Settling In For The Night

Nevermore by Pearle

Summary: The war is long over and life has settled into a comfortable routine. Harry and his team of specialists have been charged with tracking down and dismantling Dark objects. While not part of the team, Harry has had occasion to call on his best friend's husband to help them. What started out as routine turned out to be anything but. One question remained: how was he going to explain to Hermione her husband had been turned into a bird?

A response to SouthernWitch69's chapter challenge. Challenge rules follow chapter one.

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc., of the Harry Potter series are not mine; they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.

~~~ Nevermore ~~~

Chapter 3 – Settling In For The Night

Night fell, and with it did not come the answers Harry had hoped for. The raven had given up helping them. It circled the room a few times before coming to land on the back of the sofa next to Hermione.

"Stretching your wings, dear?" Hermione cast a critical eye at the bird. "Well, a raven makes sense. Black always was your colour."

Tonks giggled. "I don't think I could picture the Professor in anything but black. Could you imagine if he'd turned into a blue jay or a robin?"

Hermione laughed along with the witch. "I'm sure he would have avoided turning into a cardinal, too. Too close to Gryffindor red."

The bird cawed loudly and flapped its wings with indignation.

"I'm sorry, Severus. I wasn't laughing at you, but this whole situation has unnerved me. How could you be so bloody stupid as to turn yourself into a bird?" Hermione's voice rose shrilly as she yelled at the raven.

The bird, in turn, cawed harshly at the witch.

"Don't you take that tone with me! I'm not the berk that turned himself into a bird. What happens if they can't change you back? Did you ever think of that?" The bird fell silent, dropping his head rather than look at Hermione. "Oh, Severus, what if they can't change you back?"

"It's getting rather late. Why don't we all take a break, I believe we can use one. I'll Floo the kitchen for some sandwiches. Don't worry, dear, we'll find the answer." Minerva smiled at the distraught witch.

"Severus needs something to eat, too."

"Yes, of course, I'll have the elves send up some nice rare roast beef. That should set him to rights."

"Maybe Remus can shed some light on what happened. He was the Defence Against the Dark Arts instructor; not only that, he transforms every month into a wolf. Any chance you know where he is, Harry?" Tonks helped herself to a sandwich and glass of pumpkin juice. She was surprised to find she was famished, but then they had missed lunch in all the excitement.

"That thought crossed my mind, too." Harry grinned crookedly. "Shouldn't you know where he is better than me?"

"I'm not the one who sent him out on his last assignment."

"Right, well, he should be checking in at the Ministry soon, then."

An uneasy silence fell as they watched the raven dig into the plate of roast beef Hermione had placed before him.

"Take it easy. I would rather you didn't choke on that before they get the chance to turn you back."

The bird looked up, his black eyes glittering angrily. He cawed loudly before returning to his meal.

Crookshanks surveyed the bird from his post on the hearth. The half-Kneazle had spent the day wandering around the castle, only to return home and find a strange bird roosting near his mistress. While he hadn't detected any harmful intent from the strange bird, the cat thought he should keep an eye on the raven anyway.

Hermione sat heavily in one of the two chairs facing the fireplace, wrapping her arms around her as she shuddered. "What if you can't turn him back?" she asked softly.

"We'll figure it out, Hermione. I promise. It may take some time, but we will figure it out."

The group returned to the far side of the room, gathering around the desk again.

Hermione watched the raven finish his meal. He ate ravenously, tearing viciously into the rare beef. When the plate was picked clean, he glided over to the other chair and perched on the arm. He met the witch's stare with a slight nod before turning to the task of grooming his claws and feathers.

A single tear made its way down the young woman's cheek as she watched the raven perform his ablutions.

Her husband was a bird.

It was sometime later, aroused from her stupor, that Hermione became aware of the group breaking up.

"Hermione, it's rather late. I really think we should stop and get some rest. Tackle this in the morning when we're all fresh and Remus can join us. I'm sure by this time tomorrow you'll have Snape back, surly as ever." Harry couldn't help but flinch at the haunted look in his friend's eyes. While he thought Snape was entirely responsible for the situation he had gotten himself into, he still felt he should shoulder some of the burden himself. Snape would not have been at the Manor if he hadn't called him. "By tomorrow, all this will be a bad memory. You'll see."

"If you like, Potter, I can have the elves prepare guest rooms here in the castle, or you may accompany me to my office and use the Floo if you wish to return to the Ministry." Minerva tried to look everywhere but at the raven and failed miserably. She could just imagine Severus's anger when he was restored to human form.

"Thank you, but I think I'd rather return home tonight. Really, there's no reason I can't Apparate."

"If you're tired..."

"I'm fine. Tonks, Bill, Thomas?" It was generally agreed they would all go home and return to the Snapes's quarters at nine the following morning.

"Uhm, you, ah, might want to leave the window open tonight. I know he's Snape and all, but he still is a... well, physically, he's still a bird." Harry blushed, not sure his meaning was clear.

The raven cawed loudly, glaring at Harry.

"Right, well, time to go," Harry stammered awkwardly.

"Very well, I'll walk you to the main entrance. Hermione, if there's anything you need, just call me. I'll leave the Floo connection open between our quarters."

"Thank you, Minerva, we'll be fine. I'll see you all tomorrow." Hermione hugged each as they left, nodding graciously as they assured her they would find a way to turn her husband back into a human being. The raven cawed loudly to the chorus of goodbyes sent his way.

Hermione closed the door on the group and silence filled the room. She leaned back against the door and glared at the raven. "I can't believe you did something so stupid as to get yourself turned into a bird. What were you thinking?" Her voice rose in anger as she closed the distance between the door and the bird.

The raven sat quietly, looking at her, his black gaze meeting her glare. An almost imperceptible shrug of his shoulders seemed to say: "Obviously, I wasn't thinking. What can I tell you?"

"I'm tired. I'm going to bed. I suppose..." Hermione watched the raven hop from foot to foot. "I suppose you'll perch wherever tonight. Crooks, mind your manners and leave Severus alone."

Hermione cast a modified Portkey spell on the enchanted window. The spell would transport the bird directly to the Astronomy Tower. Their quarters were located under the lake. Opening a window would only serve to flood the room.

"There, just make sure you use the same window to come back. It's keyed to your magic signature." Her voice softened as she raised her hand to tentatively pat the sleek black head of the bird. "Be careful, Severus, I don't think I could take it if something else happened to you."

The raven nuzzled her hand, nodding his understanding. With a loud caw, he took off for the enchanted window and disappeared from sight.

Dejectedly, Hermione got ready for bed. It would be the first time in three years she had slept alone. Curling up with Severus at the end of the day was something she looked forward to. The bed felt large and foreboding as she lay there alone, tears slowing running down her cheeks. She missed her husband. What if they couldn't turn him back?

Tenderly, Hermione stroked his pillow before pulling it to her. His scent clung to the silk fabric, making her loneliness all the more unbearable. She thought back to the first time she had visited Severus in his quarters.

It was two years after the war had ended, Hogwarts had finally been restored to its former majesty. The fighting at the final battle had taken its toll on the ancient castle. It had taken all of Harry influence, plus his status as the boy who lived to defeat the Dark Lord once and for all, to get the Ministry to agree to reopen the school. Harry was determined to honour Dumbledore's memory. What better way then to reopen his beloved school? Ron and Hermione had joined in the cause, the Golden trio together once again.

Six months later, they were married.

And now her husband was a bird.

TBC

Prisoner of Azkaban

"They didn't see what they thought they saw!"

A/N: A grateful thank you to my beta, Nakhash, for her corrections, suggestions, and never-ending supply of commas, she is truly the best of the best. Another set of eyes is always helpful, the mistakes, however, are still mine.

Let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! As always, thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are most welcome.

Pearle