{Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe was created by J.K. Rowling and rights are owned by, but not limited to Warner Brothers and Scholastic Books. I, therefore, own no parts of this.}
Chapter 11
Bouquet
The house elves had overheard the conversation through the walls of the castle and packed a picnic basket full to the brim with delectable goodies. They argued briefly over who would get the honor of presenting it to such venerable wizards as Severus Snape and Hermione Granger, but Dobby came through as always, saying he had been freed by the great Harry Potter and Hermione Granger was a friend of the great Harry Potter.
Snape tickled the pear impatiently, wondering why he was being forced to work with such an insufferable child. She seemed to bring out the worst in him: his temper, his pent-up anger, his impatience…He realized that he had forgotten to ask Dumbledore if there was anyone else who was as qualified as his current colleague. He growled to himself as the portrait swung open. He would chat with the Head Master at a later date about that. "We need lunch, for two," he spat at the house elves working in the kitchens.
Dobby approached the tall wizard cautiously. "Master Severus, sir! We is pleased to see you! We have picnic basket for you and Miss Hermione! It has bread and pastries and cheese and fruit and…"
"Thank you," he snatched the basket from the creature without a second thought and left the kitchens. Hermione was just catching up as he walked out, anger clouding her face. Severus could hear her muttering something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like 'insufferable, greasy bastard,' but he couldn't be absolutely certain. "The house elves have packed us a basket to take with us."
Hermione glared at him. How dare he treat her like a child? She was twenty-two years old for Merlin's sake! She fought in the Final Battle and had been on her own since she had graduated from Hogwarts! The man was impossible beyond any standards. At the moment, she hated him to no end and would make sure he knew it.
Snape was taken back by the fierceness in her eyes though he did not show it. It seemed like he had done something wrong. He wasn't sure exactly what it was, but obviously she had taken whatever he said in the way different from what he had intended. He had been told to make sure she took care of herself by eating correctly. Dumbledore had insisted that she was the only one to fulfill the female role in creating the potion, and they could not bear to have anything happen to her that would put them behind the tight schedule they were working with. That was all he had said to her, wasn't it? "Well?" he asked just to see what she would do.
"Well, what?" she snapped back at him caustically.
"Are you going to glare at me all day, or are we actually going to get something accomplished around here?"
"I would prefer to get something done if you would stop being an over-controlling, cold-hearted bastard and realize the world does not revolve solely around you."
Snape looked at her for a moment, determined she was absolutely serious, and did the unexpected. He laughed. It was not just a simple snicker or a staccato guffaw, but a full, all-out belly laugh.
Hermione was dumbfounded. She hadn't meant to be funny. "I wasn't trying to give you amusement," she spoke sharply. "I was telling the complete and utter truth."
Severus wiped away the tears of mirth springing to his eyes. He didn't know why he laughed at her statement, but it seemed appropriate at the time. It had amused him to see her bristling with rage, eyes flashing dangerously, and ready to lash out at him. He hadn't seen someone try to do that to him since, well, he couldn't remember the last time. He put a comradely arm around her shoulders and guided her out of the castle, still chuckling quietly to himself.
Maybe he would keep her around after all. At least she had the backbone to stand up to him. It was a novel idea, something that almost fascinated him. She saw him as human and treated him so. He supposed he probably had deserved her tongue lashing; he knew he could be a, how did she put it, bastard some times. It had been quite refreshing to have someone speak their mind to him.
Hermione had been further amazed when he had put his arm around her for the second time that day. Sure it was only around her shoulders this time though there had been no apparent reason for him to do such a thing. She decided once again that the man was a complete enigma, but allowed him to keep his arm where he had placed it.
He led her past the Quidditch pitch and down towards the lake. He stopped under a large willow, making sure there were no students lolling around. Thankfully they were occupied with classes, allowing the two to pass unseen. Severus set down the basket and opened the lid to find a folded sheet. The elves had obviously thought of everything. He spread the blanket out, placing the large collection of food on top of it. "You can sit, you know."
She took a spot opposite him on the blanket, still puzzled by his earlier actions. The thoughts were pushed out of her mind as she served herself a bowl of green salad that had been sprinkled with almonds and a Caesar vinaigrette dressing. She took the first bite, licking the remains of the dressing from her lips and looked up. Severus had been watching her closely. "What? I'm not going to disappear anytime soon."
He steeled himself for what he was going to say. "I did not mean to laugh at you a few minutes ago. What you said surprised me. It has been a long time since anyone has had the nerve to stand up to me."
"And you found it funny?"
He thought for a moment. "It wasn't necessarily the context of what you said, but more of who you are that amused me."
"You mean you never expected to be told out by a younger, female Gryffindor?" A small smile graced her lips.
"Correct, as usual." Snape waited for her reaction. It was true after all.
She blinked a few times, processing what he had said. It seemed she had shocked the most feared professor in Hogwarts' history by telling him what she thought of him to his face. Her grin widened and she felt proud of herself or doing so. "I suppose I should feel honored."
"Just don't get into the habit of doing that often, Hermione."
"I'll try not to, as tempting as it is."
"Tempting?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"You have a nice laugh."
Severus glanced at her again after creating a sandwich from the various meats and cheeses the house elves had packed. Something was different about her, but he could not exactly place a finger on what it was. It took him a few moments to decide what had changed. He no longer looked at her as if she was student, but as if she was an adult. The teacher/student relationship had transformed to one of equals, man to woman.
If he recalled correctly, she had just complemented him; something about a nice laugh. That was a first; women rarely complimented him about anything. It wasn't as if he was overly good-looking or anything. He was probably just the opposite of what women wanted from a man. The only appeal he had was that of a dark, dangerous man, which seemed to thrill a few women into pursuing him, and most of them were drunk at the time.
Hermione had finished her salad and set the bowl down. "So where are Hufflepuff's gardens located, other than the Forbidden Forest?"
"You'll see. If you are finished eating, we can start our search."
"I'm done."
Severus packed what he could of the food back into the basket, keeping only the container of water and a few pieces of fruit that he tucked into a pocket of his voluminous robes. As soon as he stepped away from it, the basket disappeared with the pop of a house elf. He extended a hand to help his colleague up and she took it gratefully. "All set?"
"I'm ready when you are."
He led her around to the backside of the lake where a small stream fed the larger body of water. "Albus said to only follow the stream," he explained.
"I've followed this stream before," she spoke thoughtfully, remembering her carefree days before the final battle. The Golden Trio had escaped to the clearings in the forest numerous times just to get away from life. "It leads to a clearing with a waterfall. I've never seen any garden though."
"Did you ever check behind the waterfall?"
"Well, no, of course not. Why would I…"she trailed off in sudden comprehension. "It's behind the waterfall! What a perfect place to hide a garden! I suppose there must be wards, of course, to keep people from finding it."
"Naturally." Snape pushed back a few branches sticking into the path and allowed Hermione to pass ahead of him.
The clearing came into view just beyond the trees ahead. Hermione stepped out onto the soft grass, feeling a sudden freedom from the confinement offered by the thick trees. "Wow," she whispered quietly. "It's more beautiful than I remember."
A small waterfall crashed to the rocks below with a never-ending fury of pounding water. It was just large enough to give people the awe-inspiring feeling, and not too small that they would pass it by without a glance. No wonder Helga had chosen this place to hide her plants.
"Shall we?" Severus asked, having approached the cascade to search for the best way in. He found a small gap between the water and the stone face that could fit a relatively slender person, but would not have been obvious to anyone except those searching for it. He held out his hand to help Hermione cross the uneven stones to where he was standing.
"It's now or never." She gulped, not knowing what to expect on the other side.
Still grasping her hand, Snape made his way into behind the sheet of water, finding that he did not get wet passing through. The witch must have put a spell to protect those who wanted to gain entrance from getting soaked. Smart woman, he decided to himself. The pair came out in a small area with the waterfall at their backs. No other exit was obvious.
"Who dares trespass on Helga's domain?" a powerful feminine voice echoed from all parts of the cavern.
"Severus Snape and Hermione Granger," Hermione's voice was loud and clear as she spoke, making her seem more confident than she actually was.
"And what is your purpose visiting here?"
"We need to gather a few important ingredients for a potion," Severus took over the speaking role.
"And which potion would this be?"
"It is called the Founders' Potion."
"Hogwarts has been damaged?" concern was evident in the voice.
"Unfortunately, it has. There was a battle five years ago in which the control of the wizarding world was decided. Thankfully, the good side managed to defeat those against them, though not without consequence. It was not realized that the magic had been draining from Hogwarts as a result of the Final Battle taking place on its grounds, but the effects have become more apparent in the past few months. The two of us were decided as the ones who would carry out the brewing process."
The voice was silent for a few moments, processing the information. "Who informed you of this location?"
"Albus Dumbledore, current Head Master of Hogwarts."
"How is dear Albus doing? I haven't seen him for a while?" the voice's tone lightened at the mention of the man.
Hermione answered. "He's fine, doing quite well."
"Wonderful! Tell him to come and visit more often."
"We shall."
The voice was silent for another moment. "I suppose I should allow you entrance. You seem harmless enough and you have a decent purpose for being here." Across the small cavern, a section of the wall shimmered into a passageway. "This way, please."
Severus realized he was still clutching Hermione's hand and let go. There had been a slight doubt in his mind that they would not be allowed access to the needed plants. He was worried he would not be considered worthy enough to enter such a sacred place. With a quick resettling of his mind, he confidently stepped through the now open passageway with Hermione close behind.
The heavy scent of flowers in full bloom assaulted their nostrils. It was like they were transported to a gigantic underground greenhouse complete with the ever-present humidity. Plants in every hue imaginable swayed in a light breeze that had managed to creep through cracks in the surrounding rocks. Hermione recognized a few species and moved off to get a closer look, leaving the amazed Potions Master standing by himself to gaze in awe.
The girl had noticed some particularly vibrant hydrangeas clustered in a circle to her right. Not only did they shine brilliantly with their normal pale pinks, purples, and blues, but somehow had gained the ability to create a natural traffic-cone orange blossom.
"Yes, dear, they did that all by themselves," a voice whispered by her ear.
Hermione turned to see a short, stout ghost clothed in a frilly, ancient gown floating nearby. "You're Helga Hufflepuff!" she exclaimed, eyes widening in surprise.
"Well, yes, of course, I am," the ghost said in voice used numerous times to explain things to small children and those who were not quite right in the head. "Who else would I be?"
"I just…well…um…I wasn't expecting to ever be able to meet any of the Founders of Hogwarts! I mean, I've read Hogwarts: A History more times than I can remember, but I never expected to actually meet any of the witches and wizards who created the school."
"That's perfectly understandable, dear," the witch nodded. She had seen many people in shock at her appearance over the years. "So what was your name again?"
"Hermione, Hermione Granger."
"Were you in my house?" Helga asked sounding hopeful.
"No, I was a Gryffindor. I did know many who were though. It's still a very respectable house."
"Gryffindor is a noble house as well; it's nothing to be ashamed of. I suppose your friend over there wasn't in Hufflepuff either. He looks too miserable to be my type of person. Slytherin would be my guess," the witch decided glancing thoughtfully at Snape, who had moved to the herb section.
"He was the Head of Slytherin House when I attended Hogwarts."
"That explains it," Helga removed a set of knitting needles from her pocket and began to work on what looked like a partial sweater. "How did a pretty thing like you get stuck with a man like him? I can see the attraction to a dark, brooding type, but he honestly doesn't look to have much else beyond that."
"We're only colleagues," Hermione explained as she inhaled the heady scent of the orange hydrangea. It reminded her faintly of tangerines. "If he had his choice, I would be gone in an instant, but unfortunately for him the potion requires both a man and a woman's participation."
"Men can be like that. I knew it all too well, dear. My Cuthbert was a handful in himself. Bertie had a temper hotter than the fiery sun. Of course all you had to do was soften him up with some womanly charms and he was a perfect gentleman." She winked knowingly at Hermione, making the girl blush at what the ghost was implying. "You might want to give it a try sometime; he looks like a sour one."
"Thank you, but I think I can manage."
"What were you two looking for again? I could never remember what exactly Rowena wrote down. Potions were always too complicated for me," the ghost changed subjects quickly, her knitting needles making an ever present click-click-click as her sweater grew a sleeve.
"Mandrake root."
"Yes, yes, let me see here," Helga peered around carefully at all of her many plants. "I must check to see where I planted it. Enjoy my flowers while I take a look." The ghost fluttered over to where Snape was carefully examining her rosemary plants. "Are they acceptable?"
His head snapped up to glare at the specter. "Quite. You are the protector of this garden?"
"I am," she admitted. Obviously her thoughts of him from afar were correct. He was not the most pleasant of men.
"I need True Mandrake root in order to brew the potion correctly."
"Your little friend explained that to me. It should be somewhere in this section if it is still here."
"If?" he repeated, blanching slightly. He did not like the sound of the ominous 'if.'
"It's a difficult plant to grow," Helga huffed at him. "And there was that blizzard a few centuries ago that killed some of my beauties. I honestly do not believe it survived that winter."
"What about the potion?"
The ghost waved offhandedly. "Surely a man such as you would able to come up with a suitable substitution."
Severus glared menacingly. He did not appreciate being mocked. "I would need to consult a few texts before I can make a choice as to which herb would work best."
"True, very true. There is a small room near the lilac bushes that contains some of the texts we once used and a scattering of more recent ones donated by friends who come to visit me."
Snape raised a neat eyebrow. The ghost had obviously thought of everything. "If you wouldn't mind, I would like to make use of those resources."
"Go right ahead," Helga motioned him towards the leafy, tall bushes. "The door is right behind the one with white flowers."
He walked briskly toward the indicated section and found the white lilac. Pushing aside some wayward branches, he found a simple wooden door guarding the sacred tomes. He hoped he could find what he was searching for. There were a few herbs he knew of that could be substituted for True Mandrake root, but it was more of a question as to whether they would react dangerously with any of the other ingredients.
The room was tiny, yet packed to the brim with books of all types, ranging from ones handwritten by the Founders themselves to modern day articles straight out of the Daily Prophet. There were thick tomes and pocket-sized journals stacked one on top of the other all the way up to the ceiling, on shelves and off. Finding the text he sought with a flick of his wand, the Potions Master took a seat in a high-backed wooden chair and began to read.
Hermione glanced around the cavern nervously. She could see no signs of her partner anywhere. It seemed he had disappeared. Maybe he had been trapped by a lively vine or gnawed on by a Venus flytrap. It seemed logical that those might happen with the variety of species she saw here. "Severus?" she called out.
"Don't worry about your man, dear. I sent him into the research room for a few moments. I do hope he will find what he is looking for," Helga's ghost floated over to her
"What research room?"
"There is a small one in the back used for quick references. I think I disappointed the poor thing when I explained that True Mandrake no longer grows here."
Hermione's mind turned rapidly. "He's looking for a substitution then."
A slam echoed off the rock walls as a dark figure billowed out of the hidden room, the door crashing behind him. He approached the others, striding easily with his long legs. "I think I've got it. Bryony seems to be our best choice. It uses the root as well and I know I did see some available here."
"I remember hearing about Bryony being used in one of the trial potions at the Ministry once instead of Mandrake," Hermione recalled. "I don't recall what potion it was, but I do remember it."
"It does not matter. This is our only hope at the moment."
Helga nodded. She had being thinking upon the same lines, but knew this man would not take well to her simply giving him the answer. "Bryony should be over there." She pointed across the garden to the pale yellow flowers.
Hermione looked at the dark man expectantly. When he said nothing, she spoke cautiously, "I'll harvest it. We just require the roots so it should be simple. Bryony isn't a temperamental plant."
"Fine." Severus held his tongue for once not making a cutting remark or giving explicit directions on how it should be done. He watched as she jogged to where the ghost had pointed toward and began to select a plant to start with. He turned back to Helga. "Thank you for allowing us entrance to your garden. It is a magnificent place."
"You are welcome back anytime you wish to visit. Simply state your name when you enter the cavern and the door will open for you."
Snape glanced at Hermione once more as she cast a simple spell at the Bryony that would take some of the roots off of each plant, leaving enough to allow all of them to survive with minimal damage. It was a good technique, valuable for anyone who worked with plant on a regular basis.
"Here," the ghost spoke again and he moved his gaze back to her. "Give these to the girl. She deserves something."
His face stayed impassive as Helga passed him six blue hyacinths. "Why should I?"
"All women like flowers, my boy," she explained with a wink. Helga failed to mention that she had glimpsed into both their minds, finding out about every minor argument that kept happening between the two. They would both have to compromise one way or another to make this work and she would see that they would. Flowers had always been able to say more than words ever could, but obviously the man knew nothing of them or he would have seen right through her plot.
Blue hyacinths were commonly used as a way to say "I'm sorry."
{Author's Note: Would you believe that this entire chapter spawned from my guy giving me a bouquet of flowers? He randomly decided to show up on my doorstep with two sunflowers, some astromeria, four mini poppies, a gorgeous purple iris, and a red rose. He's such a sweetie! I think I shall keep him for a while yet. Anyway, summer is almost here! I have two exams, both on the same day, calculus followed by chemistry. Ick! But I shall survive. And then graduation is the 26th and then I will be free! Well, at least until the 19th of August when I go up to Clarkson University. Yay!
Damon Lowe: I know it's slow. That's how I wanted it to be. Thank for the 'God, I love this' comment. It is comments like those that keep me writing.
Geesss: True. That is how he is supposed to be.
Velven: Thank you! I work very hard to keep them in character as much as I can. I thought it was an amusing idea for Dumbledore to play matchmaker. I could picture him doing something like that. I figured I would put a disclaimer up for the potion. You never know the people who would try it at home, but I bet there are probably some somewhere. So I was only being careful because I don't honestly know if it would work or not… Seriously, I kept remembering my old chemistry teacher who kept telling us not to try things at home only because if he said it and we tried it he could not be held accountable for the results. He was a great guy.
Adnarel: Which part was out of character?
Belle Mortis: Thanks!
RebelRikki: I originally had him sending out the letter, but then changed it when I got the idea for the next chapter. So I kept the letter, but I am not sure if Hermione will find it or not. I might just have him burn it as a sort of symbolic thing that he finds later by accident after the relationship has progressed a bit. Here's a bit about the gardens. There will be more to come eventually.
Yeoldcrazy1: Is fine, as long as people read the fic, I am happy. A review once in a while is nice, but as long people are reading it, that is the most important parts. Thank you very much. I try very had on my characters and keeping them to how they are supposed to be.
Peace, Love, and Peppermint Tea, Nataly Ravenlock}