Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Confinement	By : Lucreace Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 14059 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I dont make money from this.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
The stony silence continued as they passed the half way mark around Prince House. Hermione knew she had been less than kind in her actions to their host in regards to her accusation and it made her think of her conduct towards him at other times. After all, he’d offered his home as a safe haven and she’d not exactly thought the best of him for it. She starred at his back as they walked along, his bearing was as haughty as ever and his cloak billowed out behind him as he strode forward in the snow.
Although he had been less than kind towards her in his teaching days, now was completely different. Here was a genuine war hero who had once again answered the call when it was needed and she was doing her best to be difficult. She swallowed hard, realising that her own stress and animosity had caused the current rift and that was far from what she had wanted. What do you want then? She asked herself as they walked through the crisp clean snow. Soft flakes began to float down from the white ceiling above her, landing once more on the cold ground, creating a deep hush as they walked along in less than companionable silence.
It dawned on her what she needed to do, yet it would take a fair bit of courage and contrition on her part. Would he accept it anyway? She didn’t know but she had never been one to shy away from difficult tasks. Picking up her pace, she moved to be alongside him. “Severus…” she said slowly, using his given name for the first time in his presence.
                “Are we on first name terms now Miss Granger?” he quipped back.
                “There’s something I want to say to you,” she pressed on despite his acerbic tone.
                “I’m not interested in hearing any more of your complaints or accusations Miss Granger.” This time, there was no mistaking the disdain in his voice. She froze where she was, her hands on her hips as he strode on. Shaking her head at the impossibility of the situation, she chose to take a couple of deep breaths to cool her rising temper. Did he not get that she was trying to apologise? Maybe not. She sighed and returned to striding along beside him in stony silence. The snow thickened in its fall, settling on her hair, soaking into her clothes and chilling her body.
As soon as the wards were set, they returned to Prince House, the gulf between them larger than ever. Hermione shrugged out of her cold, damp cloak and hung it in the hallway to dry. She shivered as she crossed through to the kitchen and remained that way as she began to make a hot cup of tea. She rolled her eyes at herself but set two mugs out, they may not be on the best of terms but that didn’t mean she didn’t care. He would have been as cold as she was out in the snow. Pouring out the two mugs of tea, she picked them up and went in search of her erstwhile professor.
It didn’t take long to find him. He was sat in the room that had been modelled for the children and her to use as a study. His usually pale face was tinged blue and he was doing is best to hide his shivering. She placed the mug on the table in front of him before sinking into a chair on the other side of the room. Pulling out a wand, she ignited the grate and soon, the room was a much cosier temperature.
                “Drink it, it will stop you shivering,” she said.
                He glanced down at the mug, his face impassive. “I said I do not need a housekeeper Miss Granger.”
                Hermione rolled her eyes, “Suit yourself,” she shrugged. Dismissing him and his silly stubbornness, she picked up the book she’d been reading before and opened it at the page she’d been perusing. Every so often, she’d glance over the edge of the book, wondering what it was that he could be thinking. She made sure she drank her own tea and as she did so, her body began to thaw a little. Eventually she was aware of him standing.
                “Make sure you remove your cup when you’re done,” he said curtly before striding from the room. She gave a nod without looking up, not sure that she wanted to see the expression on his face. As soon as he’d left, the room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and she found it a lot easier to read her book. When she was done, she made damned well sure that the room they occupied was in perfect order and that she took her cup to the kitchen. She was warm and sleepy by the time her head hit the pillow.
                However, sleep didn’t come easily to her. She was still aware of her awful behaviour towards their host and she felt she had to apologise for it, whether he wanted to accept that or not. Getting him to listen would prove to be the toughest part of that task, maybe she should write a note instead and leave it in the east wing sitting room, where he was bound to see it. She sighed, that part of the house was out of bounds and she doubted the wisdom of trespassing to apologise. Her thoughts continued swimming around her head until she was overcome and sank into a deep restless sleep.
*   *   *
The following morning, an owl arrived carrying a rather large, flat brown envelope. It crashed into the table while they had settled for breakfast and looked around, gravely offended by the sniggering echoing from the children. Hermione caught the owl and removed its burden before handing it a snack from her plate. She wasn’t sure if owls were meant to eat bacon but that was all she had. It seemed to be happy enough and flapped back out the room. Hermione tore the missive open, inside were several other letters, each addressed to the children. After handing them out, she pulled out the rest of the contents. It contained a letter from Professor McGonagall, which she tore open and read, anxious for news.
Dear Hermione,
                                I hope the eight of you are settled in at Prince House and there hasn’t been too much upset between you and Mr Snape. I have included some more work for the students and what you can teach them while they are under your care. So far, the effort to hunt down the remaining Death Eaters is proving futile and their attacks are stronger than ever. I cannot tell you all for to write it down will risk too much. A couple of Aurors will be along in a weeks’ time to visit you there and inform you of what you need to know. For the moment, continue as you are, I shall write to you in a few days
M. McGonagall.
Hermione read it another time, and again after that before she picked up the package and opened it. As the letter promised, it contained lessons for the coming week. Somehow, she’d hoped it contained more, something she could actually work on towards helping catch the evil that still evaded the rest of the Order. Somewhat crestfallen, she pulled out the papers and began to leaf through them. She still had potions to teach from last week and there would be no more putting it off, she hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask Mr Snape to intervene and even if she had, she was no longer sure she wanted to subject the children to his disdain anyway – or so she told herself. By the time she had finished reading all the papers, the children had managed to get the kitchen cleaned and scarper into their rooms to get ready for the day. With a heavy sigh, she gathered everything up and headed to her room as well. She may as well get this over with.
When she arrived in the classroom, all her cheer and good will evaporated. There, seated at the back of the class, was Snape. When their eyes met, traces of amusement flickered onto his face and she bit back a sigh. If that was his game then she was sure going to do the best to win. A small cough brought the class to order. “Good Morning,” she said trying to order her thoughts. There were a few murmured hello’s and all the class turned their eyes to the front. “This morning, you are to prepare for me a Cure for Boils,” she said fighting down the urge to tremor or shake. She was aware of Snape’s eyes on her as well as the rest of the class. “The instructions are ones you should already know, however you may use your books to assist you should you need it,” she said.
                Clarice’s hand shot into the air and Hermione raised a brow. “Can we work in pairs?”
                “Yes,” she said. “Although you will not be able to do so in your end of year exams so I will leave you the choice.”
                There were a few murmurings among the children and they began busying themselves with their task. The ingredients they needed were laid out on her desk at the front of the room and that was where she sat herself, keeping a careful eye on them as they began. Funny how that now she had made a start, she was oblivious to her observer at the back of the classroom.
                As the lesson progressed, the children began their mixes. Each of them was as careful as they could be, measuring out the ingredients with precision. The only sign something wasn’t going quite right was when red steam began issuing from Harrison’s cauldron. She hopped out of her chair and walked casually over to the sandy haired lad, “What’s happened?” she asked. The boy shook his head in apparent confusion.
                “I have no idea,” he said. His face told her he was telling the truth. She leaned over and examined the cauldron’s contents.
                “What colour should the steam be?” she asked.
                “Pink,” he replied.
                “And what ingredients have you got left?” she said indicating the pile next to him.
                “The nettles, quills and fangs.” Harrison replied.
                “So you’ve added the slugs already?” Hermione said. Harrison nodded. “Have another read of your recipe and tell me the problem.” Harrison did as she asked while she waited at his desk. Slowly, understanding dawned on the boy’s face.
                “I should have started with the fangs…” he said, “Can I start over?”
                “Of course.” Hermione nodded and returned to her desk. As she settled into her chair once more, she noticed that Snape had risen and walked from the lesson with all the grace he could muster. Curious? What had he expected to find? A classroom filled with chaos and a bunch of ‘dunderheads’ being taught be a knowledgeless buffoon? Well, he would be sore to discover the opposite. Dismissing him from her thoughts, she returned her attention to the papers on her desk, feeling as though she had won a small victory of some sorts. Although what the battle was, she had no idea. The rest of the lesson went without a hitch, even Harrison managed to create a passable cure for boils.
The afternoon was a designated study period, so Hermione let the students loose in the room while she continued on with her marking. It seemed she was going to spend a good deal of her time in that pursuit if she was to remain a professor. By the time the evening came around, all the kids were eager to spend some time outside once more. The fresh layer of snow enticed them and grudgingly, she allowed them out. The sun was beginning to set however, there would be enough light for about an hour before it would be too dark to see. If she went with them, they would be safe and besides, the wards would be in place. They were well protected.
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Confinement