Part II: Waiting for you: Chapter 18

Part II: Waiting For You

Chapter 18

Several years had passed, and Severus had taken up the position of Potions master at Hogwarts. He sat in the dungeons and worried. Voldemort had found out about the prophecy several weeks before. Lucius Malfoy, of all people, had been the one to overhear it and had quickly reported it to the Dark Lord. Things were turning out much the way Hermione had described them. Voldemort had decided that Lily was the bearer of the boy in the prophecy. Severus had tried to sway his opinion, stating that such prophecies were ridiculous and couldn't be trusted, but the Dark Lord had put his trust in the words of a batty Seer. There was nothing to be done.

Dumbledore had once again set up wards and made the Potter household unplottable, but Severus knew that it was just a matter of time before they were to be betrayed. He wished he could speak of what he knew of the future with Dumbledore, but he had given his word to Hermione never to speak of what she had told him to anyone, no matter what the circumstances. It seemed he was in this alone. He wondered who the traitor was. Hermione had never said. She hadn't even told him exactly when the accursed murders happened either. He was working at a great disadvantage. Perhaps if he kept his eyes and ears open he could find out who the traitor was. He was determined to do all he could to prevent Lily from being killed. He no longer loved her, but he treasured the friendship they had had in his youth.

oooOOOooo

Severus sat in the Leaky Cauldron staring at the woman across from him. He wondered what had possessed him to invite her here for drinks in the first place. She was pretty enough and had a pleasant disposition, but with every word that came out of her mouth, the differences between Hermione and this woman were becoming more evident. He listened to the woman chatter. Her name was Toni Miller. She was from America and had taken on the Defense teacher position this year. She and Severus had formed a decent friendship, and after almost the entire year, Severus had taken a chance and asked her out. He figured if it didn't go well she would probably be gone in a few months anyway, as the DADA position was cursed. Now he was just asking himself why he had not seen how incompatible they really were before he had asked her out.

"So, John Taylor took his wand and turned Silas Anderson's head into a cockroach's!" Toni cried.

Severus smiled at her. Perhaps he was expecting too much. They were friends, but why should he expect sparks on their first date? He watched her as she downed the rest of her butterbeer.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked.

She looked at him oddly. They had only been here twenty minutes.

"Well, if you're ready to go," she said hesitantly.

"I thought we could enjoy the walk back to Hogwarts. There's hardly a moon, and the stars should be quite beautiful."

Toni smiled at him. "That sounds lovely."

They rose and left the bar. Heading out of town, they soon were on the dark path that connected the village to the school. Toni grabbed his hand as they walked. Severus had a hard time not pulling it away from her, but he eventually relaxed. After they had gotten away from the lights of Hogsmeade, they stopped and looked up into the sky.

The stars were magnificent. There seemed to be thousands of them. He could even see the edge of the Milky Way, making a thin cloud of stars streaking along the sky. Severus heard Toni gasp beside him and wished he were here with Hermione instead. He could just picture her face turned up in wonderment as she gazed upon the beautiful sky, basking in its loveliness. Hermione found beauty in everything and fully immersed herself in it when she did. Who was he kidding? He should have never tried to date when his feelings for Hermione were still so raw within him. Sighing, he turned to Toni.

"Toni, I need to offer you an apology."

Toni looked back at him in puzzlement.

"I consider you a good friend and like you quite well. I asked you out because I thought that perhaps we could be a little more to each other than we are already."

Toni smiled at him as he explained himself.

"I'm sorry. This just isn't working out," he told her finally, not sure how else to say it.

Toni frowned. "What is it, Severus? Did I talk too much?"

Severus' eyebrows furrowed, and he heaved a great sigh. "No, Toni, it's not that at all. It's just that I thought I was over my last relationship. Unfortunately, this evening has proven me completely wrong."

"Is that where you've been all night? Thinking of some other girl?"

Severus looked down at the ground in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," he told her. "I really thought it would be different, but I find I cannot get my mind off of her. Just being with another woman brings her right back to the forefront of my mind."

Toni smiled at him. "Well, she must be something special then. Perhaps you should go after her."

"I would if I could," Severus sighed.

"Why can't you?" Toni asked.

"It's a long story."

Toni looked at him with interest. "I have all evening. Severus, I was happy when you asked me out, but I'm your friend first. It's okay that things didn't work out. I still hope we can be friends. You can tell me what happened with your girlfriend if you'd like."

Severus gave her a smirk. "Now wouldn't that be romantic?"

Toni laughed. "It's okay, Severus. I wasn't feeling anything either. I suppose we work better as friends than as a couple."

Severus sighed. "You're being incredibly understanding about all of this."

Toni shrugged and smiled at him.

"She's gone away," Severus said finally. "I don't even know how to get a hold of her. I know she'll come back eventually, but it won't be for a long time. Years in fact."

"Does she still love you?"

"Yes, I believe she does."

"Wow, that's really romantic. I hope things work out for you."

Severus rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry. This has been a total disaster."

"No, it hasn't. I had a good time, despite the fact that we've decided not to pursue a relationship."

"You're quite understanding, Toni." Severus said as they continued down the road and back to Hogwarts.

"Mmm, perhaps you can find someone who would appreciate that quality in me since you're already taken."

Severus smiled at that.

oooOOOooo

Severus sat in Dumbledore's office looking deathly grim. He finally leaned forward and put his head in his hands. Everything he had tried had failed. He had not uncovered Voldemort's mole until it was too late. Sirius Black had deceived James Potter and divulged his family's location to Voldemort. Voldemort had told no one of his plan and had struck before Severus even had an inkling of what was happening. Lily and James Potter were dead once again, and the young baby, Harry, was now an orphan. Everything had come crashing down upon him, as he suspected it had in the past. He felt Dumbledore's hand on his shoulder.

"Voldemort is not dead," Albus said. "The baby is in danger. Voldemort will return. I need you to protect Harry from him."

Severus just nodded, keeping his head in his hands. Some things just couldn't be changed, he assumed.

"What has happened to the boy?" Severus asked grimly.

"He has been taken to his relative's home. Through Lily's sacrifice there are protections over the house. He will be safe there as he grows and learns."

Severus looked at Albus in horror. "You don't mean to tell me you left him with the Dursleys?"

"You know them?" Albus asked with interest.

"I know the woman, Petunia. She is Lily's sister. She is a horrid woman. I am sure her husband would be much the same. How could you do that, Albus? He will have a horrible upbringing."

"They are all he has. The protections on their household are real. It is the safest place for him until he is old enough to come to Hogwarts."

"What if I were to raise him?" Severus asked.

"No, that will not do at all. He is better off with his own blood. Besides, even you might not be able to protect him as well as that household unknowingly will. You will leave them alone and let him grow at his own pace."

Severus looked at Albus in anger. It was typical of the old man to make decisions that would influence someone for the rest of his or her life, especially detrimental decisions. However, Severus knew further argument was useless. Once Albus had made up his mind, nothing would change it. Of course, the Headmaster could not deny him one simple visit, could he?

"I am going to have a chat with Petunia," Severus said tersely.

"Severus, I said you were to leave them alone."

"I will not go near the boy," Severus cried in exasperation. "I will just speak with Petunia, just this once."

Albus gave him a knowing look. "Alright, but don't scare her! She needs to keep Harry. She has agreed to watch out for him, but if you anger her, everything will fall apart."

Severus nodded his head to Albus as he rose. "I will not endanger the baby's position within the household," Severus said solemnly. He furrowed his eyes at Dumbledore. "I hope you know what you're doing, Albus," he said finally before exiting the Headmaster's office.

A/N: Next up: Severus threatens Petunia

I think some of you may have thought that we would wind up going straight to when Hermione reappears in the future. We won't. We'll follow Severus through time and see what changes have occurred because of Hermione's trip into the past. There's just too much going on to deal with it in flashback mode. Enjoy the ride.