Dumbledore watched the retreating students thoughtfully, stroking his beard
for an extra moment before turning to face Snape and Lupin. They waited
patiently for the Headmaster to collect his thoughts-although the pause
more likely served only dramatic purposes.
"So you and Miss Granger are getting on well?" He finally asked. Snape just shrugged, "As well as can be expected." Remus looked up at Snape and, working to keep his face straight, said, "You seem to have exceeded my own expectations." Then he raised an eyebrow.
The Potions Master snorted. "Remus, what on earth are you driving at?" Lupin laughed, "Not one for romance, eh? Come one, it's only us! You can kiss and tell!" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, but Severus was outraged.
"How dare you suggest that I would behave in such an unprofessional manner with a student? You think I would put her reputation on the line, as well as her future and my job?" Dumbledore laughed this time.
"For once, Severus, your thorough knowledge of Hogwarts rules and regulations has failed you. The only conditions regarding student/teacher relationships are that the student must be 16, you can't live together, and discretion is strongly encouraged." Snape glowered at the Headmaster, his eyes darkening furiously. "What point are you making, Albus?"
Dumbledore said lightly, "Oh, none, just pointing out an error in your reasoning. Do come up with a more accurate was to defend yourself next time, or you may not be believed."
"For Merlin's sake, Albus. I merely respect her intelligence as a student. You've never bothered McGonagall this way, and that woman's favoritism far outreaches anything I've ever seen." Remus just coughed. Dumbledore tactfully placed a hand in front of his mouth to hide a smile. Snape squinted. "What? What did I say?"
"Well, we." Remus was suddenly coughing a lot. "We. erm. actually have had this discussion with McGonagall. Luckily, her loyalties lie elsewhere." He was soon coughing to hard to elaborate. Snape's eyes narrowed. "Wait. you mean. I had no idea! Who?" Remus's cough sounded shockingly like "Hooch!" but it was hard to tell.
"Oh dear." This time it was Dumbledore's turn to laugh. All right you two. let's discuss some matters of more immediate importance. Severus, do you think that Hermione could access her inner resources this way again if."
Hermione was currently dragging Harry and Draco all through Snape's library, enthusiastically pointing out different volumes which, to the boys, didn't seem particularly special. "So that's why you don't mind living here with that greasy git!" Harry groaned as Hermione was trying to show him an original edition of Moste Potente Potions and some of the first issues of Ars Alchemica.
"That's ridiculous, Harry. There is nothing wrong with Severus! He's actually quite pleasant once you get to know him." She reconsidered this thought when she remembered she hadn't had a real conversation with him since their argument the morning before, but decided against bringing it up.
"Oh, so you're on a first name basis now?" Harry drawled, making Hermione scowl at him. "Really, Harry, do you call Remus 'Professor Lupin' all the time? There's no need for formalities when you share a house with somebody."
"Probably no need for clothes, either," whispered Draco. Harry looked horrified, then amused. The boys were soon laughing so hard they could barely move. Hermione whirled on them and snapped, "What are you two cackling about? Really, I expected some maturity from you."
"You do like mature men, don't you Hermione?" Draco crowed, his laughter only multiplying when she looked confused. "Tell us, Hermione, do you have a thing for Snape or not?" Harry asked, somehow managing to meet her glare.
"That's ridiculous. It's not only the most bizarre idea I've ever heard, but it's against Hogwarts rules." Of course, Hermione knew that wasn't true, but if she used the rules they'd assume her respect for them went too far to merit any teasing. She hid her grin when she found she was right. Soon Harry and Draco were talking about their own interesting new student- teacher relationships. Draco complained about how Dumbledore was stuffing him with candy, and Harry told all sorts of hilarious stories about his escapades with Remus and Sirius. Suddenly Hermione stopped them, and looked at Draco.
"Draco, about your father." The boy only smiled a bit sadly. "Hermione, you did what you had to do. I am not angry with you for it. I want you to be my friend." Hermione smiled a little, too, feeling the weight of guilt evaporating.
At dinner that night, everyone was seated in Snape's exquisite dining room, and Minny was flitting about joyously to please everyone. Before they got too carried away with the food, Dumbledore called Hermione up to the head of the table.
"Miss Granger, someone you know very well found his way to Hogwarts in search of you. I believed it was my duty to bring him back to you, although I had to use. well. extreme measures to get him here." Reaching into his robes, Dumbledore produced a petrified blob of orange fur.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione squealed delightedly. "I never thought I'd see you again!" Dumbledore released the cat from his stupor and placed him in Hermione's arms, where he purred contentedly. Hermione put him down to let him explore and rushed to hug Dumbledore. "Thank you so much! Was he too much trouble?"
"Hermione, dear, I believe your cat dislikes everyone but you. I could not get close to him without suffering the consequences!" Hermione laughed. "I believe I'll have to marry the first man Crookshanks actually takes a liking to!" Suddenly everyone fell silent. Feeling uncomfortable, Hermione looked at Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling. "What?" she asked warily. Then she heard the purring. The Headmaster burst out laughing, Remus almost choked on his dinner roll, and Harry and Draco exchanged knowing glances. Hermione turned to see her purring cat nestled in the arms of a mortified and confused Professor Snape. She sat down silently and everyone began to eat, no one daring to comment on the tomcat's interesting (and most unexpected) preferences.
"So you and Miss Granger are getting on well?" He finally asked. Snape just shrugged, "As well as can be expected." Remus looked up at Snape and, working to keep his face straight, said, "You seem to have exceeded my own expectations." Then he raised an eyebrow.
The Potions Master snorted. "Remus, what on earth are you driving at?" Lupin laughed, "Not one for romance, eh? Come one, it's only us! You can kiss and tell!" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, but Severus was outraged.
"How dare you suggest that I would behave in such an unprofessional manner with a student? You think I would put her reputation on the line, as well as her future and my job?" Dumbledore laughed this time.
"For once, Severus, your thorough knowledge of Hogwarts rules and regulations has failed you. The only conditions regarding student/teacher relationships are that the student must be 16, you can't live together, and discretion is strongly encouraged." Snape glowered at the Headmaster, his eyes darkening furiously. "What point are you making, Albus?"
Dumbledore said lightly, "Oh, none, just pointing out an error in your reasoning. Do come up with a more accurate was to defend yourself next time, or you may not be believed."
"For Merlin's sake, Albus. I merely respect her intelligence as a student. You've never bothered McGonagall this way, and that woman's favoritism far outreaches anything I've ever seen." Remus just coughed. Dumbledore tactfully placed a hand in front of his mouth to hide a smile. Snape squinted. "What? What did I say?"
"Well, we." Remus was suddenly coughing a lot. "We. erm. actually have had this discussion with McGonagall. Luckily, her loyalties lie elsewhere." He was soon coughing to hard to elaborate. Snape's eyes narrowed. "Wait. you mean. I had no idea! Who?" Remus's cough sounded shockingly like "Hooch!" but it was hard to tell.
"Oh dear." This time it was Dumbledore's turn to laugh. All right you two. let's discuss some matters of more immediate importance. Severus, do you think that Hermione could access her inner resources this way again if."
Hermione was currently dragging Harry and Draco all through Snape's library, enthusiastically pointing out different volumes which, to the boys, didn't seem particularly special. "So that's why you don't mind living here with that greasy git!" Harry groaned as Hermione was trying to show him an original edition of Moste Potente Potions and some of the first issues of Ars Alchemica.
"That's ridiculous, Harry. There is nothing wrong with Severus! He's actually quite pleasant once you get to know him." She reconsidered this thought when she remembered she hadn't had a real conversation with him since their argument the morning before, but decided against bringing it up.
"Oh, so you're on a first name basis now?" Harry drawled, making Hermione scowl at him. "Really, Harry, do you call Remus 'Professor Lupin' all the time? There's no need for formalities when you share a house with somebody."
"Probably no need for clothes, either," whispered Draco. Harry looked horrified, then amused. The boys were soon laughing so hard they could barely move. Hermione whirled on them and snapped, "What are you two cackling about? Really, I expected some maturity from you."
"You do like mature men, don't you Hermione?" Draco crowed, his laughter only multiplying when she looked confused. "Tell us, Hermione, do you have a thing for Snape or not?" Harry asked, somehow managing to meet her glare.
"That's ridiculous. It's not only the most bizarre idea I've ever heard, but it's against Hogwarts rules." Of course, Hermione knew that wasn't true, but if she used the rules they'd assume her respect for them went too far to merit any teasing. She hid her grin when she found she was right. Soon Harry and Draco were talking about their own interesting new student- teacher relationships. Draco complained about how Dumbledore was stuffing him with candy, and Harry told all sorts of hilarious stories about his escapades with Remus and Sirius. Suddenly Hermione stopped them, and looked at Draco.
"Draco, about your father." The boy only smiled a bit sadly. "Hermione, you did what you had to do. I am not angry with you for it. I want you to be my friend." Hermione smiled a little, too, feeling the weight of guilt evaporating.
At dinner that night, everyone was seated in Snape's exquisite dining room, and Minny was flitting about joyously to please everyone. Before they got too carried away with the food, Dumbledore called Hermione up to the head of the table.
"Miss Granger, someone you know very well found his way to Hogwarts in search of you. I believed it was my duty to bring him back to you, although I had to use. well. extreme measures to get him here." Reaching into his robes, Dumbledore produced a petrified blob of orange fur.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione squealed delightedly. "I never thought I'd see you again!" Dumbledore released the cat from his stupor and placed him in Hermione's arms, where he purred contentedly. Hermione put him down to let him explore and rushed to hug Dumbledore. "Thank you so much! Was he too much trouble?"
"Hermione, dear, I believe your cat dislikes everyone but you. I could not get close to him without suffering the consequences!" Hermione laughed. "I believe I'll have to marry the first man Crookshanks actually takes a liking to!" Suddenly everyone fell silent. Feeling uncomfortable, Hermione looked at Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling. "What?" she asked warily. Then she heard the purring. The Headmaster burst out laughing, Remus almost choked on his dinner roll, and Harry and Draco exchanged knowing glances. Hermione turned to see her purring cat nestled in the arms of a mortified and confused Professor Snape. She sat down silently and everyone began to eat, no one daring to comment on the tomcat's interesting (and most unexpected) preferences.