It is Friday, and I have come with a new chapter, as promised!
This is a bit shorter than the last chapter, because not as much happens in the second book, really.
Thank you to all my lovely reviewers so many hugs! To the not so lovely one, quite politely, piss off. :)
Chapter 2
"This is exactly why Miss Granger is most suited to defending Mr. Potter!" Severus hissed, slamming a copy The Daily Prophet down on the Headmaster's desk. "Mr. Weasley is a danger to the boy. Convincing him to fly a car to here from the center of London!" He leaned forward, hands spread on the Headmaster's desk.
When the Headmaster did not refute his statement, Snape cursed and stalked to the end of the room. "The Malfoys are planning something." The night outside was velvety dark, the stars tiny pinpricks of light in the void.
This got Dumbledore's attention. He frowned and motioned Severus to take the seat in front of him. "What have you heard, my boy?"
Severus scowled at the title, chafing at the bonds of loyalty to the manipulative old man before him. "Nothing but sly hints and veiled promises of an interesting year." And that there was a mysterious case of accidental magic at Potter's house this summer. "You know how Lucius likes to play with his food before he eats it."
"And what did you think of the results of the exams from last year?" asked Dumbledore, tucking the valuable and troubling information deep into his mind.
Severus snorted out a semblance of a laugh. "Pathetic. I swear they get stupider every year. I blame inbreeding." His eyes narrowed as he leaned against the far wall, crossing his arms over his chest. "Of course that's not what you're interested in."
"You know me too well," Dumbledore mused. From any other man, that would be a joke, or perhaps a reassurance. From Dumbledore, it was a warning. Most didn't know the Headmaster as well as Severus did- they had no clue how much of a manipulative old goat he was. "I want to know what you thought of Miss Granger's test results."
"They are what was expected of the girl," Severus snapped. "Perfect, above perfect, perfect." He shook his head. "She has a love of books," he said, calmer, a thoughtful look taking his harsh features. "It is amazing how she absorbs knowledge like a sponge. She has the makings of a great Potions Mistress, if she shows an interest. Steady hands, a good grasp of Muggle chemistry, and a remarkable memory. Of course," he sneered, "She will probably want to do something pathetic and pointless like trying to save the manticores."
"This makes you angry," Dumbledore observed. "Why?"
Severus scowled at him and snorted. "You sound like a goddamn Muggle shrink," he muttered. "Because maybe she could be brilliant."
"And what about Mr. Weasley?" asked Albus. "What were your opinions of his scores?" His bright blue eyes were widened in an attempt to appear innocent; however, Severus had known him far too intimately for far too long to be fooled.
Crossing his arms again and snorting delicately, Severus gave his answer. "If I had not been given the distinct," he paused for emphasis, and drawled his next word with all the sarcasm he deemed fitting. "Honor of having Weasley in my class all year, I would be running ever scan known to man on him, under the assumption that the head wound he sustained last year was far more severe than anyone had realized."
"As eloquent as ever, Severus," Albus said with a shake of his head. "Mr. Weasley's scores were not as-
"Terrible? Embarrassing? Fatal as they could have been?" Severus asked snidely. "Imagine what would have happened if Miss Granger hadn't forced him to study."
"I concede that point," the Headmaster said, nodding his head wisely. "But the past is the past and when can only hope that Mr. Weasley will show more initiative in the future. I needed to ask you about…"
"Go, my boy. You have rounds tonight," Dumbledore lectured sternly. "Lockhart is not – how did you put it?
"An invertebrate quivering excuse for a human being masquerading as an incompetent milksop of a professor," hissed Severus, real anger on his face for once. "He is wasting a year of time that we could be using to adequately prepare the students for the war that is looming on the horizon."
Dumbledore tucked a lemon drop in his mouth, pressing to his cheek as he considered Severus' point. "He is teaching the students the importance of independent research," the old man said finally. The only answer to the rather lackluster answer was the slam of the door.
Swearing under his breath, Snape swept out of the tower in a raging fury, pale hands clenched and eyes scanning the halls for an unlucky victim. He was rounding near Gryffindor Tower when he heard the sounds of light crying.
He kept close to the walls, making himself invisible as he rounded the corner. He tripped when he saw Hermione Granger, the shock subsiding into reluctant approval when he saw she had her wand pointed somewhere around his chest faster than most seventh years could have. He had no idea if it was luck or skill, but there was a length of wood aimed at his heart nonetheless.
"Who's there!" she demanded, voice shaking, one hand reaching up to wipe her face. "Show yourself."
With a quick swish of his wand, Snape removed the spell. "Ten points from Gryffindor for pointing a wand at a teacher," he drawled, noting the girl's surprise.
"I'm sorry, Professor," she said, tremor gone. "Although I must point out I had no idea you were a teacher." He had to stop himself from smirking at her protest.
"That's quite alright, Miss Granger," he said with a malicious smile. "I'll just take another ten points for insolence." His smile grew larger when he saw her blush. "Now would you care to explain why you are out past curfew?"
She shrugged. "I was feeling rebellious, Professor. Rebellious and depressed. And my dorm mates are simply awful when it comes to things like this," she added as almost an afterthought. "I suppose I'm babbling, am I not?"
"Yes, you are," he snapped. "And may I inquire what things?" Severus asked, a dangerous light glinting in his eyes. If it is really something to be concerned about, Minerva will need to know. "Although if you say 'boy troubles,' Miss Granger, I might give you detention for the rest of the year."
He was gratified by her small smile, and immediately scowled to disguise it. "It was my birthday, today," she informed him, crossing her arms. "Not that anyone remembered." A small frown appeared on her face. "I turned thirteen today," she whispered. "It was silly and foolish to sneak out though," she said at normal volume. "What will my punishment be, Professor?"
He looked at her, a strange compassion rising in him. He knew what it was like to be forgotten by everyone. "Getting back to your dorm without being seen," he said sternly. "Consider it your birthday present," he said snidely.
She stared at him in blatant shock. "Yes, Professor," she stammered. She took a few steps, then looked back. "Professor?"
"What?" he snapped. I do have a limit to my kindnesses, Miss Granger. Don't push your luck.
She flinched, but persevered. "Thank you. And is nonverbal magic easy to learn?" Curiosity must be etched onto her very bones, Severus thought with a scowl.
"You're welcome. And yes, it is very simple for an organized mind," he said, frowning. She nodded and left, disappearing behind a tapestry where he knew a secret passage lay. As soon as he was sure she was gone, he grinned. "And fifteen points to Gryffindor for recognizing a nonverbal incantation," he said under his breath.
Dumbledore and Snape were once again in the circular office at the top of the highest tower in Hogwarts. This time both were deeply immersed in their ancient tomes, neither paying much attention to the other, except to point out bits and pieces of information they had deemed important.
"It says here that Slytherin's monster was won at great cost and no few deaths," Severus said roughly. "It doesn't say what it was."
"The castle refuses to tell me where the Chamber is," Dumbledore intoned gravely. "It will only reveal Slytherin's secrets to the Heir."
Severus cursed quietly. "The Heir is no one in Slytherin," he said firmly. "Draco Malfoy would be the most likely suspect but for the fact that his bloodline is impeccable, and therefore known by everyone who's anyone. It is too public for any secrets of the sort, and if they were the descendants of Salazar himself, they would shout it from the rooftops. As would any other Slytherin."
The Headmaster nodded, accepting the analysis of his Head of House. "Harry will need to be watched closely," he mused. "Apparently he and his friends were coming back from Sir. Nicholas' Death Day party."
"Of all the stupid things," Severus muttered. "The Granger girl is doing fine in all her classes. The incident on the Quidditch Pitch has had some interesting results, however."
Dumbledore leaned forward, closing the dusty book he had taken from one of his many bookshelves. "Interesting results, you say? Elaborate."
"She has been looking into Wizarding genealogies," he said. "She was surprisingly strong in the face of Malfoy's insult. I'm not quite sure if it is ignorance or self-confidence though," Severus said frowning. "If she was hurt, she hid it well."
"She stole from me!" Severus raged, face red and hands clenching spasmodically. "She stole the bloody potions ingredients from my own bloody storeroom!"
Dumbledore stared at him, then laughed, a deep belly laugh that neither mocked nor sympathized. "Well, Severus?" he said, wheezing. "What did she steal?"
"Boomslang skin and bicorn horn," Snape muttered. "She's trying to make Polyjuice potion!" It was ambitious, foolhardy, stupid, and incredibly smart.
Of course, the old man just chuckled some more. "She is intelligent. I wonder if she can do it. And where she is doing it."
"Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," the Potions Master said roughly. "The fumes have discolored Myrtle- it's visible to anyone who knows the potion as well as a Potion's Master. Any more news from your contact in Albania?"
"What happened?" Severus demanded as he swooped into the Hospital Wing, having rushed from his quarters at Madam Pomfrey's Floo call.
All he could see were the four beds in the corner that housed the victims of the monster, and one other bed on the opposite side of the room that was curtained off. He stalked toward that one, cursing the idiocy of his dunderheaded students. When he reached the curtain, he pulled in back in one smooth motion, pausing only at the sight before him.
Madam Pomfrey was comforting Hermione Granger, who looked at him through yellow, slanted, cat eyes while her tail flicked and the two cat ears growing out of the top of her furry head twitched.
Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips, and shook her head. "Miss Granger refuses to tell me what happened. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley brought her in." Walking away from the bed, she motioned him over, and spoke under her breath. "It's not a Transfiguration accident, and it is not a failed Animagus. She has fur covering most of her body, and the senses of a cat. She has also spoken of a craving for milk and yarn."
From the bed, Hermione spoke. "I can hear you, Madam Pomfrey," she said, still crying. "I shouldn't be able to hear you."
Severus snorted. "I know what's wrong," he said snidely. "I need to ask her some questions and then I think I can brew a potion that will return her to normal, or almost normal." Madam Pomfrey, nodded, then left for her office.
"I'll be in here if you need me," called the Matron. "Miss Granger, cooperate with Professor Snape unless you want a tail for the rest of your life."
When he approached the bed, he saw that she had stopped crying. "What are your questions?" Hermione asked with a watery sigh. "I might not be able to answer them," she said quietly.
"I have plenty of questions," Severus said grumpily. "We have to go over every step of the brewing process of the Polyjuice Potion, a very complex and fragile potion that no thirteen year old should be attempting, to figure out where, exactly, you failed. Which should come at no surprise because," he said with a sneer, "You are only thirteen."
Hermione froze. "And why would you say I made Polyjuice Potion?" she asked cautiously.
"Because you stole boomslang skin and bicorn horn from my private storeroom," Severus growled. "I am not called a Potion Master for shits and giggles, Miss Granger."
"Oh," she said sheepishly. "Well. Then you should know I brewed it perfectly, but I put in a cat hair instead of a human hair." When he raised one eyebrow to demand an explanation, she grinned up at him, showing her pointed canines. "You can probably guess who else took some. They were fine- one hour, no problems."
"You are telling me you managed to brew one of the most complicated potions known to Wizard kind as a thirteen year old?" Severus asked, incredulous. "How long do the lacewings need to stew?" he questioned.
"Twenty-one days," replied Hermione automatically. "The entire potion took me a month."
"What about the fluxweed?" Snape snapped, still not believing.
Hermione raised one eyebrow at him, and answered. "Picked at the full moon. I brewed it right, Professor. I just put in a cat hair I thought was a human hair."
Severus Snape was astounded. "And yet you are friends with those idiots," he muttered. "Explain to me, Miss Granger, how you gain any intellectual stimulation from your peers." I had it hard enough and I had Lily.
Hermione smiled sadly. "Why do you think I read all the time?" They looked at each other, cat meeting human. His eyes were so black, so hypnotizing, so compelling that Hermione couldn't look away. But instead of thinking about his eyes, her mind was going to the abandoned bathroom.
No- she didn't want to think about it. With a great pull of her will, she forced her mind to think about something else, anything else. She had the sneaking feeling that she shouldn't be thinking about the bathroom, so she started reciting Theandral's Fourth Principle of Transfiguration.
Suddenly, the Professor broke eye contact, and turned. "I will start brewing the reversal potion, Miss Granger," he said, voice sounding very far away to the girl in the bed. "However, I'm afraid it will take several days to brew, then a few weeks until you are back to normal. Some things may not return entirely, like the limited sight and hearing. I will be able to rid you of the fur, ears, and tail."
"Th-thank you, Professor," she said, stumbling over the words. Her head was pounding, and she felt dizzy. She barely noticed when the Professor left, the door to the Hospital Wing swinging shut.
Instead of returning to the dungeons, Snape almost flew through the corridors of Hogwarts, heading straight for Dumbledore's office. He gave the password to the gargoyles, and waited impatiently as the stairs delivered him to the door.
"Enter," came Dumbledore's voice, before he had a chance to even knock. Severus knew it was because the small portrait on the landing informed him, and so he gave it a world class sneer before striding into the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore looked pleased to see him, smiling broadly and gesturing toward a seat. "Severus! Sit, my boy. What news have you for me/"
"Hermione Granger has a formidable talent for Occlumency," he said in a rush, pacing instead of taking the proffered seat. "She pushed me away from the memory she didn't want me to see. Last year at Halloween, her mind was easily accessible. Now it's…" he stopped, at a loss for words.
Dumbledore sighed, then steepled his fingers and leaned back in his chair. "It seems you have much to tell me, Severus."
"I do," said the pacing man, more energetic than Dumbledore had seen him in months. "Hermione Granger managed to brew a perfect Polyjuice potion in a month, and the only reason she's in the Hospital Wing right now is that she mistook a cat hair for a human hair. Potter and Weasley successfully impersonated two people for an hour," he said with a frown. "Can we expel them?" That would make this day perfect. He noticed that he could not quite keep the hopeful tone out of his voice.
"No," Dumbledore said sternly. "In a month, you say? She's only twelve." Both men had sufficient Potions knowledge to know that it should have been impossible.
"Thirteen," Severus corrected. "Her birthday was in September." The correction did not slide under Dumbledore's considerable nose, but was disregarded for the moment.
"And she resisted your attempts at Legilimency?" Dumbledore inquired. "How hard did you push her?" The old man was leaning forward in his throne-like chair, blue eyes boring into Severus' face.
"Middling strength," Severus admitted. "She wouldn't have resisted a full strength attack. But she's completely untrained! At Halloween last year, her mind was open!" She must have done research on organized minds after our little conversation in September. And she learned that quickly? How? And she shouldn't have known Theandral's Principle either. How much extra reading has this girl been doing?
"Interesting," Dumbledore said. "I think we should arrange for weekly lessons. How long should she be in the Hospital Wing?"
"At least five weeks," Snape said, almost regretfully. "Mayhaps more." He stopped pacing, and took a seat in the chair in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"Then it is decided," Dumbledore announced with a decisive nod. "When she leaves the Hospital Wing she should have lessons."
It was four weeks into Hermione's hospital stay when Severus realized how dull his Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays were without Hermione Granger in his classes. They were also far more dangerous, as Longbottom consistently melted every cauldron, blew up every potion, and generally botched anything and everything he possibly could. Without Granger whispering in his ear, he couldn't make valuable ingredients explode fast enough.
When she finally did leave the Hospital Wing, she surprised him completely with her ability to miss more than a month of classes and still be able to answer every question correctly.
"It was like she never left," Severus told Dumbledore the next week. "The only difference is that Potter and Weasley have gotten better grades this week than they have in the last five. That's all."
Dumbledore nodded slowly, and asked, "Do you think she will be a fast learner? Do you think she'll be able to do everything she'll need to do?"
"Yes," Severus answered immediately. "As foolish as she is for associating with those idiots, she is the fastest learner I've ever seen." A thought struck him, and he asked, "Have you ever seen her in her classes?"
"No," Dumbledore said, pondering then nodding. "I should observe all of Harry's classes. It would be good for me to see how he and the Granger girl interact, and how smart they both are. It will not do if she does all his work for him and he never learns."
Severus stood and snorted as he walked to the door. "Of course not," he said. "It wouldn't do for the Boy-Who-Lives to be stupid and lazy. It wouldn't do at all."
"What the bloody hell does this girl think she is doing?" asked Severus horrified. "Albus! She wants to take every single extra class Hogwarts offers!"
Dumbledore frowned deeply, more lines appearing in his old face. "That will be difficult. I can ask Minerva to rearrange the schedule, but that would mean she would have to have one class cut down. We need to turn this to our advantage."
"What would you have done in the past?" asked Severus. "Who was the last person to want to take all the electives?" Would the girl make history? He couldn't think of anyone who had taken all the electives.
Dumbledore shook his head. "I do not know. Even dear old Tom didn't take Muggle Studies. And he was one of the most brilliant students Hogwarts has ever seen."
Severus shuddered to think of what would have happened if Hermione had not befriended Weasley and Potter. He could see her retreating into her books, with no emotional attachments, prime fodder for the Dark Lord to sway.
The Hospital Wing was empty but for the petrified victims. Severus entered quietly, and made his way to Hermione's bed. The girl was frozen completely, eyes wide and one hand outstretched as if holding something, and the other was clenched in a fist.
He was curious about the hand in front of her- how did she know to look around the corner with a mirror? Did she know what the monster was?
"If only you could talk, Miss Granger," he murmured softly. "I believe your cleverness has an answer we desperately need."
It would only be three weeks before the Mandrakes would be ready. Three weeks. The good fortune couldn't come soon enough- the dunderhead Fudge had made a grave mistake removing Dumbledore as Headmaster. A grave mistake.
"You are off now to give the Draught, my boy?" Dumbledore asked his Potions Master. Severus' private lab was always a sight. Three or four potions were bubbling in stasis, a rod or spoon stirring occasionally. The counters, as well as the floor and walls, were made of stone, but kept clean and bright, aside from the shadowy corners for potions that needed to be kept in the dark. There were several large cupboards full of ingredients, and a long row of shelves containing every potion imaginable behind glass and wards.
The Potions Master himself was a sight to behold as he chopped, then dumped the roots and stirred the potion with one hand as he crushed silvery beetles in a mortar with the other. When the beetles were a grey powder, he sprinkled some in the draught as he twitched his other hand and called forth a vial of a suspicious looking red liquid from the end of the table.
"I'm busy," he said tersely, upending the vial in the potion. "It'll be done in twenty seven turns." Severus wasn't even looking at the Headmaster- eyes focused on the color of the potion. However, when the old man opened his mouth to speak again, Severus spoke again. "If I have to hear your voice, I'll lose my concentration and four days' work will have gone to waste," he said, voice in jerky rhythm with his stirs.
Dumbledore, quite wisely, left the lab.
Twenty minutes later, Severus was transporting the Mandrake Restorative Draught to the Hospital Wing, where the five victims lay in their frozen slumber.
"Poppy," he said cordially, handing over the vials to her. "Would you appreciate some assistance?" Madam Pomfrey held a special place in his heart- cold and shriveled as most thought it was. She had been kind to him as a child, healing him when he stumbled into the Hospital Wing with the remnants of whatever torment the Marauders had dreamed up. And later, when he dragged himself there after the tortures of the Dark Lord, she had healed him with no lingering glances at his left arm.
She seemed surprised, but accepted his offer. "Can you take care of Miss Granger and Miss Clearwater?" He nodded, taking two of the vials and making his way over to their beds.
He decided to awake Miss Granger first, setting the vials on the bedside table. He had heard the story from the Headmaster, about how Miss Granger had been the one to figure out the monster was a basilisk. He figured she deserved to be woken first.
Her mouth was closed, so he put his hand under her chin, so it was cupping her face. The warmth felt strange, foreign to a man who had almost no human contact. Her face was so small, so fragile. Slowly, he massaged her jaw until her mouth opened enough for him to pour the potion in. He rubbed her throat, watching her carefully as the color returned to her face, neck, hands, and finally the ankles that poked out from beneath her robes.
"Miss Granger," he said loudly. "Are you awake yet?"
With a startled gasp, she shot forward, eyes frantic, as she heaved and coughed, trying to say something, grabbing his arm and clutching it. Although every instinct told him to pull away, he patted her back awkwardly and gave her water until she could speak.
"It's a basilisk," she rasped, still coughing horribly. "That's Slytherin's monster, it's traveling through the pipes to get around the school."
Severus, now almost used to her surprises, nearly smiled. He had been right. "We know, Miss Granger," he said as reassuringly as he could. "It has been taken care of by Mr. Potter. He found the paper you had in your hand and killed it." He looked down at her, and sneered. "Now if you could kindly release my arm."
She blushed and let go, coughing again. "Sorry," she said. "But did you say Harry killed it?"
"Yes," said the Professor. "He discovered what it was and immediately rushed to tackle it himself. He ended up facing it and a specter of the Dark Lord alone." He couldn't quite keep the derision from his tone, but the girl either didn't take notice, or didn't care.
"Alone!" Hermione squeaked. "Stupid, stupid, stupid, Hermione!" she said under her breath.
"Do you care to explain?" asked Severus curiously. Is she honestly blaming herself for not being there? Merlin, she is going to play right into Albus' hands.
Hermione sighed. "I try to make sure every time he rushes of into danger by himself he had either me or Ronald Weasley with him. That way he doesn't get into a situation like that alone." She frowned, and looked up at the stern man who was hated by so much of the school. "Was Ron with him?"
"Yes," Severus said brusquely. "But for the entire story you'll have to ask them. I have another patient. Drink more water and don't try to stand for another ten minutes."
He repeated the process on the Ravenclaw girl who was with Granger when they were attacked, giving her brisk instructions and going to help Madam Pomfrey spray the draught on Sir Nick. As he worked on the ghost, he could hear the two girls talking.
"You saved my life. Thank you. It's Hermione, right?"
"Yes. And thank you for saying thank you."
"How did you figure out what the monster was?"
"I just put all the facts together…" She went on to explain briefly, and he was amazed once more at her logic and memory.
What would Hermione Granger bring to the Wizarding World?
"She needs to start training immediately," Severus said softly. "She would probably be willing." The was a bitter tone to his voice, as he pictured the girl he had seen that night so soon after school had restarted- the girl who was crying because her friends didn't remember her birthday.
Albus smiled in a decidedly self-satisfied manner, piercing blue eyes pleased. "Good strategic move, Severus," he praised, nodding. "So soon after the near death of her friend Harry Potter when he stumbled into danger all by himself would be the perfect time to humbly ask her to try to protect him."
Severus' lip pulled back in a sneer of disgust. "No," he retorted. "For some reason she seems to genuinely care for the boy. Add to that she's both a Gryffindor, and a naïve child who believes everyone is in need of her aid, and you've got yourself the perfect protector."
"You seem upset," Albus remarked. "Didn't you want a part in her training?"
Severus allowed a nasty grin to spread across his face. "I have a choice in the matter? She needs to learn Occlumency, perhaps some Legilimency, self-defense and defense of another person, knife fighting, dueling, how to lie, act, and manipulate." He let his words hover in the tense air for a moment before openly mocking the Headmaster. "Or I suppose you could teach her the last three. But I doubt you'd want to reveal your hand to someone so near Harry Potter."
Albus' eyes went from genial to icy in a flash, hinting at the danger that lay beneath the guise of an old man. "Do not try my patience, Severus."
"Of course not, Headmaster," he said sarcastically. "Who else would you want to teach the impertinent chit?"
Albus Dumbledore had saved a smirk of his own for that very moment. "Well, I could convince Alastor Moody to train her. And Kingsley Shacklebolt would be delighted to help. And I could teach her Occlumency and Legilimency."
"You would do it wrong," Severus said, surprised at himself but hiding it. "I suppose I will have to help after all. Is Mad-Eye really necessary?" The old Auror is so paranoid he'd believe his own mother was trying to poison him, Severus though grumpily.
"Yes," said Dumbledore, smiling happily once more. "I'll approach her in the morning. Can you visit Safe House Three to make sure that all is in order?"
With a sneer and a mock bow, Severus swept out of the room to do his master's bidding.
And so ends Chapter Two.
Any questions and/or comments can be left in a review, or on tumblr. I really want to know what you're thinking! Also, if you notice any errors in spelling or grammar, let me know! I'm doing my best to catch everything, but I don't have a beta reader.
Next update will be next Friday. (I told you all before that I have several chapters of this done- you have no idea how hard it was for me not to update right away. But I want to stick to a manageable schedule, so... once a week.)
Have a good weekend!