A/N: I own nothing
Hermione Undaunted
Chapter 2
Hermione was positively bursting with excitement over the news of Harry's most recent private lesson with Professor Dumbledore. Apparently they had gone into some of Dumbledore's memories about Voldemort's parents. Hermione added Marvolo Gaunt to her list of people that might be worth some research, and then hesitatingly crossed it off when a quick dig through archives in the library proved that he was nothing more than what Harry saw in the Pensieve. A poor, bigoted, washed out, Parseltongue with some serious hygiene issues. Merope was an unfortunate creature too, and Hermione kind of wished she could have gone into the Pensieve as well so she could see for herself how the events unfolded. The ring, however, was the piece of particular interest. Why would Dumbledore be looking for artifacts like that? What secrets did they hold? With any luck she would be able to help figure that out.
Hermione spent some of her time digging through archives for references to the Half-Blood Prince as well. Still nothing. And still Harry was positively dazzling in potions. She would have loved to have gotten her hands on that Felix Felicis, but more than anything she would have loved to have just gotten the potion right. Harry and Ron had this ridiculous notion that now they had free periods they would have tons of free time to relax, but Hermione dispelled it quickly and thanks to Harry's gift of the scheduler she was able to show them in plain black and white how quickly their work would pile up if they did not take advantage of every one of those free moments. Undaunted by Harry's remarks that he maybe should have gotten her book on relaxation spells instead; she pushed them to study because she was done helping them pass.
Harry was being particularly annoying because he did not think he had the wherewithal to run the Quidditch trials that were being held Saturday morning. Despite Hermione's consistent reminders of the truly courageous things he had already accomplished, Quidditch should be a piece of cake, but he could not be swayed and remained nervous. To add to it, they had yet to visit Hagrid. Hermione was beginning to regret not having signed up for one of his classes, but he really did not teach them anything of particular use in his lessons although the opportunities did not seem to stop presenting themselves. Like History of Magic, it was simply one subject she may as well teach herself. It was not as if Hagrid could legally get a hold of most of the creatures she would like to study anyway. However, Grawp was interesting, and she was kind of hoping that Hagrid would give her some private lessons on dangerous creatures. Of course he was bound to tell her no, but there was no way she would go alone to visit Grawp and she wanted to learn more. Maybe Hagrid would take her to visit him sometime since she knew the Fat Lady would actually have to learn to sing before Ron or Harry would go with her. In fact, they did very little for her at all and she often wondered why she bothered. Because they were her friends, and in some ways she felt like it was her mission in life to keep them alive.
Saturday morning started out with the usual reassurances that Harry would be able to handle the many people that signed up for Quidditch.
"They are just coming to see you, Harry," Hermione said. She also mentioned that Harry had grown and noted with satisfaction that Ron seemed offended she hadn't complimented him on his height too. Good, maybe he will learn to throw a few her way first then. When the mail arrived Hermione was extremely pleased to see that new Potions books had arrived for Ron and Harry, and then disappointed in equal measure to see that Harry was not going to return the old one. If only she could get her hands on it, but he never let it out of his sight. The real bombshell of the morning came with the Daily Prophet.
"Stan Shunpike is as much a Death Eater as I am, Ron," Hermione snapped when Ron mentioned that you never could tell who one was and who was not. She hoped she was not being too hasty with the comment, but it was clear Stan Shunpike's arrest was really worrying Harry. Besides, it was becoming natural to be argumentative with Ron whether she meant it or not. Especially considering Lavender was sitting nearby soaking her corn flakes with drool instead of milk. Things were really happening though. As misplaced as their arrest was, the Ministry was trying to make it look like they were really doing something to counteract Voldemort's faction, but Hermione was sure they were grasping at straws. There was the occasional Dementor attack, but other than Voldemort's side was eerily quiet and that really frightened Hermione.
Hermione promised Harry and Ron she would attend the Quidditch trials which she regretted almost immediately. Her time would have been much better spent traipsing about the school grounds trying to get as close to the warding as possible so she could try to feel it. Her books on warding said that a good warder can recognize when they are around too, and that is a skill many lack and Hermione was determined to have that skill. Hermione was not the only one who showed up to watch and it took Harry quite awhile to get rid of the people who were not serious about Quidditch. Lavender Brown was there with the rest of her giggling cohorts, and they spent the whole time giggling and waving at Ron, who responded by puffing out his chest and pretending to not look as nervous as he felt. Hermione could not help but examine Lavender closely to figure out what it was about girls like her that made boys pay attention. Was it the bounciness? The perkiness? The blondeness? Hermione decided it must be just her looks because she had nothing upstairs. She could see why Harry liked Ginny. Ginny was not only pretty, but she was good at Quidditch, funny, and talented with a wand. Hermione sighed in exasperation. Nobody wanted a girl with big brains and big hair, just big boobs.
"What's the matter, Granger? Feeling tense?"
Hermione was shocked out of her reverie to find Cormac McLaggen, a seventh year she had never really paid any attention to previously sitting dangerously close to her. He was decked out in complete Keeper regalia, but Hermione new already that his body was fit. Upon closer inspection she realized that he really was quite handsome with his blue eyes and sandy blonde hair with just a little bit of curl to it. Maybe there was more to purely physical attraction than she thought.
"I can think of a couple of different ways to relax if you know what I mean. After I bag this Keeper position, what do you say to meeting me under the bleachers?"
Maybe not. Cormac was cute, if trolls were cute. He reached out squeezed one of Hermione's shoulders.
"Perhaps you need a massage," he whispered in her ear.
Okay, so he smelled good too. He was cute, but boorish, and smelled quite nice. Hermione shrank away from him and the thought that he might be the one to make Ron jealous. It would not be fair to her to settle for someone just because they were attractive. Just then Ron made a particularly wild dive for the quaffle and spun full round on his broom and hit it away from the goal with his head. Lavender was screaming and jumping up and down, going on about how brilliant Ron was. Hermione knew he got it by accident, but that did not stop Ron's head from visibly swelling before her eyes. Ignoring McLaggen she also stood up and cheered Ron on.
McLaggen was not deterred. "Oh, it's Keepers you like, then. That Weasley lot has a lot to be desired. Just wait and see."
With that Cormac got up to take his turn. She was appalled. Without her having to say a word he went from interested in her to being rejected, to… Well, she really didn't know what happened; only that she was not at all impressed by him. Even though he was really cute.
True to his word, McLaggen was clearly much better at keeping than Ron. Hermione was not about to let an overblown, pompous, boor get Ron's position though. There are some things to be said for friendship, and some things to be done for it as well. Maybe, just maybe, if Hermione helped Ron, he would be happy even if he could never know what she did. Hermione glanced around her. The stands were relatively full, and quite noisy. In the distance she could see a few teachers on the ground watching as well. If anybody asked they would probably say they were there for the safety and well-being of the students over any vested interest in the outcome of the trials. Particularly Snape and McGonagall. Well, Hermione was never one to shy away from breaking the school rules no matter how pious she liked to pretend she was. Just as McLaggen was about to make a particularly good save on one of Ginny's fast quaffle throws Hermione silently cast a Confundus Charm, and he missed it by a mile.
Oops, Hermione thought. Maybe that was a tad on the obvious side, but no one seemed to be paying attention to her so she should be safe. Even if someone put two and two together they would never know who did it. Besides, everyone was on the ground watching the heated argument taking place between Harry, Ron, and McLaggen. Everyone except Snape, that is. He was scanning the stands and once again, Hermione found herself making eye contact with him. She quickly jumped out of her seat to go meet her friends on the ground, and when she looked for Snape again, he was gone. There was no way he could have seen what she did.
Hermione felt significantly better when she got on the ground. If Cormac was going to be such a spoil sport she saved the team from having to put up with him. Harry and Ron both seemed to agree, and everyone was in good spirits as they made their way to Hagrid's hut. Hermione was happily humoring Ron as he recounted in detail the entire trial including McLaggen shooting off in the wrong direction. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks when he mentioned it and Harry gave her a look that clearly said he knew what she'd done. Ron noticed nothing.
Buckbeak was the first to greet them at Hagrid's cabin. He still frightened her somewhat and it only reaffirmed her desire to learn more about magical creatures. She had to master her fears. To make matters worse, when Hagrid came round the corner and saw who was near his hippogriff he stormed right past them, went inside and slammed the door.
As it happened, Hagrid was more than just upset about not having any students. One of his beloved magical creatures was old and dying. They did what they could to comfort him and convince him that it was really impossible to fit his class into their regular schedules. For Hermione it was actually true, and she planned to use that to her advantage. It was very near dinner time when they were finally ready to leave, but she sent Harry and Ron ahead of her promising to catch up.
"Hagrid," Hermione said when they were safely out the door. "I really couldn't fit your class into my timetable this year, but there is still a lot about magical creatures I want to learn. Particularly the dangerous ones."
"Most creatures aren't dangerous, Hermione, just misunderstood," Hagrid corrected, but he still had a hopeful look in his eyes.
Hermione tried to look as sheepish as possible. It always seemed to work for Harry. "I was kind of hoping that maybe you would be willing to take the time to give me some private lessons this year? You could teach me about things that would not be sanctioned in a regular class since it would be just you and me talking."
Hagrid's chest swelled and she could see tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He patted her shoulder with a big hand and her knees buckled. He reached down and picked her up.
"Sorry about that, Hermione." He pretended to ponder her request. "Okay, I'll teach ya, but under one condition."
"What condition?"
"You'll do as I say, and you won't tell a soul. I could get in a lot of trouble teaching ya these things, but in light of the war, and since I know how much you love to learn I will help you out. We can start with Aragog. I will send you an owl with our firs' lesson on it. Now be gone with you before it gets dark." Hagrid said in a much more cheerful mood than when they had arrived.
Hermione could see Harry and Ron up ahead and if she ran she could easily catch up. She was about halfway to them when a dark figure stepped out of the shadow of a large willow tree next to her.
"Detention, Granger, for cheating," Professor Snape drawled in the way only he can.
Hermione bit back a scream and then a retort. "Professor!" was all she managed.
"Be lucky it is not worse, Granger. Cheating is punishable by expulsion, after all." The nasty sneer he had on his face said that he wouldn't give two seconds worth of thought to having her shipped off if he had the option.
Hermione figured her best defense was to act like she had no clue what he was talking about. "Cheating, sir?"
"Detention. Tomorrow." With that he walked off the way he came disappearing into the shadows of the beech tree once more.
Hermione ran to catch up with Ron and Harry and tried to act as if nothing had happened. Snape couldn't prove anything. If detention was all he had in mind, then she would do it, no matter how horrible it was. Especially if it meant that he did not tell McGonagall. Harry had a detention with Snape that very night. Maybe whatever fate he had in store for Harry he would save some for her the next day. At least that way she could be prepared.
Once in the Great Hall, after Harry chastised her for the Confundus Charm, Slughorn cornered them all to invite them to supper in his rooms. Of course Harry was able to skive off because of his detention, but Hermione could not reasonably say no. That meant an evening with Cormac. Ron seemed really put out that Slughorn still had not acknowledged him, nor gotten his name right, and that just made Hermione feel worse.
After their lunch they gathered in the common room. Ron was still seething about Slughorn.
"Ginny will be at the party too, I'm sure," he grumbled when Hermione complained that Harry wouldn't be coming.
Hermione shrugged and pulled out her newest edition of the Daily Prophet. "There's been a raid on the Malfoy mansion again!"
"I'm the one who told Mr. Weasley about that," Harry said. "Maybe if Malfoy was hiding the something he got at Borgin and Burkes he brought it here."
Hermione thought back to the day the followed Malfoy to Knockturn Alley to spy on him.
"No, Harry. We were all inspected by Filch, there is no way he got anything in. Besides, I am pretty sure he left the place empty handed."
Harry looked hopefully at Ron for support, but Ron was pouting and staring at Lavender Brown. He snapped at Harry, and Hermione felt a little less sympathetic about Ron not getting invited into the Slug Club as well. He would be free to stare at Lavender Brown all night if he wanted to. Instead he went to bed, which gave Hermione a little bit of twisted satisfaction. Why did she care so much?
"I have to sort flobberworms for detention," Harry mentioned as they left the common room together, each off to their separate dooms.
"Ew. Maybe I will have to do something equally gross tomorrow," Hermione replied.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed. "Snape. He caught me coming out of Hagrid's before I could catch up with you two and gave me detention for cheating."
"Cheating? That's insa-, hang on, did he see you confound McLaggen?" Harry asked incredulously.
"I assume so, but he as to prove it first," she said haughtily.
"Hermione, it will be easy to do with Priori Incantatem," Harry replied.
"Ohh," Hermione groaned. "Why didn't I think of that?"
"You're better off doing what he says and praying he doesn't go to McGonagall about it," Harry said before bidding her goodbye at Slughorn's doors.
Hermione waved at his retreating back for a few moments before going in. Slughorn greeted her enthusiastically when she knocked and she was happy to see that Ginny was there already. Unfortunately so was McLaggen. Hermione made a beeline for Ginny in hopes that it would deter Cormac since he was less than fond of the Weasley's at the moment.
"Hi Ginny," Hermione said. She noted that Ginny was wearing makeup and that her sleek red hair was curled and pinned back. She really was pretty. How did she do it so subtly? If Hermione wore makeup the whole world would collapse in on itself in shock. No one even recognized her at the Yule Ball.
"Hello," she replied. "Can you believe this?"
Ginny gestured to the spread on the table and the students milling about trying to avoid Slughorn lest they be regaled with tales of students past that became rich, influential, and famous.
"I know," Hermione said. "It's mad. How's Dean?"
"Dean's good," she shrugged. "He is fun for passing the time."
Hermione looked at Ginny closely. One of the Ravenclaw boys there was looking at her too. "He is fun for passing the time until someone you really like comes along you mean?"
Of course Hermione meant Harry and Ginny knew it.
"Something like that," she said smiling a little at the Ravenclaw boy. Hermione could not remember his name.
"How do you do it? I mean, how can you be someone's girlfriend if you don't even really like them?" Hermione asked.
Ginny shrugged again. "It's not like I don't like Dean because I do. He is just cute and fun and I can't wait forever for Harry, you know. I have to get his attention somehow."
Hermione glanced over at Cormac. He would definitely annoy Ron the most. He would probably annoy her most too, but it might work. Maybe that was what being young was all about. Maybe she should try to play the field. Why it was that it was Cormac that had to notice her though? They had nothing in common as far as she knew.
"Ginny, I need your help," Hermione blurted.
"Sure, what?" she asked following her gaze to Cormac who had just winked at Hermione. "Want me to help get rid of him for you? I mean he is cute, but what a git."
"Not necessarily, I'd kind of like to keep him on a string. I need help in a different way. Can you help me with girlie stuff? Like hair, makeup, clothes? Maybe let me borrow some of your Witch Weekly magazines?" Hermione asked feeling the blush spread to the roots of her hair.
"Oh, Hermione!" Ginny squealed. "Finally, we get to do the kinds of things I always wanted a sister for!"
Hermione grimaced as Ginny hugging her laughing and jumping up and down.
"This is going to be fun. Finally, the world is going to see how hot you really are!"
"We'll see," Hermione mumbled wishing she had just sneaked the magazines like she had originally planned instead.
Thankfully she didn't sit next to Cormac at supper, but she did sit across from him. He made eye contact with her all night long, and made a big show of licking his fingers after dessert. Hermione was shocked, not just at the display, but at the little bit of heat that rose in her. She did not like him at all, but the physical feelings were there all the same. She kept thinking about how he smelled, like sandalwood. It was different than Ron's smell of fresh cut grass and toothpaste, but it was definitely nice. She had a thing for how men smelled apparently. Yes, even if she didn't like him, Cormac would do in a pinch if she needed him. She smiled back at him what she hoped was a genuine looking smile. His answering grin said she'd succeeded.
Severus was ninety-nine point nine percent sure Hermione Granger confounded McLaggen at the Quidditch trial. He planned to enjoy every moment of making her regret it. Potter had managed to sort out every flobberworm quite satisfactorily and he did not want to risk damaging more by mixing them back up again. Instead he found something better. There was a Boggart in the old cupboard he had in his storeroom and he was going to make Hermione get rid of it. Just because he didn't teach potions in the dungeons anymore didn't mean he wasn't able to keep his stores and still brew them. Boggarts were a nuisance and easy to get rid of, but rumor had it that was a skill Granger never actually learned.
Snape summoned Hermione out of the library shortly after seeing her going in. She would be particularly displeased to be pulled right out of her studies and the exasperated, yet slightly fearful, look on her face when she arrived was a pleasure to see.
"Cheating, Granger," Snape drawled after she sat down, "is punishable by expulsion according to School Bylaw Article 43, chapter 82, section 4b. You cast a Confundus Charm on Cormac McLaggen during a Quidditch trial, did you not?"
Hermione was not sure whether she should answer him. Harry's reminder of Priori Incantatem played out in her head so she knew she should not deny it, but she did not know if she should admit it either. Instead she decided on evasion.
"The crowd was large and the players were excitable. It was an honest mistake McLaggen made." Hermione shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. She probably just made things worse.
Snape was more than a little pleased that she did not cave and confess. How many other things was she hiding in that big head of hers?
"Give me your wand," he demanded holding out a hand.
Hermione hesitated, but decided compliance was the wisest course of action. She slowly handed her wand to him hilt first.
Professor Snape touched the tip of his wand to hers and whispered "Priori Incantatem."
Several spells lifted out of her wand one at a time. Thankfully she had not practiced any of her warding spells the day before. A few levitation spells and scourgify were all that she had done, and then the Confundus ghosted out of her wand.
"The proof," Snape said in a honeyed tone. "Is in the pudding, is it not Miss Granger?"
He handed Hermione her wand back and she slipped up her sleeve. The move did not go unnoticed by Snape. Not many students felt it necessary to keep their wands so readily available. She proved over again that she was not stupid, but could she get rid of a Boggart?
"Do you know why I am only giving you a detention for breaking such an important school rule?"
"No, Professor," Hermione said. She was truly unaware.
"Because, Miss Granger," he said leaning forward and placing his hands on the sides of her desk. She got a whiff of nutmeg, white pepper, cedar, and strangely something like violets. Why was she noticing smells? Especially Snape's? Who smelled really good. Snape noticed her take a deep fearful breath before he continued. "You did Slytherin a favor by putting Weasley in the Keeper spot. McLaggen is the far superior player, but now my team has a solid chance of winning the House Cup."
"Professor!" Hermione said outraged. "Ron is not that bad. He just needs a confidence boost is all."
Snape waved a hand dismissing her comment. "We shall see. In the meantime you have a detention to serve and I have a boggart in my cupboard."
Hermione paled visibly and Snape had to keep his glee in check. There was nothing he relished more than the extreme discomfort of a student, and an opportunity to teach. He wondered if the girl's greatest fear was still failing her classes. He could not wait to see.
"A boggart, sir?" Hermione asked.
"A boggart, Granger," Snape snapped leading her to the cupboard in his store room. "This is third year level defensive magic. Surely someone as extraordinarily talented as you would have no trouble whatsoever dispensing with such a silly nuisance."
"Yes sir," Hermione said meekly. She faced the cabinet and pulled her wand out of her sleeve. What was she truly afraid of? It was not of failing her classes anymore, she knew that much at least. What she was really afraid of was not being able to protect those she cared about from the wrath of Voldemort. She was terrified of a future where people like her, Muggle-borns, would not be able to do magic. How would a Boggart show that? And how could she possibly make it funny?
"Ready?" Snape asked at the same time as he opened the door.
The boggart felt like nothing but a rush of air until it materialized into Voldemort standing over her holding her wand above her head. She kept reaching for it and he would jerk it away. The boggart Voldemort taunted her. "Mudbloods don't have the right do magic, now do they, little girl? What's the matter, can't reach your wand? Whatever made you think you were good enough to even try?" And then it pointed her own wand at her ready to curse. Snape clearly thought it was funny, but Hermione was having difficulty imagining the situation in anything but the humiliating situation it was.
"Riddikulus!" she yelled imagining Voldemort with the jelly legs jinx. Voldemort slipped, but it was not good enough. "Riddikulus!" she screamed again. Nothing. Tears were falling unheeded down her cheeks.
"Ridiculous," Snape said in her ear sarcastically before pushing the boggart back in the cupboard with his wand and shutting it. He was careful not to get in front of Hermione.
Hermione took a deep breath and quickly wiped at the tears she did not realize had fallen. She was humiliated.
"Fear, Granger, is something your classmates learned to master in the third year," Snape said. Of course he knew it wasn't true. He was simply hitting where it hurt. Her fear was legitimate, even to be admired considering the war on the horizon. It meant that she understood what was at stake for her and people like her. "Even Potter and Weasley managed it. Tsk tsk."
"Professor," Hermione said keeping her voice impressively even for how shaky she felt. "I can see how that would be amusing to you, but I have a difficult time finding the humor in it."
"It's quite simple, Granger," he said. "Maybe too simple for someone like you. However, you seem to always have something up your sleeve."
Snape dragged the last three words out slowly as if to leave an impression. And they did.
"Are you ready? I want this boggart out and it is your happy chore to do it. I don't have all day," he said.
Hermione was thinking about what he said and she slipped her wand out of her sleeve where she automatically slid it when it wasn't in use. That was when his words hit her. She'd barely nodded when he opened the door again.
This time as the Voldemort boggart taunted her she knew exactly would make it funny.
Hermione took a deep breath and yelled "Riddikulus!"
The boggart Hermione slipped a wand out of its sleeve and cast an impressive bat bogey hex right on Voldemort's face. Great flapping bogeys flew out of his nose and made disgusting slapping and sucking sounds as they flew around his face. Hermione laughed and so did Snape. The boggart cracked and disappeared.
Hermione quieted as soon as it was gone. She'd done it, but he'd helped her. Why did he help her?
"Third time's the charm, I guess," she mumbled under her breath.
"Excuse me?" Snape demanded.
"The first time I faced a boggart was in my OWL exam and I failed. The second time just now, I failed again. With your help, I managed it a third time-"
"I am familiar with the expression, Granger," Snape said cutting her off. "Now look inside the cupboard."
Hermione did. It was full of broken quills, mice droppings, and the other detritus of a potions storeroom junk. In other words, it was filthy and gross. Snape summoned a bucket with soapy water and a rag.
"Have fun," he said. "You can leave your wand on the table."
Snape left Hermione and went to his desk to grade essays. He should have let her leave with her dignity intact, but that was not his style. He really thought he was going to see McGonagall telling her she'd failed like he heard had happened at the end of her fifth year. He was actually impressed to see that her fears had matured just as much as she had. He sifted through the pile of essays and found her latest one on the properties of defensive shields. It was well written of course. She cited the text several times, but he was also pleased to see that she had read another text that was in disagreement and cited it as well. Her handwriting was small, but that was natural and not a ploy to fit more in. He pulled out his ruler and measured, exactly twelve inches. She was finally learning how to follow instructions. Now he just needed to help her figure out what to do when she had no instructions to follow, and not a lot of time to think about it.
Hermione scrubbed at the cabinet for the next hour until the wood shone. She wanted to ask why he had given her such an obvious hint to get rid of the boggart. Was it because he knew that she would still see it as a failure because she did not figure it out on her own? Probably. She never did get the chance to ask though because he shooed her out when she was done without a word.
A/N: Okay, here is another long delayed chapter. Fortunately, my schedule right now is such that I should be able to spend more time writing. At least for the next few weeks. I plan to update this story and my other Stealing from Thieves as much as possible. Like I mentioned in chapter one, this story is anachronistic for the parts that follow canon. An observant reader would have noticed that I switched the order in which Ron and McLaggen tried out for keeper. If you didn't notice, that's good, because I will make a lot of little changes like that. I have a horrible eye for finding my own mistakes. I have a very good grasp of grammar even if I choose not to employ it in my writing, but I am crap at commas. I would like a beta if anyone is interested. I will feel more compelled to keep the chapters coming if I have one too. Your reviews are wonderful and I really appreciate them. Please leave one! Constructive criticism is welcome as long as it is not a technical error like a typo, like I said, I need a beta. You can beat me up for that kind of stuff after I get a beta and then if it still there then we both missed it and we kind of deserve for it be pointed out! Don't forget my characters are OOC! I have tried to write them exactly as I envision them from the book and for Severus/Hermione stories I just can't do it. Thanks again and please review!