Chapter Fourteen: Training
Hermione found the tasks not only hard, but nearly impossible. She had accomplished the reading while Harry and Ron were gone, finding that having large spell books was hardly common for even her.
She read the Novellas around them, since they assumed she was merely reading for joy.
Everything beyond that she was struggling with. She had tried to work on her walking, but found quickly that this would attract Harry and Ron's attentions. After all one doesn't 'stalk' normally through a hall while in the presence of friends.
She had managed a Chess game, but Ron stopped after the first claiming that her 'scribbling' was very 'distracting'.
She had even more trouble knowing where Harry and Ron were through out the day, unless she stuck to them like glue.
And at times she certainly couldn't do that.
When she entered the dungeons after the first day, she was about to burst with tears.
"Ms. Granger?" Snape looked up from his desk to see the distraught Hermione sitting with her head covered on the desk.
"Don't ask." She grumbled, "I managed nothing outside the reading, I'm a complete failure!" then the tears came.
Snape, lost, and certainly bewildered towards her actions came over to her side and lifted her chin so that she faced him.
"Are you giving up already?" he asked softly, having thought higher of her.
"No," she wiped off the tears the fell unknowingly, "It's just I can't seem to find the 'how' I know what, but not how."
Snape smirked, releasing her chin. "The how comes with the knowledge of the when where and who."
He walked up to the chalk board. "Don't expect that you can learn this with books and studying, Ms. Granger, its more hands on than that. First what, that is on your list." He wrote down a task 'practice walking quietly while stalking running, and skipping.' "Then," he turned back to her. "Where are you to do this?" he wrote down 'empty hall' "What are your placed limitations, or things you have to over come?" he wrote, 'alone' and 'without Potter or Weasley knowing.' "Now, think," he walked over and handed her the chalk, "When, Ms. Granger, can you accomplish this best?"
"At night," she answered, "Or when Harry and Ron are doing something else."
"But another task has you watching them at all times correct?" he put down the chalk and gestured to the board.
She nodded and looked at her hands defeated.
"So, then how can we do this?" he asked walking up to her.
"I don't know!" she repeated, annoyed.
"Well, try it from this angle Ms. Granger." He suggested, his voice showing his irritation. "what is stopping you from completing this task?"
"The fact that I need to watch Harry and Ron twenty four seven." She snapped, equally irritated.
"So what do you need to do to eliminate this obstacle?" he pressed, feeling exhausted.
The look on her face was well worth it.
Her eyes opened wide, and her cheeks contracted, bringing a smile to her face, "I watch Harry and Ron." She answered.
"How," he lured.
"By another means then my eyes," she whispered.
"And that would be?"
She smiled triumphantly, "By having others watch them for me."
Snape smiled, proud, "Good, now, how will you practice your walking?"
She let her grin turn devilish, "When they don't know I'm present, or when I'm alone at night."
"Good, good, Are you having any other problems?" he asked, nearly relieved.
Her frown made him frown, "Chess, Ron doesn't like my notes."
"So how will you do this Ms. Granger." He stood as if questioning her in class.
Her hand flew into the air, "I know!" she chanted, making them both smile.
He rolled his eyes, "alright Ms. Granger, what is it?"
"I take my notes mentally, and write then down later to study." She smiled.
Snape smirked sitting behind his desk placing his head on his hands, "And what of Mr. Weasley finding such notes?"
She frowned, and Snape could practically hear her thinking the problem through.
The largest part about being a spy, was the thought process. Spies needed to be clever, witty, knowledgeable, and most importantly, problem solvers and problem predictors.
"then I guess," Her voice sounded out, "I'll have to learn how to take notes in my head, and keep then there."
"Good," he nodded, "that brings us to today's lesson, Observation." He walked to the board, "I never want to see you with notes in my class, or see any notes for other classes on you, you need to learn how to know everything you learn the second you learn it. You must be able to decipher messages to bring out only the truth, you must be able to recall images of anything you saw at the drop of a needle."
He drew a picture.
"Daisy" Hermione named it.
"Wrong," he smiled, "Though yes, you are right, that's just the wrong answer, try again, How many leaves?"
"Four."
"Petals?"
"I don't know sir."
"Count them." He sat in his desk, "by the time we are done, you should be able to draw that picture exactly how it is now, in a month."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry and Ron noted Hermione's gradual change over the next few days. She walked straighter, quieter, and as if she held a secret all her own.
Ron had let her play him once she had sworn of writing in the middle of the game.
Eventually, she was dead quiet, after the first 10 games the first night, where she had asked odd questions about his moves, she had begun to talk less and less during the games. Asking every now and then.
Now she was so quiet it scared Ron. What scared him worse was the fact that in the lest twenty games they played, Hermione had won, in less then ten minutes for each game.
She had also seemed to, strangely, know whenever they had gone out to Hogsmeade, claiming that they had informed her, when both knew they hadn't.
Her foot steps feel like wisps of air beside them, not even making the smallest of pats on the cobblestone floor as they made their way to the Great Hall for dinner.
Hermione was aware of their growing curiosity. Really, it didn't matter, the 'Bragging' lesson her had two nights back, had taught her how to keep things to herself.
Tonight, she could hardly hold her enthusiasm, Snape was going to teach her something rather important.
Last night he had informed her that they were in fact going to Malfoy's party. She had been so happy that she had actually hugged him!
She still blushed, remembering.
Tonight, she was going to learn how to dance. Snape had informed her that who he brought to such parties in the past were well paid hores, thus she wouldn't be suspect.
Easy for her first assignment. Her test.
She couldn't wait.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"No, no no." Snape shook his head, "Its step step twirl not step twirl step!" he was losing his patience quickly.
Clearly the know-it-all was only capable of tasks connected to a book, any form of physical activity was slightly beyond her.
She knew the theories of the dances and the history, but she just couldn't get her feet to move in the motions of it!
"Sorry," she whispered and went at it again.
"You silly little girl!" he sighed, standing and walking over to her. The room was dark, and she wasn't in her gown, but perhaps a more hands on trial would aide her efforts.
He took her outstretched hand and stole her from her invisible partner. "Follow me." He said softly, coxing her into the rhythmic movements of the dance.
Hermione felt herself flying around the potions classroom. Her feet followed his in perfect motion. She heard his soft voice lulling her into the motions.
Is felt so relaxing, she didn't need to concentrate nearly as much now, it was if dancing with him taught her feet instantly.
He moved her into a different dance pattern and she followed not even faltering, as if she hadn't realized the dance had changed.
"Not all the males at the party will be as well versed as I am Ms. Granger, you'll have to learn how to do this alone."
That broke her concentration; one slip and she had his foot under hers in a second.
"Ouch!" he cursed and Hermione flee away, looking scared.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry professor." She babbled repeating the words many times, each faster then the last.
"Do SHUT UP!" he yelled, the pain he was feeling overriding any common sense of patience he still had.
Her eyes widened, her lips snapped together, and she ran.
Damn. He thought hearing the door slam.
*~*~*~*~*~*~**~
Hermione raced through the halls.
Her cheeks were bright red and she was relieved when she reached a room she often used when having to evade Flitch or even Snape.
Snape.
She collapsed on the floor and hugged her knees.
She surely had disappointed him with her failings at something as mediocre as dancing. And by the way he yelled at her.. ..
She didn't know why but it made her want to cry.
His mask slipped back on so easily. And after that dance, that was the last thing she had wanted to happen.
His calloused hands one on her hip the other in her hand, his body moving her, his feet swift and certain.
The movements were relaxing, and she felt like she could stay there, in his arms dancing for eternity.. .. .. ..
That, was the problem.
She couldn't brush it off any more.
It wasn't an understanding that had formed, it was a crush on her part.
The fact that she knew that he could never return her blossoming feelings hurt, and the fact that she had just showed him one of her weaknesses hurt more.
He knew a lot about her. Spending such amount of time together did that. You learned about each other.
She stood, wiping the wetness form her cheeks, from the tears she didn't know she had shed.
She walked down the hall, her thoughts keeping her concentration.
It was because she was so deep in though that she didn't hear professor Flitwick approach her.
"Evening Ms. Granger." He greeted her, then stopped in front of her frowning.
Her face was red, and swollen like she had just cried her heart out.
"What is the matter Ms. Granger?" he asked concerned, taking her hand.
"Its nothing sir," she wiped the newly formed tears from her eyes.
"Join me for some tea then." He dragged her a little ways to his office, with a few sweeps of his wand, the room was lit, warm, and it had a strong fragrance of tea.
He gave hr a seat, of which she was glad to take.
"Now," he levitated tea to her hand and his, "Tell me all about it."
*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: Cliffy, don't kill me.
It will be as long as this one till I update again unless I get another MAJOR break of time.
I'm a junior with full work load *rolls eyes* take a guess.
Another reason why this took so long was that I wanted it right, and it took be a while, I literally stopped on this chapter five times, not knowing what to write.
Forgive me.
And sorry in advance for the next chappie.
RELENA
Hermione found the tasks not only hard, but nearly impossible. She had accomplished the reading while Harry and Ron were gone, finding that having large spell books was hardly common for even her.
She read the Novellas around them, since they assumed she was merely reading for joy.
Everything beyond that she was struggling with. She had tried to work on her walking, but found quickly that this would attract Harry and Ron's attentions. After all one doesn't 'stalk' normally through a hall while in the presence of friends.
She had managed a Chess game, but Ron stopped after the first claiming that her 'scribbling' was very 'distracting'.
She had even more trouble knowing where Harry and Ron were through out the day, unless she stuck to them like glue.
And at times she certainly couldn't do that.
When she entered the dungeons after the first day, she was about to burst with tears.
"Ms. Granger?" Snape looked up from his desk to see the distraught Hermione sitting with her head covered on the desk.
"Don't ask." She grumbled, "I managed nothing outside the reading, I'm a complete failure!" then the tears came.
Snape, lost, and certainly bewildered towards her actions came over to her side and lifted her chin so that she faced him.
"Are you giving up already?" he asked softly, having thought higher of her.
"No," she wiped off the tears the fell unknowingly, "It's just I can't seem to find the 'how' I know what, but not how."
Snape smirked, releasing her chin. "The how comes with the knowledge of the when where and who."
He walked up to the chalk board. "Don't expect that you can learn this with books and studying, Ms. Granger, its more hands on than that. First what, that is on your list." He wrote down a task 'practice walking quietly while stalking running, and skipping.' "Then," he turned back to her. "Where are you to do this?" he wrote down 'empty hall' "What are your placed limitations, or things you have to over come?" he wrote, 'alone' and 'without Potter or Weasley knowing.' "Now, think," he walked over and handed her the chalk, "When, Ms. Granger, can you accomplish this best?"
"At night," she answered, "Or when Harry and Ron are doing something else."
"But another task has you watching them at all times correct?" he put down the chalk and gestured to the board.
She nodded and looked at her hands defeated.
"So, then how can we do this?" he asked walking up to her.
"I don't know!" she repeated, annoyed.
"Well, try it from this angle Ms. Granger." He suggested, his voice showing his irritation. "what is stopping you from completing this task?"
"The fact that I need to watch Harry and Ron twenty four seven." She snapped, equally irritated.
"So what do you need to do to eliminate this obstacle?" he pressed, feeling exhausted.
The look on her face was well worth it.
Her eyes opened wide, and her cheeks contracted, bringing a smile to her face, "I watch Harry and Ron." She answered.
"How," he lured.
"By another means then my eyes," she whispered.
"And that would be?"
She smiled triumphantly, "By having others watch them for me."
Snape smiled, proud, "Good, now, how will you practice your walking?"
She let her grin turn devilish, "When they don't know I'm present, or when I'm alone at night."
"Good, good, Are you having any other problems?" he asked, nearly relieved.
Her frown made him frown, "Chess, Ron doesn't like my notes."
"So how will you do this Ms. Granger." He stood as if questioning her in class.
Her hand flew into the air, "I know!" she chanted, making them both smile.
He rolled his eyes, "alright Ms. Granger, what is it?"
"I take my notes mentally, and write then down later to study." She smiled.
Snape smirked sitting behind his desk placing his head on his hands, "And what of Mr. Weasley finding such notes?"
She frowned, and Snape could practically hear her thinking the problem through.
The largest part about being a spy, was the thought process. Spies needed to be clever, witty, knowledgeable, and most importantly, problem solvers and problem predictors.
"then I guess," Her voice sounded out, "I'll have to learn how to take notes in my head, and keep then there."
"Good," he nodded, "that brings us to today's lesson, Observation." He walked to the board, "I never want to see you with notes in my class, or see any notes for other classes on you, you need to learn how to know everything you learn the second you learn it. You must be able to decipher messages to bring out only the truth, you must be able to recall images of anything you saw at the drop of a needle."
He drew a picture.
"Daisy" Hermione named it.
"Wrong," he smiled, "Though yes, you are right, that's just the wrong answer, try again, How many leaves?"
"Four."
"Petals?"
"I don't know sir."
"Count them." He sat in his desk, "by the time we are done, you should be able to draw that picture exactly how it is now, in a month."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry and Ron noted Hermione's gradual change over the next few days. She walked straighter, quieter, and as if she held a secret all her own.
Ron had let her play him once she had sworn of writing in the middle of the game.
Eventually, she was dead quiet, after the first 10 games the first night, where she had asked odd questions about his moves, she had begun to talk less and less during the games. Asking every now and then.
Now she was so quiet it scared Ron. What scared him worse was the fact that in the lest twenty games they played, Hermione had won, in less then ten minutes for each game.
She had also seemed to, strangely, know whenever they had gone out to Hogsmeade, claiming that they had informed her, when both knew they hadn't.
Her foot steps feel like wisps of air beside them, not even making the smallest of pats on the cobblestone floor as they made their way to the Great Hall for dinner.
Hermione was aware of their growing curiosity. Really, it didn't matter, the 'Bragging' lesson her had two nights back, had taught her how to keep things to herself.
Tonight, she could hardly hold her enthusiasm, Snape was going to teach her something rather important.
Last night he had informed her that they were in fact going to Malfoy's party. She had been so happy that she had actually hugged him!
She still blushed, remembering.
Tonight, she was going to learn how to dance. Snape had informed her that who he brought to such parties in the past were well paid hores, thus she wouldn't be suspect.
Easy for her first assignment. Her test.
She couldn't wait.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"No, no no." Snape shook his head, "Its step step twirl not step twirl step!" he was losing his patience quickly.
Clearly the know-it-all was only capable of tasks connected to a book, any form of physical activity was slightly beyond her.
She knew the theories of the dances and the history, but she just couldn't get her feet to move in the motions of it!
"Sorry," she whispered and went at it again.
"You silly little girl!" he sighed, standing and walking over to her. The room was dark, and she wasn't in her gown, but perhaps a more hands on trial would aide her efforts.
He took her outstretched hand and stole her from her invisible partner. "Follow me." He said softly, coxing her into the rhythmic movements of the dance.
Hermione felt herself flying around the potions classroom. Her feet followed his in perfect motion. She heard his soft voice lulling her into the motions.
Is felt so relaxing, she didn't need to concentrate nearly as much now, it was if dancing with him taught her feet instantly.
He moved her into a different dance pattern and she followed not even faltering, as if she hadn't realized the dance had changed.
"Not all the males at the party will be as well versed as I am Ms. Granger, you'll have to learn how to do this alone."
That broke her concentration; one slip and she had his foot under hers in a second.
"Ouch!" he cursed and Hermione flee away, looking scared.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry professor." She babbled repeating the words many times, each faster then the last.
"Do SHUT UP!" he yelled, the pain he was feeling overriding any common sense of patience he still had.
Her eyes widened, her lips snapped together, and she ran.
Damn. He thought hearing the door slam.
*~*~*~*~*~*~**~
Hermione raced through the halls.
Her cheeks were bright red and she was relieved when she reached a room she often used when having to evade Flitch or even Snape.
Snape.
She collapsed on the floor and hugged her knees.
She surely had disappointed him with her failings at something as mediocre as dancing. And by the way he yelled at her.. ..
She didn't know why but it made her want to cry.
His mask slipped back on so easily. And after that dance, that was the last thing she had wanted to happen.
His calloused hands one on her hip the other in her hand, his body moving her, his feet swift and certain.
The movements were relaxing, and she felt like she could stay there, in his arms dancing for eternity.. .. .. ..
That, was the problem.
She couldn't brush it off any more.
It wasn't an understanding that had formed, it was a crush on her part.
The fact that she knew that he could never return her blossoming feelings hurt, and the fact that she had just showed him one of her weaknesses hurt more.
He knew a lot about her. Spending such amount of time together did that. You learned about each other.
She stood, wiping the wetness form her cheeks, from the tears she didn't know she had shed.
She walked down the hall, her thoughts keeping her concentration.
It was because she was so deep in though that she didn't hear professor Flitwick approach her.
"Evening Ms. Granger." He greeted her, then stopped in front of her frowning.
Her face was red, and swollen like she had just cried her heart out.
"What is the matter Ms. Granger?" he asked concerned, taking her hand.
"Its nothing sir," she wiped the newly formed tears from her eyes.
"Join me for some tea then." He dragged her a little ways to his office, with a few sweeps of his wand, the room was lit, warm, and it had a strong fragrance of tea.
He gave hr a seat, of which she was glad to take.
"Now," he levitated tea to her hand and his, "Tell me all about it."
*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: Cliffy, don't kill me.
It will be as long as this one till I update again unless I get another MAJOR break of time.
I'm a junior with full work load *rolls eyes* take a guess.
Another reason why this took so long was that I wanted it right, and it took be a while, I literally stopped on this chapter five times, not knowing what to write.
Forgive me.
And sorry in advance for the next chappie.
RELENA