Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
IV. A revealing dinner
"One should always be drunk. That's all that matters...But with what? With wine, with poetry, or with virtue, as you chose. But get drunk."
- Charles Baudelaire
Severus was cleaning the utensils he had used, although he knew that the young woman who was behind the door was going to do it again the next morning. Why did he ask her to eat with him tonight? What are they going to tell to each other? It was one thing to share a dinner with this little minx; it was another to have a discussion with her.
He had to admit that he had been troubled by her sudden proximity this morning. Having his face inches from hers had given him ideas he didn't want to have in mind, and he could only blame his long period of abstinence. At Hogwarts, he often had the opportunity to spend nights in Hogsmeade's bars, where he used to drown his solitude in glasses of Fire Whisky before getting lost in of some prostitutes' arms, always available for who knew where to find them.
But it had been a year since he had set a foot in these disreputable places that even the most curious students did not know about.
Even if she was unpleasant to him, Hermione Granger remained no less a woman. He would not have gone as far as saying she was attractive in his eyes, because it wasn't true. He had always preferred the company of tall and thin women, and Hermione Granger was far from fulfilling these criteria, really far from it.
Severus finally cleaned the cauldron, removing any trace of potion before rinsing his hands in the sink. Twenty minutes had already passed since the departure of the young woman, and he was sure that she was bored to death.
XxxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxxX
For the umpteenth time that evening, Hermione picked up a book in the bookcase, which was near the chair where she had cut off, flipped a few pages before putting it down and taking another. She cast a glance at the clock, and thought for a second to return to her room. Severus Snape had told her he would not be long, and yet... it was already a little over ten o'clock and she was starving. While this idea was taking shape in her mind, the laboratory door opened and Severus Snape walked over to her. Will he apologize?
"If you want to follow me." He merely said, before turning on his heels.
Hermione hastily put up the book she had just taken from the bookcase and got up to follow him. The house was not huge, but she had not yet been in the dining room, let alone in the kitchen. She knew that politeness wanted that Severus showed her the house, knowing that she was going to live here for a year, but he had never shown the intention to do it, and she had not dared to ask him.
As she entered the dining room, oddly brighter than the living room, Hermione distinguished a form rushing to an adjacent door. An elf?
"Do you use house elves?" she asked.
Severus raised an eyebrow before answering.
"I'm a wizard, Miss. Artie has worked for the Snape house for decades now. So don't dare tell me about your principles regarding the cause of house elves."
Hermione remained silent, and sat on the chair he had just drawn to her attention. He walked to the other end of the table to face her, and sat down. A second later, Artie returned to the dining room, carrying dishes that seemed heavier than her. Hermione tried not getting up and helping, but the icy stare of her Master that dissuaded her. She certainly did not have the right to say anything in this house. However, she thanked the elf with a smile as she slipped away without a word. In front of here was now an appetizing dish consisting of cooked noodles and vegetables. Severus had already started eating, and she did the same.
For long minutes, they didn't talk, and Hermione finally broke the silence.
"I'm trying to remember what was written on the parchments that you gave me, but I can not remember something fundamental about the potion." She began, gently placing her fork on her plate. "What is it for?"
A slight grin formed on Severus's face, and he quickly wiped his mouth.
"I'm surprised that you have not asked this question earlier, Miss. How would you react if I told you that the potion that we worked so hard on is actually a lethal poison, and that only one drop is sufficient to take the life of anyone?"
Hermione shuddered, and she read some amusement in the eyes of the man who was seated in front of her.
"I don't believe a word of what you've said." She finally said, trying to take a confident tone.
"But you've taken time to come to this conclusion, Miss. Of course, this is not the purpose of this potion; I would have warned you of its dangers if that were the case. This potion is a simple dreams simulator."
Hermione sat up on her seat, suddenly interested by the conversation.
"A dreams simulator? You mean that the one who takes the potion will make dreams created from scratch instead of their... Own dreams?"
"This is not exactly the purpose of this potion, even if it may be a consequence of this potion on some minds. You see, some people no longer have the ability to dream. They just empty their minds when it comes to bedtime. Sleep is composed of two parts, as you already know. REM sleep, the period when you are supposed to dream is essential to refresh your brain, and in fact develop your memory skills for example. A mind that is not able to go to REM sleep is not at full capacity."
"And that what makes this potion so valuable." Hermione ended.
Severus nodded.
"Actually, yes. The main purpose is not to replace dreams by other dreams, but to restore the ability to dream."
"I can see the value of such a potion, Master, but what are you going to do with it? Sell it?"
"Certainly not" Severus replied abruptly. "This potion has no commercial purpose. Rather, it is dedicated to personal use."
Severus Snape was he one of those people unable to dream? Hermione weighed the pros and cons: should she ask him what he meant? Severus finally decided for her.
"It seems that a question is burning your lips, Ms. Granger." He murmured. "And I will answer: yes, it is difficult for me to switch to REM sleep."
"But I thought snoring occurred only during REM sleep." Hermione noted.
Severus stared at her for a few seconds, surprised by her repartee.
"So explain that to my brain when you get a chance." he concluded before returning to eat.
Hermione realized that the discussion on this topic was over, and finished her meal in silence. Severus had conjured wine at the table, and she found herself soaking her lips on the sweet nectar. She did not usually drink alcohol, except a pint of Butterbeer from time to time when she went to Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron, and she felt a little euphoric after finishing her drink. Severus watched her sip the last drop of wine, and did the same, his eyes still fixed on her. With a flick of his wand, he lifted the bottle of wine, and filled their glasses for second time of the evening. Hermione had a movement of the hand, as if to say she did not want to drink anymore, but Severus did not stop, and she found herself with a second glass of wine in hand.
Suddenly feeling reckless, Hermione turned her attention to Severus who was stroking his fingertips on his glass of wine.
"How did you manage to survive, Severus?"
He twitched when the young woman said his name, but he didn't hold it against her.
"Excuse me?"
"You were almost dead when we left you. I don't understand how you survived such an attack by Nagini..."
Severus did not answer, and finish his glass of wine before leaving the table. Hermione put down her half empty glass and stood up as well, following him as he was taking the stairs. She was only half surprised by his reaction. Indeed, in her heart, she knew that he had no intention of answering. She was very relieved to see that he had just declined to answer, and he had not made a disparaging remark.
She followed him as he climbed the stairs, and Hermione had to stick to the side, suddenly feeling shaky. Her head was spinning, and when she put her right foot on the last step, her left foot hit the hardwood stairs and she found herself on the ground, moaning in pain. Severus whirled at the sound caused by her fall, and rushed over her.
"Where are you hurting?" he asked.
"My left ankle." She whispered.
Instead of helping her up as he was planning to, he made her sit down, resting her back against the cold wall of the corridor. He crouched in front of her grumbling, visibly irritated by having to take care of her. However, he carefully removed her left shoe and he fingered an expert hand on her ankle. Hermione slightly grimaced when he pressed on the sore spot, but let out no other moan of pain.
Severus gave her a look to see if she was suffering more than she should have, and was visibly pleased by what he saw.
"You're just sprained your ankle. It would be good to watch where you put your feet next time." He whispered, raising and holding out his hand to her.
Hermione took his hand in hers and tried to rely on his right leg as he raised her. To her great surprise, Severus accompanied her to her bed, and he took the opportunity to take a look at the new decoration of the room. A huge embroidered Gryffindor badge was now placing at the head of the bed, and the desk he had picked up in the room so she could study alone was now filled with picture frames, where he could see a couple who seemed to be her parents, and of course the famous Ron Weasley and Harry Potter.
"I see that you've made yourself comfortable, Miss."
The young woman blushed as she sat on her bed, letting Severus's hand at the same time.
"I'm going to live for a year between these walls, so I thought..."
"You have done well" he interrupted her.
Hermione watched him as he walked towards the door of his room.
"Thanks for...what you did tonight, Master." She managed to say as he was about to disappear from her vision.
Severus was not sure why she thanked him. For dinner they had shared for the first time since her arrival at home or for being escorted to her room? He nevertheless turned to the young woman and nodded.
"Sweet dreams, Miss Granger," he merely said before disappearing into the hallway, closing the door behind him.
Hermione then dropped on the back before getting up a few minutes later to remove her clothing, taking care not to hurt her ankle by removing her pants. She did not have the courage to stand up to get a nightgown, so she slipped under the sheets in her underwear, and closed her eyes. Little did she imagine where her dreams were going to carry her that night.