Chapter 35

Monday March 4th

The fifth and seventh years were beginning to start the panic process for the OWLS and NEWTS. No one was spared, not even Hermione. When she was not eating, she was studying. Severus had peeked in a few times to her room to find her asleep at her desk or on her bed, having fallen asleep covered with books and parchment. She was also stressed over her upcoming interview at the ministry. Severus scanned the students that morning as they ate breakfast. His gaze fell to the Gryffindor table where Hermione and Ginny were huddled togther talking about something. Ron said something that made both the girls stop.

"Ronald Weasley!" Ginny declared. Hermione looked ready to breathe fire.

"But Mione—" Harry pleaded.

Hermione bolted up. She was furious. What could that oaf Weasley had said? Temper, temper my dear.. Snape thought.

"THAT'S THE MOST IDIOTIC THING TO HAVE EVER COME OUT OF YOUR IDIOTIC MOUTH!" Hermione shouted. The Gryffindor table froze. She pointed at the two boys. They looked ready to duck under the table.

"My goodness, maybe I should…" McGonagall started.

"No, Minerva, let's see how she handles it," Dumbledore said quietly.

"You Ron, have the emotional range of a bag of doorknobs. And Harry, you…you.." she sputtered, "know better. How could you?"

What in blazes did they say? Snape wondered.

She snatched the magazine away from the table that was in front of them.

"And if I ever see this trash again!…wait…I won't have to see it again!" she threw the magazine in the air and froze it in midair with a clenched fist. Then with a flick of a few fingers, the magazine exploded into small flames then disappeared. The ashes fell on Harry and Ron. The whole of the student body and most of the staff looked on in amused wonder. She stalked from the great hall. A few minutes later she returned, looking to Ginny, "I forgot my books." She then flipped a galleon on the table in front of a shocked Harry and Ron and said,

"That's for the magazine." then she left again.

When Snape entered the potions classroom twenty minutes later, Hermione was not at her usual place next to Harry. She was on the other side of the classroom at a desk by herself. She didn't look up when he entered, but continued scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment. Harry looked cautiously her way every few minutes.

Snape cleared his throat. Everyone looked his way. Including Hermione, who looked at him with hurt eyes.

"Miss Granger, Professor McGonagall wishes to see you in her office immediately. You are excused for the duration of class." He nodded and she gathered her things and left. She glared at Harry as she left. Snape couldn't help himself. Drawling with mock sincerity, he said-

"Mr. Potter, whatever it is, I suggest you be a man and apologize. Soon and profusely."

Harry nodded his head. "Yes sir."

"Very well. Continuing with last Friday's lesson, page 336…"

In Prof. McGonagall's office, Hermione was sipping a cup of tea.

McGonagall started. "Ahem. Hermione, are you quite calmed down?"

"Yes ma'am. Just hearing Professor Snape's voice in class helped me calm down."

"I see. What happened to make you so angry?"

"Ron said something untoward about Professor Snape and Harry made a comment regarding me and a picture."

"I see." McGonagall said, unsure of venturing further. "I also see that your wandless ability is grounded in your emotions. Hermione, you need to get that temper of yours under control at times. However spectacular the display, flame-throwing in the great hall at breakfast above your friends' heads is neither the time or place. "

"I know. I will making apologies at lunch. I think I scared them."

"Well, every now and then it's good to scare our men. Keep them in line, so to speak. However, the reason I asked you here is about your interview. I received an owl this morning from Matthias Longley at the ministry. He wishes to conduct your tour and interview this Friday. At 9 a.m. a representative from the Department of Magical Research will arrive here to escort you to the ministry. You will be there most of the day and will be excused from classes. Dress professionally and be yourself. I wish you the best of luck. Questions? No? Very well, you may return to classes."

Hermoine left the office in considerably lighter spirits. She looked to her watch to see that it was about halfway through Arithmancy class, and walked a bit faster. Arithmancy was going to be her most difficult NEWT and she didn't want to miss a minute more of class than she had to.

At lunchtime, Snape again observed the student body. Hermione walked through the doors with Draco, both of them sporting wet hair and soggy robes. They both walked to the head table and stopped in front of the Headmaster.

"Dare I ask?" Dumbledore chuckled, asking the sopping two head students.

"Sir, Peeves is at mischief, again. We tried to stop him but-" Draco started.

"… he stopped us. We took a hit intended for some poor first years." Hermione said gesturing to her and Draco. Hermoine glanced sideways to Severus who had his hand over his mouth. She rolled her eyes.

"Very well. I'll see to it right away. Good day to you all." he said nodding to the staff table. Hermione went to her place and sat down. Snape snuck in an amplification spell so he could hear. Harry and Ron were looking at her nervously and Ginny was giggling.

"Herms, may I?" Ginny asked. She took out her wand and cast a drying spell over Hermione.

"Thanks Gin."

"Now, what happened?"

Oh, Peeves was terrifying some first years and Draco and I attempted to stop him. I guess you can say 'karma' happened."

"Karma?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, for my outburst this morning." She faced Harry and Ron. "Harry, Ron, I am so sorry for what happened. I lost my temper and did not mean to scare you. Please accept my apology."

The two smiled at her. Harry spoke. "Of course, Mione. I'm sorry too. We acted like a couple of brainless dolts." Ron nodded in agreement. After a silent moment, all was well within Gryffindor again.

Smart boy, Potter. Snape thought amused.

"Oh Ron, I won't be at practice Friday. I have my interview at the ministry."

"That's great Mione. I hope it goes good for you. You'll be at practice tonight then?" Ron asked.

"Yeah I should."

Practice that evening went better than it had last Friday. Flying helped deflect stress, so the students seemed as if they were trying to fly the stress away. Ron and Hermione in particular flew like they were possessed. The scout for the quidditch team Ron was joining after graduation was going to be at the next match, and Ron wanted to impress him. Hermoine was a bundle of nerves and threw herself into practice. Literally. The staff observing the practice noticed this too.

"This happens every year, without fail." McGonagall quipped.

The usually graceful Gryffindor team flew fast but clumsy. Harry was grazed by bludgers, Ginny knocked in the head by Matt's broom, Ron missed many goals and Hermione recklessly did a Wronski feint. Finally in a coup de grace that ended practice, Hermoine performed a move no one had seen from her before. She flew straight into the wall surrounding the quidditch pitch. Her surprised team flew down to a stunned Hermione sitting on the ground. She had a cut above her eye and her pants were torn from hip to knee. She started cursing when she saw her broken broom. The staff looked over the sides of the wall to the same sight.

"Miss Granger! Language!" McGonagall reprimanded.

Yes, Hermione. Such naughty language! Severus thought with a grin. As if she heard him, Hermione looked straight at him. She covered her mouth in surprise.

"Sorry professor, but my broom-" Hermione started.

"Are you injured, Miss Granger?" Severus asked.

Hermione stood up. "I don't think so." Ron patted the cut above her eye with a kerchief. Ginny said a quick healing spell.

"Mione, how did you fly into the wall?" Harry asked.

"And with that, practice is over." Ron stated.

Thursday evening, Hermione was going through her wardrobe for the twentieth time pondering the right outfit to wear. Severus peeked through the fire and heard Hermione muttering to herself. No one else was there, so he walked through.

"Severus!" she said and hugged him. "You always seem to know when to show up."

"I have a confession to make, my dear. I hope you don't get angry." Severus said. "Sometimes I take a peek in your floo to check in on you. Sometimes I just want to see you. I have to peek in first to ensure no one is here," he said telling half the truth.

"Well, that answers some of my questions. The floo is set to let you in after all. How long have you been doing this?"

"Not long." Another half truth. I hope that answer is good enough. "Hogwarts is warded to make apparition impossible, and I can't be seen knocking on your door at all hours."

"I understand."

"You're not angry with me?"

"No not really. Sometimes I just want to see you too. I haven't been in your room since that night last year." she said quietly.

He narrowed his eyes in thought. "Ahh, I remember."

"I'll never forget. That night changed my life, Severus." she replied with a soft kiss.

"My sweet, what happened to get you so riled this morning? I have to know."

"Oh that. Harry brought up something unpleasant that happened Saturday while you were on your mission. Ask me later. Then Ron said something about you that I didn't care for. I lost my temper, and you saw the rest."

"And quidditch practice?" Severus urged.

"Love, that was just plain stupidity. Me, flying into a wall. As if." she stated. Severus laughed.

"Severus, I love it when you laugh. You should do it more. And what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

"My dear, the purpose of my visit this evening is two-fold. I wanted to wish you good luck at your interview tomorrow."

"Thank you. I need luck in spades it seems lately. And the other purpose?" she said demurely.

"You are in desperate need of relaxation, my dear." He held up a bottle of the "lotion" they had "experimented" with a couple of weeks earlier.

She slipped off the robe she had on. Naked, she gestured to the bed. "Shall we?"