A Dreary World

~Author\'s Notes~

Chapter Two is finally here...the story takes an interesting turn in chapter three...hope you enjoy, feedback would be lovely thank you. Also I\'d love to get a rating out of five for how Snapish I made Snape, it would be most interesting to see

Chapter Two: Fear Of Flying

\"Unexpected things always happen...just don\'t get scared\"

Just Before Summer, 1999


The vast lake glittered as the summer’s sunshine reflected
off the crystal clear water. A girl’s reflection looked into it. Her soft brown
curls were blowing side to side with the winds current, and the peace was
simplistic. Time and time again she was contemplating on taking her life, there
wasn’t a point to go on living. The Dark Lord had risen, no one was prepared
for what had come, no one expected this…not a soul. Fear lurked among her
fellow peers; grim looks were imprinted upon all the Professor’s faces.
Hogwarts had become a place of quiet sorrow. It wasn’t long ago when she smiled
with happiness gladly excepting Harry’s proposal. ““What if tomorrow never
comes Hermione, I want to know what love is.”” She remembered it like it was
only yesterday. Suddenly the world came crashing back into view. Dreams were no
longer something to live by, dreams were destroyed with the flick of a wand.
There was something amidst though. Something lurking within her, she didn’t
want to hide away and die out like the rest of those cowards, she wanted to
stand tall and use her llecllect to guide those around her to safety. It was no
longer a foolish child’s play; it had become the real world. No more foolish
promises broken, no more fear lurking at the back of her troubled mind. It was
time to take measures into her own hand.

Gathering her strength Hermione inhaled the fresh air and
walked back towards Hogwarts. On her way up she saw a figure run to her, waving
frantically his arms. She looked puzzled, so she approached and it soon became ar tar to her it was Harry running with all his might. “Hermione! Hermione!” He
shouted with exasperation. She then quickened her pace and jogged to him.

“What is it?” Hermione asked. “What’s happened?” He
finally arrived to her; he struggled to catch his breath.

“I’m leaving to Romania…The Ministry says it’s important I
go there. I don’t know why yet, but it was an urgent message,” Harry saw the
growing unhappiness in Hermione’s face, “Sorry ‘Mione. We’re going to have no
choice but to call the wedding off for now.” He outstretched his hand to her
cheek and cupped it in his hand tenderly. Hermione looked at him without
uttering a word back. What was she supposed to say? That she was so happy for
him when he was going to leave her all alone here.

“That’s wonderful Harry.” Was all she said in reply. The
now jolly look on his face began to disappear. He gulped. Hermione just stared
blankly at him for some time. She never really loved him deeply, but he was
good companfterfter what happened to Ron he tried to console her best he could.
Harry took a step back from her.

“You really mean it?” He said like a little unsure
schoolboy. “I’ll write!” He said quickly, just to make her feel a little
better. “I still want you to be mine though ‘Mione. I still want you to be here
waiting for me.” He smiled reassuringly. She nodded her head gently.

“Well I hope you won’t be gone for too long Harry,” she
muttered, hanging her head low. “Love you always Harry.” She said patting his
shoulder. She wasn’t one for showing too much emotion when it came to this kind
of thing.

“I won’t I assure you.” He stepped closer to her, leaning
in he kissed her softly on the cheek and hugged her with all his might.
Hermione hugged Harry back, but something in the pit of her stomach didn’t feel
right. There was a feeling of abandonment. Emptiness, which lurked deep within
her. His hugs were neither enough, nor his kisses. Nothing seemed right
anymore.

~ * ~

Summer 2000

When she turned away from
his kiss she quickly looked back at him. Looking fiercely into the figures eyes
she shook her head softly.

“I was never yours for the
taking.” She said coldly.

~ * ~

Summer 1999

It had been a month since Harry had gone to Romania. He
said he would send letters to Hermione everyday, but none ever arrived to her
post. Dreary days were spent at the flat she had rented in a part of the
Wizard’s London. It showed everywhere the fear that lurked within the Wizards
and Witches around her. Quickly she had gotten a job writing for The Daily
Prophet’s updates on the war against the Dark Lord and his followers.

She had begun to miss her friends, miss the havoc she used
to have at Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. Ron apparently was engaged to Lavender,
he had had a crush on Hermione since her second year. Nonetheless, Harry got
what he wanted, Hermione. When Cho had left the school, Harry no longer was in
love with her, it suddenly dawned upon him that Hermione was a female, no
longer dating Krum.

~ * ~

God I miss the old days, Hermione thought to herself as
she was writing a report on Bellatrix’s escape, yet again from Azkaban.
Checking her owl post, she had received one letter, from to her surprise, not
Harry, but her old Headmaster, Dumbledore. What on earth would he want?
Hermione wondered.

Dear Hermione Granger,

There will be an urgent
meeting in my office, this coming Sunday. You are required to attend.

This may seem sudden to
you, but something has happened to Harry. This may come as a shock to you dear,
and it is vital you attend.

Ask only questions when
you arrive at my office, do not, and I mean so, do not send a reply. As you
know Lord Voldemort hasy soy sources at the Floo Network.

Yours truly,

Professor Albus
Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, Head of the Order*

Hermione stared at the letter with absolute horror.
Something had happened to Harry, she could ask no questions, even though she
desperately wanted to. She just thought about it, how was she going to get to
Hogwarts? You couldn’t use Floo Powder, or appear out of nowhere, this was
Hogwarts, and it was guarded very well by ancient spells. Hermione decided she
would have to visit someone who was going to the meeting, but who? Professor
Lupin wouldn’t be able to, it was full moon on Sunday, Sirius was dead, and she
heard Professor McGonagall was staying the summer in Paris with her
grandchildren. There was only one last resort…

~ * ~

Hermione knocked on the tall wooden doors, she had
searched all Wizard London for him, and she hoped to god he would be there.
This was drastic, but he would be the only one who would be attending the
meeting, and the only one in the area. She waited a few moments…and then she
heard the door being unlocked. It swunen aen and staring darkly at her was Professor
Snape, wearing a silk black bathrobe.

“What in the name of god are you doing here Ms. Granger!”
His lips were a pale white; he was bearing his yellow uneven teeth at her.
Hermione could tell he had just come out of the bath, his soaked black hair was
dripping on his bare feet. She just looked at him with a little shock.

“I-I wanted to know, if you were attending the meeting
this Sunday?” Hermione said in a hushed voice, just so no one could hear her
besides Snape and herself. Snape continued to glare at her, he looked in an
extremely bad mood, and she felt like running away.

All she could remember of the Professor was his snide,
nasty comments, at every chance he could possibly get; he would make her feel
inadequate. He put her intelligence down, and she always wanted to do the same
to him one day, make him feel like a fool for knowing something.

Snape continued to look at her, his calculated glare was
frightening, it made you feel like he were reading your mind. It was rather
cold outside so she rubbed her hands together, she wondered if the man were
immune to the cold, he was standing there with wet hair and a wet bathrobe,
gritting his teeth.

“Please don’t tell me you’d expect me to go to a meeting
about Potter’s disappearance, I’m rather glad the boy had disappeared,”
Hermione’s jaw dropped, Harry had been kidnapped? Snape raised a brow at her
shocked expression. “Come now Granger, don’t look so shocked, it’s not new to
af usf us that Potter gets himself into all sorts of muddles.” Snape said
silkily. Hermione couldn’t believe her ears, the man had no heart, and didn’t
he know she was engaged to Harry? He must have seen them snogging in the halls
at one stage or another.

“How can you sir, be so cruel?” Hermione said without
thinking. “Now tell me, do you know how I could reach Hogwarts?” Hermione
placed both hands on her hips and gave him a glare. Her brown eyes intensified, and
she no longer looked like a friendly chap. Snape smirked, the sight of an angry
Ms. Granger was hilarious to him. He just hoped she wouldn’t slap him like she
had done so kindly to Malfoy years back.

“Now, now Ms. Granger, ask politely, you certainly have
lost your manners, though you never really had any since the beginning.” He
trailed off looking towards the sky momentarily.

“Please Professor, will you tell me how I can get to
Hogwarts?” Hermione pleaded with hime wae was desperate to go to the meeting
being held tomorrow. She gave him a sad puppy-dog expron, on, just trying to
see what he would say.

“Ms. Granger, don’t pull that face on me, I still regard
you as an insufferable know-it-all,” Snape said silkily. “Your best bet of
getting to Hogwarts is with that Weasley. I trust he will have acquired another
flying car by now?” He mocked her with every single unflattering thing he could
think of. Hermione scowled at him, he was getting on her nerves.

“I don’t know where Ron is Professor, any other bright
ideas?” Hermione requested once more, and if he would not give her a proper
answer then she would just walk away. She blinked, he stared, and she could
tell he was thinking.
rhaprhaps by bus?” Snape scratched his chin; he wasn’t
putting much effort into it. “Oh no, but I forgot the bus doesn’t work on
Summer Sunday’s. Bad luck for you Granger, no chance on appearing at the
meeting.” Snape began closing his door when Hermione slammed it open, Snape
lookedrageraged.

“Then Professor, tell me this, how do you get to
Hogwarts?” Hermione smiled, she knew she had outsmarted him. “Don’t tell me you
fly there…” Hermione sniggered, trying to illicit a response from him.

“No Granger, I find a magic carpet and zoom to Hogwarts,
how else do you think I get there!?” He mocked her again, she now felt
embarrassed and stupid. Damn him! Hermione thought getting rather mad. It was
going to be very trying to get a proper response out of him. “Well yes Ms.
Granger, I use a broom to get there, I trust you still have your broom with
you?”

“Yes, yes I do, but I don’t know the way sir.” Hermione
looked sad, she had the sudden urge to help Harry, he had helped her so many
times, and she felt it was her turn to help him now. She hoped Snape would
help her, she still believed that there had to be a good point within him. She
had seen him countlessly help Harry in a certway,way, but never had he thanked
the Professor. Snape looked at her, there was impatience in his eyes, she felt
he didn’t want to have a part in this; he had been bothered too often.

“Alright Granger, I will show you the way, but you have to
promise me that you will never come knocking upon my door again, asking for a
favor, especially when it is related to our dear Potter.” Snape spat, she could
tell he was serious. So she took a deep breath and nodded her head.
greegreed,” she said trying to grin. “So, what are the
directions?” Hermione pulled out her muggle notepad and pen.

“What are you talking about Granger?” He gave her a
puzzled look. “It’s too difficult to give you the exact directions, the
landscape changes…I’m coming with you.” Hermione’s jaw dropped.

“What!?” She exclaimed. “You’re coming with me? But I
thought you wanted to have no part of it?” Now it was Hermione’s turn to look
puzzled at Snape.

“I have business to attend to at Hogwarts, not everything
that goes on in the school is always related to Potter. Meet me here tomorrow,
around nine in the morning. Now be gone!” He slammed the door in her face.
Hermione just stared blankly at the wooden door.

So she was going to fly with her old and most hated
Professor to Hogwarts. Interesting, Hermione thought. She wondered what it
would be like for those few hours it would take to fly to the school. She
smiled and walked away from Professor Snape’s apartment. So this is where he
lives, Hermione thought to herself. A small town of Wizard’s, mostly family
orientated. God he must hate it, Hermione thought. All those adorable little
children running about the neighborhood. She always considered Snape to live in
some manor away from prying eyes, but oh well.

~ * ~

The following morning Hermione had woken and gotten dressed.
She was a little excited, and a little nauseous, she had a fear of heights, and
she got dizzy when in the sky. There was no other way though. Dumbledore never
had mentioned a time though for the meeting. She decided to take a backpack
with her, just in case if anything happened, or she was suddenly sent away to
another country, which shund und most unlikely. She pocketed her pocketknife;
perhaps she would have to use it at some stage. She of course stashed her wand
into her robes, and grabbed her Cleansweeper (her broom) and went out the door
back to Snape’s home a few bus stops away.

Snape as usual was sitting in his armchair, waiting for
her to arrive. He pulled out his pocket watch and stared at it, it was half
passed nine, and she still hadn’t arrived. Where the hell is that stupid girl?
Snape asked himself.

The skies were gray and cloudy, just as they always were.
Hermione had checked the weather forecast, luckily there was to be no rain that
day. She sat in the bus waiting to come to Hollowbrookes town, which was where
Snape had lived. To muggles it looked on the outside like a bunch of abandoned
homes, but to witches and wizards it was a peaceful pretty little township
south of Hogwarts. Getting off the bus, the bus driver gave her an odd look.
Anyone would give her an odd look holding a broom, and carrying a backpack
while wearing a suit.

“Heading there again little missy?” The bus driver said
looking at her strangely.

“Yes, yes I am, thanks.” She got off the bus; no one
seemed to get off but her. She could see all the faces of the people in the bus
looking at her confused from the windows. She just gave them a wink and
disappeared down the street.

All the homes were covered in ivy, the streets were
deserted, she wondered why, thinking Sunday was a day off for the Wizard
community everyone would be by their warm fire places or on holiday. They
didn’t have much of a summer in England, but nonetheless the weather was better
than it was during the winter. Walking down the street wearing her business
suit, she looked very different to the Hermione she once was from Hogwarts. She
saw smoke coming from one of the chimneys and just remembered, it was coming
from Snape’s place.

She walked up to his apartment, and pulled her backpack
off her shoulders. I look strange, thought Hermione. Just then a drop of rain
came down from the gray clouds and hit her on the forehead. She looked up for a
moment, she hoped to god it would not rain. She squinted; the light from the
sky was very bright. She knocked on the ground floor apartments door. The homes
here looked very strange indeed. Even the apartments had strange looking
chimneys coming out from the side of the building, exhaling smoke. She knocked
again. Her hand was gripping tightly her broom as a cold gust of wind almost
knocked her off her feat. Her neat bun came undone and her brushed curls looked
like a frizz ball attached to her head. Great! Hermione thought, all I need!
Now she wished it would rain, so it could flatten her curls, as the heavy
droplets of water would soak the locks through.

She then suddenly heard footsteps approach the door, again
the unlocking sound. Hermione looked anticipating at the door, and quickly
grabbed her hair and held onto it, so it wouldn’t be everywhere. The door
creaked open and Snape was glaringher.her. He didn’t look too happ all all.

“You’re late!” He growled at her. Suddenly the old angry
thoughts of Snape came rushing back to her. She had forgotten his insane
temper. She shouldn’t have been late perhaps she would miss the meeting for
this delay. Hermione worried.

“I’m sorry Professor, there was a delay with the bus.” She
bit her bottom lip, once again she felt a little frightened of him.

“We must go at once…you will be half an hour late to the
meeting. It’s apparently supposed to start at noon. According to my
calculations we should reach Hogwarts in three hours. Now get a move on.” Snape
spat, he opened the wid wider and Hermione saw his shiny black broom labeled,
‘Shadowseeker.’ He had shut the door behind him. Quickly Hermione put her
backpack back on and lifted her skirt, and attempted to mount her broom. Snape
did the same, flicking his cloak behind him for a moment and then mounted it
with big bravado.

“Uh. Problem.” Hermione said, as her broom still was between
her legs, giving her a laughable look. Snape just stared at her, partially
annoyed. He gave her a dark look. And suddenly she hopped off her broom and
tried to remember her first flying lesson. Snape grabbed her broom from her and
gave her yet again another dark look. She just gulped and stepped back. He then put her broom
on the ground and put his hand above the broom, “up!” he said in a loud voice,
with extreme force. Hermione just stared at him as her broom lifted off the
ground and levitated on the spot.

“Thanks…” Said Hermione in owe. She then mounted the broom
once again and kicked off. She went flying into the air screaming. She could
see Snape growing smaller and smaller as she rose further and further off the
ground. “Help me Professor!” Hermione shouted. Snape came flying with great
speed towards her and halted when he reached her.

“Ms. Granger, it is the simplest thing to control your
broom, follow me.” Snape sped off in the other direction. Hermione finally got
a grip and kicked off once more, speeding forwards in his direction. The wind
blew through her wild untamed hair and at times blocked her view of where he
was going.

It was going to be a long flight, and Hermione knew it…


TBC

IMPORTANT

At the moment I have some bad and good news...

The bad news is that the upcoming chapter for A Dreary World will be yet again delayed. I am very busy at the moment and I have other work to finish. The good news is that I will be releasing chapter three for all you faithful readers. I will post here any updates as soon as I get the chance. Chapter three is rather long...currently occupied, I will post the next chapter as soon as I can.