The Threshold

Beneficent Stranger

Chapter Three

The Threshold

Contrary to popular opinion, Albus Dumbledore, was not omnipresent. He was not omnificent. He did not have scrying mirrors located in strategic places throughout the castle. No, he had simply been the Headmaster of a co-educational boarding school for longer than he cared to remember and a professor for even longer. The fact that the portraits liked to gossip was merely an added benefit to his station. Consequently, there were few things that could surprise him.

Two years ago, when Severus Snape had come to him with the offer to sponsor Hermione Granger after the death of her parents, he wasn't surprised. He had rather expected his Potions master to make the offer; it was just the sort of thing that Severus would do. Nor was he shocked by Severus' demand for anonymity, for the professor took great measures to uphold his dark reputation. Some habits were just too hard to break, and everyone knew that Severus Snape was a man of habit, at least temperamentally.

Hermione Granger's acceptance of the offer hadn't surprised him either. She had acted purely out of shock, and when she finally realized what she had done, it was too late to withdraw. Her Gryffindor pride wouldn't allow it. So she went on.

The arrangement had worked. Hermione Jane Granger continued her studies and wrote to her sponsor, as per the terms of the agreement. Albus was grateful for the opportunity to watch one of his most gifted students grow and learn. She had turned out quite well, he thought on more than one occasion as he watched her.

Her trials had helped her to grow, and when other students lost their friends or family, as was wont to happen during the recent terror, she had been the shoulder these students could cry on. She truly knew how they felt, and her words were the sincere words of experience.

That was all in the past now, for the terror was over, and the world was safer. Voldemort had been defeated at the beginning of the term in what he had assumed would be a surprise attack.

Hermione Granger, Albus thought, had fought so bravely at the side of Severus Snape. She was a powerful witch, for her age, and the pair had made a fearsome force. They had been the reason Harry had made it to Voldemort's circle. The three of them, Harry, Severus and Hermione, had cast the final hex as Ron lay injured at the feet of the villainous Tom Riddle.

"I knew it! I told you he was on our side, Harry!" she had exclaimed after they had all gathered in the Great Hall to celebrate. She turned to a stunned looking Harry. "You owe Professor Snape an apology, Harry."

Both men had looked shocked at her words, but Albus hadn't been. Hermione Granger was nothing if not intrinsically fair-minded.

It had taken Harry a little over a fortnight to make the apology, almost a long as it took Severus, to get over the shock he had felt at her words. The two would never be the best of friends, there were too many bridges burnt between them for that, but they wouldn't kill each other. Albus decided he could live with the frosty, if civilized, relations between the pair.

Time marched on and school continued. Love affairs were begun and ended. Celebratory parties were thrown, and honors were bestowed on those who deserved them. Including Severus Snape. He, at last, could wake up in the mornings truly free of the burdens he had carried for so very long. Albus had been the happiest he had ever been. Life was good again.

During the course of the year, Harry, Ron and Hermione had decided what they wanted to do with their lives. None of their choices had surprised him either.

Harry had decided to take some time to enjoy life. Now that he was no longer required to live with his mother's family, he decided to stay on at Hogwarts after term ended. This decision pleased all parties. The Dursleys were thrilled because they wouldn't have to support the young wizard anymore and thus avoid the risk of their neighbors learning the true nature of their ward. Albus was pleased because he would have Harry at his side for a time. Perhaps he could show the boy what life in a loving home was truly like.

Besides, he deserved the rest. He deserved to live a life where he chose the course, as opposed to living up to a prophecy cast before his birth.

Ronald Weasley had chosen mediwizardry as a career. This shocked those whom had been betting that the young Mister Weasley would enroll in the Ministry's Auror School. Albus thought that the redhead would be very suitable as a mediwizard. Even his Potions grade attested the fact.

Hermione Granger surprised every one but himself and, Albus suspected, Severus Snape with her choice. She had decided to put off further education in favor of traveling the world. She had said she needed the break. Harry and Ron had been nearly apoplectic with shock, as had her professors, but all failed to persuade her to change her mind.

"No, Fawkes," Albus said as he stroked his familiars feathers. "Nothing surprises me anymore. Except for this development, of course."

The phoenix merely nuzzled his master's hand in reply.

"Although, I must say that I am quite pleased. Yes, I would rather it have happened a little later. Perhaps a few years from now when Miss Granger was done with her travels would have been more suitable. I had actually thought that they might perhaps meet one day, suddenly, at Diagon Alley and 'hit it off' as the Muggles say."

Albus walked to his chair and sat himself down. With a satisfied sigh, he reached across the desk and lifted the lid from a candy dish.

"No," he said, as he selected a candy and popped it into his mouth. "Miss Granger's invitation to Nimue is not in the least bit unexpected for I've read her letters to you. I think that it's the fact that Severus intends to accept her invitation that surprises me.

I hadn't expected him to declare himself so soon. I had rather thought that her age would throw him off."

Fawkes looked askance at the bearded wizard. 'And you thought that you knew Severus,' the bird thought.

"Don't look at me in that tone, Fawkes." Albus scolded in a playful voice. "Perhaps I shouldn't be so amazed. Perhaps, Severus is ready to live life again. You know, as well as I do, that Hermione Granger is no ordinary eighteen-year-old woman. She will do him good, I think, and he will certainly do her some good. After all, too much study and too little play makes for a very dull Miss Granger. And a very dull Severus Snape for that matter. Besides, it's not as if they aren't suited for each other, for I have never known two people to be so much alike, yet so opposite. Yes, they are exactly what each other needs."

Fawkes would have arched an eyebrow, had he one to arch; instead he glanced at one of the clocks on Albus' desk.

"I know, Fawkes," the wizard sighed as he rose from his chair. "It's time to be getting ready for the commencement ceremony. We must start on time, you know, for we wouldn't want to keep the students waiting. Nor, Severus and Miss Granger, for that matter.

~*~

The wizened countenance of Albus Dumbledore smiled down at the upturned faces before him and marveled at how quickly time can pass. Next to the first day of term, this was his favorite time of year.

First year students always walked through the doors of the Great Hall wearing expressions that ranged from terrified to excited. Every year, his seventh year students, on the evening of their commencement, wore the very same expressions. Even though nearly all of them were of age, and to a person, thought themselves grown up. Albus likened graduation and their entry into the adult word to that of the first year students crossing the lake on their first night.

"In a way, it is really the same. Each of you, deny it though you might, felt some fear. A small sliver of doubt at your abilities, at your readiness, to enter this school. It is only natural that you feel the same upon leaving it. You feel sad and happy at the same time, and it's very confusing.

But know this, each of you hold within yourselves the talent and ability to succeed at what ever you set your mind to. You have time and youth on your side. Do not squander it. Use it. Use it to find your path. Use it to make a good and fulfilling life for yourselves.

Yet, you mustn't forget to enjoy your youth as well. Do not become so wrapped up in your work or studies that you forgo the opportunity to have fun when fun is beckoning you. Take the time to smell the roses, literally and figuratively. To that end, it is my wish to gift each of you with a single rose from Hogwarts' rose garden."

He waved an arm over the top of the dais and with a small woosh red flowers appeared on each of their laps. Some of the Slytherins looked upon the flowers with curled lips, which drew a patient smile from their Headmaster. Everyone else looked amazed.

"It is enchanted to live forever; it will never loose its scent. I hope that you will take care of it, and keep it where you can see and enjoy it. It is my wish that when you find the challenges of life overwhelming, that you will remember to stop, and take moment to smell the rose. Now that the war is over, there is too much to live for. There is so much to strive for and so much that you can make better. Most of all, there is a life out there for you to enjoy."

He paused and smiled, watching as some lifted the blooms to their noses and inhaled. He was gratified to see that even some of the Slytherins, after glancing at their neighbors, did the same.

"Now, I shall not run on with this speech. I know that you are all anxious to commence with the commencement so that the after party can begin. When Professor McGonagall calls your name, please come and take your seat so that the Sorting Hat can send you on your way back through the doors you entered seven years ago."

And so the ceremony commenced. No one knew what the hat would say, for that was between the hat and the wearer. It was only known that it would give the graduate what that young man or woman needed to take away with them.

AN: I love Southern_Witch_69! She rocks!