Chapter Twenty-five: Research

Chapter Twenty-five: Research

Snape drifted back to consciousness, the smile which softened his angular features fading with his dreams as he woke alone. Pushing aside the warmth of the blanket, he stood and stretched out the kinks in his spine as he glanced around the room for his erstwhile companion.

"Hermione?"

With no witch in evidence, Snape extinguished the candles with a huff of disappointment and made his way to his bed to seek solace with his fist and his dreams. The note lying on his desk remained unnoticed.

***

It must be somewhere. What school has a charter and doesn't have it filed in the bloody library? I've looked in all the relevant sections, and I daren't ask Madam Pince. The nosy biddy would want to know why I was interested in school regulations.

At least Blaise is having fun. I'm sure he and Luna have done less than five minutes work the entire time they've been here. Just as well I taught him Muffliato a few weeks ago.

Looks like they're finished for the day.

Hermione pasted a smile on her face as Blaise and Luna walked over to her table. "Hi, you two. All up to date with that Potions essay, Blaise?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I did it last night while you were in detention. You never did say how that went." Blaise grinned.

"No, I didn't. And I wasn't planning to. You'll have to use your deviant imagination to fill in the gaps, Zabini. Did you know he has a filthy mind, Luna?"

Luna's dreamy expression did not alter as she replied, "Yes. That's one of the many things I like about him."

"See, Granger. Someone appreciates me. So, what has had you prowling around the shelves with that fearsome expression on your face? You could scare the little kids to death with one glance."

"You shouldn't frown, you know, Hermione. Wrackspurts love frown lines. That's how they get in. Is there anything we can help you find?" Luna waved vaguely at the shelves.

"Not unless you have a copy of the Hogwarts' Charter stuffed up your jumper." Hermione sighed and rested her chin on her hands.

"The one that's kept in the headmistress's office?"

Hermione closed her eyes and counted to ten. "The headmistress's office! Why didn't I think of that? How do you know that, Luna?"

"Oh, I saw it there tons of times last year. Neville and Ginny and I seemed to spend a lot of time up there. Of course, now I know Professor Snape was just protecting us from the Carrows by summoning us to see him, but it seemed pretty scary at the time. He seemed to wander off and leave us alone in there quite often. That's when I noticed the lovely old book up on the shelf behind his desk. I managed a peek one night while he was out of the room. Poor Neville nearly had a conniption."

"Why is it kept there?"

"I asked Dad about that. Apparently, it is the original and only copy written at the founding of Hogwarts. As it is so old and valuable, it never leaves the head's office. Some of the laws in it are quite archaic, but still stand today. You should have a look some time. I'm sure Professor McGonagall wouldn't mind showing it to you."

"What are you plotting, Granger?" Blaise knew her well enough to be suspicious.

"I imagine she's looking for a loophole in the laws so she can be with Professor Snape." Luna sighed. "It's so romantic. Both of you pining over each other, trying to find a way to be together."

Hermione blushed. Unwilling to repeat the gossip she had heard about the headmistress, she mumbled an explanation. "I just thought it would be worth checking the actual rules."

"Isn't that like shutting the Quidditch crate after the Snitch has flown?" Blaise whispered as they turned to leave.

"This Snitch isn't flying anywhere unless I can get a look at that bloody book. Any ideas?"

"I'll work on it." Blaise heard the shuffle of careworn feet. "We'd better get going. I can hear old Filch prowling about, and it's nearly curfew."

"He's not so bad." Hermione smiled as they turned the corner and met the Squib in question. "Good evening, Mr Filch."

Filch nodded. "Evenin', miss."

Grinning at the others' stunned expressions, Hermione waved to Luna and Blaise as she ascended the stairs towards Gryffindor tower. After dropping her bag on her bed, she followed the corridor extending beyond the individual rooms of the returned Gryffindor seventh years to the tapestry of Wilmot Fordyce the Third and whispered the password which allowed her into the impossible common room linking all four houses.

An entity comprising eight limbs, two heads, and an inordinate amount of exposed skin greeted her as she left the short tunnel beyond the tapestry.

"Oh, Hermione. I thought you'd gone to bed." Neville's face matched the stripe on the tie wrapped around his forehead. Grabbing the nearest item of clothing, Draco's shirt, he bunched it over his strained trousers as the blond surfaced from an avid exploration of his right nipple.

"Granger, your timing is appalling." Draco grinned as he licked his lips.

"So is your sense of decorum, Malfoy. Don't you think your room would be a more appropriate venue for that sort of activity? And what's with the Rambo impersonation?"

"Rambo?" Both purebloods shared identical puzzled frowns.

"Never mind. It's a Muggle thing. Just put some clothes on, both of you."

"What's the problem, Granger? Don't you appreciate the vision of male beauty before you?" Blaise smirked as his fellow wizards rapidly dressed.

"The view is just fine; I'm just not sure I'm ready to play the voyeur yet." She winked at Blaise. "Although Neville's chest has certainly filled out nicely since I last saw it in first year."

"Hermione!" Neville finished buttoning his shirt as fast as possible.

"I'm almost offended you preferred his chest to mine, but I have to commend your taste." Draco smiled as he pulled Neville towards his room. "You'll have to excuse us; we have... business to attend to."

"I think I've created a monster. A pair of them." Hermione slumped onto the recently vacated sofa.

"I'm more concerned with why you saw Longbottom's naked chest in first year. Just what do you Gryffindors get up behind that common room door?"

She shook her head. "Like I said, a filthy mind. Neville and the other boys of our year were playing some strange game known only to eleven-year-old boys, which involved taking their shirts off and chasing each other around the common room. Percy Weasley soon put a stop to it." Raising her arms up and behind her, she yawned. "So, any thoughts? That is, when you've quite finished."

Blaise tore his eyes off the breasts straining against her blouse as she stretched and had the grace to flush. "Sorry. Old habits, you know. Thoughts? About what, apart from the obvious?" His gaze drifted back down to her chest.

"I'll tell Luna you were ogling if you're not careful."

"Wouldn't bother her, I expect. She knows of my unrequited lusting after your body. Told me to look all I liked, but keep my hands off or Snape would castrate me. Quite a convincing argument, that one. She also told me I'd grow out of it eventually, and she was happy to be patient."

Hermione let out an unladylike snort at the Ravenclaw's logic and wiped a few tears of mirth from her eyes. "I knew she'd be good for you, Blaise. And I meant thoughts on how to get a look at the Hogwarts Charter."

Blaise's expression sobered as he contemplated the problem. "The way I see it is you need to make the most of your strengths. The headmistress is a Gryffindor. Just go and see her and ask to look at it."

"But what reason do I give?"

"Obvious, isn't it? You read about it in Hogwarts: A History and wanted to see the real thing. She'll be so chuffed at your interest she won't even consider any ulterior motive."

"What if it isn't mentioned in Hogwarts: A History?"

"Then find another book that refers to it. You're always reading esoteric books on all sorts of things for no sane reason."

"And you're the picture of sanity?"

"I make no claims to sanity, Granger. However, I will admit I'm knackered. Time we went to bed."

She raised an eyebrow. "You might like to rephrase that."

"Nope. Offer stands." He grinned as he stood to leave. "By the way, do you know Snape's birthday is on the ninth?"

Hermione made a quick calculation in her head as Blaise left the room. Shite, that's this Saturday!

***

A tapping on the window found Hermione bleary-eyed and sluggish early the next morning. Bloody hell. Who sends owls this early? Her expression softened as she took the missive and recognised the handwriting.

H

S

"Oh, gods." Hermione closed her eyes, unable to remove the image of her lover from her mind. Tossing her nightgown aside, much to the bewilderment of the waiting owl, she snatched up a piece of parchment and, nude, began writing.

I am also wearing your gift as I write.

H

Attaching the note to the owl's leg, Hermione opened the window and let it fly before returning to her bed to allow her mind and her fingers free reign.

***

"Hey, 'Mione! What's in the catalogue?"

"It's only books, Ron. Would you like a look?" She smiled sweetly as Ron shook his head and reached for more toast. Checking the charm on the cover, she resumed her perusal of Madame Solange's Special Gifts for Saucy Witches and Wicked Wizards price list.

Hmm, that's a possibility. I'm sure he'll find it very... oh, my... Definitely.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm, yes, Gin?"

"That's not a book catalogue, is it?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, I know you love books, but I've never seen you look quite so flushed while reading before. C'mon, let me see."

Hermione glanced at Ron and Harry across the table, happily arguing over who was entitled to the last piece of bacon, and slid the article in question over to her friend.

"Holy Hufflepuffs! Is this even allowed in the school? Where did you get it? Why did you get it? You're not going to order something from here, are you? You will show me, won't you?" Ginny gaped as she turned page after page, occasionally holding the catalogue sideways and frowning. "What exactly is that?"

"No idea. I might ask Blaise later."

"You can't show that to him! He might get... you know... ideas."

"He's always getting ideas, Gin." Hermione laughed at Ginny's puzzled expression. "Never mind. Let's put that away before those two want to know what books are so intriguing."

Ginny sighed. "I wish I could order something from it. I'm sure Harry would approve... eventually."

"Why not? You're of age now. The shop doesn't have any restrictions other than that."

"I still haven't been allowed my own account at Gringotts though. I'm sure Mum would have a fit if a bill came for naughty underwear or some of those toys in there."

Hermione glanced up at the staff table where her wizard was engrossed in conversation with the headmistress. "I know someone else who might have a fit when he sees what I'm going to order for him."

"You wouldn't!"

"Want to bet?" Hermione stuffed the catalogue into her bag and stood. "I'm off to my room for a decent look at this without the boys around. Coming?"

"Try to stop me."

Locking her door with a flick of her wand, Hermione sprawled on the bed beside Ginny as they examined the seductive underwear and intriguing toys and other sex-oriented paraphernalia on offer.

"So, what are you ordering?" Ginny asked with a wink.

Hermione showed her the items she'd selected. "What do you think?"

"I'm not sure I want to think about those things and Severus Snape in one package. But other than that, brilliant! He'll kill you for sure, but brilliant!"

Hermione smacked her friend's arm. "Thanks for the support. I'll tell him you said that."

"Don't you dare, Hermione Granger. If Professor Snape found out I knew about this, he'd kill me first. And slowly."

Laughing as Ginny left, Hermione filled in the order form with her Gringotts account number and delivery details and set off for the owlery.

***

"Miss Granger, will you please enlighten the class as to the most advantageous stirring techniques for today's potion." He didn't smile, but the mere fact of his asking her to advise the class was extraordinary enough to raise a few eyebrows.

"Um... of course, Professor." As she described the correct pattern of clockwise and anticlockwise stirs used in the brew, her eyes followed the professor's progress around the room. "And finally, complete the potion with three rapid figure-of-eight stirs in the centre of the cauldron, take out the stirring rod, and reduce the flame."

"Thank you, Miss Granger. Any questions? No? Then why are you all standing around staring? Get on with it!"

The restoration of Snape's proper demeanour broke the spell chaining the students to their desks. With a scurry of feet and rattle of vials, the brewing commenced.

"He'd better be careful, Granger. That sort of courtesy will breed suspicion." Blaise passed her the stirring rod and began chopping myrtle leaves.

"Poor Harry and Ron are still looking stunned. I think the sky in their world will fall in if they hear Severus being polite again." Hermione poured in eight ounces of pure rainwater and set the cauldron to heat.

"Have you decided when to beard the kitty in her den?"

Hermione snorted as she added a pinch of ground garnet to the boiling water. "I assume you mean the headmistress?"

"My favourite feline." Blaise grinned and handed over the finely shredded myrtle.

Shaking her head, Hermione continued adding the ingredients Blaise had prepared until the potion reached a period of simmering.

"I think I'll try on Sunday afternoon. She's always quite mellow at that stage of the weekend."

"Nothing to do with the fifty-year-old malt she keeps stashed in her office, I suppose?"

"Blaise! How can you say that?"

"Easily. Malfoy said once his aunt broke into her study when she was a student and nicked the current bottle for a dare. Apparently, she was not a happy kitty for a whole week. The Slytherins of the time had a party to remember, however."

"And there I was starting to think Slytherins could be decent. Oh, well, it was a nice thought while it lasted." She gave a dramatic sigh as her eyes found the Slytherin now leaning against his desk and watching her from the cover of his hair.

***

Luckily, Madame Solange believed in discretion, and the heavy package brought to her table on Friday morning by a large horned owl was wrapped in plain brown paper. Ignoring the boys' curious glances, Hermione stowed the package in her bag and continued eating as if strange parcels were delivered to her every day.

"Is that it?" Ginny mouthed silently from across the table.

Hermione nodded. "Later, when the nosy ones are otherwise occupied."

As she walked to her first class, Hermione paid little heed to the boys' conversation.

How shall I deliver his present? By owl?

Right. Composed again now. Harry is giving me funny looks. Must stop thinking of Severus's co... Shite, there I go again!

"Are you okay? You look a bit flushed. You aren't running a fever, are you? Madam Pomfrey did say there was a little wizard flu about, and you know how contagious that is." Harry moved away a little as he spoke.

"I'm fine, Harry. Look." She grabbed his hand and held it to her forehead. "Not a trace of a fever."

"That's good, 'cause we were going to ask if you'd help us start our Charms essays." Ron's relief was not well concealed. "Just start, mind you. I know we're supposed to do our own work."

Mollified a little, Hermione nodded. "All right. I'll give you some pointers to get you started. But you do all the research yourselves and write your essays independently. Got it?"

"Yes, miss," they replied in unison as they entered the Transfiguration classroom and found their seats.

***

"You're really going to give these to him?" Ginny stared at the items on Hermione's desk in awe.

"With instructions on how and when to use them."

"I don't want to know. I really don't want to know!" Ginny covered her ears and retreated from the room, face blazing.

Hermione pulled out a few pieces of parchment from her desk drawer and with a complex wave of her wand decorated them with bright red and gold stripes. I could do green and silver, but that wouldn't aggravate him half as much. Will make the surprise so much more effective.

Another complicated wand movement and she had cast an Undetectable Extension Charm on a medium-sized envelope. Slipping in the parcel, she followed it with a page of instructions, then sealed the envelope. After writing Snape's name on the front, she slipped the innocuous looking letter into her bag and smiled once again.

***

A/N: This was written for shalimar1981 for the TPP Every Flavour Auction. Many thanks to quaffswinegaily for her input and karelia for the beta. You girls rock!

Sorry about the delay, real life and holidays intervened! Thanks for your patience.