Disclaimer: I don't own anything that belongs to J.K. Rowling, although I wished I owned Severus.
"Do you think we can discuss this when we get back on solid ground, Professor?" Hermione asked as she wrapped her arms tightly around him, causing him a slight discomfort and the broom to teeter, which only caused Hermione to scream for bloody murder in his ear.
"Miss Granger, calm down this instant!" Snape growled as he took his hands off the broom, and pulled her away from him. "Look at me, Granger!" When she did, he tilted his head slightly. "I've had enough of this, Granger. CALM. DOWN."
Hermione swallowed the lump in the back of her throat as she could see Professor Snape's rage building a fire behind his eyes. She bit her bottom lip, as she let go of him slightly. "I'm so-"
"You will not apologize to me Miss Granger, for I will not accept. Now, do you trust me?" Professor Snape asked as he grabbed a better hold of the broom.
"Yes, of course I trust you Professor Snape." Hermione stated as she still clung to him, but not as harshly.
"Then act like it, girl. I had enough of this shenanigans. Get a grip on your fear, I will not having you screaming in my ear ever again! Do you understand?" Hermione nodded, "Now, explain to me what happened early this morning."
"Can't we talk about this—" She paused when she saw him glaring at her. "I was running—"
"Obviously, why were you running before dawn Miss Granger? What were you running from?" Professor Snape asked her, as he continued to fly them way up into the skies above the clouds, so they would not be seen.
"I wasn't running from anything, Professor. Honestly, I was just lost in euphoria of running." Hermione said as she bit her lip.
"Do you think I'm stupid, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape asked as he raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes at her.
"I would never refer to you as unintelligent, Professor." Hermione stated softly, "My parents told you, I looked up to you. Did they not?"
"They were just trying to diffuse the situation...Now tell me what you were running from, and perhaps I will forgive you." Professor Snape said with a sneer.
Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest, 'What was I running from? Honestly?...' she thought for a moment, before she spoke. "My life. I was running from my life, my thoughts, my parents...everything." She said as she looked deeply into his dark charcoal eyes. " When I run, I am not thinking of anything, the wind sweeps through me, and the music is blasting in my ears, and I don't have a care in the world." She spoke with her eyes closed, thinking of how it feels when she is running. " It's like I am truly living for once, and I do not have to worry about how many times I can revise my essay,.." She paused to take a breath, " or if the boys have started their homework, or if my parents hate me...honestly, when I am running...all those thoughts that are slowly killing me, day after day, simply disappear. For a few hours it's just me and the wind dancing at my heels."
Severus had remained quiet as she spoke, his eyes were watching the skies, but every few moments he would be looking at Hermione, as she glowed when she spoke of running. He found himself, at awe of her new discovery. "I see there is no excuse for running directly into my person." He stated coldly, as he looked to her eyes. "When we arrive at Headquarters, you are to go straight to your room and get some sleep. In the morning you will report to me, understood?"
Hermione sighed, "I understand, Professor Snape."
The rest of the trip was deathly quiet, occasionally Hermione would hold Snape tighter, but she would loosen up after a few minutes of getting used to the new turbulence. The winds in the sky were not as nice as the ones she feels when she is running, her jumper was barely keeping her warm, and she had not thought of a warming charm. By the time they reached Headquarters, and touched ground between the houses 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place Hermione was freezing. Her face and ears were pink from the cold.
Severus landed and allowed Hermione off the broom. "Here we are," he stated softly, as he pulled a scrap piece of parchment out of his pocket and handed it to Hermione. "Read this out loud, Miss Granger, so we may go inside."
"The Order of the Phoenix is located at Number 12 Grimmauld Place." Hermione stated through chattering teeth.
When Hermione read the words aloud, Number 12 Grimmauld Place manifested by shoving it's neighboring houses Number 11 and 13 out of the way, appearing directly between them. The front steps were worn, leading to a battered front door. On the door was a silver knocker in the shape of a twisted serpent, with no keyholes, handles or anything else that would indicate it to be a door for it could only be opened by magic. However there is a doorbell—a 'loud, clanging bell' that has a tendency to awaken Walburga Black's portrait.
"Don't ring the bell Miss Granger," Snape said in haste, gripping the girls hand before she reached the bell, he removed his wand from his sleeve closing his eyes as he murmured a few casting words, the door creaked open on it's own. "There we are, now go upstairs with your things, and go to bed. I expect you to come find be no later than 10 O'clock sharp. Mrs. Weasley will probably insist you help the others clean house, however you will inform her that you will be aiding me. Is that clear, girl?"
"Yes, Professor Snape. You have my things—in" Hermione stopped speaking when he pulled out her bags from his protected pocket of his jacket, thrusting them into her hand, before he swooped passed her and marched down the hall way, thrusting open a door and disappearing behind it, promptly by slamming.
Hermione shook her head from side to side, as she had watched him storm off to some secluded area. "Well, it doesn't even look half as intimidating without his robes."
Author's Note: I know you most likely wish to smack me, but I still would like to know from the fans of "Untitled" if I should combine this story and make it the same story. I still am contemplating if they should be one long story or two separate stories. For all you new fans out there, thank you for reading.
Lost O'Fallon Girl
