CHAPTER 55
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 55 ~ The Apology
After Severus left so abruptly, Hermione was greeted by a very happy Eli, who knew exactly what had happened in India. His claws were gnawed almost to stumps, the elf had been biting them so hard as he watched his Master and Miss face the Dementors via his bond to the dark wizard. He prepared Hermione a nice Iberico ham sandwich and sparkling pumpkin juice. He knew the Master wouldn’t mind now that he felt he had introduced the witch to the delicacy. Hermione thanked Eli, ate and retired to her bedroom to shower and scrub.
The witch was absolutely pink by the time she finished showering, using a very gritty soap and rough loofah to shear off the first layer of skin cells. She had been under the spray forty-five minutes at least. Then she spent a half hour brushing her teeth and gargling, trying to get the imagined taste of Dementor slobber out of her mouth. Finally Hermione exited the bathroom and found a stack of sealed parchments on her bed, topped by a note from Severus. She read the note.
Hermione,
These are letters from Harry Potter that I withheld until you finished the project. You were too deeply immersed in your work to respond to the idiot properly. Now you are free to pursue this insane friendship to its deplorable end.
Severus
Hermione scowled at Severus’ assessment of her friendship with Harry. Yes, they were on the outs, but she was more than willing to patch things up with the wizard. She and Harry went a long way back…and really were more than friends. They were like family. You didn’t turn your back on family, even when they act like assholes.
Hermione opened the first parchment.
Dear Hermione,
I am sorry to send a letter rather than come to see you in person, but Professor Snape has forbidden me to come to the house. I want to see you, talk to you and apologize to you. Please come to the beach house when you can.
Harry
Hermione’s eyes teared up a little. Harry wanted to apologize. She opened the next letter.
Dear Hermione,
Since you haven’t responded, I presume you are still mad at me. Please don’t be…I’ve realized my mistake and I desperately need to talk to you. I would come to see you but as I said, Professor Snape has barred me from the premises, and most likely I would have to duel him to see you. I don’t want to do that. The first duel didn’t go very well for me. Please come to the beach house so I can apologize properly.
Harry
Hermione frowned. First duel? What first duel? Severus didn’t say anything about dueling Harry. Hermione’s frown turned into a dark scowl. No, Severus wouldn’t say anything about it because he knew how she would react, the sneaky bastard. He must have beaten Harry and barred him from the house. But what caused them to duel in the first place? She’d find out from Harry.
Hermione continued to open the parchments, which became more and more desperate, the final one saying that Harry knew she hated him and would never speak to him again, because he was the lowest form of scum on the earth, things of that nature. Hermione’s heart went out to the wizard and she intended to visit him tomorrow.
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Hermione arrived at the beach house the next day. Dobby was sweeping the porch when she appeared and the elf was ecstatic to see her.
“The Miss comes…oh thanks you Miss. Thanks you. The Master has not been himself and pines for his best friend. He wills be so happy to see you!” the elf said, opening the door and letting Hermione in.
She walked right into Ginny, who was leaving. The two witches looked at each other.
“Harry needs you,” Ginny said shortly, “He’s in the study.”
Then the witch walked past her and through the screen door, Hermione looking after her. Well, that had been rather icy…but what could she expect after what Ginny heard her say? She walked through the house into the study. Harry was sitting on the sofa. He looked up when he heard someone enter.
“Hermione?” he said as if he couldn’t believe she were here in the flesh.
“Harry,” Hermione said, her voice catching.
The wizard looked horrible, as if he hadn’t bathed or showered for weeks. There was heavy stubble around his chin, dark circles under his eyes and his hair had grown out and was tangled. He wore a wrinkled t-shirt and crumpled jeans. He was barefoot, even his toenails overgrown.
Harry’s eyes filled with tears. “Are you really here? Or are you another dream?” he asked her, his voice no more than a whisper.
“I’m really here, Harry,” the witch replied, her own eyes filling with tears as she looked at the wizard. Was he like this because of her?
Harry swallowed and stood up, walking over to Hermione and looking down at her as if he couldn’t believe she were truly present. Slowly, carefully, he reached out and touched her shoulder lightly. His eyes widened as he came in contact with solid skin. He clutched her shoulder…then tears began to run down his face.
“I’m so, so sorry Hermione,” he said brokenly. “I was an idiot, an ass, a selfish, uncaring bastard. All I cared about was fucking Ginny. I was thinking with my cock, not my head. You were only trying to protect me and being honest with me. You’ve always been honest with me. I see now you weren’t trying to hurt me or Ginny,” he said taking both her hands in his. “You know, you were right. Ginny and I get along, but she’s a different witch now than the one I remember. We’re more like shag buddies than real lovers. I don’t think we’ll ever marry…”
He gripped Hermione’s hands even tighter.
“You were there the entire time, Hermione…and never gave up on me. You worked at my recovery for years and finally brought me back…and what did I do? Turn away from you. I haven’t even thanked you properly for bringing me back, for saving me. Hermione, I know I’ve been a terrible friend, and don’t deserve having someone as loyal and dedicated as you in my life…but…but I don’t know what I’d do without you. It’s as if my entire life has stopped. I haven’t touched Ginny for weeks…I can’t think straight I’m so wracked with guilt. It’s like nothing will ever matter again if you don’t forgive me,” Harry said his eyes glistening.
“You know I’ve always been an idiot Hermione…always acted before I thought, flying off the handle. I haven’t had a chance to mature like you have. I’m starting to, but I was still…still at Hogwarts. I was still eighteen in my head when I said those things to you. Nothing had sunk in yet really. It’s not an excuse though…there is no excuse for how horribly I’ve treated you. Hermione, you’re the only real friend I have…the only one other than Ron who saw me for who I am behind the boy who survived Voldemort. I don’t want to lose you…you mean too much to me.”
Harry sank down to his knees, looking up at Hermione, still clasping her hands.
“Please…please say you’ll forgive me, Hermione. Please say you’ll remain my friend. I will do anything you ask to make it up to you…just don’t turn away from me,” the wizard said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Hermione had intended to take Harry to task, but the wizard had said everything she would have said. Seeing Harry on his knees begging her to forgive him made her heart catch. She looked down at Harry.
“Get up you big sod,” she said softly, drawing Harry up and embracing him. “Of course I forgive you.”
“Thank you, thank you Hermione,” the wizard breathed. “I don’t deserve it.”
Severus would heartily agree.
Hermione pulled back from him and looked him over.
“You need a shower, a shave, a haircut and your toes trimmed,” she said, frowning slightly as she appraised his condition. The wizard was an utter mess. He stunk too.
Harry looked down at himself and rubbed the stubble on his chin.
“Yeah, I do,” he agreed.
Hermione wrinkled her nose.
“You’re a bit ripe, Harry. Why don’t you go shower and I will wait for you in the kitchen. Then we can chat. I want to know about the duel between you and Severus,” the witch said.
Harry frowned at the memory of the Potions Master royally kicking his ass.
“All right,” he said, then he shouted, “Dobby, make Hermione some coffee!”
Dobby instantly appeared.
“Yes sir, Harry Potter sir,” the elf said, delighted his master was up and about again, “Right away.”
The elf winked out and Harry headed for his bedroom.
Dobby served Hermione coffee and some thin crispy cookies which were delicious. Harry reappeared looking and smelling much better. His long hair was still damp. He sat down at the table and Dobby brought him a sandwich.
“You must eats now, Harry Potter,” the elf said.
Harry picked up the sandwich and lit into it, Dobby smiling in approval.
A pile of unread Daily Prophets were on the table and Harry dragged the top one over, glancing at the headline.
“Wizards and Witches Awake From Dementor’s Kiss”
Harry’s eyes widened and he looked at Hermione.
“You did it!” he breathed.
“Severus and I did it,” Hermione corrected. “Professor McGonagall is back.”
Harry smiled at Hermione broadly.
“You are a bloody wonder,” he said, Hermione blushing furiously.
At Harry’s urging she told him all about her work, the niffler-Dementors and going to the temple. Harry’s eyes widened when she told him about the Potions Master’s Harper magic.
“My gods, that’s amazing…and kind of frightening knowing that git has that much power. He could be another Dark Lord,” Harry said.
Hermione glowered at him.
“Trust me, Severus doesn’t want to rule over anyone. He hardly wants to talk to people as it is. And speaking of Severus…why did you two duel?” she asked Harry.
Harry told Hermione how he had asked Severus to end the patronage now that Hermione had awakened him, and how Severus refused and made obscene comments concerning her that pissed him off. He wouldn’t tell her what Severus said about fucking her every night if he wanted to, but Hermione knew it was something along those lines. The wizard had obviously wanted to make Harry angry and succeeded.
“But Harry, he can’t end the patronage. It dissolves itself once all the conditions are met,” Hermione said.
“Well, the least he could do is stay off of you then,” Harry said, his eyes dark. “It must be terrible to have to let him…be intimate with you any time he wants. I bet he’s always after you.”
Hermione looked at Harry and colored.
“It’s not so terrible,” she said, feeling a little rush of desire in her belly as she thought of the Potions Master on top of her, his dark eyes full of pleasure. If anything, he wasn’t after her enough. The man could wait forever for sex.
Harry raised his eyebrows.
“Hermione…you can’t possible like it? He’s ugly as hell to start with,” the wizard said in disbelief.
Hermione frowned at him. Severus was not ugly…not to her.
“Harry, I think it best we agree not to talk about each other’s sex lives. I can deal with the Professor. I don’t want you trying to interfere anymore. Besides, he helped to bring you back. You could be more appreciative,” Hermione said.
“I was appreciative. I paid him,” Harry said, “Quite a lot too.”
“You what? You paid him?” Hermione asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Yes. He charged me for bringing me back. For his services,” Harry replied, “Didn’t you know?”
”No I didn’t. Why that sneaky, greedy, conniving…ooh. Wait until I see him,” Hermione fumed.
“Well, don’t be too upset. I’d rather pay him than feel like I owed him for the rest of my life,” Harry said to the witch. “I can’t think of anything worse than being indebted to Severus Snape.”
Harry shuddered.
Hermione almost smirked. To Harry, that was true. Maybe it was better he had paid the snarky wizard off. Still, Severus could have said something instead of letting her think he had done a good, selfless act.
But then again, the Potions Master was a Slytherin…so it really wasn’t surprising he didn’t say anything about it…just like he didn’t say anything about dueling Harry. Harry didn’t give her any details except to say it was a very short duel and he got the worst of it.
Hermione and Harry discussed him “coming out” and living a normal life. The wizard was hesitant. He liked being left alone. Hermione pointed out that now that Minerva and the others woke up from a full kiss, he wasn’t so amazing anymore.
“There will still be the awards and hullabaloo,” Harry said, frowning.
“You can make it plain you don’t want that, Harry. People will respect your wishes. You have to get back out in the world. You can’t spend your life hiding out here. I didn’t bring you back for that. I want you to live and live well,” Hermione said softly. “For the first time in your life, you’re free Harry. Free to do what you want. Take advantage of it.”
Harry nodded.
“You’re right Hermione. I think I will go to Hogwarts and visit Professor McGonagall,” the wizard said.
“You should get the Headmaster to arrange a press conference for you too, to get the reporters off your back,” Hermione suggested. “He will be a good support for you.”
“If I do that…will you come?” Harry asked.
Hermione thought about it. The reporters were after her too. It might be a good idea to attend the press conference and make some statements. She looked at Harry.
“Yes, I think I will,” she replied smiling at him.
“Good show,” the wizard said, returning her smile.
Hermione spent another hour chatting with her restored friend, then returned to the house. The witch took out a large pensieve and began to remove her memories of destroying the Dementors. She wasn’t going to do any work on the docu-pensieve yet, but at least she’d have everything prepared.
The witch thought about Severus coming this weekend. He’d have a lot to explain.
Then she’d fuck his sneaky, greedy, conniving head off.
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A/N: Sorry about the length of time this took to post. Was a bit under the weather. All right…Harry and Hermione have made up…they’ve decided to face the reporters, and Severus has some explaining to do before he’s shagged within an inch of his life. Lol. Please review.