Chapter Twenty - In Mane (pars II) (Hermione Granger)
(The Morning After) (part 2)
Bright, autumn sunlight pierced through Hermione's closed lids awakening her from the best sleep she had had in months. She felt so warm and comfortable she was loathe to get up.
'Five more minutes won't hurt' she thought to herself, smiling.
Unfortunately, her five extra minutes of bliss only lasted for the few seconds it took for her brain to remember where she was.
Hermione sat up so fast her head swam. She clutched her cover to her throat and froze.
The room was silent.
"Professor Snape?" she whispered.
Still silence.
"Professor Snape?" she called again, more loudly this time.
When there was still no reply she relaxed a little and surveyed her surroundings. Looking around her she suddenly understood the reason for her comfortable sleep. The chaise longue on which she had spent the night was an elegant, green velvet trimmed with a light silver thread and antique silver buttons. The blanket covering her was basic, but thick and clean. Hermione blushed at the realisation that it had probably come from Severus' own chamber. Her hand lightly stroked the plush velvet chair arm and her eyes filled unwittingly with tears as she thought of the kind gesture and the professor's thought for her own comfort.
They had decided last night to try and make it work between them, but what did that exactly mean? Were they going to be 'friends', 'acquaintances' or (Hermione blushed again) something more?
Hermione thought back to the dreams she had had last night...
She remembered nothing solid about any of them except an overwhelming feeling of safety and complete happiness.
She looked at her watch and was momentarily panicked by the late hour until she realised that it was Saturday! She didn't know what time the professor would return (maybe he was waiting for her to leave) but she wanted to do something to repay his kindness for allowing her to stay the night.
The room was an awful mess. There were so many books strewn around that the bookcase was almost empty.
Standing up she retrieved her wand from the coffee table and began…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Just under an hour later, Severus' study was back to its former glory.
The bookcase was full again, their Firewhiskey glasses sparkling in the bureau and the beautiful chaise longue transfigured back to its old self.
Hermione folded the blanket carefully by hand and laid it on one end of the antique sofa. It was only then, when the room was finally tidy that she noticed the piece of parchment. It must have been knocked on to the floor when books were flying around.
She unfolded it gingerly.
'Dear Miss Granger,
I trust you slept comfortably. When you awaken please feel free to summon Pippy to make you tea or whatever you may require.
As decided we will try and work through our unfortunate connection. I did hope to discuss ground rules with you last night, but you were clearly exhausted.
I suggest we meet again as soon as possible. Please leave me a message or send an owl with a date that is appropriate to you. In the meantime, please ensure that you stick to appropriate student/teacher protocol. I would also add that you should NOT miss any more of your potions lessons unless you wish to fail your NEWT. I expect only the highest standard of work and commitment from my students, Miss Granger and I do not wish our predicament to interfere with either your studies or my work.
Please know that I am truly glad that we were available to sort this out in such an agreeable manner.
Wishing you a pleasant weekend.
Professor Snape'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hermione's eyes burned with hot tears. She had gotten it so wrong!
Certain words and phrases seemed to jump right off the parchment and smack her in the face. 'Unfortunate connection' and 'student/teacher protocol' were like the slashes of a knife across her heart. She sank down onto the sofa, her eyes now so full of tears that the words on the page were completely illegible.
She sat motionless, unable to move for what seemed like an eternity until her logical and determined mind kicked in.
She stood abruptly and wiped the tears harshly from her eyes with the heel of her hand. She scrunched the parchment in her fist and threw it angrily across the room, the only bit of mess in the now spotless study. She allowed herself one final glance of the room she had so admired last night and with a swirling of robes that Snape would be proud of, she fled.