I'm sorry for uploading the wrong chapter, hit the wrong button
Thank you xmxoxoxnxy, Russian Flower, HermioneFan28 , notwritten , I'm home and Become's one with the story for the reviews.
I watched BBC's Pride and Prejudice miniseries today on Netflix, whenever I watch a period film or something of the like my inner voice picks up their dialect and accents. I have a feeling this may be picked up upon while reading this story. I'll say this, reading your reviews in eighteenth century British accents is very entertaining.
Disclaimer: my initials are not JKR, you know what that means
The rest of the week went by uneventfully. Hermione and Lily ignored one another, three quarters of the Marauders paid her no mind, and she had every class with Severus where they spoke to one another but very little thanks to school work and their naturally quiet dispositions. She had a few more late night talks in the common room with Remus which always led to questions about the future. And every time, Hermione told him that she could not remember and feared that she never would. Hermione began to worry about her friend who had begun acting very odd and was looking more ragged than usual. On Friday their conversation had barely begun before he excused himself.
Saturday finally came and the Gryffindor common room was practically deserted as was much of the castle. Everyone was outside enjoying the nice weather, a perfect day to go outdoors, but Hermione was reluctant to join them. She had no one to associate with now that Remus was acting the way he was and she was sure Severus didn't want to see her now. It was hard enough getting him to talk during class. Not only that but he seemed to be a little more antsy than usual though she was sure she was the only one to see it. From what she gathered from her classmates' attitudes towards Severus, no one else would bother looking.
He was an outcast; that was very obvious. Very few Slytherin students spoke to him outside of class and people from other houses didn't even bother to do that. Hermione understood what that was like. Despite everyone's immense curiosity about her they never went out of their way to include her in their conversations. She was a bookworm, a know-it-all, and declared socially awkward due to stereotypes and circumstance. Indeed, Remus and Severus were her only companions here. A boy too scared of offending his friends and losing their attentions and a young man who was too used to solitude at this point to think of changing his ways for one girl respectively.
Evening approached and Hermione searched for something to wear into the forest as her school uniform seemed inappropriate. Inside her beaded purse, which held all of her earthly possessions, she found many changes of clothes suited for the forest. She settled upon a pair of blue jeans, a light blue hoodie like sweater, and tennis shoes. Most of the clothes would never fit in here at school, even the muggle-borns would find her fashion odd but they were comfortable and they were hers, one of her few connections to a future—or should we say past—that she may never remember.
Taking her wand with her, she went to the designated meeting place for their little expedition. Unsurprisingly, Severus was already there sitting down against a tree bordering the forest as he read a book. His lank, black hair created a curtain in front of his face with only his prominent nose showing along with perhaps a glimpse of his black eye from behind a few strands of hair. He was wearing denim jeans with a black shirt and boots that all looked a bit worn.
"May I ask what you are reading?" Hermione inquired as she approached him.
Severus looked up from his small but densely worded book and nodded in greeting. He then turned the cover towards her as he answered. "The Studies and Breakthroughs of Vindictus Veridian, an accomplished potioneer and former Headmaster."
"Sounds interesting, he was said to be brilliant. Actually I think I saw his portrait in the Headmaster's office that first day."
"Ah yes, the meeting that sparked a thousand rumors to go with all the others. I wonder what scandal can possibly overcome your popularity," Severus remarked with a raised brow.
"I am not popular, just an oddity to speak of when there is nothing better to continue a conversation," Hermione countered. "How late do you think they'll be?"
"Slughorn will become caught up in some conversation as will Sprout and Gryffindors are always late, so I believe we will be here a while."
"Do you always point out Gryffindor faults or is it just for my benefit along with any other lion who may be listening?"
"It is a school rivalry thing, don't start feeling special," he quipped.
"Thank you ever so much for humbling me," Hermione said sarcastically, "otherwise I would have begun to think I was becoming a favorite of yours." The breeze ruffled their hair causing Hermione to pull a hair tie from her wrist to tie back her curly honey-brown hair. Severus smirked at her troubles as the breeze caused such a simple task to become a little more difficult before he responded to her.
"I'll admit that you have more sense than most Gryffindors, but that is it." The Slytherin then shrunk his book to fit into his back pocket as footsteps were heard approaching. The pair stood and turned to see Lily arriving with the Marauders minus Remus and unsurprisingly to either, James' arm was around Lily's shoulders.
"Hello Snivellus," the bespectacled head boy greeted in a false friendly tone.
"Hermione, what are you doing hanging around with that greasy git? I thought that maybe you only dealt with him because you had to in class," Sirius said. "You can't tell me you honestly like him."
Hermione's temper flared, "Look, I don't know what happened between you all but I will not be sucked into it. I can associate with whomever I please." Everyone, with the exception of Hermione herself, had a sense of déjà vu. It was like Hermione had taken Lily's place. Lily detached herself from James and went up to the brunette.
"Didn't you listen to anything I said the other day? We're just trying to help…"
"I did listen to you, Evans," Hermione sneered. "Rest assured that I have been sufficiently warned and have come to my own conclusions. Based on the story and my own experiences here I have fit you into two categories," she looked at the boys, "bullies," then at Lily, "and a rather fickle friend."
Lily's face grew as red as her hair, "He'll hurt you!"
"Then I will learn from my mistake and deal with it how I see fit, and trust me when I say that I will not look to your example."
Just then the two tardy professors came within sight and James and Sirius left with the later calling out, "Have fun, I wonder if the nearly full moon will shine through the trees." Lily and Pettigrew stood away from the other two students as the latter snickered over Sirius' farewell. Hermione walked back to Severus' side and leaned against the tree.
"Why do you defend me?" Severus asked quite seriously.
Hermione looked into his black eyes and answered. "I'm sorry if you didn't want me too. My temper got the best of me." She tilted her head thoughtfully, "I thought Slytherin's were supposed to be deceitful not our Gryffindor heads."
"We all have a little of every house in us. You never answered my question; why did you defend me?"
Hermione sighed, "Because I consider you a friend."
AN: I'm sorry it is so short but I am being called away and this seems like a good enough chapter on its own. The Forbidden Forest will come next time
