Mask of Oblivion

MASK OF OBLIVION

Chapter 5 - Leap of Faith

The next day Simon Smith did something he had never done before. He left work three hours early. He wished to avoid a confrontation with Anne, as he knew she would have questions he did not want to answer. So he raced home from work , retrieved the contents of the cardboard box from the attic, threw them into a small suitcase along with a couple of changes of clothes, and made sure he was gone before Anne came home.

When he let himself into Hermione's house he could hear voices in the living room. He dropped the suitcase loudly on the floor in order to alert the talkers to his presence in the house. Hermione came out to meet him.

"Back already Simon? That's good." She put her hand on his arm and guided him into the living room. Standing in front of the fire was a tall lean man with long red hair tied back in a ponytail and wearing a long bright blue robe. And he thought Sirius Black had dressed oddly!

"Simon, meet my boss, Bill Weasley." The man did not bat an eyelid as he smiled and shook Simon's hand. It was obvious that Bill had prepared for meeting the image of a dead man. The random thought occurred to Simon that both Bill and Hermione would make great poker players.

He could, however, sense an intense feeling of curiosity or interest directed at him from Bill. Whenever he wasn't looking he could feel Bill's eyes upon him. Hermione offered him a glass of Scotch. He took a sip and stood back waiting for them to make the next move.

"Do you have the wand?" Hermione asked. Simon went back out to the suitcase and retrieved both the wand and the box containing the signet ring. As soon as Bill saw the wand a look of eager anticipation came over his face. "Now we start to get some answers!" he exclaimed.

He took the wand from Simon, pulled out his own and held the two wands tip to tip. "Prior Incantato!" As they watched intently small shapes in grey smoke appeared around the end of the wand. Simon could not make out what the shapes were, but the look on Bill's face was one of astonishment. After three consecutive different shapes had appeared, he pulled the wands apart and sank down in one of the arm chairs. "Bloody hell, did you see that, Hermione. Good old Snape, that sneaky, slippery son of a bitch!"

"What delightful terms of endearment," Simon said sarcastically, "Would one of you like to explain?"

Hermione whose expression was only slightly less astonished than Bill's turned to him. "It appears that Severus Snape pulled off one of the most amazing escape acts of all time," she grinned, "sort of like a wizard Houdini."

Bill had now composed himself and added, "We know from eye witness accounts that Voldemort directed a killing curse at Severus Snape. The normal end result is one dead body."

Simon shuddered. "How delightful!"

"But in this case," Bill continued, "when the dust cleared there was nothing, not even the remnant of a body. Looking at the last two spells that Severus Snape performed with his wand, he must have Apparated at the exact moment Voldemort said the killing curse, and then he performed a total memory obliteration on himself."

"Why? That sounds like a really stupid thing to do?" Hermione looked puzzled, "he had already escaped."

"On the contrary," said Bill, "you know Apparition can be traced. If any of the Death Eaters suspected that he had Apparated live, they would then be able to follow the trace and then hunt for signs of magical presence. No memory, no magic presence."

"But no memory, no Severus Snape. That seems a little out of character?"

"He was probably expecting someone to come looking for him."

"Albus Dumbledore?"

"I would guess so, Hermione. But of course, he did not survive the final confrontation."

Simon was starting to get a little irritated. The whole conversation was just a little too strange. "So, what do you plan to do now?"

"Simon, that really is up to you," said Bill, "Now that we know what spell was used to erase your memory we should be able to identify the best way to restore it."

"And we know that it is still there in your subconscious," added Hermione, "because of the dreams."

"That is," said Bill cautiously, "if that is what you want."

Simon looked at them thoughtfully and said, "What are the options? Would it matter if I never regained my memory?"

Bill and Hermione quickly glanced at each other. Bill nodded slightly. Hermione took a deep breath. "The problem is that others may find out and not everyone is going to be so kindly disposed to a resurrected Severus Snape. Even one without a memory."

"You are saying I am in danger?"

"No, not yet. But you could be. And you will be better able to defend yourself once you have your memories back."

Simon sighed and shook his head. "So there really aren't any options. When do we start?"

After Bill left Simon sat silently in the living room staring at the fire with a million jumbled thoughts chased each other through his brain until his head ached. He pulled the ring box out of his pocket and opened it. The golden ring gleamed in the firelight. He took it out, paused for a moment, and then slipped it on to his right pointer finger. It was a perfect fit.

Just then Hermione brought in a tray with sandwiches and a pot of tea and silently sat down opposite him.

Eventually he lifted his head and stared at her. "It is not going to be as simple as pointing a wand and saying the right word is it?"

"No. There are several possible methods and none of them are easy."

"Will you still be involved?" he inquired, "or is your part in this finished now?"

"I have asked Bill if I can see this through to the end." Her eyes sparkled in the firelight.

He rose and moved over to put one hand on her arm. "Why?'

"I can't abandon you now." Her voice was little more than a whisper. He leaned down closer. Simon felt hypnotized by her eyes. He hesitated, unsure of what he was doing.

Hermione slowly raised her free arm until her hand was resting gently on the side of his neck. Then she kissed him. Simon returned the kiss fiercely and pulled her upward into a tight embrace.

Then suddenly and simultaneously they pulled apart.

"What are we doing?" he murmured.

She smiled wryly. "It is probably not a very wise idea."

At that she stepped backwards away from him. "Tomorrow will be very busy day. I suggest we both need a good night's sleep."

"I won't sleep. And if I do, I will dream."

"I can give you something for that. It will guarantee a dreamless sleep." She reached out and touched his arm. He could not quite read the expression on her face.

"For fifteen years my mine has been full of questions," he sighed. "Now I finally have a chance to find the answers I am terrified of what I might find."

"You will only find the truth. And I am sure you will have the strength to face it."

"I am not so sure of that. Maybe it would be better just to walk away."

She took hold of his right hand and gently stroked the finger wearing the ring. "Severus Snape was many things, but he was never a quitter."

"But I only have your word for it that I am the same person."

Hermione's hand now slid up his arm sending exquisite tingling sensations through his body. He looked down into her eyes and he was suddenly very, very aware of her closeness and the effect it was having on him. Her lips were slightly parted as if in invitation. He leant down and kissed her, and as he felt the pressure returned from those warm moist lips, all thoughts of the wise thing to do, all thoughts of Anne, indeed all thoughts of anything else except his need for this woman disappeared.

How they made their way up the stairs he could not remember, nor could he remember why by the time they tumbled together on to Hermione's' bed they were both naked. Simon's only distinct thoughts were of the warm willing body which he clasped to him, the touch of those soft searching hands and that beautiful mouth. It had been some time since Simon had been in this situation and it did not take long for his desire to peak. He moved inside her as naturally and easily as if they had been made for each other. She moaned with pleasure as he thrust deeply into her, the expressions of delight only serving to intensify the experience. He could not remember the last time sex had been this good.

When they had finished Hermione left the room for a few moments and returned shortly with the promised Dreamless Sleep Potion. Simon took it from her with thanks and drank it all down. Then he lay back on the bed looking up at her. "Hermione, I have a question for you," he hesitated, unsure of her response, "You knew Severus Snape, didn't you?"

"Yes, I told you that."

"Um, how well did you know him? I mean, were you intimate?"

The reaction was most unexpected. Hermione grinned, let out a great guffaw of laughter and collapsed on to the bed, giggling. Simon just looked at her in stunned silence until she composed herself again.

"I did not think that was a funny question."

"No it's not. In fact it is quite a reasonable one under the circumstances," she shook her head ruefully. "I know the most about your situation and even I sometimes forget that you remember nothing. When I last saw Severus Snape he was potions master at my school and I was a final year student. I could not even think of him in any romantic sort of way. He was a teacher and twenty years my senior. At eighteen, thirty-eight seems so old."

Simon smiled. "Yes, I suppose so. Positively ancient."

"Not to mention," Hermione continued, "he was a very moral man. Even if he did find me attractive, and there was never any indication, he would never have started a relationship with any student."

"I suspect he probably did find you attractive."

"Why do you say that?"

Simon found himself suddenly feeling extremely drowsy and his eyes started to close as the potion took effect. "Because, I find you attractive. Very attractive."