Disclaimer: This story is not mine. I wish it was, but it isn't. Thanks so much to Sevati and Mellyness for answering my question about Awakening of a Royal. I'll be sure to check it out, it seems interesting.
I plan on making this chapter pretty long.
Chapter Five
Looking back, I honestly wonder why I even joined the Quidditch team. It was rather fun to play, and a good way to let off steam, but it wasn't something I planned on doing with my life. Not that I had the talent for it. I was an adequate player, nothing more. If anyone else had tried out for the Chaser postion, they probably would have gotten it. I probably would have given it up happily and even a little bit gratefully. As it was, nobody else tried out, so I got the position.
"It seems we're going to have Quidditch practice in the rain." Zac commented, sipping the hot chocolate he got from a house elf. The sky outside was a dark gray color, and the rain pounded on the windows. I loved days like this. It made me want to curl up in front of a fire and just read. Today, I planned on doing just that. Jon, Shannon, and Julie were going to join me. Zac, Mike, and Tabbywell who knows what they're going to do? Most likely get into mischief, and get a detention.
"Joy. Freezing cold rain, lots of wind, hard to see." I was sitting in the window seat, staring outside. I had been up for an hour, and was eating breakfast in the common room. Although it wasn't encouraged, you weren't required to eat in the Great Hall for meals. Sometimes my friends and I would eat in the common room, or up in my room. The Prefects had their own rooms. They weren't large or very decorative (at least, until I put up some pictures and filled the bookcase up), but they were private and comfortable.
"Well, you can just come back to the common room, change, and set by the fire with a good book." Jon said, looking up and meeting my eyes. I smiled back at him, and stood up.
"I think that I just might go to the Great Hall. I don't want those Hogwarts students thinking that I'm afraid."
"Dahling, that's sooo brave of you." I snorted at Jon's attempt at a snobby, uptight, rich woman's voice, and jumped the stairs two at a time. Today might not be so bad. I got all my homework done the night before (for once), I was going to find out if anything was up with Septimus, and I finally get to start that book I borrowed from Septimus. All in all, today wasn't shaping up to be too bad.
I slipped my shoes on, and searched for my backpack. Where the hell did I leave it? Under the bed...no...in the closet...no...I pushed my door closed, and there it was, sitting next to my desk, hidden by the door. I grumbled softly to myself while stuffing my homework from my desk into the bag.
"Stupid backpack...never where I left it...don't know why I have it...stupid..." I sighed and stood up. My eyes sweeped the room, looking for anything I might have missed. Nodding in satisfaction that I had everything, I opened my door and walked to the common room. My friends were all gathered around the fire, waiting for me.
"Let's go, peoples! I'm hungry, and I want to see Septimus." They nodded their agreement and headed out the commone room. I walked behind them all, taking in the life at Aries. People were roaming around, and here and there were Hogwarts students talking to Aries students. People were copying homework, yelling, fighting, and some were just standing. A slow, bright smile spread across my face as I took it all in. This is home. My home.
I bumped into someone as I watched two kids show off their pet somethings. I couldn't tell what was in the box from where I was walking by, but from the reactions of the other students it was something worth seeing. Of course, what I thought worth seeing and what first, second, and third year students thought were worth seeing were two different things.
I looked up to apologize and looked into an angry pair of bright green eyes. I took a step back, looked up into his face, and tilted my chin in defiance. I looked past Potter and noted that McGonagall, Dumbledore, Snape, and Lupin were all heading my way. Weasley was nowhere to be seen. I pasted a sneer on my face and turned my gaze back to Potter.
"Excuse me, you grace, I didn't mean to bump into you. A complete accident, I assure you." Potter smirked, or at least tried to, but it looked more like a grimace.
"That's fine, Granger. As long as you don't touch me again." He leaned closer, close enough to feel his hot breath on my face. "I don't need your filth on my robes. They're dirty enough from this godforsaken castle." At that point, the four teachers had reached us. Potter put a (insincere) look of politeness on his face.
"Good morning, Miss Granger. How are you?" Dumbledore tried to sound his normal grandfatherly self, but there was an edge not normally present in his voice. I smiled in a sickening-sweet way.
"Good morning to you too, Professor. How are you this fine morning?"
"Good, good. Everything's alright, I hope? No trouble or anything?" The old man's eyes darted toward Potter and back to me. I snorted, and rolled my eyes. Who cares if they saw?
"Everythings peacy with a side of keen. Potter-I mean Harry-" Hear I sneered again, my eyes moving from the teachers to Potter. "and I were just having a friendly chat. I was apologizing for daring to actually touch him, and he was commenting on how I was filth. It was all very nice, pleasant, and interesting. Potter said words that I didn't think he could say, let alone knew. Like godforsaken. Such a big, big word. I was mildly afraid his brain would over heat from overuse. Oops, I meant Harry." I moved my gaze to the teachers. Lupin and McGonagall looked furious, Snape was watching me with an unreadable look, and Dumbledore looked rather angry himself. Potter looked slightly nervous, as though he was worried he'd be punished. It didn't stop him from looking ready to kill me though. I grinned again, in an insane way, and bowed low, like a House Elf would.
"Sorry to detain you all. I'll just go torture some students, drink blood, and kiss Moldy Voldy's ugly ass. All in a days work, I'd say." I stalked around Potter, and was just going by Dumbledore when he reached out and grabbed my arm in a firm grip. I looked down at the hand on my arm, and slowly raised my eyes to Dumbledore's face. I jerked my arm away and took a step closer.
"You have no right, no right at all to touch me. Don't ever touch me again!" I snapped. Who the hell does that asshole think he is? Grabbing my arm...I could get him removed from his post for that! I glared at Dumbledore with all the vengence, angry, and hate I felt towards the man. He dropped my arm quickly, and straightened.
"I just wish to remind you not to say that name in public. It's not good for the school if students walk around talking freely about Voldemort. You never know who might overhear you." I let his words hang between us for a moment, before I answered.
"Was it not you, who said that fear of a name increases the fear itself? Or something to that effect? I'd think you of all people would be happy to hear someone willing to say Voldemort's name." Dumbledore opened his mouth to answer, when a silky, familiar voice interuppted.
"Is there a problem?" I turned to see Septimus walking towards us, parting the crowds like Moses and the Red Sea. I had to hide my smile by biting my cheek. Even the Hogwarts students avoided Septimus.
"Of course not Professor. We were having a friendly chat." He raised an eyebrow.
"Friendly? It didn't look friendly to me. It looked downright tense." He moved his eyes from where Dumbledore, Snape, Harry, McGonagall, and Lupin were standing to me. He searched my eyes for a clue as to the nature of our conversation. I allowed, briefly, for the mask to fall away and let him see the angry, pain, and hate. I blinked and my mask was in place again, face unreadable. He turned towards the others, eyes blazing.
"I told the students yesterday to leave Miss Granger alone. Obviously I was wrong to assume that the teachers would be mature and smart enough to do the same. I'll say it one more time, in case you didn't understand the first time. Leave. Miss. Granger. Alone."
Snape stepped forward, his eyes flitting from me to Septimus. He studied Septimus for a minute before speaking.
"We came upon Miss Granger and Mr. Potter talking. Miss Granger said it was a friendly conversation, and then Miss Granger made some inappropriate comments. Headmaster Dumbledore reprimanded her just before you happened along."
Septimus snorted. "More like Potter insulted Miss Granger, she defended herself, and you all, being the ass kissers you are to the Boy-Who-Lived, lapped up his story. What I want to see is you all kiss Mr. Potter's boots. I'd say that you're not far from it now." Dumbledore, at this point, was livid, and he stepped forward, and spoke in a voice I'd never heard before.
"Septimus, that is enough! I have never heard you speak this disrespectful before! The girl is obviously effecting you-" Septimus was livid as well at this point. He was practically shaking with rage.
"No, you listen to me! She has not effected me. She's done nothing to me. She's been more of a friend to me than any of you have my whole life. I will not tolerate you speaking of her in this manner." I couldn't just stand by and let Septimus talk like that to his boss. I didn't know what Dumbledore would do to him when they were alone. He could simply cast him off. And then what would happen if Septimus got accused of being a Death Eater? No one would protect him. I put my hand on Septimus' arm, and touched his face, turning his face towards mine. When he was looking at me, I dropped my hand back to my side.
"Don't. Don't do something you might regret." I lowered my voice to a whisper. "Spying means so much to you, and I do not want to be the reason you stop. If...if you n-need to s-stop being my f-friend and mentor, I'll gladly l-let you go. D-don't do this because of me." I willed myself not to cry, but I couldn't keep the tremble completely from my voice. The halls were emptying out now, as most students were in the Great Hall. Three students were at the end of the hall, backs facing us.
"Oh, Hermione. You stupid, daft girl." Ignoring the others, he leaned over and hugged me, pulling me towards him. "I'm doing this because I believe that this is the right thing to do. Your my best friend, and I won't stand for my best friend being slandered. Besides, if I don't spy, then I have more free time to research potions. I haven't been able to do that for a long, long time." I sniffled into his chest, and then had to grin. Trust Septimus to bring Potions into this. I pulled back and grinned up at him, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. He handed me a hankerchief, and I wiped my nose with it. I handed it back to him, and he grinned. I glanced over at Dumbledore and Co., and they all seemed to be trying to close their open mouths. They looked like they just saw Voldemort tap dance in a leotard. I turned back to Septimus and smiled up at him.
"Merlin's balls, 'Mia, you look like a raccoon with you make-up smeared like that!" I laughed and punched his arm playfully.
"Gee, thanks. Some friend you are." I glanced behind him and saw Professor Fields coming out way. The light shown on her hair, giving her a halo look. Her lips were turned up slighty in a grin, and her eyes sparkled. I grinned even wider.
"Hey, look Septimus. Your woman is coming this way." Septimus whipped around, and gulped audibly when he saw Fields. She stopped in front of him and looked up into his face.
"Professor Carce. I've been looking for you." I made a soft "oooooo" sound behind Septimus, and he kicked his leg out backwards, hitting my shin. I grimaced from the pain, and met Fields eyes. I rolled my eyes and sighed. She grinned in response, and returned her attention to Septimus.
"I need your help with a Potion. It needs to be done by tomorrow morning. May I use your lab tonight to prepare it? Would you help me with it, too, please? I'd like to make sure there's a Potions Lab to return to." Septimus couldn't resist her making eyes at him. I snorted in amusement, which earned me another kick to the other shin.
"Of course. I'll see you then." She nodded in thanks, and walked by. She nodded in acknowledgement to Dumbledore and the others. In their plain view, she gave me the thumbs up sign, and a high five. Septimus then turned around and watched her walk away.
"OOOO, Septimus, you have a date! Maybe this time something will actually happen." I raised an eyebrow at him. He raised one in response. In his silkiest voice, he replied.
"Has your hearing gone bad? She never said 'date'. It's just two collegues A/N: That's spelled wrong...I know it is) working together on a potion." I smiled back wickedly.
"Isn't that what you said the last time? And do you remember what happened last time? She's obviously interested, and you keep ignoring all the signs, and all thats happened. And you call me daft."
"Last time was an accident."
"An accident, huh? So you just fell forward, on top of her, and your mouths just happened to touch, and you tongue accidently slipped into her mouth? My my, how unfortunate. A terrible accident, to be sure." A faint flush was spreading across Septimus' cheeks. He pressed his lips together and looked out the window. I decided to take pity on him.
"When you 'accidentally" fell on top of her and kissed her, I didn't hear her complain. At all. The only time I heard her complain was when you got off her." His eyes cut towards mine and he stepped forward. He glanced to the left, at the others, and must have decided he wanted to know bad enough to ask in front of them. That, and they would learn we weren't sleeping together because he like someone else. Which was good.
"Do you really think that she's interested?"
"Completely. She's smitten. She's fallen to the Carce charm." I sighed. I still needed breakfast. "I've got to go. I need to eat, and I'm sure my friends want to know where I'm at." I smiled at Septimus. "I would wish you a good day (and night) Professor Carce, but I have the feeling that you will no matter what I say." Septimus smiled slightly before nodding.
"Good day, Miss Granger." I grinned and jogged down the hall toward the Great Hall, ignoring the other people. My stomach grumbled, and I rubbed it absently. Maybe this year wont be so bad. It hasn't been completely horrible so far.
Classes were, in one word, hell. The Hogwarts students were generally well behaved. Except for the Gryffindors. You would think the Slytherins would be the mis-behaving ones, but no, the immature asswipes that were Gryffindors were. When I answered a question, gave a presentation, or gave my opinion, I recieve rude comments and gestures from the Gryffindors. The Hufflepuffs simply ignored me, and the Ravenclaws gave me hateful looks. The Slytherins seemed to take a liking to me, because they treated me as well as a Slytherin treats anyone.
I collapsed into the chair before Septimus' desk. I was tired, and I still had Quidditch practice to go to. I sighed and leaned forward to see what Septimus was writing. Turning my head to the right so I could see better, I saw the words "Professor Fields, unable to make the appointment, please pardon me'. I stood up and ripped the paper off his desk and crumpled it up and threw it into the garbage.
"What the hell do you think you doing?" Septimus sounded calm, but knowing him as well as I did, I could hear the panic in his voice. I sat down and crossed my arms across my chest.
"Why the hell are you skipping out on tonight? She needs you help."
"I do not want an occurance to happen like the previous one. I think your mistaken in you notions of Professor Fields feelings for me." I snorted at that, and shook my head. God, he can be so stupid.
I stated my thought out loud. He glared at me, but slumped into his seat.
"Look, I've seen the way she acts around you. I've seen her when she's not around you. She seems to light up like a Christmas tree when you around. She seems more happy, full of life." I grimaced at the things I was saying. They sounded rather cliche. "She looks like nothing could make her happier. And she gets that idiotic lovestruck look on her face when she stares at you. Which is often. If it were me, I'd be a little uncomfortable being stared at that much. But what can I say." I noticed that Septimus still didn't look convinced so I stood up and walked around the desk, kneeled down, and hugged him. He slipped his arms around me and hugged me back.
"There's no reason to get nervous. No reason to think she doesn't like you. There's no reason for any negative feelings."
He nodded and, after a moment, pushed me away. One thing about Septimus, he doesn't like too much contact. I don't know the full extent of his childhood, but what I do know makes me want to kill his parents. They ignored him, giving him whatever he wanted and then acting like he didn't exist. They never took him out, so he never played with children his own age. House-Elves were his company. When his parents did notice him, it was to criticize and beat him. So he grew up without affection and loving contact. Hence his feelings in that area. I smiled at him and walked around to my backpack, which was leaning by the door.
"I'll forgo the daily meeting today. You seem like you need some time to think. I'll let myself out." On an impulse, I quickly walked back around his desk, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. I straightened up, nodded once again, and left the room, leaving Septimus looking at me oddly.
I kept a fast pace even as I left the dungeons and reached the upper levels. I practically ran down the hall. I was just turning a corner when I ran into something solid and warm. I hit the thing so hard that it tumbled backwards, with me landing on top. My head struck it's center, and I groaned. I was going to have a hell of a headache. I sat up slowly, and looked down at what I had run into. Lying underneath me was Snape. His elegant hands were rubbing the back of his head where it struck the stone, eyes closed. His lips were twisted into a grimace. He snapped open his eyes and glared menacingly up at me.
"What the bloody hell were you doing, barreling down the hall like a madwoman?" He snarled, trying to sit up and failing because I was still sitting on his chest. A purely evil idea came to me, and I smiled seductively. I leaned forward and brushed a piece of stray hair from his forhead. His eyes widened slightly.
"I was barreling down the hallway with the hope of running into you, my dear professor." I said this with as much of a low, husky voice as I could produce. Something flashed in his eyes, and his face twitched before becoming stone-like again. He glared at me once again.
"Well, now that you've managed to do just that, as well as give me a concussion, would you mind terribly to get off me!" I smiled again. My plan was working. There was an edge to his voice that normally wasn't there. I leaned down, my face inches from his. I met his dark eyes (which would actually be gorgeous if not filled with cold malice and hate), and moved my face closer. Our lips were practically touching by now.
"What if I don't want to get off? What if I'm comfortable sitting on top of you, Professor? What then?" As my lips moved, they were centimeters from touching his. His eyes widened once again, but this time he couldn't conceal his shock. His mouth fell open, and I could smell his breath. It smelled (surprisingly) of breath mints and chocolate. His mouth snapped shut before I could comment. Another idea occured to me. I brushed my lips softly against his. I pressed my forehead against his silently. I reached up and touched his face, smiling sweetly. I moved my fingers from his cheek to his lips, which I brushed gently. Then I slowly stood up, smiled sweetly at him, and walked down the hall. I never turned back. As I turned the corner, a smile broke out on my lips. Merlin, the look on his face!
SNAPE'S POV
The girl leaned forward and brushed her lips against mine. It was so soft that I wasn't completely sure it had happened. She pressed her forehead against mine, and stayed that way for what seemed an eternity. Then the girl stood up, smiled, and walked away. She never looked back.
I'm not sure how long I stood there, staring down the hallway. It must have been awhile because Albus, Minerva, and Lupin found me there. They had been at a meeting with the Headmaster, which I had chosen not to go to. Do they go eveywhere together? Do everything together? That caused a truly disturbing picture, and I pushed the thought of the three of them in bed out of my head. I would rather face the Dark Lord than see that again. Some of my lingering discomfert must have shown on my face, because Albus inquired if something was wrong.
"I ran into the Granger girl." Albus' eyes narrowed. He seemed to know there was more to it than that.
"She...she made some rather inappropriate comments, and then..." I trailed off, unable to continue. The girl had kissed me! Me, the greasy bat of the dungeons. What on earth had she been thinking? Or had she been thinking? Dear God, she didn't have a crush on me, did she? I didn't know whether to be flattered (even if she was a traitor, she was pretty), or horrified.
"What'd she say Severus? What'd she do?" Lupin's tired voice broke into my thoughts. I blinked, once, twice, and then grimaced. I licked my lips. My hesitation seemed to interest them more.
"Well? What did she do?" Minerva asked impatiently.
"She commented that she liked to...er...be on top of me. And then she kissed me." They were staring at me like I was crazy. I scowled fiercly. Sure, it was shocking that she kissed me, but Merlin's balls! It wasn't earth shattering. I've had girls that had a crush on me before. Slytherin girls for the most part. Albus was the one that recovered first.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
So I told them the whole story. I omitted nothing. There faces changed from disbelief, to amusement, to speculative. Lupin and Minerva seemed to be trying to hold their laughter in. Albus had that damned twinkle in his eye. It seemed that no matter what happened to me, he seemed to find humor in it. Like the time Voldemort had announced that I was his favorite toy. Albus seemed to find it amusing that I would read to the Dark Lord. It wasn't so funny when he made me read things about torture. Or death. Or pain.
"Well, my boy, it seems Miss Granger has a crush on you." I sighed. Just what I needed.
"I'm not entirely sure about that, Albus. The girl might have just wanted to mess with me." At least, that's what I hoped it was. I thought back to Potions class. She had sat in the corner farthest from the door, surrounded by her friends. She had been totally confident in her Potions ability. She had laughed softly and talked while completing the necessary steps in making the potion. Potions usually required complete attentionwhich led to the thought that she had made the potion before, or had memorized the order of ingredients. I noted that at one point, Septimus had stopped next to her desk and had said something to her. She had nodded before going back to work. I wonder what that was about...
I again thought about her apperance. Gone were the days of bushy hair and overlarge teeth. She had turned out rather well formed. No more adolecense awkwardness. She had a woman's body. She was confident, friendly (if you weren't from Hogwarts), and smart. She no long flaunted her knowledge however. She was a teachers dream. Hardworking, quiet, determined, and smart. Not to mention the way her skirts showed off her long, tan legs. Those pouty lips, large cinnamon eyes, her tight little arse, and the way her shirt had outlined her breasts...I felt a familiar hardening in my nether regions, which alerted me to stop my thoughts from giong any farther.
Fuck! You should not be thinking about these things. She's a traitor, and a student! She's 20 years younger than you! I scowled angerly. I pushed these disturbing thoughts away, and focused on Albus' face. I was never so grateful for my large robes than I was in that moment. I cleared my throat loudly, and shifted my weight to my other leg. Albus had that damned twinkle in his eye, and I knew that whatever he was about to suggest would not make me happy.
HERMIONE'S POV
I walked down the hall, trying not to grin like an idiot. The look on Snape's face had been worth the brief kiss. Total shock. My smile slowly faded when I saw Stacy Becker come around the corner. She was a third year House C. I sighed, knowing I would never get to Quidditch practice now.
Stacy had a horrible home lifeshe was abused, neglected, and not tolerated. She was expected to be perfect in everything. She was terribly shy, smart, pretty. The boys liked her looks, but were uncomfortable when she showed her intelligence. When she didn't show any interest in guys, she was mostly ignored, which she liked. There were times when she wanted companionship, and she usually came to me for it. I never had the heart to turn her away.
"Hey, Hermione. I hope you not busy right now." She looked up at me with her hopeful, bright blue eyes. I sighed and quickly smiled.
"Of course not, you silly girl. I always have time for you. What's up?"
"I thought we could just...just talk. About anything." I smiled and nodded. I gestured down the hall. We usually met in the library. I hope that one day she starts getting braver. I'm leaving after this year, so she better start soon. I snuck a glance at the girl. She seemed nervous and tense. Like something had happened. My stomach clenched, and I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Getting nervous and panicing would not help matters.
We reached the library and took the table at the farthest end. There was a table in the corner, hidden from view. It was in the Muggle section, so very few people used it. I took a seat across from Stacy, and folded my hands in my lap. I smiled in encouragement, as she seemed to be worried about how to start.
"I-I was walking down the hall when I heard some people talking in the DADA classroom. Nobody was supposed to be in there, so I stopped to tell them to leave. Before I could say anything, the one person started talking again. I couldn't help overhearing what they were talking about." She wrung her hands in her lap, her eyes darting around. I leaned forward.
"What'd they talk about, Stacy? What'd they say?" I asked softly.
"They...they said that somebody would pay. Their exact words were something like 'He'll pay for it. How dare he think he can defeat the Great One?'. Then the other guy said 'What does he want us to do?' I thought maybe they were talking about Harry Potter, so I listened closely so I could tell you. The first guy said 'He wants us to hex his bag. We're to cast an exploding charm on it, and set it to go off when he goes to sleep. The Great One's informant said that he keeps his bag by his bed, so the blast should kill him.' I dropped my bag, and it caught their attention. They stopped talking and the second guy said that they shouldn't be talking in a public place.
"It sounded like they were getting ready to go, so I grabbed my bag and ran. I didn't see who came out of the room. I just knew I had to find you." Her light blue eyes filled with tears. I stood up and grabbed my bag.
"Come with me please. I need you to tell a few more people. Don't worry, I'll come with you." She nodded and stood up. She grabbed her bag and walked around the table. I hugged her quickly and then grabbed her hand. "Come on. I think they're in the Teacher's Lounge." I set off for the Lounge, taking care to go slow so Stacy could keep up. I reached the Lounge and tapped my wand on the statue next to the door.
"Professor's Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, and Lupin. Could you please come out here for a minute?" I said this to the statue, who relayed it to the teachers. The door opened a moment later, and the people stepped out. Snape ignored me completely, instead concentrating on Stacy. I pulled her closer to me, and glared at him. If he makes her cry, I'll strangle his pasty ass. He raised an eyebrow at my response.
"Miss Granger. This is quite the surprise. What can we do for you?" Dumbledore asked pleasantly.
"StacyMiss Becker over heard a conversation in the DADA classroom. She came to find me, and I took her to tell you. It seemed important, and I thought you should know." I kneeled down next to Stacy and looked her in the eyes. "Stacy, tell the Professor's what you overheard. Don't leave anything out, and don't be afraid." She nodded, and proceeded to tell her story. When she finished, the staff looked worried. The fact that I was involved made them suspicious, but from the way Stacy acted, it was hard not to believe her.
"Thank you Miss Becker. You did the right thing. Twenty points to House C." I started, momentarily shocked that he knew what house she was in. A slight twinkle formed in Dumbledore's eyes and he took note of my reaction. I smiled down at Stacy.
"Way to be, Stac." She flushed in happiness. I looked up at Dumbledore and the others and nodded. "Please excuse me, Professor's. I'm late for Quidditch practice." I noticed with pleasure that this time it was them that were the startled ones. They looked at me curiously.
"I plead temporary insanity when I tried out. My friends taught me to ride a broom this past summer. I'm not the best by any stretch of the imagination. As Professor Snape would say, I'm barely adequate. If someone else had tried out for the position, they would've gotten it. Alas, it didn't happen. It's too late to quit now, as our first game is next weekend." I had no clue why I explained myself to them. I shrugged it off, and turned to leave. I glanced at my watch. There was no reason going to practice, it ended in ten minutes. I turned back towards Stacy and the teachers. I smiled ruefully.
"Well, it looks like I won't be going to practice. Stacy, do you wanna walk with me to the Great Hall? I need to stop off at my room, and by the time we get there, it'll be dinner time." Stacy nodded enthusiastically, and politely said goodbye to the Hogwarts staff. I nodded in acknowledgement, and set off for my rooms. Wow. I just had a civil conversation with Them. I wonder if hell's freezing over? I sighed once again and pushed the thought from my mind. Think about that later. Time for thinking is later, time for food is now.
Entering the Great Hall, I said good-bye to Stacy and sat at my regular spot. Mike and Shannon were already there, filling their plates up and talking. I sat down next to Mike and helped myself to food.
"Where were you? Zac seemed concerned when you diddn't show up."
"Mike, please don't talk with your mouth open. Stacy wanted to talk to me about a conversation she overheardI'll tell you more about that later. Anyway, we went to go to to the Hogwarts staff. I lost track of time, that's all." I continued eating, thinking about nothing but how good the food was until I heard several thumps and realized that Zac, Tabby, and the other's had sat down. I looked up and noticed that Zac seemed to be upset about something.
"Where the hell were you during Quidditch practice? You said you were going to be there. Were you off with some guy? You were fucking somebody, weren't you? Fucking a certain somebody from Hogwarts, perhaps!" His voice was loud, but the last question was spoken in a hiss, which everybody was Julie, Shannon, Tabby, and the others heard. Conversation that was close enough to hear his voice stopped and a few people looked our way. He saw me kiss Snape? I felt my face turn slightly red. I struggled to hold down a laugh, and forced myself to take a deep, calming breath. I looked Zac in the eyes, and felt my anger surge up suddenly. Who the hell did he think he was? He wasn't my father, or my husband. Hell, he wasn't even a traditional boyfriend. I'd done nothing to make him so distrustful. He had no grounds for questioning me with that tone. And to include Professor Snape in his idiotic accusations...well, that was wrong too. Even if Snape was a bastard.
"That's none of your damn business, Zac. I was going to tell you, but it seems that you already have an idea. So tell me, what did I not do this time to make you sound like a jealous boyfriend?" I glared at him, and he blinked. By now, the teachers were looking our way. Some looked curious. Other's, like Peabody, looked like they were expecting us to lung forward and attack. I don't think they heard the Snape comment, thank Merlin. By then Zac had gathered his strength, and had opened his mouth to reply. By this time, most of the hall was quiet. Those that were talking still were getting shushed by everyone else. The Hogwarts students facing away from the student body had turned to stare. I
"What the hell are you all looking at? Don't you have something better to do than stare at people? Eat your fucking dinners and STOP STARING! And you-" I turned back towards Zac. "You have no right to question me like that. For your information, I was talking to Stacy Becker. She wanted to tell me something. I wasn't snogging some guy in a closet, I wasn't fucking some guy in an empty classroom. I definitely wasn't doing anything with someone from...from...there." I couldn't say Hogwarts out loud. Then everybody would know. I stood up and glared down at him. "So I'd be really happy if you'd stay the hell out of my business. Go find some other girl to command and bug. I'm not interested." I turned and stalked down the aisle towards the doors. Whispers erupted. People were glancing my way. No doubt discussing what we're arguing over. I looked back briefly, at Septimus. He was watching me with concern on his face. Turning face forward again, I pushed open the doors and waited until they were closed before running.
Why the hell was he so jealous? Our relationship has always been for fun. I've caught him snogging girls before. Not that I snogged Snape. I just kissed him...briefly. He has a surprisingly nice body...I wonder what his bum looks like...Woah. DOWN GIRL! We're talking about Snape! Okay, concentrate...Zac...jealous...Right. He had no right! And to say those things in front of everybody! Personal information, the dumbass!
Suddenly things made sense. All those times I'd laughed and talked with a boy, and Zac glaring angirly at us. Those times he'd drag me away from people, stating that he saw one of them about to hex me. The staring, the jealousy. How could I have missed it? I must be an idiot. I don't want to see Zac right now. I'll wait until tomorrow until I talk to him. I opened my eyes and sat up at the sound of footsteps. Someone was coming inside. I turned towards the doorway and saw a dark shape. My breath caught in my throat for a second. What if it's Dumbledore or McGonagall? I released the breath I had been holding when I saw it was only Septimus. He strode forward and sat down next to me. His eyes searched mine and I allowed my anger and hurt shine through.
"Dear girl, what was all that about?" I swallowed and turned towards the fire. Do I tell him about Snape? No, no I don't think I should. He'd find it funny, but he'd tease me and Snape as well. I sighed and turned back towards Septimus.
"Zac wanted to know where I was during Quidditch practice. I had been talking to Stacy Becker. Anyway, by the time I was done talking with her, it was dinner time. There was no sense in going, so I walked with Stacy to the hall. When Zac sat down, he accused me of fucking some guy from Hogwarts." I licked my lips once again. "He must have saw me earlier. I had run into somebody from Hogwarts. I thought I'd mess with them a bit, ya know? So I kissed the guy. Zac must have seen me...but what I don't understand is how come he can snog whoever he wants, but I can't? Not that I wanted to snog him, or that I was snogging him. I just kissed him. And I don't like the guy that way!"
"Alright. You don't like this guy that way. You just wanted to mess with him." I relaxed slighly, knowing that Septimus got that point. If Septimus ever found out, I wanted him to know that I didn't like the man that way.
"Right. But Zac had no right to go all jealous! Our relationship has always been for fun. At least, that's what we agreed to. I never freaked out when he kissed someone else. So what's his deal? What am I, his sex slave?" I didn't miss the wince on Septimus' face at that last sentence. Septimus always said he had no interest in our private lives. But, to his credit, he didn't exit the room like he always did. He put his arm around me, and pulled me close. I buried my face in his chest and sighed. Zac is such an ass. When he gets over being jealous, then I'll talk to him. He needs to calm down and see that I'm not his damn property.
Septimus and I sat with him holding me for what seemed like seconds. The sound of a door opening caused Septimus to pull back from me. I nearly fell into his lap when he moved, as he had been holding me up. I straightened up and looked behind Septimus. In the doorway was Snape, Dumbledore, McGongall and Professor Fields. Professor Fields was smiling, and I could tell she didn't suspect that we were doing anything wrong. But the others however, weren't looking to happy.
No, not to happy at all.
I wasn't going to end it here, but this is really long and it's been a few weeks since I last posted. I promise that in the next chapter things will start picking up.Somepeople mightthinkthat the romance is moving a bit fast. First of all, Hermione didkissed himfor fun. And for Snape, well, lust isn't the same as love. The story will lead to love (well that's a given, since it's under the "Romance" category), but not quite yet. I just thought I would mention it, in case anyone thought they were moving too fast. Besides, they have some issues to work out first. I'm sorry it took so long. Thanks to everyone for their reviews! One more thing...if there are more mistakes in this chapter than the others, I'm sorry. I had to type this one fast, and I was gone all SpringBreak. If there's too many mistakes, or it isn't good, I'll repost it.