Broken

Snape's Confession

Chapter 10

Severus Snape was pacing the corridor to the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Hermione was out of the woods, but she was still weak. He knew the only way to get her better was to get her back to Hogwarts. He had the headmaster Floo call Madam Pomfrey to get her back to Hogwarts. He stressed to Dumbledore that, "A member of the Order needs her, and her sister is probably just milking her injuries so she doesn't have to work." Dumbledore chuckled when Snape added, "She needs to end her tea party and get her arse back to Hogwarts where she belongs." Then he left the room, closing the door with a resounding thud.

The door to the hospital wing opened, and a still disgruntled Madam Pomfrey waved the Professor in without a word. Hermione was sitting up in the bed with Draco sitting on the edge when Professor Snape entered the room. She smiled kindly when he came in and asked how she was feeling.

"I've been better, Professor. However, I'd be the worse for wear if you hadn't come when you did. How is Harry? I want all the details of how he got rid of You-Know-Who."

Snape pulled up a chair and told her all the details - leaving out Lucius' involvement -- of the attack and how Harry had stabbed Voldemort with the sword. He told her of the incantation he used, and Hermione furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "I don't know if I've heard of Amo Subvertio Pravus. What does it mean, Sir?"

"It means, 'Love Destroys Evil.' I believe he found it in a book called, All I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned in First Year."

Hermione grinned. "I gave him that book for his birthday last year. I didn't even know that spell was in there. I just thought it was funny."

"Well," started Draco. "It may have been meant to humor him, but it eventually saved the Wizarding world. You see, Hermione, you did help Harry."

"You still haven't told me how Harry's doing, or where he is."

"Mr. Potter is at St. Mungo's, Miss Granger. He had quite a bit of blood loss, but Mrs. Potter was able to procure a donor to save him." In answer to her unasked question, Snape added, "He has a rare blood type, therefore, Mrs. Potter convinced his aunt to donate her blood."

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "His aunt? But she hates Harry. She made his life hell while he was a child. Why would she do that?"

"That, Miss Granger," Snape countered, "is between herself and Mrs. Potter."

"Hermione, you need to get some rest. I believe they are going to bring Harry here to recover once he's awake."

Hermione gasped. "He's not awake yet? Are the Healers concerned?"

Draco calmed her by placing a hand over hers. "He is still unconscious, but they believe he'll be alright. They aren't going to even try to revive him until they know the blood will work. Don't worry, Hermione. He'll be fine."

Appeased for the moment, Hermione snuggled into her pillow. "I am pretty tired. I think I'll take a nap." She looked up at Draco shyly and asked, "Will you be here when I wake up?"

Draco flushed slightly. "Of course I will. I won't leave you until you ask me to." For good measure he added, "Of course, if you ask me to leave, I'll only be on the other side of the door. I'm in this for the long haul, Hermione."

Hermione blushed and closed her eyes, smiling. The room was silent for a while. When Hermione's breathing became even, indicating she was finally asleep, Snape broke the silence.

"Draco, what are you planning to do? Did you and Miss Granger talk of your future?"

Draco looked solemnly up at his godfather. "To be honest with you, Severus, I think I want to marry her and make it legal. I don't know what it is about her, but I want to take care of her. I can't stand to be away from her. Besides, you know Lucius will never sever this bond."

"Do you love her, Draco?" Before he gave Draco a chance to answer, he added, "I ask you this because Miss Granger is not the kind of witch that would succumb to pressure."

"What do you mean by 'pressure,' Severus?" Draco asked, confused.

"What I mean is that she won't legally marry you or anyone else simply because a magical bond was placed upon her, especially if that bond was cast with malice. She is a Gryffindor, Draco, and she's Muggle-born. Most Muggles have fantastical ideas of love and marriage. You have been brought up in a household where marriage is for convenience. She will not understand that. So, I ask you again - Do. You. Love. Her?"

Draco stared at him in silence. He wanted to put off answering that question for as long as possible. So instead, he asked, "How do you know so much about Hermione? How do you know how she feels about love and marriage?"

Snape sighed, exasperated. "For the most obvious reason, she was my student for seven years. In case you've forgotten, I've been a spy for most of my life. I make it my job to figure people out. And, as I pointed out already, she is Muggle-born. When are you going to answer my question?"

"With all due respect, Sir, I don't care to answer your question right now. As you pointed out, I was raised in a home where marriage is of convenience. Any discussion that we have, I want to have it with Hermione. However, I will let you in on the details as soon as I know what they are."

Snape smirked. "Then I shall take my leave so that you may work out the details when she wakes."

"Severus, have you had any word on Lucius' whereabouts? Now that the Dark Lord is gone, I don't know how much longer we can stay cooped up in hiding."

Snape shifted uncomfortably. Avoiding Draco's gaze, he answered, "No, I don't know where he is at the moment. I will find him, Draco. I can promise you that much. You just need to concern yourself with the situation you are currently in with Miss Granger. I will handle Lucius. Good day to you."

Snape left the room, and Draco turned back toward Hermione. Reflexively kissing Hermione's hand, he brushed some of her wild curls from her face. "I may not know how to love you the way you need to be loved, Hermione. But I believe I could learn if you were my teacher."

He had no idea that Hermione had been pretending to be asleep through his entire conversation with Professor Snape. She smiled inwardly and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The sound of the hospital wing door opening pulled Hermione out of her sleep. Draco jumped quickly from his seat. Snape came through the door, followed by Ron, Ginny, Dumbledore, and a woman that Draco had never seen before. Behind them were Remus Lupin and Bill Weasley, carrying Harry on a stretcher. Madam Pomfrey, Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley, holding the baby, brought up the rear.

"Thank you, gentlemen, you may place Mr. Potter on this cot here next to Miss Granger." Madam Pomfrey was in her element.

"I can walk, you know." Harry said irritably.

"No, you will not, Potter!" Professor McGonagall had just entered the room. Harry knew better than to argue with his former head of house, which Dumbledore found rather amusing.

When Harry was finally settled on the bed, he looked around him. His eyes settled on his aunt. With all the commotion, he had not yet had a chance to speak with her. He was completely gobsmacked when he found out that Ginny talked her into to donating her blood to save him. He needed a chance to thank her.

"Er... I would really like to speak to my aunt alone, please, if we can please be excused. Well obviously not Hermione, and Ginny of course."

After everyone excused themselves, Harry regarded his aunt for a few moments, looking for the proper words. "Aunt Petunia," he finally started, "I don't really know why you did it, and I'm not sure I want to know how Ginny was able to get you to do it, but I really don't know how to thank you enough."

"You don't need to thank me, Harry. It's what was needed for you to live."

"I know that, Aunt Petunia. But, I never expected you would go to the extreme of coming into the Wizarding community." Seeing her standing in the hospital wing of his school was still so surreal to him.

Ginny put her hand on Harry's shoulder. "People change, Harry," said Ginny. She shared a furtive smile with Petunia, which did not go unnoticed by Harry.

Harry grinned, "Like I said, I don't think I want to know what Ginny did to convince you. But I'm glad she did it."

"Harry," Petunia said hesitantly. "There are a lot of things that I have done that I'm not proud of. I neglected my sister's only child because of my foolish jealousy. You were only an innocent child who was forced to take on the responsibility of grown men. I'm not going to pretend to understand the ways of your world, nor am I going to try to understand the full weight of what you had to do. But I know you suffered. I'll admit, ashamedly, that I've always known how much you have suffered."

"Harry, I know I have no right to ask you this, but I've become quite taken with your daughter. If you would allow me to, I would like to be a part of her life. And I would also like to start over with you and be a proper aunt." Petunia let her gaze go toward the ground.

Harry cleared his throat to speak, but the door to the infirmary opened before he could answer. Mrs. Weasley bustled in apologizing profusely. "I am so sorry. My precious granddaughter needs a diaper change, and I've left her bag. I'll be out of your hair in no time."

"Molly, can you come here for a moment?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Harry, dear. Do you need me to fetch Madam Pomfrey for you?"

"No, I'm alright. I just want you to meet someone. I don't think you've met my Aunt Petunia. She's my mum's sister," Harry said, hoping Mrs. Weasley would catch on.

Catching Harry's meaning, Mrs. Weasley stuck out her hand. "No, Harry, I don't believe I have. My name is Molly Weasley. I'm Harry's mother-in-law. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

Petunia slowly shook Mrs. Weasley's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Mrs. Weasley."

"Oh, pish posh, you will call me Molly. I want to thank you for bringing our Harry 'round. He is truly a remarkable young man."

"Aunt Petunia, Molly has been very kind to me. She's been my surrogate mother here in the Wizarding world."

"Well, Harry, it has been my pleasure. Now, Petunia, would you like to come with me to rescue that nameless child from Severus and Draco, so I can change her diaper? I daresay it's a lot of work being a grandmother. I hope you will be able to provide me with assistance in that department. A child needs to have a grandparent from both sides of her family after all."

Petunia beamed. "I would love to." Then, turning to Harry, she added, "I won't ever be able to replace Lily, Harry. But I will try very hard to make her proud."

Harry just smiled at her, and then something clicked in his brain that Mrs. Weasley had said. "Molly, why does Professor Snape have my daughter?"

"Oh, dear, Arthur, Remus and Bill went home to the Burrow. Albus and Minerva are at the Ministry, and Madam Pomfrey is in her rooms, unpacking her things. I told her to get some rest and, if you needed her, we would call for her."

Petunia and Molly exited the room, and Ginny turned toward Harry. "That was very kind of you, Harry."

Harry shrugged. "She saved my life. I believe everyone deserves a second chance. If Uncle Vernon were still alive, I don't think he would have allowed it."

"Gin, I really think you should get some rest. Let your mum and Aunt Petunia watch over the baby. When you feel up to it, we can think of a perfect name for her."

"I am kind of tired, Harry. I think I'll take you up on your offer. If you need anything, you'll send for me right? I'm just going to kip on up to Gryffindor Tower and take a nap on the sofa in the common room. I'll just be a Floo call away."

"I'll be fine. You go ahead."

On Ginny's way out, she bumped into to Professor Snape on his way in. "Oh, excuse me, Professor."

"That's quite alright, Mrs. Potter. I was just on my way in to check on our patients."

"And I was just on my way out to get some rest. Where's Draco?"

"I had to force him to get some rest as well. He is currently in the Slytherin common room. I promised him I would sit with Miss Granger until he is refreshed."

"Okay. I think Harry's going to try to get some sleep as well. Hermione is already out like a light. I'll see you later."

Snape entered the room and walked over to Hermione's bed. He took Draco's vacated seat and withdrew a book from his robes. He read for a few moments, then said to the room at large, "Do you make a habit of pretending to sleep, Miss Granger?"

"H-how did you know?" Hermione asked, embarrassed.

"I'm old and wise," he replied.

"Professor, when am I going to get out of this ruddy place? I'm feeling loads better. I need fresh air." Hermione was absent-mindedly stroking her flat stomach.

"When you are safe, Miss Granger; now go back to sleep like a good girl."

Hermione had had enough. He was not going to ignore her wishes. He was not going to treat her like an insolent child. And he was bloody well going to start calling her by her name. She fished in her head for something to get him talking.

It was dangerous, she knew, but it was the only way to get his attention. Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Severus?"

Snape jerked his head up and Harry's eyes snapped opened. Snape looked incredulously at her. Hermione held her breath. When Snape planted the smirk to beat all smirks on his lips, Hermione grinned. Harry couldn't believe his eyes.

Without even turning to look at Harry, who was on the cot behind him, Snape said, "Close your mouth, Potter, you're creating a vacuum."

Harry couldn't help himself. He laughed. However, he was thunderstruck again by Snape's next statement. "Did you need something, Hermione?"

Hermione grinned even wider. Deciding to chance her luck, she asked him, "Are you ever going to tell us why you tried so hard to protect us? The war is over now, so you don't have to hide anymore."

Snape's smirked left his lips, and he sighed. Hermione thought she'd blown the moment until he said, "Yes, Hermione, I'll tell you."

Hermione laid her head back on her pillow, and Harry sat up so he could hear everything. Snape took a deep breath and began his tale.

"When I was a student at Hogwarts, I was not very popular. I was a Slytherin who was a little too interested in the Dark Arts. I usually kept to myself, so I didn't seek to make myself popular. I had a detention with Professor McGonagall in my sixth year. Minerva was called away to deal with some trouble in the Gryffindor common room and sent one of her prize pupils to keep me company."

"The said student sat down at the desk opposite me and began work on a Potions essay. I have always been rather adept at potions, and I knew her to be one of Slughorn's favorite students. She asked me something about the essay she was working on, and we struck up a conversation."

"She was a Gryffindor Muggle-born, who was very popular, and I was a Slytherin nobody. She was very kind to me, and we became friends. We would sometimes sit with one another in the library. We'd even gotten a butterbeer together at the Three Broomsticks."

"It wasn't long before term ended, and we went home for the summer holiday. We owled one another a couple of times, but my family life became worse by the day. Then Lucius Malfoy started coming 'round my house, and he and I struck up a friendship. He said he'd heard about my Potions making ability and my flare for the Dark Arts. He told me he knew a way for me to use my talents. I was... interested."

"My Gryffindor friend sent me another owl while Lucius was paying a visit. He intercepted it and told me that it was dangerous for me to be involved with the girl. He made it clear that it was even more dangerous for her. I understood his meaning and didn't respond to her."

"When we returned to school, I distanced myself from her and even called her a Mudblood enough times to make her hate me, which was my plan. I wanted to protect her from my new, friends. Soon I became so involved with the Dark Lord, her safety was even more at risk."

"Voldemort killed her a few years later. I had given him information which led to her death. I didn't know it was her at the time. When I realized it, it was already too late. I couldn't protect her. That's when I went to Dumbledore and turned spy for the Order. As I confessed my sins to Dumbledore, I told him that I wished to make an Unbreakable Vow to her. I knew it wasn't possible to make a true Vow, due to the fact she was deceased, but with his help, I was able to make it with a few adjustments. I vowed to her that I would avenge her death. I vowed that I would fight for the side of the light. I vowed that I would always protect her memory. And I vowed that I would never let any harm come to her son."

"Miss Granger, you reminded me so much of her. She was quite the know-it-all herself. She was wickedly intelligent, and she was braver than most men. She, too, was the brightest witch of her age. In my eyes, you were sent by her. She gave me a chance to fulfill my promise by promising to protect her memory by protecting you. By protecting you, I was protecting her. I felt it was her way of forgiving me."

When Snape didn't say another word, Hermione realized he had finished his story. She cleared her throat and wiped away her tears. "What became of the boy - her son?"

Before Snape could answer her, Harry said, "He's lying in the cot right next to you."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Is it true? Was your friend Lily Potter?"

Snape shook his head. "Not when I knew her. Her name was Lily Evans back then."

A moment later, Draco walked in. He looked suspiciously at the others, knowing he'd walked in on something private. Snape stood to leave. When he reached the door, Hermione asked, "Did you love her?"

Snape turned around to look at her. "Yes. I loved her in same way that you love Harry. However, my heart has always and will always belong to only one woman." With a penetrating glance toward Draco, Snape excused himself.

Hermione noted Harry's surprised expression. "What's the matter, Harry?"

"Do you know that is the first time the Professor has ever said my first name without looking as if he'd just found dung in his kippers."

The silence was broken by the laughter of Draco and Hermione, who were soon joined by Harry.