Something to Talk About by Sara Lady Dalian

AN: I want to apologize that this has taken so long to get out. I had fully intended to get this out in June (eegad – I know... imagine me on my knees begging forgiveness.) Well, RL didn't work out.

This is an immediate continuation of "Man to... Man?" and I suggest you read that story before you read "Something To Talk About" otherwise this probably won't make much sense. MtM was written from Severus' POV, but this story is from Hermione's POV.

Chapter 3

"I'm sure that when an appropriate hour arrives, Miss Granger, you will find your own way out." The door slammed behind him, resounding within the small confines of the room.

The fireplace didn't pop this time like it had earlier in the morning. In fact, it's coolness brought a rather rude awakening. Hermione turned her head towards the clock and saw that it was, in fact, almost six o'clock. The Slytherins shouldn't be up this early so she could safely make her way out of the dungeons.

It wasn't until she was sitting up, folding the green Angora throw that she remembered the end of her conversation with Professor Snape. Ever since she had known him, he had been an enigma. Last night had only added to the puzzle that her mind formed around him. She was sure something had happened that he was unwilling to tell her. But did she honestly want to know? Smoothing the soft afghan folded on the couch cushion, she pondered that very question for some minutes.

"Pardon me, Miss Hermione," a small voice over her shoulder squeaked.

Hermione turned to the fearful House elf. She had continued her campaign to liberate the Hogwarts House elves, but none of them would listen to her on the matter. But, still, she continued to be hopeful. "Yes, Winky?"

"I's hopes that you will not be angry with Winky. But Hes told me to bring you a set of clothes from yours room." The small, brown elf pointed out a bundle laying on the lamp's end table. Her little finger was shaking.

"You followed your orders, Winky. You did very well." Hermione saw the trembling subside just a fraction. "Thank-you, Winky. I was not looking forward to walking through the halls looking like I had slept in my clothes." A quick glance at her crumpled skirt confirmed that the damage was indeed as bad as she feared. "Even though I did." She couldn't help a small sigh. Her knee socks and uniform skirt weren't her preferred nightgown.

It should be, she thought, wrong to be thinking of a nightgown while she was in the Potions Master's sitting room.

She heard Winky snap her fingers and the smell of her drifted, tantalizingly towards her. The pull was almost narcotic in the effect it had on her body. Her salivary glands started working. Her nose quivered with the anticipated stimulus. Her hands curled almost as if she was already holding the small cup.

Before she could thank Winky, the little elf had disappeared.

It was only with a fortifying sip of tea that she contemplated the task of changing her clothes. Such a simple request, coming from Dumbledore wouldn't have scared the little elf. That left Professor Snape. If he ordered the clothes brought, he expected her to put them on. Resolutely, she turned towards the door and murmured a quick locking spell. It wouldn't stop anyone competent from getting in, and indeed, she wasn't sure that a Professor could be kept out of their own sitting room, but she needed the illusion of some privacy.

Winky had been thorough when she brought the change of clothes, and included a set of "unmentionables" as her mother called them. Hermione had thought briefly, while unbuttoning her blouse, about not changing into the fresh undergarments. The thought was quickly dismissed - she would just have to hurry.

It was only while folding her crumpled clothes that she noticed that while they were wrinkled, they were not dirty. She remembered getting several splash stains on the cuff of her shirt and robe, but now they were gone. She certainly hadn't cleaned them. Even the spots on the palm of her hand were gone. Strange.

The small stack of clothing was quickly minimized and placed in an inside robe pocket. They could be added to the rest of her cleaning when she got back to Gryffindor. Just getting there unseen would be a challenge – even if the Slytherins wouldn't be awake for quite a while, yet. There were all the rest of the castle's denizens to consider. Heaven help her if she ran into Mrs. Norris or, even worse, Peeves!

When she finally reached the Fat Lady's portrait, she had evaded three of the castle's ghosts as well as Professor Sinestra. It was a relief to be back at Gryffindor.

"Draconis Arium."

The Fat Lady opened her portal with a very bare acknowledgement. A little wave and nod was all Hermione was allotted. Apparently, the portrait too, was still asleep.

After stepping through the doorway, she passed down the short corridor that led into the Gryffindor common room. She had been thrilled upon seeing the crimson wall hangings on her first night and she was still excited. Her very own House.

And there, sleeping on her very own House's sofas were her two very own best friends. Somehow Ron always seemed to clash with the décor in the tower. She would never say such a thing out loud, but now, looking at him stretched out on that deep crimson sofa she could admit it to herself. At least Harry's hair didn't compete with the red leather upon which he was laying.

There was no one up in Gryffindor this early in the morning. That had always been her time - time to get ready, time to enjoy the quiet before the mad dash for classes. It was her time to just be. These two certainly wouldn't be getting up this early.

Now as she looked at them, she felt at odds with herself. They had waited up for her. But was that because they were concerned or because they wanted to check in on her? The doubts rolled around her mind until she wasn't sure which she believed. Either way, the one thing she was sure about was that she didn't want to discuss it right now.

Ron's actions had been totally irredeemable. She had been upset at him earlier, but this! Having gone to Professor Dumbledore practically accusing Professor Snape of abducting her was the final straw. His protective attitude had gone far enough. It wasn't even as if they were really seeing each other. Something had to change and it was going to take some radical treatment to affect said change. Ronald Weasley had to have his way of thinking changed very quickly if he was planning on keeping his friendship with her.

Hermione didn't think she had the words to tell him that right then, though. So she did what any female would do – she left. Come to think of it, that behavior wasn't very Gryffindorish. It was all she could do, though.

"Off so soon, dear?" The Fat Lady seemed to have woken up.

"Yes. I'm going to have an early breakfast and then head to the library before classes start." Hermione knew that at least if she told the Portrait, someone in Gryffindor would know where to find her. And she was sure that Harry and Ron would be asking as soon as they woke up. She didn't even bother to smother the sigh that rose in her throat.

"The day will get better."

Hermione stared at the Portrait. "Do you really think so?"

"You'll see."

Trying to believe her House's guardian, she nodded and walked down the hallway, towards the Great Hall. She truly wanted to believe that something good was going to happen today, but somehow, she just couldn't believe.

Dos Vidanya – Sara Lady Dalian