The Headmaster called in the three remaining victims of the potion's
accident. He could sense the stress coming off of them, and could
understand the reasoning. All three would be aware of any thoughts that
may come up in any one of their minds. He was more worried about Neville
than either Hermione or Snape - simply because he was also aware of the
aura around those two. (Damn Dumbledore!!) They may warp the young boy's
fragile mind.
The three entered the office. They were not aware of what the Headmaster planned to do about this situation.
Albus Dumbledore waited for them to be more comfortable, and began.
"I have been deliberating over what should be done about your 'mind meld'. There really is almost nothing that we can do until it wears off. However," He looked at Snape, "my recommendation would be that during sleeping hours, you take a dreamless sleep draught."
"Why is that, Professor?" Neville asked, and regretted it.
Snape rolled his eyes. 'What a fucking idiot!' He thought before he could catch himself. The Headmaster gave him a disapproving look, and Neville nearly fell out of his chair. Hermione looked at him in shock. 'Since when does the Potion's bastard swear?' She thought. And received a glare in return. 'None of your damn business!' The glaring contest continued for a few more minutes, in which Neville got over his shock, and looked at the two with interest.
"Will you two stop it?" The Headmaster snapped.
Both heads shot up. Since when did Dumbledore snap?
"What about during our waking hours, sir?" Hermione asked.
"There is nothing we can do about that." The Headmaster replied. "I have considered giving you three the dreamless sleeping draught for the next several days, but that would have some consequences. For instance, you would not get the regular restful sleep. Also, you could not be asleep the whole time. You need exercise and nutrition during those days."
'That doesn't sound so bad.' Neville thought. Neither Hermione nor Snape was aware of this though. Neville could think whatever he wanted. (NOT FAIR!)
"I must insist that none of you let anyone know what anyone here is thinking. Thoughts are meant to be private, and only given voice to by the owner of those thoughts." Dumbledore continued. "I hope you all understand that, and I want you to promise me that you will comply." He said sternly.
"Yes, Professor Dumbldore." The three replied in unison. The Headmaster used a spell to ensure that the promise was kept.
Before they left, the Headmaster rose, "By the way, Severus. I will not allow you to take points off Gryffindor for any thoughts or feelings you get from Miss Granger."
Snape looked angry. "And why not?"
"Because I cannot allow her to be punished for something she cannot completely control. If she acts in a disrespectful way as a result, that's one thing. If her thoughts consist of something that you may be concerned with, you can bring that up with myself or her head of house. No house point deductions." Dumbledore replied firmly. Snape hesitantly nodded his head in agreement.
~@~
"Professor Snape?" Hermione asked as they left the office.
"What is it, Miss Granger?" He snapped back.
"For the next few days, I was wondering. . ." She began nervously.
"Out with it. I have no time for your stammering." Snape said.
"Well, I was hoping that if you were doing any experiments or need any researching done, if I could assist you." Hermione finally blurted out.
"And what makes you think I want a know it all near me." He replied.
"I can't answer that. After that promise in the Headmaster's office, that is." She said, smiling sweetly at him.
Furiously, he turned to her. "No, Miss Granger. If you need something to fill your spare time in, I suggest you go to your friends. However," He paused. "Remember not to break any rules. I'll know about it." He said, tapping his index finger to his temple. He turned on his heel and stalked off.
She shrugged his behaviour off as his usual snarkiness ('I heard that, Miss Granger!'), and made her way to the common room. Upon entering, she heard a high-pitched squeal.
"Hermione! Oh, you must tell us everything!" Lavender squealed with delight. Pavarti came up from behind her. "Girly Night!!!"
'Well, Professor.' She thought. 'I think you will come to regret your abrupt dismissal of my idea.'
She heard a frustrated groan come from the other end.
~@~
"And so, he said that I was so not looking fat. And I told him that he was such a liar and that I saw right through him. After all, my inner eye told me. . ." As much as she tried, Hermione could not block out the gossiping of Lavender, Pavarti, and Ginny. She smiled inwardly at the absolute anger that Snape was transmitting back to her.
'Damn it, Miss Granger. Can't you get them to shut up! I'm trying to think!' She heard his voice say.
'Sorry, Professor. But to leave would be rude. I really have nothing to do this evening, since I finished all my homework and won't receive any until this is done.' She replied.
'What have I done to deserve this?' Snape asked himself.
'You should have given me something to research. I could be thinking of potions, their properties, ingredients, and so forth. Instead, I had no choice but to join my 'friends.'' She replied.
'You could have refused, Miss Granger.' He hissed.
'That would have been rude, and you did suggest this after all.' She reminded him.
'You have the dreamless sleep, right?' He asked.
'Of course, Professor.'
'And they know of the accident today?'
'Well, I never thought I'd be saying this, but. . .DUH! Lavender and Pavarti were in the same class.'
'Don't use that tone with me, Miss Granger.'
'Hah! You can't take points off me for my thoughts, Professor. If you're in my head and irritating me so, I'll take whatever tone I please.' She snapped back.
'Miss Granger, I know that their idea of a 'conversation' is irritating yourself as well as me. I suggest you just make your excuses and get yourself out of there. I'll discuss research with you tomorrow morning.' He finally said.
"Hermione?" She heard Ginny say.
"Oh, yeah?" She answered.
"Are you ok? I've called your name three times, and you only answered this time." She asked.
"Oh, I haven't been feeling well since the potions explosion today. Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore hinted that I may feel unwell since a large portion landed on me. I should go to bed." She got up, and left the room.
After the door closed, Lavender leaned over, "So, what do you think Snape is telling her in his mind? You should have experienced what happened today, Ginny." And the gossip continued.
A/N:
I've run into another block, but I'm working on it.
Sirius-Lilys-Mistake: I'm sure *that* scene will come up again. Thanks for the suggestion.
BTW, I'm still looking for evil suggestions. I know there are more sick minds out there!!
The three entered the office. They were not aware of what the Headmaster planned to do about this situation.
Albus Dumbledore waited for them to be more comfortable, and began.
"I have been deliberating over what should be done about your 'mind meld'. There really is almost nothing that we can do until it wears off. However," He looked at Snape, "my recommendation would be that during sleeping hours, you take a dreamless sleep draught."
"Why is that, Professor?" Neville asked, and regretted it.
Snape rolled his eyes. 'What a fucking idiot!' He thought before he could catch himself. The Headmaster gave him a disapproving look, and Neville nearly fell out of his chair. Hermione looked at him in shock. 'Since when does the Potion's bastard swear?' She thought. And received a glare in return. 'None of your damn business!' The glaring contest continued for a few more minutes, in which Neville got over his shock, and looked at the two with interest.
"Will you two stop it?" The Headmaster snapped.
Both heads shot up. Since when did Dumbledore snap?
"What about during our waking hours, sir?" Hermione asked.
"There is nothing we can do about that." The Headmaster replied. "I have considered giving you three the dreamless sleeping draught for the next several days, but that would have some consequences. For instance, you would not get the regular restful sleep. Also, you could not be asleep the whole time. You need exercise and nutrition during those days."
'That doesn't sound so bad.' Neville thought. Neither Hermione nor Snape was aware of this though. Neville could think whatever he wanted. (NOT FAIR!)
"I must insist that none of you let anyone know what anyone here is thinking. Thoughts are meant to be private, and only given voice to by the owner of those thoughts." Dumbledore continued. "I hope you all understand that, and I want you to promise me that you will comply." He said sternly.
"Yes, Professor Dumbldore." The three replied in unison. The Headmaster used a spell to ensure that the promise was kept.
Before they left, the Headmaster rose, "By the way, Severus. I will not allow you to take points off Gryffindor for any thoughts or feelings you get from Miss Granger."
Snape looked angry. "And why not?"
"Because I cannot allow her to be punished for something she cannot completely control. If she acts in a disrespectful way as a result, that's one thing. If her thoughts consist of something that you may be concerned with, you can bring that up with myself or her head of house. No house point deductions." Dumbledore replied firmly. Snape hesitantly nodded his head in agreement.
~@~
"Professor Snape?" Hermione asked as they left the office.
"What is it, Miss Granger?" He snapped back.
"For the next few days, I was wondering. . ." She began nervously.
"Out with it. I have no time for your stammering." Snape said.
"Well, I was hoping that if you were doing any experiments or need any researching done, if I could assist you." Hermione finally blurted out.
"And what makes you think I want a know it all near me." He replied.
"I can't answer that. After that promise in the Headmaster's office, that is." She said, smiling sweetly at him.
Furiously, he turned to her. "No, Miss Granger. If you need something to fill your spare time in, I suggest you go to your friends. However," He paused. "Remember not to break any rules. I'll know about it." He said, tapping his index finger to his temple. He turned on his heel and stalked off.
She shrugged his behaviour off as his usual snarkiness ('I heard that, Miss Granger!'), and made her way to the common room. Upon entering, she heard a high-pitched squeal.
"Hermione! Oh, you must tell us everything!" Lavender squealed with delight. Pavarti came up from behind her. "Girly Night!!!"
'Well, Professor.' She thought. 'I think you will come to regret your abrupt dismissal of my idea.'
She heard a frustrated groan come from the other end.
~@~
"And so, he said that I was so not looking fat. And I told him that he was such a liar and that I saw right through him. After all, my inner eye told me. . ." As much as she tried, Hermione could not block out the gossiping of Lavender, Pavarti, and Ginny. She smiled inwardly at the absolute anger that Snape was transmitting back to her.
'Damn it, Miss Granger. Can't you get them to shut up! I'm trying to think!' She heard his voice say.
'Sorry, Professor. But to leave would be rude. I really have nothing to do this evening, since I finished all my homework and won't receive any until this is done.' She replied.
'What have I done to deserve this?' Snape asked himself.
'You should have given me something to research. I could be thinking of potions, their properties, ingredients, and so forth. Instead, I had no choice but to join my 'friends.'' She replied.
'You could have refused, Miss Granger.' He hissed.
'That would have been rude, and you did suggest this after all.' She reminded him.
'You have the dreamless sleep, right?' He asked.
'Of course, Professor.'
'And they know of the accident today?'
'Well, I never thought I'd be saying this, but. . .DUH! Lavender and Pavarti were in the same class.'
'Don't use that tone with me, Miss Granger.'
'Hah! You can't take points off me for my thoughts, Professor. If you're in my head and irritating me so, I'll take whatever tone I please.' She snapped back.
'Miss Granger, I know that their idea of a 'conversation' is irritating yourself as well as me. I suggest you just make your excuses and get yourself out of there. I'll discuss research with you tomorrow morning.' He finally said.
"Hermione?" She heard Ginny say.
"Oh, yeah?" She answered.
"Are you ok? I've called your name three times, and you only answered this time." She asked.
"Oh, I haven't been feeling well since the potions explosion today. Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore hinted that I may feel unwell since a large portion landed on me. I should go to bed." She got up, and left the room.
After the door closed, Lavender leaned over, "So, what do you think Snape is telling her in his mind? You should have experienced what happened today, Ginny." And the gossip continued.
A/N:
I've run into another block, but I'm working on it.
Sirius-Lilys-Mistake: I'm sure *that* scene will come up again. Thanks for the suggestion.
BTW, I'm still looking for evil suggestions. I know there are more sick minds out there!!
