A/N: Let's say, Late night and wow I was messed up when I wrote this. I know for a fact that I made a good few mistakes in either spelling or grammer or what not. So SORRY! I typed this up about a week ago right after I posted the first chapter but I took along time editing and it didn't help that I was reading alot more then editing. So please try to enjoy.
Chapter 2
Waking to an empty room, in the cold dungeons, did very little for Hermione. Sure she was happy to be gone from the bright white room of the hospital wing, and the over cheerful Madam Pomfrey. really thinking about it made Hermione think that maybe the dark old dungeons is a good place to be, it fit her mood perfectly. A knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts.
"Miss. Granger, may I come in?" ...pause... "Okay, I'm coming in." Slowly cracking the door and sliding in like the wind, she came over to her bed, sitting on the eager again. "So how are you feeling today?" she looked at him "That's good to hear. Now would you like to go to breakfast?" she looked away staring off in to space again. "okay maybe then you can have breakfast in bed, as long as you don't make a mess that is." he left and came back in with a lovely breakfast on a tray for her.
Setting it down, "You better not get use to this, or you'll be sorely upset when I force you to attend to the Great Hall." His signature sneer coming back in to place. she looked up at him with a lost expression on her face. "I'll be in the Great Hall for a bit, if you need me, then I'm coming back to check on you." she instantly grabbed his arm again not letting go till he told her that he'd stay. "Now eat up."
Looking at her food made her feel queasy. pushing it away, she stared off again letting go of his arm. "Really, now Miss. Granger, I brought you food in bed, and I'm missing my own breakfast to stay with you, do me the courtesy of at least eating some of it. Pushing the food towards him so he could have a go at it he shook his head. "No, no you have to eat." looking off again in to space, which seemed to be her way of saying no. "Okay, how about everything I eat you eat half of it, okay? Is that good with you?" looking at him for a brief second then away again. "Either that or I force you to eat, which won't be fun for either of us." Glad that she was more responsive today than yesterday. At the least Severus could understand if she wanted something or not, for the most part. Picking up two strawberries, he ate them. "Here you go" Handing Hermione a strawberry. slowly she reached up and took it. and even slower she brought it to her mouth. Nibbling on it she watched Professor Snape. Nodding to her till she finished it. They did that for a bit till Hermione couldn't manage another bite. Snape being satisfied took away the breakfast leaving the room for only a moment. "Now that I got you fed, what would you like to do today?" waiting for any type of response.
'Snape' 'Being Nice' 'Not Normal' 'Improvement' going through her head in fragments. Not noticing how little that she even thought lately. Now to her it was normal to think fuzzily in small fragments, if at all.
"Well I have work I can be doing, so if you don't mind." she grabbed his arm yet again.
'He gone' 'Me alone' 'Alone isn't good' went though her head. Adding more power to her grip on him.
"Now really Miss. Granger, I would like to go to the sitting room to read an article or two I have received." Seeing that she wasn't going to let go of him any time soon, "I take it that you'd like to come along with me?" he asked politely. she nodded slightly. slightly surprise with that, Snape helped her out of bed. "Can you walk?" not really knowing why she wouldn't be able to but she seemed so, weak and tired. Hermione looked at him, not knowing the answer herself. trying to get up and walk ended up with her practically collapsing on to the floor. Severus had a faint smile as she tried again a little better than the first time. 'She must be exhausted from everything' he thought. "Well as I can see that you Can move that's well enough. But since I would like to read them some time today." He picked her up again, holding her close to him in his arms. 'Too light' Was his only thought again. bringing her in to the sitting room, he placed her on the couch.
She watched him go to the table and get his articles to read. She watched him come back and sit on the other end of the couch. She watched him read. She watched him. To Severus it was quite unnerving, but none the less, he let it go. 'If she thinks this to be entertaining, just let her be' Severus decided. He finished up his articles and had moved to a book he was reading on potions, till it was lunch time. Severus wouldn't have even notice that it was lunch time if the headmaster didn't send a letter to him by the floo network.
Severus,
How are you doing? We all missed you and Miss. Granger at breakfast. Please come join us at lunch in a few minuets. It would do both of you good, to socialize as much as you hate it. Please try to be considerate to Miss. Granger while she is in your care. I thank you again for doing this for me.
~Albus
Setting his books aside, "Miss. Granger, we are requested to attend lunch in the Great Hall." A stare into space, "They seem to not believe that I can take care of you, and want to make sure for themselves." she looked downwards, now knowing that she wouldn't be able to walk all the way up to the Great Hall, nor did she think that Snape would be able to carry her either. She was wrong. He picked her up almost as if it was second nature to him. "Tonight your going to get a good night's rest and then tomorrow we are going to get it so that you can at least walk to the bathroom by yourself." Earlier that day he felt embarrassed when he had to carry her to the bathroom, leaving and come back to take her back to the couch. Coming up the last flight of stairs and going into the Great Hall, they went up to the Head table. Everyone that was staying at the castle was already there. Madam Pomfrey, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Professor Victor, and a few others that Hermione didn't know the names of along with Professor Dumbledore. Snape took the seat on the end of the table and placed her right next to him on his left. Everyone was shocked when they saw Severus carrying their favorite student in for lunch.
For lunch it was pancakes. Everyone watched shocked at how well nice Snape was being and to the one whom everyone thought was at the top of his hate of students list, right below her friends of course. Dumbledore watched amusedly while Snape gave him self two pancakes, and then Hermione one. Usually Severus only ate a bare minimal at lunch. He then buttered her's thickly and poured tons of syrup on them, while he ate his with only a bit of syrup. 'Well this will help her put on some weight' he thought. After Lunch was over Snape stood and helped Hermione stand up also then took her up into his arms again. 'I'm really getting too use to this.' He thought. Walking past the Headmaster he turned when he heard his name.
"Could you and Miss. Granger come talk to me in my office right now?" Dumbledore asked. with concern in his eyes.
"Of course Albus."
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After being seated in the Headmaster's office, Albus began with a smile. "Now how are you two doing?"
"We are doing well." Snape answered.
"That's good. Now Hermione, tell me if there is anything I can do for you, when ever you need it okay?" She looked at him intently. "Tired today? I am a bit also. Is Severus treating you all right?" She looked at Dumbledore directly in the eyes and held her stare for a while. "Do you not feel like talking? Or is he really that mean?"
"Headmaster, if you don't mind me saying so, she doesn't talk at all now. Never the least she does understand what you say and she responded well so no need to worry."
"Indeed, I see that you are taken good care of her. Yes, indeed you are." he mumbled. "Now then the reason I asked you here is to tell you need to go to Diagon Alley soon, too pick up everything you will need for this year. Also if you would like Miss. Granger I can arrange for you to go to Muggle London to get what ever else you will need. As you know after unfortunate events you have again unfortunately lost everything that you own. I'm so sorry my dear. We will try to make this as easy on you as we can." He said with the deepest simplify there was in all the world. "But first you will have to regain your strength. I also expect you at Dinner tonight. Now unless you have any questions, that is all I wanted."
"Just one, who's taking her shopping?"
The twinkle in his eye was back to amusement along with the smile on his face. "Of course you are Severus."
"I don't do shopping."
Hiding his laughter Dumbledore responded, "Of course you do, your always leaving to go and buy stuff."
"I always to go buy potion supplies, and maybe a drink or two. Of course I wouldn't mind at all taken her out drinking..." His sneer back in place
"Well just make sure to have her back her by midnight then." and as an afterthought, " Your doing wonderful at sneering. Maybe you should practice sarcasm a bit more though." One look at Snape's face sent Dumbledore laughing hysterically. "You are always one for a good laugh aren't you?"
"Well good day sir. I'll inform you when she wishes to go shopping." Hermione had been looking in to space for a while not even noticing about their conversation. When Snape picked her up she was very surprised, she threw her arms around his neck and held on tight as if he was going to drop her at any second. Snape chuckled at this and held her tighter.
"Well I see you two are getting along great." His smile still on his face. Deciding to have a bit of fun with the Potion Master's head, "After you two go drinking try not to make it to your own rooms for the night." Seeing that he pushed the buttons he hoped he had.
Severus' face went bright red, which almost never happens, except when the Headmaster decides to have fun, but even then he has trouble doing so. But soon Snape's red embarrassed face turned in to a smirking somewhat red face. "Who says that we need to get drunk first? Maybe a shag before dinner. Sound good, honey?" knowing that she was a hundred miles away from the conversation.
"First off, please don't go around shagging the students. And second, when you go shopping don't for get to get her everything, including clothes, and shoes, and underwear. Help her pick things out you know."
" Nice Try Albus, but underwear doesn't scare me."
"Yes, but have you ever helped pick out girl's underwear for one of your student's in Muggle London?" slight pause "You know that female muggle underwear isn't anything like witch's underwear." Raising one eyebrow.
"Maybe she'll have to try them on and show me them then. And Albus, must you always play your sick little game of trying to embarrass me to no end.?"
"Only when the occasion allows for it. Embarrassment will do you some good you know."
"See you at dinner."
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Two weeks had passed by, and Hermione was as well as can be physically. But still emotionally disturbed. She hadn't uttered a word and she still very often stared off in to space. But every day she was becoming more responsive. Severus woke her up at 7.
"Hermione," He'd taken to calling her, her first name to see if he could bug Dumbledore just a little bit by it, but now he just got use to calling her it. Snape was also very kind to her all the time now. "Come on, today we are going shopping." she opened her eyes, and turned over intent on going back to sleep. "You need more than two pair of clothes." One of them wasn't even her's, they were given to her from the hospital wing. Hermione rolled back over, placing her hand on his arm to make sure that she had his attention, shook her head, and rolled back over again. "Not today. We are going to grab a quick bite and then spend the day shopping." She still didn't move. "Fine then" He picked her up yet again. Despite her livid attempts to get back to her bed, he wouldn't let her. As soon as they were in the sitting room he put her down, so that she could walk to breakfast. After breakfast, they walked out side and to Hermione's great surprise there was a car waiting for them. Not just any car either. A nice yellow jeep decked out for off roading and more.
"Did you have a permit?" She nodded excitedly. "Then you get to drive." Handing her the keys. Her face lit up all excited. When Hermione looked back at Severus she saw him smiling at her excitement. "Do you know how to drive a stick?" Again she nodded. As She turned the key, and smiled even more, when she could her the engine roar to life. Jamming on the pedal the flew off, enough to scare Snape. He Quickly strapped on his seat belt. At which it looked as if she was laughing with out sound. Slowing down they left Hogwarts behind. Since there was really no road Hermione decided that the speed limit was as high as she liked, which was 85. Severus, wished that she'd slow down. He didn't really trust these muggle contraption. But seeing how much fun she was having going as fast as she dared and also scaring her teacher senseless, he couldn't help but feel that this was good for her. "Take a left her" he instructed her. "Slowly" He added. Which just made her speed up a bit. but she did eventually slowed down to 70.
"All right see that road up ahead, go on to the road and then follow the speed that it tells you!" A grin firmly in place on her face. When she came to a stop light, she revved the engine till Severus had to have her stop. He really didn't like muggle things. Not that it dampened her spirits any. "First we are going to go to London, and get you, what ever you need. I already have the muggle money with me." Stopping out side of a clothing store, Hermione was led in by Severus.
"Let's see, Dumbledore made me a list of what you'd need."
~ A Muggle Shirt for everyday of the week.
~ And at the very least 5 pairs of muggle pants.
~ Make sure to get enough underwear and such to last. (Know you'll like that part)
~ .....(And so on)
"Let's get you the shirts first. Once there he was surprised at some of the shirts he saw. Amazing, the things that muggles put such worth and time and effort in. Hermione picked out ten shirts. Then she pointed to the dressing room. "I'll wait here" She shook her head. She grabbed his arm and dragged him over to a chair right out side it and motioned for him to stay in it. He also noticed that she didn't just have shirts with her, many pants, shorts, and a skirt or two. 'didn't take her for a big shopper' he thought to himself, till she came out wearing one of the outfits that she picked out. A very tight pair of pants that, 'What is that, Glitter? Not bad' and a shirt with over sized sleeves and very tight also, just in the *right* places. 'Dang she's so pretty' he thought. "You look marvelous." The next one she tried on was skirt that was *very* short and looked to be the same material as the jeans she tried on before. The shirt to say the less was 'sexy' showing her tummy and was rather low but yet very tight again with no sleeves. 'I can get use to shopping with women' after some very scantily and cute outfits later, they headed off to a different part of that store. Getting shoes, 3 pairs. Who'd have thought I would like the look of platform boots that went up to the knee, on a female.' Snape was having allot of fun none the less. Getting some pajamas, which luckily were not reviling, a pajama bottom of light blue background and white clouds on it and a tank top that said Sweetie on it. "Lets see, at this store I believe that we only have left underwear and such."
Hermione smiled mischievously. He didn't like that look. But luckily again she didn't want to try them on and model them. Snape didn't know what he'd do if she did. But he was shocked at the choices that she picked. "What do you need underwear that has a pocket on it?" Hermione gave he a little I'm going to pretend that I don't know shrug. "Maybe I don't want to know." Other comments like,. "What is with you and sparkles?" and "Isn't that a little too revealing?" and they were off to pay for it all. Next they went and got her a hair brush along with a couple of hair things. Shampoo and Conditioner in the sent of lavender, and many other objects too. But when they got to getting a toothbrush, Hermione took one look at the tooth brushes and tooth paste and cried. Stopping the cart, Snape pulled her close to him. Holding her tight, stroking her hair. "It'll be all right. It'll be all right." He said to her quitely. Many people stared at them as they passed by, including a Seamus Finnigan who stopped and gawked till his dad nudged him to continue on and he moved on but still staring till he could no longer see them.
"Hermione, how about we quickly grab a toothbrush and some toothpaste and we will go some where fun before we go get you school stuff okay?" she sniffed and nodded. Snape intent to just grab some random tooth brush, but Hermione stopped and looked at every one closely. Soon she picked the ones that she liked out. Heading out to the car, Hermione looked up and smiled at Severus. He returned it back.
Placing the items in the back with the other items that they had gotten from the other store they hoped in and drove off; with Seamus' jaw still hanging when he went out to his dad's car, and saw them drive off. 'Must just be a Snape impersonator.'
Once on the street she looked at him for a second then at a stop light she stared at him. "What?" he asked.
She looked around as if lost. "Oh, I'm taking you out to lunch. I saw a place called Wendys that looked good." by her smile he could tell that it must be great. They both got a quarter pounder double stacks with cheese and a med. frosty. Severus who had never had any fast food muggle food before, loved it so much he went back and got another. She looked at him surprised. "I'm taking it back, so that the house elfs can find a way to make something JUST like this!" Hermione could only grin at that.
'Professor Snape wanting to have muggle fast food at Hogwarts. Great.' Hermione
thought.
Next they went to Diagon Alley where they didn't come across anyone they knew.
Once returning to Hogwarts and putting away all of the bags. Snape and Hermione went to
the kitchens to talk to the house elfs about making the food from Wendys. Hermione never
liked being by herself, so she followed Snape almost everywhere. Snape of course didn't
mind.
At Dinner that night, Dumbledore inquired about their shopping. "Besides
wanting to try every thing on at least once. It was all right." Severus said.
"Every thing?" he asked, with a raised eyebrow.
Snape figuring out what he meant, corrected himself, "Every shirt and pair of pants with in the store." with out even the faintest embarrassment of it at all. Which dampened Dumbledore's spirit a little. But at least everyone around him was happy, which made Dumbledore happy.
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The next day when Hermione arrived at breakfast with Severus, Minerva spit out her pumpkin juice that she had been drinking. "Miss. Granger!" She exclaimed, Minerva had just gotten back from her trip late the night before. But it wasn't that Hermione was there that surprised her, nor was it that she came in with Severus, no she knew all about the going ons of Hogwarts for the most part after late night tea with Albus. No it has-been what she was wearing that gave her that reaction. A tight leather corset looking top, and a pair of leather looking pants, that looked as if they were painted on her. "What are you wearing?!"
Hermione gave her a hurt look. Walking slowly up to the table, taking the seat the farthest from Minerva at the end of the table. After a quite breakfast, with lots of looks at Hermione's new style of clothes. As Hermione got up to leave Minerva got up as well, "Miss. Granger, I'm sorry but it's just that it shows so much skin." Looking at Minerva as if she was insane. "Well for one I can see your stomach quite well; and also it doesn't even have any sleeves or straps for that matter." Hermione shrugged.
Going up to Severus and making a driving motion and using pleading eyes, he got her hint. "I'll ask Albus. He is the one that owns that jeep you love so much." Minerva heard that and stared at her.
"I don't think I'll ever understand that girl" she said under her breath, "or Severus as for that matter."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione loved driving. She came alive more when she drove. Today she brought them to a hair parlor. "Oh great I get to sit here and wait for you to go get your hair cut." She smiled, and held out her hand for some money. Grinning in a mad way, she ran in. After a lot of hand motions and writing it down later Hermione came out with her hair straighter than most days, and her hair died deep auburn that looked blackish. The Frizzy ness of her hair was gone and she looked, hot in a very odd way. 'Never seen anyone look like that before' "Hermione, it looks great." She gave him a look he didn't understand, then she held out her hand and motioned that she wanted some more money. Once given to her she motioned for him to stay put in the car. Walking down the street, she came back with four piercings. two on her lopes, one the top of her left ear, and one though her right nostril.
"Hermione Granger! The Headmaster is going to kill me, for letting you do that to yourself!" She just gave him an insane smile. Realizing that something was horribly wrong with her. "We aren't making anymore stops, come on back to Hogwarts." But of course they did stop again at a Wendys. This time they also got some fries with their order. On the way home Hermione got lectured about her rash actions.
Severus was right, while trying to quickly get her down to the dungeon before anyone could see her, so that he could come up with what to see, Minerva saw her. "SEVERUS SNAPE! WHAT DID D YOU DO TO HER!" She yelled
"I did not do anything to her!" truly he didn't.
"THEN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!"
"What does it look like, she got her hair dyed, and also got some piecings. She wanted a tattoo also, but she couldn't come up with what to have it be." He added the last part sarcastically.
"How could you let her?" Minerva's tone of voice upset Hermione.
"I stayed in the car as she went in the parlor by herself. She decided to do this."
"And the piercings?" Minerva inquired
"She wanted to go to some shop I hadn't seen before and when she came back out she had a 4 new piecings."
"4! There Are More than her nose!!!!"
"Her ears and the top of her ear."
"How can you be so irresponsible to not watch her more closely. and to Act as if it's every day that our students go out and create a new image of themselves. What morals does this..............." and on and on, until Hermione couldn't stand it any more, she ran as fast as she could to her room.
"Hermione!" Severus yelled after her.
"WHAT, Now your on first name basis with her are you?"
"Oh Shut up you old bat. You just scared away your own student, because of the color of her hair and a couple new holes she has." He ran after Hermione.
Snape found Hermione crying into her pillow. He sat next to the bed, and rubbed her back slowly. "It's okay, she was just shocked that's all. You've picked a new style and she doesn't understand it. It is all right." She stopped crying and turned to him. She grabbed a pen and pad of paper which she had on her bed side table. She wrote down some of her thoughts, that helped explain what she was going though for him, so he would understand what it wasn't going to be okay.
*My parents were very conservative, and by that they wouldn't let me buy what I secretly wanted, nor did they let me do things I wanted. Since they are not here, I can do what I want now. But by being able to do what I wanted proved to me that I'm all alone and they won't just appear out of nowhere and tell me I can't do it.* she wrote while crying again.
"So you miss your parents and this is your way of proving to your self that they are gone for good?" A nod "Did you also do it to show how much everything has changed?" Snape took a whiled guess off of what she somewhat wrote. She nodded again and threw her arms around him holding him tightly.
That night instead of going to the Great Hall for dinner Hermione decided to show Snape a different Muggle restaurant. This time it was Red Robin. He loved it there. So did Hermione cause they thought that she was over 21, or at least they didn't card her when after dinner they went to the bar part of it.
"What do you want?" Asked the bartender. Hermione pointed at a man down at the end of the bar counter.
"I believe we will have what ever he's having." Snape answered.
"Okay." The bartender got them their shots. "Do you at least know what your drinking?"
"Nope. Does it matter?" Severus asked.
"Well only asking cause it's Vodka. It's all ways good to know when your drinking that." He said with a smile, while looking down Hermione's shirt.
"In that case," Snape said, "We would like three more shots each.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many drinks later, after the bartender refused to serve them any more they were back outside to the car. Hermione at the very least knew not to drink and drive, refused to even get in the car.
"What, what's wrong? Why won't you get in? You want to drive it don't you?" Severus slurred slightly.
She shook her head. She made her hand into a phone signal holding it up to her ear. Severus, never using a phone before, didn't understand. So Hermione grabbed his arm and dragged him to walk with her. Hoping to find anyone they knew. Hermione was scared of how loose she felt. She didn't like being scared. As she stumbled around.
"How many times have you gone drinking?" He asked her
Holding a big fat old zero up. he stopped. "Oh great now I'll be in trouble! I got Hermione Granger, Hogwarts top student drunk for the first time ever! Minerva won't be happy at that."
Coming to an intersection Severus had to grab Hermione around her waist to keep her from running off into the road. After a while of walking, Hermione saw Harry, driving by in an old crappy car. She pointed him out to Severus, who yelled to Harry.
Stopping the car he was surprised when two people crawled in the back of it. "What the ...." Harry Started but stopped when he recognize who it was. "What are you doing?!?" Harry asked very worried. They seemed to hit the very drunk stage now when the alcohol is really working it.
"Oh Pootter!" Severus said. "Jusst Drive!" They were sprawled out on the seats.
"What have you two been doing?" He had been in contact with Hermione and knew what had been up with her and everything else.
"We went out to dinner so we didn't get yelled at by Headmaster." Snape said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Okay and why would the Headmaster yell at you?"
"She dyed her hair dark, and got pierced." Snape was getting drowsy. While Hermione, was still in her deeply drunken state. "Can we use your owl Mr. Pootter."
"I guess so." He was driving home from some errands he had to do for the Dursleys.
The back seat was really quite when Harry got to some stop lights. He turned to see if they past out yet, to see them snogging. "HERMIONE!" Harry yelled at her, just as she was passing out. "How much did you give her to drink?!" He now yelled at Severus.
"Um..." 'Crap how much did she have?' "Only 4 glasses of Vodka" He lied knowing that they each had more than that, just not knowing how much more.
A/N: Wow, I wrote that really late at night all night long, while drinking a virgin Margarita. I might redo this story but under a diff title and keep both going. cause I meant to make it different. But I dunno. If you like it, tell me cause I had fun writing it.
Chapter 2
Waking to an empty room, in the cold dungeons, did very little for Hermione. Sure she was happy to be gone from the bright white room of the hospital wing, and the over cheerful Madam Pomfrey. really thinking about it made Hermione think that maybe the dark old dungeons is a good place to be, it fit her mood perfectly. A knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts.
"Miss. Granger, may I come in?" ...pause... "Okay, I'm coming in." Slowly cracking the door and sliding in like the wind, she came over to her bed, sitting on the eager again. "So how are you feeling today?" she looked at him "That's good to hear. Now would you like to go to breakfast?" she looked away staring off in to space again. "okay maybe then you can have breakfast in bed, as long as you don't make a mess that is." he left and came back in with a lovely breakfast on a tray for her.
Setting it down, "You better not get use to this, or you'll be sorely upset when I force you to attend to the Great Hall." His signature sneer coming back in to place. she looked up at him with a lost expression on her face. "I'll be in the Great Hall for a bit, if you need me, then I'm coming back to check on you." she instantly grabbed his arm again not letting go till he told her that he'd stay. "Now eat up."
Looking at her food made her feel queasy. pushing it away, she stared off again letting go of his arm. "Really, now Miss. Granger, I brought you food in bed, and I'm missing my own breakfast to stay with you, do me the courtesy of at least eating some of it. Pushing the food towards him so he could have a go at it he shook his head. "No, no you have to eat." looking off again in to space, which seemed to be her way of saying no. "Okay, how about everything I eat you eat half of it, okay? Is that good with you?" looking at him for a brief second then away again. "Either that or I force you to eat, which won't be fun for either of us." Glad that she was more responsive today than yesterday. At the least Severus could understand if she wanted something or not, for the most part. Picking up two strawberries, he ate them. "Here you go" Handing Hermione a strawberry. slowly she reached up and took it. and even slower she brought it to her mouth. Nibbling on it she watched Professor Snape. Nodding to her till she finished it. They did that for a bit till Hermione couldn't manage another bite. Snape being satisfied took away the breakfast leaving the room for only a moment. "Now that I got you fed, what would you like to do today?" waiting for any type of response.
'Snape' 'Being Nice' 'Not Normal' 'Improvement' going through her head in fragments. Not noticing how little that she even thought lately. Now to her it was normal to think fuzzily in small fragments, if at all.
"Well I have work I can be doing, so if you don't mind." she grabbed his arm yet again.
'He gone' 'Me alone' 'Alone isn't good' went though her head. Adding more power to her grip on him.
"Now really Miss. Granger, I would like to go to the sitting room to read an article or two I have received." Seeing that she wasn't going to let go of him any time soon, "I take it that you'd like to come along with me?" he asked politely. she nodded slightly. slightly surprise with that, Snape helped her out of bed. "Can you walk?" not really knowing why she wouldn't be able to but she seemed so, weak and tired. Hermione looked at him, not knowing the answer herself. trying to get up and walk ended up with her practically collapsing on to the floor. Severus had a faint smile as she tried again a little better than the first time. 'She must be exhausted from everything' he thought. "Well as I can see that you Can move that's well enough. But since I would like to read them some time today." He picked her up again, holding her close to him in his arms. 'Too light' Was his only thought again. bringing her in to the sitting room, he placed her on the couch.
She watched him go to the table and get his articles to read. She watched him come back and sit on the other end of the couch. She watched him read. She watched him. To Severus it was quite unnerving, but none the less, he let it go. 'If she thinks this to be entertaining, just let her be' Severus decided. He finished up his articles and had moved to a book he was reading on potions, till it was lunch time. Severus wouldn't have even notice that it was lunch time if the headmaster didn't send a letter to him by the floo network.
Severus,
How are you doing? We all missed you and Miss. Granger at breakfast. Please come join us at lunch in a few minuets. It would do both of you good, to socialize as much as you hate it. Please try to be considerate to Miss. Granger while she is in your care. I thank you again for doing this for me.
~Albus
Setting his books aside, "Miss. Granger, we are requested to attend lunch in the Great Hall." A stare into space, "They seem to not believe that I can take care of you, and want to make sure for themselves." she looked downwards, now knowing that she wouldn't be able to walk all the way up to the Great Hall, nor did she think that Snape would be able to carry her either. She was wrong. He picked her up almost as if it was second nature to him. "Tonight your going to get a good night's rest and then tomorrow we are going to get it so that you can at least walk to the bathroom by yourself." Earlier that day he felt embarrassed when he had to carry her to the bathroom, leaving and come back to take her back to the couch. Coming up the last flight of stairs and going into the Great Hall, they went up to the Head table. Everyone that was staying at the castle was already there. Madam Pomfrey, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, Professor Victor, and a few others that Hermione didn't know the names of along with Professor Dumbledore. Snape took the seat on the end of the table and placed her right next to him on his left. Everyone was shocked when they saw Severus carrying their favorite student in for lunch.
For lunch it was pancakes. Everyone watched shocked at how well nice Snape was being and to the one whom everyone thought was at the top of his hate of students list, right below her friends of course. Dumbledore watched amusedly while Snape gave him self two pancakes, and then Hermione one. Usually Severus only ate a bare minimal at lunch. He then buttered her's thickly and poured tons of syrup on them, while he ate his with only a bit of syrup. 'Well this will help her put on some weight' he thought. After Lunch was over Snape stood and helped Hermione stand up also then took her up into his arms again. 'I'm really getting too use to this.' He thought. Walking past the Headmaster he turned when he heard his name.
"Could you and Miss. Granger come talk to me in my office right now?" Dumbledore asked. with concern in his eyes.
"Of course Albus."
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After being seated in the Headmaster's office, Albus began with a smile. "Now how are you two doing?"
"We are doing well." Snape answered.
"That's good. Now Hermione, tell me if there is anything I can do for you, when ever you need it okay?" She looked at him intently. "Tired today? I am a bit also. Is Severus treating you all right?" She looked at Dumbledore directly in the eyes and held her stare for a while. "Do you not feel like talking? Or is he really that mean?"
"Headmaster, if you don't mind me saying so, she doesn't talk at all now. Never the least she does understand what you say and she responded well so no need to worry."
"Indeed, I see that you are taken good care of her. Yes, indeed you are." he mumbled. "Now then the reason I asked you here is to tell you need to go to Diagon Alley soon, too pick up everything you will need for this year. Also if you would like Miss. Granger I can arrange for you to go to Muggle London to get what ever else you will need. As you know after unfortunate events you have again unfortunately lost everything that you own. I'm so sorry my dear. We will try to make this as easy on you as we can." He said with the deepest simplify there was in all the world. "But first you will have to regain your strength. I also expect you at Dinner tonight. Now unless you have any questions, that is all I wanted."
"Just one, who's taking her shopping?"
The twinkle in his eye was back to amusement along with the smile on his face. "Of course you are Severus."
"I don't do shopping."
Hiding his laughter Dumbledore responded, "Of course you do, your always leaving to go and buy stuff."
"I always to go buy potion supplies, and maybe a drink or two. Of course I wouldn't mind at all taken her out drinking..." His sneer back in place
"Well just make sure to have her back her by midnight then." and as an afterthought, " Your doing wonderful at sneering. Maybe you should practice sarcasm a bit more though." One look at Snape's face sent Dumbledore laughing hysterically. "You are always one for a good laugh aren't you?"
"Well good day sir. I'll inform you when she wishes to go shopping." Hermione had been looking in to space for a while not even noticing about their conversation. When Snape picked her up she was very surprised, she threw her arms around his neck and held on tight as if he was going to drop her at any second. Snape chuckled at this and held her tighter.
"Well I see you two are getting along great." His smile still on his face. Deciding to have a bit of fun with the Potion Master's head, "After you two go drinking try not to make it to your own rooms for the night." Seeing that he pushed the buttons he hoped he had.
Severus' face went bright red, which almost never happens, except when the Headmaster decides to have fun, but even then he has trouble doing so. But soon Snape's red embarrassed face turned in to a smirking somewhat red face. "Who says that we need to get drunk first? Maybe a shag before dinner. Sound good, honey?" knowing that she was a hundred miles away from the conversation.
"First off, please don't go around shagging the students. And second, when you go shopping don't for get to get her everything, including clothes, and shoes, and underwear. Help her pick things out you know."
" Nice Try Albus, but underwear doesn't scare me."
"Yes, but have you ever helped pick out girl's underwear for one of your student's in Muggle London?" slight pause "You know that female muggle underwear isn't anything like witch's underwear." Raising one eyebrow.
"Maybe she'll have to try them on and show me them then. And Albus, must you always play your sick little game of trying to embarrass me to no end.?"
"Only when the occasion allows for it. Embarrassment will do you some good you know."
"See you at dinner."
******************************************************
Two weeks had passed by, and Hermione was as well as can be physically. But still emotionally disturbed. She hadn't uttered a word and she still very often stared off in to space. But every day she was becoming more responsive. Severus woke her up at 7.
"Hermione," He'd taken to calling her, her first name to see if he could bug Dumbledore just a little bit by it, but now he just got use to calling her it. Snape was also very kind to her all the time now. "Come on, today we are going shopping." she opened her eyes, and turned over intent on going back to sleep. "You need more than two pair of clothes." One of them wasn't even her's, they were given to her from the hospital wing. Hermione rolled back over, placing her hand on his arm to make sure that she had his attention, shook her head, and rolled back over again. "Not today. We are going to grab a quick bite and then spend the day shopping." She still didn't move. "Fine then" He picked her up yet again. Despite her livid attempts to get back to her bed, he wouldn't let her. As soon as they were in the sitting room he put her down, so that she could walk to breakfast. After breakfast, they walked out side and to Hermione's great surprise there was a car waiting for them. Not just any car either. A nice yellow jeep decked out for off roading and more.
"Did you have a permit?" She nodded excitedly. "Then you get to drive." Handing her the keys. Her face lit up all excited. When Hermione looked back at Severus she saw him smiling at her excitement. "Do you know how to drive a stick?" Again she nodded. As She turned the key, and smiled even more, when she could her the engine roar to life. Jamming on the pedal the flew off, enough to scare Snape. He Quickly strapped on his seat belt. At which it looked as if she was laughing with out sound. Slowing down they left Hogwarts behind. Since there was really no road Hermione decided that the speed limit was as high as she liked, which was 85. Severus, wished that she'd slow down. He didn't really trust these muggle contraption. But seeing how much fun she was having going as fast as she dared and also scaring her teacher senseless, he couldn't help but feel that this was good for her. "Take a left her" he instructed her. "Slowly" He added. Which just made her speed up a bit. but she did eventually slowed down to 70.
"All right see that road up ahead, go on to the road and then follow the speed that it tells you!" A grin firmly in place on her face. When she came to a stop light, she revved the engine till Severus had to have her stop. He really didn't like muggle things. Not that it dampened her spirits any. "First we are going to go to London, and get you, what ever you need. I already have the muggle money with me." Stopping out side of a clothing store, Hermione was led in by Severus.
"Let's see, Dumbledore made me a list of what you'd need."
~ A Muggle Shirt for everyday of the week.
~ And at the very least 5 pairs of muggle pants.
~ Make sure to get enough underwear and such to last. (Know you'll like that part)
~ .....(And so on)
"Let's get you the shirts first. Once there he was surprised at some of the shirts he saw. Amazing, the things that muggles put such worth and time and effort in. Hermione picked out ten shirts. Then she pointed to the dressing room. "I'll wait here" She shook her head. She grabbed his arm and dragged him over to a chair right out side it and motioned for him to stay in it. He also noticed that she didn't just have shirts with her, many pants, shorts, and a skirt or two. 'didn't take her for a big shopper' he thought to himself, till she came out wearing one of the outfits that she picked out. A very tight pair of pants that, 'What is that, Glitter? Not bad' and a shirt with over sized sleeves and very tight also, just in the *right* places. 'Dang she's so pretty' he thought. "You look marvelous." The next one she tried on was skirt that was *very* short and looked to be the same material as the jeans she tried on before. The shirt to say the less was 'sexy' showing her tummy and was rather low but yet very tight again with no sleeves. 'I can get use to shopping with women' after some very scantily and cute outfits later, they headed off to a different part of that store. Getting shoes, 3 pairs. Who'd have thought I would like the look of platform boots that went up to the knee, on a female.' Snape was having allot of fun none the less. Getting some pajamas, which luckily were not reviling, a pajama bottom of light blue background and white clouds on it and a tank top that said Sweetie on it. "Lets see, at this store I believe that we only have left underwear and such."
Hermione smiled mischievously. He didn't like that look. But luckily again she didn't want to try them on and model them. Snape didn't know what he'd do if she did. But he was shocked at the choices that she picked. "What do you need underwear that has a pocket on it?" Hermione gave he a little I'm going to pretend that I don't know shrug. "Maybe I don't want to know." Other comments like,. "What is with you and sparkles?" and "Isn't that a little too revealing?" and they were off to pay for it all. Next they went and got her a hair brush along with a couple of hair things. Shampoo and Conditioner in the sent of lavender, and many other objects too. But when they got to getting a toothbrush, Hermione took one look at the tooth brushes and tooth paste and cried. Stopping the cart, Snape pulled her close to him. Holding her tight, stroking her hair. "It'll be all right. It'll be all right." He said to her quitely. Many people stared at them as they passed by, including a Seamus Finnigan who stopped and gawked till his dad nudged him to continue on and he moved on but still staring till he could no longer see them.
"Hermione, how about we quickly grab a toothbrush and some toothpaste and we will go some where fun before we go get you school stuff okay?" she sniffed and nodded. Snape intent to just grab some random tooth brush, but Hermione stopped and looked at every one closely. Soon she picked the ones that she liked out. Heading out to the car, Hermione looked up and smiled at Severus. He returned it back.
Placing the items in the back with the other items that they had gotten from the other store they hoped in and drove off; with Seamus' jaw still hanging when he went out to his dad's car, and saw them drive off. 'Must just be a Snape impersonator.'
Once on the street she looked at him for a second then at a stop light she stared at him. "What?" he asked.
She looked around as if lost. "Oh, I'm taking you out to lunch. I saw a place called Wendys that looked good." by her smile he could tell that it must be great. They both got a quarter pounder double stacks with cheese and a med. frosty. Severus who had never had any fast food muggle food before, loved it so much he went back and got another. She looked at him surprised. "I'm taking it back, so that the house elfs can find a way to make something JUST like this!" Hermione could only grin at that.
'Professor Snape wanting to have muggle fast food at Hogwarts. Great.' Hermione
thought.
Next they went to Diagon Alley where they didn't come across anyone they knew.
Once returning to Hogwarts and putting away all of the bags. Snape and Hermione went to
the kitchens to talk to the house elfs about making the food from Wendys. Hermione never
liked being by herself, so she followed Snape almost everywhere. Snape of course didn't
mind.
At Dinner that night, Dumbledore inquired about their shopping. "Besides
wanting to try every thing on at least once. It was all right." Severus said.
"Every thing?" he asked, with a raised eyebrow.
Snape figuring out what he meant, corrected himself, "Every shirt and pair of pants with in the store." with out even the faintest embarrassment of it at all. Which dampened Dumbledore's spirit a little. But at least everyone around him was happy, which made Dumbledore happy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day when Hermione arrived at breakfast with Severus, Minerva spit out her pumpkin juice that she had been drinking. "Miss. Granger!" She exclaimed, Minerva had just gotten back from her trip late the night before. But it wasn't that Hermione was there that surprised her, nor was it that she came in with Severus, no she knew all about the going ons of Hogwarts for the most part after late night tea with Albus. No it has-been what she was wearing that gave her that reaction. A tight leather corset looking top, and a pair of leather looking pants, that looked as if they were painted on her. "What are you wearing?!"
Hermione gave her a hurt look. Walking slowly up to the table, taking the seat the farthest from Minerva at the end of the table. After a quite breakfast, with lots of looks at Hermione's new style of clothes. As Hermione got up to leave Minerva got up as well, "Miss. Granger, I'm sorry but it's just that it shows so much skin." Looking at Minerva as if she was insane. "Well for one I can see your stomach quite well; and also it doesn't even have any sleeves or straps for that matter." Hermione shrugged.
Going up to Severus and making a driving motion and using pleading eyes, he got her hint. "I'll ask Albus. He is the one that owns that jeep you love so much." Minerva heard that and stared at her.
"I don't think I'll ever understand that girl" she said under her breath, "or Severus as for that matter."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione loved driving. She came alive more when she drove. Today she brought them to a hair parlor. "Oh great I get to sit here and wait for you to go get your hair cut." She smiled, and held out her hand for some money. Grinning in a mad way, she ran in. After a lot of hand motions and writing it down later Hermione came out with her hair straighter than most days, and her hair died deep auburn that looked blackish. The Frizzy ness of her hair was gone and she looked, hot in a very odd way. 'Never seen anyone look like that before' "Hermione, it looks great." She gave him a look he didn't understand, then she held out her hand and motioned that she wanted some more money. Once given to her she motioned for him to stay put in the car. Walking down the street, she came back with four piercings. two on her lopes, one the top of her left ear, and one though her right nostril.
"Hermione Granger! The Headmaster is going to kill me, for letting you do that to yourself!" She just gave him an insane smile. Realizing that something was horribly wrong with her. "We aren't making anymore stops, come on back to Hogwarts." But of course they did stop again at a Wendys. This time they also got some fries with their order. On the way home Hermione got lectured about her rash actions.
Severus was right, while trying to quickly get her down to the dungeon before anyone could see her, so that he could come up with what to see, Minerva saw her. "SEVERUS SNAPE! WHAT DID D YOU DO TO HER!" She yelled
"I did not do anything to her!" truly he didn't.
"THEN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!"
"What does it look like, she got her hair dyed, and also got some piecings. She wanted a tattoo also, but she couldn't come up with what to have it be." He added the last part sarcastically.
"How could you let her?" Minerva's tone of voice upset Hermione.
"I stayed in the car as she went in the parlor by herself. She decided to do this."
"And the piercings?" Minerva inquired
"She wanted to go to some shop I hadn't seen before and when she came back out she had a 4 new piecings."
"4! There Are More than her nose!!!!"
"Her ears and the top of her ear."
"How can you be so irresponsible to not watch her more closely. and to Act as if it's every day that our students go out and create a new image of themselves. What morals does this..............." and on and on, until Hermione couldn't stand it any more, she ran as fast as she could to her room.
"Hermione!" Severus yelled after her.
"WHAT, Now your on first name basis with her are you?"
"Oh Shut up you old bat. You just scared away your own student, because of the color of her hair and a couple new holes she has." He ran after Hermione.
Snape found Hermione crying into her pillow. He sat next to the bed, and rubbed her back slowly. "It's okay, she was just shocked that's all. You've picked a new style and she doesn't understand it. It is all right." She stopped crying and turned to him. She grabbed a pen and pad of paper which she had on her bed side table. She wrote down some of her thoughts, that helped explain what she was going though for him, so he would understand what it wasn't going to be okay.
*My parents were very conservative, and by that they wouldn't let me buy what I secretly wanted, nor did they let me do things I wanted. Since they are not here, I can do what I want now. But by being able to do what I wanted proved to me that I'm all alone and they won't just appear out of nowhere and tell me I can't do it.* she wrote while crying again.
"So you miss your parents and this is your way of proving to your self that they are gone for good?" A nod "Did you also do it to show how much everything has changed?" Snape took a whiled guess off of what she somewhat wrote. She nodded again and threw her arms around him holding him tightly.
That night instead of going to the Great Hall for dinner Hermione decided to show Snape a different Muggle restaurant. This time it was Red Robin. He loved it there. So did Hermione cause they thought that she was over 21, or at least they didn't card her when after dinner they went to the bar part of it.
"What do you want?" Asked the bartender. Hermione pointed at a man down at the end of the bar counter.
"I believe we will have what ever he's having." Snape answered.
"Okay." The bartender got them their shots. "Do you at least know what your drinking?"
"Nope. Does it matter?" Severus asked.
"Well only asking cause it's Vodka. It's all ways good to know when your drinking that." He said with a smile, while looking down Hermione's shirt.
"In that case," Snape said, "We would like three more shots each.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many drinks later, after the bartender refused to serve them any more they were back outside to the car. Hermione at the very least knew not to drink and drive, refused to even get in the car.
"What, what's wrong? Why won't you get in? You want to drive it don't you?" Severus slurred slightly.
She shook her head. She made her hand into a phone signal holding it up to her ear. Severus, never using a phone before, didn't understand. So Hermione grabbed his arm and dragged him to walk with her. Hoping to find anyone they knew. Hermione was scared of how loose she felt. She didn't like being scared. As she stumbled around.
"How many times have you gone drinking?" He asked her
Holding a big fat old zero up. he stopped. "Oh great now I'll be in trouble! I got Hermione Granger, Hogwarts top student drunk for the first time ever! Minerva won't be happy at that."
Coming to an intersection Severus had to grab Hermione around her waist to keep her from running off into the road. After a while of walking, Hermione saw Harry, driving by in an old crappy car. She pointed him out to Severus, who yelled to Harry.
Stopping the car he was surprised when two people crawled in the back of it. "What the ...." Harry Started but stopped when he recognize who it was. "What are you doing?!?" Harry asked very worried. They seemed to hit the very drunk stage now when the alcohol is really working it.
"Oh Pootter!" Severus said. "Jusst Drive!" They were sprawled out on the seats.
"What have you two been doing?" He had been in contact with Hermione and knew what had been up with her and everything else.
"We went out to dinner so we didn't get yelled at by Headmaster." Snape said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Okay and why would the Headmaster yell at you?"
"She dyed her hair dark, and got pierced." Snape was getting drowsy. While Hermione, was still in her deeply drunken state. "Can we use your owl Mr. Pootter."
"I guess so." He was driving home from some errands he had to do for the Dursleys.
The back seat was really quite when Harry got to some stop lights. He turned to see if they past out yet, to see them snogging. "HERMIONE!" Harry yelled at her, just as she was passing out. "How much did you give her to drink?!" He now yelled at Severus.
"Um..." 'Crap how much did she have?' "Only 4 glasses of Vodka" He lied knowing that they each had more than that, just not knowing how much more.
A/N: Wow, I wrote that really late at night all night long, while drinking a virgin Margarita. I might redo this story but under a diff title and keep both going. cause I meant to make it different. But I dunno. If you like it, tell me cause I had fun writing it.