(By Flourish)
A/N: My first attempt at round robin writing, here we go...-----
Hermione's line of thought ran roughly so: Malfoy is an utter bastard. I wonder if using an Unforgivable on an utter bastard is illegal. I doubt it. That sounds good. She didn't realize she was speaking aloud until Professor Snape's voice cut in.
"Although it may be tempting, Miss Granger, I assure you that you would regret the use of an Unforgivable curse on Mr. Malfoy quite quickly. His father would make life extremely vexing for you, and I suspect that it would not be easy for me either - now that your Gryffindor nature has gotten us into this mess. I believe you had left the castle to search for Mssrs. Potter and Weasley?" When she was mute, he continued. "Well, it doesn't matter now. Please restrain yourself from future midnight misadventures. Shall we discuss them here, or would you prefer the relative privacy of my office?"
Shocked by his brusqueness after the familiarity of the previous night, Hermione had been quiet. Now she found her voice again, nodded and said, "The office, please. Walls do have ears in Hogwarts." Of course he is brusque. He can't be seen to be engaged to me in case a student walked by. I suppose it was very Gryffindor of me not to have seen it. But rather than say more, she followed him to the dungeons. The password was 'unheimlich,' which he instructed her to remember, and she made a note to look it up.
The fire was crackling merrily when they entered the room, but it didn't seem to do much for the temperature; it was still as cold and clammy as ever. The one large desk and grouping of chairs around it was angled to catch the most heat on the professor's back, something which Hermione suspected had been set up by house-elves. As she would have expected, there was a Slytherin banner hanging on one wall, but otherwise the room was undecorated save for the dark, heavy wooden furniture. Typical, was the immediate response. Thinking again, she wondered, Is the furniture by choice or to put on a carefully constructed show?
They seated themselves without speaking, Snape behind the desk and Hermione in one of the two uncomfortable chairs facing it. The high back made it feel like a narrow throne as she waited for him to speak. In a moment he did, after steepling his fingers in front of his face. "I do not like our situation," he began. "Had I a choice, I would go back in time and change it. You have worked with a Time Turner; you know that I cannot. However, I will not pretend that it did not happen, for that would be even more foolish than attempting to change it. We must live with the consequences of our actions, Miss Granger, and the consequence of your actions is that you must swallow your pride and become betrothed to me - or at least pretend to be, until such time as Voldemort is conquered." Hermione gave an involuntary shudder at the name, despite her Muggle heritage, and she realized that Snape was watching her every move. His eyes spoke disapproval of her fear, but he did not voice it. Instead, he continued.
"I will not pretend that this will be easy. The struggle may continue years. You shall have to survive things no person should ever experience, although I will try to save you from as many as I can. You shall have to become accepted into Death Eater society, or at least learn enough to not be a pariah. You may even be forced to marry me, should the years stretch out. Understand me well: I would not force you to do this, but I see no other alternative. It may never come to that point. But if it does, I must know if you are prepared, because although I speak of a distant future, it will effect what I ask you to do today."
Hermione's hands twisted in her lap, but quickly came to rest. She had never permitted herself nervous habits and would not start now, although her voice wavered as she replied. "There is no other choice but to play along. I will do as you ask, for your safety and mine." It was a snap decision, and even as she said it she knew she would likely regret it later, but it was necessary.
Snape's emotions did not show on his face, though she was sure that something occupied the long moment during which he stood, one hand on the desk in front of her. Then, his hand lifted and turned over into an invitation to take it. As she rose and circled the desk to stand in front of him, he nodded. "At least you aren't utterly without instincts. Your carriage would be acceptable, if you did not carry so many books on your back." She somehow found that she was smiling uncertainly. This may be hard, but at least I'm not inept. It's one more thing to learn about the wizarding world, not anything different than Charms or Transfiguration, she decided. Nodding to him, she removed her hand from his light grip.
"Hermione." The word arrested her turn toward the door, and she again looked at her teacher. "I suppose you should become used to calling me Severus; although it isn't a particularly beautiful name, it serves the purpose. You exhibit a great deal of strength in your decision, and I appreciate that every day will be a trial for you. Never think that I believe you stupid. Your choice today was worthy of a Slytherin."
"I would much prefer it to be worthy of a Gryffindor. But I will refrain from calling you Severus in class."
"Good. Return tonight; we have little time to teach you the ways of high society, and even less to teach you the ways of the Death Eaters." As she slipped out the door, Hermione's smile became more sure of itself. Perhaps it will be a long semester, she thought, but it has just been proven that Snape the greasy bastard can be diplomatic at times. It could be worse. It could be Draco Malfoy.-----
END----
Note: Unheimlich is a German word meaning "a feeling of uncanniness or uncomfortableness."
Power! Ranger! Power Rangers! Aurora, GO!