Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. Please read and review thanks love Hermione xxx
Hermione left the potions classroom quickly tears flowing freely down her face. Why was Professor Snape so awful all the time? In her blind panic she found herself headed to the hospital wing and when she entered her tears seemed to get worse. Madam Pomfrey bustled out of her office and then tutted loudly.
"Miss Granger why is it always you? You're not even back one whole day yet and already you're in trouble. I just don't know any more now why don't you stop crying and tell me what's the matter with you in a clear way so I can understand you. Was it Mr Weasley or Mr Malfoy this time? Actually that would be Warrens now wouldn't it? Man that will take some getting used to!" she mumbled leading Hermione over to a bed. Technically the girl looked fine but it might yet be something she couldn't see.
"No it wasn't any of them. It was Professor Snape! Why is he always so nasty? He said there is a problem with my ears or something to do with wax and that you should check it out for me. To be honest I was too upset to truly understand why he was saying it to me in the first place!" she said as Poppy chuckled to herself.
"Ok well sit here and remain quiet for a moment while I check you out!" she waving her wand around the girls head and Hermione heard two loud popping sounds moments later making her jump.
"Yes he was right indeed. In future you should clean out your ears regularly as you had a massive build-up of wax in them. I realise Severus was probably being a smartarse but he was actually right and it is indeed likely that you haven't been hearing many things properly for quite a while! Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?" she said as Hermione gasped at hearing things so clearly for the first time in ages.
"Do you go to staff meetings Madam Pomfrey?" she asked as Poppy glared at her.
"Well considering I am staff then yes I do!" she said sounding affronted that Hermione would ever think she'd not been attending them.
"Do you all talk about me a lot there?" she asked as Poppy looked furious.
"Believe it or not girl you are not the most important one here in this school so no we don't discuss you often. I mean you've been brought up from time to time but that was just when teachers were frustrated that you weren't allowing other students to answer questions and shouting out the answers sometimes. It was even decided to not call on you sometimes for the answers so other students would have a fair chance. Have you always been so self-absorbed?" she snapped as Hermione reeled at the tongue lashing she was receiving.
"But I only asked because Professor Snape said it to me. I didn't mean anything by it!" she pleaded suddenly.
"Well Professor Snape is not always right nor is he always funny. In future if he says something nasty to you; you are to ignore him and move on. Do try to stay out of trouble please for the love of Merlin. You may go!" she said sternly as a sullen Hermione left and headed to Professor McGonagall's office.
"Come in. Miss Granger how may I help you?" she asked not looking up from the page she was writing on until she had finished writing her sentence at which point she put her quill down and looked up with an arched eyebrow.
"How did you know it was me?" Hermione asked her stunned.
"It's the first day of lessons who else would it be?" Minerva challenged sounded bored and indeed tired already and Hermione hadn't even asked her anything yet. Hermione's face grew red suddenly and she became determined to not cry again.
"I wish to lodge a complaint against Professor Snape. He didn't allow us to brew potions today. He held a masterclass but I was really looking forward to brewing today and he wouldn't let us. He then said you all talk about me at staff meetings!" she said stunned by Minerva's response.
"At long last! You know I've been telling him to do a masterclass for years because the fools in his class can never seem to do anything without getting hurt. You see what happens when he listens. I bet no one was hurt either were they? Sometimes you know I do know more and he should remember this in future. As for your complaint stick it. His classes may actually get better now. Severus should stop attempting to be funny when he knows it more than likely won't work. You're a smart girl so please continue on the right path. Do not go crazy because Harry Potter is no longer in my house. I did not treat him properly and I am relieved he can find solace in another house. You may go!" she said pointing to her door which Hermione ran to and exited before once more sobbing. No one it seemed was going to be helping her out today. She had a free period now and was worried indeed about Ron but couldn't find him anywhere and was further stunned to head to the library and find him in there engrossed in a book.
"Ron are you ok?" she asked him in a panic as he jumped.
"Yes but you're not. You look like shit! What happened to you?" he asked her quietly as she sat down.
"I'm ok I was just sad over the things Professor Snape said. Madam Pomfrey said he was telling the truth and they do talk about me at staff meetings. What happened though did you get in trouble?" he asked as he frowned at her.
"Why would I get in trouble when I did nothing wrong? He just wanted to tell me to come to his office tonight at seven to brew something privately for him!" he answered as she fumed.
"Why didn't I get this opportunity? I love brewing that's so not fair. You don't even like that class!" she snapped as he looked at her and laughed.
"Calm down you lunatic. He only said that to me to assess my level. Obviously you're better than me and so he doesn't need to assess your level!" he said as she exhaled and flopped into the seat in front of him and pulled out a book of her own before flushing bright red at his compliment of her. He was still silently chuckling to himself at how frazzled she looked right now. Elsewhere in his office Professor Snape had finished making his vow and conjured comfy chairs for the boys to sit in. He had his elf Hoppy deliver some hot chocolate to them all.
"First of all congratulations on your marriage. I was not in a position of safety to attend due to various vows I gave to the headmaster and indeed Lord Voldemort back in the day. In terms of the headmaster this does mean that I have no choice but to do as he says. Considering that you got married I can guess you know about the potions and mind erases. I am sorry about that but as I said he did not leave me with any choice but to comply!" he said sincerely as they both gasped at how honest he was being. He was truly telling them truth and furthermore telling them that Dumbledore had ordered him to do it and because of a vow he'd given him years ago he had no choice but to comply. That was a relief to them. I mean at least he'd not done it willingly.
"Thank you Professor!" Harry said as he smiled slightly at the young man before him.
"Draco before we go any further to you I must sincerely apologise. I realise that I was annoyed I had not heard from you over the summer and while stressful I can at least say I understand why you did what you did now and I shall never be able to look Lucius in the eye again without vomiting. I may not have always taught my classes in the fairest manner but I was never truly vile to children. You just don't do that. I saw everything he ever did to you. His mind defenses are laughable to say the least although that does explain why Voldemort has always known when he's lying!" he said as Harry spoke.
"Tom Riddle sir. His name is Tom Marvolo Riddle. I just feel you should know that. Suffice it to say I have ways and means of knowing things you would not expect and I do know what happened to him the other day and about the boggart which I did send to him as a punishment for all he'd ever done to my Draco!" he said as Severus shocked him by actually laughing. He laughed so hard that he somehow ended up on the floor on all fours cackling. He even struggled to catch his breath for a moment. He hadn't laughed this long in ages. Suddenly however he was crying in hysterics. The last person to ever make him laugh like this had been Lily.
"I'm so sorry it's just the last person who ever made me laugh like that was your mother Harry. It was a good prank to pull because I was the only one who was able to defeat the boggart because of Lupin. I am surprised that Tom never learned about it in school. I knew about Lucius and I but Tom was a surprise indeed. Even if he'd not learned about it in school I just would have expected him to know about it. I guess it made him seem weaker in my eyes or something. I know I shouldn't admit that but I cannot help it. As I said in my vow I won't reveal anything you tell me but who is your secret keeper. I am just curious at this point!" he said as Harry touched his hand in understanding as Severus sat back down again.
"Well you've been honest with us and so I don't see any problem with that. I am my own secret keeper" he responded as Severus once more cackled.
"Oh now that is fresh. You did say in that letter after all that you trusted your secret keeper above all else. Ten points to Ravenclaw for cunning unlike anything I've seen in many years. Dumbledore will spend ages trying to figure that one out I love it. It's not often I get some respite these days but he's been so busy trying to figure it out that he's not asked me to do anything for him in a while. I am tired of those vows he has controlling me though. I am trying to find a way out of them!" he said suddenly appearing as trapped as he was.
"What about the imperious curse? Could you use it to get him to free you?" Draco asked suddenly as Severus looked at him so angry it stunned him.
"I would not Draconis use that spell unless I had absolutely no other choice. I do not wish to tar my soul with that spell or any of the unforgiveables. It may surprise you to know I've rarely ever used them. I have used every spell but those because I know unlike Tom that those spells tarnish your soul in a way you never get back if used continuously as he does! I have only ever used the crutiatus spell against your father once who did earn it. I would not ever wish to make a habit of it" he said as Draco looked shocked.
"I didn't know that and I'm sorry it was just a suggestion. What about house elves? As we have discovered recently they can do way more than Lucius ever cared to realise. Could they use their magic to force Dumbledore to release you from those vows he has you under?" Draco asked as Severus reeled.
"I must admit I did not know this myself. So little is truly known about house elves. One moment please. Hoppy! Please tell me what your skill level is in?" he asked as Hoppy jumped for joy.
"At last I is being asked this question. My skills are in gathering ingredients which are rare and brewing like you sir. I am very good at brewing potions" she said happily as he started at this information.
"I had no idea. This is amazing. I want you to use any spare time you have to assist Poppy in the infirmary. Tell her I sent you and brew anything at all she needs. Hoppy tell me could you get the headmaster to relieve me of any vows he has me under using elf magic?" he asked hopefully as she nodded no.
"No I could not force him to do that but using magic of the elves I could make him seriously feel that having you under those vows was not a good thing at all. He would have to decide to remove them himself!" she answered seriously as he smiled. It was something at least and it did seem fair.
"Then please do it. Make him think it's very bad indeed and leave it at that I want to see what he does!" he ordered as she popped away doing as he asked of her. They talked some more before heading off the charms class. He wasn't there alone long until Professor Dumbledore burst into his office looking highly harried. His hair stuck out at odd angles and he was clutching it tightly in both of his hands.
"Severus I must speak to you at once. I fear I have been tampered with. Someone does not wish for me to keep you under those vows I made you take all those years ago and it's not right. I would never wish to free you from them so I can but guess someone has tampered with me. Look I know it's not you. It's so wrong for me to have you under those vows and I can't take it but I am terrified of freeing you. I really don't want to do that. I cannot take this any longer UGH! I Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore do hereby release Severus Tobias Snape from any and all vows I currently have him under so mote it be DEAR MERLIN MAKE IT STOP!" he screamed clutching at his head as the vows were severed. Severus finally felt free but didn't smile now as he didn't wish Dumbledore to know he was that happy about it. He would reward Draco handsomely for suggesting this. He was free at last.
"Mark my words I will find the scumbag who did this to me and they will be dead soon. I know it was a house elf! I have tasted their magic before and I know it inside out. Gellert was very into house elf magic back in the day before he turned evil of course. Of course I have no way of finding the wayward elf who did this but some elves will suffer because of this. I have no desire to kill them obviously I just said that in the heat of the moment. As you well know I am a gentle man. Probably the work of the dark Lord forcing them into it. He probably wanted you all to himself for some sick reason. Anyway Severus please keep me apprised of what goes on there with him. He needs to be stopped by Harry eventually. I'd prefer you didn't tell him this but I cannot force you not to. It would just be safer for us all if he didn't know about it until I tell him at the right moment. Good day to you Severus!" he said leaving just as quickly as he'd entered. He was free at last. He smiled really widely and got out his owl order catalogues to purchase a treat for his godson. He ordered the largest Honeydukes hamper he could and as an added bonus included some hair care and male bath products in it too from another store in Hogsmeade. He would have it delivered to him tomorrow morning. He had essentially saved him so it was all good.