Three

Many thanks to my wonderful beta melusin and my lovely alpha readers chivalric and savine_snape.

Sometimes glass glitters more than diamonds because it has more to prove.

~ Terry Pratchett

~~~^~~~

The gates shimmered into view before her. Hermione waited a few seconds until the spinning sensation stopped. The clear autumn sunlight made the winged boars on top of the pillars flanking the gate seem almost alive. Behind the gates, the path leading up to the castle lay calm and peaceful.

Shouting, accompanied by flashes of light from various wands... crumbling stones... glass shattering from windows... more shouting mixed with screaming... broken, dead bodies on the ground...

Hermione pushed the images assaulting her back to a very deep realm of her unconscious and deliberately focused on the distant castle, looking whole and healthy in the sunshine.

Without noticing it, Hermione had begun to pace in front of the gates, looking at her watch for the fifth time in as many minutes. Ten more minutes. Assuming Severus showed up as planned.

Dark, guarded eyes seemed to look up at her from behind a curtain of black hair with a few silver threads running through it.

Since their meeting three days ago, she'd thought about those eyes while she was having a shower, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner, during her way to and from work, before she went to sleep and when she woke up. When she wasn't thinking about his eyes, she thought about his hands and the way he looked much nicer now, or about his motives for getting involved in this.

Eight to ten. More pacing.

The air started swirling, signalling the arrival of another. Hermione put a hand on her wand, but withdrew it when she recognised the form of Severus Snape materialising next to her.

He briefly nodded in greeting before he turned towards the gates. Hermione saw his back go rigid and his face freeze. He stood still as if he'd been hit by a Petrificus Totalus, eyes fixed at the looming silhouette of the castle in the distance.

Hermione sidled closer to him and put her hand in his. 'You've never been back, have you,' she said softly.

The shake of Severus' head was barely noticeable. Hermione squeezed his hand. He didn't show any obvious reaction, but seemed to relax a fraction.

Minerva came striding down the path towards them. With a swish of her wand, the gates opened, allowing Severus and Hermione entrance to Hogwarts' grounds.

Hermione hadn't realised that she was still holding Severus' hand until Minerva's eyes came to rest on their linked fingers. Severus must have noticed at the same time as Hermione felt his hand withdraw.

Minerva took another few steps towards them, her hand outstretched. 'Severus.'

'Headmistress.' A stiff nod.

Minerva stopped dead in her tracks as if someone had slapped her.

Hermione quickly stepped in, taking Minerva's hand. 'Minerva, it's good to see you.'

'Hermione. How are you?'

'Fine, thank you.' They had begun to trek up to the castle. Minerva and Hermione were leading the way, Severus trailing behind. 'How are you? How are things at the school?'

'Fine,' Minerva replied.

Silence was stretching between them as they ascended the narrow path. Had the way from the gates always been this long?

'When I said "fine" earlier, I meant great. Really, it's going great. Padma and I have a lot of work, and new clients keep coming in. Which is really good, considering we've only been in business for a year. Of course, some people knew us already from when we were working for the MLE, and did you know that Draco Malfoy of all people is helping us? Establishing contacts and all that. Of course, it's been really helpful; you know how it is. I mean, who would have thought a year ago when we started that we'd really make a go of it. And we keep acquiring new clients, and really, being on the other side of the Wizengamot is so much more interesting...' Hermione seemed unable to stop the stream of words that was coming out of her mouth.

Minerva, who had no chance of getting a word in edgewise, seemed to be content to make the appropriate noises whenever Hermione had to pause to take a breath; yet, she looked oddly relieved when they finally reached the Entrance Hall.

They had stopped at the foot of the staircase. 'Would you like a cup of tea?' Minerva offered.

'No.' Severus had crossed his arms in front of him and was peering up the staircase.

Hermione cast a glance at him. He looked decidedly uncomfortable underneath the stony expression on his face. 'I think it might be best if we started right away,' she said.

Minerva nodded stiffly. 'Very well, then. I trust you both know the way to the library. Irma will let you into the Restricted Section.'

Without a further word, Severus began mounting the stairs.

'Thank you, Minerva. I'll talk to you later,' Hermione said before she followed him.

She caught up with him at the top of the stairs. Saturday morning meant that there were a lot of students about in the corridors. Several stopped and stared at them...well, mostly at Severus...and Hermione could hear some distinct whispering as they passed a group in Quidditch training gear. If Severus heard it too, he pretended not to notice; he simply stalked through the hallway, the crowd parting before him. Just like in the old days. Hermione thought with a small grin.

~~~^~~~

In the library, Madam Pince greeted her with a perfunctory nod and a short, 'Miss Granger,' before she exclaimed, 'Severus,' and enveloped him in a hug. To Hermione's surprise, he returned the hug, looking pleased.

'Minerva told me you'd be coming.' Madam Pince was beaming at Severus. 'Come. I've set up a little workspace for you back in the Restricted Section.'

'Thank you,' Severus said.

She led the way, still holding Severus by the arm and nattering on about the latest acquisitions in the Dark Arts.

'Don't mind me,' Hermione muttered as she followed them. Who knew Madam Pince could be so enthusiastic about something that wasn't a book?

After Madam Pince had settled them, or rather Severus, at the table in the corner while Hermione made herself comfortable, she left them to their research.

Hermione cast a quizzical glance at Severus, but he didn't look like he was going to volunteer any explanation. Not that she had thought he would. She pulled a folder out of her bag. 'I've made a list of books that I think might be helpful...' she began, seeing that Severus had taken a list from a pocket of his robes.

'I don't like to waste my time.' He raised an eyebrow at her baffled expression.

'So I see.' She continued to stare at his list.

'Shall we go and find some books, then?' Severus asked, a definite note of amusement in his voice. 'Unless you'd like to contemplate my list-making skills for a bit longer, of course.'

'Erm, yes. Finding books.' Hermione practically fled into the stacks. She paused as soon as she was out of sight. Severus had a list. She felt like doing a little dance. Finally, someone who understood the necessity of being prepared and didn't expect her to wipe his arse for him.

Though from what she'd seen so far...despite the voluminous robes he was wearing...it seemed to be a rather nice arse. Hermione began to mentally make a list of Things To Do With Severus that involved a variety of his body parts. Not to mention that the man liked lists. Which brought her fantasies to a crashing halt.

Right: list, books, research about obscure curses.

Her heart began to beat faster again. This time, not in the rhythm she'd come to associate with Snape, but in the rhythm that was reserved for research...though today, the two seemed to be oddly similar. Hermione consulted her list again and started to wander slowly through the corridors between the shelves, pulling out a book here and there to leaf through it. Either it went back to its place on the shelf or it was added to the growing stack floating behind her.

The smell of parchment, old leather and the specific odour of well-kept books drifted into her nose. Hermione inhaled deeply. It smelled like home. Like the place where she had always felt safest in the world; like her refuge where she was always welcome and understood. She ran her fingertips reverently over some of the spines, making the books purr. A content little sigh escaped her as she made her way back to the table.

Severus was back already, sat at the table, his head in a book. He glanced up briefly when Hermione's books landed on the table with a soft "thump" before he buried his nose in the book again, his hair falling forward to obscure his face. He looked a lot more content than Hermione had seen him since he'd come to her office a few days ago.

Had it really been only a few days ago? How had he managed to sneak his way into her thoughts so constantly in such a short time?

It's not only your thoughts he's sneaked into, is it? The little voice in Hermione's head piped up.

She shushed it and...again...directed her thoughts back to the research at hand. She picked the most promising book from her stack and started to read.

They worked in silence, both of them making notes on the parchments lying next to them, but neither feeling the need to talk. Hermione occasionally glanced at Severus. He seemed to be fully concentrated on his reading, though she could have sworn she felt his eyes resting on her every now and then, too, but she never caught him at it.

Neither noticed how much time had passed until a house-elf appeared with a soft "pop" next to their table, startling both of them. Hermione's hand immediately twitched towards her wand. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Severus making a similar gesture. Recognising the elf, she withdrew her hand.

'Madam Headmistress says to fetch you for dinner.' The house-elf bowed.

A dark scowl appeared on Severus' face, but before he had a chance to say anything, the elf added, 'Madam Headmistress says to tell Headmas...Mr Snape that there's Toad in the Hole. And elves have made onion gravy and mashed potatoes.'

'Tell Madam Headmistress she's a sneaky old bint.' Looking at the elf's pained expression, Severus added, 'No, don't tell her. I'll tell her myself. At dinner.'

He rose. 'Are you coming?' he asked Hermione, who had watched the exchange with interest and filed the knowledge away for further reference.

Severus' question was answered by an audible rumble from her stomach. A quick glance at her watch told her that breakfast had been a long time ago. She nodded and followed him out of the library.

'Found anything?' Hermione asked, extracting her foot from a step that suddenly had disappeared at their approach.

Severus shook his head. 'No, not even the slightest reference.'

'Me neither. I'll look again after dinner, though I'll probably come back tomorrow as well to go through the rest of the books,' she replied, navigating her foot over another dubious-looking step.

'That's rather a lot of books to go through on one's own,' Severus said.

'It is. Some assistance might be really helpful. Of course, it would need to be someone who knew what they were doing.'

Severus cast her a sidelong glance. 'I could think of worse ways of spending my Sunday.'

Hermione beamed at him as the third staircase in a row swung to accommodate Severus. Oddly enough, vanishing steps seemed to solidify as soon as his foot came near them, too.

~~~^~~~

As Hermione and Severus entered the Great Hall and made their way along the house tables, the level of noise increased considerably, and many students turned around to look at them or, more specifically, at Severus. Again, he seemed not to notice the stares and chattering, though he briefly glanced at the Slytherin table.

Two places had been laid at the Head table for them. Minerva had seated Severus between herself and the current Potions master. Hermione was sat on Minerva's other side.

Severus was soon deeply in conversation with the Potions master, which left her free to catch up with Minerva and enjoy the food. House-elves in general tended to be excellent cooks, and the Hogwarts elves were no exception.

For pudding, there was apple crumble with custard and, judging by the sly glimpse Minerva threw at the man next to her, this was another of Severus' favourites. Hermione added his taste in desserts to the list of Things She Liked About Severus as she scooped a second helping onto her plate.

The students soon started to shuffle out of the Great Hall, barely looking at the Head table anymore. Apparently, the news that Severus Snape, the Severus Snape, was at Hogwarts tonight had grown old quickly. Hermione had long stopped being newsworthy, which was fine with her.

Cups of coffee had appeared before the adults. Hermione sipped hers, feeling very mellow. Maybe another hour or three in the library and then go home, get a good night's sleep and come back early tomorrow. She turned to her neighbour. 'Minerva, I was wondering if it would be all right for us to come back tomorrow and continue our research? There's a lot more material than we expected.'

'Of course. You're welcome to use the library as long as you need.' Minerva paused. 'Actually, if you like, I can arrange guest rooms for you.'

Hermione cast a questioning glance at Severus, who...to her surprise...looked as mellow as she felt. He shrugged.

'That would be great. Thank you, Minerva.' Hermione smiled. She looked up at the enchanted ceiling that showed a clear evening sky, the candles not yet lit and suddenly her life in London felt pleasantly far away.

~~~^~~~

Hermione was making her way down from the owlery, the owl to Harry letting him know where she was safely on its way. Was that another consequence of the war? Even thirteen years down the line, both Harry and she always made sure to let the other know where they were.

Her musings were interrupted when she glanced out of one of the tower's windows and spotted a lone, dark figure strolling across the grounds towards the lake.

A walk after spending the day holed up in the library seemed like a very nice idea indeed. After a quick detour through the kitchens, Hermione was out in the grounds, too. Though autumn was clearly in the air, the evening was surprisingly mild. She wandered down the path that led to the water's edge. The lake was calm, with only an occasional mild breeze ruffling its surface. Nearly halfway around the lake, a beech tree spread its branches over a patch of grass. She found Snape sitting underneath it, staring at the lake. She walked up to him and asked, 'Mind if I join you?'

'Please do.' He pointed at a spot next to him.

Hermione cast a cushioning and a warming charm...it was September after all...before she sat down on the ground. She pulled out two shrunken bottles of bitter she had obtained from the kitchen elves earlier, enlarged them, and offered one to Severus.

'Cheers.'

They sat in peaceful silence, gazing over the lake and sipping their beers.

'I had completely forgotten how beautiful this place is,' Hermione said. 'I used to come here a lot.'

'It was one of my favourite places, too, during my first years here.'

Hermione imagined a stringy, pale boy with black hair stretched out beneath the tree, reading a book. What had he been like?

'I haven't been down here in a long time,' Severus said softly. 'It's good to be away from the castle for a bit.'

Hermione nodded, remembering the stares and whispers. Had he always felt the need to get away from the castle? Certainly during his year as Headmaster, any refuge must have been welcome. How had it been when he was a student? Or in the years before Voldemort returned? She hoped there were some good memories among all the horrible ones. Again, she knew better than to ask, but was glad he'd decided to stay overnight.

They sat in silence again, each busy with their own thoughts. Hermione leant back against the tree and sneaked a side-long glance at the man next to her. He seemed almost relaxed. She sidled a bit closer to him. His black wool robes looked cosy and warm. She contemplated leaning against him; maybe if she pretended to doze off, she could put her head on his shoulder, just so...

Hermione's reverie ended abruptly when Severus said, 'Can I ask you something?'

She had a feeling his question wouldn't include an invitation to snuggle closer to him. 'Go ahead.'

'Why did you decide to take on this case? And why are you putting so much effort into it? You don't seem to like Lucius very much.'

'I believe in justice. No one deserves to rot in Azkaban for a crime they didn't commit,' Hermione replied.

'Even if it's Lucius Malfoy?'

'Even if it's Lucius Malfoy. Besides, I don't know if I like him or not. Whenever I've met him over the last few years, he's been nothing but polite and respectful towards me. It may just be an act, but he does seem to have changed since the war.'

Severus nodded. 'He has. The last year under Voldemort's reign was hell for him and his family.' He hesitated. 'I'm not sure he ever thought through all that pure-blood crap properly to begin with. Lucius likes power, and he wanted his family to be safe; Voldemort seemed to offer him exactly what he wanted.' Severus paused again. 'Like all of us. However, having Voldemort take over his house and tormenting him, Draco and Narcissa, certainly changed Lucius' mind about a great many things.'

'Hm,' said Hermione. 'He and Draco seem very close.'

'Yes. It took them a while after the war, and Narcissa leaving for another man didn't help matters much, but eventually they reconciled.'

'How is he?'

'Glad to be home, I think. He's already starting to complain about his favourite shampoo being almost finished'

'That sounds like Lucius.' She grinned as she pictured Lucius wearing an elegant bathrobe...definitely Egyptian cotton not polyester...standing in a luxurious bathroom, shaking a nearly empty shampoo bottle.

Without noticing it, Hermione had started to trace her fingertip along the rim of the bottleneck. 'Can I ask you something as well?'

'Can't stop you asking. I don't promise to answer, though.'

'Why are you so interested in all of this?'

'I believe in justice,' Severus replied.

'Uh-huh. And Lucius Malfoy's case just so happened to show up on your personal "let's claim fair proceedings for all" radar.'

'You'd be surprised about the things that show up on my radar.' His dark eyes looked at her with an intensity that made heat spread all through her body.

Which would have been nice, actually, if she hadn't been so determined to find out what was behind his dedication to this case. She didn't fail to notice that she rather liked his dark, intense eyes, though.

'Lucius is a friend,' Severus finally said.

Hermione nodded. That made sense. From what she knew about him, Severus was deeply loyal to his friends. Her eyes came to rest at the scar that was visible on his neck above the top of his collar.

She kept staring at it, and things began to fall into place. 'It was Lucius,' she said.

'Sorry?' Severus stared at her like a deer that had finds itself suddenly in front of very bright and shiny headlights.

'At the end of the war, Lucius found you in the Shrieking Shack. He saved you and hid you until you were ready to make a reappearance in the wizarding world.'

'Yes,' admitted Severus in a small voice.

Hermione felt her worldview shift. 'I'd never have thought Lucius capable of such a selfless act.'

'Lucius is capable of a great many things,' Severus said, sounding more like his usual self again.

'That, on the other hand, I have no trouble believing.'

They sat in companionable silence for a bit longer, and Severus didn't object when Hermione leant against him, though she didn't quite put her head on his shoulder.

Hermione refreshed her warming charm, but it didn't help much against the dampness that had begun to creep into her clothes. 'It's getting cold,' she mumbled sleepily.

'Yes, we should get back to the castle.'

Neither moved.

By the time they finally got up, it had become pitch-dark and only very few windows up at the castle were still illuminated.

They trudged up the stairs to the guest wing in silence until they reached their respective rooms.

'Goodnight, Hermione.'

'Goodnight, Severus. I'm glad you decided to come.' On impulse, she reached up and pressed a kiss to his cheek and then disappeared quickly into her room before he had time to react.

~~~^~~~

Hermione didn't see Severus when she came down to breakfast the next day. The sun was shining; Sunday breakfast at Hogwarts was the stuff of legend, and she had a whole day in a fabulous library ahead of her. Life was good. Which of course had nothing to do with the fact that the day in the fabulous library would include Severus. Nothing at all.

She was happily munching a bowl of cereal, only half-listening to what Hooch was telling her, but managing to make the appropriate noises of interest whenever her mouth was empty to keep the conversation going, when Clarke, Flitwick's successor as Charms teacher, appeared on her other side.

'Morning,' she said with a scowl on her face, throwing down the Prophet on Sunday. 'It's a disgrace.'

Hermione pulled the newspaper towards her. "Bail for Notorious Death Eater" screamed the headline. Her good mood vanished like a Diricawl that has spotted danger. She didn't take the time to argue with Clarke, but hastily finished her breakfast before she practically ran up to the library.

Severus was already sat at their table, his nose buried in a book while he made notes on a sheet of parchment. He looked up when she approached. 'Morning, sleepyhead.'

'Morning. Have you seen today's paper?' Hermione asked.

'No. What happened?'

Hermione Accioed the Prophet from the circulation desk, hoping that Madam Pince would forgive her, and put it on top of the book Severus had been reading.

'Brilliant. Just the kind of publicity we need,' Severus said when he saw the headline. 'We'd better get on with our research.'

'My thoughts exactly,' Hermione replied, already busy with the next book.

~~~^~~~

It was late afternoon by the time they had worked their way through all the books on their list.

Hermione closed the last book with an audible "snap". 'Anything?' she asked.

Severus shook his head. 'No. Not even the faintest hint.'

'I haven't found anything, either.'

Severus quickly cast Muffliato. 'I suppose between us we've located all relevant books in here. Any suggestions?'

Hermione shrugged. 'I don't know. Maybe we have been going about this the wrong way. Maybe looking for someone who has a grudge against Andromeda or her family would be the better option.'

'How about everyone who has ever had the misfortune to pick up The Quibbler? Severus paused. 'Why don't we explore both options? Try to think about where the source of the curse could be and investigate the Tonks-Lovegood family at the same time?'

'Good idea. Let's hope either route yields a clue. Any clue.' She started to gather her belongings. 'I want to say goodbye to Minerva before we leave. Do you want to come?'

Severus took some time to put his parchments and quill in order, shrinking them and storing them meticulously into the pockets of his robe before he nodded.

They found Minerva in her office, marking essays.

'Thank you for letting us use the library and having us overnight,' Hermione said. 'It was nice to be here again. I just wish we'd had more time to talk.'

'That would have been nice,' Minerva agreed. 'You must come again soon, Hermione.'

Hermione nodded.

Severus had hovered behind them. Now, he took a step forward and extended a hand. 'Thank you.'

Minerva took his hand. 'Severus, I...'

'I know,' he said.

Their hands remained linked for some time before they let go.

'I see Slytherin is in the lead for the House Cup,' Severus quipped.

'It's early days yet,' Minerva replied with a smile.

~~~^~~~

Despite the lack of results concerning their case, Severus looked a lot more relaxed as they walked down to the gate than he had the day before. When they reached the Apparition point outside, he said, 'I'm going to Malfoy Manor to check on Lucius. Fancy coming along?'

Hermione fiddled with her cloak while she thought about Severus' suggestion.

Finally, she said, 'All right.'