The Makeover - COMPLETED

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 9 ~


Sybil was delivered to the Ministry and booked, the two Aurors handing her over to be processed, then going their separate ways. The tall, brown-haired, brown eyed Auror who disillusioned Sybil at Hermione’s request looked thoughtful as he walked down the corridor towards the break room to have a well-earned cup of coffee. Obviously the pretty, curly-haired witch he encountered in the Headmaster’s office was a staff member of Hogwarts. Not only was she pretty, but compassionate. Compassion was a nice trait in a witch. In anyone, really.

The wizard was just about to turn into the break room when someone hailed him.

“Hey Justice!” a black-haired Auror called to him, “Want to stop off at the Three Broomsticks for a drink after work tonight?”

Justice Forall looked at his fellow Auror for a moment.

“No, I have something else in mind for tonight, Jason. Maybe tomorrow night,” he replied.

“All right then,” Jason said smiling and walking off.

Justice entered the break room where a fresh pot of coffee was waiting for him. The wizard fixed himself a cup then folded his tall frame into one of the chairs that surrounded a number of white tables and thoughtfully took a sip. He wanted to know who the witch was, if she were married or single, and if single to find out if she might consider going out on a date with him. There was only one way to do that.

Go back to Hogwarts this evening and make inquiries.

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Hermione returned to Hogwarts in good spirits. When she entered the castle the students all looked at her curiously, but she didn’t seem to notice or care as she made her way down the dungeon corridor. Someone was walking ahead of her. She squinted her eyes. It was Professor Snape. He seemed to be reading something as he walked. Thinking to get her thanks out of the way, Hermione quickened her pace. Normally, she wouldn’t have been able to catch up to the Potions Master before he reached his office. The wizard took long strides when he walked, but since he was reading, his pace was slower. Hermione managed to get within ten meters of him when the Professor suddenly spun, his black eyes looking at her rather accusingly.

“It is never good to run up behind me, Spells Mistress,” he said in a low, dangerous voice, his eyes glittering. “Please keep that in mind so there will be no…accidents.”

Hermione swallowed at the predatory look on the Professor’s face. The wizard turned and started to walk again. Hermione skittered to catch up.

“Um Professor, I just wanted to thank you for stopping Sybil from hexing me,” she said to the wizard, who looked at her sideways, scowling.

“It was purely reactionary, Miss Granger,” he responded. “She might have hit me instead of you, she was in such a state.”

That really wasn’t the case. The Professor had purposely protected Hermione, simply because her back was turned. If the witch had been facing Sybil and able to draw her wand, he wouldn’t have interfered at all. But he didn’t want Hermione thinking he had done something noble. He had just got rid of one fawning witch. He didn’t want another on his pale hands. Not even one as curvaceous as the Spells Mistress.

Hermione frowned at him for a moment. Selfish git. But still…he had inadvertently kept her from getting Crucio’d.

“Still, thank you,” she said rather stubbornly.

Severus stopped walking and turned toward the witch.

“If you really want to thank me, Spells Mistress, then when I come to your labs to be poked, prodded, pinched and the gods know what else, you will try to make it relatively painless,” he said silkily.

Hermione looked at him perplexed.

“What are you talking about, poked, prodded and pinched?” she asked the dark wizard, her brow furrowed.

Severus stared at her a moment. Was it possible she didn’t know Albus had assigned him the task of lab niffler?

“Yesterday Albus informed me you would be using me to test the Dark Mark. That cadaver limbs were no longer suitable and you needed some living flesh to diddle with,” the wizard said, watching for her reaction.

“Oh Albus,” Hermione breathed, clapping her hand to her forehead for a moment. Then she looked at the pale wizard.

“I told him that yes, I couldn’t go any further with the dead limbs, but I never asked for you, Professor,” Hermione said.

“Very few do, Miss Granger,” he replied, quirking an eyebrow at her. “Despite the fact you didn’t ask for me…you now have me…regardless how I feel about it.”

Hermione didn’t want a test subject under duress or one as snarky as the Professor. It would be difficult enough work without him bitching and moaning and asking all types of questions as she worked.

“Perhaps I could find someone else more…er…willing,” Hermione said.

Severus looked at her.

“How many deatheaters do you know, Spells Mistress?” he purred at her.

Hermione looked thoughtful.

“Well, there’s Lucius Malfoy…” she began.

Severus snorted.

“Lucius would no sooner allow you to touch him than the Giant Squid,” Severus replied, “His opinions about muggle-borns haven’t changed. He would never work with you.”

“Maybe…maybe a prisoner from Azkaban,” Hermione suggested.

Severus shook his head.

“Too much trouble with secrecy and security. Plus the Ministry is not willing to help with transport or lend Aurors to watch them,” the Potions Master said.

He was getting the distinct impression that the Spells Mistress did not want him for a subject. For some reason he found that appealing.

“There has to be some alternative other than you,” Hermione said, a little desperately.

“Well, if you can think of one, let me know,” the wizard said, turning and heading for his office again. “Otherwise, I expect you to give me notice before you bring me into your chamber of tortures.”

Severus let himself into his office and closed the door behind him, leaving Hermione standing in the corridor looking after him.

Chamber of tortures? Is that what he thought her lab was? Hermione scowled blackly. The gods only knew what horrors he brewed up in his lab.

Shit. She had to talk to Albus. Severus Snape was the last person she wanted to work with.

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Albus told Hermione pretty much the same thing he told Severus. He was the best option, and he was who she would be working with. End of story. Completely miffed, Hermione walked down the spiral staircase and ran right into Justice Forall, who was coming to ask the Headmaster about her. The tall Auror looked down on the witch.

“Good evening,” he said smiling at her.

“Hello,” Hermione said, obviously distracted. Then she looked up at him in recognition. “You’re one of the Aurors who took Sybil this morning.”

Justice nodded.

“Yes I am. My name is Justice. Justice Forall,” the wizard said.

“I’m Hermione Granger,” Hermione replied, wondering about his odd name. “How is Sybil?”

“She’s fine. The Headmaster came down and spoke in her behalf. She has to do three straight years in Azkaban. She’s very, very lucky,” Justice said.

“Three years,” Hermione breathed.

That was much better than a life sentence. She looked up at the Auror again.

“Well it was nice meeting you, Mr. Forall. I’ve got to head to my rooms now and get ready for supper,” Hermione said, starting off. Justice turned and followed her.

“Um, Miss Granger,” he called to her. Hermione stopped and turned to face him.

“Yes, Mr. Forall?” the witch responded.

Justice looked a bit awkward.

“The reason I came back here tonight was to try to find out if you were married or not, because if you aren’t, I would like to invite you out to dinner,” the Auror said, turning a bit red.

He certainly didn’t have the confidence of Marcus Delaluci, though he was just as handsome in Hermione’s estimation.

“To dinner, Mr. Forall?” she asked him, a little knot of apprehension forming in her belly. This was, in her opinion, the first time a wizard was asking her out seriously. Marcus didn’t count.

“Yes,” the Auror said, swallowing a little. “Nothing too fancy mind you…just a casual dinner. I would really be honored if you said yes.”

Hermione looked up at the wizard. She knew nothing about him except he was an Auror for the Ministry. But that was good, wasn’t it? It meant he was of good character and unlikely to act badly. But then again, what witch knew what she was getting into before she accepted a date? Dates were the way you got to know a person, weren’t they?

“When would you like to go out, Mr. Forall?” she asked him.

Justice looked a little more hopeful now.

“Would this Friday be all right? If you have another date, we could make it next Friday,” he said, trying to be accommodating.

Hermione smirked. Obviously he thought she dated often. Justice had no idea he was the first wizard who ever asked her out.

“I think, Mr. Forall, that Friday would be fine,” the witch replied.

Hermione was scared, but excited. She wanted to go out. An Auror seemed safe enough for a first date.

Justice beamed broadly. He had a very nice smile. Hermione couldn’t believe how happy the wizard looked at her acceptance.

“All right. I will pick you up here at seven o’clock Friday night. As I said, it will be casual. Do you like seafood?” he asked as they both started walking toward the shifting stairs.

“I love seafood,” Hermione replied.

“Great, so do I. I know the perfect place,” the wizard said enthusiastically.

Hermione smiled up at him.

Justice escorted Hermione down the dungeon corridor to her rooms. Severus was about to walk out of his office door, saw them and pulled it back, cracking it and peeking out. Wasn’t that the Auror who took Sybil away this morning? Yes it was. He was back.

Severus shook his head slightly. Some wizards would hit on a witch no matter the circumstances. Imagine using an arrest as a common jump-off point. And obviously by the way she was smiling, Hermione had leaped.

“All right, Miss Granger. I will pick you up at seven on Friday night,” Justice said. He hesitated for a moment, then lifted and kissed her hand. Hermione fought back a giggle as his warm lips softly met her flesh.

“Goodbye, Mr. Forall,” Hermione said, drawing her kissed hand up into her chest and letting herself into the room, the Auror watching her with a huge smile until she closed the door. Then he pumped his fist.

“Yes!” he said out loud, then strode down the corridor, humming.

Severus let him get a ways down before he exited his rooms. He was scowling slightly. That Auror was handsome enough, but probably had as much in common with Hermione intellectually as a flubberworm. But most likely the witch wouldn’t be thinking with her brain when out with the wizard.

It wasn’t hard to tell that Hermione Granger was most likely untouched. She hadn’t been an attractive witch, and very devoted to her studies. Now all the restraint was bound to pop wide open, and so were her legs when the first wizard got her juices going. She had no idea she was like a sheep walking into a forest full of hungry wolves, all ready to take a chunk out of her.

Well, that wasn’t his affair. Miss Granger could get gangbanged and it would make no difference to him, so long as she could still use that big brain of hers to work on the Mark, hopefully with as little pain as possible. Again, he felt it was his misfortune to be foisted on the witch while she went through late puberty.

The wizard sighed. Still he had to do it. With a billow of robes he turned right into the main hall, scattering a few startled students before turning down the corridor that led to the staff entrance to the Great Hall. The moment he entered, the Potions Master was descended upon by Minerva and the rest of the female staff.

“Severus, what happened to Sybil?” Minerva demanded of him as he sat down and looked up at the anxious witches, scowling.

“She’s been sent to Azkaban, hopefully for the rest of her life,” he responded, then ordered his meal as the witches gasped.

“Whatever for?” Minerva pressed.

“Can’t you ask Albus about this?” Severus said. He didn’t want to be rude to Minerva…she had known him since he was a student at Hogwarts, plus she was the Headmaster’s paramour.

“He won’t tell us anything,” Minerva said, looking toward Albus, who was eating tomato soup and holding his beard out the way.

“Maybe there’s a reason for it,” Severus responded as his food appeared. He had slices of braised goose, rice with gravy and asparagus. A large glass of wine appeared next to it. “As you can see, I’m celebrating my new freedom,” he purred at Minerva.

The witch went thin-lipped for a moment, then continued to press the wizard, who put his fork and knife down in exasperation.

“Fine. Sybil tried to cast the Cruciatus curse on the Spells Mistress when her back was turned and I stopped her with an Expelliamus spell. Now may I eat please?” the Potions Master said, his brows drawn together blackly. It really wasn’t a request.

The witches all moved back to their seats, cackling among themselves as to why Sybil would do such a thing.

“I always thought Sybil was one egg short of a full dozen,” Pomona said, sniffing slightly. The other witches readily agreed and quickly launched into an animated discussion of all Sybil’s faults.

Severus heard them and shook his head.

“Bunch of old buzzards…mauling Sybil’s warm carcass,” he thought, slicing into his goose, swirling it in gravy and popping it into his mouth.

Ah, so good. It tasted even better now that he could sit and eat in peace without a pair of magnified dragonfly eyes staring holes through him. He sighed rather happily.

Bless Hermione Granger’s righteous indignation.

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A/N: Ah, Justice appears a-court’in. Severus still doesn’t seem interested in Hermione, though he does appear to want to be her subject now…in a thoroughly perverse way…since it’s obvious Hermione didn’t want him as a subject for good reason. But Albus has put his foot down again. What the Headmaster says, goes. Please review this chapter. Thanks.