All Together Now

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to JKR. The original plot and story belong to Velvet Song.

Author’s Note: This is a continuation of Velvet Song’s story “Damsels & Dragons”, which she has graciously allowed me to adopt. You will find the first thirteen chapters of her story here: http:// www.thepetulantpoetess.com /viewstory.php?sid =18337 (remove the spaces first). I can only hope I do her ideas justice.

Thanks to Fizzabella and writermerrin for the beta of this chapter.

All Together Now

“Gods! I feel so dirty.” Hermione set down the copy of Fatum Incantare she was trying to read and shuddered. “How could anyone do this stuff, much less write about it?”

Lucius looked up from the perusal of his own copy. “Sometimes it’s just easier to go along with everyone else,” he said. “By the time you realise what’s happening, you’re in so deep you don’t know if you’ll ever get out.”

“But you did.”

“Only with a great deal of struggle, and the help of a very good friend.” He bookmarked his page and set the book down. “I believe we both need a bit of a rest. Would you like some tea?”

“I would prefer a bath, but, yes, tea would be nice, thank you.”

Over tea and scones provided by Hogwarts’ house-elves, they discussed some of what they had been reading. Lucius tried to put his years as a Death Eater in perspective for Hermione, who could only judge him by her own experiences and Scrimgeour’s Ministry propaganda.

“You have to remember that the Dark Lord recruited his followers carefully,” he said as he completed his explanation. “Pandering to the prejudices of powerful pure-blood families gained him many followers, who then went out and recruited others.” He grimaced. “I’m not proud of myself when I look back at what I’ve done in his name. I suppose I could have refused, but he was very persuasive and charismatic, particularly before his first ‘death’, to put it bluntly.”

“You mean when he tried to kill Harry as a baby?”

“Yes.”

“He was an extremely handsome wizard,” Narcissa said, gliding into the room. “The Dark Lord you saw was nothing like his original self. No one could have realised that his fine figure hid such a dark soul. These books and the Dark Arts themselves,” she placed her hand on her husband’s as she sat down, “can be very seductive if you’re not careful.”

“That’s one of the reasons we,” Lucius indicated Narcissa and himself, “insisted that you read Severus’ books in our presence. Neither of us would want to see you follow in our footsteps, much less lose your soul.”

Hermione shuddered at the thought. “Is that possible just from reading about them?” she asked, nervously eyeing the book she had been reading.

“You said you felt ‘dirty’, didn’t you?” Lucius said, with a wry twist to his mouth. “Based on that comment alone, what do you think?”

“That I need something stronger than tea,” she said, “but, since I need my wits about me, I’ll stick to the Darjeeling.”

Time, it seemed to Hermione, between the meeting in Minerva’s office and the end of school, moved at a snail’s pace. Minerva reported that Flitwick was more than happy to return to the school for a ‘visit’ and would welcome discussing Charms with Professor Bones-Malfoy. Bill Weasley was problematic. He wrote to say he was not sure if he could come for a visit, but would try since he had some holiday time coming to him.

Hermione continued to read Perseus Evans’, or, as she thought of him, Severus Snape’s, books under the watchful eye of the senior Malfoys, making sure she scrubbed her body thoroughly every time she was finished and wishing she could do the same with her mind.

Her students seemed more interested in the spring weather outside the classroom than the contents of their cauldrons, so she covered the windows in heavy draperies and warded them to stay closed, despite the students’ best attempts to open them. With the windows covered and illumination supplied only by torches and the chandelier in the middle of the ceiling, it felt more like the old Potions classroom in the dungeons than an airy, open room on the first floor of the castle. It was the perfect atmosphere, she felt, to set her fifth and seventh year students to revising for O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.

Finally, the day Hermione had been waiting for arrived, and the students departed. By the time all the students had been seen onto the Hogwarts Express, she was ready to start chewing her nails. Between reading the Dark Arts books and shepherding her students towards their final exams, she felt like she had run a marathon, backwards and in high heels. Exhaustion was fast taking its toll.

Draco spoke for all the other teachers at the table that night as she walked into the Great Hall for supper. “Damn, Granger, you look awful!” he blurted out.

“Real tactful, Malfoy!”

“Like you weren’t thinking the same thing, Potter!”

Hermione smiled her thanks to Neville, who stood up and held her chair for her. “Merlin, you two obviously think we’re back in school,” she scolded.

“Hate to point this out,” Neville said dryly, “but we are.”

“And acting like first years,” Minerva said, walking up to the table with Lucius and Narcissa. “Thank you, Neville,” she continued as the male teachers stood and he held her chair for her. After Lucius had assisted his wife into her chair and the men had retaken their seats, she announced, “Filius Flitwick will be joining us tomorrow for a visit, as will Mr Bill Weasley.”

“Bill’s coming?” Hermione asked. “That’s wonderful! Is his wife coming, too?”

“Unfortunately, Nymphadora has to work,” Minerva responded, “although she has arranged for leave next week and will join us then. Now, we have to decide just what we are going to do for Severus.”

Those teachers who had not been present at the meeting a few weeks back looked puzzled. Whispers and comments passed back and forth between them only to be voiced aloud by a bewildered Arthur. “Minerva, why do we need to do something for Severus? The man is dead.” He swallowed nervously. “Not to say I’m not delighted that Bill and Tonks will be visiting, but why? What’s going on?”

Minerva looked out over the table. “I will require a wand oath from each of you that this will go no further.” When every one had sworn on their wands, she continued, “We have discovered that Severus Snape did not die in the Final Battle as so many of us thought, myself included. We,” she said, indicating those who had attended the meeting in her office, “have known for several weeks now that he is alive, although living under a horrific curse.”

“’E’s the wee dragon, ain’t ‘e?” Hagrid said, choking back a sob. “’At’s why ‘e’s alwa’s makin’ sure of the school, ‘n’t it?”

“Yes, Hagrid,” Minerva said. “Athair is Severus Snape.” She looked at her staff with concern. “I am going to ask those of you who were there at the time to donate copies of your memories about the curse Tom Riddle used. I have a Pensieve that we can use so we can possibly decipher his words and actions. In this way, we hope to be able to come up with a counter-curse and bring Severus home.”

“We don’t have much leeway,” Remus said, taking over the explanation. “It’s what’s called a ‘timed’ curse. If we don’t find the answer soon, his condition will become permanent.” He held up a hand to forestall any questions. “Filius is coming because of his understanding of Charms. We can only hope he might recognise something the rest of us might miss. Bill Weasley, of course, is a curse-breaker. Hermione—”

“—has been reading those bloody Dark Arts books Snape left me until she is tired of them,” the witch in question said irritably. “Although I may have found something pertinent,” she continued in a low voice, “but I would rather discuss it with Lucius and Narcissa before I make it public.”

“No more questions just now,” Minerva said. “We will continue this discussion in more detail when Filius and Mr Weasley arrive. Now, let’s eat.”

Good girl, Snape’s voice rumbled in Hermione’s ear. I knew I could count on you.