A/N: I am so sorry for the delay. My two year old has bronchitis and has to be on a nebulizer three times a day because she is at a high risk for pneumonia. I also had a slight case of writer's block. I'm not really that thrilled with how this chapter turned out, but I hope that you like it all the same. :) Anyways, please read and review. I love you guys!
A special thank you to my Beta Deathtechie. She is amazing and I love how quickly she gets my chapters back to me. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter... just sayin'!
Chapter Four:
The next day found Professor Dumbledore sitting at his desk writing a letter. He was amused as he thought of his conversation with Severus the previous day; the young man certainly had a temper. He had a feeling that Severus would become angry with him before the day was out; they had much to discuss. He finished the last of the letter and sat back further in his chair to read it over.
Severus,
I would like to continue our conversation from yesterday. Come to my office after breakfast.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Ps. I love a nice glass of pumpkin juice on a warm spring morning.
It was short, yes, but they would have the bulk of their conversation after breakfast. Not to mention what they needed to discuss should not be in a public place where they could easily be overheard, hence the reason they had not talked more yesterday.
Pleased with his letter, he folded it up and wrote Severus' name on it. Standing up, he walked to the window where he saw the sun rising above the horizon. He opened the window and waved his wand summoning a school owl before he walked back to his desk. A minute later a light brown barn owl flew through the window and landed on the Headmaster's desk. Fawkes gave a squawk of indifference at the barn owl's appearance but other than that he ignored the dull bird. Professor Dumbledore tied the letter to the owl's leg and watched it fly out the window it had just entered. When the owl was out of sight he sat back down at his desk and sighed, his thoughts going back to Severus and the events of the past two weeks.
Severus was a good kid that was for sure; he was just heading down the wrong path. Dumbledore could see the good in Severus; he was just attracted to power, which Voldemort surely had. He had actually been thinking of a way to get through to Severus, but so far he had come up with nothing. That was until Miss Granger had shown up out of the blue. She presented a possible solution to his quandary with Severus. He had a gut feeling, (and so far those seemed to be on the ticket) that she was the key to not only Severus' possible turnabout but the war's as well.
Dumbledore knew she had, somewhere in her closed-off brain, valuable information about the up coming war. Under normal circumstances he would never ask for such intelligence about the future in fear of changing things. But he had one of his famous gut feelings that all was not right with the future. He didn't know how he knew it, but he knew that to be successful in the war Severus and Hermione's fates were intertwined. Mind you, he didn't know all that it entailed for the two of them, but he was going to do everything in his power to get the two to spend time with each other and at least become friends. He just hoped that the two of them wouldn't fight it for too long, for it was definitely in Severus' nature to contest what was unfamiliar to him.
A knock at the door brought the Headmaster out of his thoughts. "Enter." He said, as Severus opened the door and sat down in the chair closest to the door again. "Ah, Severus, my boy, I see that you received my letter." Dumbledore smiled as Severus frowned at his use of the endearing term, 'My boy'. "I see that you have also deciphered my clue to my password.
"Yes, sir." Severus answered in a bored voice. "Your love of sweets is unbecoming of you," he said with a small smirk plastered on his face.
"There are a few things that we need to discuss in more detail now that you have had the opportunity to calm down." Dumbledore said with a little smile. Severus frowned, he knew that the Headmaster had something up his sleeve and it was not going to be pleasant.
"What more is there to discuss?" Severus asked his tone sounding deadly. "I have already agreed to spy on the girl for you! What more do you want from me?"
Dumbledore just smiled and said, "I didn't ask you to spy, I merely asked you to keep and eye on her for me. Before you say anything," Dumbledore put his hand up to stop Severus from speaking. "There IS a difference. You don't have to tell me everything that she tells you. All I want is to be notified as soon as her memories return."
"Then why have me spend time with her?" Severus asked his mood already taking a turn for the worse.
"Like I have said before, Severus, she has no one in this time. She needs a friend, and frankly speaking you are the only one around her age who knows she is from the future." Dumbledore explained again, his smile never leaving his face.
"So, in other words, I'm being punished for being in the wrong place at the wrong time?" Severus said in a precarious whisper, thinking back about when she mysteriously appeared. He knew the question was childish but his temper was once again getting the best of him.
"In a sense, yes, but Severus you shouldn't think of this as a punishment." Dumbledore said trying to get the young man to see reason. "Think of it as an opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Severus spat. "An opportunity to do what, exactly? Learn how to better listen to women?" He said sarcastically with a malicious glint in his eyes.
"You have questions about Miss Granger, do you not?" Dumbledore asked calmly and when Severus nodded his head he continued. "Well, think about it, just because her memories are gone doesn't mean that she is a different person. She will have the same personality that she was born with. If you spend enough time with her some of your answers to your questions may reveal themselves to you before her memories return. She also may feel more inclined to tell you whatever it is that you want to know once they do return, if you two are friends."
Severus thought about this for a moment again wondering to himself if the Headmaster should have been in Slytherin. The Headmaster seemed to exude Slytherin-like qualities every once in a while.
"So you are saying that I should pretend to be her friend so that I can get information out of her later? Severus asked a smirk slowly starting to ease it's way onto his usually somber visage.
"Precisely." Dumbledore said with a grin. He figured that if that was what he had to say to get Severus to agree to this then by all means he was going to play along. He felt that this was his only chance at getting the boy to follow through and talk to the girl. Dumbledore was hoping that maybe eventually Severus wouldn't have to pretend to be her friend. He hoped that in time they would develop a genuine friendship. "Now on to the next order of business." Dumbledore said happily, making Severus scowl. "As I am sure you have been able to tell, Miss Granger has extensive damage to her body. That being so, Madam Pomfrey would like to keep her in the hospital at least until school is out for the summer."
"My punishment won't end with the school year, will it?" Severus asked already knowing the answer.
"No, it will not cease then." Dumbledore said cautiously, trying not to completely enrage the boy. "It will however, come to an end. Just be patient."
"How long?" He whispered venomously.
"I am not quite sure." Dumbledore answered truthfully. "When I figure that out, you will be the first to know.
"Is that all, sir, or is there more?" Severus asked not looking at the Headmaster. He had to keep his hands balled up in fists to keep from completely losing his head.
"No, we still have more to discuss." Dumbledore said thoughtfully. "While she is still in the infirmary you are to visit her like we discussed yesterday. But when the year-ends and the students go home things will most certainly change. As you are staying here, over the summer, I want you to continue to befriend her. Show her around, make sure she becomes familiar with the place." Severus didn't say anything he just let the Headmaster continue.
"First of all there will be some changes in your living quarters. Since only the two of you will be here, I think it fit that you both move into the Head Boy and Head Girl dormitories." Dumbledore stopped to gauge Severus' reaction.
"Why do I have to move from the dungeons?" Severus asked quietly. "I rather enjoyed the tranquility of last summer's solitude." He said stressing the word 'solitude'.
"You have to move because it is pertinent that she feel safe enough to confide in someone here." Dumbledore said his eyes turned pleading. "Severus, please don't fight this. We need you right now, it is of the utmost importance."
Severus sighed, "As you wish!" He spat out angrily. "Anything else?"
"Yes, actually." Dumbledore said smiling once again. "Over the summer, Hermione and you will be allowed to go to Hogsmead every weekend if you wish to. Severus didn't mind that part too much. "I ask that you accompany her the first time she wishes to go and give her a tour of the town and show her around." Severus rolled his eyes but otherwise leapt his mouth shut because he had already seen that one coming.
"Alright, sir." Severus said. "Where will we stay once school has started next school year?"
"Excellent question." Dumbledore beamed. "You will each go back to your house dormitories. I see no need for the two of you to be all by yourselves in such big rooms. Not to mention with you two living there you will have more opportunities to get to know her."
"...Right." Severus said beginning to feel uncomfortable under the Headmaster's piercing stare.
"Now, I would like for you to start your visits with her today." Dumbledore said. "At least one day out of the weekend needs to be devoted to her. Is that understood?" His tone was one that meant there was no arguing and Severus just nodded his head in agreement. As much as he despised the Headmaster, he was equally aware of the fact that he had tremendous power. To cross him would be a big mistake.
"I believe that we have discussed everything that I had planned. If you want you may leave now and go visit with Miss Granger." Dumbledore says as he motions toward the door.
"Good bye, sir." Severus said as he stood up and walked out the door.
Professor Dumbledore watched him walk away as he mused to himself how stubborn the young man was. He had practically had to pull his hair to get him to agree with anything. "I hope that your plan works, old man." He whispered aloud to himself and then set off to do his Headmaster's duties.
Severus took his time walking to the infirmary; he was not looking forward to this, one bit! It was infuriating! He should not have to give up his Saturday for this girl. He should be in his dorm practicing his latest spell invention. As he walked he kept ranting to himself, causing everyone he passed to run to the other side of the hallway to avoid him. By the time he reached the infirmary he had calmed down significantly. He stood outside the door for a few minutes to take a deep breath and remind himself to keep his temper in check.
He slowly and quietly pushed open the door and walked in. He saw Madam Pomfrey bent over Hermione's left arm with her wand pointed at her worst scar on her forearm. They were so engrossed in the scar that they hadn't noticed Severus' arrival.
Hermione cried out painfully as Madam Pomfrey uttered a spell. Hermione closed her eyes tightly and used her right hand to grip the bed sheets for support. Her breathing started to become laborious as Madam Pomfrey continued the spell. Finally having taken all that she could handle Hermione said, "Stop... PLEASE... just stop..." Madam Pomfrey broke her concentration as she heard the desperate plea and lifted her wand ending the spell. Hermione let out a small whimper as the pain ceased.
"I'm sorry dear," Said Madam Pomfrey. "I am just trying to find out as much about your scar as I can." She ran her thumb over Hermione's scar gently causing her to scream and jerk her arm away quickly.
"What was that?" Hermione asked incredulously, cradling her arm to her chest as tears streamed down her face.
Madam Pomfrey didn't answer for a minute she just stared at her thumb dumbfounded. "I... I don't know." She whispered sounding a little frightened. "But I felt a sharp pinch when I touched your scar. What did it feel like to you?" She asked Hermione.
"It felt like someone took a knife that had been sitting over a hot flame and then stabbed me with it." Hermione sniffled trying to control her tears.
"Oh, you poor dear!" Cried Madam Pomfrey. "I am so sorry. Here," She said holding out her hand. "Give me your arm so we can try again. I know we are close to answers."
Hermione hugged her arm closer to her body backing up further on the bed to get out of the mediwitch's reach. "Not today, please." She said with fresh tears in her eyes. "It still hurts from before."
Madam Pomfrey sighed but didn't push it any further. "Alright but we try again tomorrow." She said sternly getting up off of her stool and turned to walk out of the door. She saw Severus standing in the doorway and gave him a curt nod as she walked around him and went to her office, shutting the door behind her.
Hermione hadn't seen Severus yet; she was too busy staring at the sheets on her bed, rubbing her scar, willing the pain to subside. Not realizing that she didn't know he was there, he began to slowly walk toward her bed. Hermione started in surprise, she had thought that she was alone after Madam Pomfrey had exited.
"I'm sorry." Severus said apprehensively taking a step back and holding up his hands defensively. "I wasn't trying to scare you."
"Uh, it's alright." She said as she tried to inconspicuously pull her sleeve down over her scar, hiding it from view. Severus had seen her movement in the corner of his eyes and wondered why she was hiding them from him.
"I've already seen them, you know." He told her gesturing to her left forearm.
Hermione's eyes widened at the fact that she had not been sly enough to elude his keen eyes. "...I know." Was all she said hurriedly running through her thoughts trying to think of anything to change the subject. She didn't know why she was ashamed of her scars, she just was. They made her feel dirty, and all she wanted to do with them was to scrub them until they came off, knowing full well they never would. "Um, what did you say your name was again?" She asked looking at him with curiosity as he sat down in the chair by her bed that Madam Pomfrey had just occupied. "I can't recall if anyone said it last night and there were no introductions."
"Severus." He said holding out his hand for a formal introduction. "Severus Snape. Nice to meet you." He said stiffly, wishing he were somewhere else. He was beginning to think that Potter and Black had lucked out with their detention.
"Nice to make your acquaintance." Hermione said with an insincere smile plastered on her face. She wasn't sure about his motives yet so she was having a hard time being completely nice. Not to mention she was in a lot of pain at the moment.
Severus didn't seem to notice her being withdrawn from him. He was having trouble thinking of ways to engage her in conversation, but seeing as he knew nothing about her, he was coming up short. It probably didn't help matters that she knew nothing of herself either. Despite that, Severus was on a mission and he was determined to see it through. For now he was going to play it safe and make small talk about her day. "Had Professor Dumbledore's spell worn off already?" Severus asked hoping to get her started on a conversation so that he didn't have to fish for a topic any longer.
"No, why do you ask?" She said as she once again cradled her left arm to her chest protectively.
"Well, it's obvious that you're in pain." He said smirking at her attempt at being overprotective over her scar.
"Oh... that." Hermione said as if she had just realized what he meant. "Madam Pomfrey hopes that if she pokes and prods it enough with her wand that she will get answers as to why it hurts me in the first place." She said off handedly.
"You say that as if you don't believe it yourself." Severus said.
"Ha." Hermione barked sarcastically. "I have no doubt in my mind that the pain will never fully go away." She said staring into a dark corner of the room away from Severus.
"Well, that's... unfortunate." Severus said sounding less than tactful.
"Yeah..." Hermione said absentmindedly trailing off into an uncomfortable silence. They both sat there for a few minutes each shifting with unease at the other's presence. He knew that she felt apprehensive about him and he found her annoying so far. She knew that he didn't like her and was perplexed as to why he even bothered to come see her in the first place. Then it all clicked in her head as her eyes widened slightly, then narrowed. He was being forced to spend time with her. "Do I know you?" She asked him with a slight coolness to her voice
Severus noticed the change in her tone so he decided to approach this calmly. "What do you mean?" He asked cautiously.
"Before I appeared." She said slowly as if she were talking to a two year old. "Had you and I ever met?"
Severus scowled at her tone trying to keep a lid on his ever-infamous temper. "No." He said through gritted teeth as he balled his fists in his attempt to stay calm. "The first time I ever saw you was when you appeared in the Headmaster's office."
"Oh," She said sarcastically. "Is that so."
"Yes, it is." He retorted.
"Then why are you here?" She countered.
He thought very carefully before he answered, not wanting to ruin everything. "I was merely concerned. You've not got any friends or anyone your age to talk to." He said hoping that he sounded more sincere than he felt.
"You can cut the crap!" Hermione said finally losing her temper. "I know that you're only here because you're being forced."
Severus was caught so off guard that he didn't even think about his words before they came out. "H... How did you know that?"
"Well, it's obvious isn't it?" Hermione said incredulously. "You don't want to be here anymore than I want you here, you can't stand me. The only logical reason for you to be here is that it's against your will." She said that last bit as if she were quoting from a textbook.
Severus was at a loss of what to say, which almost never happened. He then became angry with Hermione for letting her get under his skin like that. "Don't blame me, you insufferable know-it-all; this wasn't my idea. Take it up with Dumbledore if you have a problem with it." He whispered dangerously.
Hermione's eyes widened with his insult, it sounded vaguely familiar but she couldn't figure out why.
"Look, I don't mind you being here, but if you can't be nice then you should just leave." Hermione said sternly shooting daggers at Severus.
"With pleasure." He said standing up so abruptly that he knocked his chair over. He turned around on the spot and strode from the room, his school robes billowing behind him menacingly.
Hermione was hit with a suspicion that she knew him in her future. She still couldn't recall who he was but she knew that he was a part of her life and she probably didn't like him then either. She made a mental note to herself to be cautious around him.
Hermione lifted her left sleeve once more to look at her painful scar. She began to stroke it absentmindedly wishing once again that the pain would cease. She also wondered to herself why it hurt when Madam Pomfrey touched it but it was slightly soothing when she touched it herself.
Madam Pomfrey bustled back in carrying a flask with a potion in it. She handed it to Hermione with a small smile saying, "It is a dreamless sleep potion."
"But it's only noon." Hermione said even though she felt drained already.
"Yes, but you need as much rest as you can get, especially since you had such a bad nightmare last night." Madam Pomfrey said matter-of-factly. "Are you sure that you don't remember what you dreamed?" She asked.
"No," Hermione whispered. "I remember having a dream and being terrified... But that's all. I don't remember why I was scared or what happened."
"Well, this should help you sleep either way," said Madam Pomfrey sounding a little disappointed. "So drink up." Hermione took the potion from Madam Pomfrey and downed it in one gulp. She handed the flask back to the mediwitch and settled down into bed.
"How long until it kicks in?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Oh you should feel the effects any second now and you will be completely out within five minutes." Madam Pomfrey smiled reassuringly.
Hermione yawned. "Thank you."
Madam Pomfrey turned back towards the door but paused and turned around facing Hermione once more. "Oh and Hermione, dear." She said sweetly. "Don't mind Mr. Snape, he just has a temper about him." She thought for a moment before saying her next words, Hermione could tell that she had been eaves dropping. "I know he is not the ideal friend, nor are you for him. Try not to be so hard on him; at least he is trying to be cordial. There may come a time that you are glad to have him as a friend."
"We're not friends." Hermione said sleepily.
"Not yet, you're right." said Madam Pomfrey knowingly. "But that's because you aren't giving him a chance." Without another word Madam Pomfrey left Hermione to her thoughts.
'Maybe she is right.' Hermione thought as her brain was quickly shutting down. She only had enough time to sigh before her eyes closed and oblivion took over.
A/N: There you go chapter four. Let me know what you think about it. Good, bad? Your input helps me greatly. I hope that you all enjoyed it, I will see you all again in two weeks! Don't forget to review!