Over the next two days, Hermione diligently worked her way through the two books Professor Snape had provided her. Between classes, she devoted countless hours to absorbing every word they contained, feeling increasingly prepared to tackle the daunting task of mastering Occlumency.
With the books now successfully read, Hermione found herself nervously pacing the living room after dinner, the weight of anticipation heavy on her shoulders. Every step she took echoed in the quiet room, her mind racing with thoughts of the impending Occlumency lessons. When Professor Snape finally entered the room through the portrait hole, she stopped pacing abruptly, her heart pounding with nervous energy.
"I'm ready to begin, Professor," Hermione said eagerly, her voice quivering slightly with anticipation. She clasped her hands together in front of her, her eyes fixed on him expectantly, hoping for his approval to start the training.
Professor Snape arched an eyebrow, observing Hermione's eager demeanor with a hint of skepticism. "And you read both books in their entirety?" he inquired, his tone laced with a subtle hint of challenge. He scrutinized her carefully, assessing her readiness for the rigorous training ahead.
"Of course, sir," Hermione replied, her excitement evident in her voice as she beamed at Professor Snape. "I know this will be challenging. I understand it will be difficult, but I'm willing to try my best." Her determination shone through, a glint in her eyes betraying her eagerness to embark on this new endeavor.
With a nod, Professor Snape swiftly removed his potions robes, revealing a crisp white dress shirt and sleek black pants. Carefully, he draped the garments over the back of the couch before retrieving his wand. With a flick of his wrist, he performed a spell to rearrange the furniture, clearing a wide space in the room for their practice session. As the furniture glided to the corner of the room, Hermione watched with anticipation, ready to begin her lessons in earnest.
Professor Snape's characteristically low drawl filled the quiet space, his voice carrying the weight of authority and experience. "I will penetrate your mind," he began, his words deliberate and precise. "Your task is to resist. Imagine barriers being erected, sturdy and impenetrable." His eyes, dark and intense, fixed on Hermione, conveying the seriousness of the task ahead.
Hermione visualized a sturdy brick wall materializing in her mind's eye, its structure solid and unyielding. With a hesitant nod, she prepared herself for the intrusion. Abruptly, Professor Snape muttered, "Legilimens," and plunged into her consciousness with a wicked intensity. Despite her efforts, the brick wall she had erected was immediately torn down, allowing a flood of memories to surge forward, vulnerable and exposed.
One glaring memory that surfaced was of a young Hermione Granger, barely eleven years old, hiding behind the Quidditch stands. Dressed in her Gryffindor uniform and wearing her Gryffindor scarf, she clutched her wand tightly. With a whispered incantation, she lit Professor Snape's black robes on fire, the flames licking at the fabric as she quickly retreated down the stairs, heart pounding with adrenaline.
When Professor Snape emerged from her mind, Hermione's heart pounded with anxiety, and she instinctively took a few steps back, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She regretted the choice of memory that had surfaced, realizing the implications of what he might have seen.
"Miscalculation," Hermione stuttered in explanation, her voice tinged with embarrassment and regret.
Professor Snape scowled slightly at her response. "Are you ready to try again?" he asked, his tone firm and expectant.
Hermione clenched her fists in frustration as she attempted once more to erect mental barriers to impede his intrusion. With another nod, Professor Snape delved into her mind once more. She strained with all her might to resist, her brow furrowing with concentration, but her efforts proved futile. The barriers she erected felt as flimsy as paper, easily torn down by the force of his intrusion. Despite her resistance, her memories flooded forth without restraint.
As Professor Snape delved deeper into her mind, the memory that came rushing to the forefront was a vivid recollection of her steps to brew Polyjuice Potion. The memories unfolded with startling clarity, showing Hermione sneaking into the restricted section of the library to retrieve the coveted book "Moste Potente Potions." Next, it revealed her clandestine act of pilfering two of the rarer ingredients from Professor Snape's meticulously organized cupboards, her heart racing with adrenaline as she carefully avoided detection. The final memory depicted Hermione huddled in the bathroom, painstakingly brewing the potion over the course of a month, her determination evident in the focused expression on her face.
When Professor Snape withdrew from her mind for the second time, Hermione couldn't bear to meet his gaze. Instead, she stared guiltily down at her shoes, feeling the weight of embarrassment and remorse wash over her. The memory of her clandestine act of stealing ingredients from her professor, compounded by the aftermath of her transformation into a cat, filled her with a profound sense of shame. She shifted uncomfortably, wishing she could erase the memory from both her mind and Professor Snape's perception.
Hermione's voice was barely above a whisper as she attempted to explain. "That was a desperate attempt to save the school," she mumbled, her words laced with regret. "Obviously, it didn't turn out well."
"If we continue, what else am I going to find out?" Professor Snape retorted, his tone tinged with annoyance. "Were you not afraid of the consequences?" he asked suddenly.
Hermione looked up from the floor and responded firmly, "No, I would do anything for my friends. Yes, I broke a ton of rules. Yes, I was disrespectful and insolent, but I would do it again."
"Very well. Let's try this again. You have to leave your mind blank completely. Empty yourself of all your emotions," he instructed, his tone firm. Tightening his grip on his wand, he uttered, "Legilimens."
Hermione attempted once more to follow his instructions. Initially, it seemed promising. The mental barriers she erected appeared formidable, but Professor Snape applied intense pressure against them, swiftly shattering the defenses.
As Hermione struggled to maintain control over her mind, a vivid memory emerged from the depths of her consciousness. It depicted the Golden Trio standing defiantly in the Shrieking Shack alongside Professor Lupin and Sirius Black. Professor Snape's enraged voice echoed in the cramped space as he demanded they leave and return to the castle. Suddenly, the trio brandished their wands, disarming him with a swift and decisive spell, sending him crashing into the wall and rendering him unconscious.
When Professor Snape ended the spell, Hermione stumbled, a sharp pain shooting through her mind like lightning. She winced and closed her eyes tightly as the headache intensified, threatening to overwhelm her senses.
Professor Snape swiftly summoned a healing potion with a flick of his wand, and the vial zoomed into his waiting hand. He approached Hermione with a sense of urgency, his expression softening slightly as he observed her discomfort.
"Here, drink this," he instructed gently, placing the vial into her trembling hand as her eyes fluttered open.
Hermione eagerly tipped the vial back and drank down the revolting taste of the potion, grimacing at its bitterness. Not a minute passed before she felt the throbbing headache begin to dwindle, replaced by a sense of relief washing over her.
"Thank you," she murmured gratefully, her voice barely above a whisper, as she handed the now empty vial back to Professor Snape.
Professor Snape waved his wand, and the furniture shifted back to its original arrangement. "Let's take a break," he said firmly. "We don't need to master this today. We don't even need to master this in a week. And currently, I do not want to continue to break through your mind. The headache you felt is nothing compared to what I can do."
Hermione reluctantly settled onto the couch once it was returned to its original spot. A heavy feeling of disappointment consumed her, knowing she had not been successful in resisting Professor Snape's intrusion into her mind.
The couch dipped slightly under Professor Snape's weight as he settled beside Hermione. His voice carried a soothing tone as he spoke, his words meant to offer comfort. "Hermione, it's only been thirty minutes. I told you this could take months to perfect. Don't get discouraged," he reassured her, his gaze fixed on her with a mixture of understanding and encouragement.
Hermione remained silent, her thoughts swirling with frustration and self-doubt. She had anticipated the challenge of Occlumency to be difficult but being confronted with her own inadequacies left her feeling like a failure. Each failed attempt to block Professor Snape's intrusion only intensified her sense of disappointment and inadequacy, weighing heavily on her shoulders as she sat in subdued silence beside him.
Professor Snape's voice broke the heavy silence, tinged with a hint of amusement. "There is one good thing about today's lesson," he remarked, his eyes fixed on Hermione. "I learned more about you. The witch who was so concerned about rule-breaking was just an act, it seems." His tone was measured, yet there was a subtle note of curiosity in his voice as if he was unraveling a mystery.
Hermione hesitantly met his eyes, confusion evident in her expression. "So, you aren't mad then?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"As I stated before, you are who you are," Professor Snape replied, his voice carrying a hint of resignation. "You did what you felt was right. I may not be happy about it, but that was years ago." His gaze softened slightly as he spoke, a rare display of understanding from the typically stoic professor.
Hermione smiled faintly at him, her expression tinged with a mix of gratitude and curiosity. As she absentmindedly touched the ring on her finger, the familiar electric current sparked at her touch, sending a shiver down her spine. Surprised, she quickly pulled her hand away, her eyes widening in the realization that the sensation had occurred once more.
"Were you expecting something different?" Professor Snape asked quizzically, his eyebrow arched in curiosity as he too felt the electric current coursing through the air. His expression betrayed a hint of intrigue, as if he had anticipated the reaction but found it nonetheless intriguing.
"You felt it too?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Professor Snape replied simply, his dark eyes meeting hers with a hint of something unreadable. Without another word, he extended his hand, the one adorned with the matching wedding band, and lightly brushed his fingers against the ring on Hermione's finger. A warm sensation spread through her stomach at his touch, leaving her feeling strangely comforted and unsettled at the same time. When he withdrew his hand, Hermione couldn't help but feel a sense of longing, a desire for that warmth to linger a little longer.
Professor Snape's voice carried a weight of solemnity as he explained the significance of the ring. "It's old magic, dating back to the 1800s," he began, his tone grave. "When a witch and a wizard are matched, they forge a bond that transcends time. The ring on your finger cannot be broken, nor can it be removed by ordinary means. Every touch or emotion you feel when touching it, I can feel just as strongly."
Hermione listened intently, absorbing every word he spoke. The implications of the magical bond between them left her feeling both awed and apprehensive. It was a reminder of the depth of their connection, one that went beyond mere marriage vows.
The weight of realization settled heavily on Hermione's shoulders. The explanation Professor Snape provided was meant to provide clarity, but instead, she was mortified to think that he knew how she was feeling during dinner two days ago. The idea that he could sense her emotions with such clarity unnerved her.
"To answer your unanswered question, yes," Professor Snape said, his tone measured. "I was looking at you the other day because you kept touching it incessantly. Your thoughts are loud." His words held a hint of amusement, but there was also a sense of understanding in his gaze as if he had experienced similar revelations before.
Hermione felt a flush of embarrassment creeping up her neck. She searched desperately for an explanation, but there was none to be found. The realization that her innermost feelings had been exposed by the ring left her feeling vulnerable and exposed. She was at a loss for words, her mind racing to find a way to backtrack or justify the strong emotions she had unwittingly revealed two days ago.
Professor Snape's voice was calm, almost sympathetic, as he broke the heavy silence. "I should have told you that day in Minerva's office, but I thought you already knew."
Hermione felt a twinge of frustration at her own ignorance, despite her years of immersion in the wizarding world. "I just thought it was a normal ring. I didn't think it would be any different," she admitted, her tone tinged with a mixture of surprise and chagrin. "Do all marriages require it?"
"No, not all, but I suspect the Ministry is making it a requirement for all forced marriages," Professor Snape responded somberly, his expression grave as he considered the implications of such a mandate.
"Why do you think they would do that?" Hermione asked with a frown.
Professor Snape leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "It's likely a measure to ensure compliance and loyalty, particularly in marriages that are arranged for political or strategic reasons. The bond created by these rings would make it nearly impossible for either party to betray the other without consequences." Taking a breath he continued, "The act of merely touching the ring alerts the other party immediately. The sensation you feel is entirely dependent on the intensity of the emotion or thought of the one who touches it," he concluded cryptically, choosing not to disclose further details.
Hermione didn't like that he was trying to hide something from her. "Please, I want to know everything," she begged.
Professor Snape sighed, his expression softening slightly at her plea. "It's not something I can easily explain, Hermione. The bond created by the ring is deeply personal and intimate. What you feel, what I feel—it's a connection that transcends mere physical touch. It's a sharing of emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a way that goes beyond ordinary understanding."
The realization washed over Hermione, leaving her momentarily stunned. If Professor Snape truly harbored no affection for her, then the warmth she felt whenever he touched the ring on her finger wouldn't exist. Nor would the shivers that danced down her spine in response to his proximity. It was a revelation that left her both bewildered and oddly comforted, stirring emotions she hadn't fully recognized before.