Dementor's Kiss

Dementor's Kiss

By Vilelynn

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, places or situations of the Harry Potter universe. They belong to J. K. Rowling, Warner Brothers, Bloomsbury Books, etc. I am in no way affliated with any of the aforementioned parties yet I am not making any money from this fanfiction story and intend no copyright infringement.

Notes: Many thanks to LogicalQuirk and Frani. ♥

Chapter 1

Talk to me softly
There is something in your eyes
Don't hang your head in sorrow
And please don't cry
I know how you feel inside I've
I've been there before
Somethin is changin' inside you
And don't you know

Don't you cry tonight

Don't Cry- Guns 'N Roses

^***

Three Days Earlier

"Headmaster, the Ministry's decided on Nott's trial. It's in two days time."

"I see, they are on a tight schedule. So are we. We have to question him before the Ministry does. We can't risk Tom's spies altering his memory."

"I understand, Headmaster. When?"

"Tomorrow night, 9 o'clock. Black Widow."

"Headmaster, that place's too near ..."

"We'll be fine. The nearer, the better, no one's going to suspect it."

"Very well. I'll be there promptly. Good night, Headmaster."

"You know, they would never have captured him without your help. Thank you, Severus."

"It was my duty."

"It's no one's duty. But tell me, Severus, how's your research going with Hermione?"

"Headmaster, I hardly think I need her help on this. I can manage it fine alone."

"I know you could but it's always faster with two people, and time is short these days. Besides, I thought you could do with some company ..."

"I'm not a person for company; I thought you knew that. Although come to think of it, I wouldn't call a know-it-all Potter admirer company either. She's nothing but trouble looking for troubles. And I think that is one of the things I have enough of these days. Now, if you could make another arrangement with the tiresome girl, I'll be in your debt, always."

"Oh, isn't that a similarity between you two. Two people of bad company have found each other. Come on, Severus, we all know you are ever so fond of her. You have not come across such a clever girl ever since -"

"- I will listen to your silly talk no more, old man. If you do not make the arrangement, I'll just have to see to it to get rid of her myself. I'll be on my way. Tomorrow night, Headmaster."

"Until then, Severus."

Pop!

Severus Snape apparated into the living room of his temporarily rented apartment in a run-down neighbourhood of a Muggle district in south east London.

Seems like that old man's finally lost all his sanity. COMPANY! Found one another! HER! Clever yes, but -

Before his thoughts could wander further, they were distracted by an image of a fluffy-headed girl rushing towards him at a speed of fifty miles per hour, and before he could react, she was spitting millions of questions at him.

"Where were you? With whom? Why didn't you contact me? Have you seen Dumbledore? Have you heard about Nott? Where ..." Only as she noticed the venomous look in his eyes did she notice that she had said slightly too much in a short time. Snape, however, was inwardly quite amused at the situation. He liked the daunting look in people's eyes when he cast his sneers and baleful looks at them.

"Ms. Granger, I do not recall having invited you over to gossip in my flat," Snape said with a somewhat bemused undertone. Not one that Hermione Granger could spot, however. She was much too preoccupied with her thoughts.

As always.

"Professor, you can hardly call that gossiping. You are my assigned research partner, and we need to communicate. Since you are so impolite as to not contact me, I had to take the liberty to break down the wards on this house so that I could find you in time and show you the progress of the research," Hermione blurted out in a matter of a few seconds.

"Enthralling, I am sure. I apologize sincerely for not having communicated with my most appreciated research partner; however the most intruding information must wait till tomorrow because I am in no mood to discuss anything at this time of the day."

"Yes, of course I understand. We can discuss everything here in good time tomorrow."

"How very understanding of you. I cannot await the breaking of dawn. Well, 'till then I'll be - pardon me, I am sure I misunderstood that just now; what was it you said? We'll be discussing everything here tomorrow? Surely it does not mean you are staying here 'till tomorrow morning?"

"If you do not mind, Professor, I really have nowhere else to go 'till the morning. I'll just be here on the couch. Rest assured, I won't make a sound ..."

"Ms. Granger! This is absolutely out of the question! I must ask you to get out of my flat at once; I am not in the habit of sharing with a student!"

"Professor, must I remind you that I have not been your student for the last three years?"

"I will not be made a fool under my own roof. Now, there is no way you will be spending the night here, Ms. Granger. Before I lose my temper I advise you to go to that Muggle hotel around the corner, if you are so unreasonable as to not go to your own home, and let this day's nightmare end.

"And take this," Snape said, and shoved some paper money out of one of the desk drawers at her.

"Professor ..."

"You can thank me tomorrow, Ms. Granger. Now I just need my peace. If you will be as kind as to shut the door behind you and seal all the wards back, I'll be very grateful."