Holy shit, you guys. I am so sorry. Basically I got grounded for like 2 weeks and then when I got off groundation, I found out my dad had taken the computer apart and he just got it set back up yesterday night. I am so sorry for the lack of update, and I promise I never intended to make you guys wait this long. And I feel bad because the last chapter was so short. UGH, I'm so sorry guys.
I have an essay due Thursday and a Power Point presentation due next week and I don't have time to do it this weekend, since I'm working both days. With that in mind, I will give you guys this chapter, but I apologize, for I know I owe you way more. And more will come, I promise. Please be pacient, and thank you so much to my faithful readers!
On with the story.
Two weeks after that night with Severus, Hermione found herself falling for her Potions Master, harder than she thought possible.
Entering his classes, he would grace his Sixth Years with his trademark scowl, black eyes sweeping the classroom, falling upon every student, including herself. While in the process of brewing the assigned potion, she would find him standing behind her, growling out a snide comment over her 'know-it-all' quality. Yet when her peers were hard at work over their cauldrons, their attention focused upon the complicated brews, Hermione would find her eyes wandering to the desk at the head of the classroom where her eyes would catch their onyx counterpart; she took a great amount of happiness out of the softening that occurred in those hard, obsidian eyes when they lingered on her.
And that was just it: Professor Snape made her so very happy. Though they hadn't spent any time alone since that night, Hermione couldn't remember ever feeling so damn alive under the gaze of a boy. Then again, Professor Snape wasn't a boy, he was a man. After years of dealing with so many of her inexperienced, loud, immature classmates, she found herself respecting his strong, experienced, collected persona. Hermione found it quite amusing in some ways that those billowing, black robes that used to intimidate her now filled her with a sense of warmth…and longing.
Being Hermione Granger, the day after their night together, she found herself skipping lunch (telling Ron and Harry she forgot her Arithmancy book in the common room), to run away into her favorite escape: the library. Browsing the never-ending shelves, she found the books she desired. Slipping them into her bag, she went to next class, resisting the urge to take out her newly acquired books and absorb every drop of valuable knowledge.
Dinner that night was rushed for a certain curly-haired Gryffindor. Once she made it to her room, she collapsed into her bed, pulling the curtains closed. She took out the many books on werewolves and set about reading, comprehending, and storing away every word her eager eyes touched.
From this reading, she came find the answer to one of the many questions that were bouncing around her head. After that night, Hermione constantly found herself wondering about the bond her and Severus shared.
"The time is in the general rage of 2-3 weeks before the renewal of a bond."
2-3 weeks. Hermione now sat, her knees drawn up to her chest, back against a tree trunk, looking out at the still, glassy surface of the Black Lake. It had already been 2 weeks since that night and the internal battle of logic and reality raged within her head. She knew that after what he had done to her, she should be scared, mad, traumatized; he had violated her in the worst of ways, and taken away her innocence in such dirty way.
And yet, when Hermione pondered the prospect of a renewal, she felt something very much like butterflies in her stomach. And not because she was scared at the thought of him touching her, but because she was nervous. After the already rocky start of their relationship, she knew that she couldn't afford to mess this time up. She knew it was illogical that her nerves would be wracked over something as petty as her sexual performance; and yet, that was exactly what she felt.
Completely lost within the maze of her thoughts, Hermione did not notice the figure approaching her until they plopped down rather ungracefully next to her. She looked up, first startled and then surprised upon seeing who it was.
"Professor Lupin," she greeted cautiously. Having had many days to think about this, Hermione did not know what to think of the man sitting next to her. She had previously been quite fond of Remus, not only for his work in the Order, but also for his intellect that rivaled her own. But after Severus had told that Lupin had been the one to bite him, she had become rather wary of her previously favorite professor.
Lupin gave her a small, amused smile. "Hello, Miss Ganger. How are you today?"
"I'm good," she answered vaguely, turning her distracted gaze back to the lake, hoping her professor got the message that she wanted to be alone at the moment. If he noticed the unsaid request, he did not comply, and instead fell into an uncomfortable silence.
"Severus would be mad if her knew I was talking to you," he stated suddenly. Her steady gaze snapped over to meet his at the mention of her Potion Professor's name.
"What?" she asked, panic flooding into her system. She gawked at the knowing smile that took over his face.
"Yes, I know about you and Professor Snape. And no, before you become angry with him, he did not tell me anything he didn't have to. And I would have found out anyway," Lupin said, tapping his right temple with two fingers.
Hermione recalled reading something about the communications between werewolves, and how some forms of it were involuntary. She idly wondered what it would be like to have someone in her head, able to access her thoughts and share their own. She shuddered at the lack of privacy. He interrupted her stream of thoughts.
"As I was saying, Severus does not know I am here. And I would like to talk to you about some of the questions you must have. You do have questions, don't you?" he questioned, though he looked like he already knew the answer.
"Will it always hurt?" she blurted before the words could consciously cross her mind. She flushed and brought a hand up to cover her mouth.
Lupin laughed, knowing exactly what she was referring to. "No, no it won't. I'm sorry, I don't know all the details, but I do know that your first time with him was not completely under control. But I do think the worst of what could come in that aspect of this has passed already."
Hermione visibly breathed a sigh of relief. She was beginning to warm up to the man next to her once more. She ventured another question: "Why hasn't he made an attempt to talk to me?"
Lupin sighed, leaning back onto the wide trunk. "Besides the fact that you must remain discreet, I do believe he feels remorseful over what happened."
"But I forgave him-" Hermione began.
"It doesn't matter to him. Yes, your acceptance of what happened has made this a lot easier for him. But I don't believe he has accepted what ha happened yet. He wont be able to forgive himself for what he put you through for a while, if at all."
Hermione felt her heart sink at the words. She didn't want him to have to feel guilty and regretful every time he was with her. "You said remain discreet. Who knows?"
"Dumbledore was informed right away. He does have a specific set of rules, though you will have to go over those with Severus. I believe he is the only one to know. Besides myself," Lupin explained. He smirked as an afterthought occurred to him. "Severus will have to tell Minerva at some point, though."
Hermione could imagine how her Head of House would react to the bond between herself and Professor Snape. She smiled as well, thinking it would be reminiscent of a mother bear and her cub.
She turned to Professor Lupin. "Thank you. For being here."
He smiled, his face tired. "Of course, Hermione. I believe we will be seeing each other quite a lot from now on."
The prospect of getting to spend more time with Remus Lupin made Hermione genuinely happy. Though she thought it would be even better if her werewolf was added to the mix.
Severus sat in his office grading the Third Years' essays on the properties on moonstone. And though he had become marginally easier-going in his grading since a certain curly-haired 'know-it-all' invaded his life, he still scowled in exasperation at the rushed and half-assed essay from some Hufflepuff.
He pushed the essays aside with a growl, and leaned back in his chair. The last few weeks had been so very hard for him. Staying away from Hermione proved to be a greater task than he had previously predicted it to be. When she walked into his classroom, it seemed she brought a breeze of spring flowers and vanilla with her, and it clouded his mind, making teaching his Sixth Years a rather difficult task. And when her bright, amber eyes met his, he felt something stir in him.
Deciding that the essays could wait a few more days, he stood with the intentions of retiring to his quarters for the night. And then he felt it. It brought back everything he had been trying to forget for the last two weeks. The cold feeling of dread took grasp of his stomach as he felt another painful shock run through his frame.
It was time to renew the bond.
YAY. IM BACK GUYS! IM SO SORRY FOR DISAPPEARING, I KNOW HOW ANNOYING IT IS WHEN THE STORIES IM FOLLOWING SUDDENLY FALL OFF THE MAP, BUT IM BACK AND THERE IS MORE TO COME. Please R&R, my babies. See you next week!