It wasn't like she had never been bullied before. She should have thick skin, should be uncaring of what people said by now.
Really, Severus mused, she should be stronger.
But here she was, pinned against the wall by Draco Malfoy's words, eyes wide and glimmering. It was quiet, and most of the students were in class.
Severus had left his own to find the two missing teenagers, though he cared more about Draco's health than Miss Granger's.
It was a cold way to function, but he would not perish if Hermione was harmed. Still, it was embarrassing that the boy was so transfixed in his effort to make her life miserable.
He grasped Malfoy's elbow and glanced over at Hermione. A single drop of blood trickled down her chin, and she stared at her professor without tears.
He felt his mind turn numb as memories resurfaced, memories of his gentle mother brought to tears by the pain inflicted on her frail body.
Father! Please, I beg you, don't hurt her!
Without hesitating, Severus reached forward and wiped the blood away with the pad of his thumb. Her eyes widened, and he pulled Draco away.
Professor Snape seemed to be shadowing her. It was an absurd thought, one that seemed highly unlikely to Hermione's intellectual mind.
Yet every time she turned a little too suddenly, she spotted the end of his cloak vanishing around a corner. She found her grievances had lessened.
Draco ignored her completely after the incident, and the whispers of the more cruel students had hushed.
Hermione found herself quite pleased by the peace.
A quiet evening in the library found her reading a book, and she looked up to see Snape examining the shelves.
Peering around and seeing that they were alone, she closed the book and approached him. Realizing that he was cornered, Severus did not attempt to escape.
"Why are you helping me?" Hermione asked. "Why do you care?"
"Draco behaved in a way I do not find appropriate," He replied coldly. "I was simply assuring that he did not repeat his actions."
Hermione nodded and turned away to hide her disappointment.
Draco stared wide-eyed from his place on the cool tile, seemingly unable to move. Even Harry, who had been the one to cast the spell, seemed surprised by what it had done.
Hermione's blood was all over the ground, and her agonized whimpers echoed around the large bathroom.
Severus arrived swiftly and ignored the two boys as soon as he spotted the girl.
"I didn't know-" Harry breathed, panting heavily from grief. "I...I'm sorry-"
He raced from the room, and a tear-stained Draco stood to pursue him.
"Do not bother," Severus snapped, his work done. "Alert Madam Pomfrey that I will be bringing an injured student into the hospital wing."
Draco did not hesitate.
"I did it to protect you," said Hermione softly. "I knew about the vow. Draco had told me about it, that day he punched me. I called him selfish; he hurt me without thinking."
Severus did not know what to think of this, and he frowned thoughtfully at the ground.
"Why?" He murmured incredulously
"Why I become friends with Draco? I pitied him. He was all alone, after all."
She smiled fondly and glanced at the chocolate frog Draco had brought her.
Severus shook his head.
"Not that," he said firmly, and Hermione blushed.
That was answer enough for Snape, and he stood swiftly. He did not speak but rested his hand on her cheek with a quiet affection. He left without a word, but the touch lingered.
Hermione felt a surge of hope and fell back on her pillow with a flustered grin.