Title: Twin Snapes Series: Velvet Truths and Wool Misconceptions
Author: Scrybe
Rating: M
Fandom: Harry Potter
Summary: Severus Snape is a private man. But what happens when his almost identical twin comes to teach at the school? And where does Hermione Granger fall into the story?
Chapter nine:
She walked into the bathroom, dropping her book bag onto the floor, and she waited. Harry and Ron were late, as usual, and she waited for their arrival. She waited there for twenty minutes before finally giving up and leaving. She turned the corner and ran directly into Professor Snape.
"Watch where you are– ahem, I apologize Miss Granger, I did not see you there."
"It's quite alright Professor."
"Uh, Miss Granger, may I have a word with you?"
"Sure, Master Severus."
"About that, there is no need for the new title, you may resume calling me Professor. But, as I was saying, we do need to speak. The headmaster has told you, of course, of my endeavor, and I apo– I apol- I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?"
"Yes, please don't make me look like a fool Miss Granger."
"You're sorry for?"
Snape looked at her incredulously.
"Professor, I don't know what you're talking about. The headmaster hasn't spoken to me as of late."
"He hasn't?"
"No, should he?"
"No, not at all. I think he deemed it a matter not important to discuss."
Before she could continue, he asked:
"May I ask where you are headed?"
"Um back to my room sir."
"I see. Are you aware of the time, Miss Granger?"
"Um, isn't it a little after ten?"
"No, it is a lot after twelve. I believe that warrants a detention."
"But Professor, I thought I was no longer a student under the headmaster's care."
"You aren't. But you are my student. I think it's something that warrants a detention. See you tomorrow morning Miss Granger."
She sighed. What had she gotten herself into?
"Where were you?"
"Mione we couldn't get out of the common room. McGonagall had this stupid meeting on inter-house relationships. We tried to get out, but she told us to go to bed. Plus, she told the fat lady not to let us out. It's not our fault! If you still lived in Gryffindor tower you'd know this already."
"Well I don't, and now I have a detention with Professor Snape."
"Which one?" Harry had finally decided to enter the conversation.
"Snape, bat of the dungeons, snarky, greasy haired git-"
"Such nice things to say about the person you are apprenticing."
Harry and Ron looked to her in shock and horror.
"I uh..."
"I do believe your detention starts now."
"Yes Profess-"
"Ahem."
"Yes Master Snape."
Harry and Ron looked to each other as she left. Weird glances told her they already mistook the master apprentice relationship.
"Today Miss Granger, we will be going to the lake. Do run along and get something you don't mind getting wet."
She went to her rooms, now located in the same tower Professor Snape now resided. Along the way to the lake, her swimming shorts and dark red t-shirt in hand, she bumped into the other Professor Snape.
"Ah hello Hermione. Nice day isn't it? Talk to the headmaster lately?" He asked with slight hope.
"Yes, yes it is. And no, I haven't. Funny how you are the second to ask me that."
He cleared his throat. And looked to her swimming trunks and t shirt.
"Going for a swim I take it?"
"Um, something like that. Look I have to go to my detention Professor."
"Sarcassius, remember? Mind if I walk with you?"
"No not at all."
They walked together in silence, his hand landing at the small of her back, guiding her around the corners of the castle. When the lake was in sight, she was about to depart when-
"Hermione?"
"Yes. . . Sarcassius?"
"Would you do me a favor?"
"Okay?"
"Well I am working on a few potions, and I thought you'd be able to help me out with a few of them. Tonight, at around nine?"
She was running late.
"Um okay, have a nice day Professor!"
He stood and watched her meet his brother by the lake. This was going to be a fun game indeed.
She jogged over to where he stood, her swimming trunks and shirt still in her hand. He sat on the edge of the lake, a long sleeved black shirt falling over his long shorts. His hair was a curtain around his face, and he only looked up when she coughed and made her presence known.
"It's about time Miss Granger. Hurry and dress, we will be here for a while."
She stood behind a tree facing the forest as she pulled the red shirt over her head she was interrupted:
"It's a great sight, I'd say."
"Professor!"
"I'm talking about your magical branding, it's developing quite nicely."
She looked to her waist, slightly looking around to get a glimpse of it.
"Oh. Yes, I agree."
"Do you know the history of apprentice branding Miss Granger?"
"No Professor, I don't believe I do."
She said, pulling her shirt the rest of the way down.
"Well..." His voice turned silky.
"In the earlier centuries, apprenticeships could be broken, very easily actually, and most of the time, students didn't know what they were getting themselves into. After a large number of these apprenticeships were broken, the Ministry decided that apprenticeships would be paid for, just as University is today. The higher the charges, the less apprentices were taken. Soon, there weren't many masters left in magical fields, and another measure needed to be taken. So, around the turn of this century, the magical branding has been in effect. The branding is somewhat like what the Dark Mark was to Deatheaters. It cannot be removed, enchanted , or defiled in any way shape or form. If I deem it necessary to find you, I may summon you, and a slight tingle will follow. After a while, it will start to burn. It's where I got the idea of the Dark Mark from actually."
"You created the Dark Mark?"
"Yes, the latest version that is, although slightly altered."
He noticed that he had her full attention, something he was trying to get desperately since he gave her the detention. He chose to use it to his advantage. He leaned against a tree before bringing his shirt sleeve up high enough for her to see the fading tattoo.
"Well, the Dark Lord found it necessary to be able to use the energy of his followers in his weakened state. So, I had to find a form of ink which would imprint this such feat into one's skin. A while later, I created the potion, and tested it, burning it magically into the skin of the carrier. There was a trial run, for a year, to make sure no flaws were found."
She went to touch the fading skin.
"Why is it fading now, Professor Snape?"
He grabbed her hand and turned it over. He could see the shock that registered on her face. He once again chose to use it to his advantage.
"Well,"
He began to make small circles in the palm of her hand, all the while looking into her eyes.
"You see, after the connection was broken, and Voldermort was killed, the bond between the Dark Mark and it's carriers broke, making it useless, sort of like a muggle tattoo. Of course, I cannot take credit by saying this was deliberate, but it happened none the less. Your apprentice tattoo,"
He turned her around and lifted the tail of her shirt. He smiled as she gasped. He ran his fingers repeatedly over her flesh.
"Will never fade, but the enchantment will disappear once you have completed your time with me. Quite the arrangement I'd say, wouldn't you?"
He let her shirt fall and he stepped back, she turned to him, her face blushing and answered him.
"Yes, quite the, ahem, arrangement Professor."
"Now, back to business. We will be swimming in the lake, and gathering the weeds at the bottom. Tonight we will brew our first complex potion."
"Tonight sir?"
"Yes Miss Granger, tonight. I do believe it is Tuesday, is it not?"
"Oh, yes Professor, I'm sorry I forgot."
"Why do you ask Miss Granger?"
"Well, Sarcassius asked if I could help him brew potions for his stores."
Sarcassius? His brother was moving fast. He raised an eyebrow at this.
"Well, you will have to decline. And I must tell you that you are not allowed to brew anything without my permission Miss Granger. I'd rather not have it interfere with your studies."
"Yes Professor."
"Very well, you may start at the outer banks on the left side, and I shall start at the right. I only need two bag fulls, so whenever we meet up, we will proceed back into the castle."
"Yes Professor."
As they swam, Severus smiled to himself. He still had it. He could still be confident, charming and mysterious. It was just like when he was younger, only now, it would get him something he could use. He identified with Hermione's intelligence. He knew she wasn't one to be wooed. He could lure her in with lectures and sway her with science. He wouldn't have to leap from his character to win this bet. Along with her genius he could manipulate her Gryffindor heart. This was going to be easier than he thought. The other side of Severus' brain debated whether he should just forfeit the bet. He was willing to play with the heart of an untouched girl just for the reward of his brother's departure. He wasn't that much of a bastard. He knew to expect their apprenticeship to be harder after he slept with her. But...in the name of greater things, he had a plan.
"Sarcassius?"
She opened the door with a greeting, waiting for him to command her entrance.
"I am in my private stores Hermione, walk straight to the back."
She did as he asked, and walked into the store room, remembering where it was since she had stolen items from them mere years ago, and began speaking.
"Sarcassius, " When was she going to get used to that?
"I am not able to help you tonight, I have another engagement."
"May I ask what that might be?" He asked, finally facing her.
"Professor Snape and I are brewing complex potions tonight. We will be working until morning."
He sighed.
"Very well. Maybe we can do this another time?"
"I'm sorry, I'll have to ask Professor Snape."
"I see. Very well."
"Okay, goodnight Sarcassius."
"Hermione, wait!"
"Yes?"
"How about dinner? Are you allowed to eat when you please, or do you have to ask my brother that too."
She looked annoyed.
"I may eat when I feel accustomed to Professor."
It was back to Professor now?
"I apologize Hermione. I just don't see it fair that my brother keeps you all to himself. So how about it. Dinner? A quick film?"
She hadn't been to the theater in months. She contemplated the offer, even if it was with him. She guess using him for the invitation wouldn't be so horrible.
"I guess. I'll get back to you soon."
"Great. Have a good night Hermione."
"You too, Professor."
"We are brewing the Calamari potion."
"Calamari? As in the noodles, cooked in sauce?"
"No Miss Granger, but close. It originates from the maker of the Calamari. It is only complex due to the Fairy's wing and Dragon's tooth that usually cancel out. It lets it drinker see into the mind of all they wish to."
"I see."
"It is the common potion for those who cannot master mind reading."
"What stabilizes the fairy wing and dragon's tooth?"
"Unicorn hair. It leaves both ingredients in their natural form, but it blocks the similar magic that cancels it out."
"Isn't this a dark potion?"
"Very much so. But do to this apprenticeship, it is necessary you learn both dark potions, and light."
"I understand."
They added ingredients, and stirred the potion, and finally, after several hours, they sat down in front of the fireplace.
"Tea Miss Granger?
"Yes, thank you."
He watched her as she drank the tea. She swallowed the entire cup, and settled back into the chair.
"Miss Granger. You've just been poisoned. You have exactly one hour before you die, so I suggest you begin brewing the anecdote. You have been given the monaray potion. I hope you already know what I am talking about. The subtle smell in your tea was not lemon, but rather extract from the monoray plant. Good luck."
He stood to check on the Calamari potion, ignoring her presence.
"Professor are you joking?"
"Not at all Miss Granger. By the way you only have fifty five minutes left."
She began in a hurry, mixing and adding and timing. He announced that she had exactly ten minutes left. As the potion she was brewing turned a natural yellow color, she poured it into a goblet, and drank it. She was relieved ten minutes later, when nothing happened.
"Very well done Miss Granger."
"You! You! Greasy Bat!"
"Now, now Miss Granger, don't mix me up with my brother. It was simply a test. If you would have failed, I have the anecdote on hand, nothing would have happened."
She sat there for a few minutes, trying to calm her breath. Before long, she had regained her composure, and she was under control of her words.
"I apologize Professor, I didn't mean to step out of line."
"No need Miss Granger, it's already forgotten."
"Okay. And Professor?"
"Yes Miss Granger?"
"You said I shouldn't confuse you with your brother?"
"Oh, he's an animagi. He's the greasy bat you're looking for. I'm just a snake."
End of chapter nine.
A/N: Yes! Finished! Are you the type of person to look at the scroll bar to see how much of the chapter you have left before you finish it? I am. So I apologize for the wait with this chapter, that's why I made it a little longer. Next chapter is already in progress so it should be up either tomorrow night or Saturday morning. Please review. I take suggestions and critisms!