A Looping of the Scales ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 23 ~ Small Confrontations

When Hermione entered the Gryffindor common room, only one person was there.

Ron. He was sitting on the sofa and watched as she entered. Hermione didn’t notice him at first; she was so elated and deep in thought about her night with Severus.

”Oi, Hermione,” Ron said softly, and she looked over at him, startled.

”Ron, what are you doing up this late?” she asked him, slipping her knapsack off her shoulder and putting it on the floor.

”I was waiting for you. You know, it was your first night studying with Snape. I wanted to make sure everything went all right,” he said as Hermione walked over.

”Oh, it did! It was a wonderful night,” Hermione said, sitting down next to him. “Severus discovered his Animagus form. It’s a gryffin. A snow-white gryffin, Ron, and guess what?”

“What?” Ron said a bit dully.

”I think he can fly, or will be able to fly soon. We went out to the Forbidden Forest and he practiced gliding and turning in the air. He was magnificent!”

”Yeah, I can see that. Magnificent enough that you missed curfew,” Ron said dryly.

“No, no. I didn’t. I have a special dispensation to stay out until eleven on weeknights and one on weekends in order to study with him,” she said with a smile.

Ron went silent.

”But what’s really exciting about this, Ron, is now I have a theory to present for my Transfiguration NEWTS! It appears that an Animagus can exhibit the same behavior as the animal he or she turns into. Severus apparently can fly the same why a true gryffin can, so say, if someone was a dragon or other magical creature, he or she would have that animal’s attributes. Isn’t that interesting? I’m going to document everything about Severus’ development! I’m so excited.”

Ron studied her. She really was excited, and it had to do with the NEWTS as usual. He relaxed somewhat. This explained a lot. Even her getting on a broom. More than likely, she hadn’t wanted to miss out and Snape was going to leave her if she didn’t fly with him. So, she took the plunge. It really was a Hermione-like thing to do. It was learning, and Hermione would walk through the fires of hell itself to learn something new.

“So, he’s a gryffin? He has bird feet?” Ron asked her.

”Only in the front. He has lion paws in the back. And his beak, talons and claws are gold. The tuft of his tail, too. I don’t think that white is a normal gryffin color. I’ll have to look it up. His color might have something to do with him being so pale naturally.”

”Yeah, maybe. I’d think he’d be something all black,” Ron said.

Hermione shrugged. “Well, we did associate him with darkness when he was an adult, and he lived a dark life—“

”And all he ever wore was black,” Ron added

Hermione looked very thoughtful as she considered Snape’s form, then the forms of the Marauders.

”You know, Ron, I just thought of something else that could be interesting to theorize about. How a wizard’s or witch’s form could have something to do with how they are inside.”

”What?”

”No, really. Think about it. James Potter was a stag, and you know stags are showy, beautiful and sexually attractive to females. Sirius Black was a dog, and he was extremely loyal and followed James around like he was the leader of the pack. He tracked Harry down as if he sniffed him out. And Peter Pettigrew, he really was a rat in nature, the way he betrayed everyone and changed sides. Look at Rita, she’s a dung beetle . . . I looked her species up. If anyone can roll dung around, it’s her.”

Ron chuckled as Hermione continued.

”I don’t think Severus had an Animagus form in his adult life. He said he’d been trying to find his form since his fifth year. I think he must have gotten sidetracked or given up for some reason. But when he saw that Sirius and Peter could change in the Pensieve Harry gave him, it renewed his determination. He wanted to be better than them. It was when he found out that Harry’s father was an Animagus, and such a handsome animal that he lost it and transformed. I think he couldn’t change before because he was holding too much in. When he let out his hatred and anger, he was able to do it.

“Gryffins are guardians, usually of treasures. They are monogamous, too. When they mate, they mate for life and if one dies, the other won’t ever mate again but live out its life alone—“

Hermione’s eyes began to glisten as she continued.

”Severus and Lily were never really together, but he loved her. He never forgot her when he was an adult, and she was the basis for most of what he did. And he was alone most of the time, and did guard Harry. So really, it makes sense that his form would be this kind of creature, doesn’t it? It fits him, his personality.”

Ron just shook his head.

”It’s amazing what you can come up with, Hermione,” he said, yawning. “But, it does make sense. You should use it for your NEWTS.”

”I am,” she agreed.

Ron stood up and stretched.

”Well, now that you’re back safe, I’m going to go to bed. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

Hermione gave him a smile.

”I’m fine, Ron. Thanks.”

Ron looked down at her as if he was going to say something else, but he didn’t. He just turned and went up the stairs.

Hermione grabbed her knapsack and went to her room as well. She quickly stripped down, put on her nightgown, then grabbed a parchment and pen. She was too excited to sleep, so sat down at her desk and began to write. She was up much of the night jotting down her thoughts and ideas concerning Snape and Animagi and putting them into a rough outline.

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”He’s a what?” Harry asked Ron, his green eyes round as they walked down to breakfast.

”A gryffin. A white gryffin,” Ron informed him, “and Hermione said he’s learning how to fly.”

”A gryffin. Isn’t that one of those bird crossbreeds, like a hippogriff?”

”Well, it does look like one, except the back part is a lion, not a horse.”

”Wow,” Harry said, impressed. “That’s a cool transformation.”

”Hermione thinks so,” Ron said a bit sullenly.

”Well, she would, Ron. No one’s seen a gryffin in ages. Hagrid said that they’re extinct, if I remember right,” Harry said. “Hermione must have gone crazy when she saw his form.”

”She did. She even flew on a broom with him, so she could watch him try to fly,” Ron said.

Harry stopped walking.

”Hermione actually got on a broom?”

Ron nodded, frowning.

”She’d never fly with me,” he muttered as they started walking again.

”Well, you never turned into a gryffin, Ron,” Harry replied. “Hermione would do nearly anything not to miss out on something new. You know that. She had a reason to get on that broom.”

”I know.”

The two wizards mounted the shifting stairs, heading down to breakfast. Ron was silent, but the kind of silent that needed words.

”Ron, you aren’t over Hermione, are you?” Harry asked.

”I am in a way,” Ron said softly, “but, Harry, you should have seen how excited she was over Snape. She called him ‘magnificent’ and really meant it. I could never make her that excited over me. If I could have, then we could have stood a chance—“

”I don’t think so, Ron. Eventually, the excitement’s going to wear off. She’ll get used to the idea and it won’t seem so special anymore. Then she’ll go right back into ‘brain’ mode. That’s Hermione. Probably what she’s most excited about is how she can use this to make better NEWT marks. It’s not really Snape—it’s what she can use from this. It’s still all about her marks, Ron. It’s about learning and challenging herself. I hate to say this, but I think you were right to end it. I don’t think you would have been happy as her husband, if you weren’t as her boyfriend.”

Ron sighed, but felt a little better now that he knew Harry supported his decision. Harry loved Hermione, too, and would want what was best for both of them.

”Thanks, Harry,” he said, as they changed landings.

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Snape finished filling out the registration form and handed it back to Minerva, who looked down at it, her eyes rounding. She looked up at Snape in amazement.

”A—a white gryffin, Severus?”

He nodded.

Minerva reached into the bottom drawer of her desk and took out an old camera. She stood up and walked around the desk, rather excited.

”You have to send photos with your Ministry registration. So, I need you to transform,” she said, a quaver in her voice.

Snape stood up and walked back toward the office door, then transformed.

Minerva gasped and fumbled with the camera, nearly dropping it as she stared at the beautiful beast before her. Snape played it up, too, arching his neck and ruffling his throat feathers, the torchlight gleaming off his beak.

”My word,” Albus breathed from another portrait. “What a magnificent transformation. It would have come in handy against Voldemort’s forces.”

The gryffin suddenly turned its head toward the portrait with a hiss. It had heard the image’s quiet comment. Gryffins had excellent hearing. Albus’ image quickly ducked out of the portrait.

”Severus, look this way,” Minerva said, awe in her voice as she raised the camera.

Snape posed for several pictures, spreading his wings, giving frontals, profiles and images from behind, holding up his tufted tail. When Minerva finished, she said, “I’ve never seen a more beautiful transformation in all my life. It’s—extraordinary, Severus. Too bad you aren’t taking NEWTS for transfiguration. You’d have very high marks.”

The gryffin transformed back into Snape.

”I felt Herbology more important, Headmistress, no offense meant to your field, but a Potions master needs to know more about growing rare ingredients than transfiguring items.”

”I understand, but still—this is marvelous. It would have been a wonderful presentation.”

Snape smiled a bit.

”I’m sure Hermione has it covered, Headmistress,” he replied. “My form won’t go to waste academically. She’s going to pick me apart feather by feather, I’m sure.”

”And, you don’t mind that, Severus? It sounds awfully intrusive.”

”No. I don’t mind it at all. She’s a brilliant witch. It’s not a chore to be around her.”

”I see,” Minerva said, sitting back down at her desk and eyeing the wizard. “So, how did the first night of study go?”

”Fine,” he responded shortly.

”And how long was the session?”

”She returned to Gryffindor tower just before eleven o’clock,” Snape replied with a frown.

”And what did you stu—“

Snape cut her off.

”Headmistress, are you going inquire about every detail of our study time? Why not just ask me for a Pensieve if you want to keep an eye on us? Or better yet, sit in with us and get a cat’s eye view.”

Minerva reddened.

”I didn’t mean to pry, Severus—“

Snape arched an eyebrow at her.

”All right. Maybe I was prying a bit, Severus, but I’m concerned. You have Miss Granger in your private quarters for hours—“

”That’s true,” he replied softly. “And quite close to my bedroom.”

Minerva looked scandalized.

”Severus!” she exclaimed.

”Well, that is what you were thinking, wasn’t it? That we could go into my bedroom—“

”You—you are a scamp, Severus!”

”I’m not the one having impure thoughts, Headmistress. You are the one worried about what two young adults, who incidentally are both the age of consent, and one of which who has been through an entire war, are actually—learning. I resent being interrogated. You don’t have the right to do it. I am doing nothing wrong.”

Minerva turned scarlet.

“Maybe not as an authority figure, Severus, but Hermione Granger was my pupil, and I mentored her. She needs to keep her focus on her work—“

Minerva had heard about Hermione’s breakup with Ron, and feared she might be on the rebound. An unscrupulous wizard could take advantage of her emotional turmoil. She had no idea Hermione wasn’t experiencing that much turmoil at all, if any.

”She is, Headmistress, as am I. I’m taking the NEWTS, too, remember?” Snape countered. “The only reason Hermione is in my rooms is so I can make high marks. She isn’t the only ambitious person in this school. I’d like to make the best showing possible. She’s helping me. And if there is anything extracurricular between us, that’s our business. Now, I have to go. I have a potion brewing that needs my attention.”

And Snape walked over, grabbed a handful of Floo powder out of a box on the mantel, and threw it into the flames.

”My quarters,” he said softly, then stepped through, leaving a speechless Minerva behind.

Albus immediately appeared in the painting behind her.

”You’re going to alienate that wizard with your meddling, Minerva. Leave them alone. If they were to get together, it wouldn’t be terrible. They are both brilliant, and very much alike in ways. A far better match than she and Weasley, I must admit.”

Minerva spun in her chair.

”You sound as if you want them to—to—“

”Find each other? Perhaps. Hermione Granger is not a Lily Evans, and that, my dear, is a good thing,” the portrait replied. “Leave them alone, Minerva. Let the boy have a chance at happiness this time around. The gods know the first time was a bust.”

Minerva fell silent. Maybe she should back off. Severus, rude as he was, had been right. She had no right to meddle. It was just difficult not to be protective of Hermione. She’d been through so much in her young life and was trying to do something with it.

But Severus had been through hell itself, for many years. This truly was a second chance for him.

”Fine, Albus. I’ll back off,” she said softly.

”Good for you,” the portrait replied.

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Snape returned to his rooms and quickly walked over to a small cauldron he had simmering on low. He lifted the top and eyed the thickened lime green solution. He waved his hand over it slowly, scenting the fumes. Yes, it was done. He turned off the cauldron.

”This ought to have you running after students in no time, Mr. Filch,” Snape said softly as he retrieved a heavy glove, ladle and several jars.

He pulled on the glove to protect his hand from the heat, then carefully filled the jars. He screwed the tops on and set them aside to cool. He’d made enough to last for the rest of the term and cover the summer months.

He’d be sure to send the old squib more when he ran out.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.