Author's Note: Okay, here we go with chapter one in which Severus wakes up
with a nasty hangover and can't seem to stop stuttering (just kidding-sort
of..) and also finds a sobbing Hermione. And you thought your mornings were
bad. Read? Review! Also, thanks to everyone who kindly reviewed the
prologue! You don't know how much it means to me! *grins stupidly* :) I
apologize in advance for any mistakes, typos, etc. I'm beta-less and
tired. It's a bit longer than the prologue, but not by much, I'm afraid.
I think I may have a problem with writer's block in the next chapter! If
anyone has any suggestions, I'd be forever grateful! Well, read on.....
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the characters. I merely play with them.
What The Owl Brought: Chapter 1
Professor Severus Snape had stayed behind for breakfast, worn out from grading horrendous first-year essays and working on a fresh batch of potion for Monday's classes. Of course, being a spy for the Light side didn't exactly help things, either. Every night his dreams were haunted by the ghosts of his past. Even after all those years, he couldn't forgive himself for turning to Voldemort, always berating himself and saying he had gotten what he deserved. His life and the repulsive Dark Mark on his arm were both cruel reminders of that. All of the muggle killings, wizard killings, brutal torture, and rapes he had committed flashed before his eyes every night like a grotesque movie reel. Even the strongest Dreamless Sleep potion didn't help him, as he had become immune to it after the constant use over the years. Many a night, he sat by the fireside in his private quarters, drinking Ogden's Old Fire Whiskey to soothe his nerves, and reading 'Potent Potions Weekly' to relax. Of course, that didn't come without its consequences, either.
This morning he had woken up with a particularly nasty hangover, after a night of relentless dreams about the Potters' deaths. He couldn't bear to even open his eyes, much less leave the shelter of the dark, dank dungeons in favor of the bright, airy Great Hall, so he had skipped breakfast. He also couldn't bear to see Harry Potter just yet. All of the guilt would come flooding back from the terror-filled dreams and he just couldn't deal with it this hellish morning. Severus was just glad he didn't have any classes today, as it was the weekend. After taking a Headache Potion and a Pepper-Up Potion both, he at least felt semi-normal. He braced himself for a walk to the kitchens, hoping that the house-elves had leftovers, and feeling very grateful that breakfast was over so there would be no chance of running into Harry.
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Tick, tick, tick. Time had seemed to stop for Hermione, along with her heart, when the letter had been dropped onto her plate. The thought had it could have possibly been a mistake raced through her mind but was hastily stomped out. "What? You think they go around, dropping letters just to scare the hell out of people?" she hissed to herself. An angst-filled wail escaped from her throat, and the single thought, "Why me?" crept up on her. That was all it took and Hermione snapped, breaking the deafening silence with a shrill, high-pitched scream and bolting out of the Great Hall, sobbing madly, tears blinding her, disheveled hair swinging wildly. She ran, not knowing or caring where she was going, just running to get away from it all. She turned onto an unfamiliar hallway, nearly knocking over a suit of armor and a statue. She darted up a vast marble staircase as fast as her feet could take her, when she went flying into a dark, solitary figure, knocking it down with herself.
"Miss Granger," came the cold, vague voice, "what the hell is your problem?! Why weren't you watch....." and trailed off, seeing her in obvious distress. He paled as he saw the black Ministry letter clutched in her trembling hands. "Oh, God." Severus muttered. Her body shook with wrenching sobs and it seemed as if she really were crying her heart out. "Miss Granger, are you.... alright?" he questioned slowly, unsure of himself. His question was met only with more tears. "Well, that was a stupid question, idiot." he scolded himself. He had done many things in his life, had even gone as far as to murder and torture innocent people, but comforting a distraught 17-year-old girl was way out of his league. "Miss Granger, should I..are you..do you..do you want me to take you to Madam Pomfrey?" Severus asked. Hermione shook her head wildly and he grabbed her hand in an attempt to calm her. "Miss Granger." he tried again. "Okay, this is getting me nowhere." he thought. "Hermione, what would you like me to do?" he said gently. She looked up with a scarlet, tear-drenched face as if seeing him for the first time ever.
"Just..hold me." she whispered. Severus was taken aback but allowed her to hold onto him as the dam burst and tears soaked through his robes. Having no experience with solace, he awkwardly patted her back. As it went on, the embarrassed patting turned to gentle rubbing and the occasional, "Shh.there now." It was an odd experience, not to mention altogether out of character, but not an unpleasant one. She had probably been on of the first people in about twenty years who hadn't recoiled at the sight of him or at his touch. Severus sat there, rocking her until the flow of tears was stanched. Anyone who had stumbled the scene right there probably would have tumbled down the staircase in shock. He tilted her chin delicately and stared into her clouded brown eyes.
A/N: I'm very about the cliffhanger, but I couldn't figure out where I wanted to take this. I should have the next chapter up in the course of the week. R&R!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the characters. I merely play with them.
What The Owl Brought: Chapter 1
Professor Severus Snape had stayed behind for breakfast, worn out from grading horrendous first-year essays and working on a fresh batch of potion for Monday's classes. Of course, being a spy for the Light side didn't exactly help things, either. Every night his dreams were haunted by the ghosts of his past. Even after all those years, he couldn't forgive himself for turning to Voldemort, always berating himself and saying he had gotten what he deserved. His life and the repulsive Dark Mark on his arm were both cruel reminders of that. All of the muggle killings, wizard killings, brutal torture, and rapes he had committed flashed before his eyes every night like a grotesque movie reel. Even the strongest Dreamless Sleep potion didn't help him, as he had become immune to it after the constant use over the years. Many a night, he sat by the fireside in his private quarters, drinking Ogden's Old Fire Whiskey to soothe his nerves, and reading 'Potent Potions Weekly' to relax. Of course, that didn't come without its consequences, either.
This morning he had woken up with a particularly nasty hangover, after a night of relentless dreams about the Potters' deaths. He couldn't bear to even open his eyes, much less leave the shelter of the dark, dank dungeons in favor of the bright, airy Great Hall, so he had skipped breakfast. He also couldn't bear to see Harry Potter just yet. All of the guilt would come flooding back from the terror-filled dreams and he just couldn't deal with it this hellish morning. Severus was just glad he didn't have any classes today, as it was the weekend. After taking a Headache Potion and a Pepper-Up Potion both, he at least felt semi-normal. He braced himself for a walk to the kitchens, hoping that the house-elves had leftovers, and feeling very grateful that breakfast was over so there would be no chance of running into Harry.
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Tick, tick, tick. Time had seemed to stop for Hermione, along with her heart, when the letter had been dropped onto her plate. The thought had it could have possibly been a mistake raced through her mind but was hastily stomped out. "What? You think they go around, dropping letters just to scare the hell out of people?" she hissed to herself. An angst-filled wail escaped from her throat, and the single thought, "Why me?" crept up on her. That was all it took and Hermione snapped, breaking the deafening silence with a shrill, high-pitched scream and bolting out of the Great Hall, sobbing madly, tears blinding her, disheveled hair swinging wildly. She ran, not knowing or caring where she was going, just running to get away from it all. She turned onto an unfamiliar hallway, nearly knocking over a suit of armor and a statue. She darted up a vast marble staircase as fast as her feet could take her, when she went flying into a dark, solitary figure, knocking it down with herself.
"Miss Granger," came the cold, vague voice, "what the hell is your problem?! Why weren't you watch....." and trailed off, seeing her in obvious distress. He paled as he saw the black Ministry letter clutched in her trembling hands. "Oh, God." Severus muttered. Her body shook with wrenching sobs and it seemed as if she really were crying her heart out. "Miss Granger, are you.... alright?" he questioned slowly, unsure of himself. His question was met only with more tears. "Well, that was a stupid question, idiot." he scolded himself. He had done many things in his life, had even gone as far as to murder and torture innocent people, but comforting a distraught 17-year-old girl was way out of his league. "Miss Granger, should I..are you..do you..do you want me to take you to Madam Pomfrey?" Severus asked. Hermione shook her head wildly and he grabbed her hand in an attempt to calm her. "Miss Granger." he tried again. "Okay, this is getting me nowhere." he thought. "Hermione, what would you like me to do?" he said gently. She looked up with a scarlet, tear-drenched face as if seeing him for the first time ever.
"Just..hold me." she whispered. Severus was taken aback but allowed her to hold onto him as the dam burst and tears soaked through his robes. Having no experience with solace, he awkwardly patted her back. As it went on, the embarrassed patting turned to gentle rubbing and the occasional, "Shh.there now." It was an odd experience, not to mention altogether out of character, but not an unpleasant one. She had probably been on of the first people in about twenty years who hadn't recoiled at the sight of him or at his touch. Severus sat there, rocking her until the flow of tears was stanched. Anyone who had stumbled the scene right there probably would have tumbled down the staircase in shock. He tilted her chin delicately and stared into her clouded brown eyes.
A/N: I'm very about the cliffhanger, but I couldn't figure out where I wanted to take this. I should have the next chapter up in the course of the week. R&R!
