The next few days passed without incident, and Hermione only saw Snape a handful of times, mainly at meals. Friday arrived and she found she was having difficulty concentrating. She stared out of the windows of her third floor office, wishing she could blow off the rest of the afternoon and go swimming.
Well, why can't I?
She had already finished all her plans for the first two weeks of classes, had Dumbledore look them over just to be sure, and he had pronounced them "fascinating" and praised her assiduousness in improving the plans she had been given. The more she thought about it, she doubted Dumbledore would mind her taking the afternoon off, and so she made up her mind.
Halfway down the corridor to her rooms, she thought perhaps she should invite Anne, and so changed directions, heading down the nearest staircase. She watched for Anne's statue, and eventually spotted it at the end of one hallway. The door to Anne's office was open, but the room was empty so Hermione left, disappointed.
She returned to her quarters, changing into her two-piece red-with-polka-dots bathing suit, covering up with her robes. She stole quickly through the halls, and thankfully encountered no one on the way out. Though she was sure Dumbledore wouldn't care, she did feel somewhat guilty about sneaking off to the lake while everyone else was working. Bursting through the front doors, she held her hands to her eyes as a shield against the bright sunlight, practically skipping down the path to the lake.
As she neared the water, she realized she was not the only one to decide the day was a prime day for not working. She approached cautiously, until she made out Anne's figure swimming in the lake.
Anne spotted her and waved furiously. "Hermione! Come on in, it's wonderful!"
"I actually just went by your office to see if you wanted to swim!"
"I'm so sorry! I should've come by to ask you to come swimming!" Anne confessed as Hermione slipped off her robe and laid it with the other pile of clothing.
She stuck her toe into the water, pleased to discover that it was indeed wonderful, neither too warm nor too cold. She waded out a few meters before she dove under the water and swam a ways before surfacing and swimming back towards Anne.
They talked for a few minutes about classes and lesson plans and teachers. Hagrid, whom she had not seen since she'd been back, was apparantly in Spain, trying to catch a wild hippogriff. After a while, Hermione lay back in the water, floating, soaking up the sun.
Again her thoughts turned to Harry. She wondered if he had found out yet, about her transfer, imagining him storming into Fudge's office, demanding Hermione be reassigned to him. The thought made her smile, since when Harry got angry, things usually happened. She briefly considered the identity of the new spy, running through her mental list of the upper echelons of Death Eaters, finding none she thought willing or even capable of betraying the Dark Lord.
Since Voldemort's return, the Death Eaters had begun growing in numbers, slowly at first, then more rapidly in recent years. She, Harry and Ron had all worked hard to reduce those numbers, catching a great number who had been sentenced to Azkaban. The dementors had not yet defected, most likely due to the large influx of prisoners, though some in the Ministry -- including Dumbledore -- still warned against the possibility that they would leave the Ministry in order to join Voldemort.
The Ministry itself was in perpetual turmoil, since there were two factions at work: those who supported Fudge, and those who followed Dumbledore. Though Fudge did not actively work against Dumbledore, he often acted slowly. It was not a rift Dumbledore had wanted or even encouraged, but after Fudge's lack of action following Voldemort's return, many witches and wizards had turned to Dumbledore for direction, who immediately reinstated the Order of the Phoenix. Part of the reason Harry wanted to become an auror right after graduation was to work from within the Ministry itself to produce results in the war.
Her thoughts shifted to her current assignment, Snape. Hermione was still not completely sure of Fudge's motives in sending her to Hogwarts, unless it was to weaken Harry's position as an auror, a purely political move. She also wondered about Snape's current hostility towards her, why he seemed more hostile to her now than when she was a student.
Water splashing in her face interrupted her reverie, and she looked up to see Anne's playful grin. "Hey, wanna go to Hogsmeade? I need to go by Gladrags, and maybe Three Broomsticks."
"I've been wanting to visit Flourish & Botts, actually!"
They both waded to the shore, where Hermione transfigured a handkerchief into a large multi-colored beach towel, using it to dry off. She pulled on her robes and joined Anne, who was waiting for her. They walked leisurely towards Hogsmeade, discussing school matters.
Anne laughed when Hermione asked her whether Dumbledore would care that they weren't in the castle working, explaining, "You'll find Albus will make sure you spend enough time not working, rather than the opposite."
Hermione grinned, not quite surprised. "I wish the Ministry employed that philosophy. I was always spending too much time at work."
"You do realize you're now spending all your time at work?" asked Anne rhetorically.
Hermione hesitated for a moment, realizing the truth in the statement, then shrugging. "So instead of spending all my free time alone in my flat, I get to spend it surrounded in a large castle."
"Aren't you going to get bored though? I mean, aren't you used to all that action, the chasing of Death Eaters, near-death experiences, and such?"
"As it was, I was usually the the one being dragged along on our little escapades, trying to be the voice of reason. 'Let's go back and get help.' Or 'I don't think it's a good idea to go sneaking about tonight.' So I'm perfectly fine taking a nice, relaxing assignment out of harm's direct path."
Anne nodded. "I can see that." She paused, looking at Hermione before continuing, "But I still think you'll miss the excitement, just a bit. Maybe deep down."
"Maybe. But if I do, you'll be the first to know."
"Should we make it a bet then?" Anne asked, her eyebrows raised, her lips curving into a lopsided grin. "Ten galleons says you're dying of boredom by Christmas."
"Of course I'll be bored by then! That's four months!"
"Okay, Halloween then, only two months away."
She looked suspiciously at the other witch, before smiling. "Make it five galleons and you're on. I'm on a smaller salary than before, so I have to count knuts."
"Alright then! Five galleons that you'll begging to be an auror again before Halloween. Now of course, I'm expecting you to be totally honest," Anne added with a sly grin.
"I'm insulted that you would even think I wouldn't tell you the truth," Hermione said, feigning indignation. "I am a Gryffindor, after all, and we never lie! That is, we try not to lie."
"Right."
They approached Hogsmeade and decided that since they both had different business they would split up and meet back at the Three Broomsticks later. Hermione headed to Flourish & Botts, where she searched for a book for her fourth years, Banshees! and Werewolves! and Vampires! Oh My! It was a fairly recent book, but for some reason, the Hogwart's library did not possess a copy.
The old witch at the counter helped her locate the book, then Hermione browsed for a while before settling on three others: Sniffing Out the Dark Wizard in Us All, a book for her sixth and seventh years on detecting dark wizards and witches; The Truth Behind the Numbers: Advanced Studies In Arithmancy and the Future, for a bit of light reading; and Moste Potente Potions, her third copy, since she kept losing it everytime she moved. It was a book she couldn't live without as she tended to brew many of her own potions.
She still had some time before meeting Anne, so she wandered over to Dervish & Bangs to look at the new model Sneak-o-Scopes. The latest designs were modeled after jewelry, so it could be worn unobtrusively and still be able to function.
Severus Snape paced the length of floor directly in front of Albus Dumbledore's desk, the old man sitting back, hands steepled on his beard, watching the irritated man before him.
"Severus, I would appreciate it if you would not wear my rug so. I've had it for sixty years, and I am rather fond of it now."
Snape scowled, throwing himself into the chair by the fire. "Why does it have to be me? I still have lessons to plan and potions to make for Pomfrey's supplies."
"I will see that Poppy has enough to last the duration." His face became serious as he continued. "Severus, there are many reasons why it must be you. First of all, you speak Russian, which is a great asset, since Translation Charms are not entirely accurate. Next, you know the area. And lastly, there is a great chance that Vasily's disappearance is related to the rumors of Voldemort and the Death Eaters gathering in Eastern Europe."
At the mention of Voldemort, Snape's stomach turned and he had to fight the urge to retch. Every visit he had made to the Dark Lord over the last nine years had become steadily more trying. He was giving Voldemort limited or already known information, and in turn received nothing, save Cruciatus and insults.
"What about Granger, why not send Hogwart's resident auror?" he snarled.
"I am."
Snape stared into the old blue eyes, noticed the lack of twinkle there. Gods, he's sending her with me, he realized abruptly.
"Point in fact, I need to speak with her at once. I believe you might find her down by the lake. Or perhaps in Hogsmeade. Please do apprise her of the current situation."
Snape stared in a combination of disbelief and hatred at Dumbledore, who, ignoring him, reached over his desk for the dish of lemon drops.
"Do take a lemon drop before you go, Severus. Might improve your spirits."
The younger wizard snarled as he stood, turning on his heel and storming out of the office, his robes billowing behind.
"'Ermione!"
Suddenly, she was buried face first into a mass of tangled beard, strong arms pulling her into an embrace.
"Hagrid! I can't breathe!"
"Sorry 'bout that," Hagrid said as he let her go. "Just got a bit excited when I saw yeh! 'Lo there, Anne! C'mon, sit down wit' me and have a drink!"
They sat with Hagrid, drinking butterbeer, while Hagrid talked about wild Hippogriffs. He also told her about the two kneazles he had found in the Forbidden Forest and since adopted, and she was interested in seeing them, since Crookshanks had been part kneazle.
"Well, I'll be! Professor Snape!" Hagrid exclaimed while waving towards the front door. Hermione looked over her shoulder and groaned, noting the especially vile look on Snape's face. Anne gave her an inquisitive look, but said nothing.
Snape immediately started towards their table, barely nodding towards Anne and Hagrid, his eyes settling on Hermione. "Miss Granger. Enjoying your afternoon, I see."
"Yes, thank you," she said softly.
"As much as I hate to break up this little get-together, I must inform you that Professor Dumbledore requires your presence," Snape snarled, adding unnecessarily, "immediately."
"Yes, thank you Professor. I'll be with you shortly."
Snape turned on his heel and stalked outside.
"Whoa, I know he doesn't normally like people, but gods!"
"Tell me about it. I don't know what it is, either. He was never like that when I was a student."
Hagrid hurrumphed. "I thin' he's jus' misunderstood, tha's all. An' if Dumbledore is wanting to see yeh, yeh'd better get goin'."
Anne nodded her agreement and started to get up.
"No, stay. There's no sense in subjecting you to Snape too. Stay and have another butterbeer."
"You sure?" Anne asked, reaching for Hermione's arm. "I wouldn't mind....."
Hermione shook her head and stood. "I'm sure it's nothing. I'll see you at dinner."
She paid her bill and grabbed her books, moving to the front door. She caught sight of Snape leaning against the side of a Hogwart's coach, scowling relentlessly at her. She sighed, wishing she knew why she deserved this treatment from him.
Snape climbed inside, leaving the door open for her, but not assisting her. She settled on the bench opposite him, laying her books on the seat beside her. Snape's eyes were drawn to them by force of habit, and he was quite surprised to see the copy of Moste Potente Potions.
"Studying up on your potions?" he sneered as the coach jerked and started towards the school.
She looked at him warily. "No, I am replacing a lost copy."
"Given your lack of interest in the subject, I find it rather unsettling that you have previously owned Moste Potente Potions."
Is that what this is about? My seventh year Potions project? She said nothing, watching his face.
She remembered that day when she had dropped off her finished project, how he'd mentioned she could probably get a full Potions scholarship to Berkeley in California. But she'd decided not to go to school, to fight instead. Those pangs for school had long since faded, though on a particularly bad day, she might wonder what might have been. But that's another life.
She failed to respond, instead watcing out the windows. After a few moments of silence, her eyes moved to him and she asked, "Why does Albus want to see me?"
He was supposed to tell her, had been ordered to. But then he wouldn't be able to enjoy this, withholding information just as he would have taunted her back in her school days with some potion she would have been unable to make for some reason or another. He sat back in the seat and folded his hands, his stern eyes contemplated her.
She sighed, looking out the window. Thankfully the ride was nearly over, and neither said another word until well after the coach left them on the front steps. She followed him to Dumbledore's office, her shorter legs having to work faster to keep up with Snape's long strides. She was far enough behind him that she didn't hear him mutter the password to the gargoyle, but nearly ran into him when he stopped in the entrance and spoke to her, never turning to face her.
"Vasily Borodin has disappeared. He received an urgent owl on Tuesday requesting his presence at home in Murmansk, but his family says he never arrived." He paused, then continued, his voice icy, "It seems you and I are to be spending a good deal of time together." He continued up the winding staircase.
___
A/N:
Sorry guys! Should've warned you about Snape being a dick ... more to come on that backstory. Don't worry, things will work out soon -- or at least they won't be constantly at each other's throats all the time.
Thanks again for all the wonderful reviewers. As I've said before, if you don't like it, let me know why! If you do like it, let me know why too!
Alright, chapter 5 is coming soon ... actually next three chapters are all ready in my head, just need to get my fingers moving on the keyboard. Sometimes they don't work as fast as my brain does. :)