Thursday 'The Professor's Lair'
AN: My apologies for the slow update! RL got really busy. These things happen. For future reference, I will post open entries to my LJ if something is running late. If you are wondering – just take a peek there before sending me a message! You can find me at: .com/
Hugs and kisses as usual to my beta, Anachronistic Anglophile, and also a small wave to JunoMagic, who kindly offered her opinion on some stuff I wasn't sure about.
By the time Hermione arrived with Athena at Professor Snape's office after dinner, the ramifications of her compulsion to go 'home' had fully taken root in her mind.
I am about to invade the privacy of an ex-Death Eater spy. An ex-Death Eater spy who is also my Professor. The Professor who's made it very obvious over the course of six or seven years that he doesn't particularly care for my company. The ex-Death-Eater-spy-Professor-who-doesn't-like-me whose rooms I more or less demanded access to this morning!
As she tried not to hyperventilate at the situation she found herself in, it really hit Hermione that although the Professor retracted his fangs during the day to teach, Severus Snape was a dangerous and somewhat unpredictable man. In hindsight, it seemed like a terrible idea to agree to live with someone whose personal habits she knew nothing about. Her only point of reference for him outside school was as a spy for the Order, but when she had seen him during that summer at Grimmauld Place, he had been careful to preserve the distance that they were accustomed to at Hogwarts. This visit would be her first with him that was almost completely outside the carefully-monitored boundaries of student-teacher interaction.
That 'almost' represented a huge problem. Hermione really had no idea as to where she stood with the man. Everything her mother taught her about polite social interaction seemed ridiculously inadequate when applied a situation like this. What were the rules when approaching one's future spouse? Were they equals?
I'm in Rome, but the only Roman around is an irritable, sarcastic, uncommunicative man who--if his classes are any indication--enjoys watching people struggle!
However, despite her nervousness, Hermione could not stop engaging in wild speculation about the insight she was about to gain into the world of Severus Snape. Rumours surrounding the contents of Snape's private quarters were the stuff of Hogwarts legend. Such was their notoriety, Ginny had begged and wheedled Hermione for hours for a promise she would give a long description over breakfast the next morning. Though Hermione herself was far too sensible to believe the more outlandish tales, such as the idea that he slept hanging upside down wrapped in an enchanted cloak, she was certainly interested. Did he really have his own library and a secret potions lab in which to conduct highly sensitive research experiments?
When they entered his office, Professor Snape greeted Athena as usual and silently regarded Hermione with one of his unnervingly blank expressions. Deciding to forego any common pleasantries, he then abruptly turned to the wall behind his desk and drew his wand.
After at least a minute of solid wand waving, Hermione's anticipation and apprehension were such that she almost wanted to wave her arm around in the air just like she had been wont to do as an excited first-year. She was bursting with questions based on what she could see. Although she had quite a bit of experience with wards, courtesy of being on the run with Harry and Ron for much of the previous year, she could understand almost nothing of what the Professor was doing. It certainly didn't help that he was doing it all wordlessly.
As if he read her thoughts (Hermione shivered when she remembered that he very well might have), Professor Snape gave her an unsettling smirk and gestured oh-so-gallantly for her to walk first through what appeared to be a solid stretch of stone wall. Though doors pretending to be walls were fairly common fare at Hogwarts, Hermione was uncomfortable with this one. She really did not want to know what would happen to someone who tried to enter without his express permission. Eyeing the space warily, she could not completely banish the small suspicion that he might have deliberately left some unpleasant trap for her, just to bring himself some amusement. Slytherins were odd like that. She took a deep breath, reminded herself she was a Gryffindor, and confidently strode straight through the wall into blind darkness.
Hermione's first reaction was panic. The sensation was too similar to the time in her sixth year that Draco Malfoy had led the Death Eaters into Hogwarts. However, before she could begin to use her other senses to assist her, she violently started. Professor Snape was right behind her, muttering a spell that effectively lifted the darkness. Humiliated because she had not heard or even sensed him so close to her, she whirled around to face him.
'Is all this really necessary?' she snapped, angry and embarrassed at her own skittishness. She noted that Professor Snape led Athena into the room personally, his large hand clutching her much smaller one. Hermione huffed. Well, she thought, that at least goes some way towards explaining how my courage was upstaged by a child's!
A more rational second thought produced slightly different ideas.
Actually, she amended wryly, Athena probably wouldn't have minded either way.
It was very obvious that in many ways, Athena was very much her father's daughter. However, just as Hermione was beginning to feel a bit upset by this, her feelings were slightly mollified when the Professor gave her a sort of half-smirk-almost-smile. His eyes even flickered for a moment with what might have been amusement, though it was quickly concealed.
That might just be the most positive emotion I have ever seen in this man.
'Old habits,' he murmured, averting his face to the side for a moment as if he did not want her to see his expression.
Was he actually teasing her? It was the first time Hermione could recall seeing anything in his eyes at all. If the eyes really were the windows to the soul, the general state of Professor Snape's would hasten the conclusion that he had been Kissed by a Dementor.
Now that her fears had been proved entirely groundless, Hermione was finally at leisure to observe her surroundings. She smiled broadly at what she saw. It seemed Professor Snape did indeed have a secret Potions lab. On finding out that it could be accessed directly from his office, Hermione's only surprise at the security measures was that Snape had not chosen to further guard the chamber with blood magic. She would have been willing to part with half her personal library in return for the opportunity to poke around amongst the first-class quality potion-making tools that she saw neatly arranged in the lab. Unfortunately for her boundless curiosity, there was no evidence anywhere of an ongoing project. In fact, the whole room was so clinically neat and pristine that it looked like it had never been used.
'It's wonderful,' she breathed, too rapt with appreciation of the space to voice any one of the hundred questions in her mind.
'You will never attempt to enter this room without me,' he returned sharply. The bad-tempered Professor Snape she had known for six years was back. Irritated with his sudden return to condescension, Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. She was not one of the idiots in her class ready to run wild through what was so obviously one of his favourite retreats. Just as they settled into what promised to be a fairly intense glaring match, Athena made her impatience known. She stomped towards another section of wall before turning and frowning at her father.
'Let me through, Daddy. I want to use the loo,' she demanded.
With her gaze fixed on the Professor's face, Hermione caught the whole of his reaction to this pointed entreaty and openly snickered; his stunned expression was intensely gratifying for her to behold. If Athena's familiarity with the place was any indication, it appeared that Snape's future self had toned down his paranoia exponentially. Simultaneously tearing their gazes off each other, Hermione and Severus turned to face their daughter. Pedantic disciplinarian that he was, Snape only folded his arms across his chest and raised a questioning eyebrow at Athena, moving to join her on the other side of the room.
'Is that the correct way to address your father?' he asked softly, a clear warning in his tone.
'Will you please open the door for me, Daddy?' was Athena's contrite response. Hermione was impressed, but again a little put-out. Her experiences with Athena so far this week had mostly consisted of mopping up the deluge in the wake of an unstoppable force of nature.
It is so unfair. I'll never be as scary as Professor Snape, she grumbled internally.
Truth be told, Hermione was a little jealous. It was clear that while Athena had been ignoring her mother's existence, the Professor had already built up a quite a close relationship with the little girl. Apparently likewise satisfied with Athena's response, Snape touched the cold, grey stone with his fingertips and muttered a password Hermione did not catch. Immediately, the wall disappeared and Athena bounced into the narrow corridor like an excitable rabbit. Worried that she would get lost in the darkness, Hermione hurriedly followed, leaving the Professor to re-seal the lab door. She had almost managed to grab the back of Athena's robes when the little girl suddenly made a sharp turn. Athena led them up a narrow flight of stairs, taking them into what was unmistakeably Professor Snape's sitting room.
She was so concerned with not careening into the wall, it took Hermione a few moments to regain her balance and take a look at her new environs. Athena did not tarry, but disappeared through an ordinary doorway. She was obviously familiar with this place, so Hermione no longer felt compelled to follow her.
To say that the room was not what Hermione expected would be a vast understatement. It was bright, lit by several round, white globes that were filled with Merlin-knows-what and floating near the ceiling. Although most wizards still preferred to use candles, the reason for the Professor's choice became abundantly clear when she glanced at the walls. Every wall--save the one behind her, which housed a rather grand stone fireplace and an arched window on either side--was covered with shelf upon shelf full of books.
The windows were quite obviously magical. There was no way that Professor Snape could have a real view of the lake or the Forest-edge lawn from the dungeons. Except for a generous perimeter around the fireplace, the floor was covered by a thick, dark green carpet. A heavy-looking table made of dark wood and some comfortable-looking chairs near the hearth completed the picture. The whole thing was quite warm in both appearance and temperature, a far cry from the description Harry and Ron had given her of the Slytherin common room back in second year. In fact, the only features Hermione had anticipated correctly were the books and the not-so-subtle green theme in both the carpet and furniture upholstery. Unlike the Potions lab, this room looked a little more lived-in. There were neat stacks of parchment on the table, and a few strange objects that Hermione supposed were personal effects sitting at intervals in the bookshelves.
Hermione was not particularly surprised at very comfortable size of the Professor's quarters. According to Hogwarts: A History, the Heads of Houses generally inhabited the original chambers of their House's respective Founder. Although there was little documented evidence about the teachers' quarters in general—possibly due to lack of interest on the authors' parts—Hermione had done some research of her own and found a small footnote in a volume about the warding of dwelling houses. It said that the various nasty hexes and curses Slytherin had put on his quarters against Muggle-borns had been removed in the seventeenth century by a clever Slytherin Charms Master. Apparently, he had wanted to sneak his Muggle-born mistress into the school on weekends. Disregarding this past Professor's motives, Hermione could only feel grateful that the quarters would not present her any threat in that regard.
Hermione heard a noise, and she turned to see Professor Snape enter after her. As they came through what looked like solid stone to the side of the fireplace, Hermione noticed only the very slightest ripple in the illusion before there appeared to be no break in the stone at all.
'Where is Athena?' the Professor asked calmly. He seemed to have regained his equilibrium somewhere between the lab and the sitting room.
'I assume she is using the facilities. Professor—'
'—Miss Granger,' he abruptly cut her off, 'please use what common sense you possess. You are here to provide Athena with a home. As foreign as the concept may be to you, most parents do not address each other by professional titles. 'Severus' will do in private.'
Pleasantly surprised by this dropping of formality, Hermione inclined her head to acknowledge the unexpected favour, disregarding now negatively it had been phrased. 'You may likewise call me 'Hermione' if you wish.' She hesitated before asking the question that had been hovering on her tongue. 'Severus, is the way we just came the only way into your rooms?'
The corners of his mouth twitched as he elegantly seated himself in a green wingback chair near the fire. 'You are always so eager for answers,' he drawled. 'What will you offer me in return for that one?'
Hermione gaped.
Does he really expect me to barter for answers? What could I possibly offer him?
'Oh, close your mouth, Miss Granger,' he snapped, his good mood apparently as changeable as the wind. 'You may ask questions, but I may choose not to answer. In this case, you must have garnered from the security measures that I do not generally enter via my lab. The primary entrance is from the dungeons into a small foyer just off the corridor.' A flick of one of his long-fingered hands indicated the doorway through which Athena had gone. He went on. 'I did not take you through that way because I did not wish to unnecessarily flaunt our situation to any Slytherin students returning from dinner. Tomorrow morning, you will Floo to Minerva's office and make your way to breakfast from there.'
Despite the fact that he had actually answered her, Hermione had no more desire to ask questions. They merely stood and regarded each other in tense silence until Athena returned with a frown on her face.
'Mummy? Where is Hadrian?'
*****
Severus drew a blank when he initially heard Athena's question.
Now, just what did Minerva say we were supposed to tell her?
As the question had not been addressed to him, Severus didn't put a huge amount of energy into answering this question. If Granger's uncharacteristically gormless expression was any indication, she couldn't remember either. However, instead of helping her, he decided to wobble the cauldron a little and watch her deal with it.
The girl's reaction to the darkness was priceless. She might even be more fun to tease than Minerva. Less likely to have a heart attack over it, too.
'I haven't seen him either, Athena,' he said seriously, with just the right amount of feigned confusion. He added more pointedly, 'Merlin forbid that your mother lose the baby…'
To her credit, Hermione did not rise to the bait. Her face even lit up a little as she remembered the little story Minerva had concocted earlier in the week.
'Hadrian is visiting London. He will be back with us in a few days,' she answered calmly, appearing to ignore Severus' comment.
Athena thought about this for so long that Severus actually exchanged a glance with Hermione, wanting to know whether she had any idea what was going through his -- no -- their daughter's keen little mind. A surreal feeling hit him as he thought about that. Part of him actually wanted to work with the irritating young woman rather than against her.
He comforted himself by deciding that this desire was purely logical. Being Athena's keeper was far more taxing than an ordinary full-time job. It was definitely in his best interests to embrace Hermione's assistance as an excellent means of retaining his sanity.
'Why didn't we seem him when we were in London? What would happen if Mummy really lost him?' Athena eventually asked, a calculating gleam in her eyes.
When the bloody hell was she in London? The child must have delusions or a very faulty grasp of geography. I must remember to ask Narcissa about private tutors…if Granger's off gallivanting with the Unspeakables, I assume she isn't shouldering all her motherly duties. I flatly refuse to let some brainless Hufflepuff teach my daughter. I swear half the O.W.L. candidates still struggle with basic spelling and grammar…
Forcibly curtailing his devious thoughts as to future education plans, Severus leapt into the conversation. He had to ensure that Athena was very firmly dissuaded from resorting to even more extreme methods in her quest for the disposal-of-baby-brother. He shuddered to think of what she might come up with. Best to nip these particular ideas in the bud.
'Athena,' he warned, his voice menacingly quiet, 'if I ever even suspect that you have deliberately tried to hurt, lose or sell your brother in any way, shape or form, I will very angry with you. Is that clear?'
When he saw Hermione raise an eyebrow and struggle not to smile, Severus only frowned more deeply. The naïve Gryffindor had a lot to learn. Though the inclusion of 'sell' in that particular injunction might well amuse a Muggle-born, it was not without precedent. Daphne Greengrass had taken very badly to the birth of Astoria, and the family had been extremely lucky to get the baby back from the goblins.
'Yes, Daddy,' Athena replied, pouting. Apparently she saw no loophole in this injunction, either.
To Severus' great surprise and discomfort, rather than turn and glare at him as she had been doing at intervals since their dramatic scene in the morning, Hermione shot him a positively beaming smile after Athena's admission.
She's almost pretty when she smiles.
Totally unprepared for this little thought, which seemed to drift up lazily from the depths of his subconscious only to pop like a very vicious, evil bubble when it reached the surface, Severus gave Hermione a small nod back. He was desperate to keep up a cool and unshakeable façade in the face of such totally unaccountable feelings.
It's Athena's smile, he told himself frantically, it's Athena's smile in her bloody face that's making me so bloody insane.
AN: For want of a better phrase, 'to be continued…'