Disclaimer: Harry Potter and associated ideas, characters, places and events are the property of J K Rowling. Severus Snape and Hermione Granger pairing is not canon, there is an age difference of almost twenty years (please consider wizarding standards) and are in a student/teacher dynamic.

Thanks to rivruskende, Jally and bournespeed for your comments

Polyplectron

CHAPTER FOUR

Flattery Will Get You Nowhere Quickly

~~oOo~~

After a day or so of actively avoiding Harry and Ron, Hermione was cautiously approached in the Great Hall during breakfast. Hiding behind her Defeating the Faceless, she heard Harry and Ron sit opposite her. She could tell it was them by their squabbling. Harry nudged Ron who grunted in annoyance, he then kicked Harry under the table barely missing Hermione's own foot. Harry cursed under his breath but conceited and was the first to break the silence.

"I'm sorry about what I said Hermione."

Hermione lowered her book to find Harry giving her the eyes. Those sad puppy dog eyes he would always utilize to convince her to forgive him.

"Don't look at me that way Harry Potter."

"Come on Hermione you have been avoiding us long enough, I said I was sorry."

Finally Hermione relented, "Fine. I'm sorry too, it was very Gryffindor of you to protect me" she smirked, "very foolish yet courageous indeed."

"Thanks Hermione" smiled Harry, reaching for some bacon.

Hermione looked at Ron expectantly who was masticating some friend eggs. Ron had said nothing during the exchange. A moment of awkward silence passed until Hermione cleared her throat, Ron felt her eyes on him and he looked at her inquisitively.

"Mfph?"

"And what do you have to say for yourself?"

"Uh – nothing?"

Hermione was about to deliver a tongue lashing to Ron for thinking he could bludge of Harry's apology but the trio was interrupted by Lavender who emerged from behind a group of departing Hufflepuffs. She plonked herself down next to Ron and threw her arms around him.

"Oh Ron-Ron!" she had cried, "I had so much fun with you the other day at the Black Lake. You are so good with your wand! You'll have to teach me that charm again, I am so silly I forgot it! Maybe we can go find a nice quite place after you win Quidditch tomorrow against Hufflepuff and you can show me those wand movements again."

"Uh . . . yeah sure Lavender"

How can one simply forget a charm after learning it? Is she really that dense?

Hermione did not even want to think about Ron waving his wand around in front of Lavender, she had forgotten about Lavender swooping in after she had left. Ron seemingly ignored Lavenders laps in intelligence and was enjoying her ministrations. This did nothing to stamp the fire brewing in Hermione's stomach.

Rising to leave, Hermione avoided contact with either one of them and turned to leave the Great Hall for Herbology, and from the corner of her eye she saw Harry take his chance at escape and followed suit. Together they walked out of the Great Hall, hearing Lavenders high pitched laugher reverberating through the castle.

~O~

Madam Pomfrey fussed obsessively over a shelf full of potions in the Hospital Wing. It was a slow morning and thankfully no students had been administered into her care. Taking this rare occurrence with gusto she decided to take care of some of the menial tasks that had become neglected. Namely the stocktake of her potions cabinet, which well over due.

"We have six calming draughts, seven vials of essence of dittany, two vials of Dreamless Sleep and eighteen skelegrow potions," a quill and parchment hovered around her, ticking off the potions as she called them out, "I gather you were the one that helped yourself to all of the Dreamless Sleep, considering that I had at least twenty of them a month ago! And look, I am running out of Oculus Potion, burn-healing paste and there are no Head cure potions left, did you take those as well?!" she turned a vial around and inspected a label with spidery writing, "Severus you should be ashamed of yourself."

Next to the shelf of potions hung a thick curtain concealing a private wing, blocked from prying eyes and reserved for teachers. Behind it on a large cot lay Snape on his back and staring vaguely at the ceiling with his arms crossed over his chest. He had been trying to rest on his own accord until Madam Pomfrey decided to potter about the potions storage and cursing about him being the sole cause of the depletion in potion supplies. Did she not know how difficult it was for someone to sleep on Wide eye and Girding?

Of course she does, she is doing this deliberately.

Reaching up Snape clutched his head and it throbbed under his dexterous digits. His recovery was proving time consuming and painful, he had the worst hangover imaginable and since his admission into the Hospital Wing he could scarcely remember the series of events that brought him to this moment. Dumbledore had visited yesterday and finally relieved the information of who performed the deed but Snape refused to believe it.

"I would never allow myself to be taken out by Potter and that insufferable Know-It-All! Lies Albus all lies!"

"The majority of the class confirmed it Severus. Apparently you engaged Miss Granger in a duel and she was merely protecting herself. Mr Potter on the other hand was protecting his friend. I must admit I was surprised to find a Stag careening through my office door while I was enjoying one of Hagrid's rock cakes although the interruption was not appreciated."

After that Snape was induced into another terrible magically induce sleep, plagued with nightmares and fright. Snape was accustomed to downing Dreamless Sleep before bed every night (one of his favourite addictions) to guarantee a few hours rest but his current situation did not allow him the privilege. Snape suffered a surgent of familiar nightmares reminiscent of the horrific situations he found himself in while in the Dark Lord's presence. Poppy had been talking incessantly for over an hour and Snape was trying his best to ignore her but she was merciless with her ranting. He would welcome a nightmare over this torture.

"What do muggle's call it when one gets what one deserves? . . Karma! Yes that's it. That is what you get from stealing from my storages young man. You brought it on yourself mixing potions and alcohol!"

Snape rolled his eyes as she continued. Tensing his fingers and releasing them in annoyance. Concentrating Snape tried to distinguish what he could from Dumbledore's certainties. From what the old man had deduced he had been attacked by Miss Granger and Potter. But even they were not stupid enough to attack him for no particular reason. Why would he engage Miss Granger in a duel? Unless they were revising non-verbal spells but Snape had no intention on revising that particular lesson, he had no hope for them. Snape did not believe for one instance that he would willingly walk out of his bedroom intoxicated. He had self-control and was sensible. He was an authority and no one should ever see him otherwise. But he had acted foolishly with no regard of the consequences. Merlin knows what else he did.

"In all honest I think your punishment should be refilling the stocks you have stolen. You know I had a child with a terrible head ache the other day and I could not help them! I had to send them packing!"

With a wave of her hand Poppy banished her quill and parchment to her office. Busying herself with replacing the vials she had removed from the shelf and muttered to herself.

"What good is having an experienced Potions Master on hand if he steals his everything he makes?"

Breaking from his thoughts Snape cleared his throat, he had enough lying idly by.

"I am not longer Potions Master Poppy I am the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher keeping your stores ample is no longer my prerogative."

A bark of laughter issued from the Matron and she flew the curtain open. The levitating rings suspending the curtains clinked as they collided with each other. Behind it Poppy walked forward with her hands on her hips, her crisp white apron lay perfectly clean and pressed over her pale blue robes. Aging hair pulled tight into a bun causing the skin on her face to pull ever so slightly giving her the appearance someone was pinching her. Efficiently her gaze rolled over the bed ridden Severus, taking in his sunken features and weary hair flicked casually over his shoulder.

"Now he finds his voice. Do I recall incorrectly that when you started teaching at Hogwarts you agreed to supply the Hospital Wing indefinitely with Grade-A healing potions?

"Your memory seems to be failing you Poppy. Perhaps you should take up your concerns with Horace instead; after all he is the Potion Master."

"Horace? Are you mad as a hatter? I would not trust Horace Slughorn to make a potion to save my life let alone a student. He would not allow me the time of day anyway and he is not nearly as intuitive as you when it comes to Healing brews."

"Flattery will get you nowhere quickly"

"But nowhere is somewhere isn't it now enough chit-chat. Let's take a look at you"

After a few moments of fondling his face and arms in search of abnormalities and making Snape cough and say 'ahh', Poppy huffed in what little triumph she could muster. Nothing seemed to be wrong with him, despite the obvious exhaustion and hangover he will experience over the next few days.

"The potions are dragging it out but you should be in the clear. How do you feel?"

Snape nodded and Poppy helped him rest back into a seated position with his head resting against a conjured pillow.

"I have been better" he groaned.

"Water! Lots of Water. Here is a little lesson for you Severus in case you feel the need to try this little charade again. Alcohol is known as a depressant drug-"

"Poppy I do not need a lecture-"

"-too bad -it depresses the central nervous system and the messages being sent between the brain and the body. Girding Potion is a stimulant. (you should know this) That means that it stimulates the central nervous system and in turn the messages corresponding between your body and brain the two in essence are opposites. So when you put them together you have a battle for supremacy. Up. Down. Up. Down. Your body is not designed to handle the stress; so I suggest you take care of yourself from now on and not rely on drugs to get you through the day. Good night's rest and plenty of nutrient rich food and just to be sure you are taking care of yourself I'd like you to pop in on Monday so I can give you a one over. But no more potions for a while and definitely no more drinking! I mean it, your body is still very sensitive and it needs time to heal. Remember, good rest, good food and positive thinking."

". . .positive thinking," Snape interrupted snidely, "because it comes so naturally"

A thought popped in his head and he suddenly felt vulnerable. He did not have his wand, and on impulse he reached out towards his side table in search of it.

"Looking for your wand Severus?" snipped Pomfrey, "It is safely concealed in my apron I could not risk injury during your nightmares."

Sighing Poppy conjured a chair next to his cot and sat, charming the curtains closed to give them some privacy.

"You will not be able to take any Dreamless Sleep either Severus I am sorry. I know how much you love to drink it but you'll need to face the facts. You are addicted."

Snape ignored her, he was much too preoccupied with his arm twitching involuntarily and his foot tapped under the covers to a rhythm unknown to him.

"Oh dear looks like the Girding is still working its magic."

"It's fine Poppy" he answered stiffly, his left eye twitching, "I will manage"

Leaning over the cot Poppy placed a withered hand over Snape's. Her hand was warm and welcoming. The intimate gesture unnerved Snape no matter how comforting it was meant to be. Ever since Snape was a little boy he had detested others touching him. It was a trait that had made it difficult for him to socialise with other children or to bond with his family, let alone allow others to touch him. Poppy tightened her grip and he winced, slipping his hand out from under hers. She let out a sigh at the cool air that kissed her hand upon his retraction and straightened in her chair.

"I need not remind you that while in my care anything you should say in confidence shall remain confidential hereafter. Normally I am not one to pry but was there a reason why you felt obligated to drink an entire bottle of Odgen's Firewhisky? A woman such as myself knows all too well the signs of a man feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders."

Snape remained silent and avoided her russet eyes.

"Severus? Is there something you wish to tell me?"

"Not particularly"

Taking offence to his lack of trust, Poppy snapped her wand in the air and a bowl of steaming soup materialised, hovering in front of her.

"Well then, since you are awake I expect you to eat. The Headmaster expressed his concern about your weight and I tend to agree with him. This soup is full of vitamins and nutrients, and until I release you I expect you to remain in your bed. Is that clear?"

"Abundantly so."

Poppy placed the bowl on the side table and handed Snape his wand back. Throwing open the curtains she stiffly exited the room, closing the curtain behind her. Snape listened to her heels click along the floor in departure, his ears pricking up when she called back in a snide voice,

"And don't even think about using Evanesco on the soup Professor Snape or I shall be forced to spoon feed you."

Cursing angrily at her humour, he sat the bowl in his lap and began to spoon the warm liquid into his mouth and forcing it down his throat.

~O~

Hermione and Harry swiftly made their way towards Hogwarts many greenhouses. The lack of harsh wind had allowed a thin mist to fall on the grounds and it took them a little longer than usual to find the right one. They entered the furthest greenhouse and were welcomed warmly by Professor Sprout. They took their places and were told to continue their term work on the Snargaluff plant. Passing Harry his protective gloves, she pulled on her own and felt a presence behind her.

"Wow, you lot don't wait do you? I even called out to you Harry why didn't you wait for me?"

Harry turned sheepishly to regard his friend and Hermione flat out ignored him.

"Sorry mate," said Harry inserting a gum shield. "I didn't hear you, not with Lavender carrying on the way she was"

"Oh come on Harry, she was just being friendly. I was about to ask you how your 'detention' with Dumbledore was last night. Showing you all that stuff about You-Know-Who, I mean, I don't understand why he is showing you all this stuff"

Hermione took this moment to ridicule Ron, for her own selfish reasons, "Really Ronald, you don't understand? Don't you think it would be sensible to know everything there was to know about Voldemort in order to find out his weaknesses?! I think it is fantastic Harry, is that how you spent your detention, you were very lucky indeed!"

Harry had to chuckle a little at Ron's offended stature and Hermione's obvious ignorance. He decided to change the subject though just to be safe,

"So I have not asked you yet how Slughorn's dinner last night went Hermione?'

Oh the party, I had completely forgotten about it.

Hermione had been much to distressed about the beginning of the week to worry about Slughorn's silly party. Not that she would have wanted to go anyway. McCormac would always try and sit next to her and he was dreadfully boring.

"I didn't go Harry"

"Why didn't you go?"

"I completely forgot about it but honestly Harry who has time for parties? I'll celebrate when I graduate."

Bustling over towards them, Professor Sprout scalded them for their lack of enthusiasm at starting their projects, not to mention, their inane chatter.

"Ok Professor we are starting now!" said Hermione quickly.

When Professor Sprout turned away to glorify Neville's first pod Ron whispered quietly. 'We should have used Muffliato, Harry."

"Muffliato?" spat Hermione, "That is a spell from your Advanced Potion Making book Harry. You promised me that you would were not going to use any of the spells in the book Harry Potter!"

"I know Hermione, I haven't used any of the spells, I promise!"

Advanced Potions Making was a horrendous product of innovative hatred. Hermione only had to read a few pages to feel a sense of appal. The Half-Blood Prince had a penchant for theorising choking charms, slicing hexes and harmful spells. Thankfully majority of them had been abandoned and would not work if properly cast. The Prince had successfully completed a few spells and Muffliato just happened to be one of them. In all honesty that particular spell would be useful but if Hermione gave lenience's to one spell than Harry would push his luck. Hermione's frustration with the book was not only its content but its anonymous annotator. After Harry had found the book she had spent a few solid hours searching every book available to her in the library and found no mention of a Half-blood Prince.

Deciding not to poke the sleeping dragon, Harry and Ron exchanged apprehensive looks and together divided the gnarled stump between them. After an age, the long, prickly, bramble like vines had been subdued; Hermione forced her arm into the stump and extracted a large pod, similar to Neville's. They sat the pulsating pod into a bowl that Harry had conjured, with a disgusted look on her face, Hermione stepped back and allowed the boys to take over.

"Harry, I forgot to mention that Ginny asked me to ask you if you were going to Slughorn's Christmas party next week. Apparently he has been asking about you. You can't keep telling him you have detention."

Harry groaned and tried to take his displeasure out on the pod, squashing it as hard as he could.

"I guess that this is another party for Slughorn's favourites then isn't it" clipped Ron, holding the bowl so that it did not fly off the table in Harry's assault.

"Yes, just for those he seems, worthy," answered Hermione snidely.

"Well that's just rich isn't it, Slug Club, what a load of bollocks," Hermione bristled at his harsh words but remained silent, "Well, I hope you have a fantastic time at that party. Why don't you shack up with McLaggen, we all know he's got his eye on you, then Slughorn can make you King and Queen of the party!"

"Get over yourself Ronald, " snapped Hermione, "We are allowed to bring guests and I was going to ask you but I am still waiting for an apology for the way you treated me the other day. Harry apologised but apparently it is above you to do so! I think I will ask McLaggen. He is. . . 'charming' in his own special way"

Ron's shoulders slumped. Harry was blissfully unaware of the heated exchange, too busy concentrating on the wriggling pod, he picture it to be Slughorn and continued to squeeze it aggressively, he even swore he hear it squeak like him.

"You were going to ask me?" said Ron quietly,

Hermione, caught off guard at it his suddenly quiet demeanour, composed herself.

"Yes, I was."

Before Ron could answer, Harry triumphantly shoved the bowl with the now very squashed and motionless pod under Ron's nose. Tens of tiny tubers wriggling like little pale green worms greeted him.

"Got it, great stress reliever, this morning has turned out to be very satisfying!" He looked from Ron to Hermione with a large grin on his face. Hermione seemed flushed and Ron shifted from either foot awkwardly.

The rest of the lesson passed in silence, which Professor Sprout adored admirably.

~O~

That afternoon while Harry and Ron were at Quidditch practice Hermione decided to visit the Hospital Wing to see if she could find Professor Snape. She still felt absolutely terrible about what she had done and she had heard through the tentacular vine that he has been absent from all the meals in the Great Hall and Dumbledore has been teaching his classes the last couple of days. The word around the castle was that Harry Potter had tried to kill Snape is class but Hermione knew that was a load of rubbish. Hermione made her way to the Hospital Wing, anticipating that Madam Pomfrey to ask why she was visiting she decided to claim needing a Head Cure potion as her alibi.

Hermione still remembered his smouldering eyes, dragging her into the black abyss like a moth drawn to the flame. The smell of firewhisky permeating from him, he more dangerous than she had ever seen him, it intrigued her and as the days passed this intrigue manifested itself visually in her dreams. The dream took place in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, Snape would stand in front of her impeccably dressed and pointing his wand at her just like he had the other day. Never did either of them utter a word. His eyes were vividly real, the image imprinted permanently in her mind even when she closed her eyes. Each time she blinked he seemed to come closer and closer until he stood a mere inch from her and she would reach out to him. That was when she would wake up in a cold sweat.

Shaking her head, Hermione turned the corner and found herself at the Hospital Wing. The doors were closed so she knocked loudly against the wooden surface. Activated by her touch, two small carvings in the large wooden door glowed lightly and shot upwards towards the door frame. Hermione saw Madam Pomfrey's aged eyes through the circular holes.

"Miss Granger?! How are you feel dear?"

"Not too well Madam", said Hermione, "I have a terrible head ache. Why are the doors shut?"

The two carvings shot back toward to their original places and the oak door swung open revealing a prickly Madam Pomfrey who quickly ushered her in.

"Oh no reason dear, sometimes I need to keep the door closed to prevent a draft, I have to lock them otherwise the damn things swing open and bash against the wall. Always defied a good sticking charm! Come in come in I haven't got all day"

Following Madam Pomfrey into her office, Hermione took a seat across from her, lowering her shoulder bag next to her. In Madam Pomfrey's office was a large feature wall behind her desk that Hermione had never noticed before. It had hundreds of photographic portraits on it and they watched her excitedly. She recognised some of the people in the photos and they waved delightedly back at her.

"Madam Pomfrey what are those photographs?"

Madam Pomfrey arched her head behind her and then smiled softly at the girl.

"This is a patient wall. It has a picture of every student and staff member in the school. When a person is admitted, the photographs are charmed to record the time spent by each individual in recovery. It is for the yearly reports."

Reaching up Madam Pomfrey grabbed the closet picture, "This young Ravenclaw has spent 4 days, 9 hours, 10 minutes and 12 seconds in recovery. About average for a third year," an image of a freckled faced lad smiled back at her.

Placing the photograph back, Pomfrey pointed her wand at the wall, her wing back chair pushing slightly backwards with her movement. "Accio Hermione Granger's photograph!" From the fourth row, about fifteen photographs in, Hermione's photograph peeled itself off the wall and flew gently down towards them.

Pomfrey caught it in her hand and held it in front of Hermione to take. Taking it in her hands she saw her face smiling back at her happily. Her brown bushel of hair pulled into a low pony tail and her brown eyes wide and curious.

Hermione inspected the white boarder, small writing curled its way around it, "It says 1 day" Poppy nodded and urged her to continue, "10 Hours, 6 minutes and 43 seconds" she fell off the last bit.

Have I really been in the hospital Wing for that long? I can't even remember the reasons.

"That is a very long time Miss Granger, the year has barely started." Taking the photograph off her and casting it back into its original place, "The photographs are updated yearly and records are housed in the Headmasters office."

Nodding thoughtfully Hermione addressed Madam Pomfrey, "That is very interesting Madam Pomfrey, I was not aware I had been in here for so long or as frequently."

"Yes it all adds up doesn't it," Madam Pomfrey sighed impatiently, "So it seems you are in need of a healing potion?" Hermione nodded, "What is the problem?"

"I have a head ache that doesn't seem to want to disappear, it really hurts."

"Head Cure, that's the ticket. But I am afraid that I am all out at the moment. Perhaps I will quickly pop down to the staff room and see if Professor Slughorn has any on hand, he should be on his break. You don't mind waiting do you dear, I can trust you can't I?"

"Of course Madam, and I don't mind waiting." Smiled Hermione, it was too perfect.

"Alright I'll be right back in a jiffy."

Madam Pomfrey left Hermione alone in her office. Hermione heard her heels fade off and the doors slam shut and jumped from her seat to walk into the Hospital Wing. Seeing the heavy curtain of the teacher's wing, she urged silent footsteps and cautiously approached. She was a little apprehensive. After all the last person Professor Snape would want to see would be the one who attacked him. As a precaution she took out her wand and held it firmly in her hand. Taking in a deep breath she pulled back the curtain and let it bob loosely in her grip.

The cot was empty and held no sign of the Professor Snape.

Disappointed Hermione approached the bed letting the curtain fall shut behind her and laid a hand on it. The bed was still warm which meant she may have only just missed him and if he wasn't here that means he was well enough to leave. Hermione was relieved but as she turned around she found herself in a less than desirable position. She now stood eye to a torso decorated with a regiment of silver buttons that flashed against black silk pyjamas.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

Raising her gaze she came to see Severus Snape. Pale faced with dark bags under his eyes and breathing in and out slowly, her heart ached slightly at the sight. Startled she raised her wand at him and he raised an eyebrow high.

"You are too curious for your own good, Miss Granger."

What happened next completely caught Hermione off guard. Instead of screaming at her, which she anticipated after all she had snuck into his Private Ward, Professor Snape, face void of emotion, protruded a hand forward and enclosed it around the end of her wand. She felt his magic surge up the end of her wand to her hand. In the wizarding world, the one thing you did not want to do was grab the end of another's wand when it was aimed at you. It was extremely dangerous and foolish. A wand was a magical extension of one's self, it was an instrument used to channel magic through in order to perform outstanding and complex magic and to grab the end that expels the magic was sheer lunacy. It was like looking down the barrel of a loaded gun.

But it did not seem to frighten Snape at all.

Snape tightened his grip on Hermione's wand, pulling it and her closer towards him and leaned in to whisper into her ear. His breath was hot and it sent tingles down Hermione's neck.

"If you have come to finish the job then you'll find me a most unwilling victim."

"I don't w-want to h-hurt you Professor!"

Hermione stuttered to string a coherent sentence together, her eyes growing wide and fearful. Suddenly she found her courage had escaped her.

"Is that fear? Where is your Gryffindor courage now?" Snape sneered.

Snape stood a mere inch away from her and held no intention of moving. Hermione had really put herself in it now. What was he going to do to her? Snape peered down his nose at her and she recognised the familiar darkness in his eyes he held that day in class. Except this time he was now fuming with anger, visiting him had been a terrible idea.

"I-I am sorry f-for hurting you Professor Snape"

"Apologises are meaningless Miss Granger."

"I just wanted to see if you w-were ok Professor Snape please let go of my wand!"

Faster than Hermione could react Snape pulled her wand from her hand, grabbed her by the wrist and spun her around. Pinning her down on his cot he bend her arms behind her back and held her there. She cried in alarm and felt the familiar jab of a wand against her face, the grain of wood undeniable recognised as Snape's own wand, which he had earlier pinched from Pomfrey when she had come to remove his soup dish. Wordlessly he charmed the curtains closed and they were alone.

Together

In the same room.

Hermione felt a strange feeling in her chest and it wasn't pain, no it was something else entirely.

"Don't….lie…..to me" he whispered into her ear threateningly.

Flexing his fingers around her wrist and taking in heavier breaths, Snape felt adrenaline surge through his veins. Finding he could not help himself he applied more pressure to her wrist making her wince. This insipid girl had knocked him out he was only gaining some justice for her wrong doings, even if it was in self-defence. Hermione tried in vain to wriggle out from underneath his grip. The action was causing her skirt to riding up, exposing her upper thigh but Snape was oblivious.

"I'm not lying!" she squealed.

"Is that your nose growing Miss Granger? I know you and Potter coerced the attack. Come to gloat?"

"No! I just wanted to see if you were alright! Please let go Professor you are hurting me!"

Hermione tried to reach for her wand but Snape had anticipated her intentions and placed in it inside his pyjama pocket. As she squirmed in his grip Snape took the opportunity to finally find out what had happened the day he was knock out by two mediocre students Using the energy the surge allowed Snape passed the barrier of her mind and delved into her memories.

~#~

"Divide into pairs."

Snape watched the class sort themselves into pairs and wait patiently for him. He was surprised at his outward appearance. Past Snape seemed agitated and was tapping his leg under the desk, no doubt a side effect of the Girding. Past Snape looked out into the classroom and his eyes focus directly at him (well at Miss Granger).

"Yes Miss Granger? What is it?"

"Sir, why are we getting into pairs? Today we are meant to be studying case studies on resisting the Imperius curse. Practical lessons are not until next week."

Past Snape stared at him for a moment and then continued to speak. Snape felt Hermione's anger towards his dismissal.

"Today you will be revising your ability at performing non-verbal spells. First weeks abysmal attempts left me feeling doubtful at your competency –"

"Sir you did not answer my question!"

"Once again!" Snape went on louder, "try to jinx the other without speaking and vice versa." His black eyes bore into Hermione, to allow his final statement to sink in, "If I hear anyone speak in the next hour there will be dire consequences. Well what are you waiting for? An invitation?"

~#~

The memory flew forward and Snape found himself at the end of his own wand.

"Here. Allow me show you–"

Snape felt Hermione panic and raise her wand to fire a perfectly silent Knockback Jinx and at the same time heard Potter shout;

"Protego!"

~#~

Snape shifted through the memories and arrived at the Black Lake. Miss Granger was sitting with the Weasley boy and Potter in what Snape could only imagine was the aftermath of the incident.

"I can't believe you two attacked Professor Snape that was bloody brilliant!" grinned the Weasley boy.

"No it wasn't Ron! It was horrifying, we could have killed him." cried Miss Granger.

"Wish we had killed him" muttered Potter, low enough for no one to hear him but of course Hermione did and in turn so had Snape.

"Harry! How could you say such a horrible thing?"

Miss Granger's sudden concern and sadness overwhelmed Snape so much that he felt the need to eject himself from her mind and out of her memories, less he find anything else he thought inappropriate. He had seen quite enough.

~#~

Snape pulled out of Hermione's mind and was overcome with sudden exhaustion. Releasing his grip on her wrists he slowly turned to sit down on the cot next to her. Hermione lay there unsure of what to do and completely horrified by the memories he had brought to the surface. She had been trying so hard to move forward and it felt fresh once more. Snape rested his elbows on his knees he tried to moderate his breathing and ran a shaky hand through his hair.

"Insufferable girl. ." he huffed.

Hermione pushed off the cot to try and wiped at the tears falling from her face. She was absolutely embarrassed and without a word she smoothed the hair out of her face and wrapped her arms around herself in a fierce hug. She never should have come. Snape cleared his throat.

"Do you lack common decency Miss Granger or is your intention to embarrass us both even further?" he muttered avoiding her gaze and handing her wand back.

Hermione accepted her wand and looked to where Snape was indicating to her skirt that sat on the side of her hip. Hastily she pulled it back down and busied herself by smoothing it out and pulling invisible fluff off it. But his comment had struck a cord and Hermione looked at Snape with such conviction that she pulled her hand back and slapped him, to both of their surprise.

"How dare you!"

Snape put a hand to his face. A fine stinging sensation flooded through his cheek and it radiated heat into his hand. No doubt his face would have a petite red hand mark engulfing his cheek.

Oh Merlin I just slapped Professor Snape!

"Uh-I" stuttered Hermione clutching her pinching hand.

Holding a hand up in a silencing gesture Snape pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. The head ache he suffered multiplied tenfold and his stomach began to churn violently. He was going to be sick.

"Get. Out."

"I'm sorry-"

"GET OUT!"

Snape brought his hands over his head and rocked backwards slowly causing his silk shirt to rise over his shallow stomach revealing a trail of thin black hair. Hermione found herself staring.

"No." she said stubbornly, "Now I am sorry for slapping you Professor but do you honestly have the audacity to yell at me after you assault me and invaded my mind without my permission?! I was just trying to see if you were alright! The least you could do is apologise."

"Miss Granger the only reason I am not taking a thousand points from Gryffindor is because I do not want to see your face in here a moment longer now get the hell out you insufferable girl." moaned Snape under his hands.

Snape lurked forward clearly going to vomit. Hermione acted on impulse and transfigured his pillow into a bucket that just made it into Snape's hands before he emptied the contents of his stomach. The smell permeated through the air, the familiar stench of doxy eggs and vegetable soup filled Hermione's nose and she fought to cover her face with her hands.

"Professor why do you smell like Doxy eggs?"

Hermione felt stupid for asking questions instead of running away from Snape before he throttled her. A loud bang echoed through the ward, causing them both to jump and Snape buried his head in the bucket. The recognisable trot of Madam Pomfrey's footsteps entered the room. Hermione looked to Snape who was wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, he was visibly shaking and looked white as paper.

"Madam Pomfrey!" shouted Hermione.

"Miss Granger? What are you doing over there?"

Footsteps sounded loudly as Madam Pomfrey raced to Snape's ward. Pulling back the curtain she was shocked to find Miss Granger and Severus alone together.

"Heavens above Miss Granger what on earth are you doing in-Severus are you alright? What happened?"

"Uh"

"Why is does he have a bucket?"

"H-he was vomiting Madam Pomfrey"

Turning her attention to Snape, who seethed at the old woman, Madam Pomfrey banished the bucket and pushed Snape back onto the bed and threw the covers over him.

"You should be in bed resting!" she whispered angrily to him, "You have vomited enough, you'll only be bringing up good things! Have a surge did we? Obviously Miss Granger's company is over stimulating you."

"Unlikely," He hissed swatting weakly at her nimble hands tucking him in, "Miss Granger came to finish the job."

"No I didn't! You attacked me!" protested Hermione

"That remains to be seen"

"Severus! Miss Granger! That is quite enough bickering. Miss Granger grab your satchel and step outside I am going to induce Professor Snape into a magical slumber. You have aggravated his condition! Out!" urged Madam Pomfrey with stern eyes.

Hermione stepped out of the private wing but not without shooting Snape a lasting look. She was furious at him.

How dare he enter my mind, I have never felt so violated! I was only trying to see if he was alright there, there were no ulterior motives. I was definitely NOT going to finish the job how could he say such a thing?! I was just trying to see if he safe, if he was -

Her thoughts died off. Hermione had found it difficult to admit to herself that she felt concerned for Snape's well being ever since the incident. She chalked it up as her emotional investment into the Order of the Phoenix for which he was a member. Ever since that information had been relayed to her she had begun to see him in a new light, he was a man, a human being of flesh and blood. Who risked his life every day, living the life of a double agent and sacrificing his time to educate and protect. But in the end he was still mean old Professor Snape, how could she forget?

She felt so stupid and that did not sit with her at all.

Professor Snape, he is vile and cruel and he maliciously attacked me, violated my mind. . . . . .and pinned me to the cot. . . . . oh goodness he saw my knickers! Ugh I've never felt so embarrassed.

Hermione blushed at the thought of her Professor eyeing her unmentionables and concentrated on listening to Madam Pomfrey chanting on the other side of the curtain. It was a chant Hermione did not recognised. Slowly Hermione sat down on a nearby cot and inspected her wrist. It was bright red and throbbed; and even though she was furious with him deep down in her heart she hoped he was ok.

She hoped he was ok.

~O~

Dragging Hermione to the entrance Madam Pomfrey addressed the somber student with the demeanour of a rousing parent.

"I have no idea what was going through your head Miss Granger but you are very lucky to be leaving unscathed."

"Yes Madam Pomfrey it was quite foolish of me"

"Foolish indeed, I leave you alone for five minutes and you manage to induce my only patient into expelling his stomach. Didn't you cause your Professor enough grief on Monday?" stopping at the door she gave Hermione the one over and saw her injured wrist.

"It's nothing really," winced Hermione

"Nothing my foot, these markings were clearly absent while in my office," giving Hermione a knowing look.

"Like I said. . . Professor Snape attacked me"

"Attacked you?!"

"Yes but he didn't mean to hurt me. I saw that the curtain was closed and I knew Professor Snape had been admitted after the incident and I wanted to see if he was ok. I was worried. I felt terrible." said Hermione breathlessly, her shame evident

"That is very touching but that does not justify him hurting you. After all your little incident in the classroom was unintentional correct?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes."

"Right then," Pomfrey gently grabbed Hermione's wrist and pulled a vial from her apron pocket and uncorked it. "This ought to do the trick. Your wrist should be fine in a few moments. Just keep it rested for a few hours," she muttered, rubbing the substance into the girl's skin, "I think it is best you go straight to bed and have a good night's rest."

Rest? How can I possible sleep soundly after this?

"Let this be a lesson to you, should you ever feel the need to 'visit' Professor Snape again." Placing the vial back in her apron pocket she extracted two different vials and gave them to Hermione. "A Head Cure and a Dreamless Sleep, no doubt you will need the latter tonight."

"Thank you Madam Pomfrey"

"Off you go then!"

Madam Pomfrey watched sadly as Hermione bolted out the door shutting it behind her.

~O~

Hermione ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Head down and silently hoping that no one would stop her to chat. She flew past wandering students and bellowing ghosts. Through archways and up the moving stair case, when approaching the Gryffindor entrance she shouted "Moonpie!" at the Fat Lady and flew into the common room and up the stairs to her dormitory.

Dinner was neglected that night and no matter how hard Ginny knocked on her door, or how loud Lavender and Parvati gossiped, she did not leave her bed. Crookshanks mewing about her sympathetically and clawed into her pyjamas in an effort to comfort her. Hermione cradled her wrist and downed the Dreamless sleep. As she drifted off to sleep she allowed small tears to run from her eyes.

"Miss Granger the only reason I am not taking a thousand points from Gryffindor is because I do not want to see your face in here a moment longer now get the hell out you insufferable girl"

Severus Snape did not visit her dreams that night and for that she was thankful.

To be continued. . .

~~oOo~~

Hope you enjoyed this chapter don't forget to leave a comment!

Notes:

*I hope you have enjoyed the changes hopefully it is starting to make more sense as a story. I'm not sure because as I reread it, it all starts to blend together.