Unrelenting

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.

Kudos go to both Madbrilliant and Alliean for the beta of this fic.

This story is based on my favourite episode of Samurai Champloo. I was watching it and was suddenly struck by the idea of using the plot loosely for a fan fic.

Two weeks later, the mail arrived during breakfast, with the sound of owls entering the Great Hall becoming greater than the sound of the continuing rain outside. The charmed ceiling was reflecting the gloom, and most of the owls were a little wet from their trips. The staff received their post, and Severus had been pleased to find that the latest edition of Ars Alchemica had been released and he had received his subscription. He noted too, that on the other side of Albus, Minerva McGonagall had received a letter, and despite being so far away, he knew that handwriting anywhere. After all, most of the professors had been on the receiving end of some rather long and thorough essays in that exact script.

He watched as she read from the corner of his eyes, pretending to be too interested in his own magazine, and saw her mounting distress as she read the letter. He just knew that it certainly must have been a letter from Hermione. The older witch passed it to Albus who scanned it quickly, and then finally it was in Severus' hands. He put on his reading glasses, reluctant to admit to requiring them, and began to read the letter that had so distressed his two colleagues and friends to the point of speechlessness.

Dearest Minerva and Albus,

Hermione

Severus read through the letter three more times before it finally sunk in, and he tossed the parchment carelessly onto the table, inwardly seething. How could she let him do that to her? The thought of her being repressed like that, and she was allowing him to treat her like a doormat. She deserved so much better than that selfish moron. He looked at Albus and Minerva and saw that they too were still upset by this letter.

He turned the note over and read the address from which it had come, stamping it clearly in his memory, and passing the letter back to Minerva. 'We can not just sit around and let this happen,' he said gruffly.

'I agree with you, Severus, but we must not interfere. One day she will realize and do what she believes is right,' Minerva said soothingly, her eyes softening at the look of indignation on Severus' face at Hermione's treatment.

'But she couldn't have been more clear in her letter,' he said in frustration. 'Clearly, she is miserable, but is just too scared to admit anything outright.'

'Severus, we both feel your distress, but it is not wise to meddle in the lives of others. Hermione is a powerful and intelligent witch, and she needs to discover these things for herself,' Albus insisted.

He snorted mentally. If anyone should be accustomed to meddling in the lives of others, it was Albus. The man wore the habit like a second skin. Severus, however, had never been interfering in his life, and if he ever had, it had always been for a good reason. This was a good reason to him, and he was prepared to do anything to spare this witch a lifetime of misery. She had wanted to kill herself and end all of the desolation, and he had stopped her. Now, he was feeling responsible for her, to make sure that while she lived, she need not live unhappily.

'Albus, I have never felt like I needed to do anything so much since destroying the Dark Lord. You have to let me go to her and talk some sense into her,' Severus said in a tone that meant business.

'Why are you so caught up on all of this, Severus?' Minerva demanded from her side of the Headmaster.

'Because she is far too bright and has too much potential. Minerva, you know how I admire intelligence, and I admire her,' he answered coolly. 'I will be going to Virginia, whether you approve or not.'

Albus sighed and nodded. He had known the second he had read that letter and passed it to Severus that the younger man would insist on going to Hermione. He had tried talking him out of it, but knew that Severus was right. Hermione did need someone to tell her that she needed to live her life as she saw fit, not live out her life as Victor Krum's obedient wife.

'Go to her, Severus,' he said calmly. 'It is Saturday now. I will give you until Monday evening to do something about it – I will cover your classes on Monday if need be.'

'Albus!' Minerva exclaimed. 'You're just going to let him go?'

'He is right, Minnie. We need to let someone talk to her, and who better than Severus? She will listen to him because he will offer her solid facts,' Albus replied hastily. 'She needs us, Minerva...'

Minerva sighed heavily. 'Very well, go and save our Hermione,' she said to Severus, who nodded and stood from his seat at the table, accepting the letter from Minerva.

'Take care, my boy,' Albus said as he strode through the staff door.

Severus walked at a careful pace to his office, trying not to seem too eager to get somewhere, while also trying to get to his rooms as quickly as possible. The way Albus spoke, he was assuming he would need the whole three days to get Hermione to come back to Europe or Hogwarts with him. Although, in that moment, he wasn't sure just how he was to do that either.

'Think, Severus... what do you need?' he muttered to himself as he entered his chambers and whipped out his wand.

He summoned a bag and a few sets of various types of clothes, some books, and some money, before going to remove his frock coat and robes, only to replace them with a normal Muggle jacket and his long black coat. Once he was sure he had everything, he left his chambers and sealed them, going upstairs and escaping through the oak front doors before anyone would notice him leave.

He opened his umbrella and left the grounds, concentrating on the address of Hermione's house and Apparating there as soon as he was past the front gates. He arrived in front of a house that seemed rather large and beautiful. It was her house. He thought about going to the door and knocking, but decided he would wait until he saw her leave and then follow her and pretend to bump into her.

At noon, he got his chance when Hermione, thin as she was and even thinner in her black coat with her red umbrella, emerged from the house and locked the door behind her. She was home alone on a weekend. She began walking down the street, and Severus walked on the other side, an unsuspicious distance away, with a Disillusionment Charm in place just in case she noticed. He followed her all the way to a café in town, and once she had made her purchase, she drank it down quickly and left not too long after that. When they reached her house, Severus waited until she was inside to go and find lodgings for the night.

He returned to town where there was a tavern and inn just above it with deluxe rooms. He took one of those because it had a separate bathroom, sitting room, and bedroom. Most people that stayed couldn't afford the room, so it was in pristine condition for him to use during his stay.

He took a shower and went downstairs to the pub area to order a drink and something to eat while he was at it before he returned to his room and read one of his books. Some time later, he found himself sleepy enough to drift off. He put the book aside then and closed his eyes, settling with his head nestled into the pillow comfortably. He would have to wait until tomorrow to see Hermione and talk to her.

He would probably have to do something ridiculous in order to see her. But he was prepared to make sure he got his chance to get a few words in. He needed to do this – he needed to save her from herself.

The next morning, he woke up, showered, and shaved the morning stubble before heading down for breakfast in the little eatery. He had a good strong coffee, a glazed bun, and a boiled egg before paying his tab and telling the innkeeper that he would need the room that night too. The man simply grunted and Severus paid half the fees and said that he would pay the other half when he was ready to leave.

He went for a walk down the street and made his way back to Hermione's house, examining the state of the yard. It was perfect, save for all of the rain – but even that painted in a picture would have been beautiful. He noticed Hermione walk out of the house in what one could only assume was her Sunday best, which incidentally comprised of grey trousers, a white blouse, a maroon knitted v-neck jumper and her long black coat. She had a bag and walked down the street and into a church.

Severus waited almost an hour before she finally reemerged from the ancient building. Instead of going home, she went in the direction of town, stopping at the same café as she had the day before on her way to do a few things. Severus decided that now was the perfect time to talk to her. Krum wasn't around, so he needn't be worried.

'Miss Granger, fancy seeing you here,' he said in a flawlessly smooth tone of voice.

Hermione jumped and turned around warily, all too aware of whom had drawled those words to her. She was faced by the sight of a clean-shaven Severus Snape, dressed in nice Muggle attire.

'Professor Snape, I – I didn't see you come in,' she said hesitantly. 'What brings you to Virginia?'

'You do, Hermione, and before you argue, let's go back to my room at the inn and discuss it before it becomes a little too public here,' he suggested, cursing at his slip of the tongue at saying her name.

'Okay, but just to talk. I can't promise that I will agree to or with anything you say,' she acquiesced, holding her hand out to shake his.

'I can promise that you will not be forced in any way, shape, or form,' he swore.

'Alright, take me to this place of yours and we can talk about it,' she said, shaking his hand in hers firmly, surprised at the strength in his arms.

Together, they left the café, all thoughts on getting a coffee forgotten, until they reached his rooms, and he ordered tea to be sent up for them as they waited patiently in his sitting room. Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat, waiting until the elf brought some food to them before attempting to start a conversation. Hermione took a bit of her food, and then she cleared her throat to talk.

'So, what are you doing here, and who put you up to this?'