Severus cringed when he heard the shrilling voice of his employer. "Merlin's Balls!" he growled.
"Merlin's Ball's indeed Severus! What is the matter with you? Have you finally gone off your rocker or has that little prick of yours finally won out the last of your sanity! I have a great mind to suspend you for a week if it did not bring you enjoyment."
Severus stood quietly as the old hag scolded him for his behavior that was only ever second nature for him. 'Really these people knew who the bloody hell he was.' There was nothing about his actions that were new or more abominable then what he has said only many times before. He continued to listen to Minerva's rants and she could tell that it was only going in one ear and out the other.
So she resorted to the only thing she could think of that would get her point across. Minerva always made due with her threats and everyone knew the power she held over them, she was just like Dumbledore, only this cat had claws and they held a stomach-turning sharpness to them.
"I will not have this display within these walls of Hogwarts. You will apologize and you will be sincere about it. Severus, do you understand me? I am assigning you to study hall duty that takes place after dinner from 7pm to 9pm every night for the next two months." Severus made to protest, as he was growing angrier by the second. "Don't you dare interrupt me you will shut your trap and you will listen. Failure to receive an acceptance of your apology will result in you being the professor on duty for study hall for the rest of this year and the next. You will also wear those set of colored robes Albus beseeched you in his will, and you'll wear them every hour of every day until she has finally accepted your apology and you will greet every Gryffindor you see everyday with a great big smile and you will be pleasant about it." Severus froze at her speech, knowing very well that she always made good on her threats. It was the only trait that made him try hard to not be caught on her bad side, but her punishment was utterly ridiculous and he refused to give in.
"I quite then." He shrugged beginning to walk away only to stop when her deadly tone rang out to him.
"Sorry Severus, I own your ass when you signed that 20 year's of service contract. You cannot get out of it unless you wish to commit suicide and by all means the astronomy tower has been reconstructed standing taller than the last one." Her lips were pursed in a thin line, as she swept out of the dungeons content with herself. She refused to let him get away with this and she only hoped that by him apologizing things would be set to rights again, she did not want this to be a regular occurrence when Hermione came on board next term. 'They will kill each other before the week is through!'
The student's turned wide eyes to him, astonished at the scene that was playing before them. The one-minute bell ran and Severus snapped at them.
"Get the hell out! Now!" This sent them scrambling like chickens with their heads cut off to get away from the seething man. Minerva simply walked out with a statisfied grin.
Seething was an understatement for what the man was doing, it was much more than that. He could not believe the predicament he found himself in, He was royally pissed that a student, more so one of the golden trio, had talked back to him and scolded him like he was her charge. He was a grown man for fuck's sake. 'How dare Granger knock him off his pedestal as if it was no great effort at all! I am Severus Snape the bat of the dungeon, the one with the legendary temper and bastard personality that has had the misfortune to grace these halls! And I have to apologize? Me? The one who was fully in my right to say and do as I please? I feel so stupid for falling for that Granger Danger Tone, it was frightening, it truly was but for her to have the nerve and report him to Minerva! She will pay! I will apologize but I will have my revenge-"
"-And it will be the sweetest revenge I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. Mark my words Hermione Granger." He whispered into the empty room as an evil grin painted its self upon his features.
Lunchtime had finally arrived as Hermione walked in with Hagrid, discussing the new breed of unicorns that were found in southern Albania, when she felt a glare that seemed to be piercing her soul. It was so overwhelming but she knew who's glare it would be and decided to pay no heed to it at all, she continued her walk down the aisle with Hagrid as he escorted her to her seat at the Gryffindor table with a genuine smile.
"Thank you Hargid, I will owl you the rest of the Article later today."
The half giant returned her smile and said hello to Harry and the rest of the group before continuing down towards the head table. Hermione slide into the free space next to Ginny and Neville with a smile, as she said hello to Ron and Harry across from them.
"Hello guy's, how's your day so far?" They all nodded that it was good so far and then Ron snorted at the memory of potions as he shoveled a cold ham sandwich into his mouth. Ginny nudged her shoulder against Hermione's with a chuckle.
"I've just heard a funny story from Dean in passing before I got here, that I thought couldn't possibly be true. Imagine my surprise when the boys here confirmed it for me a few moments ago. Honestly Hermione, I wish I could have seen it! You were down right scary Ron said! Said you sounded just like mum, only worse! I didn't know it was possible!"
"It was not funny Gin! He absolutely deserved it. I have never been that furious; Minerva couldn't get me to stop sparking for a whole two hours!" She replied taking half a turkey sandwich and poured a goblet of pumpkin juice.
"Oh so you did start sparking then. Hey mates." Draco said, sitting down in between Harry and Ron. Hermione smiled at Draco, as Pansy and Luna soon fallowed taking their seat with the group. They were a weird group of friends that emerged after the war but Hermione appreciated that the two Slytherin's were part of the group. She enjoyed them so much and sometimes couldn't believe it took till now to gain such wonderful and finally agreeable friends.
"'Mione, you were a right fright, woman! You make me mom's scolding look like a holiday." Pansy said, her voice light with humor.
They sat chatting and laughing about it for the rest of the meal the boys explaining to Hermione, Ginny and Luna what happened after Hermione stalked out of the room. Their chattered died down when Draco quickly warned them that his godfather was making his way down the aisle.
Severus had watched her the whole entire duration of the meal, staring daggers at her and willing her to look at him to show just how much shit she was in, but she never looked and he knew he would have to suck it up and go to apologize to her. 'The sooner the better, I'll do it now to show Minerva. I'll show her she doesn't really have the upper hand in this one. No way in hell will I let either of them win one over on me.' But his thoughts still didn't stop him from sulking as he neared, stopping behind her. He cleared his throat in an obnoxious way to gain her attention but only gaining the group's attention instead.
Hermione was fully aware that he was standing behind her, she pretended that he was not and simply continued to sip at her pumpkin juice and bite innocently into her sandwich. There was really nothing innocent about it as she deliberately ignored his person. Again he cleared his throat causing more heads to turn towards him as they watched with feigned interest when he knew damn well they were holding there breaths for the next big attack. Softly so only she really could hear, he mumbled,
"Miss. Granger, I would like to apologize for my behavior today." Hermione heard his low voice but refused to turn around and pretend that nothing was amiss with her world at the moment. He instantly noticed this and his blood began to boil. He snapped his eyes to the Head Table and instantly regretted it when he caught the Headmistresses look of discontentment and snapped them back to the back of the chit's head.
"Miss. Granger?" This time his tone was more loud and forceful causing him to finally win a reaction from her. She turned brown eyes up to his dark endless pools of black ones and he instantly wanted to throttle her. Her chin was held high in a defiant show of cockiness that he strongly detested in all children. Thinking it best to bite the insulting remarks that threatened to spill from his lips he continued.
"I'd like to apologize for my behavior this morning. It was uncalled for and extremely unprofessional on my part." He was ready to walk away when her left eyebrow puckered up in a questionable gesture.
"I'm sorry, Did you say something? I simple didn't hear it?"
Severu's temper was rising to its all time high, and he was sure it was evident as he reiterated his apology only to be stopped mid sentence.
"Dear me, terribly sorry, but I didn't quite catch what you said! Could you say it again?" Her voice was uncommonly high and she took note of the silence in the great hall knowing very well that everyone was watching and listening.
"God Lord, Are you deaf? Do I need to speak a little higher? Or are you mentally impaired? I am apologizing and hope you can for-give-me." Growling the last part out, He was panting from the pure anger that was turning his vision black and red.
Hermione shot up from her seat with anger, that if it had not been a bench, she was sure the chair would have gone flying into Severus' person.
"I am none of those you great big buffoon! I heard you loud and clear, I just wanted everyone to hear you make an example of yourself! I do NOT except your apology and fortunate for me that means you will be stalking these halls wearing burgundy colored robes with a great big smile on your brooding face greeting and complementing every single Gryffindor you see for the next three weeks!" Satisfied with her remark Hermione took her leave, leaving the dark man to watch in complete and utter shock at the witch who had some nerve to yell at him. 'Him the most feared man living!' All the on lookers who witnessed the scene had a new found appreciation for Hermione but they also had a new found fear for her as well.
A/N: Thanks for the positive reviews everyone. I am sorry if it is lacking, I am aware that I should get a beta but because of family issues and blah blah blah of things I do not care to talk about I cannot send this to anyone to review because of blah blah blah things. If there are things you notice that I should really fix/change/get rid of, please let me know! I just hate when in the past I have gotten rude comments about stuff like that instead of encouraging ones that politely suggest or point out. It really discourages people sometimes when they hear ugh and so on. Thanks.