Chapter 17
Hermone cleared her throat and spoke softly.
"It was in a dream Professor. You handed me a vial with the potion in it. It was just as I described it to you. A purple liquid potion with a green mist rising from it. In my dream, it smelled sweet. You…you were knowledgeable of the potion and wanted me to know of it. You held it to my nose and I smelled it. I know what you are going to say Professor-"
"You know what I am going to say? A silly dream? You brought me here because you had a dream?" His voice had risen above his normal nature. His back was straight and his pale face had a faint pink flush to the cheeks.
"Professor," Hermione stood and faced him. "I didn't just have one dream. I dream it every night! The same thing happens…just about. I put absolutely no confidence in Divination, as you well know. However, I am aware that a reoccurring dream holds merit if it plays out exactly the same over a period of time. I do know that is a fact in the Wizarding World."
"Yes. Suppose it is a fact. Nevertheless, you withheld an important piece of information from me. I have been going about this all wrong. You have wasted my time and yours. In dreams, Ms. Granger, when one dreams a reoccurring dream, it has a more…symbolic meaning."
"What do you mean? You know of Divination?"
"Of course I know of Divination you silly girl. I am a learned man. Whether our former Headmaster and his followers put any stock into it, is beside the point. Past events should tell you that Divination does indeed have merit. I do not put any stock in crystal gazing or reading tea leaves. Dream interpretation is another. I wish you to tell me everything about this dream. Ms. Granger, I mean everything. If I am to continue working on this, if we are to continue this arrangement, you will not withhold anything more from me. What is more, I wish to know if anything in your dream changes. A new scene. A new item…anything.
"What did you mean by symbolic Professor? Do you think the potion really doesn't exist? Was I…wrong?" her voice was meek and her face showed the horror of the situation. Severus smirked.
"Yes. You are wrong Ms. Granger. However, what I meant by symbolic was that the dream doesn't mean exactly what it shows. The situation, the atmosphere, the colors, are all representative of a certain…concept."
"So everything is important then?"
"As I have already said."
"Yes Professor, but what do you mean by concept?"
"It is more difficult than you can imagine. The divining of the meaning of dreams is not an exact art. It is possible you made the correct choice in contacting me. Perhaps you knew I was able to…supply you with what you needed and in your subconscious you dreamed that I gave you the potion. However, I have to know everything of it in order to deduce the real meaning."
Hermoine sat down again and chewed her bottom lip. She would have to tell him what happened. She couldn't explain why, but he was being altogether good about this. Perhaps her luck would remain in her favor. She looked up at him and met his eyes.
"Professor, in my dream, you were not you. At first you were a large, black snake. You came to me-"
"Was it night or day?"
"It was night. A full moon I suppose. The moonlight was very bright. You came to me-"
"Did you receive the snake willingly? Or did it chase you?"
"Professor! If you wish to know what happens then hold your tongue! I am beyond exhausted and quite afraid of your reaction to this. That is why I withheld it from you. I was wrong, yes. But please let me recount the dream in its entirety and then you may ask me whatever you wish."
"Ms. Granger, you-"
"I opened my arms to the snake. Welcoming it. It came to me and…and it wrapped itself about me. I was afraid at first, but knew that it wouldn't really hurt me. It was an large snake, so it was able to restrain my entire self and it hissed in my ear. Then…"
"Then?" Hermione watched his face and saw something in his eyes that was akin to fear. He had lost his composure and was watching her face with rapt attention.
"Then, the snake transformed into you. Professor, are you an animagus?" Hermione asked.
"No."
"Oh…I just thought that…well, the snake transformed into you, but you…well you were…different."
"Different how?"
Hermione lifted her chin and looked him square in the eyes. "You were nice to me Professor. Perhaps it was the dream part, not the 'vision' part of it, but you were not really you. You were more…gentle. You held out the vial for me and I saw it. It was the potion I have described to you. You held it to my nose so I could smell of it. That is when I would wake up." Hermione watched his face register the horror that was his discomfort.
Severus listened and held to bite his tongue painfully. Nice? Gentle? Surely she didn't…
"Ms. Granger, why did you keep this from me?" His voice had softened to a strong whisper.
"Because Professor Snape, I spent seven years of my life fearing you. Though I always looked upon you with admiration and respect, you have never shown me anything except contempt and loathing. Once, just days before leaving school, you gave me hooded compliments for my research. Then, just a little more than a week ago, you congratulated me for a job well done. We have known of each other for over ten years now. In those ten years, you have been kindly to me twice. However, I have long thought of you as one of the most formidable wizards in the world from the beginning. Where, in our entire history together, have you ever made it clear to me that you didn't dislike me? Nay, hated me for who my friends were. For being abnormally smart? For asking questions and for demanding answers. You called me a know-it-all while I was but a child. You sneer and you glare. To tell the truth Professor, I would work harder and push myself for the hope that one day you would see my potential and stop seeing me as a muggle born witch who was Harry Potter's friend. If I had someone else to go to with this problem, believe me, I would have, But it can not be denied that you are the most brilliant wizard, in regards to potions, there is. I do trust you. I believe you are good…inside…deep inside. I believe you were genuinely impressed with my work on the Imperious Curse. You wished to come onboard for your own reasons. What they are I can't guess. Perhaps you want money and you want a chance to do something good? So you ask me why I kept this from you? Are you kidding me? It has taken every bit of my Gryffindor pride, that you hate so much, to tell you even this. It took everything I had to contact you and ask for your help." Hermione was in a blind rage. She was talking, more to herself than to him. She paced the room as she spoke and gestured wildly with her hands. The past few days were taking its toll on the witch.
"Ms. Granger, as sentimental as all that is, you still have not told me anything of worth," here Hermione stopped to face him with her mouth open in disbelief. "you have only poured your poor tortured heart out to me. Still you say nothing more about why you have kept the dream from me. For I have a feeling that there is even more. Your wide eyed stares and your fidgeting hands tell me that."
"So what if I am Professor? What can you do? Either you accept what information is given to you or you accept defeat in this job and return to Hogwarts never to return here again. Do not forget Professor that I am your employer, not your student any longer." Hermione unconsciously adapted a very Snape-like sneer.
An eerie silence fell over the room. A heavy quiet that was filled with unspoken words and looks that spoke for them. They stood now, face to face, one dark and foreboding, the other fair and proud.
"And if I leave? What will you do then?" His face was twisted with rage. The thought of her telling him to accept defeat and then reminding him that he was in her employment sent him into a unchecked fury.
"I suppose I have come this far without your help. I can continue without you. That Gryffindor pride of mine will keep me going." A light was in Hermione's eyes that none had seen since the final battle with Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Hermione was brave and held her own quite well.
"That Gryffindor pride will be your undoing."
"So you say."
"Then I guess we have come to a parting of ways, Ms. Granger."
"I believe so." Hermione crossed her arms about her chest and stared long and hard into his eyes. He then turned from her and began to walk from the room. However, in a flash, he had his wand out and pointed towards her. She had no time to react. In truth, she didn't even have her wand on her.
"Legilimens!" His voice broke the heavy silence.
A/N: This evil cliffy is dedicated to: draculasbride2008, for such wonderfuldedication and for taking the time out to review almost every chapter. It is appreciated so much. :)