17
Chapter 18 of 25
averygoodunAU. Fatigued, Snape makes a mistake that could cost the wizarding world everything.
AN: I've got power! Never lost it, actually. Yay! Thanks as always to Ayerf and Septentrion. *smooches*
Hermione tossed and turned for about half an hour before giving up on sleep. She was still upset over their setback, and she couldn't seem to relax. Even though the bed was very large, she didn't want to risk upsetting Ron, especially if she continued tossing and turning once asleep.
She got up with a sigh and muttered a quiet Lumos. She looked over at her friend, but he seemed as undisturbed as ever. The potions Poppy provided were doing their job nicely, keeping Ron in a painless, unconscious state. She found it strange that it was so difficult to look directly at him. It wasn't as if he had a Notice-Me-Not charm on him; it was something within herself.
Not liking what that said about her, she held her lit wand over him and looked at him really looked at him as he was now, and not as she knew him from before their capture. Before he ran away. Before he broke her heart.
And, as she cast aside the memories, it suddenly struck her that he wasn't going to last much longer. He was starting to wither. His cheeks were sinking. His skin was getting a papery look to it. His eyelids were surrounded by dark, dark bruising.
He was dying. And it would be soon.
She tore herself away from the bed, terrified at the realization. Yes, she'd heard Poppy say as much, but... She had known it, but it wasn't real until right then.
Taking a deep breath, she looked over at Ron again. He was still lying there, peacefully. There was nothing threatening about him except that he was completely helpless. She walked over to his side of the bed and looked down at him, bringing her hand up to touch his cheek. She almost cried out in relief at finding it still warm.
"Ron," she said, kneeling down to be closer. "Ron, I don't know if you can hear me, but I want you to know... I love you, Ron. I hated you for leaving us in the woods, but that's because you were our strength. We needed you to be there supporting us. Without you, we weren't complete. I wasn't complete.
"And I don't want you to leave me now," she said, starting to cry. "I don't, but... but I forgive you if you do. I understand. I won't hate you this time. I'll understand."
Tears dripping down her face, she bent down and kissed him on the lips. They were warm, dry, and completely unresponsive. She held herself there for two seconds before pulling away and standing up. She gently brushed a lock of hair away from his forehead, and then turned and walked out of the bedroom. She didn't know what Snape's mood might be, but she couldn't take the oppression of the death bed's room any longer.
At the door, she paused and flicked her wand, setting a ward to let her know if Ron's condition changed in the least, then braced herself for the varying moods of Snape...
Who wasn't in his office.
She looked around and found the only people to be seen were snoozing representations of dead people. Her mind went into overdrive thinking of all the horrible possibilities until it occurred to her that had something horrible actually happened to Snape, she would have been the next person to know.
Her five seconds of panic thus played out, she grabbed the book she'd been reading and settled into her chair.
Time passed relatively quickly, so when Hermione heard the stairs moving, she was surprised to find two hours had passed. She thought maybe it would be better to retreat to the bedroom, but she quickly dismissed the thought as cowardly and unproductive. She needed to apologize for her behavior, and now was as good a time as any.
So she laid her book down on the desk, and as the door clicked open, she said, "Professor, I..." but the rest of her words died on her lips as she beheld a very different dark haired wizard.
"Harry?" she whispered, her eyes widening. She brought her shaking hands up to her face. "Is it really you?"
Harry smiled in that charming, lopsided way of his. Hermione let out a gush of air, that might have contained a squeal, and leapt up to hug him.
"Oh, Harry! I am so glad to see you safe and sound! You are safe and sound, right? You haven't been hit with any hexes or jinks or Imperio or other nasties, have you? Because you shouldn't be here! It's not safe, not with the Carrows running around Cruciating everyone, even first years, and you being at the top of the wanted list, it's a really, really bad idea for you to be here! I can only imagine how angry Snape is going to be at you risking yourself this way!"
At the mention of Snape's name, Harry pulled away sharply, and his face became set in anger. Hermione understood at once what had brought her friend here, and shook her head, trying to forestall his outrage.
"No, Harry, listen! Snape's a good guy. He really is! He's taken very good care of Ron and me. Poppy and Minerva both know now, and Flitwick figured it out, though he asked to be Obliviated so he wouldn't give the game away. Snape is protecting all of us. It was his Patronus that led you to the sword! He was the one who gave you the sword!"
Harry still looked angry, though Hermione could see him processing the information. "He's been very decent to me, Harry. He's made sure that Ron is kept sedated, so You-Know-Who can't look into his mind or torture him for information. He's given me books so I can research. He's treated me with respect. Honest to goodness, he's on our side, Harry, and he has been all along."
Harry's face hardened. "Then why did he kill Dumbledore?"
"Because I asked him to, Harry," Dumbledore's portrait said, looking down at the two of them with a somber face.
Harry frowned at the portrait, looking very confused. "But, why?"
"He was already dying," Snape said from the doorway.
Harry made to hex Snape, but Hermione yelled, "No!" grabbing Harry's wand hand and forcing it up just as a nasty curse shot from it. Harry roared in frustration and pushed Hermione to the floor, taking aim at Snape again who continued to stand there. His wand was in his hand, but the only thing he aimed at Harry was a fierce glare.
His lack of defense made Harry pause.
"Are you alright, Miss Granger?" Snape asked into the pause, though he never looked away from Harry.
"Yes," she said, getting up and turning to her still furious, though now equally confused, friend.
"Harry, please, please think about this," she begged. "He's not the bad guy. You-Know-Who is. The Carrows are. He's our man. He's the one who's been keeping us alive all these years. Killing him will only set us back, set the entire war back, because then there would be nothing and no one between Snake Face and... and the world. He's not going to just hand you over to You-Know-Who now, not after all this."
Harry kept his wand aimed at Snape. "What do you mean he was already dying?" he asked, ignoring Hermione.
Snape leaned back against the wall. "The ring was cursed. I was able to trap the curse in his hand, but it was powerful and would have overtaken him within one or two months. Surely you noticed his growing fatigue?"
Harry blushed slightly, and Hermione guessed he hadn't. Not that she had, either.
"But you hated him! I saw it on your face!"
Snape broke the staring contest and looked over at the portrait. "I did hate him. I hated what he was forcing me to do. I hated his fatalism, and his oh-so-fucking-clever plotting. I hated that I had to kill the only man who trusted me with his life. I hated that he thought he needed to beg for me to uphold my promise to murder him."
Snape looked back at Harry, his eyes burning. "Yes, I hated him, Potter. I hated him with my entire being for manipulating me, you and the entire wizarding world into and through a war he could have prevented had he been a little less noble. And quite frankly, I still hate him for that."
"If you hated him so much, why should I trust that you were loyal to him?"
"Harry, you've seen Snape duel. You've dueled him yourself. Do you really think you would still be armed if he weren't on our side?"
"He could just be playing for time! He could have summoned Vold--"
"Stop!" Hermione cried, though it wasn't needed. Harry shut his mouth before he could finish the word.
"While I appreciate your belated prudence," Snape drawled, looking mildly amused, "it wouldn't have mattered much had you said his name here in the castle. Longbottom and his gang make liberal use of it just to tease the Snatchers.
"As for your accusation, I leave it to you to decide, based upon what you have observed, whether that is the case or not. But since you never have been particularly observant, I will deign to point you in the direction of your friend. Does she look abused? Starving? Cowed? Is she armed? Imperiused? Does she seem her rational self or have I cast a powerful Confundus on her?
Hermione sighed as she saw Harry look at her and grab onto the darker possibilities. "You aren't helping yourself, you know," she said to Snape. She looked back at Harry and pursed her lips in impatience at his slow and thorough appraisal. He had the grace to quirk his lips in apology, before he frowned again.
"You've been crying. Why have you been crying?"
Hermione's lip trembled for a moment, but she swallowed the emotion. "Harry... Ron's dying. He's not going to last much longer."
She saw hatred harden Harry's face, and, for an instant, she was afraid Harry was actually going to attack Snape. But then the fury went out, and Harry slumped, dropping his arm. He looked hollow, which scared her even more.
"It was my fault," Harry whispered. "I killed him."
"Oh, Harry." Hermione gathered him into her arms and held him.
Snape took that moment to say, "As I recall, it was Bellatrix who threw the knife, Potter."
Harry broke the embrace to throw a glare at Snape. "But I put him there!" he yelled. He slumped again as he added much more quietly, "And I left him there."
"And had you not left him, he would have died that night in excruciating pain."
Harry continued glaring.
Snape sighed in exasperation. "Potter, I saw your exit from Malfoy Manor. Weasley is dying because he chose to protect you. If I could save him, I would, but I can't. All I can do is make sure he remains reasonably comfortable. What you need to do is not let his sacrifice go to waste."
They glared at each other until Hermione lost patience at the posturing, and touched Harry's arm. "Do you want to see Ron? I don't know if he can hear, but I bet it would ease his spirit to know you're safe."
Harry gulped audibly, but nodded. "Yeah."
Hermione started leading Harry into the bedroom, but he stopped and pointed his wand at Snape, and motioned for him to lead. "If you would, sir, I'd like you to stay where I can see you."
Hermione opened her mouth to berate Harry for his pig-headed rudeness, but Snape retorted first. "It's good to see you growing some semblance of sense."
Hermione rolled her eyes and tugged Harry into the room, letting Snape follow them in, much to Harry's displeasure. However, the moment Harry saw Ron, he forgot about Snape.
Letting out a low moan, Harry stumbled to the bed, dropping down onto his knees as he neared the bed. He stayed there, almost motionless, as he watched Ron breathe. Hermione could feel the disturbed magic pouring off of him and moved to pull him away from Ron when Snape grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.
"It won't hurt Weasley, but it will help Potter," he said very quietly. "In fact, I think it would be best if we leave him to... leave them alone."
She glanced nervously at her friends, but didn't resist Snape when he guided her out of the room with his hand on her back. Hermione went sightlessly to her chair and sat, not even thinking of the book within her grasp. She distantly noticed Snape was similarly unengaged, but neither said anything as they waited for Harry to re-emerge.
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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??