A New Beginning for Two Please...
Authors Note: I am not so sure about this chapter now that I have committed it to digital format. Please tell me what you think. Is Snape too out of character, or is it not unreasonable considering Jane's effect on him?
Ok, so I changed her name back to Jane, for obvious reasons both she and Snape were having too many problems coming to grips with the change to Galatea. Trust me, I tried changing the pronunciation of my name once, I could never figure out who people were talking about, so it isn't out of the question that she would choose to revert to Jane. The reason why Jane was given such a strange name like Galatea will be explained in a later chapter.
QsDaughter, thank you for checking daily, I am glad you are that interested. To ahappyjtm, thank you for having me in your favourite author's list. I am glad you like this story that much. I hope I don't disappoint you. Generally I will post weekly, normally on Saturdays, that is my Saturday and I live in Australia. I think it is Friday night in the US.
I am currently counting the days until Order of the Phoenix is released. It is the weekend right in the middle of my final exams for this semester. Just as a quick idea of how much longer you will have to bear with me, there will be about 15 more chapters, and I will try and have it all finished by the middle of July. I hope this isn't too perturbing and none of you run away screaming. Most is complete and waiting to be typed, there are 2 chapters still to finish, but exams are getting too close for me to do much except post what has already been typed. Please forgive me. Thanks again.
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Jane recovered quickly. Even without the Nurse's magical healing abilities, the simple fact that she was cared for and regularly provided with sufficient food was enough for her to regain her strength within a very short period.
Snape spent his free time by her bedside rather than lurking in the halls hoping to catch some unfortunate student doing something they shouldn't have been. Even in class, the students noticed a change in the Potions Master's temperament. Most agreed he seemed to be a little calmer and more tolerant of errors. Students relaxed and made less mistakes, particularly Nevil Longbottom, and that just produced further improvements in Snape's demeanour.
Most still thought of Potions as their least favourite subject and most still hated or feared the cruel Potions Master, after all, he would still occasionally crack for no apparent reason, but things were generally far more tolerable all around and many wondered at the change. Harry and Ron realised that Hermione knew more than she was letting on, but the girl steadfastly stuck to her promise not to say anything. She said nothing to anyone, not even to her two best friends, and wouldn't.
Dumbledore appreciated the Hermione's ability to keep the information from becoming general knowledge and knew she was the right person for the task at hand. About two weeks after that first meeting in his office, he asked the young Witch to return to his office. This time he had some good news for her. He watched as she sat uncomfortably, waiting for him to speak.
"Relax Miss Granger, you aren't in any trouble. The reason I have called you here today is because Professor Snape seems to think his guest is ready to meet you. My understanding is that she is not yet completely recovered, but that she is well on the way, and is becoming increasingly bored with being left alone in the hospital wing for such long periods."
"Her recovery is good news Headmaster." The witch said mildly.
"Indeed it is Miss Granger." The Potions Master's silky voice agreed from behind her.
Hermione jumped, startled. Where had he come from? "Professor Snape."
Snape looked at the startled student, slightly amused, eyes shining. "Correct again Miss Granger. It would seem that you are, indeed, a very clever Witch."
Hermione was flabbergasted. He was playing with her. Snape was actually playing with her. She couldn't wait to meet the Muggle girl. She must have been very special to have such a significant effect on the evil Potions Master. Hermione smiled at him shyly, and he laughed at her timidity. Hermione turned bright red, the Potions Master laughed more. Hermione couldn't believe it. Snape was laughing!
"Severus, do try to control yourself. I don't want you frightening or confusing the students with such extreme changes in disposition." Dumbledore admonished, almost as amused as the Potions Master at Hermione's surprise.
Snape contained his amusement. "Sorry Headmaster." He choked out. "Forgive me for frightening you Miss Granger." He bowed slightly, amusement still dwelling in his eyes.
Hermione nodded, unable to speak, momentarily dumbstruck at the change.
"Miss Granger, the Headmaster is correct. My guest has indeed recovered to the point where I think it would be acceptable for her to have a visitor from the larger school community." Snape watched the girl's reaction and thought she seemed pleased. "I want to explain a few things to you about her background before you meet her however, it may make things a little easier for you."
"Yes Professor." Hermione looked at him expectantly.
"The young lady's name is Jane." Snape saw that Dumbledore had looked at him, surprised by that statement. He turned to the Headmaster to explain. "She told me this morning that she wished to be known as Jane. It seemed that she was concerned that I was having some difficulty in overcoming my previous conditioning and so she decided to return to the name I was comfortable with." Snape smiled. "She explained that I was the only one that mattered to her and she didn't want me to have to struggle to come to grips with her new identity. I think she was finding it somewhat difficult to come to terms with the change herself actually."
Dumbledore nodded and Snape turned his attention back to Hermione.
"Jane has not had the most pleasant of childhoods; in fact she has spent most of her life on the streets." Hermione paled at this information but continued to listen intently. "She has been abused in the most heinous of ways possible," Hermione saw Snape's eyes flash angrily at this, and felt a sickening feeling rise in her stomach, "and yet, she found it in herself to help me when I was in dire need of assistance after my last visit with the Dark Lord." He looked pointedly at the student. "You DO understand what I mean don't you Miss Granger."
"Yes Professor Snape." Hermione looked at him sympathetically.
Rumours that he had been killed had spread quickly during Snape's most recent and extended absence. This relieved most students; he was, after all, the least popular of the schools teaching staff. Only Harry, Ron and Hermione knew what Snape did during his absences, and they were reluctant to feel joy at the spread of the rumours, all three secretly fearing that they might well have been true. While they may have hated the Potions Master as much as the rest of the students, they all knew his death would have serious implications in the ongoing battle against the Dark Lord.
Most students also suspected his rumoured near death experience was the reason for his increased affability; Hermione had expected the girl, Jane, was the reason for the change. Now it was confirmed, she could see it in his eyes, the girl had stolen his heart when she had saved his life.
"I am grateful to Jane for what she did for me. So grateful, in fact, that I felt compelled to bring her with me when I returned here. I want her life to be a little easier; I want her to have the opportunities she deserves. That is where you come in. I want you to teach her and I want you to be her friend. I will admit to some initial reluctance to accept you in this role, however I have now realised that you are the best person for the job, and I am willing to put aside any animosity I feel towards you for being a Gryffindor if you are willing to do the same for any past perceived mistreatment you have received from me. I don't want her to witness any animosity between us that would require her to choose between us. Jane knows nothing of house rivalry, it would be preferable to keep it that way, although I personally doubt that will be possible."
Perceived mistreatment! That was a bit rich coming from Snape. There was nothing perceived about his mistreatment of non-Slytherin students. Hermione had to agree about keeping rivalries and animosity between them to a minimum though. Although she too doubted it would be possible, she would try her best. "Yes Professor, I agree."
"I rather thought you might." He looked at the Headmaster. "If you will excuse us Headmaster, I think we should go now. Jane was quite excited when I told her about Hermione's visit."
Dumbledore nodded. "Off you go then. Do try not to kill each other."
Snape huffed and stalked to the door. He held it open. "Well Miss Granger, are you coming or not?"
Hermione jumped to her feet and moved hastily to the door, aware that Snape's pleasant disposition was only a thin veneer that wouldn't withstand too much testing.
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Jane looked up expectantly when she heard the door open. Seeing Severus, she smiled cheerfully. He smiled in return. Hermione found it somewhat frightening. She was even more surprised when Snape moved quickly to the side of the bed and put his arms around the girl. For that brief moment, Hermione thought he actually looked at peace. It surprised her that would display such vulnerability to a child, especially when a student was present. Wonders would never cease.
"Jane," Snape's normally caustic voice was soft and tender, "I have brought someone to meet you. This is Hermione Granger."
Hermione moved forward and smiled.
"Hello Miss Granger." Jane greeted in a small, slightly cautious voice.
"Hello Jane," Hermione smiled again. "Call me Hermione."
Jane looked at Hermione and decided she looked ok. "Ok Hermione. Call me Jane." Hermione snorted inelegantly, but she couldn't help herself. Now she knew where Snape had gained his sense of humour. "Severus tells me you are very smart and you are going to teach me to read and write."
"I will try." Hermione answered, surprised at the Jane's use of Snape's first name.
"Severus says you never just try, you always succeed."
Hermione blushed at the second-hand complement, and smiled at Snape. "Thank you Professor."
Snape responded with a small nod. "Don't prove me wrong and I may just find my way to complement you again Miss Granger." He bent and kissed Jane on the head. "I will leave you two now. Don't over do it young lady or you will be in trouble." He warned lightly as he stood.
"No Severus, I won't. I promise. Thank you for bringing Hermione."
Snape was smiling as he walked to the door. "A brief word if I may Miss Granger."
Following him to the door she waited expectantly. "Yes Professor?"
"I trust you can keep your mouth closed about what you have seen here." He hissed, quietly enough that Jane wouldn't hear. "If I find my reputation is tarnished in any way what so ever, you will regret your decision to participate in Janes education. Do you understand me?"
Understanding EXACTLY what he meant, but seriously doubting anyone truly understood him, Hermione nodded. "Yes Professor, I understand. You can trust me."
"I already am Miss Granger, and I certainly hope my trust isn't misplaced. Come and see me after class tomorrow and we shall discuss your plans for my young friend."
"Yes Professor."
Snape turned to the door and pushed it open. "Thank you Miss Granger, things will get easier." His words were so quiet, that Hermione almost missed them. Snape left the hospital wing. Hermione returned to Jane and spent the afternoon getting to know this surprising new addition to the Hogwarts family.
Authors Note: I am not so sure about this chapter now that I have committed it to digital format. Please tell me what you think. Is Snape too out of character, or is it not unreasonable considering Jane's effect on him?
Ok, so I changed her name back to Jane, for obvious reasons both she and Snape were having too many problems coming to grips with the change to Galatea. Trust me, I tried changing the pronunciation of my name once, I could never figure out who people were talking about, so it isn't out of the question that she would choose to revert to Jane. The reason why Jane was given such a strange name like Galatea will be explained in a later chapter.
QsDaughter, thank you for checking daily, I am glad you are that interested. To ahappyjtm, thank you for having me in your favourite author's list. I am glad you like this story that much. I hope I don't disappoint you. Generally I will post weekly, normally on Saturdays, that is my Saturday and I live in Australia. I think it is Friday night in the US.
I am currently counting the days until Order of the Phoenix is released. It is the weekend right in the middle of my final exams for this semester. Just as a quick idea of how much longer you will have to bear with me, there will be about 15 more chapters, and I will try and have it all finished by the middle of July. I hope this isn't too perturbing and none of you run away screaming. Most is complete and waiting to be typed, there are 2 chapters still to finish, but exams are getting too close for me to do much except post what has already been typed. Please forgive me. Thanks again.
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Jane recovered quickly. Even without the Nurse's magical healing abilities, the simple fact that she was cared for and regularly provided with sufficient food was enough for her to regain her strength within a very short period.
Snape spent his free time by her bedside rather than lurking in the halls hoping to catch some unfortunate student doing something they shouldn't have been. Even in class, the students noticed a change in the Potions Master's temperament. Most agreed he seemed to be a little calmer and more tolerant of errors. Students relaxed and made less mistakes, particularly Nevil Longbottom, and that just produced further improvements in Snape's demeanour.
Most still thought of Potions as their least favourite subject and most still hated or feared the cruel Potions Master, after all, he would still occasionally crack for no apparent reason, but things were generally far more tolerable all around and many wondered at the change. Harry and Ron realised that Hermione knew more than she was letting on, but the girl steadfastly stuck to her promise not to say anything. She said nothing to anyone, not even to her two best friends, and wouldn't.
Dumbledore appreciated the Hermione's ability to keep the information from becoming general knowledge and knew she was the right person for the task at hand. About two weeks after that first meeting in his office, he asked the young Witch to return to his office. This time he had some good news for her. He watched as she sat uncomfortably, waiting for him to speak.
"Relax Miss Granger, you aren't in any trouble. The reason I have called you here today is because Professor Snape seems to think his guest is ready to meet you. My understanding is that she is not yet completely recovered, but that she is well on the way, and is becoming increasingly bored with being left alone in the hospital wing for such long periods."
"Her recovery is good news Headmaster." The witch said mildly.
"Indeed it is Miss Granger." The Potions Master's silky voice agreed from behind her.
Hermione jumped, startled. Where had he come from? "Professor Snape."
Snape looked at the startled student, slightly amused, eyes shining. "Correct again Miss Granger. It would seem that you are, indeed, a very clever Witch."
Hermione was flabbergasted. He was playing with her. Snape was actually playing with her. She couldn't wait to meet the Muggle girl. She must have been very special to have such a significant effect on the evil Potions Master. Hermione smiled at him shyly, and he laughed at her timidity. Hermione turned bright red, the Potions Master laughed more. Hermione couldn't believe it. Snape was laughing!
"Severus, do try to control yourself. I don't want you frightening or confusing the students with such extreme changes in disposition." Dumbledore admonished, almost as amused as the Potions Master at Hermione's surprise.
Snape contained his amusement. "Sorry Headmaster." He choked out. "Forgive me for frightening you Miss Granger." He bowed slightly, amusement still dwelling in his eyes.
Hermione nodded, unable to speak, momentarily dumbstruck at the change.
"Miss Granger, the Headmaster is correct. My guest has indeed recovered to the point where I think it would be acceptable for her to have a visitor from the larger school community." Snape watched the girl's reaction and thought she seemed pleased. "I want to explain a few things to you about her background before you meet her however, it may make things a little easier for you."
"Yes Professor." Hermione looked at him expectantly.
"The young lady's name is Jane." Snape saw that Dumbledore had looked at him, surprised by that statement. He turned to the Headmaster to explain. "She told me this morning that she wished to be known as Jane. It seemed that she was concerned that I was having some difficulty in overcoming my previous conditioning and so she decided to return to the name I was comfortable with." Snape smiled. "She explained that I was the only one that mattered to her and she didn't want me to have to struggle to come to grips with her new identity. I think she was finding it somewhat difficult to come to terms with the change herself actually."
Dumbledore nodded and Snape turned his attention back to Hermione.
"Jane has not had the most pleasant of childhoods; in fact she has spent most of her life on the streets." Hermione paled at this information but continued to listen intently. "She has been abused in the most heinous of ways possible," Hermione saw Snape's eyes flash angrily at this, and felt a sickening feeling rise in her stomach, "and yet, she found it in herself to help me when I was in dire need of assistance after my last visit with the Dark Lord." He looked pointedly at the student. "You DO understand what I mean don't you Miss Granger."
"Yes Professor Snape." Hermione looked at him sympathetically.
Rumours that he had been killed had spread quickly during Snape's most recent and extended absence. This relieved most students; he was, after all, the least popular of the schools teaching staff. Only Harry, Ron and Hermione knew what Snape did during his absences, and they were reluctant to feel joy at the spread of the rumours, all three secretly fearing that they might well have been true. While they may have hated the Potions Master as much as the rest of the students, they all knew his death would have serious implications in the ongoing battle against the Dark Lord.
Most students also suspected his rumoured near death experience was the reason for his increased affability; Hermione had expected the girl, Jane, was the reason for the change. Now it was confirmed, she could see it in his eyes, the girl had stolen his heart when she had saved his life.
"I am grateful to Jane for what she did for me. So grateful, in fact, that I felt compelled to bring her with me when I returned here. I want her life to be a little easier; I want her to have the opportunities she deserves. That is where you come in. I want you to teach her and I want you to be her friend. I will admit to some initial reluctance to accept you in this role, however I have now realised that you are the best person for the job, and I am willing to put aside any animosity I feel towards you for being a Gryffindor if you are willing to do the same for any past perceived mistreatment you have received from me. I don't want her to witness any animosity between us that would require her to choose between us. Jane knows nothing of house rivalry, it would be preferable to keep it that way, although I personally doubt that will be possible."
Perceived mistreatment! That was a bit rich coming from Snape. There was nothing perceived about his mistreatment of non-Slytherin students. Hermione had to agree about keeping rivalries and animosity between them to a minimum though. Although she too doubted it would be possible, she would try her best. "Yes Professor, I agree."
"I rather thought you might." He looked at the Headmaster. "If you will excuse us Headmaster, I think we should go now. Jane was quite excited when I told her about Hermione's visit."
Dumbledore nodded. "Off you go then. Do try not to kill each other."
Snape huffed and stalked to the door. He held it open. "Well Miss Granger, are you coming or not?"
Hermione jumped to her feet and moved hastily to the door, aware that Snape's pleasant disposition was only a thin veneer that wouldn't withstand too much testing.
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Jane looked up expectantly when she heard the door open. Seeing Severus, she smiled cheerfully. He smiled in return. Hermione found it somewhat frightening. She was even more surprised when Snape moved quickly to the side of the bed and put his arms around the girl. For that brief moment, Hermione thought he actually looked at peace. It surprised her that would display such vulnerability to a child, especially when a student was present. Wonders would never cease.
"Jane," Snape's normally caustic voice was soft and tender, "I have brought someone to meet you. This is Hermione Granger."
Hermione moved forward and smiled.
"Hello Miss Granger." Jane greeted in a small, slightly cautious voice.
"Hello Jane," Hermione smiled again. "Call me Hermione."
Jane looked at Hermione and decided she looked ok. "Ok Hermione. Call me Jane." Hermione snorted inelegantly, but she couldn't help herself. Now she knew where Snape had gained his sense of humour. "Severus tells me you are very smart and you are going to teach me to read and write."
"I will try." Hermione answered, surprised at the Jane's use of Snape's first name.
"Severus says you never just try, you always succeed."
Hermione blushed at the second-hand complement, and smiled at Snape. "Thank you Professor."
Snape responded with a small nod. "Don't prove me wrong and I may just find my way to complement you again Miss Granger." He bent and kissed Jane on the head. "I will leave you two now. Don't over do it young lady or you will be in trouble." He warned lightly as he stood.
"No Severus, I won't. I promise. Thank you for bringing Hermione."
Snape was smiling as he walked to the door. "A brief word if I may Miss Granger."
Following him to the door she waited expectantly. "Yes Professor?"
"I trust you can keep your mouth closed about what you have seen here." He hissed, quietly enough that Jane wouldn't hear. "If I find my reputation is tarnished in any way what so ever, you will regret your decision to participate in Janes education. Do you understand me?"
Understanding EXACTLY what he meant, but seriously doubting anyone truly understood him, Hermione nodded. "Yes Professor, I understand. You can trust me."
"I already am Miss Granger, and I certainly hope my trust isn't misplaced. Come and see me after class tomorrow and we shall discuss your plans for my young friend."
"Yes Professor."
Snape turned to the door and pushed it open. "Thank you Miss Granger, things will get easier." His words were so quiet, that Hermione almost missed them. Snape left the hospital wing. Hermione returned to Jane and spent the afternoon getting to know this surprising new addition to the Hogwarts family.