Chapter 6: Of Common Rooms and Classrooms

***

There would be no screaming fights in the hallway, no icicles forming on the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Those theatrics were more suitable for Lavender and Parvati's occasional apocalyptic row. No, outside observers would have a hard time discerning that anything had ever changed. Perhaps the trio did not linger as long in the common room after dinner before going their separate ways; perhaps there was less covert note-passing and whispering in their common classes. But overall, it was behavior not inconsistent with three seventh years, preparing for their NEWTs and the inevitable disruption of their entire lives.

Hermione rather thought her life had already changed. Even if no one else could see it - she recognized the way Harry and Ron's shoulders curved away from her now when they sat, the way their conversation's tone changed when she entered the room. She sometimes wondered as she cried into her pillow at night if she wasn't being a bit melodramatic. The boys hadn't stopped talking to her, after all; hadn't stopped sitting with her at meals or doing their homework together. But all the same, she knew. Things were different.

At least Ron had avoided getting himself expelled - so far. Harry told Hermione that the two of them had stayed up all night after discovering Draco and Ginny, Ron sporadically trying to get out of the tower to remove Draco's head, and Harry trying to keep him there. She praised Merlin that at least Harry had the sense to realize that the quickest way to ensure Ginny kept seeing Draco was to tell her that she couldn't. Still, she didn't know how much longer Harry could keep Ron back - or would be willing to. She didn't dare try convincing him herself. As much as she felt she was doing the right thing, she couldn't bear to give up any more of either of them than she already had.

Neither did she, or they for that matter, breathe a word to anyone else. There was no telling what Draco would do if word got out (though privately, Hermione thought it was actually Ginny the boys were afraid of; a Malfoy's wrath was nothing compared to a female Weasley's.) But late one evening, she found herself alone in the common room with Ginny, the younger girl absorbed in a Muggle novel she'd gotten from who knows where. Hermione could not let the opportunity pass her by.

"Ginny." She spoke softly, sitting very straight in a scarlet armchair, hands clasped between her knees. Ginny startled and looked up, a friendly smile spreading over her face when she saw Hermione.

"Hey, 'Mione." Yawning, she checked her watch. "Oh, man, I've been reading for longer than I thought..." She trailed off as she noticed Hermione's odd expression. "Is something wrong?"

"No, I just... Ginny. Be careful, okay?" Ginny's eyebrows narrowed briefly in suspicion before once again assuming a curious, innocent expression as Hermione continued. "You're not stupid, I know that. You know what you're doing. But just... be careful. Not for Ron or Harry or anyone else. For you." Hermione couldn't contain herself any longer, and clasped Ginny in a brief but fervent hug. "If you ever need anyone to talk to... well, I'm always here." Then she fled to her rooms, leaving a thoroughly confused redhead behind her.

***

The days continued to pass; each hour seemed to Hermione to drag on at near glacial speed, though when she took a minute to think, classes and days seemed to blur together into an impenetrable mass. She was surprised, then, at the end of the next Potions session when she remembered her impending meeting with Snape. At least it would give her something to concentrate on other than the state of her social life, if nothing else, she thought. Harry and Ron were waiting for her out of habit as the other students hastily closed their books and left. Hermione told them to go, she'd see them later, and with barely a nod they went. She tried not to be hurt.

Thankfully, she did not have much time to dwell, as the last student out the door closed it and Snape set down his quill. She took a seat, and for the first time truly appreciated the import of her situation - she was being asked to collaborate on a project with a potions master, one of the most highly qualified men of his craft in all of Britain. Suddenly and inexplicably, she found herself quite excited about the prospect.

"Have you reached a decision yet, Miss Granger?" Snape's dark eyes studied her as she thought quickly. Perhaps she hadn't given this the consideration it deserved over the past week, but now, she could not bring herself to refuse the opportunity.

"I - I think so, Professor, but I have some questions..." It might have been her imagination, but she thought that a ghost of a smile had passed over his face before he could stop it.

"Undoubtedly. In fact, had you none, I would have shown you the door immediately and encouraged Dumbledore to rethink this entire notion. Nevertheless, I must ask for your answer before I can give you any of my own." If Hermione had learned one thing at Hogwarts, it was this: there is no negotiating with Professor Snape, so don't even try.

"Then my answer is yes." Snape looked almost relieved, and immediately set an official-looking parchment before her with a quill.

"This is a standard contract of secrecy. Once signed, it enacts a binding magical agreement that renders you unable to speak of the details of this project to anyone, until the contract holders - in this case, Dumbledore and myself - allow it. It is necessary for reasons you will be made aware of presently. You are of age to enter into such a contract, I presume?" Hermione nodded and set the quill to the paper, signing her name in a graceful, looping script. Dumbledore, she saw, had already signed in emerald ink. Snape then took it and signed his own, aggressively slashing the letters across the page. That done, he rolled it, sealed it, and stored it in one of the desk drawers. Finally, steepling his long, pale fingers just below his chin, he said, "You may now ask any questions you have. I will answer, assuming it is necessary for you to know."

Hermione took a deep breath. "I suppose, first of all, I'd like to know why this is all necessary - the contract, the fact that you couldn't tell me anything about the project until now. It seems rather out of the ordinary for an honors project."

Snape fixed her with a hard look. "We are fighting a war, Miss Granger. Consider yourself drafted." Hermione did not know what to say to this; fortunately, he continued. "I assume you remember the project as I discussed it with you last time."

She nodded. "Developing a potion to enhance power and focus in order to extend the range of spells and allow a wizard to perform magic on an object not in their immediate vicinity."

"You should be able to conceive of the advantages such a potion would have in a time of war." Hermione considered for a moment.

"You're saying that a very powerful wizard would be able to use it to charm or curse their enemies from a safe location... A powerful wizard like Dumbledore."

"Or Voldemort." Snape's face was deadly serious as he spoke. "It is imperative that you understand - if Voldemort learns about this potion, it will place both of us in very great danger. Secrecy is of the highest priority. This contract helps to assure that, but you will have to be constantly on guard."

Hermione's eyes were large as she asked the next question. "Why do this at Hogwarts, then? There are more qualified research and development labs all over Britain."

"Dumbledore does not trust anyone outside Hogwarts at this moment. We have known since the end of your fourth year that Fudge cannot be relied upon; just recently we learned that Voldemort's corruption has penetrated the very upper stratus of the ministry. Outside of these walls, you cannot count on anyone being on our side. It is a sad, frightening fact, but it is the truth." Snape's lips were thin; he seemed to almost be gauging her response.

Hermione swallowed. "Okay, then why me?"

"As a student, Miss Granger, you are not aware of it, but the faculty at this school are all involved in the war effort to the point that teaching is nearly a secondary occupation. There quite simply is no one else. You are singularly qualified among the students to assist me with this project, and therefore it has been presented to you. I have thought for many months that Dumbledore has done you all a disservice by sheltering you thus far; now you must understand what will be expected of you upon graduation, and be ready to deal with it. You, Miss Granger, are simply being called upon six months early."

Biting her lip, Hermione internally debated her next question, but she had to ask. "This is not going to come out at all the way I mean it, but... why you?" Snape arched a coal black eyebrow. "I just figured that you'd rather turn yourself in to Voldemort voluntarily than work with a Gryffindor on anything."

Snape sighed. "My role in this is such, Miss Granger, that I need to be very careful about who I publically appear to favor."

"You're a spy." Her voice was quiet but by no means unsure. Apparently taken by surprise, Snape blinked, but showed no outward signs of distress.

"Yes. I am a spy. And if I was thought to show favor to any house except Slytherin, even once, it would place me on very dangerous ground." Hermione was silent. "If it eases your mind, I can assure you that in our collaboration, I will not show you the contempt and condescension that I would ordinarily be required to. I cannot promise to be pleasant, but I can be civil."

Hermione wasn't aware she'd been holding her breath, but now she inhaled and managed the tiniest smile. "I would appreciate that very much, Professor." Her mind was reeling, to say the least. He had just given her a great deal of information that she suspected would take a long time to process. "I'm sorry, this is just a bit overwhelming..."

Snape looked sympathetic - or as close to it as he could manage. "We are nearly finished. You must understand, Miss Granger, what this potion could mean to the wizarding world as a whole. It is imperative that you devote to this the time and attention it deserves. Remember that if Dumbledore and I did not feel you capable of it, we would not be having this conversation right now. Understood?" Hermione nodded weakly. "We will meet again on Saturday, at which time I expect you to have researched a potion you believe would be a useful base, and be ready to begin brewing." He picked up his quill in dismissal.

Hermione picked up her bag, and was halfway to the door when she stopped. "Have a good day, Professor."

Snape looked up in surprise. Most people stormed, slinked, or just plain ran out of his dungeons. Few stopped to wish him well. "Goodbye."

***

The rest of that day passed in something of a blur, but instead of a haze of misery, Hermione at last felt in her element - in the midst of an intellectual challenge. She went directly to the library from the potions classroom, and stayed until Madame Pince had to bodily show her the door, and even then worked in her room until the candlelight stung her eyes and her shoulders ached with exhaustion. She hadn't been so tired in weeks.

But when she finally slumbered that night, her pillow was dry and her sleep was untroubled.

--

A/N: This chapter just did not want to be written! I wish I could say my muse had deserted me, but it's not true - she just insisted on inspiring a chapter I won't be able to write for weeks! So rest assured that there's a chapter coming up that will be very good - apparently, the problem is going to be getting there. I've been working on some other projects as well; I've posted a few drabbles on this account, and I've also been writing a challenge response for WIKTT that will go up once it's completed. Additionally, I was just struck with an idea for a short, one-shot fic that I might have to get out soon. So, there'll be more on the horizon, and I haven't forgotten this! If you'd like to get email notification when I post a new chapter, email me a valid address at sweetmisery324@yahoo.com, and I'll put you on the list. Thank you so much to everyone who's reviewed and emailed - it means a lot to me! Please continue to do so.

You can stop reading here, but I'd like to take just a few moments to comment on the fic so far. A recent reviewer has got me thinking, and I'd like to just say a couple words about how I view it.

First of all, I would like everyone to understand that I'm not trying to do something radically different or groundbreaking with this fic; it's just an idea that came to me and refused to leave for several weeks, so I had to write it. This is my first work in the Harry Potter fandom, so I'm rather skittish about canon. I'm just trying to tell a simple love story, although I hope to avoid cliche as I do so. And yes, this is a love story, although I realize it doesn't seem so yet. I believe that for something as potentially controversial as a student-teacher relationship, it needs to develop over time; as much as I love PWP, I just can't see Severus and Hermione jumping into bed together as their relationship stands now. I don't mean to deride any other stories by saying that - for instance, Roman Holiday remains one of my favorite H/S stories of all time - but it won't be happening in this story. Our lovebirds have many miles before they sleep.

I don't see Harry and Ron as the bad guys in this at all. This story, while third person, is told very much from Hermione's perspective. That means we don't see H and R getting teary themselves over the fact that their best friend is growing away from them. I have a strong feeling they're just as much torn up over this as Hermione; they just have a very different way of showing it. And Hermione does seem the type to throw herself into her studies in order to distract herself from other problems, doesn't she?

One of the things commented on was that, thus far, Severus seems to be somewhat two dimensional, and I have to agree with that. The Snape of canon is, in fact, pretty one-sided; one of the things I have loved about the H/S fandom is learning to see past that, and hopefully, that's what Hermione will be doing too as time passes. Until now she's only had to see him as the cruel potions master who hates her house and seems to be plotting against Harry at every turn (although, plainly, he isn't; personally I think Harry and Ron can be a bit unfair in presuming him to be behind every attempt on Harry's life.) Now she's found out that much of what she disliked about him is an act - not to say that he's going to turn into a fuzzy bunny in private, because he is most emphatically NOT - and she'll have to learn to get to know him as a person, something that few people around Snape have taken the time to do. And lucky us, we get to watch. :)

Well, enough of my selfindulgent ramblings. If anyone wants to discuss it further - and I'm always up for it! - please feel absolutely free to email me or leave your remarks as comments. I love, love, love hearing from you. That's all for today - have a wonderful day!