Author's Notes: Thanks everyone for the reviews! To those of you that picked up on the swimsuit and hiding her scar, she will actually explain it all to Severus in a later chapter but just for you guys I can tell you that when she is wearing something which reveals her scar she has glamours on, but when she has long sleeved clothing she doesn't because it'd be a waste of magic wouldn't it? But yes to those of you that picked up on it Severus will also think the very same thing and conclude that she uses glamour charms and ask her about it when they have their chat, which I hope to be quite a sweet chapter where they talk a lot...when I get to that one, I've only drafted it out in very rough so far.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter, the books, films or characters. I make no money from this writing either... -_-
Chapter Sixteen
Hermione dropped her notes onto the sofa next to her in relief. She had finally finished her variant on the standard contraceptive potion used by the majority of witches and written up the notes. All that was left was to continue making rough notes on its testing period. She was actually proud of herself, since it only took three weeks and three blown up cauldrons to do it but had to admit that she had had a good starting point and a lot of self interest in the experiment.
She had been most fortunate to have two volunteers in taking the potion for testing. Ginny was the first to volunteer as although she and Harry weren't planning on having a baby yet, she said that they did want one, so if it happened by accident they wouldn't be worried. Hermione was thrilled to have Ginny as a volunteer and the Weasley's were well known for breeding, so naming her as a test subject in her paper would most likely put a little weight on its evidence. The second was Fleur's recently married friend Rosalind, who had also been of the mind that the plan wasn't to have children for another year but if it happened she and her husband would still be happy.
All that Hermione had left to do was test it herself to see whether she was still allergic and to record the findings of the tests at regular intervals over the next six months. She was thrilled to have gotten a successful potion from her first experiment and had Professor Snape to thank for pointing her in the right direction. He was also doing his own research on the subject but more to do with why some spells, charms and potions seemed to react differently on her and comparing it to Mrs Weasley. According to Severus there were some differences and some correlations between them and it was both frustrating and fascinating him.
She cast a silent tempus and saw that it was nearly three o'clock; the headmistress would be expecting her. So she made the lengthy journey from the dungeons to the head's office.
"KitKat" she murmured to the statue and made her way up. She smiled, knowing that some people wouldn't understand the joke in the password. Minerva had followed Dumbledore's tradition of sweets but added her own twist in choosing a cat themed password.
"Hermione dear, come in and sit." The older witch greeted her. Hermione was curious to note that what she had been told was an informal meeting, involved Professor Snape sat opposite Minerva at the desk. "Oh for heaven's sake girl don't look so worried!"
"Good afternoon Minerva." She smiled at the headmistress. She turned to the dark haired wizard next to her as she took a seat. "Afternoon Sir-everus."
"Tea?" Minerva offered.
"Thank you." Hermione nodded.
"We've asked you here to talk to you about a letter I received two weeks ago." The older witch started. "I'm afraid Professor Gilwing will not be returning in September, he was offered a position in Salem and found the opportunity of work in America too good to turn down." Hermione's gaze snapped to the wizard next to her.
"He's not coming back?" she asked nervously. Professor Snape shook his head.
"It is an inconvenience of course and I knew you would be disappointed since you two were such good friends but the bigger-" the Headmistress stopped talking and narrowed her eyes at the pair in front of her. "You do not look very disappointed at all Hermione."
"You were saying Minerva?" the wizard next to her tried to push the conversation forward. Hermione telling the older witch of the DADA Professor's less than gentlemanly behaviour was not really something he wanted to witness. He had actually been hoping that Minerva would have been able to find a replacement, so that Hermione would find out just before the term started along with the rest of the staff. Unfortunately that was not the case.
"No, no Severus...what do you two know that I don't know?" she asked, when the two avoided looking at each other and silence continued she set her gaze directly on the PotionsMmaster. "Severus, what did you do?"
"Of course, it would have to be entirely my fault." He sneered back at her. The headmistress looked thoughtfully between the two again and seemed to come to some conclusion.
"Was there a disagreement between the three of you?" she asked firmly.
"You could say that." Hermione snorted.
"I see, I knew that he liked you dear, but I hadn't thought that he was the jealous type." Minerva replied. "I certainly hadn't thought he was so set on you that he would leave simply because he didn't want to see you happy with someone else."
"I'm sorry, what?" Hermione asked bluntly, completely missing what the older woman was trying to say.
"I think our esteemed headmistress is under the impression that we are studying more than just potions in the dungeons." He murmured.
"She's thinks what?!" Hermione gasped, she felt the heat promptly rush to her cheeks as she turned back to Minerva. "No, we are most certainly not doing what you're implying."
"I feel as though I should be offended." Severus said wryly. Neither of the witches took any notice of him though.
"Minerva, you're right about Gideon...he did like me and I liked him, although clearly I didn't like him enough because he and I seem to differ greatly on our understanding of the word 'no'." She said carefully. "Fortunately, Severus happened to hear the disagreement and convinced Gideon to leave before he could cause me any harm."
"Oh my dear, are you quite certain he would have taken things that far?" the Headmistress asked looking dismayed.
"I have no doubts." Severus muttered.
"He was drunk." Hermione pointed out. "I don't think he wanted to hurt me, I think he just wasn't understanding what I was saying and what he was doing."
"You weren't harmed?" the Headmistress checked. Hermione shook her head. "And you do not wish to report the matter?"
"No, he is gone and I wish to act like it never happened." Hermione replied.
"Alright, then I shall consider that matter closed." She nodded reluctantly. "As I was saying before; the problem is that we are down one Professor. We believe that we may have come up with a workable solution."
"Great, so who have you got?" Hermione asked.
"Me." Severus said.
"What? But...you..."
"Welcome to teaching Miss Granger." He drawled.
"Me?" she gasped. "But I-"
"Severus, will you let me explain properly before you give the poor girl a heart attack?!" Minerva chided. "Hermione, there is no replacement. Our plan is to share out the positions of defence against the dark arts and potions. If you are agreeable we would like to ask you to teach the first three years of potions and first year defense classes. Severus will take fourth through seventh of both subjects which is a little more of a workload than he hoped for but manageable if you are able to help him with some of his marking. Filius is going to take second years and Hagrid and I are going to share the third years."
"But Hagrid isn't allowed to do magic." Hermione stated.
"That is currently on appeal since it was proven that he didn't actually cause the death of a student, although the Ministry is still arguing that having an acromantula in the school was still dangerous we hope that we can at the very least have his restrictions changed to allow him to do magic inside of Hogwarts." Minerva explained. "Although actually, since the third year syllabus is predominantly focused on dark creatures; Hagrid has a lot of knowledge that doesn't require the use of a wand to teach and for the parts that require practical magic, I will be able to step in."
"That makes sense I suppose." Hermione agreed. "I take it you had no other volunteers?"
"To take on more work on top of a live in teaching position in a boarding school for hormonal teenagers, I think not." Severus quipped.
"Several, other members of staff said that they would be happy to help cover odd lessons but not to take on responsibility of a whole year group for the whole year." Minerva explained.
As Hermione and Severus headed back to the dungeons some time later, Hermione couldn't help but ask him about the Headmistress's assumptions.
"When everyone sees that Gideon is gone, do you think they'll all think the same thing?" she asked.
"That you'll be disappointed?" he asked.
"No, not that...that we're-"
"I think it is fairly safe to assume that they will not be leaping to the same conclusion as Minerva." He sneered.
"Why do you say that?" she asked him as they reached the spiral staircase.
"Because I am not a nice person, nor am I pleasant company. I am a dark wizard and you are the golden girl of the wizarding world." He replied as if that explained everything.
"You're wrong." She said quietly, as she stopped in the corridor just before her rooms. "You may not be cuddly and a barrel of laughs but you're still a decent person and as rude as you can be...I happen to find no problem in your company."
"I wouldn't let your little friends hear you say that if I were you." He muttered. She turned back to look at him only to find herself stood uncomfortably close to him. Her eyes met his in a slightly startled look before they both recovered. She studied his now schooled expression curiously and took the time to really look at him.
Once she stopped being afraid of him anymore he wasn't as bad looking, she conceded that he wasn't exactly good looking either but there was something about him that made her heart race, made her think of him in her sleep...
Severus took in her flushed cheeks and wondered what she had been thinking to cause her to blush. Was she worried what her friends would think of their more civil relationship? Embarrassed about colleagues assuming that they were romantically involved? It was then that he noticed that she was nervous.
"I think you would be surprised, you saved our lives on more than one occasion if you remember." She said finally. "You may think you're a dark wizard and I'm sure there are plenty of others out there that think the same, but I don't. Minerva doesn't, Harry doesn't...there are plenty who would call you friend if you let them."
She saw confusion flash on his face for an instant before she found herself pinned against the cold dungeon wall.
"You have seen how corrupted my magic is Miss Granger, you are foolish to think that it can get that way without casting dark magic!" he growled at her. She swallowed and stared up at his incensed eyes. "Friends do little good to someone already dead inside. You should have left me there to rot and instead your stupid Gryffindor need to help everyone got in the way!"
"You don't mean that." She protested, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her.
"I had one purpose to fulfil and it is done, I should be dead! But you," he hissed. "You just had to interfere!"
A year ago, even months ago, Hermione would have been terrified but she knew better now. She knew him. His words said one thing but the fact that she could see him losing control told a completely different story. He had also called her Miss Granger, which sometimes he did because he forgot just as she did but she got the distinct impression that he was distancing himself from her deliberately. She thought about her bad days, those days when she had to cry and let it out to be able to carry on with her life again and wondered if he had those too. She wondered if this was his. Summoning all the bravery her house was famous for she didn't back down, instead she slowly moved one arm from its place at her side up until her hand reached his where it lay fisted against the wall by her head. She loosened his fist until her hand locked with his and squeezed it tightly.
"What do you think you're doing?" he growled. She just kept looking at him and squeezed his hand again.
"I'm holding your hand." She replied.
"You should go into your rooms now." He said firmly straightening himself and taking his arms from the wall.
"I'm not scared of you." She said quietly, almost to herself. She didn't release his hand.
"Apparently not." He agreed. "Still, you should go." She sighed and reluctantly released her hold on his hand; if he wanted to break down in privacy that was his right to do so. He had always been a private person, so he wouldn't want her to see him out of control.
"See you tomorrow Severus." She said softly, chancing one last look at him as she slipped into her rooms.