"Tell me, anyone of you. What are the key ingredients of a Draught potion?" Severus asked the class. He walked around the classroom waiting for a willing student. This class was getting on his nerves. He couldn't wait till his class of 7th years were gone. Just because they survived Voldemort's rage since their first years didn't mean they could let their studies go to a waste. The only person who always cared about their grade; that Hermione Granger. Part of the infamous Golden Trio.

And as always Hermione raised her hand an answer that was about to explode from her lips. She didn't choose to be a know it all but she just knew what it was. They had just learned all about it 2 weeks ago.

Severus saw Granger's hand shoot up and rolled his eyes.

This girl should really let her other classmates have a go. But at the same time he knew no one knew the answer.

She was just a foolish know it all and she didn't want to accept it. He ignored her completely and continued strolling between the students' desks.

"Really? No one in this class knows the answer? We just went over this curriculum last week!"

"Sir, please let me answer." Hermione spoke out. Severus rolled his eyes and faced her with an annoyed look on his face.

"Clearly everyone here either doesn't know what you're talking about or is scared to answer the question. You never call on me anyway. And we learned this 2 weeks ago" Hermione explained. She was really irritated that her potions teacher constantly ignores her.

"That's 10 points from Gryffindor for that and a detention after dinner for your cheek. Miss Granger you should really fix your attitude towards your peers or else you're going to get punished."

"Yes sir." Hermione murmured. Snape was really getting on her nerves lately. Even after the war when everything was revealed, he was still being a dick to people who accepted him. The bell rang and everyone left for their next class. She dreaded her detention with the irritated menopausal man.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Hermione walked to the dungeons on her way to the potion master's office. She knocked on the door firmly and waited for a response. She heard him yell a "come in!" She opened the door and saw him sitting at his desk reading a book. It was called "A Wizard's guide to Advanced Potions" which she had already read in her 5th year.

She walked up to his desks and waited for him to give her a task to do for her detention.

"Miss Granger, have a seat." Snape greeted. He gestured for her to sit down on the chair in front of his desk. She sat down with a quill in her hand and waited to be surprised with a stack of essays.

"You won't be grading anything for today's detention."

"What will I be doing then sir?" Hermione asked. She was surprised. Snape usually made her grade papers or clean cauldrons or the his potions store.

"We will be working on your behaviour."

"My behaviour?" She said taken aback.

"Yes. You will learn how to respect your peers; especially me."

"I do respect you sir. It's you who don't respect me or anyone." She argued gently.

"This is what I'm talking about." He said gesturing to her. "You talking back to me, you should really fix this."

"With all due respect sir, I think you should start to respect people who respect you."

Severus was going to argue back until she interrupted him.

"Everyone found out your place in the final battle. It was a good thing you switch sides before the battle between the Death Eaters started. But we'll never forgive you for cursing Harry in his first year or all those other times you gave us misery! You're just a man who likes to torment people and cause misery to everyone who gets in your way! You're a cruel man who likes to cause pain to everyone no matter the age! I ha-"

"It's not true!" Severus yelled. He slammed his fist against his table. Hermione jerked backwards in her seat startled at how her potions master reacted.

"It's not true." He said more softly.

"I did not curse Harry's broom in your first year. I muttered a counter curse. It was Quirrell who cursed Harry. I was protecting him. And I did not just 'suddenly switch' sides Miss Granger." With a hint of sassiness in his voice. "I was already on the good side before you came along. Yes, I was a spy for both sides but my mindset was always on the good side. I had to maintain my cruel side for the Dark Lord, he already knew I rebelled against him before, I had to regain his trust once again to protect Hogwarts. It wasn't my choice to be this way. I was born like this up like this; abused and hurt. Ever since the woman I loved was killed by that filthy man, I always was on the good side." Severus explained everything. Hermione felt bad for insulting and yelling at him at the first place. She didn't know this. Kind of ironic for the great know it all.

"I-"

"Next time don't jump to conclusions Granger, it's not healthy. You're dismissed. Your detention is cut short today." He said while his head was down.

"Sir...I'm sorry. I-I didn't know. I-"

"Save your breath Miss Granger, I don't want to hear this now."

"Sir please. I'm sorry." She tried to apologize.

"Get out Granger!" Severus said slowly but fiercely with a bit of hurt in his voice. Hermione bent her head down in shame and walked out not bothering looking back at her professor who was now tearing up.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Hermione laid in bed, thinking about what had happened earlier. She didn't know Snape was actually a good person after all. She always saw him as the mysterious cruel man everyone came to talk about. He was actually brave like a Gryffindor.

Hermione felt warmness as she thought about her potions professor. He was innocent all this time. Everyone always had the mindset that he was a bad person. But it was the opposite. He risked his life for Hogwarts; for the whole wizarding world.

She wanted to apologise to him. Properly. She wanted him to know that she was sorry and she forgave everything he did in the past.

This was her plan. And she was going to fulfil it like a Slytherin.

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AN: To those who stumbled into this, thanks for clicking on my fanfic! Hope you enjoy it! Make sure to fave it and leave your lovely comments. :)