Thank you, Miss Granger

Thank you, Miss Granger

Many thanks to my beta-reader : Taya
Disclaimer : I don\'t own these characters and I\'m not making money etc.

Author\'s warning: Some minor changes have been made since the beta-read version. As a consequence, all the mistakes are mine.

Chapter One : We Need A Goat


\'And why did he never report that incident?\'

\'I am beginning to suspect that you have been inattentive, Minerva; there was no evidence at the time.\'

\'But such a useful weapon! If we had known... Severus, surely you realize...\'

The two professors now faced each other, Snape as cold and controlled as usual, while McGonagall seemed to hesitate between incredulity and frustration.

\'Rambling about the past will not change it.\'

They turned to Dumbledore, who was thoughtfully sucking a lemon lollipop.

\'Even if I do regret the decision of our Potions Master, I understand he had his reasons to do so. As you pointed out, Severus, there was no way for him to predict the future events.\'

Minerva McGonagall sighed and took a seat next to the Headmaster.

\'Of course, of course, I know you\'re right, Headmaster... but when I think...\'

She turned to Severus Snape, who stood defiantly by the bookshelves, his arms crossed over his chest.

\'When I think that you had it in your hands... and you did destroy it, didn\'t you?!...\'

Snape grinned, but the memory clearly was not a pleasant one.

\'Yes, I did obey that order. I was 16, and as you pointed out, I had a tendency to respect orders I was given. Something I am not sure you understand; not a very Gryffindor-like quality.\'

\'How dare you!\'

McGonagall was yelling. Dumbledore raised his hands and dropped his lollipop. As he bent to retrieve it, McGonagall jumped to her feet and was face-to-face with Snape once more. They were both shouting and it was, therefore, difficult to understand precisely the nature of their respective accusations. Dumbledore threw his lollipop to the dustbin with a sigh, made a quick move with his wand, and his voice, magically amplified, suddenly overpowered the argument:

\'SILENCE! BOTH OF YOU!\'

They quieted.

\'I do not dare to hope that you will understand each other; but you could, at least, express your opinions politely. And now, all that matters is that we get that potion back.\'

A curious voice broke the silence.

\'But what does this have to do with me?\'

Hermione Granger, in her pyjamas, tried to refrain from yawning. Without success.


**********

It was as if they had suddenly remembered she was there. Well, she had tried to listen and understand what was going on, but as Professors McGonagall and Snape were constantly interrupting to pick a fight, it had not been very easy. Dumbledore should be allowed to give detention to teachers in cases like that, she thought, just to set up some limits. It was so upsetting; she felt she had a right to know why she had been woken in the middle of the night to witness this sort of scene. And the vodka Harry and Ron had practically forced her to drink a few hours ago was not helping, of course.

\'Sorry, Miss Granger.\'

The headmaster gave her one of his nicest old-grandfather smiles, but (because of the vodka, or maybe the headache the vodka gave her) it didn\'t work as usual.

\'The reason you are here is we need somebody trustworthy to go back 23 years ago, to retrieve a potion we need urgently.\'

She had never noticed his tendency to be overdramatic before. But at the moment, it was getting on her nerves and consequently, her tone might have been a bit bitter when she pursued:

\'Yes, I understood that. But why me? Do I look like a potion-thief?\'

Snape walked towards her. \'Of course not, silly girl, you are to get it back from its past owner.\'

\'Who...\' She did not finish her sentence.

\'Me. Or to be more precise, me, 23 years ago.\'

Hermione Granger stared at her Potions Master, her eyes half-closed by an urgent need to sleep.

\'Well, I hope your 23-years-ago-self will be more polite.\'

There was a moment of incredulity amongst the professors.

What the hell...? she thought, you cannot expect to drag me out of my bed in the middle of the night, and get a polite, well mannered Head Girl. She was tired. And with only three months left before her NEWTs, she could not afford to waste her precious few hours of sleep.

\'And it doesn\'t answer my question. Why me? Why not Harry, or-\'

She stopped at the grin spreading across Snape\'s face.

\'Surely Miss Granger, you do not plan to send me a Potter?\'

\'Well, why not another teacher then?\'

\'Actually -\' McGonagall was back to her normal neat and ordered self by now. \'Severus - Professor Snape thought his past self might be more easily approached by-\'

\'By a girl?\'

A snort informed her she was wrong once more. McGonagall refrained from smiling with difficulty.

\'Well, by another student.\' ermiermione Granger nodded; of course - it made a bire sre sense. However-

\'But why me? There are thousands of students.\'

She stopped. Snape\'s voice was as deep and silky as usual, dangerously polite, as he moved closer and closer.

\'Because it will involve a time-turner, and as Professor McGonagall kindly informed us that you were already familiar with-\'

\'I had the headmaster\'s permission,\' said McGonagall briskly.

\'...with its function and its preionsions, there is no need to ask somebody else. After all, time-turner are dangerous weapons as well, and we do not need to inform the entire school about their existence and use.\'

Hermione Granger, keenly aware that she was wearing her winter teddy-bears pyjamas, tried to meet the deep, dark eyes of Severus Snape. Would she have to face the exact same eyes, 23 years in the past?

\'So, 23 years ago, you happened to have in your possession a potion, the result of an accident, and 're 're planning to send me back to get it from you? And what makes you think I will succeed in convincing you, 23 years ago or not?\'

He was now observing her with a calculating look she did not like, and McGonagall was twisting her hands with discomfort. His voice still cold as ice, he wentI wiI will give you some clues to convince him; besides, as you probably know, Miss Granger, you are a not an entirely unpleasant young woman to look at.\'

She wondered with some astonishment how it was possible for this man to give a compliment in such a contemptuous manner. She felt like a piece of meat - Merlin\'s beard, she even had the impression he had given a glance at... some part of her body... that her pyjamas did not completely hide.

\'So basically, you need a goat.\'

\'Don\'t worry Miss Granger.\' It was McGonagall, with her tidy hair. Did she ever have sex? \'We do not expect you to have to go to any desperate measures to get this potion back.\'

Thank you, she thought, trying to ignore Snape\'s mocking eyes; glad to know I won\'t have to get laid with any form of my Potions Master. Besides, she wasn\'t sure 16-year-old boys were good lovers. She remembered with a touch of horror what Harry had told her about Snape\'s ability for Legilimency. From the way he was now considering her, there was no doubt he had been reading her thoughts.

\'Stop dreaming Miss Granger, I was not interested in sex at the time.\'

Liar, she thought in response, all 15-year-old boys think about sex. He startled at this immediate, abrupt answer. Welhoughought Hermione, one cannot intrude upon other people\'s minds without expecting this kind of straightforward treatment.

Snape turned to Dumbledore.

\'I would like to be left alone with Miss Granger.\'


*End of chapter*