Disclaimer: I own nothing. I am but a humble supplicant at the feet of the
great JK Rowling. All I have is 38 cents, a Bazooka Joe comic and the
lyrics to Darling Nikki in my pocket so please don't sue me.
Chapter 1 - Bitter Chill
"If memory serves me Ms. Granger, your partner is Mr. Longbottom and not Mr. Malfoy. Is there any particular reason why you are pestering one of my most exemplary students?" Snape asked in his most chilling tone of voice.
All eyes were now focused on the mismatched pair. As Snape and his billowing robes bore down upon the two, the air in the classroom grew heavy with silence and tension. Hermione inhaled in an attempt to center herself, but it was apparent she was ready to strike out with a blistering tirade.
Hermione trembled with rage and firmly gripped the scalpel in her hand. The desire to plunge the object into the potions master's back was overwhelming. Were it not for Draco Malfoy's firm grip on her hand and his quelling stare on her face, Hermione could not say for sure that she would have resisted the impulse. The exchange between the sworn enemies was quick and nondescript. The only people keen enough to notice were Ron Weasly, Harry Potter, and Professor Snape himself. None of the three men viewed the interplay with charitable eyes. Snape's eyes narrowed at the silent solidarity before lashing out at the young woman once again.
"Perhaps, the Gryffindor know-it-all doesn't know everything after all. Twenty points from Gryffindor for obstructing the education of another student and twenty-five to Slytherin for aiding someone less knowledgeable. You might stand to fashion some of your prefecting duties after Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger. Prefects are to patrol in order to capture rule breaking students, not abuse their power to enable their own disregard for regulations. The Baron tells me he has seen a certain nappy-headed girl bearing a remarkable resemblance to you, running amok at night near the Slytherin dorms in a most unbecoming fashion. Have you nothing to say on this matter Ms. Granger?"
Hermione pierced the potions master with a disturbingly blank expression and only delivered a simple "Why no Professor," in an equally noncommittal tone after being prodded in the back by young Malfoy. Snape tut-tutted before silkily delivering a simple rejoinder on how difficult he found that to believe. Something flashed in her eyes then and it was faintly mirrored in Malfoy's as well. It was elemental, far removed from human and for the first time Severus Snape felt a chill in his own dungeons and a deep seated unease within these hallowed walls of Hogwarts.
He had seen something unnatural developing between the two prefects after an incident at the beginning of term, but now like a ball of curdled milk in the pit of his stomach, Snape realized a true threat lay in his alliance. He did not trust the junior Malfoy any more than the senior and now his wariness extended to Ms. Granger. They were hiding something dark and deep in his bones Snape knew no one would be ready for what they might unleash.
Chapter 1 - Bitter Chill
"If memory serves me Ms. Granger, your partner is Mr. Longbottom and not Mr. Malfoy. Is there any particular reason why you are pestering one of my most exemplary students?" Snape asked in his most chilling tone of voice.
All eyes were now focused on the mismatched pair. As Snape and his billowing robes bore down upon the two, the air in the classroom grew heavy with silence and tension. Hermione inhaled in an attempt to center herself, but it was apparent she was ready to strike out with a blistering tirade.
Hermione trembled with rage and firmly gripped the scalpel in her hand. The desire to plunge the object into the potions master's back was overwhelming. Were it not for Draco Malfoy's firm grip on her hand and his quelling stare on her face, Hermione could not say for sure that she would have resisted the impulse. The exchange between the sworn enemies was quick and nondescript. The only people keen enough to notice were Ron Weasly, Harry Potter, and Professor Snape himself. None of the three men viewed the interplay with charitable eyes. Snape's eyes narrowed at the silent solidarity before lashing out at the young woman once again.
"Perhaps, the Gryffindor know-it-all doesn't know everything after all. Twenty points from Gryffindor for obstructing the education of another student and twenty-five to Slytherin for aiding someone less knowledgeable. You might stand to fashion some of your prefecting duties after Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger. Prefects are to patrol in order to capture rule breaking students, not abuse their power to enable their own disregard for regulations. The Baron tells me he has seen a certain nappy-headed girl bearing a remarkable resemblance to you, running amok at night near the Slytherin dorms in a most unbecoming fashion. Have you nothing to say on this matter Ms. Granger?"
Hermione pierced the potions master with a disturbingly blank expression and only delivered a simple "Why no Professor," in an equally noncommittal tone after being prodded in the back by young Malfoy. Snape tut-tutted before silkily delivering a simple rejoinder on how difficult he found that to believe. Something flashed in her eyes then and it was faintly mirrored in Malfoy's as well. It was elemental, far removed from human and for the first time Severus Snape felt a chill in his own dungeons and a deep seated unease within these hallowed walls of Hogwarts.
He had seen something unnatural developing between the two prefects after an incident at the beginning of term, but now like a ball of curdled milk in the pit of his stomach, Snape realized a true threat lay in his alliance. He did not trust the junior Malfoy any more than the senior and now his wariness extended to Ms. Granger. They were hiding something dark and deep in his bones Snape knew no one would be ready for what they might unleash.