Disclaimer —J. K. Rowling is the second richest woman in England (actual fact, go check it out) and I am a lowly American college student. Who do you think owns Harry Potter? All I have are my two-bit ideas and odd writing technique. Cheers!
Chapter Two: Frivolous Fiction
Late the next morning Hermione made her way down to the kitchen of Grimmauld Place. Still slightly groggy and hung over from the night before (they hadn't gotten in until after two in the morning!) she kept her eyes nearly shut and lead herself by touch along the worn, dark wood walls until she finally reached the kitchen door.
Before entering she paused a moment to see if she could hear anything through the door. From the kitchen side all she could hear were the faint sounds of Ron and Harry playing a game of Wizard's chess while still obviously half asleep.
Pressing her ear even more firmly against the door Hermione could hear Sirius and Remus talking and very faintly the sound of someone biting into a piece of toast. She assumed it was Draco, as she highly doubted Snape would be joining them after last night.
"Spying are we?" Came an amused and smarmy voice from just behind her.
Startled Hermione jumped and spun around to see none other than Draco Malfoy smirking at her.
Hermione opened her mouth to say something scathing to wipe the annoying grin off his face when he doubled over laughing. Rolling her eyes and scowling Hermione shoved Draco's shoulder and told him to shut up as she pushed the kitchen door open. Stepping in she found that the toast eater was none other than Severus, Harry and Ron's "greasy git." Hm, so I was wrong, Hermione thought to herself. Unconsciously she continued to stare as he munched on his breakfast and read the Daily Prophet.
The sound of Ron calling to her brought her mind back to reality.
"What?" She asked, shaking herself slightly to disperse the daydream threatening to invade her making thoughts.
"I only said good morning," Ron said, looking puzzled at his friends' behavior.
"Oh!" She cried, "And a very good morning to you Ronald. Loosing again I see." She noted, coming over to observe the game.
"Am not!" Ron exclaimed as one of Harry's pawns assaulted one of Ron's rooks.
Hermione decided it would be best if she said nothing and kept her amused grin to herself as she began scouring the fridge for breakfast.
"Sirius!" Hermione cried as she snooped around the fridge. "Why do you never get two percent milk – a request I make every time I look in this fridge?!"
Sirius sighed and stood to get himself something to munch on. "Because," he said, shoving past her to get at the cold cuts, "I feel that it is my personal responsibility to get some meat on those skinny little bones of yours." Tickling her exposed midriff as he spoke.
Hermione squealed and leapt away from him, colliding with Draco who swooped around in front of her yelling "Oh guard!" and brandishing a jam coated butter knife.
Sirius reacted quickly and spun around to grab a spatula from next to the stove. He and Draco stood there, unmoving and staring at each other menacingly until Remus yelled, "GO!" at which point the two men leapt at each other yelling and swiping at each other causing Hermione to double over in a fit of giggles. She tried to tell them to cut it out but was laughing too hard to do so, so instead she waved her wand and the two froze mid attack.
"Hey!" They yelled in unison.
"We weren't done yet!" Draco complained.
"Yeah," Sirius added, "I was just about to pulverize this blond show off."
"Bullocks you were!" Draco retorted.
"Oh please, I'm over twice your age and in prime physical condition." Sirius said as he attempted to show off his "prime physical condition." This only made Hermione giggle harder and she was forced to sit down on the cool, stone kitchen floor.
Draco rotated his head (the only part of their bodies either of the men could move) to look at the laughing pile of girl now lying on the floor.
"You planning on releasing us any time soon?" Draco asked, but all Hermione could do was continue laughing hysterically.
After she'd quelled her laughter somewhat, Hermione began to drag herself up off the floor when she felt someone moving behind her. Before she could turn to see who it was, the someone spoke with the unmistakable voice of Severus Snape.
"Now, now Miss. Granger," said the self-important voice from behind her. She felt her body tense as Severus moved around her to get to the sink. He was so close she could feel the heat from his body. Just like last night, she thought.
"I would think," he continued, "that the nineteen year old head girl of Gryffindor could behave with at least some semblance of maturity."
Hermione would have responded with a charming and witty retort had Snape not been standing so close. So close she feared she might fall over from being so lightheaded. Luckily, Harry filled the gap in the conversation.
"Geez professor, school doesn't start for two more days and we don't leave for Hogwarts until tomorrow! Why not give her a break! We're supposed to be on vacation after all."
"Indeed," added Remus, "a break would be highly recommended. That includes you Severus." He added with just a shadow of a smile.
Snape grumbled but said nothing out loud, instead choosing to focus his attention on loading the magical dishwasher Mr. Weasley had finally perfect (by magically enchanting a Muggle dish washing machine) one month previous.
Still paralyzed by Snape's closeness, Hermione didn't remember to reverse the spell on Draco and Sirius until they both yelled her name.
"Oh keep your panties on!" She said exasperated.
"If you'd undo the spell—" Sirius started to say but before he could finish Hermione had reversed her paralysis spell and Sirius and Draco were both free.
"Blimey woman!" Exclaimed Draco, bending over from the shock of the after effects of the spell. "That bloody thing hurts!"
Hermione smirked and gave a little curtsy.
"Suggestion from Fred and George," she explained, "they thought it would be more effective if I added a 'pins & needles' sensation as an after effect. Glad to know it works."
Draco scowled but kept the rest of his complaints to himself and went back to rubbing life back into his limbs.
"I have to say 'Mione," Sirius said as he nursed his own arms, "I'm surprised! That's quite a nasty prank spell you've got there." As he spoke he gave her an amused look and it almost seemed to Hermione like there was even a hint of pride in his tone.
"Well," she said, trying to hide the blush creeping into her cheeks. "I did learn from the best."
Sirius smiled and pulled her into a warm hug.
Harry, Ron, and Draco resumed one of their heated conversations about Quidditch and Remus ninjaed Snape's abandoned newspaper.
Hermione swore she saw Snape stiffen when Sirius embraced her. Could it be . . . ? she thought. No. She silenced the hope she refused to admit, even to herself. He was her professor, she his student. Nothing more. Ever. But last night, the thought circled around and around her mind unbidden. She did her best to bury it, but nothing seemed to make it go away.
Once Sirius released her, Hermione shook herself and went back to searching the fridge for something edible to serve as breakfast. Finding only whole milk she resigned herself to a small bowl of cereal and turned to grab a bowl from the cabinet only to find Severus squarely in her way. Sighing again she reached around him to get at the cabinet and was surprised when he nearly jumped as she reached one arm around him to grab a clean bowl.
"Sorry." She said, hiding her scarlet cheeks behind a mass of honey brown curls.
Snape made a grunt of mild annoyance and went back to ignoring her presence.
After breakfast Harry, Ron, and Draco dragged Hermione off to help them defeat a strange Muggle video game that involved two pains of players racing around increasingly difficult cartoon-esque racecourses while all of their opponents chucked what appeared to be turtle shells and bombs at one another. The boys were trying to open up some secret new level and need another "gunner" to accompany Draco, who usually drove solo.
The four spent the remainder of the morning and all of the afternoon racing around and around and around until finally Draco said it was giving him a headache and Harry and Ron agreed that some fresh air was in order. Hermione took this opportunity to slip back to her room and grab a good book. The weather was gorgeous, but this was her last day before school and she had promised herself that she would read no less than thirty non-school related and non-nonfiction before the summer was up and she was almost finished with her thirty-fifth, an intriguing story about a magical castle that moved along the countryside aided by a fire demon.
Grabbing her book Hermione went to the kitchen to grab something more to eat while she read and then made her way to the Grimmauld library, easily her favorite room in the entire, huge house. At first she didn't even realize there was anyone else in the room and went about getting herself settled in her favorite chair just as she usually did. A noise from across the room caught her attention though and she looked up into the deep, black eyes of Severus.
For what seemed ages the two stared at each other unsure what to do or say, then finally Snape rose from his spot on the couch and approached her. Hermione stood nervously and watched his feet clad in their normal, black leather boots, getting closer and closer to her. Finally the boots stopped and Hermione looked up as Severus began to speak.
"Trying to squeeze in some more frivolous fiction I see?" He said, his voice laced with spite.
Hermione faltered, suddenly unsure of herself under his intense gaze. If it hadn't been for last night she would have simply replied with something witty and possibly smarmy, but now. . . Now that she knew what his body felt like pressed against hers. . . Now that she knew what those hands felt like holding on to hers. . . Now she couldn't think of a single thing to say and just stood there in silence.
Severus smirked at her and turned to leave. Hermione lowered her eyes to the floor silently screaming at herself for being so childish and stupid. What is the matter with you?! Why didn't you say something, anything?! Her mind screamed over and over again. Suddenly she saw Snape's boots stop just shy of the door. They slowly began to turn around and then walk back to the chair opposite Hermione. Confused Hermione looked up to see what he wanted now.
"I believe this is yours." As he spoke he extended a hand towards her and, learning forward Hermione could see that cupped in the palm of his hand was the locket her mother had given her at her eighteenth birthday celebration. In it was a picture of Hermione and her parents, and opposite it was a picture of Hermione with Harry and Ron after one of their victorious school Quidditch tournaments.
"Oh," Hermione said lamely, extending a hand to receive the necklace, "Thank you, it must have come off. . ." She trailed off, scared of what might happen if she brought up last night. Not wanting to venture into dangerous territory she looked to his face for some hint as to what he remembered. She found him looking at her blankly.
"Yes, last night." He said simply, giving no indication of what he might know. He than dropped the locket into Hermione's outstretched hand and turned and walked quickly out the door.
Hermione collapsed into the chair behind her and heaved a heavy sigh.
"This is why I treat myself to 'frivolous fiction,'" She spoke aloud to the walls covered in rows upon rows of books. "It's so much simpler than real life."