Chapter 12: On Retribution Road

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.

A big hug of thanks goes out to VIVAvivacious for all of her help with beta-ing and improving this chapter.

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Staring at the sheet of paper in front of her, Hermione sighed heavily. She was stuck. There was one last problem with her map she had yet to solve.

She had been so determined over the past week that she would crack the case all on her own. Snape had offered to assist her in her research once, even offering a book to her he believed would be useful. She had all but rejected his offer twice and had continued in that manner, pouring over countless books and journals in search of the spell that would automatically include every person living in the areas the map covered, so when she said a name, anyone called by that name would show up on it as a dot with their name written above it.

She thanked the heavens for the Marauders and their ridiculous map that had assisted Harry, Ron, and her into and out of trouble countless times. Closing her eyes and letting her head fall back against the tall back of the armchair, she sighed again. She was frustrated by the lack of improvement in her map. She opened her eyes and began tidying up her things on the coffee table, noting it was past midnight. If she hadn't gotten any further by that point, staying up later wasn't going to help much, either.

'It's doesn't get any easier as the night wears on, does it?' asked Snape's voice from the door suddenly, startling her.

'If you're here to gloat over my lack of success, then I suggest you take your words and shove them somewhere useful,' Hermione said through gritted teeth, stacking the books on the table before her neatly.

Snape chuckled, the timbre of it sending chills down her spine. The man knew how to use his voice to his advantage. 'I'm not here to gloat, simply to offer my assistance tomorrow after you've had some rest. You've been struggling with the same thing for a week now. All you need is some sleep and another fresh pair of eyes.'

Hermione nodded reluctantly. Standing from the armchair, she made her way out of the study and walked up the stairs. Wearily, she walked into the bathroom and stripped out of her clothes, dropping them into the hamper before walking into the shower stall and turning on the water. She murmured a spell that adjusted it to the perfect temperature and quickly washed her hair and body before turning off the taps and walking out. Casting a drying spell on herself, she wrapped herself in a towel before making her way out into the hall to return to her room.

She was almost at her door when she paused and looked over her shoulder, noting Snape had stopped at the top of the stairs and was staring at her in shock. She felt her cheeks heating with a flush that travelled down her neck to her chest. She grasped the towel around her a little tighter and cleared her throat.

'Sorry,' she murmured before opening the door and dashing into her room.

Hermione closed the door behind her and rested her back against it, breathing heavily. What on earth was wrong with her? She never forgot to take a change of clothes with her to the bathroom. Snape had looked so shocked at seeing her in such a state of undress. She closed her eyes and sighed. She was mortified. Snape's cheeks had suffused with colour in embarrassment, also.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and a moment to get over it. Opening her eyes once more, she went to the bureau and pulled out a long-sleeved cotton shirt and long flannel pyjama pants. Sliding her knickers and clothes on, she went over to the bed and pulled the covers back just enough for her to slide in. Once nestled under the warm bedcovers, she closed her eyes and let the silence of the house lull her to sleep.

When the morning sunlight began to pour into her room through a gap in the curtain, Hermione found she could no longer think of another excuse to remain in bed. Stretching out her limbs, she pushed the covers back and threw her legs over the side of the bed, standing on the cold wood floor. She quickly hunted under the bed for her slippers and slid her feet into them before leaving her room and walking down to the bathroom to wash her face and relieve herself.

Once finished with her morning ablutions, she went down to the kitchen to find Snape at the table with the Daily Prophet and a mug of coffee. She saw him point at the percolator on the bench, indicating he had made enough for both of them. Grateful, she walked over and poured herself a cup before returning and sitting at the table. Assuming the night before was simply going to be dusted under the proverbial rug, she sipped the hot, black coffee, savouring the warmth as it slid down her throat.

She had awoken every morning for the past few days in the same fashion. Snape would always be awake before her, and she wouldn't have to put the coffee on herself. He was away from Hogwarts, and Voldemort's potion was now brewing down in the basement lab of the cottage for the Christmas break. The two of them hoped to have the potion finished by the time the holidays were over and Snape had to reassume his position as a teacher at the school.

'Are you feeling refreshed?' Snape asked from behind his paper.

'Yes, I suppose you were right about having some sleep,' she answered, placing her coffee down on the table in front of her but leaving her hands curled around the warm ceramic mug.

'When you've eaten something, we can begin on your research in the study,' he said, folding his paper neatly and tucking it under his arm as he stood to leave. 'I've already eaten – there is a plate on the stove with a heating charm on it. I hope you like toast with eggs sunny-side up.'

Hermione balked at him as he walked out. He had made her breakfast and coffee, offered to help her with her research, and had bossed her around that morning like she was back in school. Grumbling, she got up and collected the plate, removing the charm and Summoning a knife and fork from the drawers. After she had eaten a significant portion of the food, she cleared the plate and cleaned it up before leaving the kitchen in search of Snape. She found him sitting in the armchair she didn't use in the study.

'Explain to me why you are doing this,' he said as she sat down in the spare chair.

'Revenge,' she said simply, picking up her journal and spreading the map out on the table. 'I know you are familiar with the concept.'

Snape looked at her as though he'd just seen a ghost. She knew such a blunt delivery of her intentions might be the reason. What difference did it make if Snape cared or assisted her? She was going to go through with her plan, with or without his help, although she would prefer to have someone she could rely on have her back.

'Are you certain this is a path you wish to travel?' he asked, staring at her intently, his disapproval obvious. 'Because once you go down it, you will find it very difficult to turn back should you change your mind later.'

'Snape, all I need to know is if I need it, you will have my back,' she said seriously, glancing back down to her work.

'You will only ever find an ally in me, even if I am wary about the decision you have made,' he replied.

She nodded, somewhat relieved. She liked the man she had come to know over the past month and a half. He was not exactly kind to her, but he was not unfair; he gave her space when she needed it, helped her in any way she asked him, and was always trying to protect her, even in situations where she did not need it. She looked him in the eye and flashed him a brief but grateful smile.

'Thank you,' she murmured, ducking her eyes. 'Now, where is that book of yours you have been so eager to share with me?'

Snape smirked at her and produced the book from beside his chair, handing it to her. They worked together tirelessly for an hour or so until Hermione finally struck upon the spell Snape had been certain was contained within. It was all clear to her the moment she had begun reading the chapter in the journal. All she needed to do was gather all the data files for births, which could be easily accessed from any government-run organisation, and simply transfer that information to the map. Once she did that, the spell would automatically show the location of any person who had been registered in an official manner at birth.

The map would be very useful to the Ministry of Magic one day; however, there was only one person whose birth details she would enter into the map when she located them.

'This is genius,' she exclaimed to no one in particular. 'Where on earth did this book come from?'

'It belonged to my mother,' Snape answered, stirring her from her musings.

Hermione let her eyes drift up to the face of her companion. 'Your mother was a very clever lady,' she said on seeing the fondness in Snape's gaze at the mention of his mother.

'I'm not certain if she knew the spells in that book would become useful one day, but she invented them for the sole purpose of doing some good for our society,' he continued, a smile lifting a corner of his mouth. 'But, she was a clever woman and good with spells and charms. She went to Hogwarts in the same year as Minerva McGonagall, but the two were never close because my mother was a Ravenclaw, while Minerva was always as Gryffindor as they came. They fought each other for the top marks in all the classes they were in with one another.'

Hermione smiled at his story, reaching out a hand to rest lightly on his arm nearest her. 'I think I would have liked your mother,' she said truthfully.

'When I first met you, I thought you would end up just like Lily Potter did after she left Hogwarts. Either that, or you would be a second Minerva,' Snape said, a dark chuckle following his statement. 'I was never so relieved to see you continue your schooling as far as you could before this war got out of hand. I hope you intend to press on and finish what you started after all this is over.'

'I have every intention of pursuing my Arithmancy apprenticeship after the war is over and the... well, the Dark Lord is destroyed,' she answered firmly. 'Without Ron and Harry around to hassle me into joining them in Auror training, I will be able to simply do what I want with my life.'

'About your plans... when do you intend to seek out Greyback?'

Hermione blinked. 'As soon as possible,' she answered.

'Granger, this is a very dangerous mission...'

Hermione held a hand up, stalling anything else he wanted to say about the dangers of her plan. 'I will find him, and I will make him pay for what he did to Ron and me. You know what it is like. You understand why it is I have to do this.'

Snape closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose between two long fingers. 'Miss Granger, I am going to tell you something which might help you understand my reluctance,' he said, his words a little strained. 'When I first joined the Death Eaters as a young man of seventeen, I was tested on numerous occasions to prove my loyalty. One such time I was presented with a victim whom I was charged to kill because she openly rejected the Dark Lord.'

Hermione felt her stomach clench. 'Was it very difficult for you?'

He nodded, and she noticed his eyes were glazed over slightly. 'I had no wish to become a murderer, but was so caught up in all the pure-blood hypocrisy I had belted and even beaten into me during my years at Hogwarts by the other Slytherins and Lucius Malfoy.'

Hermione felt anger crackle through her on his behalf. She knew it had taken Snape a lot of courage to tell her that, but she still could not change her mind. She had to kill Greyback.

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A/N – A little sharing moment between them.