Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters or places. The plot only do I own.
Chapter Three
"The trolls finally realised a plan that would force the wizards out of their village and…"Professor Binns was droning on about some troll uprising, but Hermione wasn't paying attention. She had until the end of History to choose her dare. But what about her dream?
'Is it just coincidence that I was dared to kiss Snape after that dream? If I kiss Snape, I'll be expelled for sure! Surely it can't be that hard to fail a test, but on purpose? Can I fail on purpose?' she thought as she nodded off as is usual in Binns' class.
She was walking toward the dungeons when Peeves popped up with a bag of dungbombs in his hand.
"Wee student lassie shouldn't be out and about, not now! Peevsie should call for Filch, he should!" The poltergeist turned to call Filch, the stopped and turned back around. Without warning, Peeves whooshed down into Hermione's face, his usually jovial face now strangely serious. He looked around quickly before whispering to her.
"You're good for him, you know. Been a long time since he's been happy. But 'ware, lassie, the shadows have eyes and ears and they aren't happy. Remember this date; it'll help you get past the first trouble. December 1893. Remember!" Peeves cackled suddenly and threw a dungbomb at Hermione, screaming, "Filch! Student in the dungeon! Filch!"
"Hermione! Wakeup!" She opened her eyes as Harry continued to shake her. "Come on! History's over, it's time for Potions!" She jerked up.
"Hu-what? Already?" Hermione groaned as she stuffed her books into her pack, but stopped and pulled out a book. It was her well-worn copy of Hogwarts: A History. She remembered the date Peeves had whispered in her dream and opened the book.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron sighed as she reached out a hand and he pulled her to her feet. "We don't have time; we're going to be late!"
Hermione just stood there, staring at the book. It had opened to a page with the heading: Student-Teacher Relations. In bold, about half-way down the page was the date December 1893. She quickly scanned the page as the three of them made their way to the dungeon, all the while hearing Peeves' voice.
"You're good for him…but 'ware…shadows have eyes…Remember!"
How was this going to help at all? It'll help you get past the first trouble. How? Her first trouble was figuring out what she was going to do. Wait. There it was:
A teacher must not become emotionally involved with an underage student, but if that student is in his or her seventh year, has reached the legal age of adulthood, and is consenting, there can be no legal action taken against either the teacher or the student, as proved in the case Grant vs. Brombleby in which Professor Dilius Fint Brombleby was found to have been in a romantic relationship with a seventh year Prefect, Amelie Grant. The girl's father attempted to have Brombleby arrested, but as the girl was 17 when their relationship started, it was ruled that, as consenting adults, their union could not be fought.
The Headmistress, Amoria Lightpuff, decided not to expel Ms. Grant, as she would be graduating at the end of the year.
Keep in mind that student-teacher relationships are looked down upon by society and that the teacher in question cannot show any affection or favouritism toward the student while in a classroom setting.
Hermione let out a sigh of relief. Well, at least she had an argument to take to Dumbledore for when she kissed Snape. She stopped moving as she realised what had just happened. In her mind, she had just said 'when she kissed Snape'. She stood there for a moment, thinking about this decision. 'Is that what I'm going to do?' Why not? She could think of a lot of reasons 'why not', but it's not like she was in a romantic relationship with Snape, it was just a dare and who knew, maybe it would make those dreams go away.
"Hermione, you ok?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, Harry." She knew what to do now. The three Gryffindors walked into class and sat down. The only problem is how? How was she going to kiss the teacher? She jumped when Ron touched her shoulder and turn her head to look at him.
"Have you decided how you're going to fail the test? It's not that difficult really, if you need some help."
"I'm not going to."
"Because I could help you…wait, what?" He stared at her, incredulously as her words sank in. "You mean you're going to…"
"Deduct ten points from Gryffindor each? Why, yes, Weasely, that's exactly what I'm going to do, so be quiet!" Snape snapped as he walked in. "today you will be attempting to make an Animus Nullus potion, used to make a person forget events within a certain time period. It is temporary, and not as damaging as a mind-wipe, as it only hides the memory instead of blocking it entirely.
If you can make the potion correctly, you will pass the test. Instructions are on the board. Now, get to work," Snape said as the Slytherins and Gryffindors scurried to gather ingredients.
"Why the hell would you kiss that git, 'Mione?" Ron whispered as he began to slice fadeleaf stems. "All you have to do is mess up a simple potion!"
"I didn't tell you everything about my dream, Ron," Hermione paused as Snape walked by them, and then continued, telling Ron about her dreams. "I've been having dreams like this since the end of last year. Maybe if I kiss him, the dreams will go away."
"You know you'll get expelled! Go to Dumbledore, I'll bet he can think of a way to get rid of those dreams without you having to kiss the teacher!" Ron hissed the last three words. "Just because you dreamed that Peeves, of all people, told you that it was ok! It was just…a…dream, Hermione."
Suddenly, Neville's potion turned bright yellow, instead of pale purple, and began bubbling madly. Snape snarled as she strode over to the table where Neville and Harry were sitting. Harry backed away from the cauldron and joined Ron and Hermione.
"Great. He'd better now screw up my potion. I was actually doing it right!" Harry sighed, and then looked at his friends' faces. "What's wrong?"
"She's not going to fail the test." Ron said in a monotone, while glaring whole swords at Hermione, who ignored them and continued working on her potion.
"She's not going to…you mean…Merlin!" Harry stared at Hermione, just as Ron had, but she ignored him. Before Harry could say anything, Snape vanished Neville's potion.
"Longbottom, you fool! Stir the potion COUNTERCLOCKWISE! Twenty points from Gryffindor for you inane inability to follow directions. You fail the test, obviously, so get out of my sight!"
Relieved that his potion hadn't been destroyed, Harry went back to his table as Neville ran out. Ron sighed, exasperated, and Hermione touched his hand.
"Ron, you don't understand…"
"There's quite a lot that he doesn't understand, but what is it this time?" Hermione paled as she looked up at Snape. "Well, Granger? I assume it's something so dreadfully important that you simply must talk about it."
Hermione stood, her legs shaking as she looked over at Harry, who stared at her, slack-jawed. Ron put his head down with a groan, not wanting to watch his friend get killed by Snape.
Hermione looked up at the Professor. His sneer drained away as she rose up onto her toes and lightly pressed her lips to his. They were just as soft as they'd been in her dream, Hermione noticed, but barely registered the collective gasp from the class. The kiss only lasted a moment. Hermione backed away and waited for a curse to hit her with her eyes glued to the floor. But, surprisingly, nothing happened. She looked up to see Snape walking away. He paused and looked around at the class who were all staring at him, just as surprised as Hermione that he hadn't cursed her.
"What are you fools staring at? Get back to work…NOW!" There was a scurry of motion as everyone turned back to bottling their potions, but Hermione sat down slowly. She looked at Ron, but he just bottled up his potion without saying a word to her and left, not even looking back.
Harry was still staring at her and she flushed suddenly and looked away. She bottled her own potion, but stayed seated. She knew Snape would tell her to stay, so she began thinking up an explanation as the classroom slowly emptied, students whispering to each other and looking back at Hermione.
Harry was the last to leave and looked back at Hermione after turning in his potion. She smiled weakly at him and he gave her an encouraging nod in return.
"I'll wait outside," he mouthed and she nodded.
"Miss Granger. Come here." Wincing, she stood and walked over to Snape's desk. Her it come. I'll be marched up to the Headmaster's office and Snape will try to get me expelled. She stood at the desk for a few moments before Snape finally looked up at her. His expression was carefully blank.
"Miss Granger, do you realise how much trouble you just caused with that…that stunt? No matter, I am escorting you, and Potter, up to the Headmaster's office. I do hope you can explain yourself." He spoke in a normal tone, but his eyes were hard. "As I have another class to teach, you and Potter, and Weasely if he's out there, will wait in my office."
Hermione didn't move as Snape stood and opened the door. Harry and Ginny were waiting outside, Ginny having just arrived to find out what had happened. Ron was nowhere in sight. Their eyes to the floor, they joined Hermione at the desk and Ginny tried to defend her friend.
"Professor, I…"
"Silence, Miss Weasely. I am not interested in anything you have to say at the moment. Go into my office. Get out of my sight!" He added vehemently when they remained rooted in place. Ginny jumped and the three of them headed to his office.
Once inside, Hermione looked around for a place to sit. The office was dark with no windows and the only light was a lamp on the desk that Harry turned on. The only chair was Snape's desk chair, so they sat on the floor and Ginny looked over at Hermione.
"So…you kissed him, huh?"