4. Hogsmeade visit and professor Snape's secret.
Harry had started his lunch meal when Hermione came to join him at the table.
"I called my parents. It was perfect timing; they were waiting for their dessert at a restaurant. It was lovely to talk to them and wishing them a Merry Christmas. They bade me to convey their greetings to you, Harry. I told them we had a good time together."
Harry noted with satisfaction that she had a good appetite again. The last weeks she had barely been more than looking at the food. Now she was clearly enjoying the meal - and Harry's company. She was sitting on the edge of her chair though. After lunch they went together to dress for their afternoon walk into Hogsmeade. First however, they should take their potions.
They did this very solemnly but without words. They looked each other in the eyes, gulped down the beautiful blue coloured but evil smelling liquid and gave each other a big embrace; Harry with his arms around Hermione's waist; she with her arms locked behind his neck. They remained in this position for a couple of minutes. They both knew the meaning of this ceremony. Finally they each uttered a single sentence:
"Harry/Hermione, I love you". Then they both giggled at having both simultaneously said the same thing.
"If we are going out, I will need some warm clothes. And I will take out what I will wear at dinner tonight. You should have black trousers I think, my white shirt and tie, and Molly's cardigan - and your dress robes", Hermione said.
"Yeah," responded Harry. "See you down in the common room in a minute".
Harry actually followed Hermione's advice and took out his clothes for the evening and was already waiting when Hermione came down in heavy shoes, black stockings, a black coat and with a black cap holding down her bushy hair. She had a white muffler and white mittens.
"You're cute!" Harry said. Hermione smiled, blushing slightly. She shoved him playfully towards the portrait hole.
"You don't look that bad yourself!"
Hermione was in excellent spirits. When she came outside the big front doors of the school and the chill and refreshing air filled her lungs, she took some dance steps and then tried to push Harry into one of the big snow heaps along the drive.
"Mione! Act your age! Come here and walk quietly with me!" teased Harry. In mock seriousness, Hermione put her hand in Harry's and began walking with downcast eyes along his side. Harry glanced at her sideways, and very soon a smile made its way into her face.
"Harry, I'm too happy to be quiet."
They had just reached the spot where Harry had noticed on his map earlier that someone had been waiting for professor Snape.
"Mione. Here you see what I told you. Miss Emily Tanner stood here waiting for Snape. You can see her small footmarks. Here comes a row of marks of bigger feet. That must be Snape's. - Look here further on. They run in parallel and rather close. They seem to have been walking in steps like we are. Who is Snape walking hand in hand or arm in arm with?"
"What are you talking about? How do you know the name of that woman and how do you know the other person is Snape?"
Harry had to remind her of his discovery on his Marauders Map earlier that day. "Oh", said Hermione and walked along silently for a while.
"Harry!" said Hermione. "We may be onto something big. I've been having the feeling that Snape wasn't completely himself lately. Not really at his meanest anyway. Emily Tanner is the lady in the lingerie and beauty shop opposite The Three Broomsticks. She is not that young and I haven't seen her wearing wedding rings. She might be in suitable age for Snape. That would really be a sensation. We will go to The Three Broomsticks and take a cup of tea. Let's try to get a seat at one of the windows to the street and we can keep an eye for Snape. We can also ask madam Rosmerta carefully. Being Christmas, there will not be too much people so we might have a chat with her discreetly." Hermione was ticking off the different observations with her finger in the air. Harry was furtively glancing at her, smiling. After a while Hermione caught him.
"Harry, what are you laughing at? Hermione asked a bit unsure.
Harry smiled at her again. "I'm happy looking at you", he said, and then continued.
"I love you being the Hermione analysing things, ticking off known facts and making plans and ever being a loyal friend. I have thought about it countless of times. That's how it was during the first years. Everything was so simple. And then things started to be difficult. Girls were smiling to me everywhere. First I was merely uncomfortable, but then I felt flattered and curious. I felt intrigued, but I still thought I should somehow be loyal to you, being my best friend, so I also constantly felt guilty. The small short relations with … you know were no hits, and I was frustrated at having found Sirius as a father but all the same not allowed to actually be having a family. Then it dawned upon me that you actually weren't the girl I had got to know in my first years, but the years had made you far more attractive and intriguing then any other girl I knew. I saw your eyes and lips and hands holding secrets I didn't know, but still I knew enough of your ways to tell that you too felt unhappiness and frustration. I was frightened at first to destroy our friendship and the friendship with Ron, but after a few weeks I was more and more confident that we actually were having the same problem. - And I think I was right and that makes me so happy that I want to laugh." Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders and held her close.
"Oh Harry," she said with tears in her eyes. "I have known all this and thought - at least I tried hard to believe, that in the end you would come back to me. I have always been in love with you - and I always will be," she ended in a small voice.
They walked on, now holding each other close.
"Harry, do you know that you not only have great magical powers, but you also have a great power in knowing how other people feel?"
"Thanks, but I don't think that will help me fighting Voldemort".
"What do you mean by that?"
"Mione, I will tell you about that prophesy some day. You should know. That idea that's hatching in my brains concerns that. I will need to discuss it with you when the time is ripe."
After a few minutes, Hermione commented. "Harry, I heard you used a short version of my name. It sounded rather sweet, but you know, I'm rather proud of being called Hermione. There's no one else that I know with that name."
"Oh," Harry answered dejectedly. "I've often thought of you as 'Mione', perhaps because I wanted you to be mine."
"Oh Harry, you are sweet. You may use that nickname, but only you. Maybe I will think of something to call you." She gave him a playful hug that nearly forced him off the road.
They had now reached the first houses of Hogsmeade. They continued to The Three Broomsticks in silence.
When they entered, they saw the small inn nearly empty. Of course, most people were at home celebrating Christmas. At a table in the inner corner, Harry recognized a few Hogwarts students. At a table close to the bar two children, a girl about 5-6 and a slightly older boy, sat playing with crayons and paper. Harry guided Hermione to a booth at one of the windows to the street. They had a god view of the shop opposite the street. Harry ordered tea for two with newly baked muffins.
Madame Rosmerta served their tea and remained at their table to chat. "I saw the two of you coming hugging each other. May I be so bold to ask if you are finally together?" At their nod, she continued: "I have been wondering when that would happen. I saw several years ago that there was a special understanding between you two."
"You should have told us at once; it would have made things much easier", Harry answered with a grin.
"It wouldn't have worked", answered the Madame Rosmerta. "You had to figure that out for yourselves."
Hermione smiled at her and added in a low voice: "Is there an understanding, as you say, between Miss Tanner and a Hogwarts teacher? We think we saw them together earlier today."
"Yes there might be", Madame Rosmerta's interest was evident. "I have seen a person with dark clothes and black lank hair coming and going lately."
"That description fits professor Snape, our potions master".
"Hum", thought Madame Rosmerta, "I think that they met at the fair this summer. Miss Tanner was then living with her mother but she had some ailment or other; I have heard that she got magical help for that and she, the mother, is now living in a home for elderly people. Your good professor Snape might be at the bottom of that."
"Living in a home for the elderly can be a good thing. My grandmother does, and she has improved greatly when she got company and other people to talk to," added Hermione for good measure.
"Sure", said Madame Rosmerta before she left for a new customer. "And Miss Tanner needed to have a life of her own."
Harry and Hermione exchanged a conspiratory smile; Now professor Snape; they had ammunition if he was to heckle them because of their love.
Some minutes later, the boy and girl came up to their table with Madame Rosmerta behind. "These are my children. Because of the holiday, I have to have them here at the bar while I work. They would be very happy to say hello to you Harry."
Normally Harry would have felt awkward at the situation, but as he saw the little girl in her Sunday best with glittering eyes his heart melted. "Hello, what's your name?" he said to the girl. "Rosanna," the girl said and climbed up into his lap. Harry saw Hermione's eyes fill with laughter.
"Is it true that 'You-know-who' tried to kill you when you were a baby?" Rosanna continued. After an affirmative nod from an embarrassed Harry she continued: "Did you get a scar? May I see it?" To Hermione's astonishment, Harry let his hand brush away his hair to reveal his scar on his forehead. Rosanna darted her little hand to feel it. "Oh" she said, "But it isn't very big."
Harry noted that her brother had a note book in his hand but he had not said a single word. Obviously Rosanna was the more outgoing of the two. "Can we have your autograph, please?" Harry took the book from the brother and scribbled his name and the date and then did the same for Rosanna when she produced a similar book. Harry noted that Hermione tried to hide her face. He saw tears of laughter in her eyes.
Harry lowered his mouth to Rosanna's ear and said: "You should have the autograph of the young lady over there. She is a very powerful witch!" She answered "Yes, Thank you!" and gave Harry a big hug before climbing down from his lap.
The boy quickly turned a page in his note book and asked Hermione for her autograph. Harry secretly put out his tongue in her direction. Hermione however good-humouredly wrote her name Hermione Granger on the page presented her. When Rosanna put her book forward however, she had not turned the page, so without any thought Hermione put only her first name in the remaining space on top of the page.
Thus it happened that Rosanna was presented with a paper that a few years later would bring her a fortune if she ever would want to sell it. It read:
Hermione
Harry Potter
The Three Broomsticks
Christmas Day 1996
During this interval, they had completely forgotten to keep an outlook for professor Snape. By sheer luck they saw two dark clothed figures leave the house opposite the street. Harry quickly paid their bill and they made their way back towards school. They saw the couple in the distance ahead of them.
When they reached a bend beyond the last house of the village, the couple stopped and embraced and then parted. Soon after, the figure walking on along the road vanished with a distant pop. The other person came back their way however. When they met, Hermione recognised Miss Tanner. They wished her a Merry Christmas.
Now, they had to make haste in order to be in time for dinner, after this most successful spying trip.