Chapter Three
The week before we sailed across the channel was a very stressful one indeed.
What with all the packing, last minute reservations for a limousine from Cherbourg into Paris, hotels, and resturants, and covering all our tracks as we went along...Well, little things tended to wear on your nerves, and Hermione and I often found ourselves in shouting matches over insignificant things.
For example, one from a few days prior:
"Severus, I don't want you to over pack." Said Hermione, timidly, sitting cross-legged on the floor as she folded her shirts.
"I'm not over packing, Hermione." Replied Severus, stuffing a pair of pajama pants into his suitcase.
"Don't lie darling, I just saw you shoving those pants into your case." She answered, her tone rising considerably.
"Its just one pair of pants, it won't make a difference." He told her gruffly. "Don't be such a git about it.."
"A git?" She barked. "I don't see how I'm a git for telling you to pack light...We ARE only going to be there for a week."
"Yes, I've REALIZED. I happen to like those pants very much and would appreciate it if you quit shooting daggers at me, Miss Granger."
"Oh NO you did not."
"I'm certain I did."
"You're a complete arse, Professor. You'll never escape that one." She huffed, shoving her clothes forcibly into her case.
"And you're a..." He paused in mock concentration. "What was that...An insufferable know-it-all? Yes, THAT is exactly what you are. Insufferable." He spat.
"Well then how about I just don't go to Paris? You can go alone with your attitude." She threatened.
"I think that would save us BOTH a headache."
They both stared at eachother malovently, and finally Hermione stormed out of the room.
Severus glanced at his watch nonchalantly, and moments later, she walked back in, murmering a 'Sorry, I lost it...' as she returned to packing.
Oh it seems funny, but having a few of these kind of rows every day got awfully tiring.
Finally, it was our day to sail, and the moment we stepped aboard the mid sized boat we were taking from Bournemouth, it was instant therapy.
All of the weight, and guilt, and...everything, seemed to flee once we were on deck with our luggage by our sides, just enjoying the trip across the water. Any doubts I had about Hermione and I were gone, and it was just..refreshing.
As Hermione and I sat in fold out chairs, talking as we went along, all of a sudden a cry was heard. One I recognized but much rather would have not.
"HERMIONE!"
Both Hermione and I whipped around in our seats to see Ron Weasley and Harry Potter bounding over to her.
They arrived and I turned away, leaning my head onto my hand. Just what we needed.
"Hey Hermione!" Ron yelled, unaware of my presence. "Mum and Dad are taking us to Paris and Har-" He stopped in mid sentence, staring blankly at me. "P-Professor Snape?"
I heaved a sigh and looked over at him, raising my eyebrows. "Yes, Mr. Weasley?"
Harry shook his head and looked at Hermione. "What's going on Hermione?"
Hermione looked back at me and bit her lip, then turned back to Harry and Ron. "Guys...I think its time we..talked." She began, her voice unsure. "All of us."
"No, Hermione leave me out of this. You can tell them yourself." I snapped.
"Hermione? Did he call you Hermione?" Ron asked, utterly confused. "Hermione..?"
"Severus! I need you here..." She leaning closer to me and speaking in an urgent whisper. "I can't tell them myself..."
"Have you lost the ability to speak?" I questioned, becoming a little tempermental. We were about to be exposed to her best friends after all. "They're your friends."
"Don't be an arse.."
I examined her for a moment. She looked terrified. Finally, I caved. "Alright, alright.." Muttering under my breath, I got to my feet, folded my arms, and followed behind Hermione and her accomplices as we walked below deck.
How unfortunate... I thought miserably as we entered the cafeteria and took seats at a four sided table that only had three chairs.
Hermione pulled a chair beside me from a nearby table and folded her hands on the table, smiling weakly at Weasley and Potter. "How are you guys?" She question lamely.
"We we're alright...Now we're confused, and curious, and you need to tell us what's going on, Mione." Harry stated.
"Well...Harry..Ron..You see.." She stammered, wringing her hands. "Remember when I was having detentions with Severus?"
"Severus?!" Ron shouted. "Professor Snape! Snape!" He corrected her desperatley.
"Right...Snape...well..we seemed to have...more "
I began to feel anxious, tapping my fingers on the tabletop as I glanced around the room in anticipation, waiting for the bombshell to be dropped. After a few more minutes of Hermione avoiding the conversation, I let out a heavy breath and looked at her. "Would you just tell them, Mione?"
"I'm getting there! Keep your knickers on.." She mumbled, pausing afterward to chew her lip. Then very quietly, she said 'HeandIareseeingeachother.'
"Headless Nick and your mother?" Ron asked, quite stupidly.
"Oh Weasley, haven't you put two and two together?" I barked finally. "We've been seeing eachother since April."
"Seeing...I don't.."
"We've been...what do you children call it?" I asked Hermione, who had shrunk down considerably in her seat.
She looked up to me. "Going out."
"We're 'going out'." I replied, nodding curtly.
"WHY YOU FUCKING SLIME-" I saw Weasley's fist flying in my direction, but I caught it at the last moment, glaring at him as I held his wrist in a death grip. "GET THE HELL OFF OF ME! GET OFF-"
"Hermione..." Potter asked, nearly whimpering. "Why...?"
At the point Hermione had begun to cry. "We're in love, Harry...Why else?"
I'd begun to struggle with holding Weasley, So I stood and held his hands behind his back. "I think it'd be best for you to calm down, mate."
"Mate?" He kicked me with the back of his heel in the groin, and nearly blinded, I fell to the floor. "She's a little GIRL! She's not even LEGAL! How could you live with yourself laying a HAND on her?!"
"RON!" Hermione shouted suddenly, running to my side, and kneeling beside me. "Oh darling..." She murmered helplessly, rubbing my back. What the hell was Weasley wearing? Army boots? Heels? Still doubled over in pain, I couldn't speak any of the vulgar, degrading words to Weasley that I wanted to. God, I hadn't been kicked that hard since...I'd never been kicked that hard..
Finally, just as Hermione and Weasley began to get into it, Harry still seated at the table in a daze, I got to my feet and shook my head, feeling dizzy still. I managed to slump into a chair and try to ward off the bout of lightheaded-ness I was feeling.
I could barely make out what Weasley and Hermione were shouting. I didn't really care. I just wanted this ride to be over, so I could go to the hotel and sleep for a good three days. This was too much to deal with. It was supposed to be a vacation from all this stress, but things just kept coming at us out of nowhere.
Soon there were shouts of 'FINE!', one from Weasley and one from Hermione, I picked up my head to see Weasley storming out, and Hermione shaking, in tears. Potter was still sitting there, looking as if he were on the verge of crying himself.
Hermione walked over to me and broke down, collapsing into my arms.
I did my best to comfort her, murmering in her ear, but nothing I said seemed to help any. She was miserable, and I was even more miserable because she was miserable.
Finally, Potter spoke up. "So why didn't you tell me?"
I let Hermione go as she walked over to Potter, pulling a chair close beside him. "Because I k-knew you wouldn't approve.."
"I don't.." He said, glancing over at me. "But if he makes you happy.."
"He does! You just don't understand.."
"No, Ron, doesn't understand...I think I do.." That got a chuckle from both himself and Hermione. "I just want -you- to be happy...I don't want anyone to hurt you.."
"He won't, Harry. He's really nice, he is.." She told him, looking at me with a smile.
I smiled back.
"This is so...weird..." Potter said finally. "You hated him what seemed like a minute ago.."
"I never -hated- him, persay.." She began. "I just really disliked him."
"And I really disliked you, be certain of that." I retorted.
"Shut up."
"No, you shut up."
"No you-" Potter gave Hermione a look and she grinned sheepishly. "Sorry.."
"Well..." Potter began, giving a breathy sigh. "I'll talk to Ron."
"Then you're okay with it?" Hermione asked him hopefully.
"I'm fine with it..." He said hesistantly, looking at me. "Does that mean my marks won't be so bad next term, Professor?"
I snorted, getting up and digging through my pockets for a pack of cigarettes. "Don't even think about it, Mr. Potter."
I suppose there was a look of reconsiliation between him and I in the next moment. I probably would have had to make a truce with Potter eventually anyway, being as Hermione and I obviously weren't as good at keeping secrets as we thought.
I left the the two of them to talk, going above deck to have a cigarette.
Leaning on the rail, I enhaled deeply and let everything slip away. Potter and Weasley knew, how many more would find out our secret?
Surely Weasley would tell his siblings, the siblings would go to their mother, and their mother would go to their father..The father, as we all knew, worked at the ministry..Once word got to Fudge it would all be over.
I'd be spending time in Azkaban and Hermione would have to live through all the media, therapy, i.e. torture. I wouldn't be there and able to protect her, and I, would then have failed at all I'd worked for the past few months.
Before I knew it, I'd smoked the cigarette down to the filter. I flicked it over the side and stretched, beginning on my way back down to the cafeteria.
I pushed open the door, in mid-yawn "Hermi-" I stopped immediatley at what I saw.
Hermione, astride Potter's lap, hands on his chest, pulled away from him immediatley, and looked at me in shock. "Its not what you think.."
Then promptly, I blacked out.
Well now, looks like trouble in paradise, eh?
Reviews make me happy, So please, make an emo kid smile and leave one. =D
To blackwolfs900, sportzgrl627 : I'm really glad you like my story and thanks for the reviews! =D
To my buddy maverick : Its not for too too long, my dad usually caves. Hehe.
Lyra of Queenscove : He is the definition of shexsay-ness. Nod
Romancer 4-ever : Understood, No NC-17 drop down choice or I would have changed it for you.
-Heart- Casey
