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.
*Note: Fourth year student Hermione Granger runs from the Yule Ball after a terrible argument with her friend Ron Weasley.
CHAPTER FOUR
Ruined
~~oOo~~
Miss Granger
A wonderful night turned into a disaster.
Beneath the shadow of an overgrown hedge she felt little comfort from the festive sounds still raging inside the Great Hall. Her woeful sobbing faded out into the night for everyone and no one to hear. Why was Ron so stubborn? Why couldn't she have a wonderful evening dancing with Viktor? He was a really nice boy and charming in his own way, he was unashamed to like her openly; unlike Ron who was determined to deny their mutual attraction. As if the very idea of them together was abhorrent.
She had been resting with her knees towards her chest for a while now. The once beautiful dress she had fawned over was now covered in melted snow and stained with mud. The doors to the Great Hall would be closed by now and all students outside would be considered ruler breakers. It would only be a matter of time before someone found her and as if one que, the shadow of Professor Snape now towered over her smirking and ready to strike.
"Miss Granger, twenty points from Gryffindor."
He was dressed in what she assumed to be his finest robes; he was close enough for her to make out subtle ink patterns embellishing the obsidian fabric along his chest. Perhaps like her, he had tried his hardest to look his best tonight but nothing Professor Snape could wear could make him look any less unapproachable or vile.
"Get up."
There was nothing Professor Snape could do to make her night anymore horrible, so she decided to ignore him.
"Did I stutter girl? Get. Up."
"Leave me alone." She growled, resting her face on her knees.
"Excuse me?" the astonishment was evident in his voice.
"I said leave me alone. Go away."
The Professor was not known for being a patient man, this was known, and she knew her disrespectful attitude would come as a price; but what did it matter to her if he took more points from her or gave her detention. She could now feel the sticking charms holding her hair up losing their strength, sending tendrils falling down her back. His breath whispered through the released coils of hair, sending shivers down her back. It was getting colder and she had not planned to be out here this long.
"Miss Granger," he sighed, "I do not care for the reason why you have chosen to punish yourself. Crying your eyes out, freezing to death and what not, but as your teacher I must insist you get up and go back to your dormitory before I deduct more points from your house. I do not have time for this nonsense girl."
"Why don't you just leave me alone then?" she snapped, eyes glaring at him, "what does it matter if I freeze out here, what does it matter to you?"
That had struck a chord, something at least, for once she saw the Professor seem unsure of how to respond. If she had to guess, he was restraining a desire to slap her.
He settled for 'it matters' and threatened "You can have it one of two ways. You can get up and I will escort you back to your dormitory or you can stay put and I will drag you over my shoulder and carry you there myself. Which will it be?"
The Professor was the last person she wanted to manhandle her and she could tell he was actually serious. Gingerly she rose, and together they walked up the cobble path towards Gryffindor Tower.
~~oOo~~
Hope you enjoyed this dribble drabble, please leave a comment if you like.
