Hermione tried opening her eyes blearily. She could feel that she was moving somehow. Was she on the Hogwarts Express? She tried sitting up to get a better bearing on her surroundings, but immediately felt too dizzy, and gave a small groan. The movement abruptly stopped. Snape's face swam into view, and she would've jumped up if she wasn't feeling so awful.

"Miss Granger," said Snape in what was a abysmal attempt at a soothing tone. He had had too little practice at soothing, and too much at threatening. "Miss Granger, you've experienced a slight concussion. I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing, and I'd like you to remain as still as possible during the time it takes me to get there. Do you understand?" Hermione blearily nodded her head in assent, and drifted back thankfully into unconsciousness. Snape resumed his brisk pace.

Snape strode gracefully into the Hospital Wing, all the while levitating the stretcher carrying Hermione. Madam Pomfrey was changing the sheets on one of the beds, and turned around at the sound of footsteps.

"And what misfortune has happened upon Miss Granger?" she said when she saw Hermione on the stretcher. "Nothing too serious I hope?"

"She may have lost the few brain cells she possessed, but she'll survive." Snape replied.

Madam Pomfrey looked at him with inquiry in her eyes. "She was lunging to catch a vial that she'd foolishly knocked over, completely forgot her to use her wand, and knocked her head on the side of her desk. " Snape hurriedly explained. He'd dealt with Madam Pomfrey more than a few times, and knew that when it came to the health of her students, you didn't want to make her wait.

Madam Pomfrey bent down, and spoke in soothing tone to Hermione, (who appeared to have regained consciousness again) explaining what had happened. "I've already informed her of her stupidity, Madam Pomfrey." Snape snapped at her. Madam Pomfrey gave him an evil glare. "I mean, shouldn't we focus on helping Miss Granger, instead of explaining to her what she already knows?" Snape hastily backtracked. Madam Pomfrey smiled to herself inwardly at the most feared teacher of Hogwarts, quaking before her almighty wrath.

"If you really want to help, you'll levitate Miss Granger onto that bed." Madam Pomfrey declared smartly. Snape hastily complied, lowering the stretcher onto the bed. Madam Pomfrey stood on the other side of the bed, and started to pull the stretcher from under Hermione. She frowned up at Snape when he didn't move to assist her. "Well, if you want her to fall to the floor again, don't move." She said angrily. Snape put one hand quickly on either of Hermione's sides, to make sure she didn't roll off of the bed when the stretcher was pulled out.

The transfer was completed successfully, with Hermione staring up surprised at Snape. "Professor?" she asked amazedly. Snape rolled his eyes.

"Miss Granger, as I have already explained to you, you broke a vial of liquid, and while lunging for said vial, you gave yourself a concussion. How is it that everyone says you are 'the cleverest witch of the age' and you don't even remember to use your wand?" he sneered. Hermione blushed a very light pink. "Incidentally," he added as an afterthought. "What did you break?" Hermione wrinkled her brow for a few moments, and then a look of horror was revealed on her face.

"Oh no." she said in dismay. Snape looked at her sharply.

"What do you mean Miss Granger?" he asked harshly. She answered so softly, that Snape had to lean in to hear the whisper of horror that escaped her.

"I broke the Wheeler snake venom" she said with tears in her eyes. Hermione could see the glimmer of anger in Snape's eyes, but his face was still very controlled.

"Miss Granger," he sighed. "There will be no use of my shouting at you. You obviously realize the gravity of what you have done, and my making a racket would not punish you severely enough. When you are released from the Hospital Wing, you will come see me in my office, and we will then discuss what your penalty shall be. Good night." He stood up, and strode from the Hospital Wing.

The next day , 4:00 in the afternoon

Hermione knocked firmly on the door to Snape's office. "Come in." said Snape's silky voice. Hermione opened the door. Snape sat at his desk, looking over his examination papers. He looked up at her. "Sit, Miss Granger." Hermione nervously sat on the edge of her chair, while Snape stood up, and started pacing. "I've been puzzling since yesterday evening on what exactly to do with you Miss Granger. Do you have any suggestions?" he shot at her. She was surprised at the question. It seemed to her that an intelligent and notoriously malicious man like Snape couldn't seem to think up a punishment for her.

"I honestly can't say that I have any sir."

Snape snorted, and turned back to his pacing. They remained this way for about 10 minutes, Snape pacing, and Hermione waiting for her imminent doom.

"Follow me." He said suddenly. He strode from the office to a door, but not to the door leading to the Potions classroom, or a hallway. Hermione realized instantly that it must lead to his private chambers. She hesitated in the doorway a moment, not sure if she really should go in. Snape stopped and looked around. "Come on you foolish girl, I'm not going to hurt you. I told you to follow me, and I meant it, so do it!" She stopped hesitating, and jogged quickly after Snape.

She had entered a small sitting room. It had 2 armchairs drawn up in front of a fireplace, a small desk in a corner, and a large bookshelf against one wall. Unsurprisingly enough, the color theme was green and silver. Hermione's fingers itched to stop and grab a few books off of the bookshelf, but Snape was already leaving the room. Hermione stepped into the next room, and gasped.

It was Snape's private potions lab. It was not a very large room, since it was a private lab after all, but there was room for 2 or 3 people to work there if need be. The one major difference from the potion's classroom was that the potion's equipment was much more sophisticated. Hermione realized the rarity of her situation immediately. Snape valued his privacy beyond any amount of money, and he was one of the greatest Potion's Masters in Europe, so to be allowed into his private Potions lab, this was simply one of the greatest honors Snape had probably ever bestowed in his life. And on the maddening know-it-all!

Snape strode over to a few of the cauldrons, checking on their progress, then he turned back to the Hermione. She had managed to close her mouth a few moments before he

turned. "Professor, why did you bring me here?" she asked. Snape looked at her with a hint of surprise.

"Because Miss Granger, you never managed to complete your N.E.W.T. for Potions. The rest of the class completed the exam this morning, before you were released. Thus, you must brew the Draught of Living Death again." He replied as if it were the obvious.

"Oh." Hermione said, realizing that he made perfect sense. But she was still curious. "But why are you having me take the exam in here? Why not just use the Potion's classroom?"

"For the simple fact that the Potions classroom's equipment is very inferior, and I'd like to see what you could do with proper equipment." He replied again as if it were obvious.

"Now," he said turning back to the cauldrons. "If you are finished with your endless questions for the time being, begin your potion."