Chapter Two: The Charmed Man
It was difficult to tell which of the current circumstances were more hideously humiliating to Snape. The first was being trapped in some kind of gypsy caravan; the second was having Mr Harry Potter bearing witness to it. The latter had of course been a last resort, as he and Hermione had exhausted every idea they had and she had called in Harry to help (on Snapes' express condition however that Weasley did not accompany him) and now inside what was basically a tiny, wooden shed on wheels, the three convened, deeply perplexed.
The Forbidden Forest was now one of the few places that could offer privacy to the blossoming promise between Snape and Hermione. With every student, portrait and quite possibly microbe armed with a pair of eyes it became difficult to be clandestine. Hermione had liked the prospect of a stroll with Snape, her inner romantic was satisfied and she packed up a small picnic just to add that final touch. They had strolled for what seemed like endless time, he taking her hand and they talked of matters great and small, meeting on common ground that always surprised Snape. Insufferable knowitalls it seemed did have their charms and in Hermione was a charm which he found was rooting a deep attachment within him.
Their ramble was interrupted just short of finding a spot to stop and sit by the appearance of a large object not far in front. In the tightly knit bowers of the trees Snape illuminated his wand to quite literally shed light on the situation, instructing Hermione to approach with caution by standing behind him.
Upon closer inspection it seemed that the object was a small abandoned gypsy caravan that would have been pulled by a pony. It looked old but hardly weather beaten and there was no sense of unease emanating from it.
"Someone must live here, we should move on." Snape said but taking a step nearer, now very close to the door he wasn't so sure. "Perhaps not."
"Is anyone there?" Hermione called but all the reply that returned was the same rustle of trees and faint chirrup of birds. "What do you think happened here? Something bad?"
"I don't know." Snape replied and cautiously he approached and knocked once on the closed door. For a moment there was silence and a tension started to build that made Hermione seek out Snapes' hand and interlace her fingers with his. Hermione saw that above the door carved in faded letters were the words 'Three should be acquainted with me'. She drew Snapes' attention to the words and conjecturing he proceeded to knock three times slowly, the door in answer opened of its own accord and Hermione's grip on her lovers hand tightened.
"Lumos." Snape commanded quietly.
All at once several candles lit themselves and the low ceilinged, faded velvet interior was revealed to them. At the centre were two plush, worn chairs and a table and as tradition went a crystal ball rested in the centre.
"How exactly did he get stuck to a crystal ball, Hermione?" Harry asked incredulously, wanting to laugh really but appreciating it was neither the time nor the place. Besides Snape still had another hand free to smack him round the head.
"I don't know exactly, we were drawn to it, like some power was emanating from it and I was about to touch it but he stopped me…"
"I'm sure you can imagine the rest Potter." Snape interrupted with an impatient sneer.
Hermione's hand reached out to touch the crystal ball which glowed a deep blue mist making her will no longer her own. Darting forward Snape tried to knock the crystal from its brass pedestal but found it became fixed to his hand. He shook it, tried to throw and even prise but it would not budge and as Hermione's clarity returned to her she too tried all she physically could. It would not move by mortal strength.
Harry considered for a moment.
"What spells have you used?"
"Alohomoro, stupefy and reducto and Seve… Proffessor Snape tried several charms but the orb won't let him arm himself with his wand."
"Okay." Harry mused. "By the way Hermione, I guessed ages ago about you and… Proffessor Snape so don't worry."
"Well then be wise Potter and keep your council, not running off to Weasley or any of the others with your girls gossip."
"No sir."
"We need to get back, have you got any ideas Harry?" Hermione said hurriedly. "If we're both missed it will look very bad."
For a few seconds silence passed as Harry continued to think and then a look came across his face that spoke of inspiration. Hermione saw it but as she matched it with an expression of hope, Harry's face dropped.
"No we can't…"
"What is it Potter?"
"Well… I thought… do you remember when you came to intercept… Sirius…"
"How could I forget?" Snape replied sarcastically.
"What about it Harry?"
"Well I used… expelliarmus…"
Snape stood up, the ball staying fixed to his hand and he pointed right in Harry's face.
"Absolutely not!"
A pluck of defiant courage seemed to rage in Harry as it sometimes did when Snape got under his skin.
"Well have you got any better ideas? Thought about returning to Hogwarts with that stuck to you? It will be a nice little anecdote I'm sure."
"He can't leave the caravan, Harry." Hermione interceded, trying to break the tension.
Hermione had not seen Snape be thrown into a chair by an invisible force before, but when his patience wore thin and Snape began to storm from the caravan, his defiance cost him. The moment his feet touched the doorway a pulse of magical energy sent him hurtling back to one of the plush chairs.
Hermione neared Snape and looked him square in the eye.
"We haven't tried expelliarmus, Severus."
"For a good reason."
"What if I did it, would you trust me?"
Snape knew he was in a catch 22 here, saying no would cost him more than his liberty, he would put doubt in Hermione's mind.
"I do not particularly enjoy the prospect of being thrown about… again in a futile attempt to free me." He complained, growing weary of his predicament. Yet two minutes later his hand was resting with the orb on the table and Hermione and Harry were stood at the opposite end of the caravan, Hermione pointing her wand with determined purpose. She and Snape's eyes were locked on one another, silently communicating trust and belief. Hermione swallowed hard and taking a deep breath she said firmly.
"Expelliarmus!"
That was the second time that day Hermione saw her lover be thrown around a caravan.
Sometime later when sense and order was regained, a fatigued Snape and his two protégées sat around the table in silenced bafflement. Finally Hermione said.
"Wait a moment, what did it say above the door again?"
"Three should be acquainted with me." Snape replied wearily, rubbing his eyes with his free hand and pushing his hair off his face.
"That must mean something." Harry mused.
"As usual Potter your powers of perception are…"
"Yes it does." Hermione interrupted and gave Snape a sideways look. "This place did not have an owner but everything is still here, so maybe it was seeking one."
"Yes!" Harry said his mood brightening. "And to free yourself you must fulfil this places purpose."
Snapes' face dropped and he gazed hard at Harry in complete disbelief.
"You're telling me that to be free I have to tell fortunes?! That is ridiculous!"
"It may well be but he's right Severus." Hermione said resting her hand on his free one. "And you have to tell three of them."
"What else must I do? Put a scarf on my head and dress like a bohemian?"
"Just do it, what happens hear will not leave here." Hermione assured him and glancing at Harry he also nodded his assurance.
"I true your council Hermione and so I also trust Potters, but what you forget is there are only two of you. We need a third."
"I'll fetch someone." Harry replied.
"More of an audience, marvellous. As if this wasn't unbearable enough!" He groaned then after a moment he said flatly. "Who?"
There was a pause and Snapes' face dropped still further.
"Weasley."
As the four emerged from the caravan an hour or so later, Hermione and Snape hung back from the boys for the sake of the latters damaged pride. Harry and Ron whispered together like a pair of schoolgirls about what had just occurred, whereas Hermione soothed her lovers discontent with promises of pleasures later on which he had prophesied during her reading. This was of course done privately between the two of them, Harry had led a reluctant Ron outside for that particular episode. There was still on question Ron wanted to ask but had the sense not to, perhaps one day he would ask it but until then it merely rotated in his mind.
How on earth did Hermione and Snape end up in a caravan in the first place?
Puzzle on Ron Weasley, puzzle on for as they say, ignorance is bliss.