eighteen ~ twenty-two
Chapter 5 of 13
Ladymage SamikoSnape pushes, Hermione evades, and Snape pushes harder...
The silence lengthened as she stared, floored by this unprecedented praise. You did well, Miss Granger. The ridiculous idea that maybe she'd picked up a doppelgänger passed through her mind. But that was absurd.
"I'll go into town - into Aberdeen - today," she said abruptly, standing to clear away the plates. "We need real food and you need Muggle clothes. I've only Ron's and Harry's sizes - too small for you. I've the robes only as an emergency catch-all. Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"No."
Damn. She wished his face were as easily read as the boys'.
~ ~ ~
Snape found himself - unsettled - by her unusual evasiveness. This wasn't like the girl at all. The prattling was normal enough, but not her avoidance of the topic at hand. She had a tendency to almost painful frankness. What had ocurred during his isolation?
"I'll send Bubo off to Harry tonight," she continued. "Keep them from sending search parties after me - us. I needn't mention you if you don't want me to. I can't send him now, you know. Daytime owls are a dead giveaway."
"Why am I here, Miss Granger?" he questioned abruptly. "What - or whom - are you hiding from?"
~ ~ ~
What - or whom - are you hiding from?
Ice ran up and down her spine at the question and her words stopped. Hermione forced her hands to keep moving, keep sponging soap onto the plate she held.
"You need to recover," she said, relieved that her voice was steady. "And you don't seem to want anyone else to know that you're still alive. I'm trying to respect that. You're quite welcome to leave if you like. I'll drive you into Aberdeen at any time and you can go from there - magically or mundanely. There are no prisoners in my home, Professor."
~ ~ ~
Did she know how much she revealed? There are no prisoners in my home, Professor.
"Don't you think that appellation somewhat obscene at this point in time, Miss Granger?"
"What would you prefer?" She still wouldn't turn around. "Mister? Snape? Severus? Dead Man Walking?"
He shrugged, ignoring that she couldn't see him, and stood. Crossing the small kitchen, he loomed over her, uncomfortably close. He heard the small hitch in her breathing.
"That won't work, Professor," she said evenly. "There are worse things in this world than you."
"Are you certain?" He closed the last distance, pressing flush against her.
~ ~ ~
Her reaction was immediate and violent. She fled, oblivious to Snape sprawled, nose streaming blood, gasping as his neck flamed with pain. She didn't hear her familiars' hissing as she slammed her bedroom door, mindlessly barricading it shut.
She found herself curled in a corner when her mind cleared. She knew - knew - that Snape wouldn't really... But she'd no idea how far he'd go to prove his point. And then...
She raised her jumper, tracing the thick rope of the scar that jagged its way below her waistband. And fought, not to stop crying, but to keep from being heard.
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Latest 25 Reviews for And Ye Shall Find
162 Reviews | 7.02/10 Average
Hmm, fascinating. I've just finished reading all 100 of your stories. Very enjoyable. Life is a bit traumatic and the quick short drabbles were perfect for most days. I was surprised to end with this one and see it unfinished. Would love to see the rest of it. THANKS for writing all of them!
I'd love to see this continued too! Such a bittersweet and compeling tale. I'm anxious to see how they become unlost!
looking forward to reading more.
Any hope of this being finished? I am just rereading this, and I love it. Please let me know!
Response from Ladymage Samiko (Author of And Ye Shall Find)
With any luck, yes. It's on my list of things to do, which has gotten a bit stalled due to RL. It may take a while, but I _do_ want to finish.
beautifully done! thanks
Have the gypsys come for Severus?
I agree with Hermione that going back to her muggle roots is the place to go. Clearly she could use some mental health assistance as well. PTSD is no laughing matter.
Dumbledore, she realized, had avoided Crookshanks. Amen to that! 
I like the way your HG took the hint and left with out any overt pouting.
This is awesome - can;t wait for more, I am totally engrossed.
The first other people to impinge on their mutual lostness - very, very interesting.
Yay! I love this story and I'm so glad to see an update.
Both of them searching, and both of them lost. Wonder what their new aquaintances will do for them? Great chapter. :D
Oh I love the old lady 'intruders' telling Severus and Hermione they were lost! I can't wait to see what these old gals suggest!
Thank you for such a deep, emotional portrait of both characters. I love your writing, not only in this case but in your other stories.
I've read this last year, way before finding the gut to begin to review, and it still is a favourite.
I hope you'll find it in yourself to give it a continuation 
*off to check whether I DID mark it as a favourite - I've never really paid much attention to how they work :)*
Wow - great take on Dumbledore's motives here. I totally agree. Thank you very much for posting this, Cat
Hmmm...Dumbledore was distinctly Machiavellian, wasn't he... >.<
another wonderful chapter exploring lots of rich emotional territory. i loved your description of snape's journey to Nowhere - very poetic. i feel sad for hermione. i look forward to whatever happens next in this beautiful story you are weaving.
Poor Hermione. She is really lost. As is Severus. I hope they can find themselves soon. They're both too intelligent to be wasting away as they are.
Lots of momentous decisions.
I wouldn't be surprised if it never dawned on Severus as to why she was so upset with his leaving. It wasn't that she was caring for him so much, it was that he was caring for her and her alone. She finally had someone whose priority was her and not someone else. He was her support and he left her. I think it will be quite some time before Hermione can really face that.
they had to come apart so they could come together. thanks so much and i look forward to the next installment.
Anonymous
What an interesting turn of events! Now what will the both of them do, and how on earth are they going to get back totgether? For I simply can't believe that you're letting them out if it, now, will you? ;o)
He will be back. I'm sure.
Anonymous
Well done, very well done!