Disclaimer: If it was mine, I would be rolling in glee. But it isn't.
Oh…damn. I had this chapter completed almost a week ago, but I sent it to my best friend and so I thought that I had posted. So sorry! I didn't realize until I went to put the…well, it will be the seventh chapter, up and type in the last line of the previous chapter. Oops. So, I will paste in what I had written before. Hey, I hope that everyone is having a great Christmas/holiday. I hope also that this isn't too much of a late update; I was trying really hard to get out in a fairly timely fashion. Please review and give me a wonderful Christmas present, even if you hate it!
The door to Granger's room was on his left, but as he turned to go in, he very nearly fell over the figure emerging.
"Madame! I was just about to go in to see Miss Granger, whom, I've no doubt, has spent much of today resting." He nodded to the woman and brushed past her, not eager to get into a discussion about patient behavior.
When he walked into the stark white room, he saw the girl on the bed tucking into a large dinner. An untidy array of parchment and books lay on the table beside her. Hermione was too engrossed in her food to notice when he came in. He would never admit that it was because he had slipped into the room with the silence of the snake that was his House's symbol, interested in seeing how the perfect Miss Granger acted when no one was looking. His gaze was shortly interrupted when she glanced up and saw him standing there.
"Oh, Professor! Madame Pomfrey was able to find you! But she was rather quick in doing it; did she Floo you?" Hermione brushed a thick lock of her drattedly long chestnut hair off her face then decided it would just be easier to loop it up in a knot. She did so, while keeping her eyes on her Potions Professor, who was simply staring calmly as she spoke rather faster and more loudly than she had intended. Well, it wasn't her fault; she really was a normally composed person, but there was something about him! She had noticed it last night, too.
"No, Miss Granger. Were you so engrossed in your studies that you had forgotten? Or was it the food?" Hermione's eyes widened in outrage.
'I would have thought, Professor Snape, that such crude, not to mention unbased, comments would be below you. I am sorry to have my conception disproved…oh." She had disregarded Snape's eye dart to the pile of books on her bedside table, assuming that it was simply a… twitch, or something. She should have known better. Severus Snape let nothing show without reason.
"Funny," she said dourly, but then relaxed her face into a smile. "Sir, I've read through a great deal of the material, and you will find my notes there," here she nodded at the small table," but I have several questions regarding the actual project. Now, you say here that the processes will combine several or more…"
As Hermione spoke, Snape came around the side of the bed and dropped gracefully into a chair set there, focused on her. Within moments an earthquake or, more likely, a Deatheater Invasion would have been all that could have detached the two studious people from the parchments and books which soon littered the bed and floor of the small Infirmary room.
Several hours later, Snape stirred himself from Hermione's bedside. Although he gave no outward sign of it, he was rather loath to leave. However, he knew that he had to be the adult in the room, even if the intellect the girl had show had proved her to be well beyond her peers, and most of his, in regards to intelligence and the sheer will to learn. Still, he figured that Poppy would have either his head or hers if he stayed any longer, and though she had not seemed to notice, she was tired. Granger was so intent upon studying a paragraph of a text that he had shed some light on that she didn't even notice when he got up. She turned the page as she stifled a small yawn and Snape rolled his eyes, knowing that no one would see him do it, She did rather remind him of himself when he had been up late studying.
"Accio Les Liquides de Vie et Plus˝ he muttered. The book flew off the girl's bed and landed with a thump into Severus's outstretched palms. She looked up, owlishly blinking in confusion.
"What did you do that for? I was almost done if you wanted the book back."
"Miss Granger, it is rather time that you were abed; you will not overstrain yourself if you wish to be my assistant."
Hermione glared at him, not caring for the moment that he was her Professor. "I will NOT overstrain myself, I AM 18 years old and I DO know when to put myself to bed, I'm not a first year who doesn't know her head from her…wand and I really resent the amount of times that I have been told to eat, drink, or rest today!" Hermione's rant could, and probably would, have continued from some times, especially as Snape found it totally amusing, but her tirade was interrupted by much too loud claps that were issuing from the doorway. The person who stood there was somehow out of Hermione's line of view, but Snape could see clearly and he gave a wry grin to the figure.
"A MOST impassioned speech, Miss Granger. However, as the Headmaster of this school and therefore a parental figure of a sort, I must agree with Poppy and Severus that you really mustn't tire yourself out after such an ordeal as you had just yesterday. I am truly glad that you and Severus have found each others company so enjoyable that you were able to spend such a length of time together." The Headmaster smiled mischievously, and you haven't seen a mischievous smile unless you've seen Albus's. His face crinkles in a million tiny wrinkles, each full to the brim with good humor, and his eyes sparkle with mirth that even three year olds would be hard put to rival.
"It was the material!" Two voices shouted the same words, in similar scandalized tones, almost simultaneously. The Headmaster's smile changed not a wit as he nodded in agreement, although everyone in the room knew he was as close to agreeing with their assessment of their own situation as he was close to being a flowerpot. Although with Dumbledore you never really knew.
"All right. Severus, I'm sure you need sleep as well, so I hope to see you cheerful and rested bright and early tomorrow morning at breakfast. The forecast by the weather witches say that it ought to be a gloriously sunny day, so the Hall should look magnificent." Albus beamed at his young friend, knowing that there were few ways faster to get Severus Snape beating a hasty retreat from the vicinity than the mention of cheerfulness and sunshine. Even if it was half for show. It worked, as always, and after a quick pardon, the Potions Master left the room and the Headmaster was alone with Hermione, He glanced down at the girl with his eyes that saw everything and wished that they really did. He would give a great deal to know what lay in the head of the girl who was staring bemusedly after her Potions Master. At least he could make a very good guess. That was really what his omniscience was; a lifetime of making damn good guesses. "Miss Granger, I do hope you don't mind me taking up a few moments of your time before you get back to the sleep that I know you so earnestly desire." The last was said in a droll tone, as he had heard her little speech earlier and Hermione smiled a little, Perfect Head Girl with her complete attention and focus on him, ready to burn into her mind whatever words fell from his mouth, "I merely wanted your opinion on how you think you will like working with Professor Snape and what you think he is trying to accomplish with his research." He wanted to couch his words carefully, knowing that the brilliant girl in front of him would pick up on the cue this was a test of sorts.
"Well, sir, I believe that we will get along fine. He may hate us Gryffindors and I may not like Slytherins very much, but this isn't a Quidditch field. The important thing here is the effort against Voldemort, If I may, I think that that may answer your second question. I believe that Professor Snape wishes to create an antidote for the potion that the Dark Lord used to resurrect himself. Without this protection, it should be a much simpler, though still complicated, task to defeat him." Dumbledore nodded and smiled at her. She had gotten almost everything, if only…
Hermione's brows furrowed in thought and she spoke again. "No, an antidote isn't right, This isn't a natural potion and it isn't meant merely to erase the effects, but to do more than that. Hmmm. I want to say counter, but that doesn't quite fit either…" Now Dumbledore's smile got just a fraction wider. She really had gotten it all.
"Its called a Key, Hermione, and there have only been five Keys ever found in magical history. It has never taken less than a full decade to form one, but you and Professor Snape will have the challenge of attempting to create one in a mere seven months." Before he even had the chance to give one of his usual pep talks about confidence and his belief in their abilities, she cut in.
"And we'll do it. I'm not trivializing the job, I know how much effort it will take, but no matter what, I am going to do this." Her mouth was set in a determined line and her arms crossed over her chest as though to keep them from leaping from her and immediately beginning the job. Just like Severus, so many years ago and every day since. But that thought was most likely to early. He hated when he got there before himself. Dumbledore patted the girl's arm in agreement and slid out of the room, simply telling her, "Yes."
Hermione sat firmly upright in her bed for a few minutes, pondering what she had said to Dumbledore and what he had said back. She twisted her lip with her teeth, a habit that often gave her bloody lips to show for it. She heard Madame Pomfrey come in, could tell by the sound of the enormous robes brushing the floor with a rather harsh rasp.
"Ready for bed, dear? Would you like a cup of hot cocoa before you sleep?" Hermione smiled at the genuine solicitousness in the woman's voice, but shook her head. The Mediwitch pulled her wand out of the sleeve of her robe and changed Hermione into a fresh Infirmary nightgown. Then she waved it again to change the sheets, and Hermione tucked herself into the fresh smelling bleached fabric with a quiet "good night".
Severus Snape knew when Albus wanted him gone, and while normally he would have stuck around long enough to at least hear the reasons he was being subtly shooed out of the room, tonight he was eager to get down to the dungeons and begin researching a few things the girl had brought to his attention. She really was pretty sharp. He would see what the other teachers saw in her if only she wasn't quite so obnoxious in class. Although come to think of it, she really hadn't been quite so annoying in the last few years. Well, she did help Longbottom entirely too much. The boy had to learn sometime how to stand, fall, and blow up cauldrons on his own. If only he had turned spy a few weeks earlier, the boy would have grown up with some of the bravest and most competent people of their generation. Lost in bad memories, Snape wandered the corridors to his laboratory, knowing damn well that he wouldn't be able to sleep again tonight. Well, at least he would get a lot of research done.
Severus opened the door to his rooms after undoing the myriad of complicated spells and incantations that protected him from…whatever. Before he entered his chambers, he traced the pattern of the thick oaken door. It was rather unsurprisingly a snake, a gorgeous silver creature whose tongue would occasionally flicker at the passers-by, especially if it thought it could scar them. Airain had been guarding his doors with alacrity since Snape had begun his teaching career, and he was one of the few objects that Snape talked to. After all, he already knew everything that happened to him anyways.
"Severrrusss. How nissse to ssee you. You went thrrrough the back doorrr the lassst few timesss." The sibilant voice was reproachful, but Severus ignored it.
"I'm sure you're wasting away in sorrow. But I wanted to know if there has been anyone around in the last few days. Loitering, looking or trying not to look suspicious?" Knowing that Severus had his own reasons for asking, the snake replied in the negative, after considering the question for a few moments, Still, Airain could not resist the chance to poke some fun at his somber master's expense.
"Visssiting a lady, werrre you, Severrrusss? Why don't you brrring herr back to uss? Itsss been ssso long sssince we've had one herre, hasssn't it? Nothing interesting ever happensss."
Usually this was good for an argument or two, but today Severus simply opted to glare at him, and, reaching for the door handle, slam him rather hard into the frame.
Severus knew he shouldn't let a snake that was stuck to a door (though it was a very nice door to be stuck to) get to him, but when it continually brought up the same remarks that people like Sirius Black had, it really was exasperating. Well, it wasn't like it mattered. Now, as then, he had a goal, though he hoped that was all he had in common with that boy. Besides, he could probably have lady company if he wished it. Well, he was not a liar…when he wasn't forced to it, and he had to reflect on that statement as he gazed into the mirror in his bathroom, where he had retired after walking into his rooms. He needed a hot shower, but he could not indulge in the luxury of washing his hair, for he had to maintain at all times the appearance of a man who didn't give a damn about what he looked like and who didn't want other people to give a damn either. He wasn't so certain that this was true, but his personality kept the adults away and his personality coupled with his features kept all the children out of his greasy hair. He snorted, wondering whether the children really thought they were quiet when they whispered in the hallways. So maybe he was alone, but there was nothing to say that he didn't want it that way. In truth, he had always fancied a life free of those ephemeral attachments that others seemed to fling about so carelessly, but he had to admit that that hadn't worked out so well for him. He had become a Death Eater, he had become a spy, he had become an old man before he was forty. Severus shook his head and stepped into the scalding water, ignoring all thoughts but those the pounding drops drove into him.
Poor, poor Severus. Wait will happen to him? Have a wonderful and safe Christmas and I hope everyone gets what they want with people they love. As always, I love dearly those who take the time to review (hint, hint…this would be a wonderful Christmas present…):
Janet, Here's hoping I get around to calling you and wishing you a merry Christmas, and bugging you to read my other fic. Just click on the nice little link on the top of the page top my author page, its really simple, dear.
To my anonymous reviewer: I wish you had left a name, that was so nice of you! My muses are blushing from the praise. Really, its amusing.
LadyRhiyana: Yeah, I try to make my characters more than two-dimensional. And be on the lookout for more Snape Angst and more Snape-like HermioneJ
Kathryne L. Crockett: Thanks for the encouragement, and I would be really saddened if my muses killed Snape. Really don't think they will, though, as they like him as much as I do!