Connections

Chapter Five

Connections

From that day on, Saturdays were devoted to joint research. Hermione and Severus would usually begin by comparing the lab notebooks, which documented their solo efforts during the week. After discussing the results, they'd brainstorm avenues for further research, then work together to begin the processes they wanted to test during the week to come

On one such Saturday in early February, they agreed that mermaid scales might be a useful constituent in Lupin's cure. Neither Severus nor Hermione had such an ingredient in stock; nor was it something that the local apothecary carried. Severus had agreed to apparate to Diagon Alley to find a source of the elusive component.

Hermione finished dicing the Wolfsbane, comfrey, and sage they would need, then returned to Severus' quarters for a rest. Scooping up Carly in one arm and Stephen in the other, she decided to try the practical application of a skill she'd been reading up on.

Carly, can you hear me? The little girl remained quiet, staring at Stephen. If you can hear me, respond. Please? Carly turned towards her but said nothing. Carly?

"Staring contest, Miss Granger?" The pointed jab roused Hermione from her efforts.

"Sorry, sir... and didn't I ask you to call me Hermione?"

"You did. But a habit of seven years is difficult to break." Snape narrowed his eyes, skewering her with a thoughtful gaze.

Her latest hobby had left her alert to intruders in her mind, and she felt the gentle probing of his presence. Quickly she attempted to pull up her mental shields, trying to eject him from her mind. Unfortunately, Occlumency was something she'd only read about, but never practiced.

"Legilimency, Miss Gr-- Hermione?"

"It seemed a natural thing to attempt, given the amount of time I'm around Carly."

He looked at her shrewdly. "Don't tell me. You read a book about it."

Hermione blushed. "Five books, actually."

Shaking his head in dismay, Snape rolled his eyes. "You cannot learn Legilimency from a book. You either learn by trial and error, or you learn from someone who's already mastered the skill."

Her shoulders slumped. "I suppose. The theory sounds so simple--"

"Ah, but theory is not real life, is it? Otherwise lycanthropy would have been cured years ago."

"Unfortunately true," she sighed.

"You know, it's too late to extract the essence of these mermaid scales today. Perhaps I could give you a few pointers after dinner instead?"

A grin was her only answer.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Cooking is much easier in the Wizarding World, thought Hermione as she prepared dinner that night in Snape's quarters. A flick of her wand not only filled the pasta pot with water, but also brought it to boiling; after adding the fettucine, all she had to do was put a timing spell on it, and it drained itself as soon as it was cooked al dente. As she finished the salad--the one thing she still made by hand--the pesto applied itself to the pasta, and two crusty baguettes flew out of the oven and sliced themselves into the bread basket.

The only words spoken during the meal came from Stephen. As her son babbled away, Hermione watched silently as Severus carefully mashed the pasta and fed it to Carly, who was slumped on his lap. Somehow he managed to remove the crusts from the baguette with one hand before slipping bits of bread into his daughter's mouth. Their eyes were locked; it was clear they were conversing silently.

Carly had said he was a good father. She'd seen him doing fatherly things, but she'd never before realized what a wonderful relationship Severus had with his little girl. She sighed, causing the Potions master to break his eye contact with his daughter. "We'll be done soon," he said, mistaking her appreciative stare for impatience.

"No, no, take your time," Hermione reassured him. "Really." And she settled down to watch him again.

oOoOoOoOoOo

"Clear your mind." The Potion master's black eyes were boring into Hermione's. "All your emotions must be swept to the side. On three. One, two, three... Legilimens!"

A warm trickle ran down her legs. She looked down and saw a puddle on the floor. "Hermione!" her mother screeched, "I don't care how interesting a book is, put it down if you need to visit the loo!" ... Mr. Stevens was bending over her desk. "Why, Miss Granger, you've made an arithmetic error. Someone alert the newspapers!" Her cheeks flushed as her classmates giggled.... Viktor Krum was pulling away from her. "I don't know vy I vaited this lonk for THIS," he spat. "You are a terrible kisser."

Hermione shook her head. She was back in Snape's office.

"I apologize," he said gruffly. "People often clear their minds of hatred and fear and anger, but they often forget embarrassment; it's the best chink in most people's armor."

"Let me try again," she said.

She was in her room at her parents' house, reading a textbook. She picked up her shiny new wand, pointed it at her teddy bear, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" Teddy floated above the bed... Dumbledore flicked his wand, and the green and silver decorations turned into red and gold. People were slapping Neville on the back, shaking her hand as well as Harry's...

Aha, she thought, lost in memory but still somehow conscious of her surroundings. He can use positive emotions as an entry point too. She probed a bit and found his consciousness in hers; she could sense where it was entering and pushed a bit, hoping to get him out of her mind.

Two tall boys with messy black hair were taunting a teenage boy who was surely a younger Severus, throwing hexes in his direction... As Severus lowered himself into the hole under the Whomping Willow, an eerie howl rent the night air... Professor Flitwick stood above a scrawny little boy with an expression of consternation on his minute face. "Severus," he squeaked, "surely you could get at least one charm right?"

They were back in the office again, staring at each other and panting a bit as though they'd taken a brisk jog.

"If Potter were as analytical as you, he would have mastered this in no time," Severus said blandly.

"I'll take that as a compliment," she replied with a grin.

He smirked at her. "Alas, I'm afraid it's Carly's bedtime."

"Stephen's too," Hermione replied, noticing the clock for the first time. "Severus--thank you for your time. Really--"

"Not at all," he replied softly. "If there's anything else you need, just ask. I'll do anything for you."

She was shocked by the sincerity of his words. They stood there staring at each other for a while before she left to find Dobby and Stephen.

oOoOoOoOoOo

"Carly?"

Hermione's charge was sitting in her special chair, watching the snow falling on the front garden. She didn't reply but stayed motionless and unresponsive.

"Carly? Carly?"

The little girl's eyes remained fixed, staring out the window. She was still breathing; what could be wrong? I wonder, thought Hermione, if I could... especially after I came so close on Saturday... She sent tendrils of her consciousness outward, probing at the edges of Carly's mind.

She was standing in a room all done up in pinks and yellows. A young woman, not much older than Hermione herself, stood by the window clutching a bundle of blankets. She couldn't see the woman's face at all, but her body was shaking, and her sniffles were all too obvious.

"Oh, Carly, my sweet little girl... I won't let Grandpa hurt you; don't worry. I won't let him near you again. And I won't leave you alone with Daddy either. He does love you, Carly, but he's so scared of his father... Oh my little girl, I don't care what anybody says, you will grow up to be beautiful and talented and powerful..."

Hermione?

She was back in her sitting room, staring at Carly in disbelief.

Hermione, were you in my mind just now?

"Ummm... yeah, sorry."

I was just thinking about my mum.

"I noticed. Carly..."

She ran away. Left my dad. My grandpa strong-armed him into trying to kill me.

Hermione stopped, realizing for the first time that, while she knew Carly's personality far too well, she knew absolutely nothing about her life before coming to Hogwarts. "Carly... what was your last name before Severus adopted you?"

MacNair.

"MacNair--as in Walden?"

Yep. He was my grandpa.

"Oh--I'm sorry, so so sorry..."

Hey, it's not like I chose him. You know what they say about family.

"Does Severus know?"

Are you crazy? He'd blame himself for not rescuing me sooner. He thinks all the evils in the world are his fault.

Hermione sighed. She'd been around Severus around long enough to know that it was true.

Just keep him busy for me. When he's working on potions, he never remembers his sins. He's always happy when he's brewing. Please?

"Okay, okay, Carly." She gently lifted the little girl out of her seat, then hugged her tightly. As she rocked her back and forth, she heard the words that would change her life forever.

Stephen, where are you? Ask your Mum for lunch. I'm hungry.

Okay.

Hermione heard the words in her head but didn't really comprehend what they meant until her son walked into the room with a book in one hand. "Time fo yunch, Mama?"

"Carly!"

What?

"Can Stephen talk to you with Legilimency too?"

Yeah. First I talked to him. Then he figured out how to talk back. I like talking to him. He's funny. It's like have a younger sibling. He brings me things when you're busy, and I read the words for his books...

Hermione collapsed into a chair. They could scheme all they wanted, and most of the time she wouldn't be able to hear it! How would she ever keep these two out of mischief?