Yay it's chapter 7 :) . You will be pleased to know that it does not contain a cliffhanger ( cough XXXreallyNOTokXXX cough ) Any ho , enjoy. XXXxxxXXX
"Severus?"
Hermione felt like she had been hit in the face with a brick. Of all the people she had expected to walk through that door , Hermione had never expected her. She was fortunate not to pass out from relief and let herself slump against the counter , her body suddenly heavy. Snape on the other hand wasn't convinced.
Mcgonagall called his name again.
Hermione was about to stand up but Snape hastily pulled her down. She shot him a quizzical look but Snape didn't bother to explain , she would see for herself.
"Who are you?" demanded Snape.
"It's Minerva , Severus." the voice replied.
"Prove it." said Snape sharply , his hand clutching his wand.
The woman huffed in irritation. "My name is Minerva Mcgonagall , Gryffindor , transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts , my animagus is a cat and my favorite food is ginger newts."
Snape lowered his wand but still appeared wary. In contrast to Snape , Hermione was beside herself with relief and she stood up and smiled widely at Mcgonagall. Mcgonagall did not return the sentiment. With a jolt , Hermione realized that Mcgonagall had no idea who she was. Snape was now standing and Hermione shot him a look of helplessness. He ignored her.
"Minerva." said Snape politely , albeit stiffly.
"Severus." returned Mcgonagall , "Who is your companion?"
Snape gestured to Hermione , "This is my cousin , Rose Regnarg."
Mcgonagall nodded at Hermione , her eyes slightly narrowed as if she was assessing the truth of this matter. Hermione feigned a small smile.
"Don't you think ," asked Snape , his voice tainted with a cold edge , "We should discuss things in the back?"
Snape shot a glance at the window , eyeing the wizards and witches that passed by. In a matter of seconds , Hermione felt the panic rush over her again.
"That sounds like a good idea , Severus." replied Mcgonagall , stepping past the pair , leading them into the back of the shop. Under his breath , unheard by Mcgonagall , Snape cast a locking spell at the door.
Hermione looked at him nervously but Snape just held out his arm with a hurry-up-and-get-on-with-it-look. Hermione obeyed and the finger tips of Snape's out stretched arm brushed her on the way past. Hermione didn't now if it was accidental.
In the back of the shop , Burke the store owner laid haphazardly on the ground , a half empty bottle of firewhisky in hand. Mcgonagall looked at him with disgust , before waving her wand conjuring up a wooden chair out of thin air. She sat down and looked at Hermione and Snape expectantly.
Snape cleared his throat , "Why are you here?"
"I was about to ask you that same question , Severus. Here I am , doing my annual shopping trip when I see you and your...cousin running frantically through the crowd , looking like your being chased by death himself."
Hermione's breath hitched at Mcgonagall's choice of words.
"As you may have deduced , Minerva , me and my cousin here are in serious danger and we really do not have time to be engaging in...pleasant chats."
"Very well Severus , you will undoubtedly tell me everything later anyway. Let us be leaving."
Mcgonagall reached into her pocket and pulled out a fork.
"This portkey will take us to my home , come now."
Hermione felt apprehensive and slightly nervous but all the same , she walked over and placed her fingers on the metal fork. Severus followed suit, looking less pleased than Hermione.
"1 , 2 , 3"
There was a flash of blue light, the sickly feeling of being pulled by your naval and suddenly their spinning bodies had hit the ground.
The fresh , cool air of the country side was the first thing that Hermione registered before she stood up and found herself surrounded by mountains. The scenery was breathtaking. Even Snape , a man with little time for poetic beauty had to stop for second to appreciate the view.
"Come along." said Mcgonagall walking towards a large grey stoned manor in the distance. The trio was standing in a large , grassy meadow , in which the flowers were absent but the overall pleasantness was not. The grass rippled in the breeze , like a small green ocean. Mcgonagall walked through the grass , creating a path of overturned blades. Hermione and Severus followed , Hermione gazing in awe at the majestic snow-capped mountains that dominated the skyline.
"We are in Scotland." whispered Snape into Hermione's ear , standing much closer to her than Hermione previously thought. She swallowed.
We are in Scotland?
They reached the manor , which was elegant and looked at least a few hundred years old. There was a bed of roses , the last flowers were blooming before the onset of winter. Mcgonagall placed her wand at wooden entrance door and it swung open. Her house looked similar to Hogwarts by the fact that it was made from the same kind of smokey gray rock except the walls former looked slightly more polished. They stepped inside the house and the door shut behind them , creating the eerily feeling of stepping inside a cave. Mcgonagall flicked her wand and the candle encrusted chandelier came to life , the shadows of the flames were dancing upon the wall. Inside was not as dark as Hermione had expected , it was well lit by the two large glass windows symmetrically placed on either side of the entrance door. Beside the first window on the left side were two antique looking cushioned chairs made from dark mahogany wood. Beside the other window was a small , equally antique looking table with a vase of daisies and a few books placed upon it.
Mcgonagall hung up her cloak and turned to Snape and Hermione.
"You are welcome to sit down , I'll just be getting us some refreshments." Mcgonagall walked away , in the direction Hermione assumed , the kitchen was located. She and Snape took their seats beside the window and Hermione relaxed her muscles on the chair by rotating her shoulders. Snape remained in a stiff upright sitting
position , focusing intently on the last spot he had seen Mcgonagall.
Hermione caught his expression and looked at him with concern.
"What's wrong Severus?" she asked. Snape turned to look at her. Whether he would have answered or not was unknown as Mcgonagall re- entered the room carrying a tray containing a pot of tea , three cups and a plate of scones, buttered and jammed. Waving her wand , she conjured up a ornate wooden table and placed the tray upon it. With an unwarranted smirk , Snape realized that the only magic he had seen Mcgonagall use today was the magic of making furniture appear.
Hermione , noticing his drastic change in demeanor, looked even more concerned. Mcgonagall did not fail to see this. She poured the three cups of tea and placed the a cup each in front of her guests. Hermione raised her cup to her lips as did Snape. Hermione began to feel uneasy. Snape waited until Mcgonagall took a sip from her cup before he proceeded to take a sip from his own. It was only then that Hermione trusted Snape's judgement enough to let the tea enter her mouth. It tasted warm and refreshing and Hermione's stomach grumbled. She had not eaten since the last night she had been at Shell Cottage , the night Remus and Tonks had had their baby...In order to quell her rising emotions and hunger , Hermione grabbed a scone and stuffed it in her mouth eagerly. Snape raised an eyebrow at Hermione , a smirk playing at his lips.
Mid chew , Hermione said , "What? I'm hungry!" She couldn't help but be amused at her Ron-like display of table manners. Mcgonagall smiled but Hermione thought it looked a little forced.
"Severus , I think you better explain."
Snape faced Mcgonagall , his face set into a grim mask. He told Mcgonagall how Voldemort was after them but said he did not no why. Truthfully , he realized , he didn't actually know. Hermione would tell him later. He explained how he had seen Voldemort in the Leaky Cauldron that morning and how they had to make a hasty escape. He said all of this without revealing Hermione's true identity and for this Hermione felt more uneasy. Why was he protecting her?
Mcgonagall seemed satisfied with this information and cleared the tray off the table , leaving Hermione and Snape alone once again.
"What are we going to do?" whispered Hermione to Snape.
He rubbed his temples with his finger tips , in concentration.
"I think," he said ,"We will just have to remain here for the time being. We can rest , acquire some supplies and contact Dumbledore." The way Snape said the words made Hermione think that he didn't really like the idea very much.
XXXxxxXXX
Meanwhile , in a shop in Diagon Alley a man on the ground whithered in pain.
"Where did they go?" the cold , chilling voice demanded , casting another crucio curse at Burke. Anger thudded through his veins. She had not answered to his summoning and he very much detested not knowing if his plan had worked.
"I'm going to ask you again , where did they go?"
"I don't k-know!" whimpered Burke.
Pathetic
"Crucio!" the demented inhuman voice of the caster reflected off the walls , followed by terrible screams of agony.
"I s-swear I-I don't k-know." the man pleaded.
Even though the man was telling the truth , Voldemort found it prudent to cast another crucio , just to release the rage that was smoldering inside him.
XXXxxxXXX I know , a short chapter :(. But the quick update makes up for it? Now I know chapter did not contain a major cliffhanger but I can't resist now. Just a little something for you to consider. The day after the death of Harry's parents , where does Mcgonagall go? Hehehehehhehehhe. Have you realized the problem now? *smiles evilly* Don't forget to review :)