SSHG316 Answers
1. The Life Unlived
2. Enraptured
3. Living Legacy
4. Thirteen Times the Charm
5. The Twelve Dark Days of Christmas
6. The Long Way Home
7. Green Eyed Monster
8. Liquid Courage
9. The Betrayal
10. The Song the Summer Sings
1. Hermione’s head felt as if it were about to split open as she was finally able to fully comprehend where she was. She sobbed in the wake of the pain that washed over her. Her hands gripped the sides of her head, and her eyes screwed tightly shut.
“Hermione!”
She could hear Luna’s worried cry, but she was lost to her grief and despair. She couldn’t answer. All she could think of was that her life, as she had known it, was over. No, not over … it didn’t exist. It never had.
Another sob was torn from her throat, and she rocked back and forth in a vain attempt at self-comfort. As if through a tunnel, she heard Luna’s frantic voice, and then she felt hands easing her back onto the sofa.
“A Healer is on the way, Hermione. Please, be all right.” The Life Unlived
2. Hermione attempted to smile at her future sister-in-law, but managed only a slight grimace. With trembling fingers, she picked up the dreaded parchment and silently read the words.
After the light has overcome the darkness, the sun of the phoenix will shine upon the lioness. Heart to heart and mind to mind, they will speak only to the other. The dragon saviour will enrapture the brightest of the age. Her heart will be his reward. Separate, there is discord. Together, there is harmony. The sun of the phoenix will shine upon the lioness after the light has overcome the darkness.
She had hoped that by some miracle the words on the page would be different from those she had heard Luna utter earlier in the evening, but unfortunately, Ginny had managed to capture the entire prophecy exactly as Luna had spoken it. Enraptured
3. Severus flung open the door and entered the room as quickly as the crutches would allow. Hermione was sitting in his mother’s bed, several pillows propping her up against the headboard. She looked so small and fragile, her hair a wild jumble and her pale face streaked with tears. She looked at him with such sad eyes; Severus was certain he felt his heart crack.
He made his way to the side of the bed. “Budge over.”
Hermione sniffed and wiped her cheeks, then slid to the other side of the bed. Severus sat, laying his newly acquired crutches on the floor before slipping into the bed next to her, his back against the headboard.
“Come,” he said as he extended his arm to the side.
Hermione’s face crumpled, and then she was clinging to him, sobbing into his neck as her fingers clutched the front of his nightshirt. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, his other hand cradling her head.
“Shh,” Severus soothed. “It’s all right.”
Hermione took a shaky breath and choked out, “I was so frightened.”
“I know.”
Severus continued to hold her as she cried; they had much to discuss, but he recognised her need to release the fear she had experienced. He waited patiently until, at last, her sobs subsided. They continued to sit in silence for a few minutes longer, both seeking comfort from the other’s presence.
“I’m so sorry,” Hermione whispered as her fingers fiddled with the button closure of his nightshirt.
“You did nothing to cause this, Hermione.”
“Not this,” she explained. “The marriage-it’s my fault. I didn’t thoroughly research the spell, and now you’re stuck with me. I’m sorry.” Living Legacy
4. He shifted from foot to foot as she disappeared back into her chambers, impatient for her return. She reappeared as she was fastening the clasp on her heavy woollen cloak. In her hands were gripped what he assumed were her scarf and gloves.
“Shall we?” he asked, offering her his arm. She smiled up at him and placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. Feeling rather smug at her easy acquiescence, he led her through the corridors and down stairwells to the front doors of the castle.
As they stepped into the crisp winter air, Hermione paused to put on the hat, gloves, and scarf she had clutched in her hands. She smiled at him once more as she placed her hand in his ….
What the blazes?
Severus looked down at her hands, only to find them encased in the most horrid pair of bright red mittens he had ever had the displeasure of seeing. He frowned as he tightened his fingers; he was unable to feel her hands at all beneath the thick, knitted mittens. He was about to tell her that a warming charm would work as well-and allow him to entwine their fingers as he preferred-when she began to chatter, tugging him away from the castle and towards Hogsmeade.
With a disgruntled sigh, he allowed her to lead him down the path. Thirteen Times the Charm
5. Two Drops of Blood
He approached, the silver knife clutched in his hand.
No, Hermione protested as he gripped her wrist. Once, she had trusted him to never hurt her, but now….
Ignoring her unspoken plea, Severus eased the blade along her palm, blood flowing in its wake. “Lovely,” he rasped before running his tongue along the shallow cut.
Hermione shuddered.
He returned to the potion, adding one drop of her blood to the brew before pricking his finger and adding his own. But why? Blood was not used in Amortentia.
“Yes!” Severus hissed in triumphant glee. “The effects will now be permanent-eternal.” The Twelve Dakr Days of Christmas
6. “Oh, Severus. I forgot about my earrings. Could you get them for me? They’re the small diamond ones in the black velvet bag in my nightstand.”
“Of course.” The domesticity of the moment pleased him, and he was feeling quite smug as he walked to her bedroom-which was now mostly used to store her clothing-to retrieve her jewellery.
He rummaged through the drawer, wondering how one woman could have collected such a massive amount of clutter in such a short time, until he found the small black bag. After unsuccessfully searching by feel, he turned the bag over, the contents spilling out onto the bed.
“Diamond earrings,” he muttered as he picked through the items, but the earrings did not appear to be among them. Then, he noticed a small, black velvet box. Certain that the earrings must be inside, he flipped open the lid.
Nestled against the white satin lining was a ring-not just any ring, but by its appearance, an engagement ring. Severus plucked it from box and examined it further as a cold tightness settled in his chest. It was a small diamond solitaire of questionable quality, set in yellow gold. Turning it over, he saw an inscription on the inside of the band. Squinting to decipher the tiny print, he read, HG Always and Forever RW.
Rage and pain coursed through his veins. All this time, it had meant nothing to her; he was merely a fling, someone with whom to sate her lust until she could return home to her fiancé. The Long Way Home
7. Hermione sighed and turned her head to press a kiss to his palm. “I’m sorry, Severus. I’m just not ready.”
He stiffened, the smile falling from his lips as he attempted to remove his hand, but she lightly clasped her fingers around his wrist.
“Are you ashamed to be seen with me?”
Her eyes flew to his. “What? No!” She quickly stood, walked around the desk, and threw her arms around his neck. She clung to him tightly, inhaling his familiar scent, until he finally returned her embrace. “I don’t want to have to answer their questions yet-I want to keep you to myself for a bit longer. That’s all.”
He buried his nose in her hair and was silent for several agonising minutes. “All right,” he agreed reluctantly. “For now.” Green Eyed Monster
8. “What?! Where in the world did he find NyQuil?”
“HERMIONE! Hello, love! Have you come to visit me? The ol’ battleax over there won’t let me go back to my quarters.”
“Are you … is he pouting? And did you just refer to me as ‘love?’”
“But is that not what you are, Hermione? I’m soooo tired, dearest, so tired of keeping my love a secret.”
“Severus. Please stop.”
“Why are you whispering, dear heart? Minerva won’t care, s’long as I stay here. Ol’ battleax.”
“This isn’t funny, Minerva. The man is obviously delirious if he’s professing his love for me.” Liquid Courage
9. He was led into the courtroom in chains and pushed into a chair. The guards bolted him in place, restraining all movement. Severus snorted. As if he would try to escape. He had nothing to return home to - he might as well live out the remainder of his days in Azkaban. Without Hermione - or who he had believed her to be - his life was desolate and lonely. He had completed his task before she had betrayed him, and that was all that mattered. He had nothing left now. He watched impassively as the Wizengamot entered. And then, he saw her.
***
Hermione entered the courtroom alone. Harry waved a greeting, and she walked toward him. She slid a hesitant glance at Severus. He looked tired and dishevelled, but otherwise appeared /to be his usual sardonic self. She felt her heart clench - she had seen his face open and happy and …. She closed her eyes. She could only hope that today would repair some of the damage she had done. She sat next to Harry, Severus’ journal upon her lap. With a deep breath, she prepared herself to testify. After betraying the man she loved, betraying her best friend would be easy. The Betrayal
10. Severus Snape stared at her intensely, his eyes searching her face. After a long moment, he straightened himself to full height, bowed slightly and offered her his hand.
“Dance with me,” he softly commanded.
“P-pardon?” she stuttered, her eyes wide in confusion.
“You wished to know my feelings toward you. If that is still your … desire,” he murmured, “then dance with me.”
The silky quality of his voice slid over her, causing her to shiver despite the warmth of the room and the effects of the alcohol she had imbibed. Gazing up at him, she hesitantly stood and, trembling slightly, accepted his proffered hand. He led her to the middle of the make-shift dance floor, turned, and took her right hand in his left. She felt the warmth of his other hand on her waist as she placed her small, cold palm on his broad shoulder. His hand slid to the small of her back, pulling her closer as he lowered his head to whisper in her ear.
“Listen carefully, Hermione, and you shall have your answer.” The Song the Summer Sings