I'm sorry it took so long to update..
Thanks everyone for the reviews:) I'm so grateful that someone likes the story.
I know Minerva McGonagall is so out of character in this chapter, but I couldn't write it in any ohter way :S I know this chapter isn't so good, but I had absolutely no ideas so this is what it become... Just think "Minerva is just concerned about her favourite student." lol ;)
Thanks to those who told be about the chapter 1 thing, I think it's correct now..
Enjoy the chapter:)
Anna Black: You're so right about Severus, sorry, I just love to write him like this :P lol Also, I know he left her just like that, but messing with the Dark lord isn't such a good idea ;) he was in a hurry..I guess your right about that slim-fit thing in a way, but, I mean, Severus is totally crazy in her, he thinks she's fit however she looks..
VictoriaM2006: No he can't really leave he like that, but he had too, since the Dark lord was summoning him, I'm sure you don't want to be late to any of his meetings ;) lol
Smiles28and WannaBArtist: Oh cool with PotO fans! I have been to both the musical and the movie but the musical was the best, you really should see it, it's so lovely! Which is your favourite song?
Big thanks to everyone else who reviewed!
Chapter 18 – Thoughts
Hermione almost ran to the Headmaster's office, she didn't even notice she ran into Albus Dumbledore himself. Glad the Headmaster didn't drop anything, she stood up.
"What makes you stride in such a hurry, Miss Granger? And why are you alone? I thought I told Severus to watch you." Albus said, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I'm so sorry, professor. Didn't mean to run into you. I, well… Seve…Professor Snape was summoned." Her voice was truly concerned, Albus noticed.
"Oh, I see. Thanks for telling me."
"He asked me to." She blushed without knowing why.
"Very well then. Please tell him to inform me when he arrives. I shall accompany you to Minerva, all right?" Albus said, smiling at her.
"Yes, Sir." She squirmed as with anxiety. "He'll back soon, right?"
"I believe so, Miss Granger. Now, let me escort you to Minerva's office."
"Oh, it's no problem. I understand. You can leave Miss Granger under my care. I'll take care of her until Severus will be here." Minerva assured the headmaster.
"Thank you, Minerva. Good day to you both." Albus turned around and left Hermione in Minerva's office.
"Good day, Albus." Minerva nodded and gestured to a chair. "Sit down, Miss Granger. There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Yes, professor?" Hermione sat down in the chair, fingering with her hair nervously.
"Oh, it's nothing big, dear. Would you like some tea?"
"No, thank you."
"Okay." Minerva shrugged and sat down in the chair opposite to Hermione's. "I'm just wondering how you can deal with spending so much time with Severus? I know he can be such an interesting person sometimes, and even nice other times, but I hardly think he's nice around any student at this school. He can be so… inaccessible sometimes. I know it must have been hard for you to leave the Gryffindor tower, and I… You get what I mean, don't you?" The old woman smiled gently and shifted position in her chair.
"No, professor, actually I don't." Hermione said curtly. "Well, I mean… I know he can be so… tense and harsh sometimes but he's quite alright when he's not around other people. And, it wasn't that hard to leave the Gryffindor tower, I can hardly say I miss somebody…"
"I'm sure you do, Miss Granger. Now, I've noticed that you're not spending any time in the Gryffindor tower, has that anything to do with Severus? Has he refused to accompany you there? If he has I'm going to talk to him about it. Surely, you need to be around people of your age more than during the lessons."
"Professor, Professor Snape has asked me several times if I want to be there but I've said no."
"Oh, right… So, does he treat you well, dear?" Minerva was so obviously concerned about her perfect Gryffindor-student.
"Yes, professor, there's no need to worry. I'm just fine." Hermione lied and quickly broke the eye contact with the other woman.
"I've also noticed you're not sitting with Mr Potter and Mr Weasley in my classes, and obviously not in any other lesson either, since I've asked your professors. What has happened between you?"
"Well, it's nothing big really. We just had a little argue, that's all." Hermione shrugged.
"I like the way you describes the end of a six-year-old friendship, Miss Granger. It seems like you didn't take it very hard, if it is so, then I'm very disappointed in you. I thought you cared more about your friends." Minerva's gaze was cold as ice.
Hermione lowered her head silently and sighed. 'Why did Severus have to go?' "Professor, I did care a lot for my friends, but certain circumstances made me change my mind. Sorry to talk back to you, but what I think of my so-called friends isn't any of your concern even if you wish it was." She retorted dryly and met her professor's glance once again.
"What was that argue about?" Her professor asked abruptly, totally ignoring what Hermione had just said.
"Severus Snape, I mean Professor Snape." Hermione answered and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Please explain a little bit more. That name isn't enough for me to understand what you were arguing about. Miss Granger, this is of my concern since I am your head of house. I care about you, that's why I'm asking you about this. I've noticed that you're hardly eating anything. Maybe it does seem important to be slim at your age, but you're already way too slim to be healthy." Minerva spoke softly, like a mother would have done to her daughter.
"Well… Ron and Harry wanted to make a prank to Professor Snape but I didn't agree. I just thought it'd be silly and unnecessary. No one deserves that kind of prank they were thinking of. Anyway, I disagreed with them and they wondered why I was d-defending Severus, I mean, Professor Snape… I said I didn't defend him a-at all and that I just didn't w-want to be a part of the prank. I told them they were immature." Hermione said slowly, her voice was trembling of unwanted nervousness.
"That's not really a big deal, is it? Are you sure there isn't anything more that you've forgotten to tell me?" The old woman asked curiously.
"Um… not really. I mean, I guess they were wondering why I never visit the Gryffindor tower, but that's not really such a big deal, in my opinion. Severus, Professor Snape, has asked me several times if I want to go there…"
"Does he allow you to call him Severus?" Minerva was rather astonished.
"Err… yes. But only when we're in his quarters. Actually I wanted to, I asked him, because I found it so… silly to call him professor all the time, now when we're living together. I thought it'd be easier for me to stand living with him, if I didn't think of him as a professor." Hermione cursed herself for letting her tongue slip so many times. "But, professor, please don't tell anyone, I'm not quite sure he'd want everyone to know. You know, he wants to be that kind of recluse as no one really knows." She sneered.
"Oh right. I won't. Thanks for being honest with me." Minerva smiled at her. "So have you got to know him any better than before?" She asked curiously.
"Professor, why are you asking that?" Hermione raised her eyebrows questioningly.
"Oh, there's no real reason." Minerva chuckled. "We both know how Severus behaves around people and I was just curious if he's that ice cold even when he's alone with such a cute girl as you." She smiled cunningly.
"What are you referring to, professor?" Hermione asked sceptically.
"Nothing, dear." The professor smiled innocently.
"As I've said, he does treat me well enough. There's no need to scold him for not treating me well, and yes, of course I've got to know him better since I'm spending almost 16 hours a day with him… I'm afraid I don't get what you're talking about, professor. If there's anything you want to know, just ask it and I'll decide whether I'll answer it or not." Hermione sighed.
"Does Severus fancy you? If he does, I'm going to kill him." Minerva said protectively.
"Gods, was it only that? You could've asked that earlier. Seriously, I'm almost 100 sure he doesn't have any interest in me at all. If he has, he's hid it very well." Hermione answered, a small smile playing on her lips. "At least he's not treating me like he likes me at all." She lied.