Author's Note:

This is a completed work at just over 48,000 words. Chapters will come weekly, but I plan to upload chapter 2 quickly to get the ball rolling. It is (mainly) from Severus' POV. Inkspots fans will recognize my Severus - he's less angsty and bitter than in some great fanfics I enjoy; he definitely leans more into his sweet and snarky side in my fics. This one's fluffy and romantic, so grab a cozy beverage of choice and let's have some fun. Sibilare is Italian for Fizzle. Because every language needs a word for fizzle.

Sibilare

November 1991 1st year

Hermione crept through the stands quickly, accidentally knocking into Quirell in her haste to get to Snape. When she reached him, she took out her jar of bluebell flames and held them up to the hem of Snape's robes. Her hands shook as she prayed for the flames to catch. As she was creeping away a few moments later, a yelp from Snape told her that she had done the job.

November 1992 2nd year

When the firework went off in Goyle's potion, the predicted chaos ensued. Hermione crouched and walked swiftly to the locked storeroom. Alohamora worked to unlock the door, but as she passed the storeroom's threshold, magic washed over her and startled her. A split second of panic enveloped her as she remembered that locks were not the only thing that wizards could use to keep people out. She had been naive to think that a wizard like Snape would only use a simple locking spell. He hated the students and Snape was far from naive. The magic felt friendly, but that could have been a trap. Too far gone to turn back now, she crept further into the storeroom and grabbed the boomslang skin. Again, magic washed over her, starting with her hand as she grabbed the jar and washing over her entire body, and the sense of foreboding that this was a fool's errand made her shake. She retreated from the room and shut the door, willing her body to calm down and stop shaking so as to not give her away. She caught Harry's eye and crouched once more until she was back at their table. Harry was ignoring her to not give her away. She took a deep breath and started packing away her things as Snape continued to yell instructions to the students. She put on her best face to show her anger that someone would dare disrupt a class, then moved out with the others when he yelled at them to leave the classroom.

Later that night, Snape inventoried his storeroom. He had been a teacher long enough to know a distraction when he saw one. Hell, he had enough detention records to fill one of Filch's boxes because of his own dumb stunts as a student. Boomslang skin. Damn. Someone had plans. Why was someone always plotting something at Hogwarts? He was smug that it wouldn't be long until the culprit was outed. As he made his way purposefully to the Infirmary, he looked at every second year student that passed him by. He was sure Potter had something to do with it, but he wouldn't rule out anyone. He pushed open the doors of the Infirmary and looked at the occupied beds. Only two occupied beds, two older Ravenclaw students whose steaming ears indicated that flu season was starting.

"Professor Snape," Madame Pomfrey greeted with a slight tone of questioning, "is there something I can do for you?"

"What other students have come to see you today?" he asked her, cutting to the chase.

"Only one other student. One of your third years. Professor Lockhart," she began, but he cut her off with his hand, grinding his teeth at the sheer mention of that buffoon.

"I was expecting someone to come see you for adverse reactions to a ward," Severus explained.

"Severus!" Madame Pomfrey's eyes got large. "Do you mean to tell me that someone ran afoul of one of your wards? Where are they?"

Severus felt a moment of censure before he remembered that the culprit was a thief. "Yes, someone stole from my private storeroom. I would think that their hand and arm would be quite uncomfortable by now."

"What if they don't come see me? They could be very badly hurt," she scolded.

"Well, obviously not if they're not here," Severus said in a bored voice. "Just let me know if someone comes to see you that fits the description."

He heard Madame Pomfrey harrumph as he stalked out of the Infirmary.

June 1994 3rd year

Dust from the floor of the Shrieking Shack made Hermione's eyes water as she looked at Harry and then caught Ron's eye. They both knew exactly what was about to happen. Harry's hatred of Snape, coupled with his intense desire to know the truth was about to uncage Harry's recklessness. They had seen Snape duel. Harry was only going to have one shot, so it had better work and buy them some time. Steeling her nerves she looked at Ron to see that he had already come to that same conclusion, as he was intently staring at Harry's wand hand. The second Harry's wand hand rose in the air, both Ron and Hermione shouted with him, "Expelliarmus." The three spells combined mid-air but even in that split second, she could tell that her spell, or maybe it wasn't hers, dissipated into a shower of golden light, falling from the red beam of magic and never reaching the intended target. But it didn't matter, the combined spells did what they needed it to do and then some. As Professor Snape hit the wall and slid down it unconscious, Hermione's hands flew to her mouth in shock.