Lendoren

Disclaimer : This story has been written by a French author, kelokelo, and this chapter has been translated by ezilda and beta’ed by septentrion and Tanit. Harry Potter and all the other characters belong to JKR.


Chapitre 10 : He may need a dictionary


When Severus reached the staff table in the morning, he was hardly any happier. Gryffin noticed it immediately and did not hide his worry about it:

“I was sure she understood yesterday, Severus!”

“Oh, she did understood”, grinded Severus. “However, between understanding, admitting and accepting, there’s apparently a ditch she’s not decided to get over! Quite the contrary!”

“And obviously, you’re doing your best to reassure her?”

When Severus looked at him without understanding, Arlin Gryffin almost took his head in his hands with despair. Why, oh why had the male companion of surely the most powerful couple magic had ever known have as much sensibility as a log when it comes to girls? He had no doubt about Severus’abilities to teach Hermione to control her powers, or to support her as her Lendoren companion, he had even less doubt about his lover qualities, as the boy made the most of the life while he had no companion, however about understanding young girls’ doubts… He deserved a T for Troll, not more. Even though, if there was a worse note…

“Severus”, he said with a firm voice, “you are hopeless on that subject. If you don’t want to understand your students’ doubts, I don’t blame you, but Hermione is your companion! So, if she is afraid of what’s happening to her, you are the one most able to reassure her that all will be well, aren’t you?”

“But Arlin, I try teaching her what she has to…”

“Severus, I’m not talking about how to teach her to control her powers or the whole knowledge she must have about our community and your link! I know you can do that. I’m talking about the comprehensive attitude that a companion must have in view of what she’s discovering and…”

“But I’m in the same situation, am I not?” Severus protested. “We both have a new companion, who has just been landed on us and whom we must get used to, haven’t we?”

Arlin shook his head and groaned inwardly, so loudly that his companion Aya, who was at the other end of England, worried about it. When he answered her briefly that in Severus’mind, Hermione and he are absolutely in the same situation, and if he didn’t complain, so why did she do it, her mental answer was as amused as saddened and sorry for Hermione, who, according to her, deserved much better, although she didn’t know her yet.

The link with his companion was cut by Severus, who said to him in an urgent voice:

“Hurry up, she wants to see you to confirm her status.”

This confirmed Arlin’s fears and stirred up his anger to Severus:

“You’ll have a look at a dictionary to learn the meaning of the words “to reassure”, “to rally round somebody”, and “to inspire confidence” ’s definitions and apply them with Hermione, and I don’t care it’s against your character, your principles or whatever! You do it, that’s all! And not later than tonight!”

He left the table with such a black look that even Dumbledore didn’t dare ask what happened or what have been said between the two men. But clearly, his impression was confirmed. It was really Arlin Gryffin who commanded. And his Potions Master was particularly sullen. He would nearly feel sorry for the pupils who were going to be in his class, today. The hourglasses would be emptier tonight than this morning…

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Gryffin saw Hermione waiting in front of his class’s door, her expression dictated him above all not to speak. Hermione nearly entirely collapsed when he closed carefully the door behind them, cast a Colloportus charm and a soundproofing spell. He knew why she was here.

“I admit, Miss Granger, that Erwin isn’t a model of tact, nor of comprehension”, he said slowly, “on the other hand I know that he will be a good companion for you.”

“I’ll never manage it,” Hermione murmured, while her tears began to overflow her eyes.

“I’m convinced that you will, Miss Granger. I don’t know any Lendoren companion who regretted the magic’s choice at the end. I must admit that the beginnings are more or less difficult according for characters, but magic never chooses at random. He’s the companion you need and you are the companion he needs.”

“More or less difficult?” Hermione replied bitterly, looking straight in his eyes.

“I recognize that it will perhaps be rather more than less with him,” he said to her with a little smile. But you mustn’t lose heart, I think you have all the resources in you, to have him change the way you need. However you must be all the same careful with what he will try to teach you, but I know you are usually a good pupil. Require simply of him to behave like a companion, and not like a teacher, as he thinks he must be for you.”

“But how do I do that with such a whipping boy?”

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When she arrived in Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall said nothing in spite of her small delay. She knew by Severus that Hermione has just understood she was Lendoren in these words:

“I’ll have white hair before she admits she must let me guide her.”

Professor McGonagall was appalled: Severus continued to behave as a professor with her. She saw noting of the companion he was supposed to be.

By a look at Hermione’s red eyes, she understood that she was still on the edge of a fit of hysterics, so she wouldn’t mind a few minutes’ delay this time.

Hermione followed her Transfiguration class without really paying attention. Certainly, she was taking notes, but at the end of the class, she would have been unable to say what she had written. On the other hand, to master the spell hadn’t been a problem, like professor Flitwick’s on the day before. Harry and Ron were looking at her with wide eyes. Usually, when Hermione was absent-minded, she had more troubles in casting her spells correctly, especially when professor McGonagall told them they would need about ten classes to have a result. And she had again got a perfect result from the first try!

Severus had followed as well as he could, for he also had classes to teach, Hermione’s doubts. When they were going to have lunch, however, he could wholeheartedly listen to her. He didn’t want to surprise her whatsoever while she was surrounded and to risk an incomprehensible reaction under her friends’ eyes. Professor McGonagall intercepted him while he was sitting for lunch, but before she opened her mouth, he told her in a weary tone:

“I know, Minerva, she successfully mastered a spell from the start once more. If you could stop teaching the new spells for now, frankly, it would make my life a bit simpler. But, yes, yes, I’ll do all I can with her!”

He brooded over while eating. To reassure her? Of course he wanted to do that, if only he knew where to begin! To teach her how to control her magic, should not raise a huge problem, she was naturally gifted and attentive to explanations. To become his lover, frankly, should be the contrary to a problem, this surely would revealed itself as a great pleasure. For the time being, she seemed a little uptight, but a few nights in his company would change her soon. Obviously, she would need to get used to the idea of making love with her Potions professor, but all she had to do was to make the distinction: during classes, he would stay her professor, outside, he would be her lover. That’s all. Maybe she would be more receptive to his arguments if they were lovers, but for the time being, in the state she was, he knew that if he revealed that Erwin and her Potions professor were one person, on top of everything… No, no, he didn’t even want to think about that…

She was already leaving the table? On one hand, it was perfect, in view of the hour, she would be alone as soon as she would have gone through the Hall’s doors, but on the other hand, he hoped he wouldn’t have to supervise her diet as well, would he? He didn’t want her to lose the sweet curves he guessed were under her uniform. Curves placed exactly where they were needed, neither too much nor too little. Just thinking about it, he felt the desire inflame his own body. He established the link with her and quietly asked:

“Hermione, may we talk?”

“About what? About what you want me to do beside?”

“Well, why not begin like we did a few days ago, for instance, which book did you check out of the library to drive you to sleep tonight?”

“Because you’re really interested in that?” she asked dubiously.

“Hermione! My dear, I really want to make an efforts, but it must be mutual.”

“I’m not your dear.”

“Oh, yes, you are. But… if you don’t want to get onto this aspect of our relation, for now, at least verbally… all right… just for now. Although you know we can’t relinquish this aspect of our relationship, Hermione.”

“I’m… I’m not ready to..”

“I’m not asking just now Hermione, nor for the coming days. Only, you must allow me to have your trust.”

After a moment of silence between them, he said:

“So? What about this book?”


thanks to you who have read and/or reviewed so far. Special thanks to moreplease, lisa and citten