Chapter 2: Breakfast, the most important meal of the day… for some.
Hermione arrived at breakfast shortly after Harry and Ron did sitting next to them and her other fellow Gryffindor's more nervous than she was her first breakfast at Hogwarts her first year. The horrible memories of her actions last night were still on re-play in her mind. She really didn't have much of an appetite but quietly buttered some toast with raspberry jam and sipped at her tea.
She was just setting her tea cup down when the sound of the professor's entrance to the side of the dais opened swiftly and the overall volume of the great hall dropped a few decibels. The last of the professors had made his appearance sitting down quickly in the open seat next to the headmaster. Though the volume of the great hall was slightly muted upon his arrival the chatter increased along with whispers of wonder.
"Hey! 'Mione, check out professor Snape!" Harry whispered.
"Yes, I see." She replied though actually keeping her eyes on her uneaten toast.
"Blimy! I wonder what happened to him. It looks like he was attacked by a disgruntled kneezle!" Ron stated with a mouth full of bacon.
"Sure does. Maybe the cat got his tongue too and we won't have to listen to him "snark" for the rest of the day." Harry replied.
"Harry!" Hermione admonished with her cheeks flushing pink.
Hermione chanced a glance up at the head table to see if the trio had been overheard her eyes locked with obsidian glaring back. She quickly broke her gaze snapping her attention back to her untouched toast and cursing under her breath.
Up at the head table Professor Dumbledore quietly assessed the Potions Master.
"My dear boy, what has happened to you? Did you have another disagreement with Mr. Filtches' beloved familiar?" The headmaster inquired.
"No. Not quite. But it was a cat all the same." Was the reply given to the Headmaster.
"Good heavens Severus! You look as though a mad wet kneezle made you a plaything." Professor McGonagall exclaimed.
The potions master made no reply but dug in silently to his breakfast.
After a few minutes the great hall returned to its' original chatter with the occasional glances up to the head table when suddenly a large group of Gryffindors started laughing, no doubt at Snape's expense.
Under his breath Snape mumbled, "Bloody Gryffindors!"
"It seems as though you hold a little more contempt than usual for our Gryffindor's this morning Professor Snape. Any reason in particular?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Not all Gryffindors headmaster, just one in particular this morning."
"Are you saying one of my students is the reason for your appearance? I sincerely doubt that one of mine would attack a teacher without a good reason." A gaping McGonagall exclaimed.
The potions master narrowed his eyes and sneered at the Gryffindor Queen. "One of your cubs last night discovered her claws."
"Well what did you do to cause such an attack?" asked McGonagall.
"I did nothing out of line mind you! I found a student out after curfew that happened to be asleep in the library. I merely woke said student who also happened to be quick on the draw even when drowsy."
"So you frightened the poor girl, correct?"
"When do I not frighten them Minerva?"
"True… so, quick on the draw was she professor?"
"A fluke I am quite positive." Snape drawled.
"So which of my cubs was skilled enough to land a hit on the likes of you my dear Severus?" McGonagall asked with a small grin also eliciting a small chuckle from the rest of the staff.
The glare the Professor McGonagall received would have made the most hardened Death Eater cringe but the corners of Minerva's grin only raised a little higher.
"I believe that would be our dear head girl, Minerva. Who currently looks as though she has been kissed by a dementor recently." The Headmaster interjected.
All eyes of the head table turned in Hermione's direction. She could feel their wondering gaze on her as she began to tremble slightly.
"Hermione? Why is all of the staff looking at you like you just outwitted Merlin himself? And why does Snape look like he wants to eat your soul more than a dementor would?" Ginny questioned.
"The scratches…"
"What?" Came the groups reply.
Hermione cringed. "The scratches. Professor Snape. Last night in the library. I fell asleep and he started me and I just reacted. It's my fault hence the look of death."
"You mean you hexed Snape. Feared Death Eater, The Dark Lords right hand man, Dualist extraordinaire, greasy bat of the dungeons and your still alive?" Ron blurted out.
"Probably not for long. I have a week's worth of detentions with him and it cost me fifty points. I tried to apologize but he would have it. I just acted is all and I was saving that one for Malfoy too. I'm going to go, I left some things in my room that I need. I see you in class, o.k.?"
"Right then 'Mione. We'll start planning your wake then alright?"
"Shut it Ron!"
Hermione left the great hall with a group of stunned and snickering pack of Gryffindors behind her.