Disclaimer: The description of Angel's Trumpet is from Harry Potter Wiki, I did not come up with those words.
Thanks to everyone for reading and for reviewing! It made me excited to write more for you guys. More will come I assure you!
Chapter 2. Unbalanced
Their first meeting had been short. Snape cast a quick diagnostic spell on the bottle of mead to ensure it was, in fact, laced with some sort of poison, followed by testing to search for what the substance was comprised of. He refused to tell her what the poison ended up being, but she subtly noted the various compounds discovered during the testing process for later research. She ended up spending her Saturday buried in countless chemistry, potions, and poison books in the library to piece together the composition. It wasn't until Neville happened upon her and noticed the compounds scribbled on the parchment beside her that she made any sort of progress.
"You're looking for Angel's Trumpet." He noted offhandedly. Of course, Hermione groaned, which made the boy noticeably stiffen. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." His voice wobbled, and he moved to step away from her corner of the library.
"No Neville, that was brilliant! I've been searching for hours and it never even occurred to me it might be a plant!" Hermione said excitedly, making the wizard smile enthusiastically and before she took off to the Herbology section. Neville scuttled after her and motioned to the top level.
"They put the books about the more dangerous plants up there. Since the plants can be used for good too, they don't need to put them in the restricted section, but they like to keep them from the young minds, y'know." He shrugged, and Hermione nearly forgot he was standing there after she had summoned the largest book from the top shelf. The Most Dangerous Mosses, Herbs, and Plants in the World. Satisfied with her choice she glanced up to notice the tall, gangly boy looking down at her with interest which made her heart skip for a moment.
"Thank you so much for the suggestion Neville, really you've been a great help." She beamed up at him, trying to mask her earlier surprise as his continued presence. A smile crept across his face, exposing his less than perfect teeth which instinctively made Hermione run her tongue along her teeth. Always thankful that she'd gotten her front teeth shaved back a bit after the incident with Draco. The young witch spun around to return to her original pile of tomes. He followed her then too, taking up the seat beside her and watching as she cracked open the text.
"Is this research for Herbology? Is there a project coming up I've missed?" He questioned, looking at her parchment once more for insight, the anxiety plastered on his face.
"No, I-" the witch stopped herself, trying to come up with a rational explanation that she would have the chemical compounds to a poisonous herb scrawled out on a piece of parchment that didn't link her to Professor Snape. While she was thrilled with the idea of being tutored by the potions master, she doubted he would want other students knowing her had taken her on at the behest of Dumbledore's insistence. And to be honest, she didn't want anyone knowing how low she'd sink in the name of competitive academics. "I'm studying for the N.E.W.T.s" She stated plainly, hoping her confidence would make up for the falsity she uttered. Before he questioned her, she quickly continued, "Neville didn't you say you were spending the weekend with Luna?" She decided distraction was the best tactic to change the topic. What better distraction than the secret crush that everyone except his affection knew about? She mused, attempting to restrain a grin.
He shook his head at his cheeks became a deep shade of pink, scratching the back of his neck as he avoided the gaze of the brilliant witch. "She uh, said she found some Gulping Plimpy in the Black Lake and she was determined to save them from Merpeople, didn't want me to scare them off so I stayed back," Neville explained, standing from his spot. "It was nice seeing ya Hermione, don't study too long." The young witch offered a wave as she watched his awkward body disappear behind some bookshelves.
Skimming the back pages for any mention of Angel's Trumpet she came across a mention of it in the appendix with no corresponding page number. The brief description read Angel's Trumpet, also known as Thorn Apple, is a species of Datura in the Solanaceae family. All parts of the plant contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals.
She gathered her books, taking the time to put each one away before she rushed off to Snape's new office. The stairs that lead down to the main level from the library were packed with students coming back from the Quidditch match and she had completely forgotten was happening, and eagerly searched for her friends in the crowd of Gryffindors.
"Hermione!" Her name made her twist around and nearly topple down the suddenly moving steps. The groups of students steadied themselves on the hand railings as the stairs shuffled, but she was caught by a sturdy body behind her. Righting herself, she turned to face the looming figure only to come nose to nose with her recently acquired brooding tutor.
"Professor!" She gasped, losing her footing again, only to be caught once more by the potions master. Her face felt like she was standing very close to a raging fire as she locked eyes with the wizard. She thought maybe he would look away but his dark gaze lingered on her far longer than she had expected and the awareness that the stairs had stopped moving, and people were back on their way, was very slow in washing over her. Hermione heard her name called again, to her left, but she didn't look away, a heavy heat clinging to the air. When her attention was quickly pulled away to a hand on her shoulder, she allowed herself to look back at where Snape stood before he gave her a curt nod and headed on his way.
"What was that about?" Turning back to her friends, Hermione watched as Ginny looked after Snape who had changed directions and was heading back down the stairs. Shaking her head to dispel her thoughts, the older witch faced her friends with a forced smile.
"No bloody clue!" Hermione chirped, glancing over to see Harry standing behind the ginger girl with his hand subtly placed on her lower back. Ron was oblivious of course, matching his sister's stare after the brooding wizard. Ginny shrugged, turning her attention back to the wild-haired girl who was trying to keep her eyes locked on her friends.
"Anyway, you missed our match 'mione!" Ginny whined, slapping her friend on the arm before linking it with her own. "You missed so much, Ron played horrendously after he discovered your absence." Furrowing her brow, the bright witch flicked her eyes back to the sullen ginger behind her. "He even left his position to ask me if you'd been ill this morning!" Ginny said in a slightly elevated voice to ensure her brother knew they were talking about his horrible rounds.
"Why would he do that?" Hermione questioned genuinely. She supposed that she did have feelings for the boy at one point, but the repeated failure to catch her affection turned her off the idea rather quickly. The novelty of unrequited love was not something she fancied wasting her brain space over. Ginny knew this as they had always confided their affections for the boys in their lives. At least she was on the right path with Harry as she quickly realized his mistake in chasing Cho. Dean had been the stand-in for the love the ginger was truly after and did not take the break up too hard when the other wizard thought he ought to focus more on his studies.
"Because," Ginny began, "I think he loves you 'mi." Instinctively, Hermione nudged her friend in the side, shooting her a serious glare as her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. The younger witch's voice fell to a whisper as she leaned into her friend. "He didn't stop talking about you on the way to find you, he was especially distraught when I told him you hadn't been ill. He thought maybe you had a boyfriend he didn't know about." Hermione gasped at the suggestion, pulling away slightly as she nearly tripped on the top step of the staircase. "I laughed at the idea because no student in this whole school could ever be good enough for my Hermione. Even your feelings for Ron stemmed from convenience rather than genuine attraction." Ginny continued, motioning wildly with her free hand. Hermione found her footing, easily following alongside her friend as the rest of the golden trio trailed behind them. "And even if you did still like him, he's dating Lavender and she wouldn't release her claws in him if he begged her!"
The brunette glanced behind her once more to see Ron striding behind her, his eyes still glued to the muddy boots adorning his feet. Willing herself to rediscover her feelings for the wizard, she watched his eyelids flicker with every thought that crossed his mind. She took in his freckles that had shrunk since the summer due to the colder Scotland weather. It always made her heart warm when she watched the boy delve into his own thoughts but now she just felt annoyed that the boy took this long to discover her worth.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, she once again faced the girl holding her arm as they rounded the corner to the Fat Lady's portrait. A first year was waiting outside with his arms crossed over his dishevelled robes, a deep wrinkle setting in between the young wizard's eyebrows. There was a muttering among the sea of burgundy and gold clad students before someone shouted the password and the portrait swung open. The other students filed in but Hermione kept her eyes on the young boy who was pushed out of the way by the older ones. "Are you okay?" She whispered, kneeling down in front of the boy who was crying.
"I for-forgot the pass-s-word and she- she- wouldn't let me i-in. I've been ou-out here for a-a-an hour." He struggled through his words as he sobbed, his knees tucked under his chin held together by the grip of his tightly clinging arms. Hermione knew that wasn't the only reason for the saltwater pricking at the boy's soft cheeks but she knew better than to press him. He was Eddie Pritchard, a half-blood from a town not far from hers and, if she trusted the rumours, was newly an orphan after the death of his parents in a car accident not one year prior. Holding out her hand, the other witch helped the boy to his feet and wrapped him in a short hug.
"No need to worry, Eddie, any time you forget the password, you're welcome to come find me and I'll help you get in any time." He nodded vigorously at her offer before rushing off and jumping through the threshold before scuttering up to the boys' dormitories. Hermione followed shortly after, stepping into the common room before the Fat Lady shut behind her.
Her friends were sitting around the fireplace, boasting about how Harry had caught the snitch before Ron could lose us any more points. Lavender Brown had found herself a spot next to Ron and was staring up at him pathetically, moaning over his every word and desperately trying to get as close to the keeper as he would allow, nearly breathing in his ear. Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend's oblivious glances at Harry as he tried to manage a laugh with the other students.
She passed over the gathering and went straight to her dormitory. Exhausted, the young witch fell back onto her bed and exhaled loudly. The room was empty, thanks to the party starting up in the common room, so she took the opportunity to attempt a nap before her prefect rounds later that evening. That, she mused, is when I'll pay Snape a visit. At least no one will be around to bother me and he'll likely still be in his office marking the sixth year's papers on curses and their corresponding curse-breakers. Hermione's eyes fluttered closed as she attempted to lull herself into a sleep with calming thoughts. I just have to make up an excuse to get away from Dean, she pondered sleepily.
Fresh parchment rested under her hand as she read over a new book she'd discovered on charms, ready to take down any notes she deemed worthy of remember. Which would likely be the entire book, the thought of which made her smile. A heavy hand rested on her shoulder, making her look up into deep brown eyes staring down at her. Snape's lips curled into a smile before he bent down and captured her mouth with his. The heat of embarrassment she'd felt before was nothing compared to the heat washing over her as she stood to adjust herself into his arms, never breaking the lip-lock. His hands hungrily grabbed her bottom and hoisted her up on the desk she was writing at, forcing a moan to escape into his mouth. Allowing her arms to circle his neck, she wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him close to her, his tongue slipping against her own. Parts of her throbbed with anticipation and she mentally begged to have him rip off her shirt in the middle of the library. "Oh, gods…" She moaned when he left her mouth to kiss a trail down the sensitive skin of her neck.
-x-
Her eyes flashed open, her breath catching in her throat as she quickly realized she'd allowed herself to fall too far into sleep. Casting a tempus charm, she realised she was almost late for her rounds with Dean. Jumping from the bed, she glanced around the darkened room and found the other beds in the room were still as empty as they had been when she went down for a nap. Releasing a breath, she forced herself to brush off the erotic dream she was revelling in before she forced herself into consciousness.
Stumbling down the steps, she thanked Merlin that she'd fallen asleep in her clothes as to not have to waste time changing before her rounds. "Blimey Hermione, you're right on time! That's not like you." Dean commented as she rounded the corner into the common room. Catching a glimpse of blonde curls on the couch, she looked back to see Lavender straddling Ron on the couch, attached to his face with all her might. A giggle escaped her lips at the sight before she turned back to her partner for the rounds.
"Ready?" She questioned, seeing Dean's puzzled expression she shrugged obliviously. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just-" the wizard paused a moment, looking past Hermione's shoulder before setting his eyes back on the curly haired witch. "Nothing. let's go." Turning on his heel, the boy carried on ahead of her, making her jump and follow behind him. Glancing back, she saw Harry and Ginny delve into a snog in beside the bookshelves in the farthest part from the couch they could manage. Flicking her attention away from the couple, she stepped over the threshold after Dean.
Their rounds were quiet and uneventful, and as they neared completion, Hermione excused herself under the guise of going to the prefect's bathroom for a bath. Dean didn't even bother questioning her before heading back to the common room, likely to spy on Ginny and Harry or wallow in the doubt he likely held from giving up his witch earlier that year.
Waiting until the coast was clear, Hermione hurried down the steps to the floor where Snape's office was, rounding the corner and striding to the heavy wooden door. Upon arriving, she felt rather void of her Gryffindor courage as she stood in the dark. She was suddenly very aware of her jumper from second year being a smidgen too tight and the fact that she'd spilt ink on her jeans earlier in the day. Attempting to smooth her hair back she grunted in frustration. In her haze to adjust her appearance, she'd neglected to notice that the door has swung open before her and her Professor towered over her in the opening.
Her lips fell open slightly as she struggled to find the words. As the silence sucked the air out of her lungs, his eyebrow raised almost making her lose balance. "Be careful Miss Granger, you seem to be falling quite a lot today." He seethed, noticing her slight falter.
"Angel's trumpet." She stated simply, afraid any more words would make her even more unbalanced than she was already feeling.
"Yes, Miss Granger, 5 points to Gryffindor for figuring that out. Only took you an entire day in the library to make that breakthrough." He teased, sneering at her over his nose. "10 points from Gryffindor for being out of bed past curfew and interrupting my evening."
"But I was on my rounds-" she began to justify when he interrupted her.
"Do you want to make it 20 points, Miss Granger?" He took her silence as a response. "I thought not, now go back to your tower before I am forced to make it 30 points." Anger boiling in her ears, the young witch spun and walked back the way she came. At least I only lost us 5 points, she attempted to calm herself as she made her way back to the tower, replaying the scene over in her head as she made each step.
Returning to her common room, she went straight for the dormitories, ignoring the snogging couples scattered about the circular area. The room wasn't empty this time, Parvati was snuggled into her cot and snoring rather loudly. Wordlessly, Hermione cast a quick silencio charm on her friend before slipping out of her jeans and jumper, throwing her bra on top of her laundry pile. She quickly changed into a fresh pair of knickers and a shirt her father had wanted to discard but the young witch was determined to keep until it disintegrated. It was far too large for her small frame and donned a picture of a comically big tooth with "Doctors Granger and Granger Dentistry" in cursive font below it. Crawling under the covers of her own bed, she hoped her charm on her roommate would last until sleep could find her.
Luckily it did, and she quickly drifted from consciousness.