Triumph Out of the Bitter Taste of Ashes
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
34
Views:
6,807
Reviews:
244
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Snape/Hermione
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
34
Views:
6,807
Reviews:
244
Recommended:
0
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.
Chapter Twenty Five
My apologies for the length of time since my last update. This chapter is a little short, but it\'s my announcement that *I\'m Back*! : )~ There should be an update every couple of days. I hope you enjoy and haven\'t completely forgotten what the story is about.
**********
Chapter Twenty Five
**********
Severus rose from his desk, tossing down his quill at precisely 12:45. He had left off his teaching robes today in preparation for his and Miss Granger\'s trip into Muggle London. The muggle style clothing, though not all *that* different from what he usually wore, left him feeling awkward and slightly underdressed. He habitually wore more than this within the privacy of his own chambers, let alone what he wore out in public. He shook his head as he grabbed the heavy, down-lined trench coat he had left draped over his chair as he\'d dressed this morning. He didn\'t know what in the world had possessed him to accept Miss Granger\'s request, but there was something about the fact that she had been unwilling to accept the limitations she\'d been given that touched a chord inside him.
He could no more imagine what it must be like for Miss Granger right now than he could truly imagine what it would be like to live in a world without Voldemort, however, he was certain he would be . . . less than satisfied with the way things had turned out. Severus snorted as that thought crossed his mind.
**Less than satisfied?** he thought with wry sarcasm. **Such a way with the *obvious*!**
With a deft movement, Severus whipped the over-coat on, and as the comfortable weight settled over his shoulders, he cinched the belt around his waist. While it didn\'t swirl properly as he strode down the hallway it was still close enough in feel to his normal clothing that it allowed him to relax, and he was glad he\'d made the impulse purchase the single time he\'d ventured into the muggle world for something *other* than death-eater business.
He stepped into the entry hall at five minutes to one, to find Hermione Granger already waiting. He paused in the shadows, watching. There was something tense and . . . expectant about her, though she ed ced calmer than she had yesterday -- a fact for which he was extremely grateful. An hysterical girl was not something he wanted to deal with right now.
//So *why* did you agree to this?// asked that sarcastic voice he was coming to hate.
Repressing the urge to roll his eyes, he sneered instead, otherwise ignoring the impudent voice.
The Granger girl started as he approached, a fact that was not lost on him. His eyes narrowed. \"Have you changed your mind, then?\" he demanded abruptly, refusing to acknowledge the sharp pangs of disappointment he felt at the realization.
\"No, Sir,\" Granger replied instantly, her cheeks red and her breathing a touch uneven.
Severus\' frown deepened. Why had she reacted that way then? Surely she didn\'t think he would recant and not show up?
\"You just startled me,\" she continued, oblivious to his silent questions. \"I was lost in thought.\"
An awkward silence followed, one that Severus wasn\'t quite sure how to break. Ordinarily he wouldn\'t have given a blast ended skrewt\'s arse for whether or not one of the students was \'comfortable\' in his presence, but sometime over the last few weeks -- when, exactly, Severus had no clue -- it had come to be important to him that Miss Granger was able to relax around him. It wasn\'t something he\'d actually thought about before this very moment, and right now, he wasn\'t entirely certain he liked the idea.
\"Shall we?\" he asked firmly, indicating the front door with a negligent wave of his hand.
\"Oh, of course,\" Granger replied with a slight nod, turning as she spoke.
Severus wasn\'t sure what prompted him to do so, but he strode forward beating Granger to the door. Pausing, he held it open, politely waiting for her to go through it before crossing the threshold himself. Catching a glimpse of poorly hidden surprise, Severus could have kicked himself from here to the Dark Lord\'s current bolt-hole. What in Merlin\'s name had prompted him to do that?
\"Severus!\" Poppy called before the door could close behind the two of them.
Severus scowled even as he began to turn. \"Miss Granger, please continue on. I will catch up to you shortly. The Three Broomsticks.\"
Miss Granger nodded, stealing only a quick glance at the medi-witch before abruptly turning toward the grounds and hurrying away.
\"What can I do for you, Poppy?\" Severus asked abruptly.
\"Where is Miss Granger headed?\"
Severus blinked in surprise. \"What business is that of yours?\" he demanded. \"The fact that she is being accompanied by a professor should be sufficient,\" he continued bitingly.
Poppy Pomfrey\'s eyes narrowed and he posture stiffened -- never a good sign in Severus\' opinion.
\"Considering she\'s my patient, and she\'s in no condition to be hiking in this weather, I think it\'s entirely my business,\" Poppy snapped back.
Growling lowly, Severus abruptly decided it would quicker to simply advise the school medi-witch rather than any other option. He was absolutely certain he would be kept her *debating* should he argue her right to know. \"She has a doctor\'s appointment, one which she request *I* accompany her to,\" he informed her sharply.
Poppy frowned, confusion showing clearly in her expression. \"Why?\"
\"Why *what*?\" Severus demanded, feeling faintly insulted. \"Why wouldn\'t she ask me to accompany her?\"
\"Not that!\" Poppy snapped. \"Why does she have an appointment at all? By Doctor, I\'m assuming you are referring to a muggle.\"
Severus nodded once, sharply.
\"Surely, she realizes she would get better care inside the wizarding world,\" Poppy continued, \"even if she isn\'t comfortable with me.\"
Severus rolled his eyes, finally completely fed up with it all. \"Oh, get over it, woman!\" he retorted. \"This has nothing to do with you.\"
Poppy drew herself up, the perfect picture of affronted dignity. Before she could sputtut aut a retort, however, Severus held up a hand.
\"How much do you know about muggle medicine?\"
She blinked in surprise at the seemingly irrelevant question. \"Not much,\" she replied slowly. \"Why?\"
\"Did you know that muggles can perform abortions later in pregnancy than those avail--\"
\"No!\" Poppy exclaimed, cutting him off midword.
\"Madam Pomfrey!\" Severus objected sternly.
\"You don\'t understand.\"
\"And just *what*, prey tell, do I *not* understand?\" he asked sourly, interrupting Poppy in return.
\"Miss Granger cannot get a muggle abortion any more than she can get one via magical means.\"
Severus frowned. \"Why ever not?\"
**
Severus strode quickly toward the edge of Hogwarts\' grounds, anger radiating with every step he took. He wasn\'t entirely certain why he was angry. There was nothing to be angry about, really. The entire situation, however, seemed to be one of one gross misunderstanding after another.
Stepping off Hogwart\'s property, he instantly apparated to Hogsmeade. The moment he arrived he headed toward The Three Broomsticks, Madam Pomfrey\'s hurried explanations ringing in his ears. He was *not* looking forward to this conversation. Unfortunately, to his way of thinking, it did not take him long to locate Miss Granger. She was waiting -- rather impatiently, if her constantly movement was an indication -- outside the pub.
Her pensive expression turned to one of relief as he neared and he felt something twist inside him when it did so. Much as he wished he would be accompanying her to the appointment, he would be disappointing her instead.
\"Miss Granger,\" he began.
\"Good, you\'re here,\" she inadvertently interrupted with a weak smile. \"I was beginning to think you might not make it in time.\"
\"I\'m afraid we. . .\" he said at the same moment as Granger continued.
\"We need to. . . .\"
They both halted, Granger\'s smile wavering, swiftly becoming a frown.
\"What?\" She asked.
Steeling himself for what he *knew* was bound to be a scene, Severus drew in a deep breath. \"Medicine is *not* my speciality, and I know even less about pregnancy medicine.\"
**Oh, quite beating around the bush and get to the bloody point!**
Severus ground his teeth together as Miss Granger\'s expression mirrored the annoying voice of his own thoughts. \"You will need to miss today\'s appointment.\"
\"Why?!\" Granger snapped impatiently before he could continue.
\"If you would wait just a *moment*,\" he snapped back, \"I\'m *getting* to that.\"
\"Yes, Sir,\" Granger replied quietly, her gaze firmly toward the ground, \"I\'m sorry, Sir.\"
Frowning, as irritated with himself as he was with the interruption, Severus spoke abruptly. \"You need to speak with Madam Pomfrey. There are more complications with your situation than I was previously aware of.\"
\"What?\" Granger asked faintly, her voice cracking slightly. \"Why?\" Stiffening, her expression hardened. \"This is *my* decision, not hers!\"
Severus winced and grabbed her by the arm, steering her toward the Three Broomsticks. \"We will sit for this conversation,\" he ordered abruptly, falling immediately silent afterward. He had hoped Miss Granger would take his advice and question Poppy, but that didn\'t seem to be in the cards.
**Of course not!** he snapped silently to himself. **That would be too much to hope for.** That didn\'t stop him from hoping his stern words and his stern expression would curb Granger\'s curiosity until they were seated and *he* had a drink in front of him.
His luck, for a change, was good. The girl beside him was seething, her expression forbidding -- he was pretty sure it would have put off everyone but someone like him -- but at least she was doing so silently. At the moment, that\'s all he cared about.
TBC
Kiristeen
Feedback: Yes, oh yes! : )~
Kiristeen@kiristeen.com
AN: For those of you concerned; no, this will not be a \'happily ever after and baby makes three\' story. I hate to disappoint anyone, but if that\'s what you\'re waiting for, it\'s going to be a long wait.
**********
Chapter Twenty Five
**********
Severus rose from his desk, tossing down his quill at precisely 12:45. He had left off his teaching robes today in preparation for his and Miss Granger\'s trip into Muggle London. The muggle style clothing, though not all *that* different from what he usually wore, left him feeling awkward and slightly underdressed. He habitually wore more than this within the privacy of his own chambers, let alone what he wore out in public. He shook his head as he grabbed the heavy, down-lined trench coat he had left draped over his chair as he\'d dressed this morning. He didn\'t know what in the world had possessed him to accept Miss Granger\'s request, but there was something about the fact that she had been unwilling to accept the limitations she\'d been given that touched a chord inside him.
He could no more imagine what it must be like for Miss Granger right now than he could truly imagine what it would be like to live in a world without Voldemort, however, he was certain he would be . . . less than satisfied with the way things had turned out. Severus snorted as that thought crossed his mind.
**Less than satisfied?** he thought with wry sarcasm. **Such a way with the *obvious*!**
With a deft movement, Severus whipped the over-coat on, and as the comfortable weight settled over his shoulders, he cinched the belt around his waist. While it didn\'t swirl properly as he strode down the hallway it was still close enough in feel to his normal clothing that it allowed him to relax, and he was glad he\'d made the impulse purchase the single time he\'d ventured into the muggle world for something *other* than death-eater business.
He stepped into the entry hall at five minutes to one, to find Hermione Granger already waiting. He paused in the shadows, watching. There was something tense and . . . expectant about her, though she ed ced calmer than she had yesterday -- a fact for which he was extremely grateful. An hysterical girl was not something he wanted to deal with right now.
//So *why* did you agree to this?// asked that sarcastic voice he was coming to hate.
Repressing the urge to roll his eyes, he sneered instead, otherwise ignoring the impudent voice.
The Granger girl started as he approached, a fact that was not lost on him. His eyes narrowed. \"Have you changed your mind, then?\" he demanded abruptly, refusing to acknowledge the sharp pangs of disappointment he felt at the realization.
\"No, Sir,\" Granger replied instantly, her cheeks red and her breathing a touch uneven.
Severus\' frown deepened. Why had she reacted that way then? Surely she didn\'t think he would recant and not show up?
\"You just startled me,\" she continued, oblivious to his silent questions. \"I was lost in thought.\"
An awkward silence followed, one that Severus wasn\'t quite sure how to break. Ordinarily he wouldn\'t have given a blast ended skrewt\'s arse for whether or not one of the students was \'comfortable\' in his presence, but sometime over the last few weeks -- when, exactly, Severus had no clue -- it had come to be important to him that Miss Granger was able to relax around him. It wasn\'t something he\'d actually thought about before this very moment, and right now, he wasn\'t entirely certain he liked the idea.
\"Shall we?\" he asked firmly, indicating the front door with a negligent wave of his hand.
\"Oh, of course,\" Granger replied with a slight nod, turning as she spoke.
Severus wasn\'t sure what prompted him to do so, but he strode forward beating Granger to the door. Pausing, he held it open, politely waiting for her to go through it before crossing the threshold himself. Catching a glimpse of poorly hidden surprise, Severus could have kicked himself from here to the Dark Lord\'s current bolt-hole. What in Merlin\'s name had prompted him to do that?
\"Severus!\" Poppy called before the door could close behind the two of them.
Severus scowled even as he began to turn. \"Miss Granger, please continue on. I will catch up to you shortly. The Three Broomsticks.\"
Miss Granger nodded, stealing only a quick glance at the medi-witch before abruptly turning toward the grounds and hurrying away.
\"What can I do for you, Poppy?\" Severus asked abruptly.
\"Where is Miss Granger headed?\"
Severus blinked in surprise. \"What business is that of yours?\" he demanded. \"The fact that she is being accompanied by a professor should be sufficient,\" he continued bitingly.
Poppy Pomfrey\'s eyes narrowed and he posture stiffened -- never a good sign in Severus\' opinion.
\"Considering she\'s my patient, and she\'s in no condition to be hiking in this weather, I think it\'s entirely my business,\" Poppy snapped back.
Growling lowly, Severus abruptly decided it would quicker to simply advise the school medi-witch rather than any other option. He was absolutely certain he would be kept her *debating* should he argue her right to know. \"She has a doctor\'s appointment, one which she request *I* accompany her to,\" he informed her sharply.
Poppy frowned, confusion showing clearly in her expression. \"Why?\"
\"Why *what*?\" Severus demanded, feeling faintly insulted. \"Why wouldn\'t she ask me to accompany her?\"
\"Not that!\" Poppy snapped. \"Why does she have an appointment at all? By Doctor, I\'m assuming you are referring to a muggle.\"
Severus nodded once, sharply.
\"Surely, she realizes she would get better care inside the wizarding world,\" Poppy continued, \"even if she isn\'t comfortable with me.\"
Severus rolled his eyes, finally completely fed up with it all. \"Oh, get over it, woman!\" he retorted. \"This has nothing to do with you.\"
Poppy drew herself up, the perfect picture of affronted dignity. Before she could sputtut aut a retort, however, Severus held up a hand.
\"How much do you know about muggle medicine?\"
She blinked in surprise at the seemingly irrelevant question. \"Not much,\" she replied slowly. \"Why?\"
\"Did you know that muggles can perform abortions later in pregnancy than those avail--\"
\"No!\" Poppy exclaimed, cutting him off midword.
\"Madam Pomfrey!\" Severus objected sternly.
\"You don\'t understand.\"
\"And just *what*, prey tell, do I *not* understand?\" he asked sourly, interrupting Poppy in return.
\"Miss Granger cannot get a muggle abortion any more than she can get one via magical means.\"
Severus frowned. \"Why ever not?\"
**
Severus strode quickly toward the edge of Hogwarts\' grounds, anger radiating with every step he took. He wasn\'t entirely certain why he was angry. There was nothing to be angry about, really. The entire situation, however, seemed to be one of one gross misunderstanding after another.
Stepping off Hogwart\'s property, he instantly apparated to Hogsmeade. The moment he arrived he headed toward The Three Broomsticks, Madam Pomfrey\'s hurried explanations ringing in his ears. He was *not* looking forward to this conversation. Unfortunately, to his way of thinking, it did not take him long to locate Miss Granger. She was waiting -- rather impatiently, if her constantly movement was an indication -- outside the pub.
Her pensive expression turned to one of relief as he neared and he felt something twist inside him when it did so. Much as he wished he would be accompanying her to the appointment, he would be disappointing her instead.
\"Miss Granger,\" he began.
\"Good, you\'re here,\" she inadvertently interrupted with a weak smile. \"I was beginning to think you might not make it in time.\"
\"I\'m afraid we. . .\" he said at the same moment as Granger continued.
\"We need to. . . .\"
They both halted, Granger\'s smile wavering, swiftly becoming a frown.
\"What?\" She asked.
Steeling himself for what he *knew* was bound to be a scene, Severus drew in a deep breath. \"Medicine is *not* my speciality, and I know even less about pregnancy medicine.\"
**Oh, quite beating around the bush and get to the bloody point!**
Severus ground his teeth together as Miss Granger\'s expression mirrored the annoying voice of his own thoughts. \"You will need to miss today\'s appointment.\"
\"Why?!\" Granger snapped impatiently before he could continue.
\"If you would wait just a *moment*,\" he snapped back, \"I\'m *getting* to that.\"
\"Yes, Sir,\" Granger replied quietly, her gaze firmly toward the ground, \"I\'m sorry, Sir.\"
Frowning, as irritated with himself as he was with the interruption, Severus spoke abruptly. \"You need to speak with Madam Pomfrey. There are more complications with your situation than I was previously aware of.\"
\"What?\" Granger asked faintly, her voice cracking slightly. \"Why?\" Stiffening, her expression hardened. \"This is *my* decision, not hers!\"
Severus winced and grabbed her by the arm, steering her toward the Three Broomsticks. \"We will sit for this conversation,\" he ordered abruptly, falling immediately silent afterward. He had hoped Miss Granger would take his advice and question Poppy, but that didn\'t seem to be in the cards.
**Of course not!** he snapped silently to himself. **That would be too much to hope for.** That didn\'t stop him from hoping his stern words and his stern expression would curb Granger\'s curiosity until they were seated and *he* had a drink in front of him.
His luck, for a change, was good. The girl beside him was seething, her expression forbidding -- he was pretty sure it would have put off everyone but someone like him -- but at least she was doing so silently. At the moment, that\'s all he cared about.
TBC
Kiristeen
Feedback: Yes, oh yes! : )~
Kiristeen@kiristeen.com
AN: For those of you concerned; no, this will not be a \'happily ever after and baby makes three\' story. I hate to disappoint anyone, but if that\'s what you\'re waiting for, it\'s going to be a long wait.