enchantement - SOULBOUND I̲̅ || SS/HG ✔️

35. Silver eyes

A cold shiver ran down Severus' spine as he watched the snake open his venomous mouth and bounce on his other self - nailing him against the wall. The endless banging of his lacerated body made Severus shut his eyes and cover his ears, the hurt reaching his own being.

The torment and worry that eradiated from Hermione's heart seized Severus, causing him to cry in agony. He had never felt so connected to someone's memory until now. He felt his own neck being torn apart, the venom from Nagini's bite sliding its way down his bones, paralyzing him.

Hearing rapid steps, he opened his eyes once more, meeting a crying Hermione, her shaking finger reaching the wounded man's mouth, begging him to stay silent. He couldn't help but smile at her know-it-all attitude in all circumstances, yet was quickly brought back to the memory as he watched his other self willingly give Harry Potter the tear that held all of his darkest secrets. Frowning at that gesture, Severus brought his immaterial body closer to the two lovers on the ground. He watched his other self closely - analysing his features - the way he gazed at Hermione. It was him, there was no doubt in this, his theory of someone having used Polyjuice potion revoked. "But why would I let myself die?"

From the moment Lily had died in his arms, her last breath brushing his damp cheek, Severus promised himself to protect the raven-haired boy until his dying breath. However, his pride had compelled him to battle against the humanity inside of him that, deep down, wished to become a father figure for the lost yet intrepid 'chosen one'. Throughout Harry's school years, Severus had considered telling him the truth, yet vowed a few days before the war to keep him in the dark - unsure of what the Dark Lord would do if he would have found out about his betrayal. That is when he considered the possibility of giving the now grown boy his tear - if he were to die and unable to verbally tale his involvement in the war and his unspoken promise to Harry's mother.

Needless to say, Severus was more than confused as Hermione sobbed, holding desperately onto the man that she loved. She had informed him of Ron's departure to seek help but was marvelled by the answer of the dying man.

He was trying to make a diversion. But why?

Looking around the room, rummaging for anything that would explain what was his older-self trying to keep Hermione from noticing, he found nothing. Letting his eyes drift back to himself, he remarked the way his fingers fiddled with their wedding rings. Kneeling on the creaking floor, he reached down finding support in the solid ground, feeling his own body weaken.

Severus' eyes became watery as he listened to the conversation they had in their respective minds. He gasped as he caught the word of endearment he had used to call the witch.

"My fox."

Bitting his lips, remembering when he had called her that, Severus let his emotions take over him. He wailed as their conversation went on, listening to the loving words he was expressing to the witch. Listening to his vows, the potion professor felt his heartache, imagining how beautiful the small and discrete wedding must have been. He questioned why he hadn't seen this memory, yet quickly shrugged the idea off when his other-self projected: "there is so much I wish to do with you, so many more secrets that I want to tell you, but there is no time."

Creasing his eyebrows, his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something - wondering what secret he was still keeping away from her - he could see his fingers trying desperately to remove the golden ring. His other hand distracted the mourning witch as he pulled the time-turner out of his cloak.

He could see the growing relief in Hermione's amber orbs - believing he had found a way to change the course of time and enable him to stay alive. However, he knew himself too well to know that he had planned his own death, why, he wasn't sure yet.

As he gave her the instructions of her time-travelling, he noticed how all he indicated her was to "prevent Dumbledore from wearing the ring which contains a fragment of Voldemort's soul". There were no mentions of an organised plan, which only confused the wizard. Querying how on Merlin Hermione had twisted his words, he heard his hoarse voice indicate him that she will find help from Dumbledore, but nothing more.

Everything was considerably different to what Hermione had told him. Confusion was the only adjective he could find in his repertoire to illustrate what he felt at that instant. His hearing had gone numb to her following words, his mind focused on the contradiction in words between what he had told her and what she remembered.

Severus had studied the mind when he mastered how to control and invade others thoughts. He knew the importance of emotions and their involvement in the recollections of past events or words. Nevertheless, emotions were assumed to make the memory far more vivid, not distorted and imaginary. It appeared as if Hermione had imagined Severus' words, taking what he had indicated her and twisting them in a comforting way, giving her a purpose in her journey in the past.

His thoughts were interrupted when his older-self mentioned impregnating Hermione.

"You know what my biggest wish was Hermione? To one day wake up, one hand on your belly, and have you tell me that you're bearing my child, to know that within you lies the fruit of our love."

He could see the sadness in his eyes, slowly closing themselves - his seemingly heavy eyelids making it difficult for him to stay awake. Severus' own breath hitched at the mention of a child, of having a family. "This is mental!" he screamed in his mind, his thoughts disappearing into oblivion, "you could have a family with her you old fool, why are you letting yourself die?"

A chilling sensation ran down his spine as his eyes temporarily met those of the dying men, "I don't have a choice" he spoke, his glazed peppers drifting back to the witch.

Severus was impressed by the sudden burst of strength from his other self as he wrapped the time turner around his lover's neck, sending her away from him, forever.

He could feel his own mind slowly leaving her memories but tried to fight it, knowing that whatever happened after she left could answer multiple enigmas. Squinting his eyes, Severus could see that his dying-self was still struggling to remove the ring. As if fighting against the strongest of gusts - trying his hardest to watch more of the memory - Severus was met with the coldest eyes staring down his soul, the fright from the sudden apparition bringing him back to his own reality.

Hermione was shivering, blood now dripping down his back as her nails were buried deep inside his flesh, "Hermione" he rustled, his own heart racing in his chest, "love."

She felt unable to speak, having relieved the loss of her husband.

The ice orbs that had pulled him away from her memories stayed engraved in his mind, causing him to shudder in fright. "There was a man that apparated in the Shack when you left" was all he could say before he felt his mind drift to sleep, fatigued.

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A/N: I'm back! Sorry for the wait, I had a busy schedule ☕️💗

Coming up next:
Who is Hermione going to take to Slughorn's party if Cormac has been dismissed? What will she find in the restricted section? How is Severus going to react when Hermione tells him Pomfrey has never given her medication?🧐🤔♥️

Don't forget to vote and comment, I'm really curious to see your thoughts on the way this story is changing. 🌸🎲💗

Lot's of love,

XOXO