Hermione has become a target of the pranks; only thankfully, she manages to avoid any real serious injury. However, unable to control himself any longer, Severus tipped his hand to exactly how he feels about her and discovers the curse on her ring, with disastrous results.
Murder, Magic, Mayhem, and Madness
This is a murder mystery—another attempt is made on a student.
The End of November
Lucius threw his glass into the fireplace. He was in a rage. His ring, the one that matched Hermione's, had vibrated, burned, then quieted, only to have repeated the same sensations moments later with a far greater intensity. Now the ring was cold, slowly warming up simply because of his body temperature.
Somehow, for some reason, the binding on the rings was broken. Lucius could think of only one reason why. Severus had seen the ring. Did Hermione show it to him? No, that's unlikely. He had touched her, held her hand maybe and felt it. Surely Severus hadn't caved in and kissed her. His code of honor wouldn't have allowed him to kiss a student. The activation of the Adulterine-Detection and Philandering-Impeding Charms would have explained the initial vibration and burning sensations. But the activation of my Adulterare Impietatis and Proditionis Curses could only mean one thing—they had kissed—passionately. A lover's kiss. Shite!
He repaired his crystal highball glass so he could throw it into the fireplace again and repeated the action. The crash of the crystal did as little to appease his frustration as the act of throwing the expensive crystal did.
One month. Only one month to go and it would have all been sealed and unbreakable. He repaired the glass and threw it at the mirror above the mantle. The huge mirror shattered, sending reflective shards to the floor. Lucius turned and headed to his study. He picked up a stone orb off a small fountain on a side table as he walked across the room, dried it, and placed it in a small lapis bowl on the fourth shelf of the bookcase on the far wall. There was an audible click behind the bookshelf, and Lucius pushed it open, entering his private domain. As much as he despised Muggle-borns, utilizing the Muggle mechanical counterweight and latch had proven time and time again to having had been a brilliant stroke of genius on his part. There was no magic to detect, and the Aurors never considered looking for such a mundane hidden mechanical locking device. Not in his house. That and Draco didn't know about this passage, he only knew about the trapdoor in the drawing room
He walked swiftly down the steps and through a concealed door into his private library. He pulled out the books he'd used to enhance Hermione's ring, reviewing the enchantments and Dark Charms. After casting a detection spell on his own ring, he was certain of his conclusions. Severus has broken the charms. No one else could have managed it. He turned for the room directly under his study. His artifacts were in this room. The ones he truly treasured.
Seven bottles of mead sat on the shelf. His philter, the one that made Hermione Granger feel like she had an attraction for him, created a desire, which led to her believe in her delusion that she loved him. The potion slightly befuddled the drinker's mind, lowered their inhibitions, and created lasting fantasies of the wizard whose blood and semen was in it. This was the reason she had fallen for him so quickly and led her to declare her love in less than ten days. It now coursed through her veins, her heart, and her mind. Lucius smirked. That's all that needs to be done. Send her another bottle of the mead. One a week until the Christmas hols. But would she drink it? Would she still trust it after what Severus must have told her about the ring to drink the mead? He sat down on the stool and considered his options. He was too invested in this venture to back out now; the invitations had already been sent. Chocolates. A box of Daskalidés' creamy chocolate truffles. Perfect.
~oo0oo~
A Dark Arts specialist from St. Mungo's had been called in to see Severus. Severus was beyond what Madam Pomfrey considered to be general spell damage, aches, breaks, pains, and maladies. The Healer had come and given Severus potions, instructed Poppy on how to tend to her patient, then left, leaving her with nine restorative potions. Of course, what did she expect? The Healer had been one of Severus' students, one he'd deemed completely incompetent and inept as a student even though he'd made the required grade on his O.W.L.s and his N.E.W.T.s, receiving an Outstanding on his N.E.W.T. level Potions. Upon completion of school, Professor Snape had refused to write a letter of recommendation for the boy's apprenticeship, and he still apparently held a grudge. Typical Gryffindor.
~oo0oo~
Hermione looked at the tiny engraved runes inside her ring: home, hearth, and happiness… The ones Lucius said were there; but so was: power, prestige, position, and assets… What was he thinking adding those? None of that mattered to her. She put her ring back on and turned her attention to the other puzzle.
They'd had a hard time finding the spells Severus had used or the one he'd identified on her ring. Hermione had enlisted the aid of Luna, Amanda, and Margery to help, and Justin had asked two of his mates. Finally, as Ginny, Luna, and Hermione had scoured through the books in the Headmaster's tower, they'd found three of the four spells. Justin had come back to Severus' sitting room, carrying a book on warning spells, he'd found the Impietas Charm.
Hermione picked up the book they'd found that contained the Impietas Charm. Severus had said Adulterare Impietatis? The Impietas is a charm that warns of unfaithfulness, impiety, or disloyalty. The spell made objects vibrate, in this case my ring, to remind the wearer that they shouldn't become unfaithful. So far she was unable to find the variation: Impietatis. She was trying to figure out the reason why Lucius would put that on her ring.
She was still fuming about the fact that Lucius had felt the need to curse her ring. After trying unsuccessfully all afternoon and that first night to calm Hermione down, Ginny had given up trying to reason with her that it was normal practice for pure-bloods to add spells to the rings. Luna and Margery both explained that engagement rings always carried engagement spells, the more traditional being protection and awareness types. Ginny listened to the two other girls' explanations, and shrugged in agreement with a nod or arched her eyebrows and nodded.
He'd been so jealous of Severus when we were dating. I know that hasn't gone away so easily, and with my being here at school, I can understand his concerns about temptation, she tried to reason with herself. But doesn't he trustme? Is he that worried about losing me to another boy, some ardent suitor at school? It was infuriating that her friends were so blasé about the fact. Hermione didn't think that adultery detection spells were necessary, but for some reason, apparently they were common.
However she couldn't find the Proditionis Charm. Proditionis is Latin for betrayal or treason. Could he have added that for my protection? Does he think I might betray him or that I might be betrayed?
Exasperated, she exchanged the book she was scanning through for the one Ginny had found in the Headmaster's office containing the spells, Dissolvere Incantatem and Finite Devotum. They were both very strong and difficult reversing charms. Actually, they were designed to end Dark Curses, Enchantments, or Bewitchments. These two spells are dangerous unless the one using them was trained in magical reversal, and they are not taught at Hogwarts. They require absolute concentration and a great deal of strength. Hermione felt sick at the thought. She knew she had distracted him because Severus had struggled with her to forcibly hold her hand on the stone as he tried to break the spells. He had to have been distracted by my struggling and screams of pain. So it is my fault his concentration hadn't been completely on the spell; otherwise he wouldn't have been hit with the backlash.
She had no news about his condition other than he was fine and that he'd recover, but she wanted to see him herself to know for sure. She desperately wanted to see him.
Hermione slammed the book closed, feeling guilty that she hadn't tried harder to keep her wits about her. I should have at least tried to keep my hand on his rock without struggling against him. His weakened condition is all my fault.
She got up and went to find Professor McGonagall to ask her again if she could see Severus. Maybe fifth time will be the charm?
Aurors Amy Groves and Gayan Greenwich had backtracked the path Hermione had walked the morning of her attack. Amy had questioned each one of Hermione's friends to get a clear picture of the girl's morning to determine where she had been. Hermione had wakened early to revise, gone to breakfast and left the Great Hall as soon as the library opened to exchange a book, which was a normal routine for the girl. She'd apparently returned to the common room and had then left with everyone else for classes. Several of her friends mentioned that Hermione had tripped several times on the stairs and that she had thought that she'd been hexed. No one had seen the snake attached to her shoe until she was almost to her classroom. Frustrated, Amy had returned to the classroom the Aurors were using as office space. "Tell me you have something?" she asked entering the door.
Zander Anderson looked up and shook his head. "Nope."
Minerva knew every cat familiar in the castle. It wasn't uncommon for them to keep her company when she walked rounds, most of the cats in the castle were friends. Except for Rexinold, a Slytherin student's Persian, a pair of snobby Siamese cats that belonged to two Ravenclaw sisters. Lucy, a skittish red and white tabby, and long hair Scottish Fold who preferred to be brushed rather than socialize were polite cats, but didn't socialize much either. And well, Mrs. Norris of course, she's a pill, but that old mangy cat at least shows me the proper respect.
There were a several cats that Minerva considered large and fluffy, three that roamed that particular part of the castle, but only two she'd call bandy-legged. Moonbeam, a Maine Moon cat who resided with third-year Janice Morestead in the Hufflepuff dorms, had a long and heavy coat that often made her seem larger than she was, but her delicate legs could hardly be called bandy by anyone who knew cats. Forest, was a Norwegian Forest cat, a sweet-expressioned pet of Mandy Holmes, a Gryffindor second-year. Forest was very personable, very sure footed and a good mouser, although he would leave the pet rats of the students alone. Purdy was a large, mixed breed, fluffy feline who belonged to Trish Knightly, a fourth-year Gryffindor. And then there was Crookshanks, Hermione's half-kneasle and one of Minerva's favorite companions, but he was getting up in years and didn't roam the corridors as frequently anymore, preferring to lounge by the fireplace or on Hermione's bed.
Minerva had spoken to all four. Crooks had remembered the Auror as he'd been kind enough to let him into the common room that night, but he hadn't seen anything unusual. He had admitted to falling asleep by the fire as he'd waited for his mistress.
Forest had remembered a ferret in the corridor that night, and he had given the animal chase. He had told Minerva that she had run all the way to the fifth floor before she'd turned a corner and vanished.
Purdy also remembered two ferrets who roamed around the castle, one she'd chased back to the dungeons more than once, the other she called crafty, would disappear around corners and doorways. But she hadn't seen either the night Minerva was asking about.
Moonbeam said that she had been curled up with her human most of the week, since her human hadn't been feeling well, and she'd needed to watch over her.
Crooks said he'd seen the ferret, but he'd left the chasing up to the younger cats. He had told Minerva that he was really worried for Hermione. With the boy with glasses and the redhead boy gone, he had hoped that his mistress wouldn't get into any more mischief or danger this year. He was really concerned for her. Minerva knew Crooks was talking about Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, and frankly she'd had hoped the same.
Forest had offered to follow Crooks' mistress and keep an eye on her, but Minerva had tried to squelch that idea. She didn't want Forest roaming the halls and getting underfoot. Still, she had the idea that Crooks was rather grateful that the younger cat would keep an eye on his Hermione.
Minerva wrote down all she remembered about her talk with Forest and Crooks, making a copy of it for the Aurors and leaving the original on Severus' desk.
~oo0oo~
Severus slowly came around, feeling like a Bludger was trapped in his head. He tried asking for the Cephalalgia Potion and the Unollerton's Undiscombobulated Potion for his disorientation but it took several tries to get his voice to work and get the words out properly.
Soft, gentle hands lifted his head for him and tipped the requested potions into his mouth. As the pain subsided and the fogginess cleared, he opened his eyes to see an angel with a corona of soft golden hair floating above him.
"Hi," she said softly, offering him cool water to drink. "Welcome back."
She shifted and the nimbus vanished, replaced with Hermione's soft mass of curly hair. She smiled down at him, and he could see her deep concern and affection for him in her eyes. It made his heart seem to skip a beat. She looked as if she'd been crying, her eyes were puffy, her lips were rosier than normal, and her nose was slightly pink.
"Are you hungry?"
"What time is it?" he asked, wondering how long he'd been out. He tried to sit up. She moved to help him just like she'd done so many times over the summer, and her breast brushed against his arm.
"It's just after eight," she replied. She turned when the door opened, taking a tray apparently from a house-elf. "So, are you hungry? You've not eaten since breakfast yesterday."
"Why are you here?" he managed to ask, his throat still scratchy. He could smell the orange and horse chestnut scent of her hair as she placed pillows behind his back, and her breast pressed lightly across his arm again. He wished she hadn't been wearing her jumper or he might have caught a glimpse of the lace bra he knew she wore, and then cursed himself for thinking such intimate thoughts about her.
"Same reasons I did before," she replied. She moved a tray onto his lap, and he noticed it held all of his favorite foods. "If you'd like anything different, I can call Upton."
"Upton?" He tried to shift into a more comfortable position to feed himself. Having her in his room brought back all the memories of how she'd cared for him while he'd been in the hospital, and he couldn't allow that to happen, again, no matter how much he knew he wanted her to.
She smiled at him in a way that said that she really cared for him, which made Severus uncomfortable. The problem was she intrigued him. She had a way of slipping in and breaking down his defenses, and he was terrified: terrified of her, of being with her, of losing her, of loosing himself, and of falling in love only to be hurt again if she rejected him.
She handed him his napkin and sat in the chair by his bed. "He's the house-elf that prepared this for you. I know how much you like beef and mushroom Sheppard's pie with extra mashed potatoes, and asparagus sautéed in olive oil and lemon."
He had to get her to leave. She is engaged to bloody Lucius Malfoy. She cannot be here in my bedroom. He needed her to go and not come back. She ran off and got engaged to the first wizard she saw—Lucius Malfoy of all wizards! He couldn't get involved with her, not now, not ever. He opened his mouth to sneer at her and asked, "What? You're not going to feed me?" and instantly berated himself.
Her radiant smile destroyed all hope that she'd been insulted enough to flee. Instead she moved closer. "I'd be happy to! Which do you want first?"
"Privacy and solitude," he snapped as she leaned over his arm to get the fork, and her breast brushed his arm again. He swallowed the groan that threatened to escape from her innocent contact and tried to avert his eyes to her face. This he missed, her closeness, her wanting to help him even though he constantly tried to shove her away. He had no idea why she, of all people, chose to ignore his demeanor and acerbic comments.
"Asparagus it is then," she replied, stabbing a spear.
He bit on it, chewing as he tried to reason her out. There is no way she can still love me. I've destroyed any hopes of that ever happening again. Men like me don't get second chances. He watched her lips as he chewed and opened his mouth as she offered him another bite. Oh, Merlin help me, I want to kiss her again. "I can do this for myself," he snapped as she fed him the last half of the spear.
"I know you can," she said, scooping up some of the mashed potatoes with a bit of gravy. "Open up."
Ginny had waited for Hermione to return from Professor McGonagall's office until dinner, and then sat in the common room, trying to revise for Ancient Runes while also keeping an eye on the portrait hole. Hermione was taking Snape's injury very personally. When Hermione finally scrambled into the common room, Ginny got up to meet her. "How is he?"
Hermione gave Ginny a look of gratitude. "Awake, but really weak," she said, allowing Ginny to guide her to the plushy chairs by the fireplace. She slumped in the chair as if exhausted. She looked so worn out and deflated, her worry evident in the lines of her face and eyes.
"Hermione, it's not your fault," Ginny said, for what seemed the hundredth time since the incident.
"It was my ring that did this to him!" Hermione exclaimed, sitting up straighter. "If I had just held still, didn't fight him…"
"If it's anyone's fault, it's your fiancé's, not yours," Ginny said, interrupting her.
"Lucius didn't…"
"Didn't he?" Ginny asked with more venom than she intended. She could see Hermione's defensiveness rise by the set of her shoulders and chin, so Ginny moderated her approach to what she'd wanted to say. "Look, it's just weird—you and him. It's all happening much too quickly. He's not even waiting until you graduate to marry you."
"We want a December wedding," she replied defensively.
"You always wanted a spring wedding! Remember?" Ginny asked, trying not to sound accusing. "We'd lie in bed in my room and talk about the perfect wedding; I wanted a garden wedding with trellises of flowers and fairy lights under a canopy thin enough to see the stars, and you wanted to be married in that little chapel and have the reception on the grassy slopes overlooking the ocean. I used to tease you about slipping honking daffodils, paperwhites, silver bells, and pink-a-dillies into your bouquets? What changed your mind?"
Hermione only shrugged and slumped back in the cushions of the chair. "I dunno, things change."
Ginny was confused. Hermione hadn't denied it, but the look in her eye said that Ginny was right, and Hermione was in denial. She was in denial about a lot of things lately. "You are not over him, you know."
"I am too!" Hermione exclaimed, jumping up. "I'm going to bed!"
Ginny shook her head as she watched Hermione storm off. "If you say so," she called after her. Okay, that didn't go well—again.
Severus lay awake in bed, staring at the domed ceiling Dumbledore had enchanted to reflect the night sky. It was like sleeping under the stars except for cloudy and rainy nights or during thunderstorms when lightning flashed across the ceiling. Those were his favorites, the lightning storms.
Minerva had informed him that Hermione had been to her office half a dozen times to ask permission to see him since the backlash. Actually, Minerva had said Hermione had been rather insistent that she needed to see him, first pleading, and then practically demanding the password for access. Normally such behavior would have annoyed him immensely. Instead, her persistence had intrigued him enough to grant the girl's request.
The spells on Hermione's ring had infuriated him at first and then frightened him. He'd felt a sense of dread, his blood going cold when the ring had reacted when she'd responded to his kiss and caused her such pain. His first thought was that he wasn't going to lose another person he cared about from a cursed ring. All the way to his private quarters, his mind was recalling every spell that would have made the ring react to a kiss. Granted, it wasn't a simple kiss but a lover's kiss, but still only a kiss. Most normal Fidelity Charms would have given Hermione a mild static shock, a buzzing vibration or a tingle—not excruciating pain. And they certainly didn't make the ring shrink!
That kiss… He couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. He could close his eyes and remember every detail that kiss, the feel of her lips, her responsiveness. He thought about Hermione's visit. She cared for him—really cared. She didn't want anything from him, or to use him, and she didn't expect anything in return for her kindness. For the first time ever, Severus felt that if he truly wanted, if he pursued her, he would win the girl. The idea was a heady thought.
However, Lucius's interest in Hermione didn't make any sense to him. He has taunted the pureblood ideology for years, for as long as I have known him. He's insulted and maliciously defamed Hermione for years, ever since Draco started complaining that Hermione was beating him scholastically as well as in all matters of magical applications and practice. Lucius has hated Hermione ever since meeting her the summer before her second year of school. She did better than the scion son and it had galled Lucius to no end. Nundus just don't suddenly change their spots and get minty fresh breath.
He had to admit, Hermione had developed into a lovely young woman. She had started to think for herself, and not simply regurgitate every quote from every book she'd ever read. She was a very capable witch; she'd even taken down the wards protecting his personal books to find the spells he'd used to break the curse on her ring, in hopes of finding out what went wrong and how to help him. That impressed him.
No, Lucius doesn't deserve her. I don't deserve her either, but I want her. Merlin help me, I do. Yes, he thought, I will pursue her. I will win her back—as if I ever really had her in the first place. He just didn't know how much time he had to sway her mind.
And there was the other problem, the student killing Muggle-borns. He had to get his strength back to get out of bed and back on the hunt. The killer had to be stopped before Hermione fell victim again. She'd survived an attack already, but who knew if her luck would hold out much longer.
He snarled in frustration. Bloody stuck in bed and I need to be out there doing something—figuring this out! He really hated being sick, injured, or incapacitated in any way.
~oo0oo~
Hermione left the Headmaster's tower with a spring in her step. Severus likes me. Oh, he'd rather be licked by a Thestral than admit it to me, but I know that he does. She climbed the stairs heading for the common room, feeling better now that Severus was recovering. The Sneakoscope charm on her bracelet was vibrating softly again, and she looked behind her to check the corridor. It was empty. She pulled out her Foe Glass but there were only pale, wispy images in the glass. She turned to take the last staircase to the seventh floor and saw a crimson balloon floating along the ceiling with a long yellow ribbon. Shawna's brother must have sent her more balloons for the upcoming game.
She grasped the ribbon to take the balloon back to the common room, and read the words, 'Broken promises,' on the ribbon before the balloon burst, showering Hermione in murky water. Hermione slipped and fell as the boils began to erupt on her skin, even under her clothes.
She cried out in pain and slipped again, only to realize that she'd probably broken her ankle. Hermione yelled out for help, rubbing her ankle and trying to ignore the more painful boils.
Richard Darthenridge and James Foughtery came running from the corridor below, followed by Magnphelia Hagender. "There was a ballerina in Ingnatia Wildsmith's frame that said a girl fell," Magnphelia said, skidding to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. Foughtery reached out a hand to steady her as she slipped on the murky water that had pooled there. Darthenridge was already climbing the stairs to try to assist Hermione.
"Stop, I think that the water has Bulbadox powder mixed in it," Hermione warned them, knowing that they could probably see her boils. Darthenridge stepped carefully around the water, and siphoned it away as he tried to reach Hermione. "No, wait, even if you can get close, I'm drenched in the stuff. If you can—can you Levitate me?"
"Of course I can," he said with a scowl. "I just—can't you get up?"
Hermione shook her head, allowing her tears to fall unchecked because she knew that she shouldn't touch her cheek. "My ankle may be broken."
"If only we had something to Transfigure into a stretcher," Magnphelia said, looking around.
"I'll use this," Foughtery said as he pulled off his robes. "Mags, Rich and I will get her to the hospital wing. You go inform an Auror." Magnphelia looked around, worried. "Hey, its fine, they're just below us in their office."
The two Slytherin guys managed to get Hermione on the transfigured robe and safely to the hospital wing without getting any of the water on themselves. Madam Pomfrey cured Hermione of the boils and fixed her ankle in no time, but insisted on keeping her overnight. The next morning, Hermione collected her cards and hurried to the common room, changing her clothes, even though the house-elves had cleaned them while she'd been in the hospital wing. When she entered the Great Hall late for breakfast, she strode purposefully over to the Slytherin table, stopping next to the guys who'd helped her. Foughtery looked up as Wellsmiter asked, "What?"
"I wanted to say thank you, both of you," she said to Foughtery and Darthenridge with a nod.
"You're welcome. Glad that you're okay," Foughtery said, looking at her in amazement.
"You are okay?" Darthenridge asked, looking her over.
Hermione nodded and smiled. "All better, thanks. I just wanted you to know that I appreciated your help." She turned and hurried to her seat, ignoring the muttering of the Slytherins behind her.
Ginny made room for her at the Gryffindor table. "You okay? I was going to come see you right after breakfast since I wasn't allowed to see you last night. We were told to return to our dorms because it was so close to curfew."
"Yes, I'm not surprised. It happened after I left Severus' room to get back to the common room in time. I was just a victim of another prank, but Madam Pomfrey had me fixed up in no time. I'm fine now." Hermione grabbed some toast and pulled out her cards. "She just wanted to keep me overnight to make sure the boils went away. I'm going to have to… tell…" Her voice faded as she read the message in one of the cards.
It won't matter who is first nor who will be last
Last could be first or they could be the last,
And all in between will also be cursed
Open the door and the thing will be there
For all who trespass, through the veil will go
So, be careful, beware, look around, be prepared
Death cometh upon all, though your time is near!
Go warn the Mudbloods, leave now, leave fast
"Hermione?" Ginny asked, leaning over to look at the card with the pretty picture of Forget-me-nots and roses in a water pitcher and basin. She gasped after reading the message. "Oh, bloody hell! Who sent you that?"
"I've no idea. It's not signed," Hermione said, rising to go. "Tell Professor Flitwick I'll be late for class. I'm going to go see Severus about this." Hermione raced to the Headmaster's tower. She gave the gargoyle the password, then ran up the stairs and knocked firmly on the door.
Severus was sitting at his desk, looking much better than he had before. Dilys Derwent was repeating a riddle softly as Hermione walked past her frame to Severus' desk. "Hovers in the air, and then is not there… It comes in on little cat's feet, is neither sour, nor sweet…"
"Oh, I know that one," Hermione said, looking up at the past Headmaster.
"Do you now?" Dilys asked, seeming to lean forward in her frame. "And how is it that you know what I was talking about?"
"Was there some reason you wanted to see me?" Severus asked. His desk was covered with scraps of parchments and what looked like some student's essays. It was as if he was still teaching Potions, not Headmaster of the school.
"Yes, I received a strange card from someone while I was in the hospital wing." Hermione handed Severus her card and waited while he read the message.
"This is a threat," he replied, dropping his hand on the desk and looking up at Hermione with a scowl. All the portraits woke up and seemed to lean forward in their frames.
"I was in my frame last night, Headmaster, talking to Poppy, and went right back to it just as you asked. I wasn't gone but a moment. While I was watching over her, I didn't see anyone approach her bed," Dilys said assuredly. "There were only two cards on the bedside table when I got there. Most of the cards and sweets were delivered to Miss Granger just before curfew, and Poppy scolded them for being out so late. But you know she always checks the cards…"
Dumbledore's portrait cleared his throat. "It would seem to me, Severus, that the one responsible has already tried to get Miss Granger twice now."
"I'm aware of that," Severus snapped. He turned his attention back to Hermione. "You said this was among your Get Well cards."
"Hardly a Get Well card, if you ask me," Fortescue said.
"Since I was released to have breakfast with my friends, I was reading my cards at the table. These essays. You're trying to match the students' handwriting to the messages, aren't you?" Hermione asked, indicating to the pile on his desk and plopping down one of the chairs facing the desk. "I'm not the only one finding these, am I?"
Severus' scowl deepened. "No you are not." He looked up at Dilys' portrait then back to Hermione. "I received another one early this morning. We," he said with a flourish of his and to the Headmaster's portraits, "were trying to decipher it."
"But you said you think you may know the riddle, Miss Granger," Dumbledore asked.
Hermione looked up and shrugged. "Something Headmaster Derwent was saying sounded really familiar, like a riddle I heard recently."
Dumbledore sat back in his painted chair. "So do you think you could tell us what it means?"
Hermione smiled at the twinkle in his eye. "Yes, I might. Maybe if I hear the rest of it, I could tell you for sure."
Severus crossed his arm and leaned back in his chair. "By all means, tell the girl."
Dilys immediately repeated the riddle. "It comes in on little cat's feet, is neither sour, nor sweet. Hovers in the air, and then is not there…"
Hermione smiled up at the woman. "Yes, Luna was asked that riddle to get into her common room. The answer she gave was a scentless gas, a fog, or a mist."
"Bravo, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, clapping his hands. "I only guessed two of those three."
Hermione blushed from the praise. "So, who gave you the riddle? It's connected to the other things happening, isn't it?"
"Right to the quick of the matter," Dumbledore said, smiling proudly.
Phineas scowled at her. "Next thing you know, she'll expect to be helping you solve this…"
"Enough!" barked Severus, sitting up abruptly. "Miss Granger, I thank you, but I want to investigate this threat made against you."
"But I told you, I don't know who sent it," Hermione said, as Severus stood, indicating for her to exit his office. "Oh, right, I'll… just go to class."
Severus followed Hermione out the door and stood on the step behind her as they rode them down. She turned just as the step she'd been on melded into the floor in the narrow space behind the gargoyle, and Severus plowed into her. "I never got to apologize for distracting you. I'm so sorry I didn't try harder."
"What are you talking about?" he asked, standing so close in the cramped space they were touching.
"The ring," she said, lowering her head to hide her blush. "It's my fault you were hurt."
His fingers gripped her chin, making her look up. "It's not your fault. I expected you to scream and fight back. It was very painful, and I had to be careful of your hand. You didn't do anything wrong."
"I broke your concentration," she said softly, her gaze locked onto his.
He sighed and his face moved forward. "You didn't break my concentration. I've better control than that."
Hermione unknowingly tilted her face up as she opened her mouth to retort, and he kissed her. She made a tiny mew of surprise, then wrapped her arms around him, and he deepened the kiss. She clung to him, wanting to bury her hand in his silky-fine hair so that he'd keep kissing her, but it was his hand that entangled in hers, as he grasped her tightly. She would have stayed like this, just kissing him, except the stone gargoyle asked if they'd like to go back up to the office or exit into the corridor. Severus pressed his forehead to hers. "But you will be the death of me, that's for sure."
"Not if I can help it." Hermione smiled. "This time I will check for directions before pouring potions down your throat."
He laughed. "You have class, and I'm going to go see Madam Pomfrey. She keeps a list of everyone who sends cards and gifts to her patients. Maybe I'll find out who sent your threat."
"And you'll tell me?" she asked, hoping the culprit would be finally caught.
"No, but they will think Azkaban a better alternative to what I have in mind," he snarled.
Hermione reached up and touched his cheek with her left hand. "I still love you."
Severus closed his eyes a second when her hand touched his cheek, inhaling sharply and shoved her hand down. "You are still engaged, unless you've called it off and returned Lucius' gifts." He walked away, his robes billowing behind him, leaving Hermione feeling hurt and confused.
T B C ~
~~oooo0oooo~~
Author's Notes:
Cephalalgia: pain in the head caused by dilation of cerebral arteries, severe muscle contractions or a reaction to drugs.
The source of the Latin used: catholic archives nd edu site
retexi – retectum: to uncover, reveal, open, disclose.
comperio: to find out, discover, gain certain information of.
discere: to learn, get to know, to receive information, find out; to become acquainted with, learn to recognize.
proditio –onis: betrayal, treason.
impietas –atis: undutifulness; impiety, disloyalty.
devoveo -vovere -vovi –votum: to consecrate, devote. esp. to a god, or to death; to curse, execrate; to bewitch, enchant
Many thanks to my betas, Pookah and MadBrilliant, for helping me clean up my many mistakes. I really appreciate it more than you can possibly know. I'd be ashamed to show my story to anyone without your invaluable help. And to era1960 for being there when I needed to bounce ideas and have a second opinion, thank you all for being a friend.
