-ANGELS OBLIQUELY
CHAPTER 7
I tried to make as little noise as it was possible and closed the door behind me. Hopefully she wouldn't notice I had been in the room. It took all the control in my being not to stand there and watch her perfect, smooth body as it raised up and down, in slow steady breaths.
Thankfully, I was extremely tired and at the moment I hit the couch I fell into a dreamless sleep.
...........................................................................
My eyes were adjusting slowly to the unwelcoming light around the room. I stood up, aching all over, wondering what time it was. As I stumbled on the furniture, suddenly the room seemed to be crowded with it, I made my way to look at the clock on the mantel. Rubbing my eyes to get rid of the left over sleep that blurred my vision, I checked the time. 8:35 AM. God ! I had slept the whole afternoon and night!
The next thought to dawn realization was Hermione... naked and beautiful in my bed...I shook my head and tried to ignore the images forming in my mind. She was Hermione, my ex-student, a Gryffindor and married. That was all I needed to keep repeating to myself.
I went to my bedroom door and knocked.
"Hermione?"
There was no answer. I wondered if she was still sleeping, but my intuition was telling me a different story. All these years being a spy and observing people, made me anticipate their action and it came as no surprise when I opened the door and found the bed empty. Her clothes were gone, the bed was made and it was as though she was never there. I might have thought I had dreamed everything or that I had drunk too much and imagined it all, if it wasn't for her scent in the room.
That was the only validation that yesterday really happened. It wasn't really difficult to doubt my own mind on the accounts of the previous day. Nothing seemed to make sense and if anybody had told me a week ago, that I would have know-it-all Granger sleeping naked in my bed, I would think they were the drunken ones.
How did I know she wasn't going to be there? That was very predictable, actually. Would anyone be around to be questioned about something they didn't want to talk about, if they had the chance to escape? I was the only one at fault, I let my guard down, I succumbed to my own weakness and overslept.
Maybe I was losing my touch... there was a time when I would never let anyone get away with that, and she only did it because I was being too soft. The reason was clear as day, but I wasn't about to admit it. At least not yet.
.....................................................................
I was hoping to have breakfast alone, God knows I needed black coffee and silence. The Great Hall was usually empty in the summer Holidays and the remaining staff ate early.
It wasn't the case this day.
"You look awful, Severus!" said Dumbledore while buttering a blueberry muffin.
I don't recall ever seeing that man eating anything that did not contain sugar in it.
"Good morning to you too."
"Someone woke up in the wrong side of the bed," he said smiling.
"The wrong side of a bed would be more appealing than where I woke up!"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh never mind, long story," I had just realized I couldn't speak to anyone about that, it was too soon.
"Just make sure you keep your eyes open, Severus. Don't let your feelings take over your judgment." The old man stood up, wiping his mouth with a napkin and left.
I will never understand how he does it, but it's scary.
I just brushed that off and focused on what I was going to do about Hermione, when a dark grey owl landed in front of my coffee. I knew who it belonged to and my stomach felt heavy. It was never good news when I received a message from Malfoy.
I opened the note. Malfoy was inviting me to a party, to take place in one of his new associates' mansion. I would have declined the invitation right away, if it wasn't for the location where it was taking place. Duane Billings' mansion.
............................................................................ .
After following Duane for a week, I could recognize a lot of the people arriving at the party, it seemed Duane collected people like an evening velvet robe collected lint.
The butler answered the door and Malfoy spoke in his aloof tone, "Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape."
The butler bowed and stepped aside for us to enter.
After passing the foyer, we walked down the longest hallway I'd ever seen. It led us to a large drawing room.
Everybody glimpses at someone once who they think would be just right for them. The moment I saw her there, I knew she was it. I don't know if it was the way the candle light was gracing her face and smoothing her brown curls or the longing solitary look in her eyes, while she held a glass of wine with her elegant hands. Something caught me off guard at that moment and I couldn't run away. Perhaps it had always been there and my practical conscience tried to hide it, for safety reasons, mine and hers. All I knew was that I had to be with her, to rescue her from it all... from herself.
In my musings, I hadn't realized how obvious I was being.
"I take it you know my wife?"
I turned to find Duane Billings eyeing me curiously. When I didn't answer he continued, "You must be Severus Snape, I heard a lot about you, most of it very interesting."
"Oh, and may I ask what and from whom?"
"Lucius tells me a lot about you and your uh... work. And my wife, Hermione, was your student. She says you're one of the most brilliant Potions Master there is," he said with a chuckle. "I figure you must be, for Hermione turned out to be just as brilliant!"
"I'm afraid that can not be credited to me, she has always been brilliant, as I'm sure you know," I said trying to sound as detached as I could.
"Indeed," he said and turned to where she was sitting. "Hermione, look who's here!"
Hermione looked bored when she turned her head to face her husband. When she noticed I was there, her eyes came alive with a different shine to them. She was surprised to see me there, it was clear, but there was a hint of excitement in her expression, very subtle but it was there.
"Oh... hello Professor." There was something different about her voice, I couldn't put my finger on it. She sounded a little tense, but then again, she had obvious reasons to be uncomfortable with that situation.
"How do you do, Mrs. Billings," I said with a little bow. I had to act the part if I was going to live through that party.
After a few minutes of awkward small talk, Duane dragged me around, introducing me to several guests. I couldn't help but gaze back at Hermione, as if not to lose her from view. She kept lurking behind little groups of people, always near, yet keeping a distance. After enduring an hour of uninteresting conversation, I found myself in his private office with him and Malfoy. It seemed that Malfoy had reasons to bring me along.
I had an idea of what they were about to tell me, but I had no idea they were actually going to show me the Potion. Malfoy handed me three rolls of parchment containing a very complex formula. I was amazed at the conception and the ingredients used and I was extremely proud of Hermione, but not at all surprised, I've always known she had potential to do great things, I just couldn't understand why she got herself into this mess.
"How did you get this?" I asked.
"It was a little difficult, part of it, we had a little help from our friend Fudge and the other half, well... I had to pry away from its owner," said Malfoy with his evil signature smile.
I knew then who had killed Ellyot. The question now was why they were showing me that.
"So, what do you have in mind Malfoy?"
"I want to present this to the Dark Lord, but first we need to make sure it works to a full extent. We had it tested a while ago, but it is not quite working as expected. It should be able to kill thousands of muggles in one blast and that's not happening. That's where you come in, I want you to revise the formula and make the potion, we all know of your skills, and it shouldn't be too hard for you," he said.
I could tell by the look in Duane's eyes, that something was terribly wrong. I told Malfoy that it would be done and gave them the excuse of studying this new assignment, to leave earlier.
On the way out I passed by Hermione and she looked like she wanted to say something but Duane put a hand on her shoulder and took her away, mixing in between the guests.
I apparated back to Hogwarts' entrance and locked myself in my lab. I was determined to make that potion work, I had to play Malfoy's game, but I also needed to plan my next step on how to stop it. If I gave him the wrong Potion, they would test it and find out I wasn't on their side. I couldn't delay the completion of it for very long either or Malfoy would find someone else to do it.
It took me days to do it, but I finally accomplished the perfect balance for it to work. All I needed was to decide what my next step would be and the first thing would be to go straight to Dumbledore.
A knock on my door startled me, I hid the parchments in my bottom drawer before letting them in.
"Enter!"
Hermione entered, as if guessing what I was about to do, and that was the beginning of my mistake, one weakness, one misjudged action, one mistake that made all the difference on the events that were about to follow...
............................................................................ ....................................................................
A/N : Thanks to Happynutcase : thanks for reminding me about the capital letters on Death Eater, I forget that sometimes.
ImpressedOne : Thank you and Yes you got it, that was the quote, although the movie you mentioned is one of them, there is an older one from where that quote originated.
Stacey Pointe : Yes it is odd to imagine Snape like that, but still is sexy too LOL!
Little Eirtae : Thank you for your kind review. WIKTT stands for "When I Kissed The Teacher" which is a yahoo group for HG/SS pairing. They always have these challenges, so there.
CHAPTER 7
I tried to make as little noise as it was possible and closed the door behind me. Hopefully she wouldn't notice I had been in the room. It took all the control in my being not to stand there and watch her perfect, smooth body as it raised up and down, in slow steady breaths.
Thankfully, I was extremely tired and at the moment I hit the couch I fell into a dreamless sleep.
...........................................................................
My eyes were adjusting slowly to the unwelcoming light around the room. I stood up, aching all over, wondering what time it was. As I stumbled on the furniture, suddenly the room seemed to be crowded with it, I made my way to look at the clock on the mantel. Rubbing my eyes to get rid of the left over sleep that blurred my vision, I checked the time. 8:35 AM. God ! I had slept the whole afternoon and night!
The next thought to dawn realization was Hermione... naked and beautiful in my bed...I shook my head and tried to ignore the images forming in my mind. She was Hermione, my ex-student, a Gryffindor and married. That was all I needed to keep repeating to myself.
I went to my bedroom door and knocked.
"Hermione?"
There was no answer. I wondered if she was still sleeping, but my intuition was telling me a different story. All these years being a spy and observing people, made me anticipate their action and it came as no surprise when I opened the door and found the bed empty. Her clothes were gone, the bed was made and it was as though she was never there. I might have thought I had dreamed everything or that I had drunk too much and imagined it all, if it wasn't for her scent in the room.
That was the only validation that yesterday really happened. It wasn't really difficult to doubt my own mind on the accounts of the previous day. Nothing seemed to make sense and if anybody had told me a week ago, that I would have know-it-all Granger sleeping naked in my bed, I would think they were the drunken ones.
How did I know she wasn't going to be there? That was very predictable, actually. Would anyone be around to be questioned about something they didn't want to talk about, if they had the chance to escape? I was the only one at fault, I let my guard down, I succumbed to my own weakness and overslept.
Maybe I was losing my touch... there was a time when I would never let anyone get away with that, and she only did it because I was being too soft. The reason was clear as day, but I wasn't about to admit it. At least not yet.
.....................................................................
I was hoping to have breakfast alone, God knows I needed black coffee and silence. The Great Hall was usually empty in the summer Holidays and the remaining staff ate early.
It wasn't the case this day.
"You look awful, Severus!" said Dumbledore while buttering a blueberry muffin.
I don't recall ever seeing that man eating anything that did not contain sugar in it.
"Good morning to you too."
"Someone woke up in the wrong side of the bed," he said smiling.
"The wrong side of a bed would be more appealing than where I woke up!"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh never mind, long story," I had just realized I couldn't speak to anyone about that, it was too soon.
"Just make sure you keep your eyes open, Severus. Don't let your feelings take over your judgment." The old man stood up, wiping his mouth with a napkin and left.
I will never understand how he does it, but it's scary.
I just brushed that off and focused on what I was going to do about Hermione, when a dark grey owl landed in front of my coffee. I knew who it belonged to and my stomach felt heavy. It was never good news when I received a message from Malfoy.
I opened the note. Malfoy was inviting me to a party, to take place in one of his new associates' mansion. I would have declined the invitation right away, if it wasn't for the location where it was taking place. Duane Billings' mansion.
............................................................................ .
After following Duane for a week, I could recognize a lot of the people arriving at the party, it seemed Duane collected people like an evening velvet robe collected lint.
The butler answered the door and Malfoy spoke in his aloof tone, "Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape."
The butler bowed and stepped aside for us to enter.
After passing the foyer, we walked down the longest hallway I'd ever seen. It led us to a large drawing room.
Everybody glimpses at someone once who they think would be just right for them. The moment I saw her there, I knew she was it. I don't know if it was the way the candle light was gracing her face and smoothing her brown curls or the longing solitary look in her eyes, while she held a glass of wine with her elegant hands. Something caught me off guard at that moment and I couldn't run away. Perhaps it had always been there and my practical conscience tried to hide it, for safety reasons, mine and hers. All I knew was that I had to be with her, to rescue her from it all... from herself.
In my musings, I hadn't realized how obvious I was being.
"I take it you know my wife?"
I turned to find Duane Billings eyeing me curiously. When I didn't answer he continued, "You must be Severus Snape, I heard a lot about you, most of it very interesting."
"Oh, and may I ask what and from whom?"
"Lucius tells me a lot about you and your uh... work. And my wife, Hermione, was your student. She says you're one of the most brilliant Potions Master there is," he said with a chuckle. "I figure you must be, for Hermione turned out to be just as brilliant!"
"I'm afraid that can not be credited to me, she has always been brilliant, as I'm sure you know," I said trying to sound as detached as I could.
"Indeed," he said and turned to where she was sitting. "Hermione, look who's here!"
Hermione looked bored when she turned her head to face her husband. When she noticed I was there, her eyes came alive with a different shine to them. She was surprised to see me there, it was clear, but there was a hint of excitement in her expression, very subtle but it was there.
"Oh... hello Professor." There was something different about her voice, I couldn't put my finger on it. She sounded a little tense, but then again, she had obvious reasons to be uncomfortable with that situation.
"How do you do, Mrs. Billings," I said with a little bow. I had to act the part if I was going to live through that party.
After a few minutes of awkward small talk, Duane dragged me around, introducing me to several guests. I couldn't help but gaze back at Hermione, as if not to lose her from view. She kept lurking behind little groups of people, always near, yet keeping a distance. After enduring an hour of uninteresting conversation, I found myself in his private office with him and Malfoy. It seemed that Malfoy had reasons to bring me along.
I had an idea of what they were about to tell me, but I had no idea they were actually going to show me the Potion. Malfoy handed me three rolls of parchment containing a very complex formula. I was amazed at the conception and the ingredients used and I was extremely proud of Hermione, but not at all surprised, I've always known she had potential to do great things, I just couldn't understand why she got herself into this mess.
"How did you get this?" I asked.
"It was a little difficult, part of it, we had a little help from our friend Fudge and the other half, well... I had to pry away from its owner," said Malfoy with his evil signature smile.
I knew then who had killed Ellyot. The question now was why they were showing me that.
"So, what do you have in mind Malfoy?"
"I want to present this to the Dark Lord, but first we need to make sure it works to a full extent. We had it tested a while ago, but it is not quite working as expected. It should be able to kill thousands of muggles in one blast and that's not happening. That's where you come in, I want you to revise the formula and make the potion, we all know of your skills, and it shouldn't be too hard for you," he said.
I could tell by the look in Duane's eyes, that something was terribly wrong. I told Malfoy that it would be done and gave them the excuse of studying this new assignment, to leave earlier.
On the way out I passed by Hermione and she looked like she wanted to say something but Duane put a hand on her shoulder and took her away, mixing in between the guests.
I apparated back to Hogwarts' entrance and locked myself in my lab. I was determined to make that potion work, I had to play Malfoy's game, but I also needed to plan my next step on how to stop it. If I gave him the wrong Potion, they would test it and find out I wasn't on their side. I couldn't delay the completion of it for very long either or Malfoy would find someone else to do it.
It took me days to do it, but I finally accomplished the perfect balance for it to work. All I needed was to decide what my next step would be and the first thing would be to go straight to Dumbledore.
A knock on my door startled me, I hid the parchments in my bottom drawer before letting them in.
"Enter!"
Hermione entered, as if guessing what I was about to do, and that was the beginning of my mistake, one weakness, one misjudged action, one mistake that made all the difference on the events that were about to follow...
............................................................................ ....................................................................
A/N : Thanks to Happynutcase : thanks for reminding me about the capital letters on Death Eater, I forget that sometimes.
ImpressedOne : Thank you and Yes you got it, that was the quote, although the movie you mentioned is one of them, there is an older one from where that quote originated.
Stacey Pointe : Yes it is odd to imagine Snape like that, but still is sexy too LOL!
Little Eirtae : Thank you for your kind review. WIKTT stands for "When I Kissed The Teacher" which is a yahoo group for HG/SS pairing. They always have these challenges, so there.