This is a point of view chapter...first Hermione's, then Snape's. I hope it's not too confusing :) I was going to write it as two chapters, but since everyone had been begging for longer chapters, I decided to make it all one.
oh yeah and...
Disclaimer: I DO NOT own these characters, nor do I claim
to. They are the property of JKR. I'm just using them for
my own hysterical fantasy world.
To say that Hermione was relieved, was an understatement. She had reached a point of relief that couldn't be described. Snape wasn't the one behind the attack and furthermore, he may actually prove to be an ally, which she desperately needed. Also, the horrifying pain in her head was gone. Hallelujah for that. Tomorrow she was going to meet with both Snape and Dumbledore to get to the bottom of what was going on, as well, so it seemed things were starting to look up. It appeared that now her only problem was the lie she had told the boys. She was Snape's apprentice, not his detention captive. Of course, that small little detail could remain secret until the opportune time. She had bigger fish to fry. She had only been at Hogwarts three days, and it already felt like a year had passed.
She changed out of her nice robes into her sleeping attire and wriggled into bed. Even though she closed her eyes, her brain wasn't about to let her fall asleep just yet. She replayed the events of the evening like a short film in her mind. Being Snape's apprentice was going to be hard work, but something told her that it would be work that she didn't mind attending to all that much. She secretly admitted to herself that she had actually enjoyed the time she spent with Snape this evening (only after she determined his innocence, of course).
That was another thing, too. Snape had allowed himself to be vulnerable in front a student. This was absolutely incredible. She knew he would have never done that for anyone aside from Dumbledore, and it touched her. He was honestly concerned about her fears and wanted to quash them immediately...and then there were the small, more personal gestures. The way he gently approached her when she started to fall. She knew now that he was only trying to steady her...and the way he helped her gingerly to the stool to sit. His eyes were full of concern, not hatred, except she had been too jaded to notice it...but perhaps the most surprising token of his kindness was when he wrapped her sweetly in his cloak and led her to his private rooms. Again, she was sure at the time that he was only trying to harm her, but in the light of this new evidence, she knew full well that he was only trying to help her. Who knew Professor Severus Snape had a caring bone in that severe...yet, surprisingly gentle...body of his. It was all really too much take. Yesterday she hated him, today she wanted to kill him, and now tonight, she wanted nothing more than to thank him.
As these thoughts circled her mind, she finally started to drowse. The warm blankets and soft pillows surrounded her and at last, she fell asleep. Tomorrow was beginning to show signs of promise and she couldn't wait to get there.
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Thursday morning arrived without much fanfare. In fact, it was quite miserable. The skies outside the castle were gloomy and gray. Rain was looming, but Hermione didn't care. As far as she was concerned, sunshine was just around the corner. She did the usual morning things...woke up, got dressed, fiddled with her hair and make-up, met Ron and Harry in the Common Room...and headed down to breakfast.
The bewitched ceiling in the Great Hall reflected the gloom that was outside. Hermione really couldn't understand why on days like these, Dumbledore didn't enchant the ceiling to be a bit more cheerful instead. No matter though. She chatted with Ron and Harry about how she had changed her mind about Snape being her attacker. She didn't want to go into much detail, because she knew they wouldn't understand...even more, they couldn't understand.
"So just like that?" Harry inquired. "You think he's innocent because he said so..."
"Well, yes. It was more than that, of course, but it's too much to explain, really." Hermione bristled.
"Then please explain," Ron piped up, "because I've got to hear this."
"Look, I approached him calmly and professionally," she lied, "and simply stated my concerns. He acquiesced to answer my questions and thusly proved his innocence."
"In English, 'Mione." Ron shook his head. "Honestly, sometimes I think you're mental. You're not speaking in front of the ruddy House of Lords."
"Hermione, do you honestly believe he is innocent?" Harry asked, completely ignoring Ron.
She looked him plainly in the eye and with all honesty and answered, "yes, Harry...I do."
"Then I believe you. I've never known you to be wrong before." Harry said with confidence.
"But if not Snape, then who?" Ron looked even more worried than before. "It's one thing thinking you know your attacker...it's another not having any idea who it could be."
Hermione shook her head solemnly.
"I don't know, guys, but I'm going to Dumbledore for help."
Harry grabbed her hand and nodded.
"That's exactly what I would do, Hermione. Dumbledore will figure things out, for sure."
A loud clatter above announced that the Post Owls had arrived. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all received something today. Ron had gotten a nice letter from his mother detailing the events of her trip to Bill and Fleur's new home in Surrey. It seemed as though Mrs. Weasley had grown to tolerate the part-Veela, part-snob, but that's about as far as her relationship would grow. Harry got a letter from Remus and Tonks. They had just returned from their Honeymoon and wanted to check in on Harry to see how the first week of school was going. Hermione received the early edition of the Daily Prophet, as well as a nice card from her mother and father saying they already missed her and that they hoped she would write soon.
She tucked the card in her school bag and began to read the paper. There was nothing of great interest in it today, and since Ron and Harry were busy discussing their letters to one another, Hermione decided to steal a quick glance at Snape. She didn't know why she was curious of his current actions, but she looked up none-the-less. When her gaze reached the teacher's table she noticed he had been watching her, too. Of course, when their eyes met they both quickly found something else to look at, as if the meeting of their eyes had happened quite by accident. She immersed herself in the Prophet and pretended to read. Instead her thoughts were racing. Why was he looking at me? Surely he really wasn't...or maybe if he was, it was because he was just checking to see if I had made it to breakfast okay. But why did he look away so fast? If he was just looking to see if I were here, he would have simply nodded? Right? Well, then again, I looked away fast, too, but only because I was taken by surprise that he was looking at me. She started to giggle. What on earth was she worrying about? This was Snape for crying out loud.
"What's so funny, 'Mione?" Ron looked at her.
"Oh, ahem, oh it's nothing. I just read a silly little article in the Prophet," she quickly thought of something that would bore Ron so he wouldn't investigate further. "It uh, was about the, uh differences between The Work and Families Bill for Muggles juxtaposed with the The Magical Law of Employment and Familial Qualities Bill for Wizards as set out by the Minstry of Magic...you see The Prime Minister and the Minister of Magic are at odds becau..."
Ron FINALLY had interrupted. She really didn't know how much longer she could ramble like this.
"Okay, okay...I think you can keep your little joke to yourself...honestly," Ron said rolling his eyes and turning his conversation back to Harry.
Pretending to continue reading the article that didn't actually exist, Hermione stole another quick glance at the head table. Snape was no longer there...for that matter neither was Dumbledore. Hermione rolled the paper and tossed it into her bag, told Ron and Harry she was off to meet the Headmaster, and fled the Great Hall.
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Severus Snape had been plagued by strange dreams all night long. When the tiny bell on the bedside clock started to ring, he was relieved to find himself in his own bed, in his own room. His night's dreaming had taken him on a rather odd journey. Granted, he was used to having peculiar dreams...Voldemort had definitely seen to it that his subconcious remained a wild universe. However, last night's dreams were much different than the usual 'in-a-graveyard-surrounded-by-a-bunch-of-overgrown-twits-in-rediculous-masks' type of dreams.
Instead, he was in a field of wildflowers, and wearing of all things, white robes. It was a little too hiddeous to bear. As he left that strange place, he found himself in a room with a young woman who's face could not be seen. In his mind he felt great adoration for the woman, but in his heart he felt horrible pain. Perhaps, though, the strangest of the dreams found him standing over a dead body. Again, the person was not someone he could identify, but it appeared all too realistic. He couldn't recall his emotions completely, but a sick feeling rose in his mind that made him think he was almost pleased to see the person dead. True, he'd killed people before, but it had been many years ago, and he had no intention of ever killing anyone again. He hoped the dream was just that...a dream, and nothing more. In any event, the night's journeys had taken a toll on his stomach and he was famished.
He got out of bed, showered, and got dressed. Pulling his over-cloak out of the wardrobe, he shook it to release the minor wrinkles. The moment he fastened it around himself, he was once again surrounded by the light scent of lilacs and soft musk. His sensible side told him to take it off and do a quick cleaning charm, but his impractical side told him to just leave it as is. The impractical side won.
Once he reached the Great Hall he took his normal seat next to Professor Flitwick. He exchanged courtesies with the tiny professor for a moment and then stood up the instant Dumbledore arrived. He strode over to the Headmaster and whispered to him that he needed to see him as soon as they had finished eating. Dumbledore nodded in agreement and took his seat. Severus returned to his seat and at once, the food appeared before all of them.
He was buttering a piece of toast when suddenly Miss Granger had entered his thoughts. He looked down at the Gryffindor table and felt a brief rush of relief when he saw her chatting away to those two imbeciles she called friends. He couldn't understand why a girl of her intelligence would associate herself with the likes of Potter and Weasley. Of course, there weren't many people in this school that she could compare wits with, so he couldn't blame her for at least picking friends who looked after her. He continued watching her for quite a while. Flitwick was running on about something unimportant, but Severus nodded every few seconds so that it would appear he was actually listening.
While watching Hermione, Snape thought about their first official apprentice meeting last night. The girl had barged in ready to crucify him and by night's end had proven herself as an intelligent and extremely capable young woman. Aside from all that, though, he was genuinely happy to have had her company. Not many people cared to converse with Severus Snape, and those that did (for example, Professor Flitwick) usually talked about things that were dreadfully boring. Not Hermione. She had matched him wit for wit, and even teased him a few times. As much as he hated to admit it, he was rather looking foward to their next lesson, tonight. He was glad she had agreed to meeting him three times a week, because he really needed to get her up to speed on all the potions. Classes had just started, so he really hadn't a lot of homework and tests to deal with, but in the coming weeks, he expected he would be swamped. He had been so elated to receive the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, but quite let down when he realized he would still have to teach Potions to the blithering idiots in this school.
The Post Owls had finally arrived, which was a good thing. Severus had been expecting a parcel from Hogsmeade. The students were taking their first trip there this weekend, and Snape honestly didn't want to venture into the shoppes with the lot of the school standing around. Instead, he'd decided to just order in. A very large tawny dropped the brown paper parcel in front of him. He deposited a couple of galleons into the pouch tied to its foot, and sent it away. Upon closer inspection, he found that the boomslang skin he had ordered was just perfect. Ordering in, it seemed, was the perfect way to go.
Hoping she'd be occupied with her post, Severus decided to check on Miss Granger again. He watched her tuck a colorfully decorated card in her satchel and then immerse herself in the Daily Prophet. He snorted. The girl was so smart, yet she allowed herself to read the drivel in that rediculous rag. He would be sure to call her out on it later this eveni...
Oh no. She's caught me looking at her. Must look away...quickly.
He grabbed the box containing the boomslang skin and pretended to be extremely interested in it. Oh yes, lovely boomslang skin indeed. Oh my, what a fine specimen. He looked back down and saw she was reading the paper again. Why had she been looking up at him? Could she tell he was watching her? Was it just a coincidence? Was she even looking at him at all...maybe she was looking at the candle on the wall behind him. But that's just rediculous, why would she be looking at a cand...Severus felt a hand on his shoulder. It was the Headmaster.
"You said there was something you wanted to speak with me about?" Dumbledore said softly.
"Yes Headmaster," Snape said quickly, turning to look at Albus. "But I must suggest that we discuss it in your chambers. I will follow you out."
Snape and Dumbledore left through the teachers entrance. Severus was hoping to fill Albus in on all of the details before Hermione arrived. Mostly, though, he wanted to tell Dumbledore about his strange dreams, and he didn't want Miss Granger to hear any part of it.
Next Chapter? (as if you don't already know) Dumbledore's office of course! He will get to the bottom of things, right...and we all know how Dumbledore likes to meddle. Hmm... wonder what he'll meddle with this time. Gee...I wonder. Thank you all so much for your reviews, I love it! Oh, and to all of you who are writing fics yourselves, go for it! I've been enjoying reading what you all have. You see, when people leave me a review, I look at your profiles to see what each of you are up to! If you have a fic on your page, I check 'em out! (Especially, the HP fics focusing on our beloved HG and SS.) Hope you're still enjoying it so far. Cheers Mates!