He stood, a dark figure in the corner of the room. His hand grasped at his wand, fingers curling around it. ''You... Are... Late... Potter.'' The professor's voice was stern and his tone harsh. He rested on each word individually as he spoke them. Swiftly he made his way over to his desk, cloak billowing around him. He sat down in his chair, fixing the chosen one with a measured glare, watching him take his seat. ''Ten points will be taken from griffindor for your tardiness. He ignored Potter's groans and words of hatred and planned to continue with his lesson. He had rather been hoping that Mr. Potter was absent from his lesson, but no. He was here right before him. He sneered around the class, pausing as he saw Miss. Granger with her transfixed gaze on him. She was probably was annoyed that points had been deducted from her house. In return, he gave a sly smirk and decided to begin the class. ''Today-'' He began, his voice had the usual iciness to it, the voice that most students, and teacher alike, loathed. Clearing his throat his proceeded to speak. ''Today, we will be brewing a Draught of Living Death. Anyone know what that is?'' Hermione's hand shot straight in the air and to his utter surprise, so did Neville Longbottom's. ''Mr. Longbottom?'' He required, hiding a smirk as Miss Granger sighed in exasperation, poising ready in case Neville answered incorrectly. ''Draught of Living Death causes the drinker to fall into a deep, death-like sleep.''
Snape gave a small hum of agreement and responded. ''That is correct Longbottom.'' He refused to call his students by their first name. ''And do you happen to know any... ingredients?'' The nervous looking Neville looked down at his paper awkwardly, shaking his head. ''Answer me.'' Snape drawled, forcing Neville to say out loud rather than using petty body language. ''No, sir.'' Was his reluctant reply. The frizzy haired know-it-all on the front row eagerly raised her hand, wavering it around in the air, almost hitting another student in the process.
''Hey watch it!''
''So, Miss. Granger... Do you think you know the answer? Oh, right, of course you do!'' He managed a smirk as he spoke the last few words. ''Draught of Living Death contains the following ingredients: Water, powdered root of asphodel, infusion of wormwood, valerian root, a sopophorous bean.'' She spoke, seeming unfazed by the stern potion master's tone. Neville shrunk back, his face paling, he never managed to brew anything correctly. ''You missed something out.'' Snape sneered, ''The brain of a sloth.'' And with that he waved his wand at the blackboard beside his desk, muttering a spell under his breath, not at all audible. Instructions appeared on the board, written in white chalk. ''Now you will have the lesson to complete...this task...and I expect all of you should at least be acceptable.'' Hermione had already started, looking up at the professor before looking back at her bubbling cauldron.
The bell had rung for the end of lesson, after inspecting all of the potions, he dismissed the class, the golden trio remained; Potter and Weasley were talking to Granger, giving her a nod before leaving the classroom, heading to their next lesson. ''Aren't you going with them Miss. Granger?'' He asked, raising his one eyebrow. She took, what seemed to him, a nervous sigh and moved over to his desk. ''Professor?''
''Yes... Granger.''
''Granger.'' She mused. ''Why do you call me that?'' She asked, sighing again.
''First of all was that your original question? As to why I call you that; it is your name isn't it?''
''Yes. But all of the other professors call me by my birth name, my first name.''
He looked almost horrified for a second. ''Call you by your first name?'' Giving a snort he added. ''That would be like you calling me by my first name.''
''You are a professor!''
''And you are a student. I will continue to call you Miss. Granger, for as long I see suited.''
Hermione knew not do argue with him any longer and so she walked away, swinging her bag over her shoulder and going to next lesson.
Later in the griffindor common room, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat together, cross legged on the rug next the fireplace. Ron was the first to speak, ''So I doubt the confrontation with Snape went too good.''
''Confrontation? That's not the word that I would use, but no, he still is stubbornly determined to call me Granger or Miss. Granger.''
Harry, feeling bored with this topic, suggested an idea. ''How about we a game? To take our minds off the studying and the potions homework.''
''Sounds like a plan.'' Ron agreed, eyes glinting mischievously. ''Truth or dare.''
Harry and Ron had both chosen truth, this surprised the witch so when it was her turn she closed her eyes, and said. ''Dare.''
Ron whispered something to Harry and he shook his head. ''She would never go through with that! Worth a shot though.''
''Hermione, you have to flirt with professor Snape for the remainder of the year.''
''No! It is only the first term, there are months and months of school left.'' She protested.
''Exactly,'' Ron rolled his eyes. ''That is the point.''
Grudgingly, she thought it over, ''Fine.'' She sighed feeling a little pressured . ''I'll do it. '' Teeth gritted, she muttered. ''But why Snape?''
That day had dragged along, but now it was the dreaded lesson with professor Snape. Hermione was first into the classroom, she sat down in her chair, fiddling with her hands. ''You're early Miss. Granger.'' He retorted. ''Ten minutes early to be precise.''
''Is it a crime to be early for my favourite class, sir?'' She asked innocently. 'Favourite class?' Snape scoffed to himself. ''Just do something useful Granger, read a book or something. I am sure you have a least one of those.'' He sneered and looked down at the paperwork before him, grading nearly every piece with a 'D'. They needed to pay more attention in class. ''Professor?'' Hermione asked, not having made an attempt to retrieve a book from her bag. ''Yes, Miss. Granger?'' He asked tiredly, getting mildly annoyed.
''Do you read books?''
''Do I what?'' He retorted.
''Read books?''
''Miss Granger, I am not deaf, I did hear what you said. I occasionally read books. Why do you inquire to know such information?'' His finger tapped lightly on the desk, checking the time. Seven minutes until the lesson, seven minutes with Granger. He inwardly sighed.
''I just wanted to know, that's all.'' She shrugged.
''Do you quiz all of your other professors?'' He said, raising his brow in question.
''No. Just you,'' He could have sworn he saw a sparkle in his brown eyes. ''Severus.'' She added, a few seconds later, and at once he recognized the sparkle in her eyes for that of mischief. He pushed his chair aside, nearly knocking it over. The dark haired professor swept over to her desk, inches from her face. ''Detention Granger, and 10 points deducted from griffindor.'' His voice was bitter, eyes flashing with anger. ''It is Professor Snape to you.'' He furthered, pulling away from her face, with a hiss.
''When is my detention?'' She asked calmly, unaffected by her punishment or the professor's icy tone.
''Tonight at eight.''
It was eight. Snape posed boredom behind his desk in his dungeon, feeling tired after all of the classes he had had that day. Hermione walked in, almost happily. He rolled his eyes and he smirked at her. ''You will be cleaning the cauldrons, you won't be using magic either.'' To his left, there were two dirty cauldrons, awaiting cleaning. Hermione gave a small grumble but complied, pausing by the first piece of equipment. ''What am I supposed to clean them with?''
Snape stood from his desk, and pulling his cloak closer to him, he grabbed some things from his desk, passing them to her. Granger let her fingers brush against his briefly, they were warm under her touch, despite the coldness of the room itself. She was determined to keep her deal and go through with dare. ''Thank you.'' She mumbled as she took the things from him. Snape pulled back as if she had hexed him, narrowing his eyes he proceeded back to his work.
