Disclaimer: I own nothing except the random plot, and even that has
probably been done before. This chapter was brought to you courtesy of the
music from the Dirty Dancing Havana Nights Soundtrack and I blame all
insanity on the music.
Getting Over Little Fears
Albus Dumbledore had always considered himself a simple soul, one with a caring heart and an eerie perceptiveness who wanted nothing more than to see the people he loved best happy with their lives. He knew that many people – make that most people – saw him as a meddling old crackpot who held on to sanity by a thin strand of determination, and he did nothing to discourage this idea. After all it worked in his favor more often than not to have people underestimating him.
On this particular sunny Saturday morning Albus had set his sights on a colleague who had been worrying him for some time. The young man was the junior staff member by more than thirty years until very recently and Albus had always felt that he must be lonely, even if he refused to admit it. It was with this thought in mind that Albus sat himself next to the scowling Head of Slytherin and said cheerily, "It's a beautiful afternoon for a game of golf wouldn't you say Severus?"
Severus narrowed his raven eyes at his flamboyantly dressed employer. "A game of what?" he asked, more than a little irritated by the Headmaster's strange choice of words. Obviously the old tyrant had been dipping into the fire whiskey early that morning for he seemed to be inventing words.
"Why golf my dear boy." Albus said clapping a fatherly hand on Severus' shoulder. "A wonderful game it is. Very relaxing. You can't tell me you've never played it before." He sounded genuinely surprised and this only caused the grim Potions master to scowl more deeply.
"I must say I've never heard of the game Headmaster." He said stiffly.
"Well then," Albus beamed, "I must have you learn! You could use with a little vacation, what with the summer holidays beginning in just two days."
Just as Severus was about to politely decline the Headmaster's ridiculous offer, Hermione entered the Great Hall. Severus was struck by how peaceful and put together she appeared. Her unmarked black robes were fitted perfectly and looked brand new, even though he was certain she had worn them a few weeks back. Her hair, which had once been a tangled mass of fly away curls, was smoothed into a tight chignon. Despite himself Severus watched her progress across the room, completely oblivious to everything else.
"Good morning Albus, Severus." She said slipping into her usual seat next to the potions master.
"Ah good, Hermione, just the person I wanted to talk to." Albus said turning from the still silent potions professor to smile at his newest staff member. "I wondered what your plans were for the upcoming holiday."
Hermione looked a little puzzled, and her confusion only increased when she caught sight of the distinctly embarrassed expression on Severus' face as he pointedly ignored the Headmaster. "Sir?" she asked, raising one eyebrow.
Dumbledore smiled brightly at her. "I'm not trying to pry." He said kindly. "It's only that I have reservations at this beautiful resort in Florida and no one to take the vacation. I would have gone myself, but several situations have arisen that will require my presence in London for the duration of June and part of July. I was simply wondering if you would consider going."
Both Severus and Hermione gave the headmaster confused looks. "Florida?" Hermione asked stupidly. She couldn't think well enough to phrase a more intelligible question at the time.
"Oh yes. It's in America. Simply gorgeous place, so very relaxing, I thought it would do you both some good."
"Wait a moment. Both?" Hermione's look of confusion had been replaced by a shrewd smile. "Who exactly were you planning on sending with me Sir?"
Severus remained quiet but his breath was baited as they waited for Albus to answer. "Why Severus here of course," Albus said with a merry twinkle in his eye. "There are two suites booked and it would be wonderful for both of you. I of course don't expect your answers right away," he said smiling at the dumbstruck teachers seated in front of him, "I will schedule meetings with each of you to discuss it further. Now if you'll excuse me." Still smiling he bowed slightly and took his leave.
Hermione sat staring at the spot where he had stood for several minutes, a contemplative look on her face, finally shaking her head in wonderment and turning to her now cold breakfast. "That was... interesting." She said eyeing Severus out of the corner of her eye.
Severus took a sip of his coffee, grimaced and spit the tepid liquid back into the cup. "Indeed," he said dryly, taking out his wand and performing a warming charm of his mug. This second sip was much more to his taste and he drained the mug in one long swallow. Finished his drink he turned to face Hermione. He opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it.
"It actually might not be all that bad." She said, smirking t the stunned look he gave her. "I mean consider it. Florida." She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them he could see excitement brewing in the cinnamon depths of her eyes. "No students, no lesson plans, no busybodies who mean well but really haven't a clue, nothing but sun and relaxation."
Severus smiled at her enthusiasm and allowed – for a moment – happier thoughts to invade his brain. It could be fun, it would give him a chance to finish his book and maybe he would even take Dumbledore up on his challenge and learn that game, golf. "Are you saying what I think you are?" he asked Hermione, a smile playing on his lips.
"If you think I'm taking him up of that offer, then yes I am." Hermione said, with steal in her voice. "I could use the holiday from life. And I've never been to Florida." She grinned at him, a determined glint in her eyes. "What do you say? Shall we attempt the impossible and shock Albus with a united acceptance?"
Severus had never seen her act this impulsively, ever, and he liked it. He hadn't planned to take the offer, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out why not. He and Hermione had been operating under a strange sort of truce since she had discovered his novel attempts. They hadn't become best friends or anything ridiculous like that, she still kept constant contact with Potter and Weasley so she hadn't needed his friendship. Her best friends were actually something of a nuisance at the school; Ron Weasley was acting as a part time coach for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, so he was there every fourth day and Harry would drop in whenever the England Quidditch team – of which he was the star – was in London. Their sporadic appearance was disrupting to more than one person's routine.
Hermione stared at him. "Well?" she asked impatiently.
Severus allowed a genuine smile. "Yes. Yes I think we shall."
____________________________________________________________________________ _
A/N: I hope you enjoy this story. It was intended to be a one-shot, but the idea took on a mind of its own and I think it will be much more enjoyable as say a five-part. *grins* Anyhow, this is a continuation of my "novelist" universe, which means that it's another challenge fic! Based, of course, on an outdated challenge, because I can never seem to find the good ones before their deadlines. *shrugs* oh well. Anyways. I hope you all enjoy it because I'm having TONS of fun writing it. PLEASE REVIEW oh and.. did anyone pick up on my little message in the title? *shakes head* I think I'm having too much fun.
Getting Over Little Fears
Albus Dumbledore had always considered himself a simple soul, one with a caring heart and an eerie perceptiveness who wanted nothing more than to see the people he loved best happy with their lives. He knew that many people – make that most people – saw him as a meddling old crackpot who held on to sanity by a thin strand of determination, and he did nothing to discourage this idea. After all it worked in his favor more often than not to have people underestimating him.
On this particular sunny Saturday morning Albus had set his sights on a colleague who had been worrying him for some time. The young man was the junior staff member by more than thirty years until very recently and Albus had always felt that he must be lonely, even if he refused to admit it. It was with this thought in mind that Albus sat himself next to the scowling Head of Slytherin and said cheerily, "It's a beautiful afternoon for a game of golf wouldn't you say Severus?"
Severus narrowed his raven eyes at his flamboyantly dressed employer. "A game of what?" he asked, more than a little irritated by the Headmaster's strange choice of words. Obviously the old tyrant had been dipping into the fire whiskey early that morning for he seemed to be inventing words.
"Why golf my dear boy." Albus said clapping a fatherly hand on Severus' shoulder. "A wonderful game it is. Very relaxing. You can't tell me you've never played it before." He sounded genuinely surprised and this only caused the grim Potions master to scowl more deeply.
"I must say I've never heard of the game Headmaster." He said stiffly.
"Well then," Albus beamed, "I must have you learn! You could use with a little vacation, what with the summer holidays beginning in just two days."
Just as Severus was about to politely decline the Headmaster's ridiculous offer, Hermione entered the Great Hall. Severus was struck by how peaceful and put together she appeared. Her unmarked black robes were fitted perfectly and looked brand new, even though he was certain she had worn them a few weeks back. Her hair, which had once been a tangled mass of fly away curls, was smoothed into a tight chignon. Despite himself Severus watched her progress across the room, completely oblivious to everything else.
"Good morning Albus, Severus." She said slipping into her usual seat next to the potions master.
"Ah good, Hermione, just the person I wanted to talk to." Albus said turning from the still silent potions professor to smile at his newest staff member. "I wondered what your plans were for the upcoming holiday."
Hermione looked a little puzzled, and her confusion only increased when she caught sight of the distinctly embarrassed expression on Severus' face as he pointedly ignored the Headmaster. "Sir?" she asked, raising one eyebrow.
Dumbledore smiled brightly at her. "I'm not trying to pry." He said kindly. "It's only that I have reservations at this beautiful resort in Florida and no one to take the vacation. I would have gone myself, but several situations have arisen that will require my presence in London for the duration of June and part of July. I was simply wondering if you would consider going."
Both Severus and Hermione gave the headmaster confused looks. "Florida?" Hermione asked stupidly. She couldn't think well enough to phrase a more intelligible question at the time.
"Oh yes. It's in America. Simply gorgeous place, so very relaxing, I thought it would do you both some good."
"Wait a moment. Both?" Hermione's look of confusion had been replaced by a shrewd smile. "Who exactly were you planning on sending with me Sir?"
Severus remained quiet but his breath was baited as they waited for Albus to answer. "Why Severus here of course," Albus said with a merry twinkle in his eye. "There are two suites booked and it would be wonderful for both of you. I of course don't expect your answers right away," he said smiling at the dumbstruck teachers seated in front of him, "I will schedule meetings with each of you to discuss it further. Now if you'll excuse me." Still smiling he bowed slightly and took his leave.
Hermione sat staring at the spot where he had stood for several minutes, a contemplative look on her face, finally shaking her head in wonderment and turning to her now cold breakfast. "That was... interesting." She said eyeing Severus out of the corner of her eye.
Severus took a sip of his coffee, grimaced and spit the tepid liquid back into the cup. "Indeed," he said dryly, taking out his wand and performing a warming charm of his mug. This second sip was much more to his taste and he drained the mug in one long swallow. Finished his drink he turned to face Hermione. He opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it.
"It actually might not be all that bad." She said, smirking t the stunned look he gave her. "I mean consider it. Florida." She closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them he could see excitement brewing in the cinnamon depths of her eyes. "No students, no lesson plans, no busybodies who mean well but really haven't a clue, nothing but sun and relaxation."
Severus smiled at her enthusiasm and allowed – for a moment – happier thoughts to invade his brain. It could be fun, it would give him a chance to finish his book and maybe he would even take Dumbledore up on his challenge and learn that game, golf. "Are you saying what I think you are?" he asked Hermione, a smile playing on his lips.
"If you think I'm taking him up of that offer, then yes I am." Hermione said, with steal in her voice. "I could use the holiday from life. And I've never been to Florida." She grinned at him, a determined glint in her eyes. "What do you say? Shall we attempt the impossible and shock Albus with a united acceptance?"
Severus had never seen her act this impulsively, ever, and he liked it. He hadn't planned to take the offer, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out why not. He and Hermione had been operating under a strange sort of truce since she had discovered his novel attempts. They hadn't become best friends or anything ridiculous like that, she still kept constant contact with Potter and Weasley so she hadn't needed his friendship. Her best friends were actually something of a nuisance at the school; Ron Weasley was acting as a part time coach for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, so he was there every fourth day and Harry would drop in whenever the England Quidditch team – of which he was the star – was in London. Their sporadic appearance was disrupting to more than one person's routine.
Hermione stared at him. "Well?" she asked impatiently.
Severus allowed a genuine smile. "Yes. Yes I think we shall."
____________________________________________________________________________ _
A/N: I hope you enjoy this story. It was intended to be a one-shot, but the idea took on a mind of its own and I think it will be much more enjoyable as say a five-part. *grins* Anyhow, this is a continuation of my "novelist" universe, which means that it's another challenge fic! Based, of course, on an outdated challenge, because I can never seem to find the good ones before their deadlines. *shrugs* oh well. Anyways. I hope you all enjoy it because I'm having TONS of fun writing it. PLEASE REVIEW oh and.. did anyone pick up on my little message in the title? *shakes head* I think I'm having too much fun.