Chapter 13
Chapter 14 of 18
ayerfChapter 13
Disclaimer: JKR owns Harry Potter.
AN: Thanks to septentrion and LadySunflower for betaing.
This was no normal unconsciousness. I'm very familiar with the darkness caused by natural oblivion, but this was something else entirely. Then again, what can I expect from punching my future self? In my anger, I had forgotten about the paradox danger. Still, as far as I knew, the universe hadn't imploded. It just felt like I had.
A shudder ran through me. That last thought hadn't been mine, yet I had experienced it as clearly as if it had been.
Just like every one of your thoughts feels like one of mine, Granger.
Get out of my head!
Believe me, I would if I could. But as it happens, I might as well ask you to get out of mine with the same success rate.
Ever since you began tearing my world apart, nothing has gone right. I would tell you to get out of my world, but I suspect that would be about as effective as telling you to get out of my mind.
Nothing has gone right since then? Granger, you'd have to delve back far further to reach the root of this whole mess.
To that fatal car crash, you mean? You're pathetic if you use that as your excuse for your murderous nature.
Car crash? So it wasn't just a dream....
Just a dream? Oh, I see... so that's where my more usual nightmares went. In exchange I suffered your nightmarish memories. But that must mean...
That I'm not from your future. No, Granger, the fact that I have alternate memories should tell you that it's impossible for me to be a time traveller.
What are you?
I'm a dimensional traveller. I didn't want to reveal that! It seems that there is no way to keep secrets from you.
Coming from an alternate dimension would explain a lot. But how had Atropos skipped dimensions in the first place?
It's hardly polite to refer to me as if I'm not here, you know.
Come to that, where had our paths differed in the first place?
What are you...
It's as if a flood gate just opened, pouring a stream of her memories out. I get the feeling that she's seeing mine just as I see hers. At least I can differentiate between what is my memory and what is hers, but it hurts so much...
'What did Ronald Weasley know, anyway? But... he's right. I don't have any friends. I never have. They must all think I'm a nightmare....'
Pushing open the lavatory door, I walked out, sniffling as I brushed tears away from my face. Pausing, I wrinkled my nose. Something smelled horrible. A grunt from overhead made me look up.
Crying out, I made use of the monster's slow thoughts to run around it. But the door was locked!
Fear froze my limbs, my wand remaining uselessly in my pocket. There was just time for an absurdly detached part of my mind to identify the monster as a fully grown mountain troll before it swung its club at me.
That could so easily have happened to me, if not for Harry and Ron....
That should have been the end of me. Instead, I returned to life, my body broken and bleeding on the floor. Puzzled, the troll was raising its club to strike again. Acting on instinct, a blindingly bright spark shot from my outstretched trembling hand. The troll was soon nothing more than a heap of ash, the club distorted by the heat.
Seconds afterwards, Professors McGonagall, Snape and Quirrel had burst in. I blacked out just as Dumbledore arrived.
I awoke days later in the hospital wing. Dumbledore had sworn the teachers to secrecy on the pain of losing their magic, and the Ministry knew nothing of my being a Necromancer. It seemed that Dumbledore wanted to see if Necromancers (for that was what I was) could be anything other than evil.
Perhaps I should have been grateful, but that was difficult when it was clear to me that I was nothing more than an experiment to him. Nor did it help that I had no friends... even the teachers that had liked me before all but ignored me, fear in their eyes whenever they looked at me.
I learned through eavesdropping in the common room that Potter and Weasley had locked me into the girl's toilets, not knowing that I was there. Looking at them, I was willing to bet that even if they had known, they would still have done it. McGonagall had the nerve to award house points to them for cornering the troll, although she did lecture them about not making sure that no one else was trapped inside, too. Not that Weasley took any notice, guffawing, 'Pity the troll didn't kill Granger!' as soon as McGonagall had gone. She overheard, I'm sure, but it's clear that I could no longer count on my own Head of house.
The only teacher who treated me as he had before was Snape, and that wasn't a good thing. It only encouraged me to withdraw further, no longer volunteering answers.
Oh, Severus... What would have become of me if you'd been like that?
Being around Quirrel was almost like my occasional meetings with Dumbledore. He seemed to watch me with an almost hungry expression when he thought I wasn't watching. I could sense his pulse change when he did, almost as if his heart was beating twice with every beat.
No wonder, considering Voldemort was living off him like a parasite at the time!
When I saw my parents in the Christmas holidays, it was obvious that home was no longer a refuge. We had been worlds apart when it became clear that I was a witch, but now the rift was virtually impassable. They couldn't understand the changes in me, and I couldn't find the words to tell them. It's not as if they would have understood, anyway.
At the end of the year, it was sheer dumb luck that Potter and Weasley survived their escapade keeping the Philosopher's Stone safe. I was the only Gryffindor who didn't toss my hat in the air at the end, instead just dropping it on the floor.
My life was hellish enough without a dirty great snake trying to kill me, so I took advantage of my year-old powers to kill it before it could set eyes on me. I found an old diary in Moaning Myrtle's toilet, not that the whinging ghost bothered me, too afraid of a Necromancer to do so. The diary felt... odd. Almost as if it was alive. I mentioned it to Dumbledore when I next saw him, and he confiscated it. I presume he destroyed it, but he didn't see fit to explain anything to his pet Necromancer.
The next academic year, I was granted permission to use a Time-Turner for my studies. I just didn't mention that I was using it to explore the castle, too, finding a strange room that appeared when it was required. I was able to persuade it that I required a veritable library about Necromancy, allowing me to perfect my control over my powers by the time my third year was at an end.
Having suffered at Potter and Weasley's hands over the years, forbidden to use my powers against them, it was most satisfying to see both of them taken down a notch when Dementors sucked the soul out of Sirius Black. I could have done without seeing Snape strutting about with an Order of Merlin, Second Class pinned to his robes. The temptation to atomise his precious medal...
Fourth year was a turning point in my fortunes. The satisfaction of seeing Potter floundering to keep from being toasted by a dragon, to the worry on the professors' faces when Potter came back with Diggory's body, proclaiming that Voldemort was back. As a Muggle-born, perhaps I should have felt equally afraid. But like calls to like. Whatever Dumbledore hoped, his experiment was failing. I knew it, deep down.
It was the summer after Voldemort returned that Hermione Granger truly was no more. As usual, I was spending my holiday with my parents. We were arguing about my return to Hogwarts, as my parents thought the undesired changes in me were due to my magical education. They were right, but it was my Necromantic self-education that was most to blame. Much as I hated the people in it, I loved the castle and the learning. When Dad put his foot down, I just lost it. My control over my powers was shattered, and they saw me for what I truly was. Seeing how badly I was scaring Mum and shaking in fear himself Dad ordered me to leave and never return: 'You are no daughter of mine!' I saw red. By the time I regained my senses, my parents were dead, their blood dripping from my hands. I didn't mean to do it....
Compared to that, a car crash was a mercy...
I lost track of time, keening on my knees beside the butchered corpses of my parents. Overwhelmed with grief and guilt, I didn't sense the intruder until he spoke to me. Voldemort had come in person to recruit me. Hermione Granger died with her parents... Atropos was born.
Exposed as a spy by my information, unwisely slipped by Potter within earshot of me at the end of our fourth year, Snape suffered a slow, painful death. All that was left after Nagini ate him was his precious Order of Merlin.
Oh, God....
The Ministry had detected the Dark magic responsible for my parents' deaths, and Dumbledore joined them in their hunt for me. Voldemort sheltered me when no one else would, overseeing the rest of my education personally. Using his contacts in the Ministry, my lord and master made it possible for me to sit my exams. I passed every O.W.L and N.E.W.T with flying colours, while my former classmates at Hogwarts reportedly struggled, sabotaged by sub-standard teaching... and an overall lack of intelligence.
His plans ripened, Voldemort was ready to take his place as overlord of Wizarding Britain. It didn't take much to make the Ministry fall. Half of the officials were Death Eaters or sympathisers. Hogwarts was another matter. It was simple enough to cause the wards to fall; they were nothing against the overwhelming Dark magic of Necromancy. But the occupants put up a fair fight. Not all of the Slytherins were from Death Eater families, and not all of those held with Voldemort's cause, so the majority of the students fought on the side of the Light. But they could not win, not against an army of the undead raised with the aid of a Strengthening Elixir.
Dumbledore distracted me long enough so that Potter could duel Voldemort. Whilst I was finishing the old fool off, Voldemort fell, his body somehow vanishing like mist in direct sunlight. There was no way for me to bring him back....
Potter didn't survive long enough to take so much as a victorious breath. His glasses, cracked from the heat of his atomisation, dropped into the pile of his ashes. The rest of the Light was fast extinguished.
It could have ended there, if the Death Eaters hadn't tried to overthrow me. Not an advisable thing to do when surrounded by the undead... I went berserk, and I was empowered by a Strengthening Elixir. By the time the red rage had left me, it wasn't just Wizarding Britain in ruins.
Pondering what to do next, something from my Necromantic readings rose to prominence in my thoughts. My life had little meaning without Voldemort, so rather than moving on to the next country, why not the next world? The information was incomplete, and so untested, but in theory it was possible to travel to a parallel universe... where Voldemort would possibly still be alive. I slept on my decision, but I had no uncertainties. My greatest danger would be from myself in my new playground, and from the method of transport itself. The veil probably would strip me of my powers for several months, less if I took another Strengthening Elixir. Unfortunately, I would only be able to take my clothes and wand with me, although my robe was a cousin to an Invisibility Cloak, a gift from Voldemort allowing me to slip between the shadows.
My plan worked perfectly, up until my powers returned and I attempted to bring Voldemort back from the dead. But all was not lost. Depositing the soulless body at my refuge, I sneaked into St. Mungo's to steal a fertility potion. On the way back 'home', I captured a Muggle boasting to his friends of his sexual prowess. Turns out that he wasn't lying....
I may vomit. Voldemort doing that with me is nightmare material. It was bad enough without seeing it from her perspective!
Ditto! I knew Snape was your lover, now husband, but I could have done without seeing you shag him.
Should I be relieved that seems to be the end of the submersion in her memories? I suppose it is a relief...
that...
is...
not...
who...
I...
am...
but... it would have been so much better if it was. Is a monster like me capable of being a mother?
She's pregnant? Of course. She stole a fertility potion, then shagged... er, I'm not going to go there again! Come to think of it, I can feel another life within her if I concentrate.
She's insane. How will destroying this world make it a place to raise a child? I wonder what the Ministry regulations were concerning pregnant enemies. No doubt the possibility of Necromancy being hereditary would mean that it would have made no difference to their intolerance. What would I do if my own child were to become like me? It would be reason enough not to have children; I don't have enough confidence in my mothering instinct, or lack thereof, to risk raising a Necromancer. But what if Severus wants to have children? Hold on. It's not just Atropos and her child I can sense. Oh, f...
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Latest 25 Reviews for Resurgam
174 Reviews | 8.19/10 Average
I am very glad that you did not leave Hermione completely powerless. The merging with Atropos is a bit odd, but I suspected as much as soon as the twin thing came about. Loved that Silas got the shock of learning his mother was now his boss. And, I had to read aloud to my oldest (nearing 21) that line of "... for the love of Merlin! Can’t you save it for your bedroom?” Sounds so much like stuff she and her siblings say. LOL.Entertaining, angsty, and nicely done.
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you very much! It would have been far too cruel to strip her completely of her powers. It's certainly one of the oddest things I've written about - glad the twin thing had you suspecting.Glad poor Silas's outburst fit his age!
I just read this and the other accompanying stories in one sitting and enjoyed them thoroughly. I started reading them on FF.Net but when I realized that all of the juicy stuff was cut out I got an account on here. :) This was a really creative and entertaining series. I just wish that there had been more Severus/Hermione love scenes in Resurgam but I understand that the defeat of Atropos was more important. Overall, this was very well written and I can't wait to read your other stuff!
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed this series, despite the few and far between love scenes!I hope you enjoy my other stuff!Thanks for reviewing!
"Hermione was still dead to the world when Severus awoke"Nice choice of words haha
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! Glad you liked my choice of words.
Response from Duchess_Of_Arcadia (Reviewer)
lol I just thought it was ironic.. tee hee
so does that oh f-- suggest that hermione is pregnate??? lol yays
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Quite possibly... Thanks for reviewing!
Excellent ending to an intriguing story.
Loved the happy ending!
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! After the endings of the prequels, I thought this needed a happier ending.
You did a great job of overcoming Apropos, tying up loose ends and providing a happy ending. I had my doubts about the happy ending for awhile. And no Bellatrix.
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! I must say that I had my own doubts about that ending, but I'd promised a happier one than in Redivivus. I hope the lack of Bella isn't a bad thing...
Response from FruGal (Reviewer)
Lack of Bella is never a bad thing, although in her own universe, it looks as though Apropos had the same roll as Bella had in Hermione's world - crazy, evil supporter of V.
Yay! Three cheers for happy endings! Three bigger cheers for answers! Hoorah! That was good. I like the asimilate-the-baddie ending. Excellent! Thank you!
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you, glad you liked it! I had to provide answers in the end. I just hope that I didn't unintentionally miss any!
Ive been reading this fic for the past few days, and when I come across Apropos I keep thinking of Bellatrix. Did some of Hermione's genes get mixed with Bella's in the final battle? Also, doesn't Severus know it could be dangerous to leave his powerful witch unsatisfied?
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
All I can really say is read on! I hope you enjoy the rest of it.
I'm sure Severus does realise that if he thinks beyond the dent it's done to his male pride.
I have truly enjoyed this foray into your imagination. I enjoyed the first story, and this one as well. I love all the different elements that you brought together. Well done and thank you!!! :')GG
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! I'm very glad to hear it. I just hope that I'll be able to do as well with any other writing I do.
Oh thank goodness you've done a sequeal to Redivivus. That is my absolute favorite fic of all time, and I spend a good part of every day reading fanfics, LOL...you are extremely talented and gifted as a writer. I cannot thank you enough for writing a sequel and bringing Hermione back... *does wacky little happy dance*
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! That's quite a compliment. I hope you enjoy the rest of this sequel!
Awwwww, it's over??? Well, that was a very nice Epilogue, much better than Some Which Shall Remain Nameless that I have read recently. Very neatly tied up all the loose ends. Thank you so much for writing this! Think this weekend I might just read the whole series over again...
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! I'm glad to hear it, and very touched that you'd want to reread the entire series.
Paternity test? I guess not if they agreed not to. Interesting ending.
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Severus may well have made it impossible to... I suppose if it meant that Atropos wouldn't be so much of a problem, he thought it a price worth paying.
Thank you!
The summary was ominous, but your epilogue was perfect. A good mix of sadness, intrigue, humor and hope. I can only imagine what hell Atropos put Severus through in the first year, but in the end what matters is that Severus and Hermione made it and are happy with their kids.
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! It was a very tricky chapter to write, the most taxing of the lot, so I'm happy that you think it 'perfect'.
Oh what a fabulous ending to this saga. Thank you for writing it and not giving up.I loved the fact that you showed a little of Severus and Hermione's lives after their children were all grown up.Thanking you.Cheers, Sonia :)
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you very much!
At times it was a trial, particularly towards the end, but I couldn't have imagined abandoning it.
I'm glad you liked the little snapshot of Severus and Hermione's lives 20-ish years on.
makes sense. Hermione can keep the Atropos side of her in check with that dampening ring. Why would Severus and Hermione think of either of their daughters, though, as a potential "cuckoo in the nest" when it seems clear that Silas is Riddle's biological son? Guess I'm just confused (or Confunded). Or is Silas just what Severus would have become if he had all of James Potter's family, school & societal advantages? Anyway, thank you for taking on a wild ride on Hermione's Dark Side.
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you!
On Silas, he was meant to be a red herring. I guess he got the best of his parents' genes, making him comparable to Riddle in looks... so you're right about Silas being what Severus might have been.
Yeah! Brava! I loved your newest exploration of darkness. I was completely hooked by the process of figuring out Atropos' identity and background throughout the story. I am also intrigued by your interpretation of the Veil. All in all, a great story.
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you very much! It's always a pleasure to know that I managed to hook a reader.
I am so glad Hermionegot her powers back. I was so worried about what she would do with her life. I see she is also sharing souls in her body. This may be an advantage for her. Great story!
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! Your comment about sharing souls would be enough to spark another sequel... if my Muse hadn't run away for the time being. That said, I'm not saying 'never' to a sequel.
ok i didnt know how you were going to pull it off but you didand wondefully i might addnice clean edgesof course i have a feeling you will come up with some other twist and i will wait with baited breath for your newest realeasethanks again for a wonderfull storyyours truly Julie
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you!
I have no sequel planned, but I'm not saying 'never'. I will keep writing, though, plot bunnies permitting.
Good sequel! I'm glad it all worked out.
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! That epilogue was very difficult to write compared to other chapters, so I'm glad you think so.
I liked this version of "19 years later". ;-)
Excellent story, and the epilogue was great, tying things up very nicely. Thanks!
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thank you! I hoped that would be the case.
Oh, so that is what happened! But, hmm, why does Silas favor Riddle if he wasn't one of the twins? I guess you just had to leave a question or two for us to ponder. *g*
Excellent story! All three of them, actually. I look forward to rereading them all now that the last is complete.
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Not so much a last question as a red herring... but I bet both Severus and Hermione would occasionally wonder the same thing.
Thank you! I'm very happy to hear that.
Ohhhh why did you strip Hermione of her magical powers?? Now she fits in neither world. I suspect Severus still loves her, but Hermione was always so driven! Now what will happen?
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thanks for reviewing.
What will happen will be revealed or at least hinted at in the epilogue.
About Hermione's magic: the veil stripped her of her powers but remember what she told Severus about it... specifically how permanent it is.
You are truly wicked with your cliffies. Twins??? WTF? Man, o, man I'm very intrigued as to how that came about. I do hope Hermione gets her magic back eventually, though. I'm sure Severus would want to be with her even if she were a Squib, but....
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thanks! That question is answered in the epilogue, honest!
As for Hermione's magic, you make a good point about Severus. It might be a wedge between them in time, though... but bear in mind what has been said about the veil in this fic.
Oh. Sh!t. I thought the evil cliffies were over, but I guess I'm wrong! 
Please update soonest!
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
There's usually a cliffie. If I hadn't needed a clear end, one might've slipped in the epilogue too.
I'm posting the epilogue on Tuesday, in about 36 hours from now.
Oh... for a moment there right before the end I thought "finally no evil cliffie!", but I guess that was not to be. ;-) Excellent solution to the previous one though, and I'm very much looking forward to the epilogue (not because I want the fic to be over, obviously).
Response from ayerf (Author of Resurgam)
Thanks! I hope the epilogue lives up to your expectations... it certainly was the trickiest part of the story to write. Perhaps my (over)usage of cliffies made it all the harder to tie up the loose ends.