Mirrored Fascination
By Somigliana
Disclaimer: Severus and Hermione most definitely belong to J.K. Rowling
Hermione leant back in her chair and scrutinized the assortment of personalities that were congregated around the table. The members of the Order had gravitated into their usual coalitions whilst awaiting the commencement of another meeting.
Her gaze flittered past the usual alliances and was magnetically drawn to the only member of the Order that seemed more isolated from the social hubbub than her.
He radiated an intense aura of solitude, firmly ensconced behind his uncompromising armor of black. His head was tilted forward slightly, his pale face partially shrouded behind his customary defensive barrier of hair. His emotionless black eyes were focused on some irrelevant point on the parchment in front of him on the kitchen table. His arms were folded rigidly across his midsection in a familiar defensive pose.
She felt an inexplicable allure to the impenetrable man. He was utterly enigmatic, persistently composed and consistently in control. He always imparted his reports with incisive intelligence, cutting straight to the crux. Anybody attempting to lure him into social conversation was summarily rebuffed with a well calculated sarcastic invective.
Hermione appraised his face covertly; sharply angled cheekbones framed a strong nose and baleful eyes that generally surveyed the world with varying degrees of disdain. Hermione sighed softly as she confirmed her notion that, of late, she had become increasingly aware that Severus Snape was unmistakably masculine.
She shifted her gaze away from him and onto an equally irrelevant point on the kitchen table. She shied wistfully away from her unfeasible thoughts and allowed the lewd banter and snorts of laughter from the raucous group of young men seated beside her to induce a tiny, indulgent smile at their boyish antics.
Severus extracted himself from his mindless reverie. The ceaseless din that he had shuttered from his mind invaded instantly - an auditory assault that chafed his frayed nerves and launched a clenching wave of irritation coursing through his weary form.
His gaze was magnetically drawn to the only member of the Order that was, for once in her life, as quiet as he.
She presented a refreshing visage of youthful beauty to his jaded mind, firmly out of reach to one as world-weary as he. Her head was tilted forward slightly, her face partially obscured behind her customary riot of curls. Her soulful brown eyes were focused on some irrelevant point in front of her on the kitchen table. Her hands rested gently in her lap as she slouched in her chair in a familiar relaxed pose.
He felt an inexplicable allure to the guileless young woman. She was annoyingly confident, frustratingly intelligent and consistently seeking approval. She always reported flawlessly, albeit with reams of supplementary information. She smiled softly and chatted engagingly with anybody attempting to lure her into social conversation, although he noted that that she had become increasingly withdrawn of late.
Severus appraised her face covertly; rosy cheeks framed an appealing nose and expressive eyes that generally surveyed the world with varying degrees of curiosity. Severus sighed softly as he confirmed his notion that, of late, he had become increasingly aware that Hermione Granger was unmistakably feminine.
He shifted his gaze away from her and back onto that irrelevant point on the parchment. He shied wistfully away from his unfeasible thoughts and allowed the lewd banter and snorts of laughter from the raucous group of young men seated beside her to induce a disparaging sneer at their boyish antics.
Author's Note
It started as a scribbling about Hermione observing the varied personalities and then focusing on Severus, but ended up as a fascination with creating a mirrored story from each POV.