Chapter 11 - Keep Passing The Open Windows
Hermione awoke the next morning at precisely 7:00am. She had asked Severus to charm the magnificent grandfather clock in his room to wake her up at such an early hour the previous night. She had an extraordinarily relaxing night in the luxurious bed that Snape had taken the liberty to organise for her. Hermione swung her legs over the right side of her bed and stood up. Her companion's bed was empty. She headed into the next room to find a small slip of parchment resting on his desk. She quickly picked it up and read. "Hermione. If you happen to read this note before I return, I have gone to get you some breakfast. I do hope that you had a pleasant night. If you did not find the arrangement comfortable you may locate to another room tonight. Severus." As she read the final word of the note she heard the door swing open.
"Good morning Hermione." Hermione turned around and smiled at the potions master. "How erm, are you?" He asked uncomfortably as he glanced at her attire. She looked down at what she was wearing and giggled. Her outfit solely involved a pale blue and flimsy nightgown that was at least four inches above her knee. "I should probably get changed." Snape frowned. "No, don't worry about it. If we are to be living in such close quarters I need to become accustomed to seeing you in any situation, no matter how compromising it may be." Hermione smiled as Severus stepped forward to place the plate containing scrambled eggs and three rashers of bacon and a glass of pumpkin juice on his desk. He turned back around to face his companion before speaking again. "Did you have an enjoyable sleep?" Hermione smiled and said, "Yes, I did thankyou. And before you ask, I don't wish for sleeping arrangements to change." Severus nodded. "I must get going. I have to prepare for class today with those horrid students."
Hermione looked incredulously at the potions master before asking in jest, "You do remember that I used to be one of those horrid students?" He chuckled as he moved closer to his companion and grasped her hands. "I'm unable to think of a witty retort to that statement so I'm just going to kiss you. Is that sufficient?" Hermione giggled. "I believe that it is." Severus leaned forward and brushed his lips briskly yet tenderly across Hermione's. "I really must go now. I'll see you this afternoon." He hurried out of the room as a radiant Hermione began to hungrily devour her breakfast.
At 8:45am Hermione heard the Hogwarts bell, signifying the beginning of class, ring above her. She could imagine the inevitable hoards of students pushing and shoving their way out of the Great Hall as they headed towards their first class of the year. With this thought, a horrible pang inhabited her stomach. Hermione had always had the longing to learn. From the purchase of her first mathematics textbook at the tender age of 7, to opening the 'Standard Book of Spells: Grade Six' for the first time, Hermione had consumed and treasured knowledge. But now, an eternal source of knowledge was lurking just metres above her and she was unable to obtain it.
She pushed these depressing connotations to the back of her mind and attempted to direct it elsewhere. Her thoughts rested (as they often did) on Severus. Hermione chuckled to herself as she imagined the speech that he would be giving the trembling first-years as an introduction to potions. As she began to remember their first meeting in that cold and gloomy dungeon classroom, there was a quiet albeit rhythmic knock on the door.
"Good morning Hermione." Albus Dumbledore was wearing robes of the same pale shade of blue as Hermione's nightdress. As Hermione stood up to welcome him he chuckled. "How very embarrassing. One of us must go home and change immediately." His companion giggled before speaking. "Would you like a seat Professor?" The headmaster lowered himself onto one of Snape's armchairs and Hermione followed suit. "I have called upon you this morning to provide you with any material that you may find necessary for the completion of your NEWT examinations. I know that I needn't stress the importance of these exams to you." Hermione nodded before Albus continued. "I must ask you which particular subjects you wish to study this year." The young woman replied instantly as she had been planning this answer for weeks. "Transfiguration, Charms, Defence Against The Dark Arts, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, which I believe leaves two units that can be filled for the maximum amount of subjects. I'd like to concentrate both of these units on Potions." She said all of this quite quickly. Dumbledore nodded and with a flick of the wrist he conjured the necessary textbooks and lowered them onto Snape's desk. "So am I to understand that you wish to pursue a career in potion-making?" Hermione nodded. "These past holidays have significantly helped in clarifying what I want for my future."
Albus smiled and said jovially, "I'm sure they have." Before winking. Hermione grinned cheekily and turned pink. "I must ask, how is Severus? I haven't spoken to him much lately. It seems as if he has been too deeply engrossed in things of more importance." His companion turned an even darker shade of pink. "He's fine." Dumbledore nodded. "I must ask you to be careful with him. It has been a very long time since he last allowed himself to open up to anybody. You are a very lucky young woman." Hermione nodded in understanding before the headmaster said his goodbyes and made himself absent.
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Sorry that this chapter has taken longer to upload than the previous ten. I have been trying to finish this chapter for the last few months. This may be hard to believe as it's nothing special but I was unable think of a way to officially start the school year for Hermione. I think that this works quite well.
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