Summary: Meeting in the Room of Requirement
A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope everyone has a happy holiday, whatever you celebrate!
Chapter 5
Severus had made sure no one was watching him when he left for the Room of Requirement. He hurried up to the seventh floor and saw the door awaiting him. He entered and saw all three Gryffindors standing around in a very large room. There were some bookshelves and mirrored walls and some comfortable cushions for sitting on as well. It was a good place to train.
"Hi Severus," Harry said as he turned toward him.
"Good morning," Severus said.
Granger and Weasley smiled at him brightly.
"Before we start, I need to let you all know about what Malfoy said to me yesterday."
He quickly explained the conversation he'd had.
"That sneaky worm," Weasley said.
Severus put his hand up. "It's okay. He's under the thumb of his father, and he's the leader here for those who want to join the Death Eater cause. I expected something like this eventually, just not quite so quickly. We'll just need to be extra cautious not to acknowledge each other outside of this room."
"Well, why don't we sit and get to know each other better," Hermione offered. "We can duel in a little bit."
Severus frowned but nodded. They headed for the cushion-chairs, set them up into a circle, and settled in.
"So…" Severus said blandly.
Hermione chuckled. "Ok, I'll start." She took a quick breath. "I'm Hermione Granger, resident know-it-all."
Weasley chuckled. "That's for sure," he said under his breath.
Granger glared at him. Before she could say anything more, Harry popped in.
"Yeah, we'd have been dead ten times over without her. She's the brains of this bunch."
Granger relaxed and looked back at Severus. "Anyway…" she eyed Weasley, "I love to do research. I'm Muggleborn if you didn't already know. My parents think magic is amazing. As things get more serious, I am scared that they will be targets. I've only told them a little bit about the war. They don't know how dangerous this is, and they probably never will."
She looked over at Weasley. He took a breath and started in.
"I'm Ron Weasley. I'm the second to last of seven. My mum and dad are Arthur and Molly Weasley. You may have known her as Molly Prewett back in your time. I love chess but school is a bit of a drag to me mate, ya know?" He looked over at Severus and gave him a commiserating look.
"Ron is a great strategist," Granger added. "He also knows a lot about the Wizarding World that both Harry and I didn't know because of our upbringing. He's helped us fit in and understand a lot."
"And I'm Harry Potter. The Chosen One." He grinned ruefully. "To be honest, it's hard to walk around in public as everyone knows who I am, and lots of people want to talk to me. I'm as polite as I can be, but it's difficult at times.
"I grew up with my aunt and uncle. They're pretty foul. It seems like even when Voldemort wasn't back that trouble followed me. The good thing about that is I've learned a lot.
"Obviously, I have to defeat Voldemort… with your help," he looked at Severus and nodded. "It's a heavy burden. I hate when people get hurt because of me so I try to do everything myself."
"Yeah, but we won't let him," Weasley offered. "We always tell him he's being a git when he acts like that. We're all in this together, even if you don't want that, Harry."
"That includes you now, Severus," Granger said.
Severus frowned but nodded in resignation.
"As you know, I am Severus Snape. I'm from a small town called Cokeworth, where your mother grew up, Potter. We were friends for many years. After a few weeks in my seventh year, I decided to travel through time after I found a book showing how to create a spell to do so. I am studious and like to create new spells. I am adept at Potions and Ancient Runes but my favorite classes are Potions and Defense." He eyed the three sitting before him. "I am naturally a loner, so being a part of something like this is foreign to me."
Potter looked at him curiously. "What was my mum like?"
"She was intelligent and caring. She stuck up for her friends." He shrugged. "I'm unsure what else you want to know about her."
"Were you still friends with her when you left?"
Severus shook his head but was silent.
"What happened?" Weasley asked.
"I'd rather not go into it," Severus ground out.
"All right, all right, mate. Keep your secrets," Weasley said while raising his hand in acquiescence.
Severus looked away and concentrated on the battle dummy in the corner.
"You're a good duelist, Severus. What you did with Malfoy was amazing," Granger said.
"We wound up in a draw," Severus stated.
"I know, but he usually beats anyone he's pitted against in two shots," Granger continued.
"Except for you, Hermione. You almost beat him every time," Potter complimented.
She shrugged. "Almost, but we draw all the time as well," she admitted.
"So, sounds like you are adept with a wand as well," Severus said.
"Hermione is a monster with her wand. We're all afraid to duel her," Weasley stated.
"Perhaps you and I should duel first, then?" Severus offered.
Hermione nodded. "Sure!"
They both got up and moved away from the others, standing across the room from one another. Bowing, they took up their dueling stance. Severus made the first move, casting his first hex. Hermione immediately blocked it and sent her own. They sparred for a long time, running around the room and sometimes throwing themselves to the floor to avoid being hit by the other's spells. After they'd been at it for a while, Harry stood.
"Okay, time out," he said.
Walking over to the two of them, his teaching persona shone through as he began to lecture.
"You guys were amazing, really. I think, Hermione, you could have gotten Severus had you sent a successive spell after you cast the jelly legs jinx that he rolled away from."
Granger nodded.
"Severus, I think you let up on Hermione in that last rally. Why?"
Severus smirked. "I wanted to give her a chance to actually hit me."
Granger's eyes grew wide. "I don't need you to go easy on me!" she retorted.
Severus held up his hands in surrender. "I understand that. We just spent 15 minutes running around the room throwing spells at one another."
"Then why?"
"Your hair was emitting a magic of its own. I was afraid you were going to electrocute me with it."
Granger frowned and narrowed her eyes at Severus.
"You're not funny," she spat before pocketing her wand and stalking off.
She opened the door, looked back at him, and glared. Turning back around, she left, slamming the door behind her.
"Oh man, you sure did mess up," Weasley said.
Severus looked over at him. "I was just joking," he said.
"Rule number one with Hermione Granger… never joke about her hair," Weasley advised.
"What other rules are there for Hermione Granger? And do you two have rules as well?"
Potter laughed. "Us? Nah. We're 'take it as it comes' kind of blokes, right Ron?"
Ron nodded before looking back at Severus.
"Hermione is scary, she is," Weasley admitted. "She's super powerful, and she has little patience for dullards or dumb comments."
"If you respect her and her opinions, you'll get along fine," Potter added.
"Understood," Severus remarked.
"Maybe we should stop for today," Potter said. "We'll pick this up again tomorrow, same time?"
"That's acceptable," Severus said before wheeling around and leaving the Room of Requirement.
Severus went down the stairs toward the Slytherin Dungeons as he mulled over what had just happened. He truly had been joking, thinking that it was interesting that Granger's magic was so evident when she got worked up. She had been a formidable opponent; probably better than Malfoy.
He frowned. He'd erred and needed to make amends. He refused to start his life in this new future making enemies the first week he was in it.
Instead of going down into the dungeons, he headed for the Owlery instead. It didn't take much time for him to get into the large circular building. He transfigured a couple of feathers into a parchment and a feather pen.
He quickly scribbled a note to Granger.
Room of Requirement. 4 pm. –SS
Finding an owl, he placed the parchment on the owl's leg and told it to find Hermione Granger. Heading back out, he made his way to the dungeons where he spent some time playing exploding snap with Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy, and Zabini. After that, they headed out to the Quidditch pitch and had a friendly game. The Slytherins were surprised that Severus made a great Keeper.
oooOOOooo
Hermione entered the Room of Requirement with a frown on her face. Severus turned and faced her.
"Granger," he acknowledged.
"My name is Hermione. You can call me that, right? Hermione?"
Severus grimaced. "Hermione," he replied quietly.
Clearing his throat, he continued.
"I wanted to apologize to you for my words earlier. I honestly was only kidding, but it upset you, and that wasn't my intention."
Granger huffed and glared at him.
"I don't want to start a relationship that needs to be a somewhat close one with these hurt feelings between us."
"Thank you, Severus," Hermione said as she relaxed a little. "It's not something I can control. It just happens."
"It's quite impressive, actually."
Granger narrowed her eyes at him as if she was trying to figure out whether he was being facetious or not. She must have deduced that he was being serious.
"That's a first," Granger said.
"A first for what?"
"No one has ever said that my inability to control myself is impressive."
"How can people not recognize that? It has nothing to do with you being able to control yourself. It's untamed power. You, Hermione Granger, are a very powerful witch."
"Thank you. Being Muggleborn, I have to always prove myself. No one thinks I can do anything."
"In my time, Slytherins misjudged Muggleborns, too. I made that mistake as well."
Granger tilted her head as she regarded him. "What changed your mind?"
"Several things."
"Severus, I'm not going to judge you. You can tell me."
"I hardly know you, Granger. Why should I tell you anything?"
"You said you recognized the need to have decent relationships with us. If I were to be so bold, I'd label that friendship. Friends talk to each other."
"We are not friends."
"No we definitely are not yet, but I wouldn't mind being friends with you, Severus."
Severus sighed. "Let's just say I learned the hard way."
Granger nodded. "I think I understand. If you ever want to talk about it, I'm a good listener."
Severus regarded her for a bit before nodding. "So, we are good?"
Granger smiled. "Yes, Severus. We are good."
Severus smiled for the first time during their interaction. "You're better than Malfoy. You know that, right?"
"I… No, I didn't."
"Malfoy is pompous. That is his downfall."
"I think you could have defeated either one of us. Why did you keep going instead of doing so?"
"With Malfoy, I wanted to gauge his defenses and ability. With you… I was just enjoying myself too much."
He saw her cheeks turn red. "Well, next time, I don't want you to go easy on me."
"I wasn't going easy on you," he retorted.
"No, but you didn't finish me off when you could have. I don't want that. The only way to learn is to get knocked on my arse now and then."
Severus raised an eyebrow at her.
"You are a surprise at every turn, Hermione Granger."
She smiled at that, and Severus felt relieved he'd smoothed things out with her.