Chapter 2: Suspicion and Confrontation
Disclaimer: Not mine. But..I do like to imagine what it'd be like if it were. Does anyone else suspect JKR is secretly obsessed with reading/writing fanfiction? I'm hoping that one day she sees all the lovely theories of how Snape survived Nagini's attack people write and says "Hey, you know what? Snape *didn't* die. The trio only thought he was dead!"
Of all the things that irritated Severus Snape, (and Merlin knew, that particular list was long) the mischievous twinkle in Albus Dumbledore's blue eyes was what irked him most. He couldn't quite place his finger on why, but even as a student, it had given him the creeps. As an adult, after he deserted the Death Eaters, he learned to tolerate it. Mostly because Severus made it a point to maintain as much self-restraint as he possibly could muster.
Now, as he sat across from the Headmaster's desk, his employer's eyes positively gleaming.
"What brings you here, Severus, my boy? It is unlike you to pay a social call." Ah, great. Now I'm being teased. I knew I should have waited until breakfast...
"I was wondering about the official school policy on Time Turner usage," he said, almost off-handedly.
"Too much research, not enough time, Severus?"
The old man was grinning at him now. The Potions Master couldn't tell if it was good natured teasing or if he was being goaded. Albus certainly knew that between teaching, stocking the Hospital Wing and being at the Dark Lord's beck-and-call there was no time for his research. It was something that galled him to no end. After all, what was the use in being one of just three Potions Masters in all of Great Britain if he couldn't create new concoctions or improve upon elixirs?
For the sake of gathering information, Severus smoothed away the scowl he knew was forming on his face.
"For students, Albus," he snapped. "I have a rather clever second-year. I was hoping to approach him with the possibility later this term."
"Which student? I'd rather thought the second years had yet to come into their own. After all, term only began a few weeks ago."
"The younger Derrick boy. Peregrine, while gifted on a broomstick, was as dumb as a bag of gobstones," Thank Merlin he'd graduated. He was an embarrassment to Slytherin, really. Cunning, indeed. "Mauritius, on the other hand, has shown quite a gift for Potions. Minerva has said he excels in her subject, as well." It was partially true. Mauritius Derrick was, according to McGonagall, brilliant in Transfiguration. Unfortunately, he was as dismal in Potions as all the other disgusting little mouth-breathers he taught.
Dumbledore regarded his Potions Master seriously, as if trying to see through Severus's sly subterfuge. "Well, I'm afraid the Board of Governors has banned the permissive use of time-altering devices for the time being, if you'll forgive the pun. A few decades, at least," he said with a sigh, leaning back in his chair. "They believe it provides too much temptation for such young witches and wizards. As I'm sure you know, the ability to influence the fabric of time can be addictive."
"But the Granger girl was given one-"
"And was asked to return it at the end of her third year. She...used it much more than she should have, as it turns out. There was always a Hermione Granger to be found in the Library, one in class and yet another asleep in Gryffindor Tower, bless her heart,"
Dumbledore was chuckling, clearly amused that the bushy-haired little swot had been breaking the rules, yet again. Severus scowled. If she didn't have the school's time turner, how was she taking Muggle classes?
The Headmaster was rambling on. "And I'm sure you remember William Weasley's misadventure? He woke up, horrified that he'd missed the date he'd had planned with his sweetheart and rushed right to her side. Where his Doppelganger already was. Poor girl had quite the fright. I ran into her in Hogsmeade just a few weeks ago, her hair is still stark white, if you can believe it."
Severus wasn't listening. How did she get out of the school to get to that Muggle school? Surely Muggles didn't attend university by owling it in? No, no. Muggles don't use owls...
"So I'm afraid Mr. Derrick will need to resign himself to only as many courses as his timetable will allow,"
"Who? Oh, yes, of course. I won't mention it to him. I'm sure he'll be content with that..."
Severus excused himself, still puzzling over the over-achieving Gryffindor.
x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.
Hermione gathered her bags, relieved. She'd been so worried about Professor Snape confronting her during Potions that she nearly skipped it. She briefly (and only half seriously) considered "tripping" down the stairs, but that foul Umbridge woman had appeared at the bottom of the stairwell and Hermione had not wanted to deal with her after she landed. She did, however, spare a chuckle when she realized she'd rather deal with Professor Snape, feared by all, than that ugly, toad-faced bint. So, after nearly two days filled with anxiety of being caught out, of all her carefully laid plans to be upturned, she was doing a little internal dance as she made her way out of the Potions classroom.
Unfortunately, it only lasted until she reached the doorway.
"Miss Granger, stay behind."
Stifling the urge to stamp her foot like a spoiled toddler, Hermione shot Harry and Ron an apologetic look. "I'll catch up..."
Professor Snape waited until the last of the students—which were, predictably, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson—shuffled out of the classroom before shutting and warding the door with a lazy wave of his wand. He leaned casually against his desk, arms folded across his chest as he peered down at her over his large, hooked nose.
Hermione always marveled at that, if she were to be honest. He wasn't an overly tall man-certainly taller than she, but not very tall for a man. Yet somehow he always gave the impression of looming over them all.
"I am going to give you a chance to come clean, Miss Granger, on how you are accomplishing all of that additional schoolwork," he drawled. Hermione wondered, hysterically, if he practiced that air of indifference in the mirror each morning. "You have exactly thirty seconds to do so."
The bushy-haired Gryffindor gazed uncomfortably at the clock on the wall to her left as the seconds crept by.
10 seconds. What would he do if she did confess? Would he have her expelled?
15 seconds. But then, at this point, being expelled may not be her worst option...
23 seconds. After all, confessing her escape plan in the event of a Muggle-born genocide to someone known to carry the Dark Mark seemed like bad form. At the very least, it was poor strategy.
29 seconds. No, she would keep quiet.
Professor Snape smirked, and his eyes shined with something that looked strangely like—but simply could not be—pride. "Very well. Are you aware that unauthorized Time-Turner usage can result in 5 to 7 years in Azkaban, Miss Granger?"
Hermione gaped.
"Where did you get it?" he asked. His voice was strangely devoid of its usual frostiness. The dark man simply sounded curious.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about, sir. I...used a Time-Turner in 3rd year, all the professors signed off on it, even you, Professor," she knew she was stammering like an idiot and she cursed herself for it. Even more so when Snape smirked.
He looked very much like the cat that ate the canary.
"Very well, Miss Granger. I would like to tell you, then, what I believe to be going on." He paused for dramatic effect. "You were forced to return that Time-Turner at the end of your third year, after having gone gallivanting off with monsters and murderers. Last year, after the Dark Lord made his encore appearance, you panicked. Being the temporal addict you are, undoubtedly you managed to either steal a Time-Turner device or purchased a stolen one. Stealing, you may be interested to know, is another 8 to 14 years amongst the Dementors."
Again he paused, grinning somewhat sadistically as he allowed that bit of information to sink in. "And all of this for what? To play Muggle? Is it all for an elaborate game of hide-and-seek? Do you honestly believe you can cut off your magic?"
Hermione just shifted uncomfortably. She didn't know what she should say, if anything.
"I am not a patient man, Miss Granger. I commend your stoicism, but now is the time to begin speaking." His features softened into a sardonic smile. "Under normal circumstances, I am unable to convince you to shut up."
"If...if..." she began.
"What you say in this classroom will not leave it," he said softly.
"If I were to have a Time Turner...and I certainly do not...but if I did, it would be to attend these classes, the Muggle ones that you saw the other day in the Library. As I said, I intend to be able to slide into Muggle life if I need to. The Muggle world works differently than ours does. Here, you only really need to sit your NEWTS and do decently to do nearly any job. Certainly, there is training and apprentice programs, but they're relatively short and-"
"I understand how our world works, girl. Get on with it."
"Yes, well...the Muggles require additional education and a degree or degrees before the training truly begins," she continued, mildly annoyed at his interruption. "What I'm trying to do...certainly without use of illegal Time-Turners...is to earn those degrees so I can earn enough Muggle money to take care of myself...and probably Harry and Ron, too."
"If you were to have a Time-Turner," Snape started slowly.
"Which I do not."
"Certainly not." Wait...was that a note of teasing in his smooth voice? " But if you were to have one...how would you be using it to accomplish this?"
"Hypothetically, I would use it to be in two places at once, of course. Surely, that much is obvious, Professor." He glared. "I would go back approximately 8-10 hours on days I had classes in Aberdeen—that's where the University is—and sneak out of the school, to the point where Hogwarts' magic stops interfering with Muggle technology and drive to class,"
"And just anyone can go to these universities?"
"Oh, no. You have to have gone to Muggle school, and to sit your A-levels. They're kind of like NEWTS. Then you have to apply to the school, get accepted, and generally take placement exams to tell you what kinds of classes you can take before enrolling. You know, whether you're clever enough to start off in difficult courses or if you need remedial classes first,"
Just as Hermione began to consider how alarmingly, charmingly different he looked with his features smoothed out by that elusive thoughtful expression, her Professor frowned. "That sounds...awfully complicated, Miss Granger."
"You sound almost disappointed, sir."
With a sigh and his trademark flourish, he returned to his seat. "You are dismissed."
Thoroughly confused but unwilling to push her luck, Hermione fled the classroom.
A/N: For fun fact purposes: Peregrine Derrick was a Beater for Slytherin. Mauritius is another type of falcon.
Also, I'm American, and as an American college student, I barely understand how American colleges work. That being said, I did *try* to research the UK's system. I had an a-ha moment about A-levels and NEWTS like I did about Scotch tape being called Sell-o-tape over there (Get it, Spellotape?) So…My British readers (and I know you exist, for fanfiction-dot-net tells me you do) if I'm wrong, please tell me so I can fix it! Please review! Lots of love!
