73Hermione Granger and Severus Snape have never seen eye to eye. But after a freak potions accident they find they must put aside their differences or face the consequences. A tale of love and comedy all combined into one! Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or claim any money from them!
Soul Transfer 101
Prologue:
Hermione knew McGonagall was right, and nodded in understanding.
"Very well then," Minerva said taking a step towards the staircase. "I hadn't intended on meeting you in such a place, but I guess this as good as any place then. Make sure you have Madam Pomfrey look at that."
"Yes of course," Hermione nodded watching McGonagall move up the stair. "Professor?!"
"Yes Miss Granger?" Minerva asked turning on the stairs to face her.
"Professor…You said that if you work things out, there is a reward at the end of it," Hermione said looking thoughtful. "What was your reward?"
Minerva McGonagall smiled lightly. "I would have thought that was obvious Miss Granger. Having students like yourself, is a reward all in its own Miss Granger."
With that, the old witch moved up the stairs leaving Hermione alone to think and ponder.
Chapter 7:
The rest of the day seemed to pass by slowly and both Hermione and Severus. They often found themselves wishing nothing more than to retreat back to their quarters. Hermione had found enough strength to go through with her last class, and Snape had mustered enough patience to endure another one of Hermione's dull lectures. Neither one though, was looking forward to tonight however. After their little spat, and Hermione had retreated to the safety of Snape's chambers, she received a small envelope. Inside, was a letter from Snape telling her, and insisting that she meet him outside his private labs. She wasn't at all thrilled and had thought about not showing more than once. But, she knew the only way to fix their problem was to work together…Even if Severus greasy Snape wasn't a team player.
Lunch came and went, yet Hermione had not been able to find her stomach. Instead she had spent that time alone in Snape's living room, gathering her thoughts. Her mind wandered back to their encounter a few hours before. She had shown a weakness she hadn't shown in a long time; and it was eating her up. She watched the fire in the fireplace flicker, the light growing dim and fading fast. The little flame danced within the ashes its light fading and growing cold. Hermione could feel her eyes growing heavy and she slowly began to nod off. Head falling forward slightly Hermione let herself drift off to sleep, the fire dying.
"Be careful when you add the crushed unicorn hair," he said placing his hand over hers. His touch was slightly rough but incredibly gentle sending shivers down her spine. "That's it, slowly…good." They watched as a big puff of smoke rose before them, evaporating into the air. Grasping the flask she was holding, he took it from her sitting it down on the table, and moved to mark something in his notes.
"Do you really think this will work?" she asked stirring in the last ingredient, watching the brew turn white, then clear. "Do you really think even he will fall for something like this?"
He sighed laying his quill down, turning his head to her, brow rising slightly. "That is why they call things like this "chance."
She shook her head silently, and using a stopper, filled a few bottles with the clear liquid. "Leaving everything up to "chance"…isn't that say…risky?"
"After all we have gone through in these last few years?" he asked looking perplexed. "I should think not. Besides… It's been chance that has gotten us this far."
"I would call that luck," she chuckled moving her hands to her hips.
"In my experience, there is no such thing as luck," he said returning his gaze back to his notes. "Everything that has happened up until now has been by pure chance. If you would want to call being in a war, lucky then by all means do so. But I won't. I have been given one too many chances in the last few years, and each time I have taken those chances for granted. But this just may be the last chance I have to atone for those years under that cursed mark I took so long ago. So I'm not going to throw it away. This time, may just be the last, and I want to make sure I can do all I can."
She watched him intently, and placed the last bottle on the tray. His eyes were still on the parchment, but his mind was elsewhere.
Suddenly, two small arms wrapped themselves around his waist holding to him firmly. She pressed herself to him laying her head against his back. She could hear his steady breathing and smiled to herself. Instantly, his hands were on hers and he turned himself around in her grasp. Their eyes locked for a moment, his eyes unreadable. Whatever was running through his mind, she didn't know. But she didn't have time to dwell on it as his hands moved to her back, bringing her closer to him, laying his head against hers. He held her there for a moment before pulling away slightly, leaning in towards her…closer… and closer… and closer…
"Silly girl…"
Hermione woke with a start, eyes flying open. Blinking a few times Hermione scanned the room, making sure she was indeed the only one there. Hands moving to her face she rubbed her eyes clean of any sleep still lingering. "Strange… Why now?"
Yawning, she glanced to the clock above the mantle and instantly jumped to her feet. "Merlin!" Patting her robes she found her wand and rushed to portrait hole. She was late!
Tapping his foot impatiently, Snape gave a low growl of annoyance. Granger was late…Had he not made it clear enough for her? Glancing down at his Muggle wrist watch he groaned, apparently not. Leaning against the wall, he sighed lightly, his eyes closing. She had been furious with him. Good. He didn't care. If there was one thing he had learned about the little Muggle born, was that she was a clever little minx; however, just not clever enough. She had tried using his emotions against him, though it hadn't worked. He had steeled himself from her oncoming tantrum and let it go in one ear and out the other. Or had he..?
"Is there a problem?"
"Don't play ignorant Granger," he snapped opening his eyes and facing her. "Where have you been?"
Hermione considered him for a moment eying him cautiously as if he was a hissing snap dragon. Calm one moment, and then the next, trying to take a chunk out of you. "I dozed off."
"Dozed off?"
"Yea… We Muggle borns call it sleep… you know?" Hermione asked rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.
"Don't be cheeky with my Granger," Snape hissed. "I have been waiting for you for well over ten minutes."
"And the world has come to an end," she said, her tone bored.
He opened his mouth to say something, only stopping as his eyes moved to her bandaged hands. "What happened?"
"What?" Hermione asked looking annoyed.
"Your…My hands," he corrected himself taking a step forward. "What did you do?"
"Why do you care?" she questioned him causing him to grow even more impatient.
"Because it's my body!" he yelled reaching out to inspect them, only to have Hermione pull away from his touch.
"Look, this isn't what we are here for, so let's just get to the point and be on our ways," she said uncrossing her hands and moving them behind her back as to redirect his attention.
For a moment he said nothing before nodding in agreement, eying her suspiciously. Not that he cared…but Granger seemed somewhat off suddenly… "Indeed. Very well then let's begin. Do you have my wand?" She pulled it from his robes holding it out for him to see. "Good, now we begin."
For about an hour, Snape had talked Hermione through learning a very complex and fascinating ward that he himself had made and fashioned in his own way. Hermione wouldn't admit it, but she was utterly amazed at the brilliance of it. Never in her whole life had she seen something so mind boggling and brilliant. Using combined wards and unique wand movements to trigger different locks. It was, dare she say it, amazing.
"Good. Now, for real this time," he said pointing to the door. "Focus; and do as I have taught you."
Wand in hand, Hermione nodded, beginning the complex motions. Flick, Flick, Swish, Flick, Flick, Swish, Flick. Small clicks could be heard behind the door and she smiled confidently.
Snape stood there silently watching her unward the door before them. Perhaps once in a while, being a know-it-all wasn't a bad thing. It was odd though…Even though he was watching himself perform the complex magic; it wasn't him he was seeing, but her. The smooth movement of his wand in the air; the quick flick of the wrist… It was like he was seeing her. And for a brief moment, as if she had stepped outside his body…he truly saw her, standing there before him, her long curls cascading down her back as she focused herself completely on the task before her. And then…She was gone and he found himself shaking his head quickly trying to replace the image of her with something else.
Finally, a small pop was heard and the door unlatched opening slightly for entrance. Hermione smiled at her achievements and took a step forward only to be suddenly blocked by Snape, his arms stretched out on either side of him, refusing her passage. "I believe this is where you stop," he said a little too harshly, causing her to flinch at his words.
"I see," she said replacing his wand in her robes. "Fine then; have it your own way."
He watched her turn from him, taking a step away from the door. "I meant what I said earlier Professor," she said not daring to look back at him. "Everyone needs help sometimes…Even you."
"Thank you Granger, I'll log that away," he said sarcastically.
"So I guess a thank you would be out of the question then?"
"Thanks for what?"
"I see…" Hermione said shaking her head, and then taking off down the passage back to her quarters.
He watched her go and for a moment felt guilty for his treatment, but just as quickly replaced it with annoyance. She just wanted him to apologize for earlier, but he wasn't going to do it. Not now, not ever. So she better get used to it. Severus Tobias Snape never apologized to anyone, and he wasn't about ready to start now.
BOOM!
Smoke filled the room and he huffed, swatting the smoke from his face. Moving to his feet, Severus flinched slightly, his chest heaving in pain. Grabbing another desk for support he moved himself closer to where his brew was. Reaching for the cauldron he realized it was no longer there, but all over the room in pieces. Groaning, Snape hit the desk with both hands and jumped back quickly as it collapsed to the floor before him.
"Damn it!" he cursed, suddenly feeling his body go slack and his vision become fuzzy. Falling back a few steps he found himself backed up against a wall, and slowly sliding down it. He sat there silently, his coughing filling the room before his body suddenly grew still, and his eyes closed shut.
The door to his labs swung open with force allowing the smoke to escape. "Professor?! Professor where are you?!" Using her arm to shield her face, she moved in further the smoke thick and putrid. Professor? Moving to the back of the room she caught sigh of a shoe to her left which connected to a larger mass before her. Professor! Pro- Oh my God…Professor!" Moving to the limp body, she shook the young woman before her but there was no response whatsoever. Biting her lower lip, she quickly moved along side the girl and hoisted her up into her arms. Moving back through the smog, she moved out through the door, which instantly shut behind her and headed towards the hospital wing.
He wanted to see her. He had missed her tremendously these last few weeks. He had been away on business, and though hard to keep his mind from the girl, he had managed to fulfill his mission with ease. Now though, all he could think about was her and holding her tightly in his embrace. Moving up the walkway to the old warn house, he stopped his eyes resting on two figures before him. Moving into the shadows he squinted his eyes to identify the two. It was only when the smaller of the two talked did he instantly realize whom it was. But why; why was she out here…and with him? He couldn't understand much of what they were saying and he felt his patience running thin. For about ten minutes he stood there before…It was too quick and he felt himself take in a deep breath… Hands balling into fists he could do nothing but watch the scene that played before him. The young man grabbed her by her arms roughly, pulling her to him in a tight embrace. They held to one another before he pulled away leaning down, his face drawing closer and closer…
He turned away not wishing to see anymore. He could feel something in his entire being snap, and his body went rigid as the scene played over and over again in his head. Why? Why had this happened? Was he not good enough? For a moment he stood there, his eyes boring into a small patch of lilies that were coming in. Then as quickly as he had come he was gone, back into the shadows and into the night.
He winced, feeling himself coming to. His whole upper body ached as though something had been pushed right through his chest and out his back. Hitching in a breath, he coughed suddenly realizing just how painful it was to breath. Eyes opening halfway, he gave a silent cry as he desperately tried to take oxygen into his lungs.
"Easy does it Severus," an older woman's voice came, moving to his side and with surprising strength, helped him move to a seated position allowing his lungs to take in air better. "There we go." Fluffing his pillows and moving them in a new position, she settled him back down comfortably.
"Good evening Poppy," came Alberic's cheery tone, causing Severus to roll his eyes in annoyance. As if he wasn't in enough pain already…
"Good evening headmaster," Poppy said using her wand to summon a small flask to her hand. Laying it on the table she turned back to Snape who was eying the flask with dread. "You already know what it is and what it does, so stop giving me that look. I can't help it you didn't add the cherry flavoring like I suggested. It might not have been so bad then."
Snape opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.
"Don't worry Severus my boy, we will have you fixed up in no time," Alberic said taking a seat next to the bed. "Until then, I think a night's rest should be just what the medi nurse ordered. Lucky Miss Granger found you when she did. Extraordinary girl, man…uh…person." He chuckled lightly and watched as Poppy spooned Severus a large dose of skel-grow.
Snape downed it as quickly as he could but the taste was indeed horrendous. Perhaps he should have listened to Poppy about adding some type of fruit flavor; anything but this stuff; and anything but cherry.
"You already know the routine Professor," she said looking at him with warning. "And this time… you better be still while those bones are mending." She turned to Alberic and gave him a nod. "I'll let you two be then. Please call me if you need anything." With that, the medi witch took off towards her office.
"Ah Poppy, such a handsome woman; don't you agree Severus?" Alberic said watching the nurse until she was gone from sight. Snape looked mortified. Poppy? Handsome? "Now then…since you are in no condition to do any talking, I shall speak in your place. I won't go as far as not to commend you for your efforts in trying to find a way to reverse the effects of the potion. However…Working on such a complex potion by yourself is far from safe, and I must stress the danger you put yourself into. Had Miss Granger not of found you when she did, you may have not been with us now. I know you are in a hurry to put things back to the way they were, but I as you to slow it down and pace yourself."
Snape looked as though someone had just hexed him into the Muggle world.
"Furthermore," Alberic said, his voice lowering telling Snape to pay attention. "I will ask that from now on, you include and consult with Miss Granger from now on with your work. This arrangement doesn't just include you Severus my boy. Miss Granger is also a victim as well. And if you haven't forgotten, Miss Granger is very adept in potion brewing, scoring the highest in NEWTS history. Someone so gifted is bound to be incredibly useful."
Snape's eyes held his answer, but Alberic continued on ignoring the hatred that was emanating from his colleague.
"I know what happened between you two, Severus," Alberic whispered looking intently upon Snape. Severus instantly went limp and found himself unable to move or even look Mlynar in the face. "I know that is why you refuse to work or cooperate with Miss Granger. But that was then my boy. What is done is done. You can't keep punishing yourself, or her any longer. It's time to set aside your differences and come together. It just might be the only chance you two have left."
Severus turned his head away from the headmaster, wishing to be left alone.
Alberic nodded and stood understand Severus' gesture. "Remember what I said lad. I wouldn't say this if I didn't care."
When Severus refused to respond, Alberic left, leaving Snape alone to his thoughts, and to his pain for the night.
Author's Note:
Yay! Chapter seven up and running! Booya! Hope ya'll enjoy! Please let me know what you think! Thanks!