Storing Up Trouble

Disclaimer: These gorgeous delicious characters are not mine, I wish! Thanks to Jo though for letting us play with them.

beeky63: Ah, it’s so nice to have a faithful following. Update here.

Kris: I have got that one sorted, don’t worry.

Killer Kadoogan: Happy reading, and thank you for that wonderful response.

Dylan: Yes, it was rather hot… but then I have fantasies about Snape and the store cupboard.

Anon: The wait is over.

phistolemon: Here is more.

SoceressFujin: Believe me, it will get yummier, and hotter…

Edania: I love Severus, the hotter the better.

angel: You’ll just have to read to find out.

pinkwands: Isn’t he just! Didn’t I say elsewhere I had ideas? Glad you like it…

Megan Consoer: You know you needn’t ask.

Citten: I hope you haven’t gone too nuts! Anyway here it is, and I hope this calms you down sweetie.

Trouble Finder

Hermione had slunk onto her Head Girls bed with a headache and a painful throbbing in her stomach. She knew why. Snape, that greasy git, has made me like him! Or has he just put some fuel on the fire? This last question had Hermione confused. She did not like being wrong, and she sure hoped she weren’t wrong about Snape.

“Hermione?” Ginny asked, as she stepped cautiously in the room.

“Yeah?” Hermione mumbled into her cushion. “What are you doing here, Ginny, shouldn’t you be on patrol with Harry?”

“I’m just about to go,” Ginny said. “But, I thought you might need someone to talk to. The boys may not have noticed it, but I saw you stuff a letter in your bag, as if you didn’t want anyone to see it.”

“I didn’t,” Hermione said. “And I still don’t.”

“So,” Ginny sighed. “How are things progressing with my brother?”

“He keeps trying to ‘come on’ to me, I can’t take it anymore, Ginny. I know I should be ecstatic that he’s finally noticed me, but I feel it’s the wrong time to start a relationship. What with Voldemort, and Death Eaters being sighted nearly every day, I just feel, I don’t know, I don’t want to end up caring about him too much. I feel it’d be easier to start a relationship with someone like Draco Malfoy than your brother.”

Ginny narrowed her eyes and looked at the older girl. The girl that by rights should have completed her education by now, and out there in the big wide world.

“You do realise that Snape has been sighted don’t you?” Ginny asked.

“By whom?” Hermione asked.

“Aberforth Dumbledore,” Ginny replied. She then checked her watch and looked up. “Better be going, Hermione, see you later.”

Hermione nodded her head and Ginny walked out of the door. Hermione decided to get undressed; she was just about to put her nightdress on when an owl swooped into her open window.

“Hermione,

I am watching you, remember, always watching. Don’t do anything stupid!

S.S.”

She felt the bite beneath her earlobe and looked into the mirror set above the fireplace. She saw it; it was an angry welt, purplish green in colour and slightly raised from the skin. It was very difficult to ignore, he’d made sure of that. She wished that she had not gone back to him. What did she expect after the night before? Courtesy and respect? Dream on, Hermione, he would never lower himself to respect a mudblood.

Hermione shifted under her covers thankful that tomorrow was a Hogsmeade trip. She’d be able to get some semblance of normality back. She had to get out, as she hadn’t been out for a little while.


“How about this one?” Ginny asked. “Come on, Hermione, you’ve got to pick one, which one do you like best?”

Ginny was holding two dresses up within the budget Hermione’s parents had allowed her for clothes. They both looked good on her. One was burgundy with silk corset, decorated with golden stitches, with a heavy velvet skirt. Another was purple, silk all over, with silver stitching at the corset. Ginny held them both in front of a mirror.

“Hmm,” Hermione said. “Which one do you think?” She asked the assistant.

“Me?” The assistant asked. “I like the burgundy one best, it suits that brown colouring of yours. The purple don’t look too bad, but I think you should go with the burgundy.”

“Oh, all right, we’ll go for the burgundy then,” Hermione said.

Ginny smiled and then went off to find one for herself. “That’s Miss Indecision dealt with,” she said. “I, on the other hand, know exactly which one I want!”

She picked out a dress with red skirt and under dress, with green sleeves and flowing robe like quality; it was edged in silver and gold lacing. She looked at the price tag and sighed. “Perhaps another time.”

The shop door rang and Harry walked in. He saw Ginny hold the dress up, he noticed the light in her beautiful eyes, as she looked at it and he gulped down. She then put it back on the railing. Harry knew EXACTLY what to get Ginny for a Christmas gift, thankfully for Harry, neither Hermione nor Ginny saw him enter the shop.

He ducked down between two railings and watched the girls leave, and then he saw it, he saw the mark on Hermione’s neck. He knew Ron had not done that, if Ron had, he’d have been boasting about it by now, so if it weren’t Ron then who was it? He didn’t have time to think about that, as he heard a voice behind him say.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“Yes,” Harry said. “I’m looking for some ceremonial robes.”

“This way, sir,” the assistant said. Her eyes widened when she saw the scar. “Perhaps, we could come to some arrangement?”

Harry nodded his head furtively.


Hermione was waiting outside Madam Puddifoot’s for Ron. She didn’t know what to say to make the pain of breaking up any easier, she just knew she’d have to leave Snape out of the conversation, and if he questioned where she’d got that mark from, she’d say that it was a flea bite from Crookshanks fleas or something… she knew that wouldn’t sound plausible, but it was the best she could come up with.

Eventually she saw him come blundering down the alleyway and she waved to show him that she was indeed there, and he waved back in acknowledgement and quickened his pace. He had something he wanted to talk to Hermione about, and he didn’t know where to start. They walked into the coffee shop and Hermione sat down, and were immediately drowned in petals by cherubs.

“Get lost,” Ron snapped. This wasn’t going to make it any easier.

“Ron!” “Hermione!” They both said at the same time.

“I think that we should -!” “Hermione there’s something I want to ask you!” They spoke in unison again. They both found themselves collapsing with laughter.

“You first,” Ron said.

“All right,” Hermione breathed, and then she squared her shoulders. “Ron, how do I say this? Um, Ron, this isn’t working for me, not at the moment. I just feel that we both need to grow up a bit more before we settle down, I feel that we have to sort ourselves out before we even think about taking this relationship to the next level.”

Ron’s heart plummeted when Hermione had let herself have a little bit of breath.

“But-I thought-well, don’t you care for me? Can’t we just go a bit further? How do you know we’re not right for each other?”

“For a start our conversations aren’t equal, you’re still full of Quidditch talk, and I want to study Advanced Healing Techniques, you bore me with Quidditch, as much as I bore you with my Potion’s talk, and other such things. Ron, in two, maybe three years, let’s say, it might be the right time, or we might have found other people. It’s just that I feel this war has already forced us to grow up too quickly, let’s not it force us to do something rash like getting married and having kids young.”

“Mum and dad did it during the first war, and they’re all right and happy enough,” Ron said, as his ears went redder the higher his tone got.

Hermione looked around and the other customers were glaring in their direction.

“Yes, and whilst neither regrets it, they both wished to have more time before they DID do it, Ron, unlike you, I talk to them.”

Ron’s fist tightened around the box he had in his robes, it was going to be perfect, he thought. He wanted to propose to her, and now she was breaking up with him. He couldn’t believe it. He slammed his other fist on the table and growled at her.

“Bitch!” and stormed out.
Hermione was close to crying, she knew she’d hurt him, and she knew that this would probably be a rift not easily fixed. Hell, it weren’t easy for her either. She was hurting just as much, and she hated saying all that, but it was how she felt, even before Snape’s warning. Snape, her mind hissed, how could she even think of Snape when she had just broken up with her boyfriend?

She walked out of the coffee shop with people staring at her, and she was just about to walk down further when someone called her. It was Luna Lovegood.

“Hello,” Hermione said, her tone was dull, and she really didn’t want to talk to anyone right now.

“That was very brave of you, Hermione,” Luna said. “I mean it, that was. I mean it’s obvious you didn’t want to do it, but you still did.”

“I think the rest of the school will be in a disagreement about that, Luna,” Hermione replied. “It generally is when insufferable, know-it-all Granger goes one against a Weasley.”

Luna took Hermione’s hand in hers and linked her arm through hers and guided her back to Madam Puddifoot’s.

“Come on,” Luna sighed. “Let me buy you cup of hot chocolate. Isn’t that what any woman needs when her heart’s been broken?”

Hermione laughed. She didn’t think Luna Lovegood was going to be her friend, yet here they were. Taking chocolate together.

“Listen, Luna, thanks for that, but I have to go,” Hermione said. “There are the decorations to help put up.”

Luna nodded. Hermione walked out of the shop, and, as she walked further up the alleyway, she felt a hand clamp over her mouth, and an arm around her waist. She had no time to contemplate what was happening to her as she was being dragged down a few by streets. Dickensian was one word to describe it, it was very dark, and there was euax de Sewer, the stench almost made her gag, and the buildings were in no state for a pig to live in, let alone a human being. Hermione felt she was being taken to Fagin’s lair.

She was shoved into a house and then she faced her kidnapper.

“Severus, what?” she asked, as he went furtively to a grimy window, he wiped it with his sleeve.

“Good,” he sighed looking out of it. “I take it, by Weasley’s reaction, he didn’t take to the break up very well?”

“Do not be so arrogant as to assume you are the sole cause of this,” Hermione said. “I was thinking of breaking up with him anyway.”

“What’s in that package?” Severus asked.

“Nothing,” Hermione answered shortly, “that you’ll be seeing.”

“So, which one did you decide on then, the purple or the burgundy?”

Hermione glared at him.

“None of your business,” she snapped.

“Oh, but as I have marked you as mine, it is my business.”

“I thought you were always watching,” Hermione said coldly.

“Hermione,” Snape said in a very low, dangerous, tone. “You are mine, and not the other way around.”

She found herself staring at the dusty, wooden floor.

“Why do you feel the incessant need to drag me everywhere?” she asked. “That is exactly the sort of cave man mentality that Gryffindorian men have got.”

Snape tilted her chin up and made her look in his eyes and then put his lips on hers.

“Doesn’t the idea perk you up, just a little bit? Hmm, kidnapped by a strange, black robed man?”

“I’m hardly a child anymore,” she hissed. “And, no, it doesn’t. A simple word in the ear might be more appropriate.”

“Like?” Severus asked.

“Like ‘talk!’ or ‘follow me!’ or something like that.”

“That is so clichéd, Hermione, you’ll have to think of a better word than that,” she looked into his eyes again and this time they burned with more than the desire to kiss her, they were burning with passion, and lust. Hermione gulped, and looked away from them. “To the business at hand,” Snape said, dropping her chin. “I have some information regarding a certain locket.”

Hermione shivered at the loss of his contact.

“Yes,” she said. “Harry’s confused over that one.”

“I have got it,” Severus said. “And I have had it for about six months now.”

“About the time when you murdered Albus,” Hermione said plainly.

Severus winced at that.

“I brought it off that filth of a human being called Mundungus Fletcher,” he said coldly. “I was surprised actually. I have kept it within my possession ever since.”

“Do you happen to know who R A B is?” Hermione asked.

A look of pain, and anger swept across Severus’ eyes, and Hermione looked away from him.

“Yes,” he said quietly. “R A B was possibly the only friend I ever had, ironic, when you consider that his brother was my most fiercest enemy.”

“He’s Sirius’ brother?” Hermione gasped.

“WAS Sirius’ brother, Hermione, past tense. No doubt Sirius told you his brother, Regulus, was a Death Eater and was murdered, and had been set up by Matriarch Black as a martyr?” Hermione nodded. “I tried telling him the truth, but Sirius wouldn’t hear of it. Regulus was a traitor to the Dark Lord; he had died protecting something that could destroy him, not because Regulus was loyal to HIM, far from it. No, Hermione, Regulus died because he was waiting for the time to give it to Professor Dumbledore. He hid a fake one in the cave that Dumbledore and Potter went to, and kept the real one hidden in Grimmauld Place.”

Hermione gasped.

“There was a locket that we couldn’t open,” Hermione said.

“Did it look like this?” Snape asked. He brought out a silver locket, and Hermione’s eyes went wide, as she recognised the trinket. Her hand reached out to grab it but Severus brushed it out of the way. “Don’t be foolish, you saw what happened to Albus’ arm when he wore the ring.”

“It’s doing nothing to you,” Hermione bit out.

Severus smirked, he started unbuttoning his robes, and Hermione could not help but stand there and watch, as his fingers lazily disconnected one side of his waistcoat from another. Underneath the waistcoat was a white shirt, opened at the top, and Hermione saw a black mark on his chest.

“But, why are you causing this much pain to yourself?” Hermione asked, as she reached out and tentatively touched the evil looking mark.

“It’s about time I did, don’t you think?” Severus asked with a self-mocking look in his eyes.

“NO!” Hermione yelled at him. “No, it’s not right. How do we destroy this?”

“A Potion,” Severus said. “I’m not going to give you many more clues besides the fact that it is in the Restricted Section, AND is a book I believe you have used before, for self imposed extra curricular activities.”

“Why did Regulus want to do this?” Hermione asked silently.

“Believe it or not, he actually looked UP to his older brother, but YOUNGER brother was not good enough for him. So, I took over that role. Regulus might have liked you,” Severus said, as he raised Hermione’s hand to his lips. “I certainly do.”

Hermione was shaking with these revelations. It seems Severus was still on their side, although, his intentions seemed a little dubious. She felt herself being pulled in closer towards his body and he placed her hand on his heart.

“I better get back to the school,” Hermione murmured. “I promised Professor Flitwick I’d help with the Christmas Decorations.”

“I will be watching you, Hermione, remember that.”

Hermione looked up at him.

“Severus, what if it were Harry or Ron that caught you?”

“I told you, I intended YOU to find me, so that would not have happened.” Severus heart leapt in his throat, as he felt her lips move against his skin. Her breath was warm and it made something happen in his trousers. He had to let go of her soon.

“When will I see you again?” Hermione asked.

“Potions Store Cupboard,” Severus replied. “Everyday, without fail, between the hours of eight to nine. Oh, and where are you spending your holidays?”

“I don’t know,” Hermione said. “It depends on whether Mrs Weasley will talk to me now.”

Severus then looked down.

“You could always stay with me, there is so much information I could give you, that might be more convenient way of giving it to you, rather than meetings in the store cupboard. Remember, Hermione, I am doing this because I don’t believe in the pureblood ideal.”

“I’ll think about it,” Hermione said. “The end of term is in a weeks time.”

Severus then leant down and sucked at where he marked her. “To keep it fresh,” he said.

He then disapparated, and Hermione disapparated to The Three Broomsticks, and then she walked up to Hogwarts. Professor Flitwick had not even started. He had other volunteers, though, and her heart skipped when she saw that Harry was one of them. He looked at her rather oddly.


Hermione’s body ached from that. She thought that magic might have made it easier but it didn’t. You had to hold your wand right, and there was no way that you could let your attention waver for just a second. She collapsed on her bed, thankful that tomorrow was a Sunday, and even she was going to stop work for that particular Sunday. She was just about to go into the bathroom adjacent to the bedroom when the door was opened, and in stormed Harry.

“Who is he?” Harry asked.

“What?” Hermione blinked.

“Ron told me you broke up with him, and I know for a fact that bite is not given by an animal, well, not of the pet variety anyway. So, come on, Hermione, who is he?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Harry. I broke up with Ron because I am not sure I want to be with him at this moment in time, not because I met some ‘mystery’ man.”

“I am not having secrets kept from me, Hermione, I want to know what’s going on?”

“With that attitude, you never will,” Hermione said, as she stormed into her bathroom, ignoring the fact that Harry was in her bedroom. She heard the door slam shut, and she sunk on the floor. Her head on her knees and she started to sob.

She thought about Severus, and what he was allowing himself to go through, for THEM, because he WEREN’T a Death Eater. He had, after all, cured Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was an Auror.

She slid into the bath and immersed her body into its steamy coils, and washed her hair. She was almost tempted to take Severus up on that offer, after all, someone had to get information on destroying Horcruxes, and the only one that seemed to retain said information was her.

If asked where she got it from, she’d just state simply that it was from a mutual friend, going by the name of Trouble Finder. For Severus was doing just that, finding trouble.


A/N – Ron is like one of my least favourite characters, but even I choked up and felt for him when Hermione broke up with him… especially as he was going to commit. So, please review!