CHAPTER 41
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 41 ~ A Surprise for Hermione
The Potions Master found himself face to face with what could be a turning point, an intimate moment, an opportunity to make this arrangement much more than what it was. All he had to say was he would miss the witch too.
But…being who he was, Severus didn’t do it.
Instead he said, “I believe Hermione, a specific part of my anatomy is what you will miss. Not me.”
Hermione stared at the Potions Master, not knowing what to say to this. Severus arched an eyebrow at the witch’s silence.
“Truth got your tongue, witch?” he asked her with an ugly little smirk.
“You’re a bastard,” Hermione replied, standing up. “I’m going to my room.”
The witch stormed off. Severus’ black eyes sobered the moment she disappeared and he sighed.
He hadn’t handled that well at all. Why was he sabotaging himself? The wizard had come to realize he wanted Hermione, but when faced with opportunities to get closer to the witch, he let them pass. Was he frightened of the possibility she would accept him?
The wizard shook the thought out of his head. He was Severus Snape. He wasn’t frightened of anything. Particularly a twenty-six year old witch he’d known since she was a child.
Still, he had hurt her by being so crass.
But he had an idea how to make it up to her.
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Hermione was lying in her four-poster on her back staring up at the ceiling when a knock sounded on her door.
“Go away!” she yelled, flipping over to her stomach and burying her face in the pillow.
Severus tried the door. It was locked.
The wizard scowled and pulled out his wand.
“Alohamora!” he hissed.
The door clicked open. Hermione had not thought to ward it.
Severus stormed through the door.
“Get up!” he said to the witch, who didn’t move.
“Go away, Severus. I’ve talked to you enough today,” Hermione replied, her voice muffled by the pillow.
Severus stalked over to the bed, caught her by the arm and yanked Hermione out of it.
“I told you to get up, witch. I am your patron…you do as I say,” he growled, “And if you ever lock this door against me again, I will remove it. Now come with me.”
Hermione barely managed to grab her wand off the nightstand as Severus dragged her out the bedroom and up the hall. For a split second she thought about hexing him, but his rage would have been terrible when he recovered.
“You’re walking too fast,” she said, trying to keep up with the wizard’s long strides. Scowling, Severus slowed and released her.
“Keep up,” he said, walking to the back of the house and out the back door into the large backyard. There was nothing out there but well-trimmed grass. Severus stalked across the landscape.
“Where are we going?” Hermione asked him.
“Just come along witch. You’ll see soon enough,” the wizard said.
Hermione followed him silently, wondering just where the dark wizard was taking her.
Suddenly Severus stopped, made a pulling motion with his arm, then disappeared.
Hermione stared wide-eyed. Where did he go?
Suddenly the wizard reappeared. Well, half of him did. He was leaning slightly and cut off vertically up his back. His legs weren’t visible either. He looked as if he were leaning out of an invisible door.
Suddenly Hermione realized he was.
“Come on, witch!” he commanded.
Hermione hurried up, and Severus appeared fully as he held the door open. She walked through into total blackness.
“Lumos” Severus said. Suddenly there was light, and Hermione saw a long staircase leading down into the earth.
“Follow me and watch your step. I don’t feel like tumbling to the lower level,” Severus said, walking down the stairs, his robes billowing. Hermione followed. What was this place?
After about five minutes they reached the bottom landing. There was a door. Severus unwarded it and walked through. Hermione followed, then gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth.
They were standing in a circular library, books filling the shelves as high as the eye could see. There was a huge circular catalog drawer that went around the entire room, set into the wall below the bookshelves. On the black marble floor was a huge circle, with a large pentacle in the center and symbols drawn all around it in red. A large table with two chairs sat in the middle of the pentacle. There were parchments and quills on it.
Hermione noted that some of the books were chained in place, and some were wriggling as if trying to attract attention. There were huge tomes and tiny booklets. Most of the titles appeared to be in Latin, but a few were in English and other languages.
Severus watched the witch as she took in his library, then she turned to him breathlessly.
“Your library of Dark Magic,” she breathed.
“Yes,” Severus said, nodding and looking around at his collection before letting his eyes fall back on the witch. “Since this was the primary reason you accepted my patronage, I thought you should at least get a look at it, since it seems you won’t actually need any of these books.”
“It’s amazing. You have so many,” Hermione breathed, starting to walk toward a shelf. Severus snatched her back.
“Never…never ever approach any of these books that way, witch. Not if you wish to leave this place,” he hissed at her. “Always go to the catalogue and look up what you need. These books are not meant for browsing. You must have a subject or specific book in mind when you come here.”
Severus strode over to the catalogue and opened up the “D” drawer. It was at least ten feet long. He motioned for Hermione to come closer so he could show her the reference cards. There was a title, a symbol and an invocation on the card. Severus pointed at the symbol.
This is the protective symbol you must draw before summoning the book. It doesn’t matter where you draw it. This large circle amplifies its power and protects everything within its boundaries. You draw this immediately. Underneath the symbol is the invocation which will bring the book to you. You should never summon a book if someone is in the process of entering or leaving this abode…they are unprotected and could be taken. Not that anyone enters here but me…but it is still important to know. ”
“Never open a book before it is placed on the table. There are additional wards that will protect you in case there is an inhabitant in the book. And you cannot leave the circle until the book is properly returned to its place on the shelf. A simple ‘return’ said with intent will send it back. Never leave the circle until a book is secured,” the wizard said looking somberly at the witch. She better have paid attention.
Severus took out his wand and drew the symbol for a book called “Demonis Spiritus” then spoke the invocation. Hermione looked up and saw a book pull itself out of a high shelf and float down to the Potions Master, who carried it over to the table. It was a scaly-looking tome. Hermione didn’t like it on sight.
Severus set it on the table. He looked at Hermione.
“Open it,” he said, gesturing toward the book and stepping aside.
Hermione looked at the wizard for a moment, then walked forward and slowly opened the tome.
She screamed as a horned demon with the face and tusks of a boar sprang halfway out, claws curled to rend and tear, snorting fire and roaring so powerfully, her hair was blown back. But it didn’t attack. It couldn’t. Snarling it withdrew back into the book.
Hermione turned to Severus, trembling.
“That was mean,” she said in a squeaking voice.
Severus smirked.
“No, that was a lesson. All manner of things are contained in these books. Some have monsters that spring out at every new chapter. A few of the creatures are quite tempting, appearing as very beautiful women or very handsome men. They will lie and say they’ve been imprisoned in the books by someone evil, but they are the true evil. They will promise all manner of pleasure if you will release them and give you the word to say to liberate them. But if you release them, you will never see daylight again and can count on a slow and painful death,” the Potions Master said. “The circle will not protect you against your own stupidity. Never repeat anything out loud read in these books. Not a passage or even a single word. Not every one will react to being read out loud, but it is better to be safe than dead in this case.”
Hermione turned a couple of pages in the book, prepared for another manifestation, but none came. She read it.
“This is a list of names with different kinds of attributes next to them,” she said.
“Yes. It is a list of demons you can bind and use to fulfill your needs,” the wizard said rather darkly, “But there is always an unpleasant price to pay for their services…usually in the Afterlife. I’ve heard they use females as concubines and usually have more than one sexual appendage. Spiked.”
Hermione shuddered and closed the book.
“Return,” she said.
The book floated upward and returned to its place on the shelf. Hermione turned and looked at the catalogue.
“Can I browse through the catalogue, Severus?” she asked.
“Certainly. Just remember what I told you,” the wizard said, sitting down at the table and watching as Hermione quickly walked over to the catalogue and began leafing through it, her eyes glowing.
Yes, he had made up for his crassness this morning. Most likely he had made points as well.
Hermione leafed through the catalogue for about forty-five minutes, before calling Severus. He walked over and she pointed to a card.
“Severus, what is this symbol?” she asked. Severus looked at the card. There was the pentacle symbol and another below it. He smirked.
“What does it look like?” he asked her.
“A man and a woman engaged in sex,” she replied looking up at him then back at the card curiously.
“That particular book requires a protective circle and an act of sex to summon it,” the wizard said, his dark eyes resting on Hermione. “Do you wish to see it?”
“No, not right now,” Hermione replied, flushing a little.
There were so many cards to go through and besides…she’d feel strange having sex in this place. It would be as if the books themselves were watching them. They probably would be too.
“Well, I am at your disposal if you need me,” Severus purred at her, returning to his seat.
All in all they spent three hours in the library before Severus said it was time to go. Hermione looked crestfallen. She could spend weeks here just going through the catalogue.
As they made their way up the stairs, Severus said, “Perhaps I will make it a point to come here on the weekends and escort you here to browse if you promise not to work on Saturday and Sunday,” the wizard offered.
Hermione hastily agreed, a broad smile on her face.
“Thank you, Severus,” she said breathlessly.
He had been forgiven.
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When they returned to the house, Severus summoned Eli and said something to him. The elf bowed and left.
Hermione sat down in the armchair in the living room and gushed about how wonderful his library was, and how interesting the titles were, and how many protective circles there were.
Severus listened to her chatter patiently. When Hermione chattered, she was excited and thoroughly taken in by whatever captured her imagination. It was the first time the witch had been so open and animated with him. Years ago, this would have annoyed the hell out of the wizard, but now…it rather pleased him.
They were interrupted by Eli.
“Lunch is ready,” he announced. Both Hermione and Severus walked into the kitchen, and on the table were two huge ham sandwiches complete with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Hermione’s had sweet pickles on it. She recognized the ham right away. Iberico.
The witch glanced at Eli who looked at her with his ears pressed back.
Severus sat down and looked at Hermione, who joined him.
“This ham is quite special. I think you will enjoy it,” the wizard said, picking up his sandwich and taking a bite. Bliss washed over his face.
“Excellent,” he breathed, his eyes half closed in pleasure. Severus certainly liked his ham.
Hermione took a bite of her sandwich. It was delicious of course. But she knew that. Still…
“MMMmmm” she said exaggeratedly, “This is sooooo delicious, Severus.”
The wizard nodded.
“It is a special ham from Spain, called Iberico,” the wizard said. He proceeded to tell Hermione about the Iberian hogs the meat came from, the acorn feeding and the years it took to purchase it because of the waiting list. Hermione knew most of this, but not how difficult it was to get.
“Is it expensive?” she asked.
“Yes. Quite expensive. Since it comes from a muggle source, I have to convert my galleons to English currency. The ham costs about forty-three pounds per pound. Of course, I buy an entire ham. It comes to about six hundred and forty seven pounds in all.”
“That’s obscene!” she exclaimed, looking at the sandwich. “That’s terribly, terribly expensive, Severus.”
“I appreciate the very best,” the wizard replied, his dark eyes washing over her.
Hermione got the distinct impression he wasn’t talking ham and colored a bit.
“Now eat up. It’s not often you get to eat a sandwich worth forty-two pounds,” he said to the witch.
He had no idea that Hermione had eaten at least one-hundred pounds worth of his ham her first few weeks. And if Hermione had her way he never would.
Severus patted his stomach after finishing his sandwich and pumpkin juice. He looked at Hermione.
“I believe a nap is in order,” he said to the witch. He felt full and comfortable. “Will you join me?”
Hermione nodded.
Severus walked over to her, and for the first time…pulled out her chair and offered her his arm, which she took. He walked her to his bedroom.
Severus didn’t undress fully but slept in his shirt and trousers, and Hermione in her jeans and t-shirt. The wizard dozed off quite quickly, Hermione studying his face and wondering if there would be any action for her this weekend.
The answer was no. Severus was quite serious when he said she needed to recharge and he made sure she did. The wizard left Sunday night without laying a finger on her. She did manage to steal a goodbye kiss however…the Potions Master giving her a half-scowl and disapparating with a billow of robes.
The moment Severus left, Hermione thought about the basilisk heart.
“Oh no, I didn’t get it from him,” she said, thinking she would have to go to Hogwarts tomorrow. She wasn’t looking forward to that because of the reward the Prophet had out. Then again, she could wear a glamour.
But she needn’t have worried. When she entered the Potions labs the next day, she found the treasured ingredients in a bowl, carefully sealed with a stasis spell to keep it fresh.
“Thank you, Severus,” she breathed, then began to set up the Sequentius spell that would brew the Dementor Elixir.
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A/N: We got a glimpse of Severus’ Dark Magic library. Figures he would keep it disillusioned and underground. Cool books though. Please review.