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Chapter 10: Punches, Confessions and a Shock
After the talk together in the Room of Requirement both Hermione and Severus agreed that they were… something. Hermione couldn't say they were boyfriend/girlfriend as she couldn't imagine Severus being referred to as someone's boyfriend, it didn't work and saying that they were 'with' each other just didn't sound right. So they had decided that they were something which, according to Lily, really was something.
Nothing had really changed now that they were together, only that they were closer then before, sharing small pecks on the cheeks and light kisses, and that they began to become more familiar with the other. Both had noticed that they lacked knowledge about the other, even Hermione, though she knew a lot about Snape in her time, knew little about the Severus of this time.
It was nearing Christmas and snow had begun to cover Hogwarts and its grounds, the soft snow seemingly everywhere near the castle. The holidays had started and had become much more interesting then they had before; daily snow ball fights had begun to break out between the Marauders (except for Remus, who only joined in occasionally when James talked him into it) and Hermione, Lucius and Severus. Though these fights were very different form normal snow battles as both teams tried to out do the other by insulting people of the other side. This provided a good cover while another of your side threw snow at who ever had lost their cool.
These battles had turned bad though after the first week; small fist fights had broken out, mainly between Severus, Sirius and/or James, when the insults came too close to home. Normally it was up to bother Hermione and Lucius told hold Severus back when he got too close to drawing his wand, the same held true for Remus who, more often than not, participated for the sole reason to stop Sirius and James from going too far. Needless to say both sides failed to hold their more hot tempered team mates back from hand to hand fights. The three boys had to go up to the infirmary more then once and a young Madam Pomfrey had informed them that if this kept up she would "ban the mini battles they seem to indulge in" and inform Dumbledore of there happenings.
'As if he doesn't already know. I'm sure he watches from his window to see who will win,' thought Hermione, an amused smile on her face as she pictured their Headmaster doing exactly that.
Unfortunately for her, a snow ball from Sirius had found its way to her face. She shook the snow from her face to look for the one who dared aim for her face. Sirius' taunting voice came out from behind a tree as he walked forward, snow ball floating behind him.
"What happened Storm? Too busy thinking of your precious Snivelly?"
'Ignore and stay calm, ignore and stay calm.'
The mantra normally worked when they started on her, but that was not to be today. Sirius had come closer and the others had stopped, moving closer to hear what was being said between the two Gryffindor's. Hermione's eyes never left Sirius' approaching form as she began to create a snow ball large enough to knock him over, magic helping her levitate the large ball. The Marauders eyes widened as he saw the ball intended for him, then he smirked. She noticed the smirk and quickly began to launch the huge ball when…
"I heard Dumbledore telling McGonagall that you won't be here for much longer Storm. What's your beloved boyfriend going to do with out you? We'll have to see him blubber on with out you here, don't think we would've seen anything as pathetic as that, a true Snivellus!"
Hermione snapped. That was almost the same as what Draco Malfoy had said about Hagrid in her third year when they learnt of Buckbeak's execution. And in her eyes, it wasn't Sirius Black who stood before her, but Draco's smirking face, laughing at her friends despair. She knew she was about to do what she told Severus not to everyday but at the moment she didn't care. She moved her wand to the side causing the giant ball of snow to go crashing near where the other stood watching with wide eyes as they hurried out of the way.
SMACK!
The group of boys looked up just in time to see Hermione's fits connect with the side of Sirius' face, sending him falling into the soft snow, his hand clutching his face. Where Sirius had been hit was bleeding slightly and the area was already starting to swell, the cold weather not helping at all. Hermione held the hand she had punched him with gently in the other; she felt as if her hand had broken.
'After hitting him that hard I wouldn't be surprised if it really was broken,' Hermione thought, the pain in her hand growing worse.
She knew that Dumbledore hadn't said anything of the sort to her head of house; he said she would know about a way home before anyone else. It was more like he was discussing how far he was into the process. She didn't have long to think on it as Severus was running over to where she stood, Lucius not far behind, both with looks of anger and worry in their eyes.
They wordlessly walked up to her and began to lead her to the front doors of Hogwarts, ignoring the yelling coming from James for them to stop. They led her up the stairs, past the Hospital Wing, to the seventh floor where the Room of Requirement was concealed. Severus stayed beside her as Lucius began to pace, thinking of a comfortable place to heal her hand.
When the door appeared Lucius brought her inside, stopping when he saw it was the lounge like room they always used, a bandage and glaze on the table for her hand. He smiled slightly before sitting her down and healing her hand with a few spells he had learnt, bandaging it up when he was finished. All through this Severus had been staring at Hermione, as if to make sure that she wasn't going to disappear on the spot. When he had seen Lucius step away he walked up and, when he looked into her eyes, she felt a strange sensation in her mind. She relaxed, knowing that when he was too awkward or embarrassed to ask her something, he used Legilimency but only lightly so that she could push him out if she wished.
She knew what he was searching for; evidence that she might be leaving soon. She didn't know whether she was or was not so she focused on the truth that she wasn't leaving any time soon that she knew of. He sat back with a relieved look on his face before it was schooled into mild indifference, nodding to Lucius, letting him know that she wasn't leaving. Lucius smiled then walked in front of Hermione with a grin on his face.
"Nice punch Mione."
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(Present time – 1996)
"Miss Gran– Hermione was one of three friends I had at Hogwarts. Yes Weasley," Severus said, seeing Ron's face of disgust. "She had also managed to befriend me; Merlin only knows how she did so. The others, as you must have figured out by now where Lucius," he nodded his head to the blonde man next to him, "and Lily Evans, now Potter. Hermione and I were at almost the same level academically, so naturally a large portion of our time was spent in the library and, when Lucius finally arrived, in the room we find ourselves in now."
He paused waiting for the interruptions he was sure would come, but surprisingly, none came. He cleared his throat slightly and continued on.
"Her friendship with me was the main cause for her lack of other close friends; none wanted to know me, even fewer wanting to know someone who associated with me. And, after some unwanted prodding," here he sent a small glare at Lucius, "we became–"
"Say more then friends and I'll kill you now," a voice snarled from the other couch.
Severus sneered.
"I can hardly believe that you would get a scratch on me, Weasley, let alone killing me."
He smirked as Ron's face became redder as his mind went wild with what they may have done, momentarily forgetting their age at the time.
"You're sick! You still became – became… well you still did what you did when I'm sure she told you where she was from!" Ron yelled.
The smirk fell from Severus' face as Ron finished his sentence, his expression turning cold.
"No Weasley. She never told anyone who she really was… not even me."
Severus had said the last part quietly, though it carried through the room. Ron looked up triumphantly at Severus, smirking himself now.
"Well then, I guess she didn't really trust you, did she?" he exclaimed happily.
Harry, however, felt something click into place.
"That's why you always put her down, isn't it? Even in first year with out a reason you did. As payment to what she did to you in the past?"
Severus nodded slightly.
"It's not something I pride myself on but when she just disappeared, seemingly with out informing anyone, I grew angry. I recognised her almost immediately in the Sorting and everything clicked and I took everything out on her, more so when she befriended you, a Potter whose father she'd hated with a passion."
Ron was almost fuming at the end of it, yelling, "It's not her fault that she didn't find you trustworthy enough!"
"Enough, Mr Weasley. When Miss Granger came to me I made her swear not to inform anyone of her identity, nor of the future to come," Dumbledore said, intervening the rage of the second youngest Weasley.
Silence filled the room and if anyone wished to break it, they didn't. After a few minutes, it was Draco's voice that broke the quiet of the room.
"So you dated Granger then, Severus?"
Severus sneered slightly at the word 'dated' but nodded any way. Draco then turned to face his father.
"And you were friends with her right?"
Lucius nodded at his son, looking confused as to why his son would ask a question such as that.
Looking at his father and godfather he took a breath and said, "So then you wouldn't be disappointed if I said I was dating Ginny Weasley?"
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And that's all for now! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it please kindly press the blue button to review and tell me what you think of it so far.
Lady of Elysion