Chapter 38

A/N: My gratitude to Ms. Rowling's wonderful imagination. Her work has made this chapter possible. Also, to my betas, luvsev and WriterMerrin, who continue to work so faithfully, my deepest thanks.

***

Towards the end of the fourth-year Slytherin and Gryffindor Care of Magical Creatures class, Rita Skeeter showed up. Hermione wanted nothing more than to claw her eyes out; however, the witch seemed interested in Hagrid. She was very interested in everything about Hagrid, including the Blast-Ended Skrewts.

Hermione hung back as Rita's eyes found Harry, and watched as Rita looked over the singed and scratched-up faces of the students as she continued to ask her questions. Hermione was growing rather suspicious of Ms. Rita Skeeter. That woman was never up to anything but bad news.

After class, Hermione decided it was as good a time as ever to try to talk to Winky. She didn't get far into the kitchens before a dozen elves ambushed her. "Oooh, miss, you needs food, miss?" squeaked a very tiny elf.

She smiled at all of them. "Hello, a cup of tea would be most welcome, that is if it's no trouble?" she asked sweetly.

They all scrambled around, and a few of them gently pushed her towards a chair where she sat in front of a cup of Earl Grey with milk, sugar, and a plate of delicious-looking biscuits. Hermione smiled as she sipped her tea and took a biscuit. "Thank you all so much. You are so kind. I was wondering if Winky was around. May I please speak with her?"

Hermione was led towards a closet door. Winky sat surrounded by numerous bottles of butterbeer, looking terribly dejected. "Oh, Winky," Hermione said as she knelt down to face her.

Winky burst into tears. "Winky is a disgraced elf," she whispered through her whimpers. "Winky is ashamed!"

"Why are you ashamed?" Hermione asked gently. "It's Mr. Crouch who should be ashamed. He treated you so poorly."

"No!" Winky shouted. "Mr. Crouch is a good wizard. Winky was bad. My poor Mr. Crouch. What is he doing without his Winky? He is needing me...oh, the shame!" She burst into new tears.

"You know, I see Mr. Crouch from time to time," Hermione said slyly.

Winky's countenance brightened. "Master is coming here? Is he well?"

"Yes," Hermione said as she worried her lip. "He's often with Mr. Bagman as well."

"Mr. Bagman is a bad wizard!" Winky said fiercely. "My master tells Winky things...but I's keeping my master's secrets."

Hermione felt she wouldn't get much more out of her. "Well, I will be going now, Winky. Please take care of yourself," she said nicely.

***

Harry and Ron sat thinking long and hard about what Hermione said. "Well, Winky seems to love him, doesn't she?" said Ron.

"Doesn't think much of Bagman though, does she?" said Hermione.

"I wonder what Crouch has been telling her?" Harry wondered.

"He's probably not a very good Ministry official. He did seem to be a bit off during the World Cup...sort of distracted," Hermione said.

***

The next day they were in Transfiguration, waiting for class to end, when McGonagall informed them of the upcoming Yule Ball.

"Now, the Yule Ball is a part of the Triwizard Tournament and is open to fourth-years and up, although you may ask an underclassman if you wish.

"Dress robes shall be worn, and the ball will begin at eight o'clock Christmas Day. This is a time for all of us to socialize with our foreign guests. We shall not be relaxing any school rules. We expect you all to act in a manner befitting a Hogwarts student. I know I shall be most displeased if I find anyone of my house acting in any way that would embarrass the school!"

Every girl at Hogwarts was all aflutter about the Ball. Hermione wished there was no Ball. She and Severus were still not talking, and she had started to give up all hope. One night, she decided to give it one last chance.

She snuck down to the dungeons around four in the morning. She knocked on the door to the classroom, and she heard the ward going off in his office. She waited a few minutes, and a very angry Severus in a grey nightshirt opened the door.

"Go away," he snarled.

Hermione pushed her way through and closed the door behind her. "You have a lot of explaining to do, Severus!" she yelled. "I've had quite enough of this mess, and I want you to talk to me, damn it!"

He turned and walked towards his sitting room. Hermione followed him. "I am not through, Severus!" she roared.

"I am," he said coldly.

She looked at him in shock while the tears filled her eyes. "You can't mean it," she gasped. "You can't! You love me. I love you."

Severus remained stoic as he looked down at her. "I am growing tired of waiting for a child to grow up. You seem to have your pick of suitors. I hear Viktor Krum has had his eye on you since he arrived. I'm sure any day now he'll be asking you to the Yule Ball. Why don't you go with him? Or at least with someone your own age," he said coldly.

Hermione barked a laugh. "My own age? I'm thirty-five, Severus. That would make you the closest to my age. Why are you doing this? We are so close now. Just a few more months and we can be together the way things used to be!"

He let out an impatient growl. "Things will NEVER be the way they used to be!" he shouted as he banged his fist on top of his desk "Do I love you? Yes. I will always love you, Hermione. But I cannot have you in my life. Go and make a life for yourself in this timeline..."

Hermione strode over towards him and got as close to his face as she could. "...You know, Dumbledore told me the exact same thing when I first came to 1973! I made a life. I made a life with you. You and I are engaged! Where is it?" she demanded as she held out her hand.

"Where is what?" he snapped as he headed into his living quarters.

"Where are the rings?" she asked angrily.

He opened a drawer in his private desk and threw the rings at her. She caught the chain and saw her engagement ring and the wedding ring she had given to him during their last Christmas together.

"You've stopped wearing them?" she whispered.

"Just forget me, Hermione," he said sadly. "Go with Krum to the Ball, be young, enjoy your youth."

Hermione threw the rings back into his face. "You fucking arsehole! I had a youth. It was with you, and it was ours. It may not have been perfect, but we did the best we could, and we held on. We made Vows, Severus. Don't you forget it!" She turned and stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

She went back to her room and readied herself for the day. And as Severus had predicted, by the end of it, Viktor Krum had approached her and asked her to be his date for the Ball.

Hermione said, "Yes."

***

Hermione was thoroughly miserable. She really felt it was all over for her and Severus. Horatius had been so wrong. Love does know time, and their time had run its course. She threw herself into nagging Harry about preparing for the next task and how to figure out the clue in the egg.

But he always said, "C'mon, Hermione! It's Christmastime!"

She knew she had been shirty lately, and she felt badly about it, but when she overheard Ron, Harry, Fred, and George talking about getting dates, she was repulsed by Ron's callous remarks.

"Oh, I see," she said. "So basically, you're going to take the best-looking girl who'll have you, even if she's completely horrible?"

"Er...yeah, that sounds about right," Ron replied.

"I'm going to bed!" she snapped.

She went to her room and was ambushed by Lavender and Parvati. They had sworn to secrecy not to spill the news about Viktor. She had said she wanted it to be a surprise. She had also told them she wanted them to make her drop-dead gorgeous. At this age, the last time, she still hadn't been able to tame her hair. It hadn't been until her seventh year that she'd achieved the length she needed to weigh down the bushiness and tame the curls into something attractive.

So tonight was to be a practice night for her outfit, hair and make-up. She wanted to be happy and act excited, and she thought she did a fair job of it, but inwardly, her heart was breaking. She didn't want Viktor; she wanted Severus.

She dreamt of him that night. Dreamt of them making love in the bed at Spinner's End where he had first declared his feelings for her. She remembered how good his hands and lips felt on her skin, how intensely he looked at her as he moved inside her. When she woke, the thought of never feeling him take her into his arms made her feel so broken up, she cried desperately.

***

The Yule Ball was to be the most exciting time of her year; however, Hermione felt desperate and extremely sad. She had a shimmering blue dress that showed off her increasing, womanly curves. Lavender and Parvati worked a dream on her hair, pulling it up into a graceful twist with wisps of ringlets to brush her cheeks and neck. Her make-up was perfection, and the shoes were lovely. They were of blue satin that matched the dress attractively. Hermione fastened the clasp on the pearl necklace that her mother had given to her for her fifteenth birthday with the matching pearl and diamond earrings that hung delicately from her small ears. She decided to make her entrance alone. She peered over the banister and saw Harry and Ron with Parvati and Padma. She swallowed and looked for Severus. He wasn't anywhere to be seen. She did, though, see Viktor in his Durmstrang uniform. He looked intimidating and, she had to admit, a bit dashing.

She walked down the main staircase, and the gasps of the people around her made her smile brightly. Viktor met her at the bottom of the stairs and kissed her hand. He swept her away to the entrance of the Great Hall, where all the champions would lead the procession into what was now the Ballroom. At McGonagall's signal, they all walked in. Viktor led her to the Head Table where all the champions and their dates were to eat. She knew that down at the other end, Severus was watching her talk with Viktor. It was difficult. The boy had a terrible time pronouncing her name. She tried repeatedly to say, "Her-MY-O-knee" while he kept saying "Her-my-ninny." She finally gave it up and decided to ask him questions about Durmstrang instead. That way she wouldn't have to talk, just nod and pretend she actually gave a damn.

After the meal, the champions were to begin the dancing portion of the evening. Hermione's hand trembled as it lay atop of Viktor's strong arm. She allowed Viktor to lead her to their prearranged spot on the dance floor, which just happened to be right in front of Severus. She refused to meet his eyes. She had been humiliated enough. Viktor was an incredible dancer, light on his feet and very comfortable in leading her around the floor.

"Her-my-ninny," he said, "you look vonderful, tonight."

"Thank you, Viktor," she replied.

They danced for a while, and then she danced with Harry. He wasn't having a great time either.

"Harry, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Oh, it's just I waited too long, and now the girl I wanted to ask got taken by another champion," he mumbled.

"Cho?" she asked. "Oh, Harry, I am so sorry."

He shrugged. "Can't do anything now, can I?"

"Harry," she offered. "If it's any consolation, I too know what it feels like not be with the person you want."

He gave her a smile, and they walked off the dance floor. He said he was going to go for a walk with Ron. She went and sat down to have punch with Viktor.

Later, Hermione was growing tired. She was heading to bed when she was stopped Harry and Ron.

"Hermione, you won't believe it!" said Ron breathlessly.

"What?" she said, confused.

Harry spoke up. "We just saw Karkaroff and Snape talking in the garden. Snape was saying he didn't see what all the fuss was about, and then Karkaroff yelled at him, saying that 'You can't pretend it's not happening! It's been getting clearer and clearer for months.' Then he said he was concerned."

Ron interrupted. "Then Snape said he should just take off, and he'd make his excuses for him."

They stopped, still catching their breaths. "Is that all?" Hermione asked.

"Isn't it enough?" asked Harry incredulously. "Don't you see, Hermione? This means that Karkaroff and Snape are friendly or at least were at one time."

"Well, as interesting as that was, I'm sure we'll figure it all out sooner or later. Now, if you don't mind, I'm quite exhausted and want to go to bed," she replied tiredly.

The boys went back into the ballroom where the dancing was still going on. Hermione hiked up the front of her dress and began to ascend the stairs. As soon as she was out of view from the entrance way, a cold hand wrapped itself around her arm and pulled her into an alcove.

Hermione tore her arm out of Severus' grasp. "I am growing weary from your manhandling of my person, Severus. Now, what is this all about?"

She stood with her arms crossed, glaring at him in fury. He captured her into his embrace and kissed her hungrily.

"I'm a damn fool," he whispered between kisses. When he finally let her go, he looked at her. "I love you, Hermione. You know I love you."

"Yes, I am aware of that," she replied angrily as she pushed him away and straightened her dress.

"You are so beautiful, Hermione," he breathed as his hand hovered over one breast, wanting to touch it, but knowing he couldn't. "You look just like you did when we were seventeen," he replied. "Can you forgive me, Hermione? I am so afraid."

Hermione knew that look on his face. He really meant it. He had already been kicking his own arse all evening.

"Seventeen, Severus? You do realize you are nearly thirty-six?"

Severus leaned into her and whispered, "Hermione, there will always be that seventeen-year-old boy in me wanting to be inside you," he purred.

"I know, Severus," she whispered as she ran her hand up and down his arm. "Everything will work itself out."

He raised the material covering his left arm and showed her the Dark Mark. It was becoming darker. "Hermione, I don't want you harmed. I thought foolishly I could keep you safe by driving you away."

"Like last time?" she said angrily as she grabbed his wrist and glared at the Dark Mark. "How could you keep this from me! You have been so cruel, Severus, and not only deliberately cruel, you failed to trust our love all because of your petty jealousy! Our love doesn't know time, and it certainly will not bow to the Dark Lord. But damn it to hell, it certainly does have its limits! We made Vows, Severus. You are mine, and I am yours...forever! Don't you keep me in the dark about all this and try to pour your fears and anxieties into making me feel bad for just trying to keep up all of this subterfuge!"

"Yes," he replied softly as he took her again into his arms and kissed her brutally. "I hate this feeling that I'm fifteen again, having to beg for affection. It was hard enough the first time. I hate this feeling that I might loose you to Krum!" She pressed herself against him, and he moaned.

"I want you, Hermione. You look so beautiful. I hated every minute you were in that idiot's arms. Promise me, you won't let him touch you?"

"I promise, Severus," she whispered. "Please don't worry. You don't have anything to be concerned about. You are the only one for me. You always have been."

His eyes roved over her body lustfully, and Hermione could tell he was suppressing the urge to take her. He stopped himself and sighed. "Okay, just a few months more, and then it'll be over. You will be living with me again, Hermione! You're mine, all mine!" he said desperately as he cupped her face. He produced her engagement ring from inside his robes and placed it on her finger.

"You know I can't wear this now," she replied.

"Soon, but for now just around your lovely neck," he said as he traced the bare skin around her neckline. He pulled his necktie loose, "I have mine on as well. We won't give up. I can't promise I won't get jealous ever again, but I do love you, Hermione," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she whispered.

He let her go, and she walked back to Gryffindor tower and placed the ring into her vanity until she could put it on without anyone noticing. A tap of her wand placed her signature on it. Nothing could open it but her wand.

Parvati and Lavender came in, laughing and giggling. They had a great time, or at least Parvati did once she had ditched Harry and went off with one of the Durmstrang lads.

They asked Hermione about her night, and Hermione smiled and said, "It was perfect."

***

The first day of the second term was a disaster. The Daily Prophet came out with an article that was devastating for Hagrid.

"Damn that woman!" Hermione seethed as she read the article. "Who does she think she is, doing something like this? I knew...I just knew it! Hagrid never should have let that woman near him. Interview, my arse!"

"What gets me is how did she find out?" Ron whispered.

"Maybe she heard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime at the Ball," Hermione said quietly.

"Hermione, we were there hiding behind one of the statues. We didn't want them to catch us out there right after getting yelled at by Snape. They weren't talking very loud either. We would have seen her!" Ron said excitedly.

They were all confused then. This was definitely a mess. Hagrid had himself holed up in his hut, refusing to teach classes or receive visitors...all because of that blasted article.

It contained all the mistakes Dumbledore had been making hiring his staff. First, Moody, but then she zeroed in on Hagrid, outing him as a half-breed giant whose mother had abandoned him as a baby and was living somewhere in one of the giant communities in Europe. She painted Hagrid as a bloodthirsty, reckless sub-human, who was highly dangerous for the students of Hogwarts. She also called for Hagrid to get the sack. They tried to figure out how she would have gotten her hands on such information, but kept coming up short.

That Saturday, they went to Hogsmeade and went into the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. They saw Ludo Bagman with a group of surly goblins.

"Does that man ever go to his office?" Hermione murmured.

"Come on," Harry said. "We're supposed to be looking for Hagrid."

Mr. Bagman glanced over to their table and made a beeline for Harry. He took Harry to the side and left Hermione and Ron behind.

Hermione watched the interchange with fascination. Abruptly, he left, and Harry came back to the table.

"You won't guess what he said to me!" he told them in a hushed tone.

"What?" Hermione and Ron asked.

"He offered help for the second task!" he said incredulously.

"That's dishonest!" Hermione sputtered. "He's a judge!"

"I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't be too happy if he knew Bagman was up to this," Harry added.

"I wonder if he's giving the same consideration to Cedric?" Hermione wondered.

"Who cares?" said Ron.

"What was that business with the goblins, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Apparently, they are on the look-out for Crouch. He's not been coming to work, sending messages to work and having Percy fill in for him."

"What, you mean Weatherby?" Ron said.

Harry laughed. "Funny though, why would they be after Crouch of all people?" he mused.

"Uh-oh," said Ron quietly. "Look what the kneazle dragged in."

They turned and saw Rita Skeeter making her way through the crowd. Hermione wanted to scratch her eyes out after what she had done to Hagrid.

"Harry!" she squealed as soon as she spotted him. "How lovely! Why don't you come and join..."

"I wouldn't come near you with a ten-foot broomstick," said Harry furiously. "What did you have to do that to Hagrid for?"

"Our readers have a right to the truth, Harry," she said simply.

"Who cares if he is a half-giant?" Harry shouted. "There is nothing wrong with him!"

The pub grew quiet, and Hermione was begging inwardly for Harry to settle down. Rita just smiled and pulled out her Quick-Quotes Quill and said, "How about giving me an interview about the Hagrid you know, Harry?" she offered.

Hermione stood up and held her bottle of butterbeer like a grenade. "You are a wretched woman," she said through gritted teeth. "You couldn't care less about the truth. Anything for a story, anything for a Galleon, just as long as you get what you want. You're just a prostitute behind your flashy photographer and handy pen! Even Ludo Bagman..."

"Sit down, you silly girl!" she snarled. "I know things about Ludo Bagman that would curl your hair...not that it needs it," she added, looking at her bushy hair.

"Come on, Ron, Harry," she said while keeping her glare on Rita. "The quality of the clientele has significantly lowered all of a sudden."

With that, they left. Ron was shaking his head. "Hermione, you'll be next. She's a vindictive piece of baggage, that one," he warned.

"Let her try!" she sneered. "Silly little girl, am I? She'll soon learn not to shoot off her mouth so quickly if I have anything to do with it!"

"You don't want to start upsetting her, Hermione. She's pretty rotten when she wants to be," Ron warned her.

"She can't scare me into silence. I'm not afraid of her," she said fiercely as Harry and Ron worked hard to keep up with her strides.

They made their way to Hagrid's, now that they knew he wasn't drowning his sorrows in Hogsmeade. Hermione banged on the door. She wasn't going away without a face-to-face with her old friend.

"Hagrid, open the damn door, or I'll blast it down!" she shouted.

She was shocked when Dumbledore opened the door. The three visitors stood in solidarity and demanded to see Hagrid.

After a lot of tears, talking and trying to cheer the half-giant up, he felt a lot better about things. He agreed to come back to class and not let the article and the re-buff he suffered from Madame Maxime get him down.

***

The next day, Harry confessed to Hermione he still hadn't figured out the egg clue.

"Harry!" she chided, "You lied to me! You told me you had already worked it out."

They were in Charms class, working on Summoning Charms. Since Hermione had already taught him about these charms, they could both talk effortlessly as they worked.

"Just get off the egg, Hermione!" Harry snapped. "I need to tell you about Snape and Moody."

Harry went into great detail about last night's activities. How when he had been hiding under the Invisibility Cloak, he had gotten stuck in the sinkhole, only to be nearly caught by Filch and then Snape, who was furious that someone had been in his storeroom.

"Who was in the storeroom?" Hermione asked as she flicked her wrist and sent a pillow flying neatly across the room.

"The Map said Barty Crouch!" he whispered.

"How can that be?" Hermione exclaimed. "He's been so sick, he couldn't even come to the Yule Ball."

"Well, the point is that Moody showed up, and he and Snape had a bit of a row. I could tell Snape is scared of him. Snape then mentioned something about Moody having searched his office and quarters earlier last term for evidence of dark artifacts at one time. He reminded Moody that nothing had been found."

"Moody surely has it in for Snape, doesn't he?" said Ron.

"I find it highly suspicious that Moody showed up when he did," said Hermione.

"Well, if he's trailing Snape all the time, then it makes sense," said Harry.

"There are too many variables!" Hermione insisted. "Why was Crouch in Snape's storeroom? How was it that Moody showed up right at the same time? It's all very fishy to me."

Hermione's brain clicked together. What if Moody wasn't Moody at all? She needed to find out which ingredients had been taken from Severus' stores. Talking to Severus would have to wait. Harry had figured out the riddle of the egg, but had no idea as to come up with a plan for the task.

They rummaged through the library, looking diligently for anything that could help Harry stay underwater for an hour. Finally, Fred and George showed up and said, "Ron, you and Hermione are to go straight to McGonagall's office."

"Why?" asked Ron.

"I dunno," said George. "But she was looking quite grim. Best get going," he said as they left.

Hermione and Ron wished Harry luck, just in case they didn't see him before the morning.

Ron and Hermione walked to McGonagall's office, and when they went inside, Dumbledore was waiting there with her.