Disclaimer: It's not mine, I just enjoy messing with their lives!
A/N: Hey everyone, I'm sorry this is up late, but I've been under the weather, but don't worry, chapter ten will still be up Sunday. And y'all, thanks for the reviews! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. And for those who asked, yes, I wrote the poem. I'm also glad y'all liked the bit of Ginny/Severus interaction. Also to let you know, this will probably alternate between Severus/Hermione parts, and Percy/Hermione parts, so for those who are squicked out by PW/HG, sorry. They'll be fewer than the HG/SS parts, but there will be some, and as we get farther into the story, there'll be less parts between the two of them, especially once school starts again. The Percy parts will be fewer then too, and more angsty. Poll is still going as to who she ends up with: Percy or Severus. I think Sevvie's in the lead. Or a third choice; should I be completely evil and have both end in flames? Or I could do something like leave it as a cliffie so that you can make up your minds as to who she ends up with. Let me know. Also, this chapter is dedicated to Sweetsyphn for her totally awesome review! Now onto the chapter!
Playing Pretend
Chapter Nine: Musings
The next two weeks passed uneventfully for everyone. Hermione of course, was the busiest out of everyone. She alternated spending time with Percy, and helping out Severus. Ron, Harry, and Ginny spent most of their time playing quidditch. Fred and George also played with them, when not working on more products for their store that is. Luna…well, no one was quite sure what she did, but she could usually be found reading the Quibbler, or talking with one of the many portraits in the house. Luna was perhaps the only one who didn't really care about Hermione's friendship with the evil potions professor. Ron still paled every time Hermione said Severus, so she had to revert back to calling him Professor Snape, at least around Ron.
"Funny," Hermione thought to herself as she absently cut up some shrivelfig for the potion she and Severus were currently working on. "Even though I've called him Professor Snape for six years, and Severus for only a few weeks, it feels so much more natural to use his given name rather than his title. In fact, it feel natural just being around him."
"Ouch!" Hermione hissed. She had accidentally cut her finger while not paying attention.
"What's wrong?" Severus was by her side immediately.
"It's nothing. I wasn't paying attention, and I just cut my finger a bit is all," she tried to assure him, but the fact that tears were beginning to build up and the fact that there was a substantial amount of blood didn't help any.
"I hardly call that a bit," he scoffed, pulling out a handkerchief and wrapping it around her finger tightly before going to get his wand.
"Thank you," she said after he muttered the incantations to stop the bleeding and heal the cut.
"What were you thinking!" he yelled, now that she was all right. "You should know by now not to let your attention wander! In the lab you must stay focused."
"Aw, are you worried about me Sevvie?" Hermione grinned.
"As your teacher don't I have a right to? And don't call me by that foul nickname."
"Of course as a teacher, but I'd hope also as a friend. After all, that's what friends do; take care of each other," she went over to him and gave him a hug. "Admit it, I'm right."
"I suppose," he conceded, standing stiffly as she held him. "I'll finish up the potion, you can go."
"And miss out on spending more time in your lovely company?" she doled out the sarcasm as she pulled back, a very Snape-like smirk on her face at his discomfort. That was exactly why she did it; so that he would become more comfortable with human contact.
"Yes. Your mind is obviously preoccupied," he gave her a pointed look, gesturing to her hand. "Hermione, even though you are my apprentice, and my friend, you do not need to spend so much time in the lab. Go enjoy the day with your friends or with Percy."
"Thanks Sevvie," she kissed his cheek impulsively, touched by his very un-Severus like sentiments, and headed for the door.
"And don't call me Sevvie!" He reprimanded belatedly as she walked out, stunned by the kiss.
It was his first in, Gods, he almost couldn't remember. Years he knew, since his first year as a teacher anyways. The damn annual Christmas party that Albus always forced him to attend. Alcohol had been flowing, and Madam Hooch became rather tipsy and planted an inebriated smooch on his chin. He still had nightmares about it.
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Hermione took his advice and decided to go spend some time outside. She was becoming more like Severus in the sense that she was becoming rather pale from being inside so much. So she went to her room and changed out of her work robe and into some jean shorts and a burgundy halter-top. Pulling her hair into a messy bun, she grabbed her favourite novel and went outside.
"She has emerged from the vapory dungeon!" Fred cried dramatically as the screen door slammed shut behind her, attracting everyone's attention.
"And doesn't she look very hot today Gred?" George put on a radio-announcer like voice.
"Yes she does Forge. That burgundy scrap of cloth looks absolutely ravishing on her," Fred joined in.
"Mione! Where are you wearing!" Ron's ears turned red at her summer attire.
"Ron, it's just clothes," Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "It's hot out here, and I need to get some sun."
"And I think she looks beautiful," Percy came up behind her, dropping a kiss on her shoulder as he hugged her from behind.
"Hey you," she turned in his arms and gave him a kiss, bring catcalls and whistles from the other guys, and protests from Ron.
"What are you up to?" He asked her.
"Just some leisure reading while I get some sun," she smiled, holding up her book.
"A Separate Peace," Percy read the title. "By John Knowles. I'll have to read it sometime."
"It's very good, my favourite."
"Even more than Hogwarts, A History?"
Percy's comment only earned him a smack on the arm with the book before he went inside to change out of his work clothes. She walked over to one of the trees and sat down, leaning back against it as she opened her book and began reading it for the umpteenth time. Percy came back outside not too much later, along with Bill and Charlie to join Harry, Ron, Ginny, and the twins in their quidditch playing. A minute later, the door could be heard slamming shut again, and this time Hermione looked up to see Severus with a basket for collecting some potions ingredients from the corner of the yard that he had previously claimed as his own for planting. She raised a hand in greeting, to which he nodded in return. She tried to go back to her book, but she found herself plagued with more thoughts about the two dominant men in her life; Percy and Severus.
"Percy is so sweet, and good to me. Any girl would be lucky to have him as a boyfriend, and he chose me! He showers me with affection and compliments, and I know he loves me. He's also not scared off by my intelligence, and he doesn't mine listening to me blather on about whatever I've been reading lately," Hermione mused to herself, looking up at her boyfriend. "Not to mention he's pretty cute. Good looks aren't what are important of course, but it doesn't hurt. And I know that he respects the fact that I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about him. Although if I'm being honest with myself, I think I am falling in love with him too. Actually, I don't think, I know I'm beginning to fall in love with him, as he loves me."
"Hermione," Severus broke her thoughts. "I'll see you tonight after supper to continue the potion?"
"Sure Sev," she used a different nickname.
"Must you use a nickname?" He said, irritation mixed with amusement in his voice. "Is there something wrong with my given name?"
"Nope, but it's annoying to yell out three syllables every time I need to get your attention."
"And the four in your name are any better?" He rose an eyebrow.
"I suppose not, but if I'm going to call you Sev, then I suppose you can create a nickname for me," she tilted her head, looking up at him. "The boys call me Mione, but I don't suppose you'd care to use that?"
"Not particularly," he sneered. "It would be another thing I have in common with them. I'll call you Mya I suppose, unless you're opposed to that?"
"Mya, the eldest of the Pleiades, the group of seven stars in the constellation Taurus. The daughters of Atlas and Pleione," Hermione rattled off the bit of Greek/Roman mythology. "Do you really think I'd mind?"
"No, but I figured I'd do you the courtesy of asking, instead of just assuming you'd be all right with it," he gave her a pointed look before heading back inside.
"And Severus. Gods that man is complicated beyond belief," Hermione went back to her musings. "He's like a puzzle, one with quite a few pieces missing. It's like I'm beginning to see the picture, but there's still so much left to know. I can't help but want to figure him out. Not to mention, I like being his friend, as well as his apprentice. I'm learning so much! But I'm also getting to play teacher, in the sense that I'm helping him learn what it's like to have a friend, to open up, to talk, to laugh, to live. She found that she wanted to spend more and more time with him; she enjoyed the conversations they had, or even just the companionable silence they often shared. She knew he could always make her laugh with his caustic sarcasm and mordant humour."
"Hey Mione, you want to join in?" Charlie called out, seeing her sitting there.
"I think I'll just keep reading, but thanks!" She called back. She watched them turn back to their game, and her eyes were immediately drawn to Percy. As she watched him, he seemed to sense that eyes were on him, and turned and sent her a smile before going back to the game. She watched a few more moments before movement in the large window caught her eye. It was Severus, no doubt refilling his coffee mug.
"Is something wrong with me?" she thought as a streak of happiness warmed her. "I'm falling in love with Percy, but then there's Severus. I think I like him, and not just platonically either. I feel so guilty, like I'm betraying Percy, even though I haven't done anything, and wouldn't either. I think I need to go think some more."
Hermione stood up and brushed off her shorts and with a wave to everyone headed back inside to her place of solace; the library. However, when she entered it, she found it wasn't empty.
"Wotcher Hermione!" Nymphadora Tonks greeted her.
"Tonks!" Hermione ran over and gave her a hug. "I thought you were busy doing Order work?"
"Ah, we finished questioning those pigs a while ago, they cracked like walnuts. So Moody-boy told me to come on home while he stayed to wait for aurors to come and collect 'em. How're things going with you? I saw the paper with the lovely photos of you and Percy."
"That's something I'm having a problem with," Hermione said with a sigh, sitting down on the couch next to Tonks. "See, Percy loves me, and I'm falling in love with him."
"Well then, what's the problem?" Tonks asked confused, when Hermione didn't continue.
"I think I'm starting to like someone else," she whispered, the guilt evident in her voice.
"Hermione, love," Tonks put a hand on the younger girl's. "There's nothing wrong with liking someone else. I mean, just because you're dating someone, doesn't mean you're going to be completely immune to how other men look or make you feel. It only becomes an issue when you act on those feelings, and betray your commitment to Percy. So don't worry about it too much. After all, it's probably going to disappear in a few days anyways."
And with that last comment, Tonks gave her a comforting smile before leaving. Hermione watched her go, feeling a little surprised that Tonks could be so serious about something. Mulling over what she had heard, Hermione took great comfort in the fact that what Tonks said was true, and that she wasn't crazy for feeling what she did.
A/N: Okay, that's it. Hope y'all liked it. Not much interaction, but we get into darling Mione's head a bit, and Tonks makes an appearance. As always, review if it suits your fancy.