A Rose By Any Other Name.
By Kes.
Disclaimer: Ok, you know the drill. I don't own diddly-squat.
Hermione glanced nervously around the Great Hall which was slowly filling up with students. The first years were still not here, thankfully.
After their 'moment' a couple of days ago, Hermione and Severus had had very little time to be alone. Lessons had to be planned, last minute forgotten ingredients had to be purchased, and general school stuff had to be sorted out. Hermione, meanwhile, had to finish decorating her room whilst wondering who the Head Boy was. Of course, she had managed to get the name from Professor Dumbledore. She was rather shocked at who it was, but pleased none the less.
She risked a flitting glance at the large ornate table at the head of the room, and saw Severus looking back at her. He smiled slightly, enough for only her to see. She quirked an eyebrow in reply, smiled quickly and turned away to the sound of her name being called.
"Hermione! Hey, Hermione!"
Ron practically ran to her place at the table, much to the annoyance of everyone around them. He suddenly stopped awkwardly in front of her. "Um...you all right?" She blinked. Her mother. They had only just got the letter. Just as she was beginning to heal and move on, here they were opening up wounds.
But she could not blame them.
"Er, yeah, I think so Ron. Thanks." She smiled gratefully at him and Harry in turn as he arrived at the table.
She stood up, and embraced the duo in a group hug strong enough to cause Hagrid to hyperventilate. Harry patted her back rhythmically, whilst simultaneously apologising.
"I'm really sorry we couldn't be there for you Herm. We only got the letter last week, and we couldn't come back early..." She waved off his apology. "It's all right, really. Besides, I've had lots of support from...people..." Harry and Ron exchanged quizzical looks and shrugged.
They sat down, Ron climbing over to the other side of the table, after which he received a stern glance from Professor McGonagall who was currently walking up with the first years, he grinned sheepishly at her. "Herm." He whispered. "Why didn't you tell us...about, you know, your Dad... we had no idea what it was like for you at home..."
She looked at them both sadly. "What would you have done?"
For once Ron had no reply he could not comprehend such a home life. Harry had told him some of what had gone on at his uncle's house but had also been shady. Ron suddenly wanted his mum.
They stayed silent for a moment, when they heard Professor Dumbledore's voice magically echoing throughout the hall. "Welcome back to Hogwarts one and all, especially those new to our ranks..." He smiled kindly, eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses at the nervous first years.
"Now, I'd like to make a couple of announcements. Our caretaker, Mr Filch, has asked me to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is exactly that. Forbidden. It is so for a reason, so please take care. Also, on a more pleasant note, I'd like to introduce you all to the new Head Girl and Boy of Hogwarts school, Miss Hermione Granger-"
He nodded at Hermione, who smiled nervously at the staring crowd.
" - And Mr Neville Longbottom." Neville glanced nervously about as he saw the wide-eyed stares of his peers. He grinned self consciously, and hesitantly fingered his Head Boy badge, the silver gleaming in the sunlight, as if in proof of its presence on Neville's robes.
Hermione smiled at Neville. If only people knew - hell, if only Neville knew - that it was Severus who recommended him for Head Boy. Hermione mused. He thought that he was 'very Gryffindor'. After all, he's somehow managed to turn up to every single potions lesson, knowing full well his fate, and has gone through six years of Snape without any real psychological damage.
As the student body clapped politely, Hermione was drawn back to the present; she grinned at Harry and Ron, and dared a quick look at Severus who winked slightly.
"Now, when I call your name..." Professor McGonagall said to the hyperventilating first years when the clapping had died down.
"...you shall come up here, and be sorted into your houses by the sorting hat. It will select from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin..."
The dinner had gone well, as had the sorting. Hermione was pleased to see that a muggle-born had managed to be sorted into Slytherin. Strange as it was, it meant that Slytherin were beginning to be seen in a new light, especially as the 'Death Eaters in training' as the dream team had named them, had mainly turned out to be spies. Unfortunately, this had not included Malfoy Junior. His place was still an enigma. Many had been forced to testify against their own parents. They had a courage and honour unique to their house.
It was now midnight. Hermione had gone to a very quick meeting with Neville as Head Girl and Boy to see Dumbledore regarding their new duties, after which she had gone to catch up with gossip. After seeing the sympathetic glances from her peers as Ron and Harry had systematically told everyone - an agreed and edited - version of what had happened to Hermione during the summer, Hermione had decided that the sympathy was a little too much for her to handle for now, and had thus made her excuses to go to bed.
She had a quick shower, magically dried her hair, put on her old crimson-red nightdress and slipped into her new bed.
It was the first time she ha slept in this bed, having stayed in the infirmary over the holidays so that Poppy could keep an eye on her. Now she was alone.
So very alone.
Becoming increasingly aware of the extent of her loneliness, Hermione lit a small fire in an attempt to lighten the frightening atmosphere in her room. But to no avail.
She nervously crept out of bed, put her dressing gown on, and began to pace around her room. This is ridiculous! I'm scared of sleeping alone! I've never been like this before, why now? But still, I don't want to be alone...I can't go to see Neville, he's probably asleep by now, and he's happy enough by himself, he doesn't need me bringing his mood down. Harry and Ron? No! Their well-meant sympathy is somewhat suffocating at the moment. I'd be on yet another suicide watch whilst being stalked by those two for at least a week... She stopped pacing in front of the lit fire. As a new security precaution, her room had been attached to the private floo network of the school. She had access to all the teachers' private quarters and the Great Hall.
That's it.
I'm going.
She purposefully grabbed a handful of floo powder from an ornate jar on the fireplace and tossed it into the fireplace. "Severus Snape's private quarters."
Severus awoke in his chair in front of the fire with a book on his lap, forgotten. As his blurred vision cleared, he saw a vision of beauty in front of him. And she looked…scared.
He looked confused, wincing in the harsh light of the fire. "Hermione?"
"I don't want to be alone..."
She looked down at the floor, blushing slightly.
"It's the first time I've slept in a room on my own...since...well, you know...and it's a little daunting. Absurd, I know, but I was wondering if I could stay with you...I'll sleep on the sofa, obviously, but I just don't want to be alone..." A singular rogue sob escaped her lips.
"You're not being absurd. It's perfectly normal not to want to be alone after what you've been through. And there is no way you are going to sleep on the sofa, it's too small to sleep on anyway. What kind of a gentleman would I be if I let you do that?"
He took her by the elbow and gently guided her to his bedroom.
"Do you sleep on the left or the right?"
"Oh! I don't know...besides, I'll sleep on the sofa."
"Now you are being absurd. Sit." He pointed to the edge of the bed.
She sat.
He went to get changed into his nightclothes and came out of the bathroom.
In black...silk?...boxers.
And no top...
Revealing a rather - ok, very - nice torso.
Do not think strawberries, and definitely do not think cream.
Hermione gaped and inhaled deeply suddenly thinking that perhaps she would be better off in her bed. This is going to be a long night...
He looked at her and smiled shyly, suddenly aware that he was half naked in front of a woman. His complete lack of confidence had made him believe that he was unattractive to women on any level but he could see in Hermione's eyes that this perhaps was no longer the case.
She practically leapt off the bed. "You...you know what, I think I'll pass on this. I'm sure I can sleep in my own room..." That gorgeous image of a half-naked man blushing has actually been burned into my memory. I didn't know that was possible...
He gently pushed her onto the bed, and lifted her feet so that she was lying down. He walked around to the other side and lay down himself; waving his wand one last time over the bed sheets, levitating them to lay themselves over the couple, and put his wand on the table.
He hesitantly made his way towards her shivering form, her dressing gown now hanging on the door knob. He encapsulated her in his arms, gently rubbing her arm as he placed his chin on top of her head, making her look as if she had grown an extra one. He smiled.
"Comfy?"
"Very."
They fell asleep in each others arms...
A/N: Pure sap, yes, but don't say you don't love it.