Baker, Baker
I Know Him So Well
Only Time
A/N: My various inspirations are above. It's odd, isn't it? I spend the entire week moaning about writer's block and when does my muse choose to hit me? At midnight, just as I'm about to drop off. Ugh. Anyway, I went to bed at about one thirty, at peace finally because my muse had been satisfied.
References: The 'blarney' and 'explaining matters of importance to sick women' I got from my Irish Physics teacher - such a dear old leprechaun, really is a darling. The 'Quid Pro Quo' was nicked from, of course, Silence of The Lambs. Dr. Lecter's amazing, isn't he?
Thanks to the numerous people who read and reviewed since my last post and all the ones who did before that - you guys keep my spirits up when everything else is grey. Pretty Flower - gosh, didn't know you were Catholic (sorry, there's a shortage in my part of the world), I can understand about Mass which is why I went on Ash Wednesday.
More thanks goes out to Chrissy, beta-extraordinaire - she's wonderful.
Disclaimer: *Glares at all the faces in a lack-of-sleep haze* Apart from character names it's...my work, mine!!! (said in a petulant tone.)
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Encouragement-What She Needs: Chapter 6
Baker, Baker/ Only Time
Hermione could hear voices just on the edge of her consciousness. They were so far away, yet her awareness of them stubbornly remained constant.
She didn't want to get up.
The warm, secure haven she was curled up in was a great deal cosier, and staying there forever seemed a grand idea. She tugged the blanket tightly around her, kept her eyes firmly closed and willed the voices to go away.
They didn't.
Oh, stuff it, she thought and began push back the thick bedclothes, feeling the slight chill in the air as she did so. There were two rather solid weights nestled near her sides, making the mattress sink in those areas. Two faces appeared, blurred like a heady dream as her eyelids slowly lifted for the first time in around twelve hours. They were on either side of her, one a shocking red, the other a mess of black tufts.
Putting her hand over her eyes to shield them from the light, she said sluggishly "Harry, Ron, hi, what's going on? What time is it?" During her volley of questions, she snaked an arm out for the familiar fumble for her glasses. Both boys immediately shut up and rose from the bed, the flurry of conversation turning in a fussy dialogue that Mrs. Weasley would have been proud to utter.
"Hermione, you're finally awake---"
"Gosh, we only found out about everything today---"
"Else we would've been here sooner--"
"How're you feeling?" Both boys chorused in unison, looking at her concernedly.
Hermione just stared at them, as they started to tuck the blankets which she had thrown forward earlier back around her. She started to chuckle, giggling even more when they stopped their fussing, looked at each other and Harry mouthed "Barmy". It was quite therapeutic actually, it seemed a long time since she had laughed in carefree abandon. She finally stopped and both boys felt it was quite safe to settle themselves beside her again.
As she tried to sit up, Harry held her forward by the shoulders while Ron fluffed her pillows and arranged them so they supported her back. She leaned back and looked at them expectantly. "Well? Glasses, anyone?"
Harry jumped up, grabbed her glasses and passed them to her, an almost relieved look flitting over his face as he heard the question.
All three friends stared at each other, the boys with tense anticipation clear in their faces and stiff stance.
Silence.
`Okay, you two, what's the matter? Why're you looking like I'm about to eat you? I'm not Snape, I assure you..."
The boys turned to each other. Ron blurted "You tell her, you're better with the blarney and explaining matters of importance to sick women than I am." She ignored him focused her attention on Harry while he wrung his hands, a nervous habit, cracking the knuckles of each hand as he got up and started pacing. Easier, he supposed, than meeting her eyes.
"Come on, Harry, give over, you're scaring me now. What in Merlin's name is going on?" Unconsciously her own hands started to fiddle with the curls that ran down the side of her face, twisting and winding them round her fingers. At long last Harry stopped pacing and faced her, his startling sea-green meeting her challenging brandy-brown ones.
He began to spin his tale. "A lot's happened since you dropped off last night, 'Mione, and not all of it good. Bad news first---"
She held her breath, utterly unaware of what had taken place that morning.
"Snape's been suspended from his duties as a teacher until further notice and placed under house arrest. That's why both he and Professor Dumbledore aren't here. Snape's probably lurking in his quarters in the dungeon levels and Dumbledore's trying to get him out."
Her mouth dropped open, stunned. He must have been furious to let that happen, she thought. "Why? What'd he do? How could they suspend him? He saved me, Harry, I was---" she babbled before he cut her off.
"I know he did but there's nothing me or Ron can do about it. There was a confrontation in the hall this morning." His green eyes were flashing dangerously at the thought of Malfoy.
"Dumbledore and Snape both realized it was Malfoy who threatened you about the same time we did, and as he tried to get away a bunch of people Disarmed him and knocked him into the middle of next week." He gave a low chuckle. "Ron and I yelled Expellarimus, as did McGonagall, Dumbledore and Snape, 'cept we got detention and fifty points taken off Gryffindor for using dueling charms against a fellow student." A satisfied look crossed his face and he folded his arms across his chest and sat down next to Ron, who decided to take up the yarn.
"It was worth it, 'Mione. When we realized that the swine who did that to you was Malfoy, we wanted to have a real go at him, and he just gave us the excuse when he started scrabbling down his robes for his wand. McGonagall says it wasn't our place to stop him, an' while she understood, she couldn't set that example to the young'uns."
Hermione glanced down at her hands while she tried to take all of it in. And found a red herring. "You're not telling me something. That doesn't explain why Snape was placed under house arrest. Spill."
The boys looked at one another helplessly. She glared at them more fiercely than she had intended and Harry gave in unwillingly.
"He threatened to use the Unforgivable Curses on Malfoy, he was that angry, and the board said he endangered the lives of other students while doing so. Basically, it's Malfoy Senior doing the talking. Malfoy was expelled and shipped off home the moment after we Disarmed him, as were Crabbe and Goyle. Lucius Malfoy was just saying his son had been knocked out by Snape and used his influence with the board."
Hermione had tensed up during the tale and at this, sank back onto her pillows. She looked at them incredulously. "And you have no problem with Snape defending my honor?"
Harry leaned over and took her right hand while Ron patted her left. Ron directed him. "Tell her."
"We were narked about it, yeah, and then we figured that what ever he did, he'd done it because he cared about you. And, Hermione, you are one of the most important, special people in our lives." Harry's voice choked a little, "If anyone tries to hurt you, we can't let it go unless we've maimed them in some way, and that's how Snape felt. He protected you when we couldn't and since that guarantees your safety, we don't have a problem with it." A muscle jumped in his jaw when he said it and Ron's face turned fire-engine red.
What Hermione didn't see was Ron's hand curling into a tight fist behind his back and Harry kicking his ankle twice to make him articulate and reiterate what Harry had said. He uncurled his hand and brought to the fore to hold Hermione's.
After crossing some rapid internal conflict that wasn't visible on the face of things, Ron spoke up quietly, intense for once. "You're a sister and best pal rolled into one. And that's how we want it to stay." Both he and Harry held her hands, not letting go.
There was a lump in Hermione's throat and her voice cracked when she finally spoke. "You guys had one heck of a chat while I was asleep, didn't you?"
Both grinned, perhaps a little sheepishly and rose from the bed. "Get some rest, 'Mione, we'll sort out much as we can out for you." They left, Harry leading while Ron shut the door behind him.
Hermione snuggled into the bedclothes and contemplated what she'd just heard.
For an only child, I'm kind-of lucky to have two over-protective brothers of the same age. As well as a sour, domineering yet stimulating savior. Oh Merlin's beard, he must have been really furious to do that...and began to chuckle quietly. I've got to find a way out of this for him. Quid pro quo, Professor Snape. You help me, I'll help you.
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*Yawn* Off to bed. *Yawn, again*
A/N: Feel free to review, and I'll handsomely reward you and grovel at your feet if y'do, thanks.
B/N: You people better review this wonderful work of literary art! But anyways, on to what I had planned on saying..... I don't believe that Harry and Ron even use proper grammar so when they slur their words I'm leaving it that way but I will not leave their grammar to be a horrid mess even though that's how they would speak. Personally, I just can see Harry and Ron walking around nit picking each other for improper grammar and the like.... can you?
I Know Him So Well
Only Time
A/N: My various inspirations are above. It's odd, isn't it? I spend the entire week moaning about writer's block and when does my muse choose to hit me? At midnight, just as I'm about to drop off. Ugh. Anyway, I went to bed at about one thirty, at peace finally because my muse had been satisfied.
References: The 'blarney' and 'explaining matters of importance to sick women' I got from my Irish Physics teacher - such a dear old leprechaun, really is a darling. The 'Quid Pro Quo' was nicked from, of course, Silence of The Lambs. Dr. Lecter's amazing, isn't he?
Thanks to the numerous people who read and reviewed since my last post and all the ones who did before that - you guys keep my spirits up when everything else is grey. Pretty Flower - gosh, didn't know you were Catholic (sorry, there's a shortage in my part of the world), I can understand about Mass which is why I went on Ash Wednesday.
More thanks goes out to Chrissy, beta-extraordinaire - she's wonderful.
Disclaimer: *Glares at all the faces in a lack-of-sleep haze* Apart from character names it's...my work, mine!!! (said in a petulant tone.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Encouragement-What She Needs: Chapter 6
Baker, Baker/ Only Time
Hermione could hear voices just on the edge of her consciousness. They were so far away, yet her awareness of them stubbornly remained constant.
She didn't want to get up.
The warm, secure haven she was curled up in was a great deal cosier, and staying there forever seemed a grand idea. She tugged the blanket tightly around her, kept her eyes firmly closed and willed the voices to go away.
They didn't.
Oh, stuff it, she thought and began push back the thick bedclothes, feeling the slight chill in the air as she did so. There were two rather solid weights nestled near her sides, making the mattress sink in those areas. Two faces appeared, blurred like a heady dream as her eyelids slowly lifted for the first time in around twelve hours. They were on either side of her, one a shocking red, the other a mess of black tufts.
Putting her hand over her eyes to shield them from the light, she said sluggishly "Harry, Ron, hi, what's going on? What time is it?" During her volley of questions, she snaked an arm out for the familiar fumble for her glasses. Both boys immediately shut up and rose from the bed, the flurry of conversation turning in a fussy dialogue that Mrs. Weasley would have been proud to utter.
"Hermione, you're finally awake---"
"Gosh, we only found out about everything today---"
"Else we would've been here sooner--"
"How're you feeling?" Both boys chorused in unison, looking at her concernedly.
Hermione just stared at them, as they started to tuck the blankets which she had thrown forward earlier back around her. She started to chuckle, giggling even more when they stopped their fussing, looked at each other and Harry mouthed "Barmy". It was quite therapeutic actually, it seemed a long time since she had laughed in carefree abandon. She finally stopped and both boys felt it was quite safe to settle themselves beside her again.
As she tried to sit up, Harry held her forward by the shoulders while Ron fluffed her pillows and arranged them so they supported her back. She leaned back and looked at them expectantly. "Well? Glasses, anyone?"
Harry jumped up, grabbed her glasses and passed them to her, an almost relieved look flitting over his face as he heard the question.
All three friends stared at each other, the boys with tense anticipation clear in their faces and stiff stance.
Silence.
`Okay, you two, what's the matter? Why're you looking like I'm about to eat you? I'm not Snape, I assure you..."
The boys turned to each other. Ron blurted "You tell her, you're better with the blarney and explaining matters of importance to sick women than I am." She ignored him focused her attention on Harry while he wrung his hands, a nervous habit, cracking the knuckles of each hand as he got up and started pacing. Easier, he supposed, than meeting her eyes.
"Come on, Harry, give over, you're scaring me now. What in Merlin's name is going on?" Unconsciously her own hands started to fiddle with the curls that ran down the side of her face, twisting and winding them round her fingers. At long last Harry stopped pacing and faced her, his startling sea-green meeting her challenging brandy-brown ones.
He began to spin his tale. "A lot's happened since you dropped off last night, 'Mione, and not all of it good. Bad news first---"
She held her breath, utterly unaware of what had taken place that morning.
"Snape's been suspended from his duties as a teacher until further notice and placed under house arrest. That's why both he and Professor Dumbledore aren't here. Snape's probably lurking in his quarters in the dungeon levels and Dumbledore's trying to get him out."
Her mouth dropped open, stunned. He must have been furious to let that happen, she thought. "Why? What'd he do? How could they suspend him? He saved me, Harry, I was---" she babbled before he cut her off.
"I know he did but there's nothing me or Ron can do about it. There was a confrontation in the hall this morning." His green eyes were flashing dangerously at the thought of Malfoy.
"Dumbledore and Snape both realized it was Malfoy who threatened you about the same time we did, and as he tried to get away a bunch of people Disarmed him and knocked him into the middle of next week." He gave a low chuckle. "Ron and I yelled Expellarimus, as did McGonagall, Dumbledore and Snape, 'cept we got detention and fifty points taken off Gryffindor for using dueling charms against a fellow student." A satisfied look crossed his face and he folded his arms across his chest and sat down next to Ron, who decided to take up the yarn.
"It was worth it, 'Mione. When we realized that the swine who did that to you was Malfoy, we wanted to have a real go at him, and he just gave us the excuse when he started scrabbling down his robes for his wand. McGonagall says it wasn't our place to stop him, an' while she understood, she couldn't set that example to the young'uns."
Hermione glanced down at her hands while she tried to take all of it in. And found a red herring. "You're not telling me something. That doesn't explain why Snape was placed under house arrest. Spill."
The boys looked at one another helplessly. She glared at them more fiercely than she had intended and Harry gave in unwillingly.
"He threatened to use the Unforgivable Curses on Malfoy, he was that angry, and the board said he endangered the lives of other students while doing so. Basically, it's Malfoy Senior doing the talking. Malfoy was expelled and shipped off home the moment after we Disarmed him, as were Crabbe and Goyle. Lucius Malfoy was just saying his son had been knocked out by Snape and used his influence with the board."
Hermione had tensed up during the tale and at this, sank back onto her pillows. She looked at them incredulously. "And you have no problem with Snape defending my honor?"
Harry leaned over and took her right hand while Ron patted her left. Ron directed him. "Tell her."
"We were narked about it, yeah, and then we figured that what ever he did, he'd done it because he cared about you. And, Hermione, you are one of the most important, special people in our lives." Harry's voice choked a little, "If anyone tries to hurt you, we can't let it go unless we've maimed them in some way, and that's how Snape felt. He protected you when we couldn't and since that guarantees your safety, we don't have a problem with it." A muscle jumped in his jaw when he said it and Ron's face turned fire-engine red.
What Hermione didn't see was Ron's hand curling into a tight fist behind his back and Harry kicking his ankle twice to make him articulate and reiterate what Harry had said. He uncurled his hand and brought to the fore to hold Hermione's.
After crossing some rapid internal conflict that wasn't visible on the face of things, Ron spoke up quietly, intense for once. "You're a sister and best pal rolled into one. And that's how we want it to stay." Both he and Harry held her hands, not letting go.
There was a lump in Hermione's throat and her voice cracked when she finally spoke. "You guys had one heck of a chat while I was asleep, didn't you?"
Both grinned, perhaps a little sheepishly and rose from the bed. "Get some rest, 'Mione, we'll sort out much as we can out for you." They left, Harry leading while Ron shut the door behind him.
Hermione snuggled into the bedclothes and contemplated what she'd just heard.
For an only child, I'm kind-of lucky to have two over-protective brothers of the same age. As well as a sour, domineering yet stimulating savior. Oh Merlin's beard, he must have been really furious to do that...and began to chuckle quietly. I've got to find a way out of this for him. Quid pro quo, Professor Snape. You help me, I'll help you.
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*Yawn* Off to bed. *Yawn, again*
A/N: Feel free to review, and I'll handsomely reward you and grovel at your feet if y'do, thanks.
B/N: You people better review this wonderful work of literary art! But anyways, on to what I had planned on saying..... I don't believe that Harry and Ron even use proper grammar so when they slur their words I'm leaving it that way but I will not leave their grammar to be a horrid mess even though that's how they would speak. Personally, I just can see Harry and Ron walking around nit picking each other for improper grammar and the like.... can you?