Chapter 99: The Means Of Understanding

The Bedroom, Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

 A pained grunt escaped the ailing Severus Snape as he was forced to lie back in his large black four-poster bed. Hermione Granger was unwilling to allow him to do much of anything given the amount of pain he'd been in after returning from having endured the killing curse. It seemed as if every bone in his body ached and the muscles seemed just as tender in the wake of his near permeate death and shifting.

"I do not care to be fussed over the witch," growled Snape in his usual annoyed tone.

"Well that's just too bad, wizard," replied Hermione not wanting to take any more chances concerning his health. "You need your rest."

"Like you don't need rest fighting giants and such," he replied with his head resting against his pillow.

"I am going to make sure you make a full recovery and be back scaring everyone in Potions Class in no time," she said stroking his pale cheek.

He could see the hint of tears swelling in the corners of her amber eyes and sighed knowing all too well what drove her fears.

"I'm still here witch," he said pulling her close to him despite her added weight worsening his pain. "The father isn't expecting me for quite a long while."

Hermione stroked his sallow pale cheek and proceeded to shower him with a series of kisses.

"I love you so much," she said unable to hold back the tears as they once more began to cascade down her supple young cheeks, she'd never looked more beautiful to the ailing wizard than she had at that moment despite being covered in soot and dust from the battle in the courtyard.

"And I love you," he replied never taking his eyes off her.

It was still a bit strange to think of how it all began between them due to him being cursed while attempting to protect them from the rampaging Remus Lupin in werewolf form.

She kissed him once more as he took in the scent of jasmine from her hair and gave himself over to the realms of exhaustion that made his pale eyelids heavy and his aching body cry out for relief.

"Sleep well Severus," she said softly as he began to drift off almost against his will. "I'll go down to the kitchens and see about getting you something to eat."

"Hermione..." growled the sleepy wizard as she attempted to step away.

"I'll return in a moment," she assured him. "So no sneaking out of bed...you still need to rest."

The amber-eyed witch watched as her wolfish lover drifted off into a pleasant slumber and made her way toward the kitchens. She knew all too well that everyone was still reeling from all the fighting that had gone on and most of the staff was either tending to those dead or wounded in the courtyard.

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Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

The house elves were in hiding and short little was being done about the school. She'd gotten only halfway to the kitchens when she ran into a sorrowful-looking Harry Potter.

"Harry?" she asked with an arched brow.

"I-It's all true," he said with tears streaming down his cheeks. "My Mother...she...Dumbledore showed me the letters Sirius had gotten from her...she was friends with Snape...they grew up together...they were friends at this school..."

Hermione did not know what his reasons were for attempting to venture to Snape's quarters at this time but she let him continue to speak.

"I had it all wrong, Dumbledore told me Snape begged him to save my family, and...he risked his own life to do so." replied the green-eyed wizard. "Mione I...I need to speak with him...please there is so much more that I do not understand...like why he never said anything or raised me himself...or why... he let me believe he was...I have to speak with him...to finally know the full story."

Hermione sighed taking pity upon her friend.

"Harry he's sleeping," she said. "The killing curse and subsequent revival took a lot out of him, perhaps he'll speak with you when he awakens."

"I can't wait any longer," said Harry meeting her eyes with desperation behind his gaze. "I have to know."

The amber-eyed witch considered her friend's appeal.

"Alright, but no bombarding him with questions at any given time," she said rather sternly. "He still needs his rest if he's going to recover."

"Fine," replied Harry willing to comply in a bid to get the answers he was seeking.

Hermione Granger turned back toward Snape's quarters and the green-eyed wizard followed.

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The Bedroom, Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Severus Snape was half asleep when he heard the voice of his young Gryffindor witch bringing in Harry Potter to see him, saying that the boy had questions that only he could answer.

"Severus," said Hermione stroking his sallow pale cheek once more as she roused him. "Harry wants to ask you a few things and then he's going to be on his way so that you can rest."

Snape let out a low growl before opening his heavy pale eyelids and giving at least a fraction of his attention to the green-eyed wizard before him.

"S-Snape..." began Harry unsure how best to proceed with the conversation.

Neither of them had been on good terms before the wolfish wizard's near death following his battle with Voldemort.

"Why are you here...boy?" asked the sleepy wizard glaring at Harry Potter through bloodshot eyes of obsidian.

"I-Is it true that you knew my mother?" asked Harry finding his courage in the wake of his desperate curiosity.

"What is the point of drudging up ancient history?" asked Snape seemingly in annoyance. "The war is over and you still have your life be glad for it."

"Please..." said pleaded Harry. "Please tell me, Snape...I want to know more about her and you're the only one who seems to know her and not just as a student."

"She made her decision Potter, we'll leave it at that." replied Snape rather coldly."But to at least satisfy a marginal aspect of your idiotic notion of curiosity, yes she, your rather charming Aunt, and I all grew up near each other in the muggle world."

Harry considered this as he thought back to something Aunt Petunia said to him while he grew up in her care. She had always been ranting and raving about a "Horrible Boy" and only now did he get the significance of her words.

"S-She was talking about you." said the green-eyed wizard, his eyes widening in recognition. "Aunt Petunia said my mother would always be around a "horrible boy" and they would do unnatural things, things that made them freaks."

Snape rolled his eyes.

"She hasn't lost her charm despite the years of growth and maturity she no doubt exhibits upon her face." replied The Potions Master.

Harry found himself smiling at Snape's little dig at his overbearing harpy of an Aunt.

"Suffice it to say, Potter, your mother and I were indeed close...until..." began Snape.

"T-That day at the black lake," said Harry understanding the memory he saw from The Potions Master during their final Occulemency lesson.

"More the sporting aspect of your dearly parted swine of a father I'd say," replied Snape with little trace of bitterness.

His words surprised Harry given how upset he'd been when the memories were discovered.

Hermione noted the strange look her best friend gave her lover and turned her attention to the conversation.

"Your mother chose her friends in Gryffindor over our friendship from the past," replied Snape with little to no emotion. "In the end it only made her feel terrible but like myself, she was filled with regret for the way things ended between us...I cared enough to avenge her however and to keep you protected all these years."

"That's another thing...why didn't you just keep me yourself?" asked Harry with an arched brow. "I'm sure my mother would have preferred I be among someone who knew the magical world...especially if you were the one who had taught her about it before."

Snape rolled his eyes.

"It may have escaped your notice Potter, but they do not allow death eaters to care for children, especially if they are imprisoned," he replied.

Harry's eyes widened once more.

"But...you work for Dumbledore...I saw you go to him the night of my parent's murder." said the green-eyed wizard trying to make sense of everything.

"You can thank Igor Karkaroff for that," replied Snape.

"The Headmaster of Drumstrang?" asked Hermione with an arched brow.

Snape smirked noting her attention to detail.

"He was so kind in pointing the Aurors in my direction and it led to my arrest shortly before handing a one-year-old Potter to Dumbledore." replied the Potions Professor. "Fortunately my stay wasn't as lengthy as those of the others caught behind enemy lines, but it was rather...enlightening."

The wolfish wizard yawned indicating that he'd been well and truly tired despite the interest in the conversation which prompted Hermione to shoo Harry out so that he could once more obtain his rest.

"Alright, that's enough talk." she said."Out you go, Harry, whatever questions you have left can wait until Severus recovers."

Harry was about to protest but noted the glare Hermione had given him.

"I don't suppose you are as terrible as I made you out to be, Professor," he said meeting the obsidian eyes of The Potions Master.

"And you were every bit as terrible as I knew you'd be," replied Snape closing his eyes. "Run along now Potter, there is no need for unnecessary sentiment now that you are aware of my friendship with your mother...I am not that fond of you nor will I ever pretend to be."

Harry nodded in understanding before taking his leave of his best friend and her werewolf lover.

Hermione turned her attention back to Snape. She thought she'd venture to the kitchens once more but found that she too had been exhausted due to her efforts during the final battle of the second wizarding war and settled for climbing into bed beside the sleeping wizard and lying her head against his chest.

If he'd been in pain from the weight of her slender body pressing against his tender muscles, he said nothing as they both drifted off in the peaceful silence of his private quarters.