Chapter 6

A/N: Thanks to WriterMerrin and luvsev for their beta work on this chapter. Lily and Hermione are getting older although they are only fifteen. I have placed a Slash lite warning since these girls are still underage.

***

Hermione started her fourth year with no major upsets. She had kept her word to Snape that she would never reveal what had happened at Spinner's End. She did, though, make a pointed effort to have a sit-down with the Headmaster.

She sat across from Dumbledore, her foot shaking as her arms were crossed in front of her. She lit into the Headmaster, telling him about the attack and near rape by Snape's father.

"I was there alone with no one to help me. It was awful! Mrs. Snape accused me of terrible things while all Snape could do was think about how if I got hurt, Lily would never forgive him!"

The tears fell down her face, and she brushed them away angrily.

Dumbledore looked at her calmly. "Have you yet forgiven Severus for his poor choice of words?" he asked.

"No," she said petulantly. She looked up at the Headmaster defiantly. "I don't want to forgive him. He doesn't deserve it. All he cares about is Lily! Nothing matters as long as Lily still cares for him."

"Are you feeling a little envious of their friendship, Miss Granger?" he asked delicately.

"No," she said, more relaxed in her tone. "I don't begrudge them. The problem is that I was in real danger of being hurt very badly, and my rescue rested on what Lily Evans thought of me. I didn't matter. I'm not important enough to save. I could care less what Snape thinks of me; it's just I was at his mercy, and it was sorely lacking." Hermione looked down at her lap, feeling small and vulnerable.

Dumbledore was silent for a while and finally said, "I have a meeting this evening with Severus concerning his father. I'm sure some things will come up in our conversation." He gave Hermione a warm smile and then directed them towards a happier topic. "I was very glad upon receiving the update from the Auror Department about the changes at Spinner's End. You went through a frightening and inexcusable ordeal, Miss Granger. However, you seem to have made a world of difference for Severus and his mother. I'm sure neither one shall ever forget your kindness and sympathy."

Hermione gave a weak smile and got up to leave.

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore called softly.

Hermione turned to face him. His arms were spread open, and he had a very sorrowful look on his face. Hermione burst into tears and flung herself at him, crying her heart out.

"I was so scared!" she cried. "I was so afraid and alone!"

"I know, child," he whispered as he held her shaking body. "I promise, I will never let you be so vulnerable again without a way of escape. It's my fault. I wanted so badly for Severus to be saved that I was blinded by it. I didn't think of your safety, and I was wrong."

Hermione pulled herself away and wiped her eyes. "Thank you, Headmaster. I needed that."

Dumbledore smiled. "You are a very strong and brave witch, Miss Granger. You have lived through this and are adjusting to living in this timeline as well. You should feel proud of yourself. I know I am."

Hermione beamed.

***

I'm telling you, something is fishy about it!" Snape insisted for the umpteenth time.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Hermione, will you put that blasted book down and help me talk some sense into this boy?" she pleaded.

Hermione had been listening all along as Snape argued with Lily about his theory. He was positive something was going on with James Potter and his gang. Hermione kept her mouth closed. She just wanted to enjoy the outside. Hermione didn't know for certain, but she was rather inclined to believe Snape. The signs were obvious. However, she refrained from choosing sides.

"Look," she said diplomatically. "I don't want to get involved! You both have your viewpoints and are determined to stick with them. Anything I could add would be inconsequential. Besides, I just don't think it's anything we should be sticking our noses into!"

"You see, Severus?" Lily chided. "Even Hermione thinks you should stop speculating!"

"He is a werewolf, Lily, I just know it!" he insisted.

Lily rolled her eyes at Hermione. Hermione closed her eyes in disbelief. Even though she thought Snape was being a bit obsessive on the matter, she still couldn't understand Lily's blatant obtuseness. It was plain as day that Remus was a werewolf. However, it did concern her, remembering that the night she came here, Remus Lupin had been made the DADA Professor. Would Dumbledore knowingly hire a crazed werewolf?

"Hermione," Lily began importantly, "I think we should return to the common room. And Severus," she said stoically, "I think you had better let the matter drop." She put her arm into Hermione's and pulled her up the hill back into the castle. Hermione turned to look back at Snape. He was scowling and angry.

"Don't look back, Hermione!" Lily hissed. "He's got to learn to stop going on about things the way he does!"

Hermione went with her silently back into the common room. When they arrived, the Gryffindor girls of all ages were around, waiting, it seemed, for Lily to arrive. Lily had become the angel of Gryffindor. She had grown up a bit physically, becoming prettier by the day, it seemed. The girls all wanted to be her best friend, and the boys all wanted to date her. Lily, though, still only had room for two people in her heart: Hermione and Snape.

Hermione felt it was in that order as well. Hermione felt at times that Lily might have an attraction for her, which was confusing since she knew she was Harry's mum. Snape, on the other hand, was growing increasingly possessive of the red-haired, green-eyed beauty, and Hermione silently pleaded for him to slow it down. Lily was a bright thing, a butterfly that had to come and go as she pleased. Hermione understood this and let her do just that. And it pleased Lily to be adored. Hermione didn't resent her. She was a nice girl, never snubbed anyone who wanted to hang out with her, except when it came to boys.

As far as Hermione knew, James and the "Marauders" were still on Lily's shit list. It was becoming apparent as well that a confrontation was going to come to a head between James and Snape over Lily's affections. James could have any witch he wanted, but he wanted Lily. On the other hand, no one wanted Snape, and all he had was Lily. Hermione remembered the old parable from Sunday school about the rich man who took the poor man's lamb from him when he had acres full of his own. He had wanted that lamb because the poor man cherished it and loved it. The poor man was devastated when the rich man forced the poor man to hand over his beloved pet.

Hermione, of course, knew the ending. James would marry Lily, and Snape would be devastated. What concerned her was when. She couldn't interfere. They had to make their own choices, no matter how hurtful they would be.

Lily still adored Hermione, and they were still thick as thieves. They still at times slept in the same bed together when Lily asked, much to Hermione's confusion. Lily would rest her head on Hermione's chest and snuggle into her. Hermione thought they were getting to be a bit old for such things, but Lily needed this closeness, and she did not have the heart to refuse her. Hermione thought she was giving herself the same excuses as Lily did every day about Snape's neediness.

***

One evening, Lily and Hermione sat in Lily's bed, feasting on goodies sent from the Evans' earlier that week. To Hermione's delight, an owl arrived and surprised her with her very own care package. She saw the note attached from Mrs. Snape. It was a delicious mincemeat pie.

"Who's that from?" Lily asked curiously.

"From Mrs. Snape," Hermione answered happily.

"Oh," Lily said strangely. "I've never met her. Severus has never let me come to his house. What's it like?"

Hermione was uncomfortable. "Well, you should ask Snape, Lily. I made a promise not to tell anyone."

"I'm not just anyone, Hermione!" she cried out.

"I know, Lily," Hermione said lovingly. "Still, I promised."

Lily snuggled close to Hermione. "You know you've gotten prettier since last year, Hermione," she said softly.

Hermione blushed. She knew she had developed a bit over the summer. She still wasn't as blessed as Lily; however, she had enough to be proud of.

Lily nudged closer to Hermione, and she whispered things in her ear that Hermione had never thought of before. Lily was so open and free, Hermione had to admit it to herself that she found Lily's knowledge appealing. Hermione went along and learned new things about herself she had never thought of before.

Afterwards, they sat on Hermione's bed, drinking butterbeer and talking about boys.

"Your body is beautiful, Hermione," Lily whispered. "So, when will you let Remus touch you?" she asked saucily.

Hermione nearly choked on her butterbeer. "I don't think so, Lily!" she said.

"Hermione, would you like to touch me? I need practice," she said, blushing.

"I don't know, Lily. Don't you want to wait for Snape?" she asked.

"I don't want to get freaked out. It'll scare him, and he'll think it's his fault. I trust you, Hermione, practice with me. I'll teach you," she replied. "I don't want to be ignorant, Hermione."

"What makes you think Snape will even notice? Do you think he's doing the same thing in his dorm room with some boy?" Hermione retorted.

Lily laughed. "Eww! I can't imagine boys kissing and fooling around. Especially the ugly guys in Slytherin!" She shuddered.

Hermione giggled. True, the thought of Snape kissing Avery or Mulciber was a bit frightening!

Lily's eyes grew soft. "I'm going to let Severus touch me this year. I've decided...for Valentine's Day. I think he should be the first...boy, I mean. I think he deserves to be. He's always been so good to me," she said shyly.

Hermione spent a very erotic evening in Lily's bed. Lily was very amorous and taught her many things about her body. She said she saw women while she in Paris over the summer kissing and holding hands. She said she figured that was how to practice with boys so they wouldn't be stupid when the time came.

***

Lily awakened Hermione in the middle of the night.

"W... what?" Hermione said, disoriented.

"Hermione," she whispered. "This won't change us, will it? You and I are always going to be best friends, right?" she said anxiously.

Hermione sat up. "Lily, I think you may have to clarify this situation," she said. "I mean, what do you mean when you say 'best friends?'"

Lily snuggled back down next to Hermione. "It means that you and I will always be there for each other, even when we are married and have babies. We shall always be friends, and our kids will be friends. I figure I will have to marry Severus. After all, I've known him the longest, and he is so in love with me."

Hermione frowned and tilted Lily's face to look at hers. "Lily, you should marry the boy you love. Do you love Snape?" she asked.

Lily giggled. "Of course I do!"

"No," Hermione urged. "I mean are you in love with him?" she asked.

Lily's green eyes shone brightly in the moonlight. "I should be in love with him, shouldn't I? We have known each other for so long, and I know he loves me. But I just don't have those urges to be his girlfriend. However, I have to make sure. That's why I'm going to let him touch me. I need to know if there is a connection or spark between us."

Lily looked so downcast. "Promise me, Hermione, that you'll be here for me if it doesn't work out. I think I'll be so embarrassed and Severus probably won't want me to be his friend anymore if I tell him I don't feel anything for him like that."

"I promise, Lily," Hermione whispered. "But you have so much time before settling on a bloke. Take your time, Lily. What you feel today may not be what you feel in a year or two." Lord knows, I should know that lesson! I feel I've aged fifty years since coming to this life!

"Okay, Hermione." Lily answered. "I will."

***

The fall passed into winter, and the fighting between James and Snape grew worse and worse. It was not uncommon for Snape to stay overnight in the infirmary. Hermione, being the one no one really paid much attention to, was able to see what was happening from an objective point of view. She saw how James and Sirius ganged up on Snape, with Peter egging them on and Remus trying to pretend nothing was happening. It was becoming a vicious war between them.

One day, during Potions class, Sirius hit Snape with an Engorgement Charm right in the crotch. Of course, Lily was his lab partner, and it had been so hilarious for all the Gryffindors to watch the look on Lily's face as the tenting in his robes grew. Snape turned about five shades of red before running out of class. The next day, Sirius Black was placed under a Freezing Charm and had his privates shrunken down with a Shrinking Solution.

On the other hand, Hermione and Mary MacDonald, another Muggle-born Gryffindor witch, were being targeted daily by Snape' housemates. Mulciber and Avery were the most vicious, but they had some sense of self-preservation to leave Lily out of the worst of it. It seemed foes and friends alike respected Severus Snape's magical abilities.

Hermione realized that no one knew for sure if she were a Muggle-born or not since the story had spread that she had been found in an orphanage before coming to Hogwarts. Nonetheless, it didn't matter to the Slytherins. The fact she was an orphan proved she did not have the proper pedigree that a pure-blood should possess. There were mysterious jinxes that were thrown her way, tripping her or causing her to drop her books or finding certain belongings disappear under her very nose. She put a stop to most of it when she found a way to place a 12-hour Shield Charm around herself as a means of protection.

Hermione was not stupid. She knew that the Slytherins hated she was making such brilliant grades. In fact, Snape, Lily and Hermione were the three brightest students in their year. It galled the pure-bloods to no end that two Mudbloods should be doing so well. There could be only one excuse: Lily and Hermione must be letting Snape lay some serious wand to them for the grades they received. When Hermione first heard the rumor, she was incensed. She had endured Draco Malfoy's taunts during her second year, but she was older now, and the stakes were higher and far more dangerous.

Since Lily had the protection of Snape, she never experienced the cruelty of Slytherins first-hand. However, Hermione and Mary MacDonald suffered, and they suffered greatly.

One evening just before the Christmas hols, Mary came into Gryffindor tower with a black eye. She tried hiding it with a poor make-up charm. Charms weren't Mary's best subject, so Hermione spotted it before the others. She carefully took the girl off to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and demanded to know what had happened.

"Nothing, really," she muttered unconvincingly.

Hermione pursed her lips. She looked hard at Mary. She was a slight girl, not very tall and almost frail looking. Many girls called her "mousy," and it was common knowledge that little Peter Pettigrew had his heart set on her.

Mary never really knew how to deal with the Slytherin bullying, not like how Hermione did. After Snape's father tried to rape her, her magic and her ability to stand up to bullies had grown ten-fold. The Slytherins knew that if they wanted to mess with Hermione, they had better be prepared for a fight. More than one ill-mannered Slytherin had walked away from her beaten and bleeding. Dumbledore knew what was happening outside Hogwarts. He knew what the pure-blood families were up to with Lord Voldemort. It was seeping into the castle and the children were drawing the bloodlines amongst themselves. It was becoming a volatile time to be growing up. Mary didn't have the magical abilities that Hermione possessed and had been neglected by her fellow Gryffindors. She had truly been alone until Hermione decided to help her.

"Mary," Hermione said firmly. "You promised me that you wouldn't keep secrets from me. What did they do to you?"

"It was nothing," she said uncomfortably. "They just were being silly, wanting to have fun."

"What kind of 'fun,' Mary?" Hermione pressed.

"Mulciber and Rosier cornered me in the library with a Notice-Me-Not Spell and made me kiss Regulus Black," she said while trembling.

"How did you get your black eye?" Hermione said angrily.

"They wanted me to do more to him than kiss him on the lips," she whispered. She began to cry. "I couldn't stop myself; I think they put a curse on me!" Her sobs grew stronger. "I tried to resist, and Mulciber hit me. That's how I got the black eye. They told me I was a filthy Mudblood and that was all I was good for." She collapsed into Hermione's arms and sobbed. Hermione was furious. This was getting out of hand. How were these boys able to cast Unforgivables without attracting the attention of the Ministry?

"Mary," she asked. "Did they make you do it?"

She shook her head.

"How did you get away?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"It was Snape. He said that they'd had their fun, but they had to be careful lest Dumbledore get too angry. He got me out of there, and I j-just ran. They were arguing." She sniffled, and Hermione handed her a handkerchief.

"Had Snape been there the whole time?" she asked.

"Yes, but I don't think he liked what they were doing. I mean, he wasn't laughing like the others were. But, you know how strange he is; no one can really know what's going on in his head. His face never shows any emotion," she said scornfully.

Hermione patted her on the back. She knew better. The truth was that Snape was very capable of displaying emotions; it was just he had to be so careful. Just like his blood status, Severus Snape lived in two worlds. He was going to have to choose someday, but unfortunately, Hermione had a feeling she knew what that choice would be.

Hermione healed Mary's eye and got her back to Gryffindor tower safely. She then walked back out again and headed straight for the dungeons. She'd had enough. Something had to change. She couldn't continue living this way, and neither could Mary. Maybe she wouldn't be able to change the world from hating her, but at least she could stop being terrorized while in school. Someone had to stand up to these bastards.