A Turn for the Better

Chapter 32 ~ By the Book

Hermione waited a full twenty-five hours for the book to complete the first chapter, just to be on the safe side. It would have been horrible to open it and find she had miscalculated and had to wait another full day to read about how to approach Professor Snape, but to be honest, there was as much chance of that happening as of Ronald Weasley passing on a meal.

Almost breathlessly, she opened the nightstand drawer and reverently took out the book, carrying it to her small desk and seting it down. She pulled out the chair, sat down and stared at it for several moments before opening it. She was excited and nervous and wanted to compose herself.

Finally, she opened it, leafing through the pages. She came to a page with large, red, letters that stated:

CONFLICT OF INFORMATION: THIS ISSUE MUST BE RECTIFIED BEFORE FIRST STEP CAN BE CREATED.

Underneath that statement was the conflict. The book wanted to know if the main obstacle to Professor Snape responding to her was because she was a student, then how did they have sexual relations a year or less ago?

A fair question actually.

Hermione thought hard about the best and simpliest way to answer this without the book stalling on her. It probably wouldn't be able to process that it was an alternate timeline and they were both young when they had sex. Finally, she wrote:

"I was not his student at the time."

She watched as the question and answer was absorbed by the page, and she was reminded of the alternate timeline where Harry had an evil book that contained the memory of Tom Riddle. The book had been the catalyst for the release of the basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets. But she had checked the book for Dark Magic.

Still, it was a little unsettling.

Suddenly, more writing appeared.

MOST LOGICAL COURSE OF ACTION: WAIT UNTIL GRADUATION TO PURSUE PROFESSOR SNAPE.

Under that were the words: "CHOOSE ANOTHER OPTION" with a check box next to it. Hermione retrieved a pencil from her nightstand and checked it.

NEXT COURSE OF ACTION: BEGIN A METHODICAL SEDUCTION

BEST TOOLS: FEIGNED INNOCENCE, DIRECT APPROACH, TANTALIZING DESCRIPTIONS, USE OF PROFESSOR'S OWN DESIRES AGAINST HIM.

APPROACH: SITE INNER CONFLICT AS A CATALYST

THREAT: MAY CONSULT SOMEONE IN POSITION OF AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO FIND PSYCHOLOGICAL RELIEF

SAMPLE LINES: I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT YOU (SEXUALLY.) I THINK I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE I GO MAD. DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT US?

Hermione blinked down at the book. What? It wanted her to just tell Professor Snape she'd been having erotic dreams about him? And the sample lines were just so . . . campy and corny. But, she guessed they could seem "innocent" coming from her. Besides, they were only samples. She could possibly come up with something better on her own.

To its credit however, the book gave her an outline of Professor Snape according to the information it received.

He was a manipulative man who had no problems adjusting situations to suit himself. By his actions, it was clear that when it came to her, he bent the rules in almost every case, acting decidedly out of character. Based on the two situations where she either saved or changed his life in some manner, he held her in high esteem and might feel that he owed her and intended to help/reward her in some manner.

The book also said that he appeared to be the type of man who could put her on a pedestal, and advised that she take great pains to show him she did not require a pedestal, because such relationships could become controlling, and Hermione could wind up with the wizard hedging her in at every turn for her own good. In a worst case scenario, he could turn into a dominating monster who tried to keep her under lock and key. In his mind, it would simply be "doing what's best for her."

Hermione certainly didn't want that. The idea of it was daunting. Very daunting.

His reluctance to show even the slightest action that could be considered an act of impropriety on his part, suggested he was concerned that she would not return his affections if he moved forward at this time, and also concerned with the status of his job. There was also a good possibility that he believed the difference in their ages could be a handicap to forming a relationship.

The book warned again of the most logical option, to wait until graduation before she began her seduction or sought further physical contact, citing it would be selfish on her part to make him risk his livelihood.

"What is this, a book that passes on guilt?" Hermione muttered.

"DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE? YES OR NO?"

Hermione circled "Yes." The hell with guilt. This was love, and all was fair in love and war.

"TURN THE PAGE"

Hermione did so and found the heading "STEP ONE." Eagerly, she read the instructions. They were short and to the point.

FOCUS: CREATING A DIALOGUE TARGETING YOUR SPECIAL CONNECTION.

YOU MUST LET HIM INTO YOUR MIND, MAKE A PERSONAL, INTIMATE CONNECTION WITH HIM USING YOUR PAST AND PRESENT EXPERIENCES. HE MUST FEEL YOUR CONFLICT AT FIRST, BUT NOT YOUR DESIRE. APPROACH HIM AS IF SEEKING NOTHING MORE THAN HIS THOUGHTS ON YOUR SITUATION. BE SURE TO ASK HIM FOR HIS INPUT AS TO WHAT HE THINKS YOU SHOULD DO. IF HE HEDGES, THEN SUGGEST YOU MAY HAVE TO SEE ADVICE FROM OTHERS. IF HE REMAINS TRUE TO CHARACTER, HE WILL NOT WANT THAT AND DO HIS BEST TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE ANSWERS YOU NEED.

INCLUDE THE HISTORY OF YOUR PARENTS' MAY/DECEMBER RELATIONSHIP USING YOUR UPCOMING APPRENTICESHIP AS THE LEAD IN, BEING SURE TO EMPHASIZE THE INCREASED LIFE SPAN OF WIZARDS AND WITCHES.

LOGIC DICTATES THAT IN THE CASE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN LIVE TWO HUNDRED YEARS, A SPAN OF TWENTY YEARS DIFFERENCE IN MEANS VERY LITTLE SINCE SOMEONE AS OLD AS NINETY TECHNICALLY HASN'T YET REACHED MIDDLE AGE. AT LESS THAN FORTY YEARS OF AGE, PROFESSOR SNAPE IS STILL TECHNICALLY A YOUNG WIZARD, DESPITE HIS EXPERIENCE.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES MAKE ANY PHYSICAL ADVANCES! NO ASKING FOR OR GIVING OF KISSES AND/OR EMBRACES, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY OCCASIONAL INVADE HIS PERSONAL SPACE AT OPPORTUNE MOMENTS TO MAKE HIM AWARE OF YOUR PHYSICAL PROXIMITY. BUT DO NOT MAKE THIS HABIT, OR HE WILL BECOME CONDITIONED.

IN ADDITION, SUCH BEHAVIOR WILL TRIGGER HIS "THIS IS IMPROPER" MENTALITY AS WELL AS CONCERN FOR THE POSSIBLE RISK TO HIS LIVELIHOOD. EITHER REACTION WILL RUIN ANY PSYCHOLOGICAL ADVANCES YOU HAVE MADE THUS FAR. HE IS A SLYTHERIN, AND THE STANDARD MOTTO OF SLYTHERIN IS SELF-PRESERVATION. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE HIM CHOOSE BETWEEN YOU AND WHAT IS BEST FOR HIM.

YOU COULD POSSIBLY LOSE OR CAUSE HIM RUIN.

Hermione didn't want that either.

AFTER A MONTH (30 DAYS) OF FOLLOWING THIS DIRECTIVE, RETURN AND TRANSCRIBE YOUR RESULTS TO RECEIVE THE NEXT STEP NECESSARY.

KEYWORDS: CONNECTION, INTERACTION, RESTRAINT

GOOD LUCK.

The rest of the book was blank.

Hermione read the assessment of Professor Snape and the instructions over and over. They were very simple and to the point, but . . . yes . . . manipulative. Especially the part with her threatening to go to someone else to talk about her dreams and inclinations. Hogwarts didn't have a psychiatrist. She might suggest going to Professor McGonagall for advice. She was the Gryffindor Head of House after all, although Hermione could imagine the prim and proper witch's horrified reaction to her nocturnal lust for the Potions master.

"Hermione, you must under no circumstance tell ANYONE about this! I will clandestinely make arrangements for Muggle therapy immediately. It is obvious the upcoming NEWTS have you terribly out of sorts. Dreaming of Professor Snape in such a manner? You poor, tortured child."

Or something along those lines.

Still, Hermione grinned rather wickedly at the thought of getting the Transfiguration teachers knickers in a wad. She pushed it out of her mind. This was a serious matter after all, and . . . quite a tantalizing one.

Now, how much should she tell him about her dreams? She was sure the purpose of doing it was to "innocently" let him know she desired him in a physical manner and dangle it in front of his large nose like a bone. Discussing it would only make it more apparent.

She imagined he'd refuse to talk about "such matters" and consider the topic "highly inappropriate" at first. Then she'd whip out McGonagall, or maybe even . . . even the gossipy Trelawney as a confidant.

Hermione had no idea that if she did go to Trelawney, the reaction she'd get would be one of jealousy, rage and lecture upon lecture of the unsuitability of the very thought. Sybil Trelawney was quite sweet on the Potions master, who paid her a bit of deference because he had been witness to her revelation about him and knew she did have the Gift, even though she couldn't control it. He wasn't as cold as in the other timeline, nor as callous with other staff members. He'd listened to Sybil for hours over the years, since she sat next to him at meals.

She was quite territorial about the seating arrangements as well, and anyone who thoughtlessly and momentarily usurped her chair next to Snape, was promptly told this was her seat and a necessary placement so she could be open to the vibrations of the universe.

Then she'd snuggle in next to Snape. Although she had done practically everything outside of appearing buck naked in his bedchambers, the dark wizard expressed no interest in being anything other than "friends," explaining relationships between people who worked together became very messy and affected work output.

"Besides, Sybil, if it didn't work out, I would lose a treasured and wise friend," Snape said smoothly, as Sybil smiled at him. "I have so few friends, I don't want to risk that."

Naturally, Sybil thought herself quite special. But that didn't mean she wouldn't have a bugbear if she received even an inkling that Hermione had set her sights on Snape. Predictions of doom, destruction and impending death would abound.

But Hermione would never go to her. They fell out in Hermione's second year, because Hermione couldn't make a single prediction in the teacher's class. But Hermione felt neither could Trelawney. Neville nearly lost an eyebrow when he suggested Hermione quit her class because it was the one she wasn't good at.

It was quite the touchy subject.

Well, Hermione had an outline concerning "Project Professor Snape."

All she needed to do was find the courage to put it in action.

She put the book away and retrieved the one on brewing techniques and lost herself in it. She wanted to show Professor Snape she was making a great effort to be more efficient in the lab. She didn't want him to lose his high opinion of her abilities.

There was as much chance of that as of him taking the Dark Mark.

The book was quite insightful, focusing on proper preparation before actually starting on a Potions project. Placement of utensils was quite important, and it gave a recipe for creating a purifying potion she'd never heard of in which to place utensils immediately after use. It wasn't a difficult potion to brew. Perhaps Professor Snape would allow her to make it. She could ask.

The book also provided in-depth information as to how important methods of cutting, dicing and pulverizing ingredients could be, giving the best methods of dealing with stalks, blooms, bulbs and so forth, and how the angle of the blade could produce more or less interaction within a brew. For example, a slanted cut would produce more juice than a straight cut, and crushing a bulb with the edge of a knife often had a better effect than slicing it. Hermione found it absolutely fascinating, and sucked in the knowledge as if drinking from a straw.

Professor Snape would be quite pleased with her.

And she wanted that.

Badly.

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A/N: This was a very difficult chapter to write. How to approach the book's results without being too wordy or getting bogged down in details wasn't easy. I wanted to show the abject manipulation clearly as well as the reasoning behind it, but write it in a simple manner that showed even an idiot could follow the directions, one of the signs of a really useful book. I wanted the approach to make sense, you know? Cold, calculating sense. A real "how to manipulate someone" guide. Lol. I hope it went over all right. Anyway, thanks for reading. ***