CHAPTER 38
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
*******************************
Chapter 38 ~ A Timely Intervention
As Bara ran down the dungeon corridor, the beetle started writhing about in his hand powerfully. Suddenly his hand flew open and the insect fell to the floor, where began to grow and change, the little wizard staring at it, his mouth open.
It grew tall pale and greenish, suddenly becoming a witch with tight blonde hair in a green dress, with glasses, a very mannish chin and pursed lips. She had an alligator purse tucked under her arm and she was scowling at him.
“A meal for Precious? What is a Precious?” Rita demanded of the boy.
“Snake,” Bara said in a small voice, looking up at the angry woman.
“You were going to feed me to a snake? Why you little…” Rita seethed.
“Bug-lady?” Bara asked her.
Rita studied the little Indian boy. He looked too young to be a student at Hogwarts. He seemed to be about eight or nine years old. Well, it didn’t matter how old he was. What mattered was he knew her secret…and that would never do.
Rita pulled her wand out of her bag.
“Yes, I’m a bug-lady…and no one is supposed to know that, so I’m going to have to alter that little memory of yours,” she said, pointing her wand at Bara, who immediately sprinted down the hall. He might not have understood everything she said, but because of Poppy knew that when a wand was pointed at him it meant bad news.
“Come back here!” Rita yelled, chasing him in her high heels. Rita was a veteran of running in heels and she covered a lot of ground in a surprisingly short period of time.
“Obliviate!” she cried, firing a blast at Bara, who slipped to the other side of the corridor, the spell missing him.
“Damn it,” Rita hissed, firing another shot that just missed Bara.
“This bug-lady is evil,” the young wizard thought. He passed a niche but Rita was too close and would have seen him dart in. They were almost by the Potions office now.
Severus was in his office and heard a shout and blast. Pulling his wand he hurriedly opened the door and was shocked when Bara darted in, a blast hitting the doorsill behind him.
Not knowing who was attacking the boy or why, Severus stepped into the hallway, pointed his wand and shouted, “Expelliamus!”
Rita was knocked back several feet, her wand clattering to the floor as she fell heavily on her ass. Severus ran up the hallway, collected the wand then strode over to Rita, his wand held on her. Bara came up behind the wizard and peeked at the witch from behind the safety of Severus’ robes.
“What is the meaning of attacking this boy?” Severus demanded of the dazed witch, who crawled to her knees, then stood up shakily.
Rita thought quick.
“He…he stole my quick quotes quill. I was trying to stun him,” she claimed, frowning at the boy. Bara looked up at her wide-eyed.
But Severus had very sharp hearing.
“You tried to stun him using an Obliviate spell, Miss Skeeter?” he asked her, his black eyes narrowed.
“Just give me back my wand and I’ll go Professor…maybe after a few words about how you brought Harry Potter back from his Dementor-induced state?” the reporter said brazenly.
The reason Rita was in Hogwarts was to try and get a few words out of the Potions Master. She had transformed and was making her way into the castle when Bara had caught her.
“I will not be giving you an interview, Miss Skeeter, nor will you be going anywhere. You are trespassing on school grounds and tried to injure Albus Dumbledore’s charge. I believe a call to the Aurors is in order,” the Potions Master said evenly. “First we are going to see Albus. Now, start walking witch.”
Rita’s shoulders slumped and she began walking up the dungeon corridor, Severus walking behind her, poking her in the back with his wand. Bara watched them go. The bug-lady had tried to hurt him. He looked back at the Potions office and saw the door was slightly open. He walked over, looked up and down the hall and started to slip in.
“Bara! Close my office door and come with me!” Severus’ voice boomed down the corridor. Bara jumped guiltily and closed the Professor’s door quickly then ran down the hall to catch up with the wizard.
Severus looked down at the boy walking beside him.
“If I ever catch you in my office or classroom without permission Bara, you will wish you never left India,” the Potions Master said to him, his black eyes glittering.
Rita perked up.
“India? The boy’s from India? And is Albus’ charge? Why is he here? Who are his parents? Is he a protégé? How old is he? Why is Albus taking care of a child at his age? What is….”
”Shut up Rita!” Severus snarled at the witch, who quieted immediately. “You’d best think about your own answers once the Aurors get here. The obliviate spell requires special license to use, and I am sure you don’t have one.”
“She is a bug-lady,” Bara said to the Potions Master, “First bug…then lady.”
Severus looked at the boy as they turned into the main hall. Rita looked longingly at the main doors leading out of Hogwarts. She was in for it now.
“First bug, then lady,” Severus repeated…then he understood.
“Why Rita,” he purred, “Don’t tell me you are an unregistered animagus?”
“Fuck,” Rita thought.
“Looks like you will be writing your column from Azkaban for the next few months. Maybe you can do an expose on the deplorable conditions there,” the Potions Master continued. He had never liked Rita or her column.
Severus, Rita and Bara marched up the main stairwell, heading for the Headmaster’s office.
******************************************
Rita Skeeter received eight months in Azkaban for her attack on Bara and for being an unregistered animagus. The Daily Prophet intended to run reprints of her old column until she served her time. She didn’t even get a chance to write her exclusive interview with Harry Potter. Her editor had made her go to the wizard’s beach house to find out if a rumor about Harry’s recovery were true. No one believed it at first, but when Bilbo returned with a picture of Harry talking to Rita all hell broke loose. But by that time, Harry…who was quite gifted with spells too, made his home unplottable and no one else was able to find his house on the beach. From his chair on the porch, he watched the reporters arrive, look about then leave muttering about bad directions.
Bilbo had given bits of the story about Professor Snape and Hermione Granger assisting in bringing the wizard back, and since the reporters couldn’t find Harry, they sought out the witch and wizard instead. Severus had still not received a price he felt worth his time and Hermione was oblivious to being sought after…she was so caught up in Damius’ work. She had ordered all of the ingredients to begin brewing the elixir to create the Dementor, but still needed the basilisk heart and blood. The witch intended to go to Hogwarts tomorrow and tell the Professor she was ready for the ingredients, but he came that very night, walking into the Potions lab, scowling at her and wrinkling his nose.
“Hermione, can’t you at least shower, witch? It would take five maybe ten minutes out of your day,” he complained.
Hermione picked at her rat’s nest and looked up at him, looking for all the world like a guttersnipe in a lab coat.
“I…I just work, Severus,” she said absently, clearly distracted.
Severus frowned at her then sighed. This was just how Hermione was. When she was engaged in a project…nothing else mattered but the Work. It was as if she were many witches in one. To look at her now, Severus could hardly believe she was the same witch who almost killed him in bed over a month ago.
“Well, I brought something to show you, but I refuse to be in your presence a minute longer with you smelling and looking as you do,” he said evenly, heading for the lab door.
“Wait. What is it?” Hermione said, her attention fully on him now. “Is it the basilisk heart? Because I am ready for it if it is…”
Severus looked over his shoulder.
“Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t” he said obliquely.
Hermione ran up to him.
“Don’t go Severus. I’ll get in the shower right now. All right? Please…don’t go!” she begged him, her amber eyes bright and hungry now.
“I’ll give you fifteen minutes,” he said, eyeing her hair.
“Make sure you wash that mass of knots too,” he called after her as she bolted up the stairs, leaving a trail of body odor. Severus pulled out his wand and did a freshening spell to clear the air.
Most would find this aspect of Hermione Granger quite unsavory, especially since she was a witch. But on occasion, when involved in some labor-intensive project…Severus had gone a day or two without showering, though he did at least scourgify himself. Well, one thing was for sure, Hermione definitely wasn’t thinking about sex when she worked.
It was Friday night. Severus could stay overnight if he wished, but Hermione was exhausted…he could tell. He spoke with Eli before he walked down to the Potions Lab and the elf told him he was having a time getting her to eat, and that he had hidden all the pepper-up potion because he was afraid the Miss was going to overdose on it.
Perhaps he should stay over the weekend and make Hermione take a couple of days off. The witch needed to operate at top condition, and as her patron he had a duty to make sure she was physically and mentally capable of pursuing her research. Judging by her condition, she wasn’t up to par.
The wizard walked up the stairs and over to his desk to check the top drawer for receipts for the past month. He had trouble getting it open and when he did, receipts flew all over. The drawer was stuffed with them.
The Potions Master arched an eyebrow as he picked the slips of parchment up, and sat down at his desk. His eyes widened as he began to read over them. It was a good thing he was a relatively rich wizard with good investments, or he’d be broke by now. Good grindelows! No wonder he had received a letter from Gringotts bank inquiring about the recent activity in his accounts. Whenever a pattern of spending changed, the goblins stayed on top of it in case there was illegal activity occurring. Severus informed them he was investing in private research and that took care of the matter.
Hermione reappeared in the living room, dressed in a t-shirt and loose cotton pants with a drawstring. She was barefoot and her hair was damp. She smelled clean, and looked a little less tired, but she did have small bags under her eyes. She saw Severus looking at the receipts.
“Um…I spent a little more than usual,” she said haltingly.
Severus looked up at her.
“I see that,” he said coolly. “I take it the ingredients were quite costly.”
She nodded, then hesitated. Suddenly she blurted out, “I hate spending your galleons knowing that you won’t be reimbursed for them, Severus.”
The wizard stood up, walked around the desk and over to the witch. He looked down at her.
“All patrons take risks and losses Hermione. I wouldn’t have taken you on if I didn’t think I could support your work,” he said evenly. “The more intelligent the charge, the more costly the patronage.”
“Still, I feel terribly guilty about it,” she said.
“Don’t. The patent for the ‘Sequentius’ spell you created has gone through. I have hired demonstrators to present it at the next Spells expo. We will be seeing residuals soon. It is the kind of spell that will be used by everyone. Not just Potions Masters, but housewives, shopkeepers, builders…all manner of people Hermione. That one spell alone might be enough to end our patronage agreement, it will bring in so much money. So don’t be concerned about your spending on this project. Besides, I have figured out a way to cash in on this project, despite the lack of Dementors that will result,” the wizard said.
Hermione’s eyes brightened.
“You have?” she asked him.
Severus nodded and gestured for her to sit on the sofa. Hermione did, and he joined her.
“We can sell your memories of the project as docu-pensives. Many will be interested in the history and development of Dementors, and your use of nifflers to recreate them. It will be quite educational as well as interesting. All we need to do at the end of the project is collect your memories, add some captions and scripted voiceovers, copyright them and have them distributed on the market, first to special interest groups, universities and schools, then to the public. This is another item guaranteed to make us galleons. We can also do the same with Harry’s recovery. You see, there are many ways to recoup the money I’ve spent. By the time your patronage is finished, Hermione…you will be well-established, in demand and most likely quite wealthy yourself. You will need no one to take care of you then,” he said, his dark eyes searching her face.
”No, I won’t,” she agreed, her voice rather low as she looked down at her hands. “At least not financially.”
Severus looked at her.
“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked the witch.
Hermione looked up at the wizard. How could a man be so brilliant and yet…so stupid?
”What were you going to show me?” she asked Severus, changing the subject.
The wizard drew the burlap sack out of his pocket and held it out.
“Put your hand on it,” he said to the witch, watching her face closely as she did so.
Slowly Hermione rested her hand on the bag, her brow furrowed. Then her eyebrows rose and she looked awestruck.
“It’s warm, and it’s beating,” she said almost in a whisper.
“How did you get this, Severus?” she asked the wizard.
“By agreeing to meet with the most exasperating witch I ever knew,” he replied with a wry smirk. “This was the bribe that got you in my door, courtesy of my godson Draco.”
Hermione’s mouth dropped open.
“Oh my gods. This must have cost Draco a fortune. I’ve got to thank him,” Hermione exclaimed.
Severus glowered at her.
“As long as you don’t thank him like you thanked me,” the wizard growled possessively.
Hermione gave him a naughty little grin. The wizard found he didn’t like it, though the witch was only teasing him.
“I mean it!” he hissed at her, almost becoming completely undone.
Hermione sobered.
“Severus. What’s wrong with you? I would never do that. I am under an agreement with you,” she said to the wizard.
“An agreement,” he snorted, rising from the sofa and starting to pace with the burlap bag in his hand. “What good is an agreement when someone wants to be unfaithful? Marriages are ‘agreements’ and witches cheat every day. I know. At times I was the one they cheated with.”
Hermione looked at the upset wizard.
“Severus, not all witches are unfaithful. I’m not. I do my best to keep my word,” she said.
Severus stopped pacing and gave her a black look.
“Write Draco a thank you note,” Severus said, thinking of the handsome young wizard. He attracted more pussy than a cat food can being opened. “I don’t want you going to his manor.”
“What?” Hermione said, staring at him.
“I don’t want him seducing you,” Severus said, turning to the witch, his dark eyes hard.
“Severus, what in the world makes you think Draco could seduce me?” she asked the wizard.
Severus didn’t answer her. He couldn’t. It would make him look weak. Insecure. He didn’t want to admit his insecurity.
Draco was everything Severus was not. Young, handsome, charming, with good teeth and great hair. He was a witch’s wizard, and could charm the knickers off of almost any witch he wanted. It was a gift all Malfoy males had…specially cultivated by their sires. Draco was a polished diamond and compared to him, Severus was a lump of coal.
Or so he thought.
But Hermione realized what it was, and what the wizard was feeling even if he wouldn’t say. Draco was young, rich and handsome and most witches fell right into his arms. Hermione had been dodging the Slytherin’s slithery grip for years. She had no desire to sleep with half the female population of the wizarding world. Besides, Severus took wonderful care of her needs. And she thought he was much sexier than Draco.
“All right. I’ll write him, Severus,” the witch said softly. “It’s not necessary I visit him. Besides, you are the one giving me the basilisk heart and blood, not him. Maybe I won’t write him at all.”
Severus let out the breath he had been unconsciously holding. His chest hurt a little but he felt relieved the witch would not be going to the manor, or the snake’s den in this case. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Hermione…he didn’t trust Draco. In fact, the wizard realized he wouldn’t trust any male around Hermione. He didn’t even trust Harry, and he had been her friend for years.
“That’s your choice,” Severus said, trying to sound unaffected.
Hermione gave that annoying little smile again, but hid it from the wizard. Severus was jealous as hell over her and she knew it.
Severus sat back down next to the witch…a bit closer this time.
“Now, tell me about your research,” he said, “How much of this will you need?”
***********************************
A/N: Lol. Sorry. Couldn’t let Rita go out like that…though it would have been funny. Good thing Bara is so quick on the uptake. Point a wand at that kid, and he’s gone. Kapwing!! Lol. :). Severus is a jealous thing, isn’t he? Hermione seems to know how to deal with him though. You know, I’ve always seen Severus as insecure about some things in his life, but someone who works very hard to hide it…mostly by being mean as hell. I know quite a few people like that too. Anyway, please review.