Paradise called Ojén

Chapter 10: Unexpected Guest.

Two weeks had passed and Hermione was having the time of her life. She and Snape had become good friends, her books had arrived after only five days and there hadn’t been awful fights, just the usual fights. To go on a bit about their friendship, no one had ever expected Snape to be nice in the first place. Hermione, the true Gryffindor, had given him a fair chance and he proved himself as a friend to her. They talked a lot, had even fun and sat together on the couch while watching TV. Snape had learned everything about Muggle stuff, he could use a DVD-player, washing machine, hair-dryer and after ten serious attempts, the microwave. Hermione introduced him to the whirlpool and the sauna, which he loved immediately. The only thing he couldn’t get the hang of was the computer. She had tried to explain it at least a dozen of times, without any result, unfortunately. Snape had almost thrown the laptop out of the window after the seventh time but Hermione had calmed him down and given him a strong alcoholic drink. He knew how to turn the damn thing on but how to use it, and the internet was beyond his knowledge, and he hated that.

With the books, Dumbledore had sent a letter from Harry and Ron and a small note from Arthur Weasley. In the boys’ letter she read that they were sorry that her parents had died and what was going on at Hogwarts, nothing special so far. She smiled at the thought of Ron being head over heals with Cho Chang and Harry who had fell off his broom during Quidditch practice. They took good care of Crookshanks and Ginny didn’t know that she was away. Hermione was surprised to read that. Was she that isolated from the rest of the students, even as Head Girl? Mister Weasley asked how she was doing and if Professor Snape was bearable to live with. The last thing he wrote was the email address from the MOM. ‘If you need anything, email me.’ How could she possibly need more?


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Snape and Hermione sat on the couch, watching Lord of the Rings. Hermione leaned against Snape’s chest with his arm around her. How was it possible that two former enemies were now sitting close—practically wrapped around each other—enjoying a Muggle film? They didn’t know either.

“It’s funny, isn’t it?” Snape said at the end of the film. “The Muggles aren’t that far away with knowledge about us. Although, our elfs are a bit uglier, and we don’t have Hobbits.”

“And our wizards are more skilled; they don’t use real magic. But the Middle Earth thing is a bit the same as ours.” Hermione snuggled further into his arms and looked up. She smiled at him and rubbed his arm. “Would you ever have believed that we would be sitting like this two weeks ago?” she asked and looked away agian. Maybe it was too soon to ask him this.

“Actually, as you may have asked yourself the same question, no I wouldn’t have thought it possible. My friends never belonged to Gryffindor or any of the other houses.” Snape looked down at her and saw her questioning eyes. “I never had real friends, like… you. I can trust you without being afraid of being torn apart one day. I can be the man I am in your company.” He ended and kissed her hair. “I found it hard to believe that you weren’t disgusted by me. I have to admit that that took some time discover, but now after two weeks alone with you, I don’t even want to go back to Hogwarts and be the ‘old greasy git’ that I used to be.”

“I must admit that you’ve changed a lot these last two weeks, although,” she said with a smirk, “ I think I have changed too, I actually was disgusted by you only thirteen days ago.” She laughed and to her surprise Snape laughed too. He tried to strangle her in a gentle way and she played along. “Oh, please. Help, someone…help. The mean Potions Master is trying to kill me! ….He-lp…” they both laughed and shook their heads.

“Never tell this to Potter and Weasley, Miss Granger. I won’t survive if I don’t hex them first.” He said as he caressed her thigh.

“But, I can tell Professor McGonagall about it, can’t I?” she teased and winked before Snape knew it was a joke.

“I think Professor Dumbledore would be more pleased to hear this, the old fool.” Snape said and straightened himself a bit. “I think it’s time for dinner, Miss Granger. I can hear your stomach screaming foodfood.” He let go of Hermione and stood. He helped Hermione up and walked to the kitchen. It was Snape’s turn to cook today. “How about pancakes and a fresh salad?” he asked and turned. He hadn’t noticed Hermione behind him until he felt her banging into him.

“That would be fine, professor. Can I help?” she said as she straightened and let go of him again.

“Good idea. You’ll prepare, I’ll bake!” a mean grin spread his face as he hurried himself to the kitchen. Hermione ran after him and threw a pillow at him. Some times they both acted like little children, during fighting as during joking.

Dinner turned out great; the pancakes weren’t all burnt. The salad on the other hand was the best Hermione had ever had. Snape really knew how to make a salad. Again a bottle of Tom Granger’s best wine was opened and drank from.

“What homework do you have tonight?” Snape asked as he finished his desert.

“Transfiguration, Ancient Runes and Herbology.” Hermione sighed and looked at the pile of books at the end of the shelf in the kitchen. “When do I get homework for Potions? I have all my books for one and a half week and yet you haven’t given me any homework.” Hermione almost sounded disappointed.

“How far are you with Potions?” he asked before he thought about his own classes.

“Half way throught the second book already. I still can’t belief that Neville, Harry nor Ron are capable of brewing the Shrink Potion without my help. I mean Professor Dumbledore isn’t bad as a Potions teacher.” Hermione said and shrugged. There was a long uncomfortable silence before Snape spoke again.

“Miss Granger, don’t be angry for not telling you any sooner, but there’s something you need to know.” Snape took deep breath as he saw Hermione looking concerned. “Except for Dumbledore, McGonagall, Potter and Weasley, no one knows that we aren’t at Hogwarts. Don’t forget that you’re still in a lot of danger as we speak. If they find out I’m with you, my cover will be blown completely.” Snape spoke to the professor once again and looked stern.

“Then, how come no one knows we’re not t if if they can’t find us at school? I mean, someone must have been looking for us by now.” Hermione didn’t understand what Snape was talking about at all. “How can we be there if we’re not?”

“Tonks is plg yog you and…” he could hardly say who was being him. “Remus Lupin has taken the part of me. They both drink lots of Polyjuice all day.” He ended with a sly grin. He knew how it tasted.

“Y-you mean…oh… stupid question. Where did they get the Polyjuice? And enough for at least a month?” Hermione’s face looked sour because she also knew how it tasted. The questions weren’t stupid this time; although, she could’ve known.

“The Order has everything they need. I produce enough Polyjuice every month for a whole army. With a new invention it stays fresh for a long period of time, maybe even years. I haven’t had the chance to collect any results of it yet.” Snape was relieved she wasn’t angry with him. The Headmaster had told him to keep it to himself as long as he could. “Dumbledore told me in a letter he’d sent with your books. Appanently, Nymphadorah Tonks came with the suggestion. She’s always been a silly thing, Tonks.” Snape cringed his nose at the thought of Tonks being Tonks.

“I bet she puts up a great performance. She knows who I am and what I like and dislike. Do you think she will read as much as I do?” Hermione said and suddenly thought that hell must have frozen over. “Oh dear! My grades, what about my grades? She isn’t as smart as I am!” Hermione was immediately stressed and began pacing the kitchen.

“McGonagall thought the same thing, you know? What about Miss Granger’s grades?” he said imitating McGonagall. He did a great job with it. “Don’t worry, Professor McGonagall took care of that. Every testt yot you will take is enchanted, which allows for no cheating. That brings me back to your homework. Potions class will start next week. Or next month, whatever. You’re almost through anyway. You can’t brew anything without the ingredients you need, and we haven’t got any here, so…”

“We do actually.” Hermione shot her hand for her mouth. She wasn’t supposed to tell him that, not yet anyway. Luckily he didn’t hear her as a distracted ‘what?’ came from him. Snape was lost in his own mind. Only now he realised that Remus “the fucking werewolf” Lupin had taken over his Potions classes. The thought made him swallow hard. ‘If he screws up, I kill him!’ “Professor?”
“Hmmm?” he said as he came back on earth. “I’m sorry, Miss Granger. I was just thinking about Lupin and potions.”

“I’ll start with my homework, Professor.” Hermione said frowning and grabbed her books from the shelf. “ I’ll be outside if you need me.” Snape nodded and sat down again.

“Tonks is being me?” Hermione still couldn’t believe it. She’d always liked Tonks a lot. They were friends and Hermione knew she wouldn’t be screwing up; this was too important. “But why?” she said to herself, “ Why does she need to drink the Polyjuice Potion if she can change into me without it?” She sat down and decided to look it up immediately in her Transfiguration book.

\'Metamorphmagus.

A Metamorphmagus is a person who can transform certain parts of their body. Most Metamorphmagus (also Metamorph) are female. The Wizarding world hasn’t yet been able to discover why most women are Metamorphs.

A metamorphmagus is born with the habit to change haircolours or the colour of eyeseyes. With some extra training they should be able to transform into a whole new form/body…\'

Hermione raised her brows and searched further in the chapter. “There must be something about Metamorphmagus’ using Polyjuices.” She turned the fore last page of the chapter and smiled. “Thought so…”

\'Metamorphmagus and Transfiguration Potions.

A Metamorph isn’t able to transform into another body for much longer than half an hour before he or she loses their energy. When all their energy is lost, they could be in serious danger, for themselves as well as the community. An especially brewed Polyjuice Potion is the ultimate solution for this problem. A normal Polyjuice Potion will not work properly because of the magic possessed by a Metamorphmagus. There are only a few qualified Potions Masters who are able to make the right concoction without killing the Metamorphmagus.

In 1647, Professor Dilla (UK) was the first ever to produce a Meta Polyjuice.
Professor Zahnforia (PL) wasn’t able to let his guinee-pig live. They second time he brewed it, that was in 1712 in jail, he managed to complete the task without any deaths.
After Professor Zahnforai, no one was able to brew it properly. In 1876, the MOM in the United Kingdom decided that after the first deadly attempt, no one was allowed to ever brew it again.

Only in 1974 an English student in his final year managed to produce the Meta Polyjuice without killing his techer. The student, the current Potions Master at Hogwarts, Severus Benjamin Snape, got the highest Potions N.E.W.T.-mark ever.\'

“Professor Snape can make the Polyjuice for a Metamorphmagus?” Hermione said silently and shut the book, the reason to research forgotten. She hadn’t noticed the man standing behind her.

“Yes, he was quite a good Potions Master even as a student.” Hermione shot up and turned to see that the Headmaster stood behind her on the lawn. “Good evening.” He said with a smile on his face.