Tea and Turpin

As Severus exploded in anger, waves of fury washed over Hermione, who'd enough presence of mind to realize the fury she suddenly felt was not her own, but that of the irate Professor currently yelling into the calm face of Headmaster Dumbledore. Though Hermione possessed quite a temper of her own, it didn't hold a candle to the fierce anger currently buffeting her. Trembling, she backed toward the window seat and sat down. Hermione was sure his fury wouldn't last long; she had only to remain calm until it passed. Hanging her head, she wrapped her arms about herself and rocked. The small motion seemed comforting as the Potion master's shouting continued.

"How dare you Albus! I go to hell and back for you and this is how I am treated? Commandeering my own rooms without so much as a 'by your leave?' This time you've gone too far!" Severus screeched.

"Now my boy, you were sequestered with Miss Granger and I assure you I had no idea you'd take this poorly. Honestly, Severus, it seems a small thing..."

"Small thing? Small thing you say? You expect me to have all sorts of imbeciles running rampant in my study without my supervision and you think it's of no particular concern? I'm supposed to welcome Lupin and Potter in to rifle through my drawers am I?"

"Severus, I am sure you have no reason to believe..."

"No reason? Potter fucking hates me in case you've forgotten. Lupin isn't much better. And with the two of them in here there's no doubt Black will bully his way in and I won't stand for it. That man is a menace!"

"Severus, I assure you I will keep Black away; he'd hardly be a calming influence on Miss Granger at any rate."

"And what about Miss Granger," Severus snapped, "what the bloody hell am I supposed to do with her in the evening? It's not like I can..."

Still rocking gently on the window seat, eyes tightly closed, Hermione was startled when the insistent rage abruptly left her. Keeping her eyes squeezed shut, she ceased rocking, though she could not stop her trembling.

"Miss Granger." The voice calling to her was deep and gentle. "Miss Granger, please open your eyes."

Cracking her eyes open, Hermione looked tentatively up at the black-robed man calling to her softly.

"Miss Granger, it seems that I am destined to make you apologies today," Severus said, "though I am certain you are well aware I have quite a temper, it is inexcusable for me to subject you to it in your present condition. Do you think you can forgive me?" The young witch seated before him nodded, but Severus saw her eyes looked a bit haunted and she still trembled. Damn! Why hadn't he been more careful? He considered his options. "Miss Granger, would it help, do you think, if you were to...how did you put it...'fly at me' again?" Severus asked in all seriousness. When Hermione nodded at him, Severus squeezed his eyes shut and stood as if bracing himself for an attack. "Do your worst then," he fairly growled.

Hermione stared at him a moment, then did exactly that. Shooting off the window seat, she fairly leapt at Severus, wrapping her arms about his waist tightly as she burrowed her face into his chest. She snuffled a bit into his robes as she let his warm concern wash over her, erasing her unease. When Hermione muttered something into his chest, he found he could not understand a word. "I beg your pardon, Miss Granger?"

Hermione lifted her face far enough out of his robes to speak more clearly. "I won't let them rifle through your drawers," she promised softly.

Severus could not stop a small snort of amusement. He'd been completely shocked when he'd turned to her mid-tirade and seen the change his temper had wrought on the normally calm and cheerful girl. After what he'd just put her through, did she rail at him? Did she turn away in fear or disgust? No, she was hugging him and worrying about his drawers. Hermione truly was an amazing creature. "Thank you Miss Granger. I will trust you to take care of the matter. Now then," Severus continued, drawing back from her embrace slightly to look down at her, "feeling better?"

"Yes, Professor, thank you...for letting me...fly at you," Hermione said haltingly, managing a small smile. "It really does help."

"It was the least I could do, Miss Granger, seeing how I was the cause of the trouble. I...er...trust you will not make a habit of it?" Severus smirked as she blushed and shook her head. "Now then, why don't you go to the lav and freshen up while I do my blasted best not to hex our Headmaster."

Nodding, Hermione unwound herself from her Professor and dutifully headed for the door he indicated. To tell the truth, she needed a moment simply to think. The puzzle masquerading as her Potions Professor was getting more intriguing by the moment.

After the door closed behind Hermione, Albus murmured, "Astonishing."

"Miss Granger is a resilient young woman," Severus responded, with obvious pride.

"Oh...I was not speaking of Hermione, my dear boy. It's you I find astonishing," Albus replied, with a soft chuckle.

Severus glared.

Returning to the study, Hermione found Professor Snape and the Headmaster calmly discussing things over a cup of tea. Neither looked the worse for wear, which relieved her greatly. Albus bade her to sit down and handed her a cup.

"Now then, Miss Granger," Albus began, "we have a tentative schedule. While Professor Snape is teaching, Remus Lupin will be here. Harry will spend lunch with you and come by evenings after dinner, when he'll bring your class work. Molly Weasley doesn't have much time to spare, but she has to sleep...as do we all...so she will arrive every night around eleven and stay the night with you. Professor Snape will be doing mostly evenings and weekends. I'll be filling in as needed. Now then...does that seem all right to you, my dear?"

"That sounds fine, Headmaster. I'm only sorry to be causing so much bother," Hermione replied a bit sheepishly.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all. Do not even consider it. You are a fine student, Miss Granger, as well as a fine young woman, if I may be so bold as to say so," Albus said kindly, giving her a warm smile. "Now, I'm afraid I must go attend to some business. Professor Snape will keep you company until Molly arrives tonight, as we've already had to cancel his classes for the day. We will start the rotation in the morning."

Hermione thanked him warmly for all that he had done for her as Severus showed him out. After Albus left, Severus and Hermione spent an awkward moment staring at each other. Hermione eventually broke the silence, "You need not feel like you have to entertain me, sir. I'm sure you have your own work to do, especially since I have disrupted your routine so badly. I have my classes to catch up on, at any rate."

"Miss Granger, I'm afraid I know your studious nature too well to believe you have anything to catch up on. If you are running true to form you are already--at the least--two months ahead on your studies and will most likely still be ahead when you are able to rejoin your classmates," Severus said, with a slight smirk. Hermione's startled look told him he'd hit near the mark, indeed.

"Professor," Hermione began, looking a bit unsure of herself, "I was wondering...could I perhaps look at some of your books?" As she finished speaking, Hermione eyed the books in question with a naked hunger that made her Potions Professor bite back a chuckle.

"Miss Granger, as you will no doubt have to spend at least a week in my study, perhaps I should set some ground rules." Looking resolutely at the floor, Hermione was positive her strict Professor was about to tell her to touch nothing not belonging to her. Her eyes flew to his face in surprise when he continued. "You may read whatever you like. If you need scrolls--or ink or anything--you will find a supply of them in the desk. The lower left-hand drawer of the desk is warded; I would advise you not to fool with it. While it is true that I do not want just anyone rifling through my drawers, you may make yourself at home, Miss Granger."

All Hermione could manage in reply was a soft, "Thank you, sir."

The almost adoring way in which the young witch regarded him made Severus Snape extremely uncomfortable. Blast it all! Less than a day in the girl's company and he was already acting daft as a brush. Waving a dismissive hand, Severus said, "Do as you wish. Now, if you will excuse me, I do have some papers to grade." With that, he strode to his desk and resolutely began working.

To Severus' amusement, it took Miss Granger a good half hour of happy browsing to settle upon which of his many books she wished to read first. He was a bit surprised that she settled on Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, one of his favorite pieces of Muggle literature. Knowing she was studious--and at times worrying she was too studious--he had assumed she would head for one of his many books of wizard non-fiction. Miss Granger took the book happily to the window seat and began reading. Severus dutifully graded third year potions essays, though he often found his glance rising to the young witch. She made an enchanting picture, sitting in the late afternoon sun as it streamed through his window. Severus found himself both charmed by the play of expressions running over her face as she read, and impressed with the eager speed in which she turned the pages. Dragging his eyes away from the pleasant tableau, Severus resolutely returned to his grading. So determined was he that he failed to notice the low form scampering into the room, whiskers a-twitch in delight upon noticing the visitor.

Richard "Dick" Turpin, foul-mouthed and playful, as well as a notorious thief--thus his overly appropriate name--took one look at Hermione and raced across the room, clambering onto the window seat to sit beside her.

"Well," began Turpin excitedly, "aren't you a pretty piece of skirt? Are you here to have a pash with Snarky Pants? I must say it's 'bout time. He's been an absolute wanker lately. Though with you being a student, it's just a touch pervy..."

"TURPIN!" Severus bellowed. "If you do not cease this line of questioning immediately I will feed you to one of Hagrid's hippogriffs and be done with it!"

Hermione had been startled by the animal's sudden appearance, begun to giggle at its speech, and laughed outright at Professor Snape's response. Though she blushed a bit at the beast's implications, she wasn't offended. She immediately recognized Turpin for what he was and became completely charmed by the cheerful creature. "It's quite all right, Professor," she said, still chuckling. "I am not offended." Turning to regard the animal sitting next to her with interest, Hermione addressed it, "If I am not mistaken, you are a jarvey, are you not?"

"Aye, honeypot, that I am. Name's Richard Turpin, though that paedo at the desk usually just calls me Turpin. I suppose you may as well."

"I'm very pleased to meet you Turpin, my name is Hermione." She obligingly held out her hand for Turpin to take a sniff.

"You smell better than a French working girl," Turpin said with obvious enthusiasm. "Are you quite certain you aren't here for a..."

"Turpin..." Severus warned.

Grinning at the jarvey, Hermione replied, "Afraid not. Actually, I've been having a bit of trouble and I'm to stay here until it gets sorted out. I do hope you won't mind too much."

"Mind? Not at all!" Turpin said happily. "Gets dead boring with only Syphilis to insult, day after day. We'll have loads of fun!"

With a longsuffering sigh, Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose with the fingertips of both hands as he muttered, "That's what I was afraid of."

Hermione and the jarvey giggled.

Hermione thought Turpin was completely adorable. Granted the rough talk would take some getting used to, but the little creature was friendly, and so honestly happy to make her acquaintance, she was determined to make every effort not to chastise him for something he couldn't help. Actually, Turpin was rather soft-spoken for a jarvey. The ones Hermione had seen in Diagon Alley were so foul-mouthed they made little sense. Hermione thought him likely intelligent, and beautiful as well. About three feet long, he had the appearance of a huge ferret. He was colored much like a Siamese cat: body the color of toasted bread, legs and tail a deep sable. He also had a dark sable mask on his face, right over his eyes, much like a raccoon. While it didn't surprise Hermione that Professor Snape owned such a snarky familiar, she was amazed he owned such a cute one.

"I've never seen you before, Turpin," Hermione began, "how long have you lived with Professor Snape?"

"I've been here with gloomy arse for a year now. He got me from my first mistress--wasn't she a fucking bitch. Even I don't have the mouth to describe that earth-vexing harpy." Turpin looked to his master with obvious affection. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him, the hinny. Best day of my life when narky arse nicked me."

Giving Professor Snape a look of incredulity, Hermione rather loudly said, "You stole him?"

"Oh..." continued Turpin, "he didn't just nick me, he hexed that bloody twunt arse over tits. I never saw anything like it." Turpin stared at Severus with pride. "You were the scariest thing I ever saw in my life; I might've run for it if I hadn't been on fire."

"On fire?" Hermione asked.

At last bringing a halt to even pretending to grade essays, Severus turned serious eyes upon Miss Granger. "Turpin's former owner--and for once his description is not exaggerated--was upset with him because he didn't answer a question fast enough. When I first took note of what was happening she was using Cruciatus on him. Before I could intervene, she had set his tail on fire."

"He put me tail out, he did...and picked me up. Been in this hellhole ever since," the jarvey said softly.

"Wanker," said Severus, with blunt affection.

"Toss-pot," replied Turpin, in kind.

Severus didn't like the way Miss Granger was looking at him. Bloody hell, he knew he was lying to himself. She was looking at him like he was some kind of hero and he reveled in it. However, he simply could not afford to do so. Grumbling how he would never get any work done with all the insipid prattle, he returned to his marking. Neither Hermione nor the jarvey found his grumbling particularly convincing. The remainder of the evening passed pleasantly. Hermione continued chatting with Turpin until he took himself off for a nap, then returned to her book. Dinner was a quiet affair. Apparently, Professor Snape had endured enough conversation for one day; Hermione didn't press him further.

Molly arrived, as promised, at eleven o'clock. Severus greeted her politely, then took his leave. Hermione found that she was completely knackered by the events of the day, and was happy to sleep after the older witch had transfigured Professor Snape's two chairs into cots for them both. It had been a day full of surprises--most of those involving her inscrutable Potions Professor. Wondering what the next week would bring, Hermione slipped into sleep.