Poet here again. All the necessary information is in chapter one.
I'd like to thank everyone for the reviews thus far. I appreciate the things you all have said.
Chapter 2
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Before I Knew
By Poet
For some reason that Hermione couldn't quite grasp, the bed she found herself in wasn't her own. Unwilling to open her eyes and allow the harsh sunlight to assault her groggy senses just yet, she tried to ponder her whereabouts. The party was easy enough to remember. Her conversation with Dumbledore and then with Ginny and Harry came clearly into focus as well. But the rest of the night was a blur and she could find no recollection that wasn't fragmented. With defeated sigh Hermione fought to open her eyes, blinking hard to adjust to so much unwelcome brightness.
'Oh what did I drink last night?' she asked herself, moaning softly as her head began pounding. All of the sudden the very angry face of Ron floated through her mind. Then every detail of her missing night flooded her. The shock of it made her recoil, turning her stomach mutinously. Pulling the bed covers aside she looked around for any sign of a bathroom. Her stomach jumped again and she sped through a heavy mahogany door. Luckily it was the right one and Hermione collapsed in front of the toilet.
"Oh Gods, why?" She rested against the stone of the sink, sobbing and weakened by her sickness. Clutching her torn robe tightly around her body, she tried to regain even an ounce of warmth. Everytime she saw Ron's face, or heard his angry voice she shuddered and her chills began anew. Cursing him, calling him every name she could imagine did little to lessen the ache growing in the empty pit of her stomach. In her stupor she didn't hear the door to her unfamiliar chambers open. Or the footsteps passing through the open bathroom door.
"Ms. Granger kindly remove yourself from the floor before you cause yourself more damage." The warm voice of the Headmaster startled her and the old man reached down to pull her gently from the floor. "Come my dear, you are safely at Hogwarts. Among friends." With his hand gently on her elbow, Albus led Hermione back into the bedroom of her chambers. She rested numbly on the edge of her bed, but clarity was rapidly descending. Turning towards the kind features of the man standing before her she spoke quietly.
"How did I get here?"
"How much of last night do you remember Hermione?"Albus did not wish for the girl to relieve her ordeal anymore then necessary, but getting it out in the open would soothe quicker in the end.
"I remember everything. Until I passed out." The frown that settled upon Dumbledore's features nearly brought a fresh wave of tears to her eyes. Biting her lips to restrain then, she felt the wound from last night still there.
"I see. After you lost consciousness, Severus apparated with you to Hogsmeade and then carried you here. These rooms will serve as your chambers whilst you teach here." He added the last almost as an afterthought.
"And Ron?" She couldn't mask the bitterness in her voice as she almost spat the name. Dumbledore grunted softly as he shifted a bit.
"As far as I know Severus left him bound near where he found you. I cannot attest to anything..else. I came straight here when Severus owled me with your whereabouts. I can assure you though Ms. Granger, that Molly Weasely has been informed. As for what she will do, again I cannot attest."
"I see." Hermione didn't say anything, instead she focused hard on the pattern of the duvet she was sitting on.
"I would like to inform you Hermione, that you are within your legal right, if you might be so inclined to take any sort of actions regarding the incident. I'd encourage you to consider it." He stopped when she looked up at him angrily.
"Ron may be a lot of things when he's drunk but he is..was my friend."
"I understand. I am not here to press anything. I just want you to know that there is support for you here, no matter what you decide. I expect Molly will want to speak with you. If you'd rather not, again, it is your choice."
"Thank you Professor Dumbledore. For your kindness. And for the job as well. I didn't thank you last night." Hermione managed a sort of smile, though her lower lip ached. Whether from one of Ron's brutal attempts at a kiss of from biting down hard enough to quell her fear she couldn't remember. 'Maybe both' she managed sardonically. "Is Professor Snape here? I think I owe him my thanks as well."
"Indeed he is. I believe he is brewing in his private lab. Shall I take you?"Albus was pleased at the strength Hermione was showing. A true Gryffindor it would seem.
"No. Thank you Headmaster. I may stop by the kitchens first. I'm famished." She blushed as her stomach growled in agreement and stood up. Walking with Albus to the door she thanked him again and he excused himself. Quickly, she threw on the robe she had worn the night before and dragged her fingers through her hair. Slipping through the door, Hermione made the long journey to the Hogwarts Kitchen, trying to delay the inevitable reminder of the night before.
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The potion was a mind numbingly simple sleeping draught that the hospital required every year. Being Potions Master at Hogwarts did not come without the remedial tasks some apprentice could have completed. That is if they were even half-competent and Severus Snape did indeed accept apprentices. He didn't, and as often attested to by the students he had to tolerate in his class they weren't. 'Always hope for next year eh, even if it is dimming by the moment.' His smile was one of vicious delight as he stirred the contents of the cauldron one last time. 'Defense against the Dark Arts be damned. I'd like nothing more then to brew peacefully for the rest of my life.' This wistful line of thought was horribly cast aside when he heard someone entering through the wards of the outer chamber. 'If that is Albus again I'm going to tell the old man where he can go this time. He asks me to brew potions, yet insists upon interrupting me.' With a sigh Severus removed the heavy cauldron from the fire and then stalked moodily towards the door.
"What do you want?" Pure venom dripped from his voice, but the unexpected appearance of Hermione made the target a very poor one. Inwardly he cringed, outwardly he leveled a cold sneer in her direction. The girl's gaze didn't waver as she met his icy countenance.
"I'm so sorry to disturb you Professor. I merely wanted to thank you for last night." The sarcasm faded from her voice as she ended her sentence. The realization of why she had indeed come shot forward in her mind. Severus could have sworn he saw her lip tremble. No decent man would turn away any woman in such a state after what she had been through the night before. But Severus was tired, moody and hardly what one could consider a normal man. Crossing his arms over his chest he squared his body to face hers and snorted in a derisive manner.
"A word of thanks after saving your hide again? By all means Ms. Granger, if this is the start of a list for all the times I had to intervene to aid you or one of your imbecile friends then I'd be more then happy to accept each and every thanks you wish to say. But if this is merely for reconciling poor judgment on your part last night then I thank you kindly and must insist upon returning to my work." He had caught her unaware, his mood catching up with him as he spoke. For a moment guilt that he was taking it out on her flashed, but the pleasure of her expression outweighed it. He half expected her to run, crying from the room. Never did he expect her to come towards him, anger written plainly upon her face. She stopped a half a pace from him and glared angrily. From such a short distance Severus could see the telltale signs of tears fallen shortly before. 'Shite. You're in for it old man.'
"You bastard." Her voice was a harsh whisper, anger choking all but the lowest sound as she spoke. "You expect gratitude from anyone and you treat them like this? I'm so sorry to have burdened you last night Professor. Thank you for rescuing me once again." He didn't have the chance to respond, mildly stunned that she would be so angry. Pulled from his recollections by the sound of his chamber door slamming hard, he turned and went back to working on the sleeping draught.
'Not only is she insolent. But I have to work with her in a few short months. This is going to be as unbearable as when she was a student. Still...perhaps I could have been kinder.' The vial he was filling shattered in his hand as a sudden wave of anger washed over him. Taking the biggest chunk he could find off of the counter, he turned and hurled it at the door Hermione had passed through moments ago.
"How dare she! The nerve of that girl!" Potion forgotten, Severus paced for a moment. Furiously trying to make up his mind. Knowing that no work would be done with him in the state he was, he stalked once more to the door and stepped into the hall. She could be angry, but no one would talk to him like that. He started walking, intent upon heading off Hermione. He'd sort it out with the insolent brat.
Suddenly the realization of exactly how he had treated her pressed through the angry haze in his mind. Much the way that scum Weasely had behaved and he was ashamed for it. 'Oh Merlin. You're no better Severus. Where you ever better then that drunken idiot? And no, cruelty to a girl who merely offered thanks.' He wouldn't allow this line of thought to continue and he started walking again. Intent on finding Hermione.
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'The nerve of that man. I try to thank him and behaves like...like Ron. ' Hermione stormed down the corridor. Rounding a corner she very nearly stumbled into the Headmaster.
"Hermione, where are you off to in such a hurry?" His voice was full of warmth and made Hermione smile despite herself.
"I'm sorry Professor. I didn't mean to bowl you over. I was just fleeing the wrath of your Potions Master." Albus chuckled softly.
"I see. And what happened to incur it? I thought you were going to thank him. Not berate him?" Hermione couldn't help but wonder how Dumbledore always seemed to know.
"I was merely thanking the man. And he had the nerve to..." She couldn't finish, indignant and angry all over again. Then a thought occurred to her. "Well, I did call him a bastard. That might have done it." Color rose rapidly to her cheeks when she realized she had been more then just a little ungrateful to the man who had indeed saved her countless times. Still, indignancy wouldn't allow the fact that he had begun the fight with his callous manner die down.
"I see. Well, Hermione, I wouldn't fret. Severus is tired. After last night, and all the work he has been doing, brewing for the hospital and for his classes I'm afraid he might be a bit short on patience. Most of that being my fault, he was kind enough to agree to brew the potions Madame Pomphrey will need this year."
"Wait a moment please, last night?"
"Yes,. He brought you here and stayed with you until I could arrive. I believe he administered several healing spells and gave you a calming potion. Then he tended to you until I was able to take over. Madame Pomphrey is out of the country and I was trying to settle the matter of the confusion at the party. I wasn't able to see to you until nearly sun up, but Severus was awake and by your side. I don't believe he has slept."
"Oh no." Hermione was horrified that she had allowed the Potions Master to bait her into an argument. The man was tired, and in the middle of brewing a potion. No wonder he had been irritable. 'And all I had to say was rude and sarcastic.' Sighing softly Hermione looked up at the Headmaster, upset by the news. "I feel so.."
"As I said Hermione. It will pass. Severus is nothing, if not easy to reconcile with, a few cases aside. Now tell me, what are your plans for today?"
"I wanted to ask if it would be all right if I came to stay here until start of term? I know it might seem odd but I don't know if I could stand Grimauld Place right now. With Ron and all..." She trailed off, motioning at some nonexistent point.
"That would be most delightful. Very few of the staff is here during the summer. We would always welcome another soul for company here Hermione. Think nothing of it."
"Thank you Headmaster. You've been more then kind to me. I appreciate it more then you know."
"You're very welcome Hermione. I am proud to have you as a member of this staff. And a part of this school once again. If you wish I can send a house elf to gather your things. Perhaps it would be best?"
"No Professor. That is all right. I need to speak with Harry anyway. I doubt Ron will be there." She sounded dreadfully unsure of the last, but managed to sound hopeful.
"Then perhaps an escort?"
"Who would take me? I don't wish to infringe upon your time anymore Sir and the only other person I know is here is..."
"Ah Severus. Just the man we were discussing." At that moment a figure clad in black robes had turned the corner. Nodding his head in greeting Severus looked warily at the two standing before him.
"And what Headmaster, can I do to be of service once more?" The sneer on his face translated into a slight mocking bow. For some reason Hermione felt her lips twitch upwards in a smile. She banished this notion, reminding herself that there were still things to be worked out.
"Ms. Granger needs to return to Number 12 Grimauld Place and collect her things. She will be staying here until the start of term. It should be a short trip, and I daresay the two of you will be back before nightfall. That is, if it is agreeable for the both of you?" The headmaster's raised eyebrow hinted that refusal wouldn't be acceptable. Both turned to face each other, glares evenly match, amusement masked behind them.
"Ms. Granger?" The gravel of his voice silenced anything she was mustering to say. She smiled instead, friendly, warm, and hopefully a bit surprising to the man before her.
"I don't wish to impose on you Professor, but I wouldn't mind someone to accompany me either."
"Good, it's settled then." With that the Headmaster wished them a pleasant journey and left them to sort the details out. Mustering her resolve, Hermione quirked an eyebrow and gave Severus an appraising look?
"Shall we?"
"Indeed."
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AN: Chapter three will be on shortly if nothing comes up. This chapter kind of seems a bit iffy, not sure on it yet. Let me know what you all think.
Thanks
Poet