Chapter 10

Hermione was up out of her chair, pacing; the talk of her past was bringing up all sorts of memories that she thought she’d locked firmly away.

“Severus,” she said, obviously agitated, “I don’t mean to pressure you, but have you thought about our initial discussion any more?”

He watched her stride from one end of the room to the other, amused in spite of the seriousness of their conversation.

“I have given your request much thought,” he finally said.

“And?”

“I have a few questions and a request of my own.”

She stopped pacing and took a moment to study him closely. Snape was completely unnerved…even the Dark Lord had never made him feel so exposed. It was as though she was able to see into the depths of his soul.

“You want me to remove the Glamour,” she said. It wasn’t even phrased as a question.

He nodded, and her eyes narrowed.

“I don’t need your pity.”

“And you shall not have it, any more than I have yours,” he snapped. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to be calm. “Someone once told me that there was a significant difference between pity and compassion.”

“Albus,” Hermione said softly.

Snape nodded. “I didn’t understand at the time, but I am…trying.”

Looking away, Hermione sighed. “Tell me why you want me to remove the Glamour.”

He found himself, so normally eloquent, fumbling for words. “I don’t…I wish for there to be no pretense between us. And…I, well…”

She held up her hand, stopping his painful confession.

“You said you had questions?

He nodded, relieved that he'd been granted a reprieve. “You mentioned that you’d trained at Drumstag, in Occulemency and Legilimency, for six months.”

“True,” she confirmed, settling back into her chair.

“While I realize that you’re still a know-it-all…” She snorted. “…even that isn’t sufficient time to learn to deceive the Dark Lord.”

“Ask one of the easy questions first, then?” she said with a small grin. “Remember I told you that Grandmaster Saitama taught me meditation exercises?” He nodded. “Well, each of the masters I studied with taught more than just dueling…he, Master Trovatelli, and Master Zhdanov continued my Occulemency and Legilimency lessons. Mistress Ivarsdatter and Grandmaster Qiqirn gave me extra training in Runes, while High Priestess Woserit and Grandmaster Kim furthered my studies in Arithmancy. Master Sze Ma taught me about ancient Chinese potions and healing. Then Shaman O’wa, Magus Chetana, and Don Allejandro worked with me in transfiguration...I could probably give Minerva a serious run for her money; I’ve had to be careful at the school not to appear too competent. Master Kaisaris taught me about battle strategies, and actually helped me with some of my research. Most of them also worked with me in some sort of hand-to-hand combat as well, or set me up with the people who could.”

Hermione leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Now then; something tells me that your next question will be more complicated.”

He nodded slowly. “At your first raid…and after, at the Revel…I understand better than anyone the need to maintain your cover, but…Hermione, he was your classmate. I just don’t see how…”

“How I could act the part of an amoral sociopath, letting his parents die and ignoring the two young girls while I ripped Kevin into little bitty pieces?”

Snape swallowed the bile that the memories of that Revel brought forth. He’d seen many things over the years, but the actions of this one girl…his student, one of the Golden Trio…had left him completely stunned.

“What do you know of simulacra?” she asked.

He blinked. “Not much, I admit. I recall them being copies of something real…”

“Or someone,” she said. “It’s an ancient magic, all but lost today. There are only a few wizards and witches who can create a simulacrum, and almost none are able to do so with such detail that they give realistic reactions to their environment. And then there’s the challenge of making the simulacrum appear to have magic. Shaman O’wa gave me an extensive education; the tribes have been using them for centuries when they needed to send high-ranking members of the tribe into hostile environments.” She sighed. “The Dark Lord may be a good Occulemens…but I’m a better Legillimens. I picked up on the attack a few days before it happened, and had just enough time to move the family to safety and replace them with simulacra. Everything that happened that night happened to a set of carefully crafted spells mixed with the four elements.”

“Astonishing,” he murmured.

“They’ve been quite useful; I used one of you to convince the Dark Lord I’d killed you.” Hermione smiled, teasing gently. “I can teach you how to create them, if you’re willing to put up with the role-reversal.”

“Perhaps,” Snape agreed. The Slytherin in him formed the next question. “What will happen to me? Afterwards, that is.”

She settled back in her chair. “As I see it, you have several options available to you. You could come back with me, and watch me gleefully beat everyone over the head until they stuff it about this Death Eater nonsense. Alternatively, you could casually disappear; I can give you the key to this house, and you can live out the rest of your days in privacy doing whatever you wish. I’m sure there are other avenues to explore, but the bottom line is that it’s entirely up to you, and I shall honor whatever decision you make.”

He nodded. “I believe we’ve come to my request.”

She tensed slightly. “So we have.” Her brow furrowed as she thought, then cleared. “You must understand…I cannot leave the Glamour off. I’ve practiced with it for years so that it’s essentially become a part of me. No matter what happens, even if I’m killed, the Glamour will remain until someone who knows the spell physically removes it. I can’t risk having to dash off with it not firmly in place.”

“I understand,” he said. “And after this is over?”

“Perhaps,” she agreed. “Though it isn’t pretty.”

He remained silent, and she sighed. “As you wish.”

Drawing her wand, she stood and began to chant as she methodically tapped each of her seven chakra points sequentially, ending with the one on the crown of her head. When her wand touched the last one, the air around her shimmered, blurring her image. After it cleared, he saw the real Hermione Granger for the first time since he’d fled Hogwarts.

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A/N: Yes, I apologize for the bit of suspense. I realize that most of us will not even be thinking of fic for at least the next day or so; I figured I’d give you reason to come back! I myself was standing in line outside our local Borders book store this morning at 8am, to acquire my bracelet. Indeed, the sacred ORANGE bracelet that means I will be among the first 150 people to receive my book at midnight tonight!! I’m heading over around 7:30 tonight, as there is supposedly a party at the store, complete with costume contests, ‘Wizard’s chess’, and all sorts of other nonsense!

A/N #2: Unfortunately, I did not meet my goal of completion before Book 7 arrived. This should probably be considered AU from now on (unless something miraculously eerie takes place and Book 7 rolls JUST like my fic! LOL!!) Love you all, and please keep the reviews coming, even if they wait until you’ve inhaled the book!