The Burning Pen

In An Alternate Universe Someplace
by Ruth Solomon aka Ms_Figg

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 31

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 31 ~ In the Corridor

Fully dressed, Severus poked his head out the door and checked the study carefully for Hermione, his black eyes shifting about in search of the snarky witch. He needn’t have worried. She was in the shower. He could hear the water running.

For a moment, Severus was tempted to go into her bedroom and take a little peek, but decided against it. He was hungry and there was only a little time before breakfast ended, so he left the dungeons, heading for the Great Hall.

When he entered, Harry and Ron were there. They looked up at him for a moment, then returned to their food. Severus sat down next to Harry. Neither of them greeted him.

He was getting the “Silent Treatment.”

He pulled a plate of bacon toward him and as he filled his own plate, Severus said non-chalantly,”Ron, do you want to go flying this afternoon?”

Ron looked at him, surprised, then he scowled.

”I thought you had better things to do than go flying with us,” he said angrily.

Severus sighed.

”I was just out of sorts, Ron. I’ve been under a lot of pressure with the Polyjuice potion I was brewing, and Professor Granger was going to examine the results last night. I’m sorry I yelled at you,” Severus said to him.

Harry nodded.

”I told you it was stress,” he said to Ron smugly.

”Yeah, well, he shouldn’t take it out on me, but . . . I understand. Being trapped with Granger is enough to make anyone’s cheese slip off its cracker. It’s all right, Sev. Yeah, I’d like to go flying.”

Severus smiled at him.

”All right. I just have to get the next potion started and I’ll be free the entire afternoon,” the Gryffindor said.

Both Harry and Ron smiled at him. They had their friend back.

”Did you hear about what happened to Draco’s dad?” Harry asked Severus as he bit into a slice of buttered bread.

”Yeah, I did,” Severus said without batting an eye. He felt nothing.

”Vicious,” Ron said, shaking his head, his eyes wide. “Someone carved the word RAPIST in his forehead. The healers don’t think it will ever come off either. They’ve never seen a spell like it. It causes pain if anyone even touches the writing. Kind of cool really.”

”Maybe he’ll grow bangs to cover it up,” Harry said.

“Yeah, but I wonder who did it. The person would have to be really sharp to catch Lucius Malfoy like that. He was a Death Eater,” Ron said. “I bet there was more than one attacker.”

Harry and Ron discussed all the possibilities concerning the assault on Malfoy Sr., but Severus didn’t say a word as he ate his breakfast.

As far as he was concerned, Lucius Malfoy got much less than he deserved and was lucky to be alive.

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True to his word, Severus set up the next brewing and spent the afternoon with Ron and Harry. The Gryffindor found that he really did miss being with them and enjoyed a couple of rounds of “Kill the Wizard with the Quaffle” and “Broom Tag.” He had to patch Ron up though when he got entangled in the branches of the Whomping Willow.

You couldn’t play a meaningful game of “Broom Tag” without playing it near the willow. It added a touch of danger to the game, since if the tree tagged you . . . you were definitely tagged.

Ron was lucky really. The Willow couldn’t whomp properly when something was tangled in the small branches. It had to work it out to proper whomping level first, so all it really did was ‘whip’ rather than ‘whomp.’

Before a screaming struggling Ron was passed down from whipping to whomping level, Severus neatly soared in and stopped the tree by pressing on a bit of root at the base of the trunk.

”Thanks Sev,” a relieved Ron said as he slid to the ground. But, unfortunately the handle of his broom was cracked and would have to be repaired, and soon. Severus saw to the little welts on his freckled face and Ron was fine, if bemoaning his lack of broom action for the next few days.

They then returned to Gryffindor tower, where Ron dominated both Harry and Severus at Wizarding Chess. Then they played a few games of Snap, and finally Severus insisted on seeing their last week’s assignments, which after a bit of bickering, Ron and Harry sullenly produced.

Both of Severus’ eyebrows rose.

”Gods, you two are . . . just sad,” he said as he perused the marks and content, shaking his head. “I swear, neither of you is going to make it out of here with anything above an ‘Acceptable’ at this rate. These marks are absolutely dismal. Give me a bit of parchment, Ron.”

Ron did so, and he and Harry exchanged glances as Severus went about scheduling their study time for the next month. After about twenty minutes, Severus handed them over. Ron and Harry groaned as all their free time virtually disappeared.

”Hey, when will we be able to go flying?” Ron asked, frowning at his schedule.

”You have an hour a week, spread out here, here and here,” Severus replied, pointing to the precious minutes with one long pale finger.

”Twenty minutes? Severus, you must be kidding me?” Harry said to his friend, who scowled.

”It’s plenty. Especially if you include Quidditch practice. Now, stop whining. It’s more important you get good marks than flying time,” he snapped at them. “Especially you, Harry, if you want to get that Auror job at the Ministry after graduation.”

Harry sighed. Severus was right of course.

”Ok, I have to go back to the lab to check on my brew,” Severus said, “I’ll see you both at supper. You have some free time. I suggest you hit the books . . . in fact beat them to death.”

This was met by two more groans.

After Severus left Ron looked at Harry with a hangdog expression.

”Maybe we were better off with him staying in the dungeons,” he griped, opening his Arithmancy book.

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As Severus was heading toward the dungeons, Luna seemed to materialize out of nowhere, her protuberant blues eyes focused on the tall wizard.

”Hi Severus,” she said dreamily, falling in step with him.

Severus reddened a bit.

”Hi Luna,” he responded as she slipped her arm through his, slowing him down.

”Have you thought about shagging me?” she asked him forwardly.

”I . . . er . . . no. Not really. I’ve been busy,” he said to her, running his finger around his robes collar unnecessarily.

”Yes, I know. You have Draco doing your rounds for you at night. I know because I’ve waited to ambush you, but . . . then Draco comes along and I’m disappointed. So . . . when can we get together?” Luna said.

Severus swallowed.

Luna would probably be much easier to shag than Professor Granger at this point, and he loved how shagging felt . . . but he doubted it would be the same with Luna. She was so young and well, thin. He was thin too, a bit anyway. He wouldn’t have the cushion like he had with Hermione. He looked down at Luna.

Hermione was billowing up the hall when she saw Severus with Luna on his arm. She scowled slightly, then suddenly Disillusioned herself and stepped back into a niche so she could hear what they were talking about.

She felt a little flush of jealousy at seeing the blonde on Severus’ arm. Was the little bastard playing games? She’d shrink his cock to the size of a toothpick if he was, the randy little . . .

”Ah, Luna . . . not that I want to hurt your feelings,” Severus said slowly, “but I’m really interested in someone else.”

Luna shrugged.

”That’s okay. I don’t want to go out with you . . . I just want to shag you. I won’t interfere with any of your long-term plans,” she said with a naughty smile. “Besides, being interested in someone isn’t actually being with them, so you’re still on the open market.”

Hermione snarled. Why the little trollop. She just wanted uncomplicated sex. Good grindelows. Did all witches start out so young?

“I suppose you’re right,” Severus said diplomatically, “but I don’t think she’d appreciate finding out I shagged another witch while I’m pursuing her. It could make things complicated, and they’re complicated enough.”

”I imagine so. Trying to shag your professor has to be hard work,” Luna agreed.

Both Hermione’s and Severus’ eyes bugged out almost as much as Luna’s protuberant orbs with this comment.

”What?” Severus spluttered, “who told you I was trying to shag a professor?”

”Not a professor. Professor Granger. And no one told me, I could see for myself that you want to get into her knickers. She’s dark and mysterious. That’s a turn-on for some guys. I’d probably want to do her myself if I swung that way.”

Severus blinked down at Luna.

“It’s that obvious?” he asked her worriedly.

Luna shook her head.

”No. Most people wouldn’t even notice it. But I notice a lot of things that other people don’t. It’s just something that comes to me. But you know, Severus . . . she’s never going to let you do it. She doesn’t like men. I don’t mean she’s gay . . . she just doesn’t like them but I bet she has a good reason,” Luna said as they approached Hermione’s office. “You should take what you can get if you can’t get what you want. I’m perfectly willing.”

Hermione’s scowl grew blacker. How dare Luna presume what she liked and didn’t like? She didn’t hate all men . . . just most of them. Severus hadn’t yet developed his dog gene. He was little more than a boy and so, more likable than fully adult males. Hmmph. The little slut.

Severus stopped outside the door.

”Really Luna, I appreciate what you’re offering me. Maybe we can get together after I graduate and leave Hogwarts . . . but right now, I don’t want to risk messing up what little chance I have, if I have any at all,” he said to the witch.

Luna blinked up at him and gave him a crooked smile.

”You’ve got it bad, Severus Snape. Oh well. If you get overly randy in the meantime, just come see me and I’ll take care of it,” she said softly.

”I’ll . . . I’ll keep it in mind, Luna,” Severus replied, mentally wiping his brow. “You’re not going to say anything to anyone are you?”

Severus was seriously considering Obliviating the witch.

“Oh no. I’ve known since forever. What you do or don’t do is your business. I don’t like gossip,” the witch replied, removing her arm from his. “I’ll see you later, Sev.”

”Bye, Luna,” he said, watching the witch drift up the hall as if she had nowhere to go. Then he let himself into the office.

Hermione watched Luna pass with narrowed eyes before casting a Tripping hex at her, making her fall on her face.

”Ow,” Luna said, getting to her knees, then feeling her nose. “Maybe I have to shorten my robes a bit.”

She stood up, brushed herself off and continued up the dungeon corridor, none the worse for wear.

Hermione let her get a good distance up the corridor before she emerged. She was on her way to the Infirmary to drop off a few bottles of Healing potion. She didn’t trust herself not to hex the girl if she were too close. Imagine, moving in on . . .

Hermione caught herself.

What the fuck was she doing, getting jealous over a student? This was insanity. Severus Snape could shag who he wanted when he wanted. She wasn’t in a relationship with him. He just wanted a relationship for the short term.

Still, he had turned Luna down. Most young wizards would have hopped on her immediately. She was a pretty witch, if a strange one.

But then again, Severus Snape was not a usual young wizard. And obviously he had a sense of loyalty toward her, proven by what he’d done to Lucius, the Oath of Protection he’d taken and now by not accepting Luna’s offer for meaningless sex.

Hermione hadn’t had much experience with loyalty extended to herself. She grew up in a world where everyone looked out for their own needs first, the hell with everyone else. Basic Slytherin philosophy: Do unto others before they can do unto you.

She sighed, feeling a bit torn now. The fact that she felt jealous of Severus could only mean one thing . . . and that was she was truly attracted to him, attracted and rather attached. How the hell had this happened?

It wasn’t like with James. She could feel her desire for him pour off her every time he came into view. Mostly she felt aggravated when she saw the Gryffindor. But, maybe that was a defensive mechanism. A way of trying to protect herself from any kind of emotion toward the boy. She’d been hurt before.

James Potter had been her first, and it had been wonderful and affecting. She thought he loved her. But he didn’t. He liked her.

He fell in love with Lily Potter.

Hermione still remembered the day down by the lake, the day that ended her friendship with James, when she screamed at James for trying to intercede, cursing at Lily, calling her a Mudblood and him a coward. It didn’t matter that Hermione was also Muggle-born. She was tired of being targeted by the Gryffindor witches.

James had been completely shocked.

”I don’t need you to protect me from this filthy Mudblood bitch, you fucking Gryffindor! You’re just like them! Go back to your house, you coward, go with the other cowards!” she screamed.

”Fine,” James said and left.

It was then when Lily Divestoed all her clothes in front of everyone. It had been horrible.

She later tried to apologize to James, but he told her he was tired of her ranting against Lily and Gryffindor house, tired of her associating with known Death Eaters . . . tired of her period.

“It’s too late. I’ve made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Death Eater friends—you see, you don’t even deny it! You don’t even deny that’s what you’re all aiming to be! You can’t wait to join You-Know-Who, can you?”

Hermione opened her mouth, but closed it without speaking.

“I can’t pretend anymore. You’ve chosen your way, I’ve chosen mine.”

“No—listen, I didn’t mean—”

“—to call Lily a Mudblood? To call me a coward? But you call everyone of my house coward, Hermione. Why should I be any different?”

Hermione struggled on the verge of speech, but with a contemptuous look James turned and climbed back through the portrait hole.

And out of her life.

Then came the deal with Dumbledore, but he couldn’t save James. Then followed the years of insanity, of her obsession with Jame's memory, trying to protect his son at the cost of her own humanity. It had all been done in the name of ‘Love.’

It had only brought her pain. She promised herself she would never love another man again. The price was too high.

Hermione walked up the corridor, deep in thought . . . trying not to think of that old Muggle adage:

Promises are made to be broken.

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A/N: I’m so sick, but tried getting another chapter out. I hope it’s ok. I thought I’d revisit her relationship with James and reversed the scene of Severus and Lily outside of Gryffindor house when James broke off his friendship with her. I hope it works. Talk to ya’ll later. Thanks for reading. ***
 
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