Disclaimer: It's not mine, it's all J. K. Rowling's.
A/N: Annie Talbot and Machshefa are the lovely ladies who beta-read this fic! : :hugs: :
Chapter 7: Feelings
It was Friday morning and Severus had decided to go up to the Great Hall for breakfast. If he'd learned something about Hermione Granger in the past week it was that she didn't answer her correspondence right away, so there was only a minimal chance that his mood would reach worse levels than socially tolerable. This way he could play Minerva's game without much risk of giving her more ammunition for her annoying, unexpected attacks.
He entered the hall, glaring at whoever dared to look his way while he walked to the Head Table. The fact that he was attending the morning meal didn't mean his mood was sociable, only barely. He took his seat next to the Headmistress and waited for the inevitable. He didn't have to wait long.
"Good morning, Severus. It's always nice seeing you in the Great Hall so early in the day. Have you forgiven the house-elves, then?"
He poured some coffee for himself and ignored the toast he usually had with it. He also ignored the Headmistress, but this didn't seem to discourage her.
"I assure you that the toast is not overly dry this morning," she continued.
Owls invaded the hall from all sides at that moment. A letter fell on his plate.
"Unless your correspondence is still cursed to dry them," Minerva added.
Severus gave her a warning side glance before reaching for the letter. It was an answer from Granger. He felt Minerva's eyes on him, expectant. He turned to her, holding the letter and arching an eyebrow at her.
She had the audacity to chuckle before going back to her own business, in this case, her breakfast.
Severus refrained from opening the letter, just to prove he still had some control over this situation, or so he told himself. But the absence of the ring in the package was palpable.
Not much later, in the relative privacy of his office, his control slipped, as evidenced by his tearing the envelope open impatiently.
Dear Professor Snape,
You insist on being rude, so I'll continue to be blunt. Until you disclose your motives, I'll deny you the ring. If you say it is evil, then prove it. Otherwise, I won't believe you.
You have my conditions for cooperation.
Cynical bitch! As if she had any right to demand anything. Severus proceeded to whatever nonsense she still had to say.
Notice that I'm not being petty about this; you're the one making my decision difficult. Have you ever considered that I might be attached to this ring? Have you even considered the possibility that I might be worried about its destiny? I don't think you have, therefore you should.
People have feelings. Don't disrespect mine just because you can't grasp the concept.
Hermione Granger
His frown was deeper than ever. Who was she to claim a sentimental attachment to the ring? Severus was not happy. Severus was very much annoyed, actually. It was disrespectful and intrusive and… and… rude, even by his standards!
The ring was precious to him. If it had to be precious to someone else, it had to be someone of his choice, and not some interfering… thief!
She was ruining everything. Hermione bloody Granger was corrupting his ring.
Severus discarded the letter on the desk and started to walk. He paced, trying to make the ache on his chest go away. It felt like going back to Grimmauld Place and finding Lily's letter all over again.
Feelings? What does she know about feelings? Nothing!
Severus stopped in front of a shelf and ran a long finger around the contours of the worked glass of an elegant jar. It contained a deep red liquid that was visible through its green walls. He traced and retraced the ornament, calming himself. He closed his eyes and sighed.
"Damn."
He was still angry with the girl's petulance, but he had to keep his head as far from his tiny heart as possible, or it would be devastating. Severus didn't have the luxury of losing his mind now, much as he would have liked to surrender to the pain.
Why had he survived again?
Don't go there, you fool… he cautioned his thoughts.
It was almost time for the morning classes, so he simply headed for the door and left for the classroom, leaving but not forgetting the letter on his desk.
o0oOo0o
After spending the weekend trying to rationalize his reaction to Granger's letter, Severus was still annoyed by her words. He couldn't understand how she could claim his ring meant something to her if it was simply an object she'd found on the floor of a dirty room.
Severus needed to solve this impasse, take the ring from her as soon as possible.
He penned an answer and sent it. His patience was reaching its end, and he didn't care if it showed in his letter; he never cared.
Coming next… Hermione is offended by Snape's disregard.