Understanding

Chapter 5 – As the eagle flies

'Where did you learn to do something like that?' He asked.

'A book, where else?' I laughed. 'I'm not registered, so don't go telling anyone.'

A pile of books appeared suddenly on the table. Severus walked over and began flicking through them, searching for something. I went and sat nearby, peeking at the books. They did look very old, and were handwritten and bound together with string.

'Ah, here you go.' He said, handing me the thick leather bound tome. A potion was detailed across thirteen pages, specific instructions laid out with diagrams.

'This looks really complicated.' I said, leafing through. I had never attempted anything like this.

'Well, I didn't exactly expect it to be easy. This might just work. Of course, we'll have to administer the potion. And Potter will have to come in at the end. It'll need an awful lot of precision, but I can't see any reason why it wouldn't succeed.' He smiled at me. 'Well done. It took you all of a day to come up with a plan to defeat Voldemort. The Ministry's been trying to do just that for twenty five years.'

'We haven't been successful yet, don't forget.' I don't believe it. I'm the one being the pessimist to Severus Snape's optimist? The world has turned upside down!

'But at least we know where we're going, for the time being. Let me see. Most of these ingredients shouldn't be a problem.' He picked up the book from my lap. 'But Draconite, that will be tough….'

'We could always ask Hagrid for help.' I suggested.

'Powdered grindylow horn,' He continued, 'Petunias picked on a new moon. This'll take time, but it can be done. I would say we could have it finished in five weeks or so, say, if we start tomorrow.'

'Great. Can we get the equipment?'

'Yes, I'll get Albus to send it in. We'll need a platinum cauldron. And it needs to be heated to 500°C here, look. That could be difficult.'

We continued to talk about the task ahead for some time, and ate dinner before I decided to head upstairs for a bath. I turned on the taps and added plenty of strawberry scented bubble bath, before climbing in and relaxing. I was pleased with all I had found out today. I'd decided not to tell Severus about my discoveries regarding Tom Riddle's childhood. I lay in the bath for a long time, emptying my head of everything, before I went to bed. I eventually got out, dried myself and put on my silk pyjamas. Just as I was climbing into bed. I heard the creak of a window. It definitely was not my imagination this time. I grabbed my Hogwarts Graduation cloak from a nearby chair, threw it around my shoulders and flew downstairs, not stopping to put on any shoes.

Sure enough, one of the windows was wide open, and Severus was nowhere to be seen. I went to the window, peering out. It was too far small for a human to get through. Looking out into the distance, all I could see was a single eagle soaring through the sky. Wait a minute. An eagle? In Britain? Eagles were not normally found in Britain. I had a sneaking suspicion about this one. I quickly transformed into my animagus state, and leapt up through the window. I willed myself to disappear, as a translucent cat, seen by a muggle, would surely need the help of a few obliviators from the accidental magic reversal squad, and draw unwanted attention to us.

I slipped through the deserted streets, noticing that the houses appeared to be in the same state of disrepair as the pub. I kept my eye on the eagle, which appeared to be flying towards the Riddle House on the hill above the village. I followed. Sure enough, the eagle flew extremely near to the building, before landing on a window sill, peering in. I sat and watched at a safe distance, as the eagle flew around the crumbling manor, peering in at the windows occasionally, and taking in the grounds as well. It must have been hours that I sat there, I had little concept of time, as a cat, but finally the eagle took off and soared back towards the pub. I followed, more slowly than the eagle could fly, but I was nearer. I jumped through the window moments after the eagle had flown through it. Standing on the floor was, as I had anticipated, Severus Snape, not the eagle that I had just seen fly into this room. I transformed to human, and glared right into his eyes.

'What the fuck did you think you were doing?' I yelled, very angry.

'What the hell has it got to do with you? Always sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong!' He glared back at me, with equal animosity.

'What has it got to do with me? It has everything to do with me! What is you hadn't come back, you idiot! I didn't even know you were going anywhere. You could have just disappeared and I wouldn't have had a clue where you were! If this is going to work you should at least inform me when you decide to fly off and risk your life!' With my tirade, my anger began to cool to being hurt that he couldn't show me enough respect to let me know where he was going.

'I was just doing my job, you foolish girl! Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.' He said coldly, his glare now icy.

'Well I'm so sorry if I'm getting in your way. Perhaps I should just leave and let you get on with, you insufferable bastard.' With that, I tore up the stairs, tears starting to fall, leaving him standing in the middle of the room, agape.

'Hermione!' He called, 'Wait!' He was rushing up the stairs behind me. Just as I reached the top, he caught my arm. I didn't think I had ever faced Severus Snape's full anger before. I braced myself for it now. He pinned me against the wall, so I couldn't escape. I looked up into his eyes. To my surprise, he looked strangely conciliatory, almost sorry.

'Look, Hermione, I'm sorry.' I knew it had taken a lot for him to say that. 'I wasn't thinking, I should have told you.' His voice was so deep, and quiet, it was sending shivers down my spine. Stop it, I told myself. This is your ex-potions master! Who happens to have his body pressed against yours! Two sides of my mind seemed to be fighting one another. Severus appeared to take my silence as a bad thing, and sighed. His breath brushed my ear. I trembled in response, then gathered myself, trying to force un-arousing thoughts into my mind, like armadillo bile.

'Hermione,' His voice sounded like syrup when he said my name. 'Look, please don't leave. I'm really sorry I didn't tell you I was going out. I need you to stay. The DoM needs you. We can't do this without you.' He was now looking at the floor, still pinning me against the wall. I knew it was a big step for him to put his pride out of the way. I hadn't meant it when I said I was going to leave. It was just a spur of the moment comment. But my insides were melting just know from the effect of his voice and his body against mine, as well as from his words. I swallowed.

'You didn't even tell me you were an animagus.' I said, trying my best to sound annoyed, but not quite achieving it.

'You didn't tell me you were either.' He looked back up into my eyes. He was teasing me now.

'We're square then, aren't we.' I smiled a sheepish smile at him.

'I suppose so. Goodnight.' He moved away from me, as if suddenly realising he was trapping me between him and the wall.

'Goodnight, Severus.' I walked into my room and shut the door, listening. He didn't go back downstairs. I sighed in relief. I couldn't believe how damned incredible his voice had sounded so near to me. It should have had some sort of X-rated warning on it! His face had been inches from mine. My conscience was still screaming at me that he was my greasy haired, overgrown bat of an ex-professor, but right now I wanted nothing more than to hear his deep, deep voice, so close to me again. I was no innocent, but the boys I had been with had never aroused me this much, and that was just his voice!

I mentally checked myself, getting a firm grip over my mind. Then I replayed the conversation in my head, as I often did in such circumstances. I lay on my bed, mulling over what had been said. Had he said he needed me? He had definitely said that, but just on a purely professional basis, I told myself sensibly. With that voice, that man could have any woman he wanted. Why would he want anything to do with me, an unbearable know-it-all. I groaned loudly, trying to shut up the trains of thought my mind seemed determined to follow. I stuffed the pillow over my head, and tried, in vain, get some sleep.

A/N

This chapter's a bit shorter than the others, sorry!

Just a few little bits of information:

Draconite – Draconite is a magical gemstone, which in legend, can be found inside a dragon's head. But the stone must be removed when the dragon is still alive, because it is said to disappear when the dragon dies.

Petunias – I have decided to include petunias in the potion, since Harry's Aunt Petunia hates magic, and the potion is to destroy a wizard's magical powers!

Thank you to ChishionoTenshi and Enfleurage for reviewing!

Enfleurage – I know it is simplistic, but remember the story is from Hermione's view point. These are the only things she can find out through actual recorded evidence. I am currently studying psychology as an A-level, and I know that motivation is complex, but experiences in childhood can have a massive effect on someone, especially since, with having no parents and being in Slytherin house, Tom Riddle is unlikely to ever have been shown any love by anyone. Anyway, thank you for your comment, I promise we will find out more later from the man himself!!

Thank you all for reading and remember to post a review, and tell me what you think!