"Ah my dear, you are back with us again." Came the kind and gentle voice of
the headmaster. He stood by the end of a bed in the infirmary, his eyes
twinkling. Hermione rubbed her eyes with the back of hand whilst attempting
to sit up. She winced, a blinding headache hammering against the inside of
her skull and became aware of someone helping her to sit. She looked
sideways into Poppy Pomphroys smiling face.
"Let's sit you up dear." She said, pushing the pillows behind Hermione into a more comfortable position. "I've got something for that headache too. Professor Snape thought that this stronger potion might be required" she bustled around Hermione, handing her a vial of red liquid with tiny gold flecks glistening in the reduced light of the ward. Hermione swallowed it, smiling at the sweet raspberry taste which flooded her senses. I must be ill, she thought, his potions never taste nice.
As if the mere thought of him could summon his presence, the door swung open and the potions master swept into the room, his robes billowing behind him. His face was impassive but his eyes showed relief that she was awake. He had no idea why she had fainted, but he had dashed forward with a surprising turn of speed and caught her before her slight form had hit the floor. The Dark Lord had been laughing, his delight a tangible, greasy feeling in the air around him. Severus had looked to him for an order and found himself waved away. He had scooped her up in his arms and apparated back to Hogwarts, or as near as the wards allowed. He carried her up to the castle, collapsing in the atrium, as Dumbledore glided down the stairs followed by a worried contingent of staff and friends.
He had been relieved of his burden, Albus simply putting a hand to his shoulder and smiling warmly at their safe return. Hermione had been bundled up by Lupin and carried towards the infirmary, leaving Snape alone in the middle of the floor gasping for breath and hoping desperately that she would be alright.
She smiled up at him, only a faint smile but it lit warmth inside him which he wasn't sure was entirely appropriate. He found to his horror that had returned her smile, if slightly stiffly. He dragged his eyes away from her and looked into the amused eyes of the headmaster.
"Severus, glad to see that you have recovered from your summons." He stated, watching as the potions master fairly squirmed under his scrutiny. Severus simply scowled, turning back to the girl on the bed.
"I need to know why you fainted Miss Granger, I did not understand that part of your conversation." He stated, his voice harsher than he intended.
She winced, as if he had physically hit her, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. "I'm sorry, "she wept, "I am so sorry! I didn't know it was him. Gods, if I had I would have hexed him into next week and back!" her voice rising until she was nearly shouting. Snape raised his eyebrow at her attitude and turned his head to face the headmaster.
"Ah, so it was him then."
"Will somebody be kind enough to let me in on the secret" Severus's silky voice intoned, trying his best to limit the sarcasm and curb the acid.
"It is not my story to tell, Severus" said the headmaster, "But I will leave you to get some rest my dear, you can talk in peace." He said, pinching one of the many chocolate frogs which were piled in the table at the foot of the bed, tokens from her friends wishing her well.
Hermione watched him leave, gliding over the floor in soundless grace and turned back to Severus. He sat in the chair at her side, casually crossing his legs, apparently settling down for a long story.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked, startling her with his warmth.
The time it took for the tea to arrive gave her the opportunity to gather her thoughts. A good thing too, she thought, as she found herself very reluctant to discuss this with Severus. Telling the man you were almost certain that you were falling in love with, that you had had a crush on the man who tortured him on a regular basis was not going to be an easy conversation. She smiled in acceptance as he handed her a cup of the sweet liquid, shivering as their fingers brushed in gentle contact. Placing it gently on the side table she took a long deep breath.
"I had no idea when I met him that he was Tom Riddle." She began, resolutely not meeting Severus' eyes, "I lost my temper and went for a walk to calm down. I found a door and felt compelled to explore, not something I normally do." She said, wondering as she did so whether spells were involved. She looked up at him hesitantly asking for his opinion, needing to know if she had really been spelled to meet Riddle.
"Certainly the door was warded, not to keep you out but to draw you in. I wonder who Riddle was fishing for that night? He murmured, caught up in the question. "You may have saved Potter's life you know?" he questioned
She nodded, slightly happier about the situation and attempted to continue with her dialogue.
"We talked about homework, about literature and philosophy. He allowed me to use a spell to get any book I wanted." She grimaced ruefully, "A trap. She stated,
"A highly effective one for you, though I believe it may not have worked so well on your friends" he intoned silkily.
Hermione smiled at his tone, glad that he hadn't changed beyond all recognition.
We.." She began, the next sentence blocking her throat, she was dreading revealing this to him.
"Go on Hermione, I am not judging you in this regard" he said
Hermione look up at him and saw honest support in his gaze. His head was tipped slightly to one side, his legs again crossed in front of him. She found their gazes caught and she felt compelled to be honest with him, he deserved no less.
"We flirted!" she blurted out, regret crossing her features as she saw his eyebrow rise over widened eyes. "He made me feel wanted; it was just talk, just talk and stupid insinuations." She finished, angry at herself, a deep red creeping over her cheeks, she had been so stupid.
"And nothing else.." His question remained in the air
"We kissed, once!" she shuddered, recalling the papery skin of Voldemort's current host. Her guilt was nearly tangible in the tense atmosphere in the ward.
Severus nodded once, his eyes duller, his hands clenched into fists in his lap. His world had suddenly contracted again, she had kissed Riddle, she had feelings for Riddle. He felt himself withdrawing from her, coldness chilling his heart, despair filling his soul. She was lost to him.
Hermione watched as his emotions chased their way across his stern features, and felt his withdrawal from her. He had had feelings for her, that much was obvious even to Hermione in her distressed state. She had shaken him, pushed him away, when all she wanted to do was hold him close.
"I don't love him, I never loved him Severus." She cried out, not sure if he was still aware of her presence in the room., not conscious of using his given name in her despair. Although his body had not moved his emotional detachment was very evident and it terrified her.
"You must believe me! I could never feel that way about anyone else" she cried, panic colouring her voice, raising the pitch, until startled he looked up, straight into her eyes and into her heart. Her unspoken revelation freed his heart from its icy prison. They stared into each other, being drawn through into each others souls, her whispered confession brushing at his consciousness
He rose from his seat, having no idea how he managed to cross the space to her bed, intent on kissing away the memories of Riddle, intent on claiming her as his own. He cupped her cheek in his hand, their eyes never leaving each other, and drew her closer. Gently at first, a mere brushing of her lips gaining pressure as she responded with passion, he kissed her.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
A/N: Many thanks for the reviews, they make me feel all bubbly and keen to write more. Not so much of a cliffhanger...I'm sure you appreciate it, but don't get too used to it.
Please review, .... like Snape, I don't like to grovel.
"Let's sit you up dear." She said, pushing the pillows behind Hermione into a more comfortable position. "I've got something for that headache too. Professor Snape thought that this stronger potion might be required" she bustled around Hermione, handing her a vial of red liquid with tiny gold flecks glistening in the reduced light of the ward. Hermione swallowed it, smiling at the sweet raspberry taste which flooded her senses. I must be ill, she thought, his potions never taste nice.
As if the mere thought of him could summon his presence, the door swung open and the potions master swept into the room, his robes billowing behind him. His face was impassive but his eyes showed relief that she was awake. He had no idea why she had fainted, but he had dashed forward with a surprising turn of speed and caught her before her slight form had hit the floor. The Dark Lord had been laughing, his delight a tangible, greasy feeling in the air around him. Severus had looked to him for an order and found himself waved away. He had scooped her up in his arms and apparated back to Hogwarts, or as near as the wards allowed. He carried her up to the castle, collapsing in the atrium, as Dumbledore glided down the stairs followed by a worried contingent of staff and friends.
He had been relieved of his burden, Albus simply putting a hand to his shoulder and smiling warmly at their safe return. Hermione had been bundled up by Lupin and carried towards the infirmary, leaving Snape alone in the middle of the floor gasping for breath and hoping desperately that she would be alright.
She smiled up at him, only a faint smile but it lit warmth inside him which he wasn't sure was entirely appropriate. He found to his horror that had returned her smile, if slightly stiffly. He dragged his eyes away from her and looked into the amused eyes of the headmaster.
"Severus, glad to see that you have recovered from your summons." He stated, watching as the potions master fairly squirmed under his scrutiny. Severus simply scowled, turning back to the girl on the bed.
"I need to know why you fainted Miss Granger, I did not understand that part of your conversation." He stated, his voice harsher than he intended.
She winced, as if he had physically hit her, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. "I'm sorry, "she wept, "I am so sorry! I didn't know it was him. Gods, if I had I would have hexed him into next week and back!" her voice rising until she was nearly shouting. Snape raised his eyebrow at her attitude and turned his head to face the headmaster.
"Ah, so it was him then."
"Will somebody be kind enough to let me in on the secret" Severus's silky voice intoned, trying his best to limit the sarcasm and curb the acid.
"It is not my story to tell, Severus" said the headmaster, "But I will leave you to get some rest my dear, you can talk in peace." He said, pinching one of the many chocolate frogs which were piled in the table at the foot of the bed, tokens from her friends wishing her well.
Hermione watched him leave, gliding over the floor in soundless grace and turned back to Severus. He sat in the chair at her side, casually crossing his legs, apparently settling down for a long story.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" he asked, startling her with his warmth.
The time it took for the tea to arrive gave her the opportunity to gather her thoughts. A good thing too, she thought, as she found herself very reluctant to discuss this with Severus. Telling the man you were almost certain that you were falling in love with, that you had had a crush on the man who tortured him on a regular basis was not going to be an easy conversation. She smiled in acceptance as he handed her a cup of the sweet liquid, shivering as their fingers brushed in gentle contact. Placing it gently on the side table she took a long deep breath.
"I had no idea when I met him that he was Tom Riddle." She began, resolutely not meeting Severus' eyes, "I lost my temper and went for a walk to calm down. I found a door and felt compelled to explore, not something I normally do." She said, wondering as she did so whether spells were involved. She looked up at him hesitantly asking for his opinion, needing to know if she had really been spelled to meet Riddle.
"Certainly the door was warded, not to keep you out but to draw you in. I wonder who Riddle was fishing for that night? He murmured, caught up in the question. "You may have saved Potter's life you know?" he questioned
She nodded, slightly happier about the situation and attempted to continue with her dialogue.
"We talked about homework, about literature and philosophy. He allowed me to use a spell to get any book I wanted." She grimaced ruefully, "A trap. She stated,
"A highly effective one for you, though I believe it may not have worked so well on your friends" he intoned silkily.
Hermione smiled at his tone, glad that he hadn't changed beyond all recognition.
We.." She began, the next sentence blocking her throat, she was dreading revealing this to him.
"Go on Hermione, I am not judging you in this regard" he said
Hermione look up at him and saw honest support in his gaze. His head was tipped slightly to one side, his legs again crossed in front of him. She found their gazes caught and she felt compelled to be honest with him, he deserved no less.
"We flirted!" she blurted out, regret crossing her features as she saw his eyebrow rise over widened eyes. "He made me feel wanted; it was just talk, just talk and stupid insinuations." She finished, angry at herself, a deep red creeping over her cheeks, she had been so stupid.
"And nothing else.." His question remained in the air
"We kissed, once!" she shuddered, recalling the papery skin of Voldemort's current host. Her guilt was nearly tangible in the tense atmosphere in the ward.
Severus nodded once, his eyes duller, his hands clenched into fists in his lap. His world had suddenly contracted again, she had kissed Riddle, she had feelings for Riddle. He felt himself withdrawing from her, coldness chilling his heart, despair filling his soul. She was lost to him.
Hermione watched as his emotions chased their way across his stern features, and felt his withdrawal from her. He had had feelings for her, that much was obvious even to Hermione in her distressed state. She had shaken him, pushed him away, when all she wanted to do was hold him close.
"I don't love him, I never loved him Severus." She cried out, not sure if he was still aware of her presence in the room., not conscious of using his given name in her despair. Although his body had not moved his emotional detachment was very evident and it terrified her.
"You must believe me! I could never feel that way about anyone else" she cried, panic colouring her voice, raising the pitch, until startled he looked up, straight into her eyes and into her heart. Her unspoken revelation freed his heart from its icy prison. They stared into each other, being drawn through into each others souls, her whispered confession brushing at his consciousness
He rose from his seat, having no idea how he managed to cross the space to her bed, intent on kissing away the memories of Riddle, intent on claiming her as his own. He cupped her cheek in his hand, their eyes never leaving each other, and drew her closer. Gently at first, a mere brushing of her lips gaining pressure as she responded with passion, he kissed her.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
A/N: Many thanks for the reviews, they make me feel all bubbly and keen to write more. Not so much of a cliffhanger...I'm sure you appreciate it, but don't get too used to it.
Please review, .... like Snape, I don't like to grovel.