Lord once and for all.”
Severus’ hands prop on his hips as he whirls away, attempting to process the explanation. “And how exactly did I intend to eliminate the Dark Lord.” Each word drips with patent skepticism. “. . . Once and for all?”
In response, Minerva slips her wand from her sleeve and flicks it at the wall. A painting of an opening flower flips forward, revealing a safe. Another flick of her wand sets the various knobs and levers on its surface in motion before the door finally swings open to reveal the contents—a wooden chest and a small potion bottle.
Striding across the room, Minerva takes the bottle and holds it up for them to see. “I understand you call it the ‘Soul Stealer.’”
Hermione’s eyes dart to Severus. She hadn’t had an opportunity to tell him this part.
He approaches Minerva, retrieving the bottle from her fingers before lifting it to peer closely at the swirling, smoky liquid. “Soul Stealer? But this is ancient magic . . . extremely dangerous.”
He drags his eyes away to look at Hermione. “Did you know about this?”
Hermione delivers a small, apologetic nod.
“And this is intended to destroy the Dark Lord?”
Hermione approaches him. “Yes . . . whilst preserving the remaining soul . . . that of our real son.”
His eyes widen. “But that isn’t how such potions work. They are unable to discriminate. It’ll consume all three souls . . . Voldemort, the baby and . . . yours. This will kill all three of you.”
“No.” Hermione shakes her head, feeling her throat constrict at the horror on his face. “You have been brewing it for ten years . . . You have . . . worked it out.” She can hear the anguished hope in her own voice.
He looks at her incredulously. “Worked it out? I’m an old man. I write ridiculous indecipherable letters. You can’t possibly mean to take this.” His fingers curl into a despairing fist as he approaches her. “A simple termination potion would suffice. The baby would cease to exist—and Voldemort also. I could prepare one easily—over the next few days. There would be no risk to you . . . None at all.”
Hermione reaches up and grips his hand, slowly prising the bottle from his fingers. “I need to give our son a chance, Severus. And Sophia . . . They both deserve a chance.”
His face contorts as he takes in the sad conviction in her eyes.
“But how can you possibly trust her?” His pale lips draw back. “If she is, indeed, whom you say—the daughter of Voldemort—how can you trust that this potion will do as she claims? How do you know it isn’t designed to assist his rise to power? To enhance his potency?”
“She is in our care, Severus. We have taken her in as our own,” Hermione murmurs gently, stepping forward to place a hand upon his chest. “I trust her.”
He backs away. “What, then, if it doesn’t work? What if it has no effect whatsoever? Perhaps we will have no indication until he makes himself known? Then all this will have been for nought.” He sweeps his hand dismissively. “The world will have been spared nothing.”
“Not . . . quite.”
They spin around at Minerva’s voice. She hasn’t moved from her position by the safe. Directing her wand at the chest inside, she levitates it over to her desk before flipping the lock.
Cautiously Severus and Hermione approach. Both frown at the contents before regarding the older woman.
“I thought we were skint?” Severus’ baritone is sharp.
“We were.” Minerva approaches, placing a hand atop the pile of gold bars that fill the chest. “Together with the letters, Sophia brought these. It appears that you have been stockpiling resources, with the purpose of sending them back to assist the effort against Voldemort . . . as a safeguard. And you also happened to provide very specific instructions about what was to be done to protect us—to prevent the fall of Hogwarts.”
“And yet you have had us growing plants and brewing potions in an attempt to make ends meet?” Severus glares at her accusingly.
Minerva sighs before nodding reluctantly. “I’m afraid that I initially had difficulty accepting that I would require your . . . generosity. To me, it indicated that, despite my best efforts, I must never have managed to get Hogwarts back on its feet . . . that I hadn’t been able to protect it, or the children. It was . . . difficult to accept.” She gives a small shrug. “And truth be told, Severus, the requirement for more brewing did seem to be an excellent excuse to get you two working together.”
Severus snorts disparagingly. “Yet another manipulation.”
“And it is probably just as well that we weren’t in great need, as I haven’t seen you produce anything in weeks,” she retorts brusquely.
Hermione glances at Severus whose eyes drop away in embarrassment. “We’ve been a little . . . distracted,” she admits quietly.
Minerva removes her glasses again, rubbing her eyelids wearily with her fingertips. “I do apologise. I have been under rather a lot of strain. But I have no doubt that it pales in comparison to what you are both going through. And, indeed, what that little girl has had to endure. I just wanted to make it clear that you care.” Her glassy eyes move between the two of them but settle upon Severus’ rigid form. “Despite what living hell you are going through in the future, Severus, you care about what happens. You care about Hogwarts. You care about the children. And you care about me . . . your letter revealed the exact day that I must leave. The day that would have been my demise. And . . .” She swallows with difficulty. “Of course I am eternally grateful.”
Hermione sees his shoulders drop a little in resignation.
“And you care about Sophia . . . very much.” Minerva brushes her hand across both eyes.
Severus remains silent for a long moment before he finally lifts his gaze to Hermione.
“How can you put all your trust in one little girl?” His eyes implore her, plead with her.
“I haven’t.” Hermione looks at him intently, with a fierce devotion that she feels to her core. “I have put my trust in you.”
He stares, his lips twitching with emotion.
“You’re the most brilliant man I know. And you have brewed this for me.” She regards the bottle in her hand. “Therefore, I will take it.”
He draws a shuddering breath before reaching out and removing the bottle from her hand. Then, with a final, tortured glance, he turns and leaves the room.
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Sense and Insensibility *Complete*

Sense and Insensibility Complete