Chapter 3: Severus

Chapter 3:

Severus:

Severus snuck a look up at Voldemort as he bent low in the required bow. Voldemort’s eyes had a smug, confident gleam that contrasted with his cautious actions. Though the Ministry of Magic was indirectly controlled by Voldemort now, Severus had wondered at the Dark Lord’s lack of open action. Only Death Eaters and members of the Order of the Phoenix seemed aware of the power Voldemort now possessed; it was a sure sign of general stupidity, Severus thought, that no one else seemed to suspect much at all.

“That is sufficient, Severus,” Voldemort’s voice slid through his mouth like an eel through water. Severus rose slowly, allowing his eyes to meet the Dark Lord’s. Though he had performed this feat of Occlumency many times, it was still tiring to show the Dark Lord only what Severus wanted him to see without giving any indication that he was fighting or holding anything back. To maintain a state of closure while appearing to be open and relaxed was taxing.

Memories, seemingly random, rose to his mind’s surface: Hermione Granger bent over a cauldron, sneaking glances at him when she thought he wasn’t looking; Hermione Granger, hanging on his every word as he explained a complicated theory of Potions as the glimmer of understanding danced in her eyes; Hermione Granger, helping him chop up fluxweed until it became a fine powder; Hermione Granger, telling Severus how she enjoyed these private lessons and the intellectual stimulation they provided.

And, to complete the charade, Severus allowed another, more personal thought to rise to the surface: how beautiful Hermione was when her eyes had that glint of understanding in them, how he was drawn to stare at her mouth when she asked piercing questions about Potions -- questions he hadn’t ever before been asked but had thoroughly enjoyed answering.

“She is starting to trust you, I see,” Voldemort said appreciatively.

“Yes, my Lord. I feel she is starting to value our conversations and might be willing to reveal what Potter has been up to soon,” Severus said slyly.

“And why have you not used Legilimency on her, Severus? Why have you not taken from her mind what, I’m sure, would be very easy to find?” Voldemort prodded, challenging Severus to find a satisfactory reply. Luckily, Severus had prepared for this question and had a quick reply:

“Though she has not been trained in Occlumency, she likely knows of Legilimency and knows how to detect it when it occurs. She knows much, my Lord, of many things; I fear that, were I to attempt Legilimency on her, she would detect it and I would instantly lose her trust.”

Voldemort nodded thoughtfully.

“It is too bad she is a Mudblood, and so loyal to Potter. There is no way to change her allegiance, Severus? She could never join us openly, of course, with her… tainted heritage, but another powerful intellect to complement yours could be very useful.”

“There is a way, but it will take time.” Severus allowed some of his more suggestive memories of Hermione Granger to rise: the blush that would color her face when Severus complimented her work; the appreciation in her eyes when he explained a particularly challenging technique to her… and the emotions these memories stirred in him rose unbidden as well.

A sinister smile split Voldemort’s lips in two.

“Well, well, well, Severus! It seems things are progressing better than expected! Report back to me as soon as anything changes. Good work, Severus... See to it that it continues," Voldemort said in dismissal.

Severus left quickly, Apparating back to the grounds just outside Hogwarts.

After all, he didn't want to keep Hermione waiting for too long, now did he? He arrived to his classroom just in time to set things up for today's lesson before Hermione knocked politely on the door. Though Severus had suspected these lessons were just a charade for Hermione to spy on him, he had to admit they were enjoyable. The Granger girl was far more intelligent than he had suspected. She wasn't just good at memorizing words from books: she knew how to apply what she had learned; indeed, she knew how to piece things together intuitively.

He watched her as she entered the classroom, her cheeks slightly flushed. He knew that whatever Potter was up to, it was certainly keeping Granger busy. There was, as usual, a hidden eagerness in her eyes to learn what only Severus could teach her. As much as he wanted to resent the girl for denying him the opportunity to teach Draco, he had to admit that teaching Draco at this moment would have been awkward at best. As fond as he was of Draco, it had been a mistake to let their relationship go as far as it had the year before. No, it was good that he was teaching Hermione instead.

He had only ever known one other witch whose aptitude at potions seemed to come so naturally. As he watched Hermione start chopping ingredients for today's lesson, another image rose in his mind: a redhaired girl with startling green eyes whose smile was worth every torment he had endured and more. Yes, it was undeniable: Hermione Granger reminded him of Lily. And that made this more complicated.