Chapter 20: Makeover and say goodbye

That was how Severus became Lord Prince.

And as the week went by, Hermione also came to be recognized as Hermione Prince, a distant cousin of Severus Tovias Prince, Lord of the House of Prince.

"So, are you leaving today?" asked Hermione to Severus who was lying on a tree in front of Prince Manor.

"Yes," Severus answered her calmly.

"I see," said Hermione looking a little down about the news.

They had discussed the program Severus would be going to earlier and had agreed that Hermione would stay in the British magical world finishing the paperwork she had to do with the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts until he returned once the summer program at SCoP was over.

Hermione was quite surprised by Severus' sudden departure to the USA, as it was something she hadn't seen happen in the memories of the adult Severus, but she didn't think too much of it and attributed it to Severus' new heritage as a Prince.

Severus on the other hand hadn't told Hermione that he had agreed to go before he met her or had the inheritance, had he done so Hermione would have a lot of doubts.

"Don't make that face Hermione, I can't do anything about it."

"I know I know, it's just that it's the Salem Witches Institute, you know how prestigious that magical institute is Severus, it's every witch's dream to attend there" Hermione explained euphorically and frustrated.

Severus just grimaced at the excited Hermione, he was only interested in the potions school(SCoP) of the institute, if it wasn't for necessity and convenience he wouldn't go all the way to the USA.

"Yes yes, I understand Hermione, you already told me about 100 times since I told you the news," Severus said tiredly.

"You don't understand how important this is Severus, being able to attend such a prestigious program will open up a lot of options for you in the magical world, as well as international recognition" reproached Hermione.

"Hermione, I already understood how excited you are about all this, but as much as you keep repeating it to me I can't do anything to get you to attend with me, it was a coincidence that I got in and as I told you at the time I only registered as a joke, I didn't expect to attend until recently I received a letter of acceptance"

"Fine" Hermione said as she sat defeated next to Severus in the tree.

"O come on Merlin" sighed Severus wearily at Hermione's behavior.

"Now that I remember, in the letter, it said that there was going to be a break period for the program from the 4th to the 10th of July, and as I understand it is held..." Severus couldn't finish saying what he was talking about because Hermione completed the sentence for him.

"America's Independence Day, Sunday, July 4, 1976, marks the bicentennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence" Hermione redacted and then was embarrassed to see the look on Severus' face for not letting him finish speaking.

"As I was telling you, during this period of time, the Salem Witches Institute will be doing various events, competitions, and performances on and off-campus, which I was invited to participate in along with my family members since you are now part of the Prince's, you can get to know the institute during this period of time and..."

Hermione didn't let him finish speaking again, she hugged him tightly and started nodding very excited: "Yes yes yes yes and thousand times yes Severus, I'm going, Thank you. I can't wait for the 4th of July to go, maybe I'll meet the famous potioneer witch Helen Stacy or maybe I'll also..."

Severus opted to say no more and leave Hermione raving alone.

Prince's Manor was in a magical area isolated from Muggles in central Edinburgh, opposite Princes Street Gardens.

From the Middle Ages until the 19th century, The House of Prince used the Nor Loch to test dark potions, to make corpses disappear, and other witchcraft.

The Princes were one of the main reasons for the unhealthiness of the Muggle community in the city and the continuous diseases that depleted the Muggle population.

Today was the day Severus entered the SCoP summer program at the Salem Witches Institute. He spent the whole week buying the materials he required for the program.

Thanks to the money the Princes had he was able to buy everything he ever wanted and needed without any problems.

During this week Severus had also made a radical change in his look, renewing his appearance and clothing.

It may have only been seven days, but the changes in his personality were already starting to show, now he was more a mixture of both Severus Snape and Benedict Clarke, when he speaks he is usually more friendly and social than before, but he still keeps his cold and dark personality, but having a better character he can transform those features into those of a more mysterious person which is better than a bitter and lonely person as he used to look.

Severus' voice was still the same and his body was still pale and thin, with rounded, yet angular shoulders, but by focusing more on good nutrition he started to show changes in his physique, and his thinness was no longer as exaggerated as before, he also changed his bearing and way of walking, now he was more casual and confident before he used to walk in a nervous, spider-like manner, which was quite unpleasant.

His hair was still as black as ever, only he started to buy, make and use more products to prevent it from getting greasy when he was making potions, he also fixed his teeth that were crooked and yellow to white and aligned teeth, which as a whole improved Severus' appearance a lot before he used to wear his hair greasy and long that jumped on his face along with his teeth crooked and worn by poor care and constant consumption of potions without care, this was because he always gave importance to his physical appearance and valued more other qualities within himself, so he never focused on taking care of his physical appearance, for him his mind and magic were everything, now thanks to Benedict Clarke, he could understand the importance of all the parts that make up one.

His physical features also underwent minor modifications for the moment, his face began to undergo small changes so that he began to resemble himself as Benedict Clarke, it was slow but the changes were undoubtedly there.

And lastly, one thing that didn't change one bit were his dark, piercing eyes.

Hermione was quite impressed and confused with the changes Severus began to show, but she attributed it to the ritual of the inheritance test, there were several cases where heirs showed changes in their personality and physique after the blood ritual.

"Well Hermione, I'm going to have to go now, don't forget to take a "dreamless" potion before bed, I won't be able to be present if you have any nightmares again to relax you, so it's better to avoid problems for these days that I will not be with you, with the potion."

"I know Severus and thanks again for everything, they didn't have to worry you so much," Hermione said a little embarrassed and grateful.

Hermione managed to keep her memories and past pains away during the day thanks to her Occlumency, but at night her unconscious would form nightmares that tormented her.

Her first day sleeping at Severus' house was hell, if it wasn't for Severus who managed to calm her down, she would have spent the worst night of her life, because the nightmares were like being under a curse.

"Hermione, I'm serious, you have to take care of yourself, those nightmares you have are very harmful and dangerous. I know how it feels since I went through the same thing and if it wasn't for my mother's help every night I would have gone crazy, thanks to her I knew how to help you these nights, but now you are going to be by yourself and it's dangerous, these positions are going to keep you from dreaming or having nightmares, so promise me that you will take them" Severus said seriously to Hermione.

"Alright Severus, I promise to take the potions, but you must also promise to send me a letter telling me all about the Salem Witches Institute, I want to know it so badly already."

"By Merlin, very well, I promise to write you about the institute, happy?"

"Yes, very pleased," Hermione said smiling as if she had won something.

Severus chuckled under his breath and got up from the tree they were in to go get dressed in his room.

Severus dressed quickly and went out of his room grabbing his suitcase enchanted with an undetectable extension charm and the shield of the House of Prince, in this he carried all his belongings(this suitcase was part of the Prince's relics).

As he walked out of the room to the courtyard, Severus noticed the cool and dry weather and felt a little annoyed at the thought of the change of weather in the USA.

He wasn't much of a fan of hot weather, he already knew he would hate how sweltering and hot the weather was in the summer in the USA. Silently, he complained about the weather, as Hermione came up to see him off.

Wearing a new black robe, Hermione looked at Severus approaching, suddenly feeling a little frustrated at the fact that she would have to spend the rest of the days alone at the Manor.

Severus had been a mainstay for Hermione all this week, she still wasn't adjusting to the reality that she was in the past, and her nightmares were only making things worse, it was only thanks to him that she was able to keep her focus every day.

She never expected young Severus to be so helpful and understanding, he seemed like such a different person.

He was still cold and dark, but he was so much friendlier and good.

Hermione thought that once he became Lord of Prince House, he would only help her with the bare minimum and indispensable to fulfill his part of the bargain, but it was quite the opposite. Severus not only legally recognized her as his distant cousin, giving her the surname Prince, but he also treated her as if she were his family, he let her stay with him at Prince Manor.

He also gave her 200 gallons so she could buy what she needed and the most important thing for Hermione is that he took care of her without having to do it, during the nights when she had nightmares, she would twitch, move and moan from the pain because of the fear they caused her and it was Severus who stayed by her side helping her to sleep and keep those nightmares away, now even before leaving for the USA he left her a good amount of potions prepared so she could sleep.

"Well it looks like you're ready," Hermione said giving him the best smile she could.

"That's right, I'd better not be any longer, I wouldn't want to be late on the first day, I'd rather leave a good first impression."

"I can tell, you look very well dressed and prepared for the occasion" laughed Hermione amused at how well dressed Severus was, it was rare to see him like that, he used to be too lazy at the manor to wear such clothes.

"Yes yes, very funny, but just so you know Hermione, when I'm with other people I usually always dress like this."

"Oh, does that mean I'm not a person worth dressing up for?" grumbled Hermione.

"On the contrary, you're my cousin aren't you, why should I care about my clothes if we're family, or did I ever complain about your hair?" sneered Severus at Hermione.

"You..."

"See you, Hermione! I want to get there early, take care of the Manor and take your potions before bed!" quickly said goodbye Severus taking the portkey that was an old shoe and disappearing from Prince Manor, leaving Hermione unable to say anything else.

Hermione who saw Severus disappear with the portkey could only grumble on the spot.

'Idiot, he didn't even let me say goodbye properly.'