A Maid in the Devil's Manor
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
51
Views:
39,401
Reviews:
483
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
51
Views:
39,401
Reviews:
483
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
The Professor Makes an Offer
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 21 ~ The Professor Makes an Offer
Hermione sat on the couch in her flat, apparently gazing at nothing. The Professor had dropped her off at home. They had apparated outside her flat, and the Potions Master gave a quick farewell and disapparated back to Hogwarts to attend his afternoon classes. Hermione looked around. Again her neighbors were outside. But this time, when they turned their accusing eyes on her, she simply looked back at them coldly, stuck her nose in the air and entered her flat, slamming the door behind her. She had nothing to apologize for.
Now she mentally went over the events at the Ministry. She had really lit into them. She realized that it was always her intention to do that, ever since the article came out. They had passed her over for quite a few promotions in recent months, and she knew it was because she was muggle-born. She had been feeling the effects of the Ministry’s unfairness and bigotry long before she got involved with the Potions Master.
She looked at the pile of updated resumes that rested on the coffee table in front of her. She had a feeling that they were a waste of parchment. The members of the board would certainly make sure she was blacklisted from the Spells industry. Her only real hope was to find the key to the pitcher plant’s resistance to the Killing curse, and turn it into a defense against the Unforgivable. If she made that discovery, every terrible lie they put out about her would be quickly retracted. And they would probably try to bring her back into the fold again. But she wouldn’t ever return to the Ministry’s employ. Not ever. She saw the way they treated their own. The blatant bigotry and favoritism. Look at how they had Lucius Malfoy sitting on the board. If there was anyone in the Ministry likely to leak information to the Death Eaters, it was that twisted fuck.
Her thoughts turned to the Potions Master. He had shown up at her hearing to support her. He was willing to face the Ministry board to try and protect her good name. It had to be rather painful to stand before the wizards and witches who publicly defamed him time and time again, while their worthless medal hung someplace in the Manor. But he had come. Because of her. She wondered how much of her tirade the Professor had heard, and how he felt about it. She hoped he felt good. It had to be nice to hear someone stand up for him and what he did for the sake of others to his own detriment. She meant every word of what she said. Even the part of his being the greatest hero of the wizarding world. Yes, Harry defeated Voldemort in the final battle, but the Professor had been fighting against Voldemort for years, and Harry would have never defeated the Dark Lord without the Professor’s input. In fact, Harry might have been dead if not for the intelligence the dark wizard provided, which allowed Dumbledore to keep Harry out of harm’s way.
When Harry was in hiding, it was Professor Snape who was punished for his absence. Hermione remembered nights when the Professor came back to Hogwarts from being summoned, broken and screaming, his body wracked with seizures, bones cracking from the violence of his tremors as he fought off the effects of the Cruciatus curse the Dark Lord cast upon him. How he suffered then, pale and shuddering in a small cot in the corner of the infirmary, with no one to comfort him. Sometimes though, Hermione sat beside him and held his cold, shaking hand without his knowledge. If he had seen her, he would have driven her away, not wishing her to see him in his time of weakness. He was a bastard yes, but Hermione believed him to be the bravest wizard she’d ever known. Even then, she felt the unfairness of his situation. And now, years later he was still subjected to it. He may not be getting blasted by the Cruciatus curse daily, but there were other kinds of pain…such as being confronted publicly and accused of evil and wrongdoing by a person he risked his very life to protect. Hermione shook her head. It was just too terrible. Professor Snape should be celebrated, not ostracized by the wizarding world. He was a noble, brilliant, self-sacrificing hero, and there were few who respected what he did for them. She was glad she told those idiots what she thought of them. She was glad she was out of the Ministry.
She sighed. What was she going to do now?
“Miss Granger?” came a familiar voice. It was the Professor. She pulled out her mirror and looked into it. There was the Professor’s face, looking somber.
“Hello, Professor,” she said, giving him a little smile.
“How are you holding up?” the Potions Master said, his dark eyes concerned.
“For someone who’s lost almost everything, I’m doing ok,” she replied.
The Professor looked at her consideringly for a moment. Then he spoke.
“Miss Granger, I was wondering if you might stop by Hogwarts this evening. I have something I wish to discuss with you, and would rather do it face to face,” he said.
Hermione considered. Visiting Hogwarts again would be nice. And it beat moping around her flat the whole day, exchanging glares with her neighbors and feeling sorry for herself.
She looked at the Potions Master.
“What time?” she asked him.
“Six o’clock,” he replied,
“All right, I will be there,” Hermione replied.
“I will meet you by the main gates. The wards have been changed since you last visited the castle,” Severus said, “Try to get some rest, Miss Granger. You have had a trying day.”
“I will, Professor. Bye. Connection closed.”
****************************
Sitting at his desk in the Potions classroom between periods, Severus continued to watch Hermione through his mirror. She was seated on her couch, apparently deep in thought. She didn’t look sad, just contemplative. He was glad of that. He had decided that he would waste no time offering her a place at the Manor until she could get back on her feet. It would take away the burden of worry that was bound to fall down on her as the end of the month approached. He ended his observation of her and put the mirror away. He leaned back in his chair, folded his hands on his chest and waited for his students to arrive.
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At precisely six o’clock, Hermione apparated to the gates of Hogwarts. True to his word, Professor Snape was waiting for her.
“Hello, Professor,” she said, smiling at him. She really was pleased to see him. His presence was oddly comforting.
“Good evening, Miss Granger,” the Potions Master replied, taking her hand and kissing it gently before releasing it. Hermione’s eyes went wide. She had seen the Professor greet women like this before, but never her.
He smirked at her, his dark eyes dancing a bit.
“Don’t look so surprised, Miss Granger. After your speech on my behalf at the Ministry, you warrant a more formal, respectful greeting from me. You were my champion after all,” he said smoothly.
Hermione blushed.
“I only told them the truth, Professor,” she said softly as he opened the gate for her. She looked up at him. “How much did you hear?” she asked him.
He looked down at her with a strange light in his eyes as they walked toward the castle.
“I heard enough, Miss Granger to know you feel outrage at my situation. For that, I am grateful,” he responded, before turning back to face the castle.
Hermione walked beside the tall wizard in silence, thinking about his response.
“You know, Professor…that is what I hate,” she said, an edge to her voice.
“What do you hate, Miss Granger?” Severus responded, looking a bit perplexed.
“The fact that you have to feel ‘grateful’ for common human decency toward you. As if you don’t deserve it, when you do. I hate that you have become used to being mistreated. I never realized it before, but you expect nothing good from people. And it’s caused you to become cold and unfeeling, when you could have been a very kind and caring man,” Hermione said looking up at him.
The Professor considered this. She thought him cold and unfeeling. This was not the case. He decided to correct this misconception of him.
“Miss Granger, I assure you I am as capable of emotions as anyone else. I am just cautious in opening myself up for more disappointment and hurt by others. Yes, I am used to mistreatment, and I don’t expect much from others, but to say I am cold and unfeeling is wrong, Miss Granger. I can be quite…passionate and demonstrative about some things.” He was thinking about his desire for Hermione when he said this.
Hermione looked up at him curiously. “Such as?” she asked, wondering what would make the snarky Professor show feelings.
Severus was a bit taken aback. He hadn’t expected Miss Granger to question him on this. He had to think fast. He looked down on the witch, his black eyes intense.
“You will be in my presence quite a bit in the coming months, Miss Granger. You will be able to see for yourself what moves me as we work toward finding a solution to the Killing curse. You will have to wait until then,” he said silkily. Good save.
Hermione expected an answer like that. She didn’t expect the Potions Master to open up fully.
Instead of turning towards the main entrance to the castle, the Potions Master walked toward the right side of the edifice.
“Where are we going?” Hermione asked.
“There is a secret entrance to the dungeons on the side of the castle. I utilize it when I don’t want to be cornered in the main hall by students or other staff members, “ he said
They walked a little further, the grounds dipping lower. Severus suddenly turned sharply and approached a vine-covered section of the castle. He held out his hand.
“Alohamora,” he said, and a section of vines and wall swung back, revealing an entrance to the castle. But Hermione wasn’t looking at the secret door, she was looking at the Potions Master.
“You do wandless magic,” she breathed. A wizard had to be very powerful and focused to use magic without a wand. “What else can you do, Professor?” she asked as they walked through the door and Severus pushed it closed. He looked down at Hermione.
“I can do anything that can be done with a wand, the only exception being the Killing curse,” he responded, then added as he looked at Hermione’s wide eyes, ”What do you expect of a wizard that disdains silly wand waving?”
“But you use your wand all the time,” said Hermione
“It’s a habit. I didn’t want the Dark Lord to know I could use wandless magic. It carried over. Plus I don’t want others knowing how powerful my skills are. It would only add to my problems,” he said as he wandlessly unwarded the Potions office and let Hermione in.
Hermione could only imagine the consternation it would cause if the Ministry found out that even disarmed, the Professor could do magic. Just another nail in the casket of his reputation.
She stood in the middle of his office and watched as he pulled a tome partially out of the bookshelf on the far wall. The shelf opened inward, revealing a secret door.
“My study,” the Professor said, gesturing for her to enter. He followed behind her.
Hermione’s eyes swept the room. Shelves of book lined the walls from floor to ceiling. There was a desk in the far corner of the room, the ever-present liquor cabinet, a sofa, and two comfortable armchairs set before the fireplace, with a small table between them.
Hermione was startled as the Professor pressed his hand gently against the small of her back and guided her to one of the armchairs.
“Please, be seated Miss Granger,” he said, removing his hand. Hermione could still feel the pressure of it, tingling against her skin through her robes. It was an odd feeling, but not unpleasant. Hermione shrugged the sensation off as her just not being used to contact with the dark wizard.
“Can I get you something to drink, Miss Granger? A Cognac perhaps?” the Professor asked her.
“A Cognac would be delightful, Professor. I could use a good drink after today,” she replied.
The Potions Master walked over to the liquor cabinet and prepared two cognacs. He carried them back to the armchairs and handed a glass to Hermione before folding himself into the other chair. They both took an appreciative sip of their drinks. Hermione set her glass down on the table and looked at the Professor expectantly.
“Now, what did you want to talk to be about, Professor? Does it concern the project?” she asked.
Severus let his eyes wash over her before he answered.
“In a way, yes,” he replied a bit evasively, fueling Hermione’s curiosity.
“In a way? What way?” she asked impatiently.
The Potions Master leaned forward and turned in the chair to face her squarely.
“I would like you to move into Snape Manor, Miss Granger,” he said, his black eyes glittering.
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A/N: Wow. Severus isn’t wasting any time is he? But he’s rationalizing everything, claiming to himself he is acting in her best interests. Yeah. Right Sev. You are a manipulative, but hot bastard. Notice the little touching going on? The kiss on the hand. Hand to the small of the back. Smooth Sev. Please review.
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Chapter 21 ~ The Professor Makes an Offer
Hermione sat on the couch in her flat, apparently gazing at nothing. The Professor had dropped her off at home. They had apparated outside her flat, and the Potions Master gave a quick farewell and disapparated back to Hogwarts to attend his afternoon classes. Hermione looked around. Again her neighbors were outside. But this time, when they turned their accusing eyes on her, she simply looked back at them coldly, stuck her nose in the air and entered her flat, slamming the door behind her. She had nothing to apologize for.
Now she mentally went over the events at the Ministry. She had really lit into them. She realized that it was always her intention to do that, ever since the article came out. They had passed her over for quite a few promotions in recent months, and she knew it was because she was muggle-born. She had been feeling the effects of the Ministry’s unfairness and bigotry long before she got involved with the Potions Master.
She looked at the pile of updated resumes that rested on the coffee table in front of her. She had a feeling that they were a waste of parchment. The members of the board would certainly make sure she was blacklisted from the Spells industry. Her only real hope was to find the key to the pitcher plant’s resistance to the Killing curse, and turn it into a defense against the Unforgivable. If she made that discovery, every terrible lie they put out about her would be quickly retracted. And they would probably try to bring her back into the fold again. But she wouldn’t ever return to the Ministry’s employ. Not ever. She saw the way they treated their own. The blatant bigotry and favoritism. Look at how they had Lucius Malfoy sitting on the board. If there was anyone in the Ministry likely to leak information to the Death Eaters, it was that twisted fuck.
Her thoughts turned to the Potions Master. He had shown up at her hearing to support her. He was willing to face the Ministry board to try and protect her good name. It had to be rather painful to stand before the wizards and witches who publicly defamed him time and time again, while their worthless medal hung someplace in the Manor. But he had come. Because of her. She wondered how much of her tirade the Professor had heard, and how he felt about it. She hoped he felt good. It had to be nice to hear someone stand up for him and what he did for the sake of others to his own detriment. She meant every word of what she said. Even the part of his being the greatest hero of the wizarding world. Yes, Harry defeated Voldemort in the final battle, but the Professor had been fighting against Voldemort for years, and Harry would have never defeated the Dark Lord without the Professor’s input. In fact, Harry might have been dead if not for the intelligence the dark wizard provided, which allowed Dumbledore to keep Harry out of harm’s way.
When Harry was in hiding, it was Professor Snape who was punished for his absence. Hermione remembered nights when the Professor came back to Hogwarts from being summoned, broken and screaming, his body wracked with seizures, bones cracking from the violence of his tremors as he fought off the effects of the Cruciatus curse the Dark Lord cast upon him. How he suffered then, pale and shuddering in a small cot in the corner of the infirmary, with no one to comfort him. Sometimes though, Hermione sat beside him and held his cold, shaking hand without his knowledge. If he had seen her, he would have driven her away, not wishing her to see him in his time of weakness. He was a bastard yes, but Hermione believed him to be the bravest wizard she’d ever known. Even then, she felt the unfairness of his situation. And now, years later he was still subjected to it. He may not be getting blasted by the Cruciatus curse daily, but there were other kinds of pain…such as being confronted publicly and accused of evil and wrongdoing by a person he risked his very life to protect. Hermione shook her head. It was just too terrible. Professor Snape should be celebrated, not ostracized by the wizarding world. He was a noble, brilliant, self-sacrificing hero, and there were few who respected what he did for them. She was glad she told those idiots what she thought of them. She was glad she was out of the Ministry.
She sighed. What was she going to do now?
“Miss Granger?” came a familiar voice. It was the Professor. She pulled out her mirror and looked into it. There was the Professor’s face, looking somber.
“Hello, Professor,” she said, giving him a little smile.
“How are you holding up?” the Potions Master said, his dark eyes concerned.
“For someone who’s lost almost everything, I’m doing ok,” she replied.
The Professor looked at her consideringly for a moment. Then he spoke.
“Miss Granger, I was wondering if you might stop by Hogwarts this evening. I have something I wish to discuss with you, and would rather do it face to face,” he said.
Hermione considered. Visiting Hogwarts again would be nice. And it beat moping around her flat the whole day, exchanging glares with her neighbors and feeling sorry for herself.
She looked at the Potions Master.
“What time?” she asked him.
“Six o’clock,” he replied,
“All right, I will be there,” Hermione replied.
“I will meet you by the main gates. The wards have been changed since you last visited the castle,” Severus said, “Try to get some rest, Miss Granger. You have had a trying day.”
“I will, Professor. Bye. Connection closed.”
****************************
Sitting at his desk in the Potions classroom between periods, Severus continued to watch Hermione through his mirror. She was seated on her couch, apparently deep in thought. She didn’t look sad, just contemplative. He was glad of that. He had decided that he would waste no time offering her a place at the Manor until she could get back on her feet. It would take away the burden of worry that was bound to fall down on her as the end of the month approached. He ended his observation of her and put the mirror away. He leaned back in his chair, folded his hands on his chest and waited for his students to arrive.
****************************
At precisely six o’clock, Hermione apparated to the gates of Hogwarts. True to his word, Professor Snape was waiting for her.
“Hello, Professor,” she said, smiling at him. She really was pleased to see him. His presence was oddly comforting.
“Good evening, Miss Granger,” the Potions Master replied, taking her hand and kissing it gently before releasing it. Hermione’s eyes went wide. She had seen the Professor greet women like this before, but never her.
He smirked at her, his dark eyes dancing a bit.
“Don’t look so surprised, Miss Granger. After your speech on my behalf at the Ministry, you warrant a more formal, respectful greeting from me. You were my champion after all,” he said smoothly.
Hermione blushed.
“I only told them the truth, Professor,” she said softly as he opened the gate for her. She looked up at him. “How much did you hear?” she asked him.
He looked down at her with a strange light in his eyes as they walked toward the castle.
“I heard enough, Miss Granger to know you feel outrage at my situation. For that, I am grateful,” he responded, before turning back to face the castle.
Hermione walked beside the tall wizard in silence, thinking about his response.
“You know, Professor…that is what I hate,” she said, an edge to her voice.
“What do you hate, Miss Granger?” Severus responded, looking a bit perplexed.
“The fact that you have to feel ‘grateful’ for common human decency toward you. As if you don’t deserve it, when you do. I hate that you have become used to being mistreated. I never realized it before, but you expect nothing good from people. And it’s caused you to become cold and unfeeling, when you could have been a very kind and caring man,” Hermione said looking up at him.
The Professor considered this. She thought him cold and unfeeling. This was not the case. He decided to correct this misconception of him.
“Miss Granger, I assure you I am as capable of emotions as anyone else. I am just cautious in opening myself up for more disappointment and hurt by others. Yes, I am used to mistreatment, and I don’t expect much from others, but to say I am cold and unfeeling is wrong, Miss Granger. I can be quite…passionate and demonstrative about some things.” He was thinking about his desire for Hermione when he said this.
Hermione looked up at him curiously. “Such as?” she asked, wondering what would make the snarky Professor show feelings.
Severus was a bit taken aback. He hadn’t expected Miss Granger to question him on this. He had to think fast. He looked down on the witch, his black eyes intense.
“You will be in my presence quite a bit in the coming months, Miss Granger. You will be able to see for yourself what moves me as we work toward finding a solution to the Killing curse. You will have to wait until then,” he said silkily. Good save.
Hermione expected an answer like that. She didn’t expect the Potions Master to open up fully.
Instead of turning towards the main entrance to the castle, the Potions Master walked toward the right side of the edifice.
“Where are we going?” Hermione asked.
“There is a secret entrance to the dungeons on the side of the castle. I utilize it when I don’t want to be cornered in the main hall by students or other staff members, “ he said
They walked a little further, the grounds dipping lower. Severus suddenly turned sharply and approached a vine-covered section of the castle. He held out his hand.
“Alohamora,” he said, and a section of vines and wall swung back, revealing an entrance to the castle. But Hermione wasn’t looking at the secret door, she was looking at the Potions Master.
“You do wandless magic,” she breathed. A wizard had to be very powerful and focused to use magic without a wand. “What else can you do, Professor?” she asked as they walked through the door and Severus pushed it closed. He looked down at Hermione.
“I can do anything that can be done with a wand, the only exception being the Killing curse,” he responded, then added as he looked at Hermione’s wide eyes, ”What do you expect of a wizard that disdains silly wand waving?”
“But you use your wand all the time,” said Hermione
“It’s a habit. I didn’t want the Dark Lord to know I could use wandless magic. It carried over. Plus I don’t want others knowing how powerful my skills are. It would only add to my problems,” he said as he wandlessly unwarded the Potions office and let Hermione in.
Hermione could only imagine the consternation it would cause if the Ministry found out that even disarmed, the Professor could do magic. Just another nail in the casket of his reputation.
She stood in the middle of his office and watched as he pulled a tome partially out of the bookshelf on the far wall. The shelf opened inward, revealing a secret door.
“My study,” the Professor said, gesturing for her to enter. He followed behind her.
Hermione’s eyes swept the room. Shelves of book lined the walls from floor to ceiling. There was a desk in the far corner of the room, the ever-present liquor cabinet, a sofa, and two comfortable armchairs set before the fireplace, with a small table between them.
Hermione was startled as the Professor pressed his hand gently against the small of her back and guided her to one of the armchairs.
“Please, be seated Miss Granger,” he said, removing his hand. Hermione could still feel the pressure of it, tingling against her skin through her robes. It was an odd feeling, but not unpleasant. Hermione shrugged the sensation off as her just not being used to contact with the dark wizard.
“Can I get you something to drink, Miss Granger? A Cognac perhaps?” the Professor asked her.
“A Cognac would be delightful, Professor. I could use a good drink after today,” she replied.
The Potions Master walked over to the liquor cabinet and prepared two cognacs. He carried them back to the armchairs and handed a glass to Hermione before folding himself into the other chair. They both took an appreciative sip of their drinks. Hermione set her glass down on the table and looked at the Professor expectantly.
“Now, what did you want to talk to be about, Professor? Does it concern the project?” she asked.
Severus let his eyes wash over her before he answered.
“In a way, yes,” he replied a bit evasively, fueling Hermione’s curiosity.
“In a way? What way?” she asked impatiently.
The Potions Master leaned forward and turned in the chair to face her squarely.
“I would like you to move into Snape Manor, Miss Granger,” he said, his black eyes glittering.
****************************
A/N: Wow. Severus isn’t wasting any time is he? But he’s rationalizing everything, claiming to himself he is acting in her best interests. Yeah. Right Sev. You are a manipulative, but hot bastard. Notice the little touching going on? The kiss on the hand. Hand to the small of the back. Smooth Sev. Please review.