Chapter Twenty-One: Money, Money, Money
Chapter 21 of 41
sunny33Hermione finds out more about Blaise, and Snape has a problem.
ReviewedChapter Twenty-one: Money, Money, Money
Christmas Eve found Hermione sitting at her bedroom window with her nose pressed to the glass, envying the antics of the young people in the park across the street. Several teenagers around her age were making snowmen, every so often stopping to toss a hastily-made snowball at a chosen victim. Their cold-blushed cheeks and carefree smiles were pointed reminders of the youth she had forfeit in her fight for freedom. Freedom taken for granted by the couple kissing and caressing each other on the park bench without a thought to anything other than the next few minutes.
Hermione huffed, fogging the glass in front of her face. Stop being such a wet blanket, Granger. They have every right to be happy. Just because the man you'd like to snog in the park... or the garden... or anywhere with a bed is tied up in knots over society's expectations to...
Hmm, tied up in knots. Wonder if he'd...
Stop it. It's hard enough to...
Well, it was hard the other night. Only managed a quick stroke or two before he ran off. Wonder what he's doing in that dungeon all by himself.
Alone.
Hard.
Fuck! Why can't I think of something else?
"Hermione, you have a visitor." Jean poked her head around the bedroom door.
Thank Merlin. A distraction. Just what I need. "Who is it?"
"A very charming young man. Says he's your friend. Tall, dark-skinned, lovely dress sense."
"That'd be Blaise. I wonder what he's doing here." Hermione grinned and headed for the door. "I don't suppose there are any ginger biscuits left?"
"No, but I was just making another batch. They'll be ready in twenty minutes. You take your friend into the sitting room, and I'll bring them through when they're ready."
"Thanks, Mum; you're a gem."
"I can see he's already put colour into your cheeks and a smile on your face, and you haven't even talked to him yet. That's worth a plate of biscuits. Now, shoo! He's waiting."
Blaise leaned against the wall of the hallway, studying the assorted photos of Hermione and her parents displayed along the walls. "Quite the gallery you have here."
Blushing, Hermione took his arm and led him away from the array of cheesy childhood grins and unfortunate hairstyles. "Let's just go and sit down, shall we?"
"Don't tell me you're embarrassed by a few old photos, Granger. After the pictures I've seen?"
"You're supposed to be still guilt-ridden and apologetic about going to see those paintings, Blaise Zabini, not teasing me about it!" She punctuated her words with a few pokes to his undeniably well-muscled chest.
He caught her finger with one hand and brought it to his lips. Brushing a kiss across the tip, he smiled. "The thing is, Granger, I've thought about that a lot, and I've decided I'm not the least sorry about seeing Snape's exhibition. He's very talented, and his use of colour and form exquisite. It was well worth seeing for that alone."
"Really?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I'll admit seeing a certain witch of my acquaintance in glorious dishabille was my nefarious intention. For that, I humbly apologise. Still, I don't regret it. You, my sweet, are perfection." Before she had a chance to protest, he continued, "Alas, I know your heart lies beyond my reach, but a man needs some standard, some hopeless ideal to aim for... and a little visualising in those lonely nights doesn't do any harm." He winked as he stretched out on the soft leather of the sofa: lean, handsome, and shamelessly grinning.
Hermione couldn't contain her amusement at his theatrical confession. "Hopeless. You and Severus both. Absolutely hopeless! You'll both go blind at this rate. That'll teach you to keep your minds on your work. I really need to find you some other girl to exert the Zabini charm over."
"You don't have a sister hidden away upstairs, by any chance?" Blaise looked up as Jean entered the room, preceded by the delicious aroma of freshly-baked biscuits. He stood and took the plate from Jean, capturing her hand with his and bringing it to his lips. "Or perhaps an angel such as this, sent to release me from the despair of your rejection."
Jean's cheeks coloured as she heard her daughter giggle. "Is he always like this, dear?"
Hermione nodded. "Don't take him too seriously, Mum. He's just practising his charm."
"Well, in that case, practise away, young man. I don't get charmed anywhere near often enough nowadays."
"Mother! Don't encourage him!"
After Jean had left, Hermione took possession of the plate, swiping a few biscuits before Blaise had demolished the lot. "So, does your mum cook anything special at Christmas?"
Blaise shook his head. "No. She never goes into the kitchen. We have a cook." He shrugged.
"No house-elves?"
"Plenty. But Mrs Trimble directs them. Mother is usually far too busy to be involved with such mundane matters as cooking."
"Where does she work?"
Puzzlement briefly creased Blaise's brow as he considered her reply. "Work? Why would she work? All her money has come from her first seven husbands. As far as I know, the only vocation she has at the moment is securing number eight." The easy smile had melted from his eyes, leaving them bleak and empty for a few unguarded seconds. With an effort, Blaise reconstructed his carefree mask. "Still, it keeps me in decent clothes, so who am I to complain?"
"Seven? She's been married seven times?"
"Goes through husbands like most women go through dress robes. Sometimes, I wonder if she even remembers which one my father was." Bitterness tinged his words as he studied the biscuit he held.
Reaching out to take his hand, Hermione squeezed gently. "I'm sure she does, Blaise. Do you ever see him?"
"He died before I was born. Mother has a great talent for widowhood, it appears. She always says black is her best colour."
"They all died?" She frowned.
"Don't even think it, Granger. I try not to myself. If I did, I'd never sleep." Suddenly, he was enveloped in a mass of hair and arms. Leaning into her hug for a brief, blissful moment, Blaise closed his eyes and sighed.
***
Long after Blaise had left, the stark revelations of his home life gnawed at Hermione's conscience. His singular ability to maintain the veneer of the sophisticated, wealthy young wizard without a care in the world beyond the effort of bestowing his charm upon whomever he selected was permanently shattered as she remembered the brief glimpse of vulnerability he had allowed before reverting to his usual smooth and easy manner.
Gazing out at the darkening street outside, Hermione's mind painted pictures of elegant dinners with few words spoken beyond the need to pass the salt and evenings reading alone in magnificent rooms rendered cold by lack of simple human connection.
And despite it all, he's still turned into a decent, caring person. He deserves so much better than I can give him.
A tapping on her window startled Hermione as she sat deep in thought. Opening it to allow the tawny owl entrance, she reached for a treat for the chilled bird before gently unfastening the package from its leg. The familiar handwriting on the attached tag sent all thoughts of Blaise's troubled home life from her head as she read.
Miss Grace Henman
Not to be opened before Christmas Day.
Grinning, she opened her trunk and retrieved the silver-wrapped package she had been dithering about sending. Attaching it to the owl's leg, she opened the window and sent it on its way, watching until the creature disappeared out of sight.
A sudden decision made, Hermione changed into warmer clothes and found her winter coat. As she passed the living room, she popped her head in to let her parents know she would be out for an hour or so.
"Don't be late, dear, dinner will be ready at six. You don't want to miss out on all those vegetables you prepared, do you?"
"I won't. You know I'd never miss your Christmas Eve roast," Hermione replied as she opened the front door.
Ducking around to the side of the house, she turned on the spot and with a soft crack appeared outside the gallery where Snape's exhibition was in its last few hours. Surprised at the number of people still milling around viewing the paintings, she pushed through the entrance doors and was once again immersed in the talent of her lover. This time, however, she was not recognised as the model posing nude for the art works on display and was left to study the canvasses in peace.
***
Snape felt the cold of the wind reaching under his robes and biting into his skin as he landed just inside the gates of Hogwarts. Slipping through the iron guardians, he focussed his scattered thoughts long enough to Apparate to his destination. Letter clutched in his hand, he entered the gallery, eyes fixed on the man locked in a serious discussion with a well-dressed woman.
"Excuse me, may I borrow this gentleman for a moment." Snape nodded politely as the woman spent a few moments waxing effusive over his work, then turned to Standish.
"Evening, Sidney. Didn't think you could make it tonight. Splendid turn out for the last day, don't you think?"
"Who, William?" Snape ground out, staring at the sold stickers on the two feature paintings.
"Who? Who what?" A frown creased Standish's brow as he tried to decipher Snape's question.
"Who bought the paintings?"
"Oh, that. No idea. Sent an intermediary. All hush-hush it was. Wouldn't reveal names, just came with a nice, fat cheque like I said in the letter. You'll do very nicely out of this exhibition, my boy. We should start planning the next. I can see you becoming the next big thing on the art scene if we play our cards right." Standish rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"I don't give a flying fuck about the money. Those paintings are not for sale. You need to cancel the deal." Nearby conversations ceased as Snape's voice grew louder.
Standish's cheerful smile dissolved as he guided Snape into a quiet corner of the gallery. "That's not so easily done. The money has changed hands, and the client is expecting delivery tonight, as soon as the exhibition closes. He's arranged a car to pick them up."
"Then phone him and tell him you will refund the money."
"I can't do that; he left no contact number." Standish let out a sigh. "Sidney, we discussed this several times. You knew the paintings were to be sold; that was the whole point of the exhibition. You can't pick and choose what sells and what doesn't. These people," his hand swept around the room, "are not here just to look at your paintings and offer empty praise. They are aficionados of fine art from all over Britain... and France, in her case." He pointed to an elderly woman dressed in Chanel from head to exquisitely painted toes. "They come to these exhibitions to make investments in artists they believe have a bright future.
"If you want to have those paintings for your own home, you'll have to get your model to sit again so you can repaint them. I'm sure she won't mind, judging by the way she was hanging on your every word last time you were here."
Snape forced a brief smile. "It's not that easy... We... I... Hell, William, I just... It's complicated."
Standish stared at his companion. Slowly, his lips curled into a smile as realisation blossomed. "Dammit, man, you went and fell for her, didn't you?" Shaking his head, he continued. "You can't stand the thought of another man sharing her, even vicariously through oil and canvas. Well, you wouldn't be the first, I suppose.
"Still, it doesn't change anything. The paintings are sold, and there's nothing I can do about it. Business is business, Sidney. As a matter of fact, there are only a few sketches left unaccounted for. Your understanding of the nature of womanhood has intrigued the patrons, and the passion showing through in some of the works has shown them a glimpse of something they rarely experience. Denying them now would be like allowing a room full of women to taste a new type of chocolate, then burning the recipe."
Snape opened his mouth to press his point further, then snapped it closed as he stared into the crowd gathered before the central pair of canvasses.
"Fuck!"
***
Sold? SOLD! He sold them and didn't bother telling me? Even inside her head, Hermione could hear her voice rise an octave. How could he?
Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to calm down. Don't be stupid. The paintings were intended to be sold. He wouldn't have painted them otherwise.
But he didn't tell me.
How could he forget something so important? Or did he forget?
Is he trying to get rid of any reminders of me and the summer?
Brushing moisture from her eyes, Hermione stumbled, half-blinded with tears of frustration and anger and disappointment, out of the gallery to the soothing cold air of the street outside.
She didn't hear the familiar voice calling after her as she Apparated away.
***
A/N: This story was written for shalimar1981 for the TPP Every Flavour auction.
Kudos to karelia for the beta.
Merry Christmas to all of you out there. Have a lovely day! xx
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Latest 25 Reviews for Limited Exposure
1604 Reviews | 6.58/10 Average
This is one of my favorite SSHG stories ever <3 brilliantly done
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Thank you! :D
Loved the whole story. Lots of fun!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Thanks. :)
"And today, you’re as jumpy as a unicorn around Pansy Parkinson." Love it.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
;)
That was a great read, and I've recced this story on the One Bad Man comm over on LJ. I hope that some more readers will experience the pleasure of this story that way!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Thank you for reading, reviewing, and reccing! :D
Excellent!!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Thanks! :)
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Thanks! :)
I think Blaise Zabini bought Hermione's pictures.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Read on, MacDuff! :)
I thought it sounded like a good idea. Severus may need a body double for a pregnant Hermione or they could use polyjuice from a pregnant woman. Would that work? I know she wouldn't be pregnant, but would she look pregnant? The breasts change with pregnancy and he is all about the breasts. If he does the early pregnancy painting before a woman is completely miserable, maybe Hermione could just stick out her tummy. The 1st baby I didn't show for 5 months. Only my breasts got slightly larger. She could be looking in the mirror and imagining herself as a mother with a baby at her breast. Please tell me they won't have children this soon. Studies in the US show that people without children are happier than adults that have childern. At least if they stay at Hogwarts there are probably house elfs lined up around the block for the chance to take care of their baby while they work.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Don't panic, Hermione has her own opinions on that idea! :)
I do like the fact that most of the other characters beside H and S are very astute and aren't missing much when it comes to the couple in question. In most other stories the other characters aside from possibly Ginny and maybe Harry seem to be mostly cluelss, but we all go along with it because it fits the needs of the story. I'm afraid to find out what Minerva has discovered.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Most of them are pretty smart people who know these too well. Of course they'd figure it out. :)
Please let Minerva be understanding. Sorry. I have to get on to the next chapter!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
:)
Dear Severus, Blaise knows about us and he is in love with me so he had been providing a shoulder for me to cry on, because I've been crying a lot. He has been trying to help me work things out with you. He's very supportive and noble. In case you've been listening to gossip, I'm not shagging Blaise. I'm sure you are above listening to gossip started by Ronnald Weasley. That burk has no idea what really I do in my private life, otherwise he wouldn't be spreading untrue gossip would he. He saw Blaise comforting me and jumped to the wrong conclusion. Wouldn't it be awful to be like Ronnald Weasley?
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Hehe!! :D
WTF!!! I guess I'll find out who that was soon enough. I hope it was Ginny. That would take care of that little problem. Severus wouldn't open her door without knocking, I think. Blaise is too good. What would Severus do if he thought Hermione was spending her free time laying on her bed with Blaise? Would he be jelous or would he nurture it and use it to rationalize a reason for dumping her and hating her? Does he really expect Hermione to leave him be? Can't they just agree to wait until the end of school? They are adults after all. Hermione would protest but it would be the best thing to do in the long run. But then again, where would be the fun in that? Are Christmas Hols coming up? Two weeks at the studio would be nice.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
LOL wouldn't be much of a story if they did the mature thing and waited. ;)
Not the response I was hoping for when he figured it out. What will you do with Blaise? Just as there is no one like Severus Snape, there aren't other girls like HG running around the school. He might like Ginny if he knew her better. Maybe Luna? She is definitely an unique individual. I've been too enthralled wanting to get to the next chapter to leave reviews, but I want to tell you that this is awesome!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Thanks. :)
Is she going to tell her mom the real truth? She seems like someone she could tell the truth to. She is a lot like my mom. Maybe her mom can talk some sense into her about continuing to deceive Severus.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Her mum's pretty open. :)
That silly girl. Is she trying to torture him by continuing to stir this up? Her stream of consciousness ramblings indicate she has no intention of letting Severus discover she is Grace, yet she plays with fire. I suppose that because she is more naive than any 19 year old would realize they are, she doesn't realize how cruel this is if she doesn't plan to have a relationship with him but only plans to lead him on for her own titillation. Does she plan to live a double life? Hermione Granger during the week and Grace Henman on the weekends? The more she draws this out the more deceived he is going to feel when he realizes he's been tricked. She isn't a stupid girl and she must know this deep inside. Now he knows she returns his feelings. What is he supposed to do with that information? This is going to get bad before it gets better I fear. I feel the most concerned for Severus who has more to lose. He would have let this lay if she hadn't egged him on. He didn't pursue her because he didn't want to be hurt. He felt it was inappropriate but aslo that she would never be interested in him because of his age. He isn't looking for a booty call. Has she thought that he might be interested in more than sex? Now that she has gotten his hopes up what does she plan to do about it? Has she thought it through that far? Again I ask, has she thought this through?
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Of course not. She's nineteen. She knows she wants him but hasn't really thought beyond the moment. You know what they are like at that age! :)
It's too bad Severus feels he still has to be a git. I know potions is dangerous, but I'm sure he could get the NEWT students to cooperate without being mean.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Not sure he knows any other way to behave. :)
Well, I've been thinking about how brave Hermione is. She has been nothing but professional. I admire her. I am a femenist, but I don't think I could have been that relaxed in her situation. It is unusual to find a young woman that is so comfortable with her own body and isn't recriminating herself for imagined flaws for one thing. She doesn't feel super sexy but she also doesn't feel embarrassed about any of her features. I suppose I wouldn't be able to pose like that without feeling at least as aroused as she did. She did have the knowledge of the truth to keep her from getting carried away. On the other hand, Severus was very hard on himself but he didn't judge her for feeling aroused too. What a gentleman. I am feeling very sorry for Severus. He is so sensitive. He's got it bad for Hermione and she's only "just interested" in comparison. She is young and has never really been in love yet. She doesn't know what a broken heart is yet. I've heard it said that women fall in love easier, but men fall in love harder. I suppose one could say he is only sexually interested in her but we know he wouldn't be aroused if he didn't truely like her for herself. Female Death Eaters didn't have the same affect on him. And what do you expect a normal red blooded male to do when a beutiful and aroused teenaged woman is willing to lay there with her legs spread for you for hours while you examine her every nuance', realising she is aroused because she is showing her lady parts to you. How sad for him to have her treat him so causally kind and truely proffesionally, to be honest. It must make him feel like he's just a harmless old man, and maybe even as if he was a trusted harmless old favorite uncle that paints lots of nude women and figure that she could never imagine him as a sexual creature even when she knows he desires her. Because while he could tell she was obviously aroused, I'm certain he didn't immagine it was due to the fact that she was thinking sexy thoughts of him. Hermione acted completely professionally. How was she to know he would develope feeling for her. I sense that this will get worse before it gets better, but I'm comforted by the hope that you will help them work this out and they will be whole in the end and a happy couple.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
It's sort of like biting off more than you can chew, isn't it? Neither of them really knew what they were getting into, but are trying as hard as possible not to ruin the hard work they have done so far by given in to their physical responses. :)
This story reminds me. About 16 years ago I went to the Musee d'Orsay in Paris with a friend. We thought we had seen everything there until we were leaving and I saw the postcard for the L'orignine Du Monde. I was like, "Hey Kathy! Hold on! Look at this! We've obviously missed a section somewhere because I'm sure we haven't seen this yet! My eyes had landed on it immediately like a magnet as I scanned the stand. 
I wonder how many people actually buy that postcard? I personally prefer my postcard of the statue of David for unreligious reasons. He has such large hands. I love large hands on a man. 
Which reminds me again! Later at the Louvre, we were down by the mummies. The underwire in my bra had broken through the fabric. I just couldn't bare it jabbing me between my breasts anymore, coupled with my painful feet from walking all over the city. So, I reached into the top of my sweater and pulled and struggled and pulled and wrestled it somemore, as I tried to get the wire out of my bra. There was an older woman resting in a chair by the wall. She was looking at me in horror as if I was about to pull a bomb out of my bra and blow the whole place up! Finally, I got the wire out and looked at her as I pulled it out of the top of my sweater holding it up. Her face and eyes lit up in a friendly smile of comradery as she nodded her head sagely and said, "Ahhhhh!" I saved that underwire with all of my other Paris mementos. Apparently broken underwires transcend the language barrier. 
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Love it. Every woman can understand that pain!
Very lovely!!!! 
Can't wizards feel the magic signature of another magical person when they are together? I wonder if he stares at her long enough he will notice she is wearing a glamour? I don't know how they work in this story, but it seems in other stories they can be detected by the trained eye, and if anyone has a trained eye it is Severus Snape. I suppose we see what we expect to see and he isn't expecting to be deceived. 
I wonder how long Hermione can keep up the charade? I'm a little surprised he didn't recognize her voice when she was on her feminist rant. Maybe he has never really listened to her because she annoyed him so much. 
If she pulls this off for the holiday, I can't imagine he won't become suspicious after school starts. After watching her for so long he will have to notice the similarities of voice, scent, hand gestures and facial expressions when he see's her in class. What if he falls in love or infatuation with his model? During breaks he will surely find out what an intelligent woman she is and find her interesting. That could be good or very bad depending on how he takes it when he finds out who she really is. What a tangle that will be. 
Ha! I had no idea this would be bringing up the feminist cause when I went on my own rant in the last review!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Just pretend for the sake of the story that he can only see a magical signature if he actually looks for it. He sees what he expects... a Muggle. ;)
Great stream of consciousness monologue! Yey for the hippies! My mom was a hippie. Bodies are just natural. Handy for the breastfeeding lady except when people are offended at mums breastfeeding in public and mistakenly say something in my presence and I have to climb up on my feminist soap box. I have to climb because I'm quite short, but once I'm up there I am very passionate. People who can't look at a breastfeeding baby without sexualizing it makes me very uncomfortable and I don't think they should be allowed to do that in public. It totally grosses me out! Strange. The young women that are my colleagues at work don't understand feminism. Why did they become lactation consultants and childbirth educators? Will Hermione tell him who she is or not? I am going with "not" for the time being.
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Totally agree about breastfeeding. It's perfectly natural and if people don't like it they don't have to look. Prats. :)
This end of this chapter had me in in fits of little school girl giggles hehe. Can't to see the real reactions to that scene!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
LOL Thanks. :D
Response from Duchess_Of_Arcadia (Reviewer)
Yeah I wrote that review very late haha not my best typing skills lol, I've finished the whole story now and I just loved it, well done :)
Dear sunny33,
I am writing to inform you that you've been nominated for the following category for the Fall-Winter 2013 Round of The HP Fanfic Fan Poll Awards (hpfanficfanpoll . livejournal . com):
SHIP: SNAPE X HERMIONE
CATEGORY: BEST ROMANCE for "Limited Exposure"
You need not take any other action at this time, unless you would like to reject the nomination. In that case, please contact us and we'll remove the nomination and contact the person who nominated you to let them know your decision.
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The nominations period ends on October 28, 2013.
The voting period will commence on November 1, 2013 and close on December 31, 2013 (that gives two full months to read and consider the nominated fics).
Our awards ceremony is open to the public to vote, and we encourage you to ask your friends/family to participate. We will tally up all votes and announce winners on or before January 10, 2014. Please check back then to see if your stories placed, or add us as a FRIEND on Livejournal so you can get emails when that list is broadcast on our blog. Banners for your nominations/placements will be available at that time, too.
Congratulations on your nomination!
Sincerely,
Melissa, The HP Fanfic Fan Poll Awards Moderator
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Thank you. :D
I've thoroughly enjoyed this. I remember reading this when it first started to post and I'm so happy to see it completed now. I meant to stop inbetween to leave reviews, but I was to eager to see what happens next.There are so many things to love here: the relationship between Severus and Hermione, Snape the painter (and I can see him so well pouring all his pent-up emotions into his art over the years), the friendship between Hermione and Blaise, the relationship between Draco and Neville...I had to grin when Kingsley turned out to have a wife after all - apearances can be deceptive ;)Very delightful tale with a lovely happy ending for all!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
LOL Some me ARE just well groomed. Thanks for stopping by to review! :)
nooooooooo! i'm not ready for it to end! any next generation of their children fics u are thinking of?
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
I don't do next gen fics. I'll let others take that on.:)
love the argus kiss and his inclusion and pride in his hobby!
Response from sunny33 (Author of Limited Exposure)
Thank you. :)