A/N: I have a busy few weekends coming up, so I rushed to get the cliff-hanger resolution done and posted.
There was a bit of misunderstanding about what I meant by the Ginny/Dean subplot - I have no intention of going into any further depth than I have already. They are solely interacting characters, and will not be a main focus. But I think I have figured out which direction will benefit the plot, so thank you for offering feedback.
Bound to Him
Chapter 51
"I trust you'll see yourself out," Severus stated as he glared over his shoulder.
With a nod, Remus stood from the sofa and watched as the other wizard stepped through the emerald flames and disappeared. He cast one glance toward the door that led up to the corridor and immediately sighed at the prospect of walking the entire way back to his quarters. Though he had spent the few hours after the staff meeting lying down, he was only too ready to attempt sleeping again. His body was stiff and sore, but the fact that his brain seemed to continue running continuously made it exceptionally hard to get enough rest even when he tried.
Shaking his head, the man decided to forgo the trek and instead crossed over to the fireplace. As he reached for the tin of Floo powder, he happened to glance in the direction of the leather armchair and noticed a few books stacked on top of the end table. The uppermost one was perched haphazardly in comparison to the other two as if it had been set there recently. Uncertain as to why it had captured his attention, the werewolf frowned, but returned to his current task. He was just about to step through to his own quarters when he realized the book seemed oddly familiar. Exhaling loudly, he tried to remember where he had seen it before.
Hermione. She was reading that same title at the table in the Great Hall before she left to visit her parents.
Suddenly curious as to what sort of book would simultaneously attract two of the most intelligent minds in the Wizarding World, he let the green flames die out and stepped over to the chair. A slight smirk played at his lips as he read the title, realizing that the volume discussed the concept of shielding and magical protection.
So Severus was right about that – she has been reading up on Defense outside of the course textbook.
And then Lupin froze. There was a distinct water stain on the top left corner of the book cover – a stain which he was nearly positive had been in the exact spot on the book the girl had been reading. It was not just the same book they were reading; it was the same copy of the same book.
Picking up the tome, he opened it and then let it flutter shut. His nose crinkled slightly as he detected the faintest trace of the young witch's scent. He knew for a fact that it was not a volume that was housed in the Hogwarts Library as he had personally requested from Madam Pince a list of all of the Defense-related material available to the student body. Which means it has to be her book. So why the hell does Severus have it? Did he confiscate it from her? Why would he? It's not a banned book or a Dark Arts text – quite the opposite, actually. Or maybe she had left it somewhere, and he found it? He may not have known whose it was.
As he pondered the question, the wizard crossed his arms and stared at the edge of the rug for a moment. It was not until several seconds later that he realized there was something red poking out from beneath the sofa. Bending down, he reached out and snagged the small object.
His eyebrows narrowed considerably upon looking at the hair binder in his hand. In twenty-five years, he had only seen Severus tie his hair back a handful of times – all of which had been at Lily's playful insistence and had elicited immediate ridicule from James and Sirius. Remus very much doubted that the dour wizard would willingly do it on his own. And even if he did, it was highly unlikely to be with a vibrantly red one.
Nor was it likely to have curly brown hair wrapped around it. Curly brown hair that smelled like Hermione Granger.
What the hell is going on? Remus felt his eye twitch and his breathing rate increased as he continued to stare at the hair tie. His eyes then wildly flicked about the room as if he thought some explanation was written upon one of the walls. Except the explanation was pretty clear – Hermione had been here. In Severus's private living quarters.
The man ran a hand through his hair as he tried to wrap his mind around the revelation. It just can't be. It can't be possible! Severus would never allow a student into his personal rooms – he barely allows staff in! It can't be right.
And yet the evidence was in his hand. The book he could explain away, but what alternative explanation could there be for this? It was not as if Severus would have picked that up had he come across it on his rounds. Lupin slammed his eyes shut and sank down onto the armchair. Leaning against the armrest, he covered his face with one hand and tried to think of something –anything— beyond the obvious that would still make sense.
As he sat, however, he found himself going through every interaction he had witnessed between the two of them during the past term. Her frustration and dislike for the man at the beginning of the school year had been perfectly in line with the rest of her House's population, and Severus had appeared to treat her as he usually had. If there had been something inappropriate between them, he would have seen it, or smelled it, or something.
His eyelids slowly lifted as he realized that perhaps he had noticed something after all. It had not really seemed relevant before now, but there had at times been a hint of her scent lingering about Snape's office. He had just assumed it was because she had stopped by to ask a question or to get another vial of the sleeping potion Minerva had said the girl had been taking, or because she had followed the Gryffindor Head down there on some task. But now that he thought back to that night just over a week ago, he realized that he had not actually picked up on McGonagall's scent when he came for his first dose of Wolfsbane – only Hermione's.
Which means she must have been there sometime after Minerva. Been there alone with him. Remus could feel his temper rising upon remembering that he had found her there alone once before following her near drowning. It had not been terribly suspicious at the time, but in hindsight, Hermione had seemed somewhat nervous – as if she thought she had just been caught doing something wrong - and the Slytherin had been all too anxious to send her out the door. And then he had been quick to question Lupin's own intentions toward the girl.
As he had done so many times over the past few months. Even when the Defense instructor had brought concerns to Minerva in front of him regarding Hermione's possible promiscuity and pregnancy concerns, he had seemed solely preoccupied by the fact that Remus had inadvertently smelled her. The young Gryffindor had been the one misbehaving, and yet Severus had done everything he could to point blame elsewhere – and to warn the concerned professor to keep his nose away from his person.
And then there had been the Potion Master's reaction to learning that Hermione had been involved with the Malfoy heir. Lupin was beginning to think that he had let the nature of his own surprise influence his interpretation of the other wizard's. He thought the man had solely been shocked by the possibility of the girl keeping company with the Death Eater's son, but it was possible that his outrage could have stemmed from betrayal and jealousy as well. After all, Severus had looked first to the girl before Draco, and had seemed almost defensive about Remus's condemnation of Hermione being involved in an inter-House relationship.
"And any liaison between Miss Granger and a Slytherin must be a nefarious plot hatched by the Dark Lord."
"That isn't what I said." The werewolf sighed and wiped his face. "You can't tell me it isn't strange, though."
"No stranger than your continued interest in the matter," Severus muttered, removing his hand from his face and looking again towards the girl.
In replaying the memory, he realized that Snape had stormed out to 'investigate' shortly after the witch had abruptly left the Great Hall – and while Draco was still seated at the Slytherin table. His investigation must have involved a confrontation with Hermione during which he demanded she put an end to the interlude, which would explain Hermione's tearful apologies to the boy and refusal to elaborate on anything when Remus tried to ask her questions. And when he had gone to share his discovery with Severus, he had seemed more irritated at having his evening interrupted than surprised by the development.
Because he already knew! The werewolf all but threw himself out of the chair and began erratically pacing in front of the sofa. He could see the expression that had been on Hermione's face when he had caught her on the return from her late night rendezvous and had mentioned Snape's name. He could also see the flash of panic that had been in her eyes when he had come across her sobbing on the staircase leading down to the very room in which he now stood.
"You fucking idiot!" he snarled, kicking over the end table and sending the books in various directions. He should have started having suspicions then – at the beginning of October – when she had claimed to be desperate enough to look for Minerva in her quarters but had declined his offer to send the woman her way upon returning from Hogsmeade.
And how many times had Snape assigned her detention during the past term? Not just detentions in general, but detentions that he personally had overseen. And how many times had there been fur on the man's robes? Fur that was the same length and color as the girl's familiar. In addition, there was the exchange he overhead upon approaching the staircase on his way down to the staff meeting not seven hours prior. Hermione had not seemed the least bit intimidated by him as they held a civil – by Severus's standard, at least – conversation, and she had even teased him about his birthday.
His eyes widened in rage at his next realization. She called him Severus! She used his bloody first name, and he didn't so much as reprimand her!
"Bastard!" he growled, punching the mantelpiece. He's been sleeping with her the entire time and rubbing it in my face!
As his anger overtook him, he snatched a handful of Floo powder up with such force that it knocked the tin to the floor and then set off in the same path taken by the Order spy not long before.
XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX
"YOU GREASY, MOTHERFUCKING SON-OF-A-BITCH!" Remus roared as his fist plowed into the ribcage of the presently disoriented Slytherin. "The entire time, it's been you!"
"Remus, what the hell are you doing?" Minerva shouted as she raised her wand at the attacker. Unfortunately, the moment the repelling spell left her wand-tip was the same second Severus recovered enough to elbow the man in the side of the head and reverse their positions.
"Bugger!" she hissed when it was the dark-haired man her spell sent skittering across the floor. When Remus launched himself across the distance, she fired a Stunner at him. Though it very clearly collided with his shoulder, it did little to deter him from re-engaging the Potions Master in a physical struggle. Uncertain as to how another misplaced spell could interfere with Snape's likely head injury, she resorted to simply shouting at the werewolf while waiting for an opening in the fight to magically restrain him. "REMUS JOHN LUPIN! STOP IT! GET OFF OF HIM!"
As the Defense professor grabbed the collar of Snape's robe in an attempt to slam his head into the floor again, the spy broke the hold by punching the underside of the man's chin followed quickly by the inside of his elbow. As Lupin buckled in response, Severus planted a knee into his gut and then seized upon the opportunity provided by the paused assault to deliver a swift kick to the man's kneecap. Scrambling to his feet, he collected his waylaid wand from the floor and was just about to give the werewolf one further blow to the head when he was suddenly yanked backwards by the arm.
"Sit down, Severus," McGonagall snapped, pushing him onto the nearest stone bench. She then stood in front of him and folded her arms to her chest while staring down the man still on the floor. "Now what the hell is this all about?"
Remus wheezed slightly as he rose onto his knees and then immediately faltered as pain shot through his leg. Grimacing, he hauled himself onto his feet and tried to limp forward.
"Ah, ah," she shook her head, pointing her wand in his direction. "Spit it out from there."
Breathing heavily, he gestured over her shoulder. "He… he's been…sleeping with… student.."
"WHAT?" Snape thundered, jumping to his feet only to have Minerva extend an arm behind her and press him back onto the seat.
"Remus," she hissed with a glare. "What in Merlin's name are you suggesting?"
"Hermione Granger," he stated harshly, regaining some measure of control over his breathing as he shifted his weight onto his uninjured leg. "He's been taking advantage of her for months!"
Severus growled audibly and ignored the witch's attempts to keep him sitting. "You have no idea what you're talking about!"
"No, I really think I do!" the man returned. "All this time you've been accusing me of harboring sick fantasies about the girl when you've been the one preying on her all along! Tell me, Severus – did you rape her, too, or did you think you'd just collect on a debt for having to go out of your way?"
"You fucking idiot! You –"
"I trusted you!" Lupin spat. "I took your abuse because in some disturbing way I thought you were looking out for her – but you were just trying to protect yourself so you could keep using her!"
"Enough, Remus!" Minerva shouted, grabbing onto Snape's shoulder to keep him from reacting again. "Do you have any proof of this or are you just shooting off half-cocked again? Because I will NOT stand for you slandering his reputation with baseless accusations!"
Lupin shook his head. "They're not baseless, Minerva! I have evidence –"
"What evidence?" Severus interrupted nastily.
"Enough, Severus," the Gryffindor witch instructed in a softer tone. "We're not discussing this any further until we're away from the possibility of prying ears. Headmaster's Office, now."
When the two men made no motions to cease their glaring match, she rolled her eyes and sent a stinging hex at the greying wizard in front of her. "Now!"
With a huff, Remus began angrily limping toward the door to the corridor, and the witch finally turned to look at her friend.
"Do you need a detour to the infirmary first?"
Snape shook his head, wincing slightly at the pain that resulted from the action. "I'm fine."
"Severus, your skull is not meant to make that sound," she protested, grabbing his arm as he tried to move past her.
"The wolf is getting away from us," he mumbled, pulling away from her.
Minerva sighed and hustled after him. "At least let me summon Poppy to meet us there –"
"No," the man interrupted. "Not until we know how Albus chooses to respond. Poppy only knows the bare minimum, and we will keep it that way."
Growling under her breath, she bitterly stowed her wand and re-crossed her arms as they again caught sight of Remus in the walkway leading up to the seventh floor. A moment later, she cast a concerned glance up at the man beside her and whispered, "What proof could he actually have?"
The Slytherin shrugged in response, but did not stop glaring at the wizard ahead of them. "Beats the fuck out of me."
"He certainly tried," she murmured glumly. "I'm sorry for accidently hexing you, by the way. It was meant for Remus."
With a dismissive grunt, the wizard prodded at his split lip with one finger.
"I understand that he didn't have his wand drawn, but honestly, Severus," she chided gently, "you did not need to adhere to dueling procedure. You could have just hexed him –"
"It was not out of courtesy," he grumbled as they moved past the stone gargoyle, which was already standing aside in response to Lupin's bid for entrance. For that, Snape felt strangely grateful as he had no desire to admit to the Deputy Headmistress that he could not quite remember at the moment which sweet it was that Dumbledore had obnoxiously assigned as a password. Nor was he willing to share that he had responded with physical violence because it was more instinctual and required less mental focus than wandless magic.
"Then what was it out of?" she pressed.
His lip curled in irritation upon reaching the top of the spiral staircase. "A desire to pound in his face, perhaps?"
McGonagall fixed him with a look of disbelief. "Severus –"
"Good evening, Remus!" a familiar voice called out. "Severus, Minerva – to what do I owe the pleasure?"
The Gryffindor Head rolled her eyes as she stormed in through the office door. "Pleasure is not the word I would use to describe it, Albus. Remus has leveled some unsavory allegations against Severus, and we are here because it is your responsibility to straighten out these sorts of messes."
"Oh?" the grey wizard intoned, leaning forward in his desk chair. He sent a quick look in Snape's direction and, upon noting his expression, immediately understood the nature of the situation. "Perhaps we should all take a seat then. Remus, if you would, please explain what it is you suspect Severus of doing?"
"He has been sleeping with a student," the man snapped, casting a glare at the Slytherin. "To make matters worse, it's with Miss Granger."
"Miss Granger?" Dumbledore repeated with raised eyebrows and then turned to face his spy. "Severus, tell me this is not true."
Denying it for now, are we? Snape took in a pained breath and slowly descended into a chair. "Of course it isn't. I do not know what he thinks he's found, but he's obviously drawn the wrong conclusions. Again, I might add."
"You have not been engaging in an inappropriate relationship without my knowledge or consent?"
"Of course not!" he snarled, crossing his arms. "Anyone who assumes that I would is an idiot!"
Albus nodded in response and sighed. "Remus, why don't you share why you suspect otherwise? I'm sure there must be a logical explanation for everything."
"Forgive me, sir, but we are all well aware of what an accomplished liar he is," Lupin argued. "I would prefer to hear it from her."
"Very well, then," the Headmaster sighed. "Minerva, if you would fetch Miss Granger, I am sure we will be able to put this all to rest."
The witch gave a nod and turned to leave.
"Oh, and Minerva," he added, "it would probably be for the best if the girl is not informed as to the nature of this gathering until she arrives in case there are any concerns that she has had time to prepare herself."
"Of course, Albus," she agreed as Remus gave a relieved nod.
XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX
"I've said I'm sorry about yelling at you the other night, didn't I?"
Hermione took in a short breath as she flipped a page of her book. "Yes, Harry. Several times. I'm still not showing you my essay."
"I really am sorry," he stressed with a smirk. "Really really sorry."
She slowly raised her eyes over the edge of the book and fixed him with a stare of mock exasperation. When he tilted his head and blinked rapidly, she gave a small laugh and shook her head. "That really really isn't the least bit attractive."
"Is it effective, though?"
Rolling her eyes, she exhaled loudly and propped up her book again. "Not in the least. Honestly, if you spent the amount of time looking at a potions text instead of brown-nosing me, you would have figured it out by now."
"But you're the insufferable know-it-all," he teased.
"And you're the Chosen One," she returned, turning another page. As annoying as the boy was about completing his homework, she was beyond relieved to note that he had returned to his normal self. It appeared that Snape had been right after all as Harry had exhibited no further bursts of rage or despair while in her presence since he had woken up after lunch the day before.
Letting out a sigh, Harry set down his quill and glanced about at the stacks. "Fine. Would you at least direct me to the right book?"
The witch smiled and nodded before giving him explicit instructions as to its description and location. When he had begrudgingly stood from the table and went off in search of the needed resource, she pulled his parchment across the table and then dropped her jaw. They had spent hours in the library that day –leaving only for supper and a few rounds of defense practice in the Room of Requirement – and yet he had gotten no further than his name and a few vague introductory sentences.
He's just as bad as Ron. Tossing it back in disgust, she pulled forth her own notebook and proceeded to add another line of information to her massive compilation of notes on calculating the probabilities of natural events. Even with everything that had happened, she had still managed to complete her Potions homework far ahead of schedule.
As Harry dropped back into his chair and groaned upon opening the large book to see that the actually text was incredibly small. "Tell me there's an index to this thing."
"Mmmm, well I could, but I would be lying," she remarked without glancing up from her notebook.
The boy let out a whimper and sank down into his chair.
Hermione felt a small twinge of guilt for not helping him any further than she had since she knew that Harry was busy doing whatever it was with Dumbledore, but she also thought he should be accountable for his own work. Plus, she had promised Severus that she would not do anything for Harry, and it was his birthday after all. She had not had enough time or money to buy him a gift since McGonagall had only told her the night before – and she would not have known what to get him even if she had – so she could at least ensure that he had a poorly-crafted essay to obliterate with red ink. Harry generally ignored any comments on his Potions essay, but she figured Severus might find it therapeutic in some way.
Like blowing up his sofa. The girl rubbed her temple at the memory and sighed. She still could not figure out why he had been upset with her for fixing it, but she had considered that it might have something to do with what Minerva had hinted at before telling her when his birthday was. The elder witch refused to say anything explicit since she would not betray his confidence, but she had cautioned Hermione against pressing the boundaries of their relationship too far and had stressed the need for patience with him.
As if that wasn't brutally obvious already. The words on the page in front of her were beginning to blend together, and she yawned as she set down the book. Her discussion with McGonagall had further complicated how she approached him today. She had a sneaking suspicion that he detested the day, so she was not sure if he would appreciate being reminded of it. She had been concerned that he would have been irritated if she sent him a mental patronus just so she could wish him a happy birthday, but when he had come across her on the staircase, she could not quite resist saying something about it.
The young witch felt bad about not doing anything for his birthday, but thankfully, she had had the sense not to ambush him in his own quarters. She suspected he might already have unwanted visitors dropping by, and when he had curtly informed her an hour ago to continue keeping her distance, she knew she was right. Hopefully, though, Remus would leave before he aggravated Severus too much further.
I guess I'll just have to make it up to him next year, she sighed. A moment later, she froze. Well, that's a curious thought.
"What are you doing?"
Hermione glanced up at the intrusion into her thoughts. "Huh?"
"What homework are you doing?" Harry clarified.
"Oh," she murmured. "Taking notes for my Arithmancy final project."
He grunted in acknowledgement and then peered down at his book in disgust. "Want to trade?"
"Now, Potter – you're beginning to sound like the youngest Mr. Weasley. Surely doing a Potions essay on your own will not kill you."
Hermione smirked as Professor McGonagall appeared behind the boy with a stern expression on her face.
"There's always a chance, Professor," Harry remarked cheekily.
Minerva arched an eyebrow at him. "Yes, but I imagine the risk is severely less than the one associated with facing a Potions Master after handing in plagiarized work."
"Touché," he mumbled, picking up his quill once again.
The Deputy Headmistress snorted softly and then looked toward Hermione. "Miss Granger, would you come with me for a moment? There's something I was hoping I could discuss with you."
The girl narrowed her eyes in confusion, but nodded and began gathering up all of her supplies into her book bag. "I'll see you later, Harry."
As the boy offered a muffled farewell, she tossed her bag over her shoulder and hustled after her professor.
"Has something happened?"
McGonagall grunted quietly as she held open the library door. "You could say that."
"What's wrong?" the girl mumbled quickly.
The elder witch sighed and rolled her shoulders. "Remus would like a word with the two of you."
Hermione took a few seconds to contemplate the statement, and then her eyes widened in fear. "What?"
As a Ravenclaw student passed by them in the corridor, the Transfiguration professor dipped her head in acknowledgement and then pushed open the door to the Defense classroom. When the door closed behind them, she cleared her throat. "In the time it takes us to reach the Floo in Remus's office, you will forget that I have mentioned anything to you, is that understood?"
"Yes," she nodded emphatically.
"He thinks he has something that proves you and Severus have been having an affair –"
"Oh god."
"—but Severus has denied it at Professor Dumbledore's insistence," Minerva explained as they reached the staircase that led to the office.
The girl anxiously touched her forehead. "What do I need to do?"
"First and foremost, you need to appear entirely ignorant of what is happening upon your arrival," she instructed upon grabbing the office door. "You must also pay strict attention to what Professor Dumbledore says to guide your responses and to come up with an alternative explanation that will both fit the evidence and satisfy Remus. If that is impossible for you to do, Albus will figure out something. If it becomes absolutely necessary, we will fill him in on everything that has happened, but not until the Headmaster gives the go ahead."
Before she activated the Floo, McGonagall touched the girl's cheek and gave a tight smile. "It will be alright. Whatever happens, we will work it out."
Hermione took in a deep breath and closed her eyes as her mentor opened a connection to the Headmaster's Office.
"I hope you don't mind, Remus," Minerva stated once the pair of them had stepped through the fireplace, "I utilized your office Floo to save on time."
"I do not mind," he responded, glancing at them briefly before returning to glare at his former schoolmate.
"Thank you for joining us, Miss Granger," Dumbledore stated pleasantly, rising from his seat and gesturing to the empty armchair in front of his desk. "I apologize for interrupting your evening."
"It's alright," she mumbled, glancing about the room nervously as she set down her bag and descended into the seat. After taking in the rough appearances of both of the younger professors – and noticing that Severus was purposely ignoring her presence – she swallowed and looked to the Headmaster. "Is something wrong, sir? Professor McGonagall said it was urgent, but that she couldn't say anything else. Are my parents alright? Did something happen to them?"
From her position at the fireplace, Minerva glanced over Remus's head and smirked as she briefly caught Severus's eye. Her smug expression quickly faded into concern, however, when she noticed a brief flicker of pain flash across his face when he shifted in his seat.
"No, no," Albus shook his head, reclaiming his chair. "As far as I am aware, your parents are perfectly safe. I do not believe there is any need to be concerned over that at the present moment."
Nodding in relief, she glanced at each of her professors in turn so as not to draw attention to her visual assessment of Snape's injuries. There was blood on his lip, he appeared to be favoring his right side as he leaned against the armrest, and he was pressing his fingertips to his head as though he had a headache. Noticing that Remus appeared just as uncomfortable in his chair, she met McGonagall's pointed gaze and then turned back to Dumbledore. "Are they alright, sir? What happened?"
"A disagreement amongst friends, my dear," he replied with a twinkle as Snape audibly scoffed. "One for which, I hope, you may provide a resolution."
"Me?" she stammered with wide eyes. "How can I resolve it?"
Dumbledore cleared his throat and steepled his fingers. "I mean you no offense, Miss Granger, but I must ask and I'm afraid that there really is no delicate way to handle it. Have you at any time during your enrollment here engaged in an unsanctioned relationship with Professor Snape?"
Hermione leaned forward as she forced her eyes to widen and her jaw to drop. "Ex-excuse me? Have I what?"
"Have you entered into an unauthorized relationship with Professor Snape?" he rephrased calmly.
"You think I've been… that I've…" she shook her head in disbelief. "With Professor Snape? You have to be joking!"
As the Headmaster continued to silently hold his gaze, she let out an anxious breath as her gaze flitted toward each of her professors. "You are joking, right? You don't actually think… Professor, please tell them it isn't true."
"If you would please answer the question, Hermione," Lupin stated quietly as she pleadingly stared at Snape.
"No! My answer is no!" she shook her head, locking eyes with him. "How could you possibly think otherwise?"
As Remus flinched slightly, the student whirled back to face the Headmaster. "I swear, sir – I don't know why you think such a thing of me, but it isn't true!"
"Professor Snape has not abused his role as a teacher or protector to influence you into –"
"No," she interrupted with another shake of her head. "He hasn't abused his role nor has he influenced me into doing anything unsanctioned."
Albus gave an encouraging smile and rested his elbows on the armrests of his chair. "And he has not over-stepped his bounds during your private lessons?"
"No, he –"
"Private lessons?" the Defense instructor queried, straightening slightly in his chair.
"I suppose you didn't bother to think of that," Snape sneered as he continued to rub his forehead.
"I don't recall it being appropriate to host Potions lessons in your personal quarters," Remus countered with a glare.
Hermione raised an eyebrow and donned a confused tone. "His quarters? Why would you think I've been there?"
The werewolf eventually tore his eyes from the wizard and softened his gaze and voice when answering her question. "I found your book there."
Severus dropped his hand back into his lap and raised an eyebrow. "What book?"
"The one on defensive charms," he replied. "Contego, I believe it was called."
The Slytherin let out an irritated sigh. "If your furriness had bothered to check the inside of the front cover, you would have seen that the name inscribed there is Eileen Prince, not Hermione Granger."
"Who?"
"His mother," Minerva responded.
Remus raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Then why did she have it? I saw her reading it a few weeks ago."
"Because he loaned it to me!" Hermione interjected, cutting off a scathing remark from the dark-haired wizard. "He's given me a number of books to read in conjunction with our lessons. That was one of the two I read over the holiday and I gave it back to him after I returned from visiting my parents."
Remus glanced between the two of them and then frowned. "Wait, what does defensive shielding have to do with Potions?"
"That question is precisely why I am the Potions Master and you are not," Snape grumbled, crossing his arms and then wincing at the contact with his ribs. Ignoring the sudden looks of concern from the two Gryffindor witches, he kept his eyes focused on the werewolf. "That being said, unlike the majority of her House, Miss Granger is not in need of private Potions lessons. She is, however, in need of guidance in the area of personal defense."
"You're giving her Defense lessons?"
Severus rolled his eyes. "Always quick on the uptake."
With narrowed eyes, the other wizard dug into his pocket. "That still doesn't explain this!"
"A hair tie?" Hermione questioned after having risen out of her seat to view the object he held.
"It was in your sitting room, Severus," he replied, a challenging look on his face. "I know it's hers."
Before the Slytherin had a chance to reply, the young witch plucked the item from Remus's hand and shook her head. "I don't know why it was there, but I haven't actually used it in a while because it's nearly ready to snap. I usually give them to Crooks when they wear out since he always tries to steal them anyway."
"Oh," McGonagall startled, touching her neck. "I suppose that might be my fault then."
"Your fault?" Hermione asked, glancing at her in honest surprise.
"Erm, yes," the elder witch nodded, glancing somewhat sheepishly in Severus's direction. "I had noticed, Miss Granger, that your familiar has developed a fondness of sorts for Professor Snape, so I elicited his help in making his birthday as torturous an affair as it could be. He spent the better part of the day chasing things about the room – "
"And destroying everything he could get his mangy paws on," the spy added.
"—so I imagine he happened to leave behind one of his toys."
Muttering an expletive under his breath, Snape closed his eyes and covered them with one hand in an attempt to block out the light that was burning at his eyes. "Is there anything else you thought you'd unearthed while playing bloodhound, or can we be done with this farce?"
Visibly stunned, Remus stared at the floor as he tried to comprehend just where everything had taken a horrible turn in his head. It had all made so much sense before, but now not only was it not the only possible scenario; it also seemed much less likely. Unless the girl was a much better actress than anyone had imagined and Severus was that easy to misread, his assumption that the two were sexually involved appeared to be entirely unfounded.
"I guess that was all," he sighed, shaking his head in astonishment.
"That was all?" Snape bellowed, grimacing at the sound of his own voice as he dropped his hand. "A loaned book and something the cat dragged in? That's what led you to believe that I was victimizing a student, and that Miss Granger had allowed herself to be coerced into my bed? That was all?"
Lupin shirked back in his chair and shrugged his uninjured arm defensively as he stammered, "It just made sense –"
"It just made sense?" he mocked angrily, ignoring the searing pain in his left side as he leaned over the armrest. "Why? Because I'm a nasty Death Eater who preys on the weak, and she's an assault victim acting out? That must be it!"
"Severus!" Dumbledore and McGonagall warned in unison, while the werewolf blanched.
"It wasn't like that!" he protested, snapping his gaze toward the girl who was staring at him with a genuinely hurt expression on her face. "Hermione, I swear that wasn't what I was thinking."
Not fully certain as to why the remark stung so violently, the girl bit down on her lower lip to keep it from trembling. Averting her eyes from the man's pleading gaze, she turned to the Headmaster and wrapped her arms about her waist. As her face flushed, she felt suddenly sick to her stomach, and her voice came out in little more than a whisper. "Am I allowed to leave now, sir?"
Albus held a sad gaze as he nodded. "You may go if you desire. I apologize for the ruined evening."
Hermione gave a soft grunt in response as she picked up her book bag from the floor. Without so much a glance in either Severus's or Remus's direction, she quickly made for the exit.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Minerva inhaled deeply and pushed away from the mantel. "As soon as the matter is resolved, Albus, see to it that Severus makes it to the infirmary straightaway. I have no doubt he is suffering from a concussion, but there are likely further injuries."
Dumbledore gave a nod of acknowledgement as his Deputy made for the door and headed after the girl. "Remus, if you have no further complaints, I think it would be wise to send the both of you for medical examination. I have a feeling that Poppy will have plenty to keep her busy tonight."
Without waiting to hear the man's response, Snape rose from his chair and began moving toward the fireplace. The fact that the room was beginning to spin slightly due to the pressure in his head – as well as his regret over offending Hermione through his angry response – nullified any joy he may have otherwise experienced at seeing the werewolf struggling to maneuver out of his chair with an injured arm and leg on opposite sides of his body.
Despite his head already feeling as though it were going to explode, he pulled together enough focus to unsilence their connection. 'Hermione, I am sorry.'
When her responding thoughts overwhelmingly conveyed her desire for him to leave her alone, he closed his eyes and recast the mental silencio before reaching for the Floo powder.
XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX
"The poor thing," the Fat Lady sighed at the approach of the Gryffindor Head of House. "She looks positively miserable."
Minerva nodded in understanding and quickly gave the password, stepping through the entrance as soon as the portrait swung open. The Common Room was empty save for the ginger cat leaping down from his perch in one of the windows. As the creature met her at the base of the girls' dormitory staircase, she glanced down and gave him a stern look. "You certainly caused more trouble than I asked you to, young man."
With a swish of his tail, Crookshanks bounded up the remainder of the stairs and nudged open the door to the Prefects' room wide enough to slip through. As the witch was a few steps behind him, he was out of sight by the time she opened it the rest of the way and stepped across the threshold. Glancing about the room, she noticed that the girl's book bag had been roughly deposited at the foot of her bed, but its owner was absent.
Her eyes flicked momentarily to the windows as the memory of an earlier search for the young witch surfaced, but she gave a relieved breath upon seeing they were all still securely latched. Moving on toward the attached bathroom, she startled at finding Hermione on the floor, leaning against the toilet with her familiar rubbing his face along her hip.
"Are you going to be ill?"
The girl glanced up at her with moist eyes and then sat back against the side of the bathtub and shrugged. "I thought I was. It…came on suddenly, but I think I'm alright now."
Giving a sad sigh, the Deputy Headmistress stepped toward her and sat upon the edge of the tub. "I hope you know that Severus did not intend to upset you. He's injured and obviously was not thinking clearly."
"I know," Hermione mumbled at the floor. "He already apologized."
"He did?" she asked in surprise. As her student gave one slow nod, she placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. Taking in a labored breath, the young witch pulled her knees to her chest and rested her head against them. "Hermione, what's wrong?"
In response, the girl only shook her head and turned to stare at the wall behind the commode.
"I know it isn't nothing, Miss Granger, so do not try to claim that it is," McGonagall stated firmly. "That last bit wasn't an act on your part, and we all know it. Please, tell me what you're feeling so that perhaps I can help you."
Hermione remained silent for a long moment before finally muttering, "I stopped thinking about it, you know."
"Pardon?"
"I hadn't even realized it until now," she said slowly, "but I haven't thought about…that night for a while. I mean it isn't like I forgot about it, but I just didn't…think about it."
Minerva nodded and gently began rubbing the girl's shoulder at the sound of sniffling.
"It's probably wrong, I know, but I wanted to think that what we were doing was something real instead of…something forced," she sighed and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "But then he said that… and I realized he's right."
"What?" the professor exclaimed in shock. "No, he –"
"Not about the Death Eater part," she continued, "but the part about me."
"Hermione, no."
The young witch turned slightly so that she could look into the woman's face. "It is. I'm just a victim who has been doing everything I can to convince myself that I'm not! And I've been trying to force him into the charade along with me. He keeps trying to get me to stop, but he won't actually say it, so I keep pushing and pushing…and it's all just a lie!"
Exhaling loudly, she looked back to the floor and dropped her shoulders. "He hasn't over-stepped his bounds with me, because I'm just part of his duty…an obligation, and nothing more. I'm the one pressuring him into something more, and he won't stop me because he feels guilty for having been forced to hurt me. But you must already know this since you told me not to keep pushing."
"That wasn't my intent –"
"I just wanted to be normal," Hermione mumbled, "to have something normal… to be someone he wants, but I'm not because I'm not… enough."
McGonagall stared at her in concern for a lengthy moment, before clearing her throat and rising to stand. "Well, come along then. It seems there is a conversation to be had, and I would prefer it be somewhere a bit more comfortable."
The young witch hesitantly glanced at the hand being extended to her, but accepted the assistance in being pulled to her feet. Wiping her nose with the back of her hand, she followed her Head of House into the bedroom and over to the cushioned window seat. When the elder woman sat down and patted the space next to her, Hermione took a seat.
"Now," Minerva stated matter-of-factly. "Allow me to clear up the misunderstanding regarding my earlier conversation with you. It was not my intention to warn you away from…pursuing more of a… normal relationship with Severus. The fact that you have grown to care for him as a man, and not as your professor or your protector, is not a bad thing. It isn't wrong, so please don't tell yourself that it is. Don't belittle yourself by claiming your feelings to be falsities, because I know they're not. And in your heart, you know that they're not. And in his heart, Severus knows that they're not."
As the girl squeezed her eyes shut and turned her face away, the Deputy Headmistress sighed and touched her chin. "Hermione, please look at me. I only said what I did because there are… other issues that he needs to address while the two of you move forward. They are not remotely your fault, and I only suggested that you slow down a bit just to give him time to come to terms with himself. It isn't because he thinks of you as an obligation – I assure you, he doesn't – but because he thinks enough of you that he wants to protect you from every threat – real or imagined."
"What do you mean?" the brunette whispered, narrowing her eyes.
McGonagall inhaled deeply and looked to the ceiling as she debated how much she was willing to share. "Suffice it to say that Severus has lived a very… difficult life even during his childhood. There are… things from his past that still affect him, and he does not want them to affect you."
"Like his father, you mean?" she asked tentatively, pulling her feet up onto the cushion. Or perhaps like Lily?
The woman's eyes widened in surprise. "He discussed that with you?"
Hermione let out a deep breath and shrugged. "Not much, but he mentioned that his father was a cruel drunk, and that he grew to dislike Muggles because of him."
"I will have you know, Miss Granger," she murmured with an awed shake of her head, "that I have known him for a quarter century – as a professor, as a colleague, and as a friend – and he only admitted it to me less than a week ago. And only then it was because of you. When did he tell you?"
She frowned in contemplation before answering, "About a month ago, I think."
"And has he told you other things?" Minerva pressed. "Personal things, I mean? And you do not need to share."
The young Gryffindor nodded. "He said it was only fair that I be able to ask him questions since he knows next to everything about me."
"Hermione," she groused, "that man has never played fair in his entire life, and he is the most private individual I have ever met. If he willingly shared pieces of his past with you, it means that he trusts you more than anyone else in his life. Surely you must recognize that that is far above duty-bound."
The girl exhaled slowly and wrapped her arms about her legs. "I guess so."
"Has this been bothering you a while?"
Hermione blinked back a few tears and nodded.
"And have you spoken to him about it?" McGonagall asked. When the girl shook her head, she sighed and slipped her arm across the girl's shoulders. "I think you should consider doing so. He can give you answers that I cannot."
The curly-haired witch closed her eyes momentarily before swallowing in uncertainty. "I just don't want him to look at me the way Remus does."
"I can guarantee that will never happen," the Gryffindor Head stated boldly. "Severus has done everything he possible could to keep attention away from you, and there has never been a man more disgusted by pity. And even Remus is just concerned for you –"
"Well, I don't think I can stand his concern any longer!" Hermione growled, pushing off of the seat and stalking over to her bed. "It was bad enough before, but now it's going to be even worse! I hate feeling like I'm on display or that I have to be monitored to make sure I don't suddenly do something reckless – like sleep with the entire Gryffindor dormitory! I swear that with every passing week, the list of my alleged sexual partners grows in his head. It makes me want to crawl out of my skin sometimes."
Minerva calmly took a breath and clasped her hands together in her lap. "Severus and I have both asked him nicely to back off – well, I asked nicely –but he is as stubborn as either of us. Is there something else I can do that would make it any easier for you?"
The girl took a deep breath and touched one of her bed posts. "I would like… I would appreciate it if you would allow me to drop Defense this term."
The woman blinked in surprise and leaned forward. "You want to… Are you certain? Perhaps you should consult with Severus first –"
"Am I suddenly incapable of making my own decisions?" she cried. "Or does everyone else just get to have a say in my life before I do?"
McGonagall sighed and ducked her head. "You are right, Hermione, and I am sorry. If you are certain this is what you want –"
"It is."
"—then I will inform Remus in the morning as to your official withdrawal," she finished. A moment later, she rose from the window seat and stepped towards her student. Touching the girl's cheek, Minerva gave her a small smile. "Hermione Jean Granger, you are not just a victim; you are far more than enough for anyone; and frankly, normal is over-rated and boring."
Her bottom lip quivering, the young witch allowed herself to be pulled into an embrace. She clung to the woman for several minutes until the tears slipping down her cheeks ceased and their tracks began to dry. At that point, she cleared her throat and pulled away. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Minerva smirked, gently holding on to the girl's arms. "You are much easier to deal with than a certain dark-haired Slytherin we both know. I certainly do not envy Poppy at the present moment."
Hermione giggled despite herself and then sighed. "He did look rather tough sitting there."
"Oh, he'll be alright. Besides, he gave just as good as he got," she replied. "But it's been quite a long and stressful day. You should get some sleep. I'm sure tomorrow evening for you will be full of Weasley gossip."
With a minor grimace, the brunette nodded and collapsed onto her mattress. "Thank you, Professor."
"You're more than welcome, Miss Granger."
XxxxxxxxXxxxxxxxX
"Fighting?" Poppy screeched, as she stalked out of her office. "Honestly! At your age? The two of you think I don't have enough to do with students injuring each other in petty squabbles – you had to make a go of it yourselves?"
Severus winced as her yelling caused his head to throb and then gestured about the empty infirmary. "Unless there is a mass epidemic of Maldovian Invisibility Sickness suddenly plaguing the student body, you have absolutely nothing to do at the moment."
The Mediwitch took in an irritated breath and grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing into a seat on one of the cots. "That isn't the point, Severus. The two of you are supposed to be adults, and should behave like it!"
The wizard rolled his eyes as she hustled off to chastise Remus while she guided him toward his own bed. Upon glancing over his shoulder and seeing that the werewolf had been placed next to him, he growled and immediately relocated himself to a cot further away.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Pomfrey sighed after turning around. "How old are you? It's as if you turned twelve today, not thirty-seven!"
"Would you stop shouting?" he snapped, pushing on his forehead.
The witch let out a grunt and grumpily glanced between the two of them. Recognizing that it was best to check for any internal bleeds or ruptured organs, she decided to cast a quick diagnostic scan over each of them.
"Minor fracture to the jaw, large contusion to the shoulder, dislocated elbow, two bruised ribs, ruptured ligament, torn cartilage," she murmured as she traced her wand about Remus's form and interpreted the results. "You'll survive for the moment."
Lupin gave a weak smile as she spun away from him and stomped over to the other wizard.
"And what about you, hmm?" she queried. "Concussion, methinks?"
"The wolf gets a scan, and I get conjecture?" Severus grumbled.
"Oh, you'll get your bloody scan alright." Ignoring the man's protest, she yanked his hand away from his face, forcibly grabbed hold of his chin, and stared into his eyes. Frowning, she extracted her wand and repeated the same motions she had done with the other professor. "Definite concussion – the only thing to do about that is –"
"Headache relief potions and rest," he finished irritably.
Poppy gave a slight smirk. "Done this before, have you?"
"You know I have."
"You forgot to mention, however, that you should avoid apparition for at least a day or two," she replied.
He glared at her and gave a small huff. "Perhaps you could send a Healer's note off to the Dark Lord and explain that I should be given medical leave lest he grows desperate for my company."
"I see Remus failed to dislocate your sarcasm," she muttered, before noting a number of bruises. When she finished her scan a moment later, she gave an annoyed huff and glared at his ribcage. "Again? Did I not just fix those? Why do I continue wasting my time putting you back together if you insist on falling apart so frequently?"
"I suppose I should have been more considerate of your feelings, Poppy, while in the midst of having my head slammed against stone," he sneered. "How thoughtless of me."
The woman shook her head and snorted. "Well, considering the list of injuries on the other one, I'd say you caused your fair share of damage, young man."
"He started it," he muttered defensively.
"I realize that," she smirked, as she began the process of mending his fractured ribs. "Had you been the aggressor, I would be reattaching pieces of him right now and leaving you here to dwell in your own misery."
Though several painful twinges fluttered across his abdomen, Snape donned a smug expression.
Noticing his face, she snickered softly. "I probably still would have been had he not concussed you first, wouldn't I?"
He shrugged and tilted his head. "Just don't tell Minerva. She assumed I was being honorable."
"Have I ever?" she returned with a raise of her eyebrow before smacking him on the shoulder. "Now stop squirming, or they won't heal properly."
The Slytherin raised a lip in disgust, but otherwise kept still.
"Good boy," Poppy chuckled, finishing her healing charm with a neat flick of the wrist.
"Oh, shut up and get me a Headache-relief potion," he growled.
"In a moment," she chided, gesturing to the miserable-looking Defense instructor. "I have to go admire your handiwork first."
Severus smirked as he closed his eyes. "It only gets better with time. You could let it set a bit longer."
Ignoring him, the Mediwitch crossed back over to the Gryffindor and began her repairs. "You know, Remus, it's customary to give birthday spankings, not contusions and cracked ribs."
The man sighed and nodded sheepishly.
"Merlin's pants," she clucked loudly, "you've known each other twenty-five years! Can you not deal with each other without one or both of you winding up here?"
"We had a misunderstanding," Lupin mumbled quietly.
"I'll say," she replied, moving on from his elbow to his knee. "You had better count yourself lucky, though, that you made your first shot count."
The wizard grimaced and cast an apologetic look in Snape's direction. "I am sorry."
Severus tightened his jaw in response and continued staring at the wall.
"Probably not the best time, dear," Madam Pomfrey remarked, tapping him on the recently-healed joint. "He isn't generally forgiving when in pain –"
"Poppy, if you don't cease your inane chattering and get me my potion, I will fetch it myself, and you will be forced to fix them again!" the man in question interrupted.
Giving an exasperated groan, the matron nurse turned toward her storeroom and called over her shoulder. "Shall I float a candle in it?"
