Perfect Black
KS Black
DISCLAIMER: ALMOST ALL RECOGNISABLE CHARACTERS ARE THE SOLE INTELLECTUAL AND FISCAL PROPERTY OF JK ROWLING OR SUSSANA KEARSLY.
THE PLOT OF PERFECT BLACK IS THE SOLE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR KS BLACK, AND IS NOT USED TO MAKE A PROFIT, OR ANY SORT OF FINANCIAL CHANGE.
Chapter Two
She let out a breath as she gently opened the window and pulled the lovely thing inside. "Hedwig, what are you doing here?" she asked softly, careful not to alert those sleeping. She examined the white-feathered form as she prepared a bowl of water and found some owl treats. The sudden appearance worried the human though..."Shouldn't you be with Harry?"
The owl shook her head, looking plainly worried even as she submitted to a curious inspection from Crokshanks. She gave off a quiet screech, hopping from her tabletop perch to Hermione's shoulder-neither was sure if it was for reassurance, or merely comfort.
But it was then that the feeling that she had to leave hit her, harder than it had ever done before. She had the strong feeling that her former professor was following her, to what end she didn't want to know. And if he was, well, she was a grown witch, and could take care of herself.
"Besides," she murmured to herself, finding a scrap of parchment, "I've been relying on Harry and Ron to get me out of tough scrapes all my school life. It's time I return the favor." She set her shoulders, writing a brief letter to her older friends before gathering what little she had with her and slipping out the door.
Hermione felt strange not taking Crookshanks, but she knew the cat would be much better off with Remus and Tonks. Besides, she had Hedwig with her, now. And she found it curious-though vaguely-that no one spared her much attention as she stepped on the tube with an owl as her companion. Then again, she didn't want to give these late-night commuters much thought either, huddling deeper into her jumper and fingering her wand nervously.
One man caught her eye, however, as his black boots came into the edge of her vision. She backed away as she looked up, her heart in her throat, to meet steely black eyes over a hawk-like nose, framed by a fringe of greasy-looking black hair.
Severus Snape gave her a small, predatory grin as he shifted in a hard plastic chair closer to her than the end of their car, offering a mocking salute to prove she had been right. She looked away after a few moments, edging closer to the door behind her. Hedwig shifted, glaring at the man as he moved to a seat near where she and Hermione stood. All right miss know it all, what are you going to do now that you're in the field? The girl nervously thought, shooting her lanky ex-professor a furtive glance, swallowing when she found he was watching her calmly.
"Fancy seeing you here," she addressed him, her voice sounding much stronger-and more sarcastic-than she felt.
"Not surprised to see me? How touching," he returned, smirking as she cautiously sat two chairs down from him. "Off to meet your beau?" His eyes flicked to Hedwig, who offered an avian hiss as reply.
Hermione reached a calm hand to the shoulder, on which the owl rested, stroking the soft feathers. "Jealous?" She gave a satisfied smirk as his eyes narrowed, and she continued. "She's merely visiting. But enough games and small talk. What brings you to my end of the world?"
"What brings you out of hiding?"
"Like I was well hidden if you were able to find me that easily-how long have you been following me?"
He scowled, crossing his arms as he watched her. "How long have you been in a mood?"
That just served to spark her annoyance. "If you'll excuse the bluntness, but I've been in a 'mood'-as you so charmingly put it-since the beginning of the week. Not all women go intellectually and emotionally weak during their monthly cycles, I'll have you know-" She growled as her words were cut off by his hand over her mouth, but she backed out of his restraint easily. "Just answer the damned question."
"I am not in the habit of-"
"Just cut it, will you? You can't do anything to me, we're in a public place. There are CCTV cameras all over."
He quietly sat back, examining her as he had so many times in school. "Even then it would still be my word against yours. For all the police know, we could be lovers, having a row." His smile warmed his eyes as he leaned forward. "And I doubt you will go to them. Unless, of course, you want to go back to being watched like a hawk."
"Is it any different from what you've been doing? I caught you, earlier today-twice. You're getting slow and careless."
His smirk was surprising. "Only today? My dear little Gryffindor, I've been watching you for two weeks."
She bristled at his patronizing tone, noting abstractly how the underground train was slowing. "Why?"
"Do I need a reason?" He rolled his eyes as she merely gave him a level glare, then chuckled. "Well, if you must know, my lord was rather curious as to why you were left with only two semi-decent guards while your dear Mister Potter was left with three that were quite loyal. I don't think I need to mention that you are in a city-not quite so hard to find, actually."
The girl nodded, accepting the answer without much question-she didn't have enough time to ask anything else. "Well, as you can see, I am quite on my own now. Which includes yourself-good day, sir." And with that, she shot across the aisle, angling for the open door of the compartment. Hedwig gave a keening screech-sounding rather like a warning siren-as she dug her talons into the thick folds of yarn under her.
She was out in the open before she realized it, on a quiet street. Light glowed warmly to her right, and looking at it, she knew it wasn't quite as late as she thought it was. But steps behind her warned that she couldn't linger, she had to move.
Hermione quietly left the area, going to where her vehicle was parked-a few miles down the road from the station. When she made her bed in the back of the large rover, she was immediately asleep, and dreaming.
So, this is the second part to the first chapter. I have a vague idea of when updates are going to be, now-ever monday (except for the little hiatus between now and the monday after next) and if it's the second part to a two part chapter that'll be posted on wednesdays. Unless, of course, technical difficulties arise, like they did last night. Well, enjoy chapter two, I'll see you in a week and a half. :)