Changes Made
Chapter Seventeen
Harry and Hermione moved back into Gryffindor Tower on Sunday afternoon. They spent the morning practising wandless Occlumency, and the afternoon they spent in Hogsmeade, wandering the streets and taking it in.
"I've never had this much freedom," Harry told Hermione thoughtfully as they passed a group of wizard children, trailing wide-eyed after a harried looking witch in fuschia robes. "At the Dursley's, I can't go anywhere. During the regular school year, no one can just walk into Hogsmeade whenever, and you know, this is a nice feeling." He looked up at the sky, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"I didn't use my freedom until just this past summer," Hermione said after a moment. "I suppose I always had the option to go wherever I liked, whenever I liked because my parents are never home and have never told me directly not to. I used to go for groceries and things like that if we needed them right away, but it was always very explainable safe things, you know, 'go and come right back, no stopping' things. When I decided to paint my room, I just…went. No note, no particular destination, I just went. It was a nice feeling."
"I read a book once," Harry mused.
"Did you?" Hermione gasped in mock amazement. "A book besides Quidditch Through the Ages?"
"Shut up," Harry laughed. "I mean it. The guy who wrote it fought for the Yanks in World War II. He said something about how freedom was won so that it could be abused. That really made me think."
"And how do you think freedom is abused?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Well, for one thing, people don't use it! They have all this power to do and say what they like, and they don't use it."
"There are consequences for some actions," Hermione pointed out.
"But for things as simple as 'I want to go shopping today'," Harry explained. "Or, 'I don't like it when you do that, don't bother me'," people don't say those things when they should."
"Like you never said to Dudley," Hermione said flatly.
"Well…yeah, I guess you're right. I fought back in other ways, but I never straight-out told him to leave me alone. I don't think it would have done anything worthwhile, though."
"But you never found out whether it would or not," Hermione observed.
"Nope." He was silent for a moment. Then, " Hey, I'm thirsty. The Three Broomsticks?"
"Why not the Hog's Head?" Hermione suggested seriously. Harry stared at her. She smiled. "What? Like I'd willingly go back there?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Come on." They took seats at the pub and ordered drinks.
"A Butterbeer and a Tangerine Fizz," said Madame Rosmerta, bringing them over. "Good to see you two." Harry and Hermione thanked her and the barmaid left.
"A Tangerine Fizz?" Harry asked, looking at Hermione.
"I'm using my freedom," she said, "And deviating from the norm. It's very empowering. You ought to try it."
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Snape sat in a corner of the Three Broomsticks, wrapped in his largest cloak. He observed the room surreptitiously from beneath his hood until Potter and Hermione walked in. Miss Granger, he corrected himself. Damn. He couldn't go anywhere without being reminded of her. Snape shrank even farther back into the corner. He hoped fervently they wouldn't notice him, and fortunately, they seemed entangled in conversation over their drinks.
Snape watched them talking and, in a way, he felt almost envious of Potter. He wondered what Miss Granger would be like unencumbered by politeness. She was currently slapping Harry lightly on the shoulder while he laughed at her impertinently. It wasn't the cruel laugh he remembered from that face, however. This was a much more pleasant version, although issued in the same voice as James's. Snape reflected for a moment. He had never known Harry Potter to be outright cruel to anyone. Even Draco Malfoy was treated with compassion. It had to be Lily's blood in him, Snape was sure.
Soon Harry and Hermione stood and left the pub. Snape watched them go, relaxing back into the corner as the door swung shut behind them. He stayed in the Three Broomsticks for several hours afterwards, thinking and soaking up the atmosphere of the cozy establishment. As the pub began slowly to empty, he returned to the castle. It was well past dinnertime, but Snape found no appetite. He went instead to his rooms and took out Merlin's book once more, studying closely the page with instructions for Veritaserum. I can't back out now, he though glumly, staring at the ancient vellum. There was no avoiding it. As of tomorrow afternoon, he'd be spending forty-two days in close proximity to Hermione Granger as she brewed an illegal potion. And it wasn't the illegal potion bit that bothered him.
What was it about Granger that caused him to act so irresponsibly? He had never been attracted in any way towards any of his students, so why this one? Why the one he could under no circumstances have, even if Dumbledore gave the go-ahead for a Professor/Student relationship? At least it would never come to that, Snape thought, thumbing absently through his book. Hermione viewed him merely as her Professor of Potions. Not even as a particularly close Professor, as she did Minerva, and certainly not as a friend. There was his safe spot. As long as Hermione had no attraction to him, he could keep his feelings in check. That would have to do.
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On Monday afternoon, Hermione and Harry went as usual to Snape's quarters for Occlumency lessons. Harry looked extremely nervous.
"Relax, Harry. Remember, it's wandless," Hermione said soothingly as they walked.
"That's what makes me uncomfortable," Harry told her. "He's got loads more practice than I have."
"So? There are people with more experience flying and you're better than they are," Hermione pointed out.
"Yeah, but I'm good at flying," Harry told her. "Occlumency? Not so much."
Snape's door stood open. Harry took a deep breath and entered the room, followed by Hermione. Snape stood waiting for them.
"Sit however you are most comfortable." Snape ordered. "We will begin with a simple enough exercise. I expect you shall find it easy." Harry and Hermione sat down on the floor, Harry sprawled in a haphazard sort of fashion, Hermione with her legs crossed and back straight. "I want you to clear your minds and think about what you did on your weekend. Mr. Potter, think about Saturday. Miss Granger, Sunday. I want you to tell me about what happened on those days, but not all of what happened. You will alter small details of your stories, and attempt to prevent me from discovering your lies. The most efficient way to do this is to suppress the memories that betray you. Mr. Potter, whenever you are ready."
Harry took a deep breath and began speaking. "On Saturday I woke up around nine and got dressed in jeans and a jumper with a griffin on it. I was reaching for my broomstick to do some practice when Hermione burst in jabbering about how you were going to help her make Veritaserum. Then she told me we ought to practice and I said that yoga ought to be jazzed up a bit. I suggested the 'boy on a broomstick' pose and then Hermione and I did some actual practice without wands. Hermione helped me practice Quidditch after that she threw apples for me to catch, and we played Gobstones for a while…"
"You may stop," Snape said coolly. "You did surprisingly well, Mr. Potter. However, your sweater on Saturday had a dragon on it, you suggested that someone try the 'bouncing ferret pose', and Miss Granger threw golf balls for you to catch."
Harry sighed. Then he brightened. "You missed one, Professor."
"And what was that?" Snape inquired calmly.
"Hermione and I played Scrabble, not Gobstones."
"Ah. You did much better than I expected. Miss Granger's persistence in encouraging you to practice has been worthwhile, Potter. Miss Granger, your turn."
Hermione took a deep breath and concentrated. She shut her eyes. "On Sunday I woke up just after sunrise and got dressed. After breakfast, Dobby the house elf helped Harry and I move back into Gryffindor Tower. We practised Occlumency and then had a bit of lunch. Then we told Professor McGonagall that we were going to Hogsmeade and headed off for the afternoon. We went into the stationer's and Harry bought a quill and then we just walked around talking for a while. We passed this family of six kids all lined up after a witch in blue and then Harry and I started discussing freedom. We went into the Three Broomsticks for a drink. Harry ordered Butterbeer and I ordered a Lemon Fizz, and we left. When Harry and I got back to the castle, we went up to Gryffindor Tower and played some Scrabble, and then we went down for dinner. You weren't there, though, so Hagrid sat next to me."
"Very good, Miss Granger. You omitted one of the house elves however. Winky, as I believe she is called, was helping as well. And while it is true that you informed a teacher that you were leaving the castle, it was Professor Dumbledore, whom you encountered on the fourth floor. Harry didn't buy his quill at the stationer's. It was at Zonko's. I better not see you sucking on it in my class, Potter. And the witch you passed had seven children. In the Three Broomsticks, you ordered a Tangerine Fizz, and in Gryffindor Tower, you played chess, not Scrabble. Did I miss anything?"
"Just the witch's robes," Hermione sighed. "They were fuchsia, not blue."
"You may be under the impression that you did badly," Snape told Harry and Hermione, "But you both did remarkably well. It is not often that beginning Occlumency students are able to get even one detail past me. I am impressed. Now, Potter, you may go. Miss Granger and I have an appointment."
Harry raised his eyebrows at Hermione as he left. "You're mad," he mouthed as he passed. Hermione smiled impishly at him. Snape waited until Harry had left the room to speak.
"We will be working in my classroom," he told her, walking over to his table and gently picking up Merlin's book. Hermione rose and followed him down the dungeon corridors, fairly dancing with excitement.
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A/N: Not much action I know, but the themes are important later. Next chapter, sparks fly! I swear. I've already written most of it. :-) Thanks for all of the support, you guys! I'm really flattered. As always, thanks to my fabulous betas, Aindel S. Druida and Kerichi.
Have a triple-fab day!