Chapter Ten
Riddle Me This
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling has the Monopoly on Harry Potter.
A.N. Seems like everyone found the last chapter confusing or not thorough enough, so I'll try to clear things up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione went straight down to the dungeons, not bothering to go back up to Gryffindor Tower for her bag since they had that big test.
Professor Flitwick was subbing in for Severus, and he looked rather ridiculous behind Severus' desk without his usual stack of books. Someone really needed to get that man some proper office furniture. He handed Hermione her test and she sat down at a table by herself.
Severus rushed into the room just as the bell rang, looking rather disgruntled. Hermione wondered what was up.
Since she had arrived late to class Hermione hadn't yet finished checking her test over for the third time, so she didn't have to make up a story about forgetting her bag. Not that she would have needed to, Harry and Ron were chatting madly away about quiddich and the didn't seem to notice her absence. They probably wouldn't have noticed if the whole school came crashing down at their feet either though.
Hermione finished checking over her test and set it down on Severus' desk.
'What's wrong Sev?' she asked studying his face.
'Nothing,' Severus growled.
Hermione wasn't about to be swayed. 'Nothing, Nothing tra-la-la.' She said in a deep mocking voice.
'Aren't you supposed to be at lunch?' Severus asked, feinting annoyance.
Hermione shook her head, 'Nope. Professor Dumbledore said that I could ask you some questions and that you have to answer them.'
'You didn't hear what Dumbledore said after you left,' Severus mumbled under his breath.
'What did you say?' Hermione asked.
'Nothing,' Severus said with a sigh.
Hermione shook her head again, 'Nope, you're not getting away that easy, you have to answer remember.'
'I said you should be more worried about raisin theft.' Severus said plainly.
'And why is that?' Hermione asked sarcastically.
'Because I've grown very fond of raisins, and if you don't go to lunch right away they'll all be gone before you get there. Millions of my tiny bruessel sprout minions are pilfering them away as we speak.'
'I don't like raisins anyway, their just humiliated grapes really.'
'Not a big supporter of the raisin council?' Severus asked.
Hermione grinned, 'You could say that, but I'm the one that's supposed to be asking you the questions remember?'
Severus sighed, 'You can ask me three questions and then you have to go to lunch.'
Hermione frowned in concentration, 'All right then. How do we get Voldemort to take the potion if he know we're making it?'
Severus smiled, 'But he doesn't know that we're making it, he knows that it's being made but that's different. Actually, since he's having me make the counter potion, Dumbledore's decided that I'm going to give him the real potion instead of the counter potion. If we're lucky he'll be careless and not bother to try it on anyone else first, or he'll try it on Pettigrew and not notice any difference. If we're unlucky...' Severus broke off. 'Question number two?'
'What were you upset about?' Hermione asked.
'I met Minerva in the hallway and she was gloating about last weeks quiddich game. She took care to mention that I owe her twenty three galleons.' This was a lie, he'd seen Minerva the day before in The Three Broomsticks. But the best lies are always eighty percent truth, something he'd learned from his father. 'Last question.'
Hermione wanted to ask him about the key but she didn't want him to know that she'd been snooping. 'What kind of underwear are you wearing,' she asked, leaning over his desk and licking her lips.
Severus turned bright red, 'Lunch! Now!
Hermione stood back up and shook her head, 'Welcome back Mr. Crabby Pants.'
'See you tonight Ice Queen,' Severus said as she left the room.
'They have Snow White on them don't they?' Hermione yelled over her shoulder as she left the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Eleven hours later Hermione was back in the dungeon waiting for Severus. He came in out of breath.
'Evening calisthenics?' Hermione asked archly.
'I've heard quit enough from you,' he said grabbing her by the arm and pulling her into the hallway.
Before Hermione knew it they were running down the hallway at breakneck speed and she had no idea why.
'Where are we going?' Hermione asked as Severus pulled her out the front door and onto the grounds.
'Forest,' Severus panted as they ran to the edge of the forbidden forest.
'What's going on?' Hermione asked forcefully.
'Shhh,' Severus hissed and pulled her behind a large tree, just out of sight of the lawn.
'Sevvviiiiii!'a screech emanated from the other side of the lake, Star was galloping towards them.
Severus gestured for Hermione to follow him, and he led her as quietly as possible through the woods at a run.
Within five minutes they arrived at the little circle of stones where they'd had a fire when they were drinking with Firenze.
Star came galloping up a moment behind them.
'Sevi, why are you running away from me?' She whined before spotting Hermione. 'It's her isn't it?'
Severus quivered, 'Firenze! I'm about to kill your bloody sister!' He yelled, and then grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and kissed her passionately before turning back to Star. 'Yes it is her, but I wouldn't even want to be around you for company if we were the last two beings on the planet. I'd rather go insane talking to a bloody volleyball!'
Firenze trotted up and tapped Severus on the shoulder, 'Need any help mate?'
'Just keep her away from me!' He yelled and stormed off through the forest towards he river.
Hermione gave Firenze a helpless look and chased after Severus.
Star started after them, but Firenze grabbed her by the shoulders. 'I'm not about to go chasing after you.' he said dully.
'But, Firenze," she wined.
'Why don't you go play with Hagrid's little brother,' he said coldly, 'You two would make a cute couple.'
Star's mouth dropped.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione caught up with Severus at the river before the cave, which he'd managed to find without the stones in his anger.
He didn't seem to be bothered by the freezing early October water, because he plunged into the river and waded over to the other side, without so much as a flinch or a moments pause.
Hermione jumped in after his, not feeling as though she had a choice in the matter. She felt that she'd follow him anywhere at the moment.
Hermione finally caught up to him in the cave, where he sat in one corner with his knees pulled up to his chest and his head down. Hermione went over to him and sat down quietly next to him, shivering.
'Is it your time of the month or something?' she asked through chattering teeth.
Severus looked up to her, about to make a snide remark, but then he saw the look of concern on her face and noticed how cold she must be. His face softened and he pulled her close in an embrace. 'You're so stupid Hermione. October is no time to go swimming, you're going to catch your death.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A.N. Short, but no cliffhanger. I was suffering from a little bit of writers block, but I think I know what direction I'm going in now. So you can look forward to some more plot twists in the future.
Thanks:
Aindel S. Druida: Don't get so huffy, Tee Hee. No cliffhanger this time, happy?
Anarane Anwamane: Thanks
bunniecutie: I like weird.
Bastet-the-cat-goddess: thank ya kindly
Belle Mortis: And Oppenheimer is the father of the atom bomb, you can't forget that. Got it wrong on Mr. Johnson's stupid world challenges test. Grrr. Damn to the depths whatever man that though up history tests.....it was probably the Greeks this time. Damned Greek Geeks, we have them to thank for geometry, but at least their not obsessed with raisins. I suppose it would help if I studied though.
Casiana Joy: Thank you.
Adnarel: Yay cookie! You're probably right about the relationship thing moving too fast, but I didn't want people to loose interest while I spent twenty chapters about how Hermione and Severus grow to tolerate, like, and love each other over a steaming cauldron. Though that would have been nice.
Riddle Me This
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling has the Monopoly on Harry Potter.
A.N. Seems like everyone found the last chapter confusing or not thorough enough, so I'll try to clear things up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione went straight down to the dungeons, not bothering to go back up to Gryffindor Tower for her bag since they had that big test.
Professor Flitwick was subbing in for Severus, and he looked rather ridiculous behind Severus' desk without his usual stack of books. Someone really needed to get that man some proper office furniture. He handed Hermione her test and she sat down at a table by herself.
Severus rushed into the room just as the bell rang, looking rather disgruntled. Hermione wondered what was up.
Since she had arrived late to class Hermione hadn't yet finished checking her test over for the third time, so she didn't have to make up a story about forgetting her bag. Not that she would have needed to, Harry and Ron were chatting madly away about quiddich and the didn't seem to notice her absence. They probably wouldn't have noticed if the whole school came crashing down at their feet either though.
Hermione finished checking over her test and set it down on Severus' desk.
'What's wrong Sev?' she asked studying his face.
'Nothing,' Severus growled.
Hermione wasn't about to be swayed. 'Nothing, Nothing tra-la-la.' She said in a deep mocking voice.
'Aren't you supposed to be at lunch?' Severus asked, feinting annoyance.
Hermione shook her head, 'Nope. Professor Dumbledore said that I could ask you some questions and that you have to answer them.'
'You didn't hear what Dumbledore said after you left,' Severus mumbled under his breath.
'What did you say?' Hermione asked.
'Nothing,' Severus said with a sigh.
Hermione shook her head again, 'Nope, you're not getting away that easy, you have to answer remember.'
'I said you should be more worried about raisin theft.' Severus said plainly.
'And why is that?' Hermione asked sarcastically.
'Because I've grown very fond of raisins, and if you don't go to lunch right away they'll all be gone before you get there. Millions of my tiny bruessel sprout minions are pilfering them away as we speak.'
'I don't like raisins anyway, their just humiliated grapes really.'
'Not a big supporter of the raisin council?' Severus asked.
Hermione grinned, 'You could say that, but I'm the one that's supposed to be asking you the questions remember?'
Severus sighed, 'You can ask me three questions and then you have to go to lunch.'
Hermione frowned in concentration, 'All right then. How do we get Voldemort to take the potion if he know we're making it?'
Severus smiled, 'But he doesn't know that we're making it, he knows that it's being made but that's different. Actually, since he's having me make the counter potion, Dumbledore's decided that I'm going to give him the real potion instead of the counter potion. If we're lucky he'll be careless and not bother to try it on anyone else first, or he'll try it on Pettigrew and not notice any difference. If we're unlucky...' Severus broke off. 'Question number two?'
'What were you upset about?' Hermione asked.
'I met Minerva in the hallway and she was gloating about last weeks quiddich game. She took care to mention that I owe her twenty three galleons.' This was a lie, he'd seen Minerva the day before in The Three Broomsticks. But the best lies are always eighty percent truth, something he'd learned from his father. 'Last question.'
Hermione wanted to ask him about the key but she didn't want him to know that she'd been snooping. 'What kind of underwear are you wearing,' she asked, leaning over his desk and licking her lips.
Severus turned bright red, 'Lunch! Now!
Hermione stood back up and shook her head, 'Welcome back Mr. Crabby Pants.'
'See you tonight Ice Queen,' Severus said as she left the room.
'They have Snow White on them don't they?' Hermione yelled over her shoulder as she left the room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Eleven hours later Hermione was back in the dungeon waiting for Severus. He came in out of breath.
'Evening calisthenics?' Hermione asked archly.
'I've heard quit enough from you,' he said grabbing her by the arm and pulling her into the hallway.
Before Hermione knew it they were running down the hallway at breakneck speed and she had no idea why.
'Where are we going?' Hermione asked as Severus pulled her out the front door and onto the grounds.
'Forest,' Severus panted as they ran to the edge of the forbidden forest.
'What's going on?' Hermione asked forcefully.
'Shhh,' Severus hissed and pulled her behind a large tree, just out of sight of the lawn.
'Sevvviiiiii!'a screech emanated from the other side of the lake, Star was galloping towards them.
Severus gestured for Hermione to follow him, and he led her as quietly as possible through the woods at a run.
Within five minutes they arrived at the little circle of stones where they'd had a fire when they were drinking with Firenze.
Star came galloping up a moment behind them.
'Sevi, why are you running away from me?' She whined before spotting Hermione. 'It's her isn't it?'
Severus quivered, 'Firenze! I'm about to kill your bloody sister!' He yelled, and then grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and kissed her passionately before turning back to Star. 'Yes it is her, but I wouldn't even want to be around you for company if we were the last two beings on the planet. I'd rather go insane talking to a bloody volleyball!'
Firenze trotted up and tapped Severus on the shoulder, 'Need any help mate?'
'Just keep her away from me!' He yelled and stormed off through the forest towards he river.
Hermione gave Firenze a helpless look and chased after Severus.
Star started after them, but Firenze grabbed her by the shoulders. 'I'm not about to go chasing after you.' he said dully.
'But, Firenze," she wined.
'Why don't you go play with Hagrid's little brother,' he said coldly, 'You two would make a cute couple.'
Star's mouth dropped.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione caught up with Severus at the river before the cave, which he'd managed to find without the stones in his anger.
He didn't seem to be bothered by the freezing early October water, because he plunged into the river and waded over to the other side, without so much as a flinch or a moments pause.
Hermione jumped in after his, not feeling as though she had a choice in the matter. She felt that she'd follow him anywhere at the moment.
Hermione finally caught up to him in the cave, where he sat in one corner with his knees pulled up to his chest and his head down. Hermione went over to him and sat down quietly next to him, shivering.
'Is it your time of the month or something?' she asked through chattering teeth.
Severus looked up to her, about to make a snide remark, but then he saw the look of concern on her face and noticed how cold she must be. His face softened and he pulled her close in an embrace. 'You're so stupid Hermione. October is no time to go swimming, you're going to catch your death.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A.N. Short, but no cliffhanger. I was suffering from a little bit of writers block, but I think I know what direction I'm going in now. So you can look forward to some more plot twists in the future.
Thanks:
Aindel S. Druida: Don't get so huffy, Tee Hee. No cliffhanger this time, happy?
Anarane Anwamane: Thanks
bunniecutie: I like weird.
Bastet-the-cat-goddess: thank ya kindly
Belle Mortis: And Oppenheimer is the father of the atom bomb, you can't forget that. Got it wrong on Mr. Johnson's stupid world challenges test. Grrr. Damn to the depths whatever man that though up history tests.....it was probably the Greeks this time. Damned Greek Geeks, we have them to thank for geometry, but at least their not obsessed with raisins. I suppose it would help if I studied though.
Casiana Joy: Thank you.
Adnarel: Yay cookie! You're probably right about the relationship thing moving too fast, but I didn't want people to loose interest while I spent twenty chapters about how Hermione and Severus grow to tolerate, like, and love each other over a steaming cauldron. Though that would have been nice.