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A PERFECT MATCH
Chapter 4: Gossip
Hermione felt she should make her peace
with Ron and Harry before they left. She went up to them after the meeting and
looked repentant.
“Guys, I’m really sorry about before.
Walking off like that …”
Before she could say more, Harry
interrupted her.
“That’s OK. We should have been more
understanding towards your ambitions. Always knew you’d be the one to save the
world and I know these things can weigh on one’s mind.”
Hermione smiled gratefully. Ron seemed to
feel rather awkward about the situation. He just murmured:
“Don’t worry about us, ‘Mione. Sure you‘ll
do fine. Sorry.”
And with that, he turned around and left.
“Don’t think too much about Ron, you know
what he’s like. Doesn’t like changes all too much. Once he gets used to the
idea someone can actually enjoy working with Snape, he’ll come around. If not
for the Imperius Potion’s sake !” Harry laughed.
“Oh Harry, I knew you would understand !
Thanks.” Hermione sighed relieved.
“Of all people, I should know best there is
more to Severus Snape than the cranky, points deducting twit we all knew. It’s
because of me he cannot leave Hogwarts’ protection until Voldemort is
defeated.”
“I’m working on that !”
“That’s the spirit !!!”
And with that, Harry also left Hogwarts.
Lupin would stay on as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and Sirius was to
be in charge of school security. Therefore, the Head Table in the Great Hall
was becoming rather elaborate. No problem though, with all that magic around!
During the first day back to work, Snape
talked to her about their new challenge and the extra work it would give them.
“I think we best concentrate ourselves on
this new potion first. It will be far easier to brew and it’s urgency is
without question. I have gathered my notes on the subject and expect you to
read through them so we can begin experimenting soon. Also, considering the
large amount of work lying ahead of us, you will take over some of my classes.”
It was a statement, no question and
Hermione just nodded.
“I will of course keep on grading the
papers myself.” He continued.
“Are you afraid I would favour the
Gryffindor students ?” she asked abruptly, clearly implying he did so with his
Slytherins.
“The thought had occurred to me, but given
the precious nobility of a Gryffindor, I should not think you would. However,
I’m the teacher and grading papers is a teacher’s work.” He didn’t show whether
he had picked up on her criticism over his favouritism, but the sharpness in
his voice was back. That alone would be enough to alarm anyone who knew the
potions master.
Hermione was all fired up now and eager to
start her work, before she woke more of his anger. She sat down with the notes
in front of her, a notebook ready by her side and started reading.
“One more thing please.” She looked up and
saw him move around the table, setting up the cauldron.
“Since we are colleagues now, and no longer
professor and student, I feel it would only be appropriate to address one
another on first name basis. You will find the other teachers doing so as
well.”
“Fine, sir.” She swallowed and thought it
would not be easy to make that switch just like that. Imagine her calling
Dumbledore ‘Albus’. And she would never ever say ‘Rubeus’ to Hagrid.
Apparently Harry did not have too much
trouble with the first name thing. He was all Severus this, Albus that …
“The potion will not brew itself …
Hermione.” The velvet tone in his voice only seemed to make it more menacing
and Hermione quickly focused on the notes.
Soon she returned to her daily routine:
breakfast, working in the dungeon, lunch, working in the dungeon and finally
diner, most of the time followed by working in the dungeon again or some more
reading on potions in her rooms. It felt like she had read everything there
ever had been written about potions !
The Imperius Potion didn’t go as well as
foreseen and experimenting proved to be rather depressing. They used
Crookshanks as their guinea pig. He didn’t seemed to mind, as long as the
potion had a chocolate flavour (he had a sweet tooth). But how many times they
tried, poor Crookshanks kept on performing the craziest stunts they ordered him
to do. At one time, Hermione almost believed he enjoyed it !
And so weeks were flying by and another
school year was on the verge of kicking off.
Hermione found herself sitting next to
Snape during the banquet. Right before the sorting ritual would take place,
Snape murmured to her:
“This is my favourite part. Before they put
on the hat, I sort them myself. I’ve only been mistaken once or twice.”
She looked at him, amused. She would have
never expected him to turn the sorting ritual into a game, or maybe he would be
just the person to do such a thing.
“Well, if the hat wears off, you can
replace it then.” Hermione replied without blinking.
He whispered his choice every time a
student sat down on the chair. He got them all right !
After the banquet; Hermione went to greet
her former fellow students, especially Ginny Weasley.
“Oh Hermione, how fantastic you’re still
here ! It’s so dull without Harry and Ron. Please visit us often !”
And that she would do. She could use a
little distraction from her daily routine. Her rooms were in the Gryffindor
tower, so she wouldn’t disturb anyone if she went to sit in the Gryffindor common
room.
It was somewhere in the second week of the
new school year that she went to see Ginny.
When she entered the common room she could
hear giggling and was right in assuming she had found her.
“Oh Hermione, we were just talking about
you !” She smiled and her face was a little red, from giggling no doubt.
“Oh really. Then, what’s so funny about me.
Can I please join in ?” Hermione didn’t like hearing them laughing about her,
but did her best not to show it to much.
“Ah, but we weren’t laughing about you.”
Elly Richards, a sixth year replied.
“Just about your boss.”
“Snape ?”
“Ah yes, “ Ginny continued. “We were trying
to imagine what it would be like, you know, working with him. Spending each
moment of the day with him in that cold, dark dungeon.”
“Nothing special really.” Hermione wondered
what would be so laughable about it.
“Come on Hermione, you don’t mean that.
Most of us would kill to spend a day in the dungeon with spunky Snape.” Elly
sighed.
“What ! You’re having me on, aren’t you ?
Girls, girls …”
But Ginny interrupted her.
“Hermione, you’re not saying you don’t know
half the school has a crush on Snape ?” Ginny looked at her in disbelief.
“That’s totally absurd Ginny. This is Snape
you’re talking about. Ron should hear you !”
Hermione cried out, not knowing what
exactly to think about this. It was utterly nuts !
“Well, Ron isn’t a girl Hermione and
honestly, didn’t you never notice any of us girls giving him languishing looks
?”
“I thought it was terror !” Still not
convinced they weren’t having her on, she tried to laugh about it a bit, but
the sheer absurdity overtook her.
“Yes of course, we are all terrified of
Snape the teacher !” Elly cut in, “But you have to admit he has the most
captivating eyes and moves so sensual.” She sighed deeply.
“But he’s horrible to all of you !”
Hermione was not about to give up.
“Ah yes, but that’s one of his most
tempting features. This dark side of him just makes you wanna tremble in fear
and at the same time it’s so erotic.” Elly was completely lost in daydream by
now.
“You’re all
seriously disturbed.” Hermione answered firmly and left.
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