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A PERFECT MATCH

Chapter 7: The nocturnal adventures of a Gryffindor girl

Hermione decided her talk with Ginny couldn’t wait until the next morning, so she went to the Gryffindor common room.

“rosebud” she said to the Fat Lady and entered the room. Ginny was sitting near the fireplace.

When she saw Hermione coming through the portrait hole, she jumped up.

 

“Hermione, I didn’t expect to see you.” In the beginning of the sentence, her voice sounded normal, but at the end, a giggle slipped in and when she stopped speaking a major grin showed on her face.

 

“Stop that Ginny, I just came to explain, because somehow I knew you would jump to the wrong conclusion. Turns out I was right.”

 

“Oh, Hermione, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about your little secret.” Ginny was all smiles now and really seemed to enjoy herself.

 

“He just came ‘round to inform me on some school business.” Hermione was pleased with this explanation. After all, it wasn’t a lie.

 

“At 11 in the evening ? Come on, you’d have to do better than that. And you guys did look quite chummy together. But really, I’m not your mother and you don’t need to explain to me. I understand.” Ginny gave her a knowing look.

 

Hermione was about to explode and tried very hard to keep herself from shouting.

It was absurd she was trying to defend herself in a matter that shouldn’t need defending.

 

“I know it must sound strange and it might have looked weird, but that’s really all there was to it.” God, she was sounding desperate now, making it less believable than ever.

 

“Relax, I knew even you would not be able to resist the Snape-charm, it was bound to happen. You know, if you’d like some advice, I have the new Teen Witch Special in my room. You might be the specialist on school issues, but I can really help you out here.”

 

“Oh yes, like you’re an expert. And what would you recommend ? Sending owls with love-letters like you do to Harry ? Haven’t helped you yet, have they ?”

Hermione did not know why she would wanna lash out to her friend, hurting her feelings like that, but it made her furious she was not able to convince Ginny of the innocence of the scene she witnessed earlier.

 

“No need to get into that Hermione.” Ginny didn’t laugh anymore.

Besides, you don’t have to try any longer. I believe you. I was just teasing.

 

Hermione let out a sigh of relief.

 

“Not that I don’t think there is nothing going on between you two, ‘cos I’m sure there is something, but I happened to witness another get together earlier this evening and I gather that’s what you were talking about.” Before Hermione could stress that there wasn’t anything going on between her and Snape, she was startled by the last part of what Ginny was saying.

 

“You mean Malfoy ?” she whispered.

 

“Yes, I saw him standing there with his wand aimed at you.”

 

“Why didn’t you do anything ?”

 

A little giggle.

“Well, I saw Snape coming to the rescue, so I just stayed in my hiding place.”

 

“What were you doing there anyway ?” It was only now Hermione realised she hadn’t asked before what Ginny was doing outside Gryffindor tower so late.

“And moreover, in the dungeons ?”

 

“Well …” Ginny seemed a bit reluctant to tell, but Hermione gave her such a menacing look, she dared not lie.

 

“I was waiting for Elly to return from meeting with her boyfriend. He’s Slytherin.”

 

“Oh. And I guess she’s still not back and now you’re waiting up for her ?”

 

“She said that if she wasn’t back at 11, she probably would spend the night there. I was still up because I had to think about Malfoy being here.”

 

“No-one else can know this Ginny, do you understand ?” Hermione gave her a penetrative look.

 

“I do. Aren’t you curious about what else I’ve seen and heard ?”

 

“What then ?”

 

“Well, I was tired of waiting for Elly, and Snape carrying Malfoy was too interesting to let go, so I followed them into a dungeon I’ve never been to.” Little pause. “But I guess it’s where you work. I hid in a lab and could hear them through an open door.”

 

“My, my, Ginny the detective. Don’t stop, it’s getting interesting.” Hermione was all ears now.

 

“It turned out to be rather bizarre. Snape told him some scary story about being a Death Eater and the thrill one gets from killing.”

 

Hermione spread her eyes wide open. Snape liked killing people ?

 

“But then he went all mellow and said some stuff about what it had done to his soul and how Dumbledore had saved him. Oh, and he also said that at first his repentance had been a trick to kill Dumbledore. In the end he just gave Malfoy a potion and went out. I waited a bit longer for Elly, but since she didn’t show I decided to head back and that’s when I saw you guys.”

 

So that’s why he had thought Malfoy would be after him. He had almost done the same to Dumbledore. Rather confused, Hermione headed for the portrait hole.

 

“Ginny, please don’t say anything about what happened tonight to anyone, promise me ?”

“Sure.” But she smiled when she saw Hermione disappear.

 

Hermione didn’t sleep at all that night. Not that she was worried Ginny would go gossiping about her and Snape. She didn’t care anymore, couldn’t recall why it had annoyed her so much. All she could think of was the fact that Snape had enjoyed being a murderer.

Ron and Sirius had been right all along. She was working with a dangerous man. From now on, she had to avoid looking into his eyes. Maybe he was hypnotising her ? She didn’t question his loyalty. No, she knew he wanted Voldemort dead, but for now, it would be best to see him as Snape, the mean teacher and not engage in some intellectual friendship. And heaven forbid the strange sensations that kept overwhelming her when he was near. She just needed to forget all those silly comments about his attraction. She mustn’t let herself be influenced by it. Stick to the facts, Granger ! She knew she could do it. They had a lot of work to do and now with Draco around, Snape would be even more occupied.

When she finally felt like herself again it was morning. She got out of bed, determined to stun the wizarding world with her amazing potion brewing.

 

 

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