—————H—————

"Where are you taking us, Black?" Severus demanded as he, Hermione, and Lily followed the Marauders through Hogsmeade and into the residential area.

"Wait," Sirius said, turning and walking backward with a mischievous grin on his face. "You'll see, Snape."

"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Remus said, standing beside the trio. "The chances of us getting caught—"

"Relax, Moony," James said over his shoulder. "Slughorn and Baxter are chaperoning, and they never pay attention to who leaves and who comes back."

"Not to mention that no one saw us come this way," Peter chipped in.

"But where are we going?" Lily asked, looking at the cottages with a frown.

"Peter's aunt left not long ago for Italy," James said.

"And my parents are away in France," Sirius said with a twitch of his eyebrows.

"And what does all this have to do with where we're going?" Severus asked.

"Because, Flooing doesn't count as magic," Sirius said, as if that explained everything.

"Because Peter's aunt has a home here in Hogsmeade and Sirius' parents live in London," Remus elaborated, eyeing Sirius in warning.

"So, wait. You want us to Floo to London?" Lily asked, quickening her step to grab James' arm and pull him to a stop. "Why? What's the point?"

"Why not?" James asked, his smile brightening. "It'll be fun, right? Getting away from the school? Properly away?"

"And what if we get caught?"

"We won't, Evans," James reassured, moving so quickly to take her hand that Lily didn't have time to pull away. She looked surprised by the maneuver, but only tried to pull away slightly. "Come on." And with that, James gave her hand a firm tug and pulled her quickly to a house on the left, Peter rushing to keep up.

"If you want to turn back now, it's probably for the best," Remus said sheepishly.

"You're a prefect, Remus," Hermione said, watching as Sirius took off after the others. "You can follow them all you like, but I don't think this is a good idea."

"Much as the idea of getting away from the castle appeals to me, Hermione's right. While Slughorn and Baxter don't pay much attention to those who come and go, I'm afraid there are other professors that do. And while they may not be in the village today, they might just notice if a group of students commonly seen around the school is nowhere to be seen."

"Not to mention that London is not exactly small, and it's quite easy to think you're only going to be a short while and then find yourself three hours gone on the other side of the city," Hermione said. "And with the Trace still on all of you, if something happened..."

"Sirius is only a few days from his seventeenth," Remus hedged.

"And a few days still matter!" Hermione argued, letting go of Severus' hand and going up to grasp Remus by the shoulders. "Please go get them, bring them back."

"I doubt I can convince them to come back," Remus sighed, rubbing his forehead. He looked so unsure and torn; it broke Hermione's heart. "I can't ... I put too much distance between me and James and Peter, and I need them. I ... I'm going. I'm sorry. I have to." He then reached into his pocket, pulling out a thick bundle of parchment. "But you staying behind is good, in case something happens. If we aren't back by, say, six o'clock, let McGonagall know."

"And how will we know? What if we don't see you?" Severus asked.

"You will with this," Remus said, pulling out his wand and placing it against the parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

"What is this?" Severus said with intrigue, taking the parchment from Remus as the map appeared.

"Our way of causing mischief and mayhem. And for finding you in our earlier days. Your lab doesn't appear on here, it's close enough to the hospital wing that we always assumed it was part of it."

"We'll take care of it," Hermione said, shifting from foot to foot. "Are you sure you want to go?"

"No." Remus grinned. "But I think I need to."

With that, he took off into the house, and from the chorus of cheers that erupted the moment he entered, it was safe to say they were waiting for him. She doubted they would wait for them, though Hermione wasn't sure she minded.

Severus ran his hand lovingly over the map, his face contorting between awe and pain. Putting her hand on his shoulder, her chin against his arm, Hermione asked, "What's wrong?"

He said nothing for the longest time.

"It's a wonderful piece of magic," he admitted quietly. "Think of the work that went into this, the charms. Loath as I am to admit it, Potter and Black are good with charms. But this ... this is how they tormented me for so long. It's why I had to find refuge in the lab or my dormitory. They thought I was in the hospital wing, Hermione. They left me alone because they thought I was already a kicked dog. All those times I avoided Madam Pomfrey, healed myself, just so they wouldn't feel like they'd won, and they thought so anyway. All these years I thought that nothing would make them stop, and all these years ... it might have."

She hugged him and heard him groan in displeasure.

"Bloody hell, witch."

"You're having a moment."

"I'm having a revelation, not an emotional breakdown."

"For you, they're often one and the same, or at least closely related."

"Would you stop?"

"No, you like it," she snarked against his sleeve.

"Whether I do or not is beside the point," he grumbled, and Hermione chuckled before kissing his cheek and letting him go.

He shifted his gaze to the side and studied her. "You knew about this beforehand, didn't you?" he asked, gesturing to the map. She knew how guilty she must have looked, because his whole demeanor softened. "I'm not angry. I know you wouldn't be able to tell me. Unless, of course, you could?"

"I knew about it," she said carefully. "But not ... not because they showed me."

"Interesting," Severus said to himself. He then gave a mighty huff and straightened. "Well, we're in Hogsmeade sans entourage. What would you like to do?"

"I'm not sure," she said, gently removing the map from his hands and withdrawing her wand. "Mischief managed." The map vanished.

"Oh, you have intimate knowledge of this."

"First time really handling it myself, though," she explained. She then tucked the map into her bag and took his hand. "Let's just walk. I have no real desire to be anywhere but with you."

"You're just full of sentiment, aren't you?" Severus said, giving her hand a tug as they walked from the residential areas and into the village proper.

"I do have my moments, you know. Which are perfectly acceptable."

"In moderation, I suppose."

"Did you slip yourself some Syrup of Snark or something today?" she asked, and he threw his head back and laughed, loud and boisterous as they rounded the corner.

"If I ever invent a potion, regardless of what it does, I will name it that just for you," he said.

"Will this be before or after Ziggy the Bowtruckle?"

"We'll see what comes—"

"Severus!" Lucius interrupted them, and Hermione paled at his voice. She managed to put on a smile just as she caught his attention, and he smiled warmly in return. "And your lady. Hermione, a pleasure to see you again. I had hoped to see you again at Slughorn's party, but you were apparently snubbed."

"Well." Hermione shrugged, blushing as she tried to think of something. "I suppose I wasn't interesting enough. Nor, I suppose, did I seem particularly skilled."

"It is an utter shame, considering the ... underlings he invites. " At this, Lucius glanced around. "Come, I had hoped to see you, Severus, considering it is a Hogsmeade weekend."

"How did you know?" Severus asked as he squeezed Hermione's hand as he started following Lucius.

"Old Sluggy himself, actually. He mentioned chaperoning this weekend in a letter inviting me to the dinner."

Severus said nothing and Hermione was too terrified of saying the wrong thing.

Lucius led them to the Hog's Head, stopping a few feet from the door.

"Hermione, my dear, are you of age?"

"Y-yes," she said.

Lucius smirked. "Good." Without another word, he led them into the pub nearly never frequented by Hogwarts students.

It was dark, hardly anyone inside. A young man, gaunt and pale, tended the bar and merely nodded at them as they entered and headed for a corner table, tucked far away from the entrance.

"I do hope I am not taking you away from your plans," Lucius apologized.

"We had none, as it were," Severus replied. "Merely wanted to escape the confines of the castle."

"I heard you have an American professor this year. That must make you feel quite at home, Hermione," Lucius commented as the bartender set three Firewhisky glasses on the table.

"To be quite honest, I never really felt at home stateside," she said while looking at the slightly smoky liquid with apprehension.

Severus, much to her surprise, picked up the tumbler and took a swig.

Lucius seemed to approve of both of them. "Yes, I heard they are indecently Muggle there. But it's good to see at least their influence hasn't tainted your good breeding," he said, gesturing to her outfit.

When the Marauders had initially asked them to join them for the day, they did so with a warning to dress Muggle. Severus, with no real Muggle clothes at Hogwarts, had donned trousers and a green oxford, untucked, sleeves rolled up in an effort to look casual. They had teased them at first for showing up similarly dressed, as Hermione had chosen trousers and a blouse, though her top was blue and worn beneath a plain brown cardigan.

It was young, and perhaps quite modern for wizarding wear, but not considered outright Muggle in origin.

"I can't say I was one for the fashion in the Americas," Hermione said smoothly, making Lucius smirk before turning his attention to Severus.

He lifted his tumbler to his lips, grey eyes locked onto black. "Your article is gaining attention."

"I had no idea you read such things."

"Normally I do not. However, it was brought to my attention by a member of my ... circle. He was quite annoyed, having dabbled in potions and working to achieve his own Mastery. He's a couple years older than you. Bulgarian, I believe. A fine gentleman, I must say, but he lacks... something. Either way, he brought it to our attention and of course, none of us thought anything of it until your name was mentioned. Really, I couldn't help myself and had to mention that you were only sixteen. That , dear friend, raised some eyebrows."

Severus remained impassive, but Hermione noticed the spark of pride in his eyes.

"I've been talking to people, Severus. I know a couple Masters who are quite interested in the talent you're showing."

"Much as I appreciate the sentiment, Lucius, I'm afraid I can't afford it."

"Who said anything about that? I am, after all, quite wealthy."

"I cannot ask you to sponsor me."

"And you wouldn't be."

"Nor do I wish to be indebted to you," Severus replied, and Lucius chuckled.

"Perhaps the debt wouldn't be to me," the blond said before taking a drink of his whisky. He turned his attention to Hermione. "Do you often stay with Severus during the holidays?"

"Er, well, yes. We're together for them, if that's what you mean."

Lucius bowed his head. "I will be hosting a party before the New Year. A ball, if you will. I was hoping to extend the invitation to Severus and by extension, you. I would have hated for you to have to choose between him and ... what do you call them? Certainly not your parents."

"My guardians." Hermione swallowed the panicked lump in her throat.

"Excellent. I hope to see you both there," he said as he checked his pocket watch. He scowled. "I am afraid I have to cut our visit short. It was a pleasure to see you again, Hermione. You are as exquisite as I remembered. Severus, I will see you at Slughorn's soiree."

"Until then, Lucius," he said with a nod as Lucius got to his feet. He bowed once before turning with a sweep of his robes

The second he was gone, Severus grabbed his tumbler and downed the liquor, grimacing and groaning as he slammed the glass onto the table.

"My sentiments exactly, though I'm afraid I can't be quite as demonstrative."

Severus said nothing for a long time, breathing heavily as he stared blankly at nothing.

"I know the kind of circle Lucius is involved in," he muttered. "I know, and while just about anyone with any knowledge of it would give their left arm to be in it, I ... I haven't ..." He bowed his head. "I was right there with them, wanting in, until I started to talk to you. For once, someone thought I was worth something just being myself. And it only grew, and I had nothing to do with them, not beyond what I had to."

"And you don't have to," Hermione assured.

Severus scoffed. "Yes, well, that's easy for you to say, isn't it? You have your eye on becoming an Arithmancy or Transfiguration Mistress. The former is ready to retire and would jump at the chance of having you replace him after taking you on as an apprentice, the latter is practically your aunt. You don't need to worry about a sponsorship, as either one will take you and have the school cover your costs. Whereas I would never stoop to study under Slughorn, so I only have options abroad. I don't have the Galleons, Hermione. I would need to work with Bob for years."

He had a point and she hated that he did.

Before they could discuss it further, a man who looked disturbingly like the headmaster came in. He moved sharply toward the bar, had just gotten behind it when he saw them.

"You two better be of age," he growled, sounding nothing like the genial man she knew.

"We are, but don't trouble yourself. We were just leaving," Severus said, rising to his feet and waiting for her to do the same. He made no move to hold her hand as they left, and Hermione looped her arm through his as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

After a few aimless steps, Hermione stopped him.

Kissing him on the cheek, she said, "I'll give you space." She handed him the Marauder's Map. "I'll head back up to the castle. Find me if you want to talk." She gave his arm a squeeze before leaving.

Lonely, downtrodden, and feeling like maybe the end of this wonderful thing between them was much nearer than she thought.

—————S—————

Severus hadn't waited long after Hermione left before heading back to the castle himself. In the quiet of his dormitory, he watched her marker in the library, watching when she relocated or searched for a book.

It was a day of so many revelations, first with the map, and then the possibility of an apprenticeship within his grasp. And yet, was it worth getting involved with the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters? Even if Lucius was his sponsor, he had a feeling deep in his gut that the man expected he join them. He would have to pretend he truly believed in blood supremacy, which was difficult to swallow. He may hate his Muggle father and may not be too fond of Muggles in general, but that didn't mean they were all awful. And he'd seen enough from Hermione, Lily, and others that Muggle-born certainly didn't mean less powerful.

He growled, seething and raging inside as his ambition whispered assurances he didn't want. Hermione may be Muggle-born, but very few, if any, knew the truth. And it wasn't like Lily wasn't about to ditch him before Hermione came into their lives. How close had he gotten to walking this path before? And at least now he did so with more credit than before. He could have that power and success with much less effort.

But was he willing to stoop that low? And what would Hermione think? He knew he shouldn't base his decisions on her, she could up and leave him at any time for someone better.

Yet there was a fleeting image that he desperately wanted to grab ahold of. Of seeing her in her best dress robes while bonding their hearts, souls, and magic until the end of their days. Of bringing a horde of children to platform and three-quarters before returning home, where they could spend their days in academic bliss.

Severus yanked on his hair, wishing he had an easy answer, when a dot on the grounds near the gate caught his eye: Alastor Moody.

Snatching up the map, Severus tucked it into his back pocket before running out the dorms and through the empty common room to try to meet the Auror at the entrance.

There were no upperclassmen to see him, no younger student would dare say a thing, and something told him that Moody was exactly who he needed to discuss this with.

He got to the Entrance Hall just as the doors opened, and he was momentarily taken aback by the replacement eye rolling around in Moody's face.

The Auror smirked. "Interesting bit of enhancement, this. Knew you were on the other side before I even opened the door." He hobbled over, using a walking stick to support himself, and clapped Severus on the shoulder. "How ya doing lad?"

There was a niggle in Severus' mind that let him know Moody was testing him. Instead of resisting, he showed Moody the conversation in the Hog's Head.

Moody's smile faded a bit. "Interesting."

"I was hoping you could offer some advice," Severus said.

Moody considered this. "For now? Keep this to yourself and Granger. And go find her and make up. Right now, she's probably thinkin' you're right pissed off at her and you ain't got no reason to be. Otherwise, I'm gonna mull over what ya told me, see if there's something to do about it."

Severus nodded, masking the disappointment and tucking it away behind his ever-present Occlumency shields.

"Hey," Moody said, squeezing his shoulder. "Nothin's as desperate as it seems. Nothin. Constant vigilance, and that ain't just about Dark Wizards and the like." He tapped Severus hard on the forehead. "Use that, think of another way."

"Thank you, Professor," Severus said with a nod.

"I ain't your professor, lad."

"And thank Merlin for that. You left the office a mess." Severus turned around and stepped away from his former professor so the current DADA instructor could approach. She eyed Severus suspiciously, as she often did, and then smiled warmly at Moody. "I was on my way up to see Dumbledore. I thought, perhaps, since I only promised to be here for a year, he could arrange for a better way of relaying information to my successor."

"Good luck with that, Scamander. Shoulda seen the mess I was left with."

The two Aurors headed up the staircase, the elder comically spryer than the other, and Severus waited for them to round the corner before he let out a heavy sigh.

Maybe he would write his mother, let her know what was going on, finally let her in on some of the less-pleasant side of Hogwarts and the wizarding world, even though she might already be aware after going to live with his grandmother

And when he was done with that, he would find Hermione.

—————H—————

She smiled to herself when she heard the familiar footfalls coming down the stairs. When Hermione felt his hand on her shoulder, she merely brought hers up to cover his. When he dropped the Marauder's Map in her lap, she glanced at it and snorted.

"How long have they been waiting in the tunnel while Minerva and Alastor chat outside her office?" she asked him.