A Turn for the Better

Chapter 22 ~ Aftermath

Hermione gently pulled off Snape's pink mask and lifted her own. Neville, Luna and Hagrid walked up, removed their masks and examined the basilisk's corpse.

"It were beautiful," Hagrid breathed as Neville looked at him incredulously.

Luna trailed her hand across the creature's silver scales. They were rather soft and pliant.

"Yes, it was," she agreed, causing Neville to turn and look at her as well.

"Are you both mad? It tried to kill us!" he said, disbelievingly.

"But it was still beautiful," Luna said softly, walking up to its head and gazing down at its sightless yellow eyes. Without life, they were no longer deadly.

Hermione continued to stroke Snape's temple, and tentatively ran her hand over his cheek, jaw and even his large nose, feeling his face. She stared down at him, the memory of what they had done so long ago in his life and so short a time ago in hers washed over the witch, her body flaring for a moment as she held her first lover. Snape wasn't handsome, but if she were to say anything in the chamber were beautiful, it would be the man resting in her lap, the man who was willing to give up his life for her.

She felt like kissing him, but the presence of the others ruined any chance of that, unless she stole one quickly. The Professor would never let her kiss him . . . well not as a student.

Neville, Luna and Hagrid walked on the other side of the basilisk. Hermione looked after them tentatively, then down at Snape.

This was her chance to steal a kiss.

Quickly, she leaned down and pressed her lips to his. They were soft and warm, but unresponsive. She pulled back and her heart nearly stopped. Those black eyes were looking directly at her.

"What do you think you're doing, Miss Granger?" he asked her softly, his brow creased.

"Um . . . um, giving you mouth to mouth?" she suggested as Snape struggled up, resting on his elbows.

"Then your technique needs work. You approached it all wrong," he said, sitting up now and looking at the body of the basilisk before turning his head back to her.

"This was your project? Trying to kill yourself fighting a basilisk?" he asked her in a low voice, his face twisted as he tried to hold in his temper. If this had been ANYONE else, he would have had a full-blown conniption fit, complete with a couple of harmless, but nevertheless painful hexes.

"No. My project was to find the Chamber of Secrets and subdue the creature within it," she said, hoping that answer sounded academic enough as Snape rose from the floor and brushed off his robes before lifting them and examining his thigh where he was bitten.

Then he held out his hand and pulled Hermione up, his dark eyes glinting as he looked her over, making sure she had all her parts.

"Your project nearly cost the lives of everyone here, Miss Granger, including my own. How did I survive?" he asked.

"Hermione did it!" Neville said, walking up and coming to Hermione's defense. "She made the rooster crow by creating a fake sunrise! She's brilliant!"

Snape scowled at him.

"I didn't ask how the basilisk died, I asked how I survived, Mr. Longbottom. Basilisk venom is deadly and there's no known antidote," he said to the wizard.

Hermione bent down and picked up Fawkes, who was already a little bigger, his gray down becoming more feather-like and browning slightly.

"Fawkes saved you with his tears," she said, holding him up toward Snape, who bowed to the small bird.

"Thank you, Fawkes," he said sincerely.

The phoenix trilled at him in response.

Snape's dark eyes turned on Luna, who wandered up. She had a basilisk scale in her hand and was twisting it back and forth in the gloom, looking as if she hadn't been in danger at all.

"And Miss Lovegood, what are you, a Head Girl, doing in the midst of this fiasco?" he inquired.

Luna looked up at Snape and was about to tell him she came along for the adventure, when Neville cut in.

"Luna tried to stop us, but we wouldn't listen, so she followed us," Neville replied.

In response, Snape pointed to the two remaining pink masks around the witch's neck.

"So, if she was not part of this madness, then why is she wearing masks that can block out a basilisk?" he purred at him.

"Um . . . er," Neville replied, trying to think of an answer.

"They're mine! I had her hold them when we entered the chamber. She only did it so they wouldn't get in my way," Hermione chirped in.

Luna blinked at both of them, then turned to Professor Snape.

"You know that's not true, don't you, Professor?" Luna said to him quietly.

"Indeed, I do, Miss Lovegood. As virtuous as Gryffindors are purported to be, they'll all lie at the drop of a sickle, albeit for what they consider 'noble' reasons. Albus will have to deal with you concerning this situation. It may be that you lose your position as Head Girl," he replied.

Luna shrugged.

"That's fine," she said shortly.

Hercules was busily pecking and attacking the corpse of the dead basilisk, doing no damage. Finally he stopped, ready to accept accolades for finishing the great monster off. He crooned and strutted about for a minute or two, then flew at Hagrid again, spurs bared. He hadn't forgotten about the cage.

Hagrid let him jump and slash to his little heart's content, not even bothering to yell at him. Hercules was the hero of the day, after all. Snape would be dead and most likely the rest of them too, if not for the rooster and Hermione's quick thinking.

Neville looked at Snape, his own visage pale. From where he was standing, only he could see the vein throbbing tightly in the wizard's neck underneath his black hair, and how tightly his jaw was clamped, the muscle in his cheek twitching.

No matter how calm the Potions master seemed, he was totally pissed off. Neville hoped he could hold it in. An angry Snape was a terror to behold.

"Both of you can count on suitable punishments for this insane act on your parts," he said to Neville and Hermione, "First, one hundred points from Gryffindor . . . apiece . . . for nearly getting me killed."

Neville and Hermione visibly wilted. When they got back to Gryffindor house, most likely they'd be killed by their housemates for a two-hundred point loss.

Snape studied them, then looked at the dead basilisk for a moment, then back at the pair.

"However, you have provided me with a fresh basilisk from which I can harvest rare and useful parts and ingredients worth a small fortune . . . so with that in mind, you've earned Gryffindor three hundred points," he said softly.

Hermione smiled at him gratefully, and the wizard felt his heart swell at bit at the look in her eyes. He was also well aware she had kissed him when she thought he was unconscious. It appeared she did have feelings for him after all. But, he shook off the feeling, clearing his throat and looking stern.

Hermione was just about to thank him, when a familiar voice cut through the gloom.

"Severus? Are you all right?"

It was Albus Dumbledore and several windswept and shaking staff members. Taking that pipe had been an ordeal, and not one of them thought to use the spell Snape had to slow their landing. Madam Sprout was still rubbing her buttocks.

"Yes, Headmaster. We've all survived, and the basilisk is dead," Snape replied, his eyes still on Hermione.

Dumbledore walked forward, followed by the staff members. He examined the basilisk, then looked at Hermione, Neville and Luna. He saw Fawkes in Hermione's hand, and took him gently.

"It appears you've made the ultimate sacrifice again, Fawkes," he said to the chick softly. Fawkes gave him another little trill. Dumbledore smiled and gently stroked Fawkes' head with one long finger before turning his attention back to his students.

"I take it you are the students who breached the chamber?" he asked them.

Neville and Hermione looked at the ground and murmured, "Yes, Headmaster."

Luna simply nodded at him, not looking at all repentant.

"I see. Well, how did you manage to kill the basilisk? Ordinary magic doesn't work well on a creature born of magic. There's a conflict of forces," Albus said.

"Apparently, Miss Granger created a reasonable facsimile of a sunrise, which prompted Hagrid's rooster to crow," Snape replied, gesturing toward the robust bird attacking Hagrid with alacrity. Hercules seemed to have a deep reservoir of energy.

"Brilliant!" Albus exclaimed, smiling at the witch. "Quite an inventive method. We will have to add it to the books. You will be remembered in history for your quick thinking, Miss Granger."

Suddenly Minerva stalked up, her eyes hard as they shifted from Neville to Hermione. She was disheveled by her trip down the pipe.

Albus discreetly moved out of the way a bit as the Gryffindor Head of House swelled up as if about to explode.

"However, I believe there will be some repercussions in the present day," he added as Minerva launched into them.

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After an intense discussion, it was decided that Professor Snape would issue Neville and Hermione their punishments. The Potions master decided they would serve them separately.

Neville's punishment was that he would have to help cut up and harvest the dead basilisk, which was a dirty and rather dangerous job. The organs, scales, skin, venom, eyes and blood were very valuable, and the carcass, very tough.

After the basilisk was harvested, Hermione was to join Professor Snape in his labs every evening to help render the items usable for potions. This meant slicing, dicing, drying, powdering, pickling and storing the items. And there was a lot of basilisk to work with. It had been nearly forty feet long.

Well, it seemed Professor Snape would be spending a lot of time with Hermione Granger, and it was perfectly acceptable. As angry as he was at the witch for risking her life, he was quite pleased that her momentary lack of good sense had brought her under his influence. It couldn't have worked better if he planned it. Besides, he could get an advanced look at what she would be like as an apprentice, and correct her in advance if she made too many mistakes, thus training her up a bit before the fact.

Luna received a simple reprimand, and her basilisk mask was sent to the Ministry for study and possible utilization. When she came of age, she would receive residuals if the design was utilized. Professor Flitwick, her Head of House, was quite proud of his rule-breaking Ravenclaw.

"Just brilliant," he raved after taking fifty points. It was required or he wouldn't have done it.

All three students were considered heroes by their peers, Neville becoming quite popular, with witches hanging on his every word. He had his pick of them if he wanted, and it was quite tempting.

Hermione was also swamped by hangers-on, but grew tired and irritable about being asked to recount the story over and over. It was cutting into her study time. She wasn't used to being the center of attention and quickly decided it wasn't all it was thought to be. She became snappish, refusing to talk about the basilisk any longer.

Her fellow students surmised that her feat had gone to her head, and she thought she was too good to associate with them. So, although Neville remained popular, Hermione was pointedly ignored, which suited her just fine. She could get more accomplished.

Luna told the story so flatly and matter of fact, that people stopped asking her about it because it didn't sound exciting.

"We rode down a pipe, went into the chamber and killed the basilisk," she explained, her blue eyes shining. She smirked slightly as the disappointed questioners walked away. She knew what she was doing.

It didn't take long for peace to return.

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"I can't believe they're making such a fuss over Granger and Longbottom," Harry complained to Draco. "They should both be expelled, not seen as heroes."

Draco nodded.

"Yes, but the Board of Governors decided they didn't actually break any rules other than being out after curfew, and that's not an expellable offense," the pureblood said.

"And Luna. I can't believe she actually helped them! She should be stripped of her position. But Dumbledore thought it best to leave her in it, because it was clear removing her wouldn't be a punishment at all. She could take or leave being Head Girl. She has no understanding of power at all," Harry said, shaking his head.

"And that oaf Hagrid has a wand now. Probably thinks himself a proper wizard," Draco hissed, frowning. "It's all just sickening. At least Snape gave them what for. I saw Neville leaving the second floor bathroom one evening, coming up from the chambers. He was filthy, stunk to high heaven and was absolutely green around the gills. He has to help cut up the basilisk's body, and I heard Snape is making him do the majority of the work. Then Granger has to help Snape render the ingredients. That's nasty business, and basilisk blood is very poisonous. Maybe she'll get some on her and get sick."

Harry sat in silence on his bed for a moment, then said, "But I wonder how they found the chamber, Draco? Both Neville and Hermione claim they stumbled across it, but I don't believe either of them. And Luna won't say anything about it really."

Draco shrugged.

"I don't think we'll ever know, Harry, but what bothers me is that at the end of the year, you know Dumbles is going to give their house extra points for killing the basilisk. We might lose the cup this year," he said with a frown.

"It's not fair," Harry sighed. "It's just not fair."

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"Hey Neville, I know everybody's getting wood over you and Granger nearly getting killed by the basilisk, but I was wondering if you used the map?" Ron Weasley said to Neville about a week after their adventure.

"Uh . . . yeah, I did," Neville said, hesitating slightly.

He was in the Common Room with Hermione, studying. Hermione looked up at Ron and shook her head as the redhead rubbed his hands together delightedly.

"So, you made the Pensieve then?" Ron pressed, hoping for an excellent wanking session.

"Ah, no . . . but I can go do it now," Neville said, rising from the table and heading up the stairs. Ron had provided a small Pensieve as well. It was in Neville's room.

Ron sat down in Neville's seat and looked at Hermione.

"What are you studying?" he asked the witch, who frowned slightly as she looked up from her Advanced Arithmancy book.

"Can't you read?" she snapped at him. The title was right there.

"Yes, but I wanted you to talk to me," Ron said, his blue eyes drifting over her. "You never want to talk to me, Hermione. I try to get you to talk to me all the time. You treat me as if I don't exist."

Hermione was tempted to tell him as far as she was concerned, he didn't. Ron was cute enough, but he wasn't into anything she was. They had nothing in common other than being able to use magic, and that wasn't enough.

"Ron, we move in different circles," she said.

Ron snorted.

"You don't move in any circles, Hermione. All you do is study with Neville, and even Neville has other friends. You just stay to yourself all the time. Don't you ever have any fun?" he asked her.

"Yes, I have fun. Learning is fun," Hermione snapped back at him. "I enjoy discovering new things."

Ron studied her. He really had a crush on Hermione although he went out with Lavender.

"Hermione, come riding with me tonight. I can show you new things," he said to her.

Hermione put her book down.

"Ride with you? On a broom?" she asked him.

"Yeah. You'd be all right. I'm a Quidditch player. I could sleep on my broom and not crash," he said to her.

"Don't you go out with Lavender?" Hermione asked him, scowling.

"Yeah, but I'm ready to move on to bigger, better things," he said with a smile.

"Well, you won't be moving on to ME, Ronald Weasley. Honestly, you have some nerve asking me out when you're involved with another witch. That's exactly why I wouldn't give you the time of day. You're a bloody, heartless git, and I hope Lavender realizes it and dumps you on your freckled arse! Now get away from me," Hermione said to him, drawing her wand.

Ron rose, angry now himself.

"You ought to be glad anyone wants to do anything with you, you frigid, stuck-up . . . cow!" he hissed at her, pissed she rejected him so blatantly.

"Cow? Why you arrogant . . ."

Hermione sent a stunner at Ron, but he leapt out of the way, pulling out his own wand and firing one back at Hermione, who blocked it, leaping out of her chair. The other students in the Common Room dove for cover as the hexes flew.

"Hey! What's going on?" Neville cried from the top of the landing as Hermione shot a bat bogey at Ron and it plastered itself to his face, the wizard clawing at the sticky, mucousy, amoeba-like thing, tearing away chunks.

"Hermione, what happened?" Neville asked her as Ron stumbled about, the other Gryffindors laughing.

"We had an argument. I settled it," Hermione huffed, grabbing up her books and heading up the stairs to her room before Ron recovered.

Finally, a sputtering Ron got all the bogey off, Scourgifying his face and cursing Hermione soundly as Neville looked at him with raised eyebrows. When the redhead calmed down, he handed him the Pensieve and the Marauder's map..

"Thanks," Ron said, taking it ungraciously and heading up the stairs to his room, Neville looking after him with a smirk. Before he saw Ron tangling with Hermione, he felt a little bad that Ron wasn't getting what he expected. But now . . . he hoped he pissed his pants.

Ron quickly set up for his wanking session. He stripped down buck naked, made a little tent of his bedcovers for privacy, poured a bit of mineral oil into his hand and left his wand nearby for Scourgifying afterwards. He had the Pensieve under the covers with him. He lay on his back, gripped his cock in one hand, then stuck his finger into the Pensieve.

Immediately, he found himself in a gloomy cavern, a huge statue standing before him. The mouth of the statue was open and Ron, who was naked in the Pensieve, watched in horror as the basilisk flowed over the lip and snaked its way down to the floor. Since this was a Pensieve memory and Neville actually got a look at the dead basilisk, this was no silhouette of the creature, but the creature itself.

"Arrrrrgh!" Ron screamed, running.

Down in the Common Room, everyone looked up as Ron's scream reverberated through the tower, including Neville.

"Was that Weasley yelling?" Dean Thomas asked, his brows furrowed.

"I think so," Neville replied, returning to his studies.

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A/N: lol. Poor Ron. Thanks for reading.