A/N: Remember I said something about outside interference to get this romance started? Well, it's coming up, and I'm afraid no one has gotten who it is yet.
Hermione finished the last stitch and tied off the thread. After breaking it, she presented the newly restored Mr. Snuggles to his doting owner. Millicent hugged him tightly, and murmured through his thick fur,
"Thank you so much."
"It was nothing, Millicent. I had a cat when I was little, and she was always losing her tail. So mum taught me how to sew it back on for myself." Hermione put away her emergency sewing kit, and studied Millicent's face.
Millicent had snuck out of her rooms extra early that morning and come into the Great Hall alone. Hermione was just as early as she was, which was earlier than anyone except the Gryffindor quidditch players, who had practice. She had found Millicent cuddling her rabbit and looking so forlorn, Hermione instantly agreed to help.
Now they were still in the Great Hall, but Millicent looked a bit happier than she had. However, Hermione was very certain the bunny was not her only problem. She had managed to pry the story about the bunny and Snape from Millicent. How could Snape be so cruel to his own child?
"Feel any better?" Hermione asked Millicent gently. Millicent nodded and continued rocking her bunny. Hermione opened her mouth to say more, but at that moment Snape strode into the hall, looking for all the world like an enraged bat.
"Millicent," he thundered, and Hermione saw Millicent flinch. "How dare you come up here alone? I told you to wait for me!"
"But Hermione was here-" Millicent began weakly.
"Hermione is not responsible for your well-being," Snape snapped. Hermione wanted to tell Snape off, but she bit back her remarks.
"But-" Millicent looked close to tears.
"But nothing. You are confined to my rooms until further notice."
"That isn't fair!" Hermione cried, unable to contain herself. "You're the one who wouldn't help her fix her rabbit, so she stayed up all night crying, and came down here to find someone who would!"
"As I told you before Miss Granger, Millicent should not to be coddled," Snape grated. Millicent was crying now, but Hermione was determined to prove Snape wrong.
"Millicent needs somebody to love her! She's only seven years old!"
"An excellent point Miss Granger. However, Millicent seems have to decided to not be with either of you anymore." Hermione froze at the sound of the Headmaster's voice, but she was pleased to see Snape do the same. Then the meaning of his words hit home. Millicent was gone!
"How. . ?" Snape seemed to be at a loss for words.
"Oh, I'm sure Remus will find her and bring her back in a bit. In the meantime, I would like to see you both in my office. I think this foolishness has gone on long enough."
Hermione finished the last stitch and tied off the thread. After breaking it, she presented the newly restored Mr. Snuggles to his doting owner. Millicent hugged him tightly, and murmured through his thick fur,
"Thank you so much."
"It was nothing, Millicent. I had a cat when I was little, and she was always losing her tail. So mum taught me how to sew it back on for myself." Hermione put away her emergency sewing kit, and studied Millicent's face.
Millicent had snuck out of her rooms extra early that morning and come into the Great Hall alone. Hermione was just as early as she was, which was earlier than anyone except the Gryffindor quidditch players, who had practice. She had found Millicent cuddling her rabbit and looking so forlorn, Hermione instantly agreed to help.
Now they were still in the Great Hall, but Millicent looked a bit happier than she had. However, Hermione was very certain the bunny was not her only problem. She had managed to pry the story about the bunny and Snape from Millicent. How could Snape be so cruel to his own child?
"Feel any better?" Hermione asked Millicent gently. Millicent nodded and continued rocking her bunny. Hermione opened her mouth to say more, but at that moment Snape strode into the hall, looking for all the world like an enraged bat.
"Millicent," he thundered, and Hermione saw Millicent flinch. "How dare you come up here alone? I told you to wait for me!"
"But Hermione was here-" Millicent began weakly.
"Hermione is not responsible for your well-being," Snape snapped. Hermione wanted to tell Snape off, but she bit back her remarks.
"But-" Millicent looked close to tears.
"But nothing. You are confined to my rooms until further notice."
"That isn't fair!" Hermione cried, unable to contain herself. "You're the one who wouldn't help her fix her rabbit, so she stayed up all night crying, and came down here to find someone who would!"
"As I told you before Miss Granger, Millicent should not to be coddled," Snape grated. Millicent was crying now, but Hermione was determined to prove Snape wrong.
"Millicent needs somebody to love her! She's only seven years old!"
"An excellent point Miss Granger. However, Millicent seems have to decided to not be with either of you anymore." Hermione froze at the sound of the Headmaster's voice, but she was pleased to see Snape do the same. Then the meaning of his words hit home. Millicent was gone!
"How. . ?" Snape seemed to be at a loss for words.
"Oh, I'm sure Remus will find her and bring her back in a bit. In the meantime, I would like to see you both in my office. I think this foolishness has gone on long enough."