Obsidian Butterfly

Chapter One

"You know it ain't easy

For these thoughts to leave me

There're no words to describe it

In French or in English

'Cause diamonds they fade

And flowers they bloom

And I'm telling you

These feelings won't go away." - Santana (feat. Citizen Cope), Sideways

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(1997)

This would be the very last day she would ever have to look into Professor Snape's cold black eyes and see regret etched deeply inside. Usually, that was all he ever needed to make her feel like she was the most hideous thing on the face of the planet. Seventh year came quickly despite sixth year, which had indeed caused her to wish she could jump off the Astronomy Tower.

Hermione Granger, who had at one time possessed very large teeth, flashed a seemingly perfect smile Professor Snape's way. It was her way of defying his icy exterior with her newfound self-confidence. Over the years of physical activity, she held the beautifully sculpted body of a dancer. The Hogwarts era of her life brought many changes not only to her, but also to her peers. Harry Potter was no longer a half-starved adolescent, thanks to many strenuous Quidditch practices for the Quidditch House Cup, which stimulated a large appetite. Ron Weasley was a tall, dashing young man, until he opened his mouth, that is. The list went on as she studied her classmates.

"I'd like to know what you find so incredibly gay, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape's velvet voice caused her to jump; she had not been expecting a response from him, as she had been silently hoping for. Ron quietly laughed and repeated 'gay' under his breath.

"I don't find anything in particular gay, Professor Snape," Hermione said, trying to keep her mouth's curve to a minimum, while noting that his fists were clenching at his sides in sheer irritation.

"Are you aware that there is more than one meaning for the term 'gay', Miss Granger?"

Hermione nodded and looked Snape in the eyes. "Yes, Professor, are you?" Ron couldn't stand it any longer; he let his laughter out in a long howl before beating his hand on the table. Harry's shoulders were shaking, he snorted and Ron shrieked once more. Hermione gave a helpless giggle and she shrugged. "Detention at seven after dinner? Right then."

Professor Snape clenched his jaw and snapped his wand against the blackboard, causing a few students to jump in their seats.

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Severus Snape found it all the more enticing; the Gryffindor bookworm had finally managed to find the outlaw within her soul. Unfortunately it happened to be at his downfall. He knew his feelings towards the girl were not at all appropriate, and that was entirely the reason why he had let her behavior slip for the past two years. He did not want to be in the same room alone with her again and risk something far worse than he had done already.

He overlooked her fluttering hand once more in class last year. He knew Hermione had the correct answer waiting for him, but he had no desire to let her teach his class when she was only a sixteen year old girl. She was only a know-it-all child with wild hair and previously shrunken teeth, but what a lovely child she was.

"Professor Snape? I'm here to serve my detention." Hermione Granger had not knocked, but invited herself in as if she were Luna Lovegood, who believed that everyone should share their possessions for the benefit of personal karma.

"Miss Granger, I am interested in understanding why you have chosen to act up in my presence, while I have spoken to your other teachers to learn that they find you a complete angel." Snape flicked his wand in her direction with a stiff flick of his wrist.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"I beg your pardon?" His heart was beating quickly and it made him feel nauseous.

She's a student. She's a student. She's a student.

He almost cursed out loud when he pointed out to himself that she was a full adult of seventeen and was graduating in less than twenty-four hours.

Hermione grinned and took her place at the chair in front of his desk. She fingered a roll of parchment, while her brown eyes studied the smoothly shaven lines of his face. Her tongue moistened the plump flesh that he wanted to taste so eagerly. He would have bet his own wand that she tasted like the apple turnover she had had for dessert. It was what she always ate for dessert. Not that he paid any attention to what she ate day after day.

"Professor Snape, have I ever given you any reason to put me in detention?"

"Yes, countless times."

"Then why is this only the first punishment?" Hermione wasn't just teasing him now, she was probing.

"You have served your time, Miss Granger. No doubt that being in the same room with me after dinner has left you feeling quite ill. You've exhibited your rash adolescent behavior for the last time. Good day to you."

Hermione opened her mouth quickly, then thought better of it as the Potions Master turned his back on her with an aggravated look upon his face. "Aren't you going to ask me what I'm going to do after Hogwarts?" Hermione never was the one to keep her mouth shut.

Snape had given this some thought. She and Professor Sprout had come in to his office for the past three years, taking a few of his supplies and disappearing with enthusiastic thank-yous. Of course he wondered what they had been doing with his ingredients. "Yes, yes, I suppose so."

"I'm going back to Muggle England to get a business degree and open my own shop; I'm going to sell remedies to help Muggles." She leaned back in her chair with a proud look on her face."And it's not against the wizarding law, Professor Sprout and I looked ourselves. It's going to be a completely mutual business."

The man nodded and sat on his desk with his fingers interlaced over his kneecap."Yes, I suppose that is a respectful career."

Hermione rolled her eyes and gave an impatient sigh. "Honestly Professor," She took his hand and smiled when he flinched away causing her to grip tighter. "Calm down. When did you hurt yourself?"

Professor Snape looked at his hand in Hermione's soft palm. Hagrid's damn dog had got a hold him when he involuntarily had come to the giant's house, bringing him soup and Poppy's cold remedy. He hated dogs, especially Fang.

Hermione pulled a little vial filled with a salve from her bag. Snape's hand felt the burning of her flesh through the cool gel that she applied to his wound. "You can't just use your wand, Miss Granger?"

Hermione smiled, despite the malice in his voice. "You can have it. If you use Madam Pomfrey's technique, I'll be quite disappointed in you. It's what a Muggle would use and I know if I were to use a wand there would be hysteria and I'd be on my way to a wizard prison. It's comfrey, my grand mum used to give it to me all the time when I was a child." Her fingers lingered longer than necessary. "Slab it on when you feel a bit of pain. Good as new in about a week and remember to keep it bandaged. A closed wound heals faster than an open one."

Snape gave a barley noticeable curve of his mouth. "You may go now, Miss Granger."

"You're welcome," she said in a playful tone. Snape had been grateful to her, but he didn't know how to express it with anything but a grunt, hoping she'd understand. Hermione stopped at the door and cleared her throat before saying, "I don't get ill when I'm around you. In fact, I really quite like it. You should know this by now."

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(2003)

Hermione jerked awake as she felt the rough sandpaper of a familiar tongue on her cheek. "Crookshanks, you beast! Five more minutes, I swear." The fact was that she had been saying that for the past hour and would have to neglect a shower and breakfast until she opened the shop downstairs. She had slept in her wrap-around skirt and tank top without taking her hair down from the two pens that held her thick hair up and was instantly irate when she discovered she had marked her bed.

"Bugger." Hermione grabbed the large ginger cat and slammed her palm on the alarm clock that had just gone off. She jumped when a clap of thunder echoed through the brick confines of her building. Crookshanks jumped from her arms and ran underneath her bed.

Hermione grabbed her black cardigan and glided down the smooth stair railing. There wasn't anyone waiting at her door that Sunday morning due to the rain. She smiled as she sprayed peppermint oil in every corner of the room and finally ending ritually in the middle. It brought her peace, because when she went to Professor Snape's office in the dungeons that last day of seventh year she had noticed a bowl of peppermints lying on his desk, his favorite candy.

The rain was falling, as it had been the day she and her friends had all met Remus Lupin. Hermione picked up Crookshanks by his under arms and kissed his pink nose. "Aren't you glad you're inside, Crookshanks?" The cat gave an ill-mannered meow and set off in search for a comfortable place to sleep. She set out new herbal remedies and turned on the sign that read: OPEN, the neon light Harry purchased for her grand opening day, which changed from a hot pink to an electric tangerine.

By noon, Hermione was so bored she had made hand puppets out of paper bags and was performing a play for her cat. She almost shrieked with glee when the bell rang, signaling her that a customer had arrived. "Yes! What can I help you-" She almost choked when she looked into the constantly dreaming eyes of Luna Lovegood.

"It's most fascinating, Hermione! The smells are incredible! Absolutely delicious! What's this?" Luna took a small vial in her hands and took a big whiff. "Oooh!"

"It's opium, Luna." Hermione grabbed the vial and placed it back on the shelf. Despite her outwardly expression, she was very glad to have someone from her past finally stop by. "Oh my! You're soaking wet!" Hermione had noticed the puddle beneath Luna's feet and grabbed her cardigan. "You're going to catch cold. Let me get some tea and towels."

Luna shook her long hair free of most of the water and wiped the rivulets from her face while she gazed around the room. It was painted a light autumn color with leaves stuck to the wall and candles lit all around. In all honesty, she thought that Hermione would have made a wonderful Divination teacher, what with her candles, long flowing hair, and wrap around skirts. She would have given Professor Trelawney a run for her money.

Hermione came back with the towels and immediately set to work drying Luna's hair. The blonde smiled and closed her eyes, enjoying being taken care of. "I came to tell you that he was on his way."

"He?" Hermione stopped drying, causing Luna to frown and grab the towel herself and work at her hair.

"He is the unsolvable riddle. The honey in the bee. The rainbow in the bleak grey sky." Luna sighed with bliss and began to dance around the store alone until she grabbed a broom and bowed. "May I have this dance?" She hummed an unrecognizable tune and twirled. Hermione watched Luna's long stringy blonde hair create a complete circle around her.

"Do you mean-"

"Absolutely, positively, incredibly and completely!" Luna said, dipping the broom. Hermione arched an eyebrow; only she would be the one to dip a male partner even if it were an impersonating broomstick.

"Oh my-" Hermione touched her unwashed hair and lifted her black tank top to her nose. "I haven't been able to wash! Luna, please watch the store for me! If anyone wishes to buy something... I don't know... are you familiar with English money?" Luna nodded. "Thank you, dear! I'll be down in thirty minutes."

Luna watched Hermione dash up the stairs and smiled to herself. "Muggle money. I'm sure I'll know what it is when I see it."

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Hermione had put her hair up in a messy bun held together with her two favorite pens and donned an Indian silk skirt with the usual black tank top. She wore the wintergreen oil to wane away any headaches that were sure to come with the stress of Severus Snape arriving to her store. Her heart felt like it would leap from her chest.

Just breathe.

She was expecting Severus to be standing in front of her desk counter, trying to dry his black hair in vain while studying the various things she had to offer in her store, but found Luna punching buttons into the cash register.

"Luna! Stop, you'll break it!" Hermione tripped over her untied sandal and caught herself on the edge of the counter. "Bloody hell." The bell rang, and the last thing she wanted at all was for someone to come in at such an inconvenient time. "What is it?!"

"What a professional way to greet new coming customers, Miss Granger."

Hermione's head snapped up and she couldn't hide the happiness she felt. She bit her lip and ran to hug her previous professor tightly before he had a chance to drop her ginger cat on the floor. Crookshanks gave a winded meow and Severus Snape stood so rigid that Hermione swore he had been Petrified. He pushed her gently away and cleared his voice. "Calm down, you silly girl."

"What brings you here, Severus?" Hermione asked, dismissing the disapproval in Severus's voice.

"I thought I might like to see how my student was doing out in the real world."

"Previous student, Severus," Hermione chided. She couldn't contain the laughter boiling up within her. His face turned into a deeper scowl every time she said his name. "If your face gets stuck like that it will not be my fault, Severus."

"Honestly, girl!"

Hermione laughed, tilting her head back to flash her white throat before his eyes, hoping he might touch her in some way. Luna Lovegood was leaning against the register with a pen resting above her lip with a smile on her face, there wasn't a better pawn of Fate than she in all of England.

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To Be Continued...