That Certain Urge
Chapter Five
Just before dawn four weeks later, Hagrid walked into the owlery with four owls perched on his massive arms. He had nursed them back to health and was now returning them to active duty. He released the four while scanning the rest of the owls. He gave five bedraggled owls a quick examination and decided to bring them all back to his hutches for intensive recovery. He pondered the situation on his way back to his hut.
It was near the end of term and owl traffic should be lessening not increasing. But in the last few weeks he had seen more overworked owls in a smaller span of time than he normally saw the entire year. Even now he had seven owls recovering and he was now adding five more. Hagrid decided to bring up the matter at the staff meeting later that afternoon.
At lunch that day, Hermione found it hard to concentrate. She was at a crossroads in her research and seriously irritated at her lack of tangible progress. After weeks of correlating and compiling all her research, her lack of practical data was disturbing.
Last night, she had arranged a meeting with Draco to test out some of her newfound knowledge. She had opened with what she had read was a fairly tame exercise in foreplay. Draco had melted into an incoherent, moaning puddle of sexual awareness just ten minutes into her lengthy agenda and was completely uselessly aroused thereafter. She didn't know if the book lied or if she had done it wrong or if Draco was just unusually susceptible.
She needed someone who could withstand the testing and give her their honest opinion on her methods and techniques. Unfortunately, the only man who came to mind as an ideal test subject was off limits for another four weeks. How could she hold her own against him if she didn't know if her own was good enough for an average man?
Hermione took a quick look at her test subject talking with Professor Sinistra at the high table. She and Snape had not spoken outside of class but as the day approached closer and closer, she found herself getting more restless and distracted. Her nemesis and obsession, on the other hand, looked like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth and was definitely improving all around.
In the bright light of the Hall, it was obvious that his characteristic pallor was losing the battle against a light, persistent tan. His hair though still long and tended to hang over his face was expertly trimmed. There were no longer any bags under his eyes and their lack gave him an altogether healthier, brighter-eyed appearance. In class, she had noticed that he seemed to move with more strength and grace and far less weariness. She could almost swear that he had a new wardrobe as his robes now seemed less loose and draping but more fitted to his figure. Damn, if the man didn't have the trace of a swagger in his walk lately!
Around her conversations ebbed and flowed. NEWTs were only a week away and students were reviewing and studying every chance they got anywhere they could. Books were propped up next to plates and soup bowls. In between meals, numerous impromptu review panels held court at the various house tables. The mood in the library had gotten so tense that Hermione happily retreated to her room to continue her independent research.
As busy as the students were, there were still those who noticed the sudden change in the potions master. Lavendar had stared at Snape through most of yesterday's potions class. Afterwards, Parvati had commented that the potions master's looks had become almost passable. However, everyone attributed this new outlook as a side effect of combined NEWTs-related stress and graduation giddiness.
As Hermione swept her eyes over the high table, she gasped. She had an epiphany of monumental importance. She didn't need practical data herself. All she had to do was talk to some female who had what she was looking for. And there were several likely candidates at the high table. Now, who or whom to ask?
The staff meeting wore down to minor issues inevitably droning on to its final minutes. Snape had missed his now habitual afternoon nap and he stifled a yawn perusing his personal to do checklist. He crossed off "Test equipment." twice, "Get teeth fixed", "Marble delivered" and "New towels" once. He saw that he still had a visit to London outstanding and that he was several days behind on venue preparation.
Perhaps if he borrowed a few more house elves, they could catch up. He wrote a reminder to ask the headmaster for another five, make that ten, house elves for a grand total of twenty house elves on loan. His mind barely registered Hagrid saying something about tired owls but Madam Pince's words brought him back to the present.
"Oh, I'm afraid that's Miss Granger's doing, Hagrid." said Madam Pince. "She presented a long list of items for interlibrary loan and I'm afraid some donor libraries and archives are very distant."
"She can't be studying for NEWTs?!" said an astonished McGonagall. "I happen to know that she could pass it now blindfolded and half asleep."
"No, Minerva. Apparently, our Head Girl is done with NEWTs review and is, in her own words, bored out of her mind," explained the librarian. "She told me she was mad to find a new area of interest to fill the next few weeks."
"I suppose a hobby is far better than a poker game." Minerva added. "Speaking of games, do any of you know how many games I've discovered and ended just in the last few days. I say we should ban all card games for the rest of the year."
"Minerva, you know I cannot do that. How enforceable could such a bann be?" Dumbledore answered. "It is enough that I have forbidden any use of wizarding rules whatsoever."
"Besides, muggle style poker is relatively harmless, Minerva," squeaked Flitwick.
"And you are encouraging it?"
"Not beyond reasonable limits. The mood in my house during this time of year is beyond tense. If my seventh years can derive some distraction from card play so be it."
"I can see your point, Filius. What were you saying about Miss Granger, Irma?"
Having strong suspicions about Hermione's activities, Snape felt it necessary to divert Minerva's attentions away from her favorite student.. "Miss Granger must be doing her usual thorough research on the matter. Though hobbies don't generally take that much research. I should think that we have very little to worry about."
"She is my charge, Severus. I don't want her exhausting herself needlessly."
"Heaven forbid, the jewel of Gryffindor comes to any harm. Compared to what Potter involves her in, research is the safest thing she could be doing."
Minerva pressed on. "Irma, what topics of interest has Miss Granger been considering?"
"Oh, her lists have been impressively eclectic. The first topics were on magical games and practices, wizardry orders of conduct, etiquette and such." Pince elaborated. "After a few days of raiding the entire restricted section, she gave me a completely different list with everything from wizards massage, healing spells, aerobic exercise, poetry, meditation, yoga, belly dancing, wizard music and even the Corpora Erotica Natura."
Minerva paled upon hearing the last item. Her eyes sought out the headmaster's. His eyes were cold as the arctic in winter.
"If she doesn't find an interest soon, she will certainly be well read." said Irma Pince.
Snape was growing disoriented with visions of Hermione uninhibitedly recreating Salome's Dance of the Seven Veils for his undiluted viewing and tactile pleasure. Gods! What did the chit have in mind with the Corpora Erotica Natura? If memory serves, he had better add more weight training to his regime tonight. He shifted in his seat, crossed his legs and rearranged his robes to hide his obvious discomfort. His motions did not go completely unnoticed.
He couldn't return the all too knowing looks that came his way from Dumbledore, McGonagall or Madame Pomfrey. He kept his face impassive and stared at the floor as if his life depended on it and in a sense it did. If Minerva grasped the arm of her chair any harder, the armrest would crack apart.
Dumbledore reviewed all remaining agenda items rapidly and called for an end to the meeting. He asked the deputy headmistress, nurse and potions master to stay. The last person had hardly left the room before the room acquired a very distinct chill. The inquisition commenced without preamble.
"Why do I get the distinct impression that we got the edited version of Ms Granger's experience with forfeits and consequences," said Pomfrey looking relaxed. But her wand was out on the table beside within easy reach.
"Don't you mean censored, edited and abridged?" said McGonagall acidly who already had her wand in hand. She moved to stand by the window. "Well, Severus, out with it, don't be shy. The lesson and the game isn't over is it?"
Dumbledore who was very vexed at this turn of events did not bother to hide his feelings nor defend Snape. Thereby, he philosophically threw Snape head first into the not so tender mercies of the two maternal wolves in the room, using both hands with an extra push to speed him on his way. "Indeed, get on with it, man. Or have you already?"
Snape rose from his chair, ran a hand through over his face and stood facing his colleagues behind the chair. The chair was no protection from this particular audience but its solidity was comforting and gave him something to lean on as his knees grew unstable.. His hands kept clenching and unclenching on the chair's seatback.
"I'm still waiting. Need I remind you that she is in my house and therefore under my protection, Severus. I would be fully justified in taking any action I deem necessary. And I will do so with the utmost satisfaction," McGonagall prompted facing him. Snape realized that from where she was McGonagall had a clear, unobstructed angle of his person. Snape looked at his colleague with respect remembering ruefully that one always forgot McGonagall's former occupation until moments like this.
"Surely you took precautions, Severus," said Pomfrey jumping to obvious conclusions seeing Snape's obvious agitation and unresponsiveness.
"No, no, Poppy, you misunderstand, we haven't slept together yet," He hadn't meant to say that "yet" nor anything about sleeping with her. But it was out and its result was McGonagall's full, undivided attention and her wand pointed directly at him.
Very few wizards have a true appreciation of the potential lethality of transfiguration, fortunately, he was one of the few who did and, even more unfortunately, the wand targeting him was wielded by one of the most imaginatively effective practitioners of the art.
He changed tactics and opted for contrition keeping his voice as reasonable yet firm as he could. "What I told you was the truth. I explained it to her within the context of one hand of very tame Wizards poker and urged her to research the concept. Whatever I did not tell you then, I am not about to tell you now. That is between myself and Miss Granger."
"She is a student, Severus." hissed McGonagall emphasizing each word. Her eyes bored into his. The barb hit a particular nerve. The same nerve that his conscience had used to flagellate him with.
He had considered calling the whole thing off that day she had come to talk terms. Failing that he had wanted to scare her with his cold indifference to convince her that he seduced and discarded willing young girls all the time. That was his intent until she had said those words - provoking him, teasing him, seducing him, but worse, making him see himself in her. I want a memory. With your help, it will be one brimming with life, wonder and laughter.
The same drive, the same thirst for knowledge, the same dreams and hopes and lonely just like him. He had realized that games were her attempts to relieve the loneliness and feel the rush of emotion that companionship brings however brief. He couldn't turn her away as someone once had done to him. Tainted Death Eater, nasty, ugly, disagreeable man that he was, he still could not be that cruel.
"Yes, that's true but she is of age and, if all the staff's vaunted opinions of her count for anything, very mature and level-headed for her age. Or is that just paid lip service, Minerva?" Snape snarled back his face red, his fury evident. " Have you ever known me to take advantage of any student, ever?"
"Severus, I ... we don't want her to get hurt. Infatuations especially for the young and impressionable are -. She has so much ahead of her, can you not see that? Do you know what something like this can do to her?" Minerva demanded of him. Her eyes took on a vague expression as if recalling a memory of her own but her wand hand remained resolutely pointed at him. At that moment, Snape understood Minerva McGonagall perfectly.
"Minerva, Miss Granger is going into this with her eyes wide open, believe me. Infatuation has never played a part." Snape approached Minerva and gently turned her wand to point elsewhere but at him.. "I will not leave any scars behind and nothing of consequence will happen while she is a student here at Hogwarts. You have my word on that. I understand your condemnation and your misgivings. I only ask that all of you respect both our adult privacies on this matter. Please don't let on to her that you know anything."
It was the "please" that broke the tension. The other three teachers looked at him as if his head had suddenly sprouted horns. Dumbledore said "Very well, Severus. It is out of my hands as she is of age but we will be keeping an eye on Miss Granger. If anything inappropriate, anything at all, occurs before her graduation, I will expect your resignation on my desk. Do I make myself clear, Severus?"
Snape replied in the affirmative. He decided that now was not a good time to ask for those additional house elves. He'd gotten off light since they could have asked for his resignation right then and there. He had to thread very lightly for the next few weeks. He followed them to the Great Hall for dinner thinking of ways to motivate and bribe house elves.
During dinner, several owls swooped in and dropped letters for Professor McGonagall, Madam Pince, Professor Hooch and Madam Pomfrey. All read the short note. Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey were delighted. The other two were baffled but fortunate for them they sat near the two who did have the inside story. Madam Hooch and Pince were informed. Throughout dinner, all four recipients exchanged amused glances and near manic grins with each other.
An hour later Hermione was sifting through the replies with growing amazement. She truly loved her teachers.
McGonagall had replied back with a succinct "Prepare to spend the night. We'll have a sleepover."
Madame Hooch wrote "Tell me when and where and I'll bring accessories."
Madam Pince indicated "Visual aids are on me. Say when and where."
Hermione read the nurse's note several times but still found it rather vague. It simply said "I'll bring fruit."