Legacy
By
Jeslyn Nighthawk
Revised A/N: NOT AN UPDATE YET! I just fixed the one glaring error in this chapter. I know there are probably others, but tonight I am really just too tired to care. I am sorry for the long waits, but over break I did not have my own computer, mine was being not fixed, stupid Dell, and now that school has started back up again, I am beginning to doubt my sanity in considering a double major. Oh well, I still have about a year to decide. Any thoughts on History over Classics? Or visa versa? Anyway, with any luck I'll have the next chapter finished tonight and it beta-ed and up before the week is out. New review responses will take place in the next chapter. Thanks to all who reviewed and any new readers please feel free to drop a review.
A/N: Um, I was informed that the Masquerade was not a proper place for a trial run. I can't change now, not really, but for the sake of the story let's pretend it was only slightly improper and that this isn't her actual debut but a "trial run" to see how she would handle herself. Um, thanks to all who reviewed. Hope this chapter is good.
Review Responses:
Lashmi: Thanks for the input. I tried to do some research, but was thwarted at every turn. I won't make the same mistake twice but don't have the time or energy to fix it now, maybe in the rewrite.
Lili Pie: Glad I satisfied, and I hope this is soon enough. No promises about the future though.
ahiwai: Thanks so much. Like I've said with college updates are infrequent at best and rare at worst. I hope that you will still read though.
Liesl: I agree. Boo for Distractions and Hurray for Jack Sparrow. Maybe he'll have a cameo…
Porthos: Thanks.
Sorry if I missed anyone. I think I got all the ones that have come through so far.
Chapter 4
The man in her hiding place was, Hermione decided, intimidating seemed the best word. He stood a good head and shoulders taller than her and had cold glittering black eyes that practically oozed contempt. His features beneath the black domino were not traditionally attractive, but nonetheless drew her. He had a sharply chiseled face and a positively aquiline nose. He had lips that Hermione thought might be sensuous, but right this moment they were curled in a rather nasty sneer.
"Umm… I know I'm intruding, but…" Hermione forced out around a lump of irrational fear, "But would you mind terribly my sharing your hiding place?"
The sneer faded slightly, and the man heaved a large sigh before nodding to the place next to him.
"Thank you," Hermione squeaked out, and she hurried to get out of sight before she was spotted.
"You're quite welcome," the man replied, sarcasm masking the velvety smooth voice. Hermione felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She could die listening to that voice. "I will be most displeased if you bring a gaggle of admirers down on this corner, however. It is the only decent hiding place left."
"That was quite my thought, thank you very much," Hermione retorted, earlier fear forgotten in face of her indignation, "A more hopeless and indecent group of male hormones I've never met. I cannot wait until my Aunt will allow me to leave."
"An uncommon sentiment if ever I'd heard one," The man actually sounded… intrigued.
"She wants me to find a husband," Hermione said with a huff, "I have no need of one."
"Why ever not?" Borderline shock at this.
"My father is perfectly willing to leave me all I will need, and I am well supported now. I have no wish for anything other than my studies. Besides, despite what you may have seen out there, I have found that once men get to know me, they run away screaming," Hermione found she could not get the smallest amount of disappointment out of her voice.
***
"…I have found that once men get to know me, they run away screaming."
Snape couldn't help it. He was intrigued. He wasn't surprised that the average male was intimidated by this intelligent young woman. For one thing, if what he sensed was true, she was a rather powerful witch. Beyond that she seemed quite outspoken. He raised an eyebrow.
"And just what exactly do you study, Miss…" He left it hanging. She wasn't supposed to answer, but there was always the chance she would anyway.
"Herm- Amelia Lupin, and I study everything I can, but I especially love Transfiguration and Potions." Snape noticed the almost slipup. How could he not. The only question was why was Hermione Granger, who according to Albus was the brightest student to come out of Hogwarts in nearly two decades, masquerading as her cousin Lady Amelia Lupin? And why on Earth was Minerva allowing her to?
"A pleasure then, Miss Lupin," Snape drawled, "Severus Snape, at your service." She actually squeaked at that.
"Lord Snape?" She stammered, "But your so… civil. My cousins are terrified of you!"
Snape chuckled at this, "I can assure you, Miss Lupin, they very likely have reason."
She snorted, "I doubt that!"
Snape decided to save face and return to their earlier conversation. "Potions and Transfiguration, Miss Lupin? Surely those are not proper fields for a young lady such as yourself?"
The young woman practically growled at him, "There should be no 'proper fields' for young witches. We have brains too, you know, as rarely as the majority of our kind tend not to show it. I am very good at both Transfiguration and Potions, and I can probably equal you in both!"
Snape raised an eyebrow at this, "I am willing to concede your ability to best me at Transfiguration, Miss Lupin, but not in Potions," he raised a hand to forestall an angry retort, "Not because you are female, but because I doubt that at your tender age you can equal the knowledge and experience of a Potions Master."
"You're a Master? Truly?" Dear God, she sounded like a cat who had just caught the plumpest canary in the roost.
"Yes, Miss Lupin," Severus was quite unable to hide the hesitance in that admission.
"Well, then," She said with a matter of fact air, "I guess I won't be able to best you at Potions," she paused to think for a moment, "Yet."
"I look forward to the challenge, Miss Lupin," Snape drawled with a mocking half bow.
"I'm sure," she quipped in reply.
They stood in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Severus felt a scowl once again coming over his face. Minerva McGonagall was heading towards their corner, and she was on the warpath. Maybe she had found out this girl was posing as her niece? But wasn't Hermione Granger also her niece? What on Earth was going on?
***
Minerva could not believe her eyes. She was very fond of Severus, even looked upon him as a sort of adopted nephew. So of course she had found it vastly amusing to see him being stalked by all the husband hunting hens and chickies. She repeatedly had to stop herself from laughing out loud at his expense. She had also noted with much amusement as he finally beat a hasty retreat to the last unoccupied dark corner of the room. Of course there was a reason for it being unoccupied. It was easily visible to the corner in which Minerva and her closest friends were standing, making it quite unsuitable for trysts.
Minerva was beginning to doubt her sanity in bringing Hermione here, even as a trial run. She had truly forgotten what awful things these masquerades were. Still, it at least proved that Hermione could be a success this season. And no one would dare besmirch her reputation with Minerva keeping a hawks eye on her.
It came as quite a shock to Minerva though, when Hermione headed to the exact same corner Severus was standing in. It was not an unwelcome surprise though. She figured those two would tear each other apart. They were from opposite Houses after all. She was not happy to see that this was not the case. It seemed Hermione had caught Severus' attention. Severus was quite unsuitable for Hermione. He was much too… Slytherin.
After hoping against hope for several minutes that Hermione would return to the main room, Minerva found herself storming over to the corner angrily to confront the both of them.
She found a guilty looking Hermione and a scowling Snape. Her mind formed its own conclusions.
***
"Ah, Minerva," Snape greeted the Countess of Myrwood, "Come to see that I have not seduced your wayward chick?"
"Of course not, Severus," the old which snapped in reply, "Amelia would never allow herself to be seduced. I simply came to remind you both that it is not proper to monopolize each other. There are quite a few people out there hoping for their turns. Besides, we wouldn't want them getting the wrong ideas."
Hermione blushed, and Snape's scowl deepened. "Miss Lupin, perhaps you should rejoin the festivities," Snape conceded.
Hermione shot a pleading look at her aunt, and Minerva gave in grudgingly, "Go back for half an hour and we can leave. This thing is all together awful."
Hermione smiled brightly, "Thank you, Aunt," she turned to Snape expectantly, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I hope we shall have other opportunities to talk about Potions." With that Hermione returned to her admirers.
"She is a wonderful young woman, Severus," Minerva said to the quiet young man beside her.
"Of course, Minerva," he replied, not seeing her point.
"I hope to find her a husband. Don't toy with her."
"I wouldn't dream of it," After a few moments consideration he added, "I doubt she'd let me."
TBC
A/N: Another chapter and hopefully more on the way. It will slow back down though, after I get back to school. Se la vi. Please review and thanks for reading.
Ja ne
Jes