A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 48 ~ A Bit of Contemplation on Hermione’s Part

Snape took Rod back to Hogwarts early the next morning after the boy spent an uncomfortable night on the wizard’s sofa. Snape did have an extra guestroom, but told Rod sleeping on the couch would give him character.

It gave him character all right. He was achy and crampy all over from the workout and having to stay perched on the small cushions all night. He fell off twice.

Snape also sent him home with a small Pensieve.

”In this pensieve, Mr. Dormers, I am doing a series of punches, kicks and rushing attacks. When you get back to Hogwarts, I want you to utilize this to practice your dodging and offensive skills. Look for opportunities to make a strike. Of course, there will be no physical contact if I should ‘connect’ with you, but you can still garner some practice in this manner. There are three different scenarios each of which will begin randomly. Again focus on clean, offensive strikes,” Snape instructed.

Rod thanked him for the Pensieve.

Snape also gave him a crash course on dating.

”Be solicitous. The witch shouldn’t have to do anything for herself. This means open doors for her, pull out her seat when she sits and stands, bring her food and drinks and ask her often if she wants or needs anything, but not so often you become aggravating. Also, you may have to give up a dance or two to someone else. Check with the witch first to see if she has any objections. If she does, decline, but if she doesn’t, be gracious and let the next wizard dance with her and watch for a lull that will let you take over again. You don’t want your date stolen,” Snape advised.

Rod took all of that in.

”Yes sir. Thank you sir,” he said to the wizard gratefully.

“You are welcome, Mr. Dormers. In a few weeks you will receive an application from Sparse Venues sent by my solicitor, John Bartleby. Fill it out and return it as soon as possible,” Snape said.

Rod nodded, then winced as the wizard gripped his neck and they disapparated for Hogwarts.

Outside the gate, Snape released him and watched as the boy unwarded the gates and let himself in. Rod turned to him, wanting to thank the dark wizard again for all he had done for him, but Snape simply said, “See you next summer, Mr. Dormers,” and disapparated.

Rod blinked at the empty spot, then headed for the school. He felt a little disappointed he wouldn’t see Professor Snape until the summer.

He liked the snarky wizard. No one had ever been as kind to him as he was, no matter what was behind it. He had given him nice clothes, advice, some defensive training and best of all, a job. Rod would have never believed anything so good would ever happen to him. Again he realized the day he found that stone was the luckiest day of his life.

Now, to get back to Slytherin house, hopefully without running into Roland before he made it there. He still needed more practice.


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Hermione sat at the kitchen table drinking her second cup of coffee. She had a terrible night, tossing and turning the entire time. It was now eleven o’clock in the morning. Because of her bad night, she got up much later than usual. But she had a good reason for her restlessness. Her Patronus had changed and was now a stag, one compatible with Professor Snape’s Patronus.

She knew Patronuses could change, but always thought something traumatic and dramatic had to occur before something like that happened. Something life-changing. True, her life had changed, but it was gradual. Harry had told Hermione about how Tonks' Patronus changed when she fell in love with Remus Lupin, but Tonks had been miserable, her distress obvious to everyone who came in contact with her. The change had been something noticeable.

Hermione’s first thoughts shifted to Harry when she saw the stag. She had no reason to think of Professor Snape. She hadn’t ever seen his Patronus. A little thought however made her realize that she had heard of a doe Patronus appearing to Harry many years ago and leading him to a small pond that contained the Sword of Gryffindor, but none of them had made the connection to Snape at that time. Hermione never considered or discussed it again and wondered if Harry knew that the Patronus came from the Potions master. Had the wizard given him that memory?

Hermione didn’t understand it and tried to form some kind of theory as to why her Patronus would change concerning the Professor but didn’t change concerning Ron. She had loved Ron dearly, but her Patronus remained an otter, and his remained a dog. She thought long and hard about this and came to the conclusion that the Patronus didn’t change because they had grown up together and there was always affection between them of a sort. Ron and Hermione’s love, although it was true, was a kind of comfortable love, a passionate love tempered by real friendship beneath. They weren’t strangers to each other, and had few discoveries and mysteries about each other since they matured together, albeit Hermione had years on Ron maturity-wise. He was still a bit adolescent even as a husband and father.

The witch sighed as she finished her coffee. It was clear that her attraction to the Potions master was real. The new Patronus showed that. The problem was, she was no longer just a single, young woman free to fall into the arms of someone she fancied. There were other lives entwined in hers. The lives of her children and her husband’s family. People who would have strong reactions and opinions. People who her choice would affect in some way. Of course, it was Hermione’s life, but the witch was always one to take the feelings of others into consideration, and she couldn’t in good conscience explore a possible relationship with Professor Snape without letting those close to her know of her intentions.

Dear gods. How was she going to do that? How could she make them understand? She knew Molly wouldn’t take it well at all. Possibly Rose wouldn’t either. She had been very close to her father. Hugo, he was the most open-minded. He might be hesitant about it, but maybe he would accept it. She just didn’t know. She would have to make it clear Professor Snape wouldn’t replace their father. There was no man alive that had the ability to do that, nor would he replace him in her heart. The heart had room for more than one love. It could have an endless amount of love within its chambers. If she and the Professor did manage to form a bond, it would be different from what she and Ron had shared. Snape was a different kind of man. A brilliant man, and she suspected a caring man, but one with reserve and with a core of darkness that Ron never possessed.

Hermione had to admit to herself that she found that darkness attractive. As well as his sarcasm and sharp wit. Sometimes he amazed her with the comments he’d make on the spur of the moment. What she also discovered about the wizard was that he didn’t explode when he was met with equal snarkiness and sarcasm. He took it in stride. Hermione had thought that like many people, the Professor couldn’t take what he dished out. But he showed he could. Hermione had given it to him pretty good over the past year and a half. Oh, there was some backlash, but he never lost his temper.

In fact, he had apologized to her on several occasions. Something else the witch would have never thought the wizard capable of. But she was sure it wasn’t something he did often. His attraction to her probably had something to do with that. Which was heady to know.

Well, they were going to talk about the situation, hopefully how to approach it. She still couldn’t picture herself actually snogging the dark wizard, though the gods knew he could kiss. In small doses, it was nice, but frightening to think about as a sustained act. The connotations of what it would mean in the long run. The . . . the probability of further intimacy. Hermione feared that would be all she’d think about, how he was trying to move forward to consummating the ultimate act with her.

The wizard said his attraction to her was about more than sex, but regardless, sex would have to become part of it sooner or later. Could she shag Professor Severus Snape?

The witch trembled. Yes, it was possible. Her reaction to his kiss Friday night told her that it was. But it still was rather scary.

”Look at me,” she said to herself, staring down into her empty coffee cup, “I’m in my late thirties, a mother of two children, a widow and I’m freaking out about the possibility of having sex with a wizard I’m attracted to. What’s wrong with me?”

It was just new territory. Hermione had known Ron almost as well as she knew herself when they became husband and wife. For the most part she was comfortable with him and he was the only man she had ever shared her body with. It wasn’t that way with the Professor. There were so many unknowns. Not knowing had always made Hermione feel off balance. She was a born “know-it-all.” But there were no books that would define Professor Severus Snape. She would have to learn him as she went along.

Hermione was so involved with her thoughts that she didn’t hear the female voice announcing someone’s presence on the premises. She jumped when the knock sounded on her door.

”Oh my gods. Is he here already?” Hermione said, running her hand through her messy hair and pulling her housecoat around her tightly as she stood up. She hurriedly tied it with the sash, then approached the door.

”Who is it?” she called out.

She thought she heard a snort on the other side.

”Professor Snape,” came the curt reply.

”Oh,” she said through the door, “I’m not dressed.”

There was silence for a bit then a silken voice purred, “Now that makes for an interesting visual.”

Hermione blushed.

”I mean I’m still in my night clothes,” she called back, “Could you come back in an hour? I’ll be showered and dressed by then.”

There was another pause.

”Very well. But I will expect lunch,” the wizard said.

”Fine. I’ll make some sandwiches,” she called back.

Snape stood outside Hermione’s apartment, his black eyes glittering as he imagined the nervous witch on the other side of the door. This was the first time he’d known her to have a late morning after retiring at a normal hour. No doubt she was worrying about their upcoming conversation. Most likely she was off-balance. This could give him quite an advantage.

”I will be back in precisely one hour, Hermione,” he said.

”I’ll be ready,” Hermione called back.

As Snape walked away from the door he thought she’d better be. He intended to find out exactly where he stood and how close.

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A/N: Another short chapter, but one I though important to get the mindset of Hermione out in the open concerning her situation while addressing other issues such as the Patronus change. I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Thanks for reading.