Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Severus' head spun as he gazed upon Hermione Granger. This was the woman who was to fall in love with him... as he was? That fairy was bonkers. How could Hermione Granger ever love him? Severus felt the sudden urge to giggle. He couldn't hide the smirk that crossed his face.

"What's so funny, Severus?" Hermione asked, her own lips turning up into a grin.

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking of something someone said to me recently."

Hermione nodded as she scanned the courtyard.

"Have you checked all the carriages?" she asked Severus.

"Yes, I did." He stared down at her, not saying anything more.

"Honestly," Hermione said as she got closer to Severus and lowered her voice. "I was a bit bored, so I thought I'd see if you'd found anything interesting out here."

"Really, Hermione, I would think that you would be on the dance floor continuously. The students can't get enough of you."

Hermione nodded. "I know! My feet hurt!" She winced visibly. "I can see why you aren't fond of these get-togethers, Severus."

"Why would that be?" Severus asked with an arched eyebrow.

"With so many dunderheads in one room, there's no room for the intelligent people to shine."

Severus stared at her, dumbfounded. Hermione looked over at him and doubled over in laughter. Finally, she straightened up. "I'm sorry," she said in between gasps for breath. "I probably shouldn't try to lump myself in with you, but honestly, the idle chatter about nothing that's going on in there is driving me insane!"

Severus didn't know what to say. He cleared his throat instead. Hermione was beginning to look a bit flustered. He needed to speak now or she'd think she'd upset him.

"That's one of the reasons I patrol the halls during these functions. I'm invariably asked some stupid question by some buffoon. As if I have any interest whatsoever in jellied currants or the trend in Wizarding robes these days."

Hermione settled down, obviously feeling that he wasn't offended. She stepped even closer to Severus. "Do you know what one of those boys asked me?"

Severus shook his head.

"He asked if I was available to date. He spent five minutes reciting his pure-blood pedigree and then asked me to consider his hand in marriage. The boy is fourteen!"

Severus smirked. Boy or not, he had good taste. "Did you accept his proposal?"

Hermione stared at him for a minute. "What?"

Might as well take the plunge. The fairy seems to think this will work. "His proposal, did you accept? I want to know who my competition is."

Hermione frowned. "That's not funny at all. I really don't appreciate you making fun of my ability to find a decent man to date." With an exasperated huff, Hermione turned and stalked away.

Severus watched her re-enter the school. So much for that. Soul mate indeed!

Severus spent the rest of the evening grumpily patrolling the halls. The students he found paid dearly for their secret trysts.

Severus' eyes cracked open. He looked around his dimly lit bedroom. He wondered what had awakened him until he heard a noise. It was a woman singing. Well, she was humming.

Why is a woman humming in my bedroom?

Severus sat up and said, "Lumos." The room was filled with light, and Severus was surprised to see his fairy, Arista, gliding around the room, waving her arms and humming. When the lights came on, Arista stopped.

"Oh! You're finally awake. How did it go with Miss Granger last night?"

Severus groaned. He didn't bother to ask how Arista had gotten into his bedroom. "I think you were mistaken about her. Is there anyone else who could possibly fall in love with me?"

Arista looked puzzled. She glanced at her wand and spun it in a small circle. A puff of green smoke came from the tip. She stared into the smoke for a few seconds before beaming up at Severus.

"No, Severus, she's the one."

"You're daft, Fairy. She can't stand me."

Arista tittered. "Oh, you are so wrong! She fancies you. She just doesn't know it yet."

Severus looked at Arista crossly. "How could she fancy me and not know it?"

"Well, dear, the woman always has her nose in books. She barely looks up to see what's going on around her."

"She spends a bit of time reading, but she does not always have her nose in books."

Arista smiled. It was a knowing smile. She seemed to be pleased that Severus had said what he had.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Severus demanded.

Shrugging her shoulders, she smiled wider. "I'm just happy. That's all."

"Arista, there is no way she could ever love me. I was too cruel to her during her school days. She knows what a terrible man I can be. She could never get past all that to find anything attractive in me."

Arista moved to the bed and sat down facing Severus. She gripped his hand and squeezed it.

"You don't know her very well, do you?"

"Well, she's been teaching here for a couple of years. We chat at dinner and occasionally work together to chaperone Hogsmeade weekends. Other than that, I haven't spent much time with her. I suppose I don't know her as well as I could."

"Hermione Granger is a very special person, Severus. As you get to know her, you will find that out."

"I suppose you wouldn't care to explain?"

Arista giggled. "Why no, silly. Part of the intrigue of courtship is learning about the person you're interested in."

"So, you wouldn't want to help me out?"

She giggled again, this time her voice rising very high. The woman sounded as if she'd sucked on helium.

"There's no fun in that. Besides, you didn't want either one of you coerced in any way." She took her hand and pointed at Severus' chest. "You must find out about Hermione Granger. And you must let her find out about you. I will give you one suggestion, though. Tell her about me and your wish."

Severus grasped the hand that was digging into his chest and placed it back in Arista's lap. "You really are nutters, aren't you? She will think me daft if she heard this story."

"No, she won't!"

"What reality do you live in?"

Arista stood and clasped her hands together. "A magical reality where everything works out as it should."

Severus stood up, ignoring the fact that he was only dressed in a pair of black silk boxers.

"Well, I live in this world. In this world, Severus Snape telling a woman that they are destined to fall in love with him because his fairy godmother told him so is a world where Severus Snape gets locked away in the mental ward!"

The musical laugh flew from Arista's lips once again. Did this woman ever stop laughing?

"Oh, Severus, really. You are so melodramatic!"

"Melodramatic? Me?" He stomped over to his wardrobe and with a flourish, pulled a set of black robes out of them. Fixing her with an indignant glare, he continued. "I may be many things, but melodramatic is not one of them!"

Arista chuckled and shook her head. "Very well, you win. Nonetheless, if you want things to work out with Hermione, you must tell her of our visit."

Severus buttoned up his frock coat viciously. "Why? Why can't we just get together like normal people?" he said with much too much emphasis on the word 'normal.'

Arista moved elegantly to his side. She buttoned his top buttons for him and smoothed out his coat.

"Because, my dear, neither of you is normal. You are both spectacular so your relationship should be spectacular."

"So, convincing Hermione that I'm mental will make for a spectacular beginning of our relationship?" Severus asked caustically.

"That's right," Arista said, not really paying attention to exactly what Severus had said. After a second, she glanced up at him, looking a bit sheepish. "You see, by you telling her of our conversation, it makes for something spectacular. She won't think you're mental, Severus."

"She probably already thinks I'm mental after last night."

"Do you mean that sad attempt at flirting? Dear, what did you expect? You try to be suave when she's upset by a fourteen-year-old. Besides, why would she take you seriously? You've hardly paid her any attention prior to that."

"So, you're saying it would be better to jump right in and tell her that she'll fall in love with me and that we will be soul mates? How does that make any sense?"

Arista turned with a flourish. "It will tell her that there's a reason why you're suddenly interested in her."

"Should I propose today, too? Maybe we should just get married this afternoon, hmm? None of that will seem odd, in any case, after my incredible tale."

Arista turned back to him and frowned. "Now you're just being difficult. Severus, I know you like to hide behind your sarcasm, so I'm not offended, but you need to trust me."

"Do you not understand my reservations?" he sneered.

"I'll tell you what. If it doesn't go well, I'll just have a chat with her."

"Yes, I'm sure that will fix everything."

Arista spun around, her hair floating around her. She truly looked ethereal in that moment.

"It will help," she said when she'd stopped spinning.

Severus clenched his fists. He'd had enough of flighty fairies for one day. "Arista, this is absurd! I will not tell her anything. As a matter of fact, I don't even think I'll try to pursue anything with her. It's bound to lead to tragedy."

"There you go, being melodramatic again."

"I am not melodramatic!" he snarled.

"Then why is this such a drama?" Arista asked.

Severus glowered at her.

"You need to learn to be laid back, Severus. Take things as they come!"

"If I took things as they came, I would be dead a thousand times over. It is my ability to anticipate actions that has saved my life time and time again!"

She moved toward him and quickly spun around behind him. "Yes, that was while the war was being fought. The war's over now!" Turning quickly again, she came around his other side and faced him. "Learn to live a little. Take risks!"

Severus snorted. "My whole life has been a series of risks!"

"But those risks were for others! You did everything for others! Take a risk for yourself, Severus. Put your heart on your sleeve and see what she does! So what if you get embarrassed? Won't it be worth it to look back on this and see a wonderful relationship built on trust and love? Isn't that what you want?" Her hands grabbed Severus' upper arms, and she shook him slightly. "Then do it! Seize the day!"

Severus scowled at her. "You are far too chipper for your own good. Do you realize that?"

Arista giggled and released his arms. "Don't you trust me, Severus?"

"I barely know you!"

"Not true!" she cried. Her finger quickly shot up to his face, and she pointed directly at his nose. "I have been there for you through all your hardships, you just didn't remember, or recognize me when you did remember. I know you better than your own mother does!"

"That wouldn't be hard," Severus grumbled.

"Now, now, she tried her best. The woman was in a terrible situation."

Severus threw up his hands. "I know that! I lived that, remember? This isn't about my mum, it's about me. It's about me finding happiness. I don't see how my telling Hermione about you can bring about that happiness."

Arista's shoulders slumped. "You don't get it, do you?"

"Obviously."

"A relationship... a good relationship... must start with trust. If you keep this from her, it will eventually get out. That will mar anything that you've built up to that point. Does that make any sense to you?"

Severus looked to the floor. He felt duly chastised by this fairy that did nothing but dance around and laugh all the time. He looked back up at her.

"Yes, it does. It makes perfect sense. You're right, of course, there must be trust. I will have to tell her, but she will think I'm daft!"

"She won't if she sees me after you tell her."

"I thought I was the only one who could see you."

"Fairies can make exceptions if it's for a good cause."

"I suppose it would be good to know someone else can see you and that I'm not really going bonkers."

Arista laughed. "You know I'm real, Severus. Quit trying to rationalize me away."

Severus frowned. "You are impossible!"