The Mentor

Chapter 15 – Misunderstandings

Both Hermione and Severus would have been surprised to realize that they were wearing identical grins as they prepared for their day. While Severus managed to conceal his behind his usual mask of haughty disinterest, Hermione could not. She walked in to the Great Hall with a goofy smile lighting up her entire face. He was breathless when he saw her, and as her smile widened when her eyes met his, Snape thought that his heart might stop. Without hesitation, she made her way towards him.

“Hey, Hermione!” a familiar voice yelled. Mentally shaking her head, Hermione recognized a familiar red-headed man walking towards her. Without warning, she was lift in a crushing hug, too shocked to see the happiness in Severus’ eyes dim as he watched Ron Weasley publically embracing his witch.

“Ron, please put me down. These are my students.”

“Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“Of course I am, but what are you doing here? I thought that you were travelling around Europe.”

“I was but the whole scene was getting really tired. I needed to come back to Britain, and I really missed you”, Ron implored, with a whining undertone to his voice. Hermione stiffened slightly under the arm that Ron still had casually draped across her shoulder.

Hermione could feel a pair of eyes burning into them. In her shock at seeing her ex-boyfriend, Hermione had completely forgotten that Severus was sitting right there, watching the entire display between Ron and herself. Making eye contact with her lover, she shuddered inwardly at the malice she could see in his eyes. With a subtle movement, she twisted herself out from under Ron’s embrace. He moved forward to grab her again, but Hermione deftly outmanoeuvred him. She could feel the loathing vibrating of off Severus in waves. It was time to try to diffuse the situation.

“Have you eaten breakfast yet Ron?” Hermione asked in what she hoped was a friendly yet neutral tone.

“No, I was waiting for you so that we could eat breakfast together, like old times.”

Hermione was decidedly uncomfortable. Her inner voice was screaming at her to shut down any thoughts that Ron may have for reconciliation. But, the middle of the Great Hall at meal time was not the place to do that.

“I think that we should take our meal in a more private place. There is something very important that I need to tell you.” Hermione indicated with her hand that Ron should follow her out through that staff entrance. As she walked past Severus on the way out the door, she ached to wrap her arms around him; to reassure Severus that this situation with Ron was not at all how it appeared. Two things stopped her from doing just that; the fact that they were surrounded by every student and staff member at Hogwarts; and the look of cold dismissal on his face. She glanced at him quickly, hoping that he would understand the feelings of love and devotion that she tried to communicate without words. Hermione thought that she saw a flicker of understanding, but the moment was totally ruined when Ron opened his mouth.

“I can’t wait to get you alone. It has been too long since we have been able to spend any quality time together.” Clearly, Ron was a clueless as ever. Hermione could not believe it! He seriously thought that something more might come out of them sharing a meal. Hoping to salvage her relationship with Severus before it was too late; she gave Ron a scathing look.

“There is something that I really need to tell you. Let’s go.” Hermione prayed that her cold tone and the lack of interest would let Severus know that she was not interested in any type of quality time with one Ronald Weasley.


**********


It took every iota of self control that Severus possessed to keep from hexing the Weasley boy. How dare he put his filthy hands on his Hermione? The lack of his own logic at the sentiment was completely lost on Severus, as his rage threatened to consume him.

“Severus!” Minerva whispered harshly, noticing the boiling contents of his tea cup, gripped tightly in his hands, and threatening to shatter. “What in Merlin’s name is wrong with you?”

Severus took a deep grounding breath before replying. “I am sorry Minerva. Seeing that red-headed incompetent pawing Professor Granger like that just brought back some vile memories of his days here as a student. What an imbecile!”

“Now Severus,” his colleague gently admonished. “Would it not be wonderful if those two found their way back together? I was so disappointed to hear when the relationship ended. They are so well suited to each other.”

Severus had to take another deep breath. “I do not think that there is a couple less well suited to each other than those two. He is the idiot who broke her heart because he could not be faithful, while she is brilliant, loving, caring and the most gifted student that I have ever taught. He does not deserve her, especially after his dishonesty.”

“Surely, as a man you understand the need to ‘sow some wild oats’ as it were. The breakup was just a bump in the road”, Minerva responded, although her conviction was beginning to waiver a little.

“I would never do to Hermione what that red-headed twerp did to her. He completely betrayed her. He lied to her and hurt her in a way that was entirely unforgivable.” Even as Severus spoke, he appreciated the hypocrisy of his words. Was he not doing the same thing to her? There was a very good chance that even now his child was starting to grow in her womb. He needed to go to her and talk with her, right that moment. Severus was determined to lay everything out; to give Hermione the honesty that she deserved.

“I have to go. Excuse me please Minerva.” She waved him off with a casual movement in her own hands, wondering when exactly Miss Granger became Hermione in his mind.

**********

“Please come in”, Hermione invited Ron inside her quarters. “Have a seat at the table. I will order us something for breakfast.”

Hermione walked towards the fireplace, ordering them both some breakfast. When she stood up to make her way to the table, Ron startled her by embracing her from behind.

“I would rather have you for breakfast,” he whispered in her ear, rubbing his erection into the small of her back. There was no mistaking his meaning.

Hermione thought that she was going to be ill, and could feel the bile rising in her throat. She did not want anyone but Severus touching her that way, ever again. She stiffened in Ron’s arms.

“You need to take your arms off of me and step away, right now!”

“Awww...come on Herms. I know you love it.” He continued to gyrate against her, failing to notice that her body had become even more rigid.

She cringed at the hated nickname. Hermione was tired of trying to be nice. Ron was thick, and clearly the only way to get through to him was to let him hear it straight out.

“Ron, if you do not step away from me this instant, I am going to hex the part of your body that is currently poking me right off!” Something about her tone finally started to sink in, and Ron backed off.

Attempting to cover his embarrassment at being rejected, he quickly turned into the petulant boy that Hermione remembered.

“What is wrong with you Herms? I know that you have not been seeing anyone since I dumped you. Surely to Merlin you are ready for a little action now! Or are you still the frigid ice cube that I remember?”

This was the first thing that Severus heard after quietly entering Hermione’s quarters. The grip on his wand tightened considerably, and just as he was about to finally put the young upstart in his place, Hermione calmed down enough to reply.

“Well Ronald,” He cringed. It was never a good thing when Hermione used his full name. “You are sadly misinformed. I have been seriously involved with someone since I started teaching.”

“Oh really, and what does this mystery person think of your ‘ice queen’ routine?” Ron asked sarcastically.

“Well”, Hermione replied with a self satisfied smirk. “He wouldn’t really know. You see, on our first get together, he had the pleasure of watching me masturbate for him, then he got to kiss and touch me everywhere which was nicely followed with a bought of serious fucking on that very bed behind you.”

Ron was gobsmacked but fairly quickly recovered the few wits that he possessed. “You are lying! There is no way that you would hold me off when we were living together, and then give yourself to someone on the first date!”

“Oh, I am not lying. In fact, every time that we have gotten together since then was pretty spectacular. I never realized how many different positions there are, and how wonderful they feel. I am getting wet just thinking about him!” Hermione replied; enjoying Ron’s deepening red colour as his ire grew.

“Honestly, you expect anyone to believe that you would hold me off for so long and then throw yourself at someone else. It’s unbelievable. Who would go for you anyway, the plain bookworm, know-it-all?” Ron was purposely trying to hurt her now, stunned that their ‘reconciliation’ was not going at all as planned.

“Well, I for one would definitely have this beautiful witch throw herself at me. In fact”, Severus chuckled knowingly as he wrapped his arm around Hermione’s shoulders, “she has thrown herself at me several times, and they were earth shattering experiences.”

Initially startled at the appearance of Severus, Hermione quickly settled into the comfort of his arm draped loving around her shoulders. She wrapped her arm around his waist, without words letting him know how glad she was that he was there for her.

Hermione had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing out loud at the expression on Ron’s face. He went from gapping like a landed fish to stammering like an idiot to gapping again, words clearly escaping him.

“What....him....you...him...you and him? Are you fucking joking? You cannot be serious! This is the git of the dungeons, and he always treated you like a pile of...dragon dung!” Ron tried to think of the vilest thing he could compare her too. Hermione simply smiled knowingly up at Severus.

“Actually Ronald, if you had actually taken the time to study instead of trying to get me to do your homework, you would know that dragon excrement is a fairly valuable potions ingredient. That was a lovely compliment.”

Ron realized that his standard tactic of insulting the witch was not going to get him what he wanted. He tried another approach.

“Have you thought at all about what Harry will say when I tell him about this? He will never speak to you again, and neither will I!” Ron grinned smugly at the dark wizard, certain that Hermione would step away from him now.

“First off, Ronald Weasley, I do not give one fig what you think. If you are too slow to figure that out, it’s not my problem. Your poor opinion of me means nothing!” Hermione took a deep breath, preparing to continue her tirade.

“Harry has not bothered to contact me beyond a handful of pitifully late birthday cards sent through owl post. He cannot be bothered to visit me or even to make a simple floo call. If you honestly think that someone could treat me in such an indifferent manner and still have some kind of influence over who I chose to love, you are more of an arse than even I would give you credit for!”

Hermione was on a rant, and did not notice Severus stiffen beside her when she mentioned loving him. His heart was swelling in his chest. Surely there was a chance for them. If she truly loved him, she could forgive him for his duplicity.

“I want you to leave now Ron, and I am not sure that I ever want to see you again. You have treated me horribly yet seem shocked when I tell you that I have zero interest in starting another relationship with you. You cheated on me, and then seemed shocked when I left. To make matters worse, instead of taking responsibility for your choices, you decided to tell everyone that you dumped me because I would not shag you. I will tell you something right now – I am so grateful that I did not waste my first time on a selfish, immature dunderhead like you! Severus is a wonderful, passionate lover who made my first time magical. But even if I was not with him, I still would not even consider being with you again. Ever!” Hermione had to stop and take another breath. She was still shaking, her eyes were sparkling with emotion and her face was flushed. Severus wanted to take her right there. He made a point of drawing her even tighter against his body.

For a moment, Ron appeared to be speechless. Unfortunately, his mouth started working before his brain could catch up. “Just wait until I tell my family about this! None of them will ever speak to you again.”

Hermione’s head dropped as she considered Ron’s claim about his family. Severus feared for a moment that Ron may have found her Achilles’ heel.

“Ron”, she asked quietly. “Do you know where I was last weekend, and a good portion of this past summer? I was with your family at their invitation. Never threaten my relationship with anyone. If I told your mother how you were acting right now, you would be getting howlers for a month! Get out, Now!” Hermione turned towards Severus, wrapping both arms around him, visually cutting herself off from Ron. Severus tightened his hold on Hermione, bringing one hand up to cradle her head against his heart.

“You heard her”, Severus stated in a quiet voice, “and you have caused enough drama for one day. You need to leave before I have you removed.”

Ron opened his mouth, prepared to let Severus know that under no uncertain terms could he ever tell Ronald Weasley, hero of the Second War against Voldemort, what to do. If he wanted to stay and talk to Hermione, he would do it.

“Gods boy!” Severus thundered. “Will you bloody well think with your brains, for once? Anything that you say now is only going to make this worse. GET OUT!”

Something about his tone sunk in, and Ron decided that neither of them was worth his time or attention. Quietly, he walked out of Hermione’s room.

“Thank you Severus. It was wonderful to truly feel as though someone was supporting me. Thank you.” Hermione continued to snuggle against his chest. Severus held her tightly against him.

“It was entirely my pleasure and my honour to speak up for you. You must know that I would do anything in my power to keep you from pain?” Severus stroked her back for a few more moments before pulling away.

“Are you ready for your first class?” he gently asked.

“Certainly”, Hermione replied. “I would never let that imbecile have that much influence over me.”

“I would like to dine with you in my quarters this evening. Would that be acceptable to you?” Hermione nodded in response.

“I would love to spend the evening with you.”

“There are a few things that I would like to discuss with you before our relationship goes any further”, Severus continued. “It is very important that we talk.”

Hermione felt a twinge of worry in her belly. This sounded serious.

“Can you tell me at all what this is about?” she inquired.

“It will have to wait for tonight. Please, do not trouble yourself. I just think that we are at a point in our relationship where we need to have a discussion about what we want out of it.”

“Fair enough”, Hermione answered with a gentle kiss to his cheek. “Until tonight then.”

Severus gave her a soft kiss back. His gut was clenched with worry. None of it showed on his face.

“Until tonight”.