Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Torment Completed	By : Kvarta Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 31713 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling. This story is purely for entertainment purposes, no money is being made from it.

Chapter List
- 92
- 93
- 94
A/N: In agreement with my beta – I’m posting this chapter unedited when she finishes with fixing the grammar and with me, I will re-post this chapter at a later date.
At that time, I do expect that some parts will be enhanced and there will be no grammatical errors.
I leave it to you to read it now or wait some more.
When I upload edited chapter I’ll remove this note :)
Minerva watched as the young people left the room, then she turned back to Severus. Her heart quivered. It wasn’t that she...Well, that was just it. She was still indecisive. She couldn’t decide if she’s still angry at him or if she can trust him - she never did, not fully. He never was one of her own…
Then again, her own turned out to be not so trustworthy as well.
And her anger is divided, she is angry at Albus as well. Her teacher, her friend, her mentor. She has no reason to doubt Potter’s words, and if Severus really did only follow Albus’s instructions... Well, the whole scheme had Albus written all over it.
At the ball she wasn’t thinking, she just slipped into an old role and it felt good, comfortable. But now, she is here with an agenda. She has to judge the situation and act in the best interest of her students…
Problem is - he, also, is/was her student.
He never looked better. Not as a student and not later as her colleague. And he never looked worse. This...this shell in front of her, this defeated, lifeless husk wasn’t Severus she knew most of her and his life.
Once they stayed alone, he turned away from her, pulling his covers and tucking his hand over his face.
Was all that, only moments ago, just an act?
The window in the room is opened and the sound of the younger generation reached them. With a sigh, she turned to Severus, still and distant. She cleared her throat and addressed him in a bit harsh voice.
“I do hope that you instructed your students to behave in the accordance with at least basic protocol when one has visitors.”
His hand slid from his face, but a fraction or more than a fraction too slow. His features rearranged into a weak frown, one that lacked intent behind the mask. His eyes hollow, as hollow as his voice.
“I did not call you to visit me, Minerva. Yet I know why are you here.”
“Do you?” She raised her eyebrow, provoking him.
“Do me a favour, Minerva - take her with you. Now - would be preferable.” he hissed, or at least tried and failed at sounding….anything but tired.
Through the window, a laughter floated into the room. It was nice and slightly odd to hear them all laughing. New times...two Gryffindors, one Ravenclaw and one Slytherin sitting, chatting and laughing.
“I wonder if that is what is best for you? Miss Granger did an admirable job, you never looked better.” She smiled at him with a tight calculated smile. “Poppy informs me that your recovery is progressing nicely. At least your physical recovery. By the looks of things, you should be grateful to have Miss Granger’s assistance.”
She noticed the swift shift of emotions on his face, too many emotions and too fast for her to read them all. It appeared to her that he was leading some sort of inner struggle, finally setting a blank expression he grumbled.
“Yes, the girl is a gift for any witch or a wizard which life’s goal is to be poked, molested, force-fed, tortured, touched, forced to suffer through her know-it-all blunders, have her poke inside his or her's head… Shall I continue, or are you ready to take her away?”
Minerva chuckled. She would never claim that she knew Severus - he was all cloak and daggers, she doubted that anyone knew him really. Granger was curious by nature, she probably did invade on his privacy to the degree he wasn’t comfortable with.
“Oh, I’m sure it’s not that bad, Severus.”
“Minerva, your precious pupil insists on bathing me.” He smiled at her with vicious satisfaction.
“I am fully aware of that, Poppy told me.” She replied evenly, if he was trying to provoke a reaction from her he was doing a poor job. “And, she is neither a girl nor my pupil. Technically, not yet. She is of age, Severus - you do remember that?”
He just huffed and turned his face from her.
“Severus, you do remember that Miss Granger is a year older than her peers, add to that all the hours she doubled in her third year… well, the girl is technically in her early twenties.”
“A child.” He exclaimed. “She will be twenty in September, Minerva, if you want to play that game.” he replied in the cold but still empty voice. “And she is a pest I can’t get rid off.”
“Do you really want to get rid of her so much?” she asked, something didn’t add up...something was off but she couldn’t put her finger on it. There was a shadow of stubborn almost childish resolution on his face.
Time to poke the sleeping snake. She thought and smiled warmly. “I think that Miss Granger started to develop feelings for you, a crush of sorts.”
He replied with an annoyed huff.
“It is harmless, Severus.” She turned her back to him, pretending to watch in the yard but looking at his window reflection.
“Nothing is ever harmless with your lot, Minerva. Unthinking, rash,...” he started and she stopped him mid-sentence.
“As I recall, you were not above rash as well.”
“Yes, and look where it got me. Rash behaviour is forgiven…criminal behaviour is forgiven to your lot - but never, never to the likes of me.” There was a deep bitterness in his voice now.
She remained silent. Poppy, Harry even Draco - they all judged the situation correctly, each of them from their own angle. Minerva suppressed the sigh - she couldn’t say that even her perception wasn't bias, coloured by her own anger and sadness and guilt. She had to make a decision, one that will be beneficial to both Severus and Hermione alike.
A time apart will do them a world of good.
She briefly wondered should she interfere more. After all, some customs were archaic but not bad on their own. Was she willing to allow one of her own to be subjected to them? Did she have to right to interfere? She did once, with the disastrous results - and magic had its own way of setting thing straight.
If it’s meant to be...who am I to prevent what is about to happen? I will have to discuss this with Lucius before I make my final decision, and I’ll have a year to observe and make my own conclusions. There is no need to be rash.
As summoned by her thoughts, there was a light knock on the door and Narcissa entered the room, followed by Lucius. Malfoy senior was hobbling, heavily leaning on the cane, she didn’t notice that at the party.
“Headmistress.” Narcissa bowed her head lightly. “Would you mind if we join you for a bit?”
“Mrs Malfoy, Mr Malfoy, I will welcome your company if Severus doesn’t mind.” she replied turning to face her hosts.
Severus still had a blank expression, he was staring at the ceiling. At her words, he groaned. Through the window, they could hear a lively but friendly conversation in the garden, noisy and followed by occasional laughter. To her, it almost sounded like a promise, a promise for a better future.
~ S ~ S ~ S ~
Luna was talking about...something, but Hermione barely heard the word Luna said. She was lost in her own thoughts. She glanced at Draco. He was sitting in one of the few ornamental iron garden chairs, royal in posture and manners.
Will he be able to take care of him?
She nearly jumped when Luna placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Hermione, I’m absolutely convinced that Draco can take a good care of Professor.”
“No offence Luna, but you are also convinced that Wrackspurts are a real thing.” she sighed. “Not that I doubt but…”
“I can follow the instructions, and even do things without magic if I want to, Bucktooth.” sneered Draco.
“Can you and for how long, Ferretface?” She narrowed her eyes at Draco.
“I wouldn’t do it for you, or any of present - but I would do it for Severus and you know it, Granger. Why do you think I’m working with you now?” Draco grinned.
Luna and Neville were quiet, their heads turning like they were observing tennis match. Not that any of them would know what a tennis match is. Hermione rolled her eyes to hide the feeling of not belonging. She was surprised, she didn’t felt it since the end of the war.
“To save your own skin?” She narrowed her eyes at him in the challenge.
“Well, my skin wouldn’t need saving if you didn’t interfere in the first place. I worked on that Werewolf law to save my skin, Bucktooth - I help you with Severus because I want to help him.” Draco had a smug face while talking. “For him, I’d even agree to work in the team with Longbottom.”
“No, thank you.” was Neville's instant and a bit absent-minded reply.
That broke the tension and they laughed. Even Neville, blushing to the tips of his ears.
“But, you do want to finish your education - don’t you?” chimed Luna again.
“Of course I do!” she replied.
“And, if you come I won’t be alone.” Luna continued like she didn’t even hear Hermione's reply. Luna was gazing at the rose bush, but she shook her head, and Hermione suppressed the need to roll her eyes. She wondered if Luna is talking to her or to the bush. “You need to cleanse your roses from Rumples, Draco.”
“From wha….?” Draco waved his hand and they laughed again at Malfoy’s face.
“Please Hermione.” Neville leaned to her and whispered in her ear “I need help with her.”
She turned to Neville wondering with what he exactly needed help. She remembered that Nevill had a crush on Luna in the fifth and sixth year.
“Are you two dating?” She asked suddenly.
“No, we tried, it didn’t work out.” Smiled Luna airily. “Neville is with Hannah now.”
“Hannah?” She asked, the name did ring a bell but only faintly.
“A Hufflepuff, Longbottom? It figures.” Smirked Draco.
“Hannah likes to spend time outside the Glasshouses with him.” Luna wrinkled her nose. “They are good together.”
“You liked to linger in them.” Replied Neville to Luna somewhat reproachfully, and then turned to all. “And that wasn’t such a good thing.”
“He was just a pup, Nev.” Luna frowned and Hermione wondered if she ever saw Luna frown before.
“Hermione, do you remember Fluffy?” asked Neville and she bulged her eyes at him then turned to Luna.
“Don’t tell me you got yourself a Cerberus!”
“No, nothing like that. This one isn’t dangerous at all.” Smiled Luna.
“Not dangerous?!” exclaimed Neville. “Luna it's a Gytrash! He dug through entire Greenhouse, destroyed months of work and galleons worth of herbs. He attacked you on numerous occasions, not to mention that Devilles Snare nearly killed you when you were rescuing the beast!”
“Well, I returned it to his mum.” Smiled Luna.
“Hagrid did, he had enough mind to know that they can’t be tamed.” Grumbled Neville.
“And that plant of yours needs love, Neville.” Luna replied a bit sharply.
“Please, please, don’t go again trying to hug her, Luna.” Whined Neville.
“Hugh what?” asked Draco, obviously amused. Hermione wasn’t so amused, knowing Luna she probably aimed at something dangerous.
“Venomous Tentacula” groused Neville and they laughed again.
“I told you she is infested and grumpy, but if you clear her out of…”
Nevil groaned at Luna and they all laughed. Hermione suddenly realised how much she missed all this. She forgot how annoyingly good can be just sitting with friends and laugh.
“And if you get back to school, I won’t be alone in the room.” Luna turned to her.
“I’m not a Ravenclaw, Luna.” Well, talking with Luna had its moments most of the time. Even if Luna was changed by the war, it seemed to her that she wasn’t affected as much.
“All returnees are placed in the special wing - together. But, most of them finished their schooling last year.” Explained Neville
“We would have an entire wing to ourselves.” Luna's eyes twinkled happly.
“Ok, if...IF I return, Luna you have to promise me - no odd pets or necklaces or… whatever.” She glared at Luna. When did I decide to go back?
“Ok, I’ll just keep them in empty Greenhouse, the one you still didn’t fix.” Nodded Luna and Neville just groaned again.
“And, I’ll send you daily reports of Severus’s progress.” Added Draco and she glared at him.
“You are awfully keen to see my back, Ferretface.”
“And that surprises you, Bucktooth?” Lazily replied Draco, raising an eyebrow.
Elf popped up. “Young Master, Missy Big Mouth and guests, Madam is calling you for tea with them.”
- 92
- 93
- 94
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

Torment *Completed*

Torment Completed