3
Severus lead her up winding stairs and around passages so confusing that she had to close her eyes to clear her mind. After a good long while she found herself looking at a small wooden door, just big enough for a person to slide through. Severus took out his wand and began whispering something. It clicked open softly, and swung out on its dusty hinges.
'Oh! The library!' cried Hermione, smiling. If there was one place she knew better than anywhere else it was here. Severus scowled at her knowledge.
'Yes. It is. Here, it's a pass. Although you might be to soft to look in some of the books we're scheduled to read. The Restricted section is restricted for a reason, Granger. Get to work.'
Hermione took the pass, an intricate pattern adorned its wooden face, and the entwining branches of the carving circled the words 'Restricted Pass', which were painted a brilliant yellow. She shifted her attention away from its beauty to set her parchment and quills down on a table nearby. Seeing it was all on order, she set off to follow Professor Snape, and begin her research.
Hours later, Hermione suddenly slumped over the book she was reading. Severus looked up from his position a few tables away. His lip curled dangerously.
'Granger! Granger!! What are you doing? Researching with your nose?!' he barked, standing up abruptly. Hermione made no movement. He walked over, footsteps ringing in the vastness of the empty library.
'Granger. Answer me.'
No response.
He picked up her hand to feel her pulse, it was no different than usual. As he did so, however, Hermione shifted her head on the desk. Severus looked around until he could see her face. Her eyes were closed, fast asleep.
'Damnit woman, can't even stay up 'till one!' he roared. Hermione shifted softly in her sleep. Severus's eyes widened with fury, and he clenched and uncleanched his fist, as to stop himself from clawing her to death.
He sighed heavily, closed his eyes, and stepped back, trying to stop himself from destroying her. He straightened, went back to his desk, and once again ran his eyes down the pages of books piled around him, looking for that illusive spell or potion, charm or trick. For tonight, however, his search was in vein.
The large clock next to the muggle research books struck once in the darkness, and Severus turned his eyes from a page of endless words. He took up all his books, his parchment, and quills. And left.
**
'Hermione? Hermione, are you alright?' asked a voice softly. Hermione's eyes fluttered open. It was dark around her, and someone was standing beside her. She jumped up, frantically looking around. She couldn't remember where she was.
'Hermione! It's alright, I'm glad you're awake. It's almost time to get up. I thought I might find you here.'
Hermione squinted through the dark to find the misty outline of a pointed hat atop a figure.
'Albus?' she asked, hopefully.
'Yes, it is I. It would seem you overslept, dear Hermione. Has Severus been working you too hard?' he asked, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. Hermione smiled thankfully.
'Yes, I do believe I must have fallen asleep. We were to work until one each evening… or would that be morning?' she mused. Dumbledore smiled and thought for a moment before replying.
'I shall speak to him about that. I'm sure we can work out a compromise. As for now, I suggest you pack up these books, return the pass, and head down to the Great Hall for breakfast. It does smell lovely down by the kitchens! Bacon and eggs, I believe.'
'Thank you, Albus. I'll be up in a minute.'
Hermione busied herself with putting away the books, and storing her parchment and quills in a drawer for that night. She followed the headmaster down to breakfast, laid and waiting, while the students all around dug in.
As she neared the head table, where she was now sitting along with the other teachers and guests, she caught a glimpse of Severus, scowling as fiercely as ever at her entrance. Hermione closed her eyes for a moment, trying to shake off the feeling of darkness that surrounded her when she met his fiery glare, and took her seat alongside Madame Trewlney, still teaching in her lofty room. She immediately turned to the tale told by her empty teacup from that morning, and Hermione abandoned herself to the following discussion with her and Professor Lupin, now teaching as Defense against the Dark Arts professor.
But mo matter how much she laughed with her colleagues, and indeed, friends, she could always feel the burning in the back of her neck; Severus was always watching.
**
That evening, at nine precicely, Hermione entered the office of Severus Snape. He greeted her with the usual growl, or curl of the lip, and Hermione could feel his cold stare when she turned around. He led her up to the library once more, and Hermione dug out her parchment and quills, and dove into the mountains of books surrounding her. This time she stayed awake.
Severus lead her up winding stairs and around passages so confusing that she had to close her eyes to clear her mind. After a good long while she found herself looking at a small wooden door, just big enough for a person to slide through. Severus took out his wand and began whispering something. It clicked open softly, and swung out on its dusty hinges.
'Oh! The library!' cried Hermione, smiling. If there was one place she knew better than anywhere else it was here. Severus scowled at her knowledge.
'Yes. It is. Here, it's a pass. Although you might be to soft to look in some of the books we're scheduled to read. The Restricted section is restricted for a reason, Granger. Get to work.'
Hermione took the pass, an intricate pattern adorned its wooden face, and the entwining branches of the carving circled the words 'Restricted Pass', which were painted a brilliant yellow. She shifted her attention away from its beauty to set her parchment and quills down on a table nearby. Seeing it was all on order, she set off to follow Professor Snape, and begin her research.
Hours later, Hermione suddenly slumped over the book she was reading. Severus looked up from his position a few tables away. His lip curled dangerously.
'Granger! Granger!! What are you doing? Researching with your nose?!' he barked, standing up abruptly. Hermione made no movement. He walked over, footsteps ringing in the vastness of the empty library.
'Granger. Answer me.'
No response.
He picked up her hand to feel her pulse, it was no different than usual. As he did so, however, Hermione shifted her head on the desk. Severus looked around until he could see her face. Her eyes were closed, fast asleep.
'Damnit woman, can't even stay up 'till one!' he roared. Hermione shifted softly in her sleep. Severus's eyes widened with fury, and he clenched and uncleanched his fist, as to stop himself from clawing her to death.
He sighed heavily, closed his eyes, and stepped back, trying to stop himself from destroying her. He straightened, went back to his desk, and once again ran his eyes down the pages of books piled around him, looking for that illusive spell or potion, charm or trick. For tonight, however, his search was in vein.
The large clock next to the muggle research books struck once in the darkness, and Severus turned his eyes from a page of endless words. He took up all his books, his parchment, and quills. And left.
**
'Hermione? Hermione, are you alright?' asked a voice softly. Hermione's eyes fluttered open. It was dark around her, and someone was standing beside her. She jumped up, frantically looking around. She couldn't remember where she was.
'Hermione! It's alright, I'm glad you're awake. It's almost time to get up. I thought I might find you here.'
Hermione squinted through the dark to find the misty outline of a pointed hat atop a figure.
'Albus?' she asked, hopefully.
'Yes, it is I. It would seem you overslept, dear Hermione. Has Severus been working you too hard?' he asked, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. Hermione smiled thankfully.
'Yes, I do believe I must have fallen asleep. We were to work until one each evening… or would that be morning?' she mused. Dumbledore smiled and thought for a moment before replying.
'I shall speak to him about that. I'm sure we can work out a compromise. As for now, I suggest you pack up these books, return the pass, and head down to the Great Hall for breakfast. It does smell lovely down by the kitchens! Bacon and eggs, I believe.'
'Thank you, Albus. I'll be up in a minute.'
Hermione busied herself with putting away the books, and storing her parchment and quills in a drawer for that night. She followed the headmaster down to breakfast, laid and waiting, while the students all around dug in.
As she neared the head table, where she was now sitting along with the other teachers and guests, she caught a glimpse of Severus, scowling as fiercely as ever at her entrance. Hermione closed her eyes for a moment, trying to shake off the feeling of darkness that surrounded her when she met his fiery glare, and took her seat alongside Madame Trewlney, still teaching in her lofty room. She immediately turned to the tale told by her empty teacup from that morning, and Hermione abandoned herself to the following discussion with her and Professor Lupin, now teaching as Defense against the Dark Arts professor.
But mo matter how much she laughed with her colleagues, and indeed, friends, she could always feel the burning in the back of her neck; Severus was always watching.
**
That evening, at nine precicely, Hermione entered the office of Severus Snape. He greeted her with the usual growl, or curl of the lip, and Hermione could feel his cold stare when she turned around. He led her up to the library once more, and Hermione dug out her parchment and quills, and dove into the mountains of books surrounding her. This time she stayed awake.