A/N: Sorry it's been so long! I've been out of town for an extremely long time! But, now that I'm back, AND hooked up to the internet from my own comfortable room, I'll have many more opportunities to write stories for you! Please, continue to review, as I appreciate your feedback and take it very seriously. Now, without further ado, I give you the long-awaited chapter 5!
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Hermione generally kept to herself as she waited for school to start. Dumbledore had granted her a set of private quarters in a long-forgotten part of the school--even Filch's footprints could not be detected there, and a full inch of dust impeded their steps as they approached Hermione's new home for the first time. It was, appropriately enough, in the darkest part of the dungeons, and Hermione smirked when the Headmaster informed her that even the Bloody Baron was wary of trespassing in this part of the school.
Her only consolation had been that, when Dumbledore had finally left her to her own devices, Hermione had discovered a collection of tomes unseen for centuries. Many of them were obviously too dangerous even for the restricted section of the library, but Hermione had never let a book frighten her and she wasn't about to start now. She swore to herself she'd peruse them later--after she'd unpacked and prepared the private potions lab for her own use. Maybe, Hermione thought for a moment, living like this would indeed have its benefits.
Before the school year started, Hermione also realized she'd need to perfect her sneaking skills. Without using magic, Hermione was soon able to creep around as silently as Mrs. Norris, even escaping the feline's notice from time to time. She also came to know Hogwarts, the dungeons especially, with an expertise unmatched even by the Marauders' Map. Occasionally Dumbledore would take a stroll down to the dungeons, whistling loudly and eating a specific type of candy--a silent signal to Hermione, who would doubtless notice his presence--that he wanted to check up on her in his office that evening. The candy, of course, denoted the day's password.
On one such day, as Hermione was creeping in the general direction of the tune to "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (Dumbledore's musical tastes equaled his clothing preferences), the dungeons' other (living) inhabitant decided to make an appearance and complain. Hermione was reaching out to tap the Headmaster's wrist in acknowledgement of his request when the door to the potions classroom burst open so violently that she nearly knocked said acid pops out of Dumbledore's hand. With a slight hiss of annoyance, she moved back to press against the wall, not yet willing to risk slipping by her irate professor.
Snape, who was apparently very perceptive, glanced furtively around the hallway. He then cocked an eyebrow at Dumbledore as if to inquire whether he was alone. The Headmaster, however, only smiled benignly and innocently offered an acid pop.
"Merlin, Albus, you know I loathe those things," Snape sneered with disgust. "Almost as much as I despise that rancid Britney Spears." Hermione stifled a giggle when the odious name flew from Snape's mouth. His eyes darted again to the place where she was standing, and she silenced herself immediately. Dumbledore again grinned idiotically.
"Well, since my company is most unwelcome," chuckled the Headmaster, "I suppose I shall leave you to your work, Severus. But accept just one word of advice--do go out into the sun sometimes. You don't have to look like the vampire your students seem to think you are." Hermione again fought the laughter, though more successfully this time. Snape, on the other hand, was not amused.
"Albus, I suggest you allow me to do my job, rather than give me inane advice about frolicking through the daisies. I trust I can relegate such duties to old men who are off their rockers."
"I still think it would do you some good, Severus--we can't be sane all the time," Dumbledore remarked sagely.
"Speak for yourself!"
"Have a lovely day, Severus..." Dumbledore was now retreating down the hallway, the Potions Master staring daggers at his employer's back.
Hermione pressed herself harder against the wall and waited for Snape to retreat back into his workroom. Much to her dismay, he again scrutinized the hallway with those dark eyes of his, obviously expecting to see something. Then, nearly sending her into a panic, he lifted his nose slightly into the air and sniffed delicately. Hermione closed her eyes and prayed to the powers that be for him not to smell her--which, considering his position as one of the world's best Potions Masters, was futile.
By the time she felt brave enough to open her eyes again, however, she saw that his own expression was confused and even upset. He paled as though he had seen--or in this case, smelled--a ghost.
"Hermione?" he whispered, the disbelief apparent in his voice. The girl he was addressing remained stock still and pressed herself even more desperately against the wall. After one last careful sniff, Snape shook his head at himself, stalked into the potions classroom and slammed the door. With a final sigh of relief, Hermione tore into a silent run, not stopping until she was once again safe in her own rooms.
Unfortunately, her problems for the day had not yet ended--as Hermione shut and warded the door behind her, she detected a sound coming from her study. It was... humming... Mozart, if Hermione was correct.
Silently drawing her wand from the back pocket of her jeans (she had taken to wearing Muggle clothing, as no one was going to see her anyway), she lifted it cautiously in front of her and proceeded towards the sound. With her back to the wall, Hermione slid towards the open doorway, peering carefully around the corner into the room, lit by a roaring fire.
"My, my, what a mess..." grumbled the strange intruder, obviously male. Hermione cringed when she realized there were still a few borrowed books she'd left lying around the room.
She poked her head into the room just a bit more--enough to see one translucent arm directing books to the shelves and items of furniture to the places in which Hermione had left them. Raising her wand and steeling herself to attack, Hermione gathered all of her Gryffindor courage and, with a savage yell, leapt into plain view of the intruder.
"All right," she bellowed, "Who are you and what the hell do you think you're doing in my chambers?"
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Hermione generally kept to herself as she waited for school to start. Dumbledore had granted her a set of private quarters in a long-forgotten part of the school--even Filch's footprints could not be detected there, and a full inch of dust impeded their steps as they approached Hermione's new home for the first time. It was, appropriately enough, in the darkest part of the dungeons, and Hermione smirked when the Headmaster informed her that even the Bloody Baron was wary of trespassing in this part of the school.
Her only consolation had been that, when Dumbledore had finally left her to her own devices, Hermione had discovered a collection of tomes unseen for centuries. Many of them were obviously too dangerous even for the restricted section of the library, but Hermione had never let a book frighten her and she wasn't about to start now. She swore to herself she'd peruse them later--after she'd unpacked and prepared the private potions lab for her own use. Maybe, Hermione thought for a moment, living like this would indeed have its benefits.
Before the school year started, Hermione also realized she'd need to perfect her sneaking skills. Without using magic, Hermione was soon able to creep around as silently as Mrs. Norris, even escaping the feline's notice from time to time. She also came to know Hogwarts, the dungeons especially, with an expertise unmatched even by the Marauders' Map. Occasionally Dumbledore would take a stroll down to the dungeons, whistling loudly and eating a specific type of candy--a silent signal to Hermione, who would doubtless notice his presence--that he wanted to check up on her in his office that evening. The candy, of course, denoted the day's password.
On one such day, as Hermione was creeping in the general direction of the tune to "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (Dumbledore's musical tastes equaled his clothing preferences), the dungeons' other (living) inhabitant decided to make an appearance and complain. Hermione was reaching out to tap the Headmaster's wrist in acknowledgement of his request when the door to the potions classroom burst open so violently that she nearly knocked said acid pops out of Dumbledore's hand. With a slight hiss of annoyance, she moved back to press against the wall, not yet willing to risk slipping by her irate professor.
Snape, who was apparently very perceptive, glanced furtively around the hallway. He then cocked an eyebrow at Dumbledore as if to inquire whether he was alone. The Headmaster, however, only smiled benignly and innocently offered an acid pop.
"Merlin, Albus, you know I loathe those things," Snape sneered with disgust. "Almost as much as I despise that rancid Britney Spears." Hermione stifled a giggle when the odious name flew from Snape's mouth. His eyes darted again to the place where she was standing, and she silenced herself immediately. Dumbledore again grinned idiotically.
"Well, since my company is most unwelcome," chuckled the Headmaster, "I suppose I shall leave you to your work, Severus. But accept just one word of advice--do go out into the sun sometimes. You don't have to look like the vampire your students seem to think you are." Hermione again fought the laughter, though more successfully this time. Snape, on the other hand, was not amused.
"Albus, I suggest you allow me to do my job, rather than give me inane advice about frolicking through the daisies. I trust I can relegate such duties to old men who are off their rockers."
"I still think it would do you some good, Severus--we can't be sane all the time," Dumbledore remarked sagely.
"Speak for yourself!"
"Have a lovely day, Severus..." Dumbledore was now retreating down the hallway, the Potions Master staring daggers at his employer's back.
Hermione pressed herself harder against the wall and waited for Snape to retreat back into his workroom. Much to her dismay, he again scrutinized the hallway with those dark eyes of his, obviously expecting to see something. Then, nearly sending her into a panic, he lifted his nose slightly into the air and sniffed delicately. Hermione closed her eyes and prayed to the powers that be for him not to smell her--which, considering his position as one of the world's best Potions Masters, was futile.
By the time she felt brave enough to open her eyes again, however, she saw that his own expression was confused and even upset. He paled as though he had seen--or in this case, smelled--a ghost.
"Hermione?" he whispered, the disbelief apparent in his voice. The girl he was addressing remained stock still and pressed herself even more desperately against the wall. After one last careful sniff, Snape shook his head at himself, stalked into the potions classroom and slammed the door. With a final sigh of relief, Hermione tore into a silent run, not stopping until she was once again safe in her own rooms.
Unfortunately, her problems for the day had not yet ended--as Hermione shut and warded the door behind her, she detected a sound coming from her study. It was... humming... Mozart, if Hermione was correct.
Silently drawing her wand from the back pocket of her jeans (she had taken to wearing Muggle clothing, as no one was going to see her anyway), she lifted it cautiously in front of her and proceeded towards the sound. With her back to the wall, Hermione slid towards the open doorway, peering carefully around the corner into the room, lit by a roaring fire.
"My, my, what a mess..." grumbled the strange intruder, obviously male. Hermione cringed when she realized there were still a few borrowed books she'd left lying around the room.
She poked her head into the room just a bit more--enough to see one translucent arm directing books to the shelves and items of furniture to the places in which Hermione had left them. Raising her wand and steeling herself to attack, Hermione gathered all of her Gryffindor courage and, with a savage yell, leapt into plain view of the intruder.
"All right," she bellowed, "Who are you and what the hell do you think you're doing in my chambers?"