Survival of the Fittest
By
Looneyluna
Disclaimer: This story is written for fun. No copyright infringement intended. The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling and the publishers and what not.
Warning! This story will contain mature content. That's why it is rated the way it is.
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Chapter One
The silence soothed her as she shelved the books in their age-old places. The last student had left hours ago and she just couldn't help but straighten the books by hand. Yes, the books were enchanted to take their proper places at night, but Hermione loved each and every book as if it were her own. After all, that was the mark of a good librarian.
She had been the librarian at Hogwarts for a little over three months now. Madam Pince had retired and Hermione had applied for the position straightaway.
She was home. Of her years away from Hogwarts, she'd always felt misplaced -- somewhat like the books that were strewn about on the various tables. Hermione had taken a position at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and had become close friends with Olympe Maxime, Headmistress of the academy and close friend of Hagrid. It had pained Hermione to leave Beauxbatons, but she hadn't been able to pass up the chance to work at Hogwarts.
All her former professors, apart from one, were thrilled to welcome her back. Other than a hint of gray at his temples, Severus Snape hadn't changed one bit. He was still the same resentful, petty tyrant he'd been while she, Harry, and Ron were matriculating at Hogwarts.
The bastard, whom she had begrudgingly respected when she was a student, held no appeal for her now. He was still terrorizing students and making their lives hell. Not only that, Snape was still indiscriminately snatching points from all houses other than Slytherin. The Slytherin students weren't as lucky around her. If they misbehaved in her domain, she would deduct house points quicker than they could protest their so-called innocence.
She didn't seek Slytherin students out on purpose, but it sure seemed that way. It just seemed that they were the ones who were misbehaving most of the time. Thankfully, Madam Pince had enchanted the books to protect themselves.
Picking up a book, Hermione glared at the etched words on the table where it had been left.
Slytherins Rule!
200-10
Grinding her teeth, Hermione took her wand out and removed the graffiti from the table. As the lettering faded away, Hermione reflected that Slytherin was apparently going to win the house cup this year. Their Quidditch team was undefeated and it looked as though they would remain so.
That should please Professor Snape, she thought resentfully as she cradled the books in her arms and carried them to their rightful places. Hermione precariously climbed the ladder to the higher shelves.
Perhaps this is why the books are enchanted to take their rightful places.
Hermione stretched to the top shelf, grunting with the effort, determined to shelve the book the old-fashioned way. Near its home, the book leapt from her grasp and took its place between Arithmancy: By the Numbers and Practical Numerical Theories.
With a startled gasp, Hermione dropped the other book that she had clutched to her chest and tried to correct her balance. The ladder wobbled and her foot slipped, causing her to fall.
"Strigo Momentum," a voice rang out.
Feeling her body right itself and her feet touching the ground, Hermione put her arms down.
"Really, Miss Granger," Albus Dumbledore said, "must you insist on working so late?"
Hermione grimaced. She had promised the headmaster that she would come to dinner tonight without fail.
"My apologies, Headmaster," she replied, an embarrassed flush rising in her cheeks. "I lost track of time and –"
Dumbledore held his hand up in an effort to silence her excuse. That was when she noticed the delicious smell of roasted pork and seasoned vegetables.
"I took the liberty of bringing your meal to you, since you are seemingly incapable of coming to dinner in a timely manner," he chastised, looking over his half-rimmed glasses and down his pointed nose at her.
"Thank you," Hermione replied softly and made her way to the table, quickly taking her seat.
Pulling the chair out and sitting opposite her, Dumbledore frowned. "You've missed every meal served in the Great Hall for the past three days. This really must stop."
Slicing into the meat, she stared at the headmaster. "What must stop?"
Albus stroked his beard, his frown turning into a scowl. "Please do not feign ignorance. It doesn't become someone with intelligence such as yours."
Hermione set her cutlery down, her appetite dissipated by his displeasure.
"If it's any consolation," Albus stated, "Professor Snape has yet to return to the Great Hall for meals, as well."
She couldn't help the smirk that crossed her lips. "With table manners such as his, I'm surprised he is allowed to dine in the Great Hall. Wouldn't want a bad influence around the students, would we?"
The old wizard sighed. "You are no longer his student. You are his colleague now, and I was hoping that you and he would realize that and stop living in the past."
"Me?" Hermione scoffed. "He's the one living in the past. He's the one who couldn't get over his hatred of Harry's father. He's a tyrant and a bully! He bullied poor Neville! Did you know that Neville's boggart took the form of Professor Snape? I wonder how many other students are afraid of him."
"Let us hope that the students know only the fear of professors and exams," Dumbledore replied softly. "Either way, Miss Granger, you cannot ban a member of the faculty from the library. You are to remove the charms from the entrance immediately. Is that understood?"
Feeling as though she were a first-year student, Hermione bowed her head. "Yes, sir."
"And you will take your meals in the Great Hall," he continued tersely. "And you will treat Professor Snape with a modicum of civility."
"I'll behave if he does," Hermione retorted.
--
Albus strode down the drafty halls of the dungeon, softly humming to himself. The portraits were all in agreement. Something had to be done. The task before him was daunting. He had years of animosity to overcome.
He didn't need to read Hermione's mind to know what she was feeling. She was a true Gryffindor, always wearing her heart on her sleeve and always fighting for the oppressed and downtrodden. With the exception of Slytherin students, she was well thought of by all. Never in the history of Hogwarts had the house points been so horrendously skewed.
Severus delighted in awarding points to Slytherin and taking points away from Gryffindor at the drop of a hat. In turn, Hermione countered his biased treatment with awarding Gryffindor points for the least little thing. However, she didn't go as far as Severus did by deducting from Slytherin indiscriminately.
As for Severus, Albus found himself at a loss more oft than naught. If he died today, Albus would always regret Severus and everything he had done for the Order. The man had suffered cruelly at the hands of Voldemort whenever the Dark Lord had deemed the false information of the events and movements of the Order insufficient.
But Severus had proved invaluable and had miraculously survived to see the end of Voldemort's reign of terror.
He'd never considered the potential ramifications when he had hired Hermione to replace Madam Pince. Actually, he had, but he'd never admit it. The new librarian and the Potions master were constantly bickering. He'd never had this happen before – members of the staff at odds with one another.
Something had to be done, but what?
His question went unanswered as he knocked on the door to Severus' living quarters.
"Enter," came the terse reply.
The door opened and Dumbledore stepped into Snape's sanctuary. This was the only place the former spy could go and be unobserved by him. There were no portraits hanging in his living quarters. Severus had figured out long ago how he knew almost everything that went on in the castle. The portraits were useful gossips, especially the portrait in the Potions master's office.
Severus glared at him. "If you think your plan will work, you are sorely mistaken, Headmaster. Since the house-elves are under order to not deliver any food to my quarters, I have taken it upon myself to befriend Potter's biggest fan, Dobby."
"Oh really?" Albus was amused.
"Yes," Severus replied solemnly.
"That must be a torment indeed," Albus retorted cheekily. "Did Dobby regale you with tales of Harry's escapades at Hogwarts? That truly is a fate worse than returning to the Great Hall to dine."
Albus turned to leave, feeling the urge to go to his study and listen to some soothing chamber music.
"Did you speak with the tyrannical librarian?" Severus asked snappishly.
"Indeed I did."
"And?" Snape asked after waiting patiently for the older wizard to reply.
"Isn't it odd," Albus mused, "that you should describe her as tyrannical? She accused you of being a tyrant…and a bully."
He could barely contain his amusement over Severus' reddening face. Snape rarely let loose his temper. Yet, when he did, Albus feared for whomever the dark wizard was angry with. He must strike now, before Severus had time to dwell on the matter at hand.
"You will dine in the Great Hall with the rest of the faculty for every meal," Albus affirmed, "and you shall treat Miss Granger with the utmost courtesy that you can manifest."
Severus sputtered.
It was a rare feat indeed. He had actually rendered Severus Snape speechless. Taking advantage of the momentous event, Albus left for a little chamber music and tenpin bowling.
--
TBC