Love Is No Big Truth

Chapter 11: Caring is Creepy

On Tuesday Hermione finished her potion and checked the time. It was almost six and some of her classmates were not ready yet. She gathered her courage and approached Master Borisov. He looked up from his book.

‘Yes, Miss Granger?’

‘I am finished with the assignment, sir. May I be excused from the after-class discussion for today, I have an important appointment at six and I can’t afford to be late.’

He walked over to her cauldron and inspected the potion.

‘Your work is excellent, Miss Granger. Indulge my curiosity, what is your important appointment, if it is not something too personal?’

Hermione didn’t want to mention Professor Snape’s name and said quietly, ‘I have to meet our mutual acquaintance, sir. It’s about his research.’ Master Borisov’s eyes widened and he smiled.

‘Oh, I see. Well, he does not like to be kept waiting. Go ahead and send my regards.’

Hermione gathered her things and left in a hurry.

When she arrived in the café, out of breath and dishevelled, Snape was already giving his order to the waitress. She expected him to comment on her being five minutes late, but he just arched an eyebrow.

‘Well, did he?’

For a moment, she didn’t grasp his meaning, but then she caught on.

‘Yes, he did. No, I didn’t fall for it. Honestly, how could I put anything in a cauldron before thinking about it twice? I was your student after all,’ she quipped. Snape seemed mildly pleased.

‘Good old George, always keeping you on your toes.’ He shook his head, clearly amused, and pushed a small parcel across the table.

‘Enlarge these when you get home. They are spelled to open only to you, but it would not be wise to carry them around too much.’

‘I will take care of the books, don’t worry sir.’ She clutched the precious tomes to her chest.

The waitress arrived with a cappuccino for him and an espresso for her. Hermione reached for her cup when a shrill voice behind her back startled her and she almost spilled it. The voice’s owner turned out to be Bella, who sat on the available chair next to Hermione and started blabbering.

‘Hermione! I didn’t know you come here too! Why did you leave early? You missed the Master’s assessment of Iva’s potion, I swear she was almost hysterical when he finished. He definitely brought her down a notch or two. ’

Hermione desperately tried to interrupt her, but it was too late.

‘Excuse me, miss.’

Severus’ voice could freeze over Hell, and then some. Bella stopped mid-sentence and turned to him. He was glaring at her full-force and she recoiled.

‘Miss Granger and I were having a private conversation, which you rudely interrupted. Besides it is unacceptable to sit at an occupied table without asking for permission first. I am sure that Miss Granger is dying to learn all the gossip, but it will have to wait until later.’

Bella just gaped at him, apparently petrified with horror. Hermione sympathized. Professor Snape took some getting used to. She patted Bella’s hand and told her softly, ‘I’ll see you in class tomorrow and you will tell me about it.’ This seemed to wake the girl from her stupor. She stood up quickly and after a last horrified glance at Hermione, she practically ran away.

Hermione buried her head in her hands and almost whined, ‘Did you have to be so mean to her?’

Severus sipped his cappuccino as if nothing had happened and replied dryly, ‘You have to admit that she was very disrespectful.’

Hermione just sighed and grabbed her cup.

‘Drink your coffee and we will go talk in the park. This café is too close to the university, I can’t risk you traumatizing more of my classmates. ’ She expected a sniping comment, but he complied and their finished their drinks in silence. Then he threw several coins on the table and stood up.

‘Lead the way, Miss Granger.’

---

The park was lovely, covered in the gold-and-red cloak of autumn. The sun was setting and the trees looked like they were on fire. Lost in contemplation, Hermione let her legs carry her, until she heard Snape's footsteps pause beside her. He was scowling.

‘Is there a reason you brought me to this particular place?’ he asked coldly.

Hermione glanced around; circular benches, chestnut trees…oh, no, the water lily pond! She flushed and turned her pleading eyes towards him.

‘I am so sorry. I had no ulterior motives, I assure you. You told me you don’t want to talk about Lily anymore, and I respect that. This just happens to be my favourite spot and I always end up here when I’m not going anyplace in particular. I apologize, it was thoughtless of me. We can go elsewhere.’

His eyes lost some of the anger and he slowly walked towards the pond. He reached out a finger and stroked one white petal.

‘It is fine, the flowers are quite beautiful. I should apologize for overreacting.’

Hermione gave him a moment alone and sat quietly on one of the benches. Several minutes later he joined her, stretching his log legs in front of him. He seemed lost in thought and she used the opportunity to observe him from under her eyelashes. No, he was not pretty; she scoffed at the thought of such an adjective associated with him. He was not even handsome. Despite that, he seemed to emanate a sort of raw masculinity that unnerved her. It was in his face, in his posture, even in the way he moved.

‘Why did you write to me of all people about your nightmares?’ he asked, still looking straight forward.

She startled at the sudden question but tried to answer truthfully.

‘Somehow I believed you would understand. The only other person who would was Harry, but he was too close. I needed someone…detached.’

‘It didn’t seem to do you a lot of good.’

‘Oh, it did. Everything you told me to do was right. It was not your fault that my parents were dead by the time I went to find them. You gave me what I asked for-advice. I didn’t expect you to come charging to my rescue.’

‘Maybe I should have, when I didn’t receive a reply. After all, you are the one who stopped me from bleeding to death in the Shrieking Shack. Arranging a Portkey to England would have been a matter of minutes with George's help.’

‘Professor, you have done more than enough on my behalf!’ She hated the idea that he still felt indebted to her.

‘I gave you permission to use my first name when we spoke last in Hogwarts. Yet you never did.’ This time he looked at her. He definitely was in a strange mood, asking all these questions. Usually she was the one doing the asking.

‘I did tell you to use mine, but you still called me “Miss Granger” when you said goodbye.’

His brow furrowed in recollection.

‘It seems you are right. I’d rather you didn’t call me “Professor”, it makes me feel as if I am back in Hogwarts.’

‘Only if you manage to use my first name, Severus.’

She enjoyed the feeling of his name slipping from her mouth, the sibilant sounds tickling her tongue. It was almost…sensual. A bare expanse of pale stomach flashed in her mind and she pressed her lips to stifle a sigh. Gods, what’s wrong with me? I thought I had forgotten about that…

He tensed up next to her only to relax in a moment.

‘I suppose that’s only fair, Hermione.’

There was an uncomfortable pause and Hermione cleared her throat.

‘I have researched the list of ingredients you mentioned in your notes and made a list of their uses and possible interactions when used in a potion.’ He threw her an exasperated look and she waved her hand. ‘I know, I did it for my own reference. It wouldn’t do to ask you for every single one of them, and I am sure you don’t have it on paper…after so many years of brewing I supposed you knew all that from memory.’ Severus visibly bit back his reply and nodded.

‘From the information I gathered, it seems that you are attempting a potion which renders the consumer immune to any Wielding influence for a period of time, creating a shield around their life force. This should be able to negate the effects of the Killing Curse, because the core of it is the Wielding powers of Graolf, am I correct?’

He nodded gravely.

‘Yes. It is as if he is summoned from the dead to kill every time Avada Kedavra is cast.’

Hermione stared at him incredulous.

‘But I thought he imbued the curse only with his powers? You mean that there is some aspect of him left in our plane of existence and connected to the spell?’

‘For a wizard, his magical powers are deeply connected to his life and soul. That is why you were in mortal peril when you used up all your energy to heal me. I am sure that some part of him is connected to the killing curse. The feeling when you cast it...I have always felt malice that was not my own.’ She could swear she saw the tiniest of shivers run down his spine.

‘Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find an accurate description of the ritual he underwent. This knowledge was erased and forgotten long ago.’

***

Severus watched the girl with a hint of amusement. He could imagine the gears shifting in her brain as she processed the information.

‘Never mind that, Hermione, the point is that if a potion is able to negate Wielding, it will also negate the Killing Curse. I have made some progress, but at this point I have to admit I am stuck. A fresh opinion is always valuable. Read the books I gave you, they should explain some of the more…arcane properties of those ingredients you researched. Then we will discuss the potion again.’

She bit her lip again. His fingers twitched. Damn that lip!

‘Prof…um, Severus, may I visit you again this weekend to practice? I’m still afraid to do this on my own.’

He was suddenly uncomfortable with the thought of being alone with her in his secluded cottage. Stop that! She needs to practice and she’s right, it’s dangerous for her to do it alone. At least she has more common sense than Lily. He winced.

‘I’m sorry Professor, I didn’t mean to impose. Just…owl me when you have time.’

He realized that the girl had mistaken his expression for refusal.

‘No, this Saturday will be fine. And I believe we agreed on first names, Hermione?’

‘Yes, um...it’s hard to call you that when you have your “Professor Snape” scowl, you know?’

There was a small smile playing on her lips. It seemed contagious, because he felt his own mouth curve upwards.

‘Is this more conductive? I have a very wide range of facial expressions that are not a part of the “Professor Snape” persona.’

Her eyes widened a fraction and she blushed. Curious, he couldn’t resist a small peek into her mind before she looked away. He glimpsed only one thought, screaming loud and right on the surface. It made his heart miss a beat and his blood rush in two opposite directions. “Wow, he actually looks handsome when he smiles. Oh gods, what does his face look when he is having sex? Aaargh, stop it, Granger! Only embarrassment and humiliation lie that way.”

He realized that his own face was flushed and his long-neglected nether regions were stirring to life. Thank Merlin that the girl was still pretending to stare at the lily pond, or he would be the one embarrassed and humiliated. At least she hadn’t sensed his intrusion.

So, she isn’t averse to the idea, hm? He silenced the wicked little voice tormenting him.

It was a passing thought in her mind, you twit! Despite being a know-it-all, she is still a hormonal teenager. It doesn’t mean that she wants to see for herself!

But you still want to show her, don’t you?

He gritted his teeth and pushed the thought away. He stood up and cleared his throat.

‘Shall I expect you in the afternoon again? I understand you have lunch with the Krums on Saturdays.’

She glanced at him before averting her eyes again, but he noticed that her face was still pink.

‘Um, yes. I will arrive right after lunch.’

‘I shall see you then. Good evening, Hermione.’ She turned to him and mumbled ‘Good evening, Severus,’ and he Disapparated. However, not before he saw her literally squirm as his name rolled off her tongue.

---

After arriving at the cottage, Severus toed off his shoes and grabbed a book from the shelf. He had read “Obscure Potion Ingredients from the Aegean Region” at least three times, but it would do to keep his mind focused and not wandering in directions it was not supposed to go. He sat under his fig tree and opened the book at the chapter about insects. However, by the third page he was acutely aware of the excitement in his trousers which refused to subside. Putting away the book, he glared at his crotch.

‘You were content and quiet for the last several years, what is wrong with you now? Lusting after a student, how pathetic.’

The infernal voice in his mind answered promptly. She is definitely not a student anymore, nor is she a little girl. She thinks you are handsome when you smile. And you look like a nutter, talking to your cock out loud, you know? Severus groaned and buried his face in his hands. It has been so long. Why now? Why her? His traitorous mind flooded with pictures of her biting her lip and leaning forward to grab some parchment, that tantalizing flash of lace, the way her jeans hugged her perfectly biteable bottom. He cursed loudly.

‘I NEVER stared at her bottom!’ The voice snorted in amusement. Oh yes, sure. That’s why you remember it so clearly.

His pants were uncomfortably tight already, and trying to adjust them caused a jolt of pleasure to rush down him. He pulled his hand away as if burned and stood up, grabbing his book.

‘I am not masturbating over Hermione Granger, of all people!’ he whispered with a vindictive snarl, and stormed off to brew a Deflating Draught.

---

Hermione stared at the spot where he had stood. What had possessed her to think of that? Scratch that, what had possessed her to think of that while looking an accomplished Legilimens right in the eye? Thank God I looked away in time!
It was getting dark and she headed towards her flat, trying to think about school and homework, yet she couldn’t stop envisioning the way his face came to life when he smiled.

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A/N: Thanks to everyone for their lovely reviews! This chapter's title belongs to The Shins.