The Burning Pen

A New Beginning
by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 53

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 53 ~ The Debunking

Hermione and Snape returned to the worksite, Hermione leading the way, Snape following her thoughtfully as the door opened and the voice announced their presence. The witch quickly walked down the hall and let herself in, the Professor right behind her. He watched as she quickly removed her coat and took the results out of her pocket. Well, at least she had lost that ‘deer in the torchlight’ look she wore earlier.

Hermione sat down on the sofa, and the wizard removed his traveling coat and sat down next to her as she unfolded the results of his test. Together, they read it, Hermione’s face falling and Snape’s face twisting into a disbelieving scowl. He looked at Hermione, who wouldn’t look up at him. He had scored so low. According to the test, he would have trouble with passion and intimacy, as well as commitment. All three were important to a relationship.

“Well, you’ve read my results, Hermione,” the wizard said to her silkily, “And I must say you look quite disappointed.”

”Um . . . no not really, Professor. You’re not the warmest wizard in the world. These results aren’t that surprising really,” she said softly.

”It’s a good thing your field is Charms and Charms research, not people,” the wizard said softly, “You’d be a dismal failure.”

Now Hermione looked at him and scowled.

”What? What do you mean?” she snapped at him.

”Hermione, I only took that test to humor you. It was obvious to me that you were so apprehensive about talking to me that you attempted to find some way to give yourself an upper hand. You looked elsewhere for knowledge that you could have gotten straight from the source if you were only brave enough to ask me. Your logic fell to your emotion, witch. If you were operating at one hundred percent, you would immediately see this research is faulty and you can draw no proper conclusion from it,” he said quietly, talking as if he were speaking to a child.

Hermione blinked at him.

”You are a brilliant witch, but in this case, you are acting like a blithering idiot,” the wizard added.

Hermione’s face went black. Snape smirked at her which only made matters worse.

”Tests like these are used all the time by doctors, businesses and . . .” she began

“Tests like these are inherently faulty, Hermione. Firstly, it is obvious that there are ‘good’ answers and ‘bad’ answers. An individual who wanted to appear ‘good’ and well-balanced could easily manipulate the answers to suit them. I could have done that myself, but I didn’t. I was as honest as possible. Also, there were questions beyond my scope of experience. There was no possible way to answer them honestly, because honestly I didn’t know the answers. How can you be properly tested on something you have no knowledge of, Hermione?” he asked the witch.

Hermione blinked at him. The truth of his statement was so obvious. Was she going mad?

“And then, there is the factor that those questions and statements concerned my general treatment and outlook towards others, not toward you. If I had answered them with only you in mind, the results would have been very different and decidedly out of character. You would have read them and claimed I fudged the test and was untruthful. In the case of a relationship, Hermione, the normal rules of engagement change. True, I am not a sympathetic man, and care little for the problems of others, but . . . I would be extremely sympathetic to any situation that affected you negatively and would do my best to help you and yours,” the wizard said softly, “And that is because I care for you. I find you special and I want to be here for you.”

Hermione stared at him, not responding.

Snape sighed, then continued.

”There were several statements that were true on that test, but they would only be true concerning others . . . not you. What that piece of paper says about me in your hand is all dragon dung. Every bit of it. You cannot know a person in a targeted situation with something like that, Hermione. Surely you see it is illogical. I would be ‘extremely responsive to your well-being and comfort. I would be ‘interested in your problems.’ It might not even be a stretch to state I would have a ‘soft heart’ concerning you. So many of those statements I said were inaccurate in most cases, would be accurate in yours, witch,” he said, his dark eyes glinting.

Hermione continued to look at him, then her eyes started to glisten. Of course he was right. If he were involved with her, he wouldn’t act as he did toward others. He would be different just by virtue of their association. It was unfair of her to put the wizard through this. Unfair and insulting to think that someone as complicated as him could be understood through a few random questions and a tabulated, general response. She had overstepped her boundaries concerning the wizard. Hermione was filled with remorse and not a little embarrassment that she had been so thick and thoughtless, thinking only of herself. And he had gone along with it, knowing from the moment she told him what she was doing, that it wouldn’t work. How special a man was Severus Snape? And how shallow was she? It was sobering to realize that she could be so . . . stupid and selfish. Those were the only words that came to mind as she looked at the wizard. Still, he was being so understanding. He could have ripped her from end to end for this, but he didn’t. And that meant something.

”I’m so sorry, Professor,” Hermione said in a tremulous voice, “I don’t know what I was thinking when I came up with this. I was just so . . . so . . .”

Snape gave her a little smile, his normally hard eyes softening a bit as he stopped her apology. He knew from the look in her eyes that she was deeply sorry. There was no need to make her grovel. He didn’t want Hermione to ever grovel. He liked her strong.

”You were on unfamiliar ground, Hermione. There were no books you could run to about me, so you did the next best thing, or thought you did. Got some facts on paper. You tried to ‘do your research.’ Again I say it’s a good thing you are a Charms researcher. You’ve failed miserably in my case,” the wizard said, shaking his head slightly. Then he plucked the results out of her hand.

“However, I feel it necessary to debunk the statements made about me in a more definitive manner. The first that I will address is my mediocre ‘commitment’ level. This . . . is . . . drivel,” he claimed, plucking the paper with his finger for emphasis, “I have never in my life taken on anything I wasn’t committed to. Ever. From the moment of Lily Potter’s death I was determined to see Voldemort fall and worked toward that end for years. When I took up Potions, I strived to be the best I could at it, and still work toward improving my art. I started this business and never once faltered. It is quite successful. Now, tell me Hermione, where is the proof that I am not a man for commitment?” Snape asked her pointedly.

Hermione looked at him.

”You are the most committed man I’ve ever met, Professor,” she said to him softly.

”You’re damn right,” he growled, scowling at the paper in his hand.

“And this statement about my ‘passion level.’ It even has the nerve to suggest I seek out medical treatment! It claims that passionate love would be difficult for me . . .”

Snape looked at Hermione, his eyes hard.

”For eighteen years my love for Lily Potter led me to face torture and risk death every day. Does that not show that I am capable of great passion? That my love is enduring? True, Lily did not return my love and now, I understand and accept that, but I also know I have an entire world of love to give to the right woman, the woman who is moved to love me back, and that woman would have all of me, everything I am until the day I leave this earth,” the wizard declared, staring down at Hermione, who looked absolutely hypnotized.

”I am fervently hoping that you are that woman, Hermione Weasley,” he added, “And if I am to debunk this erroneous assumption about me, as well as the other that questions my ability to be intimate . . . I am afraid there is only one sure way that I can be sure that you have no doubt that I am indeed capable of passion and that intimacy will not be far behind it if and when you are ready . . .”

Hermione gasped as the wizard gently pulled her into his arms and proceeded to snog her soundly.

Hm. That test was good for something other than wiping his ass with after all.

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A/N: woo hoo! I know it was short, but it’s early. I’ll try to get something else out later today. Thanks for reading ya’ll!

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