Disclaimer: All characters belong to the great JKR, the situation they're in are all the product of my twisted imagination.
A/N: Thank you to Sunglow999, and to all my lovely reviewers out there.
Chapter 8 - Plotting
Severus sat in the dungeons, brooding. He was miserable, he admitted to himself. He missed her, and seeing her tonight just made it worse. She looked gorgeous, as if their break up hadn't affected her at all. It had affected him though. He kept finding little things she'd forgotten; scraps of notes, a book that had been pushed under the sofa, a green silk thong (that he wouldn't admit to sleeping with), and worst of all, their list of mutual fantasies.
There was a knock on the door, and before he could say 'Enter', Dumbledore came in.
"Well, Severus."
"What?"
"I think this has gone on for long enough."
"What has?"
"Your behaviour, my boy."
"What about it? I've been this way for years."
"You had good reason to be, but not anymore."
"Don't patronise me, old man."
"I know how you..."
Severus shot up out of his chair and started to pace the room.
"You have no idea how I feel! She lied to me!"
"She omitted certain facts about herself.."
"It was still a lie!"
"And you've never lied?"
"No."
"Not even to yourself?" Albus said, gently laying a hand on his shoulder to stop him pacing. Severus turned haunted eyes on his mentor.
"What am I going to do? She hates me now."
"No, she doesn't. She's just as miserable as you are."
"Didn't look like it at dinner." He sulked.
"Talk to her, Severus. At least let her explain."
"I'll think about it."
"Just don't think about it for too long."
~~~
He didn't sleep well that night again, and so was in a bad mood at breakfast. She was there again, between Lupin and Black, wearing his favourite green dress that clung to her curves. Her black robes covered most of it thankfully, or he'd be deducting more points today.
There was a lull in the hall and he caught part of their conversation.
"No, thank you, Remus. Mum's away on a seminar this weekend, so Dad will be joining me. Perhaps you and Sirius would like to join us for a drink in the Three Broomsticks?"
Shit. John was coming to visit? That could be awkward, especially after their conversation earlier in the year. He'd have to make sure he avoided them this weekend.
The hall cleared and he made his way to his first lesson of the day. Seventh year Gryffindor and Slytherins. Good, let's see if Miss Weasley could restrain herself from crying today. The students parted for him as he swept down the corridors.
~~~
"Dad, are you ready to go?" Hermione apparated home on Saturday afternoon.
"Yes. I'm not sure if I'm ready for this though."
"You'll be fine. I've not splinched anybody yet!" she smiled. She shrunk his small overnight bag and put it in her pocket. Then she stood next to him and put her arm around his waist, guiding his arm around hers.
"Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
And they were gone. With a "pop" they appeared again in Hogsmeade.
"How was that?"
"Amazing! Can we do it again?"
"If you want, I can take us to the gates of Hogwarts."
"Let's go."
"Not yet, Dad. We're meeting Sirius and Remus for a drink first." She led the way to the Three Broomsticks, and waved at the other couple. Remus waved to Rosmerta for two more butterbeers, and she bustled over, eyeing up John.
"Hello there!" she said.
"Madam Rosmerta, meet my father, John Granger."
"Nice to meet you." Her dad bowed elegantly over her hand, and she giggled girlishly.
"He's very happily married, Rosie." Sirius grinned.
"And so am I, thank you very much. It's nice to meet a gentleman occasionally." Rosmerta put special emphasis on the 'gentleman'. Sirius just grinned again and pushed the tankard across for John to try.
They spent a pleasant hour in the pub, John asking numerous questions. It had been the first time he'd spent any amount of time in the wizarding world; Diagon Alley being the only other. After Hermione's fourth year, she'd only been allowed there with the Weasley's as it had been too dangerous for ordinary muggles to be seen there.
Hermione and her father apparated to the gates of Hogwarts and slowly made their way up to the castle.
"So where is my future son-in-law? I expected him to meet us." Her father looked down at her, and wasn't happy with the expression on her face. "What's happened, Hermione?"
Hermione sighed and steered him towards a bench. They sat down.
"I'm having a few problems with him." Way to go, Hermione, bit of an understatement there!
"Oh?" there was a wealth of meaning in that one word.
"I told him about being an Animagi. He freaked out."
"How much?"
"A lot. I..um..I've moved out of the dungeons."
"What?"
"He kicked me out."
"Where is he?" John stood up angrily, but Hermione pulled him down again.
"Don't worry, Dad. I've got it all under control."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I think I've got him on the run."
"Only think?"
"Oh Dad!" she laughed and stood up. He stood up and they resumed their walk up to the castle. He hugged her to his side.
"Can I help in any way?"
"Actually, you can..."
~~~
"May I come in?" a knock sounded on the potions classroom door. Severus looked up and saw with chagrin that it was his ex-future-father-in-law. He stood up from his desk, looking formidable in his black school robes.
"Of course, John. What brings you here?" he forced himself to be polite.
"Helen is away this weekend, so I decided to visit my daughter and her fiancé."
John came further into the classroom, looking around interestedly. He was careful not to touch anything.
"How did you get down here?"
"Hermione asked a student to show me. She has an appointment in the..Astronomy tower?" he said casually, seeing Severus tense up suddenly.
"Oh yes? Must be a counselling assignment." He bit out, unwilling to admit to himself that it hurt deeply that she was using their tower.
They chatted about work for a while before John went in for the kill.
"So, Severus, have you set a date yet with Hermione? Helen thinks a Christmas wedding would be very romantic." He watched as Severus almost squirmed, before catching himself.
"No, we haven't." Severus debated whether to tell John about their current situation, but decided against it.
"Pity. Helen and I were thinking of going away around that time. Wouldn't want to keep it on hold."
"You go ahead, John. I'm sure..Hermione..and I will have everything..decided..by then." He forced the words out, turning back to his desk.
John looked at the tense shoulders, pity in his eyes. Severus was taking this very hard, but Hermione was his daughter, and he was torn between the two. He'd seen the pain in her eyes, and he'd already warned Severus against hurting her. From what he could see, it was his pride that was hurt, and Severus had an abundance of pride. John sighed, hoping Hermione was going about this the right way. He'd hate for her to miss out on the marriage of a lifetime just because of one man's pride. He smiled to himself. Wasn't there a saying that 'Pride goes before a fall'?
"So, Severus. Will you be joining us later for dinner?"
"No, I'm afraid not, John. I have an important potion that needs attention every half hour. I doubt I'll see you before you go."
"I'd better be getting back, can you point the way?"
"Certainly. I'll get a first year to show you out." Severus took a pinch of floo powder and contacted a student in the Slytherin common room. A very nervous first year appeared at the classroom door.
"Show Dr Granger to...?" he looked at John, and realised that he already knew.
"Never mind. I'll deal with it myself." He waved the boy away and closed the door, turning to John.
"Come through." He made his way to his private rooms and they sat down either side of the fire.
"What went wrong, Severus?" John asked. Severus looked at him. He was probably the only one he could talk to; Albus was just irritating him with his offers of jellybeans and lemon drops. This was Hermione's father, who was the one person who knew her best, apart from her mother. At this moment in time, he thought he'd prefer her to be here instead.
"How much has she told you?"
"She said she'd moved out when you found out about her being an Animagi."
"Did she tell you I asked her to leave?"
"She did mention it."
"I'm sorry John. It was.."
"Too much, too soon?"
"I...yes."
"She is a bit of a handful, isn't she?"
"You don't know the half of it. I've spent seven years teaching her, watch her grow into the most beautiful woman I've ever had the privilege to know, and then find out she wants me. Me, an ex Death Eater and the most hated teacher in the school. It was heady stuff, John. Maybe it's because I thought I knew everything there was to know about her. It came as a shock, to find out I didn't." Severus sighed deeply; relieved he could finally get it off his chest. He wondered briefly if this would get back to Hermione, and found he didn't care. He was pathetic, and just wanted her back.
"I do understand, Severus. Helen and I went through a similar situation. I never thought she would look at me like that. Hermione doesn't know this, but for a while I didn't believe she was my daughter."
"What?"
"Helen had said she'd been taking evening classes with a friend, but one night I decided to surprise her by picking her up. We'd been married quite a few years, and had been trying for a baby for most of them. We'd even gone for all the tests. Anyway, I was waiting for her, and she came out with a man and he had his arm round her."
"What happened?"
"I lost it, that's what happened. I hit him, she hit me, and I ended up with a broken nose and minus a wife for two weeks."
"Oh."
"Yes. Turned out she'd fainted in class and he was helping her to his car so he could bring her home to me. Plus he was gay."
"I see."
"Do you? If I'd counted to ten and then confronted them, I'd have been told she was pregnant. It was the worst two weeks of my life. I know that's not the same as being an Animagi, but is it worth throwing everything away for?"
"I don't know how to fix this, John. I'm not made for grovelling."
"Neither is she."
"You know she's driving me out of my mind?"
John smiled at him, remembering what Hermione was planning. He smiled even wider and Severus raised an eyebrow at him.
"Did you know she has a thing for leather trousers?"
"Pardon?"
"Hermione. She likes leather. Helen told me." Hell, he was a man, and men should stick together. He watched the dawning realisation on his future son-in-laws face. They grinned at each other.
"Really?"
"Really. I must be getting back, Severus."
"I'll show you the way back to the main hall." He stood up. "It was nice seeing you, John."
"You too. I hope you get this sorted out soon."
"Tell Helen to prepare for a Christmas wedding, nothing fancy though." Severus squared his shoulders. It was time to go on the offensive, and he knew just what weapons to use.
"I will. This conversation never took place, agreed?" John held out his hand.
"Agreed." Severus shook it.
"Good. And Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Watch out for her left hook."
TBC
A/N: Thank you to Sunglow999, and to all my lovely reviewers out there.
Chapter 8 - Plotting
Severus sat in the dungeons, brooding. He was miserable, he admitted to himself. He missed her, and seeing her tonight just made it worse. She looked gorgeous, as if their break up hadn't affected her at all. It had affected him though. He kept finding little things she'd forgotten; scraps of notes, a book that had been pushed under the sofa, a green silk thong (that he wouldn't admit to sleeping with), and worst of all, their list of mutual fantasies.
There was a knock on the door, and before he could say 'Enter', Dumbledore came in.
"Well, Severus."
"What?"
"I think this has gone on for long enough."
"What has?"
"Your behaviour, my boy."
"What about it? I've been this way for years."
"You had good reason to be, but not anymore."
"Don't patronise me, old man."
"I know how you..."
Severus shot up out of his chair and started to pace the room.
"You have no idea how I feel! She lied to me!"
"She omitted certain facts about herself.."
"It was still a lie!"
"And you've never lied?"
"No."
"Not even to yourself?" Albus said, gently laying a hand on his shoulder to stop him pacing. Severus turned haunted eyes on his mentor.
"What am I going to do? She hates me now."
"No, she doesn't. She's just as miserable as you are."
"Didn't look like it at dinner." He sulked.
"Talk to her, Severus. At least let her explain."
"I'll think about it."
"Just don't think about it for too long."
~~~
He didn't sleep well that night again, and so was in a bad mood at breakfast. She was there again, between Lupin and Black, wearing his favourite green dress that clung to her curves. Her black robes covered most of it thankfully, or he'd be deducting more points today.
There was a lull in the hall and he caught part of their conversation.
"No, thank you, Remus. Mum's away on a seminar this weekend, so Dad will be joining me. Perhaps you and Sirius would like to join us for a drink in the Three Broomsticks?"
Shit. John was coming to visit? That could be awkward, especially after their conversation earlier in the year. He'd have to make sure he avoided them this weekend.
The hall cleared and he made his way to his first lesson of the day. Seventh year Gryffindor and Slytherins. Good, let's see if Miss Weasley could restrain herself from crying today. The students parted for him as he swept down the corridors.
~~~
"Dad, are you ready to go?" Hermione apparated home on Saturday afternoon.
"Yes. I'm not sure if I'm ready for this though."
"You'll be fine. I've not splinched anybody yet!" she smiled. She shrunk his small overnight bag and put it in her pocket. Then she stood next to him and put her arm around his waist, guiding his arm around hers.
"Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
And they were gone. With a "pop" they appeared again in Hogsmeade.
"How was that?"
"Amazing! Can we do it again?"
"If you want, I can take us to the gates of Hogwarts."
"Let's go."
"Not yet, Dad. We're meeting Sirius and Remus for a drink first." She led the way to the Three Broomsticks, and waved at the other couple. Remus waved to Rosmerta for two more butterbeers, and she bustled over, eyeing up John.
"Hello there!" she said.
"Madam Rosmerta, meet my father, John Granger."
"Nice to meet you." Her dad bowed elegantly over her hand, and she giggled girlishly.
"He's very happily married, Rosie." Sirius grinned.
"And so am I, thank you very much. It's nice to meet a gentleman occasionally." Rosmerta put special emphasis on the 'gentleman'. Sirius just grinned again and pushed the tankard across for John to try.
They spent a pleasant hour in the pub, John asking numerous questions. It had been the first time he'd spent any amount of time in the wizarding world; Diagon Alley being the only other. After Hermione's fourth year, she'd only been allowed there with the Weasley's as it had been too dangerous for ordinary muggles to be seen there.
Hermione and her father apparated to the gates of Hogwarts and slowly made their way up to the castle.
"So where is my future son-in-law? I expected him to meet us." Her father looked down at her, and wasn't happy with the expression on her face. "What's happened, Hermione?"
Hermione sighed and steered him towards a bench. They sat down.
"I'm having a few problems with him." Way to go, Hermione, bit of an understatement there!
"Oh?" there was a wealth of meaning in that one word.
"I told him about being an Animagi. He freaked out."
"How much?"
"A lot. I..um..I've moved out of the dungeons."
"What?"
"He kicked me out."
"Where is he?" John stood up angrily, but Hermione pulled him down again.
"Don't worry, Dad. I've got it all under control."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I think I've got him on the run."
"Only think?"
"Oh Dad!" she laughed and stood up. He stood up and they resumed their walk up to the castle. He hugged her to his side.
"Can I help in any way?"
"Actually, you can..."
~~~
"May I come in?" a knock sounded on the potions classroom door. Severus looked up and saw with chagrin that it was his ex-future-father-in-law. He stood up from his desk, looking formidable in his black school robes.
"Of course, John. What brings you here?" he forced himself to be polite.
"Helen is away this weekend, so I decided to visit my daughter and her fiancé."
John came further into the classroom, looking around interestedly. He was careful not to touch anything.
"How did you get down here?"
"Hermione asked a student to show me. She has an appointment in the..Astronomy tower?" he said casually, seeing Severus tense up suddenly.
"Oh yes? Must be a counselling assignment." He bit out, unwilling to admit to himself that it hurt deeply that she was using their tower.
They chatted about work for a while before John went in for the kill.
"So, Severus, have you set a date yet with Hermione? Helen thinks a Christmas wedding would be very romantic." He watched as Severus almost squirmed, before catching himself.
"No, we haven't." Severus debated whether to tell John about their current situation, but decided against it.
"Pity. Helen and I were thinking of going away around that time. Wouldn't want to keep it on hold."
"You go ahead, John. I'm sure..Hermione..and I will have everything..decided..by then." He forced the words out, turning back to his desk.
John looked at the tense shoulders, pity in his eyes. Severus was taking this very hard, but Hermione was his daughter, and he was torn between the two. He'd seen the pain in her eyes, and he'd already warned Severus against hurting her. From what he could see, it was his pride that was hurt, and Severus had an abundance of pride. John sighed, hoping Hermione was going about this the right way. He'd hate for her to miss out on the marriage of a lifetime just because of one man's pride. He smiled to himself. Wasn't there a saying that 'Pride goes before a fall'?
"So, Severus. Will you be joining us later for dinner?"
"No, I'm afraid not, John. I have an important potion that needs attention every half hour. I doubt I'll see you before you go."
"I'd better be getting back, can you point the way?"
"Certainly. I'll get a first year to show you out." Severus took a pinch of floo powder and contacted a student in the Slytherin common room. A very nervous first year appeared at the classroom door.
"Show Dr Granger to...?" he looked at John, and realised that he already knew.
"Never mind. I'll deal with it myself." He waved the boy away and closed the door, turning to John.
"Come through." He made his way to his private rooms and they sat down either side of the fire.
"What went wrong, Severus?" John asked. Severus looked at him. He was probably the only one he could talk to; Albus was just irritating him with his offers of jellybeans and lemon drops. This was Hermione's father, who was the one person who knew her best, apart from her mother. At this moment in time, he thought he'd prefer her to be here instead.
"How much has she told you?"
"She said she'd moved out when you found out about her being an Animagi."
"Did she tell you I asked her to leave?"
"She did mention it."
"I'm sorry John. It was.."
"Too much, too soon?"
"I...yes."
"She is a bit of a handful, isn't she?"
"You don't know the half of it. I've spent seven years teaching her, watch her grow into the most beautiful woman I've ever had the privilege to know, and then find out she wants me. Me, an ex Death Eater and the most hated teacher in the school. It was heady stuff, John. Maybe it's because I thought I knew everything there was to know about her. It came as a shock, to find out I didn't." Severus sighed deeply; relieved he could finally get it off his chest. He wondered briefly if this would get back to Hermione, and found he didn't care. He was pathetic, and just wanted her back.
"I do understand, Severus. Helen and I went through a similar situation. I never thought she would look at me like that. Hermione doesn't know this, but for a while I didn't believe she was my daughter."
"What?"
"Helen had said she'd been taking evening classes with a friend, but one night I decided to surprise her by picking her up. We'd been married quite a few years, and had been trying for a baby for most of them. We'd even gone for all the tests. Anyway, I was waiting for her, and she came out with a man and he had his arm round her."
"What happened?"
"I lost it, that's what happened. I hit him, she hit me, and I ended up with a broken nose and minus a wife for two weeks."
"Oh."
"Yes. Turned out she'd fainted in class and he was helping her to his car so he could bring her home to me. Plus he was gay."
"I see."
"Do you? If I'd counted to ten and then confronted them, I'd have been told she was pregnant. It was the worst two weeks of my life. I know that's not the same as being an Animagi, but is it worth throwing everything away for?"
"I don't know how to fix this, John. I'm not made for grovelling."
"Neither is she."
"You know she's driving me out of my mind?"
John smiled at him, remembering what Hermione was planning. He smiled even wider and Severus raised an eyebrow at him.
"Did you know she has a thing for leather trousers?"
"Pardon?"
"Hermione. She likes leather. Helen told me." Hell, he was a man, and men should stick together. He watched the dawning realisation on his future son-in-laws face. They grinned at each other.
"Really?"
"Really. I must be getting back, Severus."
"I'll show you the way back to the main hall." He stood up. "It was nice seeing you, John."
"You too. I hope you get this sorted out soon."
"Tell Helen to prepare for a Christmas wedding, nothing fancy though." Severus squared his shoulders. It was time to go on the offensive, and he knew just what weapons to use.
"I will. This conversation never took place, agreed?" John held out his hand.
"Agreed." Severus shook it.
"Good. And Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Watch out for her left hook."
TBC