CHAPTER 49
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 49 ~ A New Discovery
Hermione completed the docu-pensieve over the next two days, but it seemed as if something were missing. She viewed it several times before she realized what it was…background music. It didn’t need much of it, just in places…music that could convey tension, build-up, excitement, terror…just little touches. The witch went back to her script and wrote in notations where the music should begin and end. After about three hours Hermione surveyed her handiwork. Severus could provide the music with his violin. Now, how to get the message to him? She didn’t have an owl or magic mirror. She could go to Hogwarts, but was sure there were paparazzi set up all around the gates of the school, waiting to pounce.
Eli walked through the living room. Hermione’s amber eyes rested on him for a moment.
“Eli?” she said.
The elf stopped and walked back to Hermione.
“Yes Miss?” the elf replied, looking up at the witch with a smile.
“Could you deliver a message to your Master for me?” she asked him. Eli fairly quivered with excitement.
“Oh yes, Miss. Eli can takes it right to him,” the elf replied.
“Excellent,” Hermione said to him, pulling over a piece of parchment and scrawling a message on it. She folded it and handed it to Eli.
“Give him that, will you?” she asked the elf who bowed.
“Yes Miss,” Eli replied, immediately winking out.
Severus was sitting at his desk in his office with a Gryffindor student when Eli winked in.
“What are you doing here, Eli?” the wizard asked scowling as the witch he was talking to looked at the elf wide-eyed.
“The Miss asks me to brings you a message, Master,” Eli replied, his ears flattened at the Potions Master’s displeasure.
Severus realized Hermione had no other method to contact him. He’d have to arrange something more convenient. He took the message from the elf and put it in his robes pocket.
“You may go, Eli,” the wizard said.
Relieved he didn’t get a tongue-lashing, Eli winked out.
“Who was that?” the student asked the Potions Master, who frowned at her.
“Never mind who that was,” he snapped at the witch, who blanched, “If you focused on your grades as much as you focus on things that don’t concern you, Miss Blanchard, you wouldn’t be here now taking up my time. Now, let us continue…”
When Severus finished browbeating the Gryffindor student and loading her down with extra assignments to shore up her grades, he retired to his private rooms and took out Hermione’s note, scanning it quickly.
“Mood music?” he said, arching an eyebrow and shaking his head slightly. The witch was something else. But then again, if mood music would enhance the presentation of the docu-pensieve, which in turn would enhance sales, he was all for it. He’d bring his violin with him this weekend.
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Severus found Hermione waiting for him in the living room, docu-pensieve in hand. The wizard’s dark eyes washed over her for a moment as he set down his violin case and bow. Again, she looked quite healthy and presentable…but he had a feeling that by this time next week, she would revert to her usual, overworked self. The Dementor elixir would be completed by the middle of next week, and the witch would begin her experimentation with the nifflers.
Hermione had promised not to work on the weekends but most likely he would have to force her to comply with her promise. Even the lure of his dark library paled when it came to discovering new knowledge He knew she would be in no condition to either fuck or make love. The wizard found himself already scowling about this…but it was standard Hermione. He’d just have to deal with it for the next few months.
Severus reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment, handing it to the witch and taking the pensieve. He walked over to his desk, put the pensieve on top of it and sat down, prepared to view it.
“What is this?” Hermione asked him, looking at the rectangular piece of parchment. Then her eyes widened. She looked up at the Potions Master. “Severus, what is this?”
“A check for your portion of the residuals from the “Sequentius Spell.” It seems it was a hit at the expo. It isn’t much, but it will grow significantly as the spell catches on,” the wizard said.
“But this is over two thousand galleons,” Hermione said.
“Like I said, a rather low return. But it will get better,” the wizard said, “You need to send your account information to my solicitor so your portion can be deposited directly into Gringotts.”
The wizard entered the pensieve as the witch stared at the check. So much money! And it was just starting? Dear gods. She really was going to be rich. She looked over at Severus who was completely still staring down into the pensieve. Well, he’d be tied up for the next hour and a half. Hermione’s eyes fell on his violin case, then shifted back to the wizard. Surely he wouldn’t mind if she looked at his instrument.
The witch walked over to the case and bow, picked them up and set them on the sofa. She opened the case and took the shining instrument out. It was certainly a pretty, well-kept violin. She looked at it closely, searching for the label that would identify the instrument’s maker. She could find none.
Looking at Severus furtively, Hermione lifted the violin to her chin, picked up the bow and drew it across the strings, making a perfectly horrendous noise that caused the wizard to stir, blinking and look over at the witch. His eyes widened.
“Put down my Strad you silly chit!” he roared, leaping up from his desk and quickly striding over to the witch, who held out the violin and bow, blinking rapidly…her heart pounding as Severus took them from her gently, his eyes hard as diamond.
He brought the violin to his chin and drew the bow across the strings, eyes open, listening intently, then sighed with relief. She hadn’t ruined its tone. He scowled down at Hermione as he put the violin away, shutting the case with a snap.
“Never, ever touch my violin,” he seethed at the witch, who sunk down to the couch with a hurt look on her face. After all they’d done together, the wizard wouldn’t let her handle his violin? Her face fell and the witch began to sulk as Severus returned to the pensieve. Hermione sat on the sofa staring into the fireplace the entire time the wizard viewed the pensieve. Finally he finished and carried it back over to the witch.
“An excellent job Hermione,” he said to the witch, who didn’t acknowledge his praise…which was strange. Her eyes always lit up when he gave her the slightest acknowledgement. “I should be able to add the touches you wish if I knew where they were to be inserted.”
Hermione silently handed the wizard the notations on the script. He studied them, then studied Hermione, who stared into the fire and wouldn’t look at him at all. He scowled at her silence.
“What is wrong with you witch?” he asked her.
Hermione looked up at him, her eyes empty and cold…then looked back at the flame.
“Nothing,” she muttered stiffly.
Severus stared down at her. He could tell something was wrong with her, but couldn’t figure out what. He wasn’t pleased with the coldness he felt coming off of her.
“I can tell something is wrong witch. Tell me what it is,” the wizard demanded, scowling.
Hermione looked up at him, a crease between her brows. She stood up straight, her chin thrust out.
“Severus Snape, I’m not about to tell you what you should already know. Figure it out,” she said, turning and walking down the hallway and entering her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Severus looked after the witch. She had walked away from him refusing to tell him what was wrong, then slammed her door. She better not have locked it. The wizard stormed after the witch, throwing her door open and wrenching her out of the bed by one arm, determined to demand she tell him what was the matter, when suddenly Hermione slapped him, hard.
Shocked, the wizard let her go, bringing his hand to his face.
“You’re going to stop treating me any kind of way,” the witch said, her amber eyes hard as she looked up at him.
Severus couldn’t believe it. The tiny witch had struck him…hard and with intent. He glared at her, not knowing exactly what to do. Part of him urged the Potions Master to strike her back, but the part of him that felt connected to the witch wouldn’t let him.
“Why did you strike me?” he asked the witch.
“Because you came into my bedroom like some kind of caveman and yanked me about like a rag doll. You’re much bigger than me, Severus. I’m tired of you forcing me to do things. After all the times you’ve put your hands on me, I’ve decided it’s time to put my hands on you, you big oaf!” she spat, sinking down on her bed and folding her arms stubbornly. “Now leave me alone. I don’t want you near me. Go back to your precious violin. As a matter of fact, sleep with it tonight. It has several openings.”
Sleep with his violin? She didn’t want him near her?
Severus’ belly tightened at the witch’s rejection. He still didn’t see what he had done wrong or that he had hurt Hermione’s feelings when he yelled at her for touching his Strad. Hell, he handled her like he always handled her.
“Fine, witch,” he seethed. “Stay in your own bed then. I didn’t want you anyway,” he lied, stalking from the room. He spun in the hallway, his black eyes flashing at her. “But if I did want you witch, you would have to oblige me. It’s my right.”
Hermione slammed the door in his face, thinking she would let the oath of agreement choke her to death before she’d let him stick a single inch of cock inside her. Severus was such a Neanderthal.
The Potions Master stared at the door, tempted to actually go back into Hermione’s bedroom and take her just because she was being such a bitch. He hesitated, then walked off to the living room. He began to pace back and forth, going over the events before Hermione stormed out of the room.
He gave her the check. Took the pensieve. Yelled at her about the violin…
He paused.
But he always yelled at her. She never reacted like this before…
Severus rubbed his temples, then realization dawned on him. That had been before their weekend together. The dynamics had changed…for the witch at least. He was still his usual, snarky self. He was very protective of his belongings and he never let anyone handle his violin before. His outburst was a gut reaction. His Stradivarius was priceless to him in many ways.
“So is Hermione,” the small unwelcome voice in his head chided. “You need to apologize to her.”
Severus frowned at his conscience’s insane suggestion. Apologize? He never apologized for anything he did. Hell, the witch still had to service him. Why bother apologizing?
“Because you have to think about what will happen when your patronage ends, that’s why. If the witch is unhappy with you, she will leave. You will never have her again,” the voice continued.
Fuck. When had he gotten a conscience anyway? It had been blissfully silent all these years and suddenly it was an unwelcome subtext in his head. But it had a point…it would be in his best interest to apologize to the witch, and he could deal with that. It was a Slytherin point of view after all.
All right. An apology. How hard could it be? The witch was taken by him after all. Severus straightened his robes and ran his hand through his lanky hair, took a deep breath and walked back down the hall to Hermione’s bedroom. He knocked on the door.
“Go away!” Hermione called, frowning at the door as she lay on her side in the bed.
“Hermione, I would like to talk to you,” the wizard said.
“No!” the witch said stubbornly.
“I want to…to…apologize,” the wizard said uncomfortably, one hand resting on the door as he leaned in. “Apologize for shouting at you concerning my violin. I didn’t mean to get so upset. It’s just that…no one ever handled it before. I reacted before I thought. I am sorry, witch.”
Hermione’s eyebrows rose. Severus Snape apologizing? That had to be a first. Still, he had acted like a caveman afterwards…was he going to apologize for that?
The wizard waited for Hermione to call out “I forgive you, Severus.”
It didn’t come.
“Did you hear me, Hermione? I said I was sorry,” the wizard said.
“Yes, I heard you. Now go away,” she said.
He wasn’t getting off the hook that easy.
“Go away?” Severus mouthed silently, frowning at the door. He’d apologized. Hermione was supposed to forgive him.
Shit, she was a witch. Witches were naturally unreasonable.
“Do you forgive me?” he asked through the door.
“Does it sound as if I’ve forgiven you?” she shot back.
“No,” he said.
“Brilliant deduction. Now leave me alone, Severus,” Hermione said, burying her face in the pillow and wrapping it around her ears.
Severus stared at the door a moment, then walked back down the hall slightly bewildered. He had apologized as sincerely as he could. The wizard walked into the living room and stood over his violin case for a moment…looking down at it. Suddenly he opened the case, took out his Strad, picked up his bow and walked back down the hallway.
He stood outside Hermione’s door a moment, then envisioned making love to the witch and how she had made him feel. He brought the violin up to his chin, closed his eyes and began to play Hermione’s song.
Inside the room, Hermione raised her head from the pillow, listening as Severus stood outside her door, playing his heart out for the witch. A warmth fell over her, and she sat up in the bed feeling as if the music were caressing her very soul. She felt a powerful urge to go to the wizard and stood up, swaying towards the door. It was then she saw them, shimmering into existence…golden notes pouring through the door and swirling around her, caressing her.
Hermione held up her arms as the notes glided over her skin gently, sending pulses of desire throughout her body.
“Oh my gods. What is this?” the witch breathed as she was caught in the middle of a cyclone of musical notes. They began to move her gently toward the door and the Potions Master. She couldn’t resist them and opened the door.
Severus, who was playing with his eyes closed, opened them as he heard the door click, then his eyes widened as he saw the notes swirling around Hermione, who was gently touching them, wonder in her eyes. Stunned, Severus stopped playing and the notes faded out, leaving Hermione standing before him.
“My gods, Severus. Your music…your music came to get me,” the witch whispered, “How is that?”
Severus stared at his violin, then at the witch.
“I wanted you,” he said quietly, his eyes reflecting the wonder in the witch’s own as he studied his bow. “I wanted you to forgive me and come to me.”
“And I wanted to come,” the witch replied, her eyes resting on the wizard thoughtfully. “Severus…your Harper powers do much more than embellish music. They can affect others…it seems it can convey your feelings and your will. This is amazing.”
Severus blinked down at her.
Yes it was amazing…and a bit daunting as well.
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A/N: Severus was really in the doghouse there. At least he figured out what was wrong on his own…but he couldn’t figure out Hermione. Lol. Those Harper powers really came in handy this time. There was a good chance Hermione wouldn’t have spoke to him the entire weekend…but since his power manifested…her interest is secured. <g> Please review.