Sugar and Spice
Chapter Twelve
(Disclaimer: I own only the plot- nothing else. I promise.)
XxX
Hermione fled to the library, skipping the rest of her classes to bask in her own misery.
Everything seemed so wrong. She was having feelings for her potions professor, one of her best friends accused her of being attention-seeking, the man who raped her is showing an interest, and, on top of that, she was a Death Eater. With school added, Hermione could only handle so much. She felt as if Harry were the only person she could turn to. Dumbledore would be an option, and so would McGonagall, but it wouldn't be the same. Harry showed Hermione certain compassion that she loved that no one else could give her.
But what if, by telling Harry everything, he got freaked out and ditched Hermione? Could she survive with no one to turn to?
Of course she could. She was Hermione Granger and when faced with an obstacle, she always overcomes it without being brought down. She's been through times almost tougher than this!
Hermione sat for hours in the darkest corner of the library, going through book after book, but not actually reading it- just occupying her hands while her mind wandered. She didn't hear the library doors open and close, for she was off daydreaming in the land of Harry's sweet kisses…
"Miss Granger?"
The Gryffindor's eyes shot open and she focused on the figure before her.
"Yes, professor Snape?" She asked wearily.
"May I ask why you chose not to attend my class today?"
Why wasn't Hermione uncomfortable being in a dark corner alone with Severus?
"There happens to be a lot on my mind and I thought I owed it to myself to take a few classes off." She replied in a matter-of-a-fact tone, standing and walking over to a bookshelf to replace a book. She turned around and leaned up against it. "Why, did you miss me Severus?"
Something about the way Granger said his name produced an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. A newemotion that gave him a feeling that the whole world was not doubting and against him. How could a simple student give him a sensation such as this, though?
Hermione is not exactly a simple student, though… Severus reminded himself.
The professor was confused at why his gaze continually dropped from her eyes to Hermione's lips, only to drift back up again. It was as if he were arguing with himself.
"Professor, are you going to answer my question?"
Shaken out of his reverie, Severus replied with a, "We need to discuss something" instead of answering her question.
"I'm listening." Hermione said.
"What happened between the two of us last week, I admit, I do not regret, but it will never happen again. I am your professor and you are my student." Severus said, referring to their kiss.
Something about 'my student' intrigued Hermione. Like she was his…
"I understand." She replied. "But why lie about your regrets?"
"I do not with to make you uncomfortable, Hermione." She shivered. "Seeing as we are in each other's company quite often now, it would make things extremely difficult if one of us were to hold back at all."
"I don't regret it, either." Hermione stated nervously. "But the Severus Snape is unsure of the motive behind his actions?"
She had to know. Hermione just had to. Pressing on like this was oddly amusing, yet odd to see her suave potions professor at a loss of words. Hermione was still standing with her back to the bookcase and had not noticed Severus' distance from her until it was at a minimum.
His breath tingled on her lips and she found herself unable to back up, even if she'd wanted to. Hermione's eyes were locked with the professor's and her stomach was in knots.
Yet somehow Severus crushed his lips against Hermione's, pushing her against the shelf behind her as she let out a noise of surprise. Hermione was surprised to find his tongue begging for entrance, which she mindlessly granted. His arms encircled her waist and pulled her close to him, increasing the heat that was already forming.
Without warning, Severus ripped himself from her grasp, stepping back so suddenly it made Hermione stumble. Their eyes met for one brief moment before turning on his heel and exiting the library soundlessly.
Hermione had just seen something she never thought she'd ever see; fear and longing in Severus Snape's eyes.
XxX
Making her way back to Gryffindor tower, Hermione was climbing some stairs when her bag seams ripped and all of its contents came spilling out. Letting out a sigh, Hermione bent down to pick everything up. A shadow appeared looming over her.
"Granger, kneeling on the ground like a house-elf, are we?" Came Malfoy's voice. "It seems you've finally learned your place in society."
Hermione stood up, books in hand. "Sod off, Malfoy." She snapped and attempted to walk past him, but the youngest Malfoy only knocked her books out of her arms, sending them to the ground once more.
"Go one the ground again, house-elf." He said.
Hermione swung at Malfoy with her fist, forgetting all else and letting her anger take her better half. Her fist made immediate contact with his nose, sending him to the floor.
"Who's on the ground, now, Malfoy?" She asked. "Shit…" The blonde Slytherin's nose was bleeding horribly and looked extremely disfigured. "Malfoy, let me help you." Hermione offered her hand, which he drunkenly swatted away. "You obviously can't see straight. Either you find your way to help, or you let me."
Giving Hermione one last glare, Malfoy stood up and took her hand.
Doing what she could with her wand, Hermione stopped the bleeding, but couldn't mend the bone entirely.
"My face is ruined because of you, mudblood." Malfoy said. "Don't you think my father won't hear about this."
Hermione shook her head and walked on, towards the dungeons to find Severus, ignoring Malfoy's complaining. Inside, she was nervous about facing the potions master after their little 'incident.' How would he react to having her spontaneously show up with an injured boy from his own house?
They reached Severus' office and Hermione knocked on the door, waiting for him to answer.
"May I help you, Miss Granger?" He asked, eyeing her and the blonde teen.
"I hurt Malfoy, professor," She explained. Draco snorted. "You were the closest place to go."
Severus let out a sigh. "Very well, come inside."
Hermione entered, Malfoy not far behind her. Draco sat himself on a chair, breathing through his mouth and sending ferocious glares towards Hermione.
"What happened?"
"This bloody mudblood attacked me, that's that happened!" Malfoy shot out.
"Mister Malfoy, I suggest you hold your tongue with such language." Severus snapped, pulling out a vial. "Drink this and then go up to bed."
Malfoy nodded, grabbed the vial and exited, still mumbling snide comments under his breath.
"Did you need anything else, Miss Granger?"
Hermione fidgeted slightly, wondering if this was really the right way to handle things. "Yes, I thought you'd find this book interesting." She pulled out a worn book from her magically mended bag and handed it to him. The cover read 'Occlumency: Mind Games' on the cover. "I'm sure you haven't read it, it's extremely old and you have to special order it." She explained. "I already have and found it quite useful-"
"If that is all, Hermione, please take your leave." There was an icy tone to his voice that caught Hermione off guard. She quickly regained her exterior, nodded and walked out, letting out a breath.
She had slipped a folded piece of parchment into the middle of the book quoting one of her favorite muggle musicals, Rent. She doubted Severus would know where the lyrics came from, but she was sure he would understand her motive.
XxX
Severus examined the book, noticing that the author's name wasn't printed anywhere. He flipped through the pages and a slip of parchment fell to his feet. He picked it up and read it, slightly puzzled at the wording;
'There's only us
There's only this
Forget regretOr life is yours to miss.
No other road
No other way,
No day but today.'
Was Hermione hinting towards what Severus thought she was? Could she be suggesting that their encounter was more than spontaneous lust?
Severus mentally berated himself. How could he even consider a relationship with a student? And a Gryffindor at that! She was a Death Eater and having emotional bonds would interfere with occlumency and concentration. Was Severus really that desperate as to lower himself to someone he was an authority figure to?
XxX
An owl pecked at Hermione's window later that evening, waking her from atop her homework. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and let the animal in, taking off the note attached and trying to focus her tired vision on the words scrawled out.
Hermione,
Please come down to my private chamber so we can discuss a few important matters.
-Severus
Hermione readied her appearance and grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak that she was borrowing for the week, hurrying out the door.
XxX
Severus head two knocks sound upon his door and called for Hermione to enter. The door opened and the closed and then Hermione appeared from underneath Potter's inherited cloak.
"You wish to talk to me, professor?" She asked.
He hated the way her hair fell upon her shoulders, framing her face beautifully. He hated the way her eyes lit up and sparkled when she accomplished something, or something went her way. He hated the way her lips curled into a smile. And most of all, he hated the fact that he really didn't hate any of her qualities at all.
"Yes." Severus replied. "What happened in the library is to never take place between you and I again."
"That's what you said last time-"
"Spontaneous lust came over me. You were tired and I took advantage over you." He let out a sigh. "I apologize for that, but this little note was uncalled for." Severus had the note between his fingers. "A relationship between the two of us could never work out, Hermione."
"But-"
"I am your professor. You are my student. Have we not had this discussion before?"
"We have, professor." She said.
"Will you be able to come tomorrow night to practice occlumency?"
Hermione held back an exhausted yawn. "I will."
XxX
Something inside Hermione didn't feel right after that conversation, she decided as she headed back to her dormitory. She knew that her and Severus had more than a platonic relationship, even if it was just a little more. I mean, what student and teacher made out in a library? But she couldn't help but to be frustrated with the potions master, always complaining about how no one loves him, and, when Hermione is somewhat offering to, he won't accept it.
This seemed very frustrating.
Too frustrating.
Hermione decided that something should be done to sway Severus' opinion towards her.
But what?
Suddenly, a brilliant idea hit her.
XxX
A nice long chapter that took me two days to write because of the busy person sitting before this computer. I still love all of the reviews! I put up replies to reviews for Ch. 11 on my profile, and I'll be doing that for every chapter from now on. Reviews love!