Amour

IRRATIONAL EMOTIONS

"Hermione!"In a flash Snape was beside her and Hermione desperately clutched onto his arm for support.She was still too shocked to speak and just sobbed,hiding her face in his chest.The others then came out from behind the glass screen."She is very disturbed.I'm gonna take her upstairs."he announced."She could not handle her last task.She's obviously going to lose marks."Umbridge declared,scribbling on her notebook."What are you saying?She finished the task.Moreover she did a non-verbal spell.Whatever hitches she had can be overlooked since she performed magic that is commendable even for her age."Snape said, agitated.He looked at the other teachers who mumbled and nodded in agreement and before Umbridge could say anymore,he took Hermione out of there......................................
A soothing potion later,Hermione calmed and they lay down on Snape's bed,where he spread his arm under her and put it around her as she snuggled close."I'm sorry,I did not perform well."Hermione mused,"It's just that that boggart caught me off guard."Snape told her,"We were all surprised by your boggart.No wonder you fumbled."Hermione twirled her fingers on his chest and said,"I got completely stupified.It was like..my worst nightmares were coming true."He looked at her face,"Is that what you are most afraid of?That..that I don't realy love you?"Hermione took some time before answering,"Well no,not per se...I've had such insecurities at the start of our relationship.But now..I'm more afraid of losing you.I'm afraid there will come a day when I dunno,maybe I'll just roll over and wake up and realise that all this was just a dream.You know?A day will come when you'll say you are tired of handling me and that you don't want me anymore."She realised she again had tears in her eyes.He took her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes,"That will never happen.I'll always want you.And I'll always be there for you,as long as you want me.""And I'll always want you.Always."Hermione replied and they kissed passionately.....
"Good going Hermione.I heard you did quite well in Potions and DADA."Harry congratulated her from the back as they were sitting for their last written exam.She smiled but looked back when Ron snorted,"Not much of a feat if you're snogging a Professor."But Harry protested,"Come on,it's not like that.""You'll obviously get an Outstanding in DADA,something that Snape won't give to anyone else,simply because you are sleeping with him."Ron jeered."Shut up Ronald!Don't be like Umbridge.I'm not sleeping with him!Not everyone's relationship is like yours.Fact is that we haven't done it..yet."Hermione replied out of the corner of her mouth."Why?Is he incapable of doing stuff?"Ron asked sarcastically."I'm not answering that.We are not having this conversation at all."Hermione spat back and thankfully the papers were distributed at that moment and they started writing.She looked up at Snape at the teachers' desk,scanning the Hall for cheaters and when his eyes landed on her she quickly looked away,afraid that he might read the naughty thoughts in her mind.The test was going pretty good when suddenly they heard a rap on the closed door.Some looked back in confusion while others continued scribbling.But the rustle of papers and scratching sound of quills on parchment was broken by another rap and the distinctive noise of a firecracker.All teachers looked towards Umbridge who got up and went down the aisle to open the door--to reveal no one.She stood there confused when out of the blue,two brooms zoomed past her cutting through the air like bullets.Hermione stopped writing to look up to see that it was Fred and George,extremely gleeful about what they were doing and before anyone understood what was happening,their sheets flew out of their tables,up in the air,to blow up and rain down upon them as confetti.All were on their feet as firecrackers exploded above them and the hall was filled with colours, lights and excited chatter.At the top of their game was Fred and George who laughed and hooted and released their self-made bombs and crackers from their pockets.Only Hermione groaned realising that they will have to give that exam again.Fred released an enormous bomb that went off to take the shape of a dragon ,which chased Umbridge out and none of the teachers offered to help her when she shrieked out.Fred and George lead the way as students dashed out into the field like escapees from prison and they gave a salute to the DA as they dissappeared amongst the clouds,leaving behind their legend and a streak of light in the shape of a W.Hermione was clapping and cheering with the rest of them when suddenly the scene in front of her morphed into a different image:A ghostly moan,an ungodly cackle,a hooded figure towering over a slender man,on his knees on the floor of a darkened room.The room looked strangely familiar;with a jolt Hermione realised that it was the room of the orbs,the department of mysteries and that the slender,handsome man writhing in pain was her godfather."Crucio!"the raspy voice went and Sirius cried out in pain.Hermione groped through the air.She wanted to stop this,she wanted to help him but she couldn't feel her body,she could only watch helplessly."Tell me where it is."Voldemort demanded.Sirius was slobbering but he said,"I'll take that secret to the grave."Through the darkness Hermione could only see Voldemort's piercing red eyes and his white smile that extended ear to ear,"I believe you."The unforgettable curse flew out of the wand again and the air was filled with Sirius's painful bawl....................................
In the midst of all the clapping and cheering the teachers stood back and marvelled at the brilliant prank the Weasley duo played before bidding the school goodbye for the final time.Snape was looking over the heads of the crowd when he saw a blonde girl suddenly fall down.He quickly moved to her aid,afraid that one might get stampeded by the over-enthused mob.Pushing through and on coming closer, he saw that it was Hermione,who had gone completely rigid,her eyes staring horrified at something only she could see.It didn't take him long to figure out what was happening.He stood her up and dragged her away from the jostle to somewhere quite.All the time she was muttering,"Sirius...no...no."
Once they were alone he patted her cheek to bring her back to reality.But even after she did,the horror did not leave her eyes.She fisted his collar to make him understand,"He has Sirius!He is torturing him!"
"Hermione,I thought you were capable of blocking him.Then how did this happen again-"
"I don't know.Maybe I was off guard or something and He broke through my defenses but the important thing is that we have to save Sirius.Voldemort has captured him and is torturing him for information!"Snape sighed and began calmly,"You are being overpowered by your emotions,Hermione.We have to think clearly.What if what Lupin said has come true?What if you only saw what the Dark Lord meant for you to see?What if it was a fraudulent image designed to lead you astray?""I don't care!Even if that is the case,I can't risk it.He's the only family I've got left."saying this Hermione stormed out and Snape knew that she would again do something irrational.