Taught to Wed

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Taught to Wed

Chapter 3 - Veritaserum

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After a few moments Snape made to get up and leave the office. Before he could even get up off the chair, Dumbledore stopped him.

"Severus, I should like to know what is bothering you."

"And what makes you think anything is bothering me, sir." Liar. You know bloody well what is bothering you. "May I go now?" He said, hoping to avoid the upcoming discussion.

Dumbledore looked at Snape as though his thoughts were transparent. "Sit down, Severus," he sighed as Snape grudgingly obliged. "I know that the one question puzzling you has to do with Miss Granger's use of the Veritaserum."

"You are quite mistaken, Albus. I am quite well aware that Miss Granger or one of her cohorts broke into my office and stole it."

"That is not what your concern is about and you know it," he twinkled. "You would like to know how Miss Granger was able to go along with your plan while under Veritaserum."

Snape let out a sigh. "Very well, Albus. That is quite well the exact question I have. Care to answer it?" he replied, a sneer creeping across his face.

"I am sorry, but that question can only be answered by Miss Granger and yourself. Have a good night, Severus," Dumbledore responded with a wave of his hand, signaling Snape that the torture session called conversation was over.

Severus got up and left the office as quickly as he could. On his way back to the dungeons he mumbled to himself. "Get a grip, Severus. He was only trying to bait you. Miss Granger was merely going along with the plan out of fear." You know that's not true. No one can lie under the effects of Veritaserum. "I can." Yes, but only because you have an immunity to it. There are only two options, Severus. Miss Granger has built up immunity, or she spoke the truth. "Impossible. You can be so ridiculous at times. Neither of those are possibilities." You keep telling yourself that. And stop talking to yourself or Filch will begin to think you're crazy. Severus looked up to see Filch and Mrs. Norris looking oddly at him.

Snape reached the sanctuary of his quarters and climbed into bed and attempted to fall instantly asleep; not wanting to think further upon the subject of Miss Granger and the Veritaserum. Sleep was a long time coming.

*****

Hermione kept to herself all weekend. As Head Girl she had her own private room, which adjoined the common room of Gryffindor Tower. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Neville had all wanted to ask what had happened when she followed Snape, but she wouldn't let anyone into her room; her ability to hex kept them from pushing the issue. She also avoided meals in the Great Hall. Her friends spent much of their time in the common room, hoping she would decide to come talk to them, but it wasn't until breakfast on Monday that she left her room; even then she didn't look up from her plate long enough to acknowledge the concerned looks her peers were giving her.

"'Mione, is everything all right?" Ron finally asked. Hermione sat there pushing her food around her plate. "Earth to Hermione," he said, grabbing her wrist, at this she looked up at him. "I asked if everything was ok. You haven't said a word since you got back Friday night. Did something bad happen?"

"No, everything is not all right," she said looking away and pulling her wrist from his tight grip before going back to her plate. She started playing with her eggs again before saying, "What happened wasn't bad, but I don't want to talk about it."

"But 'Mione, we're your friends. You can tell us what happened," Ron pleaded.

"Not now I can't," she said dropping her fork, "Now if you'll excuse me I am going to the library. And I don't want any of you following and asking any questions. When I am ready I will tell you what happened." At that she got up and left the table.

Ron looked to Harry, who was as bewildered about what had just taken place as Ron was. "Wow," said Harry "Wasn't expecting that."

"Whatever it was, it has to be much worse than she wants us to think." Harry nodded in agreement.

*****

Hermione sat down in an oversized armchair in the back of the restricted section, forgetting why she had come here. There were too many things on her mind, and none of them were things she wanted to dwell on. The thought pressing into her with the most urgency was that of her response to Snape; she said that she was in fact his fiancée, under Veritaserum. She just didn't understand how that was possible. She had been working on the issue all weekend, and had come up with nothing.

Hermione got up suddenly, remembering why she had come here. She began searching the shelves looking for anything that could answer her question. Finally she settled on "Most Potente Potions". She pulled the heavy tome off the shelf and returned to the armchair. Settling down she flipped to the index and scanned for Veritaserum. She became frustrated at the fact that the index was arranged by potency and not alphabetically. She would have been better off just searching through the whole book by the time she found it. "Page 1256," she said to herself, quickly leafing through the book.

Jus as Hermione flipped to page 1256, Madame Pince cleared her throat, "Miss Granger, shouldn't you be in class?"

Hermione looked up startled to see the librarian looking at her. "I'm sorry Madame Pince, I must have lost track of time. Can I check this book out?" Hermione said holding up the giant book.

Madam Pince looked at the girl questioningly before giving in with a sigh, "Yes, Miss Granger you may check it out. However if I find out you've been making any of the potions found in there without Professor Snape's permission I will have to revoke your access to checking out restricted books."

Hermione nodded, "I understand Madame Pince. Thank you." She quickly grabbed her books and headed off to double Charms with the Slytherin and Gryffindor seventh years. On her way to Flitwick's classroom she shrunk the heavy tome and stuck it in her pocket. No need to draw attention to herself while trying to slip into class.

Flitwick noticed Hermione slip into class, sitting in the only open seat, next to Draco Malfoy. Draco sneered at her, "Why so late Mudblood? Were you busy getting extra points for Gryffindor from Snape?"

"It's none of your concern, Malfoy, but if you must know I was researching in the library," Hermione said, trying to sound calm. Well practiced from years of ignoring Malfoyisms, she wasn't about to let him get to her this time. It was after all no surprise that he knew, as his father probably told him.

"Sorry, Granger," Draco said, raising his eyebrow, trying to egg her on.

"Sorry about what?" Hermione asked, her eyes blazing with curiosity.

"Sorry that you have such poor taste in men," with that Draco turned his attention back to Flitwick.

Hermione crossed her arms. Where does he come off talking about my taste in men? Why am I so offended by that? It's not like I chose Snape. It's not like there's anything real there. Hermione reached down into her pocket and grasped the book. She was eager for class to be over so she could get back to page 1256.

Harry glanced across the room and noticed Hermione and Draco talking. I wonder what they're talking about? Probably just Head Boy and Head Girl stuff. They're so lucky that they have their own rooms. Wish I had my own room. Maybe then I'd stop getting stared at for waking up to a searing pain in my scar. Well at least one of us has our own room. Not that it matters, because it will never happen, especially after what happened Friday. Harry blushed at the thoughts that flooded his brain over the next two hours.

Ron was sitting next to Harry trying to concentrate on Flitwick's lecture when he heard Harry's breath catch. Worried that Harry might be in trouble, his scar was burning horribly this morning on the way to class, he turned to see that Harry was gazing across the room. Ron followed Harry's line of vision and saw that he was focused upon Hermione. Ron nudged Harry moments before class ended, "She's quite pretty isn't she?"

"Hmm," said Harry. "Oh, um, sure, I mean yes, Ron, she is," Harry said while packing up his things.

"Maybe you should ask her for notes, since you were too busy staring at her to pay attention to class."

Harry blushed, "Don't you have the notes?"

"Well, yeah, I do. I just thought you could use an extra reason to talk to her," Ron said, shrugging.

"Ron, you really are thick."

"Huh?"

"I talk to Hermione every day because she's my friend. I don't need to ask her for notes to talk to her."

"Oh. Right," Ron said and the two walked out of class.

*****

Hermione ate her lunch rather quickly before heading up to her room. She just had to read up on the Veritaserum, and couldn't do it with Ron and Harry watching her. She would have to explain why she was researching it, and she couldn't do that until she understood it for herself.

Her eyes scoured the page for the fifth time since she sat down. No, this can't be right, she thought, it just couldn't be. There's got to be some other explanation. Hermione was becoming quite frantic. She kept searching the page hoping to find some other detail that she had previously passed over, but found nothing. Frustrated she slammed the book closed. Looking at the clock on her nightstand she realized that she was going to be late for potions. Not again, she thought, quickly grabbing up her supplies and heading to class.

Hermione managed to slink into her seat next to Neville moments before Snape began his lecture. She let out a sigh, not really one of relief so much as just a sigh. Just something to let her know she was still breathing, that she was still alive. While the words had never escaped Lucius' mouth, they had played seductively across his lips, teasing her with thoughts of death. And then he had stepped in. The same one that was lecturing the class at the very moment. The same lecture that she was not paying attention to. Her mind was too busy trying to explain what had happened.

"Miss Granger believes that she does not need to join us today," Snape said, jolting the girl out of her thoughts. "Do I need to ask you again to pay attention?"

Hermione's eyes searched his, "No, sir. I will pay attention. You won't have to ask again." Snape went back to the lecture, as though he had never stopped. Hermione managed to pay attention, but her thoughts were gently tugging at the back of her mind. I'll just have to talk to him after class. But how will I do that without drawing attention to myself. Harry and Ron have enough questions as it is. I don't need to give them anymore.

"Miss Granger!" Snape shouted, leaning on the desk looking her directly in the eyes. "Detention," he said turning away, "You will learn to pay attention to my lectures."

Hermione merely nodded, too shocked to say anything. Well that takes care of one problem.

Class was over before Hermione knew it. She was slow to pack up her things, seeing as she would have to stay after to discuss her detention. When the students had cleared the classroom, she began walking to the front of the classroom. "Professor Snape, sir," she started, "I'm sorry about today. I was distracted."

"I could see that," Snape replied, "What were you distracted by?"

"Well, I was researching Veritaserum to find out how I was able to go along with your plan. And what I was able to come up with didn't make any sense," she said nervously, biting her lower lip.

"And what did you come up with?"

"I..." Hermione began but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Enter," Severus said, angry at the interruption. The figure that stepped out from behind the door caused both Hermione and Severus' breaths to catch.