~ Chapter 21 ~
A week later Hermione had recovered from her battle with the mysterious dark curse. Snape kept a watchful eye over her as she slept on his sofa and administered different potions to her daily. For once there were never awkward silences, and they talked more than they sat in silence.
They talked about the simplest of things, but avoided the subject of the Malfoys. However, Hermione knew that they needed to talk about it soon. Snape and I have to join the fight to recover the Ministry before something bad happens.
She looked up from the book Harry had got her for Christmas and watched Snape engage in a silent conversation with Penny. The conversation must've been light because a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips — which she took notice of a lot more recently. He always caught her lingering stares and it only made it worse that she couldn't work out why she couldn't stop staring.
"What are you talking about?"
The pair glanced her way then exchanged a sly look with one another. "Nothing of importance. How's your back feeling?"
"I feel fine," she said. "Although, I do feel useless staying down in the dungeons."
Mild hurt flashed over his face but he covered it with a scowl. "Useless how?"
"I have no idea what's happening outside of Hogwarts, and I'd love to know so I can help put an end to it."
"Perhaps a brilliant mind such as yours should be kept behind the firing line," he leant forwards and brushed his fingers along Penny's fur.
"That's a backhanded compliment."
He cleared his throat. "I didn't intend to cause offence—"
She smiled. "I understand your intent, sir. I'd want you to be safe from harm but I know that I'm incapable of stopping you."
He stared back at her in surprise. She wished she could venture into his mind and understand the thoughts passing through. I just want to know what I mean to him. Hermione had no complaints about their growing friendship, however, the effort was mostly made by her.
"I guess that means I'm incapable of stopping you?"
She nodded. "Of course. You said that you'd be by my side throughout this fight, so I intend to stay by yours."
Three hisses that almost resembled a laugh caught her attention, and she glanced down to see Penny nudging her head against Snape's hand.
"I wish I could have a familiar," she sighed. "But that chance is slim, and I've never been a lucky person."
"I wouldn't get too hung up on the idea. Having a familiar isn't as magical as it seems," he ushered a hissing Penny away who found solitude on Hermione's lap.
"You are too mean to her," Hermione kissed her black head and chuckled. "I'm happy that you are Professor Snape's familiar."
"He's tolerable."
"Oh gosh, you even sound like him," Hermione laughed over at Snape who stared back at her in a peculiar way. "Sir?"
He shook his head. "I apologise."
"For what?"
"Nothing," he said. "We should go and talk to the Headmistress and see what she has to say about everything."
"O-OK," she stammered, slightly baffled by his strange actions. "Do you think we'll be able to do it quickly?"
"We don't have to stay for long —"
"No, I mean do you think it'll be quick to deal with the Malfoys."
His left shoulder lifted up in a weak shrug. "I'm afraid I don't know, Miss Granger."
I wish he'd call me Hermione, but I've just managed to get us to be friends so I'm not going to push for anything else yet.
Hermione followed him out of the dungeons and made sure to keep her head down as they passed through the crowds of students. Luna walked by with an innocent smile on her face, and Hermione was grateful that she didn't make a big deal about her return. They eventually arrived at the Headmistress' office and Hermione was surprised to find a large group of people there.
Sniderfield. Harry. Ron. And plenty of ex-aurors.
"Hermione," Harry hugged her and she stiffened beneath his touch, but it wasn't enough to make her panic. Snape was quick to separate them both and he led her over to a vacant chair by McGonagall's desk, then he leant against the wall nearby and observed the packed room.
"How are you feeling, Hermione?" McGonagall smiled sweetly.
"Fine," she muttered. "What's going on here?"
"We're trying to formulate a plan to bring down the uprising within the Ministry. Lucius Malfoy can't possibly think his reign will last long."
Murmurs of agreement followed, then Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at Ron's bashful face. "Everybody's here for you."
Out the corner of her eye she saw Snape push himself off the wall. "Don't be silly, Ron, everybody here wants to restore order to the Ministry." He quickly removed his hand and returned to his spot behind her. She still hasn't forgiven him for his rude letter about waiting for her to recover from being raped.
"Right, let's get back to the discussion — you were saying Vic?"
Sniderfield stepped forward to address the group. "We're yet to discover what Lucius' intent is while being Minister, one can only assume that it's not good intentions after the display at Spinner's End," Hermione flinched at the memory of her parents. "I had hoped that we could settle this peacefully, but the more the days pass, the more I can conclude that we'll have to fight him."
"One war has just ended, we don't need another," a young woman said.
"This isn't exactly a war, just a necessary fight to restore order," Vic replied. "You're not obliged to participate, but we'll need all the help we can get."
Hermione noticed the worried look on McGonagall's face, and she soon realised the woman was hiding something. Possibly valuable information.
"What's to say something like this won't happen again?" Another Auror asked.
This time Harry spoke. "The people under Lucius' command are people who indirectly supported Voldemort, so once we gather them all up we'll have hopefully got rid of the problem ever arising again. However, I do think I know what Lucius wants out of all this." Harry's eyes landed on her and a cold shiver shot up her spine.
"What are you insinuating, Potter?" Professor Snape spat, coming to stand behind her.
"Hermione," he sighed. "It can't be a coincidence that Lucius started to plot things around the time that Draco was arrested for... well, you know, that."
A few people started to ask what he meant, but no one wanted to give them a direct answer. "Then what does he want with me then?" She managed to keep her voice steady.
"Well, in his delusional mind, his son being arrested for such a crime would taint the Malfoy name even further. He's still held in high regard within the pureblood lines, and I'm sure he hoped to carry on being held in such a regard when he got out of Azkaban."
Her heart thudded against her chest, and the only reason why she hadn't lashed out at Harry was because Snape was right behind her. McGonagall cleared her throat suddenly, and everyone turned to look at her.
"It's time I was more honest about what's been going on," she said. "The Ministry is falling into pieces as I speak, yet there hasn't been an uproar from the public, only people who work at the Ministry. There are a mere twenty normal wizards and witches left at the Ministry, and that number will soon dwindle down to zero. There has yet to be anarchy overthrowing the nation because no one wishes to spark another war, so it's left to us to sort this out before the problem gets bigger."
Does Professor Snape know about this? Has he been keeping more things from me?
Hermione glanced at Severus. "You've continued to lie to me?" He seemed shocked by her admission, especially because she asked it in front of everyone.
"Details have been kept from Severus up until this point," Minerva walked around her desk. "Lucius has this fantasy that no one will come and challenge him, and he fails to see the complications with that. Other wizarding governments from around the world will soon start to act out if nothing is done, which is why we will face him head on. The parliament has been overrun by his friends so there's no use going down the political route; I'm afraid we have to use force to reclaim order."
"Will Kingsley return to being Minister?" Ron asked.
Minerva shook her head. "He escaped the country after David Cole ambushed him. He's in serious danger if he returns, and he's expressed to me that he doesn't wish to return for a while."
"Then who will take his place?" Harry stepped forward and placed his hand on the back of Hermione's chair.
"I have no idea," she replied. "But this is something we have to do, immediately. People should be able to return to their workplace within a week, and hopefully, things will return to normal."
"This is all my fault," Hermione whispered.
"No it's not, 'Mione," Harry crouched down by the chair.
"Yes it is," she hissed. "You even said it yourself, Lucius wouldn't be doing this if Malfoy hadn't...this is my fault."
"I didn't mean it like that —" a shadow loomed over him and Hermione sensed Snape's presence.
"Move along, Potter, before you dig yourself a deeper hole."
"Stay out of this, Snape!"
"This also isn't the place for arguing amongst one another," McGonagall said. "I'm giving us a time limit of two days to think of a plan, that will take us to the weekend, then we can get this over with."
Heads nodded in agreement, and McGonagall guided the majority of the group from her office. Hermione stared at the few people who remained, and she began to wonder why none of the remaining Order had been invited to the gathering. Perhaps McGonagall is right when she says people don't wish to be involved in another fight.
"Hermione, can we talk alone," Harry glared in Snape's direction.
"I'm afraid not," she got to her feet. "Professor Snape and I have to figure out a plan, just like you have to Harry."
"But, I feel like we haven't spoken in so long—"
Snape came to stand by her side. "That would be due to lack of effort on your part, oh, and Weasley's insulting letter."
"What?" Ron said, confused as to what Snape meant.
"Leave it be," she whispered to Snape, but he shook his head at her.
"I've been hoping to see you again, Weasley," he stepped closer to her quivering friend who did his best to level the menacing glare of the potion master. Hermione quickly put herself between the two and placed a hand on Snape's chest.
"It doesn't matter right now, we've got bigger things to worry about."
"What letter?" Vic asked.
"The letter Mister Weasley sent saying that he was willing to wait until I patched up his friend, so they can be together again."
Ron furrowed his brow. Harry let out a whine and smacked his hand against his forehead. And Vic smirked. "You never were smart with words," Vic said, and Harry hit his arm.
"Oh," Ron open and closed his mouth. "Is that why you sent a confusing letter in response?"
Hermione smiled up at Snape as she remembered the long, articulate response they created together. "Yes, Ron, you hurt my feelings. Professor Snape is my friend and you insulted him as well as me. He's not just around to pick up the pieces so I can return to you all patched up and polished — I have no desire to be with someone after what Malfoy did, and I'm sure as Hell not going to be with someone who doesn't want to be around me while life gets serious."
He glanced down at the floor. "I'm...sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean to upset you. I just meant that I still, you know, care about you. I don't see you as damaged goods or anything like that; it doesn't matter to me what Malfoy did to you, you're still Hermione to me and I love you."
Hermione gasped. It doesn't matter what Malfoy did to me? Of course it matters, and he shouldn't have any need to say such a thing when it bloody well does matter!
"As articulate as ever," Snape hissed, then he placed his hand on her back. "Let's go back to the dungeons away from this simple-minded buffoon."
Hours later, Hermione was sat opposite Snape at his desk. Her mind was supposed to be focusing on his calculating words, but she couldn't stop thinking about how he'd put his hand on her back in the Headmistress' office. It didn't cause her body to come alight just like all romance novels claimed, but she still felt odd about it. Perhaps it's because it felt normal for him to do so?
He was busy talking while writing things down on a piece of parchment, probably thinking it would be better to take it to the next meeting. Hermione watched his brow furrow then relax, and she became enchanted by the movement of his lips. She didn't understand why so many people thought him to be unappealing; she wasn't one to label somebody as God-like, but she saw something she liked when she looked at him, something she'd never seen before.
A blush flooded her cheeks as she continued to gaze at him. He didn't seem to notice her intrusive stare, and she was glad that he hadn't called her out on it. She liked that she could go from being angry at one of her best friends to staring at Professor Snape so peacefully.
The silence of the dungeons caused his voice to echo and his velvety voice relaxed her body and soul. The fire warmed the air around them and Hermione felt comfortable enough to rest her folded arms on his desk and place her head on the crook of her arm. She continued to watch him through loving eyes, not even bothering to think what it might mean.
Penny lounged on the desk seemingly at peace like Hermione. Her tail swished around occasionally, and Snape would sometimes reach out to pet her. It's like he needs reassurance that she's still there.
A smile grew on her face as she watched his lips move as he told her his detailed plan. She could see he took pride in his ability to plan and strategise something as important as this, and she doubted anyone had seen him in such a light. Their situation was dire and serious, yet he looked relaxed and happy.
As she continued to stare at him, she remembered how she'd wanted to ask him if she could touch him. I wonder if I should ask again? Instead of creating a pointless story about why she thought it was a good idea, she should just ask him outright so she could see how he truly felt about the idea.
"Sir," her voice sounded raspy as she spoke. "Can I ask you something?"
He paused in his chair and looked her way. "Go on."
"Can I touch you?"
The once comfortable silence changed into a mask of despair. She immediately regretted asking him such a question because he looked at her in mild disgust. Oh...so that's how he sees me.
"Touch me?" he put down his quill with narrowed eyes. "Why would you want to do that?"
"Because, I keep thinking about what you said to me back at Spinner's End. Somebody's touch may help me to feel better again, and the only person I feel comfortable around is you, sir."
He breathed out heavily and she awaited his rejection. When he didn't make a scathing response, she tapped her fingers against the desk and looked at his hand. With complete caution, she slowly reached out to grab his hand which rested on the desk. It was rough and warm as she held it in her smaller, softer hand. He didn't flinch beneath her intruding touch, he only stared down at their joined hands.
It wasn't like when the boy had touched her in the supermarket. Back then she had felt nothing when he helped her up off the floor, absolutely no reaction to being touched by him. However, there was this oddly familiar feeling she felt in her stomach when she touched Snape; it was not a mind-blowing spark that romance novels claimed could happen, it was a simple hum of something she couldn't quite understand.
Hermione suddenly blinked quickly as a tear fell from her cheek and onto his hand. She inhaled sharply and looked up at him in shock. The expression on his face was unreadable, and it only worsened at the sight of her tears.
"I feel...I feel something," she said innocently with a smile. "I never thought it would be like this."
Snape let go of her hand leaving it to thump against the desk. He got to his feet abruptly and disappeared into his bedroom. Hermione watched the door slam shut with a sad smile. I guess it could've gone worse. She shook off her sadness and sat down on the sofa where she'd been sleeping for the past week. I'll try again tomorrow.
AN:/ Hello, I'm glad you're all still liking it, even though some of you wish for it to hurry along a bit. As you can see from this chapter, Hermione is starting to realise her reactions around Snape and is slowly piecing together that she may want to be more than just friends.
Quick question to you all, so please let me know, if Hermione had the opportunity to kill one of the Malfoys, who should it be? (I'm not saying it's going to happen, I'm just thinking of ideas in my head - oh and it can only be one, not the other! So, should she avenge her parents or get rid of Draco?) Thank you to everyone who favourited, followed and reviewed, let me know what you think!