Chapter Seven
~ Granger ~
"What was that?" Ginny asks, finding her voice.
"It's not what it looked like… mostly," Hermione insists. "Please, before you start judging me, or… or hating me like everyone else, let me explain."
Her friend let's out a long-suffering sigh.
"Hermione, I could never hate you. And to be honest, after witnessing whatever that just was, I am supremely interested in what you have to say."
"Come on, let's go somewhere more private."
Hermione holds her hand out to Ginny and gasps in shock when she sees the redhead's bruised knuckles.
"Merlin! Ginny, what happened?"
Ginny shrugs.
"I may have broke Ron's nose before coming to find you."
"What? I—I really don't know what to say to that."
"You could say thank you," Ginny suggests, and then starts laughing.
Hermione chews her bottom lip.
"You really shouldn't have broken your brother's nose."
"He deserved it!"
"Well… yeah, he did. Didn't he?" Hermione asks.
This time both girls start laughing.
After a detour to the kitchen for an ice pack, Hermione and Ginny retreat to Gryffindor Tower. They climb into Hermione's bed and draw the curtains before casting a silencing charm.
"Alright, I have been as patient as possible… now what the hell was that?" Ginny demands bouncing up and down.
Despite her previous calm and patient demeanor, Hermione can tell it was killing the girl to wait this long for answers.
Hermione takes a deep breath.
"First, let me start out by saying Professor Snape and I really were poisoned the other night," she begins, "and if you want, I will swear a wand oath to that."
"That's not necessary. I believe you," Ginny promises.
"Okay, well you know the first half then. We were slipped a potion, I ran to the dungeons, and we were photographed kissing and disappearing into Professor Snape's office."
"Then Snape, sorry, Professor Snape, realized something was wrong and—"
"No."
"No?" Ginny asks.
"No, he didn't realize anything was wrong. Not then."
"Then when?" Ginny asks, eyes widening.
I am so not ready for this.
Ginny leans in eyes burning with curiosity, encouraging her to continue.
"Not until after he ripped off my nightgown, carried me naked into his bedroom, and then placed me on his bed where we had hot, passionate, unbelievable sex," Hermione says quickly, her words all coming out in one breath.
Ginny stops bouncing and just stares, mouth gaping.
"It wasn't until just as we… finished, that we realized what must have happened. We decided to go to the Headmistress in the morning to tell her about being poisoned, and that we kissed. We determined beforehand not to tell about the, uh, sex part because it would look bad for both of us no matter what."
Ginny finally manages to close her mouth.
"Are you… okay?" she asks. "Was it… I don't know… do you feel like you were f-forced?" she asks.
It takes Hermione a moment to grasp what the other girl is suggesting.
"Oh! No, I'm alright. It wasn't like that… I mean it probably wouldn't have happened otherwise, but I don't feel like I was— I mean I guess I don't regret it."
As soon as the words leave her mouth, she realizes they are true.
I really don't regret it… well, aside from the flyers part.
She tells Ginny as much.
"I keep thinking about it," Hermione explains; glad to finally have someone to talk to about it. "I can't look at professor Snape without reliving what we did."
"Now that we established you don't regret it… I want details! Was he better than that muggle?" Ginny asks.
The previous summer, just before Hermione took off hunting Horcruxes with Harry and Ron, she had a fling with the son of one of her parent's neighbors. He was cute, a few years older than her, and played guitar. She knew it was silly, kind of cliché, and he was not someone she would want a long term relationship with, but she didn't know what the future would hold for her or even if she'd survive the year, so she gave him her virginity.
It wasn't as romantic as she had always planned her first time being, but he was kind, gentle, and talked her through it. They spent a couple weeks together, trying out a lot of different things.
Once an overachiever always an overachiever, she thinks.
He was good, and she had fun but…
"There is no comparison, Ginny. Severus just looks at me and I can feel myself melting, and Merlin, that voice! I— I don't know if the potion heightened things, but I doubt it."
Ginny arched an eyebrow at her friend's casual use of 'Severus.'
"That good, huh? Who would have guessed? Professor Snape, sex god."
Hermione blushes.
"So, what was happening in the walkway?"
"I honestly don't know," Hermione shrugs. "He showed up and started comforting me about Ron. Somehow we got on the subject that if I wanted to kiss him I wouldn't care what others thought, because it was my choice. Then he, uh, asked if that was my choice, and you walked in."
Ginny winces.
"Sorry, I have the wonderful Weasley timing trait. I will say I don't think you're the only one still thinking about what happened."
"You think so?" Hermione asks, unsure.
"Uh, yeah! He was seriously about to cop a feel when I showed up. I'd say he's interested."
"I don't know…"
"Okay," Ginny questions, "what nightgown were you wearing? You know," she sniggers, "the one he ripped off."
"The red one," Hermione tells her, blushing again.
"Yup, that'll do it. He's definitely interested."
Both girls bust into a fit of giggles. When they finally calm themselves down, Ginny looks at Hermione thoughtfully.
"You know," she says, her tone serious, "it could work; you and Professor Snape. No, no, hear me out!" she insists as Hermione tries to wave her off. "You are both brilliant, love books, you already know you have awesome sex, a huge plus might I add, and you have a habit for nurturing which after the life he's had is a big bonus."
Hermione refuses to meet Ginny's gaze; she's already been over that list a few times on her own.
"I'm just the insufferable know-it-all."
"You used to be," Ginny corrects. "Hermione, you've changed a lot over the last couple years, I mean who hasn't, but honestly, the more I think about it the more I think you and Severus Snape are a perfect match."
~ Snape ~
What is wrong with you? Severus berates himself. Broad daylight and you attempt to feel up Miss Granger.
She wasn't protesting, part of him argues.
That is beside the point! Miss Weasley saw you, bloody old fool.
Severus would like to believe that there are somehow still remnants of the Amortentia coursing through his veins, but he knows better. The inappropriate thoughts and behaviors are solely from him.
At first he told himself it was natural to continue thinking about what happened, after all, it had been years since he had a proper bedmate. Even when he started fantasizing about new things he would like to do to Miss Granger, he attributed it to the lust of a lonely man and nothing else.
Then when he caught himself daydreaming about taking Hermione to London where they could share a nice meal before catching a play because he thought she would enjoy it, he realized he was in much deeper than he imagined.
You really are delusional if you think you could handle a real relationship… especially with a student.
She's of age. She shouldn't even technically be here this year. Plus, I think I've earned the right to be happy.
With Potter's best friend? You've seen how people are reacting to the thought of you two together.
Severus growls angrily to himself. His internal argument has given him a migraine. He retrieves a headache tonic from his bathroom and quickly downs it.
You should take a nap.
A loud pop from the adjoining room signals the arrival of a house elf.
So much for that idea, he thinks bitterly.
"What could you possibly want?" he asks the elf, walking back into his bedchamber.
"The headmistress is wanting you right away."
Severus throws the empty bottle of tonic across the room, and then, ignoring the startled elf, grabs a pinch of Floo powder and walks into the flames.
"What can I do for you, Minerva?" he asks, boredom and annoyance dripping from his words as he steps from the Headmistress' fireplace.
"Take a seat, Severus," Minerva orders, signaling the same chair he sat in the other day.
"I really don't have time—"
"Sit."
Severus sighs heavily and drops into the chair.
"What is this about?" he asks again.
"The results came back from Miss Granger's tin, and there was no evidence of any potion being present," she tells him, seating herself behind her desk.
He takes a moment to process the new information, dread settling into his stomach.
"And what does this mean for Miss Granger and myself?"
"I think you know, Severus. Without any evidence of foul play this must be presented to the school board and they will decide on which path to follow."
"In other words," he drawls, "I will be fired, and Miss Granger will be expelled."
This will kill her.
"Not necessarily."
"Please, Minerva, don't patronize me. I know there are plenty out there who still view me as a Death Eater, and oppose to me working here. This is their perfect opportunity to be rid of me."
"I know that, what I meant was Miss Granger won't necessarily be expelled. There is a way to save her that fate."
Severus arches an eyebrow at her.
"You could take full responsibility, Severus. Say you coerced her. The school board would go easier on her, and she could still take her N.E.W.T.s."
He doesn't say anything. He looks at Minerva appraisingly, just finally appreciating how like Albus she truly is, expecting him to be the martyr.
You won't be doing it for her… you'd be doing it for Hermione. You know you'll never be able to actually be with her, but you could at least protect her.
"I need to speak with Miss Granger, to let her know what is going to happen, but I'll do it. I will take full responsibility for the incident," Severus says.
Author's Note: Only four chapters to go! And i have to be honest... the next chapter is one of my favorites :) Thanks for the reviews, they are much appreciated! I will continue to post a chapter each day so keep an eye on your watch list!
