Of Potions and Potions Masters
Chapter Three: Discussing Poe
Hermione had the rest of the day off, a few hours set aside for herself just so she could sit and read. She sat in the teachers lounge, carefully reading through a large volume that she had found in the Headmaster's office. Minerva had given it to her, stating that, "She would never read it herself."
The door opened and she heard footsteps walk over to the couch in front of her, then silence. She didn't need to look up to know who was in the room with her. The answer was simple; anyone else would have interrupted her reading to greet her.
"Good afternoon, Professor," Hermione said not looking up from her text. She didn't need to do that to greet Snape, she knew he would have rather not be acknowledged anyway.
"Afternoon, Miss Granger," Snape replied opening his own book and they soon fell into a very comfortable silence.
After an hour went by Hermione decided to break the quiet that surrounded them, "What are you reading?"
"Edger Allen Poe," Snape replied looking up from the thick book that was spread across his legs.
"I didn't know you read muggle books, but I do think Poe fits your desired persona," Hermione said with a smile, "What's your favorite story or poem?"
"The Raven," Snape watched the bushy haired girl close her own book and look at him more carefully.
"I would have taken you for a 'Tell Tale Heart' or 'Masque of the Red Death' person, you know, something a bit more morbid," Hermione said.
"The Raven is dark too," Snape said defensively, "Just not in the same way as his other work."
"I find that it, and Annabel Lee, have more romantic undertones than the majority of his work," Hermione argued, then quickly switched the subject, "Personally I like his mysteries 'Murders in the Rue Morgue' for example."
"Who would have thought that an orangutan could murder people like that?" Snape said closing his own book. He hadn't had anyone to talk to about the depth and storyline of Poe's work. So this was something new, a discussion he was enjoying.
"Or that there was a man that was smart enough to put the clues together? C. Auguste Dupin was pure genius," Hermione thought back over Poe's work, "The writing in his work is magnificent, the words flow beautifully."
"If you like Poe," Hermione said, "Then you should read The Poe Shadow I think it's called. It is a novel about the circumstances behind Poe's death. I found it to be very interesting." She folded her hands in her lap, "I have it in my personal books if you would like to borrow it sometime."
"I would like that," Snape said, "the wizarding world just doesn't have quality fiction reading material."
"I have a large collection of fiction and non-fiction books, you're welcome to them whenever you like," Hermione offered.
"Could I browse them now?" Snape asked looking down at the warn cover of his book, "I would like something new to read before I go to bed tonight."
Hermione blushed, his openness caught her off guard, she hadn't expect him to take her up on her offer. Not to mention the thought of him in her room sent shivers down her spine, very good shivers. "Sure Professor," she said standing, "follow me."
Snape fell in step beside her, following her up the two floors to her living chambers. He browsed her shelves, and the couple of boxes of books that wouldn't fit on the shelves. He picked out a couple, the one about Poe, and another on chemistry. "Could I take these Miss Granger? I'll return them as soon as I have them finished."
"Take your time Professor, I've read them both a couple of times," Hermione laughed watching him from a chair in the corner of the room, "Perhaps someday I should take you to Barnes and Nobel, you would be like a kid in a candy shop."
Snape looked over at her, a smirk played at his features, "Are you enjoying this Miss Granger?"
"Very much, Professor Snape, you are an enjoyable individual once a person gets past your walls," she said with a nervous smile.
Snape stared at her for a second, debating on weather or not he should get angry with her. Deciding against it, but needing some space, he nodded at her and took his leave, heading to his chambers to start on the newly acquired books.
Hermione shuffled through a box and pulled out her own heavily highlighted copy of The Complete Works of Edger Allen Poe. She flipped it open to The Raven and read it, disregarding her notes in the margin.
When she had finished reading it, she wrote 'Professor Snape' at the top of the page in her neatest handwriting. She wondered if he'd like some of the other poems she read.
AN: Well, here's the latest chapter… hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hermione or Snape… I'm just borrowing them for my own pleasure and plan on returning them, a bit worse for wear, when I'm done.