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Lendoren	By : septentrion Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 19648 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 43
- 44
- 45
Disclaimer: the characters belong to Jo, the story to kelokelo, the translation to septentrion and the betaing to von Hardenberg.

Chapter 44. Deserved Rewards

After the exams were over, they had only three days left at school. Hermione would have liked to have a lie-in, but she was pulled out of her sleep by Severus who was gently shaking her.

�My dear, there�s a Ravenclaw girl who would like to see you and who wasn�t very pleased to see me.�

�Later. Tell her to come back later.�

�No, my dear, I think it�d be best to receive her now. Malko told us a few days ago that she was his companion, so I think that she does not really want to see the Head Girl but the Lendoren. She only wants a confirmation that her dreams are not hallucinations or her subconscious,� he said, amused.

�Do the lot of you use the same technique? Is one of you able to be frank?�

�You�ll have to admit that it allows the male companion to build a link very progressively, Hermione. Try to imagine what you would have thought, had I summoned you in my office to reveal the truth to you?�

Hermione cast him a dark look while putting on her clothes, but she knew he was right. She would have told him to go to hell if he had chosen to reveal himself that way.

�And, ah, Malko finds her very attractive and, ah, he�s a rather sensual man��

�You mean he has a new mistress every other day?� Hermione said ironically. �You�re the one who likes precise definitions, and now, you can�t find words to express yourself? I forgot that men stick together when it comes to women! Go to the dungeons, and tell Malko he�d better reveal himself soon, or else I�ll do it. Who is she, by the way?�

�Emma Kargling.�

Hermione was relieved. Though they weren�t friends, she was part of Ginny�s circle. Ginny herself liked the girl, even if she bemoaned the fact that the girl�s shyness often paralysed her, especially with boys. Emma was nervously waiting for her. She was still feeling shaken by the contrast between her very sensual dream and the nightmare vision of her DADA teacher opening the door to her. She had nearly turned on her heel and left, but her anxiety had been stronger than her shyness.

When Hermione came into the room, she understood Emma�s torment and decided not to beat around the bush, the way Professor Gryffin had done with her at the beginning of the year.

�He did the seduction act on you in your dream, didn�t he?� she asked softly.

Her face showed distress. She was on the verge of tears, but she stammered, �Then, it�s � I�m ��

�A Lendoren, yes. Welcome to the Community, Emma. Don�t be afraid. As far as I know, I still have the most bad-tempered companion.�

�Hermione!� Severus protested through their link. �You�re exaggerating.�

�Nothing hurts like the truth. If you don�t want to hear it, then don�t listen!�

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Hermione decided to tell Ron, Harry and Ginny about Emma being a Lendoren. They would keep the secret the way they had done for her. The only thing she didn�t tell them was the lucky man�s name because Emma was present. She skilfully brought the conversation around to the Christmas holidays they�d spent at the Silvery Circle, the Easter holiday�even though she�d been unconscious at that time�and noticed with pleasure that Emma paid closer attention to Malko�s personality. She sighed inwardly; once more, magic had chosen the right hearts. However, Ginny knew Emma and Hermione well enough to motion to Hermione to wait for her while Harry, Emma and Ron went back to the castle.

�Tell me who�s Emma sweetheart,� she asked with anxiety. �She�s already told me she felt attracted to her Potions professor.�

�It�s him,� Hermione answered quickly. �She was a bit panicked this morning. I believe he went a bit far in her dreams last night, like Erwin that night last year, if you remember?�

Ginny smiled at the recollection. Hermione had confessed then that there had been a very good reason for her to wake up tangled up in her sheets.

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Severus was waiting for her in their rooms that evening. He intended to make the most of an evening of tenderness with Hermione, now that the exams were finished. Hermione didn�t have any textbooks or notes in her rooms anymore. He had also taken all his books from her bedroom. There was no way that she would be distracted by anything other than him. When at last she arrived, he was surprised by her amused expression and raised a questioning eyebrow.

�I know of a temporary Head of Ravenclaw and Potions professor who will have a surprise tonight. If he doesn�t declare himself after that, and drag her into his rooms tomorrow morning, I�m willing to take a vow of chastity.�

�That is out of the question!� he said, scowling. �For the chastity vow,� he added. �Now, what�s going to be her surprise?�

�We have persuaded Emma to give back in her dream kiss for kiss, caress for caress. She�s shy, but it will be easier for her in a dream than in reality in the beginning. I think that Malko will be able to convince her to take on the reality.�

�Mmmm, I like this plan,� he said thoughtfully. Hermione felt a caress on her neck, while he was watching her, unblinking.

Hermione�s smile broadened; she went near him to caress him the same way.

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The next morning, Severus was perfectly relaxed when he arrived at the teachers� table to have his breakfast. That was not the case for his colleague, the Potions teacher, Malko, seemed on edge and not very inclined to patience. Severus couldn�t resist the urge to tease him.

�Bad night, Malko?�

�Next time Hermione has ideas, I warn you, I�ll flee with Emma to the other end of England. It�s too frustrating!� he mumbled between his teeth.

�Why do you involve Hermione in this?� Severus said in an innocent tone.

�I made Emma confess who had put her up to being that� forward. She told me that brilliant idea came from Hermione,� he said, his eyes dark, while Severus was openly smiling.

�What are you going to do this morning?�

�To clench my teeth and not contact her for the next two days. She�s supposed to be leaving on the Hogwarts Express by then.�

�Why do I think that she won�t take the train?�

�Out of the question. She comes with me to the Silvery Circle. She�s an orphan, and until now, she went back to an orphanage during the holidays. I must say this is rather convenient. We�ll spend the holidays together, in our chalet.�

�Since when do you have a chalet?� Severus was surprised.

�Right after Christmas. I did it on a whim, when I saw how impatient you were to go back to yours,� he said cheerfully. �I thought that, if my companion would show her face, it�d be very agreeable. As you can see, I did well.�

They went on jesting in a low voice, until Severus remembered something Hermione had told him the day before. He contacted her at once.

�Hermione, you weren�t serious about the chastity vow yesterday evening?�

�Why?� came the answer. �He hasn�t decided to go through with it this morning?�

�He�s just decided to wait until the train�s departure morning, and then to take her to the Silvery Circle. I think it�s a sound plan. That way, whatever they decide to do next year, they�re sure not to face a scandal this year. The Minister has given in for us, but if Umbridge hears of another affair, she�s going to crucify them, my dear.�

�Two days, Erwin, and not a minute more. Emma is distraught this morning because he doesn�t contact her anymore.�

�He did admit to her it wasn�t a dream, didn�t he?�

�Yes, he did, but he didn�t really tell her who he is. And she�s torn between him and the person of the Potions teacher and Head of House, even though she isn�t in his class. Does that remind you of anything?� she said ironically.

Severus couldn�t help but burst out laughing at the teachers� table, which provoked much astonishment in the Great Hall: it was the first time that he was seen laughing. Malko cast him a furious look, for he guessed Severus and Hermione were speaking together.

�May I know the cause of such hilarity?� he groaned.

�No, it�s a surprise,� Severus said, grinning. �But if I believe Hermione, it�s not in your best interest to break all contact with Emma for two days. She�s already distraught because you didn�t contact her. I don�t dare imagine what ideas would spring out of their minds to reassure Emma. Well, it�s up to you to decide, of course.�

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The last two days were a blur, until the leaving feast in the Great Hall. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione made the most of their last moments together to store up some last memories of this castle where they had grown up. Hermione wouldn�t leave with the Hogwarts Express. She was going to wait for the NEWTs results, and then rebuild the missing defences of the castle. The other three were going to spend their holiday at the Burrow. Afterward, Ron and Harry would start their Auror training, and Ginny would come back for her last year. They were often joined by Emma, who was turning out to be very good company in a small group; she had a very solid sense of humour and of self-derision.

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The last evening, they felt a pang when they came into the Great Hall. The House colours had been mixed and hung with black crepe. There was a minute�s silence in memory of the students and teachers fallen in the battle against the Dictator. The Headmaster stood up at the end of the meal and spoke.

�You all know that Hogwarts has suffered cruelly from the attacks of Voldemort and the Dictator. But it�s still standing, thanks to the courage of most of you here, and of certain persons in particular. That�s why the school governors and I have decided to give special awards to four students: the Order of Hogwarts.�

Murmurs travelled all over the hall. Those who had received that award in the past could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

�So, I call before me: Ginny Weasley; Ron Weasley; Harry Potter; Hermione Granger.�

He hardly paused between names. Ginny and Hermione blushed when applause rung out in the hall while they were following the rows of tables in the direction of the Head Table.

�You should have told me,� Hermione cursed, letting Severus know of her discomfort.

�I would have needed to know, Hermione. Albus didn�t tell me anything about it, my dear. And considering the teachers� faces, I would say that only Minerva knew.�

When the four teenagers went in front of him, Dumbledore smiled at them.

�After we decided to award you this medal, I thought for a long time about this moment; Ipondered for a long time over the last seven years, punctuated with encounters with Voldemort and with painful deaths ever since you were still children. What would I tell you? You, Ginny, you had been under Voldemort�s influence, you had valiantly fought in the Ministry for Magic and in this Hall, you had always been a constant support to your brother Ron, to your friend Hermione, and above all to Harry, the man whom you�ve been loving for years, I present you this medal in recognition of an Expelliarmus coming out of nowhere which had paralysed Voldemort just enough so that Harry could finish him off.�

Ginny was scarlet but beaming when she received her medal.

�Ron, you sacrificed yourself in a chess game when you were twelve. You delved into the Chamber of Secrets when you were thirteen. Yougave your support to Harry the best you could during the Triwizard Tournament. You valiantly fought at the Ministry for Magic at sixteen. And you�ve delved into the Chamber of Secrets once more with Hermione. You were surprised to be alive, and the only one still standing among the four of you when the battle ended in this Hall. You�ve never compromised your unfailing friendship with Harry and Hermione, even through the most delicate moments of their lives. I give you this medal in recognition of this indefatigable friendship between all of you.�

Ron was as scarlet as his sister. He felt like he was the one who had done the least, and yet �

�Harry, you have faced Voldemort four times, and escaped alive each time. You killed him the fifth time. You never let yourself be seduced by the Dark Arts. You proved you were an unselfish person in front of the mirror of Erised, which allowed you to find the Philosopher�s Stone. You proved your loyalty to Hogwarts and to yourself, which allowed you to vanquish the basilisk with Gryffindor�s sword, brought to you by Fawkes in the Chamber of Secrets. You witnessed, powerless to act, Cedric Diggory�s death and Voldemort�s rebirth. You paid a high price the next year with your Godfather�s death. And last but not least, you�ve supported your friend Hermione this year, without judging her. This support is as important as the Unforgivable that had left your wand to kill Voldemort. For all of this, Hogwarts will be forever grateful to you, Harry.�

Harry noticed Dumbledore�s emotion as he gave him his medal. He saw the weight of the passing years on the shoulders of the Headmaster. Hermione felt a lump in her throat. She guessed that she would receive a medal too, and she anxiously awaited what Dumbledore would say.

�Hermione,� he said at last. �Once more, when I thought of what I could say about you, I realised that, when it comes to you, I shouldn�t be the one to summarise your seven years at Hogwarts. I�ll ask instead Professor Snape to do it and to present you with this medal.�

If Hermione could have crawled under a rock, she would have done it very willingly, all the more because Ron, Ginny and Harry were fighting to control their laughter, and Severus was swearing under his breath; he hadn�t expected this and he was wondering what he could say. He moved up to her while giving Dumbledore a withering look, but the latter had a very broad grin set on his face. The Hall was silent; all the students and teachers alike were anxious to hear what kind of speech he would give. Hermione nervously watched him approach her and sank her nails in her palms to prevent her hands from trembling.

�I don�t thank you, Albus, for leaving me the task of summarising Hermione�s seven years at Hogwarts. I won�t dwell on names like Norbert, Fluffy or Moaning-Myrtle. I won�t dwell either on an indiscreet and insulting parchment, or on sweets that I found in Harry�s pocket when he didn�t have the right to go to Hogsmeade; I still don�t know their whole story, but I will one day. I won�t dwell on your experiences in the Room of Requirement or your method for doing your homework. No, what I want to remember from these seven years is your fierce will to do what you considered to be your duty. That led you to help Harry as much as you could to get the Philosopher�s Stone, to find the Chamber of Secrets in order to save two innocent people, to survive during the Triwizard Tournament, your fight at the Ministry, and the last battle, here in this Great Hall, against the Dictator. You�ve shown yourself more determined than ever; you didn�t hesitate to give everything you had to vanquish him, imperilling your life if need be. I think that�s why, in spite of your many transgressions of the rules, you deserve this medal.�

Students and teachers didn�t understand at once that Severus had finished his speech. He presented Hermione with her medal. He was about to return to his seat when Hermione grabbed him. Her voice broke the silence.

�I should thank my teacher for this speech, but it is a bit inaccurate according to me. When I faced the Dictator, I wasn�t alone. The both of us faced him, Erwin; without you, without your strength, without your love to support me, I couldn�t have done it. I wouldn�t be alive without your Slytherin cunning and your stubbornness, both well known by your students. I don�t have a medal for you today, so I�ll contend myself with this.�

She�d gone near him while she was speaking, and she kissed him without further ado. The Gryffindor girl publicly declared her love to the Slytherin man, who had made her suffer in her first six years at school. Severus had encircled her with his arms and was kissing her back without hesitation, while there was a ripple of applause in the assembly. Astonished murmurs followed it when two unicorns appeared on the starry sky of the Great Hall. The ballet of the unicorns, amidst balls and circles of fire, lasted only a few minutes; it was enough for the students to realise how powerful the couple was who hadn�t ceased to kiss.

Answer to reviews:

Citten: I'm sure you'll have your chance to visit France. It is really a very wonderful country to visit. Thank you very much for your lovely reviews.

Alabaster: I'm sorry if a week is a long time, but my beta and I have real life, so once a week was the only way to have regular updates. I'm glad you like the story.

catysmom: thank you for being a faithful reviewer.

crescentmoon: here is the new chapter. I hope that you've liked it.

Ms.Nomdeplume: blushes ** thank you very much. You've probably noticed the difference between the two versions, haven't you?

firewall: indeed, life will become more agreeable for Severus and Hermione. Thank you very much, and yes, my week was levely.

MB: thank you for your review. About your question, the five days were for subjects with a theorical and a practical exam. The other subjects only have a theorical exam, so you can have one subject in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. that's how i understood it.

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Lendoren