Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since my last update. I actually hadn't realized how long it's been. Currently, I'm getting ready to move, and I just graduated from medical school. So now I'm officially Dr. Linzbinz84. Hooray! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. Have a great weekend! And please review!
A few days later, a red head poked jumped out of the fireplace. "Hermione!" it bellowed.
"Behind me!" Snape snarled at Hermione, his wand drawn as he pushed the girl behind him. He pushed the door to the living room open slowly, creeping out wand first. "Stupefy!" he shouted, seeing the trespasser's profile. A jet of red light shot out the tip of his wand, knocking the intruder to the ground. He stepped fully into the living room and looked to see who had invaded his quarters.
"Oh for goodness sakes!" he said, annoyed. He walked over to the twelve-year-old red head and knelt down. "Ennervate." Ron blinked slowly before jumping to his feet.
"Where is she she?" he shouted, brandishing his wand at Snape. "What have you done with her? What did you do to me?"
"Mr. Weasley," Snape sneered, "how lovely of you to invade my quarters. What, may I ask, do I have the..." he coughed, "...pleasure of your visit today?" Sarcasm dripped off of every word.
"Where's Hermione?" he demanded, keeping his wand steadily trained on Snape despite paling considerably at his professor's tone.
"I'm right here, you idiot!" Hermione said, coming into the room. "Put your wand down! Honestly, Ron, what were you thinking?"
Relief washed over Ron's features as he lowered his wand. "You're all right," he breathed.
"Of course I'm all right! What d'you think he did, chopped me up for potions ingredients?"
Ron's ears turned red. "Err..."
Snape sighed. "Hermione, show Mr. Weasley around our quarters so he may be certain that I am not going to kill you."
"Yes, sir," she replied. She grabbed Ron's arm. "Come on! I'll show you my room." Hermione dragged Ron off toward her bedroom.
After the children had left, Snape threw some Floo Powder into the fire and stuck his head in, shouting, "The Burrow!" He looked into a cozy kitchen and saw one of the twins sitting at the table. "Mr. Weasley," he said coolly.
The boy jumped and turned around, obviously not expected to hear his professor's voice during the summer. He went over and knelt by the fire. "Professor Snape," he said, biting his lip, "how can I help you?"
"Is your mother or father home? I need to speak with one of them."
"What for?"
"That's none of your concern. Now, get your mother or father for me, George."
Shock filled the boy's eyes as the professor identified him correctly. Not even their mother can tell them apart, Snape thought, concealing a smile. "Yes, sir." George stood up. "Mum!" Snape heard him call. "Mum!"
He heard a female voice before a plump, red-headed woman knelt down at the fire. "Professor Snape, good morning," she said. "What have the twins done now?"
"Nothing that I know of, Mrs. Weasley. I'm calling concerning Ronald."
She sighed. "What's he done?"
"It seems he was a bit...concerned about Miss Granger and decided to check on her."
Mrs. Weasley's expression darkened. "I see. May I step through and collect him?"
"Of course." He pulled his head out of the fire and stepped back to allow the plump woman through. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley," he said.
"Hello, Professor."
"I'll call the children."
"Thank you."
"Hermione! Mr. Weasley! Please come out here."
The children appeared from Hermione's room. "Mum!" Ron gasped, the color draining from his face at the sight of his mother standing in the living room.
"Say good-bye to Hermione," Mrs. Weasley said.
"But Mum..."
"Now, Ronald!"
Ron turned to Hermione. "I guess I have to go. I'm sorry about your mum and dad."
"Thanks," Hermione squeaked.
"Home." Mrs. Weasley pointed to the fireplace.
Ron took some Floo Powder from the container Snape offered him and disappeared into the fire.
Mrs. Weasley looked at Hermione. "I'm Mrs. Weasley, Hermione dear," she said warmly.
"I-it's nice to meet you, Mrs. Weasley," she choked out, shakened by the woman's sudden change in demeanor.
"I'm sorry to hear about your parents."
"Thank you."
"Perhaps you could come visit later in the summer."
"I-I'd like that," she replied softly.
"Good. I'll talk to Professor Snape in a couple of weeks." Mrs. Weasley glanced at Snape, who nodded in agreement.
"Thank you," Hermione replied.
"My pleasure." Mrs. Weasley looked back at Snape. "Thank you for calling, Professor. I apologize for Ron's rudeness. If it's all right, you may be getting another call later today."
"Of course."
"Good-bye, Hermione. Hopefully I'll see you in a couple of weeks."
"Bye." Mrs. Weasley left.
Snape looked at Hermione. "Was Mr. Weasley satisfied that I wouldn't be using you as potions ingredients?"
"Mostly." She paused for a moment, scuffing her bare toes on the rug before glancing up at him again. "Can I really go visit Ron in a couple of weeks?"
"I don't know. Can you?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "May I visit him?"
Snape nodded. "If Mrs. Weasley invites you, you may."
She grinned. "Thank you!" He nodded. She glanced down again. "D'you think maybe they could visit me here sometime?" She glanced up as a dark look passed over his face, then looked down at the floor again.
He scrubbed his face with his hand, wondering what to tell her. Potter? he thought. Weasley? Those dunderheads would destroy my quarters and half of Hogwarts if they were here during the summer. But she plainly wants to see them. Hopefully visiting Weasley will be enough for her. "We'll see," he said. "Now go put your shoes on and go to Aunt Min's quarters. She needs some help organizing her books."
"Thank you!" She ran off toward her room.
"I didn't say yes," he said, surprised by her reaction.
"But you will." She appeared at the door to her room, smiling knowingly.
When did I become the person who bowed to a girl's whims? he wondered.
"Do I have to come back here for lunch or may I stay at Aunt Min's?" she asked, looking at him with pleading eyes.
"If Aunt Min wants to keep you she may. Just have her send me a note."
"Thanks, Uncle Sev!" She headed toward the door of the quarters.
"Remember you're being punished!" he called after her. But she was already gone.
oOo
Hermione gave the password to Professor McGonagall's quarters and walked through the portrait hole. "Aunt Min!" she called. "Aunt Min, I'm here!"
"Good morning, Hermione," she said, coming into the room. "How are you?"
"Fine, how are you?"
"I'm well. Are you ready to get to work?" Hermione nodded. "Good. We'll start with the living room and I'll bring in the books from my study and office."
Hermione sighed as she looked at all the books just in the living room. "I guess Uncle Sev means for this to last a few days?"
"I believe so." She paused. "Why don't you start by pulling the books off the shelves and sorting them by category? I'll get the rest of them." She looked at Hermione over the top of her glasses. "You are still being punished, so you aren't to read any of the books."
"Yes, ma'am."
"However, that doesn't mean this can't be an enjoyable task. And it'll give us a chance to get to know each other better. I also may have some stories about Severus that you may enjoy." She winked at Hermione, and Hermione grinned in response.
"What categories do you want me to use?"
Professor McGonagall shrugged. "Whatever you like. I'm sure you'll be borrowing them soon enough, so it'll be best if you know what you're looking for."
Hermione nodded, smiling, and began pulling books off the shelf.
oOo
"Did he really?" Hermione squealed over her sandwich in the Great Hall, her eyes wide.
"He did," Professor McGonagall said. "Malcolm never knew what hit him."
Hermione giggled as Snape sat down next to her. "What's so funny?" he asked.
Hermione looked askance at him. "You know you're at the Gryffindor table, right?"
He shrugged. "It's the middle of the summer and you're the only student here. Who cares?"
Hermione shrugged. "I guess it doesn't matter."
"So what were you two laughing about?" he asked again, helping himself to a sandwich.
"Nothing," Hermione said in a sing-song voice.
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Really now? I could have sworn you were giggling when I walked in. Are you going mad?"
She rolled her eyes. "Aunt Min was telling me about the time you enchanted the Risk pieces and then invited her brother for a game."
Snape chuckled, a sound rarely heard outside his quarters. "I got him pretty good," he remembered, smiling.
"Except for the whole using magic outside of school issue," Professor McGonagall chimed in, her face suddenly turning serious. "It was a good thing so much magic was used in that house. He might have been expelled had the Ministry been able to tell."
"What happened?" Hermione asked curiously.
"She made me research the history and reasons for the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and write an essay on it," Snape replied, blushing slightly. "It took me two weeks because she thought it never had enough detail."
"Is that why you won't let me do magic even though I'm at school?"
Snape paused. "I suppose so. Although it's still illegal for you to do magic outside of school being in session. That's the spirit of the law."
Hermione nodded. "I guess you'd know." She grinned cheekily at him before taking another bite of her sandwich as his mouth hung open.
Professor McGonagall just laughed and shook her head.