A Likely Story

Chapter 10 of A Likely Story

The time turner was getting to her again. Hermione lay in bed on the first Saturday night of her Christmas holiday, unable to sleep. She knew that right now, she was sitting in the library in Geneva, finishing a paper for her Arithmancy prerequisite class. But she was also here in bed at Grimmauld Place, unable to think of anything but the fact that Severus had opted out of yet another Order meeting with a lame excuse.

With three intended majors, and only a four year scholarship with which to complete them, she'd borrowed the bane of her third year from Minerva again. She'd loosened up on the rules a bit this time around. Now she was using it for extra sleep time and to attend Order meetings as well as just to make it to her additional classes. She had hoped somehow that the extra sleep would IMPROVE the experience. It didn't.

She turned over in bed and wrapped the covers even more tightly around her, stifling a sigh. Ginny was still occupying the other bed in this room, and she didn't want to wake her. The Burrow had been razed to the ground not two months previous. The Order's spy, whoever it was, had given Dumbledore warning, and under cover of darkness, Arthur and Charlie had made a trip back there to get whatever they could salvage without alerting Voldemort that they knew of the attack. Grimmauld Place had been their permanent dwelling ever since. It had been willed to Remus, who also lived there full time, and he was glad for the company, particularly as Christmas approached.

That was part of the reason Hermione had elected to spend the holidays at Order Headquarters. It would be her first Christmas without her parents, and she just didn't think she could make it through if she had to spend it alone in her dormitory. And yes, she had to admit that the other part of her reasoning was an unrealistic hope that she might see Severus. He had not bothered to contact her after what had happened at the beginning of term, and she had made a pointed effort not to contact him. She'd written him a few letters here and there, when she just HAD to express herself somehow, but she'd never sent them. They were in a shoebox at the top of her closet back at school, and that's where they would stay.

She wasn't sure when it had happened. What she WAS sure of was that somewhere between holding his hand at dinner that first night, and dancing in his sitting room near the end of the summer, she'd fallen in love. It had taken her a good long while to recognize it for what it was. Most of the last term, in fact. Tears trickled down her face as she thought of it. It had hit her suddenly - an epiphany, if you will - when the third boy asked her to go to a Christmastide Ball thrown by his fraternity. She'd turned him down just as she had the two before him, but it made her stop and think. Why DIDN'T she go with him? He was good looking. They'd had Ancient Runes classes together all term, and since that's such a difficult major, she knew he must be quite bright. The first two had both been nice boys as well. She told herself that she just didn't want to go to the Ball, but that wasn't true. She'd discovered the previous summer that she loved to dance. Or maybe all she'd learned was that she loved to dance with Severus. She caught a sob in her throat before it could escape. She was certain he'd forgotten all about her by now.

And in truth, Severus was faring a good deal better than Hermione was. Immersed in familiar surroundings, he fell back into the demented joy of tormenting first year Gryffindors, and making the Hufflepuff girls cry. It also helped that he'd already known how much he cared for her. Naturally he didn't call it love. Men like him don't 'fall in love.' That was for nancy boys like Neville Longbottom or Ernie McMillan. Regardless of what he called it, he'd known from the moment the door slammed that it was over, and he'd done his best to get on with things. He'd even gone so far as to forgive Minerva for her hand in it all, which he thought was very generous on his part.

On Christmas Eve, Ron offered to take Hermione to Diagon Alley if she wanted to do any shopping. Always the cad, he'd winked and nudged to indicate that he expected a present, so she'd grudgingly agreed to go along.

"Remind me again that this is supposed to be fun," Hermione intoned dryly as they walked into Quality Quidditch Supplies.

"This is supposed to be fun," he responded dutifully, bringing a smile to her face in spite of her obvious bad mood. She waited patiently as Ron picked out a present for Harry. She'd gotten him something from Geneva's student bookstore, a very old book of hexes and counter hexes designed for self-defense. Things had been rather tense between her and Harry. She'd gotten only one owl from him during term. He'd been very careful not to ask about Severus, and when she responded, she'd been very careful not to tell him. And if she thought Ron would be any better, she was mistaken. He, like Harry, carefully avoided any mention of their former Potions Master.

She watched him as he selected something (she had no idea what it was, but was sure Harry would like it better than the book she'd gotten him), and took it to the counter to pay. He was behaving oddly today. First, pressuring her to go shopping, then telling jokes as if - here she paused in her thoughts - as if everything was okay. She almost groaned at her own idiocy. Everything WAS okay, as far as he was concerned. Miracle of miracles his entire family was still safe, even as the war statistics were going through the roof. It was Christmas, and his girlfriend had moved in with him when Hermione herself had moved out. Naturally he was acting like nothing was wrong.

"Ready, then?" he said, turning from the counter with his usual lop-sided grin. She linked her arm with his and they headed back out into the snow.

"Flourish and Blotts," she said in a tone that brooked no argument. Ron only laughed.

"So are you going to tell me ANYTHING about this new school of yours?" he asked as they walked, the snitch-covered bag swinging in his hand.

"It's harder than Hogwarts," she said after a moment of thought. "The classes are nearly all double period length, and you'd swear half the professors are descended from Binns." They laughed as he pushed open the door, and shook the snow out of his hair. "I'm trying to sleep more than I did third year, but it's not really working. I've got three sets of classes to attend, and keeping them all straight is a nightmare. I've got a huge chart in my dormitory that I cross them off on as I attend them. Of course, if I miss one, there's no detention to serve, so that's a blessing!" She said all this in a half-whisper, as no one was supposed to know that she had a time turner.

"Well, are you seeing anyone yet?" he asked carefully. He knew better than to come right out and ask about Snape- he'd learned that lesson with Krum.

"Who's got time?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, you do!" he quipped, making her roll her eyes. "What, you can't study and go on a date at once?" he whispered.

"No one can be in two places at once, Ron," she responded slyly, echoing an old conversation. Again they both laughed. It had been nearly an all-day shopping trip by the time they returned to Headquarters. Almost as soon as they reached the kitchen the door behind them opened again and Tonks entered, looking annoyed, which everyone found very odd.

"Think you could have taken any longer about that, Ron?" Tonks said irritably.

"I told you it'd be an all day trip!" he exclaimed defensively, and indeed, he had. Since the death of Hermione's parents, she'd been kept under watch, discreetly of course, by the Order. Ron had asked Tonks to trail them in Diagon Alley just in case. He'd only finished the first half of his Auror training, after all, and it just felt safer to have someone else along.

"Yes, well, you neglected to mention that I'd be spending the day with the world's biggest prat!" she spat vehemently. At this moment the front door banged closed yet again, and the portrait of Mrs. Black started screaming obscenities down the hallway.

"SILENCE, you obnoxious old hag, or I'll show you just how ugly I can make you without disobeying Albus' order not to destroy you," an angry voice snarled from the entryway. To everyone's surprise, the portrait fell silent. They heard the hangings slide forcibly shut, and a muttered charm before Severus Snape appeared in the kitchen.

Tonks shot Ron a disgusted look, as if this was somehow his fault, and brushed past Severus in a move that would have been elegant if anyone else had tried it. As it was, she nearly knocked him over. "Watch it, Nympho," he whispered cruelly. He'd been calling her that all day, and it was really rather fun. If he caught her off guard sometimes her hair would change color when her face grew red.

She rounded on him with her wand in her hand faster than he expected, but he'd already drawn his own. "We are not in public anymore, and if you want to keep that forked tongue of yours I suggest you keep it still," she said dangerously.

"And if you'd like to keep your swaying -

Ron was not so distracted by the argument that he didn't hear the swish of a wand from Hermione's side of the table. He ducked.

"ACCIO WANDS!" Hermione caught both their wands in one hand and shook her head. She knew exactly what was happening and she didn't approve. Tonks was looking ashamedly at the floor, but Severus was meeting her gaze evenly. "She's not Sirius," Hermione whispered, unaware that Harry had entered the room from the garden.

An angry light seemed to flare in Severus' eyes as Tonk's head snapped up and she looked at Hermione, understanding crossing her face like a ray of sunlight. "Look, Shacklebolt's waiting for me, I need to get back to the Ministry," she said after a moment, her voice quiet. Hermione tossed her wand back to her. To everyone's surprise, she put a hand on Severus' shoulder for a brief instant before making her escape.

"No, she's definitely not Sirius," Harry said coldly to Severus, gaining the attention of Ron and Hermione as well. "Sirius wouldn't have bothered forgiving such a worthless, bullying git. I felt bad about the way they treated you once, did you know that? But you're as cruel now as they ever were."

"Harry, let it go," Ron said quietly. Hermione was torn. Did she give Severus back his wand in case he needed to defend himself, or keep it to make sure he didn't attack Harry? She looked between them. When her eyes met Harry's she shook her head, and he looked away. Severus, however, returned her gaze as unflinchingly as always.

"I do believe that is the most mature thing you've ever said to me, Potter," he spat, not bothering to look at Harry at all. "You are absolutely correct." Without another word, he turned on his heel and left, forgetting, in his haste, that Hermione still had his wand.

As soon as the front door closed behind him, Hermione turned to Ron. "Have you learned how to trace an apparation signature yet?" she asked quickly. Thankfully he had, and after a quick trip outside, he was able to tell her that Severus had gone to Hogsmeade. Harry watched them in disapproving silence. "He's got to have his wand, Harry," she explained. She was gone before his comment that the world would shortly be a better place if he never got it back.

Severus stood at the gate and looked up at the castle. The Potter brat was right, he'd been nothing but cruel to Tonks today, and what's more he'd enjoyed it, right up until he was confronted with what Hermione would think of it all. THAT had not been enjoyable. Damn it! Why did he care anyway? Hadn't she made it clear that she didn't want anything more to do with him? Her opinion shouldn't even matter. He'd almost convinced himself that her opinion DIDN'T matter when she appeared beside him. She didn't smile.

"You forgot this," she said calmly, holding out his wand and hoping he couldn't see the tears already starting in her eyes. He took the wand from her without comment and put it in his pocket, studying her face in spite of himself.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said after a moment. His voice was a good deal more gentle than he'd intended and he scowled at himself.

"I'm not alone," she pointed out with what could have been a smile if she hadn't looked so sad. Severus wanted nothing more than to escape back to the castle at this moment, but she spoke again. "Thank you, for looking after us in Diagon Alley today," she said quickly.

He closed his eyes, a self-deprecating smile that he couldn't contain giving away his discomfort. Yes, of course she would have pieced together what he'd been up to. He looked at her again, as she was still talking. "I guess you know what I got you for Christmas, then." Her voice broke a little, but she continued. "Maybe I could stop by tomorrow, after I've had time to wrap it?" she asked. It was probably the single most difficult sentence she'd ever had to say, and her tongue felt like lead, but she knew he wasn't going to make the first move after the way they'd parted last. She waited silently for some answer.

He had noticed that she'd purchased a most interesting book on experimental potions in Flourish and Blotts, but he'd assumed it was something she'd needed for a class. It had only come out last week, and he hadn't bothered to ask anyone to pick it up for him. The idea that she'd bought it to give to him was both upsetting and - well, no, he wasn't going to allow himself to hope. He was sure she was only being friendly, as Gryffindors were wont to do now and again, even when they had no real desire to.

"Please?" she whispered, startling him out of his thoughts. He blinked at her twice.

"That would be satisfactory," he answered carefully, unwilling to give any indication of the huge swell of hope that had pulsed in his chest at the obvious pain in her voice. Perhaps he had given up too soon?