A Knock at the Door

A Knock at the Door by Pearle

Summary: The war is over and Hogwarts is about to start a new school year. A knock at the door of Severus Snape\'s office is about to change his life and the lives of those around him. HG/SS


Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.


~~~~~~ A Knock at the Door ~~~~~~

12. The Trouble with Tribbles, Sorry Wrong Series

\"Mister Winston! You were told to sit. What part of sit do you not understand?\" Hermione stood with her hands on her hips glaring at a young boy who had steam pouring out of his ears. \"It has only been fifty minutes by my watch. I told you the Pepperup potion takes a full hour to absorb and reach your system. When the steam stops, you may leave. Now. Sit!\"

\"Yes, Madame Granger.\" The boy, a third year Hufflepuff sat. He was partially in awe that this was THE Hermione Granger. Friend of the Boy-who-lived-to-save-the-wizarding world and the witch who helped to create the potion that killed He-who-must-not-be-named. Also partially because she glared just as well as Snape.

A flu epidemic had broken out in the last two days and there had been a run on Pepperup potion to help fight the symptoms. She had five students in various stages of absorption in the ward right now. She would have to make another batch tonight. Hermione thought she could really use Poppy\'s help right about now, but there was a Quidditch match this morning between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff going on. Poppy stayed on the sidelines in case anyone was injured. She heard the doors creak open and thought, not again.

She was pleasantly surprised to hear her daughter\'s voice call out, \"Mom, are you here?\"

\"Silenus?\"

\"Hang on. I think she\'s in back.\" Hermione wondered who was with her daughter as she headed to the front of tard.ard. Silenus and another girl were standing by one of the cots. The girl’s left hand was wrapped in a Slytherin scarf. \"Mom, Benita slipped and her hand ran across an unfinished board under one of the seats. She has a bunch of splinters. Can you get them out?\"

\"Hi Benita. Have a seat up here and I\'ll take a look.\" Hermione patted the cot they were standing next to and started to unroll the scarf. The girl\'s hand looked swollen in spots. Several slivers were protruding from her palm. Hermione thought an infection might be setting in.

\"Hold still while I get a few supplies.\" Hermione turned to the cupboard on the side.

\"Madame Granger, can I go now?\" The Hufflepuff\'s ears had stopped smoking and the boy\'s coloring was a little better.

\"You can go Mister Winston. But if you are not feeling well tomorrow, you will need another dose.\"

\"Thank you.\" He called and scurried out the door.

Hermione returned with several potions and a salve. \"I need you to hold still now.\" She used a special spell as she waved her wand over the girl\'s palm in a series of intricate circles. The splinters seem to seep from Benita\'s hand as they watched. She used an antigermitis salve before using a shrinking spell to reduce the swelling. \"There, your hand will be fully healed in a few hours.\"

\"Thank you Madame Granger.\" Benita was flexing her fingers. They had swelled to the point of being hard to bend or move.

Hermione glanced at her watch. \"Silenus, don\'t you and the Professor usually have your chess game now?\"

\"Oh, we played earlier this morning. The Professor had to leave, so we made the game a bit earlier today.\"

Hermione was curious. Severus rarely went anywhere outside the castle as far as she knew. \"Where did he go?\"

Silenus was watching her mother. \"I thought he said Italy. I\'m not sure why though. Benita. Ready to go? Is it okay if we leave mom?\"

Hermione wasn\'t listening. What would Severus go to Italy for? \"What? Oh yes you can go. Take care honey.\"

\"Bye mom.\"

\"Bye Madame Granger.\"


XXXXXXXXXXXX

Lunch was a rather quiet affair since it was a Hogsmeade weekend and most of the students, third years and up, were descending on the little village. Hermione sat at the table between Remus and Sheila. The young woman was pleasant and it was nice to have someone her age in the castle, but she was starting to get on her nerves. Her constant giggling was becoming as annoying as nails scratching on a blackboard.

\"Did you enjoy the play?\" Remus was refilling both their glassed with pumpkin juice as he spoke.

Hermione laughed. \"It was...inttingting to say the least. I find it very hard to believe it\'s a sold out show.\"

\"Well, there\'s no accounting for peoples tastes.\"

\"How is the Defense position going?\" She knew Harry had replaced Remus a few times when the moon was full.

\"It\'s great. I like the kids and defense against the dark arts had always interested me.\"

\"Remus, I have a favor to ask you.\"

Remus smiled. \"Sure. What do you need?\"

\"Well, Severus said he was going to start dueling lessons with Silenus soon. Do you think maybe the two of you could duel and then Silenus could see how is should be done?\" Hermione was still worried about her daughter.

\"Hermione, Severus would never hurt Silenus. I\'m sure he\'ll be careful. You can see he cares about her.\"

\"Yes I know. But I\'m still a bit worried.\"

\"Harry will be here on Monday to take over my classes for a for the week.\" Hermione nodded her head in understanding. “Wednesday night would be a full moon. How about if I ask him to talk to Severus?\"

\"Thank you. I really would appreciate it. Do you know where Severus is by the way, I wanted to speak to him?\" She was dying of curiosity, Italy?

The Headmaster seemed to appear behind Hermione with a smile on his face. \"He is in Italy my dear. Did you need something?\"

\"Albus, you startled me. Someone should put a bell on you! What did he go to Italy for? Is everything all right?\"

Remus was watching the young woman intently as the Headmaster said. \"He\'s fine Hermione. I believe he is visiting a colleague, Madame Marino if I am not mistaken. He should return tomorrow evening.\"

\"Marino. I remember him mentioning her, though it\'s been sometime since I heard her name. If I remember right, it\'s been several years, but he went to Italy quite a few times back then. She was at a lecture he gave on Wolfsbane a couple of years ago. I thought he told me the research he\'s doing now was based on a theory she had.\" Remus said thoughtfully.

\"Severus lectured?\" Hermione said in disbelief.

\"He has lectured a few times over the last ten years. It\'s just been a while since I remember him being gone for a weekend. I am sure he is fine. If you will excuse me I believe I am needed elsewhere.\" And with a smile, Albus was gone.

Hermione was shaking her head. \"Someone should really put a bell around his neck. At least then I would hear him coming.\"

Remus laughed. \"Actually I don\'t think a bell would help. He could probably charm it to keep quiet and ring only when he wanted to annoy someone.\"

\"Which would be under the guise of helping them?\" Hermione loved Albus dearly but often thought he could be a bit annoying at times not to mention he appeared to have an ulterior motive most of the time, even when he
attempted to help you.

Hermione was sipping her pumpkin juice, lost in thought as Sheila and Remus were discussing today\'s Quidditch match. What was Severus doing in Italy?


XXXXXXXXXXXX

Snape had sent Melinda Marino an owl Thursday afternoon. He received her reply on Friday evening. She was now Madame Melinda Marino-Maritti having married Maceo Maritti. And he thought his families\' tradition of using names beginning with \"S\" to be a little odd. Maceo Maritti was a researcher at a local potions laboratory. Her letter said she was surprised to hear from him after all this time. If he planned on being in the area, would he like to have dinner with them? Snape had decided to take her up on the offer. He thought he could do with some time away from the castle to clear his head. The rest of the letter was a bit chatty but carried the implied message that there would be no mention of past liaisons, only their professional association with each other. The lady needn\'t have worried. Snape adhered to an old wizarding standard, he would be the soul of discretion.

He had asked his daughter if she would mind having their chess game before the Quidditch match this week as he had some business to attend to in Italy that weekend. He rather thought when it came time for her to attend Hogsmeade weekends they would have to move the game to Sunday nights if they were to continue, after all, being a typical teen she would probably want to visit the village with her friends for the day. That was two years off. Time to worry about it then. Their game finished just before the match with Silenus winning the last game by the barest of margins. Surprisingly, they were fairly evenly matched. They had won and lost about the same number of matches each since they began playing, neither one ever making a clean sweep of all three games. She usually came sometime on Sunday to inform him of the week\'s password when she won. Silenus took off for the match and her father left for Italy.

Severus apparated to a little wizarding town in Northern Italy called Città del Magia just outside of Venice. He had reserved a room, at Melinda\'s suggestion, at a hotel named Il Palazzo Danieli. The name was more ambitious than the building that possessed it. It was a quaint building but by no means a palace. He had some time to walk around the town before he meet Melinda and her husband for dinner. With luck he could find a chess set in one of the local shops.

He lost track of time wondering in and out of various stores, the local apothecary, a small bazaar, and an Italian bookstore. He found an unusual hand carved teak chess set at a small emporium. He purchased the set and then shrunk it for safekeeping. He had just enough time to wonder what had possessed him to come meet these two people before he actually left to meet Melinda and her husband. Surely he had lost his mind somewhere along the way? With that thought he entered the restaurant.

\"Severus.\" Melinda and her husband were waiting for Snape when he entered the bistro. She had not changed since he saw her last. Well, he mentally amended that thought. She looked the same with the exception of a husband at her side. Melinda was a short dark woman of average height and build. She had shoulder length brown hair and was smiling at Severus. \"Severus Snape, this is my husband, Maceo Maritti. Maceo, you remember I told you about the revision in the Wolfsbane potion? Severus is the one who was working on it.\"

The two men acknowledged each other as Severus took his seat. Maceo poured Severus a glass of wine as he asked, \"Snape? That can\'t be too common a name. Any relation to the Potions Professor at Hogwarts?\"

Severus eyed the man trying to read any implied meaning in his words. \"I believe I would be guilty of being that Professor. Why do you ask?\"

The change in Maceo was immediate. He smiled. His whole countenance opened up. \"Well, this is an honor. I have read several articles you have written. Actually I was doing research on one of the theorems you expounded on in your attempt to reduce the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. If you have time I would be honored to have you come to the house and see some of the work. Have you ever published any of the completed trials on the curse?\"

The remainder of the evening was spent talking of potions, research, causes, and effects. The time passed quickly. Maceo discussed some of the raw data he had that may be of use to Severus and Melinda talked about some of the new work she was pursuing. The time turned late, and the couple extracted a promise from Severus to visit their villa on the edge of town the next afternoon before he returned to Hogwarts. Maceo offered to research several points of the project for Severus if would like to send him any information that might be pertinent.

Snape looked up at Melinda as he finished the last of his tea. \"Would you care to tell me why you have that odd look in your eye? You have been looking at me for the last 10 minutes.\"

\"Severus, We do get the Daily Prophet here you know.\" Melinda said with a small smile.

\"I see.\" And he did. They had read about Silenus and Hermione. He wondered if they read the Quibbler too. He chuckled to himself as he wondered if she was going to ask him about the twins. \"And your question is?\"

\"I don\'t know if it is a question as much as an observation. You appear...calmer for lack of a better word. More...relaxed. Settled. How are you handling the situation?\" Her voice was soft.

Severus sighed. \"If you had asked me that three and a half months ago I most likely would have hexed you. But my daughter and I have gotten to know each other a bit. We play chess most Saturday\'s. She has aided me in the lab on occasion. It has been most interesting.\"

Maceo gave him an odd look. \"You let the girl help you? Is she qualified?\"

Severus chuckled as he said. \"Most qualified. She could most likely teach my first and second year classes without help from me. Hermione had allowed her to assist since Silenus was very small. She has a true gift for the craft.\"

\"Hermione?\" Maceo asked.

\"Yes, you remember Maceo. The article said her mother was Hermione Granger. I would dare say the child will probably be breaking records at Hogwarts based on her superior genetics.\"

Severus was uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken. Melinda brought the topic back to a more neutral ground as they discussed directions and a time to meet the next day.


All in all, Severus had had a surprisingly enjoyable evening spent discussing theories and potions. And looked forward to the prospect of further analysis the next day. It was quite late when he finally returned to Hogwarts Sunday night.


XXXXXXXXXXXX

\"When was the last time you checked?\" Jessie was busy looking for an answer in their transfiguration text as she talked with Silenus. \"Here it is. You were wrong Kelly. You tap twice then flick.\"

\"Are you sure? Let me see. Where does it say that?\" Jessie was handing her text to Kelly as she pointed to a particular paragraph.

Silenus sighed. \"I checked about an hour ago. I don\'t know when he was supposed to be back.\"

Jessie looked at the clock. \"Well, we\'ve still got a half hour until curfew, do you want me to go with you and we\'ll check again?\"

\"No. I can go my self. It\'s just down the hallway. I\'ll be back in a minute or two. This weeks password is puffskiens right?\" The other girls nodded as she left the common room.

It only took a moment for Silenus to reach her father\'s office. She could see the light under the door as she knocked.

His deep baritone called out, \"Enter.\" He could be found most Sunday nights in his office grading potions essays.

\"Dad?\"

Severus looked up from his paper work to see his daughter enter his office. \"Silenus. Come in. I assume you are here to give me this week\'s password?
Rest assured I intend to win next week and will bestow the most vile of passwords I can think of.\"

\"You\'re back rather late. Was your trip successful?\"

\"Yes an old colleague of sorts lives just outside of Venice. The woman and her husband have pursued a similar line of logic in attempting to alter the Wolfsbane potion. We will need to duplicate the notes so they may be sent to them. Maceo Maritti is a top potions researcher. I\'m sure his information will be very informative.\"

Silenus was sitting in the chair in front of his desk. \"That\'s great.\"

Snape noticed his daughter\'s voice was quiet and lacked any real conviction. \"Yes. It will be a tremendous help. Of course it will create an unbelievable amount of additional work to correlate their information with the notes we have here.\" He watched her face brighten as his words sunk in.

\"I can still do research for you?\"

\"Yes Silenus, you may still do research. Though Merlin knows why you enjoy having your nose buried in those musty books all day. You really are more like your mother than you know. Now before you are out after curfew and I am forced to take points not only from my own House but from my own daughter as well, would you like to tell me the password.\"

\"Oh, right. This week\'s password is puffskeins.\" Silenus was smiling broadly.

\"Puffskeins?\" The word was said with much disdain.

\"Yeah, puffskeins, little yellowish furballs that purr.\"

Snape sighed in exasperation. \"I know very well what the creatures are.\"

\"They\'re not pink and fluffy.\" She said innocently.

\"They are fluffy.\"

\"But they\'re not pink.\"

Snape looked at his daughter. \"Fine. Puffskeins.\"

\"They\'re not in Gryffindor.\"

\"Silenus!\"

\"Right. Well I have work to do. Good night dad.\"

\"Good night Silenus.\"

Snape thought he heard something about bed bugs biting as the office door closed, but he wasn\'t sure.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Severus was drinking his tea as he mentally organized his day. He lost track of his thoughts as the boy who lived to save the wizarding and muggle worlds but continued to be a pain in his backside sat down next to him. Severus groaned as he said to Harry, \"Potter, there are several vacant seats on that side of the table with humans who would actual welcome your company and would like to speak with you. The same can not be said for the seat you are currently occupying.\"

Harry smile at Snape. \"And it is always such a joy to see you too Snape, but I promised Hermione I would speak with you.\"

\"Hermione?\"

\"Yeah, short witch, medium build, long broair.air. Has a really mean temper when you cross her. I\'d almost rather face Voldemort again than have her mad at me.\" Harry was munching on a breakfast roll as he spoke with Snape. Remus had explained to him that Hermione was concerned about Snape teaching Silenus dueling, she would rather he or Harry duel Snape so Silenus could see how it should be done. Just to be sure, Hermione cornered him earlier that morning and made him promise to speak with the old bat.

Severus laughed at Harry\'s description. He had to agree with his assessment of Hermione Granger. He had been on the receiving end of a few of her tongue-lashings. \"What is it you want Potter?\"

\"I\'m here through the end of this week. She wants me to duel you so Silenus can see how it\'s done properly. Then we can change off having her duel you and me separately.\"

\"You want me to duel you?\" Snape found it hard to believe Harry wanted Severus pointing his wand at him.

\"Not particularly. But she\'s worried Silenus will get hurt. And before you get in a rage, she knows you won\'t hurt her but she would like us to show her first.\" Harry was watching Severus for some type of reaction.

Severus thought it might be not be a bad idea if the two dueled and then Silenus could duel Potter and he could help her. \"Fine. Thursday night we shall meet in the room of requirement after dinner.\"

\"That\'s it?\" Harry asked in disbelief.

\"Yes Potter. It makes sense and I believe it is just about time for classes to start. Don\'t you have someplace you should be?\" Severus turned and exited through the back door of the Great Hall in a flourish of robes.

There\'s not a breeze anywhere near here. How does he do that? Harry wondered as he left to teach the defense class.

TBC

A/N: I guess that places Melinda out of the picture. Unless…nope. Won’t even go there. Still to come: a duel, Albus and an announcement, a blind date (I hear the groans now!), a few confrontations and more. I’d like to clear up a few things if I may.

Puffskeins (according to Harry Potter lexicon) - A long-tongued custard-coloured little furball that makes a calming purring noise. These pleasant creatures are often kept as pets, particularly by wizarding children. (If you immediately thought of \"tribbles\" from STAR TREK when you read about the \"custard-colored furballs\" in the Magical Menagerie, you\'re not alone. See the original series episode \"The Trouble with Tribbles\" written by David Gerrold for more information on that subject.)

There is some question about Silenus’s age. Students generally start Hogwarts at eleven years old, such as Silenus did. Her birthday happened to fall within a month of starting, making her twelve in her first year. Ron turns twelve March of their first year. Hermione started at ten but turned eleven within the first month. The lexicon lists several students that turn twelve within the first few months of starting as first years. Here is a partial list, M. Bole born 1977 Hogwarts 1989, Roger Davies born 1978 Hogwarts 1989, Derrick born 1977 Hogwarts 1989, Angelica Johnson born 10-1977 Hogwarts 1989. It was also mentioned that Silenus had just received her letter to Hogwarts. Who am I to argue with the sorting hat or their letter system?

Severus calls a few of the people he knows by their first names, but only a few. Albus, Minerva, and Poppy come to mind. He tends to call everyone else by his or her last name. Filch, Lupin, Black, though these tend to be people he dislikes. When he calls Hermione Madame it is more of a form of slight or as an annoyance than as a title of respect for her position.

Will Severus and Hermione get together? I believe the summary says HG/SS so that would imply sometime. (Yes, I know. I’m evil. But hey I enjoy it.) They have a few issues to work through first before they can see straight or at least see each other. There are several more chapters to go. So, sit back, relax, read and review. More next time. Thank you to all who have reviewed. As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome. A thank you to Casandra, the Goddess, my beta.

Regards, Pearle