Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe. It was created by J K Rowling. Any characters/places you recognise are just being borrowed. No profit is being made from this.
A/N Again many thanks for the reviews, favourites and follows. This is the chapter that sort of 'broke' me last time and I'll put a longer note at the bottom. Suffice to say it seems to be a divisive chapter, with some liking and others not. So here goes...
Chapter 6 – Nosy Neighbours
Remus and Severus took a hand each. Remus moved up to Hermione's back, whilst Severus took a few more steps forward. "Well," Severus demanded when none of those on the doorstep responded, "What has happened? Are Miss Granger's parents well?"
He was in full professor mode, Hermione realised. So long as it got the answers she needed, she did not care. Mrs Hawkins, her next door neighbour seemed to retreat slightly under the glare of Professor Snape, looking slightly embarrassed. The police officers seemed made of sterner stuff, they exchanged a glance.
"My apologies, Miss Granger," the male officer said. He looked to be in his early thirties, not much younger than the men beside her. "We did not wish to worry you. Your parents are fine."
Hermione slumped in relief, held in place by Remus, and to a lesser extent by Severus. "Thank God," she murmured.
"Then what is the issue?" Severus again demanded, glaring at them. How dare they upset Hermione.
"This is Constable Smith," the man said gesturing to the woman, "and I am Constable Simmons. May I have your names, please?"
Severus knew, despite how it was worded, that it was not a request. "I am Severus Snape, this is Remus Lupin," he spat.
"Hermione was making tea," Remus interrupted. "Would you like to come in and let us know what this is about?" He looked towards Hermione, "I think she may need a few moments to collect herself." He stepped forward, leaving Hermione with Severus to support her. He felt that Severus' confrontational style was not the way to proceed. "Hermione," he said gently, but formally, "go with Professor Snape. I'll make the tea," he finished, slipping a small piece of chocolate from his pocket into her hand.
Hermione blinked, "Yes, yes of course," she said softly, moving away from the doorway. She slipped the chocolate into her mouth and stood taller, yet kept her hand in Severus' as they moved to the living room.
Severus guided her over to the couch as the Constable Smith and the strange woman followed them into the room. He quickly realised that his actions were being closely watched. He assumed that the other police officer was with Remus and suddenly had an inkling as to why they were here. He turned towards the strange woman, "Your neighbour?" he asked Hermione, sneering.
Hermione looked towards him in surprise, he really was in Professor Snape mode, apart from the fact that he still held her hand, she would have thought they were back at Hogwarts. "Yes, sir," she replied, pulling her hand from his. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a familiar handkerchief, twisting it between her fingers. "Mrs Hawkins lives next door." she turned to the policewoman. "My apologies, that is why I feared the worse." She began to stand up, "I should go and help Remus make..."
"Sit down, Miss Granger," Severus interrupted. "Remus should be more that capable of making tea, and if your parents are anything like yourself I am sure he will be able to find everything he needs." He took a sideways glance at the women, "Though, I am sure that Constable Smith would like the opportunity to speak with you, alone," he felt a little surge of triumph when the constable flinched slightly. "I shall go and help him."
He wandered towards the kitchen, "So have you managed to convince Constable Simmons that we are not after Hermione's virtue?" he drawled, leaning against the door frame.
Almost as soon as Severus had left the room Mrs Hawkins moved, "Hermione," she said sitting next to her, "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"
Hermione shook her head in confusion, "I'm sorry, what are you talking about?"
Constable Smith spoke, "Mrs Hawkins called us, saying that there were two strange men in this house. She felt that they may have been taking... advantage of you, whilst your parents were away," she paused for a moment, looking Hermione up and down. "You seem a sensible young lady, Miss Granger, and I am asking you to tell me the truth. Have either of those men acted or touched you inappropriately? Do you understand what I mean by that?"
Hermione nodded.
"I knew it," Mrs Hawkins exclaimed, "I knew there was something wrong with those two fellows."
"Mrs Hawkins," Hermione said sternly, standing up to move in front of the fireplace, "you misunderstand. I was nodding to agree that I understood what was being asked. As to the answer, it is of course no," she said firmly. She turned to the police officer, "There appears to have been some misunderstanding. Professor Snape is a teacher at my school, as was Remus a couple of years ago. They would never take advantage of a student."
"Surely it is odd for teachers to visit a student outside of term-time?" Constable Simmons, questioned Severus and Remus in the kitchen.
"Hermione is an outstanding pupil, often undertaking summer projects," Remus replied, hoping to convey the impression that they were here to help her with that, without an outright lie. "She is highly intelligent and always seeking knowledge," he continued. "As I am no longer a teacher, I count her amongst my friends. Her insights into our academic debates are astounding for her age, and if she does not understand, then her questions are always pertinent."
Severus snorted gently, from where he was leaning against a kitchen unit. "She is a know-it-all who often parrots what she has read," he held up a hand as Remus opened his mouth to protest, "however, I will grant that she occasionally brings that library in her head together and develops her own thoughts on a subject. It is a refreshing change, and something I hope to see more of as she matures."
Constable Simmons smiled to himself secretly. He was now sure that the complaint was unfounded, and it was all simply a misunderstanding. However, there was one last thing to ask. "Tell me, is it just coincidence that you are here on the day that the Doctors Granger are away at a conference until midnight?" He was surprised by the sudden change in atmosphere of the room.
"What?" The dark-haired man's head snapped up and his body became upright and tense. "Are you telling me that Miss Granger was going to be alone all that time?" he said slowly, as if not believing his ears. Severus turned to Remus, "Did you know this?" he demanded, his voice hardening.
"No. Severus, what is wrong?" the other man replied, as stunned as the constable at Severus' reaction. He watched blankly as Severus suddenly turned and stalked down the hallway. A few moments later, Remus sighed deeply as he moved to follow. He did not need one of Sybill Trelawney's predictions to see that this situation was about to go pear-shaped.
Hermione and the two women flinched as the door to the living room was flung open. A very angry looking Severus Snape marched into the room. "Is this true?" he demanded, moving ominously towards Hermione. "Were you going to spend the whole day alone?"
She could only nod, speechless at his sudden appearance and verbal assault. The last time she remembered seeing him so angry was when he had confronted Sirius and Remus in the Shrieking Shack back in her third year. He seemed almost out of control. For the first time, in a long while, she was truly scared of Severus Snape.
"You stupid girl," he roared. "Do you know what the Dark Lord's minions would do if they knew?" he loomed over her. "The muggle-born friend of Harry Potter, completely alone, no one to interfere. Do you?"
He had wanted to be as honest as possible with Remus earlier and had dropped his mental and emotional barriers, his mind was unprotected. He grabbed her shoulders, as images and memories assaulted his mind. "Rape, torture," he whispered, almost to himself, holding on to her as support.
"Severus," Remus' voice barked from the doorway, as Constable Simmons barged past him. "Enough, you are scaring her." He had his wand out and cast a binding spell on the three muggles. "What a mess," he thought to himself. As part of his mind dealt with conceiving a plan to deal with the onlookers, another part was wondering at Severus' actions. "Is he aware of a specific threat to Hermione that I'm not?"
"How dare you!" Hermione shouted at the man in front of her. Her fright making her lash out verbally and physically. He had her almost pinned to the wall and she pushed him away, finding it surprisingly easy. How dare he grab me. How dare he call me names in my own house. "Get out! Get out of my home!" she screeched at him.
Severus pulled his thoughts and feelings together with an effort, his Occlumency barriers falling into place. This is better, this is familiar. This is how it should be, he said to himself as he drew his body upwards, standing straight. "I don't believe so, Miss Granger," he said coldly, drawing his wand and turning towards the others in the room. "We must fix your little problem first," he drawled silkily. "Lupin, let the Ministry know you were here and performed magic. The last thing we need is for them investigating under-age magic use." With that he cast a quick charm at the three muggles and began modifying their memories.
Remus could only stare as Severus began his charms. What happened? It was as if his lover had flicked a switch. He was still angry, but it had gone cold, more like the persona he presented to the world. Not something he was used to seeing any more, when they were alone or with Hermione.
"Miss Granger," Severus sneered as he finished, "say goodbye to your guests and show them to the door."
Silent as he had worked, Hermione did as Severus asked, though looked affronted at being ordered around in her own home. "Thank you for checking, Mrs Hawkins, but as you see, all is well," she said waving to them from the front door.
As Hermione walked her guests out, Remus moved towards Severus, reaching out a hand to touch his arm. His lover sidestepped the action. "Lupin, the Ministry. Now" Severus snapped at him, "and let Dumbledore know of Miss Granger's idiotic error of judgement," he continued as Hermione entered the room, "so he can arrange someone to watch over her". With that he Apparated away, without even a goodbye.
A/N I had some people say that Severus was very OCC, but there is a reason, alluded to in this chapter and explained more in the next chapter. I had written a version where Remus is the one who reacted, rather than Severus. However I still prefer this version and feel it is justified - though that may not be clear yet.