Potions class, the last one this year. After this, only the exam.
Damn, why did I choose the second row at the beginning of the school year? From the back rows it's so easy to slip away after class. Snape keeps glancing at me throughout the lesson. Guiltily and with some kind of expectation. Of course, he won't just let me go like that, especially after what he saw in my head—and I don't mean the kisses, but the Marauder's Map, Rita, and the basilisk skin. Maybe I revealed even more compromising information about myself without noticing. And I still haven't recovered from the rape of my mind and I'm not ready to talk to him. What to do, what to do? I look at the nearly finished potion—just need to add the lacewing fly wings. Oh, excellent idea! I reach into my bottomless bag and pull out narrow-leaved sphagnum. If I'm right, there shouldn't be an explosion, but there will be lots of smoke.
I catch Snape's gaze. He's looking at my hand over the cauldron and clearly understands what I want to do. The expression on his face promises me all the punishments of heaven, but he clearly doesn't believe I'll dare. I open my fingers.
"Fifty points from Hufflepuff!" the scream sounds before the lump lands in the cauldron.
Wow, the effect is like a smoke grenade—I'll have to remember this recipe. I grab my pre-packed bag and, ducking like a soldier under enemy fire, run toward the exit. When the other classmates, coughing, emerge from the smoke-filled classroom, I'm already at the end of the corridor.
The remaining days before exams I successfully avoid Snape, thanks to the map. And during exams there are many of us—nothing to fear there. The DADA exam was administered by a commission from the Ministry. Lupin quietly disappeared with his things the very next night after what happened, without saying goodbye to anyone. He's a strange man after all. Can't say he's bad. And can't say he was a bad teacher—at least until now he's the best at DADA. But to so irresponsibly not drink the potion. And to so cowardly run away, avoiding explanations, after screwing up...
Tomorrow the Hogwarts Express departs for London. Just need to survive the evening and night, and I'll finally get away from here. But I was happy too soon—in the evening the prefect passes word that the headmaster is waiting for me. Gabrielle escorts me to the gargoyle, says the password, and the staircase obediently carries me upward...
"Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore, you called for me?" I try to smile shyly.
"Good evening, Miss Granger, please have a seat. Tea?"
"With pleasure, thank you, sir."
The headmaster, chatting about various trifles, sets the table with the power of thought, tea brews itself, cups fly onto saucers by themselves. I'm mesmerized.
"Miss Granger, I would like to talk with you about what happened between you and Professor Snape," Dumbledore looks at me kindly.
Ugh, I hoped until the last moment that it would be avoided.
I look at Dumbledore gloomily and again lower my gaze to the cup. The ring doesn't react to the tea, but just in case I'm not in a hurry to drink, just warming my hands.
"My dear girl, Professor Snape deeply regrets his rash action. He's very sorry that everything turned out this way."
"'Turned out' is what they say when nothing depended on the person themselves. But this isn't that case, sir."
"Dear Miss Granger, any of us can make mistakes, isn't that right? But one must know how to give people a second chance. Forgiveness is a great gift."
I shrug noncommittally. No way, I don't want to go into direct conflict—I'm not grown up enough yet, but I'm not going to play along either.
"Hermione, do you know that if anyone finds out about this, it could ruin Severus's life? Yes, he made a mistake and acted badly, but does he really deserve that?"
"You mean that using Legilimency on minors is punishable by imprisonment in Azkaban?"
"My dear girl, why are you like this? I learned that you communicate with Sirius Black. Harry wanted to introduce his godfather to his friends—there's nothing wrong with that. But Mr. Black told you about Azkaban, didn't he? You don't want Professor Snape to have a similar fate, do you?"
Only you forgot to mention, Headmaster, that Sirius was not guilty of what he was imprisoned for, unlike Professor Snape. But I won't object.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, honestly, I'm not planning to run to the Auror office to file a complaint on the first day of holidays. And in principle, I haven't planned anything like that until now," this is actually true. What's the point? With such a patron as Dumbledore, Snape could do something even worse with complete impunity.
"And yet, Hermione, I would like you to make an oath. Young hearts are so hot and so quick to make decisions. Now you're not planning to, but what if Professor Snape gives you an unfair grade for a potion, you get offended and tell someone. And then you'll regret it yourself."
"I assure you, Headmaster, I'm not inclined to react so emotionally to grades."
"And yet, my dear girl, I must insist. You're friends with Miss Bones. Friendship is wonderful, and girlfriends often share their experiences with each other, but Miss Bones's aunt is the head of the DMLE. You yourself may not want anything bad, just complain to your friend in secret, but it could ruin Severus's life."
Incredible! Maybe your Severus shouldn't go poking around in his students' heads in that case?
"Excuse me, Headmaster Dumbledore, but I won't make an oath. If I'm as frivolous and unrestrained as you think, doesn't it seem cruel to you to demand an oath from me, since I could lose my magic or worse because of it?"
"Don't forget, dear, anyone can make mistakes. You too. You would probably like to count on some leniency for your mistakes in such a case, wouldn't you?" what a frightening hint. "But if you yourself are not ready to help a person who has stumbled, then in turn you can hardly count on understanding. Are you sure you will never stumble, Miss Granger?" There's clearly a threat in Dumbledore's voice. I feel the pressure of magic, it seems like I'm literally being pressed into the chair by an external force. Probably astronauts feel something similar during overload...
"I urgently ask you, my dear girl, think carefully, make the right decision. Give your oath, Miss Granger," the pressure keeps increasing.
You can't fight the elements, I'm a bug before him. No longer thinking clearly, with numb lips I whisper the oath. I come to my senses in the corridor, my legs are shaking, my face is wet. There's not even anger, you can call McGonagall a bitch for the Confundus. Here there's pure fear. The headmaster after all this said with a good-natured smile that I was a smart girl, and caringly advised me to hurry and pack for the journey. My God... Run away from here faster, need to calm down and think. On cotton legs I go to the dormitory, waving off questions from the Hufflepuffs about my unhealthy appearance.
I barely manage to draw the curtains and cast a Silencing Charm. Hysteria overwhelms me, curled up in a ball, I sob out loud, with howling, shaking all over. So, Katya, you decided to play Mary Sue and change something—look what happens for that. Unable to calm down, I fall asleep in tears.
***
Snape like a black angel of inevitability is waiting for me right by the train. I try to go around him, but he blocks my way.
"Miss Granger, a word."
"Legilimency against minors is punishable by law," I say gloomily, the first thing that comes to mind.
"Miss Granger... Hermione, I want to ask for forgiveness."
"Give me your word that you'll never use Legilimency on me again without my permission," I demand.
Snape looks at me sadly and remains silent. Yeah. After letting the pause hang, I say angrily:
"Apparently you suppose that the situation might repeat itself in the future, since you don't want to promise such a simple thing."
"I very much hope there won't be a repetition," the formulation is pleasing. He hopes.
"But you won't give your word?" enough twisting around already.
"Do you have such terrible secrets, Miss Granger?"
"And you don't?!" I almost shout, "but you probably wouldn't consider that a worthy reason for someone to break into your head."
"You're right... And I'm truly sorry."
I remain silent, looking toward the schoolchildren who are unhurriedly loading into the Hogwarts Express. Snape is also silent. I didn't start this conversation, Professor.
"Miss Granger, I can't give you my word, but perhaps I can do something else for you?" it seems he really wants to make peace with me. But I'll hardly be able to forgive such a thing. At least not now.
"After what you and Headmaster Dumbledore did, even pretending that everything is fine won't work."
"Headmaster Dumbledore?" Snape looks puzzled. Really, didn't the headmaster tell him that the danger has passed? What difference does it make, he'll tell him later anyway.
"The headmaster forced me to make an oath that I won't tell anyone anything," I smile crookedly. "How nice to have such a protector, right, Professor?"
"I see," Snape looks surprised. "Thank you, Miss Granger..."
"You don't need to thank me, I'm telling you, he forced me, I didn't want to do it."
Snape darkens. I wonder, Professor, will you draw a parallel between my situation and your own, when Dumbledore forced you to make an oath of silence about Lupin the werewolf, who nearly tore you apart?
However, even if you're truly sorry and you feel guilty now, it doesn't change things—you're still dangerous to me. If Dumbledore orders you to kill me, you'll just as sincerely say "I'm sorry" and launch an Avada at me. Interesting, whose initiative was Legilimency anyway?
"May I go, Professor?" he's silent, I go around him and quickly retreat into the Hogwarts Express.
Go to hell, and I'm going home.