Chapter 5 – Relaxation Therapy

It was one of the last days of autumn and the sky was clear and sunny.  Sophie wondered where she had seen that particular shade of blue before.  It struck a familiar chord but she couldn't place it.  She was trying to remember something but the memory would not come.  Whatever it was it, however, made her feel both happy and sad.  Perhaps it was something she did not want to remember in the first place.  Despite that, she drank in the vibrant robin's egg blue that spanned a sky without a trace of a cloud for miles around. 

She sighed and thought of the task ahead.   Draco was to start his first session that evening and she wanted to clear her head.  Wanting to focus, she needed a quiet place where she could relax and were she would not be interrupted.  A smile slowly curled on her lips.  She knew the exact spot.

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Severus Snape was in a foul mood.  Three melted cauldrons, two minor explosions, and a student with singed eyebrows were enough make him need to leave the dungeons.  Perhaps the fresh air would do him good.  He was always being told about the benefits of a sunny day by all the busy bodies that seemed to have nothing better to do than mind his business for him.

His new stock boy did a very thorough job with his inventory.  Draco was not one to be thorough about anything so Severus figured it was either concentrate on the job at hand or talk to the Professor.  He did not seem capable of the second, so he did the first.  He came in, took his instruction and set to work without saying a word. A silent Malfoy was a pleasant change of pace.

Through Draco's efforts, Severus found himself dangerously low on several ingredients.  Some he could get from Professor Sprout, some he would need to purchase at Hogsmeade, but there were some very important materials he would need to gather himself.  That meant a trip into the Forbidden Forest.  How he hated going in there.  It was not out of fear of the creatures that dwelt there but going in meant wandering around for hours to find his ingredients.  If he knew anyone with half a brain and an ounce of common sense, he would have gladly delegated the responsibility, but as that was decidedly not the case,  he gathered his equipment and made for the Forest. 

On the way he passed The Doctor's house and marveled at the transformation.  It was painted and the windows were all repaired, as were the shutters. It looks like she fixed the roof as well.  It was a bright and cheerful looking home and looked terribly out of place.  But that would be appropriate would it not. 'She must be working the Wealsey's to the bone.' The thought of the red heads toiling and laboring pleased him.  'They need some discipline, Merlin knows.  Probably doing them good.'  He had to admire her tenacity.  She didn't back down, not even for an instant.

He thought of her as he entered the Forest.  It did not escape him that he was disappointed that she wasn't home. 

He walked through an overgrown path looking for Oronoco Root, when he heard humming.  Drawn to it, he walked through a cluster of trees and into a clearing.  Sitting in the middle of a hot spring, bathing and humming was a very naked psychologist.  Her head was thrown back as she watched the morning sky, droplets of water sliding down her long neck over her clavicle and onto the top of her bosom. Entranced, he watched as she cocked her head to the side and her fingers skidded along the water causing ripples.  He lost track of how long he was watching her before he was finally able to speak.

A classic Snape smirk set upon his lips, he spoke, "Now this is quite a sight.  Tell me, is this some new form of therapy you are developing?"

 Sophie looked up and into his eyes -- and smirked right back at him.

"Well good day, Professor.  Actually, yes, this is very therapeutic.  You should give it a try sometime."

He leaned back onto a tree, crossing right foot over left and his arms across his chest.  "Do you realize a student could have stumbled upon you at any moment?  Or perhaps that was the point of this little experiment."

"The Forest is off limits to students.  And no, the point of this little experiment is to clear my head and help me relax.  No one usually finds me here so I can just soak for hours."

"You have done this before." The thought should have disturbed him….should have.

"I discovered this weeks ago.  Right after one of our bouts actually.  I needed to let off steam so I decided to explore the Forest and I came upon this spot.  It is beautiful and secluded and very peaceful.  One does enjoy being alone sometimes."

"I thought isolation was the root of all things dark."

"There is a difference between solitude and isolation.  One is a choice and the other a sentence."

"In either case I suggest getting yourself back to your quarters before catching a nasty cold."

She smiled.  "If you insist." And with that she stood up removing any doubt as to the state of her dress.  "If you wouldn't mind handing me my robe." 

He did not turn away.  He barely react. He simply retrieved her robe and handed it to her. 


"Thank you.  Enjoy the rest of your day." She turned and walked out of the clearing.

Without a word he went in search of his root.  'I wonder if that is what people meant by the benefits of a sunny day,'  he thought and grinned as continued to walk.

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Sophie walked back to her home in silence, a sheepish grin on her face.  He didn't turn away.  She had expected him to be thunderstruck, he didn't even flinch and she was impressed.  This was turning into quite a game. 

When she got back to her home she found Hermione looking around. "Hello dear.  Is there anything I can do for you?"

Hermione looked at Sophie as if trying to decipher a cryptic message hidden in her words. "Yes…well no… well yes, but not in the way you mean."

Sophie's turn to decipher.  "What exactly do I mean?"

"I….well.  I mean I am not here to…" She stopped to sigh. "I'm just looking for Ron."

"Oh.  I see.  I gather you haven't seen much of him lately."

"No, not really.  Why do you say?  Did he say anything?"

Sophie gave Hermione a soft smile. "He did mention that things were very different now than they have been before and that he missed the way you all used to be together all the time."

She seemed pleased upon hearing this.

"Would you like to come in for tea?"

Hermione furrowed her brow and stood up straight.  "I don't need tea."

"No one needs tea dear." She paused. "I don't bite, you know.  I am actually a very nice person, and if allowed to be, and can be damn interesting to talk to, or so I like to believe."

Hermione smiled. "Okay.  By the way why, are you wearing a bath robe?"

Sophie laughed. "I was in the forest bathing in a hot spring."  As if saying the most natural thing in the world she continued to her door and went inside. 

Hermione froze at the revelation.  Not quite sure if she was kidding or not, Hermione entered the house after her.  "That was more information than I needed.  Are you always so forward?"

"Does my honesty bother you?"  She said as she started making the tea.

Hermione sat the kitchen table.  "No….I guess.  It just wasn't the answer I was expecting."

Sophie stared at her for a moment. "I find that these times call for as much candor as possible.  I am not ashamed of my actions.  People need to exercise a little more honesty in their lives.  It would allow us to waste less time and get to the root of the matter."

To Hermione it looked as if she were not talking to the same person.  Outwardly, Sophie was still the same woman clad in a bathrobe making tea as she was when Hermione first entered the house.  Suddenly the expression on her face changed as did her stance and someone else stood before her.  "Are you driving at something?"

"Yes I am."

"And might I ask what?"

"Your real reason for being here."

"I told you…"

"You told me a lie because you are ashamed of your actions.  I believe you came to seek me out because you wanted to talk."

Hermione tried to look appalled. "Why do you say that?"

"Because, Hermione you are the introspective one, you are the one who always seems to be thinking two steps ahead of everyone else. You are the one that works the hardest at knowing everything you could know.  In essence you think too much to be here on a day you know Ron would be watching Harry practice Quidditch."

Hermione was quiet… and a little annoyed at how obvious she was.  "I guess you're right.  I do want to talk to someone.  But the problem is that I don't know about what."

Sophie smiled in sympathy.  "Things are very different for you this year aren't they?"


Hermione nodded.  "Last year changed everything.  We're all trying so hard to get back to life as usual, that we are disregarding all that happened last year."


"And what happened?"

"Well, like what happened to Harry.  Do you know about all that?" Hermione hoped she would not have to relive that again.  It was enough to think of nothing else all summer long.

"Yes, but why don't you tell me about this summer, after the Tournament?"

With a small sigh she began, "Things went on as usual.  I went home and started to prepare for the coming year.  I like to get a head start and I knew I was to be a prefect so this year was going to be harder.  Ron, Harry and I didn't even get together.  We always get together before school but no one seemed to be up to it.  This year everyone is so caught up in their own lives that the group seems non-existent.  Harry is trying to ignore all that happened and won't even talk about it.  Ron seems to be here all the time and…I guess I was just feeling lonely."

"You spend a lot of time in studies don't you?" Sophie asked.

Hermione couldn't hide her annoyance.  "Yes, but that isn't really the problem."

"You were always the student, the worker.  You are disciplined.  You like order and control.  But no one can subsist on that alone.  Harry and Ron were your escape, your fun, your freedom.  Your life hasn't changed much but theirs has.  In changing their lives they changed yours and you are not prepared to let that happen."

Her shoulders fell a little more as Sophie spoke each sentence. Hermione looked at her and then looked down.  "So you think I study too much too."

"Not at all.  I admire the work you put into the things you do.  I do think you need to apply that drive to other things in your life.  Harry and Ron care about you, they enjoy spending time with you, but I think this goes a little deeper than that."  Hermione just looked at her not quite knowing what she was getting at. "Who thinks you study too much?"

"Everyone."

"I need a little more."

"My parents, my friends, my classmates.  Everyone.  They call me a know-it-all.  I think even my teachers think so."

"Why do you work so hard?"

Hermione looked at her blankly.  It seemed like such a silly question.  'To get good grades, to excel, to be the best.'  These are the thoughts that entered her mind immediately but somehow she knew the answer the doctor was pushing for, maybe not to be the best but just to be better.  "I had no idea I was a witch," she began. "I just thought I was strange, everyone just thought I was strange.  Then I got the letter from Hogwarts and suddenly I realized why I never really got along with people.  I mean I always knew I was different but I never knew why.  This was my chance to finally be a part of something, to belong.  I wanted so badly to fit in I got all the books early and studied them.  I practiced spells and memorized all I could because I was afraid that I would be so far behind.  I hated the idea that people might think I was not good enough for this school because I was Muggle born.  Then I got here and before I knew it I had the reputation of being the snob…I suppose Harry and Ron saved me from that."

"And maybe without them you would just be the know it all again."

"I never really thought about it that way.  I guess is sounds selfish."

"What you are feeling is very typical…very normal.  You are at a time in your life where a sense of belonging is central. You shouldn't be afraid to let your friends know that you miss them and that you are lonely.  I think if they should know how you are affected by everything.  Perhaps your honesty could help them be more honest too."

Her words made Hermione feel better, normal.  She thought silently for a few moments before turning to Sophie, there was something else.  "There is something else."

"You have a crush on Ron and you don't know how to handle it."

For the second time that afternoon, Hermione froze.  "How did you know?"

'To be young again,' Sophie thought affectionately, 'To be young and unaware of how you wear your emotions plainly on your face for anyone to read.'  She smiled.  "You are not the only person to be in that situation, you know. Letting people know you have those feeling is probably one of the hardest things you will ever have to do."

Hermione nodded in agreement.  "Last year I went to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum and it made Ron crazy.  He was jealous; actually jealous…blindingly jealous.  I relished it, probably a little more than I should have.  I thought he would finally let me know how he felt.  When he didn't, I just assumed that he didn't feel the way I thought he did and I let it go."

"Did you see Viktor again?"

"No.  He was very nice but I didn't feel the same way and I thought it would be cruel to lead him on."

"That's a healthy attitude," Sophie said appraisingly.  "I don't think you should give up on Ron.  Guys are usually a lot slower about these things.  He should come around."

"You're not going to tell me to be honest about this and just tell him?"

"Affairs of the heart are a different matter, a special matter.  Love is something that develops.  It is also something that strikes fear in many people.  You need to give it time to progress at a natural level. If you force it you may destroy its chances and if you wait too long it may pass you by. I think you will know when the time is right to make your move.  Just don't be afraid to try when the opportunity presents itself."

Hermione smiled. "I can see why people come to talk to you."

Sophie shook her head. "I didn't tell you anything you wouldn't have figured out for yourself.  My job is to help you find your way.  I really don't do anything special.  I find when given the chance, people can talk their way through their problems pretty completely.  I just get them started."

Hermione hugged her.  "Thanks for the tea."

"Anytime."

Sophie watched her leave before going into the bedroom and getting dressed.  A talk with Hermione was just what she needed before her first meeting with Draco.  With a heavy heart she sighed, tonight would not be simple case of loneliness and a teenage crush, but there was nothing more to do but wait and see.