Professor Snape stood in front of the class silently brooding as he waited for class to begin. It was characteristic of him to make a dramatic entrance on the first day but he knew that it would do nothing for his mood, Potter, Longbottom, and Granger all made it into his advanced potions class. He would never be able to rest again. So he opted to stare them all down. The tactic worked as most of them either fidgeted in their chairs or avoided looking in his direction. Except for one student. Miss Granger the know-it-all was of course looking up at him eager to start the year. He felt his annoyance rise at her posture, hands across her desk, notebook out- ready to learn. A degrading comment rolled to the tip of his tongue but he held it back when he noticed something odd. Propped against her chair was a cane. This triggered an unusual reaction in him as a brief feeling of concern washed over him. It vanished when he remembered who it was he was thinking about.
He tore his eyes away from her station and began the class, trying to stop the questions that were pouring through his mind.
A furious slash of his wand drew their attention to the front of the room as the chalk board suddenly flipped over. The students sitting in the front jumped at the loud sound and he was forced to suppress an amused smirk. That's more like it. He thought.
"To those of you hoping your last year will require no more effort than it does for you to breathe you are sadly mistaken. This year will be your toughest and most demanding." He crossed his arms across his chest as he glared at them once again. "If you feel you can not meet this I suggest you leave my classroom and don't come back as you will be wasting my time as well as yours." A couple students itched to leave but knew they needed the class and sat rigid in their seats. He made the mistake of looking at Granger again and noticed something else which had him wondering how he had missed it before. She appeared almost sickly by her pale skin. It was obvious the injury had taken its toll on her. She was too worn to try and keep up her usual appearance, this change seemed to bring out a different side of her, a beauty he hadn't seen before. It was strange that she had to appear this way for him to see it. He had been staring at her too long and most took notice. He regretted it but he needed to call her out to cover up his own weakness.
"Miss Granger."he barked. Her brow shot up in surprise and she jerked her attention away from her notes.
"Yes, Professor?" Her voice lacked it's usual strength and once again he was taken by concern.
"As much as I encourage note taking I do not think it is necessary to be writing any of this down.5 points from Gryffindor." Snickers spread throughout the room but she complied with no reaction to his bitterness. This worried him but he continued on with the lesson angry at himself for being such a bastard.
"What a git." Ron said as Harry told the story over lunch. "If only I was in potions with you two I would have yelled at the greasy bat!"
"Thanks Ron but It would have only made matters worse. I am not too bothered by it I mean it is Professor Snape after all." Ron and Harry exchanged looks of confusion but didn't press the matter any further. Ever since her accident she seemed down all the time. they understood why but they didn't know what to do about it.
"How are you feeling Hermione?" Ginny pipped up. She was trying to lighten her mood.
Tired and in pain. She thought.
"I am fine Ginny thank you." It was the answer they had all been hoping for and they soon went back to a different topic. However, Hermione was stuck thinking about the incident. It was a summer night at the order they had been talking, just having fun. Then there was a death eater raid. They shouldn't have been involved but they were. All four of them Harry, Ron, Ginny, and herself had been allowed to go on the mission. If she hadn't been there Ginny would have died but she still felt regret over it and this made her feel guilty.
She saved Ginny but at a cost. Luckily for her the curse she was hit with barely made contact with her leg. She was able to carry on due to the overwhelming rush of adrenaline but soon after the attack she passed out from the pain. She woke up in where they told her of the spell and the consequential side effects. They said she wouldn't feel any pain, but they were wrong. Very wrong. It seemed to be amplifying and there was nothing she could do about it. She tried to go back to them but they sent her away telling her it was all in her head. Pain relievers did nothing and she was becoming a wreck mentally and physically. She needed help but wasn't sure who to go to.
"I think it's getting worse." she said interrupting their conversation. They all turned to look at her, concern now on their friendly faces.
"What do you mean?"Harry asked.
"I haven't been honest with you guys..." she confessed. "The pain isn't going away. Its like it's... multiplying. Pain relievers won't do anything I am at a loss as to what to do." There faces went grim at the admission and Ginny felt extremely guilty.
"I'll go with you to Saint Mungo's I am sure they will have a solution." Anger bubbled up in here at the mention of Saint Mungo's they were the least qualified to deal with the curse she had been subjected to.
"Thanks Ginny but I have done that and they refuse to treat me."
"Surely Poppy can help." Harry suggested. She thought about it but realized she would likely go to Professor Snape on the subject. Thats it!
"I think I am going to ask Professor Snape for help." Ron spit out his pumpkin juice.
"Are you mad!" he exclaimed, "He's one of them he'll probably just reactivate it or something. Besides he was a git to you today. I don't think he would help you."
The sheer ignorance of the comment struck a nerve within her. Whether it was her pain or his constant stupidity she didn't know but she snapped.
"For your information Ronald." she hissed emphasizing his name. "He being one of them means that he can share information about this subject more accurately than most. In addition, he's a teacher that Dumbledore trusts as do I." With a huff of exasperation she grabbed her cane and left as quickly as she could manage. They were dumbfounded at the rapid turn of events and accredited her temper to the pain in her leg. Ginny got up to go after her but Harry held her back.
"Give her some space." he murmured. She hesitated but saw the stern look in his eyes and decided to sit back down.
I can't believe him she fumed. After all these years he's just as shallow and thick headed as he was the first day I met him. She was moving through the halls at a considerably fast rate for someone with a cane. The rage in her head obscured the pain and as soon as her mind cleared she realized she was not as fit as she thought she was. She stopped and took a well needed rest on a nearby bench. Fucking Voldemort she thought as she dropped onto the seat. Leaning back into the wall she lifted her leg. In an attempt to ease some of the pain she stretched her calf. The movement only caused more pain causing her to hiss in response. Defeated she lowered her leg back to the castle floor. With her head against the wall she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing to try relax. She imagined her self running again breathing in the crisp autumn air as leaves fell around her. A small smile crept onto her face but it quickly fleeted as a voice knocked her out of her thoughts.
"Hermione." It was professor McGonagall. "Are you feeling all right?" She didn't know about her accident it was an order secret and she had been away for the summer.
"Yes I am fine thank you." she replied. "Just resting for a little."
"I see well don't fall asleep. I'll be expecting you in class soon." she was about to bid her farewell when she noticed the cane lying beside Hermione on the bench. McGonagall knitted her brow in confusion then realization dawned on her. "Oh dear what happened?" She took a seat on the bench beside her.
"I was unfortunate enough to be hit with a spell during a death eater raid this summer. The healers did what they could but there's permanent damage." she didn't have to look at her to so the pity on McGonagalls face it was a common reaction these days.
"If you should need anything let me know okay?" She nodded in reply and gave a forced but friendly smile, "Are you in any pain?"
"No more than usual. Besides I've already seen Poppy today she's given me some pain relievers."
"Okay dear just take it easy today I am sure my colleagues will understand if you are a little late your my prized Gryffindor after all so we can't have you collapse from exhaustion." She gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder and stood up. "I must be going. I am sorry about your accident."
"I'll see you in class Professor." McGonagall nodded and left Hermione alone. She sighed as she realized she had to go back to the common room for her books. Tomorrow she would remember them.