Chapter 2- Sneaky bastard
The group chatted and laughed while the train chugged towards Hogwarts. They were tossing candy to each other and were passing pictures around as well. They showed happy, sometimes funny scenes of Hermione and her summer adventures and pictures of the Weasley vacation. The were busting at the seams to ask Hermione about the more personal aspects of her summer. When they were about to discuss the unbelievable "Hermione on a broom" photo, the door slid open and Draco popped his head in.
"Hey you lot. Hi Ginny. Nice summer? Ready for our last year?" Draco said.
His eyes opened a little wider at the sight of Hermione and he whistled.
"Yes, yes, and hello," replied Hermione laughing.
"Chocolate frog mate?" asked Ron. Draco accepted it.
"I just wanted to let you know that some aurors and a few professors are enjoying the train ride with us today. The ministry has seen fit for us to have escorts in case you-know-who decides to make trouble. One of them is Snape so…well, you know. I have to finish my patrols. Oh, Hermione, we two as the head students need to be in the heads compartment in a half hour. See you then. Bye Ginny," he said softly.
Draco grinned at Hermione, winked at Ginny then slid the door shut. Ron and Harry smirked at Ginny.
"Is there something you would like to tell us Gin?" asked Hermione.
"One word from either of you blokes and you will be hexed till you wet your pants. Understood?" Ginny said pointedly.
They practically jumped out the compartment saying something about "finding Neville" and laughed down the corridor.
"I predict a rictusempra hex in the near future, don't you 'Mione?" asked Ginny.
Hermione said "uh huh" absently while reading her book. Little did they know one of the train escorts, a certain Professor Severus Snape was alone in the next compartment. He had heard the sound of laughter, trying his best to ignore it while also reading a book. It was just his luck to be here. Dumbledore had come up with the brilliant suggestion of drawing straws to see who would act as escorts on the train. He and Minerva McGonagall were the lucky winners. He noticed that Ron and Harry had left the compartment.
i That leaves those two girls alone for some girl talk I would imagine. Then again, why would I care. Then again, I'm bored to tears. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to listen in for a few minutes. No one will know. After all, I am a sneaky bastard, aren't I? /i Snape thought.
He took out his wand, tapped it on the wall of the compartment and cast an amplification spell so he could hear Hermione and Ginny talk. He twirled his wand in his fingers and listened.
Ginny leaned over to Hermione and snatched her book out of her hands.
"OK Hermione, SPILL IT. I cannot stand it anymore. I need to know, no- I HAVE to know all the juicy tidbits about you and Victor this summer. I have no life you know, so I just live vicariously through yours," said Ginny.
"Why Ginny, whatever do you mean?" Hermione replied innocently.
Ginny snorted. "Come off it, Herms. You know what I'm talking about. Take this picture for instance. What are you doing on a broom? You hate to fly."
i Hmmm, interesting. Herms? /i thought Snape.
"Not anymore." Hermione said. "There's a lot of stuff I do now that I didn't do before."
"Oh rheeeely?" exclaimed Ginny.
i Yes, do tell Granger. As long as I'm listening in like an idiot you had better say something good! /i thought Snape.
"You want to wait until the boys get back to let them in on it too?" asked Ginny smirking.
"Merlins beard, no, Ginny. It would be an epic mistake to let those two ninnies know about my….intimate..activities. They would never let me live it down. I do not want my sex life to be a topic of their conversations this year, thank you very much. Isn't Hogwarts gossip entertainment enough?" said Hermione.
i Good point Miss Granger! /i Snape thought.
"Wow, sex life you say?" Ginny asked eagerly. Hermione rolled her eyes.
i Oh God, Granger's sex life. Do I want to hear this? /i thought Snape. Curiosity however got the best of him and he continued to listen. After all, when a man hears the word "sex" he can't help but listen.
"Yes Ginny, the horizontal mambo, shagging. i Sex. /i Do you really think I was just going to come out and say 'Yes, you blokes, Victor and I shagged each other senseless all summer, that I like it from behind, and by the way, would you like to hear how I give a blow job?' Can you imagine how the boys would react?" said Hermione fervently.
Ginny was speechless. So was Snape, who had dropped his wand in shock upon hearing Hermione's declaration.
i Cheeky girl! /i he thought.
Hermione continued quietly, "What Victor lacks in words he more than makes up for with passion and enthusiasm. Although the shagging was fabulous, we did other things too."
i Continue Miss Granger. However hard to believe, you have my attention! /i Snape thought.
"I see you on this broom. How is that?" Ginny asked.
"He helped me get over my fear of broom flight and showed me that really it is fun. I can't believe I avoided it all these years. Now I know why Harry enjoys it so much," Hermione said.
"That's great 'Mione. And this one?" Ginny held up a picture of Hermione with a golf club.
"Oh that. It's golf, and we had a great time playing it. I'm not very good at it though," replied Hermione.
"Who are these people?" Ginny asked about another picture.
"Those are Victor's parents. They are such good people. His mom is a whiz at potions. His dad hunts evil vampires," Hermione said with a shudder.
i Potions? /i thought Snape, who was now riveted to the conversation.
"Mrs. Krum showed me a contraceptive potion to brew that doesn't taste horrid like the ones I've been using," Hermione stated.
Snape was astounded again. i Contraceptive potion? My, you have been busy this summer, Miss Granger. /i
"I think I'll need to borrow that recipe Hermione," Ginny returned saucily.
Now it was Hermione's turn. "Oh rheeely?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't change the subject Herms. You studied over your holiday? Potions? Although hexes are my thing, I like potions too. But don't let Snape know that," Ginny giggled.
i Ha.Ha. Funny Weasley. Herms? What an abysmal nickname! /i Snape thought.
"You know I love potions! In fact, I've started research on a anti-crucio potion. It will take a couple of more years of research before I submit my findings to the ministry, if I have the time," said Hermione proudly.
"Shouldn't you let Professor Snape know about it?" Ginny asked.
"Are you joking? What, so he could laugh in my face? He does after all consider we students a bunch of dunderheads." she frowned. "That man has more knowledge of potions and magic in his pinky finger than I will ever know. He would treat my findings with disdain," replied Hermione thoughtfully.
"Hermione Granger, that's ridiculous. You are one of the smartest witches to ever come through Hogwarts. In addition, now thanks to your new look, you will also be one of the most beautiful as well," Ginny said meaningfully. "And it sounds like Snape has an admirer," she added jokingly.
"Don't be silly Ginny. Lavender is the prettiest girl at Hogwarts. As for Snape, I merely admire his intellect, that's all," she declared.
Ginny was right. She was one of the smartest witches to come through Hogwarts. Unknown to her, Snape was well aware of her intellect, although he would never let on about it. He had an image to uphold of course. He was genuinely intrigued about a new anti-crucio potion. He would have to find a way to get her to talk about her idea, but he had no idea how to do it. He had never really had a civil or normal conversation with Hermione he suddenly realized. These past six years the only thing they "discussed" was her hair, her teeth, her know-it-all-ness, points deduction or detention.
i She actually said she admires my intellect! /i Snape mused.
i Could I have an intelligent conversation with her? Would she want to? /i Snape was perplexed, and that didn't happen often.
i Perplexed by Granger, who would have thought. And what new look? /i Snape thought.
"I hate to cut this short, but I have to go to the meeting in the head students' compartment. We can talk more after dinner, alright? But really Ginny, I'm glad I had someone to talk about these things to. Tell the boys I'll see them when we arrive," Hermione gave Ginny a quick hug then left the compartment.
Snape quickly ended the amplification spell and settled back into his seat. He saw a beautiful young woman pass by the door to his compartment and was surprised by what he saw. This warranted investigation! He left his berth to follow her to the heads' compartment, on the pretense of talking about school business. The young woman went into the heads' berth, seconds later followed by Professor Snape, who was looming snarky and imposing as ever. Draco and Hermione looked up from some parchment they were reading, stood up quickly and greeted him.
"Good afternoon Professor," they said.
He nodded slightly, saying "Mr. Malfoy, Miss. Granger. No incidents this trip thus far? I see you've managed to tame that mane of yours, Miss Granger."
Hermione grimly looked sideways to Draco and thought, i I would rather face a roomful of boggarts and a herd of blast-ended screwts then listen to this! /i
Draco squeezed her hand. Snape saw this and raised an eyebrow.
Hermione glared at Snape. Hermione pulled her wand out of her back pocket and twirled it in her fingers. Draco backed up a bit, fully aware of Hermione's temper. What was it with him? Why did he always torment her? She did not feel like Snape's antics today.
Eyes blazing at Snape, Hermoine said in quiet, almost menacing tone, "Professor, with all due…respect…" she hissed at the word, "did you come here to insult me or do you have something useful to say?"
Snape was taken back. Granger had never looked at him like that much less spoken to him like that. He would not let his surprise show however.
"My my Miss Granger. Temper, temper. We are not even at Hogwarts yet and you are close to costing your house fifty points for disrespect to a professor. I merely came to congratulate you two on your head students' appointment. I also wished to inform you that my NEWT potions class will be most challenging this year. Are you up to it?" Snape challenged.
i Glad to see the girl get some backbone! /i he added as an afterthought.
Suddenly, her eyes no longer blazed from anger; at the challenge they flashed brightly and Hermione locked her eyes on his and replied,
"I can handle whatever you throw my way," in a voice that Draco later reported as 'sensual but scary'.
He nodded his head to the two, conceding the duel as a draw.
"Very well Miss Granger. I'll leave you two to your business."
He left their berth surprised. He didn't like feeling perplexed, much less by a student. By Hermione Granger of all people. Why was he feeling like this? Over her? He shook his head and went back to his compartment.