It's just a book | By : QueenRuby Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 13757 -:- 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. |
A/N: Akathryna and Alianne need a big round of applause for beta reading this for me. If there is anything, you need clarified just leave a review and I will answer. Hopefully we are getting close to the end and I swear there will be lemons somewhere.
Chapter 7: Arguing or debating?
“We should cancel the Ball,” Severus told the group gathered in Hermione’s rooms.
“I understand you have the welfare of my daughter at heart, Severus,” the Queen stated. “Having said that, I see no reason not to go ahead with the Ball.”
“You would put your daughter’s life at stake for a head-hunting Ball?” Severus sneered.
“Are you saying, Severus, that you can’t protect my daughter in a room full of people?” She looked right at him as if ready to duel to prove her point.
“Nonsense dear, of course Severus can protect her. He is just being cautious,” the king interjected, trying to defuse the situation.
“I am in the room, you know.” Hermione brought everyone’s attention back to her. She ignored Severus’s pleading look with a wicked grin. “I have complete faith in Severus. I also know how much he hates to socialize. Yet I feel the Ball can proceed with only a few minor changes.”
Everyone was watching her now, none more so than Severus himself. He wasn’t sure what she was up to, and that made him extremely nervous. “Go over the guest list again and narrow it down some more. Instead of going by myself as originally planned, Severus should escort me.”
“Excellent idea, my dear,” the King exclaimed.
“How is she supposed to be courted if she is on his arm?” the Queen whined.
“That will not be a problem. After the fight in town, everyone will assume I am being forced to escort her,” Severus said in a rather bored tone.
“Besides, Severus has decided it is time he found a wife.” Hermione informed everyone there, including Severus himself.
“Well, that settles it then,” the King said, looking from Hermione to Severus. “Come dear, we have things to finalize before tomorrow night.”
Severus waited until the King and Queen left before turning on Hermione. “I do not remember saying anything about a wife.”
“I know,” she smiled innocently. “I have taken it on myself to find someone to take care of you in your old age. Think of it as payment for all you’ve done for me.”
“Hermione, you really don’t want to do this,” he warned, then squirmed under her mischievous smile.
***
Hermione and Melody had given him the slip shortly after lunch. He had now spent over an hour trying to find her. It seamed everywhere he went, she had just left. Spotting a male servant, who looked very harassed, coming in from the garden, Severus quickened his pace to intercept the man.
“Have you seen Princess Hermione?” he asked the man, who flinched.
“She is in the garden, my lord,” the servant stated. “Though I wouldn’t go out there if I were you.”
Severus ignored him and headed out to the gardens to confront the exasperating witch. He turned a corner in the hedge maze to see Hermione sitting on a bench surrounded by at least twenty court ladies. The colour drained from his face and he quickly tried to back-pedal.
“Severus, come and join us.” Hermione invited through the giggles of her companions.
‘Shoot, I’ve been spotted.’ He put on his mask of indifference and turned to address her. “I was coming to make sure you were following the healer’s advice, your Majesty. I see you have plenty of ladies to keep an eye on you, so I’ll leave you alone.”
“Nonsense, Severus.” The giggles erupted again. “You will join us. Right, ladies?”
“Yes your Highness,” a blonde agreed and stood up.
“Come, my lord. We don’t bite… hard,” a raven-haired girl encouraged, following the blonde’s lead.
Severus hesitated too long on his plan to flee and they attached to his arms like leeches. They forced him to sit next to Hermione. His patented glare was having no effect on them. He looked at Hermione only to see a smug smirk on her face and had the sudden urge to kiss it off. Of course he didn’t act on it. The one kiss he had given into had been enough to haunt his dreams as it was. All the ladies moved close to him like a pack of hyenas circling a wounded deer.
“The princess tells us you are interested in settling down.” The dark haired girl had her hand on his leg and was leaning in slightly to give him ample view of her cleavage. They were so lucky he didn’t have his wand. He scanned the ladies surrounding him and realized they were all showing way too much cleavage, all except Hermione that is. She was doing a very good impression of a schoolmarm with a high-necked dress. The neck went all the way to her chin and her hair was in a Minerva bun. For some reason it just made her seem like she was hiding something that any man would like to find; it did not make her look unapproachable as he was sure was her intent.
“The princess would be correct.” He almost smiled with satisfaction as her eyebrows went skyward. “I am afraid that I have become very picky in my old age though. I want a young, decent looking woman that can hold her own in a conversation with me and could give me the properties of yarrow off the top of her head.”
All off the court ladies looked confused for a few seconds before quickly covering it up. He knew some of them would be looking up that herb tonight. If any of them tried to talk to him tomorrow, he would question them about some other herb. If that didn’t work he could go into some of the grosser potions ingredients.
“Now, Severus, that is not fair.” Hermione reprimanded him. “Not everyone has your love of herbs. There is no way they would know about its blood-clotting abilities or the fact that the Chinese use the dried stems in their I-Ching divination. The only reason I know that much is because I had a right nasty tutor who demanded perfection and was never satisfied. He was very anal-retentive.”
“He must have known what he was doing if you are the product of his hard work.” He failed to notice several fans popping into existence to hide the knowing smiles of their owners.
“He would think so too.” She rolled her eyes at his attempt to pat his own back. “Unfortunately for him, I just have a love of knowledge. I was well into all of my books before he showed up.”
“There is a difference in reading about something and putting it into practice.” Severus retorted. “Just because you have read about something does not mean you know how to put that knowledge to use.”
“You know, he never did teach me to brew glory, bottle fame or put a stopper in death like he promised.” Hermione reminded him as she watched the sun caress the tops of the trees as the day slowly faded.
“Perhaps he thought you were too much of a dunderhead.” Severus feigned boredom.
“Perhaps, or more likely when he realized he had a student that could finally challenge him he got scared.” She had not had this much fun since she realized Ron’s nods and smiles were not because he agreed with her but because he was totally lost.
“Maybe he didn’t want to put up with someone who would discuss a theory they had read to death.” The flash of anger in her eyes let him know he had found his mark. He could even ignore the other women who were starting to gossip about them just to get her infuriated.
“Well if he couldn’t handle a woman who is intellectually superior to him then I might be able to understand.” She ignored his snort and continued. “Frankly I would never have thought he was so insecure in his masculinity.”
“Really, your majesty, if we are going to exchange insults we should keep to inconsequential words so as not to lose your entourage,” Severus snarled.
“Why my lord are you trying to use them as a rationalization for your inability to sustain this banter?” Hermione teased. “Should I stop using sophisticated vocabulary so you can continue?”
“I’m just troubled that your understanding will be burdened with this taxing conversation.” He was giving as well as he got, wondering how extensive her vocabulary really was.
“I would not agonize about me, my lord. My younger intellect can maintain; it is your elderly perception we need not disquiet.” Hermione forced herself to suddenly look concerned. “I am vexed that we might have already pressed you too far in your advanced existence.”
“Why, you insolent wench! You could gain knowledge of the world from my experiences. I forgot, you like being unintelligent about the real world. You would rather live in your books then face your own insecurities.” He could feel his control over his temper starting to slip.
“You would know all about hiding from the world. You insult everyone and keep them at arm’s length to prevent yourself from getting hurt.” She would get up and storm away at this point but she wasn’t sure how far she would get before collapsing. She was feeling tired and wanted nothing more then for this insufferable man to go jump off a cliff.
The sound of someone clearing their throat brought both of them back to reality. Melody was standing there looking at Hermione worriedly and Severus quickly took stock at the fact that she was pale and shaking slightly. “My lady should be getting back to her rooms for dinner and some rest.”
Severus cursed himself for letting her get to him. He had forgotten that just the night before, she had been poisoned. Her fiery temper and strength in mind could easily distract from the fact that right now at least she was physically weak. Melody moved to help her up and he realized he was in danger of being left behind with the group of court ladies. He quickly stood up and helped Hermione up even as she glared at him. “Forgive me Princess, I did not mean to tax you so after last night. Allow me to accompany you to your rooms.”
Hermione just nodded and put her hand in his arm. They left the twittering ladies behind and walked around the garden hedge. “Severus, are they following us?”
He looked behind him. “No, they are not, Hermione. Why?”
“I am afraid that our debate took more out of me then I realized. I am sorry to inconvenience you.” With that, the last of her strength gave out and she would have fallen to the ground if Severus had not swung her into his arms. He carried her bridal-style to her rooms with Melody hurrying ahead to get the doors. “Mmm…I always loved that smell,” Hermione said dreamily.
Severus smiled as he entered her room and Melody ran to get dinner for two. He set Hermione down on the bed and took the chair next to it. “What smell?”
“The smell of the forest right after a rain storm.” She blushed slightly. He kept silent hoping to encourage her to continue. “That is how you smell. Well, with a slight hint of sage.”
“I shall remember that. Now you need to eat and rest or I will be cancelling your participation tomorrow,” he said, watching her as the food arrived. This woman was defiantly vexing. Mayhaps he would consider what the author of this book wanted.
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