It Happened One Hallow's Eve

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 27 ~ You Can’t Hide from Those Deep Dark Eyes

Only a few students from the other houses showed up at lunch. Severus was in his study brooding and had a quick sandwich, Hermione and Harry were in Gryffindor tower talking about Draco, the fight, Harry’s first day of training, then went to the ROR so Harry could practice a couple of the new spells, Draco was in Slytherin house searching for some healing potion for his bruised nose…he couldn’t find any and ended up disturbing Severus, who retrieved some from his stores for the wizard, then kicked him out. Albus and Kingsley had more than one little firewhiskey and were both sleeping peaceably in the armchairs in front of Albus’ desk. Filch was at lunch however, scowling at the students who did attend while looking about suspiciously and wondering where the hell everyone else was.

Hermione had a bruise on her face where Draco had managed to hit her when she was bent over him tugging at his hair. There was no healing potion in Gryffindor tower either. This wasn’t good. Severus was acting as medi-wizard, and he would want an explanation for the bruise. Hermione didn’t want to let him know she and Harry had brawled with Draco. She couldn’t stand the pureblood, but didn’t want to unleash Severus on him. He was a student after all and the Potions Master could get in trouble if he did anything retaliatory. So she put a small glamour on it and turned her cheek towards Harry, who was working on casting a hex that made a person vomit. It would be great to see Voldemort lose his lunch…if he ate lunch.

“How does it look, Harry?” Hermione asked, tilting her head towards him.

Harry turned to her and studied the glamour.

“Move your head a little,” he said.

Hermione shifted her head slightly. A little bruise showed for a moment then was covered again.

“Maybe you should make it a little bigger. When you move your head, it shows for a second. Small glamours are hard to pull off. Maybe you should glamour your whole head to look like your whole head,” Harry suggested.

Hermione looked doubtful.

“I’ve done that before. It didn’t work well. There was a delay with my actual speech and the mouth motions. I looked as if I was speaking a badly dubbed script. Someone would notice that,” she said, expanding the glamour a bit. “How is it now?”

Hermione turned her head slightly.

“A little better, but I wouldn’t suggest turning too much at supper. Maybe we can slip into the infirmary and get some healing potion later,” Harry said.

Hermione shook her head.

“Severus is serving as medi-wizard. He’s not like Madame Pomfrey. He doesn’t leave the infirmary open. It is very securely warded. He’s got a thing about protecting potions. It would take hours to break his wards,” the witch said.

Harry looked at her.

“I just can’t get over you calling the Professor by his first name. It sounds weird…and you do it so naturally,” the wizard said, studying his friend.

Hermione didn’t want to say she had a bit of practice saying Severus’ name over and over when she spent the night with him.

“I’m not supposed to do it out of his presence. I’m really breaking the rules saying it now,” Hermione replied.

Harry shuddered.

“Not to mention giving me the creeping fugwugs,” he stated.

“Just keep practicing,” Hermione said with a scowl.

Harry did so.

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Supper was a rather quiet, tense affair. Albus picked at his food, completely hung over. Draco spent much of his time glaring at Harry and Hermione. Harry glared back, but Hermione wouldn’t look at the pureblood…or Severus. She was sitting very stiffly and eating in an almost robotic way, not moving her head. Severus leveled his eyes on her. Something was suspicious here.

“Miss Granger,” he purred at her.

Both Draco and Harry looked at the Potions Master when he addressed the witch.

“Yes, Professor?” Hermione replied turning her eyes on him, still sitting straight.

“Have you possibly been hit by a Petrificus Partialus spell? You’re as rigid as stone,” the Professor observed.

Hermione’s eyes began to shift. Severus knew what that meant but didn’t react.

“My posture is atrocious. The way I slump, I’ll have a hump in my back by the time I’m sixty…so I’m making a conscious effort to correct it,” Hermione lied.

Severus’ eyes narrowed.

“I would think, Miss Granger, if you wanted to improve your posture, you would reduce the tons of books you carry in your backpack to a more manageable amount,” he replied, his mouth turned down.

Hermione knew he knew she was lying.

“Perhaps I will, Professor,” Hermione said in an attempt to kill the conversation.

Severus fell silent. He’d find out what was going on with the witch on after supper.

Hermione ate as slowly as she could, hoping Severus would finish and leave before she did, but the wizard simply ordered coffee and took his time drinking it. The Great Hall cleared out until only Harry, Hermione, Severus and Filch remained, also drinking coffee, his rheumy eyes shifting from one to the other suspiciously. What were they all waiting for?

Finally Harry stood up.

“I’m going to head back to the ROR Hermione,” he said, his green eyes flicking toward Severus. “To practice my sword strokes. Coming to join me?”

Severus’ dark eyes turned on Hermione momentarily, then he seemed to be contemplating his coffee.

Filch’s ears perked up. Sword cuts?

”You aren’t supposed to have any dangerous weapons in the school,” the caretaker said, frowning at the wizard.

“He has the Headmaster’s permission, Mr. Filch,” Severus said to the squib.

Filch’s face contorted.

“How am I supposed to keep order in the castle when the rules are bent all the time,” he groused, rising from the table. “Sometimes I feel like just resigning.”

He hobbled out of the Great Hall, Mrs. Norris trailing behind him, her tail high in the air.

Harry looked after him.

“Hogwarts without Filch just wouldn’t seem like Hogwarts,” he commented. “He’s a fixture. Like the cobwebs and damp walls.”

”Not to mention the pools of slime,” Hermione added.

She and Harry laughed.

“You should not be speaking about a Hogwarts staff member in such a manner,” Severus said, “Five points from Gryffindor apiece.”

Harry and Hermione both scowled at him.

“But we’re on vacation,” Hermione said to the wizard.

“But the rules are not. You will show staff proper deference in my presence. You should have kept your comments to yourselves until you were alone,” the Potions Master replied.

Harry snorted then said, “I’m going Hermione…”

His green eyes rested on the Potions Master for a moment.

“Unless you want me to wait for you,” he added.

Severus gave him a very clear “get lost, Potter” look. The Professor suspected Harry knew about his relationship with Hermione by the looks the wizard was giving him.

“No, I’ll be along,” Hermione said, cutting into her pie.

“All right. I’ll see you later,” he said to Hermione.

“I suggest you practice hard, Mr. Potter. The dummy awaits,” Severus smirked at him.

Harry muttered something under his breath and left the Great Hall. The moment he did, Severus pulled out his wand and removed Hermione’s glamour. His dark eyes rested on the purple bruise. Obviously she had been hit by someone or something.

“How did you get that?” he asked the witch, his nostrils flared.

If she hadn’t tried so hard to hide it, he might have thought it was the result of an accident.

“Get what?” Hermione replied non-chalantly. Severus’ face contorted with anger.

“Don’t be flippant witch. How did you get that bruise on your cheek? I want to know now,” he said in a dangerous voice. “It looks as if it was from a blow. Did someone hit you?”

Hermione paled a bit at the wizard’s anger.

“Severus, it’s nothing. It’s been taken care of,” the witch said. This answer only served to make the Potions Master angrier. He stood up, walked around the table and leaned down to examine the bruise.

“I want to know what happened,” he demanded.

Before Hermione could respond, the wizard said, “Legilimens!”

Hermione tried to slam down her Occlumency walls but he was already in. Severus watched Draco come down the stairs and announce very nastily he knew about their relationship. Then he heard the wizard question his loyalty. The Potions Master’s eyebrows rose as Hermione punched Draco in the nose, then the brawl started with the witch kicking Draco and pulling his hair as Harry wrestled with him. Ah, so that’s how Draco’s nose got bruised. Then he saw Draco swing at Hermione in an effort to get her off him and connect. Then the witch pulled out her wand, stupefied the pureblood and kicked him twice before fleeing up the stairs after Harry.

He pulled out of her mind.

“Hermione Granger. You are little more than a common brawler,” he said to the witch, his eyebrow arched. “You started that altercation.”

“Well, he shouldn’t have said what he said about you!” Hermione shot back at him defiantly.

Severus’ mouth quirked.

“Fighting for my honor, Hermione?” he said, “It’s a bit late for that. Mr. Malfoy simply shared a sentiment that has been bandied about the Order for years. I am looked upon with suspicion by those who know my double role. No doubt I will be watched closely by Order members on the day of battle. They will be ready to kill me if I do anything untoward.”

“But that’s not fair,” Hermione said, “You’ve gone through so much. They should know you are loyal by all you’ve suffered.”

Severus shook his head.

“Many Death Eaters are tortured by the Dark Lord. I am not a special case really, though my tortures were more severe. He likes giving pain and wielding his power over others, even his own servants. I would be tortured whether I was an Order member or not. So to others, it means next to nothing,” Severus said.

Hermione’s eyes glistened.

“You’re no traitor,” she whispered.

“No, I’m not,” he replied, “At least not to the side of Light. The day of battle will show that. I intend to prove myself.”

Hermione looked at him, fear rising in her belly.

“Prove yourself? How?” she asked, her voice quavering.

Severus looked at her soberly.

“I am not sure yet. But I will think of something,” the wizard replied softly. He could see the worry in the young witch’s eyes.

“But Severus…” Hermione began.

The wizard cut her off.

“Hermione, you know I am a member of the Order…a soldier as well as a spy. As a soldier I am willing to give my life so that our objective is reached. Our objective is to destroy Voldemort. I must work toward that end. The despot must die, and I do not believe Mr. Potter can do it alone,” he said, then his eyes softened. “Besides, wouldn’t you want your friend to survive this?”

“Yes,” Hermione whispered, her voice full of emotion, “I don’t want Harry to die. But I don’t want you to die either.”

“I don’t intend to let either myself or Mr. Potter die, Hermione. But I don’t need fear and worry from you, witch. I don’t need you trying to dissuade me from my path. It already leads to my destiny. What both I and Mr. Potter need from you is courage, support and belief. You must believe we can win against the Dark Lord,” he said.

Hermione blinked up at him and realized he was right. The Final Battle seemed inevitable. Instead of being fearful, she needed to be brave and supportive. To add her strength to his.

Hermione considered all the years the Potions Master spent under the influence of the Dark Lord, all the tortures he suffered, all of the information he provided Dumbledore which saved the lives of thousands. How the wizard always found the strength to return to the despot again and again, no matter how battered and broken he was. How his determination to bring an end to Voldemort’s darkness kept him to his duty. Now was the culmination of all his work and sacrifice. Of course he would bravely go forth into the fray. It was the final hour.

“I do believe, Severus,” she said softly. “I believe with all my heart.”

Severus touched his fingertips to her bruise gently.

“Such a Gryffindor,” he said. She had received that bruise because of her loyalty to him. A completely Gryffindor act. “Come with me to my office and let me fix that bruise.”

Hermione took Severus’ arm and they exited the Great Hall. Once in the main hall however, the Potions Master released her arm. He had no idea who they would meet and despite how many knew about their relationship…it was still a secret. He meant it to stay that way as much as possible.

As they walked, Severus considered the brawl and how Hermione had received the bruise. If Draco had just blatantly hit the witch, he could have counted on a through ass-kicking from Severus, followed by an obliviate. As much as the Potions Master didn’t like the idea of Hermione being struck, he had to be fair about this. The truth was the witch had drawn first blood by striking Draco. If she had been alone and he struck her back, then there would have been the issue of a wizard attacking a witch physically. However, Potter was there and that made the fight two on one. Draco was defending himself. Hermione did have a rather painful grip on his hair. If in the same situation, Severus would have taken a swing at her himself. She did join the fray, so in essence, Hermione put herself in the situation as well as caused it. Both she and Draco walked away with bruises.

Besides punching Draco in the nose, she had bitten him, kicked him in the head at least once and kicked him in the ribs twice when he was down. Hermione had a vicious streak. Getting off with a bruise was easy. Severus decided he wouldn’t punish Draco for defending himself, but he would make it clear to the pureblood he expected this to be the end of the altercation. He had provoked the witch after all. He would also make it clear to the blonde wizard that he would beat him within an inch of his life if he ever spoke disrespectfully to Hermione about their relationship again. If he had anything he wanted to say, he could say it to the Potions Master.

Severus and Hermione turned down the dungeon corridor toward his office. Severus looked down at her surreptiously. He didn’t feel any vibes of desire coming off the witch. No doubt she was still sated from their last engagement. Then again, with the upcoming battle, sex was probably the last thing on the witch’s mind. She had other things to think about…like the possibility of his and Harry’s death.

Well, he wouldn’t press the witch. Actually, he preferred when she initiated intimate contact. It stoked his ego a bit to have the young witch so enamored of him that she pursued contact. He had never been in this kind of situation before. Women hardly saw him as pursuit-worthy…unless they were inebriated and randy. They would take anyone at that point and their attraction was purely physical. They needed a tool and he had it.

But Hermione wanted him for him, gave herself to him because of what was in her heart, not because she needed a good fuck. Well, by the time he got to her she did, but only from him. Not just any wizard. He was special to her. The wizard found he liked being special. Especially to a witch as brilliant and promising as Hermione Granger. He was blessed in that he was attracted to a witch that was equally attracted to him. It seemed as if the fates finally let up on him, finally opened a door that could lead to happiness.

Now, only if Voldemort would die. His happiness would be assured.

They stopped in front of Severus’ office and he unwarded the door, let the witch in and entered behind her.

The Potions Master led Hermione into his classroom and had her sit down on his desk as he retrieved the healing potion and a swab. He carefully applied it to her bruise. It lightened, then disappeared.

“Perfect,” he said as she brought her hand to her cheek.

“Thank you, Severus,” Hermione said.

“Now, I expect no more altercations between yourself and Mr. Malfoy, Hermione. I am going to speak to him about this as well. I will also speak to him about our relationship. He will not accost you about it again, I guarantee it,” the wizard said.

Hermione nodded…but Severus noticed something in her eyes that wasn’t quite right. His eyes narrowed.

“Hermione, do I know the whole story about this?” he asked her. “Is there something else I should know about Mr. Malfoy?”

Hermione looked at him. She didn’t know if she should tell him about Draco kissing her. He might kill the wizard. He had already said he'd do as much if another wizard touched her. She just looked at him…a bit afraid.

Severus saw the fear.

“Hermione, we are in a relationship now. I don’t want you hiding things from me. I don’t want to feel I have to use Legilimency on you every time I want to know the truth. We have to be honest with each other. Now I want you to tell me if there is anything else I should know about Draco,” he said.

Hermione blinked up at him.

“He kissed me,” she whispered.

Severus stared at her a moment, unable to believe she said what she did.

“He what?” the Potions Master said, his silky voice quavering.

“He kissed me in the corridor. But I am sure it was before he knew that I was seeing you,” she said in a small voice.

Severus’ face was terrible.

“You let him kiss you?” he asked the witch, his chest tightening.

“No. He just sort of did it. I bit him and ran away,” the witch said.

Severus began to hear a roaring in his ears as he looked at Hermione.

“Let me see,” he snarled, “Legilimens.”

He watched and listened as Draco tried to convince Hermione to be his secret lover. Yes, this had to be before he knew about them. But still…that didn’t ease the tightness in the wizard’s belly. He growled audibly when Draco suddenly kissed the witch. It was obvious he had shoved his tongue into her mouth. A mouth Severus considered his own. He pulled out of Hermione’s mind.

“I think it’s time for you to go visit Mr. Potter,” the wizard said darkly, catching her by the arm and leading her through the classroom and back to his office. He opened the door and led her out into the corridor, warding the office back.

Hermione looked at him, her eyes wide.

“What are you going to do, Severus?” she asked the wizard, a cold feeling in her belly that matched the coldness in the Potions Master’s eyes.

“As I said, I am going to talk to Mr. Malfoy. Now go,” he said to the witch, pushing her up the hall gently.

“Severus, don’t do anything crazy. He’s a student and he really didn’t know about us,” the witch said, worried about the pureblood now. She didn’t like Draco, but she didn’t want Severus to get in trouble over him.

“Mr. Malfoy is in my house and is my charge, Hermione. I know how to handle him,” the wizard said evenly. “You go and support Harry. Make sure he practices hard. I plan to put him through rougher paces tomorrow.”

“All right,” Hermione said doubtfully. She turned and walked up the hallway, looking back over her shoulder a few times. She saw the Potions Master heading for Slytherin house, disappearing into the corridor depths.

She shook her head.

Draco was in for it, she was sure.

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A/N: Man oh man. Just when we thought Draco was going to get off. :::shaking head::: Well, we’ll see what happens. Please review.