AN: Disclaimer in Chapter One, as always. I wonder when I'll be able to
stop saying this? (One day I'll just forget and no one will be the wiser.)
Thanks ever so much to trickofthetrade, BIW, Weep You No More Sad Fountains and Teala Snape.
As to the rest of you, thanks also to you, but I wanted to address your reviews:
Claribel: Aren't you ALL? LOL.
MP: Well, if someone would be kind enough to put me on their Author Alert and then let me know whether or not that works... I'm not a paying member, I don't have Support Services... So I don't know if that works for me or not. But for the rest of you and if that doesn't work, please feel free to leave your e-mail addy and I'll start an e-mail list to let you guys know of updates. I'm so excited, people actually want to read my work! ^___^
Li-chan: That IS one of the mysteries, isn't it? All will become clear later...
Jenbachand: Hey, hey, I couldn't tell you that - because then I'd just be giving it away, wouldn't I? Don't worry, more of the actual plot is coming in later.
Tracey Claybon: That was my initial thought and partially why I wanted to put him there. Another reason is that - shh, don't tell anyone - it's a hint for the rest of the story. I'm attempting to mimic the great JKR and drop tiny hints in there... Trying, and I hope to Merlin it works.
Kayla: That'll be revealed soon, don't worry.
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed and thanks to everyone who WILL review, in advance...Now onto the story! The calm before the storm! BUAHAHAHA! *coughs* Ahem, sorry about that. Now, without further ado...
CHAPTER FIVE
Of First Meetings and Long Talks
Hermione tumbled out of bed promptly at seven a.m., already prepping herself for this long day ahead of her; the first day of term was nearly guaranteed not to be easy for her. Hurriedly grabbing a set of robes and clothes (not caring which, really), she hurried into the bathroom to take a shower and get brushed up for breakfast, which was at eight.
She indulged herself in a half an hour's shower, and, sleep-tousled hair now smoothed out (it was no longer as bushy as it had been in her schooldays), she took five minutes brushing up and then allowed herself ten minutes to mentally review today's schedule as well as one or two of her lesson plans.
Feeling much more reassured, Hermione smoothed out the front of her robes, checked her hair once more and was out the door, actually allowing herself fifteen minutes to get down to the Great Hall, shifting staircases and all. She remembered all too well the many times she, Harry and Ron had been forced to scamper down staircases that realigned themselves as they ran, and still arrive at breakfast late enough to earn a scowl from Snape.
Waiting patiently for a staircase to realign, Hermione had to giggle at the memories, earning herself an odd look from a second year. She simply smiled back, wondering when she'd have him and what house he was in.
After the staircases fell into place with a distinct click, Hermione descended and entered the Great Hall, taking her seat at the High Table to the left of Snape's empty seat. She wondered about him only briefly before Dumbledore drew her attention away with a polite inquiry as to how she had slept and how she liked her rooms.
Hermione didn't notice when Snape arrived; she also didn't notice the three sets of eyes on her from three different House tables.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The second year class passed without much incident; Hermione had introduced herself, answered a few questions about herself, which included, most notably, enquiries regarding her work in the Aurory, especially with Harry and Ron, and whether or not she was Muggle-born. She had answered the latter rather sharply, stating that yes, she was, and that she was proud of the fact and would not be at all tolerant of derogatory remarks regarding hers or anyone else's heritage.
Then she had continued onto her first task, which would be much the same thing that she would do with her classes for a bit; she asked them all about what they had learned and what they knew of DADA. The period was over much sooner than Hermione had anticipated, and she was almost sad it was over. For homework, she assigned them a five-inch parchment on a DADA subject, such as the Unforgivables, or a boggart, or something of the sort that was of their choosing.
Hermione was finishing up some general notes on her second year Gryffindor/Hufflepuff class when Severus Snape, the Second, approached her.
"Professor Granger?" asked a timid voice, and Hermione's head snapped up from her quill and parchment. The resemblance of Sev's voice to his father's, though his was not yet matured from age yet, first plastered a neutral and carefully controlled expression to Hermione's face.
Upon second glance, she decided that the boy before her was most definitely not his father, though whilst absorbed in her scribbles, she had not been able to tell, and her face softened.
"Yes, Mr. Snape?" she asked, surprised and a bit amused to hear that name issuing from her lips, in that form. It would take a bit of getting used to, she was sure.
"Do you...Do you know my father well?" he asked in response, voice just as timid as it had been moments ago.
Hermione smiled. "I doubt if anyone knows him very well, Sev," she said, recognising the type of conversation this was going to be and deciding to drop the formalities.
"Still, I was watching you, and even though you didn't talk a lot, he did talk to you." Sev's lips twitched in an expression that was so reminiscent of his father that Hermione suppressed a shudder, hoping Sev didn't notice; he didn't show any signs, and Hermione took a breath. "And I was wondering, if I could talk to you about him?"
The professor looked surprised. "Why don't you talk to him?"
"Because..." Sev began, then trailed off, and began again. "Because I'm afraid he doesn't like me very much."
Surprised even more this time, Hermione stared at him, studying the boy's face intently. Whilst he did look remarkably like his father, the older Severus' face was more angular, his eyes more black, whereas Sev's face was a bit softer (but still with the same features Hermione recognised from his father) and his eyes closer to brown than black.
Upon further scrutiny, Hermione realised that Sev's dark brown eyes hid a hint of tears, and she pushed back hurriedly from her desk, rounding it to encircle the boy with her arms. She felt an empathy for him, and Hermione stroked Sev's head once or twice, brushing his hair out of his eyes for him and then squatting so that she was on eye level with him.
"Of course he likes you, Sev. Your father has just never been one for..." Hermione smiled a bit at her word choice - "...displays of emotion."
It was the understatement of the year, or perhaps of the decade. Upon accepting her as an advisee for her seventh year Potions project, he had told her in no uncertain terms, in fact, she still remembered the exact words, that "the moment you fail to meet a deadline, or show any signs of being upset, or, God forbid, burst into tears, you will leave and not return. I will not tolerate any unseemly displays of emotion."
Brief moment of nostalgia pushed aside for later reflection, Hermione glanced at the clock on her desk. "Sev, you have to get going to your next class. But if you'd like to talk, we can do it over lunch, I have a free period afterwards when I can get things done anyway." She had planned upon going to the library just to browse, but that could wait. It seemed that her role as Head of House was just beginning.
"Could we?" Sev asked, hopefulness shining in his eyes.
Hermione smiled warmly. "Of course. Here," she said, scribbling a pass for him on a spare scrap of parchment. "In case you're late," explained Hermione. "I'll see you at lunch. Get going." Standing back up, Hermione gave the boy a little push towards the door.
"Thank you, Professor," Sev said gratefully before hurrying out.
With a sigh, suddenly fatigued, Hermione dropped into her seat again, passing a hand over her face.
Severus Snape, she thought severely, steely resolution setting in her eyes, refusing to be budged, as she returned to her work, We are going to have a looong talk.
Thanks ever so much to trickofthetrade, BIW, Weep You No More Sad Fountains and Teala Snape.
As to the rest of you, thanks also to you, but I wanted to address your reviews:
Claribel: Aren't you ALL? LOL.
MP: Well, if someone would be kind enough to put me on their Author Alert and then let me know whether or not that works... I'm not a paying member, I don't have Support Services... So I don't know if that works for me or not. But for the rest of you and if that doesn't work, please feel free to leave your e-mail addy and I'll start an e-mail list to let you guys know of updates. I'm so excited, people actually want to read my work! ^___^
Li-chan: That IS one of the mysteries, isn't it? All will become clear later...
Jenbachand: Hey, hey, I couldn't tell you that - because then I'd just be giving it away, wouldn't I? Don't worry, more of the actual plot is coming in later.
Tracey Claybon: That was my initial thought and partially why I wanted to put him there. Another reason is that - shh, don't tell anyone - it's a hint for the rest of the story. I'm attempting to mimic the great JKR and drop tiny hints in there... Trying, and I hope to Merlin it works.
Kayla: That'll be revealed soon, don't worry.
Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed and thanks to everyone who WILL review, in advance...Now onto the story! The calm before the storm! BUAHAHAHA! *coughs* Ahem, sorry about that. Now, without further ado...
CHAPTER FIVE
Of First Meetings and Long Talks
Hermione tumbled out of bed promptly at seven a.m., already prepping herself for this long day ahead of her; the first day of term was nearly guaranteed not to be easy for her. Hurriedly grabbing a set of robes and clothes (not caring which, really), she hurried into the bathroom to take a shower and get brushed up for breakfast, which was at eight.
She indulged herself in a half an hour's shower, and, sleep-tousled hair now smoothed out (it was no longer as bushy as it had been in her schooldays), she took five minutes brushing up and then allowed herself ten minutes to mentally review today's schedule as well as one or two of her lesson plans.
Feeling much more reassured, Hermione smoothed out the front of her robes, checked her hair once more and was out the door, actually allowing herself fifteen minutes to get down to the Great Hall, shifting staircases and all. She remembered all too well the many times she, Harry and Ron had been forced to scamper down staircases that realigned themselves as they ran, and still arrive at breakfast late enough to earn a scowl from Snape.
Waiting patiently for a staircase to realign, Hermione had to giggle at the memories, earning herself an odd look from a second year. She simply smiled back, wondering when she'd have him and what house he was in.
After the staircases fell into place with a distinct click, Hermione descended and entered the Great Hall, taking her seat at the High Table to the left of Snape's empty seat. She wondered about him only briefly before Dumbledore drew her attention away with a polite inquiry as to how she had slept and how she liked her rooms.
Hermione didn't notice when Snape arrived; she also didn't notice the three sets of eyes on her from three different House tables.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The second year class passed without much incident; Hermione had introduced herself, answered a few questions about herself, which included, most notably, enquiries regarding her work in the Aurory, especially with Harry and Ron, and whether or not she was Muggle-born. She had answered the latter rather sharply, stating that yes, she was, and that she was proud of the fact and would not be at all tolerant of derogatory remarks regarding hers or anyone else's heritage.
Then she had continued onto her first task, which would be much the same thing that she would do with her classes for a bit; she asked them all about what they had learned and what they knew of DADA. The period was over much sooner than Hermione had anticipated, and she was almost sad it was over. For homework, she assigned them a five-inch parchment on a DADA subject, such as the Unforgivables, or a boggart, or something of the sort that was of their choosing.
Hermione was finishing up some general notes on her second year Gryffindor/Hufflepuff class when Severus Snape, the Second, approached her.
"Professor Granger?" asked a timid voice, and Hermione's head snapped up from her quill and parchment. The resemblance of Sev's voice to his father's, though his was not yet matured from age yet, first plastered a neutral and carefully controlled expression to Hermione's face.
Upon second glance, she decided that the boy before her was most definitely not his father, though whilst absorbed in her scribbles, she had not been able to tell, and her face softened.
"Yes, Mr. Snape?" she asked, surprised and a bit amused to hear that name issuing from her lips, in that form. It would take a bit of getting used to, she was sure.
"Do you...Do you know my father well?" he asked in response, voice just as timid as it had been moments ago.
Hermione smiled. "I doubt if anyone knows him very well, Sev," she said, recognising the type of conversation this was going to be and deciding to drop the formalities.
"Still, I was watching you, and even though you didn't talk a lot, he did talk to you." Sev's lips twitched in an expression that was so reminiscent of his father that Hermione suppressed a shudder, hoping Sev didn't notice; he didn't show any signs, and Hermione took a breath. "And I was wondering, if I could talk to you about him?"
The professor looked surprised. "Why don't you talk to him?"
"Because..." Sev began, then trailed off, and began again. "Because I'm afraid he doesn't like me very much."
Surprised even more this time, Hermione stared at him, studying the boy's face intently. Whilst he did look remarkably like his father, the older Severus' face was more angular, his eyes more black, whereas Sev's face was a bit softer (but still with the same features Hermione recognised from his father) and his eyes closer to brown than black.
Upon further scrutiny, Hermione realised that Sev's dark brown eyes hid a hint of tears, and she pushed back hurriedly from her desk, rounding it to encircle the boy with her arms. She felt an empathy for him, and Hermione stroked Sev's head once or twice, brushing his hair out of his eyes for him and then squatting so that she was on eye level with him.
"Of course he likes you, Sev. Your father has just never been one for..." Hermione smiled a bit at her word choice - "...displays of emotion."
It was the understatement of the year, or perhaps of the decade. Upon accepting her as an advisee for her seventh year Potions project, he had told her in no uncertain terms, in fact, she still remembered the exact words, that "the moment you fail to meet a deadline, or show any signs of being upset, or, God forbid, burst into tears, you will leave and not return. I will not tolerate any unseemly displays of emotion."
Brief moment of nostalgia pushed aside for later reflection, Hermione glanced at the clock on her desk. "Sev, you have to get going to your next class. But if you'd like to talk, we can do it over lunch, I have a free period afterwards when I can get things done anyway." She had planned upon going to the library just to browse, but that could wait. It seemed that her role as Head of House was just beginning.
"Could we?" Sev asked, hopefulness shining in his eyes.
Hermione smiled warmly. "Of course. Here," she said, scribbling a pass for him on a spare scrap of parchment. "In case you're late," explained Hermione. "I'll see you at lunch. Get going." Standing back up, Hermione gave the boy a little push towards the door.
"Thank you, Professor," Sev said gratefully before hurrying out.
With a sigh, suddenly fatigued, Hermione dropped into her seat again, passing a hand over her face.
Severus Snape, she thought severely, steely resolution setting in her eyes, refusing to be budged, as she returned to her work, We are going to have a looong talk.