After many minutes wading through Hermione found the memory she was looking for. Christmas day of her fifth year. So memorable for many reasons. Not only did she want to see the incident again, and howl at Snape's response. She wanted to see what had happened on the Quidditch pitch that afternoon while she was soaring above, watching Snape and Hermione talk. It was the day Ginny found out Hermione had any feelings for the potions master. Ginny checked on the sleeping Hermione. For some reason Ginny had the foreboding that Hermione was going to catch her in the act.
Once Ginny turned round she realised she'd missed the first few seconds of the re-play....
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All that remained in Hogwarts that Christmas where sitting on the floor of the Great Hall where a big white rug had appeared to keep them from the cold stone floor.
The whole Weasley family were there. Since Molly had gotten a job as assistant nurse at the beginning of the year, Dumbledoor had insisted they all spent the holidays there. The only missing member was Percy. However it was best not to bring that up in conversation as it caused Molly great pain. Apart from Harry and Hermione, very few other people stayed. A few first year muggles, that was all. The fear of war had parents wanting their children back at every possible moment.
Everyone was on the rug opening presents. Except Professor Snape, who sat on a chair, with a look that told everyone he wanted to be somewhere else. Hermione noted that he was the perfect person to play Scrooge, gave herself a second to laugh silently and return to opening her presents. Ginny's was next, a thin rectangular present.
Both Ginny's where watching with apprehension. The second knowing how it would all play out, was trying to contain her laughter.
"Ginny, It's an Orlando Bloom calendar. Where on earth did you get this?" Hermione asked in shock, Orlando Bloom was her god, however he was unheard of in the wizarding world. Both Ginny's blushed.
"I went into London. If you look I've charmed the pictures for you." Ginny opening the pages of the calendar revealing Orlando Bloom waving at both of them.
"Why on earth would you want such a thing Miss Granger?" Snape questioned with a snort. It had appeared to Ginny, watching from the pensive that he was hanging on to every word Hermione had spoken. He didn't wait for a reply. "I thought you would have more taste. Not only is it the same person for every month. It's the same pose... The only thing that differs is the haircut."
Hermione had had enough. First he had insulted her choice of friends, which she still felt bitter about. In fact she had only spoken to him in class when he had spoken to her. But scoffing her taste in men?!
"You really are one to criticize aren't you?!" Hermione spat rhetorically. "Snape; the man born with the long lank hair. Liked it so much, he's kept it the same for decades." The instant it slipped from her tongue she knew it was a mistake.
Instead of laughing, Ginny's eyes filled with tears. The pain and embarrassment was clearly evident on Snape's face. It was heartbreaking seeing it through Hermione's eyes as Snape silently rose, amongst the sniggers of Ron, Harry and even Ginny, to her own embarrassment. It had seemed so funny at the time. He left the room without a word to anyone.
Hermione didn't look at anyone, but she felt their eyes burning into her. She followed suit and left the room without another word.
************************************************
"Hermione what's wrong?" Ginny's voice could be heard in the pensive once her memories had been fast forwarded to after Christmas dinner; which the present Ginny recalled that neither injured party had turned up to. She had gone to check on the head girl in her personal rooms a little while later.
With a flick of her wand, Hermione had removed all evidence of tears from her face. Ginny would have to remember that one.
"Nothing." She replied shortly as the red head came into view. She was wearing her Quiditch gear. "No. No thank you."
"Relax Herm, we don't want you to play. And besides mum's given my the permission to hex you if you refuse to come down," Ginny pulled the girl up from her four poster bed. "It's the Weasley's versus everyone else. Do you really want to miss it?!"
Truth was she did. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and die. But she didn't protest as Ginny ushered her onto the Quiditch pitch, dressed in her long suede skirt and black polar neck jumper.
Her heart wasn't pounding. It had stopped beating. There, sitting alone was Snape. He'd cut off his hair and spiked it. It transformed him completely and took her breath away. Without his raven hair framing his face, he looked less sickly looking. His face no longer looked thin and his hair no longer lank. Orlando was forgotten in an instant and never thought of again. Hermione closed her eyes and wished away her pang of guilt and made her way to the stand without another word to Ginny. Ginny felt her own pang of guilt as she remembered her thoughts of her best friend walking away. At the time she didn't know how Hermione, or even Snape, felt.
"Hello?" Hermione approached Snape wearily too scared to sit down.
"Miss Granger." He answered coldly finding something interesting over by the castle. Hermione followed his gaze to find nothing of interest there. She sighed and sat down.
"I'm disappointed in you professor." Hermione hoped he wouldn't take it the wrong way. He scoffed slightly, but still didn't look at her.
"And I'm certain you have been put in the wrong house. That vicious forked tongue of yours in worth a place in Slytherin." His words dripped with sarcasm.
"Why would you take the words of a chit-of-a-girl to heart. A Griffindor to boot?" Hermione questioned.
"Why are you forever putting yourself down?" Snape watched the game begin.
"Answer my question." Hermione stated. When he didn't, she placed her hand on his arm. "Please look at me."
"When you can answer mine, you won't need my answer." Snape replied honestly a softness in his voice, turning to find Hermione at the brink of tears. "Please don't." Returning to his voice.
"I'm sorry." She looked at her fidgeting hands that lay together on her lap. "I didn't mean what I said. There's a saying I know; put your brain into gear before-"
"-You put you mouth into action." Snape helped her finish. He laughed. "You apology is accepted Miss Granger." He felt for his hair, it wasn't there. Without looking, he knew she was staring. "Yes?" He sighed, more to keep up appearance sake. He could sense what she wanted to do.
"May I-?" Her hand instantly went to his hair. But she hesitated. She needed his permission.
"Be my guest." He rolled his eyes at her his eyes moved to the quiditch game. The Weasley's were winning 70-30.
Her hand forked the crisp spikes. It was taking all her effort not to move in front of him and place both hand to his head and kiss him. Silky smooth, she realised that all these years it was that softness that was mistaken as grease. She could feel texturising wax that must have been dulling the shine. How long would this new Snape last. Would he change it back before the start of term? Was it just a way of getting at her, or had she really got to him?
"Have you quite finished Miss Granger?" Snape asked, irritation in his voice. A moments connection where she believed he might have felt the same way had been lost.
"Sorry professor." Hermione blushed and made to leave.
"You can return to groping my hair in a moment if you must." Snape retorted. "I have to ask you something. Please sit down." Which Hermione did immediately. "I've been asked to go on a two month potion excursion-"
"Yes." Hermione answered without hearing the question. Her sense of relief that Snape's acceptance of her apology couldn't remove had been lifted.
"You don't even know the question. I could be asking you to teach my lessons while I'm gone." Snape smiled slightly.
"I don't care. If it gets me out of the mundane... I'll do it." This response shocked both Snape and Ginny. Snape realise the feeling he felt from her that day in the dungeon wasn't one of being lost. She felt trapped.
"You can not seriously think your life is mundane. You are a muggle in a wizarding world." Snape knew she had used the wrong word. And she knew that he knew.
"What was is you were going to ask me?" Hermione avoided the trap Snape had lay down for her. He subsequently gave up.
"Would you join me in New York?" Snape asked watching her face light up.
"Two months. In New York?!" Hermione questioned. "Shame about the company!" She giggled, wondering to herself why she insisted on insulting him. Was it a bluff to make him think she hated him?
"You won't think it's such a joke when you find out who will be joining us. I fought hard about this, but he really is the best candidate-"
"Malfoy?!" Hermione half asked, half told him. Her smile fading slightly. "I'm sure I can cope professor." Hermione reassured him. She was so desperate to get away that no blonde spoilt brat was going to stop her.
A/N: Good, Bad? Is Snape out of character? Does it really matter? let me know in a quick review! much love.
Next chapter will be about how Ginny finds out about Snape.
Stacey Pointe- Awwww shucks, you made me blush. Hope you liked this chapter and if you have any ideas, feel free to put them in your next review (hint, hint lol)
Once Ginny turned round she realised she'd missed the first few seconds of the re-play....
*******************************************************
All that remained in Hogwarts that Christmas where sitting on the floor of the Great Hall where a big white rug had appeared to keep them from the cold stone floor.
The whole Weasley family were there. Since Molly had gotten a job as assistant nurse at the beginning of the year, Dumbledoor had insisted they all spent the holidays there. The only missing member was Percy. However it was best not to bring that up in conversation as it caused Molly great pain. Apart from Harry and Hermione, very few other people stayed. A few first year muggles, that was all. The fear of war had parents wanting their children back at every possible moment.
Everyone was on the rug opening presents. Except Professor Snape, who sat on a chair, with a look that told everyone he wanted to be somewhere else. Hermione noted that he was the perfect person to play Scrooge, gave herself a second to laugh silently and return to opening her presents. Ginny's was next, a thin rectangular present.
Both Ginny's where watching with apprehension. The second knowing how it would all play out, was trying to contain her laughter.
"Ginny, It's an Orlando Bloom calendar. Where on earth did you get this?" Hermione asked in shock, Orlando Bloom was her god, however he was unheard of in the wizarding world. Both Ginny's blushed.
"I went into London. If you look I've charmed the pictures for you." Ginny opening the pages of the calendar revealing Orlando Bloom waving at both of them.
"Why on earth would you want such a thing Miss Granger?" Snape questioned with a snort. It had appeared to Ginny, watching from the pensive that he was hanging on to every word Hermione had spoken. He didn't wait for a reply. "I thought you would have more taste. Not only is it the same person for every month. It's the same pose... The only thing that differs is the haircut."
Hermione had had enough. First he had insulted her choice of friends, which she still felt bitter about. In fact she had only spoken to him in class when he had spoken to her. But scoffing her taste in men?!
"You really are one to criticize aren't you?!" Hermione spat rhetorically. "Snape; the man born with the long lank hair. Liked it so much, he's kept it the same for decades." The instant it slipped from her tongue she knew it was a mistake.
Instead of laughing, Ginny's eyes filled with tears. The pain and embarrassment was clearly evident on Snape's face. It was heartbreaking seeing it through Hermione's eyes as Snape silently rose, amongst the sniggers of Ron, Harry and even Ginny, to her own embarrassment. It had seemed so funny at the time. He left the room without a word to anyone.
Hermione didn't look at anyone, but she felt their eyes burning into her. She followed suit and left the room without another word.
************************************************
"Hermione what's wrong?" Ginny's voice could be heard in the pensive once her memories had been fast forwarded to after Christmas dinner; which the present Ginny recalled that neither injured party had turned up to. She had gone to check on the head girl in her personal rooms a little while later.
With a flick of her wand, Hermione had removed all evidence of tears from her face. Ginny would have to remember that one.
"Nothing." She replied shortly as the red head came into view. She was wearing her Quiditch gear. "No. No thank you."
"Relax Herm, we don't want you to play. And besides mum's given my the permission to hex you if you refuse to come down," Ginny pulled the girl up from her four poster bed. "It's the Weasley's versus everyone else. Do you really want to miss it?!"
Truth was she did. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and die. But she didn't protest as Ginny ushered her onto the Quiditch pitch, dressed in her long suede skirt and black polar neck jumper.
Her heart wasn't pounding. It had stopped beating. There, sitting alone was Snape. He'd cut off his hair and spiked it. It transformed him completely and took her breath away. Without his raven hair framing his face, he looked less sickly looking. His face no longer looked thin and his hair no longer lank. Orlando was forgotten in an instant and never thought of again. Hermione closed her eyes and wished away her pang of guilt and made her way to the stand without another word to Ginny. Ginny felt her own pang of guilt as she remembered her thoughts of her best friend walking away. At the time she didn't know how Hermione, or even Snape, felt.
"Hello?" Hermione approached Snape wearily too scared to sit down.
"Miss Granger." He answered coldly finding something interesting over by the castle. Hermione followed his gaze to find nothing of interest there. She sighed and sat down.
"I'm disappointed in you professor." Hermione hoped he wouldn't take it the wrong way. He scoffed slightly, but still didn't look at her.
"And I'm certain you have been put in the wrong house. That vicious forked tongue of yours in worth a place in Slytherin." His words dripped with sarcasm.
"Why would you take the words of a chit-of-a-girl to heart. A Griffindor to boot?" Hermione questioned.
"Why are you forever putting yourself down?" Snape watched the game begin.
"Answer my question." Hermione stated. When he didn't, she placed her hand on his arm. "Please look at me."
"When you can answer mine, you won't need my answer." Snape replied honestly a softness in his voice, turning to find Hermione at the brink of tears. "Please don't." Returning to his voice.
"I'm sorry." She looked at her fidgeting hands that lay together on her lap. "I didn't mean what I said. There's a saying I know; put your brain into gear before-"
"-You put you mouth into action." Snape helped her finish. He laughed. "You apology is accepted Miss Granger." He felt for his hair, it wasn't there. Without looking, he knew she was staring. "Yes?" He sighed, more to keep up appearance sake. He could sense what she wanted to do.
"May I-?" Her hand instantly went to his hair. But she hesitated. She needed his permission.
"Be my guest." He rolled his eyes at her his eyes moved to the quiditch game. The Weasley's were winning 70-30.
Her hand forked the crisp spikes. It was taking all her effort not to move in front of him and place both hand to his head and kiss him. Silky smooth, she realised that all these years it was that softness that was mistaken as grease. She could feel texturising wax that must have been dulling the shine. How long would this new Snape last. Would he change it back before the start of term? Was it just a way of getting at her, or had she really got to him?
"Have you quite finished Miss Granger?" Snape asked, irritation in his voice. A moments connection where she believed he might have felt the same way had been lost.
"Sorry professor." Hermione blushed and made to leave.
"You can return to groping my hair in a moment if you must." Snape retorted. "I have to ask you something. Please sit down." Which Hermione did immediately. "I've been asked to go on a two month potion excursion-"
"Yes." Hermione answered without hearing the question. Her sense of relief that Snape's acceptance of her apology couldn't remove had been lifted.
"You don't even know the question. I could be asking you to teach my lessons while I'm gone." Snape smiled slightly.
"I don't care. If it gets me out of the mundane... I'll do it." This response shocked both Snape and Ginny. Snape realise the feeling he felt from her that day in the dungeon wasn't one of being lost. She felt trapped.
"You can not seriously think your life is mundane. You are a muggle in a wizarding world." Snape knew she had used the wrong word. And she knew that he knew.
"What was is you were going to ask me?" Hermione avoided the trap Snape had lay down for her. He subsequently gave up.
"Would you join me in New York?" Snape asked watching her face light up.
"Two months. In New York?!" Hermione questioned. "Shame about the company!" She giggled, wondering to herself why she insisted on insulting him. Was it a bluff to make him think she hated him?
"You won't think it's such a joke when you find out who will be joining us. I fought hard about this, but he really is the best candidate-"
"Malfoy?!" Hermione half asked, half told him. Her smile fading slightly. "I'm sure I can cope professor." Hermione reassured him. She was so desperate to get away that no blonde spoilt brat was going to stop her.
A/N: Good, Bad? Is Snape out of character? Does it really matter? let me know in a quick review! much love.
Next chapter will be about how Ginny finds out about Snape.
Stacey Pointe- Awwww shucks, you made me blush. Hope you liked this chapter and if you have any ideas, feel free to put them in your next review (hint, hint lol)
