Angelica's Sorrow

A/N


Karabdai - Thank You! Yours has got to be the fastest review I\'ve ever received. I went back to edit a few comma mistakes I saw and there you were! Dumbledore just kept nagging at me to let him meddle a little bit so I let him, what can I say. I love men with deep voices, but I\'ve always been a leg woman, myself. I have fond memories of looking at my 9th grade social studies teacher\'s thighs, he was also the track coach. Sigh! ;)

Naomi - Well, Severus has to figure a way out of his situation with Narcissa. He really does love her as friend and doesn\'t want to hurt her. We\'ll have to wait and see if he can manage this.

Deb - Don\'t know that Severus will thank Albus for his interference if he finds out. What if he and Hermione just don\'t get along? Then he will have blown it with Narcissa as well! What\'s a poor Potions Master to do?


Lynda - I know your response was in reference to the first chapter, but I hope you get far enough into the story to receive this - Thank you so much for your kind words of praise. I preened for an hour.


Lindsay - ;) How about a nervous Severus?

appy lady - Oh, another hour of preening to be sure! Thank you.


May I adopt all of you? We have plenty of room.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Hermione strolled down the Weasley\'s stairway on her way to the kitchen. Her dreams had been pleasant, the morning sun had gently woken her from a refreshing sleep and she was in no hurry to get on with her life just yet. Dinner last night had been particularly satisfying. The Weasleys invited friends over for a celebration for her and Molly. The heart wrenching absences of Ron and Charlie had been the only sad notes in an otherwise happy evening. She was content.

\"Good morning, Hermione. Did you sleep well, dear?\" Molly stood and embraced her in a warm hug. \"Pull up a chair, Ginny\'s made a marvelous breakfast. I\'m enjoying being pampered.\"

\"Yes, I slept well, nothing but good dreams. I\'m not surprised Ginny\'s a good cook, her teacher\'s the best one I know,\" she said as she returned the hug and sat down.

\"Oh, before I forget.\" Molly rose, retrieved a letter from the counter and handed it to Hermione. \"This came for you earlier. It\'s from Hogwarts, has their seal on the flap.\"

\"Strange, I\'ve already got my graduation certificate.\"

\"Well, open it, dear.\"

Molly clearly wanted to know what it contained and the anticipation was killing her. The letter had been delivered over two hours ago. Only the fact Hermione wasn\'t actually one of her children prevented her from opening it upon arrival.

\"Oh, I guess that would help.\"

She broke the seal, rolled it open and quickly skimmed the contents.


Miss Hermione Granger
The Burrow


Dear Miss Granger,

I would like to schedule a meeting with you at 10:00 this morning to
discuss a matter of some importance. If this would be inconvenient,
please respond by owl prior to 9:00.

If I do not receive a response, I will be contacting you then.

Sincerely,

Professor S. Snape, Potions Master
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry


\'Oh, Merlins robe! What time is it?\' Hermione\'s eyes flew to the clock. \'Ah!! 9:30. He\'d be here in half an hour!\'

\"Molly, where\'s Ginny?\"

\"What is it, dear? Bad news? Does it apply to Ginny?\"

\"No, a visit from Professor Snape, nothing about Ginny. I need to ask her something. What time did this arrive?\"

\"I think it was around 7:30 or so. I didn\'t really notice. What does he want?\"

\"I don\'t know, he doesn\'t say. Where\'s Ginny?\" A note of desperation crept into her voice with the last question.

\"She stepped out into the garden for a -\"

Molly was talking to empty air. Hermione had flown out the door when she heard the word garden.

\"Ginny! Ginny, where are you!\" Where was she?

\"Over here! What\'s wrong, you sound frantic.\"

Hermione spun around and saw her near the rows of cabbages, one clutched in her hand. She hurried over and thrust the letter into Ginny\'s free hand.

\"Here, read this. What could he possibly want? Maybe I really failed my potions NEWT and they finally figured it out. He says it\'s important. What could be more important than that? I\'ll never get an apprentice position now!\"

\"Will you calm down a moment and let me read it first! Hold this for me.\"

Ginny gave her the cabbage while she read the letter.

\"Where did you get all that from this pathetic little note? He only wants to come and talk. He\'s making sure it\'s convenient.\"

\"I know, but what else could it be?\"

\"It could be any number of things. This isn\'t like you at all, Hermione. You\'re the calm, practical Gryffindor, remember?\"

\"This is so much different and you know it.\"

Ginny brightened. \"I know, he\'s coming to declare you\'re his one and only true love. That\'s why he\'s doing it in person. Anything else he could put in a letter, right?\"

Too bad a cabbage to the head would hurt a lot worse than a pillow. She couldn\'t resist hefting it in her hand and eyeing her friend, looking for the best target.

\"No, don\'t even think about it, Hermione! Mum would kill me, that\'s for dinner tonight.\"

Ginny took off at a dead run heading for the house, letter still in her hand.

\"Hey! Come back here and fight, you little coward!\" she yelled, holding the cabbage close to her side and taking off after her. \"Besides, you have to help me do something with this hair before he gets here! And my clothes! Merlin\'s robe, what am I going to wear? I didn\'t bring much with me.\"

Their laughter followed them all the way back up the stairs to Ginny\'s room. Molly sat in the kitchen shaking her head at the foolish behavior of two basically grown women. What could be so exciting about a visit from the dour Potions Master? They hadn\'t even put the cabbage away properly.


Severus pulled his pocket watch and looked at it again. Damn, the time was simply flying. The anticipation of actually seeing her and dread of making a total arse of himself, took turns twisting his stomach and making his heart pound. He was never going to forgive Albus. Maybe he could delay the visit until Draco became his ally? No, she was expecting him in half an hour.

Why couldn\'t she have sent an owl requesting another day? One next week would have been preferable. Minerva could delay that long in sending the transcript of her grades. Should have thought of that earlier, dolt! Gods, Minerva! He still had to get a copy of the contract.

Dress robes or everyday, his hand hesitating at the choice. Dress, they would remind him to portray the gentleman, not the Potions Master. He grabbed them, hastily opening, closing and warding his door. Had to hurry if he wanted to be punctual, Minerva would be sure to have a few questions.

He appeared outside the gate at the front of the house with two minutes to spare. Strangely enough Minerva hadn\'t asked any questions. Dumbledore must have told her, didn\'t even have to ask for the contract. There was something about that he didn\'t like, an uneasy feeling.

Time to knock on the door. House still looked like it would fall down at any time. You\'d think with Voldemort gone they\'d take the time to do a little remodeling.

\'Couldn\'t be a little envy talking there could it?\' he asked himself.

The few times he visited on Order business it had seemed a happy enough home, disorganized as it was. He knocked briskly three times.

Maybe she wasn\'t here, hadn\'t been here to get the owl to send a return message. Should have said to send a reply either way. Too late now, the door was opening.

\"Severus, how good to see you. Please come in.\"

Molly was beaming at him as he walked through the door.

\"I never did get a chance to thank you properly. Arthur said you worked tirelessly at finding a cure for all of us.\"

\"You\'re very welcome, Molly. Although you do realize Albus is the one who actually came up with the counter spell. I only helped find the original.\"

\"I know and I\'ve thanked him, too. Without your hard work, he wouldn\'t have been able to do that though would he?\"

\"No, I suppose not. Is Miss Granger available?\"

\"Oh, she\'ll be down shortly. Would you like a cup of tea?\"

\"No, thank you. Do you know if she will be long? I have a rather full schedule today.\"

Angelica would have seen the lie immediately, luckily Molly didn\'t have her gift.

\"Let me get her for you. I\'ll be right back, go ahead and have a seat.\"

His eyebrow rose at her back.

\'Not very bloody likely! This conversation is not going to take place at the Weasley\'s kitchen table with Molly hanging on every word. She\'d be advising Hermione before I had the full proposal completely out of my mouth.\'

He took the opportunity to wander around, observing nothing much had changed. The clutter would drive him crazy within a week. Still, it was very clean.

\"Professor, how nice to see you.\"

He turned to see a very nervous Hermione, still biting the same lip she always did. It was a wonder the poor thing didn\'t turn around and bite her back. Better, he could - no, thoughts were definitely not going to go in that direction. Time to get her accustomed to the gentleman and not the Potions Master.

\"Miss Granger, technically I am no longer your professor. Do you think you could do me the honor of calling me Severus instead?\"

While he was speaking he stepped closer, noting at the same time Molly\'s shoes on the stairs. Damn good thing she hadn\'t been a spy for the Order.

\"I can try.\"

\"Normally, Miss Granger, when someone asks you to call them by their first name and you accept, you offer the same.\"

This was going to be harder than he thought, she didn\'t offer her hand for him to kiss.

\"Oh! Please, call me Hermione.\"

\"Hermione, would you consent to taking a walk with me while we discuss our business?\"

He held out his arm for her to take. Puzzlement on her face, finally clearing to comprehension. That\'s right, just below the crook of the elbow. She clearly was not accustomed to being treated like a lady.

\'What else could you expect from the likes of Mr. Potter,\' he almost snorted, but caught himself.

\"That would be wonderful, it\'s a beautiful day. I want to thank you for all you did, Prof - Severus. Ginny told me the whole story. The account they gave at St. Mungo\'s left out a lot.\"

\"It took some time, but it was well worth the effort.\"

Someday, he might be able to tell her just how worthwhile the effort was. He guided her out the door and away from the ears listening intently on the stairs. Fred and George Weasley apparently came by their habits honestly.

\"What did you want to see me about? Was there something wrong with my potions NEWT?\" A trace of anxiety.

\"Not at all, it was excellent as you well know.\"

Maybe that was laying it on a bit thick, this early. Definitely too much. He\'d forgotten how expressive her face was, made his task that much easier. He did like her hair in the french braid, though he missed it floating about. She looked a little pale, perhaps it was the awful olive color in her blouse that was to blame.

\"Thank you. I don\'t know what to say.\"

They had wandered to the far section of the garden where there was a sturdy looking wooden bench.

\"Would you care to sit while I tell you why I requested this meeting? I know Draco still tires easily.\"

\"Ginny told me Molly does, too. I wouldn\'t mind.\"

He settled beside her. \"Albus and I had a discussion concerning you last evening. He advised me your apprenticeship at Beauxbatons had been given to someone else and suggested Hogwarts might offer you one. I am here to see if you would accept that position under me instead.\"

Certain portions of his anatomy clenched at the picture generated in his mind.

\'Poor choice of words there, old man. No innuendoes allowed, yet,\' he scolded himself.

\"You - but - I - when.\" Surprise this time.

\"That was an interesting combination of words, but they don\'t tell me your answer.\"

He allowed a teasing, half smile to grace his face.

Whoa! If half a smile was that lethal, what was the whole one like? This couldn\'t be the same man, where was snarly Professor Snape? If the letter hadn\'t been on Hogwarts stationery she would suspect someone had used Polyjuice Potion to impersonate him. Come to think of it, he looked much more relaxed and rested than when he had been a spy. Maybe it was the robes, they looked a lot different. Really nice, softer somehow.

She was looking at him with a slightly dazed expression on her face. Was this good or bad?

\"Hermione, are you all right? Do you need to go back inside?\"

\'What? Why would I want to go back inside?\'

\"No, I\'m fine.\"

Another half smile, lips moved again, forming words and she realized he had asked her another question.

\"I\'m sorry what did you say?\"

\"I said if you\'re fine, could I have an answer to my question?\"

\"What question? Oh, I didn\'t think you accepted applications for apprenticeships.\"

He was getting a little worried. \'She was never bubbleheaded prior to the curse. Potter! He\'d messed up somehow!\'

\"I normally wouldn\'t consider taking on an apprentice, but under the circumstances I agreed.\"

Warring emotions this time. Almost too fast to track. Indecision seemed to be the winner for the moment.

\"You and Professor Dumbledore aren\'t just feeling sorry for me?\"

\"What makes you say that?\"

\"Well, it seems like it could be a factor. I\'ve gotten enough of the poor Hermione treatment this last week. I want to do things on my own merit, not pity.\"

To hell with waiting for her to offer a hand. He picked one up and held it in both of his, inadvertently reminding himself of Narcissa.

\"I have to tell you something and if you repeat it, I will categorically deny every word, especially to Minerva or Albus. You are by far the brightest and most talented student I have ever taught. If you had submitted an application to me last year, I would have accepted.\" Total astonishment, he liked how her eyes widened.

\"But my grades - \"

\"Were the highest I\'ve ever given to anyone.\"

Ah, a slight flush appeared.

\'Wonder how she would look if - no, damn it, stop!\'

\"Thank you. That means a lot.\"

\"Have you considered our offer yet?\"

\"I would be foolish not to take you up on it, wouldn\'t I?\"

\'Oh, the whole smile is totally devastating. Merlin\'s robe, he\'s chuckling. If he doesn\'t quit soon my brain will be a puddle in no time flat. Damn, he let go of my hand to fish in his robes.\'

\"Ginny, you\'re standing on my foot!\" Molly gave her a slight push to move her over.

\"Sorry, Mum. What are they doing now?\"

\"He let go of her hand and took some kind of paper out of his pocket. She\'s reading it - must be very short, because now she\'s signing it. He rolled it back up and put it away. Now they\'re talking again. How nice, he\'s standing and offering her a hand up. She\'s taking his arm - Merlin\'s robe they\'re headed back inside! Quick, act like you\'re busy.\"

\"Doing what?\"

Molly rolled her eyes, \"Use your imagination.\"

Severus walked her back to the door feeling very pleased with the morning\'s efforts. She would be joining them at Hogwarts, two weeks prior to the beginning of the new term.

\"I will take my leave of you now, Hermione. Molly\'s a wonderful lady, but I have my limits. Right now her curiosity level is probably reaching its peak.\"

Her smile warmed his heart. It was a beginning. She never would have smiled at the Potions Master like that.

\"She does like to know what\'s going on.\"

\"That could qualify as the understatement of the year, my dear.\"

The dazed look was back. \'I am going to throttle Potter as soon as I see him.\'

\"Hermione?\"

\"Yes?\"

\"I\'m leaving now. Minerva will send you a list of the things you need to bring with you.\"

She wasn\'t going to offer her hand. \'Take it or not?\'

\"I\'ll look for it, bye.\" She added a brief wave to the end of her sentence.

Uh-oh. His eyebrow just went up. He was shaking his head in a negative way, but the half smile was back so it couldn\'t be too bad.

\"That is just not the way it\'s done.\"

\"I don\'t understand, the way what is done?\"

Eyebrow climbed higher, she was getting into something deeper, but hadn\'t a clue. His eyes were laughing at her! What? What had she done? Slight panic attack as he stepped closer.

\"A lady doesn\'t wave her hand in the air when saying good bye to a gentleman. If you\'re going to be my apprentice you\'ll need to learn the proper way.\"

\"A lady - me?\"

\"Well, I don\'t think it\'s me.\"

A full blown smile this time, looked like he was trying to keep from laughing. Luckily the door was supporting her, legs sure weren\'t doing a very good job on their own.

\"What\'s the proper way?\"

Finally, she took the bait.

\"A lady will bring her arm up so.\"

He placed one hand under her elbow while taking her hand in the other.

\"Offering it to the gentleman in question. Now you try.\" He released her.

\"Why?\"

Oops, eyebrow back in action. Wrong question. Better to just do it.

\"So, the gentleman can do this.\"

He took her hand lightly in his, was learning over and - \'Gods, he\'s kissing my hand! Tingles, I\'ve never had tingles before!\'

He considered and used slightly more than the polite one required. Her hand trembled slightly. Enough for now, then. Still holding her hand he looked up - Merlin\'s robe the dazed look was back. Perhaps this wasn\'t a result of the curse, instead a reaction to him? \'Damn, I won\'t get to throttle Potter after all.\'