Greetings and Meetings

Chapter Eight: Greetings and Meetings

Hermione stared at the picture in front of her. The elderly, winking witch looked pleasant, at least.

Hermione watched as Severus inched to the bathroom slowly, as if he were trying to stay silent. Hermione followed him, stepping lightly, her wand drawn.

She suddenly felt very silly. If the mirror had wanted to hurt either of them, it had had the chance several times before now.

Severus entered the bathroom and stared at the mirror above Hermione's sink. He pointed his wand at it.

"Reveal yourself," he demanded to his own reflection.

"Well that's not very polite," said Hermione furrowing her eyebrows at him.

She had thought of the Fat Lady and Sir Cadogen. If it was some sort of enchanted object, it may react negatively to orders.

Severus turned to look at her. "It's a mirror," he said, as if explaining something very simple to a small child.

"I know it's a mirror," said Hermione visibly annoyed. "But it's been here far longer than either of us. If someone tromped into my house and started demanding things, I'd tell it where to go."

"It is nice to see one of you has the manners the good Lord gave a goat," said a gentle faced, elderly witch as the surface of the mirror rippled like water and her image came into focus.

She was dressed in light blue, ancient-looking robes fashioned from a rough fabric. Runes were sewn into the white fur that wound its way around the brim of her tall, pointed hat in neat gold stitching.

Her white hair was pinned up under her hat and her large, light blue eyes twinkled as she grinned mischievously at Severus.

Severus jumped back so suddenly he tripped over Hermione's new enchanted towel warmer (a gift from the wedding) and fell backwards, a tangle of terrycloth and brass rods.

He sat down hard and cracked the back of his skull on the wall behind him. He looked dazed for a moment.

"For crying out loud," Hermione muttered under her breath.

The witch in the mirror gaped in horror and her pale hand fluttered to her lips.

Hermione rushed to see whether Severus had really harmed himself. She ran her hand gently over the back of his head to see if he had broken the skin. To her surprise, his hair felt as if it had too much product in it. Soft, but it left a bit of residue in her hand.

"A bit tickle-brained, is he?" the witch in the mirror asked.

"I beg your pardon!?" Snape looked up sharply.

Hermione quickly assessed the only thing he had hurt was his pride and bit her lips trying not to laugh.

"I'm terribly sorry, Madam," Hermione said as she gave Severus' head a gentle pat. "We just uncovered your existence and he's a bit..." Hermione searched for a word.

"Paranoid?" supplied the witch.

"That works," said Hermione, helping Severus to his feet. He was a bit shaky, but still scowled at both women and kept his wand at the ready.

"I do suppose it would be a shock," said the witch kindly. "The last time I spoke to a soul was the year of our lord 1742. Then Lyons expired and the chamber was empty. He was a charming fellow. Sang in the morning. Lovely voice. Firm backside."

Severus looked taken aback.

"I believe you have a bit to catch up on," said Hermione hesitantly, ignoring the comment about former Headmaster Lyons' backside. Hermione winced, not knowing what the mirror's reaction would be. "The present year is 1997."

"I see," said the witch slowly, obviously shocked. "I cannot understand why I have been left alone for so long. I put so much thought into the area; I thought it would be useful for generations." She seemed genuinely disappointed.

"You're Helga Hufflepuff?" said Hermione, breathing in sharply.

Severus stiffened beside her. She looked at him, but his expression was unreadable.

"Why, yes, dear," said Helga gently, the spider web of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes spreading as she smiled. "I am sorry I did not introduce myself forthwith, but I didn't want to startle you."

"How did you get in a common mirror?" asked Severus sharply.

Hermione looked at his frowning face and gave him a testy look.

"Why would Lyons remain silent about your whereabouts?" Severus went on, oblivious to Hermione.

"I commissioned a portrait of myself before my death," said Helga in a patient tone of voice. "Then I hid the portrait within the mirror. I don't know why Lyons never told anyone. Perhaps he thought I would be moved if anyone knew."

"How would you put a portrait into a mirror?" asked Hermione with a confused look on her face. "Why would you put a portrait in a mirror?"

"Mirrors used to be made of mercury and glass," said Severus in a much more normal tone of voice.

"I put it in a mirror so it would never deteriorate and it would be simple to clean. The mirror is charmed to be unbreakable, of course." Helga smiled.

Severus finally lowered his wand. "What a clever trick."

"Thank you, sir" said Helga sincerely, bowing her head; not offended at all that someone hundreds of years her junior called her brilliant enchantment a 'clever trick.'

"Mercury and glass?" Hermione said questioningly.

"When creating an object that turns into a teleportation portal, a combination of mercury and glass is used to produce a main component in the anointing potion," Severus said as if quoting a textbook. "Since the portrait would be hidden, not actually teleported anywhere, all the mirror would have to do is act as a point of stasis."

"What?" said Hermione, for once a bit blustered.

Severus smirked slightly. He would file that look away for reference later.

He mentally admonished himself for having such a thought.

"I made a pocket of space, tossed the portrait in, and closed it up," said Helga. "He is just trying to impress you."

"I am not," said Severus a little too quickly.

"Yes, you are," said Helga knowingly. "I have five sons. Do not tell me what you are thinking; I see it in your face before you think it."

Severus was suddenly glad he had taken refuge in the other rooms rather than waking up to this every morning.

Hermione giggled.

"You reside here now, dear?" Helga asked Hermione.

"Yes," said Hermione.

Hermione quickly explained the law passed by the Ministry and why a student was residing in the quarters of a professor before Helga began to ask.

Hermione had a feeling Helga Hufflepuff was a woman to be afraid of when roused.

Severus was suddenly reminded of Molly Weasley.

"I beg your pardon?" she squawked loudly. "Impertinent fool-born lout!" she thundered. "Leave it to a man to come up with such a beef-witted idea!"

Hermione blinked a few times. So did Severus. It had obviously been awhile since Helga had spoken to anyone.

Hermione made a mental note to convince Helga to teach her medieval slang later.

"Don't tell me," Helga blustered on. "He has to be a descendent of that flap-mouthed Salazar! Never did have anything to rattle between his ears and nests of bastards everywhere! I do suspect his offspring would be no better!"

Hermione and Severus were both silent. Their faces went slack of expression.

"Something is horribly wrong," said Helga. Her eyes darted from Severus to Hermione. "What has happened?"

Severus reached up and pulled the mirror off the wall. A small silver hook remained, along with a faint discoloration on the wall where the mirror used to be.

Helga looked startled and grabbed the inside of the frame to keep her balance as she was jostled around.

"I'm not going to eat my dinner in a bathroom," he said as he walked out of the bathroom, pushing past Hermione. "And if I have to discuss unpleasant things I'm not going to be hungry."

Hermione made a face at him, but followed.

Helga's eyes widened as Hermione pulled a blue, overstuffed chair over to the table and Severus propped the mirror up in it so they could talk to Helga comfortably.

"Has Hogwarts degraded to a state where they cannot even afford to cook its food?" Helga asked as she looked at the sushi, appalled.

Hermione quickly explained sushi to Helga, and assured her it was very good. Helga then spotted the photographs and was fascinated. Hermione had to fight to remember what she knew about the history of photography. She was thankful Colin tended to be a bit long winded about things.

"Well," said Helga, trying to take in some of the changes. "I see things have changed greatly."

Severus decided the best place to start was after Lyons had left. Voldemort had been such a big part of their recent history, Severus decided it would be simpler to give her a history lesson covering the last two centuries.

Hermione often went to her bookshelf to consult a question when their memories failed them or Helga had a question they couldn't answer.

When dinner was finished, Dobby returned to clear their plates. Severus stopped him as he was leaving.

"Dobby, I would like it if you could install a small hook in a prominent place in the parlor for Mistress Hufflepuff's mirror," said Severus.

"Yes, sir," said Dobby cheerfully. "Is there anything else you would be wanting, sir?"

"Some dessert, perhaps," said Severus.

"Only if it isn't too much trouble," said Hermione hastily, shooting Severus a warning look. He was getting far too used to the little elf's help.

"Some dessert and one hook," repeated Dobby. "I will return shortly sir and madams."

"Thank you, Dobby," said Severus. "Where were we?"

"Grindelwald," said Hermione.

Severus continued talking through their dessert of trifle, and by the time Dobby wheeled in Severus' tea service, he had begun talking about Tom Riddle and Voldemort. When he finished, Helga was shaking her head in sorrow.

"I never thought anyone would pay that lack-witted fool an ounce of thought past his death," Helga said.

Severus stayed uncomfortably silent. Helga didn't seem to notice.

"So that is where we are, is it?" Helga asked.

"Yes," said Hermione. "You're up to date, more or less."

"I would thank you for taking the time to speak with me," said Helga smiling, although strained. "I would much like to see my new area. It's been so long since I've had new things to look at, and I would expect you are ready to retire."

Hermione thanked Helga for revealing herself to them and bid her and Severus a good night before Severus carried the mirror into the parlor. The stone arch of Hermione's doorway shrunk into the form of the purring cat once again.

A gaudy gold frame was attached to the wall near the cat with a hook nailed in the center. Red velvet curtains hung from either side so the mirror could be hidden if desired.

The elf did seem to take things to the extreme.

Severus hung the mirror and Helga smiled at him.

"What are you smiling about?" Severus asked, uncomfortable with the way she was smirking at him.

"You both claim this is a marriage of convenience, but she has caught your eye," Helga said knowingly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Severus, visibly caught off guard.

"You respect her mind," Helga said simply. "What else could one want in a wife?"

"Who says I want a wife?" asked Severus scowling.

"I didn't say you wanted one," said Helga. "You need one."

"I do not need anything," he sniffed imperiously. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"That's what they all say," said Helga, furrowing her eyebrows at him.

Severus threw his hands in the air and stormed into his rooms. He slammed the door behind him.

"Impertinent whelp," Helga puffed. "He can't deny it forever."

-+-+-

Hermione lay on her back, staring at the underside of her canopy. The moonlight streamed in her window and cast a ghostly blue sheen over everything in the room.

Hermione couldn't help but think how romantic the setting was.

This was quickly followed with the realization that the trifle had gone straight to her head. She giggled to herself in the dark.

As she fell asleep she wondered what it would be like if he kissed her again, what his face would look like in the moonlight.

-+-+-

"Best of luck to you, my dear," said Professor Flitwick to Hermione as he shook her hand heartily in the Great Hall. Banners displaying all the House colors were suspended in the air over all the people milling about.

The last day of term had crept up on them. Hermione smiled at her tiny professor before giving him a hug. When they broke apart Flitwick burst into tears.

"There, there," said Professor Hooch, rushing over to pat him on the back.

"They grow up so fast," Flitwick said to no one in particular as he wiped his face with a large blue handkerchief.

A brown-haired Ravenclaw girl gave him a hug and he bawled even harder.

"Wouldn't be the same if Flitwick didn't get the vapors at least once during the send off ceremony," Snape remarked to Hermione as she took her place beside him at the end of the row of teachers.

"He does this every year?" said Hermione, giggling.

"Like clockwork," said Severus as he opened his program. "There's just the closing speech and the rest of the students will come in for the end-of-year feast. Then we'll be off."

"What's the rush?" Hermione asked.

"Order initiations tonight," Severus said quietly. "You, Ron, Harry and Neville are going to be inducted into the Order of the Phoenix."

"What!" Hermione squeaked. "So soon? It's that easy?"

"We decided we'd better act soon or you might be up to real mischief," Severus said, the corners of his lips quirking.

"Thank you for your faith," said Hermione dryly.

-+-+-

A thunderclap sounded over number twelve, Grimmauld Place, and Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville watched as scraps of parchment with their names written in their own blood drifted into a goblet full of flickering gold flames.

"Well," said Dumbledore, smiling as he blew out the magical fire. "Who's up for biscuits?"

"I'm in," said George or Fred Weasley.

"Good idea," said Fred or George Weasley.

"I'll go put a kettle on," said Arthur Weasley, patting his wife on the shoulder.

"Congratulations," said Remus Lupin, looking at them through heavy-lidded eyes.

"Thanks," said Hermione.

Ron and Harry were already going over some diagram with the twins.

"I hear you've already been given an assignment," said Remus, smiling slightly.

"St. Petersburg," said Hermione.

Ron and Harry looked up.

"You're going to Russia?" Ron asked. His eyes shot to Severus.

Severus quirked an eyebrow.

"To see the Mystic Brotherhood," Hermione said, a little awed.

"I'm sure you'll do fine," Remus said, taking a teacup with a few biscuits perched on the saucer from Arthur. "You'll find the trip very informative."

"Rasputin was a member," Ron said, relaxing a little. "They're supposed to have one of the largest libraries in existence."

"I know," said Hermione. "I wonder if I'll get a look at it."

"Wish you well, Hermione," said Harry, looking happy and sad all at once.

"Thanks," said Hermione, feeling a ball tighten in her chest.

They were graduated, assigned tasks, and would be splitting up soon.

She felt like she was losing a part of herself when she looked at Ron and Harry. She would not cry. That would set them all off and that wouldn't make a very good impression.

Hermione looked around the kitchen.

With the exception of her parents, everyone she cared about was in this room, and they were all in very grave danger. She looked at Ron, Harry, Neville, and the twins laughing amongst themselves and wondered which of them would be injured or die. She watched Mr. and Mrs. Weasley bustle about as they got tea and sweets for everyone and thought of how much they were risking. Dumbledore, Lupin, and Severus, who worked so hard to keep Voldemort away from the next generation of magical citizens. Mrs. Longbottom, who Hermione suspected, may be the only witch in the Wizarding community that Voldemort might have a cool respect for.

Not all the Order members were present, of course, but there were enough that Hermione finally felt the weight of what they were doing rest on her shoulders.

"I'm very proud of you, Neville," said Mrs. Longbottom, beaming.

Neville smiled shyly at the room, surprised he had even been asked to join the Order.

"So, what is the Mystic Brotherhood?" Harry asked.

"Private academy of sorts," said one of the twins. "Really elite. They only take a few outside students at a time, and then only if they're done with regular schooling. You have to be born into the right family to be considered for the Brotherhood. I hear most are brought in as small children and never leave."

"Dedicated to the retention and acquisition of information," said Neville, as if he were reciting something. Then he snorted. "Bunch of leftover monks."

"But very, very powerful," said Dumbledore, sitting down across from them and dipping a chocolate biscuit in his tea. He turned towards Severus who was sitting silently to his right. "Will you be staying at your family estate, Severus?"

"I was planning to, yes," said Severus slowly as he stirred his tea.

It seemed to Hermione that he wasn't comfortable talking about his family having an estate.

Ron started shooting daggers with his eyes at Severus.

"There are twenty-three rooms in the estate, Mr. Weasley. I assure you, the young lady will have more privacy than entirely needed," Severus said in a tired tone.

Ron turned red.

"Really, Ron," Molly said to her son, annoyed. "This ridiculous sham of a marriage is the perfect excuse to take a trip to see the Brotherhood."

Hermione wondered who she was more annoyed with.

"It really is the chance of a lifetime," Hermione said, trying to diffuse the situation.

"So that's the way it's going to be then?" Ron said stiffly.

"It's the way it has to be," said Hermione softly.

"If you'll excuse me, I've lost my appetite," said Ron, pushing himself away from the table and standing up.

"Come on, Ron," said Harry, pleadingly.

"I know it's the way things have to be," said Ron sadly. "I didn't say I had to like it."

Ron walked into the next room and they heard him activate the Floo network to go to the Burrow.

"Where'd Ron go?" asked Arthur as he returned to the table and sat down next to Neville.

"Didn't take Hermione's assignment well," said Remus.

"Ah," said Arthur, pressing his lips together. "Well, he'll be busy enough soon. It'll distract him a bit."

"We'll keep him busy," said George, rubbing his hands together over the large parchment spread out in front of him.

"Just keep an eye on him," said Molly. "It's not easy for him."

"Will do," said Fred, reaching out for a quill and tugging on Harry's shoulder to get his attention back to the diagram.

-+-+-

"How did it go?" Helga asked excitedly as Hermione and Severus walked back into their chambers through the fireplace.

"She's now a member of the Order," said Severus sullenly.

Hermione thought he'd be at least a little bit excited for her.

"Well you don't need to sound so excited," Helga said, making a face at him. "You might burst with enthusiasm."

"It's a dangerous assignment," Severus said, walking over to the tea service and pouring a cup.

Hermione thanked the inventor of Ever Perking Pots as he poured her one as well. It was better than her parent's electric tea brewer.

"It's a research assignment," said Hermione with a sigh.

"It's still too close to the Dark Lord for my taste," said Severus bitterly.

He walked into his rooms and came back out with a flask. He poured a healthy dollop of whisky into his tea, then repeated the procedure with another cup and handed it to Hermione.

Thank you," Hermione said as she accepted the cup.

As she drank she felt the burn of the alcohol down her throat. She really wished she had eaten more than a few biscuits during the day. She had even picked at her food during the feast, she had been so nervous about the induction ceremony for the Order.

"I believe I may be able to get you a few tomes from the library to examine, even if I can't get you full access," said Severus taking a sip from his cup.

"That would be incredible," said Hermione downing her cup. With the day over, she suddenly felt her hunger creep up on her. She felt too lazy to go to the kitchens for food. She reached for the teapot again and refilled her cup. "Thank you."

"I think you'll like the Russian Estate," said Severus thoughtfully. "It has a small library of its own. Although the books are fairly common for the area, you may find them interesting."

Hermione sipped at her tea and tasted whisky. Apparently the cups were enchanted to remember how you liked your tea and dressed it accordingly.

She sipped slower. She had finished her schooling and had been inducted into the Order. It was cause for some celebration.

"I'm sure I'll find something to catch my interest," she assured him.

"I'm sure you shall," said Severus.

-+-+-

Hermione slid one leg out of her bed and placed it flat on the floor. The spinning room slowed by a fraction.

After four cups of tea, Severus had helped her to bed and got her sleeping things for her. He had assured her he would have a potion ready to help her with her inevitable headache in the morning.

Then he had the nerve to smirk at her.

She glared at the underside of her canopy, annoyed. It was his idea to drink the damn whisky in the first place. He had probably done it to make her look foolish in the first place.

Hermione didn't doubt he would have helped her change into her night things if asked, but she blushed at the mere thought of disrobing in front of him.

He had smirked at her! The nerve!

The worst part was that he looked so attractive when he did it Hermione couldn't get it out of her mind.

"It's just the whisky," Hermione muttered to herself.

Crookshanks meowed questioningly and butted his head against Hermione's left hand. She scratched him absentmindedly. He purred and curled up against her to sleep.

Hermione found herself slipping in and out of sleep. Severus' face swam in front of her in and out of dream. She slid a hand down under the waistband of her under things and moaned quietly.

'I would never be doing this without the alcohol,' thought Hermione to herself. 'Best get it over with as quickly as possible.'

She breathed in near a lock of her hair that picked up the scent of him and felt her body react to the sweet smell of sandalwood.

Hermione imagined Severus placing the gentle kiss he had given her on their wedding day on more private parts of her person. She wondered what his nose would cause her body to do.

Hermione twisted her form under the sheets. She allowed herself to get near to climax, but didn't allow herself to fall over the edge. She teased herself higher and higher as her thoughts about Severus grew more carnal.

She plunged two fingers into herself and cried out a climax.

She instantly clamped a hand to her mouth before she remembered she didn't share a bedroom with two other girls anymore. She giggled in the dark and enjoyed her afterglow.

"Nothing to be ashamed of," Hermione giggled to herself as she turned over and cuddled under her covers. "He is my husband, after all."

She laughed aloud at the absurdity of it all.