In Dreams

Saturday morning arrived without further incident. In an effort to avoid having to ponder upon the horrifying meeting that was soon to take place, Hermione had spent the past few days completely immersed in her schoolwork. She was already a week ahead now in her Advanced Arithmancy, had finished the research essay set about for Advanced Potions which wasn’t due until next Friday, and had already mastered the spell they would be learning in Advanced Transfiguration on Wednesday. The result of all this was that although she managed to keep busy at almost every free moment during the last three days, and although she had managed to avoid contemplating the impending meeting of Saturday night, when the morning of that dreaded day finally did arrive, Hermione had virtually nothing to keep her preoccupied.

“Hey Hermione, Ron and I are going to head down to the grounds and work on that spell for Transfiguration. Want to come?” The trio had just gotten back from breakfast in the Great Hall, and both boys were gathering some books to take down to the grounds. The weather today was beautiful, probably the last tolerable day of the year before winter broke upon Hogwarts with full force. She found it a tad bit ironic that on a day that could possibly mean her untimely demise, the sun was agleam with promise.

She thought about joining them as a way to pass the time. Besides, a little extra practice never hurt anyone, even though she had mastered the spell almost immediately. They could probably use her help anyway. Ron was still pretty hopeless with the complicated wrist movements. But then an idea struck her.

“Actually, I think I’m going to head to the library and do some research,” she replied, smiling at the brilliance that had just come to her. In fact, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of it earlier.

“More research? Hermione, you are about a week ahead in every class you are taking! How about helping someone in need?” Ron put on what he apparently thought was a pathetic look, which actually just made him look constipated.

“That’s cute,” Hermione snorted. “But I’m pretty sure you’ll survive without me. This is important.” She turned on her heel and made her way determinedly toward the portrait hole, grabbing her backpack on the way.

“I’ll see you at dinner!” she called back as the portrait of the Fat Lady swung shut behind her.

Ron stared after her, seeming a little put out. Harry just shrugged.

“Hey Harry? Do you suppose there is such a thing as studying too much?” He looked earnestly at his friend.

“Well Ron, in your case, I think that no matter how much studying you do, you’ll still be hopeless,” he replied in a serious tone, though a shadow of a smile crossed his face.

“Yeah, you’re probably right…” Ron replied, obviously not hearing a word his friend had said. Yup, Harry thought. Hopeless.

***

“When under the Imperious Curse, the victim often appears to have a vacant look in their eyes. They are slow to react, and usually appear distant to loved ones. Unless otherwise instructed by the person controlling them, they do not take any type of incentive in their daily lives, and seem to stick solely to the monotonous routine that they are used to.”

Hermione had been in the library for seven hours, only taking a brief break to grab a small snack from the kitchens. All of her research had proven useful. Not only had she barely had time to think about the event that was only three hours away now, she had found some pretty valuable information. She figured it couldn’t hurt to know more about the subtle effects of the Imperious Curse. The last thing she wanted to do was alert Voldemort that she wasn’t under the curse at all.

She checked her watch. Five o’clock. Well I guess I should get back and take a shower before dinner.

Collecting her things, she gradually made her way back to Gryffindor tower. She took her time showering, mulling over the information she had acquired in her research. Some of it would prove beneficial, though most of it was just common sense, nothing overly strenuous.

I might actually be able to do this…

***

She met Harry and Ron in the Great Hall for dinner at six. Less than two hours left, she thought, checking her watch for the third time since she had arrived.

“Have to be somewhere?” Ron asked. “Romantic rendezvous with your secret lover?”

Hermione snorted into her barely touched pudding. If only. She chanced a glance up at the teachers at the end of the hall. Snape was there. He appeared the same as he always did, snarky and forbidding. However, she noticed that he wasn’t eating much either.

“No, I just have to meet up with Madame Pince again to help her in the restricted section,” she lied. It was obviously convincing enough, either that or the mere notion of going to the library on a Saturday evening was enough to make them both politely ignore that thought. She figured it would be a good time to abandon the pretense of eating, and went back to her room.

“Imagine. Spending Saturday night in the library with that old coot,” Ron said, shaking his head sadly.

“What, like you have something better to do?” Harry asked, his eyebrows raised.

“Why yes I do, in fact. I have a hot date,” he replied stoically.

“Oh? Who with?” Harry asked, genuinely curious.

“Why, Trelawny of course! You know she always had a thing for me.”

A split second later Ron was met with a messy glob of pudding right in his face.

***

“That’s all of the advice I can give you, Miss Granger,” Albus concluded. It was now ten minutes until eight, time for her and Professor Snape to head off the grounds and apparate to the instructed meeting area.

Hermione stood up and Severus made his way to the door. He didn’t show it, but he was apprehensive about tonight. He knew the girl would do well, but anything could happen. The slightest mishap… well, it wouldn’t do to consider it now. What will happen, will happen. As long as they both did what they had planned, everything should be fine.

At the door, Albus placed his hand gently on Hermione’s shoulder.

“Hermione… I believe in you,” he said, his eyes twinkling with a bit of their old spark. He gave her one last encouraging squeeze, and bowed her out the door.

“Severus,” Albus implored, his eyes delving deep. “Please take care of her.”

And with little more than a slight nod of acknowledgement, Severus was gone in a flurry of robes.

“Good luck,” Albus whispered after they were already gone. “And take care of him for me Hermione.”

***

The entire way out of Hogwarts castle and across the grounds, Hermione concentrated solely on breathing deep and remaining calm. She could do this. She knew that as long as Professor Snape was with her, no harm would come to her. And I take comfort in that idea?, she thought sardonically. Somehow, the fact that she was now so entirely dependent upon this man who had given her and her friends so much grief during their six years at Hogwarts seemed more than a tad bit ironic.

“Alright, Miss Granger. I must apparate us both to the specified location. Thus, I must request that you hold on to my arm for a brief period.” He sneered, reverting to his old stand by. Having to be this close with a female student, especially this one, was a bit unnerving. “Do me a favor, and try not to get me killed. Think you can handle that?”

She grabbed his arm and looked into his face. “Of course.” Two can play at that game. “But, can you do me a favor too?” He glared at her, anticipating some rude retort. He was met with something worse. “Stop pretending that you don’t care.”

And with that, they disappeared with a loud pop.

***

A/N: Ach! Here it is! Well, I left y’all hanging again, but obviously the next installment will contain all of the good stuff. Just trying to get back in the swing of things, so it might take me awhile to get back to where I was. I think my writing may have suffered in the past few years. -laughs- Likely a product of hanging around with a load of inarticulate doctors. Don’t tell them I said that. Anyway, please review (cause you know we love those), and expect the next installment soon! Cheers!