Hermione tried not to breath too loudly as she came closer to the Potions
master's dungeons. She had left the lightning behind her, only darkness and
the roaring thunder ruled down there. She held her hands out in front of
her, and finally she found the heavy door she was looking for.
Once again she listened carefully for any sound, then she knocked on the door.
The seconds passed. What if he wasn't awake? What if he couldn't hear her? She raised her fist to knock again, when the door suddenly opened.
There he was, a dark silhouette in front of her, his eyes gleaming in the darkness.
"Professor", she said and felt her heart soar with relief. "It's me, Hermione Granger. I'm so sorry to disturb you..."
"Why are you not in bed, miss Granger?", he asked.
"Please sir, let me in. I'm locked out."
Snape looked at her, not entirely sure it was all a dream. He heard fear in her voice and stepped aside.
"Come in.", he said. She exhaled and walked pass him. He shut the door behind them, took her by the arm and led her through the classroom to another door in the back.
He opened it and they entered his private rooms. There was a fire burning in the fire place and Hermione closed her eyes when the light struck her.
Snape let go of her arm and took a seat in an armchair. She sat down in front of the fire and began to relax. She was safe.
"How did this happen?", Snape asked her.
"I was in the library, sir... and I lost track of time."
"So you decided to come down here, all the way from the Gryffindor tower? Why didn't you go to the Headmaster, or professor McGonagall?"
"I... don't know, sir.", she said, realising those would be much more obvious choices for her.
"Do you know how dangerous it is for a student to be up alone these nights?", he asked in his silky voice. "You cannot afford to loose track of time."
Hermione looked up at him, and after a minute of silence she asked:
"Professor... What is the monster?"
He didn't show with the slightest movement that her question had disturbed him, but inside he was looking for words to say. What could he tell her? He wanted to tell her the truth...
"It is something that I don't believe your friend mr Potter will take care of so easily.", he said. "It is a deadly creature... Human yet not human."
"But, please, what is it?"
"As a student I think it's for the better that you don't know, miss Granger. But those words are surely a waste of breath, you always need to know everything, don't you? Have you checked the library yet?"
"I did this evening, but I haven't found anything.", she replied, ignoring the cold words he had spoken. Snape smiled within himself, he had always admired her courage when it came to himself.
"Miss Granger... Why do you study so hard? You certainly haven't got it from your friends Potter and Weasley."
She turned away from him and looked into the fire. She watched the flames dance for her as she wondered if she could tell him or not. But the relief she felt took away all her fear for the dreaded Potions master, and she began to tell him her secret.
"Professor... I assume you know of my heritage. My parents are Muggles, and I didn't know anything about this world until I received my letter five years ago. And when I saw it all, when I came here, it changed me completely. I saw things I had never even dreamt of before, and all I wanted was to learn about it, to know everything there was to know. This world is so different from the Muggle world."
"How so?", he asked, now fascinated by her voice. He himself was a Pureblood wizard and had therefor never had any contact with Muggles or their way of living.
"The magic is long gone to Muggles. It died, I don't know when, but it has disappeared. What they don't realise is how much they really long for magic, how much they need it. I needed it, and when I found it I wanted it all."
"And you will have it, if you keep up your work like this."
Hermione blushed a little and turned her face towards Snape again.
"I'm sorry if I sounded silly.", she said.
"Not at all, miss Granger.", he replied, and the coolness in his voice had gone away. Now it was only gentle, like a silk glove that caressed her soul.
"Professor Snape...", she began.
"Miss Granger, you have come to my room in the middle of the night, and you will be staying here until the morning. I believe you can call me by my first name for now."
She hesitated for a few seconds.
"Severus" she said, and he felt his heart skip a beat by the sound of her sweet voice saying his name. "May I stay here for the night? I will be completely quiet, I can sleep here on the floor."
"Stay with me always", he thought.
"No worries, miss Granger..."
"Hermiione."
"Hermione... I will be off to bed now."
He rose, took out his wand and pointed it at the armchair he had been sitting in.
"Cambiare", he said, and the armchair changed into a comfortable sofa.
"You can sleep there." He turned away and opened the curtains to his own four poster bed and disappeared behind them.
Hermione rose from the floor and laid herself down on the sofa, which was very nice indeed.
"Good night, professor.... Severus.", she said.
He did not answer, and soon she fell asleep.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
He couldn't sleep. He twisted and turned among the sheets, but he found no peace. The thunder had died off, and all he heard was the lovely sound of her breathing. He knew she slept peacefully.
She must've been so afraid when she was locked out. And yet she had gone all the way through the dark castle, from top to bottom, knowing it was terribly dangerous, just to come to him. Why?
His love was sleeping in the same room as he. She had come there on her own account, she could have gone to any other teacher for help. Could it be possible? Could she love him in return?
Snape pushed the thought away. It was insane, she would never feel the way about him as he felt for her. He was her teacher! But love knows no age....
He sat up in his bed. He would risk it, it was worth it. She would never know... He opened the black curtains and stepped out of the bed. The room was very dark, but he could see her clearly, sleeping in the weak light that came in through the only window there was. He bent down next to her and carefully lifted her up in his strong arms, as if she was made out of thin crystal. She moaned a little, but she didn't wake up.
He carried her to his bed and gently put her down. Then he lay down next to her and touched a lock of her soft hair. He would never have this chance again, just for one night he wanted to lie next to the one he loved, and pretend... that she was his.
For hours he stayed awake, looking at her and softly caressing her hair.
"Good night, Hermione.", he whispered. "Don't worry, I will always protect you. I swear."
He reached for his wand that was lying on a table next to the bed and pointed it at himself.
"Levanta antes", he whispered. The spell would make sure he woke up a few minutes before Hermione, so he could put himself on the sofa. She would believe he had switched places with her during the night, and that would be all.
He turned his eyes towards her again, and soon he too fell asleep.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Hermione was walking through the dark school again, and somewhere behind her she heard foot steps.
It was the monster chasing her. She knew it without looking behind her. It breathed down her neck, she could feel the chill it brought with it. She wanted to run, but her feet felt like they had been enchanted, and all she could do was keep on walking.
The monster was coming closer. Then, a few feet in front of her, she saw a light, and a voice that whispered:
"Don't worry, I will always protect you..."
She loved the voice. She wanted to have it circling around her, keeping her safe. She stretched out her hand to the light.
And suddenly she was in his arms again. The monster disappeared, and he held her close, stroking her hair.
"It's allright, my love," he whispered. "I will never leave you, I promise."
She looked up at his face, and saw immortal love shine in his eyes.
"Severus.", she said. They kissed...
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
She woke up and looked around. Where was she? Was she still in Snapes rooms?
She was lying on his bed... How did she end up there?
She opened the curtains and looked out. Snape was sleeping on the sofa. She remembered the dream and knew that he must've carried her to his bed and then put himself on the sofa.
Maybe there was a gentleman inside Snape after all...
Hermione stepped out of the bed and walked up to the sofa. She checked he was sleeping, then she bent down and touched his cheek.
"Thank you.", she whispered. Then she opened the door and left his room, unaware that he was awake - and that they had shared the same dream that night.
Once again she listened carefully for any sound, then she knocked on the door.
The seconds passed. What if he wasn't awake? What if he couldn't hear her? She raised her fist to knock again, when the door suddenly opened.
There he was, a dark silhouette in front of her, his eyes gleaming in the darkness.
"Professor", she said and felt her heart soar with relief. "It's me, Hermione Granger. I'm so sorry to disturb you..."
"Why are you not in bed, miss Granger?", he asked.
"Please sir, let me in. I'm locked out."
Snape looked at her, not entirely sure it was all a dream. He heard fear in her voice and stepped aside.
"Come in.", he said. She exhaled and walked pass him. He shut the door behind them, took her by the arm and led her through the classroom to another door in the back.
He opened it and they entered his private rooms. There was a fire burning in the fire place and Hermione closed her eyes when the light struck her.
Snape let go of her arm and took a seat in an armchair. She sat down in front of the fire and began to relax. She was safe.
"How did this happen?", Snape asked her.
"I was in the library, sir... and I lost track of time."
"So you decided to come down here, all the way from the Gryffindor tower? Why didn't you go to the Headmaster, or professor McGonagall?"
"I... don't know, sir.", she said, realising those would be much more obvious choices for her.
"Do you know how dangerous it is for a student to be up alone these nights?", he asked in his silky voice. "You cannot afford to loose track of time."
Hermione looked up at him, and after a minute of silence she asked:
"Professor... What is the monster?"
He didn't show with the slightest movement that her question had disturbed him, but inside he was looking for words to say. What could he tell her? He wanted to tell her the truth...
"It is something that I don't believe your friend mr Potter will take care of so easily.", he said. "It is a deadly creature... Human yet not human."
"But, please, what is it?"
"As a student I think it's for the better that you don't know, miss Granger. But those words are surely a waste of breath, you always need to know everything, don't you? Have you checked the library yet?"
"I did this evening, but I haven't found anything.", she replied, ignoring the cold words he had spoken. Snape smiled within himself, he had always admired her courage when it came to himself.
"Miss Granger... Why do you study so hard? You certainly haven't got it from your friends Potter and Weasley."
She turned away from him and looked into the fire. She watched the flames dance for her as she wondered if she could tell him or not. But the relief she felt took away all her fear for the dreaded Potions master, and she began to tell him her secret.
"Professor... I assume you know of my heritage. My parents are Muggles, and I didn't know anything about this world until I received my letter five years ago. And when I saw it all, when I came here, it changed me completely. I saw things I had never even dreamt of before, and all I wanted was to learn about it, to know everything there was to know. This world is so different from the Muggle world."
"How so?", he asked, now fascinated by her voice. He himself was a Pureblood wizard and had therefor never had any contact with Muggles or their way of living.
"The magic is long gone to Muggles. It died, I don't know when, but it has disappeared. What they don't realise is how much they really long for magic, how much they need it. I needed it, and when I found it I wanted it all."
"And you will have it, if you keep up your work like this."
Hermione blushed a little and turned her face towards Snape again.
"I'm sorry if I sounded silly.", she said.
"Not at all, miss Granger.", he replied, and the coolness in his voice had gone away. Now it was only gentle, like a silk glove that caressed her soul.
"Professor Snape...", she began.
"Miss Granger, you have come to my room in the middle of the night, and you will be staying here until the morning. I believe you can call me by my first name for now."
She hesitated for a few seconds.
"Severus" she said, and he felt his heart skip a beat by the sound of her sweet voice saying his name. "May I stay here for the night? I will be completely quiet, I can sleep here on the floor."
"Stay with me always", he thought.
"No worries, miss Granger..."
"Hermiione."
"Hermione... I will be off to bed now."
He rose, took out his wand and pointed it at the armchair he had been sitting in.
"Cambiare", he said, and the armchair changed into a comfortable sofa.
"You can sleep there." He turned away and opened the curtains to his own four poster bed and disappeared behind them.
Hermione rose from the floor and laid herself down on the sofa, which was very nice indeed.
"Good night, professor.... Severus.", she said.
He did not answer, and soon she fell asleep.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
He couldn't sleep. He twisted and turned among the sheets, but he found no peace. The thunder had died off, and all he heard was the lovely sound of her breathing. He knew she slept peacefully.
She must've been so afraid when she was locked out. And yet she had gone all the way through the dark castle, from top to bottom, knowing it was terribly dangerous, just to come to him. Why?
His love was sleeping in the same room as he. She had come there on her own account, she could have gone to any other teacher for help. Could it be possible? Could she love him in return?
Snape pushed the thought away. It was insane, she would never feel the way about him as he felt for her. He was her teacher! But love knows no age....
He sat up in his bed. He would risk it, it was worth it. She would never know... He opened the black curtains and stepped out of the bed. The room was very dark, but he could see her clearly, sleeping in the weak light that came in through the only window there was. He bent down next to her and carefully lifted her up in his strong arms, as if she was made out of thin crystal. She moaned a little, but she didn't wake up.
He carried her to his bed and gently put her down. Then he lay down next to her and touched a lock of her soft hair. He would never have this chance again, just for one night he wanted to lie next to the one he loved, and pretend... that she was his.
For hours he stayed awake, looking at her and softly caressing her hair.
"Good night, Hermione.", he whispered. "Don't worry, I will always protect you. I swear."
He reached for his wand that was lying on a table next to the bed and pointed it at himself.
"Levanta antes", he whispered. The spell would make sure he woke up a few minutes before Hermione, so he could put himself on the sofa. She would believe he had switched places with her during the night, and that would be all.
He turned his eyes towards her again, and soon he too fell asleep.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Hermione was walking through the dark school again, and somewhere behind her she heard foot steps.
It was the monster chasing her. She knew it without looking behind her. It breathed down her neck, she could feel the chill it brought with it. She wanted to run, but her feet felt like they had been enchanted, and all she could do was keep on walking.
The monster was coming closer. Then, a few feet in front of her, she saw a light, and a voice that whispered:
"Don't worry, I will always protect you..."
She loved the voice. She wanted to have it circling around her, keeping her safe. She stretched out her hand to the light.
And suddenly she was in his arms again. The monster disappeared, and he held her close, stroking her hair.
"It's allright, my love," he whispered. "I will never leave you, I promise."
She looked up at his face, and saw immortal love shine in his eyes.
"Severus.", she said. They kissed...
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
She woke up and looked around. Where was she? Was she still in Snapes rooms?
She was lying on his bed... How did she end up there?
She opened the curtains and looked out. Snape was sleeping on the sofa. She remembered the dream and knew that he must've carried her to his bed and then put himself on the sofa.
Maybe there was a gentleman inside Snape after all...
Hermione stepped out of the bed and walked up to the sofa. She checked he was sleeping, then she bent down and touched his cheek.
"Thank you.", she whispered. Then she opened the door and left his room, unaware that he was awake - and that they had shared the same dream that night.
