Authors Note: Hello again everyone! I think I may be setting a personal record for posting in the past couple of weeks! And it should contain some aspects you've all been asking for. Life is still crazy, but writing is keeping me a bit calmer. I just started my Emergency Medicine rotation, and it's my last one of medical school. Hooray! Now please keep your fingers crossed that I don't put my foot in my mouth in the next few weeks. I have an unfortunate tendency to do that when I'm tired and people annoy me. I succeeded last month in doing so. I'm a little proud of myself for that because holding my tongue is something I've been struggling with most of my life, and I managed to do so unless it was really important. The nurse practitioner (who only ever told me when I was doing something wrong) actually told me I would do well, which from her was a HUGE compliment.
Also, please check out my other story, "Building a Family." It's a Tin Man fanfic.
And as always, reviews are always appreciated. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own, nor have I ever claimed to own, any part of Harry Potter. It is the property of J.K. Rowling.
Throughout the rest of the week, Snape and Professor McGonagall charmed and transfigured objects in the castle to fit Ms. Salk's idea of a muggle school. They kept one of the suits of armor as it was, but changed some into plants or sculptures, and disillusioned others. After discussing the situation with the paintings and tapestries, they charmed them to show photographs of past graduations, headmasters, and winning sports teams.
"Can I help?" Hermione asked them the day before Ms. Salk's scheduled visit.
"No," Snape and Professor McGonagall replied together.
"But..."
"You're underage, Hermione," Snape said. "You're not supposed to be doing magic outside of school."
"But I'm in school."
"It's still the summer holidays. And I'd rather that you not have a part in using magic around a muggle." He paused for a moment, looking at her from the corner of his eye. "Weren't you supposed to be organizing the ingredient pantry in the potion's classroom?"
Hermione blushed slightly. "I was, but I took a break." Professor McGonagall hid a laugh behind a cough.
Snape glared at Professor McGonagall then turned back to Hermione, raising an eyebrow. "Oh?" He waited.
"I had to use the loo," she protested.
"On the second floor?" he sneered. "Is yours broken? Is mine? What about the loo just down the hall from the potion's classroom? Is it broken too?"
Hermione looked at the floor. "No, sir."
"Then what, pray tell, are you doing on the second floor?" He crossed his arms across his chest and looked down at her expectantly. Hermione didn't respond. "Hmm?"
She looked back up at him. "I was bored."
Snape rolled his eyes. "And that's a reason to stop doing your chore?"
Hermione looked down again, scraping the grout between the stones with her shoe. "No, sir."
"I see." He paused. "Then I take it this was just an excursion?" Hermione bit her lip and nodded. "Then I believe you should be getting back to your task."
"But it's so boring!"
Snape rolled his eyes again. "It's punishment. It's not supposed to be fun."
"But..."
"No buts. Please go finish organizing the pantry. Aunt Min and I will be finished in a couple of hours and then we'll have dinner."
Hermione sighed, defeated. "Yes, sir." She turned and walked away, muttering irritably to herself.
"Watch the attitude!" he called after her. The muttering stopped.
As Hermione turned the corner, Professor McGonagall let out a guffaw before doubling over with laughter. "You find this funny?" he asked her.
"Not at all," she said, unsuccessfully trying to control her laughter.
He rolled his eyes, about to continue their preparations. But he looked back at her. "Is this as funny as when I started teaching?" he asked sarcastically.
"Funnier." She finished laughing. "You and she are so much alike!"
"We are not!" he exclaimed, his face reddening.
"You did the same thing at her age." Snape stayed silent, choosing instead to concentrate on disillusioning a suit of armor.
oOo
At ten o'clock the next morning, Snape walked down to the gates to meet Ms. Salk, gripping his wand so tightly that his knuckles were white.
"Good morning, Mr. Snape," Ms. Salk said brightly, coming up to the gates.
"Good morning, how are you today?" he replied, then flicked his wand, murmuring, "Confundus!" Ms. Salk's eyes glazed over, and she didn't respond. "Why don't we just head up to the school then?" Ms. Salk nodded, and mindlessly followed him up to the school, through the front door, and down to the dungeons.
"Are we in a basement?" she asked after they had climbed down the last staircase. She shivered. "I feel like I'm in a dungeon."
Snape looked at her sharply. Her eyes had lost the blank look. Snape waved his wand, muttering, "Confundus," and her eyes regained their vacant stare.
They came to the door to Snape and Hermione's quarters. "Welcome to our rooms, Ms. Salk," he said, opening the door, gesturing for her to go before him. The almost drooling woman walked into the living room. "Hermione should be in her room working on her summer homework."
As if on cue, Hermione opened her door and walked out of her room. "Good morning, Ms. Salk," she said politely.
"Good morning, dear," she replied, staring at a point on the wall beyond Hermione.
"How are you?" The woman didn't answer. Hermione shifted uncomfortably. "Would you like to see my bedroom?"
"Oh, yes, that would be nice," the woman replied.
"All right. It's right in here." She walked over to her bedroom, Ms. Salk following her.
"It's quite nice, dear," she said monotonously. "Just what I expected for a girl your age."
They walked back into the living room. Hermione went over to Snape, and stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. "Uncle Sev, what's..."
He shook his head, cutting her off. "Later."
Snape and Hermione showed her the rest of the quarters, and then Snape walked her back to the castle gates.
"What'd you do?" Hermione asked anxiously the moment Snape walked back into their quarters.
Snape rubbed his hand tiredly over his face. "I can't tell you that."
"What? Why?" she squawked.
"It's none of your business," he snapped, anger over-taking his exhaustion.
"Yes it is!" she argued. "The whole visit was about me! I should know what's going on! Why was she acting so strangely?"
He gritted his teeth. The morning had worn him down, and now he was barely holding on to his temper. "No, it's not. You are still a child…"
"No I'm not!" she exclaimed indignantly.
"Yes, you are!" he said, slamming his hand into the arm of the couch. Hermione jumped, startled, her eyes wide. His features softened a bit. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's all right," she mumbled. "I just don't understand why I can't know what's going on. She's here because of me. You have to hide Hogwarts because of me. Can't I know what's going on?"
"No." His tone brooked no further argument. "You're twelve. By both muggle and wizard standards, you are still a child. And as such, I will not have you as a party in performing magic on a muggle. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Yes, sir," she replied glumly.
He sighed. "Hermione, I don't have a problem with you asking me questions. But you have to realize that you won't always get the answers you want."
As she opened her mouth to respond, there was a soft thump in the kitchen. "I bet that's from Ron or Harry!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I sent them letters yesterday." She jumped up to go to the kitchen, but then paused. "I can read it, right?" She looked at Snape with begging eyes.
"Yes, you may."
Hermione grinned and rushed into the kitchen. A piece of parchment with her name on it waited for her. She snatched it up and eagerly broke the seal.
Dear Hermione,
I'm sorry to hear about your parents. That's terrible. I can't imagine ever losing Mum or Dad. But let me get something straight. SNAPE is your guardian now? Of all people, SNAPE? The greasy git? How are you possibly still staying with him? He's awful! You've got to find a way out of there! I'll find a way to come and get you! Anywhere's got to be better than with him! Don't worry, Hermione, we'll get you out of there soon. I'm sure Mum and Dad won't mind having you. See you soon!
Ron
"Oh no," she murmured, folding up the letter quickly. How can I convince him that Snape's treating me all right? she thought worriedly. Will he even believe me?
"Something wrong, Hermione?" Snape said, catching a glimpse of her face as he came into the kitchen.
"No, nothing," she replied, trying to make herself sound calm. But her voice was too high-pitched. "I'm just going to go answer Ron's letter." She stood up and went into her room. Sitting down at her desk, she trying to think of a way that she could reassure him that she was fine with Snape before Ron could do something drastic.
Also, Happy Passover to my Jewish readers! Enjoy your seders!
And Happy early Easter to my Christian readers!