1 Chapter 3-Hermione gets a little Mad
By late November, everyone in the school knew about Hermione and I. Most of them didn't even mind. Key word: most. Up in the Gryffindor dorms, I was almost positive that there were a small bunch of males who seemed to disapprove. Their names were James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Although, I didn't notice until December 1.
Hermione and I were in our workroom (I no longer thought of it as mine) doing homework, when all of the sudden, the painting swings open, revealing the four.
I was shocked to say the least, but I thought I was hearing things when I heard "Mischief managed" from someone in the back.
I think Hermione heard it too, because she blew up just then. "How dare you all come in here like that, using your stupid little Marauder's Map to find me! I know how that thing works, I know that you saw my little dot and his dot and immediately assumed the worst! But as you can see, we were only doing homework!!! I want you all to get the idea that you can protect me out of your heads as soon as you possibly can! Because if you can't, you will make horrible parents. All of you. Just in case you cared."
Again, the boys just gaped. Finally, Remus managed to stutter, "H..how..how di..di…did you know?"
"It doesn't matter how I know! I'm NOT 4 years old and I can take care of myself! In my 1st year I helped my best friends save the world from evil. In my 2nd year, I found the information to help save a 1st year student. I am tougher than any of you, and I don't need your protection!"
The looked scared. I myself just gawked. No a one of us had seen her that angry. Hermione took a few calming breaths before speaking again.
"You are all wonderful people, despite your rule breaking and your betrayals. But if you can't learn to let me grow up, what are you going to do when your own children and grow up. So please, don't try and protect me. Severus won't hurt me."
I nodded. The boys mumbled their apologies and walked out of the workroom. Hermione turned to me.
"I'm really sorry about that Severus. I knew they had been working on that, but I didn't realize it was to try and 'save' me."
I pulled her into a hug. "It's not your fault. Besides, it was funny to watch their expressions."
She laughed.
"I'm glad you're not mad."
"I find it hard to see me getting mad at you."
She leaned back, and smiled. For a few moments we simply stared at one another before we leaned in and kissed. When our lips parted, I thought it would be cool to ruin the moment by asking a question.
"Hermione, where did you go school before Hogwarts?"
She seized up. Minutes passed slowly as the wheels in her head turned.
"Severus, I'd love to tell you, but I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't; too many thing could change. I'm sorry."
I sighed. "Don't worry Hermione. I understand the importance of keeping a promise."
"Thank you Severus. Do you know where that potion we made a few weeks ago is?"
"The one that lets the person turn invisible at will? Yeah, I know where my half is."
"Why don't you go get it. I want to show you something."
Immediately, I was intrigued. So I released my hold on her and began looking through my storage shelf. I found the bottle and downed its contents in one swallow. I let the stuff settle and mix before willing myself invisible.
Hermione grinned. "Good job, now follow me."
I followed her carefully, ensuring she didn't get too far away. We got back to the Entrance Hall and she led me up a staircase. Staircase after staircase we climbed until I was positive we were in a tower. I was about to collapse with exhaustion when suddenly she stopped in front of a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.
"Intuition." That was apparently the password to her common room, because the portrait swung open revealing the gold and scarlet room.
Heads swiveled as Hermione entered. Remus came over.
"Hey, I'm really sorry about this afternoon-"
Hermione cut him short. "Don't worry about it, just as long as you four don't do it again."
He shook his head vehemently. "Oh we won't!"
Hermione smiled. "Well, I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight everyone."
Many people waved or politely responded as the two of us went up (yet another!) flight of stairs. Finally, we stopped outside a door that read "7th year Girl's Dorm." Underneath, someone had added: AKA Hermione's Room.
She opened the door, revealing a small room. There was a large canopy bed at the far end, and a small wardrobe on the wall to our right. Next to the wardrobe was a small window seat. On the left was the bathroom, and covering all the walls were posters from singers and bands I'd never heard of. I assumed they were Muggle bands. If I had bothered to find out, I would have found no records of a Muggle band called "Linkin Park" in 1977.
"This is my haven here. Whenever the world is getting on my nerves and you're unavailable, I come here and write letters to my friends. Or I lock the doors and add a silencing charm. Then I turn up my music really loud and read. It's so comforting. Which reminds me…" She cast the locking and silencing charms. "I hate it when people barge in uninvited."
I walked over to her, and willed myself visible. I wrapped my arms around her, wanting to comfort her. Thinking about her old friends always made her a little upset.
"Severus, will I ever see them again?" The little tears were already falling down her face.
"Maybe you'll see them over Christmas holiday. Or Easter holiday."
She shook her head. "I'm staying here for the holidays. My parents are going to be traveling."
"Poor baby. I'll stay here too, just to keep you company. Now come on, I think you need to go to sleep." I picked her up and gently set her on the bed. Then I walked over to her wardrobe and found a nightgown. I threw it over to the bed. I was about to leave when something stopped me.
"Severus, please don't leave. I'm scared. No one will notice, please."
Who was I to say 'no' to a scared little girl. So I turned back around and walked over to the bed. She had changed into the nightgown, and looked honestly frightened. I took off my layers of clothing until I was in my undershirt and boxers. Then I stripped back the covers and crawled into bed next to Hermione. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around me and nuzzled up next to me. As she quickly drifted off to sleep, I heard her mumble
"I love you Severus."
Something scared me more than those four words. I was scared because I realized that I loved her too.
"I love you too Hermione." Then I wrapped my arms around her to comfort her in her sleep, and soon was asleep myself.
2 End Chapter 3
It's the 'L' word! Yeah, this story is definitely going to be shorter than my other one. Hehe…
Read and Review! Constructive criticism, tips, and ideas are all very helpful!
By late November, everyone in the school knew about Hermione and I. Most of them didn't even mind. Key word: most. Up in the Gryffindor dorms, I was almost positive that there were a small bunch of males who seemed to disapprove. Their names were James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Although, I didn't notice until December 1.
Hermione and I were in our workroom (I no longer thought of it as mine) doing homework, when all of the sudden, the painting swings open, revealing the four.
I was shocked to say the least, but I thought I was hearing things when I heard "Mischief managed" from someone in the back.
I think Hermione heard it too, because she blew up just then. "How dare you all come in here like that, using your stupid little Marauder's Map to find me! I know how that thing works, I know that you saw my little dot and his dot and immediately assumed the worst! But as you can see, we were only doing homework!!! I want you all to get the idea that you can protect me out of your heads as soon as you possibly can! Because if you can't, you will make horrible parents. All of you. Just in case you cared."
Again, the boys just gaped. Finally, Remus managed to stutter, "H..how..how di..di…did you know?"
"It doesn't matter how I know! I'm NOT 4 years old and I can take care of myself! In my 1st year I helped my best friends save the world from evil. In my 2nd year, I found the information to help save a 1st year student. I am tougher than any of you, and I don't need your protection!"
The looked scared. I myself just gawked. No a one of us had seen her that angry. Hermione took a few calming breaths before speaking again.
"You are all wonderful people, despite your rule breaking and your betrayals. But if you can't learn to let me grow up, what are you going to do when your own children and grow up. So please, don't try and protect me. Severus won't hurt me."
I nodded. The boys mumbled their apologies and walked out of the workroom. Hermione turned to me.
"I'm really sorry about that Severus. I knew they had been working on that, but I didn't realize it was to try and 'save' me."
I pulled her into a hug. "It's not your fault. Besides, it was funny to watch their expressions."
She laughed.
"I'm glad you're not mad."
"I find it hard to see me getting mad at you."
She leaned back, and smiled. For a few moments we simply stared at one another before we leaned in and kissed. When our lips parted, I thought it would be cool to ruin the moment by asking a question.
"Hermione, where did you go school before Hogwarts?"
She seized up. Minutes passed slowly as the wheels in her head turned.
"Severus, I'd love to tell you, but I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't; too many thing could change. I'm sorry."
I sighed. "Don't worry Hermione. I understand the importance of keeping a promise."
"Thank you Severus. Do you know where that potion we made a few weeks ago is?"
"The one that lets the person turn invisible at will? Yeah, I know where my half is."
"Why don't you go get it. I want to show you something."
Immediately, I was intrigued. So I released my hold on her and began looking through my storage shelf. I found the bottle and downed its contents in one swallow. I let the stuff settle and mix before willing myself invisible.
Hermione grinned. "Good job, now follow me."
I followed her carefully, ensuring she didn't get too far away. We got back to the Entrance Hall and she led me up a staircase. Staircase after staircase we climbed until I was positive we were in a tower. I was about to collapse with exhaustion when suddenly she stopped in front of a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.
"Intuition." That was apparently the password to her common room, because the portrait swung open revealing the gold and scarlet room.
Heads swiveled as Hermione entered. Remus came over.
"Hey, I'm really sorry about this afternoon-"
Hermione cut him short. "Don't worry about it, just as long as you four don't do it again."
He shook his head vehemently. "Oh we won't!"
Hermione smiled. "Well, I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight everyone."
Many people waved or politely responded as the two of us went up (yet another!) flight of stairs. Finally, we stopped outside a door that read "7th year Girl's Dorm." Underneath, someone had added: AKA Hermione's Room.
She opened the door, revealing a small room. There was a large canopy bed at the far end, and a small wardrobe on the wall to our right. Next to the wardrobe was a small window seat. On the left was the bathroom, and covering all the walls were posters from singers and bands I'd never heard of. I assumed they were Muggle bands. If I had bothered to find out, I would have found no records of a Muggle band called "Linkin Park" in 1977.
"This is my haven here. Whenever the world is getting on my nerves and you're unavailable, I come here and write letters to my friends. Or I lock the doors and add a silencing charm. Then I turn up my music really loud and read. It's so comforting. Which reminds me…" She cast the locking and silencing charms. "I hate it when people barge in uninvited."
I walked over to her, and willed myself visible. I wrapped my arms around her, wanting to comfort her. Thinking about her old friends always made her a little upset.
"Severus, will I ever see them again?" The little tears were already falling down her face.
"Maybe you'll see them over Christmas holiday. Or Easter holiday."
She shook her head. "I'm staying here for the holidays. My parents are going to be traveling."
"Poor baby. I'll stay here too, just to keep you company. Now come on, I think you need to go to sleep." I picked her up and gently set her on the bed. Then I walked over to her wardrobe and found a nightgown. I threw it over to the bed. I was about to leave when something stopped me.
"Severus, please don't leave. I'm scared. No one will notice, please."
Who was I to say 'no' to a scared little girl. So I turned back around and walked over to the bed. She had changed into the nightgown, and looked honestly frightened. I took off my layers of clothing until I was in my undershirt and boxers. Then I stripped back the covers and crawled into bed next to Hermione. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around me and nuzzled up next to me. As she quickly drifted off to sleep, I heard her mumble
"I love you Severus."
Something scared me more than those four words. I was scared because I realized that I loved her too.
"I love you too Hermione." Then I wrapped my arms around her to comfort her in her sleep, and soon was asleep myself.
2 End Chapter 3
It's the 'L' word! Yeah, this story is definitely going to be shorter than my other one. Hehe…
Read and Review! Constructive criticism, tips, and ideas are all very helpful!