"For Merlin's Sake!" A gust of cool air and the curses of Lady Black ruined the quiet sanctuary she created for herself in the living room.
It was a bright and shining day outside meaning it was hot and stuffy inside the dreary flat. Mostly everyone stayed in their rooms or portkey somewhere else to keep cool, leaving Hermione to do as she pleased.
"Godric Gryffindor help me so." Hermione grumbled to herself, a little peeved that she couldn't enjoy the emptiness of the house longer.
She closed the book she was reading in a huff, already thinking of ways to preoccupy her mind once more. Maybe I should brew, or crochet.
Hermione hummed to herself, slipping her feet into her fuzzy slippers, before she made her way down the short hallway. It wasn't often that the trio had a day off from training for the war and with the way everyone's been walking on eggshells lately Hermione thought it was long overdue. If a see another target dummy I may scream.
"Severus…" Professor Lupin's surprised voice stopped Hermione in her tracks. Professor Snape wasn't supposed to be back so soon. The old potions master had a strict rule on coming back just a few weeks before the start of term and even then, he kept to his rooms. Why was he here?
There had been arguments, whispers, and barely understandable rants from a drunken Sirius about what's to come. Another chess piece to the war, one to change the tides Remus lamented. Hermione wracked her brain trying to think of an instrument that could be so powerful. Slytherin heirloom or the lost Knight of Merlin perhaps? No one confirmed her suspicions, but she heard the unspeakable, everything was about to change.
Hermione bit her lip wondering if she should walk past the men or stay and listen. Curiosity wins again, casting a muffling charm on her feet Hermione crept down the dark hallway already blaming Harry and his influence over her.
"This is?" Professor Lupin's voice was much closer and clearer than before. If she shifted just a bit, she could make out his tall form.
"Credence Prince." Professor Snape response was curt. But then again, his responses were always curt.
Hermione stopped with her back pressed against the wall silently screaming at herself for not casting a full body muffle charm. Smartest witch of my age ha!
"Prince?" The werewolf cut his eyes at the stoic potions professor before turning his attention to the young man that stood as tall as his companion.
All Hermione could see was black and with a roll of her eyes she wondered if Professor Snape owned anything with color, probably not.
Severus said nothing more letting the silence fill the void of needless chatter. Remus gave a small sigh of exasperation, lifting his hand for the man to shake.
"We'll then Master Prince, welcome, we've heard so much about you." We have? Hermione creeped to the side to get a better look but all she could see was more black clothing and a bowl haircut. Hermione was quite positive she hasn't heard a word about this Credence Prince.
The prince name was not a popular one as it was in fact a dead one. A name that once stood among the elite but declined rapidly around the time Tom Riddle appeared. There wasn't anything interesting or worthwhile about the Prince History and yet it was connected to Severus T. Snape. Who was Credence? A cousin, a nephew perhaps? Hermione would had to do some light reading it would seem.
A pale hand hesitantly snaked out from the dark pools of fabric giving the older man a firm handshake before quickly letting go to stand squarely against the potions professor's side. How odd.
"Miss Granger would you like to come out and introduce yourself or continue to spy?" The potions master didn't turn his head to address her and for that she was thankful as her cheeks were as red as apples.
"Hello Professors." Hermione cleared her throat primly as she stepped from her hiding spot. Boldly filling the gap of the small circle in the foyer with her chin jutted out.
"Hermione…" Remus began unsure of how to continue. "This, this here is Credence. He's our new...house guest for the time being." Code word for he'll be living here for the foreseeable future. Number 12 Grimmauld Place did not know the meaning of guests.
Hermione looked into the eyes of her old Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor trying to gauge his reaction, but the man was steadfast in not letting her in on anything, at least in front of Professor Snape.
The first thing Hermione noticed was his cheekbones they were so, for the lack of better word, prominent. They could cut glass. She looked between the two men acknowledging their differences and similarities. They have the same nose that's for sure.
"I'm Hermione Granger." She thrusted her hand out into the air waiting for him to shake it.
Professor Snape nudge the boy who fidgeted before jerkily grasping her hand with his own and not for the first time did Hermione marvel at just how pale he was. Merlin he's paler than Ron! Maybe even Malfoy!
"Credence." Long eyelashes fluttered to kiss his eyelids as he looked at her briefly.
"Prince, Credence Prince." Hermione involuntarily shivered as Credence's dark onyx eyes glanced at her before looking down at the ground again.
"Nice to…" Hermione cleared her throat choosing to ignore how incredibly high it was. "Nice to meet you."
She gave him a sheepish smile as she dropped his hand a little disappointed by the sudden lack of warmth. His hands were nice. That was her new thing now watching men's hands work.
Hermione could barely count on her hands and toes of how many times she's just watched Harry write, or the way Ron picks up a chess piece, or Professor Snape brew or how Professor Lupin caste or -
"You as well." His soft voice flittered over her, bringing her back to the present. Huh. Hermione tilted her head to the side in disappointment. I would've thought he'd sound like Professor Snape. It was not a secret that while the potions master's demeanor was not, his voice, was in fact very lovely.
"Lovely." Professor Snape's dry tone cut through Hermione's thoughts like a knife. A blush flittered to the top of her cheeks, embarrassed that she zoned out the way she did. She thought to herself as she tucked a wayward curl behind her ear, unconsciously ducking her head and shuffling her feet.
"If the pleasantries are finished." The potions master gave them, Professor Lupin and Hermione both a hard look. "We must retire it's been a long day." The Professor motioned down to the small pile of luggage at the door.
"Of course." Remus sprang into action, enchanting the luggage's to follow him, and made his way up the stairs. "I'll show you to your new rooms."
One by one they went up disappearing from Hermione's view. First Remus, then Professor Snape, and then finally Credence. Hermione stayed in her spot stuck in a small daze, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. For some reason she wanted him to stay a bit more, he was interesting, and she hasn't seen interesting in an awfully long time.
"if you need help adjusting or, or anything. I'm...here, to help that is." What? The words tumbled past her lips like hot lava. Hermione wanted to kick herself.
Credence stopped on the middle of the stairs. Hermione could see his pale hand, tucked away underneath the dark fabric clench, and unclench.
"Y-you don't have to if you don't want, just thought it would be...nice." Hermione Jane Granger stop talking this instant!
"No." Credence replied softly. He turned his head so that it was facing her direction, but he didn't turn fully.
"Oh, okay I was just-" Hermione deflated.
"- I-I meant, no I would l-like to…" Credence brows furrowed as if he was thinking of what to say next.
"Credence." Professor Snape barked from the top of the stairs. Both Credence and Hermione glanced up at the shadowy figure from up above almost forgetting there were other people there.
"Whenever you're free to…" Another clench of his jaw had him turning back to Hermione.
"It's set then." Hermione gave him a closed smile. "You should probably-" she said as she pointed up the stairs.
"And I should-" Cheeks still pink, her words jumbled together as she pointed behind her to the living room.
"Yes." Credence watched her walk away, giving her a cursory glance.
"Credence." Professor Snape's voice was softer than before leaving nothing but a small dose of understanding.
Credence looked up at him and again at Hermione's distant form with his head tilted in confusion.