Through Tinted Windows

Chapter 11

Dare ka wo moto e to isoideru hito nani

Yuuyake miagetara naze ka

Hitori bocchi wo ka-njita no...

Excerpt from: 'Dakishimete' ('Hold me')
Song taken from series: 'Marmalade Boy'

------------~~~~~~~ o ~~~~~~~------------

"Hello, love!" Meg dropped her bag on the ground with a thump and gave Hermione a hug as she came forward to greet her friend. The Asian girl looked at Severus somewhat nervously, who raised a brow in return.

"Oh, how did you get here? It's so nice to see you!" Hermione squealed in a teen manner.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Dumbledore had the decency to bring me here, after I asked Ron to help me contact the old geezer. Nice fellow, though."

Severus watched the newcomer in heightened annoyance, but Hermione's reaction helped mellow the itch to throttle the girl. He was so close to telling her and just when it was about to come out of his mouth, her little friend came to spoil the moment. Their talking became a buzz as he began to reassess his approach to present his newly discovered information. As he looked at her now, he could feel the confidence that he had previously ebb quickly into the shadows, leaving him hesitant once again.

How could he make her truly happy? There would be no way for when he looked at her now, with her eyes lit up as they were when they looked at this friend of hers, it looked so... bright. What could he elicit from her? He had seen the lust in her eyes - yes that was definitely prominent as she gazed at him after they kissed - and the deep-set sadness and empathy was there as well. That did not create the springy aura she had now. He could not tell her anything. It was not right.

"Come in, Meg!" Hermione beckoned, gesturing with her hands in an almost frantic way.

"Yeesh, I thought you'd never ask, 'Mione! I was freezing my arse off out there!" the girl chuckled uneasily as she grabbed her bag and stepped in as Severus got out of her way, lips pursed.

He hadn't uttered a word since Hermione spoke and he was ready to flee from the scene, feeling a mighty out of place in the picture. It would have been quite easy, as it was obvious where her attentions were. His eyes remained on the back of Hermione's head as he receded into the shadows unnoticed. Meanwhile, Hermione had brought her friend to the living room and paused in the middle. Unbeknownst to Severus, she had been talking about him and her experiences with him. Meg gave her a questioning look as she stood there in the center of the room, a soft smile on her face.

"He held me here, Meg," she murmured thoughtfully, looking back at the other girl. The smile widened into something so gleeful - something that lit her eyes so vibrantly that the raven-haired one's heart constricted. "He kissed me here, too. God, Meg, I need him... and I truly believe I love him."

"But you've only learned about him these past four days," her friend protested. "You can't actually thing that the emotional rollercoaster you've been feeling really signify love. You should rethink your conclusions, Hermione. I don't want to see your life destroyed."

"You don't know him like I do," she responded angrily. "You don't see him like I do. I know what I feel and you will just have to accept it."

"But I don't! I can't, Hermione!" Meg cried, throwing her hands out, a desperate look on her face. "I feel there is something dark about him. I don't trust him at all and I won't allow anyone I don't trust to be near you. I thought I had made up my mind before, but..."

"Why are you here, Meg?" she asked warily, rubbing her temples. "You wouldn't have been able to find Dumbledore all by your muggle-self, let alone this cottage. Who did you wheedle it out of?"

She hesitated for a moment as if assessing what to say. It was obvious something was wrong, but Hermione thought that it was more of who she asked for directions to get here. "I asked Harry to bring me to the old fogie, alright?"

Hermione's eyes widened incredulity. "You told Harry about this?! Are you daft or something? He'll chop me to little bits when he -"

"I didn't tell him you were here," the other girl interjected quickly, cutting her off. "I just said that I wanted to meet the esteemed headmaster that my best witch friend kept on talking about and he consented and brought me to him. He left early - uh - like something... about an Auror meeting or what not." She rushed the end a bit, but Hermione didn't linger to long on it.

"So... he doesn't know about... the auction or my being with Severus?"

"Oh, right," she mocked, changing the subject completely. "It's natural that you two are now on a first name basis despite your past relations with each other."

She regarded the Asian girl with an angry look. "Since when have you become so bitter? You seemed fine about the prospect when we went back to pick up my discs and things. It's like you're someone different - like I don't even know you."

"You can say what you want, but I'm not leaving until - until I get the answer I seek," she shot back, folding her arms defiantly and lifting her chin.

"Merlin, and here I thought that your stay would be a pleasant one," Hermione muttered, shaking her head. "And the first thing that we happen to do right after you step through the threshold is squabble. I'll show you to the guest's quarters."

In stony silence, they walked to the room that Hermione had deserted. When Meg had all of her things in the room, Hermione left - a grim look on her face. She didn't see the pained look on her best friend's face.

------------~~~~~~~ o ~~~~~~~------------

Hermione walked tiredly towards the kitchen, rubbing her temples. She hadn't expected all of this to happen. There was so much to absorb and the way everything pounded in did nothing to help. The aching in her head heightened and she pursed her lips, pushing the door to be welcomed by the aroma of freshly ground coffee. Severus was there, seated on one of the chairs at the table, sipping his coffee thoughtfully. His charcoal eyes flitted to her and stayed trained on her as he drank the black liquid slowly.

She did her best to avoid any confrontation at that moment and busied herself with getting some coffee manually from the coffeepot on the stove. It was comforting to do something the long way for it kept her from doing the inevitable. When she had added the one teaspoon of sugar into the aromatic hot substance, she brought it up to her face, closing her eyes to take in its scent first before taking a small taste of it. Sighing, she walked over to the table and took her usual seat across from the monochrome figure, her gaze kept discreetly on her cup. There was an edgy silence - neither one knowing what to say. Mustering up the courage to look at Severus, her cheeks pinked slightly as he stared intensely at her.

"Something is bothering you," he noted quietly.

"Talk about stating the obvious," she murmured sourly, a delicate frown on her brow.

"I'm hardly in the mood to comfort childish spats between friends, Hermione," he said dryly. "But since I've grown to care about the emotional roller coaster that you've been on, I am making an exception. So if you will, stop beating around the bush and let it out already."

Hermione blew a stray strand of curls away from her face. "Meg's being an ass."

"Yes, of course," he drawled, leaning back as he rolled his eyes. "Tell me something I don't know."

"She's acting like a bloody protective parent!" she burst. "You'd think that I get enough when my real ones are actually around, but no! She just has to go and be the damned responsible one taking care of the one who is apparently too stupid to know better."

Severus almost snickered at that. He had heard the whole argument as he wasn't able to get any farther down the hall without dragging Hermione with him. Quite frankly, it felt nice to know that this woman didn't really approve of her meddling companion. There was comfort in the thought of the possibility that she would be the one who ended up strangling the girl. His face was kept neutral, however, and he listened with an intent look to what she was ranting. He enjoyed the exactitude of her accent, the way it rolled over every word in precision. It was true that the voice reflected a lot about a person. He began to wonder how he thought of his own.

"How long is she staying here?" he asked when she was through with her tirade.

She sighed in a tired manner, taking a sip of her coffee and shook her head. "I haven't the slightest clue. She had only said that she would stay long enough to get the answer she needed - whatever that means."

"Hmm..." He looked at the far window, the stain glass that adorned it tinting the light coming through in multiple colors. The atmosphere had eased much after her little outburst and they enjoyed the company they had. It was rare to be comfortable with no conversation - it only worked with the right person.

Hermione regarded Severus with an uncertain look. "Uhm, Severus?" she questioned hesitantly.

He grunted.

"What - what were you..." she trailed off, embarrassed to bring up the topic at that moment.

"I cannot tell you right now, Hermione," he murmured, his obsidian set of eyes back on her soft frame again. "I cannot tell you with her in the house. It - it doesn't feel right."

"I could kick her out," she tried, giving him a tremulous smile. "She doesn't have to stay. She came uninvited and..."

"She deserves to find what she needs to move on," he interrupted quietly. "Until then... all discussion of that topic will be postponed."

Her look was crestfallen at that and there was an insistent tug at his chest at her look, but he steeled himself against it, reminding himself that he was expecting such a reaction from her. Letting out a loud breath, he finished the rest of his drink and stood up to put away the cup, leaving her alone with her own thoughts at the table.

He was not able to get far, however, as the radius limited his movement slightly. Turning, he shifted his weight uncomfortably and cleared his throat to catch her attention. Her eyes diverted to him inquisitively. "We must move together should we be able to actually get to any other destination in this house."

She blinked and the glazed look cleared into something of understanding and she nodded. Setting her cup down, she took out her wand and moved it to the sink where it disappeared almost the instant it touched the surface. Getting out of her seat she stretched her back and rolled her neck before making her way to where Severus stood. She did not touch him and he her, but they almost move as one unit, their steps on the same beat, but his being larger, giving him the front. They stepped out of the warm kitchen and into the cold hallways and Hermione shivered involuntarily. He glanced back and raised a brow, but she shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile.

They were three quarters of the way to the study when Meg appeared. She looked slightly flushed as if she had just come from a demanding excursion. She stopped directly in front of Severus, who looked down at her in suspicion. She gazed up at him, obviously not intimidated by him, despite his towering frame in comparison to her petite one.

"You play the piano," she stated bluntly.

"You nosey little twit!" he seethed.

"Oh come now, be a little nicer will you?" she said rolling her eyes.

"You search my house without Hermione or my consent and you expect me to be nicer to you? Are you daft?" He turned to Hermione and gave her a disbelieving look and pointed at Meg. "I can't believe you are actually friends with this kind of individual. Where do you find such - such dimwitted fools?"

"I'm not a mute, you shmuck," the Asian girl spat, folding her arms. "Besides, you still haven't answered my question."

"Your stating that I play the piano is hardly something I call a question, little girl," he sneered.

"I didn't know you played the piano either, Severus," Hermione stated from behind him.

He shrugged. "You never asked me if I did. It didn't even cross my mind, either, to say anything about it."

Meg looked around him to her friend. "You see how dishonest he's being? You do not deserve this kind of treatment. Leave him at once. Demand that you be released from this - this curse that you been placed under."

"Meg, just shut up," Hermione spat, taking the other girl aback. "He is telling the truth. There are a lot of things he does not know about me either. These things that we find out are gradual. Four days is hardly a sufficient span of time to find out every single detail about one another. These things take time."

"That's exactly what I'm talking about, 'Mione," she replied tiredly. "You have jumped to the conclusion that you hold such strong feelings for this man, yet you have still to learn everything about him."

"I have found out enough about him to judge what kind of person he is... and from what I see -" she looked up at the potions master with a melted look, causing his breath to hitch unnoticeably. "- he's perfect."

Meg snorted. "No one is perfect."

"For me he is," the other girl insisted, linking her right arm with his left. "I accept him for all he is."

Severus could feel the heat rising up his neck in embarrassment. She was making a bit of a scene and the fact that it was about him made him feel quite uneasy. He pursed his lips and looked away from the two, not wanting to be there at all. He didn't see the hopeless look that passed Meg's face.

"What if he had just magically installed the room? What if he researched on you and found out about your love for the piano?" she tried again despite the set look on her friend's face.

"That would take an awful lot of magic then, Meg," she pointed out her gaze becoming hard.

She through her hands up in the air and turned away from the couple, muttering under her breath to her room. Hermione watched her as she disappeared into the room with a soundly slam. With it, she swerved towards Severus and gave him an awed look. He grimaced, thinking that he was in for a great verbal bashing.

"Can you really play the piano?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"Consider my reaction to the girl's tendency to snoop and you'll find the answer there," he muttered, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. He was startled by the slight tug of his arm.

"Show me," she pleaded. She gave him a girlish pout and tugged at him again. Would he give in to her? Would he allow himself to succumb to her obvious manipulation and -

"If you insist," he grumbled and began to walk forward.

There was a ripple in her stomach - expressing the inward anticipation that she tried to hide. She loved the piano and she could play it, but she wanted to see if he was good as well. She didn't doubt he was in a level higher than she for he had a tendency to excel in everything he tried. She noted with some curiosity that they were headed towards the living room and she looked up at him questioningly, but he didn't seem to notice the expression as he kept moving along. They were within the recesses of the room and she looked around half-heartedly, then looked back at him.

"So," she began, expecting something spectacular to happen to the room. "Where is it?"

He said nothing and made his way to the canvas with intense red and white slashes on a black background. He looked hard at it and pursed his lips. He seemed to be assessing it in some way - the reason why was beyond her. He shot her one of his old Professor-Snape glares and she raised a brow. "How your little friend found it is a mystery to me. Just tell her to mind her own and I won't try to hex her."

What he had said made no sense to her and she frowned and folded her arms. It was at that moment that she noticed something flash on the canvas. She squinted her eyes and brought her head closer to the painting; what she saw caught her by surprise. The canvas was merely a front - a kind of camouflage that hid another room - just like the entry to Severus's room was an illusion of a window to the outside. He took that moment to step through and he disappeared behind it. Tentatively, Hermione did the same - her foot first, then her whole body coming through.

It was a shock to her. Her eyes were adjusted to the subtle dim colors of the living room and the transition between them had not made it easy. She was blinded by a brightness that rendered her unable to see as of where she was and she ended up holding her hand up to shield her eyes from whatever was causing such brightness as she squinted. She dropped her hand and her eyes widened. The room was pure white - walls, floor and ceiling. And there, in the center of it all was a sleek black grand piano. The harsh contrast of the two complimented each other and she brought her gaze to Severus, who - like the whitewashed walls and blackness of the piano - was the room unto himself.

She could almost understand why he did not acknowledge its presence. It was like seeing the essence of him here in the room. It held a sharp presence that could only remind her of him. He stood with one hand on the piano, a scowl on his face. Her eyes softened and she smiled at him, causing him to frown harder. "I don't like people coming in here," he stated gruffly.

"I can see why. It's a beautiful room that screams solitude." She stepped towards him and he raised a brow. "Do you stay here often?"

He nodded and looked around, his face loosing some of the harsh lines. "It helps to stay here. I think, I play and I blank out." He shot her a rueful look. "Having people here would almost be like - exposing myself, so to speak."

She had found her way to the piano and touched its surface hesitantly. She stood directly in front of Severus and could feel the hairs on the top of her head stir with every exhaled breath. The piano top was smooth and it caused her fingers to ache in wanting to touch its ebony and ivory keys. She frowned and bit her lip, knowing she should never play it as it was there for Severus and only Severus.

"Do you still wish for me to play something on it?" His voice had that subtle silkiness that she thoroughly enjoyed and the side of her mouth quirked. His presence overwhelmed her senses and all she wanted to do at that moment was pull down his head to hers to join their mouths.

"Yes, please," she said instead, feeling almost cowardly about not doing what her instincts wanted her to do. She felt him move away and she was left feeling empty. She heard the slide of the chair as he took a seat and pulled it to a comfortable position. She made her way around to the front of the instrument and bit her lip. The sight of those keys only made the ache in her fingers grow. It had been a while since she played as there were so many deadlines and activities she had to meet.

His hands were placed gracefully on the keys and he looked up at her and noticed her yearning look. He hid his smirk and said, "This is called 'For You.' I haven't the slightest idea who had created it, so you will just have to listen."

His thumb pressed down and he began the song, the sound of the hammer hitting the strings causing her stomach to flutter. The rise and fall of the notes - the decrescendos and crescendo of each phrase had her eyes closing and her head tilted to the side as she took in each part. He watched her intensely, his hands instinctively knowing where to go on the piano - high or low, wherever the song cared to go - as he took in the picture she created. It was obvious she was moved by what he was playing and he took pleasure in her reaction a small satisfied smile gracing his lips.

It was a sad piece - a jazz number mixed with classical that had no limits on the keyboard that tested the pianist's skill and accuracy. Severus had no trouble in executing the piece. His fingers deftly made their way across the keys - fingers made to be playing such an instrument. Far too soon for Hermione's taste, the piece ended, leaving her wanting more. She flicked her eyes on his obsidian ones and she stared at him attentively.

"Teach me how to play it," she requested.

He raised a brow. "I shall give you the piece and you can study it if you like," he answered promptly, placing his hands on his lap.

She shook her head vehemently at him and leaned forward, her face mere inches away from his. "I want you to teach me, Severus. The way you play - it's like being able to fly. I could never play with such passion. You can show me that. Please, Severus, I need you."

He didn't say anything for a moment, just watched her thoughtfully, his expression closed. His silenced unnerved her and she brought her self away from him again. It seemed to bring him out of whatever he was in for his brows formed a slight frown. She bit her lip uncertainly.

"I am a difficult teacher as you well know, Hermione," he started and her eyes lit up.

"Oh thank you!" she exclaimed and through her hands around him, planting chaste kisses all over his face.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably and held her away from him. "Are you sure you are up to my standards, Miss Granger?" he asked in his reprimanding teacher voice, though his eyes held a certain lightness to it.

She suppressed the urge to giggle like a school girl, but could not hold back the cheerful smile on her face. "Yes."

"Very well," he consented with a nod and stood up to get the piece from beneath the seat.

As the scene unfolded, a third party watched in utter devastation as both Severus and Hermione got down to their lessons. Meg slipped away from the room, realizing that the absorbed looks they gave each other was the answer that she was inevitably going to have to accept. She was going to die.