Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it. J. K. Rowling is the supreme ruler, I just play with her characters. This disclaimer applies to all chapters.
Thank you to my lovely beta PirateJinx for all the corrections and ideas. Any mistakes are of my own tweaking
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CHAPTER ONE – THIS I OVERHEARD
"I don't need your help!"
Hermione pulled up short at the sound of Draco Malfoy's furious voice. His typical tone of smug entitlement was drowned out by his fury
"I fail to care what you think of my help, your mother-"
"Forget my mother!"
Hermione was shocked to have just heard someone interrupt the caustic Professor Snape in such a heated manner. She rolled her eyes and ducked into a dark corner, if anyone could get away with it without consequence it was Malfoy. She stayed in place long enough to watch Malfoy stomp away before she emerged, straightened her robes, and proceeded to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office. She had questions about potions and, oddly enough, she would rather face Snape than go to Slughorn. The man clearly played favorites and knew nothing about potions. She felt certain Snape would be just as abhorred as she was to see what the full grown dunderhead had made of the dungeons. Arriving at Snape's office door, she knocked and was met with silence. She waited sometime then knocked again. She swore she heard him sighed heavily before he seethed out enter.
"Miss Granger." He sneered.
It didn't matter what the mysterious letters told her, nor did her admiration for the professor's intellect, Snape was still intimidating. And somewhat terrifying. "I- I would like your help with potions."
"You are distinctly aware I am no longer your potions professor, yes Miss Granger?"
Hermione's jaw tightened. "Of course, sir, but I find you much more… useful and knowledgeable than my current professor.
His eyebrows rose infinitesimally. "I was under the impression that Slughorn was quite favored."
Hermione actually rolled her eyes. "Just because he doesn't critique us doesn't mean he's any good."
He knew he should reprimand her for both the eyeroll and her inappropriate comment but frankly, Slughorn was an imbecile, and, according to some, Miss Granger was the brightest witch of her age. So obviously she would be displeased with the man's lacking intellect. "Fine." He conceded.
"Great! So firstly..."
After an hour, Severus sent her back to her common room, feeling suddenly quite suspicious of Slughorn and Harry Potter's improving potions grade. He also had a headache. It seemed he always had a headache these days; between Malfoy, the Dark Lord, and ruddy Dumbledore it was no surprise. Retreating to his private quarters, he tossed back a glass of fire whiskey and slouched in his favorite chair. And the year had only just begun.
SHSHSH
"The only reason Slughorn likes you is because you got the old book with all the writing in it." Ron griped as Harry grinned walking out of the potions class after receiving another O for his brewing.
"It's not fair!" Hermione spat, enraged at the injustice. "You don't even put any real effort in."
"Oi, watch it Hermione, put away the claws." Harry said, his grin only lessening into a smile.
"I'm just saying it's ridiculous and that book is probably dangerous."
Harry rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Yes, as you've said before."
"Well you know what I think then. I'm headed to the library." Hermione said, stomping off.
Hermione stormed off. Even with Professor Snape's help, Harry had beaten her at brewing the potions. Although she was still doing considerably better than him at essays and the theoretical application, thank goodness. She settled into her usual dark corner of the library and set up her books to start studying, but all she really wanted to do was to read the mysterious letters she had received. Not willing to risk them being discovered, she kept hidden on her person at all times. Double checking that no one was around, she pulled out the letters.
If you trust Severus Snape, then you are trusting the right person.
The first one she had gotten over the summer. It was vague and unhelpful but she wondered if the author them wasn't in a situation to write more.
Remember, things aren't always as they seem. Acts of violence can have many motivations. Just like those of Severus Snape.
Hermione didn't know what that meant but it bothered her and stuck in her mind. As far as she knew, Professor Snape wasn't a violent person, sure he had a horrible demeanour and had definitely scarred some kids emotionally, but he wasn't violent. Hermione sighed and hid the notes in her robes again, casting concealment and protection charms upon them. Hermione did believe that Professor Snape was on the right side of this war, and these notes confirmed that. But she felt the need to see for herself, to have confirmation of his good nature. She more than anyone knew that just because someone appeared good and kind did not always mean that they were.
SHSHSH
Hermione woke well before the sun had a chance to rise, before even before the Hogwarts house elves had restarted fires in the dormitories. Perturbed by her usual nightmare, Hermione got up, wrapping her warm robe around herself and descended the stairs to the prefect's common room. The days were already starting to get colder and the nights were worse but Hermione had always preferred the cold, it was easier to warm oneself up than cool oneself down in her opinion. She stayed huddled in the common room, reading a muggle book until an elf popped into the room, gave her a strange look, started the fire, and disappeared. At this point she knew it was late enough that she could get up and not get into too much trouble, especially with her prefect status.
She left the room and wandered about the halls, where early daylight seemed to be creeping into the lower hallways. She found an abandoned classroom that over looked the lake, transfigured a desk into a comfier chair and settled in, looking over the massive body of water. It seemed each time she looked at the lake; she could sort through her thoughts much easier. She liked being alone these days; the events over the summer had put her through the ringer. She was always afraid someone would see through the façade to the dark thoughts that lay claim to her mind when she wasn't aware. Hermione pondered now how to tell Harry that she was staying at Hogwarts for the holidays, and then eventually tell him that she could never go back to Grimmauld Place. He wouldn't understand without an explanation. Grimmauld was his sacred connection to Sirius, but Hermione could not explain why to him. Ever.
A sudden loud shuffle of feet drew Hermione's attention to the hallway just outside and she listened intently to the voices.
"Narcissa Malfoy asked that of you?" Dumbledore said, his voice growing louder as her came closer.
"Yes." Professor Snape drawled. "But Lestrange was the one who took it the extra step."
"Hmm well I understand your concern. Young Mr. Malfoy does not appear well these days. And he's always had a penchant for trouble."
Hermione agreed with both statements.
"Yes." Professor Snape sighed, "And the Dark Lord's order only complicates things."
"Naturally, Severus. I myself may have a request for you, come the time."
"I am certain you will." The younger man mumbled.
Hermione got the distinct impression Professor Snape would not be thrilled with whatever Dumbledore called upon him to do. Hermione listened as a soft shuffle of feet walked away, Dumbledore. But the oppressive sound of Professor Snape's dragon hide boots did not echo off of the stone walls. Hermione held perfectly still, waiting, listening. She heard him sigh and the rustle of his robes before his boots finally moved, their echoes growing progressively quieter as he walked away. Hermione released the breath she had been holding and stored the odd conversation away for later.
SHSHSH
Hermione meant to be focused on the practice game but found herself too easily distracted by Snape halfway across the pitch as he sat in the stands, chin balanced delicately on the steeple of his fingers. He appeared to be watching the game but Hermione got the impression that his mind was far away. Her attention was only drawn back to the practice as there was another upset ruckus from the group. Hermione listened in to Ron's troubles and she felt a certain amount of responsibility to help him. That and McLaggan was a right piece of work. So, she watched avidly as the next quaffle that came for him and whispered a good confundus charm, smiling as McLaggan missed the ball entirely. When she looked back across the stands, Professor Snape was gone. Sighing, she pulled out one of the books from her pack and opened it. Hermione gasped but had the grace not to drop the book as she pulled out a small piece of parchment that had not been there when she had arrived at the quidditch pitch.
I hope you can give your trust freely to Severus Snape since he may never get the chance to earn it.
Go to the headmaster's office the week after Christmas.
Enclosed was an extendable ear and Hermione raised her eyebrows at mysterious informant. Was she expected to spy on the head master?
The next week Hermione felt relief at the ability to leave the castle she had begun to feel claustrophobic, trapped in her mind and the prefects' dorm while actively avoiding a rather ragged Malfoy who was nastier than the previous years. Hermione wondered exactly what was taking its toll on him, she was aware it couldn't be his classes, considering they weren't too challenging for the boy but his grades seemed to be suffering. Putting him out of her mind, Hermione bounced down to the town with her two best friends, determined to enjoy her time. It was going well and Hermione purchased a few gifts for Christmas when the boys were distracted.
The trio were headed back up to the castle when Katie Bell was lifted into the air, seemingly jerked upward by her own screams and suspended, frozen in eerie silence. Hermione acted quickly to help Katie as she dropped back to the cold earth. The moment she approached the girl, she saw the swirl of black robes and familiar boots appear, she looked up into Professor Snape's dark eyes. He met her gaze a moment before he began to bark orders, directing Hagrid to keep everyone away from the girl and snapped at Hermione to follow him with the necklace.
"Don't touch it with your bare hands Miss Granger."
Hermione held up her gloved hands in response but still wrapped the necklace in its packaging before carrying it slightly away from her as she raced to keep up with Professor's long strides even as he carried Katie Bell to the hospital wing. He put the girl rather unceremoniously on a bed and summoned the Headmaster. He seemed unaware of Hermione standing slightly out of the way, not completely sure what to do with the threatening package in her hands. Dumbledore appeared rather quickly, sweeping across the room to the now closed off area.
"What have we got here, Severus?"
"A cursed necklace."
Dumbledore reached out to grab the necklace despite Professor Snape's building protest. "Mmm as I thought a single use curse."
Hermione thought she had never seen Professor Snape quite so livid. "And if it hadn't been?" He seethed.
Dumbledore only examined the necklace in silence then suddenly peered over the tops of his half-moon glasses. "Do excuse us Miss Granger?"
"Oh!" Hermione startled. "Of course!" She glanced at the scowling Snape and scurried out of the curtained area and proceeded out of the hospital wing. She paused for a moment outside the doors. Perhaps spying wasn't beneath her, she thought to herself. She fetched the extendible ear that had been gifted to her and tossed one end through the crevice underneath the massive doors, placing the other end to her ear.
"It's sloppy, Headmaster." Snape snapped. "Risking a student."
"I'm afraid we have to remember he is not as skilled as you, Severus."
"And what if his second attempt is fatal?"
"I don't think it will be."
"Ludicrous."
Was someone trying to kill Dumbledore? Hermione pulled the extendable ear back to her and quickly hid in the nearest alcove as she heard those dragon hide boots beating a path to the hospital wing door. The doors burst open and Hermione wondered if Professor Snape entered and exited every room in the same extravagant manner as he did his classrooms. She stayed in the alcove longer than she meant to, her mind had escaped her; thinking through every possibility of who would want to kill Dumbledore – there were a lot – but who would be sloppy enough to try to make a student deliver it to him? She couldn't put her finger on who that someone was but Hermione had the feeling Snape and Dumbledore both knew exactly who it was.