Authors Note: This story will be AU, set in OotP. I've slightly changed the timeline... Instead of Harry snooping into Snape's pensieve after several months of lessons he does so during his second lesson. This is where it will deviate from canon. Eventually this will be a Snape/Hermione love story(I'm thinking a trilogy), but as of now they are only teacher and student. Nothing inappropriate will happen as long as she is a student, nor will Snape have inappropriate thoughts about her or vice-versa. I'm trying to create a believable story here and I don't think Snape would ever consider a student in any inappropriate way. PLEASE REVIEW! I am anxious to hear any readers opinions, ideas, and criticisms, though I ask not to bash my story just for bashings sake.
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Chapter 1. Liars and Friends
The Gryffindor common room was almost silent. Most younger years had gone to bed an hour before, only fifth and seventh years remained all deep in their revision for the upcoming exams. After the winter break everyone seemed to realize just how close January was to May and a sort of panic had erupted.
Hermione Granger sat in her regular seat; next to the fireplace, one of her best friends sat in the seat beside her. Ron Weasley had his fingers in his ears and was reading the History of Magic notes he had borrowed from her in a whispered voice. Hermione was starting to get a headache, she was seriously considering going to the hospital wing for a headache potion. After twenty more minutes the sound of pieces of parchment moving and quills scratching across paper was driving her mad. She couldn't focus on the potions notes she had in her lap.
Motioning quietly to Ron that she was leaving she stood up and walked away. It was getting late and Hermione didn't want to be a bother to Madame Pomfrey but she needed something for this awful pain. Just before she reached the exit the wall swung open and her other best friend, Harry Potter entered the tower.
"Hey Harry, how was you second lesson with Professor Snape?" she asked cautiously noting the odd look on his face.
"Erm... Great actually, he said I've made unbelievable progress, so much he reckons I can continue on my own." Harry replied, not quite meeting her eyes.
"What are you talking about? You said your first lesson was awful and now a week later your skilled enough to learn on your own? What happened Harry?!" she whispered furiously.
Harry took a moment to glare at his friend.
"You think your smarter than everyone don't you Hermione? You don't reckon I'm clever enough to learn something quickly?" Harry yelled angrily.
"Harry.. I just..." she started.
"I don't want to hear it Hermione! I'm tired and haven't done any revision today!"
At that Harry stormed off, leaving Hermione quite alone again. She hadn't meant to make him angry... He told her himself he was rubbish at Occulmency. She knew he was lying, they had been friends for long enough she could tell. He couldn't hide his feelings from her, she could tell he was upset about something. Her throbbing temple disrupted her train of thought and she decided to think more about it tomorrow.
Instead of going to the hospital wing she turned and went back through the common room and up the stairs to the girls dormitory. Hermione didn't bother changing into pajamas her eyes were closed before her head hit the pillow. Within minutes she was asleep.
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The next morning her headache was gone, yet frustration lingered on. Hermione knew it was important for Harry to block his mind. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would eventually use the connection to his advantage. Then there was the matter with Harry, she was sure he was lying. Something had happened. Something that upset Harry... But what could it be? Hermione tried to imagine the possibilities as she readied herself for the day ahead. Was it just too hard? Had Harry done something to upset Professor Snape? Had the professor upset Harry?
She spotted Ron and Harry in the common room among the throng of students leaving for breakfast. Both boys caught her eye; Harry glaring and Ron looking confused and apologetic, following Harry out the door effectively ditching Hermione. Her feelings were hurt but she sucked it up. Let Harry be mad there were more pressing issues that needed dealing with.
Sitting alone at the Gryffindor table eating her breakfast gave her time to consider her options. Harry and Ron were surrounded by the other Gryffindor boys pointedly ignoring her. The prats! Hermione thought, she pushed their immature behavior out of her mind. What to do to fix this... Her first thought was to go straight to the Headmaster. Dumbledore could make the two get over whatever had happened. If only she knew what had happened this would much easier.
After only a couple bites of porridge Hermione rose and headed up the stairs for Defense against the Dark Arts, their first class of the day. Umbridge wasn't yet in the classroom but Hermione knew the drill; wands away, books out. She turned to the appropriate chapter and zoned out, trying to guess what happened the night before.
"Miss Granger!" a shrill voice interrupted Hermione's thoughts.
"Yes Professor Umbridge?" Hermione said in an overly polite voice raising her eyes from her Defensive Theory textbook.
"Five points to Gryffindor for being ready to start, As for the rest of you; wands away, books out! Please turn to Chapter Twenty-three." Umbridge demanded in her sickly sweet voice.
Hermione looked around in surprise, she hadn't noticed the class filling up around her. Harry and Ron sat in the back next to a couple Ravenclaw boys. The Ravenclaw's looked less than pleased to be sharing their work space but Harry and Ron were too busy talking to each other to notice.
Perhaps they should allow more students to join Dumbledore's Army she mused looking at the disgruntled Ravenclaw boys. It was important that everyone be able to defend themselves, and no matter how much theory she memorized it took practice to be able to cast effective defensive spells. All the people that were part of the illegal defense club were learning a lot. Even Neville could cast a decent stunner now.
Umbridge's class thankfully passed quickly and Hermione found herself walking alone down the winding stairs that led to the Potions classroom, once again ahead of her classmates.
Professor Snape wasn't yet in his classroom, he always liked to make a dramatic entrance just as the final few students tried to sneak in late, often resulting in lost points for Gryffindor. Hermione watched for the Potions Master as the class filled up but he did not arrive until five minutes after the last Gryffindor had taken his seat.
He looked more angry than usual but said nothing. Effectively silencing the class with an evil glare Professor Snape waved his wand at the chalk board. Hermione began to take notes immediately as they appeared not wanting to infuriate the already angry professor the entire class set about their assignment.
Today they were to brew The Draught of Peace, it was particularly complex and Hermione decided it would almost certainly be on their OWLs so she read the directions several times before she got started. First she lit a fire with her wand, placing her cauldron over the heat she added the appropriate amount of the liquid base(cave water for this particular potion.) She took the time to carefully prepare all her ingredients constantly checking the thermometer underneath her cauldron.
After about thirty minutes her Draught of Peace was nearly complete, she just had to let it brew and stir it every three and a half minutes on the dot. She took the in between time to watch Harry and Ron they seemed to be doing alright with their potion though they were too far behind to finish the potion in the time they had remaining.
Hermione couldn't help but smirk as she stirred her nearly completed potion, the pair deserved a T after ignoring her all day. If they hadn't been such prats she would've helped them. Professor Snape stepped to the head of the class. Hermione was the first to notice him, he waited for the rest of the class to pay attention.
"I want a foot and a half long essay on the properties of the three main ingredients we used today and another foot how one might enhance these properties. You have fifteen minutes to turn in your samples." assigned Professor Snape in a quiet yet demanding tone.
She stirred her potion one final time and removed it from the heat. It had to sit for five minutes before she could add the final ingredient and stir it the last time. Hermione glanced up the professor; usually he would be pacing about the classroom making snide comments and occasionally stopping a student from making a major error. Today he just stood there. He looked quite angry, but instead of his normal point taking ways he seemed to be avoiding the entire class.
Feeling quite confused Hermione added her final ingredient, a cup of shredded figweed, and stirred her final potion. It was perfect very light pink almost white with a light green mist rising from it bubbles. As she wrote a properly detailed label for her sample she decided on her best course of action. She would hang about after class and when everyone was gone to lunch she would ask Professor Snape to continue his lessons with Harry.
Under guise of having a bit of potion stuck to her cauldron Hermione remained behind while the other students went up to the Great Hall for lunch. Sensing that the room was empty she turned around, casting a quick drying charm on her spotlessly clean cauldron.
"Professor Snape?" she said, losing her gumption when his eyes met hers.
"Why are you still here Granger!" he hissed at her.
"Please sir, don't be..." she said before he cut her off,
"Whatever Potter told you is the past. It doesn't matter now and I will not speak of it to anybody! I suggest you join your fellow Gryffindors in the Great Hall before I start docking points." Professor Snape practically shouted at the poor young witch.
"Harry told me you canceled your lessons because he was proficient enough to continue on his own. I don't know what your talking about sir." she stuttered, looking carefully at the dungeon floor.
When she looked up she was surprised to see some type of emotion cross the professors normal sour expressions. It was either the look of shock or relief, Hermione couldn't tell and it disappeared almost as quickly as it had appeared.
"Please Professor Snape, I know you don't like him but he needs to learn occulemncy. If Dumbledore thinks it's important than I agree! We cannot let He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gain access to Harry's thoughts! Please professor, please resume your lessons with him. I know he's a disrespectful prat but it is imperative he learn this." she choked out in one breath.
"I will not. The boy is incapable." sneered the teacher, "I've never met anyone so dense, the Dark Lord will easily be able to access his thoughts. I can't be bothered to waste my time. Now leave immediately! This is my lunch break as well Granger and I'd like a chance to eat." Snape finished, dismissing Hermione.
She walked towards the door trying to work up the guts to ask again. Stopping in the doorway she took a deep breath.
"Surely there is some way I can convince you sir? I don't want to involve the Headmaster, but I will if necessary." she said quietly over her shoulder.
Knowing she messed up royally when she heard him stand she turned as he crossed the room in three or four sweeping footsteps his cloak billowing about behind him. He got a mere foot away from her, close enough she could smell his sour coffee breath left over from his morning cup. He leaned towards her and bared his yellowing teeth.
"Are you threatening me Miss Granger?" he asked in a silky soft yet horrifically dangerous voice, "Do you think you can frighten me by mentioning Dumbledore?"
Hermione said nothing. She was paralyzed by fear, her eyes widened in shock. Something inside of her, a small voice that sounded remarkably like Professor McGonnagall, cried out. This was too important, she must stand her ground.
"Harry must be trained Professor, I have a feeling that something horrible will happen that will ruin his life if he doesn't manage to keep You-Know-Who out. You're the only one who can teach him sir! Please see reason... I apologize for my rudeness Professor Snape, I'll leave you to your lunch." she rushed out the door and away before he could reply.
The Great Hall was mostly empty when she arrived most students, including Ron and Harry had already eaten lunch and were either studying somewhere, or outside in the cold. Hermione sat alone and ate a bit, mostly picking at her food and studying her charms notes. Hopefully she had convinced Professor Snape she certainly didn't wish to try again. Hermione had always stood up for him and tried time and time again to convince Harry and Ron he was on their side but she had to admit he was rather intimidating and unpleasant.
Lunch was nearly over. Only Hermione remained in The Great Hall still pouring over her five years worth of charms notes when an owl she didn't recognize hooted softly at her. It was a handsome black owl, breed unknown, it was regal. She stared at it a moment, not expecting post and assuming it had selected the wrong student. The regal owl looked annoyed and dropped the roll of parchment in her lap, then helping itself to a bit of her lunch he flew away.
Picking up her notes and shoving them into a bag she unrolled the parchment as she rushed up the stair to get to charms on time. The handwriting was spiky and unfamiliar to her, it read;
Granger,
Detention seven 'O' clock tomorrow evening.
SS
Hermione was furious. Not only did he refuse to give Harry lessons, now he was taking away her Saturday evening! Her whole revision schedule would have to be rewritten now. He'd undoubtedly have her doing some chore without magic that would take all night. There was little hope of her making it to the DA meeting they had managed to schedule around everyone's quidditch practices and revision.
When she reached Professor Flitwick's room class was already in session. She made an apologetic face to her teacher as she slipped in the last available seat.
"Thank you for joining us Miss Granger, I won't take points today but in the future please arrive on time. We're reviewing the Cheering Charm today, it will be on your OWLs. Everyone is already paired up so you'll have to work with me." said the small Professor, motioning for her join him at the front of the room.
She left her bag in her seat, taking only her wand she approached Professor Flitwick.
"Do you remember the incantation Miss Granger?" he asked hopping down from his stack of books.
"Yes sir, but I missed this particular class in third year though, so I'm not comfortable with the wand motions." she replied demurely, blushing slightly at having to admit she didn't know something everyone clearly did.
"Oh dear, well let me show you." he held his wand up, nodding for her to follow his motions, "... Now starting on your intended target flick your wand down fluidly... Perfect Granger now swish it back up quickly like a whip finishing in the same position you started, pointed at your target. Perfect, my dear perfect! Practice the motions a few times, I'll be back in a jiffy." he instructed.
Hermione practiced the motions carefully with her wand while the professor walked around the room and offered assistance to the few students having trouble. Once he returned to the front of the class she had the motion down perfectly.
"Are you ready Miss Granger?" asked Professor Flitwick, she nodded. "Okay, I'll cast the charm on you first, it's very important to control the amount of power you put into this charm. It's very easy to over do."
"Okay Professor, I understand." answered Hermione, remembering how Harry had overdone the charm on Ron during their third year exams.
Very well Miss Granger. Now watch closely."
Pointing his wand at her he performed the charm, stretching the pronunciation of the incantation to match the motion.
"Appea-See-US!"
A state of calm contentedness washed over her immediately vanquishing her remaining anger with Professor Snape and Harry. It was quite nice Hermione mused, a handy spell to know. It wasn't over powering like the calming draughts that had been given to everyone last year after Harry emerged from the maze with Cedric's body. It was just strong enough to relax you without causing you to forget your worried.
When she looked up Professor Flitwick was looking at her with an amused grin plastered across his face.
"I haven't overdone it have I?" he asked her.
"Oh, no sir... I was a little stressed out before class. This charm is nice, not at all like a calming draught." Hermione said.
"It doesn't last as long. Only fifteen minutes or so, but it is nice isn't it? Alright it's your turn, remember to contain the amount of magic you put into the charm, I can't be giggling all through my next class." Professor Flitwick said with a grin.
"Appea-See-US!" she said casting the charm perfectly.
Professor Flitwick grinned more broadly.
"Excellent work Miss, just the right amount of power. Thank you! I must walk around the cla..."
He was interrupted by a loud shriek in the back of the room followed by hysterical giggling.
"Oh dear!" murmured Flitwick rushing to the Hufflepuff girl.
"Granger, come practice with Goldstein. I'm going to take Hannah up to the hospital wing. Back in a jiffy class! Keep practicing and be careful! This is the result of too much power in a cheering charm, if this happens during your OWLs you'll be docked points."
The rest of the class passed without any further incidences. Once it was over she was surprised to see Harry and Ron waiting for her in the hallway.
"Walk to History of Magic with Hermione?" asked Harry.
"Yeah... I guess. Do you still have my notes Ron? I'll need them."
Ron nodded, reaching into his bag as the trio climbed the stairs together. The silence between the three was a bit awkward. Harry seemed to realize he should say something but looked at a loss for words. When they reached Professors Bins classroom he motioned for Ron to go ahead.
"Hermione... I'm sorry for getting angry with you last night. Maybe it's the cheering charms effects but I feel like it was overly dramatic, and avoiding you today was just silly. Please don't ask me about the lessons again... I just can't go back. I know I can figure it out on my own." said Harry quietly, he didn't wait for a reply.
She followed him into the classroom taking her normal seat next to her two friends forcing herself to focus on Professor Binns' lecture.
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At dinner she informed Harry and Ron that she probably wouldn't be able to attend the next days DA meeting. She lied and said she had detention with Filch, though she felt guilty lying to her friends she didn't want Harry to be angry at her anymore. He hadn't exactly apologized for lying to her the night before but judging by the odd way Professor Snape had reacted something major had happened.
After dinner the three retired to the common room to try and get some revision done. Hermione was pleased to note that her previous anger didn't return after the effects of the cheering charm wore off, though she was still quite nervous at the prospect of detention with Professor Snape. Unable to concentrate she excused herself and went to bed early trying not to imagine what horrible chore Snape had in store for her.