averygoodun42 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
averygoodun42) wrote2005-10-21 10:18 pm
averygoodun42) wrote2005-10-21 10:18 pm
Sneak peek
Oh, and I forgot to add this peek into the next chapter (which is huge, btw). Hope you enjoy!
Saturday
She was rather surprised to find herself waking the next morning to a loud rhythmic thumping. Sleep had been completely unexpected, and she had no memories of dreams or even being sleepy the night before. Slowly gaining consciousness, she groaned as she rolled over, deciding to ignore the person at the door.
"Come on, Hermione!" a muffled voice said, barely audible. "We're taking you down to breakfast whether by choice or by force, so you better be getting ready!"
Hermione snorted. She was pretty sure her friends would not be able to undo her wards. Then again, how long had they been at her door? Given enough time, Harry would be able to crack them, especially if he had Ginny's help. That red-head was better than her twin brothers for getting around obstacles, if she really felt the need.
Groaning again, she muttered that she'd be there in a moment, and got up. Her back objected painfully as she hobbled across the room to the lavatory. She hoped she had some potions in her cabinet to ease the pain; walking down to the Great Hall would be torture without some medicinal help.
Looking into the mirror she gasped. Though her face was looking less peaky than it had in ages, mirror image bruises on her arms caught her attention. She touched the darker one tenderly, noticing how small her hand looked compared to the purple hand print wrapping itself around the curve of her shoulder. Cupping it gently, she noticed it was sore, but looked much worse than it felt. She twisted round to see how her back had fared, but was surprised to see only a slight reddening on her shoulder blades. Her back felt like her arms looked.
Another rapid knock on the door startled her out of her macabre thoughts, and she quickly started her ablutions. She had just finished brushing her teeth and had headed back to her bedroom to dress, when the door burst open and her two friends spilled into the room, headed by Professors McGonagall and Snape, both looking concerned.
Hermione squeaked and covered her chest with her robe, while her Head of House looked both embarrassed and relieved, turning quickly to chivvy everyone out of the room, lest they see too much. Hermione's mortified gaze was on Snape though, who was looking aghast at her exposed arms.
He wrenched his eyes up to meet hers for an agonizing second, his shocked face open for her to read. Emotions filled his normally blank face, fear and self-loathing being the easiest to read. She felt like he was almost pleading with her, asking forgiveness, or understanding, but not expecting it. He broke eye contact first, looking back down at her bruises, his brows contracting with a violent flinch.
"It seems that Miss Granger is just a little slow this morning, not suicidal as you all feared. Now I suggest we leave her room and allow her to finish her preparations," McGonagall said in an icy voice, which was nothing compared to the look she was aiming at her colleague, whose eyes had become glued to Hermione's chest. After making sure everyone had left the room, McGonagall turned and pointed her sharp eyes at Hermione, her mouth tightening when her eyes passed over the bruises.
"Severus came over to discuss last night's adventures with me. I suppose Mrs. Potter interrupted before the tale was finished..." McGonagall mused distractedly, as though to herself. She abruptly brought her eyes up to Hermione's and continued in her normal brisk manner, "It seems as though your friends were concerned about your well-being when they came to fetch you for breakfast and encountered your formidable wards. Combined with their description of your mood last night, they understandably feared the worst," McGonagall explained. "I apologize for our intrusion, though you could have simply put up a do not disturb note, or let us know you were all right vocally, my dear." She looked at Hermione's arms again, and pursed her lips a little more.
"I -" Hermione was cut off in her own defense with a wave of McGonagall's imperious hand. The professor's voice was softer when she continued speaking, ignoring Hermione's interruption.
"I want to see you eat a good breakfast, Hermione, after which the Headmaster expects you in his office to discuss... everything." Her teacher turned around, and Hermione almost missed the next sentence; she wasn't sure she heard right when the Professor said under her breath, "Meanwhile, I am going to have a little chat with that pitiful excuse of a man. See if I ever sympathize with him again."
McGonagall closed the door behind her, leaving Hermione feeling a tad on the shaky side. Not only had her wards been broken and her room invaded, but she had been assaulted by the look on Snape's face when he saw the bruises. He was obviously horrified and ashamed.
Nothing's ever simple, she mused. She wanted to label Snape as evil and just be done with him. However, the look he had given her was too raw and vulnerable to ignore completely, though she could always try.
Saturday
She was rather surprised to find herself waking the next morning to a loud rhythmic thumping. Sleep had been completely unexpected, and she had no memories of dreams or even being sleepy the night before. Slowly gaining consciousness, she groaned as she rolled over, deciding to ignore the person at the door.
"Come on, Hermione!" a muffled voice said, barely audible. "We're taking you down to breakfast whether by choice or by force, so you better be getting ready!"
Hermione snorted. She was pretty sure her friends would not be able to undo her wards. Then again, how long had they been at her door? Given enough time, Harry would be able to crack them, especially if he had Ginny's help. That red-head was better than her twin brothers for getting around obstacles, if she really felt the need.
Groaning again, she muttered that she'd be there in a moment, and got up. Her back objected painfully as she hobbled across the room to the lavatory. She hoped she had some potions in her cabinet to ease the pain; walking down to the Great Hall would be torture without some medicinal help.
Looking into the mirror she gasped. Though her face was looking less peaky than it had in ages, mirror image bruises on her arms caught her attention. She touched the darker one tenderly, noticing how small her hand looked compared to the purple hand print wrapping itself around the curve of her shoulder. Cupping it gently, she noticed it was sore, but looked much worse than it felt. She twisted round to see how her back had fared, but was surprised to see only a slight reddening on her shoulder blades. Her back felt like her arms looked.
Another rapid knock on the door startled her out of her macabre thoughts, and she quickly started her ablutions. She had just finished brushing her teeth and had headed back to her bedroom to dress, when the door burst open and her two friends spilled into the room, headed by Professors McGonagall and Snape, both looking concerned.
Hermione squeaked and covered her chest with her robe, while her Head of House looked both embarrassed and relieved, turning quickly to chivvy everyone out of the room, lest they see too much. Hermione's mortified gaze was on Snape though, who was looking aghast at her exposed arms.
He wrenched his eyes up to meet hers for an agonizing second, his shocked face open for her to read. Emotions filled his normally blank face, fear and self-loathing being the easiest to read. She felt like he was almost pleading with her, asking forgiveness, or understanding, but not expecting it. He broke eye contact first, looking back down at her bruises, his brows contracting with a violent flinch.
"It seems that Miss Granger is just a little slow this morning, not suicidal as you all feared. Now I suggest we leave her room and allow her to finish her preparations," McGonagall said in an icy voice, which was nothing compared to the look she was aiming at her colleague, whose eyes had become glued to Hermione's chest. After making sure everyone had left the room, McGonagall turned and pointed her sharp eyes at Hermione, her mouth tightening when her eyes passed over the bruises.
"Severus came over to discuss last night's adventures with me. I suppose Mrs. Potter interrupted before the tale was finished..." McGonagall mused distractedly, as though to herself. She abruptly brought her eyes up to Hermione's and continued in her normal brisk manner, "It seems as though your friends were concerned about your well-being when they came to fetch you for breakfast and encountered your formidable wards. Combined with their description of your mood last night, they understandably feared the worst," McGonagall explained. "I apologize for our intrusion, though you could have simply put up a do not disturb note, or let us know you were all right vocally, my dear." She looked at Hermione's arms again, and pursed her lips a little more.
"I -" Hermione was cut off in her own defense with a wave of McGonagall's imperious hand. The professor's voice was softer when she continued speaking, ignoring Hermione's interruption.
"I want to see you eat a good breakfast, Hermione, after which the Headmaster expects you in his office to discuss... everything." Her teacher turned around, and Hermione almost missed the next sentence; she wasn't sure she heard right when the Professor said under her breath, "Meanwhile, I am going to have a little chat with that pitiful excuse of a man. See if I ever sympathize with him again."
McGonagall closed the door behind her, leaving Hermione feeling a tad on the shaky side. Not only had her wards been broken and her room invaded, but she had been assaulted by the look on Snape's face when he saw the bruises. He was obviously horrified and ashamed.
Nothing's ever simple, she mused. She wanted to label Snape as evil and just be done with him. However, the look he had given her was too raw and vulnerable to ignore completely, though she could always try.