Disclaimer: It's not mine, it's all J. K. Rowling's.

A/N: Annie Talbot and Machshefa are the lovely ladies who beta-read this fic! : :hugs: :

Chapter 4: Questions

Hermione had had a very tiring day in the company of Auror Molyneux, who seemed to be much less hospitable during field trips than he'd been while going through some theories indoors. Hermione had a headache. Gods, the man could yell!

She took her boots off and flexed her sore toes. Maybe she should indulge in a scented bath tonight, soak her aching body and simply relax. There was so much Paris could offer, and she hadn't had the opportunity to enjoy anything yet. She was glad it was the weekend.

She contemplated eating before her bath, but decided she'd enjoy the meal better when clean and relaxed. She stood from the armchair, passed by its twin and the warm hearth that faced them, unconcerned by the boots she left behind. She passed by the small table, where she left her bag, and kept walking up to where the bed was, near the window. It was all one big room; bigger than a usual hotel room would be, but also cozier.

She took her robes off and went to retrieve the book she'd been reading from the nightstand. A letter rested on top of it. She tore it open.

Miss Granger,

I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation. I need you to send the ring right away. You've been exposed to it for an extended amount of time; you're hardly in a position to make such a decision as to keep it until you're back in Britain, much less to join in the investigations.

Send me the ring.

I specifically asked you not to be a Gryffindor on the matter, but I think you're still too childish to understand why I did so.

Severus Snape

Childish? He's the one still attached to stupid House prejudices!

Snape, being his old insufferable self, was not what she needed to add into her day. If he thought she was going to send the ring after such a rude request, he was very wrong. Who did he think he was? Her time as his pupil was over; she didn't owe him obedience or any courtesy he didn't offer her himself.

Hermione threw the letter over her robes on the bed, grabbed her book, and entered the bathroom with purpose. That letter had been the last drop to fall into her already full goblet; she would ignore Molyneux and Snape and have her relaxing bath. Oh yes, she would.

o0oOo0o

Paris was wonderful at any time of the year – that was Hermione's conclusion. She'd been sightseeing all morning and had stopped by a really nice café to enjoy lunch. Gone was the stress from work and Auror Molyneux from the day before. She couldn't say the same about Snape, though.

The missive that had irritated her so much last night was still occupying her mind today, especially now that she was simply watching the passers-by. What had irritated her, now intrigued her. It was a flaw of her character, or so Ron always said, that she would always try to find a reason behind Severus Snape's obnoxious behavior. Upon analyzing his words with less anger, she had realized something unusual about them: they were almost pleading.

Severus Snape did not plead, just as he never apologized or admitted he was wrong. Everyone knew that. Then, why was he doing so now? Did he want the ring that badly? If so, why? Somehow, Hermione doubted it was with her best interests at heart; that violated another of the man's guiding principles: Severus Snape was not kind.

Very intriguing….

The ring was also very intriguing in itself. It was a Claddagh Ring, and like every one of its kind, its design showed hands holding a central heart with a crown on it. The heart on this specific ring was encrusted with three green stones that Hermione never thought of confirming that they were emeralds. She wore it because it was beautiful and not for its value.

Then again, maybe she did wear it for its value, only not its material one, but rather its sentimental one. She'd found it in the Shrieking Shack after the Battle of Hogwarts. She'd been there to retrieve the body of her ex-professor, the very same man she'd seen die a few hours before, and had found no body there, only that ring.

Maybe wearing the ring had been a sign of respect for all those who died during that battle. Maybe it was simply to remind her that the unexpected could happen, and that it didn't have to always be bad.

Those were days she'd left behind, mostly. Snape, with this whole ring matter, was sucking her back there and then; not the company she'd choose.

Hermione finished her lunch and decided to visit the Louvre. She'd been there before, but would never get tired of the place. Later she would find herself writing an answer to Snape, but deciding not to send it.

Sunday morning, though, an owl could be seen flying out the window of her hotel room, taking with it a parchment envelope.

Coming next… Snape is disturbed by Hermione's answer.