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A Blue Stocking Thing	By : Jeanette Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 2421 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
*Anti-litigation charm: JK Rowling owns the Harry Potter Universe to her we bow. Warner Brothers and Various Publishers also have their own rights. We are just playing in their backyard and we promise to clean up when we have finished.

This is in response to the REGENCY CHALLENGE on WIKTT.

Plagiarism is sometimes the sincerest form of flattery; Plot elements identifiable from fics on Whispers, WIKTT and fanfiction.net are likely to be just that. To those who write them........ Wow.

To those who have read and enjoyed, I hope you continue to do so. I have read every review with pleasure.

Also as an explanation of the delay, real life has been biting at my ankles for the last few months: one of my cousin's committed suicide; my best friend's sister also lost the will to live; I've had a research paper to finish for the PhD; exams to write and mark; and, just the normal fun of being a Mum, a student and a wife. I hope the next set of updates does not take as long; in fact should have chapter 8 ready to post tomorrow (my time).

Now on with the story:

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Chapter Seven: Lady McGonagall to the rescue.

Revision: 1.1 19-07-2004

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"Well Severus," the Duchess said in tones that would have frozen over the ninth circle of Hades, "I am waiting for an explanation."

Now it is well known fact that that a Snape does not cower, they might evade, misdirect or advance in a strategically backward direction, but they do not cower. Therefore Lord Snape was not cowering as the Duchess, seated on 17 hands of black hunter, continued to fix him in the gaze of her quizzing glass. However, being subjected to a severe quizzing, on top of what had already been a vexing day was enough to push Lord Snape into territory he had never previously ventured; that of the ill mannered.

Lord Snape was normally a man of superior address, manners, and a countenance most pleasing to any whom he addressed. He instinctively did the pretty with such ease and grace that many a lesser man of the ton had been known to submit to bouts of jealously over the way in which Lord Snape bought the Grande Dames to heel with little more than a smile, but today all that grace and manner left him for a brief moment when he was heard to answer his Aunt, "I thought it was obvious Great Aunt, I am taking this Mushroom for a drive around the park, it seemed that it was in need of a little sunshine."

Meanwhile, the Mushroom in question blithely assumed that someone else was the topic of conversation. Frantically, she began to look about seeking the low person of whom the esteemed Lord and the Duchess spoke. Seeing that the only people approaching were of the first stare of fon son she quickly concluded that these gracious beings were not the ones currently oversetting the Grand Dame. It was then, as a faint frown was seen to mar her otherwise perfect brow that she determined who it was that Lord Severus was speaking.

"Fie on you," Miss Dursley spoke into the conversational void, "and red topped mushrooms are poisonous too."

Lord Snape and the Duchess turned as one to stare with incomprehension at Miss Dursley as she began to scold the tiger seated on the box behind her. That she was making a complete and utter cake of herself never even crossed her mind as she listed the various faults she could determine about Lord Snape's tiger just from casual observation. His eyes were narrow and shifty; his face a little too round for her liking; his nose did not have the same aristocratic flare that characterised his master's nose; his hair was far to red, and his build and countenance were seriously lacking in any grace.

Ron, and for that matter Miss Dursley's maid, just stared at the beautiful child both wondering what had come over her. Still neither could say a word in the presence of the two august persons, which was rather a good thing. Ron, for he would have let fly with a series of blistering oaths that would have curled the toes of many a world weary sailor, the maid because she realised that Lord Snape's tiger might well push her from the box if she were to agree with her lady.

Into the uncomfortable silence that settled about the party Lord Snape searched about for any means to rid himself of this embarrassment. Spying the Malfoy's carriage tooling along the path Lord Snape grabbed at this most unlikely of life preservers and called them over. Lord and Lady Malfoy were only too happy to be introduced to the current diamond of the season. When asked if they would mind taking Miss Dursley and her maid home, since a terrible family tragedy had occurred that required Lord Snape's immediate attention, they were only too glad to be of assistance and thus Miss Dursley and her maid were invited to continue around the park with them before being returned home. Draco, Viscount Slytherin, also riding in his parents coach could not believe his luck as he was given a chance to steal a march on that weak-chinned fool Potter.

In an almost complete breach of protocol Lord Snape managed to convey a feeling of complete distress at having to hand Miss Dursley over to the care of others, but agreed that he really should not spoil the day for herself, or any others currently about in the Park. After all Lady Malfoy made an excellent chaperone, whilst he would return his disagreeable tiger to Snape House immediately.

Watching the Malfoy Barouche continue on it's journey through the park Lord Snape was struck by the rather disquieting thought that he now owed Malfoy a favour; best not to let on how relieved he was to shot of the burden of Miss Dursley's company. Any further thoughts however were quickly sent skittering as the Duchess thumhim him on the head with her whip.

"Well Severus," I am still waiting an explanation.

"That's just the problem Aunt, I don't have an explanation as your 'timely' arrival that nauseating creature's explanation of what had happened to the young lady I had hoped to drive around the park this afternoon."

"What, you mean you actually intended to drive someone?" The Duchess asked in shock, "I mean we were awa aware that you had begun to hunt for a suitable wife, and about time too dear boy, but after all the hoops that you have made this seasons debutantes go through I had serious doubts about your ability to come up the scratch with anyone." Though privately she was relieved that Severus had so far failed to settle on any of this year's crop; Miss Dursley was actually the best of the bunch, and that was not a very flattering comment on the rest of the year's debutantes.

"The young lady in question has not been presented yet." Lord Snape commented as though he had read his Aunt's mind. "But she appears to actually read Ars Chemica. In fact I met her purely by accident," he continued as he absent-mindedly rubbed his nose.

"And?"

"I begin to suspect that she may not be given the scheme alluded to by Miss Dursley." Lord Snape signed rather dramatically, "All I know is that the young lady in question, a Miss Granger, is meant to be making her come out bows under the chaperonage of the Dursley family."

"The poor child," was the Duchess' only comment, she was well aware how low in the pool that the Dursley's normally swam, in point of fact she and a number of the other hostesses had wonder in passing where Baron Dursley had gotten the blunt to puff of Miss Dursley so well; a fact she was not about to relay to Severus, the men of the Ton needed to believe they were in control after all.

"Granger?" The grand lady continued as she ranged through the Haute Ton stud book that every marriage minded Mama and the Grande Dames kept within their heads, "Viscount Granger, widowed, married for love and had a single daughter. Well educated I believe; her father is somewhat of a liberal. Good dowry but likely to be something of a blue stocking." Duchess Gryffindor enumerated the main points she was aware. "I didn't realize she had been sent down."

Lord Snape sat silent whilst he listened to his Aunt well aware of the power she wielded amongst the Matrons. Whilst he had not fixed his interest, such as it was on Miss Granger, he realized that her Grace wasuallually painting a very attractive package; maybe he should called upon his Aunt to assist, she was an incurable romantic herself.

"Whilst she may have been sent down I currently believe it unlikely that she will be presented. At least not before Miss Dursley has leg-shackled some poor unsuspecting fool." Lord Snape commented after a while, grimacing as he was unfortunately aware that Miss Dursley seemed to have fixed her interest on him.

Her Grace's only comment shadowed his own misgivings. "I do hope that young lady is not aiming to far above herself, breeding will show out after all. Still you are something of a matrimonial prize Severus." The last comment was delivered with all the considered air that the subject would normal use when previewing the latest offerings at Tattersalls.

Lord Snape, after an already trying day, found he did not like being compared to a piece of fine cattle. "Thank you madam, it is always a pleasure to know one's worth," a little touch of pique colouring his utterance.

"Oh do come off it Severus, you are well aware of your value to the marriage mart; it is after all the reason your have avoided it so long. Still if you are planning on coming up to scratch with anyone other than Miss Dursley it behoves me as your closest living relative to assist you in what ever meagre way I can." The Duchess said with a similar amount of bite. "I suspect I might be able to hold a ball this season, though it is rather late to be planning one."

With something almost like pleading Lord Snape asked, "Would you?"

"The problem is I'd have to put up with MOMy; still if he were there your Miss Granger could be presented." The look of disdain that fleetingly crossed her Grace's features before coming back to camp there gave some indication of her thoughts of MOMy; if only Albus hadn't started to show such obvious signs of madness, attempting to pair up Viscount Slytherin with Mr Harry Potter, they would not be left with his heir-transparent, Fudge, nominally ruling the country.

"Of course Severus I will expect some suitable reward, after all MOMy is rather a trying individual." Her Grace said languidly, wondering just how desperate her nephew was; the answer was supplied readily.

"I have a pair of hunter black's, sired from Devil, just about ready. Perchance could I interest you in a new team?"

It seemed Severus was actually more than desperate, still, if one had Miss Dursley hunting oneself, desperation might be the appropriate response. For a chance at a pair from Devil her Grace would even put up with the pretender, Lord Voldemort. "I believe that I may be of some assistance, after all it has been a while since Gryffindor House has entertained in suitable style." Her Grace said mildly

TBC Jeanette
- 6
- 7
- 8
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A Blue Stocking Thing