A Matter of Honor
by Amy McWilliams (McAmy)

Book 3: Love and Honor

Chapter 3: Teachers' Meeting

By mid-August, Hermione felt like she actually belonged at Hogwarts again. Between planning for her classes and working with Snape on Cruciatus, she'd barely had time to think about things outside the castle walls. Though the preventative potion had been her project for the past three years, she'd realized that spring that she was pushing the boundaries of her knowledge of potion making, and needed Snape's help. She knew better than to worry that he would take over, and they had reached a tacit agreement to work as partners. He had, in turn, enlisted her aid with the cure for lycanthropy, saying that he needed a fresh perspective. She imagined that they would return to Imperius in the future as well, and liked the thought of the ongoing projects stretched out before them.

One morning, the professors were sitting down to breakfast--around a single table, as they did when there were few enough students staying for Christmas--when the mail came. Hermione greeted both Mordred (who had landed just across the table at Snape's right hand) and the owl she recognized as Hazel Bedford's--the retired professor in whose house she had rented rooms while she was at college. Hazel's letter was thick, and Hermione unfolded it to find another note inside, from Greg and Bill.

As Professor Flitwick was launching into yet another discussion with Minerva and Professor Dumbledore concerning the Board's recommendation to cut back on security now that Voldemort was gone, Hermione decided she might as well glance at her mail. She opened Hazel's letter and skimmed it quickly, smiling at the woman's sending Crookshanks a kiss, and then turned to the guys' note.

At the first line, she flushed, and re-folded the letter quickly, causing Remus, who was seated next to her, to ask her if anything was the matter. "Dear Hermione," it read, "Have you managed to snog the professor yet? It's the only reason we can think of for you to remain so quiet, and…" She hadn't read any further, and after assuring Remus that everything was fine, decided that she might pay attention to the discussion of campus safety measures after all.

As everyone made their way out of the Great Hall, Hermione noticed Professor Dumbledore take Snape aside, away from the others. Something was definitely going on; she had noticed the Headmaster and the Spy in more than one tête-à-tête over the past month. She wanted to ask Snape about it, but knew he wouldn't give her a straight answer.

She worried about him. She wanted to help him. But unlike Harry and Ron (she smiled to herself at the comparison), Snape didn't want her help. At least, not with this. Hermione knew that he had good reasons, but she also suspected that, even if he were able to, he wouldn't ask her to help him. That bothered her more than she liked to admit.

Minerva McGonagall interrupted her thoughts. "Hermione, would now be a good time for me to look over your class schedules with you? I have some free time."

"Of course, Minerva, that would be a great help," Hermione answered, and the two women headed for Hermione's office.

That afternoon was the first official teachers' meeting to prepare for the fall term. Hermione couldn't believe that the students would be arriving in just two weeks' time. She was a little early, for fear of being late, and took a chair to the side, away from the door. As the others began to file in, Remus arrived, and gave her a look. When she asked him what the look was for, he said, "Talk to me after the meeting?" She nodded, and he took a chair nearer the fire.

Professor Sprout sat on Hermione's left, patting her arm in greeting, and the other professors found places around the room. Snape entered with McGonagall, and, quickly surveying the room ("He doesn't look happy," Hermione muttered, seeing his face, and Sprout smiled behind her hand. "He's never happy about staff meetings, dear."), chose the seat on Hermione's right, bypassing an empty seat by the door.

"Is anything the matter?" Hermione asked, knowing that he would choose to ignore the serious question that lay underneath the surface of her teasing manner.

Surprisingly, he didn't. "Everything is well," he said under his breath, "for now."

She couldn't say anything further, as McGonagall was calling the meeting to order, but as she turned towards the Deputy Headmistress, Remus caught her eye. He was smiling--a knowing smile. She smiled back, knowing that she didn't get the joke.

Once she was seated in Remus's office, cup of hot chocolate safely in hand, Hermione asked, "So what is up with you today? You looked absolutely mischievous in the staff room. Have I done something to amuse you?"

Remus chuckled. "Not exactly. It's just…well, I've been wondering about something for a while, and today I think I figured it out." He looked at her, serious and yet friendly at the same time.

"Well?" she prompted.

"Hermione," he began, and then paused. Something passed across his face, and then he asked, "What is your relationship with Severus Snape?"

Hermione's mouth dropped open. "What…do you mean?"

"Oh, I don't mean to suggest anything untoward…" Remus paused again, "unless…. No, I only meant to ask just how close your friendship was." His eyes twinkled.

Hermione took a deep breath. "We were student and teacher, and now we are colleagues--we work well together, and he's been a great help. I…don't know that I would call us friends."

Remus did not look convinced. As a smile played across his face, Hermione started to get angry. "Why are you asking me this? What happened today…what do you think you've figured out?"

Remus smiled in earnest now. "It's simply that…in all the time that I've been here, Severus Snape has never, in any staff meeting, sat anywhere else but in that chair by the door. He comes just on time, and leaves immediately afterwards."

Hermione felt her face grow hot. "There's nothing…nothing going on between me and Professor Snape," she insisted. But she couldn't look him in the eye.

"I believe you," Remus allowed. Hermione stared at her chocolate. "Hermione, I would never have asked, except…" he trailed off, causing her to look up at him. "I consider you a friend--you know that. And more importantly, my best friend--and his godson--consider you a friend. Snape is a good man, but he can be a right bastard. If there were anything between you…well, I would worry."

Hermione looked away, still feeling his gaze on her. When she looked back, he added, "But I could be happy. For the both of you. Even if I do think that he doesn't deserve you."

Hermione stood up silently, setting her cup on his desk. Remus watched her walk to the door, and thought he'd gone too far--thought she was angry with him, that he should apologize, that he never should have said anything.

But she stopped at the door, and, without turning around, said, "If I did…feel something for Professor Snape…I am certain that he wouldn't feel the same. So…either way, you wouldn't have to worry."

After she left, Remus sat for a moment looking pensive. Then, picking up both cups to return them to the mantelpiece, he said to himself with a wry smile, "snog the teacher indeed."

On to Chapter 4