Chapter 2
Chapter 2 of 10
SubversaTwo years post-war, the world is settling again into a regular rhythm. The Boy Who Lived has a lover and a new business, and his two best friends are embarking on careers of their own. Working as an administrative assistant and teacher-in-training at Hogwarts, Hermione Granger becomes suspicious of the unusual behaviour of her boss, the Deputy Headmaster. Where does Severus Snape go several nights a week—what is he up to? Why is she the only one who notices? Can Snape really be trusted? The resourceful Miss Granger knows one sure way to find out: She will follow him.
ReviewedChapter 2
Two nights later, her work week complete, Hermione dawdles over her supper in the Great Hall. She has plans, but executing them depends on where Severus Snape decides to spend the evening. She casts occasional glances along the table to where he sits beside McGonagall at the centre of the table. After pudding, McGonagall rises and speaks to the teachers.
“Brandy and conversation in the staff room this evening.”
“And poker,” Snape adds sardonically. “Don’t bring your pocketbooks.”
Amid the good-natured laughs, Hermione trails the teachers until she sees Snape stand politely aside to permit the others to enter the room ahead of him. Flitwick and Slughorn are the last ones in. She reverses direction. She has preparations to make.
“Miss Granger?”
She freezes in her tracks. Why didn’t Snape go in? What does he want?
She turns to him. “Yes, Professor?”
“Will you join us?”
His tone is perfectly modulated. He exhibits no expression other than one of courteous attention. Hermione can’t help but notice how much better he looks than he did when she was his student. His eyes are no longer sunken in a face bordering on the skeletal, which always threw his nose into unflattering relief. He appears properly nourished, properly rested, and though he has a large, hooked nose, it no longer dominates his face as it did before. No, his eyes are his dominant facial feature now. They are endlessly dark and arresting.
These days, she finds herself looking at him far more frequently than she wants to, and she doesn’t like it.
She says, “Thank you, but no. I have plans with friends.”
Other than a faint arch of his eyebrows, Snape makes no response. He then nods and enters the staff room, closing the door behind him.
Hermione feels a curious mixture of relief and regret. Does he really want her company? She finds she cannot believe this to be true.
She turns and goes to her room to prepare for her night’s adventure.
Ninety minutes later, she is sitting disconsolately in the office shared by the co-owners of Harry’s Place. She wears a little black dress and crazily high-heeled black shoes. She’s even used Sleekeazy to put her hair up, but all to no avail. Knowing the location of the building still did not gain her entrance.
As she stood in the dark, empty foyer of the Secret Kept house, a disembodied voice said, “Password, please.”
Hermione looked all around, but saw no one. “I don’t have a password.”
“Come back Tuesday.”
And by some magic she is not familiar with, she was back on the street.
So she walked round to Harry’s Place.
She kicks off her shoes and massages a foot, while Harry and Draco stand over her.
Harry shakes his head. “Girls go out in the cold wearing next to nothing and then wonder why they’re freezing.”
Draco elbows Harry gently in the side. “Why don’t you find us something warm to drink, and I’ll fetch a blanket for her.”
When Harry leaves the room, Draco rests his shapely bum on the edge of a desk and looks her over with cool grey eyes.
“What happened to you? Some bloke stand you up?”
Hermione glances over her shoulder to ascertain Harry’s absence, then holds out the grubby card to Draco. “Do you know this place?”
Draco wrinkles his nose and takes the business card fastidiously by the corners. When he speaks, his voice is sharp with disbelief. “TPE? What the hell, Granger?”
Hermione snatches the card from him and puts it away again. “Just tell me what you know.”
He leans closer to her and speaks quietly. “It’s a club for adults. My father goes there now and again.”
“Your parents go to TPE?”
“My father,” he repeats, as if she’s not quite bright. “It wouldn’t be to my mother’s . . . taste.”
“But why is it so secretive? What do they do there?”
Draco’s eyes focus on the wall over her head, and she’s sure the next words he speaks will be a lie.
“Don’t bother if you’re not going to tell me the truth,” she says, feeling irritated. All dressed up and nowhere to go, except to see Harry and Draco. Another wasted excursion. Will she never find out what Snape is up to?
She says, “I’ll just go back Tuesday, like they told me to.”
Draco nods. “Tuesday nights are for beginners. You’ll find out all about it then.”
Hermione narrows her eyes at him. “I wish you would just tell me what you know.”
“I went to one of the Tuesday night get-togethers, but it wasn’t my sort of thing. Friday nights are for couples and people seeking relationships, so they don’t admit beginners on Fridays. You can be anonymous if you want. It’s just for all different sorts of . . . encounters.”
“Do you mean sex?” Hermione asks, intrigued.
“Go find your own man, Hermione,” Harry says, returning with a tea service on a tray. “No sex with mine.”
Harry gives Draco a look, and Draco smirks at him. Hermione tries not to be envious. Harry has someone. Ron has someone. Even Neville and Ginny have each other. What’s the matter with her? Why can’t she find someone?
Harry shakes his head, pouring tea into a mug and passing it to Hermione. “I thought you were going to find a blanket for her, Malfoy. You’re hopeless at entertaining.”
Draco lifts a hand. “Accio sofa quilt.”
Tucked up on the sofa across from the partners’ desks, Hermione drinks her tea and looks around the room. Harry’s desk is haphazardly piled with vendors’ invoices, fliers announcing the opening of the restaurant on Halloween, and newspapers. Draco’s desk holds a framed photograph of him with his parents, an expensive eagle feather quill in a sterling silver inkstand, and a cut crystal vase with one perfect white rose.
She cocks her head to one side. “I didn’t know you like flowers, Draco.”
He reaches the short distance from his chair to Harry’s and flicks a finger gently against the messy black-haired head. “I didn’t either, until someone began giving me one every day.”
Harry laughs. “The way I remember it is you told me if I wanted to get on with you, I had to provide the proper romantic inducements.”
The two exchange a look charged with tension, and Hermione is flooded with a sharp pang of emotion. It seems as if she’s on the verge of tears far too often, these days. Orphaned Harry has found his place in the world with Draco Malfoy, of all people, and she couldn’t be happier for both of them—but rather sad for herself.
She finishes her tea in one long swallow. “I’m off,” she says, slipping her shoes on again. “Thank you for the tea and company.”
The young men stand, shoulder to shoulder, and their hands link.
“Do you want us to take you back?” Harry asks.
Hermione shakes her head. “I’m a big girl—I can manage.”
She Disapparates from the street in front of the restaurant with its Opening Soon! sign glowing in the dark.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Before I Saw Your Face
83 Reviews | 6.25/10 Average
Thank you for this fabulous story, Subversa. I can't believe I hadn't seen it before now. In your hands Severus and Hermone are beautiful, refined within the the crucible of their emotions and brought to a radiant, white, and golden purity of love.
When I listened to the song it made me think of you and your darling hubby! May you both have a blissful holiday.
Beth
Great lord! Let me get my thoughts on paper.
•Hermione knows who Sir Tobias is.
•Now Severus knows who Kitten is.
•Lucius is on the way to TPE to escape Narcissa's aunts.
•Can Hermione be on her way to TPE to "get even?" Or confront Ramona or KiKi?
•Lucius is on the way to TPE to escape Narcissa's aunts.
Perhaps Lucius can prevent all Hell from breaking loose... if, indeed, Hermione and Seveus are both on their way to TPE.
...because Seveus is going to need all the help he can get. (Is Hermione carrying her wand???)
Beth
That was absolutely incredible. I loved it. I think that you should rework it for publication.
love that severus and hermione found one at BDSM.. love the interaction between them.. happy that crook found a partner...
Thank you, Subversa, for another wonderful story! I was delighted to find a new one although a new one doesn't stop me from re-reading my favorite old ones.
joanie
I absolutely LOVED the last chapter! I'm glad Severus got to her before Lucius, and they are now together.
That was absolutely satisfiyingly beautiful! Thank you for the lemony, romantic story with the happy ending. You have made my weekend. I went to the memorial for my friend that I had let slip away thinking there would always be time to see her again. She had struggled for 6 year with cancer. I was the only one there that the pain was new for. I was the only one tearful as I spoke to her husband, her daughter and her mother. I was so happy to get home and know I hadn't finished reading this story yet. Thank you for the cheer and happiness you give with the time you spend crafting stories for the rest of us, dearest.
Response from Subversa (Author of Before I Saw Your Face)
I was very sad to read about your friend. I have just such a friend in my life from whom I am much too distant. Thank you for the reminder.I'm so pleased to know you enjoyed this story. It was a pleasure to read your reviews. ~sub
Did she intend for him to find the letter? Did she know he would have no compunction about looking at the papers on her desk? That would be a Slytherin move. Well we will just have to see where this goes.
Ok. I thought I was being totally Gryffindor, but telling him straight to his face that she clearly knows who he is is totally Gryffindor. He did see the love bite but it was an accident. Well Serverus. What will you do now? The ball is clearly in your court. And what is Ramona doing there? Has she taken an interest in these love birds? Is she there to see what they are up to? Does she feel sorry for Kitten who keeps coming in to see Sir Tobias who is never there to see her? Hermione did tell her she had a kneazle at Hogwarts. I've already added this story to my favorites.
Just splendid Sub! I love Harry and Draco's relationship as well! I look forward to your next project very much! xx
"Until next time"...Good girl. I sense he will attempt one more time to separate himself from his feelings and tell her he won't see her again. Are there enough chapters for that and a reunion? What will she do in the meantime now that she knows who he is. He is at a serious disadvantage, but to show her cards too soon would unwise. He needs to realize his truth. He is in love. Will he figure out that kitten is Hermione? Will she give him hints back at the school? Oh I'm totally Griffindor right now. I'm all about wearing a kitten necklace or something to make him think about it in the office. When he's at his desk and she's at her's and no one else is there, accept the portraits, she should put her hair up and let him see the love bite on her nape and act like she forgot it was there. Good move or bad? I have no idea what a Slytherin would do right now.
A perfect ending to a perfect story, Thankyou for your wonderful writing and for sharing your gift of storytelling with us. Can't wait to read your next fic, don't leave us hanging too long!!! 😘
I wish Hermione had asked Severus if he had a red scarf in his trouser pocket! Just imagine his surprise! I'm glad he at least has Lucius to console him. Hermione can't really tell anyone about her night. She might be able to tell Draco, but Harry wouldn't understand.
A lovely story ,with a beautiful ending. Thank you so very much.
I was ready to sign up! But the goodbye is the hard part. It was wonderful! Then, as always, real life must assert it'self. Hopefully these two will figure out they don't need TPE and who they are together. Falling in love is always wonderful and horrible at the same time.
How us old biddies love to read these stories to remind ourselves of those emotional thrills and the desperation of our salad days. Tomorrow I go to the memorial for my maid of honor. She died of ovarian cancer. We'd schemed and talked about men. We cried on one another's shoulders. We told each other how beautiful we were and how lucky that bloke was to have us. We stuck up for each other when the bloke turned out to be a prick, and hated him with a self rightous anger. While we listened to Barry Manalow sing, "Looks like we've made it. Left each other all the way to another love..." We carried one another's deepest darkest secrets for all our lives. We were happy for one another as we each stood up for the other one at our weddings. She was my maid of honor and I was her matron of honor in a bright pink Princess Diana dress. I was there at the birth of her only child 26 years ago and then we lost touch with each other for years and years, always thinking there would be time to reminisce. It's too late now. Her husband found me last Sunday and let me know of her parting from this earth. It had taken a month to track me down because I hadn't nurtured my dearest friendships. I was too caught up in raising children, a career and being plain old world weary to the bone. Thank you for the stories you write that give people like me a window of respite from the sadness of real life. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
No harm, indeed! She knows she is looking for him, but he has no idea that Hermione is at TPE. Will she be convinced that Sir Tobias is really truly Severus Snape? How could she doubt? Who else would use such a name? What should she do when she is around the real Professor Snape if she decides he is the one she has been having this kinky sex with? Is there a way she could leave a hint that she is Kitty? Would it be unethical to expose their partner's identities? What happens if she decides to start having all kinds of cat fripperies other than stationary and Severus notices. Somehow I know these two have to figure this out. They are in love so it has to happen. Right? How can she be so calm in his presense after having this kind of encounter?
So Hermione found out she is in a den of sex looking for Snape. Surprise! She's like:"OMG!" then "What the hell! I can have free sex tonight, possibly with Severus Snape; ...or it could be a stranger. I'm in!"
Tuesday will be an eye opener for sure! I have a feeling the Hermione is about to find out she has a wild side she never knew existed. Severus is being polite to her and she doesn't even seem to care. Defiantly PTSD/OCD/PMS for lonely hearts. Harry and Draco make a good couple. Neville and Ginny...not sure. I think the only couple Jkr was right about was Neville and Luna. I can accept a Ginny/Neville though. He would balance her out.
Oh leave over, Hermione! Seriously. Maybe what he is up to just ins't any of your business. And he still has books of dark magic in his rooms that he has to keep out of the hands of idiots. I guess you don't have enough to do and it takes a while to get over the war. Old habits die hard. Maybe you have a PTSD/OCD suspician syndrom. I just made that up. It's long for paranoid. Well, hopefully this will lead to happiness for you and Snape.
Thank you! For your story and especially for the heartwarming finish.
I'm glad Severus saw the letter, and has decided to be with Hermione. I have the feeling she's not at TPE for him. I hope he's able to stop her from being with someone else. Snce he returns her feelings, it's going to hurt him that she'll be with someone else, even though she doesn't know he loves her.
Severus had best be honest with Hermoine, she will accecpt nothing else.
Sir Tobias, onward! Sigh ...
Thank you for another wonderful chapter!
Simply wonderful. <3
Love it, can't wait for more! As usual lol