The Dance Begins
Chapter 2 of 3
LadyTuesday“Miss Granger,” Snape growled, not raising his eyes from the unlucky parchment he was marking with a large red 30%, “I did not assign this detention merely for you to take a constitutional around my office, wasting my time and trespassing on my goodwill.” Snorting at the mention of ‘good will,’ she mumbled, “Yes, sir,” and dropped her potions kit on the floor beside the couch, now ready to begin her tasks.
Author notes: In this chapter of the story, I have taken several liberties with things not specifically discussed in canon. First of all, I have taken some liberties with Snape: He doesn't live/have his private office in the dungeons, and I have added some personal details (that you'll have to read to find out). I have been trying to be as in-character as possible, but for the purpose of the story, I have decided to put through my own interpretations of him. Hope you like.
Chapter Two - The Dance Begins ...
Hermione wheeled around so quickly she could have gotten a crick in her neck. He was standing no more than a foot behind her, his hand extending under her arm to grasp the doorknob. He towered over her slight frame, no doubt to achieve the effect of staring down his disproportionately large nose at her.
"I'm sorry, Professor, I--" she began, still huffing and puffing.
"Miss Granger, I have tolerated your rudeness, your presumption and now your tardiness. I will certainly not tolerate any lame excuses of how some feverish snogging with Potter in a darkened hallway has caused you to be late. Get in."
"I take it back," she mumbled. "I'm not sorry."
"That will do," he growled. A satisfied smile plastered itself across his thin and sallow face. He watched her jump slightly, as she had clearly not considered herself loud enough to be heard.
The door clicked unpromisingly behind her, causing her to jump yet again. She had no desire to be behind a closed door with Snape when he was in such a smug mood. Even less did she care to be in a closed room with a self-satisfied Snape who had yet to dole out punishment.
As if reading her thoughts, he strolled casually around the dimly lit office, obviously fishing for a suitable occupation for her. "You will begin," he started, smoothly, "by re-alphabetizing my collection of Potion recipe books, refilling every container in my private store cabinet, and chronologically filing my crates of backdated student work."
The driving rain made a suitable background cadence to his sinister sneer and self-congratulatory tone of voice. She removed a sweater she had thrown over her shoulders in anticipation of the draft of the dungeons and draped it over the end of the couch, ready to grudgingly get to work, when he slickly continued. "You will then grade the essays of all the first years, read the next chapter in 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi and comprise a class study list for the N.E.W.T. reviews."
Her shoulders sagged at the sheer amount of work she had just been given. A glance at her watch told her that she would be there until, at the very earliest, dinner, and perhaps at least two hours after she returned from eating. And that was if she worked speedily.
Snape glanced once more around the office, searching, Hermione imagined, for any other inane tasks that he had been putting off for just such an occasion. Apparently finding nothing, he crossed the room in silence and seated himself behind his desk; pulling out a pair of thin, silver-framed reading glasses, he set himself to the task of reading what she recognized as her N.E.W.T level Potions class's latest essay assignment on the Polyjuice Potion.
Hermione took this momentary reprieve from his hawk-like stare to gaze around the room. Contrary to what she had pictured for Snape, the office was not swathed in the silver and green colors that she would have expected for a Head of Slytherin House who was so obviously and ruthlessly patriotic (and biased). Instead, it was decorated with an intricate set of black tapestries, a heavy, deeply carved mahogany desk in an alcove in front of the window, smooth cherry bookshelves lining nearly the entire room, and a matching leather couch and chair that looked so plush it would more than likely swallow someone of her stature. The couch and chair stood in front of a roaring fire, which, in strict contrast to the drafty dungeons with their high-ceilings, cast a warming glow in the room.
Ironically, the only items that told of his house status were a small inkwell on his desk, around which was curled a glittering silver serpent, and a tarnished silver and green prefect badge, laid on his desk just behind a pyramid plaque that said, Professor Severus R. Snape, Potions Master.
Allowing her gaze to wander, she glanced around the walls; much to her surprise, in between the tapestries were some very striking oil paintings. He must have developed a fondness for the particular person's work, as they were obviously all done by the same artist. The paintings all had a similar sort of color scheme: deep blues, unrelieved blacks and moody grays, not breaking the inherent brooding mystery that surrounded Snape, the man and his office.
Her face softened in ill-concealed interest as she dropped her school bag on the couch next to her sweater and allowed her fingers to wander against the spines of the books on the nearest shelf to her left. His tastes in books were certainly eclectic. He had an expected, rather expansive collection of potion books; but the set of shelves immediately behind his desk was stuffed with books of varying sizes, shapes and topics. Crammed into the clutter of books, a clutter that Hermione found very friendly and familiar, were collections of English classic literature, a medical dictionary (Muggle of course), and even a book of plays. At this last she sniggered audibly, picturing in her head Snape reading dramatically from Oscar Wilde or Noel Coward.
"Miss Granger," Snape growled, not raising his eyes from the unlucky parchment he was marking with a large red 30%, "I did not assign this detention merely for you to take a constitutional around my office, wasting my time and trespassing on my goodwill."
Snorting at the mention of 'good will,' she mumbled "Yes, sir," and dropped her potions kit on the floor beside the couch, now ready to begin her tasks.
She started with what she mentally referred to as "desk work": correcting the first years' exams and reading and compiling a study list. Following this, after a curt, ten-word conversation with Snape as to the location of certain items, she refilled his private store cabinet. This last duty was decidedly more difficult than she anticipated, as his store cupboard was directly behind his desk, and, as he made no move to leave his desk to allow her room, she had to squeeze herself into an area between his chair and the cupboard that she was sure would have made even someone the size of Dobby claustrophobic.
When she had finally shut the doors to his private store, she was dully aware of her stomach grumbling. She checked her watch and debated whether she should inform Snape that she had only a half hour left or she would miss dinner completely. As she stood contemplating her dilemma, he rose from his desk, pushing his chair into her stomach as he stepped away. Dropping his glasses into his top drawer, he picked up his wand, twirled it gently, causing a plate of ham and chicken sandwiches, a pitcher of pumpkin juice, a flagon of dark wine and two goblets to appear on his desk.
"You must be hungry," he stated unceremoniously. "Eat."
Hermione surmised that he must have thought he was being quite noble and considered picking up her belongings and stalking out. However, just as she had made to do so, her stomach grumbled loudly. Snape smirked at her as she set her bag back down and settled tentatively into the chair in front of his desk. She picked up a sandwich, not at all keen at the idea of sharing a meal with Snape, but he simply poured himself a goblet of wine and moved to sit in front of the fireplace.
She couldn't really decide whether she was relieved that she wasn't expected to make conversation or affronted that he had rebuffed her so thoroughly and efficiently. With a firm resolve to regain her position as Hermione Granger, Teacher's Pet, she picked up her plate of sandwiches and goblet of pumpkin juice, and moved to the couch opposite his silent reverie in his arm chair. He acknowledged her presence only by the barest of glances and a thinly raised eyebrow. She watched mutely as he raised a hand slowly to push away an ebony strand of hair from his eyes, never pulling his distant stare away from the fire.
She cleared her throat uncomfortably, wondering if he would endeavor to grant her some company. Deciding that he would not, she ventured a conversation. "The paintings you have hanging are stunning."
He gave her a spare nod, not lifting his glance.
"The artist is quite talented."
Another nod.
"Do you know who painted them?"
At this, he inclined his head towards her, his face covered with an unreadable expression. "Yes, I know who painted them."
"They're all landscapes ... Is it a Muggle artist, or a wizard?"
He looked as though he were trying to repress a snarl. "I painted them."
Hermione sat in shock, suddenly compelled to engage in a rapt examination of the hem of her T-shirt. Though she would be the first to admit that professors must have other pursuits, other hobbies than those relating to his or her particular subject, she would never have guessed that Snape of all people could be so ... creative. The paintings were, after all, quite stunning, even though distinctly like Snape himself: dark, ominous and enigmatic.
"When do you have time to ..." Her voice died away as his face seemed to become stonier, more stoic. She guessed that this was not a subject he cared to discuss, especially not with a student so well-placed to embarrass him and undermine his intimidating reputation.
As she turned her head away, she noticed a portrait on his desk that she had not seen before, as Snape's arm had then blocked it from her view. Seated in the portrait was a thin woman with a sallow complexion, pointed nose and long, shining raven hair that flowed over her shoulders. Had her face been marked with a smile, Hermione may have even gone so far as to think her beautiful, but as her face remained ever-wary, she could only see fit to mentally describe her as "watchful." There was a certain arrogance and nobility of station in the way she held herself, making her an arresting presence, and causing anyone who glanced at her to wonder at her mystery. Her portrait was moving, but only the slight shift in her eyes, the occasional glance over her shoulder would belie that it was a wizarding painting.
"Who is the lady?" she asked, dropping her shirt and motioning to the portrait.
He grumbled, a guttural growl low in his throat, and snapped, "Miss Granger, had I known that I would be subject to a personal assault by these ridiculous questions, I would have released you to the Great Hall for dinner. For once, girl, learn your place, still your tongue, and desist in this inquisitory onslaught."
She couldn't help but let a hurt squeak escape her throat. She had merely been trying to be pleasant. For some reason she found herself fighting back tears. She rose from the chair and returned to the desk where she ate in silence, the black-haired woman watching her silently.
"Her name was Solange; she died in France fourteen years ago." After a deafening silence where Hermione didn't dare breathe, he added, "She was my mother."
Hoping that this brittle conversation indicated a thaw in his taciturn exterior, she continued. "When did you paint this?"
There was a long pause before he answered her. "Yesterday."
Knowing that this signaled the end of any pleasantries (if one could call their discourse "pleasant"), Hermione set down her food and rose to begin re-alphabetizing his potion books. The books came down with relative ease, though she had to stand on the lowest shelf in order to reach those at the top. For long past an hour she worked, completely unaware that he was moving about the room, the silence complete with the exception of the rhythmic drumming of the rain on his windows. Without thought of his current employment within the chamber, she continued reorganizing the books, cross-legged on the floor, before preparing to place them back on the shelves. When she was finally ready to reshelf the books, she came across the rather large problem that without the weight of the volumes on the bottom row the lowest shelf would not hold her weight in order to allow her to put the books back at the top.
She strained upwards, the large volumes crushing down on her hands as she fought to place them on the top level. Gauging that the shelf was several feet out of her reach, she realized the fight was fruitless, but she pressed on despite this.
After ten minutes of struggle and stunted jumping, she had only managed to reshelf one book. Hermione was tottering precariously on one foot, holding a several-inches-thick volume of Most Potente Potions, when she lost her balance and began to topple over. Flailing her free arm, she struggled to remain upright, when suddenly a long arm grasped her upheld wrist, guiding it towards the shelf.
She fell backwards against his chest as he reshelved the book, instinctively wrapping his free arm smoothly around her left arm and ribcage to keep her upright and off the floor.
As she righted herself completely, she tugged down her shirt, which had ridden up under his arm, and turned to face him. Hermione marveled at the fact that she had not heard him move over to her, despite the rustling his billowing robes must have caused. Given the fact that he had not moved away, when she turned to face him Hermione was eye-level with the broad expanse of shoulder that she had not realized he possessed in such abundance. After all, this was the closest she had ever been to him.
He must have been watching me, she thought blushingly as she slowly turned her attention up to his face, looming nearly a foot over hers. His expression was, once again, dark and unreadable.
In the wee hours of the night that would come later she would berate herself as to what had possessed her to do what she was about to do. But whatever the reason, Hermione Granger laced her arms around Severus Snape's neck and stood on her toes to place her lips gently against his.
She closed her eyes for a few seconds, losing herself in the exciting mystery of the forbidden moment, but when she opened them she was shocked at what she saw. Snape had not physically responded to her actions in the slightest; instead he was watching her face with a cold, calculating glare. She could see in his eyes that he was waiting to see her motives. He expected this to be a hook she was baiting, monitoring his reaction. He thought she was up to something. Hermione was shaken to the core, and heartily ashamed of herself.
She broke away from him quickly, flushing to the roots of her hair, her hand flying instinctively to her lips. What had she just done?
"Miss Granger, you are dismissed for the evening. Leave now," Snape spoke without moving an inch. She certainly didn't need to be told twice. In a rush of flying brown curls, she fled the room, red-faced. When she had gone, he remained staring at the door for quite some time.
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Latest 25 Reviews for Unlikely Connections
36 Reviews | 8.42/10 Average
I see that you have returned after a long but apparently much needed break. I was wondering if you could post something about whether or not you will be returning to this story. I know that you are a lot farther along on AFF and that other stories seem to be in your main focus. Not that I am not excited about your other posts- I am VERY excited!!!- I am just curious. THX for coming back.
I found this a couple of years ago when I first joined this site. I travelled over to Ashwinder to read the rest of it and was disappointed to see that it had been a while since it was updated. You've responded in some reviews that you won't abandon this story, and I'm thankful for that. Do you know when you'll get back to this? It's been a while since I read it, so I don't remember details, but I do know that I LOVE it. I have it marked as a favorite here and I check Ashwinder several times a day to check for updates on other stories, so I can promise to be one of the first to review on your next update. I hope you come back to this story.
Interesting beginning -- I hope you update soon.
Oh, please tell me you will finish this story and not leave me hanging! Very good start.
Wow - what a chapter - the dream was great. Oh please write another chapter soon - this is an interesting story. I love the way you work in the details
I can't wait for you to update!I'm thinking Harry has a crush on her though.Ron is out in the blue wonder that is Hogwarts i'm guessing?thats fine though better off with out him I always say!Can't wait for updates!
Ooooh I just love shirtless-but-panted Snape! Just a bit of a tease, isn't he? I adore your story, and am truly captivated by the plot, so please update soon!!!
I just love how the emotions (mostly lust at first) slowly builds in this story!
Anonymous
Great chapter. This is what inspired me to start reading at the beginning. :-D
Anonymous
Nice to see a slightly-different Snape-interpretation! I never quite buy into the green-and-silver myself (I would never want to be sleeping in those sheets), so this new environment is most definitely appreciated! Great to force them into close proximity, too. ;-)
Anonymous
:-) I love the idea that they would become equals due to the war-effort, and I can see how that would cause tension when they're back in an unequal relationship!
Please tell me your going to update this story. I really want to know what Severus is going to do next.
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
I read this fic a while ago and now that you are posting it here, I am rediscovering it. It is exceptionally well written and suspensful. And that scene in a later chapter - you know the one LOL - it's the hottest thing I think I've ever read! :)I hopw this means it wiill be continuing past what I've already read - but I am excited to read it all over again :)
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Hehehehe. Thank you for rereading and rediscovering my fic! And yes, I found that particular chapter quite steamy myself ... I'm glad I achieved my goal ^_^. And yes, I plan to continue it (I would never leave my baby unfinished!) but I'm using this reposting time to help me combat some writer's block. I promise there'll be more, so don't give up! Thanks again for reading and reviewing!
Reading your story conjures memories of reading the Bronte's novels while it rained. Wonderful ambience! I can almost see his quarters.
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Wow! Comparing me to the Bronte sisters ...that's such a fantastic compliment! Thank you for taking the time to read and review!
Very interesting so far. You have some high warnings on your story so I am a bit wary if it really is my kind of story. I am not to happy about stories where the main plot is to torture Hermione in the most grotesk ways and then supposidly either make her enjoy humiliation and torture or forgive everything due to being served a sloppy "sorry". If someone hurts her, I loke her to get revenge! Your first two chapters are very welll written though so I will "hang around" a while and see where your story goes:-))
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
I'm glad you like the story so far. As far as the high warnings go, there are some troublesome things coming, but they are quite far in the future for now. I REALLY appreciate that you're willing to give the story time to develop before you decide whether or not the story is for you. Trust me, I also hate stories where the only point seems to be to use Hermione as a punching bag, so I hope you won't find that here. Thanks for reading and reviewing and I hope you stick with me!
Oh, and btw, I always try to give my readers PLENTY of notice about squicky content (hence the high warnings so early in the fic) both in the story descrip and at the beginning of chapters, so if you find yourself hooked by the story and simply want to skip over the squicky parts, I hope you will be able to accomplish that. Thanks again!
I loved this story I felt like I was there,though itchapter two was off I thought form the warnings.Can't wait till updates.
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
*nod* The warnings are pre-emptive. I try not to let my readers be shocked when squicky stuff pops up, so I figure the sooner that I warn them, the better. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Oh - way to go girl - have Hermione make the first move and kiss him. Severus always being the doubting Thomas will be imagining the 1,000,000 bad reasons that she did this other than the obvious one that she just wanted to.
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Hehehehehehe, oh, you do know our Severus very well, don't you? Just wait and see ^_^
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Oh now I cannot wait to see what fireworks errupt here. They already are fairly growling at each other - loved the chapter and cannot wait to see where the story goes
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Very enjoyable.
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Thank you! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
This is an excellent story! I'm so glad you have found your way to our little oasis in the fandom, and I can't wait to read more!
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Thank you so much! I've really enjoyed it here so far and I am flattered to have such a great response! Oh and btw, I had LOTS of fun responding to your Ingredient Challenge at WIKTT. I've posted my response at Ashwinder and the first chapter is up here (it's called The Secret's In the Sauce). I'd love for you to read it! I hope it does the challenge justice.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Response from KingPig (Reviewer)
OMG! I responded at Ashwinder, but I'm not sure if you got it there. I. Love. Your. Challenge. Response. Hehe. I'm so, so incredibly honored that you were first (and right now, only, lol) writer to respond to that challenge; you are so gifted in your writing talent and you did more than give justice to the challenge. I long ago gave up on that challenge, as when I posted it, I was given negative feedback (i.e., "that's disgusting!", etc.) and I stopped checking whether or not anyone ever responded to it. And you did so, and beautifully! Thank you, Lady Tuesday.
Oh, my. That was something. Although you would think a fairly young male teacher would not have a girl in his room alone for that very reason.
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
*nod* Yeah, you would think that he'd be a little more careful, but Snape being Snape, I doubt it's ever been a concern before, so I doubt it would occur to him. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
AYE! That's some good stuff...
You know, I'll be waiting!
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Thank you so much! And thanks for reading and reviewing! More is on the way soon!
Well, well, well I can imagine how much control it took Severus to not respomd to that....what a great challenge. I hope Hermione rises to the challenge of gaining and honest response from him. Well done Irish
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
hehehehe. Yeah, I think it's a good thing my Sevvie has a will of iron. And Hermione's never one to back down from a challenge, is she? ^_^
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
When I started reading this, I couldn't believe it. I read this story a long time ago (or so it seems) on Ashwinder. In fact, this story was one of the stories that inspired me to write some of the SS/HG stories I have written. Thank you for posting it here! I will enjoy reading it all over again.
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Wow, I'm so incredibly flattered! Thank you so much for that wonderful compliment. And yes, I'm sure it was quite a while ago on Ashwinder, as this story has been in progress for almost five years! (Gosh, I'm a slacker!). I'm so glad and grateful to be someone's inspiration, especially someone whose fan fiction I'm so fond of (Soothing Hands ... *bows to you*). Thanks so much for reviewing!
It's so good: we're already in the action from the beginning. Now I'll can't wait to know what will happen during detention.
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Thank you! And thanks for reading and reviewing! More is on the way ...
Response from LadyTuesday (Author of Unlikely Connections)
Thank you! And thanks for reading and reviewing! More is on the way ...