A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 41 ~ Hermione Opens Up


Rod was quite surprised when he was summoned to the Headmaster’s office that evening. Last time he was there, he was being arrested for using the Locomordres spell. The gargoyle was already aside when he arrived and he took the spiral staircase, then knocked tentatively on the office door.

”Come in,” the Headmaster called.

Rod slowly opened the office door and entered Wumblewort’s presence, his blue eyes worried as the Headmaster looked at him consideringly.

”Sit down, Mr. Dormers,” the Headmaster said, gesturing to an armchair in front of his desk.

Rod did so, sitting stiffly and saying nothing.

Wumblewort studied him silently for a moment, then asked, “Mr. Dormers, are you aware of any reason why former Headmaster Severus Snape would be interested in you?”

Rod blinked at the wizard.

”No sir,” he said.

Rod wasn’t about to tell Wumblewort about the part the dark wizard played in getting him set free. He then noticed the Headmaster had a parchment in his hand and was looking at it, puzzled.

”I received this letter from the former professor. It says he will be arriving at ten o’clock Saturday morning to pick you up. He doesn’t give a reason why. Are you at all familiar with him?” Wumblewort asked the boy, his eyes narrowed.

“I saw him at the presentation,” Rod said.

Wumblewort pursed his lips.

”You are the age of consent, so therefore you can choose whether or not to meet with the Professor as he requests, Mr. Dormers,” the wizard said.

”The letter doesn’t say what he wants?” Rod inquired.

”No, it doesn’t. Only that you will go with him someplace. It doesn’t say where or when you will return. As you know, Professor Snape is a very famous wizard. I find it odd that he wishes to see you. As far as I know, he’s turned down many requests made by important people to see him. I am quite curious to know what he wants with you,” the Headmaster said, his eyes still narrowed.

“I really don’t know, sir,” Rod said, honestly at a loss, “But I’ll see him and find out.”

”He’ll meet you at the head of the dungeon corridor at ten on Saturday morning,” the Headmaster said, rather miffed that Snape wasn’t going to come to his office. “I expect you to tell me where you went and what you did upon your return. You may be of age, Mr. Dormers, but you are still my responsibility as long as you attend Hogwarts.”

”Yes sir,” Rod said, feeling this was a bit of an imposition. If Professor Snape wanted the Headmaster to know what he wanted, he would have included it in the letter.

Wumblewort studied him for a moment, then said, “You may go, Mr. Dormers.”

”Thank you sir,” Rod said, rising and exiting the office.

The Headmaster looked down at the mysterious letter again, frowning.

”What in the world does he want with that boy?” he mused, hating to feel out of the loop especially when someone as important as Severus Snape was involved. Well, he’d find out when Rod returned.

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”Harry, you can talk about Professor Snape now,” Hermione said to the wizard.

She had received a message from him via Eli asking her to come and release him from the Oath protecting the Potions master. She quickly contacted Bartleby, then apparated to Harry’s house. Now they were sitting in his kitchen, magic swirling around them as the Oath was broken.

”Whew, thanks Hermione,” Harry said, “You have no idea how much trouble I got into at the press conference the other day when I couldn’t answer any questions about the Professor or give my thoughts on him. The Minister was furious.”

Hermione scowled.

“Was the Professor there?” Hermione asked him.

Harry nodded.

”Yep. He was enjoying it too. Had on his old smirk from school,” Harry said, shaking his head, “I don’t think he’s changed that much, Hermione. He loved seeing me get blasted by Utterton.”

“Ooh, he could have told me,” Hermione seethed.

“He probably didn’t think about it again, Hermione. I bet he has a lot on his mind,” the Auror said.

Hermione looked at Harry. He didn’t know the half of it. She was one of those things on the wizard’s mind. Ginny brought over some tea and cakes, then sat down, looking at her husband.

”So you can say the name Snape now?” she asked him, her brown eyes twinkling with mirth.

”Yes, I can,” Harry said, scowling at her.

Ginny had laughed when she found out what happened. She really tried not to though. Harry was her husband and she was supposed to be sympathetic and supportive of him at all times, but damn . . .

”That’s good,” she chuckled, smiling at Hermione, who quirked her lips in an attempt not to smile back at the red-haired witch.

Everyone poured a spot of tea and sipped it companionably, Hermione having a familiar faraway look in her eyes that both Harry and Ginny noticed. It was her “I have a situation that I really don’t know how to talk about” look.

She picked up a cake and absently bit into it.

“All right, Hermione. Something is going on. What?” Harry said to her, adjusting his glasses as if he could focus in on her better if they were higher up on the bridge of his nose.

“What?” Hermione said, trying to sound as if she didn’t know what he was talking about.

Ginny shook her head.

”Come on, Hermione. It’s easy to see something’s disturbing you. Is it Rose? She had a really close call,” the witch said to her softly.

”No, it’s not Rose,” Hermione said hesitatingly, then she looked at Ginny.

”Ginny, do you think it’s too soon to feel . . . feel interested in someone else?” Hermione asked the witch. She was Ron’s sister. If anyone’s opinion mattered it would be hers.

Hermione never would have asked Molly this question. She would have gone into meltdown.

Ginny blinked at Hermione.

”Why?” she asked the witch, her brow furrowed.

”I . . . I just want your opinion,” Hermione said, looking uncomfortable as Harry studied her.

Ginny looked at her. Ron had been dead for two years now, and Hermione as far as she knew, did nothing but work all the time. She wasn’t an old witch either. She had been married to Ron for years and was probably very lonely. It had to be hard for her being alone when she was used to having someone in her life.

“I think . . . I think that would depend on the person in mourning,” Ginny said carefully, “Some people like mum, can’t seem to move past someone being gone forever, but it’s different for her than for you, Hermione. Ron was her child. She will always be his mother. You’re no longer his wife, because he’s gone now. You’re his widow. In essence, you’re a single woman again, Hermione. Ron is never coming back.”

“Are you interested in someone, Hermione?” Harry asked his friend.

Hermione’s eyes shifted back and forth.

”I’m not sure. But someone is interested in me,” she said softly.

”Who?” Harry asked, wondering who Hermione came in contact with enough for . . .

Suddenly Harry’s eyes widened.

”Oh Hermione. You have to be yanking my broom. Professor Snape?” he gasped at her.

Ginny went a bit pale herself as Harry’s statement sunk in.

Hermione didn’t answer verbally, but the flush that covered her face screamed volumes.

”Oh my gods,” Ginny said, covering her mouth, “It is Professor Snape. Are you sure, Hermione? Has he made a pass at you or something?”

Harry frowned as he thought about Hermione being trapped at the worksite and Snape taking advantage of the situation.

”Did he?” the wizard asked her darkly.

”No. No, nothing like that. But he wanted to know if I would ever be open for another relationship,” Hermione replied, deciding not to mention the stolen kiss.

“Sounds like a pass to me,” Harry said under his breath.

”No Harry. Actually, he is rather nice in a snarky kind of way. We spend one night a week together talking about the latest developments in Charms and Potions, discussing and debating them. Once in a while we have dinner together. It’s purely platonic and it really is nice to have intelligent company,” Hermione said, then colored as she realized by adding the word “intelligent’ she had effectively insulted both Harry and Ginny.

Ginny smirked. She knew Hermione didn’t mean that the way it sounded. She also knew Hermione’s idea of “discussing” anything she was passionate about was more like having a row. Things were probably rocking up at Sparse Venues when those two got together.

“It might have been platonic, but if he asked you that, Hermione, he doesn’t want it to remain that way. He wants to shag you,” Harry said flatly.

Both Hermione and Ginny scowled at him. Leave it to a wizard to slide right past all the emotional issues and straight to the four-poster.

”That’s not so, Harry. He even said it wasn’t, because honestly, that’s what I thought too,” Hermione said vehemently, “The Professor has used a brothel to take care of his needs over the years. Now, how did he say it? Oh, he said, ‘Sex can be purchased like a bit of candy from a sweet shop. What I desire is not anything that can be bought.’”

Ginny’s eyes softened a bit at this statement. It was quite reassuring.

Harry snorted.

”That’s a line, Hermione. A good one, but still a line,” he said.

”I don’t think the Professor does ‘lines,’ Harry. I believe he’s an honest wizard. He doesn’t fawn all over me or constantly tell me how attractive I am. I think if he wanted to just get into my knickers he’d be doing more of that,” Hermione said as Ginny nodded in agreement.

Harry was torn. He felt Professor Snape was a good man, but still, wanting Hermione? Well, one thing was obvious. Snape was definitely over his mother. And that was what Harry had wanted for him, wasn’t it? To let go of the ghosts of his past so he could live a normal or semi-normal life. He just didn’t think the wizard would focus on Hermione.

“How do you feel about him, Hermione?” Ginny asked her softly.

Hermione sighed.

”Well, he is wonderful company Ginny, and you know something? I think the reason he went public was because I wanted Rod Dormers to be released and the boy wouldn’t talk to anyone. The Professor knew he’d be able to get through to him so sacrificed his solitude to help him. I know he did that for me,” Hermione said, “That was so unselfish of him. He didn’t have to do that . . . but he did.”

“He did give you a good job too,” Ginny said thoughtfully.

”I know. But I don’t think he did it to get at me. He did it because he wanted someone stable to work for him, someone he knew who could do the job,” Hermione replied, “It didn’t start out with him being interested. It’s just . . . just something that happened over time.”

Harry listened, his scowl lessening.

“Hermione, you’ve said what he’s done for you, but not how you feel about him personally,” the wizard stated, “Do you like him?”

Hermione looked at Harry.

”Yes. I do like him, Harry. He’s brilliant. He’s challenging. He’s kind though he tries to hide that aspect of himself. And it’s easy to see he wants love in his life. I could hear it in his voice when he talked to me,” she said softly. “He’s not looking for a shag, Harry. He’s looking for someone he can connect to, who he can love who will love him back.”

Ginny let out a sigh. It was all so . . . so romantic. A Dark Wizard Searching for Love. It sounded like a romance novel.

“But . . but it’s Professor Snape, Hermione,” Harry said again, shaking his head slightly. It was hard to imagine the cold, snarky wizard wanting love, even if all he did for the Greater Good was because he loved Lily.

“I know, Harry. It’s all so strange, but not strange at all,” she replied, her face softening as she thought about the pale wizard scowling at her.

Harry looked at Hermione. He could see clearly that she did like the Professor. Ron’s words to her came back to him. Ron would want her happy, even if it were with Snape.

”Well,” he said slowly, “If you really feel something can come of it, Hermione and are attracted to him, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to explore it a little. Snape. Good grindelows. At least we know you look below the surface.”

Ginny slapped Harry’s shoulder hard.

”Harry!” she exclaimed at him.

”Ow!” Harry said, rubbing his shoulder exaggeratedly, “You have to admit he hasn’t gotten any better looking over the years.”

“Looks aren’t everything,” Ginny replied, “There’s character and substance too. He has all that and more.

Hermione smiled as the two began to argue. To Hermione, the Professor looked just fine. Yes, he didn’t have classic good looks, but there were things about him that were very attractive just the same. And things about him that were . . . frightening as well. She couldn’t even let herself think about the possibility of intimacy with the wizard. If she pursued this however, it was bound to come up sooner or later.

For the first time in two years, Hermione felt a little pulse inside her. It wasn’t anything major, but it was definitely a physical response to the idea of sex. Hermione had enjoyed sex with Ron. He was loving, he was good and above all he was fun. There had been quite a few naked romps in their marriage, Ron chasing her through the house in his altogether and tackling her. Once he even chased her outside and pulled her under the shrubberies. What a night that had been, much of the encounter spent trying to keep the neighbors from hearing them. The flats were quite close.

Oh Ron.

She couldn’t imagine the Potions master chasing her anywhere. He was too reserved and dignified for such antics, she could tell. No, he wasn’t Ron, but he still had his own appeal as a man, an appeal she was beginning to feel. Now that she had talked to someone about it, the situation was much easier to think about. Harry had pretty much given his blessing and although Hermione really didn’t need it, she was glad he understood. Ginny was receptive as well and she was Ron’s sister.

She listened to the two of them argue, picking up another cake and enjoying the squabble.

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Rod tossed and turned in his bed, having a hard time getting to sleep. He had not one but two big shocks today. The first being Rose agreeing to go to the dance with him, and the second finding out the famous Severus Snape was coming to retrieve him for some mysterious reason on Saturday. Him. Rod Dormers.

Gods, how his life had changed since he’d found that stone. He was glad to be rid of it and Lord Voldemort, but still some good had come out of the experience.

Rod flipped over on his stomach and sighed. He wished he knew a spell that would put him to sleep, but he didn’t. So he just lay there, listening to himself breathe. Rose was supposed to leave the infirmary tomorrow.

He hoped he didn’t act like an idiot when they got together. He didn’t want her to regret agreeing to go to the dance with him. He just had to make a good impression.

He just had to.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.