Twice Bitten ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 36 ~ In the Potions Master's Domain

Hermione and Snape had barely made it into his study when the flames in his fireplace turned green and Minerva McGonagall stepped through, her black eyes wet with sympathy for her poor little Gryffindor Princess.”

“Oh, Hermione!” she cried, striding forward and wrapping Hermione in an embrace that could only be rivaled by a constrictor, the little witch gasping for breath as the Headmistress clutched her. Hermione’s eyes shifted toward the Potions master desperately.

Snape had been frowning at Minerva’s entry into his private rooms. Even Albus would ask if he could enter rather than just step through. He’d have to set his floo to “No Admittance” in order to insure his privacy. Now he looked at Hermione, who was turning blue.

“Headmistress, I suggest you release Miss Granger immediately or she isn’t going to have a need for a bodyguard. The demon will simply collect her soul from her throttled corpse,” the wizard said tightly.

Minerva released Hermione, who drew in a life-sustaining breath of dungeon air.

”I’m so sorry Professor Snape’s negligence has led you to this, Hermione,” the Headmistress said, eyeing Snape with distaste.

Hermione blinked at her.

”What do you mean ‘his negligence?’ The Professor didn’t do anything wrong. I did,” Hermione responded, a bit shocked at Minerva’s assessment of the situation.

”He should have never exposed you or the rest of the class to a demon,” Minerva said firmly, “It was irresponsible. And if anything happens to you he will be brought up on formal charges. So be assured he won’t get away with this!”

Hermione stared at Minerva for a moment, then looked at Snape, who wore a stony, yet neutral expression on his face.

”Headmistress, you can’t be serious? Professor Snape was simply conducting his class. He had given strict instructions not to speak to the demon. I didn’t listen. It was my fault,” Hermione said firmly.

“He didn’t take enough precautions. He could have cast a Silencing spell to insure no verbal contact with the creature,” Minerva argued, looking at Snape as if he were an idiot.

”Headmistress, a Silencing spell would not work on a demon. He would still be able to discern an answer from a mortal. All a Silencing spell would have done was to make it impossible for me to interact with the class,” the wizard said softly.

“Even more reason for you not to have summoned a demon,” Minerva snapped.

Hermione scowled now. Over the years they had faced Doxies, Boggarts, Dementors, Arcomantulas, Banshees, Bloodsucking Bugbears, Chimaeras, Dugbogs, Nogtails and many other dangerous creatures. This was before Professor Snape took over the DADA class. She pointed this out to Minerva, who scowled.

”Yes, Hermione. I know that’s true and to be honest I’ve never approved of any of those creatures being brought into proximity to our students,” the Headmistress said stiffly, “Albus seemed to think it was fine, but I assure you I do not. I am seriously thinking of petitioning the Governors to remove Defense Against the Dark Arts from our curriculum, particularly since the threat of Voldemort is no more.”

“What? But we need that class!” Hermione said in disbelief. “We should always be prepared to face the Dark Arts and its creatures no matter what state the Wizarding World is in. For all we know, there’s another dark wizard plotting his rise right now!”

Minerva frowned at her.

”Don’t be ridiculous. Anyway, this is not the time to speak about this. Professor Snape is to protect you and come up with a way to break the binding between yourself and the demon. Have there been any attacks yet?” she asked Snape.

He nodded.

“Miss Granger was almost crushed to death on the stairwell,” he stated flatly.

Minerva gasped and covered her hand with her mouth.

”You poor dear!” she cried.

Hermione stepped back so she wouldn’t be crushed again.

”Professor Snape saved me,” Hermione replied, trying to give the wizard some credit. She felt it awful that the Headmistress was berating him the way she was when he was only doing his job.

“As well he should have, since it is his fault you are in this predicament in the first place,” Minerva snapped.

Hermione glared at her now.

”It’s NOT his fault, Headmistress! I can’t believe you’re blaming him like this, and threatening to send him to prison after all he’s gone through! Have you forgotten what he’s done for the Wizarding World? For Harry? For the Headmaster? For all of us? I think it’s absolutely horrible that you’re threatening him the way you are and talking about him as if he’s incompetent. He’s the best teacher Hogwarts has!” Hermione hissed at the startled witch.

”If I were him and being treated like this, I’d . . . I’d quit!” Hermione declared stomping her foot.

Snape’s dark eyes rested on the witch.

”My champion,” he thought with a wry smirk.

Minerva stared at Hermione.

”My dear, you’re obviously distraught concerning this situation,” she said placatingly, “I assure you Professor Snape is responsible for what happens in his classroom and I am not ‘picking’ on him. I am simply stating the facts as I see them.”

”The way you see them is skewed!” Hermione shot back at her furiously.

Minerva sighed. It was clear to see Hermione didn’t understand just how serious this situation was.

”In any event, you will be with the Professor twenty-four hours a day until this problem is settled,” Minerva said, “If he gives you any problems, any problems at all I expect you to report to me immediately. You are to be treated with consideration and respect. Any resentment on his part will be dealt with swiftly and thoroughly. Am I understood, Miss Granger?”

Hermione looked at the Headmistress angrily.

”I understand,” she said in a low voice.

Short of the wizard tying her up and torturing her, Hermione didn’t plan on reporting anything he did or said that was less than friendly. Having her in his rooms was a clear imposition. Besides, it was clear that the Headmistress had issues with the Potions master, maybe issues that went beyond this situation. She hadn’t been exactly thrilled when Snape was restored to Hogwarts, saying she had already lined someone up to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. She was overridden by the Governors.

“Now Severus, what are your plans for keeping Miss Granger safe?” the Headmistress demanded, finished with talking to the cheeky witch.

”I believe it would be best for Miss Granger to sleep on a cot in my room,” the Potions master said, knowing Minerva would have bugbears.

”Out of the question!” Minerva spluttered.

”If I have to run from my bedroom, through the study and into Miss Granger’s room, there is the distinct possibility I will be too late to save her,” the wizard said coolly.

”You could place a protective circle around her to keep the demon out,” Minerva said, her eyes narrowed.

Snape shook his head.

”The demon is connected to Miss Granger. A circle will keep him from actually materializing near the witch, but he will not show himself anyway. His method of operation is to create dangerous situations in which she will hurt or kill herself. He can do that through a ward, Minerva. I need to watch over her and will not be able to do that from another room. However, you can override my recommendation as Headmistress, but if the witch is killed, when I am brought up on charges I will make very clear to the court that you disregarded my warnings . . . in which case you will be as responsible for her death as I,” Snape said, his dark eyes glinting.

Minerva frowned at the wizard darkly, but knew he was right.

”Very well. But I will be keeping a close eye on you, Professor. I expect you to conduct yourself like a gentleman,” the witch said.

”Always, Headmistress,” Snape purred at her.

Minerva didn’t like that purr, but there was nothing she could do. Professor Snape was the most qualified teacher to protect Hermione and she had said herself that the Gryffindor’s virtue was not as important as her life. Besides, the wizard was too old and too ugly for the girl to be attracted to on a physical level. Hermione was a smart young witch and wouldn’t be taken in by him.

“Fine, now get her settled in. I expect to see you both at breakfast tomorrow,” she said to the wizard, who scowled slightly.

”I believe it will be best if we take our meals together in private, Minerva. The Great Hall will provide the demon room and opportunity to try and harm the witch. Knives, glasses, chandeliers, anything can be manipulated to cause death,” he said.

Minerva frowned, then sighed.

”All right, Severus. But I expect a daily report on the situation,” she snapped at him.

”Of course,” he replied, his eyes hard.

Hermione listened to herself being discussed as if she wasn’t there and wasn’t feeling too kindly toward her Head of House at all.

”Hermione, remember, if you have any problems you contact me immediately,” Minerva said to her.

Hermione didn’t reply.

”Goodbye Professor,” Minerva said, her voice cold as she threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace, said her destination and stepped through.

The Potions master immediately pulled out his wand and set the floo to “Speak Only.” Hermione couldn’t blame him. She turned to the wizard.

”I can’t believe she’s threatening you with Azkaban,” the witch said to him.

”It’s nothing new, believe me,” the wizard replied walking over to the extra room and opening the door.

Torches flared up as he looked around. Fresh linens had been put on the four-poster bed. He checked the dressers and wardrobe. The house elves had transferred the rest of her belongings immediately. A number of books rested on a new bookcase. Hermione stood in the doorway and looked around.

”Technically, this is your room, but you won’t be using it much . . . only to store your things. When you do your homework we will both occupy the study. Also, there is only one bathroom here, in my bedroom, so you will have to bath and shower there. Understood?” he asked her.

”Yes, I understand, Professor,” she said in a small voice, “Thank you for helping me. I’m really sorry about this. I really am.”

Snape looked at her for a long moment.

”You have always been trouble for me, Miss Granger. I’m used to it,” the Potions master said. “Now, put away what you need, then we are going to retire to my study and have a bit of a discussion, after which you may attend your studies.”

Hermione felt her belly tightened as she thought about what type of discussion they would have. Would it be strategy concerning the demon, or would it be concerning her apology of the night before?

Snape watched as she put away her things, looking thoughtful. Hermione hadn’t taken Minerva’s comments well at all. It seemed he had an ally. Well, Hermione was loyal, he knew that. Obviously that sense of loyalty included him.

For some reason, he found that pleasing.

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Hermione put her things away under the watchful eye of the Potions master. But when she opened the wardrobe, the heavy closet rocked. Her amulet glowed.

In an instant, the wizard flew across the room and pulled the witch away just before the wardrobe fell forward heavily, splintering, Hermione’s clothing mingled with the broken wood. Again, she would have been crushed.

“Oh my gods,” Hermione breathed, clinging to the Professor, who had his arms wrapped around the witch protectively, looking around the room. He drew his wand and led her out.

“The demon is wasting no time,” the Professor said, bringing Hermione into his bedroom. He immediately placed Sticking charms on every movable object in his sparsely furnished room.

“Sit here, and don’t move,” the wizard said, pointing to his four-poster bed. It was covered in Slytherin green bedding. “I will go and collect your things. We will keep them in here for the time being. As I said, don’t move.”

The wizard left.

Hermione bounced on the wizard’s bed a little. The mattress was very firm. She felt a little warmth at the dirty little thought that tried to take her mind over.

Several minutes later, Snape returned with all her items miniaturized. Hermione watched as he resized them and adjusted his wardrobe and dresser so he could fit her things in them. She felt a little strange watching the wizard carefully add her things to his own, as if they belonged there. She reddened as he handled her knickers and bras. She had some very frilly ones she wore from time to time. He slowly placed them on the right side in his own underwear drawer. Hermione noticed he kept everything neatly folded.

He then set up her books in a small bookcase and conjured a writing desk in the far corner. He put sticking charms on both objects. Finally, he finished and turned to her.

”I trust you memorized where I put your things,” he said to her.

Hermione swallowed and nodded.

”I like my wardrobe and dresser kept neat. There is a hamper in the bathroom to place your dirty items. The house elves will take them, clean them and put them in their proper place,” the wizard instructed as he walked into his bathroom and put Hermione’s personal items on the vanity. He looked down at the assortment of creams and lotions, then shook his head. At least there wouldn’t be any tights hanging from his shower. He returned to the bedroom and looked at Hermione for a moment before sitting down beside her on the bed.

Hermione felt it compress from his weight and looked up at the wizard, whose black eyes met hers soberly.

”I believe we need to discuss your apology,” the wizard purred at her, ”and the method you used in order to make it.”

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A/N: Thanks for reading.