Disclaimer: I own some things that are from Harry Potter, but I do not own the series. That's all J.K.R..
Ch.11: Ring of Snapes
"Professor Snape."
"Draco." Severus greeted with a scowl at the sight of the boy's disheveled appearance. "May I come in?"
Draco moved out of the entrance way to allow his Head of House into the Head's Common Room. Severus couldn't help but give his student a sideways glare as he passed. He had watched as Hermione ran from the Hall, followed closely by three boys. He knew that two of them would be sure to take the chance to throw a few fists, but was unsure if his newly found daughter would end up in the center of a brawl. However, if Potter caught up with her, she would surely end up as a participant instead of a bystander. He had to know that she was alright, since he had not run into any of the four students in any corridor. And the dishevled appearance of one Draco Malfoy was enough to snap a few necks if she had the first bruise on her.
"Is something wrong, Professor?" Draco asked out of concern. Snape never visited unless something was wrong.
"No, not at all." Severus said in a distracted tone. "By any chance, is Miss Granger here?"
Draco shot a nervous glance at Hermione's door. Had his Potion's Professor knew that he was disobeying a direct order? He felt as if Snape was walking his heated snogging session with Hermione, by the way Snape was acting. "Yes, sir. She is in her room."
"Would you kindly retrieve her for me?"
Draco felt as if he was walking towards his doom as he approached her door. Never had he been so nervous to face a girl that he had just kissed for the first time only moments ago. A kiss that was very surprising, he thought. That girl is definately not a beginner. He knocked on her door, hoping that she had the courage of a Gryffindor to open the damn door. He just wanted her to come out, get rid of Snape, and start what had been interrupted. Her door cracked open. "Granger, Professor Snape would like to speak with you." She opened her door the rest of the way, making sure to not make eye contact with the boy who was causing disruptions in her emotions. She walked down the stairs that would lead her to where Snape was waiting for her.
"Yes, Professor? Malfoy said that you requested to speak with me?"
"Yes, I was wondering if you would like to accompany me to the Apothecary in Diagon Alley. I need to restock my supplies for our little project." He tried to act coolly, hoping that he was succeeding.
Hermione smiled. A thought struck her as she looked at his black billowing robes. Well, if I'm gonna hang out with him for the day, maybe I should look like him so that we don't attract attention by making people think he kidnapped me. "Of course. But would you mind if I changed before we left?"
He motioned for her to go with his hand. She hopped up and down for a second and took off towards her room. Inside her room, she swung open her closet and grabbed a black backless tanktop that tied at the center of her back, a pair of black pants that hung down extremely low on her hips, and a pair of chucky black boots. When she was done dressing, she examined herself in her mirror. Not dark enough for a day with Snape. She pulled a few stray strands of hair from her ponytail, before making the bulk of her hair messy looking with the sleek strands hanging around her face. With a wave of her wand, her hair turned black. Another swish of her wand, and her eyes changed into a vibrant purple. Without a second thought as to how she looked, she headed downstairs.
"What the bloody hell!" he whispered to himself, before rounding on a bewildered looking Draco. "You had nothing to do with this, did you Draco?"
"No, sir!"
"Okay, Professor Snape. I'm ready to go." Hermione chirped.
"Indeed. Come Miss Granger." Hermione stepped through the portrait that Snape had opened for her. As she passed him, her backwas exposed, showing off something to him that he would have never expect from her."What is that on your back? Please tell me that is a spell." he nearly begged.
Draco had caught sight of her back as well, when she passed by him. He followed her into the corridor just to get a closer look. He touched her shoulder, where her skin had been marred. "I don't think it is, Professor." Merlin, who knew she had it in her.
"Explain yourself, Hermione!" he demanded in a very fatherly tone.
"It's a tattoo. A Japanese scroll of the war. A memory, if you will." she explained harshly.
Severus softened at her bold tone. He knew that it would be too much to ask of her for the meaning of the five by seven inch tattoo trailing down her right shoulder blade. Anything that revolved around the war wasn't the best thing to speak of, especially for the students who had fought or suffered a loss. They left quickly as Hermione gave Draco an embarrassed look and a fast wave goodbye. When they approached the edge of the school grounds, Hermione's worst fear came into sight. She silently asked Snape to do a concealing chaarm on her shoulder as discreetly as he could before they passed by Harry and Ron. She pulled a scowl on her face that could almost duplicate her unknown father's. He began to wonder why she would have a problem displaying a simple tatttoo around her classmates and friends, when she had no problem letting him and Draco see it. By the time they arrived in Hogsmeade, he could no longer keep his mouth shut.
"Hermione? May I ask why you would requested for me.....?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that Harry would have spotted me in an instant. We have the same exact tattoo, and after this morning, I just don't want to face him yet. I felt better leaving unnoticed."
"A disguise. It's alright, Hermione, I understand. We all have our disguises. I have mine, just as you have made one for yourself. The dark look suits you well." he joked. He was glad when he was rewarded with a smile. "Come here." he commanded, opening his arms to apparate them to Diagon Alley.
Hermione did as she was told and stepped into Severus' awaiting hug. With a loud CRACK, they appeared on a small sidestreet off of Diagon Alley. They walked through the alleyways, chatting joyfully with each other until they came to a jewelry store. Severus walked into the shop filled with fine jewelry with Hermione following behind. She set off the admire an article that she had seen over the summer when shopping for her school supplies.
"Have someone keep a close eye on her." Severus whispered to a man behind the counter, as he passed by looking for his personal jewelist Upon seeing a balding man in heavy black robes, he greeted the man. "Hello, Parish. I need to buy another ring with my family crest on it.And I need it by later this afternoon. Can you have it for me by then?"
"Certainly, Mr. Snape. Is it for the young lady over in the corner." Severus nodded. "Very well. Which metal would you perfer?"
"Let's go with Platium, I think." he said, turning to Hermione. The girl had her face glued to a small case off in a corner. "By the way, whatever she is so intent on goggling over, I'll pick it as well when I return. Okay Hermione, time to go." He walked over to the door and held it open for her to go first.
They walked down the cobble street until they came to the Apothecary. An stout older woman greeted Snape warmly, until she noticed Hermione standing behind him shyly. The woman nearly knocked over Severus to embrace the young girl in a tight hug, as tears formed him her wise blue eyes. She mumbled incoherantly, which made the young witch scowl. The older woman pulled away Hermione to get a good look at her, but was surprised to find that the girl in her arms was wearing Severus' unhappy expression. "Dear Merlin! She even has your facial expressions. Severus Snape, how dare you not tell me that you had a child! Dear child, you look just like your father." Before she could say anymore to embarass herself or offend Hermione any farther, Severus stepped forward.
"Mother, Miss Granger is a student of mine."
His mother turned red in the face, "Student? Oh my! Forgive me, child. I meant no offense. It's just that you look so much like my son when he was young. I hope that Idid not embarass you."
"It's fine, Mrs. Snape. Anyone who knows your son, would think that we were related. With the dark hair and clothes, and the off setting eyes." Hermione began to explain. She liked Mrs. Snape, she was the only one who could probably talk to Severus any way she wanted and walk away intact.
"Eyes? Severus, explain yourself this instant! A student, indeed! You should be ashamed of yourself. If you weren't twice my size, I'd put you over my knee and beat you. Bedding a child, it's a disgrace!"
"Mother!" Severus exclaimed, face red with embarassment as Hermione stood by and watched in amusement. "As I said before, Miss Granger is my student, as well as a friend who is helping me restock St. Mungo's potion supply. Now go have yourself a cup of tea. I know what to do when I am done." After she left them alone, Severus picked out several ingrediants. As they went to leave, Sevrus dropped a small bag of gold on the counter for his mother.
Before they apparated back to Hogsmeade, Severus asked Hermione to wait while he picked up his purchase at the jewelry shop they visited earlier. When he came out of the shop, a small black box was clutched under his arm. A line of sweat was forming just above his brow, as he approached the spot where she stood. Hermione had never seen her Potion's Professor look nervous, but as he took each step closer to her, it was as if she was about to witness a Snape who was on the verge of a nervous breakdown crumble in front of her.
"Hermione....."
A/N: Awww, so sorry to leave you here. Actually I'm not, but maybe I'll
try to put up the next chapter soon. I'm debating on who I should have
Hermione have alittle romance with. Maybe soon I'll put some more
phyiscal interaction between everyone's favorite Slytherin and the
princess of the 'golden trio'. Who should be the one to tell Hermione
about the litlle bet? I want some input on this!
To HalfBloodPrince15: Oh you perv! No sex yet! Are you really lovin' my evil ways or are you just trying to sweet talk so that I'll tell you what's gonna happen? My first terms for Harry to give Draco was that he was gonna have to give Crabbe and Goyle a lap dance in front of the whole school. That's why I put "it only gets worse". I will lay out alittle abit for you: Blaise is going to be a main character, but not a big main character like Snape or Harry. He will be like Hemrione's boyfriend, a part that will tie into the main plot. He will always be an evil character who will play the part of a friend that wants to help. I have laid hints out starting at the first chapter. Can you guess how many there are? If you can find them, you will have the whole story! By the way, losers rock! I have a black beanie that says 'Dork' on it. And a patch that says 'I love geeks'.
Hugs from a fruit,
Cherry