I, Snape - Chapter Eighteen

by April Grey

To Sir, With Love

Hermione went down to the main lobby. There was a catalogue of all the exhibitors along with a list of the panelists for the evening. There were also tours of Muggle Las Vegas to sign up for, along with a reminder that the authorities of the city expressly forbid any witches or wizards to enter their casinos with wands in hand. In fact, since every casino had a resident Auror the safest thing to do was go join a tour where they would be allowed to enjoy the sights of the electrifying city without worry of arrest.

Hermione signed up for the tour and turned around only to find herself face to face with Blake Bladderwort.

“Ah, so you finally made your escape.” Bladderwort smiled.

“I think maybe you have the wrong idea about me.” Hermione was still stinging from his earlier remark.

“I was worried that you might be in a situation that you didn’t want to be in.” He gently rested his hand on her arm. “Come sit down and have a bite of breakfast with me.”

Hermione found that with the time change and the traveling she was way overdue for her lunch. She nodded and they entered the lobby’s small coffee shop.

“You see, I was a bit upset finding someone as young as my daughter with Sev,” he explained. “If you were my Amelia, I’d have you grounded so damn fast.”

“But I’m not. And I might point out I’m here with Headmaster Dumbledore’s approval.”

“Well, he wouldn’t be approving if he saw how Sev was looking at you. Are you going to try to tell me that nothing is going on?”

“Actually, it’s none of your business. That’s all. I’m of age, you know.” Hermione studied the menu.

“I’m still going to speak with Dumbledore when he gets here. I don’t think he has a clue about you two.”

Hermione couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “He’s coming here?”

“Yes, should be arriving by late this afternoon. You didn’t know?”

“No.” Hermione told herself that she should be happy, or at least relieved. With his arrival her responsibilities would be at an end and she could get on with her life. Only, she didn’t want to. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, but already she was missing the professor and regretted their spat.

Bladderwort took out his Muggle style wallet and removed some wizard photos. “Here’s a picture of my family. These are the twins, Amadeus and Amelia, and my younger son, Charius. The twins just graduated from Salem Academy, and in fact Deus is here at the Exposition helping me out. He’s joining the family business.” Bladderwort beamed with pride. “I’m sure he’d love to show you around.”

“Oh, no. I wouldn’t want him to be put out.” Hermione sipped her tea. It was god-awful.

And she’d spoken too late, because the wizard had already removed a small pocket mirror from his robes.

“Deus, where are you?

“Ah, there you are, just out of the shower, I see? Yes, I know the weather here is appalling. Can you come down to the coffee shop? I have an assignment I think you would like.” Bladderwort replaced the mirror and folded his arms, incredibly pleased with himself.

Hermione had been set up many times by her mother and her aunts over the years; she didn’t like it better now than she did then. She continued to sip her cup of tea and nibble on toast. The coffee shop had made some hokey attempt to be some sort of “country kitchen” and was decorated with white trellises and artificial flowers. The tables were covered with plastic checked tablecloths, attempting a “down home” feel.

“Hermione, you should eat more after your trip. Here, let me order you the Lumberjack special.” Bladderwort was waving his hand at the sleepy waiter. She shook her head and mumbled, “no thanks.”

“Hiya Dad. What’s this new assignment?”

“She’s right here. Deus, this is Hermione. She’s from Great Britain and I thought you could show her around.” Hermione looked up and up and up. He was tall, taller than Snape, and looked exactly like his father, except he wore his hair short. He was beautiful.

“Hermione! So your parents liked The Winter’s Tale, huh? Not one of my favorites, but it’s still a lovely name.” He sat down next to her and gave her a friendly hug. “Wow, all the way from GB. You must love potions.”

Hermione wasn’t sure what it was with all the touching the two Bladderworts liked to do. Maybe this was just the way of things in the States. Like the way they all talked too loudly?

“Well, I’ll just leave you two alone. Deus, here’s a twenty, make sure Hermione is treated well.”

“Ah gee, Dad,” Deus blushed, “I have plenty of cash on me.” Blake gave his son a hug and left.

“Don’t mind him, he’s a real mother hen. So, Hermione. I figure we could head into the showroom, and then I’ll take you on a tour of the town.”

Deus grinned, revealing dimples to die for. And Hermione wondered what had happened to the air conditioning.

Dumbledore got off the Vespa and patted the dust off of him. He looked at Althea and laughed.

“What is it, love? I can’t look any worse than you.” She removed the goggles and Dumbledore laughed even louder.

“Well, your face looks like, well,” he directed her to look in the scooter’s rearview mirrors. Both their faces were completely covered by dirt, except where the goggles had left clean patches. They looked like a pair of raccoons.

Althea started to laugh as well. She gently hit his shoulder. “Come on you old Fuss, let’s find our hotel and have a shower. I’ll scrub your back.”

Dumbledore jumped back on the scooter. “Sounds like an excellent idea. We are just a couple of blocks away.”

Once checked in, they took a long, hot bath in their Jacuzzi. It had cost a bit extra to have it put into the room, but it was worth it. They sipped a cold bottle of champagne and let the ache seep out of their bones. Then they came out onto the bed and made love. She was nearing her second climax when there was a thump on their hallway wall.

“What in blazes?” Dumbledore was annoyed by the disturbance. At a second thump, he wrapped a towel around his waist, picked up his wand and was ready to do battle.

Althea shrugged into a short, red silk kimono. “Now, Albus, I’m sure it’s just some one who’s been celebrating a bit too much.”

Together they opened the door and peered out.

Hermione was exhausted. Even though she’d taken a trial sized dose of ‘Time Lag Restorative’ she felt tired and was ready for bed—with Professor Snape. She missed him. She wanted him. She was worried about him. She had tried to shake Deus several times but the handsome wizard was also quite intelligent and always found a reason for them to stay together. He’d been very attentive, asking about her studies and then, amazingly, offering her a job in his father’s potions company. Deus explained that he was in charge of opening new accounts and that he could use someone like Hermione in sales. She could even be their European contact if she so fancied. He also said that his father was looking for someone for R&D, Research and Development, depending on how good her potions N.E.W.T.s were. Hermione had smiled at that. She hadn’t a doubt that she’d aced all her N.E.W.T.s.

After dinner they headed to the lounge and found themselves, along with a half dozen other wizards and witches, having fun with a Muggle gadget called a karaoke box. He sang to her, slightly off-key but in a glorious baritone, some Muggle Country Western song that Hermione had never heard before.

He certainly knew a lot about Muggles for a pure blood, she thought. In fact, he didn’t act pure blooded at all, not like the Slytherins she’d been with. It was refreshing. Their afternoon had been spent riding on the back of his broom. Concealed under an invisibility charm, they did a quick tour of downtown Las Vegas before he showed her the beauties of the Nevada desert at Red Rock Canyon. She’d never been exposed to the desert before and found it breathtakingly austere and serene. He performed an excellent cooling spell and covered her in a sunscreen potion, which worked well, leaving her skin as hydrated and as pale as it was before she left Scotland. He’d been wonderful, yet all she could think about was Snape.

“Hermione, are you alright? I know it’s been a long day.” Her looked at her with tender concern.

She broke off from her thoughts and smiled at him. “It’s been a long day, you’re right. Just one more song and I’ll head upstairs.” She looked through the music selection. She found a song from the sixties; she’d seen the movie once and had liked it.

“This one.” She got up on the platform. Just about that time, she spotted the professor in the back of the lounge. Could he have been looking for her? Her heart ached for him. Then the music came on and she started to sing.

Professor Snape had found the note in Hermione’s room and with a sense of unease went off to find her. His first stop had been in the lounge and he’d found a very tall, young man who was the spitting image of Blake Bladderwort singing to her. So Bladderwort has settled down with a family, thought Snape. He watched him sing to her. The young man had problems holding a tune. Somehow that pleased him. Hermione looked up and their eyes met. She smiled and Snape swallowed in relief. He’d get her upstairs and they’d talk. He’d convince her somehow that she needed to stay in the wizarding world-- with him. He’d find something she could do that would keep her with him.

He sat down and watched as she sang a song:

Those schoolgirl days of telling tales
and biting nails are gone
but in my mind
I know they will, still live on and on
but how do you thank someone
who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn't easy but I'll try…

Snape looked around nervously. What was she playing at? Was she mocking him? He couldn’t understand this, was he being serenaded? Hermione smiled and gestured along with the words:

If you wanted the sky I would
write across the sky
in letters that would
soar a thousand feet high
"To Sir, With Love"

She looked directly at him and nodded. Oh great, now everyone in the room knew as well. Snape started to sweat profusely. She was making him into a laughingstock. She licked her lips and began another verse:

The time has come
for closing books
and long last looks must end
And as I leave I know that
I am leaving my best friend
A friend who taught me
right from wrong
and weak from strong
that's a lot to learn.
What? What can I give you in return?

Snape sneered. He hadn’t taught her anything. Not right from wrong, judging from her illicit acts against him. And they were hardly friends, just lovers. What was she at?

If you wanted the moon I would
try to make a start but I
would rather you let me give my heart
"To Sir, With Love"

With the last chorus she actually walked down to him, and placed her hands around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. The whole room exploded into applause and laughter. Good joke, a very good joke.

She looked at him with expectancy.

“Miss Granger, what can I say?” he whispered in a silky voice. “Are you quite happy to have made a spectacle of us both? I have never seen a bright girl like yourself do anything so stupid.”

She looked at him as if he had hit her.

“No, I guess not, except for loving you. I think that probably was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.” And she ran out of the room, biting her hand and tears running down her face.

Snape got up to follow her, only to be blocked by Blake Bladderwort.

“Excellent, old man. I knew you’d do the right thing and let go of her. It’s just a crush, she’ll get over you in no time and move on.”

“Get out of my way, you idiot.” He tried to get past his old tutor only to be blocked by the son as well.

“Dad, why did this old geezer hurt Hermione’s feelings like that?” Snape tried to push past both of them.

“Let her go, Sev.” Bladderwort had taken him by the arms.

“SOD OFF.” Snape shook him away and pushed past them both. He spotted her getting on the elevator. He knew she was going to her room and he headed for the stairwell, sprinting up the stairs two at a time. He got there as she was getting out and he ran at her.

“Professor? Leave me alone.” Hermione was distraught.

“I’m sorry. I apologize. You weren’t stupid, I was. Please.” He pushed her against the wall and held onto her tightly. “I’m the idiot. All right?” He tilted her head up and looked into her tear-filled eyes.

“Yes, you’re an idiot.” She kissed him. And then they kissed, long and hard. He didn’t care that they were in public. He continued to kiss her deeply, while holding onto her backside. Her robes began to hitch up and she wrapped her legs around him, letting his hardness press into her. She moaned into his mouth and put her arms around his neck. They ground into each other, again banging into the wall behind them.

“Hey, get a room!” It was Dumbledore’s voice and it sounded very angry. Snape and Hermione broke apart-- and stared at a shocked half naked headmaster accompanied by a very scantily clad witch!

On to Chapter Nineteen
Back to Chapter Seventeen

Author's Note: If you want to listen to the song, To Sir, With Love:
http://canelassongs2.homestead.com/ToSirWithlove.html