Sugar and Spice
Chapter Thirteen
(Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter titles, only the plot that's brewing in this crazed head of mine.)
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Jealousy had always been a weakness for Hermione. Harry would have Ginny, Ron would have Lavender, everyone would have someone except for her. Even when romance wasn't involved; Harry was skilled at Quidditch, Ron had many siblings and even Malfoy got to see his parents more often than she did.
Hermione thought she'd turn the tables and play jealousy onto Severus Snape. She was unsure how, but she would end up with a guy to show him exactly what he was missing. It would take a spring of confidence and some PDA, but she was sure she could handle it.
She was Hermione Granger, after all.
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"You want me to do what?" Harry asked, taken aback slightly.
"Go out with me." Hermione replied, her heart beating rapidly.
A part of her still liked Harry –the part that wasn't crushed when she saw him with Ginny- and she thought maybe she could just block out Severus by those means. That plan seemed to work better and didn't risk Harry getting hurt. And since Harry and Ginny had broken up again, this was her perfect chance.
"Hermione, didn't we discuss the risks it involved?"
"Yes, we did, and I love your occasional kisses and how sweet you are to me," Hermione said. "But I want something more."
"And you think I can give that to you?" Harry seemed to be in disbelief.
"I think so."
Harry stood in the common room, just staring at Hermione, who was staring right back, and pondering if it was really a good decision to be dating someone who could die.
"Have faith in me, Harry." Hermione said. "I'm a strong girl. Do you not think things could work out?"
"It's not that 'Mione, and you know it. It's the fact that you're under the control of a man –creature- who tried to kill me."
Hermione displayed pleading in her eyes. "Harry, you know that I have no choice in that matter!" She said in protest. "I hate coming face to face with that thing. I need support, Harry. I need you."
The look in Hermione's eyes was so sincere, innocent and pleading. Harry didn't know how to say no to eyes like those. Instead of replying, Hermione received a simple kiss that turned quite passionate.
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The new pair entered the Great Hall the next day, hand-in-hand and sat down at the Gryffindor table, no longer accompanied by Ron or Ginny.
Times had certainly changed among the Golden Trio since the beginning of the year. Ron had ditched Harry and Hermione and things were just plain awkward whenever Ginny was around, so Harry and Hermione had stayed friends through all kinds of things. 'Forgive' and 'forget' were always words that were spoken between the pair. They were all they had and if one lost another nothing would seem to matter.
After breakfast the couple went their separate ways for their classes, met up for lunch and then finished out the day. They met in the Astronomy Tower after dinner to watch the sunset before Hermione was scheduled to have a lesson with Severus.
Harry's hand was entwined with Hermione's as they gazed out of the westward-facing window, the red sun glaring directly at them. Hermione felt Harry leave her for a second and then return from behind with his arms around her waist and his head resting on her shoulder.
Though Hermione was happy and loved having Harry around her, she still felt incomplete. Something was missing and wasn't right. But she chose to ignore this small bug bothering her, for it could jeopardize getting back at Severus and her friendship with Harry. Losing him would be horrible. She'd have no one else to turn to. She missed the days when Ginny was her best friend and Ron was there to help her up after each fall.
The sun had set and the first stars were sparkling above the grounds of Hogwarts. Hermione turned around so that she was leaning again the window and facing Harry.
"I need to be heading down to Snape's classroom for my lesson, Harry." Hermione said.
"Do you have to?" Hermione nodded. "Well I'll see you tomorrow, then."
And with that, Harry leaned in and gave Hermione a mind-blowing kiss and sent her on her way feeling as if she were walking on clouds.
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"Hermione, you're late." Severus said as Hermione floated into the potions classroom.
"I got slightly distracted, sorry Severus." She said, not at all hiding her flushed face or broad smile.
The smile that Severus hadn't seen in a while- or not in front of him at least. He secretly wanted to be the one putting that perfect lopsided smile upon her face. How and why could a mere student, half of his age, have such an irregular effect on him?
"Don't let it happen again." Severus replied, turning and leading her into his private chamber.
"Yes, sir." She said.
"We'll be starting where we left off." Severus said.
Hermione was in an outgoing mood. "You mean where you saw us getting married?"
Severus only glared at Hermione and instructed her to clear her mind. "I'll enter your mind now…"
Hermione felt his presence inside of her mind. She relaxed and tried not to focus on anything in particular, which was quite a difficult task seeing as Harry continually was popping up. She felt her professor extract himself from her mind.
"Hermione, you and Potter-"
"Harry." She said firmly. "If you call me Hermione, you call him Harry."
"You and Potter aren't dating, are you?" He questioned.
"And what business of that is yours?"
Severus let out a sigh. "If you are, it could jeopardize everything. See how he was appearing in your mind? It's hard to concentrate when that happens. You must end things with him immediately for the sake of this whole mission."
Hermione smirked, her bravery and snide side getting the better of her. "Are you jealous, Severus?"
"Why the hell would you say that?" He snapped. "If you go through with him, this, everything could be ruined-"
"You can't act like nothing happened between us, Severus!" Hermione said, her smirk quickly fading.
"It was a random act of lust, Hermione!" He replied. " I thought we agreed to forget this!"
"I did no such thing!"
"Well then do it, so we can get this over with so you can get out!" He snapped, hiding the regret he felt for speaking those words.
A flicker of hurt flashed through Hermione's eyes but she nodded and closed her eyes, forgetting about Harry and clearing her mind. Severus gently entered.
"Imagine yourself conversing with Dumbledore."
Hermione put herself in the Headmaster's office, sitting in a chair in front of his desk talking animatedly to him. She was moving her hand around rapidly, dressed in what she'd worn yesterday. Dumbledore was wearing his lavender robes and nodding his head understandingly.
"Good. Erase that." Hermione complied. "Now image Harry doing something that you caught him at that angered you."
Hermione imagined herself walking into the Astronomy tower at night to find Ginny and Harry heatedly making out. She put a hurt look upon her eyes and made herself yell at him and at Ginny about how hurt she was. She made tears spill down her cheeks as she turned on her heel and fled down the flights of stairs.
"Excellent." Severus didn't sound very enthusiastic. "We're done. You'll be needing no more lessons." Hermione nodded and turned to leave. "Maybe now I can get that silly girl out of my head…" Hermione knew the comment was to himself but she couldn't help herself.
"I knew it!" Hermione said, turning on her heel and pointing a finger. "I'm on your mind as you're on mine!"
"Hermione, please take your leave." Severus said tiredly.
"No! Not until you admit we have more than a platonic relationship. Admit you've feelings for me!" She said.
"Take you and your stupid Gryffindor stubborn personality out my door right now." He commanded.
"Or what?" Hermione pushed, stepping closer to him. "You'll give me a detention?"
"Yes. Three detentions next week at seven." He said. "Now go!"
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Hermione exited, defeated; yet still determined.
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A/N- Sorry for the long wait. I've been sick and busy and my computer has been acting up. Keep on reviewing!