the Middle of the Middle

The Middle of the Middle.

Severus Snape sat in high-backed leather chair opposite Hermione Granger and licked the remaining crumbs of chocolate muffin from his fingertips. They had tasted sublime, and the coffee was a rich, bitter counterpoint to the sweet and sticky chocolate on his tongue. He felt utterly spoiled, and couldn't help but smile across at the stunning witch before him.

'You have hidden talents, Ms. Granger,' he said softly.

'You have no idea, Professor Snape. Now, shall we get down to it?' She lifted her wand and with a slight flick, the detritus of plates and coffee cups disappeared. She sat up straight and pulled down her shirt smartly.

Hermione took out a pad of paper and a Muggle biro pen, slipped a pair of silver-framed reading glasses from a soft, leather pouch on her desk and then looked up expectantly.

'So, Headmaster. What was it that you wished to discuss?'

The smile was gone from her face and her eyes were serious as they stared over the top of her spectacles at him. Severus felt his mouth go dry, and he realised he had been a fool to even think that she would capitulate to his wishes so easily. He had a feeling that being Slytherin wouldn't work either. He resolved to be honest, hoping he might gain ground.

'To be truthful with you Granger, I think I am about to waste both my time and yours, but I made a promise and I have to try to see it through. My life, such as it is, has been held forfeit by a Debt, and this Debt has now been called in,' he said quietly.

'You have a Life Debt?' Hermione sat forward and her tongue slipped out to lick her bottom lip in her eagerness for information. 'We did go back, you know. Actually we thought you were dead, to be frank. But when we arrived you had already gone, and we just thought your body had been collected along with the others.'

'Quite obviously, Granger, I am alive.' Severus pursed his lips. The talk of him being presumed dead had sent a chill up his spine, and he could feel a spark of frustration building.

'Of course. I apologise, Headmaster. I'm sure you have no wish to be reminded. Please go on,' she murmured, waving her biro at him like a stubby wand.

'As you know, Hogwarts has its own rules. After I had to leave the castle, Minerva took over my role as Head of the school. However, Hogwarts had other ideas and alerted those who saved my life.'

'You're saying the school still viewed you as Headmaster and that's why you're still alive?' Granger commented with a small smile.

'In a manner of speaking. I was saved by the house-elves.' Severus narrowed his eyes as Hermione Granger put down her pen and crossed her arms across her chest.

'I think I know where this is going and the answer is no, Headmaster.'

The witch set her mouth in a stubborn line. She certainly didn't look like she was going to smile at him again. Severus ran his fingertips across his lower lip and narrowed his eyes as he stared at Granger. Her eyes were like flint, and he fought hard not to smirk. He was reminded fully of his former student, and his inner Slytherin prodded him in just the right direction.

'Then I shall need to speak with the Keeper of the Books,' he murmured lowly with a frown. His gaze caught the slight flicker in Granger's face, then stood and smoothed his robes firmly before bowing slightly in her direction. 'A pleasure to see you, Ms. Granger.'

He started to walk towards the door and counted down in head 'Three, Two, One...' His hand was already on the door handle before she took the bait and he had to admit to being a little impressed at her restraint.

'Headmaster Snape,' she called out to him. 'Who is the Keeper of the Books? Did you mean Madame Pince?'

Severus smirked and turned to face her. 'The Keeper of the Books is a house-elf. Good day to you.'

With a swirl of robes, he opened the door and departed swiftly before she could catch him up. Now all he could do was return to Hogwarts and wait.

***

Hermione Granger stepped out of her Apparition and immediately tidied her hair. Being groomed for her work at the Ministry had become such a habit that even on her downtime; she couldn't help but be immaculate. She straightened her light navy jacket, took her wand from her pocket and then walked slowly towards the gates of her old school. Hogwarts looked just the same as ever, and it amazed Hermione that there were no residual signs of the war that had been fought within its walls and grounds. The gates were closed, but as she approached they swung open and Hermione frowned. If the castle was aware of her arrival then it stood to reason that so was the Headmaster, and she wasn't sure she was ready for that encounter just yet. His visit had rattled her in more ways than one, and in ways she hadn't anticipated.

Of course, there was the issue of the house-elves, which she had been rude to dismiss out of hand given that there was a life debt involved. But what had unnerved her most was the effect of his very presence on her libido. Hermione Granger was not a prude. Nor was she an innocent virgin. Hermione enjoyed good sex when it felt right, which was one of the reasons she had been more than happy to allow Ron his length of rope. It had worked like a charm, as she had known it would, and she had managed to extricate herself from a doomed marriage just in the nick of time, while at the same time protecting her position at the Ministry. Being a Muggle born witch meant that Hermione had to fight twice as hard for the respect she gained from her colleagues. Dumping Ronald Weasley would not have done her any favours and Lavender Brown was welcome to him, as far as Hermione was concerned. But there had been no 'significant other' since Ron, and Hermione, being a normal person, did have a yearning for a special someone in her life, someone to share her passions in bed and out, someone who would love her beyond all measure. Someone she could love back.

These thoughts hadn't been in the forefront of her mind when she had welcomed Severus Snape into her office, and she hadn't expected the jolt of lust as his eyes had met hers. He had looked better than she had ever seen him, and her adult self had realised very quickly that he was alluring and fascinating. She had found it hard to keep her eyes off him, and by the time he had left the room, her hands were shaking.

Hermione walked through the gates and caught sight of smoke coming from the chimney of Hagrid's hut. She smiled and felt a rush of affection for the big man who had been so much a part of her growing up at Hogwarts and decided that a short visit might just set her up before she had to face the Headmaster again. In fact, Hermione decided she could really use one of Hagrid's hugs right now. She quickened her pace, and knocked firmly on the door. She had expected to hear Fang barking to announce her arrival, but all she heard was shuffling beyond the closed door and then a loud click. She held her arms open and smiled widely, expecting to be hauled up into a face full of bristly beard. When the door was opened by Severus Snape, it was all she could do not to run away very fast. She dropped her arms in embarrassment, which wasn't helped by the amused, bloody gorgeous grin on the mans' face.

'I thought you were Hagrid,' she said, disappointment evident in her tone

'Hagrid is currently En France. I should imagine he is seducing the statuesque Madame Maxime as we speak.' He leant against the door frame and shoved his hands into the pockets of his black trousers. He was only wearing them and a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to the elbow and two buttons opened at the neck. Hermione couldn't help but notice his firm thighs, and the pale trace of a scar at his throat. His hair was longer than she remembered it and glossy, too. She found herself wondering what it would feel like, and then blushed even harder as his lips quirked upwards.

'I'm sorry for staring. I don't think I've ever seen you out of your school robes,' she muttered.

'You only ever had to ask,' he said with a chuckle, obviously enjoying her embarrassment far more than she should let him.

'You know what I mean,' she said in exasperation. 'Why are you in Hagrid's home anyway?'

'I was hungry. I'm making bacon sandwiches, if you'd care to join me. I'm afraid you won't get anything else unless you want to walk down to Hogsmeade.' He turned and walked back into the hut, leaving the door open. Hermione's feet seemed to have a mind of their own and she followed him without even thinking.

'Surely you can still get food in the castle even if the children are on holiday? Or are the house-elves on holiday too?' Hermione said with a small smile. Silently she thought they deserved to have paid holidays and proper tea breaks, but she suspected that might just stoke the furnace of Snape's legendary temper, so she said nothing. She wasn't prepared for him to turn on her with a toasting fork and wave it dangerously at her. She withdrew her wand quickly and put up her strongest Shield Charm, feeling non-plussed when he shook his head and began to laugh.

'I'm using it for the bacon.' He stepped aside and Hermione could see a frying pan full of sizzling bacon above the fire, and slabs of fresh, white bread slathered with real butter. Her mouth began to water. 'And you could say the house-elves are on holiday. They're on strike, thanks to you and your bloody crusade.'

Hermione removed her charm with a slight flick and glared at the back of Snape's shirt. 'It's not a crusade! It's about giving them equal rights! Slavery is not right and not fair. Not even you could agree to it!'

Snape stood up straight, and Hermione instantly felt the atmosphere change from sort-of cordial to downright chilly. He turned and pinned her with a cold, blank stare, all trace of amusement gone from his face, and his hand gripped the handle of the toasting fork so tightly his knuckles were bright white.

'Not even me? Do you mean me, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Or perhaps me, the Death Eater? Or the other me, Ms Granger? The one that existed before, during and after the rise and fall of Tom Riddle, the real me, the one that doesn't get labelled and actually does care about the well-being of every living creature here?'

His voice was soft, and he spoke slowly, but Hermione detected a slight tremor and she realised she had fallen into the same trap as every witch and wizard who believed everything the read in the Prophet. She felt sick, and apology was on the tip of her tongue, but before she could speak, he turned back to the pan and started to shift the bacon onto the buttered bread. None too gently, he slapped the slices together, slammed them onto a waiting plate and shoved the plate plus its sandwich into her hands.

'You'd better eat it. I don't want to be accused of allowing a paragon of the Ministry to starve on school premises. When you're done, meet me in the kitchens. And have that handy Shield Charm ready. The house-elves are none too pleased with you.'

Hermione bit her lip as he stormed out of the hut and slammed the door behind him. She rather thought that the Headmaster wasn't too pleased with her either. She did as she was told and ate her sandwich.

***

Snape's anger stayed with him until he tickled the pear on the tapestry outside the kitchens. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, willing his temper to let it go. He was used to the judgement of those beyond the Hogwarts gates, and even some within them. It mattered very little. But Hermione Granger knew the truth. Or at least, he had assumed she did. There was always that slim chance that Potter the Brave hadn't actually shared the details of his memories, which would mean that Granger actually didn't understand his story. He had thought better of her though. To hear her words, thoughtless as they might have been, had wounded him, where he had been so looking forward to spending a friendly few minutes sharing his bacon sandwiches.

He stepped into the kitchens to find the house-elves seated around the long benches. Some were talking in groups, some were playing Gobstones, and some were drinking hot coffee and eating muffins. His eyes narrowed briefly.

'Smith, Miss Granger is here. She wishes to speak with the Keeper.'

Smith's mouth quirked briefly and he closed his eyes, mumbling under his breath. His eyes popped open seemingly in surprise and he stared up at Snape.

'He will see the Miss after he is speaking with the descendent of Hufflepuff,' he said in hushed, reverent tones.

'He means me, Smith. I am her last surviving relative.' Severus felt his cheeks flush as Smith took a low bow before him.

'Don't be so ridiculous, elf. I didn't even know myself until yesterday, and I won't have any of that cow-towing now. Point me to the Keeper, if you will?'

Severus soon found himself in a low, dark hallway lit with small, sputtering torches. He had to bend low in parts, and it was clear that the castle had purpose built itself to accommodate its shorter inhabitants. He found the old, wooden door and knocked once. The door swung open and he was ushered into what he assumed was now his chair by the old elf.

'Miss Granger shall join us shortly, I imagine,' he said quietly.

The Keeper checked the map and chuckled under his breath before eyeing Severus with a knowing look. 'Miss Granger is in the dungeons, Headmaster. In the Potions classroom.'

'Is she? What on earth for?' Severus shook his head and his brow furrowed. The witch was throwing him off balance at every turn.

'Reminiscence, perhaps. Remembrance, also. They are all important for witch and wizard kind, I understand. Now, Severus Snape. Information I need you to see, for you alone and not to be spoken of.'

The Keeper walked over to a dark corner of the room and clicked his fingers. The sound was loud in the quiet space and almost made Severus jump. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like this very much, and the glint in the Keeper's eye when he turned and smiled at him made him almost convinced of it.

The book he carried was slim, but clearly old. The cover was dark brown and cracked, the title obscured and faded by age. The Keeper put the book it before him, then took Severus' hand and placed it on the cover and held it there. The binding grew warm, and the book transformed. Where the book was dun and worn, new covering took its place in shades of red and green. Letters began to appear in silver edged with gold, and the scents of vanilla, musk and patchouli tickled his nostrils as they rose from the book.

'The Book of Destiny? You have to be joking,' he groaned. 'Here, have it back. I don't want to know what my destiny is; I'll just see what happens, if that's alright with you.' He lifted the book and tried to hand it back to the Keeper. The Keeper crossed his arms and gave Severus a shrewd glare.

'It is not just your destiny within these sacred pages, Severus Snape. The Gryffindor Miss also has a destiny to fulfil.'

'Granger? What does she have to do with me?' Severus couldn't help but open the book, and it flew open to a page that glowed like candle light.

'She is a daughter of Gryffindor, as you are a son of Hufflepuff and champion of Slytherin. Read.' The elf pointed his finger at the glowing page, and Severus began to scan the ancient-looking text.

'Through battle they fight, for the light they will win, but still their paths will not meet.

And the daughter of Gryffindor returns to the fold, in aid to her future betrothed.'

Severus stared open-mouthed and then closed the book shut with a slam. 'Ridiculous nonsense! If you knew all along that the light would win, why didn't Dumbledore know? You've made this up, elf, and I do not appreciate the joke!'

'Headmaster Dumbledore had his own destiny to fulfil. His book spoke differently, as they all do.'

The Keeper took the book out of Severus' tight grip and its colourful cover changed back almost immediately to the cracked and battered appearance it originally held.

'Believe it or believe it not. I only show.'

'You expect me to believe that Granger and I are meant to marry?' he said in a whisper. He could only wish to gain the love and desire of such a stunning witch. What she would see in him he couldn't begin to understand. But if the Book of Destiny was right.... If there was hope...

Severus felt his heart leap and his stomach flip, and his sensitive sense of smell caught a whiff of patchouli and a hint of vanilla. He turned towards the door to see Hermione Granger standing there and staring at him with wide eyes. Her curvaceous frame was highlighted by torchlight from behind, her smooth curls sparkling with hints of copper and gold. His mouth was dry, but he saw a hint of a smile touch her lips and he couldn't help but smile back and try to ignore the butterflies that seemed to increase their merry dance inside.

'Miss Granger,' he started to say, but he stopped, not knowing how much she had heard, or what she might be thinking.

'I think maybe you should start calling me Hermione, don't you?' She smiled, and stepped into the room.