Paradise called Ojén

Chapter 7 Pedro From the Army

“Miess Ermione, ow nice to see you. Ow long are you stayinge ere?” a tall boyish looking guy with brown hair said from behind her.


“Pedro?”


“Si. I am back from the army.” He told Hermione and sat down next to her. Snape sat with her and narrowed his eyes. ‘Two boys already within a day?’ he thought and decided to wait just a little while before going to her.


“I arrived yesterday, with my chemistry teacher. He sits over there, being a childish son of a bitch.” She said and pointed at Snape who narrowed his eyes even more, if that were possible anyway. ‘She’s talking about me.’


“Qué?” Pedro asked with raised brows.


“Un hijo de una perra.” She said smiling. This was one of the first things she’d leared during her first stay here, and she only where three years old.


“I see. Are you having a …uhmm…pelea de los amantes? A lover’s quarrel?” he said watching Snape move in his sitting possition. Hermione explained the situation with the cash dispenser. Pedro started laughing right away. ‘Now he’s laughing at me? That does it.’ Snape thought and stood. He walked with huge steps to the two whisperers and stopped in front of them, his arms folded tight across his chest.

“Having a good time?” he sneered and glared at Pedro who looked scared at once. “Please, I can use a good laughter right now… fill me in.” Pedro swallowed and took a step back. Snape saw his fear and stepped forward to see Pedro starting to sweat. He gave a sneering smile and bent to the boy. “Take a hike!” he hissed under his breath and was satisfied to see Pedro’s frightened face.


“ ‘Ermione. I ‘ave to go. Emilio takes over my job. Adiós…” and Pedro was gone before Hermione could say ‘bye’.


“Nice one, professor. Even here they are afraid of you!” Hermione hissed and threw the menu on the table.


“You should thank me, Miss Granger. Those Spanish guys aren’t to be trusted! He only said and took the menu from the table. It was quiet for a long time. Emilio was informed by Pedro about Snape and didn’t show up. Snape didn’t understand the Spanish words on the card and frowned.


“Camáron?” he said. “What the hell is that?”


“Shrimp.” Hermione sighed after about twenty seconds. “Fried I guess, although, you should eat them raw!”


“That will not do, Miss Granger!” Snape barked and slammed the menu on his lap. “I don’t wish to be treated like this. I won’t apologise to you. I did nothing wrong!” Hermione only frowned and looked the other way. “Look at me when I’m talking to you, Miss Granger!” Hermione’s head shot back and eyed him with watered eyes.


“Can’t you ever be nice? We were trying to make the best of it. You even said that you started to like me, what’s wrong with you now?” She couldn’t keep her tears under control and started to sob. Snape felt himself flushing and regretted his words immediately.


“Stop crying, Miss Granger.” He said in his usual teacher’s voice but there was something in his voice that betrayed his true self. Hermione dried her tears and looked up at him. Her eyes questioning, her lower lip trembling. “I… did say I started to like you, but ….”


“Stop the crap, professor. I know you only said it to make me feel more relaxed. It helped but I feel very stupid right now for believing you. Now, could we just order the food and eat in silence?” Hermione said, grabbing the menu again. At the same time Snape reached for it and their hands met. Snape’s hand brushed hers and yet again, an elecrtic shock ran through his spine. Hermione felt it too but wasn’t sure what it was. She couldn’t have certain… feelings for this man, could she? Her question was answered right after that. Snape snatched the menu from her hand and sat back. ‘Bastard! Filthy Bastard!’ she thought, trying to get that filthy thought out of her head.


“Miss Granger…What exactly are testículos?” Snape asked and tried to and make a truce. He feared for her outbursts in public. He always came out as the hated fool. Hermione smiled at him.


“That are roasted maetballs, very nice. You should try it.” Inside she was dying of laughter when Snape ordered it. ‘Fool that you are!’ she thought and ordered smoked salmon with roasted potatoes and vegetables for herself.


“I hope you like it too, professor. It’s very tasty with red wine.” She said, trying to suppress a snort.


“How do you know how wine tastes, Miss Granger? I thought that know-it-alls always obeyed the rules. Well, except from you then, maybe.” He said as he took the wine list from the next table. “Drinking in broad daylight…. Ah well, why not.” He tried to act as normal as possible. He really did like the girl—if only she wouldn’t be so damn annoying all the time.


After a good twenty minutes lunch arrived. It looked delicious, both the plates as a matter of fact. Hermione ordered a bottle of the best wine for Snape and took some herself. Snape didn’t allow it at first but when she looked at him with her big brown puppy eyes he couldn’t deny her.


“There really was something in that water, professor. Back at Hogwarts you wouldn’t even want to have breakfast, lunch or dinner with me at your table. Even if you act lthe the ‘professor’ from time to time, I can’t understand the other part of you.” She said, watching Snape as he started cutting his testículos. ‘Was he really that stupid?’ she thought and smirked.


“You would be surprised.” He said as het ook the first bite and started shewing. “I would have sworn that it were the balls of a bull. The name sounded like it.” he stated and frowned at the nice flavour in his mouth. “This is the best I’ve eaten in ages. And that wine… Miss Granger it is something that you know a lot about, I presume?” Hermione smiled a devellish smile and Snape knew that something was wrong. “Don’t tell me I wasn’t right about the food. Miss Granger, I warned you… Don’t play with me!”


“Do you like it?” she asked in a completely serious tone.


“Miss Granger?” he barked.


“Do.You. Like.It? Do I really have to spell it for you?” Hermione said, having placed her fork on her plate—she was ready to run if needed.


“Uhmmmmm…” Snape sighed and thought about it. Hermione impatiently shifted in her chair. “Well, what is it? What? What did I order?!” he asked with a mean look on his face.


“Exactly, what you ordered. I think I’ll wait till after lunch to—”


“NOW!” he snapped and glared at her. “I want to know now, Miss Granger. Maybe you’re poisoning me at this time.” he said and took another bite without realizing it.


“Ok, ok I’ll tell you now.” She took a huge sip of wine—as if that would give her more courage—and swallowed it down with a gulp. Snape raised an eyebrow and put down his own fork and knife. “Uhm… er, the meat you’re eating is what you thought. It are the balls of a bull, roasted.” She took another sip and continued before he could. “I just wanted to get back on you for being such a prick all the time when I don’t want you to be one. Don’t be angry with me, you’ve said you liked it yourself.” She waited for him to start yelling, but it didn’t happen. Instead, he took another bite and started laughing.


“You…why aren’t you angry?” She was so confused since she was alone with the man she normally loathed so much that it hurt. What was he doing? Wasn’t he the bastard she always thought he was, even after they arrived here? She started to like the man, yes, even having certain feelings…. STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON’T HAVE FEELINGS FOR HIM!!!!!! But, what was it then she felt every time he was around? At least for a few weeks. And when they came to Spain those strange feelings only got stronger.


“I don’t know why I’m not angry with you. I just think this prank is rather funny. I haven’t laughed like this in a long time.” He swallowed the next bite and drank all of the remaining wine in his glass.


“I know. You should do it a lot more. You’re more accepting when you laugh.” Hermione shot her hand for her mouth. ‘Did I just say that?’ “I mean… I... You look nice when you do, not so cold and professor-ish.” She sighed and drank the whole contents of her glass. A small burp was the result and she blushed. “Sorry.”


“Don’t be, you’re only human, Miss Granger.” He smiled at her and she smiled back. They finished their meal quietly, not saying another word, smiling across the table at each other occasionally. They both had apple pie for dessert, enjoying it together.