Putting Aside the Past

A/N: Here is chapter eight, all shiny and beta read for your reading pleasure. I'm afraid that I've caught up to myself, writing wise. But I have managed to finish the first draft of the next chapter and it's off to my beta, Vaughn, who (in case you hadn't heard) rocks! So it shouldn't be too long before the next update. Now if I could just get chapter 10 written!

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to leave me a review. Every update day, I wait with great impatience to see what you all think of the new chapter, and I'm so happy to see those review emails in my inbox! Thanks!

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Psychologically speaking, to discover something mysterious in objects is a symptom of cerebral abnormality related to certain kinds of insanity.

Giorgio de Chirico

After Hermione had healed the marks on Severus' chest, she had him lean forward over the worktable so that she could heal his back. She worked silently, lost in thought. It wasn't like her to get so worked up over what was obviously just a bit of lighthearted teasing. Yet, when Draco had joked about Severus fancying her, she'd been so flustered that she couldn't even retaliate in kind. It was absolutely ridiculous. She'd actually thought about hexing Severus, when she should have been glad that he could joke at all in his condition. It simply wasn't like her, to act like that, and Hermione found it confusing.

When she saw how much more comfortably Draco, Harry, and Ron were talking together after sharing a good laugh, Hermione decided that she was acting like a prat. Determining not to ruin the tentative good mood that permeated the room, Hermione forced herself to lighten up. When she had finished healing Snape's back, she healed the bruises on his left arm. They looked distressingly like a handprint.

I don't care what Remus said about Snape not wanting to leave that place; this is inexcusable. He obviously can't defend himself properly. If Draco can't keep the poor man safe, then he needs to be moved.

Noticing Snape's Dark Mark, Hermione sighed. It was a pity that all marks couldn't be healed as easily as a bruise could. Moving on to examine Severus' right arm, Hermione found it unmarked save a collection of small, circular burns on the inside of his forearm. When she tried to heal one with a spell, she found it oddly resistant.

"Severus," she asked calmly, "how did you get these burns?"

"Cigarette," he said with an exaggerated air of indifference to one of the bits of parchment scattered over the worktable.

"That was Crabbe Senior," Draco broke in to explain. "He smokes Muggle cigarettes. The bastard had Goyle hold Severus down while he did it. I found them at it and hexed the hell out of them both, but they'd already been at him for a while."

Closing her eyes for a moment in order to remain calm after hearing such a tale, Hermione knew she had to focus on the task at hand. If she showed signs of upset, she might spook Severus before she got these burns taken care of. She could get angry later, now was not the time. It was little wonder that the burns had been unresponsive. The basic healing spells that she knew worked better for magically induced wounds. Certainly someone like Madam Pomfrey would have been able to manage the task easily, but Hermione was no Healer, and she knew it. Luckily, she had a burn salve that should do the trick. Excusing herself from Severus for a moment, she went to the downstairs lav and fetched the jar of salve that she needed. When she returned, Hermione ran into a snag.

Taking one look at the jar in her hand, Severus gave it a look of complete and utter disgust and said, "Take that away. I'm not about to let you slather some moronic imbecile's idea of a potion on my bare skin. Have you gone mad?"

Now that was an odd comment indeed, coming as it did from Severus. Ignoring the irony, Hermione began to explain, "Severus, back when we were at..."

"Careful, Granger," Draco warned, his voice low but sharp.

Damn. Could she say nothing about Hogwarts to Severus without alarming him? Abruptly changing tacks, Hermione began again. "Severus, you know me very well. I may not be in your league, but I'm a fair hand at potions. I daresay that I can manage a simple burn salve."

"You made it yourself?" Severus said, still eyeing the jar distrustfully.

"Yes. I made it not three weeks ago, so it's well within its acceptable shelf life."

"Did you pick the ingredients by hand, or let some grimy-fingered shopwhore do it? Did you prepare the ingredients yourself?"

"Yes," Hermione replied. When Snape still looked wary, Hermione decided to take a chance. "I learned from a very good potions maker. I have not forgotten what he told me about such things."

"Oh for fuck's sake!" snapped Severus. "I was the bloody potions maker. I'm deranged; I'm not stupid!"

"If you aren't stupid, then stop acting like a spoiled child and let me heal those burns," Hermione said archly.

"Fine!" Severus growled. Despite his short tone, he dutifully held his arm up for Hermione to heal. Once it was sorted, Hermione asked, "Is there anything else that needs attention?"

"Not that you are going to see, you naughty little whore," Severus said teasingly. "You'll have to try harder than that if you intend to get me out of my trousers."

"Honestly!" Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

Deciding that she needed to get away from Snape and his teasing before she did something she'd regret, Hermione went over to the group of men sitting around the coffee table and sat on the sofa with Ron and Harry. Ron and Harry were doing their best to talk civilly to Draco, who sat in one of the wingback chairs. Remus, who sat in the other chair, appeared to have dozed off. The poor man still looked exhausted. Perhaps now that Hermione and her friends knew about Draco and Severus, they could help the overworked werewolf out more. Having joined the young men in the middle of a conversation, Hermione tried to catch up.

"What do you mean that he isn't an Occlumens any longer?" Harry asked, his face showing his shock. "I didn't think that was a skill you could suddenly lose once you managed it."

"My dad told me that Aunt Bella was once one hell of an Occlumens. Bella lost the skill when she began to lose her mind. When Severus and I started working with Remus, I remembered what Dad had said and I was worried about it. So I tested him. The way he is now, any Legilimens that has any talent at all can get in easily."

"Good Merlin!" said Ron. "How in the world do you manage? He could give the whole game away at any moment!"

Tilting her head in thought, Hermione said, "I suppose that's why he rarely looks anyone in the eye, isn't it?"

"Rarely? Try never...unless it's me," Draco said. "He doesn't seem to have any trouble meeting my eyes."

"Severus has looked me in the eye at least twice," said Hermione. "It was very brief, both times, but he did do it. He did so just now, when I asked if I could heal him."

"Huh," Draco said, nonplussed. "You know I was just ribbing you, when I said that he might fancy you...now I'm not so sure it's all that funny."

"Oh please!" Hermione said, her voice conveying exactly what she thought of that idea. "That is...well...it's just ridiculous!"

"Maybe so," Draco said, chuckling, "but it's clear that he trusts you more than most people. Severus won't even look Remus in the eye."

"As amusing as all this is, I'm still concerned about Severus no longer being an Occlumens," Harry interjected. "If Voldemort finds out that Severus can get into this house--"

"You don't have to worry," Draco said confidently. "His mind may be as open as a barn door, but for some reason it always shows the same memory when you try Legilimency on Severus."

"What memory is that?" Ron asked curiously.

"I assure you it's perfectly harmless," Draco began. Unfortunately, he was distracted by Severus before he continued. Otherwise, the three friends may have found out something that was either a great clue or a very strange coincidence. "Oh, for heaven's sake! Would you look at the man!"

Following Draco's eyes, Hermione saw Severus, standing in front of the suit of armor. Severus was having a heated...if one-sided...discussion with the armor about the necessity for using the freshest fluxweed available when brewing Polyjuice Potion.

"Just look at him!" Draco repeated. "He always talks to objects instead of people, but when he starts to have discussions with them, it means that he's completely knackered. Look, I know the four of us have never gotten along, and I'd hoped to leave you in peace as soon as possible, but I'll never get him anywhere, what with him so tired. Severus only sleeps a couple of hours at a time. Is there somewhere here where you wouldn't mind him taking a kip?"

While Ron and Harry fidgeted, Hermione said, "He can use my room...it's right next door. I'll show him."

As Hermione rose to go get Severus, Draco said, "You can't just show him where and assume he'll sleep. Tell him outright to lie down and take a nap, or he'll just wander around in your room for hours, talking to the furniture."

Holding out her hand to him, Hermione said, "Severus, come with me." She could see the weariness in his eyes, and when he placed his hand in hers and meekly let her lead him from the room, he reminded Hermione of a little boy who was long overdue for a nap. Once in her bedroom, Hermione led him to the bed and told him to lie down. Though he followed her orders easily enough, he looked nervous and antsy.

"Severus, you should sleep now," Hermione said kindly.

"It's not safe," Severus said, his voice a nervous whisper. "It's not safe to sleep."

Sitting near him on the side of the bed, Hermione tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. He seemed very much like a little boy, lying there frightened, as if he were afraid of nightmares. Unfortunately, Hermione knew that the things that frightened this poor, mixed-up man were all too real.

"You're safe here," she said softly. "No one can hurt you here. Remember how you couldn't see the house when you got here? The people that hurt you can't see it either, and Harry isn't about to show them how to get in."

"The whore's son doesn't even like me." Severus said gruffly. "Why shouldn't he let them all in?"

"It's true that Harry doesn't like you very much," Hermione agreed. "But he doesn't wish you to come to any harm. You don't like Harry much either, do you?"

"Not much!" Severus said with a sudden, rather inappropriate grin.

"But you wouldn't hurt Harry, would you?"

"No. I wouldn't hurt the brat of a whore," Severus admitted reluctantly.

"You see? That's the same thing. You are safe in Harry's house, and he's not about to let anyone in to hurt you. Besides, I'm here, aren't I? And I like you just fine. I won't let anyone in here to hurt you. All right?"

For one brief moment, Severus looked directly into Hermione's eyes. "Pretty little whore," he cooed sleepily. "Such a pretty little whore."

Rising from the bed, Hermione leaned over and gave Severus a small kiss on the forehead. She looked much like a mother tucking a frightened child into bed. "Sleep now," she whispered. "All will be well."

"You'll leave!" he said suddenly. "You'll all leave me alone in this ugly old whore of a house!"

"We won't," Hermione said gently. "Draco is here, and he wouldn't leave you, would he?"

"I suppose not," Severus grumbled.

"And I am here. I'm not going to leave you either. I promise. We will be in the library, right next door. When you wake up, you can come right over to the library and see us. All right?"

"I suppose," Severus said sleepily.

Leaning over to give him one more peck on the forehead, Hermione saw that he was fast asleep. Quietly, she left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar behind her. Returning to the library, Hermione saw that Remus was once more awake, and the men were again in the midst of a discussion.

"There is only one solution that I can see, as much as I hate the idea," Harry was saying as Hermione reentered the library. "He'll have to stay here."

"Harry!" Ron yelped. "Surely you're joking! We've got some serious work cut out for us. How are we going to accomplish anything with that yampy bastard living here?"

"He wouldn't be much trouble here, actually," Draco broke in. "I've had to run myself ragged trying to keep the other Death Eaters from giving him hell, but you won't have that problem here. Severus is pretty content to keep himself occupied. You'd only have to make sure he remembers to sleep, and eat, and shower from time to time. It's a bit like having a fairly self-sufficient toddler around."

"I was thinking much the same thing when I put him to bed. It was a bit like I was tucking him in, if you know what I mean," Hermione said with a smile.

"Hermione," Ron said tensely, "don't tell me that you are for this plan? However you look at it, having a madman underfoot is going to be nothing but trouble!"

"I don't think it would be as bad as all that," Hermione said coolly. "You and Harry have to leave the house a lot, but my research is here. I hardly ever go out anymore. I could keep an eye on Severus while you two work in the field."

"I still don't like it," Ron said stubbornly.

"I don't think that any of us like the idea, Ron," Hermione began sensibly, "but it's the right thing to do. He can't protect himself, Ron. You saw the shape he was in when he took his shirt off. It would be unnecessarily cruel to send him back to that when we can offer him safety here."

"I don't like the bastard, but I don't want him hurt," Ron reluctantly admitted. "Harry, I'll leave it to you. If you think that this mad idea is what we should do, then I won't fight it."

"Potter," Draco said, "I know we've never got on well, but it would mean a great deal to me to have Severus safe. It would also leave me freer to do my bit for the Order. I'd owe you."

"Nonsense," Harry said simply. "If having Snape here means that you are more free to spy, then that's reason enough right there. Look, Malfoy, we may never adore each other, but I'm willing to put our schoolboy scuffles in the past if you are. I keep thinking about how Snape and Sirius acted. They were working on the same side, but always at each other's throats because of something that happened years ago. Don't get me wrong; I loved my godfather, but I don't want to be like that."

"Sirius could never let go of the past," Remus said quietly. "It was his greatest fault. Of course, Severus didn't help matters any. Those two were always like oil and water."

Standing, Draco approached Harry and held out his hand. "I think I can try to let go of the past if you can," he said firmly.

Shaking the proffered hand, Harry gave a nod of agreement. Draco went on to shake Ron and Hermione's hands as well before he returned to his seat in the wingback chair.

"As nice as it is to see you all talking together without any hexes flying," Remus said with a lopsided grin, "I'm afraid that we still have a problem." His expression turned more serious as he continued. "This house is still Order headquarters. What do you think the other Order members are going to do when they pop in and find the man who killed Albus talking to the potted plants?"

"Good grief!" Harry said, dropping his head into his hands. "I hadn't thought about that."