Disclaimer: It's not mine, it's all J. K. Rowling's.

A/N: Annie Talbot and Machshefa are the lovely ladies who beta-read this fic! : :hugs: :

Chapter 10: Frustration

Hermione was disappointed when, among the letters she'd got that morning, there was none from Snape. She was really intrigued by the whole situation and looking forward to the answers to her questions.

Maybe the lack of response was actually a good sign. If Snape had answered right away, it could mean he was discarding her questions as nonsense, and thus, undeserving of answers. This delay meant he was at least considering answering them. So, of one thing Hermione was sure: Snape would write a return letter. Especially after what she'd been thinking since yesterday. Could this ring be Snape's?

The possibility had been playing in her mind. She didn't remember him wearing it, but she'd never really paid attention to Snape's hands before.

Liar… Her mind didn't let her delude herself.

How could anyone who had taken Potions classes with the man not notice those hands? It wasn't possible…. They were so elegant with those long fingers, executing precise motions….

Hermione shook herself to bring her mind back to the matter at, well, hand. There was a possibility that the ring could be his, and that changed everything. She had something Professor Severus Snape, the most unattainable wizard she knew, wanted, even begged for, in his own distorted way. Hermione was enjoying the power she had acquired over the infuriating man.

Power over Severus Snape…. Tempting, of course, but also dangerous, Hermione knew. What to do with it? Should she use it at all? In a way, she was already making use of it, but very mildly. Severus had been manipulated all his life; did she want to be another one abusive of power over him? No, she didn't. It wasn't for pity – he'd chosen to be manipulated, chosen to have those masters, and paid for those choices – but a sense of responsibility kept her particularly careful, nonetheless.

She left the hotel to spend her day discussing potions, which worked to make Professor Snape even more present in her thoughts that day.

In the evening, a letter awaited for her in her room. She went eagerly to read it.

Miss Granger,

Your sarcasm is amateurish at best, please spare me from it. Your infantilism disgusts me, but if answer to your childish curiosity is your price, so be it.

Hermione smirked in triumph.

I know the previous owner of the ring. You'd be disgusted with the story, so I'll jump to what I think your sensibility can take. The ring is indeed cursed, but I don't have any intentions of destroying it, much the contrary. I want it safe and where I can monitor it.

I know where you found it because, again, I know who the previous owner is and I was there.

These are the questions I'm answering. You're not entitled to a bonus.

Now, if I can have the ring.

Severus Snape

There was no feeling of triumph left by the time she'd reached the end of his words. Frustrating was all Hermione could come up with to describe this letter.

How Slytherin does he think he can get before I'm fed up with this?

Suddenly, Hermione felt stupid for even considering being cautious about using her newfound power over him. He didn't seem to hesitate in treating her like a foolish little girl, so why should she care about him?

Oh, if she wasn't too far to Apparate into Hogsmeade…. Snape would be receiving her visit right away. She would go there and force him to tell the truth, explain what was really going on, even if she had to resort to using Veritaserum.

If he thought she would surrender the ring based on those stupid explanations, he actually didn't know who he was dealing with.

In the heat of her indignation, Hermione penned her answer to Snape. She didn't even wait for the next day to send it, preferring to do that before going to bed. After the letter was on its way, she was able to enjoy a good bath and sleep soundly all night.

Coming next… Snape suffers with the implications on Hermione's letter.