Spoilers: Order of the Phoenix
"This is enough!" Lavender's voice exploded. "I'm going to McGonagall!"
Severus wondered for a moment, hesitating between waiting for her outside Gryffindor common room and taking points for being outside after curfew, or going straight to Minerva's office before the girl. He smirked and swiftly made his way in the silent corridors of Hogwarts.
He was already seated next to Minerva when Lavender's knock was heard. Severus chuckled softly and cradled his steaming cup between his hands. Minerva raised her eyebrows at Lavender's entrance.
"What is it, Miss Brown?"
The girl gave a glance of distrust in Severus's direction, but she was obviously fuelled with enough anger to bypass the cold glare he returned.
"It's Hermione Granger!" she exclaimed. "Could you give her a room outside Gryffindor Tower?"
Minerva frowned.
"May I know why you have such a request?"
"The whole dormitory is tired of being awakened three times a night by her screams."
Severus leaned forward, all pretences of disinterest forgotten.
"How long has she been waking you up?"
"Three weeks."
"Stupid girl! Why didn't you come earlier?" Severus roared.
"She deserves any nightmare she can have," Lavender retorted coldly.
Normally she would have been surprised to talk this way to Professor Snape, but she didn't care.
"And what do you think causes these nightmares?" Minerva asked, glancing worriedly at Severus.
"She's probably dreaming that Harry and Ron kill her."
"And you think she deserves it," Severus stated calmly, putting his cup on the table in front of him.
"Yes, Professor."
"May I know why?"
"Because she's You-Know-Who's fiancée!"
Minerva started and looked at Severus. His clenched fists told her there was something Albus had forgotten to mention to her. Lavender, now warm to her subject, continued:
"Well, she's not only his fiancée, but she's having trysts with Slytherins. Everybody knows she has an affair with Professor Krum and Draco Malfoy is always looking at her. Without mentioning…"
She turned her eyes toward Severus, her meaning clear. He scowled.
"Professor Krum is a Hufflepuff, Miss Brown," he said coldly.
Minerva leaned back in her seat.
"Ah, Tom has always been good at using Gryffindors…"
Severus looked sharply at her, saw the anger in the depths of her eyes and turned to Lavender.
"Miss Brown, have you been near the unicorns recently?"
"No, Professor Snape. My presence makes them nervous."
"Indeed? Well, Miss Brown, once in your life, use your head. Do you know where Miss Granger spends her time, since obviously, you wouldn't let her in the library or the Gryffindor common room?"
"No, Professor."
"I suggest you look sometimes toward the unicorns' paddock. You may be surprised as who cares for the foals."
Lavender squirmed on her seat, beginning to think that coming to Minerva hadn't been a good idea.
"I will see what I can do so Miss Granger won't wake you up anymore. You may go, Miss Brown."
Lavender knew how to recognise a dismissal when she heard one and she bolted out of her seat toward the door without waiting.
As soon as the door closed behind Lavender, Minerva cast a Silencing Spell on the door.
"Severus, I think you forgot to tell me some things. Or did Albus decide that I didn't need to know such things about one of my students?"
Severus rubbed his temples wearily.
"I have to speak with Lucius."
"Severus, it is hardly the time to revel in old friendships!"
"Think, Minerva!" Severus hissed. "The whole school knows something that only Albus and I knew, something that Lucius told us about. And Draco Malfoy is his son."
"Care to tell me the beginning of the story?"
Sighing, Severus quickly resumed what Lucius had told him three weeks ago. Minerva scowled.
"Is it true? This thing about the Founders' blood?"
"I think she has Rowena's blood. I don't know for the rest, the girl is not easy to approach!"
"No, you are not easy to approach. Start any discussion with Hermione Granger – Quidditch excepted – and she will welcome you as if you were her best friend."
"No, Minerva. She's sullen and aggressive. She spends more time with the foals than she spent in the library before."
"You tried to hide from her Tom's decision. But she must know, if the whole school knows!"
"She does. The Dark Lord didn't hide it from her; he even sent her a ring. I would think that it explains her nightmares quite well. The foals are probably the only ones that accept her now. Anyway, I'm going to see Miss Granger. I will give her some sleeping draught. It should be enough."
"At this hour? Severus, you're not thinking–"
"Oh, I am, Minerva, I am. When you have your little talk with Albus, ask him again why I'm supposed to play the role of her protector. I think I've forgotten the real reason, except making me look like a fool pining after a student."
Minerva opened wide eyes when hearing the growl rumbling down Severus's throat. He exchanged a last glance with her and exited her office. She still hadn't moved, too shocked, as she was trying to process everything she had just heard about.
Lavender had an apprehensive look on her face when Severus entered again Gryffindor common room. In the girls' dormitory, Hermione was huddled in a corner, her arms around her knees, her eyes wide open in her white face, looking utterly miserable. The relief filling her eyes when she saw him was unmistakable. She was still in her school robes and he scowled when seeing this. He scanned the room and found it empty.
"They are in the common room. They don't like when I'm here."
He held out his hand to her and she slowly stood up before taking it rather hesitantly. He cocked his eyebrow at her and she shifted nervously, avoiding his eyes.
"We are supposed to have an affair together, Miss Granger," he said mockingly. "It won't do if you are deadly afraid of me."
She looked up at him, her eyes turning hard as agate. He chuckled.
"That's more like it."
He tugged gently at her hand and the hard glint of her eyes softened with surprise. She followed him without resisting and they crossed Gryffindor common room, her hand encased in his. He felt her stiffen under the gazes of those she had called friends and he squeezed her fingers reassuringly. Then, with typical Gryffindor bravado, she held her head up high, looked at him with adoration and offered him the most luminous smile he had ever seen on her lips. She seemed to totally discard the hisses around her, keeping her bright eyes on him. He chuckled softly as the portrait of the Fat Lady swung closed behind them.
"Well done, Miss Granger," he murmured once in the dark corridors, absently entwining his fingers with hers.
She kept trotting by his side without answering.
He led her to his quarters and shoved a little bottle in her hand.
"Drink this. It's a sleeping draught. It should keep your nightmares at bay and allow you to sleep without waking up your roommates."
She looked up at him, her eyes huge.
"Don't send me back there," she pleaded softly.
"Nonsense, Miss Granger," he said crisply. "Minerva told Miss Brown she would take care of the problem. Just tell them about the sleeping draught, it should be enough."
"But–"
"Miss Granger, do not take advantage of my patience. Drink this and go to your dormitory."
She stiffened; normally, she would have protested, timidly maybe, but she would still have kept trying to explain why. She didn't; she was already broken. Docilely, she drank the content of the phial, put it on a table and left silently.
Severus sighed and took the book he had checked from the Restricted Section two days before, hoping he could get some reading done. Between the meetings with Firene, his mission of keeping an eye on Hermione, his duties as Head of Slytherin and his duties as a teacher, he felt that his grasp on his free time was slipping. Now, he had a quiet evening coming and he intended to progress further in his reading and learn something about the blood of the four Founders.
He was engrossed in his reading when a slightly sibilant voice startled him:
"Severus!"
Looking up, he saw the Bloody Baron, the usually silent Slytherin ghost. He sighed and put his book away.
"Baron. What can I do for you?"
"Come with me, now, before Peeves comes back."
"What has Peeves done again?" Severus asked, standing up and following the ghost.
"Hurry. I'd rather not have Sir Nicholas coming here in urgency. It would look very messy."
"How is it you asked help from the Gryffindor ghost?"
"The Fat Friar can't make haste for saving his life and the Grey Lady gets on my nerves," grumbled the ghost. "Sir Nicholas is reliable."
The Gryffindor ghost suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Baron! Hurry, Peeves is coming back!"
Seeing the Bloody Baron hesitate, Sir Nicholas added with urgency:
"Go, go, I'll lead him to her."
Severus began to have a bad feeling as the Slytherin ghost hastened ahead. He gritted his teeth.
"Very well. Let's forget dignity, Sir Nicholas. Lead the way at the fastest pace you can muster!"
"Isn't the Baron amazing? I was even wondering if he remembered how to speak," exclaimed Sir Nicholas, zooming through the corridors.
A part in Severus's head noted distantly that they were on their way to the library. What had happened there? Had someone opened one of the dangerous books? He groaned inwardly. Please, please, not the Sonnets of a Sorcerer, I couldn't stand to hear the limericks…
They didn't go as far as the library. At the top of a staircase, Severus stopped dead at the scene before him. The Bloody Baron was standing in front of a niche, looking even grimmer and more forbidding than usually and Peeves, loudly complaining, was trying to pass him.
"Your Bloodiness, she's nothing to you! You could let me have a little fun!"
The Bloody Baron only answered with a low hiss. Severus stepped forward and noticed the dark form behind the Slytherin ghost. He knelt on the floor and caught his breath.
"Miss Granger?"
"I think she's out," said Sir Nicholas helpfully. "When the Baron found her, Peeves was yelling obscenities in her ear and she didn't even stir."
Severus remembered the sleeping draught he had given her and cursed himself.
"Why didn't she go to Gryffindor Tower?" he muttered.
Sir Nicholas glowered.
"They are acting like a bunch of dunderheads. If she had shown up, they would have cast her out. Apparently, she screams in her sleep."
Severus rubbed his temples wearily.
"She tried to tell me and I didn't listen, fool that I am. I sent her back without thinking any further. Baron, Sir Nicholas, thank you for protecting her."
He lifted Hermione in his arms and wondered for a brief moment where to carry her. The Hospital Wing would seem logical, but one could sleep there only a number of times. It could not become Hermione's permanent residence. With a sigh, he retraced the way back to the dungeons. The Bloody Baron followed suit, after a nod toward Sir Nicholas, and Peeves was left disgruntled.
Severus lay Hermione down on his couch and conjured a blanket to cover her. Then he took a pinch of Floo powder and threw it in the fire.
"Albus! We have a problem…"
The following morning, during breakfast, Hermione took great care of avoiding Severus's eyes. She could still remember awakening in his quarters, curled up under one of his blankets, and shame burnt her cheeks. From the Head Table, Severus was rubbing mechanically the bridge of his nose instead of paying attention to the content of his plate. His dark eyes were on Hermione, as his mind replayed again and again the events of the previous night. No matter how long he had protested, Severus had had to concede defeat in front of Albus's obstinacy. Hermione had remained on his couch for the rest of the night and he had stood night duty by her side.
The greatest surprise had been when he had accompanied Hermione to the Gryffindor table. Neville had stood up and taken charge of her, daring for once to return the cold glare of his Potions Master. Severus was almost admiring of his performance, especially when, at a sudden movement from Hermione, a heavy silver ring rolled from her pocket and fell on the ground in a resounding clang. Hermione reddened and quickly hid the ring in the folds of her robes. But every Gryffindor had seen it.
"Traitor!" one of them hissed.
"Go find your Mudblood lover!" another added.
"The Slytherin table is over there," Ron mentioned.
"As if she was faithful to her Slytherin lord," Ginny sneered.
Hermione concentrated on her glass of pumpkin juice as if it contained the answers to all her problems. A casual caress on her neck made her look up, hope in her brown eyes, thinking it was Severus. She froze as she saw Draco leering at her.
"Weasel is right, Granger. Slytherin table would be much better for you, why don't you–"
Neville stood up and calmly stared at Draco.
"Go away, Malfoy. This is Gryffindor table and we don't accept any serpent here."
"Then let me take Granger with me."
"I just told you to go away," Neville hissed. "Hermione, come with me."
She followed him without protesting, apparently fascinated with the laces of her shoes, and didn't see little Megan Berkley looking at her from Ravenclaw table with compassion in her eyes.
Neville led Hermione back to Gryffindor common room before the next class began.
"Thank you, Neville," Hermione muttered. "It's nice of you to stay by my side no matter what."
"Anytime, Hermione," he replied easily. "What I don't understand is why you keep this ring with you all the time. If you hadn't, nobody would know. Except for Malfoy's insinuations, naturally, but nobody believes him now."
"I don't keep it. I left it in my trunks the first day. I found it in my bag only ten minutes after."
"You mean… it's cursed?"
"It's from Voldemort, what do you expect? Really, Neville, do you think I would crave for his attention?"
"I don't know. Ginny does, obviously."
"Ginny wants Tom Riddle, not Voldemort. You should know that or didn't she manage to get to you yet?"
"In fact, I have, since Neville is my boyfriend," said the icy voice of Ginny behind her. "Trying to steal him from me like you stole Tom?"
Hermione turned around warily.
"I'm not trying to steal anyone from you, Ginny."
"Like Hell you're not! That ring is saying the contrary!"
"You want the ring? Great, here it is!" Hermione replied, shoving it in Ginny's hands. "Now I hope you'll get the insults with it too!"
"You can't seduce him away from me and–"
"I don't care for Voldemort, Ginevra Weasley!" Hermione yelled. "If you want him that badly, then take him and good riddance! Hell, I'd even look for dark spells to make him become Tom Riddle again so you could have him and leave me alone!"
Silence fell on Gryffindor common room. Hermione, shaking, wrapped her arms around herself and glared at Ginny. The young witch stared back at her, the ring forgotten in her hands.
"You mean what you say? You don't care for Tom?"
"I don't. All of this is a sick joke. I'm not his betrothed and never will be. I'd rather die than be his."
Before Ginny could utter a sound, the door opened and the dark frame of Severus appeared.
"May I know the reason of those banshee shrieks? Screaming the Dark Lord's name is a very bad idea. Miss Granger, come with me. You have some explanations to give me."
"Yes, sir," she replied, subdued.
She had just passed the door when she heard a snigger behind her.
"Not hard to understand why she doesn't want You-Know-Who when she has her personal Potions Master."
She bit her lower lip, refusing to turn her head to look at the culprit, but she recognised the voice anyway. Two things happened at the same time.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley, for slanderous comments about a teacher and a fellow student."
Then the sound of a firm slap.
"Ronald Weasley, you better watch that filthy tongue of yours!"
"But Ginny–"
"There is no 'but', Ron. Just shut up. I'm sorry, Hermione," she said clearly. "I was a fool."
Hermione didn't move and all that Ginny could see was her shaking back covered with tousled brown curls.
"Miss Weasley, the ring," said Severus, holding out his hand expectedly.
Ginny sighed but complied. He slipped the silver ring in his pocket and turned to Hermione.
"Come with me, Miss Granger," he said in her ear.
She let the silky voice wash over her and didn't even start when she felt his hand on her lower back, gently leading her forward.