Part Four
Chapter 4 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!
‘Severus?’ she called out when she didn’t immediately see his familiar, pearly-white form in the upstairs room. ‘Sorry I’m late. Ron called to complain about Lavender messing up his dinner again. I tried to get him to stop, but he just wouldn’t take the hint!’
He appeared a moment later, floating through the bookshelf she had installed two weeks after her first visit.
‘Hmm,’ he muttered, picking up the copy of Notable Achievements in the Field of Potions, 2022, which Hermione had brought along the week before. ‘Why you don’t just use the Silencing Charm on him, I’ll never know.’
* * *
As she was waiting for him to make the next move in the chess game they had started a few weeks earlier, she contemplated, not for the first time, the odd way her life had developed.
If she was perfectly honest with herself, she had to admit to feeling a certain sadness about the whole situation – in particular, about Severus being a ghost and not a man of flesh and blood. Not that she would have told him that.
‘Ha!’ he cried out. ‘Check and mate, I believe. I must say, you are not such an insufferable know-it-all any more.’
* * *
She was glad he had taken an interest in her life. With Harry and Ginny both busy with their lives and careers and both children at Hogwarts, she had not had many people to talk to after the divorce.
‘Ron was livid when he found out about Rose fancying Scorpius,’ she told him. ‘He’s not such a bad kid, really – hard-working and loyal. No wonder the Hat put him into Hufflepuff!’
‘I understand Weasley was hoping for Rose and Potter’s younger son to come to an understanding?’ asked Snape.
‘Indeed. I haven’t yet dared tell him about Hugo and Al.’
* * *
Snape was doing his best to avoid wondering whether it was Saturday yet.
His internal clock and calendar had always been accurate and reliable when he had still been prowling the corridors of the castle, but since his return as a ghost, time had considerably less meaning for him. More precisely, it had had less meaning for him for the first two decades of haunting the Shrieking Shack, before Saturdays had become important.
He had also noticed that he did not spend his time thinking about Lily any more.
Deciding it was probably Friday, he floated back to the bookshelf.
* * *
‘I'm here!’ called Hermione, stepping into the room. ‘Just dropped Fred and Lucia off at Ron's. I did mention that Rose and Scorpius decided to spend a week in Paris without the kids, yes?’
‘I believe you told me, yes. I’m sure that even Weasley can manage to take care of them for the weekend, so you needn’t look so worried.’
She smiled at him, directing an Incendio! towards the fireplace, when her phone – she insisted on using the Muggle device – started ringing.
‘What do you mean I have to come immediately? Look, I really can’t – oh, very well then.’
* * *
‘Sorry, I really must go. I’ll be back as soon as I can,’ she apologized, grabbing her bag.
In her hurry, she lost her balance on the stairs.
Snape reacted without thinking, hurling his ghostly form down the stairs, hoping to – he didn’t know what he was hoping to do. To catch her, without having a body?
It didn’t matter.
Her falling body sunk into the translucent form. Her lips brushed against his.
To his shock, the ectoplasm started to solidify.
He could not stop her fall, but his body acted as a cushion for her and hers for him.
* * *
When they came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, Hermione was speechless with shock. All she could do was to stare at the very solid form of her companion, feeling the heart beating in his chest.
Severus wondered if he was dreaming. Not that he had dreamed once since becoming a ghost. Apparently, ghosts did not dream. So perhaps it was a hallucination.
‘What … How did that happen?’ he finally managed to sputter.
Hermione shook her head, trying to clear her mind.
‘I have no idea. But we have a lifetime to find out, don’t we?’
The End
A/N: This is the end ... sort of! I was undecided between two options until the very end, and some of the readers at GS100 encouraged me to write down the alternative ending as well. So there is still that to come.
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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. :-)