Chapter 39
It was one of the most dreaded times of the year at Hogwarts for the staff. April Fool's day. The day started out innocent enough, the first prank of the day a harmless one. The students arrived for breakfast only to find that the entire Slytherin table had disappeared. The Slytherin students looked around to the rest of the students taking seats. The staff entered and saw what had occurred.
"So it begins," McGonagall said sadly.
"Would whoever banished the Slytherin table please bring it back?" Dumbledore announced.
"Oh alright," Ginny stood up and said. She had learned from Fred and George well. The table reappeared but was a bright pink color.
"I can't imagine how that could have happened," Ginny replied innocently.
Walking to potions, Hermione was the first to arrive. She grabbed the door handle to open it to find her hand stuck to the door handle.
"What the hell?" she asked.
She tugged at her hand some more. The rest of the students started arriving and saw Hermione tugging on the door handle.
"Problem Mione?" Harry asked grinning. She cast various spells for a few minutes at the handle.
"Shut up Harry. My hand is stuck to the door. I've been trying charms and spells to loosen my hand, but nothing's working," Hermione whined.
Severus walked the corridor towards the classroom when he heard Hermione shrieking, so he walked a bit faster.
"SON OF A BITCH!"
"Now Mione, calm down.." Harry tried to say.
"WHEN I CATCH THE PERSON WHO DID THIS THEY WILL WISH THEY WERE NEVER BORN!"
Snape arrived at the door to find a few students standing around a fuming Hermione with her hand curled around the door handle. She stopped when she saw Severus and rolled her eyes.
"I guess I'll be tardy for class today, Professor," Hermione said evenly. "My hand is stuck to the door handle."
Severus told the students remaining outside to go into the classroom. He closed the other door. Severus laughed softly.
"This is not funny. Severus, I've tried everything I know, it's stuck. My fingers are cramped up," Hermione said. "Whoever cast this sticking charm, it's a good one."
"Let me try," Severus said.
He tried various spells and charms. They didn't work either. Hermione stomped her foot.
"My dear, you are pouting," he said leaning in to whisper it in her ear. "I'll go fetch Dumbledore. I'm sure he has a solution," Severus said.
But first he went into the classroom, got a chair and brought it outside for her to sit on while he went to get the headmaster.
Arriving at the headmaster's office, he said, "Albus, your assistance is needed at my classroom. Miss Granger is the victim of an unfortunate prank," Severus said.
"What has happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"Her hand is stuck to the door handle of my classroom," Severus said chuckling. "I've tried everything I know and nothing can break the charm or curse or whatever it is," Severus said.
"Is she angry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Quite," Severus asked.
"Lead the way Severus," Dumbledore asked.
The two arrived at the classroom doors to find a completely miserable looking Hermione tapping her foot.
"Oh thank goodness. Please loosen my hand from this infernal handle sir," Hermione begged.
Dumbledore cast a few spells and charms and frowned slightly.
"That should have worked," the headmaster said.
"What?" Hermione asked with a bit of panic.
"Just a moment, I need to try some others," he reassured.
After a half hour, Dumbledore stopped.
"I must say this is a masterful charm or curse. Miss Granger, I'm sorry but I am unable to break it," he headmaster said.
"If you, the greatest wizard alive can't undo this, I'm in real trouble," Hermione quipped.
It was close to the end of class, so Severus went into the room to dismiss the class. The class filed out snickering at Hermione, who waved her hand at the group causing their robes to fly over their heads.
"Morons," she muttered.
"Hermione, give me a bit of time to contact the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. I'm sure they will have a solution," Dumbledore said patting her on the shoulder. "I'll let Professor McGonagall know that you might be late for her class."
"Hermione, I have a first year class to teach. I'll be right in there if you need anything," Severus said.
At Transfiguration class
Harry was reading from his text when Draco tugged on his arm.
"Harry, she's going to kill me!" Draco whispered.
"Who is going to kill you?" Harry asked.
"Hermione!" Draco returned.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"That door handle charm was meant for Snape!" Draco declared.
Harry laughed out loud startling the quiet class.
"Mr. Potter, would you care to share the cause of your mirth with the rest of the class?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"No, I don't think so madame," Harry replied trying to catch his breath.
"Then kindly read in silence Mr. Potter," the professor said, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. She had heard what Draco whispered to Harry.
Hermione looked at her watch, again, when she saw two wizards in ministry robes accompanied by the headmaster. She heard Severus fussing at some first year inside the classroom.
Arriving at the door, the wizards regarded Hermione with interest.
"How long has she been like this?" one of the wizards asked.
"Since just after breakfast," Dumbledore asked.
One of the wizards took out a metallic wand that looked like a knitting needle and cast it the door handle.
"Ahh, a dark hex-charm combination. You should have called us earlier Albus," the wizard said.
Both the wizards held out their metallic wands and warned Hermione,
"This might sting a bit dear," a wizard said.
One wizard pointed his wand at the door while the other waved his in small circles. There was a small shock from the handle that stung her hand and with an,
"OUCH!" her hand came loose from the handle.
At that point class ended. Hermione looked to her cramped hand. It was curled in the shape of a "C' and she couldn't straighten it.
"Sirs, I can't thank you enough. I was contemplating blasting the door from its hinges," Hermione said.
"Miss Granger, Madame Pomfrey will have a muscle relaxer for that hand. See you at lunch Miss Granger," Dumbledore said.
At lunch the whole school was talking about Hermione's door handle adventure. The doors to the great hall flew open and Hermione stood there.
"Okay, no one is leaving until I find out who cursed the door handle to the potions classroom. You will be hexed so hard your grandchildren will feel it," Hermione said calmly.
The student body froze. Severus looked at her with amused admiration. How many times had he used scare tactics in his class?
"Hermione!" Draco stood up. "Stop scaring everyone would you? I did it, okay? It was meant for Professor Snape," Draco pleaded.
"What?" Severus and Hermione asked out loud at the same time.
Draco hurried across the hall hurried to Hermione.
"I'm really sorry Hermione. Please don't get too mad. I'll make it up to you? What can I do?" Draco pleaded again.
Hermione's anger faded at the sight of Draco's worried face. She glanced around the hall to the waiting faces. She looked to the head table to Severus.
He didn't mean any harm. It was meant as a joke for Severus. Why am I so mad? Hermione thought.
"You meant no harm Draco. Forget it," Hermione said, feeling conflicted.
"Really?" Draco said.
"Yeah," Hermione said. She patted Draco's head and his hair turned pink.
"That color looks quite fetching on you Draco," Hermione quipped. "It will fade by midnight," she said.
The rest of the day passed with the usual pranks. There was an occasional student found running through the corridors nude, an exploding toilet and an illusion on poor Professor Sprout that made it appear that all her precious plants had died. At dinner Hermione felt moody. She didn't eat much and didn't talk to many people.
"Herms, everything alright?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, I just need a good night's sleep," Hermione said half-truthfully.
Later that night Hermione was in the music room, angrily banging away some Bach. She made many mistakes while playing. She snatched some other selections from the folder and found playing them even less easier.
What the hell is wrong with me? she thought frustrated.
Marching back to her room, she flopped down to her desk doing some studying, finding it hard to focus on that too. She heard the fireplace crackle, and Severus stepped through. She slammed her book shut and stood up.
"Something on your mind, my dear?" Severus asked lightly.
"Yes, no," she said.
"Well, which one is it?" Severus asked with a grin.
Hermione said nothing but frowned.
"I just…." Hermione said.
"Anything I can do?" Severus asked running his hands her arms. "I can think of a few things to relax you," he said softly. She pushed his hands off.
"Severus, I don't feel like romance tonight, much less foreplay. Let's just do it now," she declared and started to undress.
"Okay, who are you and what have you done with Hermione?" Severus asked stepping back.
"What? Do I have to spell it out for you? I've had a bad day and I just want to fuck you and go to sleep. Is that alright with you?" Hermione growled.
"No, Hermione. It.is.not. I do not want you this way. I'll return when have sorted out whatever is the matter with you, good evening," Severus said calmly then left, by the door this time. Hermione threw a vase at the door after it closed.
Merlins's robe, she has a temper! Severus mused walking to his room