Chapter 7: In which Severus takes his first visit to Hermione's apartment
Severus remembered an incident from out of the blue. It was a summer day then, and she had asked him to join them for a picnic. He had raised an eyebrow, askance at her suggestion. It was somewhat audacious. No student had ever invited him to accompany him or her in their festivities or excursions. . .
'There's just Harry, Ron and me,' the girl insisted, undaunted by his arrogant response.
'If that is supposed to be an assurance, I beg you not to do it again. What worse outing can take place besides this with the famous Trio and the bat- like, hate-inducing adversary of Harry Potter?' Severus' bitterness permeated from him, a sign of his extreme exhaustion. The Dark Lord had previously summoned him and Severus' nerves were more than frayed.
The girl studied him in that curious way of hers. It interfered with his equilibrium, for he found it soothing and upsetting. She never had that judgmental look in her eyes, that condemnation, or loathing, or pity, or scorn, or cruelty. There was compassion, and he wanted to yield to it and push it aside at the same time. Hence, he put on a blank expression to give the impression that he was unaffected.
She spoke up, 'You need a rest sir. A walk in the fields will do you good.'
'What I need is sleep. A picnic with those two boys will hasten my way to a nervous breakdown.'
She understood and did not question more. Instead, she said cheerily, 'Well, I'm glad you didn't mention me in your assessment of who-drives-me- nuts.' Walking out of the dungeons, she said, 'Maybe someday else sir.'. . .
Severus shook his head at the memory of Hermione, finally accepting to himself that it seemed natural to call her by her name.
Now at Albus' office, he sat quietly while the Headmaster was processing his encounter with his former Slytherin student.
'Is Mr. Malfoy really that confident you won't tell anyone?'
'One of his many flaws in reasoning. He believes I will protect him, as I had in his schooldays. He's right. Albus, I don't want him sent to Azkaban. Granted, the Dementors no longer reside there, but it is still a hellish place.'
'Yes,' Albus nodded in sympathy. 'However, we must first consider about the researchers. Ron can help us in the rescue mission.'
'Mr. Weaseley?' Severus inquired.
'He'll provide the equipment to dismantle the wards surrounding the Goyle mansion. Don't you agree that his knack of creative gadget making has finally come to essential use?'
Severus gave a wry smile, 'Is it a new invention?'
'Yes, but it's been tested. He'll teach you how to use it.'
'So all I have to do is simply hide this. . . thing and bring into the house. I have to ensure that the four collaborators in this absurd plot are there so they cannot harm the captives when some of our allies suddenly Apparate in front of them when I activate the gadget.' Severus said sardonically, 'Three steps. Very simple. Get in alone, get out with everyone. It will be a bonus if someone's alive.'
'Naturally. When can you prepare the potion?'
'You don't seriously believe I will make one for him?' Severus sighed. 'I'll take a bottle of Perk-up Potion laced with toad's essence. It's a myth that the worse potions taste, the better they work. Draco subscribes to it.'
'All right. We shall be ready in two days.'
Severus returned to his chambers. In a daze, he walked to his empty table. He sat down and got up again. He paced the floor.
It was in this state that Potter found him.
'Professor?' Potter asked quizzically.
Severus heaved, 'Let me tell you something Potter.'
The boy lifted his eyebrows in question.
Severus stretched out his arms and let them fall to his sides, 'I've got nothing to do.' He laughed, bewildered, 'No work to mark, no ingredients Albus can ask me to buy and the students have yet to return for me to glower over them, so I can't petrol the grounds.'
Potter refrained from commenting, 'Good then. Professor Dumbledore wants you and I to go to Hermione's house to pick a few things.'
'What? Hermione's home?'
Potter chuckled, deliberately misinterpreting him, 'Even Hermione has a life outside the academic and research work. We're going to her apartment in London.'
'Oh.' Severus said. Stupidly.
When they left Hogwarts' premises and Apparated to her home, Severus was stunned at the femininity in it.
'I'll collect the notes. I know which are the ones needed.' Potter headed to the left. 'Will you go to her bedroom to take her spare wand? It's in the drawer at the dressing table.' Potter threw an ambiguous look at Severus. 'But I think you know that.' He disappeared into the study.
The living room was cosy, with a rug and a coffee table littered with notes and dried flowers. Lilac and tulips, he noted. The fire blazed on magically and merrily. Oil paintings of landscapes and pictures of friends and family covered the walls. The hints of lemons winded in the air, and the scent was stronger in her bedroom. Hermione's personal scent. He looked around. The room glowed a soft intimate orange. The bed was high and large, with silk covers were tussled and draped over the edges, reaching the floor, suggesting warmth and sensuality. Severus slapped himself to shake himself out of his dreamlike manner. Embarrassed, he turned abruptly to the dressing table. Retrieving the wand, he was about to leave when he spotted a stack of paper in the drawer, the kind she used to write her letters.
Severus stood still, his eyes drawn to the ones box beside it, calling him silently. Stealing a glance out of the room, he saw Potter busy sifting through the papers.
Privacy! Logical duty shouted at him. Significance! Irrational instinct overran.
He took out the box and opened it. Similar papers filled with writing rested in it. There were five of them altogether. He scanned the one on top and stopped in disbelief.
'Professor?'
Potter stood behind him. Far from the outrage he thought he would see in Potter, Severus was surprised to see him smile. Tentatively true, but he was smiling nonetheless. Surely he could see him rummaging through Hermione's belongings. Potter's next words confirmed it.
'If you want to read them, you'll have to bring them back to Hogwarts. We shouldn't linger here.'
For once in his life, Severus did not know how to hurl a snide remark at Potter. Somehow, he knew Potter knew what the contents of the papers were.
So why was Potter not in the least bit repulsed? Or punching his nose, come to think of it. Would he not suspect that Hermione was under some spell?
Potter waited. Turning back to the box, Severus succumbed to the temptation. He grabbed the papers and stuffed them in his pocket, feeling like a guilty first-year student caught in the middle of stealing. Glaring at Potter, he dared him to speak. Potter boldly grinned.
Scraping up what little dignity he had left, Severus stood tall and prepared to leave.
'You forgot to close the drawer Professor,' Potter said blandly.
Severus' jaw tightened. He was grateful when he managed to execute the simple task with steady hands.
'Just remember Potter. I will be teaching your child in eleven years time.'
Potter let the threat fly past him. 'Oh, Ginny and I love discussing about our Bruno's future. And we'll be honoured if you teach him sir.' There was an earnestness in his voice that Severus could not dispute it.
Severus replied, 'Write down the time and place that you said that. Check to see if your sentiments are the same eleven years after.'
Potter nodded. Walking out, he said, 'Shall we?'
Severus was glad that he was able to escape Potter's scrutiny at last. He joined him back to Hogwarts. Before they parted ways at the gate however, Potter stopped him.
'Sir, did I ever mention that I hated you?'
'Oh, not in my face, of course. You'd probably be ashes if you did.'
'No,' Potter said seriously, 'I wouldn't.' He lapsed into silence.
Severus frowned. What was Potter up to?
'I. just want to say how we've changed our. . . conception of you.' Potter ran his hand through his hair. It was one of the few habits retained from early youth. 'You know, what with the war and. . . Sirius and everything. . . I've never properly thanked you, or said how I respect and appreciate you. Thank you Professor.'
'You're not going to hug me now and tell me you love me, are you?' Severus kept the mood light, hoping to avoid showing how Potter had stumped him.
Potter smiled, 'No, I'll leave that to someone else.'
Now what the dickens did that mean?
Potter stretched his hand out. Severus shook it.
'Till tomorrow sir. The thing is, I just want to say that whatever happens, be assured that you'll have my support, just as I always give mine to Hermione and Ron.'
'I still don't understand what you're saying.'
'You will.'
'Alright then,' Severus thought to himself as he decided what he was going to say. *You'll regret this Severus Snape.*
'And thank you. . . Harry.'
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews thus far.
Abraxis: Ah well, I did make Beni as the bad guy. It just started out that way. =)
Kryptonite: *gasps* I forgot Neville stutters too! I was thinking of Quirell. But he doesn't stutter much. I think he only does it in Snape's presence. Loss of confidence and stuff. I should check back at the canon.
Hello Tracy!
Severus remembered an incident from out of the blue. It was a summer day then, and she had asked him to join them for a picnic. He had raised an eyebrow, askance at her suggestion. It was somewhat audacious. No student had ever invited him to accompany him or her in their festivities or excursions. . .
'There's just Harry, Ron and me,' the girl insisted, undaunted by his arrogant response.
'If that is supposed to be an assurance, I beg you not to do it again. What worse outing can take place besides this with the famous Trio and the bat- like, hate-inducing adversary of Harry Potter?' Severus' bitterness permeated from him, a sign of his extreme exhaustion. The Dark Lord had previously summoned him and Severus' nerves were more than frayed.
The girl studied him in that curious way of hers. It interfered with his equilibrium, for he found it soothing and upsetting. She never had that judgmental look in her eyes, that condemnation, or loathing, or pity, or scorn, or cruelty. There was compassion, and he wanted to yield to it and push it aside at the same time. Hence, he put on a blank expression to give the impression that he was unaffected.
She spoke up, 'You need a rest sir. A walk in the fields will do you good.'
'What I need is sleep. A picnic with those two boys will hasten my way to a nervous breakdown.'
She understood and did not question more. Instead, she said cheerily, 'Well, I'm glad you didn't mention me in your assessment of who-drives-me- nuts.' Walking out of the dungeons, she said, 'Maybe someday else sir.'. . .
Severus shook his head at the memory of Hermione, finally accepting to himself that it seemed natural to call her by her name.
Now at Albus' office, he sat quietly while the Headmaster was processing his encounter with his former Slytherin student.
'Is Mr. Malfoy really that confident you won't tell anyone?'
'One of his many flaws in reasoning. He believes I will protect him, as I had in his schooldays. He's right. Albus, I don't want him sent to Azkaban. Granted, the Dementors no longer reside there, but it is still a hellish place.'
'Yes,' Albus nodded in sympathy. 'However, we must first consider about the researchers. Ron can help us in the rescue mission.'
'Mr. Weaseley?' Severus inquired.
'He'll provide the equipment to dismantle the wards surrounding the Goyle mansion. Don't you agree that his knack of creative gadget making has finally come to essential use?'
Severus gave a wry smile, 'Is it a new invention?'
'Yes, but it's been tested. He'll teach you how to use it.'
'So all I have to do is simply hide this. . . thing and bring into the house. I have to ensure that the four collaborators in this absurd plot are there so they cannot harm the captives when some of our allies suddenly Apparate in front of them when I activate the gadget.' Severus said sardonically, 'Three steps. Very simple. Get in alone, get out with everyone. It will be a bonus if someone's alive.'
'Naturally. When can you prepare the potion?'
'You don't seriously believe I will make one for him?' Severus sighed. 'I'll take a bottle of Perk-up Potion laced with toad's essence. It's a myth that the worse potions taste, the better they work. Draco subscribes to it.'
'All right. We shall be ready in two days.'
Severus returned to his chambers. In a daze, he walked to his empty table. He sat down and got up again. He paced the floor.
It was in this state that Potter found him.
'Professor?' Potter asked quizzically.
Severus heaved, 'Let me tell you something Potter.'
The boy lifted his eyebrows in question.
Severus stretched out his arms and let them fall to his sides, 'I've got nothing to do.' He laughed, bewildered, 'No work to mark, no ingredients Albus can ask me to buy and the students have yet to return for me to glower over them, so I can't petrol the grounds.'
Potter refrained from commenting, 'Good then. Professor Dumbledore wants you and I to go to Hermione's house to pick a few things.'
'What? Hermione's home?'
Potter chuckled, deliberately misinterpreting him, 'Even Hermione has a life outside the academic and research work. We're going to her apartment in London.'
'Oh.' Severus said. Stupidly.
When they left Hogwarts' premises and Apparated to her home, Severus was stunned at the femininity in it.
'I'll collect the notes. I know which are the ones needed.' Potter headed to the left. 'Will you go to her bedroom to take her spare wand? It's in the drawer at the dressing table.' Potter threw an ambiguous look at Severus. 'But I think you know that.' He disappeared into the study.
The living room was cosy, with a rug and a coffee table littered with notes and dried flowers. Lilac and tulips, he noted. The fire blazed on magically and merrily. Oil paintings of landscapes and pictures of friends and family covered the walls. The hints of lemons winded in the air, and the scent was stronger in her bedroom. Hermione's personal scent. He looked around. The room glowed a soft intimate orange. The bed was high and large, with silk covers were tussled and draped over the edges, reaching the floor, suggesting warmth and sensuality. Severus slapped himself to shake himself out of his dreamlike manner. Embarrassed, he turned abruptly to the dressing table. Retrieving the wand, he was about to leave when he spotted a stack of paper in the drawer, the kind she used to write her letters.
Severus stood still, his eyes drawn to the ones box beside it, calling him silently. Stealing a glance out of the room, he saw Potter busy sifting through the papers.
Privacy! Logical duty shouted at him. Significance! Irrational instinct overran.
He took out the box and opened it. Similar papers filled with writing rested in it. There were five of them altogether. He scanned the one on top and stopped in disbelief.
'Professor?'
Potter stood behind him. Far from the outrage he thought he would see in Potter, Severus was surprised to see him smile. Tentatively true, but he was smiling nonetheless. Surely he could see him rummaging through Hermione's belongings. Potter's next words confirmed it.
'If you want to read them, you'll have to bring them back to Hogwarts. We shouldn't linger here.'
For once in his life, Severus did not know how to hurl a snide remark at Potter. Somehow, he knew Potter knew what the contents of the papers were.
So why was Potter not in the least bit repulsed? Or punching his nose, come to think of it. Would he not suspect that Hermione was under some spell?
Potter waited. Turning back to the box, Severus succumbed to the temptation. He grabbed the papers and stuffed them in his pocket, feeling like a guilty first-year student caught in the middle of stealing. Glaring at Potter, he dared him to speak. Potter boldly grinned.
Scraping up what little dignity he had left, Severus stood tall and prepared to leave.
'You forgot to close the drawer Professor,' Potter said blandly.
Severus' jaw tightened. He was grateful when he managed to execute the simple task with steady hands.
'Just remember Potter. I will be teaching your child in eleven years time.'
Potter let the threat fly past him. 'Oh, Ginny and I love discussing about our Bruno's future. And we'll be honoured if you teach him sir.' There was an earnestness in his voice that Severus could not dispute it.
Severus replied, 'Write down the time and place that you said that. Check to see if your sentiments are the same eleven years after.'
Potter nodded. Walking out, he said, 'Shall we?'
Severus was glad that he was able to escape Potter's scrutiny at last. He joined him back to Hogwarts. Before they parted ways at the gate however, Potter stopped him.
'Sir, did I ever mention that I hated you?'
'Oh, not in my face, of course. You'd probably be ashes if you did.'
'No,' Potter said seriously, 'I wouldn't.' He lapsed into silence.
Severus frowned. What was Potter up to?
'I. just want to say how we've changed our. . . conception of you.' Potter ran his hand through his hair. It was one of the few habits retained from early youth. 'You know, what with the war and. . . Sirius and everything. . . I've never properly thanked you, or said how I respect and appreciate you. Thank you Professor.'
'You're not going to hug me now and tell me you love me, are you?' Severus kept the mood light, hoping to avoid showing how Potter had stumped him.
Potter smiled, 'No, I'll leave that to someone else.'
Now what the dickens did that mean?
Potter stretched his hand out. Severus shook it.
'Till tomorrow sir. The thing is, I just want to say that whatever happens, be assured that you'll have my support, just as I always give mine to Hermione and Ron.'
'I still don't understand what you're saying.'
'You will.'
'Alright then,' Severus thought to himself as he decided what he was going to say. *You'll regret this Severus Snape.*
'And thank you. . . Harry.'
Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews thus far.
Abraxis: Ah well, I did make Beni as the bad guy. It just started out that way. =)
Kryptonite: *gasps* I forgot Neville stutters too! I was thinking of Quirell. But he doesn't stutter much. I think he only does it in Snape's presence. Loss of confidence and stuff. I should check back at the canon.
Hello Tracy!