The Things We Hide
By Akasha Ravensong
"Once Upon a year gone by
She saw herself give in
Every time she closed her eyes
She saw what could have been
Well nothing hurts and nothing bleeds
When covers tucked in tight
Funny how the bottom drops
How she forgets to fight
As darkness quickly steals the light
That shined within her eyes
She slowly swallows all her fear
And soothes her mind with lies
Well all she wants and all she needs
Are reasons to survive
A day in which the sun will take
Her artificial light"
Vanessa Carlton, Paradise
Chapter Seven
"You need a guardian while you are there."
"But Professor Dumbledore, I'm going into muggle London. I'm hardly going to be able to walk in and out of shops inconspicuously. Somebody is bound to notice if a man walks into a shop with a dress on. Or pajamas."
I remembered the stories Harry and Ron had for me when they came back from the World Cup game our fourth year. I wasn't going anywhere in the muggle world looking like I had some sort of lunatic following me around. It just wasn't happening. I had enough problems without worrying about that as well.
"Very well then." He paused, rubbing his beard between his thumb and forefinger thoughtfully. And muttered to himself, "yes, indeed... I wonder. Yes that will do it." He turned back to me and smiled. "Severus is the only one who has regular dealings in the muggle world. He will be your guardian."
"But Headmaster..."
"You want to have permission to leave Hogwarts do you not? If Professor Snape is not suitable escort for you, then you need not go."
I heard the stubbornness in his voice and knew that this was his final answer. "Fine. I'm leaving in one hour, with or without Professor Snape. I hope you can convince him to be there on time or I shall be short one escort."
I slammed the door, or tried to at least. The door was stubborn and slowed down at the last second, closing quietly... it must have had some sort of charm on it. No doubt one of the Hogwart's Headmasters decided he had enough of slamming doors in his lifetime. With a sigh, I headed back to my rooms, resisting the urge to stomp. It just wasn't satisfying if the door didn't slam...
One more teaspoon of powdered wormwood had to be placed into the potion at the exact moment the spoon was at positioned precisely at one o'clock on the third full rotation of stirring. Otherwise, the potion would be absolutely useless and I would have to start all over again. I waited patiently with the wormwood in my hands, poised and ready to be poured. I was almost there... and a few more seconds...
"Ahh Severus," said a voice behind me. I felt a tap on my shoulder. "I was hoping that I would find you here."
My arm quivered slightly, dropping half the wormwood in at the twelve o'clock position instead of at one. The potion began to smoke and turned a putrid shade of green instead of the deep orange glow it should have been. I vanished the contents of my cauldron. That damn man was always doing this to me. He had absolutely no respect for the fine art of potions. Absolutely none at all... Disdainfully I turned around, scowling at him.
"Must you sneak up on me like that all the time, Albus? You seem to think that destroying my private laboratory would be entertaining. What if I had been mixing a very delicate and temperamental potion?"
"Well then, I suppose I should just be happy that you weren't."
"Indeed," I drawled sarcastically. "Remind me to place a warding spell on my door in the future. And a more complex lock..."
"Whatever makes you happy, Severus." He smiled foolishly. "Now, are you busy this afternoon?"
"Well actually I had planned..."
"Excellent, I'm glad you're free. You will be escorting Miss Granger to Diagon Alley and then to Muggle London. She needs to get a few things. Now, she will be leaving here in an hour, and you are expected to be at her chambers promptly at one. Be there, Severus." He turned around and called back to me over his shoulder. "Now that this matter is settled, I've got a cup of tea waiting for me in the teachers lounge. Good day, Severus."
That man could be absolutely intolerable some days. He did it on purpose, of that I was most definitely sure. He was very persistent too. I sighed and resigned myself to an afternoon with that insufferable child. She had better not pull the poor abused child routine with me and expect sympathy. I had no idea why she would want me to accompany her.
I began to restart the potion Poppy had asked me to brew for her. It was doomed from the beginning. After Albus decided to surprise at that crucial moment of potion making, my concentration was broken. The task at hand no longer captivated my full attention. I cut the newt tails the unevenly second time around, and had to start all over again because it took me too long to even them out. On the third batch of the day, I was finally done.
I looked up at the clock and it was ten past one. I paled. I was late. I started to rush out the door when I stopped dead in my tracks. What was I thinking? She deserved to wait for me for once. After all, I was the teacher, and I was, of course, the one in charge. I took my time changing into muggle style clothes before walking briskly to her rooms.
I looked at the dragon in front of her doorway and sneered at it. "Let Miss Granger know that I am here, and that we can leave now."
Its head tilted sideways and looked at me, and I could have sworn it was glaring . "You are very late"
"I don't bloody well care that I'm late. Now tell Miss Granger that her escort is here."
"I will, but you will see her before I do." I could have sworn the creature was laughing at me. Enjoying playing with me.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"It means while you were taking your sweet time, she left over half an hour ago." Its grin was toothy, and arrogant.
"Why did you let her leave! I'm supposed to escort her dammit!"
"Do I look like her keeper?"
I glared at it for all I was worth. It was a glare that would have petrified a student where they stood and reduce even the great Potter to a mumbling idiot. Too bad the statue didn't give a damn.
"Now what am I supposed to do?" I mumbled angrily.
"I could inform Dumbledore for you. I'm sure he could help," the dragon said with sticky sweet and completely feigned kindness. "Otherwise she said you could meet her at the Leaky Cauldron at three o'clock and she would 'forget' to inform the Headmaster that you failed to appear on time."
And with that, the dragon resumed its stance as I stared at it angrily. How dare she! The impudence of that child! Well, I didn't bloody well care, so she could sod off. It would be her problem if something happened to her. Stupid chit. I wasn't about to tramp all over London trying to find her. I could only hope that nothing happened to the girl while she was out, or Albus would have my hide.
He was ten bloody minutes late. TEN minutes! I was damned if I was waiting for an escort that I didn't even want. I grabbed my bag and walked out the door, following the secret path into Hogsmeade where I would be using floo powder to get to Diagon Alley. . I wondered what Professor Snape would make of the message I had left with the dragon at my door.
About twenty minutes later, I breathed in the fresh air and looked around. It had been a long time since I had been in this part of London. Well, first things first. I needed to get to the right shopping district. I found the bus stop, and hopped on when it came to a stop. Another ten minutes passed before it came to my stop. Let the metamorphosis begin...
I stepped into a gothic shop I recognized as one of my friend's favorite stores: The Black Rose Emporium. Surprisingly, I found a helpful girl who seemed to absolutely love the idea of making me over. I told her my sizes and she brought me around the store, handing me piles of pants and shirts. I tried everything on and smiled in the mirror, pleased with the results. Nobody would recognize the person in front of this mirror as the old Hermione.
I put on a pair of skintight silky black pants with zippers up the front and pockets down the sides. It flared into a bootleg starting at the kneecaps and had bondage chains crossed in the back. The top was a deep bloodred gypsy top with huge, sheer belle sleeves that had no back, but instead only laces. Cringing at the price of the bill, but knowing it was worth it, I walked out of the store completely satisfied.
I passed a piercing place and was about to continue walking when a wicked thought entered my mind. Mischief filled my eyes, and I grinned roguishly. That would definitely freak out a few people. I walked inside.
"What do you want done miss?"
"I want my nose pierced."
Get Ready Hogwarts, I am going to rock your world.
I was going to kill that girl when she finally appeared. I made my way to the Leaky Cauldron, shoving those out of my way who didn't move quickly enough. I picked a seat where I could see those entering the bar clearly.
"What'll it be, bub?"
"Fire whisky, on the rocks. Make it double."
The man's eyes widened. "Starting early aren't we..." He mumbled as he walked away.
That girl was going to get a serious lecture the minute I saw her walk through that door. She was so going to be dead meat! To be put into the position of babysitter by Albus was bad enough, but to have her talk to me as if she were my equal was even worse. She had better change her mind if she thought she was going to be able to sass me and get away with it.
I was still Severus Snape: most feared Professor of Hogwarts. She would not get away with this insolence.
Authors Notes: YEA! I stopped being lazy and decided that I was definitely over my vacation and that if was time to write another chapter for you people!
And yes, Eventual SS/HG
Thanks to my reviewers: Child Of The Gods, grangerhermoine, Miss Elvira, Celest-Wikit, queen of imladris, Smiles28, Damia - Queen of the Gypsi's, Angel5blue5, Wanna Huggle Edward Norton (Jonny Depp! drools) PinkLightning07, Innogen, Nerfi-Tiri, DanielLover00, Phynali, redlady27 (no I don't think Hermione will want to be mothered either....winks)