Chapter 9: A Matter Of Interest

{A/N: Here's another update...}

My Thanks To My Readers and Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.

12 Grimmauld Place, Muggle World...

Both Harry and Ron were enjoying a round of impersonation via Weasley Brothers treats with Fred and George while Hermione found herself more drawn into her own company as of late. It had only been a wonder given her impending fate upon the arrival of her birthday. It seemed the more the days passed leading up to the wedding to Snape the less she thought like a child not that she thought much like a child before hand. She had always been vastly mature for her age and Hogwarts term given that she arrived at the age of twelve.

With the upcoming marriage her curiosity about her future husband and Potions Professor only grew. She had been told that Snape was a spy for the Order of Phoenix within the ranks of Voldemort's death eaters but she never truly knew what it was he did among them or if she ever wanted to know. Dumbledore seemed to place a good deal of trust in him despite his youth when compared to the other Professors, his aged appearance aside.

There was also the kiss from the other night and their previous discussion of his celibacy. She had not inquired as to why he had chosen this route unlike so many of the other adult witches and wizards that apparently went to school with him. Snape had always been a mystery, but this new information about him had given her something to think about.

Slipping away from the sight of her friends, The curious girl had dared once more to venture into the basement where Snape kept residence while being forced to report to The Order Of Phoenix Headquarters. The Potions Professor had been out on assignment for the evening but she wanted to see if she could find out about his true role in this group. He was a Slytherin after all and the only one whom had been apart of Dumbledore's chosen few. She guessed that there had to be more to it. Unlike Pettigrew being a Gryffindor among death eaters, Snape was not a fearful man, or at least not by everyone else's standards.

Everything about him seemed to mystify and induce fear all at once.

It had certainly been true for Hermione Granger, given that they were to be wed in a few short months. The admission on the part of the Potions Master Severus Snape, that he had been celibate had only served to draw up more questions that lead her to wanting to know more about the embittered wizard. His personal life was at the very least closely guarded if he had indeed had a personal life to begin with.

The young witch made her way into the darkened basement unsure if she was doing the right thing but lead by her unwavering curiosity.

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The Basement, 12 Grimmauld Place, Muggle World...

The images of Professor Snape pressing against her, the previous night had been overwhelming as his familiar scent filled the darkened space. It had been decisively cold, in this area of the house and not at all comfortable. The amber eyes of Hermione Granger had not been focused in the darkness but she feared what kind of traps or wards he had in store for someone whom had wandered into his private quarters unannounced.

Severus Snape had not been a wizard of luxury by any means, the darkened room filled with a simple cot in the far corner of the room had been his bed and there was little to no decoration or personal input on the walls. It seemed a sad thing to Hermione to note that Snape didn't really seem to have a personal touch when it came to very much of anything aside from his potions classroom and she suspected that it had been designed to be as dreary and soul crushing as possible to enhance his image of being deplorable.

"Is there some reason you find yourself inclined to invade my privacy Miss Granger?" asked Snape in a cold tone that made ice shoot down the young witch's spine.

"P-Professor." said Hermione turning to face the grim looking wizard.

He looked rather strange, his body glistening with what appeared to be sweat and his obsidian eyes wider than she had ever seen them.

"A-Are you alright?" she asked feeling nervous in his presence once more.

"Never better." replied Snape noting the contour of her youthful body.

This was to be his future wife, he supposed he could have been saddled with worse despite her incessant questions and Gryffindor meddling.

"Now that my health is not a concern, what are you doing here?" he asked moving away from the inquisitive witch and over toward his rather strange looking cot.

"Well..." Hermione began. "I...I should be going."

"What's your hurry?" asked Snape looking her over with a heated expression.

At the moment Hermione became concerned for the Potions Professor.

"P-Professor are you sure your alright?" she asked not knowing what to make of the wizard as he lied back on his cot staring up at the ceiling.

His sweat slick form was trembling or at least it appeared to be.

"Never better." he replied once more. "Why don't you run along now...it appears my patience is at an end."

Hermione nodded in agreement noting how dark his gaze was becoming.

She quickly fled the basement leaving Snape to his own devices, but it only served to fuel her curiosity about him.

Snape turned his attention to the searing pain that ripped through his body as a result of his latest folly with The Dark Lord.

He had known all too well that despite the information he gathered upon his arrival at Hogwarts and the years of dedicated service, the dark lord was less than forgiving of his apparent desertion in the wake of his death. Of course he'd never say it out loud or to any other but he meant to punish Severus for his insolence in believing another had been more powerful than he even if that other had been Albus Dumbledore.

It was good that the girl didn't see the magical gashes that lined his pale flesh nor the blood that spilled from them. The Potions Professor had gotten very skilled at hiding his wounds especially when tending the students at Hogwarts. Of course the constant presence of pain did little for his harsh temper nor did it endear him to the thousands of curious young eyes seemingly watching his every move.

He may have worked for years to inspire fear in them to get respect but that didn't stop their idol tongues from wagging in terms of speculation about him. His stance on privacy had been more incline to produce their much sought after air of mystery that only seemed to add to the tales of Hogwarts. Hermione Granger was no different in terms of these vague fantasies getting the better of her.

The ailing Snape waved his hand and called a bottle of firewhiskey to him. He uncorked the bottle and took a long drink. He had been more than willing to save the little chit's life so long as she knew her place and kept to her own business.

He simply would not tolerate snooping of any kind into his own personal affairs.