On a Thursday evening less than two weeks before her NEWTs, Hermione shows up to her revising session with Snape four and a half minutes late. When she bursts through the door to his office in her muggle clothes instead of her usual immaculate uniform and robes, Snape is highly amused. He tries to keep a straight face. Fails miserably.
She is wearing dark blue jeans and a very pretty cream colored blouse. It isn't tight by a long stretch, but it is tailored in a cut that accentuates her lovely adult curves. The tops of her breasts are just barely peeking out from a flattering neckline.
"I am so sorry, Professor, I lost track of time," she says, taking her seat in front of him. "And I'm sorry I didn't have time to change. I hope you aren't offended."
Snape looks at her, puzzled. "Do you mean to insinuate that you change into your uniform and robes just to study with me, or grade papers for me?"
"Yes, sir," she says, blushing a little. "I thought it would, you know, help."
"I'm touched, Miss Granger, that you took our little chat after the holiday so much to heart. But please, feel free to dress as you like in my presence. It makes no difference-" then he stops himself. That would be a lie. Her breasts, though more than respectably covered, are making quite the impression on him.
Hermione looks down. "But it does, doesn't it sir?"
He gives her a sheepish smile and doesn't say anything. He doesn't have to.
"Shall I go change?"
"No," Snape says. "We are covering conversion equations today. I'll try not to stare too much. You do look lovely, Miss Granger." He knows he shouldn't say it.
Her smile at the simple compliment is breathtaking. Worth the small lapse in discretion.
As Hermione works with quill and paper on the solutions he has set for her, Snape cannot keep his eyes off her collarbone, and the curve of her graceful neck as she is bent over her parchment.
Hermione can feel his eyes on her as she works the problems on the desk in front of him. She has never felt so aware of her body, and yet fully transcended from it at the same time. She isn't a woman routinely given over to ridiculous flights of fancy, but the need to feel his hands on her has become an almost consuming obsession. Her NEWTs cannot come soon enough.
When they finish with the arithmancy, Hermione gets up from her chair and then looks at Snape, waiting to be dismissed, ever the obedient student. Snape raises an eyebrow at her and motions for her to sit back down. She does.
"I'm not done with you yet," he says.
Hermione gulps. "Sir?"
"You're never late to our appointments. What held you up today?"
"I was reading, sir. The book the Headmistress gave me- it's- I don't even have the word. The concept is so mind blowingly simple. The ramifications of it govern our whole world. Well, the magical world. And metaphorically speaking, it applies to the muggle world as well. Sorry, sir, I know I'm rambling. I'm just excited."
Snape gives her a little indulgent smile. "Never apologize for your enthusiasm, Miss Granger, it is one of your most endearing qualities. And you have many." She blushes again right on cue. Snape tries to capture the image of her like that in his head, graceful and sophisticated in her muggle attire and short hair, with that adoringly infatuated look on her face. All big eyes and pink cheeks and her enticing mouth open in surprise and pleasure at his compliment.
"Now," he says, "Explain what you have learned so far. What is Proctor's main premise?"
"That magical power comes from your core, and that your core is basically a stored source of emotional energy. Bright magic is fueled by positive emotional energy: love, happiness, even mild contentment and peaceful thoughts can generally fuel most bright spells. Dark magic comes from negative emotion and energy: fear, anger, and malice being its primary sources. But also shame, malcontent, disdain- there are many sources of dark energy all fueled by negative emotion."
Snape nods in approval. "You have a good grasp of the basic concept."
"It's not complicated," Hermione says, "Tell me, sir, don't they teach this at hogwarts? Especially in Defense Against the Dark Arts. We used to have all this discussion on what constitutes a dark spell, and none of our teachers could ever really give us a good definition. But Proctor explains it perfectly. A dark spell is one fueled by negative emotion."
"For a few reasons, Miss Granger. First of all, the commonly held belief about that book, at least in the western wizarding community, is that it needs to be repressed because it's basically a handbook on how to become a dark Wizard."
"What?!" Hermione is stunned. "That's ridiculous. It's just- information. Knowledge. Essential Knowledge!"
"I agree, Miss Granger, but look at it from their side. There is a reason you weren't ever told exactly what constitutes a dark spell. Negative emotions are powerful. Much more powerful, on average, than positive ones. Have you gotten to that point in the book yet?"
Hermione shakes her head.
"Well, then," says Snape. "We will continue this conversation later."
"But I have so many questions!"
"We have all the time in the world for you to ask them, Miss Granger. Believe me, what starts out as a simple premise becomes an astounding mess of magical, emotional, ethical, even religious quandaries. There are societies of Wizards whose only reason for existence is to study and discuss this book and the questions it poses. The Headmistress told you to read this book until it is a part of you. I suspect we will be discussing it for a long time to come. For now, your rest is more important."
We have all the time in the world. Hermione wraps these words around her like a cloak. They keep her feeling warm, and safe, and secure as her NEWTs, and the last days of the term, rapidly approach.