Knowing Miss Granger
Chapter 2: What Egregious Sin
January 9th, Nightfall.
"I see you've brewed it!"
Snape stared at the giddy creature before him. Honestly, he was a bit stunned, but hid it well. She had not even crossed his mind as a possible player in this charade. Yet, there she stood, all smiles and sunshine, a tizzy of bushy hair and Gryffindor confidence. She perched expectantly before him, her hands clasped and a look of innocent enjoyment plastered to her face. Granger? He thought. Ah not simply Granger, no, Professor Granger…what egregious sin have I committed to deserve an encounter with her?
"Indeed I have…Miss Granger. So, this…ridiculousness is your doing is it? Well…how quaint. Now, would you be so kind as to explain this little escapade to me?"
"First of all, Professor," she said, in an mocking yet not unfriendly tone, "call me Hermione. We've been colleagues more than twice the years I was your student."
"Yes…your infernal presence reminds me of this every blessed day." He smirked at her, satisfied with his own retort.
"Honestly Severus, do you always have to be such an unashamed jackass?" She allowed a coy smirk of her own to grace her features; his face now wore a sneering frown in retort. "Severus," she said in an overly pleasant manner; "I am trying to do something nice for you.
"Something nice, which I did not request mind you…Miss Granger," he said, ignoring her insult.
"Because you'd never ask for it yourself, regardless of how obviously, desperately you need it!"
"And what, prey tell, is this nicety?"
"I cannot tell you until you drink." She pointed at the bottle on his desk, playing to his curiosity again. It had obviously worked beforehand, given the fact he'd brewed the potion in the first place.
He let out one deep bellow of a laugh, part incredulity and part genuine amusement. Hermione was taken aback, given the fact that she had never seen him do so. She could not assess if this was a good sign or not. Of course, she well knew if Snape was happy, it couldn't be good…
"The brightest witch of her age…it's a shame really…" he said, feigning cold pity "…As you have obviously suffered some egregious form of brain damage." He cocked his head and looked at her as if she were a woefully ignorant child. "You see, you'd have to be utterly daft to believe I'd bring that bottle to my lips."
"I am not daft Severus…" she said, a prick of irritation evident in her voice for the first time since the beginning of the encounter, "…and you did brew it. Surely you'd not be so thick as to believe that someone wouldn't be requested to drink it?"
"It will not happen," he replied, soberly. "This is a dangerous potion Miss Granger, not a toy. Once imbibed, the subject is at the mercies of the one whom asked the drinker to partake. Please don't be so simple as to believe that I'd indulge you because of a few silly little riddles and gifts."
"I believe I know the particulars, thank you, and as far as silly riddles; I assumed you'd be more than game given your past proclivity." She stilled herself, putting on the airs of a wizened sage as she spoke. "'Two among our number hold only nettle wine, three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line…' You seemed quite fond of them then."
He gave a great sniff and eyed her with utter contempt. "Well, I can see the company you've kept over the years has certainly influenced your cheek, Miss Granger."
"Severus, don't tell me you honestly believe I'd do anything to bring you harm?"
Severus studied the woman before him, Granger… the Gryffindor princess, queen of the golden trio, a woman ripe with bravado and daring, a clever mind, scratch that, a brilliant mind, the most competent History of Magic Professor Hogwarts has ever seen…and every bit as annoying now as during her schooling. Well…that's not completely fair really, annoying, yes, that's certainly part of it, more…perplexing, yes, that sums it up.
"Be that as it may, you can plainly understand my reservations can you not?"
She softened a little. "Yes, Severus, I can see how my request would set off the alarms, but please, it will benefit you greatly. I'm sure."
"And if I find what you request…adverse to my…'benefit'?" he asked. Again his eyebrow rose, enhancing the ubiquitous smirk painted on his mouth.
"Then you may return the favour in kind on my birthday. Would that satisfy you?"
His other eyebrow leaped to join its brother high upon his forehead. "That is…I will admit, an intriguing counter."
"Well then?" She crossed her arms and gave a quick nod of her head towards the bottle.
"Fine, Miss Granger, let's see what you're playing at." He angrily took the bottle in his hand, quickly ripped the stopper from it and tipped it back into his mouth. The tangy, bitter liquid spilled down his throat and he swallowed, letting fate lead where it might.
Hermione clucked out a gasp, but then a look of amused delight graced her features. "I...I admit, I was not actually expecting you to drink that. Of course, I figured I'd give it my best Gryffindor try, but...haha, you, you actually just, oh my! ...With gusto even!"
Snape's brow knit further, a look of utter loathing spread across his face. "Gusto? Hardly. I simply figured downing the draught would put a quicker end to my distress than if I continued to allow your nagging. Now, if you don't mind, I'm a busy man...may we complete this irritation? I believe you have a request to make of me? What shall it be Miss Granger? Will I be sporting pink robes to my classes, declaring my love through song to Minerva at dinner for the students' entertainment, or something more pricking...awarding endless points to your pedestrian house perhaps?"
"Oh...oh my, ha! Oh, Severus, those ideas are amusing! You're tempting me to deviate from my plan! No, no, I will remain steadfast. As I said, I have no intent to harm you...or, judging by your suggestions, humiliate you."
"Stop smiling you insipid woman. I beg of you, present your request so that I may move on with..." he stopped and gave her Hermione a look from head to toe and back again, "...the rapidly increasing misery of my life."
"You, Severus, are overly dramatic...and as I've mentioned, quite the jackass. I should indulge myself in a little bit of torture at your expense; but I am more inclined to see your reaction, so, fine; here is my request. Severus Snape, oh great brewer of fame, bottler of glory, unfathomable man who can even put a stopper in death;" she wrapped her robes about herself in a menacing manner, though her ear to ear grin completely nullified the effect.
"I hate you, you know," he said, grumbling at her.
"Yes, assuredly. Now, as I was about to say, Severus, my request is simply this: I want you...to allow me…to be your friend. I want you to give yourself the chance to let another human being into your life. I want you to consider your reactions instead of immediately spitting your Slytherin venom! I do not wish to make you a puppet. I just require, your honest attempt at getting to know me, of hearing the better angels of your nature. Severus, you may not think so, but this will do you a world of good. The world is a different place than when you were young...it's a different place than when I was young. It's time you realized that."
Snape had a look of utter incredulity plastered on his face. The audacity! The absolute effrontery! The...the Grangerness of it! He opened his mouth to waylay her idiotic idealism but found a little voice poking at his mind, working against him.
~Would it be so horrible? Granted, it's 'Granger the know-it-all,' but she is brilliant, perhaps she could serve a purpose academically…~
"This is unfair, Miss Granger...I thought you said you would inflict no torture at my expense. However, given the fact that I have unfortunately contracted myself to you in this matter, I shall, as you say, give it my 'honest attempt'."
"Excellent Severus! Though I see the draught certainly hasn't changed your delightful nature, the fact that you're willing to try indicates you obviously have some talent in brewing."
Severus sat at his desk and hung his head in his hands. The beginnings of a migraine settled itself behind his left eye and began to eat. Through a curtain of black she heard his muffled voice. "Miss Granger, this has obviously...obviously been a trying day, would you be so kind as to allow me a little time to digest this situation...alone?"
"Of course Severus. I shall see you at breakfast. Have a pleasant night...friend;" she said, beaming at him with an annoyingly encouraging grin as she turned to leave.
"Youaswell..." he mumbled at her, desperate to hear the clicking of the latch in his door.
AN: Oh Hermione...you certainly have grown bold over the years! Snape...fresh hell indeed! :) Dearest Severus, you're in for so much more. Thank you to each and every person who has read and especially read and reviewed. I hope you'll give me that kindness on this chapter as well. Cheers!