Chapter 11 - Let the Wind Guide Us.

I'd like to thank all of you who have read this story and have taken the time to review it. Your comments were greatly appreciated.

All canon characters belong to JKR.

Thank you to June for all of her help and suggestions in writing this story.

Chapter 11 – Let the Wind Guide Us

The years passed quickly for Hermione. One minute she was watching Viktoria play with her tea sets, and the next she was accompanying her daughter to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Hermione was so excited to have her daughter attend the school that she had called her home for seven years.

Viktoria had been blessed with the same thirst for learning as her mother. She had also developed a mischievous streak as well, just after they moved into the house formerly inhabited by Professor Snape.

Hermione attributed her daughter's streak to being an only child. But she began to wonder after receiving a letter from Viktoria, written shortly after the Sorting Ceremony. As she had sat on the stool, Viktoria said that the Sorting Hat said something odd to her:

Interesting occurrence that I have never seen before, for one to end as Slytherin who had begun as Gryffindor.

There were no house separations at Durmstrang. Viktor had been a kind and gentle man, his only need for success being met by Quidditch. And even then, all he ever cared about was playing. Winning was always good, but being able to play was all he really desired. Hermione herself had no Slytherin attributes. She laughed at herself for even putting this much thought into it all. Then, for a brief moment, she wondered if living at Professor Snape's former house itself had rubbed off on her daughter. 'It did belong to a Slytherin, after all,' she thought.

Here she was, alone. The continued success of Hermione's book afforded her the opportunity to open a small apothecary shop in Diagon Alley. After the book had its initial success, a Muggle publisher asked her if they could also print a version of her book and sell it to the masses. Shortly after that, movie producers began to request meetings with her. Three years after the book was published in the Muggle world, it finally was made into a movie. Severus Snape was likened to Merlin himself. There were cartoons, comic books, toys ... there was even a music group called Snape's Army.

Hermione wondered what Severus would think. She often dreamed of him. In her dreams, he was never her professor; in her dreams, he was just a man ... a man who looked at her as though she were a goddess. She often woke from those dreams with a feeling of sadness that would last for days. At one point, she considered selling the house, thinking that a change of scenery would make the dreams stop. But she really didn't want them to stop, so here she had stayed for many years.

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Seven more years passed, and Viktoria was coming home to spend a few days with her mother before she went off to the university. She had graduated with the second highest NEWT scores in Hogwarts history, second only to the scores of Professor Snape.

Hermione heard a tapping coming from the Floo. Several years ago she set up a charm to let her know Viktoria was arriving. Hermione put a teapot on the stove, as she was still in the habit of making tea the Muggle way, then came out into the living room. Viktoria was there, standing next to a tall thin boy with straight black hair and dark brown eyes. Hermione was stunned. He looked just like a young Severus.

"Hello, Mum," Viktoria ran to her mother and hugged her tightly.

Hermione returned her daughter's hug and kissed her cheek. They parted and smiled at each other, and then Hermione turned her attention to the young man, now smiling.

"And who is this?" she asked.

"Mum, this is Simon Saunders. He's...he's my fiancé," Viktoria said unsurely.

Hermione gasped in shock.

"Fiancé?" she looked from her daughter to Simon, who began to grow nervous. "But when? How? Viktoria, I never even knew you were seeing anyone." She smiled and hugged her daughter again, then approached Simon.

"Well, Simon, I'm looking forward to getting to know you." She hugged the young man.

He tensed at first, then relaxed.

"Thank you, Mrs. Krum. I've been wanting to meet you for ages. But Viktoria wanted to keep things quiet until after we graduated from Hogwarts. I hope you aren't terribly upset," he said.

"No, I'm not upset at all. Just surprised." Hermione patted Simon on the shoulder and led them into the kitchen. "I just set the pot on the stove for some tea; it should be ready soon." Hermione sat at the head of the table, as Viktoria sat next to her with Simon by her side. "Now, young lady. Are you going to tell me what you have decided to study at university, or are you going to wait four years and surprise me then as well?"

"Actually, Simon and I are going to study potions. You told me that one day the apothecary shop would be mine. And Simon and I love potions; we have been lab partners at Hogwarts for seven years. After we graduate from university, we can come and work for you; and you can finally relax and enjoy your life."

"I enjoy my life now," argued Hermione.

Just then Simon pushed his seat back.

"Viktoria, I just realized we left our bags on the train," he said in panic.

"Oh, Simon, hurry! Maybe the train hasn't left the station." Viktoria looked at Hermione. "We were so excited about coming that we completely forgot our bags."

"You had better hurry then, Simon. We'll save you some biscuits," said Hermione, as Simon leaned down and kissed her daughter tenderly on the cheek. She smiled. It was as though she were looking at herself and...'and who, Hermione?' she stopped herself.

Simon left the kitchen, and the two women were left alone. Viktoria stood and got the cups ready, as Hermione sat and watched her daughter.

"Isn't he wonderful?" Viktoria beamed as she turned and set the cups on the table. "I know he's not conventionally handsome, but I simply adore him. And he loves me so much, Mum."

Hermione put her hand on top of her daughter's.

"I think he is quite handsome, actually," she admitted.

Viktoria nodded and giggled. The teapot began to whistle, and she made her way to the stove.

"I almost forgot to ask you." Viktoria took hold of the pot and walked back to the table. "How is the Professor these days?"

Hermione looked at her, confused.

"Which professor?" she asked.

"Oh, Mum! Why, Professor Snape of course." Viktoria poured the steaming water into the cups, then set the pot down.

"Professor Snape? Why would you ask about him?" asked Hermione.

"He used to come to my room when I was little. I remember having tea parties with him. It's because of him that I decided to go into potions. Sometimes late at night, he would sit by my bed and read from a book he had. I could never make out the name, but I know it was about potions." Viktoria laughed. "Oh, what was it I used to beg him to say to me?" Viktoria sat thinking, as Hermione's head began to spin.

"Oh, I remember now," Viktoria said as she stood, then gave her best Snape sneer and began her recitation, "There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science of potion-making. However, for those of you who possess the pre-disposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses; I can tell you how to brew glory, bottle fame, and even put a stopper in death." She began to laugh as she looked at the shocked expression on Hermione's face.

"I sound just like him, don't I?" Viktoria sat down and began to pour milk into her tea. "I was absolutely mad about him. But one day he just stopped coming. I waited up for him so many nights, until finally one day I realized he must have moved on."

"Viktoria. You can't possibly know him," said Hermione in a shaky voice.

"Mum, what's wrong?" Viktoria noticed her mother's pale face now.

"I...I don't know. It's all so strange. He was all a dream." Hermione felt a chill overcome her now.

"How could we both have had the same dream?" asked Viktoria. "He had to be real."

Hermione shook her head and tried to smile.

"No, its likely you heard me talking about him one day." She stood and walked to the window over the sink, and looked out into the back yard.

Viktoria came up behind her.

"Bluebells! When did those start growing?" asked Viktoria.

"I don't remember...no, wait," Hermione turned and looked at her. "It was the morning after a party your Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny had for me, just after the book had been released. That night after we got home, I remember being so tired I just fell into bed with all of my clothes on. I had a dream." Hermione walked slowly back to the table and sat down.

Viktoria followed her and took her mother's hands in hers.

"What was it about?" she asked.

"Professor Snape and I argued. It was as though...as though we were lovers, and he was jealous of Reginald."

"Reginald?" Viktoria arched her brow.

"Oh, you remember Reginald, Viktoria," said Hermione.

"Ah, the buffoon."

"That's exactly what the Professor called him in my dream. He was telling me that Reginald was no good for me, and that all he would do is hurt me." Hermione shook her head and laughed. "If only I had listened to my dream."

"Whatever happened to the buffoon?" Viktoria recalled not seeing Reginald after that evening.

"It turns out he was already married. I saw him a few years ago at a publishing convention. He was selling chocolate frogs at a small stand. He was fat and balding. His writing career had never taken off. His wife left him, and his children abandoned him as well. It was his wife who had the money. I suppose she grew tired of supporting him. I don't blame her really. I almost felt sorry for him."

Viktoria scoffed.

"I said almost," laughed Hermione.

"Mum, do you think it's possible that we both had the same dream?"

"Maybe." Hermione sipped her tea and, for a moment, allowed herself to wonder.

Simon finally returned with their forgotten bags, pulling her from her thoughts

The rest of the week was spent getting to know her soon-to-be son-in-law. She found that she very much enjoyed his company, and she knew he would be a wonderful husband. Soon it was time for Viktoria and Simon to leave to visit with his parents before going to university. Hermione bid her daughter and her fiancé goodbye for the time being, and made both of them to promise to write.

Once again, Hermione was alone. She walked up to her room and sat in the old leather chair. She took a deep breath and smiled as she slowly drifted off to sleep, to the scent of sandalwood and a hint of bluebells.

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Hermione Krum was now in her one hundred and thirtieth year. She had been ill for the past year, and spent most of it in and out of St. Mungo's. Her daughter and son-in-law, along with their two sons and their own wives and children and grandchildren, often visited her. Today she was home for the first time in two weeks. Harry and Ginny moved into the small house on Spinner's End in order to better care for their friend. Hermione had insisted on going back to her house. Much as they all tried, there would be no changing her mind. Hermione wanted to go home.

It was late in the evening, and Hermione stood leaning against the open window behind the leather chair. The evening was cold, and the sky was clear.

"Hermione!" yelled Ginny from behind her. "You just got back from the hospital. Get away from that window." Ginny came in and set a glass of warm milk on the table next to the chair. She walked to Hermione and pulled her gently away from the window. Hermione had always been somewhat petite, but because of her illness, she had become so fragile.

"I'm just getting some fresh air, Ginny. I've been locked up for so long I almost forgot what it felt like. I am quite tired though." Hermione allowed herself to be guided to the chair and sat down.

Ginny placed a blanket over her and handed her the glass of milk.

"Honestly, dear, you have to keep away from the window. A chill like that can make you worse."

"Ginny, I don't think I can get much worse than this unless I were dead," she said, slightly laughing.

Ginny's eyes began to water.

"Don't say that." She held her tears back and turned to close the window. "You just sit there and have your milk. I'll be back in a bit. Harry decided he's hungry again." Ginny turned and walked out of the room.

Hermione sat quietly, smiling to herself. She pulled the blanket over her a bit more, as she now felt a chill growing over her body. She took a deep breath, and there it was. It was always there when she sat in that chair ... sandalwood and bluebells. She took a sip of her milk, then rested her arm on the chair.

She closed her eyes, and slowly the glass began to fall. The milk spilled and the glass fell onto the rug, yet Hermione never opened her eyes. A shadow walked toward her still body. There was a darkness that now enveloped her. Suddenly a hand reached out, and a voice called to her.

"Come now, love. It's time. You shall never feel tired again."

Hermione opened her eyes and saw the smiling face of Severus Snape looking down at her. She looked at his arm; what was once the Dark Mark was now a serpent on a bed of bluebells and jasmine.

"Severus?" she asked with hope.

"Who else were you expecting, the buffoon?" he sneered as his eyes sparkled.

She laughed and took his hand. When she stood, it felt to her as though she were thirty years old again. Turning now slightly, she looked down at her chair and saw her tired old body, which looked as though she were asleep.

"It wasn't a dream, was it?" she asked as it now dawned on her. It all really did happen. Hermione looked back to Severus.

"No. I'm sorry, I thought it was best. I thought you deserved someone who was alive," he said as he caressed her cheek.

She held his hand and closed her eyes.

"I'm the sorry one. You were absolutely right about Reginald. I felt such a fool when I learned the truth." She opened her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. "Why didn't you come back? I felt so lost that day. The only comfort I had was that chair."

"I was here, my love; I was always here, watching over you and Viktoria," he said as his fingers entwined in her hair. "I could not reverse what I had done to your memories of me. I comforted you the only way I could."

She nodded in understanding, and then pulled away from his embrace slightly.

"You were stuck in this house all this time?" she wondered aloud.

"No, after I freed you from me, I was allowed to leave, although I could no longer appear to you. Perhaps the reason I had not moved on originally was because I was to help you, and maybe learn to forgive myself for the things I had done. But after finding you, I fell in love with my beautiful know-it-all. I could never leave you, so I waited for you."

"You waited all these years for me?"

"I would have waited for all eternity, Hermione." He leaned down and kissed her lips. His lips were warm and soft and she could hold him, she could finally hold him. "Come." He took her hand, and they walked down the stairs.

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ginny came and walked past them. Hermione began to say something, but realized her friend could not see her. She allowed Severus to pull her towards the door as it opened for them.

"Where shall we go, Severus?" asked Hermione as she hesitated at the threshold.

"Why don't we just let the wind guide us?" Severus kissed her hand as they held each other closely, and walked out into the foggy night.

After her mother was buried, Viktoria came back to the house. She walked to each room reliving the memories of her past. As she walked into each room she felt the presence of her mother and someone else. Someone she had not felt for so many years. There was the scent of sandalwood and bluebells in the air, mixed with a hint of the jasmine perfume Hermione was so fond of.

She smiled and knew what she had to do.

Professor Snape's old house was never sold. It was kept in its pristine condition, where generations would visit to honor a man who had helped defeat Voldemort as well as the woman who knew him best.

Many lovers made it the site of their binding ceremonies. It was known as the site of the most glorious garden of bluebells and jasmine in the entire wizarding world.

The End

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In the original movie it ended as they walked out the door. I had thought of writing more beyond that but wasn't sure if it would be too sappy. But June sent me a suggestion for an ending and me being a sap as well worked with her suggestions and this is what I came up with.

I hope you like it.