The Burning Pen

A Looping of the Scales 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 69

All recognizable characters belong to JKR. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 69 ~ A New Lease

The next morning, Snape and Hermione showered and more than showered together, losing themselves in each other’s bodies and emotions, Hermione once again showing a shuddering, gasping Snape her oral skills and the wizard returning the favor. They both exited a little cleaner, albeit a little dirtier, smiles on their faces along with rather pruny hands and feet from being under the water too long.

They had their first intimate breakfast together and a rather hearty one, consisting of fried eggs, bacon, beans, toast and fried bread. They fed each other and almost had a food fight. After they ate, Hermione walked over to her still sloppily packed knapsack and studied the parchments and books scattered over the desk. Snape walked up beside her, also looking down at all the research.

”You know, I think I’ve compiled enough information for my NEWTs,” Hermione said softly. “I have loads of well-written research, indexes, footnotes and endnotes. I could just—just bind them up and be done with it—if I had help.”

Snape blinked at her. She’d had enough?

”I could use a bit more practice with my spell work, and need to brew a couple of difficult potions, but I really think I’ve done enough to get Outstandings in everything. Just the sheer volume is worth it. I need a bit more documentation of your Animagus form—but—“

She turned to Snape.

”I really think I can slow down now,” she told him.

Snape nodded soberly.

”I’ll help you compile everything,” he offered. Inside, he was absolutely elated.

They began to gather up parchments, Hermione pulling more out of the cubbyholes as Snape stacked them together according to subject. Those cubbyholes held a lot of work and soon there were eleven foot high piles of parchment, one for each subject.

“I’ll be able to spend more time with Harry and Ron,” she said matter-of-factly as she sat down and drew a pile toward her. It had to be sorted. Snape sat down as well.

”Only Harry and Ron?” he asked her, pulling a stack towards himself.

”Oh, no. Ginny will get some time too,” Hermione said, smirking as Snape scowled slightly. “But I’ll probably spread out my tutoring, maybe take on a couple more students. A lot of them are really struggling.”

”And me?”

”What about you?”

”Am I going to get a larger slice of the freedom pie?” Snape asked her.

”We’ll see. But more than likely, since I need more documentation of your Animagus form. More flying, and I’m going to have to witness you hunting,” she said with a shudder. “There’s nothing like seeing it for myself.”

They fell into companionable silence as they worked for about half an hour, then Snape said, “I liked having you here this morning, sharing breakfast with me. It was—nice.”

”Yes, until you almost shoved a piece of bacon up my nose.”

”You should have opened your mouth wider. I already know how big it is. Pretending it isn’t huge doesn’t change that.”

Of course, that started an argument that ended up with both of them on the floor, parchments scattered around them as they snogged madly. Hermione noticed the time however. She had students to tutor and after some effort managed to wrestle away from Snape.

He didn’t make it easy.

”I’ve got to go,” she told him, trying not to smile as she fixed her robes. Snape studied her. There was something softer, more relaxed about her. Something he liked very much.

”All right. I’ll stay here and sort these out for you,” he said.

”Will you come to supper? I’ve decided I’m going to start going again. I really have been neglecting my friends.”

Snape nodded.

”I’ll be there,” he promised her.

Hermione gave him a rather shy kiss and left his quarters. Snape let out a satisfied sigh, then sat down at the desk and eyed the stacks of parchments.

”I should get a NEWT for all of this,” he muttered, starting on the closest stack. But he had a smile on his face.

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”You’re what?” Harry exclaimed after Hermione announced she was through studying for the NEWTs. They were in the Great Hall and it was suppertime.

”I’m finished. Done. It’s over. All I have to do is put everything together. The rest of my year will be fancy free. Sort of. I still have documentation to do with Severus and plan our presentation for the Transfiguration NEWTs, then some brewing, but that’s basically all.”

Harry stared at her as Ginny smiled. Hermione looked very happy and flushed.

”Did you and Severus make up last night?” she asked her friend.

Hermione turned red enough for both Harry and Ginny to know there had been a makeup. Just then, the door opened and a very sober-looking Severus Snape walked in, dressed to the nines, his robes billowing slightly as everyone looked at him. He only had eyes for Hermione and walked up to the Gryffindor table, leaned down and kissed her cheek, then sat down beside her, Hermione blushing furiously.

”Did you see that?” Minerva gasped at Flitwick, who peered over at Snape and Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table. “He KISSED her.”

“Ah, I believe he did, Minerva,” the Charm teacher agreed, returning to his meal.

”But openly. In—in public,” she continued.

”That’s what witches and wizards do when they’re an item. You know that, Minerva.”

”An item? Severus and Hermione? Oh, Filius, it seems so wrong on so many levels,” she said, dabbing at her lips with a napkin.

Flitwick gave her a small smile.

”It wouldn’t seem wrong, Minerva if you made yourself see him not as the man he once was, but the young wizard he is today. Look at him. Do you ever remember him smiling when he attended Hogwarts the first time? Or socializing in a group?”

Minerva watched as Snape, Harry, Ginny, Neville and several other students talked over their meals, Snape looking at Hermione from time to time with a thin smile and Hermione smiling back at him shyly. They both looked very happy. It was young love, plain and simple. Minerva felt her reservations start to melt away at seeing Severus finally fitting in and socializing. He couldn’t have made better friends. It really was heartwarming.

“You’re right, Filius,” the headmistress said firmly. “He’s no longer an outcast, is he? All he ever needed was someone to—to care. We didn’t do such a good job the first time, did we?”

Her eyes began to fill as she remembered the lonely, unpopular and targeted young man he had been years ago.

She felt Filius pat her arm reassuringly.

”No, we didn’t, Minerva. But it seems destiny has rectified our errors. His life is going to be much better this time around. I think it best if we don’t interfere at all this time around. Just let him be.”

Minerva looked over at Snape again. He was having a tug-of-war with Ron, who had just arrived, over a large chicken leg, the last on the platter.

”Oi! You’ve been sitting here for hours stuffing your face, Severus. Let go!” Ron said, pulling on the leg.

”I can still see gravy on your chin from your girlfriend’s last feeding,” Snape sneered back at him, not letting go. “I can smell the roasted beef you just ate, you glutton!”

”Glutton?” Ron cried, incensed. “I’m not a bloody glutton. I just have a high metabolism! Now, let go!”

Ron gave a particularly hard tug on the chicken leg just as Snape did as he asked and let go. Ron tumbled backwards over the bench to the floor, limbs askew, but held up the chicken legs victoriously before getting to his feet. He reddened slightly at the laughter around him before he sat down. Hermione had her head in her hand, shaking it as Ron bit into the leg blissfully, Snape smirking at him.

”You can’t keep a Weasley down,” Snape said, still smirking.

”No you can’t. Especially when there’s food involved,” Ron agreed unabashedly around his mouthful of chicken.

Everyone laughed, and Minerva wiped at her eyes. It was so wonderful to see Severus have the kind of school experience he deserved. Merlin knew he deserved so much more than he received the first time. So, he was involved with Hermione. They were both young adults and well matched academically. A much better match than she and Weasley, who also appeared very happy with his new girlfriend, Susan Bones. Maybe she could do something about his bottomless stomach.

Minerva let out a sigh that released her final misgivings.

Flitwick was right. She’d just let him be.

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When Hermione returned to Snape’s quarters that evening, she found her NEWT materials separated and stacked, in perfect order. She was very pleased about it, and wanted to get to work binding them.

”I was hoping we could go flying,” Snape said, blocking access. “It’s been a while.”

Hermione looked at the neatly stacked parchments longingly for a moment, then sighed. She had plenty of time to do that.

”All right, Severus,” she agreed and was rewarded with a smile and a little kiss.

”Let’s go,” Snape said, taking her arm and leading her into his office. He opened the door to the corridor and stopped, a small scowl on his face as Hermione looked completely shocked.

Standing in the doorway was Lucius Malfoy. His cold gray eyes swept over Hermione for a moment, then he looked at Snape and smiled.

”Ah, Severus,” the pureblood said, inclining his head at him. “I dropped by for a friendly little visit. It seems as if you’re ‘occupied.’”

He said this a bit dismissively, and Hermione blushed, removing her arm from Snape’s.

”I can go. I’ll meet you outside, Severus,” she said softly, then walked around Lucius quickly, before Snape could protest.

Damn it.

Snape frowned at Lucius.

”I’ve already signed the contract, Lord Malfoy. We know where we stand,” Snape said shortly.

“Ah, yes. But I just wanted to have a friendly visit with you. It doesn’t all have to be about business, Severus. I’d like us to be friends. Now, you will invite me in for at least a small drink, considering I’ve traveled all this way to see you?”

Snape let out a sigh and stepped back, allowing Lucius to enter his office, then opened the wall and let him through. He’d so much rather be with Hermione.

He watched as Lucius familiarly made himself a Firewhiskey. He turned to Snape.

”Would you like one?” he asked the young wizard.

”No,” Snape said shortly, walking up to the fireplace and taking a seat in one of the two armchairs resting before it. He wore an impatient look on his pale face.

Lucius took the seat beside him, swirling his glass slowly before taking a sip. Snape watched, hoping he’d knock it back, but he didn’t. He shifted in his seat.

”I’ve managed to secure Boleskin House for you,” the blonde wizard said, looking at him thoughtfully. “And at an extremely low rental fee.”

Snape nodded and Lucius pulled a parchment out of his inner robe pocket and offered it to him.

”What’s this,” Snape asked, looking very suspicious.

”It’s a standard waiver stating that the owners are not responsible for your—safety should you take up residence,” Lucius said with a slight smirk. “Boleskin House has quite the reputation. Few people have stayed there long, and those who did, are probably still there—in some form.”

“I know the reputation of the house. I can handle a few demons,” Snape said, taking the parchment from him, standing up and walking over to his writing desk. He dipped a quill into an ink bottle and signed the waiver, blowing on the ink so it dried, then folding it and handing it back to Lucius, who tucked it back into his pocket. Snape sat back down.

”I see you are dallying with that Muggle-born, Hermione Granger,” Lucius said in an off-handed manner.

Snape didn’t say anything.

”She’s quite a brilliant witch, although her looks leave something to be desired,” the wizard mused. Snape felt his belly tighten.

”But I suppose you have to have something to occupy your free time at Hogwarts. I will provide you with adequate companionship as a kind of perk when you move to Boleskin,” the wizard said with a smile.

”I don’t need that,” Snape said coldly.

Both of Lucius’ eyebrows rose in surprise.

”You haven’t even seen the witch. I just need to know your preference. Do you still have a thing for—redheads?”

”I don’t need companionship. If you send a witch there, I will turn her away,” Snape declared. “I already have a witch.”

Lucius snorted.

”Surely you don’t mean Miss Granger? She’s only a four or five at best. A wizard of your abilities deserves a nine or ten at least.”

”I said I don’t want companionship and I mean it. Why would I want a witch you pay for? That’s not a real companion, that’s a whore.”

”Well, you didn’t have a problem sleeping with whores when you were an adult,” Lucius said with a bit of a sneer.

Snape sat there in silence, but trembled slightly.

”Please finish your drink, Mr. Malfoy, as we are finished here,” he said tightly.

Lucius smirked, knowing he’d hit a sore spot with the young wizard. He swallowed down the rest of his drink, put the glass on the small table between the chairs and stood up. Snape rose also.

Lucius stuck out his hand, and Snape just took it, giving him a weak handshake.

“You’re a very foolish young man to turn away the niceties I’m offering you,” he stated.

”If it isn’t in the contract, I don’t want it,” Snape said evenly.

”Suit yourself, Severus. I’m afraid you’re going to have to set Boleskin House up yourself. I can’t find anyone who wishes to enter it.”

”That’s fine,” Snape said, anxious for Malfoy to leave.

”Very well. I won’t be contacting you again until you’ve settled in. Send me a list of what you will need to make everything comfortable for you. It will all be waiting for you outside of the house when you arrive.”

”Thank you,” Snape said, moving toward the exit, giving the wizard a hint.

Lucius smirked again and departed. Snape was still an obnoxious bastard, no matter his age. But a brilliant one. He was sure his investment in his future was a wise one.

Snape watched as he exited, then waited a while, not wanting to walk with him up the corridor. After he was sure he was gone, he exited as well.

He wanted to find Hermione and apologize for letting her leave.

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A/N: Ah, another chapter. It’s amazing what having my smokes can do. But I was so starved, they’re almost gone. Lol. I was puffing like a train. But I did two chapters today, so I’m very happy. Thanks for reading. ***

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