Disclaimers: I do not own anything from the books of Harry Potter and I'm certainly not making any money from this story. Everything you might recognise belongs to J K Rowling, her editor and Warner Bros. (Though as far as I know, the plot, and some minor characters, are mine.)
Summary: One usually says that "bright minds think the same", but do they listen to their hearts – especially when the minds are as stubborn as those of Severus Snape and Hermione Granger?
Author's notes: Okay, I've got something sad (?) to tell you. Since I started to post this story, I've been writing a few chapters ahead of the one I posted (hence I've been able to update so frequently), however, I'm now getting closer to the last one I've written so far. This means that I might have to start to update only once a week (Saturday) instead (if not the muses attack me with loads of inspiration) to have a chance to keep up with the chapters. The problem is that I need to write a chapter between two already written ones and it simply does not want to give me any ideas. Well, I'll hopefully have it taken care of rather soon. I'm really sorry and I'll do my best to try not to have to do this.
Thank you for reviewing my story. I truly, deeply appreciate it.
Candy04 – I'm looking forward to it. I hope I can live up to your expectations.
Fairy of Fire and Fury – I'm glad your computer is cooperating again. I'm anxiously looking forward to your reviews, but take your time.
Fi – No, he won't do anything since he's a Slytherin. He does know that he is supposed to see consequences and when he doesn't, he doesn't dare to do anything without consulting his friends since he's too afraid that he'll get into trouble. Sorry, if you don't think this makes any sense.
HermioneResilda – I'm deeply honoured to be the recipient of your vey first review on this site, though you were correct, I didn't fully followed your explanation.
Humanity74 – Forgive someone not native speaker, but what on earth is "sheare jeanyus" (not that I think it's English, but perhaps something slang / local I don't understand)?
MaddyAngel – Sorry that I didn't explain that again. Cara means the beloved / the precious one. Read the author's notes to chapter ten for more information.
Marie Verlaine – Hold on, something will happen though it might take a while more.
Velvet Storm – I hope this chapter will answer your question.
Bright Minds Think the Same
Chapter fourteen – Congratulations
Hermione had decided that if they were to pull of the Malfoy Revenge she'd better show up in Severus's library that evening. This way he couldn't use her hiding as an excuse if he got suspicious. She told her friends that she intended to spend the evening in the library, well, it was practically true, so that she would be left alone from all the questions that people usually attacked her with and added clearly that she hoped they took the hint and left her alone.
She headed down to the dungeons, luckily without meeting anyone since she really didn't feel like coming up with an explanation as to what she was doing there. She whispered the password to the library and stepped inside.
"I suppose congratulations are in order, Miss Granger." Snape said from one of the armchairs as she entered the room.
Genuinely confused she looked at him and said, "I'm afraid I do not understand what you mean, Sir."
"You see, I have just had a most interesting discussion with Miss Parkinson and Misters Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Well, at least the contest was interesting, listening to that group his hardly interesting and even less enjoyable." He paused a little before he spoke again. "And can you imagine what they told me?" he said mockingly. "It seems that Mr Malfoy is unable to understand the concept of consequences and even less able to see the consequences of his actions." Hermione realised that there probably was no point in trying to claim her innocence, but tried nonetheless to look at least a little surprised, which wasn't so hard since she couldn't understand why he told her this when it was impossible for him to have any proof. He continued, "And I can't help but wonder how this has happened. Malfoy is after all a Slytherin and this is not a position any of us would enjoy finding ourselves in." Hermione forced all her facial muscles to relax as not to give anything away. "Though I must confess that it is a most fitting punishment, it would seem that the lioness has a forked tongue. There is no need to try to look innocent, instructions from the school library, ingredients only from the students' cupboard and no remedy, your method was very cunning and actually quite admirable, but as always, Gryffindors can not lie to save their life, not even when they aren't saying anything."
Rather indignantly she answered him, "You repeat that phrase often enough, Sir, but you have still not produced one single proof for these theories."
"Neither of us are fools, Miss Granger. No one but you could have come up with this idea. The Slytherins might have been able to, but they could not risk getting in the receiving end of similar treatment, something Gryffindors can since they already are unable to understand the concept of consequences, and to get straight to the point, none but you and me could have made the potion - yes, Miss Granger, I do know about the potion, nothing else could have caused this - and I for one did not make it. Therefore, you must be the guilty one." He smirked at her.
"Excellent, Sherlock, but I'm afraid that your logic won't do as evidence." Hermione gave him a smirk of her own, but couldn't believe that she had dared to say that to him. She blanched visibly, she would get in so much trouble, but she couldn't stop herself from feeling rather content.
Suddenly Snape started to laugh, a deep genuine laugh. "Sit down, Miss Granger. You are perfectly right, I can not prove anything. I think I will have to tell the Headmaster to get rid of the Sorting Hat, it's no longer reliable." She sat down and it didn't take long until they were deep in conversation, only pausing when Snape left the room to make tea.
Thursday morning, Dumbledore heard a nock on the door to his office and when the person in question entered, he wasn't entirely surprised to see that it was Severus.
"Good morning, Headmaster." Snape greeted him as he entered. Dumbledore noticed that he seemed unusually peaceful, but as he was fairly convinced he knew the younger man's errand, he again wasn't very surprised.
"Good morning, Severus." he acknowledged. "What can I do for you?" Dumbledore asked even though they had this conversation every year around this time of the year.
"As you very well know, I need to refill both my and the school's stock of potion ingredients. This year there also happens to be a Potions seminar on Sunday which I would like to attend. I came for the formality of asking for your permission to go to Diagon Alley and purchase the ingredients and then stay the night to attend the seminar. I assume I will receive it."
"Certainly, you will be leaving early Saturday morning, I presume?" Dumbledore asked.
"Thank you. Yes, I will leave the morning after tomorrow and spend the night at the Leaky Cauldron as always. I will tell Miss Granger that her Sunday class is cancelled."
"That will not be necessary. You should bring her with you. It's important to know all the aspects of the field and I think she would enjoy the seminar immensely."
Snape pressed his lips firmly together before he answered. "But surely I can not take her from Minerva's and Filius's classes."
"Oh, they will understand. In fact they plan to take her to, what did you call it the other day in the staffroom, ah, yes, the convention for foolish wand waving. It's excellent, this way she will make up for the time she misses in all three subjects." Snape paled and Dumbledore chuckled. Yes, it would do the man good to try to behave in a civil way towards the young woman. However, this was not the reason that Snape had paled.
"I am afraid that I have only booked one room. There is nothing I can do about it." He knew it was a poor excuse, but it was all he had and he just couldn't stand the thought of being alone with Hermione for such a long time, not after the dream. Though he couldn't understand why, every time he saw her his heart raced and even now, the mere thought of her joining him to London made his blood rush to his cheeks, though years of practice made him able to keep the blush under control.
"Oh, I'm sure Tom will alter your reservation if you owl him. Don't worry, Severus, she's a very intelligent young lady. Who knows, you might even enjoy the company." the headmaster said with twinkling eyes. Snape gave a curt nod, knowing that there was no point in arguing any further, and left the office as fast as he could, his heart racing even faster than before. When he reached the staffroom he wrote a short note and sent it to the Leaky Cauldron. When that was taken care of he stalked down to the dungeons to start the first lesson of the day.
Snape spent the rest of the day in a foul mode. None of his colleagues dared to approach him and at the end of the day Hufflepuff had lost thirty points, Ravenclaw twenty and Gryffindor fifty, but it had still not calmed him. He did not want to bring her. Dumbledore was right, he did enjoy her company and he did enjoy their discussions. The problem was that the feelings with all probability weren't mutual. Her cheeks flushed with what he could only presume was embarrassment almost every time she saw him and sometimes her hands shook with fear when he was near her. This trip would be plain torture for both of them, but for very different reasons.
When the last lesson of the week ended, Hermione stayed behind as usual. She picked up some books she'd borrowed from the Potions master and the essay he'd assigned her from her bag and finally she picked up the vial with the sample of the potion she'd made during the lesson. She felt her cheeks blush when he looked up at her and she was sure he would hear her heart beat since it hit her chest with such force. She had again started to spend more time in his library, but still not as much as she wanted. Her housemates still needed her help and she was afraid that Harry and Ron would start to wonder where she was going and check the Marauders' Map and that would not be good. The only problem was her feelings when they were together. She had long since realised that whatever people thought of him, it wasn't true and this year she had also realised that she highly enjoyed his company. When they sat in silence reading their books or when she wrote and he corrected essays, she felt at peace and no matter what they talked about the discussions always were intriguing and she loved every second of their time in the library. The only problem was that he didn't feel the same way; to him she was nothing but an intruder who bothered him with questions. But why then did he let her come and why did he talk to her, sometimes far into the night?
"Miss Granger, there is something I need to discuss with you." he said while trying to rid himself of his thoughts and calm his breath. "Each year around this time of the year I go to Diagon Alley to refill the potions stocks and this year is no different. However, this year I will also attend a seminar. I will leave early tomorrow morning and return late Sunday night."
"So there will be no class on Sunday." It wasn't a question and he almost thought she looked disappointed, but that must have been his imagination.
"Do not interrupt me, Miss Granger!" he snapped, irritated at his thoughts. "I thought it obvious that there would be no class on Sunday, however, Professor Dumbledore seems to think that it would be wise to include this in your education, hence I expect you in the entrance hall seven o'clock tomorrow morning. Do not bring more than one suitcase." At these words Hermione rolled her eyes, like she would need that much. "You are dismissed. Goodnight, Miss Granger."
Again she had to suppress the urge to hug him, but she couldn't control the smile that lit up her face. "Thank you so much, Sir. I'll be there at seven. Oh, thank you." As she left the room, he let his head sink into his hands and he sighed. If that bloody voice didn't keep quiet, it would be a very long weekend indeed.