I watched Sense and Sensibility, Alan Rickman played Colonel Brandon. That man in gentlemen's attire/colonel's uniform and smiling equals swooning.
Oh and this is my first story to ever break 10,000 hits and it is nowhere close to being done! Which reminds me, those of you who thought this was going to be a short story get comfy because will be my longest story to date by far.
Disclaimer: still not mine
The trio was silent as they walked through the castle halls towards the infirmary. Dumbledore kept about a yard of distance between himself and Severus who was still towing a nearly frozen Hermione. When the three entered the infirmary doors, Madame Pomfrey rushed to them asking what happened. After determining that the infirmary was empty and that no one would over hear them Dumbledore told the nurse that there had been another incident with Mr. Lupin.
The nurse gasped and turned to look at the two students. "Honestly Albus, something must be done about this!" she began to scold. "Mr. Snape please take Miss Jean to lie down on that cot there, I will go fetch some calming draught." The nurse bustled away to her office from which the clanking of glass bottles were heard as she searched.
Severus pulled Hermione to the indicated cot and turned to leave when Dumbledore spoke. "Mr. Snape you have not been dismissed."
"I'm sorry, sir," the young Slytherin said with barely there politeness. "I did not realize I was still needed."
Dumbledore summoned a chair to Hermione's bedside for Severus to sit in, which he did reluctantly. "I do not think I need to remind you, Mr. Snape that this cannot be spoken of."
"I heard your threats the first time sir, I have not forgotten," Severus answered curtly.
"Would you please tell me why you were down there tonight? Especially after your last experience."
"I saw that beast free and about to attack out the window," Severus explained and then he sarcastically said, "Now I presume I will have detention for being out past curfew."
"Of course you will Mr. Snape, but since you helped save a fellow student I suppose it should only be for one night. Would you please tell me why Miss Jean was there?"
"How would I possibly know that?" the younger wizard spat.
"I assume you dropped some hints…"
"I did nothing of the sort, though your precious Marauders certainly did. I don't think I need to remind you that they are anything but subtle. If she knew what she was getting into it was because of them."
"And why would they do that?" Dumbledore said calmly, a complete contrast to the frustration that Severus was showing right then.
"They were taunting me as usual, specifically Black. Though to be honest I do not think Miss Jean is stupid enough to go confront a werewolf, she is not as foolish as the rest of her house."
"High praise coming from you, Mr. Snape." Severus merely grimaced in response. Just then the nurse came in with a bottle of calming draught, her last apparently since Slughorn was behind in his brewing.
During the conversation between Severus and the Headmaster, Hermione had been listening trying to make sense of things. Was Dumbledore really foolish enough to let a nearly full grown werewolf attend school? With only his adolescent, animagus friends as a means for control? And why the hell was he threatening Severus? Had the Headmaster not noticed the fear in the younger man's eyes that he was so desperately trying to hide? But perhaps she shouldn't be so confused by that last question, she seemed to be the only one to ever notice Severus' emotions.
Madame Pomfrey tipped Hermione's head back to pour the potion down her throat. The patient could feel it working very quickly as a calming, relaxing sensation spread through her tense muscles. The wizards had stopped their conversation and silently waited for the potion to take full effect as the nurse examined the patient for any injuries. Thankfully there were none, something very few people could say after an encounter with a werewolf. After Hermione visibly relaxed, Dumbledore turned to face her fully.
"Miss Jean, you had quite the adventure tonight didn't you?" Severus snorted and Hermione felt like doing the same.
"I guess that's one way to put it."
"Miss Jean would you mind telling me why you were out there tonight?"
"I was taking a walk and lost track of time. I was about to come back in when that bea- when Remus appeared."
Dumbledore raised a brow, "Did you know of Mr. Lupin's condition before hand?"
"No of course not," Hermione sounded insulted, "though now that I look back it seems rather obvious. I guess hindsight really is twenty-twenty. Do you really think I am so stupid as to think it is a good idea to go near a werewolf?"
"Apparently he does," Severus mumbled under his breath. This went seemingly unnoticed by the Headmaster as did everything Hermione said after she answered no.
"Now Miss Jean, I realize you are stressed right now but I must make it clear to you that you can never speak of this to anyone, we wouldn't want Mr. Lupin to be attacked would we?"
"No but…"
"Tell anyone and you will be expelled."
Fury filled Severus, he kept it hidden just below the surface of his irritated mask but he let it burn. He had almost this same exact conversation with the Headmaster nearly two years ago. How dare he? People hailed him as one of the greatest headmasters of all time and yet he was perhaps one of the most prejudiced. And not just in favor of his house as previously thought, no it was in favor of his favorite little pets. Not even Hermione was safe, and why? Because she had rejected these pets seemingly in favor of Severus, the headmaster's least favorite student.
Severus was separated from his angry thoughts as he heard Hermione argue with Dumbledore. "Sir, Remus is one of my only friends here and I do not want to hurt him but he needs help. Something must be done to keep the student body safe, three animagus cannot do that!"
"It has worked just fine before. Reveal his secret to anyone and I will reveal yours. Oh and Miss Jean you do have detention for being out after curfew." And with that the older wizard left. Madame Pomfrey was still there and was obviously as angry with the situation as the students but she said nothing as she could do nothing about it.
"Neither of you should be put through this. Severus you may stay here, I know you won't sleep anyway, I'll make hot chocolate for the two of you." She left the two teens for her office to begin making the drink and the teens sat there quietly.
Finally after a few seconds that felt like hours Hermione broke the silence, "Why does he treat us that way? We really did nothing wrong."
"It's because he hates me, has given me up for a lost cause," Severus answered a mater-of-factly. "And until you yell out that you hate me and go become a member of his little group you will receive the same treatment as I do. In fact, falling in love with one of them might help."
Hermione scoffed, "As if I ever would, Remus is a friend and nothing more. The rest are obnoxious bullies. Besides I don't hate you."
Severus was somewhat touched by her last statement but didn't let it show. "Even after tonight you count Lupin as a friend?" he sneered.
"Well I can't really blame him can I? He has helped me get through the last week what with Lily's behavior and all. She doesn't get her way once and suddenly I'm the enemy."
"Why were you out there anyway? If you just went to your tower like a good little Gryffindor this wouldn't be happening."
"Don't get snippy with me, as if you are one to talk. And I already told you I went out for a walk."
Severus reigned in his irritation at the situation, it wasn't completely her fault and he had been in that same situation before. "I saw you in the library earlier today; why not take a walk then? Not much to see at night."
Hermione sighed, "I didn't want to go back to the tower. Ironically, I was trying to avoid that particular group of boys and more specifically Lily."
"What did she do this time?"
"She was trying to convince me that hanging out with you is a bad idea again."
Severus stiffened a little. "We do not 'hang out' we see each other in class. And maybe she's right; maybe associating yourself with me is a bad idea."
"I don't think it is. I get along with you better than any of the other students I have met here. Remus comes in second though I'm not sure if I'll be able to talk to him for a few days."
"I'll admit, despite his 'furry little problem' he is the most tolerable of the group. Hermione, I'm not one that spends lots of time with people or plans outings to Hogsmeade with a group but we have already decided that we are friends," the word felt odd on his tongue, "so if you wanted to hang out I would not object. The rumor mill is relentless though."
"It has already started thanks to Pettigrew." Madame Pomfrey returned with two steaming cups of hot cocoa for which the two recipients thanked her. She checked Hermione's temperature and left a bottle of calming draught on the side table before returning to her office.
They sipped there drinks in silence until about ten minutes later when Hermione noticed Severus was staring, specifically at her left arm. Hermione looked down at the arm that had captured her companion's attention when she saw that her sleeve had rode up and realized that much more time had passed then she originally thought. She quickly pulled down her sleeve in order to hide the 'ood' but it was too late. "Is that a part of your secret?" Severus asked.
"Yes, before you ask let me explain something. The amnesia is real, one of the reasons Lily doesn't like me is because she doesn't believe me but it is true. I don't remember anything and what we know of my past is just a guess really." Hermione wanted to tell Severus, she really did, but her intuition was unsure. It did not trust Severus as much as it trusted Remus. "Please wait until I am ready to tell you before asking me anything."
Severus tore his gaze from her arm and quickly swept over the rest of her body examining all the other nicks and scars she had littering her body. He finally looked up into her eyes. "I believe you and I have no problem waiting."
XXXXXXX
A month went by without incident. Hermione and Severus did see more of each other but not because they went out of their way to do so. They already sat by each other in every class and now if they saw each other in the library they'd share a table or in the hallway they would talk on the way to their next class. Almost every conversation ended in a debate over one thing or another but always ended on good terms.
The rumors flew just as expected and were ignored. The Maurauders scorned the pair more than ever with one exception.
A week after the incident Remus caught Hermione by herself in the common room.
"Hermione I am so sorry, I know you don't want to talk to me or even see me but…"
"You know nothing Remus, you just think that. It wasn't your fault. And don't worry, you kept my secret so I'll keep yours. Now sit down, I haven't spoken to you in forever," Hermione said patting the couch cushion beside her. Once again the pair resumed their nightly talks.
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