A Likely Story

Chapter 4 ~ A Likely Story

Ron was dying to ask. Hermione could see it in his eyes, and hear it in the tenseness of his voice. But he wasn't going to say a word about it in front of Harry, she knew that, too. Naturally she latched onto Harry like a life-line. Three agonizing days passed in the flat as the friends talked about everything except Severus Snape. Hermione had heard nothing from him, in spite of the note she'd sent to thank him. It wasn't until a package arrived for her that anyone found the courage to broach the subject.

"Hermione?" Ron called from the window, where he was hoisting something invisible, but large, down onto the floor. A very smug looking owl was preening on the windowsill when she came out of her room. Ron ended the invisibility and lightening enchantments on the box, and they were both a little shocked to see that it was from Geneva.

"What'd you get?" Harry asked, coming in from the kitchen. Excited, Hermione began pulling out the books for her first term. When she'd registered for classes the previous week, she'd practically begged for a book list, and they'd told her it simply wouldn't be available until the day before classes. She searched in vain for a note of explanation, or at least an invoice. There was nothing.

The boys waited, exchanging a glance. Finally Harry asked the obvious question. "It's from Snape, isn't it?"

"I imagine so, though after THAT evening I can't fathom why he would - " she trailed off and looked guiltily up at her best mates, setting aside a huge Arithmancy text. "We didn't exactly hit it off." Harry only snorted in response, and Ron patted her on the head, making her roll her eyes. "OKAY, so it was the date from hell!" she said emphatically. Ron broke out laughing, and she couldn't help but join in. A little bit of coaxing, and a butterbeer, and she'd told them all about it.

Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master, took a bit more convincing. But then, his friends were accustomed to it, and more than up to the task. Minerva, with her usual impeccable timing, had arrived in his office at approximately the same time as Hedwig, bearing Hermione's rather generous thank you note. She simply summoned it to her without asking and read it with a very uncharacteristic smirk on her face.

Dear Severus,
I just wanted to thank you again for inviting me to the
Convention. The campus and hall were lovely, and I
enjoyed talking with you over dinner.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger

Minerva raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" she asked, her voice laced with indignation. There had been no mention of having a nice time, or of dancing, or of - well - ANYTHING, really. The tone of the letter was much too formal for things to have gone well.

"Can I infer, then, that there is nothing in that missive that I'd care to read?" he snarled. He was seated at his desk as usual, marking papers, though she noticed that his stack of completed work was remarkably small for so late in the morning. She took a few more steps and laid the letter down before him. If possible, he scowled at her harder. "Keep it," he said shortly, lowering his eyes back to a third-year's essay. Minerva couldn't help but pity that unlucky student as his quill scratched violently over the paper.

"It sounds like dinner went well. Did you argue before or after the lecture?" she asked finally, softening her voice somewhat. He didn't look up. Not known for her patience, she picked the parchment up again and read it over. "She doesn't mention enjoying the lecture, so I suppose that means you upset her before that." 'Poor girl probably doesn't even remember what the lecture was about,' she added to herself. She was intimately acquainted with Severus' temper, having been on the receiving end more often than was strictly necessary. It appeared she was going to be braving it again today. She wondered briefly if she ought to floo Albus, but then decided against it. When he was needed, he would come.

Lost in thought, she almost missed it when Severus mumbled, "Yes, Minerva, before the lecture, though I'm quite sure she retained everything the obnoxious old serpent said." So he was reading her mind. She looked up, an amused expression on her face, to see him sitting with his head in his hands, elbows planted firmly on either side of a messy essay onto which he'd scrawled, "45%."

"Whom did you say was speaking?" she asked carefully. From experience she knew better than to come out and ask what she wanted to know - it never got you anywhere with a Slytherin. Better to ask a few related questions and see what they would give you.

"Warrington!" Severus exclaimed hotly. "If he'd just kept his forked tongue in his head - " He was not so agitated that he didn't notice a sudden stiffening in his colleague. "What?" he asked. She was suddenly looking away from him.

Warrington! Of all the possible Potions lecturers, Minerva could hardly believe that she was so unexpectedly confronted by that one. She realized at once that she wasn't going to get any further in talking to Severus about this. Her face was heating steadily, and so she was very relieved to see the door swing open.

"Good morning Severus, Minerva," he said solemnly, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. Both professors stifled a sigh, for different reasons.

"...and so she only went along because she was interested in the lecture. Probably more in SPITE of who was asking than because of it," he finished bitterly, feeling stupid as he spouted his woes to the Headmaster. It always happened this way. Something about the infuriating old Gryffindor made people, who would normally say nothing at all, spill their guts to him. Severus shook his head in self-disgust. Albus was shaking his head as well, but it was Minerva who spoke.

"Trust you to find the most ridiculous and hurtful conclusion, Severus," she said sternly, earning herself a severe glance from the Headmaster.

"What she means is: Are you certain that is what Hermione was trying to say? It is possible that she was glad to be invited for more reasons than the one you discussed." He looked at the younger man over the rims of his glasses until he'd stopped pacing and turned to face them.

"I don't see what else she could have - "

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Severus! Of course she would say she was pleased with where you chose to take her! If you'd offered to take her to the Leaky Cauldron, she'd probably STILL have said she was pleased with your choice!" Minerva forced her hands not to fist as she glared across the room at Severus. How thick could he possibly be? It wouldn't matter where he took Hermione. If she liked him well enough, she'd be grateful! She calmed herself at Albus' warning glance and sank back down into a chair, wondering just how long Severus' temper was going to hold out.

To the Gryffindors' surprise, Severus had stopped pacing and was looking at her intently. "Do you really think so?" he asked, his voice sounding more than a little childlike. He wasn't sure he was willing to let himself hope.

"Of course, my boy," Albus said soothingly. This earned him the usual glare, at which he chuckled mildly, standing to leave. Minerva rose and followed him out, bidding Severus good day through tight lips. If anyone knew about Slytherin stubbornness, it was certainly she. Not, she admitted to herself, that Gryffindors tended to be much better. Still, she hated to see Hermione make the mistakes she herself once made. She resolved to owl her as soon as she made it back to her quarters.

"...so I obviously said something to upset him, though I can't imagine what. We hardly spoke the rest of the night." Hermione found as she told the boys about her date that it had upset her more than she thought. She fingered the spine of her new Potions book sadly.

"But before that you had a pretty good time, right?" Ron said sportingly.

"Er - yes, I suppose so."

"I don't know why you even agreed to go with him!" Harry exclaimed. "I mean, I can see why you'd want to go to meet your new professor and see the campus, but surely you could have gone alone, couldn't you? Or Ron or I could have gone with you!"

A horrified look came across Hermione's face as she replayed the conversation with Severus in her mind. "Oh, Harry, you're right," she said quickly, cutting off Ron's next comment. "He must think I only - But surely he realizes - I've got to get to Hogwarts." She was off the couch and jogging into her room for a pair of shoes before either boy could say anything more. She passed them once more on her way out the door. "Good thinking, Harry, thanks!" she exclaimed. The door closed behind her with a thump.

"I hate it when she does that," Harry grumbled. "You'd think she could at least take time to finish her sentences." Ron looked at him out of the corner of his eye and decided not to mention that there was no way Hermione could have gotten into that convention without Professor Snape. He was pretty sure Harry would figure out the rest from there, and it would just bring on another fit of the sulks.

Hermione was at the top of the dungeon stairs when it occurred to her that she had no idea what she was going to say. She stood, indecisive, for only a moment before trotting down the stairs, thankful that she'd taken the time to put her hair up earlier. Gathering her esteemed courage, she knocked on the door to Severus' office, and heard him invite her in, in his usual sour tone.

He narrowed his eyes when she entered, though he had indicated that she should do so. He found his back straightening in his chair. "Miss Granger," he said formally, inclining his head only slightly.

Hermione forced a brave smile. "I wanted to thank you for the books. I'd asked them for a list, but they said they wouldn't have it until the end of the summer."

Severus put on a surprised look, wondering if it would do any good. "I'm quite sure I don't know what you're referring to," he said coldly.

Hermione tilted her head in question. "My course books for next term, a huge box arrived this morning," she said impatiently. She knew it had to be him, who else could have done it?

"Indeed. I'm sure you're pleased, but I fail to see how I am involved." It would be easier if she'd just assume Albus had done it and leave him in peace.

Hermione found herself growing angry at his dismissive tone of voice. "Well, I DON'T fail to see how you're involved!" she exclaimed. He looked up with wide eyes before his face took on its usual sneer. She continued before he could answer. "And it was very thoughtful of you. Whether you accept my thanks or not is your choice, but I do appreciate it." She spun angrily, all thoughts of explaining why she'd gone to the convention with him having been pushed aside by his obvious disdain. She had a hand on the doorknob when he stood.

"Hermione," he said quietly, causing her to turn. She watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard. She blinked at him. "You're welcome," he said finally. She nodded and turned back toward the door. She was still rather upset that he'd been so rude, but she forced herself to remember that he hadn't had much experience with gratitude in recent years.

One hand still on the doorknob she turned back to face him. He was still standing behind his desk, though his eyes were now fixed on the far wall. "You're an excellent dancer," she said into the silence. "Maybe next time we can skip the lecture and just go dancing." His eyes, once again comically wide, snapped to hers, and she smiled. A moment later she was bounding up the dungeon staircase, pleased that she'd managed to convey her meaning without actually having a discussion about it.

She made it halfway to Hogsmeade before she was accosted by a school owl carrying a letter from Professor McGonagall. Curious, she opened it. She laughed a little before she told the owl that she'd be right up and headed back toward the castle, the bird flying ahead to let the deputy Headmistress know she was coming.