Chapter Eight: Saving Snape
It took Hermione a moment to compose herself. Her hand made its way up to her abused lips. While not the most romantic of first kisses. It was still one worthy of the books, even if she could literally count the number of guys she had kissed on one hand, with fingers to spare. The one from Professor Snape was surely the best. Then as her wits began to come back to her. She became upset, then angry at him. Not for kissing her, she was cognitive enough to know that he himself fell prey to the strong potion fumes that have seemed to seep into her very skin. But for all his intelligence, he was completely dim witted at times. His emotional outburst after, rather then an adult conversation over the possible ramifications to this unexpected event. Maybe starting a discussion that would have possibly lead to something starting between them in the not so distant future. Hermione then shook her head, she was obviously going delusional thinking that there was ever going to be a future between them. Especially in the dangerous climate for both of them, it was impossible to imagine any future. Even one regarding a certain double agent. And like someone threw a brick at her stomach, the feeling of what an emotionally unstable man would do in these situation. "Shite!" She exclaimed as she ran out the office door toward the one destination he could have escaped to.
She ran down the hall and up the numerous staircases toward the office of the headmaster. Whilst running she tried to put the right words to her thoughts, but the coursing adrenaline was splitting her attention. The biggest concern was the password, she would have to cross that bridge once she got there. When she finally arrived to statue that guarded the staircase to the office. She stopped to catch her breath, which would have been much worst had she not been stretching in preparation for her rounds with the darkly clad wizard. Once she was able to breath somewhat normally, she began to think of possible sweets the password could be (seeing as that was what Harry had told her was the pattern), when she stole a glance at the gargoyle sentinel. It appeared to wink at her, then moved aside to allow her access. It startled her, but she was thankful for this and ran up the circular staircase.
At the door she was surprised to hear voices, she wouldn't have been surprised if the door would have been warded against eavesdroppers. What she heard before she could enter uninvited was the irate voice of her professor.
"What do you mean you won't accept my resignation?" Hermione knew that this would be his objective, but it still shocked her to hear him say it.
"Because, my boy, this was an accident from what I've gathered and I know that you have never given me any reason to believe that you prey on the students, as you have suggested. I trust you, Severus." Dumbledore said in his wispy, wise aging voice. She heard Snape sigh loudly in exasperation. "Now that we have heard your side, why don't we hear the other." Dumbledore replied in a knowing voice as she heard the door unlock and the door magically opened. Exposing her hiding beyond it. She blushed with embarrassment as she waved innocently. "Come in Miss Granger. This little meeting is in need of your perspective."
Hermione nodded but only walked in so far, keeping her distance from the wizards. "I apologize, but I'm sure you as you already know, I'm a bit hygienically compromised." She noticed that Snape had stiffened his posture at her entry and Dumbledore nodded in understanding and magically moved a chair closer to her. "Thank you." She said as she sat down, she could instantly feel the vascular throbbing in her legs from the sprint from the dungeons to the seventh floor.
"Would you care to give us your side of things?" Dumbledore asked expectantly.
"Just the events preceding this meeting or my experiences leading up?" She asked. Snape seemed to roll his eyes at her otherwise formal response. As if to say 'of course you'd have a long winded response.'
"Maybe since the exhibition of your symptoms, as Professor Snape has informed me you have been experiencing." The elder wizard said with his trademark sparkle in his eyes.
Hermione blushed, but maybe it would help to just tell anyone what was going and may help alleviate some of the guilt Snape was experiencing. "Can I preface this by saying, that I would very much appreciate it if you don't sack the professor over this?" Dumbledore smiled at her request as she noticed the Snape had shifted in his seat, decidedly uncomfortable. "It's only been since last week, but I've been bothered with rather embarrassing, not by who but by the nature of, Day dreams or fantasies. It has localized over one person and has disrupted my otherwise very busy schedule, more then the detentions that are it's cause." She said with a slight uncomfortable chuckle.
"Would you be comfortable telling us whose that may be?" The headmaster asked in a knowing tone.
"In time." She paused. "I had tried to work around it, as I had to conclude that the symptoms were from the exposure to the type of potions I was working with. I went through most of the weekend trying to waylay the wayward thoughts. But they had increased rapidly and even disrupted my sleep because of the vivid dreams that had also sprung up. I made it to Sunday, for whence it became far too much for me to handle. So I paid a visit to Professor Snape, in hopes of a way to build a defense against it, where he informed me there was none. He did however give me something to quell the intensity, which helped a bit. Mostly during my waking hours." Hermione then turned and looked at the man who seemed to be trying to shrink into the shadows. "By the way the fragrance is very soothing, but I can't identify it." He shifted in his seat and blinked at her in confusion. Dumbledore cleared his throat as he noticed the in any other circumstance what would appear seemingly odd transaction between the two young people in his office.
"Anyways," She continued. "I spent a good chunk of yesterday trying to catch up on the sleep I was lacking. Which lead to the consequences of today. You see, the professor told me that I should take some extra caution in my bathing routine after brewing, to avoid, well something like this, I gather." She gestured toward herself and the potion master. "However last night after returning to my dormitory I found myself dead on my feet and collapsed into my bed without even changing my clothes. And as the sequence of events had it, I awoke late and had no time to change or cleanse. I had an inkling that I was being watched, but the feeling got more intense in the classrooms. Then I was being propositioned rather crudely in the halls. That's when I decided to seek out some safety. Which is why I went to Professor Snape. I figured no matter how desperate someone was to approach me with their um attention, they wouldn't dare venture into his office." For the next bit, she was confident she could tell it, but knew she couldn't look at either of them. "While I was there I explained the situation to him and he tried to explain it away initially, he must have noticed my fearful body language and tried to calm me down. However, I venture a guess that he too became overwhelmed by the scent of the potions clinging to me. I do apologize, Professor for my oversight and this very uncomfortable situation." She blushed as the next word that came out where not intended. "And while the event was a bit intense for my inexperienced self, it wasn't… uh terrible." Snape stared at her completely aghast as Dumbledore loud laughter filled the room.
"Oh my girl, I apologize for the outburst. It's not aimed at your tale. More at the way you have just done the impossible, flap the unflappable." She looked up at the headmaster in shock.
"I'm sorry, Sir. But why are you not more upset over the situation, as the head of the school I could see you having a less then jovial response to someone under your employ doing something like this?"
"The first truly intelligent thing you've asked." Snape said, darkly. Hermione scoffed at him.
"Miss Granger, I have know that wizard since he was a child. While my sole focus wasn't on him, unlike your friend Harry. I did notice him in many ways. And now as colleagues I have gotten to know him far better. Enough to know that this kind of thing would never happen under normal circumstances." He spared Snape a passing glance and continued. "First things first. The bylaws do have a precedent for this type of thing and excuses the behavior due complications of magic. So whether or not you believe you should be released of your tenure here, Severus. There is no reason for me to believe that I need to send you packing, as the saying goes." Snape glared dangerously at the elder wizard. "Secondly, I did warn you that your desired detention course could have some uncomfortable side effects when you initially assigned this particular punishment. But you were adamant to make an example of her. So you'll do well to remember that." He then turned back to Hermione. "I do believe we will be changing the schedule back to the original sentence. It was to be two days of the week, but you did add more days to it. I would assume because you enjoyed the assignment, more then just trying to be done with it?"
"You'd be correct." She said, suddenly finding the hem of her skirt very interesting.
"Which is not surprising in the least, dear. But I think as he as also expressed that you have been pushing yourself too hard. So we will return to the original schedule. Alas some preparation will need to be insured to prevent this type of thing happening again. I will have an elf assigned to have change of clothes available and to pop you to the prefect bathroom immediately after you finish your detention. I will also have them strip your bed and hopefully the scent of the potions won't be an issue there. Now I need to ask you one very important question before I conclude this meeting." The older wizard gazed upon the unsuspecting witch. "Are you feeling any discomfort being around your professor?" Snape turned his attention back to her, in anticipation of her answer.
Hermione drew in a deep breath as she turned to look at Snape. "No uneasiness at all." Subconsciously she let her hand venture to her lips. But both wizards in the room took notice.
"Well that settles that then. Shall we say we leave this little tete-a-tete in the potions lab?" He said with a playful sparkle in his eyes. Hermione blushed slightly and stood to leave. "My dear before you leave, would you care to sate this old man's curiosity and tell us whom it is that has affect you so."
Hermione turned beet red and pointed to the younger wizard as she ran out of the office and down the stairs and straight for the bathroom. She could hear ruckus laughter of one man and roaring "What?!" from the other, in her wake.
A/N: If you are also reading I Pledge Myself then you may notice that we had in "Dumbledore's Office" scene. This was not planned, Just a manner of amusing unscheduled coincidence. And with this note that also tells you that I have also uploaded a new chapter there. I have had these chapters done and ready to upload for a bit, but some "real life" stuff has come up and it put a stall on my free time. I am endeavoring to get back on a regular schedule soon.