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Redemption	By : chrmisha Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 10133 -:- 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.

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Redemption : Chapter 5

Severus was in his study early the next morning when Dumbledore�s head popped in his fireplace.

�How is Miss Granger?�

�Asleep.�

�Good. May I have a word, Severus?�

�Of course.�

Dumbledore stepped out of the fireplace shortly thereafter, brushing the ashes from his robes. He handed Severus the Daily Prophet. Severus�s heart stopped beating momentarily as the main headline danced in front of his eyes. LUCIUS MALFOY MURDERED, SON DRACO MALFOY CHARGED. Severus scanned the article quickly, hope waging a war against skepticism. He wanted to believe it, he really did.

�How do we know it�s not a trap, Albus? How do we know he�s really dead?�

�I�ve asked myself that same question, Severus. Not even seeing the body is good enough, not after what he did to Miss Granger. There is an ancient familial bonding spell, however, that can be used to determine the relationship between two or more people. I have contacted a trusted insider within the Ministry and asked him to compare a blood sample of the deceased with that of Draco Malfoy who is currently being detained. If the deceased is truly the father of Draco Malfoy, a silver thread signifying the father�son bond will form between the two samples. No spell or potion that I know of can alter the blood.�

�How soon until we know?�

Albus sighed. �I hope to hear something today or tomorrow. I�ll let you know as soon as I do.�

***

Hermione and Severus were sitting in the study when Albus�s head popped back into the fireplace.

�Severus, Miss Granger,� the disembodied headmaster�s voice said. �Severus, regarding our conversation earlier today, I am delighted to confirm that the report was indeed accurate.�

Severus leaned his head back against the couch, closing his eyes. The stress headache that had been coursing through his skull all day eased. His shoulders relaxed. When he opened his eyes again, the headmaster was gone and Hermione was standing over him, a worried look on her face.

He pulled her hard against him, wrapping his arms around her and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. �Hermione,� he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, �it�s over, it�s finally over. Lucius Malfoy is dead.�

She pulled back then, her eyes wide with surprise. �Dead? But how? Who? And how can you be sure?�

He read the fear in her eyes. �Yes, the Killing Curse, Draco Malfoy, and Albus had a familial bonding spell used to verify it was indeed him. Did I answer them all?�

She sat back stunned, trying to absorb the information. �Draco killed his father?�

�It appears so.�

Hermione shook her head. �I don�t understand.�

�Perhaps this will help.� Severus reached into his robes and pulled out the letter from Draco. �Please understand, Hermione, I couldn�t give this to you right away. I was afraid it might be a trap and I didn�t want to cause you anymore pain.�

Hermione swallowed as her trembling hands unfolded the parchment. When she finished reading the letter, she leaned into Severus�s embrace, tears in her eyes. �He killed his own father��to protect me, a Muggleborn.�

�And to atone for his own sins against you Hermione.�

She nodded, snuggling closer to him. �It�s truly over, isn�t it? It�s really, truly over.�

�Indeed,� he murmured in her ear, relishing the feel of her body against his.

�Severus, can we go for a walk? I haven�t been out of these rooms in over a month and I�d really like to get some fresh air.�

Severus lifted her to her feet, and standing, offered her his arm. �I�d be delighted, Miss Granger.� The smile on her face made his heart skip a beat. Together they walked around the lake arm in arm under the moonlight in companionable silence. Nothing needed to be said. Hermione Granger was alive and she was free.

***

After reading and re-reading the articles about the murder of Lucius Malfoy in the Daily Prophet the next morning, Hermione looked up over her breakfast at Severus. �What will happen at the trial?�

�He will most likely be sentenced to life in Azkaban.�

Severus set down his cup of tea at the pained look on her face. �What is it Hermione?�

�I want to be there.�

�At the trial?�

�Yes. He saved my life, Severus, more than once. I� I need to be there. I need to speak on his behalf. I want to speak on his behalf.�

Severus remained lost in thought for several moments. He shook his head, unable to reconcile the things she�d told him he�d done to her with the statements she was making now.

�Help me understand,� he finally said.

�He never wanted to hurt me, Severus. I truly believe that. I could see how his father�s abuse of me pained him. In the end, he was a different person entirely. I think he�d seen too much and been forced to do too much and he just lost it.�

Severus considered her words. In truth, he�d seen the same reaction in Death Eaters. At first, they were squeamish and downright ill about killing. In the end, they relished in it. Had they truly become different people or had they merely succumb to the insanity that surrounded them?

�Hermione, you know that I will support you in whatever it is that you feel you must do. I only ask that you consider your actions carefully. If you do this, what happened to you at the hands of the Malfoys will be known by the entire wizarding world. I will stand by your side, Hermione, please do not ever doubt that. I just do not want to see you suffer any more than you have to, that is all.�

Hermione clasped and unclasped her fingers. �I don�t know if this will make any sense to you Severus, but I need closure. I feel that this will give me that closure. I will be able to move on from this after all is said and done. But it needs to be said by me and done by me. I would, however, appreciate it if you would accompany me.�

�I insist,� Severus said, reaching for her hand across the table and squeezing it. It was the truth. He would not let her go to that hearing by herself, even if she wanted to. Although she might trust Draco�s intentions, he for one did not. He would need to see Draco�s reaction with his own two eyes.
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Redemption