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 7:Comrades and Cohorts
As Harry and Ron made their way down to breakfast early for a change, they went over all the reasons it was a good idea that they not disturb Hermione and that they had made the right choice in not grabbing her on their way down to breakfast.
"I mean, really, I hate to see her that way, don't you mate?" Ron said, stretching his arms over his head as two Ravenclaw forth years passed them and giggled. Ron shot them a brilliant, if not somewhat sleepy smile and waved idly. The girls practically exploded with glee and ran away ahead of them. Harry shrugged and shook his hair out of his eyes. It was getting obscenely long, he really needed to do something about it soon otherwise he wouldn't be able to see his hand in front of his nose.
"I don't know," Harry said finally. "I suppose you're right. It just. . . I dunno. Just seems weird to go without her. She's been acting weird since the train, and I don't like this feeling that we're. . . I don't know, abandoning her or something."
"We'd never!" Ron said, affronted by the idea. "We just didn't want to disturb her, that's all!"
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Let's just make sure to let her know we've got her back, okay?"
"Sure thing mate! But can I please have some bacon and eggs first?! I'm dying here!"
"You are a bottomless pit!" Harry said, laughing at his friend as they entered the Great Hall.
The two young men headed over to their usual spot at the Gryffindor table and took their seats across from Neville, who was reading a wizard music magazine. Glancing around neither Ron or Harry saw Hermione. They exchanged looks, but shrugged mutually and figured they'd catch her on the way to class.
They never got the chance though, because Hermione never showed up to breakfast and no one had seen her. Harry and Ron had to run to make it to History of Magic. They would have been on time and possibly even early had they not used all their extra time wandering the halls and asking if anyone knew where the Head Girl of Gryffindor house was. Not one person had known though, and they finally gave up and headed off to class grumpy and mildly concerned.
"Oh. My. GOD, GINNY!!" Hermione screamed in frustration and anxiety.
"What?" Ginny asked, not even attempting to hide her laughter at her friend's behavior.
"'What?' Is that all you can say, 'What?'?! This is excruciating and I look like a. . . like a. . . well, unprofessional to say the least!"
"You do not," Ginny said, rolling her eyes and handing a fifth buttered croissant to her friend. Hermione glared at her friend and snatched the pastry away from her. Throwing herself on the bed the began to rip great chunks off the croissant and jiggle her foot.
"I have never missed breakfast in my life, and this idea of yours that I should be late of the first day of classes, is utterly idiotic!" Hermione said through bites of the pastry Ginny had been kind enough to acquire from the basement kitchen before breakfast.
"Would you relax?" Ginny said, flopping down next to her friend. "You'll be fine. You don't have to be late, just exactly on time which means not early, which you will be if you leave one second before I tell you!"
Hermione turned and glared at her friend, unconvinced. She loathed being late and suspected that his was not the way to impress anyone, let alone the single strictest teacher at their school.
In her heart of hears however, Hermione knew that she would never achieve her goal without help, and she had to admit to herself that she really didn't know the first thing about changing her image or breaking rules. Ginny did, and so she had to do what Ginny said, even if it meant that she was one again forced in front of her peers in. . . less then standard attire.
Ginny checked her wrist watch and nodded, and extended a hand to help her friend to her feet. "Time to go." She said, and Hermione heaved a sigh of relief.
As they two were about to part ways to their separate classes, Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm. "One second," she said, handing Hermione a small book.
"What's this?" Hermione asked, inspecting the tiny volume.
"It's your new daily planner. I've got your whole schedule for the rest of the week already written up in there, all you need to do is fallow it. I've included everything from time when to wake up, how long to shower, and how quickly or slowly to walk down the hallways." Ginny smile and Hermione blanched.
"You must be kidding?!" Hermione exclaimed, amazed. "How could you have calculated all of that since last night?!"
"I'm a genius at Muggle mathematics." Ginny said, beaming.
Flipping through the planner, Hermione noticed several seemingly blank spots in the evenings, all marked with "BGR."
"What's this about?" She asked, indicating the "BGR" spots.
"Oh! Those are open spots for detention!"
"WHAT?!"
"Look, there's no time to explain. Just fallow the planning to the letter, understand?"
"I—but, Ginny!" Hermione yelled to Ginny's retreating back.
"Hurry up!" Ginny called over her shoulder. "You don't wanna be late!"
Hermione would not believe this. Ginny actually expected her to get detention! This was absurd. Hermione let out a frustrated scream and kicked the wall, before dashing off to her doom.
Hermione arrived exactly as the last bell of first period was tolling. She tried to rush to her seat, to be inconspicuous, to blend in with her classmates. She was trying as she hunched her shoulders over and slunk in with a couple of Hufflepuffs, who did their best not to stare at her for the most part, but none the less she could feel their eyes on her.
She had almost made it to a nice empty seat in the back row when she was caught.
"Miss Granger?"
Hermione cringed and turned slowly, wishing more then anything she could melt into the floor. "Yes Professor Burbage, ma'am?"
"Where, pray tell, are your school robes?" Professor Burbage asked, giving her a look of complete confusion. Never had his star pupil shone up in such attire, and he was most curious as to why.
Hermione stood up as straight as she could and strode forward to her usual spot at the front of the class, wearing only her button down shirt, house tie, and a somewhat shorter version of her usual school skirt paired with knee high socks and Mary Jane loafers. "I'm so sorry Professor," Hermione said, bowing a little and doing all she should to swallow the embarrassment she was feeling. "I'm afraid there was some sort of accident on the train and all of my school robes have been destroyed."
"Destroyed?!" Professor Burbage said, aghast. "Good heavens, why didn't you tell anyone yesterday?"
"I'm sorry Professor. I didn't realize until this morning, after I had sent my only unharmed robe to be laundered." Hermione said, avoiding eye contacting and repeating every rehearsed word that Ginny had drilled into her this morning.
"Well, it sounds as though there was no way around this then. I'll give you a pass for your next class, go and see Professor McGonagall about getting new robes. Until then please take a seat."
Hermione nodded and almost collapsed into her seat. She could feel Harry's and Ron's eyes burning holes into her back but she didn't have the energy (or apparently the time!) to deal with them just yet. She pulled her textbook from her rucksack and when Burbage's back was turned she slipped the planner between its pages. She had a lot of reading to catch up on.
As she read and half listened to Burbage recite word for word passages from their textbook that Hermione already knew by heart, she found that Ginny had not only planned every last second of her life for the next two weeks, but she had also included notes. Pointers, reminders, explanations, and beauty and personality tips too. Everything under the sun from how to carry herself as she walked from this class to that class and how it was different from how she should carry herself as she walked from class to dinner, but also which buttons she was to have buttoned on her blouse at what time of day. Hermione had to laugh at the sheer preciseness of her friends planning.
Well, she thought to herself, at least I know I've gone to the right person for help! Now then, what am I up to after Muggle Studies? Ginny, it seemed, had planned on her getting sent to McGonagall, and had included that in the time slot when Hermione would normally have been in Charms. Then she was supposed to head to the bathroom on the forth floor and adjust her hair and reapply lipstick, then head down to Potions a tad early so she could talk to "Professor Sexy-Pants" as Ginny had dubbed him about a study session later that night, which was apparently supposed to take place from 7pm to 10pm, though how Ginny could estimate that, Hermione did not know. Probably the same way she knew I'd get sent to McGonagall after first period, she decided finally.
While Hermione was busy going over her "New and Improved" schedule, Harry and Ron were staring at her openly and passing notes trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
I mean, Merlin! Did you know she had legs?! Harry wrote furiously to Ron. Who glared at him before replying.
Yes I bloody well did you git, can we focus here?! Something is definitely wrong with 'Mione. She'd never come to class without her robes, she would have gone to McGonagall first thing this morning!
Maybe she missed her? McGonagall does get up awfully early these days.
Then she would have borrowed a robe from someone! What about Gin, huh? Why didn't she borrow a robe from her?!
No clue, maybe we should ask her?
Catch her after class then?
Harry nodded in reply and both boys resumed their staring at their friends back. The answers would just have to wait.
Hermione packed up her things slowly, knowing full well she had more then enough time to get both scolded and consoled by McGonagall, and she really had no idea how Ginny thought it would take her more then ten minutes to fluff her hair and apply lipstick. She also knew that Harry and Ron would have questions, and while she didn't relish the thought of trying to explain anything to them right now, she also knew that they deserved to know at least a little of what was going on.
"Hey, 'Mione?" Ron said from behind her. Right on time, she thought.
Turning to face to two best friends she had to smile at their sheepish expressions. "Yeah?" She said, leaning against her desk, her arms crossed in front of her.
"Erm, it's just. . ." Ron faltered, running his hand through his hair, his most telling nervous tick.
"We just wanted to apologize for yesterday, and we wanted to ask you. . . well, what's going on with you. You've been off it seems since the train ride here." Harry said, managing to drag his eyes up from his shoes to her face. Hermione could see the warmth of friendship in their eyes, and for a moment she almost wanted to tell them everything. But she knew that was not part of Ginny's grand plan and right now, that plan was all she had to go on in these treacherous uncharted waters.
"It's just. . ." She said, intentionally twirling her hair around her finger, something she knew she did when she was nervous. "I guess, it's just that this whole Prefect thing. . . well, I just want to do a good job, you know?"
Ron and Harry nodded, and moved closer to her, one on either side.
"And I guess. . . well, Snape just spooked me at the meeting. Made me feel like I was. . . well, you know. And I guess I just didn't realize how important this whole thing was to me."
"It's alright 'Mione, we were just concerned!" Harry said, putting an arm around her shoulders and giving her a little squeeze.
"Yeah," Ron added, putting an arm around her waist. "Just remember that you can talk to us, okay?"
"Especially about Snape!" Harry quipped. "I mean really, if anyone knows how wretched that man is it's us!"
"Exactly." Ron agreed, smiling down at his friends.
"Thanks guys," Hermione said, accepting their good thoughts in spite of the falsities to which they were offered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some robes to see to."
They nodded and waved as she turned to leave. Turning away she couldn't help but be pleased with herself that she had managed to divert their attention so thoroughly. They were so utterly predictable, it was both lovable and a little sad. Right now though, she had a schedule to stick to.
Hermione walked more quickly to McGonagall's office then Ginny's instructions seemed to intend, but she wasn't in the mood to saunter about with her skirt ridding up her legs like it was. She really couldn't believe she had just let Ginny destroy her clothing like that.
Sighing and shaking her head to no one in particular she rounded the corner and approached the stone gargoyle that guarded the Headmistress' new office. The creature took no notice of her, but stood firmly in her way.
"Catnip Tea." Hermione whispered, and the gargoyle stepped aside. She slipped passed and made her way up to the headmistress' office. When she reached the door she paused, and said a silent small prayer in honor of Dumbledore, whose passing was still hard for all of the students, but particularly those who had been as closely involved with him as she, Harry and Ron.
Catching her breath she knocked on the door, waiting to enter until she heard the slightly muffled noise of affirmation.
"Headmistress, ma'am?" Hermione said as she entered slowly and cautiously. Everyone had heard the explosions and the screams from her office. The word around the castle was that the redecoration process was not going so smoothly. Several of Hogwarts past head masters and mistress' seemed to have differing opinions as to how Minerva should decorate her new office, and she did not seem to keen on their non-stop advices, leading to some truly extraordinary explosions and arguments.
"Professor?" Hermione tried again. Still unable to locate the woman.
"Yes?! What is it?" Came McGonagall's all to tired voice from behind a tall stack of boxes. She poked her head around the corner to see who was disturbing her during class hours. "Oh, Miss Granger!" She said, a note of apology in her voice. "I'm so sorry my dear, I didn't realize it was you. How may I help you?" As she spoke she disentangled herself from the piles of boxes and came over to Hermione.
"Oh, it's just that, well Headmistress—" Hermione faltered, realizing only now that had Ginny included any notes on what she was supposed to say to McGonagall, she had neglected to read them. Fortunately, the older witch cut her off.
"Hermione, please, call me Minerva. We've been through far too much for such formality when we're alone. Now then—wait, where are your school robes?"
"That's what I needed to speak to you about. Somehow, there was an accident on the train and all of my robes were destroyed."
"Whatever do you mean, destroyed?" Minerva asked, gesturing Hermione to a seat by the fireplace. Hermione accepted her offer and took a seat, trying with all her might to keep from wringing her hands in nervousness. Minerva took a seat across from her and leaned closer, awaiting an explanation.
"Well Profess—I mean, Minerva. I'm not entirely sure what happened. When I opened my trunk this morning all of my robes were in burn shreds. I tried to repair them, but nothing would work! I'm so sorry, I just didn't know what to do. I slept through my alarm this morning so by the time I was up, everyone was already heading off to class so I couldn't ask to borrow a spare, and I figured it would be much worse to not show up on the first day of classes then to show up, well, like this." As she spoke she said another silent prayer that the woman before her would believe the ridiculous story spilling from Hermione's lips.
"I see." Minerva said at last, shifting her gaze to the fireplace and twiddling her fingers idly. "I'm afraid that you'll have to make due for the time being. We can send out for some new robes, but that could take up to a week."
"I'm so sorry about this, Minerva—"
"Oh don't be foolish. It's just a spot of bad luck. We'll order you some new robes and have them sent straight away, alright?" As she spoke, Minerva stood and came over to rest a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder. She beamed down at the young Gryffindor Prefect.
"Thank you, I should probably be getting to class." Hermione said, smiling at Minerva and standing to leave.
"No trouble at all, though I dare say you'll need a note to keep Severus off your back. You do have Potions next, correct?"
Hermione nodded and Minerva went to scribble a little message on a piece of parchment, which she handed to Hermione before sending her on her say.
Checking first her wrist watch and then her daily planner, Hermione decided to forgo the trip to the forth floor bathroom and instead chose the dungeon lavatory instead. Her chat with Harry and Ron had taken longer then she'd anticipated and she didn't fancy having to run up and down several flights of stairs for no reason.
Hermione Granger had not been the only person who skipped breakfast that morning. She was, in fact, one of three people who were notably missing from the Great Hall that morning.
Severus Snape had done something he could not recall himself ever doing before in his life, not even when he was a sullen youth: He had hit the snooze button on his alarm clock five times before turning it off and rolling over. It wasn't so much that he was tired, on no, he'd slept gloriously. The trouble was why he'd slept so well.
He had dreamt. Not the normal nightmares that plagued him so often, no this had been a dream unlike any he had had in many long years. He had dreamed of his encounter with the know-it-all Granger girl. The dream had mostly been a pure memory, recounting every last torturous second of that night, but with an ending that left him both disturbed, flustered, and alarmingly giddy.
Rolling onto his back and putting his hands behind his head, Severus stared up at the ceiling above his bed. The white wash and plaster were cracking in places, but they had been a welcome home to him for more years then he wanted to think about just then. Letting his eyes relax, he thought back across the dream.
It changed just at the part where he'd accidentally looked down her blouse. He really hadn't meant to, it was a mistake. But in the dream, Miss Granger had seemed to know where his eyes had found themselves. She had smiled coyly and bitten her lip, hoisting the stack of books she was holding, making her enticing bosom jiggle ever so slightly.
He gulped, audibly. She looked up into his eyes and in them he could see a dark fire burning. He found himself terrified of that look. She had seemed to revel in his nervousness. Had dropped her books to the flood beside them and advanced on him, pushing her tiny frame against his.
He'd put his arms around her, not sure what else to do with them. She had purred and rubbed herself against him, harder this time, seeming to want him to know that she wanted him.
She had wanted him.
He felt her press her pelvis into him, trying for any response. She had looked up at him with those eyes, those dangerous eyes, and he threw all caution to the wind and pulled her to him, tightening their already intense embrace.
He pressed his hardening member to her and she squeaked, but smiled at him wickedly. He had chuckled to see her so devious.
"I can do anything you want, you know, Severus." She had said, in little more then a whisper.
He growled and grabbed the back of her head, twisting his fingers in her soft, luscious hair.
"What would you like, Severus?"
His name on her lips drove him mad and made his blood run feverishly hot. He could feel every nerve ending in his body reacting to this girl, this young woman whom he wanted more then air, more then life at that moment.
She gave him the most endearing look. A crooked smile, her eyes still shining brightly with that dangerous look in them.
"Tell me, Severus. Tell me what you want and I will be yours."
"I think you know what I want, Miss Granger." He said, smirking down at the little thing in his arms. She smiled at him, and dropped to her knees, clutching at his robes, never taking her eyes off of his.
With a swiftness he could never had imagined she swept aside his long robes and had undone his belt buckle. Another second and his trousers were around his ankles and she was grabbing at his hard cock, trying to release it from his boxers.
He watched her, both amused and amazed. She was so devastatingly lovely there at his feet, so terribly desperate to pleasure him. He smirked at her as she stared up at him.
At last she freed him. She licked her lips and—
Then there came the most abominable screeching noise and the entire thing melted into nothingness.
Sighing to himself he decided it wouldn't pay to lay in bed forever. Forcing himself up to a sitting position became suddenly aware that his dream had not been so far off from reality. He groaned at the hardness demanding attention. Finally he decided that a shower would do the trick. A shower with a little finale, as it were. When exactly did I become a prepubescent boy? He wondered to himself as he made his way to his private bathroom to freshen up before classes began.
Remus Lupin had not attended breakfast because he had wanted to have a little chat with Draco Malfoy. Hermione had been acting strangely, and he suspected that her new friend might have some answers that Harry and Ron no doubt would not.
He had caught Draco as he exited the Slytherin common room in the dungeons. Saying that he wanted to have a word, he'd led them to a deserted classroom.
"I wanted to talk to you about Miss Granger." Remus said, leaning against the desk at the head of the room and looking directly at Draco.
"Sure, what about her?" Draco answers, sticking his hands in his pockets and shuffling back and forth.
"She's seemed a little off the past couple of weeks, and I'm wondering if you have any clues as to why. I'd ask Harry and Ron, but as I'm sure you're well aware, those boys are about as clueless as anything."
"Well, I mean, what do you mean off I guess?" Draco answered, wanting to know exactly how much Remus had picked up on before divulging any information.
Remus smirked at him, and decided that it couldn't hurt to tell one person the full truth. "Well, I had noticed her flirting with Severus rather a lot if that's what you're asking."
Draco's jaw dropped and for a moment he just stared, horrified. Then he seemed to stare off into nothing for a while, coming to terms with this revelation. "I guess. . . " He said finally, turning his gaze back to his professor. "But how could you possibly tell? I didn't even notice she liked him in the least until the meeting on the train."
"Let's just say I' have years of practice at being perceptive." Remus said, smirking again. "But down to business. All I need is a confirmation of my suspicions, and to know what else is on her mind. I don't intend to butt in, I'm just concerned."
"Well," Draco said, thinking. "She told me that she didn't like the person she was. She said she wanted to be more. . . well bad, I suppose is how you'd put it. She wanted to be more desirable and more carefree. She never mentioned one word about Snape, but if you'd been at that meeting you'd probably have known for sure."
"Mm, I see. Thank you, Draco." Remus said, beginning to loose himself in thought. "Thank you," He said again, distracted. "You should get to breakfast. And keep an eye on her, alright?"
"Sure thing Professor Lupin." Draco said, giving him a little salute before leaving.
"So my intuition wins again." Remus muttered to himself once Draco was gone. "I'll have to see about this." And with that he set off towards the Potions professors quarters.
Severus heard the knock on his door just as he'd stepped out of his shower. He had been planning to skip breakfast and have another session with his pensieve. His feelings for the Granger girl seemed to be persisting for some strange reason, and he really didn't need it interfering with his teaching abilities. It worried him though, that even though he had stored all of his memories concerning her in jars locked away and hidden in secret, the thoughts still plagued his mind. He was just in the middle of mulling over that fact when the knock came.
"Who is it?" Severus asked, raising his voice enough to be heard through the heavy dark wood door.
"It's Remus, may I come in?" Remus Lupin? What in the world could he want? Severus had no idea, but decided that a friendly chat could be made much shorter were he still wearing only bathrobe, rather then getting fully dressed.
"Enter." He said, leaning against the bed.
"Oh, I'm sorry, is this a bad time?" Remus said, entering and seeing Severus' attire.
"No no, was just getting a quick shower before class. What did you need?" Severus made sure to sound as bored and irritated as possible, wishing more then ever to be alone.
"I actually wanted to talk to you about something." Remus said, adopting a strange look in his eyes that trouble Severus on an instinctual level.
"Well I would assume so, seeing as you're here and talking." Severus answered. He refused to let Remus goad him into giving something away. That look in his eye. . . he was out for blood and Severus intended to keep his to himself.
"Quite." Remus said slowly, giving his old nemesis a smile that chilled Severus' blood. "May I?" He said, indicating a chair by the fire. Severus shrugged and moved to sit across from him, keeping his arms firmly crossed over his chest.
"Now then—oh, I don't suppose I could trouble you for a drink?"
"At this hour?" Severus stared at him, one eyebrow raised in a combination of shock and amusement. "It's not nine in the morning yet!"
"Trust me." Was all Remus would say. Even more concerned, Severus went to a small cabinet on his bookshelf and retrieved two glasses and a bottle of firewhisky. Pouring himself a splash and Remus a shot, he sat back down, glaring at the man across from him.
Remus drank his shot in one swift swallow as though it were little more then water and set the glass down on the coffee table. Severus eyed him, sipping at his drink. When it became apparent that he would have to initiate the conversation he huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Remus? Is there something I can do you for, now that we've sat and drunk in awkward silence?"
Remus smiled and leaned forward. "I believe I know something that you will not like me knowing. And before I tell you what and give you the chance to throw me out of here on my ass, let me just say that I have a great deal more respect for you then you could possibly know. Also, I think you will be in need of a friend in the days to come, and I wish to extend myself as such."
"Comrades in arms?" Severus scoffed, sneering and attempting a laugh to cover his apprehension. This was going nowhere good and was headed there dreadfully fast. He wished the damn man would just get to the point. "What, pray tell, do you know?" He asked finally.
"That Hermione Granger has feelings for you, and that you in turn have some measure of feelings for her." Remus spoke clearly and slowly, keeping his voice low and never taking his eyes off of Severus'.
It was all Severus could do not to deck him right then and there. Instead, he set his glass down and stood, turning away from Remus. "I believe you know what comes next?"
"Of course, I'll just throw myself out then, shall I?" Severus made no reply, but he could hear Remus stand and head for the door. He tried to breath, to remain calm. He must not react—too late for that now, a nasty voice inside his goaded. No, I must remain calm, he told himself, trying to steady his breath.
"Just, remember all of what I said, alright?" Was all Remus said before closing the door behind him.
Severus counted down from fifty, giving Remus plenty of time to leave before he screamed, and threw his glass into the fireplace. Time for the pensieve, he decided, and stalked off to remove even more hateful memories before classes begun.
It became apparent to Hermione all too late just why Ginny had specifically told her to use the restroom on the forth floor, rather then the one in the dungeon. It's wasn't exactly packed, but it was a breeding ground of whispering giggling girls, something Hermione never did feel quite comfortable with, especially when most of those girls were staring at her openly as she smooth her hair and applied her lipstick. She gritted her teeth and checked her watch again. Five more minutes until the infamous Potions master would arrive in class. Seven minutes until he was settled in and it was safe for her to go and speak with him about a late night study session. Ten minutes until class began. This torture was almost as bad as waiting up in her room had been.
Sighing and glancing over her shoulder she slid the lipstick into her rucksack and turned to leave. She was brought up short by two girls blocking her path. Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode. Brilliant, she thought as she eyed them warily.
"And just what are you doing, looking all sassy out of your robes, Granger?" Pansy sneered, though Hermione did take note that she had been called by her sir name, rather then one of the many nasty insults Pansy had used on her in the past. It seemed not even the most wretched had the gall to use any words such as those since Voldemort's demise.
"If you must know my robes were destroyed, Parkinson." Hermione said, narrowing her eyes. She could feel every single eye in the lavatory boring holes into her back, and all she really wanted as to get out as quickly as possible.
"Oh really, and it has nothing to do with the fact that you're trying to steal Draco Malfoy?" Pansy spat out, loosing some of her composure.
"What are you on about, Pansy?" Hermione said, confused.
"You heard her just fine Mud—" Millicent started to say, but Pansy stepped on her foot and glared at her. "What?" She said, then shut her mouth and hung her head, scowling something fierce at her shoes.
"You heard me." Pansy said at last, returning her hate filled eyes to Hermione's.
"I'm sure I must have misunderstood, because it sounded like you think I'm interested in Draco Malfoy." Hermione said, straightening her back and standing a little taller.
"Oh, no misunderstandings there. Everyone saw you at dinner last night. And everyone saw how he stared at you." Pansy moved closer to Hermione, lowering her voice. "He spent the summer with you, right? And what now, you think you can just snatch him away from—"
"From who?!" Hermione said, raising her voice and causing everyone in the room to gasp. Pansy looked a little taken aback. "From a Slytherin? From a Pureblood? What, Pansy? What am I trying to take him away from other then an idiot who's so dense she can't even tell that Malfoy is too sophisticated to ever want a slut like her?"
For a moment, Hermione was sure that she must be dreaming. She would never have dared say something like that were it not a dream, so that must surely be what this was. Nothing more then a terrifying dream. When she couldn't convince herself to wake up, and was left with the reality that she had just called the most popular Slytherin, and one of the most popular girls in the entire school a slut in front of what surely must be the entire female student body, she decided it was time to exit the bathroom.
No one said anything as she left. She slammed the door, not so much for shock value, but more to try and contain the dreadful conversation in the bathroom. It was a faint hope, but perhaps somehow it would stay there, and not seep out and saturate the entire school. In her heart though, she doubted it very much. Sighing again she proceeded down the hall to Potions. She still had a schedule to keep to.
Severus was not having a good day. His first class had. . . well, it had happened and he was fairly certain he'd said things and written instructions for them to fallow. He wasn't positive though. His mind had been rather fuzzy since his last session of memory removal and he was beginning to wonder if he had displaced too many thoughts in the process.
The conversation with Lupin earlier hadn't help either. He had a vague recollection that he had said something nasty, but having culled so many memories, it was hard to decipher what, and the nagging in his mind was giving him a headache, not to mention that he was forced to begin his day with first years.
So it was with a great sense of impending doom that he greeting Hermione Granger. He knew there was something he was forgetting, and he knew that he had a very good reason for removing the memory, but it still bothered him that he had no idea what this girl could want. Never the less, he was determined to remain calm and to behave in a completely normal fashion. It was probably just his headache making him feel this way.
"Yes Miss Granger, how may I help you?" He said, smirking at her nastily. She seemed rather flustered, though not by his words it appeared. And she was out of her school robes! "And why are you out of uniform?" He said, rising from his seat and adopting a scowl.
"My apologies Professor." She said in a small voice, bowing her head. "There was an accident. I have a note from the Headmistress, sir." She extended her hand with a rolled piece of parchment in it. As he took in, his fingers grazed her tiny hand and a jolt went up his arm. Suddenly he started to remember just what he'd wanted so badly to forget. Groaning inwardly he unfurled the piece of paper and read the note intently, not wishing to look at her one second longer then necessary.
"I see." He said when he'd finished reading Minerva's ridiculous excuse for a pass. Demolished robes? That was the biggest load of dragon dung he'd heard since his own days at Hogwarts. "Well, I suppose with a pass from the Headmistress, it would not be fitting of me to dock house points for your attire." She started chewing on her bottom lip, and he felt his stomach tighten as the blood drained from his face to his nether regions. "Please remember however," He continued, swallowing hard, "that this note expires in one week. I expect you in your proper uniform the very second they arrive, is that clear?"
She nodded and then shuffled her feet as though she had more to say.
"Yes, was there something else Miss Granger?" He asked, leaning against his desk and crossing his arms over his chest if for no other reason then he was feeling slightly lightheaded.
"Well, sir. It's in regards to the books you lent me the other night." She said, finally lifting her golden brown eyes to meet his.
Oh dear, what is she talking about, raced though his mine again and again. He remembered something. . . something had happened, but what? Had he lent her books? Surely he would never loan her books from his private collection! Why should he ever do that? Perhaps because of what she does to you, came the ever unwelcome voice in his head and he knew that this would only get worse before it got better.
Muster all the self control he still possessed and reaching to massage the bridge of his nose to cover whatever expression might give him away, he said simply, "Yes?"
"Well, sir. It's just that, I'm afraid I was unable to finish with them, as you had requested. So, I was hoping the offer of an after dinner study session was still open."
Dear sweet Merlin, what had he agreed to last night? Had he really taken this annoying girl into his private library and given her his books?! And now what, was he supposed to simply quiesce to her request and let her return?
"Sir? Are you quite alright?" Her voice broke his mental turmoil, which he assumed meant he had started to trace it's way across his face.
"Yes, Miss Granger." He said, scowling all the more fiercely down at her. "I am afraid that my first class of the day has left me strained. Would you kindly remind me of the books you borrowed?"
"Oh, you gave me a few volumes that pertained to the test we'll be having on Wednesday. You requested that I finish with them and return them to you at class today, but I'm afraid I was too exhausted from the first year orientation that I couldn't quite finish. You said that in the event I was unable to finish with them, you would allow me to return to your personal library this even after dinner."
Fuck.
"Very well, Miss Granger. After dinner—"
"Seven sharp?" She said, sounding for all the world like an eager little child.
". . . yes."
"Thank you very much Professor!" She said, smiling.
He was saved from further conversation with her because the bell began to sound, and the door soon flew open as Gryffindors and Slytherins poured in to take their seats. This was going to be a very long day indeed.
Draco had been planning to speak with Hermione after Potions. His conversation with Remus earlier had left him burning with curiosity and devilishness and he was eager to see her reaction when he told her about it. He never got the chance however, because the very second class was over, the girl was off like a shot and he had to jog to just keep her in site as she ran through corridors all the way to the forth floor girls lavatory. What the bollocks is she doing?! He thought irritably to himself as he finally stopped, leaning against a wall to catch his breath.
To his great surprise and interest, a moment later Ginevra Weasley passed him on the way to the very same bathroom. She smiled at him as she passed and he gave her the most devilish but pleasant smile he was capable of. She blushed slightly and quickened her pace before disappearing behind the door. Draco waited a moment, then walked over to the door himself. Leaning his ear against the door and when he was quite sure that the room was abandoned save for the two girls, he entered.
They didn't so much scream as produce an elongated squeal that filled the lavatory and ricocheted off the walls painfully. Draco gave an exaggerated wince and applied a pained expression which he directed at the two young woman.
Neither appeared to be mollified and were glaring at him and advancing. This was perhaps not going to go as well as he had anticipated.
"What—!"
"Are—!"
"You—!"
"Doing in here?!" They cried, not thirty centimeters from his nose.
"Relax!" He cried, putting his hands up and backing away from their combined fury. "I just wanted to talk to 'Mione, that's all!"
"In the girl's lavatory?!" Ginny asked, glaring more fiercely in skepticism.
"The forth floor girl's lavatory!" Draco said defensively. "Everybody know no one comes up here! It's not close to any classrooms!"
"Is that why you wanted me to be up here?" Hermione asked, seemingly forgetting about Draco's manly intrusion upon the little girl's room.
"Well yeah! I didn't think you'd want an audience!" Ginny answered, somewhat defensively.
"You could have bloody mentioned that! I have no idea! I went to the one in the dungeon!" Draco and Ginny shared a grimace. "I got cornered and call Pansy Parkinson a slut!!"
"You WHAT?!" Ginny screeched as Draco burst out laughing.
"And you!" Hermione cried, rounding on Draco once more and pointing an accusing finger directly at his smirking face. "This is all your fault!"
"How exactly did I manage that, being that I wasn't even there?" Draco asked, managed to quell his laughing for the most part.
"She and that dump truck Millicent cornered me because Pansy thought I had a crush on you! She thinks I'm trying to steal you away from all the Slytherwhore Purebloods!"
Draco tried not to laugh, but the idea was just too hilarious. And Hermione Prissy-Pants Granger using such language as Slytherwhore compounded the humor ten fold. Ginny punched him in the arm, but that did nothing to diminish the abject hilarity that had infecting the situation. He backed away until his back met the wall and he slowly collapsed to the floor, wiping tears from his cheeks. Ginny seemed to furious with him to comfort her distraught friend, so Draco made a considerable effort and managed to get his hysterics under some semblance of control.
"Hermione Granger!" He cried finally, slowly getting to his feet once more. "Calm down!"
She stared at him, her mouth clamped shut tight. Ginny softened her expression, but she still did not look pleased. He decided that it was time for an explanation, damn the Weasley girl, she was about to hear a mouthful.
"I have some rather interesting news for you, if you're quite done." Hermione blinked, her jaw loosened slightly, but she remained silent. He took this as the most invitation he was likely to receive and chose to continue. "I had a talk with Professor Lupin this morning, before breakfast. He knew there was something up with you, and wanted to know if I had any insight. I'm no snitch, so I asked what he meant and he told me that he knew you'd been flirting with Professor Snape all summer and wanted to know what was up." He paused to relish the look of complete horror on Hermione's face. She looked just like a person who wanted to melt into the floor boards. He smiled, making an effort to make it a pleasant smile at the least.
"I told him that you wanted to recreate yourself, to be. . . well, I guess better is how you would think of it. And that was it!" He said, leaning his back against the wall again, testing his head on his hands, awaiting their reaction.
Hermione dropped to the floor, clutching her hair, her eyes getting bigger and bigger by the second. She looked almost on the verge of tears. Ginny rushed to her side, dropping to the floor beside her. Draco rolled his eyes, but abandoned his wall and came to sit with them, dropped down in front of them and crossing his legs.
"Oh no oh no no no oh no oh no no—" Was all Hermione would say. Ginny was trying to soothe her friend, but she didn't seem to be having much luck. Draco finally scooted forward and grabbed the hysterical girl by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him.
"Hermione." He said and she stopped muttering and just stared at him, terror in her eyes. "You need to calm down. This is going to be okay!"
"He's right, 'Mione." Ginny added, smoothing her friends hair comfortingly. "It really will be okay!"
"Yeah!" Draco piped in, cheerily. "You've got Ginny and me on your side now!"
"Together, nothing can stop us!" Ginny said, pumping her fist in the air. Hermione gave her a doubtful look. This was going to take some drastic measures.
"Come on," Draco said suddenly, standing and extending both of his hands to help his friends up. The looked at him blankly, though Ginny was finally smiling. She was rather cute when she smiled. "We're going to cheer you up weather you like it or not!" He finished, grabbing both of their hands and dragging them up. He let go momentarily, spun on his heel so he was facing the door, and reached behind him and re-grasped their hands. Once in tow, he led them out the door and down the stairs.
"Where exactly are we going?" Ginny said, a hint of mischief in her voice.
"We've got class! I've got class!" Hermione cried in a tiny voice, sounding desperate. "It's the first day! Let me go, I have class!" She was trying feebly to free herself from Draco's hold on her.
"You are doing a dreadful job of 'improving yourself' 'Mione!" Ginny cried, smiling at her and pulling herself free of Draco's hand to swing her arm around his shoulder onto Hermione's. Draco turned to smirk at her and she winked at him. Hermione ceased her protests, but still looked peaky. Not to worry, he thought gleefully, where we're going could cheer up the dead!
Notes from the author. . .
Oh my dear lord that took forever to write, you have no idea! Well you do, because you my lovely and wonderful readers were the ones waiting to read it. I hope you can forgive me since this chapter is long and I simply could not have done it without the reviews and love that you have given me. You lot are really just amazing!
Also, as I'm sure you can tell by now, I'm messing around with the pensieve and what the effects of it's over usage might be. I was never quite clear myself as to how it actually worked. Did you remember the memory you had stored, or was it just a recollection that you put something in there that pertained to something else? And what happens if you use it too much, extract too many memories? And what would happen if you tried to remove memories of someone you cared for deeply? Would the emotions cause the memories to slip back in? Or would you have just a jumbled, confused feeling? All things that I've wondered about and will be exploring in the chapters to come.
Lastly, I would like to apologise for some weirdness with Hermione's age. I'll admit, when I originally started the story I had the time turner in mind, but I only aged her up to be 19 because I thought I could write a 19's perspective better then a 17 year olds. However tonksinger makes a brilliant point about how ridiculous that is (go read her profile), and I think that I'm capable of writing her at her intended age, so that's what we're going to go with. Sorry if there was confusion, it's been fixed now.
Notes to YOU!
Yugia – I hope this is soon enough for you! It's super long, so I hope you enjoy! The next should up soon.
notwritten – Thanks so much! I certainly will!
iceball19 – Thank you so much, I'm so glad! The way I think of the castle of Hogwarts, is a little like a sentient being, that can shift it's walls and passages whenever it feels like it. Anyone can get lost there, I'm pretty sure even Dumbledore could. Hope that helps! And remember, you never know when a turn down an ordinary corridor might lead to another surprise!
icy-fox-demon – Oh, thank you so much! That's really wonderful of you to say! I hope you like this chapter just as much!