A Likely Story

Chapter 3 of A Likely Story

"I suppose he was just trying to tell you that - " Severus winced and fell silent. That had been his third attempt at an explanation, and the third one he'd aborted mid-sentence. She didn't look impatient yet, but he could feel the frustration rising in his own chest. "Oh bloody hell," he muttered, focusing his eyes on the door handle. Could he will it to open so he could go and investigate? Probably, but she'd see right through that.

Hermione was even more confused now than she'd been before. Professor Snape had always been one of the most articulate people she knew. He couldn't possibly be at a loss over the actual meaning of the old Slytherin's words, as she was. She was beginning to wish she hadn't asked, and had just decided that perhaps it'd be best if she just took his hand and told him that they should find their seats for Warrington's talk. As she reached for his hand, however, he pulled it violently away, unaware of her gesture, and stood abruptly from the couch. He paced restless before her, and she wondered if he'd forgotten she was there.

"Are roses and trinkets what you want?" he demanded finally, upon finding himself unable to discuss the meaning of any other part of Warrington's whispered conversation.

"What? No! I mean, yes of course, every girl likes flowers, but -" Hermione was instantly on the defensive, feeling like a school girl again. It hadn't been so very long ago that he'd used the same voice to accuse her of aiding Neville in class.

He waved his hand impatiently and she fell silent out of habit. Then she reconsidered. What was he going to do, take house points if she spoke out of turn? "BUT," she continued firmly, "I didn't come here tonight expecting that."

He glared at her a moment longer before his expression softened. What DID she expect, then? And how could he get her to tell him without actually having to come out and ask? Her voice broke through his thoughts.

"Honestly, I never EXPECTED to be asked in the first place. It was very thoughtful of you to introduce me to Professor Warrington, and - "

A sudden thought occurred to him and he cut her off. "And you're glad for the opportunity to attend, which you couldn't have done without me," he finished. His voice was cold. However much he appreciated the opportunistic nature of his Slytherins, he found he did NOT appreciate that same quality in Hermione Granger. On the contrary, the idea that she'd only agreed to come because it was something that held intrinsic interest for her seemed to leave a foul taste in his mouth. He thought bitterly that he should have known better than to get his hopes up.

For her part, Hermione couldn't comprehend his sudden shift in demeanor. "Well, yes," she stuttered, rising as well, "but - "

"You need say nothing more, Miss Granger," he said shortly, cutting her off once again. "Come, you should take your seat, or the point of the evening will be wasted." He was out the door and striding down the hall before she could respond. She followed, her brow furrowed as she tried to determine exactly what she'd done wrong.

He led the way to the auditorium, which was good as she was still quite turned around by the maze of corridors they'd passed through. He gestured her into the aisle ahead of him, and she got halfway to the stage before the lights dimmed. She turned to ask where he'd like to sit, and found that she was alone. She looked about, trying to find where he'd gone, but couldn't find him. She closed her eyes in defeat for a moment before turning and taking a seat in the nearest row, being sure to leave the aisle seat open in case he should change his mind. He did not.

Standing alone in the back of the auditorium, safely ensconced within his own disillusionment charm, Severus watched her take her seat. He was a little surprised when she turned to look for him, having assumed that she would be more comfortable at this point without him there. His brow furrowed in confusion when he realized she'd left him a seat, but he made no move to join her. Instead he focused his eyes unseeingly on Professor Warrington as he began to speak.

Hermione listened half-heartedly to the presentation and clapped politely as the lights came up. When she checked her watch she realized that the aged Professor had spoken for only 20 minutes. It'd felt like forever, worse than Binns, even. She told herself it was only because she was thinking about Severus when the man himself appeared at her side, followed swiftly by Professor Averbeck.

"I daresay you're ready to return to London, Miss Granger?" Snape asked, his sneer very much as pejorative as she remembered it. But it appeared he wasn't getting off the hook that easily.

"WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY, CHAP? BACK HOME? CERTAINLY NOT BEFORE WE'VE DANCED A ROUND,EH?" Averbeck turned abruptly and headed up the stairs.

Hermione resisted the urge to put her fingers in her ears as the hefty fellow bellowed. This time, however, she felt no desire to giggle, though Severus looked distinctly uncomfortable. They followed the portly man into the dance hall, thankful he'd said nothing more. Hermione made no attempt to take the irate Potions Master's hand. She was starting to wonder whatever had possessed her to do so in the first place.

Her first glance around the ballroom made her gasp, and drew Severus' attention. She was craning her neck to look upward at the gilded ceiling just as she had years ago when she'd first seen the ceiling of the Great Hall. He was reminded forcibly in that instant of how young she was. Nearly twenty years his junior. In the wizarding world this was hardly considered important, but he knew that in the muggle world their age difference was taboo. Perhaps she was incapable of seeing him that way at all?

Before either of them had any time to assess their new situation, Averbeck, with a great slap on each of their backs, had pushed them into a crowd of dancers, spinning decorously to the rhythm of an instrumental group that they couldn't locate. Hermione registered several disapproving glances before she found herself being led capably across the dance floor.

In an effort to stem the tide of ill wishes that was flowing their way for interrupting the dancing, Severus had grasped her hand and pulled her toward him, snaking an arm around her waist. He flashed a wicked grin at Averbeck in spite of himself, as she glanced around in a daze. Regardless of all that had happened, it was comforting to hold her this way. He'd first got the desire to do so months ago, just after her parents' deaths. He'd found her sitting in the kitchen of Grimmauld place at an ungodly hour of the morning, already dressed, or perhaps still wearing her clothes from the day before. He had violently repressed the thought, just as she'd forced her tears to stop when he appeared. He'd sat with her in silence, though, accepting a cup of the tea she'd already brewed. It was the only time he'd ever consumed anything in his old rival's house, but he suspected she didn't realize that.

He was brought crashing back to reality when he realized that she'd turned her eyes back to him. He let her go abruptly, spotting someone across the room whom he'd meant to speak with and smoothly excusing himself.

Hermione stood on the outskirts of the dance floor and watched him retreat, shaking her head. She hadn't danced with anyone since the summer after her sixth year. She'd been allowed one week at home, during which time she'd gone on the only 'date' of her life, with one of her parents' dental assistants (at her mother's insistence). The young man had been very respectful, and polite. He'd even been handsome. All the things mothers look for in a son-in-law. Hermione smiled wryly. Dancing one third of a song with Severus had made her heart flutter and her vision had narrowed almost instantly to include only him. Something in the careful way he'd held her had caused her to react. THAT had never happened in the entire night of dancing with Jonathan.

After a few moments she realized that she was in the way, and went to find a chair on the sidelines. She watched as Severus talked stiffly with several people she didn't know, feeling like a teenager relegated to the kid's table at Christmas dinner. She tapped her foot in growing annoyance.

"Ah, Miss Granger." She was startled as Professor Warrington addressed her, and stuttered out an acceptance when he asked her to dance. She lost sight of Severus as the elderly wizard swept her adeptly around the dance floor. She was tense, expecting at any moment that he would resume their earlier conversation. But Professor Warrington restricted his comments strictly to potions. By the end of the song, he had to admit that her understanding exceeded even Severus' praise of her. He told her formally that he would look forward to having her in class.

Severus never lost track of her, and watched as she spoke easily with his old mentor. Why was it too much to hope that she could converse that way with him? He shook himself mentally. Jealous of a one hundred and forty year old bachelor-for-life like Warrington? Pathetic. He spoke with the school's bookstore manager and arranged for all Hermione's first term books to be sent to her flat, charging the cost to his own vault number. In spite of the attitude he perceived that she held toward him now, he wanted her to have no more obstacles at Geneva than necessary.

As the song wrapped up, he made sure to appear at her side, and took her elbow perhaps less gently than the situation warranted. "I trust you're prepared to return now, Miss Granger?" he asked snidely, earning a disapproving glance from Warrington. Hermione blinked up at him, obviously startled.

"Of course Professor" she replied evenly. After all, he'd regressed to calling her by her title. Though she didn't understand WHY he was behaving this way, she had no difficulty responding to the behavior correctly. Let it not be said that Hermione Granger couldn't give as well as she got.

Severus forced his face to remain expressionless, though the change in how she addressed him was duly noted. He purposely avoided Warrington's eyes as he shook the man's hand and led her out of the hall. He barely registered where he was going as he strode back through the maze of hallways. He was anxious to be home, alone, though he was not at all looking forward to the questions Minerva was certain to pose tomorrow. What a fool he'd been to hope.

Hermione realized that they were lost in the corridors long before Severus did, but she continued to follow him, trotting to keep up. He was no longer reigning in his stride to accommodate her. Finally she stopped walking altogether. She'd had enough. He'd gone cold out of nowhere, disappeared during Warrington's talk, spent all the time at the dance talking with other people, leaving her to Warrington's mercy, and now he was practically running from her. She leaned against the wall beside a picture they'd already passed twice and waited. He didn't appear to notice, and kept walking.

It wasn't until he came through that corridor again, and saw her leaning casually against the wall, that he even realized he was lost. Hermione was gazing at him levelly and when he met her eyes, he couldn't stop himself from looking away. They faced each other silently for a moment before she spoke. "Are there anti-apparation wards here?" she asked, taking pity on his discomfort.

Severus' eyes snapped back to her. She always had the answers, he had to give her that. He shook his head.

"I suppose I'll meet you out front, then," she said quietly. An instant later she was gone. Severus ran a hand through his hair defeatedly. Just a little more of this hell and he could go back to his dungeon. This time he intended to stay there, where he belonged. He had learned his lesson. Taking a deep breath, he apparated to the front of the building, his face once again expressionless. He looked around. Hermione was already walking toward the nearest building. With a smirk, he apparated to her side, startling her. She deserved it.

She stopped outside the door to the darkened building, ignoring Severus entirely as she read the plaque. "Bones Hall," she read aloud. Then she looked up at the four-story building.

"Transfiguration classes, mostly, though the art department uses the west wing. Moving portraits and a few dark rooms for photos, that sort of thing." He kept his voice neutral, and quiet. They were the only ones wandering campus at this time of night, with the exception of security, he supposed. No sense in drawing attention. She proceeded to the next building, a long walk, and pulled up the skirt of her dress to mount the stairs.

It was at this point that Severus noticed the dress. He'd been so distracted by wards upon arriving at the flat that he hadn't really had time to look at her properly. She'd obviously gone to some effort to look nice. He told himself she'd done it for Warrington. But then, he'd never mentioned that she might meet the man, had he?

They toured the campus in this way, Hermione leading and Severus trailing behind, answering questions she never asked. "Thornton Flint Dormitory," she read, when they'd reached the last building on the far side of campus. She waited to see if he would continue to reply.

"Boys' Dorm," he said quietly. "I spent my first two years up on the second floor." To her astonishment, he pointed to a window. When he lowered his arm, she bit her lip, turned quickly and took his hand.

"Why were you upset?"

Astounded again at her forthrightness, though he knew he shouldn't be, Severus pulled his hand from her grasp indolently. "I allowed myself to hold expectations which were obviously unreasonable, Miss Granger. I apologize if that gave you any discomfort. Now, I believe we have finished this impromptu tour, and I, for one, would like to get some sleep tonight." He almost retracted his answer as her large brown eyes blinked up at him in such obvious remorse. She shook her head.

"Whatever it was, I'm sorry," she offered. As expected, he only sneered down at her. Before he could throw out another vicious remark, however, she spoke again. "I'm sure I can make it from the apparation point to my flat. Thank you for inviting me," she hesitated a brief moment, then added, "Goodnight, Severus."