a/n - Again, thank you all for your reviews. I finished this chapter early so I thought I'd go ahead and post it for you! Enjoy!
Chapter 5
Four of the Weasley brothers, Ron among them, had just carried Harry's body through the courtyard when Hermione awoke, sparing her the rest of the reoccurring dream. As soon as she sat up, a terrible pain shot through her neck. She had spent the entire night with her head on the arm of Snape's couch. Resting her head back onto the cool leather caused the pain receded a bit. She couldn't believe that she had fallen asleep. Even though she had slept in the previous morning, the time change must have finally caught up with her.
Listening intently, she could hear only the gurgle of the simmering potion that Snape had replaced on the kitchen table after dinner. The absence of any other sound meant that Snape wasn't yet awake.
Her watch confirmed that it was almost nine, which explained the rich sunlight suffusing the room. For a moment, Hermione considered trying to make coffee, but she didn't know where Snape kept anything. She could conjure some, but culinary spells were not one of her strong suits. Aside from her craving for caffeine, she again felt uneasy in Snape's apartment alone. She decided to wake him, which would suppress her nerves, and then he could make the coffee.
Still slightly dizzy with tiredness, she rose from the couch and stretched the knotted muscles that were protesting her choice of sleeping location. Convinced that no amount of stretching was going to do any good, she started toward the small hallway behind the bookcases.
As soon as she turned the corner, she saw that it did indeed lead into another room. She also noticed a door to the left that sat open. When she saw that it was the bathroom, she opted to make use of it.
Conjuring a toothbrush, she went about her normal morning routine. As she brushed her hair, she thought upon the sincere confession that Snape had made to her. After he had finished the tale, Hermione felt as though she to some extent finally knew the man. The information was damning, but nonetheless, some of the most egregious acts--even murder--can seem inconsequential when you hear the motivation behind them. The fact that Snape had chosen to turn his life around, no matter the consequences, was commendable, and the remorse that was evident in his voice and expression was what had touched her the most. Snape proved that he trusted her, something she had thought him incapable of doing. In that moment, she looked on him as a friend. As she finished taming her mane of curls into a ponytail, she hoped today would not be the end of their spontaneous goodwill.
Upon reentering the hallway, a sudden apprehension rose within her. The few minutes in the bathroom had been sufficient to wake her enough to understand how odd it was to be going into Snape's bedroom. Pushing down the idea, she pressed on. Coffee was worth the trouble, she thought.
As the wall to her left ended, the hallway opened up into a large room with identical windows as the living area, except that these faced north onto the sprawling city. Snape's bed sat against the far wall, and the only other furniture was a walnut wardrobe directly in front of her.
Hermione smiled at the sight of the lump beneath the predictably black covers that was Snape. Crossing the room to the windows, Hermione looked out onto the city with all the people bustling along, and all the cars speeding to some appointment or another. Hermione was glad that she wasn't among the morning rush that day. This vacation had been just what she needed.
A bleary voice interrupted the peaceful moment she was having. "Do you always wander into people's bedrooms while they sleep?"
"No," she said as she turned to face the now conscious Snape.
She saw at once that he was one of those lucky people who didn't appear disheveled in the morning. Besides his voice, nothing but his half-shut eyes implied his recent sleep.
"I didn't know where to find the coffee," she explained.
After stifling a yawn, Snape replied, "I keep it on the counter, in a canister marked coffee, next to the coffee pot. I can see how that could be a difficult mystery to solve."
Grinning, Hermione said, "Then go fetch your damned canister and make me some."
Snape chuckled before saying, "You slept on the couch, remember? I'm not obligated to make you anything."
Her apprehension forgotten as she laughed, Hermione strode to the side of the bed. "I believe I'm your guest, so unless you want me to oblige you by conjuring some horrid black liquid that doesn't even resemble coffee, you will kindly get your ass out of bed."
Smirking, Snape asked, "Do you recall what I told you about being demanding? I was wrong, you're bossy."
As Hermione giggled, she grabbed the edge of the covers and yanked them completely off the bed. To her surprise, he was still dressed in the clothes from the previous day.
Wide-eyed, Snape glanced down at his clothed form before saying, "That could have been embarrassing."
"Embarrassing for whom?" Hermione quipped.
"For you," he answered evenly with a smile as he swung his legs from the bed and stood. "Now, I'm going to go get my--what did you call it--my damned canister and make your infernal coffee. Feel free to join me at your leisure."
As he left the room, Hermione was relieved. She had feared that he might regret their conversation, or some aspect of her presence. However, he still seemed as pleased with her company as she was with his.
Leaving the room shortly after Snape, she could already smell the freshly brewing coffee. Upon entering the living room, she witnessed Snape siphoning off the cauldron he had prepared the day before and placing the potion into various bottles.
"Do you need any help?" she asked as she arrived at his side.
"No," he muttered as he waved his wand. The filled bottles went speeding into a kitchen cabinet while another speedy flick scrubbed the cauldron and replaced it under the sink in record time.
"What was that stuff anyway?" she inquired.
"A potion," Snape answered slowly.
"Really," Hermione scoffed. "I would have never known." Pausing a moment to laugh, she added, "Are you working on commission or something?"
"Something like that," Snape replied softly as he walked away from her to the kitchen counter.
Under the thick scent of the coffee, Hermione could smell the faintest odor of sulfur in the air. It reminded her of a patient she treated some time ago. The man had been under the influence of some potion that he had been carrying in a hair tonic bottle. Though the bottle had been nearly empty, the orange, pasty substance that remained had the same unique odor of sulfur.
"For the love of Merlin," Hermione sighed as she grasped what the cauldron may have contained. "Tell me that's not Fecund."
His back still to her, Snape didn't respond. That answered her question adequately.
"Why are you brewing Fecund Elixir?" she asked in disbelief.
Snape picked up the two mugs he had just poured and headed to the couch without meeting her eyes. She followed.
"Don't avoid the question," she demanded.
He still failed to answer, instead summoning a table from across the room to set the cups on before falling onto the couch.
"You aren't taking it, are you?" she asked ardently as she stood over him.
"Of course not," he answered stridently, finally looking up at her. The expression of disgust on his face scared her for a second.
"Then why are you making it?" she asked before answering herself. "You're selling it, aren't you?"
Snape's sigh and failure to answer again was all she needed to know. "Do you know what that does to people?" she asked him.
"Will you stop the inquisition?" he requested loudly, his voice impatient. "I know, trust me."
"This wasn't the way to go about making some money," she scolded.
"I know that as well," Snape said quietly. "Will you stop, if for just a moment?"
Hermione saw his demeanor alter as it had the previous night. He looked drained, and obviously not proud of what he was doing. Settling on the couch next to him with a sigh, she took her cup and a long sip.
"I'm surprised at you is all," she said at last. "I didn't expect that of you."
"What was I to do," he asked very softly, "starve?" He was staring back at the windows as he had the previous day.
Hermione shook her head. "I understand you think you don't have a choice, but you do. Please tell me you aren't going to do that anymore."
"I have to live," Snape replied, though he still would not meet her eyes.
"Of course you do," Hermione said, setting down her cup and turning her whole body toward him. "You're coming to work with me, remember? I'll help you pay up the rent on this place for a few months and--"
Snape interrupted, "I'm not a charity."
"Call it an advance," she said. "Call it what you will, as long as you don't piss away your genius and call it necessity."
"Genius," Snape barely whispered while he shook his head.
"Yes, genius, and I stand by it. Don't tell me you didn't already know that. You are the only potions expert I've ever met who can actually give credibility to the term expert and I count you among the most powerful wizards I've ever known." She took a deep breath before finishing her statement, "All that considered, I ask you not to let your pride--"
Again, Snape interrupted. Swiftly, he turned his penetrating gaze onto her, his face mere inches from hers. "What do you know of my pride?" he asked assertively.
His eyes were alight with excitement, breaking her focus for a moment. The eyes that appeared black were actually the darkest brown with a thick halo of black around the edge.
She was resisting the urge to sway into him when she answered, "I know you're proud, and I know you aren't stupid, except you're doing a fine job of pretending at the moment."
"You expect me to just allow you to pay my way," said Snape heatedly as he leaned in a bit closer. He was so near that she could see nothing more than his rousing eyes.
Her face becoming warm, her breathing thin, she tried to concentrate. "I expect you to earn your keep," she said, her voice hushed.
"By saving Potter's life," Snape whispered.
"By giving it a shot," Hermione whispered back.
He was so very close now, enveloping her in his unblinking stare. As quickly as it began, it ended when Snape abruptly stood, leaving Hermione reeling.
"And if I accept," he said steadily, "what then? Am I indebted for the rest of my days?"
"No," she said quickly, thankful that his back was to her as she closed her eyes to think. "Consider it a loan--I really don't care what you consider it--as long as you just take the money. If you don't, you're a damn fool." She cringed. Her voice had become more forceful than she intended.
He turned his head slowly, looking down at her, and she had never before seen that look on his face. She couldn't tell if he was about to shout or weep.
"Sorry," she said, but again he interrupted her before she could continue.
"Don't be," he said deliberately, his voice even deeper than usual. "I earned that."
Sitting back down next to her, he took back his cup. As he stared into it he said, "Fine."
"Fine what, you'll take the money or stop selling?" she asked
"Both," he nearly whispered, adding, "You can be very persuasive when you start name-calling."
"You gave me no choice," she said. She smiled when she added, "I thought for a moment I was going to have to dangle you out the window to get my way."
"I wouldn't have given in so soon if I'd known," Snape said with a smirk.
Confident that Snape wasn't angry with her, Hermione said, "Now that we've settled that, I'll be back in about an hour, and then we can go."
"Go where?" Snape asked with a smile.
"You still haven't shown me the city," she explained. "Did you think you were off the hook that easy?"
Chuckling, Snape said, "Allow me a few minutes and I'll go with you. We can leave from your hotel instead."
"Hurry up then," replied Hermione.
Snape left for the bedroom, leaving Hermione to reflect on the oddly hectic morning. She wasn't so much disappointed with Snape as she was relieved that she arrived when she did. Things would have been much more difficult if she had found him languishing in an American wizarding prison for selling illegal potions. The most difficult part of the current situation appeared to be her feelings, which were becoming increasingly bewildering.
In no time at all, Snape returned wearing a fresh pair of dark blue jeans and a flaxen-colored button down shirt. His hair was wet again. He looked even better than he had yesterday morning, Hermione thought, as she blatantly stared.
His brow lined, Snape asked, "Do I look that awful?"
"Did you take a shower?" she asked, ignoring his silly question.
"A quick one, why?" he looked thoroughly mystified.
"No reason," she said, before clearing her throat. "You look…fine."
Still starting at her with visible uncertainty, Snape asked, "Shall we go then?"
"Yes," Hermione said with a smile, "after you."
As he led the way, she was again pleased with his choice of trousers. He should wear those particular jeans more often, she thought.
>
Walking to Hermione's hotel, they stopped at the café for two large coffees. The quiet journey allowed Snape to settle from the upheaval of the morning.
He had intended on having the elixir bottled and gone before Hermione came into the room, and he would have if he hadn't started the coffee first. Two days ago, if she had questioned him like that, he would have yelled. He would have told her to mind her own business. Then again, two days ago he wouldn't have imagined waking up with her standing at his bedside. As frustrating as it was, her opinion mattered to him now, no matter now much it pained him to admit.
When they entered the hotel lobby, Snape said, "I'll wait for you here."
"Why?" she asked.
Snape replied, "It would not be proper for me to be in you room while you change."
Hermione laughed, "Nonsense, I'll be in the bathroom, and I take longer than your three and a half minutes to get ready."
Still ill at ease about the idea, Snape conceded. Riding the elevator to the fourth floor, Snape followed her to her room.
"This still doesn't seem right," Snape said as Hermione slid the keycard through the lock.
"What's the big deal?" Hermione scoffed, pushing open the door. "I slept on your--Ron!"
"What?" Snape asked in confusion. The next voice to speak qualified Hermione statement.
"It's about time. Where have you been?" an irritated voice asked from inside the room.
By the time Snape heard the voice, it was too late. He had already taken a step into the room before looking up to see Ron Weasley standing in the middle of the room.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked in an oddly high-pitched voice.
"Apparently catching you in the act," Ron said icily, nodding his head toward Snape.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. "I just met him for coffee this morning, and I was coming back for some money before we went to the Riverwalk."
Impressed by her proficient lie, Snape found that he was suppressing a smirk.
Ron gave a humorless laugh before saying heatedly, "I might have believed that, but I've been here since last night. Do you want to try again?"
Grimacing inwardly, Snape glanced down to see Hermione dumbfounded with one hand on top of her head.
"She fell asleep at my apartment," Snape explained as calmly as possible. "She was on the sofa, it was late, and I didn't want to wake her. Nothing inappropriate occurred."
Ron turned his scarlet face to Snape. The anger in the boy's eyes was apparent, although unnecessary.
"I don't want to talk to you," Ron hissed. "I want to hear what Hermione has to say for herself."
"That's the truth Ron," Hermione said quickly.
"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Ron scoffed. "Maybe you'd like to go back to the other lie, I liked that one better."
"It is the truth, whether or not you choose to accept it," Snape said firmly.
"Don't patronize me," Ron shouted at Snape. "I can see perfectly well what's going on, and that neither of you are going to be honest about it."
"Perhaps you should look a bit closer then," Snape replied as unemotionally as he could.
Ron huffed toward the door.
"Ron," Hermione said loudly, stepping in front of him. She put her arms out, but he turned away from her and stared at the door.
Sighing deeply, Hermione was pleading, "I don't know what to say to make you believe me, but that is what happened. I fell asleep, nothing else happened, I swear."
"I can't talk to you right now," Ron said coldly. "I need to think about this. We'll talk about it when you get home tomorrow, and he better not be with you when you finally show up there."
After his statement, Ron swept from the room, slamming the door forcefully behind him. Hermione gawked at the now closed door. Left at a loss, Snape watched Hermione slouch onto the edge of the bed with her face in her hands. Deciding that he couldn't look on forever, Snape walked slowly to her side and sat next to her.
"I'll teach him Legilimency if you want, so he will know that you are telling the truth," he said.
Giggling gently, Hermione looked up, tears welling in her coppery eyes. "Thank you," she said, "that's sweet, but I doubt he'd be receptive."
"Probably not," Snape replied, trying to smile comfortingly.
Peering up at him with her eyes lustrous with near falling tears, she said, "I think I should go home now."
Disappointed at the news, Snape nodded while he curbed the emotion.
Hermione summoned her bag from across the room and started digging through it. "Here," she said, handing him a thick envelope, "this should be more than enough to pay your rent up for a while and whatever else you need to do before you leave."
Snape was speechless. His recent experience with muggle money told him that he was holding a substantial amount.
"Are you going to travel today, or tomorrow?" she asked him.
"I hadn't thought about it yet," he answered. "Are you sure that you still want me to follow you in view of Mr. Weasley's tantrum?"
She giggled softly, "Harry doesn't have time for our drama. Who knows when Ron will get over this?" Standing, she headed for the bathroom. "I am sorry plans have changed again. If you want to wait, I'll only be a little while."
Snape nodded, "I should have waited in the lobby."
Hermione smirked, the tears still holding their ground, "That wouldn't have made any difference." Pausing to wipe her eyes again, her voice fading into whisper, she added, "You'll still be here then?"
"I'll still be here," Snape replied.
"Good," she said as she vanished behind the door.
Hoping she wasn't crying silently on the other side, Snape sat on the edge of the bed regretting not waking Hermione the previous night. That one action could have saved her the heartache of the confrontation and the argument that was sure to follow as soon as she returned home.
As the time drew on, he counted the money in the envelope, which turned out to contain more than five thousand US dollars, more money than he had possessed in years. The question of how he was going to pay her back was already circling in his mind.
Half an hour passed before Hermione emerged from the bathroom. Pale green robes emphasized her imminent return to London, but they could not distract from her red and swollen eyes. As Snape watched her bustle about the room collecting her things, he was aware of a mounting regret.
"Have you decided when you'll come to London?" she asked as she zipped up her bag and reduced it for travel.
"Tomorrow," Snape said simply.
"I'll be at the hospital at noon," she informed him. "Meet me there and we'll figure out the other arrangements then."
Snape nodded as he stood.
"That's it, I guess," she said as Snape joined her at the door. "Will that be enough to take care of your expenses?"
"More than," Snape answered. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she replied with a pathetic smile.
Snape followed her down to the street and directed her to a secure alley.
"I'm sorry your plans for New Orleans didn't work out," Snape said as they reached the Apparition point.
"I had fun anyway," she said softly.
Snape merely chuckled, unable to say that he too had enjoyed her visit.
Hermione took a few tentative steps away before turning back, "I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Noon," Snape replied as he tried to place the empty feeling creeping into his stomach.
"London is still six hours ahead," said Hermione lightly.
Snape laughed quietly, "I am aware."
"Oh, hell," Hermione sighed, walking purposefully toward him. Putting her arms around his neck, she whispered, "Bye."
"Good bye," Snape replied as he patted one hand gently against her back. This time the hug wasn't so much daunting as it was a nice surprise.
Quickly drawing away, Hermione returned to the shadow of the building to Disapperate. She smiled shyly and waved before disappearing with a tiny pop.
As soon as she vanished, the emptiness that had been creeping moved in more vehemently. This was a different kind of emptiness than before, more tangible. Snape groaned wearily as he realized at once that he missed her.