A/N: So sorry it took so long to get this up! D: Life is picking up and I've been aiming/praying to do weekly-ish updates from now on (certainly not as long of a break as when school was in session). I've also recently been told about the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition (check it out on the forums!) and I've been thinking it'd be super cool to do. It would, however, probably slow my updates - but I'd still be going for a new chapter every one or two weeks hopefully!
I started this fic as a fun way to let the writing juices flow, and obviously I'm still having lots of fun with it, but this competition would be a great way to improve my writing so you guys get better content too! I've been seriously impressed with the number of people that actually care enough to read my stuff, tbh, and I wanna make it good for y'all 'cause I know I'm only just learning! :)
So, anyway, here's the abridged version: updates gonna be slower, but at least they still gonna exist. Tryin to make my writing better for the good of us all :D Thanks so much for reading!
Wide-eyed, Hermione tried valiantly to ignore Dumbledore's piercing blue gaze as Snape dragged her into the Headmaster's office.
"There was no need to meddle with the girl's portrait," Snape said without preamble.
"Ah, Severus, Miss Granger. Splendid to see you!" said Dumbledore cheerily. "My apologies, dear, I hope it didn't inconvenience you too much—merely an experiment, you understand."
Well, it had certainly been an inconvenience. She felt guilty for believing that Draco masterminded the prank, but her heart warmed at the thought that Snape had cared enough to interrogate his godson about it. That was what she liked to imagine, anyway—perhaps Snape had actually been hoping to gleefully revel in the source of her suffering. Even with part of his motives explained by Harry's mum's soul magic, the man was still bloody confusing.
Like right now, for instance. His angular features were shaped into an oddly stubborn but contrite combination and his tongue wet his pursed lips in a rare nervous gesture. She reckoned only Dumbledore was gifted with such an expression on a regular basis. She also reckoned that the action shouldn't have been as mesmerizing as she'd found it.
"It's alright, Headmaster. I'd appreciate it if you didn't try it again anytime soon, though." Hermione smiled ruefully. When faced with Dumbledore's benign eyes, her anger faded. Besides, she figured that it was well worth the trouble witnessing Snape's indignation on her behalf.
"Certainly, dear," Dumbledore beamed. "It has come to my attention, however, that you have been spending more time in Severus' rooms."
Snape bristled in the chair next to her. "What are you implying, Albus?" he hissed. "I acknowledge that I was lax in my responsibilities—" he sounded pained at the admission "—but not for that reason."
Hermione could only gape in surprise at the line of questioning.
Dumbledore held up a hand. "You misunderstand me, Severus. As Miss Granger has been frequenting your rooms more often—I am well aware of your extra teachings—it seems prudent to allow her access to the Floo at all times, particularly if you plan on making it a habit to return injured."
Tense silence, at least on her part—Dumbledore was maddeningly cheerful—followed as Snape deliberated slowly.
"...It has its merits," Snape finally agreed, relaxing back into his seat. She let out a sigh of relief that Dumbledore didn't actually believe that her and Snape were involved. That would've been terribly awkward. However, she was a little worried that Dumbledore suspected the contents of her recent inappropriate thoughts.
"I can key your magical signature into Hogwarts' wards, Hermione, so that you may use any Floos in the castle, much like the other staff members," Dumbledore explained. "In the event that a similar situation to last night were to occur, you will be able to keep me informed rather than leaving me to my own devices."
"Oh! It was not our intention to leave you in the dark," Hermione apologized. Snape merely scowled at the gentle reprimand.
"Of course not!" Dumbledore smiled kindly. "You both have been working admirably hard in the past weeks—I commend your dedication. However, if you wouldn't mind, Miss Granger, I'd like to discuss a few matters with Professor Snape."
"Certainly, sir. Have a good night, Headmaster. Professor Snape." She nodded at him and headed to her rooms—this time, hopefully, through the portrait entrance.
The weekend passed in a flurry of practice drills. Ron had effortlessly combined aspects of his role as Quidditch captain with his responsibilities in the DA; the Gryffindor quidditch team members were often pitted against the other half of the DA while being tasked with keeping possession of a Quaffle.
For once, the three Gryffindors were in reasonably good spirits as they relaxed in Hermione's rooms—Ron was enthusiastically regaling Harry with the teamwork displayed by Colin Creevey and Dean Thomas during one particularly difficult drill. She rolled her eyes fondly at the conversation—somehow, the boys always managed to involve Quidditch—but watched Harry covertly from her spot at her desk; he became noticeably less animated than he normally would be, and Ron's exaggerated gusto was a futile attempt at compensating for Draco's absence.
Hermione sighed quietly to herself, certain that Harry was once again feeling guilty that Draco couldn't be with them as well.
"You know, perhaps I could ask Professor Snape if Draco can Floo here through his rooms. After all, Dumbledore gave me free access to the Floo," she said casually.
Harry perked up immediately. "Brilliant, Hermione!"
She smiled indulgently at her grinning friend; next to him, Ron pretended to gag.
Nevermind that it was a convenient excuse to see Snape. She couldn't help herself—he was so interesting. He completed his duties without complaint, even when they came at a personal cost, and he actually treated them as adults capable of making decisions in a war.
It was also rather liberating to know that their relationship had progressed far enough that he allowed her to eat in his rooms when he could have easily kicked her out, although he still wasn't particularly friendly. Perhaps he'd be more forthcoming with the details about Lily's soul magic now, though.
Hermione tucked her schoolwork in her bag and jabbed a finger in Harry and Ron's direction. "No copying my essays while I'm gone," she said sternly and flooed to Snape's quarters before they could protest their innocence.
"Ah, Miss Granger, wonderful to see you again," Lucius Malfoy's slick tones greeted her.
Startled, Hermione whirled around to face him. Just like their first encounter, Snape was absent from the room.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Malfoy." Although she would have preferred to hear Snape's smooth voice, she tried not to let her disappointment show. "What are you doing here?"
"This isn't much of a social visit, I'm afraid. Severus has gone to fetch Draco now." Malfoy paced restlessly.
"Why? What's going on?" she questioned in alarm.
Malfoy suddenly stopped and drew himself up to his full intimidating height. His grey eyes stared at her calculatingly. "Severus trusts you," he murmured softly—dangerously.
"Er, I suppose so," she answered warily. Malfoy may be Draco's father and one of Snape's good friends, but the crafty glint in his eyes forcefully reminded her that he was not one to be trifled with—the Malfoys had earned their reputation for a reason.
"And Draco trusts you?"
"I'd like to think so." She spoke more confidently this time. She refused to be cowed by Lucius bloody Malfoy.
A satisfied smirk curled his lips.
She shuddered at his expression. Where was Snape? When faced with Malfoy's self-serving cunning, she dearly missed Snape's infuriating presence. At least she knew that Snape had their best interests in mind.
"I'm going to entrust you with some… sensitive information, Miss Granger," Malfoy continued, oblivious of her discomfort. "The Dark Lord plans on sending Severus on a mission with my esteemed sister-in-law. I'm sure you can gather that they do not get along very well."
Hermione shuddered again, this time for an entirely different reason. Bellatrix Lestrange? The mad woman who had killed Sirius?
"Knowing Severus, he'll return in a right snit after Bellatrix's enforced companionship. I believe it would be advantageous to us all if someone was aware of this and capable of focusing his irritation somewhere else."
She scowled. Was this a joke to him? "What are you trying to say here, Malfoy?"
"Simply that your overbearing presence should be enough to distract our dear friend from less pleasant matters," he purred winningly.
Now she knew where Draco had inherited his talent of annoying people. She crossed her arms. And to think she'd found the pompous arse attractive. "I'm sure Harry—or even your own son—
would be just as good at accomplishing that."
"Of course—who do you think Draco learned it from? He wouldn't be best pleased if Snape made Potter cry, though, would he?"
"Like that would happen," she scoffed, unimpressed. Malfoy merely shrugged, so she continued indignantly, "And what am I, hippogriff feed?"
His eyes widened. "Certainly not," he proclaimed. "I daresay you'd be dragon feed, at least."
Hermione rolled her eyes. Ruddy Malfoys. She was impressed that Snape had tolerated their presence for so many years.
"Hermione. Is something wrong?"
She welcomed the sound of Snape's voice as he entered with Draco, even if the man didn't sound particularly welcoming himself.
"Ah—hello, Father. Hermione, is everything alright?" Draco asked, evidently caught off guard by the sight of Hermione's vexed expression being directed at his father.
"Of course!" She hurried to reassure him. "I was just coming to see if you'd like to join us in my rooms." She glanced at Draco, then slid her gaze to the side to examine Snape's lean figure as he casually strode between her and Malfoy.
He inclined his head in greeting. "I shall send Draco through after our discussion," Snape said in a clear dismissal.
She nodded, quite willing to let Snape deal with two Malfoys on his own.
"Now, Severus," Lucius interjected. "I've already informed Miss Granger of the issue. Surely she could be of some use?"
Snape scowled at her and she shrugged. After all, she hadn't had much of a choice in what Malfoy decided to share.
"What exactly is the issue?" Draco asked impatiently, and Hermione was relieved when Snape dropped the argument against her presence.
"Bellatrix was bragging about being given a mission from the Dark Lord. Of course, her one complaint was that Severus would be going as well." Lucius sneered. "She is a talented witch, but even the Dark Lord is aware of her madness—she couldn't be trusted to go alone. In the meantime, I have been ordered to update him on Draco's progress concerning his mission with Dumbledore."
"Is He displeased?" Draco's brow furrowed in worry.
Lucius grimaced delicately. "If I could speak with my son alone, please, Severus…"
Snape frowned. "If you think that is best…" At Lucius' insistent stare, the Potions Master acquiesced. "Very well. Hermione, come with me."
Hermione trotted to catch up with Snape's disappearing figure, just catching a glimpse of the end of his cloak licking at a long leg as it slipped through the door of the potions lab.
"What are we doing here?" she asked, eyeing the steaming cauldron he was preparing with trepidation. Certainly he wouldn't spring a pop quiz on her…
"Although the Dark Lord has yet to summon me, I am inclined to trust Lucius's word. As such, someone will need to be available midweek to brew Lupin's Wolfsbane Potion."
His dark eyes examined her critically and she held her breath. Bugger! It was a pop quiz.
Narrowing his eyes, Snape barked, "What is the main component of the base of the Wolfsbane Potion?"
"Aconite root," she answered immediately.
"Why, Miss Granger?" He stalked menacingly closer.
Shite! The base should be stable for the other ingredients to build on, so if it was mostly composed of root— "The root absorbs any volatile elements?"
His glare didn't waver and, though inwardly grimacing at having been wrong, she stubbornly jutted her chin. Only when he was towering over her, with merely a foot between them, did she catch the amused twitch of his thin lips.
"You berk!" she exclaimed without thinking. Thankfully, this only caused his smirk to widen. "What did you actually want?"
"I do require your time; however, it will not be for brewing the potion. Did you truly believe I would let you work—unsupervised—in my lab?" he asked, raising an eyebrow mockingly.
She rolled her eyes to give her time to order her thoughts. "Of course not—don't be ridiculous," she lied baldly.
Snape snorted, clearly not falling for it. She was tempted to smack him or, more alarmingly, to snog him. Especially when all she'd need to do was rise onto her tiptoes…
"Unfortunately, Wolfsbane tends to spoil quickly once removed from the original cauldron it was brewed in. You'll need to come in everyday this week to decant a vial for Lupin." Apparently finished with having fun at her expense, Snape took a step back. She wasn't sure if she should be relieved or disappointed.
"How will I deliver it to Remus?" she asked, ever practical.
"I imagine Albus will invite Lupin back as the substitute Healing professor during my absence."
Translation: This is my plan, and Dumbledore better bloody well follow it.
She grinned. "You just don't want Remus in your rooms."
"That would be preferred, yes," he replied shamelessly, striding toward the potions bench. "Now, come over here so I can show you how to properly transfer the Wolfsbane."
Obediently joining his side, her grin didn't budge as she privately basked in the fact that he was quite alright with allowing her in his lab.
Whispers suffocated the Great Hall as Hermione took her place at Gryffindor table with Ron and Harry. Heads turned to follow Harry, only to whip back around when she glared disapprovingly at the rude stares.
"Did you see? Do you think it's true?"
"He's been with him a lot lately…"
"...I mean, I guess I can kinda see it now…"
Harry acted perfectly oblivious, though she knew better by his tense grip on his fork.
"Merlin, Harry, what'd you do this time?" Ron asked between mouthfuls of eggs.
Hermione frowned, catching sight of the bold headline on Neville's copy of The Daily Prophet. She snatched it from his empty spot; he'd just left to water his plants in the greenhouse as they were arriving for breakfast.
"Look, Ron," she said, sliding the newspaper over.
BOY WHO LIVED BATS FOR OTHER SIDE!
Ron spit out his drink. "Bloody hell!"
She sighed and waved her wand to clean up the mess.
"Informed by an anonymous source late last night?" Ron read out loud. "What's this rubbish?"
Hermione glanced across the Slytherin table at Draco's cool expression. "Harry?" she questioned.
"Malfoy's idea." Harry smiled with grim determination.
"Dra—oh," Hermione realized. Lucius Malfoy. That must have been what he was discussing alone with Draco last night. This was Lucius's plan to appease Voldemort? "Is it a good idea?" she asked uncertainly. Harry had always preferred to keep his sexuality under the radar.
"Good? Dunno. But it's the best we've got."
She grimaced sympathetically. He shouldn't have to sacrifice the privacy of his first meaningful relationship to buy more time in a war.
Harry seemed to know what she was thinking. "It's worth it," he said firmly.
"I understand." Hermione frowned up at Snape's empty chair. Clearly, Voldemort was impatient for him to begin his mission immediately.
What condition would Snape return in this time? He hadn't seemed at all worried about his own well-being when Lucius had announced Voldemort's plans. She knew, somehow, that he would have echoed the exact same sentiment that Harry had just expressed.
It's worth it.