Part One, Day Four

Many thanks to my beta, Dacian Goddess, for her help with this story.

And if you wonder, I don’t make any money with this.

Hermione thought that having breakfast in the headmaster’s private rooms nearly beat taking one’s meal under the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall; sipping one’s pumpkin juice while gazing at the beautiful grounds of Hogwarts was a marvellous experience. Severus observed her silently, enjoying her expression of delight. Her revelling in life was the most befitting homage to the dead he had seen. He was loath to break the quiet.

“Miss Granger, it’s time we go.”

She turned her eyes to him. “All right, sir.”

She picked up her rucksack from the floor and readied herself.

“I trust you’ve taken warmer clothes?” Severus inquired. “It’s currently autumn in Australia.”

“And winter in Sydney is more like spring in Scotland,” she retorted to show him that she had prepared for her trip seriously.

“Let’s go, then.” Severus was tempted to offer her his arm, but decided not to. It’s too early. She’s never seen me offering my arm to anyone. She would know that I am up to something. However, he managed to brush his fingertips against the small of her back in a seemingly unconscious movement of his arm when he closed the door to his rooms.

They crossed the grounds without exchanging a word, for the presence of the tombs was overwhelming them. They Apparated to the Ministry’s Atrium and headed for the Portkey terminal, where a clerk thoroughly checked and rechecked their papers, Severus’s pass, their reservations and their luggage before he let them go to the waiting room, where Severus had to deal with curious wizards and fawning witches. One unfriendly reply and one very dark look put everything and everyone back in place, and Hermione and he were left in peace afterward.

At ten to ten, they were invited to gather around a long plank and to grab it firmly, along with ten other wizards and witches. “I hate Portkeying to Australia. The travel lasts longer, and I’m sick almost every time when I arrive,” a man with short legs and a protruding belly commented. At that moment, the sensation of being hooked by their navels seized the passengers, and they were swept away in a howl of wind and swirling colours for several long seconds. Severus managed to make some physical contact with Hermione under the pretext of being pushed against her without him meaning to. It nearly sent his blood boiling, and that was certainly the explanation for the most humiliating “muscle incident” so far.

When the whole group landed in Sydney, Severus’s anal sphincter let go. He felt his intestinal contents escape into his underpants. He paled and backed away from the others quickly. The odour was already expanding its foul-smelling tendrils. Severus’s eyes darted from one person to another, wondering when one of them would notice his humiliation. Sweat formed on his forehead. He was on the verge of panic.

Hermione was very worried when she saw her ex-teacher looking like he might faint. She followed him and guessed what was wrong when the smell hit her nostrils. She casually unsheathed her wand and waved it at Severus, who found himself dressed in warmer clothes and devoid of excrement in his underpants.

“Here, sir. You’re still recovering from your injuries,” Hermione stated aloud for their audience. “Madam Pomfrey insisted on you not catching a cold.”

Her countenance expressed understanding and she smiled at him. He nodded his thanks. He had to admit that he was impressed. The girl had non-verbally performed a Cleaning Charm and a Clothing Charm in one wand-movement, leaving the witnesses of the scene in the dark about the real reason for her bout of magic. Filius would be proud of her, and Severus would be proud to have her on his arm one day. Then, Hermione dressed herself in warmer clothes too with the same wand movement. They were ready to face Australia.

They Flooed directly from Sydney Portkey terminal to their inn in Warrane Lane, the Muggle Cook. They came out of the fireplace in the corner of the room where lay the reception area. The establishment as a whole was modest and seemed to be built mostly in brick.

“Severus Snape and Hermione Granger,” Severus indicated to the receptionist, a witch apparently in her late twenties.

“Two rooms with a common bathroom,” she announced. She gave them their keys and indicated how to find their rooms. “First and second doors on the left, on the first floor.”

Severus grabbed his leather bag and Hermione her rucksack. They retired, each to their own room, to put away their things and to get ready for dinner. When Hermione opened the bathroom door, she found herself face to face with Severus, who smirked at her while folding his dark blue and very plush-looking towel on the towel-rail. She blushed deeply.

“It seems we’ll have to work out a schedule for the use of the bathroom,” he remarked idly without pausing in putting away his soap, shampoo and shaving set.

Hermione shrugged and tried to act casual. “There’s no need, really. All we have to do is double-lock the door when we use the bathroom.”

“Very well. I’ll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes.”

Severus turned on his heel and returned to his room, ostentatiously closing the door behind him. Still blushing, Hermione hastened to tidy up her things and to freshen up a little. When she met up with Severus, she was wearing her coat above her jeans and sweater, whereas he was only in his custom black robes, sans cloak.

“We’re having dinner in the hotel restaurant,” he informed her. “Your coat is not needed.”

“Oh.” Hermione felt a bit stupid. She had assumed they were going out, if only to familiarise themselves with Warrane Lane’s layout a little.

“Take it back to your room, Miss Granger.” He was mildly annoyed with her, but he reasoned that it had not been that obvious that they were going to eat on site.

Later, when they were settled into their chairs, Severus asked her where her parents lived.

“I found them a flat in Regent Street, not far from here. I thought it’d be easier if I didn’t have to roam all of Australia when the time would come to bring them back.”

“Good thinking,” Severus acknowledged, and Hermione’s cheeks took on a slight shade of pink under the compliment.

“Thank you, sir.”

They discussed the particularities of the Australian culture while eating their roast meat and vegetables. Hermione had studied the subject extensively before she had sent her parents here and she was only too happy to share her findings. Unexpectedly, Severus was keen on listening to her, and not only because of his plan to seduce her; he did not know much about Australia, never having had the time to read about it, and his curiosity was aroused. She still sounded like a travel guide, a very animated travel guide, but she did not bore him at all. After having a slice of Pavlova for dessert—a meringue decorated with whipped cream and strawberries—they retired to their rooms and, with a simultaneity that would have scared them had they been able to witness it, they swallowed their doses of Sleeping Draught and slept without interruption until six in the morning.