In the Times of Yore

Disclaimer: Harry Potter & its characters belong to JK Rowling. Not mine. No copyright infringement intended.

A round of applause to Southern_Witch for being such an awesome beta :)

Chapter 8: In the Times of Yore

Perhaps it would be wise to start from the beginning…

Harry Potter’s sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry became an important year of discovery and change for Draco Malfoy. During the start of his fifth year summer holiday, Draco’s father announced with unmistakable pride that his son would be the youngest most loyal servant of the Dark Lord the following Christmas. It was also that summer which Draco accidentally happened upon the abject, endless torture of a pureblood distant cousin by Lucius Malfoy and Voldemort who had failed one of the Dark Lord’s missions. It was rather fortunate that he did not forget the flame-bursting anonymous note he had received at the end of his fifth year.

He knew then that he had been trapped into a dead end.

For to join them, it would be fatal – his soul would be ripped to shreds the moment the Dark Mark burned into his left arm; but to fight them, he knew his father would not hesitate whatsoever in torturing and killing his treacherous son.

And so he ran to Dumbledore for help. The only wizard that Voldemort feared.

Eventually, he still had the Dark Mark burned into his left arm, but he knew that the excruciating pain had been a small sacrifice compared to the loss of his soul for he went to Voldemort’s camp as Dumbledore spy.

Young Malfoy’s spy status caused quite an uproar in the Order of the Phoenix, though with time, the others came to realize that the real Draco Malfoy was nothing like his father. After much whining and sulking on the boys’ side, the Golden Trio and Ginny with growing respect formed a truce with Draco.

During the two years of vigorous preparation, Malfoy often practiced with Harry, Ron, Ginny and Luna while Hermione worked with Professor Snape on developing draughts to weaken Voldemort. She still had her combat training though, with Professor Snape.

Ron had been an invaluable strategist during the War and it was to his credit that casualties from Death Eaters attacks and the Final Battle were mostly on the Dark side. Hermione had mourned him when he had been killed by a vengeful Death Eater during the Final Battle as one would mourn one’s best friend though she knew that he had loved her as more than a friend. She had already given her heart to another.

Perhaps it could be credited to one’s survival instincts, especially a Slytherin’s, that Lucius Malfoy, to save his own skin, fired off a Stinging hex at an unsuspecting Voldemort which gave Hermione an opportunity to launch the weakening draught she and the Professor brewed, and Harry to finish Voldemort off with a loud and powerful Avada Kedavra.

Many celebrations were held after Voldemort’s much awaited demise. However, there was one thing that doused the merriment of the Order of Phoenix’s celebrations at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. It seemed that Lucius Malfoy has once again wheedled his way into the Ministry and received a pardon for his crimes.

During the several occasions that Hermione was at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, she rarely happened upon the Professor and the few times she did, he did not even speak to her except for a curt nod. With a despondent heart, Hermione urged herself to forget him.

However, it was not to be so.

One evening after her graduation from Hogwarts (Dumbledore had announced that everyone was to be exempted from final exams for the year due to the Final Battle), Hermione received an owl from Professor McGonagall urging her to come to Hogwarts at once.

She arrived at the Headmaster’s office to see the object of her affections pacing back and forth on the thick carpet. Not long afterwards, both the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall emerged from another door. It was with shock that Hermione noticed how frail the Headmaster had seemed.

“Severus, Hermione, have a seat,” said Professor Dumbledore.

“I have decided to retire,” he continued after a few slight coughs, “and Minerva will take my place as Headmistress.”

Seeing the shock on Hermione’s face and Severus’ widened eyes (for Severus Snape does not gape like a fish when in shock), Minerva explained, “The Final Battle had taken a lot out of Albus when he lent Harry his magical energy. I suspect that might be why it will take longer for him to recover from a cold. I called you two here because I wanted your help in finding a draught to help Albus regain or at least maintain his magical energy, I’m afraid the cursed Slytherin’s ring is doing its best to drain it away,” Minerva paused before continuing with a slight smile, “And I do want to offer you the position of Deputy Headmaster, Severus.”

And so it was decided that Potions Professor Severus Snape would become Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry the year following Harry Potter’s seventh year of magical education.

Hermione on the other hand, found herself in a catch-22 situation. She wanted to work with him yet she couldn’t bear to see him knowing that he did not feel the same way. Working close quarters with an unsociable and rather grumpy old snake really did nothing to quash her affections for her fellow Order member.

She did not notice the way he did look at her when he was sure she was not looking. So when the opportunity to go to France came, she jumped at it.

Hoping the phrase “absence makes the heart grows fonder” would not apply to her.