Warning

This story is not suitable for readers under the age of sixteen. It contains sexual content, including some non-consensual, and may offend some readers. If this subject is offensive to you, please do not read this story.

Chapter 37 – A Lesson in Subterfuge

Snape's warning to Hermione about Baddock's increasing greed was based on a great deal of experience of these matters. The one thing that he could not be sure of, though, was what the greater demands would be. It could be something relatively harmless, such as improved marks for his work (which would likely prove an opportunity for the boy to learn more, anyway – as Snape would have to help him to improve his work, in order to maintain plausibility), or could be something more difficult – such as illegal potions. That would prove more awkward, but he would find a way to work around it, somehow.

But, at the beginning of February, an opportunity presented itself to allow Snape to be the one to steer the direction of the demands to something that would look like a huge task, but would actually be extremely easy to achieve, and benefit Snape as much as the blackmailer. Alistair Baddock, the elder of the brothers, had received rather a poor report from Professor McGonagall, about his Transfiguration project, and Snape, as Head of Slytherin, had agreed to speak to him about his standard of work. It was unusual for the boy to be so lax in his efforts, and Snape felt that his usual brand of severity would give him the kick he needed.

Once talking to the boy, however, he found his approach changing. Whether it was in sympathy for his unhappy mood, or over-compensation for his instinctive desire to throttle the boy who had sent a rose to his beloved Hermione, he wasn't sure, but he found himself using a less harsh tactic. What resulted was a surprisingly frank discussion of the things on the boy's mind, namely an unrequited love for a girl in another house, and a little brother who was driving him up the wall.

Ordinarily, Snape would have been completely at a loss, attempting to give advice to a student on affairs of the heart, but in this case, he felt well qualified to tell the boy that the girl clearly did not merit his attention, being both unappreciative of his romantic gesture, and a non-Slytherin. He should forget her at once, and direct his attentions towards someone more worthy.

The situation regarding the brother was less straightforward, however.

"I don't know what's happened to Malcolm, lately, Sir," Baddock said, miserably. "He's always up to something, and getting into trouble with teachers. He's rude and arrogant – worse than he's ever been before!" The teacher listened patiently to all this. "Father will kill me if he does anything too bad. I'm supposed to be the responsible one, which means I get blamed for anything he does!"

Snape listened with interest. "Well, Mr. Baddock," he began slowly thinking carefully how best to use this to his advantage, "I can appreciate your concerns – I have, lately, been receiving less than favorable reports regarding your brother, from the staff."

There was a pleading look in the boy's eyes, as he addressed the teacher. "I just don't know what to do, Sir. He's becoming obnoxious and uncontrollable."

The Potions Master could not help but give a wry smile at this. "Obnoxious? Yes," he told Baddock, who flinched slightly at this agreement. "Uncontrollable? Not at all." Time for the elder brother to learn some of the skills at which the younger was so adept. "Maybe what Mr. Malcolm Baddock needs is something useful to occupy his time. I may have a solution that would benefit both of us, and the Slytherin House." He gestured to a chair, and the student sat, intrigued and attentive. "Your brother plays Quidditch, does he not?"

"Yes, Sir," Baddock looked down uncomfortably. "But he's not good enough. He was very keen to get on the team, and tried out for Chaser, but didn't make it. Cole said he was useless."

Snape had been aware of this, and suddenly the dislike of Slytherin's Quidditch Captain for Malcolm Baddock became a useful tool. "I saw him play. It was a very close call between Findlay and he, and as you know, Findlay's performance has not been up to scratch so far this year. Cole and I were thinking of making a switch, and your brother may be the ideal replacement. The Captain makes the final decision, but he could be persuaded to give the boy a chance."

Baddock's face began to brighten. "If he were good enough to get on the team, it might keep him out of trouble."

The professor thought this highly unlikely, but merely nodded. "Now, if this is to be effective, it is important that he be made to work hard for it. As you said, he is arrogant – and knowing that the Head of House had personally asked for him would not improve matters." He stared hard at the boy in front of him, who was nodding in uncomfortable agreement. "It is vital that he does not know that I approve this. If your brother thinks he is good enough, he will not bother to work hard, which will benefit neither the boy nor the team."

As Baddock nodded, Snape could not help but be impressed by him. He clearly cared deeply for his brother, but was under no illusions regarding his character and flaws. It was such a difference between them – one considerate, thoughtful and insecure – the other manipulative and over-confident. The elder boy was even romantic (although the thought jarred on Snape's nerves like the sound of nails down a blackboard) towards a girl to whom the younger referred as 'The Mudblood'." Once again, the Head of the Slytherin House was left wondering about the reasons for the Sorting Hat's choices.

"I'll try to convince Malcolm to speak to Cole about a place on the team," Baddock said. "I think it would do him good, and I know how disappointed he was when he didn't get picked."

Snape stood, prompting the boy to do the same. "Very good, Mr. Baddock, but remember – he cannot know that I am in favor of this. He must be made to work hard for it."

"Yes, Sir." Baddock began to leave, but stopped and turned back to the professor. "And – thank you for your advice, Sir."

Snape nodded once. "You may express your thanks, Mr. Baddock," he growled, "by ensuring that Minerva McGonagall never again has cause to complain to me about the standard of your work!"

Alone in his office, the Potions Master thought carefully about how best to approach the subject with the Quidditch Captain, who should be arriving, at Baddock's summons, any moment. Cole, too, would need a lesson in manipulation, if this plan was to work.

An hour later, and the trap was set. All that was needed now was for Malcolm Baddock blindly to walk into it. With a sense of satisfaction, he returned to his work. When it came to games of this kind, patience was definitely one of his virtues.

- - -

Hermione came to Severus that night. He was gentle with her as they made love, afraid, given recent events, of either hurting or frightening her. Holding her tenderly in his arms as they lay together, naked in his bed, he kissed her.

"Hermione, my darling," he whispered into her hair, "you do know that I love you, don't you?"

She turned to him, smiling, but serious. "Yes, Severus. I know. And I love you, more than I could have thought possible" They had spoken the words many times before, but somehow he never felt that he had gotten across to her the full extent of his feelings. How could he ever manage to express what he felt with mere words? And however many times Hermione told him she loved him, it gave him a feeling of absolute comfort and warmth to hear her say the words again.

He stroked her hair as they talked, allowing it to fall through his fingers. He always loved this time that they spent together – talking after making love. They discussed everything from how their day had been, to more serious issues. He told her of his discussions with Alistair Baddock and Nicholas Cole, and his plans for their young blackmailer.

The subject of Quidditch led to talk of Harry and Ron. Their attempt to find the secret passages was going well, and Hermione felt that they were getting close to their goal, although they had not yet found out exactly how to alter the Marauder's Map. However, this was something that Hermione had never discussed with the teacher. It was not really that he would see it as childish – but, somehow, she wanted to keep this between herself, Ron and Harry. Instead, they talked of Harry's Captaincy of the team, and Gryffindor's chances of winning the Quidditch cup. There was still discomfort as they discussed Hermione's friends, but she was relieved to note that her lover could now speak the two names without a snarl or a sneer. It still bothered her to hear him referring to the two by their last names alone, but she told herself not to hope for miracles overnight!

They discussed the upcoming Valentine's Day, and Hermione's unofficial birthday, which would be less than a week later. During her third year, she had kept a close watch on her use of the time-turner, but not so close that she could calculate the time she had gained to the day. She had therefore decided that, as it was approximately seven months, she would use this as the exact figure, and nominate her new birthday as February 18th.

Severus stubbornly refused to discuss plans for her birthday, other than to request her presence in his private rooms at seven o'clock sharp. Giving up on getting any further information on the subject, Hermione suggested a few ideas for Valentine's Day. The Hogwarts grounds would likely be crowded on that particular date, but an invisibility charm would allow them to get away from the throng, for a walk in the moonlight. Still unable completely to master invisibility for herself, they would, once again, be relying on Severus to conceal both of them. Since leaving "Haven", they had had little chance to walk outside together, and Hermione had missed it. They would have to make more time for that, and she looked forward to it. As for her birthday – she had never made much of a fuss about it, either her real or unofficial – but this one seemed different. Whether it was because it would be her eighteenth, or because it would be with Severus, she could not tell, but this time it meant a lot to her. Whatever Severus was planning, she knew she would love it.

Feeling warm and loved, she snuggled into his embrace, and sighed deeply. His skin, naked next to hers, was warm and soft, and she ran her fingers lightly over his chest. The touch had exactly the desired intention, and he tilted her head back to kiss her, before pressing his weight against her and reaching out to stroke her breasts. They were together and in love, and the morning was hours away.

- - -

It took only two days for Snape to see direct results from the plan he had set in motion – earlier even than he had expected.

The door to the classroom was pushed open widely, without a knock – a little drama that Baddock liked to add to his maneuvers – and the blackmailer walked in, smiling confidently. "I need to talk to you," he said immediately, without waiting for the teacher to acknowledge his presence.

Snape kept his eyes on the paper that he was marking, ignoring Baddock until he had finished the page, then looked up. It was a familiar charade, that both had practiced, but it seemed to symbolize the balance of power, and had become almost a ritual for their encounters.

Without responding verbally to the boy's interruption, he sat back in his chair and raised his eyebrows. He had to be careful about how he responded to this. Baddock needed to feel that he had the upper hand, but too much of a display would alert him to the deception. Keeping his face carefully set, he waited for the demand that he knew was coming.

A glow of satisfaction spread through him as the inexperienced blackmailer recited his lines as though they had been scripted for him, exactly as the more experienced deceiver had planned.

"I've decided I want to be on the Slytherin Quidditch team," he said boldly. "You're going to make it happen."

Outwardly, Snape's face expressed carefully hidden shock at being asked for something so impossible, while inwardly, he settled back with a contented smile.