A.N. Just so you know this chapter starts before the last one ends.

Chapter 19: big picture

Whispers and moans – crowded house.

The graveyard was cold and dark. Although it had a morbid beauty as the mist swirled around the graves.

Severus stood – one of the many hooded figures peering through a white mask at the dark lord Voldemort. One of the many emotionless figures with hearts cast of stone or at least facades that where so real they almost reached the soul.

Wormtail sniffed to himself as he coward by his master. While an unfortunate man was being interrogated.

“I’ll never tell you!” the man spat sealing his fate. There was a flash of green light. And then obeying his master Wormtail pulled the body away so that business could continue.

“SseVERuss” The dark lord hissed.

“My Lord.” Severus said stepping forward and bowing his head.

“Have you convinced the mudblood, yet?” He Spat.

“Yes my lord, in fact she is waiting for me to bring her to you.”

“Good. You bring the fool with you next time.”

“Yes my lord.” Severus said stepping back to resume his place in the semi circle. The silence was so strong there was almost a buzz as the void of Occlumency filled his mind.

Eventually the meeting was over and they went there separate ways.

Narcissa caught up with him.

“Sev, Can you give this to Draco.” She asked handing him a package.

“Of course.” Severus said, taking it and looking at the blond who sighed.

“I know I shouldn’t think it, but I’m so tired of all this. I just want to be a normal family again.”

“At least Draco isn’t about to fall into the same trap we did.” He replied

She cocked her head to one side, and he knew she was smiling behind that white mask, “bye.” She said before disappearing.

-

The blindfold slipped down to the floor. Snape watched Hermione’s face light up. It was the sparkle in her eyes, the colour in her cheeks, the fullness of her smile… he didn’t know if he could ever feel like that again – to be lost in an emotion. He pulled out her chair for her.

“This is wonderful.” She said as he took the seat opposite her.

“You see where trust gets you.” He said smiling at her.

She nodded, “I see now that I’m going to have to trust you Mr. Secretive.”

“Yes.” Was all he had to say. He had already decided not to tell her on their date – in the morning he would prepare her.

“I don’t really like Secretive.” She hinted, although she couldn’t tell what lay behind those dark, cold yet seductive eyes.

“Do you like wine?” He asked holding the bottle out to her so she could see the vintage.

“I don’t really know…” she said blushing slightly.

“Well, would you like to find out?” He asked opening the bottle of semi sweet red wine.

“Yes thanks.”

Hermione smiled as a little smoky heart rose escaped from the wine bottle as its lid was opened.

“Wizards Winery.” Severus said to explain as he poured a little of the dark liquid into her glass.

“I think it’s sweet.” She said before taking a sip, “Fruity, sweet and smooth. It’s nice.”

Severus smiled and topped her glass to half way.

A few silent sips later he picked up his serviette and started folding it. Hermione watched with a quizzical look on her face. Then he held the paper rose out to her. Her questioning expression turned to one of delight. She closed her eyes held the paper flower to her nose– and then a look of genuine surprise crossed her face. It smelt sweet she opened her eyes and watched as the paper turned into petals- first white then slowly coloring lilac.

“Wow, Sev…” She started but then she stopped as the petals started falling one by one. At first she didn’t notice, but then she understood. For every petal that fell, a cracker with cheese appeared on the plate between them.

-

Slowly she walked back to her common room a love struck smile plastered on her face. She drifted through the room and up the stairs and finally collapsed on her bed. Memories. She filed through her memories, from that first incident in detention, to drawing, to the first kiss in the golden library; to the subtle magic of the date… she touched her lips. It wasn’t much but it made her happy. That last kiss before she left from the tower. It was amazing how he seemed to catch her soul with the way he touched her cheek, so gently he might have been a ghost but a warm ghost. She just didn’t want to stop thinking about it but she was tired. She knew she clear her mind before…. Her eyes were closed the long curly locks of brown hair lay around her like a halo as she fell deeper and deeper into sleep.

-

Dark red eyes peered over a slit of a nose at her. Wand at the ready. She starred there was nothing else she could do but accept her fate.

“Av….”

“NO!” Snape yelled throwing an uncharged curse. The dark lord staggered. “You killed one woman I loved and won’t let you kill Hermione.”

“Filthy mudbloods!” The dark lord yelled as he stood.

“RUN HERMIONE!” Snape yelled at the awe struck girl. She turned heal and took flight; Running as fast as she could towards the only form of shelter there was – that catacombs beneath the grave yard. She passed through the small rounded rock opening that passed for a doorway and made her way down the tunnel to the left and then down another left. It wasn’t a long run, just five minutes but she felt pretty sure that she hadn’t been followed so she stop for a breather- just leaning against the old yellowing stone walls – first making sure that the patch she leaned against actually was a wall and not some skulls pilled together because some parts of the passages where just that. Somewhere something hissed.

She followed her gut instinct and ran. She followed the passage until it gave way to a right side passage. And then she froze – a dead end. She turned to face the entrance, the snake was coming…she could hear it. She picked a skull and bit her lip as she prepared herself for the battle. A pair of yellow eyes peered round the corner- she didn’t wait for it lung first. They sprawled on the floor, struggling for power but even getting in the first blow didn’t give Hermione a chance. Nagini coiled her powerful body around Hermione’s slender frame and squeezed. “Huh!” Hermione gasped in as much air she could while she desperately punched at the coils…it was no use. Purple dots flooded her vision, her finger tips brushed against something sharp in her pocket- a knife, and she pulled it out and twisted her wrist to a painful angle to cut into the serpent. The coils loosened she cut deeper while she could and crawled out of it hold and turned to face it. It lunged sinking it fangs into her thigh. Hermione let off a shrill scream of pain and anguish as she slashed at its neck. The head fell off.

She let out a sigh and lay down. Tired, dizzy and prepared to die. Hermione closed her eyes. Hermione was aware that she no longer inhabited the body, it still breathed.

“Hermione!” She heard Severus call and watched as her other self opened her eyes.

“Here.” The weak reply came.

Snape entered and jostled her into his arms. “Shush, shush.” he murmured while taking out a vile filled with something purple and dabbed it over the wound on her leg.

“It’ll only buy as half an hour, max.” the wounded Hermione said.

“Well, it’s good enough for me.” He said pocketing Nagini’s head, “I’ll make an antidote.” Snape said rubbing her cheek with his thumb and kissed her forehead. For a moment she thought she saw a tear welling up in his eye.

That’s when she saw him. The ghostly form of Harry, Green eyes met brown and they both woke up.

-

Hermione started cold sweat drench her body. She climbed under the duvet and cleared her mind before sinking back into sleep.

-

Harry waited in the Gryffindor common room. His black hair tussled and Ron hovering nervously by his side. “You sure it’s our Hermione mate?” Ron asked.

“It must have been. When I saw her I felt like I was forced back into myself – I mean I was forced to wake up it was like reality couldn’t handle the fact that in we both ….” Harry sighed he didn’t know what he meant, “Ah well.”

There she was coming down the stairs all bright eyed and bushy tailed-well haired as though nothing had happened to upset her. Crookshanks followed close behind her.

She looked at the pair of them and smiled, “First breakfast then studying.”

“And your happy?” Ron asked skeptically.

“Look Hermione…” Harry started but he was cut off.

“I didn’t die!” She said shrugging him off.

“But in the other dreams…”

“Well we know what to do and where I went so it’s preventable. Now gentlemen I happen to be hungry. Ron are you with me?”

“Yeah.” Ron said grinning.

-

Harry stared up at the teachers table. The dark greasy hair and that over hooked nose that cold eyes… Harry sighed.

“What’s up?” Ron asked trying to ignore Ginny’s giggles as Draco tried to kiss her neck.

“At least someone’s happy Harry said indicating the couple with a jerk of his head.”

“Gee I wish they’d GET A ROOM!” Ron said glaring at Draco.

“Would if we could.” Ginny teased. Ron’s ears went that special shade of red. Draco grinned.

“It must be difficult.” Hermione said steering conversation away from a fight, “Being in Gryffindor and Slytherin.”

Draco shook his head, “Nah, just because I’ve had to get new friends…. I mean it could have been hellish but you lot are cooler than you seem.”

“We should never have accepted them.” Ron said bitterly.

“And sentenced us to a tragedy?” Ginny asked sincerely, “You know we wouldn’t love each other any less everyone disapproved.”

“You’re gorgeous.” Draco said staring at her and then turned his attention back to the others, “My mom’s going to freak when she finds out.”

“So is mine!” Ginny exclaimed happily leaning back against him.

Ron’s brow furrowed, “Who are these people?”

“Hey our mom’s will have something in common!” Draco laughed.

“Love changes everyone.” Hermione said softly.