Hermione: Truth
Chapter 26 of 31
Anastadne26: How what was lost might be found - if she's very, very lucky and very, very good.
ReviewedA/N: Ari here. Good morning. Tag! :)
“How dare you?”
Although she spoke softly, her voice resonated in the air.
Severus shot her a guarded glance.
“You would invade his privacy, before an audience?”
The portraits hushed. Not a robe rustled.
She walked over to the frame Dumbledore has so recently vacated, examined it clinically then flicked her wand.
It shrank, and she picked it up.
“You have no right to his answer. None.”
Dumbledore’s eyes flicked nervously to his frame. There should have been nothing ominous in the way she held it on her palm.
There shouldn’t have been.
But from the bleeding case, a hum.
---
“Was it found by someone who cared?” Her brittle, almost bitter laugh broke the night. “That’s the best you can do? Humiliate him as he’s dying when the answer to your question stands right here?”
Dumbledore quite wisely said nothing.
“Obviously it was found by someone who cared. For the truth. For his reputation. For…” Her voice tightened. “For his memory, if need be.” She caught Severus’s eye and lied. “Nothing more.”
Hermione touched her wand tip to the canvas, which started smoking slightly.
Far above, Albus Dumbledore’s painted face began to sweat. “Miss Granger, please.”
“Come back down first.”
---
A much smaller Dumbledore reappeared in his frame. “Release the fire, Miss Granger.”
Leaning so close that only the portrait could hear, Hermione whispered, “No. Now you’re even.”
She turned to Severus and extended her hand. “Professor Snape?”
He took in the sight of the Head Girl holding the smoldering portrait of the former headmaster and glanced at his own bloody hand.
The carvings on the case were writhing, constricting inexorably around the contents.
“The heat – we can’t risk it.”
She held his eye for a long moment, then – “Muffliato.”
“I lied.”
“I - obviously.”
“Do what you will.”
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Latest 25 Reviews for Hide and Seek
112 Reviews | 7.83/10 Average
Please can you add the final chapter or direct me to where else it can be found. We are compiling a list of alternative links for all of the OWL fics due to OWL closing at the end of this month, and I can't find anywhere else that has the full completed story. Thank-you.
Wow, can't wait to see what happens next!
woo
So glad you guys have come back to this story! The way you both play off of one another is such fun to read. I too cannot wait for the next chapter (but I guess I'll have to, won't I? Darnit...) :D
Wow...can't wait for the next chapter.
creepy!
Can one punish a portrait by destroying it?
Are you still working on this story? This isn't quite the end to my opinion, although their using first names is undoubtedly a breakthrough.
Oh good grief. *pulls hair in frustration* more please. btw did you know that clicking where the arrows that send you to the next chapter should be send you absolutely no where. I clicked and clicked in desperate hope.
You gotta be kidding. Why, oh why must you torture us so? Are we not faithful readers? More now, please. (I did say please.)
Burn, Dumbly, burn!
Oh, she'd better say yes!
What a horrid cliffhanger! I insist on believing that things are not as dire as they seem, and that Hermione's love for Severus (coupled by feeding Dumbledore's portrait to Fang 
) will win the day.
But I still want to find out rather quickly.
Oh no, please say he'll be ok.
Oh Gods! Quite dramiatic! What havoc and distruction love has wrought upon the office!
Finally, someone is burning the portrait! Give him hell, Hermione! Make him talk. Justice will be served with a side-order of fries and a fizzy drink, methinks...
We need new chapters. We are fresh out, so I am ordering more. How much for overnight delivery? Two-day? 
Go get him, Severus! Dumbledore's on the run now... grab him, Phineas Nigellus! Put him in a half-nelson! Don't let him leave the room! 
I await Hermione's response breathlessly.
A short chapter, but a powerful one. I can't wait to see how this is going to play out.
Go, Severus! Burn the portrait! You can do it! It will make us all feel better! The readers are behind you all the way!
Burn the portrait, Hermione... go on... you know you want to... and so do we! Do it for the readers! Or at least get Phineas Nigellus to go over there and beat Dumbledore up properly. This is an excellent time to see if one portrait can give another one a black eye or two.
Finally, a visit to Dumbledore for Hermione! I hope she punches his painted nose...
Tell us what it is!!!! 
Of course she used his! Obviously she holds him in high regard, despite (or because of) everything. Now the question is... is her regard for him high enough to fix things which seem to be going rapidly pear-shaped? I think Hermione's feelings for Severus are going to be paramount in importance for this, depending upon what it turns out to be.
I can't believe I've missed these new updates! And I've been keeping half an eye out, too! (obviously I should have used the other half as well...) On the other hand, it means I can find out where they're both going immediately, which is good. Isn't it?
Sounds like things are getting pretty hairy right now... but what the heck's going on with Severus. Somehow I'm sure that hexing Paint-Boy would make things better. Perhaps something fitting and appropriate given the circumstances...
*Works on a spell to transfigure Portrait Dumbledore's background into something from Dante's Inferno*
Sounds like things are getting pretty hairy right now. Hexing Paint-Boy into oblivion certainly couldn't make things worse, now could it?
Oh, Dumbledore left his portrait? or did he jsut flee to another? I think he did leave it for a reason, but was surprised by the recipient? hummm
OOooooo! O_o. pouncing onward ---
About time he stood up for himslef!! Whoot Severus - zap him!!