Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter characters, but I really wish I did. You must be really mean, for reminding me of this morose fact….how depressing…. (lol)…
Chapter 5: No More Lies
"No more asking why no more foolish lies…"
"Get up, get up, you're late, you're late, YOU'RE LATE!" screams my alarm clock as I wake up out of my fitful rest. I mutter the correct spell, and it ceases its noise. I have a big headache, and as I sit up in bed, I remember what happened yesterday. Bollocks, I agreed to go to the ball with Dean, even thought I'd rather just shut myself from the world, and work in the restricted section alone. What am I going to wear? I guess that I will ask Luna and Ginny for help with that later.
I get up, I go to the loo, and I get dressed. I leave my hair how it is, it will never get better anyway. I grab my purse, and head out of the door. I go down to the Great Hall, where most of the students are already, because I am a little late. I quickly spot an open seat, between Dean (of course) and Luna. I slide into it, and I begin to load the empty plate with eggs and bacon. I grab a biscuit, and I begin to eat, as I listen to the excited chatter going on around me, as everyone talks of their plans while they are at Hogsmede. I turn to Luna when I finish chewing and I ask her if she would look with me for a dress for the ball. She murmurs a quick reply, as Dumbledore stands at the Head Table, and begins to make an announcement.
"Students who are going to Hogsmede today, I trust you will stay safe, and have a fun time. There will be several professors going, so if you need assistance, see one of them, or the Head Boy or Girl. Students who are staying, we have a treat for you. We are going to be having a carnival of sorts. Just a little pre-Ball fun. All students are instructed to enjoy themselves. Carriages to Hogsmede leave in 30 minutes, so I expect every student going shall be at the carriages in five and twenty! That will be all…"
I quickly shovel food into my mouth, until I see him, as he enters the Great Hall, and strides up to the Head table, with such a look of abhorrence on his face. He says something to the Headmaster, which makes him smile, obviously Severus is angry, but he just frowns, and sits down besides Minerva, and sullenly picks up a bowl of yogurt, and grabs a few berries from the bowl in the center of the table, and plops them into his yogurt, and begins to eat. I stare at him for a few moments, and then Luna says my name….
"Hermione, it's time to go. Don't you have to be there already? You're Head Girl…"
"Bollocks! You're right! Thanks. How did you know?" I say as I gather my things.
"I just saw Draco get up from the Slytherin table. See you later. Meet me at the joke shop, at 11. We can go shopping from there. Ron has to get some stuff, and Ginny wants to see the twins. Later."
"Bye Luna." I get up, and race down the halls to the carriages. I get there, and Draco says to me, "You're late. What took you so long, that's not like you."
"Sorry. I lost track of time."
"Okay, here's your half of the check-off list. Look here they come…"
"Thanks." I grab my part of the list, and I call out, "Slytherins and Hufflepuffs over here. You will be riding together today. Single file please." I quickly check off the students as I see them, and they climb into the carriages designated by flags on the side. Draco is doing the same, in his usual calm and collected manner. As I check off the last students on the list, I see the teachers come out of the school and climb into the carriages with the students. The five teachers that are coming are, Sprout, McGonagall, Lupin, Vector, Hagrid, and…I scan the crowd for the last teacher, Flitwick, but to my surprise, I can't see him. Then I spot Severus, getting into the last carriage, the one that carries the Head Girl and Boy to Hogsmede, the prefects are scattered about the carriages, where teachers cannot be present. But the Head Girl and Boy with one teacher go up alone, to discuss matters relating to the trip I suppose. But Draco and I always play a game of travel wizard's chess. Usually we have Flitwick with us, but I don't understand. Why is he coming? And another thing, the Head carriage, is rather small. It fits four comfortably, but still, it's much smaller than the other carriages. I have to sit in a carriage with Severus and Draco. Draco looks over his checklist, and gets into the carriage, after making sure there are no strays. I look around, and I climb in.
I look for a place to sit, and the only space available, is the seat next to Severus. Draco has taken up the whole other seat, stretching out on it, and spreading notes everywhere. I guess he doesn't want to play chess this time. I sit there, and look out the window, as the carriage begins to move. The ride isn't the smoothest, and we get jarred along a little. Draco mutters to himself, he is engrossed in his work. I look over at Snape, and he is reading. He's reading a book that I have never seen him with. It's a book with a plush velvet cover, and it looks interesting. The binding says that it's about the properties of fish scales in potions dealing with medical remedies. How interesting. I stare at his hands, holding the book. I suppose I'm staring rather hard, because he looks over at me, and then he looks back to his book. He startles me when he asks, "Do you need something Ms. Granger? Or are you just inclined to rudely stare at people when they are reading?"
"No, Professor, I was just interested in the title of your book." I reply.
"Do you find it acceptable to pry into a private person's life?"
"No, professor, I was just-"
"You were just what, Ms. Granger? Being annoying? Rude perhaps? I dare say I think you have been both. Now, I must get back to more interesting things, like finishing this book."
Why is he so mean? I don't understand it at all. I look over at Draco, but he is thoroughly absorbed in his work. I look out at the scenery, as it goes by rapidly. One tear cascades down my cheek…
We arrive at Hogsmede, and as the students pile out, I look at them, so happy and carefree. I wish I could walk around holding his hand. But by the looks of him, he would never even consider such an act…
I wander around, making sure that the students are fine, and then at a quarter to eleven, I head over to the joke shop, where most of the younger students are congregated. I squeeze pass them, and I find my friends waiting for me. I walk over, and watch as Harry and Ginny exchange a kiss, and then Harry leaves, obviously going off with Ron somewhere. The girls move closer to me, and they motion for us to leave. We leave, and Ginny says, "Okay, now that it's just us girls, we can finally have some fun! You have any ideas of what you want?"
I just shake my head, and she looks at Luna and laughs.
"Let's go shopping!"
Later, back at the castle, I carefully put my dress in the closet, and I plop down on the bed. I must have fallen asleep, because I wake up to the clock chiming 10. I must have been worn out after all of the shops we went to.
I missed dinner, but its okay, I really wasn't hungry anyway. I get up, and leave my bedroom. I go into my sitting room, and I make myself a cup of tea. I sit down, and stare at the pictures that grace my wall, thinking, trying so hard to think of the moment where it all changed.
It must have been over winter holidays, when I realized how different I was. I must have fallen for Severus close to then. Sure, I looked at him, in an admiring way, but certainly, that is natural. I value his work and life, in respect to the saving of the wizarding world. I appreciate him, but now, a different emotion consumes my heart. I love him, and I really don't understand how it happened. Was there a pivotal moment, where Severus no longer was Professor Snape, but the object of my darkest desire? I wish I could discover what made me act this way. I love him, and I don't remember if there was a moment where I didn't, and then I did. Very unnerving for someone so into thinking and knowing every bit of information that comes across their path. i do know I love him, and I do recall the ride back to Hogwarts...
Once again, I was forced to sit by Severus, but this time it was different. I was loaded with packages, which I promptly shrank. I got out the new novel I bought, and cracked it open. It was a really great book, by talented witch writer, Elisabeth Marie d'Etoile. I have been waiting for the new book, Shadow Snakes, to come out for a long time. Her books are quite interesting, but this is not the point. Severus was already seated, and his book was on his lap, his eyes focused on the page. Draco was muttering something about incompetent children, he must have been marking papers for Vector, who he was an assistant to. Astronomy was a great class, and it was Draco's favorite. He takes Advanced Astronomy, and he is the only student who takes the Applications segment of Astronomy. I would have joined him, but I don't think I would be that interested.
We sit there in silence, except when Draco curses or mutters something about the papers he's grading. I don't know how he does it, having three sessions of Astronomy this year. He is the best at it in school, so I guess its second nature to him. As we go along, I catch Severus looking at me, twice. I look over at him when I catch him a third time and I say,
"How can I assist you, Professor? Or are you following my example, and prying?" I can't believe I said that to him! I am usually not so blunt around teachers, but the stress of the day, and the hurt I feel from his harsh words, makes me react. How is it that he can evoke such strong feelings from me?
"I was simply going to ask you a question, actually asking your opinion about something. But I guess you chose to be petty, and childish, so perhaps I overestimated you. I suppose I will have to ask Draco later, or perhaps Ms. Bones can give me some insight on the topic."
I was shocked, that he would actually take me serious for once, but I ruined it! I bloody ruined it. Now he must think me even more of a child. I am so close to tears now, but I don't cry. Instead I say, "Now who is being juvenile? Really professor." the professor comes out all hazy, because I am trying so hard not to burst into tears. Why do I feel so vulnerable today?
"Very well, Ms. Granger. I will discuss this topic with you at a later date." He clutches his arm, trying to act nonchalant, about the obvious pain he is in. It must be a new calling from
"Why later, Professor Snape?"
"Because we are at the castle, and at the moment, I would like to have some peace from insolent students." He opens the door to the carriage, and steps out. I watch him leave, as he glides past a bunch of giggling third years. Draco curses once more, as he gathers up his papers. I look at him, and I pick up my shrunken bags, and my book. I get out of the carriage, and I see Luna walking with Ron. They are holding hands, and are seem to be talking about something important. I go over to them, and I begin to talk, but Luna hushes me, so I look at them for a moment, and I rush ahead. I get to my private quarters, and I put my stuff on the bed. The rest is history. I wonder when he is going to talk to me again, about said topic. I wonder what the topic is. I am tired still, and I get up from my chair, and I visit the loo. I brush my teeth, and I go to my room. I get out a clean nightgown, this one is a light pastel pink, with a white rosebud pattern scattered all over it. It is soft, and short, barely covering my arse.
Suddenly, the Headmaster's face appears in my fireplace. "Hermione, quick! There is trouble! Meet me by the infirmary! Hurry!"
When I hear those words, I quickly grab my wand, and I run out of my rooms, and I catch Draco running past me, a streak of blond lightening. He can run so much faster than me. I have forgotten how much faster, I mutter to myself, as I race behind him, close on his heels. We get to the infirmary, all out of breath, and wait for the Headmaster to explain what happened, and why he needs us so much.
"There has been a breach on the wards around the castle. Three death eaters got inside, and we can only locate two. We found Crabbe Senior, and we found Rodolphus Lestrange, but the third we cannot find. They won't talk, and the Auror's will be here soon. They tried to take Harry. He is only slightly injured, so you don't have to worry about that. The weekend's activities, meaning the ball will still happen, if we catch this Death Eater. It is imperative that the Auror's can have ample space and silence in which to work. We do not want any students in danger. We are going to lock the entire student body in the Room of Requirement. This is the only true safe room in the castle. There is only one way out, only one way in. And the wards are so powerful. So as Head Boy and Girl, it would be essential if you would get all of the students up and into the Room so I can ward it. Professor McGonagall and Snape will be assisting you. Both of them and Professor Binns and Vector will be with you as well. Also, Madame Hooch will stay with you. Please keep everyone in order, and most importantly calm. I will be alerted if the wards are even attempted to be breached. Thank you. Go tell your classmates, quickly. I must seal the wards in a few minutes."
"Yes Headmaster." Chorused Draco and Hermione, as Dumbledore walked inside, and began talking to an Auror. I just stood there staring, until Draco said to me, "Let's go! Hurry Hermione!" He snapped me back to this horrible reality, and we ran down the halls, ready to alert all of the students. As I ran, I listened to the rhythm of my footsteps, and the beating of my broken heart. I love him, I thought to myself, subconsciously, I love him, I love….him….
Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing! Next chapter, the Room of Requirement, the mysterious Death Eater, and why is Snape holding Hermione's hand? What does she feel, and what happens next? Later, the matches and the Dance. Many thanks to the following for reviewing: hermioneandseverusfan, Claire, Sabrina, TaintedAngel, bree, Anon, and Patatita. Thank you all, I love you guys. Another chapter, just for you guys, coming really soon. I love you guys….I love…you guys…..