Winter's Shadow

Chapter 8

H₂O

As soon as the boys were done eating they joined Hermione by the pool. They spent a good bit of the morning out there talking about the summer so far. Harry and Draco had not mentioned the apparent fight they walked in on. Harry silently wondered if Hermione and Snape fought in such a way every morning.

Around lunch time they headed back inside. On the way in Hermione heard the phone ring and rushed in the door to answer it. Snape sat at the table with a book open when Hermione ran in. He watched the soaking wet girl run into the kitchen and slide across the floor slightly as she tried to stop to answer the phone.

"Hello...oh, hi...what...no...no...do you think we could be prepared in time...yes...okay, see you then!" The three males watched Hermione hang up the phone and squeal. This only caused Snape to scowl. Hermione was aglow in excitement though. She turned to Harry and Draco.

"We are going out tonight."

"We are?" Draco looked at Hermione wondering what just happened.

"That was one of my friends. There is a contest tonight they want us to enter and you will come along. I just hope we will be prepared enough." Hermione ran out of the kitchen to change clothes before Harmony and Ophelia arrived.

A low growl could be heard from Snape's direction.

"Merlin. He's even crankier during summer break," Harry said as Snape left the room.

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Snape made his way up the stairs with only one thought. Hermione could not go gallivanting all over town with Death Eaters attacking so close. Of course she was unaware of these attacks. Feeling the pendant on his chest, he wondered if he shouldn't just give her the onyx. No, that would entail telling her the reason it was needed and with Potter there that was not a good idea.

He found himself facing Hermione's bedroom door. With a deep breath, he knocked. He could hear a muffled "come in." When Hermione saw the Professor enter she froze. She was mortified at what she had done earlier that morning; not that he didn't deserve it, but she just could not believe she did that. Instead of showing her worry Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and placed a neutral mask on.

"Yes, Professor?" Snape studied her for a moment, noticing her change in demeanor from that morning.

"I am not sure it is wise to be running all over town."

Hermione glared at him for a moment.

"You, I am afraid, are not my keeper in ANY way." Hermione had an idea at that moment. "If you find it so bothersome for me to ENJOY my summer break, by all means you are welcome to join us." The doorbell rang ending the conversation that was sure to turn into an argument.

Snape followed Hermione out of her room and watched menacingly as she answered the door. She had already introduced the entertainment room to Harry and Draco, so they were already in there. Harmony and Ophelia noticed Hermione's professor upon entering. With a wink and small wave the girls cooed, "Hello, Professor." He was not looking forward to this. Snape left for the potions lab while Hermione led the girls to the entertainment room.

Harry and Draco were immersed in a game on the Gamecube when the girls entered. The girls were talking animatedly. Neither Harry nor Draco had ever heard Hermione sound so much like a...girl. Hermione introduced the boys to Harmony and Ophelia before the girls headed to three microphones that awaited them. Hermione still had not explained completely the reason for the outing that evening. Harmony thought she would fill them in.

"It is a yearly contest. There is a different theme each year and this year it's 'Girls Rock.' So, naturally, I knew the three of us had to enter again."

Draco looked from Harmony to Hermione.

"Again?"

Hermione nodded her head.

"Yes, Draco. The three of us has entered this singing contest almost every summer." Harry was watching Hermione with his mouth slightly open. This was his best friend--it was as if he was seeing a secret life she led.

"What? Harry, it's something I just never thought of telling everyone."

From there the girls debated which song to perform.

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Severus emerged from his potions lab to enjoy a cup of tea and read some more in the peace and quiet of the kitchen. That didn't last long. He could hear the female voices as they traveled into the kitchen and became louder as the girls drew closer. With a sigh, Snape braced himself for the interruption and Hermione's annoying muggle versions of Pavarti and Lavender.

As they drew closer to the kitchen door, Snape could distinguish what the noise was--the girls were singing. The three burst into the kitchen in song with the boys in tow shaking their heads at the girls' giddiness.

"I hate myself for loving you

Can't break free from the things that you do

I wanna walk but I run back to you that's why

I hate myself for loving you..."

Snape's eyes followed the girls into the kitchen. No one acknowledged Snape's presence in the room as they all grabbed food from one place or another in the kitchen and sat around the little table where Snape sat. They were all in conversation about the evenings events.

"Herms, have you ever won this contest?" Harry was rather curious about this aspect of Hermione he was new to. Hermione leaned forward slightly to grab a biscuit. In doing so she brushed up against Snape's arm, as he was right next to her. She continued on with the conversation, answering Harry's question as if Snape was not in the room.

"Yes, we win every year." Snape's eyebrow rose slightly at her answer. Was there anything the girl did not succeed in? Maybe he would go tonight, if anything to make sure Potter stayed out of trouble. While in his own thoughts Draco asked the girls if they called themselves anything in particular. The three girls nodded their heads. Hermione was the first with an empty mouth to answer.

"H₂O."

"H₂O?" Harry was a bit confused on where that came from. He knew it was water, but why name a girls singing group water?

"Yes, Harry, H₂O--as in Hermione, Harmony, and Ophelia." Harry felt a bit silly when Hermione explained. He had to admit it was rather thick of him not to get it right away.

After Harmony and Ophelia left the boys occupied themselves in the entertainment room while Hermione went upstairs to ready herself. Snape remained in the kitchen a little longer to enjoy the quiet atmosphere.

The silence was broken by a strange music coming from up stairs. Apparently Hermione was done with her shower and had turned on some muggle music that sounded like a Slytherin theme song. Standing to berate the girl for the loudness, he headed up the stairs only to come to a stand still. The music engulfed the whole of the upstairs of the house. Hermione, obviously believing she was alone had come from her shower dancing to the music.

I'm not the one who's so far away

When I feel the snake bite into my veins

Never did I wanna be here again

And I don't remember why I came

Snape saw her dance out of the steaming bathroom. She was wrapped in a white towel that only came to mid thigh. The water was still visible on her skin and her hair, being wet, held perfect loose curls.

Candles raise my desire

Why I'm so far away

No more meaning to my life

No more reason to stay

Freezing feeling, breathe in--breathe in

Snape couldn't move. There was something rather seductive about the way she was dancing. The back of his mind screamed for him to stop that she was a student--no matter how she appeared. But he was stuck watching her body moving across the floor.

I'm coming back again

I'm not the one who's so far away

When I feel the snake bite into my veins

Never did I wanna be here again

And I don't remember why I came.

The dreams that disturbed his sleep at night began to flash in his mind. Did she know what kind of effect she was having on him? 'Of course not. She doesn't even know you are watching her.' The upstairs foyer was always barley lit and what light was there cast shadow over Hermione's body while setting other parts aglow.

Hazing clouds rain on my head

Empty thoughts fill my ears

Find my shade by the moon light

Why my thoughts aren't so clear

Demons dreaming, breathe in--breathe in

I'm coming back again..

He didn't know how much longer he could just stand there watching her, yet he couldn't move or speak either. His mouth was becoming dryer by the moment and his heart rate was on the increase. She was a vision he could not pull away from and this unnerved him that this girl could affect him such a way.

I'm not the one who's so far away

When I feel the snake bite into my veins

Never did I wanna be here again

And I don't remember why I came.

Voodoo voodoo

Voodoo voodoo

Voodoo voodoo

Hermione had Snape hypnotized and did not even realize it. Snape, also, did not notice how close she was to him. Before he could notice or utter a word, Hermione's wet body ran into Snape. This startled her, as she did not know anyone was watching her.

"Oh, Professor." She put her hand on his chest as if placing a space between them and acknowledging he was real. Her touch did not help him any though.

"Ms. Granger, is it necessary to parade around the foyer in nothing more than a towel?" Her eyes grew wide for a moment. She was standing in front of and touching her professor in a towel--nothing else.

"I was not parading, but dancing. Necessary it is not, but then I do not normally have someone watching me in the shadows either." This comment earned her a sneer. Her hand was still on his chest and she felt something odd under his shirt. Without a second thought, she moved her hand up to the chain lifting it from his robes. She was enthralled by the pendant.

"A black onyx." He did not want her to find that, but now she had. Snape was finding it hard to breathe with the towel clad girl so close. Looking down at her as she held the pendant in her hand he willed his voice to work in its proper Snape way.

"Yes, Ms. Granger. A black onyx. And what do you know about them?" Hermione moved her eyes from the pendant up to the Potion Master's face. She hadn't truly realized how close she was to him until then. Knowing he was skilled at legilimency, she averted her eyes back to the pendant. She did not want Snape invading her mind--especially at that particular moment.

"It's used in defense magic." A smile began to spread on her face. "Also, it is part of Greek myth." She stole a glance back up at Snape and looked back down to the onyx before continuing. "The myth says that while Venus was sleeping Eros clipped her fingernails and then scattered them on the beaches. From there the Fates turned them into stone--onyx." Glaring at the girl for being correct, Snape removed the pendant from her hands and placed it back in his robes.

"What is it for, Professor?" Placing his hands on her shoulders he backed her away from him.

"Ms. Granger, do put some clothes on."

Hermione ignored his comment.

"Rather interesting that you would be wearing such a stone tonight." She did not elaborate nor did Snape get the opportunity to ask her to. She entered her room and shut the door, placing a barrier between her and Snape.

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Snape was not thrilled to be there. Girl group after girl group performed on the stage. Some were pretty good and others should not show there faces in public again. For a moment he could not remember why he had agreed to come along--that was until Potter looked at him with a brow furrowed. He was nothing more than an incarnation of James Potter and that meant he went looking for trouble.

"Hermione," Harry whispered into her ear, "why is Snape joining us again?"

"Because I invited him." Draco and Harry exchanged looks. The infamous smirk appeared on Draco's face. He did not bother attempting to keep his voice down either.

"Granger, you still have a crush on Snape?" He watched as her eyes grew wide and profusely denied any such thing. Meanwhile Harmony and Ophelia turned to look at Snape, smiling wickedly.

Snape was doing his best to ignore the Gryffindors and the Slytherin that surrounded him. His sole purpose for being there was to see that know-it-all finally fail at something--or so he kept telling him self. He was still wondering about her earlier comment about the onyx. His answer would soon come, as the girls rushed to get toward the stage.

"Alright, everyone!" The announcer was on the stage. "Are you ready for the champion for the past six summers?" The crowd was going mad. Snape looked around at the young people making odd noises--a few being catcalls causing him to scowl.

"Alright! Here they are! H! 2! O!"

The three girls, dressed in black, come out on stage. The girls were greeted by more applause and a much larger number of catcalls--some from the two boys next to Snape. Snape glared at the boys.

"What?" Draco felt rather confused and defensive at the look he was receiving. "Look at her!"

When the girls began to sing Snape knew why she found the legend of the onyx interesting in connection to that evening's event.

"Goddess on the mountain top

Burning like a silver flame

The summit of beauty and love

And Venus was her name

She's got it

Yeah, baby, she's got it

I'm your Venus, I'm your fire

At your desire

Her weapons were her crystal eyes

Making every man a man

Black as the dark night she was

Got what no-one else had

Wa!

She's got it

Yeah, baby, she's got it

I'm your Venus, I'm your fire

At your desire..."

To Snape's disappointment the girls won.

"I Hate Myself for Loving You" by Joan Jett

"Voodoo" by Godsmack

"Venus" the Bannanarama version