Disclaimer: None of these characters, except Crauwel, belong to me.
FROM MY HEAD TO MY HEART
Chapter Four: So Emotional
Snape glared down at his omelet as though it had offended him somehow. He detested eggs and always had, but reaching for another thing to eat would take too much effort. Since his side of the table was so desolate, most of the alternate choices of breakfast were in the more crowded section. Snape mostly ignored the other people in his house. Or more accurately, the other people in his house ignored him. He thought to repay them with their own medicine. It became clear that they preferred it that way. What did Snape care, anyway? He didn't need friends. He didn't need anyone. And no one needed him.
"Snape, I need you."
Jumping from start, Snape spun around and looked up at Hermione.
"N-need me? W-with what?" Snape sputtered.
"Devia isn't a person," Hermione stated. "I need another option."
Snape tried to think. If anything he could suggest would help her with her problem and make her smile, his life would have some meaning again. The problem was that her dilemma was not an easy one to solve. He honestly had no idea what Devia was, though it did sound familiar somehow. If only he could get his brain to focus on something other than her eyes.
"Do you suppose," Snape began, not knowing what to say and hoping the word would just come to him, "that it's a different language? Maybe it's French, Jarvey, or German for something else?"
Hermione looked to be thinking for a second, then said, "I'm not sure if my dad knows any other languages."
"Would it hurt to check?" Snape asked, trying not to sound pushy.
"I suppose not," Hermione said quickly, looking around the room. "I'll contact you if I need you again."
Hermione began to walked away. Snape didn't want her to leave, but what could he say or do to keep her there. This was her father's killer they were dealing with. Not just any means of seduction could persuade her.
"Hermione!" he called to her.
She turned back to him, looking expectant.
"Don't you think it would be faster if we worked together?" Snape blurted, sure his desperateness showed.
Hermione stared at him, seemingly considering his request. She bit her lip and blinked twice. The way her almost ginger-colored eyes got darker and more beguiling closer to her pupil was so extraordinary, it was hard for Snape to keep his head.
"I suppose it would be faster that way," Hermione said in reluctance.
"Great!" Snape almost shouted, not meaning to show so much emotion.
Hermione subsequently stared at him oddly.
"I mean," Snape said, regaining his composure, "jolly good."
Hermione continued to stare at him as if he were some retard or something.
"All right," Hermione began, "I suppose we ought to start now, unless you're not finished with breakfast."
"I couldn't eat another bite," Snape informed, being solemn so he didn't keep looking like a git.
"Let's head to the library then," Hermione said, turning and walking away.
Snape grabbed his books and jumped up from the table. He almost tripped on his hurry to catch up with Hermione. Luckily, she hadn't been looking. Snape followed Hermione silently to the Library.
"Excuse me," Hermione began to Madam Pince. "Do you have any language dictionaries?"
"What language?" Pince asked. "I have Latin, Parcelmouth, Ancient Germanic, and Elfish."
"You have Parcelmouth?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Brilliant!"
Snape looked at Hermione. Why was Parcelmouth so brilliant? Parcelmouth was the language of Lord Voldemort and Salazar Slytherin. What interest could that have to a nice girl like Hermione?
"Can we borrow them all?" Hermione asked.
Madam Pince nodded and started off down the aisle of book shelves. Hermione and Snape followed. Pince stopped in the middle of the labyrinth of books shelves. She took four consecutive books and handed them to Hermione. Dust rose as the books hit Hermione's hands. Hermione sneezed.
"You start on Ancient Germanic," Hermione ordered Snape, handing him a brown book. "I'll study Parceltongue."
Snape just nodded and went with Hermione to a group of tables. They both sat down and began to read. Snape turned to the "D" section of the Ancient Germanic Dictionary. Snape wasn't exactly sure how to spell Devia, so he started with the "Da"s.
Dach: roof
Dafur: for it
Daman: ladies
Danke: Thanks
Daran: at it
Daraus: from/out of it
Darunter: among/under it
Datum: date
Davon: of it
Snape's eyes were already getting tired. Hermione slammed down the Parceltongue dictionary and sighed loudly in frustration. Snape looked up from the Ancient Germanic dictionary and watched Hermione as she lay back and rubbed her eyes.
"Want to quit for now?" Snape suggested.
Hermione looked at Snape indignantly and picked up her book.
"Found anything?" Snape asked, watching the cute way her forehead wrinkled.
"Nothing near," Hermione grumbled. "Parceltongue doesn't even have 'd' as the first letter of any word in the dialect. It is close to Sh'deviass which means 'lunch is served'. I really don't think that's it."
Hermione set the book down again and grabbed the Elfish dictionary.
"You found anything?" she muttered.
"Just 'Davon'," Snape told her. "That's not nearly close enough, is it?"
"Just start on Latin," Hermione ordered quietly.
Snape put down the Ancient Germanic Dictionary and picked up the Latin one. He flipped to the "D" section and let his eyes wander down the page. The "Da"s were inconclusive. Still, his eyes kept wandering.
Decerpo : to pluck off.
Declino : deflect.
Decoquo : to boil down.
Decurro : to run in a race.
Deduco : to escort.
Defluo : disappear, be lost.
Delecto : to attract, delight.
Delitesco : to hide away.
Deprehendo : to understand.
Depulso : to push aside.
Desumo : to select, elect, choose.
Devia : out-of-the-way roads.
Snape jumped up suddenly, staring down at the book. Hermione put her book down and looked at him uncertainly.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Devia, D-E-V-I-A," Snape droned. "Out-of-way-roads."
Hermione jumped from her chair and sprinted to Snape. She looked at the book and smiled.
"Oh, Snape, you're a genius!" Hermione squealed with excitement, throwing her arms around him.
Snape was inert with shock. He stiffly held out the book and just glanced about. He had never been hugged for as long as he could remember, especially not by a beautiful girl. What was he supposed to do? Being Snape, he figured that pushing away would be best to keep his image and reputation. Of course, he couldn't put Hermione away. He just wanted to hold her. But what would passersby think? He couldn't hug someone. Hermione wasn't just anyone.
Before he could make a decision, Hermione released him and sat back down in her seat.
"Sorry," Hermione muttered, avoiding Snape's gaze. "I got over excited."
Snape blinked at her, sitting back down himself.
"If it's a back road of some sort, then we'll have to find it," Hermione planned, gathering the books. "Wherever this road is, it must lead to this school."
"Do you suggest we search the entire grounds?" Snape asked, finally coming back to reality.
"I don't know what I'm suggesting," Hermione said, sitting back in her chair. "You're the idea man. You tell me what we should do."
"Hogwarts: A History could shed some light on this," Snape told her. "It's supposed to reveal everything about the school and grounds."
"I don't think it says very much about this," Hermione assured.
"How do you know?" Snape asked.
"I have most of it memorized," Hermione explained, picking up the language dictionaries and walking them over to Madam Pince.
Snape had to stare after her. He didn't know anyone other than himself who had ever read that book, let alone memorized it. Hogwarts: A History was one of Snape's favorites. He owned his own copy of it. The idea that the most beautiful girl he knew also had things in common with him was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard. If only she could see it, too.
Hermione hurried back over to Snape.
"I've got a great idea," Hermione said excitedly.
"What's that?" Snape asked, not being able to keep from smile himself.
"The map!" Hermione exclaimed.
Map? She said it as if he should know what she was talking about. Snape knew nothing about any map.
"Could you elaborate a bit?" Snape requested.
Hermione's smiled faded as she said, "Oh, you wouldn't know. I'll get back to you later."
Hermione started off out of the library.
"Wait!" Snape called. "I thought we were in this together!"
Hermione didn't stop as she closed the door behind her. Snape slouched in his chair. What was he supposed to do now?
"Mr. Snape," Madam Pince began, "I do believe you should be going to class soon."
Snape half-smiled at her and got up from his chair. He continued out the door.
************
History of Magic that morning was especially tedious. Professor Binns didn't seem like he would ever shut up. He droned on and on in a monotone as he wrote sloppily on the blackboard. Snape glanced about the room, trying to keep his brain occupied. His eyes ran across Potter, Pettigrew, Lupin, and Black. Snape found himself grumbling obscenities under his breath regarding the marauders. After all, Hermione did spend most of her time with them. Suddenly, he noticed that Hermione was not even with them. He scanned the rest of the room. Hermione was not there at all. Maybe she had gotten feeling ill since that morning's studying. Snape hoped that she was all right.
After class, Snape thought about actually approaching the marauders and asking them if they had seen her. He, then, decided it wasn't the best idea. They would probably just insult him and laugh as they always did. It wasn't like they cared at all how he felt.
Hermione had not shown up in any of Snape's Gryffindor classes all morning. He had watched the halls between classes and checked the library during break. She was no where to be found. Snape was about to skip lunch and check the hospital wing when he saw Hermione heading toward the Great Hall. He hurried after her. She was already sitting with the marauders when Snape entered. Snape noted that Hermione didn't look a bit ill. If she had not been sick, where had she been all day? The thought that she had been merely skipping class crossed Snape's mind. Was is possible that Hermione had just been playing the part of the sweet and was really just like the marauders? Snape didn't want to think about it anymore.
Snape went to his secluded seat on the Slytherin table and watched Hermione. She was laughing with Potter and that lot so happily. For some reason, everytime Potter or one of his friends made Hermione laugh, it hurt. It was like Hermione was laughing at Snape.
"What I would give to be a spider under that table," Snape grumbled. "What are they laughing about?"
FROM MY HEAD TO MY HEART
Chapter Four: So Emotional
Snape glared down at his omelet as though it had offended him somehow. He detested eggs and always had, but reaching for another thing to eat would take too much effort. Since his side of the table was so desolate, most of the alternate choices of breakfast were in the more crowded section. Snape mostly ignored the other people in his house. Or more accurately, the other people in his house ignored him. He thought to repay them with their own medicine. It became clear that they preferred it that way. What did Snape care, anyway? He didn't need friends. He didn't need anyone. And no one needed him.
"Snape, I need you."
Jumping from start, Snape spun around and looked up at Hermione.
"N-need me? W-with what?" Snape sputtered.
"Devia isn't a person," Hermione stated. "I need another option."
Snape tried to think. If anything he could suggest would help her with her problem and make her smile, his life would have some meaning again. The problem was that her dilemma was not an easy one to solve. He honestly had no idea what Devia was, though it did sound familiar somehow. If only he could get his brain to focus on something other than her eyes.
"Do you suppose," Snape began, not knowing what to say and hoping the word would just come to him, "that it's a different language? Maybe it's French, Jarvey, or German for something else?"
Hermione looked to be thinking for a second, then said, "I'm not sure if my dad knows any other languages."
"Would it hurt to check?" Snape asked, trying not to sound pushy.
"I suppose not," Hermione said quickly, looking around the room. "I'll contact you if I need you again."
Hermione began to walked away. Snape didn't want her to leave, but what could he say or do to keep her there. This was her father's killer they were dealing with. Not just any means of seduction could persuade her.
"Hermione!" he called to her.
She turned back to him, looking expectant.
"Don't you think it would be faster if we worked together?" Snape blurted, sure his desperateness showed.
Hermione stared at him, seemingly considering his request. She bit her lip and blinked twice. The way her almost ginger-colored eyes got darker and more beguiling closer to her pupil was so extraordinary, it was hard for Snape to keep his head.
"I suppose it would be faster that way," Hermione said in reluctance.
"Great!" Snape almost shouted, not meaning to show so much emotion.
Hermione subsequently stared at him oddly.
"I mean," Snape said, regaining his composure, "jolly good."
Hermione continued to stare at him as if he were some retard or something.
"All right," Hermione began, "I suppose we ought to start now, unless you're not finished with breakfast."
"I couldn't eat another bite," Snape informed, being solemn so he didn't keep looking like a git.
"Let's head to the library then," Hermione said, turning and walking away.
Snape grabbed his books and jumped up from the table. He almost tripped on his hurry to catch up with Hermione. Luckily, she hadn't been looking. Snape followed Hermione silently to the Library.
"Excuse me," Hermione began to Madam Pince. "Do you have any language dictionaries?"
"What language?" Pince asked. "I have Latin, Parcelmouth, Ancient Germanic, and Elfish."
"You have Parcelmouth?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Brilliant!"
Snape looked at Hermione. Why was Parcelmouth so brilliant? Parcelmouth was the language of Lord Voldemort and Salazar Slytherin. What interest could that have to a nice girl like Hermione?
"Can we borrow them all?" Hermione asked.
Madam Pince nodded and started off down the aisle of book shelves. Hermione and Snape followed. Pince stopped in the middle of the labyrinth of books shelves. She took four consecutive books and handed them to Hermione. Dust rose as the books hit Hermione's hands. Hermione sneezed.
"You start on Ancient Germanic," Hermione ordered Snape, handing him a brown book. "I'll study Parceltongue."
Snape just nodded and went with Hermione to a group of tables. They both sat down and began to read. Snape turned to the "D" section of the Ancient Germanic Dictionary. Snape wasn't exactly sure how to spell Devia, so he started with the "Da"s.
Dach: roof
Dafur: for it
Daman: ladies
Danke: Thanks
Daran: at it
Daraus: from/out of it
Darunter: among/under it
Datum: date
Davon: of it
Snape's eyes were already getting tired. Hermione slammed down the Parceltongue dictionary and sighed loudly in frustration. Snape looked up from the Ancient Germanic dictionary and watched Hermione as she lay back and rubbed her eyes.
"Want to quit for now?" Snape suggested.
Hermione looked at Snape indignantly and picked up her book.
"Found anything?" Snape asked, watching the cute way her forehead wrinkled.
"Nothing near," Hermione grumbled. "Parceltongue doesn't even have 'd' as the first letter of any word in the dialect. It is close to Sh'deviass which means 'lunch is served'. I really don't think that's it."
Hermione set the book down again and grabbed the Elfish dictionary.
"You found anything?" she muttered.
"Just 'Davon'," Snape told her. "That's not nearly close enough, is it?"
"Just start on Latin," Hermione ordered quietly.
Snape put down the Ancient Germanic Dictionary and picked up the Latin one. He flipped to the "D" section and let his eyes wander down the page. The "Da"s were inconclusive. Still, his eyes kept wandering.
Decerpo : to pluck off.
Declino : deflect.
Decoquo : to boil down.
Decurro : to run in a race.
Deduco : to escort.
Defluo : disappear, be lost.
Delecto : to attract, delight.
Delitesco : to hide away.
Deprehendo : to understand.
Depulso : to push aside.
Desumo : to select, elect, choose.
Devia : out-of-the-way roads.
Snape jumped up suddenly, staring down at the book. Hermione put her book down and looked at him uncertainly.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Devia, D-E-V-I-A," Snape droned. "Out-of-way-roads."
Hermione jumped from her chair and sprinted to Snape. She looked at the book and smiled.
"Oh, Snape, you're a genius!" Hermione squealed with excitement, throwing her arms around him.
Snape was inert with shock. He stiffly held out the book and just glanced about. He had never been hugged for as long as he could remember, especially not by a beautiful girl. What was he supposed to do? Being Snape, he figured that pushing away would be best to keep his image and reputation. Of course, he couldn't put Hermione away. He just wanted to hold her. But what would passersby think? He couldn't hug someone. Hermione wasn't just anyone.
Before he could make a decision, Hermione released him and sat back down in her seat.
"Sorry," Hermione muttered, avoiding Snape's gaze. "I got over excited."
Snape blinked at her, sitting back down himself.
"If it's a back road of some sort, then we'll have to find it," Hermione planned, gathering the books. "Wherever this road is, it must lead to this school."
"Do you suggest we search the entire grounds?" Snape asked, finally coming back to reality.
"I don't know what I'm suggesting," Hermione said, sitting back in her chair. "You're the idea man. You tell me what we should do."
"Hogwarts: A History could shed some light on this," Snape told her. "It's supposed to reveal everything about the school and grounds."
"I don't think it says very much about this," Hermione assured.
"How do you know?" Snape asked.
"I have most of it memorized," Hermione explained, picking up the language dictionaries and walking them over to Madam Pince.
Snape had to stare after her. He didn't know anyone other than himself who had ever read that book, let alone memorized it. Hogwarts: A History was one of Snape's favorites. He owned his own copy of it. The idea that the most beautiful girl he knew also had things in common with him was the most wonderful thing he had ever heard. If only she could see it, too.
Hermione hurried back over to Snape.
"I've got a great idea," Hermione said excitedly.
"What's that?" Snape asked, not being able to keep from smile himself.
"The map!" Hermione exclaimed.
Map? She said it as if he should know what she was talking about. Snape knew nothing about any map.
"Could you elaborate a bit?" Snape requested.
Hermione's smiled faded as she said, "Oh, you wouldn't know. I'll get back to you later."
Hermione started off out of the library.
"Wait!" Snape called. "I thought we were in this together!"
Hermione didn't stop as she closed the door behind her. Snape slouched in his chair. What was he supposed to do now?
"Mr. Snape," Madam Pince began, "I do believe you should be going to class soon."
Snape half-smiled at her and got up from his chair. He continued out the door.
************
History of Magic that morning was especially tedious. Professor Binns didn't seem like he would ever shut up. He droned on and on in a monotone as he wrote sloppily on the blackboard. Snape glanced about the room, trying to keep his brain occupied. His eyes ran across Potter, Pettigrew, Lupin, and Black. Snape found himself grumbling obscenities under his breath regarding the marauders. After all, Hermione did spend most of her time with them. Suddenly, he noticed that Hermione was not even with them. He scanned the rest of the room. Hermione was not there at all. Maybe she had gotten feeling ill since that morning's studying. Snape hoped that she was all right.
After class, Snape thought about actually approaching the marauders and asking them if they had seen her. He, then, decided it wasn't the best idea. They would probably just insult him and laugh as they always did. It wasn't like they cared at all how he felt.
Hermione had not shown up in any of Snape's Gryffindor classes all morning. He had watched the halls between classes and checked the library during break. She was no where to be found. Snape was about to skip lunch and check the hospital wing when he saw Hermione heading toward the Great Hall. He hurried after her. She was already sitting with the marauders when Snape entered. Snape noted that Hermione didn't look a bit ill. If she had not been sick, where had she been all day? The thought that she had been merely skipping class crossed Snape's mind. Was is possible that Hermione had just been playing the part of the sweet and was really just like the marauders? Snape didn't want to think about it anymore.
Snape went to his secluded seat on the Slytherin table and watched Hermione. She was laughing with Potter and that lot so happily. For some reason, everytime Potter or one of his friends made Hermione laugh, it hurt. It was like Hermione was laughing at Snape.
"What I would give to be a spider under that table," Snape grumbled. "What are they laughing about?"