A/N New chapter! Thank you for all your reviews!^^
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Allons-y!
Chapter XI: Their names.
A week had passed since the last time Severus Snape had come to her cell.
This time he was not friendly when he entered.
He was wearing his heavy Death-Eater robes and he had his mask in his right hand.
He came to her and grabbed her just above her elbow. He raised her and dragged her outside the dark cell.
"Come, filthy Mudblood!" he shouted.
And he tightened his grip, dragging her to his Potions laboratory.
They were followed by another Death-Eater so Snape didn't talk to her and instead dragged her violently through the corridors.
Hermione played her role.
He hurt her, but she knew he was just playing a role as well.
She was not scared because she knew that once they reached the Professor's room, she would be safe.
She was looking forward to it.
She was glad because she would be able to do something other than chores. She would be able to relax without fearing that Voldemort might sneak up on her.
Once in his room, she would be safe and with Severus Snape.
Just as she thought it, they arrived at the wooden door that hid the laboratory.
They went inside.
"Miss Granger, you look exhausted," he said as she sat on a stool. "Why don't you go to the bathroom? Take a bath, anything. You are not obliged to actually help me with my Potions."
Hermione appreciated this new side of her former Professor more and more.
She nodded and went to the bathroom she had already visited.
It was true. She was exhausted. All the stress she had felt these past weeks had finally worn her out. And she decided to follow Snape's advice and take a bath.
She stayed in the tub for about an hour.
She needed to rest.
During that time, Snape had begun to brew a potion. And while he was brewing he was also thinking.
He didn't know exactly why, but it hurt him to have had to behave so towards her.
He knew he was forced to act violently in public, but it hurt him nevertheless. He was not comfortable with this situation at all.
He hoped that the Order would succeed and eventually delivered her and all the prisoners jailed here.
He hoped they would succeed and he would be free to talk to her whenever he wanted and about whatever he wanted without fear of being discovered as a traitor.
Because he had grown attached to her. He did not want to admit it but deep inside him he knew.
He was eager each time he was to see her.
And sometimes while he was brewing or doing a research he would wonder what Hermione would think of it or if she would enjoy assisting him.
Another thing that proved his attachment to the young woman was that he thought about her as Hermione.
It has not been long since he had first thought of her as Hermione and not Miss Granger but it was a fact.
Hermione.
It was such a nice name, he thought.
Maybe he was not completely objective but he liked it.
He would give anything to call her freely by her given name.
He would give anything to hold her in his arms while whispering her name against her ear.
Well, maybe it was more than a mere attachment that he felt for her. Perhaps, he was attracted to her, her body as well as her mind.
It was on this thought that Hermione entered the room.
He was somewhat startled but quickly he relaxed.
She was so beautiful as she came into the room. She smelled so wonderful.
"What should I do?" she asked as she approached him near the cauldron.
"Nothing," he said.
"But I could help."
"You are here to rest. You don't have to do anything."
"Yes, but I want to do something. I do love Potions. I could help you. You know, I teach Potions besides Charms and History of Magic. Well, it's just the basics, but it is Potions. I've always loved Potions. I find it so interesting. And you were such a great Professor, even if you were not very kind to us. I always found you to be an interesting Professor. And I always defended you to Ron and Harry. They didn't recognize your talents. But I've always thought that you had great talents."
"Miss Granger, you're babbling," he said with a smile.
Again his smile.
He looked almost handsome when he smiled.
His smile seemed to lighten his face.
"Oh sorry," she said blushing.
"Well, if you really want to help me you can cut these roots or bottle that potion."
"Really?"
"Yes. After all you have your degree in Potions, haven't you?"
"That's right. How do you know that?"
"You're a member of the Order. I know everything you study. Moreover, with you being the brightest witch of your time and a Gryffindor, I never cease to hear Minerva praising you and extolling to everyone everything you do."
"She does that?" Hermione asked, astonished.
"Yes, she's very proud of you. Even more now that you're a teacher."
"I didn't know."
And he smiled again at her embarrassment.
He liked when she blushed. She was very attractive.
And again he knew a need to hold her in his arms.
But he could not, not here. And perhaps he would never be able to do it because there was no possibility that she would see him as anything other than a friend.
"Well, Miss Granger," he said as she did nothing other than stare at her shoes, "do you think these roots are going to cut themselves?" he teased her.
She definitely liked him. The greasy bat of the dungeons had a sense of humour and she liked it.
"Hermione," she said as she went to the worktable.
"Sorry?"
"My name's Hermione. Call me Hermione," she said with a smile.
"Okay... Hermione. Call me Severus then."
"Okay, Severus."
His name sounded exquisite on her lips.
He was so pleased by this new step. He could now call her Hermione.
Hermione was pleased as well. Severus was an unusual name and she thought it suited him well. She liked to pronounce it aloud.
As they continued to work both of them thought that it had been an excellent day.
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