Part Three
Chapter 3 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!
Hermione hadn’t expected his words to affect her so deeply. For a moment, she wanted to lay her hand on his arm, to offer him support and sympathy.
She nearly reached out to him before realising that Snape might consider it pity and not take kindly to it – and remembering that ghosts didn’t always appreciate contact with living, heated bodies.
‘Is this why – why you did not want to move on?’ she asked before she could stop herself. ‘Harry told us about you and Lily … Was it the thought of meeting her in the afterlife that held you back?’
* * *
She expected him to lash out again.
Instead, he looked relieved, as if he had hoped she would figure it out, nodding briefly before sagging down on the floor in a heap of translucent robes, not quite touching the boards. Hermione could make out the texture of the wooden planks beneath him.
She sat down, careful not to touch him.
She wanted to say something – anything – but couldn’t think of the right words. What to say to a man who spent his life protecting others and yet felt a solitary half-existence as a ghost would be preferable to moving on?
* * *
‘What have you been doing here, all these years?’
He turned slightly to face her, quirking an eyebrow at her clumsy attempt to change the topic.
‘The usual, I suppose. Float around. Haunt. Scare passing children.’
‘Rose said she had heard – well, she said she heard someone cry.’
‘Did she now.’
When an explanation did not seem forthcoming, Hermione decided to try her luck and press on. ‘It’s not like he can hex me for asking impertinent questions,’ she told herself, although she felt a little guilty about it.
‘Did she? Hear someone cry?’
‘It must have been the wind.’
* * *
It was becoming clear that his talkativeness had come to an end, yet she didn’t want to leave the Shack. She still had questions to ask, and she did not feel comfortable about leaving him on his own again, now that she knew he was there.
‘I think I’ve taken up enough of your time,’ she offered apologetically, dusting off her clothes as she got up from the floor. ‘I would like to return some day though, if you don’t mind.’
He snorted.
‘As if I had a choice. I don’t suppose cheap tricks would be enough to scare you.’
* * *
‘I bought a few books,’ she declared a week later, placing a pile of tomes on the floor.
Snape drifted closer, giving her a look she could not quite read.
‘I didn’t know what you’d be interested in, but these are all new – published in the last twenty years. Ghosts can manipulate physical objects to an extent, can’t they? I mean, you can make the doors bang shut, and Moaning Myrtle could flush the toilet, so I was thinking that you could turn the pages too, yes?’
Eagerness shone in her eyes, as she was waiting for his affirmative reply.
* * *
Most Saturdays, she arrived at the Shrieking Shack in the morning with new books. The exceptions were Hogsmeade weekends when she had lunch with Rose first.
She had not yet told anyone else about Snape. She was not quite sure why she hadn’t – she tried to tell herself that it was to protect him from the curiosity of others, to give him time to accustom himself to the company of living people, that he had not given the slightest indication of wanting to meet anyone else.
It certainly had nothing to do with wanting to keep the professor to herself.
* * *
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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. :-)