Conspiracy Is Us

Chapter 2: Conspiracy Is Us

It’s strange what one gets used to, thought Severus as he tied his hair back and made certain his shirt collars were straight before walking to breakfast where he had a few moments of anxiety wondering if Minerva would join him, as she had for the last several days. He sipped his coffee while waiting for her to arrive. He was eager to tell her about the new potion he wanted to try and hoped she would invite him to her office for another practice session of transfiguration spells – a bit of sociability was good for advancing the state of the art. He noticed that Miss Granger kept glancing his way, and at the next glance, he gave her a nod. She quickly looked away, but she had a pleased smile. It was too bad she was so young. He reflected that that didn’t seem to bother Minerva, but that wasn’t any concern of his even though he occasionally caught the two of them whispering together while stealing looks at him. He wondered what was going through their minds, but he reminded himself, once again, that it was not his business.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Good morning, Severus,” said Minerva.

“Good morning.” He helped himself to toast, bangers, and fried tomatoes. “How do you ever survive on fruit and yogurt?”

“You should try it,” she replied.

She kept looking at him. Finally, it registered. “Your hair,” he said, around a mouthful of bangers and tomatoes.

“Do you like?” she said, patting it. “I’m trying a ponytail.” She paused. “Just like yours. You inspire me.”

He choked on his next sip of coffee.

“I was only kidding you,” she said. “It occurred to me that for a witch, I’m not middle-aged yet – no grey hairs, no crows-feet. I should act my age.”

“And we thought the Dark Lord was our worst threat,” muttered Severus.

Two days later, Hermione was writing a Charms essay in the library when she saw Professor Snape walk into the Restricted Section and select a book. Propelled by unknown forces, she closed her books and, telling herself she needed a breath of fresh air, managed to walk close to him as he was locking the door to the Restricted Section. She whispered, “Forbidden literature, sir?”

“Why, yes,” he said. He passed his hand over the covers of the two books and showed her the titles, now glowing in gold: Super Sex Spells and Wild Wanton Witches.

She blushed and dashed out of the library.

When she returned, she found him sitting at the table where she had left her books. She became suspicious, sat across from him, and asked, “Were those the real titles?”

“Would I play a joke on an innocent schoolgirl?” He lowered his voice to a hoarse whisper. ”Even one whose intelligence gives her an irresistible aura of attractiveness?”

Hermione thought it through thoroughly: A prudent girl would leave. A sensible person would not linger. She opened her books and picked up her pen. She gave him a shy smile and returned to her essay feeling a warm glow.

At the same time, Albus, all aglow, was approaching Minerva for a warm discussion about their favorite fellow instructor and his obvious need for rest and recreation.

“We have a safe-house in the middle of London,” said Minerva. “No one is using it this weekend.”

“Excellent,” said Albus. “Could I persuade you to accompany him and insist that he both rest and take in some entertainment?”

”Aren’t you worried that someone will start gossip over a witch and a wizard spending a weekend together?” asked Minerva.

“Someone would have to be of a suspicious, even malicious, disposition to make such remarks,” observed Albus.

“I know this is farfetched, and I hesitate suggesting it, but if a female prefect, who is already in the secret society, were to accompany us, then perhaps suspicions could be allayed.”

“You’ve hit on the very thing, Minerva. No one could object or even raise an eyebrow given such a formidable array of virtue.”

“I do have my moments,” she said.

“You will be the one to tell Severus, won’t you?” asked Albus.

The next morning, Hermione saw Minerva enter, greet Severus, and wait until he had a mouthful of bangers and mash before breaking the news.

That was fun, thought Hermione.

Friday arrived, and at teatime, the three arrived at the creepy old mansion in the middle of London. Severus quickly unpacked and made his way to the kitchen where he prepared tea while the girls arranged everything they had brought in their bedroom.

When they were all in the kitchen, Minerva said, “Hermione and I thought a bit of hide-and-go-seek would be fun. Of course, we’ll do an adult version of it.”

“Adult?” asked Severus.

“Yes,” said Hermione. “We’ll pretend that the forces of evil, that’s you, have managed to invade this place and the forces of goodness-and-light, that’s us, will seek you out and destroy you.”

“Nothing like a little role-reversal to liven things up,” said Severus.

“When we find you and capture you, we plan to do vile things to your person,” said Minerva.

“Vile things?” asked Severus.

“Afterwards, you’ll never be able to get us out of your mind,” said Hermione, getting caught up in the spirit of the game. “You’ll think about us, long for us, and beg us for more.”

“Oh, those vile things,” said Severus. “Well, it couldn’t happen to a nicer pair of witches.”

“You won’t be so cocky by the time this evening is over,” said Hermione.

“Well put, my dear,” said Minerva. “His cockiness will be all used up.”

“You have to give me a chance,” said Severus. “You should go to your bedroom, close your eyes, and count to one hundred.”

When they arrived in the bedroom for the countdown, the two girls looked at each other and said, “We need to make this as realistic as possible.”

“The enemy is likely to attack when we are the least prepared,” said Hermione.

“Then we would be in our nightgowns,” said Minerva.

“Do you think it would be the light blue silk ones that we bought for each other, the ones with the little pink bows, or do you think it would be the white cotton ones?” asked Hermione.

“I think our subtle opponents would pick an ordinary night,” said Minerva.

“Flannel it is,” said Hermione. “What about knickers?”

Minerva sighed. “I suppose if it’s an ordinary night, then white cotton.”

“One can overdo reality,” said Hermione. “Remember, they are going to catch us by surprise. There should be some surprises. Besides, this will be our first chance to wear our new matching pairs.”

“Then we’ll go with lace, my dear,” declared Minerva.

“And your lovely hair should be down, too,” said Hermione, picking up the hair brush and unpinning the older girl’s bun.

A cleverly hidden Severus with cramping muscles was wondering what in tarnation was keeping the girls.