One Last Try [HP Jamione fanfic]

32. I Almost Do

A/N: I'm three chapters away from finishing writing this, so there won't be anymore updates after this chapter until I'm finished and have read through and edited everything - following on from that, I'd suggest that when the next chapter (ch33) is posted, you go back and read everything again as there is likely to be (some biggish) changes in the past chapters to make sure everything is cohesive etc. (I'll remind you when I post the next chapter!)

Also don't forget to check out (and subscribe) to OLT Missing Scenes so that you can see the few extra scenes I've written and will be publishing alongside/after this fic. It's the second in the One Last Try series.

I can't believe I've nearly finished writing this! I've got half of both ch60 and 61 written, just the main scenes (which are fighting me) left to write, and then the epilogue in ch62!

1st September 1976

Hermione stood in the train corridor and watched from the window as the platform shrunk in the distance. It was her first time, since returning to the past, getting on the train and going to Hogwarts without Fabian and Gideon and it didn't feel right. She stood there for longer than she usually would, watching London whip by and listening to the bustle behind her as students found their friends and took seats in compartments up and down the train.

"Prewett." She barely controlled a surprised twitch at Severus' voice coming from right behind her, knowing he'd judge her if he knew he'd caught her unawares. She supposed she should've suspected that he'd seek her out early in the ride, it was actually the perfect time because everyone would be too busy catching up with their friends to notice them talking.

She turned her head slightly and made eye contact with the Slytherin, "Severus." Her eyes flicked briefly to his left arm, covered as it was by his dark robes, and then back up to his sallow face, dark bruises stained the skin beneath his dark eyes. "How was your summer?" She asked casually, as though she didn't know exactly what he'd had to go through just over a month ago.

He turned and leaned against the little windowsill beside her, looking out at the rapidly disappearing city, giving way to fields divided by hedges. "Wonderful." He drawled sarcastically.

"How was your trip at the end of July?" She ignored his wince at the reminder. She hoped he'd get better at hiding his emotions and reactions if he truly wished to survive as a spy within the Death Eaters.

"Enlightening."

"Did you get everything you wanted?"

"Indeed."

"Good." She glanced down the hallway past him, noting how fast it was emptying. She should probably go find her friends before they came looking for her and saw her talking to Severus. "We'll need to stop being friends openly." She commented, making brief eye contact with him.

He nodded, looking past her in the other direction, and seeming to come to the same conclusion as her. "We will still need to meet. You have yet to tell me your plans for dealing with the..." He trailed off, and sent her a significant look.

She nodded curtly. A very large part of her hated how necessary all the sneaking and lying was, but she also recognised that it was smarter to use the Slytherin part of her brain to execute her plans. "Do you know the Room of Requirement?" He blinked, "Also called the Come and Go room?" When he shook his head, she sighed. "I'll owl you. Meet me on the 7th floor near the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy."

Severus eyed her silently for a moment, before he nodded and stalked away, presumably to find the other Slytherin sixth years. Hermione watched him go for a moment. What she wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in that compartment, but she didn't really have a way of getting at James' cloak without being suspicious or getting questioned by the Marauders.