The Dark's Mistress
Chapter Two
~
By Alicia Jennings
~
...We got just one shot of life, let's take it while we're still not afraid
Because life is so brief and time is a thief when you're undecided
And like a fistful of sand, it can slip right through your hands
Young hearts be free tonight, Time is on your side
Don't let them put you down, don't let 'em push you around
don't let 'em ever change your point of view...
-Rod Stewart "Young Turks"
~
*Potions class, day before holidays begin*
"Finish bottling your potions, and then put away your cauldrons. Leave the bottles on your desks, I'll collect them....except for you, Mr. Longbottom, you may deposit yours in the wastebin, where all of your potions belong...."
Hermione stowed away her cauldron, her hands shaking nervously. Today was the day they would start their act. They'd been meeting over the past weeks to plot out how they would carry everything out, down to the last little details - such as sleeping arrangements. Hermione blushed. All the better that I'm blushing, she thought - her classmates, save Harry, would think she'd gone completely airhead.
She looked at her watch. Thirty seconds to the bell. It was time. Six vials of potion sat on her desk. She drummed her fingers on the desk casually, and then slid her hand towards the vials very discreetly. Two went crashing to the floor
Everyone turned, including Professor Snape. She put on her best "fake innocence" look. "Oops? I guess I'm just clumsy...." She gave a light laugh, tossing her hair (she'd put it in curls today). "I'll stay and clean it up."
The bell rang. Perfect. Half the class left, the other half - Gryffindors, except for Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle - stayed as they were, looking at her, puzzled. Hermione Granger never spilled potions. Hermione Granger never acted like an airhead, either.
Snape made his way toward her desk, looming over her. "Everyone out!" he snapped. "I want a - private - word with Miss Granger."
Harry and Ron made their way past her, murmurring, "See you later." Harry quickly gave her hand a squeeze before ushering a confused Ron out.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were the last to leave. As they walked past her, Malfoy murmurred, "Y'know, mudblood, your kind are good for only one thing." He swept pass, his goons following, and they shut the door.
"Well done, Miss Granger," Snape murmurred quietly. "Tread carefully, for there is glass under your feet, and enemies outside the door." He raised his voice. "Miss Granger, your clumsiness is unacceptable."
"Well, Professor," said Hermione, rising to her feet, "I'm not clumsy at everything I do. Just ask Viktor Krum." She ventured closer to him. There was a barred window on the door - with no glass, of course, as it was a dungeon. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Malfoy watching and listening. "So what is the - punishment - for my crime?"
"I shall have to think on it," he said, lifting her chin to look into her face. "Meet me here tonight, at six o' clock."
"All right, Professor," said Hermione, grinning seductively. Malfoy stood, looking closer in the window, and Hermione hesitated.
*What the hell,* she thought. She stood on tiptoe, and gently kissed him on the lips. "Tonight at six."
Satisfied, Malfoy began creeping off. As soon as he was out of hearing range, Hermione began blushing profusely. "I'm sorry, Severus....but Malfoy was there, and he didn't look convinced, and I didn't know what else to do -"
"Shh, shh," he comforted her. "It's fine, relax. You did well, Hermione."
"Thank God," she said, fanning herself nervously. "I was scared to death."
"Of what?" he asked, chuckling. "Kissing the horrible Potions teacher?" She scowled, poking him in the arm. "Ouch, sorry..."
"Tonight at six then. Have the elves send some dinner here, please...." She put on her best seductive voice. "I hate making love on an empty stomach."
"Oh, get on with you," he said, laughing softly. He handed her books to her. "Be safe."
"The same to you."
~
"Hermione! Hermione, wait up!"
Hermione turned to see Ron and Harry running towards her at breakneck speed. "What have I told you two about running in the corridors?" she asked, amused.
"Never mind that," said Ron, panting, as they drew up beside her. "What the hell went on in the Potions classroom?!"
"Watch your language," said Hermione mildly. "I accidentally knocked over some of my potion, and used my feminine good sense to get out of detention."
"On Snape?!" Ron looked horrified.
"If it means getting out of detention, yes, of course on Snape!" said Hermione irritably. "Now, I have to go. I have things to do." She ducked into another corridor before Ron could say anything more.
Ron looked to Harry for explanations, and he shrugged. "Don't ask me, Ron. It must be a girl thing. I've got to go check on something before Divination...I'll meet you there, okay?"
"Yeah, all right," he muttered, waving Harry off and continuing toward the North tower.
As soon as Ron had turned his back, Harry ran after Hermione. She had gone into a deserted classroom to wait for him. "Harry," she said as he entered the room, "I hate lying to Ron."
"Shh!" he murmurred, casting a soundproofing spell on the room. Satisfied, he turned back to her. "I know you do, Hermione, but there isn't another way. When this is all over and we tell him the truth, if he's truly our friend he'll accept it and forgive us."
"You say it like you're part of it too," she said, smiling.
"I am, Hermione," he said, taking her hands in his. "You're like my sister. Your trials are mine as well."
"Thanks, Harry," she said, giving him a hug before hurrying off to Arithmancy.
~
Hermione didn't go to dinner, murmurring excuses to Harry and Ron about how she felt under the weather and didn't much feel like eating. After Harry and Ron had left for dinner, she snuck down to the dungeons. The thought of creeping around in the dungeons after class hours creeped her out a bit, and she shuddered. Then she remembered the real reason she was down here.
Then she got even more thoroughly creeped out, and chills ran through her body.
She hurried on, clutching her wand tightly under her robes whenever she heard any sounds.
"What's filth like you doing down here in the dungeons, Mudblood?"
She whirled around. Malfoy. "Hello, Malfoy," she said, emotionless, and continued on, turning her back to him.
He put a hand on her shoulder and spun her around. "What the hell are you playing at, Granger? Snape's one with the Dark Lord. And we all know that the Dark Lord loves a good Mudblood toy every now and then."
Hermione wrenched her shoulder out of his grasp. "I don't particulary care what Snape does outside of Hogwarts, Malfoy. All I know is he's a bloody - good - lay. And I need one every now and then, God knows, with all this hell of exams and extra studies. Now, sod off before I hex you to Kingdom come." She turned and took a few more steps, before grinning and turning back around.
"Besides, Malfoy, I guess I love the way he screams, "Ten points to Gryffindor!" every single time I -"
But Malfoy had ran away, his hands pressed over his ears. Hermione smirked in a very Snape-like way. Oh, that had been oddly satisfying. The look on his face.....!
"That was highly amusing, Miss Granger."
*Oh...God. Did he just hear that? Oh Gods...Goddesses....Circe, Zeus, Mercury, Venus, anyone! Help me, because he's going to reduce me to mincemeat!* Hermione slowly turned to face Snape. "Errumm....Hi?"
The corners of Snape's mouth twitched upwards into a small smile. "Why don't we go to my quarters, Miss Granger? Before you begin yelling intimate details of our lovemaking again."
"Umm...err, ahh....okay," she said sheepishly, blushing red to the roots of her hair. Snape put his arm around her waist, chuckling softly, as he led "his mistress" to his private quarters.
There, he thought, he'd be able to collapse into *real* laughter once he reactivated his soundproofing wards.
~
Hermione packed away the last of her things in her trunk, admonishing herself not to cry. Stupid emotions. She didn't even know what she was getting emotional over. After all, at least now she wouldn't have to listen to Parvati prattle on about her last lay until two a.m., or smell the noxious fumes of their nail polish.
And now, she realized, in an odd sort of way, that she would miss it terribly.
She chided herself again, shoving her trunk shut and picking up her bag full of posessions that wouldn't fit in her trunk. Damn emotions, she cursed mentally as the tears came again. She tried forcing them back, to no avail, as she hauled her trunk out of the room and cast a floating spell on it. The entirety of the Common Room turned to look up at her, suprised.
"Where are you going, Hermione?" asked Ron, his voice steely. Then he softened. "Why're you crying?"
"Ahh, nothing, err....stubbed my toe," she fibbed. From the look on his face, he hadn't fallen for it. "Pardon me, Ron."
He didn't budge. "No," he said, crossing his arms and blocking the path. "Where are you going?"
"Umm....Professor Dumbledore said he'd rather me have my own rooms. That way I could, err...work on my extra projects without interruption," she said, raising her voice just enough to where others could hear. "Now, Ron, do you suppose you could move?"
Ron sighed. "All right, Hermione. Is that the truth?"
Hermione looked at him, and only Harry noticed the obvious pain in her eyes. "Of course, Ron. Why would I lie?" She grinned at him.
He didn't smile back. "I don't know, Hermione...I don't know."
~
Hermione exited the common room.
Christmas in the dungeons.
How lovely.
It wasn't that Snape's quarters were all that bad - they were suprisingly cozy, and filled witih books as well. It was just.....well....the idea was in itself quite altogether depressing.
She'd gotten him a gift - a book of short stories and poems by Poe. In addition she'd gotten him a gag gift, as he'd hinted to buying her one. His was red boxers with "Go Gryffindor!" emblazoned on the back. She couldn't wait to see his face of horror when he opened it.
Hermione and Snape had only been..."friends" for a few weeks now, but were already very close. They would have spirited discussions over Transfiguration ethics, the latest Potions Weekly, or Arithmancy theories by the fireside in the evenings. He treated her like an equal, not a student of seventh year. And from Professor Severus Snape, that in itself was extremely high praise.
~
They stayed up late Christmas Eve, drinking cocoa while watching the embers of the fire die down to a dim, red-orange glow. They were talking about personal matters.
"What's your family like, Severus?" asked Hermione. She was on one side of the cushy black couch, and he was on the other.
Snape shrugged. "I dunno....a lot like me, I guess. Slytherin to the core. Father died years ago. Mother's still at our family home, the place I grew up. She's as much of a bookworm and avid learner as you are."
"No brothers or sisters?"
"Nope. I was an only child." He shifted his gaze from the fire to her. "And you, Miss Questions?"
Hermione grinned. "Well, I've got a little sister....she's ten. As for my parents...I dunno, I guess they're just Muggles. They're both dentists, which means for sugar-free food and a really boring childhood. I was never one of those kids who wanted to have the job their parents did."
"Well, your mother and father will kill me," said Snape dryly. "I'm giving you hot chocolate."
"Not to mention sleeping with me as well," said Hermione, laughing. She looked at her watch. "Speaking of bed, we should head that way, should we not? It's nearly one a.m."
"Yes, I suppose so," said Snape, rising from the couch and doing a catlike stretch. "You change in the bathroom, me out here, as usual?"
"Yes, that will do," said Hermione, rising as well to gather up her nightclothes. They brushed their teeth, checked the wards, and then crawled into Snape's huge, green-coverleted four poster bed.
"I'm glad you sleep in a four-poster, Severus," murmurred Hermione sleepily. "I have to admit that I'd somewhat imagined a black coffin."
The sleepy Snape lying next to her gave a derisive snort.
"I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding....Good night, Severus," she said, and then did something she hadn't done before - she kissed him on the cheek.
He smiled in the dark - Hermione could just make out the outline. "Good night, Hermione."
~
He was awoken only short hours later by an overexcited, seventeen-year-old girl jumping up in down in his bed.
"Wake up, it's Christmas! And I've got a letter and package from my parents, which means they got my letter." She stretched across him and snatched a letter opener off his bedside table.
"You could've asked," he murmurred sleepily, sitting up and rubbing his eyes to rid them of sleep as she slit the letter open.
----------
Dearest Hermione -
We hope you are having a happy Christmas. We are too, despite the fact we are in hiding. I will not tell you where in case this letter is intercepted, just know that we are safe and so is Juliet. She sends her love as well. She has talked about almost nothing but Hogwarts as of late - she is praying that she too is a witch.
Although both of us are extremely concerned about the fact that you will be living - alone - with a man nearly our age, we will take Dumbledore's word that he is an honest, brave man that will protect you and not take ill advantage of you. If this is necessary to keep Voldemort from harming you, than so be it. We are, however, very sorry that this is to yours and his disadvantages - we are sure that your reputations will be poisoned, since rumors are intentionally being started to make this..."relationship" look convincing. Please be safe, Hermione. We love you too much to lose you.
With this letter also arrives a package. Since we did our Christmas shopping earlier in the year, we had all our presents before we went into hiding. Enclosed also is a package for Mr. Snape. We want him to know and understand that for protecting our daughter, he will always have a place in our family.
Once again, we hope you have a pleasant Christmas. Send a reply to us tomorrow.
All our love,
Mother and Daddy
P.S. - Hermione, could you talk to that Dumbledore man and see if I'm being admitted to Hogwarts? I really want to be a witch. Happy Christmas! ~Juliet
----------
"Well, they're safe....and they approve, even if somewhat reluctantly.....and they ssent presents!" Hermione took out several packages from the parcel. "Here's yours. My parents must like the fact you're saving my life." She withdrew two parcels from behind her back as well. "And these are from me. Let's open each other's first! You must begin with that one."
"And you must begin with this one," said Snape, handing her one package, and then setting another one in front of her. "It's your gag gift, and I know...it's quite odd of me to buy one..."
Hermione grinned. "Yours is too." She ripped through the wrapping and opened the box that was beneath. What lay inside the tissue wrapping was, to Hermione, the definition of lingerie. It was white, sheer with lace trim. It came with lace panties to wear underneath, and there was a note.
-Hope you don't mind. Tell anyone and I'll take back the 30 points I gave Gryffindor the morning after you saw Malfoy in the corridor. -S.S.
Hermione grinned broadly. Her lips were definitely sealed.
~
Some guys have all the luck
Some guys have all the pain
Some guys get all the breaks
Some guys do nothing but complain
Alone in a crowd on a bus after work
and I'm dreaming
The guy next to me has a girl in his arms
My arms are empty
How does it feel when the girl next to you
says she loves you
It seem so unfair when there's love everywhere
but there's none for me
Someone to take on a walk by the lake
Lord let it be me
Someone who's shy
Someone who'll cry at sad movies
I know I would die if I ever found out
she was fooling me
You're just a dream and as real as it seems
I ain't that lucky
All of my friends have a ring on their finger
They have someone
Someone to care for them it ain't fair
I got no one...
But if you were here with me
I'd feel so happy I could cry
You are so dear to me
I just can't let you say goodbye
-Rod Stewart "Some Guys Have All The Luck"
~
Author's Note - to date, I have 17 reviews on chapter one alone! I am in author's heaven! I've gotta write in this genre more often....
and if anyone can help me get rid of my writer's block on legend of chastity lorna, that'd be certainly nice. Meanwhile, thank you SO MUCH for the reviews, that was really awesome to come back to mom's and find 17 really good, constructive reviews waiting for me. While I was at dad's I wrote 50 pages on this - longhand - in one of my notebooks I got for Christmas. Yeah....I'm seriously needing a social life. Anyways! REVIEW, I *beg* of you! My authoress inside of me feeds off of those reviews.....and pixy stix and mountain dew, but that's beside the point....
-Alicia/Jaimes
Chapter Two
~
By Alicia Jennings
~
...We got just one shot of life, let's take it while we're still not afraid
Because life is so brief and time is a thief when you're undecided
And like a fistful of sand, it can slip right through your hands
Young hearts be free tonight, Time is on your side
Don't let them put you down, don't let 'em push you around
don't let 'em ever change your point of view...
-Rod Stewart "Young Turks"
~
*Potions class, day before holidays begin*
"Finish bottling your potions, and then put away your cauldrons. Leave the bottles on your desks, I'll collect them....except for you, Mr. Longbottom, you may deposit yours in the wastebin, where all of your potions belong...."
Hermione stowed away her cauldron, her hands shaking nervously. Today was the day they would start their act. They'd been meeting over the past weeks to plot out how they would carry everything out, down to the last little details - such as sleeping arrangements. Hermione blushed. All the better that I'm blushing, she thought - her classmates, save Harry, would think she'd gone completely airhead.
She looked at her watch. Thirty seconds to the bell. It was time. Six vials of potion sat on her desk. She drummed her fingers on the desk casually, and then slid her hand towards the vials very discreetly. Two went crashing to the floor
Everyone turned, including Professor Snape. She put on her best "fake innocence" look. "Oops? I guess I'm just clumsy...." She gave a light laugh, tossing her hair (she'd put it in curls today). "I'll stay and clean it up."
The bell rang. Perfect. Half the class left, the other half - Gryffindors, except for Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle - stayed as they were, looking at her, puzzled. Hermione Granger never spilled potions. Hermione Granger never acted like an airhead, either.
Snape made his way toward her desk, looming over her. "Everyone out!" he snapped. "I want a - private - word with Miss Granger."
Harry and Ron made their way past her, murmurring, "See you later." Harry quickly gave her hand a squeeze before ushering a confused Ron out.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were the last to leave. As they walked past her, Malfoy murmurred, "Y'know, mudblood, your kind are good for only one thing." He swept pass, his goons following, and they shut the door.
"Well done, Miss Granger," Snape murmurred quietly. "Tread carefully, for there is glass under your feet, and enemies outside the door." He raised his voice. "Miss Granger, your clumsiness is unacceptable."
"Well, Professor," said Hermione, rising to her feet, "I'm not clumsy at everything I do. Just ask Viktor Krum." She ventured closer to him. There was a barred window on the door - with no glass, of course, as it was a dungeon. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Malfoy watching and listening. "So what is the - punishment - for my crime?"
"I shall have to think on it," he said, lifting her chin to look into her face. "Meet me here tonight, at six o' clock."
"All right, Professor," said Hermione, grinning seductively. Malfoy stood, looking closer in the window, and Hermione hesitated.
*What the hell,* she thought. She stood on tiptoe, and gently kissed him on the lips. "Tonight at six."
Satisfied, Malfoy began creeping off. As soon as he was out of hearing range, Hermione began blushing profusely. "I'm sorry, Severus....but Malfoy was there, and he didn't look convinced, and I didn't know what else to do -"
"Shh, shh," he comforted her. "It's fine, relax. You did well, Hermione."
"Thank God," she said, fanning herself nervously. "I was scared to death."
"Of what?" he asked, chuckling. "Kissing the horrible Potions teacher?" She scowled, poking him in the arm. "Ouch, sorry..."
"Tonight at six then. Have the elves send some dinner here, please...." She put on her best seductive voice. "I hate making love on an empty stomach."
"Oh, get on with you," he said, laughing softly. He handed her books to her. "Be safe."
"The same to you."
~
"Hermione! Hermione, wait up!"
Hermione turned to see Ron and Harry running towards her at breakneck speed. "What have I told you two about running in the corridors?" she asked, amused.
"Never mind that," said Ron, panting, as they drew up beside her. "What the hell went on in the Potions classroom?!"
"Watch your language," said Hermione mildly. "I accidentally knocked over some of my potion, and used my feminine good sense to get out of detention."
"On Snape?!" Ron looked horrified.
"If it means getting out of detention, yes, of course on Snape!" said Hermione irritably. "Now, I have to go. I have things to do." She ducked into another corridor before Ron could say anything more.
Ron looked to Harry for explanations, and he shrugged. "Don't ask me, Ron. It must be a girl thing. I've got to go check on something before Divination...I'll meet you there, okay?"
"Yeah, all right," he muttered, waving Harry off and continuing toward the North tower.
As soon as Ron had turned his back, Harry ran after Hermione. She had gone into a deserted classroom to wait for him. "Harry," she said as he entered the room, "I hate lying to Ron."
"Shh!" he murmurred, casting a soundproofing spell on the room. Satisfied, he turned back to her. "I know you do, Hermione, but there isn't another way. When this is all over and we tell him the truth, if he's truly our friend he'll accept it and forgive us."
"You say it like you're part of it too," she said, smiling.
"I am, Hermione," he said, taking her hands in his. "You're like my sister. Your trials are mine as well."
"Thanks, Harry," she said, giving him a hug before hurrying off to Arithmancy.
~
Hermione didn't go to dinner, murmurring excuses to Harry and Ron about how she felt under the weather and didn't much feel like eating. After Harry and Ron had left for dinner, she snuck down to the dungeons. The thought of creeping around in the dungeons after class hours creeped her out a bit, and she shuddered. Then she remembered the real reason she was down here.
Then she got even more thoroughly creeped out, and chills ran through her body.
She hurried on, clutching her wand tightly under her robes whenever she heard any sounds.
"What's filth like you doing down here in the dungeons, Mudblood?"
She whirled around. Malfoy. "Hello, Malfoy," she said, emotionless, and continued on, turning her back to him.
He put a hand on her shoulder and spun her around. "What the hell are you playing at, Granger? Snape's one with the Dark Lord. And we all know that the Dark Lord loves a good Mudblood toy every now and then."
Hermione wrenched her shoulder out of his grasp. "I don't particulary care what Snape does outside of Hogwarts, Malfoy. All I know is he's a bloody - good - lay. And I need one every now and then, God knows, with all this hell of exams and extra studies. Now, sod off before I hex you to Kingdom come." She turned and took a few more steps, before grinning and turning back around.
"Besides, Malfoy, I guess I love the way he screams, "Ten points to Gryffindor!" every single time I -"
But Malfoy had ran away, his hands pressed over his ears. Hermione smirked in a very Snape-like way. Oh, that had been oddly satisfying. The look on his face.....!
"That was highly amusing, Miss Granger."
*Oh...God. Did he just hear that? Oh Gods...Goddesses....Circe, Zeus, Mercury, Venus, anyone! Help me, because he's going to reduce me to mincemeat!* Hermione slowly turned to face Snape. "Errumm....Hi?"
The corners of Snape's mouth twitched upwards into a small smile. "Why don't we go to my quarters, Miss Granger? Before you begin yelling intimate details of our lovemaking again."
"Umm...err, ahh....okay," she said sheepishly, blushing red to the roots of her hair. Snape put his arm around her waist, chuckling softly, as he led "his mistress" to his private quarters.
There, he thought, he'd be able to collapse into *real* laughter once he reactivated his soundproofing wards.
~
Hermione packed away the last of her things in her trunk, admonishing herself not to cry. Stupid emotions. She didn't even know what she was getting emotional over. After all, at least now she wouldn't have to listen to Parvati prattle on about her last lay until two a.m., or smell the noxious fumes of their nail polish.
And now, she realized, in an odd sort of way, that she would miss it terribly.
She chided herself again, shoving her trunk shut and picking up her bag full of posessions that wouldn't fit in her trunk. Damn emotions, she cursed mentally as the tears came again. She tried forcing them back, to no avail, as she hauled her trunk out of the room and cast a floating spell on it. The entirety of the Common Room turned to look up at her, suprised.
"Where are you going, Hermione?" asked Ron, his voice steely. Then he softened. "Why're you crying?"
"Ahh, nothing, err....stubbed my toe," she fibbed. From the look on his face, he hadn't fallen for it. "Pardon me, Ron."
He didn't budge. "No," he said, crossing his arms and blocking the path. "Where are you going?"
"Umm....Professor Dumbledore said he'd rather me have my own rooms. That way I could, err...work on my extra projects without interruption," she said, raising her voice just enough to where others could hear. "Now, Ron, do you suppose you could move?"
Ron sighed. "All right, Hermione. Is that the truth?"
Hermione looked at him, and only Harry noticed the obvious pain in her eyes. "Of course, Ron. Why would I lie?" She grinned at him.
He didn't smile back. "I don't know, Hermione...I don't know."
~
Hermione exited the common room.
Christmas in the dungeons.
How lovely.
It wasn't that Snape's quarters were all that bad - they were suprisingly cozy, and filled witih books as well. It was just.....well....the idea was in itself quite altogether depressing.
She'd gotten him a gift - a book of short stories and poems by Poe. In addition she'd gotten him a gag gift, as he'd hinted to buying her one. His was red boxers with "Go Gryffindor!" emblazoned on the back. She couldn't wait to see his face of horror when he opened it.
Hermione and Snape had only been..."friends" for a few weeks now, but were already very close. They would have spirited discussions over Transfiguration ethics, the latest Potions Weekly, or Arithmancy theories by the fireside in the evenings. He treated her like an equal, not a student of seventh year. And from Professor Severus Snape, that in itself was extremely high praise.
~
They stayed up late Christmas Eve, drinking cocoa while watching the embers of the fire die down to a dim, red-orange glow. They were talking about personal matters.
"What's your family like, Severus?" asked Hermione. She was on one side of the cushy black couch, and he was on the other.
Snape shrugged. "I dunno....a lot like me, I guess. Slytherin to the core. Father died years ago. Mother's still at our family home, the place I grew up. She's as much of a bookworm and avid learner as you are."
"No brothers or sisters?"
"Nope. I was an only child." He shifted his gaze from the fire to her. "And you, Miss Questions?"
Hermione grinned. "Well, I've got a little sister....she's ten. As for my parents...I dunno, I guess they're just Muggles. They're both dentists, which means for sugar-free food and a really boring childhood. I was never one of those kids who wanted to have the job their parents did."
"Well, your mother and father will kill me," said Snape dryly. "I'm giving you hot chocolate."
"Not to mention sleeping with me as well," said Hermione, laughing. She looked at her watch. "Speaking of bed, we should head that way, should we not? It's nearly one a.m."
"Yes, I suppose so," said Snape, rising from the couch and doing a catlike stretch. "You change in the bathroom, me out here, as usual?"
"Yes, that will do," said Hermione, rising as well to gather up her nightclothes. They brushed their teeth, checked the wards, and then crawled into Snape's huge, green-coverleted four poster bed.
"I'm glad you sleep in a four-poster, Severus," murmurred Hermione sleepily. "I have to admit that I'd somewhat imagined a black coffin."
The sleepy Snape lying next to her gave a derisive snort.
"I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding....Good night, Severus," she said, and then did something she hadn't done before - she kissed him on the cheek.
He smiled in the dark - Hermione could just make out the outline. "Good night, Hermione."
~
He was awoken only short hours later by an overexcited, seventeen-year-old girl jumping up in down in his bed.
"Wake up, it's Christmas! And I've got a letter and package from my parents, which means they got my letter." She stretched across him and snatched a letter opener off his bedside table.
"You could've asked," he murmurred sleepily, sitting up and rubbing his eyes to rid them of sleep as she slit the letter open.
----------
Dearest Hermione -
We hope you are having a happy Christmas. We are too, despite the fact we are in hiding. I will not tell you where in case this letter is intercepted, just know that we are safe and so is Juliet. She sends her love as well. She has talked about almost nothing but Hogwarts as of late - she is praying that she too is a witch.
Although both of us are extremely concerned about the fact that you will be living - alone - with a man nearly our age, we will take Dumbledore's word that he is an honest, brave man that will protect you and not take ill advantage of you. If this is necessary to keep Voldemort from harming you, than so be it. We are, however, very sorry that this is to yours and his disadvantages - we are sure that your reputations will be poisoned, since rumors are intentionally being started to make this..."relationship" look convincing. Please be safe, Hermione. We love you too much to lose you.
With this letter also arrives a package. Since we did our Christmas shopping earlier in the year, we had all our presents before we went into hiding. Enclosed also is a package for Mr. Snape. We want him to know and understand that for protecting our daughter, he will always have a place in our family.
Once again, we hope you have a pleasant Christmas. Send a reply to us tomorrow.
All our love,
Mother and Daddy
P.S. - Hermione, could you talk to that Dumbledore man and see if I'm being admitted to Hogwarts? I really want to be a witch. Happy Christmas! ~Juliet
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"Well, they're safe....and they approve, even if somewhat reluctantly.....and they ssent presents!" Hermione took out several packages from the parcel. "Here's yours. My parents must like the fact you're saving my life." She withdrew two parcels from behind her back as well. "And these are from me. Let's open each other's first! You must begin with that one."
"And you must begin with this one," said Snape, handing her one package, and then setting another one in front of her. "It's your gag gift, and I know...it's quite odd of me to buy one..."
Hermione grinned. "Yours is too." She ripped through the wrapping and opened the box that was beneath. What lay inside the tissue wrapping was, to Hermione, the definition of lingerie. It was white, sheer with lace trim. It came with lace panties to wear underneath, and there was a note.
-Hope you don't mind. Tell anyone and I'll take back the 30 points I gave Gryffindor the morning after you saw Malfoy in the corridor. -S.S.
Hermione grinned broadly. Her lips were definitely sealed.
~
Some guys have all the luck
Some guys have all the pain
Some guys get all the breaks
Some guys do nothing but complain
Alone in a crowd on a bus after work
and I'm dreaming
The guy next to me has a girl in his arms
My arms are empty
How does it feel when the girl next to you
says she loves you
It seem so unfair when there's love everywhere
but there's none for me
Someone to take on a walk by the lake
Lord let it be me
Someone who's shy
Someone who'll cry at sad movies
I know I would die if I ever found out
she was fooling me
You're just a dream and as real as it seems
I ain't that lucky
All of my friends have a ring on their finger
They have someone
Someone to care for them it ain't fair
I got no one...
But if you were here with me
I'd feel so happy I could cry
You are so dear to me
I just can't let you say goodbye
-Rod Stewart "Some Guys Have All The Luck"
~
Author's Note - to date, I have 17 reviews on chapter one alone! I am in author's heaven! I've gotta write in this genre more often....
and if anyone can help me get rid of my writer's block on legend of chastity lorna, that'd be certainly nice. Meanwhile, thank you SO MUCH for the reviews, that was really awesome to come back to mom's and find 17 really good, constructive reviews waiting for me. While I was at dad's I wrote 50 pages on this - longhand - in one of my notebooks I got for Christmas. Yeah....I'm seriously needing a social life. Anyways! REVIEW, I *beg* of you! My authoress inside of me feeds off of those reviews.....and pixy stix and mountain dew, but that's beside the point....
-Alicia/Jaimes