Hero

Hermione

And we wonder, yes we wonder: how do you make sense of this,

When the hero kills the maiden with his kiss?

A big mug of tea in her hands, Hermione sat in the headmaster's office. She was still shaking from her wobbly flight to the school, even though it had only lasted a minute or two. "But, sir," she protested for the seventh time, "Professor Snape needs your help, he's badly injured, we can't wait until moonset. Isn't there another way out there, a secret passage, or something?" She plucked at the edge of the blanket that Professor Dumbledore had offered when she'd staggered into the office.

"Not that I know of, Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore gravely replied. "My child, even I do not know all the secrets that this castle holds. Actually, the Marauders probably knew more about it than I do, and this castle has been my home for over a century.

"Professor Snape is made of sterner stuff than you give him credit for. You should not have risked your life by leaving Hagrid's. You also should not have been out there after moonrise, Miss Granger, I warned you about that." Hermione frowned; she'd explained what had happened, and why she had done what she had. "I am as concerned for Professor Snape as you are, and but, based on what you have told me, I believe he will keep for a few hours more. He was sleeping when you left him, was he not?"

"Yes, sir." I already told you so. She took a sip of her tea, then set the mug aside.

"That in itself is a very good sign." Professor Dumbledore walked to the window, looking in the direction of Hagrid's hut. Hermione grew tired of watching the headmaster watch the grounds, and closed her eyes.

*

The sky was bright when she awoke, that beautiful indigo colour that heralded a new day. But the light didn't wake her; it was sound. A sharp clink roused her from her uncomfortable slumber in one of Professor Dumbledore's chairs. She got out of the chair and stretched, easing the kinks out of her neck and shoulders.

Clink.

Intrigued, she went to the window. She didn't see anything until the sound repeated itself again, then caught a glimpse of a clear bubble outside, tapping against the window. It looked like an ordinary soap bubble, faint colours drifting over its translucent surface. She opened the window.

The bubble zoomed into the room as the sun began to peek over the mountains to the east. She followed the bubble with her eyes as it floated up, through the door that sat off the little staircase in the office. The door was cracked, and a moment later, she heard Professor Snape's voice. It was loud enough that she heard every word:

"In Bullare Memoriae Mandare. Albus, I will disclose what happened in the meeting when I see you in person. But Miss Granger is out on the grounds, I mistakenly asked her to find you without telling her to wait for moonset. If she has not arrived, you must search immediately, you have to find her. I heard the pack close to the hippogriff paddock when I arrived. They might still be close enough to the castle to hurt her.

"You have to find her, Albus. I am in Hagrid's hut, and I will be fine until sunrise, but Miss Granger --" They heard a deep, shaky breath, a severe expletive muttered twice. "In Bullare Oratiuncula."

Hermione digested the message. What fascinated her was not the words, though the message had been mostly about her. What interested her was how frightened he sounded. It almost didn't sound like Professor Snape.

Professor Dumbledore emerged from the room a moment later, eyeing Hermione oddly. "You heard," he said.

She nodded; it was useless to deny it. "Yes, sir."

He sighed as he descended the steps. "Miss Granger, you must not interpret Professor Snape's message as anything more than concern for a student," he began. Hermione blushed. "I am aware of your infatuation with him --"

Hermione cringed and mouthed the same profanity that she'd heard a moment before. What if Dumbledore found out that she'd kissed Professor Snape? She'd be neck-deep in fewmets.

"-- I do not believe that he is aware of it --"

Thank goodness for small favours.

"-- yet." She shivered. "You are prudent, Miss Granger. I must ask you to keep last night's events, as well as the existence and content of the message, to yourself."

"I understand; of course, sir."

For the first time since Hagrid's death, the smile actually reached Professor Dumbledore's eyes. "I shall miss having you and your friends as students, my dear. Now, I want you to run an errand for me, and then go to your dormitory and sleep. You are excused from today's classes; you may study, but only after you have slept for at least five hours," he said sternly. She nodded. "I shall have the house-elves send breakfast up to your room."

"What's the errand, sir?"

"Inform Madam Pomfrey of Professor Snape's condition and location, and send her here. She and I will take care of him as soon as the moon sets."

"Yes, sir." She got out of her chair. "Oh, the broom --"

"Madam Pomfrey and I shall also return the broom to its shed."

"Thank you, sir." Hermione left the office.

*

She obeyed the headmaster, getting some sleep. Then Hermione spent the afternoon in the library, going over the material she had missed in classes today. She caught up with Ron after Charms. "Hey," she said. "Where's Harry?"

"Off to pick Ginny up."

"Of course," Hermione chuckled. Now that Harry and Ginny had finally worked out their awkwardness and bad timing, they were practically inseparable.

"Why weren't you in classes today?" Ron asked.

"The job out at Hagrid's took longer than I thought. Full moon last night, so I had to stay, and the pack kept me awake."

"Aw, Hermione," Ron said, putting his arm around her shoulders. She chuckled and let him hold her for a moment, then removed his arm. The Hufflepuffs, including Susan, were exiting their classroom just around the corner. Wouldn't do for Susan to see her man with his arm draped around another girl. "Oh, Harry said that Snape wasn't in class today, either." Hermione nodded noncommittally. "I'm glad I don't need a N.E.W.T. in Potions to play Quidditch professionally," Ron declared. "Five years with the old bat is quite enough, thank you." He laughed.

Hermione frowned. "I don't understand you, Ron. You've seen what he does, and even you can deduce a possible reason as to why he wasn't teaching today. Would you please just accept the fact that you don't know him? I certainly don't, and we've spent as much time with him as anyone not in Slytherin. There has to be something good about Snape, not just what he does, but what he is, Ron. There's good in everyone, except maybe Voldemort."

"Whatever, Hermione." Ron gestured to his left. "Go on, I'll catch up."

Hermione nodded as Ron entered the loo, and scowled as she resumed her march down the corridor. "Though hell will freeze over before he thanks me for anything I did last night." She hated that she felt disappointed. She knew that she should know better.

Footsteps. Expecting Ron, Hermione turned.

Student and Potions Master regarded each other. Hermione tried, but she couldn't keep the relief off her face. "Good afternoon, sir." You're looking well.

"Detention. Eight o'clock, my classroom."

Hermione flinched and felt her eyes prickle. Damn it, damn it, damn it! I deserve this, I deserve every bit of hurt he dishes out, because I welcome it. She looked at the floor. "Yes, sir," she whispered. "Excuse me." She darted into a girls' lavatory before he could say another word.

She sat on the floor of one of the stalls for a long time, clutching her head in her hands, grateful that she wouldn't have to see him nearly as much once term ended. She was tired of giving a damn about what he said, tired of wanting someone she couldn't have, tired of caring for a man who didn't.