Disclaimer: I'm not going to repeat this every chapter. I think you got my
point after the first chapter.
A/N: Woot! I got so many reviews for my last chapter! People actually liked my last chapter of crap? Well, woo-hoo for me! Anyway, I only have one more exam, and then I'm free until next year. Woopie! Oh, and Alarun, I'm just used to TEXT format. But thanks for the advice! I'll keep it in mind!
-"Why does Lucius hate me?" Louisa asked, as she and Severus sat down outside, by the lake, one winters night in their fifth year. Louisa rubbed her hands together, and pushed back a strand of her hair away from her face.
"He doesn't hate you. He, well, he just isn't particularly fond of you," Severus tried to explain, as he picked out the dewy grass. His eyes slid over to Louisa, and shifted closer to her. He dropped the blades of grass from his hand, and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"So he hates me?" Louisa said, as she pulled off her shoes off her blistered feet. She had been trying to run from Lucius as he called out random magical curses. Severus had seen her running, and caught her. He had yelled angrily at Lucius, and had almost broken his wand in half.
Severus bit his lip, and let out a sigh. His shoulders drooped, and lets his arm drop from her waist.
"Why are you still friends with him?" Louisa asked, staring up at her best friend, and, you could say, lover.
"I don't know. I just am," Severus sighed once more, trying to avoid her teary gaze. Why was he still friends with him? If Lucius couldn't handle Severus having a romantic relationship with a half-muggle born, he defiantly wasn't the worlds best friend.
"Can we just go inside, please?" Louisa asked, as she pushed herself. Severus nodded.
"Alright," he stood up, and wrapped his arms around her stomach. "You know I love you, right?"
Louisa's cheeks grew bright red. "Really?" she asked, her face staring at the ground.
"Yes, really. You're my girl, Louisa. Remember that"-
***
Severus waited, almost impatiently, for the arrival of Hermione Granger. Was she trying to make a fashionably, or an annoyingly late arrival? As Severus ticked the last of the worksheets, a squeak of the classroom door handle filled the air.
"I'm sorry, Professor, if I seem late. I do have a valid excuse!" Hermione rushed, breathlessly, as she quickly sat down where she had been the day before.
"I do hope so, Miss Granger, as my patience with you is wearing a little thin," The Potions Master muttered, as he shifted the parchment onto the ground.
"Well, I was on my way here, when Professor McGonagall asked me to deliver a message to Professor Sprout, which I did," Hermione began, her knuckles clamped around the edge of the bench.
"Then, after a delivered that message, I ran into Hagrid who wanted me to have some tea with him. And because he is so nice, I accepted immediately When I finally realized what time it was, I quickly began here, and then my book-bag broke, so then I had to go upstairs to grab another one, which was difficult because I carry so many books around! And when I finally put all my books in my bag, I came here," she finished, her head hanging down to her desk.
Severus simply folded his hands over one another, and remained silent. Hermione wriggled nervously, and crossed her legs over one another. She paused before speaking.
"Um, about that question I asked you yesterday. I'm sorry if I sounded rude, Professor"
Severus stood up, and walked around his desk and over to the squirming girl. "Miss Granger, what you did say was extremely rude, and personal, but," he took a deep before continuing. He couldn't believe what he was going to say next. "You have a very inquisitive mind, so I suppose you have a fairly good reason"
A faint smile passed Hermione's lips, and let herself relax into the chair. Severus continued to stand, and folded his arms over his chest.
"So, what are you going to ask? Or are you just going to sit there and try to look pretty?"
"Ah, well let me see," Hermione pulled out a notebook, which she had written a few questions down. A short shaky breath flew through her lips, as she nervously asked the first question. "Um, what- what was Louisa's middle name? Did she have one?" she twitched, suddenly realizing how stupid the question was. At least the hormonal butterflies in her stomach had eased.
The Professor raised an eyebrow, and headed back to his desk. "Middle name? Yes, she did- Felicity," he answered, after a brief thought as he tried to pull back some memories. He politely waited for her next question. Though, secretly, in complete fright. What was she going to ask next?
"Well, um, were her parents Pure Blood? Or Muggle?" Hermione quietly asked. Severus cleared his throat to keep it from cracking.
"She was half and half- Her father was a Wizard, and her mother was a Muggle"
This surprised Hermione. Snape was friends with someone who wasn't even a pure Witch? "But she wasn't a Pure Blood. Didn't that bother you?"
Severus considered this thought, before giving a response. "When you are good friends with someone, Miss Granger, it doesn't matter whether they are Pure Blooded, or Muggle-born. Do you understand me?"
Hermione nodded, and stared down at her parchment. She tapped her quill quickly on the desk, as she coiled up the corner of the parchment. "Did she ever talk about her parents?"
"Rarely. When she did she gave short, one-syllable answers," he murmured softly, as he began to put his attention on a scratch on his desk.
"Oh. Okay, then. Next question, then, I suppose. Did she have any other friends?"
"No, I don't think so," he answered, wishing she would just stand up and leave. "She wasn't the most social person. Actually, she was quiet. I'm not quite sure why she was put in Slytherin- she rarely got angry at anyone," he admitted.
"That's different," she glanced down at her desk. As she looked up once more, and could see Snape's face hanging, his long, black hair covering his eyes. Was he crying?
"Professor Snape?"
Severus' face snapped up. No tear streaks, but his eyes look red.
"Um, are you alright?" Hermione asked, her eyes filled with worry. Severus frowned.
"Yes, I am alright. Do you have anymore questions you want to ask me?"
"Just one. It might be a bit personal, but if you don't mind answering"
"Just ask the bloody question, Miss Granger. I would like you to leave as soon as possible,"
Hermione gasped, before blurting out the question. "Did you two love one another? You don't have to answer, Professor it's just that, well, like you said beforehand, I do have an inquisitive mind, and you seem to talk about her with such a passion, that I just had to know-"
"MISS GRANGER!" Severus bellowed. His voice echoed off the walls, and quickly quieted the jabbering sixth-year. Hermione took a dare.
"Well? I just want an answer," she murmured, her voice as red as a rose hip.
Severus seemed to have a very hard time answering. "We were very close- extremely close, in fact. And," he took a deep breath, while kicking himself underneath his desk. "We, um, did love each other"
Hermione just stared at him. "Um, well, thank you very much. Can I put this in my assignment? Or essay?"
"I would prefer if you didn't, Miss Granger. I just told you something very personal, and hard for me to tell anyone. I didn't especially want to tell it to a Gryffindor"
"I think I understand, Professor. I won't tell anyone. But can I put in the rest?" she asked, flipping through her notes. Severus nodded. He seemed very shaky, and highly-strung.
"Are you sure you are alright? I promise I am not going to tell anyone!"
"Just go, Miss Granger. I want to be alone!"
Hermione nodded, and gathered her things. "Well, I'll see you in tomorrows lesson then," she murmured, sheepishly, as she headed towards the door. Severus simply glanced at her, and then turned his gaze to the back wall. He looked very upset. Hermione felt her heart fill with compassion as she walked out of the doorframe. At least it wasn't filled with crazy, romantic thoughts.
***
Severus had to admit he did feel better after answering a few simply questions about Louisa. He felt as if a giant boulder had lifted off his shoulders. He couldn't simply tell Hermione Granger that. That girl could simply work it out for herself. Or, he could give her a helping hand- hint about it perhaps? Either way, Louisa should be happy. He was coming out of his 'sheltered box', as she would say. Maybe Muggle born people were smarter, as much as he hated to admit it.
***
She had gone out alive. Hermione let out a large breath of air, and dashed up the steps to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Password?" the Fat Lady said.
"Sparklers" Hermione replied. The portrait swung open and Hermione jumped in.
"Knight to D-5," Ron murmured. He looked up quickly from his game of Wizard Chess, and spotted Hermione. "Back already?" he asked, as Harry's pawn at struck down.
"Snape was actually fairly nice. He didn't give me a detention, thank goodness" she sat down beside Harry, and watched in horror, as the chess pieces attacked each other in a violently crude way.
TBC
***
A/N: Wow! My longest chapter so far! I'm actually pleased with it, but I don't know how the rest of you will act. It took my ages to write, considering I was trying to study for my Geography and History exam. Eh, I think I deserve a bit of a break. I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE ASIAN COUNTRIES! Um, anyway. Please review. Yes. Now I'm just being blunt. I don't expect to receive as many reviews as I did for Chapter 8, but I want a few. Please! I'll be, at least for a while, grateful! And so will my Muse! Spanks-a-lot!
A/N: Woot! I got so many reviews for my last chapter! People actually liked my last chapter of crap? Well, woo-hoo for me! Anyway, I only have one more exam, and then I'm free until next year. Woopie! Oh, and Alarun, I'm just used to TEXT format. But thanks for the advice! I'll keep it in mind!
-"Why does Lucius hate me?" Louisa asked, as she and Severus sat down outside, by the lake, one winters night in their fifth year. Louisa rubbed her hands together, and pushed back a strand of her hair away from her face.
"He doesn't hate you. He, well, he just isn't particularly fond of you," Severus tried to explain, as he picked out the dewy grass. His eyes slid over to Louisa, and shifted closer to her. He dropped the blades of grass from his hand, and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"So he hates me?" Louisa said, as she pulled off her shoes off her blistered feet. She had been trying to run from Lucius as he called out random magical curses. Severus had seen her running, and caught her. He had yelled angrily at Lucius, and had almost broken his wand in half.
Severus bit his lip, and let out a sigh. His shoulders drooped, and lets his arm drop from her waist.
"Why are you still friends with him?" Louisa asked, staring up at her best friend, and, you could say, lover.
"I don't know. I just am," Severus sighed once more, trying to avoid her teary gaze. Why was he still friends with him? If Lucius couldn't handle Severus having a romantic relationship with a half-muggle born, he defiantly wasn't the worlds best friend.
"Can we just go inside, please?" Louisa asked, as she pushed herself. Severus nodded.
"Alright," he stood up, and wrapped his arms around her stomach. "You know I love you, right?"
Louisa's cheeks grew bright red. "Really?" she asked, her face staring at the ground.
"Yes, really. You're my girl, Louisa. Remember that"-
***
Severus waited, almost impatiently, for the arrival of Hermione Granger. Was she trying to make a fashionably, or an annoyingly late arrival? As Severus ticked the last of the worksheets, a squeak of the classroom door handle filled the air.
"I'm sorry, Professor, if I seem late. I do have a valid excuse!" Hermione rushed, breathlessly, as she quickly sat down where she had been the day before.
"I do hope so, Miss Granger, as my patience with you is wearing a little thin," The Potions Master muttered, as he shifted the parchment onto the ground.
"Well, I was on my way here, when Professor McGonagall asked me to deliver a message to Professor Sprout, which I did," Hermione began, her knuckles clamped around the edge of the bench.
"Then, after a delivered that message, I ran into Hagrid who wanted me to have some tea with him. And because he is so nice, I accepted immediately When I finally realized what time it was, I quickly began here, and then my book-bag broke, so then I had to go upstairs to grab another one, which was difficult because I carry so many books around! And when I finally put all my books in my bag, I came here," she finished, her head hanging down to her desk.
Severus simply folded his hands over one another, and remained silent. Hermione wriggled nervously, and crossed her legs over one another. She paused before speaking.
"Um, about that question I asked you yesterday. I'm sorry if I sounded rude, Professor"
Severus stood up, and walked around his desk and over to the squirming girl. "Miss Granger, what you did say was extremely rude, and personal, but," he took a deep before continuing. He couldn't believe what he was going to say next. "You have a very inquisitive mind, so I suppose you have a fairly good reason"
A faint smile passed Hermione's lips, and let herself relax into the chair. Severus continued to stand, and folded his arms over his chest.
"So, what are you going to ask? Or are you just going to sit there and try to look pretty?"
"Ah, well let me see," Hermione pulled out a notebook, which she had written a few questions down. A short shaky breath flew through her lips, as she nervously asked the first question. "Um, what- what was Louisa's middle name? Did she have one?" she twitched, suddenly realizing how stupid the question was. At least the hormonal butterflies in her stomach had eased.
The Professor raised an eyebrow, and headed back to his desk. "Middle name? Yes, she did- Felicity," he answered, after a brief thought as he tried to pull back some memories. He politely waited for her next question. Though, secretly, in complete fright. What was she going to ask next?
"Well, um, were her parents Pure Blood? Or Muggle?" Hermione quietly asked. Severus cleared his throat to keep it from cracking.
"She was half and half- Her father was a Wizard, and her mother was a Muggle"
This surprised Hermione. Snape was friends with someone who wasn't even a pure Witch? "But she wasn't a Pure Blood. Didn't that bother you?"
Severus considered this thought, before giving a response. "When you are good friends with someone, Miss Granger, it doesn't matter whether they are Pure Blooded, or Muggle-born. Do you understand me?"
Hermione nodded, and stared down at her parchment. She tapped her quill quickly on the desk, as she coiled up the corner of the parchment. "Did she ever talk about her parents?"
"Rarely. When she did she gave short, one-syllable answers," he murmured softly, as he began to put his attention on a scratch on his desk.
"Oh. Okay, then. Next question, then, I suppose. Did she have any other friends?"
"No, I don't think so," he answered, wishing she would just stand up and leave. "She wasn't the most social person. Actually, she was quiet. I'm not quite sure why she was put in Slytherin- she rarely got angry at anyone," he admitted.
"That's different," she glanced down at her desk. As she looked up once more, and could see Snape's face hanging, his long, black hair covering his eyes. Was he crying?
"Professor Snape?"
Severus' face snapped up. No tear streaks, but his eyes look red.
"Um, are you alright?" Hermione asked, her eyes filled with worry. Severus frowned.
"Yes, I am alright. Do you have anymore questions you want to ask me?"
"Just one. It might be a bit personal, but if you don't mind answering"
"Just ask the bloody question, Miss Granger. I would like you to leave as soon as possible,"
Hermione gasped, before blurting out the question. "Did you two love one another? You don't have to answer, Professor it's just that, well, like you said beforehand, I do have an inquisitive mind, and you seem to talk about her with such a passion, that I just had to know-"
"MISS GRANGER!" Severus bellowed. His voice echoed off the walls, and quickly quieted the jabbering sixth-year. Hermione took a dare.
"Well? I just want an answer," she murmured, her voice as red as a rose hip.
Severus seemed to have a very hard time answering. "We were very close- extremely close, in fact. And," he took a deep breath, while kicking himself underneath his desk. "We, um, did love each other"
Hermione just stared at him. "Um, well, thank you very much. Can I put this in my assignment? Or essay?"
"I would prefer if you didn't, Miss Granger. I just told you something very personal, and hard for me to tell anyone. I didn't especially want to tell it to a Gryffindor"
"I think I understand, Professor. I won't tell anyone. But can I put in the rest?" she asked, flipping through her notes. Severus nodded. He seemed very shaky, and highly-strung.
"Are you sure you are alright? I promise I am not going to tell anyone!"
"Just go, Miss Granger. I want to be alone!"
Hermione nodded, and gathered her things. "Well, I'll see you in tomorrows lesson then," she murmured, sheepishly, as she headed towards the door. Severus simply glanced at her, and then turned his gaze to the back wall. He looked very upset. Hermione felt her heart fill with compassion as she walked out of the doorframe. At least it wasn't filled with crazy, romantic thoughts.
***
Severus had to admit he did feel better after answering a few simply questions about Louisa. He felt as if a giant boulder had lifted off his shoulders. He couldn't simply tell Hermione Granger that. That girl could simply work it out for herself. Or, he could give her a helping hand- hint about it perhaps? Either way, Louisa should be happy. He was coming out of his 'sheltered box', as she would say. Maybe Muggle born people were smarter, as much as he hated to admit it.
***
She had gone out alive. Hermione let out a large breath of air, and dashed up the steps to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Password?" the Fat Lady said.
"Sparklers" Hermione replied. The portrait swung open and Hermione jumped in.
"Knight to D-5," Ron murmured. He looked up quickly from his game of Wizard Chess, and spotted Hermione. "Back already?" he asked, as Harry's pawn at struck down.
"Snape was actually fairly nice. He didn't give me a detention, thank goodness" she sat down beside Harry, and watched in horror, as the chess pieces attacked each other in a violently crude way.
TBC
***
A/N: Wow! My longest chapter so far! I'm actually pleased with it, but I don't know how the rest of you will act. It took my ages to write, considering I was trying to study for my Geography and History exam. Eh, I think I deserve a bit of a break. I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE ASIAN COUNTRIES! Um, anyway. Please review. Yes. Now I'm just being blunt. I don't expect to receive as many reviews as I did for Chapter 8, but I want a few. Please! I'll be, at least for a while, grateful! And so will my Muse! Spanks-a-lot!