Hermione hurried up a dark staircase, her eyes glazed over in thought as her overstuffed book bag thumped angrily at her thigh.
What was I thinking? I wasn't. That's the problem. Since when do I let my hormones take over? I'm not a teenage boy I should have let that happen. And why must I continue to think about him. Why do I keep going back? It stops tonight.
It was the trio's last year at Hogwarts and once again Hermione had taken on too many classes. Too many classes, too much stress, too much worry. Hermione was having a hard time keeping everything together while still trying to remain the calm, collected rock that Ron and Harry had expected her to be. Maybe that's why. Hermione stopped somewhat suddenly at the top of the staircase, swirled and sat on the top stair burying her face in her hands and thought back to the first moment.
He quickly brushed her hair away from her face that day in class she said nothing, letting the pale blush set on her face. Confusion evident in her eyes mixed with a curiosity, but what disturbed her more was the butterflies which had erupted in her stomach. He turned and strode confidently to the front of the classroom. Hermione looked around her to see if anyone else had witnessed this small, but strange act, but they were all staring down at their potions in a confused and dismal manner, their eyes straying only to look sadly at their books.
"Miss Granger! Fifty points from Gryffindor and detention tonight! Be here promptly at nine o' clock tonight. And pay more attention from now on, really Miss Granger you should know better than to stare adoringly at the Slytherin boys." Professor Snape said with a small smirk. Hermione turned a beet red in outrage, her mouth gaping open and shut in protest as the Slytherin house had a good laugh at her expense. Harry and Ron sent scowls over to the Slytherin side in her defense.
"Don't worry about it Hermione, nobody takes the greasy bat seriously anyway and we're way ahead in points it's ok I promise you," Harry whispered into Hermione's ear softly before switching his attention back to his horribly failing potion. Hermione's lips pouted slightly before she roughly rubbed her eyes and temples with her fingertips. Before returning to her potion she casually glanced up to the front of the classroom where Snape was watching her with an intensity she had never seen in the older man's eyes before. He smiled at her and watched her shocked face turn downwards to refocus on her potion.
At the end of the class Hermione bottled up her perfectly made potion and nervously stepped to the front to hand it in. A majority of the class was scrambling trying to get out sooner, people were bumping into one another and people were cutting in line, and after handing in their potions, quickly exiting the classroom. As Hermione began to reach the front of the line her stomach tightened and the butterflies returned. Snape reached out for the vial in her hands, his hands lingering on hers for longer than appropriate before ushering her away so he could continue his collection of the potions. As she walked back towards her desk she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding.
Oh Merlin what have I gotten myself into?
She slowly collected her things, waiting for Harry and Ron to hand in their potions. It took her a few minutes to realize that they left without her, thinking she had left with all the confusion going on around her. With a deep sigh she started out the classroom alone, her heavy book bag swung at her side, the seams straining against the weight of the ridiculous amount of books she was carrying with her. She felt a small weight lifted off her chest as she exited the potions classroom, only to have it return upon hearing one voice.
"So mudblood. I knew that you would come around someday," Draco said with a sneer, "Too bad none of us would ever touch something as filthy as you."
"Whatever Malfoy! I would never want you! I don't want any of you! You're all disgusting little maggots who know too little of this world to even form their own thoughts and ideas so they just follow blindly!" Hermione said her eyes darkening. The panic was growing in her chest as she knew she was in their territory, more or less alone but she knew better than to let it show. She quickly shoved past Draco and quickly began up the stairs.
"Mudblood, I would be careful what you say to me. I'm much more powerful than you think. Don't doubt your little outburst won't come back to haunt you," Draco said his voice, his face, his eyes all void of emotion. With a small flinch Hermione raced up to the sanctuary of Gryffindor tower.
"Bloody 'ell Hermione where have you been, we thought you had been kidnapped!" Ron blurted good naturedly as Hermione came through the portrait. Upon seeing her distraught face his smile dropped. "Are you ok, Hermione?"
"Yes, I'm, I, well, after potions, I think I should just study until my detention tonight." Hermione stuttered before heading up to her dorm the boys staring after her in confusion.
Time for detention rolled around much too quickly for Hermione. She wasn't sure how she felt. What did the butterflies mean? Was it safe to go down to the dungeons again after her little meeting with Malfoy after potions? Slowly Hermione put her homework away, her stomach growling softly, she had skipped dinner because of her nerves and was now beginning to regret it. Walking down to the dungeons she gripped her wand tightly in case of an unwanted meeting with Malfoy or one of his brainless followers. Her whole body trembled in fear, anxiety or anticipation, she wasn't quite sure anymore. Not meeting a single person on the way to the potions classroom she arrived ten minutes early for her detention. Snape sat at his desk drinking an amber liquid out of a small glass, the ice clinking occasionally as he swallowed the last of his drink before striding over to the small girl in the doorway.
"You're early," Snape stated as he nudged her into the classroom and unnoticed to her, locked the door behind them.