Chapter Thirteen
"Severus Snape!" A shriek came from the end of the classroom. "Out! We'll discuss this later." As Hermione turned to follow him out, a hand rested on her shoulder.
"Sit." Professor McGonagall's voice, usually so warm when it addressed Hermione, was cold. Hermione sat. "What was that?" A cold stare accompanied these words.
Hemione gulped. "I was just asking him not to take points from Ron and I." McGonagall snorted, but Hermione disregarded her and continued. "WE ere joking around a breakfast and we knocked Luna Lovegood into her pumpkin joice. I think Sev- I mean, Professor Snape, thought we were bothering her, but she was laughing about it with us." Hermione kept her eyes down, not at all anxious to see if her half-truth had paid off.
For a long time, McGonagall did not answer. Finally, she spoke. "Very well. I'll speak to Professor Snape about it."
Hermione heaved a sigh of relief and hurried out of the classroom, worried that another second might reveal the truth.
*
After Arithmancy, the morning's close call was still fresh in the minds of both Hermione and Snape. They were, in fact, so wrapped up in their own thoughts that they barreled into one another outside of Professor Flitwick's classroom before lunch. Snape looked up, prepared to shout, but stopped abruptly at the sight of Hermione.
He swallowed. "Shall we continue our discussion?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes quizzically. "I suppose."
"My office?"
Hermione nodded, and Snape led the way. He unlocked his office door with a flick of his wand, ushered Hermione inside, and turned to face her. "And to what no doubt immediately important matter do I owe an audience with the great Hermione Granger?" He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Hermione didn't flinch, didn't show any sign of emotion at the biting sarcasm from the mouth of her lover. "You know perfectly well."
"Then, if it's not to much trouble, refresh my memory. It's not what it used to be, you know."
"You threw me out last night."
"So I did. Which begs the question, why are you here now?"
"Because I saw the look in your eyes this morning at breakfast. What happened?"
Snape looked away. His voice lost its usual coldness and shrank to a whisper. "I lost the best thing I ever had."
Hermione took a step forward. "I'm sorry, Severus."
"Like hell you are." He whispered, as his mouth bore down on hers.
*
Sirius looked over his shoulder. He hadn't seen anyone the entire time he'd been walking, but he'd now heard one too many footsteps to ignore. His eyes darted around, but to no avail. He turned back around, and saw a rat.
"You!" he hissed at Peter Pettigrew.
"Yes." He squeaked. "Me."
"You have about three seconds to convince me not to kill you." Sirius snarled, pulling out his wand.
"You've crossed the Dark Lord's path too many times. Stay away from Rayna Dumbledore." With a crack, he disapparated, just as Sirius raised his wand.
A/N: Once again (or for the first time, for those of you not reading Angel), I apologize profusely for not updating for so long. I've had a serious case of writer's block. For all of you loyal readers who haven't deserted me, I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations. More to come soon!
"Severus Snape!" A shriek came from the end of the classroom. "Out! We'll discuss this later." As Hermione turned to follow him out, a hand rested on her shoulder.
"Sit." Professor McGonagall's voice, usually so warm when it addressed Hermione, was cold. Hermione sat. "What was that?" A cold stare accompanied these words.
Hemione gulped. "I was just asking him not to take points from Ron and I." McGonagall snorted, but Hermione disregarded her and continued. "WE ere joking around a breakfast and we knocked Luna Lovegood into her pumpkin joice. I think Sev- I mean, Professor Snape, thought we were bothering her, but she was laughing about it with us." Hermione kept her eyes down, not at all anxious to see if her half-truth had paid off.
For a long time, McGonagall did not answer. Finally, she spoke. "Very well. I'll speak to Professor Snape about it."
Hermione heaved a sigh of relief and hurried out of the classroom, worried that another second might reveal the truth.
*
After Arithmancy, the morning's close call was still fresh in the minds of both Hermione and Snape. They were, in fact, so wrapped up in their own thoughts that they barreled into one another outside of Professor Flitwick's classroom before lunch. Snape looked up, prepared to shout, but stopped abruptly at the sight of Hermione.
He swallowed. "Shall we continue our discussion?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes quizzically. "I suppose."
"My office?"
Hermione nodded, and Snape led the way. He unlocked his office door with a flick of his wand, ushered Hermione inside, and turned to face her. "And to what no doubt immediately important matter do I owe an audience with the great Hermione Granger?" He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Hermione didn't flinch, didn't show any sign of emotion at the biting sarcasm from the mouth of her lover. "You know perfectly well."
"Then, if it's not to much trouble, refresh my memory. It's not what it used to be, you know."
"You threw me out last night."
"So I did. Which begs the question, why are you here now?"
"Because I saw the look in your eyes this morning at breakfast. What happened?"
Snape looked away. His voice lost its usual coldness and shrank to a whisper. "I lost the best thing I ever had."
Hermione took a step forward. "I'm sorry, Severus."
"Like hell you are." He whispered, as his mouth bore down on hers.
*
Sirius looked over his shoulder. He hadn't seen anyone the entire time he'd been walking, but he'd now heard one too many footsteps to ignore. His eyes darted around, but to no avail. He turned back around, and saw a rat.
"You!" he hissed at Peter Pettigrew.
"Yes." He squeaked. "Me."
"You have about three seconds to convince me not to kill you." Sirius snarled, pulling out his wand.
"You've crossed the Dark Lord's path too many times. Stay away from Rayna Dumbledore." With a crack, he disapparated, just as Sirius raised his wand.
A/N: Once again (or for the first time, for those of you not reading Angel), I apologize profusely for not updating for so long. I've had a serious case of writer's block. For all of you loyal readers who haven't deserted me, I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations. More to come soon!