enchantement - SOULBOUND I̲̅ || SS/HG ✔️

6. Jealousy incarnated

It could resemble a conventional evening, students chattering and skipping frantically towards the dining hall for dinner - thrilled to have finished another day of school. But as the expression goes, appearances are deceptive. Leaning against the fence on top of the highest towers at Hogwarts, a delicate girl was gawking into the sunset, her eyes lost in a world of her own.

Wanting to find some peace, being continually sought out for homework by Ron, or Harry's incessant fixation towards Malfoys' doing, the Astronomy tower had become her safe house. Anytime she felt like being on her own, her heart sinking a little deeper into darkness, she would walk those endless stairs, knowing that at the end of her trip, she could finally feel like home.

She wasn't ready to remember what this place was for her as it brought too many beautiful memories. Severus was always on her mind, or at least the one she left in another world, another life. During her first nights, she would toss around in bed, her mind sending her right back in time, his voice ringing in her head like a delicate melody. She wanted to hear those words again, feel his love, yet every time she reached the dungeons she would see a man who she cherished, yet his eyes have succumbed to hatred and vengeance.

For the first time in a long time Hermione Jane Granger, the brightest witch of her age and 'know-it-all' was silent in class, not raising her hand up as per usual to answer questions. Truth was, she couldn't speak, it was as if her throat was constricted. She was scared, afraid that if she did use her voice - especially in defence against the dark arts class - she wouldn't be able to hold back the ominous tears that she allowed to fall, only in her sacred place.

That specific evening, Hermione was watching the sunset as it hid behind the mountains, crimson rays of sun illuminating her pale face. It was an enthralling sight as the dying sun shone its light through the trees from the forbidden forest - creating a magical illusion - making them seem as if they had been tainted with a coral colour. Red. Love. Clenching her fist, the witch turned around and took a deep breath, knowing that it was time for her to move on.

She had tried to figure out a way to attract his attention, after all, she needed him. Yet the longer she stayed here, the powerless she became. It nearly grew physically impossible for her to fight for the secret love she felt for her potion master. It felt even worst being of an age that was all-too different and apart from her friends. After all, she was twenty-two years old, having used the time turner more time than usual, and this time wasn't any different. Being in the body of a seventeen-year-old was hard enough, but to have Severus look down at her as if she was similar to any of his student enraged her.

"This can't be happening!" She shouts, screaming into nothingness, unable to understand what had gone wrong, after all, at this time, when she was in sixth year, Severus and Hermione were engaged in a peculiar relationship. She smiled as she remembered how entertaining their staring contest was, while no one was watching. Soon, these little games became more demanding, seeking for the other's warmth, and soon enough, they moulded into the other.

Sighing in defeat, she reached down towards the dining hall, knowing that if she needed to help Dumbledore with Voldemort's Horcrux and saving the war, she needed her strength back.

"'Mione where were you?" Questioned Harry as she sat beside him, "have you seen Malfoy by the way? I saw him a few minutes ago leave and I was wondering if you crossed him."

"10 galleons he has a thing for the ferret" spoke Ron as he swallowed his food, whispering discretely yet loud enough for Harry to hear.

"Nonsense" he scoffed, hitting dramatically the Marauder's map on the table, "look, I know it's weird but I can feel something bad is going on. Besides, his father is a death eater, it would only be pure logic if Malfoy now has to pay for his father's mistakes."

Hermione rolled her eyes, realising were this was going: "your attraction over ferret is obvious Harry. The real question isn't if I have crossed him but when will you? Get your lazy ass off this cosy seat you've been glued on, and face him if you're so worried about his well being!"

Ron choked on his food, "wait you're 'worried?"

"Of course not!" Protested the chosen one as he stood up, "for your information Hermione I'm concerned about you! After all, he's the one that has been tormenting you all of those years, and I want to make sure he isn't planning some dirty trick to get to you for that punch you threw him in third year!"

With these words he left, "he's acting strange don't you think?" Came a voice from behind them.

As they turned around, they were meet with clear blue eyes and long girly blond hair, "I believe nargles are at it again, he had a lot of them when I found him unconscious in the train at the beginning of this school year."

While Ron and Luna were talking, Hermione glanced up at the teacher's table, searching for her better half. Her breath hitched as she saw a woman with dark long hair sitting beside him, her hand on his and laughing wholeheartedly at one of his jokes.

Hermione's hand started to quiver, feeling anger boil through her muggle-born blood as her fist meet the table, causing everyone to jump in surprise.

"What the bloody hell is wrong will you?" Squealed Ron as he stared baffled at his friend, "Merlin's bools 'Mione, you look like you're about to kill someone!"

All of the teachers looked up at the commotion, noticing the witch standing beside her table, her hand swollen by the veracity of her punch, her amber eyes piercing through the onyx one of her potion master's.

No one spoke, afraid of being reprimanded by the infuriated woman. She didn't look like a child anymore, it was as if her skinny body morphed into the woman that she had left in her other time. Some were shaking their heads, confused while other squinted their eyes.

This was no more Hermione Jane Granger, age seventeen, this was Hermione Snape, age twenty-two, ready to get her husband back, no matter what.