A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 43 ~ Realizations and Confrontations

As Hermione walked back to her room, she felt as if she were in a kind of surreal dream, she slowly opened the door to her apartment and let herself in, still feeling the effects of the Potions master’s kiss.

In appearance, it had only been a short, simple kiss. Nothing outrageous or remotely inappropriate. He had been a gentleman and did not try to take the slightest advantage of her acceptance.

But, Hermione had never been kissed that way before. Ron was a good kisser. He could be gentle, tender and passionate. His kisses were either sweet and appreciative, or very hungry. There were differences that she could feel in her husband’s kisses that clearly told her his mood.

But the Professor’s kiss. It was so . . . gentle, yet she felt as if he had taken her mouth away from her and made it his own in that instance. His lips were soft, warm, teasing and seemed to ask for more . . . no, not ask, tempt. He had a tempting kiss, the kind of kiss a witch would want to continue on and on.

How could someone as hard and apparently cold as Professor Snape, have a kiss so gentle but so full of . . . what was it full of? Promise?

Hermione removed her cloak, unable to think about anything else but his lips and his eyes as he looked at her afterwards. They were also gentle, just for an instant before the door opened and he straightened, his usual demeanor resettling on his features as if to say, “I’ve returned to the man you know now.”

There was so much about him that she didn’t know. Yet she was starting to see it. The kindness and the heart beneath that stoic exterior.

As Hermione undressed for bed, her mind began to go someplace she had avoided going. It was the kiss that fueled it. The gentleness the wizard evidenced. Was he really a gentle man beneath all that harshness, that bite?

He was so different from Ron. Ron went at everything with an almost wild enthusiasm. When they made love, he could be gentle and tender, and often was, yet there were times Ron was quite ardent. But he was a fair-sized wizard sexually. His tool was nothing like what she witnessed swinging on the Professor in the shower. Ron always satisfied her however, and she always felt loved when he engaged her.

The Professor’s kiss automatically led to her musing about how he was in other more intimate situations. Did that gentleness in his kiss carry over to his sex? Could it be that despite what nature gave him, he was a tender lover? He was careful and meticulous in everything he did. His brewing, his harvesting, even his words for the most part were carefully measured. Maybe he wasn’t a monster in the sack. Maybe he knew how to make love to a woman without hurting her, how to be strong and sensual, like that kiss. That beautiful, passionate yet tender kiss.

Hermione felt a little warmth in her lower belly, and a touch of guilt because she didn’t know if the warmth she felt inside her was because of her remembrance of Ron, or because of something that was awakening for the dark wizard who lived on the mountainside. It had been a long time for her.

Hermione pulled on her nightgown, lowered the lights and climbed into bed, sighing and rolling to her side. The bed seemed larger than usual and for the first time in a long time, she felt rather lonely in it. Missed having another presence.

To be honest, Hermione had been with Ron for almost more than half her life, and all of her adult life. She was used to having a companion, someone there beside her in the dark of night. After Ron’s death, she adapted to sleeping alone, adjusted to not having a warm body stealing the covers off of her, or pulling the pillow over her head during his random bouts of snoring. It took time, but up to this point she had done pretty well accepting sleeping alone.

She had accepted that Ron was never coming back. Ever.

As she lay there in the semi-darkness, Hermione realized something. Something monumental. Tonight, she had made a connection with Severus Snape. Not a connection with him as a like-minded person, as a brilliant Professor, or even as a brave, selfless hero that she admired.

She had made a connection to Severus Snape as a man. A man who was searching for something real. A man who wanted someone to love who would love him in return.

Was she that someone? It was clear the wizard wanted her to be . . .

and the way she was beginning to feel inside, it was quite possible she wanted to be that someone as well. Ron said he didn’t want her to be alone, and she realized she didn’t want to be alone either.

Maybe it was time to give love another chance.

Maybe lightning would strike twice.

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The next morning Rod saw Rose for the first time in the Great Hall, sitting at the Gryffindor table having breakfast with her housemates. Hugo was sitting next to her and gave him a friendly wave, nudging his sister, who looked up at him and smiled as he passed. Rod turned a bit red, gave a nervous smile back and hurried to the Slytherin table. He piled food on his plate to have something to do with his hands.

At the other end of the Gryffindor table sat Roland, scowling at the exchange and snorting as Rod practically ran to the Slytherin table, red-faced. This is who Rose wanted to go to the dance with? He bet the Slytherin could hardly put two words together in front of the witch. He didn’t know how he got the nerve to ask her to the dance, but he was going to lose that nerve.

And fast.

While they were eating, Headmaster Wumblewort announced that there would be a full staff meeting right after breakfast and all staff should report to the staffing room. Roland’s eyes narrowed as he looked over at Rod. There wouldn’t be any staff about. Even the caretaker Gronin had to attend the meeting. If he were going to confront the loser, this would be the time to do it.

Rod was dressed in his nicest set of transfigured robes. He figured he’d go wait for Professor Snape just before breakfast ended. He’d only have to wait fifteen minutes or so. Rose and Hugo had already left and the wizard finished his breakfast, then headed out to the Main Hall to wait by the dungeon entrance. He was quite nervous and hoped he didn’t look it too much.

“Hey Dormers,” a growly voice addressed him.

Rod, who had been standing near the suit of amour turned to see Roland standing about ten feet away from him. He didn’t know who the wizard was by name, but remembered him because he used to push him around from time to time. He was a pretty big wizard. Almost six feet tall and broad-shouldered. Rod was about five-ten, though not badly built. He was lean but muscular. All his work around the castle by hand made him rather strong.

”Yeah?” Rod responded, looking at the wizard with a slight frown. “What do you want?”

”It’s simple really. I want you to break your date with Rose Weasley to the Christmas dance. I would have asked her before you if she wasn’t in the infirmary,” the wizard said, his brown eyes glittering.

”She’s already accepted,” Rod said, tensing a bit.

”That doesn’t matter. If you tell her you can’t go, then she’ll go with me,” Roland said evenly.

“But, I can go,” Rod responded, a clear frown on his face now.

”Not if your jaw’s wired shut,” Roland snarled, his fists curling up.

Rose and Hugo appeared on the stairs, Rose having returned to Gryffindor Tower to get her traveling cloak before she had to meet her mother. Both Weasleys froze as they saw Roland facing off with Rod.

”Oh no!” Rose said, hurrying down the stairwell and waiting impatiently for the next set of steps to swing over.

“Shit,” Hugo swore, pacing impatiently.

”What? You want to duel over Rose?” Rod asked him.

”Yes. But not with wands. Man to man, Dormers, though I know I’m the only man here,” Roland snarled, “Unless you’re too much of a coward to put up your hands.”

Several students had stopped and were watching the two wizards excitedly.

”Odd Rod’s going to get his head bashed in,” one Slytherin witch whispered to another gleefully.

”Good,” the other witch responded, her eyes narrowed meanly.

Rod looked at Roland. He had to have thirty pounds on him. Clearly an advantage. Wands would have evened the odds. But it was clear Roland didn’t want fair odds, and if Rod called him on his height and weight, he’d sound like he was scared.

He was a bit scared though. He’d never been in a physical fight before. He always avoided them.

He looked up and saw Rose descending the stairwell at a run, Hugo close behind her.

”Oh no,” he thought as she ran between him and Roland.

”Roland, what are you doing?” Rose demanded of the wizard.

Roland looked down at her, then over at Rod with a nasty smirk.

“Your ‘date’ has something to tell you about the Christmas dance. About how he can’t go with you,” he said.

Rose slowly turned and looked at Rod.

”You don’t want to go to the dance with me Rod?” she asked him, her eyes rather sad at this.

Hugo stood a short distance away, holding his breath.

”Don’t be a pussy, Rod,” he pleaded with the wizard in his mind, “Don’t let that ape Roland run you off.”

Rod looked at the disappointment on Rose’s face, then back at Roland. Suddenly, he felt very angry.

”Yes. Of course I do, Rose,” he replied firmly, giving Roland a clear “fuck you” look.

Roland turned red as fire as Rose smiled at Rod brightly. He wasn’t afraid of Roland.

“Get out of the way, Rose,” Roland growled. He was completely pissed.

Rose didn’t move fast enough and he pushed her aside, the witch stumbling and almost falling.

It was as if the entire world slowed down when Rod saw this, and he launched himself at the surprised Roland with a roar.

The two wizards collided, crashing into the stone wall behind them and starting to grapple. The students all yelled and cheered, egging the two wizards on. A couple of wizards grabbed Rose who was screaming at them to stop.

Rod’s initial effort was good, but not good enough. Roland had experience fighting and soon had the wizard against the wall, smashing him in the face. Rod desperately wrapped his arms around the bigger wizard’s arms, tangling them up so he couldn’t hit him again. Roland was slinging him about, but Rod held on tightly, trying to drag Roland down.

At that instance, the doors to the Main Hall opened and Snape and Hermione walked in. Hermione saw the fighting wizards and recognized Rod.

”Oh my gods! Stop them, Professor!” she cried as Roland slammed Rod bodily into the wall and punched him in the stomach.

Snape watched for a few seconds then strode forward and pulled Roland off of Rod.

”This altercation is ended,” the dark wizard said, his black eyes glittering dangerously.

Roland stared at the wizard mutinously as everyone else gasped, recognizing the famous Professor Snape. Rose, Hugo and Hermione ran over to Rod, who had slid down the wall and was holding his stomach. Roland had slugged him good and he felt as if he wanted to vomit. He had a bruise under his eye too, and his lip was slightly split.

“It’s ended for now,” Roland snarled, backing away from Snape, “But it’s not over until Dormers does what he’s supposed to.”

Roland pushed his way through the crowd of students and headed up the Main Stairwell. He didn’t have a mark on him.

Snape looked at the students milling about.

”Don’t you all have someplace to be?” he asked them, scowling blackly.

The students quickly scattered. The wizard smirked to himself. He still had it.

Rose, Hugo and Hermione had gotten Rod to his feet, Rose dabbing at his split lip with the sleeve of her robe.

”You did great, Rod,” Hugo said proudly. “I told Rose you wouldn’t back down.”

Rod blinked at him.

”What happened?” Hermione demanded of the wizard, “Why were you fighting?”

Rod didn’t answer her.

“Roland tried to make him break his date with Rose so he could take her,” Hugo offered.

Snape walked up to Rod and studied his battered face.

”I take it you haven’t had any self-defense courses,” the wizard purred as he pulled out his wand and healed Rod’s lip.

“No sir,” the young wizard replied, “That was my first fight.”

Snape arched an eyebrow at him.

”I think that was your first beating, Mr. Dormers. A fight requires at least two evenly matched individuals. You might as well have been a first year,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “It’s hard to believe you’re a Slytherin. Fighting someone you know you can’t overcome is definitely an act usually reserved for mindless Gryffindors.”

Hugo, Rose and Hermione all scowled at the Potions Master, who then fixed Rod’s robes.

“I see dress robes aren’t all you need, Mr. Dormers,” Snape said.

”Dress robes?” Rod repeated.

“Yes. I’ve decided to purchase you a set of dress robes for the Christmas dance,” the dark wizard said. “It is your first dance is it not?”

Rose and Hugo looked at each other, then at their mother who smiled softly.

”Yes sir, it is,” Rod said.

”As a Slytherin, especially a Slytherin who is escorting a Gryffindor to the dance, you have to make a good showing. It’s a matter of House pride. As I told you before, Mr. Dormers, I too am a Slytherin and I will not have you lowering the standards of my house. Let us go,” the wizard said, turning and stalking toward the door.

Rod followed.

”Come along Rose,” Hermione said, following Rod and Snape.

Hugo stood there flabbergasted, then ran up to his mother.

”Mum, what are you doing with Professor Snape? He’s famous!” the young wizard asked her excitedly.

”I work for him, Hugo. He owns Sparse Venues,” she replied with a smile.

”He owns it? He put up the wards? Cool!” Hugo said, staring after the wizard with a rapt smile. “So you know him.”

”I’ve known him for years, Hugo. He was my Professor when I went to Hogwarts,” she told her son, “But I have to go. He’s very impatient.”

”All right. But when can I meet him, mum? I want to meet him,” Hugo said.

”Probably over the Christmas holidays,” Hermione said, kissing her son on the cheek, “Now I have to go Hugo. I will see you during the holidays.”

”Bye mum!” Hugo said as she walked out the door and closed it behind her.

Hugo stood there a moment. This was really too cool. His mum worked for the most famous hero in the world. Professor Snape.

And Rod. How cool was he, fighting that big oaf Roland like that. He did get his ass kicked though, but he wasn’t afraid. He stood up to him.

Hugo frowned as he turned and headed up the main stairs. Roland wasn’t going to leave Rod alone about this unless Rod really taught him a lesson. The young wizard didn’t like Roland, but he was a fellow Gryffindor. He couldn’t take a Slytherin’s side against a Gryffindor’s. Not openly anyway.

Hm. He needed to talk to his cousin James. He was smart. Maybe he could think of some way to help Rod out.

Yeah, he’d do that.

Hugo began to take the stairs two at a time, hurrying to Gryffindor Tower.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.