Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Memories of Deception	By : professorflo Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 20868 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters within. I make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Memories of Deception
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9.
- 10-10
- 11-11
- 12-12
- 13-13
- 14-14
- 15-15
- 16-16
- 17-17
- 18-18
- 19-19
- 20-20
- 21-21
- 22-22
- 23-23
- 24-24
- 25-25
- 26-26
- 27-27
- 28-28
- 29-29
- 30-30
- 31-31
- 32-32
- 33-33
- 34-34
- 35-35
- 36-36
- 37-37
- 38-38
- 39-39
- 40-40
- 41-41
- 42-42
- 43-43
- 44-44
- 45-45
- 46-46
- 47-47
- 48-48
- 49-49
- 50-50
- 51-51
- 52-52
- 53-53
- 54-54
- 55-55
- 56-56
- 57-57
- 58-58
- 59-59
- 60-60
- 61-61
- 62-62
- 63-63
- 64-64
- 65-65
- 66-66
- 67-67
- 68-68
- 69-69
- 70-70
- 71-71
- 72-72
- 73-73
- 74-74
- 75-75
- 76-76
- 77-77
- 78-78
- 79-79
- 80-80
- 81-81
- 82-82
- 83-83
- 84-84
- 85-85
- 86-86
- 87-87
- 88-88
- 89-89
- 90-90
- 91-91
- 92-92
- 93-93
- 94-94
- 95-95
- 96-96
- 97-97
- 98-98
- 99-99
- 100-100
- 101-101
- 102-102
- 103-103
- 104-104
- 105-105
- 106-106
- 107-107
- 108-108
- 109-109
- 110-110
- 111-111
- 112-112
- 113-113
- 114-114
- 115-115
- 116-116
- 117-117
- 118-118
- 119-119
- 120-120
- 121-121
- 122-122
- 123-123
- 124-124
- 125-125
- 126-126
- 127-127
- 128-128
- 129-129
- 130-130
- 65
- 66
- 67
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Most of the questions she'd had for him had already been answered by the girl. Severus had obviously been expecting an interrogation over how he had been treating Hermione, and she knew him well enough to read the faint expression of confusion when he had neither been subjected to intense questioning nor had to face her wrath over what he had been forced to do to the girl in his care. Snape seemed eager to end the conversation before she got round to berating him over it.
"If that is everything, Minerva?" Snape stood up out of the chair he had occupied opposite her for only a fraction of the time she had spent talking to Hermione. They had discussed a few things, including what he knew of the Riddle's plans, although she'd had to promise again not to reveal the information to the Order, at least without his permission.
She had been worried to hear that Riddle believed the time was coming soon for him to face and defeat Harry. After hearing from the girl about the horcruxes she knew that Potter was not yet ready. There were three more to go, not including Riddle himself, and depending on what was found in the Lestrange vault, they had very little clue as to the appearance and location of one.
They had also talked about ways in which to reduce the amount of students caught and tortured by the Carrows, and Snape had asked her to try and persuade her Gryffindors to back down. If the final conflict was indeed coming soon they would need to avoid injury in order to be fit and ready to fight, or in the case of the younger years, to run.
Albus' plans had also been discussed, although Snape had had little more to add than had already been discussed. He was holding something back. Minerva could tell, and she wondered if he could sense the same from her. Hermione and Albus had been adamant that he not know about the horcruxes, and although she thought it an unnecessary precaution, she felt obliged to follow both their wishes in the matter.
Before settling down with Snape in the two armchairs, she had spoken to the portrait of Albus, again erecting a silencing charm before questions him on how much he knew about what was happening between Snape and Hermione. She had been surprised to hear just how much he knew and approved of, and she had argued with him over what he perceived Snape's true feelings towards the girl were.
She'd been watching the two of them covertly while she spoke to Albus. They'd been sat on opposite sides of the desk, and while the girl was continually sneaking glances at him, he had yet to look at her, his mouth tight with displeasure, though because of what, Minerva had not been sure. His lack of interest seemed to be upsetting the girl, for at one point she'd tried to engage him in conversation, and he had only given her a short answer, not even looking up from his book. As she had slumped back in her chair, she'd ducked her head, pretending to be absorbed by the parchment in her hands, but Minerva had caught the hurt look on her face.
Albus had tried to insist that Snape returned the girl's feelings, but Minerva wasn't convinced. Albus put far too much faith in love, whereas she had always had a more practical approach to things. Even if Snape did feel something for the girl, his own nature would make it hard for him to accept any connection. Hermione would likely end up hurt, whatever his feelings were. Minerva was determined to say something to Snape before he let the girl suffer too much.
That Hermione had so clearly been willing to continue the deception they were practising, as well as the way she had forgiven him for everything spoke volumes, and therefore Minerva felt little need to chastise Severus. The girl believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was all necessary, and Albus had told Minerva that nothing she could say to him could possibly make him feel any more remorse than he already did. Hermione's attachment to Snape, however, she did find concerning.
Hermione had all but admitted her infatuation with him when Minerva had pressed her. Her problem with the situation was that from what she had described, it was clear that Snape had, with her consent, been manipulating her emotions from the beginning. Minerva wasn't sure if the girl honestly knew her own feelings, or whether she'd fallen into the trap she'd help Snape set for herself.
She wished she could be sure of what Snape felt for the girl. Minerva could see he cared for her, but she had figured out many years ago that, despite all evidence to the contrary, he did have a heart. Did he return her affections, or was it just that he felt particular responsibility for the girl. That plus the guilt she was sure he carried over what he was doing to her might be the reason for the tender way she had seen him attend to Hermione when she had been injured. She needed to find out before she left the girl alone in his care once again.
"There is one more thing to discuss, Severus." Minerva stood also, facing Severus squarely. He seemed to know what was coming, for his face was suddenly devoid of any expression except a weary resignation.
She decided to approach the subject from an angle he was not expecting, hoping to catch him off guard. "What will you do now, Severus? What will happen to her? You have made sure she will be safe if anything happens to you?
"She will be safe in here. No one will be able to get into these rooms. Even the Dark Lord would have difficulty getting past the wards without me to let him through. She will be given instructions on what to do if something happens to me. I will not allow anything to harm her if I can help it."
"And what plans do you have for her between now and the battle that Riddle believes will happen soon. Miss Granger mentioned that she had just got her wand back. Will she be studying or continuing to act as your housekeeper?"
"The Dark Lord has decided that she may assist me with any brewing. He also wishes for me to instruct her in the Dark Arts, hoping to seduce her to his cause. He knows that she is still… unwilling to support him, despite being willing to swear herself to me. He returned her wand so that she would be able to practise whatever I choose to teach her. She is lucky to have pleased him so much, or she would not have got it back.
"Pleased him? What do you mean?
"He has decided that she has proven herself worthy of survival, despite her muggle blood. If he is victorious, she will belong to me, and will be allowed to continue using magic. We would be… expected to produce offspring, who would be brought up to serve him. He believes that our children would be powerful. He has seen for himself her strength and ability, and she has him convinced that she is so enamoured of me she will do whatever I ask of her."
Minerva's mouth fell open in horror as he spoke. Forced to produce children who would be brought up in such a way… At least Hermione would be safe if Riddle won, but at such a cost. Would she be able to live with herself?
"That is precisely what I am worried about, Severus. I believe that at this moment, Miss Granger would do anything you asked of her. She is in a very vulnerable position right now. She does not need for you to manipulate her emotions more than you already have. If she survives the upcoming fight, she may find it hard to readjust, considering all she has gone through in the last month. She is under your care, and you have a responsibility to make sure she comes out of this as unscathed as possible."
"I can assure you, I am protecting the girl as best as I can."
"You know what I mean, Severus. For some reason, she has formed some sort of attachment to you, beyond what the two of you planned as a way to deceive Riddle.
Snape's face was devoid of expression as he relied. "I am aware of that."
"And do you believe her affection to be genuine?"
"I… I am… I believe the situation has affected my judgement somewhat as well, but I think it… unlikely that Miss Granger would be capable of such feelings towards myself if not for the current situation."
"And what about you, Severus. Do you return her feelings, such as they are?"
Snape fell silent, glowering at her, obviously refusing to give her an answer. That was telling in itself. If the answer had been no, he would have said as much. Minerva knew what she was about to say was harsh, but she had to do what she felt was right for the girl, and she didn't believe that was a relationship with Snape.
"And if her feelings are real, what will you do? Remember your position, Severus. If you survive this, and manage to avoid Azkaban, you will forever be known as the man who killed Albus Dumbledore. Will you be able to give her the life she deserves? Miss Granger has far too much potential to be weighed down by the scandal you will bring."
"You would wish for me to cut ties with the girl? Despite whatever she… or I might feel?
There it was. He had as good as declared how he felt for her. For a moment Minerva felt bad about trying to persuade him to ignore his feelings. It was for the best though. Hermione had a bright future ahead of her, and she would only be held back by an association with Snape.
"I want you to make the right decision, for the both of you. I am not convinced she is capable of doing so for herself right now. I know you must continue in close quarters for now, but Severus, try not to hurt her more than necessary. It will be hard enough for her as it is.
He stood silently for a moment, before nodding sombrely at her. His face was now an icy mask.
"Is that all?"
She replied in the affirmative. He then flicked his wand, dispelling the silencing charm around them both. "If you are ready then, Minerva?"
She stepped across to where Hermione was sat, a book proper open in her lap, before laying a hand on the girl's shoulder. She smiled up at her tremulously. "I don't know when we will get another chance to talk. I will find a way to pass along anything I find through Severus." She paused for a moment, her fingers tightening slightly as she searched for the right words. What do you say in this situation, and to someone who in a few hours will not even remember speaking to you?
Hermione must have understood her hesitation, for she spoke instead. "It's ok, Professor. I'll be fine." Her manner and expression was confident, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes that Minerva understood. Snape… he better do the right thing with her.
Minerva gave her shoulder one last squeeze, before turning quickly. She nodded to Snape, who had stepped up beside her to grab the time-turner off the desk. He gestured for her to proceed out of the door before him before turning back to face Hermione.
"I will be back in a few minutes, Miss Granger."
Minerva saw him glance quickly at the clock before they both made their way out of the room, shutting the door behind them.
It was barely five minutes later when the door opened again and Snape slipped back in. Hermione looked up at his entrance and smiled shyly at him. She could see the triumphant gleam in his eye that told her something had gone well in the two hours he had gone back.
"What happened?"
"Let's just say the Dark Lord was not overly impressed with the Carrows for discussing such things in public. We were lucky that Minerva came straight here to accuse me instead of discussing it first with the other professors. The Dark Lord is well aware that his three… loyal… Death-Eaters here are outnumbered by the other staff in the castle. They might be unwilling to resort to the measure that would be expected of myself and the Carrows, but they are strong and skilful enough without using the Dark Arts that should it come down to a fight, the three of us would very likely lose."
"But if the other professors could beat you that easily then why…?"
"Why do they let us continue to run the school as we do? If we lost control of the school the Dark Lord would waste no time in reclaiming it. Strategically it is almost as important as the ministry. And if that were to happen not only would the students be in immediate danger, but as soon as he had taken it back from the Order the teaching staff would be filled with Death-Eaters, and there would be no one left to protect the children."
Snape sunk down into the chair behind the desk, pulling the time turner out from a pocket within his robes and placing it back in the drawer. "Minerva is right to bide her time. I am… relieved that she has chosen to do so, and not just for the student's sake."
He closed his eyes and leant back in his chair. Hermione studied his face for a moment. He looked weary, but then he had already added an extra two hours more to the day than she had.
"What do you mean? Relieved how?"
He opened his eyes slowly, staring beyond her, looking thoughtful as he spoke. "I doubt you've seen Minerva do little more than what she demonstrates in class. I remember the first time I saw her duel. It was during the Dark Lord's first rise to power." He seemed to have forgotten her, he was so wrapped up in his memory. "It was one of the first raids I had been sent on, and the Order had somehow anticipated the attack. But there were 5 of us and only three of them. We underestimated her. She was… remarkable. So strong that of the three of us fighting her, I was the only one to escape."
Hermione smiled at the image of her dignified old Head of House fighting and trouncing three Death-Eaters by herself.
"Even now, I still would be hard pressed to beat her. I hope never to be in a position where I am forced to duel with her again. This year… the possibility of doing so was high, and it would put me in an impossible situation. Run, and give her the school, only for the Dark Lord to destroy anyone, student or teacher, who stopped him from taking it back, or fight back and…"
He paused for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was quieter. "She never knew it was me that night, I never told her."
His eyes flicked across to her, and his face which for a few moments had been soft and open, hardened again, and she could almost see the walls going back up in his mind. How does he do that? Go from one extreme to another so quickly? Is he ever going to let me in?
"I believe it's time for dinner." Snape stood, his demeanour cold and distant.
Maybe he just doesn't want to…
- 65
- 66
- 67
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Memories of Deception