Beth Ann - You'll have to wait and see, you blackmailing girl, you! g
Debbi - There are only so many plots to go around.but it's what you do with them that counts.
ChelleyBean, Melodie, Raija Darknight, snapefan51 - Thanks for liking my writing..
Mara456 - I'm glad Sirius seems 'authentic' to you!
Nicolette - It's great to hear from another Nicolette - thank you! (do you get your name misspelled too? If someone puts another 'h' in my name I'll howl..)
Rosmerta - Well, in this fic Sev has been Bad..
Steph - Thanks for liking my story, and thanks for being the 100th reviewer. I try to update each week..
Strega Brava - Well, I would love a Sev channel myself (has vision of James Earl Jones intoning 'This is Sev-NN' g )
Zoe - Don't panic!
Part 10
Going to the first Potions class of the new term was an ordeal for Hermione - she had not ventured into the dungeons since that unnerving encounter. But in the class, shielded to some extent by the presence of the other unsuspecting Gryffindors, Hermione found that Professor Snape did not pay her any attention at all, his black gaze sliding dismissively over all of the class in his usual way (apart from his Slytherins of course) that judged them to be Unworthy. She had been put back in the status of 'random Gryffindor student to be ignored', which hurt her.
However, only she noted that there was a new tightness to his pale jaw, an extra coldness to his black eyes. Unreachable, gone, lost to a touch or smile from her forever, Hermione thought in sorrow. Goodbye, Professor Snape.
Then Ron whispered something amusing in her ear and she turned her head slightly to him, putting a faint smile on her face. When he put his hand gently on her knee under the table, unnoticed by the others, she did not reject it. In days that followed it became noticeable to a few that Hermione and Ron were often seen close together, and in more than a friendly way.
Sirius, who had continued to watch over Hermione, was relieved for her. Sitting next to Severus one day at dinner he was moved to point out in friendly malice this development to his sometime enemy. "Aren't those two Gryffindors a pair? Quite the lovebirds, so they say," Sirius drawled, thinking back to his own skirt-chasing days with nostalgia.
"What Gryffindors?" Severus said curtly, unwillingly dragging his mind away from a new magical formula that consumed his time these days.
"Why, Hermione and Ron of course," Sirius said in bland innocence.
Severus hadn't noticed. He had (with some difficulty at first) managed to shut her completely out of his mind and sight, but now he made himself deliberately look her way, and saw with an odd feeling of shock that Sirius was right. Ron and Hermione's heads were intimately close together at their table, and worst of all, that wretched Weasley was looking at Hermione as if she hung the moon in the sky.
Sirius smirked to himself when he noted that his companions face had blanched an even paler white in shock, his wide eyes all black pupil. [I hope you're enjoying seeing how quickly she got over you, you arrogant bastard!] Sirius thought with malicious pleasure.
"She's got a kind heart and Ron would never hurt her of course," Sirius went on lightly, unaware of just how deep an impact his words were having on Severus. "It's easy to make him happy - why, just look at him!"
The words unerringly stabbed like knives against the frozen shell around the heart of Severus, while feeling smug, Sirius turned his attention back to his meal. But Severus only picked blindly at his food for the rest of the evening, thoughts tumbling through his head as he looked at his past behaviour. It was as if he was suddenly and painfully awake.
What had he done?
Hermione had been one of the few people to ever truly give a damn for him, who had thought to make a kind gesture by giving him a cake for Christmas. She hadn't meant him any harm, and never once had she flung the knowledge she knew about Clara into his face. And what had he done? He had taken advantage of her kindness by cold-bloodedly setting out to seduce her into his bed. He had tried to deny any feelings of true affection towards her and in the end he had pushed her away, hurting her, with never once a genuinely tender word for her crossing his lips. Never telling her that he felt he was falling in love with her, and how..anxious that knowledge had made him feel.
Severus saw what he had done, had become, and felt shame for the first time in a long time. When Ron and Hermione left the Great Hall together, it was like a slap to his face. Were they lovers already?
That night Severus dreamed of Hermione, the Gryffindor standing in front of him. She was dressed as a bride in a beautiful white gown adorned with pearls and glittering crystal, her glorious hair piled high upon her head with tiny white roses interwoven with its coils. She looked so beautiful to his sight...her face was composed and calm and he realised she did not see him at all.
He reached out a hand to her and whispered her name. Her eyes suddenly focussed on him and she recoiled in alarm. Then her face became calm again and she raised a slender, bejewelled hand to point past him. Frowning, Severus turned and saw that they were in a church. Ron was standing before the altar, dressed as a groom while a smiling minister prepared for a wedding service. Ron had a wide grin on his goofy face.
"He wants to make me happy," Hermione said to Severus in a steady voice. "I shall try to be happy," she continued as she walked past Severus, leaving him to stand alone.
"Hermione, stop!" Severus cried out then woke up in his bed with a gasp, his sheets tangled around his body and sweat on his brow. With agitation he pushed a strand of black hair out of his face. He couldn't let that nightmare happen - he couldn't stand by and watch Hermione marry Ron one day, to know that Ron would be eagerly pawing her every night. The very thought made his blood boil.
But...what if he was too late? No. He wouldn't accept that. He had to tell her the truth he had tried to deny to himself.
He loved her.
The next day at dinner, Hermione found that to her surprise Professor Snape was watching her while she ate, a grim look on his face. What had she done now? Hermione fumed silently, refusing to look at him again. Thank goodness she hadn't had Potions today. It was hard enough to be in the same room as Professor Snape as it was, resenting the fact that she was comparing Ron's clumsy hands with the more knowing ones of Severus.
"Hermione!" Ron said her name impatiently beside her and she belatedly realised that Ron had been calling her name a few times now.
"Yes?" she replied, her voice cool.
Ron hesitated. "Tonight at 10.00, will you meet me at the Astronomy Tower? I have something um, really important to say to you."
Sneaking out after curfew - for those who dared to do so faced tough penalties if caught by Filch or Professor Snape. Not many got away without being caught, either. But Hermione was a long time expert in dodging over- zealous night patrollers and she was already swiftly calculating the best way to make it to the tower unseen.
"All right," she nodded to Ron, not noticing that Professor Snape was still watching them both..
Debbi - There are only so many plots to go around.but it's what you do with them that counts.
ChelleyBean, Melodie, Raija Darknight, snapefan51 - Thanks for liking my writing..
Mara456 - I'm glad Sirius seems 'authentic' to you!
Nicolette - It's great to hear from another Nicolette - thank you! (do you get your name misspelled too? If someone puts another 'h' in my name I'll howl..)
Rosmerta - Well, in this fic Sev has been Bad..
Steph - Thanks for liking my story, and thanks for being the 100th reviewer. I try to update each week..
Strega Brava - Well, I would love a Sev channel myself (has vision of James Earl Jones intoning 'This is Sev-NN' g )
Zoe - Don't panic!
Part 10
Going to the first Potions class of the new term was an ordeal for Hermione - she had not ventured into the dungeons since that unnerving encounter. But in the class, shielded to some extent by the presence of the other unsuspecting Gryffindors, Hermione found that Professor Snape did not pay her any attention at all, his black gaze sliding dismissively over all of the class in his usual way (apart from his Slytherins of course) that judged them to be Unworthy. She had been put back in the status of 'random Gryffindor student to be ignored', which hurt her.
However, only she noted that there was a new tightness to his pale jaw, an extra coldness to his black eyes. Unreachable, gone, lost to a touch or smile from her forever, Hermione thought in sorrow. Goodbye, Professor Snape.
Then Ron whispered something amusing in her ear and she turned her head slightly to him, putting a faint smile on her face. When he put his hand gently on her knee under the table, unnoticed by the others, she did not reject it. In days that followed it became noticeable to a few that Hermione and Ron were often seen close together, and in more than a friendly way.
Sirius, who had continued to watch over Hermione, was relieved for her. Sitting next to Severus one day at dinner he was moved to point out in friendly malice this development to his sometime enemy. "Aren't those two Gryffindors a pair? Quite the lovebirds, so they say," Sirius drawled, thinking back to his own skirt-chasing days with nostalgia.
"What Gryffindors?" Severus said curtly, unwillingly dragging his mind away from a new magical formula that consumed his time these days.
"Why, Hermione and Ron of course," Sirius said in bland innocence.
Severus hadn't noticed. He had (with some difficulty at first) managed to shut her completely out of his mind and sight, but now he made himself deliberately look her way, and saw with an odd feeling of shock that Sirius was right. Ron and Hermione's heads were intimately close together at their table, and worst of all, that wretched Weasley was looking at Hermione as if she hung the moon in the sky.
Sirius smirked to himself when he noted that his companions face had blanched an even paler white in shock, his wide eyes all black pupil. [I hope you're enjoying seeing how quickly she got over you, you arrogant bastard!] Sirius thought with malicious pleasure.
"She's got a kind heart and Ron would never hurt her of course," Sirius went on lightly, unaware of just how deep an impact his words were having on Severus. "It's easy to make him happy - why, just look at him!"
The words unerringly stabbed like knives against the frozen shell around the heart of Severus, while feeling smug, Sirius turned his attention back to his meal. But Severus only picked blindly at his food for the rest of the evening, thoughts tumbling through his head as he looked at his past behaviour. It was as if he was suddenly and painfully awake.
What had he done?
Hermione had been one of the few people to ever truly give a damn for him, who had thought to make a kind gesture by giving him a cake for Christmas. She hadn't meant him any harm, and never once had she flung the knowledge she knew about Clara into his face. And what had he done? He had taken advantage of her kindness by cold-bloodedly setting out to seduce her into his bed. He had tried to deny any feelings of true affection towards her and in the end he had pushed her away, hurting her, with never once a genuinely tender word for her crossing his lips. Never telling her that he felt he was falling in love with her, and how..anxious that knowledge had made him feel.
Severus saw what he had done, had become, and felt shame for the first time in a long time. When Ron and Hermione left the Great Hall together, it was like a slap to his face. Were they lovers already?
That night Severus dreamed of Hermione, the Gryffindor standing in front of him. She was dressed as a bride in a beautiful white gown adorned with pearls and glittering crystal, her glorious hair piled high upon her head with tiny white roses interwoven with its coils. She looked so beautiful to his sight...her face was composed and calm and he realised she did not see him at all.
He reached out a hand to her and whispered her name. Her eyes suddenly focussed on him and she recoiled in alarm. Then her face became calm again and she raised a slender, bejewelled hand to point past him. Frowning, Severus turned and saw that they were in a church. Ron was standing before the altar, dressed as a groom while a smiling minister prepared for a wedding service. Ron had a wide grin on his goofy face.
"He wants to make me happy," Hermione said to Severus in a steady voice. "I shall try to be happy," she continued as she walked past Severus, leaving him to stand alone.
"Hermione, stop!" Severus cried out then woke up in his bed with a gasp, his sheets tangled around his body and sweat on his brow. With agitation he pushed a strand of black hair out of his face. He couldn't let that nightmare happen - he couldn't stand by and watch Hermione marry Ron one day, to know that Ron would be eagerly pawing her every night. The very thought made his blood boil.
But...what if he was too late? No. He wouldn't accept that. He had to tell her the truth he had tried to deny to himself.
He loved her.
The next day at dinner, Hermione found that to her surprise Professor Snape was watching her while she ate, a grim look on his face. What had she done now? Hermione fumed silently, refusing to look at him again. Thank goodness she hadn't had Potions today. It was hard enough to be in the same room as Professor Snape as it was, resenting the fact that she was comparing Ron's clumsy hands with the more knowing ones of Severus.
"Hermione!" Ron said her name impatiently beside her and she belatedly realised that Ron had been calling her name a few times now.
"Yes?" she replied, her voice cool.
Ron hesitated. "Tonight at 10.00, will you meet me at the Astronomy Tower? I have something um, really important to say to you."
Sneaking out after curfew - for those who dared to do so faced tough penalties if caught by Filch or Professor Snape. Not many got away without being caught, either. But Hermione was a long time expert in dodging over- zealous night patrollers and she was already swiftly calculating the best way to make it to the tower unseen.
"All right," she nodded to Ron, not noticing that Professor Snape was still watching them both..
