Lie to me (Original)

“Oh wow, Hermione!” Ginny breathed as she fingered the beautiful scarf. “Liam has great taste!”

“I know!” Hermione trilled. “He’s so thoughtful, isn’t he?”

“You’ll have to give him a special thank you,” Ginny grinned wickedly. Hermione blushed immediately and Ginny rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Hermione, you’re not still a virgin are you? Merlin, you’ve been going out with him for months!”

“If you ladies have quite finished discussing your paramours, the rest of us would like to start the meeting,” Snape said irritably from the living room doorway.

Hermione blushed even harder and followed her old professor into the kitchen. He was always so nasty to her when they saw each other at order meetings. She knew it was just a cover, but she missed her kinder master who turned up for a meal and a lesson every few nights. The “official” Snape was a complete git.

The meeting was boring, as usual. The only useful information came from Snape and it irritated Hermione to no end that some Order members still hated him for killing Dumbledore. Part of her wanted to suggest that they wipe the superior grins from their faces and go stand in front of Voldemort like Snape did nearly every day. They were cowards.

Just as Hermione was sure the meeting was going to end, Kingsley stood and said, “There is one more matter we need to discuss. Hermione has been seeing a muggle boy named Liam for some time now and I think that some of us should meet him. I don’t like the idea of an order member fraternizing with an unknown person, even if they are a muggle.”

Hermione opened her mouth to protest the invasion of her privacy, but to her surprise, Snape spoke. “Merlin’s beard, Shacklebolt, don’t you have anything better to do than scare off Miss Granger’s boyfriend? You’ve had plenty of opportunity to make your intentions known and you’ve missed the boat. Let it go and stop making a fool of yourself and wasting our time.”

Kingsley went pale and the room was filled with snickers. Hermione looked at the auror in surprise - did he really have feelings for her or was Snape being a git again? Suddenly Hermione heard Snape’s voice in her head. “Tell them you’re taking Liam to meet your parents this afternoon.”

“I’m taking Liam to meet my parents this afternoon,” she parroted.

“Good, then I can ask your mother about him tomorrow,” Molly snipped. Hermione cringed inwardly… Molly wasn’t happy that she’d turned down Ron.

*****

Hermione walked quickly down the busy London street as she made her way to the bus station to go to her parents. She’d have to tell them the truth and then ask them to lie to Molly about Liam. Snape had warned her about the dangers of sharing secrets, but she didn’t feel she had much choice at this point. What the bloody hell was Kingsley’s problem anyway? She’d never demanded to meet his girlfriends.

In the reflection of a store window, she noticed a young man walking behind her. He was very handsome and slightly familiar, but she was sure she didn’t know him. Snape had told her one evening to never brush off a creepy feeling, so she ducked into a big store, walked around for a few minutes, then ducked out. Hermione smiled to herself, sure that the man would be somewhere ahead of her, but when she looked in another store window, he was behind her again and staring straight into her eyes.

Hermione schooled her features like Snape had taught her and walked calmly into the next alley she came to. She drew her wand and waited.

A hand clamped down over her mouth and a strong body pressed her chest into the wall. She nearly dropped her wand, but managed to hold on to it. She struggled to get loose, but then she smelled it - herbs and potions.

“I was wondering when you were going to notice that you were being followed,” Snape’s familiar voice said behind her. He sighed in exasperation. “At least you didn’t drop your wand.” He stepped back slightly, allowing her to turn to face him. “If a man ever grabs you like that, Miss Granger, and you’ve dropped your wand,” Snape instructed, “use your wandless magic to set his hair on fire.”

“Yes, Master Snape,” Hermione panted. Snape was still standing very close to her - the heat from his chest was a stark contrast from the coolness of the bricks at her back. “Why were you following me?” she asked.

“I wasn’t,” he said. “But Tonks is. You noticed the handsome young man?”

“What?” Hermione hissed angrily. “Why? How dare she?”

“Calm yourself, Miss Granger,” Snape said silkily. “She’s only following Kingsley’s orders… unfortunately, she has a flair for the dramatic and couldn’t pick an unsubtle person to emulate. She stands out like a flobberworm at a Yule Ball.”

Hermione giggled in spite of her anger and she would have sworn that Snape almost smiled. Almost.

He pulled out a vial of misty, blue potion and swirled it around. “Liam needs to make an appearance or you’re going to find your freedom will be severely limited,” he said.

“Is that polyjuice?” Hermione asked.

“No, I didn’t have time to find a suitable candidate.” Snape said. “It’s a youth potion.” He looked at a shop window where several male mannequins were dressed in street wear and asked, “which one of those ridiculous things is the most appropriate?”

Hermione considered for a moment, then said, “The one in the middle. The other two are wearing jeans and I think slacks are better for meeting the parents.”

“Whatever,” Snape sighed as he drank the potion and flicked his wand in the direction of the mannequin. Smoke rose up around him and a moment later a much younger Snape stood in front of her in the mannequin’s tan dress pants and navy blue shirt. His hair was longer and he conjured a hair elastic to tie it back in a loose ponytail. Hermione watched his familiar, long fingers move to adjust his shirt over his lean chest and she found her mouth was suddenly dry.

“Is this appropriate for a muggle?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” she said, breathlessly. “Very.”

Snape shot her a weird look. “Don’t forget to call me Liam,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she watches us for the whole date.” He took a very stunned Hermione’s hand and led her out of the alley.

Hermione shook her head in disbelief, then she caught sight of Tonks behind them. She stepped in closer to Snape and wrapped her hands around his arm affectionately. “I can’t believe she’s following us!” she complained.

“She’s not following us,” the young Snape chuckled. “She’s following you.”

“She doesn’t look surprised to see me with someone,” Hermione remarked.

“Why should she?” Snape said. “She believes you.” He stopped at a flower cart and bought a mixed bouquet of colourful daisies.

“Are those for me?” Hermione asked as she looked desirously at the beautiful flowers.

“They’re for your mother,” Snape said.

*****

To Snape and Hermione’s chagrin, Tonks even got on the bus with them. Snape wondered why she couldn’t just apparate to the Grangers’ house. Muggle busses were the worst way to travel.

He looked down at Hermione, who sat next to him in the window seat. She’s started to tell him about her parents, but he’d reminded her that he’d met them several times before at parent-teacher interviews.

He asked her what her friends had gotten her for her birthday and she’d told him that Ginny had gotten her a makeup kit and Moony had gotten her a gift certificate to the bookstore. Ron and Harry had gotten her a small bag of candy as a joint gift.

“It’s not their fault,” Hermione said. “They’re busy looking for the horcruxes.”

“And why aren’t you with them?” Snape asked. Hermione shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal and she fingered the flowers that lay in her lap.

“Ron asked me out and I said no and then things got weird,” she said quickly.

“Why did you turn him down?” Snape asked.

“You know why,” Hermione said quietly.

“He’s not smart enough for you,” Snape said. It wasn’t a question.

Hermione nodded and stroked the flowers. “I’ve never been so lonely in my life,” she admitted. “I miss my friends.”

“Why do you want to brew this potion, Hermione?” Snape asked. Hermione looked up as he used her given name for the first time. “Are you going to give it to Harry to win back their friendship?”

Hermione nodded. “Is that stupid?”

Snape sighed and reached for her hand like Liam probably would. He wished Tonks would just take a nap or something and stop staring at them. “No,” he said. “I’ve often had to buy favour with people. Most people won’t turn down a good potion.”

“I don’t feel good about it,” Hermione said. She’d turned her head back to the window, but her fingers stayed closed around his. “I want them to go back to liking me for who I am.”

“People rarely like others for who they are,” Snape said. “They like what others can do for them.” His eyes scanned over her curly bun and he realized that he could smell her shampoo again, like he could when he stood close to her in the alley.

“Speaking of doing things for people, what about you?” Hermione asked, suddenly. “I mean, don’t get me wrong,” I appreciate that you’re helping me and all… I just don’t understand why.”

“Are you asking why I’m here now or why I took you as an apprentice?” Snape said.

“Both, I suppose.”

He thought for a moment, then replied, “The Dark Lord has been getting more impatient with me for some time. He’s going to kill me sooner or later.”

“Don’t go back to him,” Hermione hissed. She gripped his hand tighter and he ran his thumb over the backs of her fingers in an absent motion.

“You know I have to,” Snape replied. He shifted uncomfortably in the narrow seat and continued. “I have wasted much of my life doing terrible things, Hermione. I have learned much and passed none of my knowledge on. It sounds strange, but I think that I can face the Dark Lord with more peace of mind if I feel that I have passed on the only good part of myself to someone.” He pulled his hand back suddenly and looked away.

“You can obliviate me if you want and think up a less personal answer if it makes you feel better,” Hermione teased.

“Don’t tempt me, witch,” Snape grouched.

Hermione burst out in a fit of giggles and when she looked up to her master’s face, she was sure he almost smiled.

*****

Hermione held the flowers to her nose and breathed their gentle scent deeply in as they walked up the steps to her parents’ home. Snape thought it was rather small, but then most muggle houses seemed small.

“Lying to your mother will be the harder than your father,” Snape instructed. “Mothers are much harder to fool.”

“Don’t I know it,” Hermione sighed. She knocked on the door and opened it. “Mum, Dad! I’m home!” she called.

“Hermione!” Her mother called out as she hurried from the kitchen. She had cake icing on her fingers and she wiped it on her apron so she could hug her daughter. “Happy birthday, sweetheart! I’m so glad you could come home!” She looked at Snape and said, “Oh, you’ve brought a friend. How nice!” She stuck her hand out. “I’m Dr. Granger.”

“This is Liam, Mum,” Hermione said. “Liam Baker.”

“Nice to meet you, Dr. Granger,” Snape said.

“Do you go to school with Hermione?” her mother asked.

“Uh, no he doesn’t, Mum,” Hermione said quickly. She shot her mother a nervous look and adjusted her new scarf. “Liam’s studying chemistry at university.”

“Oh,” her mother said, suddenly understanding that Liam was a muggle. “I’ve taken a lot of chemistry myself - fascinating subject.”

“Well done, Miss Granger,” Snape’s voice said inside her head.

“Happy birthday, pumpkin!” Hermione’s father called as he came into the room. He gave her a hug and turned to Snape. “I’m Dr. Granger,” he said.

“This is Liam Baker,” his wife said. “He doesn’t go to school with Hermione.”

“What?” Mr. Granger said. “Oh! Right… doesn’t go to school with Hermione.”

Snape pretended to be confused and followed them into the kitchen.