Inside
Chapter One: Stuck With Snape
Hermione's POV
"Hermione love, will you pass the salt?" Dad asked with a smile across his full lips, acting as if nothing was different.
"Yeah," I answered while lifting it from the table and placing it in his open hand. "I actually had a question, Dad. I was wondering if I could be excused early tonight. I promised Ron I'd call him, and Harry, if his Aunt and Uncle will allow it, that is." I added softly while looking down at my lap.
"Oh!" My Mum said unexpectedly before dabbing at her lips with a folded cloth. "That reminds me! I forgot to tell you earlier Hermione, Viktor called."
"What?" I asked her, "Really? When?"
"It was just before your Father and Severus arrived, you were in your room."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded. "Mum, it's nearly impossible to get a hold of him by phone!"
"Well, I am sorry dear but it looked like you needed a few moments to yourself so I told him you'd call him back."
"That was hours ago, he's probably asleep by now." I moped while folding my arms depressed across my stomach and looking down to the floor. "I hardly ever get to hear his voice anymore…" I trailed off as my Dad cleared his throat and took a small drink of his deep red wine.
"Why don't you go on upstairs and try to give him a call?" He suggested. "And after that try telephoning Ron and Harry, I'm sure that'll cheer you up if Viktor can't talk. And besides, it'll give us and Severus time to get to know one another. If," he added suddenly. "-that's alright with you Severus? I know it may be a little awkward with us and not Hermione, as you two know each other."
"No." Snape said. "Not at all, she can do what she likes, as I am sure I pester her too much during the school year as is. I know this is difficult for her, I can't imagine how I would have felt if I had to temporarily live with one of my teachers when I was her age."
"Oh not necessarily," My Mother put in, "I quite liked some of my teachers, I would have had fun with some of them in the summer, I'd imagine."
"That's very nice mother." I said irritably. "My I be excused?"
"Yes, of course you can." My Father nodded and I stood up.
"Night Mum, night Dad." I told them, turning away from them all.
"Eh-hem." My Mother added.
"Good night, Professor Snape." I said with uncomfortable shivers going down my spine. "See you all in the morning."
"Good night love." Mum said.
"Good night pet." Dad said.
"Good night, Miss Granger." Professor Snape said, with a what sounded like forced smile across his lips.
"Come on Viktor," I said, belly down on my bed and phone pressed firmly against my ear with my fingernails squeezed between my teeth. "Please pick up, please. Please, please, plea-"
"Hello, you haff reached Viktor. I am sorry I can not take your call, leafe a message, I vill get back to you."
"Viktor, it's Hermione, I'm sorry I didn't call sooner my Mum didn't even tell me you'd called until just a few minutes ago. Something terrible has happened, but don't worry I'm alright." I quickly added. "Please, call me back. I really need you; I hope to talk to you soon. Bye."
I quickly hung up the phone and began immediately dialing again, this time, Ron.
"Hello?" A familiar voice answered.
"Harry!" I shouted. "Oh, Harry! I am so glad to hear your voice! It's the most awful, terrible thing in the world!"
"Hermione?" He asked. "What is it, and don't start with me, it can't be worse than the Dursley's."
"Snape." I told him. "Professor Snape is at my house right now! Downstairs! With my parents… he'll be here all summer." I whined.
"Okay, clearly I've been corrected." He huffed. "Hermione, Snape, what? What's going on why- what? Yeah, Snape, there, at her house, all summer- WHAT?"
"Harry!" I whined again as he and Ron began conversing back and forth.
"What?" He asked. "Yeah, uh, sorry, filling in Ron. Now tell me what's going on! Why is Snape there?"
"It's a long story…"
"Well we've got loads of time Hermione!" He shouted. "What happened?"
"It was… so… stupid!" I cried. "Dumbledore, at the end of last term asked me to his office. And I being who I am assumed it was to congratulate me for another wonderful year, but, well, obviously I was wrong." I continued filling in the both of them as to what happened, and by the end of my full and lengthy speech, they were all but responsive.
"Please," I added. "Say something. Anything!"
"You said YES!?" Ron shouted into my ear. "Hermione, what the bloody hell is wrong with you!? Out of all the things you would have said no to, you said yes to this!?"
"I don't know Ron!" I complained. "I don't! All I know is I did, and he's here, and I can't leave, and he isn't leaving!"
"Well, you've got to!" He demanded. "You can't stay there all summer; he'll drive you mad he will! Come here! Mum loves you! Pack your bags now, we'll come get you!"
"Ron," I moaned. "I…" How badly I wanted to agree, "…can't. My Mum won't let me, and I won't be seventeen until September so I've got no choice. Besides, I can't leave them alone with him; I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy! Well, that'll be Malfoy," I added more to myself than Ron, "And he and Snape get along famously, so there'd be no point in it anyways."
"Hermione!" He snapped me back into reality, "I don't care about that! We've got to figure out a way to-"
"Oh I've got to go!" I told him quickly, quietly. "I here footsteps and I think its Snape and I don't want him listening in; the guest bedroom is next to mine. Talk later!" I hung up the phone quickly and clicked off my light just as the bedroom door next to mine clicked shut.
I heard what must have been the bathroom door in the guest room open, and then close and I quivered all over.
This was going to be a very, very long night.
TBC