Severus, Redux: Chapter 30
(In which Christmas and Severus' birthday pass...)
Christmas morning dawned clear and bitingly cold. It had snowed for almost three days straight, and there appeared to be nearly two feet in the main courtyard. It was pristine and beautiful, an almost mockery of the raging turmoil Hermione felt inside. Reluctantly, she tore her gaze from the window to the foot of the bed. The house elves had put her Christmas gifts there, just as they did every year that she had spent at Hogwarts, and she was dreading looking through them. She had been trying to prepare herself for the glaring absence of her parents' Christmas presents for the last few days, but found herself breathing shakily and wiping tears from her eyes anyway.
Neither of the boys had given her anything, either. Which meant that they had either not bothered to shop, or had deliberately not sent the presents they had picked out in order to make a point. The reminder that her oldest and closest friendships might be irreparably damaged hurt nearly as much as the knowledge that she would never share a Christmas with her family again.
She had received what was unmistakably a Weasley sweater, however. It was bright purple with a pale blue snowflake, a pattern Hermione knew from her own experiments with elf-sized clothing to be difficult, even for an expert knitter. The clear show of affection from the Weasley matron had her eyes welling up with tears again, and then snapping with anger when she read the card. In it, Mrs. Weasley very kindly expressed her regrets that Hermione wouldn't be able to make it to the Burrow this year for at least Boxing Day.
Cowards, she thought resentfully. Apparently Ron and Harry hadn't had the courage to tell Mrs. Weasley she'd been uninvited. Vindictively, Hermione considered writing a thank-you note that casually mentioned that she had been under the impression she wasn't welcome, but decided that it wasn't worth the further drama it would cause.
Ginny, Luna and Neville had each sent her small but thoughtful gifts. And her roommates had given her lotion and an ornament--the sorts of gifts that one gives to a female acquaintance that one doesn't spend much time with. Her last present, from Atreus, was a galleon that had a thin waxy film on it, a small jar of unlabeled cream, and a pale pink candle. The accompanying note simply said he would explain later. Smiling to herself, Hermione studied the cream, trying to determine what it was before giving up with a slight shrug. Whatever he had made, it wasn't a standard recipe from their textbook.
He was waiting for her outside Gryffindor's portrait-door later that morning; his smile wide as he saw her. "How did you do it?" he asked, his voice breathless. "It looks just like it should! And the spellwork!" He barked out an incredulous laugh and studied the ornate ring on his right forefinger. "Brilliant! This must have cost you a bloody fortune!" His eyes went wide. "It can't possibly be the original--you wouldn't have been able to get that! How did you do it?"
Hermione couldn't help but grin back, and threaded her arm through his as they started off towards the Great Hall. "Well, I sent for the ring itself. I have a friend who has a friend who is apprenticing for magical smithing. He's completed the metallurgy portion, but not the lapidary. My friend wrote on my behalf asking if he would be interested in making it for me for a bit of a discount, since he is still shy of his full journeyman's papers. He agreed, so I sent him the design for the Prince signet; the Gold Book had the family coat of arms and motto." She blushed. "I did the protection charms myself."
"It's incredible, Hermione." Atreus said, his voice thick with emotion. He glanced down again at the ornate ring. The Prince family insignia was a hawk in flight, outlined by the full moon, a rowan branch in its beak and each claw clutching a crown. "I've been trying to prove that I'm a Prince ever since I came to Hogwarts as a child. Now, by some strange twist of fate, I can finally claim the name legally. Then you give me this…" His voice trailed off. "I'm not entirely sure I deserve you," he added.
Hermione grinned. She had been a bit concerned that he would find her gift presumptuous or strange, and was relieved it had been a fabulous success. "Did you see the inner band? I had the Prince family motto engraved."
Atreus gave her a startled look, then took the ring off to peer inside it. "No, I hadn't noticed. Veritas fugit indifferenter se habet ad reges. The truth flies indifferent to kings," he translated quietly. He slipped it back on again. "It's really wonderful, Hermione."
"What about mine?" she asked excitedly. "A galleon, a candle, and a potion of some kind. It is clearly not standard; you obviously put effort into it, and I'm dying to know what it is, now."
It was Atreus' turn to blush, and he fidgeted a little, looking about. "Well, first I got a couple of those matching Patented Daydream charms, dismantled them, and then rebuilt them a bit. Then I applied them to a couple of your DA protean galleons."
It took Hermione a moment, but then her mouth dropped open and she stared in awe. "So two people can now share the same daydream. That… Merlin, Atreus, that must have taken you weeks to figure out! That's... incredible!"
"Almost two months," he admitted. His expression became positively wicked. "But we can hardly get in trouble for daydreaming in our very own beds all alone, can we?"
"No." Still astonished, Hermione laughed. "We should save it for a bit later, when we're having a particularly rough week. It will be nice to have it up our sleeves as a bit of an escape." She glanced down at the waxy galleon again. "Atreus, the implications of this… what might be done with this…!"
He nodded. "I'll be looking into the legalities of patenting it once it's safe to do so, and also looking into whether or not it's possible to extend it for more than one use." He shrugged, then explained her other two gifts. "The candle is made from wax that I mixed with some amortentia. The wax makes the potion unusable in the traditional way, but the candle should still smell like your favourite things. If it doesn't, let me know. I'll tweak the thing some more. I didn't get quite as much time to spend on that one because of the other two were more complicated." He cleared his throat and looked a little embarrassed. "The jar is, um, a topical that has sensory properties. It intensifies heat and causes little tingles. Er, that one definitely works." He blushed as Hermione started snickering.
"Tested it, did you?" She asked innocently. "On your arm or something?"
He blushed harder but laughed along. "Or something," he agreed and grinned. "So, you like them, then?"
"I think they--and you--are brilliant." She stopped just outside the Great Hall and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She sighed happily as he tucked her closer and deepened it. His kiss was sweet and eager, his hands gently wandering over her curves and his body hardening under her own explorations.
"Are you still sore?" His voice was a husky whisper in her ear, and she couldn't help a little shiver at the sound.
"A bit. Not really," she murmured back. She had known that losing her virginity would probably include some pain, but no one had told her just how achy she would be afterwards. She had hardly been able to walk the first day, even after using a soothing cream. "The first couple of days I was--quite--but now...uhn. Mmm, not enough to stop. Especially if you go slow."
He leered. "Good. My roommates all went home for Christmas." He kissed her again thoroughly, his fingers combing through her hair as he pulled her against him again.
They broke apart in surprise as a throat cleared disapprovingly behind them, and they turned to see Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape, apparently having exited the Great Hall together. Professor McGonagall's mouth thinned as she took in their appearance. Professor Snape's expression did not change, but Hermione got the distinct impression that he, too, was displeased.
Professor Dumbledore smiled beatifically. "Ah, Miss Granger, Mr. Prince. So lovely to see you both in good spirits. Happy Christmas to you both. You should try the kippers; they are especially delicious this morning," he informed them cheerily before heading off down the hall.
The two remaining professors exchanged glances and then Professor Snape gestured with a surly air. "Come, nephew. I have mandrake root in the lab that needs grating." He turned away, robes flaring, as though sure in the knowledge that he would be obeyed. Atreus shot her a rueful, apologetic look, but followed.
Professor McGonagall took a deep, aggrieved breath. "Miss Granger. I hope that I do not need to remind you once again of proper conduct in this school. You have so much promise and potential. I would hate to see it wasted because of your lack of self control."
Anxiety fluttered through her briefly. "No, Ma'am,” Hermione whispered softly. “About that, though. My potential, I mean. I have a question, Professor." She tilted her head to study her professor more closely. "In my third year, you gave me special dispensation for a Time-Turner. I knew it to be an honor. I know I wasn't the first, but only four other students have been granted the same privilege… ever. I found a footnote in this year's Theory textbook, Time/Space Magical Anomalies. It also referenced the Mysterious Commodities, Research and Sundries Act of 1427."
Professor McGonagall stiffened almost imperceptibly."It was an unusual honor that you were considered, Miss Granger,” she replied firmly. “You should not look gift horses in the mouth." She turned and began to walk away.
Frustrated, Hermione raised her voice to call after her. "I looked up the law, Professor. It has to do with items that belong to the Department of Mysteries. The restrictions for Time-Turners surprised me, given my own experiences."
Professor McGonagall whipped around again, checked the halls to see if anyone might be nearby before pinning Hermione with a hard look. "This is not a conversation to be had in the hall, Miss Granger."
Hermione crossed her arms, but continued quietly. "I do not mean to imply anything, Professor. Only ask why I was issued one at all. I didn't meet any of the requirements at the time." Hermione ticked them off on her fingers. "I wasn't of age, nor was I an employee, nor under contract to join the Department after graduation. I am magically strong enough, but there was no proof at the time. I didn't even take my first Prospero Test until my O.W.L.s, two years later. I'm not like Harry, Professor. I am an unquestionably precise and fast student, but I don't have the obvious sheer, magical muscle he has." She shrugged. "Finally, I did not sign my remains over to the Department for research upon my eventual death. Therefore, I did not--and still don't--qualify for a Time-Turner."
Professor McGonagall was silent, seeming to debate with herself for a long while. Finally she responded. "Many things have been done--for both sides--off the records because of the current political climate. Perhaps you remember from last summer that the Order has contacts in the Department of Mysteries that are sympathetic to our cause? The truth is that the Time-Turner was procured for you by one of those contacts due to a combination of your potential and your close association with Mr. Potter."
Hermione nodded in understanding, but her mind was racing. Damian had acted genuinely shocked that she'd had it, and had implied that Professor McGonagall had gained it through subterfuge and pretence. Yet now the professor was saying that Damian and his partner were responsible for getting it to her. Someone was lying, and while Hermione didn't trust Damian Vector not to manipulate her to cause trouble, she couldn't help but feel that her Transfiguration professor wasn't being entirely honest.
"Thank you, Professor," she said. "I appreciate your candor." There...just there was the tiniest flinch from the older woman. Feeling lost, Hermione found herself mouthing platitudes. "I shall endeavor to make you proud and be more circumspect in the future."
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 9 January 1997, 9:45 AM
The rest of Christmas hols passed frustratingly slowly. After their encounter on Christmas morning, Professor Snape seemed to take special care to always require his "nephew" for some reason or another, sneering sarcastically about the quality family time over the holidays. He was apparently colluding with Professor McGonagall, for Hermione found herself agreeing to various tasks for her Head of House, only to realise later they were scheduled for the few hours Atreus was free. They barely had more than half an hour alone together at any given time for the remaining days they were "off."
The resumption of school was both blessing and a curse. Once the teachers had other things to occupy themselves with, Hermione actually got to see Atreus quite a bit more. Of course, now that students flooded the halls and dormitories, there was little to no privacy to be had.
Harry and Ron were not actively being awful to her, but she was also clearly unforgiven, as neither would meet her eyes or include her in their conversations. Hermione glanced over at the two boys at the breakfast table from where she, Ginny and Neville sat slightly apart from everyone else. Students had been back from Christmas hols for over a week, yet Harry and Ron remained stubborn in their anger with her. Surprisingly, Ginny and Neville had rallied to her side. It had been touching and a bit humbling to realise that she still had true friends.
As if sensing her thoughts, Ginny winked at her, then said loudly, "My brother is a prat!" Lavender glared at them from a few seats down, and Ron's shoulders hunched a bit. Hermione smiled slightly, and Ginny lowered her voice, her tone scathing. "As if he hasn't spent the last few months snogging Lavender all over the school and more. He just wasn't actually caught in her pants," Ginny tossed her head. "He's probably just pissy because you're not jealous of her. Never mind that he's being an arse to her, too."
"No, this is more than that," Neville interjected thoughtfully from Hermione's other side. "Harry's being worse than Ron. He wouldn't care if Hermione was jealous of Lavender or not. He flat out refused to come to Atreus' birthday this afternoon when you tried to invite him. It has something to do with Atreus."
Ginny's brows knit for a moment, and then lifted as she nodded in agreement. Feeling awkward, Hermione shrugged. "I... yes. I can see why that would be. But it isn't my secret to tell."
Neville smiled. "And they took exception to that. You keeping Atreus' secrets, I mean."
Hermione blinked. "You're very perceptive, Neville."
He lowered his eyes to his plate. "Everyone sort of paired up in our year right away. Seamus and Dean, Harry and Ron, Pavarti and Lavender. Then you joined Harry and Ron, and for a while it was just me. I mean, you were nice, but I didn't really have any friends for the first two years of school. Then Ginny decided to more or less adopt me and Luna, and since Luna and Harry already were starting to get on..."
"It wasn't like that," Ginny protested.
"Yes it was," he responded mildly. "But it's alright, I don't mind. I'm glad you did. The point is, we all sort of had our groups, but anyone with eyes could see that Harry and Ron have been using their friendship with you as a bit of a bludgeon. It isn't fair that they cut you in and out, depending on whether they agree with you or not. I like how things have become, where we're all a bit more of a group now. Now you've brought in Atreus, too, and none of us is forced to be alone anymore. If a couple of us want to be unreasonable prats because friends keep each other's secrets sometimes, even from other friends," he paused, glancing over his shoulder meaningfully, "they're the ones missing out now."
Hermione huffed out a breath. "Thank you, Neville. You're a good friend."
"So are you, Hermione," he said firmly. "Don't let them say otherwise."
"We'll have fun after class today at Atreus' party, even if they don't come,” said Ginny. “I got him a certificate for my brothers’ new shop and one of their owl-order catalogues. Think he'll like it?"
"I do," Hermione nodded. She had already given her own gift to Atreus that morning--a set of borosilicate potion beakers and vials that she had transfigured herself in various colors. While not as expensive or elaborate as her Christmas gift, he seemed to recognize that the heat-resistant glass was deceptively tricky to transfigure, and genuinely appreciate them.
“Oh,” she said suddenly, “I've just realised I'm going to be late for Defence."
"And I've got Care of Magical Creatures," Neville added.
Ginny laughed as Hermione frantically loaded her book bag. "On the whole, Hagrid's a bit more lax about punctuality than Snape, though," she teased. "Honestly, Hermione, if it weren't for their looks, you'd never guess Atreus was related to Snape. Atreus definitely got all the nice genes."
It was a struggle for Hermione not to laugh at the irony as she nearly flew out the door. She was nearly late for class, sliding in next to Atreus just as the time turned over. Professor Snape was already at the front, and he shot her an irritated look. "Stay after class, Miss Granger."
Hermione pursed her lips, not bothering to protest that she hadn't technically been late. She mumbled her acquiescence, and opened her book to his prescribed page, surprised to see that the day's lesson was not on counter-curses or light spells.
The professor spent a full minute pacing slowly across the front of the room, apparently deep in thought. He finally stopped, his movements precise and deliberate as he glanced up at the students in front of him. He wasn't looking at her, but his voice was exactly the same purring murmur that Atreus had used whilst making love, and her body's reaction was fierce and immediate. Hermione darted a glance at her boyfriend, but his focus was entirely on the professor's words.
"The best defence you could possibly have, be it against dark magic or not, is the creation and upkeep of personal wards. They can be as unsubtle as a simple physical barrier, a visual misdirection or a trap to entangle movement. The truly magnificent wards can entrance the mind, strip memory, or even leech the magics of the uninvited guest… if you have the power, patience and attention to see them to correctly."
Hermione fell into the lecture, spellbound,as she listened to Professor Snape’s voice rise and fall, forgetting to take notes entirely. She found herself torn throughout the class between fascinated by the subject matter, aroused by his voice, and horrified that she was having those thoughts about her professor--even if he was genetically the same person as her boyfriend.
She gathered her things, approaching the professor as her classmates left. She was mortified to find that her knickers were a bit damp, and hoped Atreus was unable to tell that she was feeling a bit off. It helped looking at Professor Snape. He looked so much older and more sour than Atreus. Deep lines bracketed his mouth, his frame was unnaturally thin, and his teeth horrifically uneven. She was used to Atreus' repaired bite.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
Professor Snape's gaze sharpened as he focused on her. "Yes. At Christmas I received an anonymous gift. A winter cloak of exceptionally fine weave and charmed to resist damp and cold. Then, this morning, another gift was delivered. A leather-bound journal for notes, embossed with my initials." He paused, and Hermione winced as she waited for the inevitable question. "I am fairly certain that they were not gifts from colleagues. Atreus always signs the gifts he gives me. And so I must ask, Miss Granger: do you know who sent these gifts?"
Hermione felt her cheeks heat. She felt like a prat. So much for anonymous gift-giving. "I… erm," she stammered.
Professor Snape sighed. "Indeed. Dismissed, Miss Granger."
"Yes, sir." Hermione grabbed her bag and headed for the door. Unable to stop herself, she paused in the doorway and looked back briefly. "Happy birthday, sir."
She escaped before she could see his reaction.A/N: Happy spring, everyone! I'm heading back to the beautiful island of Maui mid-month for my first vacation since the childen were born. If you happen to live there, let me know, I would love to meet you in person!
Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter
Christmas morning dawned clear and bitingly cold. It had snowed for almost three days straight, and there appeared to be nearly two feet in the main courtyard. It was pristine and beautiful, an almost mockery of the raging turmoil Hermione felt inside. Reluctantly, she tore her gaze from the window to the foot of the bed. The house elves had put her Christmas gifts there, just as they did every year that she had spent at Hogwarts, and she was dreading looking through them. She had been trying to prepare herself for the glaring absence of her parents' Christmas presents for the last few days, but found herself breathing shakily and wiping tears from her eyes anyway.
Neither of the boys had given her anything, either. Which meant that they had either not bothered to shop, or had deliberately not sent the presents they had picked out in order to make a point. The reminder that her oldest and closest friendships might be irreparably damaged hurt nearly as much as the knowledge that she would never share a Christmas with her family again.
She had received what was unmistakably a Weasley sweater, however. It was bright purple with a pale blue snowflake, a pattern Hermione knew from her own experiments with elf-sized clothing to be difficult, even for an expert knitter. The clear show of affection from the Weasley matron had her eyes welling up with tears again, and then snapping with anger when she read the card. In it, Mrs. Weasley very kindly expressed her regrets that Hermione wouldn't be able to make it to the Burrow this year for at least Boxing Day.
Cowards, she thought resentfully. Apparently Ron and Harry hadn't had the courage to tell Mrs. Weasley she'd been uninvited. Vindictively, Hermione considered writing a thank-you note that casually mentioned that she had been under the impression she wasn't welcome, but decided that it wasn't worth the further drama it would cause.
Ginny, Luna and Neville had each sent her small but thoughtful gifts. And her roommates had given her lotion and an ornament--the sorts of gifts that one gives to a female acquaintance that one doesn't spend much time with. Her last present, from Atreus, was a galleon that had a thin waxy film on it, a small jar of unlabeled cream, and a pale pink candle. The accompanying note simply said he would explain later. Smiling to herself, Hermione studied the cream, trying to determine what it was before giving up with a slight shrug. Whatever he had made, it wasn't a standard recipe from their textbook.
He was waiting for her outside Gryffindor's portrait-door later that morning; his smile wide as he saw her. "How did you do it?" he asked, his voice breathless. "It looks just like it should! And the spellwork!" He barked out an incredulous laugh and studied the ornate ring on his right forefinger. "Brilliant! This must have cost you a bloody fortune!" His eyes went wide. "It can't possibly be the original--you wouldn't have been able to get that! How did you do it?"
Hermione couldn't help but grin back, and threaded her arm through his as they started off towards the Great Hall. "Well, I sent for the ring itself. I have a friend who has a friend who is apprenticing for magical smithing. He's completed the metallurgy portion, but not the lapidary. My friend wrote on my behalf asking if he would be interested in making it for me for a bit of a discount, since he is still shy of his full journeyman's papers. He agreed, so I sent him the design for the Prince signet; the Gold Book had the family coat of arms and motto." She blushed. "I did the protection charms myself."
"It's incredible, Hermione." Atreus said, his voice thick with emotion. He glanced down again at the ornate ring. The Prince family insignia was a hawk in flight, outlined by the full moon, a rowan branch in its beak and each claw clutching a crown. "I've been trying to prove that I'm a Prince ever since I came to Hogwarts as a child. Now, by some strange twist of fate, I can finally claim the name legally. Then you give me this…" His voice trailed off. "I'm not entirely sure I deserve you," he added.
Hermione grinned. She had been a bit concerned that he would find her gift presumptuous or strange, and was relieved it had been a fabulous success. "Did you see the inner band? I had the Prince family motto engraved."
Atreus gave her a startled look, then took the ring off to peer inside it. "No, I hadn't noticed. Veritas fugit indifferenter se habet ad reges. The truth flies indifferent to kings," he translated quietly. He slipped it back on again. "It's really wonderful, Hermione."
"What about mine?" she asked excitedly. "A galleon, a candle, and a potion of some kind. It is clearly not standard; you obviously put effort into it, and I'm dying to know what it is, now."
It was Atreus' turn to blush, and he fidgeted a little, looking about. "Well, first I got a couple of those matching Patented Daydream charms, dismantled them, and then rebuilt them a bit. Then I applied them to a couple of your DA protean galleons."
It took Hermione a moment, but then her mouth dropped open and she stared in awe. "So two people can now share the same daydream. That… Merlin, Atreus, that must have taken you weeks to figure out! That's... incredible!"
"Almost two months," he admitted. His expression became positively wicked. "But we can hardly get in trouble for daydreaming in our very own beds all alone, can we?"
"No." Still astonished, Hermione laughed. "We should save it for a bit later, when we're having a particularly rough week. It will be nice to have it up our sleeves as a bit of an escape." She glanced down at the waxy galleon again. "Atreus, the implications of this… what might be done with this…!"
He nodded. "I'll be looking into the legalities of patenting it once it's safe to do so, and also looking into whether or not it's possible to extend it for more than one use." He shrugged, then explained her other two gifts. "The candle is made from wax that I mixed with some amortentia. The wax makes the potion unusable in the traditional way, but the candle should still smell like your favourite things. If it doesn't, let me know. I'll tweak the thing some more. I didn't get quite as much time to spend on that one because of the other two were more complicated." He cleared his throat and looked a little embarrassed. "The jar is, um, a topical that has sensory properties. It intensifies heat and causes little tingles. Er, that one definitely works." He blushed as Hermione started snickering.
"Tested it, did you?" She asked innocently. "On your arm or something?"
He blushed harder but laughed along. "Or something," he agreed and grinned. "So, you like them, then?"
"I think they--and you--are brilliant." She stopped just outside the Great Hall and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She sighed happily as he tucked her closer and deepened it. His kiss was sweet and eager, his hands gently wandering over her curves and his body hardening under her own explorations.
"Are you still sore?" His voice was a husky whisper in her ear, and she couldn't help a little shiver at the sound.
"A bit. Not really," she murmured back. She had known that losing her virginity would probably include some pain, but no one had told her just how achy she would be afterwards. She had hardly been able to walk the first day, even after using a soothing cream. "The first couple of days I was--quite--but now...uhn. Mmm, not enough to stop. Especially if you go slow."
He leered. "Good. My roommates all went home for Christmas." He kissed her again thoroughly, his fingers combing through her hair as he pulled her against him again.
They broke apart in surprise as a throat cleared disapprovingly behind them, and they turned to see Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape, apparently having exited the Great Hall together. Professor McGonagall's mouth thinned as she took in their appearance. Professor Snape's expression did not change, but Hermione got the distinct impression that he, too, was displeased.
Professor Dumbledore smiled beatifically. "Ah, Miss Granger, Mr. Prince. So lovely to see you both in good spirits. Happy Christmas to you both. You should try the kippers; they are especially delicious this morning," he informed them cheerily before heading off down the hall.
The two remaining professors exchanged glances and then Professor Snape gestured with a surly air. "Come, nephew. I have mandrake root in the lab that needs grating." He turned away, robes flaring, as though sure in the knowledge that he would be obeyed. Atreus shot her a rueful, apologetic look, but followed.
Professor McGonagall took a deep, aggrieved breath. "Miss Granger. I hope that I do not need to remind you once again of proper conduct in this school. You have so much promise and potential. I would hate to see it wasted because of your lack of self control."
Anxiety fluttered through her briefly. "No, Ma'am,” Hermione whispered softly. “About that, though. My potential, I mean. I have a question, Professor." She tilted her head to study her professor more closely. "In my third year, you gave me special dispensation for a Time-Turner. I knew it to be an honor. I know I wasn't the first, but only four other students have been granted the same privilege… ever. I found a footnote in this year's Theory textbook, Time/Space Magical Anomalies. It also referenced the Mysterious Commodities, Research and Sundries Act of 1427."
Professor McGonagall stiffened almost imperceptibly."It was an unusual honor that you were considered, Miss Granger,” she replied firmly. “You should not look gift horses in the mouth." She turned and began to walk away.
Frustrated, Hermione raised her voice to call after her. "I looked up the law, Professor. It has to do with items that belong to the Department of Mysteries. The restrictions for Time-Turners surprised me, given my own experiences."
Professor McGonagall whipped around again, checked the halls to see if anyone might be nearby before pinning Hermione with a hard look. "This is not a conversation to be had in the hall, Miss Granger."
Hermione crossed her arms, but continued quietly. "I do not mean to imply anything, Professor. Only ask why I was issued one at all. I didn't meet any of the requirements at the time." Hermione ticked them off on her fingers. "I wasn't of age, nor was I an employee, nor under contract to join the Department after graduation. I am magically strong enough, but there was no proof at the time. I didn't even take my first Prospero Test until my O.W.L.s, two years later. I'm not like Harry, Professor. I am an unquestionably precise and fast student, but I don't have the obvious sheer, magical muscle he has." She shrugged. "Finally, I did not sign my remains over to the Department for research upon my eventual death. Therefore, I did not--and still don't--qualify for a Time-Turner."
Professor McGonagall was silent, seeming to debate with herself for a long while. Finally she responded. "Many things have been done--for both sides--off the records because of the current political climate. Perhaps you remember from last summer that the Order has contacts in the Department of Mysteries that are sympathetic to our cause? The truth is that the Time-Turner was procured for you by one of those contacts due to a combination of your potential and your close association with Mr. Potter."
Hermione nodded in understanding, but her mind was racing. Damian had acted genuinely shocked that she'd had it, and had implied that Professor McGonagall had gained it through subterfuge and pretence. Yet now the professor was saying that Damian and his partner were responsible for getting it to her. Someone was lying, and while Hermione didn't trust Damian Vector not to manipulate her to cause trouble, she couldn't help but feel that her Transfiguration professor wasn't being entirely honest.
"Thank you, Professor," she said. "I appreciate your candor." There...just there was the tiniest flinch from the older woman. Feeling lost, Hermione found herself mouthing platitudes. "I shall endeavor to make you proud and be more circumspect in the future."
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, 9 January 1997, 9:45 AM
The rest of Christmas hols passed frustratingly slowly. After their encounter on Christmas morning, Professor Snape seemed to take special care to always require his "nephew" for some reason or another, sneering sarcastically about the quality family time over the holidays. He was apparently colluding with Professor McGonagall, for Hermione found herself agreeing to various tasks for her Head of House, only to realise later they were scheduled for the few hours Atreus was free. They barely had more than half an hour alone together at any given time for the remaining days they were "off."
The resumption of school was both blessing and a curse. Once the teachers had other things to occupy themselves with, Hermione actually got to see Atreus quite a bit more. Of course, now that students flooded the halls and dormitories, there was little to no privacy to be had.
Harry and Ron were not actively being awful to her, but she was also clearly unforgiven, as neither would meet her eyes or include her in their conversations. Hermione glanced over at the two boys at the breakfast table from where she, Ginny and Neville sat slightly apart from everyone else. Students had been back from Christmas hols for over a week, yet Harry and Ron remained stubborn in their anger with her. Surprisingly, Ginny and Neville had rallied to her side. It had been touching and a bit humbling to realise that she still had true friends.
As if sensing her thoughts, Ginny winked at her, then said loudly, "My brother is a prat!" Lavender glared at them from a few seats down, and Ron's shoulders hunched a bit. Hermione smiled slightly, and Ginny lowered her voice, her tone scathing. "As if he hasn't spent the last few months snogging Lavender all over the school and more. He just wasn't actually caught in her pants," Ginny tossed her head. "He's probably just pissy because you're not jealous of her. Never mind that he's being an arse to her, too."
"No, this is more than that," Neville interjected thoughtfully from Hermione's other side. "Harry's being worse than Ron. He wouldn't care if Hermione was jealous of Lavender or not. He flat out refused to come to Atreus' birthday this afternoon when you tried to invite him. It has something to do with Atreus."
Ginny's brows knit for a moment, and then lifted as she nodded in agreement. Feeling awkward, Hermione shrugged. "I... yes. I can see why that would be. But it isn't my secret to tell."
Neville smiled. "And they took exception to that. You keeping Atreus' secrets, I mean."
Hermione blinked. "You're very perceptive, Neville."
He lowered his eyes to his plate. "Everyone sort of paired up in our year right away. Seamus and Dean, Harry and Ron, Pavarti and Lavender. Then you joined Harry and Ron, and for a while it was just me. I mean, you were nice, but I didn't really have any friends for the first two years of school. Then Ginny decided to more or less adopt me and Luna, and since Luna and Harry already were starting to get on..."
"It wasn't like that," Ginny protested.
"Yes it was," he responded mildly. "But it's alright, I don't mind. I'm glad you did. The point is, we all sort of had our groups, but anyone with eyes could see that Harry and Ron have been using their friendship with you as a bit of a bludgeon. It isn't fair that they cut you in and out, depending on whether they agree with you or not. I like how things have become, where we're all a bit more of a group now. Now you've brought in Atreus, too, and none of us is forced to be alone anymore. If a couple of us want to be unreasonable prats because friends keep each other's secrets sometimes, even from other friends," he paused, glancing over his shoulder meaningfully, "they're the ones missing out now."
Hermione huffed out a breath. "Thank you, Neville. You're a good friend."
"So are you, Hermione," he said firmly. "Don't let them say otherwise."
"We'll have fun after class today at Atreus' party, even if they don't come,” said Ginny. “I got him a certificate for my brothers’ new shop and one of their owl-order catalogues. Think he'll like it?"
"I do," Hermione nodded. She had already given her own gift to Atreus that morning--a set of borosilicate potion beakers and vials that she had transfigured herself in various colors. While not as expensive or elaborate as her Christmas gift, he seemed to recognize that the heat-resistant glass was deceptively tricky to transfigure, and genuinely appreciate them.
“Oh,” she said suddenly, “I've just realised I'm going to be late for Defence."
"And I've got Care of Magical Creatures," Neville added.
Ginny laughed as Hermione frantically loaded her book bag. "On the whole, Hagrid's a bit more lax about punctuality than Snape, though," she teased. "Honestly, Hermione, if it weren't for their looks, you'd never guess Atreus was related to Snape. Atreus definitely got all the nice genes."
It was a struggle for Hermione not to laugh at the irony as she nearly flew out the door. She was nearly late for class, sliding in next to Atreus just as the time turned over. Professor Snape was already at the front, and he shot her an irritated look. "Stay after class, Miss Granger."
Hermione pursed her lips, not bothering to protest that she hadn't technically been late. She mumbled her acquiescence, and opened her book to his prescribed page, surprised to see that the day's lesson was not on counter-curses or light spells.
The professor spent a full minute pacing slowly across the front of the room, apparently deep in thought. He finally stopped, his movements precise and deliberate as he glanced up at the students in front of him. He wasn't looking at her, but his voice was exactly the same purring murmur that Atreus had used whilst making love, and her body's reaction was fierce and immediate. Hermione darted a glance at her boyfriend, but his focus was entirely on the professor's words.
"The best defence you could possibly have, be it against dark magic or not, is the creation and upkeep of personal wards. They can be as unsubtle as a simple physical barrier, a visual misdirection or a trap to entangle movement. The truly magnificent wards can entrance the mind, strip memory, or even leech the magics of the uninvited guest… if you have the power, patience and attention to see them to correctly."
Hermione fell into the lecture, spellbound,as she listened to Professor Snape’s voice rise and fall, forgetting to take notes entirely. She found herself torn throughout the class between fascinated by the subject matter, aroused by his voice, and horrified that she was having those thoughts about her professor--even if he was genetically the same person as her boyfriend.
She gathered her things, approaching the professor as her classmates left. She was mortified to find that her knickers were a bit damp, and hoped Atreus was unable to tell that she was feeling a bit off. It helped looking at Professor Snape. He looked so much older and more sour than Atreus. Deep lines bracketed his mouth, his frame was unnaturally thin, and his teeth horrifically uneven. She was used to Atreus' repaired bite.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
Professor Snape's gaze sharpened as he focused on her. "Yes. At Christmas I received an anonymous gift. A winter cloak of exceptionally fine weave and charmed to resist damp and cold. Then, this morning, another gift was delivered. A leather-bound journal for notes, embossed with my initials." He paused, and Hermione winced as she waited for the inevitable question. "I am fairly certain that they were not gifts from colleagues. Atreus always signs the gifts he gives me. And so I must ask, Miss Granger: do you know who sent these gifts?"
Hermione felt her cheeks heat. She felt like a prat. So much for anonymous gift-giving. "I… erm," she stammered.
Professor Snape sighed. "Indeed. Dismissed, Miss Granger."
"Yes, sir." Hermione grabbed her bag and headed for the door. Unable to stop herself, she paused in the doorway and looked back briefly. "Happy birthday, sir."
She escaped before she could see his reaction.A/N: Happy spring, everyone! I'm heading back to the beautiful island of Maui mid-month for my first vacation since the childen were born. If you happen to live there, let me know, I would love to meet you in person!
Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter