Chapter 9

A/N: Again, my thanks to luvsev and WriterMerrin for all their hard work!

***

Summer was arriving, and Dumbledore had a decision to make. Where was Hermione Granger going to stay for the summer? Staying with the Evanses was fine; however, there still was the issue of the three weeks in July when the family went on holiday. According to the Auror Department, Mr. Snape had been put in jail for assault and battery on his wife and son. It had been one of so many reports that the police finally had enough of Tobias Snape. He was serving a five-year prison sentence for battery and child abuse. At least, for the rest of Hermione and Severus' school years, there would be no Tobias Snape to darken their days.

When Dumbledore asked Hermione about keeping the same holiday schedule as last year, Hermione said she was fine with the arrangement. She had kept a correspondence with Mrs. Snape and was looking forward to seeing her. Eileen Snape loved her job at the Ministry, and it brought in just enough money to get by. It was still a hard life, but she was finally free of her abusive Muggle husband. She was her own person again.

When Lily and Hermione arrived at the Evanses, Hermione found things to be just as calm and happy as the home she had stayed in the summer before. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were delighted to have Hermione back and made her feel very welcome. There was only one fly in the ointment: Petunia.

Petunia had never hidden the fact that she hated Hermione. She was seventeen now and was dating a rather rotund and self-important young man named Vernon. She told her parents that first night Hermione and Lily were there that she had accepted an offer to go with Vernon and his family to Scotland for the summer. His family had a nice summer cottage there, and the hunting, fishing and riding were excellent. She was very cool about it all, and it seemed all settled. Hermione felt very uncomfortable as the family began to row.

"Petunia, you mean to say that your last year before you go off to University, you want to spend it away from us?" Mrs. Evans nearly shouted. "This is our last vacation as a family! I was really hoping that..."

"...Hoping what, Mum? Hoping that Lily and I would finally 'make nice' so you all can pretend we're one big happy family? No thanks. Besides, you've already got your replacement!" Petunia gave a scathing look in Hermione's direction.

"I say, Tuney, that's just not on!" shouted Lily. "Hermione has been nothing but nice to you!"

"I don't care!" she shrieked. "I'm sick to death of not being the 'good daughter!' It's not my fault that Lily is a witch and I'm not! I refuse to stay in this house another minute. I'm going to call Vernon and have his parents come round to collect me. I'm done with the lot of you!" She threw down her napkin and ran out of the dining room.

Hermione rubbed her forehead. Good Lord, what next? she thought.

After Mr. and Mrs. Evans went to go talk to Petunia, Lily sat down and began to cry. Hermione put her arm around her, and Lily flung herself into her arms.

"She's just a jealous, spiteful cow! She's always been jealous of anyone who has meant anything to me! First Severus and now you! Well, Hermione, if you want to come with us to the Continent, you can! No Spinner's End for you!" she said happily.

"Thanks, Lily," Hermione said. "But I think Petunia may eventually change her mind. Besides, I really am looking forward to Spinner's End this year."

"Why?" Lily asked affronted.

"Well, I've been keeping up writing Snape's mum. She's done so well for herself now that her husband's in prison, and she's agreed to teach me some spells! You know what an opportunity it would be, seeing that neither of us have Wizarding parents...it's like a whole other world!"

"How do you think you and Severus will get on together?" she asked timidly.

Hermione sighed. "Oh, I suspect as we did last year, just without the drama. He has his little secret projects and whatnot. He likes his privacy. I expect I shan't see much of him, really. Believe me, Lily, we're only friends because of you!" She laughed.

Lily's face relaxed, and she finished her meal. The rowing continued upstairs, but Lily seemed not to mind so much anymore. Hermione ate what she could, but couldn't help wonder if what she said were true. Were she and Severus friends only for Lily's sake?

***

Lily was furious. For the last two weeks, Severus had not been seen or heard of. Hermione went down to see Mrs. Snape, and she welcomed the girl with open arms and let her in. The house was bright and cheery. Mrs. Snape also had a lovely pink in her cheeks that proved she was healthy and happy. She ushered the young witch into the kitchen, and to Hermione's great relief, it no longer contained the dreaded table where Severus' father had tried to rape her. She said nothing, but sat down graciously at the new table and watched Mrs. Snape prepare the tea.

"I'm so sorry for my son's lack of manners, Hermione. He has been very busy with work."

"Work?" Hermione parroted. She was shocked. Lily had said nothing about Severus taking a job.

"Oh, yes. He is living over with a very wealthy family named Malfoy. The father, Abraxus, is on the Board of Governors, but he is very sick. Something about Dragon Pox. Anyway, Severus is visiting at the Manor in Wiltshire. But, don't you worry! Severus promised he would be back in time to stay and visit with you in July!"

***

Hermione was very concerned about how Lily was going to take the news. After all, she was accustomed to a certain kind of treatment from Severus. If she knew he was staying with that Muggle-hater Lucius Malfoy, she would blow a gasket! Hermione was torn. What was she going to do? She decided to lie. Let Severus tell her the truth when he came back. Yes, that was what she would do.

Later that night, after everyone went to bed, Lily sat at her vanity, brushing her hair, deep in concentration.

"I just can't believe I won't see him for an entire month!" she pouted. "How could he do that without even telling me?"

"Well, you'll have to ask him that, Lily. Perhaps that wasn't his idea, you know. His mum is alone now, and she could use the money. You know how proud he is," Hermione reminded her.

Lily set her brush down and turned down her side of the bed. "Don't have to tell me twice," she muttered softly to herself. She was quiet for a while and said sadly, "I can't believe Tuney left the way she did." She turned around to face Hermione and stroked her face. "You're all I got left, Hermione. Promise me you won't abandon me, ever!"

Hermione hugged the redhead as she snuggled into her chest. "I can't promise that, Lily. Sometimes things happen and we have no choice in the matter. I could die tomorrow, and while I wouldn't be abandoning you, it may feel like it," she whispered. "It's all a matter of perception. I can promise you this, Lily; I will never deliberately hurt you. And if I ever do, I will make it up to you, somehow."

Lily reached up and kissed Hermione on the lips. "Please, Hermione, I need to be close to you," she whispered.

Hermione let Lily kiss her. Hermione had not expected more than a brief encounter with the redhead, but she found herself on the receiving end of Lily's newfound carnal talents.

She was puzzled. Hermione had been sure that these interludes with Lily were now over, now that she and Severus had experimented. Lily told her she wanted to know how another girl would react to what Severus did to her, so Hermione went ahead, but kept things reigned in a bit. She wasn't about to let Lily dictate the explorations of her budding sexuality.

In all honesty, Hermione rather liked the feelings Lily brought out in her. The memory of Mr. Snape, with his rough hands, beer breath and rough handling of her body made her want to experience something that would not bring those thoughts back. Lily's white skin and delicate touches were soothing and light. Hermione knew this was just a healthy exploration for the both of them. Lily's heart was with Severus.

The next month, Lily and Hermione spent their days together, talking, playing, kissing and having fun in the town. Hermione knew it was all short lived. Once Severus returned and Lily came back from France, it would all be over. August would find Lily and Severus alone at last, and Hermione was sure that by the end of the summer, Lily would no longer be a virgin even in the technical sense of the word.

Lily still teased her from time to time about Remus. "He's such a nice bloke!" she'd say. Hermione had to admit that she found herself thinking more and more about the man, Professor Lupin, than the boy, Remus. She thought of how competent and calm he was, helping Harry after that dementor attack. She thought of his mustache, sandy brown hair, and sedate eyes. She remembered the sound of his voice, how smooth and soothing it sounded. There was an attraction, but if she were really attracted, why could she not feel anything for the boy who would one day become that man? It puzzled her.

She began to fantasize it was Professor Lupin who was doing the things Lily did to her. That it was his tongue, his lips and his hands. She needed more though, she wanted to experience a man inside of her, taking her and possessing her. She was sure Lily felt the same and thought of Severus doing all the things Hermione did. They never spoke on it. Not once. Hermione often wondered how Lily could compartmentalize her feelings like that.

***

Severus came back from the Malfoys' with new black robes. He was rather striking. Unfortunately, he came the day the Evanses were leaving. A brief snog behind the garage was all they could do before Lily had to leave. She cried and cried while Snape looked as if his heart was being ripped in two.

"Please take care of him, Hermione!" whispered Lily.

"I will, we will both miss you!" Hermione replied sadly.

"Me too, love you, Hermione!" she called out as her parents began to back away.

"I love you, too!" answered Hermione as she waved goodbye.

Hermione and Severus waited until the car was out of sight. "Ready, Hermione?" he asked.

"Yes, Severus," she answered.

***

The days flew by, and they were truly lovely days. Hermione spent a great deal of time with Eileen. She asked Hermione when she came to stay to call her by her Christian name. Hermione was touched. She was eager to learn various household and cooking spells. Eileen said Hermione was a natural and praised her accomplishments. Sometimes, Severus would invite Hermione to the basement where he brewed and experimented.

"You know that besides Lily and me, you are the best at Potions in our class," he said out of the blue one day as she helped him chop some ingredients for a potion he was making.

"Whoever was your teacher before you came to Hogwarts must have been very good," he mused.

"What makes you say that, Severus? she asked. "Muggles don't have Potions classes."

"Well, I assume you took some sort of science course...the way you think before you act, the deliberation you use. The precise movement, that isn't normally something you are just born with; you are taught that. I noticed from the start, when you first came to Hogwarts. You have always been a fair hand with potions. So, whoever your teacher was, he or she was very good," he said.

"It was a 'he,'" Hermione said softly.

"What was his name?" Severus asked.

"Oh, Pierce. Mr. Pierce," Hermione thought quickly going back to her actual Muggle school days.

"What was he like?" Severus asked.

"He was exacting, exasperating, infuriating and overall was a very rude and disagreeable person," she replied, trying hard not to laugh. After all, how many chances will I have to tell Professor Snape what I think of him to his face? Even if it is his younger self? she thought.

"And you still managed to retain knowledge? I'm shocked. He sounds like he was a real git!"

Hermione laughed. "He was a git. However, he was brilliant, dedicated to his craft, and he took 'no cheek,' as he would put it. I feared him, but I respected his knowledge. He pushed me to learn. True, he could have been nicer, but he was what he was," she said with a smile.

Severus laughed. "No cheek, indeed!"

Hermione looked over at Severus. She smiled at the freedom in his face. How could this boy become so cold and cruel in later life? Maybe it will be different now; perhaps she might have made a change. She felt cold inside. Lily had to marry James, and his heart would be broken. He would need her. He would need her desperately then. But how would he handle knowing she wasn't even supposed to be here? Perhaps that was why he didn't like her back in her real life! Hermione forced the worry into the back of her mind and focused on the work in front of her. She couldn't afford to have him thinking anything was amiss.

They spent the rest of their time collecting ingredients for his stores that he bottled to keep fresh while away at school. It had been nearly impossible to do so while his father had been around, but now he could do as he wished. Hermione was so proud of him and his mum.

Hermione realized towards the end of her stay that Severus had stopped having nightmares. She was relieved that he was opening up to her so freely. The last day, before Lily's return, they lay down together in the park and watched the clouds as they floated by slowly.

"Hermione?" Severus asked suddenly. "Would you be my friend if Lily were to ever leave me?" he asked.

Hermione felt a strange sense of foreboding. "I won't forsake you, Severus. I will always be your friend. Even if times come where we may not be able to show our friendship and have to hide it, I shall always be your friend. I promise," she swore.

Severus turned his head and said, "Hermione, I was with the Dark Lord this summer."

Hermione sat up. "The 'Dark Lord?'" she asked.

"Well, that is what Tom wants us to call him. I have only known him as Tom Riddle, but after I met him, I was instructed to call him the Dark Lord."

"Severus, why?" she asked.

"I had to, Hermione. The pressures are so great. He's growing so powerful. I have to be in the loop so I can protect Lily," he insisted. "Besides, I have you to look after too now," he added shyly as he lay back to gaze up at the sky.

"I can take care of myself, Severus," Hermione said uncomfortably.

He searched out her eyes. "Maybe I want to, Hermione," he whispered.

"Oh, Severus," said Hermione. "Is it worth it?" she asked.

"I think so. Besides, now that I will have more power behind me, Potter and Black will think twice before messing with me again!" he said bitterly.

Now it truly begins, Hermione thought desperately.