Chapter Five: Researched

Disclaimer: The characters and settings belong to JKR. I made up the plot bit.

Chapter Five: Researched

As Minerva McGonagall's scolding penetrated his consciousness, Snape stepped back from Hermione and dropped his arms, shaking his head as his magic readjusted to the loss of hers. "Minerva? I... we... How did you know who we were?" He glanced at Hermione, whose glamour was still intact, and felt his own still short hair.

"The wards, Severus. Only a current headmaster of Hogwarts has full and complete access to the wards. When you disappeared, I was appointed headmistress, but my control over the wards has always been limited. You have no idea what problems that caused during the rebuilding, young man!"

"I had assumed the headship had passed to the new incumbent with my apparent demise."

"Obviously the castle knew more than we did. It clearly still believes you to be headmaster. I always suspected something was amiss when your portrait never woke, but assumed you had no desire to return to the scene where you had spent so much of your life under duress. When the wards were activated, there was only one person who could have been responsible. Your Glamour will not fool someone who is specifically looking for you."

"Which does not explain how you recognised Granger."

Minerva McGonagall allowed a most unheadmistresslike snort escape her. "You can thank Albus for that. He revealed long ago how Unspeakables, which I assume you two must be, are Chosen. I admit I have long cherished the hope that you had been Chosen, Severus, but I had often chided myself for being a foolish, delusional old woman. When I heard this morning of Hermione's disappearance, the thought entered my mind she may have been a candidate for the Department of Mysteries, along with a deep feeling of guilt knowing her supposed friends and I had neglected her badly enough for that to occur." She turned to Hermione. "It was an educated guess, but once you turned your face to me I knew it was correct."

Hermione reached out to clasp Minerva's hand. "You shouldn't feel guilty, Professor, my social isolation was mostly my own doing. Once my relationship with Ron and Harry failed, I tried to avoid them, which meant avoiding most of the rest of my friends as well."

"All this is very touching, but may I remind you we have a job to do?" Snape studied Minerva, assessing how much it was safe to reveal.

"She can help us, Snape. The Hogwarts library might contain the information we need to understand the wards," Hermione said in a low whisper.

"Very well." Snape nodded and turned back to his erstwhile colleague. "Minerva, have you noticed any change in the wards lately?"

"As a matter of fact, I have. They have appeared to fluctuate in strength over the last few weeks, but I've been unable to determine why. I did, however, place an alert of my own to warn me if there was any unusual activity around the castle wards, which is how I knew you were here."

"Professor, the same thing has been happening at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, and Muggles have been found in places they should not have been able to see." Hermione pointed towards the castle. "The school will not remain safe if we can't work out the source of the problem and correct it. There might be some useful information in the Restricted Section of the library, if you will allow us access."

Snape smirked. "You've always wanted an excuse to have free reign in there, Granger."

"She's right, Severus. It's your best source of information about the wards. I may also have some useful books in my office amongst Albus's collection. If you wish to come with me now, I'll let you into the library. The students don't return from their Easter break until next week, and Irma is away as well, so you'll have privacy to work."

Together, the three made their way up to the castle, a journey of both joy and pain reflected in the faces of both Unspeakables. Minerva, walking between them, felt the tension grow as they neared the huge, oak door to the Entrance Hall.

"It's always difficult the first time back," she said, her voice warm with understanding.

Hermione choked on guilt as she replied. "I should have come back sooner, to help with the rebuild at least, but I was trying to find my parents, and after that... I couldn't face it. Seeing the place where so many people had died... Seeing the castle so damaged. I just couldn't."

A strong arm pulled her close as she allowed tears to flow. Snape had his own demons to battle. "That year as headmaster, Minerva, I tried to protect the children as well as I could. I know you and the others didn't understand, but I had to do what I did."

With words insufficient to expiate their perceived sins, Minerva McGonagall enfolded them both into her forgiveness and love, holding them tight for long moments as they came to terms a little with their pasts.

"I think a drop of tea and some lunch would be in order, don't you?" The headmistress led them up to her office and settled them into comfortable armchairs at the fireplace before summoning a house-elf to provide much-needed sustenance.

"Now, you two start eating while I check Albus's private collection for anything pertaining to the castle wards." She smiled as she headed up the spiral stairs to her study.

Silence reigned for a few minutes while tea was poured and sandwiches consumed. As Snape relaxed into the welcome warmth of the room, so different to the atmosphere during his tenure, he felt Hermione's eyes on his face.

"What?"

She didn't bother dissembling. "I was just wondering. Before Professor McGonagall interrupted, had you discerned anything about the state of the wards?"

Snape leaned forward, finishing his last mouthful before he spoke. "Yes."

"And?"

"And what?"

Hermione almost growled in frustration. "You can be infuriatingly obtuse sometimes, Snape. What did you find out?"

"And you can be exceptionally easy to bait."

"Snape!"

His almost-smile widened. "All right. The wards appear to be weak because they are out of balance. I couldn't determine what exactly needs to be balanced, but it seems to have begun around five years ago and has recently escalated to the point where they are failing. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's also affecting the other areas in the same way."

Hermione thought a moment, then met his eyes to find a similar spark of insight.

"The final battle. That started it all. Why do you think it has taken five years to reach a critical point?"

"I have no idea, Granger. I hope the books you hold such store by will help."

At that moment, Minerva returned, carrying several hefty tomes. "These are all I could find. There are two books specifically dealing with the history of the castle wards and three more on warding in general. I suggest you take them all down to the library and check for any similar reference material there."

Snape stood and brushed a few crumbs from his jacket. "Shall we?" he asked.

***

Many hours later, Snape closed the final book and tossed his quill to one side. "I think we've exhausted the information available here, Granger. I suggest we return to Mute House and continue our research there."

"Mute House?"

"Where we live. Some wit decided it needed a name many years ago."

"He called that wit?"

"She was the Head Unspeakable at the time."

"She didn't get to that position by virtue of her creativity then?"

"You could do better?"

"The Lost Cause?"

"Now you're being the snark."

"It's the company I keep." Hermione glanced down as her stomach loudly protested the length of time since lunch.

"It sounds like I'm just in time. You mustn't allow him to work you so hard, Hermione. He was always one for skipping meals when he was elbow deep in research." Minerva brushed aside Hermione's protests and chivvied them both back to her office where a substantial meal awaited.

After a surprisingly pleasant interlude of good food and conversation, Minerva escorted Snape and Hermione to the gate. Turning to Snape, she spread her arms and said, "I know you have to, but before you do, will you answer one question and put an old biddy out of her misery?"

Snape nodded.

"What were you doing when I found you at the gates earlier?"

"Granger was helping me access the wards by feeding me some of her power."

"But that's not possible. No-one has been able to join their powers in that way for hundreds of years. What is going on between you two?"

"Nothing untoward, Minerva; I was only informed Granger was to be my partner three days ago, so you can rest your overprotective Gryffindor sensibilities. I understand our ability to link magic as little as you do. It's something we must also research, but at the moment it's of minor importance. Now, are you ready?"

"No, not yet. I have one more thing to say, Severus."

"Enlighten us then, woman; we have more work to do before the end of the day."

"I merely wanted to tell you both how proud I am to have known you and wish you well for the future. I know the wizarding world will be safer in your hands." She turned to Hermione and embraced her briefly. "Goodbye, dear girl. Watch out for Severus for me; he's rather dreadful at looking after himself." Facing Severus, she added, "And you take care of Hermione. She's not as tough as she thinks she is." With a tear in her eye, Minerva McGonagall kissed Snape on the cheek. "Do it now; I'm ready."

Hermione caught Snape's sleeve as he raised his wand. "No, you can't do this! Surely there's another way?"

"There isn't," he replied, shaking her hand off and completing the spell. "Obliviate!"

As Minerva slumped to the ground, Snape took Hermione's hand and Apparated them back to Mute House.

"Obliviate? Obliviate? I thought you were going to..."

"Spare me the hysterics, Granger. Do you really think I would do that?"

"I don't know what to think half the time. Did she have to have her memory of us wiped?"

"Standard Unspeakable policy, which you would know if Mellowes had allowed you time to learn the procedures. In the event of any recognition, or even suspicion, from anyone we knew previously, memory alteration is to be used. We must not be known to be alive. By anyone. Minerva knew; presumably Albus told her that as well."

"Yet another positive aspect of the job. If anyone cares enough to recognise me, they get their minds fried. Oh, joy."

"Get used to it, Granger. The same applies to everyone else here, even the boss." He turned and headed up the stairs. "Come on; we need to report our findings to McWhinney."

***

Two weeks later, Hermione had discovered many things. She had unearthed Snape's sense of humour, dry as a desert and just as harsh. She had found she didn't mind his company and secretly looked forward to their after dinner conversations. Even their frequent arguments were more satisfying and certainly more exhilarating than her previous dull existence.

The knowledge that her ex-professor was not a naturally tidy person came as a surprise, along with his inability to cook. Food was too imprecise according to her partner. However, despite all the information she was accumulating about Severus Snape, no enlightenment had followed on the wards issue.

"Dammit, Snape! What are we doing wrong? There must be something we're missing." She threw her quill to one side and dropped her head to the desk with a thump.

"Giving yourself concussion is hardly a solution, Granger. You'd be better to employ some of that fancy Arithmancy you were so proud of as a student."

Hermione looked up and frowned. "Say that again."

"You'd have more luck trying Arithmancy than knocking yourself out, woman."

Her sudden laugh and kiss on his forehead stunned Snape into silence for once.

"You brilliant, brilliant man! Why didn't I think of that before?" Hermione immediately took a fresh sheet of parchment and began filling it with figures and symbols.

"What exactly are you doing? Have you completely lost your mind, Granger?"

She shook her head, never lifting her eyes off her work. "Arithmancy, Snape. That's what we were missing. I just need to put all the information we've discovered into the right equation, and I should get an indication of the cause of the ward failure. We already know when it started, and we know where the effect is occurring and the end result. Hopefully, that's enough to calculate why."

Snape leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "I'll leave you to it then. Arithmancy was never my strong suit."

"Bollocks, Snape. You achieved an Outstanding in your N.E.W.T.s for that subject. You just don't want to admit I might be on to something."

"How do you know what my N.E.W.T.s scores were? Taking an undue interest, were you, Granger?" He smirked.

"Hardly. I wanted to see how my own overall grades compared with previous high scores. I beat yours by two points."

"Know-it-all!"

"Git! Now, go and brew a pot of tea, assuming you can boil the water without burning the kettle. Pretend you're in a potions lab and not in a kitchen. That might help." She waved him away as the numbers on her page started dancing and twirling in response to her silent lead.

***

A/N: This was written for silverdoe for the 2011 SSHG Exchange on LiveJournal. Many thanks to my beta, karelia.