Okies, On My Own was originally a stand alone fic, but wow! It's not anymore. Here is the second chapter for all of you! Again, I refuse to give you much commentary before the story, and I do not own Harry Potter. `Talon
War, he knew, did many things to a man. He realizes that no man is immortal--we will all die. With that ultimately disturbing thought behind comes more. Fear creeps through him that he will never see his wife or children again. Closely following fear is regret: regret for all the things he has not done or accomplished. In the strong, fears and regrets will him to live. The weak buckle at the knees and say they cannot do this.
War was not new to Severus Snape. War was nothing! His life had been at risk simply under the service of the Death-Lord.
If I did die, I'd have deserved to, he thought in his journey through the halls. Yes, he'd taken part in so many horrible past-times, death would not be unwelcome. He'd condoned it. And death would stop all the memories. He would no longer be haunted. Suddenly he doubted the wisdom behind living one day more.
Most astoundingly, all the Hogwarts staff had survived. The Ministry folk, with the exception of the Aurors, were weak. Did they not practice magic everyday? The marked skills were amazing--teachers were killing two to four wizards a minute where it took the Minister of Magic nearly five [minutes] to kill one. Snape couldn't hold back a sneer.
It felt good to be in his own halls again. The cold dungeon walls welcomed him and he reveled in it. People deemed it odd that he welcomed the greeting and comfort of walls and stones, when he shied away from any human interaction. So be it. People were weird.
He found the smooth ebony door and deftly removed the wards. The scent of home overpowered his senses.
"Lacarnum inflamarae." The ivory taper candles were lit. Snape peered around the antechamber. Everything was just how he'd left it. After releasing a breath he hadn't known he'd held, the allure of a chair became tempting and he let himself relax in it. Beside it on an end table he found an awaiting sifter and bottle of brandy. He poured himself a glass and swirled it artfully.
War causes many changes in the innocent man. He resumed his prior thoughts. And when he comes home, he often accomplishes what he had not before. Too bad for Snape, he was not that smart.
Yes, Snape, old boy he chided sarcastically, you will never learn. Every time you return there will never be a woman awaiting you. His sneer was grand.
A muffled moan snapped him from his reveries. Snape did not even gasp-- too many years of training prevented that. He was alert now, and when the sound came again, this time more urgent, it lead him to his bedchamber. His steps were soft and silent. A cat wouldn't have known he'd entered the room.
"Severus!" His eyes went to his bed in an instant. Any fears of a horrid creature left his mind. If he wasn't mistaken this was a very female voice.
How would you know? he taunted, when has ever a woman cried out your name? He silenced himself and approached the dark figure on his bed.
He could make out a great mass of long hair.
"Severus! No!" She groaned and her arms reached out to grab something. It became quite clear to the Potions Master this unwanted occupant was having a dream. And was she…was she concerned for him?
"Lumos." His wand lit up to reveal a writhing Hermione Granger on his bed.
On his bed.
In his room.
Crying out his name.
Never say never! But she was not waiting for him, this must be a cruel joke Potter and Weasley put her up to. Figures. Just like James…
On that note of anger, he put one hand on her shoulder and roughly pulled her form around to face him. Hermione's eyes flew open. It took a moment for her surroundings to register.
Why was she here--Oh! Oh!
"Oh! No! Ah- Sev--" her eyes instantly grew wide and fearful. "Profess--"
"Miss Granger!" If words could kill…
She let out a whimper and rolled off the bed. Her dart for the door proved dismally too late. His hand caught her shoulder again and whipped her around.
"Granger, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOMS?!" He could kill her…mangle her. A nosey Gryffindor in his personal, private chambers!
"I- I- was- I mean." She was lost for words. Snape felt instant satisfaction that at least Ms. Know-It-All could not best him in his own chambers. The satisfaction was short lived, did not show, and remained nothing compared with his anger.
"I am waiting!" he bellowed.
Hermione wanted to sink into the ground and die. Why had she come here?
"I- I was lost." Finally, her voice!
"That is quite apparent. Did you think you could just lay down on any bed and have the occupant be content? Maybe with Potter or Weasley…"
A myriad of emotions ran through her at his words. How could he think her that stupid? Then…
"Professor!" she shouted, "That is disgusting! Ugh! How could you even?!?" Her face contorted with disgust.
"You never know with Gryffindors."
"It's your house that borders on incestual!" Snape could not exactly deny this. It was true. Everyone in Slytherin house was remotely related.
"May I remind you, Miss Granger, that you are in no position to hand out accusations!"
Hermione flushed from the roots of her hair to her toes.
Snape continued, "You have entered a professor's chambers without permission, must have broken into my classroom because there is no way you could get through the wards I keep on the main door, and I would wager you have been out past curfew." His voice was a snarl and she was sincerely fearful for her life.
"Y-y.." Her bottom lip trembled pitifully. She tried to control it. "Yes, sir."
His glare went straight through her. Hermione's legs could not support her weight for the second time that night. She backed into the wall to keep from withering under his accusing eyes.
What to do with her? Severus asked himself. Detentions until she graduated would usually cover something of this severity, but surely then word would get out around the school of how she had acquired them. That would inevitably lead to very nasty rumors, all of which he wanted to avoid. Not that he cared one wit about his own feelings, but he was highly regarded in the wizarding world and did not wish to jeopardize that position.
He realized that Miss Granger was still in his chambers. Knowing he would not be able to think of an apt punishment tonight, he did not want to keep here.
"Out!"
Hermione found the exit faster than a disobedient house elf. She knew not to speak of this to anyone; she did not want rumors herself.
*`*`*
I hope you thought this second chapter up to par. A third will be coming very shortly! I've become more and more addicted to writing this!
Please read and review; I'll be most grateful. Plus it gives me a way to find out about more good authors. I really do usually read someone's work who reviews one of my fics. Not to bribe you or anything…it's simply the truth.
Happy tidings 'til next we meet!
`Talon McGreggor
(Tara)