My apologies for the delay in this chapter! Updates should be faster after this, and chapters will still be getting longer. Please review!
- Ceriridone
"Professor, I was wondering if I might have a word?"
Hermione was trembling from head to toe but was desperate not to let it show. Taking a deep breath, she continued without waiting for a response.
"I was flipping through A Potion Master's Guide to Potion Making History last night and came across an interesting potion that gives you metamorphmagus abilities. The only information the book gave is that it's highly difficult to brew and deadly if brewed incorrectly. I was wondering if you might be able to enlighten me as to what exactly is involved in the brewing?"
Snape's lip curled, and suddenly Hermione found his voice – his thoughts, rather – going through her head.
Insufferable swot, no such potion exists.
Hermione bristled.
"Miss Granger, pray tell why you are looking for information on such a potion?"
"Well sir, I figured that since the Christmas ball is mere weeks away I would attempt to brew it in an effort to change up my hair. It's rather unruly you see, and I thought perhaps if…"
Snape flashed Hermione the sneer in which he had become famous for. "Perhaps if you took the potion you could transform your current rat's nest into a more sleek and sophisticated style? Unlikely, Miss Granger. I'm sure that if such a potion even existed it would not be able to tame that mess you call hair."
Hermione was briefly torn between crying and retaliating before deciding on the latter.
"Professor," she spat, "I'm sure that if such a potion even existed it may not do much for my own mess but it could do absolute wonders for that grease bucket you call hair."
The sneer on Snape's face vanished. "Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger, for insulting your Professor's hair."
"Wha? You can't… that's ridiculous!" she spluttered.
"Oh but you see, Miss Granger, I can. Detention tonight at 8:00 sharp. Do not be late or there will be further consequences."
Hermione gave him one last glare before turning on her heel and heading towards the door. Just as she was reaching for the handle Snape's thoughts went floating through her mind once more.
Even if such a potion existed, Miss Granger, you are beautiful enough without it.
Hermione froze. "Did you just call me beautiful?"
Realising her mistake she threw her hand up to her mouth and gasped. Slowly, she turned around to see his reaction.
What little colour Snape's face normally held disappeared and his face had contorted into sheer rage.
"Out, Miss Granger", he hissed.
Hermione felt paralyzed and continued to stare in horror into his deep, black eyes.
"Once more Miss Granger, get out." His voice was now a deadly whisper.
She still could not move.
"OUT!" Snape bellowed, taking a step toward her.
Finally, her legs began to work and she fled from the dungeons as fast as they would carry her.
It wasn't until after dinner that Hermione realised she had detention with Snape. After the events that had taken place that morning she wasn't sure if she should show up or not. She quickly glanced at the clock which informed her that if she was going to go, she only had fifteen minutes left until she was officially late.
Sighing heavily, Hermione decided that yes, she would show up even if she would just be sent straight back to the common room upon her arrival. She quietly left Gryffindor Tower and began a brisk walk in the direction of the dungeons.
Ten minutes had passed and Hermione now found herself standing outside the door to the classroom. She shivered visibly at the thought of how Snape might react to her presence, but bravely raised her hand to knock anyway. As her fist was about to connect with the door it opened, and instead of feeling hard, cold oak, Hermione found her hand resting awkwardly in the middle of Snape's chest.
"Professor… Sir! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean…"
Snape said nothing, and instead simply stared at her with an expression Hermione could not read. He flicked his hand and the instructions for her detention appeared on the board, but before Hermione could ask questions he had gone.
She pursed her lips and turned to read what Snape had in store for her, but to her dismay the instructions had disappeared.
"What in the world am I meant to do now?" she huffed.
She wandered over to her usual seat and took out some paper, a quill, and ink and began to write.
Professor Snape,
At the start of my detention I watched you put the instructions I was to follow on the board, but after you left and I turned to read them they had vanished. As I was unsure of what to do, I settled on writing you this note of apology instead.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger
She placed the note on Snape's desk and, acknowledging that there was not much she could do but sit around, headed back to the common room.
She did not get far before her name rang out across the barren hallway, piercing her skin like ice.
"Miss Granger, I do believe you are meant to be in my classroom serving detention, not out for a leisurely stroll."
For the second time that day, Hermione snapped.
"Professor Snape, I do believe that when you spell the instructions for my detention on the board that they are meant to stay there, not disappear for a leisurely stroll."
Snape stared at her with the same deadpan expression as before.
"Are you incapable, Miss Granger, of coming up with your own insults, or is it simply a strange compulsion to copy mine?"
She hadn't had time to react before he moved closer to her, his voice drawling on.
"Speaking of strange, it would seem as if a particular Gryffindor know-it-all disobeyed my instructions previous class and used her mind reading potion on me instead of a consenting partner. Why is that, Miss Granger?"
Hermione exhaled and looked Snape dead in the eye.
"I wanted to know what you thought about me, sir." Her voice sounded small and distant, something she was not used to.
"And why, Miss Granger, would my opinion of you be of any real concern?"
She could feel his breath now, hot and heavy against her face, and it only took her a few seconds to realise that they were mere inches apart.
Without even thinking about it, she shut her eyes and closed the gap.