Nine

Severus stiffened for a moment before his arms closed around her. Despite his dishevelled appearance, he smelled of something fresh and lemony – and something that was genuinely him. Hermione breathed in deeply and snuggled a bit closer into his woollen robes. They stood like that for a while before Severus let go and took a step back. Once again, there where two pink spots on his cheeks.

'Er,' said Hermione.

Recovering quickly, she added, 'What did the Bloody Baron say? And why did you need to talk to him?'

'I haven't found him.' Severus sounded tired. 'I didn't even make it to the dungeons. The sodding castle kept leading me elsewhere.'

'You've been wandering around the school all this time?'

Severus nodded. 'Yes. I know a couple of passages through it that very few people do. Or thought I did.'

Meanwhile, Blinky had vanished. Hermione realised where she had gone when two steaming mugs of hot chocolate materialised on her coffee table. Drawn by the enticing scent, she sat down on the sofa, Severus next to her.

'I thought something had happened or...,' she said, looking at her mug rather than at Severus.

'Or that I had gone?'

'Yes. No. I mean... I know that you couldn't because we're all trapped here, but... At least leave a bloody note next time!'

'I briefly considered Obliviating you back then...'

Hermione huffed.

'...and no, I couldn't have left a note.'

'Why not?'

Severus took a sip of chocolate and seemed to consider his answer. 'If I had, you would have left no stone unturned to find me, and knowing you and how resourceful you are, you would have managed. I couldn't risk that.'

She almost smiled at the compliment. 'Why? Why did you have to leave? I thought...' She checked herself in time before she said something foolish.

'Exactly. You were nineteen; you'd barely stopped being my student, and you'd just been through a war. And I had some things to sort out, too. It would have never worked.'

'It wasn't your decision to make,' Hermione said. 'Not for the both of us.'

Severus looked thoughtful. 'Maybe not. But at the time, I did what I thought best.'

'Best for you, perhaps. Do you have any idea what it's like when someone simply vanishes one day, and you don't even know if they're dead or alive?' Hermione had got up and started pacing again. 'Hell, I even sent an owl to Lucius Malfoy to find out what happened.'

'I know. He told me.'

'How nice of him. All he told me was not to worry. Only that it took him a few more sentences.'

More pacing.

'Hermione.'

'What?'

'I am sorry.'

She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look at him. He did look genuinely apologetic, and there was a hint of something else in his expression. Something that looked almost like fear.

Hermione sighed.

'It was a long time ago,' she said and sat down next to him again. There was a palpable look of relief on his face.

Had she let him off too easily? She glanced at him again, took in the lines around his mouth, his prominent nose – which rather suited him –, the lines around his eyes and finally his eyes. He looked equal parts tired and worried. Plus, the look of relief was still lingering. Perhaps, "sorry" was enough – at least for now.

'Why did you come to me in your raven form? Was that merely a coincidence?' she asked.

Severus shook his head. 'No. I'd been back for a while and had meant to call on you anyway, but I wasn't sure whether I'd be welcome.'

'What changed your mind?'

'One of Lucius' books. I'd been staying at the manor and came across a volume of, not quite prophecies, more prognostications – auguries, if you will – and gathered that something might be afoot at Hogwarts. I had planned on alerting you to a possible danger, but wanted to confirm that what I'd read indeed concerned the school.

'I went to Hogwarts to investigate; as a raven so as to remain undetected. However, I'd barely entered the school grounds when I realised that I was trapped in my Animagus form and that my magical powers were waning. I decided to find shelter somewhere and remembered that I'd looked up your address. You know the rest.'

It took Hermione a moment to digest that information. 'And then you turned up at Hogwarts.'

'Yes, I had hoped to find a way to regain my human form by that time, but didn't. So I assumed Hogwarts was my best option; at least, I'd be able to watch what was happening.' Severus seemed to find the remnants of the chocolate in his mug very interesting.

'Thank you for keeping an eye on me.' Hermione sidled a bit closer to him on the sofa and took his hand.

Severus didn't move away.

They sat in companionable silence, their hands linked until something Severus had said registered. 'Malfoy's book?' Hermione asked.

'Sorry?'

'Lucius Malfoy's book. Maybe we should look at it again, and I still want to know why you need to talk to the Bloody Baron.' She snapped her fingers, and Blinky appeared instantly.

Severus explained to the elf that they needed a book from the library at Malfoy Manor and hastily scribbled a note to Lucius. Blinky beamed at him and vanished only to reappear again almost immediately. She disappeared again and reappeared. And again.

Hermione watched the house-elf blinking in and out of vision with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Finally, Blinky gave up. She stood in the middle of the room, her ears drooping, looking utterly dejected. 'Elves can't leave the castle anymore,' she informed them.

'Fuck,' said Hermione.

'Bloody hell,' Severus added before he said, 'It's all right. Thank you, Blinky.'

After Blinky had left, Hermione remarked. 'It's getting worse. Now would be a really good time to tell me why you think we should talk to the Bloody Baron.'

Severus fished a thin and battered looking notebook out of his robes. He opened it and showed Hermione his notes.

'This is a paraphrase from Lucius' book, but since we don't have the original it will have to do.' A long finger pointed at the passage in question.

'Hm,' she said. 'What makes you think the Bloody Baron would be the knowledgeable and cunning spectral entity this is talking about? The Grey Lady is rather wise, too.'

'True,' Severus conceded, 'but I'd hardly call her cunning.'

'Because only Slytherins can be cunning?' Hermione quipped.

'Not necessarily, but in this case, the Baron is definitely the most crafty of the ghosts, and he knows more about Hogwarts than any other living – or undead – being around. Plus, you noticed that he seemed to be acting oddly.'

'Good point. Let's find him tomorrow after lunch, then. Can't do it earlier because I've got to teach in the morning.' Hermione yawned.

'There's no need for you to come along,' Severus pointed out.

Hermione threw him a stern glare that was worthy of Minerva. 'Oh yes, there is. Together, our chances are much better should the castle decide to play labyrinth again.'

Severus looked mutinous, but seemed to know when it was pointless to argue with Hermione. He excused himself soon after, wishing her a good night.

*****

Hermione had half-expected Severus to attempt to find the Slytherin ghost on his own in the morning, but when she met him at lunch, it turned out that he had indeed waited for her. She ate her jacket potato with a smile on her face. After the meal, she briefly informed Minerva of their plans before she and Severus set off for the dungeons.

They made it to the lowest level without detour, much to their surprise. Both the Fat Friar and the Grey Lady crossed their path, but denied having any information about the Baron's whereabouts. Hermione had never been this far below the castle since the war. The sconces on the walls cast enough light so that they could see where they were going, and the air was surprisingly fresh, yet it felt eerie.

'What's down here?' she asked.

'Mostly storage rooms for food and those potions ingredients that need to be kept cool. And the old torture chambers, of course,' answered Severus, his face inscrutable.

'Of course.' Hermione wasn't entirely certain whether he was having her on.

They walked through what felt like endless corridors, past more storage rooms and then climbed upwards again into the Potions corridor...and then down once more to another series of rooms where they found the Bloody Baron lounging in front of a heavy wooden door. He threw a suspicious glance at Hermione, but bowed to Severus.

'I require your assistance.'

The ghost bowed again. 'At your service, Headmaster.'

Severus seemed to consider his question carefully. Hermione was watching him; despite the fact that he was wearing robes that were ten years old, despite the fact that he still looked tired, he appeared every bit as a Headmaster should: tall, authoritative and powerful.

'Can you throw any light on the school's current predicament?' Severus asked.

'Conflict, discord and imbalance create a disturbance. Harmony must be restored. The answer which you seek lies at the Heart of the Castle.' The Baron bowed once more before he disappeared through the dungeon's ceiling.

Hermione stared after him. 'The Heart of the Castle? What does that mean? Well, I suppose it's back to the library.'

'No.' Without further explanation, Severus started to march off.

'Wait.'

'What?'

'What was he on about?' Hermione had her feet firmly planted on the ground, and her glare would have intimidated the bravest of Gryffindors.

Severus, however, wasn't a Gryffindor; he merely raised an eyebrow. 'We won't find anything in the library in this case. The Heart of the Castle is one of the best kept secrets in Hogwarts' history. I do remember reading something along those lines in the Head's scrolls.'

'The Head's scrolls?' Hermione asked. 'Are those... ?'

'Yes, a series of papers exclusive to the Headmaster or 'mistress of the school,' Severus confirmed.

They had begun walking again and made it to the ground floor without incident. Two detours later, they stood in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmistress' office. Or was it the Headmaster's office, Hermione wondered when the gargoyle leapt aside at Severus' approach without requiring a password. They hurried up the revolving stairs to the doors that were already open.

Minerva sat behind her desk, seemingly unperturbed by their entrance, but Hermione noticed that her fingers were curled around her wand.

'Aha,' she said. 'I thought so.'

'Yes,' answered Severus before he continued, 'I need access to the scrolls.'

Minerva pointed to an inconspicuous brick in the wall above her desk. 'I had almost convinced myself that they were merely a legend since it won't open for me.'

'They're not a legend.' Severus performed a series of movement with his wand.

Nothing happened.

He frowned and tried again.

Nothing.

'Weird,' he muttered.

Hermione looked at him and at Minerva and then at Severus again, and she remembered something Blinky had said. 'The scrolls are only accessible to the current Head of Hogwarts, right?' she asked.

Both Minerva and Severus nodded.

'What if the castle considers you both Heads? Have you tried it together?'

There was a slight pause before Severus said, 'Minerva?'

Minerva came to stand at Severus' side. 'Ready when you are.'

They raised their wands and started to perform the spell, mirroring each other's moves. After what felt like hours, a small niche appeared. Severus retrieved a miniature chest from it. He put it on Minerva's desk. A tap from both wands, and Hermione, Minerva and Severus watched as the chest grew to almost thrice its size before the lid sprang open. Three scrolls of what looked like very ancient parchment nestled inside it. Minerva lifted them carefully out of the chest. At the bottom of it lay a big, and by the looks of it, very old, book. She took that out, too, before she and Severus started to unfold the scrolls. They bent over them whilst Hermione tried to see what was on them from the other side of the desk. They all came to the same conclusion at about the same time.

'Nothing. Just plans of the castle.' The deception was clearly audible in Minerva's voice.

Meanwhile, Severus had picked up the ancient volume and started to leaf through it. Hermione and Minerva waited whilst he went through the tome, a look of utmost concentration on his face. After what seemed like a small eternity, he finally appeared to find what he had been looking for. He turned the book so that Hermione and Minerva could see the passage at which he was pointing. 'This is what I remembered seeing.'

The passage described similar events to the incidents that they'd been witnessing over the last weeks, including the castle trapping everyone inside. 'Does it say what the reason could be?' Hermione asked.

'Yes, it seems there could be several.' Severus showed them the relevant chapters in the table of contents.

'Severus, we need to duplicate these so that we can all read them. Help me to disable the protective wards on the book,' Minerva said.

A few spells later, everyone had copies of the pertinent chapters in front of them, and they had just started reading when a horse Patronus clip-clopped into the room. It informed them in Michael's voice that there had been an incident in the fourth years' Defence lesson, that Poppy was on her way, but could the Headmistress please come down, too?

Minerva sighed. 'I'd better go and sort this out. Why don't you two continue here? The sooner we find a reason, and possibly a solution, for this the better.' She hurried out of the office.

'I hope no one is seriously injured,' said Hermione.

Severus looked up briefly from the page he was reading. 'Yes. Well, we'd better get on with it.'

They continued for some time before they compared notes. Every now and then, Hermione glanced at Severus. He was bent over the parchment, a look of utter concentration on his face. Despite the gravity of the situation, Hermione felt a warmth spread through her. Sitting here with him, doing research, felt perfect. In fact, she didn't think she'd ever been more comfortable with a reading partner.

'Well? What have you found?'

Hermione realised she'd been gazing at Severus and quickly turned her attention back to her notes. 'This chapter says there could be several reasons for the castle acting the way it does, like magical wars or a continued grave injustice; what it comes down to in all these cases is that the magical balance is off.'

Severus nodded. 'Apparently, there were similar incidents after Salazar Slytherin left the school, and then again shortly before the Statute of Secrecy was passed, as well as couple of minor incidents on various occasions. It says here that these things hurt the castle's very heart and may well break it.'

'It's odd that these events were never mentioned in Hogwarts: A History,' said Hermione.

'Not that odd. I suspect they've been kept out of historical records to hide the fact that the castle is vulnerable. Hogwarts is supposed to be an almost invincible place of security. It wouldn't do for possible enemies to find out about the castle's potential weaknesses, would it?' Severus started flicking through the book again. 'But why now? Ten years after the war?'

'I suppose it's an accumulation of magical imbalance that wasn't mended and the persistence of grave injustice,' came Minerva's voice from the doorway.

Both Severus and Hermione turned to look at her as she continued, 'There are the consequences of the war, and even though the castle was rebuilt, it wasn't healed entirely. As you both know, the Room of Requirement never turned up again. We're still not treating all the houses in entirely the same way, even though we try, and then there's the matter of the Headship.

'Yes, Severus. I know. As far as the castle is concerned, you're still the Headmaster of this school. And the accusations we all levelled against you have never been formally withdrawn.'

Severus nodded once in acknowledgment of Minerva's admission before he said, 'I don't want to be Headmaster; you're more than welcome to the job.'

'Nevertheless, you'd have to formally hand the duties over to me since you're alive and present at the castle.'

'So basically, transfer Headship to Minerva, finally begin to treat all the houses equally, restore magical balance so that the castle can heal. Piece of cake,' Hermione said.

'Yes, that about sums it up,' agreed Severus.

'How do we do it, and where do we start?'

'With the easiest thing: the Headship,' suggested Minerva. 'Hermione, would you mind being our witness?'

'I'd be honoured.'

Severus took Minerva's right hand. He said, 'You'll need your wand, Hermione.'

He showed her where to place the tip on their linked fingers, then he said, 'Formally and of my own free will, I pass on the duties as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and all the rights and privileges that come with it to you.'

A thin, golden light erupted from his fingertips and hovered over their hands. Minerva answered, 'Formally and of my own free will, I accept the duties as Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and all the rights and privileges that come with it.'

The golden light vanished into her fingertips.

Severus was about to let go of Minerva's hand, but she kept their fingers firmly linked and continued, 'Furthermore, I declare that Severus Snape has been a lawful and honourable Headmaster of Hogwarts. He has served the school in an exemplary manner and will one day take his rightful place among the portraits of his predecessors.'

It felt like the castle was breathing a sigh of relief, and somewhere in a hidden corner, preparations for a new portrait were begun. Hermione had watched Severus during the brief ceremony and seen the expression of happiness that flitted across his face at Minerva's declaration.

'That's that,' Minerva said. 'Knowing this castle, I suspect that restoring the magical balance will be a bit more complicated.'

'You'd be right about that.' Severus pushed the open book towards her.

Hermione craned her neck so that she could read the paragraph as well. "More complicated" summed it up nicely. There were a series of spells that needed to be performed by a balanced mixture of Hogwarts' staff. Once now, then again in three months' time and then once more exactly a year after the first set of spells had been cast. There were also requirements in terms of justice and balance between the houses so that eventually the castle's equilibrium could be restored.

'I suggest we take a few hours to prepare and then perform the spells. Eight people should do it and give us the required balance,' Minerva said.

'Severus, would you represent Slytherin? I think as a former headmaster you'd definitely qualify as a staff member. Not to mention that we will need your magical power for this.'

'It would be an honour,' he replied.

'Hermione, you and I can represent Gryffindor, Aurora as second Slytherin, Michael and Septima for Ravenclaw, and Wilhelmina and Rolanda for Hufflepuff. Yes, I think they would be the best choices. I'll inform them, and we'll meet in the Great Hall at dawn.' Minerva had duplicated the sheet with the list of spells as she was speaking and handed each of them a page.

*****

Severus and Hermione were silent as they climbed down the stairs to the teachers' quarters. When he turned to leave in the direction of his own rooms, she took his hand. 'Stay with me, please? I don't fancy being alone right now.'

'Some company might indeed be agreeable whilst we prepare,' he replied and walked back to her rooms with her.

They installed themselves on her sofa and started memorising the spell. 'It's a bit disappointing,' Hermione said.

'What is?'

'The Heart of Hogwarts. I had hoped for some secret hidden chamber where all its secrets are kept, not just a metaphor.'

Severus raised an eyebrow. 'There may not be a hidden chamber where you'll learn all about the castle's secrets, but I think it's more than a metaphor. I think the Heart of Hogwarts literally means its lifeforce. That which makes this school what it is and what keeps us all safe.'

'That makes sense. And we're all part of it.' Hermione sidled a bit closer to Severus. 'Has anyone ever told you that you're amazing?'

He started fiddling with the parchment in front of him and mumbled something unintelligible. Hermione used the occasion to curl up next to him. Severus didn't say anything, but she felt his arm settling around her shoulders.

After a while, she asked, 'Do you think that's why you couldn't tranform back? The magical imbalance rather than a curse?'

'Yes. The Headmaster's magic becomes connected to the castle, and since the castle's magic is out of balance it affected me too as soon as I came near it,' said Severus.

'So you should be all right with the spell? Now that your magic is no longer tied to the castle?'

Severus just nodded and pulled her a bit closer. They spent the hours until dawn cuddled up on the sofa, comfortable in each other's company.

*****

Shortly before dawn, Hermione and Severus made their way down to the Great Hall. Hermione thought there was an icy draught in the corridors, even colder than usual at this time of year, and the way seemed very long. She was glad when they reached their destination. Minerva, Wilhelmina and Michael were already waiting; everyone else arrived soon after.

They took their positions so that each witch or wizard stood at the corner of an octagon. They all raised their wands at the same time, and Minerva began the first incantation. A ray of golden light erupted from her wand, and Hermione could feel the tingling of magic as it passed round the circle. Severus followed with the second incantation, producing a strand of silvery white light from his wand, looking almost like the beginning of Patronus, but much more intense. Then one after another, the other six followed. Each spell released a strand of magic visible as a ray of coloured light, and each one sent a wave of magic around the circle.

The nine following spells were performed by everyone together. Again, Minerva began the incantation; everyone joined in, their wands raised and pointed towards the middle of the octagon. Hermione felt a thrill run down her spine as she heard the different voices chanting the same words together. Different coloured lights emerged from the wands in rapid succession: red, green, purple, blue – at some point Hermione lost count as she felt more and more waves of powerful magic swirling around them. The air seemed to vibrate, and she felt it passing through her body in waves of sensation: hot, cold, accelerating her heartbeat until it completely engulfed them and reached a crescendo with the last spell. Everybody remained standing still as the magic receded in slow waves.

Finally, the air in the Great Hall was quiet again. Minerva lowered her wand, and everyone followed suit. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, brilliant sunshine filled the enchanted ceiling, and one by one, the candles beneath it lit up. Outside, a creaking could be heard as the big oak doors of the castle opened.

'Think we did it.' Wilhelmina said.

'Yes. This is only the beginning, but we did it,' Minerva confirmed.

And then they were all hugging each other, laughing with relief.

Was it just her impression or did Severus' embrace last a bit longer than strictly necessary? Just for good measure, Hermione hugged him once again.

'I really need some fresh air after being cooped up inside for so long,' he said. 'Fancy a walk?'

Even though it was February, they didn't bother with cloaks and just cast a quick warming charm. The brilliant sunshine and fresh winter air was too tempting. They walked silently at a brisk pace down to the lake and followed the path that led around it. When they were halfway round it, they both stopped and looked back at the castle and then at each other.

Hermione felt her heart racing when she saw the expression in Severus' dark eyes.

They remained locked in each other's gaze until he pushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear and then trailed his finger down over her cheek and her lips before he lowered his head and placed a kiss on her mouth. His lips were cool and smooth. Hermione ran her tongue over his bottom lip in response. Severus gave a small sigh as he opened his mouth to her. His hand found its way to the nape of her neck, drawing her closer to him. Her own arms came up around his back, pulling him closer to her, while their mouths became very well acquainted with each other.

A/N: Many thanks to my wonderful beta Melusin and my equally wonderful alpha readers Chivalric, Gingertart and Karelia.