Chapter 5 – Play it straight

"So how was your day, Hermione?" Severus asked nonchalantly. He sank deeper in to the sofa and took a gulp of his fire whiskey.

It was afternoon; they had just arrived to Severus' living room after the last lesson was finished. The darkness fell over the castle like a dark mist, and when one was here under the ground it felt even darker. The lights gave the room a cosy light especially over the sofas, which they sat down in.

"It was quite alright I guess. Though Ron and Harry make me feel sick of their childishness. I can't stand them. Except that, the day was okay. How was your day?" She said, hoping she didn't sound too conceit with herself when she talked about Ron and Harry.

"Oh, that wasn't particularly new. Good that you've realized it. My day was just as normal. Nothing special, except that I have to escort you everywhere." He poured more whiskey in his glass and put the bottle on the table again.

"Yeah I see. Are you kind of dependent with whiskey?" She asked frankly. "I mean you even drink it in the afternoon."

To her amazement, her teacher started to laugh. Not a particularly warm one, but it was a laugh.

"Well, that would be a great rumour. The hated potions teacher is dependent of whiskey. No, not really. I just drink it when I feel for it, like now." 'And when I don't feel comfortable' he thought. "This sort isn't a very strong one either."

"Uh-huh. I see. I would be surprised if you were, because I don't remember anytime I've seen you drunk… And that includes some nights too, since I'm a prefect."

"I'm not that stupid I would run along the corridors at night, drunk." He sighed.

"Of course not. But whiskey and other types of alcohol have effects on your body. It infects one's brain, the balance sense doesn't work so well and one gets tired. And of course, it can cause illness. But I guess you know all that already, don't you?"

"Ah I forgot, the know-it-all knows better. Silly girl, of course I'm aware of that. And why the hell are we talking about my alcohol-habits? That's none of your business. Oh, after you told me that, I'm quite certain you've been drunk too." He smiled cunningly.

"Well, if I've been it or not, that's none of your business." She suddenly found herself staring at Severus' hands. They were beautiful she realized.
"Precisely. Exactly what I'd answered in that situation. Good girl." He laughed shortly and drank some whiskey.

"Yeah." She didn't know what to say. He was acting crazy. She wasn't accustomed to a potions master acting like this. She felt it as she was in a weak position towards Severus.

"I'd like to ask some questions and I want to be sure you answer them all honestly. Otherwise I will have to use Veritaserum. Are we agreed?" He suddenly became serious.

"Yes." She, on the other hand, became nervous.

"Have you harmed yourself lately?"

His face was very strict and she knew she had to be honest though it was the last thing she wanted to.

"Yea…" She blushed.

"When?"

"Is this a kind of cross-examination?" This topic was one of her deepest secrets and she didn't want to share it with anyone.

"Just answer, Hermione." Severus urged with emphasis on 'Hermione'.

"The night before Hogwarts."

"Show me."

"No. Why would I?"

"Just show me your arm." He repeated.

"No." She felt that each single muscle in her body was tensed. After all, she didn't know her professor that well she would show him one of her deepest secrets. That was to go too far!

"To answer your question, this isn't a cross-examination. I want to make you feel better, and I can't help you if you don't let me in. You must let me in if you want me to help you."
"It's not that easy." She whispered.

"I know. I wasn't expecting you would show me your arm now; I just wanted to see how comfortable you were. I'm quite sure you became nervous when I told you I wanted to ask some questions. I can see you're un-comfortable too. Am I right?" He raised his eyebrows.

Severus put his glass on the table and sat down next to Hermione in the other sofa, without thinking what he was doing.

"Relax. I'm not going to harm you, girl. Just relax." He whispered and his words actually made her relax and her shoulders sank down on their right place.

The man's hands caressed her back and she shivered of pleasure. His hands were so experienced and he did every little movement right. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the massage. He knew exactly which points he shouldn't touch and which he should.

"Are you alright?" Severus said quietly and leaned his arms on the arm rest.

"Yea, thank you…But why?" She asked, confused.

"Since I'm a spy, I'm kind of good to discover people's feelings. I thought you needed it since you were so taut. What did you think?" He asked, acting surprised.

"Ah, nothing. What the fuck?"

Severus had, while talking to her, rolled up her sleeves on her left arm. He was much chocked when he found the underside of her underarm was full of scars, both old and new ones. She tried to move her arm away from him but he had it in a firm grip. Carefully, Severus touched the scars, noticing how his movements pained Hermione. He let her arm go and she quickly stood up.

"You bloody bastard!" She shouted.

"Five points from Gryffindor for insulting a teacher. Miss Granger I thought we were agreed on behaving like humans, but you may have missed it. After all, you should be happy I didn't deduct more points." Severus said, warning her. "You may choose, Miss Granger. The hard way or the easy but boring way." He drank a big gulp of fire whiskey.

"I'm sorry." She didn't dare to meet his glance.

"For what? Sit down, please." He touched her fingers slowly.

"Well, I'm sorry for calling you a bloody bastard." She blushed.

"To your knowledge, my parents were married. Now sit down."

"Were you ever married?" She suddenly became curious of his life before Hogwarts.

"Hermione Granger, if you shall be here, in, if I remind you, my private rooms, you've got to do as I say. My private life is none of your business." He said sharply.

"Oh well. Then I have some questions for you, Mr Perfect." She sat down next to him. "You, if I so say, forced me to tell you about my private life. I've told you things as no one else, except me of course, knows and I hope you're aware of that. So I think it's quite fair that you answer some questions from me." She looked into his dark eyes without blinking.

"Fine. Go for it. Four questions for you to ask me and I will ask three to you. We have to answer them all and be honest. We mustn't ask the same questions as the other one. Agreed?" Severus thought this could be quite fun and he could ask exactly the questions he wanted, and best of all, she had to answer them.

"Very well." Hermione said, surprised that she now could ask him whatever she wanted to. "How old are you?" She started nervously.

"41.Who do you have a crush on?" Severus smiled irritating, really happy with his question.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. "You." She blushed.