Labyrinth

Chapter 5

The maze was winding, and as they walked through it in silence, Hermione wondered what exactly the man in front of her could remember. He didn't recall her, but she wasn't really a considerable part of the overall course of his life. She wondered if he recalled Harry?

As her thoughts ran, she felt her body start to give some in the real world. She realised she would likely need to get some water and return, perhaps make herself comfortable to continue her work with him.

"Sir, I need to alter where my body is currently. I shouldn't be long, I can navigate my way back to you, given we have gone this far together. Would you mind pausing a moment?"

He looked at her quizzically, "Why did you call me 'sir'?"

Well, so much for trying to keep certain facts to herself. Shrugging, she responded, "Old habit, would you mind waiting for me here?"

He nodded to give her permission, and before she pushed her way out of his mind, she heard him say, "You can call me Severus if we are to continue on this journey together, Hermione."

She gave him a light smile and then pushed her way out of his mind.

It was so strange, seeing him... almost kind? She was unaccustomed to that side of Snape, or Severus, she thought. He did play as a spy most of his life. Perhaps this was who he truly was at his core.

Gathering herself, she transfigured a vial from the shelf into a glass and said, "Aguamenti," quickly gulping the water down.

She looked at the room around her and decided it would be best to transfigure the stool into a recliner of sorts so her body could lay prone while she was in his mind. It would prevent her from passing out and hurting herself by spending too much time in an unconscious mind.

With a wave of her wand, she created said recliner and began to adjust its placement next to the bath so her head would be next to his feet, and she could see his head from where she lay. Deciding in an afterthought, she summoned an empty jar, transfigured it into a towel, and placed it over the bath to cover him from his waist down. That made her feel slightly better about retaining the man's privacy. Taking a deep breath, she made herself comfortable and then pointed her wand at him once more.

"Legilimens."

She poked her way in much quicker this time and almost immediately found him in the maze waiting patiently where she had left him.

"You lasted remarkably longer in here than I expected. You must be a very accomplished witch. What was your full name again?" he said casually as they continued down the path.

She couldn't help but beam at the compliment as she answered, "Hermione Granger."

"You said you were a muggleborn?"

"I did," she dared not reveal anything else.

They rounded a corner, and before he could respond, they noticed a bright light at the end of their current path.

"What is that?" she asked, following him cautiously.

"I think these are our obstacles..."

He continued onward, and she kept close behind him.

"Should we go into it?" she asked him, as this was his mind.

Stopping just in front of the light, she watched him consider it.

"I believe we will have to if we want to continue on."

She considered the expression etched on his face as he looked into the light. It was one of desperation but also, maybe, fear. He finally looked at her and said, "Are you sure you would like to continue this journey with me?"