It's What's Inside That Counts
Chapter 12
March 5
The Gryffindor Common room was buzzing with chatter. House elves had just brought in a trunk and 2 large satchels to the seventh year girl's dorm. Whose were they? A new student in March? The door to the common room opened and none other than Hermione Granger stepped through.
Ginny squealed an jumped up. "We wondered when you would return," she said warmly. "Are you back for good?"
Hermione nodded tearfully.
"That's good to hear," Ron said from behind her.
"It's good to be with my friends again," Hermione said and hugged him too.
The common room door opened and Harry stepped through.
"Harry, look who's back!" Ron said.
"Yeah, I was in McGonagall's office when she arrived," Harry said and went to her. "How are you?" he asked, looking her in the eyes.
"Good, really good," she said, squeezing his arm affectionately. "So, what's been going on with everyone?" she asked.
A dozen students started talking at once. Harry pulled Ginny aside and whispered, "We need to talk, love."
Ginny's eyes went wide. He hadn't added "love" to his sentences since Valentines Day. Do I still have a chance with him??
Earlier, in McGonagall's office, Hermione was given her timetable. "We also need to discuss something of a personal nature," the older matron said.
"I have a feeling I know what it's about," Hermione said.
"I know of your feelings for each other, and I won't discourage it. I'm happy for both of you, Severus especially. These are difficult times, and to have someone to face them with is...well anyway, I expect proper decorum between students and professors no matter the relationship between them. Do you understand?" Minerva asked.
"Perfectly," Hermione said.
"As long as you are under the roof of this castle, in view of prying eyes and ears, there can be no appearance of favoritism, the gossip is rampant enough," Minerva continued.
"Of course, I want no trouble for him," Hermione said.
"Very well, I'm glad we understand each other. And for the record Miss Granger, I'm pleased to see you back under the roof of this castle."
Instead of going to Hogsmeade on Saturday, accompanied by Professor Anderson, Hermione met with a solicitor, finalizing the settlment of her parent's estate. She was selling the home in London; keeping the Granger country home; selling their dental practice to another dentist; selling one car; giving the second one to charity, keeping the third and selling off investments.
"Again, you have my sympathies for the passing of your parents young lady, you've handled this remarkably well," he said. "The Grangers were smart; in the event of their death, they wanted to ensure that you were taken care of. By the sum of this, I would say you are. This is enough to live on comfortably for a decade."
"None of it matters to me, Mr. Hawthorne, I'd rather have them than the money," she said.
"Of course. I'll register these proceedings and send them to the post box to your school in Scotland in a week's time. Is that acceptable?"
Hermione nodded.
"Very well, good day, Miss Granger."
When the door shut, Hermione slumped in Severus' arms. He led her to the sofa.
"Where is your country home?" he asked.
"South of Bristol," she said softly.
"What can I do to make you feel better?" he asked.
She settled in his arms and said, "Make love to me, please. Make me forget my sadness, if only for a little while. Let me have one last good memory in this home."
That night, in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was in a sad, foul mood. She even threw one of her beloved books across the room in frustration. Everyone knew what happened that day. Seamus was chatting with Dean by the fireplace when Hermione tapped him on he shoulder.
"Seamus, do you still have that stash of whiskey?" she asked. "I won't drink all of it, just a swig or two."
"Wizard's oath that you won't tell where you got it?" he asked.
They crossed wands as the oath was made. Seamus went to his dorm and returned with a bottle of Ogden's.
"Sure about this?" he asked her.
She chuckled. "No, I'm not, but I'll take it anyway."
She transfigured the bottle to look like ginger ale and took a drink. She coughed and wiped her eyes as the burning sensation worked its way down. "Thanks Seamus."
Seamus shrugged and resumed his place at the fire.
An hour later in the Headmistress' office, the staff was discussing the day's Hogsmeade visit and next week's classes when a portrait spoke.
"Pardon the interruption madame, but there is a disturbance in the Gryffindor common room."
Minerva pinched the bridge of her nose. "Very well. Professor Anderson and Pomona, come with me please. Filius, could you fetch Madame Pomfrey? We might need her."
When they approached the Gryffindor common room, a third year was seen running from the door. She saw the staff members hurrying to the room and exclaimed, "Hermione's gone nuts!"
At that, Severus ran faster and barked out the password to the door. Inside, he skidded to a stop. Hermione was disheveled, shouting, a bottle in one hand and wand in the other. Some students took cover behind the furniture, the portraits fled in fear and Harry was bravely extinguishing some drapes that had caught fire. The room was a mess.
"My goodness!' Minerva exclaimed from behind him as Hermione shouted again, this time in French, in Ron's direction.
"MERDE! T'ES VRAIMENT TROP CON!"
"Huh?" Ron exclaimed.
"Va te faire enculer!" she hissed at Ron.
"What in the world?" Minerva declared.
"Let's just say it's a good thing you don't know French," Severus said quietly. What in the world did Weasley do?
"Miss Granger, what is the meaning of this?" Minerva stepped forward and demanded.
Hermione looked at Minerva with hooded eyes and dropped her wand arm. Ron let out a loud sigh of relief. Severus stepped forward.
"Miss Granger, may I have the bottle?" he asked pointedly.
"Oh...alright," she said glumly and gave the bottle to him. She stepped forward and lazily traced buttons on his frock. "Only b-because you asked nicely," she slurred and swayed on her feet. "Care to accom-mmpanee mee to my room?" she asked slurred. Gasps and snickering were heard from around the room.
"That is quite enough. Miss Weasley, Miss Brown, kindly see Miss Granger to her dorm?" Minerva stated.
"Yes madame," they said and hurried forward. Ginny deftly took her wand and the two urged her up the stairs to the dorms.
The next morning at breakfast, the talk was Hermione's drunken performance the previous evening. She was absent from breakfast.
"We could barely get her to bed."
"She propositioned a professor right there in front of everybody!"
"She downed half a bottle of that stuff!"
"I didn't know she knew French!"
"Can you really do that with a broom?"
Minerva came to the table. "Miss Brown, where is Miss Granger this morning?"
"She's still asleep, Headmistress," Lavender answered.
"When she wakes, inform her that she is to report to my office, immediately," Minerva said. Lavender nodded.
Two hours later, Hermione knocked on Minerva's door. "Enter" was heard. Hermione stepped in, head bowed. Severus and Mr. Filch were also there.
"Mr. Filch, excuse us please. Have a seat, Miss Granger," Minerva said.
Hermione nodded and took a seat.
"I would like an explanation about your behavior last night."
"I have no excuse," she said quietly.
"You frightened half of Gryffindor, threatened Mr. Weasley, almost destroyed the common room, consumed alcohol on school grounds and propositioned a professor in front of a dozen students and you have no excuse?"
Hermione nodded.
"Miss Granger, please look at me while I talk to you," Minerva stated.
Hermione looked up slowly with the most sad, bloodshot eyes Minerva had ever seen. There were dark circles under her eyes and her face was pale. Her lips trembled. This was more than a hangover. Fussing could wait.
"Severus, please take her to the infirmary right away," Minerva said gently.
Minerva went to the infirmary half an hour later. Hermione was asleep and Severus was sitting in a chair next to the bed. She was greeted by Madame Pomfrey.
"As you suspected, it was more than a hangover," the nurse said. "The poor thing is just plain worn out and was close to a breakdown. The transformation, her parents- it all came to a head I suppose."
"This just came for her as well, a post from a solicitor at Gringotts," Minerva said sadly, holding a parcel. "Could you Severus? She seems to listen to you the best."
"Of course," Severus said and took the parcel.
Later when Hermione woke, she gave Severus a sad smile. Madame Pomfrey was soon bedside with a pepper-up and vitamin potion.
"How have you been sleeping?" the nurse asked.
"Not very well," Hermione answered.
"How has your appetite been?"
"Not hungry much these days."
"Miss Granger, what are your plans after leaving Hogwarts?" Severus asked.
"To be an Auror, Professor, you know that."
"They won't accept trainees in your condition," he said. "They require healthy, sane, sober bodies."
"I can't imagine what you must think of me," she said sadly.
Madame Pomfrey left the two alone.
"My opinion of you has not changed. I do however, dislike seeing you sad and angry like this. I know from personal experience that drowning your sorrows is not the answer," he said.
"Please don't talk to me as if you were you were my father," she said.
"I imagine if he were here he would say the same thing. I'm talking to you as someone that cares for you and only wants the best for you," he said. "You're too young and intelligent to be going down this path. I want my loving, bright, charming Hermione back and so does everyone else."
That night after supper, Hermione was again in Minerva's office.
"You look better," Minerva said.
"I feel better. I also want to apologize for my disgraceful behavior and promise that it won't happen again."
Thank you Severus! Minerva thought.
The next morning, Hermione apologized to the entire Gryffindor table. She was given a week's detention with Filch performing castle maintenance and repaired the common room at her own expense. As for Ron, she took him aside and explained as best she could. "Ron, I'm sorry for scaring you, but you were coming on to me while I was drunk and vulnerable and I think you know that. We are never going to be a couple Ron, you need to accept that and move on. Friends yes, lovers- no."
"You sat that now 'Mione, but when we're away from here and out in the world, you'll see things differently. I can wait," Ron said.
"Then you'll be waiting a long time Ron, a lifetime," Hermione said and walked away. What can I do to make him understand?