Role Reversal

[madeleone]

Title: Role Reversal
Word Count: 100x8
Rating: PG 13 (a bit of strong language)
Challenges:  gs100:malfoy the suitor challenge
Characters: Severus, Harry, Ron
Authors Note: It all belongs to JKR, I'm only playing for a bit, I make no money here. This work is unbeta'd all mistakes are my own.  This is a continuation to Severus' Sacrifice parts 1 and 2 located: madeleone.livejournal.com/7286.html

 

When the owl arrived, Harry didn't know what to think. In case of a hoax he checked it carefully for hexes or dark spells, but found none. It was from Severus Snape and the note read:

Potter,

Need your help.

Come to my home tonight.

Bring Weasley.

S.S.

 

Ron was convinced it was some kind of trap or maybe just a practical joke. “We'll probably get there and Snape won't know anything about it.”

 

“It was actually his owl, Ron. I think we'd better check it out.”

 

“I hope you know what you're getting us into, Mate.”

 

*****

 

Arriving at Spinner's End, Severus ushered them into his home. Leading them to his sitting room, he plied them with tall glasses of fire whisky, finally explaining the purpose of their meeting.

 

“I find myself in need of advice, and as much as I'm loath to admit, you two are probably the most likely to be able to supply me with what I need.”

 

“You must need help badly to be willing to ask us?” responded Harry.

 

“Does this have something to do with Hermione?” asked Ron bluntly.

 

“Yes, it does,” Severus responded with a sigh.

 

*****

 

“I made a huge mistake in letting her go,” he admitted.

 

“Tell the truth, Snape. You didn't let her go, you drove her away,” accused Ron. “You pushed her out of your life and purposely hurt her.” Ron had seen the aftermath of the breakup and he know how much his friend had suffered.

 

“You're right. I thought, at the time, it was for the best.”

 

“For her or you?” asked Harry coldly.

 

“She deserves so much better than me, I have done too many things in my life I am not proud of.”

 

*****

 

“That didn't matter to her, I know that Hermione loved you,” replied Harry. “But now she's moved on with her life, I understand she is seeing Malfoy the elder now.”

 

“I know. I confronted Lucius, then we got into a bit of a duel, Hermione broke it up.”

 

Ron and Harry both stared bugeyed at Snape. “You dueled Malfoy, over

Hermione?”

 

“Yes, didn't I just say that? Pay attention,” he snapped. “The end result is we talked, I admitted that I was wrong and wanted her back.”

 

“And she agreed?” asked Ron disbelievingly.

*****

“No, not exactly. She said we can't just pick up the pieces, we have to start anew. Therein lies the rub... the reason I need you two,” Severus explained morosely. “You know her better than anyone else. I need you to teach me how to date Hermione.”

 

Harry and Ron stared open mouthed sure that Snape had gone completely and utterly insane.

“But... but... you lived together for four years. Why would you need us to tell you how to date her? Just win her back using the same method you did the first time.” sputtered Harry.


*****

“There was no method the first time, you twit. We didn't “date”, I never “courted” her, we just sort of settled into each other. I went from being her teacher, to her mentor, her colleague and finally we became lovers.”

 

“Ewww... that paints a mental picture I don't need to see,” mumbled Ron with a shudder.

 

Giving Ron a silencing look, Severus continued. “I've honestly never dated anyone, there have been brief encounters, one night stands, thing of that nature. I don't know how to date someone and I can't afford to do this wrong.

*****

“I've only truly loved two women in my life, and it seems somehow I have fucked it up royally both times,” Severus confessed. “But this time I have a chance to redeem myself and I absolutely refuse to fail. I'll do anything to get Hermione back. Hell, I've even resorted to asking you two imbeciles for help, that should show you how desperate I am to do this right. ”

 

“Give us a minute, Snape,” Ron said. He and Harry move across the room and conferred in whispered tones for several minutes before returning to address Severus.


*****

“All right, Severus. We'll help you, give you pointers, teach you her likes and dislikes and such but with a couple of very important conditions,” explained Harry.

 

“That's right,” continued Ron. “If this doesn't work you aren't allowed to hex us or anything. And if you do win her back, you'd better never, ever hurt her again. Or we will absolutely hex you for sure, because you'll deserve it.”

 

“Agreed!” declared Severus. “Now where do we start?”

 

And that's how the former students became the teachers, and so began the dating lessons of Severus Snape.