Home Sweet Home?
Chapter 5
Disclaimer:
Author’s Note:
response to the last chapter, I hope you enjoy this one too!
Albus Dumbledore stared at the sobbing girl before his
eyes. During her story, fresh tears had begun to descend, and she had sought
comfort in the arms of normally the least likely candidate. Severus was now
knelt before her again, his face expressionless, but his eyes betrayed the
sorrow he felt. Albus quietly cleared his throat and spoke.
“Well, Miss Granger, I
must apologise once again for making you relay that to me, and I offer you my
most sincerest sympathies on the loss of your parents.” She simply nodded and
hung her head, snivelling.
“Now, I think we should
get you tucked up in bed, Miss Granger; you need a decent night’s sleep. I
believe that since it is the first day of the holidays, the house elves will
have stripped your bed in Gryffindor down. However, you are most welcome to use
my guest room.” She mumbled her thanks, and stood, her eyes glazed over.
“Excellent. Severus would
you be so kind as to escort Miss Granger?” he nodded mutely, and stood also. He
placed a hand in the small of her back, and began to guide her back towards the
door, which he had come through earlier. “Thank you. Have pleasant dreams, Miss
Granger,” Albus said softly to their retreating backs, the ghost of a smile
playing around his lips.
Once back out in the waiting room of Dumbledore’s quarters,
Severus relaxed slightly. He removed his hand from her back, and in a rare
moment of emotion; felt for her hand, and grasped her fingers in his. She
froze, and looked up at him, clearly confused. For a moment, he wondered if he
had done the wrong thing, but before he dropped her hand, hermione’s expression
cleared, and she softly enquired if they could carry on up to Dumbledore’s
guest room.
Stepping lightly onto Dumbledore’s revolving staircase,
Hermione felt glad of Professor Snape’s comforting grasp and calming presence
as her head began to spin.
*Funny,* she thought,
*people usually feel on edge around Professor Snape.*
They finally stepped off
the blasted contraption, and Snape led her to a large oak door with a grotesque
brass knocker on it.
“Well, here we are Miss
Granger,” said Snape awkwardly. “Sleep well.” He turned to leave before
hermione stopped him.
“Professor snape, can I
ask you something?” Hermione asked, raising her head to stare into his obsidian
black eyes. He regarded her for a moment, one thick eyebrow cocked, before
nodding his head slowly.
“How did you know? How did
you know where I was and that I needed you?” Stumped by her unexpected
question, Severus thought of the circumstances surrounding his discovery of her
predicament. Being summoned to a dark revel, Voldemort taunting him as always,
finally unable to keep his latest conquest to himself any longer. Waiting in
desperate agony until the time eventually came when he could apparate away and
rush to Hermione’s aid.
Raising one hand to cup
her soft, tear-stained cheek, Severus spoke in a low whisper. “I just knew.”
Smiling slightly, hermione slipped away, leaving Severus alone in the drafty
corridor with a soft click of the heavy door.
A/N:
The next chapter is quite a bit longer, and stuff will really start happening!
Thanks to all reviewers, it means a lot to me.
Big hugz and kisses to kaira
(by the way, I love ur fic!) and silvermoon who added me to their
favourites list – that was so sweet of u guys!
Hi to gemma who is on hols
at the mo – hope ur havin a great time hun!
Mysticjedi
effect, lol! Also, many thanks for being the first reviewer of chapter 5!
Tracy
keep reviewing! (I love ur comments!)
Darkfire
enjoying it so for, hope u liked this chapter.
Maddy
for the remark about originalism (I do try!)
Calbee
LV02
like it, please keep reviewing!
Bitc-of-da-world