13
Chapter 14 of 25
averygoodunAU. Fatigued, Snape makes a mistake that could cost the wizarding world everything.
Huge thanks to Ayerf for betaing! Any mistakes are my own responsibility, however. The next chapter will be up in the next couple of days. Now onto the story!
Hermione sat down beside the bed and looked in Ron's direction. Her mind was too busy cataloging everything that had happened, or would soon happen, to actually see the redhead. The scenarios, risks and embarrassments whirled around her like a dervish until she had to shake her head in an attempt to focus.
"This is madness, you know," she muttered, taking Ron's hand and rubbing it mindlessly. "Absolute madness. We are getting closer and closer to winning the war, and yet we're so bloody close to the edge of disaster. The fact that Snape is starting to crack shows just how insane this is."
She stopped rubbing and gripped Ron's hand a bit more firmly. "It scares me, Ron. It scares me so much. Snape was almost as irrational as he was in the shack third year. I forgot just how scary he can be. But even when he regained control... Snape and Flitwick were tossing around the idea of Obliviation as if it's nothing to meddle with a mind. Or meddle with mind control, for that matter...
"I don't want to be Imperiused! I trust him not to do anything amiss, but, oh, Ron, I don't want to go through that again. It was bad enough in class, but now... Now it will be nearly real."
She bent over, touching her forehead to Ron's hand in a gesture that seemed reverent until she started crying. "I don't want to lose my mind! It's all I have left now! You're dying, Harry's lost out there, and I'm in here with nothing but a shred of hope. I'll be a puppet soon, my thoughts and actions not my own to control, and, oh God, Ron, how am I to get through this? How am I going to stay me throughout all this? How am I going to stay on this side of useful if I lose all control?"
Ron's finger twitched, prompting Hermione to sit up and actually look at him. He remained unconscious, but she gripped his hand in both of hers with as much hope as if he'd opened his eyes and smiled at her.
"Listen to me ramble on. I'm as bad as Snape, just rather more pathetic. There's no use worrying about losing, because if we lose, then we lose and we die. That is one good thing about You-Know-Who, though. He's so afraid of death for himself, he thinks it's the worst punishment he can mete out. And, well, the joke's on him. If he really does win, then death is a pretty good option for all of us."
"It would be a waste, though," Snape said from behind her.
Hermione jumped to her feet with a squeak that immediately turned into a growl.
"Can't you knock?"
"Of course I can, I just choose not to."
Hermione bit her lip and closed her eyes, counting to ten before scrubbing her face and looking at Snape. "Was there something you wanted, other than to spy on me?"
A muscle in Snape's jaw twitched. "As a matter of fact, yes. I have asked one of the house-elves to collect a few books from the library on Rowena Ravenclaw and the diadem."
Hermione looked up at him, eyes wide with hopeful disbelief.
"You want me to research?"
"You seemed to have a penchant for it in school."
Hermione sniffed and beamed up at him. "Oh, thank you!"
He snorted. "Don't thank me yet, girl. It's very possible the texts will be in Old English, or possibly Latin."
Hermione waved that concern aside, still beaming. "Oh, don't worry about that, sir. I still have a decent grasp on both of those and on Middle English, which is actually far more commonly found in the Hogwarts' texts."
She noticed he was looking at her oddly again. "What?"
He shook his head. "The elf has been instructed to wait until after Irma leaves for the night, so you will have to curb your enthusiasm for a few hours yet. In the meantime, though, I have found a few texts that might yield some information from Dumbledore's collection."
He stepped to the side and waved his hand at a small pile of books she hadn't seen floating behind him. At Snape's direction, they moved over to her, and settled themselves on her chair.
"And remember, time is of the essence."
She nodded her head, though she had already picked up the top book from the stack and eagerly opened the cover. "Of course, sir. And thank you."
She was vaguely aware of Snape shaking his head at her and then leaving the room, but most of her attention was focused on the book. It was heavenly to be of some real use again, to try to glean vital information from a book.
The joy of reading something new was so heavenly, in fact, she lost track of time. She was only made aware of the time when Snape cleared his throat from the doorway.
She looked up at him curiously and immediately wished she hadn't. His face was stony and cold, which presaged nothing good.
"The students will be arriving shortly."
Her shoulders slumped, but she nodded and closed the book. She stood up and faced Snape, whose demeanor hadn't changed.
She flinched despite herself when he aimed his wand at her, causing him to scowl and drop his arm slightly. "It will not hurt."
She gritted her teeth and nodded. "I know. It will, in fact, be indecently pleasant."
He nodded and raised his wand. "Imperio."
Everything went dim and cushy. Hermione felt as if she was floating on a very pleasant cloud, warm and snug with nary a worry to bother her.
A slight weight came to be around her neck and upper shoulders, and then a voice was telling her to follow him down into the Great Hall, meekly.
She didn't really understand the point of being meek, but she couldn't see a reason against it, either. And it was so easy, so nice to just follow orders and not think.
She was only vaguely aware of her surroundings, but knew when she entered the Great Hall. There were people there, and the voice inside her head was telling her to be aware of them, to react to them by hunching in on herself a little.
She peeked at them shyly and thought it was strange how they frowned at her. She was their star pupil, wasn't she? What had she done to displease them? The thought gnawed at her, slowly nibbling the comfortable clouds away.
The voice told her to stand at the wall behind his chair and listen closely to everything. She did as told, but she wondered why she was asked to listen to silence, as there wasn't a sound to be heard in the Hall, except for a chair scraping the stone floor.
It wasn't long, however, before she heard someone McGonagall? hiss, "What do you think you're doing, Snape?"
"Whatever do you mean, Professor?" The voice sounded different outside of her head, Hermione thought. Much colder. Meaner.
"I mean how dare you subject the children to your sick perversions?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand your meaning." The voice was colder still.
"Oh, come off it, Snape! You know as well as I do that it is completely inappropriate for you to parade Miss Granger around here like she's your pet!"
"And how is it inappropriate, madam?"
McGonagall made a spluttering sound, then yelled, "Because she is only a child herself!"
Hermione heard a great intake of air from all sides, then nothing.
"Your tone is inappropriate, Madam. You will see me in my office after dinner to discuss what is and isn't appropriate." Hermione sort of wanted to shiver; the voice was so very cold.
Silence again. The silence lasted until a faint rumbling sounded outside of the hall. Suddenly, the Hall was filled with young voices, which grew curiously mute as they got closer. Soon, Hermione could tell the Hall was full, but again, there was silence.
Look, but discreetly, the voice said in her mind. And so she looked. The Hall was indeed full of students, and all of them were staring at her. The vast majority of the students looked ill, while the rest looked uncomfortable. Only a few students at one table Crabbe and Goyle? And another she didn't recognize looked pleased to see her.
She knew that was odd, but couldn't think why.
Observe the Slytherins for me, especially Draco, the voice commanded. So she watched the Slytherin table. She noticed that even the few who did not initially show discomfort, soon began to squirm under her emotionless gaze.
A low susurration of whispers was taking over the Hall, but they stopped as Snape stood up.
"Good evening and welcome back. As you have noticed, we have an old... friend amongst our number tonight. Miss Granger here was foolish enough to think she could evade the law by hiding in the forest like an animal. She was not, however, clever enough to evade the Snatchers who are, as you should know by now, roaming the countryside in search of fugitives such as her.
"Fortunately for her, the Dark Lord gifted her to me, so she need not die or spend the rest of her life in Azkaban. I present her here tonight and every night hence, as a living example of what is not acceptable.
"Look at her, under my complete control, and consider your options very carefully."
Snape sat down and started to fill his plate, while the Hall again filled with a buzz of uneasy whispers. Hermione watched the Slytherins and noticed they were the chief whisperers. Every student was sharing their thoughts whether happy or uneasy with their neighbors, very quietly. Everyone, but Draco. He was sitting up and looking at her. He looked rather ill at ease. When she looked him in the eye, he flinched and shifted his gaze over to Snape before bowing his head in an unusual show of interest in his food.
The rest of the meal continued in the same way, with the whispers never growing beyond a dull drone. Soon enough, Snape stood and with a curt, "Whenever you are finished," aimed at Professor McGonagall, compelled Hermione to follow him five paces back as he strode down the middle aisle and out the double doors. She followed him mindlessly without any complaint.
Once inside his office, he bade her stand beside him. He sat at his desk and shuffled papers restlessly for five minutes until he suddenly stiffened, and moments later the staircase began to move. Hermione listened to Snape's breathing change, and watched his hands tense.
There was a knock on the door. Snape said, "Enter," and Professor McGonagall came in. She looked between the two of them, then closed the door behind her.
"If I am wrong, I ask that you kill me rather than report me to your Dark Lord, but, Severus, was it all an act?"
Snape muttered something, and Hermione opened her eyes wide and breathed deeply. Exhaling, she shuddered. McGonagall watched with suddenly watery eyes. Before Snape or Hermione could react, she had rushed over and taken Hermione in her arms.
"Och, I am so glad you're alright!" she crooned, surprising Hermione. She hugged her professor back, however, and became a bit teary-eyed herself.
"The Headmaster has taken very good care of me."
McGonagall withdrew and patted her cheek fondly for a few seconds before turning to Snape.
"And you!" she said, harshly. "How could you do it?" His eyes became cold before they relaxed in surprise when she added, "How could you cut us off like that?"
"No one was supposed to know, Minerva. It was essential that no one knew."
"Dumbledore?" Snape nodded. Minerva looked like she wanted to spit on the former headmaster's tomb. "I imagine his plan was impeccable, but I've found myself rather disliking the man!"
Hermione and Snape both snorted, though Hermione's was more of surprise.
"But I imagine that time is tight and we should discuss what's to be done now, unless you plan to sack me?"
Snape relaxed slightly, and his lip twitched up. "I wouldn't do that to you, Min. You're much too invaluable."
"Meaning the paperwork alone would strangle you."
"Just so. But you're right in that time is tight. I expect that one of the Carrows will be up shortly to gloat, and I'd rather you were gone by then."
"What do you need me to do?"
"Only one thing: Make sure the students don't take unnecessary risks. Suggest that they create an end-game plan, and stress that immediate action will only get them maimed or killed. I cannot protect them if they revolt more openly than they already have, especially since Hagrid's defection."
McGonagall frowned and opened her mouth to say something, but Snape raised his hands in placation, even as he said, "Defection may be a strong word, but you have to admit he was damned foolish, protesting as obviously as he did. He was lucky to get away, even with my stalling the Aurors."
McGonagall nodded briskly, though still didn't look pleased. "I will try my best to reign the students in, though I don't know how long they'll wait. Miss Granger's appearance..." Hermione smiled wryly at McGonagall, who only frowned.
Snape nodded. "With luck, none of us will have to wait much longer."
"Are we really nearing the end?"
"It's looking that way. But, for God's sake, don't get careless! And don't let anyone else know, including Potter."
McGonagall gave him her best insulted look. "That rather goes without saying."
Snape nodded. "I'm glad to hear it, as I'd rather not Obliviate you tonight. I'm rather tired for such finicky work."
McGonagall smiled tightly. "I'm glad we were wrong about you, Severus. I hope, when this is over, you'll consider resuming our weekly chess game?"
"If we both survive with our wits intact, that sounds... acceptable. But now you need to go back to making my life exceedingly difficult."
McGonagall nodded briskly. "Good night, Headmaster."
"Good evening, Professor."
McGonagall left after patting Hermione on the shoulder one last time, as if to make sure she was real. Hermione looked at Snape curiously.
"I didn't realize you were on such good terms with Professor McGonagall. I'd always thought you hated each other."
Snape leaned back in his chair and looked up at her. "She was the only teacher to protest Dumbledore's handling of the shack incident. She felt he had been far too light on Potter and Black. Granted, she didn't tell me that until after I had joined the teaching staff, but... I appreciated the gesture, even if I rather resented the timing."
"It must have been horrible to have lost her good opinion."
Snape shrugged. "I've suffered worse."
Hermione snorted at the understatement. "Should I be out here for the Carrows?"
Snape shook his head and sighed. "No. And given all my recent visitors, I'm afraid we should make it seem as if..."
Hermione grimaced but nodded. "Give me two minutes."
She turned to leave, but Snape stopped her with a light touch on her arm. Looking back, she saw he was reaching into a drawer in his desk. "Hide the books," he said as he brought out her wand. "Just in case."
She nodded and couldn't keep a smile from her face as her wand touched her palm. "Of course."
Gripping her wand tightly, she returned to the bedroom and smiled. She would never have described Snape as a nice man, but his thoughtfulness, when no one else was watching, was quite touching. She wondered why he was being so nice to her, but she wasn't going to question it too deeply. He wasn't a Trojan Horse, of that she was sure, so there was no need to examine his small gifts more closely.
She smiled and hurriedly stripped and got into bed, casting a quick Disillusionment charm on Ron. She didn't want to move him unless it was necessary, and she hoped that the Carrows wouldn't be getting more than a quick glimpse in, anyway.
She waved her wand wordlessly and the books floated over to her side; she reached over to manually push them under the bed, keeping the one she'd been reading handy.
She heard a cough, and looked over to see Snape by the door, looking away from her. She hastily covered herself to her shoulders with the sheet and then called out to let him know she was decent.
He cautiously looked over, saw that she was covered, and came into the room, mostly closing the door behind him and casting a Muffliato She noticed he'd taken the time to dishevel himself. Her mind immediately skittered away from the parts they were playing, focusing instead on finding something safe, something comfortable to get them through.
Snape, however, managed to find a relatively safe topic first.
He nodded at Ron's side of the bed and said, "Well thought out, Miss Granger. Does that mean I may give Carrow a glimpse of you?"
She nodded. "I assumed that's what you wanted."
He made a waffling motion. "It has its merits, but could be avoided if it makes you too uncomfortable."
She smiled gratefully. "Thank you, but it's okay. I'd rather reduce any suspicion you might be under."
His face skewed in a show of relief and regret. "That is... kind of you."
"It's nothing, sir. You've shown Ron and me great care. I can only hope to help you as much as you've helped us."
He'd slowly approached the bed, finally reaching it and sitting on the foot's edge. He looked like he wanted to say something, but was having trouble finding the words. Just as he opened his mouth and started saying, "I-" he stopped and looked inward, as if hearing something she couldn't.
"Forgive me," he said, conjuring comfortable magical ties securing her to the bed. She blushed and raised her brows in surprise while he grimaced. And grew red. He then disillusioned her wand and placed it in her hand with a significant look.
"Severus?" It was Amycus. Hermione shivered, earning her a sharp look of concern. She smiled bravely back. He scowled at her expression, and she took the hint and started sniffling. At that, he smirked.
"One moment," he called, having canceled the muffliato. He made motions as if he were buttoning up his robes, and turned to see to Carrow, whose shadow was trying to crawl through the slight crack in the doorway.
Snape didn't look back as he left, shutting the door securely behind him. She let out a big breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and twitched her wand, releasing herself.
She grabbed the book she'd been reading before dinner and settled in under the covers. In her eagerness to resume the research, she forgot that she was free to dress if she so desired. She also missed that a tray of food had appeared on the bedside table, making up for the meal she'd only watched.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Shelter
177 Reviews | 7.21/10 Average
Beyond awesome!!
I really liked the gradual shifting of Severus & Hermione's emotions & perceptions of each other, thank you for sharing!
Whew! What a battle scene - I'm still catching my breath! And while my inner fangirl was looking for a kiss between our protagonists, my inner critical reader realizes that this is the best way to end the story. Hermione's need for shelter is over, and they can leave the future to another day. :D
Absolutely top-notch story!
With apologies for not posting a review until this far along, I just have to say how much I love this story, the way you've rewritten DH, and the pacing that seems very, very right.
I've been moved to laughter and tears so many times already. But this chapter and the last, where Snape and Hermione have begun to realize the changes in their relationship, and just how important they are to each other, have simply been joys to read.
And those cliffhangers you keep insisting on inserting at chapter end - I'm so glad I'm reading this as a completed work!
Congratulations, by the way, on being featured on the SSHG Quiz as a prolific author - that was my impetus for looking through your stories. I know I read Marry a Choice and Dying in the Cold in my lurking days, and I'm sure I've read others, but it's so wonderful to find some really high quality sshg stories that are still new to me, like this one. :D
Excellent story! I was hooked from the first sentence. Please, please! Sequel! Glad I found the story on the SSHG Quiz. Love your work.
Excellent story babe. Thank you so very much for writing it.
Loves you, Sonia :)
p.s. I told you I would get to reading this eventually, and today seemed like the perfect day!
Ah! A lovely story. I've been away from reading it for a few months as I worked my way through life and the Exchange. It's great to be back, and to see updates to my favorite fics. This is such a well written story. The characters really have life to them. And watching them as they change is great. Thank you for sharing.
I really enjoyed reading this story - a true alternate universe with believable characters. Your writing was excellent and just drew me in from the beginning. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful story.
I waited until the end to review, mostly because I waited til the end was posted before I read...but I'm regretting that wait. I think it ended wonderfully, what a lovely story and alternate to the actual book. Thank you for sharing!
I've really enjoyed this story. I like how you developed Hermione and Severus' relationship. Interesting battle scene. Thank you for a wonderful story.
This is such an enjoyable take on the story. I am wishing this was the true story. I like these people all working together. Amazing work!!!
An epilogue, please? If not, thank you soooo much for sharing Shelter with all of us. It has been an intense ride, but each update has been such a joy to read. I really loved how you handled the developing relationship between SS and HG, which is full of possibilities for the future, but based on a very solid, mutual trust and (perhaps) reliability. I will miss this very much.
Very nice tale about deception all in the name of trying to do what is right while placating the wrong.
You had me a bit worried there at the end with the Dementors, but all worked out ok. I kind of like the open ending. All I needed to know was that they lived and remained friends. Nicely done.
What a great story! You definitely have a way with words and descriptions.
I really enjoyed reading this and I hope you continue to write more stories.
Thanks for sharing your work!
Am I terrible to say that I'll take the loss of Hagrid over Severus any day? Nicely done there, even if they still have to look for the stupid snake. A boar is a good choice and it is better than a hedgehog, LOL!
Epilogue,please?
Another wonderfully written and plotted story from you. I hope you enjoyed writing it as much as I enjoyed reading it! I think the ending was very true to the burgeoning friendship between Snape and Hermione -- here's hoping for a continuation! Keep up the great work.
Well done! I'm sorry Minerva died, but she was always a brash Gryffindor and she died fighting baddies and protecting her cubs. Snape's new Patronus is interesting -- a wild boar, a dangerous fighter. Very impressed that Severus was first to launch his Patronus, leading the others in casting theirs. Yay for the victory! And yay for Severus and Hermione having an open ending. THANK YOU for writing. Happy Thanksgiving!
That was a good ending. It's too soon for them to be anything but friends, but you left it open for our imagination. :)
Definitely left open for a sequel. Is that what you had in mind?
Most of the deaths you left rather ambiguous which I like (that way I can pretend they were just hexed unconscious).
I thought the new patronus was appropriate. After all, the boar is Hogwarts mascot and Severus had become the students protector with Albus gone.
A good read. Thanks.
Merci beaucoup. Félicitation pour la scène finale . J'ai toujours été frustrée que Severus ne donne pas la pleine mesure de son talent sur le champps de bataille.
Quite a realistic ending, actually. For a moment there, I was afraid you were going to have them all killed off by Dementors. I prefer what you actually did.
I am exhausted. There were so many things happening at the same time that I'm in awe that you were able to write it so well that it made sense. Well done!
I was so worried when Severus wouldn't wake up. Thank goodness that he finally did. I don't think I could have stood it if anything had happened to him or Hermione.
Go, Neville! Bellatrix got exactly what she deserved.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this story plays out, but I've enjoyed reading it so much that I'm not looking forward to the last chapter.
Beth
I like a strong Molly who isn't a cariacature of everyone's worst in-law nightmare. That was a brilliantly bloody battle. Whoo, I'm alliterative tonight. Good chapter, I am both looking forward to and dreading the end.
LUNA!!!! Ack!!! And what was that spell that knocked Severus for a loop??