Chapter 2 Sloth

"You must avoid sloth, that wicked siren."

The next morning Hermione found it exceedingly difficult to drag herself out of bed and down to breakfast before the start of class. Any and all extra time permitted had to be invested in gaining knowledge- information, from those around her.

The problem; Hermione wasn't a gossiper, and she certainly didn't socialize with the people she was suppose to be discreetly interrogating.

Her course of action; flattery. Befriend the enemy. Well, It sounded simple enough.

Professor Snape seemed to be doing his part at least. Each student was assigned a lab partner for which they would be brewing and studying with for the next few weeks, and according to the work board, hers was Draco Malfoy.

"Tell me, Granger," An irritated tone greeted. "Is is just me, or are you sitting at the wrong table?"

"We have co-lab today." Hermione told him matter-of-factly, trying her best to stare straight ahead and not make any sudden eye contact.

"For which I'm aware." He hissed. "However, your tainted Muggle Cauldron is leaving a mark on my desk- so move it!

Hermione refrained from rolling her eyes as best she could.

"We've been assigned as partners." She informed him through gritted teeth. 'Be nice', Hermione told herself. 'You're suppose to be nice!'

Draco cursed under his breath. "You've got to be joking."

As the rest of the class found their places, Draco still refused to sit next to her. Instead he opted for a seat in the far back.

"Places everyone, places." A dismal voice yelled over all the chatter. It was professor Snape.

"I hope everyone found their partners okay. After all, I'm sure you have all figured out how to read a work board by now. If not, 50 points from each house who has any unwilling participants" Professor Snape's voice trailed out. "That being said- 50 points from Gryffindor!"

Hermione's eyes snapped up to Snape's narrowed brow. Surely he wasn't putting all the blame on her for all of this. Besides, she couldn't make Malfoy sit next to her if he really didn't want to.

"Miss Granger?" inquired Professor Snape. "Next to which of your pupils should you be seated?"

"Draco Malfoy." She let the name roll of her tongue like a wretched curse.

"Good. Find him, and take your seat." He commanded firmly, before swiftly turning around and making his way to the front of the class.

Hermione fought the urge to argue with her Professor as she slowly rose from her seat and gathered up her books and cauldron in order to take her place next to the vile snake smirking in the far back of the classroom.

"Try your best not to soil my things." Draco hissed as she sat down next to him.

Hermione bit her tongue. It shouldn't have been much of a surprise to her, but this was going to harder than anyone originally thought!

Hermione wasn't exactly sure how to act throughout the remainder of class. It wasn't like she could strike up a conversation about the whether and expect the vile git next to her to go along with it.

'Think, Hermione, think!' She thought frantically as she tapped her feathered quill against the desk.

"Do you know the answer to this question?" Hermione asked in a whisper, pointing to her paper.

"Yes." Draco replied arrogantly. "Do you?"

"I'm not sure.." She lied.

"Great." Draco hissed, rolling his eyes. "I figured the one good thing about having you as a partner, would be that you know what you're doing- now I've got nothing to go on to make this situation any more bearable."

Hermione sighed and sunk back into her chair. Deep down she knew, this plan of Dumbledore and Snape's wasn't going to work- so why bother trying!

At the end of class Professor Snape asked her to stay after.

"Yes, Professor?" She addressed him, waiting for the spoil of words that would soon be thrown her way.

"Take a seat, Ms. Granger." Snape said coldly.

Hermione did as he said, and sat across from him as he linked his fingers together, placing his chin on their bridge.

"Today, was the first day you were to set a new example of yourself." Snape stated. "I see you've neglected to show that through your appearance. Your unattractive know-it-all personality must have stayed the same as well."

Hermione smoothed her hands over her long wrinkled skirt. What exactly did he expect her to do that was different. Everyone at Hogwarts was required to wear a uniform!

Professor Snape rolled his eyes. "Stand up Ms. Granger."

Curious, Hermione did what she was told.

Snape walked from around his desk until he was face to face with her.

Using his wand, he whispered a few incantations, and then flicked his wrist.

Looking down, Hermione noticed her long wrinkled skirt was shorter, and now just barely covered her legs mid thigh. As for her knitted jumper, it was much tighter than before.

Hermione tried covering herself, but instead, Snape pushed her hands away from her chest.

"The under shirt needs to be undone." He told her.

Hermione's eyes widened, clearly her professor didn't understand the etiquette of personal space, and what that entitled.

Expertly, and with ease, Snape undid the first few buttons of her white undershirt, leaving a slight peek of her cleavage clearly visible.

Hermione backed away from him, wrapping her long dark cloak around her self to shield her indecency. "This is absurd."

"We are dealing with the desires of men, Ms. Granger, or have you forgotten that already!" asked her professor.

"This is so typical. This is how you want me to get attention? You want me to parade around my assets in hopes that I'll attract the opposition!" Hermione snapped in irritation.

"That is exactly what I want you do to!" Snape confirmed sharply.

Hermione huffed.

"You dressing to impress isn't at all typical Ms. Granger." said Snape, eyeing her over in her new and improved state. "In fact this is quite out of the ordinary for you. What I do find typical, is your delusional tactics on how to win back your disinterested Weasley friend."

"What are you talking about?" She asked despite the sting his words had brought her.

"Every day you find some way to please that ungrateful dimwitted buffoon." Snape reminded her. "Whether it be by doing his homework, or lying to others to get him out of trouble."

"My actions must make me a terrible person." Hermione whispered bitterly, her face growing red with embarrassment.

"No, just a fool!" Said Snape simply.

"If he doesn't act like the person you fell in love with, do not treat him like the person you once knew."

At Snape's words, a few tears dropped from her eyes to her flushed cheeks.

"That is something you would do well to remember." Snape told her. "You must be strong in this, confident, ready to reinvent yourself at a moments notice. If you are unable to do any of these things, this task is simply not for you!"

"Is that all, professor." Hermione asked him through gritted teeth, wanting desperately to leave.

"If we have a clear understanding of what is expected," Said Snape. "Then yes, it is."

Hermione nodded her head.

"Then you're dismissed." He exhaled coolly.

Hermione left professor Snape's classroom the same way she always did; Angry, irritated, and unbearably confused.

She still didn't understand why her Professors, especially Dumbledore, put her in this position to begin with. It didn't seem fair. The responsibility of it alone, was too much for an inexperienced girl her age. Perhaps one day, she'd get the answers she deserved. Until then, she'd have to perfect Professors Snape's lessons, and hope, with little disregard to the contrary, that she could succeed in what seemed like a losing battle.

"We excuse our sloth under the pretext of difficulty."

A/N: Thank you all for reading, your critiques are much appreciated.