A Delicate Obsession

Chapter One – The Cinderella Effect

It all belongs to Rowling, except what you don’t recognize.

“Here try this one, Hermione,” said Harry trying to make himself useful.

Hermione lifted the silver and pink card and slowly said the incantation. Instantly, with a flash of yellow smoke, her hair turned bright pink, her eyes neon blue and she suddenly reeked of Patchouli. “Whoa, this one’s just a little too, hmm, too,” she looked in the mirror, trying to find the right words.

“Ah, perhaps Mademoiselle would prefer this one. Eet is called ‘Laura’ and eez most popular.” The ancient witch could have used a bit of glamour herself, thought Harry. Sometimes he still didn’t understand the wizarding world. Why should anyone bother looking like a crone when instant youth was only a spell away?

Hermione took hold of the card. It was inscribed with the words “Laura” and had a short, simple incantation. “By flowers bright in the dead of night, make my self a beautiful sight.” There were no flashes, no smoke, just Hermione with straight light brown hair and shining grey-green eyes. The make-up was subtle, a smudge of grey eye shadow, apricot gloss on the lips and a hint of bronze blusher. She sniffed and noted a gentle scent of Bergamot mixed with Lavender. “This one is a bit nicer,” she said, once again studying herself in the mirror. She noted that her voice was a bit lower and huskier; it had a sort of Melanie Griffin sexiness.

“I like it! How much?” Hermione asked the witch behind the counter.

“Fifteen Galleons.”

Hermione gasped, “Well, wouldn’t you know, too rich for my blood.”

“Mademoiselle should take her time in deciding. This sample spell will last about a half hour. Go out, look around. Eet eez the best way to zee if the glamour is truly you.”

Hermione almost laughed over the irony. If the glamour were her, it wouldn’t be a glamour, would it now?

Harry appraised his friend. Hermione had been in the dumps for several weeks, ever since her break-up with Neville. And she still stubbornly refused to talk about it. This was the first time she had seemed to perk up the entire summer.

“Let’s go, Hermione. I forgot about an errand I need to run before we meet up with Ginny and Ron at Fortescues.” He took her arm and attempted to get her moving.

“Oh, Harry. It’s not something to do with Quidditch again?”

“And if it were?” Harry laughed as they left the Diagon Alley shop and felt the late August heat hit them.

Hermione sighed. “Look I’ll wait for you over there.” She pointed to an alley next to the window of a lingerie store. “At least I can do some window shopping while I wait.”

“Right you are then.” Harry watched Hermione go across the street and then he turned right back into the shop that they had just left. He walked around looking at all the cosmetics and other fripperies for the well-to-do witch. Fifteen Galleons was a lot to spend. However, since he’d given up on having a girlfriend, his friendship with Hermione had become all-consuming. At her last birthday, he’d still been involved with Sandra Lee, a Ravenclaw sixth year, and had completely forgotten Hermione’s birthday. This year he was going to make it up to her. Hermione really needed some sort of boost, ever since whatever had happened between her and Neville, she had been quite down on herself.

Harry found the witch selling the Laura spell. He didn’t have fifteen Galleons on him so it took several minutes to set up the draft for Gringotts.

Professor Severus Snape swept out of the Apothecary shop. It was highway robbery what they were charging for headache potion. Unfortunately, he had have forgotten to bring his own and didn’t want to head all the way back to Hogwarts just to pick it up. He had almost cursed the clerk, but instead had only given the insufferable pup a good piece of his mind about the overcharge. The Potions Master of Hogwarts knew better than anyone that the ingredients only cost a few Knuts worth of Willow Bark and Heart’s Ease.

Snape walked a few steps before coming to a complete halt. Though he schooled his face to remain impassive, his heart felt as if it would jump from his chest and tumble down the street. It was her. But how could it be, so many years gone by and she not looking a day older? Of course, it’s not her, came the sad voice from inside his heart.

She was standing right at the entrance to Knockturn Alley and its brothel. Heart still flip-flopping, he drank in her appearance. She was fanning herself and had opened her robes all the way, revealing Muggle style cut-off denim shorts and a red tube top, which left little to the imagination. It was only a little past four, a bit early for the street walkers to be plying their wares, so Snape assumed it must be one of the brothel girls out for a breath of air before settling in for the evening.

Snape was not one to frequent ladies of the night, not since his early twenties and one had had the temerity to laugh at him. He’d been hurled out of the place after hexing her with green and purple boils. But was was a woman he could not refuse. Actually he didn’t even want her for sex, he just had to be with her. He suddenly felt awkward. He looked down at his shoes and realized they were dusty from flooing. Still, what if he were to miss her? He hurried across the alley.

Hermione looked up just in time to see a very determined Professor Snape cross the street coming straight for her. She braced herself for whatever tongue-lashing she was in for and was glad that at least he couldn’t remove house points before term began. Or could he?

He stopped within inches of her and peered down his nose at her. He cleared his throat.

“How much?”

Hermione stared at her Potions Professor who had obviously taken leave of his senses. “How much for what, sir?”

“Just the usual, not more than an hour.” He coughed and turned red. “And don’t think I don’t know the going rate.” He sneered, although he actually hadn’t a clue.

“I don’t understand.” Hermione looked around her. Hopefully Harry would be along soon. The man had gone stark, raving mad.

“Don’t be coy with me. Look maybe you’re not a free agent, but surely you wouldn’t mind a bit on the side?”

Hermione was getting a really sickening feeling that a huge mistake was happening. Her mind flashed on a possible answer and then veered away. “Really, I think you are confusing me with someone else.” She started to turn from him.

“Don’t play that with me, you chit.” He grabbed her arm roughly. Hermione reached for her wand in a panic. Laying her fingers on it in her robe, but not bringing it out she said, “Ahem. I think you are REALLY confusing me with someone else.” Hermione blushed beet red and felt on the verge of tears. Then finally in a low voice she hissed, “I’m not a prostitute.”

Snape dropped her arm as if it had burned him. His eyes widened and he turned pale. “I, I, I’m quite… I mean.” He turned, gave her one more glance and then practically ran into The Leaky Cauldron.

Hermione stood there in shock. Then a small smile of relief crossed her face. And then finally she laughed. It felt good getting back at Snape after all these years of his sniping and badgering her and her friends. Even though they were on the same side in the war against Voldemort, seeing the look on his face and hearing him stutter was priceless.

Then she felt sad. She shook her head; to be forced to have to pay for it he must be very lonely. She thought about Neville and wished she could have asked Snape a question.

Just then Harry showed up. “Ready to meet the others?” He smiled and put his arm around her shoulder.

&&&

“Dearest Mother

“I fear it has been rather a long time since I’ve last written you. Because of the nature of my work for you-know, there are few details that I dare to write down. Things have been getting progressively worse and I’m not sure how much longer I will be able to continue in my role. I feel that I am losing my grip on myself and all my hard won skill and training are worthless. Still, I do not wish to worry you, it is only that you are the only one that I can reveal myself to now that Dumbledore –“

Snape put down the quill and covered his face in his trembling hands. After a deep breath, he scratched out the words following “I do not wish to worry you.” And wrote,

“I’m sure all will be fine in the end.

“On a lighter note, I met a girl. I don’t know if I shall see her again or if I do what I shall say to her, as I have already made a colossal prat of myself. I wish you were here to advise me. She is as lovely as an angel and, I believe, just as pure. I insulted her -- well, don’t I wind up doing that to everyone? Even the few I care about? I just wish I could go back and change things.

“Hell begins, rather, school begins, in only a few short weeks. If things do not go well, it will be my last year here. Somehow, the idea gives me pleasure. I’ll be glad when all of this is over.

With eternal love,

Your devoted son,

Severus”

Snape sprinkled some powder over the parchment to dry it and then sealed it with dark green wax. He got up from his desk and slipped the missive into the fire in the hearth.

He poured himself a tumbler of firewhiskey, leaned back in his armchair and watched the parchment turn to ashes.

A/N: So if Hermione is Cinderella, does that make Snape Prince Charming?

I’m not sure how long this story is going to be. So please, please do read and review!!!!