After the Fall

Disclaimer: Not Mine

After the Fall

The Tenth Christmas After

Hermione woke to the sound of someone pounding on her door. She opened one eye and peeked at the clock she kept on the table next to her bed. Moaning, she pulled the pillow over her head as the pounding came again, trying to block it out.

"Shite," she muttered as she grabbed her robe and shuffled toward the door. "Enough already. I am coming," she shouted to the door, hurrying down the short hallway, tying her belt and smoothing her hair down as she went. She grabbed the door handle and pulled it open it to see Severus in the same clothes he had worn to her graduation.

"Miss Granger." He greeted her as he pushed her aside and strode into her room. "I have come to collect you for the day."

"It's Christmas, I already made plans."

"I am aware of that, Miss Granger. Your plans have been somewhat modified."

"Modified? I don't see you for months and then you barge in just to ruin my day?"

"I have been in touch with a mutual friend. The Headmaster at your university."

"The Headmaster? Why were you there?"

"Your old Headmaster was a friend of my mother's. I try to see him at least once a year."

"You arse. That is how you managed to get my name and pay my tuition." She grinned at him. "I must say, Severus, you do surprise me."

"I have always managed to keep contact with those who may be useful, Miss Granger. Surely, you remember at least this."

"It's too early to figure you out. What does the Headmaster have to do with this?"

"He had your forwarding address, among others. It would seem you have been able to survive with absolutely no use of magic, making my tracking spells unusable."

Hermione walked to the door and opened it, looking at Severus without a word and waiting for him to leave.

"I have come to collect you for Minerva's breakfast. She has taken to having one on Christmas mornings and has expressed her desire to have you attend this year."

"I don't think I can do that, Severus."

"She is not well, Hermione. It is the only reason I have come."

"Minerva?" She closed the door and walked back into the apartment, sitting heavily on her sofa. "What is wrong with her?"

"Poppy says her heart is not strong. She refuses to quit until she has settled the work she has planned. Assuring herself of your continued well-being is part of what she feels she must complete, and in that regard, I must insist on your attendance today."

"I can't imagine Hogwarts without Minerva," Hermione said softly, staring at the floor. "She is part of it, you know. Albus was there and of course we missed him, but Minerva was everyone's mother. She was the one that took care of us. She... she was always there to listen and never forced things on us."

"The Board of Governors has agreed that she will have permanent chambers on the grounds." He walked to the window and looked down at the street below. "She will still be there. However, she will not work as the Headmistress."

"Will she still teach?" Hermione wiped a tear with the back of her hand.

"No, she is to be there in an advisory capacity only." He turned to look at her. "You need to know that many of your classmates will be there as well."

"Ronald and Harry?" She looked up at him and saw him nod.

"You will come?" He looked down at her solemnly.

"Of course I will. I would do anything for Minerva."

"She made a point of you knowing that you need not come out of obligation."

Hermione stood and walked over to him. "Of course I'll come, just give me ten minutes."

Severus stood and watched the traffic move slowly through the snow-covered streets while he waited for Hermione to get ready. He turned and frowned, looking around her apartment, seeing her bookshelves full of textbooks, her new desk devoid of parchment and quill and her pristine carpeting and furniture. He walked over to the fireplace and picked up the only picture displayed. He studied her parents' faces and scowled as he put it back.

"Hermione?" He turned to her as she walked back in the room. "I think I should take you in a Side-Along. It has been years since you have travelled to Hogwarts, and since you are not connected to the Floo it will be safer."

"Sure, or I am only a few minutes form the Leaky Cauldron, we could use their Floo."

"No, we will leave from here." He looked at her blue jeans and scowled. "I am sure Minerva would prefer something different, Miss Granger."

"It is only breakfast, Severus." She rolled her eyes and walked to get her coat out of the closet.

"I will wait until you make yourself presentable and do something with that." He looked directly at her hair and raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, then I need at least an hour," she snapped at him.

"I have nothing planned." Severus smirked and sat down in one of her chairs, folded his arms and stared at her.

"If I didn't know better I would say you are up to something, Snape." Hermione stomped into her room, angry that he had told her to change her clothes, then sighed and opened her closet to find something more fitting for a Christmas morning. She knew Minerva would expect traditional dress. Severus was correct, and she thought it was the least she could do to play the part.

She no longer kept robes. She no longer had use for them. She opted for a red silk skirt and white blouse in keeping with the season, and draping a single strain of peals around her neck, she sat at the vanity to comb her hair. Without thinking, she put on lipstick and a touch of makeup to her eyes before standing to go back into the living room.

"Okay," she called to Severus as she stood by the hall closet, sliding on her boots. "Let's get the over with."

Severus looked at her boots and shook his head. "I use magic, Miss Granger. I do not think those will be necessary."

"I still have to make it from the gates to the main door."

"I use magic, Miss Granger, as I said. The pavement will be clear." He walked over to her closet, took out a pair of black heels, and handed them to her.

Looking at him oddly, she took them, let them fall to the floor, and slipped her feet into them.

"Satisfied?"

"Other than that stuff on your face, you are passable." He smirked as he pulled her under his arm and did a Side-Along Apparation, landing just outside Hannah's house in South Hampton.

"I shall wait here, Miss Granger," Severus said, looking down at her, then stepped back and cast a warming spell around himself.

"You said you only came for Minerva."

"I lied."

She looked at the house and whirled back to him. "You bastard."

"I believe my birth certificate says differently. It is time to deal with your past or cut yourself free, Hermione."

She looked up at the house as he flicked his wand and melted the snow on the pavement from them to the house and up the stairs.

"This is why you wanted me to change?"

He nodded at her. "Yes, and when we are done Minerva will be waiting. I did not lie about her, Hermione. I only lied about her being the only reason."

"You should have warned me. At least you could have done that," she hissed at him.

"I did not know myself until I saw your apartment." He looked up at the house and nodded toward the door. "It is time. You know that as well as I."

Hermione looked at the house and turned back to Severus. "What do you mean, until you saw my apartment?"

"No one lives there. It is empty."

"Empty," she said flatly and looked up at Hannah's home. "It does feel... What if he is angry? What if he hates me?"

"What if he does? Then nothing will be different than it was before we left your apartment. You have lost nothing."

She nodded up at him. "I guess I owe him this. I'm scared, Severus - really, truly scared."

"Miss... Hermione, if you need to leave quickly or need help I shall be here for you."

She started up to the pavement, looking back at him over her shoulder, and finally reached the door, which was decorated with a holiday wreath. She swallowed hard and then raised her hand, only hesitating for a moment, and knocked.

"Vickie?" Hannah opened the door and looked at her in surprise, stepping aside and letting her enter into the hallway. "I'll just be a moment. Richard is in with the children. They are opening their gifts. I will have to ask him if he is willing to see you. I'm not sure that he will."

Hermione licked her lips and nodded, her mouth suddenly too dry to talk. She lowered her head as she felt the heat that started on her face cover her neck and throat. She wondered why she was doing this and looked back to the door, ready to flee.

"Thanks, Hannah, I'll be fine." Richards's voice came from the doorway as he stepped into view. Hannah walked by him and looked back at Hermione, patted his arm, and turned to slide the pocket doors closed.

They stood, each waiting for the other to speak, until Hermione took a step forward before she could stop herself, and then stopped to look at him.

"Richard?" She slipped her hand to his cheek and searched his face. She closed her eyes and took a breath only to find him still there when she opened them again. He scowled at her and pulled back from her touch.

"My name is Hermione Granger." She smiled at him through her tears. "I never thought I could say that to you. I don't know now why it was so hard. I never thought to see you after you left, I didn't even plan on..."

"What are you here for, Vickie?" He spoke evenly and harshly.

"I came to explain things, if you still care to know. If not, I understand and will just leave."

"I should have worded that differently. Why are you here?"

She opened her mouth and closed it, unprepared for the question that he so casually threw out. She twisted her hands and then stopped and shoved them in her coat pockets when she saw him watching them. She felt the smooth surface of his picture she carried and fought not to run.

He sighed loudly. "Last time, Vic. Why are you here?"

"Because, I ... I think ... I..."

"Say it," he said, stepping closer to her. "Damn it, woman, just say it."

"I love you, Richard." She gasped as he grabbed her hand she had raised again to his face and pulled it roughly down.

He lowered his eyes and looked at her body, then back up to her face. "I looked for you. You had already left when I came by your apartment."

Soft little girl giggles came from behind him. He dropped her hand and looked up to the ceiling, rolling his eyes. "My nieces."

She peeked around his shoulders and saw two pairs of the bluest eyes she had ever seen looking out from a crack in the door.

"Hi." She smiled at the gaily-dressed girls.

"Hi," said the tallest and sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. "Mum says you best not hurt my Uncle Richard again. She says if you do she will do a bad word and..."

"Tabatha! Take your sister back into the sitting room," Richard said gruffly, not taking his eyes off Hermione. "Tell your Mum my ya."

The pocket doors slid shut as Hermione grinned. "My ya?"

"Hayes speak, for mind your own business. We are usually an outspoken family so don't be surprised if about ten more are peeking out in a minute to give you a peace of their minds."

"Richard. I have to talk to you. I need to tell you..."

"No, not here." He jerked his head back to the door as it again slowly opened to reveal a set of brown eyes on the small face of a boy.

"Richard, how many nieces and nephews do you have?" She grinned as the boy hugged a bear to his chest and thrust a thumb in his mouth.

Richard turned to the door and grinned, then gently pushed the boy back into the other room and slid the door shut again. "Eleven. Lisa and Hannah are having a race for number twelve. They are both due in March. Let's go in there," he said with a nod to a small library at the end of the hallway. He flicked on the light and stepped in, waiting for Hermione, then closed and locked the door.

"Before you say anything, I want to say that what you said in the hallway no longer matters to me." He raked his hands through his hair. "I don't know if I can go through this again."

"Oh." Hermione swallowed and looked at him, stepping back. "I owe you an explanation. I want you to know what happened. I shouldn't have said that."

"Does it matter? Do you really feel compelled to come to my sister's house to tell me about this?"

"This may be just a wee bit different than what you think it is. I'll leave if you would rather. Richard, I don't want to hurt you, I never thought to hurt you."

"I thought for the longest time you were married." He shook his head and laughed at her shocked expression. "I know, but the name and all. Then I figured you didn't act experienced in bed to have had a man often enough to be any good at it."

Hermione reddened and looked back at him, fighting for her tears not to spill over. Swallowing them down, she walked across the room, distancing her from him, and then turned back to face him.

"I made a mistake," she whispered. "I shouldn't have come. I thought you should know is all. But I need to leave now. I am sorry I came."

"Know what, Vickie? That you made a fool of me?"

"No, that I loved you. That I couldn't tell you about my past without you leaving me. That I wanted so badly to have you want me that I tried to be someone I wasn't. That I still love you. "

He crossed the room and lifted her face to his, looking into her eyes and shaking his head. "I want to hurt you. Do you know that? I want to say things that will hurt you as bad as you hurt me."

"I think you just did." She tried to laugh as the first of her tears welled in her eyes. "I thought ... I thought you... when we made... I thought it was good. I thought you loved...I'm sorry."

His lips came down and covered the words before she could finish saying what she wanted to tell him, but could not. He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her and crushing his lips to hers. Kissing his way across her eyes to her ear, where she heard him as he sighed.

"I lied," he chuckled. "You drive me crazy. Sometimes I close my eyes just to see you, just to remember how you look, how you sound and feel. I remember your smell, and your taste and I want you in my bed every morning I wake. God, how I have missed you."

"Richard." She closed her eyes and felt his hands glide under her coat and over her body. "I need to finish this, please let me finish this."

He stepped back from her, tipping her chin up and nodding to her. "If we want a chance at this at all you need to tell me what happened. I don't know if I want to go through this again. I don't think I can. Vickie, if we are to start over I need to know everything."

"First, you need to understand that I did not tell you any of this at the beginning because I was trying to hide it. Then, I couldn't tell you because I, well, because I wanted to believe you loved me and that this would come between us." She shrugged off her coat and tossed it on the sofa.

"You didn't trust me." He scowled at her.

"I trusted you. I just believed you loved me. I didn't know it. Do you see the difference? Do you understand that when you believe in something, something like Father Christmas, you can lose it in a heartbeat of time? I needed to know you were there. I couldn't let myself know you loved me."

"Vickie, I did everything I could. I don't know what else I could have done."

"Sit down, Richard. This is going to be harder on you than it is on me right now. Let me do what I came for, and then you decide if you still want me here." She tried to smile at him. "You remember last year when you heard Professor Snape say I was a witch?"

"That was totally uncalled for, Vic. I still don't understand what that was all about."

"Hermione, say it, it's my name. It will get easier. Well, I am."

"You are what?"

"I'm a witch. My name is Hermione Granger and I am a witch. Sounds like a quit drinking group, hey?"

"A witch, you say."

"Richard, this would go faster if you didn't just repeat things. Yes, I am a witch."

"Like one of those people who practice Wicca and go to Stonehenge once a year?"

Hermione snorted in laugher. "No, a real witch, one with magic."

"Magic? Umm, sorry. What kind of magic?"

Hermione squatted down in front of him and pulled out her wand. Then, grabbing his handkerchief from his pocket, she tapped it and let loose a dove that flew around the room, landed on a bookcase and gently cooed.

"How did you do that?" His brow wrinkled as he looked at her. "You do tricks?"

"No, it's called Transfiguration," she sighed. "Okay look, I am magical. I was born with magic. You are a Muggle. You were born without magic. That is the only difference. It took me a long time to figure that one out, but it is only a small difference."

"Vickie..."

"Hermione. You need to start saying it. As I was saying, I am a witch. Professor Snape is a wizard. A very powerful wizard, and quite famous, I might add."

"I never heard of him."

"That is the difficult part, really harder to believe then the fact that I am a witch."

"Vickie, Hannah's husband is a doctor, maybe he could..."

Hermione snorted at him and sat down heavily on the sofa, laughing. "Oh my gods, Richard. I thought you would run away screaming. Instead, you want to take me to a doctor. Trust me, I am quite all right - it is you that may need a doctor soon."

"Vickie, I thought you came here because..." He sighed as he got up slowly and walked to the door. "Obviously you find a sort of perverse joy in this. Leave, Vickie or Hermione, whoever you want to be today. I can't do this. Not today, not with my family sitting in the next room."

Hermione flicked her wand and set wards up around the door, frowning at him.

"Richard if you want nothing to do with me when I am done I will understand that. You have to listen to me. You have to believe me. No, you have to know I am a witch. The magical world lives beside this one. It interacts and is interrelated and at the same time keeps completely separate. For example, I can see things you can't."

"That's why I thought you could talk to Hannah's..."

"Not like that, not because I am crazy but because they are hidden from you, warded against you. Non-magical men cannot see them. We protect ourselves by setting up boundaries and what we call wards to that keep us safe and away from the non-magical. Only, we call it Muggle. "

"Safe? Safe from what?" He ran his fingers though his hair. "Bloody hell, now I am listening to you."

"I think it is a holdover from when witches were burnt at the stake. Some of the spells are that old. Now, staying separate is partly from fear Muggles will see us, but mostly to keep Muggles from fearing what they do not understand. The magical world is wonderful. The Healers alone could shut down most of the hospitals. Watch," she said, then with a flick and short incantation she changed the fern standing in the corner to a fully decorated Christmas tree. She looked at him and nodded before changing it back.

"Richard, I went to a private school. It's called Hogwarts. Professor Snape was really one of my teachers. I told you the truth about that. Only. I didn't study the normal things. I learned how to use my magic."

She ran to where he had sat down again, staring with his mouth partly open as if trying to talk. She squatted down in front of him, looked up into his face and reached up to stroke his cheek.

"There is so much Richard, so much that I could tell you, but you need to believe me first. To know who and what I am."

"You want me to believe ... no, you want me to know you are a witch? Tell me, Vic, do you ride brooms at night?" He was becoming angry with her for what he was sure was a sick joke.

"Heavens no." She blanched. "I hate riding at night. I don't mind so much during the day, but night can be quite dangerous - no lights, you see. I could get someone to take you up if you think you would like it. Wait for summer though, right now it is ..."

"Okay, fine. Have you had your fun?" He pushed her away, letting her fall to the ground as he angrily walked to the door and tried to pull it open. "Unlock it, Vickie, now."

"It is a ward, Richard, it really is not locked."

"I'm warning you."

"One more thing, let me just try one more thing." She was becoming frantic as she lifted up her wand again and sent a Patronus to fetch Severus. "Please, I am not crazy, let me do this. Talk to Professor Snape, he can tell you."

No sooner had her otter left the room when she heard Severus Apparate in behind her. Spinning around, she looked at him wide-eyed.

"How did you do that? You have never seen this room!" She looked up in surprise that he did not use the door.

"Your Patronus, Miss Granger, it enabled me to follow. Now, I see you are having difficulties."

"How did you get in here?" Rickard lost some of his normal robust colour.

"Have you not listened to a word Miss Granger has told you?"

"Severus, could you maybe let Richard see, in you mind I mean, could you let him see Hogwarts?"

"Wait just a minute." Richard looked from Severus to Hermione. "That day in your apartment, that time you... you read my mind? I felt strange, and thought... but no... this... no..."

Richard put out his hand and reached for a chair. He needed to sit down and sit down quickly. "Jake, what Jake said. He said the accent was wrong. He said you were off, odd or something. He said that Snape here watched you all the time."

Hermione nodded and fell to her knees in front of him again. "I had left the other world to go to school. He watched out for me. I didn't use my real name because I thought they couldn't find me that way but his tracking spells are good, and he knows the Headmaster."

"Tracking spells? Umm, sorry. You can do what he just did?" Richard looked behind her at the Professor, who no longer looked like what she said he was but an evil presence in the room.

"Yes, maybe not as far as he can, but yes I can do it." She reached up to touch his face when he grabbed her hand and brought her palm to his mouth, kissing the inside of her hand.

"Richard!" she gasped and laid her head down in his lap as tears welled up in her eyes again.

"I am either as crazy as you or I need to see my brother-in-law." He laughed nervously and stroked her hair, looking up at Severus. "I guess we may as well be crazy together."

"Be aware, Professor Hayes, that this information is not to be shared with your family." Severus scowled at him.

"I don't think that's a problem. They would just want to lock me up." Richard leaned back and ran his hand through his hair. "Why were you two fighting? Did it have something to do with all this? My God, listen to me, I am talking like this is normal."

"It's not abnormal." Hermione laughed at his face. "It is just hidden, you have to remember that."

"The long answer would take us into next week, Professor Hayes. You would have to understand that Miss Granger is also something of a self-proclaimed Potions expert." Severus looked at Hermione and saw her look at him, biting her lip. "Suffice to say your witch often thinks she knows more then her teachers."

"Bloody hell, man. I could have told you that ten minutes into my first lesson when she tried to correct me on my translations." Richard looked at her and grinned as Severus broke into laughter.