A/N: Hiya everyone! Once again thank you all for your comments and reviews! :). I had some of you ask some questions so I am going to do my best to answer them. Firstly, for those who are wondering about what's going to happen to Sirius...stick around for chapters 40 and 41! Secondly, I called the line of hair which goes from the male's abdomen to the groin a 'snail trail' only because that's what the guys who I have been with called it (I apologise if you know it as something else). Thirdly, I've written about 43 chapters for this story so far and at the moment I am up to Hogwarts Easter Holidays, I want to try and get this story written soon as I will have assignment deadlines at the end of April as I graduate from University this summer. If you have any other questions, just ask and I will try and answer them for you! Chapter Warnings - potential mentions of sexual assault, violence, bad language and other sexual situations. Many Thanks, hope you enjoy! :)
Chapter 38 - Suspicions, a Conversation, and Harry
Two weeks after Severus' birthday, Hermione was in full study mode, OWL's were only a few months away, and she had to buckle down. Her friends would disagree but she was feeling itchy fingered and had to constantly be in contact with a book, a quill or parchment.
She had spoken with Draco the day before and he had confided everything in her. Even the things that Severus had told Draco not to tell her. They had cried together for a while and talked about what their ideal futures would be if there wasn't about to be a war.
Draco had his eyes on somebody, a secret crush that he refused to tell Hermione exactly who it was. Draco and his mystery had spent a couple of nights together and shared a few kisses but Draco refused to let it go any further. Should the wrong person find out about his secret boyfriend, Draco and his new lover would die instantly. Draco refused to let that happen and so Draco had been keeping his distance.
Draco's ideal future would be no mark, no master, no threat, and no danger. It would be just childhood and the freedom to do whatever he wanted without having to look over his shoulder all the time. Hermione imagined something similar, her future would include Severus, there would be no judgement, and Severus would be free from his masters.
They would live in the pretty little cottage that she knew Severus owned, in the rural countryside of France. They would stay there and enjoy the peace. Hermione didn't dare think on potential marriage or children, Severus didn't seem the type. Hermione wanted a career, if she could have it and pass her bloody OWL's.
Hermione sighed, snapping out of her fantasy world.
'Don't do it to yourself Hermione, you're only setting yourself up for heartbreak. We're almost at war, you could be dead within the year' she thought to herself as she focused back on her work.
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The DA had been meeting less and less frequently, Umbridge had been gaining more power. She had her inquisitorial squad that were all over the place, spying on everyone just to get a slither of decent information. It helped that Draco had made sure that he had become an important part of the squad as he could inform Hermione about what was going on and the places and topics that should be avoided whilst walking through the corridors. He also gave her a list of members so the DA knew who to keeping an eye on.
It gave the DA quite the upper hand and it had been annoying the shit out of Umbridge, much to everyone's pleasure.
"Hey Mione" Ron said, snapping Hermione out of her thoughts. It looked like today was not her day for focusing on studying, she decided to quit where she was for the day and just relax a little before trying to go back to studying again tomorrow.
"Hi boys" she said as she looked up at Harry and Ron who had taken a seat opposite her in the great hall.
The boys grinned back and Harry looked slightly redder in the cheeks than normal. That threw Hermione a little.
"Everything alright Harry?" She asked him.
Harry flushed even more and Hermione raised her eyebrow in shock, she then looked at Ron, who was grinning like a Cheshire Cat at Harry.
"Somebody spent the afternoon smooching in front of a fireplace in the ROR" Ron said in a singsong voice and then proceeded to snigger as Harry completely ducked his head from view.
Hermione's mouth dropped. Harry had finally had his first kiss.
"Oh my God Harry! Who was it? What was it like? How did it feel?" She asked excitedly, she was happy for her best friend. She liked it when Harry had normal teenage moments, it didn't happen often and it was uplifting in a weird way.
"Gross Hermione! Please don't answer those questions Harry. I don't wanna know the dirty details" Ron said, looking slightly green.
Harry finally returned to his normal colouring and he looked at Hermione and shook his head.
"Not here, I will tell you when we get to the common room later" he said, he didn't need to be broadcasting his private life in the great hall.
Hermione nodded in understanding and acceptance. She could wait for details.
The three sat in a relatively joyful mood and started to fill their plates with food.
Hermione noticed Severus enter the great hall and settle down into his usual seat. They glanced at each other for a moment before averting their eyes back to their own meals. Hermione fought to hide a smile, ever since his birthday, Hermione had been constantly thinking about Severus. She wanted to stay in Severus' rooms again but with the state of things at the moment, it was an unnecessary risk and not worth taking, they did still see each other once a week for her occlumency lessons, which she was getting much better at. Finally.
Harry's cough startled her back to the present and she looked at him. Harry looked at her with an eyebrow raised in suspicion.
Hermione's heartbeat quickened. Had Harry noticed that? Oh Gods, what if he had noticed the small interaction between her and Severus?
Hermione was internally panicking but she played it cool and hoped for the best.
"Sorry Harry, my heads full of OWL stuff, did you say something?" She asked him, hoping she was still inconspicuous.
Harry just shook his head.
"I didn't say anything, you just looked like you were away with the fairies and I thought you needed bringing back" Harry told her with a smug smile.
Hermione just nodded in appreciation.
"Thanks Harry but I wasn't THAT out of it, I was just…recalibrating. You know I never think about something so hard that it makes me completely unaware of my surroundings" she told him, trying to absolutely convince him that she wasn't thinking about Severus' marvellous hands and the things they could do to her.
Harry just nodded at her, trying not to grin at her and seemed to accept her explanation.
"Hey Mione, you've spilt tomato ketchup down yer school shirt, that's gonna stain that is" Ron told her having completely missed what her and Harry had been conversing about before he had stopped paying attention to his food and focused on his friends.
Hermione blushed, a deep red, whilst Harry just burst out with uncontrollable laughter, that his stomach hurt and his eyes water.
"You knew about that didn't you?" Hermione said embarrassed.
Harry smiled at her, still trying to gain a hold of himself and control of his emotions, the other tables and the teachers were being to take interest in the trio.
Hermione reached across the table with her fork and playfully jabbed Harry in the back of his hand with it.
"Arse" she muttered at him, trying to take any attention off of her.
"Abuse!" Harry exclaimed as he over dramatically rubbed the back of his hand.
The Gryffindor's chuckled at the antics of the trio; Hermione's 'violence' towards the boys was sometimes the highlight of the whole day.
"Mr Potter, Miss Granger, I expect two fifth year students to have better table manners than that! What? Were the pair of you raised by pigs?" Umbridge asked them sternly.
"I'd much rather be a pig than a marshmallow" Ron muttered under his breath to Neville. Those close by heard the comment and started quietly sniggering quietly.
Umbridge hadn't heard the insult but she had guessed it had been something to do with her as the students were looking at her and laughing. She fumed silently and huffed as she walked out the great hall with as much dignity as she could muster.
As soon as the doors to the great hall had slammed closed behind her, there was a moment's pause. Then the Gryffindor table whooped and cheered, they loved messing with Umbridge; that was also a highlight for them.
Minerva's voice rang out across the hall.
"Settle down, settle down students. Let's have peace and cordial manners at the dinner table please" she said, although you could tell that she wanted to join in.
The Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaw's wanted to join in the fun and frolics but didn't dare and the Slytherin's looked angry that the Gryffindor's had insulted one of their favourite teachers. However, Draco looked locked eyes with Hermione and tried to fight back a smirk. Hermione noticed.
Even Severus was fighting a grin.
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After dinner, Minerva made her way to Albus' office, the two of them had not had a private meeting in a long time, she was still pissed at him for what he had put her honorary daughter through but at the same time she wanted to cherish the peace that they had at the moment because she knew that they would all be at war soon and she didn't want to go into a war hating the people that were going to be fighting beside her.
She went into his private rooms and sat down in her favourite chair opposite Albus and poured herself a cup of tea.
"You wished to see me Albus?" she questioned him as she relaxed back into the chair.
Dumbledore looked thoughtful for a moment and then looked her in the eye; that meant that he wanted an honest answer out of her.
"What is the exact nature of relationship between Severus and Miss Granger?" he asked casually.
Minerva's eyes widened and she almost spat out her tea.
"I have no idea of what you are talking about Albus" she tried to sound shocked that Albus would suggest that anything inappropriate was happening between the two peoples who had been mentioned.
"Now Minerva, don't make me seem foolish. I may be an old man and losing my touch, but I am aware that there is more than meets the eye when the most withdrawn man I know allows the student that he has spent the last few years complaining about, to have the password and ability to enter his personal rooms" Albus told her.
Minerva gulped her tea and thought about her answer as she gave it.
"There is something more between them than student and teacher; perhaps it is mutual respect and even a tentative friendship. I believe that Severus is the person that Hermione trusts the most, in the entire world, and I believe that Severus enjoys her more intellectual side as she is able to provide stimulating conversation without annoying him. She also seems to have grown up quite a bit, if you hadn't noticed, and she has calmed down a bit in regards to her participation in her classes. I think Severus finds her tolerable. Also, you gave Severus the task of being Hermione's guardian over the summer and with what happened, I believe the pair bonded. Severus is known for being a bit of a recluse but I do not believe that he would have left the poor girl to suffer. So yes, I believe that their relationship goes beyond what you would expect between a professor and a student but I believe that this relationship that they have is justified" Minerva told him sternly, she would defend the both of them until the day she died, she would not let Albus Dumbledore interfere and manipulate their lives anymore.
"I understand Minerva, I hope you can understand my concerns though. I was thoroughly caught off guard when I found Miss Granger sat so comfortably and at ease in one of Severus' chairs in his personal rooms" Dumbledore stated looking at her pointedly.
"Are you telling the truth Minerva?" he asked her.
Minerva nodded; she had been completely honest in her evaluation of the pair. She believed that there was something more to them but had never been given any concrete evidence that confirmed those beliefs, therefore, she was not technically lying and it was because of that, that her conscious remained clear.
"Things will get messy for the both of them if anything further occurs, Minerva. I believe that the relationship they have now is harmless but it will become more, and that is when it will become more dangerous for them. That girl will ruin the best spy and probably our only chance that we have at winning this war" he said with great ire in his voice.
"I'm sure it won't come to that Albus" she said quietly.
"For all our sakes, I hope it doesn't either" Dumbledore replied.
Minerva waited a moment before continuing the conversation.
"But don't you think that it will make Severus better and stronger? Severus will, after all these years, have something to fight for, a reason to actually be the best spy and warrior that he can possibly be - not that he isn't already the most accomplished soldier in the whole of the bloody Order, Severus is the strongest man I know and I suggest that you leave him and his personal life alone. You've already seen how protective of Hermione he is, you damned near thought he was going to kill you on the spot, that night, outside the hospital wing. If you take away anything more than you already have from Severus, I can promise you right now that you will be practically kissing goodbye to the best chance we have at winning this war" Minerva told the aged headmaster firmly.
Minerva swore at that moment that Albus was almost pouting like a child. He really did not like it when he didn't get his way.
Minerva sighed and dropped the conversation; she just hoped her words sunk into his thick skull before he did any irreparable damage.
The two settled back into an awkward conversation.
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Back in the Gryffindor Tower, once back in the common room, the whole house was in a happy mood and they were all laughing and joking with each other. It had been a good evening, everyone was in high spirits and although everyone was now getting into study mode, everyone seemed relaxed and it was enough to make you believe that, for just one moment, that there wasn't a war right on their doorstep.
After everyone had danced and had a good sing-song, people began heading up to bed not really wanting to leave the fun as they knew that tomorrow they would all have to get back to the reality of school life.
In the early hours of the morning, after everyone had headed up to bed and were probably all in deep sleep, Ron, Harry and Hermione were sat in front of the fireplace in the common room discussing Harry's first kiss.
"Well Cho and I have been getting on really well recently and she's just so stressed and upset about everything that is happening around her both in school and with her parents. Her mum could get fired, and it looked like she just needed to relax" Harry explained.
"So you let her relax on your lips?" Ron joked.
Harry lightly punched Ron's shoulder in jest and the three of them laughed.
Ron found a sports paper that had all the latest gossip on Quidditch and completely zoned his friends out.
"What about you Hermione?" Harry asked her.
"What about me what Harry?" She asked him confused.
"Have you been smooching with anyone recently?" Harry asked curiously.
Hermione flushed and looked down.
"I knew it!" Harry exclaimed, grabbing Ron's attention.
"Has Hermione got a secret crush?" Ron teased.
Hermione refused to say anymore, she refused to cave. It could literally man life or death if she ever said anything to anyone.
"Come on" Ron whined, wanting to know her secrets.
"I'm not saying anything; shouldn't you two be focusing on your upcoming exams rather than girls and your friend's private life?" She said irritably, hoping that they would leave it alone. She hated lying to them as it was, she didn't want to have to make any more lies.
"Buzzkill Bob is awake" Ron groaned.
"I don't need a lecture, I'm gonna take my Quidditch paper and read it in bed. I advise you to run now Harry, while you can, see you upstairs mate. Night Hermione" Ron groaned.
Without looking back, Ron made a mad dash for his dorm; he didn't want to receive a lecture about schoolwork, from Hermione, tonight. It had been such a good day and he knew they would end up arguing, he didn't want to ruin the good mood.
Hermione and Harry were still staring at each other.
"Looking forward to potions tomorrow Mione?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded, trying to seem not as enthusiastic as she felt.
"You know I enjoy potions Harry. I want to be a healer. Of course, I'm looking forward to it" she stated nonchalantly.
"Too bad Snape teaches eh?" He said smoothly, still watching her carefully.
"Professor Snape, Harry" she said.
The pair were silent for a moment.
"How's Malfoy?" Harry asked, knowing that the two unlikely friends had gotten a lot closer recently.
"He's fine, nothing to report on that front" she replied carefully.
"He's been wandering around the castle at all hours, I don't know what he's up to" he said.
"You've been following Draco? Harry, you need to be careful, if you're caught by Umbridge-" she was cut of her lecture.
"Relax Hermione, I didn't even leave my bed, I've been following him on the map" he informed her.
Hermione looked at him.
"Harry, you really shouldn't infringe on someone's privacy like that" Hermione chastised.
"I suppose, I see a lot of weird things on that map" Harry said and paused.
Hermione was beginning to think about Harry, and the map, and wondered if he had ever seen her late night movements around the castle. She was starting to sweat. She looked at Harry.
"You must really like the dungeons, you spend an awful lot of time there" Harry stated.
Hermione looked at him like a fish out of water. Harry began to stand up and make his way towards the stairs that would take him to his dorm. He turned back at the last moment.
"Yup, you will always be surprised about what you see appear on that map" Harry gave Hermione a meaningful stare.
"Good night sis" he grinned at her as he went up the stairs.
Hermione stared after Harry in shock. How the fuck was she supposed to explain that away? Damn Harry and his trouble causing map.
