A/N: Okay, so we've reached the third chapter :) again, many greatful thanks to my beta Mollie ;)


I Find Comfort In Pain

Chapter 3: A Totally New Emotion

Hermione walked briskly through the corridor, her mind buzzing with memories, not only from last nights events, but from the dream that followed. It unsettled her. That probably showed, as her cheeks were still burning hot.

It had been an ordinary dream, at first. She was just walking the path up to Hogwarts, enjoying how the sunlight glittered on the lake's surface. The dream had just taken a quick turn, or rather, twist, and she was suddenly standing in the potions classroom. At first, her sleeping mind had shot off warning signals; but then remembering her encounter with Professor Snape earlier, so it seemed normal to dream something related to him. She relaxed, and let the dream take over. Right now she still wasn't sure if it was a mistake, or not.

DREAM FLASHBACK:

She was standing there, by her usual seat. The cauldron boiled slowly, making a smoothening, calm sound. It was dark, with no light source to be found except the fire under her cauldron, and it was cold; her breath came out in small puffs of mist; almost fogging her vision.

Her eyes sought the Professor, but he was nowhere to be found. The old oak desk in the front of the room, with only an unlit candle standing on the left corner, was empty.

Slumping her shoulders, in what felt like disappointment, she was about to sit down and wait for whatever the dream might figure out for her. Though what happened made her jump and nearly shriek.

A silken drawl, though without the coldness she was used to hearing, came just an inch from her ear saying, "Miss Granger, what are you doing in my classroom at this hour?"

As so many other times, though in this dream she willingly admitted it, his voice sent pleasant shivers down her spine. I couldn't hurt, admitting such a thing in a dream, right?

"Can't find your tongue, hmm? Let me help you…" he drawled again, hinting his usual sarcasm, though not as rough.

She felt how something tightened in her stomach, just before the man who stood behind her swirled her around. Her breath got caught in her throat as she looked into those dark, forbidden eyes. The depths, the secrets, it all lured her closer and closer to his face, to his sneering mouth, to his lips.

Before the soft impact of their lips, she closed her eyes. The kiss made her gasp; such tenderness and teasing in hinting the hidden passion. He deepened the kiss, making her moan. The way he swept his tongue over her lips, the nibbling with his teeth, the sudden, so un-Snape-ish gentleness as he stroke her cheek with one of his hands.

He broke apart shortly after they started, staying just millimetres from her lips, murmuring:

"Let me show you, little witch, how those words you spoke in your mind may affect you. Oh the pleasure I will find in showing you how wrong you can be…"

She stiffened. What words? Her cheeks went pink and her eyes wide. She didn't know what he meant, but one thing she had picked up was that he was going to do something. But what?

"Hmm…Why don't you come and see?" The silken murmur asked her as she opened her eyes, not remembering that she had closed them. It took awhile for her to realize that he could read her mind. In this dream, anyway.

"W-w-what will you do?" she asked, unsteady. He smirked at her before stepping even closer, pressing his body against hers. She gasped in surprise as she felt something hard poking her stomach. Her cheeks burned bright red by then, as she fought to keep her mind clear.

He took advantage of her weakened state and pushed her roughly against the desk she stood by. She groaned in pain as she was forced onto the surface of the table.

"This could very well happen if you succeeded with damaging my control," he mumbled as he started to unbutton her white school shirt, "So if you try and come near me, Miss Granger, think twice!"

Somehow, she couldn't struggle. Somehow, she felt as if she didn't want to. In some way, she really wanted him to lose control.

END OF DREAM FLASHBACK

In effort to keep her mind clear, Hermione shook her head and pushed the memories of the dream into the back of her head. She had classes, and she didn't want to be distracted all day.

Just as she rounded the corner to the Transfiguration's classroom, Hermione bumped into something black. Letting a small 'ouff' escape from her as she fell to the floor, Hermione growled in frustration. This was just what she needed; a perfect start of the day. The only thing she needed to make this day any worse was the sight of Professor Dumbledore if she looked up. Fortunately, or unfortunately, it wasn't him.

"Miss Granger, I, and probably the rest of this school, would appreciate if you could watch where you're going! 10 points from Gryffindor."

Hermione winced as she looked up to meet the dark, cold eyes of Professor Snape. 'Great,' she thought, 'why couldn't it have been Dumbledore?' With one last curse going through her mind, she stood up, brushing the dust from her skirt and straightening her school robe.

"I am truly sorry Professor Snape; I was in deep thought. It won't happen again," she said as she felt her cheeks turn hot when she noticed him studying her from top to toe. He wore a thoughtful expression, and for a minute, those eyes look suspiciously as they had in her dream…

At that thought, she blushed even deeper. He must've sensed her distress, because he looked away at that moment, fixing his slightly unfocused gaze on the window to his right.

"Very well, Miss Granger, you are dismissed," he drawled, looking back at her with a bored expression, hiding whatever real emotion he seemed to feel. The one showing in his eyes.

Hermione hesitated before collecting the famous Gryffindor courage and looked up to meet his eyes.

"I hope you get better soon. By the look of it; you'll be back teaching soon, right?"

He looked at her, startled, before answering in his usual, sarcastic tone.

"I doubt that, Miss Granger. Do you really think I would like to teach those dunderheads after what happened last night? And as it is, appearances are deceptive."

She nodded, feeling her cheeks burn hot again. He could make her feel so stupid, sometimes. But she guessed she got away quite well; considering how Neville must feel…

Hermione watched as Snape walked away, continuing his way towards, by the look of it, Dumbledore's office. Just before he rounded the corner leading towards the staircases, he turned around.

"5 points to Gryffindor for helping a teacher when needed, Miss Granger. I guess I shall say thank you."

Hermione gaped at him in surprise. Did Snape just give 5 points to Gryffindor? Did he just say thank you?

The smug smirk he gave her before disappearing from her sight made her close her mouth. Great, now she felt even more stupid. And for some odd reason, she felt angry over herself for acting like such a total idiot. She sighed heavily as she started walking again. All this was probably that damned dream's fault.


A/N: Sooo, even if this story is completed please review :) I, myself, am one of those who reviews every chapter and feel guilty about it coz I think the author will get some kind of attack at my spamming...but you needn't worry! I love lots and lots and looots of reviews :)