Paradise called Ojén

I want to thank Jess for beta my fic.


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5. The long walk down.


“Ready to go, professor?” she said as he came into the livingroom. “You look great. My father would be pleased.” She said and watched him shiver slightly. “He would, professor.”


“Well, just get your butt out of that couch.” He hissed and folded his arms. He wasn’t used to receive compliments from women, not even men for that matter. He felt uncomfertable and always snarled at the person saying it. “How far is it anyway?” he asked as they stepped out and started walking to the stony path.


“Well, it depends how you look at it.”she said but quickly continued when she saw him glare at her. “Only two miles as the crow flies…”


“Don’t push it, Miss Granger!” he sneered and stopped in his tracks. Hermione kept walking and Snape almost ran after her when he saw she wasn’t about to stop.


“About four and a half if you follow the path. But you won’t really notice, there’s so much to admire. I always loved the walk. I’ll show you some great views.” She said and smiled at him. He couldn’t deny the view already was wonderful. Big flowers welcoming the non their way down, all kind of birds singing as they passed them.


“It’s beautiful here, Miss Gra.” H.” He heard himself saying and was a bit shocked. “I mean…”


“Don’t worry, professor. I won’t tell a soul you enjoy being here in the middle of paradise, even if it is with Miss Granger.” She said and grinned. Snape only snorted but rewarded her with a shy smile. “It isn’t a crime to love nature, not even for the nasty Potions Master.”she smirked and started walking a bit faster. At this Snape really had to smile. It was the first time he didn’t get mad at her for saying something so disrespectful to him.


“I admit it, how can’t I. I like it here.” He almost whispered. He felt a bit embarrassed for saying it. Everybody who knew him knew he didn’t liked anything, except for Dumbledore.


“What did you just say, professor. I couldn’t hear you.” She said in a teasing voice and looked over her shoulder. She had heard him perfectly well, but wanted to hear him say it again. She just couldn’t believe her ears.


“I said, I like it here and I can’t deny it.” he shouted a bit frustrated. What was she doing to him? Hermione stopped and waited for the professor to join her.


“That wasn’t too difficult, now was it?” she smiled and unknowingly brushed his arm. Yet another shiver run up his spine and he started to like the touch of her hand on him. He gave her a scowling look and started walking again.


“Are you coming or not?” he asked her and hid a smile. Hermione saw it and grinned. Maybe this stay with him here wasn’t such a bad idea.


“Wait for me then.” She replied and hurried to him. They walked along theh toh together talking very little and enjoying what they saw. After a good fifty minutes the weren’t even halfway through the walk.

“Merlin, Miss Granger. You could’ve told me it was that far. I begin to feel thirsty by now.” Snape had a bit of a hoarse voice. “If you told me I brought us some water.”


“No need for that, professor.” Hermione said smiling but kept walking.


“You are allowed to share information with me, Miss Granger.” He snarled and looked down at the small figure walking next to him. Hermione kept smiling and sighed.


“There is a little pool just a few minutes away from here. The water is very clean and like icewater.” Her smile broadened as she saw the rolling eyes of her professor. “Surely professor, did you really think I would let you dehydrate in this temperature? I’m not from Slytherin, remember?”


“Don’t always start with that crap, Miss Granger. You know perfectly know that Malfoy wouldn’t let you dehydrated too, and he is a true Slytherin. As am I.” his eyes narrowed at that last two words left his lips. ‘Ah yes, a true Slytherin you are.’ Hermione thought and suddenly stopped.


“Here it is.” She said and sat down on a rock.


“I don’t see it, Miss Granger.” Snape pointed out and looked around.


“Sit next to me and you will notice it.” She said and tapped the space next to her. It wasn’t a very small rock but they had to sit against each other. He sat down after hesitating, and raised his brows.


“Miss Granger, is there a small possibility, just a small one, that you’ve lost your mind? I still don’t see the pool.” He was beginning to get upset. He felt his temperature rising and was about to explode when he heard something and definately felt something.


“Don’t you get mad!” she warned him and lowered her hand. When it came up again she splashed water in his face. “It’s one of natures wonders.” She said and pulled out a hanky. “Here.”


“Thank you, Miss Granger. I’d rather have next time you show me something wet you do it different… if you don’t mind.” He whiped his face dry and looked down. “Is the ground charmed?”


“No. I’m working for years now to discover the secret behind the rock which sinks into the ground and deliveres water like that. I tried to find information in the local library..(Snape rolled his eyes). Of course I didn’t find it here so I went to Málaga one day to search there.” She looked disappointed and continued,


“Not even the huge libraries could give me the satisfaction to work it out.”


“Well, maybe we can solve the mystery while we are here. I mean, do some research and stuff. When you’re done with your homework of course.” He said in his usual silky way. “How do we get the water in our mouths, Miss Granger. You haven’t got any glasses here, I presume?”


“No I don’t have glasses here, but… you can make excellent beakers from those leaves. A friend of mine learned me how to make them.” She stood up and walked to a huge bush. She picked two smooth looking leave from it and walked back to sit next to Snape again. “Watch this.” She said and got to work. Within two minutes she handed Snape one at the bottom pointed beaker. “I fit leaks, just fold the bottom.”


“Are there things in the world, Miss Granger, that you’re not capable of doing?” he said with a highly sarcastic undertone of slight jealousy.


“Yes, two things I know I can’t for sure. Playing a decent game of wizards chess and flying a broom without falling off.”she answered and finished her own pointed beaker. “Are there things you aren’t capable of doing, sir?” she asked and hoped he wouldn’t get angry with her for asking. First he glared at her then he started grinning.


“I can’t believe I’m telling a student this but…I can fly a broom myself very well. And there’s an other thing I can’t accomplish with success…” he stopped talking and sipped at his beaker. “I don’t think I will share that one with you… you are a student, a Gryffindor mind you, and it is kind of illegal brewing it.” he didn’t looked her straight in the eyes and took an other sip of cold water.


“I think I know what it is. I found out a few years ago, in my third or fourth year.” She sighed and waited for the outburst, but there didn’t came any. “Am I allowed to say it out loud, sir?” she asked carefully but teasingly. Snape sighed deeply and nooded finally. Hermione inhaled relieved and gave a sly grin. “You see, I think you can’t brew a uhmm…” she stopped and giggled. Snape got the wrong impression and started snapping at her.


“Miss Granger, if you think it is all about some slutty sex potion you’re wrong!”he yelled and turned his head in anger. “The potion I can’t brew properly is a… a Poly Juice potion.” He fell silent as he heard Hermione say the same words as he did. “How did you find out? Has Potter told you certain things?” he was ready to kill, she could see it in his eyes. They were even darker that they’ve ever been. Hermione flushed at that. ‘The Pensieve.’ she thought quickly.


“No. How would Harry find out something like that? He doesn’t even know, at least he didn’t get it from me if he does. I’ve never discussed things like this with others.” She held her breath for a moment to let Snape cool down again. It took some time and icy water to do so, but eventually he managed to fade his anger.


“Sorry about that, Miss Granger. It’s just that I don’t like being the subject of peoples gossip.” This was the what, third time in two days he apologized to her? He couldn’t believe his own ears, as could Hermione. Back at Hogwarts he’d never apologized to students of another house, maybe even his own.


“I understand, I feel that too. People talk about me too, maybe that’s why I don’t do it.” after saying that Hermione felt slightly depressed and sighed. As they were speaking both noticed how much they were alike. They both were gossip subjects, both were bookworms, they thought Dumbledore was an old senile waffler, they loved to cook and they both couldn’t fly a broom decent. And both were tempered. They only thing different between them was the fact that she was a true Gryffindor and he a true, very true Slytherin; he was at least twice her age and she loved the to be around people and he didn’t at the least.


“I think that people should look at themselves before they start gossiping about you, Miss Granger. They are the ones without brains, not you.” He said convinced but stern.


“Maybe I would be a lot happier without brains and friends than with brains and without friends.”


“Don’t go there, Missngernger. Don’t become what I am now, don’t make the same mistake.” They were silent for a long time and finally Hermione was the one breaking the silence.


“At least with you there is a change of having a good conversation, you’re highly intelligent.” She said and blushed.


“Was that a compliment, Miss Granger?” Now she got even redder and nodded shyly. “I can’t hear you, Miss Granger.” He teased and smirked.


“YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” she yelled so hard the birds flew away in a fear. She couldn’t help but starting laughing after that. She was surprised to see Snape laughing with her. He looked so much younger when he did so, and handsome. In his own way, of course. After about a quarter they raised and continued their walk down.


“Did you really mean what you’ve just said, about doing research on the rock?” Hermione asked after hesitation. She hoped he hadn’t said it to comfort her.


“Yes, I believe I did? But only after your homework!” he answered after a long time when Hermione had given up hope for a possitive answer. Hermione’s eyes widened and became brighter than they had been in days. Snape nodded again and thought. ‘What the hell is going on here?’ There was something strange going on and he didn’t knew what. “Miss Granger?” he started.


“Yes, professor.” Hermione said back.


“What’s in the water we just drank from?” he glared at her and she felt confused.


“What do you mean, sir?”


“I don’t know how to say this but… are we starting to like each other? In a professional way, of course.”he added quickly as he saw her shocked eyes. “I mean, in all those years, we didn’t even speak and loathed each other’s guts and look at us now… We’re laughing together and be are nice and civil.” Hermione was as confused as he was, she could tell.


“I don’t know, sir. The only thing I know fors ure is that I haven’t add something to the water. It tasted fine by me.” She said but couldn’t get that thought out of her mind for the whole way to Ojén. She showed him special spots she used to sit when she wanted tob e alone and some rare plants and animals the rest of their journey down.


“I can’t believe there are still places like this on earth. They’ve become rare in the world.” Hermione said as they reached the mainroad to Ojén. “It’s only two minutes from here.”


“Now I know why Tom and Dominique choose this spot on the mountain. You can’t see the house from anywhere you stand!” he actually sounded happy and then saw the sign next to the path.


‘DO NOT ENTER!
DANGEROUS SPECIES
AND POISONOUS
PLANTS!’


“My dad attached that sign. Genious of him, isn’t it?” she teased and winked at Snape.


“Ah but it is, Miss Granger. Look at the tries and plants he planted here at the entrance. The Hillabilla is very dangerous, also is the Figonerva Infornio. And ever thought about the Sweutlich Grasse. Put your hand in it and it’s ruined.” He smiled down at her. “Your father did exactly what I expected him to do. By proud of him, Miss Granger, not angry for not telling you they were wizards too.” He squeezed her shoulder and caressed her back lightly for a moment.


“I’ll try, but it might take a while.”she said with a small smile. “Now come on, first to the bank and then a proper lunch, on me.” Snape couldn’t help but think of the house and the clothing her wore that were Tom’s. He knew they were prosperous, but that they were that rich and could could buy such a huge villa…