Chapter 28: The Unwanted Arrival

Chapter 28: The Unwanted Arrival

Hogwarts had not seemed to be quite the same in Hermione's eyes as she walked through the familiar halls feeling much older than when she first arrived. So much had happened over the course of the summer with Snape that she didn't feel contented to just sit in a library and shove her nose in a book for much of the school year. She found the snarky Potions Master occupied a good deal of her thoughts, well the ones that had not been focused on the up comings school term and the issue of Voldemort's return. Snape had been around less and less as the days came close to when school would be in session. The last night she had spent with the werewolf still lingered in her ever crowded mind as she ventured into The Great Hall right behind Harry, Ron, and Ginny.

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The Great Hall, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Everyone had been waiting to see whom the new Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor had been with Lupin taking a leave of absence due to injury. The whispers grew even more profound as students found themselves locked in a debate about whom the new DADA Professor would be, a cross between Snape and a strange looking woman dressed in all pink. Her figure was squat and flaccid, and her face was wide and heavily jowled, she looked almost like a toad in human flesh. Her dark eyes and cold smile sent chills down the spines of students that even Snape had been appreciated by.

"I wonder who that is." said Ginny taking a look at the woman taking a fork full of her meal.

Harry Potter simply gripped his fork as he looked over at the staff table.

"She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge." said the green eyed wizard not at all liking what was brewing." He wants to keep the secret of Voldemort's return from everyone."

"He also means to spy on Dumbledore." said Hermione in agreement.

Ron and Ginny looked at the strange woman curiously. Dumbledore introduced her as the new Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor and everyone looked at her in shock. It was clear to all that once again The Headmaster had been shopping at Lunatics R-Us to fill in the position of Dark Arts Professor when Snape clearly wanted the job and seemed far more qualified. Hermione looked over at her ebony clad lover, who had to once again swallow down another round of disappointment concerning the job he wanted.

Well, he's not going to be in a good mood after this.

Snape caught her gaze briefly before turning his attention back to Umbridge's lengthy and relatively boring speech.

When they were finally dismissed everyone filed into their respective houses with ease content to be out of Umbridge's line of sight. She was well passed unnerving and the condescending tone she spoke in only made them hate her more.

Snape seemed to loathe Umbridge almost as much as everyone else had upon first impression.

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Gryffindor Common Room, Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts...

"She's one of the ones that tried to say I was guilty." said Harry plopping down in one of the unused chairs.

"She looks the type." said Ron trying to be supportive. "Rubs me the wrong way she does."

"I think she rubs everyone the wrong way, Ronald." said Hermione in agreement. "She clearly doesn't seem to have genuine interest in teaching us Defense Against The Dark Arts."

"Are you kidding with that getup?" asked Ron not the least bit impressed with their new teacher. "It'll be more like tea party in the empty room because I wear pink class."

Hermione couldn't help but giggle at Ron's off-handed comment.

While it was true that Umbridge had largely unassuming form, it didn't mean that one should underestimate her by any means. Harry Potter had a feeling she was more cruel than Voldemort and Snape, of all people put together.

The green eyed wizard wasn't going to put anything passed her after what he had been through at his trial at the Ministry Of Magic office. She seemed hell-bent on doing something and he didn't want to find out what it had been.

It was clear the staff of Hogwarts were being polite during her little self-gratification speech, but Snape clearly had no love loss for the pink toad. Professor McGonagall had not seemed to like he either. If at the very least The students of Hogwarts and The staff would unite if only to drive out the pudgy wilder beast then life could return to normal at the school, well almost normal with Voldemort running about anyway.

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Later...

Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...

Hermione made her way toward Snape's quarters. She had gotten very good at avoiding detection by everyone except the man himself as he opened his door and quickly pulled her inside. The sudden shock of being pulled and finally pressed into the pale lean form of her lover made the bushy haired witch nearly squeal. Before she could get a word out his pale lips were pressed against her soft pink ones and he growled as he ran his long pale fingers through her bushy hair as if desperate for more contact.

When the kiss ended Snape looked down at the amber eyed witch with an heated expression.

"I've missed you." she said softly stroking his scowling pale face.

"And I you." he replied evenly. "But there is work to be done I'm afraid."

Hermione had been more than a little disappointed to hear that. She had hoped to spend some time with her lover not her Potions Professor in the late hours of the night.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked as he backed away from her.

"Umbridge is very keen in her senses and hates half-breeds." said Snape with a stern expression. "You must help me control my baser nature before she comes sniffing about and gives away my condition to The Dark Lord."

The bushy haired witch's expression became a serious one.

"You are not registered as a werewolf." said Hermione. "She could have you sacked."

"That she can." said Snape not at all surprised by her conclusion. "But that is the least of my worries...if the dark lord gets wind of my new found abilities..."

The witch's eyes widened.

"He just may kill you outright." she said in shocked.

"My thoughts exactly." said Snape. "Anyway, we've still got this plant to work with and I assume you will be joining me for more than potions work from time to time."

"Obviously." replied Hermione using both his tone and his term against him.

Snape simply smirked.

"As much as I would love to strip you down and teach you to respect your betters I'm afraid I'm swamped in terms of work this evening." he said. "I'll have to catch up with you some other time."

The bushy haired witch was more than a little disappointed. She had really been looking forward to spending time with Severus again. He sensed her disappointment and scooped her up in his arms. She couldn't help but moan softly as he kissed her pressing his lean ebony clad form against her.

"Get some sleep witch." he said seductively into her ear. "You're going to need the rest while you can get it."

The two shared a knowing smile and Snape let her head back toward Gryffindor tower with another heated kiss to linger on. They would have their time together but what was already going on with Umbridge there was hardly any time for privacy without the pink toad barging in and barking orders to make herself feel important. The last thing Hogwarts needed was a scandal in The Daily Prophet dissecting Snape and Hermione's relationship and using it to sell papers in the worst way.

The young witch went off to bed with thoughts of her lover as she turned in for the night. Snape stayed up for a few hours before turning in himself looking forward to his dreams of Hermione Granger.