Heal Me Chapter 9: Come Fly with Me
Author's Note: Disclaimer: Everything HP belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Job + 2 Niece Babysitting + Other Schedules = No writing time and my sincere apology to my readers. I love my nieces but when they are around, it's impossible to take my eyes off them. Do you have kids or relatives who touch and run off anywhere they please? Yeah, those are my nieces….. For the last 3 days this has been my schedule: wake up and clean up after my lazy ass friend, go to work, come home where my nieces wait for me and I take them somewhere fun, make dinner, do more work, and then sleep from exhaustion. So I am attempting to write a chapter that will go beyond your satisfactory. Thanks for reading and waiting.
A young witch snuck out to see her professor at their usually spot. There he was sitting leaning against the tree with his usual scowl on his face. Snape was marking his students' assignments and it was more than certain that none of the comments he wrote were pleasant. He gave a long sigh before he called out, "Granger, get out here, I know you are hiding behind the wall." The girl walked towards him with the broom in hand smiling.
"What are you marking professor?" she asked.
"You're damn assignment," he took a serious tone to fool the girl. Her eyes widened and ran towards him, "Really?!" She tried looking at what he had in his hands. He pressed the paper to his chest so the girl couldn't see it.
"Let me see!" she demanded.
"No," he coolly replied.
"It my own paper, I have rights to see it!" she argued fiercely.
He snorted at the gullible child's comment, "You really are gullible Granger. It's not your paper."
"I don't believe you," she pouted.
He rolled his eyes as he showed Ron Weasley's horrendous work. He didn't have the intention to insult her friend openly but it slipped out of his mouth, "When I was a student, I couldn't have gotten this grade no matter how much I tried. This boy is unbelievably stupid that when I smack the boy's head, I could hear things echoing in his head." He expected her to sternly condemn him but she laughed at what he said; it was a beautiful sound to his ears.
"Ron never studies no matter how much I tell him to, "she commented.
"When that day occurs, it will be the same day I get friendly with Mr. Potter," he chuckled.
She read her books while he finished marking; Granger attempted to discover her average in potions but they were all in vain. The only assignments that he found satisfying were Malfoy's and Granger's. He praised his godson but he just wrote 'satisfactory' on hers. He glanced at Granger, who was startlingly sitting too close to him; she was happily finishing a Muggle novel. She put her book down and asked him, "Professor, have you ever read the novel, Sense and Sensibility?" She doubted that he would have ever read any Muggle classical novels.
Shockingly he recited, "Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience- or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope." She was astounded, Professor Snape, even knew the lines from the classical novel. It was remarkable that he still remembered the book that he read during his childhood. While his parents bickered at home, he was always reading classical novels with Lily by the hill. Due to his photographic memory, he had the talent to memorize anything he read. Today it had proven that time didn't phase his skills at all. He felt proud to remember the lines since Granger looked so amazed. Holding out his hand, he helped her stand up. She left the broom on the ground and he watched her. With the command, 'up', she successfully had the broom in her grasp. The corner of his mouth curled up, it looked like she had been practicing while he wasn't around. It was quite an achievement knowing that she couldn't do this just a couple of days ago. Now he had the task to teach her how to fly properly and comfortably.
She was already fidgeting and it was obvious that she was anxious for the next step. He had no idea how to make her relax. He tiled his head, thinking how to get her airborne. She nervously mounted the broom.
"Try to kick off to a height that makes you feel comfortable. You don't have to go exceedingly high. Maybe a good 3 meters?" He watched her jump up with the broom between her thighs. She gave a high pitched yelp and this time, she was floating in the air. He really wanted and needed her to relax. He slowly instructed her, "Use your hands to turn. First, try to turn left and right." It looked like she could change directions but watching her turn was excruciating; it was far too bloody slow. He had several urges to yell and insult her but before her arrived, he swore this time he would be civil. He held back the shouts but he still glared at her for the first hour. Within the hour, she learned how to turn and maneuver. They were tolerable but her turns were wide unlike his. All his turns were sharp; they had to be sharp and quick in the past or he would have faced death numerous times.
Her final problem was landing, decelerating, and accelerating. Snape said, "Come down for a break Granger." Her smile faded away as she attempted to go down. She recalled what he taught her at their last disastrous lesson. Lean forward while applying a small amount of her weight. She tried again, failed again, and landed on Snape again. Actually, no, he had caught her this time and he protected her from falling onto the hard floor. He hadn't sword or insulted her all day and she was now expecting him to blow up in fury. Surprisingly, he only gritted his teeth tightly and exhales a long sigh. It was so frustrating for Hermione to fail countless times. Thankfully he no longer insulted her each time and it looked like her professor wasn't judging her. During their 10 minute break, there wasn't a single exchange of words. They were both enjoying the silence and gazing at the clouds slowly drift away as a leaf would in a slow stream.
When the time was up, Snape got up and sat on the broom. From her expression, he was aware that she was astounded. This was the best method he thought of during the break. Gryffindors tended to learn better physically and from his estimate, they no long had the leisure for Granger to experiment and self learn to fly. This method would also polish her skills in changing directions. He sensed her hesitation and it was totally understandable; he didn't want to use this plan in the least. It was nerve wrecking. She would need to trust him after his previous stunt. He asked the young witch, "Granger, do you trust me?"
With great resolve she answered his question, "Definitely." Momentarily he was stunned by her quick, strong reply. He wasn't sure if he was dumbfounded or pleased by her answer. He wasn't sure if she was just too naïve or why a part of him was glad that she trusted him so. He kicked the silly emotion away as he gave her a tiny smile. He joked, "That's good because I don't bite." She followed along his joke, "Yes, you're much worse. You've got a foul mouth and kick people." He snorted at her remark. What an audacious witch she was and the one who sat in front of him seemed to hold a strange magic that made him feel at ease. He was so ambivalent whenever she was concerned. He tucked his thoughts away as he gave a strong kick off the ground.
Maybe it was because he could feel her body heat radiating off of her back or her enticing, luring scent or the very bloody fact she was sitting between his groins that he couldn't completely focus. He doubted any man could keep a perfect composure during this kind of situation. Hermione slid her small hands under his. She whispered, "Um, it's just that there isn't anything for me to hold onto and that where I usually place my hands." He noticed her cheeks had a darker shade of pink and in return, his hidden ears turned red. He coughed before he spoke, "It is better this way since I need to directly teach you how to turn better. With your skills, I'm certain that you won't get mark you want." He stared at his hands while he talked; her hands were small and warm. His hands were much bigger; it swallowed her tiny fists. He also noted that her body was far too rigid, he asked her in concern, "Are you alright, Ms. Granger?" She confessed her fear, "Honestly I got acrophobia, so I can't handle heights well." He used one of his hands to close her eyes, "Instead of focusing on the height, feel the warm, golden wind. Smell and feel the crisp, fresh air." He could feel her tension slowly drain away; he smiled. He continued, "When you open your eyes, enjoy the scenery that's ablaze in your house colours." She did as she was told; her eyes captured the beautiful, outstretched horizon. How did she miss this whenever she flew?
She looked up to see such an unexpected, gentle, warm look on her professor's face. Her face instantaneously turned crimson. She had never seen that peaceful, relaxed expression; he looked quite handsome and attractive. She would tell nobody of this but she was happy to be in his strong embrace. His eyes met hers and he gave her a nudge to ask, "Are you ready to continue?" She nodded in reply. Throughout the next hour, she learnt many concepts of flying and improved drastically.
After she mastered everything she would be tested the next day, she had a silly grin on her face. She expressed her happiness verbally, "I can't believe, I got it all down! I'm so damn happy!" She laughed in triumph as she finally overcame her fear of heights and it was all thanks to the man behind her. "You should be," the low voice above her boosted her confidence more. Snape looked down at her with a mischievous glint in his onyx eyes.
"You did so well, maybe I should award you," he whispered with a deep, husky voice behind her ears. He knew what he was doing and it pleased him greatly. The hairs on her nape were standing, her temperature had significantly increased, and he could feel her heart pound against his chest. His heartbeat synchronized to her beat. Her head didn't move but she glanced back at him as she asked, "You won't do anything bad right?" He smirked, what Granger said could have easily been easily misinterpreted and it made his Slytherin blood boil. Yet as a teacher, he definitely wouldn't touch her that way. "You sad you trusted me, just continue doing that Granger," this time his lips slightly touched her ears and it made her shiver. It was so tempting for him to nibble those ears.
Self control. Before she could say another word, he dove down quickly few inches to the ground and sharply turned upwards while rotating them in a circle. He felt her muscle contract so he securely wrapped one of his arms around her slim, curved waist. He felt her calm down. "Open your eyes," he gently persuaded her. She was amazed when she did so because of the rotation while accelerating upwards, they were in the eye of a cyclone of colourful leaves. It was a sight to behold. The eyes would catch flashes of yellow, crimson, red, gold, orange, and brown leaves. Snape didn't know when he did it but two of his arms had snaked around her waist; he had her in a complete embrace. He also his head relaxed on top of her head. He wasn't the only one who unconsciously moved; Granger had snuggled up to his chest. Shit, he definitely wasn't going to let go of her. At least not yet, and if anything asked, although he doubted 'anyone' existed, he would deny it. They enjoyed watching the sky splattered in different shades and colours. He never felt this; feeling peaceful and complete. There was no way he was going to accept it. The witch in his arms continued to admire the view. He sadly looked down at her. What in Merlin's beard was he doing? Granger only was his student and nothing else.
Student. Student. Student. Student. He repeated his thoughts ten more times before releasing her from his grip. When he let her go, she had a sad look in her eyes.
Ignore it. Block it, Snape, now. He let her guide both of them down safely.
He looked down at her and reassured her, "You'll do find tomorrow if you do the way you did today." He was about to return to his private quarters but a sudden tug on his sleeve caught him off balance. He would have fell on one of his knees but the two miniscule, familiar hands caught his shoulders. He unmistakably heard Granger quickly whisper, "Please let me do this." He had no chance to object, Granger planted a quick kiss on his cheek. The invisible wall he was mentally constructing to keep her away demolished instantly. He felt her warm, soft kiss on his cheek and the soft, wet lips brush his skin. It definitely caught him off guard; never underestimate a Gryffindor. His heart stopped and he felt numb.
"Professor, will you please come and watch me at the exam tomorrow?" she asked sincerely. Snape was still startled and barely managed to mutter, "Maybe. I'll think about it." Then the witch ran back to the Gryffindor common room. Snape walked with a blank mind while rubbing the spot she kissed him with his thumb in a circular motion. He entered the teacher's lounge, Minerva saw him, "Severus, did you injure your cheek?" She ran after him but he slammed the door in her face. He could hear the commotion outside but with a wave of his wand everything turned silent. His damn, bloody owl greeted him but he ignored that too. He watched his reflection in the mirror and stared at the side of his cheek. He could still feel her lips; it lingered on his skin. Granger kissed him. She kissed him. She fucking kissed him. He fell backwards onto his bed. He didn't wash his face that night and he didn't sleep either. Instead, a small forgotten emotion took root in his heart. From this day on he'd have to fight against this emotion and a complicated relationship between he and Granger would begin.