CHAPTER 14: Maynin Ahaydeh

AN: Title is my own transliteration of the beginning of the Iliad, written in Ancient Greek. It means "Sing about the wrath".

It was the last Saturday in September and Hogsmeade was crowded with students.

"Hey Doll!" Isaiah greeted Hermione with a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

"I can't believe you came!" she hugged him back.

"We do have a date, and I am a man of my word."

"Don't let Professor Snape hear you say that."

Isaiah laughed. "Sev's a big teddy bear."

"I'm sure he is with you."

"Come on, lunch is on me. You can tell me all about your crazy revision schedule."

The pair walked into The Three Broomsticks and grabbed a table. They quickly ordered and were nursing bottles of butterbeer waiting for their meal to arrive.

"Did you get a chance to walk around yet?" she asked.

"No, I figured you'd give me the penny tour after we eat. You need fresh air after living in the library for the last month."

"It's my NEWT year…"

"I know, Doll, I know. You've gone on and on about them in all your letters. But you don't want to burn out so soon into the term. Isn't that the point of your schedule? Pacing?"

"I really want to do well."

"I'm sure you'll do fine. You got Os in your OWLs. Pulled a blinder."

"Not in Defense. I'm the top student but that's because no one else got an O either."

"Ask the Professor for help then."

"Professor Lupin takes a lot of days off and Professor Black covers his classes. But he plays around more than anything."

"Right, the blokes that Sev wants to punch on the nose, right?"

"Their animosity is well known throughout the school."

"Must be if everyone can tell. They need to just have a go at each other one time, no holds, and then get over it. All that aggression and frustration can't be good for anyone. Well, unless it's in bed."

"Isaiah!" she exclaimed, scandalized.

"What! You know I'm sleeping with Sev."

She hissed. "I'm quite aware, I just don't want to think about it. But on the topic of Professor Snape, did you talk to him about how he treats everyone that isn't a Slytherin?"

"No, why?"

"It's been strange. Ever since the start of term, he's been fair. Deducting points and assigning detentions to his house. Well, mostly to Malfoy now that I think about it. Hmm, I wonder what he did to attract his wrath?" She looked pensive.

"Maybe he chatted him up?" Hermione made a face and he laughed at her. "You're such a virgin. It's nice." She glared. "I'm not making fun of you for it. It's a good thing that you didn't give it up to the first moron who looked your way. What was his name, Crumble?"

"Krum. Viktor Krum."

"Yeah, him. Big shot athlete."

"It was one date."

"Because you punched him on the nose for letting his hands wander."

"I was fourteen. Too young for any of that."

Isaiah hummed, his response was interrupted by the arrival of their lunch. "After this, we'll take a stroll while pointing out cute boys and then I'll buy you a ton of chocolate to mellow you out before meeting up with Sev."

"Chocolate?"

"Eating chocolate increases the levels of endorphins released into the brain, which work to lessen pain and decrease stress."

"I know that."

"You did ask.

"It's strange…"

"What is?"

"I'm used to being the smart one in every group."

"You are smart."

"So are you."

"Yes, and you don't have to dumb down or explain things to me. Vice versa. Bonus of having a smart friend. Cheer to swots!"

They ate while talking about her crazy color coded revision schedule. As planned, they walked through the town, arm and arm which of course caused many whispers. Isaiah walked Hermione back to the station where she would ride a carriage to the castle and sent her on her way with her weight in chocolate.

He didn't wait long for Severus to make his appearance.

"How was lunch with Ms Granger?" he asked, his lips pressed into a hard line.

"Are you jealous?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"We're just friends."

"You constantly write to each other. She gets more owls from you than I do."

"You are jealous. Don't be. She doesn't have any friends and neither do I for that matter."

"I am your friend."

"You're my lover." Severus sighed. "You can always come home more often if you need reaffirmation."

"I'm busy with my duties. And it's a long way to apparate."

"I can pick you up and drop you off."

"You came here in one jump from London?"

"Yes."

"That's over 500 miles."

"It's the first time I've tried crossing a border. Might try Dublin next, see how I do across water."

"You're insane."

"You knew that already. Come on, I'll show you."

And with that he popped them to Severus' house.

After a couple of hours of bonding, Isaiah dragged Severus out to Maison Bertaux because he had a craving for chocolate eclairs and they were supposed to be the best in London. They were walking and eating, at least Isaiah was, Severus was doing a great job being a portable table holding his drink and napkins when they passed a group of protesters near St Anne's Gardens.

"I think it's ridiculous. Bible wielding buffoons."

"You have to say that, you're a homosexual," Severus replied.

"I'm as English as the next bloke but quoting the King James Bible is nonsense."

"I'm sure that statement is treason of some sort."

"King James had a long string of male lovers and kept knighting them."

"I am aware of Robert Carr and George Villier."

"Earl of this, and Duke of that. All for bending over."

"Isaiah!"

"What! It's true. It took seven years for the Bible translation to be complete. A task that was started a year after King James was crowned. In 1603, he's king, in 1604 he commissioned the translation and then in 1606 he met Robert Carr. And taught him Latin, and you know Bible verses are always a part of that. You have to learn to read Genesis and Leviticus. I mean, its nice that he wanted to broaden his lover's world with education but goodness, passages that claim that two men having sex is a sin is a turn off."

"That is not what the passage on Sodom and Gomorrah actually say."

"That's my point. Lot lives in a horrible place, where men bugger whoever they want without consent or repercussion. He is aware that it's a bad thing but still offers up his daughter to save his guests when his neighbors get randy."

"The guests were angels."

"So celestial beings can be protected from rape but not your own flesh and blood? The moral of that ridiculous story is that consent is important, not that two guys can't fuck. Rape is a sin, that's the message."

"You didn't have to take the pamphlet."

They both looked at the a leaflet denouncing Angela Eagle for being a lesbian.

"It makes no sense to hate her because she's a lesbian. Hate her for being part of the Labour Party, the supposed vote scandal in '92 because the Tory's can't lose without the other side cheating, or better yet, hate her because she wears hideous pant suits." Then he walked back to the man giving out the papers and shoved it back in his hands and proceeded to lecture him, "Jesus died preaching love thy neighbor, he wouldn't approve of you throwing stones at yours." He walked back to Severus who was watching.

"Feel better?"

"No, I need another eclair."

After a couple more eclairs and another round of sex, Isaiah apparated them near the gates of Hogwarts. Of course, it being a nice day out it seemed that the entire castle had stayed out in Hogsmeade and was as one returning for dinner. Their sudden appearance startled several students but once they saw that it was the dreaded Potions Master, they fled.

"I'm kind of impressed by how they scatter in your presence."

"Like vermin when the lights are turned on."

"You and your sunny disposition."

"Isaiah…"

"I'll stop. And I won't even grope you in front of them! Here, give these eclairs to Hermione." He gave Severus a pastry bag. The man scowled but took it.

"Fine, but I'm not happy about it."

Isaiah beamed at him. "I'll leave you to your duties then," then he whispered, "though, I wish I could sneak into the castle with you, I'll love to bend you over a desk." He winked at Severus' startled face which had the slightest blush and he disappeared.

"He's going to be the death of me." Severus mumbled to himself as he waved his wand over his clothes, cancelling the charm on his jacket and lengthening it to a wizard's robe.

He plowed through the students and quickly made it to the Great Hall. A few students were already sitting down, his eyes finding the mass of brown hair bent over a thick tome. He walked up behind her and let the shadow his body cast announce his presence. The girl looked up startled.

"Professor Snape," she squawked out.

He sneered at her but then quickly turned it into a frown. He placed the pastry bag in front of her as if it was a filthy sock. "Don't spoil your dinner," he snapped and walked away as she said thank you.

"What was that about? asked Neville who had walked in during the tense exchange.

Hermione grabbed the pastry bag and looked inside. With a wide smile she looked up to reply. "Chocolate eclairs."

"What!" he spluttered. She repeated herself. "Why would Snape give you anything? Is it poisoned?"

"It must be poisoned," added Dean from a couple seats away. It seemed the entire house had materialized.

"Don't tell me you're into Snape, Hermy, that's just pathetic," quipped Lavender while snickering to Pavarti.

"Gross," yelled Ron with a full mouth. The platters of dinner options had filled and he was the only one paying attention to any of it.

Hermione huffed and started serving herself some roast chicken and vegetables. She chose to ignore everyone but Neville who had always been kind to her. "They're not poisoned. He wouldn't do that."

"How do you know? I wouldn't eat anything he gave me. I'm sure he'd try to kill me."

"It's not from Professor Snape. He was kind enough to pass this along from someone else."

"WHAT!" was everyone's response. This of course caused the other houses to quiet down a bit to see what was going on with the Lions.

"Kind? Did you just describe Snape as kind?" asked Colin Creevy from another spot at the table.

"Well, it was very nice of him. He could not have given me the eclairs," Hermione responded and continued to eat, ignoring the looks and whispers.

"I'm so confused," confessed Neville.

"Wait, if they weren't from Snape, then, were they, like from the dish you were with earlier?" Parvati asked.

"What dishy bloke?" asked Ginny.

"We saw her all chummy with this really hot fit guy. They had lunch together, walked around the village, he even got her a bunch of chocolate. Tall, tan, gorgeous green eyes, very dishy," Lavender sighed.

All heads snapped from Lavender to Hermione's. "Yes, the eclairs are from him."

"Get out!" squealed Lavender and Pavarti.

"Way to go Hermione," cheered Ginny.

Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to finish her dinner.

"I'm still confused," said Neville.

"You're always confused, mate," offered Ron to a chorus of snickers.

Neville's face reddened but he ploughed on. "Why would Snape give you something from that guy? Does he know him?" At the questions everyone stilled.

"Umm," Hermione wasn't sure what to say. In desperation she looked up at the Head Table searching for Professor Snape. She found him. He raised an eyebrow at her. She bit her lip and looked at the innocent bag of eclairs that started this mess, then back at him eyes wide in panic. Everyone was watching the exchange at this point, or at least it seemed like it. Then before their very eyes, their mean Potions teacher actually smirked and nodded. Hermione flashed a brief smile as confirmation and turned to Neville.

"Woah!" breathed Neville. He looked at Hermione in admiration. "Did he just smile at you," he said in a mousy voice, afraid to be heard in the heavy silence.

"The eclairs are from the man I was with earlier today, but we're just friends…"

"Oooo is he single?" asked Lavender.

Hermione rolled her eyes at her and ignored her. She continued to only talk to Neville. "And he gave them to Professor Snape because they're a couple, so of course he knows him. It must have been easier to send them with the Professor than via an owl since we are both in the castle.

"I'm sorry, but can you repeat that? Snape. He gave you that," he pointed at the bag, "because his boyfriend is friends with you!" Neville was pale.

"Correct." At this point, desserts were appearing but Hermione ignored them. She opened the bag and took out an eclair. She placed it on her now empty plate. "Would you like one, Neville?" she offered. He shook his head. She shrugged and proceeded to eat it. "These are great, I have to send him an owl letting him know."

"That gorgeous man! With Snape?" sputtered, Lavender offended. Hermione nodded. "I thought those were just mean rumors."

"What rumors?" asked Dean.

"He was seen at Diagon Alley kissing a young man. One of the third year Ravenclaws supposedly saw it. Right in the middle of the street. Then supposedly the guy yelled at Malfoy at the Leaky Cauldron for being rude and staked his claim on Snape. Everyone is terrified of Snape, so I dismissed it as a horrible rumor."

"When was this?"

"I think right before term started," offered Pavarti. "I can't believe it." And they all turned towards the Head Table. They were promptly reminded of just who they were staring at when they were reprimanded.

"Stop gawking!" shouted the Professor.

Even more shocking was the giggle that slipped past Hermione's lips. They waited in tense silence for his rebut, point deduction or even detention but it never came.

"Bloody hell!" exclaimed Ron and the rest agreed.

"You're really friends with…" Neville couldn't not finish the sentence.

"Yes, he's really great. Super smart."

"Wow, he must be if our resident know-it-all declares him so," Parvati offered.

Hermione sniffed haughty and ignored her.

"How did you even meet him?"

"At Flourish and Blott a couple of weeks ago," she replied.

"Of course that's where," injected Ron.

"Is that who you've been writing to?" asked Neville.

"You noticed?" she asked and he nodded. "Yes, we first bonded over runes but now we write to each other about a lot of things."

"And Snape doesn't mind? That his boyfriend is writing you, taking you out to lunch, buying chocolates?" asked Lavender.

"And eclairs," said Parviti.

"No," was all that Hermione offered before gathering her things. "See you later Neville," and she walked away.

At the Head Table a similar discussion was being held.

"What have you done to my lions," asked Minerva when she noticed that her house kept glancing up at the Potions Master.

"Nothing, retract your claws," he sneered.

"Now, now, Severus," admonished the Headmaster.

"You must have done something, you hate Gryffindor," said Sirius from his spot next to Minerva and four seats away from Snape.

Severus merely sent a glare his way and ignored him. They proceeded with dinner but were interrupted when a loud 'WHAT' was heard from the Gryffindor table. It seemed that the older students were all surrounding Hermione Granger. He knew what this was about and watched to see how she handled it.

The other professors spared glances, also interested in what could have caused such a stir. Then they watched stunned as Miss Granger looked up at the Head Table, eyes searching until they fell on him. Severus raised his eyebrow in question, wondering what she could possibly want from him. Then she quickly looked at the pastry bag and back at him with fearful eyes. He was now aware that she did not want to pass on any gossip but didn't know how to deflect the nosy blitters. For once, he didn't care and smiled at that realization. He nodded to her, letting her know that she could tell them the truth. Since in this case, the truth would shock them more than any lie. Miss Granger looked relieved and offered a small smile in thanks before turning to the Longbottom boy.

"What was that?" asked Minerva. She had watched the exchange like everyone else and was confused.

"Miss Granger is a horrible liar. She was looking for reassurance."

"And you actually offered her some?" she asked.

Severus gave a curt, "Yes" as reply.

"Why, Severus, it warms my heart that you are helping Miss Granger."

"Please, Headmaster, it's not from kindness?"

"Of course not, he's probably sabotaging her somehow," said grumbled Sirius.

"Severus!" admonished Minerva.

"As if I would bother," Severus scoffed.

"Really, because now the entire table is staring at you," chimed in Remus.

"And some of mine," offered Filius and Pomona at the same time.

The Headmaster looked around and they were quite right. It seems that most of the students were looking at Severus with looks of shock, intrigue, or incredulity. "My dear boy, what has them in such a tizzy?" He looked at Severus expectantly and the rest of the professors followed. He knew it must be big by the pleased look on Severus' face. Not that anyone else would tell but Albus had known the boy since he was eleven.

"Nothing much, Headmaster. Miss Granger is merely sharing why my partner has sent her some pastries using me as the delivery service." The look on everyone's face was priceless.

Albus recovered the quickest. "The young man you both have been seen with?"

"Correct."

"Why, Severus, I'm happy for you. You must make introductions."

"I will check with Isaiah and let you know."

"Isn't that the friend that recommended that you get me socks for Christmas last year?"

"Yes, he provided a good argument and I took his advice."

"I'm glad you did. I love socks and never get them."

"I'll let him know that he was right, he won't let me live it down."

"You...you...you're actually dating?" asked an unbelieving Septima.

"How does Miss Granger know your paramour, Severus?" asked Minerva.

"They're friends. It's beyond me why."

"I hope he's kind to her, she hasn't had the best social life here," she defended.

"If you must know, he's taken her under his wing. They write all the time and he even took her out to lunch today during her Hogsmeade outing."

"How marvelous!" exclaimed Albus happily.

"Wait, I saw them in town. Miss Granger was arm in arm with a very good looking young man," offered Pomona. "He's quite young, you're such a rascal, aren't you Severus," she teased.

"He took it upon himself to calm her down. She's going to drive herself, and us, insane with her studying."

"The fact that he managed to get her out of the library is a miracle," offered Minerva.

"Isaiah has convinced her to scale down her revision schedule. I'm sure we do not want a repeat of her OWL year," Severus said and they all shook their heads remembering how crazy she was that year.

"He sounds wonderful. Why don't you bring him to the first Quidditch match since Slytherin is playing? They are open to the public," offered Albus.

Of course, once Severus agreed, the entire school learned about it. Everyone was excited to get a glimpse of the man that was dating their most feared teacher. It was a month away but the excitement did not die down.