Chapter Three: The Lions' Den

"So how are you finding it with Snivilus?" asked Sirius Black to Hermione as the Marauders and the new Gryffindor sat snugly getting to know one another only mere minutes since McGonagall had introduced Hermione and left.

"Sirius there is just no need for that," interjected Lily Evans, who was sat between James Potter's legs on a rug before the fire of Gryffindor common room.

"What?" protested Sirius, "he's bad news and you know it."

"I actually think Severus seems nice," said Hermione, who suddenly realised that she had called her Professor by his given name for the first time ever.

"Oh no you're not on Lily's side are you?" asked James with a sigh. "Hermione, I know you're new and probably feel like you've got to give everyone a chance, but trust us we know Snape, and we can tell you from first hand experience that he's rotten to the core."

"James I know you're only trying to look out for me and everything," insisted Hermione as politely as she could, "but I want to decide for myself, who is good and who is bad, without your aspersions getting in the way." As she answered, Hermione felt as though she was telling Harry off for speaking ill of Snape, not his Father. The similarities between them were incredibly numerous.

"Well said 'Mione," cheered Lily who was met my angry glares from both James and Sirius. Remus however, Hermione noticed, had remained quite thus far with regard to the conversation of Snape, and Hermione understood from what Harry had told her, that this probably had something to do with the fact that Snape brewed wolfsbane for him on a regular basis.

"What about you Remus?" asked Hermione who was testing her theory of why the werewolf had remained impartial. "Have you not got anything scandalous to say about the Head Boy?"

"He's an odd character I'll give you that, and he is a bit of a recluse; but other than that," he added with an unreadable expression about his weary face, "he's a decent young man who just wants to be left on his own and merely accepted."

"And do you call associating with the likes of Lucius and Bellatrix Lestrange, 'being on his own'?" said James sardonically.

"Lucius Malfoy?" asked Hermione with intrigue.

"Yes," answered Sirius. "How do you know about him? You've only been here five minutes."

"I…erm…heard Professor Dumbledore mention him before," lied Hermione unconvincingly.

"Oh right," continued Sirius who had seemingly accepted her rough explanation. "Anyway, rumour has it that Snivilus was persuaded by Malfoy to take the mark. You do know what the Dark Mark is don't you?" he asked as though he was talking to a complete foreigner.

"I'm afraid I most definitely do," replied Hermione with a sigh. "I don't come from a different planet you know!"

"There's no way in this world that Severus would have taken the mark Sirius!" dismissed Lily, ignoring Hermione's comment.

"He called you a Mudblood Larry!" interrupted James firmly. "What more evidence do you need that he follows their blood status beliefs?"

"Larry?" repeated Hermione incredulously and changing their current direction of conversation.

"Yes that's what we call Lily," explained Remus quickly. "Because she's one of the boys," he added as Hermione's confused expression never faltered.

"Oh right," saidHermione as she finally understood. "So Pr…I mean Severus," she corrected quickly, "has took the mark?"

"No he hasn't," said Lily sternly before one of the boys could answer. "The boys just like to say he has so that they can slate him even more than they already do."

"Lily, you know that I don't mind Severus Snape," insisted Remus, "but even I believe he has accepted the mark. Whether or not he took it due to the fact that he was bullied into it however, remains debatable."

"How could one be bullied into accepting the mark?" asked Hermione, who was struggling to accept this notion. "It's not like he's being bullied for his dinner money, is it?"

"Hermione, when Voldemort wants somebody to join his ranks who does not necessarily want to, he does not simply accept that person's decision and instead forces them, bribes them and threatens them," informed Sirius gravely. "Take my brother Regulus for example," he continued solemnly. "Regulus and I come from a family who have always been followers of Dark Magic. When Regulus refused the Dark Lord's offer of the mark, he threatened to kill of our family. My brother of course did not take these threats as seriously as he ought to and thus a week later our Mother was killed."

"Oh that's terrible," exclaimed Hermione who knew exactly what it felt like to have parents killed by Death Eaters.

"It wasn't a huge loss to be honest," said Sirius flippantly, "but Regulus adored our Mother and so he took the mark to prevent further damage to our family."

"I never knew," mused Hermione with teary eyes and her statement caused a series of surprised glares.

"Why would you know?" asked James.

"Like I said," replied Hermione quickly, inwardly cursing her slip of the tongue, "I'm not from a different planet."

"What…don't tell me that you would have expected the news to have been printed on the front page of the Prophet?" joked Sirius.

"Well, why wouldn't it have been?"

"Oh Hermione where have you been for the last five years?" asked Lily with a bewildered expression. "They never print news which includes murder. They're too scared to admit Voldemort even exists."

"Oh yes of course," replied Hermione swiftly and making a face that suggested that she had been toying with them.

"I better be off to bed," said Sirius with a yawn. "Its double potions tomorrow and I'll need all the sleep I can get for that drag."

"I think I'll join you mate," agreed James. "It was lovely meeting you Hermione," he added with a smile. "Welcome to the clan."

"Yeah now that you're one of us you'll never be able to leave," teased Sirius.

"I'm so glad that I've met you guys," replied Hermione. "I'm a lucky girl."

"Oh we're the lucky ones," retorted Sirius with all the charm he could summon with his current state of exhaustion.

"Get out of here," said Lily with a wave of the hand. "All of you're pathetic attempts at flirting are making me feel nauseous!"

"And how exactly do you think we feel with you and James all over one another like a rash?" came the humorous reply from Sirius.

"Ignore him," interposed James as he bent down to kiss Lily on the forehead. "Sweet dreams," he whispered.

When the boys had left the room and it was only her and Lily left, Hermione thought it best of she left for bed too. It had been a busy day and the whole time travelling thing had taken it out of her.

"I better be heading back," she said as she tried to thwart a yawn.

"Yeah I suppose I better be off to bed soon too. It's been nice meeting you though Hermione," Lily said earnestly as she stood and pulled Hermione into a hug that strangely felt so much like Harry's. "It'll be nice having a female friend."

"It's been a pleasure meeting you all," replied Hermione as she pulled out of the hug and caught a glimpse of familiar green eyes. "I'm used to having a lot of male friends too, so it'll be great having a girl I can talk to."

"The boys are great 'Mione once you get to understand their sense of humour, but just don't let them put you off about being friends with Severus. He takes a while to figure out, but when you get there, Severus Snape is a fantastic friend who just needs a bit of reassurance and guidance."

"I like him Lily," said Hermione who was surprised that those very words could ever be used to explain a feeling towards Snape. "I never thought that I would but I do."

"Good," replied Lily, "Just tread carefully."


When Hermione returned back to her rooms, it was long gone midnight and yet to her surprise Snape was still awake and sat up in bed reading a large, dusty book. It was a strange sight to see her fearful Potions Master sat in bed, clad in black silken pyjama pants and a black cotton t-shirt; for the first time she noticed, Snape actually looked rather vulnerable in his attire.

"You're up late," said Hermione matter-of-factly as she slipped into her bed which was positioned uncomfortably next to his.

"I always do this, start reading a book and then can't put it down," he replied as he lay down his book on his bedside table and turned to face her.

"Me too," she said. "I'm a terrible book worm."

"There's nothing wrong with that," stated Snape as he settled into his pillow. "So, how was it in the Lions' Den?"

"It was really nice actually," replied Hermione with a smile. "I've gotten to know some really great people today."

"You're talking about Potter aren't you?" said Snape vehemently and Hermione realised at that point, that it was probably best not to talk about the Marauders around him.

"I actually meant you as well," she said, causing his upper lip to twitch slightly; whether it was with agitation or delight she was unsure.

"Oh…erm…" he stuttered, struggling to vocalise a coherent reply to her compliment which he found diffucult to believe.

"I'll take that as a 'you seem really nice too Hermione' sort of answer" she interjected teasingly, and Snape blushed a little at this.

"We've got double Potions tomorrow," stated Snape who was so obviously trying to change the subject.

"Oh yeah," she retorted as she raised one inquiring eyebrow slightly above the other, "and then we'll get to see who's the best Potion maker out of the two of us."

"Yes, and then you'll realise that it is me!"

"No way Snape!" giggled Hermione. "I think you'll find that it's me."

"Only time will tell Miss May," he drawled in a very familiar Snape way.

"Time," mused Hermione quietly as she saw Snape's eyes close for the final time that night. "If only you knew."