Yuleride

Chapter 6 ~ Questions and Answers

Two and a half hours later, Snape entered the study to find a narrow-eyed Hermione waiting for him. He looked surprised for a moment, then his lip curled slightly.

“I thought you would have disabled the alarm ward on my books by now and I’d return to find you neck deep in text,” the wizard said, sweeping past the witch and heading straight for his liquor cabinet.

“You could have told me it would be an hour or two before you’d be able to talk with me, Severus. I could have gone to my own quarters and done a bit of reading while waiting,” Hermione snapped at the wizard as he poured himself a Firewhiskey.

Snape arched an eyebrow at her sardonically.

”I suppose I could have . . . but I didn’t,” he responded, taking a sip of his drink then walking over to an armchair and sitting down in front of the fire.

Hermione glared at the back of his head for a moment, then walked around and sat in the armchair next to him, frowning blackly as he took another sip of his drink. Snape let out a small rasp and set the drink down on the small table between them.

“So, are you going to grill me, or simply scowl at me?” the Potions master asked her.

Hermione thought she’d like to hex him for being an inconsiderate git, but she got down to it.

”Firstly, I want to know if I decided to go with you, how the monetary situation will work. I am going to need things, personal items. I don’t have much money of my own. Are you going to pay my way?” Hermione asked him directly.

Snape frowned at her slightly.

“I don’t give away money, Hermione. You will be given what you need, but I will keep records of it. When we acquire a potion or elixir and do our research, it will be with the purpose of finding some use for it in a marketable manner. Once we do that, I will recoup my expenditures from your half of the monies, then issue you the rest. We will be partners. I will not be your ‘Sugar Daddy,’” he said pointedly.

Hermione harrumphed.

“As if someone as sour as you could be anyone’s ‘sugar’ anything,” the witch replied.

Snape narrowed his eyes at her.

”I beg to differ, Hermione. I can be quite ‘sweet’ to witches, given the opportunity,” he said silkily.

Hermione fought down the flush she felt at the wizard’s words. Indeed, he had felt rather sweet when he kissed and massaged her.

”Sickly sweet. Like saccharine,” she said dismissively, trying to appear unaffected.

Snape smirked slightly.

“A little goes a long way,” he purred at her.

“All right, enough. I’m not here for this. I’m here to have questions answered,” she snapped at him, feeling slightly flustered.

“There are spoken questions and unspoken questions, Hermione,” the wizard said softly, his black eyes glinting. “I am quite good at discerning non-verbal inquiries. It’s how I survived all those years as a spy. I had to be able to anticipate the questions I would eventually have to answer.”

”Well, save your ‘anticipation,’ Professor. I am quite capable of asking you what I need to ask. Now, where do you plan to travel to first?” Hermione asked the wizard, trying to get her focus back.

Snape looked at her for a moment.

”We would start in Egypt,” he said, watching Hermione closely. He had purposely used the word “we” to include her.

Her eyes lit up a bit at his reply and she looked as if she were trying to hide her excitement.

The professor continued, his voice once again turning rather hypnotic.

”We will be seeking an elixir known as ‘Aab-e-Hayaat’ or ‘Dancing Water.”

Hermione had read about that.

”That’s the Elixir of Immortality,” she breathed. “Some associate it with the Philosopher’s Stone.”

Snape nodded, rather pleased that Hermione was doing her homework. It boded well for her participation in his plans.

“Yes, as a by-product of the stone’s creation. But if this were true, why would anyone use the Philosopher’s Stone rather than the Elixir? The Philosopher’s Stone has to be used constantly in order to be effective, and it has no youthening properties. A person’s immortality begins from the age the stone is first utilized. If a wizard is in his hundreds, he will remain aged. And if the stone is lost, the immortal aspects will fade. The Elixir of Immortality will last forever,” Snape said to her. “This fact makes it highly unlikely that the Elixir comes from the making of the stone.”

Hermione’s eyes danced at the possibility of the elixir’s existence.

”Imagine, being able to live forever,” she said rather breathlessly.

Snape’s eyes narrowed.

”It is not the gift you believe it is. The body cannot die or the spirit be separated from it. A person can become ill to the point of death or maimed by an accident and not be able to die from it, but will continue on. Even if the body is cut up, life and spirit remains. It is said that those who displeased Thoth were fed the elixir, cut into pieces and buried in a secret chamber beneath the desert sands, doomed to stay conscious and in pain until the end of the world,” Snape told her, noting the horror in her eyes.

”That’s horrible,” Hermione said.

”The elixir itself is purported to also be in that chamber,” the wizard added. “Many have sought to find it, but they were Muggles and didn’t have our abilities. I’ve created a spell that can detect life wherever it is. Even underground. It is a modified healer spell, greatly amplified. And I have knowledge of the approximate locations where the followers of Thoth worshipped. There were several lesser sites and one major site. The last site has been thoroughly ravaged however. Chambers were discovered but they contained no living flesh. Yet there were texts. I have translated copies of most of them.”

Hermione leaned forward in the chair excitedly.

”You have copies of them? May I see them?” she asked the wizard excitedly.

Snape furrowed his brow at her.

”Only someone who is going to work with me will be allowed to read those texts. How am I to know for certain that you will not embark on your own and become a competitor?” he asked Hermione, who scowled.

”Like I have the money to go to Egypt and dig around in the sand,” she said.

Snape shrugged.

”You could get a sponsor,” he replied.

”I wouldn’t do that!” Hermione declared.

”So you say now. But when the reality that your life is a sham truly hits you, Hermione, you may change your mind,” the wizard said evenly. “I can’t take that risk.”

Hermione stared at the wizard, then sighed. No, Snape was cautious. Suddenly, a thought hit her.

”You know, since we won’t be in Wizarding England, we’ll be able to use technology,” she said to him brightly, unaware she had used the word “we.”

Snape noticed it however and was heartened. Still he scowled at her and stood up.

”Of course I know,” he said snarkily, walking over to his desk and reaching beneath it, pulling something out and carrying it back to Hermione. “This is the first bit of equipment I’ve purchased. Of course it doesn’t work here, and even if it did, I’m afraid I’m a two-finger typist. However, I am certain you are not.”

Hermione’s eyes widened. Snape held a laptop computer in his pale hands. She took it from him and examined it.

”Are those solar panels?” she asked him.

Snape nodded.

”It will save power as well as recharge the batteries inside,” he replied.

Hermione frowned up at him.

”But, how do you know about laptops, Professor?” she asked him.

Snape frowned at her.

”I’m a half-blood, witch. You know that. I am quite aware of the technologies available,” he said scathingly. “I even know how to drive.”

The wizard reached into his robes pocket and removed a wallet, flipping it open and showing Hermione his pink license issued from the British Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. He was wearing robes. Whoever took that picture must have had lessons in making already unattractive people look infinitely worse.

Hermione blinked at the license, then up at Snape. He was so “wizardy” that she had forgotten he grew up in Spinners End, a Muggle area. Of course he’d understand the Muggle lifestyle. His father was one.

But Hermione had never seen the Professor in Muggle clothing. He always wore robes. Even the other staff members made the rare attempt at dressing Muggle when going among them, although they had no fashion sense or idea what went with what. Snape wore robes no matter where he went. People probably thought he was some kind of cleric, or cult member. Most probably thought he was a devil-worshipper with that perpetual scowl.

Maybe Snape never wore Muggle clothing because he purposely downplayed his Muggle ancestry. That could be it. He wouldn’t have wanted Voldemort dwelling on the fact that he was a half-blood, like Harry. It made a kind of twisted sense.

“I’m sorry. I’d forgotten you are half Muggle,” she said to him.

”That’s ‘half-blood!” he snarled at her. “I don’t use the word Muggle in relation to myself. Ever. I am a wizard!”

“All right. Sorry,” Hermione said to him.

Did he hate Muggles so much? The professor seemed to have a few personal issues. Well, he was human after all, but he had never seemed as human to Hermione as he did now. Snape took the laptop back from her with some attitude, then returned it to his desk.

He walked back over to the chairs and sat down, picking up his Firewhiskey and finishing it. Then he looked at Hermione.

“Are you finished questioning me?” he asked her.

”One more question. How to you plan to get to Egypt? What mode of travel? Port key? Apparation? Broom?” she asked him.

Snape actually sneered at her.

”Port keys? Brooms? How about I glue together a few feathers with wax and we just wing our way there, being careful to avoid the sun?” he asked her snarkily. “We’d go by plane of course. We will only be using magic when it’s necessary and the better choice. I prefer no one learns of our magical nature. It will make life easier on both of us. Muggles have a tendency to think of witches and wizards like genies. We’d be deluged by idiots wanting us to conjure them up riches or make someone fall in love with them. Two impossible acts as you know.”

Yes, Hermione did know. That went against the laws that governed magic. Life, Love, Money and Food could not be magically created. There were limits.

But Snape on a plane? Merlin, it was hard to imagine him sitting strapped inside a plane. Obviously he had traveled in that manner before. Most witches and wizards were scared to death of airplanes, not understanding how Muggles managed to keep something so heavy up in the air for so long.

Hermione was daydreaming a bit.

”Anything else?” Snape snapped at her. Hermione looked at him wildly for a moment.

”Ah, no. That’s all for now. Thank you, Professor,” Hermione said to him, rising.

Snape looked up at her.

”Sit down, Hermione. Since I have so graciously given up some of my free time for you, you can return the favor. I have several questions for you,” the wizard said, his voice soft.

Hermione hesitated, then sat back down. It would be rude to leave when he did answer her questions.

”What do you want to know?” she asked him.

Snape simply looked at her and ran his finger around his lips. Hermione came to realize he did that unconsciously when he was thinking. She was learning his mannerisms.

“I want to know what made you come here to see me only after one day of spending your holiday away from the school?” he said to her.

”I told you. I had questions,” Hermione said.

”Yes. I know what you told me,” the wizard said coldly, “but what you’ve told me isn’t necessarily the case. I imagine you saw Weasley when you arrived home,” he said to the witch, his eyes narrowed as he studied her.

Hermione colored a little.

”Yes, I did see him,” she said shortly.

”Was it a . . . happy reunion?” Snape asked her.

“That’s none of your business,” Hermione growled. She was irritated because it really hadn’t been that happy. It was “business as usual” or in other words went straight to the shagging.

“But it is my business, Hermione. Weasley is the main obstacle that can keep you from coming with me. Your misguided sense of loyalty toward him. I don’t want you to be either happy or satisfied with him. He isn’t worthy of you,” Snape said to her softly. “If it is at all possible, I intend to convince you of that, one way or another.”

“You can’t convince me of anything,” Hermione snapped at him. “It’s my decision to make. Not yours.”

“Well, I find it quite interesting that after only one day you’ve seen fit to spend your evening with me, rather than your . . . boyfriend. Surely you haven’t had enough of him already. He hadn’t seen you in weeks. By rights, you should both be snuggled up under the bed sheets getting reacquainted,” Snape purred at her. “But you aren’t snuggling, Hermione.”

Hermione didn’t say anything. She looked into the fire, not wanting to look Snape in the eyes.

”I suspect you aren’t happy with some aspects of Weasley, some very important aspects. He is young and as inexperienced as you are concerning witches. He was never very creative while attending Hogwarts. I imagine that hasn’t changed,” Snape continued.

Hermione shifted in the chair a bit, but still didn’t reply.

“It isn’t fair that you are not experiencing life as you should, Hermione. I can see it, the dissatisfaction on your face. I can feel it pouring off your body. Weasley doesn’t do it for you. I can tell, and that is a great weakness in your relationship. It is important that needs are met mutually. If there is no meeting of minds, there should at least be a meeting of the bodies. Many people stay together because the sex is good. It is . . . acceptable,” he said to her.

Hermione looked at him, frowning.

”Professor, you are treading on ground you have no business treading on. What happens between Ron and I is my own affair. I would appreciate it if you’d keep your big nose out of it,” she said to him angrily.

Instead of getting angry, Snape looked amused.

”Resorting to insults, witch? Yes, I can feel your frustration. I’m not helping it either, am I? Bringing all your little secrets to the fore and exposing them. I am simply trying to make you see that you are settling in all areas of your life when you shouldn’t be. Every moment you spend with Ronald Weasley is a moment wasted. You deserve better, Hermione,” the wizard said.

“And what? You think you would be better?” Hermione snapped at him.

”I think anyone would be better when you are not happy with who you have. At least explore other avenues, witch. It doesn’t have to be with me, but with someone. Just so you can expand your horizons, find out that there is something more for you than you are accepting now. Have a fling, a one night stand . . . something that will break you away from the prison you are in,” Snape said to her.

”I’m not in any prison,” Hermione retorted.

Snape looked at her consideringly.

“Having sex with a woman is very much like brewing an original potion based on sight. You have to know when to act, when to stir with a soft hand or a harsh one, when to raise the heat or lower it. You have to understand when to throw something ‘different’ into the brew. Sex is responding to reactions and eliciting even more reactions, working toward a proper completion. And it is interaction, Hermione, the melding of two bodies into one body of mutual pleasure and satisfaction. It isn’t something one partner is supposed to enjoy more than the other. It is a shared experience and if done correctly, one that can shatter your world,” he breathed at her.

Hermione stared at the wizard. She had never heard sex described in such a way.

”You’ve never been properly . . . brewed, Hermione,” Snape said softly. “I feel we would be quite compatible if you chose me to ‘expand your horizons’ with. It would only add to our working relationship. I know I am unattractive, witch . . . but don’t judge the potion by its color. It’s what it can do that matters.”

Hermione blinked at him.

”Professor, did you come up with this idea thinking it would make me accessible to you?” she asked him directly.

“I can buy pussy!” the wizard declared. “And I am very good at controlling my urges. I’ve gone a long time without having the pleasure of a witch. It’s just that I feel if you discovered what you were missing with Ronald Weasley, it would have a domino effect and you would clearly see everything else you’ve settled for and want to throw it off!”

Snape stood up suddenly, his face twisted.

“Get out, Hermione,” he said to her, his voice low and controlled. “You are as thick as the walls of this castle if you can’t see what I see happening to you. Go back to your mediocre life and shag your mediocre lover while you wait to return to a mediocre job teaching mediocre children. Go back and wallow in the sty of the commonplace that you’ve penned yourself into. I am offering you a life and experience that will make you into the witch you were meant to be, and all I’m getting is questions and denials. You turn my stomach. Get out!”

Snape lost his calmness then, storming over to the wall and opening it, staring at Hermione imperiously.

Wordlessly, Hermione walked through the opening, Snape following close behind her. She opened the office door and looked back at Snape. Once again he was standing half in light and half in shadow, his dark eyes resting on her. She could feel his disappointment tangibly.

”I’m not as thick as the castle walls,” she said softly, exiting his office and pulling the door closed behind her.

Snape warded the door and returned to his study.

For the sake of both of them, he hoped Hermione was right.

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A/N: Still sick but managed to get this out. I hope you found it interesting and entertaining. Thanks for reading.