#2 ~ What Was I Thinking ~ Part 2 (Small Edit)

Disclaimer: All Characters belong to JKR. The situations are my own.
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Chapter 4 ~ Her Rightful Place


Hermione and Serverus appeared outside of Hogwarts gates without incident. Severus looked at Hermione with a raised eyebrow and said, “I’m pleased to see all of you managed to make it here in one piece. I would have hated to have to go back to retrieve your bottom half.”

Hermione grimaced. “I bet,’ she thought. “He’d probably love to get his hands on that part of me, with no upper part to protest.” For a moment the image of Severus ravishing her bottom half somewhere, while she helplessly screamed and moaned some place else filled her mind. It was quite a kinky thought…but she could really see him doing it. She shuddered.

Severus turned his head away to hide the look of mirth on his face. He had peeked into Hermione’s mind and seen the image she envisioned, as well as her thoughts about just how twisted he was…but then again, the possibilities were quite…intriguing. He couldn’t honestly say he wouldn’t do it if the opportunity presented itself. He cleared his throat, reapplied his scowl and busied himself by removing the wards from the gate

“I’ve been apparating for almost two years now,” Hermione said tersely as she walked through the gates. Severus followed , re-warded them and fell in step beside her as they headed for the castle. “And I have never splinched. Ever,” she added.

“How disappointing,” Severus intoned.

Hermione looked at the Potions Master hard for a moment, but his face was the epitome of propriety. She turned to watch as they drew closer to the castle .

“Ah, Hogwarts, “ she said happily, “how much I’ve missed it.”

“I must admit that it hasn’t been quite the same since you graduated,” Severus said as he looked at her quirking an eyebrow, “no one has yet been able to equal your aggravating tendency to ask questions at the worst possible point of a lecture. It feels strange not to be interrupted by a babbling, bushy-haired, know-it-all.”

“How sweet. You miss me,” she cooed.

“Hardly,” he snorted…although he didn’t look as snarky as usual.

They continued walking to the castle in silence, but if thoughts were audible, they both would have been screaming. Hermione was wondering what Dumbledore wanted to speak to her about, and Severus was hoping that his plan would appeal to her overt sense of responsibility. She had a large heart after all, her Gryffindor ‘do-gooder gene’ well set in place. He was sure she would do anything to help. And after all, even if he had manipulated the situation a bit for his own ends, there really was a problem that had to be addressed, and she was the best person, in his opinion, to fulfill the necessary requirements.

They entered the main doors and proceeded to the gargoyle that stood before the entrance to Dumbledore’s office. Severus grimaced.

“Bouncing Sugar Beanie Babies,” he said tartly.

Hermione had to clap her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing hysterically at seeing how mortified he was at saying that inane password. Dumbledore was a real hoot sometimes.

The gargoyle leapt aside, and they entered the spiral stairwell, leading up to the Headmaster’s rooms.

They arrived at his office door, which was open. Dumbledore was seated at his desk, and looked up, smiling broadly. Fawkes, sitting on his perch, began to sing a bright song of welcome that made Hermione feel all warm inside. Even Severus’ creased brow relaxed a little at the beautiful sound.

“Ah, Miss Granger. Welcome, welcome,” Albus said, rising from behind his desk and striding over to embrace her. He was wearing orange robes with blue stars today, and his beard was twisted in two long braids that hung down to his waist.

“Thank you, Severus, for delivering her here without incident.”

“My pleasure, Headmaster,” Severus returned.

“Shall we sit down and get right to it then?” said Dumbledore, gesturing to two comfortable chairs directly in front of his desk.

Hermione took the one on the right, but Severus deposited his long, lanky frame on a sofa tucked against the wall, positioned so he could see both Hermione and Albus at the same time, rather than have to look from one to the other. He chose a strategic placement so he could openly gauge Hermione’s reactions without seeming to stare.

“As you are aware Miss Granger, the families of the muggle-borns are safely sequestered below Snape Manor, and are being well provided for. We currently have sixty-three families domiciled there, and Severus has been generously seeing to their every need.”

Here the Headmaster sighed, “However grand and unselfish the gesture of our Potions Master is, the fact remains that he cannot afford to continue to support the families. It is putting a terrible drain on his resources, and in a matter of months all of those resources will be gone. In other words, his kindness is well on the way to making him a pauper.”

Hermione turned to look at Severus. She hadn’t realized that he had solely taken on the responsibility of taking care of those targeted for death by Voldemort. Actually, she hadn’t given a thought to how the families were being supported, so relieved she was that they were safe and relatively happy. Her mother and father had set up a small dentistry office for those who preferred the muggle way of dental care rather than magical. Poor Severus. How much had he spent to maintain sixty-three families?

Severus noticed the worried look on Hermione’s face and said tiredly,”Miss Granger, I assure you that I am still quite solvent. I receive some residuals for my potions work, and own vast amounts of land that can be dissolved, if necessary to raise funds. So you will not see me begging in the streets any time soon.”

Relieved, Hermione turned back to Dumbledore. “What about a foundation to receive donations for the protection of muggle families?” she suggested.

“We’ve considered that option. Unfortunately, such a foundation would require disclosure of how, when and where the monies are spent to contributors, and it would only be a matter of time before Voldemort discovered where the families are, and Severus’ duplicity. Plus, most philanthropists in the wizarding world come from pureblood families. As you yourself have seen, based on the fact that there was no scholarship money available for exceptional muggle-born witches and wizards to attend university, purebloods are loathe to donate any money to any cause that benefits muggles.”

Hermione nodded bleakly.

“However, we have come upon an idea as to how to raise and keep funds flowing for the care and upkeep of these families indefinitely. Amazingly, it was your little “Relaxo” spell that gave us the answer. When Severus showed me how it worked, I was at a loss for words! However did you come up with it?”

Hermione’s eyes grew wide as saucers, and she was covered in a full body flush. The Relaxo spell?? Severus showed it to the Headmaster? Oh…gods. How did he…what did he…

Severus enjoyed watching the little witch squirm for a few moments. Then, in a rare act of mercy, he rescued her.

“I showed the Headmaster how the Relaxo spell worked on a tense body, without affecting the autonomous centers that control life-sustaining functions. I have used it myself…” Here he paused wickedly for effect as Hermione flushed again, “to dispel the worst effects of the Cruciatus Curse. My recovery speed was enhanced by several weeks, and the seizures were brought under reasonable control. With a bit more tweaking, we could have an effective antidote to the effects of that particular Unforgivable.”

“Yes,” said Albus excitedly. I was feeling remarkably tense after a particularly rough Order Meeting. Severus invoked the spell, and I felt immediate relief. It was wonderful. It also works on my bursitis.”

Hermione reeled with these revelations about the spell.

“And your ‘Os Mundus’ spell could be quite effective on the field of battle, if the sensations are tweaked to cause pain when cleansing, and not pleasure. It would be a non-lethal weapon we could use in the fight against Voldemort,” Snape said persuasively.

“Of course!” said Hermione, instantly realizing the implications of this.

“But, but how will this help the families?” she asked Dumbledore.

“We can commercially distribute spells you create, and use the residuals to cover the cost of caring for the muggle families. There could be, for example, a commercial version of the Relaxo spell for use by wizards and witches on a personal level, and a medi-witch version, used to combat the Cruciatus Curse’s effects. I am prepared to offer you a salary, a budget, and your own lab to produce new spells. Of course we will arrange for you to stay here at Hogwarts like any other staff member, and also to receive a small portion of the residuals of any work you complete for the rest of your life. And to sweeten the pot, your work for us will go toward university credits as well.”

Hermione’s mouth fell open.

“In addition, you will also assist Professor Snape in creating commercial potions, that will also be utilized to provide funding for the families in his care.”

Hermione hesitated. “Where exactly would my lab be located?” she asked.

In the dungeons of course. You would also be given a suite of rooms, next to Severus’ own so you do not have to travel far to your workspace. It’s the ideal arrangement.”

“Indeed,” thought Severus.

Hermione looked at Severus, who coolly returned her gaze. She thought she saw a bit of a challenge in his eyes.

She quailed. “Well, I don’t know…I mean this is a lot to think about. I mean, I’m so young and inexperienced…”

Severus leaned forward on the sofa, and locked eyes with Hermione. There was no look of disdain or derision in those piercing black eyes, but a look of conviction that was almost palpable. Drawing a deep breath, he said, “Miss Granger, your skills in things magical surpasses those of most witches and wizards of distinction five times your age. You are brilliant, you are creative, you take the initiative and do what needs to be done. Your determination is already legendary, and you have already shown us what you are capable of at the tender age of eighteen. You are the most accomplished witch to have passed through these hallowed halls in over fifty years.”

He paused, then continued in a thick, low voice, held in check only by reason of him being the cool, collected Head of Slytherin, “This leads me to believe, Miss Granger, that you too have a destiny…one as great as The-Boy-Who-Lived. To turn away from what is surely your duty because of our personal differences, would be beneath you, as a person…not to mention a disgrace to the noble House you represent. There are people in need, Hermione. People you can help. There is a great Evil in this world, an Evil you can help dispel. You’ve worked your entire young life toward this moment, to make a difference. Now the moment is here. What will you do, Gryffindor?”

Hermione looked at Severus, stung. He had never, ever implied just how deeply he believed in her, especially in such a sincere and vocal manner. During their time together, he had said such things, but never publicly. Never in front of anyone. And he had never before in her memory, or anyone else’s for that matter, referred to her House with such respect. She was moved beyond words. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears. He believed in her…after all these years of doubt. She was sure he truly believed in her.

“I’ll do it,” she whispered, her eyes locked with Severus’ dark, impassioned gaze.

“Yes!” Albus clapped his hands together in joy, as Fawkes once again began to sing.

“Thank you, Miss Granger.” Severus said softly.

Albus began to talk excitedly about making immediate arrangements for Hermione, who looked rather dazed as she listened to the stream of commentary flowing from the Headmaster.

Severus was pleased that all had gone according to plan, but more than this, he was pleased that Hermione had risen to meet the challenge, and taken her rightful place as a force in the wizarding world. She was luscious, she was a creature that his fantasies were made of, but also, above all…she was truly, truly worthy. For today, lust could take a backseat to Respect.

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A/N: Thanks all for the reviews and encouragement. I have to be honest and say that I write this quickly because it gives me something worthwhile to do. I’m not in a good situation right now, and writing helps keep the demons at bay. Thanks again.