The Potter Plot

Okay, I actually really like this title LOL

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Harry watched Hermione run out of the Great Hall. He was stunned by her use of his last name. Even on her angriest day, she never used it. Ron had dropped his fork when he heard her say that. They looked at each other and ran after her. She ran down to the dungeons. They knew where she was headed. Harry had taken to keeping his invisibility cloak with him since the war. Ron and him could fit barely. They looked around before ducking under it and heading for the dungeons.

They walked around the corner to the dungeons where Hermione was most likely headed. They peeked in the classroom. No one was there. They took off the invisibility cloak and walked to his office. They opened the door, expecting a shouting Snape at them. The office was empty. Ron looked just how Harry felt. Confused and worried. Something was going on. It was time to get a teacher involved.

"Come on, let's find McGonagll. She needs to know," Harry said, walking out.

Ron followed, distraught by something. Harry knew he had some sort of feelings for Hermione, even if he didn't admit it. The fear was the thought that Hermione could have moved on, when Ron was still thinking about things. That summer they spent apart from each other seemed to have done something to their relationship. They hadn't held hands, or anything since the war.

"Potter, Weasley, what can I do for you?" McGonagll asked as they entered her office. She was just about to head to lunch herself.

"Professor, do you know where Hermione is? She ran out of the Hall to the dungeons, but we can't find her anywhere. They only reason she would have to be in the dungeons would be in potions, right?" Harry started. His voice would hardly work for him.

She looked nervous. "Yes, I believe you are right, Potter. I'll find her for you," she stated, smiling at them. Ron and Harry both smiled back. They were relieved. Minerva headed out of the room, not bothering to say good bye. She knew where Hermione Granger was. And she was furious. It was almost time for classes, and Severus would have a classroom full of first years by now. She walked fast to his private chamber. She wanted to barge in on them. Catch them. But Severus was a cleaver man. He had put a spell on the door. She couldn't open it.

She sighed angrily. "Severus, your class is waiting!" She waited for several minutes then called again, "Severus, your class is waiting!"

He answered this time. "Minerva, I will be there in a moment."

She had no idea what he was doing in there, nor did she want to know. However, Minerva knew that her student, her prized student was being ravaged by that man. He was a fairly nice guy, but he was still a Slytherin. A few moments later, Severus opened the door. And she nearly fainted dead away.

He was standing there with his bored expression, in his underwear. Clothes were all over the floor. Minerva saw the bare back of Hermione facing the wall. She wanted to curse him into oblivion. However, she didn't. She still cared for the man, still thought highly of him.

"SEVERUS SNAPE! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" She shouted.

"My, my, Minerva, don't know you know what sex is?" he asked slyly, with a grin on his face. He was a despicable man. Really. She wanted to slap him. No, punch him in the face.

"Severus, you have a class of first years that need teaching. And Miss Granger has classes to prepare for if she is going to pass her N.E.W.T.S. Not in here getting ravaged by you, Severus Snape," she hissed at him.

She watched his face change, for the first time. It changed from satisfied to shock. She'd hurt him where it mattered. She knew that Severus took pride in his treating women right. His father wouldn't approve of him harming women. He took in a breath, "Ravaged? That's the same as rape. I can assure you Minerva, it was not ravage. It was quiet pleasing." He responded a little harsher.

Minerva wanted to hit him again. Or for the first time. Whatever!! Any misinformed feelings she felt went away when she heard him say that. "While she is a student here, it is ravage, Sir. And quiet against the rules." Minerva said sharply.

His face broke into an angry sneer. Worse than when he found out that Potter was going here. "Minvera McGonagll, I have spent most of my adult life protecting a child bore by my love Lily, and enemy, Potter. I have broken rules my whole life, spied for both parties. You really think that I care about the rules that insolent Headmaster makes. All I want is someone to be there with me at the end of the day. Not care about my scars or what I did in the past. Not try to pass me off as a hero when I clearly am not. All I want is someone to be with and leave all the problems at the door. Be happy with as a companion. And as shocking as it is to you, Potter, Weasley, and even Dumbledore himself, I do care for her, and I do enjoy her company. Whether that will grow to love or not is not up to you, nor is it any of your business. If we find love in the future, then you, Potter, Weasley, and Albus will be informed promptly. I ask you to stop hovering over us like a leech on a little child. We are not children, we are both adults capable of making our own choices in life without your interfering. Now if you don't mind I have to get ready for my dunderhead first years, excuse me, Madame!"

With that, he slammed the door in her face. She stood there shocked. He'd revealed so much. Much more than he probably wanted. As she strolled away to see if his first years were in yet, she thought back to what he said. All I want is someone to be with at the end of the day. Not care about my scars or what I did in the past. All I want is to be happy with someone as a companion and as shocking as it is to you all, I do care for her.

He cares for her. If that man truly cares for Hermione Granger, then nothing even Albus could do to break them up. Albus cared too much about love. She left him there, going to the Headmaster's office.

"Minerva, what a pleasant surprise," Albus said happily.

"Good afternoon, Albus," she responded with a worried tone.

Albus, being a bright man, caught on at once. "Something wrong?" He asked casually

Minerva nodded, sitting down in a chair. He sat too, eyes focused on her. "Severus cares for Hermione Granger, Albus. I just went there and found them both indecent, and in the middle of something. He told me things that he probably didn't want to, but he told me nonetheless. Albus, I'm worried. What if something happens? Like love. He said that he cared for her as a companion and enjoyed her company. And that all he wants was someone that doesn't care about his scars or what he did in his past. I don't think they should be together, Albus."

Albus gave a light chuckle. "My dear, I believe it has already happened. They just don't realize it yet. And as for what we think, Minerva, Severus is a prideful man. He won't listen to anything else I tell him to do. He's free from me, to do whatever he pleases. He's already said that he won't obey any rules I give him. Even then, I couldn't bring myself to take away someone that brings a certain happiness to Severus' life. A certain happiness that he hasn't had in years, maybe ever."

Minerva hated to admit, but Albus was right. She couldn't take away Severus' happiness. If Granger made him happy, they would turn the other cheek, and try to keep Potter and Weasley contained. She had no idea how, though. Those two, even without Granger, was a menace for the rules. She would have to give Potter and Weasley a task to do. Perhaps giving him the dueling club leadership with Weasley to help.

"I trust, Minerva, that you have a plan," Albus stated with a gleam. Minerva has come to hate that gleam. Yet, she's come to love it as well.

"Yes, I do, Albus."

"Potter, Weasley, stay behind, please," Minerva called as the class begun to disperse.

Harry and Ron looked confused as they watched Hermione hurry out, not looking back at them. She had come in late, much to McGonnagll's fear. She had sat far from Harry and Ron, ignoring their vain attempts to get her attention.

Minerva waited until everyone was out of the room before Minerva started. "Professor Dumbledore has asked me to start up the Dueling Club again. Since all the teachers are busy with extra work for the NEWTS and extra children here, we cannot lead. However, you two, if you accept, will be given the leadership for the club. So, what do you say?" Minvera explained.

Ron looked like he was about ready to burst. Harry was between happy and scared. All those people looking up to him. Of course he was used to it from the DA, but this was different. He didn't know exactly how, probably because Hermione wouldn't be helping much. However, he and Ron jumped at the chance. Ron was more excited about it than Harry was.

Minerva looked pleased. "Very well, then, I expect you all to have plans and start making up posters and planning a night for the first meeting. You can use the Great Hall, of course. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress with the students. I expect you not just to teach them dueling, but even helping with Defense Against the Dark Arts too. Such as the Patronus Charm. You both did very well on your OWLS so I expect that from you, understand?"

They nodded in understanding. Then went to find Hermione to tell her. She'd want to be a part of this. She wasn't in the common room when Harry and Ron got finished with classes, and she wasn't even in most of their classes. Something had to of happened. Harry and Ron had made a plan to follow her to the dungeons tonight to find out what was going on in there. She never missed any classes. Why start now?

As for Severus, he had started redressing, anger boiling away when he saw Hermione sitting on his bed, half dressed. He so wanted what they pretended to do be real. But not only was that a bad thing, it was a terrible thing. She wouldn't never have it. She'd probably use a spell that he hadn't even heard of in his readings on him. But he could dream couldn't he? Taking in a deep breath, he cleared his throat.

"We both have class, Granger. We should go," he muttered.

She looked a little let down. However, she didn't say anything. She redressed herself. As she headed for the door they had just come in, he stopped her. She looked into his eyes and saw something. Desire? Pain? In a flash, it was gone, leaving her confused.

"Skip dinner, Granger, we have a lot to talk about. I'll have something waiting for us here," he told her softly. She nodded, about ready to leave. "Oh, and Granger, behind the portrait of Venus Margret, the Loony on the first floor, there is a passage that will lead to my bedroom. The password is Humphry. Try not to let anyone see you. Its best you use that entrance from now on. To keep clear of the dungeons."

Hermione nodded once again, a small smile plastered on her face. Entering Transfiguration, twenty minutes late, she ignored Harry and Ron purposefully. She didnt' want to deal with them at the moment. Instead of sitting by them, she sat beside Seamus, who gave her a friendly grin.

"Hey, Hermione," he greeted.

"Hi, Seamus, miss much?" Hermione asked, focused on the lesson now.

He shook his head lightly. "Not much, just the introduction to a spell. One you probably already know," he grinned at her. Seamus was a great friend.

"Which one?" Hermione asked.

"Expecto Patronum," he told her with a grin that made Hermione smile.

"Granger, Finnagan, something amusing?" McGonagll's stern voice rang out, breaking them of their conversation. Harry and Ron were there looking at them with a beg on their faces. Hermione ignored them and shook her head at the Professor.

Seamus shook his head also, 'Not a one, Professor."

Hermione practically ran out of the classroom. She had heard Professor McGonagll calling Harry and Ron back, and decided to take that opportunity to disappear from their sights once more. She really didnt' want to be bothered with them. And since she was ahead in every single class she took, she decided to skip the rest of the day. After all, one day's rest wasn't much to ask for was it? She wanted time to herself, and thought the only place she'd get it without anyone, even Severus, was in his chambers while he was in class.

"Humphry" she muttered to the portrait of an ugly woman outside a dark hut.

The woman humphed at her and let her through to a dark, cobweb filled passage that only had stairs going down. They seemed to go on forever until they suddenly evened out and came to a dark green door. She opened the door gently. Hermione had found herself coming out of the bookcase beside Severus' bed. She grinned to herself and sat on the bed. Not wanting to be greeted by him in the living room. She wanted to breath.

She flopped down on his bed, finding comfort in the green sheets. Her bookbag had been thrown in the floor beside the bed. Hermione laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. It smelt of him. Ham, potion ingredients, warmth. She smiled in comfort. Since her sixth year, two years ago, her smell has changed. When she smelled the love potion Slughorn brewed then, it was fresh mowed grass, new parchment, and spearmint toothpaste. That was Ron. But the war changes people. After the war, after their kiss, they spent the summer apart.

Hermione went to find her parents, only to realize that they'd had another child. A boy, named Harry Charles Granger. Her little brother. If she had undone the spell, then there was a 50/50 chance that Harry would vanish. It was a bit of old and rare magic that she didn't want to mess with. Instead, she became their babysitter for Harry. So they could have time to themselves. Harry was just like her when she was a little girl. Happy, seemingly know-it-all. Yet, he had a special talent for growing herbs at just a year old. She knew, in about ten years, her brother would be going to Hogwarts. She didn't have the heart to risk loosing her little brother. It was best they knew her as their babysitter.

She silently started crying. She wanted nothing more than to run to her parents and have them wrap their arms around her. Tell her they loved her. Somewhere, they were. In some point in time, in some other universe, they were hugging her, loving her.

Severus had come back to his chambers to get a book that would help him with his fourth year class. The dunderhead children thought they knew it all. By repeating everything he said as if they had just said it. This would set them straight. He had planned to start this next term, but they were annoying him to his limits. Opening his door to his bedroom, where his bookcase was, he stopped dead in his tracks. Hermione was on his bed. Tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes not looking at him. They were trained to the ceiling, as if the ceiling was a very interesting movie that she had to watch. Why was she crying.

"Granger?" He asked wearily, knowing how a woman could be when upset.

She averted her eyes from the ceiling slowly. "Severus," she greeted in a hoarse voice. She took a deep shaky breath and let it out slowly. Her mouth was trembling, she was wimpering.

"What's wrong?" Severus asked when he realized she was about ready to cry again. He forgot about the book, his stupid annoying fourth years, and that they both had class. He went to wrap his arms around her in a friendly gesture. She started crying, loudly.

Hermione grabbed him around the waist and buried her head into his stomach. Severus watched her sob as she clung to him. It broke his heart. He didn't even have the courage to use Ligilimency on her. She was too upset to really make sense anyway. Her thoughts right now were private, not for him. He held her close to him, making her sob even harder.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" he repeated harshly, getting too upset himself to keep simply holding her.

Severus brought Hermione's face up to look into his eyes. "My- my parents. I was thinking about them, and- my-my brother." She sobbed.

Okay, just stab him. Cut his heart out with a spoon already. That would feel better than the way Severus was feeling at the moment. "You have a brother?" He asked.

She nodded. "I had placed a memory charm on my parents, so Voldemort wouldn't find them. After the war, I went to relieve the spell, but they had a son. The charm I put on them said they had no children. I did some reading on it and found out that a rare magic had happened. They were absently filling a void in their lives. Even with my charm on them, they knew they had a child. If I were to take off the charm, then there was a 50/50 chance that my brother would die, vanish. I cou-couldn't do that to them. They were so happy," she explained. Shuddering, she whipped her eyes.

That had to take a lot of guts. That did take a lot of guts to not undo the spell. Severus felt for the girl. Having people that were a part of her alive, but not knowing who they really were, or who their past lies with. "Hermione, I'm so sorry. I – I feel like this is all my fault," Severus mumbled to her.

Hermione shook her head. "No, its not your fault. I wanted to protect them. This will keep them protected. And maybe, after I graduate, I can get a job here. Work here so that when my brother comes, I can maybe watch over him. Get to know him more."

That would be as torturous as watching a woman you love marry another and have his child. Even more, marry your enemy and have his child. Hermione got up and went to the bathroom, to freshen up most likely. He, waited on his bed for several moments. Then, realizing that he couldn't sit still, he got up and paced around. He had gotten to the outside of the bathroom when Hermione walked out and into Severus.

"Sorry, sir," she said backing up.

It was a spur of the moment thing. Something that Severus never did. When he saw her pulling back, he grabbed her waist and pulled her back to him. He held her and just stared into her eyes. They weren't puffy any longer. They were brighter, just like Severus liked them. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. Just for a moment. Then he found himself pulling back. He rushed out the door back to his class, without the book. Leaving Hermione standing there alone and very very confused.

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OOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!

:)

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