Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Green Aventurine: Otherwise known as the "Stone of Opportunity"

September 1st, 1999

"Are you sure it's a good idea being back here, Mione?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'm only trying to keep you safe."

"I know, I'm sorry for snapping."

"That's okay..."

"Miss Granger?"

"Yes prof—, Headmistress?"

Headmistress McGonagall exhaled, leaning back in her chair behind the large oak desk, previously occupied by the late Albus Dumbledore. "Miss Granger, as I was saying...you will not be the only eighth year pupil returning to complete their education this year. I am pleased to say that more have decided to return..."

Hermione fidgeted with her robes, they felt itchy and ill fitting now, compared to how comforting they once felt against her skin. "O-Oh...yes, that is good news. Who else is returning?" She cursed her voice for feeling so shaky but being back inside the castle walls did nothing for her frayed nerves.

The headmistress leaned her elbows on the table with a sigh, a sign that she was unsure of the reaction her answer would be met with. "Only a handful. Some you have close relationships with, Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood for starters..."

Hermione released a tiny sigh of relief. She already knew this from the letters both girls had sent over the summer, but having the headmistress confirm the fact gave her a more solid comfort she could hold onto. The small breath of relief would have been larger, if it weren't for the look on the headmistress's face as she continued. "And some you may not, Miss Chang, Miss Parkinson..."

"I'm not sure I like this."

"I know you don't, but this castle was once my home, it can be that again..."

"Mr Mclaggen, Mr Longbottom, Mr Nott, Mr Zabini..."

"I thought my job was to keep you safe?"

"It is, but you can rest for now, I'm safe here..."

"And Mr Malfoy..."

"That doesn't sound safe..."

"I said rest, go to sleep..."

"Okay Mione..."

Hermione blinked once, twice...

A soft knock at the door snapped his eyes open.

"Draco? Can I come in?"

Draco squinted at his new room in the Room of Requirement, exhaling irritably and casting a glance around the darkened shapes before landing at the door. "What is it, Theo?"

The door opened to his oldest friend; Theodore Nott. His brown curls falling into summer-green eyes as they surveyed the modest room. He wasn't quite as tall as Draco but broader, warmer—though that wasn't difficult these days. Draco's reflection had shifted from pale to corpse-grey since the war and he always ran cold, even more so now.

"Just wanted to see if your room was bigger than mines, mate." Theo flopped down next to him on the small double bed. It almost reminded Draco of when they were small boys, and Theo would sleepover at the Manor.

"You think the Room of Requirement plays favouritism?"

"Maybe...we can test that theory when the lions arrive..."

Theo turned to look at him and despite the shame creeping up Draco's spine, he respected his friend too much to look up at the ceiling as he asked his next inevitable question. He turned his head on the pillow to face Theo, and watched as his best friend tried not to examine the shadows under his eyes or the hollows in his cheeks.

"You alright?" Theo murmured, trying to keep concern from bleeding into his tone, but doing a piss poor job at it.

"I'm fine." Draco replied, almost convincingly, but his stomach growled loudly and he couldn't help but think to himself 'Traitor'.

Draco was always grateful his friend (more like brother), knew when to push or when to pull back. Predictably, it didn't stop Theo from pulling a Vitamix vial from the pocket of his robes, along with the ever reliable green apple. "Get those down you, and let's head to the common room...Pans wants us to make a good impression..."

He shoved them into Draco's hands before bouncing up from the bed, cracking his neck like a fighter ready to step into a ring. Draco uncorked the vial and barely even registered the sickly sweet potion he was so accustomed to now, before taking a bite into the crisp apple. They were about the only thing he could reliably keep down most days.

"Expecting the lions to take a few swipes?" He asked while chewing, as he followed Theo into the common room, where Blaise and Pansy were already making themselves quite comfortable on the large cream sofas in front of the fireplace. The Room of Requirement really did take its job seriously, and Draco was grateful that the room no longer bared any resemblance to the room of hidden things.

"That was quick Theo, we didn't expect Draco to pause his brooding or leave his room for the rest of the night..." Pansy smiled up at them both from her spot in one of the arm chairs, smiling up at them with dark eyes from beneath her long dark lashes as they sat down.

"Yeah well, he just needed a cuddle...right mate?" Theo clapped Draco's back just as he'd taken another bite of his apple.

"Sod off..." Draco choked out around the fruit chunks trying to lodge themselves in his windpipe.

The truth was; they were all nervous about returning to the castle, the place that held so many nightmares for them all. They knew fine well they deserved apprehension and maybe even a few hexes thrown their way from the other pupils, eighth years specifically.

From the opposite couch Blaise spoke up over a sip from his flask of fire whiskey. "Yes well, that type of Hufflepuff attitude might make us a more palatable dinner for the lions..."

"Blaise! What did I say about that fucking attitude on the train?" Pansy all but screeched.

Theo waved a dismissive hand, "Relax Pans...we're all dealing in our own ways...".

Ah his brother, ever the diplomat.

Pansy opened her mouth to respond, but the conversation was interrupted by the entrance to the room of requirement creaking open. All four snakes took a fortifying breath, preparing for a pack of lions to pounce...

The door opened and in stepped Ginny Weasley, followed closely behind by Neville Longbottom, Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood. Draco immediately couldn't help thinking of Lovegood covered in dirt behind bars, and wondered if she remembered him bringing blankets or food when he could undetected. The apple felt like lead in his stomach at the thought.

"Not to try and delay the warm welcome, but are there any snacks? I'm starving..." Ginny said, walking into the common room like she owned the place and glancing at the Slytherins, who all seemed to be doing a good job at hiding their shock at such a casual greeting.

Theo seemed to snap out of his stupor first and almost leapt up from his seat as fast as his pureblood grace and posture would allow him. "There's a small kitchen, I'll show you..." He rushed out slightly breathless and pink faced.

The youngest Weasley seemed to observe Theo for a moment, before prioritising her stomach and following Theo down the corridor out of the common room. "Theodore right?"

"That's right, but call me Theo..." Draco heard as both of them disappeared out of sight, but not before he heard, "Can I call you Teddy?"

"Hello, Draco Malfoy..."

Draco turned and found that Lovegood had sat herself down in Theos vacated seat on the couch, and seemed to be surveying his hair with wide eyes. "Lovegood..."

"Oh, call me Luna please...is it alright if I call you Draco? After being in your family home it seems silly to just call you Malfoy."

This time it wasn't just Draco who swallowed nervously, he could hear Blaise and Pansy shifting uncomfortably while Longbottom and Chang cleared their throats. Thankfully they were saved by the bell. A rather large, dull and annoying bell...

"Evening everyone..."

Cormac McLaggen was already sauntering into the room. It was of no surprise to Draco that even the other Lions, Lovegood and Chang, seemed none too grateful for his presence.

Longbottom sat himself up straighter with a grimace, "Cormac, how are you?"

Cormac smiled back at Neville as he sat down on the couch a little too close to Chang. "Alright now that I've been to my room, made sure it's up to snuff...high standards and all that..."

"Who has high standards?" Ginny called out with her mouth full as her and Theo returned from their jaunt, holding rather large bags of crisps and various other sweets.

"Cormac apparently..." Blaise sneaked another sip from his flask and seemed to also be observing Cormac, who had moved closer to Chang on the couch, which again, she looked none too grateful for.

"What are you drinking Blaise?" Luna asked brightly, observing Blaise attempt to hide away his goblin made flask. "If its pumpkin juice can I have some?"

"Oh angel, it's not pumpkin juice..." Pansy smiled sweetly at Luna, and Draco watched it bring a tinge of pink to both girls cheeks.

"Oh, well can I have some anyway?"

Pansy hopped up off the sofa, before smoothing out the ends of her shiny black bob and offering a hand to Luna which she took without hesitation. They disappeared down the corridor to Pansy's room while she muttered something about a stash of something that would be more to her liking.

"Is Pansy..." Cho began delicately, watching the two girls disappear out of sight.

"Fruity? Swings both ways? Has a thing for blondes? Yes." Blaise answered the Scot with a smile while giving Draco a subtle eyebrow raise, which was met with a a sharp glare.

Yes he had courted Pansy for a short time, both of them under orders from their parents, but Blaise knew just as well as Theo it had never meant anything to either of them, just a short attempt at appeasing their parents and protecting Pansy as best he could.

"Where's Hermione, Ginny?"

Yes, where is the golden girl?

"She's just unpacking, I'll go get her...hold my crisps Teddy." Ginny shoved the bag into Theo's chest, which was met with a "Yes boss" that she seemed to approve of before disappearing down the hall.

"I'm perfectly safe."

"I know, I'm just making sure, that's why I'm here..."

Hermione stared up at the ceiling of stars she'd conjured in the dark room. Fists curled into the clean, fresh sheets when a soft knock rapped on the door. "Yes?"

"It's Ginny, can I come in?"

Hermione was about to say yes but the door opened and Ginny stepped inside, always one for making herself at home, eyeing the stars above Hermione's head.

"Pretty."

Hermione smiled and hummed in response.

"Are you going to come say hello?" 

Ginny lay down next to her on the bed, and it reminded her of when they'd shared a room back at the burrow. Hermione felt her friend turn to look at her pale, gaunt face and despite the shame creeping up Hermione's spine, she respected Ginny too much to not look at her as she answered her question.

"I'm not sure I can right now..."

Ginny nodded understandingly with a small, albeit slightly pained smile, before kissing Hermione's forehead gently and standing up to walk back out the door. "Okay, try get some sleep and we can talk tomorrow, hm?"

"Gin?"

Ginny turned as she had one hand on the door knob and waited patiently for her to speak.

"Was coming back here a mistake?"

"No, we all deserve to move on love."

Ginny stepped back out into the corridor, clicking the door shut behind her. Hermione stared back up at the stars and waited for sleep to close in, hoping tonight she'd pay a visit to one of her less torturous dreams. She would be grateful for a change in programming.

1 year ago...

Hermione stood in the pouring rain outside a small town home, just on the outskirts of London. The grass was overgrown and the gate looked like one gust of wind could have torn it from the hinges it was so rusted. She was still wearing the smart skirt and blouse she'd worn to court, and despite the cold winter rain soaking her to her skin, she felt hot... rage coursed through her veins like acid bubbling beneath the surface and it worked its way to her fingers until they were curled into a fist, ready to knock on the front door.

A few moments later, before she even lifted her hand, the door opened to someone she never thought she'd see again and especially looking so tired.

Of course he would have wards on the property.

"Miss Granger..." Drawled Severus Snape from the doorway. His long dark hair was now dusted with grey and his dark eyes looked weary as they roamed over Hermione, before gesturing to come inside out of the rain.

She stepped inside the small townhouse that smelled dusty and looked thoroughly lived in. She followed her former potions master into what was probably meant to be a sitting room, but looked more like a small library ,with jars and vials of ingredients baring labels worn away with age.

Just as she'd stepped inside she felt the prickles of warming and drying charms on her skin.

"Thank you..." She murmured quietly at her feet, the rage causing tears to prickle in the corners of her eyes already, and she heard leather crinkling as Snape sat in an arm chair.

"Why are you in my home Miss Granger? I don't seem to remember giving you any previous indications that I'd welcome former students by for cups of tea."

She knew she shouldn't be here, but who else would understand? The image of Malfoy sitting in that cage, bound at his ankles and wrists in prison clothes with numbers across the label. She hated him, and she felt angry for the level of sympathy she felt for him. She lifted her head to look her former professor in the eye, and through gritted teeth she spoke. "

Why did no one help him?"

Snape sighed loudly, "While I appreciate your large brain may thrive from working in riddles Miss Granger, I am old and I am tired, and I would like you to get to the point."

His response sent the acid in her veins to reach boiling point, her skin felt itchy and it only worsened when she felt the hot sting of tears tracking down her cheeks.

She inhaled sharply, "Draco Malfoy...was no death eater...and I have just sat in a court room for almost three hours, watching him be treated like one. He was malnourished, covered in bruises and..." Hermione paused to take another sharp inhale through her nose and brushed her frizzy curls away from her neck that was covered in rain water and sweat, "All because the adults in our lives failed to protect us from the evils of this world, because they could not see past their own bigotry. A seventeen year old boy! In a cage bound by chains because, because.. "

She trailed off, sobbing uncontrollably as she sank into the chair opposite the target of her hysterical rant, feeling foolish and out of control. "I know you're his godfather..."

Snapes expression darkened, "Would I be correct in assuming that because I am his godfather, you are wondering why I did not swoop in like the hero and pluck him from the dark Lords talons?"

Hermione sniffed back her tears and brushed her now only slightly damp curls from her face for something to do with her shaking hands. "Yes."

Snape clasped his hands together tightly in his lap, "For the same reason Draco accepted his task from the dark Lord...to protect his family. You think he would have appreciated me tearing him away and throwing him to the order? All for the dark Lord to take his frustrations out on his mother and father?"

Hermione's rage had simmered somewhat, but she could still feel that burning itch that had seeped into the scar on her forearm. "So what did you do? You murdered Dumbledore out of duty to him and the unbreakable vow, it wasn't to spare Malfoy. So I ask again, professor, what did you do?"

Snape spoke calmly, but the way his fingers were turning white in their hold betrayed him. "I may not have been able to protect him from the dark Lords punishments, or his fathers questionable parenting...but I helped him protect something even more valuable. Surely you can appreciate that more than anyone Miss Granger."

Something slotted into place at Snapes words. The absent stare of stone grey eyes out the bars of the cell. The relaxed demeanour to the point of almost boredom until a soft sob could be heard from the seats above in the gallery. The transition of stone grey to almost silver, glassed over when he made eye contact with his mother, a mother quietly weeping for her son.

"Occlumency."

Snape nodded. "I'd award you house points, but I didn't bother when you were a pupil, why start now?"

What must it be like, she wondered? To be able to switch your emotions off even just for a fraction of second? Blissful, she thought. The pain from the war, the grief at losing her parents to a burglary gone wrong before they had the chance to remember her, Ron's cruel words... the words tumbled out her mouth before she could stop them.

"Teach me."

Snapes response was quick and dismissive. "Why would I do that Miss Granger?"

Hermione blinked the tears away rapidly. "I used my, as you put it, rather large brain to work, to help save the wizarding world. The ministry can throw as much restoration money at me as they like, paint me as Harry Potters rather smart friend in every edition of the daily prophet for the rest of time. What I want now Professor... what I need...is some peace. To feel safe and protected."

She looked Snape in the eye as she gritted out, "I have bloody well earned it."

Snape looked at Hermione with a blank expression before it hardened, but his eyes shone with remorse that didn't dare want to be set free as he stood up from the arm chair. Hermione also rose, sensing she had been affectively dismissed until a text book found its way into her hands.

"You do not need me to teach you, if you are half the pupil I remember, you will read that from front to back. What you have to do now, is decide by what manner you wish to protect your mind."

Hermione looked at Snape questioningly before he continued. "Some people picture locking their memories away in chests, or building walls to keep others out...what method would you trust to protect your greatest weapon Miss Granger?"

As Hermione stepped out of the townhouse to walk to the apparition point a short while later, the professors question rang in her ears.

"What method would you trust to protect your greatest weapon Miss Granger?"

As Hermione felt the familiar tug of apparition behind her naval, she had already decided the question had an answer, or rather another question. It wasn't a what she trusted enough, it was who did she trust enough?

She lay in bed that night at the burrow, the familiar sounds of Ginny's soft snores lulling her into an almost meditative state. Who did she trust enough?

No one, she thought honestly.

Before she knew it, her mind began to construct the fierce protector of her most valuable weapon cell by cell, and tendon by tendon. All night she built her protector with steel forged into every atom, every bone, right to the warm freckled skin and eyes that were the right shade of brown, but the warm hints of caramel didn't appear.

She carved her protector out of strength, until in her minds eye...she saw herself staring back.

Stronger, unbreakable...

A fortress.

Hermione smiled at her work, "Hello, Hermione."

The dark eyes looked back at her in her mind, with a saccharine sweet smile that was so unlike her, but made her feel safer already. 

"Hello, Mione..."