It's What's Inside That Counts
Chapter 21
Morning, September 26th
Severus took the Polyjuice potion the night before. The discomfort was less this time, and he liked the appearance he was taking on. He looked ten years younger, green eyes, tanned, with a blond-crew cut, mustache and goatee and was taller than Severus at six foot two. He donned the Auror uniform, gathered the rest of his bags (including the Auror-unique duffle) and took the Knight Bus to Hogsmeade. Many stopped what they were doing to look at the tall, handsome Auror. Severus smirked: people usually stared in amazement at his startling negative look. He arrived at the warded gates and waited. Filch came to the gate and let him in, grumbling about the work that was falling behind. Some things never changed. When they arrived in the front corridor, Filch pointed down the long corridor.
"The Headmistress office is that way, go to the Gargoyle. Elves will take care of your belongings," the old caretaker grumbled.
"Many thanks, Master...?" Severus asked.
"Uh, Filch," Filch answered, taken back at the politeness of this Auror. No one ever called him Master Filch. He liked it.
Severus nodded and made his way down the familiar corridor. Older female students traveling along corridor ran into the wall or tripped over themselves at the sight of the Auror. He stopped at the gargoyle. After a minute, the door opened and Minerva emerged.
"Auror Tillman?" Minerva asked.
"Yes, Auror Matthew Tillman at your service," he said and kissed her hand.
Minerva blushed and cleared her throat. "Um..well yes, Auror Tillman, please accompany me for a tour of the castle, as it will be you home for a while."
"Please call me Matthew."
"Very well, we'll start with the Great Hall."
After an hour long tour, they went to the Headmistress' office.
"Tea, Matthew?" Minerva said.
She liked this Auror. He seemed intelligent, capable and genuinely concerned for the student's welfare.
"I understand you attended Durmstrang?" she asked.
"Please don't hold that against me," he joked.
"Forgive my forwardness, but you seem familiar to me," Minerva said. "Don't misunderstand me: I am glad to feel comfortable around you. I was uncomfortable with the idea of having Aurors here, but it is best for the safety of everyone within this castle. Maybe you'll be just enough deterrent for..." she said and stopped when Albus' portrait cleared his throat.
"Oh yes, Matthew, meet Albus Dumbledore, the previous Headmaster of Hogwarts. I wish he still were," Minerva said.
"Master Dumbledore," Matthew said with a nod.
"Let's get to the basics. You will have the same privileges as a faculty member, with the exception of disciplining students. However, if you see a student causing mischief, especially if it looks to harm another, don't hesitate to take action and contact any of the nearby portraits or faculty member."
She poured herself a cup of tea.
"Also, utilize the Head Students as much as you can. Although the most capable Head Students we've had in over twenty years left last year, this year's Head students can certainly be relied upon. You may have heard of our Head Girl: Ginny Weasley? Her father is being considered as the next Minister for Magic," Minerva said proudly.
"I will certainly seek them out to get a feel for things," Matthew said.
"If you have no more questions, I will have the elves show you to your rooms. I hope you find them comfortable," Minerva said. "Now if you will excuse me, it's about lunchtime. It will be a good time for your first observation of their..activities," Minerva said.
"Activities? Antics you mean?" Matthew said.
"That too," Minerva quipped.
Severus took the Polyjuice potion the night before. The discomfort was less this time, and he liked the appearance he was taking on. He looked ten years younger, green eyes, tanned, with a blond-crew cut, mustache and goatee and was taller than Severus at six foot two. He donned the Auror uniform, gathered the rest of his bags (including the Auror-unique duffle) and took the Knight Bus to Hogsmeade. Many stopped what they were doing to look at the tall, handsome Auror. Severus smirked: people usually stared in amazement at his startling negative look. He arrived at the warded gates and waited. Filch came to the gate and let him in, grumbling about the work that was falling behind. Some things never changed. When they arrived in the front corridor, Filch pointed down the long corridor.
"The Headmistress office is that way, go to the Gargoyle. Elves will take care of your belongings," the old caretaker grumbled.
"Many thanks, Master...?" Severus asked.
"Uh, Filch," Filch answered, taken back at the politeness of this Auror. No one ever called him Master Filch. He liked it.S
Severus nodded and made his way down the familiar corridor. Older female students traveling along corridor ran into the wall or tripped over themselves at the sight of the Auror. He stopped at the gargoyle. After a minute, the door opened and Minerva emerged.
"Auror Tillman?" Minerva asked.
"Yes, Auror Matthew Tillman at your service," he said and kissed her hand.
Minerva blushed and cleared her throat. "Um..well yes, Auror Tillman, please accompany me for a tour of the castle, as it will be you home for a while."
"Please call me Matthew."
"Very well, we'll start with the Great Hall."After an hour long tour, they went to the Headmistress' office."Tea, Matthew?" Minerva said. She liked this Auror. He seemed intelligent, capable and genuinely concerned for the student's welfare. "I understand you attended Durmstrang?" she asked.
"Please don't hold that against me," he joked.
"Forgive my forwardness, but you seem familiar to me," Minerva said. "Don't misunderstand me: I am glad to feel comfortable around you. I was uncomfortable with the idea of having Aurors here, but it is best for the safety of everyone within this castle. Maybe you'll be just enough deterrent for..." she said and stopped when Albus' portrait cleared his throat."Oh yes, Matthew, meet Albus Dumbledore, the previous Headmaster of Hogwarts. I wish he still were," Minerva said.
"Master Dumbledore," Matthew said with a nod.
"Let's get to the basics. You will have the same privileges as a faculty member, with the exception of disciplining students. However, if you see a student causing mischief, especially if it looks to harm another, don't hesitate to take action and contact any of the nearby portraits or faculty member." She poured herself a cup of tea. "Also, utilize the Head Students as much as you can. Although the most capable Head Students we've had in over twenty years left last year, this year's Head students can certainly be relied upon. You may have heard of our Head Girl: Ginny Weasley? Her father is being considered as the next Minister for Magic," Minerva said proudly.
"I will certainly seek them out to get a feel for things," Matthew said."If you have no more questions, I will have the elves show you to your rooms. I hope you find them comfortable," Minerva said. "Now if you will excuse me, it's about lunchtime. It will be a good time for your first observation of their..activities," Minerva said.
"Activities? Antics you mean?" Matthew said.
"That too," Minerva quipped.
At lunch, Matthew got a good look at the familiar din that was Hogwarts Lunch Time. He saw the Head Girl, Ginny Weasley, fuss good-naturedly and chat with her table mates. While he was troubled by Minerva's concerns, he wasn't surprised. It was just a matter of time for it to become obvious. Voldemort was becoming bolder- he could tell by the summons he was painfully ignoring. He and Hermione were working on a salve to block the nerve endings of his Death Eater tattoo, but it was taking awhile to figure the intricacies of the charm that activated it. Well, they were working on it. He supposed if he asked Hermione about it now, she would say something like, "Hope the tattoo kills you" or a simple "fuck you."
That Saturday, Severus sat in a booth at the Three Broomsticks, watching the comings and goings of the students. After lunch, none other than Harry walked in, Ginny on his arm. Many people called out and waved "Hi!" to Harry. Severus was curious with the couple again. Didn't they know of Hermione and Harry's indiscretion? What was Weasley still doing with him? Ginny nodded at him and she and Harry sat in the booth behind him. He heard silly, mundane conversation until the topic came to Hermione.
"She's coming, right?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah Ginny, she promised," Harry said.
Yes, we know about those promises don't we? Didn't she promise to love me and no other? Severus pondered angrily.
"I still wanna throttle the git for what he did," Ginny said.
"Yeah I know, wait in line," Harry said.
"I still can't believe he would think that Hermione would cheat on him," Ginny said. "With you of all people!"
"If the arse would have given her a chance to explain, she would be happy, not what she is now," Harry said.
"Should I be worried?" Ginny asked.
"Not exactly, she's just...guarded? The cheerfulness just isn't there," Harry said. "She's submerged herself in work and that farm."
The bells on the door jingled and Hermione entered the pub. She scanned the pub for Ginny and Harry. Harry waved and Hermione strolled over. Ginny rose to hug her.
"Long time, no see," she said. "Butterbeer?"
"Oh good lord no, tea please," Hermione said. "I'm never touching anything that has a drop of alcohol in it again."
"Thank goodness," Harry said.
Ginny looked into Hermione's eyes and scanned her face. "Really Hermione, how are you?"
Hermione was touched by her friend's concern. "Fine...I'm coping. I'll get over it, really."
"Are you okay to talk about it?" Ginny asked.
"Ah-hah. I wondered if you were going to ask, so in answer, yes. I did nothing to warrant his behavior, so I have no reason to be embarrassed."
"It all sounds so...crazy. Cheating on him with Harry? Honestly," Ginny scoffed.
"I play the conversation in my mind from time to time, and do you know I actually laughed about it the other day?" Hermione said.
Now Severus was all ears.
"He has a vivid imagination, I'll give him that," Hermione mused. "I fall on a cast-iron fence on a mission, lucky I didn't get impaled through the neck, and he thinks it's a love bite, courtesy of Harry."
Severus tightly gripped the glass he was holding. Dear Merlin, no.
"That brilliant Snape mind," Hermione drawled sarcastically, "also deduced that the cologne that some drunk bestowed on me outside the Ministry was Harry's too," Hermione said.
"I rarely wear cologne, mind you," Harry said.
"How would you like to have some drunk cop a feel on you?" Hermione said.
Severus was breathing heavily and felt panic. Some drunk stranger put his hands on her in the dead of night on the streets of London?
"Let's not forget the coup de grace, the phone call," Hermione said and raised her glass in mock salute.
"See you later Harry, love you," Hermione said.
"You too," Harry said.
"See you later Ginny, love you," Hermione said.
"You too," Ginny said.
"Hey Dennis, see you later, love you," Hermione called out.
"Right back at ya," Dennis called out.
When the Hermione made her rounds of just about everyone in the pub, Harry and Ginny were laughing tears.
"If he could only see this," Ginny said, wiping her tears.
"I could care less if the arse sees it or not," Hermione said. "I'll tell you what I told your mum, Gin." She took a sip of tea and spoke. "I'm never going to take the chance of being hurt again, I'm through with men."
Ginny opened her mouth to say something.
"I know what you're going to say. No, hell no. I hate myself for loving him, and I wish he had loved me enough to have more faith in me than he did," Hermione said.
Severus' heart fell at her words. She hates herself for loving me.
"Ginny, promise me one thing: never let anyone call you a whore," Hermione said softly. Ginny rose and sat next to Hermione, holding her close.
Severus felt his eyes welling with tears. He had called that beautiful woman, innocent of his horrible accusations, a whore. What kind of a devil am I?
"Oh Herms, please say he didn't call you that," Ginny said.
Hermione cleared her throat and waved her hand. "It doesn't matter, it's in the past. Like I said, no men, no fuss. I have my work and the farm, that's enough. At least Hannah won't leave me for no reason."
"Herms, you can't mean that," Ginny said. "I'm sure there's someone out there for you."
Hermione smiled tightly. She sounds like Molly, bless her heart!
"I know you mean well, Gin, but you don't have to ever worry about Harry flipping out on you," Hermione said.
"Gee, thanks," Harry mumbled.
"Aren't you worried about being alone? I mean, you know...companionship?" Ginny asked.
"Sex you mean?" Hermione offered. Ginny blushed at Hermione's openness. Hermione snorted.
"Gin, I can live without that. Besides, if the mood for a quick shag hits me, I have options," Hermione said and pulled a piece of paper from her clutch.
Options? Severus screamed in his head. She shouldn't be talking so flippantly about options, I should be the one taking care of her needs!
"Hermione," Harry scolded at Hermione's callous attitude.
"What? Fucking? Shagging? Getting the high hard one? A bit of all right?" Hermione said and put the piece of paper on the table. "Look, here's some decent, reputable establishments that offer the services of gigolos."
Harry choked on his drink. So did Severus. He wanted to leave, but his legs wouldn't work. Just last week, she was screaming my name in passion, now she wants a gigolo? What have I done?
"Or if I want to save my money, I can just buy battery-operated satisfaction," she mused, tapping her chin in thought.
Ginny was giggling. "The all right?" she sputtered.
"Yeah, I heard that from Ron," Hermione said and looked at her watch.
"You have to go?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, going to the optometrist, thank your boyfriend," Hermione said and smirked at Harry.
"Come again next weekend?" Ginny asked.
"I'll try," she said and hugged her friends.
"See you later, love you," she said to the two.
"Love you," Harry and Ginny said.
"My God, you know who she reminds me of?" Ginny said when Hermione left.
"No, who?" Harry asked.
"Malfoy," Ginny said.
Severus had enough. After all he had heard, he could not stand to hear of that charming, beautiful creature compared to a Malfoy. He quickly left the pub and ran for the castle. He hurried to his rooms and slammed the door. He paced, his mind replaying the conversation he just heard. He shook his head and tossed aside the coffee table next to the bed. He remembered the hurt, angry look in her eyes when he flung his accusations and the look of heart-rending anguish when he called her a whore. He could still hear her whisper "Please say you don't mean that" and fell to his knees in sorrow.
No sweet, I didn't mean it. On everything I am, I didn't mean it!
He put his head back and bellowed his agony at the unimaginable hurt he caused his sweet Hermione. He had stupidly, needlessly thrown away the best thing thing that ever happened to him, his happiness in this world.
"I'M SORRY!! FORGIVE ME!!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.
Author's note:
Too little- too late, moron...