Amour

INTRIGUE

"I did not put my name in the Goblet of fire!"Hermione's words fell on deaf ears as everywhere around her people were talking.Dumbledore was rubbing his temples and mumbling,"How could this happen?"Snape was pacing,running his hands through his hair,"There must have been some tampering with the goblet."McGonagall was twiddling her hands,"Granger can't be allowed to do this...she's already been through so much..."Madame Malkin and Igor Karkaroff (the Durmstrang principal) were fuming."I'm not letting Crum compete if this level of cheating ensues.""That's it,I'm taking my girls away right now!If Hogwarts has two champions then their odds are increased.I didn't get a good vibe from that girl right from the beginning..."Madame Malkin said,shaking her head.Hermione argued,"I did not do it!How could I?I'm not of the right age.And I've no interest in-""Well of course she's lying!"Madame Malkin waved her hand.Hermione was beyond herself,"I'm not!"Snape came forward."She couldn't have done it.She was in the hospital wing all day when everyone else were putting their names in."Dumbledore looked convinced now."Of course.She comes clean.What is to be done Barty?I leave it up to you."Everyone looked around at Barty Crouch,auror and jury member for the Triwizard tournament."It's already been decided.No matter how it was done,Ms.Granger has been chosen by the Goblet of fire.She has to compete.She is bound by magical law.She can't back out of it now."Every eye was on Hermione now and she felt the room closing in on her.Oh bugger!................................
Snape jerked his head at Karkaroff to enter into a deserted classroom to talk."What?"asked Karkaroff,making it clear that he had no intention to talk to him."Don't take that tone with me."Snape warned."I know you are up to something.Your coming here wasn't just a coincidence.You know I can get the information out of you."Karkaroff looked puzzled,"What are you talking about?"Snape took hold of his collar and said in a dangerous voice,"You know exactly what I'm talking about,Igor.Did you or did you not put Herm-..the girl's name in the Goblet of fire?""I didn't.I don't do that anymore,Severus."he said,shaking himself free."You have to believe me.I'm just here for the tournament."Snape grew quite,judging him.I think he's telling the truth.But if not him...then who?Karkaroff rubbed his lower arm."My mark has been itching for some days though.I fear the dark lord is summoning his followers back.Not that I'm planning to join him or anything..."he assured."Do you have any news..about his whereabouts?"Snape asked."Nah.I have no contacts.I don't wanna go back to what I was.But the mark on our skin...we can't rub it off ,can we?"he looked down.Snape unconsciously touched his own hand where the mark was underneath his clothes.No indeed not.Not ever.It would forever be there to remind me who I am and what I do.If I could've, I would've scraped it off my skin.Igor made to leave but Snape caught his shoulder,"Still,I'll be watching you closely.".....................................
Snape strolled into the classroom to find Hermione sitting straight ahead,refusing to look at anyone or talk but just fix her eyes firmly at the blackboard.He was looking at her with his brows furrowed when he saw her friends were also not trying to talk to her and her Slytherin classmates were sitting with huge smirks on their faces.Only then did Snape notice that they were wearing badges on their chests that read 'Granger Stinks!' and 'Cheating Queen'.He couldn't help but feel bad about her."You would not be wearing anything on your school uniforms,atleast not in my class."Snape told silkily.Reluctantly the ones wearing them,stowed the badges away,but not before Malfoy drolled,"We don't need to advertise it,everyone already knows.Granger stinks!"This made Hermione bury her nose further into her book and turn beet-red,but she didn't retaliate.After class,Hermione was eager to get out but Snape stopped her by saying,"A word,Ms.Granger."As everyone left he first came up to her and checked the bruises on her throat;they were fairly healed.Then he looked intently at her face and asked,"How are you doing?"She shook her head and said,"It doesn't even hurt anymore."He held her hands and said,"That's not what I meant."She bit her lip and looked down."I'm doing okay...I guess...I mean I don't mind Malfoy,he has always been like this,but it hurts when your friends also don't trust you.Ron is being a complete prick and refusing to even talk to me and Harry,although is not completely mistrusting me but taking Ron's side,'cause they have a 'bro code'."He put her chin up and said,"I'm sure they'll come around once they understand the dangerous situation you're in.You just concentrate on the task at hand.Everything will be fine."
............................................................"Professor Snape!Do you have a minute?"Madame Malkin stopped Snape in the corridor right outside his chambers.Snape turned towards her reluctantly and addressed her curtly,"Madame Malkin,how do you do?""Oh just lovely,thank you so much for asking."Malkin gave him an unusually big smile."Hogwarts is lovely and so are its teachers.All so welcoming.I've got acquainted with everyone except you.You are all enigmatic and mysterious ,aren't you?How about we uncork you over a couple of drinks?"She smiled flirtatiously and touched his arm.Snape squirmed out of her grip."As much as I would like to see you try to 'uncork' me...I'm afraid I'm too tired and was just about to retire to my room.Maybe some other time.(or never!-he added aside)"and made a hasty escape.He entered his room and was shocked to see Hermione there."I'm sorry I let myself in.You don't mind,do you?"she asked."No,of course not."he said."Who were you talking to?"Hermione asked,mildly curious."Oh..it was no one,really."he waved it away with a hand."What happened,why are you here?"he asked,which made Hermione remember what she had come to talk about. "It's just that I had to talk to you urgently."Hermione said,really anxious about something.He took her inside and together they sat on the couch,"What is it?"She wiped the sweat from over her lips before saying,"Dragons.That's the first task."Snape froze.She continued,"Professor Moody tipped me to go talk to Hagrid who revealed that he was going to check on the beasts that had been brought in for the first task of the tournament.I grabbed my invisibility cloak and followed him into the forest.I saw them...four dragons for the four of us.With my luck...I'll definitely get the worst one,the Hungarian Horntail."Snape got up and started pacing."Are they out of their minds?...Dragons?...Students getting subjected to this...?"In between he looked at Hermione."Its all right.Don't panic.Its gonna be alright.You're gonna be fine.They can't let anything happen to you-I can't let anything happen to you.Don't be afraid."Hermione sighed.I'm not the one panicking-you are.She knew he would freak out.She tried to tell him she was not worried but he continued to pace and grumble about the unfairness of the competition.She followed him with her eyes,then stood up,stopped him and pressed her lips to his.She continued to kiss him till he relaxed and put his arms around her.He looked at her face after she finished,and said,"Please come back intact,Hermione."Hermione gave a forced laugh,"You mean,come back  not-incinerated,right?"