Hermione skipped breakfast, not really feeling to hungry, but instead decided read for a bit in the library, that is, until the Headmaster would be done with breakfast. She had completely forgotten to see him yesterday about her Time-turner. She quickly walked to the back of the library, her favorite spot, and sat down at the table, taking out her book and began to read.
The book was proving to be quite interesting. She hadn't read anything in over four years that was so full of completely new information. Granted, it wasn't the best thing for her to be reading and all, seeing as how it was part of the Dark Arts, but she found it simply fascinating.
She was almost done when she heard someone coming up to the desk. She didn't move, she just simply sat there, thinking that it was just some student passing by. But she jumped a bit and put down her book when she heard someone clear their throat. She looked up and saw none other than Severus.
They stared at each other for a bit until Hermione finally broke the silence, "Severus, are you just going to stand there forever or are you going to sit down?"
His expression didn't move an inch, he still stared at her, an icy glare boring into her, but he sat down none the less. "So, what are you doing here?"
"Have you read the book?"
"Yes, actually, I only have a few pages left."
Severus pulled out his own book and began reading. "Good."
They sat in a comfortable silence before Hermione finally finished her book. Severus was still reading, but she was getting a bit fidgety, so she decided to take a stab at a conversation. "Severus, may I ask you something?"
He rolled his eyes, "You just did."
Hermione shook her head, "How did you know about the book in the first place, if it had just come into Hogwarts?"
Without blinking he kept on reading his book, "I have a few copies at my home."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, "Why would you have something like that at your home?"
He lowered his book slightly, so he was staring at her, a brief fire flashed through his eyes. "It is none of your business."
Hermione sank back slightly in her chair, the glare reminding her slightly of the Potions Master he would one day become. Hermione sat there, not knowing exactly what to do. She didn't really feel like getting up and getting another book just yet, after all, she had already read most of the books in the library. She began to tap her foot lightly on the leg of the table, creating a little rhythm in her head. Her head soon began bobbing slightly and her fingers started tapping. Soon, she had a full blown percussion section going on inside her head. Her gaze quickly moved to Severus, who was still glaring daggers at her. She quickly stopped and placed her hands in her lap, a blush quickly creeping onto her cheeks. "Sorry Severus."
A few more moments of silence passed by before Hermione couldn't stand it anymore. She took yet another stab at conversation, "Severus, I was wondering, what do you plan on doing after school?
He put down his book and looked at her, raising one elegant eyebrow, "Why do you want to know?"
"Just trying to make conversation, besides, I'm curious."
He let out a sigh and closed his book completely, "I plan on becoming an apprentice to Mistress Nix and eventually become a Master myself."
"Has she already accepted you?"
Severus nodded his head. Hermione looked down at her fingers, thumbing the book, "I wish I could do that."
Severus gave her an odd look and it took all of Hermione's will power not to laugh, "What are you looking at?"
Severus simply stared at her, "Why can't you?"
Hermione let out a sigh and looked away from him, instead staring at the book shelves just to the right, "The only Potions Master I know back at home would never even consider taking me as an apprentice. I'm a bit of a thorn in his side, surprising huh?"
It was then that Hermione glanced at the clock. Her mouth dropped open, she was supposed to meet Dumbledore after breakfast, it was now after lunch! She quickly stood up, said a hurried goodbye to Severus and ran out towards his office.
She hadn't been looking where she was going, and just as she turned the corner, she ran straight into someone, knocking them down and then falling on her toush. It took her a moment to realize what she had just done, but as soon as she figured it out, she quickly stood up and lowered her head. The person she had knocked over and already stood up and her face was now to red for her to even think of looking up at them. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to run into you like that."
"Clumsy girl."
Her eyes grew and her face became as white as a sheet as she recognized the voice. "Now, girl, where are you headed."
Her voice trembled slightly as she answered, "The Headmasters Office."
She resisted the urge to throw up as she looked up at his face and watched as his eyes traveled over her body. 'Oh, if he only knew.'
"Well then, it seems that we are going the same way. Would you care to accompany me?"
She grudgingly accepted his offer and slid her hand through his extended arm, wanting nothing more than to hex that stupid smirk off of his face, but she couldn't. She technically wasn't supposed to know this man's background, she is only supposed to know his reputation, and as most any other girl would, she would have thought this man a God. So it would have been not only rude, but incredibly odd if she had rejected his arm. She was glad for the quick pace as they quickly came to the stone Gargoyle.
He said the password, "Sherbet Lemon," and the Stone Gargoyle sprang into life. She bit her tongue as she felt his hand rest on the small of her back, pushing her towards the staircase. 'One more inch and he's not having kids.'
He stepped in behind her and they rode the staircase up to the big oak door, which, surprisingly, opened before Hermione could reach the knob. She stepped inside and squelched the urge to slam the door in the man's face, but instead looked up at Dumbledore, "Good Afternoon Headmaster."
The normal twinkle in his eyes faded when he caught sight of his other visitor, "Ah, good afternoon."