Chapter Three: Chocolate Solves Most Problems

Disclaimer: The characters and settings within belong to J.K.Rowling. I am just giving them a little outing.

Chapter Three: Chocolate Solves Most Problems

The young woman sighs as she watches her mother's still beautiful face in the mirror. Now in her mid-forties, the older witch is in fine physical health with not a single grey hair and smooth, youthful skin.

"Severus and Hermione met often over the following two weeks. Sometimes they just shared tea or chocolate in silence, and sometimes they talked about all manner of topics, but the dreadful night when she had found him breaking down was never mentioned. Hermione did not mention the hunt for Horcruxes, and Severus did not discuss his activities as a spy. They were content to simply keep one another company, living those all too brief moments as if the war didn't exist. They did not explore the meaning of their relationship; there was never any intent other than friendship and mutual support, but as the nights passed they grew more attuned to the other's moods. In the middle of May, 1998, everything changed."

Hermione silently left the common room shortly after her argument with Harry and Ginny, pleased to have the excuse of rounds to escape the tense atmosphere. She could not believe Harry's cavalier attitude toward nearly killing Draco Malfoy. Whilst the blond was an obnoxious, arrogant prat, who might well be plotting mayhem for the Dark side, he was still a teenage boy and did not deserve what had happened.

No-one seemed to understand why she was so concerned about the damned Half-Blood Prince's Potions book. Harry could not see past his improved grades and the bezoar incident, but the idea of a student inventing a spell such as Sectumsempra sent a chill down her spine.

She arrived at Snape's office as usual and let herself in after a light tap on the door. Finding her professor slumped at his desk with his head in his hands tightened her chest, leaving her breath short. She knew he had been furious over the incident earlier in the day and would have been anxious about Malfoy's well-being, but she had not expected this.

"Professor? Professor?"

No response.

Kneeling beside him, she gently brushed a lock of hair from his face. "Professor?" Hermione could see he was breathing regularly, and his eyes were opened, but unfocussed, expression as bleak as she had ever seen. Silently cursing whoever had brought him to this state, she gathered him into her arms and crooned, "What's wrong? Please answer me... Severus?"

At the last, he slowly lifted his head. His voice was a rough whisper, so quiet she had to strain to hear his words. "I don't want to die, Hermione. I don't want anyone to die. I thought I was ready; I thought I could bear the price for my sins, but today..." He broke down and sobbed, as distraught as he had been on that first night.

"Whatever are you talking about, Professor? What has happened? Malfoy is fine; you healed him yourself," she soothed, awkwardly stroking his hair as he wept into her robes.

After a short time, Snape visibly hauled his composure back into place and sat back in his chair. Head bowed, he spoke without meeting her gaze. "He could have died. Potter used that curse in anger without knowing the consequences. The boy is an arrogant fool who knows not what he risks... or whom," he whispered.

"Believe me, I told him as much myself," Hermione murmured, still holding Snape's hand. The man should still be fuming; she'd half expected to have been tossed out unceremoniously when she had arrived. Why was he so distressed? "Tell me about it. Why has this upset you so?"

"You don't understand anything, girl. My life would have been forfeit as well as Malfoy's. And then where would the old man be without his faithful servant to do his bidding and carry information." His bitterness was palpable.

"Your life?" Hermione's thoughts spun as she pulled together threads of information and wove them into a frightening, inescapable conclusion. "Your life would have been forfeit if Draco had died. An Unbreakable Vow, then... but why? Why would you do such a thing?"

His despair permeated her very soul, causing her to shudder at the chilling reality of his existence.

"I had no choice. Once again, my actions were dictated by others; my life is worthless to them – to anyone."

"Not to me, Professor. Never to me."

Her unwavering faith bathed him in fickle hope, but he resolutely turned away from the temptation. She knew not the task he had to fulfil. Much as he wanted to believe she would remain steadfast in her support, he was certain her trust would burn into bitter ashes of hatred once the deed was done.

"Maybe not now, but soon you will regret that assertion. Soon you will view me with the same contempt as everyone else, and I will deserve it. No-one will be left to absolve me. No-one!"

Hermione studied the man before her, a tear trailing down her cheek. "Professor Snape... Severus. Look at me." She took his face in her hands and compelled him to meet her gaze. "I believe in you. Whatever you have to do, however terrible, has to be done. Do you think I haven't noticed the headmaster's decline in health? Did I not witness your reaction to whatever he has tasked you with? You have vowed to keep Draco safe. He appears to be planning something – something so serious you have been compelled to Vow to protect him, presumably even if you need to complete the deed yourself. I assume you will need to make some grand gesture to establish your place in You-Know-Who's confidence at some stage before..." She could not continue, the expression on Snape's face confirming her deepest fears. "I don't want to know exactly what you have to do, but know this – I will never stop believing in you. If I have to single-handedly fight the entire Order to redeem your reputation, I will," she continued fiercely.

"You may not need to, my dear. When all this is over I suspect my motivations will be a moot point." Resignation dulled the rich timbre of his voice, leaving it flat and lifeless.

Hermione's confidence deserted her briefly in the face of his fatalistic attitude. Throwing herself at the surprised wizard, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Do not even think that! If you try and die on me, Severus Snape, I shall hunt you down and mother you back to life. And that's not a threat– it's a promise!"

His hands stole around her, awkwardly patting her shoulders as she held fast to his robes. "If anyone could do that, Hermione, it would be you. But you have more important things to worry about, like ensuring your hot-headed friend survives long enough to fulfil the cursed prophecy and get rid of that maniac I have to bow down to whenever I am summoned. If I die knowing he has been defeated, I will die a satisfied man." He sighed, resting his chin in her curls for a long moment as they drew strength from one another.

The young witch drew back from her professor's embrace, flushing slightly as she realised she had been hugging him unashamedly. "S-sorry about that. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Shh. I believe friends are allowed to comfort each other. You have done your fair share over the last few weeks. Are you feeling better now?" he asked.

"A little. And you?" She looked up and was blessed with a rare smile.

"Nothing a little tea and chocolate wouldn't help." His attempt to lighten the mood succeeded, and soon they had shunted their fear and anxiety to the darkest corners of their minds as they heatedly discussed the prospects for the upcoming Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, carefully avoiding the topic of Harry's detention.

***

Over the next few days, Hermione spent most of her time avoiding the accusation in her friends' eyes. Harry and Ron still hadn't forgiven her, and Ginny was fierce in her support of Harry's point of view. Her excitement at being chosen as substitute Seeker was tempered by the reason she was needed at all. Snape was berated by every Gryffindor bar one as spiteful and unfair, wanting only to ruin Gryffindor's chances at the House Cup. She had given up trying to explain she was not supporting Draco Malfoy just because she was appalled at Harry's actions in using an unknown curse on a fellow student.

Rounds and Snape's company became her sanctuary from terse greetings and stilted conversations. He never asked why she had taken to arriving every evening with a cloud above her head and a frown on her brow. Tea and intelligent conversation inevitably lifted her gloom and left her smiling in gratitude as she reluctantly returned to Gryffindor tower.

Ginny's success on Saturday and her subsequent claiming by Harry seemed to be the watershed. All was forgiven in the joy of the moment, and for once Hermione set off on her rounds with a smile on her lips and a light heart.

"You realise giving Harry detention today was the best thing that could have happened to him, don't you, Professor?" she teased.

"My intention was to punish, not reward him," he replied with a scowl over his cup.

"I'm sure it was, but if he hadn't been in detention, Ginny would never have played Seeker, and if she had not played Seeker and caught the Snitch, she would never have had the courage to just up and..."

"And what?" Now he was intrigued, if not a little nauseated at the thought he had somehow enhanced Potter's pathetic love life.

"Let's just say they are together, thanks to you." She grinned and raised her cup in a toast.

"Excellent. Just what I have always aspired to – matchmaking Gryffindors. My life is complete," he replied drily.

"Oh, don't sulk. It's not attractive on a grown man."

"Impertinent child. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't take points off for that remark," he demanded with a fierce look, so transparently fake she laughed out loud.

"Because I'm the only person in this damned castle who cares enough to call you out when you are being a git," she explained, compassion softening the words.

"Unfortunate, but true. I suppose I shall refrain this time then. But I really don't know why you bother, young lady. I'm too old and bitter to change my ways now." He sighed and gazed at the fire, wrestling with his impossible future.

"Don't be daft," she exclaimed, rising to move to his side. Cupping his cheek in her hand, she turned his face to meet her eyes. "You are not bloody old and only as bitter as you choose to be. Raise your expectations of life and reach out to people, Severus. You may be surprised at what you find." With that, she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, before turning and leaving the room before he had a chance to recover his power of speech.

Hermione reached her room deep in thought. Snape was so convinced he was alone. She knew she had to try and reach him soon; the headmaster, although keeping up appearances, was discernibly paler than usual and moved more slowly. Her professor – her friend – needed something tangible to remind him someone was on his side, no matter what happened in the future. Determined to prove her faith in him, she lay awake for hours pondering the problem and making plans.

***

The first weeks of June passed in a haze of sunshine and study. The clear summer skies and soft breezes had lightened hearts and blown forgiveness in Hermione's direction. Basking in the glow of Ginny's fierce attachment had allowed Harry to forget his friend's lack of support, although she supposed his sudden awareness of the imminent end of year tests had helped. Despite not sitting important external examinations, there were still the usual final assessments for the year to come, and with all his obsessing over Draco Malfoy, Harry had fallen a little behind. Ron was right there with him, pestering her for help with this or that overdue assignment and, despite breaking up with Lavender, still oblivious of her feelings.

Hermione sighed. Best friends they might be, but the minds of males remained an enigma. The most puzzling of all at times was Snape. Their unexpected friendship had strengthened over the weeks, despite secrecy meting out their time together into small, discrete parcels of tea and conversation. She had finally relaxed enough in the Defence professor's presence to be herself, confident now of his trust.

"You seem disgruntled, Hermione. What has upset you?" Snape asked as he poured the tea.

"Not what... who."

"Who, then?"

"Just Ronald, as usual. He never sees me, you know?" She sighed again and took her cup.

"No. I don't know. How can he not see you? You are with him most of the day." Sometimes Snape took things a little too literally.

She blushed. "I mean he doesn't see me as a girl. To him, I'm just his best friend – someone to help him with his homework and get him out of trouble."

"And why do you want Mr Weasley to see you as a girl? Surely, if he is that oblivious, he doesn't deserve your interest?"

Hermione's face fell. "But everyone else is paired up. I suppose I just feel... left out. Is there something wrong with me, Professor?"

"Hermione, my dear, even an antisocial curmudgeon like me can see you are a vibrant, beautiful young woman, and if I can see it, boys of your age would be blind to miss it."

"You do? Really?" she asked, staring at his face in wonder.

"I do. Really." At the sudden flash of anxiety in her eyes he added, "But don't worry, I don't think of you in that way. Good heavens, girl, I'm old enough to be your father! But I'm not blind, and I am a man." He smirked. "Well, I was last time I looked."

Hermione giggled and slapped his arm, just as she would the boys for that sort of comment. As she had suspected, the males of the species were all the same deep down. "You realise that was just what the boys would have said?"

"Merlin save me. They are infectious, and you are a carrier. Leave, woman, before you ruin me completely with your Gryffindor ways!"

"Oh, give over. If it wasn't for my Gryffindor ways I wouldn't be sitting here in the first place, and you know it."

Severus Snape contemplated the source of the strength he had needed to carry on after the night Dumbledore assigned his final, impossible task. "Indeed I do," he replied. "And I thank you for your courage and persistence."

"Severus Snape, it has been, and still is, an honour to know you." She raised her cup for an impromptu toast, challenge burning in her eyes. "To a future without Tom Riddle."

His cup met hers. "To a future..."

***

A/N: This was written for the Hermione Big Bang on LiveJournal, which celebrated Hermione's thirtieth birthday. Many thanks go to my friend and colleague, quaffswinegaily, who helped along the way, my beloved beta, ladyinthecloak, and my cheerleader, Michelle.