Part Two
Chapter 2 of 5
Mint StickHermione comes across something unexpected in the Shrieking Shack. This drabble series was originally written for the 'Haunted House' challenge on grangersnape100.
ReviewedDisclaimer: I do not own these characters. They belong to JKR. I make no money.
A/N: Thanks to my wonderful beta a_bees_buzz!
‘I’ll thank you not to use that tone of voice with me, Professor. I’m not a schoolgirl any more. In fact, unless I’m mistaken, and I don’t think I am, I am older than you were when you …’
‘When I died. Thank you for reminding me.’
The guilt Hermione had felt, once the euphoria of winning the battle had vanished, returned.
‘We did come back here, you know. Afterwards. To see if there was anything we could do. But it was too late.’
‘It would always have been too late, Miss Granger. Or should I say Mrs Weasley, now?’
* * *
‘It’s Granger again, actually.’
He didn’t say anything, but drifted slightly upwards on the stairs.
Hermione was suddenly worried that he would disappear, leaving her little wiser than she was upon her arrival.
‘Professor … why are you here?’
He sighed and gestured for her to enter the room upstairs.
‘I don’t know why I should tell you anything. But if you are anything like the girl I remember, you will not leave me in peace until you've had your answers.’
He entered the room behind her, his translucent robes billowing magnificently, as if he’d spent years practicing the movement.
* * *
He was silent for a few minutes.
Hermione kept her eyes on him, clutching her wand with both hands, suppressing the urge to fidget or bite her lower lip. She didn’t like the way Snape, even as a ghost, effortlessly managed to make her feel small and insignificant again.
Finally, his voice – sounding a little rusty from years of disuse, now that Hermione was composed enough to pay attention to its nuances – broke the silence. ‘I don’t really know. I suppose I had … unfinished business. I didn’t know if Potter would succeed. And I did not want to …’
* * *
He stopped abruptly, as if he’d realised he had already said more than he had intended.
‘In any case, it doesn’t seem to have done much good. By the time I returned, in this form, the battle was long over. My assistance was certainly not needed here any more.’
‘Have you been here all this time?’ asked Hermione curiously. ‘Why did no one know about it?’
‘Not many people come here.’
‘But surely you could have moved to Hogwarts? Why stay here?’
There was that familiar sneer again. ‘Really, Miss Granger. Surely you don't believe I would be welcome there?’
* * *
‘You are a hero, you know. Everyone knows that! Harry made sure of it.’
He drifted towards the window, not looking at Hermione.
‘I know what Potter told people. After I returned, I … spent some time outside the castle. Watching. Listening. Studying. It doesn’t change the fact – and it is a fact, Miss Granger, do not try to argue! – that I was not liked when I was alive. Why should it be any different now?’
‘But–’
‘Do not argue, I said!’
The look on his face, paler now than ever, was feral, making Hermione take a step back.
* * *
‘Can you honestly say, Miss Granger, that there is even one person in the castle who would want me there? Not as a curiosity item, not so that they may whisper about me, pointing fingers when they think I am not looking, but because they would welcome my company?’
His bitterness should not have surprised Hermione, and yet it did.
‘I do not want to become the next Bloody Baron,’ he continued, his voice so quiet that Hermione had to strain to hear the words. ‘Disliked – hated – by everyone, doomed to spend all eternity facing the reason for his guilt.’
* * *
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Latest 25 Reviews for Haunted
34 Reviews | 9.06/10 Average
I loved all three endings, number three is my favourite. 
Well that was a suprise, where do they go from here.
It sounds as if Hermione, is just as lonely as he is.
He really believes it doesn't he, how sad. 
Interesting, can't wait to see what happens next.
i loved all three endings. especially the line about making his ectoplasm sizzle! i was so depressed by the ending of DH even tho i knew it wouldn't end with hg/ss. but you have given a wonderfully DH compliant twist. thanks so much
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thanks! I'm glad you liked them all.
I was trying to stay DH compliant - right down to that epilogue and probable authorial intent regarding Snape's fate (although, as we all know, he didn't actually die!) - and this seemed to be the best way to do that and still have a SS/HG story. Not a very easy task! But I did want to give Severus a new chance.
This is very funny and I prefer much better the alternate ending 1 which is, in my opinion, far better than part 4. But the last drabble is so delicious. Thank you for having shared your different ideas.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you!
I really couldn't decide until the last moment which ending to go with (apart from the extra MLC one, that is, which was really just a bonus, LOL!), but the mood I was in at the time... well, I needed to make the "official" ending the happiest possible, not just giving Severus a happy afterlife but also giving him a second chance at life - even if it meant as the toyboy of a much older Hermione. ;-)
But I really was quite fond of the alternative option, too, so I'm glad you liked it!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you!
I really couldn't decide until the last moment which ending to go with (apart from the extra MLC one, that is, which was really just a bonus, LOL!), but the mood I was in at the time... well, I needed to make the "official" ending the happiest possible, not just giving Severus a happy afterlife but also giving him a second chance at life - even if it meant as the toyboy of a much older Hermione. ;-)
But I really was quite fond of the alternative option, too, so I'm glad you liked it!
That is so unexpected. And I'm really curious to know how this happened. Are you going to tell us ... me ?
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Magic. ;-) If Severus and Hermione figure it out some day, perhaps they'll let me know too!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Magic. ;-) If Severus and Hermione figure it out some day, perhaps they'll let me know too!
I like all three of the endings you came up with. I would love to see one sequel where Lucia tells Grandpa Ron what she saw and the resulting expression on Grandpa's face.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Ooh, I'd love to see that too! Perhaps if I ever get a proper plot bunny for a sequel.
Thanks!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Ooh, I'd love to see that too! Perhaps if I ever get a proper plot bunny for a sequel.
Thanks!
I just loved this series of drabbles!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed them. :-)
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed them. :-)
i enjoyed this story very much. i find the idea of severus as a ghost rather sad, and honestly i usually can't imagine him wanting to stick around, but your idea that he was afraid of seeing lily in the afterlife actually made sense, i thought. only hermione would think to bring books to a ghost! i liked your ending where he somehow regained his physical form. the first alternate ending where hermione ends up as a ghost too is how i saw it ending, so that was satisfying. the last ending was silly and funny, so i liked it, too. altogether an amusing and enjoyable story.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you! I'm glad you found it somewhat believable and that the ending/s were satisfying. :-)
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you! I'm glad you found it somewhat believable and that the ending/s were satisfying. :-)
I liked Grandma best but all of it made me grin!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
The first part was way to funny. "GRANDMA?!" LOL! And part two she is going to marry a ghost oh thats brilliant. I wonder how MOM is going to take that little bit of information.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Glad you enjoyed the alternate endings! *grins*
And the Ministry should just write better laws. :-D
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Glad you enjoyed the alternate endings! *grins*
And the Ministry should just write better laws. :-D
Lol... poor Lucia!!
And a great loophole to the ML!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Poor Lucia indeed. :-D And I've yet to see a ML that didn't have that loophole, so why not. ;-)
Thanks!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Poor Lucia indeed. :-D And I've yet to see a ML that didn't have that loophole, so why not. ;-)
Thanks!
Oh, interesting turn of events!
I'm anxious to see what your alternate ending is.
Wonderful story!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you!
The alternate version is in the queue, so hopefully it won't be a long wait.
I liked that, a true second chance!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you! It's really the reason why I went with this ending - wanting Snape to have that second chance at life, not just a tolerable post-life existence.
Oh man what an ending. but how did he become solid. if a kiss or touch of lips, just hers or could it be anyones?
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
That's ... er ... magic, which cannot quite be explained. Right. I mean, that's something they can research and find out, in their own time. ;-)
Thank you!
Yeah right keep telling yourself that you just might believe it someday. If she didn't want him for herself then she shouldn't have a problem with others knowing he is there. Like Harry who would love to probably know this information. Man I love this story.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Hermione can be remarkably self-deluding sometimes. ;-)
Thank you!
Oh, this story is making me cry. I feel so bad for Severus, I hope you'll give him a happy (??) ending if you pardon the pun.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
I'm not sure I'm constitutionally capable of anything but happy endings. ;-) Although it's certainly harder when someone is a ghost!
Thank you for the comment.
"It certainly had nothing to do with wanting to keep the professor to herself." LOL Yeah right!
How sweet of her to bring him books. It's so sad that he felt he could not bare to move on. Poor Snape!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Books are always a good choice. :-D
Thank you!
Like the 2nd chapter - cannot wait to see how this goes - it is an interesting start...makes me wonder what is going to happen next.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thanks! The next part is in the queue, so hopefully it won't be a long wait.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thanks! The next part is in the queue, so hopefully it won't be a long wait.
Oh, my gosh! I feel so sad for Snape! You've continued his tragedy… will he ever have any peace? I can't wait to read your next update.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
He does need a hug, doesn't he? :-D (Well, if one could hug a ghost, anyway.)
Thank you for the comment! The next part is in the queue.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
He does need a hug, doesn't he? :-D (Well, if one could hug a ghost, anyway.)
Thank you for the comment! The next part is in the queue.
Oh, this is sure interesting! I've never read a story where Snape becomes a ghost after death. I like it!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you! I'm fairly sure I have, but not post-DH (although I'd assume there must be some others around). I wanted to see if I can do a properly canon-compliant story, epilogue and author's intention and all, and still make it into a SS/HG romance, so that seemed like the best way to go about it!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
Thank you! I'm fairly sure I have, but not post-DH (although I'd assume there must be some others around). I wanted to see if I can do a properly canon-compliant story, epilogue and author's intention and all, and still make it into a SS/HG romance, so that seemed like the best way to go about it!
Poor Severus! My heart aches for him.
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
He really deserved better than what he got...
Thank you for the comment!
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
He really deserved better than what he got...
Thank you for the comment!
Oh poor Severus thinking no one cared about him besides Albus. So not true. Still a snarky git though. lol
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
He can be forgiven for thinking so though... the poor guy, indeed!
Thanks. :-)
Response from Mint Stick (Author of Haunted)
He can be forgiven for thinking so though... the poor guy, indeed!
Thanks. :-)