Chapter 2

Hermione looked at herself in the mirror. Her appearance had changed over the past years. She was no longer the bushy haired gangly girl she used to be. Her eyes were dark brown. Her skin complexion was pale which gave her lips the colour of deep red. Her dark hair went down her back and curled slightly at the end. Ordinary she thought before she grabbed her cloak and went down to the dungeons for her detention.

"Well Ms. Granger I hope you are feeling better" The sarcasm of his words embraced her as she walked into the classroom. Her eyes met his as he continued

"I do not tolerate such behaviour in my classroom, is that clear Ms. Granger?"

"Yes, Sir" She replied

Hermione dreaded the next part. Professor Snape was not known for giving his students trouble-free detentions (as a matter of fact) he was known for just the opposite.

"First you are to clean all the cauldrons in the cabinet without using any magic. Then you are going to assist me in making the Volver potion."

Assist him? What in the world was going on? She thought. It was a very complex potion to brew and she was extremely curious of whom he was making it for. She knew better then to ask of course.

"Why Ms. Granger are you just standing there gaping like a troll? I do believe it is not too much for a know it all like yourself to comprehend."

Oh, how she disliked this man! Always throwing insults at her. He truly infuriated her. She didn't even bother to respond, but went to work cleaning the cauldrons without using magic as he had ordered.

It took hours and when she was finished Hermione was exhausted. Professor Snape was sitting by his desk grading papers. Every now and then he would grunt and mumble something like "wasting time on dunderheads … "

"Professor, I am finished" She said hoping he would realize how late it was and make her come back tomorrow to brew the potion. She really could use some sleep, she thought yawning.

"Have you not learned to cover your mouth? You do know what manners are Ms. Granger, do you not? I do not really need the luxury of knowing what you had for dinner."

He was standing right in front of her. She hadn't even realized he had gotten up from his chair. He stared intently at her anticipating an answer.

"I do know what manners are, and I am sorry Professor" She said in a dull voice surprising her potion master. He raised his eyebrows at her. It was not very like Hermione Granger to retort in this manner. She always had some snide remark at his insults. He usually found this highly entertaining. Although he could not stand her (or anybody for that matter) he thought she had some qualities that were bearable compared to most people. It was not for anything he had wanted her to assist him in making this potion.

"The Volver potion is a very complex potion to make as I am sure you are already aware of."

She nodded

"It is going to take several hours, and I expect you to stay until we are finished." His eyes challenged her.

She didn't take his bate, but answered "Okay, Professor".

They started by cutting up the ingredients. She looked at her professor's gentle, but firm moves and was amazed that someone so harsh could handle something with such tenderness. She got completely lost in his movements.

She added the ingredients while he was stirring the potion. He was closely monitoring her every move. She was completely fixated on her work and didn't notice that her sleeve had made its way up her arm revealing her new and faded scars. She didn't even notice when her professor stopped stirring the potion.

"Ms. Granger … "He didn't know what to say

"What is it, Professor?" She asked expecting him to give her an instruction, but then she realized that was not the case. She looked up at him and followed his eyes down to her arm and saw what he was looking at. She hurriedly pulled her sleeve back down. Hermione didn't dare to meet his eyes, but transfixed her eyes at the brewing potion.

"It's nothing Professor. I had an accident that's all" Her small voice lied

He grabbed her arm roughly and pulled up her sleeve "This is no accident Ms. Granger. Do not lie to me! He sneered "I have seen my share of wounds to know exactly what this is!"

Hermione felt her anger emerge. Who was he to talk to her like that? "You have no right!" She yelled and yanked her arm from his grasp. "You don't know anything" And with that she stormed out of the classroom, tears pouring down her face.

Severus walked back and forth his black cloak swirling around him. What made a student like Hermione Granger result to do something like that to her self? He was angry, but mostly because he had been dragged into the situation now. He could not overlook this. He had to do something, but what on earth could HE do? Go to the headmaster or McGonagall? No… That would do more damage than good. He would just keep an eye on her until he figured out what to do, maybe it just was a teenage faze of some sort and it would pass.

Although, deep down he knew better…