A/N: The world of Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. I am just having fun
playing with her characters. This story is rated R for a reason. You have
been warned.
Chapter Five
That evening after dinner Severus made his way to Hermione's chambers, which were on the third floor near Gryffindor Tower. He was angry with her, had been all over dinner but she hadn't seemed to see this or ask him what was wrong. He knocked hard on her door and when she opened it and invited him in, he stepped through and she closed the door behind him.
"Missing something?" Severus asked straight away, glaring at Hermione with his eyebrows raised. She looked slightly taken back and watched as he pulled something out of his robe pocket. Something small and glittery. Her heart sank.
"Oh, Severus. Yes." She said raising her hands to cover her lips and nodding. "I took it off in Potions and must have forgotten to replace it. I guess I'm not used to wearing it yet. I'm sorry, love."
"So, it wasn't some kind of message to me then? You still want this ring?" He asked, wanting a straight answer.
"With all my heart I want this ring. I just didn't want it to get damaged; it's such an exquisite piece of workmanship that means so much to me. I honestly did not mean anything by taking it off and leaving it on your desk." She said quickly and sincerely, a look of horror on her face at how he had misconstrued the simple situation. "How can you even think that, Severus?" She asked incredulously, how could he still feel insecure about her love for him after all this time?
"It was just a shock, that's all." He said. "But you don't need to worry about damaging it, it has numerous impenetrable charms upon it and it can't be stolen from you either. Only you can wear it or it will begin to shrink and cut off the thief's finger before returning itself to you." She grimaced at the thought. "Here. Let me start the evening off again." Placing the ring back on her finger he stepped back he cleared his throat. "Good evening, love. You are looking beautiful this evening." Severus said as he took her in with his dark and penetrating gaze. She chuckled at his fast change in demeanour towards her and the fact she had not had time yet to change from her normal everyday teaching robes.
"You're not looking so bad yourself." She commented, stepping closer to embrace him lovingly. "Come and sit by the fire, its chilly here." They made their way into the sitting room and got themselves comfortable on the couch beside the fire, Severus' arm around Hermione as she nuzzled her back into his chest and rested the back of her head on his shoulder, legs curled up underneath her.
"Any problems with your second Potions class this afternoon?" He asked as he gently released her hair from its bun and ran his fingers through it. He had been teaching on of his second year DADA classes and therefore, had not been anywhere near the dungeons for the last period.
"It went smoothly, just one melted cauldron and a few points lost from Ravenclaw for a forgotten text book." She smiled at how much easier her second class had been compared to the first one. Her Slytherin and Gryffindor mixed classes always seemed to have much tension which came along with them. She was amazed that any Slytherin and a Gryffindor could get along at all; they were brought up to have so much animosity towards each other with the intense inter-house rivalry that went on. She and Severus seemed to be made for each other though and perhaps when they met in matrimony it would cause fewer problems for their students to adjust to the change in politics as well.
"Anything more regarding Mr. Granger?" Hermione asked.
"No, he's keeping his head down, the model student to tell the truth... Well, since your conversation this afternoon anyway. I will get to the bottom of this tomorrow though, whether I have to use Veritaserum to do it or not." He said dead pan.
"Severus, you know that's illegal!" She said quickly and he just chuckled, moving his hands from her hair to loosen off the buttons on her blouse under her robes. "Do you have your appointments sorted out for tomorrow?" She asked as his right hand crept round her body and began to slowly massage her left nipple.
"Yes. I'll have students from 9am until 2pm, and then free to pursue other goals. And you?" He asked awaiting her reply.
"9am until 4pm. The Weasley quads tried to see me all together but I told them it was an individual meeting and I needed to see them separately." She chuckled. "Honestly, I don't believe they've spent much time apart at all. In fact, if they are telepathically linked, as I suspect they may be partially, I'll probably end up with exactly the same answers to all of my questions." By this time Severus had began to undo Hermione's bra and was slowly kissing her down her neck. "So, this staff meeting on." She began but was immediately cut off by Severus.
"Hermione!" Severus stopped what he was doing abruptly. "I have other things on my mind right now, far more enjoyable things I might add. Can we please refrain from talking shop just for now and enjoy this time we have?"
"Of course love, I'm sorry." Hermione said moving to sit up straight, turning around and then coming back to straddle his lap. She could feel his hardness through his robes straight away and rolled her hips back and forth to send shivers through his body, giggling as she did so. He inhaled sharply and she stopped, proceeding to kiss him thoroughly on the lips instead, while running her fingers through his hair. He moved his hands back to finishing off undoing the buttons on her shirt and pushing the fabric aside. He now had total access to her breasts and took this opportunity to his full advantage. She still had her tongue rammed down his throat and was beginning to undo Severus' many buttons on his waistcoat. Finally reaching the bottom she began work on his shirt, why Severus had to wear clothes with so many buttons was beyond her- Velcro would be such an asset right now.
Severus moved his lips from hers and proceeded to kiss along her jaw, down her neck and finally covering and sucking on her right nipple. She inhaled sharply and tilted her head back, her hair spilling down her back. He suddenly stood up with her legs going around his back tightly and moved them to the floor, ensuring he was positioned between her legs. He quickly removed her under garments, pushing her long skirt up to bunch around her waist. She released the buttons on his fly allowing his erection to spring free from its previous restraint. Severus re-positioned himself to enter her and finally release both of their tension when a loud buzzing suddenly sounded causing him to look up suddenly in surprise and glance around the room trying to find where it was coming from. Hermione struggled out from underneath him as quickly as she could.
"Hermione? We can't stop now!" He said forcefully as he watched her scramble to her feet and button her clothes as quickly as possible. She moved over to her far wall, waving her wand over it and muttering. appearo. The wall suddenly showed the interior of the Gryffindor common room where the Weasley quads were in the thick of dark grey smoke and several students were coughing and spluttering on the fumes.
"Oh, Merlin! I have to go, Severus. I'm so sorry." She said pulling herself together and trying to sort out her very dishevelled appearance as quickly as she could and failing somewhat in the process. Severus quickly got to his feet and started buttoning his clothes as well.
"Do you need help in the common room?" He asked figuring that if they were quick enough they could still get something out of this evening.
"Erm. yes, if you like." Hermione said as she bolted for her door. Severus having finished with all of his buttons- how on earth could he fasten them all so quickly? - followed her out of her chambers at a run.
"Ursa Major!" Hermione shouted at the Fat Lady who opened obediently at the flustered Head of House and both she and Severus made their way quickly into the common room. "What is going on in here?" Hermione shouted over the pandemonium within. The prefects were attempting to pull students away from the thickening smoke cloud and Severus quickly dispersed the fumes as he was used to doing in potions, the air clearing immediately.
"We don't know what happened, Professor." Samuel Davies replied; being a prefect he was trying to calm down the younger students.
"A bang sounded from the fireplace and suddenly all this smoke appeared." Connie O'Malley, the other seventh year Gryffindor prefect filled them in as she stepped round many students who were spluttering and trying to catch their breaths.
"Do you think something was sent through the internal floo, Professor?" Sam asked.
"It is possible, Professor Granger." Severus replied in his silky voice as he moved closer to the Gryffindor fireplace. Students moved quickly out of his way, what was the Slytherin Head doing in the Gryffindor common room anyway? What business was this of his?
"Professor Snape, take a look at this." Hermione said bending down to point at a small grey block about one inch square, that appeared to have something like a lid open on the top. Severus came over and had a look, picking it up for closer inspection.
"It's a smoke bomb. They are activated by an incantation from a wand. If we can find the wand that did this, we've found our culprit. Unless of course, by some miracle the culprit owns up." Severus stood back up and moved over to the fireplace once again. Muttering an incantation and looking over his shoulder he motioned to Hermione. "We can find out where that bomb came from by going through the floo. I've said the incantation and all we need to do is use the floo powder." Hermione nodded and turned to her prefects.
"Connie and Sam. Could you and the other prefects escort any students feeling unwell to the infirmary and summon the House Elves to help clean up in here. I will be going through the floo with Professor Snape and we'll get to the bottom of this." She instructed.
"Yes, Professor." They both responded as Severus and Hermione proceeded to step into the flames and drop a handful of floo powder. They were suddenly gripped by green flames and were gone from sight in the blink of an eye.
~~*~~
The internal floo network spat them out into a large room that was dimly lit with a few dark leather sofas dotted about and dark green carpeted floors. The room seemed to be devoid of all life. There were many portraits on the walls and the walls themselves were made out of dark stone indicating that they had been deposited somewhere in the dungeons of Hogwarts. Hermione stepped forward gazing around at the walls, ceiling and floors before turning back to Severus who she could see was struggling to keep his temper in check.
"Where are we, Severus?" She asked, her voice echoing slightly off the walls.
"This is the Slytherin ante-common room. The main common room can be found through that portrait of the Dying Murman over there." Severus said as he pointed towards a particularly gruesome painting.
"So, someone in Slytherin decided to play a practical joke on my Gryffindors?" Hermione asked, alarmed and somewhat disappointed that the inter-house rivalry had escalated to this.
"It certainly does seem that way." Severus said moving towards the portrait of the Dying Murman, which opened at his request. Hermione followed him through the portrait hole and they emerged into the main Slytherin common room where around thirty students could be found who all looked up in surprise at their entrance.
"Miss Flint, Mr. Balshowitz. Assemble the House immediately." Severus ordered and the two prefects leapt from their sofa and headed down to the respective dormitories. Severus and Hermione stood and waited while the students assembled themselves in the common room.
"Tonight. A smoke bomb was sent through the internal floo network from the secondary fireplace in the ante-common room here in Slytherin, to the Gryffindor common room." A few students chuckled. "You think this is funny! I do not find any of this amusing. One or a group of Slytherins are behind this. Where were the prefects while this was going on?" Severus asked turning to his two seventh years.
"We were studying right here, Professor." Anton Balshowitz answered gesturing to the sofa they had both just vacated. "The fifth and sixth year prefects are either in the library or in detention, Sir."
"And you knew nothing of what was happening under your noses?" Severus accused.
"No, Sir. We were not aware of anything untoward until you came in." Balshowitz replied.
"And why pray tell were you not carrying out your duties as prefects?" Severus demanded as he rounded on his students, leaving Hermione to stand alone.
"We were simply studying, Sir. We can not watch the students at all times." Sonia Flint defended them both. At that moment the portrait of the Dying Murman opened again and the Headmaster stepped through.
"Headmaster. I take it you heard what happened in the Gryffindor common room?" Professor Granger asked him as he moved to stand beside her.
"No, Professor Granger. I simply followed the floo down to here after my office had been almost destroyed by a vibration bomb. Smoke bombs have also been sent to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff House common rooms. The fireplace in the ante-common room shows a total of five outgoings through the network so I don't know where the last one went to." Albus said turning to look at Severus. "I take it you have the culprits, Professor Snape?"
"Not as yet, Headmaster. Rest assured I will find them though." He growled in response before addressing his House again. "You have until tomorrow morning at 8am to have a list of culprits on my office desk. If I do not find such a list you will all be serving detention for one week. Miss. Flint and Mr. Balshowitz, I suggest you come up with those names or you will lose your status of prefect and Head Girl and all the privileges that go along with that status." The two prefects looked totally shocked and Hermione felt very sorry for them. She would speak to Severus about his harshness on them later; it was not after all, their fault. Having been Head Girl previously herself she knew that it was impossible to watch all of the students and do seventh year homework on top of everything.
Severus nodded to the Headmaster who took that opportunity to address the students. "I am deeply disappointed at what has happened this evening. Slytherin House has lost all respect I ever had for it tonight. You will lose two-hundred and fifty points- fifty points for each bomb that was sent out. Ensure that the list of names is on Professor Snape's desk by tomorrow morning and the culprits will not be expelled, do this and the students involved will be punished accordingly. Good night to you all." The three professors left the common room via the main doors and the students to ponder what had been said.
~~*~~
By early the next morning Snape had a list of seven students' names on his desk who had participated in the little stunt that was pulled the previous night. He was not surprised that his prefects had managed to come up with the names since he had threatened their very positions if they did not. He was also not surprised by six of the students who had appeared on the list but the one that stood out was the last one. The last student was the first year by the name of Christopher Granger. this particular boy was turning out to be quite a handful indeed and Severus was determined to squash his attitude by the most expedient means at his disposal.
Severus had already told the other six students he would see them at two o' clock in his office, by this time he would have finished his appointments with the first years and would be able to give these errant students his full attention. He would speak with the Granger-boy during his half hour appointment as he had a few things to speak to him about already.
It was the last appointment of the day when Christopher Granger knocked on the office door and patiently awaited a reply from his Head of House. The door swung open and Severus appeared looking down at his student with utter disdain. "Mr. Granger. Enter." Severus said as he made his way back to his own side of the desk. "Sit." He commanded and Granger sat down in the most uncomfortable chair he had ever had the pleasure of resting in.
"Now firstly, how are you settling into Hogwarts?" Severus asked him lightly, trying his utmost best to keep his temper in check.
"I've had a few problems, Sir but none that I have not been able to handle thus far." He responded.
"You've had some problems with your Potions and Muggle Studies professor I've noted." Severus said matter-of-factly. "I understand she can be a bit annoying but you only have her or a few hours per week and it will not be for long. Only until some more teaching positions can be filled."
"Yes, Sir." He said.
"Tell me what do you find most annoying about her?" Severus asked interested.
"About Professor Granger?" He asked and Severus merely nodded. "I don't really know, Sir. I can not explain it to you. I found something out about myself just before I came to Hogwarts and I guess she just winds me up about it."
"Does she know about this? Is she purposely winding you up?" Severus asked wanting to understand what was going on in this child's head and hoping to keep him talking. This was the most he'd heard the Granger boy say since he arrived at Hogwarts after all.
"I'm sure she does know, Sir." Granger said with a snarl.
"What is it that you think she knows?" Severus asked with a puzzled expression on his face.
"I don't want to talk about it, Sir." He replied, becoming even more uncomfortable under his Professor's penetrating gaze and stared fixedly at the desk in front of him instead.
"I am not asking what you want, Mr. Granger." Severus said, raising his voice slightly. "So, you chose to exact revenge upon those people who have thus far annoyed you by sending bombs through the floo network." Severus stated and at Granger's surprised expression he elaborated. "You see when one student is in trouble you do tend to find, within Slytherin House especially, that they are not particularly loyal about keeping their friends out of trouble as well." Severus glared at him before picking up the list of names. "You have been named as one of the culprits. Care to deny it?"
"I only sent the one bomb, Sir." Granger confessed.
"And where did you send that bomb, Mr. Granger?" Severus asked him coldly.
"To the professor's office." He responded quietly awaiting his Head of House to explode.
"What has Professor Dumbledore done to deserve anything from you?" Severus asked becoming angrier.
"Nothing, Sir. I sent a vibration bomb off to Professor Granger's office." He said gulping at the expression upon his Head of House's face.
"So, that's where the fifth bomb went to." He said quietly to himself, he had wondered and he was also now wondering why Hermione had not told him. "Why?" He asked the boy and watched him cringe back in his chair.
"I told you, she winds me up, Sir." He repeated, frustrated.
"And that's reason enough to torment one of your professors with illegal practical jokes? I can tell you right now she does not know why you seem to have a problem with her, Mr. Granger." Severus paused. "Tell me, where did you grow up?" Severus asked changing track.
"Near London, Professor. In Oxford." He replied quietly.
"And your parents? Are they both witch and wizard? Where do they work?" He asked again.
"My parents as far as I know do not have magical ability, Sir. They work for the NHS." Granger replied.
"The NHS?" Severus asked completely confused as to what an NHS was.
"The National Health Service." Severus nodded, making a note to ask Hermione for a better explanation later. "But they're both at home now, my mum looks after my dad and so she can't work much."
"Why?" Severus asked but Christopher simply sat staring off into space not wanting to answer that question or simply not finding himself emotionally capable of it right then. "Okay. Yesterday in potions class, what happened?" He asked changing the subject as he noticed the boy's eyes glistening again.
"Professor Granger asked me if I'd taken potions previously."
"And?" He motioned for him to continue with his explanation.
"Well, I couldn't help but be wound up by this. I'm in Slytherin and I should have had this chance before coming to Hogwarts but I did not thanks to my big family secret. Thanks to this I've had to learn everything I know from books I found at home. I became angry with her. I'm in a House surrounded by students who have grown up with magic and it's very difficult to keep my own lack of knowledge a secret from them."
"Books like this one?" Severus asked picking up Granger's cauldron from the floor, setting it on his desk and extracting the book that had been left inside. Granger's jaw dropped open and he tried to snatch it away from his professor. "Not so fast, Mr. Granger. This book is a restricted text suitable only for fifth years and above. Moste Potente Potions is not something a first year should be reading."
"I've read it several times at home, Professor." Granger told him, seeing no reason why he couldn't, after all, it's not like he'd had the opportunity to try any of them out.
"You got this book from home?" Severus asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"Your parents must be quite lax with you if they allow you to read this sort of material." Severus stated, still holding the book up. "Of course I took the liberty of ensuring this book was what it says on the front cover, and when I opened the cover would you know who's name I found on the inside page?" Severus asked, knowing he knew the answer.
"Yes, Sir." He replied gulping again, he was becoming very hot under his collar as his professor was watching him intently for any kind of reaction.
"So, you have stolen this book from Professor Granger?" Severus accused.
"No, Sir." He defended himself hotly.
"But inside it clearly states her name." Severus opened the book and showed him the name. "Hermione Granger," he read aloud.
"I got the book from home, just like I told you, Professor Snape!" He replied more nervous than he had been before the Sorting Ceremony.
"Settle down." Severus said slowly as he saw the boy's emotions toppling over the edge again. "Why would Hermione Granger have left a book that I know she treasures at your home? Am I right in thinking that you never met Professor Granger until you arrived at Hogwarts less than one week ago?"
"Yes, Sir." He replied breathing deeply in order to try and slow his heart rate.
"Then why?" Severus asked forcefully.
"She is." He hesitated.
"Yes?"
"She's my. she used to live in the house I do." He spluttered out highly uncomfortable at the interrogation he was receiving.
"Are your parents what we would class as Muggles?"
"You might say that, Sir."
"So, how were you sorted into Slytherin? When Salazar Slytherin made it so that no Muggle-borns would end up in his House?" Severus asked confused. It made no difference to him if he had Muggle-borns in his House but it would surely matter to his students if it got around, it could be very dangerous in fact.
"The hat said I was hiding something. It said I was being deceitful and I had great potential to do great things. It said I could have gone into Gryffindor but I was best suited to Slytherin at that time." He said quietly, he had never felt less wanted in his entire life. Hogwarts was turning out to be something of an emotional nightmare for him and he was on the verge of demanding to be let home.
"Do you believe you have this potential, Mr. Granger?" Severus continued.
"I do, Sir. With the proper training of course I could be anything I want to be." He responded coolly.
The thirty minutes were just about up and Severus chose to end the interrogation right there. He desperately needed to speak to Hermione about everything he had found out, and he suspected she needed to go and visit her parents. "Mr. Granger. You will be serving detention for one week with Mr. Longbottom for sending a vibration bomb through the floo network with intent to cause injury and devastation towards a Hogwarts professor. Fifty points have already been subtracted from Slytherin by the Headmaster as you know."
"Yes, Sir." He said barely above a whisper.
"I trust this will not happen again, Mr. Granger?" Severus asked raising his eyebrow and pinning him with a glare.
"No, Sir."
"We will be having another chat soon I expect. Dismissed." He got up and started to leave. "Oh, Mr. Granger. Do not forget your cauldron again. I will be hanging onto this book and returning it to its rightful owner. If she wishes you to have it you will find out."
"Yes, Sir." With that the Granger boy left and Severus awaited his other six errant students.
Chapter Five
That evening after dinner Severus made his way to Hermione's chambers, which were on the third floor near Gryffindor Tower. He was angry with her, had been all over dinner but she hadn't seemed to see this or ask him what was wrong. He knocked hard on her door and when she opened it and invited him in, he stepped through and she closed the door behind him.
"Missing something?" Severus asked straight away, glaring at Hermione with his eyebrows raised. She looked slightly taken back and watched as he pulled something out of his robe pocket. Something small and glittery. Her heart sank.
"Oh, Severus. Yes." She said raising her hands to cover her lips and nodding. "I took it off in Potions and must have forgotten to replace it. I guess I'm not used to wearing it yet. I'm sorry, love."
"So, it wasn't some kind of message to me then? You still want this ring?" He asked, wanting a straight answer.
"With all my heart I want this ring. I just didn't want it to get damaged; it's such an exquisite piece of workmanship that means so much to me. I honestly did not mean anything by taking it off and leaving it on your desk." She said quickly and sincerely, a look of horror on her face at how he had misconstrued the simple situation. "How can you even think that, Severus?" She asked incredulously, how could he still feel insecure about her love for him after all this time?
"It was just a shock, that's all." He said. "But you don't need to worry about damaging it, it has numerous impenetrable charms upon it and it can't be stolen from you either. Only you can wear it or it will begin to shrink and cut off the thief's finger before returning itself to you." She grimaced at the thought. "Here. Let me start the evening off again." Placing the ring back on her finger he stepped back he cleared his throat. "Good evening, love. You are looking beautiful this evening." Severus said as he took her in with his dark and penetrating gaze. She chuckled at his fast change in demeanour towards her and the fact she had not had time yet to change from her normal everyday teaching robes.
"You're not looking so bad yourself." She commented, stepping closer to embrace him lovingly. "Come and sit by the fire, its chilly here." They made their way into the sitting room and got themselves comfortable on the couch beside the fire, Severus' arm around Hermione as she nuzzled her back into his chest and rested the back of her head on his shoulder, legs curled up underneath her.
"Any problems with your second Potions class this afternoon?" He asked as he gently released her hair from its bun and ran his fingers through it. He had been teaching on of his second year DADA classes and therefore, had not been anywhere near the dungeons for the last period.
"It went smoothly, just one melted cauldron and a few points lost from Ravenclaw for a forgotten text book." She smiled at how much easier her second class had been compared to the first one. Her Slytherin and Gryffindor mixed classes always seemed to have much tension which came along with them. She was amazed that any Slytherin and a Gryffindor could get along at all; they were brought up to have so much animosity towards each other with the intense inter-house rivalry that went on. She and Severus seemed to be made for each other though and perhaps when they met in matrimony it would cause fewer problems for their students to adjust to the change in politics as well.
"Anything more regarding Mr. Granger?" Hermione asked.
"No, he's keeping his head down, the model student to tell the truth... Well, since your conversation this afternoon anyway. I will get to the bottom of this tomorrow though, whether I have to use Veritaserum to do it or not." He said dead pan.
"Severus, you know that's illegal!" She said quickly and he just chuckled, moving his hands from her hair to loosen off the buttons on her blouse under her robes. "Do you have your appointments sorted out for tomorrow?" She asked as his right hand crept round her body and began to slowly massage her left nipple.
"Yes. I'll have students from 9am until 2pm, and then free to pursue other goals. And you?" He asked awaiting her reply.
"9am until 4pm. The Weasley quads tried to see me all together but I told them it was an individual meeting and I needed to see them separately." She chuckled. "Honestly, I don't believe they've spent much time apart at all. In fact, if they are telepathically linked, as I suspect they may be partially, I'll probably end up with exactly the same answers to all of my questions." By this time Severus had began to undo Hermione's bra and was slowly kissing her down her neck. "So, this staff meeting on." She began but was immediately cut off by Severus.
"Hermione!" Severus stopped what he was doing abruptly. "I have other things on my mind right now, far more enjoyable things I might add. Can we please refrain from talking shop just for now and enjoy this time we have?"
"Of course love, I'm sorry." Hermione said moving to sit up straight, turning around and then coming back to straddle his lap. She could feel his hardness through his robes straight away and rolled her hips back and forth to send shivers through his body, giggling as she did so. He inhaled sharply and she stopped, proceeding to kiss him thoroughly on the lips instead, while running her fingers through his hair. He moved his hands back to finishing off undoing the buttons on her shirt and pushing the fabric aside. He now had total access to her breasts and took this opportunity to his full advantage. She still had her tongue rammed down his throat and was beginning to undo Severus' many buttons on his waistcoat. Finally reaching the bottom she began work on his shirt, why Severus had to wear clothes with so many buttons was beyond her- Velcro would be such an asset right now.
Severus moved his lips from hers and proceeded to kiss along her jaw, down her neck and finally covering and sucking on her right nipple. She inhaled sharply and tilted her head back, her hair spilling down her back. He suddenly stood up with her legs going around his back tightly and moved them to the floor, ensuring he was positioned between her legs. He quickly removed her under garments, pushing her long skirt up to bunch around her waist. She released the buttons on his fly allowing his erection to spring free from its previous restraint. Severus re-positioned himself to enter her and finally release both of their tension when a loud buzzing suddenly sounded causing him to look up suddenly in surprise and glance around the room trying to find where it was coming from. Hermione struggled out from underneath him as quickly as she could.
"Hermione? We can't stop now!" He said forcefully as he watched her scramble to her feet and button her clothes as quickly as possible. She moved over to her far wall, waving her wand over it and muttering. appearo. The wall suddenly showed the interior of the Gryffindor common room where the Weasley quads were in the thick of dark grey smoke and several students were coughing and spluttering on the fumes.
"Oh, Merlin! I have to go, Severus. I'm so sorry." She said pulling herself together and trying to sort out her very dishevelled appearance as quickly as she could and failing somewhat in the process. Severus quickly got to his feet and started buttoning his clothes as well.
"Do you need help in the common room?" He asked figuring that if they were quick enough they could still get something out of this evening.
"Erm. yes, if you like." Hermione said as she bolted for her door. Severus having finished with all of his buttons- how on earth could he fasten them all so quickly? - followed her out of her chambers at a run.
"Ursa Major!" Hermione shouted at the Fat Lady who opened obediently at the flustered Head of House and both she and Severus made their way quickly into the common room. "What is going on in here?" Hermione shouted over the pandemonium within. The prefects were attempting to pull students away from the thickening smoke cloud and Severus quickly dispersed the fumes as he was used to doing in potions, the air clearing immediately.
"We don't know what happened, Professor." Samuel Davies replied; being a prefect he was trying to calm down the younger students.
"A bang sounded from the fireplace and suddenly all this smoke appeared." Connie O'Malley, the other seventh year Gryffindor prefect filled them in as she stepped round many students who were spluttering and trying to catch their breaths.
"Do you think something was sent through the internal floo, Professor?" Sam asked.
"It is possible, Professor Granger." Severus replied in his silky voice as he moved closer to the Gryffindor fireplace. Students moved quickly out of his way, what was the Slytherin Head doing in the Gryffindor common room anyway? What business was this of his?
"Professor Snape, take a look at this." Hermione said bending down to point at a small grey block about one inch square, that appeared to have something like a lid open on the top. Severus came over and had a look, picking it up for closer inspection.
"It's a smoke bomb. They are activated by an incantation from a wand. If we can find the wand that did this, we've found our culprit. Unless of course, by some miracle the culprit owns up." Severus stood back up and moved over to the fireplace once again. Muttering an incantation and looking over his shoulder he motioned to Hermione. "We can find out where that bomb came from by going through the floo. I've said the incantation and all we need to do is use the floo powder." Hermione nodded and turned to her prefects.
"Connie and Sam. Could you and the other prefects escort any students feeling unwell to the infirmary and summon the House Elves to help clean up in here. I will be going through the floo with Professor Snape and we'll get to the bottom of this." She instructed.
"Yes, Professor." They both responded as Severus and Hermione proceeded to step into the flames and drop a handful of floo powder. They were suddenly gripped by green flames and were gone from sight in the blink of an eye.
~~*~~
The internal floo network spat them out into a large room that was dimly lit with a few dark leather sofas dotted about and dark green carpeted floors. The room seemed to be devoid of all life. There were many portraits on the walls and the walls themselves were made out of dark stone indicating that they had been deposited somewhere in the dungeons of Hogwarts. Hermione stepped forward gazing around at the walls, ceiling and floors before turning back to Severus who she could see was struggling to keep his temper in check.
"Where are we, Severus?" She asked, her voice echoing slightly off the walls.
"This is the Slytherin ante-common room. The main common room can be found through that portrait of the Dying Murman over there." Severus said as he pointed towards a particularly gruesome painting.
"So, someone in Slytherin decided to play a practical joke on my Gryffindors?" Hermione asked, alarmed and somewhat disappointed that the inter-house rivalry had escalated to this.
"It certainly does seem that way." Severus said moving towards the portrait of the Dying Murman, which opened at his request. Hermione followed him through the portrait hole and they emerged into the main Slytherin common room where around thirty students could be found who all looked up in surprise at their entrance.
"Miss Flint, Mr. Balshowitz. Assemble the House immediately." Severus ordered and the two prefects leapt from their sofa and headed down to the respective dormitories. Severus and Hermione stood and waited while the students assembled themselves in the common room.
"Tonight. A smoke bomb was sent through the internal floo network from the secondary fireplace in the ante-common room here in Slytherin, to the Gryffindor common room." A few students chuckled. "You think this is funny! I do not find any of this amusing. One or a group of Slytherins are behind this. Where were the prefects while this was going on?" Severus asked turning to his two seventh years.
"We were studying right here, Professor." Anton Balshowitz answered gesturing to the sofa they had both just vacated. "The fifth and sixth year prefects are either in the library or in detention, Sir."
"And you knew nothing of what was happening under your noses?" Severus accused.
"No, Sir. We were not aware of anything untoward until you came in." Balshowitz replied.
"And why pray tell were you not carrying out your duties as prefects?" Severus demanded as he rounded on his students, leaving Hermione to stand alone.
"We were simply studying, Sir. We can not watch the students at all times." Sonia Flint defended them both. At that moment the portrait of the Dying Murman opened again and the Headmaster stepped through.
"Headmaster. I take it you heard what happened in the Gryffindor common room?" Professor Granger asked him as he moved to stand beside her.
"No, Professor Granger. I simply followed the floo down to here after my office had been almost destroyed by a vibration bomb. Smoke bombs have also been sent to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff House common rooms. The fireplace in the ante-common room shows a total of five outgoings through the network so I don't know where the last one went to." Albus said turning to look at Severus. "I take it you have the culprits, Professor Snape?"
"Not as yet, Headmaster. Rest assured I will find them though." He growled in response before addressing his House again. "You have until tomorrow morning at 8am to have a list of culprits on my office desk. If I do not find such a list you will all be serving detention for one week. Miss. Flint and Mr. Balshowitz, I suggest you come up with those names or you will lose your status of prefect and Head Girl and all the privileges that go along with that status." The two prefects looked totally shocked and Hermione felt very sorry for them. She would speak to Severus about his harshness on them later; it was not after all, their fault. Having been Head Girl previously herself she knew that it was impossible to watch all of the students and do seventh year homework on top of everything.
Severus nodded to the Headmaster who took that opportunity to address the students. "I am deeply disappointed at what has happened this evening. Slytherin House has lost all respect I ever had for it tonight. You will lose two-hundred and fifty points- fifty points for each bomb that was sent out. Ensure that the list of names is on Professor Snape's desk by tomorrow morning and the culprits will not be expelled, do this and the students involved will be punished accordingly. Good night to you all." The three professors left the common room via the main doors and the students to ponder what had been said.
~~*~~
By early the next morning Snape had a list of seven students' names on his desk who had participated in the little stunt that was pulled the previous night. He was not surprised that his prefects had managed to come up with the names since he had threatened their very positions if they did not. He was also not surprised by six of the students who had appeared on the list but the one that stood out was the last one. The last student was the first year by the name of Christopher Granger. this particular boy was turning out to be quite a handful indeed and Severus was determined to squash his attitude by the most expedient means at his disposal.
Severus had already told the other six students he would see them at two o' clock in his office, by this time he would have finished his appointments with the first years and would be able to give these errant students his full attention. He would speak with the Granger-boy during his half hour appointment as he had a few things to speak to him about already.
It was the last appointment of the day when Christopher Granger knocked on the office door and patiently awaited a reply from his Head of House. The door swung open and Severus appeared looking down at his student with utter disdain. "Mr. Granger. Enter." Severus said as he made his way back to his own side of the desk. "Sit." He commanded and Granger sat down in the most uncomfortable chair he had ever had the pleasure of resting in.
"Now firstly, how are you settling into Hogwarts?" Severus asked him lightly, trying his utmost best to keep his temper in check.
"I've had a few problems, Sir but none that I have not been able to handle thus far." He responded.
"You've had some problems with your Potions and Muggle Studies professor I've noted." Severus said matter-of-factly. "I understand she can be a bit annoying but you only have her or a few hours per week and it will not be for long. Only until some more teaching positions can be filled."
"Yes, Sir." He said.
"Tell me what do you find most annoying about her?" Severus asked interested.
"About Professor Granger?" He asked and Severus merely nodded. "I don't really know, Sir. I can not explain it to you. I found something out about myself just before I came to Hogwarts and I guess she just winds me up about it."
"Does she know about this? Is she purposely winding you up?" Severus asked wanting to understand what was going on in this child's head and hoping to keep him talking. This was the most he'd heard the Granger boy say since he arrived at Hogwarts after all.
"I'm sure she does know, Sir." Granger said with a snarl.
"What is it that you think she knows?" Severus asked with a puzzled expression on his face.
"I don't want to talk about it, Sir." He replied, becoming even more uncomfortable under his Professor's penetrating gaze and stared fixedly at the desk in front of him instead.
"I am not asking what you want, Mr. Granger." Severus said, raising his voice slightly. "So, you chose to exact revenge upon those people who have thus far annoyed you by sending bombs through the floo network." Severus stated and at Granger's surprised expression he elaborated. "You see when one student is in trouble you do tend to find, within Slytherin House especially, that they are not particularly loyal about keeping their friends out of trouble as well." Severus glared at him before picking up the list of names. "You have been named as one of the culprits. Care to deny it?"
"I only sent the one bomb, Sir." Granger confessed.
"And where did you send that bomb, Mr. Granger?" Severus asked him coldly.
"To the professor's office." He responded quietly awaiting his Head of House to explode.
"What has Professor Dumbledore done to deserve anything from you?" Severus asked becoming angrier.
"Nothing, Sir. I sent a vibration bomb off to Professor Granger's office." He said gulping at the expression upon his Head of House's face.
"So, that's where the fifth bomb went to." He said quietly to himself, he had wondered and he was also now wondering why Hermione had not told him. "Why?" He asked the boy and watched him cringe back in his chair.
"I told you, she winds me up, Sir." He repeated, frustrated.
"And that's reason enough to torment one of your professors with illegal practical jokes? I can tell you right now she does not know why you seem to have a problem with her, Mr. Granger." Severus paused. "Tell me, where did you grow up?" Severus asked changing track.
"Near London, Professor. In Oxford." He replied quietly.
"And your parents? Are they both witch and wizard? Where do they work?" He asked again.
"My parents as far as I know do not have magical ability, Sir. They work for the NHS." Granger replied.
"The NHS?" Severus asked completely confused as to what an NHS was.
"The National Health Service." Severus nodded, making a note to ask Hermione for a better explanation later. "But they're both at home now, my mum looks after my dad and so she can't work much."
"Why?" Severus asked but Christopher simply sat staring off into space not wanting to answer that question or simply not finding himself emotionally capable of it right then. "Okay. Yesterday in potions class, what happened?" He asked changing the subject as he noticed the boy's eyes glistening again.
"Professor Granger asked me if I'd taken potions previously."
"And?" He motioned for him to continue with his explanation.
"Well, I couldn't help but be wound up by this. I'm in Slytherin and I should have had this chance before coming to Hogwarts but I did not thanks to my big family secret. Thanks to this I've had to learn everything I know from books I found at home. I became angry with her. I'm in a House surrounded by students who have grown up with magic and it's very difficult to keep my own lack of knowledge a secret from them."
"Books like this one?" Severus asked picking up Granger's cauldron from the floor, setting it on his desk and extracting the book that had been left inside. Granger's jaw dropped open and he tried to snatch it away from his professor. "Not so fast, Mr. Granger. This book is a restricted text suitable only for fifth years and above. Moste Potente Potions is not something a first year should be reading."
"I've read it several times at home, Professor." Granger told him, seeing no reason why he couldn't, after all, it's not like he'd had the opportunity to try any of them out.
"You got this book from home?" Severus asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"Your parents must be quite lax with you if they allow you to read this sort of material." Severus stated, still holding the book up. "Of course I took the liberty of ensuring this book was what it says on the front cover, and when I opened the cover would you know who's name I found on the inside page?" Severus asked, knowing he knew the answer.
"Yes, Sir." He replied gulping again, he was becoming very hot under his collar as his professor was watching him intently for any kind of reaction.
"So, you have stolen this book from Professor Granger?" Severus accused.
"No, Sir." He defended himself hotly.
"But inside it clearly states her name." Severus opened the book and showed him the name. "Hermione Granger," he read aloud.
"I got the book from home, just like I told you, Professor Snape!" He replied more nervous than he had been before the Sorting Ceremony.
"Settle down." Severus said slowly as he saw the boy's emotions toppling over the edge again. "Why would Hermione Granger have left a book that I know she treasures at your home? Am I right in thinking that you never met Professor Granger until you arrived at Hogwarts less than one week ago?"
"Yes, Sir." He replied breathing deeply in order to try and slow his heart rate.
"Then why?" Severus asked forcefully.
"She is." He hesitated.
"Yes?"
"She's my. she used to live in the house I do." He spluttered out highly uncomfortable at the interrogation he was receiving.
"Are your parents what we would class as Muggles?"
"You might say that, Sir."
"So, how were you sorted into Slytherin? When Salazar Slytherin made it so that no Muggle-borns would end up in his House?" Severus asked confused. It made no difference to him if he had Muggle-borns in his House but it would surely matter to his students if it got around, it could be very dangerous in fact.
"The hat said I was hiding something. It said I was being deceitful and I had great potential to do great things. It said I could have gone into Gryffindor but I was best suited to Slytherin at that time." He said quietly, he had never felt less wanted in his entire life. Hogwarts was turning out to be something of an emotional nightmare for him and he was on the verge of demanding to be let home.
"Do you believe you have this potential, Mr. Granger?" Severus continued.
"I do, Sir. With the proper training of course I could be anything I want to be." He responded coolly.
The thirty minutes were just about up and Severus chose to end the interrogation right there. He desperately needed to speak to Hermione about everything he had found out, and he suspected she needed to go and visit her parents. "Mr. Granger. You will be serving detention for one week with Mr. Longbottom for sending a vibration bomb through the floo network with intent to cause injury and devastation towards a Hogwarts professor. Fifty points have already been subtracted from Slytherin by the Headmaster as you know."
"Yes, Sir." He said barely above a whisper.
"I trust this will not happen again, Mr. Granger?" Severus asked raising his eyebrow and pinning him with a glare.
"No, Sir."
"We will be having another chat soon I expect. Dismissed." He got up and started to leave. "Oh, Mr. Granger. Do not forget your cauldron again. I will be hanging onto this book and returning it to its rightful owner. If she wishes you to have it you will find out."
"Yes, Sir." With that the Granger boy left and Severus awaited his other six errant students.