She actually glared at him. Severus was starting to wonder if he was still the scary potion master of the dungeons. "And what, I won't be upset being in Voldemort's presence? I won't be upset when he tortures someone I know in front of me? I won't be upset when he starts killing? Or maybe I won't be upset when I have to fight my friends in war. War is upsetting, professor, I might as well practice in the right mindset."

Severus let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. When did Hermione Granger become so fiery and tough?

"Very well."

…

SEVEN – A Bad Idea

"I can't do it!" Hermione screamed in frustration.

Serverus pressed his lips together to hide the smile that threatened. He turned it into a smirk and dropped his eyes from her face, "Miss Granger, perhaps we should take a break."

As it turned out, Hermione was terrible at exactly one thing: occlumency. Halfway into Christmas break and she had yet to stop Severus' invasion of her mind. It was entirely frustrating, he was seeing far too many things that she had never wanted Professor Severus Snape to see. The terrible night at the Yule Ball, her deplorable looking braces and extra-wild hair from her at seven years old. There were other things too, nothing came in order and it was all wide open to the formidable potions master.

Severus Snape wouldn't admit it but he was fascinated by Hermione's childhood. It was so very much more muggle than his was and exponentially happier. He liked her memory of getting her Hogwarts letter, it reminded him of his own 11th year, being so excited and relieved to get his letter from Hogwarts. Pulling himself out of his own memory Severus glanced down at Hermione, who had a funny expression on her face. He raised an inquiring eyebrow at her.

"It was like that for you too?" She asked softly.

"Excuse me?" He hissed.

Hermione recoiled as if realizing her transgression. "I'm sorry, it just happened, I don't know-"

"Did you just use legilimens on me?" He took several steps towards her, his voice low and slick, a dangerous purr.

"I-" Hermione had no idea what to say.

Severus leaned in towards her and after several painful seconds of anticipation, he straightened and looked down at her thoughtfully. "How?"

"I don't know!" She sounded a bit pleading, still unsure if Snape was going to punish her or not. "I was just wandering what you were thinking and all of a sudden, there I was."

"And you have never done this before?"

"Not that I can recall, sir."

"Hmm interesting. Try again."

This time Severus offered her a completely different memory, his thought process in realizing that the brightest witch of her age was in his house and he could coach her to be so much more. Severus wasn't sure exactly when she entered his mind but after a moment he could feel her, just barely, like a whisp of smoke circling the memory and then she was gone, but he wasn't exactly sure when she left or how far she explored. It disturbed him greatly that she was nearly undetectable.

"Well. I'm glad you find my intelligence worth saving at least."

The comment held a rather large amount of annoyance in it and Severus just stared emptily at her, trying to decipher her hidden meaning. Was he supposed to care about her as a person? He supposed he did, in the general term that any head of house cared for their own but she seemed miffed by it. Women. He scoffed internally. Hermione huffed at him and turned away grabbing her bag.

"Did you hear that?"

"You brain is like an open book professor. I think I'm going to take that break now."

Severus grasped at his composure. "I think a trip to Hogmead is appropriate."

Hermione scoffed. "I can't go by myself."

"Go with Mr Marrow."

Hermione actually laughed. "Kane barely puts up with the fact that I exist."

Severus narrowed his eyes. "You need to start making Slytherin friends, Miss Granger, even if they are just for show."

Hermione sighed. "Fine. I'll see if he can be bothered."

SHSHSH

As was his new habit when he knew Hermione was leaving the castle, Severus climbed the owlery steps to watch her depart. She seemed to be listening avidly to something Kane was saying, and although tense, their manners were somewhat familiar. Severus wondered if they ever spent time together outside of potions and wished he could slip into Hermione's mind from a distance. As if to snap him out of his thoughts, his left forearm burned lightly and then exploded in a crackling heat and he cursed and he slipped on an icy stone step racing to the apparition point.

"Sseveruss, you are quicker every time. Update me about the mudblood."

Without waiting for a verbal response, Voldemort invaded Severus' mind, and Severus disguised his wonder at how much more discreet Hermione was inside his mind. Instead he thrust forward anything non-suspicious. Hermione's countless hours in his office, Hermione insisting she learn more, catch up, do it all, Hermione walking to Hogmead in the snow with the Marrow boy, and of course, Hermione's shouting match with Potter.

Voldemort cackled gleefully. "This mudblood has more courage than half of you combined!" He boomed at his followers, some of whom scuffed their shoes at the quickly changing tone of accusation. "Sso she'd be proud to carry my mark then, Sseveruss?" Severus nodded once, unwilling to give more of a response. "Hmm..." The Dark Lord was mulling something over and Severus was certain by his facial expressions that someone would come out of the arrangement dreadfully unhappy. "Sseveruss," He didn't even want to hear what the Dark Lord was thinking, "Tell the mudblood and Marrow boy to...fraternize a bit." Voldemort grinned darkly, "We can breed her brains into my new race of wizard then breed the mud right out of it! We will have the most intelligent pureblood race in the world!"

Severus wondering if the shouting Death Eaters even realized what they were agreeing too. Surely some of them saw the preposterousness of including a mudblood suddenly into the very pure blood lines. But they were a riotous group and knew only too well to agree with whatever their master said. "It will be done." Severus stated. And with an extremely distracted dismissal, Voldemort waved him away.

SHSHSH

Hermione was surprised to see Severus waiting at the doors as she and Kane approached the castle and was even more surprised when he suspiciously ushered them into an abandoned classroom and warded the room. He looked, unprepared, which went against his permanent appearance of over preparedness and she wondered if she could slip into his mind without being noticed but when she tried, his walls were sky high.

"I have just come from a meeting with the Dark Lord." Hermione gasped and Kane shifted his weight. "He has requested something from the two of you." Severus was finding it extremely difficult to say what he knew he needed to but the longer he looked at the two in front of him, the more it seemed to be the worst idea Voldemort had ever had.

"What is it, sir?" Hermione asked quietly.

Severus' eyes snapped to hers as if suddenly realizing something and he held her gaze as he uttered, "The both of you are to start a courtship immediately."

Hermione's stunned face told him more than he needed to know about what she thought of that idea but he was already in her head, looking. Oh she is too fresh for this, he thought, she's only ever kissed a bloke. And it was true, he was surprised to find. He had expected more of her escapades with Mr Krum, but that had not gone far before the Weasley boy had busted everything apart. Severus slipped out of her shocked and confused head and looked at Kane. He had not moved but he had paled, his fists clench.

"I suggest you two get to know each other well." Severus said snidely and stormed off, his robes flashing into a billowing wave behind him. He was suddenly furious and frustrated and found himself wishing the terrible idea was called off.

…

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