Hermione
Chapter Five
Hermione
Hermione's routine had become predictable, the first few weeks with students seemed to go by the same. Every morning she sat up in bed and glanced over at her window, the sky still dark, before eyeing daggers at Crookshanks, the lucky half-kneazle sleeping soundly curled up on her bed. She got out of bed and went to the kitchen to make herself a cup of cinnamon tea with honey and milk. As she waited for the water to boil, she would map out the day ahead. No matter the weather she tried to go for a run before breakfast began in the great hall. She'd drink her tea and feed Crooks before letting him out to wander the castle for the day. Afterwards she would throw her curls up in a semblance of a bun and head out on her early morning run.
Occasionally she would see Luna in the morning, as the wonderful woman often had to wrangle different creatures nearby and didn't like to keep them cooped up longer than she had to. They would usually strike up a conversation for a few minutes as the start of the term had kept them both busy. Hermione often offered to help her wrangle some of the more minor magical creatures for Lunas upcoming classes on basic creature care. Luna almost always accepted and they would spend their weekend afternoons working together to collect whichever creatures happened to be on Luna's list for her upcoming classes.
Today was no different, she got dressed and headed out for her run, she jogged around the edge of the Black Lake towards Hogsmeade. The morning air was crisp and refreshing as the seasons began to change. Hermione felt invigorated as she ran, spying Luna and Neville ahead she waved to them as she neared.
"Hello there Hermione, I trust you slept well?" Luna asked.
"I did, thank you Luna. How are you today? Did you need any assistance?"
"I'm quite well today, thank you" Luna chirped "Neville's been helping me this morning."
Neville blushed and waved at Hermione as he continued collecting nets.
"Alright then, I'll see you both at dinner then?" Hermione grinned at them as she began heading towards Hogsmeade.
As she continued her run, she looked over towards where she would always find Severus Snape swimming in the lake. Everyday she would wave to him, but he would never wave back. She couldn't help but feel a little bit of resentment towards him honestly, even after all these years. He had been so cruel to her when she was a student, and she still hadn't forgiven him for that. But even though she hasn't been able to forgive him, she couldn't help but admire him. He was a brilliant wizard, an excellent potioneer, and he had once again dedicated his life to teaching. He was also a very complex person, and Hermione was curious to know more about him. Every now and again she would stop and do some light stretching near a bench surrounded by a few trees. If it just so happened to be near his path in the water there was simply nothing she could do about that. She would allow her eyes to drift over his pale lean torso as he swam. A warmth spreading through her abdomen at the sight of the water that poured off his body as he completed his laps. It was a sight she couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from.
Today, Hermione was running along the edge of the lake as usual. She turned and waved at Professor Snape who, as usual, ignored her. Rolling her eyes she spotted her usual bench and was annoyed to see a group of men, still out after what appeared to be a very late night of drinking, sitting there. As she neared she could hear them start to make lewd remarks and catcall her as she tried to pass. One man went so far as to reach out and grab her ass. Hermione felt her face flush with anger. Turning immediately she smacked his hand away.
"Excuse you." She seethed. "Let me through."
But the men didn't listen. They started to surround her, harassing her as they got closer. Hermione felt her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was in danger. She couldn't reach her wand in her ankle holster without drawing attention to it. She swatted at roaming hands, her mouth tasted of bile. Just as she decided to risk reaching for her wand she heard his deep voice call out to the men.
"I suggest you leave her alone." He threatened darkly.
Hermione's body automatically sagged in relief upon hearing that voice. She looked up and saw Severus Snape standing there. He was dripping water, his silky black hair splayed in tendrils across his forehead. Hermione's eyes were glued to his. She was unable to look away as he pointed his wand at her attackers, the dark mark still prominent on his pale skin.
"Get away from her." He sneered.
The men looked at Snape, then back at Hermione. Deciding that she wasn't worth the trouble they raised their hands and backed away slowly, muttering threats under their breath. The man that groped her eyeing her until he crested the hill behind them.
Once they were gone, Snape turned to Hermione. "Are you alright?" he asked gruffly as he swiped the dripping hair off his forehead.
Hermione nodded, still shaken. "Thank you," she murmured. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along. I couldn't reach my wand without provoking them further."
Snape didn't say anything. He just glared at her for a moment, his eyes burning with something she couldn't quite name, then turned and walked back to the lake.
Hermione watched him go, feeling a strange mixture of emotions. She was grateful to him for saving her, but she was also angry. She didn't understand why he had to be so cold and distant all the time. Was it so much to ask to have a peaceful existence without having to worry about death eaters or impending wars or would be assaulters or moody coworkers.
She shook her head and started to walk towards the castle. She didn't have time to think about Snape now. She needed to get back to her quarters and get ready for the day ahead.
But as she walked, she couldn't help but think about his eyes. They had been so dark and intense, and for a moment, she had felt like he was actually looking at her. He felt safe, certainly safer than the wizards she encountered along the path, more than that he felt like a friend.
She sighed. She didn't know what to make of Severus Snape. He was a mystery to her, and she doubted she would ever figure him out. For now, she was just grateful that he had been there to help her.
Hermione made her way to breakfast in the great hall. As it was a weekday she sat down in her usual spot next to Luna and Neville.
"I'm glad you're okay," Luna said after Hermione explained what happened.
Hermione nodded. "Thanks," she said. "I don't know how badly the situation could have gone if Professor Snape hadn't been there."
Luna smiled. "He's a good man," she said, her voice taking on its usual dreamy quality. "He just has a hard time showing it sometimes."
As Hermione nodded along with Luna her mind spun. There were so many ways that scenario could have gone that would have ended painfully. Luna had a point that Professor Snape seemed to have changed. Hermione had a hard time believing that the professor she once knew would have stepped in as calmly as he did. She knew he would have gotten involved, the man spent so many years keeping students alive that she couldn't imagine otherwise. However, she couldn't help thinking that it would have been a much more violent event had he been the man he once was.
As the conversation continued on without her, Luna and Neville having realized Hermione was deep in thought, she came to the conclusion that she needed to find a way to study Professor Snape so she could come to her own analysis of his character.
Brought out of her internal back and forth with herself Hermione interjected "Luna I don't think I'm actually available to help you corral those pixies this weekend, I completely forgot I have a project I need to get started on. I'm so sorry if I've inconvenienced you."
Neither woman noticed Neville's grin behind his coffee mug.
"That's quite alright Hermione, Neville here has said he'll be able to help me for the foreseeable future. Haven't you Neville?" Luna's eyes danced mischievously.
"Of course! Absolutely!" Neville gushed, grinning wide.
"Alright then, I'll be heading up to do some tidying in my classroom before the students arrive. Have a wonderful day you two." Hermione wasn't sure if she should mention seeing them snogging at the start of term. She figured it would be better to just wait and let them tell her about their relationship when they were ready. As Hermione walked through the castle she found her mind wandering to Severus once again. Not sure how she would go about spying on a master spy and war hero she figured she could start with research. Vowing to stop by the library during her prep time she started to formulate a plan.