Chapter 9: Severus

Chapter 9:

Severus:

She wouldn’t leave. No matter what Severus threatened her with, Hermione refused to leave his side. Such a stubborn Gryffindor, Severus thought as Hermione stood with her arms crossed and chin jutted out. It was tempting to kiss her again, but there was no time. Severus knew what the Dark Lord would do when Draco showed up: he would break into Draco’s mind and see Severus walking out of a wall, a project the Dark Lord had neither been informed of nor sanctioned. Severus doubted the Dark Lord himself would come—he had not set foot in Hogwarts since the summer—but surely someone would come for him, ready to kill and with accomplices.

He had explained all this to Hermione, of course. Her response had been startling, even after that joyous kiss they had just shared: “You expect me to leave you to die, Severus? Do you not realize how much you mean to me, how happy you’ve made me? Anyways, no Gryffindor would leave a friend to face a battle alone.” That is when she jutted her chin out and folded her arms.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he faced Hermione. “Well, if you’re going to stay, then make yourself useful. We’ll need more of that potion, and quickly,” he barked at her.

She jumped in response, rushing towards the wall to collect more powder. Two more cauldrons of potion were awaiting the final ingredient, made in advance so Severus would have several to experiment with. He never expected Hermione would figure out the potion so quickly. How could he have not thought of that? Such a simple answer when he expected a complicated one!

While Hermione dealt with the potions, Severus busied himself with casting every defensive ward he could think of at the entrance to the dungeons. He didn’t expect the wards to prevent his attackers from reaching him, but at least this way he’d be alerted when they came.

An uncomfortable realization made Severus feel the weight of obligation for a boy he despised. With his standing with the Dark Lord lost, Severus was thrust onto the side of the Boy Wonder. His only chance of freedom, of being able to live a life without constantly being hunted, was for Harry Potter to defeat the Dark Lord, and for Potter to know Severus had helped. And Potter’s only chance of defeating the Dark Lord relied on the destruction of the two Horcruxes Severus had watched the Dark Lord place inside Hogwarts.

Interrupting Hermione’s focus, he asked, "Hermione! Do you have a way to contact Potter?”

In response, Hermione pulled out a collectible card from her robes. Remembering what she had said earlier, Severus beckoned her to bring the card to him.

Twinkling blue eyes gazed up at Severus.

“Albus, my cover’s been blown. I have to flee. Hermione’s refused to leave. Can you take a message to Potter for me?” He was running out of time and he knew it. But this had to be done, or he would spend the rest of his life in hiding.

“Certainly, Severus. What is the message?”

“Ravenclaw’s wand is being held by the statue near the Room of Requirement. Hufflepuff’s cup is in the Headmaster’s office, in the cupboard below your portrait. ‘Lily Granger’ is the password.” At that, Hermione looked at him quizzically, but stayed mercifully silent.

Albus nodded and walked out of the card.

Two puffs of smoke rose from the cauldrons, signaling that the potions were ready. Quickly, he and Hermione bottled as much as they could and destroyed the rest, preparing for the flight that was to come.

A sound bellowed down the hall: “THEY’RE HERE!” as the first of Severus’s wards was triggered.

“This is your last chance, Hermione. You can still leave and go to Potter and Weasley. Or you can risk being trapped with me as a fugitive, perhaps for the rest of your life.” He didn’t want her to leave, but he had to offer her one last chance. He would not spend his time in hiding with someone who did not willingly choose to be there.

“I’m staying, Severus. Albus can help Harry with the Horcruxes, now that you’ve told him where they are. And, besides, I’m not one to kiss and run.” A tentative smile broke her lips then, filling Severus with pleasure.

“Then drink up and come with me.” He emptied a bottle into his mouth, watched Hermione do the same, and pulled her close. It was good to be close to her again, but it was even better to have such a valiant excuse for it. He held her as tight as he could, and together, they faded into the dungeon wall.

Just then, Lucius Malfoy penetrated the final ward and entered the dungeon. Severus’s heart sank as he saw that following behind Lucius was Draco.