"Professor?" Hermione squeaked, opening the door, "You wanted to see me?" Hermione quietly stepped in and shut the door behind her. "Professor, are you here?"
"Yes, Miss Granger," he said from beside her, looking on the shelf for an ingredient. He smrked, satisfied by her slight jump and turn to see him, "I am right here. What were you doing so late at night?" he sneered, walking over to a work bench and opening the jar in his hands.
An instant smell filled the room. It was like maggot juice and liquefied rotten eggs. It was enough to make her gag. "What is that?" she nearly choked, her hand flying up to her nose, covering it as best she could.
"That, Miss Granger, is liquefied goblin warts. Now answer my question," Snape said nastily, though the smell barely seemed to affect him. He took out a small spoon and dripped three spoon fulls of the awful liquid in the cauldron, then screwed the cap back on. The smell didn't dissipate.
"What on earth would you need that for?" Hermione asked, muffled through her robe sleeve. The smell was over whelming, seeming to choke her.
"Abeo potion, Miss Granger. This potion makes the drinker invisible for a period of time. Now stop acting like it's going to kill you, it is only a smell, a fragrance. It is only a from of gas, Miss Granger." He scoffed at her over acting.
"Well, carbon dioxide is also a gas and it can kill you," she said tartly, then bit back another comment from the look on Snape's face.
"Five points from Gryffindor for cheek. I don't take cheek during class and I won't take it when in a private conversation. Do you understand?" he narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, Professor." Hermione said dutifully, squeezing her eyes and dropping her arm.
"Now, what were you doing up so late?" He asked as he uncorked another jar and pulled out a few hairs, thankfully unaccompanied by any smell.
Hermione thought her words over carefully, "I was trying to teach Harry how to use non-verbal spells, sir."
"And you can use non-verbal spells? While you are very intelligent, I fear you only have book smarts. Now, before you try to teach someone to do something, try learning it yourself." He sneered and walked over to his ingredient cabinet, scanning the rows. "You may leave now, Miss Granger. I hope this talk will veer you off that type so that you can get some sleep for that overly sized brain of yours."
"But, Professor, I can use non-verbal spells. I've been practicing." Hermione said plainly, not moving.
Snape looked at her over one shoulder, agitated, "Miss Granger, performing a non-verbal spell is much more than simply saying the words in your head. You must actually perform the spell. You understand that, don't you?" Snape said with no emotion.
"I am very aware how a non-verbal spell works, Professor. I assure you I can cast one. Mostly only dueling spells because Harry's been wanting to learn." Hermione said the last part quietly.
"I suspect you and Potter are together?" Hermione nodded silently, "You two do make the dashing couple. A nice little brain to go along with his over active wand." Snape said with a sneer, "I thought you'd be more interested in the Weasly or someone much to your degree." He shook his head, "No matter, you'll be too busy making Potter babies to teach him non-verbal spells that you can't cast. Might want to learn a few house held charms and spells, I daresay you'll need them."
Hermione had felt the blush creep into her cheeks and she glared at him, "Shoot a spell at me," she said firmly.
Snape turned around, "Pardon?"
"I said 'Shoot a spell at me', I don't like it when my intelligence is insulted, I take it very personally."
"Obviously," he said sarcastically. "Fine, if you successfully block this I will give Gryffindor fifty points." He took his wand out of his pocket, "You can still walk away from this Miss Granger, and I won't hold it against you."
"No, I'm going to do it." She told him taking out her own wand.
Snape narrowed his eyes, "Fine, if you don't block it then you'll have to do whatever I see fit if I ask a favor of you. Agreed?" Snape saw the nervousness pass in her eyes, "Nothing you wouldn't feel outrageously uncomfortable with."
Hermione took a deep breath, "Alright."
Hermione felt the spell and a jet of red light flew out of his wand, she silently cast a shield charm and his spell bounced off it, going straight at Professor Snape. It hit his wand arm, sending his wand flying.
Hermione stood still as Snape sent a calculating look at her. He bent over and picked up his wand, instantly shooting another spell at her which she barely had put up her shield. Almost instantly he followed, Hermione putting up more and more shields. It was draining her, and she could see a sheen of sweat on his forehead. Finally she failed to bring it up and it hit her squarely in the shoulder. Her wand flew out of her hand as she slammed into the workbench behind her. She breathed heavily, clutching her shoulder. It wasn't in pain, but the muscle was twitching badly. She opened her eyes and saw Snape standing straight, trying to control his breathing, not wanting to show weakness. His wand was at his side, held limply in his hand.
Hermione locked eyes with him, "Professor?"
"Touchè, Miss Granger, Touchè." He said simply . "Seventy five points to Gryffindor."
"Professor, I blocked the spells you sent at me fourteen times." Hermione protested.
"Don't push it. You'll come back tomorrow at this time," Snape said, walking behind his desk.
"But, Professor, I blocked-"
He held up a hand to stop her, "Did you block my last spell?"
"No, but-"
"No buts, you will come to this classroom at eleven, understood?" Snape ordered.
"Yes, sir," Hermione bent down to pick up her wand.
"You are dismissed." He said simply, opening a drawer and taking out a few papers.
Hermione sighed heavily, nodded and left. In the common room she mumbled, "That stupid witch has nothing to do with it." She huffed and went up to bed.