Courting Magic - chapter 5

Hi again everyone! Thanks for reading the story and I hope you love this chapter as much as the others!

Ginny's mouth opened and closed repeatedly like a fish out of water. She become quite for a few seconds then asked, "Are you sure?" her voice soft as if she didn't believe what name had just came out of her friend's mouth with the word mate attached to it.

Hermione nodded her head before beginning to speak. "Positive. After all that cleaning I had to do after he dismissed Gilligan, gosh Gin I was more tired then I can ever remember being. I had forgotten to put my potions vial on the desk and he asked me to bring it to him. So I went up to the desk, and you know how there's steps? It felt like a million to me when I got to the desk I felt about ready to pass out. Severus just put his hand out for me to put the vial in so I did, and my fingers just brushed his open palm and-wham! I just suddenly had all this energy flowing into me. It's unmistakable. He's my mate I can feel my bones calling out for him right now."

Ginny was still staring at her after she told her everything to confirm that it was true. "W-well, what did he do?"

"What?" Hermione asked confused as to what was being asked.

Ginny's eyes widened further. "You didn't tell him? And he didn't like, feel anything?"

"No, the books say only the Veela feels it. The mate is oblivious to the whole energy sapping thing unless they are told, and even then they don't feel any change. Besides, Ginny why on earth would I tell him? I mean, I looked sick he would have written it off as some weird delusion or something."

"That's..." Ginny bit her lip after a moment gnawing at it, apparently thinking. With a sigh and shrug of her shoulders she looked defeated. "Yeah, he probably would." The ginger was silent for a solid minute before exploding. "I just can't believe it! I-it's," she threw her hands up in the air. "It's Severus Snape. I mean he's your teacher! Is it even possible for these things to happen?" She jumped up from the bed and started pacing infront of Hermione, who was thinking her friend was getting a little to worked up about it when she was the one who would be with him for the rest of her life.

"McGonagall didn't mention any cases where the Veela ended up being a mate with a Professor." Hermione said softly, "Just students from other houses." That was probably because there wasn't any. Which meant she was going into this blind. No prior experience to help her. This sucked.

Ginny stopped infront of her for a moment. "So you don't even have another situation to go off of? To figure out how to go around doing this?" Hermione shook her head. "W-what if he says no even when you don't look all sick?" Hermione cringed back into her bed not wanting to think about the cursed seven day rule. Ginny dropped next to her on the bed. "I don't want you to go away Hermione." She got up a second later, pacing again. "Why couldn't your Veela pick someone more... I don't know simpler to date and actually get to know?"

"It's not like I decided this Ginny."

"I know! Which is why it's so unfair! I mean, have you ever seen Snape smile? Even once? And you have to spend the rest of your life with the slime ball. I can't think of a more miserable person to be with-" Ginny stopped abruptly in the middle of her tirade when a hand clamped around her wrist and twisted so she fell on the bed next to the Veela.

Hermione had turned to face her as she fell, hand still wrapped firmly around Ginny's wrist. A soft growl had filled her chest, traveling up to her throat to slip between bared teeth as she glared down at the girl with a look that would have made even a basilisk slither away in terror. "That's my mate you're talking about Ginny. You don't know him or who he is behind being your professor, and neither do I. So," she bit out the word in a sort of bark. "don't you go presuming what he is or isn't."

Ginny blinked up at her, true fear in her eyes. She nodded her head quickly. "I'm sorry I just got so worked up. Could you let go of me, please?"

Her words seemed to snap Hermione out of it and she let go of her wrist backing up against the headboard staring at her friend in realizing the Veela in her still wanted to tear the girl to shreds for what she said about her mate. "I-Ginny, I didn't mean too,"

"It's okay. You told me before and so did McGonagall. She figured you would confess everything to me first and she told me to choose my words carefully when speaking about your mate once you knew who it was. I should've been more tactful." She was silent, and with Hermione not speaking back it took a few moments befor Ginny began to speak again, "I just wish it would have been easier on you." Hermione just nodded at her friend's words. "It's just, what about you?"

"Me?" Hermione questioned finally looking up from her knees to look into her friend's eyes. "What about me?"

Ginny sighed causing Hermione to frown and wonder what she could possibly have to tell her. "I mean you." She had figured as much and urged Ginny on with a slight nod of her head. "Your mate has to love you so they can say yes, so obviously you have to make Severus fall for you, but, that's just one side of the equation. He's years your senior. Are... are you even attracted to him? Would you be able to do more than just manipulate him into liking you? It's unfair to him." Hermione was still looking at her confused. "The Veela is a loving creature but it still takes time to get to that point in a relationship. I don't want to see you being miserable either. So, Hermione, I don't think the issue here is just getting him to love you. you have to feel the same way too." Ginny leaned forward, resting a hand on Hermione's knee which she had an immediate urge to shake off. Quiet Veela! She wanted to hear what her friend had to say without her vision going red. Damn could that side of her hold a grudge. "Can you love him the way he deserves to be loved? Make him... less miserable?"

The question kept repeating in her head well into the night. She hadn't thought about it. Quite honestly she hadn't wanted to think about it even before she knew who her mate was. She knew she wasn't the sort to get into a one-sided relationship. It wasn't good for either party. Her fingers curled into her palm. The first one wasn't an issue. A Veela was always attracted to her mate physically and, if she was being honest with herself, she had liked certain aspects about him even before this. He was devoted to his craft and she admired him for that. Unlike most students she had no problem with the way he taught them. Those were all mental things though rather than physical. She did remember marveling at the color of his eyes the first time she had seen them, but that went away the moment he looked at her with a hard gaze back in first year telling her, 'put your hand down you silly girl'.

She bit her lip, staring at Ginny's bed across from hers. Those words from long ago had crushed her. If it wasn't for those syllables she may have grown to have a crush on him, and his cape, and his shirt with the many buttons. Even now she still wondered how he could deal with that shirt in the morning. It had to make getting dressed in the morning take forever. She licked at her lips. Getting dressed. Undressing...

Hermione sat up quickly and shook her head to chase the thoughts out of her mind. After a moment she sighed and got up out of bed to begin changing back into her school robes. Slipping her feet into a pair of plain shoes she made her way out of the dorms down into the commons not able to stay there anymore especially when she was this restless. It hadn't been a problem for so long that she felt she no longer knew how to deal with it. She supposed it was partly because she had gotten the burst of energy from Severus earlier that day. With a glance at the clock she confirmed this. It was still that day, just a few minutes until it became the next though. Then her energy would start to drain again.

Hermione opened the door to which the Fat Lady stirred just as she got out of the commons and closed it.

"What are you doing up Miss Granger?" the portrait asked.

"I couldn't sleep. I'm just going out for a quick walk to clear my head. I'll be back though." Hermione replied hoping the portrait woman wouldn't demand her to get back into the house and that it was too late to be wondering the corridors at this time.

So she was pleasantly surprised when the Fat Lady nodded. "You go take that walk. It's good to see you looking like your old self again today. Just don't get caught by Filch."

"I won't." Hermione promised knowing the portait was talking about not letting house points be deducted for this little outing. "I'll see you in the morning." she said with a soft smile before turning around and walking up the stairs.

She had no particular destination in mind and the library was closed, not to mention a more frequented place by Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris. Her mind spun as she got out her wand and put a muffling charm on her shoes so they wouldn't echo when she walked. She needed to find a place she could think with some fresh air instead of the stuffy feel in the castle. Hagrid's hut would have been her go-to place if it wasn't so late. She didn't want to bother him or get him into any trouble for her visiting in the middle of the night. Besides, if she did that it would be best to bring Ron and Harry so it didn't look to out of place for her to be there so late. She was friends with the half-giant but Harry and Ron did seem closer to him in that aspect.

As she walked Hermione found herself going up a flight of stairs that seemed to be never ending until she got to the top of the Astronomy Tower. She breathed in the air and walked slowly to the railing, trembling hands reaching out to wrap around the metal and she glanced down as the memory of Albus Dumbledore dying just below this spot ran through her mind. Harry had seen it happen and told the two of them that Snape had been the one to deal the killing curse to the beloved Headmaster.

It had been later revealed from his body that the Headmaster had been dying slowly from a curse specifically located around his hand, and that the Potions Professor had been the one too slow the process and make it less painful for him. When ruled by the courts and after listening to the portraits in Dumbeldore's old office tell them of everything they been sworn to secrecy about including the incident they ruled him as innocent of murder. Since it had been Dumbledore to say to kill him if it came to that. Like a mercy killing.

She slumped on the rails letting them hold her up knowing that even if the rails looked old they were still strong. Back then she had been relieved when Snape hadn't really betrayed the rest of them, his loyalty was something she had come to admire that day. It had been weeks after the battle that they let him out of the hospital after being bitten by Lord Voldemort's snake. Horocrux actually, but that wasn't really something the wizarding world had needed to concern itself about. Herself, Harry, and Ron had taken care of them.

Nothing had changed when Snape came back to school though even after nearly dying, he was still the same man. Still had those cold calculating eyes. The only reason he was aloud to remain as a Professor was that all the other teachers had insisted he keep his position, and Slughorn had stepped down to go back to living at home with his weird picture trophies of students. Which Hermione had always found creepy ever since Harry told her about them and then following that had seen them for herself at his office.

The new Headmistress Kathlyn Lavigin even when berated by parents who didn't quite believe Snape to be a innocent man held the same position as the rest of the Professors. The woman had been appointed to the school by the Wizarding Council to keep order, and was, in a way, elected by the mass of the population for the position.

Finally her mind went away from the tower and eveything that had happened because of the events that had taken place there two years ago. It went back to the issue she was having right now in the present. How was she going to make this relationship with Severus work? Even before that she had to figure out a way to be around him more than a few times a week for a couple hours or atleast long enough to get a daily dose of energy. Not only for that though, but so she could get to know him better and get him to notice her. The real reason she didn't want to tell him about her being a Veela and that he was her mate was because then he might just feel obligated to say yes. She didn't want an answer not based on love.

Everyone had thought him evil before and he happened to be a turning point in the war not to mention the sacrificies he had made for the Order. No one really knew him or how he would possibly react to about anything. Perhaps Dumbledore would have but it wasn't possible to ask him now.

She ran a hand through the strands of her hair in confusion. How was she suppose to spend more time with him so she could possibly start on the relationship she would be in until she died? Which hopefully didn't end in six months and a half. She racked through her mind for something she could use. He was the Potions Professor. So... something to do with potions then? But she already got top grades in the class. It's not like she was someone that needed tutoring. She was passing the class with flying colors, not failing.

A wave of exhuastion fell over her and she leaned further down to press her forehead against the railing. She really needed to work out how she would be staying awake for the days she couldn't get in close contact with him, and she couldn't depend on being able to touch him in class either. He didn't always come to the back of the room. Probably because she would help the others at her table when they had questions or wanted something checked.

Her head shot up a moment later her eyes glowing. The Invigoration Draught! She remembered making it back in fifth year. It was suppose to energize the person that drank it. Not only that, but she didn't have any the supplies so she would have to go to Snape for them.

She blinked after a moment and she dropped her head back down. That was just for one day though. She sighed loudly.

"Miss Granger? What are you doing up at this hour of the morning?" A soft voice came from the direction of the stairs.

Hermione whirled around cursing the sound she had made as she did. She recognized that voice from when she had come back for her seventh year, it wasn't one you could forget especially after that greeting everyone had received at the start of the new school year. "I-I couldn't sleep. I'll get right back to my dorms now though. Sorry Headmistress Lavigin."

The old woman just smiled at her in an amused manner. "I thought I told all the students to just call me Kathlyn or Lav." Kathlyn moved from the stairs with an odd grace to stop infront of Hermione, her silver hair falling down to midback in a single wave. The Headmistress peered down at the Gryfindor girl with sharp honey eyes that never missed a detail of what was going on around her, or that's what the students said about her. "Something is troubling you at this late hour. It's best to tell others so they can help you dear." The right corner of her lip curved up, the left unable to simply because it was no longer there.

Every witch and wizard seemed to have a battle scar of some type from the war. Hermione was always left wondering what curse would leave a scar like that though. "It's nothing important." She lied smoothly not seeing how her personal problems were any of the woman's buisness. Even if McGonagall had already told the Headmistress about her situation. She would rather keep it under wraps.

The eyes followed her every movement before the Headmistress stepped back to the side so Hermione could see the stairs beyond her. She suspected L-Kathlyn had to know it wasn't the truth to let her go so easily. The Headmistress was known for letting kids go that had so obviously ditched class. It acted like a guilt trip for most and they never did it again. "Very well. Just remember that me and the staff are here to help you with anything you will ever need."

She nodded her head and slipped past the older witch and down the stairs. Hermione took the steps two at a time in her haste to get down. Anything. That was right. Students that did their own projects or research would go to their respective Professors and ask them for help, or to confirm certain aspects, and many other things. She was simply making the Draughts for... well, her own health. Snape had seen her and said she looked sick so if she went to him and asked for him to do something as simple as supervise her on the potion he should do it. She couldn't just mess up on a potion when it was to help her health.

It was the perfect solution.

Now all she had to do was get to her dorms without running into the caretaker. She had kept away from him getting here so it shouldn't be too hard. Still she could feel her steps becoming heavy. The energy drain was finally catching up with her again. That and not having eaten anything yet as of today.

Hermione was walking along a corridor when she heard foosteps advancing in her direction and she froze looking into the gloom around her for someplace to hide or get out of the main area of the hall. The large windows to her left did nothing to help light the place since it was approaching the new moon. Perhaps it would keep whoever it was from seeing her though. At least it wasn't Filch, he always carried a lamp with him and she would have known if his damned cat had caught sight of her. That creature hissed like a demon. She edged herself closer to the hanging portaits on the right wall.

"Lumos!"

She squinted at the sudden bright light even as her heart beat faster and the Veela in her reared up at the commanding voice.

When her eyes had adjusted to the light she could see Professor Snape standing in front of her, looking down at her with those piercing dark eyes. "What could possibly be your reason for being out of the dorms at this hour Miss Granger?" He said it as if he had caught other students wandering the corridors tonight, or perhaps this morning as well.

Hermione had to fight to steady her breathing at him being so close so suddenly. She was very tempted to reach out and touch his wand hand that was closest to her, to feel the amazing rush of energy that would flow through her veins at the simple contact. "I-i was just heading back." she said choosing her words carefully so he would hopefully let her be on her way. Fighting down the blush at her stutter. How was it that she couldn't act normally in front of him anymore after finding out he was her mate? Well, duh, being her mate was a good enough reason for her to be nervous. Was that what it was though? That light feeling that filled her body and made her mind drift as if her head was filled with clouds.

Still she should have known he woldn't let her go as easily as Kathlyn had. "So you have already accomplished the mischief you've been up too for tonight? What exactly have you been doing Miss Granger?"

Not what she wanted to do. Which was him. Undressing... Hermione quickly threw her thoughts out the window cursing the Veela in her mind even though it had done nothing to conjure up that imagery right then. The Gryfindor girl took a step back at Snape's accusing tone even though she had no reason to be afraid. A snippet from a book entered her mind about the Veela only ever being submissive to their mate. Once more she cursed the Veela inside her. Couldn't it leave her alone for a moment and let her control her own life? "I haven't been doing anything Professor." Why did it hurt so much whenever she didn't say his first name? "I just went up to the Astronomy Tower for some fresh air and to clear my mind. I was having trouble sleeping and thought a stroll would help."

"Has it?" He asked still glaring down at her.

Her blood ran cold with that gaze. How on earth was she suppose to change it to something that softened at the sight of her with endless love in its depths? "It has." she replied evenly, raising her head to look up at him, forcing herself not to flinch away. If she did he would just throw away her earlier comments without a second thought. She waited calmly for him to dismiss her in a gruff voice.

Instead she felt her face heat up slightly as his hand moved forward to lie across her forehead. Her skin burned beneath as warmth seaped into her as well as that blast of energy. He frowned as if he had tasted acid. "You have a fever, and yet you are still galavanting around at this time in the morning with the weather like this? Come." he moved his hand away and motioned for her to follow.

Hermione let a small breath of air she had been holding escape in a whoosh when he turned around. Her feet were already following him and she found herself wanting to go wherever he went no matter what, and that wasn't the Veela whispering in her ear. Oh no, the damn thing wanted her to jump him in the hallway! Right now, right here. Out in the open for anyone to see if someone happened to pass by. Being secretive was not in it's nature apparently. Shoving it down and telling it to shut the bloody hell up she hurried for a moment so she could walk by Severus's side to wherever he was taking her. Anywhere was fine by her as long as she could spend more time in his vicinity.