Yay! Chapter Three…I do not own Harry Potter, and I probably won't give much of an author's note before every chapter. At the end of this chp, however, I have a note. I hope you'll find this enjoyable--feel free to alert me of anything you find wrong with my writing. I honestly don't mind critiques. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews I've been getting! `Talon
She ran. Ran and cried. What had she been thinking? Why'd she gone there? How stupid! But she'd felt so lost. So empty. And in his rooms everything felt better. Horribly analytical thoughts coursed through her brain, but no! She refused to think about this logically. Not tonight.
She knew she would be ashamed of her actions. Eventually the shame would eat at her. Then she'd have to do something.
Oh she couldn't wait for the day she'd spill the story of Snape. Lord would he laugh at her! But deep inside was the knowledge that her pride wouldn't let her do anything eles.
What a beautiful predicament.
Hermione paused, breathless, at the fat-lady's portrait. Thank goodness she did not occupy it tonight.
Although she'd been discovered in the worst situation, she did not feel troubled as she should.
It's because he is back.
"He is back," she spoke softly to no one. Seeing as she could not get back to the common room, (lately the picture's occupant had been having jaunts with a few, err, good men, and they didn't know how long she'd be out of her frame for a night) without anyone to receive the password, Hermione opted for a deserted classroom on the seventh floor. She found one just off the hallway to the right of her common room. The inside was chilly and the room itself sparse, but Hermione barely noticed.
She transfigured a desk into a cot, and a bunch of cobwebs into a large blanket. After a chair was a new goose-down pillow, she curled up on the bedding.
The room was not empty.
The halls were no longer cold.
Her heart was not as heavy, knowing at least one teacher was back. She knew there'd be hell to pay for tonight, however she was aware Snape would never place her in mortal danger, and she could weather anything now she was whole again.
*`*`*
It was a damned good thing stones did not wear as easily as rugs. Snape paced from his door, through the antechamber, bedroom, library, to the bathroom where he turned, retraced his steps, and started all over again.
Hermione Granger had been asleep in his room, and he couldn't fathom why. One of his Slytherins, no matter how insecure without their head of house present, would never risk even going to his office without permission. There was only one conclusion: she had taken leave of her senses.
Still moving, he grimaced. The only student he taught with more than half her wits about her had gone daft. Just was he needed- a truly whole class of idiots. A hand went up to massage his temples. What a very interesting homecoming.
Well, you finally had a woman awaiting you. You can die a complete man-- she even called your name.
With more difficulty than preferred, he silenced that damnable voice. He did not care if he ever had a woman who wanted him! He'd gotten along fine so far! Severus halted in his step. His hands, formerly relaxed behind his back, clenched tightly.
It was true, he didn't care if any woman wanted him. He wanted a specific woman to do that. War had finally begun to take its effect, and the gnarly Potions Master's views were changing. He'd returned from two wars and still had not tried to change his life. The average man would make the attempt to accomplish what he could not before the battle, but Severus did not learn that quickly. Luckily, he was handed the chance for a true life twice after each experience. The first he'd tainted with unrequited loyalties a misplaced sense of self-punishment. Now, however, he'd paid his dues. He'd done everything for their cause and the Order.
Vague thoughts of romance nagged at his mind now and then. He never pictured himself a romantic and probably never would be. But the chance of a life strictly on his terms was too beautiful. And he didn't want to face it alone.
Everything in his life had been faced alone.
Learn from mistakes. Break the pattern.
Snape shook his head. However catalytic this battle may have been, he did not believe it significant enough to convert to weak romanticism.
You would not be weak. It is courageous to love. You risk the chance of getting hurt.
Love? Where had that word come from? He shook his head slowly, resuming his promenade. He was tired of being courageous. And tired of being hurt. What to do?
Finally he shrugged it all off. Maybe he'd get so bored during the remainder of the year, he would take a few risks. One never knew.
Physical exertion began to take its toll. His muscles ached and his eyelids were heavy. With a heavy breath he swiftly took to his heel found his bed. The four tall posts at each corner resembled strong sentinels guarding a haven. The black curtains framed this haven.
Haven.
Had that been what it was to Miss Granger? His brow furrowed. That was preposterous. Students did not find any security in his person. A crazy Gryffindor…
Still deep in the recesses of his mind, he sat on the bed, splaying his hands out behind him. A finger felt a defect in the velvet where the cloth did not flow smoothly. It looked as it a splash of water landed right smack down on his bedcover.
Had she been crying?
Did he care?
Not exactly…he found it interesting. This was all a puzzle waiting to be solved. What an excuse.
Another heavy breath made him breathe deeply--Severus Snape did not sigh. Perhaps the mystery of Miss Know-It-All-Granger would wait for a different night when fatigue did not plague him so.
He lay down atop his blankets, fully dressed, not bothering with clothes, curtains, or covers. His breathing slowly smoothed into the rhythmic pattern of sleep. Before passing out, he knew Hermione knew something he, again, did not.
Break the pattern…
*`*`*
Wow, that was short. I tried to touch a lot more on Snape's thoughts. Hopefully they made sense. It is late at night again, but hey, when I wrote the first chapter it was late as well. Maybe it's a good omen.
Anyway, I'd like to answer a few questions/ respond to some comments that were in reviews. Don't worry, they're relevant to the story, and there won't be many. I hate these things myself and hardly ever read them.
Is Talon short for another name? You've signed your name twice with an apostrophe before the T. --SemiCHarmed
~~No, it's not. I never recognized the the " ` " before my signature looked like an apostrophe. I put it there like how people would place the " ~" symbol before their names. It's for aesthetic value.
The only thing that I would like more of is Severus's feelings. Not just wondering about how he should punish Hermione, but his thoughts about coming home to find her there. How does he feel about her? Is part of him happy to find her there? Or does he completely dislike her? You kind of went from a lot of description of his thoughts to not really much at all. --Electryone
~~I tried to cover more on Sevvy here. And you bring up some very important questions. I'll keep those in mind as I write.
This is all I'll answer now. If you have any imminent questions, I'll contact you through e-mail. Thanks for reading through all of this!
Big 'huzzahs' 'til next we meet!
`Talon