A Certain Amount of Sense

Chapter 2

As soon as the door behind her was shut, she leaned back against it, smiling with relief. The hardest part was over. Now all she had to do was bring the subject up with Harry. While she had been rather unsure of how Snape would react to her idea, she knew Harry would understand. He had to. It made so much sense, really. She would get Snape to teach her the art of Occlumency and in turn, she would teach Harry. She figured Harry's aversion to Occlumency was akin to Neville's chronic difficulty in Potions. It was all due to Snape's teaching methods. And surely she of all people would be able to learn this new subject and teach it to Harry, just as he had taught the DA what he knew of DADA.

On her way back to the Gryffindor tower, she glanced at the note that Snape had written.

Madam Pince:

Please allow Miss Granger access to the following books in the Restricted Section:

Legilimency for Squibs
The Muggle's Guide to Occlumency

Signed,

Prof. Severus Snape

Hermione stifled a giggle. Over the summer Ron had sent her similar books entitled "The Muggle's Guide to Quidditch" and "Quidditch for Squibs" with a note attached that read:

Dear Hermione,

I saw these in the bookstore and thought of you. Not that I think you're a Muggle and you're definitely not a Squib, but I know you don't really like Quidditch, and well, maybe these books will help you appreciate the sport better.

Anyways, I hope you're having a great summer. I miss you,

Ron

P.S. By "you" I mean a plural you, as in I miss you and Harry. Just thought I should make that clear.

She had rolled her eyes at the postscript; she didn't know how much longer she could stand Ron acting like such a prat. Last year she had been so sure he would have made some sort of move, especially after the whole spectacle with the Yule Ball and Victor Krum, but nothing. Even little Ginny Weasley was getting more action than she was. Afterwards, she had skimmed through the books before giving them to her father, knowing he would appreciate them far more than she.

By the time she returned to the Common Room it was too late to talk to Harry. She went up to her own bedroom, figuring she could just tell him tomorrow during breakfast. Even though she was excited, she tried to relax and concentrate, emptying her mind of all emotion, as she had been practicing ever since she had thought up of the idea.

***

The next morning she made her way down to breakfast with Harry and Ron. Now that it was time to actually approach Harry with her idea, she was starting to get a little nervous. It was possible that he would continue to stubbornly hold his grudge against Snape and refuse to see the logic in her plan.

Ron noticed her quietness and asked, "What's wrong with you, Hermione? You haven't said a word all morning."

"Well, it's just that I have something important to ask Harry."

"What is it, Hermione?" The two continued to alternatively smother their toast with gummiberry jam and stuff it into their faces, not bothering to even look up at her. She looked down at her plate and played around with the remains of her scrambled eggs.

"Well.... I was thinking about last year and how Voldemort was able to enter you head, Harry." Ron cringed as usual at her liberal use of the Dark Lord's name, but otherwise kept chewing. Harry, on the other hand, had put down his toast and was looking at Hermione thoughtfully.

"And I know that you refuse to learn Occlumency from Professor Snape, so-I-thought-that-maybe-he-could-teach-me-instead-and-then-I-could-teach- you," Hermione mumbled quickly. When she was finished, she took a deep breath, sat back, and waited for Harry's response.

Before Harry could say anything, however, Ron choked on his food, coughing it onto his plate. Without even recovering he turned to Hermione and shouted, "WHAT? How could you even suggest that? This is bloody Snape you're talking about. Why would you even want to spend extra time with him? Harry, can you believe what she just said?"

Hermione cringed in anticipation.

"Actually, Hermione, I think it's a good idea," said Harry in a grim voice. Ron turned to Harry in astonishment, mouth agape.

"Look Ron, I've been thinking about it too. You don't know how many times I've thought about what happened last spring. And as much as I hate to say it, none of it would have happened if I had been able to protect my mind from Voldemort. I was going to ask Dumbledore if he could teach me Occlumency this term, but seeing as how he's been so busy what with the Order and everything, well.."

"But...."

"Oh Ron, stop being so stupid. Don't you remember the Sorting Hat's song from last year? We're going to have to trust each other now, and that includes Snape, if we're to survive." At her last words, Harry's face fell and Ron looked away quickly. Hermione gasped.

"Oh Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean...."

"I know, Herm," said Harry, but he continued to avoid her eyes.

"Great, now look what you did, Hermione."

"Shut up Ron." She stood up, scraping her chair loudly and picked up her bookbag. Without another word, she strode out the Great Hall looking very, very angry.

***

Professor Snape had watched the Gryffindor trio from beneath hooded lids ever since they had sat down for breakfast. Although he couldn't hear what they were saying, he had a good idea what had happened when the youngest Weasley boy had spit out his food. He smirked. Typical, really. He was slightly surprised, though, when Potter did not respond in like. There had been a slight hope that the boy would have been able to dissuade the Granger girl from carrying on with her ludicrous idea.

It seemed, however, that it was Weasley that had caused her to storm out of the room. His reverie was interrupted by Sybill to his left.

"Lover's quarrel?"

"What?"

Trelawney pointed towards Hermione's retreating form with her chin.

"I'm not surprised, of course. It was clearly evident from my meditations this morning that the girl would find conflict within the realms of Venus today."

"Now, Sybill, I have no idea what you're talking about. Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley are not involved romantically. Believe me, I'd know," said Prof. McGonagall, entering the conversation.

"But of course. My visions tell of the future. That which transpires now only works to guide the course of things yet to come."

Severus's lip thinned into what could almost be construed as a smile.

"Excuse me ladies, but as I find no pleasure in such trivial matters, I bid you good day."

Minerva's eyes followed Snape as he left the table, following the precise path her star pupil had taken just moments ago.