Calm before the Storm
Chapter 20 of 28
PlaidPookaHermione has an encounter with a mysterious creature. Has it cursed her or has it set her on journey of adventure and love?
ReviewedFor the next three weeks, Hermione was nearly impossible to be around. Her friends tried to comfort her, but when that just seemed to fuel her anger, they resorted to behaving as though everything were normal. While this didn't exactly calm her, it did make her stop short of hexing anyone. Throwing herself into both her schoolwork and the practice of her Empathy powers, Hermione rarely spoke to any of her friends unless it was to give a short diatribe on the stupidity of men in general--and Potions masters specifically. The first days after the potions master's return from Azkaban, Hermione's friends feared the dour man had hurt her in some way. Her dissertations on the matter made them realize the stubborn man had only made her furious. This made even Ron feel a bit sorry for Snape, though the general opinion of Hermione's friends was relief her fury was not aimed at any of them.
The emotional projection practices were an everyday occurrence now; Hermione seemed driven to increase her skill as quickly as possible. Each evening found the trio (with the addition of Draco and Ginny) in the Room of Requirement, as Hermione honed her skills. For the most part, the practices went off without mishap, despite Hermione cautiously exploring the projection of emotions other than humor. Two weeks into the intense experiments, Hermione made the mistake of projecting anger. Unleashed, the fury she tried to hold in check lashed through all five participants. Though Hermione ended the projection abruptly, it was not soon enough to stop the rush of hexing that overtook the group. All five of them ended up spending a night in the infirmary as Poppy tried to sort them out. By morning they were back to normal--all except Draco, who still sported the tail of a cat. Poppy had done her best to deal with the furry appendage, but it resisted her every attempt to remove it. Exasperated, Poppy told Draco there was nothing further she could do; he would simply have to wait until it wore off. This did not please the young Malfoy at all. Not only would he have to put up with the horrid jokes the Gryffindors tormented him with, it was rather painful when he had to tuck it into the leg of his trousers, and it made sitting for any length of time uncomfortable, indeed. After the second day of watching his friends smirk as he squirmed uncomfortably while sitting in class, Draco decided something had to give, and he made a resolution to seek his uncle out after classes ended for the day.
Draco had tried to see his stubborn uncle shortly after the infamous fight. If Hermione was prickly, Severus was like a walking hurricane just waiting for the smallest excuse to unleash his fury. He barricaded himself in his rooms, threw himself into research, and hexed anyone foolish enough to disturb him. Barely sleeping, rarely eating, he looked little different than he did when he'd first returned from Azkaban. Speaking to no one, he buried himself in parchments and potion ingredients. After the first week, even Albus gave up trying to speak to the angry wizard, and Turpin left Severus to his own devices after his master hexed him into a bat for the third time in a single week. Turpin took to sneaking up to Gryffindor tower when the students were in classes. There he found Crookshanks to be excellent company, and the two familiars had fun playing simple games like hide and seek.
Draco made his way cautiously through Snape's rooms and toward the volatile man's private lab. This room he entered with his wand already drawn; he hadn't forgotten the last time he had attempted to talk with his hex-happy uncle. Sure enough, as Draco entered the room, the ex-spy spun to face him, wand drawn and a scowl on his face. Noticing Draco's own wand was leveled at his chest; Severus forwent hexing him immediately and stood scowling at the young blonde.
"I need your help, Uncle Severus," Draco drawled. "That is...if you think you might possibly stop wallowing in self-pity long enough to speak to me."
"I do not wallow," Severus hissed. "I am working."
"Well stop working and take a look at my arse!" Draco snapped, turning around and baring the body part in question.
Severus was momentarily taken aback when his admittedly gay nephew dropped his trousers. Taking one look at the striped, furry tail as it unfurled, he snorted in amusement. For the first time in weeks, Severus felt vaguely human. Sliding his wand back up his sleeve, he crossed his arms over his chest and said, "I've heard the Slytherin girls admiring your tail...but, I had no idea this was what they were referring to."
"Very amusing," Draco grumbled. "I'm surprised you waste your time with potions when you'd make such an excellent jester."
"Got clipped by a Mutatios Cattus hex, did we?" snapped Severus. "I believe I remember who uses that curse. Serves you right for being stupid enough to fanny about with know-it-all Gryffindors."
"A bit bitter are we? We weren't just fucking around you know...we were helping with Hermione's research."
Suddenly Severus' wand was back in his hand and pointing at the young wizard. "Speak her name again and you'll wear that tail until the end of time," he snarled.
"Fine, Uncle," Draco said, through clenched teeth. "Now do you think we could get on with it, or would you prefer to pout a while longer?"
Answering only with a vicious growl, Severus strode to one of his bookshelves, searching the books with piercing eyes before selecting one to page through impatiently. As he scanned through the spells, he could not stop himself from asking, "She is well, then?" in a tone of voice which belied the scowl he kept clamped on his features.
"As well as can be expected...when the man she's in love with is behaving like a whopping great prat," Draco replied, unable to mask his amused smirk completely. "What in the many levels of hell did you say to the chit?"
"I will not discuss it," the irritable Potions master spat out. Snapping the book closed, he growled, "Turn around."
Fearful that he had pushed his uncle too far, Draco was concerned until he heard Severus voice a simple "Reformus Exemplar" and felt the tail melt from his body. Feeling bolder now the distasteful appendage had been removed, he buttoned up his trousers and headed for the door, throwing over his shoulder a flippant, "Thank you uncle. Now if you don't mind, I think I'll seek out more cheerful company."
He had to duck a hex as he scurried out the door, snickering.
No more was heard from the man who haunted his chambers like a dark wraith until another week had passed. The group of students working on Hermione's projection reached a major impasse. Hermione then offered their findings to the Headmaster with a heavy heart. It was her fondest wish to be useful in the war; if they could find no answer to the problem which recently came to light, then all her work would be for naught.
Albus was not nearly as hopeless. After listening to Hermione's findings, he assured the young witch that--even if no immediate answer was forthcoming--it did not necessarily mean there was no answer to be found. It warranted an Order meeting and, as one of the Order members was in hiding, Albus commandeered the still sulking potions master's study for the meeting place. Though Severus wished to protest this decision, he did not. Unreasonable as he could be, Snape was the last person who would put personal feelings above finding every way imaginable to bring about the Dark Lord's fall.
It was a glowering, but strangely subdued, Snape who sat barricaded behind his desk watching the Order members file in from behind a curtain of untidy hair. Though he would never have admitted it aloud, Severus couldn't hide from himself the rapid beating of his heart as he waited impatiently to glimpse that face that was dearer to him than all others. Still furious at what he labeled her 'childish attitude' on their situation, Severus could not quite ignore the fact that the nerve-wracking vixen's absence from his life had left in his chest a never-ending ache. Of course, this only proved to make the easily irritated man more angry than usual.
All that day, Hermione had resolutely told herself she didn't give a damn that she would soon be seeing her impossible ex-professor. He was an impossible, difficult, foolish, and chauvinistic arse. Unfortunately, no matter how vehemently she told herself this, it did nothing to still the fast flutter of her heart, or fill the empty feeling haunting her arms. Though she intended to ignore him--indeed she meant to not even settle her eyes on the man--the moment she crossed the threshold, her traitorous eyes locked onto the object of her anger and distress. With her heart skipping a beat and the breath freezing in her lungs, Hermione stood frozen in the doorway. She'd imagined there had been little change in Severus' life--he'd probably put her immediately out of his mind and gone back to his books and his research. That was obviously not the case. Pained black eyes locked on Hermione's from beneath tangled locks of uncombed hair. His cheeks were sunken, his normally pale complexion almost grey. Hermione wanted only to approach the ragged man, wrap her arms firmly about him, and tell him everything would be all right. The conviction that Severus would undoubtedly thrust her away shocked her into movement. Tearing her gaze away from him, Hermione fairly staggered into the room, making her way to one of the armchairs near the fire. Staring into the fire, Hermione waited patiently until the meeting began. She paid little attention to what other members had arrived, except to note the room seemed full of Weasleys.
Calling the meeting to order, Albus then took one look at the shaken young witch staring resolutely into the flames and decided to explain the situation himself. "We have another problem to solve," he began. "You are all aware Miss Granger has been honing her projection skills, in effort to use that skill as a distraction when the fight with Voldemort comes. Her efforts on behalf of the war have not been in vain, and I believe she will be of great use, indeed. However, we have met with one problem. Miss Granger's projection is quite strong, and will affect every person within a fifty yard radius, but it cannot be focused to affect only select targets. What we require is some sort of protection for our own side that will work much as Miss Granger's protective wall does, blocking her projected emotions. Does anyone have any ideas?"
"The Aurors don't have anything like that," Moody grumbled. "We've been working on some charms that block mind penetration, but they are very specific. I don't believe they could be adapted for emotions. Quite frankly, we've never had the need for such a thing until now."
"What about that buffering charm that Filius adapted for this room?" Remus asked softly. "It was very effective in helping Hermione; I was witness to a quite forceful demonstration while she was staying here."
"I've already spoken to Professor Flitwick about that." Hermione spoke for the first time. "I'm afraid it requires an inanimate barrier to attach itself to--like these stone walls. Professor Flitwick has attempted to adapt the charm with no success."
"What of the Firewalker," Minerva began, "perhaps she..."
"I have spoken to her as well, Professor. While Andrene has heard folktales of such a thing, if the knowledge really existed, it has been long since lost."
"There is a potion," a deep voice rumbled from the corner. All eyes turned to regard the glowering man seated behind the desk. "The Redactum Maeror. It is used by St. Mungo's to help those whose grief is all-consuming. Mayhap it can be adapted..."
"Excellent!" Albus exclaimed with a grin at his Potions master, which Severus found quite irritating. "You must begin researching the matter immediately. We don't know when Voldemort will strike, so an expeditious solution is high priority. You will need an assistant; Miss Granger will do nicely, I think."
"I do not need some clumsy student to assist me, Headmaster," Severus hissed.
"Nonsense, my boy, utter nonsense. You have told me yourself that Miss Granger is your best potions student. Besides, you will need her handy to test your results as you go along. My mind is quite made up. Miss Granger will meet you here evenings to assist you."
"As you wish, Headmaster," Severus growled.
Throughout the next week, Hermione dutifully joined Severus in his private lab and assisted him with his brewing. The two were strangely silent work partners. Only words relating to the project at hand were spoken, and in clipped, icily polite tones. The first three attempts at a blocking potion were dismal failures. It was during the brewing of the fourth attempt that all hell broke loose.
"Miss Granger," Severus began in a stony but civil tone, "this next attempt will require three drops of virgin's blood," he paused to hold out a phial, "if you would be so kind." When Hermione made no move to take the phial from him, he looked up, and was surprised to see the young witch blushing to the roots of her hair as she studied the floor intently. "I assure you, Miss Granger, there is no need for embarrassment. It is a simple request. The phial is charmed to collect three drops only; you will not even feel it."
"I'm...sorry, sir," Hermione stammered, "but I'm afraid that is...unacceptable."
"Unacceptable?" he snarled. "Miss Granger, you understand the need for us to hurry with this venture. I do not have time for you to get missish about such a simple matter."
Snapping narrowed eyes up to meet his, Hermione's embarrassment turned to anger. "I am not being missish, sir," she said through gritted teeth. "I cannot make this donation because I am not qualified to do so."
To say that Severus was shocked would be a gross understatement. For a moment he simply stared at her with widened eyes and parted lips as the same three words ran in a continuous loop in his head--not a virgin not a virgin not a virgin not a virgin. His mind then proceeded to be not as concerned with what as it was with who. The rage simmering in his mind for the past month now came to the forefront, to be met with a searing jealousy as his mind jumped to conclusions.
"Who?" he snapped.
This was not the question Hermione was expecting. Taking one look at his flashing eyes and clenched fists, she risked a brief peek at his emotions. The pure rage rolling over her was frightening. Certainly Severus had been angry before, but never like this. In a reflexive move, she found her hand creeping towards the wand in her robe pocket. "I beg your pardon, Professor?" she began, purposely keeping her voice smooth, in a doomed attempt to calm the furious wizard before her. "Perhaps we should sit...have a cup of tea..."
"I asked you a question, Miss Granger." Severus stalked towards her as Hermione retreated step by step. "Who was it? Who was the ham-fisted lout who dared to touch you?" His voice grew louder with each word. "Which one was it, Hermione? Was it Weasley? Was it Potter, before he developed his penchant for buggery? Tell me which it was and I will see they do not live to see the next dawn!"
Hermione watched Severus with wide eyes. He looked as if he'd gone barking mad. Wild-eyed, shouting, practically foaming at the mouth; he raised one hand as if to grasp her about the neck--Hermione acted out of desperation. Whipping her wand out and leveling it at her Professor, Hermione fairly screamed "Petrificus Totalus!" The effect was immediate. A shocked look on his face, Severus grew stiff as a board and toppled over backward to lie frozen on the lab's floor, staring at the ceiling.
Both frightened and embarrassed by Severus' reaction to her lack of virginity, Hermione spent the next five minutes sitting on the cold floor, weeping, next to her petrified Professor. Eventually able to halt her tears, she wiped her eyes, stood, and wondered what to do. Her first thought was to leave him lying there; he deserved it for behaving the way he had. Looking him over, Hermione knew she couldn't do it. Severus still looked so thin--almost frail--no, she couldn't leave him lying on the cold stone. With the way he'd been acting of late, there was no telling how long it would be until someone found him. With a sigh, she levitated his stiff form, guiding him into his study to set him softly onto the sofa before the blazing fire. These simple actions calmed her fear, but as she stared at the man lying immobile on the sofa she grew angry. Pacing before the fire, Hermione began to rant.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you? Do you think because you foolishly pushed me away that all men have? How can you be jealous of something you didn't want yourself? You have some nerve! Too noble to touch me were you? And now you're right bent that someone has. So what do you do...do you ask me about it like a reasonable adult? Oh no! You rant like a lunatic and make ridiculous accusations. Harry or Ron; that's disgusting! They're like my brothers, you prat! Maybe it wasn't because of them that you threw an eppy. Maybe you just think I'm disgusting." Here Hermione stopped ranting and returned to a bit of crying.
Severus' fury abruptly fled, his thoughts spinning. What in the nine levels of hell have I done? Now she thinks I'm disgusted by her! Will I never learn to control my blasted temper? Gods, if she would only give me a chance to explain...she doesn't understand. Let me up, Hermione, let me free. It might make no difference, but I could show you I don't think you disgusting because you aren't a virgin! His thoughts stilled as he heard Hermione continue in a soft, sad voice.
"It wasn't anyone here. It was the summer before my sixth year. I was home for the summer at my parent's house. There was a Muggle boy...a childhood friend. I was curious, he was willing. It was...well...it was pleasant enough, I suppose. I still don't see what all the fuss is about."
Damn and blast! Whoever the imbecilic boy had been, he obviously hadn't known what he was doing. Let me up, Hermione! I swear by all that's holy, if I am ever blessed enough to get the chance, I will show you the difference between a clumsy Muggle boy and a man who loves you with all his heart.
"What must you think of me? You were so angry...you must think I'm horrid. I have to get out of here...I need to go." Mind set on fleeing as quickly as possible, Hermione quickly murmured the counter-hex and fled towards the door.
Fast as lightening, Severus was on his feet, wand drawn, sending a locking spell at the door. He wasn't about to let Hermione flee before he explained. Hermione beat her tiny fists ineffectually against the door, and when Severus came up behind her, she forwent her attentions to the impartial wood and beat against his chest instead. He simply threw his arms around her and drew Hermione so close against his chest, the struggling young witch didn't have enough room to get a good punch in.
"Let me go!" Hermione wailed.
"Hermione, listen to me--please. I know I've behaved like a right bastard...give me a chance to explain. After I do, if you still wish to leave, I won't try to keep you. Let me explain, and if you still wish to beat at me with your adorable little fists, I swear I won't do a thing to stop you."
Though she still wasn't completely convinced, Severus' impassioned and--more importantly--softly spoken words did much to calm Hermione down. Ceasing to struggle, she glanced at his face warily. His expression was kind, gentle, and full of affection. Risking a brief probe of his emotions, she didn't feel the disgust she'd so feared. All she felt was love and a strange yearning, which she didn't quite understand. Making her decision, Hermione gave him a quick nod of agreement. Expecting Severus to release her, Hermione was surprised when he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the sofa, sitting with her cradled tightly to his chest. Leaning his cheek against her hair, at first Severus reveled in the feeling of having her tightly wrapped in his embrace at last. Closing his eyes, he began to speak.
"There is no excuse for my behavior. I can only try to explain why I acted as I did, and hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. There's a reason Turpin calls me a 'paedo' all the time, Hermione. I have...loved you...since early in your sixth year. I would never have acted on my feelings--you were too young, I was a spy--you know all the reasons. I could not act on my feelings, neither could I put a stop to them. I watched you, watched you with your friends. Watched Potter and Weasley share your laughter, your tears, your dreams...everything I could not. I was jealous of their friendship with you, intensely, madly jealous. When I wrongfully jumped to the conclusion that one of them had also shared what I had so thoughtlessly pushed away, something in me snapped. I don't blame you for hexing me, I must have been terrifying." Here Severus opened his eyes and, with one hand, gently lifted her face until her gaze met his own. "I swear to you, Hermione, no matter how angry I am, I would never do anything to harm you."
"You don't think I'm disgusting?" Hermione asked, voice trembling.
Chuckling lightly, he looked at her with all the love he felt reflected in his black eyes. "Hermione, I am not such a hypocrite that I would demand conditions on you which I cannot meet myself. I am almost forty years old, my love. I assure you that I have neither the desire nor the patience to run about deflowering young virgins."
Throwing her arms around his neck with a glad cry, Hermione said, "Oh Severus, you damned stubborn man! I've missed you so horribly."
Holding her tightly, Severus buried his face in her hair and murmured, "And I, you, my vixen. Gods, how I have missed you." Drawing back to look in her eyes, Severus gave a small smirk and said, "Vixen, would you like me to show you what 'all the fuss is about'?"
"Yes," she breathed. "Oh, yes."
His eyes flashed with sudden fire as he lowered his mouth to hers.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Overcome With Feeling
198 Reviews | 7.91/10 Average
Wonderful story! I really enjoyed this journey in the final destination that our favorite couple reached. Stories containing Jarvies are always extra special to me, as I find these foul mouth little familiars absolutely hilarious. Thank you for sharing this wonderful tale.
Lol. His private study. Bad Albus, dropping that on Severus without any warning.......very funny!
Love his familiar. What a neat idea that she is being affected by other people's emotions reflected within herself. I am assuming it is his occumemcy shields that are protecting her now?
What a crazy start. Love the salamander idea
Love the idea behind the story, loved Hermione and Severus but Turpin was my favourite!
This is a fantastic story with some of the best original characters I've encountered. Your vivid writing and unique ideas had me hooked from the very start. Thanks so much for sharing your talent and this amazing story with us!!
I completely love this fic with all the twists and turns, the characters were so interesting and likable. Thank you for sharing it.
Turpin is without a doubt, hands down, the BEST original character I have ever had the pleasure of reading!
His dialogue sent the amazingness of this story through the stratosphere! I have never laughed so hard in my life, and now find myself with an extreme appreciation (and love) for british cuss words!
I would gladly read a hundred more stories featuring that filthy little jarvey (and the Severus and Hermione loving doesn't hurt either!)
Great story!!!
Whenever I check to see if you have any new stories posted, I always seem to get sucked into reading either this one or Naked Journey again. I absolutely love both of them and they are of the few I can read over and over again!
That was fun, esp the jarvey and Andrene. Their dialogue was brilliant and I wished we'd heard more of it.
Your treatment of Ron and Sirius was decidedly odd, but forgivable.
Sirius never seemed to quite get the point that if he and James had tormented fewer Slytherins (I doubt Snape was the only one the Marauders targete) in his school days, fewer would have been vulnerable to recruitment by the Death Eaters. It's good that Sirius never understood his contribution to Voldemort's cause - that would give him more intelligence and empathy that he possesses. But it was good of him to ask something along those lines.
I also thought the Draco/Harry was underused.
The smut was of acceptable quality.
“Sirius,” Harry said softly, “you’re my godfather, and I love you…but one of these days you are going to have to grow up.
yay!
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.
aawwwww!
“You smell better than a French working girl,” Turpin said with obvious enthusiasm.
LOL!
lovely chapter!
Very touching story. I have always loved salamanders...used to keep them as pets...so loved the opening. I love the Jamaican Firewalker lady. Absolutely laughed at the way no one would meet Hermione's eyes other than Dumbledore. As always with your works, well-written and engaging.
I like this story but it is a bit too long
Absolutely WONDERFUL job!!!
Missy
Absolutly stunning. I was actually in tears when the Firewalker described Hermiones grief. I loved it! Thanks for writing such a spectacular story.
I really love this story. I think this is the 10th time I've read it (I've been a lurker for many years and have just now found my voice) and this story is still as "spicy," heartfelt, and amazing as the first time I stumbled across it. I love not only your characterizations but the stylistic choices in which you write. I just wanted to thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of art with everyone here.
Very good very exceiting. Would have like to see some sort of scene with Harry Ron and hermione after she came back to her senses at the end. You did include some well fleshed out scenes with Draco and Harry it seems they where just forgotten at the end.
Hate to see a great story end. I really did enjoy it ever so much.
That is a lovely ending. Thank you for sharing the story.
Can you say rollercoaster? Very exciting.
Damn. wow
I don't think there is anything sadder than a crying jarvey.
wonderful. You reconciled them! How cool.
They're almost there with the potion! Yay!